Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which has a retainer with a built-in front mask, and which can accurately detect incomplete insertion of a terminal with the use of a detection slider.SOLUTION: A housing 20 has: a front surface part 24 which faces the front side; an end surface part 26 which is disposed to intersect the front surface part 24; and a body mounting part 25 which extends through the inside of the housing 20 and has an opening on the end surface part 26. A retainer 50 has: a retainer body 51 which is disposed inside the body mounting part 25; a front mask part 52 which is disposed to cover the front surface part 24; and a connection part 53 which connects the retainer body 51 to the front mask part 52. The retainer body 51 has: a body end part 66 which reduces the amount of projection from the end surface part 26 as the retainer moves from a temporary locking position to a proper locking position; and a detachment prevention part 55 which locks a terminal fitting 90 at the proper locking position. At the proper locking position, the body end part 66 is disposed inside the housing 20. The front mask part 52 has a recessed part 62 which opens a front surface of the body end part 66 to the front side at a middle position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing in which terminal fittings are accommodated, and a retainer as a front mask integrated retainer that is attached to the housing so as to be movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position. The retainer has a front mask portion that covers the front surface of the housing, a retainer portion that is disposed rearward of the front mask portion, and a pair of side plates in the width direction that connect the retainer portion and the front mask portion. The retainer portion locks the terminal fittings at the full locking position and prevents the terminal fittings from slipping out of the housing.

[0003] However, if the terminal fittings are not inserted to the specified insertion position and remain in a half-inserted position, the retainer interferes with the terminal fittings and prevents the retainer from moving from the partial locking position to the full locking position. As a result, a portion of each of the front mask portion and the retainer portion protrudes from the underside of the housing. Therefore, by visually checking the protruding state of the retainer or by using a jig, it is possible to detect that the terminal fittings are in the half-inserted position.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a retainer in which a front cover corresponding to a front mask portion and a spacer corresponding to a retainer portion are connected by a flexible hinge connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-129111 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2000-315546 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In Patent Document 1, if the connector is small and the terminal fittings remain in a half-inserted position relative to the housing, the amount of protrusion of the retainer from the housing becomes small, making it difficult to check the protruding state of the retainer visually or with a jig, etc.

[0007] As shown in the first reference example of FIG. 13, for example, if the front mask part 700 and the retainer part 300 are configured as separate members, when the terminal fitting 200 is in the half-inserted position, only the retainer part 300 protrudes from the lower surface of the housing 400. The protruding part of the retainer part 300 can be abutted against the inspection slider 80 that moves along the lower surface of the housing 400. If the inspection slider 80 abuts against the protruding part of the retainer part 300, it can be determined that the retainer 600 has not reached the full locking position, and it can be detected that the terminal fitting 200 is stuck in the half-inserted position. In other words, it can be detected that the terminal fitting 200 is stuck in the half-inserted position by a detection method using the inspection slider 80 (hereinafter, this detection is referred to as "terminal half-insertion detection by the inspection slider 80"). However, in the case of Patent Document 1, the retainer is an integrated type in which the front mask part and the retainer part are integrated. If the retainer is an integrated type, when the terminal fitting 200 is in the half-inserted position, the front mask part 700 as well as the retainer part 300 will protrude from the lower surface of the housing 400, as shown in the second reference example (not the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1) in Fig. 14. Then, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 14, the inspection slider 80 will move away from the lower surface of the housing 400 and along the lower surfaces of the front mask part 700 and the retainer part 300. For this reason, the inspection slider 80 will not come into contact with the protruding part of the retainer part 300, and the inspection slider 80 will not be able to detect the half-insertion of the terminal.

[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that includes a retainer integrated into the front mask and that is capable of accurately detecting partial terminal insertion using an inspection slider. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting connected to an end of an electric wire, a housing in which the terminal fitting is housed, and a retainer arranged to be movable relative to the housing between a provisional locking position and a final locking position, the housing having a front surface portion facing forward, an end surface portion arranged intersecting the front surface portion, and a main body attachment portion extending inside the housing and opening into the end surface portion, the retainer including a retainer main body arranged inside the main body attachment portion, a front mask portion arranged to cover the front surface portion, and a retainer cover for covering the front surface portion. a connecting portion connecting a retainer body and the front mask portion, the retainer body having a body end portion that reduces the amount of protrusion from the end face portion from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, and a slip-out prevention portion that locks the terminal fitting at the full locking position, the body end portion being positioned inside the housing at the full locking position, and the front mask portion having a recess that opens the front surface of the body end portion forward at the temporary locking position or at an intermediate position between the temporary locking position and the full locking position. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector having a retainer integrated into a front mask, which is capable of accurately detecting partial terminal insertion using an inspection slider. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which a retainer is in a full locking position. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the retainer is in a full locking position in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the retainer is in a full locking position. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the retainer is locked in the provisionally locked position relative to the housing. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the retainer is in a temporary locking position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a housing in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of a housing in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a retainer in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the retainer in the connector according to the first embodiment, seen from a direction different from that in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of a retainer in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inspection slider passes through a recess in the front mask portion and interferes with the end of the retainer body to detect partial insertion of the terminal in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing a state in which the inspection slider passes through a recess in the front mask portion and interferes with the end of the retainer body to detect partial terminal insertion in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inspection slider interferes with a protruding portion of a retainer body and detects partial terminal insertion in the first reference example. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movement of the inspection slider does not interfere with the protruding portion of the retainer body and the partial insertion of the terminal cannot be detected in the second reference example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A connector comprising: a terminal fitting connected to an end of an electric wire; a housing in which the terminal fitting is accommodated; and a retainer arranged to be movable relative to the housing between a temporary-locking position and a full-locking position, the housing having a front surface facing forward, an end surface arranged intersecting the front surface, and a main body attachment portion extending inside the housing and opening into the end surface, the retainer having a retainer main body arranged inside the main body attachment portion, a front mask portion arranged to cover the front surface, and a connecting portion connecting the retainer main body and the front mask portion, the retainer main body having a main body end portion which reduces the amount of protrusion from the end surface portion from the temporary-locking position to the full-locking position, and a slip-out prevention portion which engages the terminal fitting at the full-locking position, the main body end portion being arranged inside the housing at the full-locking position, and the front mask portion having a recess which opens a front surface of the main body end portion forward at the temporary-locking position or at an intermediate position between the temporary-locking position and the full-locking position.

[0013] If the terminal fittings are not inserted to the specified insertion position in the housing and remain in a half-inserted position, the retainer interferes with the terminal fittings, preventing the retainer from moving from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. That is, the retainer remains in the temporary locking position or an intermediate position relative to the housing. When the retainer is in the temporary locking position or an intermediate position, the main body end of the retainer body protrudes from the end face of the housing. An inspection slider that moves along the end face of the housing from the recess of the front mask portion can be applied to the front of this main body end. Therefore, even in a connector equipped with a front mask-integrated retainer in which the retainer body and the front mask portion are integrated, the inspection slider can be applied to the retainer body when the terminal fittings are half-inserted, making it possible to detect the half-insertion of the terminals by the inspection slider.

[0014] (2) In the connector described in (1), it is preferable that the housing has a pair of side portions in a width direction intersecting with each of the front portion and the end surface portion, the connecting portion has a pair of side walls covering the pair of side portions, and the end surface portion is exposed in a space formed between the pair of side walls.

[0015] Since the front surface of the main end portion is open forward through the recess from the space formed between the side walls, interference of the inspection slider with the connecting portion can be avoided when detecting partial terminal insertion.

[0016] (3) In the connector described in (1) or (2), when the retainer body interferes with the terminal fitting in the middle of being inserted into the housing at the intermediate position, it is preferable that the inner bottom surface of the recess and the end face portion are arranged without any steps in the front-to-rear direction.

[0017] According to the above configuration (3), the inspection slider can move from the inner bottom surface to the end surface of the recess.

[0018] (4) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the housing has a cavity for accommodating the terminal fitting, the cavity is open to the front portion, and is positioned so that a portion of the front portion is exposed inside the recess when the retainer body is in the main engagement position.

[0019] When the retainer body is in the full locking position, it is possible to detect that the retainer is in the full locking position by checking the exposed state of a portion of the front surface through the recess.

[0020] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0021] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Fig. 3, the connector 10 according to the first embodiment includes a housing 20, a terminal fitting 90 accommodated in the housing 20, and a retainer 50 attached to the housing 20. The housing 20 is capable of being fitted to a mating housing (not shown). In the following description, the front side of the housing 20 is defined as the face side that faces the mating housing when fitted. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure except Fig. 12. The left-right direction is a direction that intersects with the front-back direction and the up-down direction, and is based on the left-right direction in Fig. 1. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the reference directions when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0022] (Housing and terminal fittings) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and has a housing main body 21 having an external shape like a rectangular block, as shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 3, the housing main body 21 has a plurality of cavities 22. Each cavity 22 extends in the front-rear direction and opens to the front and rear surfaces of the housing main body 21. The front surface of the housing main body 21 is configured as a front surface portion 24 that is covered by a front mask portion 52 of the retainer 50, which will be described later. The terminal fittings 90 are inserted into the corresponding cavities 22 from the rear of the housing 20.

[0023] The housing body 21 has elastically deformable lances 23 protruding from the lower surface of the inner wall of each cavity 22. The lances 23 are exposed at a front surface 24. The terminal fittings 90 are retained by the lances 23 and are housed in the cavities 22 in a state where they are prevented from slipping out of the cavities 22.

[0024] The terminal fitting 90 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal fitting 90 has a cylindrical connecting portion 91 and a barrel portion 92 disposed behind the connecting portion 91. When the connector 10 is mated, the connecting portion 91 receives a tab 190 of a mating terminal fitting of a mating connector (not shown) and is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting. The lance 23 is engaged with a first protrusion 93 formed on the lower surface of the connecting portion 91. The connecting portion 91 has a second protrusion 94 protruding from the first protrusion 93 behind the first protrusion 93. The rear end of the second protrusion 94 is located at the rear end of the connecting portion 91 and can come into contact with a retaining portion 55 of the retainer 50, which will be described later. The barrel portion 92 is electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire 100. The electric wire 100 is a coated electric wire in which a conductor such as a core wire is covered with an insulating coating.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the housing body 21 has a body mounting portion 25 that extends in the up-down direction and opens on the bottom surface of the housing body 21 midway in the front-rear direction. The body mounting portion 25 communicates with each cavity 22. A retainer body 51 of the retainer 50, which will be described later, is disposed inside the body mounting portion 25. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the bottom surface of the housing body 21 has an end surface portion 26 that intersects with and is continuous with the front surface portion 24, forward of the opening of the body mounting portion 25. The end surface portion 26 is a surface that is horizontal along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is disposed between the front surface portion 24 and the body mounting portion 25.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the housing body 21 has partitions 27 protruding forward from both the left and right ends of the front surface 24. The partitions 27 have inner sides 28 that face each other in parallel. The inner sides 28 of each partition 27 are disposed along the up-down direction. The housing body 21 has second locking receiving portions 29 that open into the inner sides 28 of each partition 27. The second locking receiving portions 29 are open to the front of the housing body 21.

[0027] 4 and 7, the housing body 21 has a pair of side surface portions 31 on both left and right end surfaces that intersect with the front surface portion 24 and the end surface portion 26. The housing body 21 has a rib-shaped first lock receiving portion 32 extending in the front-rear direction on each side surface portion 31. The first lock receiving portions 32 are arranged in pairs on each side surface portion 31 in the up-down direction.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, a bridge portion 33 is provided between the upper ends of the partition portions 27. The housing body 21 has a mask mounting portion 34 between the inner sides 28 of the partition portions 27 and below the bridge portion 33. The mask mounting portion 34 is open to the front of the housing body 21. A front mask portion 52 of the retainer 50, which will be described later, is disposed inside the mask mounting portion 34. The housing body 21 has a pair of housing groove portions 35 that open to both the left and right sides of the lower end portion of the front surface portion 24. Each housing groove portion 35 opens from the front surface portion 24 to the end surface portion 26.

[0029] Furthermore, the housing 20 has a lock arm 36 that protrudes from the upper surface of the housing body 21, and protruding portions 37 that protrude upward and downward from the rear end portion of the housing body 21.

[0030] The lock arm 36 extends from a front end connected to the bridge portion 33 to a rear end, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the front end as a fulcrum. The lock arm 36 engages a mating housing (not shown) and holds the housing 20 and the mating housing in a mated state. Each of the overhanging portions 37 is wall-shaped and is disposed with the wall surfaces facing forward and backward. The upper overhanging portion 37 surrounds the outer periphery of the rear end of the lock arm 36. An operator can perform the operation of fitting and unfitting the connector 10 while holding each of the overhanging portions 37.

[0031] (Retainer) 8 and 9, the retainer 50 has a retainer body 51, a front mask part 52 disposed in front of the retainer body 51 and facing the retainer body 51, and a connecting part 53 connecting the retainer body 51 and the front mask part 52. The retainer body 51 and the front mask part 52 maintain a constant positional relationship with each other by the connecting part 53.

[0032] The retainer body 51 has an outer shape like a rectangular block, and can be fitted inside the body mounting part 25 (see FIG. 3). The retainer body 51 has a plurality of through holes 54 penetrating in the front-rear direction. When the retainer body 51 is placed inside the body mounting part 25, each through hole 54 communicates with each cavity 22 except the uppermost cavity 22. The retainer body 51 has rib-shaped retaining portions 55 protruding from the lower surface of the inner wall of each through hole 54. Each retaining portion 55 is formed for each through hole 54. The retaining portions 55 are also formed on the upper surface of the retainer body 51 in a line at a position corresponding to the uppermost cavity 22.

[0033] The front mask portion 52 is a rectangular plate-like member, and is disposed with its plate surface facing forward and backward. As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the front mask portion 52 has a plurality of tab insertion holes 56 penetrating in the front-rear direction. When the front mask portion 52 is disposed so as to cover the front surface 24, each of the tab insertion holes 56 communicates with each of the cavities 22 (see Fig. 3). When the connector 10 is mated, a tab 190 of the mating terminal fitting is inserted into the tab insertion hole 56. As shown in Fig. 10, the front mask portion 52 has second locking portions 57 protruding from the end faces on both the left and right sides. The second locking portions 57 are capable of being locked to the second lock receiving portions 29 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

[0034] The front mask part 52 has a pair of retainer grooves 58 penetrating in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the lower end part. Each retainer groove 58 opens to an inner bottom surface 63 of a recess 62 of the front mask part 52, which will be described later. When the front mask part 52 is arranged so as to cover the front part 24, as shown in FIG. 1, each retainer groove 58 communicates with each housing groove 35. When the connector 10 is mated, a rib of a mating housing (not shown) is mated with each retainer groove 58 and each housing groove 35. If the housing 20 is in an incorrect mating position with respect to the mating housing, the rib is restricted from mating with the retainer groove 58 and the housing groove 35. This prevents the connector 10 from being mated erroneously.

[0035] As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the connecting portion 53 is composed of a pair of side walls 59 arranged at a distance in the left-right direction. Each side wall 59 is wall-shaped and arranged with the wall surface facing the left-right direction. The front end of each side wall 59 is connected to the end faces on both the left and right sides of the front mask portion 52. The rear end of each side wall 59 is connected to the end faces on both the left and right sides of the retainer body 51. Between the retainer body 51 and the front mask portion 52 and between each side wall 59, a space portion 60 penetrating in the up-down direction is formed (see Fig. 9). When the retainer 50 is attached to the housing 20, as shown in Fig. 12, the end surface portion 26 is exposed and arranged in the space portion 60. As shown in Fig. 4, each side wall 59 has a first locking portion 61 protruding into the space portion 60 from the inner surfaces facing each other. The first locking portion 61 is capable of being locked to the first lock receiving portion 32.

[0036] The retainer 50 is arranged to be movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position with respect to the housing 20. At the temporary locking position, the first locking portion 61 fits between the upper and lower first locking receiving portions 32 (see FIG. 4), and the first locking portion 61 is arranged below the first locking receiving portions 32. This holds the retainer 50 in a state where the movement of the retainer 50 to the temporary locking position with respect to the housing 20 is restricted. At the full locking position, the first locking portion 61 is arranged above the upper first locking receiving portion 32, and the second locking portion 57 fits into the second locking receiving portion 29 (see FIG. 1). As a result, at the full locking position where the retainer 50 is held in a state where the movement of the retainer 50 to the full locking position with respect to the housing 20 is restricted, the upper end of the front mask portion 52 is abutted against the bridge portion 33, and the movement of the retainer 50 upward from the full locking position is reliably restricted.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 10, the retainer 50 has a recess 62 recessed into the lower surface of the front mask part 52. The recess 62 penetrates the lower end of the front mask part 52 in the front-rear direction, except for the left and right ends, and opens to the front and rear surfaces of the front mask part 52 in addition to the lower surface of the front mask part 52. Specifically, the recess 62 is defined by an inner bottom surface 63 extending long along the left-right direction in the left-right central part of the front mask part 52, a pair of inner end surfaces 64 extending short in the up-down direction at the left and right ends of the front mask part 52, and right-angled or curved inner corners 65 located between the upper ends of the inner end surfaces 64 and the left and right ends of the inner bottom surface 63. The left-right width of the recess 62 exceeds half of the overall left-right width of the front mask part 52. The vertical depth (height H1) of the recess 62 is set to be equal to the thickness H2 of the cavity bottom 38 formed between the lowest cavity 22 and the end face 26 of the housing 20 (see FIG. 5) or smaller than the thickness H2 of the cavity bottom 38 (H1≦H2). In addition, the vertical depth (height H1) of the recess 62 is set to be equal to the amount of movement of the retainer 50 that moves from the temporary locking position to the full locking position or smaller than the amount of movement of the retainer 50.

[0038] 10, the retainer body 51 has a body end portion 66 at its lower end portion which is in the same height range as the recessed portion 62 in the vertical direction. The front surface of the body end portion 66 is open forward from the recessed portion 62 and is positioned so as to be visible from the front.

[0039] (Connector Function) 3, when the retainer 50 is held in the provisionally-retained position relative to the housing 20, the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into the cavity 22 of the housing 20. The terminal fitting 90 is connected in advance to an end portion of the electric wire 100. When the terminal fitting 90 is correctly inserted into the cavity 22 to a specified position, the lance 23 is positioned so as to be able to be retained by the first protrusion 93 of the connection portion 91. As a result, the terminal fitting 90 is positioned in the cavity 22 in a state in which it is temporarily prevented from slipping out.

[0040] When the retainer 50 is in the temporary locking position, the front mask portion 52 is disposed inside the mask mounting portion 34. The first projection 93 of the terminal fitting 90 inserted into the lowest cavity 22 is disposed away from the mask bottom portion 67 located at the top of the recess 62. The terminal fitting 90 is restricted from moving forward any further by contacting the front mask portion 52. Also, when the retainer 50 is in the temporary locking position, the retainer body 51 is disposed inside the body mounting portion 25, and the stopper portion 55 is disposed away from the cavity 22. This allows the terminal fitting 90 to be inserted into the cavity 22. The recess 62 of the front mask portion 52 and the main body end portion 66 of the retainer main body 51 are disposed below the end surface portion 26 in the provisionally locked position. The front surface of the main body end portion 66 is open forward from the recess 62 in the provisionally locked position and is disposed so as to be visible from the front.

[0041] After the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into the cavity 22, the retainer 50 is moved from the provisional locking position to the full locking position. When an upward pushing force is applied to the retainer 50, the first locking receiving portion 32 is released from the first locking portion 61, and the first locking receiving portion 32 is released from the second locking portion 57, so that the retainer 50 can move to the full locking position.

[0042] When the retainer 50 reaches the full locking position, the stopper portion 55 is arranged to be able to lock onto the second projection 94 of the connection portion 91, as shown in Fig. 3. This secondarily prevents the terminal fitting 90 from slipping out. The body end portion 66 of the retainer body 51 reduces the amount of protrusion from the end face portion 26 as it moves from the partial locking position to the full locking position, and is entirely housed inside the body mounting portion 25 at the full locking position. When the retainer 50 is in the full locking position, the cavity bottom 38 enters the space 60, and the lower surface of the retainer body 51 and the end surface 26 are located at the same height. The inner bottom surface 63 of the recess 62 is located at the same height as the upper end of the cavity bottom 38. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the front surface 24 (including the front surface of the cavity bottom 38) is open forward from the recess 62 and is located so as to be visible from the front. As shown in FIG. 3, the lowest cavity 22 is located away from the recess 62 without communicating with it even in the full locking position. The mask bottom 67 is located forward of the lance 23 protruding from the lowest cavity 22.

[0043] 11, when the terminal fitting 90 is not inserted into the cavity 22 to a specified position and remains in a half-inserted position during insertion, the inner surface of the through hole 54 of the retainer body 51 interferes with the second protrusion 94 of the connection portion 91 when the retainer 50 is on its way from the partial locking position to the full locking position. This restricts the movement of the retainer 50 to the full locking position. Note that while FIG. 11 shows a case where one terminal fitting 90 inserted into the lowermost cavity 22 remains in the half-inserted position, the movement of the retainer 50 to the full locking position is similarly restricted when the other terminal fittings 90 remain in the half-inserted position.

[0044] 11, the inner bottom surface 63 of the recess 62 is disposed so as to be aligned at the same height as the end surface 26 at a midpoint. The portion of the recess 62 extending from the inner bottom surface 63 to the end surface 26 is disposed continuously in the front-rear direction. The mask bottom 67 and the cavity bottom 38 are disposed side by side in the front-rear direction within the same height range. The main body end portion 66 also protrudes from the end surface portion 26 at a midpoint. The front surface of the main body end portion 66 is open forward from the recessed portion 62 and is positioned so as to be visible from the front.

[0045] After the retainer 50 is moved, an inspection is performed to check whether the terminal fitting 90 remains in a half-inserted position relative to the cavity 22. For the inspection, an inspection slider 80 shown in FIG. 11 is used. The inspection slider 80 is set to move linearly from the front of the housing 20 to the rear along the end surface 26. Specifically, the inspection slider 80 has a horizontal plate shape and is set to move parallel to the end surface 26 at a certain height position. In the case of the first embodiment, since a lower protruding portion 37 is provided at the rear end portion of the housing 20, the inspection slider 80 cannot be moved from the rear of the housing 20.

[0046] The inspection slider 80 enters the recess 62 from the front, and then moves from the inner bottom surface 63 of the recess 62 to the end surface 26. If the terminal fitting 90 is inserted at a specified position relative to the cavity 22, the retainer 50 can reach the full locking position, and the lower surface of the retainer body 51 and the end surface 26 become continuous at the same height. Therefore, the inspection slider 80 can move rearward from the end surface 26 along the lower surface of the retainer body 51.

[0047] On the other hand, when the terminal fitting 90 remains in the half-inserted position relative to the cavity 22, as described above, the body end 66 of the retainer body 51 protrudes from the end surface portion 26, and therefore the rear end surface (the leading end surface in the moving direction) of the inspection slider 80 abuts against the front surface of the body end 66. This restricts the movement of the inspection slider 80. In this manner, since the movement of the inspection slider 80 is restricted, it is understood that the retainer 50 is in an intermediate position and the terminal fitting 90 remains in the half-inserted position relative to the cavity 22. In other words, the detection method using the inspection slider 80 makes it possible to indirectly detect that the terminal fitting 90 is in the half-inserted position (hereinafter referred to as "terminal half-insertion detection by the inspection slider 80").

[0048] As described above, in the case of the first embodiment, the retainer 50 is a front mask integrated retainer in which the front mask portion 52 and the retainer body 51 are connected by the connecting portion 53. The retainer body 51 has a body end portion 66 that reduces the amount of protrusion from the end face portion 26 of the housing 20 from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. The front mask portion 52 has a recess 62 that opens the front surface of the body end portion 66 forward at the temporary locking position and at an intermediate position between the temporary locking position and the full locking position. When the terminal fitting 90 remains at the half-insertion position, if the retainer 50 interferes with the terminal fitting 90 and stops at an intermediate position, the body end portion 66 of the retainer body 51 protrudes from the end face portion 26, and the inspection slider 80 that moves from the recess 62 along the end face portion 26 can be brought into contact with the front surface of the body end portion 66. Therefore, even in a connector 10 having a retainer 50 integrated with the front mask, the inspection slider 80 can be brought into contact with the retainer body 51 when the terminal fitting 90 is partially inserted, making it possible to detect partial terminal insertion using the inspection slider 80.

[0049] Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment 1, the end face portion 26 of the housing 20 is exposed to the space portion 60 formed between each side wall 59 of the connecting portion 53, and the front surface of the main body end portion 66 is open forward from the space portion 60 through the recess 62, so that when detecting partial terminal insertion using the inspection slider 80, interference between the inspection slider 80 and the connecting portion 53 can be easily avoided.

[0050] Furthermore, when the terminal fitting 90 is partially inserted and the retainer body 51 is in an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 11, the inner bottom surface 63 and the end surface 26 of the recess 62 are arranged without any steps in the front-to-rear direction, and the inspection slider 80 can move from the inner bottom surface 63 of the recess 62 to the end surface 26.

[0051] In addition, when the retainer 50 is in the full locking position, a portion of the front surface 24 of the housing 20 is exposed inside the recess 62, so that it is possible to check the exposed state of the front surface 24 through the recess 62 and detect that the retainer 50 is in the full locking position.

[0052] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the retainer is provided with a first locking portion and a second locking portion, and the housing is provided with a first lock-receiving portion and a second lock-receiving portion, as a means for holding the retainer in the housing. In contrast, in the case of other embodiments, the retainer may be provided with only a first locking portion, and the housing may be provided with only a first lock-receiving portion, as a means for holding the retainer in the housing. In the first embodiment, the recess is provided in the lower end of the front mask part except for both the left and right ends. In contrast, in other embodiments, the recess may be provided over the entire width of the lower end of the front mask part in the left-right direction. Alternatively, a plurality of recesses may be provided at intervals in the left-right direction in the lower end of the front mask part. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, when the retainer is in an intermediate position when the terminal fitting is partially inserted, the inner bottom surface of the recess is disposed with no step in the front-rear direction relative to the end face portion. In contrast, in the case of other embodiments, when the retainer is in an intermediate position when the terminal fitting is partially inserted, the inner bottom surface of the recess may be disposed with a step above the end face portion. The recess in the front mask portion opens the front surface of the main body end portion forward when in the temporary engagement position, and the present disclosure also anticipates interference with terminal fittings in a half-inserted position when the retainer is in the temporary engagement position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10…Connector 20. Housing 21…Housing body 22…Cavity 23…Lance 24…Front part 25…Main unit attachment part 26…End face part 27…Partition 28…Inner surface 29...Second locking receiver 31…Side part 32...First locking receiver 33…Erection part 34…Mask attachment part 35…Housing groove 36…Lock arm 37...Protruding part 38…Cavity bottom 50…Retainer 51…Retainer body 52…Front mask part 53...Connection part 54...Through hole 55…Prevention part 56...Tab insertion hole 57...Second locking part 58…Retainer groove 59...Side wall 60…Space part 61...First locking portion 62…Recess 63…Inner bottom surface 64…Inner end surface 65…Inner corner 66...Main body end 67…Mask bottom 80...Inspection slider 90...Terminal fitting 91…Connection 92…Barrel section 93...1st protrusion 94…Second protrusion 100...Electric wire 190…Mating terminal tab 200...Terminal fittings as shown in the reference diagram 300…Retainer part in reference diagram 400…Housing as shown in the reference diagram 600…Referential retainer 700…Front mask part of reference diagram

Claims

1. A terminal metal fitting to be connected to an end of the electric wire; a housing in which the terminal fittings are accommodated; a retainer that is arranged to be movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position relative to the housing, The housing has a front surface portion facing forward, an end surface portion disposed intersecting the front surface portion, and a main body attachment portion extending inside the housing and opening into the end surface portion, the retainer has a retainer body disposed inside the body attachment portion, a front mask portion disposed to cover the front surface portion, and a connecting portion connecting the retainer body and the front mask portion, the retainer body has a body end portion whose protrusion from the end face portion is reduced from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, and a slip-out prevention portion that locks the terminal fitting at the full locking position, the body end is disposed inside the housing in the full locking position; The front mask portion has a recess that opens a front surface of the main body end portion forward at the temporary locking position or at an intermediate position between the temporary locking position and the full locking position.

2. the housing has a pair of side surfaces in a width direction intersecting with the front surface and the end surface, The connecting portion has a pair of side walls covering the pair of side surface portions, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the end surface portion is exposed in a space formed between the pair of side walls.

3. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein when the retainer body interferes with the terminal fitting in the middle of being inserted into the housing at the intermediate position, the inner bottom surface of the recess and the end surface are arranged without any step in the front-to-rear direction.

4. The housing has a cavity for receiving the terminal metal fitting, The cavity is open to the front portion, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein when the retainer body is in the full locking position, a part of the front surface is exposed inside the recess.

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