Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector having excellent waterproofness as well as having excellent manufacturing workability.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a housing 10; a plurality of terminals 21 to which a plurality of pieces of electric wiring 22 is connected, and which is housed into the housing 10; a packing 30 which integrates the plurality of pieces of electric wiring 22, is mounted to the plurality of pieces of electric wiring 22, and is housed in the housing 10; and a holder 40 that is assembled to the housing 10, and regulates separation of the packing 30 from the housing 10. The packing 30 provides: a plurality of electric wire insertion holes 32 each of which receives insertion of each of the plurality of pieces of electric wiring 22 respectively; and a concave part 33 that is positioned to between the adjacent pieces of electric wiring 32 from the plurality of pieces of electric wiring 32. In the holder 40, a convex part 44 fitted into the concave part 33 of the packing 30 is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a connector has been proposed that includes a housing, a plurality of terminals to which a plurality of electric wires are respectively connected and accommodated in the housing, a gasket (rubber plug) that is attached to the plurality of electric wires and closes the rear opening of the housing, and a rear holder that is assembled to the rear end of the housing and prevents the gasket from coming off (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-183002 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2023-96350 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a plurality of packings are provided, and the plurality of packings are attached to a plurality of electric wires, respectively. In this case, a packing must be attached to each of the plurality of electric wires, and the manufacturing work tends to become complicated.

[0005] In Patent Document 2, there is one packing, and this one packing is attached so as to collectively hold a plurality of electric wires. In this case, since the packing can be collectively attached to a plurality of electric wires, the manufacturing workability is excellent, but the pressure applied to the packing is uneven, and there is a risk of the waterproofness being reduced. Specifically, from the viewpoint of waterproofness, the packing is generally accommodated in the housing so as to be in elastic contact with the inner wall of the housing. Therefore, pressure (stress) is applied to the packing from the inner wall of the housing, etc., and the hole edge of the electric wire insertion hole (through hole through which a plurality of electric wires are respectively inserted) adheres to the electric wire, and the packing is elastically deformed. However, the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing tends to be smaller than other parts. If the pressure applied to the packing is uneven in this way, the side between the adjacent electric wire insertion holes on the hole edge does not adhere sufficiently to the electric wire, and the packing is elastically deformed, and a gap is generated between the hole edge and the electric wire, and there is a risk of the waterproofness being reduced.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is excellent in manufacturing workability and waterproofness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features. Housing and a plurality of terminals each having a plurality of electric wires connected thereto and accommodated in the housing; a packing that is attached to the plurality of electric wires collectively and accommodated in the housing; a holder that is attached to the housing and prevents the packing from coming off the housing; A connector comprising: the packing is provided with a plurality of electric wire insertion holes into which the plurality of electric wires are respectively inserted, and recesses positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of electric wire insertion holes, The holder is provided with a protrusion that is fitted into a recess of the packing. It is a connector. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the packing is collectively attached to a plurality of electric wires, and therefore, manufacturing workability is superior to that in the case where a plurality of packings are attached to a plurality of electric wires, respectively. In a packing that is collectively attached to a plurality of electric wires, the pressure applied from the inner wall of the housing or the like is generally likely to be uneven. In particular, the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing tends to be smaller than that applied at other locations, and there is a risk that the side between adjacent electric wire insertion holes at the hole edge of each electric wire insertion hole may not be in sufficient contact with each electric wire. However, according to the present invention, a recess is provided between adjacent electric wire insertion holes among the plurality of electric wire insertion holes in the packing, and the protrusion of the holder is fitted into this recess, so that the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing is approximately equal to that applied at other locations. As a result, the side between adjacent electric wire insertion holes at the hole edge of each electric wire insertion hole is also in sufficient contact with each electric wire, resulting in superior waterproofing compared to conventional methods. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both ease of manufacturing and waterproofness as described above.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packing shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the rear. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear holder shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the connector shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] For ease of explanation, the following definitions are used for "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" as shown in FIG. 1 etc. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction" and "up-down direction" are mutually orthogonal. The left-right direction corresponds to the "arrangement direction" of the present invention. The front-rear direction corresponds to the "axial direction" of the present invention.

[0013] 1, the connector 1 includes a housing 10, a plurality of (two in this example) electric wires with terminals 20, a packing 30, and a rear holder 40. The housing 10, the electric wires with terminals 20, the packing 30, and the rear holder 40 that configure the connector 1 will be described below in order.

[0014] First, the housing 10 will be described. The housing 10 is formed, for example, in a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape (see FIG. 1), and the terminals 21 are held inside (in the cylindrical hole). The housing 10 receives the terminal-attached electric wires 20 (terminals 21) from the rear and also receives a packing 30 to waterproof the rear opening, and then a rear holder 40 is assembled to the rear end. The housing 10 is to be fitted, for example, with a housing (not shown) of a mating connector. The housing 10 is provided with a locking protrusion 11 corresponding to a locking arm 45 of the rear holder 40, which will be described later. The rear holder 40 is assembled to the housing 10 by locking the locking arm of the rear holder 40 to the locking protrusion 11.

[0015] Next, the electric wire with terminal 20 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric wire with terminal 20 has a terminal 21 and an electric wire 22. The terminal 21 is accommodated in the housing 10 and is electrically connected to a terminal (not shown) of a mating connector. A front end of the electric wire 22 is connected to the terminal 21. The electric wire 22 is composed of a conductor and an insulating coating (reference numerals omitted, see Fig. 6), and is connected to, for example, equipment mounted on a vehicle.

[0016] Next, the packing 30 will be described. The packing 30 is made of, for example, rubber, and is attached to the electric wires 22 of the electric wires with terminals 20 so as to collectively cover the electric wires 22. When housed inside the housing 10, the packing 30 is in elastic contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the housing 10 and prevents liquids such as water from entering through the rear opening of the housing 10, i.e., has the function of waterproofing the rear opening of the housing 10.

[0017] 2 and 3, the packing 30 has a body 31 having a substantially elliptical shape corresponding to the shape of the opening of the housing 10. The body 31 has a plurality of (two in this example) wire insertion holes 32 penetrating in the front-rear direction and arranged side by side in the left-right direction to correspond to the electric wires 22 of the plurality of electric wires with terminals 20.

[0018] A recess 33 recessed forward is provided between left-right adjacent electric wire insertion holes 32 on the rear surface 31a of the main body 31. A protrusion 44 of a rear holder 40 described later is fitted into the recess 33 (see FIG. 6).

[0019] The recess 33 has a pair of wall portions 33a opposed to each other in the left-right direction, each of which is formed in a curved shape along the periphery of the electric wire insertion hole 32 adjacent to the wall portion 33a among the adjacent electric wire insertion holes 32. In other words, the left wall portion 33a of the recess 33 is curved along the periphery of the left electric wire insertion hole 32, which is the adjacent electric wire insertion hole 32, and the right wall portion 33a of the recess 33 is curved along the periphery of the right electric wire insertion hole 32, which is the adjacent electric wire insertion hole 32. Each wall portion 33a is formed so as to cover half of the periphery of each electric wire insertion hole 32 in a rear view (see FIG. 6). That is, the wall portion 33a is formed in a semicircular arc shape in a rear view.

[0020] Next, a description will be given of the rear holder 40. The rear holder 40 is attached to the rear end portion of the housing 10 (see FIG. 6), and has a function of restricting the packing 30 from coming off the housing 10.

[0021] 4 and 5, the rear holder 40 has a main body 41 having a substantially elliptical shape corresponding to the shape of the opening of the housing 10. A pair of flanges 42 are provided on the left and right rear portions of the outer circumferential surface of the main body 41, respectively, to laterally sandwich a pair of locking arms 45 therebetween. The flanges 42 come into contact with the opening edge of the rear opening of the housing 10, for example, when the rear holder 40 is completely assembled to the housing 10.

[0022] Further, the main body 41 has a plurality of (two in this example) wire insertion holes 43 arranged side by side in the left-right direction so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction in correspondence with the wires 22 of the plurality of terminal-fitted wires 20.

[0023] On the front surface of the main body 41, between adjacent electric wire insertion holes 43 in the left-right direction, protrusions 44 are provided that protrude forward and correspond to the recesses 33 of the packing 30. The protrusions 44 are fitted into the recesses 33 of the packing 30 (see FIG. 6).

[0024] A locking arm 45 is provided on each of the upper and lower outer circumferential surfaces of the main body 41 between the pair of flanges 42, and extends forward. The locking arm 45 is formed in a so-called cantilever shape and is elastically deformable. The rear holder 40 is assembled to the housing 10 by the locking arm 45 being locked to the locking projection 11 of the housing 10.

[0025] The above has described the housing 10, the terminal-fitted wire 20, the packing 30, and the rear holder 40 that constitute the connector 1. An example of a method for manufacturing the connector 1 will now be described.

[0026] First, the packing 30 is attached to the electric wires 22 of the multiple electric wires with terminals 20 collectively from the rear side, and then the rear holder 40 is attached. Then, the terminals 21 of the electric wires with terminals 20 are inserted from the rear opening of the housing 10, and the terminals 21 are accommodated in the housing 10.

[0027] Next, the packing 30 is moved and inserted from the rear opening of the housing 10 , and the packing 30 is housed in the housing 10 .

[0028] Next, the rear holder 40 is moved so that the protrusion 44 of the rear holder 40 fits into the recess 33 of the packing 30, and the locking arm 45 of the rear holder 40 is locked with the locking projection 11 of the housing 10. In this way, the rear holder 40 is assembled to the rear end portion of the housing 10, and the connector 1 is completed. An example of a manufacturing method for the connector 1 has been described above.

[0029] As described above, according to this embodiment, the packing 30 is collectively attached to the plurality of electric wires 22, and therefore, manufacturing workability is superior to the case where a plurality of packings are attached to a plurality of electric wires, respectively. Here, in a packing that is collectively attached to a plurality of electric wires, the pressure applied from the inner wall of the housing or the like is generally likely to be uneven. In particular, the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing tends to be smaller than that applied at other locations, and there is a risk that the hole edges of each electric wire insertion hole will not be in sufficient contact with each electric wire. However, according to this embodiment, the packing 30 is provided with recesses 33 between adjacent electric wire insertion holes 32 among the plurality of electric wire insertion holes 32, and the protrusions 44 of the holder 40 are fitted into these recesses 33, so that the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes 32 in the packing 30 is approximately equal to that applied at other locations. As a result, the adjacent electric wire insertion hole 32 side (the right side in the left electric wire insertion hole 32 and the left side in the right electric wire insertion hole 32) at the hole edges of each electric wire insertion hole 32 also sufficiently adheres to each electric wire 22, resulting in superior waterproofing compared to the conventional art. That is, according to this embodiment, it is possible to achieve both manufacturing ease and waterproofness as described above.

[0030] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the pair of wall portions 33a of the recess 33 each have a curved shape that follows the periphery of each of the adjacent wire insertion holes 32 adjacent to each wall portion 33a among the adjacent wire insertion holes 32, so that pressure is applied between adjacent wire insertion holes 32 in the gasket 30 that is approximately the same as that at other locations.

[0031] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the wall portion 33a covers half of the periphery of the wire insertion hole 32 when viewed from the rear, so that pressure is applied between adjacent wire insertion holes 32 in the packing 30 approximately equal to that at other points.

[0032] <Other forms> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0033] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].

[0034] [1] A housing (10); A plurality of terminals (21) to which a plurality of electric wires (22) are respectively connected and accommodated in the housing (10); a packing (30) that is attached to the plurality of electric wires (22) collectively and is housed in the housing (10); a holder (40) that is assembled to the housing (10) and prevents the packing (30) from coming off the housing (10); A connector (1) comprising: The packing (30) is provided with a plurality of electric wire insertion holes (32) through which the plurality of electric wires (22) are respectively inserted, and a recess (33) located between adjacent ones of the plurality of electric wire insertion holes (32), The holder (40) is provided with a protrusion (44) that is fitted into the recess (33) of the packing (30). Connector(1).

[0035] According to the above configuration [1], since the packing is collectively attached to the plurality of electric wires, the manufacturing workability is superior to that in the case where a plurality of packings are respectively attached to a plurality of electric wires. In a packing that is collectively attached to a plurality of electric wires, the pressure applied from the inner wall of the housing or the like is generally likely to be uneven. In particular, the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing tends to be smaller than that applied at other locations, and there is a risk that the hole edges of each electric wire insertion hole will not be in sufficient contact with each electric wire. However, according to the present configuration, a recess is provided between adjacent electric wire insertion holes among the plurality of electric wire insertion holes in the packing, and the protrusion of the holder is fitted into this recess, so that the pressure applied between adjacent electric wire insertion holes in the packing is approximately equal to that applied at other locations. As a result, the hole edges of each electric wire insertion hole between adjacent electric wire insertion holes are also in sufficient contact with each electric wire, resulting in superior waterproofing compared to conventional configurations. That is, according to the present configuration, it is possible to achieve both ease of manufacturing and waterproofness as described above.

[0036] [2] The connector (1) according to the above [1], The recess (33) is a pair of wall portions (33a) facing each other in the arrangement direction (left-right direction) of the plurality of electric wire insertion holes (32) each have a curved shape that follows a periphery of each of the electric wire insertion holes (32) adjacent to the wall portion (33a) among the adjacent electric wire insertion holes (32); Connector(1).

[0037] According to the configuration [2] above, a pair of wall portions opposing each other in the arrangement direction of the recess each have a curved shape that follows the periphery of each of the adjacent wire insertion holes adjacent to each wall portion among the adjacent wire insertion holes, so that pressure approximately equal to that at other points is applied between adjacent wire insertion holes in the packing.

[0038] [3] The connector (1) according to the above [2], The wall portion (33a) is When viewed from the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the electric wire insertion hole (32), the wire insertion hole (32) covers half of the periphery in the radial direction of the electric wire insertion hole (32). Connector(1).

[0039] According to the configuration [3] above, when viewed from the axial direction of the wire insertion hole, the wall portion covers half of the periphery of the wire insertion hole in the radial direction of the wire insertion hole, so that pressure approximately equal to that at other points is applied between adjacent wire insertion holes in the packing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Connector 10. Housing 20 Wire with terminal 21 Terminal 22 Electric wire 30 Packing 32 Wire insertion hole 33 Recess 33a wall 40 Rear holder (holder) 44 Convex

Claims

1. Housing and a plurality of terminals each having a plurality of electric wires connected thereto and accommodated in the housing; a packing that is attached to the plurality of electric wires collectively and accommodated in the housing; a holder that is attached to the housing and prevents the packing from coming off the housing; A connector comprising: the packing is provided with a plurality of electric wire insertion holes into which the plurality of electric wires are respectively inserted, and recesses positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of electric wire insertion holes, The holder is provided with a protrusion that is fitted into a recess of the packing. connector.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, The recessed portion is a pair of wall portions opposed to each other in an arrangement direction of the plurality of electric wire insertion holes each have a curved shape along a periphery of each of the electric wire insertion holes adjacent to the wall portion among the adjacent electric wire insertion holes, connector.

3. 3. The connector of claim 2, The wall portion is When viewed from an axial direction of the electric wire insertion hole, the wire insertion hole covers half of the periphery in a radial direction of the electric wire insertion hole. connector.

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