CONNECTOR

• US 20120309219A1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiraishi, Takumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4223 comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4365 comprising a temporary and a final locking position

Abstract

A retainer (50) is mounted into a housing (20). The retainer (50) can be inserted into a deformation space (26) for the locking lance (25) when a terminal fitting (80) is inserted properly into a cavity (22) and thus restricts deformation of a locking lance (25) to lock the locking lance (25). On the other hand, the retainer (50) contacts the resiliently deformed locking lance (25) to prevent any further insertion of the retainer (50) when the terminal fitting (80) is in an insufficiently inserted state in the cavity (22). First and second contact portions (31, 32) are provided at different positions of the locking lance (25) with which the retainer (50) contacts the first contact portions (31) when the terminal fitting (80) is inserted insufficiently in the cavity (22). A jig (100) contacts the second contact portion (32) to release a locked state of the terminal fitting (80).

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

at least one terminal fitting (80);

a housing (20) including at least one cavity (22) for receiving the terminal fitting (80), the housing (20) having at least one resiliently deformable locking lance (25) projecting at the cavity (22) for locking and retaining the terminal fitting (80);

a retainer (50) to be mounted into the housing (20), the retainer (50) being configured to be inserted into a deformation space (26) for the locking lance (25) when the terminal fitting (80) is inserted properly in the cavity (22) for restricting deformation of the locking lance (25) and locking the terminal fitting (80), the retainer (50) contacting the resiliently deformed locking lance (25) when the terminal fitting (80) is in an insufficiently inserted state in the cavity (22) to prevent any further insertion of the retainer (50); and

at least one first contact portion (31) and at least one second contact portion (32) provided at different positions of the locking lance (25), the retainer (50) contacting the first contact portion (31) when the terminal fitting (80) is in the insufficiently inserted state in the cavity (22) and a jig (100) contacting the second contact portion (32) for releasing a locked state of the terminal fitting (80).

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact portions (31, 32) are shifted from each other in a direction (WD) perpendicular to a mounting direction (MD) of the retainer (50) into the housing (10).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the retainer (50) has an insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) that contacts the first contact portion (31) when the terminal fitting (80) is insufficiently inserted in the cavity (22) and a deformation restricting portion (59) that substantially faces the locking lance (25) in a resilient deforming direction of the locking lance (25) when the terminal fitting (80) is inserted properly in the cavity (22).

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) and the deformation restricting portion (59) are shifted from each other along the mounting direction (59) into the housing (20).

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein the first contact portion (31) and the insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) have contact surfaces (34;

62) inclined with respect to the mounting direction (MD) into the housing (20).

6. The connector of claim 3, wherein the insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) is provided before the deformation restricting portion (59) in the mounting direction (MD) into the housing (20).

7. The connector of claim 3, wherein the second contact portion (32) is provided in a widthwise central part of the locking lance (25), the insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) is provided on a lateral part of the retainer (50), and a widthwise central part of a leading end portion of the retainer (50) is cut to form a recess (63) for avoiding interference with the second contact portion (32).

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the insufficient insertion detecting portion (61) is provided on each of substantially opposite widthwise sides of the leading end portion of the retainer (50).

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein a front surface of the first contact portion (31) defines a first contact surface (34) that can contact the retainer (50) and wherein a front surface of the second contact portion (32) defines a second contact portion (33) that can contact the jig (100).

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein an angle of inclination of the first contact surface (34) is substantially equal to an angle of incllination of the second contact surface (33).

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one jig insertion hole (35) is formed at a position of an outer surface of the housing (20) substantially facing the second contact portion (32) into which the jig (100) can inserted.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein a width of the jig insertion hole (35) is substantially equal to a width of the second contact portion (32).