PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
A connector assembly has first and second housings ( 150, 10 ). Terminal fittings ( 112 ) are inserted into cavities ( 11 ) of the second housing ( 10 ) and are locked partially by locks formed in the second housing ( 10 ). A slider ( 30 ) is mounted in second housing ( 10 ) and engages a cam ( 43 ) in the first housing ( 150 ) to generate a cam action that helps to connect the housings ( 10, 150 ). The slider ( 30 ) has at least one retaining portion ( 136 ) that secondarily locks properly inserted terminal fittings ( 112 ) in the second housing ( 10 ). An inability to move the slider ( 30 ) provides an indication that at least one terminal fitting ( 112 ) is not inserted properly.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a connector, to a connector assembly and to assembling methods therefor.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,054 discloses a connector with means for correcting the position of a terminal fitting that has been inserted insufficiently into a housing. More particularly, a correcting member is inserted into the housing at a right angle to an inserting direction of the terminal fitting. The correcting member has a slanted surface that contacts the insufficiently inserted terminal fitting and moves the terminal fitting to a proper position.  
         [0005]     Some connectors have a first housing fixed to a vehicle body or the like and a second housing that is pushed into the first housing for connection. The second housing of the above-described connector may be difficult to push depending on the orientation of the first housing.  
         [0006]     Some such connectors have a slider mounted on one housing for movement perpendicular to a connecting direction. The slider has a cam groove that engages a cam on the other housing. Movement of the slider creates a cam effect to facilitate connection of the two housings.  
         [0007]     An attempt could be made to apply the means for correcting the positions of the terminal fittings to the above-described connector. However, a correcting member needs to be provided in addition to the slider, thereby presenting a problem of increasing the number of parts.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0136714 discloses a connector with a female housing, a male housing and a slider to connect and separate the housings. The slider is inserted and withdrawn in directions intersecting with a connecting direction of the two housings. Cavities are formed in a housing main body of the female housing for receiving female terminal fittings. A retainer for retaining the female terminal fittings in the cavities is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the housing main body.  
         [0009]     However, in the construction as above, the retainer must be provided in addition to the slider to retain the female terminal fittings, thereby presenting a problem of increasing the number of parts.  
         [0010]     The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to provide a suitable operability while avoiding an increase in the number of parts.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The invention relates to a connector with a housing that has terminal fittings mounted therein. The housing is connectable with a mating housing of a mating connector along a connecting direction. A movable member is assembled with the housing and is movable at an angle to the connecting direction. The movable member has at least one cam that engages a cam on the mating housing. The cams cooperate to connect the housing with the mating housing as the movable member is moved. The movable member may have at least one slanted surface for moving an insufficiently inserted terminal fitting to a proper insertion position by engaging the insufficiently inserted terminal fitting as the movable member is assembled with the housing and/or operated to connect the housing with the mating housing. The connector has fewer parts than a connector with a separate terminal position correcting member in addition to the movable member.  
         [0012]     The housing preferably is connectable with the mating housing substantially parallel with an inserting direction of the terminal fittings into the housing.  
         [0013]     The movable member preferably is a slider in the form of a single plate. Thus, an accommodation space for the slider in the housing is small, and the entire connector can be smaller.  
         [0014]     The terminal fittings preferably are arranged at least at first and second stages in the housing, and the movable member is accommodated between the first and second stages of terminal fittings. As a result, connection resistance from friction between the terminal fittings is balanced with respect to the slider. Therefore, a forcible connection of the housings in an inclined posture is less likely.  
         [0015]     The invention also relates to a connector assembly comprising the above described connector and a mating connector.  
         [0016]     The housing of the connector preferably has cavities for receiving the terminal fittings. Each has a lock for primarily locking the respective terminal fitting. The movable member includes at least one retainer for secondarily locking the terminal fittings inserted into the cavities to retain the terminal fittings as the movable member is assembled into the second housing or as the movable member is operated. The movable member functions to connect the two housings and to lock the terminal fittings in the cavities. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a separate retainer in addition to the movable member. Accordingly, the connector has fewer parts and can be assembled more easily.  
         [0017]     The movable member preferably is a slider with a cam groove that engages a cam pin on the mating housing. The two housings are connected by a cam action of the engagement of the cam pin and the cam groove upon assembling the slider. The slider preferably includes a retainer for fully locking the terminal fittings inserted into the cavities to retain the terminal fittings as the slider is assembled into the second housing. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a separate retainer in addition to the slider.  
         [0018]     The housing preferably has a slider accommodating portion for receiving the slider. The slider accommodating portion extends in a direction intersecting the cavities. A communicating portion is formed along an inserting direction of the slider between the slider accommodating portion and the cavities so that the slider accommodating portion and the cavities communicate with each other. A retaining portion of the slider preferably passes along the communicating portion as the slider is inserted into the slider accommodating portion, and is located on insertion and withdrawal paths for the terminal fittings in the respective cavities to secondarily lock the terminal fittings secondarily when the slider is inserted completely.  
         [0019]     An insufficient insertion detecting surface may be formed on the slider for contacting an insufficiently inserted terminal fitting and preventing movement of the slider. Thus, the insufficiently inserted state of the terminal fittings can be known.  
         [0020]     Plural cavities preferably are juxtaposed along the inserting direction of the slider. The retaining portion of the slider preferably has an elongated shape that extends substantially continuously over the juxtaposed cavities. The continuously extending retaining portion is stronger than an interrupted retaining portion.  
         [0021]     The slider preferably has a substantially plate-shaped main body that is inserted into the slider accommodating portion. The cavities are arranged at an upper side and a lower side of the main body with respect to the thickness direction of the main body. The slider is between the cavities at the upper side and those at the lower side and retaining portions are provided on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the main body. Accordingly, the main body is used commonly for the cavities at the upper and lower sides.  
         [0022]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a slider at a partial locking position in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the slider at a full locking position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a front view showing the slider at the full locking position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a rear view showing the slider at the full locking position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a section of a first housing,  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the slider.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a slanted surface in contact with an insufficiently inserted first terminal fitting.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a state reached by moving the insufficiently inserted first terminal fitting to a proper insertion position by the slanted surface.  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the slider.  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the slider.  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a right side view of the slider.  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a second housing.  
         [0035]      FIG. 13  is a section along  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 14  is a section along  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a plan view in section of a connector according to one further embodiment of the invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 16  is a front view of a female housing.  
         [0039]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of the female housing.  
         [0040]      FIG. 18  is a left side view of the female housing.  
         [0041]      FIG. 19  is a side view in section of the female housing having female terminal fittings inserted therein.  
         [0042]      FIG. 20  is a side view in section of the female housing.  
         [0043]      FIG. 21  is a plan view in section of the connector with a slider at a partial locking position.  
         [0044]      FIG. 22  is a top view of the slider.  
         [0045]      FIG. 23  is a bottom view of the slider.  
         [0046]      FIG. 24  is a front view of the slider.  
         [0047]      FIG. 25  is a right side view of the slider.  
         [0048]      FIG. 26  is a front view of a male housing.  
         [0049]      FIG. 27  is a plan view in section of the male housing.  
         [0050]      FIG. 28  is a side view in section of the male housing.  
         [0051]      FIG. 29  is a front view showing a state reached by inserting the slider to a partial locking position or first position in the female housing.  
         [0052]      FIG. 30  is a plan view showing the state reached by inserting the slider to the partial locking position or first position in the female housing.  
         [0053]      FIG. 31  is a plan view in section showing a state during movement of the slider from the partial locking position to a full locking position.  
         [0054]      FIG. 32  is a plan view in section showing the slider at the full locking position.  
         [0055]      FIG. 33  is a plan view in section showing the slider withdrawn. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0056]     A first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  14 . A connector of this embodiment has a first housing  10  and a second housing  40  that are connectable with and separable from each other. A slider  30  is assembled with the first housing  10  and can be operated along an operation direction OD for connecting the two housings  10 ,  40 . The operation direction OD is substantially perpendicular to connecting and separating directions CSD of the two housings  10 ,  40 .  
         [0057]     The first housing  10  is substantially in the form of a rectangular block, and plurality of cavities  11 A,  11 B are formed at upper and lower stages therein. Specifically, two cavities  11 A are formed at the upper stage, whereas three cavities  11 B are formed substantially side by side at the lower stage. A resiliently deformable lock  12 A is cantilevered along a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the cavities and extends substantially forward along the upper wall of each cavity  11 A at the upper stage. Similarly, a resiliently deformable lock  12 B is cantilevered along a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the cavities and extends substantially forward along the bottom wall of each cavity  11 B at the other lower stage.  
         [0058]     A substantially flat accommodation space  14  is formed in a partition wall  13  that partitions the cavities at the upper and lower cavities  11 A,  11 B and opens in the right outer surface of the first housing  10 . The partition wall  13  also has communication holes  15 A that communicate with the accommodation space  14  and the upper cavities  11 A and communication holes  15 B that communicate with the accommodation space  14  and the lower cavities  11 B. A part of the first housing  10  between the left and right cavities  11 A at the upper stage is cut away to form an escaping recess  16  that openings in the front and upper surfaces of the first housing  10 . The escaping recess  16  communicates with the accommodation space  14 . Further, upper and lower protections  17  are formed near the rear end of the right outer surface of the first housing  10 .  
         [0059]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are inserted into the respective cavities  11 A,  11 B from behind and along a direction ID substantially parallel to the connecting and separating directions CSD of the two housings  10 ,  40 . Each first terminal fitting  20 A,  20 B is long and narrow in forward and backward directions. A rectangular tubular terminal connecting portion  21 A,  21 B is formed at the front of each first terminal fitting  20 A,  20 B and a wire connecting portion  22 A,  22 B at the rear. The front end of a wire  25 A,  25 B is connected electrically with each wire connecting portion  22 A,  22 B by crimping, bending, folding, insulation displacement, soldering or the like. A cut is made in the upper wall of the terminal connecting portion  21 A of each first terminal fitting  20 A inserted into the upper cavity  11 A to form a locking hole (not shown), and the bottom edge of the rear end of the terminal connecting portion  21 A serves as an engaging portion  23 A. Similarly a cut is made in the bottom wall of the terminal connecting portion  21 A of each first terminal fitting  20 A inserted into the lower cavity  11 A to form a locking hole (not shown), and the upper edge of the rear end of the terminal connecting portion  21 A serves as an engaging portion  23 A. The first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are inserted to proper positions PIP where further forward movement is stopped by front walls  10 F of the cavities  11 A,  11 B, and where the locks  12 A,  12 B engage the locking holes. Thus, the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are retained in the first housing  10  and the engaging portions  23 A,  23 B at the rear ends of the terminal connecting portions  21 A,  21 B face the front edges of the communicating holes  15 A,  15 B. With the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B insufficiently inserted and at positions offset behind the proper insertion positions PIP, the locking holes do not engage with the locks  12 A,  12 B and the engaging portions  23 A,  23 B at the rear ends of the terminal accommodating portions  21 A,  21 B facing the communicating holes  15 A,  15 B.  
         [0060]     The slider  30  is made e.g. of a synthetic resin and is substantially in the form of a single plate that is in a transverse direction TD, which is substantially parallel to the operating direction OD. The slider  30  has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main portion  31 , and a cam groove  32  is formed in an upper side of the main portion  31 . The cam groove  32  is oblique both to connecting and separating directions CSD and to transverse direction TD. An entrance  32 E to the cam groove  32  is located near the left end of the front edge of the main portion  31 . A partial locking piece  33  is cantilevered from the left end of the main portion  31  and extends to the left near the rear edge of the main portion  31 . The partial locking piece  33  is resiliently deformable in directions substantially normal to the transverse direction CD and the operating direction OD. A partial locking projection  34  is formed at the extending left end of the upper surface of the partial locking piece  33 . The left surface of the partial locking projection  34  comprises a guiding slanted surface  34 L sloped down to the left. The opposite right surface of the partial locking projection  34  is a locking surface  34 R that extends substantially at a right angle to the horizontal assembling direction of the slider  30  into the first housing  10 . A resiliently deformable full locking piece  35  extends laterally to the right in a right-half area of the main portion  31  and is resiliently deformable vertically and substantially normal to the transverse direction CD. A full locking projection  36  is formed on the lower surface of the full locking resilient piece  35  and has left and right surfaces inclined to an operating direction OD of the slider  30 , which is horizontal in the figures. The slider  30  also has two knobs  37  in the form of ribs that project up and down along the right surface of the main portion  31 .  
         [0061]     An upper stage protrusion  38 A is formed between the cam groove  32  and the partial locking resilient piece  33  at the left end of the upper surface of the main portion  31 . The upper stage protrusion  38 A is narrow and long in the transverse direction TD. An upper-stage slanted surface  39 A is formed at the corresponding left end of the front surface of the upper-stage protrusion  38 A and is oblique to transverse direction TD. On the other hand, a lower-stage protrusion  38 B is formed between the cam groove  32  and the partial locking resilient piece  33  at the opposite left end of the lower surface of the main portion  31 . The lower-stage protrusion  38 B is substantially narrow and long in the transverse direction TD. A lower-stage slanted surface  39 B is formed at the left end of the front surface of the lower-stage protrusion  38 B and is oblique to transverse direction TD.  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the second housing  40  is to be fixed to a device e.g. of an automotive vehicle. A rectangular tubular receptacle  41  projects forward on the second housing  40  and long narrow second terminal fittings  45 A,  45 B project forward in the receptacle  41 . The second terminal fittings  45 A,  45 B are arranged at upper and lower stages corresponding to the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B. A support  42  projects down from the upper wall of the receptacle  41  and is substantially normal to the connecting and separating directions CSD. A substantially cylindrical cam follower  43  projects down from the lower surface of the support  42  and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the connecting direction CSD of the two housings  10 ,  40 . A notch  44  extends substantially straight back from the front edge of the left wall of the receptacle  41  for avoiding the interference with the slider  30  during connection of the two housings  10 ,  40   
         [0063]     The first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are inserted into the cavities  11 A,  11 B of the first housing  10  from behind and along an inserting direction ID before the slider  30  is assembled into the first housing  10 . The first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are held at the proper positions PIP by the engagement of the locks  12 A and  12 B in the locking holes. The engaging portions  23 A,  23 B at the rear ends of the connecting portions  21 A,  21 B of the insufficiently inserted first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B face the communication holes  15 A,  15 B.  
         [0064]     After all the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B are inserted, the slider  30  is inserted into the accommodation space  14  from the right and along a mounting direction that is substantially parallel to the operating direction OD. In the assembling process, the upper-stage protrusion  38 A and the lower-stage protrusion  38 B project into the cavities  11 A,  11 B through the communication holes  15 A,  15 B, and are moved laterally to the left and substantially perpendicular to the inserting direction ID of the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B in the cavities  11 A,  11 B as the slider  30  is moved in the operating direction OD. At this time, the upper-stage slanted surface  39 A contacts the engaging portions  23 A of any insufficiently inserted first terminal fittings  20 A and presses the engaging portion  23 A, as shown in  FIG. 7  as the slider  30  is moved. As a result, the insufficiently inserted first terminal fitting  20 A is pushed forward or in the inserting direction ID to the proper insertion position PIP (see  FIG. 8 ) and is held retained by the lock  12 A. Similarly, the lower-stage slanted surface  39 B contacts the engaging portion  23 B of any insufficiently inserted first terminal fitting  20 B in the cavity  11 B at the lower stage and moves the insufficiently inserted first terminal fitting  20 B to the proper insertion position PIP. In this way, insertion of the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B into the first housing  10  is completed.  
         [0065]     The first housing  10  then is transported to an assembling site for connection with the second housing  40 . At this time, the slider  30  mounted in the accommodation space  14  is once pulled back to a partial locking position  1 P shown in  FIG. 1 . The locking surface  34 R of the partial locking projection  34  then engages the bottom end of the right inner surface of the escaping recess  16  and prevents the slider  30  from being withdrawn laterally to the right from the first housing  10 . With the slider  30  held at the partial locking position  1 P, the entrance  32 E of the cam groove  32  is located in the escaping recess  16  and can wait on standby to be engaged with the cam follower  43 .  
         [0066]     The housings  10 ,  40  are connected by lightly fitting the first housing  10  into the receptacle  41  so that the cam follower  43  is inserted into the entrance  32 E of the cam groove  32  while being moved relatively in the escaping recess  16 . Subsequently, the knobs  37  of the slider  30  are pushed laterally from the right to push the slider  30  along the operating direction OD and into the first housing  10 . The first housing  10  is pulled toward the second housing  40  as the slider  30  is moved due to a cam action between the cam groove  32  and the cam follower  43 . The housings  10 ,  40  are connected properly when the slider  30  reaches a full locking position  2 P where the left edge thereof contacts the back end of the accommodation space  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B and the second terminal fittings  45 A,  45 B are connected electrically. At this time, the full locking resilient piece  35  is deformed resiliently up and the full locking projection  36  resiliently contacts the corresponding bottom wall of the accommodation space  14  due to a resilient restoring force of the resilient piece  35 . The slider  30  is held at the full locking position  2 P by friction between the bottom wall of the accommodation space  14  and the full locking projection  36 . The two housings  10 ,  40  are locked in their completely connected state by the cam action of the engagement of the cam groove  32  and the cam follower  43  when the slider  30  is at the full locking position  2 P.  
         [0067]     The knobs  37  of the slider  30  are exposed at the outer side of the receptacle  41  when the two housings  10 ,  40  are connected completely. However, the protecting portions  17  are present near the knobs  37 , and external matter will not interfere with the knobs  37 . The engaged part in the escaping recess  16  of the cam groove  32  and the cam follower  43  is covered by the receptacle  41 .  
         [0068]     The knobs  37  may be gripped to pull the slider  30  opposite to the operating direction OD against a frictional resistance between the full locking projection  36  and the bottom wall of the accommodation space  14  for separating the first housing  10  from the second housing  40 . Thus, the first housing  10  moves away from the second housing  40  due to the cam action between the cam groove  32  and the cam follower  43 .  
         [0069]     As described above, the slider  30  functions as means for connecting the two housings  10 ,  40  and also as terminal position correcting means for moving the insufficiently inserted first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B to the proper insertion positions PIP. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced as compared to a case where a separate terminal position correcting member is provided in addition to the slider  30 .  
         [0070]     The slider  30  is a single plate. Thus, the accommodation space for the slider  30  in the first housing  10  is smaller and the entire connector is small.  
         [0071]     The slider  30  is accommodated at a substantially middle position of the first housing  10  with respect to height direction between the first terminal fittings  20 A at the upper stage and the first terminal fittings  20 B at the lower stage. Thus, connection resistance resulting from friction between the first terminal fittings  20 A,  20 B and the second terminal fittings  45 A,  45 B can be balanced vertically with the slider  30  as a center. Therefore, in the process of connecting the two housings  10 ,  40 , a forcible connection resulting from relative vertical inclinations of the housings  10 ,  40  can be prevented.  
         [0072]     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following modified embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims.  
         [0073]     Although the first terminal fittings are female terminal fittings in the foregoing embodiment, they may be male terminal fittings.  
         [0074]     The first terminal fittings are at upper and lower stages with the slider as a center in the foregoing embodiment. However, the slider may be arranged along the inner upper or lower surface of the first housing.  
         [0075]     The slider is a single plate in the foregoing embodiment, but it may be substantially U-shaped by having a pair of plates and an operable portion connecting ends of both plates.  
         [0076]     Although the first terminal fittings are arranged at two stages in the foregoing embodiment, they may be at one stage or at three or more stages.  
         [0077]     The invention has been described with reference to a slider as the movable member. However, the invention is applicable to other movable members having an operation path different from a linear path (e.g. a slightly bent path, an elliptic or circular path, etc., such as a rotatable lever.  
         [0078]     The slider is held at the full locking position by a frictional force in the foregoing embodiment, but it may be held by engagement of a lock with a corresponding lockable portion between the housing and the slider similar to the way the slider is held at the partial locking position  1 P.  
         [0079]     A second embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS.  15  to  33 . The second embodiment has a female housing  10 , a male connector housing  150  and a slider  30  to connect and separate the two housings  10 ,  150 . The slider  30  is to be mounted in an operating direction OD at a substantially right angle to connecting and separating directions CSD of the two housings  10 ,  150 .  
         [0080]     In the following description, ends of the two housings  10 ,  150  to be connected are referred to as front ends, upper and lower sides of  FIG. 15  are referred to as right and left sides and upper and lower sides of  FIG. 16  are referred to as upper and lower sides.  
         [0081]     The female housing  10  is substantially a slightly wide block, as shown in FIGS.  16  to  18 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , cavities  11  are formed at upper and lower stages in the female housing  10 . More particularly, two cavities  11  are formed at the upper stage and three cavities  11  are formed substantially side by side at the lower stage. Each cavity  11  is long in forward and backward directions and a female terminal fitting  112  is inserted therein from behind and along an inserting direction ID, as shown in  FIG. 19 . Locks  113  are cantilevered forward in the cavities  11  and are resiliently deformable along a direction intersecting the inserting direction ID. The locks  113  extend along upper walls of the upper stage cavities  11  and along the bottom walls of the lower stage cavities  11 . Further, vertical grooves  114  extend in forward and backward directions between adjacent cavities  11  of the lower stage (see  FIGS. 16 and 20 ) and open in the front and bottom surfaces of the female housing  10 .  
         [0082]     The female housing  10  has a slider accommodating portion  115  in which the slider  30  is to be accommodated. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the slider accommodating portion  115  is formed in a hollow partition wall  116  partitioning the cavities  11  at the upper stage and those at the lower stage, and has a substantially flat shape extending in a direction intersecting the cavities  11 . The partition wall  116  is formed with an upper-stage communicating portion  115 A communicating with the slider accommodating portion  115  and the cavities  11  at the upper stage. The partition wall  116  also has a lower-stage communicating portion  115 B communicating with the slider accommodating portion  15  and the cavities  11  at the lower stage. Both communicating portions  115 A,  115 B extend substantially in an operating direction OD of the slider  30 . The positions of the front edges of the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A,  115 B align in the vertical direction and along the operating direction OD. Upper-stage retainers  136 A and lower-stage retainers  136 B of the slider  30  fit into the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A,  115 B, as explained below.  
         [0083]     The slider accommodating portion  115 , and the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A,  115 B penetrate the female housing  10  in the transverse direction TD that intersects the cavities  11  and opens in the opposite left and right surfaces of the female housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . The slider  30  is operable along the operating direction OD and hence along transverse direction TD in the slider accommodating portion  115 . One of the openings in the lateral surfaces of the female housing  10  serves as a slider entrance/exit  117 . The slider  30  is inserted into the slider accommodating portion  115  and withdrawn therefrom through the slider entrance/exit  117 .  
         [0084]     A front lock  118 A and a rear lock  118 B are provided at ends of the slider accommodating portion  115  and make openings in the front and rear surfaces of the female housing  10 . A partial locking projection  139  of the slider  30  to be described later is engageable with the front lock  118 A, whereas a lock projection  142  provided on a lock arm  133  of the slider  30  is engageable with the rear lock  118 B.  
         [0085]     As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , a cam-pin introducing path  119  is recessed in a portion of the female housing  10  that partitions the left and right cavities  11  at the upper stage. The cam-pin introducing path  119  opens in the front and upper surfaces of the female housing  10  and communicates with the slider accommodating portion  115  (see  FIG. 20 ). The cam-pin introducing path  119  is long in forward and backward directions and extends back from the front edge of the female housing  10 . Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the cam-pin introducing path  119  along a direction intersecting the forward and backward directions is substantially rectangular and slightly longer in vertical direction. Two bulges  120  are provided on the opposite side surfaces of the cam-pin inserting path  119  and extend in forward and backward directions.  
         [0086]     As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 20 , a mountain  121  is formed below the right bulge  120  and projects up to the position of the right surface of the cam-pin introducing path  119 . The mountain  121  is provided on a resiliently deformable beam  122  that is supported at both ends for resiliently deformation along transverse the direction TD. The beam  122  deforms laterally to the left when the mountain  121  is pushed to the left. The two housings  10 ,  150  are brought close so that a cam pin  156  of the male housing  150  fits into the cam-pin introducing path  119  of the female housing  10 . At this time, a curved projection  157  of the male housing  150  reaches the mountain  121 . The curved projection  157  pushes the mountain  121  and deforms the beam  122  when the housings  10 ,  150  are brought even closer. The curved projection  157  moves over the mountain  121  as the cam pin  156  reaches an entrance  131 A of a cam groove  131  in the slider  30  and gives an operator a solid feeling that the cam pin  156  was introduced into the cam groove  131 .  
         [0087]     A long rectangular temporary contact  123  projects out from the left surface of the female housing  10  along the upper edge of the slider entrance/exit  117 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . The temporary contact  123  prevents the slider  30  from being pushed when the slider  30  is located at a partial locking position  1 P and waiting on standby for engagement with the cam pin  156   
         [0088]     Upper and lower protecting portions  124  project from the rear end of the left surface of the female housing  10 .  
         [0089]     The female terminal fitting  112  inserted into each cavity  11  is long and narrow in forward and backward directions, as shown in  FIG. 19 . A terminal connecting portion  125  is formed at the front portion of the female terminal fitting  112  and a wire connecting portion  126  is formed at a rear portion thereof. The wire connecting portion  126  is to be connected electrically to an end of a wire by crimping, folding, bending, insulation-displacement, soldering or the like. The terminal connecting portion  125  is substantially a rectangular tube and has a locking hole (not shown) in one side. An engaging portion  125 A is formed at the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion  125 . Each female terminal fitting  112  is inserted into a cavity so that the locking hole faces the lock  113  of the corresponding cavity  11 . The locks  113  engage the locking holes to retain the female terminal fittings  112  at proper positions PIP where the front ends of the female terminal fittings  112  abut the front walls of the cavities  11 . At this time, the engaging portions  125 A of the terminal connecting portions  125  face the front edges of the upper-stage communicating portion  115 A and the lower-stage communicating portion  115 B of the slider accommodating portion  115  from the front. The female terminal fittings  112  are retained completely as the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B in the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A,  115 B engage the engaging portions  125 A. Rear parts of the terminal connecting portions  125  face the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A,  115 B if the female terminal fittings  112  are inserted insufficiently to positions behind the proper positions PIP where locks  113  do not engage the locking holes.  
         [0090]     The slider  30  is made e.g. of a synthetic resin and has a main body  132  formed with the cam groove  131  and the lock arm  133  extends from the main body  132 . As shown in FIGS.  22  to  24 , the slider  30  including the lock arm  133  is a substantially rectangular single plate that is wide in the transverse direction TD. The slider  30  is inserted into and withdrawn from the slider accommodating portion  115  of the female housing  10 .  
         [0091]     A resilient piece  134  is provided substantially in a middle part of the main body  132  and defines a beam supported at both lateral (left and right) ends. Thus, the resilient piece  134  is resiliently deformable vertically with the connected portions at the left and right ends as supports. A projection  135  projects up on the upper surface of the resilient piece  134 .  
         [0092]     The upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B for fully locking the female terminal fittings  112  are at a front side of the resilient piece  134  on the upper and lower surfaces of the main body  132 . The upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B are shaped to fit respectively in the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A and  115 B in the female housing  10 , and are in the form of ribs that are long and narrow in the transverse direction TD, which is the operating direction OD of the slider  30 , as shown in  FIG. 24 . Left and right upper-stage retainers  136 A and left and right lower-stage retainers  136 B are provided. The lower-stage retainer  136 B at the left side of the projection  135  is slightly shorter in the transverse direction TD than the upper-stage retainer  136 A at the left side of the projection  135 . The lower-stage retainer  136 B at the right side of the projection  135  has a length to extend over the two juxtaposed cavities  11 . The upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B are on the insertion and withdrawal paths for the female terminal fittings  112  in the cavities  11  when the slider  30  is inserted completely. As shown in  FIG. 25 , the lower-stage retainers  136 B are cross sectionally larger than the upper-stage retainers  136 A, and the front ends thereof are aligned vertically with the front ends of the upper-stage retainers  136 A. Locking surfaces  160  are defined at the fronts of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B and engage the engaging portions  125 A of the female terminal fittings  112  in the cavities  11 . Further, detecting surfaces  161  are defined at the right end of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B at the right side of the projection  135 . The detecting surfaces  161  contact the terminal contacts  125  facing the upper-stage or lower-stage communicating portion  115 A or  115 B when the female terminal fittings  112  are inserted insufficiently and prevent a sliding movement of the slider  30  when the female terminal fittings  112  are inserted insufficiently. The insufficient insertion detecting surfaces  161  are at the front edge of the main body  132 , and are substantially perpendicular to a plate-surface direction of the main body  132  from the upper-stage retainer  136 A to the lower-stage retainer  136 B.  
         [0093]     As shown in  FIG. 22 , an opening  137  is formed at a side of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B substantially opposite to the resilient piece  134  and is long and narrow in the transverse direction TD. The opening  137  near the front end of the slider  30  with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30 , and penetrates the main body  132  in the thickness direction. A resilient beam  138  is defined at a side of the opening  137  opposite to the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B and is resiliently deformable towards the opening  137 . The partial locking projection  139  projects from a side of the resilient beam  138  opposite the opening  137  and from an intermediate position along the resilient beam  138 . A slanted guiding surface  139 A is defined at one side of the partial locking projection  139  and a partial locking surface  139 B extends perpendicular to the operating direction OD at the opposite side of the partial locking projection  139 .  
         [0094]     The cam groove  131  is recessed in the upper surface of the main body  132  of the slider  30  at a side of the resilient piece  134  opposite to the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A,  136 B. The cam groove  131  extends back oblique to operating direction OD of the slider  30  and the connecting direction CD of the female housing  10 . Thus, the housings  10 ,  150  are connected more deeply as the slider  30  is moved in the operating direction OD. The entrance  131 A of the cam groove  131  is at an intermediate position of the right edge of the main body  132 , and an end of the cam groove  131  opposite the entrance  131 A is at a transverse intermediate position of an end portion corresponding to the rear end of the slider accommodating portion  115 .  
         [0095]     The lock arm  133  is at the left rear side of the cam groove  131  with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30 . The lock arm  133  is cantilevered back in the operating direction OD of the slider  30  from a position near the transverse center of the main body  132 , and is resiliently deformable along the plate-surface direction of the main body  132 . An extending end of the lock arm  133  reaches the vicinity of the left end of the main body  132 .  
         [0096]     A deformation space  141  of substantially constant width is defined between the lock arm  133  and the lateral edge of the main body  132  to accommodate resilient deformation of the lock arm  133 . The deformation space  141  has an open left side, and a hinge accommodating portion  141 A is defined at the left side of the deformation space  141 .  
         [0097]     The lock  142  projects from a surface of the lock arm  133  opposite the deformation space  141  and is at a relatively low position on the surface of the lock arm  133  (see  FIG. 25 ). The front side of the lock  142  with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30  is slanted, but the rear surface is aligned substantially normal to the operating direction OD of the slider  30 . The lock  142  fits into the rear lock  118 B of the slider accommodating portion  115  when the slider  30  reaches a full locking position  2 P, and the locking surface  142 A is substantially opposed to the left surface of the rear lock  118 B. Thus, the slider  30  is retained and, as a result, the slider  30  and the female housing  10  are locked in their properly connected state. However, the lock arm  133  can be pushed towards the deformation space  141  to disengage the lock  142  from the rear lock  118 B and to unlock the slider  30 .  
         [0098]     A hand-push portion  143  is formed at the extending end of the lock arm  133  and is bent away from the main body  132 , and this bent portion serves as a hand-push or operable portion  143  operated or operable to push the lock arm  133 . An inclined finger-placing surface  144  is formed at the leading end of the hand-push portion  143  for receiving a manual pushing force. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the finger-placing surface  144  has a stepped nonslip surface.  
         [0099]     A projecting distance of the hand-push portion  143  in a direction opposite to the resilient deforming direction of the lock arm  133  is set such that the leading end of the hand-push portion  143  bulges out from a covering portion  146  to be described later. An escaping surface  145  is defined at the left rear of the hand-push portion  143  and is inclined moderately forward towards its leading end with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30 . An external force on the escaping surface  145  from back side with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30  will have a component for displacing the lock arm  133  toward the deformation space  141 .  
         [0100]     The plate-shaped cover  146  is provided at the rear end of the main body  132  with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30  and is substantially perpendicular to the plate-surface of the main body  132 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , the cover  146  is a rectangle that is long in forward and backward directions and bulges up, down, left and right from the main body  132 . The cover  146  is spaced slightly from end of the lock arm  133 . Additionally, the cover  146  covers the rear end of the main body  142  and substantially all of the lock arm  133  except the leading end of the hand-push portion  143 . The cover  146  also functions as a pushable wall to be pushed by finger for inserting the slider  30  into the slider accommodating portion  115 . A finger-supporting surface  147  is formed at a side of the cover  146  corresponding to the hand-push portion  143  and can receive part of the finger that pushes the hand-push portion  143  for unlocking the slider  30 . The finger-supporting surface  147  is inclined towards the front with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30 , similar to the finger-placing surface  144  of the hand-push portion  143 . The finger-placing surface  144  and the finger-supporting surface  147  constitute a substantially continuous downward gradient towards the front with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  30  when the hand-push portion  143  is pushed to unlock the slider  30 . Thus, both the finger-placing surface  144  and the finger-supporting surface  147  extent substantially along a finger obliquely placed from the finger-placing surface  144  of the hand-push portion  143  to the finger-supporting surface  147  of the cover  146 .  
         [0101]     The lock arm  133  and the main body  132  are coupled via a hinge  148 . One end of the hinge  148  is coupled to the extending end of the lock arm  133  and the other end thereof is coupled to an edge of the main body  132  at the hinge accommodating portion  141 A. The hinge  148  has a V-shape with an apex in the hinge accommodating portion  141 A. The hinge  148  has an extended length that prevents the lock arm  133  from being displaced excessively away from the main body  132 .  
         [0102]     The male housing  150  is to be fixed to a device (not shown) of an automotive vehicle, and includes a rectangular tubular receptacle  151  that projects forward from a wall surface of the device, as shown in FIGS.  26  to  28 . Male terminal fittings  152  are mounted in the male housing  150  and have tab-shaped leading ends that project forward in the receptacle  151 . The male terminal fittings  152  are arranged at upper and lower stages corresponding to the female terminal fittings  112 .  
         [0103]     Ribs  153  extend in forward and backward directions on the inner bottom surface of the receptacle  151 . The ribs  153  are arranged between adjacent male terminals  152  at the lower stage and fit into the grooves  114  of the female housings  10  during connection of the housings  10 ,  150  to prevent a forcible connection.  
         [0104]     A supporting projection  154  projects down from the upper wall of the receptacle  151 . The supporting projection  154  is arranged between two male terminal fittings  152  at the upper stage and extends from the front edge to the rear edge of the receptacle  151 . Additionally, the supporting projection  154  has a substantially rectangular cross section that is slightly longer in the vertical direction when viewed from the front. Two narrow grooves  155  are formed on opposite left and right surfaces of the supporting projection  154  near the upper end and extend in forward and backward directions. The grooves  155  can receive bulges  120  in the cam-pin introducing path  119 .  
         [0105]     The cam pin  156  projects down near the front end of the supporting projection  154  and has a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis extending vertically and perpendicular to the connecting direction CSD of the two housings  10 ,  150 .  
         [0106]     The curved projection  157  is a position near the front end of the supporting projection  154  and has a shape of a moderately sloped mountain. The curved projection  157  is provided below the right groove  155 .  
         [0107]     A slot  159  extends back from the front edge of the receptacle  151  and has a dimension as long as the shorter side of the main body  132  of the slider  30 , so that interference with the slider  30  can be avoided during connection of the two housings  10 ,  150 .  
         [0108]     The connector is assembled by inserting the female terminal fittings  112  into the respective cavities  11  from behind and along the inserting direction ID. Each female terminal fitting  112  inserted to the proper position is partly locked by the respective lock  113 . The slider  30  then is held in an orientation so that the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B fit respectively into the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A and  115 B of the slider accommodating portion  115 . The slider  30  then is inserted through the slider entrance/exit  117  and is pushed along the operating direction OD by fingers placed on the cover  146 .  
         [0109]     As the slider  30  is inserted, the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B gradually pass the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A and  115 B. The partial locking projection  139  on the slider  30  moves over the peripheral edge of the slider entrance/exit  117  and fits into the front lock  118 A. Thus, the partial locking surface  139 B of the partial locking projection  139  opposes the left surface of the front lock  118 A and, simultaneously, the projection  135  on the upper surface of the slider  30  contacts the temporary contact  123  on the upper edge of the slider entrance/exit  117 , as shown in  FIGS. 29 and 30 . At this time, the entrance  131 A of the cam groove  131  is in the cam-pin introducing path  119  and is engageable with the cam pin  156  of the male housing  150 . Further, the locking surfaces  160  of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B at the right side of the projection  135  in the upper-stage and lower-stage communicating portions  115 A and  115 B engage the engaging portions  125 A of the female terminal fittings  112  in the cavities  11  at the left side of the cam-pin introducing path  119  to doubly lock these female terminal fittings  112 . On the other hand, the female terminal fittings  112  in the cavities  11  at the right side of the cam-pin introducing path  119  are not fully locked, i.e. the slider  30  is at a retracted position where the female terminal fittings  112  can be inserted into and withdrawn from the cavities  11  at the right side of the cam-pin introducing path  119 . In this way, the slider  30  is held at the partial locking position where the cam groove  131  waits on standby for engagement with the cam pin  156  and cannot move transversely relative to the slider accommodating portion  115 . It is not always necessary to insert the female terminal fittings  112  into the cavities  11  at the front side with respect to the inserting direction or operating direction OD of the slider  130  before the slider  30  is operated. It is also possible to insert the female terminal fittings  112  after the slider  30  is inserted and held at the partial locking position.  
         [0110]     The female housing  10  may be transported to an assembling site for connection with the male housing  150 . At this time, a rear portion of the slider  30  with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  130  is exposed from the female housing  10 . Here, the lock arm  133  is mostly covered by the cover  146  from behind. Thus, foreign matter that approaches from behind contacts the cover  146 , and will not interfere with the lock arm  133 . Foreign matter that approaches from a side opposite to the deformation space  141  is likely to contact the peripheral edge of the cover  146  before interfering with the lock arm  133 . Therefore, a possibility of a foreign matter directly contacting the lock arm  133  is reduced as compared to a case where the lock arm is completely exposed.  
         [0111]     Foreign matter approaching from behind contacts may contact the escaping surface  145  at the leading end of the hand-push portion  143 . An external force acting forward from the back on the escaping surface  145  has a component that acts towards the deformation space  141 . This component causes the lock arm  133  to displace toward the deformation space  141 . Thus, displacement of the lock arm  133  in an opposite direction can be avoided.  
         [0112]     Even if the lock arm  133  should displace in the opposite direction, the hinge  148  prevents plastic deformation of the lock arm  133 .  
         [0113]     The female housing  10  is fit lightly into the receptacle  151  to insert the cam pin  156  into the cam-pin introducing path  119 , and the two housings  10 ,  150  are brought closer until the cam pin  156  reaches the entrance  131 A of the cam groove  131 . At this time, the curved projection  157  moves over the mountain  121 . The operator feels this action to obtain a solid feeding that the cam pin  156  was introduced into the entrance  131 A of the cam groove  131 . The cover  146  of the slider  30  is pushed by hand from the left side after the cam pin  156  and the cam groove  131  engage. The resilient piece  134  of the slider  30  then is deformed resiliently down and the projection  135  moves over the temporary contact  123 . Thus, the slider  30  is unlocked and can be pushed laterally to the right. As the slider  30  is moved, the female housing  10  and the male housing  150  are pulled towards each other by a cam action of the engagement of the cam groove  131  and the cam pin  156  as shown in  FIG. 31 .  
         [0114]     The terminal connecting portion  125  of any insufficiently inserted female terminal fitting  112  faces the upper-stage communicating portion  115 A or the lower-stage communicating portion  115 B. Thus, the insufficient insertion detecting surface  161  of the upper-stage retainer  136 A or the lower-stage retainer  136 A contacts this terminal connecting portion  125  (see  FIG. 19 ). As a result, the upper-stage retainer  136 A or the lower-stage retainer  36 A cannot move any further forward, and further the insertion of the slider  30  is prevented to indicate the insufficiently inserted state of the female terminal fitting  12 .  
         [0115]     The lock  142  of the lock arm  133  contacts the peripheral edge of the slider entrance/exit  117  when most of the slider  30  is in the slider accommodating portion  115 . The slider  30  then is pushed further. As a result, the lock arm  133  deforms resiliently towards the deformation space  141  and the lock  142  moves over the above peripheral edge. The lock arm  133  is restored resiliently when the lock  142  moves over the peripheral edge so that the lock  142  fits into the rear lock  118 B, as shown in  FIG. 32 . The locking surface  142 A of the lock  142  opposes the corresponding left surface of the rear lock  118 B to lock the slider  30  and the female housing  10  in their connected state. At this time, the slider  30  is at the full locking position  2 P where the right edge of the slider  30  contacts the receptacle  151  of the male housing  150  covering the opening at the right end of the slider accommodating portion  115 , and the two housings  10 ,  150  are completely connected to electrically connect the female terminal fittings  112  and the male terminal fittings  152 . Further, the locking surfaces  160  of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B engage the engaging portions  125 A of all of the female terminal fittings  112  to doubly lock the female terminal fittings  112 . At this time, the two female terminal fittings  112  in the two right cavities  11  of the lower stage are locked simultaneously by the locking surfaces  160  of the lower-stage retainer  136 B at the right side. The housings  10 ,  150  are connected completely and locked when the slider  30  reaches the full locking position  2 P.  
         [0116]     The protecting portions  124  on the female housing  10  protect the hand-push portion  143  of the lock arm  133  from above and below by the when the housings  10 ,  150  are connected completely, as shown in  FIG. 15 . Additionally, an engaged part of the cam groove  131  and the cam pin  156  is covered by the receptacle  151 .  
         [0117]     To separate the two housings  10 ,  150 , the cover  146  of the slider  30  is held between two fingers from front and back, as shown in  FIG. 33 . The tip of one finger then is placed on the finger placing surface  144  at the leading end of the hand-push portion  143  and pushes the finger-placing surface  144  towards the main body  132  to unlock the lock arm  133 . The cover  146  held between the fingers then is pulled to withdraw the slider  30 . The hand-push portion  143  is near the cover  146  and the leading end of the hand-push portion  143  projects out from the peripheral edge of the cover  146 . Thus, the finger that pushed the hand-push portion  143  is supported on the finger-supporting surface  147  on the periphery of the cover  146 . In this way, the finger that pushed the hand-push portion  143  is supported on a fixed member. The cover  146  and the slider  30  can be unlocked by hooking the finger on the cover  146 , which is the fixed member. Therefore, the slider  30  can be withdrawn more easily as compared to an unstable state where the finger is only placed on the resiliently deformable lock arm  133 .  
         [0118]     When the hand-push portion  143  is pushed to unlock the slider  30 , the finger-placing surface  144  of the hand-push portion  143  and the finger-supporting surface  147  of the cover  146  constitute a substantially continuous downward gradient towards the front with respect to the operating direction OD of the slider  130  to extend along the finger obliquely placed from the peripheral edge of the cover  146  to the leading end of the hand-push portion  143 . Thus, the finger can fit nicely. In addition, the finger-placing surface  144  of the hand-push portion  143  is stepped. Thus, the finger is unlikely to slip due to a larger frictional force acting on the finger as compared to a case where this surface is a flat surface. Therefore, the slider  30  can be withdrawn easily.  
         [0119]     In this way, the unlocked slider  30  can be withdrawn from the slider accommodating portion  115 . As the slider  30  is withdrawn, the female housing  10  and the male housing  150  are gradually separated by the cam action of the engagement of the cam groove  131  and the cam pin  156 .  
         [0120]     As described above, according to this embodiment, the slider  30  is a means for connecting the two housings  10 ,  150  and also is a means for doubly locking the female terminal fittings  112 . Thus, it is not necessary to provide a separate retainer and the female terminal fittings  112  can be retained without increasing the number of parts. Further, the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B on the upper and lower surfaces of the single main body  132  are engaged with the female terminal fittings  112  in the respective upper and lower cavities  11  to fully lock them, and it is not necessary to provided separate main bodies for the upper and lower cavities  11 .  
         [0121]     The lower-stage retainer  136 B at the right side of the projection  35  extends continuously over two or more juxtaposed cavities  11 . Hence, strength can be increased as compared to a case where retainers are provided in an interrupting manner for the respective two juxtaposed cavities  11 .  
         [0122]     The insufficient insertion detecting surface  161  contacts any insufficiently inserted female terminal fitting  112  to prevent any further insertion of the slider  30 . As a result, the insufficiently inserted state of the female terminal fitting  112  can be known.  
         [0123]     The slider  30  can be held in the female housing  10  at a standby position  1 P where the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B are at retracted positions to permit the insertion and withdrawal of the female terminal fittings  112  into and from the cavities  11 . Thus, the female terminal fittings  112  may be inserted with the slider  30  at the standby position  1 P.  
         [0124]     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following modified embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims.  
         [0125]     The slider  30  is a substantially rectangular single plate longer in transverse direction in the foregoing embodiment. However, the invention is widely applicable to various other sliders. For example, application to sliders gate-shaped as a whole is also possible.  
         [0126]     Although the left and right upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B are provided separately in the foregoing embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto and the left and right retainers may be continuous with each other.  
         [0127]     The insufficient insertion detecting surfaces  161  are formed on the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  130 A and  136 B in the foregoing embodiment. However these insufficient insertion detecting surfaces  161  may be slanted and the slanted surfaces may contact the terminal connecting portions as the slider is pushed, thereby pushing the female terminal fittings to the proper insertion positions for the correction of the positions.  
         [0128]     The front ends of the upper-stage and lower-stage retainers  136 A and  136 B substantially align with respect to vertical and/or transverse directions in the foregoing embodiment. However, they may be displaced in forward and backward directions in conformity with the sizes of the terminal fittings, for example, if terminal fittings having different sizes are inserted into cavities.  
         [0129]     Although the slider  30  is pulled back to the partial locking position at the time of transporting the female housing  10  in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and the slider  30  may be pushed to the full locking position and the female housing  10  may be transported with all the female terminal fittings  112  fully locked. Of course, in such a case, the slider  30  needs to be returned to the partial locking position again upon connecting the female housing  10  with the male housing  150 .  
         [0130]     Although in the foregoing embodiment, the invention has been described with reference to a slider as the movable member, it should be understood that the invention is also applicable to other movable members such as those having an operation path different from a substantially linear path (e.g. a slightly bent path, an elliptic or circular path, etc., such as a rotatable or pivotable lever.  
         [0131]     Although the terminal fittings are arranged at upper and lower stages in the foregoing embodiment, they may be arranged at one stage or at three or more stages.