Patent Publication Number: US-9905970-B2

Title: Connector with mounting member that restricts rearward movement of connector until connector is connected properly to mating connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-190720 discloses a self-aligning connector with a plug connector housing to be mounted in a hole of a panel partition wall and a receptacle connector fittable to the plug connector housing. The plug connector housing includes a plurality of resilient engaging portions. The plug connector housing is supported on the panel partition wall swingably in a connecting direction to the receptacle connector housing and within a plane perpendicular to the connecting direction via each resilient engaging portion. 
     An external force may act on one of the above-described connector housings and may rotate this one connector housing. In this situation, each resilient engaging portion is twisted, and locking between each resilient engaging portion and the panel partition wall may be released inadvertently. A release of the locking between each resilient engaging portion and the panel partition wall can cause the plug connector housing to fall off the panel partition wall and can prevent the connector housings from reaching a properly connected state. 
     The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to provide a connector capable of reaching a properly connected state while responding to a rotational movement. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a connector with a connector housing to which a mating connector housing is connectable from the front and a mounting member into which the connector housing is mountable. The connector housing is displaceable with respect to the mounting member between a temporary holding position and a retracted position. The connector housing that is in the temporary holding position is held in the mounting member with a rearward movement restricted. The connector housing can be moved rearward to the retracted position together with the mating connector housing by being released from a holding state at the temporary holding position after the connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing. More particularly, the connector housing is movable integrally with the mating connector housing according to a movement of the side of the mating connector housing without being held by the mounting member. 
     The mounting member restricts a rearward movement of the connector housing when the connector housing is connected to the mating connector housing at the temporary holding position, thereby guaranteeing that both the connector housing and the mating connector housing reach a properly connected state. The connector housing that has reached the retracted position is movable integrally with the mating connector housing according to a movement of the side of the mating connector housing without being held by the mounting member after both connector housings are connected properly. Thus, if the side of the mating connector housing rotates, the connector housing is rotatable together with the mating connector housing according to that rotation. 
     The mounting member may include a resiliently holding portion configured to hold the connector housing at the temporary holding position displaceably in a direction perpendicular to a front-rear direction. Thus, at the temporary holding position, the connector housing is center-aligned by the resiliently holding portion and concentrically connectable to the mating connector housing. 
     The mounting member may include a contact stop wall configured to restrict a rearward movement of the connector housing by stopping the connector housing in contact therewith until the connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing and to release a contact stop state between the connector housing and the contact stop wall by a rotational operation after the connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing. The connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing in a state stopped in contact with the contact stop wall at the temporary holding position. The contact stop wall then is rotated so that the contact stop state between the connector housing and the contact stop wall is released and a displacement of the connector housing to the retracted position is enabled. Thus, it can be reliably guaranteed that both connector housings are in a properly connected state when a rotational operation is performed. 
     The mounting member may include an arm projecting forward. The arm may include a contact stop configured to restrict a rearward movement of the connector housing by stopping the connector housing in contact therewith until the connector housing is properly connected to the mating connector housing. The arm also may include a releasing portion located in front of the contact stop and configured to be pressed by the mating connector housing when the connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing, thereby inclining the arm to release a contact stop state between the contact stop and the connector housing. The connector housing is connected properly to the mating connector housing in a state stopped in contact with the contact stop wall at the temporary holding position and, along with that, the releasing portion is pressed by the mating connector housing to incline the arm so that the contact stop state between the connector housing and the contact stop portion is released and a displacement of the connector housing to the retracted position is enabled. Thus, it can be guaranteed that both connector housings are in a properly connected state, and the connector housing can be displaced smoothly from the temporary holding position to the retracted position in linkage with a connecting operation of both connector housings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view showing a state where a mating connector housing provided on a solenoid, a connector housing and a mounting member are separated in a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state where the connector housing is assembled at a temporary holding position with respect to the mounting member. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where the mating connector housing provided on the solenoid is properly connected to the connector housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view corresponding to the state of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view corresponding to the state of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing a state where the connector housing is at a retracted position with respect to the mounting member. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view showing a state where the both connector housings are properly connected when viewed from the side of the mating connector housing. 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view showing a state where a mating connector housing provided on a solenoid, a connector housing and a mounting member are separated in a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a state where the connector housing is assembled at a temporary holding position with respect to the mounting member. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a state where the mating connector housing provided on the solenoid is properly connected to the connector housing. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view corresponding to the state of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view showing a state immediately before a pressing portion presses a releasing portion to lift an arm portion and a contact stop state between a contact stop portion and an interfering portion is released. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view showing a state where the connector housing is at a retracted position with respect to the connector housing. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view showing a state where the both connector housings are properly connected when viewed from the side of the mating connector housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . A connector according to the first embodiment is illustrated to be a connector with a self-aligning function used in a control device of an automotive vehicle not shown in detail and includes a connector housing  10  and a mating connector housing  11  connectable to each other. Note that, in the following description, surface sides of the connector housing  10  and the mating connector housings  11  (hereinafter, referred to as both connector housings  10 ,  11 ) facing each other at the start of connection are referred to as front sides concerning a front-rear direction. Further, a vertical direction is based on each figure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the control device includes a valve body  90 , and solenoids  80  (only one is shown) are incorporated into the valve body  90 . The connector is provided to correspond to each solenoid  80 , the mating connector housing  11  is arranged on the side of the solenoid  80  and the connector housing  10  is arranged on the side of the valve body  90 . A solenoid mounting portion  91  for mounting the solenoids  80  is fixed in the valve body  90 . The solenoid mounting portion  91  has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape projecting from the upper surface of the valve body  90 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the solenoid  80  has a cylindrical shape and is composed of an electromagnetic portion  81  and a valve portion  82 . The valve portion  82  has a smaller diameter than the electromagnetic portion  81  and is insertable into the solenoid mounting portion  91 . When the valve portion  82  is inserted properly into the solenoid mounting portion  91 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , a step  83  at a boundary part between the valve portion  82  and the electromagnetic portion  81  contacts the front end surface of the solenoid mounting portion  91  and, in that state, the solenoid  80  is fixed to the valve body  90  via an unillustrated fixing means. A control circuit is configured by inserting the valve portion  82  into the solenoid mounting portion  91 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mating connector housing  11  projects on the outer peripheral surface of the electromagnetic portion  81  of the solenoid  80 . The mating connector housing  11  includes a forwardly open tubular receptacle  13 . Unillustrated pin-like male terminal fittings connected to the solenoid  80  project into the receptacle  13 . A lock hole  15  penetrates through an upper wall of the receptacle  13 . The connector housings  10 ,  11  are held in a connected state by resiliently fitting a later-described lock portion  36  of the connector housing  10  into the lock hole  15 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     An unillustrated harness accommodating member in the form of a flat case is mounted on the upper surface of the valve body  90 . Unillustrated wires pulled out from the connector housing  10  are arranged in the harness accommodating member. A mounting member  16  of the connector is coupled to the harness accommodating member. 
     The mounting member  16  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , composed of a horizontal flat plate  17  extending in a lateral direction (width direction), a rising portion  18  in the form of a vertical wall rising from a front end part of the plate  17 , a pair of first resilient pieces  19  cantilevered forward from left and right sides of an upper end part of the rising portion  18 , a second resilient piece  20  cantilevered forward from a laterally central part of a lower end part of the rising portion  18  and contact stop walls  21  in the form of plates protruding forward from positions between the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20  on both left and right sides of the rising portion  18  and extending along the vertical direction. The plate  17  is mounted and fixed to the harness accommodating member via holes  22  and bosses  23 . 
     Each of the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20  is in the form of a plate having a substantially constant width in the lateral direction. The first resilient pieces  19  include curved portions  24  located at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction and convexly curved to project up in a side view, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and contact portions  25  inclined down from a laterally central side toward opposite sides in a front view, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The contact portions  25  of the first resilient pieces  19  extend along concentric arc virtual lines centered on an axial center of the solenoid  80  when the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected. A convex spherical projection (similar to a later-described projection  26  of the second resilient piece  20  shown in  FIG. 1  although not shown here) projects on the lower surface (inner surface) of the contact portion  25 . 
     The second resilient piece  20  is a long plate extending substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction and has a smaller width than the first resilient pieces  19  in the lateral direction, and the front end thereof is located substantially at the same position as the front ends of the first resilient pieces  19  in the front-rear direction as shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the projection  26  projects on the upper surface (inner surface) of the second resilient piece  20  similarly to the first resilient pieces  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting member  16  is formed with an open holding space  27  between the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20  and in front of the front end of the contact stop walls  21 . The connector housing  10  resiliently supported by the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20  is accommodated displaceably into the holding space  27 . Note that the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20  collectively are called as a resiliently holding portion  28  below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each contact stop wall  21  is composed of a base plate  29  extending along the vertical direction and coupled to both left and right side parts of the rising portion  18 , a projection  30  projecting forward from vertically central parts of the base plate  29  and a body  31  protruding toward both upper and lower sides from the front end of the projection  30 . The projection  30  and the body  31  are formed to be substantially T-shaped in a side view. Further, the projections  30  of the two contact stop walls  21  are coupled integrally via an unillustrated beam extending in the lateral direction. 
     The contact stop walls  21  have such rigidity as not to be deflected and deformed easily and are made substantially impossible to deflect and deform by having deflection and deformation restricted. The front end surfaces of the bodies  31  are arranged at positions behind each projection of the resiliently holding portion  28  in the front-rear direction and overlapping with the curved portions  24  of the first resilient pieces  19  in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the front end surfaces of the bodies  31  are arranged along the vertical direction and the connector housing  10  accommodated into the holding space  27  can be stopped in contact with these front end surfaces. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting member  16  is formed with an open free space  32  communicating with the holding space  27  behind the bodies  31 . Later-described engaging portions  37  of the connector housing  10  are freely displaceable in the free space  32  in a free state where the engaging portions  37  are not engaged with the mounting member  16 . 
     The connector housing  10  is displaceable from a temporary holding position (see  FIGS. 2 to 5 ) to a retracted position (see  FIG. 6 ). The connector housing  10  that is in the temporary holding position is held in a waiting state in the mounting member  16  and a rear end part (engaging portions  37  and both wings  40  to be described later) is accommodated in the holding space  27 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The connector housing  10  that is in the retracted position (see  FIG. 6 ) has the rear end part accommodated in the free space  32 . 
     Specifically, the connector housing  10  is made of synthetic resin and includes a housing body  33  in the form of a block long and narrow in the front-rear direction, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Cavities  34  are provided in the housing body  33 , and an unillustrated terminal fitting is inserted and accommodated into each cavity  34  from behind. The female terminal fitting is connected to an end part of an unillustrated wire, and the connected wire is pulled out from the rear surface of the housing body  33  and accommodated into the harness accommodating member. 
     A lock arm  35  is provided on the upper surface of the housing body  33 . The lock arm  35  is cantilevered rearward from the front end of the upper surface of the housing body  33  and is deflectable and deformable in the vertical direction. The lock portion  36  projects on the upper surface of the lock arm  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , two engaging portions  37  are provided on the rear end of the housing body  33  and project rearward from both upper and lower ends. Each engaging portion  37  includes a base  38  in the form of a plate extending along the lateral direction and is made substantially impossible to deflect and deform by having deflection and deformation restricted. As shown in  FIG. 5 , claw-like contacting portions  39  are provided on rear parts of the bases  38  and projecting in toward each other. Each contacting portion  39  is in the form of a rib extending in the width direction along the rear end of the base  38 . The rear end surface of the contacting portion  39  is arranged along the vertical direction and can come into contact with the front end surface of the body  31  of the contact stop wall  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , two wing portions  40  are provided on the upper end of a rear end side of the housing body  33  and protrude toward both left and right sides. The wings  40  are in the form of plates, inclined down toward opposite sides from a laterally central part and are curved arcuately (see  FIG. 7 ). The upper surfaces (outer surfaces) of the wings  40  are slidable in the lateral direction (including a circumferential direction) with respect to the lower surfaces of the contact portions  25  of the first resilient pieces  19  and include concave spherical recesses  41  into which the projections  26  of the contact portions  25  are fittable. An unillustrated recess also is provided on the lower surface of the rear end part of the housing body  33  to correspond to the projection  26  of the second resilient piece  20 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the wings  40  and the base  38  are coupled integrally to surround a rear end part of the lock arm  35  from both lateral and rear sides. An insertion hole  42  substantially rectangular in a plan view is open between coupled parts of the wings  40  and the base  38  and the rear end of the lock arm  35 , and the respective wires pulled out from the housing body  33  are guided into the harness accommodating member through the insertion hole  42 . 
     Next, functions and effects of the first embodiment configured as described above are described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector housing  10  is mounted into the holding space  27  of the mounting member  16  from the front. In this case, the connector housing  10  is pushed into the holding space  27  so that both engaging portions  37  and both wings  40  widen a spacing between the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20 , and resiliently held by the resiliently holding portion  28 . The wings  40  face the lower surfaces of the first resilient pieces  19 , the recesses  41  of the wings  40  are fit to the projections of the first resilient pieces  19 , and the second projection  26  of the second resilient piece  20  is fit into the recess of the housing body  33 . Thus, the connector housing  10  is supported at three points while being substantially positioned in the resiliently holding portion  28  at the temporary holding position. Further, at the temporary holding position, the rear end surfaces of the contacting portions  39  of the engaging portions  37  are stopped in contact with the front end surfaces of the bodies  31  of the contact stop walls  21 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , to prevent a rearward movement of the connector housing  10  toward the retracted position. 
     Subsequently, the valve portion  82  of the solenoid  80  is inserted into the solenoid mounting portion  91 . At this time, if a positional relationship is set such that the valve portion  82  of the solenoid  80  is opposed to the solenoid mounting portion  91  and the receptacle  13  of the mating connector housing  11  is opposed to the housing body  33  of the connector housing  10 , the receptacle  13  allows the housing body  33  to be fit therein, the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected properly and the male and female terminal fittings are connected properly. Note that when the connector housing  10  is at the temporary holding position, even if the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected properly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the solenoid  80  has not yet reached a state properly inserted in the solenoid mounting portion  91 . 
     Further, in a final stage of the process of connecting the connector housing  10 , a connecting operation of the male and female terminal fittings proceeds and the lock arm  35  is deflected and deformed by interfering with the receptacle  13 . Thus, connection resistance increases and a pushing force for moving the connector housing  10  rearward acts on the connector housing  10 . In that respect, according to the first embodiment, a state where the contacting portions  39  of the engaging portions  37  are stopped in contact with the bodies  31  of the contact stop walls  21  is maintained reliably. Thus, situations such as a rearward movement of the connector housing  10  at the temporary holding position by being pushed in a state incompletely connected to the mating connector housing  11  can be avoided. 
     On the other hand, even if the connector housings  10 ,  11  are not opposed to each other, e.g. the mating connector housing  11  is displaced in a circumferential direction (arrow direction X of  FIG. 7 ) from an opposing position about an axis of the solenoid  80 , the front end part of the connector housing  10  is guided into the receptacle  13  of the mating connector housing  11  and lightly connected. Thus, the connector housing  10  is guided to a proper connection position to the mating connector housing  11 , such as by sliding movements of the wings  40  on the first resilient pieces  19  while being accompanied by the deflection of the first resilient pieces  19  and the second resilient piece  20 . Therefore, a displacement at the start of connection of the connector housings  10 ,  11  is properly absorbed by the resiliently holding portion  28 , and a state where the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected properly can be guaranteed. 
     Subsequently, the connector housings  10 ,  11  in the connected state are displaced in the circumferential direction (arrow direction X of  FIG. 7 ) by rotating the solenoid  80  about the axis with respect to the solenoid mounting portion  91 . Then, each projection comes out of each recess, the first resilient pieces  19  are deflected and deformed and, along with that, the wings  40  slide on the first resilient pieces  19  and the contacting portions  39  of the engaging portions  37  are separated from the bodies  31  of the contact stop walls  21  so that a contact stop state is released. In this way, a displacement of the connector housings  10 ,  11  in the connected state to the retracted position is allowed. 
     Subsequently, the solenoid  80  is inserted to a proper insertion depth into the solenoid mounting portion  91 . Then, the connector housing  10  reaches the retracted position and the engaging portions  37  of the connector housing  10  are retracted into the free space  32 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Further, the solenoid  80  is rotated about the axis with respect to the solenoid mounting portion  91 , an unillustrated fixing portion (e.g. fixing hole or the like) of the solenoid  80  and an unillustrated fixing portion (e.g. fixing hole or the like) of the valve body  90  are aligned with each other and a fixing means (e.g. pin member penetrating through the both fixing holes) are locked to the fixing portions, thereby fixing the solenoid  80  to the valve body  90 . While the solenoid  80  rotates about the axis in this way, the mating connector housing  11  provided on the solenoid  80  is displaced in the circumferential direction about the axial center of the solenoid  80  and, simultaneously, the connector housing  10  connected to the mating connector housing  11  also is displaced in the circumferential direction. At this time, the interference of the contact stop walls  21  with the engaging portions  37  is avoided by inserting parts substantially T-shaped in a side view and composed of the projections  30  and the bodies  31  in the contact stop walls  21  into spaces  44  (see  FIG. 6 ) between the bases  38  and the contacting portions  39  in the engaging portions  37  and allowing them to escape. Thus, the connector housing  10  can be displaced freely according to a movement of the side of the mating connector housing  11  in the free space  32 . 
     As described above, according to the first embodiment, a rearward movement of the connector housing  10  is restricted by the mounting member  16  when the connector housing  10  is connected to the mating connector housing  11  from the front at the temporary holding position. Thus, it can be guaranteed that the connector housings  10 ,  11  reach the properly connected state. Particularly, the connector housing  10  is connected properly to the mating connector housing  11  while being stopped in contact with the contact stop walls  21  at the temporary holding position and, thereafter, the connector housing  10  is rotated so that the contact stop state between the connector housing  10  and the contact stop walls  21  is released and a displacement of the connector housing  10  to the retracted position is enabled. Thus, it can be reliably guaranteed that the connector housings  10 ,  11  are in the properly connected state when a rotational operation is performed. 
     Further, after the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected properly, the connector housing  10  having reached the retracted position is movable integrally with the mating connector housing  11  according to a movement of the side of the mating connector housing  11  without being held by the mounting member  16 . Thus, when the side of the mating connector housing  11  rotates according to a rotational movement of the solenoid  80 , the connector housing  10  is rotatable together with the mating connector housing  11 . 
     Further, since the mounting member  16  includes the resiliently holding portion  28  for holding the connector housing  10  displaceably in the lateral direction and the circumferential direction at the temporary holding position, the connector housing  10  is center-aligned by the resiliently holding portion  28  at the temporary holding position and is concentrically connectable to the mating connector housing  11 . 
       FIGS. 8 to 14  show a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in a configuration for displacing a connector housing  10 A to a retracted position. Specifically, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the form of each of a mating connector housing  11 A, a front side of a mounting member  16 A and a front side of the connector housing  11 A. Of course, since a basic structure of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, structures similar to or equivalent to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs and not repeatedly described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a claw-like pressing portion  46  is provided on a front end part of the mating connector housing  11 A and projects forward and up from the front end of a receptacle  13 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the front surface of the pressing portion  46  is inclined and tapered toward a rear side. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the pressing portion  46  can press a later-described releasing portion  47  of the mounting member  16 A when both connector housings  10 A,  11 A are connected properly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the mounting member  16 A includes an arm  48  cantilevered forward from a laterally central part of the upper end of a rising portion  18  and two resilient pieces  49  projecting down from both left and right sides of the lower end of the rising portion  18  and then projecting forward. The mounting member  16 A of the second embodiment has nothing equivalent to the contact stop walls  21  of the first embodiment. Note that, in the following description, the arm  48  and the resilient pieces  49  collectively are called a resiliently holding portion  28 A. 
     The resilient pieces  49  are inclined down from a laterally central part toward opposite sides in a front view and, specifically, are formed to extend along concentric arc virtual lines centered on an axial center of a solenoid  80  when the connector housings  10 A,  11 A are connected (see  FIG. 14 ). The lower surfaces (outer surfaces) of the resilient pieces  49  are arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the solenoid  80  when the connector housings  10 A,  11 A are connected properly. As shown in  FIG. 8 , convexly spherical projections  26 A are provided to project on the upper surfaces (inner surfaces) of both resilient pieces  49 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , the arm  48  is in the form of a strip plate whose front end is located in front of the front ends of the resilient pieces  49 , and is deflectable and deformable in the vertical direction with the upper end of the rising portion  18  as a fulcrum. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a step  50  is provided at an intermediate position of the arm  48  in the front-rear direction and is recessed down into a substantially U shape in a side view. A claw-like contact stop  51  projects on the lower surface (inner surface) of the step  50 . The front surface of the contact stop  51  is arranged along the vertical direction. Further, the releasing portion  47  projects farther forward than the contact stop  51  on the lower surface of the front end of the arm  48 . The front surface of the releasing portion  47  is inclined rearwardly in a curved manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a holding space  27 A is formed to be open between the resilient pieces  49  and the arm  48  and between the contact stop  51  and the releasing portion  47  in the front-rear direction. The connector housing  10 A resiliently supported by the resilient pieces  49  and the arm  48  is accommodated displaceably into the holding space  27 A. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a free space  32 A communicating with the holding space  27 A is open between the resilient pieces  49  and the arm  48  and between the contact stop  51  and the rising portion  18  in the front-rear direction. Later-described engaging wings  52  of the connector housing  10 A are arranged freely displaceably in the free space  32 A in a free state where the engaging wings  52  are not engaged with the mounting member  16 A. 
     Next, the connector housing  10 A is described, centering on points of difference from the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a lock arm  35 A is supported on both sides by being coupled to both front and rear ends of a housing body  33 . A stage  53  is raised slightly on a rear end part of the housing body  33 . The rear end of the lock arm  35 A is coupled integrally to this stage  53 . An interfering portion  54  projects on the upper surface of the stage  53 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the rear surface of the interfering portion  54  is arranged along the vertical direction. A displacement of the connector housing  10 A to the retracted position is restricted by stopping the rear surface of the interfering portion  54  in contact with the front surface of the contact stop  51  in the holding space  27 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , two engaging wings  52  are provided on a rear end side of the housing body  33  and protrude toward opposite sides from the lower ends of both left and right side surfaces. The engaging wings  52  are in the form of plates inclined down toward both left and right sides and are substantially arcuately arranged in a curved manner (see  FIG. 14 ). The lower surfaces (outer surfaces) of the engaging wings  52  are slidable on the upper surfaces (inner surfaces) of the resilient pieces  49  in the lateral direction (including a circumferential direction) and include unillustrated concavely spherical recesses into which the projections  26 A of the resilient pieces  49  are fittable. Further, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the connector housing  10 A is provided with reinforcing walls  55  substantially triangular in a front view from the engaging wing portions  52  to side surfaces of the housing body  33 . 
     Next, functions and effects of the second embodiment are described. 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the connector housing  10 A is mounted into the holding space  27 A of the mounting member  16 A from the front. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a rear end part of the connector housing  10 A is inserted into the holding space  27 A, the rear surface of the interfering portion  54  comes into surface contact with the front surface of the contact stop  51  to restrict a rearward movement of the connector housing  10 A and the projections  26 A of the resilient pieces  49  are fit into the recesses of the engaging wins  52 . Thus, the connector housing  10 A is supported in a state substantially positioned by the resiliently holding portion  28 A at the temporary holding position. Here, a contact state between the interfering portion  54  and the contact stop  51  is maintained until the connector housings  10 ,  11  are connected properly. 
     Subsequently, a valve portion  82  of the solenoid  80  is inserted into a solenoid mounting portion  91 . At the same time as or immediately after the connector housings  10 A,  11 A are connected properly in the process of inserting the valve portion  82  of the solenoid  80  into the solenoid mounting portion  91  as shown in  FIG. 12 , the pressing portion  46  slides on the front surface of the releasing portion  47  and the arm  48  is lifted resiliently up. In this way, the contact stop  51  moves up together with the arm  48  and is displaced in a direction away from the interfering portion  54  and, finally, the contact stop state between the contact stop  51  and the interfering portion  54  is released. As a result, a rearward movement of the connector housing  10 A to the retracted position is allowed. 
     Further, by continuing an operation of inserting the valve portion  82  of the solenoid  80  into the solenoid mounting portion  91  without interruption when the connector housings  10 A,  11 A are connected properly, a rear part of the connector housing  10 A is moved into the free space  32 A and the connector housing  10 A can reach the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Since locking between the engaging wings  52  and the resilient pieces  49  and between the interfering portion  54  and the contact stop  51  is released in the free space  32 A, the connector housing  10 A can freely move according to a movement of the side of the mating connector housing  11 A. Thus, in fixing the solenoid  80  to a valve body  90 , the connector housing  10 A can be displaced in the circumferential direction (arrow direction X of  FIG. 14 ) and a fixing operation of the solenoid  80  can be performed without any trouble. This point holds true also in the first embodiment. 
     According to the second embodiment, the connector housing  10 A is connected properly to the mating connector housing  11 A with the interfering portion  54  thereof stopped in contact with the contact stop  51  at the temporary holding position and, along with that, the releasing portion  47  is pressed by the pressing portion  46  of the mating connector housing  11 A to incline the arm  48 , thereby releasing the contact stop state between the contact stop  51  and the interfering portion  54  and making a displacement of the connector housing  10 A to the retracted position possible. Thus, it can be guaranteed that the both connector housings  10 A,  11 A are in the properly connected state and the connector housing  10 A can be displaced smoothly from the temporary holding position to the retracted position in linkage with a connecting operation of the connector housings  10 A,  11 A (also a mounting operation of the solenoid  80 ). 
     Other embodiments are briefly described below. 
     Although the connector housing is held displaceably in the lateral direction at the temporary holding position by the resiliently holding portion in the case of the first and second embodiments, the connector housing may be held at the temporary holding position with displacements restricted unless necessary. 
     Although a rear part of the free space is partitioned by the rising portion in the case of the first and second embodiments, the rising portion may be omitted and the free space may be open rearward if possible. 
     The projections are provided on the side of the resiliently holding portion and the recesses are provided on the side of the connector housing in the case of the first and second embodiments. Contrary to this, the recesses may be provided on the side of the resiliently holding portion and the projections may be provided on the side of the connector housing. 
     The present invention is also applicable in the case of causing a connector housing to follow an operation of a device or component other than solenoids. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10 ,  10 A . . . connector housing 
           11 ,  11 A . . . mating connector housing 
           16 ,  16 A . . . mounting member 
           21  . . . contact stop 
           27 ,  27 A . . . holding space 
           28 ,  28 A . . . resiliently holding portion 
           32 ,  32 A . . . free space 
           37  . . . engaging portion 
           47  . . . releasing portion 
           48  . . . arm 
           51  . . . contact stop 
           80  . . . solenoid