Connector with retainer

A connector with retainer includes a housing (20) configured such that terminal fittings (10) are inserted thereinto from behind, and a front retainer (40) to be mounted into the housing (20) from front. The housing (20) includes locking lances (31) capable of locking the terminal fittings (10) inserted to a proper position. The locking lances (31) are cantilevered forward. The front retainer (40) includes ribs (45) configured to enter spaces (S2) lateral to the locking lances (31). The ribs (45) are disposed in a height range of locking portions (32) of the locking lances (31) to be locked to the terminal fittings (10).

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector with retainer.

Description of the Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-235050 discloses a connector with a housing into which a terminal fitting is inserted from behind. A locking lance is cantilevered forward in the housing and is capable of locking a properly inserted terminal fitting. The locking lance retracts into a deflection space by being pushed by the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting is inserted, and resiliently returns to lock the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting is inserted properly. A side retainer is mounted through the lower surface of the housing and enters the deflection space for the terminal fitting to restrict the retraction of the locking lance that locks the terminal fitting. In this way, a displacement of the locking lance in an unlocking direction is prevented and the terminal fitting is held without separating even if a rearward force (force in a separating direction) acts on the terminal fitting.

However, a space is present at both left and right sides of the locking lance in the above-described configuration. Thus, the locking lance may deflect laterally when the terminal fitting is pulled strongly rearward. If the locking lance is bent laterally, a holding force expected to hold the terminal fitting may not be ensured.

The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to provide a connector with retainer capable of ensuring a stable high holding force.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a connector with a housing configured so that at least one terminal fitting can be inserted therein. At least one locking lance is cantilevered forward in the housing and is capable of locking the terminal fitting inserted to a substantially proper position. A front retainer is to be mounted to the housing substantially from the front. The front retainer includes at least one rib configured to enter at least one space lateral to the locking lance. The rib is disposed in a height range of a locking portion of the locking lance to be locked to the terminal fitting.

The rib may constitute a part of a lateral wall disposed laterally of the terminal fitting in a state located in the lateral space. According to this configuration, the configuration of the housing can be simplified as compared to the case where the housing constitutes the entire bottom wall.

The housing may include plural cavities for at least partly accommodating plural terminal fittings, and the rib constitutes a part of a partition wall partitioning between adjacent cavities when the rib is in the lateral space. Accordingly, the configuration of the housing can be simplified as compared to the case where the housing constitutes the entire partition wall.

The rib may include at least one guiding surface for guiding into the lateral space. According to this configuration, the rib smoothly enters the space lateral to the locking lance so that the front retainer can be mounted smoothly.

One or more tool holes may be provided in the front retainer for insertion of a tool for retracting the locking lance into a deflection space.

The front retainer may include a deflection restricting portion for restricting a deflection and deformation of the locking lance by at least partly entering a deflection spaces thereof.

The front retainer may be mountable at a partial locking position where the deflection restricting portion is retracted from the deflection space and a full locking position where the deflection restricting portion is in the deflection space.

An interval between adjacent ribs arranged across the deflection restricting portion may be larger than the width of the locking lance.

According to the present invention, lateral bending of the locking lance can be prevented by the rib having entered the space lateral to the locking lance. Here, the locking portion of the locking lance to be locked to the terminal fitting is a part on which a largest force acts when the terminal fitting is pulled rearward. Since the rib is disposed in the height range of the locking portion, lateral bending of the locking lance can be reliably prevented. Thus, a stable high holding force can be ensured.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon, reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are described separately, single features may be combined to additional embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One specific embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 12.

A connector with retainer (hereinafter, merely referred to as a connector C) in this embodiment is a male connector with a housing20configured such that male terminal fittings10each including a tab portion11on a front end are inserted thereinto from behind, and a front retainer40to be mounted into the housing20from front. In the following description, a connection surface side (left side ofFIG. 2) to an unillustrated mating connector is referred to as a front side, an opposite side (right side ofFIG. 2) is referred to as a rear side, and upper and lower sides ofFIG. 2are referred to as upper and lower sides in each constituent member.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal fitting10is shaped to be long and narrow as a whole, and a wire connecting portion12to be connected to an end part of a wire W is provided on a rear end part. The tab11projects forward from the front end of a terminal body1and contacts an unillustrated female terminal fitting for electrical connection. The tab11is substantially in the form of a flat plate formed by folding a metal plate material. Note that the tip of the tab11is tapered.

The terminal body13is provided with a lock receiving portion14lockable by a locking lance31of the housing20to be described later. The lock receiving portion14is provided at an intermediate part of the terminal body13in a front-rear direction and projects outward from an outer surface of the terminal body13. The lock receiving portion14is located substantially at a widthwise center of the terminal body13. The rear surface of the lock receiving portion14is an upright surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

The housing20is made of synthetic resin and includes a terminal accommodating portion21for accommodating the terminal fittings10and a receptacle22that can fit to a mating housing.

Cavities23are provided in the terminal accommodating portion21for individually accommodating the terminal fittings10. The cavities23are provided separately in stages (two stages in this embodiment) in a vertical direction, and cavities23(two in this embodiment) are arranged in each stage.

The terminal accommodating portion21is provided with front walls24, ceiling walls25and side walls26on both left and right ends, partition walls26A partitioning between adjacent cavities23and bottom walls27of the respective cavities23.

The front wall24is provided with a tab insertion hole28through which the tab portion11is inserted. The tab insertion hole28is a hole closed over the entire periphery and penetrates through the front wall24in the front-rear direction while having a laterally long rectangular shape. A guiding surface29capable of guiding the tab portion11into the tab insertion hole28is formed in the rear surface of the front wall24. The guiding surface29is provided around (upper, lower, left and right sides) of the tab insertion hole28and inclined to gradually narrow a width of the cavity23toward the tab insertion hole28.

The bottom wall27is provided in a substantially rear half of each cavity23, and the locking lance31capable of locking the terminal fitting10inserted to a proper position is provided in front of the bottom wall27. The locking lance31is cantilevered forward with a base end side coupled to the bottom wall27. The locking lance31is resiliently deflectable in the vertical direction. The locking lance31is provided in a widthwise center of each cavity23, and a space is present at both left and right sides of the locking lance31. A width of the locking lance31is equivalent to that of the tab11.

A locking surface (locking portion)32is provided on the upper surface of the locking lance31(seeFIG. 2) and is lockable to the rear surface of the lock receiving portion14from behind. The locking surface32is upright to be substantially perpendicular to an inserting/withdrawing direction of the terminal fitting10. The locking surface32is formed on a projecting portion31A projecting on the upper surface of the locking lance31. The projecting portion31A extends over the entire width of the locking lance31. The upper surface of the locking lance31(upper surface of the projecting portion31A) is inclined gently down from the upper end of the locking surface32toward a rear side. Note that a front part of the locking lance31projects slightly farther forward than the locking surface32.

A deflection space S1for allowing the locking lance31to be deflected is below the locking lance31. The locking lance31retracts into the deflection space S1by being pushed by the terminal fitting10when the terminal fitting10is inserted, and resiliently returns to lock the terminal fitting10when the terminal fitting10is inserted properly. The deflection space S1is open forward.

The terminal accommodating portion21is provided with a retainer accommodating portion33for accommodating the front retainer40. The retainer accommodating portion33is a space provided in a front part of the terminal accommodating portion21and allowing the peripheries of the locking lances31to be open forward.

The retainer accommodating portion33includes insertion spaces S into which ribs45of the front retainer40are inserted from front (seeFIG. 11). The insertion spaces S2are provided laterally (at both left and right sides) of the locking lances31. As shown inFIG. 10, the insertion space S2has a height equivalent to that of the locking lance31, is open forward and communicates with the deflection space S1in a lateral direction. The insertion space S2located between adjacent cavities23communicates in the lateral direction via a cut portion39formed in the partition wall26A. Further, the insertion spaces S2located at both left and right ends of the adjacent cavities23(both ends in an arrangement direction) serve as recesses39B formed on the side walls26as shown inFIG. 12.

The retainer accommodating portion33is provided with body accommodating portions33A for accommodating body constituting portions43of the front retainer40to be described later. One body accommodating portion33A is provided on each of upper and lower sides to correspond to the cavities23in the upper stage and the cavities23in the lower stage. The body accommodating portion33A allows lower parts of the adjacent cavities23to communicate, is open forward and has a laterally long shape when the body accommodating portion33A is viewed from front. The locking lances31of the cavities23, the deflection spaces S1and the insertion spaces S2in each stage are allowed to be respectively collectively open forward by each body accommodating portion33A.

The housing20is provided with fitting receiving portions34into which fittings46of the front retainer40to be described later can fit (seeFIG. 9). The fitting receiving portions34are provided on both side surfaces of the terminal accommodating portion21. Ridges35extending in the front-rear direction are provided at both upper and lower sides of each fitting receiving portion34.

The fitting receiving portion34is provided with a partial locking projection36lockable when the front retainer40is at a partial locking position and a full locking projection37lockable when the front retainer40is at a full locking position. The partial locking projection36and the full locking projection37project on each of the both side surfaces of the terminal accommodating portion21. The partial locking projection36is located on a front side and the full locking projection37is located on a rear side, and the partial locking projection36is located on an upper side and the full locking projection37is located on a lower side. A projecting dimension of the partial locking projection36is smaller than that of the full locking projection37(seeFIG. 1).

The receptacle22has a tubular shape and projects forward from the terminal accommodating portion21. The receptacle22is enlarged slightly more outward than the receptacle22. The back wall of the receptacle22is provided with passage portions38for allowing the fitting portions46of the front retainer40to pass to the fitting receiving portions34(seeFIGS. 1 and 11). The passage portions38are holes having a vertically long rectangular shape and penetrating through the back wall of the receptacle22in the front-rear direction.

The front retainer40includes deflection restricting portions42for restricting the deflection and deformation of the locking lances31by entering the deflection spaces S1. The front retainer40is mountable at the partial locking position PLP (seeFIG. 10) where the deflection restricting portions42are retracted forward from the deflection spaces S1and the full locking position FLP (seeFIG. 2) where the deflection restricting portions42are in the deflection spaces S1.

The deflection restricting portions42are provided on a body portion (hereinafter, referred to as a retainer body portion41) of the front retainer40(seeFIG. 8). As shown inFIG. 5, the retainer body portion41includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) body constituting portions43provided to correspond to the number of stages of the cavities23, and coupling walls44vertically coupling the body constituting portions43.

The coupling walls44are provided on both left and right end parts of the body constituting portions43, and the retainer body portion41is in the form of a rectangular tube (box) open on both front and rear sides as a whole.

The deflection restricting portions42are provided to correspond to the respective locking lances31, and two deflection restricting portions42are provided on each body constituting portion43. The deflection restricting portion42has a thickness equivalent to a height of the deflection space S1in a natural state where the locking lance31is not resiliently deflected and a width equivalent to that of the locking lance31. The ribs45configured to enter the insertion spaces S2of the locking lances31are provided on both sides of each deflection restricting portion42. The ribs45are described in detail later.

As shown inFIG. 5, the coupling walls44project further rearward than the body constituting portions43, and parts projecting rearward from the body constituting portions43serve as the fitting portions46. The fitting portion46is in the form of a wall and a pair of the fitting portions46are provided to face each other on both left and right sides of the front retainer40. The fitting portion46is provided with a locking ridge47lockable to the partial locking projection36when the front retainer40is at the partial locking position PLP and lockable to the full locking projection37when the front retainer40is at the full locking position FLP. The locking ridge47projects along an outer edge part of the fitting portion46. The locking ridge47includes a part extending along the rear edge of the fitting portion46and parts extending along both upper and lower edges.

Tool holes48into which an unillustrated tool for retracting the locking lance31into the deflection space S1when the terminal fitting10is withdrawn for maintenance or the like are provided in a front part of the front retainer40. The tool hole48is in the form of a groove open on both front and rear sides and an upper side. The upper sides of the tool holes48are closed by the front walls24as shown inFIG. 2when the front retainer40is at the full locking position FLP. In other words, an opening in the front surface of the housing20is closed except at the tool holes48when the front retainer40is at the full locking position FLP.

As shown inFIG. 10, a stepped surface49is formed between the bottom surface of the tool hole48and the upper surface of the deflection restricting portion42. The stepped surface49is inclined down from the tool hole48toward the deflection restricting portion42. The stepped surface49is located substantially in a center of the retainer body41in the front-rear direction.

As shown inFIG. 8, the ribs45project on both sides of each deflection restricting portion42. The ribs45of the upper body constituting portion43project slightly further upward than the coupling walls44as shown inFIG. 6. The rear ends of the ribs45and the rear ends of the deflection restricting portions42are aligned in the front-rear direction (seeFIG. 8).

An interval between the ribs45arranged across the deflection restricting portion42is slightly larger than the width of the locking lance31(seeFIG. 11). Note that the interval between the ribs45is larger than the width of the tool hole48.

The ribs45are retracted from the insertion spaces S2as shown inFIG. 11when the front retainer40is at the partial locking position PLP, and the ribs45are located in the insertion spaces S2as shown inFIG. 2when the front retainer40is at the full locking position FLP.

The ribs45have such a width to fill up spaces present at both left and right sides of the locking lances31as shown inFIG. 12. The ribs45include ribs configured to enter the insertion spaces S2between (inward of) adjacent locking lances31(hereinafter, referred to as intermediate ribs45A) and ribs configured to enter the insertion spaces S2outward of the locking lances31(both outer sides of the adjacent locking lances31) (hereinafter, referred to as end ribs45B). A width of the intermediate rib45A is larger than a thickness (lateral dimension) of the partition wall26A. Both side surfaces (both left and right side surfaces) of the intermediate rib45A project toward a center of each cavity23than slightly more than both side surfaces of the partition wall26A. Further, a side surface of the end rib45B projects toward a widthwise center of the cavity23slightly more than a side surface of the side wall26.

A height of the ribs45matches a height of the insertion spaces S2. In a state located in the insertion space S2, the rib45constitutes parts of the bottom wall27, the side wall26and the partition wall26A of the cavity23.

Specifically, a part of the rib45located below the terminal body portion13of the terminal fitting10constitutes a part of the bottom wall27. Parts extending along both left and right side edges constitute bottom walls27in the intermediate rib45A, and a part extending along an inner edge constitutes the bottom wall27in the end rib45B. Further, the intermediate rib45A constitutes a part of the partition wall26A and the end rib45B constitutes a part of the side wall26.

The rib45is arranged in a height range of the locking surface32of the locking lance31to be locked to the terminal fitting10(seeFIG. 2). The upper surface (hereinafter, referred to as a projecting end surface51) of the rib45is located at the same height as the upper surface of the locking lance31(upper end of the locking surface32) substantially in a natural state. The projecting end surface51is a flat surface substantially parallel to the inserting direction of the terminal fitting10. When the front retainer40is mounted into the housing20, the projecting end surfaces51are located at the same height as the lower ends of the guiding surfaces29.

An inclined surface52gradually inclined upward toward the front is formed on a rear end part of the rib45. The front end of the inclined surface52is connected to the projecting end surface51(seeFIG. 5).

Further, a guiding surface55for guiding the rib45into the insertion space S2is provided on a rear end part of the rib45. As shown inFIG. 8, the guiding surface55is inclined to gradually increase the width of the rib45(gradually narrow an interval between adjacent ribs45) from the rear end of the rib45toward the front. The guiding surface55is formed over the entire height of the rib45. The guiding surfaces55are formed on both left and right sides of the intermediate rib45A and on an inner side of the end rib45B.

Next, an example of an assembling operation of the connector C of this embodiment is described.

First, the front retainer40is mounted at the partial locking position. The front retainer40is fit into the receptacle22from front and the fitting portions46are inserted into the passage portions38. The fitting portions46reach the fitting receiving portions34and the locking ridges47move over the partial locking projections36to lock the partial locking projections36(seeFIG. 9). The locking ridges47are fit between the partial locking projections36and the full locking projections37to restrict a movement of the front retainer40in the front-rear direction. At this time, substantially a half of the retainer body portion41projects forward from the retainer accommodating portion33, and the deflection restricting portions42and the ribs45are retracted forward of the locking lances31(seeFIG. 11).

Subsequently, the terminal fittings10are inserted into the cavities23. When the terminal fitting10is inserted into the cavity23from behind, the tab11passes above the locking lance31and moves toward the tab insertion hole28.

When the tab portion11enters the tab insertion hole28, the terminal fitting10is held substantially in a horizontal posture and moves forward while the lock receiving portion14pushes and retracts the locking lance31into the deflection space S1. When the terminal fitting10reaches a proper position, the lock receiving portion14moves over the locking surface32of the locking lance31, the locking lance31resiliently returns and the locking surface32is locked to the lock receiving portion14. In this way, the terminal fitting10is retained.

Subsequently, the front retainer40is mounted at the full locking position FLP. After the insertion of all the terminal fittings10to the proper positions is completed, the front retainer40held at the partial locking position PLP is moved (e.g. pushed) towards the full locking position FLP, e.g. rearward. The fitting portions46move as shown by chain double-dashed line ofFIG. 9, and the locking ridges47move over the full locking projections37to be locked to the rear surfaces of the full locking projections37. In this way, a forward movement of the retainer is restricted. Further, the ribs45having entered the insertion spaces S2are respectively fit into the cut portions39A or the recesses39B, thereby preventing the front retainer40from being pushed farther.

With the front retainer40disposed at the full locking position, the entire retainer body portion41is accommodated in the retainer accommodating portion33(seeFIG. 2). The deflection restricting portions42enter the deflection spaces S1and the ribs45enter the insertion spaces S2. Since having the guiding surfaces55, the ribs45are smoothly guided into the insertion spaces S2without being caught by the front ends of the locking lances31. Resilient deflection of the locking lances31is restricted by the deflection restricting portions42having entered the deflection spaces S1, whereby the terminal fittings10are reliably retained. The terminal body portions13have the lower surfaces supported by the locking lances31and the ribs45.

In the above way, the assembling operation of the connector C is completed.

Next, functions and effects of the embodiment configured as described above are described.

The connector C of this embodiment includes the housing20configured such that the terminal fittings10are inserted thereinto from behind, and the front retainer40to be mounted into the housing20from front, the housing20includes the locking lances31capable of locking the terminal fittings10inserted to the proper position, and the locking lances31are cantilevered forward. The front retainer40includes the ribs45configured to enter the insertion spaces S2lateral to the locking lances31, and the ribs45are disposed in the height range of the locking surfaces32of the locking lances31to be locked to the terminal fittings10. According to this configuration, lateral bending of the locking lances31can be prevented by the ribs45having entered the insertion spaces S2lateral to the locking lances31. Here, the locking surface32of the locking lance31to be locked to the terminal fitting10is a part on which a largest force acts when the terminal fitting10is pulled rearward. Since the ribs45are disposed in the height range of such locking surfaces32, lateral bending (lateral bending deformation) of the locking lances31can be reliably prevented. Thus, the locking lances31can maintain a proper shape and ensure a stable high holding force.

Further, in a state located in the insertion space S2, the rib45constitutes a part of the bottom wall27disposed below the terminal fitting10. According to this configuration, the configuration of the housing20can be simplified as compared to the case where the housing constitutes the entire bottom wall.

Further, the housing20includes the plurality of cavities23for accommodating the terminal fittings10, and the rib45constitutes a part of the partition wall26A partitioning between adjacent cavities23in the state located in the insertion space S2. According to this configuration, the configuration of the housing20can be simplified as compared to the case where the housing constitutes the entire partition wall.

Further, the rib45includes the guiding surface55for guiding into the insertion space S2. According to this configuration, since the rib45smoothly enters the insertion space S2lateral to the locking lance31, the front retainer40can be smoothly mounted (moved to the full locking position).

The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments also are included in the scope of the invention.

Although the connector C is illustrated to be a male connector in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and the connector may be a female connector.

Although the ribs45are provided to enter the insertion spaces S2at both sides of the locking lances31in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this. For example, a rib may be provided to enter only an insertion space at one side of each locking lance such as when the locking lance is provided near one side of the cavity.

Although the rib45is provided with the guiding surface55in the above embodiment, the guiding surface needs not necessarily be provided.

Although a locking structure of the terminal fitting10and the locking lance31is illustrated in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this. For example, the lock receiving portion of the terminal fitting may not be a projection, but may be a rear end edge of the terminal body portion.

REFERENCE SIGNS