Waterproof connector

Abstract

Waterproof connector (100, 100A) comprising: an electric cable (17), a terminal (60), a housing (20) which has a tubular shape and into which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the housing (20) comprising a first tubular portion (22) forming a first end of the housing (20) and a second tubular portion (23) forming a second end of the housing (20); an inner member (40) holding the terminal (60) connected to one end of the electrical cable (17), the inner member (40) being attached to the first end of the housing (20); a sealing member (50, 50A) having a cable insertion hole (52) through which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the sealing member (50, 50A) being fixed to the second end of the housing (20); and a filling material (65) filling a space in an inner region of the housing (20) and between the inner member (40) and the sealing member (50, 50A), wherein the housing (20) has a curved structure such that the first tubular portion (22) and the second tubular portion (23) are connected to each other, wherein an axial direction (X) of the first tubular portion (22) and an axial direction (Y) of the second tubular portion (23) cross each other, wherein the second tubular portion (23) comprises a recessed portion (34) on an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion (23) and on a side of the second tubular portion (23) on which an inner corner of the bent structure of the housing (20) is provided, and wherein the sealing member (50, 50A) comprises a protruding piece (53, 53A) mounted in the recessed portion (34).

Description

Technical FieldThe present invention relates to a waterproof connector.BackgroundA waterproof connector of the related art having a waterproof property and an oil-proof property for use in a vehicle such as an automobile includes a housing having a tubular shape, an inner member fixed to one side of the housing and holding a terminal, a sealing member attached in the other end side of the housing and sealing a gap between an electric wire and the housing, and a resin-made filler that fills a space and is solidified in the space between the inner member and the sealing member in the housing (see, e.g., JP2006-228683A and JP2011-146338A).Some of the waterproof connectors of the related art include a housing bent at the center because a direction in which the connector is mounted in a mating connector is different from a direction in which the electric cable is pulled out of the connector. In such a waterproof connector in which the housing is bent, when the filler material fills a gap between the inner member and the sealing member in the housing, the filler material may not be charged for the entire gap, thereby forming an unfilled portion that has not been charged with the filler material.Specifically, in the housing in which a wall thickness varies along an axial direction of the connector, a recess is formed in a portion having a thin wall thickness. Then, the air in the recessed portion does not come out at the time of filling the filling material, and the unfilled portion of the filling material is easily generated.JP 2012-59 652 A discloses a watertight connector having a housing, an inner element, a sealing element and filling material. The filler material is filled in an inner region of the housing between the inner member and the sealing member. Further, the sealing member has a plurality of protruding pieces for anchoring the sealing member to the filling material.From JP H02-278 673 A a watertight connector with housing and bent structure is known. There are an inner member, a sealing member, and filling material filled in an inner region of the housing between the inner member and the sealing member.From JP H07-42 018 U a watertight connector is known, comprising a housing, a sealing element, filling material and recessed portion.SummaryAn object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector that can be satisfactorily filled with a filler material while ensuring high performance of the gasket.This object is achieved by a watertight connector having the features of the independent claims. An advantageous further development is specified in a dependent claim.Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 1 along an axial direction; FIGS. 4A and 4B are views for explaining a housing of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 4A is an end view of a second tubular portion and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 4A ; FIG. 5 is a partially cut-out perspective view explaining the housing of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 2 ; FIGS. 6A and 6B are views explaining a sealing member shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 6A is a perspective view viewed from a front side and FIG. 6B is a perspective view viewed from a rear side; FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view along the axial direction showing the second tubular portion of the housing before the sealing member is attached; FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view along the axial direction showing the second tubular portion of the housing after the sealing member is attached; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a waterproof connector according to a reference example along an axial direction; FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a waterproof connector according to a modification of the embodiment taken along an axial direction; and FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a waterproof connector according to another embodiment of the present invention along an axial direction.Detailed DescriptionHereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the waterproof connector 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the waterproof connector 100 shown in FIG. 1 in an axial direction.As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the waterproof connector 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 20, an inner member 40, a sealing member 50, and a filler material 65. the waterproof connector 100 includes a connection portion 13 to which a mating connector (not shown) is to be connected, and an electric wire drawing-in portion 15. the waterproof connector 100 is fixed to, for example, a case that houses a transmission of a vehicle. The lead wires 17 extending from an electrical component in the box are led into the electric wire drawing-in portion 15. The mating connector (not shown) of a device such as a power source device and a control device provided outside the case in which the transmission is accommodated is connected to the connection portion 13.The housing 20 is formed of a synthetic resin and is formed in a tubular shape. The housing 20 is formed substantially in an L shape having a bent portion 21 bent approximately by 90°. With the bent portion 21 as a boundary, the housing 20 has two portions that are a first tubular portion 22 and a second tubular portion 23. In other words, the first tubular portion 22 and the second tubular portion 23 are joined to each other at the bent portion 21. The first tubular portion 22 has a first end (opening end) of the housing 20, which is an end of the first tubular end portion 22 opposite to the bent portion 21. The second tubular portion 23 has a second end (opening end) of the housing 20, which is an end of the second tubular end portion 23 opposite to the bent portion 21. An axial direction X of the first tubular portion 22 and an axial direction Y of the second tubular portion 23 cross each other as a boundary of the first tubular portion 22 and the second tubular portion 23. a bending angle at the bent portion 21 between the first tubular portion 22 and the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 is not limited to 90°, and may be any angle as long as the axial directions X, Y cross each other.The first tubular portion 22 is formed in the shape of a rectangular tube, and the second tubular portion 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The housing 20 includes the connection portion 13 on a side of the first tubular portion 22 and the electric wire drawing-in portion 15 on a side of the second tubular portion 23. the inner member 40 is mounted and fixed in the first tubular portion 22 of the housing 20. A locking portion 25 having a screw insertion hole 24 is formed in the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 so as to protrude laterally. The electric wire drawing-in portion 15 is to be fitted into a mounting hole (not shown) formed in the box. Subsequently, a screw (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion hole 24 of the locking portion 25 is to be screwed into a threaded hole (not shown) on a side of the box, and the waterproof connector 100 is fastened to the box.A seal groove 26 is formed on an outer circumferential portion of the second tubular portion 23 in a circumferential direction, and an O-ring 27 formed in a ring shape is to be fitted into the seal groove 26. The O-ring 27 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as rubber. The O-ring 27 contacts an inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole by mounting the electric wire drawing-in portion 15 in the mounting hole of the box. As a result, a space between the case and the electric wire drawing-in portion 15 of the housing 20 is sealed.FIGS. 4A and 4B are views explaining the housing 20 of the waterproof connector 100 shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 4A is an end view of the second tubular portion 23, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a partially cut-out perspective view for explaining the housing 20 included in the waterproof connector 100 shown in FIG. 2.As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 is provided at an opening end portion with a seal mounting portion 32. An inner diameter of the seal mounting portion 32 is larger than an inner diameter of the components of the second tubular portion 23 other than the seal mounting portion 32. The inward protruding locking claws 31 are formed at an end portion of the first tubular portion 22, the end portion being closer to the bent portion 21 than the side of the first tubular portion 22 on which the connecting portion 13 is provided. The second tubular portion 23 has a thickened portion 33 at an end portion thereof that is closer than the opening end portion to the bent portion 21. By the presence of the thickened portion 33, the locking claw 31 is formed without difficulty in the vicinity of the bent portion 21 on the end portion of the first tubular portion 22. In addition, in the second tubular portion 23, a recessed portion 34 is formed in the vicinity of the seal mounting portion 32 because the thickened portion 33 is formed in the vicinity of the bent portion 21. The recessed portion 34 is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the second tubular portion 23 on a side on which an inner corner is provided. Further, a positioning mark 35 is provided on an end surface of the second tubular portion 23. The positioning mark 35 is provided on the end surface of the second tubular portion 23 on the side where the inner corner is provided.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner member 40 is formed of a synthetic resin and is attached and fixed to the first tubular portion 22 used as the connection portion 13 of the housing 20. In addition, the locking pieces 42 each having a locking hole 41 are formed on the inner member 40. The lock piece 42 protrudes from the inner member 40 in a direction in which the inner member 40 is attached to the housing 20. In addition, a plurality of terminal accommodating holes 43 are formed in the inner member 40, and the terminals 60 are inserted into the terminal accommodating holes 43. As a result, a plurality of terminals 60 are held in the inner member 40. The terminal 60 is formed of, for example, a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy. Each of the terminals 60 includes a terminal connection portion 61 having a pin shape to be connected to a terminal (not shown) of the mating connector, and an electric wire connection portion 62 to which one end of the electric wire 17 is to be connected. The electric wire 17 is to be crimped to the electric wire connecting portion 62, and one end thereof is connected to the electric wire connecting portion 62, such that a conductor inside the electric wire 17 is electrically connected to the terminal 60.The inner member 40 holding the plurality of terminals 60 is mounted in the first tubular portion 22, and the other end of the electric cable 17 is first inserted into the first tubular portion 22 and then inserted into the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. The inner member 40 mounted in the first tubular portion 22 is locked in the first tubular portion 22 of the housing 20 by the locking claw 31 configured to lock the locking hole 41 of the locking pieces 42.FIGS. 6A and 6B are views explaining the sealing member 50 shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 6A is a perspective view viewed from a front side and FIG. 6B is a perspective view viewed from a rear side. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view along the axial direction showing the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 before the sealing member 50 is attached. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view along the axial direction showing the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 after the sealing member 50 is attached. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 3.As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the seal member 50 is formed substantially in a disc shape. The seal member 50 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as rubber. The sealing member 50 has a plurality of lip portions 51 protruding from an outer circumferential surface. The lip portions 51 are formed over a circumferential direction of the seal member 50, and are arranged at intervals in the axial direction. The seal member 50 having the lip portions 51 has an outer diameter slightly larger than an inner diameter of the seal mounting portion 32 formed in the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. As a result, the lip portion 51 is to be pressed against the seal mounting portion 32 when the seal member 50 is attached to the seal mounting portion 32, and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the seal mounting portion 32 in a pressed manner.The sealing member 50 has a plurality of electric wire insertion holes 52 passing through the front side and the back side of the sealing member 50, and the lead wires 17 each having the one end connected to the terminal 60 are passed through the electric wire insertion holes 52.A protruding piece 53 is formed on the sealing member 50. The protruding piece 53 is formed in the vicinity of an edge portion of a surface to face the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 when the sealing member 50 is fixed to the second tubular portion 23. The protruding piece 53 extends in a direction in which the sealing member 50 is fixed to the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. The protruding piece 53 is formed in a shape that can be fitted in the recessed portion 34 formed in the second tubular portion 23. In addition, the sealing member 50 is provided with a positioning mark 55 on an edge portion of another surface of the sealing member 50 on a side opposite to the surface to be faced to the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 when the sealing member 50 is attached to the second tubular portion 23. The positioning mark 55 is provided at a position corresponding to the edge portion of the seal member 50 in the vicinity of which the protruding piece 53 is formed.The sealing member 50 is attached and fixed to the seal mounting portion 32 of the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20, with the electric wire 17 passing through the electric wire insertion hole 52. When the seal member 50 is attached to the seal mounting portion 32, the lip portion 51 contacts the inner circumferential surface of the seal mounting portion 32 in a pressing manner. As a result, the end portion of the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 is sealed by the sealing member 50. In this state, the sealing member 50 is slightly compressed inward in a radial direction, thereby sealing a gap between the inner circumferential surface of the electric wire insertion hole 52 and an outer circumferential surface of the electric wire 17.The sealing member 50 is mounted on the housing 20 by being mounted in the seal mounting portion 32 of the second tubular portion 23. At this time, the positioning mark 55 of the sealing member 50 is aligned with the positioning mark 35 provided on the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the protruding piece 53 of the sealing member 50 is positioned with respect to the recessed portion 34 formed in the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. When the sealing member 50 is mounted in the seal mounting portion 32 of the second tubular portion 23 and mounted to the housing 20 with the positioning mark 55 aligned with the positioning mark 35, the protruding piece 53 provided on the sealing member 50 is complementarily mounted in the recessed portion 34 formed in the second tubular portion 23, as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the recessed portion 34 of the second tubular portion 23 is fitted to the protruding piece 53 of the sealing member 50.A seal portion S is provided between the inner member 40 and the seal member 50 in the inner portion of the housing 20, and the seal portion S is filled and sealed with the filling material. As the filler 65, for example, a thermosetting resin such as a silicone resin or an epoxy resin may be used. Further, the sealing region S through which the electric wire 17 is passed is encapsulated and sealed by the filler 65. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, in the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20, a portion other than the recessed portion 34 fitted to the protruding piece 53 of the sealing member 50 is filled and sealed with the filling material 65 without any clear space.For example, in the case 20 to which the inner member 40 and the sealing member 50 are fixed, the sealing portion S in the inner portion of the case 20 is filled with the filling material 65, so that the case 20 is disposed such that an open end of the first tubular portion 22 is faced upward and the second tubular portion 23 is disposed laterally. Subsequently, the sealing region S is filled with the liquid filling material 65 by putting the filling material 65 from an upper surface of the first tubular portion 22 through a clearance or the like between the inner member 40 and an inner surface of the first tubular portion 22. Then, the filling material 65 gradually fills the seal portion S and collects from a bottom of the seal portion S, and finally fills the entire seal portion S.Here, a waterproof connector 500 according to a reference example will be described. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a waterproof connector 500 according to a reference example along the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 10, in the waterproof connector 500 according to the reference example, a sealing member 550 without the protruding piece 53 is attached to the seal mounting portion 32 of the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20. In this reference example, the seal portion S is gradually filled with the filling material 65 from the bottom of the seal portion S. At this time, since the housing 20 has the bent portion 21, there is a possibility that it fails to load the filling material 65 into an upper space in the second tubular portion 23 that is laterally disposed. In particular, in a case where the second tubular portion 23 has the recessed portion 34 in the inner peripheral portion by forming the thickened portion 33 on the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23 at the end portion thereof on the bent portion 21 side to form the locking claw 31, there is a possibility that air remains in the recessed portion 34 without coming out of the housing and an unfilled portion C is generated.On the other hand, according to the waterproof connector 100 according to the embodiment, the recessed portion 34 is in the state of being fitted to the protruding piece 53 when the sealing member 50 is attached to the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20 and the protruding piece 53 of the sealing member 50 is attached to the recessed portion 34 formed in the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23 on the side on which the inner corner is provided. Therefore, the filling material 65 can fill the entire sealing region S without leaving air in the recessed portion 34 when the filling material 65 fills the sealing region S between the inner member 40 and the sealing member 50 from the opening end side of the first tubular portion 22 in a state in which the open end of the first tubular portion 22 faces upward and the second tubular portion 23 is arranged laterally. As a result, it is possible to provide the waterproof connector 100 which is satisfactorily filled with the filling material 65, and high performance of the gasket is ensured even when the housing 20 formed with the recessed portion 34 is provided by forming the thickened portion 33 on the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23 in the vicinity of the first tubular portion 22 to form the locking claw 31 for locking the inner member 40.Since the protruding piece 53 of the sealing member 50 is fitted in the recessed portion 34 formed in the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23 of the housing 20, the sealing member 50 is easily positioned and fitted to the housing 20. Accordingly, an operator can easily recognize a positional displacement when the protruding piece 53 cannot be satisfactorily mounted in the recessed portion 34 when a position of the sealing member 50 with respect to the second tubular portion 23 is displaced in the circumferential direction.FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a waterproof connector 100A according to a modification of the embodiment taken along the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 11, a protruding piece 53A of a sealing member 50A of the waterproof connector 100A according to the modification has, on an inner side surface, a chamfered surface 54 gradually inclining upward toward the first tubular portion 22 and the inner corner (an upper side in FIG. 11 ). In other words, the protruding piece 53A has a chamfered tip end from which the sealing member 50A is inserted into the second tubular portion 23 with the inner side surface chamfered. In this case, the filler material 65 that is input from the opening end of the first tubular portion 22 to the sealing region S of the housing 20 easily flows toward the first tubular portion 22 side along the tapered surface 54 formed on the inner side surface of the protruding piece 53A. Therefore, the sealing region S can be more smoothly filled with the filler material 65.Next, a waterproof connector 100B according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those of the waterproof connector 100 of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the waterproof connector 100B according to the another embodiment along the axial direction.As shown in FIG. 12, the waterproof connector 100B according to the other embodiment includes a housing 20B, the inner member 40, a sealing member 50B, and the filling material 65. the housing 20B has a first tubular portion 22B, and the locking claws 31B formed at the end portion of the first tubular portion 22B in the vicinity of the bent portion 21 are provided closer to the opening end of the first tubular portion 22B than the locking claws 31 of the embodiment are provided to the opening end of the first tubular portion 22. Therefore, a second tubular portion 23B is not provided with the thickened portion 33 and the recessed portion 34. That is, in the waterproof connector 100B of the other embodiment, the second tubular portion 23B of the housing 20B has a same diameter portion 84 having the same inner diameter along the axial direction Y between an inner edge of the seal mounting portion 32 and the bent portion 21.The sealing member 50B includes a protruding piece 53B to be disposed along an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23B on a side on which the inner corner is provided. The protruding piece 53B extends in a direction in which the sealing member 50A is attached to the second tubular portion 23B of the housing 20B. The protruding piece 53B has a cylindrical surface on an outer side corresponding to the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23B, and has a tapered surface on the inner side gradually inclining toward the first tubular portion 22B and the inner corner. Therefore, an outer surface of the protruding piece 53B formed on the sealing member 50B contacts the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23B having the same inner diameter along the axial direction Y.According to the waterproof connector 100B according to the other embodiment, the protruding piece 53B of the sealing member 50B is to be disposed along the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion 23B on the side where the inner corner is provided when the sealing member 50B is attached to the second tubular portion 23B of the housing 20B. Therefore, when the filler material 65 is injected from the opening end of the first tubular portion 22B into the sealing region S between the inner member 40 and the sealing member 50, the filler material 65 flows along the tapered surface 54 formed on the inner side surface of the protruding piece 53B with the open end of the first tubular portion 22B facing upward and the second tubular portion 23B being laterally disposed. Accordingly, the entire sealing region S can be filled with the filling material 65 without leaving air in the second tubular portion 23B on the side where the inner corner is provided. As a result, it is possible to provide the waterproof connector 100B that is satisfactorily filled with the filler material 65 and that ensures the high performance of the gasket.Therefore, according to the waterproof connectors 100, 100A, and 100B described above, it is possible to provide the waterproof connector that is satisfactorily filled with the filler material 65 and that ensures the high performance of the gasket.Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.According to an aspect of the above-described embodiments, a waterproof connector (100, 100A) includes a housing (20) having a tubular shape and through which an electric wire (17) is inserted, the housing (20) including a first tubular portion (22) forming a first end of the housing and a second tubular portion (23) forming a second end of the housing, an inner member (40) configured to hold a terminal (60) connected to an end of the electric wire (17), the inner member (40) configured to be attached to the first tubular portion (22) at the first end of the housing, a sealing member (50, 50A) having a wire insertion hole (52) through which the electric wire (17) is inserted, the sealing member (50, 50A) configured to:, The second tubular portion (23) is fixed to the second end of the housing, and a filling material (65) filling a space (e.g., a sealing region S) in the inner region of the housing (20) and between the inner member (40) and the sealing member (50, 50A). The housing (20) has a bent structure such that the first tubular portion (22) and the second tubular portion (23) are connected to each other, and an axial direction (X) of the first tubular portion (22) and an axial direction (Y) of the second tubular portion (23) cross each other. The second tubular portion ( 23) includes a recessed portion ( 34) on an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion ( 23) on a side on which an inner corner of the bent structure of the housing ( 20) is provided. The sealing member ( 50, 50A) includes a protruding piece ( 53, 53A) configured to be mounted in the recessed portion ( 34) when the sealing member ( 50, 50A) is fixed to the second tubular portion ( 23).According to the waterproof connector having the above-described configuration, the protruding piece of the sealing member is fitted in the recessed portion formed in the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion on the side where the inner corner is provided when the sealing member is fitted to the second tubular portion of the housing, and the recessed portion is fitted to the protruding piece. Therefore, the entire sealing region can be filled with the filler material without leaving air in the recessed portion when the filler material is injected from an opening end side of the first cylindrical portion into the sealing region between the inner member and the sealing member, with an opening end of the first tubular portion facing upward and the second tubular portion being laterally disposed. As a result, it is possible to provide the waterproof connector which is satisfactorily filled with the filler material and ensures high performance of the gasket even when the housing formed with the recessed portion is provided, for example, by forming a thickened portion on the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion in the vicinity of the first tubular portion to form the locking claw or the like for locking the inner member. Moreover, since the protruding piece of the seal member is fitted in the recessed portion formed in the inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion of the housing, the seal member is easy to position and fit to the housing. For example, with the second tubular portion having a cylindrical shape and the sealing member having a disc shape, an operator can easily recognize a positional displacement of the sealing member with respect to the second tubular portion even when a position of the sealing member with respect to the second tubular portion is displaced in a circumferential direction.The protruding piece ( 53A) may have a chamfered surface ( 54) on an inner side of the protruding piece ( 53A), the chamfered surface gradually inclining toward a tip end of the protruding piece ( 53A).With this configuration, since the filler material injected from the opening end of the first tubular portion into the sealing region of the housing easily flows toward the first tubular portion along the tapered surface formed on the inner side surface of the protruding piece, the sealing region can be more smoothly filled with the filler material.According to another aspect of the above-described embodiments, a waterproof connector (100B) includes a housing (20B) having a tubular shape and through which an electric cable (17) is inserted, the housing (20B) including a first tubular portion (22B) forming a first end of the housing and a second tubular portion (23B) forming a second end of the housing, an inner member (40) configured to hold a terminal (60) connected to an end of the electric cable (17), the inner member (40) being configured to be attached to the first tubular portion (22B) at the first end of the housing, a sealing member (50B) having a cable insertion hole (52) through which the electric cable (17) is inserted, wherein the sealing member (50B) is configured to be fixed to the second tubular portion (23B) at the second end of the housing, and a filling material (65) filling a space (e.g., a sealing region S) in the inner region of the housing (20B) and between the inner member (40) and the sealing member (50B). The housing ( 20B) has a bent structure such that the first tubular portion ( 22B) and the second tubular portion ( 23B) are joined to each other, and an axial direction (X) of the first tubular portion ( 22B) and an axial direction (Y) of the second tubular portion ( 23B) cross each other. The sealing member ( 50B) includes a protruding piece ( 53B) configured to extend along an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion ( 23B) on a side on which an inner corner of the bent structure of the housing ( 20B) is provided when the sealing member ( 50B) is fixed to the second tubular portion ( 23B). The protruding piece ( 53B) has a chamfered surface ( 54) on an inner side of the protruding piece ( 53B), the chamfered surface gradually inclining toward a tip end of the protruding piece ( 53B).According to the waterproof connector having the above-described configuration, the protruding piece of the sealing member is to extend along the inner circumferential surface of the second tubular portion on the side where the inner corner of the housing is provided when the sealing member is attached to the second tubular portion of the housing. Therefore, when the filler material is injected from the opening end of the first tubular portion into the sealing region between the inner member and the sealing member, the filler material easily flows toward the first tubular portion along the tapered surface formed on the inner side surface of the protruding piece, with the open end of the first tubular portion facing upward and the second tubular portion being laterally disposed. Accordingly, the entire sealing region can be filled with the filling material without leaving air in the second tubular portion on the side where the inner corner is provided. As a result, it is possible to provide the waterproof connector that is satisfactorily filled with the filler material and ensures high performance of the gasket.

Claims

A waterproof connector (100, 100A) comprising: an electric cable (17), a terminal (60), a housing (20) having a tubular shape and into which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the housing (20) comprising a first tubular portion (22) forming a first end of the housing (20) and a second tubular portion (23) forming a second end of the housing (20); an inner member (40) holding the terminal (60) connected to an end of the electric cable (17), the inner member (40) being attached to the first end of the housing (20); a sealing member (50, 50A) having a cable insertion hole (52) through which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the sealing member (50, 50A) being fixed to the second end of the housing (20); and a filling material (65) filling a space in an inner region of the housing (20) and between the inner member (40) and the sealing member (50, 50A), the housing (20) having a bent structure such that the first tubular portion (22) and the second tubular portion (23) are connected to each other, wherein an axial direction (X) of the first tubular portion (22) and an axial direction (Y) of the second tubular portion (23) cross each other, wherein the second tubular portion (23) includes a recessed portion (34) on an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion (23) and on a side of the second tubular portion (23) on which an inner corner of the bent structure of the housing (20) is provided, and wherein the sealing member (50, 50A) includes a protruding piece (53, 53A) mounted in the recessed portion (34).The waterproof connector (100, 100A) according to claim 1, wherein the protruding piece (53A) has a chamfered surface (54) on a side of the protruding piece (53A), and the chamfered surface (54) faces an inner region of the second tubular portion (23), the chamfered surface (54) extending toward a tip end of the protruding piece (53A).A waterproof connector (100B) comprising: an electric cable (17), a terminal (60), a housing (20B) having a tubular shape and into which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the housing (20B) comprising a first tubular portion (22B) forming a first end of the housing (20B) and a second tubular portion (23B) forming a second end of the housing (20B); an inner member (40) holding the terminal (60) connected to an end of the electric cable (17), the inner member (40) being attached to the first end of the housing (20B); a sealing member (50B) having a cable insertion hole (52) through which the electric cable (17) is inserted, the sealing member (50B) being fixed to the second end of the housing (20B); and a filling material (65) filling a space in an inner region of the housing (20B) and between the inner member (40) and the sealing member (50B), the housing (20B) having a bent structure such that the first tubular portion (22B) and the second tubular portion (23B) are connected to each other, wherein an axial direction (X) of the first tubular portion (22B) and an axial direction (Y) of the second tubular portion (23B) cross each other, wherein the sealing member (50B) comprises a protruding piece (53B) extending along an inner peripheral portion of the second tubular portion (23B) and on a side of the second tubular portion (23B) on which an inner corner of the bent structure of the housing (20B) is provided, and wherein the protruding piece (53B) has a chamfered surface (54) on a side of the protruding piece (53B), and the chamfered surface (54) faces an inner region of the second tubular portion (23), the chamfered surface (54) extending toward a tip end of the protruding piece (53B).

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