Connector

Abstract

A connector (C) is provided with terminal fittings (20, 30), a housing (40) that houses the terminal fittings (20, 30), and a retainer (60) that is attached to the housing (40). The retainer (60) is provided with an elastically deformable elastic locking part (71) that engages with the terminal fittings (20, 30) at a temporary locking position. When the terminal fittings (20, 30) are inserted at the temporary locking position of the elastic locking part (71), the surface on the elastically deformable side serves as an outer surface (72) exposed to the outside by the retainer (60) on its own. The housing (40) is provided with an excessive deflection suppression surface (49) that is disposed so as to face the outer surface (72).

Description

connector

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors.

[0002] Conventionally, connectors equipped with a retainer have been known, as described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2. The retainer can move relative to the housing between a provisional locking position and a full locking position. The retainer (locking member 4) of the connector described in Patent Document 1 locks onto terminal fittings accommodated in the housing.

[0003] The retainer of the connector described in Patent Document 2 below has an elastic locking portion and a fixed locking portion. The elastic locking portion locks onto the terminal fitting in a temporary locking position. The fixed locking portion locks onto the terminal fitting in a full locking position. When the terminal fitting is to be removed for maintenance or the like, the retainer is returned from the full locking position to the temporary locking position, and the elastic locking portion is deflected and deformed in the unlocking direction by a jig. The elastic locking portion is prevented from excessive deflection and deformation beyond its elastic limit by the main plate of the retainer.

[0004] Chinese Utility Model Publication No. 217062545 Specification Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-270274

[0005] However, when the main body plate of the retainer is used to prevent excessive bending deformation of the elastic locking portion as described above, it is difficult to reduce the size of the retainer. For this reason, a connector that can prevent excessive bending deformation of the elastic locking portion and also enable a smaller retainer is desired.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can prevent excessive bending deformation of the elastic locking portion and that allows the retainer to be made smaller.

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure comprises terminal fittings, a housing that accommodates the terminal fittings, and a retainer attached to the housing, wherein the retainer is movable relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a full locking position, the retainer is provided with an elastically deformable elastic locking portion that locks onto the terminal fitting at the temporary locking position, the surface of the elastic locking portion that elastically deforms when the terminal fitting is inserted at the temporary locking position is exposed to the outside when the retainer is alone, and the housing is provided with an excessive deflection suppression surface that is positioned opposite the elastically deforming surface of the elastic locking portion.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can prevent excessive bending deformation of the elastic locking portion and that allows the retainer to be made smaller.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a UTP module and an STP module have been removed from a housing. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the connector. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the housing. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the housing and a retainer. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the retainer. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector when the retainer is arranged in the temporary locking position, corresponding to the cross-section at position A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the connector showing the vicinity of the elastic locking portion when the retainer is arranged in the temporary locking position. FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the retainer and the housing when arranged in the temporary locking position. FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the retainer and the housing when arranged in the full locking position. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector when the retainer is arranged in the full locking position, corresponding to the cross-section at position A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector when the retainer is arranged in the temporary locking position, corresponding to the cross-section at position B-B in FIG. 3. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector with the retainer in the full locking position, and corresponds to the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. [1] A connector of the present disclosure includes terminal fittings, a housing that accommodates the terminal fittings, and a retainer attached to the housing. The retainer is movable relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a full locking position. The retainer is provided with elastically deformable resilient locking portions that lock onto the terminal fittings at the temporary locking position. A surface of the resilient locking portion that elastically deforms when the terminal fittings are inserted at the temporary locking position is exposed to the outside of the retainer alone. The housing is provided with an excessive deflection suppression surface that faces the elastically deformed surface of the resilient locking portion. This configuration eliminates the need for a portion on the retainer that suppresses excessive deflection of the resilient locking portion, allowing the retainer to be miniaturized. This prevents excessive deflection of the resilient locking portion and allows the connector to be miniaturized. [2] In the connector described in [1] above, the retainer may have fixed locking portions that lock onto the terminal fittings in the full locking position and through holes through which the terminal fittings individually pass in the front-rear direction, and one of a pair of opposing inner surfaces of the through holes may have the elastic locking portions and the other may have the fixed locking portions. With this configuration, by providing the elastic locking portions and the fixed locking portions separately on one surface and the other surface, it is easy to create the shapes of the elastic locking portions and the fixed locking portions, respectively.[3] In the connector described in [2] above, the terminal fittings may include both a UTP module connected to a UTP cable and an STP module connected to an STP cable, the housing may have a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for individually accommodating the terminal fittings, the UTP module and the STP module each have a first locking portion and a second locking portion, in the terminal accommodating chamber accommodating the UTP module, the elastic locking portion can be locked with the first locking portion of the UTP module and the fixed locking portion can be locked with the second locking portion of the UTP module, and in the terminal accommodating chamber accommodating the STP module, the elastic locking portion can be locked with the first locking portion of the STP module and the fixed locking portion can be locked with the second locking portion of the STP module. With this configuration, either a UTP module or an STP module can be accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber and prevented from coming out by a retainer.

[0011] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0012] 1 and 2, the connector C includes a housing 40, a retainer 60, and four terminal fittings. The four terminal fittings include two UTP modules 20 and two STP modules 30. The connector C can be mated with a mating connector (not shown). The connector C includes a locking arm 41 that locks onto the mating connector. The retainer 60 is inserted into the housing 40 through an insertion opening 42 formed in the housing 40.

[0013] In the following description of each component, the side that mates with the mating connector is referred to as the front side, the side where the lock arm 41 is provided as the upper side, and the side where the insertion port 42 is formed as the left side. In each figure, the positive side of the X axis is the front side, the negative side of the X axis is the rear side, the positive side of the Y axis is the left side, the negative side of the Y axis is the right side, the positive side of the Z axis is the upper side, and the negative side of the Z axis is the lower side. These directions do not indicate the positions or directions in actual use.

[0014] 2, the UTP module 20 is provided at the end of a UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable 21. The UTP cable 21 includes two electric wires 22 and a sheath 23 (see FIG. 7).

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 , the UTP module 20 includes two UTP connection terminals 24, a UTP dielectric 25, and an impedance adjustment member 26. The UTP connection terminals 24 are female terminals formed by bending a conductive metal plate. The rear ends of the UTP connection terminals 24 are connected to the wires 22 of the UTP cable 21. The two UTP connection terminals 24 are housed side by side in the left-right direction within the UTP dielectric 25. When mated with a mating connector, the UTP connection terminals 24 are connected to male terminals provided on the mating connector (not shown). The impedance adjustment member 26 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate. The impedance adjustment member 26 is crimped onto the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 23 of the UTP cable 21.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the STP module 30 is provided at the end of an STP (shielded twisted pair) cable 31. The STP cable 31 includes two electric wires 32, a shield 33, and a sheath 34 (see Fig. 7). The shield 33 is a braided wire or the like that covers the outer periphery of the electric wires 32. The sheath 34 has insulating properties and covers the outer periphery of the shield 33.

[0017] 3 and 7, the STP module 30 has two STP connection terminals 35, an STP dielectric 36, an STP outer conductor 37, and an outer conductor cover 38. The STP connection terminals 35 are female terminals having the same shape as the UTP connection terminals 24, and are formed by bending a conductive metal plate material. The STP connection terminals 35 are connected to the electric wires 32 of the STP cable 31.

[0018] The STP outer conductor 37 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material. The STP outer conductor 37 has a cylindrical portion that is long in the front-rear direction, and a mating outer conductor of a mating connector (not shown) is fitted into this portion from the outside. The rear end of the STP outer conductor 37 is connected to the shield 33 of the STP cable 31. The STP dielectric 36 electrically insulates the STP connection terminals 35 from the STP outer conductor 37. The two STP connection terminals 35 are housed side by side in the left-right direction within the STP dielectric 36. The STP connection terminals 35 are connected to male terminals of the mating connector. The outer conductor cover 38 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material. The outer conductor cover 38 is crimped to the shield 33 of the STP cable 31.

[0019] 2, the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 each have a first locking portion 11 and a second locking portion 12. The first locking portion 11 is locked to an elastic locking portion 71 of a retainer 60, which will be described later. The second locking portion 12 is locked to fixed locking portions 75 and 76 of the retainer 60, which will be described later.

[0020] In the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30, one of the upper and lower surfaces is referred to as a first surface 13, and the other surface is referred to as a second surface 14. The UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are housed in the housing 40 with the second surfaces 14 facing each other vertically.

[0021] The first locking portions 11 are provided to protrude from the first surfaces 13 of the UTP modules 20 and the STP modules 30. The first locking portions 11 are provided in the center of each of the UTP modules 20 and the STP modules 30 in the left-right direction.

[0022] The second locking portions 12 are provided to protrude from the second surfaces 14 of the UTP modules 20 and the STP modules 30. The second locking portions 12 are provided at both left and right ends of each of the UTP modules 20 and the STP modules 30. Each second locking portion 12 has a wall shape in the left and right direction.

[0023] The first and second locking portions 11 and 12 of the UTP module 20 are both provided on the UTP dielectric 25. The first and second locking portions 11 and 12 of the STP module 30 are both provided on the outer conductor cover 38.

[0024] 3 to 5, the housing 40 is made of synthetic resin and has a housing main body 51 and four fitting tubular portions 43 protruding forward from the housing main body 51. The housing main body 51 has four terminal accommodating chambers 44 and a retainer accommodating chamber 45. As shown in FIG. 7, the retainer accommodating chamber 45 is formed in the housing main body 51 between the front portion 44F and the rear portion 44R of each terminal accommodating chamber 44, and crosses the four terminal accommodating chambers 44.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the four fitting cylinders 43 are arranged side by side in a vertical and horizontal direction. Each fitting cylinder 43 is a horizontally elongated cylinder that is slightly larger than the front ends of the UTP module 20 and STP module 30. All fitting cylinders 43 have the same shape. Each fitting cylinder 43 is closed all around and has no notches. The front ends of the UTP module 20 and STP module 30 protrude forward from the terminal accommodating chambers 44 and are positioned within the fitting cylinders 43 (see Figure 7).

[0026] 4, the four terminal accommodating chambers 44 are aligned vertically and horizontally in correspondence with the respective fitting cylindrical portions 43. Each terminal accommodating chamber 44 is individually provided in the housing main body 51 located behind each fitting cylindrical portion 43. The UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber 44 from the rear.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 7, the front portion 44F of each terminal accommodating chamber 44 is formed forward of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. A housing groove 48 is formed in the front portion 44F of each terminal accommodating chamber 44 to accommodate the second locking portion 12 of each of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 (see Fig. 4). The rear end of the housing groove 48 is located at the front end of the retainer accommodating chamber 45.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 7, the rear portion 44R of each terminal accommodating chamber 44 is formed rearward of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear portion 44R of each terminal accommodating chamber 44 is cylindrical and slightly larger than the front portion 44F. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the rear portion 44R of each terminal accommodating chamber 44 are greater than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the rear end portions of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30.

[0029] 5, the insertion opening 42 of the retainer accommodating chamber 45 is formed on the left side surface of the housing main body 51. The portion of the housing main body 51 that defines the retainer accommodating chamber 45 has a rectangular outer shape when viewed from the front-rear and left-right directions (see FIGS. 3 to 5).

[0030] 9 and 10 , a temporary lock 46 and a full lock 47 are provided on the side of the housing main body 51 near the insertion opening 42 of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. The full lock 47 is located further back in the retainer accommodating chamber 45 than the temporary lock 46.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 8, the retainer accommodating chamber 45 has a deflection allowance space S that allows elastic deformation of the elastic locking portion 71. The deflection allowance space S is provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the retainer accommodating chamber 45 (see Fig. 7). The deflection allowance space S is formed in the front half region of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. The deflection allowance space S opens to the front surface of the housing main body 51. The front surface of the housing main body 51 is arranged along the up-down and left-right directions. The deflection allowance space S is formed by expanding a portion of the upper surface of the retainer accommodating chamber 45 upward and by expanding a portion of the lower surface of the retainer accommodating chamber 45 downward.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 8 , the retainer accommodating chamber 45 has an excessive deflection suppression surface 49 that suppresses excessive deflection deformation of the elastic locking portion 71. The excessive deflection suppression surface 49 is provided on the rear side of the deflection allowance space S. The excessive deflection suppression surface 49 is provided on both the upper and lower sides of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. The excessive deflection suppression surface 49 extends from the front end to the rear end, with its front end intersecting a wall surface extending in the vertical direction that separates the rear end of the deflection allowance space S, and its rear end intersecting the rear end surface of the retainer accommodating chamber 45. The excessive deflection suppression surface 49 is adjacent to the rear side (base side) of the elastic locking portion 71 and faces the elastic locking portion 71 with a gap therebetween in the elastic deformation direction of the elastic locking portion 71. The upper excessive deflection suppression surface 49 is located at approximately the same height as the upper end of the upper fitting tubular portion 43. The lower excessive deflection suppression surface 49 is disposed at approximately the same height as the lower end of the lower fitting cylindrical portion 43 .

[0033] The retainer 60 is made of synthetic resin, has a rectangular frame shape, is assembled to the housing main body 51, and is accommodated in the retainer accommodating chamber 45 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The retainer 60 is movable relative to the housing 40 between a temporary locking position and a full locking position.

[0034] The retainer 60 has an upper frame portion 61, a lower frame portion 62, a vertical intermediate portion 63, left and right side frame portions 64, and a horizontal intermediate portion 65. The vertical intermediate portion 63 is disposed between the upper and lower through-holes 66. The horizontal intermediate portion 65 is disposed between the left and right through-holes 66.

[0035] The retainer 60 has four through holes 66. Each through hole 66 passes through the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 in the front-to-rear direction. Each through hole 66 is defined by an upper frame portion 61, a lower frame portion 62, a vertical intermediate portion 63, left and right side frame portions 64, and a horizontal intermediate portion 65. The through holes 66 are arranged in two rows, one above the other. In each row, two through holes 66 are lined up on the left and two on the right. When viewed from the front-to-rear direction, each through hole 66 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-to-right direction than in the up-to-down direction. Each through hole 66 is large enough to pass through both the STP module 30 and the UTP module 20.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 6, second locking portion insertion grooves 67 are formed on the inner surface of each through hole 66. Two second locking portion insertion grooves 67 are provided for each through hole 66. Each second locking portion insertion groove 67 allows the second locking portion 12 to pass through in the front-rear direction when in the provisional locking position. The second locking portion insertion grooves 67 are provided at positions corresponding to both left-right ends of each through hole 66 in the vertical intermediate portion 63, with a gap in the left-right direction.

[0037] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the retainer 60 has locking protrusions 69. The locking protrusions 69 are provided on both the top and bottom surfaces of the retainer 60. The locking protrusions 69 are formed in the left regions of the upper frame portion 61 and the lower frame portion 62. The locking protrusions 69 extend in a cantilevered manner from left to right toward the elastic locking portion 71. The locking protrusions 69 protrude outward from the outer surface of the retainer 60. The locking protrusions 69 are elastically deformable in the vertical direction due to the slits.

[0038] 9 and 10 , the locking projection 69 can be locked with the temporary lock 46 and the full lock 47 of the housing 40. In the temporary locking position, a portion of the left side frame portion 64 protrudes outward from the insertion opening 42. In the full locking position, the entire retainer 60 is housed inside the insertion opening 42.

[0039] 6, the retainer 60 has an elastic locking portion 71 and fixed locking portions 75, 76. The elastic locking portion 71 and the fixed locking portions 75, 76 are provided corresponding to all of the through holes 66. The elastic locking portion 71 and the fixed locking portion 75 face each other in the vertical direction on the inner surface of each through hole 66.

[0040] The elastic locking portions 71 are provided on the upper frame portion 61 and the lower frame portion 62. The elastic locking portions 71 are disposed in the left-right central portion of each through-hole 66. As shown in FIG. 8 , the elastic locking portions 71 extend forward in a cantilevered manner. The elastic locking portions 71 are elastically deformable in the up-down direction. The elastic locking portions 71 protrude inward of the retainer 60. The upper surface of the upper elastic locking portion 71 is configured as part of the upper surface of the retainer 60, and the lower surface of the lower elastic locking portion 71 is configured as part of the lower surface of the retainer 60. The upper surface of the upper elastic locking portion 71 and the lower surface of the lower elastic locking portion 71 are configured as outer surfaces 72 facing outward. The outer surfaces 72 of the elastic locking portions 71 are not covered by anything and are exposed to the outside of the retainer 60 when the retainer 60 is alone (before being assembled to the housing 40). The outer surface 72 is the surface that elastically deforms when the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are inserted, and is the surface opposite the through-hole 66. When the elastic locking portion 71 is in its natural state without elastic deformation, the outer surface 72 is disposed in the front-to-rear direction parallel to the excessive deflection suppression surface 49. The outer surface (upper surface) 72 of the elastic locking portion 71 provided on the upper frame portion 61 is located slightly below the upper surface of the upper frame portion 61. The outer surface (lower surface) 72 of the elastic locking portion 71 provided on the lower frame portion 62 is located slightly above the lower surface of the lower frame portion 62.

[0041] 8, each elastic locking portion 71 has a locking surface 73 that locks onto the first locking portion 11 of each of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30. The locking surface 73 is provided facing forward on the inner surface of the elastic locking portion 71, opposite the outer surface 72.

[0042] As shown in Figure 6, the fixed locking portions 75, 76 are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the vertical intermediate portion 63. The fixed locking portions 75, 76 are arranged in all of the through holes 66. One of the fixed locking portions 75, 76 arranged in each through hole 66 is referred to as a first fixed locking portion 75, and the other is referred to as a second fixed locking portion 76. The first fixed locking portion 75 has a wall shape that is long in the left-right direction and is provided in the left-right intermediate portion of each through hole 66 in the vertical intermediate portion 63. The second fixed locking portions 76 are provided at the corners of each through hole 66.

[0043] In the right-side through-hole 66, the second locking portion insertion grooves 67 are formed between the right-side side frame portion 64 and the first fixed locking portion 75, and between the first fixed locking portion 75 and the second fixed locking portion 76. In the left-side through-hole 66, the second locking portion insertion grooves 67 are formed between the left-right intermediate portion 65 and the first fixed locking portion 75, and between the first fixed locking portion 75 and the second fixed locking portion 76.

[0044] Next, an example of the assembly process for the connector C will be described. First, as shown in Figure 9, the retainer 60 is assembled in the temporary locking position. In the temporary locking position, the elastic locking portion 71 of the retainer 60 is positioned so as to face the deflection allowance space S of the housing 40 in the left-right direction. In the temporary locking position, the second locking portion insertion groove 67 is continuous with the rear of the housing groove 48.

[0045] Next, the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are respectively accommodated in the corresponding terminal accommodating chambers 44. When the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 44 from the rear in the correct orientation, as shown in FIG. 12 , the second locking portions 12 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 pass through the second locking portion insertion grooves 67 and are positioned in the housing grooves 48. The front ends of the second locking portions 12 can abut against the front surfaces of the housing grooves 48, thereby preventing the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 from moving forward.

[0046] If the orientation of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 is incorrect, the second locking portions 12 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 cannot pass through the second locking portion insertion grooves 67. This allows the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 44 only in the correct orientation. The second locking portions 12 also function as stabilizers that prevent the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 from being accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 44 in the wrong orientation.

[0047] Furthermore, when the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 44 from the rear, the first locking portions 11 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 come into contact with the elastic locking portions 71, elastically deforming the elastic locking portions 71 outward (see the dashed lines in FIG. 8 ). The elastic locking portions 71 enter the deflection allowance space S, and the locking surfaces 73 retract from the through-holes 66. The first locking portions 11 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are positioned in front of the locking surfaces 73, and the elastic locking portions 71 elastically return to their original positions. The locking surfaces 73 lock onto the first locking portions 11, as shown in FIG. 8 . This prevents the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 from coming outward and holds them in the terminal accommodating chambers 44.

[0048] Next, the retainer 60 is moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. When the retainer 60 in the temporary locking position is pushed to the right, the locking protrusion 69 of the retainer 60 elastically deforms and disengages from the temporary lock 46, and then engages with the full lock 47 (see FIG. 10 ). At the full locking position, approximately half of the elastic locking portion 71 in the left-right direction remains engaged with the first locking portion 11. At the full locking position, approximately half of the elastic locking portion 71 in the left-right direction is disengaged to the right from the deflection allowance space S.

[0049] In this locked position, the second locking portion insertion groove 67 is shifted to the right from its position behind the second locking portion 12. The first fixed locking portion 75 and the second fixed locking portion 76 are each positioned behind the second locking portion 12 and lock onto the second locking portion 12 (see Figures 10 and 13). The UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are prevented from coming off rearward by the first locking portion 11 and the second locking portion 12, and are held in the terminal accommodating chambers 44. This completes the work of assembling the connector C.

[0050] Next, an example of the process for removing the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 for maintenance or the like will be described. First, the retainer 60 is moved from the full-locking position to the partial-locking position using a jig or the like (not shown). The locking protrusion 69 of the retainer 60 elastically deforms and disengages from the full-locking lock 47, and then engages with the partial-locking lock 46. The first fixed locking portion 75 and the second fixed locking portion 76 of the retainer 60 are shifted to the left from positions rearward of the second locking portions 12 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30, respectively, and the second locking portion insertion groove 67 is positioned rearward of the second locking portions 12 of the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30, respectively.

[0051] Next, the elastic locking portion 71 is bent in the unlocking direction using a jig (not shown). The jig is inserted into the deflection allowance space S from the front opening of the housing main body 51. The front end of the elastic locking portion 71 is retracted into the deflection allowance space S, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 8 . At this time, the outer surface 72 of the elastic locking portion 71 abuts against the excessive deflection suppression surface 49, preventing excessive deflection deformation. This prevents plastic deformation of the elastic locking portion 71, allowing the retainer 60 to be reused. The locking surface 73 of the elastic locking portion 71 is unlocked from the first locking portion 11, and the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 are removed from the housing 40. This completes the process of removing the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 from the housing 40.

[0052] Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The connector C includes a UTP module 20, an STP module 30, a housing 40 that accommodates the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30, and a retainer 60 attached to the housing 40. The retainer 60 is movable relative to the housing 40 between a temporary locking position and a permanent locking position. The retainer 60 has elastically deformable resilient locking portions 71 that lock the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 in the temporary locking position, corresponding to each module 20, 30. The outer surfaces 72 of the resilient locking portions 71 are exposed to the outside of the retainer 60 when the module is in a stand-alone state. The housing 40 has an excessive deflection suppression surface 49 that faces the outer surface 72 of the resilient locking portions 71. This configuration eliminates the need for a portion on the retainer 60 that suppresses excessive deflection of the resilient locking portions 71, allowing the retainer 60 to be made smaller. Therefore, excessive deflection deformation of the elastic locking portion 71 can be prevented without providing an excessive deflection suppressing portion on the retainer 60, and the connector C can be made smaller.

[0053] The retainer 60 has fixed locking portions 75, 76 and a through hole 66. The fixed locking portions 75, 76 lock onto the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 in the full locking position. The through hole 66 allows the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 to pass through individually in the front-to-rear direction. One of a pair of opposing inner surfaces of the through hole 66 has an elastic locking portion 71, and the other surface has the fixed locking portions 75, 76. With this configuration, the elastic locking portion 71 and the fixed locking portions 75, 76 are provided separately on one surface and the other surface, making it easier to create the respective shapes of the elastic locking portion 71 and the fixed locking portions 75, 76.

[0054] The housing 40 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 44 that individually accommodate the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30. The UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 each have a first locking portion 11 and a second locking portion 12. In the terminal accommodating chamber 44 that accommodates the UTP module 20, the elastic locking portion 71 can be locked with the first locking portion 11 of the UTP module 20, and the fixed locking portions 75, 76 can be locked with the second locking portion 12 of the UTP module 20. In the terminal accommodating chamber 44 that accommodates the STP module 30, the elastic locking portion 71 can be locked with the first locking portion 11 of the STP module 30, and the fixed locking portions 75, 76 can be locked with the second locking portion 12 of the STP module 30. With this configuration, either the UTP module 20 or the STP module 30 can be accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber 44 and prevented from coming out by the retainer 60.

[0055] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above embodiment, the connector C has the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30 as terminal fittings. However, in other embodiments, the terminal fittings may not be such terminal modules. For example, the terminal fittings may be general terminals connected to insulated wires whose cores are surrounded by resin. In the above embodiment, the connector C has both the UTP module 20 and the STP module 30. However, in other embodiments, the connector may have only one of the UTP module and the STP module.

[0056] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...First locking portion 12...Second locking portion 13...First surface 14...Second surface 20...UTP module (terminal metal fitting) 21...UTP cable 22...UTP cable electric wire 23...UTP cable sheath 24...UTP connection terminal 25...UTP dielectric 26...Impedance adjusting member 30...STP module (terminal metal fitting) 31...STP cable 32...STP cable electric wire 33...Shield body 34...STP cable sheath 35...STP connection terminal 36...STP dielectric 37...STP outer conductor 38...Outer conductor cover 40...Housing 41...Lock arm 42...Insertion opening 43...Fitting cylindrical portion 44...Terminal accommodating chamber 44F...Front portion 44R...Rear portion 45...Retainer accommodating chamber 46...Temporary locking lock 47...Fully locking lock 48...Housing groove portion 49...Excessive deflection suppression surface 51...Housing main body 60...Retainer 61...Upper frame portion 62...Lower frame portion 63...Vertical intermediate portion 64...Side frame portion 65...Horizontal intermediate portion 66...Through hole 67...Second locking portion insertion groove 69...Lock protrusion 71...Elastic locking portion 72...Outer surface (surface that elastically deforms when terminal fitting is inserted) 73...Latching surface 75...First fixed locking portion 76...Second fixed locking portion C...Connector S...Deflection allowance space

Claims

1. A connector comprising: terminal fittings; a housing that accommodates the terminal fittings; and a retainer attached to the housing, wherein the retainer is movable relative to the housing between a temporary locking position and a full locking position, the retainer is provided with an elastically deformable elastic locking portion that locks onto the terminal fitting at the temporary locking position, a surface of the elastic locking portion that elastically deforms when the terminal fitting is inserted at the temporary locking position is exposed to the outside when the retainer is alone, and the housing is provided with an excessive deflection suppression surface that is positioned opposite the elastically deformed surface of the elastic locking portion.

2. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the retainer has fixed locking portions that lock onto the terminal fittings in the main locking position, and through holes that allow the terminal fittings to pass through individually in the front-to-rear direction, and one of a pair of opposing inner surfaces of the through holes has the elastic locking portion, and the other has the fixed locking portion.

3. A connector as described in claim 2, wherein the terminal fittings include both a UTP module connected to a UTP cable and an STP module connected to an STP cable, the housing has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers that individually accommodate the terminal fittings, the UTP module and the STP module each have a first locking portion and a second locking portion, and in the terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the UTP module, the elastic locking portion can be locked to the first locking portion of the UTP module, and the fixed locking portion can be locked to the second locking portion of the UTP module, and in the terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the STP module, the elastic locking portion can be locked to the first locking portion of the STP module, and the fixed locking portion can be locked to the second locking portion of the STP module.

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