Abstract:
An electrical connector comprises an insulating housing having contact receiving openings that receive contacts. Housing lances extend into the contact receiving openings and engage the contacts to perform a primary locking function of the contacts. A retainer is mounted to a front surface of the housing. The retainer has tool insertion openings communicating with the contact receiving openings. The retainer is moveable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. The retainer is locked to the housing in both the temporary locking position where the contacts are insertable into the housing and the main locking position where the retainer performs a secondary locking function of the contacts.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to an electrical connector having a housing comprising a retainer that performs a secondary locking function of contacts arranged in the housing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Electrical connectors having a double locking function are widely used in automobiles in order to ensure or strengthen the locking of contacts with respect to a housing of the electrical connector. In automotive applications, since the electrical connector is subjected to vibration, reliability of the locking of the contacts with respect to the housing is important. The double locking function involves not only performing primary locking of the contacts by means of housing lances that extend from inner walls of the housing into contact receiving openings, but also secondary locking of the contacts by a retainer that is separate from the housing.  
         [0003]     One example of such an electrical connector is described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. H4-137474 and shown in  FIGS. 14A-14B . As shown in  FIGS. 14A-14B , the electrical connector  101  comprises an insulating housing  110 , a plurality of contacts  120  accommodated in a plurality of contact receiving openings  111  provided in the housing  110 , and a retainer  130  for performing a secondary locking function of the contacts  120 . A housing lance  112  extends into each of the contact receiving openings  111  from an upper wall of the contact receiving openings  111 . The housing lances  112  are designed to perform a primary locking function of the contacts  120  accommodated inside the contact receiving openings  111 .  
         [0004]     The retainer  130  is attached to the housing  110  from a bottom surface of the housing  110  facing upward and is locked to the housing  110  in a temporary locking position shown in  FIG. 14A . In the temporary locking position, insertion of the contacts  120  into the contact receiving openings  111  is possible. In a main locking position shown in  FIG. 14B , the secondary locking function of the contacts  120  is performed.  
         [0005]     The contacts  120  are inserted into the contact receiving openings  111  from a rear side (right side in  FIG. 14A ) of the housing  110  when the retainer  130  is temporarily locked in the temporary locking position, as shown in  FIG. 14A . The primary locking function of the contacts  120  is performed by the housing lances  112 . When the retainer  130  is locked in the main locking position shown in  FIG. 14B  following the primary locking of the contacts  120 , the secondary locking function of the contacts  120  is performed by the retainer  130 , so that the locking of the contacts  120  with respect to the housing  110  is ensured or strengthened.  
         [0006]     However, in the electrical connector  101  comprising the retainer  130 , since the retainer  130  is attached to the housing  110  from the bottom surface of the housing  110 , it is necessary to form an opening  131  for accommodation of the retainer  130  in the housing  110  from the bottom surface of the housing  110  toward a top surface of the housing  110  and substantially over the entire area of the housing  110  in a direction of width (direction perpendicular to the plane of the page in  FIG. 14A ). Consequently, the contact receiving openings  111  cannot be formed independently, which results in poor waterproofing characteristics. This electrical connector  101  therefore is not waterproof.  
         [0007]     Another type of electrical connector is described in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai No. H3-20880 and shown in  FIG. 15 . The electrical connector  201  comprises a retainer that is inserted from a front surface of an insulating housing  210  that performs a secondary locking function. The electrical connector  201  comprises the housing  210 , a plurality of contacts  220  accommodated in a plurality of contact accommodating openings  211  provided in the housing  210 , and the retainer  230  that is inserted from the front surface (right surface in  FIG. 15 ) of the housing  210  that performs the secondary locking function of the contacts  220 .  
         [0008]     Each of the contact accommodating openings  211  in the housing  210  is provided with a housing lance  212  that extends forward from an upper wall of each of the contact receiving openings  211 . A housing lance receiving space  213  formed substantially above each of the housing lances  212  allows for deflection of each of the housing lances  212 . The housing lances  212  are designed to serve a primary locking function of the contacts  220  accommodated inside the contact receiving openings  211 .  
         [0009]     The retainer  230  is constructed to be inserted from the front surface of the housing  210  and is locked to the housing  210  in a temporary locking position (not shown) in which the insertion of the contacts  220  into the contact receiving openings  211  is possible and in a main locking position shown in  FIG. 15  in which the secondary locking function of the contacts  220  is performed.  
         [0010]     The contacts  220  are inserted into the contact receiving openings  211  from a rear side (left side in  FIG. 15 ) of the housing  210  when the retainer  230  is temporarily locked in the temporary locking position and the primary locking function of the contacts  220  is performed by the housing lances  212 . When the retainer  230  is locked in the main locking position shown in  FIG. 15  following the primary locking of the contacts  220 , restriction members  231  of the retainer  230  enter the housing lance receiving spaces  213  and restrict the deflection of the housing lances  212 . As a result, the secondary locking function of the contacts  220  is performed by the retainer  230 , so that the locking of the contacts  220  with respect to the housing  210  is ensured or strengthened. Furthermore, the electrical connector  201  is designed to mate with a housing  251  of a mating connector  250 , so that the contacts  220  make contact with terminals  252  provided on the mating connector  250 .  
         [0011]     There are cases in which the contacts  120 ,  220  of the electrical connectors  101 ,  201  are erroneously inserted into the electrical connectors  101 ,  201 . When such erroneous insertion of the contacts  120 ,  220  occurs, a problem exists in that circuits are not properly connected to the contacts  120 ,  220 . It is therefore necessary to replace the erroneously inserted contacts  120 ,  220 . The erroneous insertion of the contacts  120 ,  220  is often discovered when a circuit inspection is performed by a checker following the secondary locking function of the contacts  120 ,  220 . Additionally, in cases where the contacts  120 ,  220  are damaged, even if the contacts  120 ,  220  are not erroneously inserted, it becomes necessary to remove the contacts  120 ,  220  from the housings  110 ,  210  so that the contacts  120 ,  220  can be replaced.  
         [0012]     To replace the contacts  120 ,  220  in the electrical connector  101  comprising the retainer  130  shown in  FIGS. 14A-14B , the state of the secondary locking function of the contacts  120  is released by removing the retainer  130  from the housing  110 . A tool (not shown) is then inserted into an opening formed in the front surface of the housing  110  to cause the housing lances  112  to deflect upward and release the primary locking function of the contacts  120  so that the contacts  120  can be pulled-out toward the rear of the housing  110 .  
         [0013]     In the electrical connector  201  comprising the retainer  230  shown in  FIG. 15 , the secondary locking function of the contacts  220  is released by removing the retainer  230  from the front of the housing  210 . A tool (not shown) is then inserted into an opening formed in the front surface of the housing  210  to cause the housing lances  212  that are performing the primary locking function of the contacts  220  to deflect upward so that the primary locking function of the contacts  220  is released. The contacts  220  are pulled-out toward the rear of the housing  210 . In this case, since the number of locations where the retainer  230  is locked to the housing  210  is large, the retainer  230  cannot easily be removed from the housing  210 . Accordingly, it is difficult to remove the contacts  220  from the housing  210 .  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector with a retainer that performs a secondary locking function wherein contacts can be removed from the housing without removing the retainer from the housing.  
         [0015]     This and other objects are achieved by an electrical connector comprising an insulating housing having contact receiving openings for receiving contacts. Housing lances extend into the contact receiving openings and perform a primary locking function of the contacts. A retainer is mounted to a front surface of the housing. The retainer has tool insertion openings communicating with the contact receiving openings. The retainer is moveable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. The retainer is locked to the housing in both the temporary locking position where the housing lances perform the primary locking function of the contacts and the main locking position where the retainer performs a secondary locking function of the contacts.  
         [0016]     This and other objects are further achieved by an electrical connector comprising an insulating housing having contact receiving openings that receive contacts. Housing lances extend into the contact receiving openings and engage the contacts to perform a primary locking function of the contacts. A retainer is mounted to a front surface of the housing. The retainer has tool insertion openings communicating with the contact receiving openings. The retainer is moveable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. The retainer is locked to the housing in both the temporary locking position where the contacts are insertable into the housing and the main locking position where the retainer performs a secondary locking function of the contacts. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an electrical connector according to the invention showing a retainer in a temporary locking position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the electrical connector showing the retainer in a main locking position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the retainer;  
         [0030]      FIG. 14A  is a sectional view of a conventional electrical connector shown with a retainer in a temporary locking position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 14B  is a sectional view of the conventional electrical connector shown with the retainer in a main locking position; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view of another conventional electrical connector comprising a retainer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]      FIGS. 1-13  show an electrical connector  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the electrical connector  1  comprises an insulating housing  10  and a retainer  30 . A plurality of contacts  20  are arranged, for example, in a single row in the housing  10 . The retainer  30  performs a secondary locking function of the contacts  20 .  
         [0034]     The housing  10  has a substantially rectangular shape and may be formed, for example, by molding an insulating synthetic resin. The housing  10  includes a contact accommodating member  11 . A hood  12  extends from the contact accommodating member  11  and covers the contact accommodating member  11 . A waterproofing seal (not shown) is provided around the contact accommodating member  11 . The contact accommodating member  11  has a plurality of contact receiving openings  13  formed, for example, in a single row. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the contact receiving openings  13  open toward a rear side of the housing  10 . Mating contact insertion openings  15  are formed on a front side of the contact receiving openings  13 . As shown in FIGS.  2 ,  3 , and  6 , a partition wall  18  divides adjacent contact receiving openings  13  so that each of the contact receiving openings  13  are independent from each other. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the waterproofing characteristics of the electrical connector  1 .  
         [0035]     As is shown in  FIG. 4 , a first locking aperture  16  is formed on a front side of a bottom wall of each of the contact receiving openings  13 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , a second locking aperture  19  is formed on a front side of the outer wall of each of the contact receiving openings  13 . Locking projections  17  are formed on a front side of the second locking apertures  19 .  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , housing lances  14  extend into the contact receiving openings  13  and perform a primary locking function of the contacts  20 . The housing lances  14  extend forward slightly at an inclination from an upper wall of the contact accommodating member  11 . Housing lance receiving spaces  39  are formed between the upper wall and the housing lances  39  for receiving the housing lances  14  when the housing lances  14  are deflected.  
         [0037]     Each of the contacts  20  is formed, for example, by stamping and forming a metal plate and comprises a substantially box-shaped receptacle  21 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . An electrical wire connecting member  22  extends rearward from the receptacle  21  and is connected by crimping to an electrical wire (not shown).  
         [0038]     The retainer  30  may be formed, for example, by molding an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the retainer  30  comprises a substantially rectangular flat base plate  31  configured to cover the front surface of the contact accommodating member  11  of the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , a frame  32  extends rearward from the base plate  31  and surrounds a periphery of the base plate  31 . A plurality of substantially rectangular contact insertion openings  33  are formed, for example, in a single row in the base plate  31  in positions corresponding to the contact receiving openings  13 .  
         [0039]     Tool insertion openings  34  are formed substantially above the contact insertion openings  33 . The tool insertion openings  34  communicate with the contact insertion openings  33 . Each of the tool insertion openings  34  is formed with a substantially rectangular shape and has a width smaller than the contact insertion openings  33 . Each of the tool insertion openings  34  has a vertical position corresponding to the vertical position of the housing lances  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a temporary locking member  35  extends rearward beneath each of the contact insertion openings  33  and is formed as a cantilever. A temporary locking projection  35   a  protrudes upward from an end of each of the temporary locking members  35 . Main locking members  36  extend rearward from an outside of the contact insertion openings  33 . Main locking projections  36   a  protrude inward from central portions of the main locking members  36  in a forward-rearward direction. A pair of secondary locking members  38  extends rearward as plate-form bodies from either side of each of the tool insertion openings  34  in positions corresponding to upper ends of the tool insertion openings  34 . Supporting walls  37  extend rearward from an outside of each of the secondary locking members  38 .  
         [0041]     A method for assembling the electrical connector  1  will now be described. To assemble the electrical connector  1 , the retainer  30  is inserted from the front surface of the housing  10  into a temporary locking position shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . In the temporary locking position, the temporary locking projections  35   a  of the retainer  30  enter the first locking apertures  16  in the housing  10 , so that the retainer  30  is prevented from being pulled-out toward the front of the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main locking projections  36   a  are positioned on the front side of the locking projections  17  of the housing  10 , thus preventing the retainer  30  from being pushed in further toward the rear of the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the retainer  30  is in the temporary locking position, the secondary locking members  38  are positioned inside the contact receiving openings  13  and are positioned in front of the housing lance receiving spaces  39 . Accordingly, the housing lances  14  can deflect into the housing lance receiving spaces  39 , so that it is possible to insert the contacts  20  into the contact receiving openings  13  from the rear of the housing  10 . The housing lances  14  are positioned on the rear side of the receptacles  21  of the contacts  20 , so that the contacts  20  are prevented from slipping out of the housing  10  and the primary locking function of the contacts  20  is performed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the supporting walls  37  of the retainer  30  support both sides of the receptacles  21  of the contacts  20 .  
         [0042]     After insertion of the contacts  20 , the retainer  30  that is in the temporary locking position is pushed rearward so that the retainer  30  is positioned in the main locking position shown in  FIGS. 7-12 . While the supporting walls  37  of the retainer  30  support both sides of the receptacle parts  21  of the contacts  20 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , the secondary locking members  38  of the retainer  30  advance into the housing lance receiving spaces  39  and restrict the deflection of the housing lances  14  into the housing lance receiving spaces  39 , thus accomplishing the secondary locking function of the contacts  20 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Since the secondary locking members  38  are provided on both sides of the tool insertion openings  34 , it is possible to securely hold the contacts  20  in the housing  10  and prevent rattling. The supporting walls  37  support both sides of the receptacles  21  of the contacts  20  when the retainer  30  is in the main locking position, as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , when the retainer  30  is in the main locking position, the main locking projections  36   a  enter the second locking openings  19  in the housing  10  and are positioned behind the locking projections  17 , thus preventing the retainer  30  from being pulled-out toward the front of the housing  10 . Moreover, when the retainer  30  is in the main locking position, rear ends of the main locking members  36  contact rear ends of the second locking apertures  19 , so that rearward movement of the retainer  30  is restricted. As a result, the assembly of the electrical connector  1  is completed, and a mating contact (not shown) is inserted into each of the receptacles  21  and makes connection therewith.  
         [0044]     When the need to replace the contacts  20  arises following completion of the assembly of the electrical connector  1  due, for example, to the erroneous insertion of the contacts  20 , damage to the contacts  20 , or the like, the retainer  30  is returned to the temporary locking position shown in  FIGS. 1-6  from the main locking position shown in  FIGS. 7-12 . The main locking members  36  are caused to flex outward so that the main locking projections  36   a  are positioned in front of the locking projections  17 , and the secondary locking members  38  are positioned away from the housing lance receiving spaces  39 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a specified tool T for operating one of the housing lances  14  is passed through the tool insertion opening  34  from the front side of the retainer  30 . A tip of the tool T causes the housing lance  14  to deflect into the housing lance receiving spaces  39  to releasing the primary locking function of the contact  20 . As a result, the contact  20  can be pulled-out toward the rear of the housing  10  without removing the retainer  30  from the housing  10 .  
         [0045]     In the electrical connector  1 , since the tool insertion openings  34  are formed in the retainer  30 , it is possible to operate the housing lances  14  that perform the primary locking of the contacts  20  by passing the tool T the tool insertion opening  34  from the front side of the retainer  30  in a state in which the retainer  30  is locked to the housing in the temporary locking position. Accordingly, the contacts  20  can be removed from the housing  10  without removing the retainer  30 . In addition, the secondary locking members  38  are provided on the retainer  30  on both sides of the tool insertion openings  34 , so that it is possible to securely hold the contacts  20  without rattling. Because the electrical connector  1  is waterproof, it is also suitable for an automobile when there is a progressive increase of voltage of electrical components, for example, from 12 V to 42 V, therein.  
         [0046]     The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the number of the tool insertion openings  34  formed in the retainer  30  corresponds to the number of the contact insertion openings  33 , however, any number of the tool insertion openings  34  can be provided. Additionally, the secondary locking members  38  do not have to be provided on both sides of the tool insertion openings  34 . It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.