Connector with terminal retainer

Abstract

Disclosed is a terminal retainer mounted on a rear portion of a connector housing so as to move in a two-stage manner, that is, between a provisionally-connected condition and a completely-connected condition, and in the completely-connected condition the terminal retainer can be positively engaged with metal terminals. Flexible support pieces for metal terminals are provided on a terminal retainer. A flexible retaining piece for the metal terminal is provided at each terminal receiving chamber. In the provisionally-connected condition of the terminal retainer, the flexible support piece is placed on a push-up projection of the connector housing to be held out of a path of movement of the metal terminal within the terminal receiving chamber. When the terminal retainer shifts to the completely-connected condition, a driven projection on the flexible support piece is engaged in a drive groove in the connector housing to forcibly drive the flexible support piece into engagement with the metal terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.