Connector

Abstract

A connector has a housing (10) and a slider (30). The slider (30) has a cam plate (31) that can be inserted into an accommodation space (S) of the housing (10). At least one lock (32, 38) is formed in the cam plate (31). A hole (54) is formed on a rear surface of the housing (10) and communicates with the accommodation space (S). A to-be-locked portion (53) is formed in the accommodation space (S) for engaging the lock (32, 38) to hold the slider (30) at either of a wait position and a fit-in position in the accommodation space (S). The to-be-locked portion (53) can be formed via the hole (54) to enable a simple construction for a molding die, to provide good molding efficiency, and to make cost low.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a slider of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a female housing of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a state in which an operation of fitting both housings in each other has been started.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the operation of fitting both housings in each other has been completed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the operation of fitting both housings in each other has been started.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the operation of fitting both housings in each other has been completed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a state before a slider is mounted on the female housing.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the slider is disposed at a wait position.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the slider is disposed at a fit-in position.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the state in which the slider is disposed at the fit-in position.

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the state in which the slider is disposed at the fit-in position.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the state in which the slider is disposed at the fit-in position.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing the female housing.

FIG. 14 is a rear view showing the female housing.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing the female housing.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the female housing.

FIG. 17 is a partly cut-out plan view showing the female housing.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the slider.

FIG. 19 is a partly cut-out plan view showing the slider.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing the slider.

FIG. 21 is a rear view showing a state in which a slider of a second embodiment is disposed at a wait position.

FIG. 22 is a rear view showing a state in which the slider is disposed at a fit-in position.

FIG. 23 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the slider is disposed at the wait position.

FIG. 24 is a vertical sectional view showing the state in which the slider is disposed at the fit-in position.

FIG. 25 is a partly cut-out plan view showing a female housing.

Claims

1. A connector for connection with a mating housing (20) that has at least one cam pin (25) projecting therefrom, the connector comprising: a housing (10; 60) having opposite front and rear ends, the front end being configured for mating with the mating housing (20) along a mating direction, the housing (10; 60) being formed with at least one accommodation space (S) open in at least one direction transverse to the mating direction, at least one wall extending transverse to the mating direction, at least one hole (54; 63) being formed through the wall and communicating with the accommodation space (S), at least one to-be-locked portion (53; 62) disposed on a receiving surface (17C) in said accommodation space (S) and aligned with the hole (53; 62); anda slider (30; 65) having at least one cam plate (31; 66) movably accommodated in said accommodation space (S), the cam plate (31; 66) having at least one cam groove (34) configured for engaging the cam pin (25) and generating a cam action for mating the housing (10; 60) and the mating housing (20) in response to moving the slider (30; 65), at least one lock (32, 38; 67) formed in said cam plate (31; 66) and being elastically deformable towards and away from the receiving surface (17C) in said accommodation space (S), a locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) formed on the lock (32, 38; 67) and projecting from a surface of the cam plate (31; 66) towards the receiving surface (17C), said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) being engageable with said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) for holding said slider (30; 65) at a predetermined position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing (10; 60) has at least one escape space (12B) for preventing said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said receiving surface (17C) from interfering during movement of said slider (30; 65).

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) are disposed and configured for selectively holding said slider (30; 65) at either of a wait position where said follower pin (25) can be received at an entrance of said cam groove (34) and a fit-in position where said housings (10, 20; 60) are mated.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein two to-be-locked portions (53; 62) are provided along a moving direction of said slider (30; 65); and said locking projection being engageable with selected ones said to-be-locked portions (53; 62) for locking said cam plate (31; 66) selectively at one of said wait position and said fit-in position.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said accommodation space (S) penetrates through said housing (10; 60) so that said slider (30; 65) can be inserted into said housing (10; 60) from either of two opposite sides thereof.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein a guide (31A) is formed on said cam plate (31; 66) and a guide receiving portion (17B) is formed on a wall of said accommodation space (S), said guide receiving portion (17B) matching said guide (31A) when said cam plate (31; 66) is inserted in a proper orientation into said accommodation space (S), said guide receiving portion (17B) being offset from the guide (31A) when the cam plate (31; 66) is oriented improperly for preventing insertion of the cam plate (31; 66) into said accommodation space (S).

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein said slider (30; 65) comprises a pair of cam plates (31; 66) and an operation portion (33) connecting ends of said cam plates (31; 66) to each other.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the cam plate (31; 66) has a peripheral edge, a flexible space (35) of the lock (32, 38) being spaced in from the peripheral edge of the cam plate (31; 66).

9. A connector for connection with a mating housing (20) that has at least one cam pin (25) projecting therefrom, the connector comprising: a housing (10; 60) having opposite front and rear ends, the front end being configured for mating with the mating housing (20) along a mating direction, the housing (10; 60) being formed with an accommodation space (S) open in at least one direction transverse to the mating direction, a wall extending transverse to the mating direction, at least one hole (54; 63) being formed through the wall in the mating direction and communicating with the accommodation space (S), at least one to-be-locked portion (53; 62) disposed on a receiving surface (17C) in said accommodation space (S) and aligned with the hole (53; 62); anda slider (30; 65) having a cam plate (31; 66) movably accommodated in said accommodation space (S), the cam plate (31; 66) having a cam groove (34) configured for engaging the cam pin (25) and generating a cam action for mating the housing (10; 60) and the mating housing (20) in response to moving the slider (30; 65), at least one lock (32, 38; 67) formed in said cam plate (31; 66) and being elastically deformable towards and away from the receiving surface (17C) in said accommodation space (S), a locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) formed on the lock (32, 38; 67) and projecting towards the receiving surface (17C), said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) being engageable with said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) for holding said slider (30; 65) in at least two predetermined positions.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the housing (10; 60) has at least one escape space (12B) for preventing said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said receiving surface (17C) from interfering during movement of said slider (30; 65).

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) are disposed and configured for selectively holding said slider (30; 65) at either of a wait position where said follower pin (25) can be received at an entrance of said cam groove (34) and a fit-in position where said housings (10, 20; 60) are mated.

12. The connector of claim 9, wherein the cam plate (31; 66) has a peripheral edge, a flexible space (35) of the lock (32, 38) being spaced in from the peripheral edge of the cam plate (31; 66).

13. A connector for connection with a mating housing (20) that has at least one cam pin (25) projecting therefrom, the connector comprising: a housing (10; 60) having opposite front and rear ends, the front end being configured for mating with the mating housing (20) along a mating direction, the housing (10; 60) being formed with an accommodation space (S) open in at least one direction transverse to the mating direction, at least one to-be-locked portion (53; 62) disposed on a receiving surface (17C) in said accommodation space (S); anda slider (30; 65) having a cam plate (31; 66) movably accommodated in said accommodation space (S), the cam plate (31; 66) having a peripheral edge and a cam groove (34) for engaging the cam pin (25), at least one lock (32, 38; 67) formed in said cam plate (31; 66), said lock (32, 38; 67) being spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge so that all of said lock (32, 38; 67) is surrounded by said cam plate (31; 66), said lock (32, 38; 67) being engageable with said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) for holding said slider (30; 65) in at least two predetermined positions.

14. The connector of claim 13, further comprising a locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) formed on the lock (32, 38; 67) and projecting towards the receiving surface (17C), said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) being engageable with said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) for holding said slider (30; 65) in at least one of two predetermined positions.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the housing (10; 60) has at least one escape space (12B) for preventing said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said receiving surface (17C) from interfering during movement of said slider (30; 65).

16. The connector of claim 16, wherein the cam groove (34) intersects the peripheral edge of the cam plate (31; 66) in a position facing the front end of the housing (10; 60), said locking projection (32A, 38A; 67A) and said to-be-locked portion (53; 62) being disposed and configured for selectively holding said slider (30; 65) at either of a wait position where said follower pin (25) can be received at an entrance of said cam groove (34) and a fit-in position where said housings (10, 20; 60) are mated.