JP2008108660A - Connector for wire harness - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that, if a connector is large, its fixing work around a main body of a wire harness becomes difficult. <P>SOLUTION: The connector for a wire harness attached to the wire harness is divided into a plurality of unit connectors C1, C2, ... and a connector terminal of each unit connector is electrically connected with a flexible wiring material. A cover for covering a connection part of each connector terminal and the flexible wiring material 30 is mounted on an insulation housing 20 of each unit connector. Each insulation housing 20 has a reinforcing rib 21, and a waterproof-use rib 24f. The reinforcing rib 21 restrains bending deformation of a part for the insulation housing 20 to lock the cover 40, and prevents the cover 40 from falling off due to the bending deformation. The waterproof-use rib 24f forms a groove 23B for draining between itself and the reinforcing rib 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wire harness connector that is fixed in a wound state to a wire harness routed in an automobile or the like.

  Conventionally, a connector provided at a terminal of an electric wire included in a wire harness or a connector coupled to the wire harness side connector (for example, a joint connector connecting connector terminals included in a plurality of wire harness side connectors) Many are fixed to the wire harness main body by a method of winding an adhesive tape around the connector and the main body of the wire harness.

For example, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of the following Patent Document 1 show that the main body of the wire harness is formed by tape winding a joint connector provided at the end of the wire to electrically connect a plurality of wires included in the wire harness. What is fixed to the part is disclosed.
JP-A-8-79948

  In the joint connector described in Patent Document 1, when the number of terminals increases, an insulating housing that holds these terminals increases, and the work of fixing the insulating housing around the body of the wire harness by tape winding is performed. It becomes difficult. Moreover, even if it can fix, the dimension which the said insulation housing protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the said wire harness main body becomes large, and there exists a possibility that this insulation housing may obstruct wiring work etc.

  As a means for avoiding such an increase in the size of the insulating housing, it is conceivable to divide the joint connector into a plurality of unit connectors. In this case, the terminals included in these unit connectors are separated from each other by a separate wiring material. It is necessary to connect them, and the complexity of the structure is inevitable. Therefore, how to simplify the structure of the wiring material itself and the connection structure between the wiring material and each connector terminal is a major issue.

  On the other hand, when the wiring material is used, protection and waterproofing of the connection portion between the wiring material and each terminal are also required.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a wire harness that is easy to handle with a compact structure and that can effectively protect a connection portion between each terminal and a wiring member. To do.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a wire harness connector that can be wound around a wire harness, and holds a plurality of connector terminals arranged in parallel to each other and these connector terminals. A plurality of unit connectors having an insulating housing and the connector terminals included in each unit connector are electrically connected in a state where these unit connectors are arranged in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of each connector terminal. A flexible wiring material that extends in the arrangement direction of the unit connectors and that can be bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof and in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the connector terminals, and the connector terminals of the unit connectors; A cover mounted on each insulating housing so as to cover a connection portion with the flexible wiring material, The insulating housing of the unit connector has a shape surrounding a terminal holding portion that holds a specific part of each connector terminal and a part that is a part other than the specific part of each connector terminal and is connected to the flexible wiring member. A frame portion to which the cover is attached; a locking portion for locking the cover; and a specific portion of the frame portion that protrudes in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the flexible wiring material, and the cover is A reinforcing rib having a shape that prevents the frame portion from being bent and deformed in a direction orthogonal to both the axial direction and the arrangement direction of the connector terminals so as to displace the cover in a direction away from the stop portion; A waterproof rib protruding in the same direction as the protruding direction of the reinforcing rib from the inner periphery of the frame portion, and a groove is formed between the waterproof rib and the reinforcing rib. A drain outlet for discharging the water to the outside of the unit connector is secured at the side of the insulating housing, and each of the insulating housings surrounds the body of the wire harness with bending deformation of the flexible wiring member. The wire harness is wound around the wire harness in a posture aligned in the direction.

  Since this wire harness connector is divided into a plurality of unit connectors each having an insulating housing, the size of the insulating housing of each unit connector can be reduced compared to a connector having only a single insulating housing. is there. In addition, the connector terminal of each unit connector is connected at a position intersecting the conductor of the flexible wiring material in the region inside the frame portion of the insulating housing, and bending deformation of the flexible wiring material is caused around the wire harness body. Allows the connector to be wound around.

  Furthermore, the connection location between the connector terminal and the conductor of the flexible wiring member is covered with a cover attached to the frame portion and protected from the outside. This cover is likely to be displaced along with the bending deformation of the frame portion, and if the displacement is large, the cover may come off from the locking portion on the insulating housing side, but reinforcing ribs project from the frame portion. The reinforcing rib is bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to both the axial direction and the arrangement direction of the connector terminals so that the cover is displaced in a direction in which the cover is detached from the locking portion. Therefore, detachment of the cover from the locking portion due to bending deformation of the frame portion is effectively prevented.

  Further, in addition to the reinforcing rib, the frame portion has a waterproofing rib that protrudes in the same direction as the protruding direction of the reinforcing rib from the inner peripheral edge of the frame portion. Water is prevented from entering the connecting portion between the connector terminal in the frame and the conductor of the flexible wiring material. In addition, a groove is formed between the waterproof rib and the reinforcing rib, and a drain outlet for discharging the water in the groove to the outside of the unit connector is secured on the side of the insulating housing. Therefore, water can be effectively prevented from collecting in the groove between the waterproof rib and the reinforcing rib.

  Specifically, the waterproof rib bulges in a connector width direction parallel to the connector terminal arrangement direction, for example, at a position away from the end of the reinforcing rib in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the connector terminal. The outer surface of the bulging portion of the lever is arranged on substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the reinforcing rib, and the drain outlet is provided between the bulging portion of the waterproofing rib and the end portion of the reinforcing rib. Those secured are preferred.

  In addition, the insulating housing has a hood that covers the end portion of the connector terminal on the opposite side of the frame portion with the terminal holding portion interposed therebetween, and allows moisture in the hood to be led out to the frame portion side. If the drainage hole is located at a position where the moisture coming out of the drainage hole flows into the groove, the moisture that has entered the back of the hood also passes through the groove and the drainage port. It can be discharged outside the connector.

  Moreover, the said cover has a to-be-latched part fitted in the said drain hole, and the said drain hole latches the said cover by the said cover being latched by the said insulation housing by this insertion. Therefore, the structure of the insulating housing is further simplified.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The wire harness connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 is used as a joint connector for electrically connecting the electric wires included in the wire harness 50 shown in FIG. 11.

  This connector includes four unit connectors C1, C2, C3, and C4. These unit connectors C1 to C4 are integrally coupled and electrically connected to each other.

  Each of the unit connectors C1 to C4 includes a plurality of (five in the illustrated example) pin-shaped connector terminals 10 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an insulating housing 20 that holds these connector terminals 10, and a flexible A wiring member 30 and a cover 40 are provided.

  The connector terminals 10 are arranged in a posture parallel to each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction (connector width direction). Each insulating housing 20 is also arranged in a direction orthogonal to its axial direction (that is, a direction parallel to the axial direction of the connector terminal 10). The connector terminals 10 included in each unit connector are electrically interconnected between the unit connectors via the flexible wiring member 30, and the insulating housings 20 of adjacent unit connectors are connected to the housing connecting portion 26A, 26B is integrally connected. These housing connecting portions 26 </ b> A and 26 </ b> B are formed at front and rear positions aligned in the axial direction of the insulating housing 20 with a gap 28. These housing connecting portions 26A and 26B will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the axial front portion of the connector terminal 10 included in each unit connector (the left portion in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the lower portion in FIG. 5C). The side portion) is an electrical connection tab 12 that can be fitted into the electrical connection portion of the counterpart female terminal, and is an axial rear side portion (the right side portion in FIGS. (A) and (b) and the upper portion in FIG. (C)). Is a wiring member connecting portion 14 connected to the flexible wiring member 30, and a wide flange 16 is interposed between the electric connection tab 12 and the wiring member connecting portion 14. These connector terminals 10 are held by the insulating housing 20 in an array aligned in the connector width direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

  In the present invention, it does not matter whether the specific shape of each connector terminal or male and female is different. These elements are arbitrarily set according to the location where the connector is used.

  A front portion of each insulating housing 20 in the axial direction is a hood 22 having a shape into which a connector housing of a mating connector can enter, and a rear portion in the axial direction is a hollow frame portion extending rearward from the back wall of the hood 22. It is a wiring material holding part 24. And the terminal holding | maintenance part 25 as shown to Fig.4 (a) is located between these food | hood 22 and the wiring material holding | maintenance part 24. FIG.

  The terminal holding portion 25 holds the intermediate portion in a state where the axial intermediate portion of each connector terminal 10 is press-fitted into the terminal holding portion 25. Of the connector terminals 10 held by the terminal holding portion 25, the electrical connection tab 12 protrudes into the hood 22 and is surrounded by the hood 22 from the outside. On the other hand, the wiring material connecting portion 14 is aligned in a region immediately below the wiring material holding portion 24 in a region inside the wiring material holding portion 24 as the frame portion.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of terminal holding grooves 24d and 24e arranged in the connector width direction are formed on the lower surface of the front portion (the base portion on the terminal holding portion 25 side) and the rear portion of the wiring material holding portion 24, respectively. The wiring member connecting portions 14 of the connector terminals 10 are fitted into the terminal holding grooves 24d and 24e, respectively.

  The flexible wiring member 30 is formed of a thin flat wiring member as shown in FIG. 5 (c), and the flat wiring member includes two first conductors 31 and three second conductors 32, And an insulating layer 34 covering these conductors 31 and 32.

  Each of the conductors 31 and 32 has a flat and thin shape (for example, a flat shape), and the conductors 31 and 32 are arranged in a width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction in a parallel posture. Then, by forming the insulating layer 34 so as to cover the conductors 31 and 32 from both the front and back sides, the flexible wiring member 30 is integrated as a whole and can be bent and deformed in the thickness direction. Is formed.

  Of the conductors 31, 32, both the first conductors 31 are wired at positions on both outer sides in the width direction of the flexible wiring member 30, and the second conductor 32 is wired inside both the first conductors 31. .

  Windows 34a penetrating the insulating layer 34 are formed at appropriate positions of the insulating layer 34 on both the front and back sides. The windows 34a are formed at positions where the conductors 31 and 32 and the wiring member connection portion 14 of the connector terminal 10 to be connected to the conductors 31 and 32 intersect with each other. , 32 are partially exposed outside the insulating layer 34.

  In the present invention, the specific structure of the flexible wiring member 30 is not limited. For example, the flexible wiring material may be a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a ribbon electric wire, or a simple arrangement of a plurality of insulated electric wires. However, the flat wiring member as shown in the figure has an advantage that its structure is simple and easy to handle.

  In the illustrated flexible wiring member 30, the conductors 31 and 32 and the wiring member connecting portions 14 respectively corresponding to the conductors 31 and 32 are located inside the wiring member holding portion 24 at the position where the window 34a is formed. Wiring is performed so as to intersect in the region, and the conductors 31 and 32 and the wiring material connecting portion 14 are welded to each other and electrically connected at the intersection. In this welding and electrical connection, for example, one electrode of a pair of welding electrodes is applied to the conductors 31 and 32 through the lower window 34a of the flexible wiring member 30 at the crossing position, and the other electrode is connected to the other electrode. This can be realized by a method in which a necessary voltage is applied between both electrodes through the inner space of the wiring material holding portion 24 to the wiring material connecting portion 14 at the intersection.

  Further, from the lower surface of both sides of the wiring material holding portion 24 in the connector width direction (that is, the portion located on both outer sides in the width direction than the connector terminal 10), a pair of front and rear (a pair aligned in the width direction of the wiring material) is respectively connected. While the stop shaft 27 protrudes downward, the first conductor 31 of the flexible wiring member 30 and the insulating layer 34 covering the first conductor 31 are provided with through holes 37 penetrating in the thickness direction. The positions and cross-sectional shapes of the through hole 37 and the locking shaft 27 are set so that the locking shaft 27 can be inserted from above.

  Specifically, the position of the locking shaft 27 and the through hole 37 is a position corresponding to both the first conductors 31, and when the locking shaft 27 is inserted into the through hole 37, the connector The flexible wiring member 30 is locked to the insulating housing 20 side at a position closer to the adjacent unit connector than the position where the terminal 10 is held. The cross-sectional shape of the through hole 37 and the locking shaft 27 inserted through the through hole 37 is such that the dimension in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first conductor 31 (dimension in the connector width direction) is parallel to the width direction of the conductor. It has a shape (substantially oval shape in the illustrated example) that is larger than the dimension in the proper direction (dimension in the connector axial direction). The first conductor 31 is wider than the second conductor 32 to compensate for the reduction in cross-sectional area due to the formation of the through hole 37.

  The cover 40 is wired so as to cover the connection portion between the wiring material connecting portion 14 of each connector terminal 10 and the conductors 31 and 32 of the flexible wiring material 30 from both the connector terminal 10 side and the flexible wiring material 30 side. It has a shape to be attached to the material holding part 24. Specifically, a wiring material side covering portion 42 that covers the connecting portion from the flexible wiring material 30 side, a terminal side covering portion 44 that covers the connecting portion from the connector terminal 10 side, and a thin wall that connects both the covering portions 42 and 44. The hinge portions 46 are integrally formed, and the cover portions 42 and 44 can be opened and closed with the deformation of the hinge portions 46.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, an inward projection 42a is formed on the end wall of the wiring material side covering portion 42 near the hinge portion 46, and the wiring material is held correspondingly. A locking recess 24a into which the protrusion 42a is fitted is formed at the rear end portion (right end portion in the figure) of the portion 24. Similarly, outward projections 42b and 44a are formed as locked portions at outer end portions (end portions opposite to the hinge portion 46) of the wiring material side covering portion 42 and the terminal side covering portion 44, respectively. On the other hand, the terminal holding portion 25 of the insulating housing 20 is formed with locking holes 25b and 25a into which the protrusions 42b and 44a are respectively fitted. The cover 40 is detachably locked to the insulating housing 20 by engagement of the projections 42a, 42b, 44a with the locking recess 24a and the locking holes 25b, 25a.

  Here, the locking holes 25a and 25b hold the wiring member as the frame portion when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the connector terminal 10 and the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the unit connectors C1 to C4. Specifically, it is located in the region of the portion 24, and specifically, is located at the root portion of the wiring material holding portion 24 (the portion near the terminal holding portion 25). The reinforcing ribs 21 protrude upward from the outer edge of the base portion of the wiring material holding portion 24 at positions on both the left and right sides of the portions where the locking holes 25a and 25b are formed. These reinforcing ribs 21 extend from the terminal holding portion 25 toward the rear end side of the insulating housing 20 to a midway position thereof, and are bent and deformed at the base portion of the wiring material holding portion 24, particularly in the width direction of the insulating housing. And a shape that suppresses bending deformation in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the connector terminal.

  Further, waterproof ribs 24f projecting upward are formed on the inner periphery of the frame-shaped wiring member holding portion 24 over the entire periphery. Among the waterproof ribs 24f, the base side portion (portion near the terminal holding portion 25) of the wiring material holding portion 24 is a back surface (surface on the wiring material holding portion 24 side) 25d of the terminal holding portion 25 and the left and right reinforcements. The fixed rib 21 is located inward from the inner surface of the rib 21 by a certain width, and the fixed rib 24f is interposed between the back surface 25d of the terminal holding portion 25 and the inner surfaces of the reinforcing ribs 21. Grooves 23A and 23B having a width corresponding to the width are formed.

  On the other hand, the rear end portion of the wiring material holding portion 24 bulges in the connector width direction with respect to the root portion, and the groove 23B is interposed between the bulged portion and the rear end of the reinforcing rib 21. A drain outlet 23C leading to is secured. The moisture that has entered the grooves 23A and 23B or the condensed moisture is discharged out of the connector through the drain port 23C.

  Further, the locking hole 25a penetrates the terminal holding portion 25 which also serves as the back wall of the hood 22 in the axial direction of the connector terminal 10, and moisture in the hood 22 is moved to the wiring material holding portion 24 side. It also serves as a drain hole for the lead-out, and the position of the locking hole 25a is set so that moisture that flows from the locking hole 25a toward the wiring material holding portion 24 flows into the groove 23A. .

  The left and right edges of the terminal-side covering portion 44 of the cover 40 are formed with recessed portions 44f that are shaped to avoid the reinforcing ribs 21.

  Further, in the vicinity of the protrusions 42b and 44a in the wiring material side covering portion 42 and the terminal side covering portion 44, through long holes 42d and 44d extending in the width direction are formed, respectively. These through long holes 42d and 44d are for forming the thin portions 42e and 44e at the end of the cover 40 where the projections 42b and 44a are formed. By the deformation of the thin portions 42e and 44e, Displacement of the projections 42b and 44a when engaging with the locking holes 25b and 25a is promoted.

  Further, a latched piece 44b protrudes from the back surface of the terminal side covering portion 44, and a leading end portion of the latched piece 44b is formed in a latch hole 24b formed inside the frame of the wiring material holding portion 24 (FIG. 6). The cover 40 is also locked by engaging with the peripheral edge.

  A plurality of protrusions 45 protrude downward from the back surface of the terminal side covering portion 44 (the lower surface in the mounted state shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B). These protrusions 45 extend in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the connector terminal 10 and are interposed between the wiring material connection portions 14 of the connector terminals 10 to isolate the wiring material connection portions 14 from each other. The protruding amount of each protrusion 45 is set so that the tip of the flexible wiring member 30 is pressed against the back surface of the wiring member side covering portion 42 while being formed at the position.

  The housing connecting portions 26A and 26B exist between the insulating housings 20 of the unit connectors (for example, the unit connector C1 and the unit connector C2) adjacent to each other among the unit connectors C1 to C4. These housing connecting portions 26A and 26B are located above the flexible wiring member 30 (positions outside the flexible wiring member 30 in the winding state described later) so as to connect the insulating housings 20 to each other. The insulating housing 20 is integrally formed.

  These housing connecting portions 26A and 26B are formed in a thin plate shape. The thickness can be bent and deformed in the thickness direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the insulating housings 20 and perpendicular to the axial direction of the connector terminals 10 (vertical direction in FIG. 1B). It is set as small as possible. Further, a gap 28 for drainage is secured between the housing connecting portions 26A and 26B.

  In addition, this invention also includes what the said housing connection parts 26A and 26B were abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, an example of the assembly procedure and usage procedure of the wire harness joint connector will be described.

  1) When the connector terminal 10 is press-fitted into the terminal holding portion 25 of each insulating housing 20 interconnected by the housing connecting portion 26, a state in which the terminal holding portion 25 holds the connector terminal 10 is formed. The Thereby, the unit connectors C1, C2, C3 and C4 are completed.

  2) A through-hole 37 is provided at an appropriate position of the first conductor 31 of the flexible wiring member 30 and the insulating layer 34 covering the first conductor 31. Further, by locally removing the insulating layer 34, a window 34a for exposing appropriate portions of the conductors 31 and 32 is formed.

  3) The relative position of the flexible wiring member 30 with respect to the insulating housing 20 is fixed by inserting the locking shaft 27 of each insulating housing 20 into the through hole 37. At this position, the conductors 31 and 32 intersect the wiring member connecting portion 14 of the connector terminal 10 at the location where the window 34a is present.

  4) The conductors 31 and 32 and the wiring material connecting portion 14 are connected at the intersection position. Specifically, an electrode is applied to the wiring member connecting portion 14 at the intersecting portion through the space inside the frame of the wiring member holding portion 24 from above, and the conductors 31 and 32 at the intersecting portion are connected to the conductors 31 and 32 at the intersecting portion through the lower window 34a. With the electrode paired with the electrode being applied from the lower side, a voltage is applied between both electrodes, so that the conductors 31 and 32 and the wiring material connecting portion 14 are welded at the intersection, and are mutually connected. Electrically connected.

  In the present invention, the assembly procedure of the wire harness joint connector is not limited. For example, an assembly assembled by connecting a connector terminal and a flexible wiring member in advance and then setting the connector terminal in the connector housing is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  5) When the cover 40 is bent at the hinge portion 46, a state is formed in which the wiring material side covering portion 42 and the terminal side covering portion 44 of the cover 40 sandwich the wiring material holding portion 24 of the insulating housing 20, In this state, the cover 40 is attached to the insulating housing 20. That is, the protrusions 44a and 42b on the cover 40 side are fitted into the locking holes 25a and 25b, and the locked piece 44b is engaged with the periphery of the locking hole 24b. At this time, the insertion of the end of each locking shaft 27 into each locking shaft insertion hole 47 of the cover 40 ensures prevention of deviation of the flexible wiring member 30 from the locking shaft 27. Through this process, the wire harness connector is completed.

  6) The wire harness connector is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the main body of the wire harness 50 as shown in FIG. Specifically, the unit connectors C1, C2, C3, and C4 are formed by bending and deforming the flexible wiring member 30 and the housing connecting portion 26 in a direction in which the housing connecting portion 26 faces the outside of the flexible wiring member 30. The wire harness joint connector can be wound around the wire harness body in a posture in which the wire harness 50 is arranged in the circumferential direction of the body. The winding state of the wire harness joint connector is fixed by, for example, winding an adhesive tape 60 as shown in FIG. 11 around the joint connector.

  7) As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 11, for each unit connector C1, C2, C3, C4, a corresponding connector 54 of the connectors 54 provided at the end of the electric wire 52 included in the wire harness 50 is provided. Combined. By such connector coupling operation, appropriate wires among the wires 52 are electrically connected to each other via a joint circuit constituted by the connector terminal 10 and the conductors 31 and 32 of the flexible wiring member 30. Is done.

  Since the wire harness joint connector described above is divided into a plurality of unit connectors C1 to C4 each having an insulating housing 20, each unit connector C1 is compared to a connector having only a single insulating housing 20. The size of the insulating housing 20 of C4 can be reduced. In addition, the connector terminals 10 of the unit connectors C1 to C4 are connected at positions intersecting the conductors 31 and 32 of the flexible wiring member 30 in the region inside the wiring member holding portion 24 that is the frame portion of the insulating housing 20. And the bending deformation of the flexible wiring member 30 enables the connector to be wound around the wire harness body.

  Furthermore, the cover 40 attached to the insulating housing 20 covers the connection portion between the connector terminal 10 and the conductor of the flexible wiring member 30 to protect the connection portion from the outside. The cover 40 is easily displaced along with the bending deformation of the wiring material holding portion 24, but the bending deformation of the wiring material holding portion 24, particularly in a direction orthogonal to the connector width direction and orthogonal to the axial direction of the connector terminal. Since the bending deformation in the direction is suppressed by the reinforcing rib 21 projecting from the root portion of the wiring material holding portion 24, the cover 40 is displaced due to the bending deformation and the cover 40 is engaged. It is possible to prevent the protrusions 44a and 42a, which are stop portions, from accidentally coming out of the locking portions 25a and 25b.

  Further, in the connector according to this embodiment, in addition to the reinforcing rib 21, the same direction as the protruding direction of the reinforcing rib 21 from the inner peripheral edge of the wiring material holding portion 24 (connector around the wire harness body). A waterproof rib 24f that protrudes outward in the winding radial direction when wound, and the waterproof rib 24f is connected to the connector terminal 21 in the inner region of the wiring member holding portion 24. Moisture is prevented from entering the connecting portions of the flexible wiring member 30 with the conductors 31 and 32. In addition, a drain outlet 23C for discharging water in the groove 23B formed between the waterproof rib 24f and the reinforcing rib 21 to the outside of the unit connectors C1 to C4 is formed on the side of the insulating housing 20. Since it is secured, it is possible to effectively prevent water from accumulating in the grooves 23B and 23A.

  In particular, the illustrated waterproof rib 24f bulges in the connector width direction at a position away from the end of the reinforcing rib 21 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the connector terminal 10, and the outer surface of the bulged portion is Since the drainage port 23C is secured between the bulging portion of the waterproofing rib and the end of the reinforcing rib, the drainage is extremely difficult. Done effectively.

  In the connector, the locking hole 25a for locking the cover 40 penetrates the terminal holding part 25 and also serves as a drain hole for the hood 22. The portion is not limited to this, and may be a locking projection that fits into a recess formed on the cover 40 side, for example.

  In addition, the present invention includes the following embodiments, for example.

  -The connection partner of the unit connector according to the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, the connector according to the present invention may include a unit connector coupled to a connector led from a wire harness other than the wire harness 50.

  -The "position in which the wire harness main body is arranged in the circumferential direction" in claim 1 of the present application broadly means an attitude in which the connector housings are arranged with their positions shifted in the circumferential direction. It is intended to include those in which the positions of the connector housings are shifted in the axial direction. For example, the present invention also includes a wire harness connector that is wound around the body of the wire harness 50 in a state in which a plurality of unit connectors are arranged in a spiral shape. Further, the specific number of each unit connector is an element that can be appropriately selected according to the specification.

It is a top view of the joint connector for wire harnesses which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the joint connector for wire harnesses. It is a bottom view of the joint connector for wire harnesses. (A) is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. 2, (b) is the sectional view on the BB line of (a). (A) is a top view of the connector terminal contained in the said joint connector for wire harnesses, (b) is the side view, (c) is a top view which shows the positional relationship of the said connector terminal and a flexible wiring material. It is a bottom view of the insulation housing contained in the said joint connector for wire harnesses. It is a perspective view which shows the insulation housing and housing connection part of the said joint connector for wire harnesses. It is a top view which shows the insulation housing and housing connection part of the said joint connector for wire harnesses. (A) is the side view of the cover contained in the said joint connector for wire harnesses, (b) is the figure which looked at the cover from the surface side. (A) is the top view of the said cover, (b) is the figure which looked at the said cover from the back side, (c) is a bottom view of the said cover. (A) is the cross-sectional front view which shows the state which wound the said wire harness joint connector around the wire harness main body periphery, (b) is the side view.

Explanation of symbols

C1, C2, C3, C4 Unit connector 10 Connector terminal 12 Electrical connection tab 14 Wiring material connection portion 20 Insulating housing 21 Reinforcing rib 22 Hood 23A Groove 23B Groove 23C Drain port 24 Wiring material holding portion (frame portion)
24a Locking recess 24b Locking hole 24d Terminal holding groove 24f Waterproof rib 25 Terminal holding part 25a Locking hole 25b Locking hole 25d Rear face 26 Housing connecting part 26A Housing connecting part 27 Locking shaft 28 Gap 30 Flexible wiring material 31 Conductor 32 Conductor 34 Insulating layer 34a Window 37 Through-hole 40 Cover 42 Wiring material side covering portion 42b Protrusion (locked portion)
44 Terminal side coating 44a Protrusion (locked part)
46 Hinge 50 Wire harness 52 Electric wire 54 Connector

Claims (4)

A wire harness connector that can be wound around a wire harness,
A plurality of unit connectors having a plurality of connector terminals arranged in parallel to each other and an insulating housing for holding these connector terminals;
The unit connectors extend in the arrangement direction of the unit connectors so as to electrically connect the connector terminals included in the unit connectors in a state where the unit connectors are arranged in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the connector terminals, and A flexible wiring material that can be bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the connector terminal;
A cover that is attached to each insulating housing so as to cover a connection portion between the connector terminal of each unit connector and the flexible wiring member;
The insulating housing of each unit connector has a shape that surrounds a terminal holding portion that holds a specific part of each connector terminal, and a part that is a part other than the specific part of each connector terminal and is connected to the flexible wiring member A frame portion to which the cover is attached, a locking portion for locking the cover, and a specific portion of the frame portion protruding in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the flexible wiring member, A reinforcing rib having a shape that prevents the frame portion from being bent and deformed in a direction orthogonal to both the axial direction and the arrangement direction of the connector terminals so as to displace the cover in a direction away from the locking portion; And having a waterproofing rib protruding in the same direction as the protruding direction of the reinforcing rib from the inner peripheral edge of the frame portion, and a groove is formed between the waterproofing rib and the reinforcing rib, This Drainage port for discharging the water in the grooves to the outside of the unit connector are secured to the side of the insulating housing,
A connector for a wire harness, wherein each of the insulating housings is wound around the wire harness in a posture aligned with the circumferential direction of the main body of the wire harness with bending deformation of the flexible wiring member. The wire harness connector according to claim 1,
The waterproof rib bulges in the connector width direction parallel to the connector terminal arrangement direction at a position away from the end of the reinforcing rib in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the connector terminal. The outer surface is arranged on substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the reinforcing rib, and the drainage port is secured between the bulging portion of the waterproofing rib and the end of the reinforcing rib. Characteristic wire harness connector. In the wire harness connector according to claim 1 or 2,
The insulating housing has a hood that covers the end of the connector terminal on the opposite side of the frame portion with the terminal holding portion in between, and water for deriving moisture in the hood to the frame portion side. A wire harness connector characterized by having a drain hole, wherein the drain hole is in a position where moisture from the drain hole flows down into the groove. The connector for a wire harness according to claim 3,
The wire harness connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a locked portion that is fitted into the drain hole, and the cover is locked to the insulating housing by the fitting.

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