Connector and a method for connecting such connector with a mating connector

A method for connecting a connector (M) with a mating connector (F), comprising the following steps:

• mounting a retainer (30) at a first position (FIGS. 1;
• 3;
• 7) in a receptacle (22) of a housing (20) of the connector (M);
• inserting terminal fittings (10) into the housing (20), such that leading ends of the terminal fittings (10) project through insertion holes (32) of the retainer (30) and into the receptacle (22) of the housing (20);
• pushing the retainer (30) back from the first position (FIGS. 1;
• 3;
• 7) to a second position (FIGS. 4;
• 6) where the retainer (30) prevents the terminal fittings (10) from coming out;
• and
• accumulating a resilient force in a biasing member (43) by pushing the biasing member (43) by the pushed retainer (30).

A connector (M), comprising:

• a housing (20) having opposite front and rear ends and a receptacle (22) extending into the front end for receiving a mating connector (F);
• terminal fittings (10) insertable into the housing (20) and projecting forwardly into the receptacle (22);
• a retainer (30) movable between a front position (FIGS. 1;
• 3;
• 7) and at least one rear position (FIGS. 4;
• 5;
• 6) in the receptacle (22), the retainer (30) having insertion holes (32) closely surrounding the terminal fittings (10) and slideable relative to the terminal fittings (10) as the retainer (30) is moved between the front position (FIGS. 1;
• 3;
• 7) and the rear position (FIGS. 4;
• 5;
• 6), the retainer (30) being adapted to lock the terminal fittings (10) in the housing (20) when the retainer (30) is in the rear position (FIGS. 4;
• 5;
• 6);
• and
• a biasing means (43) for pushing the retainer (30) towards the front position (FIGS. 1;
• 3;
• 7) when the mating connector (F) is being removed from the receptacle (22), whereby the sliding movement of the retainer (30) along the terminal fittings (10) corrects any misalignments of the terminal fittings (10) each time the mating connector (F) is inserted in and removed from the receptacle (22).