阅读说明：本技术 连接器 (Connector with a locking member ) 是由 和田光司 正田进也 胜本早纪 于 2019-06-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种连接器,其形成有用于将连接器端子卡定于矛形部的端子卡定部和通过辅具解除该端子卡定部与连接器端子的卡定的辅具抵接部,能够不损害矛形部的强度及相对于连接器端子的卡定能力而使矛形部低矮化。连接器(10)包括壳体(220),壳体具备：收容孔(221),其供长条形的连接器端子(100)沿一个方向插入并收容该连接器端子；和矛形部(229),其沿着形成收容孔的壁面(221A、221B)中的一个壁面朝向连接器端子的插入方向(X)呈悬臂状地突出到收容孔内,矛形部具备：端子卡定部(293),其在末端部具有与插入方向大致垂直的抵接面(293A)；和辅具抵接部(294),其从端子卡定部的与插入方向垂直的宽度方向(Y)的一侧朝向插入方向进一步延伸。(The invention provides a connector, which is provided with a terminal clamping part for fixing a connector terminal on a lance part and an assistant abutting part for releasing the clamping of the terminal clamping part and the connector terminal through an assistant, and can reduce the lance part without damaging the strength of the lance part and the clamping capability relative to the connector terminal. A connector (10) is provided with a housing (220) provided with: a receiving hole (221) into which an elongated connector terminal (100) is inserted in one direction and which receives the connector terminal; and a lance portion (229) that protrudes into the housing hole along one of wall surfaces (221A, 221B) that form the housing hole in a cantilever manner toward an insertion direction (X) of the connector terminal, the lance portion including: a terminal locking part (293) having a contact surface (293A) on the end part, the contact surface being substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; and an auxiliary contact part (294) extending from one side of the terminal clamping part in the width direction (Y) perpendicular to the insertion direction.)

1. A connector, comprising a housing provided with: a receiving hole into which the elongated connector terminal is inserted in one direction and which receives the connector terminal; and a lance portion that projects into the housing hole along one of wall surfaces forming the housing hole in a cantilever shape toward an insertion direction of the connector terminal, characterized in that,

the lance portion includes: a terminal locking part having a contact surface at a terminal part, the contact surface being substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; and an auxiliary contact portion extending from one side of the terminal locking portion in the width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction toward the insertion direction.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the lance portion has a shape: an end surface of the accessory abutment portion that is closer to the connector terminal in a height direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is located at a position that is farther from the connector terminal than an end surface of the terminal abutment portion that is closer to the connector terminal in the height direction.

3. The connector of claim 2,

the accessory contact portion is formed in a wedge shape having a prescribed angle from a distal end portion in the insertion direction toward an end surface in the height direction that is close to the connector terminal.

4. A connector, comprising:

a long connector terminal having at least one flat surface extending in an insertion direction and a locking projection projecting outward on the flat surface; and

a housing, which is provided with: a receiving hole into which the connector terminal is inserted in one direction and which receives the connector terminal; and a lance portion that projects into the housing hole in a cantilever manner along a wall surface that is one of wall surfaces forming the housing hole and that is opposed to the plane of the connector terminal, in a direction of insertion of the connector terminal,

the lance portion includes: a terminal locking part having a contact surface at a terminal part, the contact surface being substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; and an auxiliary contact part protruding from the width direction side of the terminal locking part perpendicular to the insertion direction toward the insertion direction,

when the connector terminal is accommodated in the accommodating hole, the terminal locking part locks the locking projection to prevent the connector terminal from moving in a direction opposite to the insertion direction,

the assistant tool abutting part is pressed by the assistant tool in a direction away from the plane of the connector terminal, so that the locking between the terminal locking part and the locking projection is released.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector having a lance portion for detachably locking a connector terminal inserted into a connector housing and easily releasing the connector terminal.

Background

Conventionally, a connector having a lance portion that detachably locks a connector terminal inserted into a connector housing is known. For example, patent document 1 listed below discloses a connector in which a housing hole for housing a connector terminal and a locking unit (lance) located close to the housing hole and locking the connector terminal are formed in a connector housing. The lance portion includes a plate-shaped piece having a predetermined thickness and a narrow width, and a locking claw formed at a predetermined height on a surface thereof, and the locking claw is locked with a locking portion formed on the connector terminal to prevent the connector terminal from falling off. When the locking claw is released from the locking portion, an assistant tool is inserted between the tip of the lance portion and the connector terminal, and the lance portion is moved in a direction separating from the connector terminal.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the connector described in patent document 1, the accessory abutment portion into which the accessory is inserted in order to release the lance portion from the connector terminal is located above or below the entire locking claw, and as a result, the thickness of the lance portion needs to be increased. Further, if the thickness of the lance portion is reduced, the card amount of the locking claw to the connector terminal may be reduced or the strength of the lance portion may be reduced.

The invention aims to reduce the height of a lance portion without damaging the strength of the lance portion and the locking capability of the connector terminal in a connector provided with the lance portion for fixing the connector terminal to the lance portion and an assistant abutting portion for releasing the locking of the terminal locking portion and the connector terminal by an assistant.

Means for solving the problems

The 1 st aspect of the present invention is a connector including a housing, the housing including: a receiving hole into which the elongated connector terminal is inserted in one direction and which receives the connector terminal; and a lance portion that projects into the housing hole along one of wall surfaces forming the housing hole in a cantilever shape toward an insertion direction of the connector terminal, characterized in that,

the lance portion includes: a terminal locking part having a contact surface at a terminal part, the contact surface being substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; and an auxiliary contact portion extending from one side of the terminal locking portion in the width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction toward the insertion direction.

According to the above aspect, the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the lance is shaped such that: an end surface of the accessory abutment portion that is closer to the connector terminal in a height direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is located at a position that is farther from the connector terminal than an end surface of the terminal abutment portion that is closer to the connector terminal in the height direction.

According to the above aspect, the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the accessory abutment portion is formed in a wedge shape having a prescribed angle from the distal end portion in the insertion direction toward the end surface in the height direction that is close to the connector terminal.

The 4 th aspect of the present invention is a connector comprising:

a long connector terminal having at least one flat surface extending in an insertion direction and a locking projection projecting outward on the flat surface; and

a housing, which is provided with: a receiving hole into which the connector terminal is inserted in one direction and which receives the connector terminal; and a lance portion that projects into the housing hole in a cantilever manner along a wall surface that is one of wall surfaces forming the housing hole and that is opposed to the plane of the connector terminal, in a direction of insertion of the connector terminal,

the lance portion includes: a terminal locking part having a contact surface at a terminal part, the contact surface being substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; and an auxiliary contact part protruding from the width direction side of the terminal locking part perpendicular to the insertion direction toward the insertion direction,

when the connector terminal is accommodated in the accommodating hole, the terminal locking part locks the locking projection to prevent the connector terminal from moving in a direction opposite to the insertion direction,

the assistant tool abutting part is pressed by the assistant tool in a direction away from the plane of the connector terminal, so that the locking between the terminal locking part and the locking projection is released.

Effects of the invention

According to the above aspect 1 of the present invention, the height reduction (thickness reduction) can be achieved without impairing the strength of the lance portion and the locking ability with respect to the connector terminal.

According to the above aspect 2 of the present invention, the accessory abutment portion can be easily operated by the accessory.

According to the above-described aspect 3 of the present invention, the accessory can be easily inserted into the accessory abutment portion.

According to the above aspect 4 of the present invention, the height of the lance portion can be reduced without impairing the strength of the lance portion and the locking ability with respect to the connector terminal.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector 10 of the present embodiment.

In fig. 2, (a) is a perspective view of the connector terminal 100 of the connector 10 in the present embodiment, (B) is a plan view of the connector terminal 100 in (a), (C) is a left side view of the connector terminal 100 in (a) as viewed from the left side, (D) is a bottom view of the connector terminal 100 in (a), (E) is a front view of the connector terminal 100 in (a), and (F) is a sectional view taken along the line IIF-IIF in (E).

In fig. 3, (a) is a perspective view of the housing 200 of the connector 10 of the present embodiment, (B) is a cross-sectional view when the housing 200 in (a) is cut along the X-Z plane, and (C) is a perspective view when the housing 200 in (a) is cut along the X-Z plane and viewed from the left side.

In fig. 4, (a) is a partially enlarged view of the portion IVA in fig. 3 (B), and fig. 4 (B) is a partially enlarged view of the portion IVB in fig. 3 (C).

Fig. 5 (a) is a perspective view of the retainer 300 of the connector 10 according to the present embodiment, and (B) is a front view of the retainer 300 in (a).

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the waterproof seal 400 of the connector 10 of the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 3 (C) when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is partially inserted into the box portion housing passage 221, and fig. 7 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a VIIB portion of fig. 7 (a).

Fig. 8 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 3 (C) when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is completely inserted into the box portion housing passage 221, and fig. 8 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a VIIIB portion of fig. 8 (a).

Fig. 9 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 8 (a) when the dedicated jig 500 is inserted into the space S, and fig. 9 (B) is a partially enlarged view of the IXB portion of fig. 9 (a).

Fig. 10 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 8 (a) in a state where the tool 600 is inserted into the gap S, and fig. 10 (B) is a partially enlarged view of an XB portion of fig. 10 (a).

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the housing 200 in a case where the protective wall 221P is provided between the upper cassette part accommodating passage 221U and the lower cassette part accommodating passage 221L.

Description of the reference symbols

10: a connector;

100: a connector terminal;

110: a box section;

111: a top plate;

112: a base plate;

112 a: a lower surface;

112 b: an upper surface;

113: a left side plate;

114: a right side plate;

115: a contact insertion hole;

116: a locking protrusion;

117: a contact piece;

118: a rear end face;

119: the upper surface is open;

120: a crimping part;

121: a covering part holding part;

122: a conductor holding portion;

122 a: a base plate;

122 b: a grip piece;

130: a transition section;

132: a left side surface;

133: a right side surface;

180: a wire;

190: a waterproof seal for a wire;

200: a housing;

210: a base;

211: a crimping part accommodating path;

212: a rear end face;

213: a terminal insertion opening;

220: a core body;

221: a box portion accommodating path;

221A: a top plate;

221B: a side plate;

221C: a bottom surface;

221L: a lower box part accommodating path;

221P: a protective wall;

221U: an upper box part accommodating path;

222: a front end face;

223: a male terminal insertion opening;

224: an upper side surface of the core body;

224 a: a clamping groove;

224 b: a clamping groove;

224 c: a lower surface;

225: a lower side surface of the core body;

225 a: a clamping groove;

225 b: a clamping groove;

225 c: an upper surface;

226: a tool insertion opening;

228: a main body housing portion;

229: a lance portion;

230: a housing;

231: an upper side of the housing;

231 a: a lower surface;

232: a housing bottom surface;

232 a: an upper surface;

233: the left side surface of the shell;

234: the right side of the shell;

240: inserting the opposite connector into the slot;

241: the deepest part of the groove;

250: a holder insertion groove;

291: a lance base portion;

291A: a base lower surface;

291B: a base upper surface;

292: a cantilever-like portion;

292A: a wedge surface;

292B: a lower surface of the cantilever;

293: a terminal clamping part;

293A: an abutting surface;

293B: a wedge surface;

293C: a lower surface of the locking portion;

294: an assistive abutment;

294A: an auxiliary abutting part lower surface;

294B: a wedge surface;

300: a holder;

310: a main body portion;

311: a left end portion;

312: a right side end;

313: an opening for the box part;

313a, 313b, 313 c: an opening for the box part;

314: an opening for the transition portion;

314a, 314b, 314 c: an opening for the transition portion;

316: a lower surface;

317: a recessed portion for the box portion;

319: a front surface;

320: an upper arm;

321: an upper arm lower surface;

322: an upper locking protrusion;

330: a lower arm;

331: a lower arm upper surface;

332: a lower locking protrusion;

400: a waterproof seal;

405: an opening;

410: an outer surface;

411: a convex portion;

420: an inner surface;

421: a groove-shaped portion;

500: a special auxiliary tool;

510: a grip portion;

520: an intermediate portion;

530: a working part;

531: a bottom surface;

532: auxiliary wedge surfaces;

600: a tool;

610: a grip portion;

620: a shaft portion;

630: a knife tip.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the connector 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of the connector 10 of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to this connector, and should be similarly applied to other types of connectors described in the claims.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 10. As shown in fig. 1, the connector 10 includes a connector terminal 100, a housing 200, a holder 300, and a waterproof seal 400. In the following description, a direction in which the connector terminal 100 extends, that is, a direction in which the connector terminal 100 is inserted into the housing 200 is referred to as an insertion direction X, a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction X and facing the back side of the paper surface in fig. 1 is referred to as a width direction Y, and a direction perpendicular to both the insertion direction X and the width direction Y is referred to as a height direction Z. In the following description, a direction opposite to the insertion direction X, that is, a direction in which the connector terminal 100 is pulled out is referred to as a pull-out direction. Further, when viewed in the pull-out direction, that is, when viewed from the insertion direction of the counterpart connector connected to the connector 10 (when viewed from the right side of the paper surface in fig. 1), the upper side is regarded as the upper side, the lower side is regarded as the lower side, the left side is regarded as the left side (the direction toward the front of the paper surface in fig. 1), and the right side (the direction toward the back of the paper surface in fig. 1) is regarded as the right side.

First, the connector terminal 100 will be described with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 (a) is a perspective view of the connector terminal 100 of the connector 10 according to the present embodiment, fig. 2 (B) is a plan view of the connector terminal 100 of fig. 2 (a), fig. 2 (C) is a left side view of the connector terminal 100 of fig. 2 (a) as viewed from the left side, fig. 2 (D) is a bottom view of the connector terminal 100 of fig. 2 (a), fig. 2 (E) is a front view of the connector terminal 100 of fig. 2 (a), and fig. 2 (F) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIF-IIF in fig. 2 (E).

The connector terminal 100 is formed by punching a flat metal plate and bending the punched flat metal plate. The connector terminal 100 includes: a box portion 110 for accommodating therein a contact (not shown) of a mating connector, the box portion having a vertically asymmetrical cross-sectional outer shape at least in a part thereof; a crimping portion 120 that grips the lead wire 180; and a transition part 130 connecting the box part 110 and the crimping part 120, and having a cross-sectional shape smaller (or lower in height) than that of the box part 110. In addition, these crimping portion 120 and transition portion 130 are formed at the insertion direction rear portion of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100.

The box portion 110 includes a top plate 111, a bottom plate 112, a left side plate 113, and a right side plate 114, and the top plate 111, the bottom plate 112, the left side plate 113, and the right side plate 114 are formed in a cylindrical box shape, and contact insertion holes 115 for receiving contacts of a mating connector are formed therein. The cross-sectional shape of the cartridge portion 110 in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction X or the extraction direction is a substantially rectangular shape having a height Hbox. A locking projection projecting outward is provided on one surface constituting the box portion 110. In the present embodiment, a locking projection 116 projecting upward is formed on the upper surface of the top plate 111.

In contrast, a surface facing the surface on which the locking projection 116 is provided, in this embodiment, the lower surface 112a of the bottom plate 112, has a flat shape. Therefore, the sectional outer shape of at least the portion of the box portion 110 where the locking projection 116 is formed is vertically asymmetrical. Here, the height from the lower surface 112a of the bottom plate 112 to the end of the locking projection 116 is set to hprotrestion. Further, an upper surface opening 119 elongated in the withdrawal direction is formed in the top plate 111 of the box portion 110 rearward of the insertion direction X of the locking projection 116. The width of the upper surface opening 119 in the width direction Y is larger than at least the width of a terminal retaining portion 293 of the lance 229, which will be described later.

A contact piece 117 extending rearward and upward is formed in the contact insertion hole 115 on the upper surface 112b of the base plate 112. The contact piece 117 is capable of making contact with the lower surface of the contact of the mating connector when the contact of the mating connector is inserted into the contact insertion hole 115, and making electrical connection.

The crimping portion 120 has a sheath gripping portion 121 that grips a sheath of the wire 180 and a conductor gripping portion 122 that grips a conductor portion of the wire 180. In the present embodiment, the waterproof wire seal 190 is attached around the covering portion of the wire 180, and the covering portion grip 121 is pressed so as to surround the periphery of the waterproof wire seal 190. The conductor grip 122 includes a bottom plate 122a and grip pieces 122b and 122c extending upward from the bottom plate 122a on both left and right sides. The conductor portions of the wire 180 are crimped between the grip pieces 122b, 122c and the bottom plate 122a by pressing the grip pieces 122b, 122c toward the bottom plate 122a, forming an electrical connection.

The transition portion 130 connects the box portion 110 and the crimp portion 120. The transition portion 130 includes a bottom plate 112 (continuous with the bottom plate 112 of the cartridge portion 110), a left side surface 132 provided to rise upward from the left side of the bottom plate 112, and a right side surface 133 provided to rise upward from the right side of the bottom plate 112. The bottom plate 112 of the transition portion 130 is further continuous with the bottom plate 122a of the conductor gripping portion 122 of the crimp portion 120. The left side 132 of the transition portion 130 is continuous with the left side plate 113 of the box portion 110, and the right side 133 of the transition portion 130 is continuous with the right side plate 114 of the box portion 110. The height of the left and right side surfaces 132 and 133 of the transition portion 130 is set to be lower than the height of the left and right side plates 113 and 114 of the box portion 110. Thus, the cross-sectional shape of the transition portion 130 is smaller (shorter in the present embodiment) than the cross-sectional shape of the box portion 110. The rear end face 118 is formed by a rear end portion of the left side plate 113 of the box portion 110 which is not connected to the left side face 132 of the transition portion 130, a rear end portion of the right side plate 114 of the box portion 110 which is not connected to the right side face 133 of the transition portion 130, and a rear end portion of the top plate 111 of the box portion 110.

Next, the housing 200 will be described with reference to fig. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 (a) is a perspective view of the housing 200 of the connector 10 according to the present embodiment, fig. 3 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the housing 200 of fig. 3 (a) cut along the X-Z plane, and fig. 3 (C) is a perspective view of the housing 200 of fig. 3 (a) cut along the X-Z plane and viewed from the left side. Fig. 4 (a) is a partially enlarged view of the portion IVA in fig. 3 (B), and fig. 4 (B) is a partially enlarged view of the portion IVB in fig. 3 (C).

As shown in fig. 3 (a) to 3 (C), the housing 200 includes: a base portion 210 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a predetermined length in an insertion direction X and relatively large in a height direction Z and a width direction Y; a core 220 extending forward in the insertion direction X from the base 210; and a shell 230 extending from an outer edge portion of the base 210 toward the front in the insertion direction X so as to surround the periphery of the core 220. The housing 230 includes a housing upper side 231, a housing bottom 232, a housing left side 233, and a housing right side 234, which are directly connected to the base 210, whereas the housing 230 and the core 220 are not directly connected to each other but are connected via the base 210. Further, between the shell 230 and the core 220, a counterpart connector insertion groove 240 for receiving a housing of a counterpart connector (not shown) is formed until reaching the base 210 in such a manner as to surround the core 220, thereby partitioning the shell 230 and the core 220.

In a rear portion in the insertion direction X of the base portion 210 of the housing 200 and the core 220 connected to the base portion 210, a plurality of pressure-bonding section accommodating paths 211 extending in the insertion direction X for accommodating the pressure-bonding sections 120 of the connector terminal 100 are formed in the insertion direction of a retainer described later. The pressure-bonding section accommodating passage 211 is formed in the same straight line as a cartridge section accommodating passage described later. In the present embodiment, a total of 6 pressure-bonding section accommodating passages 211 of 3 in the width direction Y and 2 in the height direction Z are formed. The number of the pressure-bonding section accommodating passages 211 in the width direction Y and the number in the height direction Z are not limited to this example, and may be other numbers. The cross-sectional shape of each of the pressure-bonding section accommodating paths 211 in a plane parallel to the Y-Z plane is a shape and a size capable of accommodating the pressure-bonding section 120 of the connector terminal 100 and the wire waterproof seal 190 attached thereto, and in the present embodiment, is a circle slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the wire waterproof seal 190. The X-direction rear surface of the base 210 forms a rear end surface 212, and a portion where the crimp section accommodating passage 211 reaches the rear end surface 212 forms a terminal insertion opening 213 for inserting the connector terminal 100 into the crimp section accommodating passage 211.

In the core 220, a plurality of box portion accommodating paths 221 for accommodating the box portions 110 of the connector terminals 100 are formed on the same straight line as the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211 in the front portion in the X direction. In the following description of the present embodiment, the cartridge portion accommodating path 221 located above in the height direction Z is referred to as an upper cartridge portion accommodating path 221U, the cartridge portion accommodating path 221 located below in the height direction Z is referred to as a lower cartridge portion accommodating path 221L, and when both paths are collectively referred to, only the cartridge portion accommodating path 221 is referred to. The cross-sectional shape of each of the box section accommodating paths 221 on a plane parallel to the Y-Z plane is a shape capable of accommodating the box section 110 of the connector terminal 100, and in the present embodiment, is a substantially rectangular shape having a size in the height direction Z slightly larger than a size in the width direction Y.

The front surface of the core 220 in the insertion direction X is a front end surface 222. The box portion accommodating passage 221 reaches the front end surface 222 to form a male terminal insertion opening 223. The male terminal insertion opening 223 has a shape having substantially the same size as the size of the internal space of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 surrounded by the top plate 111, the bottom plate 112, the left side plate 113, and the right side plate 114. A tool insertion opening 226 is formed on an upper side of each male terminal insertion opening 223. Each of the box portion accommodating passages 221 is provided with a lance 229, and the lance 229 is obliquely projected into the box portion accommodating passage 221 in a cantilever manner forward from one of wall surfaces forming the box portion accommodating passage 221, that is, the top plate 221A and/or the side plate 221B, along the top plate 221A or the side plate 221B.

The lance 229 provided in the upper box portion accommodating passage 221U is connected to the top plate 221A of the box portion accommodating passage 221U, and the lance 229 provided in the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L is connected to the side plate 221B of the box portion accommodating passage 221L. Each lance 229 includes: a lance base 291 connected to the top plate 221A and/or the side plate 221B; a cantilever 292 extending from the lance base 291 toward the insertion direction in the cartridge storage passage 221; a terminal locking portion 293 formed at the distal end portion of the cantilever portion 292 and having a contact surface 293A substantially perpendicular to the pull-out direction; and an auxiliary contact portion 294 extending from one side of the terminal locking portion 293 in the width direction Y perpendicular to the insertion direction further toward the insertion direction X than the contact surface 293A.

The lance base 291 has a predetermined thickness in the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, two box portion accommodating passages 221 are provided in the height direction Z, and a base lower surface 291A of a lance base 291 of a lance 229 formed in an upper box portion accommodating passage 221U is opposed to a base upper surface 291B of the lance base 291 of the lance 229 formed in a lower box portion accommodating passage 221L, and a height hportrum from a lower surface 112a of a bottom plate 112 of a box portion 110 of a connector terminal 100 to a tip of a locking protrusion 116 can be accommodated therebetween. On the other hand, a base lower surface 291A of the lance base 291 of the lance 229 formed in the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L is opposed to a bottom surface 221C of the box portion accommodating passage 221, and a height hprotrestion from the lower surface 112a of the bottom plate 112 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 to the tip of the locking projection 116 can be accommodated therebetween.

The cantilever 292 of the lance 229 is provided with a 1 st wedge surface 292A inclined obliquely downward in the insertion direction X from a distal end portion of a base lower surface 291A of the lance base 291, and a cantilever lower surface 292B extending in the horizontal direction in the insertion direction X from the distal end portion of the 1 st wedge surface 292A. A height in a height direction Z from a base upper surface 291B of a lance base portion 291 of the lance 229 located on a lower side to a cantilever lower surface 292B of the lance 229 located on an upper side in the upper box portion accommodating passage 221U and a height in the height direction Z from a bottom surface 221C to a cantilever lower surface 292B of the lance 229 located in the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L are larger than a height Hbox of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 and smaller than a height hportrus from a lower surface 112a of the bottom plate 112 of the box portion 110 to a tip end of the locking protrusion 116.

In addition to the contact surface 293A, the terminal locking portion 293 of the lance 229 is provided with a 2 nd wedge surface 293B inclined obliquely downward in the insertion direction X from the distal end portion of the cantilever lower surface 292B of the cantilever portion 292, and a locking portion lower surface 293C extending in the horizontal direction in the insertion direction X from the distal end portion of the 2 nd wedge surface 293B. A height in the height direction Z from the base upper surface 291B of the lance base portion 291 of the lance 229 on the lower side to the latching portion lower surface 293C of the lance 229 on the upper side in the upper cartridge portion accommodating passage 221U and a height in the height direction Z from the bottom surface 221C to the latching portion lower surface 293C of the lance 229 on the lower side in the lower cartridge portion accommodating passage 221L are substantially equal to the height Hbox of the cartridge portion 110 of the connector terminal 100.

The contact surface 293A of the terminal locking portion 293 is substantially perpendicular to the withdrawal direction, but any angle may be used as long as it can prevent the locking protrusion 116 of the cassette portion 110 from moving in the withdrawal direction. The abutment surface 293A has a height substantially equal to or greater than the height of the locking projection 116 of the cassette part 110.

As described above, the auxiliary abutment portion 294 extends further from one side in the width direction Y of the terminal locking portion 293 than the abutment surface 293A toward the insertion direction X. The accessory abutment portion 294 is provided with: an accessory abutment lower surface 294A; and a 3 rd wedge surface 294B inclined at a predetermined angle obliquely downward from the distal end portion in the insertion direction X toward the distal end portion of the accessory contact portion lower surface 294A. The auxiliary contact portion lower surface 294A is an end surface close to the top plate 111 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, but is formed at a position farther from the top plate 111 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 than the locking portion lower surface 293C.

The holder insertion groove 250 is formed at a substantially central portion in the insertion direction X of the housing left side surface 233 of the housing 230 of the case 200, and is formed to be long in the height direction Z. The holder insertion groove 250 extends in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211 and the box section accommodating path 221, i.e., in the present embodiment, in the width direction Y, penetrates the mating connector insertion groove 240 on the housing left surface 233 side, penetrates the core left surface, the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211 and the box section accommodating path 221 inside the core 220, and the core right surface, reaches the mating connector insertion groove 240 on the housing right surface 234 side, and is formed perpendicular to the extending direction of the box section accommodating path 221 and the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211 so as to partition the box section accommodating path 221 and the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211. The core left side surface and the core right side surface of the core 220 are penetrated by the retainer insertion groove 250, whereas the core upper side surface 224 and the core lower side surface 225 of the core 220 are not penetrated by the retainer insertion groove 250 but continuously reach the base 210. Further, in the core 220, a main body housing portion 228 that houses a main body portion of the retainer 300 described later is formed in a portion of the inner pressure-bonding section housing passage 211 and the box section housing passage 221 that is penetrated by the retainer insertion groove 250.

Further, a 1 st locking groove 224a and a 2 nd locking groove 224b are formed in the core upper side surface 224. Similarly, a 1 st locking groove 225a and a 2 nd locking groove 225b are formed in the core lower surface 225. In the present embodiment, the 1 st locking groove 224a, 225a is formed on a side close to the housing left side surface 233 where the retainer insertion groove 250 is formed, that is, on a side close to the core left side surface, and the 2 nd locking groove 224b, 225b is formed on a side away from the housing left side surface 233, that is, on a side close to the core right side surface.

Next, the retainer 300 will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 (a) is a perspective view of the retainer 300 of the connector 10 according to the present embodiment, and fig. 5 (B) is a front view of the retainer 300 of fig. 5 (a). The retainer 300 is inserted into the retainer insertion groove 250, and takes a temporary locking position and a final locking position, which will be described later. The holder 300 includes: a main body portion 310 that is long in the width direction Y; an upper arm 320 extending upward from an upper end of a left end 311 of the body 310 in the width direction Y and then extending in the width direction Y (rightward); and a lower arm 330 extending downward from a lower end of a left end 311 of the body 310 in the width direction Y and then extending in the width direction Y (rightward).

When the retainer 300 is inserted into the retainer insertion groove 250 of the housing 200 and the body portion 310 is inserted into the body receiving portion 228 of the core 220, the upper arm 320 is positioned between the core upper side surface 224 of the core 220 and the lower surface 231a of the shell upper side surface 231 of the shell 230. In addition, at this time, the lower arm 330 is positioned between the core lower side 225 of the core 220 and the upper surface 232a of the shell bottom surface 232 of the shell 230.

An upper locking projection 322 that projects downward in the height direction Z is provided on an upper arm lower surface 321 of the upper arm 320 of the holder 300. Further, a lower arm upper surface 331 of the lower arm 330 is provided with a lower locking projection 332 projecting upward in the height direction Z. The upper locking projection 322 is locked in either one of the 1 st locking groove 224a and the 2 nd locking groove 224b of the core upper surface 224. On the other hand, the lower locking projection 332 is locked in either one of the 1 st locking groove 225a and the 2 nd locking groove 225b of the core lower surface 225.

The length (width) of the main body portion 310 in the width direction Y is formed as a length: when the body 310 is inserted into the body receiving portion 228 of the core 220 of the housing 200 from the retainer insertion groove 250, and at the "temporary locking position" where the upper locking projection 322 of the upper arm 320 is locked in the 1 st locking groove 224a of the core upper surface 224 and the lower locking projection 332 of the lower arm 330 is locked in the 1 st locking groove 225a of the core lower surface 225, the right end 312 of the body 310 is aligned substantially on the same plane as the core right surface.

The height of the main body 310 in the height direction Z is such that: is smaller than the height from the upper surface 225c of the core lower side surface 225 to the lower surface 224c of the main body receiving portion 228 of the core upper side surface 224 by the height of the transition portion 130 of the connector terminal 100.

The body portion 310 is formed with a plurality of box portion openings 313 and transition portion openings 314, respectively, and when the holder 300 is positioned at a predetermined position (temporary locking position) in the holder insertion slot 250, the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 can be inserted into the box portion openings 313, and the transition portion openings 314 and the box portion openings 313 communicate in the width direction. In the present embodiment, in the body portion 310 of the holder 300, the box portion opening 313 and the transition portion opening 314 are formed toward the insertion direction (width direction Y) of the holder, the number of the box portion opening 313 and the transition portion opening 314 is the same as the number of the box portion accommodating passages 221 and the crimping portion accommodating passages 211 formed in the holder insertion direction (width direction Y) of the base portion 210 and the core body 220 of the above-described housing 200, and each box portion opening 313 communicates with the transition portion opening for accommodating the transition portion 130 of the other adjacent connector terminal 100.

Specifically, three box portion openings 313(313a, 313b, 313c) and three transition portion openings 314(314a, 314b, 314c), which are the same number as the number of connector terminals 100 assembled to the connector 10 in the width direction Y, are formed on the same straight line in the width direction Y. Further, each of the box section openings 313 is formed at a position: when the body portion 310 of the retainer 300 is inserted into the body receiving portion 228 of the core 220 from the retainer insertion groove 250 and the retainer 300 is located at the temporary locking position, the body portion 310 is aligned with the cassette portion receiving passage 221 of the core 220 in the insertion direction X.

The box portion opening 313 and the transition portion opening 314 that accommodate one connector terminal 100 communicate with the box portion opening 313 and the transition portion opening 314 that accommodate another connector terminal 100 adjacent in the width direction Y. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the box-section opening 313a communicates with the transition-section opening 314a for the same terminal as the terminal accommodated in the opening, the transition-section opening 314a communicates with the box-section opening 313b for accommodating the other adjacent connector terminal 100, the box-section opening 313b communicates with the transition-section opening 314b for accommodating the same connector terminal 100, the transition-section opening 314b communicates with the box-section opening 313c for accommodating the other adjacent connector terminal 100, and the box-section opening 313c communicates with the transition-section opening 314c for accommodating the same connector terminal 100.

Each of the box section openings 313 has such a shape that: when the connector terminal 100 is to be inserted into the box section accommodating passage 221 of the housing 200 from the box section opening 313 of the holder 300, the insertion is prevented when the connector terminal 100 is rotated from an appropriate position about the insertion axis (insertion direction X) of the connector terminal 100. For example, the shape of the cartridge opening 313 corresponds to the outer shape of the cross section of the vertically asymmetric cartridge 110 (or corresponds to the outer shape of the cross section of the horizontally asymmetric cartridge). That is, in the present embodiment, the height of the box portion opening 313 is substantially rectangular, which is the same as or slightly greater than the height Hbox of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, and the bottom side thereof is flat, while the upper side thereof has a recessed portion recessed upward at the center thereof.

The size of each opening 314 for transition portion (the size in the height direction Z) in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (the width direction Y) of the holder 300 is formed smaller than the size of the opening 313 for cassette portion. Specifically, the height of the opening 314 for the transition portion is such that: is smaller than the height Hbox of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 and is larger than the height of the transition portion 130 of the connector terminal 100.

On the lower surface 316 of the main body portion 310 of the holder 300, box portion recesses 317a to 317c (hereinafter collectively referred to as box portion recesses 317) are formed at positions that are at the same positions as the box portion openings 313a to 313c in the width direction Y. Each of the box portion recesses 317 has substantially the same shape as the upper portion of the above-described box portion opening 313, and has an upper side corresponding to the upper side of the box portion opening 313 and a recessed portion recessed upward at the center thereof.

Here, when the body portion 310 of the retainer 300 is inserted into the body receiving portion 228 of the core 220 from the retainer insertion groove 250 and the retainer 300 is located at the temporary locking position, the lower arm 330 of the retainer is located between the core lower surface 225 of the core 220 and the upper surface 232a of the shell bottom surface 232 of the shell 230, and therefore the lower surface of the body portion 310 faces the upper surface 225c of the core lower surface 225. At this time, the height from the upper surface 225c of the core lower surface 225 to the upper side of the box portion concave portion 317 is substantially equal to the height of the above-mentioned box portion opening 313, and the height from the upper surface 225c of the core lower surface 225 to the recessed portion of the box portion concave portion 317 is substantially equal to the height from the bottom side of the above-mentioned box portion opening 313 to the recessed portion 313X. In the temporary locking position, the height from the upper surface 225c of the core lower surface 225 to the lower surface 316 of the main body portion 310 of the retainer 300 is substantially equal to the height of the transition portion opening 314.

Next, the waterproof seal 400 will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the waterproof seal 400 of the connector 10 according to the present embodiment. The waterproof seal 400 is shaped to be in contact with the inner walls of the upper case side 231, the bottom case surface 232, the left case side 233, and the right case side 234 of the case 230 constituting the case 200 to prevent water from flowing, and has an opening 405 through which the core 220 of the case 200 is inserted inside the waterproof seal 400. The waterproof seal 400 is formed of a material having elasticity. Further, on the outer surface 410 of the waterproof seal 400, a plurality of convex portions 411 are formed along the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction X (i.e., the width direction Y and the height direction Z). Further, a plurality of groove portions 421 are formed in the inner surface 420 of the waterproof seal 400 along the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction X (i.e., the width direction Y and the height direction Z). When the connector 10 is assembled, the waterproof seal 400 is inserted into the groove deepest portion 241 of the counterpart connector insertion groove 240 of the housing 200.

Next, a method of assembling the connector 10 will be described. As shown in fig. 1, first, the waterproof seal 400 is inserted into the mating connector insertion groove 240 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction X, i.e., in the withdrawal direction, and the waterproof seal 400 is disposed in the groove deepest portion 241. At this time, the waterproof seal 400 is brought into close contact with the periphery of the core 220 by the plurality of groove portions 421 formed on the inner surface 420 of the waterproof seal 400.

Next, the holder 300 is inserted into the holder insertion groove 250 of the housing 200. Then, the body portion 310 of the retainer 300 enters the body receiving portion 228 of the core 220. Further, the upper arm 320 of the retainer 300 is inserted between the lower surface 231a of the housing upper side 231 of the housing 200 and the core upper side 224 of the core 220. Further, the lower arm 330 of the holder 300 is inserted between the upper surface 232a of the case bottom surface 232 of the housing 200 and the core lower side surface 225 of the core 220. When the retainer 300 is inserted into the retainer insertion groove 250 and moved in the width direction Y, the upper locking projections 322 of the upper arms 320 of the retainer 300 are locked in the 1 st locking grooves 224a formed in the core upper side surface 224 of the core 220, and the lower locking projections 332 of the lower arms 330 of the retainer 300 are locked in the 1 st locking grooves 225a formed in the core lower side surface 225 of the core 220. At this time, the retainer 300 is located at the temporary locking position.

When the temporary locking position is set, the box portion opening 313 and the box portion recess 317 formed in the body portion 310 of the retainer 300 are aligned with the pressure-bonding section accommodating passage 211 and the box portion accommodating passage 221 of the housing 200 in the insertion direction X.

When in the temporary locking position, the connector terminal 100, which is pressure-contacted to the pressure-contact section 120 by the wire 180, is inserted into the pressure-contact section accommodating passage 211 from the terminal insertion opening 213 of the base section 210 of the housing 200. Since the shape of the pressure-bonding section accommodating passage 211 is a circle larger than the outer shape of the box section 110 of the connector terminal 100, the box section 110 of the connector terminal 100 passes through the pressure-bonding section accommodating passage 211 without being obstructed and reaches the box section opening 313 or the box section recess 317 of the main body section 310 of the holder 300, and the box section opening 313 of the holder 300 allows the box section 110 to enter in the insertion direction X. When the connector terminal 100 is further moved in the insertion direction X, the box portion 110 is inserted into the box portion receiving passage 221 of the core body 220. That is, the connector terminal 100 is inserted into the box portion accommodating passage 221 from the pressure-bonding section accommodating passage 211 through the box portion opening 313 or the box portion recess 317.

Here, a state in which the connector terminal 100 is partially inserted into the box section receiving path 221 will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 3 (C) when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is partially inserted into the box portion housing passage 221, and fig. 7 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a VIIB portion in fig. 7 (a).

In fig. 7 (a), 7 (B), the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 located on the upper side is inserted between a base lower surface 291A of a lance base 291 of a lance 229 formed in the upper box portion accommodating passage 221U and a base upper surface 291B of the lance base 291 of the lance 229 formed in the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L. At this time, a space slightly larger than the height of the locking projection 116 is present between the top plate 111 and the base lower surface 291A of the box portion 110, and the box portion 110 is movable in the insertion direction X.

When the box portion 110 further moves in the insertion direction X along with the movement of the connector terminal 100 in the insertion direction X, the latching projection 116 of the box portion 110 comes into sliding contact with the 1 st wedge surface 292A of the cantilever portion 292 of the lance portion 229, and simultaneously, the cantilever portion 292 of the lance portion 229 is pushed up in the height direction Z. At this time, the cantilever 292 of the lance 229 swings upward with the lance base 291 as a fulcrum. When the box portion 110 is further moved in the insertion direction X, the retaining projection 116 of the box portion 110 is brought into sliding contact with the cantilever lower surface 292B of the cantilever-shaped portion 292, the 2 nd wedge surface 293B of the terminal retaining portion 293, and the retaining portion lower surface 293C in this order, and during this time, the lance 229 as a whole is maintained in a state of being lifted upward with the lance base 291 as a fulcrum.

Next, the locking projection 116 of the box portion 110 moves in the insertion direction X while making sliding contact with the locking portion lower surface 293C of the terminal locking portion 293, and when reaching the abutment surface 293A of the terminal locking portion 293, the locking projection 116 and the locking portion lower surface 293C are no longer in contact with each other, and the lance 229 swings downward with the lance base 291 as a fulcrum to return to the original shape as shown in fig. 8. Fig. 8 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 3 (C) when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is completely inserted into the box portion housing passage 221, and fig. 8 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a VIIIB portion in fig. 8 (a).

As shown in fig. 8 a and 8B, when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is completely inserted into the box portion receiving passage 221, the contact insertion hole 115 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is located on the direct rear side (immediately behind) in the insertion direction X of the male terminal insertion opening 223 of the core body 220. Further, the rear surface side of the locking projection 116 in the insertion direction X is locked to the abutment surface 293A of the terminal locking portion 293, and the movement of the cassette portion 110 in the extraction direction is prevented. Further, a part of the lower side of the terminal retaining part 293 of the lance 229 is inserted into the upper surface opening 119 of the top plate 111 of the box part 110, with the result that the box part 110 is reliably prevented from moving in the pull-out direction.

At this time, the auxiliary abutment portion 294 extends in the insertion direction X beyond the locking projection 116 on one side in the width direction Y of the locking projection 116. A predetermined gap S is formed below the lower surface 294A of the sub abutment portion 294.

As shown in fig. 8 (a) and 8 (B), when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is completely inserted into the box portion receiving passage 221, the transition portion 130 of the connector terminal 100 is located at a lower portion of the box portion opening 313 of the holder 300 and a lower portion of the box portion recess 317. This enables the holder 300 to be further moved in the width direction Y. On the other hand, when the cartridge portion 110 is not completely accommodated in the cartridge portion accommodating passage 221, the left side plate 113 of the cartridge portion 110 is present in the cartridge portion opening 313 and the cartridge portion recess 317, and at this time, even if the holder 300 is intended to be moved in the width direction Y, the movement in the width direction Y is prevented by the left side plate 113 of the cartridge portion 110. This makes it possible to detect half insertion of the connector terminal 100, that is, to detect that the connector terminal 100 is not completely housed in the box section housing passage 221.

As described above, when the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is completely inserted into the box portion receiving path 221, the holder 300 can move in the width direction Y. When the retainer 300 is further moved in the width direction Y, the upper locking projection 322 of the upper arm 320 of the retainer 300 is disengaged from the 1 st locking groove 224a formed in the core upper side surface 224 of the core 220, moves in the width direction Y, and is locked to the 2 nd locking groove 224 b. Similarly, the lower locking projection 332 of the lower arm 330 of the retainer 300 is disengaged from the 1 st locking groove 225a formed on the core lower surface 225 of the core 220, moves in the width direction Y, and is locked to the 2 nd locking groove 225 b. At this time, the retainer 300 is in the final engagement position.

At this time, since the height of the opening 314 for transition portion is smaller than the height Hbox of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, the front surface 319 of the main body portion 310 of the holder 300 contacts the rear end surface 118 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100. Since the height from the upper surface 225c of the core lower surface 225 to the lower surface 316 of the main body portion 310 of the holder 300 adjacent to the box portion concave portion 317 is smaller than the height Hbox of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, the front surface 319 of the main body portion 310 of the holder 300 contacts the rear end surface 118 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100. That is, when the retainer 300 is located at the final engagement position, the transition portion 130 of the connector terminal 100 is accommodated in the transition portion opening 314 of the retainer 300, and therefore, even if the connector terminal 100 is to be pulled out in the pulling-out direction in this state, the rear end surface 118 of the box portion 110 abuts against the front surface 319 of the main body portion 310 of the retainer 300, and the box portion 110 is prevented from moving backward, and the box portion 110 cannot be pulled out. Thereby, the connector terminal 100 is prevented from falling off the housing 200.

Next, a method of detaching the connector terminal 100 from the housing 200 will be described. First, the retainer 300 is moved from the actual locking position to the temporary locking position. Then, the box opening 313 and the box recess 317 of the body 310 of the holder 300 are aligned in the insertion direction X with the pressure-bonding section accommodating path 211 and the box section accommodating path 221 of the housing 200. However, at this time, the locking projection 116 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 remains locked to the abutment surface 293A of the terminal locking portion 293 of the lance portion 229, and therefore the connector terminal 100 cannot be pulled out in the pulling direction.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, the lance 229 is lifted upward by using an auxiliary tool or a tool, and the engagement between the engagement projection 116 and the abutment surface 293A of the terminal engagement portion 293 is released. Fig. 9 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 8 (a) when the dedicated jig 500 is inserted into the gap S, fig. 9 (B) is an enlarged perspective view of the IXB portion in fig. 9 (a), fig. 10 (a) is a sectional perspective view corresponding to fig. 8 (a) in a state where the general tool 600 is inserted into the gap S, and fig. 10 (B) is an enlarged perspective view of the XB portion in fig. 10 (a).

As shown in fig. 9 (a), the dedicated jig 500 includes an elongated grip portion 510, an intermediate portion 520 protruding from the end of the grip portion, and a working portion 530 protruding from the end of the intermediate portion 520. The intermediate portion 520 has a rectangular shape having a square or rectangular cross-sectional shape, at least one of the height and the width is larger than the height or the width of the tool insertion opening 226 of the housing 200, and the intermediate portion 520 is formed to have a size that cannot be inserted into the tool insertion opening 226. The height and width of the working portion 530 are formed to be large enough to be inserted into the tool insertion opening 226. The length of the working portion 530 is longer than the length from the tool insertion opening 226 to the secondary abutment portion 294 of the lance portion 229. An auxiliary wedge surface 532 inclined at an acute angle with respect to the bottom surface 531 of the working part 530 is formed at the distal end of the working part 530.

The working portion 530 of the dedicated jig 500 is inserted into the tool insertion opening 226 of the housing 200 and moved in the removal direction. Then, the assistant wedge surface 532 of the working portion 530 abuts against the 3 rd wedge surface 294B of the assistant abutment portion 294 of the lance 229. When the special fixture 500 is further moved in the removal direction in this state, the 3 rd wedge surface 294B of the fixture abutment portion 294 is pushed upward along the fixture wedge surface 532 by the movement of the fixture wedge surface 532 in the removal direction, and as a result, the lance 229 is turned upward in the height direction Z about the lance base 291 as a fulcrum.

The locking portion lower surface 293C is released from the upper surface opening 119 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, and is further lifted upward in the height direction Z to a position relatively higher than the locking protrusion 116. Thus, the engagement of the contact surface 293A of the terminal engagement portion 293 with the engagement projection 116 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is released, and the connector terminal 100 can be pulled out in the pulling-out direction.

In the connector 10 of the present invention, as shown in fig. 10 (a) and 10 (B), the engagement between the abutment surface 293A of the terminal retaining portion 293 of the lance portion 229 and the engagement projection 116 of the connector terminal 100 can be released by using a general tool 600 such as a flat screwdriver without using the dedicated jig 500. The tool 600 includes a grip portion 610, a shaft portion 620 protruding from a distal end of the grip portion 610, and a thin flat blade edge 630 formed at a distal end of the shaft portion 620.

As in the case of the dedicated accessory of fig. 9 (a) and 9 (B), the cutting edge 630 of the tool 600 is inserted into the cartridge storage passage 221 from the tool insertion opening 226 of the housing 200. Thereafter, the cutting edge 630 is moved in the pull-out direction, and the cutting edge 630 is inserted into the gap S between the top plate 111 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 and the lower surface 294A of the assistant abutment portion 294 of the lance portion 229, so that the cutting edge 630 is moved upward. Then, the assistant abutment portion 294 of the lance 229 is lifted upward, and the entire lance 229 turns upward in the height direction Z with the lance base 291 as a fulcrum. As a result, the locking portion lower surface 293C is released from the upper surface opening 119 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100, and is further lifted upward to a position relatively higher than the locking projection 116 in the height direction Z. Thus, the engagement of the contact surface 293A of the terminal engagement portion 293 with the engagement projection 116 of the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 is released, and the connector terminal 100 can be pulled out in the pulling-out direction.

According to the connector 10, the assistant abutment portion 294 of the lance portion 229 is located on the front side of the terminal retaining portion 293 for retaining the retaining projection 116 formed on the box portion 110 of the connector terminal 100 when viewed from the insertion direction of the tool or the assistant, and therefore, the tool or the assistant can easily reach the assistant abutment portion 294, and the operability is improved.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which, instead of a wall surface that separates the upper cassette section accommodating passage 221U and the lower cassette section accommodating passage 221L of the housing 200, only the lance 229 protruding from the side plate 221B to the lower cassette section accommodating passage 221L is present between the upper and lower cassette section accommodating passages 221. However, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and as shown in fig. 11, a protective wall 221P protruding in the width direction Y from the side plate 221B may be provided between the upper cassette part storage path 221U and the lower cassette part storage path 221L. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the case 200 in a case where the protective wall 221P is provided between the upper cassette part accommodating passage 221U and the lower cassette part accommodating passage 221L.

The protective wall 221P is formed to partially separate the upper box portion accommodating passage 221U from the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L from directly below the male terminal insertion opening 223 of the upper box portion accommodating passage U to a lance portion base 291 of a lance portion 229 provided in the lower box portion accommodating passage L. The protective wall 221P may completely connect the side plates 221B so as to completely separate the upper box portion accommodating passage 221U and the lower box portion accommodating passage 221L, but in the present embodiment, the protective wall is configured to protrude by a predetermined width from the side plate 221B on the side where the subsidiary abutment portion 294 of the lance portion 229 is formed.

According to the structure shown in fig. 11, when the tool 600 shown in fig. 10 (a) and 10 (B) is inserted from the tool insertion opening 226 between the lower surface 294A of the sub abutment portion 294 of the lance 229 and the top plate 111 of the box portion 110 and the lance 229 is pushed up, the upper surface of the sub abutment portion 294 comes into contact with the lower surface of the protection wall 221P, and the lance 229 is prevented from being excessively bent upward to cause stress concentration or breakage of the lance 229.