Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of improving an operability of moving work of a retainer to a housing.SOLUTION: A connector 10 comprises: a housing 20 having a cavity 26 extending in a longitudinal direction; a terminal metal fitting 90 to be housed in the cavity 26; and a retainer 60 movable to one of a vertical direction to a main engagement position from a temporal engagement position with respect to the housing 20. The retainer 60 has an insertion part 63 through which the terminal metal fitting 90 can be inserted, permits a passage of the terminal metal fitting 90 to the insertion part 63 at the temporal engagement position, and regulates a remove of the terminal metal fitting 90 from the cavity 26 at the main engagement position. In the terminal metal fitting 90, a pressing part 97 is formed. The insertion part 63 includes a pressed insertion part 63A that is pressed to one of the vertical direction by the pressing part 97 at the temporal engagement position and moves the retainer 60 to the main engagement position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, the disclosed connector includes a housing having a contact accommodation space (hereinafter referred to as a cavity), a contact (hereinafter referred to as a terminal fitting), and a retainer. The terminal fitting is inserted into and accommodated in the cavity of the housing. The retainer is attached to the housing following the terminal fitting. When the retainer is attached to the housing, the removal of the terminal fitting from the housing is restricted. Note that Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 disclose terminal fittings. Patent Document 4 discloses a retainer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, after performing the operation of inserting the terminal fitting into the housing, the retainer has to be manually moved (including the case of using a jig or the like) to the main locking position, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of workability.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of improving the workability of the movement operation of the retainer with respect to the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing having a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity, and a retainer movable in one of the vertical directions from a temporary locking position to a main locking position with respect to the housing. The retainer has an insertion portion through which the terminal fitting can be inserted. At the temporary locking position, passage of the terminal fitting through the insertion portion is allowed, and at the main locking position, the retainer is configured to restrict the terminal fitting from coming out of the cavity. A pressing portion is formed on the terminal fitting, and the insertion portion includes a pressed insertion portion that is pressed in one of the vertical directions by the pressing portion at the temporary locking position and moves the retainer to the main locking position.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of improving the workability of the operation of moving the retainer with respect to the housing.

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

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

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 (1) A housing having a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity, and a retainer movable in one direction in the vertical direction from a temporary locking position to a main locking position with respect to the housing. The retainer has an insertion portion through which the terminal fitting can be inserted. At the temporary locking position, passage of the terminal fitting through the insertion portion is allowed, and at the main locking position, the retainer is configured to restrict the terminal fitting from coming out of the cavity. A pressing portion is formed on the terminal fitting, and the insertion portion includes a pressed insertion portion that is pressed in one direction in the vertical direction by the pressing portion at the temporary locking position and moves the retainer to the main locking position.

[0010] When the retainer is in the temporary locking position and the tip of the terminal fitting attempts to pass through the inside of the pressed insertion portion, the pressing portion of the terminal fitting presses the pressed insertion portion of the retainer, and the retainer can move from the temporary locking position to the main locking position. Therefore, the retainer can be automatically moved to the main locking position in conjunction with the operation of inserting the terminal fitting into the housing.

[0011] (2) In the connector according to (1) above, the retainer has a housing lock portion locked to the housing at the temporary locking position, a plurality of the insertion portions are formed on the retainer, and the pressed insertion portion is preferably constituted by the insertion portion closest to the housing lock portion among the plurality of insertion portions.

[0012] According to the configuration of (2) above, the pressing force by which the pressing portion presses the pressed insertion portion is efficiently transmitted to the housing lock portion, so that the locking between the housing lock portion and the housing at the temporary locking position can be easily released.

[0013] (3) In the connector according to the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the insertion portions are formed in a plurality and arranged vertically in the retainer, and the portion to be pressed and inserted is constituted by an insertion portion located at the other end in the vertical direction among the plurality of insertion portions.

[0014] According to the configuration of the above (3), when inserting the terminal fittings sequentially from one end in the vertical direction into the cavity and inserting the terminal fittings into the cavity located at the other end in the vertical direction, the pressing portion of the terminal fitting presses the portion to be pressed and inserted in one direction in the vertical direction, and the retainer can be easily moved to the main locking position.

[0015] (4) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (3), it is preferable that the insertion portions are formed in a plurality and arranged horizontally in the retainer, and the portion to be pressed and inserted is constituted by insertion portions located at both left and right ends among the plurality of insertion portions.

[0016] According to the configuration of the above (4), since the pressing force acting on the retainer from the pressing portion acts on the portions to be pressed and inserted located at both left and right ends of the retainer in a well-balanced manner, the retainer can be smoothly moved to the main locking position.

[0017] (5) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (4), on the inner surface portion of the portion to be pressed and inserted located in one direction in the vertical direction, a portion to be pressed and protruding toward the other direction in the vertical direction and capable of contacting the pressing portion is formed, and on the inner surface portion of the portion to be pressed and inserted located in the other direction in the vertical direction, a recess recessed toward the other direction in the vertical direction is preferably formed.

[0018] According to the configuration of (5) above, when the retainer moves to the main locking position, the pressing portion of the terminal fitting presses the pressed protrusion of the pressed insertion portion. Therefore, by adjusting the protruding dimension and shape of the pressed protrusion, the pressing force acting on the retainer from the pressing portion can be adjusted. Further, even if the pressing portion comes into contact with the pressed protrusion and the terminal fitting is displaced in the direction of riding over the pressed protrusion, a part of the displaced terminal fitting can escape into the recess. Thus, it is possible to avoid the terminal fitting from coming into contact with the inner surface of the pressed insertion portion.

[0019] (6) In the connector according to (5) above, it is preferable that the retainer is capable of moving in the other direction in the left-right direction from the main locking position to the complete position with respect to the housing so that the locking range of the retainer with respect to the terminal fitting extends in one of the left-right directions of the recess.

[0020] There is a concern that the terminal fitting that has passed through the inside of the pressed insertion portion may not be stably locked to the retainer at the main locking position due to the presence of the recess. In that regard, according to the configuration of (6) above, when the retainer moves from the main locking position to the complete position, the locking range of the retainer with respect to the terminal fitting becomes larger in one of the left-right directions of the recess. Therefore, the left-right center of the locking range can be displaced in one of the left-right directions from the left-right center of the recess. As a result, the terminal fitting can be stably locked to the retainer at the complete position.

[0021] (7) In the connector according to (6) above, it is preferable that the housing has a cam portion for moving the retainer to the complete position, and the cam portion extends in the front-rear direction, is open at the front, and has a shape that is inclined in the other direction in the left-right direction as it goes rearward.

[0022] For example, in the process of assembling a jig for conduction inspection or a jig for inspecting the mounting state of the retainer to the housing from the front, the tip of the jig is displaced along the cam portion, so that the retainer can move from the main locking position to the complete position. Therefore, there is no need to perform a special operation to move the retainer to the complete position, and the workability can be improved.

[0023] [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 exemplification, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0024] [Embodiment 1] The connector 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure includes a housing 20, a terminal fitting 90 housed in the housing 20, and a retainer 60 movably attached to the housing 20. The housing 20 is adapted to be fitted to a mating connector (not shown). In the following description, with respect to the front-rear direction, the direction in which the housing 20 is fitted to the mating connector is defined as the front. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure except FIGS. 13 and 14. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction in FIGS. 6, 9, 12 - 16. These direction references do not necessarily coincide with the direction references in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown). In FIG. 1, the front is indicated by the X direction, the right is indicated by the Y direction, and the up is indicated by the Z direction.

[0025] (Overall Structure of Connector 10) Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 includes an inner housing 21, an outer housing 22, a terminal fitting 90, a retainer 60, a front holder 23, a rubber ring 130, a bulk rubber plug 110, a lever 120, and a cover (not shown). The inner housing 21, the outer housing 22, the retainer 60, the front holder 23, the lever 120, and the cover are made of synthetic resin. The terminal fitting 90 is made of metal. The rubber ring 130 and the bulk rubber plug 110 are made of rubber such as silicone rubber.

[0026] The outer housing 22 is cylindrical and surrounds the outer periphery of the inner housing 21 over the entire circumference. A hood portion of a mating connector (not shown) can be fitted between the outer housing 22 and the inner housing 21. The housing 20 is integrally formed by connecting the outer housing 22 and the inner housing 21 to each other via a connecting portion 24 (only the connecting portion 24 of the inner housing 21 is shown in FIG. 2).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner housing 21 has a long, angular block shape in the left - right direction. A plurality of cavities 26 penetrating in the front - rear direction are formed in the inner housing 21. Each cavity 26 is arranged in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction and a plurality of columns in the left - right direction. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, on the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 26, an elastically deformable lance 27 protrudes. A terminal fitting 90 is inserted into each cavity 26 from the rear. The terminal fitting 90 is locked to the lance 27, and the withdrawal from the cavity 26 is primarily restricted.

[0028] Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the inner housing 21 is formed with a retainer mounting hole 28 extending in the vertical direction and opening on the upper surface of the inner housing 21. Each cavity 26 is divided front - rear inside the inner housing 21 via the retainer mounting hole 28. The lance 27 is formed on the inner wall of the cavity 26 located in front of the retainer mounting hole 28. As shown in FIG. 2, on both the left and right side surfaces of the inner housing 21, rib - shaped movement restricting portions 29 extending in the front - rear direction (only the right side surface is shown in FIG. 2) are formed. As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 15, the upper surface of the movement restricting portion 29 slopes downward toward the outside in the left - right direction. The lower surface of the movement restricting portion 29 slopes gently downward toward the outside in the left - right direction. The retainer 60 is locked to the movement restricting portion 29, and is held in a state where its movement in the housing 20 is restricted.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal fitting 90 has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. The terminal fitting 90 has a rectangular cylindrical connecting portion 91, a barrel portion 92 located rearward of the connecting portion 91, and a connecting portion 93 located between the connecting portion 91 and the barrel portion 92 and connecting them. The barrel portion 92 is crimped to an end portion of the electric wire W and is electrically and mechanically connected thereto. The connecting portion 91 is electrically connected to a mating terminal fitting (male terminal fitting) (not shown) when the housing 20 is fitted to a mating connector.

[0030] A lance locked portion 94 and a retainer locked portion 95 are formed to protrude from the upper wall of the connection portion 91. The lance locked portion 94 is configured by bending a portion of the upper wall upward at a position near the front end of the upper wall of the connection portion 91. The retainer locked portion 95 is configured by bending a portion of the upper wall upward at a rear end of the upper wall of the connection portion 91. As shown in FIG. 11 , the lance 27 can be locked to the lance locked portion 94. The retainer 60 can be locked to the retainer locked portion 95.

[0031] The retainer 60 is movable downward (in one direction, up or down) from a partial locking position (see Figs. 8-10) to a full locking position (see Figs. 11-13) relative to the housing 20. Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the retainer 60 is movable leftward (in the other direction, left or right) from the full locking position to a full position (see Figs. 14-16). As will be described later, the retainer 60 locks the terminal fittings 90 at the full locking position, and stabilizes the locking of the terminal fittings 90 at the full locking position.

[0032] 5 and 6, the retainer 60 has a retainer body 61 having a rectangular outer shape in a front view, and a cover portion 62 connected to the upper end of the retainer body 61. The retainer body 61 is inserted into and accommodated in the retainer mounting hole 28. The retainer body 61 is formed with a plurality of insertion portions 63 penetrating the retainer body 61 in the front-rear direction. The insertion portions 63 are arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction and multiple rows in the horizontal direction so as to correspond to the cavities 26 (except for the cavity 26 in the lowest stage).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 8, the covering portion 62 is integrally connected to the upper end portion of the retainer main body portion 61 and includes a portion that protrudes rearward from the retainer main body portion 61. When the retainer 60 is in the main locking position and the full position, as shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 15, the covering portion 62 covers and closes the upper surface opening of the retainer mounting hole 28. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of housing lock portions 64 that bend downward and extend are formed at both left and right end portions of the covering portion 62. Each housing lock portion 64 is disposed to face each other with a space between it and the left and right side surfaces of the retainer main body portion 61. On the inner side surfaces in the left-right direction of each housing lock portion 64, a first locking portion 65 and a second locking portion 66 are recessed side by side in the vertical direction. The first locking portion 65 is disposed below the second locking portion 66. As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 15, the upper surface (the surface located above the first locking portion 65 and facing downward) of the first locking portion 65 is inclined upward toward the inner side in the left-right direction. The lower surface (the surface located below the first locking portion 65 and facing upward) of the first locking portion 65 is gently inclined upward toward the inner side in the left-right direction. The upper surface (the surface located above the second locking portion 66 and facing downward) of the second locking portion 66 is inclined upward toward the inner side in the left-right direction. The lower surface (the surface located below the second locking portion 66 and facing upward) of the second locking portion 66 is inclined downward toward the inner side in the left-right direction. Each housing lock portion 64 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction with the attachment root portion 67 that is continuous with the upper wall portion of the covering portion 62 as a fulcrum.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the front holder 23 is attached to the inner housing 21 so as to cover the front surface of the inner housing 21. The rubber ring 130 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 21. The rubber ring 130 is disposed in a compressed state between the hood portion of the mating connector and the inner housing 21 when the housing 20 and the mating connector are fitted together. Thereby, the housing 20 and the mating connector are sealed. The rubber ring 130 is disposed adjacent to the covering portion 62 behind the retainer 60.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, the integrated rubber plug 110 is housed in a housing recess 31 that opens to the rear surface of the inner housing 21. The integrated rubber plug 110 housed in the housing recess 31 is restricted from coming out backward by the back wall of the outer housing 22. The outer peripheral surface of the integrated rubber plug 110 is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 31. The integrated rubber plug 110 has a plurality of seal holes 111 penetrating in the front-rear direction. An electric wire W connected to the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into each seal hole 111 in a liquid-tight manner. Thereby, the inside of the cavity 26 is sealed.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the lever 120 has an operation portion 121 extending in the vertical direction and a pair of arm portions 122 protruding from both upper and lower ends of the operation portion 121 so as to face each other. Each arm portion 122 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 32 (only the support shaft 32 formed on the upper wall is shown in FIG. 1) formed on the upper wall and the lower wall of the outer housing 22, respectively. The lever 120 is rotatable between an initial position and a fitting position about the support shaft 32 with respect to the housing 20. When the lever 120 is in the initial position, each arm portion 122 engages with the mating connector, and by rotating from the initial position toward the fitting position in this state, the mating connector is pulled toward the housing 20, and the fitting between the housing 20 and the mating connector proceeds with a low fitting force. A cover (not shown) is attached to the outer housing 22 from the rear. The cover covers each electric wire W extending from the rear surface of the inner housing 21 and defines the pulling direction of each electric wire W.

[0037] (Detailed Structure of Terminal Fitting 90, Inner Housing 21, and Retainer 60) As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal fitting 90 has a base wall 96 as a bottom plate portion extending over the entire length in the front-rear direction. A pressing portion 97 is formed to protrude from the base wall 96. The pressing portion 97 has a function of pressing a pressed insertion portion 63A described later and moving the retainer 60 from a temporary locking position to a main locking position. The pressing portion 97 has a rib shape in which the left and right central portions of the base wall 96 bulge downward and is formed to extend long in the front-rear direction. The front surface of the pressing portion 97 is inclined rearward downward. The front surface of the pressing portion 97 is disposed at a position overlapping with the rear end portion of the connecting portion 91 in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the pressing portion 97 is disposed along the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the pressing portion 97 is inclined forward downward. The rear surface of the pressing portion 97 is disposed at a position overlapping with the connecting portion 93 in the front-rear direction.

[0038] The inner housing 21 has a plurality of partition walls 33 that form a portion (a portion corresponding to the lowermost insertion portion) communicating with each of the lowermost cavities 26 between the lower ends of the retainer 60 in the main locking position and the complete position. As shown in FIG. 4, each partition wall 33 projects in a row in the left-right direction from the bottom surface of the retainer mounting hole 28 of the inner housing 21. Among each partition wall 33, a stop portion 34 is formed on the partition wall 33 located at the left and right central portions of the inner housing 21. The stop portion 34 has a rib shape extending in the front-rear direction and projects from the left and right central portions of the upper end surface of the partition wall 33. As shown in FIG. 16, a main locking receiving portion 71 and a complete receiving portion 72 of the retainer 60 described later are enabled to be locked to the stop portion 34.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the retainer 60 has a plurality of protruding wall portions 68 arranged side by side in the left - right direction on the lower surface of the retainer main body portion 61. When the retainer 60 is in the main locking position and the complete position, each partition wall portion 33 and each protruding wall portion 68 are arranged to face each other so as to be in contact with each other. The portion corresponding to the lowermost insertion portion is partitioned between each partition wall portion 33 and each protruding wall portion 68. Among each protruding wall portion 68, a main locking receiving portion 71 and a complete receiving portion 72 are formed in the protruding wall portion 68 located at the left - right center portion of the retainer 60. The main locking receiving portion 71 and the complete receiving portion 72 have a groove shape extending in the front - rear direction and are recessed side by side in the left - right direction on the lower end surface of the protruding wall portion 68. When the tip of the stopper portion 34 is fitted and locked to the main locking receiving portion 71, the lateral displacement of the retainer 60 in the left - right direction at the main locking position is restricted. Also, when the tip of the stopper portion 34 is fitted and locked to the complete receiving portion 72, the lateral displacement of the retainer 60 in the left - right direction at the complete position is restricted (see FIG. 16). A tapered notch portion 73 for facilitating the over - ride of the stopper portion 34 from the main locking receiving portion 71 to the complete receiving portion 72 is formed at the side surface corner portion located on the other side (the right side in FIG. 6) in the left - right direction of the main locking receiving portion 71.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a part of each insertion portion 63 is configured as a pressed insertion portion 63A. The inner surface of the pressed insertion portion 63A (the lower inner surface portion 74 described later) faces the pressing portion 97 of the terminal fitting 90 and is pressed downward (one direction in the up - down direction) by the pressing portion 97. The pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portions 63 located at both the left and right ends among the plurality of rows of insertion portions 63 arranged side by side in the left - right direction. Also, the pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portion 63 located at the uppermost (the other direction in the up - down direction) among the plurality of stages of insertion portions 63 arranged in the up - down direction. That is, the pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portions 63 located at both the left and right ends and the upper end among each insertion portion 63. And the pressed insertion portion 63A is arranged at the position closest to the housing lock portion 64 among each insertion portion 63. Among each insertion portion 63, the insertion portion 63 excluding the pressed insertion portion 63A is configured as a normal insertion portion 63 that is not pressed by the pressing portion 97 of the terminal fitting 90.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, the pressed insertion portion 63A has a pressed protrusion portion 75 that protrudes upward (one of the vertical directions) on the lower inner surface portion 74 that is located below (one of the vertical directions) and is disposed along the left-right direction among the upper and lower inner surface portions that face each other in the vertical direction. The pressed protrusion portion 75 is provided protruding at the left-right center portion of the lower inner surface portion 74. The pressed protrusion portion 75 has a flat table shape. The front surface of the pressed protrusion portion 75 faces the front opening of the pressed insertion portion 63A and is disposed along the left-right direction and the vertical direction. The upper surface (the tip surface in the protruding direction) of the pressed protrusion portion 75 is flatly disposed along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the pressed protrusion portion 75 is inclined upward toward the front. When the terminal fitting 90 passes through the inside of the pressed insertion portion 63A, the pressing portion 97 slidably contacts from the rear surface to the upper surface of the pressed protrusion portion 75.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the pressed insertion portion 63A has a recessed portion 77 that is recessed upward (the other of the vertical directions) in the upper inner surface portion 76 that is located above (the other of the vertical directions) among the upper and lower inner surface portions. The recessed portion 77 is recessed at the left-right center portion of the upper inner surface portion 76. The recessed portion 77 has a curved concave shape in a front view and opens at the upper edge portion of the front opening of the pressed insertion portion 63A. When the terminal fitting 90 passes through the inside of the pressed insertion portion 63A and the pressing portion 97 rides on the pressed protrusion portion 75, the retainer engaged portion 95 enters the recessed portion 77 and is released.

[0043] Furthermore, the pressed insertion portion 63A has a side recessed portion 79 that is recessed toward one of the left-right directions in the one side inner surface portion 78 that is located on the other of the left-right directions (the right side in FIG. 7) among the left and right inner surface portions that face each other in the left-right direction and are disposed along the vertical direction. The side recessed portion 79 is recessed at the upper end portion of the one side inner surface portion 78. The side recessed portion 79 has a vertically long rectangular concave shape in a front view and opens at one side edge portion of the front opening of the pressed insertion portion 63A. As shown in FIG. 15, when the retainer 60 is in the complete position, one side wall (the right side wall) of the connecting portion 93 of the terminal fitting 90 enters the side recessed portion 79 and is released.

[0044] Of the front surface of the retainer main body 61, when the retainer 60 is in the main locking position and the full position, the portion facing the retainer locked portion 95 of the terminal fitting 90 is configured as a locking range S (in FIGS. 12 and 15, the range defined by the broken line along the shape of the terminal fitting 90) that can be locked to the terminal fitting 90. The locking range S is formed at the upper opening edge of each insertion portion 63 on the front surface of the retainer main body 61. In the case of the pressed insertion portion 63A, when the retainer 60 moves from the main locking position to the full position, the locking range S is configured to expand and become larger in one of the left - right directions of the concave portion 77.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the retainer 60 has a pair of concave grooves 81 arranged at intervals on both the left and right sides of the upper surface of the covering portion 62. Each concave groove 81 extends in the front - rear direction and opens at the front end surface of the covering portion 62. Of the groove surfaces of each concave groove 81, the side surface located in one of the left - right directions (the left side in FIG. 5) is configured as a cam portion 82 that can be engaged with a jig 40 described later. The cam portion 82 has a shape inclined in the other of the left - right directions (the right side in FIG. 5) as it goes from the front end surface (the front - facing open surface) of the covering portion 62 to the rear.

[0046] (Operation of the connector 10) In a state where the retainer 60 is arranged at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 8, the retainer main body 61 is inserted into the retainer mounting hole 28, and the covering portion 62 is arranged floating above the upper surface of the inner housing 21. Each insertion portion 63 is arranged in communication with each cavity 26 in the front - rear direction. Inside each insertion portion 63, a passage through which the terminal fitting 90 can be inserted is secured. In the pressed insertion portion 63A, a pressed protrusion 75 is arranged at a position where it can interfere with the pressing portion 97 while securing the passage. Also, in the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 9, the movement restricting portion 29 of the inner housing 21 fits into the first locking portion 65 of the housing locking portion 64, and the retainer 60 is held in a state where its movement to the temporary locking position with respect to the housing 20 is restricted.

[0047] When the retainer 60 is in the temporary locking position, the terminal fitting 90 connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire W is inserted into the cavity 26 of the housing 20 from the rear. In the case of the first embodiment, the terminal fitting 90 is sequentially inserted into each cavity 26 of each upper and lower stage from the lower stage to the upper stage by an automatic machine (not shown) or the like. When the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into the cavity 26 at the regular depth, the lance engaged portion 94 is disposed so as to be engageable with the lance 27, and the removal of the terminal fitting 90 from the cavity 26 is primarily restricted.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 9, when the terminal fitting 90 at the uppermost stage is inserted into the cavity 26 and the connecting portion 91 is about to pass through the inside of the pressed insertion portion 63A from the rear cavity 26, the front surface of the pressing portion 97 contacts the rear surface of the pressed protrusion 75. Due to the inclined surface contact between the front surface of the pressing portion 97 and the rear surface of the pressed protrusion 75, a part of the pressing force (operating force) for pushing the terminal fitting 90 forward is converted into a pressing force for moving the retainer 60 downward (one of the vertical directions). The first locking portion 65 of the housing lock portion 64 receiving this downward pressing force is separated from the movement restricting portion 29, the locking between the first locking portion 65 and the movement restricting portion 29 is released, and along with the return operation of the housing lock portion 64, the retainer 60 is moved from the temporary locking position to the main locking position.

[0049] As the retainer 60 moves downward, when the connecting portion 91 is displaced relatively upward with respect to the retainer 60, the retainer engaged portion 95 enters the recess 77. Thereby, the interference between the retainer engaged portion 95 and the retainer main body portion 61 is avoided. Thereafter, the connecting portion 91 is deeply inserted into the front cavity 26, the pressing portion 97 rides over the pressed protrusion 75, and the lower surface of the pressing portion 97 contacts the upper surface of the pressed protrusion 75. While the pressing portion 97 rides over the pressed protrusion 75, the movement of the retainer 60 to the main locking position continues, and after the pressing portion 97 rides over the pressed protrusion 75, the retainer 60 can automatically reach the main locking position.

[0050] In the main locking position, as shown in FIG. 11, the retainer 60 faces the retainer engaged portion 95 of the terminal fitting 90 so as to be engageable from the rear, and the withdrawal of the terminal fitting 90 from the cavity 26 is secondarily restricted. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the movement restricting portion 29 of the inner housing 21 fits into the second locking portion 66 of the housing lock portion 64, and the tip of the locking portion 34 fits into the main locking receiving portion 71 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 16), so that the retainer 60 is held in a state where its movement to the main locking position with respect to the housing 20 is restricted.

[0051] In the main locking position, as shown in FIG. 12, the left and right centers of the locking range S of the retainer 60 and the left and right centers of the recess 77 of the pressed insertion portion 63A coincide or substantially coincide. From this, the shear cross-sectional area of the retainer 60 with respect to the terminal fitting 90 is reduced by the recess 77, and there is a possibility that the stability of the locking with respect to the terminal fitting 90 cannot be ensured. On the other hand, in the case of the first embodiment, when the retainer 60 moves from the main locking position to the complete position with respect to the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 15, the locking range S of the retainer 60 is displaced from the center of the recess 77 of the pressed insertion portion 63A, so that the stability of the locking can be ensured.

[0052] When moving the retainer 60 to the fully inserted position, it is not necessary to use a dedicated jig, and a jig for inspecting the conduction state of the terminal fitting 90 or a jig for inspecting the semi-inserted state of the retainer 60 can be used. In the case of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a combined jig 40 having a probe pin 41 for detecting the conduction state of the terminal fitting 90 and a semi-insertion detection portion 42 for detecting the semi-inserted state of the retainer 60 with respect to the housing 20 is used. The probe pins 41 are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective terminal fittings 90 so as to be able to contact each terminal fitting 90 individually. The semi-insertion detection portion 42 is arranged at a height position where it can interfere with the semi-inserted retainer 60 so as to be able to detect the semi-inserted state of the retainer 60 (the protruding state and the floating state from the upper surface of the inner housing 21), and is formed in a plate shape. And the jig 40 has a pair of cam engagement portions 43 on both the left and right sides sandwiching the semi-insertion detection portion 42 and at the same height position as the semi-insertion detection portion 42. The cam engagement portion 43 has a function of detecting the semi-inserted state of the retainer 60, similar to the semi-insertion detection portion 42.

[0053] In a state where the retainer 60 is arranged at the main locking position with respect to the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 13, the jig 40 is assembled to the connector 10 (specifically, inside the outer housing 22) from the front. The assembly of the jig 40 is guided by the displacement of each cam engagement portion 43 along the groove portion 35 formed on the upper surface of the front holder 23. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, when the tip of each cam engagement portion 43 enters each concave groove 81 and is displaced along the cam portion 82, the retainer 60 moves to the other side in the left-right direction, and the stopper portion 34 can cross the notch portion 73 and reach the fully inserted position. As shown in FIG. 16, at the fully inserted position, the tip of the stopper portion 34 fits into the full receiving portion 72, and the displacement of the retainer 60 in the left-right direction is restricted. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the displacement of the retainer 60 in the up-down direction is also restricted by maintaining the state where the second locking portion 66 can be locked to the movement restricting portion 29.

[0054] When the retainer 60 moves from the temporary locking position to the complete position in this way, the retainer 60 shifts in one of the left - right directions with respect to the housing 20, and the locking range S of the retainer 60 with respect to the terminal fitting 90 greatly expands in one of the left - right directions of the recess 77 (see Fig. 15). Thereby, the shearing cross - sectional area of the retainer 60 with respect to the terminal fitting 90 can be increased, and the stability of the locking with respect to the terminal fitting 90 can be ensured.

[0055] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20 having a cavity 26 extending in the front - rear direction, a terminal fitting 90 accommodated in the cavity 26, and a retainer 60 that can move downward (in one of the up - down directions) from a temporary locking position to a main locking position with respect to the housing 20. The retainer 60 has an insertion portion 63 through which the terminal fitting 90 can be inserted. In the temporary locking position, the passage of the terminal fitting 90 through the insertion portion 63 is allowed, and in the main locking position, it is configured to restrict the withdrawal of the terminal fitting 90 from the cavity 26. A pressing portion 97 is formed on the terminal fitting 90. The insertion portion 63 includes a pressed - insertion portion 63A that is pressed downward by the pressing portion 97 in the temporary locking position and enables the movement of the retainer 60 to the main locking position.

[0056] According to the above configuration of the first embodiment, when the retainer 60 is in the temporary locking position and the connecting portion 91 of the terminal fitting 90 tries to pass through the inside of the pressed - insertion portion 63A, the pressing portion 97 presses the pressed - insertion portion 63A, and the retainer 60 can move from the temporary locking position to the main locking position. Therefore, in conjunction with the operation of inserting the terminal fitting 90 into the housing 20, the retainer 60 can be automatically moved to the main locking position.

[0057] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the retainer 60 has a housing lock portion 64 that is locked to the housing 20 at the temporary locking position. The pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portion 63 that is closest to the housing lock portion 64 among the plurality of insertion portions 63. According to this configuration, the pressing force with which the pressing portion 97 presses the pressed insertion portion 63A is efficiently transmitted to the housing lock portion 64, so that the locking between the housing lock portion 64 and the housing 20 at the temporary locking position can be easily released.

[0058] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portion 63 that is located at the upper end portion (the other end portion in the vertical direction) among the plurality of insertion portions 63 arranged in the vertical direction. According to this configuration, when the terminal fitting 90 is sequentially inserted from the lower cavity 26 to the upper cavity 26 and the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into the cavity 26 located at the upper end portion, the pressed insertion portion 63A can be pressed downward by the pressing portion 97 of the terminal fitting 90, and the retainer 60 can be easily moved to the main locking position.

[0059] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the pressed insertion portion 63A is constituted by the insertion portions 63 that are located at both the left and right end portions among the plurality of insertion portions 63 arranged in the left - right direction. According to this configuration, the pressing force acting on the retainer 60 from the pressing portion 97 acts on the pressed insertion portions 63A located at both the left and right end portions of the retainer 60 in a well - balanced manner, so that the retainer 60 can be smoothly moved to the main locking position without tilting.

[0060] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, a pressed protrusion 75 that can contact the pressing portion 97 is formed on the lower inner surface portion 74 located below among the inner surfaces of the pressed insertion portion 63A, and a recess 77 is formed on the upper inner surface portion 76 located above. According to this configuration, when the retainer 60 moves to the main locking position, the pressing portion 97 of the terminal fitting 90 presses the pressed protrusion 75 of the pressed insertion portion 63A. Therefore, by adjusting the protruding dimension and shape of the pressed protrusion 75, the pressing force acting on the retainer 60 from the pressing portion 97 can be adjusted. Further, even when the pressing portion 97 contacts the pressed protrusion 75 and the terminal fitting 90 is displaced upward so as to ride on the pressed protrusion 75, the retainer locked portion 95 of the displaced terminal fitting 90 can escape into the recess 77. Thus, contact between the terminal fitting 90 and the retainer 60 can be avoided.

[0061] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the retainer 60 is arranged to be movable in the other direction in the left - right direction from the main locking position to the complete position with respect to the housing 20 so that the locking range S of the retainer 60 with respect to the terminal fitting 90 extends in one direction in the left - right direction of the recess 77. According to this configuration, when the retainer 60 moves from the main locking position to the complete position, the terminal fitting 90 can be locked in a stable locking state to the retainer 60 at the complete position.

[0062] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the housing 20 has a cam portion 82 that enables the retainer 60 to move to the complete position. The cam portion 82 extends in the front - rear direction, is open at the front, and has a shape that is inclined in the other direction in the left - right direction as it goes rearward. According to this configuration, in the process of assembling the jig 40 used for continuity inspection or the like to the housing 20 from the front, the tip of the jig 40 is displaced along the cam portion 82, so that the retainer 60 can move from the main locking position to the complete position. Thus, there is no need to perform a special operation to move the retainer 60 to the complete position, and improvement in workability can be ensured.

[0063] [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. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, a part of the plurality of insertion portions 63 was configured as the pressed insertion portion 63A. In contrast, according to other embodiments, all of the plurality of insertion portions may be configured as the pressed insertion portion. Further, when only one insertion portion is formed in the housing, that one insertion portion may be configured as the pressed insertion portion. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the retainer 60 was configured to move downward from the temporary locking position to the main locking position and then move leftward from the main locking position to the complete position with respect to the housing 20. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the retainer may be configured to move upward from the temporary locking position to the main locking position with respect to the housing, and may also be configured to move rightward from the main locking position to the complete position. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the retainer 60 was movable between the temporary locking position and the main locking position and was also movable between the main locking position and the complete position with respect to the housing 20. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the retainer may be configured to be movable between the temporary locking position and the main locking position with respect to the housing, but may not be configured to move between the main locking position and the complete position.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0064] 10... Connector 20... Housing 21... Inner Housing 22... Outer Housing 23... Front Holder 24... Coupling Portion 26... Cavity 27... Lance 28... Retainer Mounting Hole 29... Movement Restriction Portion 31... Accommodation Recess 32... Support Shaft 33... Partition Wall Portion 34... Stopper Portion 35... Groove Portion 40... Fixture 41... Probe Pin 42... Half-Insertion Detection Portion 43... Cam Engagement Portion 60... Retainer 61… Retainer main body 62… Cover part 63… Insertion part 63A… Pressed insertion part 64… Housing lock part 65… First locking part 66… Second locking part 67… Attachment root part 68… Protruding wall part 71… Main locking receiving part 72… Complete receiving part 73… Notch part 74… Lower inner surface part 75… Pressed protrusion 76… Upper inner surface part 77… Concave part 78… One side inner surface part 79… Side concave part 81… Concave groove 82… Cam part 90… Terminal fitting 91… Connection part 92… Barrel part 93… Linking part 94… Lance locked part 95… Retainer locked part 96… Base wall 97… Pressing part 110… Integrated rubber stopper 111… Seal hole 120… Lever 121… Operating part 122… Arm part 130… Rubber ring S… Locking range W… Electric wire

Claims

1. A housing having a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, A terminal fitting housed in the cavity, A retainer that is movable in one direction in the vertical direction from a temporary locking position to a main locking position with respect to the housing, and The retainer has an insertion portion through which the terminal fitting can be inserted, allows the terminal fitting to pass through the insertion portion at the temporary locking position, and is configured to restrict the terminal fitting from coming out of the cavity at the main locking position. A pressing portion is formed on the terminal fitting, The insertion portion includes a pressed insertion portion that is pressed in one direction in the vertical direction by the pressing portion at the temporary locking position and moves the retainer to the main locking position. A connector.

2. The retainer has a housing lock portion that is locked to the housing at the temporary locking position, A plurality of the insertion portions are formed on the retainer, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressed insertion portion is constituted by an insertion portion that is located closest to the housing lock portion among the plurality of insertion portions.

3. The insertion portions are formed in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction on the retainer, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressed insertion portion is constituted by an insertion portion that is located at the other end in the vertical direction among the plurality of insertion portions.

4. The insertion portions are formed in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction on the retainer, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressed insertion portion is constituted by insertion portions that are located at both the left and right ends among the plurality of insertion portions.

5. On the inner surface portion of the pressed insertion portion that is located in one direction in the vertical direction, a pressed protrusion that protrudes toward the other direction in the vertical direction and can contact the pressing portion is formed, The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a recess that is recessed toward the other direction in the vertical direction is formed on the inner surface portion of the pressed insertion portion that is located in the other direction in the vertical direction.

6. The retainer can move in the other direction in the left-right direction from the main locking position to a complete position with respect to the housing so that the locking range of the retainer with respect to the terminal fitting extends in one direction in the left-right direction of the recess. The connector according to claim 5.

7. The housing has a cam portion for moving the retainer to the complete position, and the cam portion extends in the front-rear direction, is open forward, and has a shape inclined toward the other side in the left-right direction as going rearward, the connector according to claim 6.

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