Connector matching structure

Abstract

A connector mating structure includes a seal attached to a female housing of a female connector. The seal includes an annular portion attached to an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and a front side of the flange portion, and an engagement portion connected to the annular portion and locked to an opening portion of the flange portion. The annular portion provides a seal between an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the male housing. The locking portion includes an insertion portion extending rearward from a rear end of the annular portion and inserted into the opening portion, and a protruding portion protruding inward from a rear end of the insertion portion into the annular portion and located on a rear side of the flange portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector mating structure comprising a male connector and a female connector configured to mate with each other. Background Technology

[0002] A connector mating structure for mates a male connector with a female connector is known, wherein a seal provides a seal between the male housing and the female housing.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector mating structure comprising a main body having a female housing that accommodates a female terminal and an annular seal fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the main body. A male housing includes a cylindrical portion that receives the main body of the female housing. In the mating state of the male and female connectors, the seal provides a seal between the outer peripheral surface of the female housing's main body and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the male housing.

[0004] Reference List

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: JP 2022-7493A Summary of the Invention

[0007] The connector mating structure according to Patent Document 1 is provided in such a manner that the seal is attached to the main body of the female housing in the same direction as the male and female connectors when they mate and disengage. Therefore, this connector mating structure has a problem: during the disengagement operation of releasing the male and female connectors from their mating state, friction is generated between the cylindrical portion of the male housing and the seal, causing the seal to be pulled by the friction and thus disengage from and / or misalign from the main body.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector mating structure that can prevent the seal from detaching and / or misaligning.

[0009] This invention provides a connector mating structure, comprising: a male connector and a female connector configured to mate with each other, wherein the male connector includes a male terminal and a male housing, wherein the male housing includes a cylindrical portion surrounding one end of the male terminal, wherein the female connector includes a female terminal, a female housing, and a seal, wherein the female housing includes a body portion and a collar, wherein the body portion is configured to receive the female terminal and includes a front half configured to be inserted into the cylindrical portion, wherein the collar extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the body portion and has an opening, wherein the seal includes an annular portion and a locking portion, wherein the annular portion is configured to engage with the outer peripheral surface of the body portion and the front side of the collar to provide a seal between the outer peripheral surface of the body portion and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and wherein the locking portion is connected to the annular portion and locked to the opening.

[0010] The present invention provides a connector mating structure that can prevent the seal from detaching and / or misaligning. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 A front view of a female connector as part of a connector mating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0012] Figure 2 It shows according to Figure 1 Exploded view of the female connector;

[0013] Figure 3 It shows along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of line AA in the diagram;

[0014] Figure 4 It shows only including Figure 3 A view of the female shell within;

[0015] Figure 5 The diagram shows only those included according to Figure 3 A view of the seal;

[0016] Figure 6 It shows according to Figure 3 The mating state of the female and male connectors that cooperate with each other;

[0017] Figure 7 It shows according to Figure 6 A magnified view of region C;

[0018] Figure 8 It shows according to Figure 1 The mating state of the female and male connectors, wherein the mating state is along... Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the centerline BB is shown;

[0019] Figure 9 It shows according to Figure 6 How the female and male connectors disengage from each other; and

[0020] Figure 10 It shows according to Figure 9 A magnified view of region D.

[0021] Reference tag list

[0022] 2. Seals

[0023] 6. Anterior shell

[0024] 8. Anode shell

[0025] 10 Connector mating structure

[0026] 11 Female connector

[0027] 12 Male Connectors

[0028] 15 female terminals

[0029] 18 male terminals

[0030] 21. Circular portion

[0031] 22. Locking part

[0032] 60 Main body

[0033] 62 Opening

[0034] 73 Flange portion

[0035] 80 cylindrical part Detailed Implementation

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 10 A "connector mating structure" according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0037] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the connector mating structure 10 includes a male connector 12 and a female connector 11 configured to mate with each other.

[0038] In this specification, for the male connector 12, one side and the opposite side along the mating direction between the male connector 12 and the female connector 11 shall be the "front" side and the "rear" side, wherein this side faces the female connector 11. Similarly, for the female connector 11, one side and the opposite side along the mating direction between the female connector 11 and the male connector 12 shall be the "front" side and the "rear" side, wherein this side faces the male connector 12.

[0039] The male connector 12 includes multiple male terminals 18 and a male housing 8.

[0040] Each male terminal 18 is rod-shaped, wherein the portion of the rod-shaped part located inside the male housing 8 extends straight, and the portion of the rod-shaped part located outside the male housing 8 is bent at a right angle, such that the rod-shaped part as a whole is L-shaped.

[0041] The male housing 8 is made of insulating resin. The male housing 8 includes an integrally formed terminal holding portion 81 and a cylindrical portion 80, wherein the terminal holding portion 81 holds a plurality of male terminals 18, and the cylindrical portion 80 surrounds one end of the male terminal 18.

[0042] The cylindrical portion 80 is open at its front side and closed at its rear side by the terminal retaining portion 81. The cylindrical portion 80 receives the main body portion 60 of the female housing 6. One or more locking portions 89 are formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 80 to lock to the female housing 6, wherein one or more locking portions 85 are formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 80 to lock to the outer housing 3.

[0043] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the female connector 11 includes multiple female terminals 15, short-circuit terminals 4, a female housing 6, a front retainer 5, a housing 3, a spring 16, and a seal 2.

[0044] Each female terminal 15 is connected to the end of a wire 13. A rubber plug 14 is attached to each wire 13. The rubber plug 14 provides a seal between each wire 13 and the wall defining the female terminal receiving chamber 61 described below. Each female terminal 15 includes a quadrilateral tubular portion and a spring element disposed within the quadrilateral tubular portion, wherein the quadrilateral tubular portion is capable of receiving one end of a male terminal 18.

[0045] The short-circuit terminal 4 is configured to contact two adjacent female terminals 15 in the non-mating state of the male connector 12 and female connector 11, thereby short-circuiting these female terminals 15. When the male connector 12 and female connector 11 are mated, a portion of the male housing 8 is introduced between the short-circuit terminal 4 and the two female terminals 15, thereby disengaging the short-circuit terminal 4 from the two female terminals 15. This removes the two female terminals 15 from the short-circuit state.

[0046] The female housing 6 is made of insulating resin. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the female housing 6 includes a main body 60, a flange 73, a lower plate 74, a spring receiving chamber 66, and an upper plate 67, all formed as one piece.

[0047] The main body 60 includes a female terminal receiving chamber 61, a spear 63, and a short-circuit terminal receiving chamber 64. Female terminals 15 are received within each female terminal receiving chamber 61, with the spear 63 locked to each female terminal 15, and a short-circuit terminal 4 received within the short-circuit terminal receiving chamber 64. Each spear 63 is cantilevered to a wall, which defines a portion of the female terminal receiving chamber 61. The free end of the spear 63 is locked to the rear end of the quadrilateral tubular portion to prevent the female terminal 15 from detaching. The main body 60 has a cuboid shape, and is rectangular in the front view. The front half of the main body 60 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 80.

[0048] The flange portion 73 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 60. The flange portion 73 has two openings 62 for locking the locking portion 22 of the seal 2 as described below therein. Each opening 62 is defined by a quadrilateral recess formed in the flange portion 73 and opens on three sides of the flange portion 73, namely on the front side, the rear side and the side facing the outer casing 3 (the lower side).

[0049] like Figure 4 and Figure 8 As shown, the lower plate portion 74 is disposed below the main body portion 60 and extends rearward from the lower end of the flange portion 73. The lower plate portion 74 includes one or more locking portions 75 configured to lock to the housing 3. Furthermore, in this example, two openings 62 are formed in the portion of the flange portion 73 located below the main body portion 60. In addition, the lower plate portion 74 includes openings continuously connected to the corresponding openings 62.

[0050] Each spring receiving chamber 66 houses the rear half of the spring 16. The spring receiving chambers 66 are disposed on the left and right sides of the main body 60 and connected to these sides.

[0051] The upper plate portion 67 is arranged above the main body portion 60. The upper plate portion 67 includes a protrusion 68 and a locking portion 69. The protrusion 68 is placed in a corresponding through hole 38 in the outer casing 3, as described below, wherein the locking portion 69 is configured to lock to the locking portion 89 of the male housing 8.

[0052] The directional terms used above, such as "below the main body 60," "above the main body 50," and "left and right sides of the main body 60," are only used to better understand the structural features of the present invention, and these terms are used relative to the plane of the drawing. Therefore, the directional terms used above may not necessarily be consistent with the directional terms used in the actual use of the female connector 11.

[0053] The front retainer 5 is made of insulating resin. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the front retainer 5 includes an integrally formed front wall 51, a peripheral wall 50, and a limiting portion 53. The front wall 51 is located in front of the front end face 60a of the main body 60. The peripheral wall 50 surrounds the outer periphery of the main body 60, and the limiting portion 53 is arranged inside the peripheral wall 50 and limits the bending of the spear 63.

[0054] After inserting the female terminal 15 into the corresponding female terminal receiving chamber 61 and locking each spear 63 to the female terminal 15, as Figure 3 As shown, the limiting part 53 is located in the bending space of the spear shank 63 to limit the bending of the spear shank 63. In this way, the spear shank 63 is kept locked to the female terminal 15, thereby preventing the female terminal 15 from disengaging.

[0055] The front retainer 5 is attached to the main body 60 in a manner that allows it to move back and forth between an allowable position and a restricted position. In the allowable position, the restrictor 53 allows the spear 63 to bend, and in the restricted position, the restrictor 53 restricts the bending of the spear 63.

[0056] The outer casing 3 is made of insulating resin. The outer casing 3 includes an integral outer casing body 30 and one or more spring receiving chambers 36, wherein the outer casing body 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodates the female casing 6.

[0057] The outer casing body 30 positions the cylindrical portion 80 of the male housing 8 and the sealing member 2 between the outer casing body 30 and the main body 60. The outer casing body 30 has through holes 38 and locking holes 35 formed therein, and the protrusions 68 of the female housing 6 are placed in each of the through holes 38, wherein the locking holes 35 are configured to lock the locking portion 75 of the female housing 6 and the locking portion 85 of the male housing 8 therein.

[0058] Spring receiving chamber 36 receives the front half of spring 16. The female housing 6 is rearwardly biased relative to the outer housing 3 by spring 16, wherein the front half of spring 16 is received in spring receiving chamber 36 of outer housing 3 and the rear half of spring 16 is received in spring receiving chamber 66 of female housing 6.

[0059] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the seal 2 includes an annular portion 21 and two locking portions 22 connected to the annular portion 21. The two locking portions 22 are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the annular portion 21.

[0060] The annular portion 21 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 60 and the front side of the flange portion 73. The annular portion 21 includes a lip 21a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 21. The annular portion 21 collapses between the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 80, and thus elastically deforms to provide a seal between the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 80.

[0061] Each locking portion 22 locks into one of the openings 62 of the flange portion 73. Each locking portion 22 includes an insertion portion 22a and a protrusion 22b, wherein the insertion portion 22a extends rearward from the rear end of the annular portion 21 and inserts into the opening 62, and wherein the protrusion 22b protrudes from the rear end of the insertion portion 22a toward the inside of the annular portion 21 (towards the body portion 60). Figure 7 As shown, each protrusion 22b is located on the rear side of the flange 73 and faces the rear side 73a of the flange 73.

[0062] Before attaching the front retainer 5 to the main body 60, attach the seal 2 from the front of the main body 60 to the female housing 6. After attaching the seal 2 to the female housing 6, attach the front retainer 5 to the permitted position of the main body 60. In this state, insert the female terminal 15 into the female terminal receiving chamber 61, wherein the spear 63 then locks to the female terminal 15, and then move the front retainer 5 to the restricted position of the main body 60.

[0063] The outer casing body 30 contacts the lower end of the flange portion 73 and the lower plate portion 74. This means that the outer casing body 30 positions the insertion portion 22a between the outer casing body 30 and the inner surface of the opening portion 62. Figure 10 As shown, the gap between the insertion portion 22a and the main body portion 30 of the outer casing has a gap size G, which is smaller than the protrusion length W of the protrusion 22b. The protrusion length W of the protrusion 22b extending from the insertion portion 22a corresponds to the extension of the engagement between the protrusion 22b and the flange portion 73 (the edge of the opening 62), that is, the extension W of the engagement is greater than the gap size G.

[0064] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, during the disengagement operation of the male connector 12 and female connector 11, friction is generated between the cylindrical portion 80 and the annular portion 21, causing the seal 2 to be pulled along the disengagement direction by the friction. However, during the pulling of the seal 2, the protrusion 22b is caught by the rear end 73a (edge ​​of the opening 62) of the flange portion 73, preventing the locking portion 22 from disengaging from the opening 62. Furthermore, the gap dimension G is smaller than the protruding length W of the protrusion 22b, which reliably maintains the locked state between the locking portion 22 and the opening 62.

[0065] In this way, the connector mating structure 10 can prevent the seal 2 from detaching from and / or misaligning from the female housing 6.

[0066] It should be noted that the embodiments described above are merely representative examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the core of the present invention. Obviously, such modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention, as long as the modifications include the features of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector mating structure, comprising: A male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector and the female connector are configured to mate with each other. The male connector includes a male terminal and a male housing. The male housing includes a cylindrical portion surrounding one end of the male terminal. The female connector includes a female terminal, a female housing, and a seal. The female shell includes a main body and a flange. The main body is configured to accommodate the female terminal and includes a front half configured to be inserted into the cylindrical portion. The flange portion extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and has an opening. The sealing element includes an annular portion and a locking portion. The annular portion is configured to attach to the outer peripheral surface of the main body and the front side of the flange portion to provide a seal between the outer peripheral surface of the main body and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The locking portion is connected to the annular portion and locked to the opening.

2. The connector mating structure according to claim 1, in, The locking part includes an insertion part and a protrusion part. The insertion portion extends rearward from the rear end of the annular portion and is inserted into the opening. The protrusion extends from the rear end of the insertion portion toward the inner side of the annular portion and is located on the rear side of the flange portion.

3. The connector mating structure according to claim 2, in, The female connector includes a housing body configured to accommodate the female housing and to position the cylindrical portion and the seal between the body portion and the housing body.

4. The connector mating structure according to claim 3, in, The opening is located on three sides of the flange, namely, the front side, the rear side, and the side facing the outer casing of the flange. The outer casing positions the insertion portion between the outer casing and the flange portion, and The gap between the insertion part and the outer shell is smaller than the protrusion length of the protrusion.

Images