Patent Publication Number: US-11050182-B2

Title: Connector with a locking retainer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/032329 filed on Aug. 31, 2018, and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-168022 filed on Aug. 31, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a connector. 
     Patent Literature 1 describes a side spacer to be attached laterally to a housing body of a connector. The side spacer is constituted by a plate-like outer member, and a branch plate to be inserted into a terminal receiving chamber from a side portion of the housing body. The outer member includes a side plate, an upper plate and a lower plate with which the housing body is covered when the side spacer is attached to the housing body. The branch plate is provided with a terminal temporary locking lance and a terminal formal locking portion. When a female terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber of the housing body in a state where the side spacer is temporarily locked to the housing body, the female terminal is temporarily locked to the terminal temporary locking lance of the side spacer. After that, when the side spacer is formally locked to the housing body, the female terminal is formally locked to the terminal formal locking portion of the side spacer. Incidentally, the same literature includes a drawing illustrating a state where an upper plate and a lower plate of the housing body defining the upper and lower sides of the terminal receiving chamber have been covered with the upper plate and the lower plate of the outer member of the side spacer from above and below. 
     As for details of the above protector, refer to Patent Literature 1, JP-A-2003-123892. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the connector according to Patent Literature 1, the female terminal and the branch plate of the side spacer overlap each other vertically in the terminal receiving chamber of the housing body, and the upper plate and the lower plate of the housing body defining the upper and lower sides of the terminal receiving chamber are covered with the upper plate and the lower plate of the outer member of the side spacer from above and below. In this manner, a plurality of components overlap each other vertically in the aforementioned connector. It is therefore difficult to miniaturize the connector in the height direction. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can be miniaturized. 
     Embodiments of a connector according to the present invention provide the following item (1) to (3). 
     (1) A connector comprising: 
     a housing having a terminal receiving chamber having an opening on one or both of opposite sides in a preset direction crossing an insertion direction of a connection terminal; and 
     a side retainer having a pair of opposed plate portions disposed in positions to sandwich the housing from the opposite sides in the preset direction, the side retainer being attached laterally to the housing and movably supported on the housing to move between a temporary locking position to temporarily lock the connection terminal and a formal locking position to formally lock the connection terminal, 
     one or both of the opposed plate portions of the side retainer covering one or both of the opposite sides of the terminal receiving chamber upon the side retainer being at the formal locking position, 
     the side retainer including a front plate portion disposed on a front side of the housing in the insertion direction to connect front end portions of the pair of the opposed plate portions to each other. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, relating to the item (1), of the opposed plate portions of the side retainer, one on the one side or both on the opposite sides in the predetermined direction close the terminal receiving chamber on the one side or the opposite sides at the formal locking position. Accordingly, of plates of the housing, one on the one side or two on the opposite sides can be removed, and, of the opposite plate portions of the side retainer, one on the one side or both on the opposite sides can be disposed at the positions from which the plates of the housing have been removed. It is therefore possible to miniaturize the connector in the aforementioned predetermined direction in comparison with a case where a side retainer is attached to a housing which closes a terminal receiving chamber on the opposite sides in the predetermined direction. 
     (2) The connector according to the item (1), wherein 
     the opposed plate portion of the side retainer covering the terminal receiving chamber at the formal locking position includes a temporary locking portion to temporarily lock the connection terminal in the terminal receiving chamber at the temporary locking position and a formal locking portion to formally lock the connection terminal in the terminal receiving chamber at the formal locking position, 
     the housing includes a rear locking portion to lock at least a rear end portion of the opposed plate portion of the side retainer at the temporary locking position to regulate the rear end portion of the opposed plate portion from moving outward in the preset direction, 
     the opposed plate portion at the temporary locking position is pressed by the connection terminal through the temporary locking portion and bent outward in the preset direction to allow insertion of the connection terminal when the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, relating to the item (2), of the opposed plate portions of the side retainer, the opposed plate portion closing the terminal receiving chamber at the formal locking position (hereinafter referred to as a closing opposed plate portion) includes a temporary locking portion that temporarily locks the connection terminal, and a formal locking portion that formally locks the connection terminal. In a state where the side retainer is set at the temporary locking position, the rear end portion of the closing opposed plate portion is locked to the rear locking portion of the housing so as to be regulated from moving outward in the predetermined direction, while the front end portion of the closing opposed plate portion is supported on the housing through the front plate portion and the opposed plate portion on the opposite side so as to be regulated from moving outward in the predetermined direction. In this manner, in the state where the side retainer is set at the temporary locking position, the closing opposed plate portion is supported on the front end side and on the rear end side, so that the closing opposed plate portion can be bent suitably outward in the predetermined direction when the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber. Thus, the connection terminal can be inserted even if the temporary locking portion of the closing opposed plate portion is not bent largely. It is therefore possible to miniaturize the connector in the front/rear direction without providing a cantilever-like temporary locking portion that can be bent long and largely in the front/rear direction. 
     (3) The connector according to the item (2), wherein 
     the housing includes a front locking portion to lock at least the front end portion of the opposed plate portion at the temporary locking position to regulate the front end portion of the opposed plate portion from moving outward in the preset direction. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, relating to the item (3), in the state where the side retainer is set at the temporary locking position, the front end portion of the closing opposed plate portion is locked to the front locking portion of the housing so as to be regulated from moving outward in the predetermined direction. Accordingly, when the closing opposed plate portion is bent, influence thereof on the opposed plate portion on the opposite side through the front plate portion can be suppressed. Thus, elastic deformation in the opposed plate portions of the side retainer on the opposite sides in the predetermined direction can be controlled individually. 
     According to the present invention, a connector can be miniaturized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a female connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an external perspective view of the female connector. 
         FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of a CPA formal locking state. 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinally sectional view before fitting in the connector. 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinally sectional view of the CPA formal locking state. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a front region of an inner housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a side retainer, 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are longitudinally sectional view of the front region of the inner housing and the side retainer,  FIG. 8A  showing a formal locking position;  FIG. 8B  showing a temporary locking position. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of  FIGS. 8A and 8B  viewed from the arrow direction of IX-IX. 
         FIG. 10  is a longitudinally sectional view of a main portion of a female connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of a connector for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a male connector  1  and a female connector  10  according to the embodiment;  FIG. 2  is an external perspective view of the female connector  10  in which a CPA  12 , a seal member  13  and a side retainer  14  have been attached to a female housing  11 ;  FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of a CPA formal locking state;  FIG. 4  is a longitudinally sectional view of a state before fitting in the connector; and  FIG. 5  is a longitudinally sectional view of the CPA formal locking state, Incidentally, the following description will be made on the assumption that the direction of fitting with a partner connector is a front side (front in the fitting direction); the direction of leaving the partner connector is a rear side (rear in the fitting direction); one side (lower in  FIG. 4 ) in the connector height direction (height direction) substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction is a lower side, and the other side (upper in  FIG. 4 ) is an upper side; and the connector width direction (width direction) substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction and the connector height direction is a left/right direction. 
     (Schematic Configuration of Female Connector  10 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the female connector (connector)  10  includes a cylindrical female housing (housing)  11 , female terminals (connection terminals)  15  received in the female housing  11  in the fitting direction, a cylindrical CPA (fitting assuring member)  12  attached to the external surface of the female housing  11  slid ably in the fitting direction, an annular seal member  13  attached to the female housing  11 , and a side retainer  14  attached to the female housing  11 . The female connector  10  is a connector which can be fitted to the male connector  1 . In a state where the female connector  10  and the male connector  1  have been fitted to each other, the female terminals  15  received in the female housing  11  are electrically connected to male terminals  3  received in a male housing  2  of the male connector  1 . In the embodiment, a pair of female terminals  15  are provided in the female connector  10 , a pair of male terminals  3  are provided in the male connector  1 , and the pair of female terminals  15  and the pair of male terminals  3  are connected to each other respectively. 
     (Male Housing  2 ) 
     The male housing  2  is made of synthetic resin. The male housing  2  is connected directly to an apparatus wall of a not-shown electric apparatus which is, for example, mounted on a vehicle or the like. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the male housing  2  has a proximal end portion  4  corresponding to the apparatus wall, and a cylindrical hood portion  5  extending in the fitting direction from the proximal end portion  4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a bottomed space  6  having an inner circumferential surface which is axially continuous to the inner circumferential surface of the hood portion  5  is formed in the proximal end portion  4 . The tab-like male terminals  3  protruding in the fitting direction are fixed on the back side of the space  6 . In the upper surface of the outer circumference of the hood portion  5 , an upper locking protrusion  7  is provided to protrude. In the lower surface of the outer circumference of the hood portion  5 , a lower locking protrusion  8  is provided to protrude. In  FIG. 5 , the male terminals  3  are not shown. 
     (Female Terminal  15 ) 
     Each female terminal  15  integrally has an electric contact portion  15   a  on the distal end side, a neck portion  15   b  at the rear of the electric contact portion  15   a , and a calking portion  15   c  at the rear of the neck portion  15   b . The calking portion  15   c  is connected to an electric wire  9 . The electric contact portion  15   a  has a temporary locking protrusion  15   d  (see  FIG. 4 ) protruding downward. The electric contact portion  15   a  is formed cylindrically so that the tab-like male terminal  3  can be inserted thereto. The neck portion  15   b  is formed to be narrower than the electric contact portion  15   a.    
     (Female Housing  11 ) 
     The female housing  11  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the female housing  11  is formed by a cylindrical inner housing  16  and a cylindrical outer housing  17  which is put to surround an outer circumferential surface of the inner housing  16  at a distance from the outer circumferential surface. The hood portion  5  of the male housing  2  is inserted to a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the inner housing  16  and the inner circumferential surface of the outer housing  17 . The front end side of the inner housing  16  is formed to project more frontward than the front end face of the outer housing  17 . That is, the inner housing  16  includes a rear region  19  extending in the front/rear direction inside the outer housing  17 , and an angularly cylindrical front region  20  projecting more frontward than the outer housing  17 . The side retainer  14  is attached to the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . 
     The rear region  19  of the inner housing  16  has a large diameter portion  19   a , and a small diameter portion  19   b  on the front end side. The large diameter portion  19   a  is formed to be slightly smaller than the space  6  of the male housing  2 . The small diameter portion  19   b  is formed to be smaller than the large diameter portion  19   a . The seal member  13  is attached to the cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion  19   b.    
     The front region  20  of the inner housing  16  to which the side retainer  14  has been attached is inserted into the space  6  of the male housing  2 . A female terminal receiving chamber (terminal receiving chamber)  18  to which the two female terminals  15  can be inserted from the rear is provided in the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . The female terminal receiving chamber  18  communicates with a terminal insertion port  27  at the rear end of the rear region  19  of the inner housing  16 . The electric contact portions  15   a  and parts (front end portions) of the neck portions  15   b  of the female terminals  15  are received in the female terminal receiving chamber  18  of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  has a housing upper plate portion  21 , left and right housing side plate portions  22  and  23  (see  FIG. 1 ), a housing front plate portion  24 , and a rear locking convex portion (rear locking portion)  25 . The front region  20  is formed into an angular cylinder. The housing upper plate portion  21  has a partition wall  28  (see  FIG. 8 ) which projects downward from the lower surface of the housing upper plate portion  21  so as to partition the female terminal receiving chamber  18  to left and right. The housing upper plate portion  21  defines the upper side of the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . That is, the female terminal receiving chamber  18  is partitioned into two left and right female terminal receiving chambers by the partition wall  28  of the housing upper plate portion  21 . The left and right housing side plate portions  22  and  23  define the left and right opposite sides of the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . The housing front plate portion  24  has a female terminal support portion  24   a  projecting rearward along the lower edge portion of the housing front plate portion  24 . The housing front plate portion  24  defines the front side of the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . The female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  supports, from below, the front end portions of the female terminals  15  inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . A pair of left and right male terminal insertion ports  26  are formed in the housing front plate portion  24  so as to penetrate the housing front plate portion  24  in the front/rear direction. The male terminals  3  are inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  through the left and right male terminal insertion ports  26 , from the front. The rear locking convex portion  25  projects frontward from the front lower end of the rear region  19  of the inner housing  16  and extends all over the width of the inner housing  16 . The female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  and the rear locking convex portion  25  are disposed to be separated at a large distance from each other in the front/rear direction. The lower surface of the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  and the lower surface of the rear locking convex portion  25  are disposed substantially at the same height position so as to constitute a lower surface  37  (see  FIG. 9 ) of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . Lower edges  22   a  and  23   a  of the left and right housing side plate portions  22  and  23  are disposed on the upper side from the lower surface  37  of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . A housing opening  29  which opens the female terminal receiving chamber  18  downward is formed among the rear end of the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24 , the front end of the rear locking convex portion  25 , and the lower edges  22   a  and  23   a  of the left and right housing side plate portions  22  and  23 . That is, the female housing  11  defines the female terminal receiving chamber  18  which is opened on the lower side (one side, outer side) in the upper/lower direction (predetermined direction) crossing the insertion direction (from the rear side toward the front side in the embodiment) of the female terminals  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a locking groove group  45  including a formal locking groove  43  and a temporary locking groove  44  extending in parallel with a partition  42  therebetween is provided in the upper surface of the housing upper plate portion  21  of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . The partition  42 , the formal locking groove  43  and the temporary locking groove  44  extend like straight lines in the fitting direction. The formal locking groove  43  is defined between a side wall upper end portion  46  of the housing upper plate portion  21  protruding from the upper surface of the housing upper plate portion  21  and the partition  42 . The temporary locking groove  44  is defined between a groove forming protrusion  47  protruding from the upper surface of the housing upper plate portion  21  and the partition  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a housing arm  30  which can be elastically deformed is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the female housing  11 . The housing arm  30  is formed like a gate. The housing arm  30  has a pair of left and right elastic arm pieces  31  and a locking piece  32 . Each of the elastic arm pieces  31  is supported like a cantilever on the outer circumferential surface of the female housing  11  (the large diameter portion  19   a  of the rear region  19  of the inner housing  16 ) so as to extend toward the male housing  2  and substantially in parallel to the outer circumferential surface of the inner housing  16 . The locking piece  32  bridges front end portions of the elastic arm pieces  31  to each other in the width direction. When the two housings  2  and  11  are fitted to each other, the locking piece  32  is locked to the upper locking protrusion  7  of the male housing  2 . 
     The outer housing  17  has a female housing bridge  33  which rises up from the opposite left and right ends of a front end upper portion of the outer housing  17 , crosses the front end upper portion in the width direction, and covers the locking piece  32  of the housing arm  30  from the outside (upper). The female housing bridge  33  is disposed in a position where the locking piece  32  is allowed to be elastically deformed by the upper locking protrusion  7  of the male housing  2 , and near and outside (upper side) the movable region of the locking piece  32 . 
     (Side Retainer  14 ) 
     The side retainer  14  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , the side retainer  14  has a retainer body  34  which is opened on one side (lateral side) in the width direction, and a retainer front plate portion (front plate portion)  35  which covers the front end of the retainer body  34 . The side retainer  14  is attached to the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  from the width direction (attachment direction). The side retainer  14  can be set at a formal locking position (see  FIG. 8A ) where the side retainer  14  is perfectly attached to the front end region  20  of the inner housing  16 , and a temporary locking position (see  FIG. 8B ) closer than the formal locking position in the attachment direction. Two male terminal insertion ports  36  are formed in the retainer front plate portion  35 . In a state where the side retainer  14  is set at the formal locking position (regular position), the retainer front plate portion  35  is positioned in front of the housing front plate portion  24  of the inner housing  16  so as to approach or touch the housing front plate portion  24 . Thus, the male terminal insertion ports  36  communicate with the male terminal insertion ports  26  of the inner housing  16 . The male terminals  3  are inserted from the male terminal insertion ports  26  and  36  and connected to the electric contact portions  15   a  of the female terminals  15  in the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . 
     The retainer body  34  has a retainer upper plate portion (opposed plate portion)  38 , a retainer lower plate portion (opposed plate portion, closing opposed plate portion)  39  and a retainer curved plate portion  40  integrally. The retainer upper plate portion  38  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  are separated vertically so as to be opposed to each other. The retainer curved plate portion  40  connects a side edge of the retainer upper plate portion  38  and a side edge of the retainer lower plate portion  39  continuously. In the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the formal locking position, the retainer upper plate portion  38  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  are positioned to hold the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  from opposite sides in the upper/lower direction. Incidentally, in the embodiment, although the retainer curved plate portion  40  is provided as a side plate portion connecting the side edge of the retainer upper plate portion  38  and the side edge of the retainer lower plate portion  39  continuously, a side plate portion which is not curved may be provided. 
     A retainer protrusion  41  extending like a straight line in the fitting direction is provided to protrude downward at an edge of the retainer upper plate portion  38  on the opening (opening on the opposite side of the retainer curved plate portion  40 ) side. A notch  63  is formed at a rear end portion of the retainer protrusion  41  so that a jig (not shown) can be inserted thereto. The jig is used when the side retainer  14  is moved from the formal locking position to the temporary locking position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 , the retainer lower plate portion  39  has a female terminal support portion  60  on the front end side, two temporary locking claws (temporary locking portions)  48  in an intermediate portion, and two formal locking pieces (formal locking portions)  49  on the rear end side. 
     In the state where the side retainer  14  is mounted at the formal locking position on the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 , the female terminal support portion  60  is disposed at the rear of the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  so that the front face of the female terminal support portion  60  extends in the width direction while facing and approaching or touching the rear face of the female terminal support portion  24   a . The upper face of the female terminal support portion  60  is disposed substantially on the same height position as the upper face of the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24 . A space  61  having dimensions in which the temporary locking protrusions  15   d  of the female terminals  15  can be disposed is defined at the rear of the female terminal support portion  60 . The female terminal support portion  60  supports, from below, the front end portions of the electric contact portions  15   a  of the female terminals  15  received in the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . 
     The temporary locking claws  48  are cantilever-like claws which are disposed substantially in the intermediate portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  in the front/rear direction so as to project tilting frontward and upward from the upper surface of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . In the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position, the temporary locking claws  48  temporarily lock the temporary locking protrusions  15   d  of the female terminals  15 . A space  62  for allowing the temporary locking claws  48  to be flexurally deformed downward is defined under the temporary locking claws  48 . The space  62  under the temporary locking claws  48  communicates with a lower portion of the space  61  at the rear of the female terminal support portion  60  from the rear side thereof. In the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position, the temporary locking claws  48  are disposed under the female terminal receiving chamber  18  on the opposite sides of the partition wall  28  (see  FIG. 8 ) of the housing upper plate portion  21 . 
     The formal locking pieces  49  are structures projecting upward from the upper face of the retainer lower plate portion  39  and disposed in the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  so as to formally lock step parts between the electric contact portions  15   a  and the neck portions  15   b  of the female terminals  15  in the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the formal locking position. In the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the formal locking position, the formal locking pieces  49  are disposed under the female terminal receiving chamber  18  on the opposite sides of the partition wall  28  (see  FIG. 8 ) of the housing upper plate portion  21 . That is, the formal locking pieces  49  and the temporary locking claws  48  are disposed in positions different from each other in the width direction and in the front/rear direction. Notch portions  51  notched frontward and extending in the width direction are formed respectively in the lower end portions on rear face  49   a  sides of the two formal locking pieces  49 . The two notch portions  51  of the formal locking pieces  49  and the upper face of the retainer lower plate portion  39  form and define rear slide rails  59  recessed frontward and extending in the width direction. The rear slide rails  59  are formed to be large enough to allow the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16  to be inserted thereto. 
     When the side retainer  14  is attached to the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 , an opening at a side of the side retainer  14  is slightly expanded, and the slide rails  59  in the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  are engaged with the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16 , The front region  20  of the inner housing  16  is inserted into the side retainer  14  through the opening so as to move the side retainer  14  in the width direction (attachment direction), When the side retainer  14  is moved in the attachment direction, the retainer protrusion  41  enters the temporary locking groove  44  to be thereby locked (in the temporary locking position) as shown in  FIG. 8B , When the side retainer  14  is further moved in the attachment direction, the retainer protrusion  41  enters the formal locking groove  43  to be thereby locked (in the formal locking position) as shown in  FIG. 8A . Since the rear locking convex portion  25  extends all over the width of the inner housing  16 , the rear slide rails  59  of the side retainer  14  can be engaged with the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16  immediately after the side retainer  14  begins to be attached. After that, the rear slide rails  59  keep the engaged state until the retainer protrusion  41  reaches the formal locking position. The side retainer  14  slides and moves in the width direction in the state where vertical movement of the rear end portion of the side retainer  14  is regulated by the engagement of the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16  with the rear slide rails  59 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a side face of the groove forming protrusion  47  of the housing upper plate portion  21  outside the groove is a first slope  50  which is gentle. When the side retainer  14  is pushed in the attachment direction, the retainer protrusion  41  slides on the first slope  50  comparatively easily so that the side retainer  14  is bent and gets over the groove forming protrusion  47 . Thus, the side retainer  14  is mounted at the temporary locking position. A side face of the partition  42  on the temporary locking groove  44  side is a second slope  52  which is slightly steeper than the first slope  50 . When the side retainer  14  is pushed more strongly than when it is mounted at the temporary locking position, the retainer protrusion  41  slides on the second slope  52  so that the side retainer  14  is bent and gets over the partition  42 . Thus, the side retainer  14  moves from the temporary locking position to the formal locking position. 
     On the other hand, a side face of the groove forming protrusion  47  of the housing upper plate portion  21  on the temporary locking groove  44  side and a side face of the partition  42  on the formal locking groove  43  side are vertical faces  53  and  54 . Even if the side retainer  14  is pulled simply in a removal direction (an opposite direction to the attachment direction), the side retainer  14  cannot be moved from the formal locking position to the temporary locking position or removed from the temporary locking position easily. 
     The partition  42  is shorter than the retainer protrusion  41 . On the front end side of the locking groove group  45 , the partition  42  is partially absent so that the formal locking groove  43  and the temporary locking groove  44  have the same groove depth and communicate with each other. Alternatively, the partition  42  on the front end side of the locking groove group  45  may be formed to be lower in height than any other region (a central portion and a rear end portion). 
     (CPA  12 ) 
     The CPA  12  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the CPA  12  is spread over the female housing  11  from the rear and attached thereto slidably in the fitting direction. A CPA upper arm  55  like a cantilever is formed in the CPA  12  so as to extend toward the male housing  2 . An upper locking claw  56  is formed in a distal end portion of the CPA upper arm  55  so as to extend inward substantially in the vertical direction. The upper locking claw  56  swings upward (outward) with a rear end portion of the CPA upper arm  55  as a fulcrum so that the CPA upper arm  55  can be elastically deformed (flexurally deformed). In the embodiment, when the CPA  12  is attached to the female housing  11 , the upper locking claw  56  of the CPA upper arm  55  abuts against a rear end portion of the locking piece  32  of the housing arm  30  so as to press the rear end portion of the locking piece  32  in the fitting direction (frontward) when the two housings  2  and  11  are fitted to each other. 
     The CPA  12  has a CPA lower arm  57  which is supported like a cantilever in a position facing the CPA upper arm  55  (a position away therefrom by about 180 degrees), The CPA lower arm  57  extends toward the male housing  2 . A lower locking claw  58  extending toward the inside of the CPA  12  is formed in a distal end portion of the CPA lower arm  57 , In the same manner as the CPA upper arm  55 , the lower locking claw  58  swings downward (outward) with a rear end portion of the CPA lower arm  57  as a fulcrum so that the CPA lower arm  57  can be elastically deformed (flexurally deformed). 
     (Attachment Procedure of Female Terminals  15 ) 
     Next, the attachment procedure of the female terminals  15  according to the embodiment will be described. 
     To attach the female terminals  15  into the female housing  11 , first, as shown in  FIG. 8B  and  FIG. 9 , the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position on the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . In the temporary locking position, the temporary locking claws  48  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  are disposed under the female terminal receiving chamber  18  on the opposite sides of the partition wall  28  of the housing upper plate portion  21 . In the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position, the first female terminal  15  is inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  through the terminal insertion port  27  at the rear end of the rear region  19  of the inner housing  16 . When the electric contact portion  15   a  of the female terminal  15  is inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 , the temporary locking protrusion  15   d  projecting downward from the electric contact portion  15   a  abuts against the temporary locking claw  48  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  from the rear so as to press the temporary locking claw  48  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  downward. The front end side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is supported on the housing upper plate portion  21  through the retainer front plate portion  35  and the retainer upper plate portion  38  so as to be regulated from moving downward, while the rear end side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is regulated from moving downward by the engagement between the rear slide rails  59  and the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16 . Accordingly, when the temporary locking protrusion  15   d  of the female terminal  15  presses the temporary locking claw  48  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  downward, the intermediate portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  in the front/rear direction is bent downward so as to allow frontward movement (insertion) of the female terminal  15 . The female terminal  15  moves frontward and the distal end of the female terminal  15  abuts against the housing front plate portion  24 . When the temporary locking protrusion  15   d  of the female terminal  15  gets frontward over the temporary locking claw  48  of the retainer lower plate portion  39 , the retainer lower plate portion  39  which has been bent is restored so that the temporary locking claw  48  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is disposed behind the temporary locking protrusion  15   d  of the female terminal  15  to thereby temporarily lock the first female terminal  15  and regulate rearward movement of the female terminal  15 . In the state where the first female terminal  15  has been temporarily locked, the second female terminal  15  is inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  and temporarily locked in the same manner as the first female terminal  15 . Since the second female terminal  15  is inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  in the state where the first female terminal  15  has been temporarily locked, the first female terminal  15  can be prevented from dropping off during the insertion of the second female terminal  15 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the side retainer  14  is moved from the temporary locking position to the formal locking position relatively to the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 . When the side retainer  14  is moved from the temporary locking position to the formal locking position, the formal locking pieces  49  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  move in the width direction toward the rear sides (the step parts with the neck portions  15   b ) of the electric contact portions  15   a  of the two female terminals  15 . That is; in the formal locking position, the formal locking pieces  49  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  are disposed at the rears of the rear faces of the electric contact portions  15   a  of the two female terminals  15  so as to formally lock the two female terminals  15  and regulate the two female terminals  15  from moving rearward. Thus, the female terminals  15  are attached into the female housing  11 . 
     (Side Retainer  14  at Formal Locking Position) 
     Next, the relationship between the side retainer  14  and the inner housing  16  at the formal locking position will be described. Incidentally, although  FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the temporary locking position, the side retainer  14  has the same height-direction position relative to the inner housing  16  in the primary locking position. Therefore, the description will be made also with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 9 , the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  at the formal locking position closes the housing opening  29  under the female terminal receiving chamber  18  of the inner housing  16 , from below. The female terminal support portion  60 , the temporary locking claws  48  and the formal locking pieces  49  on the upper surface side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at the formal locking position are disposed on the upper side from the lower surface  37  of the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  so as to project on the female terminal receiving chamber  18  side from the housing opening  29 , The upper surface of the female terminal support portion  60  is disposed under the lower surfaces of the electric contact portions  15   a  of the female terminals  15  so as to approach or touch the lower surfaces of the electric contact portions  15   a . The upper ends of the temporary locking claws  48  are disposed slightly above the lower surfaces of the electric contact portions  15   a , The upper ends of the formal locking pieces  49  are disposed above the lower surfaces of the electric contact portions  15   a  and disposed under and near the lower surfaces of the neck portions  15   b.    
     (Fitting Procedure of Female Connector  10 ) 
     Next, the fitting procedure of the female connector  10  according to the embodiment will be described. The following description will be made along the operation of the female connector  10  when the female housing  11  is made close to the male housing  2  of the male connector  1  connected directly to an apparatus wall of an electric apparatus by way of example. 
     First, the female terminals  15  are attached to the female housing  11  as described above. Next, when the female housing  11  is adjusted correspondingly to the position of the male housing  2  and the CPA  12  is pushed in the fitting direction (frontward), the CPA upper arm  55  abuts against the locking piece  32  so that the female housing  11  moves frontward together with the CPA  12 . Thus, the inner housing  16  of the female housing  11  is inserted into the hood portion  5  of the male housing  2 , and the distal end portions of the male terminals  3  are inserted into the male terminal insertion ports  36  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     When the CPA  12  is further pushed in the fitting direction, the locking piece  32  of the housing arm  30  gets over the upper locking protrusion  7  of the hood portion  5  of the male housing  2  so as to be locked to the upper locking protrusion  7 . Thus, the two housings  2  and  11  are brought into a state (fitting state) where they are locked to each other. At the time when the fitting is thus completed, the upper locking claw  56  of the CPA upper arm  55  still stays on the slope of the upper locking protrusion  7 , and the lower locking claw  58  of the CPA lower arm  57  also stays on the slope of the lower locking protrusion  8 . Accordingly, the CPA  12  continuingly suffers reaction from the slope of the upper locking protrusion  7  due to the elastic deformation of the upper locking claw  56  and reaction from the slope of the lower locking protrusion  8  due to the elastic deformation of the lower locking claw  58 . 
     Successively, the upper locking claw  56  of the CPA upper arm  55  moves in the fitting direction, and gets over the locking piece  32  locked to the upper locking protrusion  7 . After that, the upper locking claw  56  is locked to the upper locking protrusion  7  while holding the locking piece  32  therebetween (CPA formal locked). Thus, in the state where the CPA upper arm  55  is locked to the upper locking protrusion  7 , the two housings  2  and  11  are always locked. Therefore, the fitting between the two housings  2  and  11  is assured by the fitting of the CPA upper arm  55 . In addition, since the locking piece  32  is held between the upper locking protrusion  7  and the upper locking claw  56 , the female housing  11  is suppressed from dropping off. Incidentally, the lower locking claw  58  is locked to the lower locking protrusion  8  substantially at the same timing as the upper locking claw  56  is locked. 
     In this manner, according to the embodiment, the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  at the formal locking position closes the housing opening  29  under the female terminal receiving chamber  18  of the inner housing  16 , from below Therefore, the front region  20  of the female housing  11  can be constituted by the housing upper plate portion  21 , the left and right housing side plate portions  22  and  23  and the housing front plate portion  24  so as to remove a lower plate portion (for example, a housing lower plate portion) and dispose the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  therein. It is therefore possible to miniaturize the female connector  10  in the upper/lower direction (height direction) in comparison with a case where the side retainer  14  is attached to a female housing closing the female terminal receiving chamber  18  on the opposite sides in the upper/lower direction. 
     In addition, the front end side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is supported on the housing upper plate portion  21  through the retainer front plate portion  35  and the retainer upper plate portion  38  so as to be regulated from moving downward, while the rear end side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is regulated from moving downward by the engagement between the rear slide rails  59  and the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16 . In this manner, in the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position, the front end side and the rear end side of the retainer lower plate portion  39  are supported on the female housing  11  side so as to be regulated from moving downward. Accordingly, when the electric contact portions  15   a  of the female terminals  15  are inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18 , the intermediate portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  in the front/rear direction can be bent downward suitably. Thus, the female terminals  15  can be inserted without bending the cantilever-like temporary locking claws  48  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  downward largely. It is therefore unnecessary to form the cantilever-like temporary locking claws  48  to be long in the front/rear direction enough to be bent largely. Thus, the female connector  10  can be miniaturized in the front/rear direction. 
     Incidentally, although in the embodiment the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  opens the female terminal receiving chamber  18  downward (one side in a predetermined direction crossing the insertion direction of the female terminals  15 ), the direction to open the female terminal receiving chamber  18  is not limited thereto. For example, the female terminal receiving chamber  18  may be opened upward (one side) while the female terminal receiving chamber  18  is closed by the retainer upper plate portion  38 . Alternatively, the female terminal receiving chamber  18  may be opened on one side in the width direction (one side in the predetermined direction crossing the insertion direction of the female terminals  15 ). In this case, the side retainer is formed to include a pair of opposed plate portions opposed to each other in the width direction, so that the opposed plate portion on the one side in the width direction closes the one side of the female terminal receiving chamber  18 . 
     In addition, although in the embodiment the front region  20  of the inner housing  16  opens the female terminal receiving chamber  18  on one side (lower side in the embodiment) in a predetermined direction crossing the insertion direction of the female terminals  15 , the female terminal receiving chamber  18  may be opened on the opposite sides in the predetermined direction (the opposite sides in the upper/lower direction or the opposite sides in the width direction). In this case, the opposite sides of the female terminal receiving chamber  18  may be closed by a pair of opposed plate portions of a side retainer while, of the pair of opposed plate portions of the side retainer, at least one opposed plate portion is provided with a temporary locking portion and a formal locking portion. In addition, in this case, the inner housing  16  may have a rear locking portion for regulating rearward movement of a rear end portion of the opposed plate portion provided with the temporary locking portion and the formal locking portion. 
     In addition, although in the embodiment the rear slide rails  59  recessed frontward are provided in the retainer lower plate portion  39  and the rear locking convex portion  25  projecting frontward is provided in the inner housing  16  so as to regulate downward movement of the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at the temporary locking position, the rear slide rails  59  and the rear locking convex portion  25  do not have to be provided. 
     In addition, although in the embodiment the rear slide rails  59  recessed frontward are provided in the retainer lower plate portion  39  and the rear locking convex portion  25  projecting frontward is provided in the inner housing  16  so as to regulate downward movement of the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at the temporary locking position, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will go well if the inner housing  16  has a rear locking portion which is disposed under a predetermined region of the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at least at the temporary locking position so as to regulate downward movement of the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . For example, a rear locking convex portion projecting rearward may be provided in the retainer lower plate portion  39  while a rear slide rail (rear locking portion) recessed rearward is provided in the inner housing  16 . 
     In addition, although in the embodiment the rear locking convex portion  25  extending all over the width of the inner housing  16  is provided and the rear slide rails  59  of the side retainer  14  are arranged to be engaged therewith since the side retainer  14  begins to be attached and until the side retainer  14  reaches the formal locking position, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will go well if the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16  at least at the temporary locking position locks the rear slide rails  59  of the side retainer  14 . 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A female connector (connector)  70  in the embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment as to the shapes of the female terminal support portion  60  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  and the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  of the inner housing  16 . Incidentally, similar constituents to those in the first embodiment are referenced correspondingly, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the female connector (connector)  70  has a cylindrical female housing  11 , and a side retainer  14  attached to the female housing  11 . 
     The female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  of the inner housing  16  has a front slide rail (front locking portion)  71  recessed frontward from the rear surface thereof so as to extend in the width direction. The front slide rail  71  extends all over the width of the female terminal support portion  24   a.    
     The female terminal support portion  60  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  has a front locking convex portion  72  projecting frontward from the front surface thereof and extending in the width direction. The front locking convex portion  72  is disposed in a position corresponding to the front slide rail  71  of the housing front plate portion  24 . 
     When the side retainer  14  is attached to the front region  20  of the inner housing  16 , an opening at a side of the side retainer  14  is slightly expanded, and the rear slide rails  59  in the rear end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  are engaged with the rear locking convex portion  25  of the inner housing  16  while the front locking convex portion  72  of the front end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  is engaged with the front slide rail  71  of the housing front plate portion  24 . The front region  20  of the inner housing  16  is inserted into the side retainer  14  through the opening so as to move the side retainer  14  in the width direction (attachment direction). Since the front slide rail  71  extends all over the width of the female terminal support portion  24   a , the front locking convex portion  72  of the side retainer  14  can be engaged with the front slide rail  71  of the inner housing  16  as soon as the side retainer  14  begins to be attached. After that, the front locking convex portion  72  keeps the engagement until the side retainer  14  reaches the formal locking position. The front end portion of the side retainer  14  slides and moves in the width direction in the state where the movement thereof in the upper/lower direction is regulated by the engagement between the front locking convex portion  72  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  and the front slide rail  71  of the housing front plate portion  24 . 
     In this manner, according to the embodiment, in the state where the side retainer  14  is set at the temporary locking position, the front end portion of the side retainer  14  is regulated from moving in the upper/lower direction (particularly downward (one side, outer side)) by the engagement between the front locking convex portion  72  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  and the front slide rail  71  of the housing front plate portion  24 . Accordingly, when the female terminals  15  are inserted into the female terminal receiving chamber  18  so that the retainer lower plate portion  39  is bent downward, influence (input of force) on the retainer upper plate portion  38  through the retainer front plate portion  35  can be suppressed. Thus, elastic deformation in the retainer upper plate portion  38  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  of the side retainer  14  can be controlled individually. Therefore, plate thicknesses, shapes, etc. of the retainer upper plate portion  38  and the retainer lower plate portion  39  can be set easily. 
     Incidentally, in the embodiment, the front slide rail  71  is provided in the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24 , and the front locking convex portion  72  is provided in the female terminal support portion  60  of the retainer lower plate portion  39  so as to regulate downward movement of the front end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at the temporary locking position. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will go well if the housing front plate portion  24  has a front locking portion which is disposed under a predetermined region of the front end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39  at least at the temporary locking position so as to regulate downward movement of the front end portion of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . For example, a front locking convex portion (front locking portion) projecting rearward may be provided in the female terminal support portion  24   a  of the housing front plate portion  24  while a front slide rail recessed rearward is provided in the female terminal support portion  60  of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . 
     In addition, as described previously, the female terminal receiving chamber  18  may be opened on the opposite sides (on the opposite sides in the upper/lower direction or on the opposite sides in the width direction) in a predetermined direction (a direction crossing the insertion direction of the female terminals  15 ) while the opposite sides of the female terminal receiving chamber  18  in the predetermined direction are closed by a pair of opposed plate portions of a side retainer, and, of the pair of opposed plate portions of the side retainer, at least one opposed plate portion is provided with a temporary locking portion and a formal locking portion. In this case, the inner housing  16  may have a rear locking portion for regulating outward movement of a rear end portion of the opposed plate portion provided with the temporary locking portion and the formal locking portion, and a front locking portion for regulating outward movement of a front end portion of the same opposed plate portion. 
     In addition, in the embodiment, the front slide rail  71  is provided to extend all over the width of the female terminal support portion  24   a , and the front locking convex portion  72  of the side retainer  14  is arranged so that the front locking convex portion  72  can be engaged since the side retainer  14  begins to be attached and until the side retainer  14  reaches the formal locking position. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will go well if the front slide rail  71  of the female terminal support portion  24   a  locks the front locking convex portion  72  of the side retainer  14  at least at the temporary locking position. 
     Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but various modifications can be used within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but modifications, improvements, etc. can be made suitably. In addition thereto, materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, arrangement places, etc. of constituent elements in the aforementioned embodiments are not limited, but any materials, any shapes, any dimensions, any numbers, any arrangement places, etc. may be used as long as the present invention can be attained. 
     For example, in the aforementioned embodiments, the cantilever-like temporary locking claws (temporary locking portion)  48  under which the space  62  is provided are provided to project tilting frontward and upward from the upper face of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . However, the temporary locking portion is not limited thereto. For example, a temporary locking portion under which there is no space may be provided in the retainer lower plate portion  39  so as to project upward from the upper face of the retainer lower plate portion  39 . 
     Here, the features of the aforementioned embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be summarized and listed briefly in the following paragraphs [1] to [3]. 
     [1] A connector ( 10 ) comprising: 
     a housing having a terminal receiving chamber having an opening on one or both of opposite sides in a preset direction crossing an insertion direction of a connection terminal; and 
     a side retainer ( 14 ) having a pair of opposed plate portions ( 38 ,  39 ) disposed in positions to sandwich the housing from the opposite sides in the preset direction, the side retainer ( 14 ) being attached laterally to the housing and movably supported on the housing to move between a temporary locking position to temporarily lock the connection terminal and a formal locking position to formally lock the connection terminal, 
     one or both of the opposed plate portions ( 38 ,  39 ) of the side retainer ( 14 ) covering one or both of the opposite sides of the terminal receiving chamber upon the side retainer ( 14 ) being at the formal locking position, 
     the side retainer ( 14 ) including a front plate portion ( 35 ) disposed on a front side of the housing in the insertion direction to connect front end portions of the pair of the opposed plate portions ( 38 ,  39 ) to each other. 
     [2] The connector ( 10 ) according to the item [1], wherein 
     the opposed plate portion of the side retainer ( 14 ) covering the terminal receiving chamber at the formal locking position includes a temporary locking portion to temporarily lock the connection terminal in the terminal receiving chamber at the temporary locking position and a formal locking portion to formally lock the connection terminal in the terminal receiving chamber at the formal locking position, 
     the housing includes a rear locking portion to lock at least a rear end portion of the opposed plate portion of the side retainer ( 14 ) at the temporary locking position to regulate the rear end portion of the opposed plate portion from moving outward in the preset direction, 
     the opposed plate portion at the temporary locking position is pressed by the connection terminal through the temporary locking portion and bent outward in the preset direction to allow insertion of the connection terminal when the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber. 
     [3] The connector ( 10 ) according to the item [2], wherein 
     the housing includes a front locking portion to lock at least the front end portion of the opposed plate portion at the temporary locking position to regulate the front end portion of the opposed plate portion from moving outward in the preset direction. 
     A connector according to the present invention can be miniaturized. The present invention having this effect can be, for example, used for a connector structure with a fitting assuring member (CPA). 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           10 ,  70  female connector (connector) 
           14  side retainer 
           15  female terminal (connection terminal) 
           18  female terminal receiving chamber (terminal receiving chamber) 
           25  rear locking convex portion (rear locking portion) 
           35  retainer front plate portion (front plate portion) 
           38  retainer upper plate portion (opposed plate portion) 
           39  retainer lower plate portion (opposed plate portion) 
           71  front slide rail (front locking portion)