6 488 547
6,488,547 Title:
Connector with longitudinally spaced locks for retaining terminal fittings
A connector (F) includes two partial locks (41) for holding a terminal retainer (15) in a partial locking position with respect to a housing (Fh) and two full locks (42) for holding the terminal retainer (15) in a full locking position. Terminal fittings (5) can be inserted longitudinally into the housing (Fh) when the retainer (15) is in the partial locking position, but are a locked in the housing (Fh) when the retainer (15) is in the full locking position. The partial locks (41) are on opposite sides of the housing (Fh) and are spaced longitudinally. Similarly, the full locks (42) are on opposite sides of the housing (Fh) and are spaced apart longitudinally. The spaced disposition of the locks (41, 42) stabilizes the retainer (15) in response to forces exerted longitudinally of the terminal fittings (5).
What is claimed is:
1. A connector, comprising: a housing, terminal fittings inserted substantially side by side in the housing, a terminal retainer mounted in the housing and engaging theterminal fittings to prevent the terminal fittings from coming out of the housing, and at least one pair of spaced apart locking means formed on at least one of the housing and the terminal retainer, the locking means being spaced apart and configured tolock the terminal retainer in the housing, the locking means being arranged in two positions spaced apart from each other in insertion and withdrawal directions of the terminal fittings into and from the housing, the locking means comprising a pair offull locking means for holding the retainer in a full locking position where the terminal retainer engages the terminal fitting to prevent the terminal fittings from coming out of the housing and a pair of partial locking means for holding the terminalretainer in a partial locking position where insertion and withdraw of the terminal fittings into and from the housing are permitted, the partial locking means being located more forward with respect to the insertion direction than the full locking meansat one side of the housing and being locating more backward with respect to the insertion direction than the full locking means with respect to a juxtaposed side of the housing.
2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of locking means are at the opposite sides of an engaging position of the terminal retainer with the terminal fittings with respect to the insertion and withdrawal directions of the terminalfittings.
3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal retainer comprises a terminal lock provided in a position such that a distance from a front stop wall of the retainer to a front surface of the terminal lock is substantially equal to anentire length of a connecting portion of the terminal fitting.
4. A connector according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the partial locking means and the full locking means comprise a pair of locking projections on one of the retainer and the housing and a locking hole provided on the other of theretainer and the housing, the locking projections cooperating with the locking hole in the partial and full locking position of the retainer.
5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein the locking hole is oblong along an insertion and withdrawal direction of the retainer in and from the female housing, wherein a corresponding partial locking projection is engageable with a bottomedge of the corresponding locking hole when the terminal retainer is in its partial locking position while being located at an intermediate position of the locking hole when the terminal retainer is in its full locking position, and wherein acorresponding full locking projection is engageable with a step below the corresponding locking hole when the terminal retainer is in its partial locking position while being locked in the locking hole when the terminal retainer is in its full lockingposition.
6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one lock arm resiliently engageable with a mating connector for locking the connector with the mating connector, wherein the lock arm comprises a locking projectionhaving at least one shake preventing portion for avoiding a shaking of the connectors by contacting a portion of the mating connector.
7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein the shake preventing portions comprise slanted surfaces.
8. A connector, comprising: a housing having opposite front and rear ends, a top, a bottom and first and second sides, a plurality of cavities extending through the housing from the front end to the rear end, a mount hole extending into the topof the housing rearward of the front end and intersecting the respective cavities; a terminal retainer mounted on the housing and having a terminal lock extending into the mount hole of the housing; and a first partial locking means on the first sideof the housing and forward of the mount hole, a second partial locking means on the second side of the housing and rearward of the mount hole, a first full locking means on the first side of the housing rearward of the mount hole and a second fulllocking means on the second side of the housing forward of the mount hole, the first and second partial locking means being for locking the retainer in a position on the housing where terminal fittings are insertable into the cavities, the first andsecond full locking means being for locking the retainer in a position on the housing for locking terminal fittings in the cavities between the terminal lock of the retainer and the front of the housing.
9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the retainer further comprises a front lock wall adjacent the front of the housing for limiting forward movement of the terminal fittings in the cavities.