# US 11,309,653 B2 · Connector and terminal fitting that include locking portion and restricting piece

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- Number: US 11,309,653 B2
- Document ID: US11309653B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/014,069
- Filed: 2020-09-08
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-17
- Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Kenkichi Kai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309653B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/42: Securing in a demountable manner
- H01R 13/4223: {comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers}
- H01R 4/184: {comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A connector is provided with a housing 60 including a cavity 62 and a terminal fitting 10 to be inserted into the cavity 62. The housing 60 includes a deflectable locking lance 64 projecting into the cavity 62. The terminal fitting 10 includes a locking portion 29 arranged to face the locking lance 64 in a direction to escape from the cavity 62 and a restricting piece 45 rising toward the locking portion 29. A tip of the restricting piece 45 in a rising direction is arranged to face the locking lance 64.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector, comprising:
a housing including a cavity; and
a terminal fitting to be inserted into the cavity,
wherein:
the housing includes a deflectable locking lance projecting into the cavity,
the terminal fitting includes:
a locking portion arranged to face the locking lance of the housing in a direction in which the terminal fitting escapes from the cavity; and
a restricting piece rising from an upper wall of the terminal fitting toward a space behind the locking portion in a direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity, and
a tip of the restricting piece in a rising direction is arranged to face the locking lance of the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal fitting includes a tubular box portion and a deflectable contact piece arranged inside the box portion, an opening in a front surface of the box portion serves as an insertion opening through which a tab of a mating terminal fitting is inserted, the contact piece contacts the tab, and the restricting piece is arranged behind the box portion to close an opening in a rear surface of the box portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The connector of claim 2, wherein the restricting piece is formed by bending up a rear part of the contact piece.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The connector of claim 2, wherein the contact piece includes a contact point portion in a central part in a plate width direction, and the restricting piece is arranged at a position shifted from the central part of the contact piece in the plate width direction.

### Claim 5

A terminal fitting used in a connector,
wherein the connector comprises:
a housing including a cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted, and a deflectable locking lance projecting into the cavity,
wherein the terminal fitting comprises:
a locking portion arranged to face the locking lance of the housing in a direction in which the terminal fitting escapes from the cavity of the housing; and
a restricting piece rising from an upper wall of the terminal fitting toward a space behind the locking portion in a direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity of the housing, and
wherein a tip of the restricting piece in a rising direction is arranged to face the locking lance of the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The connector of claim 2, wherein the contact piece is provided on a lower surface of an upper wall of the tubular box portion in a state where the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the restricting piece is configured to rise from the contact piece toward the locking lance in a state where the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity.