Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

A connector is provided with a first housing (10), a second housing (20), a slider (30) and a detector (40). The detector (40) includes rotary shafts (43A) and the first housing (10) includes rotation supports (19B) into which the rotary shafts (43A) are fit to rotatably support the detector (40). Thus, when the detector (40) is viewed from the back side of the first housing (10), whether a position of a pressing portion (44) projected on the first housing (10) is aligned with a recess (26A) changes before and after a movement of the detector (40). Therefore, a detecting operation of the detector (40) can be confirmed easily.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a horizontal section showing a state where a detector is at a detecting position before a connecting operation of first and second housings.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is pushed slightly from the detecting position before the connecting operation.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is at an initial position at an initial stage of the connecting operation.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is at the initial position after the connecting operation is completed.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is pushed slightly towards slider accommodating spaces after the connecting operation is completed.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is at the detecting position after the connecting operation is completed.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section showing a state where the detector is at the initial position during a separating operation of the two housings.

FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the state where the detector is at the detecting position before the connecting operation.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the state where the detector is at the detecting position before the connecting operation.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where a slider is at an operation completing position before the connecting operation.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the state where the slider is at the operation completing position before the connecting operation.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second housing.

FIG. 13 is a vertical section showing a state where the slider and the first housing are assembled.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section showing a state where the slider is at a standby position.

FIG. 15 is a vertical section showing a state where the slider is at the operation completing position.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the first housing.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the first housing.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the first housing.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the slider.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the slider.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the slider.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the detector.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the detector.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the detector.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising: a housing (10) connectable with a mating housing (20) that has at least one mating cam (25);a movable member (30) assembled to the housing (10) for movement at an angle to a connecting direction of the housing (10) with the mating housing (20), the movable member (30) having at least one cam (34) engageable with the mating cam (25) and configured to generate a cam action for connecting the housings (10, 20) when the movable member (30) is moved; anda detector (40) at least partly exposed at an outer surface of the housing (10) and being rotatable to a detecting position (DP) when the movable member (30) is at an operation completing position (OCP), the detector (40) being prevented from rotating to the detecting position (DP) during movement of the movable member (30).

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the detector (40) is assembled at a position (IP) to substantially face an entrance path (S) for the movable member (30) in the housing (10), one of the detector (40) and the movable member (30) including a detection rib (41) disposed for sliding contact with the other of the detector (40) and the movable member (30) during operation of the movable member (30) to prevent the detector (40) from being pushed toward the entrance path (S).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the other of the detector (40) and the movable member (30) has at least one detection hole (35) for receiving the detection rib (41), and the detector (40) can be pushed to the detecting position (DP) only after the movable member (40) substantially reaches the operation completing position (OCP).

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the detection rib (41) has at least one insufficient insertion correcting surface (41A) aligned to cause a component of force to act in a direction to urge the movable member (30) to the operation completing position (OCP) by sliding in contact with an edge of the detection hole (41) if the movable member (30) is inserted insufficiently.

5. The connector of claim 2, wherein the cam (34) includes an operation area (37) aligned for connecting the housings (10, 20) and a play area (36) substantially continuous with a back end of the operation area (37), the play area (36) being disposed and aligned so that movement of the movable member (30) while the mating cam (25) is in the play area (36) does not cause a connecting operation to progress after the complete connection, and the detection rib (41) being pushed into the detection hole (35) while the mating cam (25) is in the play area (36).

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein the entrance path (S) for the movable member (30) penetrates the housing (10), and the movable member (30) can be selectively assembled from either end of the entrance path (S), and movement supports (19B) being arranged at substantially symmetrical positions in the housing (10) for making an assembling position of the detector (40) selectable depending on an assembling direction of the movable member (30).

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the movement supports (19B) are used for the detector (40) for both assembling directions of the movable member (30).

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the detector (40) includes movement preventing means (19D; 42) for engaging the housing (10) when the detector (40) reaches the detecting position (DP) and locking the detector (40) so as not to move in a returning direction.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the movement preventing means (19D; 42) includes at least one resiliently deformable lock (42) provided at one of the detector (40) and the housing (10) and an interlocking portion (19D) provided at the other and engageable with the lock (42) after the lock (42) is restored upon moving over the interlocking portion (19D).

10. A connector assembly comprising the connector of claim 1 and a mating connector connectable therewith.