IP Library Granted Patent US 12665341
Granted Patent B2
US 12665341 · App. 18/562,314 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Connector including retainer with separation restricting structure

Inventor: Akihiro Nishitani (Mie, JP)
Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
H01R13/4362
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12665341
App. No.
18/562,314
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is aimed to improve the reliability of a retaining function by a retainer. A connector is provided with a housing ( 10 ) including a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers ( 11 ) arranged in a width direction, terminal fittings ( 30 ) to be inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers ( 11 ), and a retainer ( 40 ) to be assembled with the housing ( 10 ) and configured to retain the terminal fittings ( 30 ) inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers ( 11 ). A projection ( 33 ) projecting only from a part in the width direction is formed on an outer surface of the terminal fitting ( 30 ). A separation restricting portion ( 21 ) is formed in a region of the housing ( 10 ) different from the projection ( 33 ) in the width direction. The retainer ( 40 ) is formed with a locking portion ( 45 ) for restricting a displacement in a separation direction from the housing ( 10 ) by locking the separation restricting portion ( 21 ).

Claims (31)

1 . A connector, comprising:

a housing including a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers arranged in a width direction;

a plurality of terminal fittings inserted into the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers, respectively; and

a retainer mounted into the housing, the retainer retaining the terminal fittings inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers,

wherein a projection projecting only from a part in the width direction of the housing is formed on an outer surface of the terminal fitting,

a separation restricting portion is formed in a region of the housing different from the projection in the width direction of the housing,

the retainer is with a locking portion configured to restrict a displacement in a separation direction from the housing by locking the separation restricting portion,

the locking portion and the projection are arranged side by side in the width direction of the housing with the terminal fittings retained by the retainer, and

the locking portion is provided in a widthwise central region of the retainer and locks with the separation restricting portion at a position overlapping the retainer in a direction intersecting the width direction of the housing.

2 . A connector, comprising:

a housing including a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers arranged in a width direction;

a plurality of terminal fittings inserted into the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers, respectively; and

a retainer mounted into the housing, the retainer retaining the terminal fittings inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers,

wherein a projection projecting only from a part in the width direction of the housing is formed on an outer surface of the terminal fitting,

a separation restricting portion is formed in a region of the housing different from the projection in the width direction of the housing,

the retainer is formed with a locking portion configured to restrict a displacement in a separation direction from the housing by locking the separation restricting portion,

the locking portion is provided in a widthwise central region of the retainer and locks with the separation restricting portion at a position overlapping the retainer in a direction intersecting the width direction of the housing,

at least a pair of lock portions configured to hold the retainer in a state assembled with the housing are formed on both widthwise end parts of the retainer,

the retainer is formed with a separation operating portion, a jig being brought into contact with the separation operating portion when the retainer is separated from the housing, and

the separation operating portion is arranged at a position closer to the at least a pair of lock portions than to the locking portion in the width direction of the housing.

3 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing includes an accommodation space configured to accommodate the retainer,

the separation restricting portion is shaped by recessing a part of a surface of the housing facing the accommodation space, and

a formation region of the separation restricting portion in the width direction is only in an entire width range of one of the terminal accommodation chambers.

4 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein a part of at least one of the separation restricting portion and the locking portion is formed with a tapered assembly guiding surface configured to slide in contact with a part of the other in the process of assembling the retainer with the housing.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein a part of at least one of the separation restricting portion and the locking portion is formed with a tapered separation guiding surface configured to slide in contact with a part of the other in the process of separating the retainer from the housing.

6 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the retainer includes retaining portions configured to retain the terminal fittings by locking the terminal fittings in the terminal accommodation chambers, and

the locking portion is arranged adjacent to the retaining portion.

7 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the projection projects upwardly only from the part in a left region with respect to a center in a width direction of each of the plurality of terminal fittings.

8 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the projection projects upwardly only from the part in a left region with respect to a center in a width direction of each of the plurality of terminal fittings.