Lock structure

Abstract

There is provided a lock structure of two articles which are attached to each other by fitting one article on the other article. The lock structure includes a lock arm formed at one of the two articles, and an arm reception portion which has a retaining portion for retaining engagement with the lock arm, and is formed at the other of the two articles. During the time when the one article is attached to the other article, the lock arm is brought into abutting engagement with the arm reception portion, and is elastically deformed to slide past the retaining portion, and becomes engaged with the retaining portion. The arm reception portion has a guide portion extending to the retaining portion, and a distal end portion of the lock arm is received between the guide portion and an outer surface of the other article.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector to which one preferred embodiment of a lock structure of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inner housing of the connector of FIG. 1, showing its appearance.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outer housing of the connector of FIG. 1, showing its appearance.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the connector of FIG. 1 in its provisionally-fixed condition.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a process of shifting of the connector of FIG. 1 from the provisionally-fixed condition to a completely-fixed condition.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the connector of FIG. 1 in the completely-fixed condition.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inner housing of a first modified example of the connector of FIG. 1, showing its appearance.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an inner housing of a second modified example of the connector of FIG. 1, showing its appearance.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an inner housing of a third modified example of the connector of FIG. 1, showing its appearance.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a lock structure of conventional connector housings.

Claims

1. A lock structure of first and second articles which are fitted to each other, comprising: a lock arm formed in said first article; andan arm reception portion which has a retaining portion for retaining engagement with said lock arm in said second article,wherein said first and second articles are fitted to each other by fitting said first article to said second article, and during the time when said first article is attached to said second article;said lock arm is brought into abutting engagement with said arm reception portion, and is elastically deformed to slide past said retaining portion, and becomes engaged with said retaining portion; andsaid arm reception portion has a guide portion extending to said retaining portion, and a distal end portion of said lock arm is received between said guide portion and an outer surface of said other article.

2. A connector comprising: a tubular inner housing having a generally rectangular cross-section;an outer housing capable of fitting to the said inner housing;an elastically deformable lock arm formed on one of said inner housing and said outer housing, extending in a connector fitting direction of said tubular body; anda strip-like arm reception portion formed on the other of said inner housing and said outer housing, extending in the connector fitting direction of said tubular body;wherein a provisionally-retaining portion and a completely-retaining portion are formed respectively at a first end and a second end of said arm reception portion, so that a guide groove is defined along the connector fitting direction between said provisionally-retaining portion and said completely-retaining portion, andsaid inner housing and said outer housing are provisionally fixable to each other by engaging said lock arm with said provisionally-retaining portion,said inner housing and said outer housing are completely fixable to each other by engaging said lock arm with said completely-retaining portion, after moving said lock arm from said provisionally-retaining portion to said completely-retaining portion in said guide groove.

3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said arm reception portion has a guide portion extending to said completely-retaining portion, and a distal end portion of said lock arm is received between said guide portion and an outer surface of the other of said inner housing and said outer housing.

4. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said lock arm is formed in said outer housing, and said arm reception portion is formed in said inner housing, and said outer housing further including a receiving groove formed along the connector fitting direction to receive said arm reception portion therein.

5. A connector according to claim 2, wherein a retaining claw is formed on and projects laterally from a distal end of said lock arm, and a front surface of the retaining claw is formed into an inclining surface.

6. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said provisionally-retaining portion is in a form of a recess formed in one side edge surface of said arm reception portion.

7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein said guide groove is smaller in depth than said provisionally-retaining portion and said first end of said guide groove communicates with said provisionally-retaining portion with a step formed therebetween.

8. A connector according to claim 2, wherein an interconnecting portion which interconnects said second end of said guide groove an said completely-retaining portion forms a step.