Connector

Abstract

To excellently detect a semi-insertion state of a terminal metal fitting.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a terminal metal fitting 20; a housing 10; and a retainer 70. The housing 10 includes a large cavity 11C, and the terminal metal fitting 20 includes: a cylindrical box part 21; and a stabilizer 25 projected from the box part 21. The retainer 70 includes: a box part detection part 72D; a convex part detection part 72E; and a box part engagement part 72F. The large cavity 11C includes: a box part insertion part 15; and a retainer insertion part 18 positioned at a rear direction thereof. The housing 10 includes a retreat part 12A communicated into the retainer insertion part 18 from a direction crossed to front and rear direction. When the terminal metal fitting 20 is in a normal insertion state, the box part 21 is normally arranged in the box part insertion part 15, and the box part engagement part 72F is arranged in the retainer insertion part 18. When the terminal metal fitting 20 is in a semi-insertion state, at least one of the following states is taken: the box part detection part 72D is in a box part contact state; and the convex part detection part 72E is in a convex part contact state, and a projection part 72C is arranged in the retreat part 12A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a terminal fitting is inserted into a cavity of a housing and attached. In Patent Document 1, when the retainer is pushed from the provisional locking position to the full locking position, if the lower surface of the main body of the terminal fitting comes into contact with the locking protrusion of the retainer, it detects that the terminal fitting is in a partially inserted state into the cavity. Technologies related to connectors are also known, as disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-243826 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-94230 [Patent Document 3] JP 2005-5109 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is necessary to prevent terminal fittings from being used in a product in a partially inserted state, and a method for more reliably detecting this state is desired.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to more reliably detect the incompletely inserted state of a terminal fitting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises: The terminal fitting, the housing, and the retainer are provided. The housing has a cavity extending in a front-rear direction, The terminal fitting has a cylindrical box portion and a protrusion protruding from a peripheral wall of the box portion, The retainer has a box portion detection portion, a protrusion detection portion, and a box portion locking portion, The cavity has a box portion insert portion and a retainer insert portion located rearward of the box portion insert portion, the housing has a retreat portion communicating with the retainer insertion portion in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, When the terminal fitting is in a properly inserted state in which it is properly arranged in the cavity, the box part is properly arranged in the box part insertion part, and the box part engaging part is properly arranged in the retainer insertion part, When the terminal fitting is in a half-inserted state where it is not properly positioned in the cavity, it takes at least one of a box-part contact state where the box-part detection portion contacts the box part and a convex-part contact state where the convex-part detection portion contacts the convex part, and the box-part engaging portion is positioned in the retracted portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the incompletely inserted state of the terminal fitting can be detected more reliably. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the housing. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retainer and an enlarged perspective view of the large cavity engagement portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the housing with the retainer in the temporary locking position. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a terminal fitting is inserted into a large cavity and a stabilizer is not inserted into a retainer. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a terminal fitting is inserted into a large cavity and a stabilizer is inserted into a retainer. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the large cavity and the stabilizer is disposed above the protrusion detection portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the large cavity and the stabilizer has passed forward over the protrusion and protrusion detection portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting inserted into the large cavity has reached a properly inserted state. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is properly inserted and the retainer is disposed at the full locking position. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a rear view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is properly inserted and the retainer is disposed at the full locking position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting, a housing, and a retainer, wherein the housing has a cavity extending in the front-to-rear direction, the terminal fitting has a cylindrical box portion and a convex portion protruding from a peripheral wall of the box portion, the retainer has a box portion detection portion, a convex portion detection portion, and a box portion locking portion, the cavity has a box portion insertion portion and a retainer insertion portion located rearward of the box portion insertion portion, and the housing has a retraction portion communicating with the retainer insertion portion from a direction intersecting the front-to-rear direction, wherein when the terminal fitting is in a properly inserted state where it is properly positioned in the cavity, the box portion is properly positioned in the box portion insertion portion and the box portion locking portion is positioned in the retainer insertion portion, and when the terminal fitting is in a partially inserted state where it is not properly positioned in the cavity, the terminal fitting takes at least one of a box portion contact state in which the box portion detection portion abuts the box portion and a convex portion contact state in which the convex portion detection portion abuts the convex portion, and the box portion locking portion is positioned in the retraction portion.

[0010] According to this configuration, when the terminal fitting is in a partially inserted state, it takes at least one of a box portion contacting state and a convex portion contacting state, thereby improving the ability to detect whether the terminal fitting is partially inserted into the cavity.

[0011] (2) It is preferable that the retainer has a protruding portion protruding from one surface facing the terminal fitting, the protruding portion detection portion is formed on one surface of the retainer, and the protruding portion has a box portion detection portion formed on a tip surface in a protruding direction and a box portion locking portion formed on a front end surface. With this configuration, it is easy to integrate the box portion detection portion and the protruding portion detection portion.

[0012] (3) When the retainer is placed in the retainer insertion portion, it is preferable that the protrusion is disposed offset to one side from the widthwise center of the retainer insertion portion. With this configuration, the box detection portion and the box locking portion can be provided separately from the structure that locks the lance.

[0013] (4) It is preferable that a protrusion locking portion is provided at the front end of the retainer, and that the box locking portion is arranged so as to be able to lock with the box portion and the protrusion locking portion is arranged so as to be able to lock with the protrusion when the terminal is in the properly inserted state. According to this configuration, when the terminal is in the properly inserted state, the terminal can be locked at two points, the protrusion locking portion and the box locking portion, so that the terminal in the properly inserted state can be more reliably prevented from coming out.

[0014] (5) It is preferable that the protrusion is a stabilizer that prevents the terminal from being erroneously inserted into the housing. With this configuration, the protrusion can serve the role of preventing the terminal from being erroneously inserted into the cavity, and one component (protrusion) can be given multiple functions, making it easy to simplify the structure.

[0015] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Embodiment 1] A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 13. In the first embodiment, the front-rear direction is defined as the upper right in Fig. 1 as the front, and the lower left as the rear. The up-down direction is defined as the directions shown in Fig. 1 as the up and down directions. The left-right direction is defined as the upper left in Fig. 1 as the left, and the lower right as the right.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 of this embodiment is configured to include a housing 10 made of synthetic resin, a plurality of metal terminal fittings 20, and a retainer 70 made of synthetic resin.

[0017] [About housing] A plurality of cavities 11 are formed inside the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the cavity 11 has a plurality of small cavities 11A, a plurality of medium cavities 11B, and a plurality of large cavities 11C. The small cavities 11A are arranged in the center in the width direction (left-right direction). The medium cavities 11B are arranged on both left-right sides of the small cavities 11A. The large cavities 11C are arranged outside the medium cavities 11B in the left-right direction. The small cavities 11A, the medium cavities 11B, and the large cavities 11C extend in the front-rear direction through the housing 10. Terminal fittings according to the sizes of the small cavities 11A, the medium cavities 11B, and the large cavities 11C can be inserted from the rear into the small cavities 11A, the medium cavities 11B, and the large cavities 11C. The terminal fittings inserted into the small cavities 11A and the medium cavities 11B are not shown.

[0018] [About the large cavity] As shown in FIG. 3, the large cavity 11C has a box part insertion portion 15, a retainer insertion portion 18, and a lance 14. The box part insertion portion 15 is formed in the front portion of the large cavity 11C. A box part 21 of a terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the box part insertion portion 15 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). The retainer insertion portion 18 is located behind the box part insertion portion 15 in the large cavity 11C. The retainer insertion portion 18 is a part of a mounting hole 12, which will be described later. The retainer insertion portion 18 is an area above the top surface of the main body portion 16 of the lance 14 in the area where the large cavity 11C and the mounting hole 12 overlap.

[0019] The lance 14 is provided so as to extend forward in a cantilever shape along the bottom wall of the large cavity 11C. The tip of the lance 14 is disposed within the box insertion portion 15. In the large cavity 11C, the lance 14 is provided so as to be spaced apart from the left and right partition walls (see FIG. 2). The lance 14 maintains a locking posture for locking the terminal in a natural state in which no external force is applied. When the lance 14 is pressed downward by the box portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 during insertion of the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C, the lance 14 elastically deforms downward with its rear end as a fulcrum, changing to a lock release posture (see FIGS. 10 and 11). The direction in which the lance 14 elastically deforms is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The lance 14 has a main body portion 16 which extends forward in a cantilever shape as a whole. When the lance 14 is in the locking position, the upper surface and the lower surface of the main body 16 are parallel to the mounting direction of the terminal fitting 20 to the housing 10 (see FIG. 12).

[0020] An engagement projection 17 protrudes upward from the top surface of the main body 16. The engagement projection 17 is located in the center of the main body 16 (lance 14) in the front-to-rear direction. The front surface of the engagement projection 17 has a steep surface in the vertical direction when the lance 14 is in the engagement position.

[0021] During the process of inserting the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C (i.e., when the terminal fitting 20 is only partially inserted), the locking projection 17 is pressed downward by the box portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20, causing the lance 14 to elastically deform and assume an unlocked position (see Figs. 10 and 11). When the terminal fitting 20 is inserted to the correct position in the large cavity 11C, the lance 14 elastically returns to the locked position and locks the terminal fitting 20 (see Fig. 12). In this way, the terminal fitting 20 is primarily locked by the lance 14 and prevented from coming out.

[0022] A bottomed mounting hole 12 that is long in the left-right direction is formed and opened in the center of the front-rear direction on the lower surface of the housing 10. The mounting hole 12 is disposed rearward of the box insertion portion 15. The mounting hole 12 communicates with each cavity 11. A retainer 70 is attached to the mounting hole 12 from below. A retracted portion 12A is formed in the mounting hole 12 of the housing 10. The retracted portion 12A is a region filled with gray in FIG. 3. The retracted portion 12A is a region below the retainer insertion portion 18 (i.e., a region below the upper surface of the main body portion 16 of the lance 14 in the natural state) and communicates with the retainer insertion portion 18 from below (in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction). The lower end of the retracted portion 12A is the lower surface of the large cavity 11C.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, on each of the left and right sides of the mounting hole 12, between the medium cavity 11B and the large cavity 11C, there are provided a full locking portion 76 and a full locking portion 77 for holding the retainer 70 in the full locking position and the full locking position. The full locking portion 76 is located above the full locking portion 77. When the retainer 70 is locked with the full locking portion 76, it is held in the full locking position (not shown). When the retainer 70 is locked with the partial locking portion 77, it is held in the partial locking position (see Fig. 7).

[0024] [About terminal fittings] As shown in Fig. 4, the terminal fitting 20 is a male terminal having a tab 22 protruding forward from a box portion 21. The terminal fitting 20 is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole, and the box portion 21 formed in a rectangular tube shape is provided in the center part in the front-rear direction. The terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the large cavity 11C of the housing 10 from the rear of the housing 10 (see Fig. 1).

[0025] The terminal fitting 20 has an open barrel-shaped electric wire crimping portion 23 extending rearward from the box portion 21. An electric wire W is crimped and connected to the electric wire crimping portion 23. The electric wire W is drawn out from the rear surface of the housing 10 (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0026] A rectangular locking hole 24 is formed in the center of the bottom plate of the box portion 21 in the front-rear direction and in the center of the left-right direction, penetrating the plate in the thickness direction. When the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the large cavity 11C at the correct position, the locking projection 17 of the lance 14 locks into the front edge of the opening area of ​​the locking hole 24, so that the terminal fitting 20 is temporarily locked and prevented from falling out (see Figures 12 and 13).

[0027] The box portion 21 is provided with a stabilizer 25 which is a protruding portion. The stabilizer 25 prevents the terminal fitting 20 from being erroneously inserted into the housing 10. The stabilizer 25 has a function of interfering with the housing 10 when the terminal fitting 20 is inverted from the normal position and takes an upside-down position, thereby preventing the terminal fitting 20 from being inserted in the wrong direction into the housing 10. The stabilizer 25 is flush with the right side plate which is a part of the peripheral wall forming the box portion 21 and protrudes downward. In other words, the stabilizer 25 which is a protruding portion protrudes from the peripheral wall of the box portion 21. The lower edge of the stabilizer 25 is parallel to the front-rear direction. The stabilizer 25 is disposed in the center of the box portion 21 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the stabilizer 25 is located forward of the rear end of the box portion 21.

[0028] [About the retainer] As shown in Fig. 5, the retainer 70 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction. The retainer 70 has a small cavity engaging portion 70A, a medium cavity engaging portion 70B, and a large cavity engaging portion 70C. The small cavity engaging portion 70A is provided in the center of the retainer 70 in the left-right direction. The medium cavity engaging portions 70B are disposed adjacent to each of the left-right sides of the small cavity engaging portion 70A. The large cavity engaging portions 70C are disposed adjacent to each of the medium cavity engaging portions 70B on the outside in the left-right direction.

[0029] The small cavity engaging portion 70A has a plurality of through holes 71A corresponding to the middle and lower small cavities 11A. A locking protrusion 72A protruding upward is provided at the lower end of the inner surface of each through hole 71A to prevent the terminal fitting inserted into the small cavity 11A from falling out. A plurality of locking protrusions 73A protruding upward are provided at the upper end edge of the small cavity engaging portion 70A to prevent the terminal fitting inserted into the upper small cavity 11A from falling out.

[0030] Four through holes 71B corresponding to the middle and lower middle cavities 11B are formed in the middle cavity engaging portion 70B. A locking protrusion 72B protruding upward is provided at the lower end of the inner surface of each through hole 71B to prevent the terminal fitting inserted into the middle cavity 11B from falling out. A locking protrusion 73B protruding upward is provided at the upper end edge of the middle cavity engaging portion 70B to prevent the terminal fitting inserted into the upper middle cavity 11B from falling out.

[0031] [About the large cavity engagement part on the right side] The large cavity engagement portion 70C located on the right side has two through holes 71C corresponding to the middle and lower large cavities 11C. The inner surfaces of these through holes 71C are opposing portions 74 that face the terminal fittings 20 inserted into the large cavities 11C. A step portion 71F is provided at the lower end of the right side of the inner surface of each through hole 71C, protruding upward. The step portion 71F is provided protruding from the opposing portion 74. The step portion 71F extends in the front-rear direction and is provided from the front end to the rear end of the retainer 70. As shown in FIG. 13, an inclined surface that is inclined upward and backward is formed as a protruding portion locking portion 71G on the upper side of the front end of the step portion 71F. In other words, the protruding portion locking portion 71G is provided at the front end of the step portion 71F that protrudes from the opposing portion 74 of the retainer 70.

[0032] A protrusion 72C protruding upward from the upper surface, which is one surface of the center of the step 71F in the front-rear direction, and a protrusion detection portion 72E are provided. The protrusion 72C has a function of preventing the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the large cavity 11C from falling out. When the lower end face of the facing portion 74 of the retainer 70 is viewed in plan, the step 71F, the protrusion 72C, and the protrusion detection portion 72E are positioned to the right (one side) of the center in the left-right direction (width direction) of the facing portion 74 (see FIG. 6).

[0033] The protruding portion 72C has a box part detection portion 72D and a box part locking portion 72F. That is, the retainer 70 has a box part detection portion 72D, a convex part detection portion 72E, and a box part locking portion 72F. The box part detection portion 72D is formed flat on the tip end surface (upper end surface) of the protruding portion 72C in the protruding direction. The box part detection portion 72D is disposed to the left of the right wall of the through hole 71C. The box part detection portion 72D is spaced a predetermined distance from the right wall of the through hole 71C. The box part locking portion 72F is formed on the front end surface of the protruding portion 72C. The box part detection portion 72D and the box part locking portion 72F are connected via an inclined surface 72G that is inclined upward and backward (see Figs. 6 and 8).

[0034] The protrusion detection portion 72E is provided next to the protrusion 72C to the right. The protrusion detection portion 72E is provided between the box detection portion 72D and the right wall of the through-hole 71C. The protrusion detection portion 72E is arranged connecting the box detection portion 72D and the right wall of the through-hole 71C. The upper end surface of the protrusion 72C (i.e., the box detection portion 72D) is located above the upper end surface of the protrusion detection portion 72E.

[0035] The upper end of the large cavity engaging portion 70C located on the right side is also a facing portion 74 that faces the terminal fitting 20 inserted in the upper large cavity 11C. A step portion 71H protruding upward is provided on the right side of the upper end (facing portion 74) of the large cavity engaging portion 70C located on the right side. The step portion 71H is provided on the facing portion 74. The step portion 71H extends in the front-to-rear direction and is provided from the front end to the rear end of the retainer 70. An inclined surface that slopes upward and rearward is formed on the upper side of the front end of the step portion 71H as a protruding portion engaging portion 71J.

[0036] A protrusion 73C and a protrusion detection portion 73E are provided at the center of the step 71H in the front-rear direction so as to protrude upward. The protrusion 73C has a function of preventing the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the upper large cavity 11C from falling out. When the upper surface of the facing portion 74 of the retainer 70 is viewed in plan, the step 71H, the protrusion 73C, and the protrusion detection portion 73E are disposed to the right (one side) of the center in the left-right direction (width direction) of the facing portion 74 (not shown).

[0037] The protruding portion 73C has a box detection portion 73D and a box locking portion 73F. The box detection portion 73D is formed flat on the tip surface (upper end surface) in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 73C. The box locking portion 73F is formed on the front end surface of the protruding portion 73C. The box detection portion 73D and the box locking portion 73F are connected via an inclined surface 73G that slopes upward and backward.

[0038] The protrusion detection portion 73E is provided next to and to the right of the protrusion 73C. The upper end surface of the protrusion 73C (that is, the box detection portion 73D) is located higher than the upper end surface of the protrusion detection portion 73E.

[0039] [About the large cavity engagement part on the left side] The large cavity engagement portion 70C located on the left side has three steps 71K, 71L, 71M that protrude leftward and correspond to the upper, middle, and lower large cavities 11C. The steps 71K, 71L extend in the front-rear direction and are provided from the front end to the rear end of the retainer 70. The step 71M is provided by protruding leftward over the entire lower end of the left large cavity engagement portion 70C.

[0040] The upper surface and left side surface of step 71K are opposing portions 74 that face the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the upper large cavity 11C. The lower surface of step 71K, the surface of base wall 70E, the upper end surface of step 71L, and the left side surface are opposing portions 74 that face the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the middle large cavity 11C. The lower surface of step 71L, the surface of base wall 70E, the upper surface of step 71M, and the upper side of the left side surface are opposing portions 74 that face the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the lower large cavity 11C.

[0041] An inclined surface inclined upward and rearward is formed on the upper side of the front ends of the step portions 71K, 71L, 71M as a protruding portion engaging portion 71N.

[0042] A protrusion 75C and a protrusion detection portion 75E are provided to protrude upward from the center of the upper surfaces of the steps 71K, 71L, and 71M in the front-rear direction. The protrusion 75C has a function of preventing the terminal fitting 20 inserted into the large cavity 11C on the left side of the housing 10 from falling out.

[0043] The protruding portion 75C has a box detection portion 75D and a box locking portion 75F. The box detection portion 75D is formed flat on the tip surface (upper end surface) of the protruding portion 75C in the protruding direction. The protruding portion 75C is disposed on the left side of each of the step portions 71K, 71L, and 71M. The box detection portions 75D provided on the step portions 71L and 71M are spaced a predetermined distance from the base wall 70E of the left large cavity engagement portion 70C.

[0044] The protrusion detection portions 75E provided on the step portions 71K, 71L, and 71M are arranged side by side to the right of the protrusion 75C. The protrusion detection portions 75E of the step portions 71L and 71M are arranged between the protrusion 75C and the base wall 70E. The protrusion detection portions 75E of the step portions 71L and 71M are arranged connecting the protrusion 75C and the base wall 70E. The upper end surfaces of the protrusions 75C of the step portions 71K, 71L, and 71M (i.e., the box detection portions 75D) are located above the upper end surfaces of the protrusion detection portions 75E.

[0045] When the retainer 70 is attached to the attachment hole 12 of the housing 10, the protrusions 72C, 73C, 75C are positioned to the right of and alongside the lance 14 (see FIG. 7).

[0046] On each of the left and right sides of the retainer 70, one locking piece 70D is provided between the medium cavity engagement portion 70B and the large cavity engagement portion 70C. Each locking piece 70D holds the retainer 70 in the temporary locking position by engaging with a temporary locking portion 77 of the housing 10 (see FIG. 7). Each locking piece 70D holds the retainer 70 in the final locking position by engaging with a final locking portion 76 of the housing 10. The manner in which each locking piece 70D engages with the final locking portion 76 of the housing 10 is not shown.

[0047] [Connector assembly procedure] Next, an example of an assembly procedure for the connector 1 will be described. First, the retainer 70 is attached to the housing 10. Specifically, the retainer 70 is inserted into the mounting hole 12 from below the housing 10. Then, the locking pieces 70D are locked into the temporary locking portions 77 (see FIG. 7). This holds the retainer 70 in the temporary locking position.

[0048] Next, the terminal fitting 20 fixed to the end of the electric wire W is inserted from the rear into the large cavity 11C of the housing 10. At this time, the terminal fitting 20 is inserted in a direction such that the stabilizer 25 protrudes downward. Here, the case where the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the through hole 71C of the retainer 70 will be described.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal fitting 20 is inserted from the rear into the through hole 71C of the retainer 70, the box portion 21 is disposed above the protruding portion 72C, and the stabilizer 25 is not inserted into the through hole 71C (i.e., the stabilizer 25 is disposed behind the retainer 70). At this time, the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state in which it is not disposed in the correct position in the large cavity 11C. If an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 to move it from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface (box portion detection portion 72D) of the protruding portion 72C comes into contact with the bottom surface of the box portion 21, and the retainer 70 cannot be moved to the full locking position. This makes it possible to detect that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state. At this time, the box portion locking portion 72F is disposed in the retreat portion 12A of the mounting hole 12.

[0050] 9, the insertion of the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C progresses, and the stabilizer 25 is inserted into the through hole 71C (i.e., the stabilizer 25 faces the facing portion 74 of the retainer 70). At this time, the vertical dimension L1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as dimension L1) between the box portion 21 and the upper end surface of the protruding portion 72C (box portion detection portion 72D) is slightly smaller than the vertical dimension L2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as dimension L2) between the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25 and the upper end surface of the step portion 71F. For this reason, if an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 so as to move it from the provisional locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface (box portion detection portion 72D) of the protruding portion 72C will hit the bottom surface of the box portion 21, and the retainer 70 will not be able to move to the full locking position. At this time, since the dimension L1 is slightly smaller than the dimension L2, the upper end surface of the step portion 71F does not abut against the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25.

[0051] If the protruding dimension of the stabilizer 25 from the box portion 21 is made larger within the design tolerance, or if the terminal fitting 20 is tilted around its own central axis in the large cavity 11C, the dimension L2 may become equal to or smaller than the dimension L1. In such a case, if an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 to move it from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface of the step portion 71F abuts against the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25, and the retainer 70 cannot be moved to the full locking position. This makes it possible to detect that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state. In other words, the upper end surface of the step portion 71F abuts against the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25, thereby exhibiting the function of detecting that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state. At this time, the box portion locking portion 72F is disposed in the retreat portion 12A of the mounting hole 12. The retreated portion 12A is an area below the upper surface of the main body portion 16 of the lance 14 in the natural state and above the lower surface of the large cavity 11C (see FIG. 3).

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, the terminal fitting 20 is inserted further into the large cavity 11C, and the stabilizer 25 is sandwiched between the protruding portion 72C and the right wall of the through hole 71C. At this time, the front end of the box portion 21 hits the locking projection 17 of the lance 14, and the lance 14 is bent downward and deformed. At this time, the dimension L1 is slightly larger than the vertical dimension L3 (hereinafter simply referred to as the dimension L3) between the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25 and the upper end face of the protrusion detection portion 72E. Therefore, if an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 so as to move it from the provisional locking position to the final locking position, the upper end face of the protrusion detection portion 72E hits the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25 in a protrusion contact state, and the retainer 70 cannot be moved to the final locking position. In this way, the connector 1 is in at least one of the box portion contact state and the protrusion contact state.

[0053] If the protruding dimension of the stabilizer 25 from the box portion 21 is smaller than the design tolerance, or if the terminal fitting 20 is tilted around its own central axis in the large cavity 11C, the dimension L3 may be greater than or equal to the dimension L1. In such a case, if an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 to move it from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface (box portion detection portion 72D) of the protruding portion 72C hits the bottom surface of the box portion 21, and the retainer 70 cannot be moved to the full locking position. This makes it possible to detect that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state. At this time, the box portion locking portion 72F is located in the retracted portion 12A of the mounting hole 12.

[0054] 11, as the insertion of the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C progresses, the lance 14 is further bent downward by the box portion 21. Then, the stabilizer 25 passes forward through the protrusion 72C and the protrusion detection portion 72E. At this time, if the worker mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 to move it from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface of the protrusion 72C (box portion detection portion 72D) will hit the bottom surface of the box portion 21, and the retainer 70 will not be able to move to the full locking position.

[0055] If the protruding dimension of the stabilizer 25 from the box portion 21 is larger than the design tolerance, or if the terminal fitting 20 is tilted around its own central axis in the large cavity 11C, the dimension L2 may become equal to or smaller than the dimension L1. In such a case, if an operator mistakenly pushes the retainer 70 into the mounting hole 12 to move it from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the upper end surface of the step portion 71F hits the lower end edge of the stabilizer 25, and the retainer 70 cannot be moved to the full locking position. This makes it possible to detect that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state. At this time, the box portion locking portion 72F is located in the retreat portion 12A of the mounting hole 12.

[0056] 12, the insertion of the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C progresses and the front end of the locking hole 24 reaches the front of the locking projection 17 of the lance 14. Then, the locking projection 17 enters the locking hole 24 from below and the lance 14 elastically returns to the locking position, locking the terminal fitting 20. In this way, the terminal fitting 20 is primarily locked by the lance 14 and prevented from falling out. At this time, the box portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is properly positioned in the box portion insertion portion 15. At this time, the terminal fitting 20 is properly inserted and properly positioned in the large cavity 11C.

[0057] When the terminal fitting 20 is in the properly inserted state, the retainer 70 is pushed upward into the mounting hole 12, and the locking piece 70D of the retainer 70 is locked by the main locking portion 76 (see FIG. 7 for the positional relationship between the locking piece 70D and the main locking portion 76). At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the box locking portion 72F of the protruding portion 72C is disposed at the rear of the box portion 21, and the convex locking portion 71G of the stepped portion 71F is disposed at the rear of the stabilizer 25 (convex portion). Thus, the box locking portion 72F of the protruding portion 72C is disposed so as to be able to be locked to the rear end of the box portion 21, and the convex locking portion 71G of the stepped portion 71F is disposed so as to be able to be locked to the rear end of the stabilizer 25 (convex portion). Thus, the terminal fitting 20 is secondarily locked by the retainer 70. At this time, the box portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is placed at the correct position within the box portion insertion portion 15, and the box portion locking portion 72F is placed in the retainer insertion portion .

[0058] 14, with the box portion engaging portion 72F positioned in the retainer insertion portion 18, the protruding portion 72C is positioned offset to the right (one side) of the left-right center (widthwise center) of the retainer insertion portion 18. In this way, during the process of inserting the terminal fitting 20 into the housing 10, the connector 1 uses the box portion 21 and the stabilizer 25 to detect the half-inserted state of the terminal fitting 20 while the box portion 21 and the stabilizer 25 are positioned above the retainer 70.

[0059] When assembling the connector 1, the steps 71H, 71K, 71L, and 71M act in the same manner as the step 71F. The box detection portions 73D and 75D act in the same manner as the box detection portion 72D. The box locking portions 73F and 75F act in the same manner as the box locking portion 72F. The protrusion detection portions 73E and 75E act in the same manner as the protrusion detection portion 72E. The protrusion locking portions 71J and 71N act in the same manner as the protrusion locking portion 71G.

[0060] Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0061] The connector 1 of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting 20, a housing 10, and a retainer 70. The housing 10 has a large cavity 11C extending in the front-rear direction. The terminal fitting 20 has a cylindrical box portion 21 and a stabilizer 25 (protruding portion) protruding from the peripheral wall of the box portion 21. The retainer 70 has a box portion detection portion 72D, a protruding portion detection portion 72E, and a box portion locking portion 72F. The large cavity 11C has a box portion insertion portion 15 and a retainer insertion portion 18 located behind the box portion insertion portion 15. The housing 10 has a retraction portion 12A communicating with the retainer insertion portion 18 from a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction. When the terminal fitting 20 is in a properly inserted state in which it is properly arranged in the large cavity 11C, the box portion 21 is properly arranged in the box portion insertion portion 15, and the box portion locking portion 72F is arranged in the retainer insertion portion 18. When the terminal fitting 20 is in a partially inserted state in which it is not properly arranged in the large cavity 11C, it takes at least one of a box portion contact state in which the box portion detection portion 72D abuts on the box portion 21 and a convex portion contact state in which the convex portion detection portion 72E abuts on the stabilizer 25 (convex portion), and the box portion locking portion 72F is arranged in the retraction portion 12A. According to this configuration, when the terminal fitting 20 is in a partially inserted state, it takes at least one of the box portion contact state and the convex portion contact state, so that it is possible to improve the performance of detecting the partially inserted state of the terminal fitting 20 into the large cavity 11C.

[0062] In the connector 1 of the present disclosure, the retainer 70 has a protruding portion 72C protruding from an upper surface (one surface) of a step portion 71F of the facing portion 74 that faces the terminal fitting 20. The protruding portion detection portion 72E is formed on the upper surface (one surface) of the step portion 71F of the facing portion 74 of the retainer 70, and the protruding portion 72C has a box portion detection portion 72D formed on a tip surface in the protruding direction and a box portion locking portion 72F formed on a front end surface. With this configuration, the box portion detection portion 72D and the protruding portion detection portion 72E can be easily formed into a unified form.

[0063] In the connector 1 of the present disclosure, when the retainer 70 is placed in the retainer insertion portion 18, the protrusion 72C is positioned offset to the right (one side) from the center in the width direction of the retainer insertion portion 18. According to this configuration, the box detection portion 72D and the box locking portion 72F can be provided separately from the structure that locks the lance 14.

[0064] A protrusion locking portion 71G is provided at the front end of the opposing portion 74 of the retainer 70 of the connector 1 of the present disclosure, and when the terminal fitting 20 is in the properly inserted state, the box fitting locking portion 72F is arranged so as to be able to lock with the box fitting 21, and the protrusion locking portion 71G is arranged so as to be able to lock with the stabilizer 25 (protrusion). According to this configuration, when the terminal fitting 20 is in the properly inserted state, the terminal fitting 20 can be locked at two points, the protrusion locking portion 71G and the box fitting locking portion 72F, so that the terminal fitting 20 in the properly inserted state can be more reliably prevented from coming out.

[0065] In the connector 1 of the present disclosure, the protrusion is a stabilizer 25 that prevents the terminal fitting 20 from being erroneously inserted into the housing 10. According to this configuration, the protrusion can serve the role of preventing the terminal fitting 20 from being erroneously inserted into the large cavity 11C, and one configuration (protrusion) can be given multiple functions, making it easy to simplify the structure.

[0066] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments.

[0067] Unlike the first embodiment, the terminal fitting may be a female type that does not have a tab.

[0068] Unlike the first embodiment, one protrusion may be provided on each of one side and the other side of the width direction center of the retainer insertion portion. Also, a box portion detection portion may be provided on one left-right side of the lance, and a protrusion detection portion may be provided on the other left-right side.

[0069] Unlike the first embodiment, the object to be detected by the convex portion detection portion may be a lance locking portion to which the lance is locked, instead of a stabilizer.

[0070] Unlike the first embodiment, the upper end surface of the step portion may be used as the protrusion detection portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1…Connector 10. Housing 11...Cavity 11A…Small cavity 11B...Middle cavity 11C...Large cavity 12...Mounting hole 12A...Evacuation section 14…Lance 15...Box insertion part 16…Main body 17...Latching protrusion 18…Retainer insertion part 20...Terminal metal fitting 21…Hakobe 22…Tab 23…Wire crimping section 24…Latching hole 25…Stabilizer (convex part) 70…Retainer 70A…Small cavity engagement part 70B...Middle cavity engagement part 70C...Large cavity engagement part 70D…Locking piece 70E…Base wall 71A, 71B, 71C…Through hole 71F,71H,71K,71L,71M…Stepped section 71G, 71J, 71N...Protruding locking portion 72A, 72B, 73A, 73B…Lock protrusion 72C, 73C, 75C…Protrusion 72D, 73D, 75D…Box detection section 72E, 73E, 75E…Protruding part detection part 72F, 73F, 75F…Box part locking part 72G,73G…Slanted surface 74…Facing part 76…Main locking part 77…Temporary locking part L1, L2, L3…Dimensions W…Electric wire

Claims

1. The terminal fitting, the housing, and the retainer are provided. The housing has a cavity extending in a front-rear direction, The terminal fitting has a cylindrical box portion and a protrusion protruding from a peripheral wall of the box portion, The retainer has a protrusion detection portion and a protrusion engagement portion, the cavity has a box insert; When the terminal fitting is in a properly inserted state in which it is properly arranged in the cavity, the box part is properly arranged in the box part insertion part, and the protrusion locking part is arranged behind the protrusion, When the terminal fitting is in a partially inserted state, i.e., not properly disposed in the cavity, the protrusion detection portion is in a protrusion contact state in which the protrusion detection portion abuts on the protrusion, The protrusion locking portion is provided at a front end of the retainer, The protrusion detection portion is formed at a position spaced rearward from the protrusion engagement portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion detection portion protrudes from one surface of the retainer facing the terminal metal fitting.

3. The retainer has a box portion detection portion, When the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state, the terminal fitting takes at least one of a box-part contact state in which the box-part detection portion comes into contact with the box part and a protrusion-part contact state, The retainer has a protrusion protruding from the one surface, The convex portion detection portion is adjacent to the protrusion, The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the protruding portion has a tip surface in a protruding direction, the box portion detection portion being formed on the tip surface.

4. The cavity has a retainer insert portion located rearward of the box insert portion, The connector according to claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is disposed offset to one side from a widthwise center of the retainer insertion portion when the retainer is disposed in the retainer insertion portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a stabilizer that prevents the terminal fitting from being erroneously inserted into the housing.

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