Abstract: A lever connector that exhibits excellent space efficiency is provided. The lever connector includes female and male housings that are engageable with each other. A lever is mounted displaceably on the male housing and can be moved between an initial position and a fitting position. A cam groove is formed on the lever, and a cam follower is formed on the female housing. An entrance of the cam groove is aligned in a direction that intersects the fitting direction of the housings when the lever is at the initial position, and the female housing is assembled into a hood along the same direction.

Abstract: A lever connector that exhibits excellent space efficiency is provided. The lever connector includes female and male housings that are engageable with each other. A lever is mounted displaceably on the male housing and can be moved between an initial position and a fitting position. A cam groove is formed on the lever, and a cam follower is formed on the female housing. An entrance of the cam groove is aligned in a direction that intersects the fitting direction of the housings when the lever is at the initial position, and the female housing is assembled into a hood along the same direction.

Abstract: A connector has a retainer (40) mounted on a housing (10) for movement between a temporary locking position and a main locking position in a direction (Y) oblique to a fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10). Terminal fittings (70) can be inserted into the housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the temporary locking position and are locked in housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the main locking position. The housing (10) has a locking part (28) and the retainer (40) has a to-be-locked portion (52) that can be locked together. Locking surfaces of the locking part (28) and the to-be-locked portion (52) are inclined to the movement direction (Y) of the retainer (40) and to the fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10).

Abstract: Supporting shafts (18) are provided on a cover (12) of a housing (10), and bearings (70) are provided in a lever (60). Each supporting shaft (18) includes retaining pieces (21) around a recess (20) at an inner side, and the retaining pieces (21) are inserted into the bearings (70) and leading-end flanges (23) thereof are resiliently engageable with opening edges of the bearings (70). Each bearing (70) includes a restriction (72) insertable into the recess (20) from a leading end of the supporting shaft (18). The restrictions (72) are displaceable to deformation permitting areas where resilient deformations of the retaining pieces toward the recesses (20) are permitted when the lever (60) is assembled and to deformation preventing areas where the resilient deformations of the retaining pieces (21) toward the recesses (20) are prevented by interference of the restricts (72) with the retaining pieces (21) as the lever (60) is rotated.

Abstract: A connector has a retainer (40) mounted on a housing (10) for movement between a temporary locking position and a main locking position in a direction (Y) oblique to a fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10). Terminal fittings (70) can be inserted into the housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the temporary locking position and are locked in housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the main locking position. The housing (10) has a locking part (28) and the retainer (40) has a to-be-locked portion (52) that can be locked together. Locking surfaces of the locking part (28) and the to-be-locked portion (52) are inclined to the movement direction (Y) of the retainer (40) and to the fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10).

Abstract: A holding wall (6) of a connector housing (1) has terminal holding holes (7) for receiving terminal fittings. Two tight holding walls (11) are formed at opposite sides of each terminal holding hole (7) on the outer surface of the holding wall (6). The terminal fitting is pressed into the terminal holding hole (7) and between the tight holding walls (11). Further, the terminal holding holes (7) are formed by molding pins (14) having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the holding wall (6) and contact plates (13) that contact the leading ends of the molding pins (14). Thus, the molding pins (14) can be short and are less likely to deform when subjected to pressure from resin during molding.

Abstract: Supporting shafts (18) are provided on a cover (12) of a housing (10), and bearings (70) are provided in a lever (60). Each supporting shaft (18) includes retaining pieces (21) around a recess (20) at an inner side, and the retaining pieces (21) are inserted into the bearings (70) and leading-end flanges (23) thereof are resiliently engageable with opening edges of the bearings (70). Each bearing (70) includes a restriction (72) insertable into the recess (20) from a leading end of the supporting shaft (18). The restrictions (72) are displaceable to deformation permitting areas where resilient deformations of the retaining pieces toward the recesses (20) are permitted when the lever (60) is assembled and to deformation preventing areas where the resilient deformations of the retaining pieces (21) toward the recesses (20) are prevented by interference of the restricts (72) with the retaining pieces (21) as the lever (60) is rotated.

Abstract: A holding wall (6) of a connector housing (1) has terminal holding holes (7) for receiving terminal fittings. Two tight holding walls (11) are formed at opposite sides of each terminal holding hole (7) on the outer surface of the holding wall (6). The terminal fitting is pressed into the terminal holding hole (7) and between the tight holding walls (11). Further, the terminal holding holes (7) are formed by molding pins (14) having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the holding wall (6) and contact plates (13) that contact the leading ends of the molding pins (14). Thus, the molding pins (14) can be short and are less likely to deform when subjected to pressure from resin during molding.

Abstract: A mold-removal hole (60) formed upon forming a locking portion (39) and communicating with a tab insertion hole (31) is formed before a locking portion (39) by partly cutting a wall of the tab insertion hole (31). As this mold-removal hole (60) is formed, preventing portions (70) for preventing a displacement of the tab (22) inserted into the tab insertion hole (31) toward the mold-removal hole (60) are formed on the wall of the tab insertion hole (31) at the lateral sides of the mold-removal hole (60) and at the opposite widthwise outer sides of the locking portion (39). By displacing the position of the locking portion (39) toward one widthwise side from the center of the cavity (32), the preventing portion (70) provided at the other side is set to have an increased area of engagement with the tab (22).

Abstract: A female connector (10) is assembled with a holder (20) on a dashboard (A) and a male connector (30) is assembled with an instrument panel (B). The male connector (30) has a receptacle 32 with a cut-out (35) for receiving the female connector (10). Guide pins (11) of the female connector (10) slide along guide grooves (25) of the holder (20) to displace the female connector (10) normal to an assembling direction and to connect the female connector (10) with the male connector (30). A movable protecting portion (40) is displaced from a protecting position where the movable protecting portion (40) covers the cut-out (35) to a retracted position RP where the movable protecting portion (40) is retracted from the cut-out (35) by sliding movements of guide pins (42) of the movable protection portion (40) along guide grooves (29) of the holder (20).

Abstract: An electric wire cover (60) is mounted on a lower portion of a housing (31) of a female connector (30). The electric wire cover (60) is accommodated inside a rectangular box-shaped connector-holding part (22) formed on a bottom wall (20A) of a lower cover (20), and an elastic piece (63) is interposed between the female connector (30) and the connector-holding part (22). Thus, the female connector (30) is supported for elastic displacement in a wait state. In consequence of mounting of the lower cover (20) on the body (11), the female connector (30) is connected to a connector connection part (13) of the body (11) of an electrical connection box. Thus in the case where there is a dislocation between the female connector (30) and the connector connection part (13), the female connector (30) shifts along the bottom wall (20A) of the lower cover (20), thus absorbing the dislocation.

Abstract: A lever-type connector has two housings (10, 20) and a lever (40) with a cam for facilitating the connection of the housings (10, 20). The connector is configured so that a connection resistance between the housings (10, 20) and an operation resistance on the lever (40) reach their maximums at substantially the same time. Thus, a separate resistance generator is unnecessary, and an operator is less likely to erroneously stop the connecting operation upon an increase in the operation resistance caused by a separate resistance generator. Accordingly, the two housings (10, 20) can be connected properly with high reliability.

Abstract: Male housings (10, 20) have erroneous connection preventing structures (32, 16), and the connection of the housings (10, 20) is prevented at a preventing position (PP) located before an initial connection position (ICP) if the housings (10, 20) are connected erroneously. When a lever (40) is rotated in this state, push-back surfaces (49) formed at opening edges of cam grooves (44) push cam pins (13) back to separate the two housings (10, 20). Thus, the lever (40) can be prevented from damage.

Abstract: A lever-type connector has two housings (10, 20) and a lever (40) with a cam for facilitating the connection of the housings (10, 20). The connector is configured so that a connection resistance between the housings (10, 20) and an operation resistance on the lever (40) reach their maximums at substantially the same time. Thus, a separate resistance generator is unnecessary, and an operator is less likely to erroneously stop the connecting operation upon an increase in the operation resistance caused by a separate resistance generator. Accordingly, the two housings (10, 20) can be connected properly with high reliability.

Abstract: A mold-removal hole (60) formed upon forming a locking portion (39) and communicating with a tab insertion hole (31) is formed before a locking portion (39) by partly cutting a wall of the tab insertion hole (31). As this mold-removal hole (60) is formed, preventing portions (70) for preventing a displacement of the tab (22) inserted into the tab insertion hole (31) toward the mold-removal hole (60) are formed on the wall of the tab insertion hole (31) at the lateral sides of the mold-removal hole (60) and at the opposite widthwise outer sides of the locking portion (39). By displacing the position of the locking portion (39) toward one widthwise side from the center of the cavity (32), the preventing portion (70) provided at the other side is set to have an increased area of engagement with the tab (22).

Abstract: A female connector (10) is assembled with a holder (20) on a dashboard (A) and a male connector (30) is assembled with an instrument panel (B). The male connector (30) has a receptacle 32 with a cut-out (35) for receiving the female connector (10). Guide pins (11) of the female connector (10) slide along guide grooves (25) of the holder (20) to displace the female connector (10) normal to an assembling direction and to connect the female connector (10) with the male connector (30). A movable protecting portion (40) is displaced from a protecting position where the movable protecting portion (40) covers the cut-out (35) to a retracted position RP where the movable protecting portion (40) is retracted from the cut-out (35) by sliding movements of guide pins (42) of the movable protection portion (40) along guide grooves (29) of the holder (20).

Abstract: Male and female housings (10, 20) have erroneous connection preventing structures (32, 16), and the connection of the housings (10, 20) is prevented at a preventing position (PP) located before an initial connection position (ICP) if the housings (10, 20) are connected erroneously. When a lever (40) is rotated in this state, push-back surfaces (49) formed at opening edges of cam grooves (44) push cam pins (13) back to separate the two housings (10, 20). Thus, the lever (40) can be prevented from damage.

Abstract: Ribs (16) are formed on the outer surface of a female housing main body (13) such that the front ends thereof are retracted from the front end of the female housing main body (13). By setting this retracted distance (D) larger than a dimension (C) along depth of connection over which first guiding surfaces (26A) are formed, the ribs (16) enter guide grooves (25) after the female housing main body (13) is guided to substantially correct its disalignment. Thus, second guiding surfaces (26B) can be smaller, thereby making the opening edges of the guide grooves (25) smaller. This enables the miniaturization of a connector provided with the ribs (16) for the twisting connection preventing purpose.

Abstract: A housing (30) has a terminal accommodation part (32) for accommodating a terminal (20) and a circular arc wall (34) constituting an insertion opening (36) into which a socket (10) can be inserted. Slits (41) are formed on an upper end of the circular arc wall (34) to form elastic pieces (42). A protrusion (44) projects inwardly on each elastic piece (42) and is disposed to cover an upper portion of each contact piece (25) of the terminal (20). A guide surface (46) inclines inward on each protrusion (44). The lower end of the socket (10) slides on the guide surface (46) so that the socket (10) becomes almost coaxial with the insertion opening (36).

Abstract: An electric wire cover (60) is mounted on a lower portion of a housing (31) of a female connector (30). The electric wire cover (60) is accommodated inside a rectangular box-shaped connector-holding part (22) formed on a bottom wall (20A) of a lower cover (20), and an elastic piece (63) is interposed between the female connector (30) and the connector-holding part (22). Thus, the female connector (30) is supported for elastic displacement in a wait state. In consequence of mounting of the lower cover (20) on the body (11), the female connector (30) is connected to a connector connection part (13) of the body (11) of an electrical connection box. Thus in the case where there is a dislocation between the female connector (30) and the connector connection part (13), the female connector (30) shifts along the bottom wall (20A) of the lower cover (20), thus absorbing the dislocation.