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(11) | EP 1 638 175 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A connector and a connector assembly |
| (57) An object of the present invention is to miniaturize a connector. A space for permitting the entrance of a receptacle 62 of a second connector housing 60 is defined between a connection circumferential surface 14 of a first connector housing 10 and a lock arm 15. Out of the space between the connection circumferential surface 14 of the first connector housing 10 and the lock arm 15, an area (accommodation space 18) where the receptacle 62 does not enter is a dead space. A spring member 50 is accommodated into this dead space. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a space exclusively used to arrange the spring member 50 and a connector can be miniaturized as a whole. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly provided with a connection detecting function.
[0002] A known connector provided with a connection detecting function is constructed such that one of two connector housings connectable with each other includes a lock arm for locking the two connector housings in their connected state, a slider displaceable between an initial position and a detecting position, and spring members for accumulating spring forces for biasing the slider toward the detecting position as the connection of the two connector housings progresses (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-50408).
[0003] During the connection of the two connector housings, the lock arm is resiliently deformed to hold the slider at the initial position. When the two connector housings are properly connected, the lock arm resiliently returns to permit a displacement of the slider to a connecting position, whereby the slider is displaced to the detecting position by the biasing forces of the spring members. If the connecting operation should be completed with the two connector housings partly connected, the two connector housings are separated by the biasing forces of the spring members.
[0004] Since the spring members are provided at the opposite left and right sides of the lock arm in the above connector, it is necessary to ensure spaces exclusively used to arrange the spring members. Thus, it has been unavoidable to enlarge the connector as a whole.
[0005] The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to miniaturize a connector.
[0006] This object is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.
[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a connector, comprising:
a connector housing connectable with a mating connector housing of a mating connector,
a lock arm provided in or on the connector housing and engageable with the mating connector housing to lock the two connector housings in their properly connected state,
a movable member provided in or on the connector housing and displaceable between an initial position and a detecting position,
at least one biasing member provided in or on the connector housing for accumulating-a
biasing force to bias the movable member toward the detecting position as the connection
of the two connector housings progresses,
wherein:
the lock arm is positioned in a first position to hold the movable member at or near the initial position while the two connector housings are being connected,
the lock arm is positioned in a second position to permit a displacement of the slider towards or to the detecting position by the biasing force of the biasing member when the two connector housings reach the properly connected state,
a space for permitting the at least partial entrance of a receptacle of the mating connector housing is defined between a connection circumferential surface of the connector housing and the lock arm, and
out of the space between the connection circumferential surface of the connector housing and the lock arm, an area where the receptacle does not enter serves as an accommodation space for at least partly accommodating the biasing member.
[0008] The area of the space between the connection circumferential surface of the connector housing and the lock arm where the receptacle does not enter is a dead space. Since the spring member is at least partly accommodated in the dead space in the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a space exclusively-used to arrange the spring member and the connector can be miniaturized as a whole.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when positioned in the first position, the lock arm is resiliently deformed.
[0010] Preferably, when positioned in the second position, the lock arm is resiliently at least partly restored.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a connector, comprising:
a first connector housing,
a second connector housing connectable with the first connector housing,
a lock arm provided in the first connector housing and engageable with the second connector housing to lock the two connector housings in their properly connected state,
a slider provided in the first connector housing and displaceable between an initial position and a detecting position,
a spring member provided in the first connector housing for accumulating a spring
force to bias the slider toward the detecting position as the connection of the two
connector housings progresses,
wherein:
the lock arm is resiliently deformed to hold the slider at the initial position while the two connector housings are being connected,
the lock arm is resiliently restored to permit a displacement of the slider to a connecting position and the slider is displaced to the detecting position by the biasing force of the spring member when the two connector housings reach the properly connected state,
a space for permitting the entrance of a receptacle of the second connector housing is defined between a connection circumferential surface of the first connector housing and the lock arm, and
out of the space between the connection circumferential surface of the first connector housing and the lock arm, an area where the receptacle does not enter serves as an accommodation space for accommodating the spring member.
[0012] The area of the space between the connection circumferential surface of the first connector housing and the lock arm where the receptacle does not enter is a dead space. Since the spring member is accommodated in the dead space in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a space exclusively used to arrange the spring member and the connector can be miniaturized as a whole.
[0014] Further preferably, an area of the lock arm corresponding to the accommodation space is displaced in a direction toward the connection circumferential surface of the connector housing in the process of connecting the two connector housings.
[0015] Still further preferably, an escaping portion capable of accommodating a part of the biasing member is formed in a surface of the lock arm at least partly substantially facing the accommodation space.
[0016] Most preferably, the lock arm can undergo a seesaw-like resilient deformation,
an area of the lock arm corresponding to the accommodation space is displaced in a direction toward the connection circumferential surface of the first connector housing in the process of connecting the two connector housings, and
an escaping portion capable of accommodating a part of the spring member is formed in a surface of the lock arm facing the accommodation space.
[0017] Since the escaping portion capable of accommodating a part of the spring member is formed in the surface of the lock arm facing the accommodation space, a large volume of the accommodation space can be ensured even if the accommodation space becomes smaller as the lock arm is resiliently deformed. Therefore, the spring member can be enlarged, which can, in turn, improve the reliability of a connection detecting function.
[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable member is held at the initial position by a semi-locking construction to prevent the movable member from moving towards or to the detecting position unless a specified for or grater is applied to the movable member.
[0019] Preferably, the biasing member includes therein an accumulated biasing force when the movable member is positioned at the initial position.
[0020] Most preferably, the movable member is pushed at least along a connecting direction by engagement of the receptacle of the mating connector housing upon connection of the two connector housings.
[0021] According to the invention, there is further provided a connector assembly comprising a connector according to the above invention or a preferred embodiment having a first connector housing and a mating connector having a second connector housing being connectable with the first connector housing.
[0022] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a section showing a state where a first and a second connector housings are separated in one preferred embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a section showing a process of connecting the two connector housings,
FIG. 3 is a section showing the process of connecting the two connector housings,
FiG. 4 is a section showing a properly connected state of the two connector housings,
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where a slider of the first connector housing is detached,
FIG. 6 is a front view of the first connector housing,
FIG. 7 is a rear view of the first connector housing,
FIG. 8 is a section along A-A of FIG. 5,
FIG. 9 is a section along B-B of FIG. 7,
FIG. 10 is a front view of the slider,
FIG. 11 is a rear view of the slider,
FIG. 12 is a side view of the slider, and
FIG. 13 is a section of the slider.
[0023] Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. A connector of this embodiment is constructed such that a first connector housing 10 and a second connector housing 60 are connected or connectable with each other, wherein the first connector housing 10 is provided with a slider 30 (as a preferred movable member) and a spring member 50 (as a preferred biasing member). A side of the connector housing 10, 60 to be mated with the other connector housing 60, 10 is referred to as front in the following.
[0024] The first connector housing 10 is made e.g. of a synthetic resin and integrally or unitarily formed with a housing main body 11 for at least partly accommodating one or more female terminal fittings (not shown) at one or more stages and a tubular fitting portion 12 for at least partly surrounding the housing main body 11. A retainer 13 preferably of the front type is mounted or mountable into or onto the housing main body 11 preferably from front, and the outer circumferential surface of the front retainer 13 and the outer circumferential surface of the housing main body 11 in an area located near or behind the front retainer 13 serve as a connection circumferential surface 14, on which a receptacle 62 of the second connector housing 60 is at least partly fitted from front. The tubular fitting portion 12 projects substantially forward, and the receptacle 62 is at least partly fittable into a tubular space S between the housing main body 11 and the tubular fitting portion 12 substantially from front.
[0025] A lock arm 15 is provided on a lateral surface (preferably atop) the housing main body 11. The lock arm 15 preferably is, as a whole, in the form of a long plate extending substantially in forward and backward directions (directions substantially parallel with a connecting direction CD of the two connector housings 10, 60) and a lock projection 16 is formed to project downward (direction substantially toward the connection circumferential surface 14 of the housing main body 11) from or near the front end. At an intermediate position of the lock arm 15 preferably slightly behind its longitudinal center, one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and right) leg portions 17 extend downward (direction substantially toward the connection circumferential surface 14 of the housing main body 11) from the (preferably opposite) lateral (left and/or right) edge(s). The bottom ends of the leg portions 17 are substantially continuous with the connection circumferential surface 14. In other words, the lock arm 15 is supported on the connection circumferential surface 14 of the housing main body 11 at both leg portions 17, and a clearance for permitting the at least partial entrance of the receptacle 62 is defined between the connection circumferential surface 14 and the inward (lower) surface of the lock arm 15. Although being in such a posture substantially parallel with the connection circumferential surface 14 (substantially parallel with the connecting direction CD of the two connector housings 10, 60) in a free state, the lock arm undergoes such a resilient displacement as to take a posture inclined upward toward the front (or away from the housing main body 11) with the leg portions 17 as supporting, points in the connecting process. In other words, the lock arm 15 is capable of undergoing seesaw-like displacements.
[0026] The receptacle 62 is at least partly inserted only in an area of the clearance between the lock-arm 15 and the connection circumferential surface 14 before the leg portions 17, and an area of this clearance behind the leg portions 17 serves as an accommodation space 18 for at least partly accommodating the spring member 50 (as the preferred biasing member) to be described later. In an area of the lower surface (surface facing the connection circumferential surface 14) of the lock arm 15 corresponding to the accommodation space 18 behind the leg portions 17 is formed an escaping portion 19 preferably arcuate when viewed in forward and backward directions (see e.g. FIG. 7). The curvature of the arc of this escaping portion 19 preferably is substantially equal to that of the outer circumference of the spring member 50.
[0027] A first area (preferably a substantially upper-half area) of the tubular fitting portion 12 serves as a covering portion 20 for at least partly covering the lock arm 15, the slider 30 and/or the spring member 50 from outside (from above, left and/or right). A space above the lock arm 15 in the inner space of the covering portion 20 serves as a slider space 21 for at least partly accommodating the slider 30. A substantially straight guide groove 22 extending substantially in forward and backward directions (or substantially in the connecting direction CD) is formed in each of the inner surfaces of the lateral (left and right) walls of the slider space 21, and a pair of lateral (left and right) receiving portions 23 are formed on the outer (ceiling) surface of the slider space 21. A front wall 24 is formed at the front end of the slider space 21, and the rear end of the upper plate forming the slider space 21 serves as a front-stop portion 25. Further, one or more, preferably a pair of semi-locking projections 26 are formed at the lateral (left and/or right) edge(s) of the connection circumferential surface 14. The semi-locking projections 26 are formed such that the locking function is released when a force exceeding a specified (predetermined or predeterminable) force is applied thereto.
[0028] The slider 30 is made e.g. of a synthetic resin and includes a main portion 31 preferably substantially in the form of a rectangular plate narrow and long in forward and backward directions (or substantially in the connecting direction CD) as a whole, and a spring holding portion 32 substantially continuous with the rear end of the main portion 31. The main portion 31 is at least partly mounted or mountable into the first connector housing 10 with the plate surface thereof oriented in a direction substantially parallel with the lock arm 15 (horizontal direction or substantially parallel to the connecting direction CD). One or more, preferably a pair of guide ribs 33 narrow and long substantially in forward and backward directions are formed on the (preferably opposite) lateral (left and/or right) surface(s) of the main portion 31; one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) retaining projections 34 are formed on the lateral (upper) surface of the main portion 31; and a displacement restricting portion 35 projecting substantially inward or downward is formed at or near the front end of the main portion 31. An unlocking portion 36 capable of undergoing such a displacement as to resiliently incline with respect to the main portion 31 is formed at or near the rear end of the main portion 31.
[0029] The spring holding portion 32 includes one or more, preferably a pair of thick side walls 37 extending inward or downward from or near the rear end of the main portion 31, a frame portion 38 preferably substantially U-shaped in front view and extending further forward from the front ends of the opposite side walls 37, and a rear wall 39 connecting the rear ends of the side walls 37. A space having an open bottom end and surrounded by the opposite side walls 37, the frame portion 38 and the rear wall 39 serves as a spring accommodating portion 40 for accommodating the spring member 50. The spring accommodating portion 40 is open at lateral (upper and bottom) sides, and the inner surfaces of the left and right walls preferably have the substantially same curvature as the arcuate escaping portion 19 of the lock arm 15 and are substantially concentric with the escaping portion 19 with the slider 30 assembled into the first connector housing 10. A penetrating space 41 penetrating substantially in forward and backward directions-(or substantially in the connecting direction CD) is formed between the spring accommodating portion 40 and the unlocking portion 36. The spring holding portion 32 is also formed with one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) semi-locking pieces 42 in the form of cantilevers extending forward.
[0030] At least one spring member 50 and at least one spring receiving body 51 are at least partly accommodated in the spring accommodating portion 40. The spring member 50 preferably is a compression coil spring and is brought or bringable into contact with the rear wall 39 from front with the longitudinal axis thereof oriented substantially along forward and backward directions (directions substantially parallel with the connecting direction CD of the two connector housings 10, 60 and/or a moving direction MD of the slider 30). The spring receiving body 51 is comprised of a fitting/holding portion 52 connected to, preferably at least partly fitted into a front end portion of the spring member 50 from front, a widened wall 53 formed at the front end of the fitting/holding portion 52 and having a larger outer diameter than the fitting/holding portion 52, and a pressable projection 54 projecting substantially forward from a lateral portion, preferably a substantially upper-half area, of the front end surface of the widened wall 53. An area of the front surface of the widened wall 53 where the pressable projection 54 is not formed serves as a contact surface 55 which is brought or bringable substantially into contact with a front wall 43 of the frame portion 38 substantially from behind. At this time, the spring member 50 preferably is resiliently compressed along longitudinal direction. It should be understood that even though in the present embodiment the spring member 50 as the preferred biasing member is a coil spring, any other biasing member such as a resilient block (e.g. made of rubber or the like) may be used according to the invention.
[0031] The second connector housing 60 is made e.g. of a synthetic resin and includes a substantially block-shaped terminal holding portion 61 for holding one or more male terminal fittings 65 and the receptade 62 projecting substantially forward or along the connecting direction CD from the terminal holding portion 61. One or more tabs 66 at the leading ends of the respective male terminal fitting(s) 65 project forward from the front end surface of the terminal holding portion 61 and at least partly surrounded by the receptacle 62. The (preferably lateral or upper end of the) front edge of the receptacle 62 serves as a pressing portion 63, and a lock protrusion 64 is formed on the (preferably upper) outer surface of the receptacle 62. Next, functions of this embodiment are described.
[0032] The slider 30 preferably having the spring member 50 and the spring receiving body 51 assembled therewith is assembled into the slider space 21 preferably substantially from behind the first connector housing 10. Upon assembling, the one or more guide ribs 33 are at least partly fitted into the respective one or more guide grooves 22 while a part of the slider 30 behind the leg portions 17 of the lock arm 15 is inserted into the penetrating space 41. When the slider 30 is pushed to a front-most initial position, the front end surface of the unlocking portion 36 comes substantially into abutment against the front-stop portion 25 of the tubular fitting portion 12 to stop the slider 30 at its front end position, and the semi-locking pieces 42 are engaged with the semi-locking projections 26 to prevent the slider 30 from returning backward. As a result, the slider 30 is held substantially at the initial position IP (FIG. 2).
[0033] With the slider held at the initial position IP, the spring accommodating portion 40, the spring member 50 and the spring receiving body 51 are or can be at least partly accommodated into the accommodation space 18, wherein the upper opening of the spring accommodating portion 40 is at least partly covered by the area of the lock arm 15 where the escaping portion 19 is formed and the bottom opening thereof is at least partly closed by the area of the outer circumferential surface of the housing main-body 11 located behind the front retainer 13. While the lock arm 15 is substantially not resiliently deformed, a clearance for permitting the inclining displacement of the lock arm 15 for unlocking is defined between the lower surface of the escaping portion 19 and the outer (upper) surface of the spring member 50.
[0034] Since the lock arm 15 is located at a position lower or more inwardly than the main portion 31 of the slider 30 while the lock arm 15 is substantially not resiliently deformed, the slider 30 can be slid backward (toward the detecting position). Similarly, while the lock arm 15 is substantially not resiliently deformed, the lower surface of the unlocking portion 36 of the slider 30 is in contact with the outer (upper) surface of the rear end of the lock arm 15 or substantially opposed (or facing) thereto with a slight clearance therebetween.
[0035] In this state, the first and second connector housings 10, 60 are or can be connected. Upon connecting, the receptacle 62 of the second connector housing 60 is at least partly fitted into the tubular space S of the first connector housing 10. As the receptacle 62 is fitted, the pressing portion 63 at the front end of the receptacle 62 comes substantially into contact with the front end surface of the pressable projection 54 of the spring receiving body 51 as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably almost simultaneously, the lock arm 15 is inclined or deflected to bring its front part outward or upward (or away from the the receptacle 62 at least partly inserted into the housing main body 11) as the lock projection 16 moves onto the lock protrusion 64 (see FIG. 3), whereby the front end of the lock arm 15 comes substantially into engagement with the displacement preventing portion 35 at the front end of the slider 30 substantially from inside and/or behind. This engagement temporarily locks or prevents the slider 30 from sliding backward (toward the detecting position DP). At this time, a part (upper end) of the spring member 50 enters the escaping portion 19.
[0036] Thereafter, as the connection of the two connector housings 10, 60 progresses, the spring receiving body 51 pushed by the receptacle 62 moves backward with the slider 30 kept prevented from displacing backward by the lock arm 15 as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the spring member 50 is resiliently compressed and such a biasing force as to extend the spring member 50 in forward and backward directions (or substantially along the connecting direction CD) is accumulated in the spring member 50. This biasing force acts as a force to push the second connector housing 60 backward (separating direction) with respect to the first connector housing 10 and, simultaneously, acts as a force to press the slider 30 toward the rear side of the first connector housing 10 (toward the detecting position DP) with respect to the two connector housings 10, 60.
[0037] When the two connector housings 10, 60 are properly connected, the lock projection 16 passes the lock protrusion 64 as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the lock arm 15 is resiliently at least partly restored to engage the lock projection 16 with the lock protrusion 64. As a result, the two connector housings 10, 60 are locked in their connected state. As the lock arm 15 is resiliently at least partly restored, the lock arm 15 is disengaged from the displacement preventing portion 35. Then, the semi-locking pieces 42 and the semi-locking projections 26 are disengaged from each other by the biasing force accumulated in the spring member 50 (which exceeds the specified (predetermined or predeterminable) force to be applied to the semi-locking pieces 42 to release their locking function), whereby the slider 30 is slid backward to reach the detecting position DP (see FIG. 4). That the two connector housings 10, 60 have reached the properly connected state can be detected by the displacement of the slider 30 to the detecting position DP.
[0038] Different from the above, if the connecting operation of the two connector housings 10, 60 is stopped halfway, the spring receiving body 51 pushes the receptacle 62 back by the biasing force accumulated in the resiliently compressed spring member 50 as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the two connector housings 10, 60 are forcibly-separated from each other due to the accumulated biasing force. That the two connector housings 10, 60 have not reached the properly connected state can be detected by the separating movements of the two connector housings 10, 60.
[0039] Upon separating the two connector housings 10, 60 properly connected, the slider 30 is slid to the initial position IP in front while resiliently compressing the spring member 50 and the unlocking portion 36 is pressed down at this position. Then, the rear end of the lock arm 15 is pressed down by the unlocking portion 36 and the lock arm 15 is inclined to disengage the lock projection 16 from the lock protrusion 64. Upon the disengagement of the lock projection 16 from the lock protrusion 64, the two connector housings 10, 60 are forcibly separated by the biasing force accumulated in the spring member 50 as the slider 30 is slid to the initial position IP.
[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, the space S for permitting the at least partial entrance of the receptacle 62 of the second connector housing 60 is defined between the connection circumferential surface 14 of the first connector housing 10 and the lock arm 15 and, out of the space S between the connection circumferential surface 14 of the first connector housing 10 and the lock arm 15, the area where the receptacle 62 does not enter serves as the accommodation space 18 for at least partly accommodating the spring member 50. This accommodation space 18 is a dead space because the receptacle 62 does not enter. Since the spring member 50 is at least partly accommodated in the dead space in this way, it is not necessary to provide a space exclusively used to arrange the spring member 50. As a result, the connector can be miniaturized as a whole.
[0041] The lock arm 15 can undergo a seesaw-like resilient deformation and the area of the lock arm 15 corresponding to the accommodation space 18 is displaced in the direction toward the connection circumferential surface 14 of the first connector housing 10 in the process of connecting the two connector housings 10, 60. In this embodiment, the escaping portion 19 for accommodating a part of the spring member 50 is formed in the surface of the lock arm 15 substantially facing the accommodation space 18. Since the escaping portion 19 is formed in the surface of the lock arm 15 facing the accommodation space 18 in this way, a large volume of the accommodation space 18 can be advantageously ensured even if the accommodation space 18 becomes smaller as the lock arm 15 is resiliently deformed. Therefore, the spring member 50 can be enlarged, which can, in turn, improve the reliability of the connection detecting function.
[0042] Accordingly, to miniaturize a connector, a space S for permitting the at least partial entrance of a receptacle 62 of a second connector housing 60 is defined between a connection circumferential surface 14 of a first connector housing 10 and a lock arm 15. Out of the space S between the connection circumferential surface 14 of the first connector housing 10 and the lock arm 15, an area (accommodation space 18) where the receptacle 62 does not enter is a dead space S. A spring member 50 as a preferred biasing member is at least partly accommodated into this dead space S. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a space exclusively used to arrange the spring member 50 and a connector can be miniaturized as a whole.
<Other Embodiments>
[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims.
(1) Although only one spring member is provided in the foregoing embodiment, a plurality of spring members may be provided according to the present invention.
(2) Although the area of the lock arm facing the accommodation space is locally recessed to form the escaping portion in the foregoing embodiment, such a locally recessed escaping portion may be not provided according to the present invention.
(3) Although the escaping portion has an arcuate cross section in the foregoing embodiment, it may have an elliptic, oblong, rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular cross section other than the arcuate cross section.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1. A connector, comprising:
a connector housing (10) connectable with a mating connector housing (60) of a mating connector,
a lock arm (15) provided in or on the connector housing (10) and engageable with the mating connector housing (60) to lock the two connector housings (10, 60) in their properly connected state,
a movable member (30) provided in or on the connector housing (10) and displaceable between an initial position (IP) and a detecting position (DP),
at least one biasing member (50) provided in or on the connector housing (10) for
accumulating a biasing force to bias the movable member (30) toward the detecting
position (DP) as the connection of the two connector housings (10, 60) progresses,
wherein:
the lock arm (15) is positioned in a first position to hold the movable member (30) at or near the initial position (IP) while the two connector housings (10, 60) are being connected,
the lock arm (15) is positioned in a second position to permit a displacement of the slider towards or to the detecting position (DP) by the biasing force of the biasing member (50) when the two connector housings (10, 60) reach the properly connected state,
a space (S) for permitting the at least partial entrance of a receptacle (62) of the mating connector housing (60) is defined between a connection circumferential surface (14) of the connector housing (10) and the lock arm (15), and
out of the space (S, 18) between the connection circumferential surface (14) of the connector housing (10) and the lock arm (15), an area (18) where the receptacle (62) does not enter serves as an accommodation space (18) for at least partly accommodating the biasing member (50).
2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein, when positioned in the first position,
the lock arm (15) is resiliently deformed.
3. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, when positioned
in the second position, the lock arm (15) is resiliently at least partly restored.
4. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the lock arm
(15) can undergo a seesaw-like resilient deformation.
5. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein an area of the
lock arm (15) corresponding to the accommodation space (14) is displaced in a direction
toward the connection circumferential surface (14) of the connector housing (10) in
the process of connecting the two connector housings (10, 60).
6. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein an escaping
portion (19) capable of accommodating a part of the biasing member (50) is formed
in a surface of the lock arm (15) at least partly substantially facing the accommodation
space (14).
7. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the movable
member (30) is held at the initial position (IP) by a semi-locking construction (42,
26) to prevent the movable member (30) from moving towards or to the detecting position
(DP) unless a specified for or grater is applied to the movable member (30).
8. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing
member (50) includes therein an accumulated biasing force when the movable member
(30) is positioned at the initial position (IP).
9. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the movable
member (30) is pushed at least along a connecting direction (CD) by engagement of
the receptacle (62) of the mating connector housing (60) upon connection of the two
connector housings (10, 60).
10. A connector assembly comprising a connector according to one or more of the preceding
claims having a first connector housing (10) and a mating connector having a second
connector housing (60) being connectable with the first connector housing (10).