Connector with an operating member mountable in either of two opposite orientations and locks for locking the operating member at an initial position and a connection position in either orientation
A moving direction of an operating member ( 11 ) from an initial position toward a connection position with respect to a housing ( 10 ) is selectable from directions along a first movement path and a second movement path opposite to each other. The housing ( 10 ) includes a first lock portion ( 25 ) and a second lock portion ( 26 ) at positions line-symmetrical with respect to a center of a length along the moving direction of the operating member ( 11 ). The first and second lock portions ( 25, 26 ) lock and hold the operating member ( 11 ) selected to move along the first movement path respectively at the initial position and the connection position and lock and hold the operating member ( 11 ) selected to move along the second movement path respectively at the connection position and the initial position.
1. A connector, comprising:
a housing ( 10 , 10 A) connectable to a mating housing ( 12 ); and
an operating member ( 11 , 11 A) linearly movable between an initial position and a connection position along the housing ( 10 , 10 A) and configured to engage the mating housing ( 12 ) to generate a cam action for urging the housing ( 10 ) and the mating housing ( 12 ) toward or away from each other during a movement of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) on the housing ( 10 , 10 A),
wherein:
a moving direction of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) from the initial position toward the connection position with respect to the housing ( 10 , 10 A) is selectable from directions along a first movement path and a second movement path opposite to each other;
the housing ( 10 , 10 A) includes a first lock ( 25 , 25 A) and a second lock ( 26 , 26 A) at positions line-symmetrical with respect to a center of a length along the moving direction of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A);
the first lock ( 25 , 25 A) locks and holds the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) at the initial position and the second lock ( 26 , 26 A) locks and holds the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) at the connection position when the operating member ( 11 ) is moved along the first movement path; and
the second lock ( 26 ) locks and holds the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) at the initial position and the first lock ( 25 , 25 A) locks and holds the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) at the connection position when the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) is moved along the second movement path.
2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the operating member ( 11 , 11 A) includes a long groove ( 39 39 A) linearly extending in the moving direction of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A);
the housing ( 10 , 10 A) includes a support shaft ( 18 , 18 A) in the center of the length along the moving direction of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A); and
the support shaft ( 18 , 18 A) is inserted into the long groove ( 39 , 39 A) and slides in contact with the long groove ( 39 , 39 A) while being relatively displaced with respect to the long groove ( 39 , 39 A) during the movement of the operating member ( 11 , 11 A).
3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second locks ( 25 , 25 A, 26 , 26 A) are resilient locks and resiliently lock a groove edge ( 44 , 44 A) of the long groove ( 39 , 39 A).
4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second locks ( 25 A; 26 A) are resilient locks and deflectable and deformable toward a space ( 21 A) provided in the housing ( 10 A); and
the mating housing ( 12 ) includes a prying preventing protrusion ( 55 ) that interferes with a wall surface of the housing ( 10 A) to restrict the connecting operation when the mating housing ( 12 ) is connected improperly in an oblique orientation with respect to the housing ( 10 A) while entering the space portion and being arranged side by side with the resilient locks ( 25 A, 26 A) and capable of restricting the deflection of the resilient locks ( 25 A, 26 A) when the mating housing ( 12 ) is properly connected to the housing ( 10 A).
5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein a pair of the prying preventing protrusions ( 55 ) are provided on both side parts of the mating housing ( 12 ) in a long side direction to correspond to the first and second locks ( 25 A, 26 A).