Electrical connector

Abstract

To provide an electric connector in which the size of a housing in the longitudinal direction is reduced.SOLUTION: A female connector 10 has a housing 1 and a retainer 3. On the housing 1, cavities 11c into which a female terminal 5 can be inserted are arranged in parallel to one another. The housing 1 has ribs 11r protruding from both lateral surfaces. The retainer 3 has a detachment prevention part 31c which can be inserted from an insertion opening 111 on the housing 1 so as to prevent the detachment of the female terminal 5. Each of the ribs 11r internally has a temporary locking part 1fr and a regular locking part 1sr. The retainer 3 has a locking protrusion 31 which can be locked to the temporary locking part 1fr or the regular locking part 1sr. The female connector 10 has, on both lateral surfaces of the housing 1, the ribs 11r for restricting a fitting direction to a mating connector, and it has a locking structure to the retainer 3 inside each of the ribs 11r. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the housing 1 in the longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector. In particular, it relates to the structure of an electrical connector provided with a retainer for locking a female terminal inside a housing, which can reduce the size of the electrical connector.

Background Art

[0002] An electrical connector is configured with a multi-pole housing in which cavities into which female terminals can be inserted are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction in two upper and lower stages, and a retainer that can be inserted into the housing from a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the cavities extend in the longitudinal direction. By inserting the retainer into the housing, a plurality of female terminals can be locked inside the housing at once, and an electrical connector in which the retainer can be easily removed is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional electrical connector, and is a state diagram before inserting the retainer into the housing. Note that FIG. 16 of the present application corresponds to FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1.

[0005] Referring to FIG. 16, an electrical connector (hereinafter abbreviated as a connector) 9 according to Patent Document 1 includes a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped housing 91 and a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped retainer 92. The housing 91 has cavities 91c into which female terminals (not shown) can be inserted arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction in two upper and lower stages. Further, the housing 91 has an insertion opening 91a into which the retainer 92 can be inserted opened on the bottom surface side.

[0006] Referring to Figure 16, the retainer 92 is coaxially connected to the lower cavity 91c and has a window hole 92w into which a female terminal can be inserted. The retainer 92 also has two retaining portions 92b, one above the other, which can engage with a locking portion provided on the tip side of the female terminal. Furthermore, the retainer 92 has a pair of locking pieces 92r-92r formed at both ends. The locking piece 92r has a hook portion 92h formed on the tip side. The pair of hook portions 92h-92h are arranged opposite each other.

[0007] On the other hand, referring to Figure 16, the housing 91 has a pair of recesses 91d-91d drilled from both sides of the housing 91 into which a pair of locking pieces 92r-92r can be inserted. The housing 91 has a temporary locking projection 911 and a permanent locking projection protruding from the bottom surface of the recess 91d. The hook portion 92h can be engaged with the temporary locking projection 911 or the permanent locking projection 912.

[0008] Referring to Figure 16, the locking piece 92r is inserted into the recess 91d while elastically deforming as it rides over the temporary locking projection 911 or the main locking projection 912. Once inserted to a predetermined position, the locking piece 92r elastically returns to its original position, and the hook portion 92h is locked onto the temporary locking projection 911 or the main locking projection 912.

[0009] The connector 9 according to Patent Document 1 is locked by inserting a locking piece into a recess 91d that opens on the side of the housing 91, so the retainer 92 can be removed by directly elastically deforming the locking piece to release the lock. Furthermore, the connector 9 according to Patent Document 1 makes the removal of the retainer 92 easy.

[0010] However, in the case of the connector 9 according to Patent Document 1, since its front part is inserted into an insertion opening provided in the housing of the mating connector, if a bending force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which it mates with the mating connector, that is, if "twisting" occurs in the electroluminescent connector, it will affect the durability of the connector. For this reason, the connector 9 according to Patent Document 1 has thickened walls on both sides of the housing. On the other hand, thickening walls on both sides of the housing presents a structural problem in that it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the housing in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] There is a need for an electrical connector equipped with a retainer that locks the female terminal inside the housing, and in which the size of the housing in the longitudinal direction has been reduced. This can be said to be the object of the present invention.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and aims to provide an electrical connector equipped with a retainer for locking a female terminal inside a housing, wherein the size of the housing in the longitudinal direction has been reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The inventors believed that by providing ribs on both sides of the housing and configuring the locking structure with the retainer inside the ribs, the longitudinal size of the housing could be reduced, and thus they invented the following new electrical connector.

[0014] (1) The electrical connector according to the present invention comprises a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped housing having cavities into which female terminals can be inserted arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction, and a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped retainer that can be inserted through an insertion opening in the bottom surface of the housing and has a retaining portion that can prevent the female terminals from coming loose, wherein the housing has a pair of ribs protruding in opposite directions from the rear of both sides and defining only the mating direction with the mating connector, a temporary locking portion protruding from the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the ribs, and a portion protruding from the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the ribs The retainer has a main locking portion and a pair of elastically deformable locking protrusions that protrude in opposite directions from both sides thereof. When the retainer is inserted into the insertion opening and the locking protrusions overcome the temporary locking portion, a window hole provided in the retainer communicates with the cavity, creating a temporary locking state in which the female terminal is held inside the housing. When the retainer is inserted into the insertion opening and the locking protrusions overcome the main locking portion, it creates a permanent locking state in which the female terminal is locked inside the housing.

[0015] (2) Preferably, the rib is formed along the direction of fitting with the mating housing, and a dovetail that slides into a dovetail groove provided in the mating housing is formed on at least one side.

[0016] (3) The housing may consist of a housing body and a front cover attached to the front of the housing body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The electrical connector according to the present invention has ribs on both sides of the housing and the locking structure with the retainer is configured inside the ribs, so the size of the housing in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of an electrical connector according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the connector in a mated state with the mating connector. [Figure 2]It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment, and it is a state diagram viewed from the mating connector in a state of being mated with the mating connector. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment, and it is a state diagram before inserting the female terminal with an electric wire into the housing. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the housing provided in the electrical connector according to the above embodiment, and it is a state diagram viewed from the rear side of the housing. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. FIG. 6(A) is a state diagram viewed from the rear side before inserting the female terminal with an electric wire into the housing, FIG. 6(B) is a state diagram viewed from the front side before inserting the female terminal with an electric wire into the housing, FIG. 6(C) is a state diagram viewed from the rear side in a state where the female terminal with an electric wire is inserted into the housing, and FIG. 6(D) is a state diagram viewed from the front side in a state where the female terminal with an electric wire is inserted into the housing. [Figure 7] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the mating connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 9(A) is a state diagram viewed from the front side of the mating connector, and FIG. 9(B) is a state diagram viewed from the rear side of the mating connector. [Figure 10] It is a view showing the configuration of the mating connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 10(A) is a front view of the mating connector, FIG. 10(B) is a plan view of the mating connector, FIG. 10(C) is a right side view of the mating connector, FIG. 10(D) is a rear view of the mating connector, FIG. 10(E) is a left side view of the mating connector, and FIG. (F) is a bottom view of the mating connector. [Figure 11] It is a side view showing the configuration of the female terminal provided in the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. [Figure 12]It is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment, and is a state diagram in which the retainer is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing. [Figure 13] It is a longitudinal sectional view in which the main part of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment is enlarged. FIG. 13(A) is a state diagram in which the retainer is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing, and FIG. 13(B) is a state diagram in which the retainer is held at the main locking position with respect to the housing. [Figure 14] It is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. FIG. 14(A) is a state diagram in which the retainer is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing, FIG. 14(B) is a state diagram in which the female terminal is inserted into the cavity in the state shown in FIG. 14(A), and FIG. 14(C) is a state diagram in which the retainer is further inserted into the insertion opening of the housing from the state shown in FIG. 14(B) and the female terminal is main-locked. [Figure 15] It is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the electrical connector according to the above embodiment. FIG. 15(A) is a state diagram before inserting the retainer into the housing from the bottom surface, FIG. 15(B) is a state diagram in which the retainer is inserted into the housing from the bottom surface and the retainer is held at the temporary locking position, and FIG. 15(B) is a state diagram in which the retainer is further inserted into the housing from the bottom surface and the retainer is held at the main locking position. [Figure 16] It is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electrical connector according to the prior art, and is a state diagram before inserting the retainer into the housing.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] [Configuration of Electrical Connector] (Overall Configuration) First, the overall configuration of an electrical connector according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Referring to Figures 1 to 8 and Figures 11 to 15, the electrical connector (hereinafter referred to as the female connector) 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped housing 1 and a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped retainer 3. The female connector 10 also comprises a plurality of female terminals 5 fixed to the end of the electric wire W.

[0021] Referring to Figures 1 to 8, in this embodiment, the housing 1 consists of a housing body 11 and a front cover 12 attached to the front of the housing body 11. The housing body 11 has cavities 11c into which female terminals 5 can be inserted arranged in parallel along its longitudinal direction. The retainer 3 can be inserted through a rectangular insertion opening 111 (see Figure 12) that opens on the bottom surface of the housing body 11. The retainer 3 also has a retaining portion 31c that can prevent the female terminals 5 from coming loose (see Figure 5).

[0022] Referring to Figures 1 to 8, the housing body 11 has a pair of inverted trapezoidal ribs 11r·11r that protrude in opposite directions from the rear of both sides. Rib 11r has a narrowed end 11d formed on one side, which narrows from the outer surface towards the bottom (see Figure 3 or Figure 5).

[0023] On the other hand, referring to Figure 9(A), the mating connector (hereinafter referred to as the male connector) 20 has a rectangular connection opening 21 that opens on the front surface of the housing 2. The connection opening 21 has a pair of dovetail grooves 21d-21d recessed on the inner wall side into which the rib 11r can be fitted. This allows the rib 11r to define only the direction of mating with the male connector 20.

[0024] Referring to Figures 1 to 9, the rib 11r is formed along the fitting direction with the mating housing 2, and has a dovetail groove 21d on at least one side that slides into the dovetail groove 21d provided in the mating housing 2.

[0025] Referring to Figure 13, the housing body 11 has a pair of temporary locking parts 1fr·1fr and a pair of main locking parts 1sr·1sr. The pair of temporary locking parts 1fr·1fr are arranged opposite each other. Similarly, the pair of main locking parts 1sr·1sr are arranged opposite each other. The temporary locking part 1fr protrudes from the inner wall of the part corresponding to the rib 11r. Similarly, the main locking part 1sr protrudes from the inner wall of the part corresponding to the rib 11r.

[0026] Referring to Figure 5 or Figures 13 and 15(A), the retainer 3 has a pair of locking projections 31-31. The pair of locking projections 31-31 protrude from both sides in opposite directions. The pair of locking projections 31-31 can elastically deform inward from the retainer 3 when subjected to an external force.

[0027] Referring to Figure 14, when the retainer 3 is inserted into the insertion opening 111 and the locking projection 31 overcomes the temporary locking portion 1fr (see Figure 13(A)), the window hole 31w provided in the retainer 3 (see Figure 5) communicates with the cavity 11c, resulting in a temporary locking state in which the female terminal 5 is held inside the housing 1.

[0028] Referring to Figure 14, when the retainer 3 is inserted into the insertion opening 111 and the locking projection 31 overcomes the main locking part 1sr (see Figure 13(B)), the female terminal 5 is locked inside the housing 1, resulting in the main locking state.

[0029] In this embodiment, the female connector 10 has ribs 11r on both sides of the housing 1 that restrict the mating direction with the male connector 20, and the locking structure with the retainer 3 is configured inside the ribs 11r, so the size of the housing 1 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced.

[0030] (Female terminal configuration) Next, the configuration of the female terminal 5 according to the embodiment will be described. Referring to Figure 11 or Figure 12, the female terminal 5 is preferably made of a conductive metal plate. By bending a conductive metal plate, a female terminal 5 with a rectangular tubular tip can be obtained. The female terminal 5 is preferably made of a copper alloy, but is not limited to a copper alloy.

[0031] Referring to Figure 11 or Figure 12, the female terminal 5 has a connection section 51 on its base end for connecting the end of the electric wire W. The female terminal 5 also has a terminal connection section 52 on its tip end that can be connected to the male terminal 6. The connection section 51 has an insulation barrel 51i and a wire barrel 51c. The insulation barrel 51i crimps the electric wire W over its insulation. The wire barrel 51c crimps the conductor wire of the electric wire W. The terminal connection section 52 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, and can be electrically connected to the male terminal 6 by introducing the mating terminal inside.

[0032] Referring to Figure 11 or Figure 12, the terminal connection portion 52 has a primary locking portion 521 and a secondary locking portion 522 protruding from the lower surface. The primary locking portion 521 is formed on the tip side of the terminal connection portion 52. The secondary locking portion 522 is formed with a predetermined distance from the primary locking portion 521.

[0033] (Housing configuration) Next, the configuration of the housing 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Referring to Figures 1 to 8, the housing 1 consists of a housing body 11 and a front cover 12 attached to the front of the housing body 11. In the embodiment, the housing 1 consists of the housing body 11 and the front cover 12 as separate parts in order to facilitate molding, but the housing body 11 and the front cover 12 can also be formed as a single unit.

[0034] (Front cover configuration) Next, the configuration of the front cover 12 according to the embodiment will be described. Referring to Figure 5, it is preferable that the front cover 12 be made of an insulating synthetic resin. By molding an insulating synthetic resin, a C-shaped front cover 12 can be obtained.

[0035] Referring to Figure 5, the front cover 12 consists of a horizontally elongated front plate 121 and a pair of arms 122-122. The pair of arms 122-122 are bent at right angles from both ends of the front plate 121. The front plate 121 has terminal insertion holes 12c arranged in two rows, vertically parallel, in the longitudinal direction, into which the mating terminals can be inserted. The pair of arms 122-122 can embrace both sides of the front of the housing body 11.

[0036] Referring to Figure 5, the pair of arms 122-122 open through rectangular slots 12s. When the front cover 12 is inserted toward the front side of the housing body 11, the lances 113 provided on both sides of the front of the housing body 11 engage with the slots 12s, thereby locking the front cover 12 to the housing body 11 in a way that makes it difficult to separate the front cover 12 from the housing body 11. In addition, the lance 12r provided in the center of the upper surface of the front plate 121 engages with a locking part provided on the front of the housing body 11, thereby locking the front cover 12 to the housing body 11 (see Figure 3 or Figures 5 and 6).

[0037] (Housing body configuration) Next, the configuration of the housing body 11 according to the embodiment will be described. Referring to Figure 5 or Figure 6, the housing body 11 is preferably made of an insulating synthetic resin. By molding the insulating synthetic resin, a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped housing body 11 can be obtained.

[0038] Referring to Figure 4 or Figure 12, a cavity 11c extends through the housing body 11 in the mating direction, into which the female terminal 5 can be inserted from the rear. The cavity 11c is arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the housing body 11 and is formed in two stages, upper and lower (see Figure 4 or Figure 6).

[0039] Referring to Figure 12 or Figure 14, a lance 11b is positioned on the bottom surface of the tip of the cavity 11c, which can engage with the primary locking portion 521 formed on the tip side of the female terminal 5. The lance 11b is cantilevered to the bottom wall that constitutes the cavity 11c.

[0040] Referring to Figure 12, when the female terminal 5 is inserted into the cavity 11c from the rear of the housing body 11, the primary locking portion 521 presses against the lance 11b, causing the lance 11b to bend backward, allowing the female terminal 5 to enter further. When the tip edge of the female terminal 5 contacts the inner wall of the front cover 12, the lance 11b elastically returns to its original position (see Figure 14(B)), allowing the lance 11b to lock into the primary locking portion 521.

[0041] Referring to Figure 12, the housing body 11 has a rectangular insertion opening 111 on its bottom surface. The retainer 3 can be inserted into and removed from the bottom side of the housing body 11 through the insertion opening 111.

[0042] Referring to Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 6, the housing body 11 has a lock arm 11a on its upper wall. The base end of the lock arm 11a is cantilevered to the upper wall of the housing body 11. The lock arm 11a extends from the front to the rear of the housing body 11.

[0043] Referring to Figure 3, when the housing body 11 is inserted into the connection opening 21 of the housing 2 with the front cover 12 first (see Figure 9(A)), the lock arm 11a is pushed by the upper inner wall of the housing 2 and bends toward the upper wall of the housing body 11. When the entry of the lock arm 11a stops, the lance provided in the middle of the lock arm 11a engages with a step formed in the upper inner wall of the housing 2, thereby locking the female connector 10 to the male connector 20 (see Figure 1 or Figure 2).

[0044] Referring to Figure 1 or Figure 2, the lock between the female connector 10 and the male connector 20 can be released by pressing down on the tip of the lock arm 11a (see Figure 4) when the female connector 10 is locked to the male connector 20. Also, referring to Figures 1 to 4, the housing body 11 has a flange portion 11f formed at its rear. By gripping the flange portion 11f, the female connector 10 can be easily pulled out from the male connector 20.

[0045] (Retainer composition) Next, the structure of the retainer 3 will be described. Referring to Figure 5 or Figure 6, it is preferable that the retainer 3 be made of an insulating synthetic resin. By molding the insulating synthetic resin, a horizontally elongated rectangular retainer 3 can be obtained.

[0046] Referring to Figure 5, the retainer 3 has a lower section of window holes 31w arranged at the same pitch as the cavity 11c. The female terminal 5 can be inserted into the window holes 31w under certain conditions. The retainer 3 also has two sections of retaining parts 31c, one above the other, which can engage with the secondary locking part 522 (see Figure 11 or Figure 12) provided on the female terminal 5. Furthermore, the retainer 3 has a pair of locking protrusions 31·31 projecting in opposite directions from both sides of it.

[0047] (Configuration of the other connector) Next, the configuration of the male connector 20 according to the embodiment will be described. Referring to Figure 1 or 2 and Figure 9 or 10, the male connector 20 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2, a pair of flat reinforcing tabs 4, 4, and a plurality of male terminals 6. The housing 2 is preferably made of an insulating synthetic resin. By molding an insulating synthetic resin, a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped housing 2 can be obtained.

[0048] Referring to Figure 9 or Figure 10, a pair of reinforcing tabs 4·4 are press-fitted to both sides of the housing 2. The tips of the reinforcing tabs 4 are inserted into through-holes opened in a printed circuit board (not shown), and the tips of the reinforcing tabs 4 are soldered to the through-holes in the printed circuit board, thereby reinforcing the bonding strength of the male connector 20 to the printed circuit board.

[0049] Referring to Figure 9 or Figure 10, the male terminal 6 consists of a pin contact, with one end and the other end bent at approximately a right angle. One end of the male terminal 6 is press-fitted into the housing 2 and is positioned facing the connection opening 21 (see Figure 9(A)).

[0050] Referring to Figure 9 or Figure 10, the other end of the male terminal 6 is inserted into a through-hole opened in a printed circuit board (not shown), and the tip of the other end of the male terminal 6 is soldered to the through-hole in the printed circuit board, thereby electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the female connector 10 via the male connector 20. In this embodiment, the male connector 20 is a side-type electrical connector in which the female connector 10 is inserted and removed substantially parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board. The male connector 20 can also be configured as a top-type electrical connector in which the female connector 10 is inserted and removed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printed circuit board.

[0051] [Function of electrical connectors] Next, the operation of the female connector 10 according to the embodiment will be described, along with the function and effects of the female connector 10.

[0052] First, as shown in Figure 12 or Figure 14(A), position the female terminal 5 with the wire W at the rear of the housing body 11. Also, position the retainer 3 below the housing body 11 as shown in Figure 15(A). Next, insert the retainer 3 into the insertion opening 111 (see Figure 12) of the housing body 11.

[0053] When the retainer 3 is inserted into the insertion opening 111 and the locking projection 31 overcomes the temporary locking portion 1fr (see Figure 13(A)), the window hole 31w provided in the retainer 3 (see Figure 5) communicates with the cavity 11c, resulting in a temporary locking state in which the retainer 3 is held inside the housing 1.

[0054] In the temporary locking state shown in Figure 13(A), when the female terminal 5 is inserted into the cavity 11c and the tip edge of the female terminal 5 contacts the inner wall of the front cover 12 (see Figure 14(B)), the lance 11b elastically returns to its original position and temporarily locks into the primary locking portion 521, as shown in Figure 14(B). This prevents the female terminal 5 from coming out of the housing body 11.

[0055] Next, from the temporary locking state shown in Figure 14(B), the retainer 3 is inserted into the back of the insertion opening 111, and when the locking projection 31 overcomes the main locking portion 1sr (see Figure 13(B)), the female terminal 5 is locked inside the housing 1 in the main locking state (see Figure 13(C)). In the main locking state shown in Figure 13(C), the retaining portion 31c advances behind the secondary locking portion 522, thereby secondary locking of the female terminal 5. In this way, the female connector 10 double-locks the female terminal 5 through the cooperation of the lance 11b and the retaining portion 31c.

[0056] The female connector 10 according to this embodiment is an electrical connector equipped with a retainer 3 that locks the female terminal 5 inside the housing 1. Ribs 11r that restrict the mating direction with the male connector 20 are provided on both sides of the housing 1, and the locking structure with the retainer 3 is configured inside the ribs 11r, so that the size of the housing 1 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced.

[0057] For example, the electrical connector according to the present invention may be a plug, and the mating connector connected to this plug may be a receptacle. The electrical connector according to the embodiment may be a connector with a wire, and the mating connector may be a printed circuit board connector mounted on a printed circuit board. A pair of connectors in this manner, in which one connector and the other connector can be mated to each other, is called a so-called wire-to-board connector.

[0058] For example, in the electrical connector according to the present invention, one connector and the other connector may be connectors with wires attached. A pair of connectors in this manner, where one connector and the other connector can be mated together with a wire in between, is called a so-called wire-to-wire connector. It is also called a relay connector. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Housing 1fr Temporary lock section 1sr Main lock part 3 Retainers 5 Female terminal 10 Female connectors (electrical connectors) 11c Cavity 11r Rib 20 Male connectors (mutual connectors) 31 Locking protrusion 31c Retaining part 31w window hole 111 Insertion opening

Claims

1. A horizontally elongated rectangular housing with cavities into which female terminals can be inserted arranged in parallel along its length, The housing comprises a horizontally elongated rectangular retainer that can be inserted through an insertion opening on the bottom surface of the housing and has a retaining portion that prevents the female terminal from coming loose, The aforementioned housing is A pair of ribs protrude outward from the rear of both sides in opposite directions, defining only the mating direction with the mating connector, A temporary locking portion protruding inward from the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the rib, It has a locking portion that protrudes inward from the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the rib, The retainer has a pair of locking protrusions that project outward from both sides in opposite directions and are elastically deformable inward. When the retainer is inserted into the insertion opening and the locking projection overcomes the temporary locking portion, the window hole provided in the retainer communicates with the cavity, resulting in a temporary locking state in which the female terminal is held inside the housing. An electrical connector in which, when the retainer is inserted into the insertion opening and the locking projection overcomes the main locking portion, the female terminal is locked inside the housing in a locked state.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed along the direction of mating with the mating housing, and a dovetail that slides in a dovetail groove provided in the mating housing is formed on at least one side.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprises a housing body and a front cover attached to the front of the housing body.

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