Patent Publication Number: US-11025000-B2

Title: Terminal retainer, connector housing, connector and connector assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to a terminal retainer, a connector housing, a connector, and a connector assembly. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A large number of connectors are used in automobile circuits and communication transmission. Connector assemblies are typically mated by male and female connectors each composed of a connector housing and a connection terminal mounted within the connector housing. The connection terminal needs to be stably mounted in the connector housing to ensure the use effect. In the existing connector, a plurality of components are used to stably mount and fix the connection terminal, and the components are large in number and cannot be pre-assembled, which causes the components scattering, easy loss and inconvenient to assemble. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     One of the objectives of the application is to provide a terminal retainer, a connector and a connector assembly which are convenient to use to overcome the defects in the prior art. 
     According to a first aspect of the application, there is provided a terminal retainer comprising a tubular retaining portion, wherein the tubular retaining portion comprises a tube wall and a tube cavity enclosed by the tube wall, and extends a specified length in an axial direction. The tube wall is provided with a locking structure comprising an initial locking structure and a final locking structure which are mated with a mating structure respectively to lock the terminal retainer in an initial locking position and a final locking position, respectively. The tube wall is also provided with an abutting structure which is configured to abut against a snap-fit mechanism located in the tube cavity when the terminal retainer is in the final locking position, so that the snap-fit mechanism is retained in a snap-fit position. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are disposed on the same surface of the tube wall. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the locking structure and the abutting structure are disposed on two sections of the tube wall radially opposite to each other, respectively. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the locking structure is a through-hole, a counterbore or a groove. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the abutting structure is disposed to extend from an inner surface of the tube wall and project into the tube cavity. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the abutting structure is a U-shaped groove, an opening of which is disposed to face away from the tube cavity. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an outer surface of the tube wall is provided with a convex rib configured to protrude from the outer surface of the tube wall. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the convex rib and the locking structure are provided on different surfaces of the tube wall, respectively. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the terminal retainer is also provided with a flange plate perpendicular to the axial direction protruding from the tube wall. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the tube wall is provided with a mating groove extending continuously in the axial direction through the terminal retainer. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the terminal retainer is also provided with a mating bar projecting axially from the tube wall. 
     According to a second aspect of the application, there is provided a connector housing, wherein an end of the connector housing is provided with a terminal mounting tube and an elastic arm, and an outer surface of the terminal mounting tube is provided with a bump which is configured to be mated with a locking structure on a terminal retainer, so that the terminal retainer is held on the connector housing. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an end of the connector housing is provided with a receiving cavity configured for receiving the terminal retainer, and the terminal mounting tube and the elastic arm are arranged in the receiving cavity. 
     According to one embodiment of the present application, an inner surface of the connector housing is protrudingly provided with a convex ridge configured to be contactable with an outer surface of the terminal retainer. 
     According to a third aspect of the application, there is provided a connector comprising a connector housing and the above-mentioned terminal retainer. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the connector housing is provided with a receiving cavity in which a terminal mounting tube and an elastic arm are provided, and the terminal mounting tube is provided with a perforation. A connection terminal is provided with a flange, and an end of the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal mounting tube. The terminal retainer is inserted into the receiving cavity and abuts against the elastic arm, so that the elastic arm is held in a state of abutting the flange to allow the elastic arm to prevent the connection terminal from exiting. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the terminal retainer has an initial locking position and a final locking position within the receiving cavity. In the final locking position, the terminal retainer is inserted into the receiving cavity to abut against the elastic arm, so that the elastic arm is kept in a state of abutting against the flange through the perforation, or the flange protrudes from the perforation, and the retainer abuts against the elastic arm to keep the elastic arm in a state of abutting against the flange. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the connection terminal is a square terminal. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an end of the housing is provided with a terminal mounting tube and an elastic arm, and a bump is provided on an outer surface of the terminal mounting tube and configured to be mated with a locking structure on the terminal retainer to hold the terminal retainer on the housing. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an end of the housing is provided with a receiving cavity configured for receiving the terminal retainer; the terminal mounting tube and the elastic arm are arranged in the receiving cavity. 
     According to one embodiment of the present application, an inner surface of the housing is protrudingly provided with a convex ridge configured to be contactable with an outer surface of the terminal retainer. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the convex ridge is disposed toward the bump. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the connector further comprises a connection terminal, and the connection terminal is a stamped part. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the application, there is provided a connector assembly comprising a connector and a mating connector, wherein the connector includes a first connector housing and a first terminal retainer disposed on the first connector housing; the mating connector comprises a second connector housing and a second terminal retainer disposed on the second connector housing; the connector is pluggably in plug-in connection with the mating connector; and the first terminal retainer and the second terminal retainer are respectively the terminal retainer mentioned above, wherein a tubular retaining portion of one of the terminal retainers is provided with a mating groove extending along the axial direction, and the other terminal retainer is provided with a mating bar; the mating bar has a shape mated with that of the mating groove and is configured to be pluggably inserted into the mating groove; and after the first connector housing is plugged into the second connector housing, the mating bar is arranged to be inserted in the mating groove. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the first connector housing is provided with a first receiving cavity within which a male terminal mounting tube and a first elastic arm are provided, and the male terminal mounting tube is provided with a first perforation and a male terminal is inserted into the male terminal mounting tube. The first terminal retainer is inserted into the first receiving cavity so as to be abuttable against the first elastic arm, so that the first elastic arm is kept in a state of abutting against the male terminal to prevent the male terminal from exiting. The second connector housing is provided with a second receiving cavity within which a female terminal mounting tube and a second elastic arm are provided, and the female terminal mounting tube is provided with a second perforation and a female terminal is inserted into the female terminal mounting tube. The second terminal retainer is inserted into the second receiving cavity so as to be abuttable against the second elastic arm, so that the second elastic arm is kept in a state of abutting against the female terminal to prevent the female terminal from exiting. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an outer surface of the male terminal mounting tube is provided with a first bump, an initial locking structure of the first terminal retainer is a first through-hole, a first counterbore or a first groove, and a final locking structure of the first terminal retainer is a second through-hole, a second counterbore or a second groove; the first bump is arranged on a moving route of the initial locking structure and the final locking structure of the first terminal retainer; when the first bump is embedded into the first through-hole, the first counterbore or the first groove, the first terminal retainer is kept in an initial locking position; and when the second bump is embedded into the second through-hole, the second counterbore or the second groove, the first terminal retainer is kept in a final locking position. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an outer surface of the female terminal mounting tube is provided with a second bump, an initial locking structure of the second terminal retainer is a third through-hole, a third counterbore or a third groove, and a final locking structure of the second terminal retainer is a fourth through-hole, a fourth counterbore or a fourth groove; the second bump is arranged on a moving route of the initial locking structure and the final locking structure of the second terminal retainer; when the second bump is embedded into the third through-hole, the third counterbore or the third groove, the second terminal retainer is kept in an initial locking position; and when the second bump is embedded into the fourth through-hole, the fourth counterbore or the fourth groove, the second terminal retainer is kept in a final locking position. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the male terminal is provided with a first flange, and the first elastic arm is arranged to abut against the first flange to prevent the male terminal from exiting; and/or the female terminal is provided with a second flange, and the second elastic arm is arranged to abut against the second flange to prevent the female terminal from exiting. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an outer surface of the first terminal retainer is in multiple line contact with an inner surface of the first connector housing; and/or an outer surface of the second terminal retainer is in multiple line contact with an inner surface of the second connector housing. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an outer surface of the tubular retaining portion is provided with a convex rib; when the first terminal retainer is inserted into the first connector housing, the convex rib is in contact with an inner surface of the first connector housing, and/or when the second terminal retainer is inserted into the second connector housing, the convex rib is in contact with an inner surface of the second connector housing. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, an inner surface of the first connector housing or the second connector housing is provided with a convex ridge, and the convex ridge is in contact with an outer surface of the tubular retaining portion. 
     According to one embodiment of the application, the convex ridge is arranged on an inner surface opposite to the positions of the initial locking structure and the final locking structure. 
     For the terminal retainer, the connector housing, the connector and the connector assembly provided by the application, before the connection terminal is mounted, the terminal retainer can be pre-assembled with the connector housing and held in the initial locking position; after the connection terminal is mounted in position, the terminal retainer can be mounted to the final locking position to firmly mount the connection terminal within the connector housing. The terminal retainer can be pre-assembled with the connector housing, which can prevent parts from scattering and losing. Therefore, the application can avoid the risk of losing parts in case that the connector housing and the connection terminal are not produced in the same place. The terminal retainer can be moved from the initial locking position to the final locking position simply by pushing it, and is convenient to assemble. The connection terminal adopts a square terminal and is convenient to produce, easy to assemble and low in production cost. The arrangement of the convex rib enables the terminal retainer to be in line contact with the connector housing, so that the problems of high manufacturing precision requirement and difficult assembly associated with surface contact can be avoided with low manufacturing precision requirement and easier assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view of a connector in Embodiment 1 of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the connector of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a structural schematic view of the first connector housing in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5  is a structural schematic view of the first retainer in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 6  is a structural schematic view of the first retainer viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 7  is a structural schematic view of the male terminal in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 8  is a structural schematic view of the connector in Embodiment 2 of the present application. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the connector of Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a structural schematic view of the second connector housing in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 12  is a structural schematic view of the second retainer in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 13  is a structural schematic view of the second retainer viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 14  is a structural schematic view of the male terminal in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 15  is a structural schematic view of Embodiment 3. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings: 
     Embodiment 1 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , a connector  100  includes a first connector housing  1001  and a male terminal  120 . The first connector housing  1001  is configured for mounting the male terminal  120 . An end of the first connector housing  1001  is provided with a first receiving cavity  101 , and the first receiving cavity  101  axially extends to a certain depth. The first receiving cavity  101  is one of the examples of the receiving cavity. In the illustrated example, the first receiving cavity  101  is square in cross-section. The first receiving cavity  1001  is one of the examples of the receiving cavity. An inner surface  102  of the first receiving cavity  101  is provided with a convex ridge  103 . The convex ridge  103  protrudes from the inner surface  102  of the first receiving cavity  101 . The convex ridge  103  is provided in the middle of the left-right direction as shown. Two baffles  104  are disposed within the first receiving cavity  101 . The two baffles  104  are provided on either side of the convex ridge  103 , respectively. The two baffles  104  are configured to guide a first terminal retainer  130  described later during plug-in connection. A first elastic arm  105  is disposed within the first receiving cavity  101 . An end of the first elastic arm  105  is connected to the connector housing  100  and the other end  106  is disposed to be suspended. The first elastic arm  105  is resiliently arranged and the other end  106  thereof is arranged to be movable under pressure. 
     A male terminal mounting tube  110  is disposed within the first receiving cavity  101 . The male terminal mounting tube  110  is one of the examples of a terminal mounting tube. An end of the male terminal mounting tube  110  is connected to the interior of the connector housing  100  and is disposed to be suspended for a certain length. A lower surface  111  of each male terminal mounting tube  110  is provided with a first bump  112 . The first bump  112  protrudes from the lower surface  111 . The male terminal mounting tube  110  is provided with a first perforation  114 . The two male terminal mounting tubes  110  are connected by a connecting plate  115 . The first elastic arm  105  is disposed below the first perforation  114 . The first elastic arm  105  is one embodiment of a snap-fit mechanism or the elastic arm as described in the present application. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the male terminal  120  is mounted on the male terminal mounting tube  110 , and the end of the male terminal protrudes from the male terminal mounting tube  110  and is disposed to be suspended in the first receiving cavity  101 . The male terminal  120  is provided with a first flange  121 . The male terminal  120  is a stamped part. The other end  106  of the first elastic arm  105  abuts against the first flange  121  to prevent the male terminal  120  from exiting. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the first terminal retainer  130  is one of the examples of a terminal retainer, and includes a tubular retaining portion  131  including a tube wall  132  and a tube cavity  133  enclosed by the tube wall  132 ; the tubular retaining portion  131  extends axially a specified length determinable according to use requirements. 
     The first terminal retainer  130  is provided with a locking structure, wherein the locking structure comprises an initial locking structure and a final locking structure arranged on the tube wall  132 , the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are respectively mated with a mating structure to lock the terminal retainer  130  in the initial locking position and the final locking position, respectively; when the tubular retaining portion  131  is moved relative to the mating structure, the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are located on a moving route of the mating structure. According to an embodiment of the present application, the mating structure is the afore-mentioned first bump  112 . The initial locking structure and the final locking structure are arranged to be spaced apart along the axial direction of the tubular retaining portion  131 , so that the initial locking structure and the final locking structure pass through the first bump  112  and are mated with the first bump  112 , respectively, during insertion of the tubular retaining portion  131  into the receiving cavity  101 . The first bump  112  is one of the embodiments of the bump. The first bump  112  is disposed toward the convex ridge  103 . 
     In the illustrated example, the tube wall  132  is square-shaped, and the tube cavity  133  is enclosed by sequentially connecting an upper tube wall  134 , a left tube wall  135 , a lower tube wall  136 , and a right tube wall  137 . The initial locking structure and the final locking structure are located on the same surface of the tube wall  132 . In the illustrated example, the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are located on the outer surface of the upper tube wall  134 . The initial locking structure is a first through-hole, a first counterbore or a first groove. The final locking structure is a second through-hole, a second counterbore or a second groove. In the illustrated example, the initial locking structure is shown as a first through-hole  138  and the final locking structure is a second through-hole  139 . The first through-hole  138  and the second through-hole  139  are both arranged on the lower tube wall  136  and run through the lower tube wall  136 . During insertion of the tubular retaining portion  132  into the receiving cavity  101 , the first through-hole  138  is first moved to the first bump  112 , so that the first bump  112  is inserted into the first through hole  138  to limit the tubular retaining portion  132  to the initial locking position. In the initial locking position, the first terminal retainer  130  continues to be pushed inward, causing the tubular retaining portion  132  to move forward until the first bump  112  is released from the first through-hole  138 , and the second through-hole  139  moves to the first bump  112 , when the first bump  112  is embedded into the second through hole  139 , the first terminal retainer  132  is restrained in the final locking position. Each of the first through hole and the second through hole is one of the embodiments of the through-hole. Each of the first counterbore and the second counterbore is one of the embodiments of the counterbore. Each of the first groove and the second groove is one of the embodiments of the groove. 
     An abutting structure is provided on the upper tube wall  134  radially opposite to the lower tube wall  136 . The locking structure and the abutting structure are respectively arranged on the two tube walls radially opposite to each other, namely one of the locking structure and the abutting structure being arranged on the upper tube wall  134 , the other being arranged on the lower tube wall  136 . When the first terminal retainer  130  is located in the final locking position, the abutting structure is configured to abut against the first elastic arm  105 , so that the first elastic arm  105  is retained in a position abutting against the male terminal  120  to prevent the male terminal  120  from exiting. According to the application, the other end  106  of the first elastic arm  105  may extend into the male terminal mounting tube  110  from the first perforation  114  to abut against the first flange  121 ; alternatively, the first flange  121  may protrude from the male terminal mounting tube  110  from the first perforation  114  to be abutted upon by the other end  106  of the first elastic arm  105 . In addition, according to the embodiments of the application, after the male terminal  120  is mounted in the male terminal mounting tube  110 , the other end  106  of the first elastic arm  105  may be abutted upon by the abutting structure so as to be in a position abuttable against the first flange  121  and to be retained in the position; alternatively, after the male terminal  120  is mounted in the male terminal mounting tube  110 , the first flange  121  may protrude from the male terminal mounting tube  110  from the first perforation  114 , and the first elastic arm  105  may be disposed in such a position that the other end  106  thereof is allowed to be in a position to abut against the first flange  121  and the first elastic arm  105  may be retained in the position by the abutting structure. In the illustrated example, after the male terminal  120  is mounted in the male terminal mounting tube  110 , the first flange  121  protrudes from the male terminal mounting tube  110  from the first perforation  114 , and the first elastic arm  105  is disposed in such a position that the other end  106  thereof is allowed to be in a position to abut against the first flange  121 , and in the position the first elastic arm  105  is snap-fitted with the male terminal  120  and retained in the snap-fit position by the abutting structure. 
     In the illustrated example, the abutting structure is a U-shaped groove  141 , an opening  142  of which is disposed to face away from the tube cavity  133 . The U-shaped groove  141  is provided to extend from the inner surface of the tube wall  132  and project into the tube cavity  133  so that the U-shaped groove  141  can abut against the first elastic arm  105 . There are two of the U-shaped grooves  141  which are arranged to be spaced apart. 
     The outer surfaces of the left tube wall  135  and the right tube wall  137  are further provided with two convex ribs  142  distributed at intervals, respectively; the convex ribs  142  protrude from the outer surfaces of the left tube wall  135  and the right tube wall  137 . The first terminal retainer  130  is provided with a mating bar  143  having a shape mated with that of a mating groove described later, and the mating bar  143  is arranged to be pluggably inserted into the mating groove. In the illustrated example, the mating bar  143  is L-shaped in cross-section. 
     Embodiment 2 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 14 , a mating connector  200  includes a second connector housing  2001  and a female terminal  220 . The second connector housing  2001  is configured for mounting the female terminal  220 . An end of the second connector housing  2001  is provided with a second receiving cavity  201  and the second receiving cavity  201  extends axially to a certain depth. The second receiving cavity  201  is one of the embodiments of the receiving cavity. In the illustrated example, the second receiving cavity  201  is square in cross-section. The second receiving cavity  201  is one of the embodiments of the receiving cavity. An inner surface  202  of the second receiving cavity  201  is provided with a convex ridge  203 . The convex ridge  203  protrudes from the inner surface  202  of the second receiving cavity  201 . The convex ridge  203  is provided in the middle of the left-right direction as shown. Two baffles  204  are disposed within the second receiving cavity  201 . The two baffles  204  are provided on either side of the convex ridge  203 , respectively. The two baffles  204  are configured to guide a second terminal retainer  230  described later during plug-in connection. A second elastic arm  205  is disposed within the second receiving cavity  201 . An end of the second elastic arm  205  is connected to the second connector housing  2001  and the other end  206  is disposed to be suspended. The second elastic arm  205  is resiliently arranged, and the other end  206  thereof is arranged to be movable under pressure. 
     A female terminal mounting tube  210  is provided in the second receiving cavity  201 . The female terminal mounting tube  210  is one of the embodiments of the terminal mounting tube. An end of the female terminal mounting tube  210  is connected to the interior of the second connector housing  2001  and is disposed to be suspended for a certain length. An upper surface  211  of each female terminal mounting tube  210  is provided with a second bump  212 . The second bump  212  protrudes from the upper surface  211 . The female terminal mounting tube  210  is provided with a second perforation (not shown). The two female terminal mounting tubes  210  are connected by a connecting plate  215 . A second elastic arm  205  is disposed below the second perforation  214 . The second elastic arm  205  is an embodiment of a snap-fit mechanism and the elastic arm described in the present application. 
     The female terminal  220  is mounted on the female terminal mounting tube  210 , and an end of the female terminal protrudes from the female terminal mounting tube  210  and disposed to be suspended in the second receiving cavity  201 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the female terminal  220  is provided with a second flange  221 . The female terminal  220  is a stamped part. The other end  206  of the second elastic arm  205  abuts against the second flange  221  to prevent the female terminal  220  from exiting. The female terminal  220  is square-shaped in outline. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 to 13 , the second terminal retainer  230  is one of the embodiments of the terminal retainer, and includes a tubular retaining portion  231  including a tube wall  232  and a tube cavity  233  enclosed by the tube wall  232 ; the tubular retaining portion  231  extends axially a specified length determinable according to use requirements. 
     The tube wall  232  is provided with an initial locking structure and a final locking structure, wherein the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are mated with a mating structure respectively to lock the terminal retainer  230  in the initial locking position and the final locking position respectively; and when the tubular retaining portion  231  is moved with respect to the mating structure, the initial locking structure and the final locking structure are located on a moving route of the mating structure. According to an embodiment of the present application, the mating structure is the afore-mentioned second bump  212 . The initial locking structure and the final locking structure are arranged to be spaced apart along the axial direction of the tubular retaining portion  231 , so that the initial locking structure and the final locking structure respectively pass through the second bump  212  and are mated with the second bump  212  during insertion of the tubular retaining portion  231  into the receiving cavity  201 . The second bump  212  is one of the embodiments of the bump. The second bump  212  is disposed toward the convex ridge  203 . 
     In the illustrated example, the tube wall  232  is square-shaped, and the tube cavity  233  is enclosed by sequentially connecting an upper tube wall  234 , a left tube wall  235 , a lower tube wall  236 , and a right tube wall  237 . The initial locking structure and the final locking structure are located on the same surface of the tube wall. The initial locking structure is a third through-hole, a third counterbore or a third groove. The final locking structure is a fourth through-hole, a fourth counterbore or a fourth groove. In the illustrated example, the initial locking structure is shown as a third through-hole  238  and the final locking structure is a fourth through-hole  239 . The third through-hole  238  and the fourth through-hole  239  are both disposed on the lower tube wall  236  and run through the lower tube wall  236 . During insertion of the tubular retaining portion  232  into the receiving cavity  201 , the third through-hole  238  is first moved to the second bump  212 , so that the second bump  212  is embedded into the third through-hole  238  to restrain the tubular retaining portion  232  in the initial locking position. In the initial locking position, the second terminal retainer  230  continues to be pushed inward to move the tubular retaining portion  232  forward until the second bump  212  is released from the third through-hole  238  and the fourth through-hole  239  is moved to the second bump  212 , when the second bump  212  is embedded into the fourth through-hole  239 , the second terminal retainer  232  is restrained in the final locking position. Each of the third through-hole and the fourth through-hole is one of the embodiments of the through-hole. Each of the third counterbore and the fourth counter bore is one of the embodiments of the counterbore. Each of the third groove and the fourth groove is one of the embodiments of the groove. 
     An abutting structure is provided on the upper tube wall  234  opposite to the lower tube wall  236 . When the second terminal retainer  230  is located in the final locking position, the abutting structure is configured to abut against the second elastic arm  205 , so that the second elastic arm  205  is retained in a position abutting against the female terminal  220  to prevent the female terminal  220  from exiting. According to the application, the other end  206  of the second elastic arm  205  may extend into the female terminal mounting tube  210  from the second perforation  214  to abut against the second flange  221 ; alternatively, the second flange  221  may protrude from the female terminal mounting tube  210  from the second perforation  214  to be abutted against by the other end  206  of the second elastic arm  205 . In addition, according to the embodiments of the application, after the female terminal  220  is mounted in the female terminal mounting tube  210 , the other end  206  of the second elastic arm  205  may be abutted against by the abutting structure so as to be in a position abuttable against the second flange  221  and to be retained in the position; alternatively, after the female terminal  220  is mounted in the female terminal mounting tube  210 , the second flange  221  may protrude from the female terminal mounting tube  210  from the second perforation  214 , and the second elastic arm  205  may be disposed in such a position that the other end  206  thereof is allowed to be in a position to abut against the second flange  221 , and the second elastic arm  205  may be retained in the position by the abutting structure. In the illustrated example, after the female terminal  220  is mounted in the female terminal mounting tube  210 , the second flange  221  protrudes from the female terminal mounting tube  210  from the second perforation  214 , and the second elastic arm  205  is disposed in such a position that the other end  206  thereof is allowed to be in a position to abut against the second flange  221 , and the second elastic arm  205  is retained in the position by the abutting structure. 
     In the illustrated example, the abutting structure is a U-shaped groove  241 , an opening  242  of which is disposed to face away from the tube cavity  233 . The U-shaped groove  241  is provided to extend from the inner surface of the tube wall  232  and project into the tube cavity  133  so that the U-shaped groove  241  can abut against the second elastic arm  205 . There are two of the U-shaped grooves  241  which are arranged to be spaced apart. 
     The outer surfaces of the left tube wall  235  and the right tube wall  237  are further provided with two convex ribs  242  distributed at intervals, respectively; the convex ribs  242  protrude from the outer surfaces of the left tube wall  235  and the right tube wall  237 . The second terminal retainer  230  is provided with a mating groove  243  having a shape mated with that of the mating bar  143  in Embodiment 1, and the mating bar  143  is arranged to be pluggably inserted into the mating groove  243 . An end of the tubular retaining portion  231  is provided with a flange plate  244 . The flange plate  244  is provided to project radially from the tubular retaining portion  231 . 
     Embodiment 3 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , a connector assembly includes the connector  100  in Embodiment 1 and the mating connector  200  in Embodiment 2. The connector  100  includes the first connector housing  1001  and the male terminal  120 . The first connector housing  1001  is configured for mounting the male terminal  120 . The mating connector  200  includes the second connector housing  2001  and the female terminal  220 . The second connector housing  2001  is configured for mounting the female terminal  220 . The first connector housing  1001  is pluggably plugged into the second connector housing  2001 , and the male terminal  120  is pluggably plugged into the female terminal  220 . The mating bar  143  of the first terminal retainer  130  is inserted into the mating groove  243 . 
     The embodiments in the present application are merely intended for explaining the present application, and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of the claims, and other substantially equivalent substitutions which may occur to a person skilled in the art are all to be covered within the scope of the present application.