Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can protect a terminal locking part of a retainer and ensure stability of locking of the terminal locking part to a terminal fitting.SOLUTION: A housing 20 has a cavity 25 extending in a longitudinal direction. A retainer 60 has a terminal locking part 63 protruding forward from a retainer body 62. The retainer 60 moves obliquely forward with respect to the housing 20 from a temporary locking position to a regular locking position. When the retainer is in the regular locking position, a tip of the terminal locking part 63 is made to face the terminal fitting 50 from behind. Further, the retainer 60 has protection walls 64 that are arranged on the right and left sides across the terminal locking part 63, and cover the terminal locking part 63 from the right and left sides. The protection walls 64 each have a protrusion 69 protruding obliquely forward. The housing 20 has a recess 36 extending obliquely forward, and receiving the protrusion 69 in the regular locking position in a vertically position-regulated manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a connector housing and a retainer movably attached between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the connector housing. A plurality of cavities extending in the front-rear direction are formed in the connector housing. A terminal fitting is inserted and housed in each cavity from the rear. The retainer has a housing locking portion lockable to the connector housing and a terminal locking portion protruding forward from the housing locking portion. The retainer moves obliquely forward from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the connector housing, and the tip of the terminal locking portion faces the terminal fitting from the rear in the main locking position. The terminal fitting is locked to the terminal locking portion to prevent it from coming out of the cavity rearward. Connectors provided with a retainer that moves obliquely forward are also disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, the tip of the terminal locking portion was exposed in a side view, and it was difficult to effectively protect the terminal locking portion from foreign matter coming from the side. Further, when an external force that rotates the retainer around the locking portion with the housing as a fulcrum acts on the retainer during the main locking and the temporary locking, it was difficult to sufficiently suppress the rotation of the retainer. For this reason, there was a risk that the terminal locking portion would be displaced downward and the locking allowance of the terminal locking portion with respect to the terminal fitting would be reduced.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of ensuring the stability of the locking (terminal fitting locking) of the terminal locking portion of the retainer with respect to the terminal fitting.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing in which a cavity extending in the front-rear direction is formed, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity with its tip facing forward, and a retainer movably disposed between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing. The retainer has a retainer body and a terminal locking portion protruding forward from the retainer body. The retainer is configured to move obliquely forward intersecting the front-rear direction from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the housing, and to oppose the tip of the terminal locking portion to the terminal fitting from behind at the main locking position. Further, the retainer has protective walls that cover the tip of the terminal locking portion from both the left and right sides on both the left and right sides sandwiching the terminal locking portion. The protective wall has a convex portion protruding obliquely forward, and the housing has a concave portion that extends obliquely forward and receives the convex portion in a state of restricting the position of the convex portion in the vertical direction at least at the main locking position. It is a connector.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of ensuring the stability of the locking (terminal fitting locking) of the terminal locking portion of the retainer with respect to the terminal fitting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure is (1) A housing having a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity with its tip facing forward, and a retainer movably disposed between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing. The retainer has a retainer body and a terminal locking portion protruding forward from the retainer body. The retainer is configured to move obliquely forward intersecting the front-rear direction from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the housing, and at the main locking position, the tip of the terminal locking portion faces the terminal fitting from the rear. Further, the retainer has protective walls on both left and right sides sandwiching the terminal locking portion, and the protective walls cover the tip of the terminal locking portion from both left and right sides. The protective walls have convex portions protruding obliquely forward, and the housing has a concave portion extending obliquely forward and receiving the convex portion in a state of restricting the position of the convex portion in the vertical direction at least at the main locking position.

[0010] According to the configuration of (1) above, the tip of the terminal locking portion of the retainer is covered and protected by the protective walls from both left and right sides. Also, when a force to rotate the retainer body acts on the retainer, the concave portion can receive the convex portion and restrict the displacement of the protective wall in the vertical direction, and the displacement of the terminal locking portion located inside the protective wall in the left and right directions can also be restricted. As a result, the stability of the locking of the terminal locking portion to the terminal fitting can be ensured.

[0011] (2) In the connector according to (1) above, it is preferable that the convex portion is configured to contact the inner surface of the concave portion at the temporary locking position in a state of being restricted in position in at least one direction in the vertical direction.

[0012] According to the configuration of (2) above, even when the retainer is in the temporary locking position, the displacement of the protective wall and thus the terminal locking portion in at least one direction in the vertical direction can be restricted, and the stability of the locking of the terminal locking portion to the terminal fitting can be further enhanced.

[0013] (3) In the connector according to the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the convex portion is configured to contact the inner surface of the concave portion in a state where the displacement obliquely forward is restricted at the main locking position.

[0014] According to the configuration of the above (3), when the retainer is in the main locking position, the displacement of the protective wall and thus the terminal locking portion obliquely forward is also restricted.

[0015] (4) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (3), it is preferable that the convex portion fits into the entire concave portion at the main locking position.

[0016] According to the configuration of the above (4), when the retainer is in the main locking position, the displacement of the protective wall and thus the terminal locking portion in the vertical direction can be more reliably restricted, and a structure in which rattling is less likely to occur between the housing and the retainer can be achieved.

[0017] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this example, and is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0018] [Embodiment 1] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 includes a terminal fitting 50, a housing 20 that houses the terminal fitting 50, and a retainer 60 that is movably disposed between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 20 is configured to be able to be fitted with a mating housing 100. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the direction in which the housing 20 fits with the mating housing 100 is defined as the front. The vertical direction is based on the vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 4. In FIG. 1, the front is indicated by the symbol X, the right is indicated by the symbol Y, and the upper is indicated by the symbol Z. These direction references are for convenience and do not necessarily match the direction references in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. Therefore, the downward direction is not limited to the gravitational direction.

[0019] (Housing 20 and terminal fitting 50) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in FIG. 1, has a block-shaped housing body 21 and a cylindrical hood portion 22 that protrudes forward from the housing body 21.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the mating housing 100 fits inside the hood portion 22. A lock portion 24 protrudes and is formed on the upper surface of the inner wall of the hood portion 22. By the lock portion 24 locking the mating housing 100, the housing 20 and the mating housing 100 are held in a fitted state.

[0021] A plurality of cavities 25 extending in the front-rear direction are formed in the housing body 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the cavities 25 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction inside the housing body 21. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an elastically deformable lance 26 protrudes and is formed on the lower surface of the inner wall of each cavity 25.

[0022] The terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the cavity 25 from the rear. The terminal fitting 50 is made of conductive metal and has a box portion 51, a tab 52 that protrudes forward from the box portion 51, and a barrel portion 53 that is located rearward of the box portion 51. The box portion 51 is locked to the lance 26. The terminal fitting 50 is primarily prevented from coming off the cavity 25 by the lance 26. The tab 52 protrudes and is arranged inside the hood portion 22. As shown in FIG. 4, when the tab 52 is inserted into a female mating terminal fitting 150 attached to the mating housing 100, the terminal fitting 50 is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting 150. The barrel portion 53 is electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire W.

[0023] A retainer mounting hole 27 is formed and opened at the rear of the lower surface of the housing body 21. The retainer mounting hole 27 communicates with each cavity 25. A retainer body 62 of the retainer 60 described later can be inserted into the retainer mounting hole 27.

[0024] On the left and right side surfaces of the housing body 21, as shown in FIG. 2, guide portions 28 are recessed. The guide portions 28 are formed at the rear portion of the housing body 21, similar to the retainer mounting holes 27. A side wall 61 (to be described later) of the retainer 60 is recessed in the guide portions 28. The upper and lower edges of the guide portions 28 are respectively configured as an upper guide surface 29 and a lower guide surface 31 for guiding the movement of the retainer 60. The upper guide surface 29 and the lower guide surface 31 are inclined upward toward the front. The lower guide surface 31 constitutes the upper surface of a guide rib 32 extending obliquely forward.

[0025] The rear edge of the guide portion 28 is configured as a rear stopper surface 33 for restricting the rearward escape of the side wall 61 of the retainer 60 in the temporary locking position. The rear stopper surface 33 is formed along the vertical direction. The rear end of the upper guide surface 29 and the upper end of the rear stopper surface 33 are connected to each other. The front edge of the guide portion 28 is configured as a front stopper surface 34 for restricting the forward (obliquely forward) movement of the side wall 61 of the retainer 60 (see FIG. 5). The front stopper surface 34 is formed along the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the front end of the guide rib 32 and the lower end of the front stopper surface 34 are connected to each other.

[0026] On the inner surface of the side surface of the housing body 21 where the guide portion 28 is located, a holding portion 35 protrudes. The rear surface of the holding portion 35 is inclined obliquely downward and outward to the left and right toward the front. As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 61 of the retainer 60 contacts the rear surface of the holding portion 35.

[0027] On the left and right side surfaces of the housing body 21, recesses 36 are formed. The recesses 36 receive a convex portion 69 (to be described later) of the retainer 60 and position-regulate a protective wall 64 including the convex portion 69 in the vertical direction.

[0028] The recess 36 is recessed in the side surface of the housing body 21. The rear part of the recess 36 communicates with the retainer mounting hole 27, and an inlet 37 is opened on the lower surface of the housing body 21. The front part of the recess 36 and the cavity 25 adjacent to the front part of the recess 36 are partitioned by a thin side surface part 38.

[0029] The recess 36 is shaped to extend obliquely forward as a whole upward from the inlet 37. The edge located on the rear side of the recess 36 is configured as an upward-inclined surface 39 that inclines forward upward. The upward-inclined surface 39 is configured to be capable of contacting the convex part 69 from above. The edge located on the front side of the recess 36 is also configured as a downward-inclined surface 41 that inclines forward upward. The downward-inclined surface 41 is configured to be capable of contacting the convex part 69 from below. The upward-inclined surface 39 and the downward-inclined surface 41 are arranged to face each other in parallel. The edge located on the upper side of the recess 36 is configured as a back end surface 42 that extends linearly along the front-rear direction. The back end surface 42 is configured to be capable of contacting the upper end surface of the convex part 69 from above. The rear end of the back end surface 42 and the upper end of the upward-inclined surface 39 intersect at an obtuse angle with each other. The front end of the back end surface 42 and the upper end of the downward-inclined surface 41 intersect at an acute angle with each other. The intersection part of the front end of the back end surface 42 and the upper end of the downward-inclined surface 41 has a curved shape (R shape).

[0030] (Retainer 60) The retainer 60 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it has a pair of side walls 61 facing each other in the left-right direction, a retainer body 62 spanned between the side walls 61, a pair of terminal locking parts 63 protruding from the retainer body 62, and a pair of protective walls 64 continuous with the retainer body 62 and covering the terminal locking parts 63 from both the left and right sides.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 9, each side wall 61 is shaped to stand up with its wall surface facing the left - right direction, and is movably fitted into the inside of the guide portion 28 of the housing body 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). A held portion 65 is formed through each side wall 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the holding portion 35 is fitted into the inside of the held portion 65 at the main locking position. The rear end surfaces of each side wall 61 are arranged along the up - down direction and face the rear stopper surface 33 of the housing body 21 so as to be contactable at the temporary locking position (see FIG. 2). The upper part of the front end surface of each side wall 61 slopes upward toward the rear and faces the rear surface of the holding portion 35 so as to be contactable at the temporary locking position. The upper - lower intermediate part of the front end surface of each side wall 61 is arranged along the up - down direction and faces the front stopper surface 34 of the housing body 21 so as to be contactable at the main locking position (see FIG. 5).

[0032] The rear part of the upper end surface of each side wall 61 slopes upward toward the front and faces the upper guide surface 29 so as to be slidable (slide - movable) (see FIGS. 2 and 5). Also, on the inner surface of each side wall 61 (the opposing surfaces of each side wall 61), a guide groove 66 (see FIG. 7) that can be fitted with the guide rib 32 is recessed. A guided portion 67 that can slide on the guide rib 32 also projects from the lower part of the front end surface of each side wall 61. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the upper end surface of the guided portion 67 is continuous with the lower groove surface of the guide groove 66.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the retainer body 62 extends in the left - right direction between the lower end portions of each side wall 61 and is configured as the bottom wall portion of the retainer 60. As shown in FIG. 8, the retainer body 62 has a base portion 68 that projects forward from between the lower end portions of each side wall 61. As shown in FIG. 8, each terminal locking portion 63 projects in a row in the left - right direction on the upper surface of the base portion 68. Each terminal locking portion 63 can be inserted into the retainer mounting hole 27 together with the retainer body 62. The tip (front end) of each terminal locking portion 63 projects forward from the base portion 68. As shown in FIG. 4, the front end surface of the terminal locking portion 63 is arranged along the up - down direction and faces the rear end surface of the box portion 51 of the terminal fitting 50 so as to be contactable at the main locking position.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 8, each protective wall 64 is disposed in a pair on the left and right sides while protruding from the side surfaces on both the left and right sides of the base portion 68 and sandwiching each terminal locking portion 63. A pair of convex portions 69 are formed to protrude from both the left and right ends of each protective wall 64. Each convex portion 69 has a plate shape with the plate surface facing in the left-right direction, and is disposed at an interval from the front end portion of each terminal locking portion 63 on the left and right outer sides of each terminal locking portion 63. Each convex portion 69 covers the entire front end portion (the portion protruding forward from the base portion 68) of each terminal locking portion 63 located on the left and right inner sides, and has a portion protruding forward from the front end surface of each terminal locking portion 63.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9, the convex portion 69 has a shape that extends obliquely forward as a whole from the lower end portion of the protective wall 64 upward. The rear end surface of the convex portion 69 inclines forward upward and faces slidably against the upwardly inclined surface 39 of the concave portion 36 (see FIG. 5). The front end surface of the convex portion 69 inclines forward upward in parallel with the rear end surface of the convex portion 69 and faces slidably against the downwardly inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36. The upper end surface of the convex portion 69 extends linearly along the front-rear direction and contacts the inner end surface 42 of the concave portion 36 so as to be abutted. The rear end of the upper end surface and the upper end of the rear end surface of the convex portion 69 intersect at an obtuse angle with each other. The front end of the upper end surface and the upper end of the front end surface of the convex portion 69 intersect at an acute angle with each other. The intersecting portion of the front end of the upper end surface and the upper end of the front end surface of the convex portion 69 has a curved shape (R shape). Briefly, the convex portion 69 has a shape corresponding to the concave portion 36 and fits into the entire concave portion 36 at the main locking position.

[0036] (Operation of the connector 10) Before the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the cavity 25, the retainer 60 is disposed at a temporary locking position with respect to the housing 20. At the temporary locking position, the guide rib 32 of the housing 20 fits into the guide groove 66 of the retainer 60. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the upper portion of the front end face of the side wall 61 contacts the rear face of the holding portion 35, the movement of the retainer 60 from the temporary locking position to the main locking position is restricted. When the rear end face of the side wall 61 contacts the rear stopper surface 33 of the guide portion 28, the retainer 60 is restricted from coming out rearward from the temporary locking position. When the upper end face of the guided portion 67 contacts the lower guide surface 31, the retainer 60 is restricted from coming out downward from the temporary locking position. Thereby, the retainer 60 is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 1, at the temporary locking position, the terminal locking portion 63 is retracted from the insertion path of the terminal fitting 50 into the cavity 25. For this reason, when the retainer 60 is at the temporary locking position, the insertion of the terminal fitting 50 into the cavity 25 is permitted.

[0037] The terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the cavity 25 of the housing 20 from the rear with the tip of the tab 52 facing forward while being connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire W. When the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the cavity 25 to the regular depth, the lance 26 is locked to the box portion 51, and the terminal fitting 50 is primarily restricted from coming out of the cavity 25.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, at the temporary locking position, the tip of the convex portion 69 enters the concave portion 36, and the tip side of the front end face of the convex portion 69 is arranged to contact along the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36. If a force is applied to rotate the side wall 61 obliquely forward and downward with respect to the retainer 60 at the temporary locking position, the terminal locking portion 63 can be displaced downward within the movable range of the side wall 61 in the guide portion 28. However, in the case of the first embodiment, when the tip side of the front end face of the convex portion 69 contacts the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36, the downward displacement of the convex portion 69 and thus each terminal locking portion 63 is suppressed.

[0039] After each terminal fitting 50 is inserted into each cavity 25, the retainer 60 is pushed toward the main locking position. When a pushing force is applied to the retainer 60, each side wall 61 elastically deforms and rides on the holding portion 35, and the groove surface of the guide groove 66 and the upper end surface of the guided portion 67 slide along the guide rib 32, and the rear portion of the upper end surface of each side wall 61 slides on the upper guide surface 29, so that the obliquely forward movement of each side wall 61 with respect to the housing 20 is guided.

[0040] Also, the convex portion 69 slides on the upper inclined surface 39 and the lower inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36, so that the obliquely forward movement of the protective wall 64 with respect to the housing 20 is guided. Even if a force that tries to rotate the side wall 61 acts on the retainer 60 moving toward the main locking position, the convex portion 69 is sandwiched vertically between the upper inclined surface 39 and the lower inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36, so that the rotation of the convex portion 69 and thus the side wall 61 is suppressed.

[0041] When the retainer 60 reaches the main locking position, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower part of the front end surface of the side wall 61 contacts the front stopper surface 34 of the guide portion 28, so that further movement (obliquely forward movement) of the retainer 60 is restricted. Then, the holding portion 35 fits into the held portion 65 of each side wall 61, and the obliquely rearward movement of the retainer 60 is also restricted. Thereby, the retainer 60 is held at the main locking position with respect to the housing 20.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, at the main locking position, the terminal locking portion 63 is arranged so as to be able to lock the box portion 51 of the terminal fitting 50 from the rear, and the removal of the terminal fitting 50 from the cavity 25 is secondarily restricted. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening of the retainer mounting hole 27 is closed by the base portion 68.

[0043] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, at this locking position, the tip of the convex portion 69 fits into an acute V-shaped space 43 where the inner end surface 42 and the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36 intersect, and the upper end surface of the convex portion 69 faces the inner end surface 42 of the concave portion 36 in a contactable manner. Also, continuing from the movement process of the retainer 60, the rear end surface of the convex portion 69 faces the upward inclined surface 39 of the concave portion 36 in a contactable manner, and the front end surface of the convex portion 69 faces the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36 in a contactable manner.

[0044] If a force is applied to rotate the side wall 61 with respect to the retainer 60 at this locking position, within the movable range of the side wall 61 in the guide portion 28, the terminal locking portion 63 becomes displaceable. However, in the case of the first embodiment, when the front end surface of the convex portion 69 contacts the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36, the displacement (rotational displacement) of each terminal locking portion 63 downward is restricted. Also, when the rear end surface of the convex portion 69 contacts the upward inclined surface 39 of the concave portion 36 and the front end surface of the convex portion 69 contacts the downward inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36, the displacement (rotational displacement) of each terminal locking portion 63 upward is also restricted. As a result, the state where each terminal locking portion 63 can be locked to the box portion 51 of each terminal fitting 50 is maintained.

[0045] Incidentally, the terminal fitting 50 may remain at the half-insertion position without being inserted into the cavity 25 to the regular depth. In this case, during the process in which the retainer 60 moves obliquely forward from the temporary locking position to this locking position, the terminal locking portion 63 abuts against the box portion 51 of the terminal fitting 50 at the half-insertion position from the rear. Further, when the retainer 60 moves toward this locking position, the terminal fitting 50 is pressed by the retainer 60 and moves the cavity 25 forward. When the retainer 60 reaches this locking position, the terminal fitting 50 is pushed by the terminal locking portion 63 and is inserted into the cavity 25 to the regular depth. Therefore, the situation where the terminal fitting 50 remains at the half-insertion position can be prevented.

[0046] As the retainer 60 presses each terminal fitting 50 at the semi-insertion position during the movement process, the above-described rotational force is applied to the retainer 60. In the case of the first embodiment, as described above, since the convex portion 69 is fitted in a state where it is vertically positionally restricted by the concave portion 36, the terminal locking portion 63 can press the terminal fitting 50 without being displaced in the vertical direction. As a result, the terminal fitting 50 is stably accommodated in the cavity 25 at the regular depth.

[0047] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20 in which a cavity 25 extending in the front-rear direction is formed, a terminal fitting 50 accommodated in the cavity 25 with the tip portion facing forward, and a retainer 60 disposed movably between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing 20. The retainer 60 has a retainer body 62 and a terminal locking portion 63 protruding forward from the retainer body 62. The retainer 60 is configured to move obliquely forward from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the housing 20, and to oppose the tip portion of the terminal locking portion 63 to the terminal fitting 50 from the rear at the main locking position. Further, the retainer 60 has protective walls 64 that cover the tip portion of the terminal locking portion 63 from both the left and right sides on both the left and right sides sandwiching the terminal locking portion 63. The protective wall 64 has a convex portion 69 protruding obliquely forward. The housing 20 has a concave portion 36 that extends obliquely forward and receives the convex portion 69 in a state where the vertical position is restricted at the main locking position.

[0048] According to this, the tip portion of the terminal locking portion 63 of the retainer 60 is covered and protected by the protective walls 64 from both the left and right sides. Also, when a force to rotate the retainer body 62 acts on the retainer 60, for example, when the electric wire W is pulled, the concave portion 36 can receive the convex portion 69 and restrict the vertical displacement of the protective wall 64, and the terminal locking portion 63 located inside the protective wall 64 on the left and right can also be restricted from being vertically displaced. As a result, the stability of the locking of the terminal locking portion 63 to the terminal fitting 50 can be ensured.

[0049] Further, when the convex portion 69 is received in the concave portion 36, the movement of the retainer 60 with respect to the housing 20 can be guided. Here, the convex portion 69 is configured to contact the lower inclined surface 41, which is the inner surface of the concave portion 36, at the temporary locking position. Therefore, even when the retainer 60 is at the temporary locking position, the downward displacement of the protective wall 64 and thus the terminal locking portion 63 can be restricted, and the locking stability of the terminal locking portion 63 with respect to the terminal fitting 50 can be further enhanced.

[0050] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the convex portion 69 is configured to contact the inner surface (the back end surface 42 and the front inclined surface) of the V-shaped space 43 of the concave portion 36 at the main locking position while being restricted from displacing obliquely forward. Therefore, when the retainer 60 is at the main locking position, the displacement of the protective wall 64 and thus the terminal locking portion 63 obliquely forward is also restricted.

[0051] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the convex portion 69 fits into the entire concave portion 36 at the main locking position. Therefore, when the retainer 60 is at the main locking position, the displacement of the protective wall 64 and thus the terminal locking portion 63 in the vertical direction can be more reliably restricted, and the connector 10 can be made into a structure in which rattling is less likely to occur between the housing 20 and the retainer 60.

[0052] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] It should be considered that the above-described first embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. As shown in FIG. 10, a concave stopper portion 45 may be formed on the side surface portion 38 facing the concave portion 36 in the housing 20, and a protruding stopper portion 72 that can be fitted into the stopper portion 45 from the outside at the main locking position may be formed at the tip sides of the left and right inner surfaces of the convex portion 69 in the retainer 60. By elastically fitting and locking the stopper portion 72 to the stopper portion 45 at the main locking position, the displacement of the convex portion 69 with respect to the concave portion 36 can be more reliably restricted.

[0053] In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the terminal fitting 50 was a male terminal having a tab 52 protruding forward. In contrast, the terminal fitting may be a female terminal having no tab. When the terminal fitting is a female terminal, the hood portion can be omitted from the housing. According to the above-described Embodiment 1, the concave portion 36 was configured to receive the convex portion 69 throughout the range in which the retainer 60 moves between the temporary locking position and the main locking position. In contrast, according to another embodiment, when the retainer is in the temporary locking position, the concave portion may not enter the convex portion. As long as the concave portion receives the convex portion and restricts the position in the vertical direction when the retainer is at least in the main locking position, that is sufficient. According to the above-described Embodiment 1, the convex portion 69 was configured to contact the lower inclined surface 41 of the concave portion 36 at the temporary locking position. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the convex portion may be configured to contact the upper inclined surface of the concave portion at the temporary locking position. Alternatively, the convex portion may be configured to contact both the upper inclined surface and the lower inclined surface of the concave portion at the temporary locking position.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0054] 10... Connector 20... Housing 21... Housing body 22... Hood portion 24... Lock portion 25... Cavity 26... Lance 27... Retainer mounting hole 28... Guide portion 29... Upper guide surface 31... Lower guide surface 32... Guide rib 33... Rear stopper surface 34... Front stopper surface 35... Holding portion 36... Concave portion 37... Inlet 38... Side surface portion 39... Upper inclined surface 41... Lower inclined surface 42... Inner end surface 43... V-shaped space 45... Stopping portion 50…Terminal fitting 51…Box part 52…Tab 53 Barrel part 60…Retainer 61…Side wall 62…Retainer body 63…Terminal locking part 64…Protection wall 65…Part to be held 66…Guide groove 67…Guided part 68…Base part 69…Protrusion 72…Part to be stopped 100…Counter housing 150…Counter terminal fitting

Claims

1. A housing having a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, A terminal fitting accommodated in the cavity with its tip facing forward, A retainer movably disposed between a temporary locking position and a main locking position with respect to the housing, and comprising: The retainer has a retainer body and a terminal locking portion protruding forward from the retainer body, and moves obliquely forward intersecting the front-rear direction from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the housing, and is configured such that the tip of the terminal locking portion faces the terminal fitting from behind at the main locking position. Further, The retainer has protective walls on both left and right sides sandwiching the terminal locking portion, and covering the tip of the terminal locking portion from both left and right sides, The protective wall has a convex portion protruding obliquely forward, The housing has a recess that extends obliquely forward and receives the convex portion in a state where the vertical position thereof is regulated at least at the main locking position. The connector.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion is configured to contact the inner surface of the recess in a state where the vertical position thereof is regulated in at least one direction in the vertical direction at the temporary locking position.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion is configured to contact the inner surface of the recess in a state where displacement in the obliquely forward direction is regulated at the main locking position.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the convex portion fits into the entire recess at the main locking position.

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