Connector with laterally mounted retainer for supporting and locking a terminal fitting

A connector, comprising:

• a connector housing including a terminal inserting portion into which a terminal fitting is inserted, a deflectable locking lance projecting into the terminal inserting portion and configured to retain and lock the terminal fitting, and a retainer mounting hole communicating with the terminal inserting portion and open in one surface facing in a direction intersecting an inserting direction of the terminal fitting;
• and
• a retainer to be inserted into the retainer mounting hole through an opening in the one surface of the connector housing, the retainer including a deflection restricting portion configured to restrict the deflection of the locking lance by entering a deflection space for the locking lance with the retainer inserted to a proper depth in the retainer mounting hole and two supports arranged respectively at opposite sides of the deflection restricting portion configured for supporting the terminal fitting from both side by being located to contact the terminal fitting, wherein:
• the retainer is movable with respect to the connector housing to a partial locking position where the retainer is inserted shallowly in the retainer mounting hole and a full locking position where the retainer is inserted to a proper depth in the retainer mounting hole;
• and
• the supports include supporting surfaces at positions higher than the deflection restricting portion and steep wall surfaces extending from a side where the deflection restricting portion is located to the supporting surfaces, the deflection space being configured to allow the deflection of the locking lance at the partial locking position between the wall surfaces of the supports, and the deflection of the locking lance is guided by the wall surfaces.