# US 2017/0288334 A1 · Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288334 A1 - Document ID: US20170288334A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/505,688 - Filed: 2015-08-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-19 - Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Masanori Moriyasu; Masaaki Tabata; Hajime Matsui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288334A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/521: {Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert} - H01R 13/4361: {Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion} - H01R 24/20: Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract It is aimed to enable a short circuit in a retainer insertion hole to be avoided. Short-circuit preventing walls (18) configured to partition between cavities (11) adjacent in an arrangement direction are provided in a retainer insertion hole (15). A retainer (13) is provided with a plurality of frame-like portions (20) along the arrangement direction of the respective cavities (11). Each frame-like portion (20) is formed to be able to communicate with the corresponding cavity (11). Escaping grooves (32) are formed along a mounting direction of the retainer (13) between the frame-like portions (20) adjacent in the arrangement direction. Escaping grooves (32) are open on front end parts in the mounting direction of the retainer (13) such that the retainer (13) is mountable into the retainer insertion hole (15) while avoiding interference with the short circuit preventing walls (18). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector, comprising: terminal fittings; a connector housing formed to be connectable to a mating connector housing, formed internally with a plurality of cavities configured to accommodate the terminal fittings and arranged in parallel in an arrangement direction intersecting with a connecting direction, and formed on a side surface with a retainer insertion hole communicating with the cavities; and a retainer capable of retaining and locking the terminal fittings by being mounted into the retainer insertion hole, wherein: short circuit preventing walls configured to partition between the cavities adjacent in the arrangement direction are provided in the retainer insertion hole and formed to be continuous with side walls constituting the respective cavities in the connecting direction; and the retainer includes a plurality of frame-like portions along the arrangement direction of the respective cavities, each frame-like portion is formed to be able to communicate with the corresponding cavity, escaping grooves are formed along a mounting direction of the retainer between the frame-like portions adjacent in the arrangement direction, each escaping groove is open on a front end part in the mounting direction of the retainer, whereby each frame-like portion is cantilevered such that the front end part in the mounting direction is a free end, the retainer is mountable into the retainer insertion hole while avoiding interference with the short circuit preventing walls by fitting the short circuit preventing walls into the escaping grooves, and the short circuit preventing wall is sandwiched by frame pieces respectively constituting both frame-like portions adjacent in the arrangement direction between the terminal fittings adjacent in the arrangement direction when the retainer is mounted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein: the retainer is formed with a pressing portion configured to couple the respective frame-like portions on a rear end part in the mounting direction into the retainer insertion hole; each pair of extended walls extend forward or rearward from both frame pieces located on opposite sides in the arrangement direction out of those constituting the frame-like portions, extending directions of the respective pairs of extended walls are alternate in the arrangement direction, and end parts of the respective pairs of extended walls are connected to inner surface sides of a plurality of extended pressing portions connected to the pressing portion; a plurality of avoiding recesses are formed in an opening surface of the retainer insertion hole to expand the retainer insertion hole at front and rear alternate positions in the arrangement direction in correspondence with the respective extended pressing portions, and the pressing portion and the extended pressing portions are alignable with and fittable into the retainer insertion hole and the avoiding recesses; and insertion grooves into which the respective extended walls are insertable are formed along the mounting direction of the retainer in places of the connector housing where the avoiding recesses are provided. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, where guiding portions configured to correct opening widths of front end sides of the escaping grooves in the mounting direction to a proper width by sliding in contact when the retainer is mounted are formed on the front end part of the retainer in the mounting direction, an opening edge of the retainer insertion hole or opening edges of the avoiding recesses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, where guiding portions configured to correct opening widths of front end sides of the escaping grooves in the mounting direction to a proper width by sliding in contact when the retainer is mounted are formed on the front end part of the retainer in the mounting direction, an opening edge of the retainer insertion hole or opening edges of the avoiding recesses.