Patent Description:
<FIG> illustrates a configuration of a connector that is described in <CIT> as a related art of the above-mentioned kind of connector. In <FIG>, the connector is shown as a sectional view in an exploded state.

A connector housing <NUM> includes a cavity <NUM> into which a female terminal fitting <NUM> can be inserted from the rear side, and an insertion hole <NUM>, into which a tab of a male terminal fitting of a counterpart is inserted, is formed on a front face wall <NUM> which is on a front end portion of the cavity <NUM>. A front half portion of the cavity <NUM> is formed in a size that allows the terminal fitting <NUM> to be displaced in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction (upward), and a locking step portion <NUM> is formed on an upper portion of an inner surface of the cavity <NUM> in a manner to protrude downward.

A retainer attachment opening <NUM> is formed on a lower surface of the connector housing <NUM>, and a retainer <NUM> is attached so as to cover the retainer attachment opening <NUM>. The retainer <NUM> has a lance <NUM>. The lance <NUM> is formed on the retainer <NUM> in a cantilevered state to have a free end on the front edge side, and an engagement protrusion portion 21a protrudes upward at an end portion of the lance <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on a temporary locking position and is flush with a bottom surface of the cavity <NUM>.

The terminal fitting <NUM> includes: a connection tongue portion <NUM>; a box-shaped portion <NUM>, which has a square tube shape surrounding the connection tongue portion <NUM>; a wire barrel <NUM>, which is caulked and connected to a core wire 33a of an electric wire <NUM>; and an insulation barrel <NUM>, which is caulked and fixed on an insulating film portion of the electric wire <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate a process in which the terminal fitting <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM> and shifted to a final locking position, in sequence. When the terminal fitting <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM> of the connector housing <NUM> in a state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on a temporary locking position, an end of the terminal fitting <NUM> hits the engagement protrusion portion 21a of the retainer <NUM> and advances forward while bending and deforming the lance <NUM> downward (see <FIG>).

Then, when an engagement hole <NUM> which is formed on the bottom surface of the box-shaped portion <NUM> of the terminal fitting <NUM> aligns with the engagement protrusion portion 21a, the engagement protrusion portion 21a is elastically restored to be engaged with the engagement hole <NUM> and the terminal fitting <NUM> is held by the retainer <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Subsequently, when the retainer <NUM> is pushed from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, the terminal fitting <NUM> is translated upward in the cavity <NUM> to a position where a rear edge portion of the box-shaped portion <NUM> of the terminal fitting <NUM> is engaged with the locking step portion <NUM> on the upper surface of the cavity <NUM> (see <FIG>). In this state, the terminal fitting <NUM> is retained by the lance <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> and the box-shaped portion <NUM> is abutted to be retained by the locking step portion <NUM> in the cavity <NUM>. Thus, a double locking state is produced and a large holding force can be obtained.

In the conventional connector described above, a sufficient holding force can be obtained in the state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on the final locking position and the terminal fitting <NUM> is finally locked (secondary locking state). However, in the state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on the temporary locking position and the terminal fitting <NUM> is temporarily locked (primary locking state), the terminal fitting <NUM> is retained by the lance <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> but the terminal fitting <NUM> can move in the cavity <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction thereof. That is, the posture is unstable and rattling can occur. Thus, the holding force in the primary locking is not sufficient in such a configuration. For example, if the terminal fitting <NUM> rattles, locking by the retainer <NUM> may be released and the terminal fitting <NUM> may come off.

Especially, an assembly process of this type of connector commonly includes a work in which after inserting a terminal into a housing, an electric wire connected to the terminal is pulled so as to check whether the terminal is properly inserted and attached. In this work, if the electric wire is pulled at an angle to an axis of the terminal, that is, when the electric wire is swayed, a situation occurs in which the terminal tilts to cause release of the primary locking and the terminal easily comes off in the above-described configuration such as that of the conventional connector.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which a holding force in a primary locking of a terminal is increased compared to related art and a primary locking state is maintained without allowing the terminal to come off even when, for example, an electric wire connected to the terminal is swayed in the primary locking state.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a connector includes: a terminal that includes a box-like portion, into which a mating terminal is inserted and connected, and is attached to an end of an electric wire; a housing that has an accommodating hole accommodating the box-like portion; and a retainer that is attached to the housing in a manner to be displaceable in a crossing direction, which crosses with a direction in which the box-like portion is inserted into the accommodating hole, and can be positioned on a first position and a second position. When mutually-opposing inner surfaces of the accommodating hole are defined as an upper surface and a lower surface, a pressing piece, which cantilevers to protrude toward the lower surface, is formed on the upper surface, and a protrusion, which protrudes toward the upper surface, is formed on the lower surface. The retainer includes a protrusion portion that protrudes on extension of the accommodating hole. When the retainer is positioned on the first position, the box-like portion is allowed to be inserted into the accommodating hole and the box-like portion inserted in the accommodating hole is pushed by the pressing piece and displaced in the crossing direction so as to make a step portion, which is formed on the box-like portion, be caught by the protrusion and retained and a rear end of the box-like portion be caught by the protrusion portion and retained, where a primary locking state is produced. The retainer is displaced from the first position to the second position so as to increase hooking between the protrusion portion and the rear end of the box-like portion, where a secondary locking state is produced.

According to the connector of the embodiment of the present invention, the primary locking state of a terminal is more stabilized than related art and the holding force in the primary locking of the terminal can be increased compared to related art. Accordingly, even when, for example, an electric wire connected to a terminal is pulled or swayed in the primary locking state, release of the primary locking can be prevented and the terminal can be consequently prevented from coming off.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example in reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a connector according to the present invention. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate components of the connector which is illustrated in <FIG> in an exploded manner. The connector in this example includes a housing <NUM> made of resin, a large number of terminals <NUM>, and a retainer <NUM> made of resin. In <FIG>, <NUM> denotes an electric wire connected to the terminal <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate only one terminal <NUM> attached to an end of the electric wire <NUM>, omitting illustration of other terminals <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> has a block shape as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, and a large number of accommodating holes <NUM> are formed through in a front and rear direction. The accommodating holes <NUM> are rectangular holes and are formed to be arranged in two rows, which are an upper row and a lower row, forming a staggered pattern in this example. A recessed portion <NUM> is formed across a lower surface of the housing <NUM> in a left-right direction (width direction), accordingly dividing each of the accommodating holes <NUM> into two portions, front and rear portions, with the recessed portion <NUM> in between.

On upper and lower opposing surfaces of an inner surface on the front end side of each accommodating hole <NUM>, a pressing piece <NUM> and a protrusion <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG> described later) are formed. The pressing piece <NUM> is formed on an upper surface 41a of the accommodating hole <NUM> to cantilever in a manner such that a free end 43a protrudes toward a lower surface 41b. The free end 43a is positioned on the front end of the accommodating hole <NUM> and a base end is positioned deeper than the front end of the accommodating hole <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is formed on a position, opposed to the base end of the pressing piece <NUM>, on the lower surface 41b of the accommodating hole <NUM> in a manner to protrude toward the upper surface 41a. Here, a narrow groove <NUM> is formed in a corner portion of the lower surface 41b of each accommodating hole <NUM> so as to be extended in an extending direction of the accommodating hole <NUM>. The groove <NUM> is formed in a manner to be extended from the rear end of the accommodating hole <NUM> across the recessed portion <NUM> and be slightly positioned in the accommodating hole <NUM> which is positioned in front of the recessed portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The front side of the housing <NUM> is slightly narrower than the rear side, and on both side surfaces 40a and 40b of this narrower portion, a protrusion portion <NUM> and a claw <NUM> are formed in a protruding manner. The protrusion portion <NUM> and the claw <NUM> are arranged in an up and down direction and the protrusion portion <NUM> is positioned above the claw <NUM>. Here, a front half portion 40c of the lower surface of the narrower portion of the housing <NUM> is recessed from a rear half portion 40d, that is, the front half portion 40c is one step higher than the rear half portion 40d.

The retainer <NUM> is composed of a bottom plate portion <NUM>, a front plate portion <NUM>, both side plate portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and a rear block portion <NUM>. On the front plate portion <NUM>, a large number of insertion holes <NUM> are formed in a manner such that the insertion holes <NUM> are arranged to correspond to the accommodating holes <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In the bottom plate portion <NUM>, an opening <NUM> that is large enough for the rear half portion 40d of the lower surface of the narrower portion of the housing <NUM> to enter is formed. The rear block portion <NUM> is positioned on the bottom plate portion <NUM> on the rear side compared to the opening <NUM> and is shaped to fit into the recessed portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

A large number of rectangular holes <NUM> are formed through the rear block portion <NUM> in the front and rear direction so as to correspond to respective accommodating holes <NUM> on the lower row in the housing <NUM>, and protrusion portions <NUM> are formed on front ends on the lower surfaces in respective rectangular holes <NUM> in a protruding manner. The protrusion portion <NUM> is formed in a state in which the protrusion portion <NUM> is coupled with one of both side surfaces of the inside of the rectangular hole <NUM> but has a slight gap <NUM> with respect to the other. The gap <NUM> is positioned on a position corresponding to the narrow groove <NUM> formed at the accommodating hole <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

A large number of protrusion portions <NUM> are formed on the front end of the upper surface of the rear block portion <NUM> in a protruding manner so as to correspond to the arrangement of a large number of accommodating holes <NUM> on the upper row in the housing <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> is formed so that a left-right width of the protrusion portion <NUM> is smaller than a left-right width of the accommodating hole <NUM> and the protrusion portion <NUM> is positioned on the center in the left-right width of the accommodating hole <NUM>.

On the side plate portions <NUM> and <NUM>, which are coupled with the front plate portion <NUM> and the bottom plate portion <NUM> and are positioned to sandwich the rear block portion <NUM> from left and right, two cutouts <NUM> and <NUM> are formed from the rear ends to the vicinity of the front ends so as to be parallel to each other and be parallel to the bottom plate portion <NUM>. An elongated piece <NUM> positioned between the cutouts <NUM> and <NUM> has a slightly thin plate thickness, an outer surface of the elongated piece <NUM> is positioned deeper than outer surfaces of the side plate portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and a claw portion <NUM> is formed on a lower end of the inner surface so as to protrude inward (see <FIG> described later).

<FIG> illustrates the terminal <NUM> attached to the end of the electric wire <NUM>, and the terminal <NUM> includes a box-like portion <NUM>, a core wire barrel portion <NUM>, and a covering barrel portion <NUM>. The core wire barrel portion <NUM> is caulked to a core wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> to be connected to the core wire <NUM>, and the covering barrel portion <NUM> is caulked to a covering <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> to be fixed to the electric wire <NUM>.

The box-like portion <NUM> is a portion to which a mating terminal (pin terminal) of a mating connector is inserted and connected. A metal plate is bent to form a box-like outer shape of the box-like portion <NUM> and elastic contact piece <NUM> that is brought into contact with the mating terminal is formed in the inside. An intermediate portion, in a longitudinal direction (axial center direction of the terminal <NUM>), of an upper plate portion 51a constituting an upper surface of the box-like portion <NUM> is cut out to form a cutout <NUM>, and this cutout <NUM> forms a step portion <NUM> on the upper plate portion 51a.

On a rear end portion of one side plate portion 51b of the box-like portion <NUM>, a guide piece <NUM> is formed by extending the side plate portion 51b upward, and an extended piece <NUM> is further formed by bending and extending rear ends of the guide piece <NUM> and the side plate portion 51b. The extended piece <NUM> is positioned to constitute the rear end of the box-like portion <NUM>. Here, an upper end portion of the guide piece <NUM> is positioned higher than the extended piece <NUM>.

In assembly of the connector, the retainer <NUM> is first attached to the housing <NUM> and the terminals <NUM> to which respective electric wires <NUM> are connected are subsequently attached. The assembly of the connector will be described below with reference to <FIG>. However, <FIG> omit the whole illustration of the terminals <NUM> and the electric wires <NUM> and illustrate only one terminal <NUM> to which the electric wire <NUM> is connected, similarly to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the retainer <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM>. The retainer <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> from the lower surface side of the housing <NUM>, and the rear block portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> is inserted into the recessed portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The front plate portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> is positioned so as to cover the front surface of the housing <NUM>. In this state, the protrusion portions <NUM>, which are formed on the respective side surfaces 40a and 40b of the housing <NUM>, enter to be positioned in respective cutouts <NUM>, which are positioned upper side, of the cutouts <NUM> and <NUM>, which are formed on each of the side plate portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the retainer <NUM>. The side plate portions <NUM> and <NUM> are thus caught by the protrusion portions <NUM> and accordingly, the retainer <NUM> is retained and positioned in the housing <NUM> (see <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrate a process in which the terminal <NUM> is inserted and accommodated into the accommodating hole <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to be in the secondary locking state, with an A-A cross section of <FIG>, and <FIG>illustrate the same process as that of <FIG> with a B-B cross section of <FIG>. The description will be provided below in sequence.

The state illustrated is a state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on the position illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, that is, a state in which the retainer <NUM> is positioned on a first position. Namely, the state is the middle of insertion after inserting the box-like portion <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> into the accommodating hole <NUM> from the rear end of the housing <NUM>. The retainer <NUM> is positioned on the first position and is retracted. Accordingly, the retainer <NUM> does not interfere with the insertion of the box-like portion <NUM>. In more detail, the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) formed on the retainer <NUM> does not interfere with the insertion of the box-like portion <NUM>.

The state illustrated is a state in which the box-like portion <NUM> is further inserted to be abutted on the front plate portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM>. The box-like portion <NUM> is pushed by the free end 43a of the pressing piece <NUM>, which is formed on the accommodating hole <NUM> in a protruding manner, and is displaced in a direction crossing with the insertion direction (in this example, a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and to the lower side), and the protrusion <NUM>, which is formed on the accommodating hole <NUM> in a protruding manner, enters the cutout <NUM> formed in the box-like portion <NUM>. The opposing surface of the box-like portion <NUM>, which is opposed to the lower surface 41b on which the protrusion <NUM> is formed in the accommodating hole <NUM>, is pressed onto the lower surface 41b. Accordingly, the step portion <NUM> of the box-like portion <NUM> is caught by the protrusion <NUM> and retained. Here, the guide piece <NUM> formed on the box-like portion <NUM> enters the groove <NUM> formed at the accommodating hole <NUM>.

Further, because of the displacement of the box-like portion <NUM>, the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) of the retainer <NUM>, which protrudes on extension of the accommodating hole <NUM>, is positioned on the rear end of the box-like portion <NUM>, that is, positioned behind the extended piece <NUM> of the box-like portion <NUM>. Thus, the rear end of the box-like portion <NUM> is caught by the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) of the retainer <NUM>, which also retains the box-like portion <NUM>.

When the terminal <NUM> is thus inserted into the accommodating hole <NUM> and accommodation of the box-like portion <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> into the accommodating hole <NUM> is completed and the terminal <NUM> is in the primary locking state, the box-like portion <NUM> is doubly retained in this example. The guide piece <NUM> of the box-like portion <NUM> that enters the groove <NUM> is caught at the front surface of the rear block portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM>, functioning as a stopper.

The retainer <NUM> attached to the housing <NUM> is displaceable in a direction crossing with the insertion direction of the box-like portion <NUM> with respect to the accommodating hole <NUM> (in this example, the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the up and down direction), and the state illustrated is a state in which the retainer <NUM> is displaced from the first position to the second position by further pushing the retainer <NUM> into the housing <NUM>.

The displacement of the retainer <NUM> mentioned above increases a range in which the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) of the retainer <NUM> is positioned to overlap with the rear end of the box-like portion <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>, that is, the hooking between the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) of the retainer <NUM> and the rear end of the box-like portion <NUM> is increased, and the terminal <NUM> is finally locked, that is, the terminal <NUM> is in the secondary locking state.

<FIG> illustrate a state in which the retainer <NUM> is displaced to the second position. The claw portion <NUM> formed on the inner surface of the elongated piece <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> climbs over the claw <NUM> formed on the housing <NUM> to be positioned above the claw <NUM>. Thus, the retainer <NUM> is retained and positioned on the second position. The rear half portion 40d of the lower surface of the narrower portion of the housing <NUM> is fitted into the opening <NUM> of the bottom plate portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM>. The insertion hole <NUM> formed on the front plate portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> is positioned on a position corresponding to the front end opening of the box-like portion <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>, enabling insertion of a mating terminal into the box-like portion <NUM>.

According to the above-described example of the connector of the present invention, the box-like portion <NUM> is pushed by the pressing piece <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and pressed against the inner surface (lower surface 41b) of the accommodating hole <NUM> in the primary locking state, whereby the terminal <NUM> maintains a stable posture without rattling. In addition, the step portion <NUM> and the rear end (extended piece <NUM>) of the box-like portion <NUM> are caught by the protrusion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the protrusion portion <NUM> (<NUM>) of the retainer <NUM> respectively and thus the terminal <NUM> is retained. That is, the terminal <NUM> is doubly locked and retained.

Thus, the primary locking state of the terminal <NUM> is more stabilized than related art and the holding force in the primary locking of the terminal <NUM> can be increased. Accordingly, even when, for example, the electric wire <NUM> connected to the terminal <NUM> is pulled in the primary locking state, the terminal <NUM> can be prevented from coming off.

In addition, the box-like portion <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> is locked at two points, as described above. Therefore, even when, for example, the electric wire <NUM> is swayed and a force which is strong enough to tilt the terminal <NUM> is applied to the terminal <NUM>, the terminal <NUM> can be prevented from coming off. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate such a state. <FIG> illustrates a state in which locking is maintained by the protrusion portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> even when the electric wire <NUM> is swayed downward and the locking by the protrusion <NUM> is almost released. <FIG> illustrates a state in which locking is maintained by the protrusion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> even when the electric wire <NUM> is swayed upward and the locking by the protrusion portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> is almost released.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a terminal (<NUM>) that includes a box-like portion (<NUM>) , into which a mating terminal is configured to be inserted and connected, and is attached to an end of an electric wire (<NUM>);
a housing (<NUM>) that has an accommodating hole (<NUM>) accommodating the box-like portion; and
a retainer (<NUM>) that is attached to the housing in a manner to be displaceable in a crossing direction, the crossing direction crossing with a direction in which the box-like portion is inserted into the accommodating hole, and can be positioned on a first position and a second position, wherein
when mutually-opposing inner surfaces of the accommodating hole are defined as an upper surface (41a) and a lower surface (41b), a pressing piece (<NUM>) is formed on the upper surface, the pressing piece cantilevering to protrude toward the lower surface, and a protrusion (<NUM>) is formed on the lower surface, the protrusion protruding toward the upper surface,
the retainer includes a protrusion portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) that protrudes on extension of the accommodating hole,
wherein the box-like portion (<NUM>) has a step portion (<NUM>),
when the retainer is positioned on the first position, the box-like portion is allowed to be inserted into the accommodating hole and the box-like portion inserted in the accommodating hole is pushed by the pressing piece and displaced in the crossing direction, the step portion (<NUM>) being caught by the protrusion (<NUM>) and retained and a rear end of the box-like portion being caught by the protrusion (<NUM>, <NUM>) portion and retained, where a primary locking state is produced, and
the retainer (<NUM>) is displaced from the first position to the second position so as to increase hooking between the protrusion portion and the rear end of the box-like portion, where a secondary locking state is produced.