Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can improve the water shut-off property of a water shut-off member.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes: a body part 2 forming an opening part 21; a lid part 3 attached to the body part 2 to cover the opening unit 21; and a water shut-off member 4 for shutting off water flow between the body part 2 and the lid part 3. The water shut-off member 4 includes: a bending part 43 bending to an extension direction; and a plurality of ribs 44 protruding into a direction which intersects with the direction Z of attaching the lid part 3, the ribs being formed at predetermined intervals. The rib 44 includes: an inner rib 441 formed in the bending center position in the inner region of the bending part 43; and an external rib 442 formed in both bending end positions of the external region of the bending part 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, as a connector, there has been known an electronic device having a lid that opens and closes an opening in a housing, and a packing member that provides a watertight seal between the housing and the lid, as described in Patent Document 1. The packing member of this electronic device enhances watertightness by providing a protrusion that protrudes from the surface of the base that faces the housing, and an outer peripheral rib that is provided at a position between the protrusion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-160822 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such devices, there is room for improvement in the respect that the watertightness may not be ensured. For example, if the packing member is composed of a straight portion and a curved portion, the compressive force may be uneven at the curved portion, which may lead to a decrease in watertightness. In other words, when the lid is closed, the packing member deforms so as to escape to the side. At this time, it is desirable for the packing member to deform so as to escape evenly in each direction, but there is a concern that the packing member is easily deformed unevenly at the curved portion, which may decrease the watertightness.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of improving the water-stopping properties of a water-stopping member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the connector of the present invention comprises a main body forming an opening, a lid attached to the main body so as to cover the opening, and a water-stopping member that stops water flow between the main body and the lid, the water-stopping member having a curved portion that curves in the extension direction and a plurality of ribs that protrude in a direction intersecting the attachment direction of the lid and are formed at predetermined intervals in the extension direction, the ribs being configured to include an inner rib formed at the center position of the curve in the inner region of the curved portion, and outer ribs formed at both end positions of the curved portion in the outer region of the curved portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to improve the water-stopping property of the water-stopping member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a waterproofing member of the connector according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an inner rib and an outer rib in a waterproofing member of a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the waterproof function of the connector according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the waterproof function of a connector serving as a comparative example. 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] This embodiment relates to a connector. In the following description, among the first, second, and third directions that intersect with each other, the first direction is referred to as the "drawing direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "mounting direction Z". Here, the drawing direction X, the width direction Y, and the mounting direction Z are mutually perpendicular. Note that the perpendicular direction referred to here includes substantially perpendicular directions. The drawing direction X corresponds to the drawing direction of the electric wire drawn out from the connector. The mounting direction Z corresponds to the direction in which the cover part is attached to the main body part. In addition, each direction used in the following description represents a direction in which each part is assembled with each other, unless otherwise specified.

[0011] 1 and 2, connector 1 is a connector used for connection to an object to be connected (not shown), and includes a main body 2, a cover 3, and a waterproofing member 4. Connector 1 is mounted, for example, on a vehicle, and configured to house components such as terminals and pull out electric wires from the inside to the outside. The object to be connected is, for example, a vehicle unit mounted on or provided in the vehicle.

[0012] The main body 2 is a housing that holds components such as terminals, and is formed, for example, by resin molding. The main body 2 is a hollow box body, and one wall surface is opened to form an opening 21. The main body 2 is provided with a flange 23. The flange 23 is a plate-shaped portion that extends from the surface of the main body 2 in a direction intersecting the mounting direction Z, and forms a mounting hole 231 through which a fastening member such as a bolt is inserted. The mounting hole 231 is formed toward the mounting direction Z and is formed so as to penetrate the flange 23. A plurality of flanges 23 are provided, for example three flanges, and are provided spaced apart from each other in the drawing direction X and the width direction Y.

[0013] An electric wire pull-out portion 22 is formed in the main body 2. The electric wire pull-out portion 22 is a portion for pulling out an electric wire (not shown) from inside the main body 2 to the outside. The electric wire pull-out portion 22 protrudes from the main body 2 in a direction intersecting with the mounting direction Z, and is formed, for example, along the pull-out direction X. The electric wire pull-out portion 22 has a cylindrical shape and is formed so that an electric wire can be inserted therein. For example, two sets of electric wire pull-out portions 22 are provided, with two electric wire pull-out portions 22 as one set. In other words, two electric wire pull-out portions 22 are formed side by side in the width direction Y, and the two sets are provided at positions sandwiching the main body 2.

[0014] The main body 2 is formed with a fitting portion 20. The fitting portion 20 is a portion that is fitted into the connection object 90. The fitting portion 20 protrudes in the attachment direction Z from a surface of the main body 2 that faces the connection object 90.

[0015] The lid 3 is a cover member that covers the main body 2 from the opposite side to the connection object, and is made of, for example, metal and also functions as a shielding member. The lid 3 is, for example, formed larger than the main body 2 and attached so as to cover the opening 21 of the main body 2, with its edge portion extending in the attachment direction Z and attached so as to cover the side portion of the main body 2 with this edge portion.

[0016] A flange portion 33 is formed on the lid portion 3. The flange portion 33 is a plate-like portion extending outward from the outer edge portion of the main body 31 of the lid portion 3. The flange portion 33 forms an insertion hole 331 through which a fastening member is inserted. The insertion hole 331 is formed toward the mounting direction Z and is formed so as to penetrate the flange portion 33. A plurality of flange portions 33 are provided and are formed at positions corresponding to the flanges 23. For example, three flange portions 33 are provided and are provided spaced apart from each other in the drawing direction X and the width direction Y.

[0017] The lid portion 3 is provided with a cover portion 32. The cover portion 32 is a portion that covers the electric wire pull-out portion 22 of the main body portion 2. The cover portion 32 is formed at a position corresponding to the electric wire pull-out portion 22, and covers the electric wire pull-out portion 22 from the opposite side of the connection object 90. The cover portion 32 has a semi-cylindrical portion and covers half of the cylindrical electric wire pull-out portion 22. In FIG. 1, the cover portion 32 has semi-cylindrical portions formed side by side in the width direction Y, corresponding to the electric wire pull-out portions 22 being formed side by side in the width direction Y.

[0018] The main body 2 and the lid 3 are fastened together to an object to be connected by a fastening member, for example. Therefore, the main body 2 and the lid 3 are attached by being strongly fastened.

[0019] The water-stopping member 4 is formed of an annular elastic member. The water-stopping member 4 is a packing member that stops water between the main body 2 and the lid 3. The water-stopping member 4 is provided, for example, housed in a groove 24 formed in the main body 2. The groove 24 is a groove formed along the outer edge of the main body 2, and is recessed in the mounting direction Z.

[0020] The water-stopping member 4 is formed into a shape corresponding to the shapes of the main body 2 and the cover 3, and has, for example, a straight portion 42 and a curved portion 43 in an annular main body 41. The straight portion 42 is a portion that extends linearly in the extension direction of the main body 41. The curved portion 43 is a portion that is curved or bent in the extension direction of the main body 41, and is an angular portion.

[0021] 2, the water-stopping member 4 is formed with a plurality of ribs 44. The ribs 44 are protrusions that protrude from the main body 41 in a direction intersecting the mounting direction Z, and a plurality of ribs 44 are formed at predetermined intervals in the extension direction. The ribs 44 are portions that come into contact with the main body 2, and adjust the deformation of the water-stopping member 4 when the cover 3 is mounted on the main body 2 and the water-stopping member 4 is compressed. In other words, the ribs 44 can adjust the deformation of the water-stopping member 4 depending on the position at which they are formed.

[0022] The water-stopping member 4 is formed with a lip 47. The lip 47 is a protrusion that protrudes from the main body 41 in the mounting direction Z. The lip 47 abuts against the main body 2 or the lid 3, and performs water-stopping between the main body 2 and the lid 3.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 3, the rib 44 is provided in the curved portion 43 to include an inner rib 441 and an outer rib 442. The inner rib 441 is a rib 44 formed in the inner region of the curved portion 43 at the curved center position. The curved center position is the center position of the curved portion 43, and includes a position approximately in the center. The outer rib 442 is a rib 44 formed in the outer region of the curved portion 43 at both curved end positions. In this way, by providing the inner rib 441 and the outer rib 442, uneven deformation during compression is suppressed in the curved portion 43 of the water-stopping member 4, and water-stopping performance can be improved.

[0024] For example, the inner rib 441 and the two outer ribs 442 are provided so that a first imaginary line 45 connecting the inner rib 441 and one of the outer ribs 442 and a second imaginary line 46 connecting the inner rib 441 and the other outer rib 442 intersect at a right angle. That is, the inner rib 441 and the two outer ribs 442 are provided so that the angle θ between the first imaginary line 45 and the second imaginary line 46 is 90 degrees. Here, right angles and 90 degrees include substantially right angles and substantially 90 degrees. In this way, by providing the inner rib 441 and the two outer ribs 442, deformation during compression can be made uniform in the curved portion 43 of the water-stopping member 4, and water-stopping performance can be improved.

[0025] Next, the waterproofing performance of the waterproofing member 4 in the connector 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, in connector 1, lid portion 3 is attached to main body portion 2, and when main body portion 2 and lid portion 3 are fastened together to an object to be connected, water-stopping member 4 is sandwiched between main body portion 2 and lid portion 3 and is strongly pressed in installation direction Z.

[0027] Therefore, the water-stopping member 4 deforms so as to escape laterally (in a direction intersecting with the mounting direction Z) inside the groove 24. At this time, the water-stopping member 4 has a tendency to escape outward at the curved portion 43. However, since the water-stopping member 4 does not have the outer rib 442 at the curved center position of the outer region of the curved portion 43 and the outer rib 442 is formed at the curved end position, the compressive force can be dispersed. Therefore, the water-stopping member 4 is prevented from being strongly compressed toward the curved center position of the outer region. The formation of a gap between the water-stopping member 4 and the inside of the groove 24 is prevented. Therefore, the connector 1 can prevent the water-stopping ability of the water-stopping member 4 from being impaired, and the water-stopping function of the water-stopping member 4 can be improved.

[0028] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a connector 100 as a comparative example is shown. In this connector 100, a rib 401 is formed in the curved center position of the inner region of the curved portion 43 in the water-stopping member 40, and a rib 402 is formed in the curved center position of the outer region of the curved portion 43. When the water-stopping member 40 is strongly pressed in the mounting direction Z, a large compressive force is applied to the rib 402, and the degree of adhesion between the rib 401 and the groove portion 24 may be reduced. For this reason, there is a concern that the water-stopping function of the water-stopping member 40 may be reduced. In contrast, the connector 1 according to this embodiment forms an inner rib 441 in the curved center position of the inner region of the curved portion 43, and forms outer ribs 442 at both ends of the curved end positions of the outer region of the curved portion 43, thereby suppressing uneven compression force applied to the water-stopping member 4 and maintaining high water-stopping function.

[0029] As described above, the connector 1 of this embodiment is provided with a water-stopping member 4 having an inner rib 441 and an outer rib 442 at the curved portion 43, thereby preventing uneven deformation at the curved portion 43 of the water-stopping member 4 during compression, thereby improving water-stopping properties.

[0030] In addition, the connector 1 of this embodiment is provided with a water-stopping member 4 having an inner rib 441 and two outer ribs 442 at a position where they intersect at a right angle in the curved portion 43, thereby making it possible to equalize deformation during compression in the curved portion 43 of the water-stopping member 4, thereby improving the water-stopping properties.

[0031] The connector according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The connector 1 according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments and modified examples described above.

[0032] For example, the connector 1 according to the above embodiment has been described as being mounted on a vehicle, but it may also be used without being mounted on a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1: Connector 2: Main body 3: Lid 4:Water-stopping material 21: Opening 43: Curved section 44: Rib 45: First virtual line 46: Second virtual line 441: Inner rib 442: Outer rib Z: Installation direction

Claims

1. a body portion defining an opening; A cover portion attached to the main body portion so as to cover the opening portion; A water-stopping member that stops water from flowing between the main body and the lid, The water-stopping member has a curved portion curved in an extension direction, and a plurality of ribs protruding in a direction intersecting an attachment direction of the lid portion and formed at predetermined intervals in the extension direction, The rib includes an inner rib formed at a curved center position in an inner region of the curved portion, and an outer rib formed at both curved end positions in an outer region of the curved portion, connector.

2. The inner rib and the outer ribs are provided such that a first imaginary line connecting the inner rib and one of the outer ribs and a second imaginary line connecting the inner rib and the other of the outer ribs intersect at a right angle. The connector of claim 1 .

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