Patent Publication Number: US-10770829-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     This specification relates to a connector. 
     Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-511804 discloses a connector assembly that includes an external part assembly extending in a front-rear direction. An internal part assembly is arranged in the external part assembly and accommodates a terminal. A cable is connected to the terminal and extends rearward. A cable seal is mounted to cover a rear opening of the external part assembly and a retainer is mounted on the external part assembly from behind. 
     The seal prevents water from moving forward in the external part assembly beyond the seal. However, water may enter a space behind the cable seal and stay there without being discharged. This retained water may reduce the sealing ability of the cable seal. For example, water may freeze and expand while adhering to the cable seal and may push up lips of the cable seal. 
     Accordingly, it is an object to provide a connector capable of discharging liquid (e.g. water) adhering to a seal ring to outside. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to a connector that includes a housing with an opening that opens rearward. A seal ring is inserted into the opening from the rear and is configured to prevent the entrance of water into the housing from the rear opening by resiliently contacting an inner peripheral surface of the opening. The connector also has a retainer with a contact portion configured to contact the seal ring from behind and to hold the seal ring in the housing. The retainer is mounted on the housing to cover the opening of the housing. A first drainage port is open in an inner wall of the retainer and is configured so that water that has entered the retainer and adhered to the seal ring is discharged to outside. Thus, liquid (such as water) that enters the retainer and adheres to the seal ring is discharged to outside through the first drainage port. In this way, the sealing ability of the seal ring will not be reduced, for example, due to the freezing and expansion of the water adhering to the seal ring to widen a clearance between the seal ring and an inner peripheral surface of the opening of the housing. 
     The first drainage port may be located substantially vertically below the contact portion. Thus, water adhering to the seal ring and flowing down along the contact portion can be discharged quickly through the first drainage port. 
     A second drainage port may be open in an inner wall facing the inner wall that has the first drainage port and may be at a position substantially facing the first drainage port. Thus, water that has entered the retainer can be discharged through the second drainage port if the connector is mounted in a vertically inverted orientation. 
     The retainer may include at least one locking lance that is resiliently displaceable toward a wire. The locking lance is configured to resiliently contact and hold the wire. The housing may include at least one pressing portion configured to resiliently displace the locking lance to bring a contact portion of the locking lance into contact with the wire. 
     The at least one pressing portion of the housing may be inserted between two displacement preventing portions and one or more projections of the locking lance when the retainer is mounted on the housing. 
     A first recess may be provided in the lower displacement preventing portion and the first drainage port may be open in the first recess. 
     A second recess may be provided in the upper displacement preventing portion and the second drainage port may be open in the second recess. 
     The retainer may comprise an insertion hole through which a wire is to be inserted. An opening edge of the insertion hole may contact the seal ring to prevent detachment of the seal ring when the retainer is mounted on the housing. A part of the opening edge of the insertion hole that contacts the seal ring serves as the contact portion. 
     Accordingly, it is possible to provide a connector capable of discharging liquid (e.g. water) adhering to a seal ring to outside. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a connector in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the connector before the mounting of a retainer. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the connector before the mounting of the retainer. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the connector. 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of the connector. 
         FIG. 6  is a section along A-A in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a section before the mounting of the retainer in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the retainer. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the retainer. 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the retainer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . In the following description, an X direction, a Y direction and a Z direction in  FIGS. 1 to 10  are referred to as forward, rightward and upward directions. 
     A connector  10  of this embodiment includes a housing  12  to be fit to a mating connector (not shown) and a retainer  16  to be mounted on the housing  12  from behind as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  12  comprises a terminal accommodating portion  18  having a tubular shape long in a front-rear direction and a forwardly open housing-side receptacle  20  is provided on the outer periphery of a front part of the terminal accommodating portion  18 . Left and right rectangular tubular cavities  22  are provided in the terminal accommodating portion  18 , and a terminal is accommodated in each of the cavities  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the terminal accommodating portion  18  has an opening  24  that opens rearward, and a cable is to be inserted into the opening  24 . Specifically, a multicore cable  14  formed by bundling two coated wires  26  and covering the wires  26  with an outer coating is to be inserted into the opening  24 . Cores of the coated wires  26  of the cable  14  are connected electrically to the terminals in the respective cavities  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cable  14  is inserted through an annular seal ring  28  that is accommodated in the opening  24 . The outer peripheral surface of the seal ring  28  is resiliently in contact with an inner peripheral surface  29  in the opening  24  of the terminal accommodating portion  18 . Further, the inner peripheral surface of the seal ring  28  is resiliently in contact with an outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14 . In this way, fluid (e.g. water) cannot enter the terminal accommodating portion  18  through the opening  24  of terminal accommodating portion  18 . A front contact wall  32  is provided in the terminal accommodating portion  18  and is configured to contact the front surface of the seal ring  28  to prevent forward displacement of the seal ring  28  in the terminal accommodating portion  18 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , housing-side locks  34  project out on both side surfaces of the terminal accommodating portion  18  and prevent a retainer  16  (to be described later) from coming out rearward. The terminal accommodating portion  18  has upper and lower pressing portions  36  projecting respectively from an upper opening edge and a lower opening edge of the opening  24 . 
     The upper pressing portion  36  has left and right individual pressing portions  38  cantilevered rearward from the upper edge of the opening  24 , and the individual pressing portions  38  are spaced by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Similarly, the lower pressing portion  36  has left and right individual pressing portions  38  cantilevered rearward from the lower edge of the opening  24 . 
     The retainer  16  is for holding the cable  14  and the seal ring  28  in the housing  12  and includes, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a base wall  40  in the form of an elliptical plate long in the lateral direction, a retainer-side receptacle  42  open forward from the outer peripheral edge of the base wall  40 , a frame  46  projecting rearward from the rear surface of the base wall  40  and upper and lower locking lances  44  projecting rearward from the rear surface of the base wall  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the retainer  16  is mounted on the housing  12  so that the retainer-side receptacle  42  at least partly covers the opening  24  of the terminal accommodating portion  18 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , an intermediate position of the base wall  40  has a first insertion hole  48  through which the cable  14  is inserted and four second insertion holes  50  through which the left and right individual pressing portions  38  on an upper side and the left and right individual pressing portions  38  on a lower side are inserted respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , two first slits  52  cut in the front-rear direction are provided in each of the side surfaces of the retainer-side receptacle  42  while being spaced by a predetermined distance in a vertical direction. In this way, left and right lock arms  54  are formed and are resiliently displaceable in the lateral direction. Each of the lock arms  54  has an opening long in the front-rear direction in a vertical center, and a front part of the opening edge of the opening serves as a retainer lock  58 . 
     When the retainer  16  is mounted on the housing  12 , the retainer-side locks  58  can contact the housing-side locks  34  from the front, as shown in  FIG. 1  to prevent rearward detachment of the retainer  16  from the housing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the upper and lower locking lances  44  are cantilevered rearward (extending direction of the cable  14 ) from an opening edge of the first insertion hole  48  of the base wall  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the upper locking lance  44  includes a curved portion  60 , left and right water suppression walls  62  and left and right projections  64 . 
     The curved portion  60  extends rearward substantially along the extending direction of the cable  14  from the opening edge of the first insertion hole  48  as shown in  FIG. 10  and has a curved shape in conformity with the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the left and right projections  64  are located forward of the water suppression walls  62 , and project up from both ends of the curved portion  60  in the lateral direction (curved direction). As shown in  FIG. 7 , tapered surfaces  66  are provided on upper end parts of the projections  64  and incline forward toward the upper surface of the curved portion  60 . Further, the lower surface of the curved portion  60  is formed into a sawtooth-like portion  68  having a sawtooth-like cross-section. The cable  14  is to be caught by the sawtooth-like portion  68  when held in the housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, a holding force for the cable  14  is improved. Further, since the curved portion  60  extends in the extending direction of the cable  14 , a contact area between the sawtooth-like portion  68  and the cable  14  is large and the holding force for the cable  14  is improved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the water suppression walls  62  are project up from a rear end of the curved portion  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a lateral width of the water suppression walls  62  is equal to a lateral opening width of the second insertion holes  50 , and the water suppression walls  62  are disposed so that no clearance is formed between and right ends of the water suppression walls  62  and left and right opening edges of the second insertion holes  50  in a front view. 
     Upper ends of the water suppression walls  62  are below upper opening edges of the second insertion holes  50 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , and rear end parts of the individual pressing portions  38  can be seen between the upper ends of the water suppression walls  62  and the upper end opening edges of the second insertion holes  50  in a back view as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this way, whether or not the retainer  16  is properly mounted on the housing  12  can be confirmed from positions in front of and behind the rear end parts of the pressing portions  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the projections  64  are accommodated in the openings of the second insertion holes  50 . Thus, if the water suppression walls  62  are not provided, water may enter the opening  24  through clearances between the projections  64  and the second insertion holes  50 , and the seal ring  28  may be wetted directly. However, the second insertion holes  50  are covered by the water suppression walls  62  and the individual pressing portions  38  in a back view. Thus, water that enters through the second insertion holes  50  does not directly wet the seal ring  28 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , a second slit  70  extends in the front-rear direction (extending direction of the cable  14 ) in a center between the left and right water suppression walls  62  (and the left and right projections  64 ) of the curved portion  60  so that the curved portion  60  is divided laterally. 
     The lower locking lance  44  is vertically symmetrical with the upper locking lance  44  and has the same configuration as the upper locking lance  44 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the frame  46  is composed of upper and lower displacement preventing portions  72  projecting respectively from upper and lower parts of the base end wall  40  and left and right coupling portions  74  coupling both left and right end parts of the pair of upper and lower displacement preventing portions  72 . The left and right coupling portions  74  are provided with left and right projections  76  projecting inward in a lateral direction of the frame  46  from surfaces facing each other. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the left and right projections  76  are respectively in contact with the cable  14  in the lateral direction, thereby restricting a lateral displacement of the cable  14 . 
     When the retainer  16  is mounted on the housing  12 , the upper and lower pressing portions  36  of the housing  12  are inserted between the upper and lower displacement preventing portions  72  and the projections  64  of the upper and lower locking lances  44 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The left and right individual pressing portions  38  of the pressing portions  36  respectively individually press the left and right projections  64  in directions to press the locking lances  44  toward the cable  14 . In this way, the locking lances  44  are displaced toward the cable  14  and the sawtooth-like portions  68  of the curved portions  60  of the locking lances  44  resiliently contact the cable  14 . Further, the locking lances  44  are displaced resiliently in directions opposite to the directions toward the cable  14  by a reaction force of the cable  14  generated by the resilient contact of the locking lances  44  with the cable  14 . In this way, the left and right individual pressing portions  38  are displaced resiliently in the directions opposite to the directions toward the cable  14  and resiliently contact the displacement preventing portions  72  in the directions opposite to the directions toward the cable  14 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     A first recess  78  recessed up and inward in the lower surface of the lower displacement preventing portion  72 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and a first drainage port  80  is open in the bottom of the first recess  78  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Further, a second recess  82  is recessed down and inward in the upper surface of the upper displacement preventing portion  72 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and a second drainage port  84  is open in the bottom of the second recess  82  as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 . 
     When the retainer  16  is mounted on the housing  12 , the opening edge of the first insertion hole  48  of the base wall  40  contacts the seal ring  28  from behind to prevent rearward detachment of the seal ring  28  as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a part of the opening edge of the first insertion hole  48  that contacts the seal ring  28  from behind serves as a contact portion  86 . The first drainage port  80  is located vertically below or in correspondence with the contact portion  86 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front surface of the base wall  40  contacts the opening edge of the opening  24  of the terminal accommodating portion  18  from behind to prevent a forward displacement of the retainer  16 . Further, a length of the lock arms  54  of the retainer  16  is slightly longer than a length necessary to be fit to the housing-side locks  34  and the retainer  16  slightly rattles in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing  12 . In this way, a tiny clearance is formed between the front surface of the base wall  40  and the edge of the opening  24  of the terminal accommodating portion  18  although not shown. 
     When water enters the retainer  16  and adheres to the seal ring  28 , the water flows vertically down along the front surface of the base wall  40 . Further, the water flowing down flows into the unillustrated clearance between the front surface of the base wall  40  and the edge of the opening  24  of the terminal accommodating portion  18  and is drained to outside through the second drainage port  84 . Thus, the water does not stay near the seal ring  28 . In this way, the sealing ability of the seal ring  28  will not be reduced by freezing and expansion of the water adhering to the seal ring  28  to widen the clearance between the seal ring  28  and the inner peripheral surface of the opening  24 . Further, the sealing ability of the seal ring  28  will not be reduced by salt water that dries and leaves salt that widens the clearance between the seal ring  28  and the inner peripheral surface of the opening  24 . Note that water having entered the retainer  16  similarly is discharged through the first drainage port  80  if the connector  10  is connected in a vertically inverted orientation. 
     Next, functions of this embodiment are described. 
     If the cable  14  is inserted through the first insertion hole  48  of the retainer  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , to mount the retainer  16  on the housing  12 , the sawtooth-like portions  68  on the lower surfaces of the curved portions  60  of the locking lances  44  slide on the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14 . The curved portions  60  of the locking lances  44  have the second slits  70  and easily deflect outward to facilitate the insertion of the cable  14 . 
     Subsequently, the retainer  16  is displaced forward, and the upper and lower pressing portions  36  of the housing  12  are inserted respectively between the projections  64  and the displacement preventing portions  72  of the retainer  16 . 
     When the retainer  16  is displaced forward, the tapered surfaces  66  of the left and right projections  64  contact the rear end parts of the left and right individual pressing portions  38  of the housing  12 . When the retainer  16  is displaced farther forward, the left and right individual pressing portions  38  press the left and right projections  64  from above so that the left and right projections  64  resiliently displace toward the cable  14  while the tapered surfaces  66  of the left and right projections  64  and the rear end parts of the left and right individual pressing portions  38  slide against each other. In this way, the mounting of the retainer  16  on the housing  12  is completed, as shown in  FIG. 6 . As just described, the tapered surfaces  66  on the projections  64  reduce an insertion force for the pressing portion  36  and facilitate mounting the retainer  16  on the housing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the left and right pressing portions  38  press the left and right projections  64  from above. Thus, the locking lance  44  is displaced down, and the sawtooth  68  of the curved portion  60  resiliently contacts the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14  to hold the cable  14  in the housing  12 . At this time, the left and right projections  64  are located on both left and right sides of the curved portion  60 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus, a downward resilient displacement amount of the upper curved portion  60  is larger on the left and right sides than near the second slit  70 . Thus, the curved portion  60  is displaced radially inward of the cable  14 . By providing the curved portion  60  with the second slit  70  and providing the left and right projections  64  on the ends of the curved portion  60  in this way, the curved portion  60  is displaced radially inward of the cable  14  and resiliently comes into entire surface contact with the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14  to improve the holding force for the cable  14 . 
     The resilient contact of the sawtooth  68  of the curved portion  60  with the cable  14  generates a reaction force in the cable  14 , and this reaction force urges the curved portion  60  and the left and right individual pressing portions  38  up. However, the left and right individual pressing portions  38  contact the displacement preventing portion  72 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the left and right individual pressing portions  38  cannot displace up, and the holding force for the cable  14  is not reduced by upward displacements of the left and right individual pressing portions  38 . Further, the upper and lower displacement preventing portions  72  are made less deflectable in the vertical direction by having both end parts thereof coupled by the left and right coupling portions  74 . In this way, the displacement preventing portions  72  are not deflected by the reaction force of the cable  14  and the holding force for the cable  14  remains strong. 
     The locking locking lance  44 , the displacement preventing portion  72  and the pressing portion  36  on the lower side also exhibit functions similar to those of the locking lance  44 , the displacement preventing portion  72  and the pressing portion  36  on the upper side. Further, since the cable  14  is held in the vertical direction by the upper and lower locking lances  44 , the holding force for the cable  14  is improved as compared to a configuration in which only one of the upper and lower locking lances  44  is provided. 
     Next, it is assumed that liquid (e.g. water drops) splash on the retainer  16  from behind the retainer  16 . At this time, the water drops splashed toward the second insertion holes  50  hit the water suppression walls  62  provided in front of the second insertion holes  50 , thereby suppressing the entrance of the water drops into the opening  24  through the second insertion holes  50 . Further, even if the water drops reach the second insertion holes  50  beyond the water suppression walls  62 , these water drops hit the rear end parts of the pair of pressing portions  36 . Thus, the entrance of the water drops into the opening  24  through the second insertion holes  50  is suppressed. As just described, since the second insertion holes  50  are covered by the rear end parts of the pressing portions  36  and the water suppression walls  62  in a back view as shown in  FIG. 5 , the water cannot enter through the second insertion holes  50 . 
     No sealing process is applied to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second insertion holes  48  and  50 . Thus, water drops may enter the opening  24  and adhere to the seal ring  28  in some cases. Further, water drops possibly enter through the second drainage port  84  and adhere to the seal ring  28 . The water drops adhering to the seal ring  28  in this way flow vertically down along the front surface of the base wall  40  and is discharged quickly to outside through the second drainage port  84 . Thus, water does not stay near the seal ring  28 . 
     As described above, the curved portion  60  of the locking lance  44  has the second slit  70  extending in the extending direction of the cable. Thus, if the projections  64  are pressed in one direction by the pressing portion  36  of the housing  12 , parts of the curved portion  60  divided by the second slit  70  are displaced in the one direction. However, the projections  64  are provided on both ends of the curved portion  60  in the curved direction. Thus, displacement amounts of both ends of the curved portion  60  in the one direction are larger than that of the side of the second slit  70  of the curved portion  60  in the one direction. In this way, the curved portion  60  is deflected radially inwardly of the cable  14  and the entire surface thereof resiliently contacts the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14  to improve the holding force for the cable  14 . 
     Further, the individual pressing portions  38  are configured to press the projections  64  individually. Thus, the weight of the pressing portion  36  can be reduced as compared to a configuration in which one pressing portion simultaneously presses the two projections  64  since a part coupling the individual pressing portions  38  is not necessary. 
     Further, in mounting the retainer  16  on the housing  12 , the pressing portion  36  of the housing  12  gradually displaces the locking lance  44  in one direction while sliding against the tapered surfaces  66  of the projections  64  of the locking lance  44 . Thus, an insertion force for the pressing portion  36  is reduced and mounting the retainer  16  on the housing  12  is easier. 
     Further, the cable  14  is sandwiched by the locking lances  44  and the pressing portions  36  provided on both sides across the cable  14 . Thus, the holding force for the cable  14  is improved. 
     As described above, water that enters the retainer  16  and adheres to the seal ring  28  is discharged to outside through the first drainage port  80 . Thus, the sealing ability of the seal ring  28  is not reduced due to the freezing and expansion of the water adhering to the seal ring  28  to widen the clearance between the seal ring  28  and the inner peripheral surface of the opening  24  of the housing  12 . 
     Further, the first drainage port  80  is vertically below the contact portion  86  that is configured to contact with the seal ring  28 . Thus, water adhering to the seal ring  28  and flowing down along the contact portion  86  can be discharged quickly through the first drainage port  80 . 
     Further, since the second drainage port  84  is vertically below the contact portion  86  if the connector  10  is mounted in a vertically inverted orientation. Thus, water having entered the retainer  16  can be discharged through the second drainage port  84 . 
     As described above, the number of components can be reduced as compared to a configuration in which the cable  14  is held by a separate component resiliently contacting the cable  14  by providing the retainer  16  with the locking lances  44  for holding the cable  14  by resiliently contacting the cable  14 . Further, by providing the retainer  16  with the displacement preventing portions  72 , the pressing portions  36  of the housing  12  cannot displace in directions opposite to contacting directions with the locking lances  44  due to a reaction force of the cable  14  generated by the resilient contact of the locking lances  44  with the cable  14 . In this way, the holding force for the cable (wire)  14  is strong. 
     Further, a contact surface of the locking lance  44  and the cable  14  is curved in conformity with the outer peripheral surface  30  of the cable  14  and extends in the extending direction of the cable  14 . Thus, a contact area of the locking lance  44  and the cable  14  is large. 
     Further, the pressing portions  36  of the housing  12  gradually displace the locking lances  44  toward the cable  14  while sliding on the tapered surfaces  66  of the projections  64  when the retainer  16  is mounted on the housing  12 . Thus, an insertion force for the pressing portions  36  is reduced and work to mount the retainer  16  on the housing  12  is easier. 
     Further, the cable  14  is sandwiched by the two locking lances  44 . Thus, the holding force for the cable  14  is high. 
     Further, both ends of the displacement preventing portions  72  are coupled by the coupling portions  74 . Thus, the displacement preventing portions  72  are made less deflectable by the reaction force of the cable  14  and the holding force for the cable  14  is improved as compared to a configuration in which the coupling portions  74  are not provided. 
     Further, the two projections  76  contact the cable  14  in directions intersecting resilient displacing directions of the locking lances  44 . Thus, displacements of the cable  14  in the directions intersecting the resilient displacing directions of the locking lances  44  is restricted. 
     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following various modes also are included. 
     Although the cable  14  is held in the housing  12  by the pair of upper and lower locking lances  44  of the retainer  16  respectively resiliently contacting the cable  14  in the vertical direction in the above embodiment, left and right locking lances may be provided and resiliently contact the cable in the lateral direction. Further, one locking lance may be provided and resiliently contact the cable in one direction to hold the cable. 
     Although the pressing portion  36  of the housing  12  is composed of the left and right individual pressing portions  38  and the left and right individual pressing portions  38  respectively press the left and right projections  64  in the above embodiment, one pressing portion may simultaneously press the left and right projections  64 . 
     Although the lateral width of the water suppressing walls  62  is equal to the lateral opening width of the second insertion holes  50  in the above embodiment, the lateral width of the water suppressing walls  62  may be larger than the lateral opening width of the second insertion holes  50 . 
     Although the locking lances  44  are provided with the projections  64  and the pressing portions  36  of the housing  12  press the projections  64  in the above embodiment, projections may be provided on pressing portions and the projections of the pressing portions may press curved portions of locking lances instead of providing the locking lances with the projections. 
     Although the displacement preventing portions  72  are made less deflectable by coupling the ends of the upper and lower displacement preventing portions  72  respectively by the left and right coupling portions  74  in the above embodiment, displacement preventing portions may be made less deflectable, for example, by being thickened without providing the left and right coupling portions  74 . 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10 : connector 
           12 : housing 
           14 : cable (wire) 
           16 : retainer 
           24 : opening 
           28 : seal ring 
           29 : inner peripheral surface 
           30 : outer peripheral surface 
           36 : pressing portion 
           38 : individual pressing portion 
           44 : locking lance 
           60 : curved portion 
           64 : projection 
           66 : tapered surface 
           70 : second slit (slit) 
           72 : displacement preventing portion 
           74 : coupling portion 
           80 : first drainage port 
           84 : second drainage port 
           86 : contact portion