Patent Publication Number: US-6659811-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector with a retainer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A side retainer type of connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,722. This known connector has a housing with opposite front and rear ends and cavities that extend between the ends for receiving terminal fittings. A retainer is inserted into one side of the housing and initially is held at a partial locking position where the retainer is retracted from the cavities. Hence the terminal fittings can be inserted into the cavities. The retainer then can be pushed to a full locking position where the retainer enters the cavities and locks the terminal fittings in the cavities. 
     The retainer has a rear end that projects from the side surface of the housing when the retainer is at the partial locking position. However, the rear end of the retainer is flush with the side surface of the housing when the retainer reaches the full locking position. Thus, an operator can detect the position of the retainer merely by touching the housing. 
     The side retainer type of connector may be a female watertight connector that has a terminal accommodating portion surrounded by a receptacle. The retainer of such a connector typically is mounted on the terminal accommodating portion and is retracted inwardly from the receptacle. Thus, the position of the retainer must be detected visually to determine whether the rear end of the retainer is flush with a side surface of the terminal accommodating portion. However, the positional relationship of the retainer relative to the terminal accommodating portion cannot be confirmed precisely if the angle of viewing is inclined, even slightly, from a proper specified angle. Thus, it has been difficult to detect the position of the retainer. 
     The present invention was developed in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a connector that enables a precise position detection of a retainer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a connector that has a housing into which at least one terminal fitting is insertable. A retainer is insertable into the housing at angle to an inserting direction of the terminal fitting and is engageable with the terminal fitting to lock the terminal fitting when the retainer reaches a proper lock position. The housing has an opening, and the retainer has a detecting portion that faces the opening so that the detecting portion can be seen from outside only when the retainer reaches the proper lock position. 
     The position of the retainer can be detected precisely based on whether the detecting portion can be seen from the outside through the opening. Accordingly, either a visual or an automatic inspection may be performed. 
     The housing preferably comprises a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates the terminal fitting and into which the retainer is mountable. A receptacle may substantially surround the terminal accommodating portion. A rear end of the retainer with respect to its inserting direction projects out from the terminal accommodating portion before the retainer reaches the proper position with respect to the terminal accommodating portion. However, the rear end of the retainer is in the terminal accommodating portion and the detecting portion faces the opening when the retainer reaches the proper position. 
     The position of the retainer can be detected based on whether the rear end of the retainer is in the terminal accommodating portion or whether the detecting portion faces the opening. The position of the retainer can be detected more precisely by looking at both the detecting portion and the rear end of the retainer. 
     The detecting portion preferably is colored differently from an edge of the opening in the housing. Thus, the position of the retainer can be detected more precisely because the detecting portion can be seen more easily. Also an automatic detection may be possible, such as by a color detection system. 
     The retainer preferably comprises first and second holding means that cooperate with mating holding means on the housing for holding the retainer alternately in a preliminary or non-lock position and in a proper or lock position. The retainer in the preliminary position does not lock the terminal fitting and allows insertion of the terminal fitting into the housing. However, the retainer in the proper position locks the terminal fitting. 
     The retainer may have at least one locking projection for engaging the terminal fitting and locking the terminal fitting in the housing. 
     The housing preferably comprises a housing main body and a holder that is mountable on the housing main body. The holder preferably has a stop wall for supporting the terminal fitting that has been inserted into the housing main body. The opening preferably is provided in the holder. 
     A sealing ring preferably is provided on the connector housing for providing a sealing or waterproofing function when the connector is mated with a mating connector. The holder may be provided with a sealing ring holder for locking the sealing ring by engaging the sealing ring from the front. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are described separately, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a housing main body, a holding member and a retainer according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the housing main body, the holding member and the retainer. 
     FIG. 3 is a section along  3 — 3  of FIG. 1 showing an exploded state of a female connector. 
     FIG. 4 is a section along  4 — 4  of FIG. 1 showing the exploded state of the female connector. 
     FIG. 5 is a section along  5 — 5  of FIG. 1 showing the housing main body and the retainer. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the holding member. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the retainer is mounted at a partial locking position on the housing main body in which the holding member is mounted. 
     FIG. 8 is a section along  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a section along  9 — 9  of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a section along  10 — 10  of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 11 is a section along  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state where the retainer is at a full locking position. 
     FIG. 13 is a section along  13 — 13  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is a section along  14 — 14  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 15 is a section along  15 — 15  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 16 is a section along  16 — 16  of FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A female connector according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to  16  and includes a housing main body  10  that is made of a synthetic resin. The housing main body  10  has a terminal accommodating portion  11  and a receptacle  12  that substantially surrounds the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     The connector further includes terminal fittings  13 , each of which has opposite front and rear ends. A substantially box-shaped connecting portion  14  is formed at the front end of each terminal fitting  13  and a barrel  15  is formed at the rear end. The barrel  15  is configured for crimped connection with an end of a wire W. A rubber plug  16  is mounted at the end of the insulation coating of the wire W and is fixed by crimping the barrel  15 . An engaging portion  17  projects from an upper surface of the connecting portion  14 , and jaws  18  are formed at the rear end of the connecting portion  14 . 
     The terminal accommodating portion  11  of the housing main body  10  is formed with a side-by-side array of cavities  19 . The front half of each cavity  19  has a substantially rectangular cross section that conforms to the connecting portion  14  of the terminal fitting  13 . The rear half of each cavity  19  has a round cross section that conforms to the rubber plug  16 . Thus, the terminal fittings  13  can be inserted into the respective cavities from the rear along an insertion direction ID so that the rubber plugs  16  can be held in close contact with the inner surface of the respective cavity  19  to protect the inside of the cavity  19  from water. 
     A lock  20  is cantilevered from the upper front of each cavity  19  and intersects the inserting direction ID of the terminal fitting  13 . The lock  20  is resiliently deformable in response to forces generated during insertion of the terminal fitting  13  into the cavity  19  so that the deformed lock  20  projects into a deformation permitting space  21  above the terminal fitting  13 . The lock  20  then is restored resiliently to engage the engaging portion  17  when the terminal fitting  13  reaches its proper position in the cavity  19 . At this time, the front end of the terminal fitting  13  projects forward from the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     Partition walls  22  partition the front halves of adjacent cavities  19  and are slightly narrower than the front halves of the cavities  19 . Each partition wall  22  has a notch  23  that opens forward from a location aligned with the base end of the respective lock  20 . Each notch  23  extends slightly over the half the height of the partition wall  22  from the upper end of the partition wall  22  to a position below the bottom end of the lock  20 . Substantially V-shaped positioning grooves  25  are formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the notches  23 . An unlocking piece  24  extends forwardly along the left side of the corresponding lock  20  in FIG. 1 from a location aligned with the back end of the notch  23 . The locking pieces  24  preferably are about half as wide as the notches  23 . The lock  20  is deformed resiliently by pressing the unlocking piece  24  with a jig to disengage the lock  20  from the terminal fitting  13 . 
     A retainer mount hole  26  penetrates the terminal accommodating portion  11  slightly behind the locks  20  and communicates with the respective cavities  19 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Two holding projections  27  are provided at the back side of edges of the retainer mount hole  26 , as shown in FIG. 5, and a mold-removal hole  28  opens forwardly on the terminal accommodating portion  11  for forming the back end surface of the holding projections  27 . Transversely extending holding grooves  29  are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIG.  4 . Slanted surfaces are formed on each of the upper and lower sides of the front end surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11 . 
     The receptacle  12  is a forwardly open rectangular tube that is coupled to the terminal accommodating portion  11  by a coupling portion that bulges out from the rear end of the terminal accommodating portion  11 . A mating male connector (not shown) can be fit into the space between the receptacle  12  and the terminal accommodating portion  11  from the front. A rubber ring  30  is mounted on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11  and is squeezed between the terminal accommodating portion  11  and the mating male connector to provide a watertight fit between the connectors. 
     A lock arm  31  is provided in a transverse center of the top of the receptacle  12  for holding the male connector in a connected state. The lock arm  31  has a rear end coupled to the terminal accommodating portion  11  by support arms  32  and has opposite side edges partly coupled to the receptacle  12 , as shown in FIG.  5 . Thus, the lock arm  12  is resiliently deformable up and down or toward and away from the terminal accommodating portion  11 . 
     A retainer insertion hole  33  is formed in the right wall of the receptacle  12  in FIG.  5 . As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer mount hole  26  and the holding grooves  29  are exposed sideways to outside by the retainer insertion hole  33 , and the retainer insertion hole  33 , the retainer mount hole  26  and the holding grooves  29  are formed by the same mold during the molding of the housing main body  10 . 
     Opposite sides and the bottom of the receptacle  12  bulge out as shown in FIG. 1 to form three guiding grooves  34  for guiding the connection of the male connector. 
     The connector further includes a retainer  40  made e.g. of a synthetic resin and preferably colored differently from both the rubber ring  30  and the connector main housing  10 . The retainer  40  has a narrow plate-shaped base  41  that can be inserted into the retainer mount hole  26 . Locking projections  42  are formed on the lower surface of the base  41  and correspond in number to the number of cavities  19 . The locking projections  42  are arrayed at intervals that conform with the intervals of the cavities  19 . Thus, the locking projections  42  can project into the respective cavities  19  for engaging the terminal fittings  13 . A mount-maneuvering projection  43  is provided on the upper surface of the rear end of the base  41  with respect to an inserting direction RID of the retainer  40  into the terminal accommodating portion  11  and can be pushed from the side by a jig when the retainer  40  is to be mounted. A thin detach-maneuvering piece  44  is provided on the rear surface of the base  41  with respect to the inserting direction RID and can be pushed by a jig in a direction opposite to the insertion direction RID of the retainer  40  when the retainer  40  is to be detached. A detecting portion  45  is provided at the front end of the base  41  and is thicker than the base  41 . Further, the side surface at the rear end of the retainer  40  is moderately arcuate. 
     Two first holding recesses  46  and two second holding recesses  47  are formed in the lateral surfaces near the front of the base  41 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The retainer  40  can be held in a partial locking position in the terminal accommodating portion  11  by engaging the first holding recesses  46  with the holding projections  27  in the retainer mount hole  26 . The retainer also can be held in a full locking or proper position by engaging the second holding recesses  47  with the holding projections  27  in the retainer mount hole  26 . 
     The retainer  40  is held at the partial locking position when the first holding recesses  46  engage the holding projections  27 , as shown in FIG.  8 . In this state, the respective locking projections  42  are retracted from the cavities  19  and located substantially at the same positions as the partition walls  22 , as shown in FIG.  10 . Thus, insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fittings  13  into and from the cavities  19  is permitted. Additionally, the rear end of the retainer  40  projects rightward from the side surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11  and the detecting portion  45  stays in the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     The retainer  40  can be moved further to engage the second holding recesses  47  with the holding projections  27 , as shown in FIG.  13 . Thus, the retainer  40  is held at the full locking or proper position. In this state, the respective locking projections  42  enter the cavities  19  to engage jaws  18  at the rear ends of the connecting portions  14  of the terminal fittings  13 , as shown in FIG.  14 . Additionally, the detecting portion  45  projects left of the terminal accommodating portion  11  in FIG.  16 . The locking projections  42  are slightly narrower than the partition walls  22 , and thus engage the jaws  18  of the terminal fittings  13  substantially over the entire width. 
     The connector further includes a holder  50  made e.g. of a synthetic resin, and preferably colored differently from the retainer  40  and/or the rubber ring  30 . The holder  50  has a substantially elliptical front wall  51  and upper and lower holding plates  52  that project back from the front wall  51 , as shown in FIG.  6 . The upper and lower holding plates  52  can be fit on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIG. 4, and holding projections  53  are provided on the inner surface of the upper and lower holding plates  52 . The holder  50  is assembled to the terminal accommodating portion  11  by engaging the holding projections  53  with the holding grooves  29  formed in the terminal accommodating portion  11 . In this state, the holding plates  52  are engageable with the front end surface of the rubber ring  30  and prevent the rubber ring  30  from coming out (see FIG.  9 ). A bulge  54  is provided on the lower surface of a right end portion of the upper holding plate  52 , as shown in FIG. 6, and can enter the mold-removal hole  28  of the terminal accommodating portion  11  (see FIG.  11 ). The retainer  40  also has a communicating portion  55  that opens laterally between the left ends of the upper and lower holding plates  52  in FIG.  6  and communicates with the retainer mount hole  26  and the retainer insertion hole  33 . A jig insertion recess  56  is formed in the front wall  51  and allows the detach-maneuvering piece  44  of the retainer  40  to be exposed forward to the outside when the retainer  40  is at the full locking position, as shown in FIG.  12 . Thus, a jig can be inserted through the jig insertion recess  56  to manipulate the detach-maneuvering piece  44 . 
     Fitting recesses  57  are formed substantially side-by-side at positions aligned with the cavities  19 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The front ends of the terminal fittings  13  project beyond the terminal accommodating portion  11  and are supported by the fitting recesses  57  to prevent movement in vertical, lateral and forward directions. Insertion holes  58  are formed in center positions of the respective fitting recesses  57 , as shown in FIG.  6  and receive mating male terminal fittings of the mating male connector. Jig insertion holes  59  penetrate the front wall  51  substantially longitudinally along the insertion direction ID for communicating with the upper right portions of the fitting recesses  57  in FIG.  6 . The jig insertion holes  59  are formed at positions to expose the unlocking pieces  24  of the locks  20  forward to the outside and to permit insertion of the jig from the front to manipulate the unlocking pieces  24 , as shown in FIG.  7 . The jig insertion holes  59  are formed at positions obliquely displaced from the insertion holes  58 . Thus, the male terminal fittings are unlikely to erroneously enter the jig insertion holes  59  even if the mating male connector is inclined during connection of the two connectors. 
     Partition walls  60  project back from the rear of the front wall  51  at positions to the right of the jig insertion holes  59  and to the left of the fitting recesses  57 , as shown in FIG.  6 . The partition walls  60  are insertable in a partition insertion direction PID into the respective notches  23 , as shown in FIG. 11, when the holder  50  is mounted on the terminal accommodating portion  11 . The partition walls  60  are inserted until the rear ends of the partition walls  60  contact the back ends of the notches  23 . Thus, the partition walls  60  completely close the notches  23 . The partition walls  60  insulate the terminal fittings  13  inserted into the adjacent cavities  19  from each other, and the side surfaces of the partition walls  60  form parts of the side surfaces of the cavities  19 . The width of the partition walls  60  is about half the width of the partition walls  22 . Accordingly, minimum clearances are provided between the partition walls  60  and the locks  20  or the unlocking pieces  24  so as not to hinder the resilient deformation of the locks  20 . More specifically, the left side surfaces of the partition walls  60  in FIG. 10 are recessed slightly from inner side surfaces of the fitting recesses  57  and the cavities  19 . 
     Substantially triangular positioning projections  61  project up and down at the upper and lower ends of each partition wall  60 , as shown in FIG.  11 . The positioning projections  61  engage the substantially V-shaped positioning grooves  25  formed in the notches  23  to maintain the partition walls  60  at their proper positions without lateral displacement. More specifically, small horizontal portions continuous with the positioning projections  61  at the right side remain at the left ends of the upper and lower surfaces of the partition walls  60  in FIG. 11, and these horizontal portions are held in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the notches  23 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an opening  62  extends longitudinally along the partition insertion direction PID over substantially the entire side of the holder  50  opposite from the communicating portion  55 . The opening  62  is formed between the right ends of the upper and lower holding plates  52  of FIG. 6 by cutting away the front wall  51 . Additionally, as shown in FIG. 11, the opening  62  is at substantially the same height as the retainer mount hole  26 , i.e. the detecting portion  45  of the retainer  40 , with the holder  50  mounted on the terminal accommodating portion  11 . When the retainer  40  is mounted at the partial locking position, the detecting portion  45  of the retainer  40  is inside the terminal accommodating portion  11  and retracted from the opening  62 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, the detecting portion  45  cannot be seen from the front. On the other hand when the retainer  40  is moved to the full locking position, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the detecting portion  45  projects into the opening  62  so as to be seen from the front. The retainer  40  has a color different from the rubber ring  30  and the holding member  50 . Therefore, contrast between the detecting portion  45  and the edge of the opening  62  is clear to facilitate visual confirmation of the detecting portion  45 . The connector main housing  10  also may have an opening (not shown) that is substantially opposite to the opening  62  so as to form a hole through the connector main housing  10  and the holder  50 . Accordingly, the detection portion  45  may intersect the through hole when the retainer  40  is in the full locking or proper position so that automatic detection of the position of the retainer  40  is possible, e.g. by means of a light source and a light detector (e.g. a diode). 
     The female connector is assembled by first mounting the rubber ring  30  on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11  of the housing main body  10  and then mounting the holder  50  on the terminal accommodating portion  11  from the front. Thus, the inner surface of the holding plate  52  is fitted on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion  11 . Additionally, the holding projections  53  move onto the slanted surfaces and then enter the holding grooves  29  so that the front end surfaces of the holding projections  53  engage the front end surfaces of the holding grooves  29  to secure the holder  50  to the terminal accommodating portion  11 , as shown in FIG.  9 . At this stage, the rear end surface of the holder  50  engages the front end surface of the rubber ring  30  to hold the rubber ring  30  in position. During this process, the partition walls  60  are inserted into the notches  23 , and the upper and lower positioning projections  61  enter the corresponding positioning grooves  25 , as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, to position the partition walls  60  laterally. Thus, the partition walls  60  are inserted smoothly in the partition insertion direction PID into the notches  23  without interfering with the locks  20  and the unlocking pieces  24 . The partition walls  60  are inserted until the rear ends of the partition walls  60  contact the backs of the notches  23  and align with the base ends of the locks  20 . Thus, the partition walls  60  partition adjacent cavities  19  and the side surfaces of the partition walls  60  form the side surfaces of the cavities  19 . In this state, the front end surface of the holder  50  and the front end surface of the housing main body  10  are substantially flush with each other. 
     The retainer  40  is inserted in the retainer insertion direction RID through the retainer insertion hole  33  of the receptacle  12  and into the retainer mount hole  26  of the terminal accommodating portion  11 . The retainer  40  is inserted until the first holding recesses  46  engage the holding projections  27  to hold the retainer at the partial lock position, as shown in FIG.  8 . At this stage, the rear end of the retainer  40  with respect to the inserting direction RID is between the holder  50  and the receptacle  12  and can be seen from the front. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the detecting portion  45  is retracted back from the opening  62  with respect to the inserting direction of the retainer  40 . It does not matter which of the holder  50  and the retainer  40  is mounted first. 
     The terminal fittings  13  are inserted into the cavities  19  so that the connecting portions  14  push the locks  20  at an intermediate stage of insertion. Thus, the locks  20  deform resiliently and project into the deformation permitting spaces  21  above the respective cavities  19 . The locks  20  are restored resiliently to engage the engaging portions  17 , as shown in FIG. 9, when the terminal fittings  13  reach a proper depth, thereby partly locking the terminal fittings  13 . At this time, the front ends of the terminal fittings  13  are into the fitting recesses  57  of the holder  50 , as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As a result, the terminals  13  are supported and cannot move forward any further. The accommodated terminal fittings  13  are insulated from the terminal fittings  13  in adjacent cavities  19  because the partition walls  60  close the notches  23 . 
     The retainer  40  is moved to the full locking position after all the terminal fittings  13  are inserted into the cavities  19 . At this time, the mount-maneuvering projection  43  of the retainer  40  is pushed by a jig inserted sideways through the retainer insertion hole  33  to push the retainer  40 . Thus, the first holding recesses  46  disengage from the holding projections  27  and the second holding recesses  47  engage the holding projections  27 , as shown in FIG.  13 . As a result the retainer  40  is held at the full locking position. Then, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the locking projections  42  of the retainer  40  project into the cavities  19  to engage the jaws  18  to doubly locking the terminal fittings  13 . 
     Movement of the retainer  40  from the partial locking position to the full locking position causes the rear end of the retainer  40 , excluding the detach-maneuvering piece  44 , to be concealed by the holder  50 . Hence, the retainer  40  cannot be seen from the front. Further, the detecting portion  45  projects to the side of the terminal accommodating portion  11  opposite the side where the retainer  40  is inserted and can be seen through the opening  62  from the front. Thus, an operator can determine that the retainer  40  has reached the full locking or proper position. In this state, the rear surface of the retainer  40  is substantially flush with the side surface of the holder  50 . Here, if the detecting portion  45  cannot be seen through the opening  62  or if the rear end  40 R of the retainer  40  projects out from the holder  50 , the operator determines that the retainer  40  has not reached the full locking position. 
     The terminal fittings  13  may have to be removed for maintenance. This is accomplished by first moving the retainer  40  from the full locking position to the partial locking position by manipulating the detach-maneuvering piece  44  of the retainer  40  with a jig inserted through the jig insertion recess  56  of the holder  50 . The lock  20  then is deformed and disengaged from the engaging portion  17  of the terminal fitting  13  by inserting a jig into the jig insertion hole  59  of the holder  50  from the front and pushing the unlocking piece  24  of the lock  20 . The terminal fitting  13  then is pulled out of the cavity  19 . 
     As described above, the detecting portion  45  projects into the opening  62  when the retainer  40  reaches the proper position and can be seen from outside through the opening  62 . Thus, the mounted position of the retainer  40  can be detected precisely by checking if the detecting portion  45  can be seen. 
     When the retainer  40  is at the partial locking position, the detecting portion  45  is retracted from the opening  62 , and the rear end of the retainer  40  projects out from the holder  50 . When the retainer  40  reaches the full locking position, the detecting portion  45  faces the opening  62 , and the rear end  40 R of the retainer  40  is inside the holder  50 . Thus, the position of the retainer  40  can be detected more precisely by looking at both the detecting portion  45  and the rear end  40 R of the retainer  40 . 
     Contrast between the detecting portion  45  and the edge of the opening  62  can be made clearer by coloring the retainer  40  differently from the rubber ring  30  and/or the holding member  50 . Thus, visual confirmation of the detecting portion  45  is easier, and position detection of the retainer  40  is more precise. Automatic detection also is possible, e.g. by a color detecting sensor. 
     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, following embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims. 
     A holder is assembled with the terminal accommodating portion in the foregoing embodiment. However, the invention also is applicable to connectors in which the holder is molded unitarily with the housing main body. 
     The entire retainer is colored differently from the rubber ring and the holding member in the foregoing embodiment. However, the retainer and the holder may be colored the same, and only the detecting portion may be colored differently from the retainer, the rubber ring and the holder. 
     A female connector with a receptacle is described above. However, the invention also is applicable to female connectors with no receptacle. 
     Although the female connector is shown in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to male connectors. 
     The detecting portion  45  has been described as being visible or detectable via the opening  62 . However, the detecting portion  45  may be visible or detectable from additional openings e.g. opposite to the opening  62  (or flush therewith) or from a direction intersecting the direction PID.