Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can simplify a housing structure.SOLUTION: A connector 10, 10A includes a terminal 11, 11A, a housing 30 that accommodates the terminal 11, 11A, and a retainer 60, 60A arranged to be movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position relative to the housing 30. The retainer 60, 60A has an elastically deformable primary locking portion 68 that locks the terminal 11, 11A at the temporary locking position, and a secondary locking portion 66 of a fixed shape that moves away from the terminal 11, 11A at the temporary locking position and locks the terminal 11, 11A at the full locking position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plug assembly and a jack assembly that can be mated with each other. The plug assembly and the jack assembly have housings called plug housing and jack housing, respectively. The housings have passages for receiving electrical connectors (so-called coaxial terminals, hereinafter referred to as "terminals"). The housings have position assurance devices. The position assurance devices have elastically deformable hooks (retainers) that primarily lock shoulders of the terminals in the housing passages. The jack housing also receives a secondary connector position assurance device. The secondary connector position assurance device also locks shoulders to restrict axial movement of the terminals. Technologies for locking terminals such as coaxial terminals are also disclosed in Patent Documents 2 to 4. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2010-517221 [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-43798 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2018-120687 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2019-153464 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, an elastically deformable cantilever-shaped hook must be formed on the housing, which raises concerns that the structure of the housing may become complicated accordingly.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can simplify the structure of the housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a terminal, a housing that accommodates the terminal, and a retainer that is arranged to be movable relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a full locking position, the retainer having an elastically deformable primary locking portion that locks the terminal at the temporary locking position, and a secondary locking portion of a fixed shape that moves away from the terminal at the temporary locking position and locks the terminal at the full locking position. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can simplify the structure of the housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector according to the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the housing of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the retainer of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the retainer of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the retainer of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a temporary locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion locks the terminal in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a temporary locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion locks the terminal. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a full locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion lock the terminals. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a main locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion lock the terminals in the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the retainer of the connector according to the second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a temporary locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion locks the terminal in the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the retainer is placed at a full locking position with respect to the housing and the primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion lock the terminals in the connector according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [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 terminal, a housing for accommodating the terminal, and a retainer arranged to be movable relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a full locking position, the retainer having an elastically deformable primary locking portion that locks the terminal at the temporary locking position, and a secondary locking portion of a fixed shape that moves away from the terminal at the temporary locking position and locks the terminal at the full locking position.

[0010] The primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion are both formed on the retainer, and are not formed on the housing. This simplifies the structure of the housing. In this specification, "locking" refers to holding the terminal so that it does not slip out of the housing, and is a concept that includes, for example, a state in which the primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion do not come into contact with the terminal, but face the terminal while preventing the terminal from slipping out.

[0011] (2) In the connector described above in (1), it is preferable that the primary locking portion locks the terminal even in the full locking position. When the retainer is in the full locking position, the terminal is locked by the primary locking portion in addition to the secondary locking portion, so that the stability of the locked state of the primary locking portion and the secondary locking portion with respect to the terminal can be increased.

[0012] (3) In the connector described in (2) above, it is preferable that the engagement allowance between the primary engagement portion and the terminal in the full engagement position is smaller than the engagement allowance between the primary engagement portion and the terminal in the provisional engagement position. The above configuration (3) does not require changing the shape of the terminal in accordance with the primary locking portion, and therefore makes it possible to avoid the terminal having a complicated shape.

[0013] (4) In the connector described in (2) or (3) above, it is preferable that the primary locking portion extends in a direction of movement from the temporary locking position to the full locking position and has a locking surface that faces the terminal at each of the temporary locking position and the full locking position. Since the locking surface faces the terminal at each of the provisional locking position and the full locking position and is not formed to correspond individually to each position, the structure of the primary locking portion can be simplified.

[0014] (5) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that the primary locking portion is formed in a pair on both sides of the secondary locking portion in a width direction intersecting the direction of movement from the provisional locking position to the full locking position. Since the pair of primary locking portions can lock the terminal from both widthwise sides at least at the provisional locking position, the stability of the locked state of the primary locking portions with respect to the terminal can be further improved.

[0015] [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.

[0016] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connector 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a terminal 11, a housing 30, and a retainer 60. The connector 10 is capable of mating with a mating connector (not shown). In the following description, the front-rear direction refers to the surface side of the connector 10 that faces the mating connector when mating begins. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each of Figs. 1 to 11, which explain the connector 10 according to the first embodiment, except for Figs. 6 and 8. In the first embodiment, the up-down direction is synonymous with the height direction, and the left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction. In Figs. 1 and 2, the front, right, and top are indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z, respectively. Note that illustrations of parts that are less relevant to the present disclosure are omitted.

[0017] (Terminal 11) 1, the terminal 11 is a so-called coaxial terminal, and is connected to an end portion of a coaxial cable (hereinafter, referred to as an electric wire 100). Although not shown, the electric wire 100 is configured by concentrically arranging a conductor, an insulating coating, a shield portion such as a braided wire, and an insulating sheath in this order from the center in the radial direction.

[0018] The terminal 11 has a cylindrical outer conductor 12, an inner conductor 13 disposed inside the outer conductor 12, and a dielectric 14 disposed radially between the outer conductor 12 and the inner conductor 13. Both the outer conductor 12 and the inner conductor 13 are conductive and formed by pressing a metal plate. The dielectric 14 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0019] The inner conductor 13 is disposed at the radial center of the terminal 11, and is electrically connected to the conductor of the electric wire 100. The dielectric 14 has a role of keeping the inner conductor 13 and the outer conductor 12 in an insulated state.

[0020] The outer conductor 12 is disposed with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction. A crimping portion 15 is formed at the rear end of the outer conductor 12. The crimping portion 15 is fixed to an end portion of the electric wire 100 by crimping. The crimping portion 15 has a portion that is electrically connected to a shield portion of the electric wire 100.

[0021] A plurality of elastically deformable elastic contact portions 16 are formed at the front end portion of the outer conductor 12. Each elastic contact portion 16 is formed by dividing the front end portion of the outer conductor 12 in the circumferential direction. Each elastic contact portion 16 is elastically deformable in the radial direction. A mating outer conductor (not shown) is fitted between each elastic contact portion 16 and the dielectric 14 arranged inside each elastic contact portion 16. Each elastic contact portion 16 comes into contact with the mating outer conductor and is electrically connected when the connector 10 is fitted to the mating connector.

[0022] The outer conductor 12 has two flanges 17, 18 that protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 12 between each of the elastic contact portions 16 and the crimping portion 15 in the front-rear direction. The flanges 17, 18 are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 12 at intervals in the front-rear direction. Of the flanges 17, 18, the front flange 17 has a locking surface 17s that locks with the retainer 60. The locking surface 17s is arranged on the rear surface of the flange 17 along the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking surface 17s is locked to a locking surface of the retainer 60, which will be described later.

[0023] (Housing 30) The housing 30 is made of synthetic resin, and has cavities 31, 32 penetrating in the front-rear direction as shown in Figures 3, 8 and 11. The cavities 31, 32 have a circular cross section, and have a front cavity 31 on the front side and a rear cavity 32 on the rear side, sandwiching mounting holes 34, 35 described later.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the housing 30 has a housing main body 33 having a rectangular outer shape. Mounting holes 34, 35 that open from the bottom surface to the left and right side surfaces are formed in the middle of the housing main body 33 in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, the mounting holes 34, 35 communicate with the front cavity 31 and the rear cavity 32.

[0025] The mounting hole has a main body mounting hole 34 that receives a retainer main body 61 described later, and an end mounting hole 35 that receives a tip end of an arm portion 68b of a primary locking portion 68 described later. The main body mounting hole 34 constitutes a main portion of the mounting holes 34, 35. The front and rear inner surfaces (surfaces facing each other in the front-rear direction) of the main body mounting hole 34 have inner end faces 36, 37 that are vertical along the up-down direction inside the housing main body 33. As shown in FIG. 1, the front end of the rear cavity 32 opens on the rear inner end face 37. As shown in FIG. 3, a stopper face 38 that is vertical along the up-down direction is formed on the inner surface of the housing main body 33, forward and above the front inner end face 36. The rear end of the front cavity 31 opens on the stopper face 38. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11, the front flange portion 17 of the terminal 11 can be abutted against the stopper face 38.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 3, an inner lower surface 39 extending short in the front-rear direction is formed on the inner surface of the housing body 33 between the front inner end surface 36 and the stopper surface 38. The inner lower surface 39 is curved downward. A plurality of lower ribs 41 (only one is shown in Fig. 3) extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the inner lower surface 39. The lower ribs 41 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the inner lower surface 39. The front ends of the lower ribs 41 are connected to the stopper surface 38.

[0027] The upper inner surface of the main body mounting hole 34 (the surface facing the lower opening) is an inner upper surface 42 that curves upward. As shown in Figs. 4, 9 and 10, a plurality of upper ribs 43 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the inner upper surface 42. The upper ribs 43 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the inner upper surface 42. The front ends of the upper ribs 43 are connected to the stopper surface 38. The upper ribs 43 and the lower ribs 41 contact the outer circumferential surface of the front flange portion 17 at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0028] 3, the end mounting holes 35 form pairs in the left-right direction and communicate with the main body mounting holes 34. Each end mounting hole 35 has a rectangular cross section and extends in the vertical direction, with its upper end opening to the inner lower surface 39 and its lower end opening to the lower surface of the housing main body 33. Each end mounting hole 35 opens in the vertical direction to the front inner end surface 36.

[0029] 8, a pair of openings 44 communicating with both left and right ends of the front cavity 31 are formed inside the housing body 33. Each opening 44 has a rectangular cross section and extends in the front-rear direction, with its front end opening to the front surface of the housing body 33 (see FIG. 2) and its rear end opening to the stopper surface 38. As will be described later, each opening 44 becomes a space into which a jig for extracting the terminal 11 is inserted.

[0030] (Retainer 60) The retainer 60 is made of synthetic resin, and is attached to the housing 30 so as to be movable between a temporary locking position (see FIG. 9) and a full locking position (see FIGS. 2 and 10). Although not shown, the retainer 60 has a temporary locking structure whereby the retainer 60 is locked and held by the housing 30 at the temporary locking position, and a full locking structure whereby the retainer 60 is locked and held by the housing 30 at the full locking position. The temporary locking structure and the full locking structure can employ well-known locking structures as locking structures for the retainer 60 to the housing 30.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, the retainer 60 has a retainer body 61 that is fitted into the body mounting hole 34. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the retainer body 61 has a curved, concave front receiving surface 62 at the left-right middle part of the front end of the upper surface. Also, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper surface of the retainer body 61 has a curved, concave rear receiving surface 63 behind the front receiving surface 62. The rear receiving surface 63 is disposed at a position one step lower than the front receiving surface 62. A vertical step surface 64 is formed between the front receiving surface 62 and the rear receiving surface 63 in the up-down direction.

[0032] A plurality of retainer side ribs 65 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the rear receiving surface 63. The retainer side ribs 65 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the rear receiving surface 63. The front ends of the retainer side ribs 65 are connected to the step surface 64. The retainer side ribs 65, together with the upper ribs 43 of the housing 30, contact the outer circumferential surface of the rear flange portion 18 at intervals in the circumferential direction (not shown).

[0033] The front surface of the retainer body 61 is disposed vertically along the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 5, a secondary locking portion 66 (a portion above the dotted line in the figure) is formed at the upper end of the front surface of the retainer body 61, which extends in a curved shape in the left-right direction along the front receiving surface 62. The secondary locking portion 66 is a fixed surface that faces forward and is disposed vertically on the retainer body 61 and is not elastically deformable. The secondary locking portion 66 is disposed on the opposite side of the stepped surface 64. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the secondary locking portion 66 faces the locked surface 17s of the terminal 11 and, following the primary locking portion 68 described later, secondarily restricts the terminal 11 from slipping out of the cavities 31, 32.

[0034] 5 to 7, a pair of side walls 67 are formed standing on both left and right ends of the upper surface of the retainer body 61. The retainer 60 has a pair of primary locking portions 68 protruding from the inner surfaces of the side walls 67 (the opposing surfaces facing each other).

[0035] Each primary locking portion 68 has a base end 68f protruding inward (toward the center in the left-right direction) from the inner surface of each side wall portion 67, an arm portion 68b bending from the tip side (inner end side) in the protruding direction of the base end 68f and extending forward, and a locking body 68c protruding from the inner surface of the arm portion 68b. Each primary locking portion 68 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction with the base end 68f as a fulcrum.

[0036] 6, the base end 68f protrudes from the rear end side of the inner surface of each side wall portion 67. The arm portion 68b is disposed with a gap between it and the inner surface of the side wall portion 67, and is tilted and displaced in a direction narrowing the gap upon elastic deformation. The tip end (front end) of the arm portion 68b protrudes forward beyond the front end (front surface) of the retainer body 61.

[0037] The locking body 68c is provided to protrude from the middle of the arm portion 68b in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the locking body 68c is provided to protrude from a position slightly forward of the center position (middle) of the arm portion 68b in the front-rear direction, and is disposed within the range in which the retainer body 61 is formed in the front-rear direction with respect to the front-rear direction. The front surface of the locking body 68c is a locking surface 68d disposed along the vertical direction and the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking surface 68d is formed so as to extend longer in the vertical direction than in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking surface 68d of the locking body 68c faces the locked surface 17s of the flange portion 17 of the terminal 11, and primarily restricts the terminal 11 from slipping out of the cavities 31, 32. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, an arc-shaped curved surface portion 68e is formed on the inner surface (the tip surface in the protruding direction) of each locking body 68c when viewed from the front.

[0038] (Function of Connector 10) Next, the assembly of the connector 10 will be described. First, the retainer 60 is inserted into the mounting holes 34, 35 of the housing body 33 from below. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip end of the arm portion 68b of each primary locking portion 68 is inserted into each end mounting hole 35 of the housing body 33 to avoid interference with the housing body 33. The retainer 60 is held in the temporary locking position with respect to the housing 30 by a temporary locking structure (not shown). At the temporary locking position, the lower end of the retainer body 61 is disposed so as to protrude downward from the lower surface of the housing body 33. At the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking body 68c of each primary locking portion 68 is disposed so as to protrude into the terminal insertion path of the body mounting hole 34 (a path into which the terminal 11 is inserted, within the range of the flange portion 17 in FIG. 9). On the other hand, the secondary locking portion 66 is disposed so as to retract without protruding into the terminal insertion path of the body mounting hole 34.

[0039] When the retainer 60 is in the temporary locking position, the terminal 11 is inserted from the rear into the cavities 31, 32 of the housing 30. The front end of the terminal 11 is inserted from the rear cavity 32 through the terminal insertion path of the body mounting hole 34 into the front cavity 31. When the front end of the terminal 11 passes through the body mounting hole 34, the left and right ends of each of the flanges 17, 18 interfere with the locking body 68c of each primary locking portion 68. This causes each primary locking portion 68 to elastically deform outward in the left-right direction (the side where the arm portion 68b approaches the side wall portion 67), allowing the insertion of the terminal 11.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 8, the front end of the terminal 11 moves into the front cavity 31, and the front flange 17 interferes with the stopper surface 38, restricting further insertion of the terminal 11. At the same time, each primary locking portion 68 elastically returns, and the locking body 68c fits between the flanges 17, 18. As shown in FIG. 9, the curved surface 68e of the locking body 68c of each primary locking portion 68 is arranged parallel to and opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 12 between the flanges 17, 18. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking surface 68d of the locking body 68c of each primary locking portion 68 faces the locked surface 17s of the front flange 17 so as to be able to come into contact with it. As a result, the terminal 11 is locked by each primary locking portion 68, and is primarily restricted from slipping out of the cavities 31, 32 backward. In the provisionally locked position, the upper outer circumferential surfaces of the flanges 17, 18 are disposed along the inner upper surface 42 of the main body mounting hole 34, as shown in FIG.

[0041] After the terminals 11 are inserted into the cavities 31 and 32, the retainer 60 is pushed up toward the full locking position. The retainer 60 is held in the full locking position relative to the housing 30 by a full locking structure (not shown). At the full locking position, as shown in FIG. 2, the entire retainer body 61 is accommodated in the body mounting hole 34. As the retainer 60 is pushed up, each primary locking portion 68 is displaced upward, but maintains a state of being locked with the front flange 17 even at the full locking position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower locking surface 68d of the locking body 68c of each primary locking portion 68 maintains a state of facing the upper portion of the locked surface 17s of the front flange 17. Therefore, the engagement allowance between the locked surface 17s of the terminal 11 and the locking surface 68d of the retainer 60 in the full locking position is smaller than the engagement allowance between the locked surface 17s of the terminal 11 and the locking surface 68d of the retainer 60 in the partial locking position, but is not zero.

[0042] When the retainer 60 reaches the full locking position, as shown in Fig. 11, the front receiving surface 62 is disposed along and facing the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 12 between the flanges 17, 18, and the rear receiving surface 63 is disposed along and facing the outer circumferential surface of the rear flange 18. Here, the upper ribs 43 and the lower ribs 41 are disposed so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the front flange 17 at intervals in the circumferential direction (the contact state of the upper ribs 43 is shown in Fig. 9). The upper ribs 43 and the retainer ribs 65 are disposed so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rear flange 18 at intervals in the circumferential direction (not shown). Thus, the terminal 11 is disposed in a state of being positioned in the terminal insertion path of the main body mounting hole 34.

[0043] Furthermore, when the retainer 60 reaches the full locking position, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the secondary locking portion 66 faces and can come into contact with the lower portion of the locked surface 17s of the front flange portion 17. This causes the terminal 11 to be locked by the secondary locking portion 66, and secondarily restricts the terminal 11 from slipping out rearward from the cavities 31, 32. Also, in the full locking position, the step surface 64 faces and can come into contact with the front surface of the front flange portion 17, and together with the stopper surface 38, restricts the forward movement of the terminal 11.

[0044] When the terminals 11 are to be removed from the cavities 31, 32 for maintenance or other reasons, the retainer 60 is first pulled down to the temporary locking position. Next, a pin-shaped jig (not shown) is inserted from the front through each opening 44 of the housing 30, and each primary locking portion 68 is elastically deformed outward by the jig, thereby releasing the lock between each primary locking portion 68 and the terminal 11. In this state, the terminal 11 can be pulled rearward and removed from the housing 30.

[0045] As described above, in the case of the first embodiment, the elastically deformable primary locking portion 68 and the secondary locking portion 66 having a fixed shape are formed together in the retainer 60. Therefore, the structure corresponding to the primary locking portion 68 can be omitted from the housing 30, and the structure of the housing 30 can be simplified accordingly. In particular, in the case of the first embodiment, the primary locking portion 68 can lock the terminal 11 even in the main locking position. Therefore, the stability of the locked state of the primary locking portion 68 and the secondary locking portion 66 with respect to the terminal 11 can be improved.

[0046] In addition, the locking margin between the primary locking portion 68 and the terminal 11 in the full locking position is set smaller than the locking margin between the primary locking portion 68 and the terminal 11 in the temporary locking position. This eliminates the need to change the shape of the terminal 11 in accordance with the primary locking portion 68, thereby preventing the shape of the terminal 11 from becoming complicated.

[0047] Furthermore, primary locking portion 68 extends in the vertical direction, which is the direction of movement from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, and has locking surfaces 68d that face terminals 11 at both the temporary locking position and the full locking position. Since locking surfaces 68d of retainer 60 face terminals 11 at both the temporary locking position and the full locking position and are not formed to correspond individually at each position, the structure of primary locking portion 68 can be simplified.

[0048] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the primary locking portions 68 are formed in pairs on both the left and right sides of the secondary locking portion 66. This can further increase the stability of the locked state of the primary locking portions 68 with respect to the terminal 11. In particular, even if the locking allowance of the primary locking portion 68 is reduced in the main locking position, the reduction in the locking allowance can be compensated for by the paired primary locking portion 68.

[0049] <Embodiment 2> As shown in Figs. 12-15, in a connector 10A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminals 11A and the retainer 60A have different shapes from the terminals 11 and the retainer 60 of the first embodiment, and the housing 30 has the same shape as the housing 30 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for structures that are the same as or equivalent to those of the first embodiment. The structures of the terminals 11A and the retainer 60A will be described mainly with reference to parts that are different from those of the first embodiment.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 12, the terminal 11A is a coaxial terminal similar to that of the first embodiment, and includes an outer conductor 12, an inner conductor 13, and a dielectric material . Each elastic contact portion 16A is formed by bending and raising the inner portion of a U-shaped cut formed in the front end portion of the outer conductor 12. Of the front and rear flange portions 17A, 18A, the front flange portion 17A is wider in the front-rear direction than the rear flange portion 18A. A flat surface 19 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 12, including the rear flange portion 18A. The outer conductor 12 has a D-shaped cross section at the position of the flat surface 19.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 13, the retainer 60A, like the first embodiment, has a retainer body 61A, a pair of primary locking portions 68A and a secondary locking portion 66A in the left-right direction. The upper surface of the retainer body 61A has a curved, concave, foremost receiving surface 69 in front of the front receiving surface 62. The foremost receiving surface 69 is disposed at a position one step lower than the front receiving surface 62. A secondary locking portion 66A is formed between the front receiving surface 62 and the foremost receiving surface 69 as a vertical surface along the up-down direction. In other words, the secondary locking portion 66A is formed in a portion above the foremost receiving surface 69.

[0052] In each primary locking portion 68A, the position at which the locking body 68c is formed on the arm portion 68b is different from that of each primary locking portion 68 in the above-described embodiment 1. That is, the locking body 68c is provided to protrude from the central position (middle) of the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the arm portion 68b, or to protrude from a position rearward of the central position.

[0053] When the retainer 60A is in the partial locking position and the full locking position, as in the first embodiment, the locking surface 68d of the locking body 68c locks the locked surface 17s of the flange portion 17A of the terminal 11A, preventing the terminal 11A from slipping out rearward from the cavities 31, 32.

[0054] 14, the locking position of the locking surface 68d with respect to the locked surface 17s of the flange 17A is set rearward of the locking position (see FIG. 8) of the locking surface 68d in the above-described embodiment 1. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, when the retainer 60A is in the main locking position, the secondary locking portion 66A faces the locked surface 17s of the front flange 17A, and the foremost receiving surface 69 is disposed opposite along the outer circumferential surface of the front flange 17A. The housing 30 has the same shape as the housing 30 of the first embodiment, but is colored in a different color from the housing 30 of the first embodiment.

[0055] <Connector device> From the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the following inventions relating to the connector device can be extracted. [Item 1] Equipped with a first connector (10) and a second connector (10A) that can be selectively used, The first connector (10) includes a first terminal (11), a first housing (30) that receives the first terminal (11), and a first retainer (60) that engages the first terminal (11), The second connector (10A) includes a second terminal (11A), a second housing (30A) that receives the second terminal (11A), and a second retainer (60A) that engages the second terminal (11A), The first terminal (11) and the second terminal (11A) have different shapes, The first retainer (60) and the second retainer (60A) each have an elastically deformable primary locking portion (68, 68A) and a fixed secondary locking portion (66, 66A), and are formed in different shapes from each other. The connector device, wherein the first housing (30) and the second housing (30) have the same shape. Here, the first connector is exemplified by the connector 10 of embodiment 1, and the third connector is exemplified by the connector 10A of embodiment 2. The first terminal is exemplified by the terminal 11 of embodiment 1, and the second terminal is exemplified by the terminal 11A of embodiment 2. The first housing and the second housing are exemplified by the housing 30 of embodiments 1 and 2. The first retainer is exemplified by the retainer 60 of embodiment 1, and the second retainer is exemplified by the retainer 60A of embodiment 2.

[0056] In the configuration of [paragraph 1] above, the primary locking portion (68, 68A) and the secondary locking portion (66, 66A) are formed together in the first and second retainers (60, 60A), and the first and second terminals (11, 11A) having different shapes can be accommodated by the first and second retainers (60, 60A) having different shapes. This allows the first and second housings (30) to be shared, eliminating the need to provide a new housing. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

[0057] [Item 2] The connector device according to item 1, wherein the first housing (30) and the second housing (30) are colored in different colors from each other. The configuration of the above [Item 2] allows the first connector and the second connector to be distinguished by their appearance.

[0058] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-described first and second embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the terminals are so-called coaxial terminals. In contrast, in other embodiments, the terminals may be general terminals connected to the ends of insulated electric wires. In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the housings have completely the same shape. In contrast, in other embodiments, the housings may have partially different shapes, for example, by making the positions at which the ribs are formed different. In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the mounting hole is open across the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the housing main body. In contrast, in other embodiments, the mounting hole may be open only on one surface, such as the bottom surface, of the housing main body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10,10A…connector 11,11A…Terminal 12...Outer conductor 13…Inner conductor 14...Dielectric 15…Crimping section 16, 16A…Elastic contact part 17, 17A…Front flange 17s…Locked surface 18,18A…Rear flange 19…Flat surface 30…Housing 31…Front cavity (cavity) 32…Rear cavity (cavity) 33…Housing body 34...Main body mounting hole (mounting hole) 35...End mounting hole (mounting hole) 36…Front inner end surface 37…Rear inner end surface 38…Stopper surface 39…Inner lower surface 41…Lower rib 42…Inner top surface 43…Upper rib 44…Opening 60,60A…Retainer 61, 61A…Retainer body 62…Front support surface 63…Rear support surface 64...Step surface 65…Retainer side rib 66,66A…Secondary locking part 67…Side wall 68,68A…Primary locking part 68b…Arm section 68c…Latching body 68d…Engagement surface 68e…Curved surface part 68f…Proximal end 69…Front receiving surface 100...Electric wire

Claims

1. The terminals and a housing for accommodating the terminal; a retainer that is arranged to be movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position relative to the housing, The retainer includes: a primary locking portion that is elastically deformable and locks the terminal at the provisional locking position; a secondary locking portion having a fixed shape that moves away from the terminal at the temporary locking position and locks the terminal at the full locking position.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the primary locking portion locks the terminal even in the full locking position.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein an engagement allowance between the primary engagement portion and the terminal in the full engagement position is smaller than an engagement allowance between the primary engagement portion and the terminal in the partial engagement position.

4. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the primary locking portion extends in a movement direction from the temporary locking position to the full locking position and has a locking surface that faces the terminal at each of the temporary locking position and the full locking position.

5. 5. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the primary locking portion is formed in pairs on both sides of the secondary locking portion in a width direction that intersects with the movement direction from the temporary locking position to the full locking position.

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