Patent Publication Number: US-2022239029-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-009349, filed on Jan. 25, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2010-177045 includes a housing having terminal inserting portions and a conductor holding portion, terminals to be inserted into the terminal inserting portions, a connection conductor to be held in the conductor holding portion, and a lid member to be mounted on the housing. The connection conductor includes a plurality of fitting portions and a coupling portion coupling the respective fitting portions. Each fitting portion is connected to a female electrical contact portion of the terminal. 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2014-035947 includes a male housing and a female housing connectable to each other. The male housing holds a male terminal (joint terminal). The female housing includes terminal accommodation chambers for accommodating female terminals. The joint terminal includes a plurality of contact portions and a coupling portion coupling the respective contact portions. Each contact portion is connected to a contact spring piece of the female terminal. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the case of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2010-177045, the terminal is inserted into the terminal inserting portion and stopped in contact with the coupling portion of the connection conductor. An insertion force is applied to the connection conductor in a direction in which the connection conductor comes out from the housing. Thus, the presence of the lid member for restricting the escape of the connection conductor is indispensable. 
     In the case of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2014-035947, the female terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber and stopped in contact with the front wall of the female housing. Thus, both the male housing and female housing are necessary. However, if one of the both housings can be omitted, the number of components can be reduced, which is preferable. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector capable of reducing the number of components. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a male terminal including a tab, a female terminal connectable to the tab, and a housing, wherein the housing includes a holding portion for holding the male terminal and a cavity for accommodating the female terminal, one end of the cavity is closed by a wall surface of the holding portion, and the tab is arranged to project into the cavity from the wall surface of the holding portion. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of reducing the number of components. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure when a retainer is at a full locking position. 
         FIG. 2  is a section along X-X of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view when the retainer is at a partial locking position. 
         FIG. 4  is a section along Y-Y of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a housing having a male terminal inserted therein. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of the housing having the male terminal inserted therein. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the male terminal. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view when the male terminal is cut at twisted portions. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the retainer. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a sealing member. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure when a retainer is properly mounted in a housing. 
         FIG. 12  is a section along Z-Z of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     [Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure] 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a male terminal including a tab, a female terminal connectable to the tab, and a housing, wherein the housing includes a holding portion for holding the male terminal and a cavity for accommodating the female terminal, one end of the cavity is closed by a wall surface of the holding portion, and the tab is arranged to project into the cavity from the wall surface of the holding portion. 
     With the male terminal held in the holding portion, the female terminal is inserted into the cavity. The female terminal is stopped in contact with the wall surface of the holding portion and connected to the tab of the male terminal. The holding portion for holding the male terminal and the cavity for accommodating the female terminal are provided in the common housing without being separately provided in a male housing and a female housing. Thus, the number of components can be reduced. 
     Further, by stopping the female terminal in contact with the wall surface of the holding portion, the direct application of an insertion force of the female terminal to the male terminal can be avoided. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a special structure for restricting the escape of the male terminal, separately from the housing. 
     (2) Preferably, the male terminal is held in the holding portion by insert molding. 
     According to this, the integrity of the male terminal and the holding portion can be enhanced and the wall surface of the holding portion can be accurately formed into such a shape that the female terminal can be stopped in contact therewith. 
     (3) The housing may include a locking lance projecting into the cavity to lock the female terminal and an opening penetrating from an outer surface of the housing to a position facing the locking lance, and a plug portion may be arranged in the opening. 
     The housing is formed with the opening due to the removal of a mold for forming the locking lance. If the opening is formed, there is a possibility that an external matter enters the cavity through the opening from the outer surface of the housing. However, according to the above configuration, the entrance of the external matter into the cavity can be prevented by the plug portion. 
     (4) A sealing portion may be provided which seals between the plug portion and the opening. 
     According to this, the entrance of water, oil and the like into the cavity through the opening can be prevented. 
     (5) The plug portion may be provided on a retainer for restricting deflection of the locking lance. 
     According to this, since the plug portion has a retainer function, the plug portion needs not be a dedicated component and is excellent in versatility. 
     [Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure] 
     Specific examples of connectors according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this illustration and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
     First Embodiment 
     A connector  10  according to a first embodiment includes, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a housing  20 , a male terminal  50 , female terminals  70 , a retainer  80  and a sealing member  90 . The male terminal  50  is integrally held in the housing  20  by insert molding. The female terminals  70  are accommodated into the housing  20 . The male terminal  50  and the female terminals  70  are connected to each other in the housing  20 . The housing  20  is completed as a single housing and not divided into a male housing and a female housing. The retainer  80  is mounted into the housing  20  to restrict the escape of the female terminals  70  from the housing  20 . 
     Note that, in the following description, a right side of  FIGS. 1 to 4  is referred to as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is synonymous with a height direction and based on a vertical direction of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . A lateral direction is synonymous with a width direction and based on a lateral direction of  FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 . Note that these direction references do not necessarily coincide with directions in an actually used state. 
     (Housing) 
     The housing  20  is made of synthetic resin and includes an accommodating portion  21  for accommodating the female terminals  70  in a front part and a holding portion  22  for holding the male terminal  50  in a rear part. The accommodating portion  21  and the holding portion  22  are arranged one after the other in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the accommodating portion  21  includes a plurality of cavities  23  arranged in a row in the lateral direction. A front part of each cavity  23  has a circular cross-section and provided to extend in the front-rear direction in a hollow cylindrical portion  35 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the front end of the cavity  23  is open in the front surface of the accommodating portion  21  (housing  20 ), and the rear end of the cavity  23  is closed by a later-described wall surface  32  of the holding portion  22 . The accommodating portion  21  includes locking lances  24  projecting into the respective cavities  23 . The locking lance  24  is cantilevered rearward from the upper surface of the inner wall of the cavity  23  and is deflectable and deformable in the vertical direction. The accommodating portion  21  includes deflection spaces  25  for allowing the deflection of the locking lances  24  above the locking lances  24 . 
     The housing  20  includes, in an upper part, an opening  26  communicating with the deflection spaces  25 , extending in the front-rear direction and open in the rear surface of the holding portion  22 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the opening  26  includes a plurality of sealing spaces  27  corresponding to the respective deflection spaces  25  and provided side by side in the lateral direction. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a step surface  28  extending along the vertical direction is provided at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction on the inner upper surface of the opening  26 . Out of spaces of the opening  26  on both front and rear sides across the step surface  28 , the rear space is open larger in the vertical direction than the front space. The sealing spaces  27  are provided in the aforementioned rear space in the opening  26 . Later-described plug portions  86  of the retainer  80  and later-described sealing portions  91  of the sealing member  90  are inserted into the sealing spaces  27 . 
     The opening  26  includes a body accommodation space  29  for accommodating a later-described retainer body  81  of the retainer  80  behind the respective sealing spaces  27  in the aforementioned rear space. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the body accommodation space  29  is a single space extending long in the lateral direction while communicating with the respective sealing spaces  27  on a front side. 
     The holding portion  22  includes a block-like holding portion body  31  in a lower part of the housing  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the holding portion body  31  defines the lower surface of the opening  26  (sealing spaces  27  and body accommodation space  29 ). The male terminal  50  is held in the holding portion body  31  by insert molding. The front surface of the holding portion body  31  serves as the wall surface  32  extending along the vertical direction and lateral direction and closes the rear ends of the respective cavities  23 . Later-described tables  52  of the male terminal  50  project into the cavities  23  from the front surface of the holding portion body  31 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the holding portion  22  includes a covering wall  23 , which is the upper wall of the housing  20 . The covering wall  33  defines the upper surface of the opening  26  (sealing spaces  27  and the body accommodation space  29 ). The covering wall  33  includes lock receiving portions  34  at a plurality of positions (three positions in the case of the first embodiment) spaced apart in the lateral direction. Each lock receiving portion  34  is a hole penetrating through the covering wall  33  in a thickness direction and has a rectangular opening shape long in the front-rear direction. Each lock receiving portion  34  communicates with the body accommodation space  29  of the opening  26  on a lower side. A projection  83  of a later-described locking portion  82  enters and is lockable to each lock receiving portion  34 . 
     (Male Terminal  50 ) 
     The male terminal  50  is a busbar made of conductive metal and includes, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a mounting portion  51  in a rear part, a plurality of the tabs  52  in a front part and a linking portion  53  between the mounting portion  51  and the respective tabs  52 . 
     The mounting portion  51  has a flat shaped extending along the front-rear direction and lateral direction and includes a circular mounting hole  54  penetrating in a plate thickness direction (vertical direction). Further, the male terminal  50  includes a hooking portion  55  bent downward from the rear end of the mounting portion  51 . The male terminal  50  is mounted on an unillustrated mounting object (ground connection object) via a bolt or the like inserted through the mounting hole  54  with the hooking portion  55  hooked to an unillustrated hooked portion. 
     The linking portion  53  rises upward from the front end of the mounting portion  51 . A flat bead portion  56  bulging upward is provided between the linking portion  53  and the mounting portion  51  in a laterally central part of the male terminal  50 . Further, rib-like rising edge parts  57  extending from the linking portion  53  to the mounting portion  51  are provided on both left and right end parts of the male terminal  50 . The bead portion  56  and the rising end parts  57  function to maintain the bent shape between the linking portion  53  and the mounting portion  51  in the male terminal  50 . 
     The male terminal  50  also includes a coupling portion  58  L-shaped in a side view, protruding toward both left and right sides from the upper end of the linking portion  53  and bent forward. 
     The respective tabs  52  are in the form of plates having a rectangular cross-section, and project forward from the front edge of the coupling portion  58  while being arranged in a row in the lateral direction. Each tab  52  includes a step portion  59  at an intermediate position in a projecting direction (front-rear direction). Out of regions of each tab  52  on both left and right sides across the step portion  59 , the front region is arranged slightly higher than the rear region. 
     A twisted portion  61  is provided in the rear region of each tab  52  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The twisted portion  61  is shaped to be twisted in a range of 0° to 90° (45° in this embodiment) about an axis with respect to parts of the tab  52  other than the twisted portion  61 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , out of the outer surfaces of the twisted portion  61 , the left side surface and upper surface are arranged to face leftward and the right side surface and lower surface are arranged to face rightward. 
     By interposing a coating material on an interface of the tab  52  and a resin part of the housing  20 , sealability between the housing  20  and the tab  52  can be improved. 
     In the case of the first embodiment, the coating material is injected from both left and right sides or from both upper and lower sides of the tab  52 . The coating material blown from the left or upper side is attached to the left side surface and upper surface of the twisted portion  61 , and the coating material blown from the right or lower side is attached to the right side surface and lower surface of the twisted portion  61 . As a result, the coating material can be efficiently attached to the entire periphery of the tab  52  by being injected from two directions opposing the tab  52 . Further, a holding force of the male terminal  50  in the housing  20  can be enhanced by the twisted portions  61 . 
     Note that, contrary to the case shown in  FIG. 8 , out of the outer surfaces of the twisted portion  61 , the left side surface and lower surface may be arranged to face leftward and the right side surface and upper surface may be arranged to face rightward. Also in this case, the coating material injected from two directions opposing the tab  52  can be attached to the entire periphery of the tab  52  as in the above case. 
     (Female Terminals) 
     The female terminal  70  is made of conductive metal and includes, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a tubular connecting portion  71  and a barrel portion  72  in the form of an open barrel provided in front of the connecting portion  71 . 
     The barrel portion  72  is crimped to a core  41  in an end part of a wire  40  and electrically connected to the wire  40 . Further, the barrel portion  72  is crimped to a rubber plug  45  fit on the end part of the wire  40 . The rubber plug  45  is inserted into a front part of the cavity  23  and held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cavity  23 . 
     (Retainer) 
     The retainer  80  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a flat retainer body  81  long in the lateral direction. 
     The retainer body  81  includes locking portions  82  at a plurality of positions (three positions in the first embodiment) spaced apart in the lateral direction on an upper surface. Each locking portion  82  includes a claw-like projection  83  projecting upward from a rib-like portion  84  extending in the front-rear direction. Each of the locking portions  82  arranged on both left and right sides includes the projection  83  in a rear part of the rib-like portion  84 . The locking portion  82  arranged on a laterally central side includes the projection  83  in a front end part of the rib-like portion  84 . The retainer body  81  includes a flat front surface portion  85  extending in the vertical direction and lateral direction. 
     Further, the retainer  80  includes a plurality of the plug portions  86  elongated and projecting forward from the front surface portion  85 . On the front surface of the retainer body  81 , the respective plug portions  86  are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective sealing spaces  27  (respective cavities  23 ) while being spaced apart in the lateral direction. Each plug portion  86  has a cylindrical shape except a tip part. The tip part of each plug portion  86  has a flat restricting surface  87  capable of contacting the locking lance  24  on a lower surface. 
     (Sealing Member) 
     The sealing member  90  is made of rubber such as silicon rubber and integrally formed and includes, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a plurality of the sealing portions  91  arranged in a row in the lateral direction and bridge portions  92  coupling the respective sealing portions  91  between rear end parts of the adjacent sealing portions  91 . Each sealing portion  91  is in the form of a rectangular tube with four rounded corners and includes a sealing hole  93  penetrating in the front-rear direction and having a circular cross-section. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a plurality of inner peripheral lips  94  are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction on the inner peripheral surface of the retainer sealing hole  93  of the sealing portion  91 . The respective inner peripheral lips  94  are held in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plug portion  86  inserted into the sealing hole  93 . A plurality of outer peripheral lips  95  are circumferentially provided at intervals in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of each sealing portion  91 . The respective outer peripheral lips  95  are held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of each sealing space  27  of the opening  26 . In this way, each sealing space  27  of the opening  26  is maintained liquid tight. 
     (Overall Structure and Functions of Connector) 
     The male terminal  50  is insert-molded in the housing  20 . In this way, the linking portion  53 , the coupling portion  58 , the rear regions of the tabs  52  including the twisted portion  61  and the step portions  59  are held in a state embedded in the holding portion body  31  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). The mounting portion  51  is arranged in a state projecting and exposed rearward from the lower part of the holding portion body  31 . Tip parts (front regions) of the tabs  52  are arranged to project into the corresponding cavities  23 . 
     The sealing portions  91  of the sealing member  90  are inserted into the sealing space  27  of the opening  26 . The sealing portions  91  are stopped in contact with the step surface  28 . The bridge portions  92  of the sealing member  90  are inserted into a front part of the body accommodation space  29  of the opening  26 . Further, the plug portions  86  of the retainer  80  are passed through the sealing holes  93  of the sealing member  90  in a liquid-tight manner. Tip parts of the plug portions  86  are arranged to face the deflection spaces  25  from behind (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The retainer  80  is inserted into the body accommodation space  29  and left at a partial locking position with respect to the housing  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the retainer  80  is at the partial locking position, the projection  83  of the locking portion  82  on the laterally central side is inserted into the lock receiving portion  34  of the covering wall  33  and the projections  83  of the respective locking portions  82  on both left and right sides are arranged behind the covering wall  33 . At the partial locking position, the retainer  80  is restricted from moving rearward by the contact of the projection  83  of the locking portion  82  on the laterally central side with the rear edge of the lock receiving portion  34  and restricted from moving forward by the contact of the projections  83  of the respective locking portions  82  on both left and right sides with the rear end of the covering wall  33 . 
     Further, when the retainer  80  is at the partial locking position, the female terminal  70  connected to the end part of the wire  40  is inserted into the cavity  23  of the accommodating portion  21  from front. In the process of inserting the female terminal  70 , the locking lance  24  contacts the connecting portion  71  to be deflected and deformed into the deflection space  25 . When the female terminal  70  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the locking lance  24  resiliently returns to lock the connecting portion  71  and the female terminal  70  is primarily retained by the locking lance  24 . Further, when the female terminal  70  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the connecting portion  71  contacts the wall surface  32  of the holding portion body  31  as shown in  FIG. 4 , thereby restricting any further rearward movement of the female terminal  70 . The rubber plug  45  is inserted in a liquid-tight manner in a rear part of the cavity  23 . 
     Further, in the process of inserting the female terminal  70 , the tip part of the tab  52  is inserted into the connecting portion  71  from front. When the female terminal  70  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the tip part of the tab  52  contacts a resilient contact piece  73  provided in the connecting portion  71  and the both terminals  50 ,  70  are electrically connected as shown in  FIG. 4 . As just described, in the case of the first embodiment, the insertion of the female terminal  70  into the cavity  23  and the connection of the both terminals  50 ,  70  can be performed by one operation. 
     After the female terminals  70  are properly inserted into the cavities  23 , the retainer  80  is pushed forward to move from the partial locking position to a full locking position. When the retainer  80  reaches the full locking position, the tip parts of the plug portions  86  enter the deflection spaces  25  and the restricting surfaces  87  of the plug portions  86  are arranged to contactably face the locking lances  24  from above as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this way, the deflection of the locking lances  24  is restricted, with the result that the female terminals  70  are secondarily retained. As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the retainer  80  is at the full locking position, any of the projections  83  of the respective locking portions  82  is inserted in the lock receiving portion  34  of the covering wall  33 . At the full locking position, the retainer  80  is restricted from moving forward by the contact of the projection  83  of the locking portion  82  on the laterally central side with the front edge of the lock receiving portion  34  and restricted from moving rearward by the contact of the projections  83  of the respective locking portions  82  on both left and right sides with the rear edges of the lock receiving portions  34 . In contrast, if the female terminal  70  is left incompletely inserted without being properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the tip part of the plug portion  86  interferes with the locking lance  24  in a deflected state and the pushing of the retainer  80  to the full locking position is restricted. In this way, it can be detected that the female terminal  70  is left incompletely inserted in the cavity  23 . 
     As described above, according to the first embodiment, the male terminal  50  is held in the holding portion  22  by insert molding and the tabs  52  of the male terminal  50  are arranged to project into the cavities  23  from the wall surface  32  of the holding portion  22 . Thus, by properly inserting the female terminal  70  into the cavity  23 , the both terminals  50 ,  70  are electrically connected in the housing  20 . Therefore, it is not necessary to separately prepare a male housing and a female housing and the number of components can be reduced. 
     Further, the female terminal  70  is stopped in contact with the wall surface  32  of the holding portion  22 , whereby the direct application of an insertion force of the female terminal  70  to the male terminal  50  can be avoided. Thus, the housing  20  needs not be provided with a special retaining structure for restricting the rearward escape of the male terminal  50 , separately from the housing  20 . 
     Further, by insert-molding the male terminal  50  in the housing  20 , the integrity of the male terminal  50  and the housing  20  can be enhanced and the wall surface  32  of the holding portion  22  can be accurately formed into such a shape that the female terminals  70  can be stopped in contact therewith. 
     Further, since the sealing portion  91  is inserted, together with the plug portion  86 , into the sealing space  27  of the opening  26 , the entrance of water, oil and the like into the cavity  23  through the opening  26  can be prevented. Moreover, since the plug portion  86  has a retainer function of restricting the deflection of the locking lance  24 , the plug portion  86  needs not be a dedicated component and is excellent in versatility. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . A connector  10 A according to the second embodiment is similar to the connector  10  according to the first embodiment, and includes a housing  20 A, a male terminal  50 A, female terminals  70  and a retainer  80 A. Although the male terminal  50 A is structured differently from the male terminal  50  of the first embodiment, a basic configuration is similar to that of the male terminal  50 . In contrast, an opening  26 A and the retainer  80 A are largely different from the opening  26  and the retainer  80  of the first embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the opening  26 A extends in a vertical direction orthogonal to a connecting direction of the both terminals  50 A,  70  and has an upper end open in the upper surface of the housing  20 A and a lower end open at a position facing locking lances  24  in the inner surfaces of cavities  23 . Further, the opening  26 A is open over the entire width in a lateral direction in the upper surface of the housing  20 A. 
     The retainer  80 A includes a retainer body  81 A extending long in the lateral direction and plug portions  86 A projecting downward from the flat lower surface of the retainer body  81 A. The retainer body  81 A is formed in such a size as to cover the opening  26 A from above. The plug portions  86 A are arranged through sealing holes  93 A of sealing portions  91 A in a liquid-tight manner. Note that although only one plug portion  86 A is shown in  FIG. 12 , a plurality of the plug portions  86 A are provided in the retainer  80 A to corresponding to the respective locking lances  24 . Further, a plurality of the sealing holes  93 A are also provided in the sealing portions  91 A to correspond to the respective plug portions  86 A. The sealing portions  91 A are in contact with the lower surface of the retainer body  81 A. The sealing portions  91 A are in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening  26 A. Thus, also in the second embodiment, the inside of the opening  26 A is maintained liquid tight and the entrance of water, oil and the like into the cavities  23  through the opening  26 A can be prevented as in the first embodiment. 
     When the female terminal  70  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , a tab  52 A of the male terminal  50 A held in the housing  20 A by insert molding contacts a resilient contact piece  73  in a connecting portion  71  and the both terminals  50 A,  70  are electrically connected in the housing  20 A. Thereafter, the retainer  80 A is properly inserted into the opening  26 A and tip parts (lower end parts) of the plug portions  86 A are arranged to be able to contact the locking lances  24 . In this way, as in the first embodiment, the deflection of the locking lances  24  is restricted and the female terminals  70  are secondarily retained in the cavities  23 . According to the second embodiment, the number of components can be reduced by a relatively simple structure. 
     [Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure] 
     The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the male terminal is held in the holding portion by insert molding in the case of the first and second embodiments, the male terminal may be locked to and held in the holding portion without being held by insert molding according to another embodiment. In this case, a member for restricting the escape of the male terminal may be mounted in the housing. 
     Although the plug portions are provided on the retainer having the retainer function of restricting the deflection of the locking lances in the case of the first and second embodiments, plug portions may be provided on an inserting member, which is inserted into the opening, but does not have the retainer function, according to another embodiment. 
     Although the male terminal is configured as a busbar including the plurality of tabs in the case of the first and second embodiments, a male terminal may be configured as a board terminal having a tab shape as a whole according to another embodiment. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.