GB2081526A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector part comprises an electrically insulating body 11 and a plurality of terminals 12 each including an abutment 19. A terminal retainer 22 is engageable with the body 11, after insertion of the terminals 12 into their respective passages 13, to overlie an abutment 19 of each terminal 12 so as to resist movement of each terminal 12 relative to the body 11 in a rearward direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector This invention relates to a multi-way electrical connector forming one part of a two part multi-way plug and socket connector unit. The invention can be embodied in the plug part or the socket part of the connector unit, and preferably will be embodied in both the plug part and the socket part of the unit.

In a known multi-way connector unit both the plug part and the socket part include an electrically insulating body carrying a plurality of electrical terminals. In the plug part the terminals are male terminals and in the socket part the terminals are female terminals arranged to receive the male terminals of the plug part in mating engagement when the plug and socket parts of the unit are interengaged. The mating of each male terminal with a respective female terminal effects an electrical connection between conductive leads electrically connected to the male and female terminals respectively. Such connectors are known as multi-way connectors since mating of a plug part with a socket part effects an interconnection between a plurality of pairs of conductive leads.It is usual for the electrically insulating bodies of the plug and socket parts to be moulded in synthetic resin material and to have parallel passages for receiving the respective terminals, each terminal previously having been physically and electrically connected to a respective conductive lead. The terminals are received in the respective body such that the mating portion of each terminal is accessible at one face, designated the front, of the body and such that the respective leads extend from the opposite face, designated the rear, of the body. The terminals are inserted into the passages of their respective body from the rear thereof and a resilient lance integral with each terminal and projecting therefrom, coacts with a shoulder of the respective body to resist rearward, withdrawal movement of each terminal from its respective passage.Coacting surfaces of the body and each terminal limit forward, insertion movement of each terminal so that the terminals are prevented from passing completely through the body in the rear to front direction.

It can occur, in connector parts of this kind, that terminals, after assembly to their respective passages, are not securely retained against withdrawal movement. For example it is found on occasions that the lance of a terminal does not spring out to engage its respective shoulder after being flexed inwardly during the insertion of the terminal into its passage. Also it is occasionally found that the shoulder and lance may interengage but only to a limited extent such that movement in the rearward, withdrawal direction is only lightly resisted. Furthermore, it is sometimes found that the operator assembling the connector parts has failed to insert a terminal sufficiently far to cause the lance of the terminal to engage the shoulder of the body.Ir. all of these isolated occurrences the appearance of the assembled connector parts is usually that of a connector part where all of the terminals are correctly retained. However, when an attempt is made to engage the connector part with the mating part of the connector unit the unretained terminals may well be displaced in the rearward, withdrawal direction rather than mating with their respective terminal of the other connector part. Since the mating of the two parts of the connector unit may not take place until after the wiring harness containing the unit has been installed in, for example, a road vehicle or a domestic appliance, then the fault may not be noticed until the part of the electrical system of the vehicle, or the appliance, fails to operate satisfactorily. Clearly at that point in time it is a relatively expensive and time consuming exercise to remedy the fault.

In a further known form of connector unit each terminal has a recess into which a protuberence on a resilient region of the wall of the respective passage in the connector part body extends. The body carries a removable keeper bar which, when engaged with the body, coacts with the resilient wall regions to urge them to positions wherein their protuberances engage in the recess of the respective terminal. Clearly such constructions are problematic to produce in view of the complexity of the moulding constituting the body. Moreover the keeper bar does not itself co-operate with the terminals and so the correct fitting of the keeper bar in the body is not a positive indication that each terminal is correctly retained in the body.For example a protuberance or its supporting resilient wall region may be damaged to an extent such that notwithstanding the insertion of the keeper bar the respective terminal is not adequately retained. Such damage to the protuberance or wall region may well not be visible during external inspection of the body since the protuberance and wall region are within the body. Such a failure would not be recognised until the terminal becomes displaced by an attempt to mate two connector parts and as mentioned above this may not occur until the parts have been incorporated into harness in turn incorporated into a vehicle or domestic appliance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector part wherein the aforementioned problems are minimized.

A multi-way electrical connector part according to the present invention comprises an electrically insulating body, a plurality of parallel passages in the body, an equal number plurality of terminals, each terminal being received in a respective passage of the body in an operative position such that the mating region of each terminal is accessible at the front of the body, each terminal including an abutment, and the connector part further including a terminal retainer engageable with the body after insertion of the terminals into their respective passages, said retainer when engaged with the body being held thereby against movement relative to the body in a rearward direction and overlying the abutment of each terminal so as to resist movement of each terminal relative to the body from its operative position in a rearward direction.

Preferably each terminal additionally includes an integral latch means intended to cooperate with a body to retain the terminal in its operative position relative to the body against movement relative to the body in a rearward direction.

Conveniently said abutments are, when the terminals occupy their operative positions, accessible adjacent the rear of the body.

Preferably said terminal retainer is engaged as a snap-fit with the body.

Desirably the terminal retainer and the body are so arranged in relation to one another that the terminal retainer can be secured to the body only when correctly positioned axially of said terminals in relation to said abutments of said terminals.

Preferably the terminal retainer and the electrically insulating body are designed so as to permit the lateral insertion of the retainer into position.

Such an arrangement permits easy insertion of the retainer plate because it can be inserted between the rows of leads at a position where the leads cannot become crossed because of their engagement in the respective passages of the body.

Preferably the electrical insulating body is provided with at least one formation having a slot therethrough, the slot receiving the terminal retainer so that the formation holds the latter in position against the abutment surfaces of the terminals.

Most advantageously, the terminal retainer takes the form of a plate having at least one projection thereon whereby it can be engaged with a snap-fit action with said at least one formation having a slot therein.

In a preferred embodiment, the abutment of each terminal is defined by a substantially planar tang which extends substantially radially outwardly and longitudinally of the terminal.

Preferably the terminals are disposed in a pair of rows in the body with the terminal retainer being located between said rows, the terminals in each row being arranged in staggered relationship relative to the terminals in the other row so that the abutments of the terminals in one row alternate with the abutments of the terminals in the other row in the longitudinal direction of extent of the rows.

Conveniently at least a longitudinally extending edge of the retainer is exposed on the exterior of the body.

Alternatively the retainer extends in a passage in the body and at least one of its ends is exposed on the exterior of the body.

Conveniently said terminal retainer is of a colour which contrasts with the colour of the body so that the presence of the correctly positioned terminal retainer is readily apparent to an observer.

Conveniently said abutments of said terminals lie in a common plane when said terminals are correctly engaged with the body.

Desirably the abutment of each terminal can abut a rearwardly presented surface of the body to limit movement of the terminal relative to the body in the forward, insertion direction.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plug part of a multi-way electrical connector unit; Figure 2 is a plan view of the connector part shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a socket part of an alternative form of multi-way electrical connector unit; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a female socket terminal used in the socket part of Fig.

4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a retainer plate used in the socket part of Fig. 4; Figure 7 is an axial section of a portion of the socket part of Fig. 4; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side view, partly in section, of a further form of multi-way electrical connector unit, and; Figure 9 is a perspective view of two terminals of the unit of Fig. 8.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the connector part illustrated is a plug part and includes a moulded synthetic resin body 11 supporting male terminals 1 2 in the form of cylindrical pins. The terminal pins 1 2 are formed from thin brass sheet, being rolled from a blank stamped from the sheet. In use the connector part illustrated in the drawings will be mated with a corresponding socket part, the plug part of the drawings and the mating socket part together constituting a multi-way connector unit. The socket part will be extremely similar to the plug part illustrated in the drawings, the primary difference being that in the socket part the terminals engaged with the moulded synthetic resin body will be female, socket terminals capable of accepting the male, pin terminals 1 2.

As is apparent in the drawings the body 11 is formed with a plurality of parallel passages 1 3 within which the terminals 1 2 are received. At the front end 14 of the body the terminals 1 2 project from the passages 1 3 so that the mating regions of the terminals are accessible at the front end 14 of the body.

It will be noted that the passages 13, and therefore the terminals 1 2 are arranged in two parallel rows, and at the rear end 1 5 of the body there is, associated with each passage 13, a chimney 1 6 integral with the remainder of the body 11. The chimneys 1 6 thus extend in a rearward direction parallel to one another, the chimneys housing the rear ends of the terminals 1 2 where the terminals 1 2 are connected to their respective conductive leads 12a.

The wall of each of the passages 1 3 includes a shoulder 1 7 which is presented forwardly of the body, and which extends transverse to the length of the respective passage 1 3. Each terminal 1 2 is formed with an integral, resilient lance 1 8 which, in its rest position, is inclined with respect to the axis of the terminal, the lance extending outwardly and rearwardly. In addition to the lance 1 8 each terminal includes an integral tang 1 9 which extends radially outwardly from the terminal at right angles to the length of the terminal. The tang, by comparison with the lance is relatively rigid, and for convenience of manufacture the tang and the lance are aligned longitudinally of the terminal.

Each of the chimneys 1 6 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 21 at the point in its periphery closest to the median plane of the body 11 passing between the two parallel rows of passages 1 3. Thus with the exception of the extra chimney in one of the two parallel rows of chimneys the slot 21 of each chimney in one row will be facing towards the slot 21 of the adjacent chimney in the other row.

The width of the slots 21 is fractionally greater than the wdith of the tangs 1 9 of the terminals 12, and the connector part is assembled by inserting terminals 12, which have previously been crimped in the usual manner to respective conductive leads 1 2a, into the passage 1 3 from the rear of the body 11 by way of the chimneys 1 6. The terminals are inserted with their mating portions foremost, and are angularly oriented with respect to their chimneys 1 6 such that the tang 1 9 of the terminal will pass down the slot 21 of the respective chimney 16. The slots 21 are closed at their lowermost ends, that is to say where the chimneys 1 6 merge with the remainder of the body 11.Thus engagement of the front surface of each tang 1 9 with the closed end of the slot 21 limits movement of the respective terminal 1 2 in the forward, insertion direction relative to the body. During insertion of each terminal 1 2 into its respective passage 1 3 the lance 1 8 of the terminal will be flexed to lie substantially flush with the surface of the terminal.However, fractionally before the limit of insertion movement is reached the free end of the lance 1 8 will align with the shoulder 17, and thus the lance will be permitted to flex outwardly, by virtue of its own inherent resilience, to engage the lance 18 with the shoulder 1 7. Thus in theory the lance 1 8 and shoulder 1 7 will prevent relative movement between the terminal and the body in the rearward, withdrawal direction and the tang 19 and closed end of the slot 21 will prevent relative movement in the forward, insertion direction. However, it can occur that for some reason the lance 1 8 and shoulder 1 7 are not effective in preventing relative movement in the rearward, withdrawal direction.For example the lance when flexed to lie flush with the terminal during insertion of the terminal may jam in its flexed position and thus fail to co-operate with the shoulder 1 7.

Similarly, tolerances, or moulding inaccuracies in the body 11, may give rise to only a very limited coaction between the lance 1 8 and the shoulder 1 7 such that rearward movement is not strongly resisted. Moreover, the operator may, as a result of friction between the terminal and the body, believe that he has pushed the terminal sufficiently far to achieve latching by means of the lance 1 8 and shulder 1 7 but in reality may not have moved the terminal sufficiently far to permit the lance to engage the shoulder. In all of these circumstances the probability is that the terminal will appear to be correctly retained in the body, and so the fault will not be recognised from a purely visual inspection of the connector part.Clearly if a connector part containing such a fault passes inspection, then the fault will only be detected when ultimately the connector part is engaged with its corresponding mating connector part to form the multi-way connector unit.

It is to overcome this disadvantage that the tang 1 9 and slot 21 together with a terminal retainer 22 are provided. The terminal retainer 22 is moulded in a relatively rigid synthetic resin material, and is generally in the form of a rectangular plate the thickness of which is equal to the spacing between the two rows of chimneys 16, the width of the plate being slightly less than the length of the slots 21 and chimneys 16, and the length of the plate being slightly greater than the length of the body 11 measured across the rear 1 5 of the body 11 between the two rows of chimneys 16. It is intended that the retainer 22 is inserted edge-on between the two rows of chimneys 16, such that ribs 23 integral with the retainer 22 and extending across the width of both faces of the retainer 22 engage in respective slots 21 of the chimneys 16.

At both ends of the retainer 22, the retainer 22 includes an integral resilient arm 24, each arm 24 terminating in a claw 25. When the retainer 22 is inserted between the two rows of chimneys 1 6 with the ribs 23 engaging in the slots 21 then as the end faces of the ribs 23 engage the rearwardly presented faces of the tangs 1 9 of the terminals 1 2 the claws 25 of the arms 24 of the retainer 22 will engage mating formations on the body to secure the retainer 22 to the body. The engagement of the claws 25 with the mating formations of the body is a positive snap engagement so that correct engagement of the retainer with the body is apparent from the snapping into place of the claws 25.The ends of the ribs 23 thus constitute abutments co-operating with the tangs 1 9 to prevent relative movement between the terminals and the body in the rearward, withdrawal direction. Thus even if the lance 1 8 of a terminal has become jammed in its flexed position, or if it has not co-operated to any significant extent with the shoulder 17, the retainer 22 will prevent the displacement of that terminal when the con nector part is mated with the corresponding connector part.Moreover, if the failure of the lance 1 8 was merely because the operator had not inserted the terminal sufficiently far then the act of engaging the retainer 22 with the body will move the terminal, by co-operation between the tang 1 9 and the rib 23, to a position such that the lance 1 8 can co-operate with the shoulder 1 7.

It will be apparent that since the retainer 22 must be inserted between the two rows of chimneys 1 6 then the only degree of misal ignment which is conceivable is in the direction of the length of the retainer 22. Such misalignment must be quite extreme since it will require the ribs 23 to lie between the chimneys, and even then such misalignment is effectively prevented by abutment of the end of one of the arms 24 with the rear surface of the body 11. Thus in effect it is not possible incorrectly to engage the retainer 22 with the body 11. If the two are misaligned then the misalignment will be so extreme as to be immediately visible to the operator, and furthermore will not result in the retainer being retained on the body 11.A further tactile and visual test of the correct application of the retainer 22 is that the rearmost longitudinal edge of the retainer 22 will be flush, or substantially flush with the free ends of the chimneys 16.

It is of advantage to mould the retainer 22 in a synthetic resin material of a colour which contrasts with the colour of the body 11. By this means the presence of the retainer 22 is immediately apparent, and the operator will thus recognise that provided the retainer 22 is present in the assembly then the terminals of that connector part cannot become displaced during interengagement of the connector part with the mating connector part.

As with conventional multi-way connectors it is convenient to arrange the terminals in a pattern such that mating of the two connector parts of the unit in an incorrect orientation is not possible.

While in the example described above the terminals are cylindrical pin type terminals it is to be appreciated that the same concept can be applied, and will desirably be applied to a corresponding socket part of the multiway connector unit to ensure that the female, socket terminal cannot become displaced.

Moreover, it is to be understood that if de sired the same concept can be applied to the parts of multi-way connector units incorporat ing male and female terminals of forms other than the cylindrical form described above.

It will be apparent that in the event that a terminal is not inserted initially sufficiently far for its lance 1 8 to latch behind the shoulder 1 7 the fitting of the retainer 22 will usually push the terminal to the latched position.

However the strength of the retention provided by the retainer 22 is such that when the retainer 22 is fitted the latching action of the lance of each terminal is of no significance.

Thus if a lance has failed to operate the retainer 22 will hold the terminal in position against all normal operational forces with a strength which probably well exceeds the retention strength of the lance. The lance or an equivalent is however very desirable to provide a primary retention of the terminal in the body during assembly and handling prior to the fitting of the retainer 22 which provides the secondary stronger retention. While it is preferred for the lance 1 8 and tang 1 9 to be aligned it is not essential. Moreover the tang 1 9 and retainer 22 can be utilized with terminals having more than one lance.

In the example shown in the drawings the chimneys 1 6 are in two rows with the chimneys aligned in pairs at right-angles to the row length. It is to be understood that in some arrangements the rows could be staggered such that in a direction transverse to the row length each chimney is aligned with the space between adjacent chimneys in the other row.

Such an orientation of chimneys may be considered to be advantageous in that it affords a good spacing between tangs 1 9 of terminals adjacent one another transverse to the row length. Clearly where the chimneys are aligned transverse to the row length the tangs extend towards one another, but using a staggered configuration each tang extends towards the space between the tangs of the terminals of the opposite row. The ribs 23 of the retainer 22 will of course be correspondingly positioned so that again the end surface oi each rib engages a respective tang 1 9.

Moreover while in a connector part having an odd number of terminals there will be an extra terminal, and thus an extra chimney 16, in one of the two rows, it is possible to produce connector parts with even numbers of terminals in which event it will be desirable to provide some means of inhibiting incorrect mating of the two parts of the connector unit.

In the construction above the terminal retainer is inserted into the spacing between two rows of chimneys 1 6 to engage against tangs 1 9 projecting outwardly from respective terminals 1 2. The retainer 22 is to be inserted axially of the chimneys 1 6 between the two sets of leads 1 2a extending into the respective rows of chimneys 16. Such a construction can provide problems where the conductive leads 1 2a have become tangled or deformed. The construction of Figs. 4 to 7 and 8 to 11 mitigates this problem.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 7, for the sake of convenience, the parts of the socket connector part which correspond to the parts of the plug connector part described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 will be accorded the same reference numeral. Thus, moulded synthetic resin body 11 supports female socket terminals 1 2 in respective passages 1 3 which are arranged in two parallel rows wherein the passages 1 3 in one row are staggered relative to the passages in the other row relative to the longitudinal direction of extent of the rows.The longitudinally extending slots 21 in the chimneys 1 6 are narrower than the corresponding slots 21 in the chimneys 16 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 since the tangs 1 9 of the terminals 1 2 are in the form of planar rectangular plates which project radially from the body of the terminals 1 2 and also extend longitudinally thereof. The slots 21 are of a width which is just necessary slidably to accommodate the thickness of the tangs 19, such width being slightly more than twice the thickness of the brass sheet from which the terminals 1 2 are formed. At each end of the rows of chimneys 1 6 the body 11 is provided with an integral formation 30 having a slot 31 therethrough.The crosssectional shape of each slot 31 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the retainer plate 22 which, in this embodiment, is a plain rectangular shape save for the provision of a pair of integral projections 32 extending from an upper edge thereof. Each slot 31 extends rearwardly away from the rear end 1 5 of the body 11.

The lower edge 39 (see Fig. 6) of the retainer plate 22, when inserted into position, engages against an abutment surface 40 (which may be coextensive with the face 15) provided in the body 11. The abutment surface 40 has a series of individual pockets 41, each pocket 41 receiving a respective one of the tangs 1 9 and having a base defined by surface 42 of the body (see Fig. 7). The depth of each pocket 41 is marginally greater than the width of each tang 19, i.e. the dimension of the tang in the longitudinal direction of extent of the terminal 12. Each slot 31 starts at the level of the abutment surface 40 and extends substantially parallel to the axes of the chimneys 16. The length of each slot 31 is marginally greater than the width of the main body of the retainer plate 22.

Thus, the pockets 41 extend away from the surface 40 in a direction opposite to that in which the slots 31 extend from the surface 40.

With the above-described arrangement, the retainer plate 22 is inserted into position after the terminals 1 2 have been inserted into their respective passages 1 3 by inserting it through one of the slots 31 and passing it between the rows of chimneys 1 6 until it is engaged in the other slot 31. In doing this, the projections 32 have to be forced through the slot 31 which causes deflection of the projections 32 and which then spring back to prevent the retainer plate from being accidentally withdrawn. As can be seen particularly from Fig.

6, each projection 32 has a ramp surface leading to a surface which faces outwardly of the retainer plate 22 and which is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the side edge of the plate 22 from which it extends. The distance between these perpendicular surfaces is marginally less than the spacing between the formations 30 so that the retainer plate is held against unwanted longitudinal sliding movement. Because of the dimensioning of the retainer plate 22 and tang 1 9 relative to the height of each slot 31 it will be appreciated that the retainer plate 22 cannot be inserted into position unless the tangs 1 9 are engaged against the base 42 of their respective pocket 41 of the body 11.This ensures that the retainer plate 22 cannot be inserted into position unless the terminals 1 2 are correctly positioned within the respective passages 13.

As will be appreciated, lateral insertion of the retainer plate 22 between the rows of chimneys 1 6 is relatively easy because the two rows of leads 1 2a are separated at this position by virtue of their disposition in the respective passages 1 3.

When each terminal 1 2 is inserted into the body 11, it will be normal for the lances 1 8 to latch behind the shoulders 1 7 just before the tang 1 9 abuts hard against the bottom 42 of the respective pocket 41. Under these circumstances, insertion of retainer plate 22 into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 will serve as a secondary retention of the lances 1 2 by retaining the tangs 1 9 in their respective pockets 41. However, if the manufacturing tolerances are such that when a force is applied to the terminal 1 2 in a direction opposite its direction of insertion into the body 11, the tang 1 9 abuts the lower edge 39 of the retainer plate 22 before the lances 18 reach the shoulders 17, then similar to the Figs. 1 to 3 construction the retainer plate 22 will perform the main latching function.

It is also to be appreciated that the projections 32 on the retainer plate 22 may be arranged in configurations other than that shown in Fig. 6.

It is further to be appreciated that the provision of the tang 1 9 and the construction of the body 11 permits the terminal 1 2 to be inserted into the body in only one angular orientation. This means that the usual annular shoulder provided in the passage 1 3 (with which a conventional localised stop on the terminal 1 2 abuts) can be dispensed with.

Thus, a tapered lead-in surface 43 can be provided in the passage 1 3 to assist insertion of the terminal 1 2. This feature, and the lengthwise orientation of the tang 19, are of course, applicable to the connector described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 differs from that of the previous Figures primarily in that the terminals 1 2 are respectively flat blade and mating flat socket terminals. The terminals 1 2 are received in appropriately shaped passages 1 3 in their respective body parts 11 and the terminals 1 2 have respective lances 1 8 intended to engage respective shoulders 1 7 in their passages 1 3 to resist withdrawal of the terminals. Each body part 11 has a transversely extending passage 51 within which a respective retainer bar 52 can be received.Each terminal 1 2 has longitudinally extending outwardly projecting integral tang 1 9 similar to that of the terminals of the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 7 and the wall of each passage 1 3 is slotted to permit the tangs 1 9 of the terminals to project adjacent the passage 51. When the terminals 12 are correctly inserted in their passages 1 3 the rear edges of tangs 1 9 are flush with the front face of the passage 51 and so can be engaged by the bar 52 inserted into the passage 51. The bar 52 will thus prevent withdrawal of the terminals 1 2 in the event that the lances 1 9 fail, the bar operating in the same manner as the plate 22 of the above-described constructions.

The bar 52 cannot be inserted if the terminals are not fully home in their passages 1 3 but, as with the plate 22 of the Figs. 4 to 7 construction, if desired one end of the bar 52 can have a ramp surface whereby engagement of the ramp surface with the rear edge of a tang of a partially inserted terminal will, during insertion of the bar 52, drive that terminal 12 to its fully inserted position. Cooperating formations are provided on the body 11 and the respective bar 52 to retain the bar in its inserted position, the formations desirably coacting in a 'snap-fit' manner. It will be recognised that as with the above-described construction the bar 52 can be of a colour different from the respective body 11 such that the presence or absence of a bar 52 is immediately apparent to an observer. Moreover the position of the electrical leads emanating from the rear of the body 11 is irrelevant to the insertion of the bar 52 since it is inserted into a passage in the body and not between the leads at the rear of the body.

Claims (20)

1. A multi-way electrical connector part comprising an electrically insulating body, a plurality of parallel passages in the body, an equal number plurality of terminals, each terminal being received in a respective passage of the body in an operative position such that the mating region of each terminal is accessible at the front of the body, each terminal including an abutment and the connector part further including a terminal retainer engageable with the body after insertion of the terminals into their respective passages, said retainer when engaged with the body being held thereby against movement relative to the body in a rearward direction and overlying the abutment of each terminal so as to resist movement of each terminal relative to the body from its operative position in a rearward direction.

2. A connector part as claimed in claim 1 wherein each terminal additionally includes an integral latch means intended to co-operate with a body to retain the terminal in its operative position relative to the body against movement relative to the body in a rearward direction.

3. A connector part as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said abutments are, when the terminals occupy their operative positions, accessible adjacent the rear of the body.

4. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said terminal retainer is engaged as a snap-fit with the body.

5. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the terminal retainer and the body are so arranged in relation to one another that the terminal retainer can be secured to the body only when correctly positioned axially of said terminals in relation to said abutments of said terminals.

6. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the terminal retainer and the electrically insulating body are designed so as to permit the lateral insertion of the retainer into position.

7. A connector part as claimed in claim 6 wherein the electrically insulating body is provided with at least one formation having a slot therethrough, the slot receiving the terminal retainer so that the formation holds the latter in position against the abutments of the terminals.

8. A connector part as claimed in claim 7 wherein the terminal retainer takes the form of a plate having at least one projection thereon whereby it can be engaged with a snap-fit action with said at least one formation having a slot therein.

9. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the abutment of each terminal is defined by a substantially planar tang which extends substantially radially outwardly and longitudinally of the terminal.

1 0. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the terminals are disposed in a pair of rows in the body with the terminal retainer being located between said rows, the terminals in each row being arranged in staggered relationship relative to the terminals in the other row so that the abutments of the terminals in one row alternate with the abutments of the terminals in the other row in the longitudinal direction of extent of the rows.

11. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein at least a longitudinally extending edge of the retainer is exposed on the exterior of the body.

1 2. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the retainer extends in a passage in the body and at least one of its ends is exposed on the exterior of the body.

1 3. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 2 wherein said terminal retainer is of a colour which contrasts with the colour of the body so that the presence of the correctly positioned terminal retainer is readily apparent to an observer.

1 4. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 3 wherein said abutments of said terminals lie in a common plane when said terminals are correctly engaged with the body.

1 5. A connector part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 4 wherein the abutment of each terminal can abut a rearwardly presented surface of the body to limit movement of the terminal relative to the body in the forward insertion direction.

1 6. A multi-way electrical connector part substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A multi-way electrical connector part substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A multi-way electrical connector part substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A multi-way electrical connector incorporating a connector part as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 1 8.

20. A multi-way electrical connector incorporating two connector parts as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 18.