Patent Publication Number: US-7717758-B2

Title: Connector with retainer and retainer locking surfaces aligned oblique to movement direction of retainer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a connector. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,159 describes a connector with a housing that can be fit in a mating housing and a retainer that is mounted in a retainer insertion hole formed in the housing. The retainer can be moved in the retainer mount hole between a temporary locking position and a main locking position along a direction that extends oblique to the fit-in direction of the housing. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the housing and removed therefrom when the retainer is disposed at the temporary locking position. However, the retainer prevents the removal of the terminal fittings from the housing when the retainer is at the main locking position. The housing has a locking part and the retainer has a to-be-locked portion that can be locked to the locking part. The locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked to each other at the main locking position along the fit-in direction of the housing. 
   The electric wire connected with the terminal fitting may be pulled rearward when the retainer is at the main locking position and may exert a separation force that urges the retainer obliquely toward the temporary locking position. At this time, the direction in which the retainer separates from the housing is almost coincident with the direction in which the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked together, even though the retainer deviates to a low extent from the direction in which the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked to each other. Thus, there is a fear that the to-be-locked portion will unlock from the locking part if the separation force applied to the retainer is excessively large, and hence the retainer may be removed inadvertently from the housing. 
   The invention has been completed in view of the situation described above. Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a connector in which a retainer can be prevented from being inadvertently removed from a housing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a connector including a housing that can be fit in a mating housing. A retainer is mounted on the housing and can move in a direction oblique to a fit-in direction of the housing between temporary and main locking positions. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the housing and removed therefrom when the retainer is at the temporary locking position. However, the retainer prevents removal of the terminal fittings from the housing when the retainer is at the main locking position. 
   The housing has at least one locking part and the retainer has at least one to-be-locked portion that locks with the locking part when the retainer is at the main locking position. The locking part and the to-be-locked portion preferably incline toward a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the retainer with respect to the fit-in direction of the housing. Therefore, the to-be-locked portion is not easily unlocked from the locking part when an electric wire connected with a terminal fitting is pulled rearward in the fit-in direction of the housing. Accordingly, the retainer is not likely to be separated inadvertently from the housing. 
   The to-be-locked portion preferably is in the vicinity of an edge of the retainer and inclines in a direction in which a distance between the to-be-locked portion and the edge of the retainer gradually increases from one end of the to-be-locked portion to the other end thereof. Thus, a thick region is formed between the upper edge of the to-be-locked portion and the edge of the retainer. The thick region protects the to-be-locked portion and enhances the strength of the to-be locked portion even though the to-be-locked portion is near the edge of the retainer. 
   The locking part and the to-be-locked portion preferably are locked to each other at the main locking position with the locking part and the to-be-locked portion inclining in a direction that is not perpendicular to the movement direction of the retainer. Therefore this construction is applicable to a situation in which the locking part and the to-be-locked portion cannot be locked to each other along the direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the retainer. 
   A retainer insertion hole is formed through a first surface of the housing that confronts a direction in which the retainer is mounted on the housing and through both side surfaces of the housing adjacent to the first surface. The retainer has a base part and two side plates project up from widthwise ends of the base part. The side plates are configured to cover a portion of the retainer insertion hole formed through the side surfaces of the housing and a periphery thereof. To-be-locked portions are disposed on an inner surface of each of the side plates of the retainer and locking parts are on the periphery of the retainer insertion hole. Thus, the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked together over a large area. 
   The locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked together at the main locking position with the locking part and the to-be-locked portion inclining in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the retainer. This construction reliably prevents the to-be-locked portion from being unlocked from the locking part. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view showing a housing of a connector in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view showing a state in which a retainer is located at a temporary locking position. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view showing a state in which the retainer is located at the temporary locking position. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view partly in section showing a state in which the retainer is located at a main locking position. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view showing the retainer. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along a line K-K of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the retainer. 
       FIG. 8A  is a sectional view taken along a line S-S of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8B  is a sectional view taken along a line F-F of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional side elevation showing terminal fittings inserted into the housing when the retainer is at the temporary locking position. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional side elevation showing terminal fittings locked to the housing when the retainer is at the main locking position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A connector in accordance with the invention includes a housing  10 , a retainer  40 , and terminal fittings  70  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 10 . 
   The housing  10  is made of synthetic resin and defines a substantially block-shape. Cavities  11  penetrate through the housing  10  in the longitudinal direction of the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , and each cavity  11  is capable of accommodating a terminal fitting  70  therein. The cavities  11  are arranged in two stages in the height direction of the housing  10  and in plural rows in a left-to-right or widthwise direction thereof. A flexible lance  12  is provided on an inner surface of each cavity  11  to prevent removal of the terminal fitting  70 . A locking arm  13  is provided at a widthwise central portion of an upper surface of the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and functions to hold a mating housing (not shown) in a fit-in state. The locking arm  13  has two legs  14  that are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the housing  10  and an arm body  15  extends rearward from the legs  14 . The arm body  15  deforms elastically on both legs  14  in the height direction of the housing  10  for locking the mating housing thereto. A bridge  16  covers the periphery of a rear end of the arm body  15  at a rear end of the upper surface of the housing  10 . The bridge  16  prevents the lock arm  13  from being inadvertently operated in a way that could unlock the mating housing. 
   A retainer insertion hole  17  extends into the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and communicates with all of the cavities  11 . The retainer insertion hole  17  includes a retainer insertion port  18  formed through a lower surface of the housing  10  and two side openings  19  formed through the opposite respective side surfaces of the housing  10 . Thus, the retainer insertion hole  17  is open through three adjacent surfaces. A rear of the retainer insertion hole  17  includes an inclined surface  20  that inclines obliquely down toward the rear of the housing  10 . The retainer  40  is movable along the inclined surface  20  in an oblique direction Y with respect to the longitudinal fit-in direction X of the housing  10 . 
   Front and rear concavities  21  and  22  are formed on each side surface of the housing  10  on the periphery of the respective opening  19 . The front and rear concavities  21  and  22  are recessed inwardly from adjacent areas of the respective side surfaces of the housing  10 . More specifically, the front concavity  21  is disposed forward from a lower portion of a front edge of the retainer insertion hole  17 , whereas the rear concavity  22  is disposed rearward from the front edge of the retainer insertion hole  17  and continues to a rear surface of the housing  10 . A guide  23  projects from the rear concavity  22  and extends substantially parallel to a rear edge of the retainer insertion hole  17 . A removal prevention part  24  projects from the rear concavity  22  in a position near a rear edge of a lower end of the retainer insertion hole  17  and prevents removal of the retainer  40  from a temporary locking position thereof. A guide surface  25  extends along a lower surface of the removal prevention part  24  and inclines outward. A removal prevention surface  26  extends almost horizontally along an upper surface of the removal prevention part  24 . A temporary locking part  27  is formed by cutting out the inclined surface  20  of the retainer insertion hole  17  and prevents the retainer  40  from moving to a main locking position. The temporary locking part  27  is disposed immediately forward from the removal prevention part  24 . 
   A locking part  28  projects from the rear concavity  22  and prevents the retainer  40  from returning from the main locking position to the temporary locking position. The locking part  28  is rearward and upward from the upper edge of the retainer insertion hole  17  and inclines down toward the front of the housing  10 . The locking part  28  is inclined to a direction Z that is perpendicular to a movement direction Y of the retainer  40  with respect to a fit-in direction X, and hence is not coincident with the direction Z. A locking surface  29  extends along the locking part  28  in the direction in which the locking part  28  extends. The locking surface  29  is in a region surrounded with a horizontal line A that extends along the fit-in direction X and an oblique line B that extends along the direction Z perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40 . An upper surface of the locking part  28  is defined by the locking surface  29  and a horizontal surface  30  continuous with a rear end of the locking surface  29 . A beam  31  extends along the upper edge of the rear concavity  22  and a fit-in space  32  is defined between the beam  31  and the horizontal surface  30 . The fit-in space  32  is approximately parallel with the beam  31 . A guide slope  33  is formed along a lower surface of the locking part  28  for guiding the retainer  40  over the main locking position. 
   A protrusion  34  is disposed at approximately the center of each side surface of the housing  10  in the longitudinal direction thereof and defines a front end of the rear concavity  22 . The protrusion  34  is continuous with the beam  31  and extends in the height direction of the housing  10  almost perpendicular to the beam  31 . A through hole  35  is extends through the protrusion  34  at a longitudinal position forward of the locking part  28  and is formed during formation of the locking part  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the locking part  28  can be seen from the front end of the housing  10  through the through-hole  35 . 
   The retainer  40  also is made of synthetic resin and has a wide base  41  and two side plates  41  that extend up from both sides of the base  41 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 7 . An inclined surface  43  is defined at the rear of the base  41  and inclines obliquely up to the front of the retainer  40 . The retainer  40  is movable between the temporary locking position and main locking position in the oblique direction Y inclined with respect to the fit-in direction X of the housing  10 . More particularly, the inclined surface  43  of the retainer  40  is slid in contact with the inclined surface  20  of the housing  10  as the retainer  40  is pressed obliquely up to the front from the temporary locking position to the main locking position and as the retainer  40  is pressed obliquely down to the rear from the main locking position to the temporary locking position. Insertion holes  44  for the terminal fittings  70  are formed through the base  41  at positions corresponding to the lower-stage cavities  11  at the main locking position. Lower locking projections  45  are formed at lower peripheries of the insertion holes  44  for preventing removal of the terminal fittings  70  from the lower-stage cavities. Upper locking projections  46  are formed at an upper edge of the base  41  for preventing removal of the terminal fittings  70  form the upper-stage cavities. A temporary to-be-locked projection  47  is formed on the inclined surface  43  of the base  41  and can be fit in and locked to the temporary locking part  27  at the temporary locking position. A thin fit-in piece  48  is formed at a rear end of the base part  41  and can be fit in the temporary locking part  27  at the main locking position. The thin fit-in piece  48  is continuous with a rear end of the fit-in piece  48 . 
   The lower and upper locking projections  45  and  46  are out of the cavities  11  at the temporary locking position, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus, the terminal fittings  70  can be inserted into and removed from the cavities  11  from the rear. The lower and upper locking projections  45  and  46  move into the cavities  11  at the main locking position, as shown in  FIG. 10 , for locking the rear ends of the terminal fittings  70  that have been inserted normally into the cavities  11  and preventing removal of the terminal fittings  70  from the cavities  11 . 
   A guide hole  49  is formed through each side plate  42 . The guide part  23  is fit in and slides along the guide hole  49  when the retainer  40  moves. A front plate  50  projects forward from a lower portion of a front edge of each side plate  42  and fits in the front concavity  21  at the main locking position. A notch  51  is formed by cutting out a lower part of a rear edge of each side plate part  42 . The notch  51  receives the removal prevention part  24  and locks to the removal prevention surface  26  at the temporary locking position. 
   A to-be-locked projection  52  is formed on an inner surface of each side plate  42  at a position above the guide hole  49  and near an upper edge of each side plate  42  for locking to the locking part  28 . The to-be-locked portion  52  inclines down toward the front of the retainer  40  at an acute angle to the direction Z that is perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40  and at an acute angle to the fit-in direction X. Thus, the to-be-locked portion  52  is not coincident with the direction Z. A to-be-locked surface  53  is formed along the lower side of the to-be-locked portion  52  and extends along the extension direction of the to-be-locked portion  52 . The to-be-locked surface  53  is in a region surrounded by the horizontal line A drawn along the fit-in direction X and the oblique line B drawn along the direction Z perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40 . A front end of the lower surface of the to-be-locked portion  52  is continuous with a projection of the periphery of the guide hole  49 . A guide inclined surface  54  extends along the top of the to-be-locked portion  52  and guides the retainer  40  to the main locking position. 
   A rear end of the to-be-locked portion  52  is disposed on a level with the upper edges of both side plates  42 . A front end of the to-be-locked portion  52  is approximately longitudinally coincident with front edges of both side plates  42  and is vertically spaced at a certain interval from the upper edge of both side plates  42 . More specifically, the to-be-locked portion  52  inclines in a direction in which the distance between the to-be-locked portion  52  and the upper edges of both side plate parts  42  gradually increases from the rear of the to-be-locked portion  52  to the front thereof. A vertical triangular region  55  is formed between the upper edge of each side plate  42  and the upper edge of the to-be-locked portion  52 . The region  55  fits in the fit-in space  32  of the housing  10  at the main locking position. 
   The terminal fitting  70  is formed by bending a conductive metal plate and has opposite front and rear ends. As shown in  FIG. 9 , a square tubular body  71  is formed at the front end of the terminal fitting  70  and an open barrel  72  is formed at the rear end. The body  71  receives a mating terminal fitting (not shown) accommodated in the mating housing and is connected therewith. The barrel  72  is crimped to an end of an electric wire  90  and connected therewith. The electric wires  90  connected with the terminal fittings  70  are pulled out rearward from the rear of the housing  10 . 
   The retainer  40  is inserted into the retainer insertion hole  17  of the housing  10  through the retainer insertion port  18 . As a result, the temporary locking part  27  and the temporary to-be-locked portion  47  are locked together, and the removal prevention part  24  and the to-be-locked portion  51  are locked together to hold the retainer  40  at the temporary locking position in a movement-prevented state. At this time, the inclined guide surface  54  of the to-be-locked portion  52  contacts the guide slope  33  of the locking part  28  from below, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 8A , to prevent the retainer  40  from moving to the main locking position. The terminal fittings  70  then are inserted into the respective cavities  11  from the rear, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Each of the elastic lances  12  deforms elastically during insertion of the respective terminal fitting  70 , but then resiliently returns when the terminal fitting  70  has been inserted normally to achieve primary locking of the corresponding terminal fitting  70 . 
   A force is applied to the retainer  40  to urge the retainer  40  obliquely up toward the front of the housing  10  after the terminal fittings  70  have been inserted. As a result, the temporary to-be-locked projection  47  is unlocked from the temporary locking part  27 , and the inclined guide surface  54  and the guide slope  33  slide on each other. Thus, both side plate parts  42  deform out and allow the retainer  40  to move to the main locking position. One or more of the terminal fittings  70  may not have been inserted sufficiently into the cavity  11 . However, the retainer  40  moves oblique to the fit-in direction X and forcibly moves any incompletely inserted terminal fitting  70  to the normal inserted state. 
   The upper edge of each side plate part  42  contacts the lower edge of the beam  31  and the front edge of each side plate part  42  contacts the rear edge of the protrusion  34  when the retainer  40  reaches the main locking position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , to prevent further forward movement of the retainer  40 . The lower surface of the base part  41  becomes continuous and almost flush with the lower surface of the housing  10  when the retainer  40  has reached the main locking position, and the outer surfaces of the side plate parts  42  are continuous and almost flush with the respective side surfaces of the housing  10  (except the front and rear concavities  21  and  22 ). The to-be-locked portion  52  rides across the locking part  28  as the retainer  40  reaches the main locking position, as shown in  FIG. 8B . As a result, both side plate parts  42  elastically return to their original state and the to-be-locked surface  53  is locked to the locking surface  29  to prevent the retainer  40  from returning toward the temporary locking position. At this time, the to-be-locked surface  53  and the locking surface  29  are locked to each other along surfaces that are inclined at an acute angle to the direction Z, which is perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40  with respect to the fit-in direction X of the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the lower and upper locking projections  45  and  46  achieve secondary locking of the terminal fittings  70  that have been inserted normally inserted into the cavities  11  and achieve a removal-prevented state. The mating housing then is fit on the housing  10  from the front with the housing  10  and the retainer  40  accommodated almost entirely in the mating housing. 
   A pulling force on the electric wires  90  that extend from the rear surface of the housing  10  exerts a removal force on the retainer  40  in the return direction thereof. Thus, there is a fear that the retainer  40  may return toward the temporary locking position or may be separated from the housing  10 . However, the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  are locked to each other at the main locking position along the locking surface  29  and the to-be-locked surface  53  that are inclined at an acute angle toward the direction Z, which is perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40 , and also at an acute angle to the fit-in direction X of the housing  10 . This locking of the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  to each other in the above-described direction is more resistant to the separation force applied to the retainer  40  than a mode of locking the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  to each other along surfaces aligned with the fit-in direction X of the housing  10 . Thus, the retainer  40  is not moved easily in the return direction and the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  prevent the retainer  40  from being separated inadvertently from the housing  10 . 
   The to-be-locked portion  52  is near the upper edges of the side plates  42  of the retainer  40  and inclines so that the distance between the to-be-locked portion  52  and the upper edge of each side plate part  42  gradually increases from the rear end of the to-be-locked portion  52  to the front end thereof. Thus the region  55  is formed between the upper edge of the to-be-locked portion  52  and the upper edge of the retainer  40 . Therefore although the to-be-locked portion  52  is disposed near the upper edge of the retainer  40 , the region  55  protects the to-be-locked portion  52  and enhances the strength thereof. 
   The locking part  28  is on the periphery of the side openings  19  formed through both side surfaces of the housing  10 . Thus there is a fear that the locking part  28  is formed in a small region due to spatial limitation and that the to-be-locked portion  52  cannot be locked to the locking part  28  in a large area. However, the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  are locked together in a direction that is not coincident with the direction Z perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40  at the main locking position. Thus the above-described mode of locking the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  together makes the region in which the locking part  28  is formed much larger than a mode of locking the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  together along the direction Z perpendicular to the movement direction Y of the retainer  40 . Accordingly, a large area is obtained for locking the locking part  28  and the to-be-locked portion  52  together. 
   The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are included in the technical scope of the present invention. 
   Provided that the locking part-forming region is securely obtained, it is preferable to construct the housing and the retainer so that the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked to each other at the main locking position along the direction (oblique line in  FIGS. 1 and 6 ) perpendicular to the movement direction of the retainer. This construction is capable of reliably preventing the to-be-locked portion from being unlocked from the locking part. 
   The retainer insertion hole may be formed to open through only one surface of the housing.