Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can prevent water from entering the inside.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: an insulative housing 21; a terminal 22, housed inside the housing 21, to which an end of a conductive wiring member W is connected; and a cover 13 which covers a connection between the terminal 22 and the wiring member W. The cover 13 has: a first cover 31 which is locked to the housing 21 so as to cover the housing 21 and one surface side of the end of the wiring member W; a second cover 32 which covers the housing 21 and the other surface side of the wiring member W so as to be coupled to the first cover 31; and a sandwiching part 51 which sandwiches the wiring member W when the first cover 31 is locked to the housing 21 and the second cover 32 is coupled to the first cover 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] A connector generally comprises a housing and terminals. The connector has terminals stored inside the housing, and a cable is connected to the terminals. In recent years, flat cables such as FFCs are sometimes used as the cables. An example of such a connector is described in Patent Document 1 below. The connector in Patent Document 1 has a storage recess in an instrument case for storing a connecting tongue of an FPC board by bending it, a waterproof wall is provided around the entire periphery of the storage recess, and a connector cover is provided to cover the waterproof wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-45424 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The connector of Patent Document 1 is provided with a connector cover for the storage recess of the instrument case to cover the waterproof wall, thereby preventing water from entering the conductive part of the connection tongue and the terminal side. However, the connector of Patent Document 1 requires bending the end of the FPC board to provide the connection tongue, making it difficult to adopt a flat FPC board.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a connector that is capable of preventing water from entering the inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector of the present invention comprises an insulating housing, a terminal that is housed inside the housing and to which an end of a conductive wiring material is connected, and a cover that covers the connection portion between the terminal and the wiring material, and the cover has a first cover that engages with the housing and covers one side of the housing and the end of the wiring material, a second cover that covers the other side of the housing and the wiring material and is connected to the first cover, and a clamping portion that clamps the wiring material when the first cover engages with the housing and the second cover is connected to the first cover. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The connector according to the present invention has a cover for covering the connection between the terminal and the wiring material, and includes a first cover and a second cover, and a clamping portion for clamping the wiring material when the first cover is engaged with the housing and the second cover is connected to the first cover, so that the wiring material can be clamped by the clamping portion to stop water from entering the wiring material regardless of the shape of the wiring material. As a result, the connector has an effect of suppressing water from entering the inside. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wire harness to which a connector according to the present embodiment is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the wire harness. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector (cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1) showing the cover in a closed state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector with the cover open. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1) of the connector, showing the cover in a closed state. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view (enlarged view of part VI in FIG. 5) showing the state in which the wiring material is clamped by the cover. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a method for assembling the cover. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a method for assembling the cover. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a method for assembling the cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] <Wire harness> FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wire harness to which a connector according to this embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the wire harness.

[0011] 1 and 2, the wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a wiring material W, a first connector 11, and a second connector 12. The wire harness WH connects the wiring material W used for power supply and signal communication to each device mounted on a vehicle, for example, to each device via the first connector 11 and the second connector 12. Here, the connector of the present invention is the first connector 11, and the second connector 12 is a mating connector that is detachable from the first connector 11. The wiring material W is connected to the first connector 11.

[0012] In the following explanation, the connector connection direction between first connector 11 and second connector 12 is referred to as the X direction, the width direction of first connector 11 and second connector 12 perpendicular to the X direction is referred to as the Y direction, and the height direction of first connector 11 and second connector 12 perpendicular to the X direction is referred to as the Z direction.

[0013] <Routing material> The wiring material W is a conductive part. The wiring material W extends linearly along the axial direction (X direction) and is formed so as to extend with approximately the same diameter in the axial direction (X direction). In this embodiment, the wiring material W is a flat cable. The wiring material W is, for example, an FPC (Flexible printed circuits), which is also called a flexible printed circuit board or a flexible printed wiring board. The wiring material W is a board in which an electrical circuit is formed on a base material made by bonding a thin, soft base film (such as polyimide) having insulating properties and a conductive metal such as copper foil.

[0014] The wiring material W is plate-shaped and has a predetermined length in the X direction, a predetermined width in the Y direction, and a predetermined thickness in the Z direction. The wiring material W has locking holes Wa at its ends in the longitudinal direction (X direction) on each side in the width direction (Y direction) that penetrate in the thickness direction (Z direction). The wiring material W has a conductor portion Wb exposed on a flat portion W1, which is one surface in the thickness direction (top surface in Figure 2). The wiring material W has no conductor portion on a flat portion W2, which is the other surface in the Z direction (bottom surface in Figure 2).

[0015] <First connector> The first connector 11 has a first housing 21 and a first terminal 22. The first housing 21 houses and holds the first terminal 22. The first housing 21 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material or the like. The first housing 21 has a rectangular shape along the X direction. The first housing 21 is provided with a plurality of cavities 21a along the X direction. The first housing 21 is provided with a holding portion 21b on each side in the Y direction, and a pair of pegs 21c can be attached from one side in the Z direction (the upper side in FIG. 2). The first housing 21 is provided with a lock beak 21d on one end in the Z direction (the upper surface in FIG. 2).

[0016] The first terminal 22 is configured as a female terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion 22a electrically connected to the second terminal 24 of the second connector 12, and a wiring material connection portion 22b electrically connected to the conductor portion Wb exposed at the end of the wiring material W. The first terminal 22 is inserted into and held in a plurality of cavities 21a of the first housing 21. At this time, the wiring material connection portion 22b is exposed from the first housing 21.

[0017] The first connector 11 is configured with a first terminal 22 held inside a first housing 21, to which a wiring material W is connected. The first connector 11 has the wiring material W inserted from one side in the X direction (the right side in FIG. 2). The pair of pegs 21c are inserted into the respective holding portions 21b of the first housing 21. At this time, the pair of pegs 21c have their respective tip portions engaged with a pair of engagement holes Wa in the wiring material W, thereby engaging the wiring material W with the first housing 21. Then, the conductor portion Wb of the wiring material W is connected to the wiring material connection portion 22b of the first terminal 22.

[0018] <Second connector> The second connector 12 has a second housing 23 and a second terminal 24. The second housing 23 houses and holds the second terminal 24. The second housing 23 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material or the like. The second housing 23 has a rectangular tubular shape along the X direction. The second housing 23 is provided with a lock 23a at one end in the Z direction (top surface in FIG. 2). When the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 are connected, the lock 23a of the second housing 23 engages with the lock beak 21d of the first housing 21.

[0019] The second terminal 24 is configured as a male terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion 24a electrically connected to the terminal connection portion 22a of the first terminal 22 of the first connector 11. An electric wire routing material 24b is electrically connected to the end of the second terminal 24 opposite to the terminal connection portion 24a. The second terminal 24 is inserted into and held in the second housing 23. At this time, the terminal connection portion 24a is exposed from the second housing 23.

[0020] The second connector 12 is configured by housing the second terminal 24 inside the second housing 23. The first connector 11 can be connected to the second connector 12 from the other side in the X direction (the left side in FIG. 2). That is, an end of the first connector 11 including the lock beak 21d of the first housing 21 fits into the inside of the second housing 23 of the second connector 12. At this time, the lock beak 21d of the first connector 21 is locked by the lock 23a of the second housing 23, so that the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 are connected to each other. Then, the terminal connection portion 22a of the first terminal 22 in the first connector 11 and the terminal connection portion 24a of the second terminal 24 in the second connector 12 are connected to each other.

[0021] <Cover> As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the first connector 11 has a cover 13. The cover 13 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material or the like. The cover 13 covers the connection portion between the first terminal 22 of the first connector 11 and the wiring material W from the outside. In the first connector 11, the wiring material connection portion 22b of the first terminal 22 is connected to the conductor portion Wb of the wiring material W. The cover 13 covers at least the connection portion where the wiring material connection portion 22b of the first terminal 22 and the conductor portion Wb of the wiring material W are connected from the outside.

[0022] The cover 13 has a first cover 31 and a second cover 32. The first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have one end in the Y direction rotatably connected to each other by a connecting portion 33. That is, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are rotatable about an axis O (see FIG. 3) parallel to the X direction (connector connection direction). The first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have the other end in the Y direction detachably connected to each other by a locking protrusion 34 and a locking portion 35.

[0023] The first cover 31 can be engaged with the first housing 21. When the first cover 31 is engaged with the first housing 21, the first cover 31 covers one side of the first housing 21 and the wiring material W. When the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31, the second cover 32 covers the other side of the first housing 21 and the wiring material W.

[0024] The cover 13 will be described in detail below. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing the cover in a closed state (a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1), Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing the cover in an open state, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing the cover in a closed state (a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 1).

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the first cover 31 has a flat portion 41 and four peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d. The flat portion 41 has a rectangular shape long in the Y direction in a plan view. In this case, the flat portion 41 is preferably shaped to match the shape of the upper portion of the first housing 21, for example, to bulge upward. The peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d have a rectangular shape in a plan view. The flat portion 41 has four sides to which the peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d are integrally connected in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other. However, the peripheral portions 42a, 42b, and 42d on three sides extend from the flat portion 41 to the other side in the Z direction (downward in FIG. 5), and the peripheral portion 42c on one side extends from the flat portion 41 to one side in the Z direction (upward in FIG. 5). The three peripheral portions 42a, 42b, and 42d are connected to each other to form a U-shape. The first cover 31 is composed of the flat portion 41 and the peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d, and thus has a lid shape that is open on the other side in the Z direction (downward in FIG. 35) and the other side in the X direction (leftward in FIG. 5).

[0026] The second cover 32 has a flat portion 43 and four peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d. The flat portion 43 has a rectangular shape long in the Y direction in a plan view. In this case, it is preferable that the flat portion 43 has a shape that matches the shape of the lower portion of the first housing 21. The peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d have a rectangular shape in a plan view. The flat portion 43 has four sides, and the peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d are integrally connected in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the four sides. The peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d are connected to each other to form a rectangular tube shape. The second cover 32 is composed of the flat portion 43 and the peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d, and thus has a lid shape that opens on one side in the Z direction (upper side in FIG. 5).

[0027] 3 and 5, the lower opening of the first cover 31 and the upper opening of the second cover 32 have the same shape. That is, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have the same shapes of the peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d and the peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d.

[0028] The first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have one end in the Y direction connected to each other by a connecting portion 33 so as to be rotatable about an axis O. That is, in the first cover 31, a peripheral edge portion 42a on one side in the Y direction faces a peripheral edge portion 42b on the other side in the Y direction with a gap therebetween. In the second cover 32, a peripheral edge portion 44a on one side in the Y direction faces a peripheral edge portion 44b on the other side in the Y direction with a gap therebetween. The peripheral edge portion 42a of the first cover 31 and the peripheral edge portion 44a of the second cover 32 are connected to each other by the connecting portion 33. The connecting portion 33 is a bendable elastic member having a hinge function, and the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are rotatable about the connecting portion 33 as a fulcrum.

[0029] The first cover 31 and the second cover 32 can be detachably attached to each other at their other ends in the Y direction by the locking projection 34 and the locking portion 35. The first cover 31 is provided with two locking projections 34 on the peripheral portion 42b. The locking projections 34 protrude outward from the outer surface of the peripheral portion 42b. The two locking projections 34 are provided with a gap in the X direction. The second cover 32 is provided with two locking portions 35 on the peripheral portion 44a. The locking portions 35 protrude outward from the outer surface of the peripheral portion 44b. The two locking portions 35 are provided with a gap in the X direction.

[0030] The first cover 31 can be engaged with the first housing 21. The first housing 21 is provided with two engagement grooves 25 along the Y direction on one side in the Z direction (upper side in FIG. 5), i.e., on the top surface. The two engagement grooves 25 are provided with a gap in the Y direction. The first cover 31 extends from the flat portion 41 to the other side in the Z direction (lower side in FIG. 5) and is provided with an engagement plate 36 along the Y direction. When the first cover 31 covers one side of the first housing 21 and the wiring material W, the engagement plate 36 engages with the engagement groove 25 of the first housing 21, thereby positioning the first cover 31.

[0031] <Holding part> FIG. 6 is an enlarged view (enlarged view of part VI in FIG. 5) showing the state in which the wiring material is clamped by the cover.

[0032] 5 and 6, the cover 13 has a clamping portion 51 that clamps the wiring material W. When the first cover 31 is engaged with the first housing 21 and the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31, the clamping portion 51 clamps the wiring material W in the thickness direction.

[0033] The first cover 31 is configured by connecting peripheral portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d to a flat portion 41. The second cover 32 is configured by connecting peripheral portions 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d to a flat portion 43. When the first cover 31 is engaged with the first housing 21 and the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31, a part of the first housing 21 and a part of the wiring material W are covered by the cover 13 from both sides in the Z direction. At this time, the locking plate 36 of the first cover 31 is engaged with the locking groove 25 of the first housing 21, and the peripheral portion 44c of the second cover 32 contacts the lower surface of the first housing 21. Then, the end faces of the peripheral portions 42a and 42b and the end faces of the peripheral portions 44a and 44b of the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 contact each other. Further, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have an end face of the peripheral portion 42d and an end face of the peripheral portion 44d in contact with each other.

[0034] The clamping portion 51 is provided on one side (the right side in FIG. 5) in the X direction (connector connection direction) of the first cover 31 and the second cover 32. That is, the clamping portion 51 is provided on an end surface where the peripheral portion 42d of the first cover 31 and the peripheral portion 44d of the second cover 32 come into contact with each other.

[0035] The clamping portion 51 has a protrusion 52 provided on an end surface of the peripheral portion 42d of the first cover 31 and a recess 53 provided on an end surface of the peripheral portion 44d of the second cover 32. Note that the clamping portion 51 may have a recess 53 provided on an end surface of the peripheral portion 42d of the first cover 31 and a protrusion 52 provided on an end surface of the peripheral portion 44d of the second cover 32. The protrusion 52 has a length L1 in the thickness direction of the peripheral portion 42d. The recess 53 has a length L2 in the thickness direction of the peripheral portion 44d. The length L2 of the recess 53 is greater than the length L1 of the protrusion 52. It is preferable that the length L2 of the recess 53 is set to be about twice or more and four times or less than the length L1 of the protrusion 52.

[0036] The convex portion 52 is provided along the direction of the peripheral portion 42d, i.e., the Y direction, and has a predetermined length. The concave portion 53 is provided along the direction of the peripheral portion 44d, i.e., the Y direction, and has a predetermined length. The length of the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 53 in the Y direction is longer than the width direction of the wiring material W, i.e., the length in the Y direction. That is, the wiring material W is clamped in the thickness direction by the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 53, whose entire area in the width direction (Y direction) is the clamping portion 51. At this time, the wiring material W is deformed into a curved shape by being pressed by the convex portion 52 of the first cover 31, and the deformed portion W3 enters the concave portion 53 of the second cover 32. Then, the wiring material W is clamped by the convex portion 52 of the first cover 31 and the end faces 54 on both sides of the concave portion 53 of the second cover 32. Therefore, the cover 13 can prevent water from entering from the outside to the inside.

[0037] <How to attach the cover> 7 to 9 are schematic diagrams showing a method for assembling the cover.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 7, the cover 13 is attached to the first housing 21 with the first terminal 22 held inside the first housing 21 and the wiring material W connected to the first housing 21. At this time, the cover 13 is in a state in which the second cover 32 is open relative to the first cover 31. First, the first cover 31 is placed over the first housing 21 from above. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, one side of the first housing 21 and the wiring material W is covered by the first cover 31. At this time, the first cover 31 is positioned by the locking plate 36 locking into the locking groove 25 of the first housing 21, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0039] Next, the second cover 32 is rotated around the connecting portion 33 as a fulcrum. Then, as shown in Fig. 9, the second cover 32 is brought into close contact with the first cover 31, and the locking portion 35 of the second cover 32 is locked to the locking projection 34 of the first cover 31. Then, the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31, and the other side of the first housing 21 and the wiring material W is covered by the second cover 32. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the wiring material W is pressed by the convex portion 52 of the first cover 31, and is clamped with the deformed portion W3 entering the concave portion 53 of the second cover 32.

[0040] In the first connector 11, the first housing 21 and the end of the wiring material W are covered by the cover 13. That is, in the first connector 11, the connection portion between the first terminal 22 and the wiring material W is covered by the cover 13. At this time, the wiring material W is clamped by the convex portion 52 of the first cover 31 and the end faces 54 on both sides of the concave portion 53 of the second cover 32. Therefore, the fire extinguisher 13 prevents water from entering the inside of the first connector 11.

[0041] <Effects of this embodiment> As described above, the connector of this embodiment comprises an insulating housing 21, terminals 22 that are housed inside the housing 21 and to which ends of conductive wiring material W are connected, and a cover 13 that covers the connection portion between the terminals 22 and the wiring material W, and the cover 13 has a first cover 31 that engages with the housing 21 and covers one side of the housing 21 and the end of the wiring material W, a second cover 32 that covers the other side of the housing 21 and the wiring material W and is connected to the first cover 31, and a clamping portion 51 that clamps the wiring material W when the first cover 31 engages with the housing 21 and the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31.

[0042] According to the connector of this embodiment, when the first cover 31 is engaged with the housing 21 and the second cover 32 is connected to the first cover 31, the wiring material W is clamped by the clamping portion 51. Therefore, regardless of the shape of the wiring material W, the wiring material W can be clamped by the clamping portion 51 to stop water from entering. As a result, the intrusion of water into the inside of the first connector 11 can be suppressed.

[0043] In the connector according to this embodiment, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are connected at one end by the connecting portion 33, so that they can rotate about an axis O parallel to the connector connecting direction (X direction), and the other end side is detachable by the locking protrusion 34 and the locking portion 35, and the clamping portion 51 is provided on one side of the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 in the connector connecting direction. Therefore, the cover 13 can be easily assembled to the housing 21. In addition, the locking portion 35 of the second cover 32 is locked to the locking protrusion 34 of the first cover 31, so that the waterproofing provided by the cover 13 can be maintained even if an external force is applied to the cover 13.

[0044] In the connector according to this embodiment, the clamping portion 51 has a convex portion 52 provided on either the first cover 31 or the second cover 32, and a concave portion 53 provided on the other of the first cover 31 or the second cover 32. Therefore, the wiring material W is pressed against the convex portion 52 of the first cover 31 and deformed, and is clamped by end faces 54 on both sides of the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 53. Therefore, the wiring material W is pressed and contacted at multiple points by the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 53, and the intrusion of water into the inside of the cover 13 can be appropriately prevented.

[0045] In the connector according to this embodiment, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 have peripheral portions 42d, 44d, and the protrusions 52 and the recesses 53 are provided on the end faces of the peripheral portions 42d, 44d along the direction of the peripheral portions 42d, 44d. Therefore, by providing the protrusions 52 and the recesses 53 on the peripheral portions 42d, 44d, the structure of the cover 13 can be simplified, and the wiring material W can be appropriately clamped by the first cover 31 and the second cover 32.

[0046] In the connector according to this embodiment, the thickness direction length of the peripheral portion 42d at the recess 53 is at least twice the thickness direction length of the peripheral portion 44d at the protrusion 52. Therefore, the protrusion 52 can deform the wiring material W into an appropriate curved shape, and the deformed portion W3 can enter the recess 53, thereby improving the watertightness.

[0047] In the connector according to this embodiment, the housing 21 is provided with the locking groove 25, and the first cover 31 is provided with the locking plate 36 that can be locked in the locking groove 25. Therefore, the first cover 31 can be positioned with respect to the housing 21 with high accuracy.

[0048] The connector according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 11 First connector (connector) 12 Second connector (mating connector) 13 Cover 21 1st Housing (Housing) 22 1st terminal (terminal) 23 Second Housing 24 2nd terminal 25 Locking groove 31 First Cover 32 2nd Cover 33 Connecting part 34 Locking protrusion 35 Locking part 36 Locking plate 51 Clamping part 52 Convex 53 Recess 54 End face W Routing material WH Wire harness

Claims

1. a housing having insulating properties; A terminal to which an end of a wiring material having conductivity is connected, the terminal being accommodated inside the housing; A cover for covering a connection portion between the terminal and the wiring material; Equipped with The cover is A first cover that is engaged with the housing and covers one side of the housing and the end of the wiring material; A second cover that covers the other side of the housing and the wiring material and is connected to the first cover; a clamping portion that clamps the wiring material when the first cover is engaged with the housing and the second cover is connected to the first cover; having connector.

2. The first cover and the second cover are connected at one end by a connecting portion, so that the first cover and the second cover can be rotated about an axis parallel to a connector connecting direction, and the other end side is detachable by a locking protrusion and a locking portion, The clamping portion is provided on one side of the first cover and the second cover in the connector connecting direction. The connector of claim 1 .

3. The clamping portion has a convex portion provided on one of the first cover and the second cover, and a concave portion provided on the other of the first cover and the second cover. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first cover and the second cover have a peripheral portion, and the protrusion and the recess are provided on an end surface of the peripheral portion along a direction of the peripheral portion. The connector according to claim 3.

5. The length of the peripheral portion of the recess in the thickness direction is at least twice as long as the length of the peripheral portion of the protrusion in the thickness direction. The connector according to claim 4.

6. The housing is provided with a locking groove, and the first cover is provided with a locking plate that can be locked in the locking groove. The connector of claim 1 .

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