connector

Abstract

To disclose a connector in which separation between split retainers is suppressed, thereby making it possible to inhibit an external force propagating along an electric wire from being transmitted to a terminal side.SOLUTION: A connector 10 comprises a plurality of terminals 12, a plurality of electric wires 16, and a back retainer 18 that is made from a synthetic resin and is assembled on the side of a connector housing 14. The back retainer 18 includes split retainers 42a, 42b, each of the split retainers 42a, 42b having a split projection 46 located between the plurality of electric wires 16. The split retainers 42a, 42b fixed to each other combine the split projections 46 to form an electric wire retaining projection 48 disposed between the plurality of electric wires 16. The electric wire retaining projection 48 includes first band attachment sections 58. The plurality of electric wires 16 are bundled together and fixed in close contact with the electric wire retaining part 48 by means of a first cable tie 65 stretched between the first band attachment sections 58. The split projections 46 are pressed against each other from both sides in a first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, connectors have been used to electrically connect in-vehicle devices. Such a connector includes a connector housing, terminals housed in the connector housing, and electric wires connected to the terminals, and the electric wires are drawn out to the outside from the wire outlets of the connector housing. When an external force applied to the electric wires drawn out to the outside is transmitted to the terminal side, problems such as contact micro-sliding wear occur. Therefore, in order to suppress the external force applied to the electric wires from reaching the terminal side, for example, in Patent Document 1, a resin back retainer that holds the electric wires in the connector housing while suppressing the vibration of the electric wires is provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the back retainer is configured by combining a pair of split retainers that are assembled with each other with the electric wire sandwiched therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the electric wire. Therefore, due to the repeated transmission of vibrations from the electric wire to the back retainer or the creep phenomenon in a high-temperature environment, etc., the split retainers tend to open up with each other, a gap is generated between the back retainer and the electric wire, and it is conceivable that the external force transmitted to the electric wire may reach the terminal side. In particular, when the diameter of the electric wire increases due to the higher voltage of in-vehicle components, it is also conceivable that the possibility of a gap occurring becomes higher.

[0005] Therefore, a connector is disclosed that can suppress the opening between the split retainers and suppress the propagation of the external force transmitted to the electric wire to the terminal side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of this disclosure comprises a plurality of terminals housed in a connector housing, a plurality of electric wires connected to each of the plurality of terminals and drawn out in parallel with gaps between them to the outside of the connector housing, and a synthetic resin back retainer assembled to the connector housing side, having a plurality of wire insertion tubes through which the plurality of electric wires drawn out to the outside of the connector housing are inserted and held in a crimped state, the back retainer has a pair of split retainers that clamp and hold each electric wire from both sides perpendicular to the axis of each electric wire and fix them to each other, the pair of split retainers each having a plurality of grooves that are in close contact with the outer surface of the plurality of electric wires, and a split projection that is located between the plurality of grooves in the parallel direction of the plurality of electric wires and protrudes in the direction of the drawing out of the plurality of electric wires, the pair of split retainers being fixed to each other so that the plurality of wire insertion tubes are partitioned by the plurality of grooves and arranged in parallel The divided protrusions are arranged and combined to form a wire retaining protrusion that is positioned between a plurality of wires that protrude from a plurality of wire insertion tubes and extend in the withdrawal direction. The wire retaining protrusion has a pair of wire contact surfaces that contact the wires arranged on both sides in the parallel direction, and a pair of first band mounting portions provided on the end faces on both sides in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the pair of wire contact surfaces. The plurality of wires that protrude from a plurality of wire insertion tubes and extend in the withdrawal direction are bound and fixed to each other by a first cable tie stretched between the pair of first band mounting portions, with each wire in close contact with the pair of wire contact surfaces of the wire retaining protrusion of the back retainer. The first cable tie contacts the pair of first band mounting portions from both sides in the first direction, pressing the respective divided protrusions of the pair of divided retainers constituting the wire retaining protrusion against each other from both sides in the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector of this disclosure suppresses the opening between the divided retainers, thereby suppressing the propagation of external forces transmitted to the wire to the terminal side. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a plan view showing an enlarged view of the main parts of the connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the VV section in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector shown in Figure 1 in a partially disassembled state. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector shown in Figure 1 with the back retainer removed, and corresponds to Figure 3. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the split retainer that makes up the connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the split retainer shown in Figure 8, viewed from the bottom. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a plan view of the split retainer shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a front view of the split retainer shown in Figure 8. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the back retainer, which constitutes the connector shown in Figure 1, from the rear side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] <Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure> First, embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) A back retainer made of synthetic resin that is assembled to the connector housing side, having a plurality of terminals housed in a connector housing, a plurality of electric wires connected to each of the plurality of terminals and drawn out in parallel with gaps between them to the outside of the connector housing, and a plurality of wire insertion tubes through which the plurality of electric wires drawn out to the outside of the connector housing are inserted and held in a crimped state, wherein the back retainer has a pair of split retainers that clamp and hold the electric wires from both sides perpendicular to the axis of each electric wire and fix them to each other, and the pair of split retainers each have a plurality of grooves that are in close contact with the outer surface of the plurality of electric wires, and a split projection that is located between the plurality of grooves in the parallel direction of the plurality of electric wires and protrudes in the direction in which the plurality of electric wires are drawn out, and the pair of split retainers are fixed to each other so that the plurality of wire insertion tubes are partitioned by the plurality of grooves and arranged in parallel In addition, the divided protrusions are combined to form a wire retaining protrusion that is positioned between the multiple wires that protrude from the multiple wire insertion cylinders and extend in the withdrawal direction, and the wire retaining protrusion has a pair of wire contact surfaces that contact the wires arranged on both sides in the parallel direction, and a pair of first band mounting portions provided on the end faces on both sides in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the pair of wire contact surfaces, and the multiple wires that protrude from the multiple wire insertion cylinders and extend in the withdrawal direction are bound and fixed to each other in close contact with the pair of wire contact surfaces of the wire retaining protrusion of the back retainer by a first binding band stretched between the pair of first band mounting portions, and the first binding band contacts the pair of first band mounting portions from both sides in the first direction, pressing the respective divided protrusions of the pair of divided retainers that constitute the wire retaining protrusion together from both sides in the first direction.

[0010] According to the connector of this disclosure, the back retainer made of synthetic resin is composed of a pair of split retainers that hold and secure the electric wire from both sides perpendicular to the axis of the electric wire, and each pair of split retainers has a plurality of grooves that are in close contact with the outer surface of the electric wire, and a plurality of split protrusions that are located between the plurality of grooves in the parallel direction of the electric wire and protrude in the direction of the electric wire exit. When the pair of split retainers are secured to each other, a plurality of electric wire insertion tubes are partitioned by the plurality of grooves and arranged in parallel, and the split protrusions are combined to protrude from the plurality of electric wire insertion tubes and extend in the direction of the exit. Electricity A wire-holding projection is formed to be positioned between the wires. Furthermore, the wire-holding projection has a pair of wire contact surfaces that contact the wires arranged on both sides in the parallel direction of the wires, and a pair of first band attachment portions provided on the end faces on both sides in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the pair of wire contact surfaces.

[0011] Then, by placing the first cable tie between the pair of first band attachment sections and securing them, the multiple wires protruding from the multiple wire insertion tube sections and extending in the pulling direction are secured by the pair of wire retaining projections of the back retainer. Electricity The wire retaining projections can be sandwiched between the wire contact surfaces and bound together. This allows the movement of multiple wires protruding from the wire insertion tube portion of the back retainer and extending in the pulling direction to be suppressed by the binding force of the first binding band, which brings the wire retaining projections into close contact with the pair of wire contact surfaces. As a result, the movement of wires protruding from the wire insertion tube portion that are displaced by external forces can be advantageously suppressed or prevented, and the gap between the back retainer and the wires caused by the opening between the divided retainers can be advantageously suppressed or prevented.

[0012] In addition, a pair TheThe first binding band contacts the one-band mounting portion from both sides in the first direction, and the divided protrusions of the pair of divided retainers constituting the wire pressing protrusion press against each other from both sides in the first direction. As a result, the wire pressing protrusion constituted by the divided protrusions of the pair of divided retainers can be held in the assembling direction by the binding force of the first binding band, and the opening between the divided retainers can be more advantageously suppressed or prevented.

[0013] Thus, in the connector of the present disclosure, by utilizing the binding force of the first binding band, it is possible to achieve both suppressing the movement of the wire with respect to the back retainer and holding the divided retainers constituting the back retainer in a coupled state. As a result, it is possible to provide a connector that suppresses the opening between the divided retainers and suppresses the propagation of an external force transmitted to the wire to the terminal side.

[0014] The back retainer only needs to be assembled to the connector housing side. For example, it may be directly assembled to the connector housing, or may be indirectly assembled to the connector housing via another member assembled to the connector housing, such as a metal shield shell covering the outer surface of the connector housing.

[0015] In addition, the first band mounting portion and the second band mounting portion to be described later can adopt any shape as long as it can mount the binding band, and may be a trough shape, a cylindrical shape, or a frame shape.

[0016] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the pair of wire contact surfaces of the wire pressing protrusion are constituted by curved surfaces that are convex inward in their facing directions. By making the pair of wire contact surfaces into curved surfaces that are convex inward in their facing directions, it is possible to widely secure the contact area between the wire and the wire contact surface, and improve the holding effect of the wire by the wire pressing protrusion arranged between the plurality of wires.

[0017] (3) In the above (1) or (2), the present invention further comprises a metal shield shell fixed to the connector housing and covering the connector housing, having a cylindrical wire outlet from which a plurality of wires drawn out to the outside of the connector housing are drawn out, wherein the back retainer is fitted into the wire outlet of the shield shell, the wire outlet of the shield shell has a plurality of engaging portions provided spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the wire outlet, the back retainer has a first engaging portion having crushing ribs provided on both sides in the first direction and engaging with the engaging portion, and a second engaging portion having crushing ribs provided on both sides in the parallel direction and engaging with the engaging portion, wherein in the fitted state of the back retainer to the wire outlet, the first engaging portion is pressed against the engaging portion on both sides in the first direction via the crushing ribs, and the second engaging portion is pressed against the engaging portion on both sides in the parallel direction via the crushing ribs.

[0018] A back retainer, through which multiple wires drawn from the connector housing are inserted and held in a crimped state, is fitted into the wire outlet of a metal shield shell fixed to the connector housing. The back retainer includes a first engaging portion that, when fitted into the wire outlet, is pressed against the engaged portion of the wire outlet on both sides in a first direction (e.g., both top and bottom) via crimping ribs, and a second engaging portion that is pressed against the engaged portion of the wire outlet on both sides in the parallel direction of the wires (e.g., both left and right) via crimping ribs. Therefore, even if the back retainer is fitted with some play in the wire outlet of the shield shell, the first and second engaging portions are pressed against the engaged portion, crimping the crimping ribs, in both the first direction (e.g., the up and down direction) and the parallel direction (e.g., the left and right direction), which are two directions perpendicular to the wire exit direction (axial direction). As a result, the crushing ribs absorb rattle, suppressing the displacement of the back retainer fitted to the wire outlet relative to the wire outlet. This allows the back retainer to be made of synthetic resin, without increasing the size of the connector housing or back retainer, or making the back retainer out of metal. The crushing ribs help to suppress the displacement of the back retainer relative to the shield shell due to vibrations during vehicle installation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the transmission of external forces applied to the wire to the terminal side while suppressing the enlargement of the connector itself and the increase in manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the external force shielding performance that suppresses the transmission of external forces from the wire by the back retainer can be improved. In particular, since the wire outlet into which the back retainer is fitted is constructed using a metal shield shell, compared to the case where the wire outlet is provided in a synthetic resin connector housing, problems such as the occurrence of gaps due to creep in high-temperature environments can be advantageously suppressed, and the pressure contact state with the engaged part via the crushing ribs of the engaging part can be advantageously maintained.

[0019] Furthermore, the fitting structure of the back retainer to the wire outlet of the shield shell is arbitrary. This can be adopted, for example, by providing an elastic locking piece on the back retainer and attaching it to the shield shell. It may also be designed to lock into the kicked locking projection.

[0020] (4) In (3) above, it is preferable that each of the divided retainers has a second band mounting portion provided on the end side opposite to the divided projection in the withdrawal direction, and the back retainer formed by assembling the divided retainers together has a pair of the second band mounting portions arranged on both sides in the first direction, and the pair of divided retainers are pressed against each other from both sides in the first direction by a second binding band stretched between the pair of the second band mounting portions, and the back retainer is bound and fixed to the wire outlet of the shield shell.

[0021] The split retainer has a pair of second band mounting portions on the opposite side in the pulling direction from the split projection where the first band mounting portion is provided, and the split retainers can be held together in an assembled state by a second cable tie stretched between the pair of second band mounting portions. As a result, the split retainers can be held together in the assembly direction by the binding force of the second cable tie at a point away from the split projection, and the separation between the split retainers can be suppressed or prevented more advantageously.

[0022] Furthermore, the back retainer can be secured to the wire outlet of the shield shell by utilizing the binding force of the second cable tie. As a result, the separation between the divided retainers can be suppressed, and the propagation of external forces transmitted to the wire to the terminal side can be suppressed even more effectively.

[0023] (5) In (3) or (4) above, it is preferable that the plurality of engagement portions of the wire outlet include a plurality of first engagement portions arranged on both sides in the parallel direction and a plurality of second engagement portions arranged on both sides in the first direction, and the back retainer includes a plurality of first engagement portions arranged on both sides in the parallel direction and a plurality of second engagement portions arranged on both sides in the first direction, and in the fitted state of the back retainer to the wire outlet, the first engagement portions are pressed against the first engagement portions on both sides in the parallel direction via the crushing ribs on both sides in the first direction, and the second engagement portions are pressed against the second engagement portions on both sides in the first direction via the crushing ribs on both sides in the parallel direction.

[0024] This is because, on both the first direction and the parallel direction, the engaging portion can be pressed against the engaged portion via a crushing rib, thereby more stably suppressing the displacement of the back retainer relative to the shield shell and preventing or blocking the transmission of external forces applied to the wire to the terminal side.

[0025] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, it is preferable that the diameter of the inner circumferential surface of each wire insertion cylinder portion of the back retainer is larger than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of each wire inserted inside the wire insertion cylinder portion, and that a plurality of wire pressing protrusions are provided on the inner circumferential surface of each wire insertion cylinder portion, spaced apart from each other, and that each wire pressing protrusion presses the insulating coating constituting the outer circumferential surface of each wire in the radial direction, thereby inserting and holding the wire in a pressure-contact state in the wire insertion cylinder portion.

[0026] The inner diameter of each wire insertion tube is larger than the outer diameter of each wire, creating a gap between them. Furthermore, multiple wire pressing protrusions are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, the insulating coating, which is elastically deformed radially outward by the pressure of the wire pressing protrusions, can be absorbed into the gap that spreads between each wire pressing protrusion. Thus, while advantageously fixing the position of the wire in the wire insertion tube by the pressure of the wire pressing protrusions on the insulating coating, the assembly force when assembling the wire insertion tube to the wire can be reduced, improving assembly workability. Preferably, the multiple wire pressing protrusions are scattered spaced apart from each other in both the axial and circumferential directions of the wire insertion tube. This allows the wire to be fixed over a wider area by the pressure of the wire pressing protrusions, and further improves the external force shielding performance that suppresses the transmission of external forces from the wire by the back retainer.

[0027] (7) In any one of (3) to (5) above, it is preferable that the back retainer has an elastic locking piece that cantilever-like protrudes toward the wire outlet of the shield shell, the elastic locking piece has a fitting hole at its protruding end, the shield shell has a locking projection that protrudes toward the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet, and the back retainer is fitted into the wire outlet of the shield shell by fitting the locking projection of the shield shell into the fitting hole of the elastic locking piece of the back retainer. Since the elastic locking piece is provided on a back retainer made of synthetic resin and the locking projection is formed on the shield shell, the structure of the shield shell can be simplified while the molding of the elastic locking piece can be easily performed, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0028] (8) In (7) above, it is preferable that the wire outlet of the shield shell has a recessed lock piece housing portion that opens to the outer surface of the wire outlet, the lock projection is provided on the bottom surface of the lock piece housing portion, and in the fitted state of the back retainer to the shield shell, the elastic lock piece of the back retainer is housed in the lock piece housing portion.

[0029] In the fitted state of the back retainer to the shield shell, the elastic locking piece of the back retainer is housed in the locking piece housing portion of the shield shell, thus suppressing the protrusion of the elastic locking piece toward the outer circumference of the wire outlet. This effectively suppresses interference of the elastic locking piece with other components, thereby advantageously preventing unexpected detachment of the back retainer from the wire outlet. Furthermore, since the locking projection of the wire outlet is also provided on the bottom surface of the locking piece housing portion, the protrusion of the locking projection toward the outer circumference of the wire outlet is also suppressed, thereby suppressing interference with other components. More preferably, the depth dimension of the locking piece housing portion is adjusted so that the elastic locking piece does not protrude toward the outer circumference from the outer surface of the wire outlet.

[0030] (9) In the above (8), it is preferable that the wire outlet of the shield shell is provided with a plurality of notched engaging portions that penetrate in the thickness direction of the plate and open to the end face on the side of the wire that is located on the side of the wire that is being drawn out, and that at least one of the engaging portions is provided that opens to the bottom face of the lock piece housing, and that the base end side of the elastic lock piece of the back retainer is provided with a protruding second engaging portion that protrudes from the elastic lock piece toward the wire and is press-fitted into at least one of the engaging portions.

[0031] Since the engaging portion provided at the wire exit of the shield shell is configured as a notch that penetrates the thickness direction of the cylindrical end and opens to the end face on the wire exit side, the engaging portion can be provided without increasing the size of the shield shell. Furthermore, one of the engaging portions is provided opening to the bottom surface of the lock piece housing, and the second engaging portion that is press-fitted therein has a protruding shape that extends from the elastic lock piece toward the wire side, thus making good use of the empty space on the back side of the elastic lock piece and providing space-efficient installation. As a result, the engaging portion and the second engaging portion that fits into it can be provided in a space-saving manner without increasing the size of the connector.

[0032] (10) In the above (9), it is preferable that the back retainer includes a mounting cylinder portion that is fitted into the inner circumference of the cylindrical end of the wire outlet, and a protruding first engaging portion that protrudes from the outer circumference of the mounting cylinder portion, and in the fitted state of the back retainer to the shield shell, the first engaging portion is housed in the engaged portion without protruding to the outer circumference of the wire outlet.

[0033] The first engaging portion protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting cylinder portion of the back retainer, which is fitted to the inner circumference of the cylindrical end of the wire outlet. The first engaging portion is housed in the engaged portion that penetrates the cylindrical end in the thickness direction, allowing the first engaging portion to be press-fitted into the engaged portion. Therefore, the engaged portion and the first engaging portion press-fitted therein can be arranged using the cylindrical end of the wire outlet, and the engaged portion and the first engaging portion fitted therein can be provided in a space-saving manner without increasing the size of the connector.

[0034] <Details of the embodiments of this disclosure> Specific examples of the connectors of this disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims as provided by the claims.

[0035] <Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. The connector 10 includes a terminal 12, and when the connector 10 is connected to a mating connector (not shown), the terminal 12 of the connector 10 and the mating terminal of the mating connector become electrically conductive. The connector 10 can be positioned in any orientation, but in the following description, "up" refers to the top in Figure 3, "down" refers to the bottom in Figure 3, "front" refers to the left in Figure 2, "rear" refers to the right in Figure 2, "left" refers to the bottom in Figure 2, and "right" refers to the top in Figure 2. In addition, for multiple identical components, reference numerals may be assigned to only some of the components, while the reference numerals for other components may be omitted.

[0036] <Connector 10> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the connector 10 has a plurality of terminals 12, 12 (one pair in Embodiment 1) housed in a connector housing 14, and a plurality of electric wires 16, 16 (one pair in Embodiment 1) connected to each of the plurality of terminals 12 and extended out to the outside of the connector housing 14 in parallel with gaps between them. The connector 10 also has a synthetic resin back retainer 18 that is assembled to the connector housing 14 side, and the back retainer 18 has a plurality of electric wire insertion tubes 20 (one pair in Embodiment 1) through which the plurality of electric wires 16 extended out to the outside of the connector housing 14 are inserted and held in a crimped state. In Embodiment 1, a pair of connector housings 14, 14 are provided, and each of the terminals 12 is housed in each of the connector housings 14.

[0037] Each of these connector housings 14, each terminal 12, and each wire 16 is arranged to be separated from each other in the left-right direction, and in Embodiment 1, the parallel direction of each wire 16 is the left-right direction. Furthermore, as will be described later, each wire 16 is pulled out from each connector housing 14 toward the rear, and the direction of pull-out of each wire 16 is the front-back direction (particularly from front to rear).

[0038] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, the connector 10 includes a metal shield shell 24 that is fixed to and covers the connector housing 14, and has a cylindrical wire outlet 22 from which a plurality of electric wires 16 that have been pulled out to the outside of the connector housing 14 are pulled out. The back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24.

[0039] <Terminal 12> In Embodiment 1, the mating terminal (not shown) connected to each terminal 12 is a pin terminal, and the specific structure is not limited as long as it has a cylindrical connecting portion 26 into which the pin-shaped mating terminal is press-fitted. For example, a structure such as the female terminal (10) described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-28899 can be adopted. More specifically, each terminal 12 in Embodiment 1 is composed of a terminal body 28 having a cylindrical connecting portion 26 and a clip spring 30 as an elastic member attached to the tip (front end) of the terminal body 28. A wire fixing portion 32 is provided at the base end (rear end) of each terminal body 28 to which each electric wire 16 is fixed.

[0040] Each electric wire 16 is an insulated electric wire, consisting of a core wire 34 and an insulating coating 36 made of synthetic resin that covers the core wire 34 over substantially its entire length. At the end of each electric wire 16, the insulating coating 36 is stripped off, exposing the core wire 34, and the exposed core wire 34 is fixed to the electric wire fixing portion 32 of each terminal body 28, thereby connecting each terminal body 28 to each electric wire 16. The method of fixing the electric wire fixing portion 32 to the core wire 34 is not limited and may be by adhesive, welding, or crimping with a crimping piece.

[0041] <Connector housing 14> As shown in Figure 2, the connector housing 14 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical terminal housing portion 38 that accommodates the front end portion of each electric wire 16 and each terminal 12 fixed to the end of each electric wire 16. As described above, in Embodiment 1, a pair of connector housings 14, 14 are provided, and each connector housing 14 has a terminal housing portion 38. Each connector housing 14 (each terminal housing portion 38) is separated from each other in the left-right direction and extends in the front-rear direction. Each electric wire 16 housed in each terminal housing portion 38 is pulled out to the outside space through the rear opening 40 of each connector housing 14 (each terminal housing portion 38). That is, each electric wire 16 is pulled out from each connector housing 14 toward the rear, and the direction of pull-out of each electric wire 16 is the front-rear direction (particularly from front to rear).

[0042] The method of fixing each connector housing 14 to the shield shell 24 that covers and secures each connector housing 14 is not limited, but in Embodiment 1, as will be described later, each connector housing 14 is inserted into the shield shell 24 from the rear opening (wire outlet 22). Then, for example, each connector housing 14 is fixed to the shield shell 24 by the fitting of the outer surface of each connector housing 14 and the inner surface of the shield shell 24.

[0043] <Back Retainer 18> As shown in Figure 12, the back retainer 18 has a pair of split retainers 42a and 42b that hold and secure each wire 16 by sandwiching it from both sides perpendicular to the axis of each wire 16 (both sides in the vertical direction in Embodiment 1). In particular, in Embodiment 1, the pair of split retainers 42a and 42b are of the same shape, and the back retainer 18 is constructed by assembling the pair of split retainers 42a and 42b, which are inverted vertically, together. In the following, we will refer to Figures 8 to 11 and explain one (upper) split retainer 42a, and omit the explanation of the other (lower) split retainer 42b.

[0044] <Split retainer 42a, 42b> The split retainer 42a has multiple (a pair in Embodiment 1) recessed grooves 44, 44 that are in close contact with the outer surface of each electric wire 16 (the outer surface of each insulating coating 36), and a split projection 46 that is located between the multiple recessed grooves 44, 44 in the parallel direction (left-right direction) of the multiple electric wires 16 and protrudes in the direction of withdrawal (rearward) of the multiple electric wires 16. The pair of split retainers 42a, 42b are fixed to each other, and the wire insertion cylinder portion 20 is divided by the upper and lower recessed grooves 44, and multiple (a pair) wire insertion cylinder portions 20, 20 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the pair of split retainers 42a and 42b are fixed to each other, and the upper and lower split protrusions 46 form a wire retaining protrusion 48, which is positioned between the left and right wires 16 that protrude outwards (rearward) from each wire insertion tube 20.

[0045] More specifically, the divided retainer 42a is equipped with divided cylindrical portions 50 that constitute each groove 44, and a pair of divided cylindrical portions 50, 50 are provided spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The pair of divided retainers 42a, 42b are fixed to each other so that the upper and lower divided cylindrical portions 50 constitute each wire insertion cylinder portion 20. In Embodiment 1, the rear portions of the pair of divided cylindrical portions 50, 50 provided on both the left and right sides have different circumferential lengths. That is, as shown in Figure 4, in the upper divided retainer 42a, the divided cylindrical portion 50 provided on the left side is formed with a circumferential length shorter than half a circumference, while the divided cylindrical portion 50 provided on the right side is formed with a circumferential length of approximately half a circumference or slightly longer than half a circumference. As a result, when the upper and lower divided cylindrical sections 50 are stacked to form each wire insertion cylindrical section 20, a gap 52 extending in the front-to-back direction is formed between the upper and lower divided cylindrical sections 50 in the circumferential direction at the rear portion of each wire insertion cylindrical section 20.

[0046] Furthermore, in the divided retainer 42a, the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 are connected by a connecting portion 54. As described above, since a dividing projection 46 is provided between the left and right recessed grooves 44 (each divided cylindrical portion 50), the dividing projection 46 is provided on the connecting portion 54, and the dividing projection 46 protrudes further rearward than each divided cylindrical portion 50. In the upper divided retainer 42a, the lower surface of the connecting portion 54 is a flat surface, and the upper and lower divided retainers 42a and 42b are fixed to each other so that the flat surfaces of the connecting portion 54 overlap. Note that weight-reducing portions may be provided in appropriate positions on each of the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 and the connecting portion 54.

[0047] Furthermore, in the pair of divided cylindrical sections 50, 50 provided on both the left and right sides, the circumferential length of the front portion is approximately half the circumference. As a result, when the upper and lower divided cylindrical sections 50 are superimposed to form each wire insertion cylinder section 20, the front portion of each wire insertion cylinder section 20 becomes approximately cylindrical. In Embodiment 1, the diameter dimension φα (see Figure 4) of the inner circumferential surface of each wire insertion cylinder section 20, which is composed of the upper and lower divided cylindrical sections 50 (each groove 44), is larger than the diameter dimension φβ (see Figure 4) of the outer circumferential surface of each wire 16 that passes through the inside of each wire insertion cylinder section 20.

[0048] <Wire retaining projection 48> The wire retaining projection 48, formed by overlapping the divided projections 46, is positioned on both sides in the parallel direction (left-right direction) of each wire 16 and has a pair of wire contact surfaces 56, 56 that contact each wire 16 (see Figure 5). In Embodiment 1, each wire contact surface 56 is composed of a curved surface that is convex inward in their opposing directions (left-right direction), and the vertical center of each wire contact surface 56 protrudes the furthest inward in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the wire retaining projection 48 has a pair of first band mounting portions 58, 58 on both end faces in the vertical direction, i.e., in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing directions (left-right direction) of the pair of wire contact surfaces 56, 56. In Embodiment 1, the curvature of each wire contact surface 56 is approximately equal to the curvature of the outer surface of each wire 16 (the outer surface of each insulating coating 36), and each wire contact surface 56 has a curved surface shape that approximately corresponds to the outer surface of each wire 16. As a result, when each wire contact surface 56 comes into close contact with the outer surface of each wire 16, each wire contact surface 56 comes into close contact with the outer surface of each wire 16 over substantially its entire surface.

[0049] Furthermore, since the wire retaining projection 48 is divided into separate projections 46 in the vertical direction, each wire contact surface 56 is also divided in the vertical direction, and as shown in Figures 5 and 12, etc., separate contact surfaces 60 that constitute each wire contact surface 56 are provided on both the left and right sides of each separate projection 46. That is, in the upper separate retainer 42a, separate contact surfaces 60 that gradually curve outward in the left and right direction as they go upward are provided on both the left and right outer surfaces of the lower end portion of the separate projection 46. Then, when the upper and lower separate retainers 42a and 42b are superimposed and the separate contact surfaces 60, 60 are in an inverted state, they are continuous in the vertical direction, and each wire contact surface 56 is formed in which the center in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward in the left and right direction.

[0050] <First band attachment section 58> Furthermore, a first band mounting portion 58 is formed on the upper end surface of the divided projection 46 of the upper divided retainer 42a. In Embodiment 1, the first band mounting portion 58 is trough-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. The first band mounting portion 58 is composed of a flat surface 62 formed by the upper end surface of the divided projection 46 and extending along its entire length in the left-right direction, and side edge portions 64, 64 that protrude upward from the flat surface 62 on both sides of the flat surface 62 in the front-rear direction. In this way, by forming the first band mounting portion 58 on the upper end surface of the divided projection 46 of the divided retainer 42a, a pair of first band mounting portions 58, 58 are provided on both the upper and lower end surfaces of the wire retaining projection 48, which is formed by overlapping the upper and lower divided projections 46, 46.

[0051] <First cable tie 65> Then, the first cable ties 65, stretched between each of the first band mounting sections 58, fasten and secure each electric wire 16, which protrudes from each electric wire insertion tube section 20 and extends backward, to each other in close contact with the electric wire contact surfaces 56 of the electric wire retaining projections 48 on the back retainer 18. In addition, the first cable ties 65 contact each of the first band mounting sections 58 from both the top and bottom, pressing against each other from both the top and bottom, on the divided projections 46 of the upper and lower divided retainers 42a and 42b that constitute the electric wire retaining projection 48. In short, the first cable ties 65 are inserted into each of the roughly trough-shaped first band mounting sections 58, and the top and bottom portions of the first cable ties 65 are inserted between the side edges 64 of each first band mounting section 58 and overlapped on the flat surface 62. This prevents the first cable ties 65 from falling off each of the first band attachment points 58.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the left-right portions of the first cable tie 65 overlap and closely contact the left-right outward portions of the outer circumferential surface of each electric wire 16 (the outer circumferential surface of each insulating coating 36) from the outside. That is, each electric wire 16 is closely contacted on both the left-right sides by the wire retaining projection 48 and the first cable tie 65, and is sandwiched between these wire retaining projections 48 and the first cable tie 65. In Embodiment 1, the vertical dimension γ (see Figure 5) of the wire retaining projection 48 is made slightly larger than the diameter dimension φβ of the outer circumferential surface of each electric wire 16, thereby reducing the risk that the vertical portions of the first cable tie 65 will lift off the flat surfaces 62 of each first band mounting portion 58 when the wires are secured by the first cable tie 65. As a result, the first cable tie 65 prevents the upper and lower divided cylindrical portions 50, 50 of the upper and lower divided retainers 42a, 42b from being displaced in a direction that opens (separates) from each other, thereby preventing gaps from forming between each wire insertion cylindrical portion 20 and each wire 16. The first cable tie 65 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and conventionally known cable ties can be used.

[0053] <Wire pressing projection 66> As shown in Figures 4 and 9, multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66 projecting radially inward are formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of each of the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 in the divided retainer 42a. In each of the divided cylindrical portions 50, the multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction on the same circumference. Furthermore, the multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66, which are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction on the same circumference, are also spaced apart from each other at two locations in the front-to-back direction. These multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66 provided on each of the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 are located at approximately equal positions in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, when the divided cylindrical portions 50 are stacked vertically to form each wire-insertion cylindrical portion 20, the multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction along approximately the entire circumference on the same circumference in each substantially cylindrical wire-insertion cylindrical portion 20.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, the multiple wire-pressing protrusions 66 protrude radially inward from the outer surface of each wire 16 when each wire 16 is inserted through each wire insertion cylinder 20. As a result, the insulating coating 36 that constitutes the outer surface of each wire 16 is pressed radially inward by each wire-pressing protrusion 66. This ensures that each wire 16 is inserted and held in a pressure-contact state against each wire insertion cylinder 20. In Embodiment 1, as will be described later, after attaching the back retainer 18 to each wire 16, the back retainer 18 is moved forward and assembled to the shield shell 24. Therefore, while the insulating coating 36 on each wire 16 is pressed by each wire-pressing protrusion 66, the back retainer 18 can be displaced in the front-rear direction relative to each wire 16.

[0055] Furthermore, in the divided retainer 42a, a locking claw portion 68 protruding downward is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rear portion of one of the divided cylindrical portions 50 (the left one in Embodiment 1), and a locking frame body 70 protruding outward is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the other divided cylindrical portion 50 (the right one in Embodiment 1). As a result, when the upper and lower divided retainers 42a and 42b are superimposed to form each wire insertion cylindrical portion 20, each locking claw portion 68 and / or each locking frame body 70 elastically deforms and engages. Consequently, separation of each divided cylindrical portion 50 is prevented, and each wire insertion cylindrical portion 20 is maintained in a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0056] A base portion 72 is provided at the front of the divided retainer 42a. Specifically, the base portion 72 is composed of a portion at the front of each of the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 whose circumferential length is approximately half the circumference, and the front portion of the connecting portion 54 provided between these divided cylindrical portions 50. In other words, each of the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50 and the connecting portion 54 protrudes rearward from the base portion 72. The base portion 72 has a predetermined thickness dimension (front-to-back dimension) and, as shown in Figure 11, is generally rectangular in shape when viewed in the front-to-back direction, but the portions corresponding to each groove 44 are recessed in a roughly semicircular shape.

[0057] When the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b are assembled to form the back retainer 18, one base portion 72 and the other base portion 72, which is inverted vertically, are superimposed in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 3, when these pair of base portions 72, 72 are superimposed in the vertical direction, a mounting cylinder portion 74 is formed that is fitted into the inner circumference of the cylindrical end portion 128 of the wire outlet 22, which will be described later. In other words, when the back retainer 18 is assembled to the shield shell 24 to form the connector 10, the mounting cylinder portion 74 is fitted into the cylindrical end portion 128.

[0058] Furthermore, in the split retainer 42a, multiple ribs 76 extending rearward from the base portion 72 are provided on the upper surfaces of each of the left and right split cylindrical portions 50 and connecting portion 54, and these multiple ribs 76 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each of these multiple ribs 76 is approximately triangular or trapezoidal in view from left to right, and has a portion in which the vertical dimension gradually decreases as it moves from front to rear. These multiple ribs 76 reinforce each of the left and right split cylindrical portions 50 and connecting portion 54, respectively.

[0059] In particular, by making the vertical dimension of the front portion of each rib 76 larger than that of the rear portion, when the back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24, a relatively strong reinforcing effect is exerted in the portion close to the wire outlet 22, preventing displacement of each wire 16 inserted into each wire insertion tube portion 20 near the wire outlet 22. Conversely, by making the vertical dimension of the rear portion of each rib 76 smaller than that of the front portion, a certain degree of elastic deformation of each divided tube portion 50 on the left and right is permitted, reducing the risk of damage to each wire 16 when each wire 16 is displaced significantly relative to each divided tube portion 50.

[0060] <Elastic locking piece 78> Furthermore, an elastic lock piece 78 is provided at the upper end of the base portion 72, projecting forward in a cantilevered manner toward the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24, and the elastic lock piece 78 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The divided retainer 42a is provided with a pair of elastic lock pieces 78, 78, and each elastic lock piece 78 is spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Specifically, each elastic lock piece 78 is provided at a position corresponding to the left and right divided cylindrical portions 50. In addition, a substantially rectangular fitting hole 80 that penetrates in the vertical direction is provided at the protruding end (front end) of each of these elastic lock pieces 78. Furthermore, in the divided retainer 42a, a second band attachment portion 82 is provided at the protruding base end (rear end) of the upper end surface of each elastic lock piece 78, to which a second cable tie 87, which will be described later, is attached.

[0061] <Second band attachment section 82> Each second band mounting portion 82 is trough-shaped and extends in the left-right direction, similar to the first band mounting portion 58 described above. Each second band mounting portion 82 is composed of a flat surface 84 formed by the upper end surfaces of each elastic lock piece 78 and extending along its entire length in the left-right direction, and side edge portions 86, 86 that protrude upward from the flat surface 84 on both sides of the flat surface 84 in the front-rear direction. In other words, in the split retainer 42a, each second band mounting portion 82 is provided on the end side (front end side) opposite to the split projection 46 in the exit direction (front-rear direction) of each electric wire 16. Since each second band mounting portion 82 is formed on the upper end surface of each elastic lock piece 78 in the split retainer 42a, each second band mounting portion 82, 82 is provided on both end faces in the first direction (up-down direction) of the back retainer 18, which is formed by overlapping the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b.

[0062] <Second cable tie 87> The second cable ties 87, stretched between each of the second band mounting sections 82, press the upper and lower divided retainers 42a and 42b against each other from both the upper and lower sides, while the back retainer 18 is secured to the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. In short, the second cable ties 87 are inserted into each of the roughly trough-shaped second band mounting sections 82, and the upper and lower side portions of the second cable ties 87 are inserted between the side edges 86 of each second band mounting section 82 and overlapped on the flat surface 84. This prevents the second cable ties 87 from falling out of each second band mounting section 82.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the left-right portions of the second cable tie 87 overlap and closely contact the left-right outward portions of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical end 128 of the shield shell 24, which will be described later, from the outside. In Embodiment 1, the second cable tie 87 is provided so as to cover from the outside the fitting locations between the back retainer 18 and the shield shell 24, that is, the engagement locations between the first engaging portion 104 and the first engaged portion 132, and the engagement locations between the second engaging portion 108 and the second engaged portion 134, which will be described later. This reduces the risk that vibrations transmitted from the outside through each electric wire 16 will be transmitted to the back retainer 18 and cause the fitting between the back retainer 18 and the shield shell 24 to be released. The second cable tie 87 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and conventionally known cable ties can be used.

[0064] Furthermore, each elastic lock piece 78 has a pair of forward projections 88, 88 at the front end of each second band mounting portion 82 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and project forward, and a connecting portion 90 that connects the protruding tips (front ends) of each of these forward projections 88. The fitting hole 80 is formed by the region enclosed by each of these second band mounting portions 82, each forward projection 88, and the connecting portion 90. Also, as shown in Figures 3 and 11, each elastic lock piece 78 in the split retainer 42a has a pair of downward projections 92, 92 that extend downward along the front surface of the base portion 72 and are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. And, as shown in Figures 3 and 11, the left-right outer surfaces of each downward projection 92 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction are provided with crushing ribs 106 of the second engagement portion 108, which will be described later. In Figure 3, the crushed ribs 102 and 106 before deformation are shown by dashed lines.

[0065] Furthermore, in the split retainer 42a, an elastic locking frame 94 protruding downward is provided on the left end face of the base portion 72, and a locking claw portion 96 protruding to the right is provided on the right end face. The elastic locking frame 94 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction, and the back retainer 18 is formed by arranging the split retainers 42a and 42b opposite each other in the vertical direction and engaging the elastic locking frame 94 with the locking claw portion 96. In other words, in addition to the engagement between the locking claw portion 68 and the locking frame 70, the engagement between the elastic locking frame 94 and the locking claw portion 96 prevents the separation of the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b, thereby forming the back retainer 18.

[0066] The elastic lock frame 94 has a pair of downward projections 98, 98 that are separated from each other in the front-rear direction and project downward from the base portion 72, and a connecting portion 100 that connects the protruding tips (lower ends) of each of these downward projections 98. The lock claw portion 96 is engaged with the area surrounded by each of these downward projections 98 and the connecting portion 100.

[0067] <First engaging portion 104 and second engaging portion 108> Here, the back retainer 18 has a first engaging portion 104 that engages with a first engaging portion 132 which has crushing ribs 102, 102 provided on both sides in the first direction (up and down direction) and constitutes an engaged portion 130 described later in the shield shell 24, and a second engaging portion 108 that engages with a second engaging portion 134 which has crushing ribs 106, 106 provided on both sides in the parallel direction (left and right direction) of each electric wire 16 and constitutes an engaged portion 130 described later. As described later, in the electric wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24, a plurality of first engaging portions 132 are arranged on both sides in the left and right direction, and a plurality of second engaging portions 134 are arranged on both sides in the up and down direction. Therefore, in the back retainer 18, a plurality of first engaging portions 104 are arranged on both sides in the left and right direction, and a plurality of second engaging portions 108 are arranged on both sides in the up and down direction.

[0068] Specifically, in the split retainer 42a, the first engaging portion 104 is formed with a protruding shape that projects outward (to the left) from the outer circumferential surface of the elastic lock frame 94 provided at the left end. That is, in the elastic lock frame 94, a pair of downwardly protruding portions 98, 98 that are separated in the front-rear direction are provided with vertical wall portions 110, 110 that project to the left and extend vertically in the intermediate portion in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the protruding tip (left end) of each vertical wall portion 110 is connected by a connecting wall portion 112. As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the area surrounded by each vertical wall portion 110 and the connecting wall portion 112 forms a substantially rectangular through hole 114 that penetrates in the vertical direction. The first engaging portion 104 is composed of each vertical wall portion 110 and the connecting wall portion 112, and crushing ribs 102, 102 are provided on both the upper and lower end faces of the connecting wall portion 112 that project outward on both sides in the first direction (vertical direction) than each vertical wall portion 110. The upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b, which are shaped in this way, are assembled together in the vertical direction, so that first engaging portions 104 are provided on both the left and right sides of the back retainer 18. Furthermore, since the first engaging portions 104 are provided protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the elastic lock frame 94 that constitutes the base portion 72, they are also provided protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting cylinder portion 74, which is composed of a pair of base portions 72, 72.

[0069] In the standalone state of the split retainer 42a before the first engaging portion 104 engages with the first engaged portion 132 described later, the vertical dimension A (see Figure 11) between the protruding tips of each crushing rib 102 is larger than the vertical dimension C (see Figure 7) of the first engaged portion 132 described later. As a result, when the back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 and each first engaging portion 104 is fitted into each first engaged portion 132, each first engaging portion 104 is pressed against each first engaged portion 132 on both sides in the first direction (vertical direction) via each crushing rib 102. Furthermore, when each first engaging portion 104 is fitted into each first engaged portion 132, each first engaging portion 104 is housed in each first engaged portion 132 without protruding to the outer circumference of the wire outlet 22.

[0070] Furthermore, as described above, in the split retainer 42a, crushing ribs 106, 106 of the second engaging portion 108 are provided on the left and right outer surfaces of each downward extension 92 that extends downward from each elastic lock piece 78. Specifically, each crushing rib 106 is provided on the upper end portion of each downward extension 92, and each second engaging portion 108 is formed including the upper end portion of each downward extension 92. That is, at the base end side (rear side) of each elastic lock piece 78 of the back retainer 18 (split retainer 42a), each protruding second engaging portion 108 is formed including each downward extension 92 that protrudes from each elastic lock piece 78 toward each electric wire 16 side (downward side). By assembling the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b, which have this shape, into each other in the vertical direction, second engaging portions 108 are provided on both sides of the back retainer 18 in the first direction (vertical direction).

[0071] In the standalone state of the split retainer 42a before the second engaging portion 108 engages with the second engaged portion 134 (described later), the left-right dimension B (see Figure 11) between the protruding tips of each crushing rib 106 is larger than the left-right dimension D (see Figure 7) of the second engaged portion 134. As a result, when the back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 and each second engaging portion 108 is fitted into each second engaged portion 134, each second engaging portion 108 is pressed against each second engaged portion 134 on both sides in the left-right direction via each crushing rib 106. Note that, as shown in Figure 3, a space is provided between each downward extension 92 in the left-right direction, and each downward extension 92 may be slightly elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction when each crushing rib 106 is pressed against each second engaged portion 134.

[0072] By giving the split retainer 42a this shape, the mold can be removed in the vertical direction during the molding of the split retainer 42a. This avoids increasing the number of mold types and thus prevents cost increases. Furthermore, by making the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b the same shape, the increase in the number of part types is suppressed, and costs are reduced. Note that the upper and lower split retainers do not necessarily have to be the same shape.

[0073] <Shield Shell 24> The shield shell 24 has a generally cylindrical shape that opens forward as a whole and covers almost the entirety of the pair of connector housings 14, 14. Specifically, the shield shell 24 includes an upper wall portion 116 that covers the top of each connector housing 14, a lower wall portion 118 that covers the bottom of each connector housing 14, a left wall portion 120 that covers the left connector housing 14 from the left, a right wall portion 122 that covers the right connector housing 14 from the right, and a front wall portion 124 that covers the front of each connector housing 14. In addition, a partition portion 126 is provided inside the shield shell 24 that divides the internal space of the shield shell 24 in the left-right direction between each connector housing 14 (each terminal housing portion 38).

[0074] This partition 126 extends rearward from the front wall 124 of the shield shell 24, but is formed with dimensions in the front-to-back direction that do not reach the rear opening of the shield shell 24. As a result, the rear opening of the shield shell 24 is a roughly rectangular cylindrical shape, surrounded on all four sides by the upper wall 116, lower wall 118, left wall 120, and right wall 122, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. The electric wires 16 that are pulled out rearward through the rear opening 40 of each connector housing 14 are then pulled out to the outside of the shield shell 24 through the rear opening of the roughly rectangular cylindrical shield shell 24, and this rear opening of the shield shell 24 constitutes a cylindrical electric wire outlet 22.

[0075] In particular, a cylindrical end 128 is formed at the rear end of the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24, which is on the side of the wire 16 being drawn out. That is, the cylindrical end 128 is a substantially cylindrical portion enclosed by the upper wall 116, lower wall 118, left wall 120, and right wall 122 as described above, and a substantially flat, widening portion is provided in the left-right intermediate portion of the upper wall 116 and lower wall 118 and in the up-down intermediate portion of the left wall 120 and right wall 122. Furthermore, in the cylindrical end 128, the upper wall 116 and lower wall 118 are connected to the left wall 120 and right wall 122 at their respective left-right ends, and these connection portions are configured with rounded, curved sections.

[0076] <Engaged portion 130> Here, the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24 is provided with a plurality of engagement portions 130 that are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the wire outlet 22. Specifically, at the cylindrical end 128 of the wire outlet 22, a plurality of notched engagement portions 130 are provided that penetrate in the thickness direction of the plate and open to the end face on the side (rear side) of each wire 16 that is pulled out. More specifically, the plurality of engagement portions 130 are provided at the cylindrical end 128 on both sides of a first direction (up and down direction in Embodiment 1) perpendicular to the pulling direction (front and back direction) of each wire 16, and on both sides of the parallel direction of each wire 16 (left and right direction in Embodiment 1) perpendicular to both the extension direction of each wire 16 and the first direction. That is, the engagement portion 130 includes a plurality of first engagement portions 132 arranged on both sides in the left and right direction at the cylindrical end 128, and a plurality of second engagement portions 134 arranged on both sides in the up and down direction. In short, as shown in Figure 7, the left wall portion 120 and the right wall portion 122 constituting the cylindrical end portion 128 are each provided with a first engaging portion 132, and the upper wall portion 116 and the lower wall portion 118 constituting the cylindrical end portion 128 are each provided with a second engaging portion 134.

[0077] Each first engaged portion 132 is provided in the vertically intermediate portion that spreads substantially flat in the left wall portion 120 and the right wall portion 122 that constitute the cylindrical end portion 128, and opens to the rear end face of the cylindrical end portion 128 and penetrates in the left-right direction which is the thickness direction of the plate. Each of these first engaged portions 132 has a predetermined vertical dimension C (see Figure 7).

[0078] Each second engaging portion 134 is provided in the middle portion in the left-right direction, which extends substantially flat in the upper wall portion 116 and the lower wall portion 118 that constitute the cylindrical end portion 128. In Embodiment 1, a pair of second engaging portions 134, 134 are provided in the upper wall portion 116 and the lower wall portion 118, respectively, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each second engaging portion 134 opens to the rear end face of the cylindrical end portion 128 and penetrates in the vertical direction which is the thickness direction of the plate, and has a predetermined left-right dimension D (see Figure 7).

[0079] <Lock piece housing section 136> In particular, in Embodiment 1, on the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet 22 in the shield shell 24, a concave lock piece housing portion 136 for accommodating each elastic lock piece 78 in the back retainer 18 is provided, opening to the outer circumferential side and to the rear. Specifically, in each of the upper wall portion 116 and the lower wall portion 118 constituting the wire outlet 22 (cylindrical end portion 128), a pair of lock piece housing portions 136, 136 are provided in the middle portion in the left-right direction, which is substantially flat and spread outwards, separated from each other in the left-right direction, and opening to the outer circumferential side, outwards in the vertical direction and to the rear. The above-mentioned second engaging portion 134 is provided at the rear end surface of the bottom of each lock piece housing portion 136, penetrating in the vertical direction in the plate thickness direction, and in short, opening to the bottom surface of each lock piece housing portion 136. Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet 22 is provided with a locking projection 138 that protrudes outward in the vertical direction. In Embodiment 1, the bottom surface of each locking piece housing 136 is provided with a locking projection 138 that protrudes outward in the vertical direction, positioned in front of each second engaged portion 134.

[0080] As shown in Figure 6, a through-hole 140 is formed in the front portion of the upper wall 116 of the shield shell 24, penetrating the upper wall 116 in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Through this through-hole 140, the cylindrical connection portions 26 of each terminal 12 located inside the shield shell 24 are exposed to the outside space. Furthermore, a cylindrical portion 142 protruding upward is provided on the periphery of the through-hole 140 in the upper wall 116. The cylindrical portion 142 has a roughly oval shape with a large left-right dimension compared to its front-rear dimension, and a front retainer 144 is assembled to this cylindrical portion 142. As shown in Figure 2, the front retainer 144 has substantially circular through holes 146 that extend vertically through the terminal 12 at positions corresponding to the cylindrical connection portion 26 of each terminal 12. When connecting the connector 10 to the mating connector, the pin-shaped mating terminal is inserted into the cylindrical connection portion 26 of each terminal 12 through these through holes 146. The cylindrical portion 142 and the front retainer 144 can be fixed to each other by, for example, a locking mechanism (not shown).

[0081] Furthermore, in the left-right central portion of the shield shell 24, a bolt insertion hole 150 is formed behind the cylindrical portion 142, through which a fastening bolt 148 is inserted, extending vertically. This fastening bolt 148 is fastened to, for example, the housing of a mating device that has a mating terminal (not shown), and the fastening force of the fastening bolt 148 is used to press-fit the mating terminal into the cylindrical connection portion 26 at each terminal 12. The fastening bolt 148 inserted into the bolt insertion hole 150 can be prevented from falling out of the bolt insertion hole 150 by a fixing member 152, for example, a C-ring.

[0082] Furthermore, inside the shield shell 24, each wire 16 that is pulled out from the rear opening 40 of each connector housing 14 is fitted with an annular waterproof rubber 154. Each waterproof rubber 154 is inserted into the inside of the shield shell 24 from the rear opening (wire outlet 22) of the shield shell 24 and is located at the rear of each connector housing 14. In addition, as described above, the mounting cylinder portion 74 of the back retainer 18 is fitted into the rear opening (wire outlet 22) of the shield shell 24, preventing each waterproof rubber 154 from falling off.

[0083] <Assembly of Connector 10> The following describes a specific example of how to assemble connector 10. However, the method of assembling connector 10 is not limited to the configuration described below.

[0084] First, the insulating coating 36 is stripped from the end of each wire 16 to expose the core wire 34, which is then fixed to the wire fixing portion 32 of each terminal body 28. At the same time, each clip spring 30 is attached to the front end of each terminal body 28. This connects each terminal 12 to the end of each wire 16. Then, each waterproof rubber 154 is fitted onto each wire 16.

[0085] Next, each wire 16, with each terminal 12 and each waterproof rubber 154 attached, is inserted through the rear opening 40 of each connector housing 14. After each terminal 12 is inserted to its predetermined position, each connector housing 14 with each terminal 12 attached is inserted through the rear opening (wire outlet 22) of the shield shell 24, and the connector housing 14 and the shield shell 24 are fixed together, for example, by interlocking protrusions and indentations. A front retainer 144 is then attached to the cylindrical portion 142 of the shield shell 24 from above. This ensures that each wire 16 is pulled out to the outside (rear) from each wire outlet 22 in the shield shell 24. The fastening bolts 148 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes 150 at the appropriate time.

[0086] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b are positioned facing each other in the vertical direction so as to sandwich each wire 16 between them at the portion of the wire 16 that is pulled out from the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. Then, the upper and lower split retainers 42a and 42b are brought closer together in the vertical direction to engage each locking claw portion 68 with each locking frame 70, and each elastic locking frame 94 with each locking claw portion 96. As a result, the back retainer 18 is attached to each wire 16 at a position separated from the shield shell 24 in the rear.

[0087] Next, the back retainers 18 attached to each wire 16 are moved forward toward the shield shell 24. As a result, each elastic lock piece 78 protruding forward from the back retainer 18 is inserted into each lock piece housing portion 136 that opens to the rear at the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24, and each elastic lock piece 78 is housed in each lock piece housing portion 136. Then, with elastic deformation of each elastic lock piece 78, each elastic lock piece 78 overcomes each lock projection 138 provided on the bottom surface of each lock piece housing portion 136, and each lock projection 138 is fitted into each fitting hole 80 of each elastic lock piece 78 and engages.

[0088] Furthermore, in each case, the first engaging portion 104 and the second engaging portion 108 are inserted into the first engaging portion 132 and the second engaging portion 134, which open to the rear at the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. As a result, the crushing ribs 102 in each first engaging portion 104 and the crushing ribs 106 in each second engaging portion 108 are compressed and deformed so as to be crushed by the first engaging portion 132 and the second engaging portion 134, respectively, so that the first engaging portion 104 and the second engaging portion 108 are pressed against the first engaging portion 132 and the second engaging portion 134, respectively. As a result, the back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. In this state, a wire retaining projection 48 is positioned between the wires 16, 16 that protrude from the wire insertion tubes 20, 20 of the back retainer 18 and extend in the pulling direction (rearward) (see Figure 2).

[0089] Subsequently, a first cable tie 65 is stretched between the upper and lower first band mounting portions 58 on the wire retaining projection 48 positioned between the electric wires 16, 16, thereby fixing the wire retaining projection 48 on the back retainer 18 to each electric wire 16 with the first cable tie 65. In addition, a second cable tie 87 is stretched between the upper and lower second band mounting portions 82 provided on each elastic lock piece 78, thereby fixing the back retainer 18 to the shield shell 24 with the second cable tie 87. This completes the connector 10.

[0090] In the connector 10 of Embodiment 1, which has the structure described above, the first cable ties 65 stretched between each first band mounting portion 58 securely fasten each wire 16 that protrudes from each wire insertion tube portion 20 and extends in the pulling direction (rearward), so that they are in close contact with each wire contact surface 56 of the wire retaining projection 48. As a result, each wire 16 and the back retainer 18 are secured by the first cable ties 65, preventing external forces input to each wire 16 due to vibration, etc., from being transmitted to each terminal 12. Furthermore, the first cable ties 65 contact each first band mounting portion 58 from both the upper and lower sides, pressing the respective segmented projections 46 of the upper and lower segmented retainers 42a and 42b against each other from both the upper and lower sides. As a result, displacement in the direction of opening (separating) between the upper and lower divided retainers 42a and 42b is suppressed, and the state in which each wire 16 is held between each divided cylindrical part 50 constituting each wire insertion cylindrical part 20 is stably maintained. As a result, not only are each wire 16 fixed by the first cable tie 65, but the occurrence of gaps between each wire insertion cylindrical part 20 and each wire 16 by the first cable tie 65 is suppressed, and the external force blocking effect can be exerted more reliably.

[0091] The pair of wire contact surfaces 56, 56 on the wire retaining projection 48 are formed by curved surfaces that are convex inward in their opposing directions (left and right). This allows each wire contact surface 56 to have a shape that substantially corresponds to the outer surface of each wire 16, thereby ensuring a wide contact area between each wire contact surface 56 and the outer surface of each wire 16 (see Figure 5). As a result, the first cable tie 65 can stably hold each wire 16 on both the left and right sides of the wire retaining projection 48, improving the effect of blocking external forces. Furthermore, compared to, for example, a case where each wire contact surface is a flat surface, the resistance when inserting the divided projection 46 between each wire 16 can be reduced, improving the ease of assembly when assembling the upper and lower divided retainers 42a, 42b to each wire 16.

[0092] The first engaging portion 104, each having a crimping rib 102, and the second engaging portion 108, each having a crimping rib 106, of the back retainer 18 are fitted into multiple engaging portions 130 (first engaging portion 132 and second engaging portion 134) at the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. In particular, as each crimping rib 102, 106 deforms to be crushed against each of the first engaging portion 132 and each of the second engaging portion 134, each of the first engaging portion 104 and each of the second engaging portion 108 are pressed against each of the first engaging portion 132 and each of the second engaging portion 134, rattling between the shield shell 24 and the back retainer 18 is prevented. This prevents the back retainer 18 from being displaced relative to the shield shell 24, even when external forces such as vibrations are applied to each wire 16, causing the wires 16 to vibrate, for example, in the vertical or horizontal direction.

[0093] Each divided retainer 42a, 42b has a pair of second band mounting portions 82 arranged on both sides in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower divided retainers 42a, 42b are pressed against each other from both sides in the vertical direction by a second cable tie 87 stretched between each second band mounting portion 82, and the back retainer 18 is secured to the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24. As a result, the second cable tie 87 prevents rattling between the back retainer 18 and the shield shell 24, and each wire 16 can be fixed to the shield shell 24 via the back retainer 18. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the second cable tie 87 is provided so as to cover from the outer circumference the engagement portions between each first engagement portion 104 and each first engaged portion 132, which are the fitting positions between the back retainer 18 and the shield shell 24, and the engagement portions between each second engagement portion 108 and each second engaged portion 134. This suppresses looseness between the back retainer 18 and the shield shell 24, preventing them from unintentionally disengaging from their mating.

[0094] Each first engaging portion 104 and each first engaged portion 132 is provided on both sides in the left-right direction, and each second engaging portion 108 and each second engaged portion 134 is provided on both sides in the up-down direction. As a result, in the circumferential direction of the wire outlet 22, each first engaging portion 104 and each first engaged portion 132 and each second engaging portion 108 and each second engaged portion 134 can be arranged symmetrically in the left-right and up-down directions, thereby further suppressing the displacement of the back retainer 18 relative to the shield shell 24.

[0095] Each wire-pressing projection 66 on the back retainer 18 presses the insulating coating 36 on each wire 16 radially inward, so that each wire 16 is inserted and held in a pressure-contact state against each wire insertion cylinder portion 20. This makes it possible to keep the amount of displacement of each wire 16 relative to the back retainer 18 to a minimum. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the multiple wire-pressing projections 66 that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction on each wire insertion cylinder portion 20 are also spaced apart in the axial direction, so that the amount of displacement (twisting) in the rotational direction of each wire 16 can also be effectively suppressed.

[0096] The back retainer 18 has elastic locking pieces 78, and the shield shell 24 has locking projections 138. The back retainer 18 is fitted into the wire outlet 22 of the shield shell 24 by fitting each locking projection 138 into each elastic locking piece 78. This allows the back retainer 18 to be assembled to the shield shell 24 with a simple structure consisting of each elastic locking piece 78 and each locking projection 138. Furthermore, since the shield shell 24 is provided with locking piece housing sections 136 that open on the outer circumferential surface to accommodate each elastic locking piece 78, the amount of protrusion of each elastic locking piece 78 from the locking piece housing section 136 can be reduced or eliminated. This allows the size of the back retainer 18, the shield shell 24, and consequently the connector 10 to be reduced. In addition, the risk of the back retainer 18 falling off the shield shell 24 due to unintentional disengagement of the elastic locking piece 78 and each locking projection 138 can be reduced. In particular, in Embodiment 1, each second band attachment portion 82 is provided on each elastic lock piece 78. Therefore, by attaching the second cable tie band 87 after fitting each elastic lock piece 78 with each lock projection 138, it is further prevented that each elastic lock piece 78 will be unintentionally displaced in a direction that disengages it from the lock projection 138.

[0097] Each second engaging portion 134 is provided at the bottom of each lock piece housing portion 136 in which each elastic lock piece 78 is housed, and each second engaging portion 108 is provided on the base end side (rear side) of each elastic lock piece 78, which is press-fitted into each second engaging portion 134. In other words, in the upper wall portion 116 and lower wall portion 118 of the shield shell 24, each lock piece housing portion 136 and each second engaging portion 134 are provided continuously in the vertical direction, which avoids increasing the size of the shield shell 24 compared to, for example, the case in which each lock piece housing portion and each second engaging portion are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction of the wire outlet. Similarly, each elastic lock piece 78 and each second engaging portion 108 can be provided at the same position in the circumferential direction of the mounting cylinder portion 74 of the back retainer 18, which also avoids increasing the size of the back retainer 18.

[0098] In the fitted state of the back retainer 18 to the shield shell 24, each first engaging portion 104 is housed in each first engaged portion 132 without protruding outwards from the outer circumference of the wire outlet 22. This prevents each first engaging portion 104 from unintentionally falling out of each first engaged portion 132 due to contact with other components or by workers.

[0099] <Variation> While embodiments have been described in detail above as specific examples of the present disclosure, this disclosure is not limited by these specific descriptions. Modifications, improvements, etc., to the extent that they can achieve the objectives of this disclosure are included in this disclosure. For example, the following modifications of embodiments are also included in the technical scope of this disclosure.

[0100] (1) The shape of the terminal 12 in the above embodiment is merely illustrative and not limiting. That is, in the above embodiment, the terminal 12 had a cylindrical connecting portion 26 into which a pin-shaped mating terminal was inserted, but the invention is not limited to this form. The mating terminal may be flat tab-shaped, for example, as described in International Publication No. 2021 / 145197, in which case the terminal only needs to have a substantially rectangular terminal insertion gap.

[0101] (2) In the above embodiment, a plurality of first engaging portions 104 and second engaging portions 108 are provided, and a plurality of first engaged portions 132 and second engaged portions 134 are provided corresponding to these plurality of first engaging portions 104 and second engaging portions 108, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, in the connector according to the present disclosure, the number of first engaging portions and second engaging portions is not limited, and one or more first engaging portions and second engaging portions are provided, and one or more first engaged portions and second engaged portions are provided corresponding to these first engaging portions and second engaging portions. In addition, in the connector according to the present disclosure, the first engaging portions and second engaging portions, and the first engaged portions and second engaged portions are not essential and may not be provided.

[0102] (3) In the above embodiment, each lock piece housing portion 136 was provided on the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet 22 in the shield shell 24, and each lock projection 138 was provided on the bottom surface of each lock piece housing portion 136, but the invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, in the connector according to the present disclosure, the lock piece housing portion is not provided. For example, the lock projection may protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet in the shield shell, in which case each elastic lock piece is arranged to overlap the outer circumferential surface of the wire outlet in the shield shell.

[0103] (4) In the above embodiment, each elastic lock piece 78 was provided on the outer circumference (outward in the vertical direction) of each second engagement portion 108, but instead of, or in addition to, each elastic lock piece may be provided on the outer circumference of the first engagement portion. That is, in the above embodiment, each elastic lock piece 78 was provided on both the vertical sides of the back retainer 18, but elastic lock pieces may be provided on one or both sides in the left-right direction of the back retainer to engage with locking protrusions provided on one or both sides in the left-right direction of the shield shell. Note that elastic lock pieces are not essential in the connector according to this disclosure.

[0104] (5) In the above embodiment, the back retainer 18 was composed of a pair of divided retainers 42a and 42b having the same shape as each other, but the pair of divided retainers may have different shapes as well. The pair of divided retainers may be formed as a single unit. For example, a hinge portion may be provided at one end in the circumferential direction of each divided retainer to allow each divided retainer to be opened and closed, and after each wire is inserted, each divided retainer may be fixed to each other by a locking mechanism or the like provided at the other end in the circumferential direction of each divided retainer.

[0105] (6) In the above embodiment, the outer surface of each wire 16 was in close contact with substantially the entire surface of the wire contact surfaces 56 on both the left and right sides of the wire retaining projection 48, but it is sufficient that at least a portion of the outer surface of each wire and the wire contact surfaces are in close contact. Also, in the above embodiment, the wire contact surfaces 56 were composed of curved surfaces that protrude inward in their opposing directions (left and right directions), but they may also be vertical surfaces that extend in the vertical direction, and the left and right inner portions of the insulating coating on each wire may be pressed and deformed by the wire contact surfaces that extend in the vertical direction.

[0106] (7) In the above embodiment, a second cable tie 87 was provided in addition to the first cable tie 65, but in the connector according to the present disclosure, the second cable tie may not be provided. Furthermore, the shape of the first band mounting portion and the second band mounting portion to which the first cable tie and the second cable tie are attached is not limited, and in addition to the trough shape as in the above embodiment, it may also be cylindrical or frame-shaped.

[0107] (8) The back retainer only needs to be assembled to the connector housing side, and may be assembled directly to the connector housing, or indirectly to the connector housing via other components assembled to the connector housing, such as a shield shell. In other words, a shield shell is not essential in the connector according to this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 10 connectors 12 terminals 14 Connector Housing 16 Electric wire 18 Back retainer 20 Wire insertion tube section 22 Wire outlet 24 Shield Shell 26 Cylindrical connecting part 28 Terminal body 30 clip springs 32 Wire fixing part 34 core wires 36 Insulating coating 38 Terminal housing section 40 Rear opening 42a, 42b Split retainer 44 grooves 46 Split protrusion 48 Wire retaining projection 50 split cylinder part 52 gaps 54 Connecting part 56 Wire contact surface 58 First band attachment section 60 split contact surface 62 Flat surface 64 Side edge 65. First cable tie 66 Wire pressing protrusion 68 Locking claw section 70 Lock Frame 72 Base section 74 Mounting cylinder 76 Ribs 78 Elastic lock pieces 80 mating holes 82 Second band attachment section 84 Flat surface 86 Side edge 87. Second cable tie 88 Forward protrusion 90 Connection part 92 Downward extension part 94 Elastic lock frame 96 Locking claw section 98 Downward protrusion 100 connection part 102 Crushed Ribs 104 First engagement part 106 Crushed Ribs 108 Second engaging part 110 Vertical wall section 112 Connecting wall section 114 Through hole 116 Upper wall 118 Lower wall 120 Left wall 122 Right wall 124 Front wall section 126 Partition 128 Cylindrical end 130 Engaged portion 132 First engaged part 134 Second engaged part 136 Lock piece housing 138 Locking protrusion 140 through holes 142 Cylindrical part 144 Front retainer 146 Through hole 148 fastening bolts 150 bolt insertion holes 152 Fixing member 154 Waterproof rubber

Claims

1. Multiple terminals housed in the connector housing, Multiple wires are connected to each of the aforementioned terminals and are routed out in parallel from the outside of the connector housing with gaps between them, The connector housing is equipped with a back retainer made of synthetic resin, which has multiple wire insertion tubes through which multiple wires pulled out to the outside of the connector housing are inserted and held in a crimped state, and which is assembled to the connector housing side. The aforementioned back retainer is, Each of the aforementioned electric wires has a pair of split retainers that clamp and hold the electric wire from both sides perpendicular to its axis and fix them together. Each of the pair of divided retainers has a plurality of grooves that are in close contact with the outer surface of the plurality of electric wires, and a divided projection that is located between the plurality of grooves in the parallel direction of the plurality of electric wires and protrudes in the direction of the lead-out of the plurality of electric wires. The pair of divided retainers are fixed to each other so that the multiple wire insertion tubes are partitioned and arranged in parallel by the multiple grooves, and the divided protrusions are combined to form a wire retaining projection that is positioned between the multiple wires that protrude from the multiple wire insertion tubes and extend in the pulling direction. The wire retaining projection has a pair of wire contact surfaces that contact the wires arranged on both sides in the parallel direction, and a pair of first band mounting portions provided on the end faces on both sides in a first direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the pair of wire contact surfaces. A connector in which a plurality of wires protruding from a plurality of wire insertion tubes and extending in the pulling direction are bound and fixed to each other by a first binding band stretched between a pair of first band mounting portions, with each wire in close contact with a pair of wire contact surfaces of the wire retaining projections of the back retainer, and the first binding band contacts the pair of first band mounting portions from both sides in the first direction, pressing the respective divided projections of the pair of divided retainers constituting the wire retaining projections against each other from both sides in the first direction.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of wire contact surfaces of the wire retaining projection are formed by curved surfaces that are convex inward in their opposing directions.

3. The connector housing is further provided with a metal shield shell that is fixed to the connector housing and covers the connector housing, and has a cylindrical wire outlet from which a plurality of the wires drawn out to the outside of the connector housing are drawn out, wherein the back retainer is fitted into the wire outlet of the shield shell. The wire outlet of the shield shell has a plurality of engaging portions provided at mutual distances in the circumferential direction of the wire outlet, The back retainer has a first engaging portion which engages with the engaged portion and has crushing ribs provided on both sides in the first direction, and a second engaging portion which engages with the engaged portion and has crushing ribs provided on both sides in the parallel direction, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the state in which the back retainer is fitted to the wire outlet, the first engaging portion is pressed against the engaged portion on both sides in the first direction via the crushing ribs, and the second engaging portion is pressed against the engaged portion on both sides in the parallel direction via the crushing ribs.

4. Each of the divided retainers has a second band mounting portion provided on the end side opposite to the dividing projection in the pulling direction, and the back retainer, which is formed by assembling the divided retainers together, has a pair of the second band mounting portions arranged on both sides in the first direction. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the pair of divided retainers are pressed against each other from both sides in the first direction by a second cable tie stretched between the pair of second band mounting portions, and the back retainer is secured to the wire outlet of the shield shell.

5. The plurality of engagement portions of the wire outlet include a plurality of first engagement portions arranged on both sides in the parallel direction and a plurality of second engagement portions arranged on both sides in the first direction. The back retainer includes a plurality of first engaging portions arranged on both sides in the parallel direction and a plurality of second engaging portions arranged on both sides in the first direction. The connector according to claim 3, wherein, in the state in which the back retainer is fitted to the wire outlet, the first engaging portion is pressed against the first engaged portion on both sides in the parallel direction via the crimping ribs on both sides in the first direction, and the second engaging portion is pressed against the second engaged portion on both sides in the parallel direction via the crimping ribs on both sides in the parallel direction.

6. The diameter of the inner circumferential surface of each of the wire insertion tubes of the back retainer is larger than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of each of the wires inserted inside the wire insertion tubes. On the inner circumferential surface of each of the wire insertion tube portions, a plurality of wire pressing protrusions are provided, spaced apart from each other, protruding radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of each of the wires. The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the wire pressing protrusions presses the insulating coating constituting the outer surface of each of the wires radially inward, so that the wires are inserted into and held in a pressure-contact state in the wire insertion cylinder.

7. The back retainer has an elastic locking piece that cantilever-like protrudes toward the wire outlet of the shield shell, and the elastic locking piece has a fitting hole at its protruding end. The shield shell has a locking projection that protrudes from the outer surface of the wire outlet, The connector according to claim 3, wherein the locking projection of the shield shell is fitted into the fitting hole of the elastic locking piece of the back retainer, thereby fitting the back retainer into the wire outlet of the shield shell.

8. The wire outlet of the shield shell has a concave lock piece housing portion that opens to the outer surface of the wire outlet, and the lock projection is provided on the bottom surface of the lock piece housing portion. The connector according to claim 7, wherein, in the state in which the back retainer is fitted to the shield shell, the elastic locking piece of the back retainer is housed in the locking piece housing portion.

9. The wire outlet of the shield shell is provided with a plurality of notched engagement portions that penetrate in the thickness direction of the plate and open to the end face on the side facing the wire exit, at the cylindrical end of the wire located on the exit direction side. At least one of the engaged portions is provided opening to the bottom surface of the lock piece housing portion, The connector according to claim 8, wherein the base end side of the elastic locking piece of the back retainer is provided with a protruding second engaging portion that protrudes from the elastic locking piece toward the electric wire side and is press-fitted into the at least one of the engaged portions.

10. The back retainer includes a mounting cylinder portion that is fitted onto the inner circumference of the cylindrical end of the wire outlet, and a protruding first engaging portion that is provided on the outer circumference of the mounting cylinder portion. The connector according to claim 9, wherein, in the state in which the back retainer is fitted to the shield shell, the first engaging portion is housed in the engaged portion without protruding outwards from the outer circumference of the wire outlet.

Images