Abstract:
A connector comprising: a connection terminal; a connector housing having a terminal receiving chamber in which said connection terminal is inserted and a lance that is elastically deformable to engage the connection terminal in the connector housing; and a front holder supported on a front end portion of said terminal receiving chamber so as to be movable along said inserting direction; wherein said front holder is pressed by a mating connector to be moved in the opposite direction in accordance with a fitting movement of said connector relative to said mating connector; and
       when said connector is completely fitted relative to said mating connector, said front holder abuts against said connection terminal, and cooperates with said lance to hold said connection terminal therebetween.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Related Art 
     In a connector of an ordinary structure as shown in  FIG. 14 , a female terminal  3  is inserted into a terminal receiving chamber  2 , formed in a female connector housing  1 , to be received therein, and is retained by a lance  4  against withdrawal. Similarly, a male terminal  6  is inserted into a terminal receiving chamber  2 ′, formed in a male connector housing  5 , to be received therein, and is retained by a lance  4 ′ against withdrawal. When the female and male connector housings  1  and  5  are fitted together, the corresponding female and male terminals  3  and  6  are connected together (see, for example, JP-U-03-055674). 
     Detailed description will be made of the structure of holding the terminal in the terminal receiving chamber against withdrawal. With respect, for example, to the female connector housing  1  shown in  FIG. 14 , the lance  4  has a projection  7  formed on its upper surface as shown in  FIG. 15 , and this lance  4  is formed integrally on a bottom surface of the terminal receiving chamber  2  in a cantilever manner so as to be elastically deformed. The female terminal  3 , while elastically deforming the lance  4 , is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  2  from a rear end (right side in  FIG. 15 ), and when the female terminal  3  is inserted into a predetermined position, the lance  4  is restored from its elastically-deformed condition, so that the projection  7  is fitted into an opening  8  formed in a bottom surface of the female terminal, thereby holding the female terminal  3  in the terminal receiving chamber  2  against withdrawal. The male connector housing  5  has a similar structure. 
     In the above withdrawal prevention mechanism depending on the cantilever-like lance  4 , however, the lance  4  is generally pivotally moved about its proximal end portion, and therefore a certain degree of clearance must be provided between the projection  7  of the lance  4  and a retaining edge  8   a  of the opening  8 . Therefore, for example, when vibration is applied to the connector, the female terminal  3  shakes or slightly moves back and forth within the terminal receiving chamber  2 , and a relative slight sliding movement repeatedly occurs between contact portions of the female and male terminals  3  and  6 , and therefore there is a fear that the contact portions are gradually worn, so that a pressure of contact between the contact portions decreases, thus adversely affecting the electrical connection between the female and male terminals. 
     Therefore, there is known a connector designed to suppress the shaking of a connection terminal within a terminal receiving chamber (see, for example, JP-A-2001-110500).  FIG. 16  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conventional connector  10  disclosed in JP-A-2001-110500. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the connector  10  comprises a female terminal  12 , and a female connector housing  11 , and this female connector housing  11  includes a terminal receiving chamber  13  into which the female terminal  12  is inserted from a rear end thereof (right side in  FIG. 16 ), and a lance  14  for retaining the female terminal  12 , received in the terminal receiving chamber  13 , against withdrawal. A front holder  15  is attached to a front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber  13 . A projection  16  of the lance  14  is fitted on a retaining edge  19   a  of an opening  19  in the female terminal  12 , thereby retaining the female terminal  12  against withdrawal. Further, a front abutment portion  17  of the front holder  15  is brought into abutting engagement with a front end of the female terminal  12 , thereby pushing the female terminal  12  toward the projection  16  of the lance  14 , so that the female terminal  12  is held between the projection  16  of the lance  14  and the front abutment portion  17  of the front holder  15 . Thus, the female terminal  12  is prevented from slightly moving back and forth within the terminal receiving chamber  13 . 
     In the connector  10  disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the shaking of the female terminal  12  within the terminal receiving chamber  13  is prevented by the lance  14  and the front holder  15 , and the decrease of a contact pressure due to wear of contact portions can be prevented. However, when the front holder  15  is attached to the terminal receiving chamber  13 , the female terminal  12  is completely fixed in position within the terminal receiving chamber  13 , and therefore during the time when a mating connector (not shown) is fitted to the connector  10 , the female terminal  12  can not move, following a male terminal  18 , and besides free resilient deformation of the female terminal is prevented. Therefore, a force, required for inserting the male terminal  18  of the mating connector (that is, a resistance to the insertion of the connection terminal), increases, and it is difficult to fit the connector  10  to the mating connector. Furthermore, when forcibly fitting the connector  10  to the mating connector, there has been a fear that the female and male terminals  12  and  18  are deformed. 
     This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a connector in which the shaking of a connection terminal can be prevented without increasing a resistance to the insertion of the connection terminal, and even when vibration is applied to the connector, the reliability of electrical connection of the connection terminal can be maintained. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above object has been achieved by a connector of the present invention having features recited in the following Paragraphs (1) to (4). 
     (1) A connector comprising: 
     a connection terminal; 
     a connector housing having a terminal receiving chamber in which the connection terminal is inserted and a lance that is elastically deformable to engage the connection terminal in the connector housing; and 
     a front holder supported on a front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber so as to be movable along an inserting direction of the connector relative to a mating connector; 
     wherein the front holder is pressed by said mating connector to be moved in an opposite direction to the insertion direction in accordance with a fitting movement of the connector relative to the mating connector; and 
     when the connector is completely fitted relative to the mating connector, the front holder abuts against the connection terminal, and cooperates with the lance to hold the connection terminal therebetween. 
     (2) The connector of the above Paragraph (1) is further characterized in that the front holder has an abutment portion for abutting against the connection terminal; and 
     the abutment portion can be deformed when the connection terminal abuts against the abutment portion. 
     (3) The connector of the above Paragraph (1) or Paragraph (2) is further characterized in that the front holder has a lance support portion, and when the front holder is retained with the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber, the lance support portion abuts against the lance to prevent the elastic deformation of the lance. 
     (4) The connector of the above Paragraph (3) is further characterized in that the front holder includes a provisionally-retaining projection and a completely-retaining projection which are engageable with the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber, and the front holder is completely retained with the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber after the front holder is provisionally retained with the front end portion; and 
     when the front holder is completely retained with the front end portion, the lance support portion abuts against the lance. 
     (5) The connector of the above Paragraph (1) is further characterized in that the connection terminal is allowed to be inserted into the terminal receiving chamber by elastically deforming the lance, and is engaged in the terminal receiving chamber by restoring the lance from a deformed condition, so that the connection terminal is prevented from being withdrawn in the opposite direction to the insertion direction. 
     In the connector having the construction of the above Paragraph (1), when the connector is completely fitted relative to the mating connector, the front holder abuts against the connection terminal, and cooperates with the lance to hold the connection terminal therebetween. Namely, at an initial stage of the fitting of the connector relative to the mating connector, the connection terminal can move, following a mating connection terminal, in accordance with the fitting movement of the two connectors thanks to the provision of a clearance (see the clearance formed between the projection  7  of the lance  4  and the retaining edge  8   a  of the opening  8  in  FIG. 15 ) between the lance and the connection terminal. Therefore, as compared with the conventional connector in which the mating connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal completely prevented from moving within the terminal receiving chamber, a resistance to the insertion of the connection terminal is made smaller, and the connection terminal and the mating connection terminal are smoothly connected together. Therefore, the connector can be easily fitted to the mating connector, and besides the connection terminal can be prevented from being deformed. For canceling the fitting of the connector relative to the mating connector, first, the front holder is disengaged from the connection terminal, thus canceling the fixed condition of the connection terminal. Therefore, when disconnecting the mating connection terminal, the connection terminal can move, following the mating connection terminal, and the fitting of the connector relative to the mating connector can be easily canceled. 
     When the connector is completely fitted relative to the mating connector, the connection terminal is held between the front holder, pressed by the mating connector, and the lance, and is completely fixed in position within the terminal receiving chamber, and therefore is prevented from shaking. Therefore, even when vibration is applied to the connector, a relative slight sliding movement between contact portions of the connection terminal and mating connection terminal is prevented. Therefore, the decrease of the contact pressure due to wear of the contact portions is prevented, so that the reliability of electrical connection of the connection terminal can be maintained. 
     In the connector having the construction of the above Paragraph (2), the abutment portion of the front holder for abutting against the connection terminal can be deformed when the connection terminal abuts against the abutment portion, and therefore in the completely-fitted condition of the connector and mating connector, the connection terminal can be positively held between the front holder and the lance without excessively pressing the connection terminal. 
     In the connector having the construction of the above Paragraph (3), the elastic deformation of the lance is prevented by the lance support portion of the front holder retained with the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber, and therefore the lance can more positively prevent the withdrawal of the connection terminal, and also in the completely-fitted condition of the connector and mating connector, the connection terminal can be more positively held between the front holder and the lance. 
     In the connector having the construction of the above Paragraph (4), the front holder can be retained with the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber in a two-step manner, that is, in the provisionally retained condition and the completely-retained condition. In the provisionally-retained condition of the front holder, the lance can be elastically deformed, and in the completely-retained condition the lance support portion abuts against the lance to prevent the elastic deformation of the lance. Therefore, the front holder is held in the provisionally-retained condition, and in this condition the connection terminal can be inserted into the terminal receiving chamber while elastically deforming the lance. Namely, there is no need to remove the front holder from the front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber, and therefore the front holder is prevented from being lost, and besides the insertion of the connection terminal into the terminal receiving chamber can be easily effected. 
     In the connector of the present invention, the shaking of the connection terminal can be prevented without increasing a resistance to the insertion of the connection terminal, and the fitting connection of the connector to the mating connector, as well as the cancellation of this fitting connection, can be easily effected, and besides even when vibration is applied to the connector, the reliability of electrical connection of the connection terminal can be maintained. 
     The present invention has been briefly described above. Details of the invention will become manifest upon reading of the following Section “Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector housing of one preferred embodiment of a connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III—III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a front holder of the connector of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front holder of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI—VI of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII—VII of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partly broken side-elevational view of a connection terminal of the connector of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector, showing a condition in which the connection terminal is inserted in a terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing with which the front holder is provisionally retained. 
         FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector, showing a condition in which the front holder is completely retained with the terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a portion encircled by an ellipse XI of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the connector fitted on a mating connector. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a portion encircled by an ellipse XIII of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional connector. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of an important portion of the connector of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a vertical cross-sectional view of another conventional connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of a connector of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector housing of one preferred embodiment of the connector of the invention,  FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector housing of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III—III of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a front holder of the connector of this embodiment,  FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front holder of  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI—VI of  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII—VII of  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 8  is a partly broken side-elevational view of a connection terminal of the connector of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector, showing a condition in which the connection terminal is inserted in a terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing with which the front holder is provisionally retained,  FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector, showing a condition in which the front holder is completely retained with the terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing,  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a portion encircled by an ellipse XI of  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the connector fitted on a mating connector, and  FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a portion encircled by an ellipse XIII of  FIG. 12 . 
     The female connector  100  which is one preferred embodiment of the connector of the invention will be described below. The female connector  100  comprises the female terminal (connection terminal)  50 , the female connector housing  20  having the terminal receiving chamber  22  (into which the female terminal  50  is inserted from a rear opening thereof) and a lance  29  for preventing the withdrawal of the female terminal  50  received in the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and the front holder  40  attached to a front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the female connector housing  20  is made of a synthetic resin, and has the terminal receiving chamber  22  which is defined by an outer wall  21  of a generally rectangular tubular shape, the terminal receiving chamber  22  having open front and rear ends. The periphery of the terminal receiving chamber  22  is covered with a hood portion  23  of a generally rectangular tubular shape. A front end portion of the hood portion  23  projects forwardly beyond the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and defines an opening portion  24  into which the male connector  200  (see  FIG. 12 ), serving as the mating connector, can be inserted. A wire insertion hole  26 , defined by a hollow cylindrical wall  25 , extends continuously from the rear end of the terminal receiving chamber  22 . 
     A notch is formed through one side wall of the hood portion  23  in a direction of a thickness thereof, and an elastic retaining piece portion  27  for retaining the inserted male connector  200  is provided within this notch. In the following description, that side of the connector  100  where the elastic retaining piece portion  27  of the female connector housing  20  is provided will be referred to as “the upper side”, while the opposite side will be referred to as “the lower side”, and based on this upper-lower direction, the right side of the connector  100  when viewed from the front side thereof will be referred to as “right direction”, while the left side thereof will be referred to as “left direction”. 
     The cantilever-like lance  29  is formed on an upper wall  21   a  (which is part of the outer wall  21  defining the terminal receiving chamber  22 ), and projects into the terminal receiving chamber  22 . This lance  29  extends forwardly such that a space (flexure space)  28  is formed between the upper wall  21   a  and the lance  29 . The lance  29  can be elastically deformed in such a manner that its front end portion moves toward the upper wall  21   a . A projection  30  is formed on the front end portion of the lance  29 , and projects downwardly therefrom. This projection  30  has a rear slanting surface  30   a  slanting downwardly toward the front end of the lance  29 . A front end surface of the projection  30  is disposed generally vertically, and serves as a retaining surface  30   b.    
     Engagement convex portions  31  and  32  are formed respectively on left and right side walls  21   b  and  21   c  (which are part of the outer wall  21  defining the terminal receiving chamber  22 ), and project toward each other respectively from the left and right side walls  21   b  and  21   c , these engagement convex portions  31  and  32  being disposed forwardly beyond the front end of the lance  29 . A provisionally-retaining projection  47  and a completely-retaining projection  48  of the front holder  40  (described later) can be engaged with the engagement convex portions  31  and  32 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the front holder  40  is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a front wall  41 , and an outer wall  42  which extends rearwardly from a peripheral edge of the front wall  41 , and can be fitted on the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22  of the female connector housing  20 . 
     A terminal passage hole  43  is formed through a central portion of the front wall  41 . When the front holder  40  is retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , the terminal passage hole  43  is opposed to the front open end of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and a male terminal  201  (see  FIG. 13 ) of the male connector  200 , serving as a mating terminal, can pass through this terminal passage hole  43 . 
     A plate-like lance support portion  44  extends rearwardly from a rear surface of the front wall  41 , and projecting piece portions  45  and  46  are formed respectively at left and right sides of the lance support portion  44 , and extend rearwardly. When the front holder  40  is completely retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , the lance support portion  44  is inserted in the flexure space  28 . The provisionally-retaining projection  47  is formed on a lower surface of the projecting piece portion  45 , and the completely-retaining projection  48  is formed on a lower surface of the projecting piece portion  46 , and is disposed forwardly of the provisionally-retaining projection  47  formed on the projecting piece portion  45 . A plurality of ribs  49 , serving as abutment portions, are formed on and project rearwardly from the rear surface of the front wall  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the female terminal  50  is formed by pressing an electrically-conductive metal sheet, and includes a connection portion  51  of a generally rectangular tubular shape formed at a front end portion thereof, and press-clamping portions  52  and  53  of a generally U-shaped cross-section formed at a rear end portion thereof. The press-clamping portions  52  and  53  are press-fastened respectively to a conductor  61  and a sheath  62  of a wire  60 . The connection portion  51  has an electrical connection piece portion  54  provided therein, and this piece portion  54  extends from a front edge of the female terminal, and is bent back at this front edge. The connection portion  51  has an opening  55  formed through one side wall thereof, and the projection  30 , formed on the lance  29  of the female connector housing  20 , can be fitted in this opening  55 . 
     Next, the assembling of the female connector  100  will be described. First, a packing  63 , made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, is mounted in the female connector housing  20 , and is disposed between the outer surface of the terminal receiving chamber  22  and the inner surface of the hood portion  23  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the front holder  40  is provisionally retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 . At this time, the provisionally-retaining projection  47 , formed on the projecting piece portion  45  of the front holder  40 , slides over the engagement convex portion  31  of the female connector housing  20 , and is brought into engagement with a rear surface of this engagement convex portion  31 , thereby effecting the provisional retaining of the front holder  40 . 
     At this time, the lance support portion  44  of the front holder  40  is not yet inserted in the flexure space  28  of the female connector housing  20 , and therefore the lance  29  can be elastically deformed. In this condition, the female terminal  50 , having the wire  60  fixed thereto by press-clamping, is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  22  through the wire insertion hole  26 . A packing  64  is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the wire  60  and the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical wall  25  defining the wire insertion hole  26 . 
     When the female terminal  50  is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  22 , the front end of the female terminal  50  is brought into abutting engagement with the slanting surface  30   a  of the projection  30  of the lance  29 , and the female terminal  50  is further inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  22  while elastically deforming the lance  29  in such a manner that the front end portion of the lance  29  is moved toward the upper wall  21   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 . When the female terminal  50  reaches a predetermined position within the terminal receiving chamber  22 , the lance  29  is restored from its elastically-deformed condition, so that the projection  30  of the lance  29  is fitted into the opening  55  in the female terminal  50 . 
     At this time, a clearance C 1  is formed between the retaining surface  30   b  of the projection  30  of the lance  29  and a front edge  55   a  of the opening  55  of the female terminal  50 , and therefore the female terminal  50  can move forward and rearward within the terminal receiving chamber  22  in an amount corresponding to the clearance C 1 . The clearance C 1  is set to such a value that when the lance  29  is elastically deformed to be pivotally moved about its rear end portion, the projection  30 , formed on the front end portion thereof, will not interfere with the front edge  55   a  of the opening  55  of the female terminal  50 . 
     Then, the front holder  40  is completely retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . At this time, the front holder  40 , provisionally retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , is pushed rearwardly, and by doing so, the completely-retaining projection  48  of the projecting piece portion  46  (which is disposed forwardly of the provisionally-retaining projection  47  of the projecting piece portion  45 ) slides over the engagement convex portion  32 , and is brought into engagement with a rear surface of this engagement convex portion  32 , thereby effecting the complete retaining of the front holder  40 . 
     At this time, the lance support portion  44  of the front holder  40  is inserted in the flexure space  28  within the terminal receiving chamber  22  to prevent the elastic deformation of the lance  29 . In this completely-retained condition of the front holder  40 , a clearance C 2  is formed between the rear surface of the front wall  41  of the front holder  40  and a front end surface  22   b  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 . Therefore, the front holder  40  can move rearward in an amount corresponding to the clearance C 2 . The clearance C 2  is larger than the clearance C 1 . In the completely-retained condition of the front holder  40 , the front edge of the female terminal  50  is held in contact with the ribs  49  formed on the rear surface of the front wall  41  of the front holder  40 , or a clearance C 3  (which is smaller than the difference between the clearances C 2  and C 1 ) is formed between this front edge and each rib  49 . 
     Next, the fitting of the female connector  100  relative to the male connector (mating connector)  200  will be described. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the male connector  200  comprises the male terminal (mating connection terminal)  201 , and a male connector housing  202  holding the male terminal  201 . The male connector housing  202  is inserted into the hood portion  23  through the opening portion  24 , thereby fitting the male connector  200  into the female connector  100 . In accordance with the fitting movement of the male connector  200 , the male terminal  201  of the male connector  200  is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  22  through the terminal passage hole  43  from the front end of the female connector, and is brought into contact with the electrical connection piece portion  54  of the female terminal  50 . At this time, the female terminal  50 , while following the male terminal  201  to be moved rearward in an amount corresponding to the clearance C 1 , is electrically connected to the male terminal  201 . 
     When the male connector  200  is further moved in the fitting direction, a bottom portion  202   a  of the male connector housing  202  is brought into abutting engagement with the front wall  41  of the front holder  40 , and presses the front holder  40  rearward. The thus pressed front holder  40  is pushed and moved rearward, so that the ribs  49  of the front holder  40  abut against the front edge of the female terminal  50 . The rearward movement of the female terminal  50  is prevented by the retaining surface  30   b  of the lance  29  abutting against the front edge  55   a  of the opening  50 , and therefore the female terminal  50  is held between the front holder  40  and the lance  29 . The ribs  49  of the front holder  40  are deformed by the front edge of the female terminal  50  abutting against the ribs  49 , and therefore the front edge of the female terminal  50  slightly bites into the ribs  49 . 
     At this time, the elastic retaining piece portion  27  of the female connector housing  20  is engaged with a retaining projection  203  formed on an upper surface of the male connector housing  202 , so that the female connector  100  and the male connector  200  are fixed to each other in a completely-fitted condition. 
     When the female connector  100  of this embodiment is completely fitted on the male connector (mating connector)  200 , the front holder  40  abuts against the female terminal  50 , and cooperates with the lance  29  to hold the female terminal  50  therebetween. Namely, at the initial stage of the fitting of the female connector  100  relative to the male connector  200 , the female terminal  50  can move, following the male terminal  201 , in accordance with the fitting movement of the female and male connectors  100  and  200  thanks to the provision of the clearance C 1  between the lance  29  and the female terminal  50 . Therefore, as compared with the conventional connector in which the mating connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal completely prevented from moving within the terminal receiving chamber, a resistance to the insertion of the male terminal into the female terminal  50  is made smaller, and the female and male terminals  50  and  201  are smoothly connected together. Therefore, the female connector can be easily fitted on the male connector  200 , and besides the female terminal  50  can be prevented from being deformed. For canceling the fitting of the female connector relative to the male connector  200 , first, the front holder  40  is disengaged from the female terminal  50 , thus canceling the fixed condition of the female terminal  50 . Therefore, when disconnecting the male terminal  201 , the female terminal  50  can move, following the male terminal  201 , and the fitting of the female connector relative to the male connector  200  can be easily canceled. 
     When the female connector is completely fitted on the male connector  200 , the female terminal  50  is held between the front holder  40 , pressed by the male connector  200 , and the lance  29 , and is completely fixed in position within the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and therefore is prevented from shaking. Therefore, even when vibration is applied to the female connector  100 , a relative slight sliding movement between contact portions of the female and male terminals  50  and  201  is prevented. Therefore, the decrease of the contact pressure due to wear of the contact portions is prevented, so that the reliability of electrical connection of the female terminal  50  can be maintained. 
     The ribs  49 , serving as the abutment portions for abutting against the female terminal  50 , can be deformed when the female terminal  50  abuts against the ribs  49 , and therefore in the completely-fitted condition of the female connector and male connector  200 , the female terminal  50  can be positively held between the front holder  40  and the lance  29  without excessively pressing the female terminal  50 . 
     The elastic deformation of the lance  29  is prevented by the lance support portion  44  of the front holder  40  retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and therefore the lance  29  can more positively prevent the withdrawal of the female terminal  50 , and also in the completely-fitted condition of the female connector and male connector  200 , the female terminal  50  can be more positively held between the front holder  40  and the lance  29 . 
     The front holder  40  can be retained with the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22  in a two-step manner, that is, in the provisionally retained condition and the completely-retained condition. In the provisionally-retained condition of the front holder  40 , the lance  29  can be elastically deformed, and in the completely-retained condition the lance support portion  44  abuts against the lance  29  to prevent the elastic deformation of the lance  29 . Therefore, the front holder  40  is held in the provisionally-retained condition, and in this condition the female terminal  50  can be inserted into the terminal receiving chamber  22  while elastically deforming the lance  29 . Namely, there is no need to remove the front holder  40  from the front end portion  22   a  of the terminal receiving chamber  22 , and therefore the front holder  40  is prevented from being lost, and besides the insertion of the female terminal  50  into the terminal receiving chamber  22  can be easily effected. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and suitable modifications, improvements and so on can be made. The material, shape, dimensions, numerical value, form, number, disposition, etc., of each of the constituent elements of the above embodiment are arbitrary, and are not limited in so far as the invention can be achieved.