Housing unit and connector

Abstract

To provide a housing unit that can firmly connect a housing and a cover to each other.SOLUTION: A housing unit 2 comprises: a housing 30 that has a terminal storage chamber 34 capable of storing a terminal 11; and a cover 40 that is mounted on the housing 30. The cover 40 has first engagement parts 56, 66 that are engaged with the housing 30, second engagement parts 51a, 61a that can be engaged with a cylindrical exterior part 20 into which an electric wire 12 connected with the terminal 11 can be inserted, and third engagement parts 57, 68 that are provided at positions different from the first engagement parts 56, 66 in a direction intersecting a direction in which the exterior part 20 extends from the cover 40 and are engaged with the housing 30. The third engagement parts are a pair of projections 68 sandwiching and pressing the housing 30 or a pair of projections 57 having a convex shape to be fitted to recesses 37a provided in the housing 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing unit including a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber and a cover, and to a connector using the housing unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a connector has been proposed that includes a housing having a terminal receiving chamber in which a terminal of a terminal-equipped electric wire is received, a corrugated tube that protects the electric wire of the terminal-equipped electric wire, and a cover that engages with both the housing and the corrugated tube to connect them (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-274532 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional connector described above, a packing is inserted into the receiving opening of the terminal receiving chamber of the housing to seal the gap between the receiving opening and the electric wire, and a cover is attached to the housing to prevent foreign objects (for example, when the connector is applied to an automobile, water jets during a car wash or stones flying while driving, etc.) from entering the inside of the connector from the outside, thereby preventing the foreign objects from coming into contact with the packing or the electric wire. However, when the connector is actually used, if an external force acting on the corrugated tube is transmitted to the engagement portion between the housing and the cover, depending on the magnitude of the external force, there is a possibility that the cover will be unintentionally displaced (for example, displaced such that the cover rotates) or the cover will be separated. If the cover is displaced or separated, the effect of protecting the packing described above will not be achieved as expected.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a housing unit capable of firmly connecting a housing and a cover, and a connector using the housing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the housing unit and connector according to the present invention are characterized as follows.

[0007] A housing unit including a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber capable of accommodating a terminal, and a cover attached to the housing, The cover is A first engagement portion that engages with the housing; a second engaging portion engageable with a cylindrical exterior part through which an electric wire connected to the terminal is to be inserted; a third engagement portion that is provided at a position different from the first engagement portion in a direction intersecting a direction in which the exterior part extends from the cover and that engages with the housing; It is a housing unit.

[0008] A connector comprising an electric wire with a terminal in which a terminal with a water stop valve is connected to an electric wire, an exterior part through which the electric wire is inserted, and the housing unit described above, The terminal is inserted into an accommodation opening of the terminal accommodation chamber and accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber, The water stop valve is disposed so as to be inserted into the receiving opening together with the terminal to close the receiving opening. It is a connector. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the housing unit and connector of the present invention, the cover attached to the housing includes a first engaging portion that engages with the housing, a second engaging portion that can engage with an exterior component (e.g., a corrugated tube), and a third engaging portion that engages with the housing separately from the first engaging portion. The third engaging portion is provided at a position different from the first engaging portion in a direction intersecting the direction in which the exterior component extends from the cover. As a result, when an external force acts on the exterior component from a direction (e.g., a lateral direction) intersecting the direction in which the exterior component extends (i.e., the axial direction of the exterior component) and the external force is transmitted to the cover, the external force is resisted not only by the first engaging portion but also by a plurality of positions of the first engaging portion and the third engaging portion. Therefore, the cover is less likely to be displaced or separated from the housing compared to a case in which the external force is resisted only by the first engaging portion. By suppressing the displacement or separation of the cover in this way, it is possible to suppress foreign matter from entering the connector from the outside and coming into contact with a water stop valve or an electric wire. In this way, the housing unit of this configuration can firmly connect the housing and the cover.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the detailed description of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4(a) is a top view of the lower cover shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion D in FIG. 4(a). [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part F in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10(a) is a perspective view showing a housing according to a modified example, and FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view showing a cover attached to the housing shown in FIG. 10(a). [Figure 11] 11(a) is a top view of the upper cover shown in FIG. 10(b), and FIG. 11(b) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion G in FIG. 11(a). [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 in the modified example shown in FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, a connector 1 (see FIG. 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 includes a terminal-fitted electric wire 10, a corrugated tube 20 into which an electric wire 12 (see FIG. 2) of the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 is inserted, and a housing unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing unit 2 includes a housing 30 in which a terminal 11 (see FIG. 2) of the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 is accommodated, a cover 40 attached to the housing 30, and a fitting detection member 70, a front holder 80, and a packing 90 attached to the housing 30.

[0013] For ease of explanation, the "front-rear direction", "up-down direction", and "left-right direction" are defined below as shown in Fig. 1 etc. The "front-rear direction", "up-down direction", and "left-right direction" are perpendicular to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector (not shown), and the left-right direction coincides with the direction in which the corrugated tube 20 extends. Each of the components that make up the connector 1 will be described below in order.

[0014] First, the electric wire with terminal 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the electric wire with terminal 10 includes a female metal terminal 11 and an electric wire 12 having one end (front end) connected to the terminal 11. The electric wire 12 is composed of a metal conductor core wire and a resin insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the conductor core wire, and the terminal 11 is electrically connected to the conductor core wire exposed at one end (front end) of the electric wire 12 by removing the insulating coating. A substantially cylindrical rubber stopcock 13 is provided at the rear end of the terminal 11, and both the electric wire 12 and the stopcock 13 are crimped by the terminal 11 so that the stopcock 13 is in close contact with the outer periphery of one end (front end) of the insulating coating of the electric wire 12. The stopcock 13 is accommodated together with the terminal 11 in an accommodation opening 34a of a terminal accommodation chamber 34 of the housing 30 (described later) (see Fig. 7, etc.).

[0015] Next, the corrugated tube 20 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the resin corrugated tube 20 has a long, generally cylindrical shape, and is a member through which the electric wire 12 of the electric wire with terminal 10 is inserted to protect the electric wire 12. The outer circumferential surface of the corrugated tube 20 is provided with annular peaks 21 and annular valleys 22 arranged alternately along the axial direction (see Fig. 7, etc.).

[0016] Next, each component constituting the housing unit 2 will be described. First, the housing 30 will be described. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the resin housing 30 integrally includes a terminal accommodating portion 31 having a shape extending in the front-rear direction and an outer tubular portion 32 having a cylindrical shape covering the outer periphery of the front region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 and extending in the front-rear direction. An annular gap 33 is defined between the front region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 and the outer tubular portion 32. When the housing 30 is fitted to a mating housing (not shown) (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as "fitting"), a cylindrical hood portion (not shown) of the mating housing is inserted into the annular gap 33. The rear region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 is located behind the outer tubular portion 32 and is exposed to the outside.

[0017] The terminal accommodating portion 31 is provided with a plurality of (six in this example) terminal accommodating chambers 34 extending in the front-rear direction and aligned in the left-right direction (see Figs. 2, 8, etc.). Each terminal accommodating chamber 34 penetrates in the front-rear direction. The rear end opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 34 forms an accommodating opening 34a into which the terminal 11 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 and the water stop cock 13 are inserted. The terminal accommodating chamber 34 is provided with a cantilever-shaped lance 35 that extends forward and inward at an angle. The lance 35 functions to lock the terminal 11 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 34 in the correct position.

[0018] A locking mechanism 36 is provided on the upper surface of the rear region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 exposed to the outside (see Figs. 2, 7, etc.). The locking mechanism 36 has a locking portion 36a (see Fig. 7) that engages with a locking protrusion (not shown) provided on the hood portion of the mating housing when mated, and serves to maintain the mated state between the housing 30 and the mating housing.

[0019] A pair of left and right extensions 37 are provided on both left and right side walls of the outer tube portion 32 so as to cover the left and right sides of the lock mechanism portion 36 and extend rearward from the both side walls (see FIG. 2). The pair of extensions 37 also function as protective walls that protect the lock mechanism portion 36 from the outside. The pair of extensions 37 are provided with a pair of left and right engagement protrusions 38 that protrude outward in the left-right direction and extend in the up-down direction (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, an engagement protrusion 39 that protrudes downward and extends in the left-right direction is provided at the rear end of the lower wall of the outer tube portion 32 (see FIG. 7). When the cover 40 is attached to the housing 30, the engagement protrusions 38 and the engagement protrusions 39 are engaged with engagement recesses 56 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) and engagement recesses 66 (see FIG. 7) of the cover 40, which will be described later, respectively.

[0020] Next, the cover 40 will be described. The cover 40 engages with both the housing 30 and the corrugated tube 20, thereby connecting the two together so that the mating direction (front-rear direction) of the connector 1 and the mating connector is perpendicular to the extending direction (left-right direction) of the corrugated tube 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the resin cover 40 includes an upper cover 50 and a lower cover 60. The upper cover 50 and the lower cover 60 are connected to each other by a hinge portion 41 so as to be openable and closable between an open state (see Fig. 2) and a closed state (see Figs. 1 and 6, etc.).

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the upper cover 50 integrally includes an upper cylindrical portion 51 having a semi-cylindrical shape that is the upper half of a cylindrical shape in a closed state extending in the left-right direction, a pair of front and rear engagement portions 52 located on both the front and rear sides of the upper cylindrical portion 51, an extension portion 53 extending to the right from the upper cylindrical portion 51 in the closed state, and a pair of left and right extension engagement portions 54 extending forward from the front end edge portion of the extension portion 53. On the inner surface (the surface facing downward in the closed state) of the upper cylindrical portion 51, a plurality of protrusions 51a extending in a semicircular arc shape that is convex upward in the closed state as viewed from the left-right direction are provided so as to be aligned in the left-right direction at intervals equal to the intervals between adjacent peak portions 21 of the corrugated tube 20 (see Fig. 2, etc.). As shown in Fig. 6, the pair of front and rear engagement portions 52 are provided with a pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 55 that engage with a pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 65 of the lower cover 60 described later in the closed state. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surfaces (surfaces facing each other on the left and right) of the pair of left and right extending engagement portions 54 are provided with a pair of left and right engagement recesses 56 that are recessed outward in the left-right direction, extend in the up-down direction, and open downward when closed.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the lower cover 60 integrally includes a lower cylindrical portion 61 having a semi-cylindrical shape that is the lower half of a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, a pair of front and rear engagement portions 62 located on both the front and rear sides of the lower cylindrical portion 61, an extension portion 63 extending to the right from the lower cylindrical portion 61, and an extension engagement portion 64 extending forward from the front end edge of the extension portion 63. On the inner surface (upward facing surface) of the lower cylindrical portion 61, a plurality of protrusions 61a extending in a semicircular arc shape that is convex downward when viewed in the left-right direction are provided so as to be aligned in the left-right direction at intervals equal to the intervals between the adjacent peak portions 21 of the corrugated tube 20 (see FIG. 2, etc.). As shown in FIG. 6, the pair of front and rear engagement portions 62 are provided with a pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 65. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the extension engagement portion 64 is provided with an engagement recess 66 that is recessed downward and extends in the left-right direction.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4(a), a pair of left and right ribs 67 protruding upward and arranged opposite to each other in the left-right direction, and a rib 67a connecting the pair of left and right ribs 67 are provided at the front edge of the extension portion 63 of the lower cover 60. The pair of left and right ribs 67 are provided with a pair of left and right projections 68 protruding toward each other and extending in the up-down direction (see also Fig. 4(b)). When the cover 40 is attached to the housing 30, the rear end portion 31a (see Fig. 2) of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30 is placed on the rib 67a, and the pair of left and right projections 68 press and hold the rear end portion 31a (see Fig. 2) of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30 in the left-right direction (see also Fig. 8). The effect of providing such a pair of left and right projections 68 will be described later.

[0024] Next, the fitting detection member 70 will be described. The fitting detection member 70 shown in Fig. 2 is made of resin, and as shown in Fig. 7, is attached to the upper surface of the rear region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30 so as to cover the lock mechanism portion 36 from above and to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Although a detailed description of the structure of the fitting detection member 70 will be omitted, the fitting detection member 70 has a function of detecting a semi-fitted state between the housing 30 and the mating housing, and a so-called double locking function of preventing the release of the engagement between the lock protrusion of the mating housing and the lock portion 36a of the lock mechanism portion 36 when the housing 30 and the mating housing are completely fitted to each other.

[0025] Next, the front holder 80 will be described. The front holder 80 shown in Fig. 2 is made of resin, and is attached to the terminal accommodating portion 31 so as to cover the front region of the terminal accommodating portion 31 from the front and so that a detection plate portion 81, which is a part of the front holder 80, is inserted into the gap 35a on the back side of the lance 35, as shown in Fig. 7. Although a detailed description of the structure of the front holder 80 will be omitted, the front holder 80 has a function of detecting a state in which the terminal 11 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 is partially inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 34, and a so-called double locking function of preventing the release of the engagement between the portion of the terminal 11 that engages with the lance 35 and the lance 35 when the terminal 11 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 34 at the correct position.

[0026] Next, the packing 90 will be described. The annular packing 90 shown in Fig. 2 is made of rubber, and as shown in Fig. 7, is attached so as to fit closely to a front-rear direction position corresponding to the vicinity of the innermost portion of the annular gap 33 on the outer circumferential surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. The packing 90 functions to seal the annular gap between the hood portion of the mating housing and the terminal accommodating portion 31 when mated. Each of the components that make up the housing unit 2 has been described above.

[0027] Next, the procedure for assembling the connector 1 will be described. First, the terminal 11 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 and the water stop cock 13 are inserted in this order through the receiving opening 34a into the terminal receiving chamber 34 of the housing 30 to which the fitting detection member 70, the front holder 80, and the packing 90 have already been attached. As a result, the terminal 11 is received in the terminal receiving chamber 34 at a regular position where it engages with the lance 35, and the water stop cock 13 is disposed in the receiving opening 34a. By disposing the water stop cock 13 in the receiving opening 34a, the annular gap between the electric wire 12 (insulating coating) of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 and the receiving opening 34a is sealed. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter such as water from entering the contact portion of the terminal 11 through the terminal receiving chamber 34 in which the terminal 11 is received. 2 and 8, in this example, the terminal 11 and the water stop cock 13 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10 are inserted into three of the six terminal accommodating chambers 34, while a rubber seal 14 that seals the accommodating opening 34a is inserted into the remaining three of the six terminal accommodating chambers 34, instead of the terminal 11 and the water stop cock 13 of the terminal-attached electric wire 10. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter such as water from entering the contact portion of the terminal 11 through the terminal accommodating chambers 34 in which the terminal 11 is not accommodated.

[0028] Next, the cover 40 is attached to the housing 30 so that the corrugated tube 20, through which the electric wires 12 of the multiple (three in this example) electric wires with terminal 10 are collectively inserted, and the housing 30 are connected to each other via the cover 40. For this purpose, first, with the cover 40 maintained in a state in which the open state shown in FIG. 2 is turned upside down, the pair of engaging protrusions 38 of the housing 30 are inserted into the pair of engaging recesses 56 of the upper cover 50, whereby the upper cover 50 is provisionally fixed to the housing 30. Next, the lower cover 60 is rotated clockwise as viewed from the front, so that the multiple valleys 22 at the tip (right end) of the corrugated tube 20 extending in the left-right direction are sandwiched in the vertical direction between the multiple protrusions 51a of the upper cover 50 and the multiple protrusions 61a of the lower cover 60, the engagement recesses 66 of the lower cover 60 are engaged with the engagement protrusions 39 of the housing 30 (see FIG. 7), the pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 55 of the upper cover 50 are engaged with the pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 65 of the lower cover 60 (see FIG. 6), and the pair of left and right protrusions 68 of the lower cover 60 press and sandwich the rear end 31a of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30 in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 8 and 9), so that the cover 40 is in the closed state. The closed state of the cover 40 is maintained by the engagement between the pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 55 of the upper cover 50 and the pair of front and rear engagement protrusions 65 of the lower cover 60. In this manner, with the cover 40 in the closed state, the cover 40 and the housing 30 are connected to each other by the engagement between the engaging recesses 56 and 66 of the cover 40 and the engaging protrusions 38 and 39 of the housing 30, and the cover 40 and the corrugated tube 20 are connected to each other by the engagement between the ridges 51a and 61a of the cover 40 and the valleys 22 of the corrugated tube 20. As a result, the corrugated tube 20 and the housing 30 are connected to each other via the cover 40 such that the mating direction (front-rear direction) of the connector 1 and the mating connector is perpendicular to the extending direction (left-right direction) of the corrugated tube 20. With the above, the assembly of the connector 1 is completed, and the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

[0029] 7 and 8, when the connector 1 is in an assembled state, the cover 40 (=upper cover 50+lower cover 60) in the closed state defines a passage-like internal space S extending in the left-right direction by a peripheral wall portion formed by the extension portion 53 of the upper cover 50 and the extension portion 63 of the lower cover 60. The peripheral wall portion covers the accommodating opening 34a of the terminal accommodating chamber 34 of the housing 30 located in the internal space S so as to isolate it from the outside.

[0030] When the connector 1 is in an assembled state, the engaging recesses 56 and 66 of the cover 40 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 38 and 39 of the housing 30, and the protrusions 68 of the cover 40 are engaged with the rear end portion 31a of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30. Here, the protrusions 68 of the cover 40 are disposed at positions different from the engaging recesses 56 and 66 of the cover 40 in the up-down direction (a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the corrugated tube 20). As a result, when an external force is applied to the corrugated tube 20 from a direction (e.g., up-down direction) intersecting the direction in which the corrugated tube 20 extends (left-right direction) (in other words, when a clockwise or counterclockwise moment is applied to the cover 40 when viewed from the front-to-back direction), the external force is resisted at multiple points separated in the up-down direction by the engagement recesses 56 and 66 and the protrusions 68, making it more difficult for the cover 40 to separate from the housing 30 than if the external force was resisted only by the engagement recesses 56 and 66.

[0031] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the connector 1 (housing unit 2) of the present embodiment, the cover 40 attached to the housing 30 includes a first engagement portion (engagement recess 56 and engagement recess 66) that engages with the housing 30, a second engagement portion (protrusions 51a, 61a) that can engage with the corrugated tube 20 through which the electric wire 12 connected to the terminal 11 can be inserted, and a third engagement portion (a pair of left and right protrusions 68) that engages with the housing 30 separately from the first engagement portion. The third engagement portion is provided at a position different from the first engagement portion in a direction (up-down direction) that intersects with the direction in which the corrugated tube 20 extends from the cover 40. As a result, when an external force acts on the corrugated tube 20 from a direction (for example, up-down direction) that intersects with the direction in which the corrugated tube 20 extends (axial direction), the external force is resisted at multiple points of the first engagement portion and the third engagement portion, so that the cover 40 is more difficult to separate from the housing 30 than when the external force is resisted only by the first engagement portion. Therefore, the connector 1 (housing unit 2) according to this embodiment is capable of firmly connecting the housing 30 and the cover 40.

[0032] Furthermore, the third engagement portion is a pair of protrusions 68 that sandwich and press the housing 30. This not only resists external forces, but also suppresses positional deviation (so-called rattling) between the cover 40 and the housing 30.

[0033] <Other forms> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. are possible. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0034] In the above embodiment, a pair of left and right protrusions 68 are provided on the pair of left and right ribs 67 of the lower cover 60 as the third engagement portion of the cover 40, and the pair of left and right protrusions 68 of the cover 40 are configured to engage with the rear end portion 31a of the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the housing 30 when the cover 40 is attached to the housing 30. Alternatively, as in a modified example shown in Figs. 10 to 12, a pair of left and right convex-shaped protrusions 57 are provided on the pair of left and right extending engagement portions 54 of the upper cover 50 as the third engagement portion of the cover 40 (see Fig. 11, etc.), and a pair of left and right recesses 37a are provided on the upper end edges of the pair of left and right extending portions 37 of the housing 30 (see Fig. 10(a)), and the pair of left and right protrusions 57 of the cover 40 may be configured to engage with the pair of left and right recesses 37a of the housing 30 when the cover 40 is attached to the housing 30 (see Fig. 12).

[0035] 10 to 12, in the assembled state of the connector 1, the engaging recesses 56 and 66 of the cover 40 engage with the engaging protrusions 38 and 39 of the housing 30, and the protrusions 57 of the cover 40 engage with the recesses 37a of the housing 30. Here, the protrusions 57 of the cover 40 are disposed at positions different from the engaging recesses 56 and 66 of the cover 40 in the front-rear direction (a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the corrugated tube 20). As a result, when an external force is applied to the corrugated tube 20 from a direction (for example, the front-to-rear direction) intersecting the direction in which the corrugated tube 20 extends (left-right direction) (in other words, when a clockwise or counterclockwise moment is applied to the cover 40 when viewed from the top-to-bottom direction), the external force is resisted at multiple points separated in the front-to-rear direction by the engagement recesses 56 and 66 and the protrusion 57, making it more difficult for the cover 40 to separate from the housing 30 than if the external force was resisted only by the engagement recesses 56 and 66.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the terminals 11 and the stop cocks 13 of the terminal-attached electric wires 10 are inserted into some of the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 34, and the rubber seals 14 that seal the accommodating openings 34a are inserted into the remaining terminal accommodating chambers 34 instead of the terminals 11 and the stop cocks 13 of the terminal-attached electric wires 10. Alternatively, the terminals 11 and the stop cocks 13 of the terminal-attached electric wires 10 may be inserted into all of the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 34.

[0037] Here, the features of the embodiments of the housing unit 2 and the connector 1 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [4].

[0038] [1] A housing unit (2) including a housing (30) having a terminal accommodating chamber (34) capable of accommodating a terminal (11), and a cover (40) attached to the housing (30), The cover (40) is a first engagement portion (56, 66) that engages with the housing (30); a second engaging portion (51a, 61a) engageable with a cylindrical exterior part (20) through which an electric wire (12) connected to the terminal (11) is inserted; and a third engagement portion (57, 68) that is provided at a position different from the first engagement portion (56, 66) in a direction intersecting a direction in which the exterior part (20) extends from the cover (40) and that engages with the housing (30). Housing unit (2).

[0039] According to the housing unit described in [1] above, the cover attached to the housing includes a first engaging portion that engages with the housing, a second engaging portion that can engage with an exterior part (e.g., a corrugated tube), and a third engaging portion that engages with the housing separately from the first engaging portion. The third engaging portion is provided at a position different from the first engaging portion in a direction intersecting the direction in which the exterior part extends from the cover. As a result, when an external force acts on the exterior part from a direction (e.g., a lateral direction) intersecting the direction in which the exterior part extends (i.e., the axial direction of the exterior part) and the external force is transmitted to the cover, the first engaging portion and the third engaging portion resist the external force at multiple points. Therefore, the cover is less likely to be displaced or separated from the housing compared to a case in which the external force is resisted only by the first engaging portion. Therefore, the housing unit of this configuration can firmly connect the housing and the cover.

[0040] [2] In the housing unit (2) described in [1] above, The third engagement portion is a pair of protrusions (68) that sandwich and press the housing (30) along the extension direction of the exterior part (20); Housing unit (2).

[0041] According to the housing unit described in [2] above, the third engagement portion is a pair of protrusions that sandwich and press the housing along the direction in which the exterior component extends. This not only resists external forces as described above, but also suppresses positional deviation (so-called rattling) between the cover and the housing.

[0042] [3] In the housing unit (2) described in [1] above, The third engagement portion is a protrusion (57) having a convex shape that is fitted into a recess (37a) provided in the housing (30); Housing unit (2).

[0043] According to the housing unit described in [3] above, the third engagement portion is a protrusion having a convex shape that fits into a recess provided in the housing. Such a convex-concave fitting structure between the third engagement portion and the housing can further firmly connect the housing and the cover.

[0044] [4] A connector (1) comprising: an electric wire (10) with a terminal (11) with a water stop cock (13) connected to an electric wire (12); an exterior part (20) through which the electric wire (12) is inserted; and the housing unit (2) according to any one of [1] to [3] above, The terminal (11) is inserted into the receiving opening (34a) of the terminal receiving chamber (34) and received in the terminal receiving chamber (34), The stopcock (13) is inserted into the receiving opening (34a) together with the terminal (11) so as to close the receiving opening (34a). Connector(1).

[0045] According to the connector described in [4] above, the cover attached to the housing includes a first engaging portion that engages with the housing, a second engaging portion that can engage with an exterior part (e.g., a corrugated tube) through which an electric wire connected to a terminal can be inserted, and a third engaging portion that engages with the housing separately from the first engaging portion. The third engaging portion is provided at a position different from the first engaging portion in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the exterior part extends from the cover. As a result, when an external force acts on the exterior part from a direction (e.g., a lateral direction) intersecting with the direction in which the exterior part extends (axial direction) and the external force is transmitted to the cover, the first engaging portion and the third engaging portion resist the external force at multiple points. Therefore, the cover is less likely to be displaced or separated from the housing compared to a case in which the first engaging portion alone resists the external force. Therefore, the connector of this configuration can firmly connect the housing and the cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Connector 2 Housing Unit 10 Wires with terminals 11 Terminal 12 Electric wire 13 Stopcock 20 Corrugated tube (exterior part) 30 Housing 34 Terminal housing 37a Recess 40 Cover 51a Projection (second engagement part) 56 Engagement recess (first engagement portion) 57 Projection (third engagement part) 61a Projection (second engagement part) 66 Engagement recess (first engagement portion) 68 Projection (third engagement part)

Claims

1. A housing unit including a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber capable of accommodating a terminal, and a cover attached to the housing, The cover is A first engagement portion that engages with the housing; a second engaging portion engageable with a cylindrical exterior part through which an electric wire connected to the terminal is to be inserted; a third engagement portion that is provided at a position different from the first engagement portion in a direction intersecting a direction in which the exterior part extends from the cover and that engages with the housing; Housing unit.

2. 2. The housing unit according to claim 1, The third engagement portion is A pair of protrusions that sandwich and press the housing along the extension direction of the exterior part. Housing unit.

3. 2. The housing unit according to claim 1, The third engagement portion is A protrusion having a convex shape that is fitted into a recess provided in the housing. Housing unit.

4. A connector comprising: an electric wire with a terminal in which a terminal with a water stop valve is connected to an electric wire; an exterior part through which the electric wire is inserted; and the housing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The terminal is inserted into an accommodation opening of the terminal accommodation chamber and accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber, The water stop valve is disposed so as to be inserted into the receiving opening together with the terminal to close the receiving opening. connector.

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