Hermaphroditic connector, waterproof connector, waterproof structure, and hermaphroditic terminal

Abstract

To provide a hermaphroditic connector with high contact reliability.SOLUTION: A hermaphroditic connector 1 includes hermaphroditic terminals 2 that mate with mating hermaphroditic terminals in a mating direction X1, and a hermaphroditic housing 3. The hermaphroditic terminals 2 include male terminal portions and fork-shaped female terminal portions F that extend from the male terminal portions in the mating direction X1, face a first direction V1 perpendicular to the mating direction X1, and have a pair of resilient contact pieces 43. The hermaphroditic housing 3 is mated with the mating hermaphroditic housing in the mating direction X1 while being inverted in a second direction V2 perpendicular to the mating direction X1 and forming a 45-degree angle with the first direction V1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A-1B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hermaphroditic connector, a waterproof connector, a waterproof structure, and a hermaphroditic terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a waterproof connector in which a male connector and a female connector are each covered with a rubber boot and the wire insertion opening of each rubber boot is wrapped with tape. Each of the male connector and the female connector is provided with a peripheral flange, and each rubber boot has a hollow annular protrusion with a semicircular cross section that surrounds the corresponding peripheral flange. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector and mated, the hollow annular protrusions of both rubber boots are pressed against each other and tightly fitted.

[0003] Meanwhile, a technology has been proposed for contact pins used in connectors, in which a pair of contact pins, each consisting of a fork-shaped contact piece with a groove having an opening at the tip and a contact point inside the opening of the groove, are orthogonally interlocked with each other to achieve four-point contact (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 52-101992 [Patent Document 2] Publication No. 02-080974 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, a male connector and a female connector with different specifications are required.

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention provides a hermaphroditic connector with high contact reliability. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a waterproof connector and waterproof structure using the hermaphroditic connector with excellent waterproofing. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a hermaphroditic terminal with high contact reliability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention provides a hermaphroditic connector (1) comprising: hermaphroditic terminals (2; 2A; 2B) adapted to be mated in a mating direction (X1) with mating hermaphroditic terminals (P2); and a hermaphroditic housing (3) for holding the hermaphroditic terminals and adapted to be mated in a mating hermaphroditic housing (P3) in the mating direction. The hermaphroditic terminals include a terminal body (20), a male terminal portion (M) disposed at an end of the terminal body in the mating direction, and a fork-shaped female terminal portion (F) extending from the male terminal portion in the mating direction, facing a first direction (V1) perpendicular to the mating direction, and having a pair of resilient contact pieces (43) capable of resiliently holding a mating male terminal portion (PM). The hermaphroditic housing is mated with the mating hermaphroditic housing in the mating direction while being flipped in a second direction (V2) perpendicular to the mating direction and forming a 45-degree angle with the first direction. With this configuration, a mating hermaphroditic connector having the same specifications as the hermaphroditic connector can be used by flipping it in the second direction and changing its orientation, thereby achieving a hermaphroditic connector with high contact reliability.

[0008] The alphanumeric characters in parentheses represent corresponding components in the embodiments described below, but this does not, of course, mean that the present invention is limited to those embodiments. The same applies hereinafter in this section.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the male terminal portion includes a laminated plate (J). This configuration allows the plate thickness of the male terminal portion to be increased, thereby increasing the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal and improving contact reliability. It also allows the gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces to be widened, making it easier to insert the mating hermaphroditic terminal into the gap.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the polymer plate of the male terminal portion includes a substrate (21) that is a part of the terminal body, a first polymer plate (41) that is folded back onto the substrate from one side of the substrate, and a second polymer plate (42) that is folded back onto the first polymer plate from the other side of the substrate. The pair of elastic contact pieces of the female terminal portion extend from the first polymer plate in the fitting direction.

[0011] According to this configuration, the male terminal portion's laminated plate includes three plates: the substrate, the first laminated plate, and the second laminated plate. This allows for a thicker plate for the male terminal portion. This allows for a higher contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal. It also allows for a wider gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces, making it easier to insert the mating hermaphroditic terminal into the gap. Furthermore, the pair of resilient contact pieces of the female terminal portion extend from the first laminated plate, which is located at the center of the three laminated plates. This is preferable because the pair of resilient contact pieces are uniformly elastically deformed when mated with the mating hermaphroditic terminal.

[0012] One embodiment of the present invention provides a waterproof connector using a hermaphroditic connector. The housing includes a terminal accommodating portion (5) having a terminal accommodating hole (50) for accommodating the hermaphroditic terminal, a cylindrical hood (6) surrounding the terminal accommodating portion and including a first hood portion (61) and a second hood portion (62) separated in the second direction, a flexible locking arm (8) supported by an outer wall surface (61a) of the first hood portion, and a locking portion (9) formed and protruding from an inner wall surface (62b) of the second hood portion. The waterproof connector further includes a solid annular elastic seal (4) received in an annular seal receiving groove (54) formed in an end face (51) of the terminal accommodating portion in the mating direction, one end of which protrudes from the end face when no external force is applied. When the waterproof connector is mated with the mating waterproof connector, the annular elastic seal is configured to be elastically compressed with one end abutting against one end of the mating annular elastic seal (P4), and when the first hood portion is accommodated within the mating second hood portion, the locking arm is configured to engage with the mating engaging portion (P9) of the mating second hood portion, and when the second hood portion accommodates the mating first hood portion, the engaging portion of the second hood portion is configured to engage the mating locking arm (P8).

[0013] According to this configuration, when mating with a mating hermaphroditic connector, the annular elastic seal and the mating annular elastic seal butt one end against each other and are elastically compressed. Furthermore, the lock arm that engages with the mating locking portion and the mating lock arm that engages with the locking portion function as a double-lock structure, with the lock arm positioned on opposite sides of the mating locking portion in a second direction perpendicular to the mating direction. Therefore, the force that elastically compresses the annular elastic seal and the mating annular elastic seal as they butt one end against the other in the mating direction is uniform in the circumferential direction. This allows for the realization of a waterproof connector with excellent waterproofing.

[0014] In one preferred embodiment, the annular elastic seal includes an O-ring. The cross section of the O-ring is an oval or elliptical shape that is long in the fitting direction and flattened in the second direction when no external force is applied. With this configuration, the pressing force between the ends of the O-ring serving as the annular elastic seal can be uniformly increased in the circumferential direction, thereby improving waterproofing.

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention provides a waterproof structure (B) including the waterproof connector and a mating waterproof connector mated with the waterproof connector. With this configuration, a highly waterproof structure can be achieved.

[0016] One embodiment of the present invention provides a hermaphroditic terminal (2; 2A; 2B) that is mated in a mating direction with a mating hermaphroditic terminal, the hermaphroditic terminal including a terminal body, a male terminal portion including a laminated plate arranged at an end of the terminal body in the mating direction, and a fork-shaped female terminal portion extending from the male terminal portion in the mating direction, facing each other in a first direction perpendicular to the mating direction, and having a pair of elastic contact pieces that can elastically hold the mating male terminal portion. With this configuration, the plate thickness of the male terminal portion can be increased, thereby increasing the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal and improving contact reliability.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the polymer plate of the male terminal portion includes a substrate that is a part of the terminal body, a first polymer plate folded back onto the substrate from one side of the substrate, and a second polymer plate folded back onto the first polymer plate from the other side of the substrate. The pair of resilient contact pieces of the female terminal portion extend from the first polymer plate in the mating direction.

[0018] With this configuration, the male terminal portion's laminated plate includes three plates: the substrate, the first laminated plate, and the second laminated plate. This allows for a thicker plate for the male terminal portion. This increases the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal. It also allows for a wider gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces, making it easier to insert the mating hermaphroditic terminal into the gap. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1A-1B] Fig. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a hermaphroditic connector according to one embodiment of the present invention and a mating hermaphroditic connector, and Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between a first direction and a second direction. [Figure 2A-2B] Fig. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the hermaphroditic connector and the mating hermaphroditic connector from a different angle, and Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the first direction, the second direction, and the mating first direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hermaphroditic connector and the mating hermaphroditic connector, seen from a different angle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hermaphroditic connector and the mating hermaphroditic connector in a mating state. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the hermaphroditic connector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of the mating hermaphroditic connector. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hermaphroditic connector taken along a plane including a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the mating direction, and is taken along line VII-VII of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof structure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof structure taken along a plane including the second direction, which forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first direction, and the mating direction. [Figures 10A-10B] 10A and 10B are perspective views of the hermaphroditic terminal from different angles. [Figures 11A-11C] 11A is a plan view of the hermaphroditic terminal, FIG. 11B is a side view of the hermaphroditic terminal, and FIG. 11C is a front view of the hermaphroditic terminal. [Figures 12A-12C] 12A, 12B, and 12C are a perspective view, a plan view, and a side view of the hermaphroditic terminal and the mating hermaphroditic terminal in a mated state. [Figures 13A-13B] 13A and 13B are front views of hermaphroditic terminals according to other embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Figures 1A, 2A, and 3 are exploded perspective views of a hermaphroditic connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a mating hermaphroditic connector P1, each viewed from a different angle. Figures 1B and 2B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between a first direction and a second direction. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a waterproof structure B including the hermaphroditic connector 1 and the mating hermaphroditic connector P1.

[0022] 1A, 2A, and 3, hermaphroditic connector 1 includes hermaphroditic terminals 2 (see also FIG. 10A), a hermaphroditic housing 3, an annular elastic seal 4, and a rubber bushing-like waterproof plug G. Mating hermaphroditic connector P1 includes mating hermaphroditic terminals P2 (see also FIG. 12A), a mating hermaphroditic housing P3, and a mating annular elastic seal P4.

[0023] The mating hermaphroditic connector P1 has the same specifications as the hermaphroditic connector 1, but is turned around so that it faces the mating direction X1 relative to the hermaphroditic connector 1 and is used upside down. Therefore, the symbols of the elements of the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 are the same as the symbols of the corresponding elements of the hermaphroditic connector 1, and are prefixed with the letter P.

[0024] Both the hermaphroditic connector 1 and the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 are waterproof, providing a waterproof connector and a mating waterproof connector. As shown in Figure 4, the hermaphroditic connector 1 (waterproof connector) and the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 (mating waterproof connector) provide a waterproof structure B when mated with each other.

[0025] First, the hermaphroditic terminal 2 will be described. Figures 10A and 10B are perspective views of the hermaphroditic terminal 2 from different angles. Figure 11A is a plan view of the hermaphroditic terminal 2, Figure 11B is a side view of the hermaphroditic terminal 2, and Figure 11C is a front view of the hermaphroditic terminal 2. Figures 12A, 12B, and 12C are a perspective view, a plan view, and a side view of the hermaphroditic terminal 2 and the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 in a mated state.

[0026] 12A, the hermaphroditic terminal 2 is mated with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 in a mating direction X1. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the hermaphroditic terminal 2 includes a terminal main body 20, a wire connecting portion 30, and a terminal connecting portion 40 having a male terminal portion M and a female terminal portion F.

[0027] The terminal body 20 includes a rectangular base plate 21, a pair of side plates 22, and a locking piece 23. The base plate 21 includes a front surface 21a, a back surface 21b, and a rectangular opening 21c. The pair of side plates 22 extend perpendicularly from a pair of side portions of the base plate 21. The locking piece 23 is a rectangular plate that extends perpendicularly from an edge of the opening 21c in the fitting direction X1 toward the back surface 21b.

[0028] The wire connection portion 30 extends in the opposite direction X2 to the fitting direction X1 from an end portion of the terminal body 20 in the opposite direction X2 to the fitting direction X1 of the board 21. The wire connection portion 30 is crimped and connected to an end of the electric wire W (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIGS. 10A and 7, the wire connection portion 30 includes a wire barrel 31 (core wire crimping portion) that crimps a conductive core wire Wa of the electric wire W, and an insulation barrel 32 (coating crimping portion) that crimps an insulating coating Wb of the electric wire W.

[0029] The terminal connection portion 40 includes a male terminal portion M and a fork-shaped female terminal portion F. The male terminal portion M is disposed at the end of the terminal body portion 20 in the fitting direction X1.

[0030] The male terminal part M includes a laminated plate J. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11C, the laminated plate J of the male terminal part M includes a substrate 21, which is a part of the terminal body 20, a first laminated plate 41, and a second laminated plate 42. The first laminated plate 41 is folded back from one side of the substrate 21 onto (the surface 21a of) the substrate 21. The second laminated plate 42 is folded back from the other side of the substrate 21 onto the first laminated plate 41.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 11A, the female terminal portion F includes a pair of resilient contact pieces 43 extending from the male terminal portion M in the mating direction X1. As shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 extend in the mating direction X1 from the first laminate 41 of the male terminal portion M. As shown in FIG. 11A, the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 face each other in a first direction V1 that is perpendicular to the mating direction X1 (see also FIGS. 1A and 1B). The pair of resilient contact pieces 43 includes a pair of contact portions C facing each other in the first direction V1. Each resilient contact piece 43 has an inward protrusion 43a at its tip, and the contact portion C is located at the top of the protrusion 43a.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 12B, the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 of the female terminal portion F can resiliently hold the mating male terminal portion PM between their respective contact portions C. As shown in Fig. 12C, the male terminal portion M is resiliently held between the mating contact portions PC of the pair of mating resilient contact pieces P43 of the mating female terminal portion PF. As shown in Fig. 2B, when viewed from the fitting direction X1, the first direction V1 in which the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 face each other and the mating first direction PV1 in which the pair of mating resilient contact pieces P43 face each other are perpendicular to each other.

[0033] Next, the hermaphroditic housing 3 will be described. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hermaphroditic connector 1 taken along a plane including the mating direction X1 and a third direction V3 orthogonal to the first direction V1, and corresponds to the VII-VII cross-sectional view of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof structure B. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof structure B taken along a plane including the mating direction X1 and a second direction V2 that forms a 45-degree angle with the first direction V1.

[0034] 1A and 7, the hermaphroditic housing 3 includes a terminal accommodating portion 5 that accommodates the hermaphroditic terminals 2, a hood 6 that surrounds the terminal accommodating portion 5, a hood connecting portion 7, a flexible locking arm 8 that locks the mated state with the mating hermaphroditic connector P1, and a latching portion 9. The hermaphroditic housing 3 is integrally formed from an insulating synthetic resin.

[0035] The terminal accommodating portion 5 includes a front end portion 5a (see FIG. 1A) that is an end portion in the mating direction X1, and a rear end portion 5b (see FIG. 2A) that is an end portion in the mating direction X2 opposite to the mating direction X1. The rear end portion 5b of the terminal accommodating portion 5 protrudes rearward (in the direction X2 opposite to the mating direction X1) from the hood 6. As shown in FIG. 1A, the front end portion 6a of the hood 6 is located at the same position as the front end portion 5a of the terminal accommodating portion 5 in the mating direction X1.

[0036] 1A, 5, and 7, the terminal accommodating portion 5 includes a terminal accommodating hole 50 that accommodates the hermaphroditic terminal 2, a circular end face 51 in the mating direction X1, a pair of protective frames 52 protruding from the end face 51, a pair of mating grooves 53 formed in the end face 51, an annular seal accommodating groove 54 formed in the end face 51, and a housing lance 55. As shown in FIG. 7, a waterproof plug G that surrounds the electric wire W and a part of the wire connection portion 30 of the hermaphroditic terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating hole 50 from the rear (the direction X2 opposite to the mating direction X1) and fitted therein, thereby sealing the inside of the terminal accommodating hole 50.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 8, when the connectors are mated, the end face 51 faces closely to the mating end face P51 of the mating terminal receiving hole P50 of the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 with a small gap (not shown).

[0038] 1A and 5, the pair of protective frames 52 protrude from the end face 51 in the fitting direction X1. The ends of the pair of protective frames 52 in the fitting direction X1 correspond to the front end 5a of the terminal accommodating portion 5. When viewed from the fitting direction X1, the pair of protective frames 52 are radially arranged to face each other in the first direction V1 with the terminal accommodating hole 50 therebetween, and each form a trapezoidal shape.

[0039] 8 respectively accommodate and protect the pair of mating resilient contact pieces P43 of the mating female terminal portion PF, the pair of protective frames 52 respectively accommodate and protect the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 of the fork-shaped female terminal portion F. The pair of protective frames 52 function to guide the resilient displacement of the pair of resilient contact pieces 43.

[0040] 5 and 7, a pair of fitting grooves 53 are formed in the end face 51. The pair of fitting grooves 53 are arranged radially so as to face each other in a third direction V3 perpendicular to the first direction V1 across the center of the terminal accommodating hole 50. The cross sections of the pair of fitting grooves 53 are trapezoidal, the same as the cross sections of the pair of protective frames 52. As shown in FIG. 8, when the connectors are mated, the pair of mating protective frames P52 of the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 are fitted into the pair of fitting grooves 53, and the pair of protective frames 52 (see FIG. 5) are fitted into the pair of fitting grooves P53 (see FIG. 6) of the mating hermaphroditic connector P1.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, the annular seal receiving groove 54 is formed concentrically with the end face 51 so as to surround the terminal receiving hole 50, and receives and holds the annular elastic seal 4. As shown in Fig. 8, in the mated state of the connectors, the annular elastic seal 4 is elastically compressed with one end 4a thereof abutting against one mating end P4a of the mating annular elastic seal P4 in the mating direction X1.

[0042] 7, the housing lance 55 is a cantilevered elastic piece provided in the terminal accommodating hole 50, and engages by climbing over the locking piece 23 of the hermaphroditic terminal 2. This prevents the hermaphroditic terminal 2 from slipping out of the terminal accommodating hole 50 in the direction X2 opposite to the fitting direction X1.

[0043] 1A and 5, the hood 6 is a tube that surrounds the terminal accommodating portion 5. The rear portion of the hood 6 is formed integrally with the terminal accommodating portion 5. A predetermined range from the front end portion 6a of the hood 6 includes a first hood portion 61 and a second hood portion 62 that are separated in a second direction V2 (the second direction V2 forms a 45-degree angle with the first direction V1) by two side slits 6S extending in the fitting direction X1. The second hood portion 62 is formed integrally with the terminal accommodating portion 5 via a hood connecting portion 7.

[0044] 5, the first hood portion 61 includes an outer wall surface 61a, which is an outer upper wall surface 610 and a pair of outer wall surfaces 611. The outer upper wall surface 610 of the first hood portion 61 supports a lock arm 8 and a pair of guide ribs 10.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 9, the lock arm 8 includes a lock arm main body 80, a lock claw 81, and a release operation portion 82. The lock arm main body 80 has a base end 80a and a free end 80b and extends in the mating direction X1. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 5, a pair of guide ribs 10 are disposed on both sides of the lock arm 8 and extend parallel to the mating direction X1. As shown in FIG. 9, the lock arm main body 80 is cantilevered via the base end 80a on an outer upper wall surface 610 at the front end of the first hood portion 61. The lock arm main body 80 is elastically deflectable toward the outer upper wall surface 610.

[0046] The locking claw 81 protrudes outward from the locking arm main body 80 at a base end 80a and a free end 80b. When the connectors are mated, the locking claw 81 climbs over and locks onto the mating locking portion P9 of the mating hermaphroditic connector P1. The release operation portion 82 is an outward protrusion provided on the free end 80b of the locking arm main body 80. The release operation portion 82 can be operated to flex the locking arm main body 80 to release the locking of the locking claw 81 with the mating locking portion P9.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 5, the second hood portion 62 includes an outer wall surface 62a and an inner wall surface 62b. The inner wall surface 62b of the second hood portion 62 includes an inner bottom wall surface 620, a pair of inner wall surfaces 621, and a recess 622 formed in the inner bottom wall surface 620. A mating lock arm P8 is inserted into the space formed by the recess 622 (see Fig. 9). A locking portion 9 is formed to protrude from the bottom of the recess 622.

[0048] 4, 5, and 6, when the connectors are mated, the first hood portion 61 is inserted into the mating second hood portion P62, and an outer upper wall surface 610 of the first hood portion 61 is mated with an inner bottom wall surface 620 of the mating second hood portion P62, and a pair of outer wall surfaces 611 of the first hood portion 61 is mated with a pair of mating inner wall surfaces P621 of the mating second hood portion P62. In addition, the pair of guide ribs 10 are mated with a pair of inner surfaces of the mating recess P622 of the mating second hood portion P62.

[0049] In addition, when the connectors are mated, the mating first hood part P61 is inserted into the second hood part 62, and the inner bottom wall surface 620 of the second hood part 62 is mated with the mating outer upper wall surface P610 of the mating first hood part P61, and the pair of inner wall surfaces 621 of the second hood part 62 are mated with the pair of mating outer wall surfaces P611 of the mating first hood part P61.

[0050] Furthermore, when the connectors are mated, with the first hood portion 61 housed within the mating second hood portion P62, the lock arm 8 is locked with the mating locking portion P9 of the mating second hood portion P62 (see FIG. 9). With the second hood portion 62 housing the mating first hood portion P61, the locking portion 9 of the second hood portion 62 locks the mating lock arm P8 (see FIG. 9). This achieves double locking in the mated state. The annular elastic seal 4 is elastically compressed with one end abutting against one end of the mating annular elastic seal P4.

[0051] 1A and 2A, it is possible to use a mating hermaphroditic connector P1 that has the same specifications as the present hermaphroditic connector 1 by flipping it in the second direction V2 and changing the orientation. Also, since the hermaphroditic terminals 2 contact the mating hermaphroditic terminals P2 at four points (see the pair of contact portions C in FIG. 12B and the pair of mating contact portions PC in FIG. 12C), it is possible to realize a hermaphroditic connector 1 with high contact reliability.

[0052] 12C, the male terminal portion M includes a laminated plate J. With this configuration, the plate thickness of the male terminal portion M can be increased, thereby increasing the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 and improving contact reliability. Also, as shown in FIG. 11A, it is possible to widen the gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces 43, making it easier to insert the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 (see FIG. 12B) into the gap.

[0053] 11B, the laminated plate J of the male terminal portion M includes three plates: the substrate 21, the first laminated plate 41, and the second laminated plate 42. This allows the plate thickness of the male terminal portion M to be increased. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12C, the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 can be increased. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12B, the gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 can be widened, making it easier to insert the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 into the gap. Furthermore, because the pair of resilient contact pieces 43 of the female terminal portion F extend from the first laminated plate 41, which is the center of the three laminated plates, the pair of resilient contact pieces is preferably uniformly elastically deformed when mating with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 8, when mating with the mating hermaphroditic connector P1, the annular elastic seal 4 and the mating annular elastic seal P4 butt against each other at one end and are elastically compressed. As shown in Fig. 9, the lock arm 8 engaged with the mating locking portion P9 and the mating lock arm P8 engaged with the locking portion 9 function as a double-lock structure, with the lock arm 8 and the mating locking arm P8 positioned on opposite sides of each other in the second direction V2 perpendicular to the mating direction X1. Therefore, the force of elastic compression caused by the annular elastic seal 4 and the mating annular elastic seal P4 butting against each other in the mating direction X1 is uniform in the circumferential direction. This allows for the realization of a waterproof connector with excellent waterproofing properties.

[0055] The annular elastic seal 4 includes an O-ring, and the cross section of the O-ring is an oval or elliptical shape that is long in the fitting direction X1 and flattened in the second direction V2 when no external force is applied. This configuration allows the pressing force between the ends of the annular elastic seal 4 and the O-ring serving as the mating annular elastic seal P4 to be uniformly high in the circumferential direction, thereby improving waterproofing.

[0056] Furthermore, a highly waterproof waterproof structure B can be achieved by the hermaphroditic connector 1 (waterproof connector) and the mating hermaphroditic connector P1 (mating waterproof connector) mated with each other.

[0057] Furthermore, with the hermaphroditic terminal 2, the thickness of the male terminal portion M including the laminated plate J can be increased, so that the contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2 can be increased, improving contact reliability.

[0058] Furthermore, with the hermaphroditic terminal 2, the laminated plate J includes three plates (see FIG. 11C): the substrate 21, the first laminated plate 41, and the second laminated plate 42. This allows the thickness of the male terminal portion M to be increased. This allows for a higher contact pressure with the mating hermaphroditic terminal P2. It also allows for a wider gap between the pair of resilient contact pieces 43, making it easier to insert the mating female terminal portion PF into the gap.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be configured such that, for example, the laminated plate J of the male terminal portion M is composed of two plates, a base plate 21 and a first laminated plate 41, as in the hermaphroditic terminal 2A shown in Fig. 13A and the hermaphroditic terminal 2B shown in Fig. 13B, and the pair of elastic contact pieces 43 of the female terminal portion F extend from either the base plate 21 or the first laminated plate 41. Also, although not shown, the hermaphroditic connector 1 may be a non-waterproof connector that does not have the annular elastic seal 4. In addition, various modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: Hermaphroditic connector (waterproof connector) 2;2A;2B: Hermaphroditic terminals 3:Hermaphrodite housing 4: Annular elastic seal 4a: one end 5: Terminal housing 6: Food 8: Lock arm 9: Locking part 20: Terminal body 21: Circuit board 30: Wire connection part 40: Terminal connection part 41: First laminated plate 42: Second laminated plate 43: Elastic contact piece 50: Terminal receiving hole 51: End face 52: Protective frame 53:Mating groove 54: Seal receiving groove 61: First Food Section 61a: Exterior wall 62: Second Food Section 62b: Inner wall surface 80: Lock arm body 81: Locking claw 82: Release operation section 610:Exterior upper wall 620: Inner bottom wall 622: Recess B: Waterproof structure F:Female terminal part J: Polymer board M: Male terminal part P1: Mating hermaphroditic connector (mating waterproof connector) P2: Mating hermaphroditic terminal P3: Mating hermaphroditic housing P4: Mating annular elastic seal P4a: Counterparty P8: Opponent lock arm P9: Counterpart locking part P43: Counterpart elastic contact piece P50: Mating terminal receiving hole P51: Counterpart end face P61: Opponent's 1st Food Department P62: Opponent's Second Food Department P610: Opposite outer upper wall P620: Inner bottom wall of the other party P622: Counterpart recess PF: Mating female terminal part PM: Mating male terminal part PV1: Opponent 1 direction V1: 1st direction V2:Second direction V3: 3rd direction X1:Mating direction X2: Opposite direction

Claims

1. a hermaphroditic terminal to be fitted in a mating hermaphroditic terminal in a fitting direction, the hermaphroditic terminal including a terminal body, a male terminal portion disposed at an end of the terminal body in the fitting direction, and a fork-shaped female terminal portion extending from the male terminal portion in the fitting direction, facing each other in a first direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and having a pair of elastic contact pieces capable of elastically clamping the mating male terminal portion; a hermaphroditic connector comprising: a hermaphroditic housing that holds the hermaphroditic terminals and is mated with the mating hermaphroditic housing in the mating direction in a state in which the hermaphroditic terminals are inverted in a second direction perpendicular to the mating direction and forming a 45-degree angle with the first direction relative to the mating housing.

2. 2. The hermaphroditic connector of claim 1, wherein the male terminal portion comprises a laminated plate.

3. the polymerized plate of the male terminal portion includes a substrate that is a part of the terminal body portion, a first polymerized plate folded back onto the substrate from one side of the substrate, and a second polymerized plate folded back onto the first polymerized plate from the other side of the substrate, 3. The hermaphroditic connector according to claim 2, wherein the pair of resilient contact pieces of the female terminal portion extend from the first laminated plate in the mating direction.

4. A waterproof connector using the hermaphroditic connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the housing includes a terminal accommodating portion having terminal accommodating holes in which the hermaphroditic terminals are accommodated, a cylindrical hood surrounding the terminal accommodating portion and including a first hood portion and a second hood portion separated in the second direction, a flexible locking arm supported by an outer wall surface of the first hood portion, and a locking portion formed to protrude from an inner wall surface of the second hood portion, The waterproof connector further includes a solid annular elastic seal that is accommodated in an annular seal accommodating groove formed on an end surface of the terminal accommodating portion in the fitting direction, and one end of the solid annular elastic seal protruding from the end surface, A waterproof connector in which, when the waterproof connector is mated with a mating waterproof connector, the annular elastic seal is configured to be elastically compressed with one end abutting against one end of the mating annular elastic seal, the locking arm is configured to engage with the mating engaging portion of the mating second hood portion when the first hood portion is accommodated within the mating second hood portion, and the engaging portion of the second hood portion is configured to engage the mating locking arm when the second hood portion accommodates the mating first hood portion.

5. the annular elastomeric seal includes an O-ring; 5. The waterproof connector according to claim 4, wherein a cross section of the O-ring is an oval or elliptical shape that is long in the fitting direction and flattened in the second direction when no external force is applied.

6. A waterproof structure comprising the waterproof connector according to claim 4 and a mating waterproof connector mated with the waterproof connector.

7. A hermaphroditic terminal that is fitted in a mating direction with a mating hermaphroditic terminal, comprising: a terminal body; a male terminal portion including a polymer plate arranged at an end of the terminal body in the fitting direction; and a fork-shaped female terminal portion that extends from the male terminal portion in the fitting direction, faces each other in a first direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and has a pair of elastic contact pieces that can elastically hold the mating male terminal portion.

8. the polymerized plate of the male terminal portion includes a substrate that is a part of the terminal body portion, a first polymerized plate folded back onto the substrate from one side of the substrate, and a second polymerized plate folded back onto the first polymerized plate from the other side of the substrate, 7. The hermaphroditic terminal according to claim 6, wherein the pair of resilient contact pieces of the female terminal portion extend from the first laminated plate in the mating direction.

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