Connector mounting construction, a connector and a holder therefor

A connector mounting construction includes a male housing (50) with a receptacle (52) into which a mating female housing is fittable. The male housing (50) has a shaft (53) that extends along an axis of connection (Z-axis direction) with the female housing, and a planar base (57). A holder (70) is provided with an accommodating portion (73) for accommodating the base (57), and holds the male housing (50) for sliding movement in directions normal to the axis of connection and for rotation about the axis of connection. Four elastic ribs (82F, 82R) are provided to be located around the shaft (53), so that the male housing (50) is biased to a specified proper position. Rotation of the male housing (50) about the axis of connection is restricted by contact of the base (57) with side walls (75) or a rear wall (76) of the accommodating portion (73).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention.
 The present invention relates to a connector mounting construction for
 mounting a housing in a sliding and/or floating state. The invention also
 relates to a connector and to a holder for such a connector mounting
 construction.
 2. Description of the Related Art.
 The assembly of a vehicle often requires male and female housings to be
 connected with each other in a difficult place, such as at a rear side of
 a panel. To facilitate this connecting operation, one of the housings is
 mounted in a displaceable or floating state. Thus, if a mating attempt is
 made with a mating housing that is displaced from an axis of connection,
 the floating housing moves or floats transversely to oppose and align with
 the mating housing so that the two housings can be connected properly with
 each other.
 An example of such a connector mounting construction is disclosed in U.S.
 Pat. No. 5,893,768, and is described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. More
 particularly, as shown in FIG. 7, a door frame 1 is provided with three
 electric devices 2, such as a power window device, and each electric
 device 2 is provided with a male housing 4 formed with a receptacle 3.
 FIG. 7 also shows a trim panel 5 that is to be assembled into the door
 frame 1. The trim panel 5 is provided with switches (not shown), such as a
 power window switch. Female housings 6 are provided for connection with
 the switches and are mounted in a floating state in positions to face the
 corresponding male housings 3 on the door frame 1.
 Each female housing 6 is comprised of a fittable portion 7 and a mount
 portion 8 that is assembled integrally with the fittable portion 7, as
 shown in FIG. 8. Additionally, each female housing 6 is mounted on the
 trim panel 5 via a holder 9 and a bracket 11. Each fittable portion 7 is
 fit into the corresponding receptacle 3 of the male housing 5 along the
 Z-axis of FIGS. 7 and 8. The movement of the fittable portion 7 into the
 receptacle 3 is facilitated by a slanted outer peripheral surface 12 at
 the leading end of the fittable portion 7. Further, each mount portion 8
 is provided with a mount plate 13 that is mountable on the rear side of
 the fittable portion 7. A cylindrical shaft 15 extends from the mount
 plate 13 along an axis of connection of the male and female housings 4 and
 6 (Z-axis direction), and a disk-shaped base 16 is provided at the leading
 end of the shaft 15. Four elastic pieces 17 are cantilevered from the
 outer periphery of the base 16.
 The prior art holder 9 is provided with a rectangular accommodating portion
 18 for accommodating the base 16, and an upper wall of the accommodating
 portion 18 is formed with a circular hole 19 through which the shaft 15
 can be inserted. Further, three mount holes 23 are provided around the
 accommodating portion 18. The female housing 6 can be slid with respect to
 the holder 9 in directions (X-axis and Y-axis directions) normal to the
 Z-axis direction, and is constantly biased toward its center position in
 the accommodating portion 18 by contact between the respective elastic
 pieces 17 and the inner wall of the accommodating portion 18. Further, the
 bracket 11 has a triangular plate 21 secured to the trim panel 5. Struts
 22 project from the three corners of the plate 21, and the bracket 11 is
 held to the holder 9 by fitting the leading ends of the respective struts
 22 into the mount holes 23 of the holder 9.
 The male and female housings 4 and 6 are connected with each other by
 assembling the trim panel 5 into the door frame 1 in the Z-axis direction.
 If the male and female housings 4 and 6 are displaced from their axes of
 connection when the trim panel 5 is brought closer to the door frame 1,
 the female housings 6 will shift or float to face and align with the male
 housings 4, thereby enabling the housings 4 and 6 to be connected properly
 with each other.
 However, in the above construction, the female housings 6 sometimes rotate
 with respect to the holders 9, if, for example, the male housings 4 are
 brought laterally into contact with the female housings 6 by mistake when
 the trim panel 5 is assembled into the door frame 1. Female housings 6
 that rotate excessively with respect to the holders 9, may not return to
 their original positions and, therefore, could not be connected with the
 male housings 4.
 In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention is to
 provide a connector mounting construction, a corresponding connector and a
 corresponding holder, which can prevent a housing mounted in a floating
 state from excessively rotating with respect to a holder.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The subject invention is directed to a connector mounting construction that
 comprises a housing main body with a housing that is connectable with a
 mating housing along an axis of connection. The housing main body further
 comprises a base that preferably is substantially in the form of a flat
 plate that extends in directions substantially normal to the axis of
 connection. The connector mounting construction further comprises a holder
 with an accommodating portion for movably accommodating the base
 substantially in a plane that includes the base. The accommodating portion
 allows the base to translate in its plane and to rotate or pivot around
 the axis of connection. A restricting portion is provided in the
 accommodating portion for contacting the base when the housing main body
 is displaced by a specified angle, thereby preventing any further angular
 displacement of the housing main body.
 According to a preferred embodiment, the housing main body further
 comprises a shaft that extends substantially along the axis of connection
 from a side of the housing substantially opposite from a side to which the
 mating housing approaches.
 Preferably, the connector mounting construction further comprises elastic
 portions that substantially surround the shaft in use. The elastic
 portions permit the housing main body to move substantially normal to the
 axis of connection and to displace angularly about the axis of connection.
 However, the elastic portions bias the housing main body to an original
 position after a movement and/or an angular displacement.
 Accordingly, the housing main body will slide to face and align with a
 mating housing that is displaced from the axis of connection as the two
 housings are being connected. Thus, the housings can be connected
 properly. The elastic portions bias the housing main body to the original
 position with respect to the holder, and thus prevent the housing main
 body from assuming a permanently misaligned position. Further, a
 rotation-restricting portion prevents the housing main body from rotating
 excessively about the axis of connection.
 The shaft preferably has a polygonal cross section, and the number of the
 elastic portions conforms to the number of the sides of the polygonal
 cross section of the shaft. The respective elastic portions face the
 corresponding sides of the shaft and thus bias the shaft toward the
 original position.
 Each elastic portion preferably comprises two or more legs connected with
 the holder, such that the elastic portion has a closed hollow shape.
 Accordingly, the closed hollow elastic portions have improved strength as
 compared with conventional cantilevered elastic pieces.
 The holder preferably comprises an insertion opening that enables the base
 to be inserted into the accommodating portion. The insertion opening
 extends substantially normal to the axis of connection, and preferably one
 or more stoppers project from the edge of the insertion opening in
 directions to narrow the insertion opening. The base comprises one or more
 locking portions that contact the stoppers and prevent the base from
 coming out of the accommodating portion. At least one of the stoppers and
 the locking portions are elastically deformable and permit the locking
 portions to pass the insertion opening. Accordingly, the base is inserted
 into the accommodating portion through the insertion opening while
 elastically deforming the stoppers or the locking portions. The base is
 prevented from coming out of the accommodating portion by the contact of
 the locking portions with the stoppers.
 These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
 will become apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of
 preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 A connector mounting construction in accordance with the subject invention
 can be applied to a wiring construction of a vehicle door, as shown in
 FIG. 1. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a door frame 30 and a trim panel
 31 to be mounted inside or on the door frame 30 before they are assembled.
 The door frame 30 has three electric devices 33, such as a power window
 device, a door mirror driving device and a door locking mechanism. The
 devices 33 preferably are connected with an electric device or circuit in
 a vehicle body via a wire or wiring harness 34. Female housings 40, as
 shown in FIG. 2, are secured to the electric devices 33. In FIGS. 2 to 6,
 the Z-axis represents a mounting direction of the trim panel 31 on the
 door frame 30, while the X-axis and Y-axis represent transverse and
 vertical directions, respectively when the trim panel 31 is mounted.
 The trim panel 31 has switches (not shown) for operating the power window
 device, etc. The trim panel 31 also has connector mounting constructions
 45 (see also FIG. 2), each of which includes a male housing 50 in a
 position to face the corresponding female housing 40 of the door frame 30.
 The male housings 50 can be connected with the switches via a wire or
 wiring harness 36. As described below, the female and male housings 40 and
 50 can be connected with each other by mounting the trim panel 31 on the
 door frame 30 in the Z-axis direction to complete the wiring operation for
 the door.
 Each female housing 40 is formed e.g. of a synthetic resin and has a
 substantially rectangular fittable portion 41 that preferably has rounded
 corners. The fiftable portion can be fit at least partly into a receptacle
 52 of the male housing 50, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and as described in
 detail later. The fittable portion 41 and the receptacle 52 are fitted to
 each other substantially along an axis of connection A, which is parallel
 to Z-axis, as shown FIG. 2. A rear part of the female housing 40 is fixed
 to the electric device 33, but is not shown for the sake of convenience.
 The leading end of the fittable portion 41 is formed with a slanted
 surface 42 substantially along its outer periphery, and thus is tapered
 toward its end. Unillustrated female terminal fittings are provided inside
 the fittable portion 41 and are connected electrically with the electric
 devices 33.
 The connector mounting construction 45 includes a holder 70. The holder 70
 can be secured to the trim panel 31, and the male housing 50 can be
 mounted in the holder 70, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
 The male housing 50 is formed unitarily e.g. of a synthetic resin and
 includes the receptacle 52, a shaft 53 and a base 57. The receptacle 52
 preferably is in the form of a substantially rectangular tube with rounded
 corners, so that the receptacle 52 substantially conforms to the outer
 shape of the female housing 40. The receptacle 52 includes a slanted
 surface 52A along the inner side of an entire opening edge. Male terminal
 fittings (not shown) are connected with the wires 36 and project in the
 receptacle 52, so that the female and male terminal fittings can be
 connected with each other when the receptacle 52 and the fittable portion
 41 of the female housing 40 are fitted properly to each other.
 The shaft 53 extends from the side of the receptacle 52 opposite the side
 into which the female housing 40 is fitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft
 53 has a substantially rectangular or square cross section and is formed
 at its outer periphery with four corners 54 projecting in X-axis and
 Y-axis directions from its center. Four contact surfaces 55 extend between
 the corners 54. The base 57 is at the leading end of the shaft 53, and
 defines a flat plate aligned substantially normal to Z-axis (parallel to a
 X, Y- plane). In the following description, the sides of the base 57 and
 the holder 70 to be connected with each other (sides indicated by arrow F
 in FIG. 3) are referred to at the front sides, and Y-axis, X-axis and
 Z-axis directions correspond to forward and backward directions,
 transverse direction and vertical directions, respectively. These
 directions differ from vertical and transverse directions when these
 members 57, 70 are mounted on the trim panel 31.
 The base 57 has a substantially square cross section with sides that extend
 in X-axis and Y-axis directions, and left and right corners at the front
 end of the base 57 (toward the holder 70) are cut off to form slanted
 surfaces 58. The rear end of the base 57 is characterized by cuts 59 that
 extend forwardly from locations in proximity to the left and right
 corners. Locking pieces 61 are formed outside each cut 59 with respect to
 the widthwise direction (X-axis direction), and are elastically deformable
 inwardly. A locking portion 62 is provided at the leading end of each
 locking piece 61, and projects outward in the widthwise direction from the
 base portion 57.
 The holder 70 is formed unitarily e.g. of a synthetic resin and is a
 substantially square box with sides that are equal in forward and backward
 directions and transverse directions (X-axis, Y-axis directions). The
 holder 70 includes an upper wall 71 and a substantially square bottom wall
 72 with an accommodating portion 73 therebetween. The accommodating
 portion 73 has a substantially rectangular or square shape larger than the
 base 57, and the male housing 50 and/or the female housing 40 can be held
 in the holder 70 by positioning the base 57 in the accommodating portion
 73. Sidewalls 75 are formed at the left and right sides of the
 accommodating portion 73, and a rear wall 76 is provided at the rear end
 of the accommodating portion 73. The rear wall 76 is formed with openings
 near the sidewalls 75. An insertion opening 77 is formed in the front
 surface of the accommodating portion 73 for receiving the base 57, and
 stoppers 78 project inwardly from the opposite edges of the insertion
 opening 77 with respect to its widthwise direction. The width of the
 insertion opening 77 is set slightly larger than the width of the base 57,
 but smaller than a distance between projecting ends or tips of the locking
 portions 62. Thus, contact between the locking portions 62 and the
 stoppers 78 can prevent the base 57 from coming out of the accommodating
 portion 73. Further, insertion of the base 57 through the insertion
 opening 77 and into the accommodating portion 73 causes the locking pieces
 61 to deform elastically inward with respect to the widthwise direction,
 so that the locking portions 62 can pass the insertion opening 77. The
 outer ends of the stoppers 78 include slanted surfaces 79 for guiding the
 base 57 through the insertion opening 77.
 A proper position or orientation of the male housing 50 in the
 accommodating portion 73 of the holder 70 is shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. In
 this proper position, the base 57 is located substantially in the center
 of the accommodating portion 73. The base 57 can be slid to the front,
 back, left and right (along X-axis, Y-axis directions) from the proper
 position and can be rotated about the Z-axis. However, rotation of the
 base 57 is restricted, preferably to less than about 450, by contact of
 the corner(s) of the base 57 with the sidewalls 75 or the rear wall 76, as
 shown, for example, in FIG. 6.
 The upper wall 71 of the holder 70 is formed with a cut-away portion 81
 that has a substantially U-shaped contour continuous with the insertion
 opening 77. A pair of front elastic ribs 82F and a pair of rear elastic
 ribs 82R project from left and right edges 81A of the cut-away portion 81
 to face or oppose each other in a transverse direction. Each elastic rib
 82F 92P has a pair of legs 84 that extend substantially perpendicularly
 from the corresponding side edge 81A of the cut-away portion 81. A
 substantially square leading end 85 is formed at the leading ends of the
 legs 84 such that the opposite corners of the square leading end 85 are
 located in X-axis and Y-axis directions. An opening 83 is formed between
 the legs 84 and inside the leading end 85. Thus the elastic ribs 82F and
 82R have a closed hollow shape.
 Sides of the leading ends 85 of the four elastic ribs 82F, 82R that face
 the center of the holder 70 are referred to as facing sides 85A. A
 substantially rectangular or squared bearing hole 87 is formed in the
 center of the holder 70 by the four facing sides 85A. The size of the
 bearing hole 87 is slightly larger than that of the shaft 53. A clearance
 between the elastic ribs 82F at the front side serves as a shaft insertion
 opening 88. The shaft 53 can be inserted through the shaft insertion
 opening 88 by pushing the elastic ribs 82F wider apart. When the base 57
 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 73, the shaft 53 is disposed
 in the bearing hole 87 so that the respective facing sides 85A
 substantially face the corresponding contact surfaces 55 of the shaft 53.
 FIG. 5 shows the proper position of the male housing 50 with respect to
 the holder 70. In this proper position, the shaft 53 is in the bearing
 hole 87 and the elastic ribs 82F and 82R are not deformed. Thus, the male
 housing 50 can be slid from the proper position within specified ranges in
 X-axis and Y-axis directions and can be rotated within a specified range
 about the Z-axis with respect to the holder 70.
 The male housing 50 is assembled with the holder 70 by first inserting the
 base 57 through the insertion opening 77 from front as indicated by the
 large arrow in FIG. 3. The slanted surfaces 58 and 79 on the base 57 and
 the holder 70 respectively enable the inserting operation to be performed
 smoothly. When the base 57 enters the accommodating portion 73 through the
 insertion opening 77, the shaft 53 contacts the leading end portions 85 of
 the left and right elastic ribs 82F, thereby elastically deforming the
 ribs 82F obliquely outward and backward with respect to the widthwise
 direction to open the shaft inserting opening 88 more widely.
 As the base 57 is pushed further, the elastic ribs 82F deform, and the left
 and right locking portions 62 contact the slanted surfaces 79. Then, the
 respective locking pieces 61 deform elastically inward, and the respective
 locking portions 62 slide inwardly along the slanted surfaces 79. The
 locking portions 62 eventually move over the stoppers 78, and the locking
 pieces 61 elastically restore substantially to their original shape. As a
 result, the locking portions 62 project from the sides of the base 57.
 Accordingly, contact of the locking portions 62 with the stoppers 78 keeps
 the base 57 inside the accommodating portion 73 even if the base 57 is
 biased toward the insertion opening 77.
 The shaft 53 subsequently passes through the shaft inserting opening 88 and
 enters the bearing hole 87. At this point, the elastic ribs 82F are
 restored substantially to their original shapes and return to their
 original positions behind the shaft 53, thereby narrowing the shaft
 insertion opening 88. As a result, the shaft 53 is surrounded at least
 partly by the four facing sides 85A of the respective elastic ribs 82F,
 82R. In this way, the male housing 50 is assembled with the holder 70, and
 is located in its proper position or orientation with respect to the
 holder 70 (state shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5).
 The connector mounting construction 45 can be mounted on the trim panel 31
 such that the insertion opening 77 of the holder 70 faces up and the
 bottom wall TZ is adhered to the inner surface of the trim panel 31.
 The male housing 50 may be displaced in X-axis or Y-axis directions with
 respect to the holder 70 due to a movement of the trim panel 31 or a
 contact of external matter with the male housing 50 after the connector
 mounting construction 45 is mounted on the trim panel 31. In this
 situation, part of the contact surface 55 of the shaft 53 strikes at least
 one of the facing sides 85A, and elastically deforms the corresponding
 elastic rib 82F or 82R. At this time, if the male housing 50 is displaced
 by a specified distance in the X-axis direction, the base 57 contacts one
 of the side walls 75, thereby preventing the shaft 53 from coming out of
 the bearing hole 87 through a clearance between the corresponding pair of
 the elastic ribs 82F, 82R. Likewise, if the male housing 50 is displaced
 backward (Y-axis direction) by a specified distance, the base 57 contacts
 the rear wall 76, thereby holding the shaft 53 inside the bearing hole 87.
 Further, the locking portions 62 contact the stoppers 78 if the male
 housing 50 is displaced forward (Y-axis direction) by a specified
 distance, thereby preventing the base 57 from exiting though the insertion
 opening 77 and holding the shaft 53 inside the bearing hole 87.
 When the male housing 50 is released from the external force, the elastic
 restoring forces of the elastic ribs 82F, 82R push the shaft 53 back, and,
 as a result, the male housing 50 is returned to its proper position.
 The male housing 50 can be rotated about the Z-axis from the proper
 position due to an external force. In this situation, parts of the outer
 surfaces of the shaft 53 (e.g. the corner portions 54) push the facing
 sides 85A to elastically deform the elastic ribs 82F, 82R. Consequently,
 the male housing 50 may be rotated until the corners near the tapered
 surface 58 or the locking portions 62 of the base 57 contact the side
 walls 75 or the rear wall 76 of the holder 70 to restrict rotation of the
 base 57. This restriction prevents an excessive rotation of the male
 housing 50 with respect to the holder 70, and hence the male housing 50
 will not rotate 900 from the proper position. When the male housing 50 is
 released from the external force, the elastic restoring forces of the
 elastic ribs 82F and 82R cause the shaft 53 to rotate substantially to its
 original position. As a result, the male housing 50 returns to its proper
 position.
 The male housing 50 is held in its proper position by the biasing forces of
 the elastic ribs 82F, 92P, as described above. Thug, it is not necessary
 to return the male housing 50 to its proper position when the male housing
 50 is inadvertently moved during the operation. Further, rotation of the
 male housing 50 beyond a specified amount from the proper position is
 restricted by the contact of the base 57 with the sidewalls 75 or the rear
 wall 76. This prevents the male housing 50 from being rotated excessively
 and, accordingly, prevents the male housing 50 from being unable to return
 to the proper position.
 The female and male housing 40 and 50 are connected by aligning the trim
 panel 31 to face the door frame 30, as shown in FIG. 1, and then bringing
 the trim panel 31 closer to the door frame 30 along the Z-axis direction.
 The female and male housings 40 and 50 may be displaced in X-axis and/or
 Y-axis directions from the axes of connection A. In this situation, the
 slanted surfaces 42 and 52A will contact each other as the leading ends of
 the fittable portions enter the receptacles 52. As the housings 40 and 50
 are brought still closer to each other, the tapered surfaces 42 and 52A
 cause the male housings 50 to slide into positions where they align with
 the corresponding female housings 40 by elastically deforming one or more
 of the elastic ribs 82F, 82R. The female and male housings 40 and 50 also
 may be brought closer to each other while being displaced from each other
 about the 7-axis. In this situation, the tapered surfaces 42 and 52A will
 contact each other when the leading ends of the fittable portions 41 enter
 the receptacles 52. Hence, the male housings 50 rotate about the Z-axis to
 face and align with the female housings 40.
 The fittable portions 41 are inserted further into the receptacles 52 by
 bringing the trim panel 31 closer to the door frame 30 with the housings
 40 and 50 aligned. When the trim panel 31 is aligned in a proper mount
 position with respect to the door frame 30, the male housings 50 return
 substantially to their proper positions or orientations and the housings
 40 and 50 are connected properly with each other. As a result, the
 terminal fittings in the housings 40 and 50 are connected with each other.
 Assembly of the door then can be completed by fixing the trim panel 31 to
 the door frame 30 with unillustrated fastening means.
 The trim panel 31 may be misaligned to the door frame 30 to such an extent
 during assembly that the fittable portions 41 contact the outer surfaces
 of the receptacles 52, thereby displacing the male housings 50 in X-axis
 and/or Y-axis directions or rotating them about the Z-axis. However, in
 such a case, the male housings 50 return to their proper positions or
 orientations, as described above, if the trim panel 31 is brought away
 from the door frame 30. Thus, the operation immediately can be started
 again.
 There may be an error in the mount positions of the holders 70 and the
 female housings 40 between the trim panel 31 and the door frame 30. In
 this situation, the housings 40 and 50 can be connected with each other in
 a way similar to the above. Thus, the male housings 50 are displaced to
 face and align with the female housings 40 after the trim panel 31 is
 assembled into the door frame 30, thereby compensating for the error.
 As described above, the male housing 50 will move to face and align with
 the female housing 40, if either housing 40 or 50 is displaced in X-axis
 and/or Z-axis directions from the axis of connection A or if either
 housing 40 or 50 is displaced about the Z-axis. Thus, a proper connection
 of the housings 40 and 50 can be achieved.
 Further, the male housing 50 is held in its proper position with respect to
 the holder 70 by the biasing forces of the elastic ribs 82F, 82R. Thus,
 the male housing 50 is prevented from being inadvertently moved with
 respect to the holder 70 before being connected with the female housing
 40.
 Furthermore, when the male housing 50 is rotated about the Z-axis by a
 specified amount, the base 57 contacts the side walls 75 or the rear wall
 76 of the holder 70 to restrict the rotation of the holder 70. Thus, for
 example, the male housing 50 will not be turned by 90.degree. from its
 proper position.
 The shaft 99 has a substantially rectangular or square cross section, and
 the four elastic ribs 82F, 82R are provided with facing sides 85A that
 substantially face the corresponding sides of the shaft 53. Hence, the
 shaft 53 can be biased to its proper position along X-axis and Y-axis
 directions and about the Z-axis.
 Further, each of the elastic ribs 82F, 82R includes a pair of legs 84 and
 has a closed hollow shape. Therefore, each rib 82F and 82R has an improved
 strength as compared to the one in the form of a cantilever.
 Furthermore, the base portion 57 is prevented from coming out of the
 accommodating portion 73 by contact of the locking portions 62 with the
 stoppers 78. The locking portions 62 can pass the insertion opening 77 by
 elastically deforming the locking pieces 61.
 The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example,
 following embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the
 invention as defined in the claims. Besides these embodiments, various
 changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the
 invention as defined in the claims.
 Although the inventive connector mounting construction is applied to the
 vehicle door in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is also
 applicable to other parts of the vehicle.
 Although the male housing 50 is in the floating state in the foregoing
 embodiment, the female housing may be in a floating state with the male
 housing fixed according to the present invention.
 Although the mating female housings 40 are fixed to the door frame 30 in
 the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is also applicable even if
 the mating housings are not fixed. In such a case, if the elastic ribs are
 held in close contact with the shaft portion to constantly bias the shaft
 portion to the proper position or orientation, the female and male
 housings can be held in the proper position with respect to the holder
 even if a vehicle or the like is moved after assembling, thereby
 preventing the female and male housings from shaking.
 Although the shaft 53 has a substantially square cross section in the
 foregoing embodiment, the shape thereof is not limited to it. For example,
 the shaft 53 may have a shape of a quadrilateral such as a rectangle or a
 rhombus, a triangle or a pentagon or the like polygon. Then, the number of
 elastic ribs is preferably adapted to the type of polygon.
 Although the four elastic ribs 62F, 62R having a closed hollow shape are
 provided in the foregoing embodiment, the number thereof is not limited
 thereto according to the present invention. Further, the shape of the
 shaft 53 is not limited to the one of the foregoing embodiment, and may
 take a shape of a cantilever.
 Although the locking portions 62 are enabled to pass the insertion opening
 77 by the inward elastic deformation of the locking pieces 61 with respect
 to widthwise direction in the foregoing embodiment, the stoppers may,
 conversely, be made elastically deformable according to the present
 invention.
 A part of the ribs 82F; 82R may be rigid or semi-rigid so that the other
 ribs 82F, 82R with elastic properties exert the biasing force in the
 desired direction, i.e. to substantially return the shaft 53 and the male
 housing 50 to its proper position or orientation.