JP2016131133A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve coming-off prevention by using a versatile seal ring.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector includes a connector housing 1 having a cylindrical hood 3 opening forward, a flexible lock arm 5 where a portion of the inner wall surface of the hood 3 projects inward stepwise to maintain the fitting state to a mating connector, and a seal ring 13 arranged in the rear of the hood 3 and performing water stop between a mating connector C2. At the rear end of the lock arm 5, a first stopper surface 9 is formed to project inward stepwise from the inner wall surface of the hood 3, and is locked to the front surface of the seal ring 13 thus preventing the seal ring 13 from coming off.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector.

  In a conventionally known waterproof connector as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a rubber seal ring is housed in the back of the hood. A plurality of seal lips are formed on the peripheral surface of the seal ring, and when the male and female connectors are fitted, the seal lip comes into elastic contact with the outer peripheral surface of the mating connector so that the seal between the two connectors can be taken. ing.

  On the other hand, when the male and female connectors are disengaged, the seal ring may be pulled out with the disengagement operation. For this reason, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a pair of locking projections (ribs) are formed on both side portions of the seal ring, and these are fitted into locking holes opened at corresponding positions on the side walls of the hood portion. The seal ring can be prevented from coming off.

JP-A-11-339879 (FIGS. 2 and 3)

  However, the conventional one has a problem that it is necessary to form a dedicated structure (locking protrusion) for preventing the seal ring itself from coming off, and lacks versatility. In addition, it was pointed out that the hood part also had an opening.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the waterproof connector which can use a versatile seal ring.

  The waterproof connector according to the present invention maintains a fitting state between the connector housing 1 having a cylindrical hood portion that opens forward and a part of the inner wall surface of the hood portion inwardly projecting in a stepped shape. A lockable arm that can be bent and a seal ring that is placed in the back of the hood and seals against the mating connector. The rear end of the lock arm is inward from the inner wall of the hood. A first retaining surface is formed so as to project in a stepped shape, and the first retaining surface is locked to the front surface of the seal ring to prevent the seal ring from slipping.

  According to the present invention, the rear end portion of the lock arm protrudes from the inner wall surface of the hood portion so as to form a step, so that the first retaining surface is formed, and this first retaining surface is the front surface of the seal ring. The seal ring can be prevented from coming off by being locked to. Therefore, since it is not necessary to form a locking projection, which is a dedicated structure for retaining the conventional seal ring, a general-purpose seal ring can be used. Further, since the locking projection is not formed, the hood portion does not have an opening.

Perspective view of waterproof connector Same front view Same top view Same side sectional view

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(1) In the waterproof connector of the present invention, a second retaining surface protrudes in a step shape on the opposite side of the inner wall surface of the hood portion from which the retaining surface is formed. It is preferable that the second retaining surface is engaged with the front surface of the seal ring.
According to such a configuration, since the second retaining surface is disposed on the opposite side of the first retaining surface, the seal ring can be stably locked, and the retaining can be more reliably performed. It can be carried out.
(2) Further, the lock arm is formed so as to be cantilevered toward the opening side of the hood portion, and the bending fulcrum of the lock arm is set at a position close to the first retaining surface. It is good to be done.
According to such a configuration, since the bending fulcrum of the lock arm when the lock arm is bent in the unlocking direction in order to disengage the male and female connectors is set at a position close to the first retaining surface, The influence of the bending of the arm is difficult to reach the first retaining surface. Therefore, it is easy to secure the locking allowance of the first retaining surface with respect to the seal ring, and the retaining function can be maintained.
(3) The connector housing is formed of a main body portion and the hood portion formed at a front portion of the main body portion, and the hood portion is formed so as to expand from the main body portion, A stepped surface is formed at a boundary portion between the rear end surface of the hood portion and the main body portion, and a first punch hole for forming the first retaining surface is opened in the stepped surface. It is good to be.
In the above configuration, if a step surface is not formed between the hood portion and the main body portion, a die cutting path from the rear end portion of the main body portion to the first retaining surface is formed in the main body portion. Will be. That is, the forming pin for forming the first retaining surface is considerably long and it is difficult to ensure the strength. In that respect, if a step surface is formed at the boundary between the hood portion and the main body portion, and then the die is removed from the first retaining surface, the molding pin can be shortened and its strength is increased. Is easy to secure.
(4) It is preferable to open a second hole for forming the second retaining surface on the step surface.
According to such a configuration, the molding pin forming the second retaining surface is similarly shortened, and it is easy to ensure the strength.

<Example>
Next, an embodiment embodying the waterproof connector of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a connector housing 1 of a waterproof connector C1 of this embodiment. The connector housing 1 is made of synthetic resin. A main body 2 is formed on the rear side to accommodate a plurality of male terminal fittings (not shown) in a retaining state, and is formed slightly larger than the main body 2 on the front side. A hood portion 3 is formed into which the mating connector C2 can be fitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 2 is formed with two cavities 11 for accommodating male terminal fittings in the vertical direction and four chambers in the horizontal direction in the figure. The hood portion 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that opens forward, and the tabs of the male terminal fittings are accommodated in parallel inside.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a recess 4 is formed in a substantially square shape near the front end of the upper surface of the hood portion 3 in the figure, and a lock arm 5 is arranged inside the recess 4 so as to be able to bend inward and outward. . The lock arm 5 is formed with a lock hole 6 penetrating in a substantially square shape, and the lock hole 6 is formed so as to be entirely exposed in the recess 4. When the male and female connectors C1 and C2 are properly fitted, the lock hole 6 can be locked with a lock protrusion 7 formed to protrude from the outer surface of the mating connector C2. As a result, the male and female connectors C1, C2 are locked in the fitted state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lock arm 5 is arranged in a state of being lowered by one step from the ceiling surface in the hood portion 3. More specifically, when the lock arm 5 is in a natural state, the entire lock arm 5 is in a substantially horizontal state, and is formed so as to be cantilevered forward from the rear end. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a relief portion 8 is formed so as to bulge upward at the opening edge of the hood portion 3 and in front of the front end portion of the lock arm 5 in an arch shape. The opening width of the escape portion 8 is slightly wider than the width of the lock arm 5. The escape portion 8 exposes the front end portion of the lock arm 5 over the entire width.

  The upper surface of the lock arm 5 in the natural state is slightly lower than the lower surface of the escape portion 8. Similarly, the lower surface of the lock arm 5 is formed so as to be substantially flush with the upper surface of the main body 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear end portion of the lock arm 5 is formed with a first retaining surface 9 in a step shape from the ceiling surface in the hood portion 3. The first retaining surface 9 is formed so as to stand vertically. As described above, the hood portion 3 is formed larger than the main body portion 2, and the step surface 10 is formed over the entire circumference at the boundary portion with the main body portion 2 (the rear end surface of the hood portion 3). . A first punch hole 12 passes through a portion of the stepped surface 10 corresponding to the lock arm 5 in the fitting direction (front-rear direction). The first retaining surface 9 is formed through the first hole 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bending fulcrum S of the lock arm 5 is set at a position obliquely above and forward of the first retaining surface 9. Thus, since the first retaining surface 9 is set near the bending fulcrum S, even if the lock arm 5 is bent and deformed, the influence does not easily reach the first retaining surface 9. Yes. That is, even during the bending operation of the lock arm 5, the first retaining surface 9 is held in a substantially vertical state. In the hood part 3, a ring accommodating part 14 for accommodating a seal ring 13 to be described later is formed behind the first retaining surface 9.

  On the other hand, on the bottom surface in the hood portion 3, a base portion 15 is formed to project along the front-rear direction at the center portion in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 15 is positioned substantially directly below the lock arm 5 and is formed to be substantially equal in width to the lock arm 5. An inclined surface 16 is formed at the front portion of the base portion 15 to facilitate the mating of the mating connector C2. The inclined surface 16 is formed so as to have an upward slope as it goes from the opening edge of the hood portion 3 to the back.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end surface of the base portion 15 is formed one step higher than the bottom surface of the hood portion 3 located on the far side, and serves as a second retaining surface 17 that stands substantially vertically. The second retaining surface 17 is formed at substantially the same position as the first retaining surface 9 in the front-rear direction. The first and second retaining surfaces 9 and 17 are formed at the same height.

  The second punch hole 18 penetrates the stepped surface 10 described above at a position corresponding to the base portion 15 in the fitting direction (front-rear direction). The second retaining surface 17 can be formed through the second punch hole 18.

  The seal ring 13 is made of rubber, and is formed in a substantially square ring shape as a whole, and both front and rear end surfaces stand up substantially vertically. The seal ring 13 is fitted from the front of the hood part 3 and is assembled in the ring housing part 14. The thickness in the front-rear direction of the seal ring 13 is formed slightly longer than the front-rear length of the ring housing portion 14, and when the seal ring 13 is assembled in the ring housing portion 14, the rear surface of the seal ring 13 is the hood portion 3. The first and second punch holes 12 and 18 can be closed in a sealed state. Also, the upper and lower portions of the front surface of the seal ring 13 are in elastic contact with the first and second retaining surfaces 9 and 17, thereby preventing the seal ring 13 from slipping forward. In this embodiment, the thickness of the front end face of the seal ring 13 is formed larger than the height of the first and second retaining surfaces 9 and 17.

  Two outer peripheral lips 18 </ b> A and two outer peripheral lips 18 </ b> B are formed on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the seal ring 13 so as to protrude over the entire periphery. The outer peripheral lip 18B is in elastic contact with the inner wall of the ring housing portion 14 in a sealed state, and the inner peripheral lip 18A is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the mating connector C2 when the mating connector C2 is properly fitted. On the other hand, it is in elastic contact with the entire circumference.

  Next, the function and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. In the waterproof connector of this embodiment, the seal ring 13 is fitted from the front of the hood portion 3 of the connector housing 1. During this time, the seal ring 13 is elastically compressed inward and is pushed into the ring accommodating portion 14 through the lock arm 5 and the base portion 15. When the entire seal ring 13 is accommodated in the ring accommodating portion 14 in a compressed manner in the front-rear direction, the upper and lower portions of the front end surface of the seal ring 13 are formed on the first and second retaining surfaces 9, 17. Each is locked in a state of elastic contact and is prevented from coming forward.

  When the male and female connectors C1 and C2 are fitted, the lock arm 5 bends upward about the fulcrum S by the lock projection 7 of the mating connector C2 as the mating connector C2 enters the hood 3. Deformation (imaginary line state in FIG. 4). When the fitting of the male and female connectors C1 and C2 is completed, the lock arm 5 is elastically restored and the lock projection 7 is fitted and locked in the lock hole 6, so that the male and female connectors C1 and C2 are in the fitted state. Locked. In the fitted state, male and female terminal fittings (not shown) are properly connected, and the seal ring 13 seals the male and female connectors C1, C2 as described above.

  On the contrary, when the male and female connectors C1 and C2 are detached, the lock arm 5 is bent and deformed in the release direction using an appropriate release jig to release the lock projection 7 from the lock hole 6. When the male and female connectors C1 and C2 are operated in the disengagement direction with the lock arm 5 still bent, a force in the pulling direction acts on the seal ring 13 due to a frictional force with the mating connector C2. However, in the case of the present embodiment, since the forward movement of the seal ring 13 is prevented by the engagement with the first and second retaining surfaces 9 and 17, the seal ring 13 is accompanied by the connector detachment operation. Will not be pulled out. In addition, in this embodiment, since the bending fulcrum S of the lock arm 5 and the first retaining surface 9 are set close to each other, the first retaining surface even when the lock arm 5 is deflected. No. 9 keeps a substantially vertical standing state. Accordingly, since the first retaining surface 9 maintains the locking margin with the seal ring 13, the retaining of the seal ring 13 becomes more reliable.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the seal ring 13 does not require a locking protrusion that is a dedicated structure for preventing the conventional disconnection, the versatility of the seal ring 13 can be enhanced. Further, by lowering the lock arm 5 one step from the inner surface of the hood portion 3, the rear end surface of the lock arm 5 is used as the first retaining surface 9 as it is, so that it is not necessary to add a special structure for retaining it. . Therefore, it contributes to simplification of the configuration of the connector housing 1. Further, since the first retaining surface 9 is located in the vicinity of the bending fulcrum S of the lock arm 5, the first retaining surface 9 is not easily affected by the bending of the locking arm 5, and the sealing ring 13 is pulled out regardless of the bending of the locking arm 5. The stop function can be maintained.

  Further, in this embodiment, a step surface 10 is formed between the main body 2 and the hood 3 and the first and second retaining surfaces 9 and 17 are formed through the first and second punch holes 12 and 18. Like to do. If it is attempted to form both retaining surfaces 9 and 17 without forming such a stepped surface 10, the die is removed from the rear end of the main body 2. However, in such a molding method, the die-cutting path is long, and the molding pin is lengthened accordingly, and it is difficult to ensure the strength of the molding pin. In that respect, as in the present embodiment, by using the punched holes 12 and 18 formed in the stepped surface 10, the molding pin can be shortened, and the strength of the pin can be easily secured.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) Although the case where the present invention is applied to a male connector has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a female connector.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the retaining surface is disposed on the surface of the hood portion 3 where the lock arm 5 is formed and the surface opposite thereto, but in addition, it is disposed on a surface orthogonal to these. Also good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector housing 2 ... Main-body part 3 ... Hood | hood part 5 ... Lock arm 9 ... 1st retaining surface 10 ... Step surface 13 ... Seal ring 17 ... 2nd retaining surface C1, C2 ... Connector S ... Deflection fulcrum

Claims (5)

A connector housing having a cylindrical hood that opens forward;
A bendable lock arm in which a part of the inner wall surface of the hood part protrudes inwardly and maintains a fitting state with the mating connector;
A seal ring that is disposed in the back of the hood portion and that stops water between the mating connector,
A rear end portion of the lock arm protrudes inward from the inner wall surface of the hood portion to form a first retaining surface, and the first retaining surface is locked to the front surface of the seal ring. A waterproof connector that prevents the seal ring from coming off.   On the opposite side of the inner wall surface of the hood portion from which the retaining surface is formed, a second retaining surface is formed so as to protrude in a step shape, and this second retaining surface is the seal ring. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof connector is engaged with the front surface of the waterproof connector.   The lock arm is formed so as to be cantilevered toward the opening side of the hood portion, and the bending fulcrum of the lock arm is set at a position close to the first retaining surface. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the waterproof connector is characterized in that: The connector housing is formed of a main body portion and the hood portion formed at a front portion of the main body portion, and the hood portion is formed so as to expand from the main body portion, so that the hood portion A stepped surface is formed at the boundary between the rear end surface and the main body,
The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stepped surface is provided with a first hole for forming the first retaining surface. .   The waterproof connector according to claim 4, wherein the stepped surface is provided with a second hole for forming the second retaining surface.

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