JP2003007387A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability of a pull-out preventing function and a half- insertion detecting function of a terminal metal by a retainer. SOLUTION: The retainer 40 is provided with a first pull-out preventing part 48 which keeps the terminal metal 30 in the pull-out preventing state by entering a deflection space 17 and regulating an elastic deflection of a lance 13, and a second pull-out preventing part 50 which prevents pull-out of the terminal metal 30 by directly locking the terminal fitting 30. Since the retainer 40 is provided with the two pull-out preventing parts of the first pull-out preventing part 48 and the second pull-out preventing part 50, even if the either one of the pull-out preventing parts is reduced in size and volume for downsizing or the like of the connector, the pull-out of the terminal metal 30 is definitely prevented by the other pull-out preventing part, and the half-insertion is also reliably detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector provided with a retainer for retaining a terminal fitting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a connector provided with a retainer for retaining a terminal fitting has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-9017.
Some are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4 publication. This is to form an elastically flexible lance in the housing in which the terminal fitting is inserted so as to face the insertion space of the terminal fitting.
It forms a bending space for the lance, and during insertion of the terminal fitting, the lance elastically bends into the bending space to retract outside the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting is properly inserted, it elastically returns. By locking the lance to the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting is locked.

After inserting the terminal fittings, the retainer is assembled to the housing, and the flexure restricting portion of the retainer is inserted into the flexure space in association with the assembly. As a result, the elastic bending of the lance toward the bending space, that is, the elastic bending in the direction in which the lance is disengaged from the terminal fitting is restricted, so that the terminal fitting is in the double locked state. In addition, when the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state, the lance remains in the flexing space, so even if the retainer is attached to the housing, the flexing restricting part interferes with the lance and enters the flexing space. As a result, the retainer is also restricted from being attached to the housing. That is, the insertion state of the terminal fitting can be detected based on whether or not the retainer can be attached to the housing.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional connector, the terminal fitting is retained in the double locking state in addition to the retaining means by the direct locking of the lance, and the insertion state of the terminal fitting is detected. As a means for this, only the bending restriction portion that enters the bending space of the lance was used. Therefore, when the thickness of the bending restricting portion is reduced in order to reduce the size of the connector, the height of the bending space and the bending allowance of the lance,
That is, the locking margin between the lance and the terminal fitting becomes small, which may reduce the reliability of the retaining function. Further, since the thinned bending restriction portion has a reduced strength, it is likely to be damaged, and as a result, the function of detecting the half-insertion of the terminal fitting may be impaired.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the reliability of the retainer retainer function of the terminal fitting and the half insertion detecting function.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing having a lance and a bending space of the lance formed therein, and a terminal fitting inserted into the housing.
A retainer assembled to the housing is provided, and during the insertion of the terminal fitting, the lance elastically bends into the bending space to retract out of the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and the terminal fitting is properly inserted. When reaching the insertion position, in the connector in which the lance that elastically returns is locked to the terminal fitting so that the terminal fitting is kept in the pulled-out state, the retainer is inserted into the bending space. A first retaining portion that locks the terminal fitting by restricting elastic bending of the lance, and a second retaining portion that locks the terminal fitting directly by locking the terminal fitting. And a part are formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of terminal fittings are inserted in parallel, and each terminal fitting and the lance locked to the terminal fitting. The arrangement direction of the lance and the bending space in which the lance elastically bends is a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminal fittings. According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the assembling direction of the retainer with respect to the housing is parallel to the parallel direction of the plurality of terminal fittings.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claims 1 to 3.
In any one of the inventions, the retainer assembled in the housing retracts the first retaining portion to the outside of the bending space and the second retaining portion to the outside of the insertion path of the terminal fitting. With the provisional locking position that allows the insertion operation of the terminal fitting with respect to the housing and the first retaining portion to enter the bending space, the second retaining portion is locked with the inserted terminal fitting. As a result, the terminal fitting can be moved to and from the main locking position where the terminal fitting is held in the disengaged state.

The invention according to claim 5 is any one of claims 1 to 4.
In any one of the inventions, the retainer includes a front stop portion that locks the terminal metal fitting from a side opposite to the second retaining portion to bring the terminal metal fitting into a front stop state.
It is configured to be integrally formed with the second retaining portion.

[0010]

[Advantageous Effects of the Invention] [Invention 1] When the terminal fitting is properly inserted, the elastic deformation of the lance in the direction in which it disengages from the terminal fitting by entering into the bending space is regulated. In addition, since the second retaining portion is directly engaged with the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting is securely retained by the two retaining portions, the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion.

When the terminal fitting is half-inserted, the first
The retainer part interferes with the lance extending into the bending space, and the second retainer part interferes with the terminal fitting, so that the assembling operation of the retainer to the housing is restricted, and the terminal fitting is half-inserted. It is understood that it is in a state.
Since the retainer is provided with two retaining portions, a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, even if one of the retaining portions is narrowed to reduce the size of the connector, etc. However, the other retaining portion can reliably retain the terminal fitting, and can reliably detect the half-insertion.

[Invention of Claim 2] Each terminal fitting, a lance engaged with the terminal fitting, and a bending space of the lance,
Since the plurality of terminal fittings are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arranging direction, the bending space is not narrowed even if the pitch of the terminal fittings arranged in parallel is narrowed.
It is not necessary to thin the retaining portion. Therefore, there is no possibility that the retaining function and the half-insertion detecting function of the first retaining portion are deteriorated due to the reduction of the parallel pitch of the terminal fittings.

[Invention of Claim 3] Since the retainer is assembled to the housing in a direction parallel to the parallel direction of the plurality of terminal fittings, the plurality of terminal fittings arranged in parallel form one step. It is possible to have a structure. [Invention of Claim 4] When the housing and the retainer are received at the insertion site of the terminal fitting, the retainer can be assembled to the housing at the temporary locking position, so that management of parts at the time of receipt is simplified. Can be converted.

[Invention of Claim 5] Since the second locking portion and the front blind portion which are locked so as to be sandwiched with the terminal fitting are integrally formed, even if the retainer is loose relative to the housing. Even if it occurs, the distance between the front stop portion and the retaining portion does not change. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the terminal fitting from floating in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the retainer.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a housing 10 made of synthetic resin, a terminal fitting 30, and a retainer 40 made of synthetic resin. In the following description, with respect to the front-back direction, the left side in FIGS.
Regarding the left-right direction, the lower side in FIGS. 4 and 5 is the left side (in the front view of FIGS. 1 to 3, the left and right are reversed), and the up-down direction is based on FIGS. 1 to 3, 6 and 7. To do.

In the housing 10, a plurality of cavities 12 partitioned by partition walls 11 are formed side by side, and a lance 13 is formed in each cavity 12. The lance 13 is cantilevered forward from the bridge portion 14 between the upper ends of the partition walls 11 rising from the bottom surface of the cavity 12, and is elastically bendable in the vertical direction. On the left side edge of the upper surface of the lance 13, with respect to both the moving direction (horizontal direction) between the temporary locking position and the main locking position of the retainer 40 and the elastic bending direction (vertical direction) of the lance 13. A slanted guide slope 15 is formed (see FIGS. 19 to 22).

Cavity 12 in housing 10
Above the lance 13 and the lance 13, it communicates with the cavity 12, and the left side surface of the housing 10 and the housing 10
A retainer accommodating space 16 that opens to the front surface of the is formed. In the retainer housing space 16, the region directly above each lance 13 allows the lance 13 to elastically bend so as to retract outside the insertion path of the terminal fitting 30 (upward) during the insertion of the terminal fitting 30. This is a bending space 17 for A guide rib 18 extending in the left-right direction is formed at a rear end position of the ceiling surface of the retainer housing space 16, and a locking step portion 19 and a locking projection 20 are formed at a front end position of the ceiling surface. There is.

The terminal fitting 30 is elongated in the front-rear direction, and a substantially first half portion thereof is a square tube portion 31 and a rear end portion thereof is a wire connecting portion 32. The rectangular tube portion 31 is opened forward, and an elastic contact piece (not shown) for connecting with a tab (not shown) of a male terminal fitting of a mating connector (not shown) is provided inside thereof. It is provided. This square tube part 3
On the upper wall of 1, the primary locking portion 33 that locks with the lance 13 is provided.
Is formed by tapping a part of the upper surface wall so as to form a substantially semicircular shape when viewed from the front. Further, the rear end edge of the upper wall of the square tube portion 31 is a secondary locking portion 34 that locks with the retainer 40. The left end portion of the secondary locking portion 34 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 5). 19 to 22), the retainer 4 with respect to the housing 10 and the insertion / removal direction of the terminal fitting 30 with respect to the housing 10 (front-back direction).
A guide slope 35 is formed so as to be oblique with respect to both the assembly direction 0 (horizontal direction). The electric wire connecting portion 32
An electric wire 36 is connected to the terminal by crimping.

The retainer 40 is a plate-like retainer body 4 fitted in the retainer housing space 16 and the bending space 17.
1, a substantially rectangular front wall 42 extending downward from the front end edge of the retainer main body 41 (a front stop portion which is a constituent feature of the present invention), and a downward extension from the left end edge of the retainer main body 41. And the left side wall 43. The retainer 40 is fitted into the retainer housing space 16 from the left side of the housing 10 and is in the temporary locking position (see FIGS. 2, 4, 13,
(See FIGS. 14, 19, and 20) and the main locking position (see FIG. 3,
(See FIG. 5, FIG. 15, and FIG. 22), and can be displaced in the left-right direction. When the retainer 40 moves, the guide groove 44 at the rear end of the upper surface of the retainer body 41 and the guide rib 18 of the housing 10 are fitted to each other, whereby the retainer 4 is moved.
0 is guided in a state where the forward and backward movement is restricted, and the retainer 40 is restricted from vertically moving by the front wall 42 slidingly contacting the opening edge of the front end surface of the housing 10.

When the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, the first locking projections 4 on the front end of the upper surface of the retainer body 41.
5 and the second locking projection 46 are respectively locked to the left surface of the locking projection 20 of the housing 10 and the locking step portion 19, so that the retainer 40 moves in the left-right direction with respect to the housing 10 (housing). The movement in the direction of going out from 10 to the left and the movement to the right toward the main locking position) are restricted. Further, when the retainer 40 is displaced to the main locking position, the first locking projection 45 locks on the right surface of the locking projection 20, and the right edge of the front wall 42 is on the left surface of the movement restricting portion 21 of the housing 10. The retainer 40 is restricted from moving in the left-right direction by being locked to the.

Since the retainer 40 is positioned in the retainer main body 41 so as to overlap the bending space 17 when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, the retainer 40 is disengaged above the lance 13 (disengaged from the primary locking part 33 of the terminal fitting 30). (Direction to move into the flexible space 17)
The escape space 47 that allows the elastic bending of the retainer body 41 has a hole shape penetrating between the upper and lower surfaces of the retainer body 41, and in the left-right direction (between the temporary locking position and the main locking position of the retainer 40). (Moving direction of), a plurality of them are formed side by side. Then, in the retainer body 41, the adjacent escape spaces 4
The beam-shaped portion between 7 is a first retaining portion 48 that is elongated in the front-rear direction and has both front and rear ends supported (connected) to the retainer body 41. This first retaining portion 48
In the state where the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, is separated from the bending space 17 to the left to allow the bending space 1 of the lance 13 to move.
7. When the retainer 40 is in the main locking position, the retainer 40 advances into the bending space 17 and abuts against the lance 13 from above, thereby elastically bending the lance 13 toward the bending space 17 side. Are regulated.
The lower end of the first retaining portion 48 has a right edge (when the retainer 40 is at the temporary locking position, the lance 13
A guide slope 49 is formed by notching the upper left side edge corresponding to the guide slope 15) in a tapered shape (see FIGS. 13 to 18). The inclination direction of the guide slope of the retainer 40 is the same as the guide slope 15 of the lance 13, the moving direction (left-right direction) between the temporary locking position and the main locking position of the retainer 40, and the elastic bending direction of the lance 13. It is a direction oblique to both directions (up and down direction).

Further, on the lower surface of the retainer body 41,
When the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, the terminal fitting 30
When the retainer 40 is in the main locking position, the retainer 40 advances into the insertion path of the terminal fitting 30 and moves rearward with respect to the secondary locking portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30. A step-like second retaining portion 50 that directly engages with the is formed. Further, at the right side edge (the edge corresponding to the guide slope 35 of the terminal fitting 30 in the state where the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position) on the front surface of the second retaining portion 50, the temporary locking position of the retainer 40 A guide slope 51 is formed in an oblique direction with respect to both the moving direction (left-right direction) between the main locking position and the inserting / removing direction (front-back direction) of the terminal fitting 30 (see FIGS. 19 to 22). ).

The front wall 42 is adapted to be engaged with the front end surface of the terminal fitting 30 from the front, which is the exact opposite of the second retaining portion 50. In other words, the terminal fitting 30 is projected from the rear. When the terminal fitting 30 reaches the regular insertion position, it abuts against the front wall 42, whereby the terminal fitting 30 is in a front stop state in which further insertion is restricted. This front wall 42
The dimension in the front-rear direction between the rear end surface (the surface where the terminal fitting 30 abuts) and the locking surface (the front end surface) of the second fitting portion 50 to the secondary locking portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is the terminal fitting. Thirty
From the front end face of the retainer 40 at the secondary locking portion 34 thereof.
The dimension is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the dimension up to the engagement surface (rear end surface) with. Also, the front wall 42
Is located at the front end of the insertion path of the terminal fitting 30 regardless of the position of the retainer 40 in the movement area from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, so that the terminal fitting 30 always hits. Has become. Further, the rear surface of the front wall 42 is a flat surface parallel to the moving direction between the temporary locking position and the main locking position of the retainer 40.

It should be noted that the front wall 42 has the terminal fitting 30 inside the housing 10 when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position.
On the other hand, when the retainer 40 is disengaged leftward and the retainer 40 is in the main locking position, a rectangular tab hole 52 corresponding to the terminal fitting 30 in the housing 10 is formed. Similarly, on the front wall 42, when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, it is positioned so as to correspond to the lance 13 in the left-right direction, and when the retainer 40 is in the one locking position, it is disengaged to the right with respect to the lance 13. The jig insertion hole 53 is formed.

When assembling the connector of this embodiment, first, the retainer 40 is assembled to the housing 10 at the temporary locking position. In this state, the retainer 40
Since the second retaining portion 50 is located at a position leftward from the insertion path of the terminal fitting 30, the terminal fitting 30 can be inserted into the cavity 12. Further, since the first retaining portion 48 of the retainer 40 is located to the left of the lance 13 and the escape space 47 overlaps the bending space 17 and is located right above the lance 13, the lance 13 is located above the lance 13. Elastic bending in the direction of moving out of the insertion path of the terminal fitting 30 and advancing into the bending space 17 is allowed.

When the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into each cavity 12 from this state, the lance 13 interferes with the primary locking portion 33 of the upper wall of the rectangular tube portion 31 during the insertion, and is elastically bent upward, It advances into the bending space 17 and the escape space 47. Then, when the terminal fitting 30 reaches the regular insertion position where its front end face abuts against the front wall 42 of the retainer 40, the elastically restored lance 13 causes the primary locking portion 3 to move.
3, the lance 13 locks the terminal fitting 30 from the rear side.

Next, when the retainer 40 is pushed from the temporary locking position to the full locking position, the second retaining portion 50 of the retainer 40 is pushed.
Is locked from the rear to the secondary locking portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30, and the retainer 40 prevents the terminal fitting 30 from coming off. Further, as the retainer 40 moves to the main locking position, the first retaining portion 48 of the retainer 40 enters the bending space 17 and locks the lance 13 from above, and the retainer 40 is locked by the lance 13. Regulates the elastic displacement of the above. As a result, the retainer 40 is in a state of retaining the terminal fitting 30 via the lance 13. From the above,
The terminal fitting 30 is in a triple locked state and is securely prevented from coming off.

When the retainer 40 is moved to the main locking position, the tab hole 52 of the front wall 42 and the terminal fitting 30 in the housing 10 correspond to each other, and the connector of this embodiment is used as a mating connector (not shown). When mated with, the tab (not shown) of the mating terminal penetrates the tab hole 52 and enters the rectangular tube portion 31 to be connected to the terminal fitting 30. Also, the housing 1
When pulling out the terminal fitting 30 from 0, first, the retainer 40 is moved from the main locking position to the temporary locking position, and the lance 1
3 corresponds to the escape space 47 to allow the elastic bending of the lance 13, and the second retaining portion 50 is retracted to the outside of the movement path of the terminal fitting 30, and the jig insertion hole 53 is connected to the lance 13. Correspond. Then, with the elongated jig (not shown) inserted in the jig insertion hole 53, the lance 13
Is disengaged so as to be lifted and removed from the primary locking portion 33 of the terminal fitting 30, and the electric wire 36 is maintained while maintaining that state.
The terminal metal fitting 30 may be pulled out backward by pinching.

The present embodiment has the following actions and effects. In the connector of the present embodiment, when the terminal fitting 30 is properly inserted, the first retaining portion 48 enters the bending space 17 and regulates the elastic bending of the lance 13 in the direction in which it disengages from the terminal fitting 30. At the same time, since the second retaining portion 50 is directly engaged with the terminal fitting 30, the terminal fitting 30 is reliably retained by the two retaining portions, the first retaining portion 48 and the second retaining portion 50. To be done. Also, the terminal fitting 3
When 0 is in a semi-inserted state (a state in which the guide slope 35 of the terminal fitting 30 is displaced rearward from the guide slope 51 of the retainer 40), the bending space 1 is interfered with by the primary locking portion 33.
The lance 13 elastically bent into the retainer 4
The first retaining portion 0 of 0 interferes from the side, and the second retaining portion 50 interferes with the square tube portion 31 of the terminal fitting 30 from the side, so that the retainer 40 is assembled to the housing 10. It is understood that the terminal metal fitting 30 is in the half-inserted state. As described above, the retainer 40 is provided with the two retaining portions, that is, the first retaining portion 48 and the second retaining portion 50. Even when the stopper portion is narrowed, the other stopper portion can surely prevent the terminal fitting 30 from being pulled out, and can surely detect the half insertion.

Further, each terminal fitting 30 and its terminal fitting 30
The arrangement direction (vertical direction) of the lance 13 locked to the lance 13 and the bending space 17 in which the lance 13 elastically bends is a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction which is the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminal fittings 30. Therefore, even if the pitch of the terminal fittings 30 arranged in parallel is narrowed, the bending space 17 is not narrowed, and it is not necessary to thin the first retaining portion 48 of the retainer 40 that enters the bending space 17. Therefore, the terminal fitting 3
There is no risk that the retaining function and the half-insertion detecting function of the first retaining portion 48 will decrease due to the reduction of the parallel pitch of 0.

Further, the retainer 4 for the housing 10
Since the assembling direction of 0 is parallel to the parallel direction (horizontal direction) of the plurality of terminal fittings 30, the multi-tiered structure having the plurality of parallel terminal fittings 30 as one step (the present embodiment). It has a single-stage structure). Further, the retainer 40 assembled to the housing 10 is movable between a temporary locking position that allows the insertion of the terminal fitting 30 and a main locking position that holds the terminal fitting 30 in place. When the housing 10 and the retainer 40 are received at the insertion site of the terminal fitting 30, the retainer 40 can be assembled to the housing 10 at the temporary locking position. Therefore, it is possible to simplify parts management at the time of arrival.

In the connector of the present embodiment, the retainer 40 is engaged with the terminal fitting 30 from the rear side so as to prevent the terminal fitting 30 from coming off.
0 and the front wall 42 that brings the terminal fitting 30 into contact with the terminal fitting 30 from the rear side to bring the terminal fitting 30 into the front stop state are integrally formed. Therefore, even if the retainer 40 rattles with respect to the housing 10. Even if it occurs, the front-rear space between the front wall 42 and the second retaining portion 50 does not change. Therefore, the terminal fitting 30 is prevented from floating with respect to the retainer 40 in the insertion / removal direction.

Further, the front wall 42 is provided at any position from the temporary locking position to the main locking position of the retainer 40.
The terminal fitting 30 is configured to come into contact with the front wall 42.
The rear surface (the surface on which the terminal fitting 30 abuts) is the retainer 4
The flat surface is parallel to the moving direction between the temporary locking position of 0 and the main locking position. Therefore, when the retainer 40 is moved from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, the front wall 42
Then, the terminal fitting 30 already in contact with the front wall 42 comes into sliding contact with the front wall 42, so that the front wall 42 and the terminal fitting 30 are not caught by the movement of the retainer 40.

The retainer 4 is attached to both the second retaining portion 50 of the retainer 40 and the secondary locking portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30.
Guide slopes 35 and 51 are formed in an oblique direction with respect to the moving direction from the temporary locking position of 0 to the main locking position. Therefore, when the retainer 40 is moved from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, even if the terminal fitting 30 is displaced rearward from the abutting position (normal insertion position) on the front wall 42 (see FIG. 20). ), The guide slopes 35, 51 abutting each other
Due to the inclination of each other (see FIG. 21), the terminal fitting 30 is pushed forward with the movement of the retainer 40 and reaches a predetermined front stop position where it comes into contact with the front wall 42 (see FIG. 22).
In other words, when the retainer 40 is pushed into the main locking position, the retainer 40 and the terminal fitting 30 are not caught.

In the connector of this embodiment, the elastic deformation direction (vertical direction) of the lance 13 and the temporary locking position and the final locking position of the retainer 40 are provided on both the lance 13 and the first retaining portion 48. The guide slopes 15 and 49 are formed so as to be oblique with respect to both the moving directions (front-rear direction) of. Therefore, when the retainer 40 is displaced from the temporary locking position toward the main locking position, a part of the first retaining portion 48 enters the bending space 17 and is positioned above the lance 13 (FIG. 16). (Indicated by a solid line), the lance 13
In the process of elastically bending upward due to interference with 0,
As shown in FIG. 5, the guide slope 15 of the lance 13 contacts the guide slope 49 of the first retaining portion 48, and thereafter, due to the inclination of both guide slopes 15 and 49, the first slope 15 of the lance 13 moves upward. The stopper 48 (retainer 40) is pushed from a position where it overlaps the lance 13 (shown by a chain line in FIG. 18) to a regular temporary locking position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 18) that deviates to the side of the lance 13. . . That is, the lance 13 can elastically bend into the bending space 17 while slidingly contacting the first retaining portion 48 via the guide slopes 15 and 49.
Thereby, the terminal fitting 30 can be inserted without any trouble.

Further, the retainer body 41 of the retainer 40
Has a plurality of escape spaces 47 that allow the elastic bending of the lance 13 when the retainer 40 is positioned so as to overlap the bending space 17 when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position. Since it is formed by opening like a hole penetrating the retainer body 41, the escape space 47
The plate thickness of the retainer body 41 can be reduced as compared with the case where the recess is formed.

Further, by forming the escape space 47 into the shape of a through hole, the first retaining portions 48 between the adjacent escape spaces 47 are in the shape of a beam. Because both ends are supported by 41,
The strength of the first retaining portion 48 is secured. [Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the terminal fitting and the lance engaged with the terminal fitting are arranged in the direction orthogonal to the parallel direction of the terminal fittings. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the lances locked to the metal fittings are arranged parallel to the parallel direction of the terminal metal fittings, in other words, the lance and the bending space are arranged between the adjacent terminal metal fittings. (2) In the above-described embodiment, the assembling form of the retainer with respect to the housing is linearly moved in the direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the terminal fitting. However, according to the present invention,
Attach the retainer to the housing from the front (in the direction parallel to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting) to make the temporary locking position, and place the retainer laterally (insert the terminal fitting) between the temporary locking position and the final locking position. You may make it move to a direction orthogonal to the direction).

(3) In the above embodiment, the assembling direction of the retainer to the housing is parallel to the parallel direction of the terminal fittings. However, according to the present invention, the assembling direction of the retainer is the parallel direction of the terminal fittings and the terminal fittings. The direction may be orthogonal to both the insertion direction and the insertion direction. (4) In the above embodiment, the retainer assembled to the housing is configured to move between a temporary locking position that allows the insertion of the terminal fitting and a final locking position that prevents the terminal fitting from coming off. For example, the retainer does not move between the temporary locking position and the main locking position, and the retainer may be attached to the housing only at the main locking position where the terminal fitting is retained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the first embodiment with a retainer removed from a housing.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a state in which a retainer is assembled to a housing at a temporary locking position.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a state in which a retainer is assembled to a housing at a main locking position.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the retainer assembled to the housing at a temporary locking position.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state where the retainer is assembled to the housing at a final locking position.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is normally inserted in the housing.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a state where the terminal fitting is being inserted.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the housing.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a retainer.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the retainer.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the retainer.

12 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion during the insertion of the terminal fitting.

FIG. 14 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion when the lance is locked to the terminal fitting that has been properly inserted.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion when the first retaining portion regulates the elastic bending of the lance.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion when the retainer is displaced from the temporary locking position to the main locking position.

FIG. 17 shows the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion when the retainer is displaced from the temporary locking position toward the main locking position and the guide slopes are in contact with each other during the elastic bending of the lance. Cross section

FIG. 18: The retainer is displaced from the temporary locking position to the main locking position side, and the lance pushes the first retaining portion to the temporary locking position side due to the inclination of the guide slope during the elastic bending of the lance. Cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the lance and the first retaining portion in the state

FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is properly inserted and the retainer is in the temporary locking position.

FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a state where the terminal fitting is half-inserted.

FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state where the retainer is in contact with the guide slope of the half-inserted terminal fitting while the retainer is moving from the temporary locking position to the main locking position.

FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state where the retainer pushes the semi-inserted terminal fitting to the regular insertion position and moves to the final locking position due to the inclination of the guiding slope.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Housing 13 ... Lance 17 ... Deflection space 30 ... Terminal fittings 40 ... Retainer 42 ... Front wall (front stop) 48 ... First retaining portion 50 ... Second retaining portion

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5E087 EE14 FF08 GG14 GG24 GG32                       RR04 RR26 RR28 RR36 RR41                       RR49

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a lance and a bending space of the lance formed therein, a terminal fitting inserted into the housing, and a retainer assembled to the housing. During the insertion, the lance elastically bends into the bending space to retract out of the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches the regular insertion position, the elastically restored lance engages with the terminal fitting. In the connector, in which the terminal fitting is kept in the disengaged state by stopping, the retainer is in the disengaged state by entering into the bending space and restricting elastic bending of the lance. A first retaining portion and a second retaining portion for retaining the terminal fitting by locking the terminal fitting directly with the terminal fitting. Connector that. 2. A plurality of the terminal fittings are inserted in parallel, and the terminal fittings, the lances locked to the terminal fittings, and the bending space in which the lances elastically bend are aligned. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a direction is a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the plurality of terminal fittings are arranged. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein an assembling direction of the retainer with respect to the housing is a direction parallel to a parallel direction of the plurality of terminal fittings. 4. The retainer assembled to the housing retracts the first retaining portion to the outside of the bending space and retracts the second retaining portion to the outside of the insertion path of the terminal fitting, A temporary locking position that allows the insertion of the terminal fitting into the housing, and a state where the first retaining portion is inserted into the bending space and the second retaining portion is locked to the inserted terminal fitting. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connector is movable to and from a main locking position that holds the terminal fitting in a retaining state. 5. The retainer includes a front stop portion that locks the terminal fitting in a front stop state by locking the terminal fitting from a side opposite to the second stopper portion and the second stop portion. It is formed integrally.
The connector according to claim 4.