Patent Publication Number: US-2022239032-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-009350, 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. 2002-190348 includes a connector housing, a rubber plug (sealing portion) to be accommodated into a mounting hole of the connector housing, and a ground terminal (male terminal) having an extending end to be pierced into the sealing portion. 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-019319 includes a device-side terminal (male terminal) having an extending portion, a housing for accommodating the male terminal, and a sealing member (sealing portion) for sealing a clearance between the male terminal and the inner periphery of the device-side housing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 2002-190348 and 2005-019319, if a surface pressure between the male terminal and the sealing portion can be enhanced, sealability can be more satisfactorily ensured, which is preferable. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector capable of satisfactorily ensuring sealability. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a male terminal including a tab, a housing for supporting the male terminal, a sealing space provided around the tab in the housing, a sealing portion to be accommodated into the sealing space while contacting the tab, and a pressing portion for setting the sealing portion in a compressed state by being located in the sealing space. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of satisfactorily ensuring sealability. 
     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 an exploded perspective view of a connector according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in section of the connector in a state where a retainer is at a partial locking position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in section of the connector in a state where the retainer is at a full locking position. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of the connector in the state where the retainer is at the full locking position. 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of a housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the retainer. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a sealing portion. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pressing portion. 
     
    
    
     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 housing for supporting the male terminal, a sealing space provided around the tab in the housing, a sealing portion to be accommodated into the sealing space while contacting the tab, and a pressing portion for setting the sealing portion in a compressed state by being located in the sealing space. 
     By locating the pressing portion in the sealing space and setting the sealing portion in the compressed state, a surface pressure between the tab and the sealing portion can be enhanced and sealability around the tab of the male terminal can be satisfactorily ensured. 
     (2) Preferably, the housing has an end surface for closing one end of the sealing space, and the pressing portion is arranged to sandwich the sealing portion between the end surface and the pressing portion. 
     According to the above configuration, the surface pressure between the tab and the sealing portion can be enhanced by a simple configuration. 
     (3) The housing may include a cavity for accommodating a female terminal, and the tab may project into the cavity to be connectable to the female terminal. 
     According to the above configuration, the female terminal and the male terminal are connected in the common housing. Thus, it is not necessary to separately provide a male housing for accommodating the male terminal and a female housing for accommodating the female terminal. 
     (4) A retainer for restricting escape of the female terminal from the cavity may be mounted into the housing, and the sealing portion may include a tab sealing hole and a retainer sealing hole, the tab being passed through the tab sealing hole, the retainer being passed through the retainer sealing hole. 
     According to the above configuration, since the tab sealing hole for sealing the male terminal and the retainer sealing hole for sealing the retainer are provided in the common sealing portion, it is not necessary to provide sealing portions respectively corresponding to the tab of the male terminal and the retainer. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of the present disclosure is 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. 
     Embodiment 
     A connector  10  according to one embodiment includes, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a housing  20 , a male terminal  40 , female terminals  60 , a retainer  70 , sealing portions  90  and a pressing portion  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the male terminal  40  and the female terminals  60  are connected to each other in the housing  20 . The retainer  70  is mounted into the housing  20 . The sealing portions  90  are held in close contact with later-described tabs  42  of the male terminal  40 . The pressing portion  100  sets the sealing portions  90  in a compressed state between the housing  20  and the pressing portion  100 . 
     Note that, in the following description, a right side of  FIGS. 2 and 3  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 each figure. A lateral direction is synonymous with a width direction and based on a lateral direction of  FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 . Note that these direction references do not necessarily coincide with directions in an actually used state. 
     (Housing  20 ) 
     The housing  20  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an accommodating portion  21  in a front part and a fitting portion  22  in a rear part. The accommodating portion  21  has a flat shape extending in the lateral direction and includes a plurality of cavities  23  arranged in a row in the lateral direction. Each cavity  23  is provided to extend in the front-rear direction in a hollow cylindrical portion  24 . 
     The accommodating portion  21  includes locking lances  25  projecting into the respective cavities  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locking lance  25  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 housing  20  includes deflection spaces  26  for allowing the deflection of the locking lances  25  above the locking lances  25 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the deflection space  26  has a part narrowed by a pair of protruding portions  27  protruding to face each other from both left and right side wall surfaces in the accommodating portion  21  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The fitting portion  22  is the form of a rectangular tube one size larger than the accommodating portion  21  and open rearward. Each cavity  23  is provided from the accommodating portion  21  to a front part of the fitting portion  22  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the rear end of the cavity  23  is closed by a wall portion  28 . Tab insertion holes  29  are provided to penetrate through the wall portion  28  in the front-rear direction. The later-described tabs  42  of the male terminal  40  are arranged to project into the cavities  23  through the tab insertion holes  29 . The rear surface of the wall portion  28  serves as an end surface  31  extending along the vertical direction and lateral direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the end surface  31  is exposed rearward through sealing spaces  32  to be described later. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the fitting portion  22  includes a plurality of the sealing spaces  32  arranged in a row in the lateral direction behind the end surface  31 . The respective sealing spaces  32  have a rectangular cross-sectional shape (opening shape) with four rounded corners, adjacent ones thereof are partitioned by partition walls  33 , upper sides thereof are defined by an upper wall  34  of the fitting portion  22  and lower sides thereof are defined by a bottom wall  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bottom wall  35  includes a first mounting hole  36  continuously extending in the lateral direction and open rearward. Further, the bottom wall  35  includes a plurality of second mounting grooves  37  extending in the front-rear direction and open rearward for each sealing space  32 . Each second mounting groove  37  is provided by cutting the rear end of the bottom wall  35  and communicates with the sealing space  32  and the first mounting groove  36 . The male terminal  40  is mounted into the first mounting groove  36  and the respective second mounting grooves  37  as described later. 
     Further, the fitting portion  22  includes a pressing portion accommodation space  38  behind each sealing space  32 . The pressing portion accommodation space  38  communicates with each sealing space  32 . Each partition wall  33  and the bottom wall  35  are arranged in front of the pressing portion accommodation space  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a pair of lock receiving portions  39  spaced apart in the lateral direction are provided in each of the upper wall  34  and a lower wall of the fitting portion  22 . Further, a lock receiving portion  39  is provided in each of left and right side walls of the fitting portion  22 . Each lock receiving portion  39  is in the form of a hole having a rectangular cross-section and penetrating in a thickness direction through the corresponding wall (upper wall  34 , lower wall, side wall) of the fitting portion  22 , and communicates with the pressing portion accommodation space  38  inside. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a later-described locking protrusion  104  of the pressing portion  100  enters and is lockable to the lock receiving portion  39 . 
     (Male Terminal  40 ) 
     The male terminal  40  is a busbar made of conductive metal and includes, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a mounting portion  41  in a rear part, a plurality of the tabs  42  in a front part and a coupling portion  43  between the mounting portion  41  and the respective tabs  42 . 
     The mounting portion  41  includes an inclined portion  44  at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction. Out of regions of the mounting portion  41  on both front and rear sides across the inclined portion  44 , the rear region is horizontally arranged at a position lower than the front region and includes a mounting hole  45  having a circular cross-section in a central part. Further, the male terminal  40  includes a hooking portion  46  bent downward from the rear end of the mounting portion  41 . The male terminal  40  is mounted on an unillustrated mounting object (ground connection object) via a bolt or the like inserted through the mounting hole  45  with the hooking portion  46  hooked to an unillustrated hooked portion. 
     A bead portion  47  bulging upward is provided in a laterally central part of the mounting portion  41 . Further, rib-like rising edge parts  48  are provided on both left and right end parts of the mounting portion  41 . The bead portion  47  and the rising end parts  48  function to maintain the bent shape of the mounting portion  41 . 
     The coupling portion  43  is in the form of a plate extending in the lateral direction and protruding toward both left and right sides of the mounting portion  41 . The coupling portion  43  includes rising end parts  48  continuous from the side of the mounting portion  41  on the rear ends of parts protruding toward the both left and right sides. 
     The respective tabs  42  are in the form of plates having a rectangular cross-section, and arranged side by side in the lateral direction on the front end of the coupling portion  43 . Specifically, the tab  49  includes a base end part  49  projecting upward from the front edge of the coupling portion  43  and a tip part  51  projecting forward from the upper end of the base end part  49 . The tip part  51  includes a pair of projecting pieces  52  protruding toward both left and right sides at a position near the base end part  49 . 
     (Female Terminals  60 ) 
     The female terminal  60  is made of conductive metal and includes, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a tubular connecting portion  61  and a barrel portion  62  in the form of an open barrel provided in front of the connecting portion  61 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the barrel portion  62  is crimped to a core  201  in an end part of a wire  200  and electrically connected to the wire  200 . Further, the barrel portion  62  is crimped to a rubber plug  210  fit on the end part of the wire  200 . The rubber plug  210  is inserted into a front part of the cavity  23  and held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cavity  23 . In this way, the inside of the cavity  23  of the housing  20  is maintained liquid tight. 
     (Retainer  70 ) 
     The retainer  70  is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a retainer body  71  extending in the lateral direction. The retainer body  71  includes a first projection  72  and a second projection  73  arranged while being spaced apart in the lateral direction on a lower surface. The first projection  72  is arranged forward of the second projection  73  on the lower surface of the retainer body  71 . The retainer  70  is held movably between a partial locking position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a full locking position (see  FIG. 3 ) with respect to the pressing portion  100 . The first and second projections  72 ,  73  are locked to later-described holding portions  105  of the pressing portion  100  when the retainer  70  is at the partial locking position and the full locking position. The retainer body  71  includes a front surface portion  74  extending along the vertical direction and lateral direction. 
     Further, the retainer  70  includes a plurality of elongated plug portions  75  projecting forward from the front surface portion  74 . On the front surface of the retainer body  71 , the respective plug portions  75  are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective sealing spaces  32  (respective cavities  23 ) while being spaced apart in the lateral direction. Each plug portion  75  includes a hollow internal space  76  in a part except a restricting portion  78  on a tip side to be described later as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the internal space  76  is exposed rearward through an opening  77  open in the rear surface of the retainer body  71 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the restricting portion  78  having a T-shaped cross-section is provided on the tip side of each plug portion  75 . The restricting portion  78  can be positioned to and fit into the deflection space  26  (see  FIG. 5 ) open to similarly have an approximately T-shaped cross-section. 
     (Sealing Portions  90 ) 
     The sealing portion  90  is made of rubber such as silicon rubber and a plurality of the sealing portions  90  are provided to correspond to the respective sealing spaces  32  of the housing  20 . In the case of this embodiment, a total of four sealing portions  90  are provided to individually correspond to the four sealing spaces  32 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sealing portion  90  has a rectangular cross-sectional shape with four rounded corners. The front and rear surfaces of the sealing portion  90  are arranged along the vertical direction and lateral direction. A plurality of outer peripheral lips  91  are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion  90 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sealing portion  90  is inserted into the sealing space  32 . The respective outer peripheral lips  91  are held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sealing space  32 . 
     The sealing portion  90  includes a retainer sealing hole  92  penetrating in the front-rear direction and a tab sealing hole  93  similarly penetrating in the front-rear direction below the retainer sealing hole  92 . The retainer sealing hole  92  is open in the sealing portion  90  to have a circular cross-section. The tab sealing hole  93  is open in the sealing portion  90  to have an oval shape (slit shape) long in the lateral direction. 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  92 . The plug portion  75  of the retainer  70  is inserted into the retainer sealing hole  92  of the sealing portion  90 . The respective inner peripheral lips  94  are held in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plug portion  75 . In this way, clearances between the retainer  70  and the housing  20  are maintained liquid tight. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the upper and lower surfaces of the inner periphery of the tab sealing hole  93  have straight parts  95  along the lateral direction. The Tab  42  is inserted into the tab sealing hole  93  of the sealing portion  90 . The straight parts  95  of the tab sealing hole  93  are held closely in surface contact with upper and lower plate surfaces of the tip part  51  of the tab  42 . 
     (Pressing Portion  100 ) 
     The pressing portion  100  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , in the form of a cap open rearward as a whole. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pressing portion  100  includes a retainer accommodation space  101  in a rear part. The retainer body  71  is inserted into the retainer accommodation space  101 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a pair of locking portions  102  spaced apart in the lateral direction are provided on each of upper and lower walls defining upper and lower sides of the retainer accommodation space  101  in a rear part of the pressing portion  100 . Further, locking portions  102  are also provided on side walls defining left and right sides of the retainer accommodation space  101  in the rear part of the pressing portion  100 . The locking portion  102  is resiliently deformably provided between slits  103  open and paired in the lateral direction in the corresponding wall (upper wall, lower wall, side wall) of the rear part of the pressing portion  100 . The locking portion  102  includes the claw-like locking protrusion  104  projecting outward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the pressing portion  100  includes the holding portions  105  paired in the lateral direction at positions closer to a lateral center than the respective locking portions  102  on the lower wall. The holding portion  105  has a rectangular frame shape and is provided to be resiliently deformable with a front end side of the lower wall as a fulcrum. 
     The pressing portion  100  includes an intermediate wall  112  at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear surface of the intermediate wall  112  has a stopper surface  113  defining the retainer accommodation space  101 . When the retainer  70  reaches the full locking position, the front surface portion  74  of the retainer body  71  contacts the stopper surface  113  of the intermediate wall  112 , thereby restricting any further pushing of the retainer  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the pressing portion  100  includes a plurality of pressing body portions  106  laterally arranged in a row in a front part. Each pressing body portion  106  projects forward from the intermediate wall  112  and is shaped to be fittable into the sealing space  32 . The pressing portion  100  includes third mounting grooves  107  formed by cutting lower end parts of the pressing body portions  106 . The third mounting grooves  107  extend in the front-rear direction and are open in the front surfaces (pressing surfaces  108  to be described later) of the pressing body portions  106 . The male terminal  40  is mounted into the third mounting grooves  107  as described later. Further, the pressing portion  100  includes plug portion insertion holes  109  penetrating through the respective pressing body portions  106  in the front-rear direction. 
     The front surface of each pressing body portion  106  serves as the pressing surface  108  extending along the vertical direction and lateral direction. The pressing surface  108  is configured by a front surface region of the pressing body portion  106  except opening parts of the third mounting groove  107  and the plug portion insertion hole  109 . 
     (Overall Structure and Functions of Connector  10 ) 
     The sealing portion  90  is inserted into the sealing space  32  of the housing  20  from behind. The outer peripheral lips  91  of the sealing portion  90  are held in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sealing space  32 . The front surface of the sealing portion  90  is contactably facing the end surface  31  of the housing  20 . 
     The tip part  51  of the tab  42  of the male terminal  40  is passed through from the tab sealing hole  93  of the sealing portion  90  to the tab insertion hole  29  of the housing  20 . A front end side of the tip part  51  of the tab  42  is arranged to project into the cavity  23  from the wall portion  28  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The coupling portion  43  of the male terminal  40  is inserted into the first mounting groove  36  and the base end parts  49  of the tabs  42  of the male terminal  40  are inserted into the second mounting grooves  37  to be locked. In this way, the male terminal  40  is supported in a state positioned with respect to the housing  20 . With the male terminal  40  supported in the housing  20 , the inclined portion  44 , the rear region of the mounting portion  41  and the hooking portion are arranged to be exposed behind the housing  20  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The pressing portion  100  is inserted into the pressing portion accommodation space  38  of the housing  20  from behind. In the process of inserting the pressing portion  100 , the locking protrusions  104  of the pressing portion  100  contact the rear end of the fitting portion  22  and the respective locking portions  102  are deflected and deformed inward. When the pressing portion  100  is properly inserted into the pressing portion accommodation space  38 , the respective locking portions  102  resiliently return and the locking protrusions  104  are fit into the lock receiving portions  39 . In this way, the pressing portion  100  is retained and held in the housing  20  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The retainer  70  is inserted into the retainer accommodation space  101  of the pressing portion  100  from behind. The restricting portions  78  of the plug portions  75  are passed through the retainer sealing holes  92  of the sealing portions  90  from the plug portion insertion holes  109  of the pressing portion  100  and are arranged to face the deflection spaces  26  from behind. The first projection  72  is inserted into the holding portion  105  and the second projection  73  is arranged outside the holding portion  105  (see  FIG. 2 ). Rear end parts of the holding portions  105  are sandwiched between the first and second projections  72  and  73 . In this way, the retainer  70  is held at the partial locking position with respect to the pressing portion  100 . When the retainer  70  is inserted into the retainer accommodation space  101 , the outer surface of the retainer body  71  contactably faces the respective locking portions  102  from inside (see  FIG. 4 ). As a result, the deflection of the respective locking portions  102  is restricted and the holding portions  105  are reliably held in the housing  20 . 
     When the pressing portion  100  is properly inserted into the pressing portion accommodation space  38 , parts of the male terminal  40  from the base end parts  49  to the tip parts  51  are inserted into the third mounting grooves  107  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The respective projecting pieces  52  of the male terminal  40  are arranged to be lockable to step surfaces  111  (see  FIG. 8 ) of the third mounting grooves  107  from front. In this way, the male terminal  40  is restricted from coming out rearward from the housing  20  and positioned and held between the housing  20  and the pressing portion  100 . 
     Further, when the pressing portion  100  is properly inserted into the pressing portion accommodation space  38 , the respective pressing body portions  106  enter the respective sealing spaces  32  from behind. At this time, the pressing surfaces  108  of the respective pressing body portions  106  contact the rear surfaces of the respective sealing portions  90  and press the respective sealing portions  90  forward. Thus, the sealing portions  90  are disposed in a state compressed in the front-rear direction between the pressing surfaces  108  of the pressing portion  100  and the end surface  31  of the housing  20 . A compression force is applied to the sealing portion  90  in a direction to enhance the adhesion of an interface between the tip part  51  of the tab  42  and the sealing portion  90  in the tab sealing hole  93 . In this way, a satisfactory surface pressure (sealing surface pressure) is ensured between the tip part  51  of the tab  42  and the sealing portion  90 . 
     Thereafter, the female terminal  60  connected to the end part of the wire  200  is inserted into the cavity  23  of the housing  20  from front. In the process of inserting the female terminal  60 , the locking lance  25  contacts the connecting portion  61  to be deflected and deformed into the deflection space  26 . When the female terminal  60  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the locking lance  25  resiliently returns to lock the connecting portion  61  and the female terminal  60  is primarily retained in the cavity  23  by the locking lance  25 . Further, when the female terminal  60  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the connecting portion  61  contacts the front surface of the wall portion  28  to restrict any further rearward movement of the female terminal  60 . The rubber plug  210  is inserted in a liquid-tight manner in a rear part of the cavity  23 . 
     Further, in the process of inserting the female terminal  60 , the tip part  51  of the tab  42  is inserted into the connecting portion  61  from front. When the female terminal  60  is properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the front end side of the tip part  51  of the tab  42  contacts the resilient contact piece  63  provided in the connecting portion  61  and the both terminals  40 ,  60  are electrically connected. 
     After the female terminals  60  are properly inserted into the cavities  23 , the retainer  70  is pushed forward to move from the partial locking position to the full locking position. When the retainer  70  reaches the full locking position, the restricting portions  78  of the plug portions  75  enter the deflection spaces  26  and contactably face the locking lances  25  from above (see  FIG. 3 ). In this way, the deflection of the locking lances  25  is restricted, with the result that the female terminals  60  are secondarily retained in the cavities  23 . 
     When the retainer  70  is at the full locking position, the first and second projections  72 ,  73  are both inserted into the holding portions  105  to restrict a movement of the retainer  70  in the front-rear direction. In contrast, if the female terminal  60  is left incompletely inserted without being properly inserted into the cavity  23 , the restricting portion  78  of the plug portion  75  interferes with the locking lance  25  in a deflected state and the pushing of the retainer  70  to the full locking position is restricted. In this way, it can be detected that the female terminal  60  is left incompletely inserted in the cavity  23 . 
     As described above, according to this embodiment, each pressing body portion  106  of the pressing portion  100  enters the corresponding sealing space  32  and the sealing portion  90  is disposed in the compressed state. Thus, the surface pressure between the tip part  51  of the tab  42  and the sealing portion  90  can be enhanced and sealability around the tab  42  of the male terminal  40  can be satisfactorily ensured. 
     Particularly, since the sealing portion  90  is sandwiched between the pressing surface  108  of the pressing body portion  106  and the end surface  31  of the housing  20 , the surface pressure between the tip part  51  of the tab  42  and the sealing portion  90  can be enhanced by a simple configuration. 
     Further, since the housing  20  includes the cavities  23  for accommodating the female terminals  60  and the tabs  42  project into the cavities  23 , the female terminals  60  and the male terminal  40  are connected in the common housing  20  and the number of components can be reduced accordingly. 
     Furthermore, since the tab sealing hole  93  and the retainer sealing hole  92  are provided in the common sealing portion  90 , the number of components can be reduced as compared to the case where sealing portions  90  respectively corresponding to the tab  42  of the male terminal  40  and the retainer  70  are provided. 
     Moreover, since the plate surfaces of the tab  42  are held in close contact with the straight parts  95  of the sealing portion  90  parallel to these plate surfaces, a satisfactory compression force can be applied to the plate surfaces of the tab  42  from the sealing portion  90 . 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     Although the pressing portion has a function of retaining the male terminal in the case of the above embodiment, a pressing portion may not have a function of retaining a male terminal and may not have a part configured to contact the male terminal according to another embodiment. 
     Although the pressing portion is configured to sandwich the sealing portions between the end surface of the housing and the pressing portion in the case of the above embodiment, a pressing portion only has to be configured to enter a sealing space and apply a compression force to a sealing portion according to another embodiment. For example, the pressing portion may be configured to enter the sealing space by moving in a direction facing plate surfaces of a tab (upward or downward direction in the case of the above embodiment). 
     Although the female terminals and the male terminal are connected in the common housing in the case of the above embodiment, a female housing for accommodating a female terminal and a male housing for accommodating a male terminal may be separately provided and the female and male terminals may be electrically connected by connecting the female and male housings to each other according to another embodiment. 
     Although the plug portions are provided on the retainer having a retainer function of restricting the deflection of the locking lances in the case of the above embodiment, a plug portion may be provided on a member not having 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 above embodiment, a male terminal may be configured as a board terminal having a tab shape as a whole according to another embodiment. 
     Although the plurality of sealing portions are provided to correspond to the respective sealing spaces in the case of the above embodiment, sealing portions may be coupled and integrated with each other via a bridge portion according to another embodiment. 
     Although the retainer sealing hole and the tab sealing hole are provided in the common sealing portion in the case of the above embodiment, a retainer sealing hole and a tab sealing hole may be respectively provided in corresponding sealing portions (retainer sealing portion and tab sealing portion) 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.