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US 2004/0106332 A1Published application
Connector
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorNaoya Kurimoto
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorNaoya Kurimoto
Estimating the term…
A connector is capable of being miniaturised, whilst inadvertent pushing in of a retainer is prevented. A housing main body 2 into which female terminal fittings are inserted has a retainer insertion groove 23 formed on a side face thereof, a retainer 14 being inserted into this retainer insertion groove 23. The retainer 14 is maintained in a temporary stopping position which allows the insertion of the female terminal fittings into cavities thereof. After that, the retainer 14 is pushed further in and maintained in a main stopping position where is engages stepped members of the female terminal fittings. When the retainer 14 is in the temporary stopping position, the posterior end (relative to the direction of insertion) of this retainer 14 is inside the housing main body 2. As a result, the retainer 14 is not pushed inadvertently into the main stopping position while, for example, the connector is being transported to a site where the female terminal fittings are to be inserted. A hood member 35 does not need to perform the function of protecting the retainer 14, consequently its size can remain small so as merely to cover a sealing ring 10.
An electrical connector comprising a housing having a plurality of parallel terminal insertion cavities therein, each of said cavities being adapted to receive one of a plurality of electrical terminals, the housing further including an end adapted to receive a mating connector, a retainer cavity intersecting said insertion cavities, and a retainer movable in said retainer cavity between a first position in which in use said terminals can move in a respective insertion cavity, and a second position in which in use said terminals are latched against movement in a respective insertion cavity, wherein said retainer is wholly within said housing.
An electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector according to any preceding claim, and a second connector adapted to mate therewith, said retainer and said second connector having mutual, concave/convex detecting members adapted to permit full engagement of said connectors only in the second position of said retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.