connector

Abstract

This connector provides improved ease of assembly of the retainer to the outer housing. [Solution] The retainer 30 and inner housing 20 are assembled into the interior of the outer housing 12 from the opening 11 toward the first direction D1, and the retainer 30 and inner housing 20 are arranged in that order from the back side toward the first direction D1. The retainer 30 is configured to be movable between a permanent locking position in which the inner housing 20 abuts against the retainer 30 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1, and a temporary locking position that allows the inner housing 20 to move toward the second direction D2. The retainer 30 has a first sliding contact portion 32. The inner housing 20 has a second sliding contact portion 28 that abuts against the first sliding contact portion 32 when the inner housing 20 is assembled to the outer housing 12, thereby moving the retainer 30 toward the temporary locking position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a connector including an outer housing, an inner housing accommodated in the outer housing, terminals held by the inner housing, and a retainer accommodated in the outer housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The outer housing has an opening into which a mating connector is inserted. The retainer and the inner housing are assembled into the outer housing through the opening of the outer housing. The retainer is configured to be movable, for example, between a temporary locking position that allows insertion and removal of the inner housing and a main locking position that restricts removal of the inner housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the connector as described above, improvement in the assemblability of the retainer to the outer housing is desired. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that enables improvement in the assemblability of a retainer to an outer housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The connector of this disclosure is an outer housing having an opening, into which a mating connector is inserted through the opening into the outer housing, and comprises an inner housing housed in the outer housing, a terminal held in the inner housing, and a retainer housed in the outer housing, wherein the retainer and the inner housing are assembled into the interior of the outer housing from the opening toward a first direction, and are installed in the order of the retainer and the inner housing from the rear side toward the first direction, the retainer is configured to be movable between a permanent locking position in which the inner housing abuts against the retainer in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a temporary locking position that allows the inner housing to move toward the second direction, the retainer has a first sliding contact portion, and the inner housing has a second sliding contact portion that abuts against the first sliding contact portion when the inner housing is assembled to the outer housing, thereby moving the retainer toward the temporary locking position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The connector of this disclosure makes it possible to improve the ease of assembly of the retainer to the outer housing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inner housing and retainer in the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of the inner housing and retainer in the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a front view of the connector according to the same embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5. [Figure 7]Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 5. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of the same embodiment with the retainer in the locked position. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the inner housing in the connector of the same embodiment during assembly. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of the same embodiment, passing through the extension wall portion of the terminal and the wall insertion portion of the retainer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is [1] A connector comprising an outer housing having an opening, wherein a mating connector is inserted into the outer housing through the opening, the connector comprising an inner housing housed in the outer housing, a terminal held in the inner housing, and a retainer housed in the outer housing, wherein the retainer and the inner housing are assembled into the interior of the outer housing from the opening toward a first direction, and are installed in the order of the retainer and the inner housing from the rear side toward the first direction, the retainer is configured to be movable between a permanent locking position in which the inner housing abuts against the retainer in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a temporary locking position that allows the inner housing to move toward the second direction, the retainer has a first sliding contact portion, and the inner housing has a second sliding contact portion that abuts against the first sliding contact portion when the inner housing is assembled to the outer housing, thereby moving the retainer toward the temporary locking position.

[0009] According to this configuration, by assembling the inner housing to the outer housing, the retainer can be moved to the temporary locking position by the contact between the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion. Therefore, the operation of moving the retainer to the temporary locking position after assembling the inner housing becomes unnecessary, and as a result, the assemblability of the retainer to the outer housing is improved.

[0010] [2] In the above [1], at least one of the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion may form an inclined surface that inclines in a direction toward the temporary locking position as it goes in the second direction.

[0011] According to this configuration, when the inner housing is assembled to the outer housing, a component force that moves the retainer to the temporary locking position can be generated by the contact between the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion.

[0012] [3] In the above [1] or [2], the inner housing may include a jig insertion port located on the side in the second direction with respect to the first sliding contact portion. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to bring a jig into contact with the first sliding contact portion through the jig insertion port and move the retainer to the temporary locking position by the jig.

[0013] [4] In the above [3], the first sliding contact portion may form an inclined surface that inclines in a direction toward the temporary locking position as it goes in the second direction. According to this configuration, by pressing the first sliding contact portion, which is an inclined surface, in the first direction with a jig passed through the jig insertion port, a component force that moves the retainer to the temporary locking position can be generated.

[0014] [5] In the above [3] or [4], the retainer may include an operation surface that is a surface that inclines in a direction toward the main locking position as it goes in the second direction, and the operation surface and the first sliding contact portion may be located within the range of the jig insertion port when viewed in the first direction.

[0015] According to this configuration, by using a jig passed through the jig insertion port and pressing the operation surface in the first direction, a component force that moves the retainer to the main locking position can be generated. [6] In any one of the above [1] to [5], the outer housing includes a housing portion that houses the inner housing and the retainer, and a guide rib that protrudes from the inner surface of the housing portion, and the inner housing may include a guide hole into which the guide rib enters.

[0016] According to this configuration, by inserting the guide rib into the guide hole, the positioning of the inner housing with respect to the housing portion becomes possible. As a result, it can contribute to suppressing incorrect assembly in which the inner housing is assembled in a wrong orientation.

[0017] [Details of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure] A specific example of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, a part of the configuration may be shown in an exaggerated or simplified manner. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may be different in each drawing. "Vertical" in this specification includes not only the case of being strictly vertical but also the case of being generally vertical within the range where the actions and effects in the present embodiment are achieved.

[0018] (Configuration of Connector 10) The connector 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a waterproof connector used in a vehicle. The connector 10 includes an outer housing 12 having an opening 11 and terminals 13 provided inside the outer housing 12. A mating connector C connected to the connector 10 is inserted into the outer housing 12 from the opening 11 in the first direction D1. In the following description, the direction opposite to the first direction D1 is defined as the second direction D2. Also, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the direction toward the second direction D2 may be described as "front" and the direction toward the first direction D1 may be described as "rear". Also, hereinafter, the third direction D3 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 opposite to the third direction D3 will be used for the description.

[0019] <00^]] When the mating connector C is connected to the connector 10, terminal 13 is electrically connected to a mating terminal (not shown) on the mating connector C. The connector 10 has, for example, two terminals 13. A wire (not shown) is connected to each terminal 13. Each of these wires is drawn out in the first direction D1 from the rear end (end in the first direction D1) of the outer housing 12.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the connector 10 comprises an inner housing 20 and a retainer 30. The inner housing 20 and the retainer 30 are housed inside the outer housing 12.

[0021] (Outer housing 12 configuration) The outer housing 12 includes a housing section 14 that accommodates the inner housing 20 and the retainer 30. The housing section 14 includes an opening 11. That is, the opening 11 and the internal space of the housing section 14 are in communication with each other. The housing section 14 extends from the opening 11 toward a first direction D1. The retainer 30 and the inner housing 20 are assembled in that order in the housing section 14, moving toward the first direction D1 from the opening 11. That is, the retainer 30 and the inner housing 20 are arranged in the housing section 14 from the rear side toward the first direction D1.

[0022] (Inner housing 20 configuration) As shown in Figure 1, the inner housing 20 includes a mating recess 21 into which a mating connector C inserted from the opening 11 toward the first direction D1 is fitted. The inner housing 20 also includes a terminal housing portion 22 for holding each terminal 13. The terminal housing portion 22 is provided on the rear end side of the mating recess 21.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fitting recess 21 of the inner housing 20 opens toward the second direction D2. The inner housing 20 is provided with a side wall 23 that forms the fitting recess 21. The side wall 23 has a guide hole 24 and a locking portion 25. A guide rib 15 provided on the outer housing 12 fits into the guide hole 24. The guide rib 15 protrudes from the inner surface of the housing portion 14.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, only one guide rib 15 and one guide hole 24 are provided, for example. The inner housing 20 and the housing section 14 do not have a point-symmetric shape with respect to the central axis L1 of the outer housing 12 extending along the first direction D1. If the inner housing 20 is mistakenly inserted into the housing section 14 in an orientation reversed by 180° around the central axis L1, a part of the inner housing 20 will strike the guide rib 15 of the housing section 14 in the insertion direction (first direction D1). Therefore, such incorrect assembly is prevented.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking portion 25 of the inner housing 20 is locked to a locking projection 16 provided on the outer housing 12 in the second direction D2. The locking projection 16 is provided on the inner surface of the housing portion 14. There are, for example, two locking projections 16 and two locking portions 25 (see Figure 5). Each locking portion 25 is locked to each locking projection 16 in the second direction D2, which prevents the inner housing 20 from coming out of the housing portion 14 in the second direction D2.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the terminal housing portion 22 of the inner housing 20 has terminal insertion holes 26. There are two terminal insertion holes 26, corresponding to the number of terminals 13. Each terminal 13 is inserted into each terminal insertion hole 26 toward the second direction D2.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, the terminal 13 comprises a connecting portion 13a that forms the tip of the terminal 13 and a locking piece 13b that engages with the inner housing 20. The connecting portion 13a extends into the fitting recess 21. The connecting portion 13a is connected to the mating terminal. The locking piece 13b is provided in the portion of the terminal 13 located within the terminal housing 22. The locking piece 13b extends diagonally toward the rear so that it can bend up and down. The tip of the locking piece 13b is locked toward the first direction D1 to the locking surface 22a formed within the terminal housing 22.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the terminal housing portion 22 of the inner housing 20 is provided with a protruding portion 27 that protrudes from the outer surface at the rear of the terminal housing portion 22. The rear end of the protruding portion 27 (the end in the first direction D1) is provided with a second sliding contact portion 28 that can come into contact with the first sliding contact portion 32 of the retainer 30, which will be described later. The second sliding contact portion 28 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the third direction D3 as it approaches the first direction D1.

[0029] (Composition of retainer 30) The retainer 30 is configured to be movable within the housing 14 between a temporary locking position shown in Figures 5 and 7 and a permanent locking position shown in Figure 8. The retainer 30 moves from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position by sliding, for example, toward the third direction D3. The retainer 30 also moves from the permanent locking position to the temporary locking position by sliding toward the opposite direction of the third direction D3 (the fourth direction D4). When the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, it allows the inner housing 20 to move toward the second direction D2. When the retainer 30 is in the permanent locking position, it restricts the inner housing 20 from moving toward the second direction D2.

[0030] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the retainer 30 is equipped with a locking portion 31. When the retainer 30 is in the permanent locking position, the locking portion 31 is located laterally to the protrusion 27 of the inner housing 20 in the second direction D2 (see Figure 8). As a result, when the retainer 30 is in the permanent locking position, the protrusion 27 of the inner housing 20 is able to catch on the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 in the second direction D2. When the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the protrusion 27 and the locking portion 31 do not face each other in the second direction D2, so the retainer 30 allows the inner housing 20 to move in the second direction D2 (see Figure 7). Even when the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the inner housing 20 is locked to the locking projection 16 of the outer housing 12, so the inner housing 20 is prevented from falling out.

[0031] If the inner housing 20 is not assembled to the correct position in the first direction D1, when attempting to move the retainer 30 to the locking position, the locking portion 31 will collide with the protruding portion 27 in the third direction D3. Therefore, whether or not the retainer 30 can be moved to the locking position can be used to detect whether or not the inner housing 20 and terminal 13 are positioned correctly.

[0032] The retainer 30 is provided with a first sliding contact portion 32 at the front end of the locking portion 31 (the end in the second direction D2). The first sliding contact portion 32 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the third direction D3 as it approaches the first direction D1.

[0033] (Configuration of the first locking part 29 and the second locking part 34) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inner housing 20 includes a first locking portion 29. The first locking portion 29 is provided, for example, at the upper end of the inner housing 20. The first locking portion 29 protrudes in a triangular shape, for example, toward the first direction D1.

[0034] The retainer 30 comprises a flexible portion 33 and a second locking portion 34 provided on the flexible portion 33. The flexible portion 33 is provided, for example, at the upper end of the retainer 30. The flexible portion 33 is configured to be elastically deformable in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2. The flexible portion 33 has a shape that allows it to bend easily in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. For example, the flexible portion 33 has a shape that bridges from the end side in the third direction D3 to the end side in the fourth direction D4. The second locking portion 34 protrudes in a triangular shape from the flexible portion 33 toward the second direction D2.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, when the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the second locking portion 34 is positioned laterally in the fourth direction D4 relative to the first locking portion 29 of the inner housing 20. When the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the second locking portion 34 is, for example, in contact with the first locking portion 29. This restricts the movement of the retainer 30 in the third direction D3 toward the permanent locking position. When a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied to the retainer 30 in the third direction D3, the flexible portion 33 bends in the first direction D1 due to the engagement between the first locking portion 29 and the second locking portion 34. This causes the second locking portion 34 to overcome the first locking portion 29 toward the third direction D3, allowing the retainer 30 to move to the permanent locking position. The same applies when moving the retainer 30 from the permanent locking position to the temporary locking position in the fourth direction D4.

[0036] As shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7, the retainer 30 includes a base 35. The base 35 abuts against the bottom surface 14a of the housing portion 14 of the outer housing 12 in a first direction D1. The bottom surface 14a is the bottom surface of the housing portion 14 in the first direction D1. The base 35 of the retainer 30 includes a terminal insertion hole 36 through which the terminal 13 is inserted. The terminal 13 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 36 in a second direction D2. As shown in Figure 3, the terminal insertion hole 36 has a wall insertion portion 37 through which the extended wall portion 13c of the terminal 13, which will be described later, can be inserted. The wall insertion portion 37 is part of the terminal insertion hole 36.

[0037] As shown in Figure 10, the terminal 13 is provided with an extended wall portion 13c. The extended wall portion 13c is a wall portion that extends vertically (in a direction perpendicular to the third direction D3 and the fourth direction D4, and perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 10) from the portion of the terminal 13 that is housed in the terminal insertion hole 26.

[0038] In Figure 10, the retainer 30 in the temporary locking position is shown by a solid line, and the retainer 30 in the permanent locking position is shown by a dashed line. When the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the wall insertion portion 37 of the retainer 30 is in a position where the extended wall portion 13c of the terminal 13 can be inserted in the second direction D2. When the retainer 30 is moved from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position, and the wall insertion portion 37 moves in the third direction D3, the extended wall portion 13c of the terminal 13 becomes able to lock to the base portion 35 of the retainer 30 toward the first direction D1. Therefore, the retainer 30 allows insertion and removal of the terminal 13 in the temporary locking position, and restricts the removal of the terminal 13 toward the second direction D2 in the permanent locking position.

[0039] (Configuration of the operating surface 38) As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the retainer 30 is provided with an operating surface 38 used to move the retainer 30 from a temporary locking position to a permanent locking position. The operating surface 38 is a surface that slopes toward the fourth direction D4 as it moves toward the first direction D1. The operating surface 38 is provided, for example, above the first sliding contact portion 32.

[0040] (Configuration of the jig insertion port 41) As shown in Figure 8, the inner housing 20 is provided with a jig insertion opening 41. The jig insertion opening 41 is located laterally in the second direction D2 with respect to the portion of the retainer 30 that includes the first sliding contact portion 32 and the operating surface 38. When the inner housing 20 and retainer 30 assembled in the housing portion 14 of the outer housing 12 are viewed in the first direction D1, the first sliding contact portion 32 and the operating surface 38 are located within the range of the jig insertion opening 41. In both the permanently locked position and the temporary locked position, when viewed in the first direction D1, the first sliding contact portion 32 and the operating surface 38 are located within the range of the jig insertion opening 41. The jig insertion opening 41 communicates the fitting recess 21 with the space where the first sliding contact portion 32 and the operating surface 38 are located on the rear side of the fitting recess 21.

[0041] (Operation of this embodiment) The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The retainer 30 is first assembled to the housing portion 14 of the outer housing 12, and then the inner housing 20 is assembled. When inserting the inner housing 20 into the housing portion 14 in the first direction D1, the retainer 30 may not be in the temporary locking position, as shown in Figure 9. In this case, the second sliding contact portion 28 of the inner housing 20 comes into contact with the first sliding contact portion 32 of the retainer 30 in the first direction D1. As a result, a portion of the insertion force applied to the inner housing 20 in the first direction D1 becomes a component force F in the fourth direction D4 toward the temporary locking position due to the inclination of the first sliding contact portion 32 and the second sliding contact portion 28. Consequently, this component force F generated by the sliding contact of the second sliding contact portion 28 with the first sliding contact portion 32 moves the retainer 30 to the temporary locking position, and the inner housing 20 is assembled into the housing portion 14 (see Figure 7). At this time, the retainer 30 abuts against the end face of the housing portion 14 in the first direction D1, and the rear end (end in the first direction D1) of the terminal housing portion 22 in the inner housing 20 abuts against the retainer 30 toward the first direction D1. When the inner housing 20 is assembled inside the housing portion 14, as described above, the retainer 30 is held in a temporary locking position by the contact between the first lock portion 29 of the inner housing 20 and the second lock portion 34 of the retainer 30.

[0042] After assembling the retainer 30 and inner housing 20 into the housing portion 14 of the outer housing 12, the terminal 13 is inserted in the second direction D2 from the rear end side of the outer housing 12. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the locking piece 13b of the terminal 13 catches on the locking surface 22a, and the terminal 13 is held in the terminal housing portion 22. Also, when the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the wall insertion portion 37 of the retainer 30 is in a position to pass through the extended wall portion 13c of the terminal 13, so the terminal 13 can be inserted in the second direction D2.

[0043] Subsequently, a jig (not shown) inserted through the opening 11 of the outer housing 12 is passed through the jig insertion port 41 of the inner housing 20 and brought into contact with the operating surface 38 of the retainer 30. Then, by pressing the operating surface 38 in the first direction D1 with the jig, a force is applied to the retainer 30 in the third direction D3 toward the locking position. As a result, the second locking portion 34 of the retainer 30 overcomes the first locking portion 29 of the inner housing 20 toward the third direction D3, and the retainer 30 moves to the locking position. When the retainer 30 is in the locking position, the protruding portion 27 of the inner housing 20 is caught on the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 in the second direction D2. Furthermore, it can be detected that the inner housing 20 and the terminal 13 are positioned correctly because the retainer 30 has been moved to the locking position. In other words, when attempting to move the retainer 30 from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position while the terminal 13 is not inserted to the proper position where the locking piece 13b of the terminal 13 is locked to the locking surface 22a of the inner housing 20, the wall insertion portion 37 of the retainer 30 interferes with the extended wall portion 13c of the terminal 13, thereby restricting the movement of the retainer 30 to the permanent locking position.

[0044] When returning the retainer 30 from the permanent locking position to the temporary locking position, the jig inserted through the opening 11 of the outer housing 12 is passed through the jig insertion port 41 of the inner housing 20 and brought into contact with the first sliding contact portion 32 of the retainer 30. Then, by pressing the first sliding contact portion 32 in the first direction D1 with the jig, a force is applied to the retainer 30 in the fourth direction D4 toward the temporary locking position. As a result, the second locking portion 34 of the retainer 30 overcomes the first locking portion 29 of the inner housing 20 toward the fourth direction D4, and the retainer 30 moves to the temporary locking position.

[0045] (Effects of this embodiment) The effects of this embodiment will be described below. (1) The connector 10 comprises an inner housing 20 housed in an outer housing 12, a terminal 13 held by the inner housing 20, and a retainer 30 housed in the outer housing 12. The retainer 30 and the inner housing 20 are assembled into the interior of the outer housing 12 from the opening 11 toward a first direction D1, in the order of retainer 30 and inner housing 20. That is, the retainer 30 and the inner housing 20 are inserted into the interior of the outer housing 12 from the back side toward the first direction D1. The retainer 30 is configured to be movable between a permanent locking position in which the inner housing 20 abuts against the retainer 30 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1, and a temporary locking position that allows the inner housing 20 to move toward the second direction D2. The retainer 30 includes a first sliding contact portion 32. The inner housing 20 is provided with a second sliding contact portion 28 that, when assembled to the outer housing 12, comes into contact with the first sliding contact portion 32, thereby moving the retainer 30 to a temporary locking position. With this configuration, by assembling the inner housing 20 to the outer housing 12, the retainer 30 can be moved to a temporary locking position by the contact between the first sliding contact portion 32 and the second sliding contact portion 28. Therefore, the work of moving the retainer 30 to a temporary locking position after assembling the inner housing 20 is eliminated, and as a result, the ease of assembling the retainer 30 to the outer housing 12 is improved.

[0046] (2) Each of the first sliding contact portion 32 and the second sliding contact portion 28 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the temporary locking position as it moves toward the second direction D2. With this configuration, when the inner housing 20 is inserted into the outer housing 12, the contact between the first sliding contact portion 32 and the second sliding contact portion 28 generates a component force F that moves the retainer 30 to the temporary locking position.

[0047] (3) The inner housing 20 is provided with a jig insertion opening 41 located laterally to the first sliding contact portion 32 in the second direction D2. With this configuration, the jig can be brought into contact with the first sliding contact portion 32 through the jig insertion opening 41, and the retainer 30 can be moved to the temporary locking position by the jig. Furthermore, in this configuration, by pressing the inclined surface of the first sliding contact portion 32 toward the first direction D1 with the jig, a component force can be generated that moves the retainer 30 to the temporary locking position.

[0048] (4) The retainer 30 is provided with an operating surface 38 which is a surface that is inclined toward the locking position as it moves toward the second direction D2. The operating surface 38 and the first sliding contact portion 32 are located within the range of the jig insertion opening 41 when viewed toward the first direction D1. With this configuration, by pressing the operating surface 38 toward the first direction D1 with a jig that has been passed through the jig insertion opening 41, a component force can be generated that moves the retainer 30 toward the locking position.

[0049] (5) The outer housing 12 includes a housing portion 14 that accommodates the inner housing 20 and the retainer 30, and a guide rib 15 that protrudes from the inner surface of the housing portion 14. The inner housing 20 includes a guide hole 24 into which the guide rib 15 fits. With this configuration, the inner housing 20 can be positioned relative to the housing portion 14 by inserting the guide rib 15 into the guide hole 24. As a result, it is possible to suppress misassembly in which the inner housing 20 is assembled in the wrong orientation.

[0050] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0051] Either the first sliding contact portion 32 or the second sliding contact portion 28 may be configured not to be an inclined surface that slopes toward the temporary locking position as it moves toward the second direction D2. For example, either the first sliding contact portion 32 or the second sliding contact portion 28 may be a plane perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0052] The retainer 30 may have a second operating surface separate from the first sliding contact portion 32 for use when moving the retainer 30 from the permanent locking position to the temporary locking position. In this case, the jig insertion opening 41 located to the side in the second direction D2 relative to the first sliding contact portion 32 may be omitted from the retainer 30.

[0053] The guide ribs 15 and guide holes 24 may be omitted in both the outer housing 12 and the inner housing 20. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0054] The technical concepts that can be understood from the above embodiments and modified examples are described below. [Note 1] A connector comprising an outer housing having an opening, wherein a mating connector is inserted into the outer housing through the opening, The device comprises an inner housing housed in the outer housing, a terminal held in the inner housing, and a retainer housed in the outer housing. The retainer and the inner housing are assembled into the interior of the outer housing from the opening toward the first direction, and are installed in the order of the retainer and the inner housing from the rear side toward the first direction. The retainer is configured to be movable between a temporary locking position that allows insertion and removal of the terminal and a permanent locking position that restricts the removal of the terminal. The retainer comprises a first sliding contact portion, The inner housing is provided with a second sliding contact portion that, when assembled to the outer housing, contacts the first sliding contact portion, thereby moving the retainer to the temporary locking position. connector.

[0055] With this configuration, by assembling the inner housing to the outer housing, the retainer can be moved to a temporary locking position by contact between the first and second sliding contact portions. Therefore, the work of moving the retainer to a temporary locking position after assembling the inner housing is eliminated, and as a result, the ease of assembling the retainer to the outer housing is improved. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10 connectors 11 Aperture 12 Outer Housing 13 terminals 13a Connection part 13b Locking piece 14. Detention Unit 15 Guide Ribs 16 Locking projection 20 Inner Housing 21 Fitting recess 22 Terminal housing section 22a Locking surface 23 Side wall 24 guide holes 25 Locked part 26 terminal insertion holes 27 Protrusion 28 2nd sliding contact part 29. First Rock Section 30 retainers 31 Locking part 32 1st sliding contact part 33 Flexible part 34. Second Rock Section 35 base 36 terminal insertion holes 37 Wall insertion section 38 Operation surface 41 Jig insertion port C (Mating Connector) D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction D3 Third direction D4 4th direction L1 center axis

Claims

1. A connector comprising an outer housing having an opening, wherein a mating connector is inserted into the outer housing through the opening, The device comprises an inner housing housed in the outer housing, a terminal held in the inner housing, and a retainer housed in the outer housing. The retainer and the inner housing are assembled into the interior of the outer housing from the opening toward the first direction, and are installed in the order of the retainer and the inner housing from the rear side toward the first direction. The retainer is configured to be movable between a permanent locking position in which the inner housing abuts against the retainer in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a temporary locking position that allows the inner housing to move in the second direction. The retainer comprises a first sliding contact portion, The inner housing includes a second sliding contact portion that, when the inner housing is assembled to the outer housing, contacts the first sliding contact portion, thereby moving the retainer to the temporary locking position. connector.

2. At least one of the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion has an inclined surface that slopes toward the temporary locking position as it moves toward the second direction. The connector according to claim 1.

3. The inner housing is provided with a jig insertion opening located laterally in the second direction relative to the first sliding contact portion. The connector according to claim 1.

4. The first sliding contact portion has an inclined surface that slopes toward the temporary locking position as it moves toward the second direction. The connector according to claim 3.

5. The retainer has an operating surface which is a surface that is inclined toward the locking position as it moves toward the second direction, The operating surface and the first sliding contact portion are located within the range of the jig insertion opening when viewed in the first direction. The connector according to claim 3.

6. The outer housing comprises a housing portion for housing the inner housing and the retainer, and guide ribs protruding from the inner surface of the housing portion. The inner housing is provided with guide holes into which the guide ribs enter. The connector according to claim 1.

Images