Patent Publication Number: US-2022224038-A1

Title: Female connector and connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a female connector and a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a female terminal mounted in a female housing and a male terminal mounted in a male housing. A resiliently deformable contact spring is accommodated in a box portion of the female terminal, and the male terminal includes a tab. If the female housing and the male housing are connected, the tab is inserted into the box portion to resiliently deform the contact spring. Thus, the female terminal and the male terminal are connected with a predetermined contact pressure by resilience due to a resilient restoring force of the contact spring. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2015-232927 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     When the tab of the male terminal resiliently deforms the contact spring, friction resistance due to the resilient restoring force of the contact spring is generated. This friction resistance serves as connection resistance of the female housing and the male housing. The connection resistance increases as the numbers of the female terminals and the male terminals increase. As a countermeasure against this, a boost mechanism using a rotation-type lever is adopted in a multipole connector. However, if the rotation-type lever is used, there is a problem that the connector is enlarged by as much as the lever. 
     A connector of the present disclosure was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to reduce a size of a structure for reducing connection resistance of a female housing and a male housing. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a female connector with a female terminal fitting to be connected to a male terminal fitting, a female housing for accommodating the female terminal fitting, and an operating member displaceable between a terminal deformation position where the female terminal fitting is deformed and a release position where the operating member is separated from the female terminal fitting, wherein the female terminal fitting includes a resilient contact piece for resiliently contacting the male terminal fitting, and the operating member resiliently deforms the resilient contact piece away from the male terminal fitting at the terminal deformation position. 
     A second aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a connector with the female connector of the first aspect of the present disclosure, and a male housing for accommodating the male terminal fitting, the male housing being connected to the female housing, wherein the female housing includes a holding releasing portion for pushing the stopper from the hold position to the holding release position in a connection process of the male housing and the female housing. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to miniaturize a connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a connector of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view in section showing a state where a retainer mounted in a female housing is held at a terminal deformation position by stoppers. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in section showing a state where the stopper is mounted in the female housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view in section showing a state where the stopper is held at a holding release position by the retainer. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view in section showing a state where the retainer is held at partial locking position and female terminal fittings are inserted in the female housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view in section showing a state where the retainer is displaced to the terminal deformation position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view in section showing a state where the stopper is displaced to a hold position and the retainer is held at the terminal deformation position. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view in section showing a state where a female connector and a male connector are connected and the stopper is displaced to the holding release position. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view in section showing a state where the female connector and the male connector are connected and the retainer is displaced to a release position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view in section showing a state where the female connector and the male connector are connected and the retainer is displaced from the release position to the terminal deformation position and separated from a separation restricting portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view in section of a female terminal fitting of a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The female connector of the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a female terminal fitting to be connected to a male terminal fitting, a female housing for accommodating the female terminal fitting, and an operating member displaceable between a terminal deformation position where the female terminal fitting is deformed and a release position where the operating member is separated from the female terminal fitting, wherein the female terminal fitting includes a resilient contact piece for resiliently contacting the male terminal fitting, and the operating member resiliently deforms the resilient contact piece away from the male terminal fitting at the terminal deformation position. 
     According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present disclosure, in connecting the female terminal fitting and the male terminal fitting, the operating member is displaced to the terminal deformation position to resiliently deform the resilient contact piece away from the male terminal fitting. By so doing, in a connection process of the female terminal fitting and the male terminal fitting, the generation of sliding resistance between the male terminal fitting and the resilient contact piece can be avoided or sliding resistance generated between the male terminal fitting and the resilient contact piece can be reduced. After the female terminal fitting and the male terminal fitting are connected, the operating member is displaced to the release position to release the resilient contact piece from a resiliently deformed state. Then, the resilient contact piece resiliently contacts the male terminal fitting. Even if there are many female terminal fittings and male terminal fittings, the female connector of the first aspect of the present disclosure can connect the female terminal fittings and the male terminal fittings with a small operation force without using a boost mechanism by a lever. According to the female connector of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the lever is not necessary, wherefore miniaturization can be realized. 
     (2) Preferably, the resilient contact piece resiliently pushes the operating member in a direction to displace the operating member to the release position with the operating member held at the terminal deformation position, the female housing is provided with a stopper displaceable between a hold position where the operating member is held at the terminal deformation position and a holding release position where the stopper is separated from the operating member, and a displacement direction of the stopper from the hold position to the holding release position is a direction intersecting a displacement direction of the operating member from the terminal deformation position to the release position. The displacement direction of the stopper holding the operating member at the terminal deformation position is the direction intersecting the displacement direction of the operating member from the terminal deformation position to the release position. Therefore, there is no possibility that the stopper is surpassed by a pushing force of the resilient contact piece to displace the operating member to the release position. 
     (3) In (2), the female housing includes a partial locking portion, the operating member is held at a partial locking position where the female terminal fitting is allowed to be inserted into and withdrawn from the female housing by being locked by the partial locking portion, and the operating member contacts the stopper to restrict separation of the stopper from the female housing at the partial locking position. According to this configuration, a state where the stopper and the operating member are mounted in the female housing can be maintained. 
     (4) Preferably, the operating member includes a release position retaining portion for retaining the female terminal fitting inserted into the female housing when the operating member is displaced to the release position. In the female connector of the present disclosure, the operating member has both a function of resiliently deforming the resilient contact piece away from the male terminal fitting and a function of retaining the female terminal fitting. Thus, the number of components of the connector of the present disclosure is small as compared to the case where a member for moving the resilient contact piece away from the male terminal fitting and a member for retaining the female terminal fitting are separately prepared. 
     (5) Preferably, the operating member includes a terminal deformation position retaining portion for retaining the female terminal fitting inserted into the female housing when the operating member is displaced to the terminal deformation position. According to this configuration, a movement of the female terminal fitting in a withdrawing direction from the female housing can be prevented in the process of connecting the female terminal fitting and the male terminal fitting. In this way, the male terminal fitting and the female terminal fitting can be connected in a proper positional relationship. 
     (6) The connector of the second aspect of the present disclosure includes the female connector of the first aspect of the present disclosure, and a male housing for accommodating the male terminal fitting, the male housing being connected to the female housing, wherein the female housing includes a holding releasing portion for pushing the stopper from the hold position to the holding release position in a connection process of the male housing and the female housing. According to this configuration, if the stopper moves to the holding release position by being pushed by the holding releasing portion and is displaced to the holding release position in the connection process of the both housings, the operating member is displaced to the release position by being pushed by the resilient contact piece. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an operation of moving the operating member to the release position separately from a connecting operation of the both housings. 
     (7) Preferably, the male housing includes a receptacle for surrounding the female housing, and the operating member is held at the release position by butting against an inner surface of the receptacle. Since the female housing needs not be formed with a part for holding the operating member at the release position, the complication of the shape of the female housing can be avoided. 
     (8) In (7), preferably, a stepped separation restricting portion is formed in the inner surface of the receptacle, and separation of the female housing from the receptacle is restricted by the operating member at the release position being hooked to the separation restricting portion. According to this configuration, since the separation of the female housing from the receptacle can be restricted by the hooking of the operating member and the separation restricting portion, the female housing and the male housing can be held in the connected state even if a large-scale locking structure is not provided. 
     DETAILS OF EMBODIMENTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     First Embodiment 
     A first specific embodiment of a connector of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . In the first embodiment, a left side in  FIGS. 3 to 9  is defined as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10  are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. Left and right sides shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10  are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction. 
     The connector of the first embodiment includes a female connector F and a male connector M connectable to/separable from each other as shown in  FIG. 1 . The female connector F includes a female housing  10 , a plurality of female terminal fittings  20 , a pair of left and right stoppers  31 , and a retainer  33  (operating member as claimed). 
     The female housing  10  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the female housing  10  includes a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers  11  for accommodating the female terminal fittings  20 . The terminal accommodation chamber  11  penetrates through the female housing  10  in the front-rear direction. The female housing  10  includes an accommodation space  12  for accommodating the retainer  33 . The accommodation space  12  communicates with the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers  11  and is in form of a slit long in the lateral direction in the lower surface (outer surface) of the female housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , two pairs of partial locking portions  13  spaced apart in the front-rear direction are formed in both left and right end parts of the accommodation space  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the female housing  10  includes a pair of bilaterally symmetrical guide holes  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the guide hole  14  extends in the front-rear direction and communicates with an upper end part of the accommodation space  12 . The front end of the guide hole  14  is open in the front surface of the female housing  10 . A rear end part of the guide hole  14  is closed by a rear wall portion  15  of the female housing  10 . The female housing  10  includes a pair of left and right first jig insertion holes  16 . The first jig insertion holes  16  penetrate in the front-rear direction through the rear wall portion  15  of the female housing  10  from the rear surface of the rear wall portion  15  to the guide holes  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the female housing  10  includes a pair of left and right second jig insertion holes  17 . The second jig insertion holes  17  penetrate in the lateral direction through both left and right outer side walls of the female housing  10  from the outer side surfaces of the female housing  10  to the accommodation space  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the female connector F includes the plurality of female terminal fittings  20 . The female terminal fitting  20  has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole. A box portion  21  in the form of a rectangular tube is formed in a front end part of the female terminal fitting  20 , and a crimping portion  22  in the form of an open barrel to be fixed to a front end part of a wire  53  is formed in a rear end of the female terminal fitting  20 . The rear end of the box portion  21  and a front end part of the crimping portion  22  are connected via a coupling portion  23 . A rear end part of the box portion  21  serves as a hooking portion  24  projecting downward in a stepped manner from a lower edge part of the coupling portion  23 . 
     The female terminal fitting  20  includes a resilient contact piece  25 . The resilient contact piece  25  is folded rearward along an arcuate path from the front end of a base plate portion  26  (upper plate portion) constituting the box portion  21  and extends rearward. The resilient contact piece  25  is resiliently displaceable in the vertical direction (direction toward/away from the base plate portion  26 ) with a folded portion  27  (front end part) linked to the base plate portion  26  as a fulcrum. The resilient contact piece  25  includes a curved portion  28 . The curved portion  28  is shaped to project downward away from the base plate portion  26 . A lower end part of the curved portion  28  serves as a contact point portion  29 . The folded portion  27  and the curved portion  28  are accommodated in the box portion  21 . 
     The resilient contact piece  25  includes a pressure receiving portion  30 . The pressure receiving portion  30  is cantilevered obliquely to a lower-rear side from the rear end of the curved portion  28 , and disposed in a rear end part of the resilient contact piece  25 . A rear end part of the pressure receiving portion  30  projects rearward from the rear end (hooking portion  24 ) of the box portion  21 . When the resilient contact piece  25  is in a free state without being resiliently deformed, the pressure receiving portion  30  is located below the coupling portion  23 . If the pressure receiving portion  30  is pressed upward, the resilient contact piece  25  is resiliently displaced upward with the folded portion  27  as a fulcrum. 
     The stopper  31  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the stopper  31  is inserted into the guide hole  14  from the front of the female housing  10 . The stopper  31  is slidable in the front-rear direction in the guide hole  14 . A moving direction of the stopper  31  is a direction parallel to a connecting direction of the female housing  10  and a male housing  40 . The stopper  31  is formed with a holding recess  32 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the holding recess  32  has a T-shaped opening in the front surface of the stopper  31  and an I-shaped opening in the lower surface of the stopper  31 . 
     The retainer  33  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the retainer  33  has a rectangular parallelepiped shape long in the lateral direction as a whole. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the retainer  33  is formed with a plurality of terminal insertion holes  34  penetrating through the retainer  33  in the front-rear direction. An upper edge part of the retainer  33  and lower edge parts of the respective terminal insertion holes  34  are formed with a plurality of retaining portions  35  (release position retaining portion and terminal deformation position retaining portion as claimed) corresponding to the respective terminal accommodation chambers  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the retainer  33  includes two pairs of partial locking claw portions  36 . The two pairs of partial locking claw portions  36  are disposed on both left and right end parts of the retainer  33 . The two pairs of partial locking claw portions  36  are disposed to sandwich holding projections  37  in the front-rear direction in a plan view. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the retainer  33  includes a pair of bilaterally symmetrical holding projections  37 . The pair of holding projections  37  are disposed on the both left and right end parts of the retainer  33 . The holding projection  37  projects rearward from an upper end part of the retainer  33 . The holding projection  37  is T-shaped in a back view. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the retainer  33  includes a pair of left and right restricting projections  38 . The pair of restricting projections  38  project slightly downward in a stepped manner from the outer surface (lower surface) of the retainer  33 . The retainer  33  includes a pair of left and right jig recesses  39 . The jig recesses  39  are formed by recessing both left and right outer side surfaces of the retainer  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the male connector M includes the male housing  40  and a plurality of male terminal fittings  47 . The male connector M has functions as a board connector to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The female housing  10  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the male housing  40  includes a terminal holding portion  41  and a receptacle  42 . The terminal holding portion  41  is in the form of a plate rectangular in a front view. The receptacle  42  is in the form of a rectangular tube projecting forward from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion  41 . 
     The female housing  10  includes a pair of bilaterally symmetrical holding releasing portions  43 . The pair of holding releasing portions  43  project forward from both left and right end parts of the front surface of the terminal holding portion  41  (back surface of the receptacle  42 ). A projecting direction of the holding releasing portions  43  is the same direction as the connecting direction of the male housing  40  to the female housing  10 . The female housing  10  includes a pair of left and right separation restricting portions  44 . The pair of separation restricting portions  44  are formed by shallowly recessing the inner surface of a lower plate portion  45  constituting the receptacle  42  in a stepped manner, and disposed while being spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The male housing  40  includes a pair of left and right third jig insertion holes  46 . The pair of third jig insertion holes  46  penetrate through both left and right side wall portions constituting the receptacle  42  in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the male terminal fitting  47  is made of a metal bar material and bent to be L-shaped in a side view. The male terminal fitting  47  includes a board connecting portion  49  extending downward from a bent portion  48  and a tab  50  extending forward from the bent portion  48 . The male terminal fitting  47  is mounted into the male housing  40  with the tab  50  penetrating through the terminal holding portion  41  from behind the female housing  10 . The board connecting portion  49  is exposed behind the male housing  40  and connected to the circuit board (not shown). The tab  50  is accommodated in the receptacle  42 . 
     Next, an assembling procedure of the female connector F is described. First, the pair of stoppers  31  are inserted into the pair of guide holes  14  from the front of the female housing  10  (see  FIG. 3 ). After the stoppers  31  are inserted to the innermost ends (rearmost ends) of the guide holes  14 , the retainer  33  is mounted into the accommodation space  12  from below the female housing  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The retainer  33  mounted in the accommodation space  12  is held at a partial locking position (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The partial locking claw portions  36  of the retainer  33  are hooked to the partial locking portions  13  in the accommodation space  12  from above, whereby the separation of the retainer  33  from the female housing  10  is restricted. 
     With the retainer  33  held at the partial locking position, the holding recesses  32  and the holding projections  37  are vertically shifted in position. Thus, the lower end parts of the stoppers  31  butt against the upper end part of the retainer  33  from behind. By this butting, the stoppers  31  are held at innermost end positions (hereinafter, referred to as holding release positions) of the guide hole  14 . The lower end part of the retainer  33  projects downward from the lower surface (outer surface) of the female housing  10 . With the retainer  33  held at the partial locking position, the terminal insertion holes  34  correspond to the terminal accommodation chambers  11  and the retaining portions  35  are retracted downward from insertion paths of the female terminal fittings  20  into the terminal accommodation chambers  11  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this state, the female terminal fitting  20  is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber  11  from behind the female housing  10 . 
     After all the female terminal fittings  20  are inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers  11 , the retainer  33  at the partial locking position is pushed upward and displaced to the terminal deformation position (full locking position). If the retainer  33  is displaced to the terminal deformation position, the retaining portions  35  of the retainer  33  are proximately facing the box portions  21  (hooking portions  24 ) of the female terminal fittings  20  from behind as shown in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, even if a rearward pulling force is applied to the female terminal fitting  20 , the hooking portion  24  is hooked to the retaining portion  35 , whereby the rearward withdrawal of the female terminal fitting  20  from the terminal accommodation chamber  11  can be prevented. 
     If the retainer  33  is displaced to the terminal deformation position, the retaining portions  35  of the retainer  33  push the pressure receiving portions  30  of the female terminal fittings  20  upward. In this way, the resilient contact pieces  25  are resiliently deformed to be retracted upward from insertion paths of the tabs  50  in the terminal accommodation chambers  11  (see  FIG. 6 ). A displacement direction of the resilient contact pieces  25  at this time is a direction intersecting at a right angle to an inserting direction of the tabs  50  into the box portions  21  and is the same direction as a moving direction of the retainer  33  from the partial locking position to the terminal deformation position. 
     Note that if any one of the female terminal fittings  20  is incompletely inserted (incompletely inserted state), the box portion  21  of the female terminal fitting  20  in the incompletely inserted state is in the accommodation space  12 . Accordingly, if an attempt is made to displace the retainer  33  at the partial locking position upward, the retaining portion  35  of the retainer  33  interferes with the rear end part (hooking portion  24 ) of the box portion  21  in the incompletely inserted state. Thus, the retainer  33  cannot be pushed up to the terminal deformation position. By restricting a movement of the retainer  33  in this way, the presence of the female terminal fitting  20  in the incompletely inserted state can be detected. 
     With the retainer  33  displaced to the terminal deformation position, the holding projections  37  of the retainer  33  are opposed to the holding recesses  32  of the stoppers  31 . After the retainer  33  is displaced to the terminal deformation position, a holding jig  55  is inserted into the first jig insertion hole  16  from behind the female housing  10  and the stopper  31  is pushed from behind by the holding jig  55  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The stopper  31  pushed by the holding jig  55  is slid from the holding release position to a hold position in front and, associated with this, the holding recess  32  is fit to the holding projection  37 . By the fitting of the T-shaped holding recesses  32  and holding projections  37 , the retainer  33  is restricted from moving toward the partial locking position and held at the terminal deformation position. With the retainer  33  held at the terminal deformation position, the entire retainer  33  is accommodated in the accommodation space  12  and the lower end part of the retainer  33  does not project from the outer surface of the female housing  10 . 
     With a movement of the retainer  33  restricted by the stoppers  31 , a downward pressing force due to resilient restoring forces of the plurality of resilient contact pieces  25  acts on the inner surfaces of the holding recesses  32  from the outer surfaces of the holding projections  37 . A direction in which this pressing force is acting is a direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the stoppers  31  from the hold position to the holding release position. Thus, even if the stoppers  31  are going to slide from the hold position to the holding release position located behind, movements of the stoppers  31  to the holding release position are restricted by friction resistance generated by the above pressing force. In this way, the retainer  33  is reliably held at the terminal deformation position. In the above way, the assembling of the female connector F is completed. 
     Next, a connection process and a separation process of the female connector F and the male connector M are described. At the time of connection, the female housing  10  is fit into the receptacle  42 . In the connection process, the tabs  50  are inserted into the box portions  21  in the terminal accommodation chambers  11 . The resilient contact pieces  25  (contact point portions  29 ) are not present in the insertion paths of the tabs  50  in the box portions  21 . Accordingly, the tabs  50  and the resilient contact pieces  25  are kept out of contact until the both connectors F, M reach a properly connected state. Thus, friction resistance (connection resistance against the connection of the both connectors F, M) due to the slide contact of the tabs  50  and the resilient contact pieces  25  (contact point portions  29 ) is not generated. 
     In the connection process of the both connectors F, M, the holding releasing portions  43  enter the guide holes  14  of the female housing  10  and push the stoppers  31  at the hold position to the holding release position as shown in  FIG. 8 . During this time, friction resistance due to the resilient restoring forces of the resilient contact pieces  25  is generated between the stoppers  31  (inner surfaces of the holding recesses  32 ) and the retainer  33  (outer surfaces of the holding projections  37 ). This friction resistance becomes a resistance force against a connecting force for the connection of the both connectors F, M. However, since both the stoppers  31  and the retainer  33  are made of synthetic resin, the connection resistance between the stoppers  31  and the retainer  33  is smaller than the friction resistance (connection resistance) due to the slide contact of metals between the tabs  50  and the resilient contact pieces  25 . 
     When the both connectors F, M reach the properly connected state, the stoppers  31  being pushed by the holding releasing portions  43  reach the holding release position (see  FIG. 8 ). When the stoppers  31  reach the holding release position, the holding recesses  32  are disengaged from the holding projections  37 . Thus, the retainer  33  is pushed downward (in a direction toward the partial locking position) by the pressing force due to the resilient restoring forces of the resilient contact pieces  25 . When the lower surface of the retainer  33  butts against the lower plate portion  45  of the receptacle  42 , a downward displacement of the retainer  33  is stopped. 
     A position where the retainer  33  butts against the receptacle  42  (see  FIG. 9 ) is defined as a release position. The release position is set between the terminal deformation position and the partial locking position. With the retainer  33  displaced to the release position, the retaining portions  35  of the retainer  33  are located to overlap the box portions  21  in the vertical direction. That is, the retaining portions  35  and the hooking portions  24  of the female terminal fittings  20  are proximately opposed to each other. Thus, even if a rearward pulling force is applied to the female terminal fitting  20 , the hooking portion  24  is hooked to the retaining portion  35  from front. Therefore, the separation of the female terminal fitting  20  from the female housing  10  is restricted. 
     A displacement direction of the retainer  33  toward the release position is a direction opposite to a pressing direction of the retaining portion  35  (retainer  33 ) to the pressure receiving portion  30  (resilient contact piece  25 ). Accordingly, in the process of displacing the retainer  33  to the release position, the amount of resilient deformation of the resilient contact pieces  25  decreases. Since the retaining portions  35  are completely disengaged from the pressure receiving portions  30  when the retainer  33  reaches the release position, the contact point portions  29  contact the tabs  50  to resiliently press the tabs  50  by the resilient restoring forces of the resilient contact pieces  25 . In this way, the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47  can be conductively connected with a predetermined contact pressure. In the above way, the connection of the both connectors F, M is completed. 
     With the both connectors F, M properly connected, static friction forces due to the resilient restoring forces of the resilient contact pieces  25  are generated between the resilient contact pieces  25  and the tabs  50 . Thus, even if a pulling force is applied to the both connectors F, M in a separating direction, the both connectors F, M are held in the connected state by the static friction forces between the tabs  50  and the resilient contact pieces  25 . Therefore, a lock arm for restricting the separation of the female housing  10  and the male housing  40  is unnecessary. 
     Further, with the retainer  33  displaced to the release position, the restricting projections  38  of the retainer  33  are fit in the separation restricting portions  44  of the receptacle  42  and the rear surfaces of the restricting projections  38  are facing the inner surfaces of the separation restricting portions  44  in the front-rear direction. Thus, even if the both housings  10 ,  40  are relatively displaced in the separating direction when a pulling force is applied to the both connectors F, M in the separating direction, the restricting projections  38  are hooked to the separation restricting portions  44  after the both housings  10 ,  40  are slightly relatively displaced. Therefore, the separation of the both connectors F, M is restricted. 
     In separating the both connectors F, M in the connected state, separating jigs  56  are inserted into the jig recesses  39  of the retainer  33  through the third and second jig insertion holes  46 ,  17  from both left and right sides of the male connector M as shown in  FIG. 10 . Then, by moving the separating jigs  56  upward, the retainer  33  is pushed up from the release position to the terminal deformation position against the resilience of the resilient contact pieces  25 . In this state, the both connectors F, M are slightly relatively displaced to be separated and the rear end parts of the restricting projections  38  of the retainer  33  are placed at positions closer to the opening of the receptacle  42  than the separation restricting portions  44 , out of the lower plate portion  45  of the receptacle  42 . 
     Thereafter, the separating jigs  56  are pulled out from the jig recesses  39  and the second and third insertion holes  17 ,  46  and the both connectors F, M are separated. In the process of separating the both connectors F, M, sliding friction is generated between the restricting projections  38  and the lower wall portion. However, since both the restricting projections  38  and the lower plate portion  45  are made of synthetic resin, friction resistance against the separation does not become excessive. 
     The female connector F of the first embodiment includes the female terminal fittings  20  to be connected to the male terminal fittings  47 , the female housing  10  for accommodating the female terminal fittings  20  and the retainer  33 . The retainer  33  is displaceable between the terminal deformation position where the female terminal fittings  20  are deformed and the release position where the retainer  33  is separated from the female terminal fittings  20 . The female terminal fitting  20  includes the resilient contact piece  25  for resiliently contacting the male terminal fitting  47 . 
     The retainer  33  pushes the pressure receiving portions  30  of the resilient contact pieces  25  and resiliently deforms the resilient contact pieces  25  away from the tabs  50  of the male terminal fittings  47  at the terminal deformation position. With the retainer  33  held at the release position, the retainer  33  is separated from the resilient contact pieces  25  and the resilient contact pieces  25  resiliently return toward the insertion paths of the tabs  50 . 
     According to this configuration, in connecting the both housings  10 ,  40  and connecting the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47 , the retainer  33  is displaced to the terminal deformation position to resiliently deform the resilient contact pieces  25  away from the male terminal fittings  47  (tabs  50 ). By so doing, in the process of connecting the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47 , the generation of sliding resistance between the male terminal fittings  47  (tabs  50 ) and the resilient contact pieces  25  can be avoided or sliding resistance generated between the male terminal fittings  47  (tabs  50 ) and the resilient contact pieces  25  can be reduced. After the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47  are connected, the retainer  33  is displaced to the release position to release the resilient contact pieces  25  from a resiliently deformed state. Then, the resilient contact pieces  25  resiliently contact the tabs  50 . 
     The connector of the first embodiment includes many female terminal fittings  20  and male terminal fittings  47 . In connecting the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47 , the resilient contact pieces  25  are resiliently deformed to be retracted from the insertion paths of the male terminal fittings  47  (tabs  50 ) in advance. Accordingly, even without using a boost mechanism by a lever, the female terminal fittings  20  and the male terminal fittings  47  can be connected (the female connector F and the male connector M can be connected) with a small operation force. Since an installation space, a rotation space and the like of the lever are unnecessary according to the connector of the first embodiment, space saving can be realized. 
     The retainer  33  includes the retaining portions  35  (release position retaining portions) for retaining the female terminal fittings  20  inserted into the female housing  10  when the retainer  33  is displaced to the release position. That is, the retainer  33  has both a function of resiliently deforming the resilient contact pieces  25  away from the tabs  50  and a function of retaining the female terminal fittings  20 . Therefore, the number of components of the connector of the first embodiment is small as compared to the case where a member for moving the resilient contact pieces  25  away from the tabs  50  and a member for retaining the female terminal fittings  20  are separately prepared. 
     The retainer  33  includes the retaining portions  35  (terminal deformation position retaining portions) for retaining the female terminal fittings  20  inserted into the female housing  10  when the retainer  33  is displaced to the terminal deformation position. According to this configuration, movements of the female terminal fittings  20  in a withdrawing direction from the female housing  10  can be prevented in the process of connecting the both housings  10 ,  40 . In this way, the tabs  50  and the female terminal fittings  20  can be connected in a proper positional relationship. 
     With the retainer  33  held at the terminal deformation position, the retainer  33  is resiliently pushed in a direction to be displaced to the release position by the resilient restoring forces of the resilient contact pieces  25 . The stoppers  31  are provided in the female housing  10  to restrict a displacement of the pushed retainer  33  to the release position. The stoppers  31  are displaceable between the hold position where the retainer  33  is held at the terminal deformation position and the holding release position where the stoppers  31  are separated from the retainer  33 . A displacement direction of the stoppers  31  from the hold position to the holding release position is a direction intersecting at a right angle to the displacement direction of the retainer  33  from the terminal deformation position to the release position. Therefore, there is no possibility that the stoppers  31  are surpassed by the pressing forces of the resilient contact pieces  25  to displace the retainer  33  to the release position. 
     The female housing  10  includes the partial locking portions  13 . The retainer  33  is held at the partial locking position where the insertion and withdrawal of the female terminal fittings  20  into and from the female housing  10  are allowed by being locked by the partial locking portions  13 . At the partial locking position, the retainer  33  contacts the stoppers  31  to separate the stoppers  31  from the female housing  10 . According to this configuration, a state where the stoppers  31  and the retainer  33  are mounted in the female housing  10  can be maintained, wherefore these are convenient to handle. 
     The connector of the first embodiment includes the female connector F and the male housing  40  for accommodating the male terminal fittings  47 , the male housing  40  being connected to the female housing  10 . The male housing  40  includes the holding releasing portions  43  for pushing the stoppers  31  from the hold position to the holding release position in the connection process of the male housing  40  and the female housing  10 . According to this configuration, in the connection process of the male housing  40  and the female housing  10 , if the stoppers  31  are pushed by the holding releasing portions  43  to move to the holding release position and be displaced to the holding release position, the retainer  33  is displaced to the release position by being pushed by the resilient contact pieces  25 . Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an operation of moving the retainer  33  to the release position separately from a connecting operation of the both housings  10 ,  40 . 
     The male housing  40  includes the receptacle  42  for surrounding the female housing  10  with the both connectors F, M connected. The retainer  33  is held at the release position by butting against the inner surface of the receptacle  42 . According to this configuration, since the female housing  10  needs not be formed with a part for holding the retainer  33  at the release position, the complication of the shape of the female housing  10  can be avoided. 
     The stepped separation restricting portions  44  are formed in the inner surface of the receptacle  42 . The retainer  33  at the release position is hooked to the separation restricting portions  44 , whereby the separation of the female housing  10  from the receptacle  42  is restricted. According to this configuration, the separation of the female housing  10  from the receptacle  42  can be restricted by the hooking of the retainer  33  and the separation restricting portions  44 . Thus, the female housing  10  and the male housing  40  can be held in the connected state even if a large-scale locking structure is not provided. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second specific embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 11 . The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of female terminal fittings  60 . Since the other components are the same as in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference signs and structures, functions and effects thereof are not described. 
     A resilient contact piece  61  formed in the female terminal fitting  60  of the second embodiment includes a base portion  62  extending straight in the front-rear direction, a contact point portion  63  connected to the front end of the base portion  62  and a pressure receiving portion  64  connected to the rear end of the base portion  62 . The resilient contact piece  61  is supported in a box portion  66  at a fulcrum portion  65  in an intermediate part in the front-rear direction of the base portion  62 . That is, out of both left and right side edges of the base portion  62 , one side edge is connected to one side plate portion  67  constituting the box portion  66  via the fulcrum portion  65 . 
     The contact point portion  63  has a curved shape to bulge more upward (in a direction entering an insertion path of a tab) than the base portion  62 . A rear end part of the pressure receiving portion  64  projects rearward from the rear end (hooking portion  68 ) of the box portion  66 . When the resilient contact piece  61  is in a free state without being resiliently deformed, the pressure receiving portion  64  is located below a coupling portion  70  coupling the box portion  66  and a crimping portion  69 . If the pressure receiving portion  64  is pushed upward, the resilient contact piece  61  is resiliently deformed in a seesaw manner with the fulcrum portion  65  as a fulcrum and the contact point portion  63  is displaced downward, i.e. in a direction away from the insertion path of the tab  50  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) as shown by an imaginary line in  FIG. 11 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments, but is represented by claims. The present invention is intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents and include also embodiments as described below. 
     Although the tab is not in contact with the resilient contact piece with the resilient contact piece resiliently deformed by the operating member (retainer) in the above first embodiment, there is no limitation to this. With the resilient contact piece resiliently deformed by the operating member, a wiping effect may be obtained by the tab lightly contacting the resilient contact piece. 
     Although the operating member (retainer) has both the function of resiliently deforming the resilient contact pieces away from the tabs and the function of retaining the female terminal fittings in the above first embodiment, a member for moving the resilient contact pieces away from the tabs and a member for retaining the female terminal fittings may be separately prepared. 
     Although the female terminal fittings are retained by the operating member (retaining portions) with the resilient contact pieces resiliently deformed by the operating member (retainer) in the above first embodiment, the female terminal fittings may be retained by a member different from the operating member with the resilient contact pieces resiliently deformed by the operating member. 
     Although the separation of the stoppers from the female housing is prevented by the operating member at the partial locking position in the above first embodiment, the separation of the stoppers from the female housing may be restricted by the stoppers being hooked to the female housing. 
     Although the holding releasing portions of the male housing push the stoppers to the holding release position when the female housing and the male housing are connected in the first embodiment, the stoppers may be moved to the holding release position by a manual operation after the both housings are connected. 
     Although the operating member (retainer) is held at the release position by butting against the inner surface of the receptacle in the above first embodiment, a part for holding the operating member at the release position may be formed in the female housing, instead of this. 
     Although the separation restricting portions to which the operating member at the release position are hooked are formed in the inner surface of the receptacle in the above first embodiment, the inner surface of the receptacle may be shaped not to include the separation restricting portions. 
     Although the operating member is held at the terminal deformation position by the stoppers separate from the female housing in the above first embodiment, the operating member may be held at the terminal deformation position by being directly hooked to the female housing. 
     Although one retaining portion retains the female terminal fitting in the above first embodiment both when the retainer is at the release position and when the retainer is at the terminal deformation position, a part for retaining the female terminal fitting when the retainer is at the release position and a part for retaining the female terminal fitting when the retainer is at the terminal deformation position may be separately formed. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10  . . . female housing 
               11  . . . terminal accommodation chamber 
               12  . . . accommodation space 
               13  . . . partial locking portion 
               14  . . . guide hole 
               15  . . . rear wall portion 
               16  . . . first jig insertion hole 
               17  . . . second jig insertion hole 
               20  . . . female terminal fitting 
               21  . . . box portion 
               22  . . . crimping portion 
               23  . . . coupling portion 
               24  . . . hooking portion 
               25  . . . resilient contact piece 
               26  . . . base plate portion 
               27  . . . folded portion 
               28  . . . curved portion 
               29  . . . contact point portion 
               30  . . . pressure receiving portion 
               31  . . . stopper 
               32  . . . holding recess 
               33  . . . retainer (operating member) 
               34  . . . terminal insertion hole 
               35  . . . retaining portion (release position retaining portion, terminal deformation position retaining portion) 
               36  . . . partial locking claw portion 
               37  . . . holding projection 
               38  . . . restricting projection 
               39  . . . jig recess 
               40  . . . male housing 
               41  . . . terminal holding portion 
               42  . . . receptacle 
               43  . . . holding releasing portion 
               44  . . . separation restricting portion 
               45  . . . lower plate portion 
               46  . . . third jig insertion hole 
               47  . . . male terminal fitting 
               48  . . . bent portion 
               49  . . . board connecting portion 
               50  . . . tab 
               53  . . . wire 
               55  . . . holding jig 
               56  . . . separating jig 
               60  . . . female terminal fitting 
               61  . . . resilient contact piece 
               62  . . . base portion 
               63  . . . contact point portion 
               64  . . . pressure receiving portion 
               65  . . . fulcrum portion 
               66  . . . box portion 
               67  . . . side plate portion 
               68  . . . hooking portion 
               69  . . . crimping portion 
               70  . . . coupling portion 
             F female connector 
             M male connector