Patent ID: 6811451
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical connector, comprising:a housing having opposite front and rear ends and at least one stage of side by side cavities extending through the housing from the front end to the rear end, a retainer accommodating chamber extending into a lateral surface of the housing between the front and rear ends and communicating with each of said cavities, the retainer accommodating chamber including a rib escaping recess adjacent the lateral surface of the housing into which said retainer accommodating chamber extends, a rib receiving surface being formed in the retainer accommodating chamber at locations adjacent the rib escaping recess, portions of the retainer accommodating chamber adjacent the rib receiving surface defining a smaller front to rear dimension than portions of the retainer accommodating chamber adjacent the rib escaping recess; terminal fittings insertable into the respective cavities; a retainer assembled in the retainer accommodating chamber of the housing and displaceable between a partial locking position and a full locking position-, the insertion of the terminal fittings being permitted with the retainer at the partial locking position and the retainer locking the terminal fittings while at the full locking position, the retainer having a plurality of spaced apart one ribs disposed in the rib escaping recess when the retainer is in the partial locking position, each of the ribs being aligned along a retainer insertion direction substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the retainer from the partial locking position to the full locking position, a leading end of the retainer defining a guide surface that is slanted with respect to the retainer insertion direction for guiding the rib into engagement with the rib receiving surface when the retainer is moved to the full locking position; two pairs of spaced-apart partial locking means for preventing the retainer at the partial locking position from moving loosely toward the full locking position, the partial locking means including partial locks on the retainer for engaging partial locking receiving portions on the housing; and two pairs of spaced-apart full locking means for preventing the retainer at the full locking position from moving loosely toward the partial locking position, the full locking means including full locks on the retainer for engaging full locking receiving portions on the housing, wherein the disposition of the rib in the rib receiving recess permits loose movement of the retainer in front to rear directions when the retainer is in the partial locking position and wherein engagement of the rib with the rib receiving surface prevents loose front to rear movement of the retainer when the retainer is in the full locking position.