Patent Publication Number: US-9893462-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-018617 discloses a connector in which a terminal-side housing carrier for accommodating and holding terminal fittings and a wire-side housing carrier for accommodating wires are coupled via a resilient portion. In this connector, if the wire vibrates, the terminal-side housing carrier and the wire-side housing carrier are displaced relatively while resiliently deforming the resilient portion and the vibration of the wire can be attenuated by this resilient deformation of the resilient portion. 
     In the above connector, when the wire vibrates outside the connector, the vibration of that wire is transferred to the terminal-side housing carrier via the resilient portion without being almost attenuated. Since the vibration transferred to the terminal-side housing carrier is transferred to the terminal fitting, fine sliding abrasion may occur between this terminal fitting and a mating terminal. 
     The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to improve a function of suppressing the transfer of vibration from a wire to a terminal fitting. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to a connector with a housing. At least one terminal fitting is fixed to a front end part of at least one wire and is inserted into the housing from behind. At least one slack holding portion is formed on the housing and is configured to hold the wire drawn out backward from the housing in a slackened state. 
     The wire may be looped and wound around the slack holding portion so that the wire is not detached from the slack holding portion. 
     The housing may include an inner housing configured to accommodate the at least one terminal fitting and an outer housing that is relatively displaceable with respect to the inner housing. The slack holding portion may be formed on the outer housing. The wire may collide with the slack holding portion when attenuating vibration and while being resiliently deformed. Thus, the vibration of the wire is not transferred directly to the inner housing. Thus, the vibration of the wire is difficult to transfer to the terminal fitting in the inner housing. 
     The inner housing and the outer housing may be mounted via at least one resilient positioning member. According to this configuration, vibration transferred from the wire to the outer housing is attenuated by the resilient positioning member, and the transfer of vibration to the inner housing is suppressed. 
     The inner housing may be connectable to a mating housing that includes at least one mating terminal, and the inner housing may be formed with at least one displacement restricting portion configured to restrict a relative displacement with respect to the mating housing. According to this configuration, the inner housing is connected to the mating housing with a relative displacement restricted and relative displacements of the terminal fitting and the mating terminal are restricted. Thus, fine sliding abrasion between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal can be suppressed. 
     The inner housing may include a housing body configured to accommodate the terminal fitting and a front retainer mounted in or to a front end part of the housing body and configured to restrict escape of the terminal fitting from the housing body. The displacement restricting portion may be formed to project on an outer peripheral surface of the front retainer and may be capable of being held in close contact with an inner periphery of a receptacle of the mating housing while being plastically deformed. According to this configuration, the front retainer is formed with the displacement restricting portion so that the shape of the housing body can be simplified. 
     The connector may further include a locking lance configured to retain the terminal fitting inserted into the inner housing from behind. A restricting projection may be formed on a front wall of the front retainer and may be configured to restrict a movement of the terminal fitting by coming into contact with a front surface of the terminal fitting and sandwiching the terminal fitting between the locking lance and the restricting projection substantially in a front-back direction. According to this configuration, a movement of the terminal fitting in the front-back direction can be restricted, utilizing the front retainer that is separate from the housing body. In this way, fine sliding abrasion between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal can be prevented reliably. 
     The inner housing may be connectable to a mating housing that includes a mating terminal. The inner housing may be formed with at least one lock arm configured to hold a connected state to the mating housing by being locked to the mating housing. Accordingly, the inner housing and the mating housing are locked in the connected state by the lock arm, and fine sliding abrasion between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal can be suppressed. 
     If the wire vibrates behind the housing, the wire held in the slackened state by the slack holding portion is resiliently deformed to change a curvature thereof near the housing. Vibration energy of the wire is attenuated by the wire itself being resiliently deformed. Thus, a function of suppressing the transfer of vibration from the wire to the terminal fitting is excellent. 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are described separately, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an exploded state of a female connector (connector) of one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state where a housing body portion constituting an inner housing and an outer housing are separated. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where a half member of the outer housing is mounted to the lower surface of the inner housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a state where a front retainer, terminal fittings and rubber plugs are removed in the female housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the female housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the female housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the female housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the female housing viewed from behind. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view in section showing a state where the female housing and a male housing are connected. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view in section showing the process of connecting the female housing and the male housing. 
         FIG. 11  is a section along A-A of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a section along B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a section along C-C of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a section along D-D of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a housing body constituting an inner housing. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing an upper half member constituting the outer housing viewed obliquely from an upper rear side. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing a lower half member constituting the outer housing viewed obliquely from an upper rear side. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view showing a state where a pair of upper and lower half members constituting the outer housing are separated. 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of the upper half member constituting the outer housing. 
         FIG. 20  is a front view of a front retainer. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing the rubber plug viewed obliquely from front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One specific embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 21 . Note that, in the following description, a left side in  FIGS. 7, 9 to 12, 15 and 19 , an oblique left lower side in  FIGS. 1 to 4 and 21  and an oblique right upper side in  FIGS. 8, 16 and 17  are defined as a front side concerning a front-back direction. Concerning a vertical direction, upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6, 8 to 10, 13 to 18, 20 and 21  are defined as upper and lower sides. A connector of this embodiment includes a male connector M and a female connector F connectable to and separable from each other. 
     &lt;Male Connector M&gt; 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the male connector M has a male housing  80  made e.g. of synthetic resin. The male housing  80  includes a terminal holding portion  81  and a receptacle  82  projecting in the same direction as a connecting direction to the female connector F (right in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) from the terminal holding portion  81 . A lock projection  83  is formed on the upper surface (outer surface) of an upper wall the receptacle  82 . Three male terminal fittings  84  are mounted side by side in a lateral direction in the male housing  80 . Each male terminal fitting  84  includes a tab  85  projecting into the receptacle  82  from the terminal holding portion  81  as a later-described means to be connected to a female terminal fitting  72 . 
     &lt;Female Connector F&gt; 
     The female connector F is composed of front end parts of three conductive paths  70  and a female housing  10 . Each conductive path  70  includes a wire  71  and the female terminal fitting  72  electrically connected (e.g. crimped) to a wire  71  to a front end part of the wire  71  and a rubber plug  61  externally fit to the front end part of the wire  71  and connected to a rear end part of the female terminal fitting  72  by crimping. The terminal fitting and the rubber plug  61  are inserted into the female housing  10  from behind. The female housing  10  includes an inner housing  11  made e.g. of synthetic resin, a seal ring  27  made of resilient material such as rubber, an outer housing  37  made of synthetic resin and a pair of left and right resilient positioning members  55  made of rubber. 
     &lt;Inner Housing  11 &gt; 
     The inner housing  11  is formed by assembling a bilaterally symmetrical housing body  12  made of synthetic resin and a bilaterally symmetrical front retainer  30  made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 11 or 12 , three terminal accommodating chambers  13  are formed side by side in the lateral direction in the housing body  12  and the female terminal fittings  72  can be inserted therein from behind. Locking lances  14  are cantilevered forward along the lower surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers  13  and deflection spaces  15  for allowing the locking lances  14  to be resiliently deformed in a direction away from the terminal accommodating chambers  13  (down) are formed in the housing body  12 . A rear end part of the inner periphery of the terminal accommodating chamber  13  defines a sealing surface  16  that will closely contact the rubber plug  61 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a lock arm  17  is formed on the upper surface of the housing body  12 . The lock arm  17  includes left and right supports  18  extending forward from the upper surface of the housing body  12  and a lock  19  connected between front end parts of the supports  18 . A lock hole  20  penetrates the lock  19  in the vertical direction (or a direction intersecting the connecting direction). The lock arm  17  includes an arm portion  21  extending back from the rear end edge of the lock  19  between the supports  18 . A lock releasing portion  22  wider than the arm portion  21  is formed on a rear end part of the arm portion  21 . 
     The lock arm  17  is resiliently deformable in a seesaw manner with rear ends of the supports  18  acting as fulcrums so that the lock  19  is displaced up and the lock releasing portion  22  is displaced down. This seesaw-like resilient deformation occurs in the process of connecting both male and female housings  80 ,  10  and when the two connectors M, F in a connected state are separated. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 12 and 15 , two positioning recesses  23  are formed on both left and right side parts of the housing body  12  and open both down and up and laterally outward. Each positioning recess  23  has an outer contact surface  24  constituting an outer side surface of the housing body  12  and front and rear facing surfaces  25  substantially at a right angle to the outer contact surface  24 . A horizontal area connected substantially at a right angle to the upper end edge of the outer contact surface  24  and a horizontal area connected substantially at a right angle to the lower end edge of the outer contact surface  24  define receiving surfaces  26 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the seal ring  27  made of rubber is fit externally on the outer periphery of the housing body  12  adjacent to or in front of the positioning recesses  23 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 12 , the front retainer  30  includes a front wall  31 , a tubular peripheral wall  32  projecting back from the outer peripheral edge of the front wall  31 , three restricting projections  33  projecting back from the rear surface of the front wall  31  and deflection restricting portions  34  extending back from the rear surface of the front wall  31 . The front wall  31  is formed with tab insertion openings  35  corresponding to the terminal accommodating chambers  13 . Displacement restricting portions  36  are formed on the outer periphery of the peripheral wall  32 . The displacement restricting portions  36  are rib-like projections arranged on both upper and lower surfaces and both left and right side surfaces of the outer periphery of the peripheral wall  32 . 
     The front retainer  30  is mounted to fit the peripheral wall  32  externally to a front end part of the housing body  12 . In a mounted state, the three restricting projections  33  are in contact with the front ends of the three female terminal fittings  72  from the front as shown in  FIG. 12  so that the female terminal fittings  72  are sandwiched between the locking lances  14  and the restricting projections  33  in the front-back direction to have movements thereof in the front-back direction restricted. Further, the deflection restricting portions  34  are inserted into the deflection spaces  15  to restrict displacements of the locking lances  14  in a direction to be disengaged from the female terminal fittings  72 . A rear end part of the peripheral wall  32  restricts an improper forward movement of the seal ring  27 . 
     &lt;Outer Housing  37 &gt; 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 18 , the outer housing  37  is composed of upper and lower half members  38 . The half members  38  are identical components and constitute the outer housing  37  by being united in a positional relationship point symmetrical with respect to an axis extending in the front-back direction (not shown). Note that directions in the following description of the half members  38  are based on the upper half member  38  for the sake of convenience. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16, 17 and 19 , each half member  38  includes a bilaterally symmetrical outer wall  39  and two bilaterally symmetrical side walls  40 L,  40 R extending down from both left and right side edges of the outer wall  39 . A substantially square interference avoiding hole  41  vertically penetrates through a front end part of the outer wall  39 . A substantially square winding opening  42  vertically penetrates through a rear end part of the outer wall  39 . By forming the winding opening  42 , a rear end edge part of the outer wall  39  functions as a slack holding portion  43  that is long and narrow in the lateral direction. 
     An operation opening  44  vertically penetrates an area of the outer wall  39  before and adjacent to the winding opening  42 . A boundary part of the outer wall  39  between the winding opening  42  and the operation opening  44  functions as a rear edge protecting portion  45  long and narrow in the lateral direction. Further, areas of the left and right side walls  40 L,  40 R extending along the opening edge of the operation opening  44  function as side edge protecting portions  46 . 
     A locking projection  47  is formed on the outer surface of a front part of the left side wall  40 L. Locking holes  48  penetrate from an inner surface to an outer surface in a substantially central part of the left side wall  40 L in the front-back direction and a rear end part of the left side wall  40 L. On the other hand, a locking hole  48  penetrates from an inner surface to an outer surface on the outer surface of a front part of the right side wall  40 R. Locking projections  47  are formed respectively in a substantially central part of the right side wall  40 R in the front-back direction and a rear end part of the right side wall  40 R. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 17 , the half member  38  is formed with two bilaterally asymmetrical positioning projections  49 L,  49 R projecting down from both left and right side edge parts of the lower surface (inner surface) of the outer wall  39 . The pair of positioning projections  49 L,  49 R are arranged in a substantially central part (position corresponding to a front of the operation opening  44 ) of the half member  38  in the front-back direction. The left positioning projection  49 L is arranged at the same position as the locking hole  48  in the front-back direction. The right positioning projection  49 R is arranged at the same position as the locking projection  47  in the front-back direction. Inner side surfaces of the positioning projections  49 L,  49 R serve as inner contact surfaces  50  facing laterally inward. Areas of the lower surface of the outer wall  39  connected substantially at a right angle to the inner contact surfaces  50  function as pressing surfaces  51 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the half member  38  is formed with a pressure receiving portion  52  projecting from the lower surface of the rear edge protecting portion  45 . The lower surface of the pressure receiving portion  52  is formed by juxtaposing three concave surfaces  53  corresponding to the three terminal accommodating chambers  13 . The pressure receiving portion  52  is arranged at the same position as the locking hole  48  on the rear end part of the left side wall  40 L and the locking projection  47  on the rear end part of the right side wall  40 R in the front-back direction. 
     With the half members  38  united, the lower end edges of the upper left and right side walls  40 L,  40 R and the upper end edges of the lower left and right side walls  40 L,  40 R butt into contact and the outer housing  37  substantially in the form of a rectangular tube configured by two upper and lower outer walls  39  and two upper and lower pairs of side walls  40 L,  40 R. The inner housing  11  is to be accommodated into the outer housing  37 . Further, the locking projections  47  and the locking holes  48  formed on the upper half member  38  are locked respectively to the locking holes  48  and the locking projections  47  formed on the lower half member  38  at three positions of the outer housing  37  spaced apart in the front-back direction. This locking action holds the half members  38  in a united state. 
     Further, with the half members  38  united, the positioning projections  49 L,  49 R of the upper half member  38  and the positioning projections  49 L,  49 R of the lower half member  38  are vertically connected with the projecting end surfaces thereof butted against each other. Further, one holding hole  54  formed by laterally connecting three circles is formed between the pressure receiving portion  52  of the upper half member  38  and the pressure receiving portion  52  of the lower half member  38 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 12 and 14 , the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  described above are mounted via the pair of bilaterally symmetrical resilient positioning members  55 . The resilient positioning members  55  are arranged between the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  and position the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  such that the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  are relatively displaceable in three-dimensional directions (vertical, lateral and front-back directions) while being held out of contact. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the left and right resilient positioning members  55  are identical components that are bilaterally symmetrical. Further, one resilient positioning member  55  is substantially symmetrical in the vertical direction and the front-back direction. The resilient positioning member  55  includes a base plate  56 , upper and lower inward facing ribs  57  and front and rear outward facing ribs  58 . The base plate  56  has a substantially square shape with a plate thickness direction substantially aligned with the lateral direction. 
     The pair of inward facing ribs  57  are in the form of flat plates substantially at a right angle to the base plate  56  and parallel to each other. The inward facing ribs  57  project laterally inwardly (toward the inner housing  11 ) from both upper and lower edge parts of the base plate  56 . The inward facing ribs  57  are formed over the entire area of the base plate  56  in the front-back direction. A space surrounded by the base plate  56  and the pair of inward facing ribs  57  serves as an inward facing recess  59  open laterally inward and both forward and backward. 
     The pair of outward facing ribs  58  are in the form of flat plates substantially at a right angle to the base plate  56  and substantially parallel to each other. Contrary to the inward facing ribs  57 , the outward facing ribs  58  project laterally outwardly (toward the outer housing  37 ) from both front and rear edges of the base plate  56 . The outward facing ribs  58  are formed over the entire area of the base plate  56  in the vertical direction. A space surrounded by the base plate  56  and the outward facing ribs  58  defines an outward facing recess  60  open laterally outward and both upward and downward. The inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  project from mutually different sides of the outer periphery of the base plate  56 . 
     With the pair of resilient positioning members  55  mounted between the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37 , the inward facing ribs  59  are fit to left and right side surfaces of the inner housing  11 , the base plates  56  are fit into the positioning recesses  23  of the inner housing  11  and the outward facing ribs  60  are fit to the positioning projections  49 L,  49 R of the outer housing  37 . The base plates  56  are sandwiched between the outer contact surfaces  24  of the inner housing  11  and the inner contact surfaces  50  of the outer housing  37  in the lateral direction (plate thickness direction of the base plates  56 ). 
     The upper inward facing ribs  57  are sandwiched between the upper receiving surfaces  26  of the inner housing  11  and the upper pressing surfaces  51  of the outer housing  37  in the vertical direction (plate thickness direction of the inward facing ribs  57 ), and the lower inward facing ribs  57  are sandwiched between the lower receiving surfaces  26  of the inner housing  11  and the lower pressing surfaces  51  of the outer housing  37  in the vertical direction. The front outward facing ribs  58  are sandwiched between the front facing surfaces  25  of the inner housing  11  and the front surface of the outer housing  37  in the front-back direction (plate thickness direction of the outward facing ribs  58 ) and the rear outward facing ribs  58  are sandwiched between the rear facing surfaces  25  of the inner housing  11  and the rear surface of the outer housing  37  in the front-back direction. 
     With the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  assembled, the operation opening  44  of the outer housing  37  is located to correspond to the lock releasing portion  22  of the lock arm  17  in the front-back direction and the lateral direction. An operator can press the lock releasing portion  22  down (lock releasing direction) by inserting a finger into the operation opening  44 . Further, the interference avoiding hole  41  of the outer housing  37  is located to correspond to the lock  19  of the lock arm  17  in the front-back direction and the lateral direction. When the lock  19  is displaced resiliently up, a part (front end part) thereof can enter the interference avoiding hole  41 . 
     &lt;Rubber Plugs  61 &gt; 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9, 10 and 21 , the rubber plug  61  of the conductive path  70  is a hollow cylindrical single component formed by integrating a hollow cylindrical sealing portion  62 , a hollow cylindrical thin portion  63  concentrically connected to the rear end of the sealing portion  62  and a hollow cylindrical vibration damping ring  64  concentrically connected to the rear end of the thin portion  63 . Rib-like first lips  65  projecting along a circumferential direction are formed side by side at a fixed interval in the front-back direction on the outer periphery of the sealing portion  62 . Rib-like inner peripheral seal lips (not shown) project along the circumferential direction and are formed side by side at a fixed interval in the front-back direction on the inner periphery of the sealing portion  62 . 
     Plural rib-like second lips  66  project along the circumferential direction and are formed side by side at a fixed interval in the front-back direction on the outer periphery of the vibration damping ring  64 . Plural rib-like inner peripheral lips (not shown) also projecting along the circumferential direction and are formed side by side at a fixed interval in the front-back direction on the inner periphery of the vibration damping ring  64 . An inner diameter of the inner peripheral lips is substantially equal to that of the inner peripheral seal lips and smaller than an outer diameter of the wires  71 . An outer diameter of the second lips  66  is set larger than that of the first lips  65  of the sealing portion  62 . 
     A substantially concentric and circular large-diameter portion  67  is formed on a rear end part of the outer periphery of the vibration damping ring  64 . The large-diameter portion  67  has a larger outer diameter than the second lip portions  66 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the front surface of an outer periphery of the large-diameter portion  67  defines a front tapered surface  68  inclined with respect to the lateral direction orthogonal to an axis of the rubber plug  61  (vibration damping ring  64 ). The rear surface of the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion  67  defines a rear tapered surface  69  inclined with respect to the lateral direction orthogonal to the axis of the rubber plug  61  (vibration damping ring  64 ). These front and rear tapered surfaces  68 ,  69  gradually reduce a thickness (dimension in an axial direction) of the outer peripheral edge part of the large-diameter portion  67  toward a radially outer side and smallest on the outermost peripheral edge. 
     An outer diameter of the thin portion  63  is larger than that of the first lips  65  of the sealing portion  62  and an inner diameter thereof is larger than that of the inner peripheral seal lips of the sealing portion  62 . That is, the thin portion  63  is formed to be thinner than the sealing portion  62  and the vibration damping ring  64 . Thus, the thin portion  63  easily is deformed resiliently as compared to the sealing portion  62  and the vibration damping ring  64 . 
     The rubber plug  61  is fit externally on the front end part of the wire  71  and a front end part thereof is fixed together with the wire  71  to the rear end part of the female terminal fitting  71  e.g. by crimping. The female terminal fitting  72  is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber  13  from behind is retained by the locking action of the locking lance  14 . The sealing portion  62  of the rubber plug  61  is fit individually into a rear end part of the terminal accommodating chamber  13 . The first lips  65  are held in close contact with the sealing surface  16  and the inner peripheral seal lips are held in close contact with the outer periphery of the wire  71 , thereby preventing the intrusion of fluid such as water into the terminal accommodating chamber  13  e.g. from behind. 
     The sealing portions  62  of the three rubber plugs  61  are inserted individually into the terminal accommodating chambers  13  and arranged side by side in the lateral direction. Further, the vibration damping rings  64  of the three rubber plugs  61  are fit to penetrate through one holding hole  54  formed by the pressure receiving portions  52  of the outer housing  37 . In the holding hole  54 , the second lips  66  of adjacent vibration damping rings  64  are held in contact with each other while being resiliently deformed. Upper and lower surface parts of the second lips  66  are held resiliently in contact with the pressure receiving portions  52  and the inner peripheral lips are held resiliently in contact with the wires  71 . Although the vibration damping rings  64  are directly in contact with the outer housing  37 , they are not in contact with the inner housing  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the large-diameter portions  67  on the rear ends of the vibration damping rings  64  are located behind the holding hole  54 . Adjacent large-diameter portions  67  are held partially in close contact with the front tapered surface  68  of one large-diameter portion  67  and the rear tapered surface  69  of the other large-diameter portion  67  resiliently held in contact. Both the front and rear tapered surfaces  68 ,  69  are oblique to an arrangement direction of the large-diameter portions  67  (vibration damping rings  64 ). Thus, neither a large step nor unevenness is present on a boundary part between the rear surfaces of the adjacent large-diameter portions  67 . 
     The front end part of the wire  71  inserted into the rubber plug  61  has a displacement relative to the rubber plug  61  in the front-back direction restricted by the resilient close contact of the inner peripheral seal lips and the inner peripheral lips. A part of the wire  71  drawn out backward from the rubber plug  61  is looped and wound around the slack holding portion  43  of the upper half member  38  in a slackened state, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The wire  71  may be directly in contact with the slack holding portion  43  (outer housing  37 ) or may not be in contact with the slack holding portion  43 . 
     &lt;Connection and Separation of Male Connector M and Female Connector F&gt; 
     In connecting the male and female connectors M and F, a front end part of the inner housing  11  is fit into the receptacle  82 . In the process of connecting the two connectors M, F, the lock  19  interferes with the lock projection  83  so that the lock arm  17  is displaced resiliently in the lock releasing direction, as shown in  FIG. 10 . At this time, the lock  19  is displaced up to approach the outer wall  39  of the outer housing  37 , but the lock  19  does not interfere with the outer housing  37  since the outer wall  39  is formed with the interference avoiding hole  41 . 
     When the two connectors M, F are properly connected, the lock  19  passes through the lock projection  83  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus, the lock arm  17  is resiliently restored and the lock hole  20  of the lock  19  is locked to the lock projection  83 . By this locking action, the two connectors F, M are locked in a connected state and the tabs  85  of the male terminal fittings  84  and the female terminal fittings  72  are brought into contact to be conductive to each other. 
     In separating the two connectors M, F in the connected state, the lock releasing portion  22  is pressed. By this operation, the lock arm  17  resiliently displaces and the lock  19  separates from the lock projection  83 . Thus, the two connectors M, F may be pulled apart with the lock releasing portion  22  kept pressed. At this time, the lock  19  is displaced up to approach the upper outer wall  39 , but the lock  19  does not interfere with the outer wall  39  (outer housing  37 ) because the interference avoiding hole  41  is open above the lock  19 . 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Slack Holding Portion  43 &gt; 
     The female connector F includes the female housing  10 , the female terminal fittings  72  fixed to the front end parts of the wires  71  and inserted into the female housing  10  from behind and the slack holding portion  43  formed on the female housing  10  and configured to hold the wires  71  drawn out backward from the female housing  10  in a slackened state. If the wire  71  vibrates behind the female housing  10 , the wire  71  held in a slackened state by the slack holding portion  43  resiliently deforms to change a curvature thereof near the female housing  10 . Since vibration energy of the wire  71  is attenuated by the wire  71  itself being resiliently deformed in this way, the female connector F is excellent in the function of suppressing the transfer of vibration from the wire  71  to the female terminal fitting  72 . Further, since the wires  71  are looped and wound around the slack holding portion  43 , the wires  71  are not detached from the slack holding portion  43 . 
     The female housing  10  includes the inner housing  11  for accommodating the female terminal fittings  72  and the outer housing  37  relatively displaceable with respect to the inner housing  11 . The slack holding portion  43  is formed on the outer housing  37  and the wires  71  can come into contact with the slack holding portion  43  (outer housing  37 ) when vibrating. According to this configuration, when the wire  71  collides with the slack holding portion  43  (outer housing  37 ) in attenuating vibration while being resiliently deformed, the vibration of the wire  71  is transferred to the outer housing  37 , but is not directly transferred to the inner housing  11 . Thus, the vibration of the wire  71  is difficult to transfer to the female terminal fitting  72  in the inner housing  11 . 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Rubber Plugs  61  and Vibration Damping Rings  64 &gt; 
     The female connector F has the female housing  10  and the female terminal fittings  72  individually fixed to the front end parts of the wires  71 , and the female housing  10  is formed with the terminal accommodating chambers  13  into which the terminal fittings are inserted individually. The rubber plugs  61  are fit externally on the respective wires  71  behind and near the female terminal fittings  72  for sealing a clearance between the outer periphery of the wires  71  and the inner periphery of the terminal accommodating chambers  13  (inner housing  11 ) individually. The vibration damping rings  64  are formed on the rear end parts of the rubber plugs  61  and two adjacent vibration damping rings  64  are held resiliently in contact with each other. 
     Vibration energy of the wire  71  is attenuated by the rubber plug  61  when the wire  71  vibrates outside the female housing  10 . The vibration damping rings  64  of adjacent rubber plugs  61  are held resiliently in contact with each other. Thus, the vibration energy also is attenuated between adjacent rubber plugs  61  to provide excellent vibration attenuation of the wires  71  by the rubber plugs  61 . 
     The female connector F includes the inner housing  11 . The female terminal fittings  72  fixed to the front end parts of the wires  71  are inserted into the inner housing  11  from behind. The outer housing  37  is held out of contact with the female terminal fittings  72  and mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing  11 . The vibration damping ring  64  is fit externally on the wire  71  in a state out of contact with the inner housing  11 , and resiliently held in contact with the outer housing  37 . 
     Vibration energy of the wire  71  that vibrates outside the female housing  10 , is transferred to the outer housing  37  via the vibration damping ring  64  and is attenuated by an inertial force of the outer housing  37 . In this way, the transfer of vibration from the wire  71  to the female terminal fitting  72  is suppressed. There is no direct contact between the vibration damping ring  64  and the inner housing  11  and hence no vibration transfer path is present between the vibration damping ring  64  and the female terminal fitting  72 . Thus, the function of suppressing the transfer of vibration from the wire  71  to the female terminal fitting  72  is excellent. 
     The large-diameter portion  67  is formed on the rear end of the vibration damping ring  64  and the front and rear tapered surfaces  68 ,  69  inclined with respect to the arrangement direction of adjacent rubber plugs  61  are formed on front and rear surfaces of the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion  67 . The front tapered surface  68  and the rear tapered surface  69  of adjacent rubber plugs  61  are held in contact. Accordingly, steps and unevenness are small at and near a boundary between the rear surfaces of the adjacent vibration damping rings  64 . Thus, even if high-pressure washing water is sprayed from behind the female housing  10 , that washing water is difficult to intrude into a clearance between adjacent large-diameter portions  67  (vibration damping rings  64 ). 
     Further, the rubber plug  61  includes the sealing portion  62  to be held in close contact with the inner periphery of the inner housing  11  in a liquid-tight manner and the outer diameter of the vibration damping ring  64  is larger than that of the sealing portion  62 . According to this configuration, since the vibration damping ring  64  having a large outer diameter is present behind the sealing portion  62 , even if high-pressure washing water is sprayed from behind the outer housing  37 , the high-pressure washing water is not directly sprayed to the sealing portion  62 . Further, since the vibration damping ring  64  is formed integrally or unitarily to the rubber plug  61 , the number of components is reduced as compared to the case where the vibration damping ring  64  is a component separate from the rubber plug  61 . 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Resilient Positioning Members  55 &gt; 
     The female connector F includes the female housing  10 . The female terminal fittings  72  fixed to the front end parts of the wires  71  are inserted into the female housing  10  from behind. The outer housing  37  is held out of contact with the female terminal fittings  72  and mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing  11 . Further, the female connector F includes the resilient positioning members  55  configured to position the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. That is, the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  constituting the female connector F are mounted while being positioned via the resilient positioning members  55 . 
     According to this configuration, vibration energy transferred from the wire  71  to the outer housing  37  is attenuated by the resilient positioning members  55 . Thus, the transfer of vibration to the inner housing  11  is suppressed. Further, since a means for positioning the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  is not a ring-shaped member continuous over the entire circumference, but the pair of resilient positioning members  55  spaced apart in the circumferential direction, material cost can be suppressed low. 
     Further, the two resilient positioning members  55  are arranged to sandwich the inner housing  11  from both left and right sides and each include the base plate  56 , the inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58 . The base plate  56  is held in contact with the outer side surface (outer contact surface  24 ) of the inner housing  11  and the inner side surface (inner contact surface  50 ) of the outer housing  37 . The inward facing ribs  57  project inward of the base plate  56  from the base plate  56  and are vertically sandwiched between the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37 . The outward facing ribs  58  project outwardly of the base plate  56  from the base plate  56  and are sandwiched between the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  in the front-back direction. 
     According to this configuration, the inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  are resiliently deformed when the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  are relatively displaced. The inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  project from the base plate  56  toward sides opposite to each other. Thus, the inward facing ribs  57  are not restricted or affected by the outward facing ribs  58  and outward facing ribs  58  also are not restricted or affected by the inward facing ribs  57 . Since both the inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  can be deformed flexibly and resiliently, the resilient positioning members  55  are excellent in performance for suppressing the vibration of the wires  71 . 
     Further, the base plate  56  has a substantially square shape, the inward facing ribs  57  project from two parallel sides (both upper and lower edges) of the four sides of the outer periphery of the base plate  56  and the outward facing ribs  58  project from two parallel sides (both front and rear edges) of the four sides of the outer periphery of the base plate  56 . According to this configuration, the inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  project from different sides of the outer periphery of the base plate  56 . Thus, both the inward facing ribs  57  and the outward facing ribs  58  can be flexibly resiliently deformed without being restricted or affected by each other. 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Lock Arm  17 &gt; 
     The female housing  10  has the inner housing  11  for accommodating the female terminal fittings  72 . The outer housing  37  is separate from the inner housing  11  and surrounds the inner housing  11 . The lock arm  17  is formed on the outer surface of the inner housing  11  and is configured to lock the inner housing  11  and the male housing  80  (mating housing) in the connected state by being locked to the male housing  80 . On the other hand, the outer housing  37  is formed with the rear edge protecting portion  45  and the side edge protecting portions  46  arranged near the lock releasing portion  22  of the lock arm  17 . 
     According to this configuration, the rear edge protecting portion  45  and the side edge protecting portions  46  arranged near the lock releasing portion  22  of the lock arm  17  restrict the interference of external matter with the lock releasing portion  22 . This can prevent the lock releasing portion  22  from being inadvertently unlocked due to the interference of external matter. Further, the rear edge protecting portion  45  and the side edge protecting portions  46  are formed on the outer housing  37  provided separately from the inner housing  11  formed with the lock arm  17 . Thus, as compared to the case where the lock arm  17 , the rear edge protecting portion  45  and the side edge protecting portions  46  are formed on one housing, both the inner housing  11  and the outer housing  37  can be simplified. 
     Further, the lock arm  17  is formed with the lock  19  for holding the inner housing  11  and the male housing  80  in the locked state by being locked to the lock projection  83  of the male housing  80 . The lock  19  is displaced in a direction away from the outer surface of the inner housing  11  due to interference with the lock projection  83  in the process of connecting the two connectors M, F. On the other hand, the outer housing  37  is formed with the interference avoiding hole  41  for avoiding interference with the lock  19 . 
     According to this configuration, the interference avoiding hole  41  is open on the outer housing  37  to avoid interference of the lock  19  and the outer housing  37 . Thus, the outer housing  37  can be miniaturized as compared to the case where the outer housing  37  is kept away from the outer surface of the inner housing  11  to avoid interference with the lock  19 . 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Male and Female Housings  80 ,  10 &gt; 
     The inner housing  11  constituting the female connector is connectable to the male housing  80  (mating housing) including the male terminal fittings  84  (mating terminals). The inner housing  11  is formed with the lock arm  17  for holding the connected state to the male housing  80  by being locked to the male housing  80 . According to this configuration, since the inner housing  11  accommodating the female terminal fittings  72  and the male housing  80  can be locked in the connected state by the lock arm  17 , fine sliding abrasion in the front-back direction between the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84  can be suppressed. 
     The inner housing  11  may be formed with the displacement restricting portions  36  for restricting relative displacements in the vertical direction and the lateral direction with respect to the male housing  80 . According to this configuration, the inner housing  11  is connected with relative displacements with respect to the male housing  80  restricted, and relative displacements of the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84  are restricted. In this way, fine sliding abrasion between the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84  can be suppressed. 
     Further, the inner housing  11  includes the housing body  12  for accommodating the female terminal fittings  72 . The front retainer  30  is mounted in the front end part of the housing body  12  and is configured to restrict the escape of the female terminal fittings  72  from the housing body  12 . The displacement restricting portions  36  project on the outer peripheral surface of the front retainer  30  and are held in close contact with the inner periphery of the receptacle  82  of the male housing  80  while being plastically deformed. The displacement restricting portions  36  restrict relative displacements between the inner housing  11  and the male housing  80  and thus restrict relative displacements between the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84 . In this way, fine sliding abrasion between the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84  can be suppressed. The displacement restricting portions  36  are not formed on the housing body  12 , but on the front retainer  30 . Thus, the shape of the housing body  12  can be simplified. 
     The front wall  31  of the front retainer  30  is formed with the restricting projections  33  for restricting forward movements of the female terminal fittings  72  by coming into contact with the front surfaces of the female terminal fittings  72 . The female terminal fittings  72  are pressed back against the locking lances  14  by the restricting projections  33  and are sandwiched in the front-back direction between the restricting projections  33  and the locking lances  14  so that movements of the female terminal fittings  72  in the front-back direction are restricted. According to this configuration, forward movements of the female terminal fittings  72  can be reliably restricted, utilizing the front retainer  30  separate from the housing body  12 . In this way, fine sliding abrasion between the female terminal fittings  72  and the male terminal fittings  84  can be prevented. 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment. For example, the following embodiments also are included in the scope of the invention. 
     The vibration damping ring is integral to the rubber plug in the above embodiment. However, the vibration damping ring may be a component separate from the rubber plug. 
     The vibration damping ring is behind the sealing portion in the above embodiment. However, the vibration damping ring may be a component separate from the rubber plug and arranged in front of the rubber plug (sealing portion) or the vibration damping ring and the rubber plug may be arranged substantially at the same position in the front-back direction. 
     The vibration damping ring has a larger outer diameter than the sealing portion in the above embodiment. However, the outer diameter of the vibration damping ring may be equal to that of the sealing portion. 
     The inner housing and the mating housing are connected with relative displacements restricted in the above embodiment. However, the inner housing and the mating housing may be slightly relatively displaceable in the connected state. 
     The inner housing is formed by mounting the front retainer in the housing body in the above embodiment, but the inner housing may be a single component. 
     Forward movements of the terminal fittings are restricted by the front wall of the front retainer in the above embodiment. However, the front wall may be configured not to restrict forward movements of the terminal fittings. 
     The lock arm is the means for holding the connected state to the mating housing and is formed on the inner housing in the above embodiment. However, the lock arm may be formed on the outer housing. 
     The inner housing and the outer housing are mounted via the resilient positioning members in the above embodiment, but the resilient positioning member may be a ring-shaped single component. 
     The resilient positioning members are bilaterally symmetrical in the above embodiment, but they may be bilaterally asymmetrical. 
     The resilient positioning member has the inward facing ribs and the outward facing ribs projecting from the base plate in the above embodiment. However, the resilient positioning member may be such that only the inward facing ribs or outward facing ribs project from the base plate and these ribs are sandwiched in the vertical direction and the front-back direction between the inner housing and the outer housing. 
     The inward facing ribs and the outward facing ribs project from different sides of the outer periphery of the base plate in the above embodiment, but the inward facing ribs and the outward facing ribs may project from the same sides. 
     Two inward facing ribs are formed in the above embodiment, but one, three or more inward facing ribs may be provided. 
     Two outward facing ribs are formed in the above embodiment, but one, three or more outward facing ribs may be provided. 
     The wires are looped and wound around the slack holding portion in the above embodiment, but the wires may be placed on and hooked to the slack holding portion without being wound around the slack holding portion. 
     The waterproof rubber plugs are provided in the above embodiment, but the invention can be applied to non-waterproof connectors with no rubber plug. 
     Three female terminal fittings are accommodated in the inner housing in the above embodiment, but two, four or more female terminal fittings may be accommodated. 
     The housing includes the inner housing and the outer housing in the above embodiment, but the housing may be composed of a single component. 
     The interference avoiding hole is open on the outer surface of the outer housing in the above embodiment. However, the interference avoiding hole may be formed by recessing an inner surface of the outer housing without being open on the outer surface of the outer housing. 
     The outer housing is formed with the interference avoiding hole as a means for avoiding interference with the lock in the above embodiment. However, interference with the lock may be avoided by enlarging the outer housing without forming the interference avoiding hole. 
     The inner housing and the outer housing are relatively displaceable in the above embodiment, but the inner housing and the outer housing may be fixedly assembled not to be relatively displaced. 
     Tapered surfaces are formed on both front and rear of the vibration damping ring in the above embodiment. However, the vibration damping ring may be formed with no tapered surface. 
     Although the vibration damping ring is resiliently held in contact with the outer housing in the above embodiment, the vibration damping ring may not be out of contact with the outer housing. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         F . . . female connector 
           10  . . . female housing 
           11  . . . inner housing 
           12  . . . housing body 
           13  . . . terminal accommodating chamber 
           14  . . . locking lance 
           17  . . . lock arm 
           19  . . . lock portion 
           22  . . . lock releasing portion 
           30  . . . front retainer 
           31  . . . front wall 
           33  . . . restricting projection 
           36  . . . displacement restricting portion 
           37  . . . outer housing 
           38  . . . half member 
           41  . . . interference avoiding hole 
           43  . . . slack holding portion 
           45  . . . rear edge protecting portion 
           46  . . . side edge protecting portion 
           55  . . . resilient positioning member 
           56  . . . base plate 
           57  . . . inward facing rib 
           58  . . . outward facing rib 
           61  . . . rubber plug 
           62  . . . sealing portion 
           64  . . . vibration damping ring 
           68  . . . front tapered surface 
           69  . . . rear tapered surface 
           71  . . . wire 
           72  . . . female terminal fitting 
           80  . . . male housing 
           82  . . . receptacle 
           83  . . . lock projection 
           84  . . . male terminal fitting