Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A connector comprising: a housing having a plurality of terminal receiving chambers for receiving a corresponding plurality of terminals; and a retainer insertable into a retainer insertion hole in said housing, said retainer insertion hole dividing said housing into a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises a provisionally-retained projection and said second portion comprises a completely-retained projection, said retainer comprising at least one insertion hole engagement projection having a first engagement projection piece and a second engagement projection piece engageable with said provisionally-retained projection and said completely-retained projection, respectively, thereby retaining said retainer in a provisionally-retained position and a completely-retained position, respectively, said retainer further comprising means for shifting said retainer from said completely-retained position to said provisionally-retained position if said retainer is in said completely-retained position before one of said terminals is inserted into a corresponding one of said terminal receiving chambers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shifting means comprises at least one terminal engagement projection piece engageable with a corresponding at least one of said terminals, said at least one terminal engagement piece protruding into a corresponding at least one of said terminal receiving chambers when said retainer is in said completely-retained position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one terminal engagement piece comprises a slanting guide surface, wherein if said retainer is in said completely-retained position before one of said terminals is inserted into a corresponding one of said terminal receiving chambers, said one of said terminals engages said slanting guide surface and urges said retainer into said provisionally-retained position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector as claimed claim 3, wherein said retainer comprises a pair of insertion hole engagement projections and a plurality of terminal engagement projection pieces disposed between said pair of insertion hole engagement projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slanting guide surface is integral with said terminal engagement piece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
A connector including a housing having a plurality of terminal receiving chambers for receiving a corresponding plurality of terminals and a retainer insertable into a retainer insertion hole in said housing, said retainer insertion hole dividing said housing into a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises a provisionally-retained projection and said second portion comprises a completely-retained projection, said retainer comprising: at least one insertion hole engagement projection having a first engagement projection piece and a second engagement projection piece engageable with said provisionally-retained projection and said completely-retained projection, respectively, thereby retaining said retainer in a provisionally-retained position and a completely-retained position, respectively; and at least one terminal engagement projection piece engageable with a corresponding at least one of said terminals, said at least one terminal engagement piece protruding into a corresponding at least one of said terminal receiving chambers when said retainer is in said completely-retained position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one terminal engagement piece comprises a slanting guide surface, wherein if said retainer is in said completely-retained position before one of said terminals is inserted into a corresponding one of said terminal receiving chambers, said one of said terminals engages said slanting guide surface and urges said retainer into said provisionally-retained position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector as claimed claim 7, wherein said retainer comprises a pair of insertion hole engagement projections and a plurality of terminal engagement projection pieces disposed between said pair of insertion hole engagement projections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A connector comprising a housing having terminal receiving chambers for respectively receiving metal terminals inserted from their respective rear portions; and a retainer inserted into a retainer insertion hole formed in one side of said housing, said retainer being retained in a provisionally-retained position where said retainer does not prevent insertion and withdrawal of the metal terminals and in a completely-retained position where said retainer is engaged with the inserted metal terminals to prevent the withdrawal of the metal terminals, wherein said retainer comprises engagement projection pieces that intrude respectively into said terminal receiving chambers in said completely-retained position and a slanting guide surface formed on a rear portion of each of said engagement projection pieces, said slanting guide surface causing the inserted metal terminal to push said retainer back to said provisionally-retained position from said completely-retained position.