Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of preventing a seal member from being damaged without causing particular problems.SOLUTION: A metal fitting 50 has: a cylindrical terminal body 51 arranged in a cavity 27 of a housing 20 through a sealing hole 31 of a sealing member 30 from a through hole 64 of a rear holder 60; an adjacent surface part 54 forming a part of an upper surface of the terminal body 51; and a protrusion 53 adjacent to one of right and left directions of the adjacent surface part 54, and protruding from the upper surface of the terminal body 51. The rear holder 60 has: an inner upper surface part 65 located at an upper side of an inner surface of the through hole 64; a downward protrusion 74 protruding on a front end side of the inner upper surface part 65 and capable of facing the adjacent surface part 54; an escape space part 78 for forming a part of an inner space of the through hole 64 and adjacent to one of right and left directions of the downward protrusion 74; and a moving allowance space 79 for forming the other of the inner space of the through hole 64 and opening on a rear side of the downward protrusion 74.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a terminal connected to an end portion of an electric wire, a housing that accommodates the terminal, a mat seal facing the rear surface of the housing, and a rear holder that holds the mat seal between the housing and the mat seal. The mat seal and the rear holder each have a through hole that penetrates in the axial direction (front-to-back direction). After the terminal has passed through the mat seal's through hole, the electric wire is inserted into the mat seal's through hole. A plurality of protruding lips that come into close contact with the electric wire are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mat seal's through hole. The lips are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole. Of the lips, the lips located at both ends in the front-to-back direction have an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the other lips.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that when a terminal is inserted into a through-hole of a mat seal in a tilted state relative to the front-to-rear direction, an elastic restoring force acts from the lips located at both ends in a direction that suppresses the tilt of the terminal, thereby correcting the tilt of the terminal. Prior art documents that use a rear holder to correct the tilt of a terminal include Patent Documents 2 to 5. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-4364 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-73719 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-17171 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-95422 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-143574 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, for example, if a protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the terminal, there is a concern that the protrusion will dig deep into the small inner diameter lips located at both ends, causing the lip to break. If the lip breaks and fragments adhere to the connecting surface of the terminal, the fragments may also be trapped between the connecting surfaces of the terminal and the mating terminal, which could result in a poor electrical connection. In addition, in the case of Patent Document 1, lips for correcting the tilt of the terminal are provided on both ends of the mat seal in the front-to-back direction, which could make the mat seal longer in the front-to-back direction and lead to an increase in the size of the connector.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a connector that can prevent damage to the sealing member without causing any particular problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting connected to an end portion of an electric wire, a housing in which the terminal fitting is accommodated, a seal member facing a rear surface of the housing, and a rear holder that holds the seal member between the housing and the housing, the housing having a cavity extending in a front-rear direction, the seal member having a seal hole that communicates with the cavity from the rear and that fits tightly to the electric wire, the rear holder having a through hole that communicates with the seal hole from the rear and passes through the rear holder in the front-rear direction, the terminal fitting is disposed in the cavity from the through hole through the seal hole the rear holder has an inner upper surface portion located on the upper side of the inner surface of the through hole, a downward protrusion portion that protrudes toward the front end side of the inner upper surface portion and can face the adjacent surface portion, an escape space portion that forms part of the internal space of the through hole and is adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the downward protrusion, and a movement-permitting space portion that forms another part of the internal space of the through hole and is open to the rear of the downward protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can prevent damage to a sealing member without causing any particular problems. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting with an electric wire in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the housing in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sealing member in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rear holder in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear view of the connector of the first embodiment, showing a portion including the through-hole of the rear holder before the terminal fittings are inserted. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the through-hole of the rear holder and the seal hole of the seal member in the connector of the first embodiment before the terminal fitting is inserted. [Figure 12] 12 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the connector of the first embodiment with the front end portion of the terminal fitting inclined forward and upward from the state shown in FIG. 11 inserted into the insertion opening of the through-hole. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a further enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the front end portion of the terminal fitting moves downward along the protrusion from the state shown in FIG. 12 in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of the first embodiment taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the front end of the terminal fitting has entered the seal hole from the through hole in the connector of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting connected to an end portion of an electric wire, a housing in which the terminal fitting is accommodated, a seal member facing a rear surface of the housing, and a rear holder holding the seal member between the housing and the housing, wherein the housing has a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, the seal member has a seal hole communicating with the cavity from the rear and in close contact with the electric wire, the rear holder has a through hole communicating with the seal hole from the rear and penetrating the rear holder in the front-rear direction, and the terminal fitting is arranged in the cavity from the through hole through the seal hole. the rear holder has an inner upper surface portion located on the upper side of the inner surface of the through hole, a downward protrusion portion that protrudes toward the front end side of the inner upper surface portion and can face the adjacent surface portion, an escape space portion that forms part of the internal space of the through hole and is adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the downward protrusion, and a movement-permitting space portion that forms another part of the internal space of the through hole and is open to the rear of the downward protrusion.

[0011] When a terminal fitting is inserted into a through-hole of a rear holder with its front end pointing upward and tilted relative to the front-to-back direction (see FIG. 12 ; hereinafter, referred to as the “front-upward tilted state”), the adjacent surface portion moves through the movement-permitting space and then moves downward along the downward protrusion, thereby moving the terminal fitting in a direction that eliminates the front-upward tilted state. This prevents the terminal fitting from entering the seal hole in the front-upward tilted state and prevents the seal material from being cut by the protrusion. As a result, it is possible to prevent insulating debris (part of the seal material) from being interposed between the connecting surfaces of the terminal fitting and the mating terminal fitting, thereby ensuring electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal fitting. Furthermore, the downward protrusion, the relief space, and the movement-permitting space can be provided within the front-to-back length of the through-hole of the rear holder.

[0012] (2) In the connector described in (1) above, it is preferable that the rear surface of the downward protrusion is a downwardly inclined portion that slopes forward as it extends downward. The adjacent surface portion moves downward along the downward inclined surface portion, thereby allowing the terminal fitting to move smoothly in a direction to release the forward upward inclined state.

[0013] (3) In the connector described in (1) or (2) above, the rear holder preferably has an inner lower surface portion located on the lower side of the inner surface of the through hole and an upward protrusion portion protruding from the rear end side of the inner lower surface portion, and the front surface of the upward protrusion is preferably an upward inclined portion that slopes forward as it goes downward. When an insertion opening (including a movement-permitting space) through which a terminal fitting can be inserted is formed at the rear end of the through-hole, the upward protrusion allows the vertical opening dimension of the insertion opening to be adjusted to an appropriate dimension. Furthermore, when the terminal fitting is removed, the terminal body moves along the upward inclined portion, allowing the terminal fitting to be smoothly removed from the through-hole.

[0014] (4) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the rear holder preferably has an inner lower surface portion located on the lower side of the inner surface of the through hole, and a front inclined surface portion that slopes downward as it goes forward at the front end side of the inner lower surface portion, and the front inclined surface portion is preferably positioned at a distance below the downward protrusion. While the adjacent surface portion moves downward along the downward protrusion, the lower surface of the front end portion of the terminal body is positioned on the front inclined surface portion, thereby preventing interference between the lower surface of the front end portion of the terminal body and the rear holder. Furthermore, when the terminal fitting is removed, the terminal fitting moves along the front inclined surface portion, allowing the terminal fitting to move smoothly rearward inside the through hole.

[0015] (5) In the connector described in (4) above, the rear surface of the sealing member is arranged in the vertical direction so as to contact the front surface of the rear holder, and the sealing member has a guide surface portion that expands in diameter from a position near the rear end on the inner surface of the sealing hole to the rear surface of the sealing member, and when the sealing member is held between the housing and the rear holder, the downward protrusion is arranged behind the guide surface portion of the sealing member, and the front inclined surface portion is arranged behind the rear surface of the sealing member.

[0016] When the terminal fitting is tilted relative to the front-to-rear direction with its front end pointing downward, if the underside of the front end of the terminal body interferes with the rear surface or the guide surface of the seal member from a position on the front slope, the terminal fitting is displaced along the guide surface, etc., and can be corrected to an insertion position that is aligned with the front-to-rear direction, thereby allowing the terminal fitting to enter the seal hole of the seal member in the correct insertion position.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0018] <Embodiment 1> As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector 10 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 20, a front holder 21, a retainer 22, a seal member 30, a seal ring 23, a rear holder 60, a lever 24, and a terminal fitting 50. The housing 20, the front holder 21, the retainer 22, the rear holder 60, and the lever 24 are made of synthetic resin. The seal member 30 and the seal ring 23 are made of rubber, such as silicone rubber. The terminal fitting 50 is made of conductive metal. In the following description, the forward direction refers to the direction in which the housing 20 is mated with a mating connector (not shown). The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure. The arrows X, Y, and Z in FIGS. 1 and 2 represent the forward-backward direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction, respectively. The references for these directions do not necessarily coincide with the references for directions when the connector 10 is installed in a vehicle or the like.

[0019] (Overall structure of connector 10) 5, the housing 20 has a block-shaped housing main body 25 and an outer peripheral portion 26 that partially surrounds the outer periphery of the housing main body 25. A hood portion of a mating connector (not shown) can be fitted from the front between the housing main body 25 and the outer peripheral portion 26.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the housing body 25 has a plurality of cavities 27 extending in the front-rear direction and a retainer mounting hole 28 recessed in the front-rear intermediate portion of the top surface of the housing body 25. Each cavity 27 is divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the retainer mounting hole 28. An elastically deformable lance 29 protrudes from the front portion of each cavity 27. Of the lances 29, only the lance 29 formed in the uppermost cavity 27 is exposed on the top surface of the housing body 25. A terminal 50 is inserted into each cavity 27 from the rear. As shown in FIG. 3 , the terminal 50 is engaged with the lance 29 and is temporarily prevented from coming out of the cavity 27.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 6, the terminal fitting 50 has an elongated shape that extends in the front-to-rear direction as a whole. The terminal fitting 50 has a rectangular cylindrical terminal body 51. As shown in Fig. 14, an elastically deformable contact piece 52 is formed inside the terminal body 51. When the housing 20 is mated with a mating connector, a mating terminal fitting (not shown) comes into contact with the contact piece 52, and the mating terminal fitting and the terminal fitting 50 are electrically connected.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6 , a plurality of protrusions 53 are formed on the upper surface of the terminal body 51 and protrude upward. The protrusions 53 are aligned at the front and rear ends of the upper surface of the terminal body 51. As shown in FIG. 3 , the lance 29 faces the front protrusion 53 among the protrusions 53 so as to be engageable. As shown in FIG. 6 , the protrusions 53 are arranged offset to one side in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the terminal body 51. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15 , the protrusion dimension of the front protrusion 53 is smaller than the protrusion dimension of the rear protrusion 53. An adjacent surface portion 54 is formed on the upper surface of the terminal body 51 adjacent to the front protrusion 53 on the other side in the left-right direction. The adjacent surface portion 54 is a part of the upper surface of the terminal body 51 and is formed flat in the left-right direction. The terminal fitting 50 also has a barrel portion 55 rearward of the terminal body 51. The barrel portion 55 is crimped to the end of the electric wire 90 for electrical and mechanical connection.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the retainer 22 is inserted from above into the retainer mounting hole 28 of the housing body 25. As shown in Figure 3, when the retainer 22 is inserted to the correct depth into the retainer mounting hole 28 (full locking state), the retainer 22 faces the terminal body 51 from behind so as to be lockable. This secondarily prevents the terminal fitting 50 from coming out of the cavity 27. For convenience, Figure 3 shows only one of the multiple terminal fittings 50.

[0024] 1 to 3, the front holder 21 is cap-shaped and is attached to the front of the housing main body 25. The front holder 21 covers the front surface and part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing main body 25, preventing the lance 29 from being exposed.

[0025] 1 and 3, seal ring 23 is annular and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of housing main body 25. When housing 20 is mated with a mating connector, seal ring 23 is compressed radially between a hood portion of the mating connector (not shown) and housing main body 25. This maintains a liquid-tight seal between connector 10 and the mating connector in the mated state.

[0026] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the housing 20 has a cylindrical accommodating tube portion 42 that protrudes rearward from the outer peripheral edge of the rear surface of the housing main body 25. As shown in Figure 3, the interior of the accommodating tube portion 42 forms an accommodating space 43 that can accommodate the seal member 30 and the rear holder 60. As shown in Figure 7, a pair of upper and lower locking receiving portions 44 are formed on the left and right side walls of the accommodating tube portion 42. The upper and lower walls of the accommodating tube portion 42 also have locking receiving portions 44 formed at positions offset to one side in the left-right direction. Each locking receiving portion 44 is locked to a locking portion 63, described later, of the rear holder 60 (see Figures 2 and 4).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a support shaft 45 supporting the lever 24 is formed protruding from the upper and lower walls of the tubular housing portion 42 at a position offset to the other side in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever 24 has a pair of cam plate portions 46 facing each other in the vertical direction and a connecting portion 47 extending in the vertical direction and connected to each cam plate portion 46. A shaft hole 48 is formed in each cam plate portion 46 and penetrates the thickness direction of the plate. The lever 24 is slid across the housing 20 from the side, and the support shafts 45 are fitted into the corresponding shaft holes 48, thereby rotatably supporting the housing 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The cam plate portions 46 are disposed along the upper and lower surfaces of the outer circumferential portion 26. When the cam plate portions 46 are engaged with cam followers of the mating connector (not shown), the lever 24 is rotated about the support shaft 45, thereby mating the connector 10 and the mating connector with low mating force.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 8, the seal member 30 has a rectangular mat shape and is thick in the front-to-rear direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the seal member 30 is inserted from the rear into the accommodation space 43 of the housing 20 and accommodated therein. The front surface of the seal member 30 faces and can come into contact with the rear surface of the housing main body 25. The rear surface of the seal member 30 faces and can come into contact with the front surface of the rear holder 60.

[0029] 8, the seal member 30 has a plurality of seal holes 31. Each seal hole 31 penetrates the seal member 30 in the front-rear direction and opens to the front and rear surfaces of the seal member 30. When the seal member 30 is housed in the housing space 43 of the housing 20, each seal hole 31 communicates with each cavity 27 of the housing 20 from the rear and is arranged coaxially in the front-rear direction.

[0030] A plurality of outer peripheral lips 33 are formed continuously in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 30. The outer peripheral lips 33 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 30. As shown in Fig. 11, when the seal member 30 is accommodated in the accommodation space 43 of the housing 20, the outer peripheral lips 33 come into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation cylindrical portion 42, thereby maintaining the accommodation space 43 liquid-tight.

[0031] A plurality of inner circumferential lips 34 are formed continuously in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of each seal hole 31 of the seal member 30. As shown in Fig. 11 , the inner circumferential lips 34 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction on the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 of the seal member 30. As shown in Fig. 3 , the inner circumferential lips 34 come into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire 90, thereby maintaining a liquid-tight seal between the seal member 30 and the electric wire 90.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 11 , a pair of front and rear guide surfaces 35, 36 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of each seal hole 31 of the seal member 30. Of the pair of front and rear guide surfaces 35, 36, the front guide surface 35 increases in diameter from a position near the front end on the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 toward the front surface of the seal member 30. The front guide surface 35 is connected in a stepped manner to the inner surface portion on the front inner lip 34 side. Of the pair of front and rear guide surfaces 35, 36, the rear guide surface 36 increases in diameter from a position near the rear end on the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 toward the rear surface of the seal member 30. The rear guide surface 36 is connected in a stepped manner to the inner surface portion on the rear inner lip 34 side. In the first embodiment, the seal member 30 can be accommodated in the accommodation space 43 of the housing 20 while being inverted in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the arrangement of each part of the sealing member 30 can be reversed between the front side and the rear side.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear holder 60 is inserted into the storage space 43 of the housing 20 from the rear, following the seal member 30. As shown in Figure 9, the rear holder 60 has a rectangular mat-shaped holder main body 61. The holder main body 61 has a thickness in the front-rear direction. The front and rear surfaces of the holder main body 61 are arranged along the up-down direction and the left-right direction. Both left and right side surfaces of the holder main body 61 are arranged along the up-down direction. The upper and lower surfaces of the holder main body 61 are each arranged along the left-right direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 9, the rear holder 60 has a plurality of locking portions 63 protruding from each of the left and right side surfaces, top surface, and bottom surface of the holder main body 61. Each locking portion 63 is arranged in pairs, one above the other, on each of the left and right sides of the holder main body 61, and is arranged at positions offset to one side in the left-right direction on each of the top surface and bottom surface of the holder main body 61. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each locking portion 63 engages with each lock receiving portion 44, thereby holding the rear holder 60 in the housing 20 with the seal member 30 sandwiched therebetween. As shown in FIG. 9, the holder main body 61 has a plurality of through holes 64 penetrating in the front-rear direction. After the terminal fitting 50 has passed through, an electric wire 90 is inserted into each through hole 64.

[0035] (Shape of through hole 64) Next, the shape of the through holes 64 of the holder main body 61 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 3 and 11, each through hole 64 is arranged to communicate with each seal hole 31 from the rear when the rear holder 60 is accommodated in the accommodation space 43 of the housing 20. The front-to-rear length of the through hole 64 is shorter than the front-to-rear length of the terminal main body 51 and longer than the distance in the front-to-rear direction between the protrusions 53 lined up in the front-to-rear direction (see Figure 15).

[0036] The inner surface of the through hole 64 has an overall rectangular shape in cross section taken in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the inner surface of the through hole 64 has an inner upper surface portion 65 located on the upper side, an inner lower surface portion 66 located on the lower side, and a pair of inner side surfaces 67 located on both the left and right sides. The inner upper surface portion 65 and the inner lower surface portion 66 face each other in the up-down direction and are arranged along the left-right direction. The inner side surfaces 67 face each other in the left-right direction and are arranged along the up-down direction.

[0037] 10 and 11, the inner lower surface 66 has a lower slope 68 that slopes downward from a position near the rear end of the through-hole 64 to the rear surface of the holder body 61. The inner upper surface 65 has an upper slope 69 that slopes upward from a position near the rear end of the through-hole 64 to the rear surface of the holder body 61. The lower slope 68 and the upper slope 69 widen toward the rear. One left-right end of the upper slope 69 forms an upper guide surface 71 that can guide each protrusion 53 of the terminal fitting 50. The angle of inclination of the upper guide surface 71 relative to the front-rear direction is greater than the other left-right end of the upper slope 69 (see FIG. 11).

[0038] 11 , the inner lower surface 66 has a front inclined surface 72 that slopes downward from a position near the front end of the through-hole 64 to the front surface of the holder body 61. The inclination angle of the front inclined surface 72 with respect to the front-to-rear direction is smaller than the inclination angles of the lower inclined surface 68 and the upper inclined surface 69. The front-to-rear length of the front inclined surface 72 is longer than the front-to-rear length of the lower inclined surface 68 and the upper inclined surface 69.

[0039] 10, each inner surface portion 67 has left and right inclined surface portions 73 that widen from each other in the left-right direction from a position near the rear end of the through-hole 64 to the rear surface of the holder main body 61. The inclination angle of the left and right inclined surface portions 73 relative to the front-rear direction is smaller than the inclination angle of the upper guide surface portion 71 and larger than the inclination angle of the front inclined surface portion 72.

[0040] 10 and 11 , each inner side surface portion 67 has a concave curved surface portion 86. Each concave curved surface portion 86 is formed in the vertical middle portion of each inner side surface portion 67 over the entire length of the through hole 64 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of each concave curved surface portion 86 opens into the left-to-right inclined surface portions 73. Each concave curved surface portion 86 is disposed at a height position corresponding to the electric wire 90, and can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 when the electric wire 90 is swung in the left-to-right direction.

[0041] 10 and 11, the holder main body 61 has a downward protrusion 74 that protrudes downward on one side in the left-right direction at the front end side of the inner upper surface portion 65. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the downward protrusion 74 is arranged so as to be able to face (contact) the adjacent surface portion 54 when the terminal main body 51 is inserted into the through-hole 64. As shown in FIG. 10, the downward protrusion 74 is connected to the opposing inner surface portion 67 on one side in the left-right direction. The other side in the left-right direction of the downward protrusion 74 is arranged along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 11 , the downward protrusion 74 has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the other side in the left-right direction. The lower surface of the downward protrusion 74 forms a downward flat surface 75 that is flat in the left-right and front-rear directions. The rear surface of the downward protrusion 74 forms a downward inclined surface 76 that slopes forward as it extends downward. The front surface of the downward protrusion 74 forms a receding inclined surface 77 that slopes rearward as it extends downward. The receding inclined surface 77 is formed at the upper end of the downward protrusion 74, from a position near the rear end of the inner upper surface 65 to the front surface of the holder body 61, across the entire width of the through hole 64 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 9 for details, not shown). As shown in FIG. 11 , the receding inclined surface 77 and the downward inclined surface 76 each intersect the downward flat surface 75 at an obtuse angle. The downward protrusion 74 is disposed above the front inclined surface 72 and faces the front inclined surface 72. Specifically, the lower surface of the downward protrusion 74 and the receding slope 77 are disposed in a range overlapping with the front slope 72 in the front-rear direction.

[0043] 10 and 14, within the internal space of the through-hole 64 of the holder body 61, the space below the inner upper surface 65 and between the other inner side surface 67 in the left-right direction and the downward protrusion 74 serves as an escape space 78 for allowing the protrusion 53 to escape when the terminal fitting 50 passes through. The escape space 78 is formed above the front inclined surface 72 in an area that overlaps with the upper guide surface 71 in the left-right direction. The opening width of the escape space 78 in the left-right direction is greater than the width dimension of the downward protrusion 74 in the left-right direction.

[0044] 11 and 12, within the internal space of the through-hole 64 of the holder main body 61, the space below the inner upper surface portion 65 and behind the downwardly inclined portion 76 serves as a movement-permitting space portion 79 that permits movement of the terminal main body 51 during the process of inserting the terminal fitting 50 in a front-upward inclined state, which will be described later. The movement-permitting space portion 79 opens from the upper inclined surface portion 69 of the through-hole 64 to the rear of the holder main body 61. As shown in FIG. 10, the downwardly inclined portion 76 can be seen from behind the rear holder 60 through the movement-permitting space portion 79.

[0045] The holder main body 61 also has an upward protrusion 81 that protrudes upward from the rear end of the inner lower surface portion 66. As shown in Fig. 10, the upward protrusion 81 extends the entire length of the through hole 64 in the left-right direction, and is connected to each of the inner surface portions 67 at both left-right ends. The rear surface of the upward protrusion 81 forms the above-mentioned lower slope portion 68.

[0046] 11, the upward protrusion 81 has a trapezoidal shape in a cross section cut along the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the upward protrusion 81 is an upward flat surface 82 that is flat in the left-right and front-rear directions. Within the internal space of the through-hole 64 of the holder body 61, the space between the upward flat surface 82 and the inner upper surface portion 65 forms an insertion opening 83 into which the terminal fitting 50 can be inserted. The insertion opening 83 includes a movement-permitting space portion 79.

[0047] The front surface of the upward protrusion 81 forms an upwardly inclined surface 84 that slopes forward as it extends downward. The upwardly inclined surface 84 and the lower inclined surface 68 each intersect with the upwardly inclined flat surface 82 at an obtuse angle. A straight line portion 85 that is disposed horizontally along the front-to-rear direction as part of the inner lower surface 66 is formed between the front inclined surface 72 and the upwardly inclined surface 84. The front inclined surface 72 and the upwardly inclined surface 84 each intersect with the straight line portion 85 at an obtuse angle.

[0048] (Function of connector 10) As shown in Fig. 3, when the seal member 30 and the rear holder 60 are accommodated in the accommodation space 43 of the housing 20, the cavity 27, the seal hole 31, and the through hole 64 are aligned in the front-to-rear direction. At this time, as shown in Fig. 11, the front inclined surface 72 is arranged facing the rear surface of the seal member 30. The receding inclined surface 77 of the downward protruding portion 74 is arranged facing the rear guide surface 36 and the inner peripheral lip 34 of the seal member 30.

[0049] The terminal fitting 50, connected to the end portion of the electric wire 90, is inserted into the through-hole 64 from the rear of the rear holder 60 through the insertion opening 83. When the terminal fitting 50 is in a straight and proper insertion position with its axis oriented in the front-to-rear direction, the front end portion of the terminal body 51 enters the seal hole 31 of the seal member 30 from the through-hole 64. Then, the protrusion 53 (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, "protrusion 53" refers to the "front protrusion 53") interferes with the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 (such as the rear guide surface 36) through the relief space 78 (see FIG. 15). At this time, the interference of the protrusion 53 with the seal member 30 is as specified, preventing damage to the seal member 30, such as tearing.

[0050] Furthermore, when the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the through-hole 64 with the front end portion of the terminal body 51 facing downward and tilted relative to the front-to-rear direction (hereinafter referred to as the "front-downward tilted state"), and the front end portion of the terminal body 51 enters the insertion opening 83, the protrusion 53 can move diagonally forward and downward along the upper guide surface 71. When the protrusion 53 enters the seal hole 31 from the escape space 78, the interference of the protrusion 53 with the seal member 30 is equal to or smaller than the interference in the case of the above-described proper insertion posture, and therefore damage to the seal member 30 can be prevented.

[0051] In contrast, as shown in Figure 12, when the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the through hole 64 with the front end portion of the terminal body 51 facing upward and tilted relative to the front-to-back direction (hereinafter referred to as the "front-upward tilted state"), and the front end portion of the terminal body 51 enters the insertion opening 83, the lower surface side of the terminal body 51 moves diagonally forward and upward along the lower slope portion 68 of the upward protrusion 81, and the upper surface side of the terminal body 51 can move diagonally forward and upward through the movement-permitting space portion 79.

[0052] As the terminal fitting 50 continues to be inserted into the through-hole 64 and the front end portion of the terminal body 51 reaches a position where it interferes with the downward protrusion 74, the adjacent surface 54 can move diagonally forward and downward along the downward inclined surface 76, as shown in Fig. 13. As shown in Fig. 14, the protrusion 53 is disposed in the relief space 78, and is prevented from interfering with the holder body 61. In this way, the terminal fitting 50 can move together with the adjacent surface 54 in a direction that eliminates the forward-upward inclination (in a direction that takes the proper insertion posture or in a direction that takes the forward-downward inclination).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 13 , when the terminal fitting 50 is tilted downward and forward, the lower surface of the front end of the terminal body 51 can move diagonally downward and forward along the front inclined surface 72. Further insertion of the terminal fitting 50 causes the lower end of the terminal body 51 to abut against the rear surface or the guide surface 36 of the opposing seal member 30. The terminal fitting 50 then moves along the guide surface 36, thereby correcting the insertion position to the proper position. When the terminal body 51 enters the seal hole 31 in this state, the protrusion 53 can enter the seal hole 31 along the rear guide surface 36. Even if the terminal fitting 50 does not assume a downward and forward tilt, the protrusion 53 can be prevented from deeply penetrating the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 when the terminal body 51 enters the seal hole 31. Therefore, even if the terminal fitting 50 enters the insertion opening 83 in an upward and forward tilt, the seal member 30 can be prevented from being damaged by interference with the protrusion 53.

[0054] When removing the terminal fitting 50, as the terminal body 51 retracts through the through-hole 64, the lower surface of the terminal body 51 moves along the front slope 72 and the upward slope 84, allowing the terminal fitting 50 to be smoothly removed from the through-hole 64. Similarly, the upper surface of the terminal body 51 moves along the receding slope 77, allowing the terminal fitting 50 to be smoothly removed from the through-hole 64.

[0055] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a terminal fitting 50 connected to an end portion of an electric wire 90, a housing 20 in which the terminal fitting 50 is accommodated, a seal member 30 facing the rear surface of the housing 20, and a rear holder 60 that holds the seal member 30 between the housing 20 and the rear holder 60. The housing 20 has a cavity 27 extending in the front-rear direction. The seal member 30 has a seal hole 31 that communicates with the cavity 27 from the rear and is in close contact with the electric wire 90. The rear holder 60 has a through hole 64 that communicates with the seal hole 31 from the rear and penetrates the rear holder 60 in the front-rear direction. The terminal fitting 50 has a cylindrical terminal body 51 that is arranged in the cavity 27 from the through hole 64 through the seal hole 31, an adjacent surface portion 54 that forms a part of the upper surface of the terminal body 51, and a protrusion 53 that protrudes from the upper surface of the terminal body 51 adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the adjacent surface portion 54. The rear holder 60 has an inner upper surface portion 65 located on the upper side of the inner surface of the through hole 64, a downward protrusion portion 74 that protrudes from the front end side of the inner upper surface portion 65 and can face the adjacent surface portion 54, an escape space portion 78 that forms part of the internal space of the through hole 64 and is adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the downward protrusion portion 74, and a movement-permitting space portion 79 that forms another part of the internal space of the through hole 64 and is open to the rear of the downward protrusion portion 74.

[0056] When the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the through-hole 64 of the rear holder 60 in a forward-upward tilted state, the adjacent surface portion 54 moves downward along the downwardly inclined surface 76 of the downward protrusion 74, allowing the terminal fitting 50 to smoothly move in a direction that eliminates the forward-upward tilted state. This prevents the terminal fitting 50 from entering the seal hole 31 in a forward-upward tilted state, and prevents the seal member 30 from being cut by the protrusion 53. As a result, it is possible to prevent insulating fragments (part of the seal member 30) from being interposed between the connecting surfaces of the terminal fitting 50 and the mating terminal fitting, thereby ensuring electrical connection between the terminal fitting 50 and the mating terminal fitting. In addition, the downward protrusion 74, the relief space 78, and the movement-permitting space 79 can be provided within the longitudinal length of the through-hole 64 of the rear holder 60.

[0057] In the first embodiment, the rear end of the inner lower surface 66 has an upward protrusion 81, and the front surface of the upward protrusion 81 forms an upward slope 84 that slopes forward as it goes downward. This makes it possible to adjust the vertical opening dimension of the insertion opening 83, including the movement allowance space 79, to an appropriate dimension by the upward protrusion 81. Furthermore, when removing the terminal fitting 50, the terminal body 51 moves along the upward slope 84 as the terminal fitting 50 retracts, allowing the terminal fitting 50 to be smoothly removed from the through-hole 64 of the rear holder 60.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the rear holder 60 has a front inclined surface 72 on the front end side of the inner lower surface 66 that slopes downward as it goes forward. The front inclined surface 72 is disposed below the downward protruding portion 74 at a distance. As a result, while the adjacent surface portion 54 moves downward along the downward inclined surface 76, the lower surface side of the front end portion of the terminal body 51 can be positioned on the front inclined surface 72, thereby preventing interference between the lower surface side of the front end portion of the terminal body 51 and the rear holder 60. When the terminal fitting 50 is removed, the terminal fitting 50 can be smoothly moved rearward (in the removal direction) inside the through-hole 64 by the terminal body 51 moving along the front inclined surface 72.

[0059] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the rear surface of the seal member 30 is disposed in the up-down direction so as to contact the front surface of the rear holder 60. The seal member 30 has a rear guide surface portion 36 that expands in diameter from a position near the rear end on the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole 31 toward the rear surface of the seal member 30. When the seal member 30 is held between the housing 20 and the rear holder 60, the downward protrusion 74 is disposed rearward of the rear guide surface portion 36 of the seal member 30, and the front inclined surface portion 72 is disposed rearward of the rear surface of the seal member 30.

[0060] When the terminal fitting 50 is inclined downward toward the front, if the underside of the front end portion of the terminal body 51 interferes with the rear surface of the sealing member 30 or the rear guide surface 36 from a position on the front slope 72, the terminal fitting 50 receives an elastic reaction force from the sealing member 30 and moves along the guide surface 36, thereby being corrected to the proper insertion posture. Thus, the terminal fitting 50 can be inserted into the seal hole 31 of the sealing member 30 in the proper insertion posture.

[0061] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the first embodiment, the entire rear holder is accommodated in the accommodation space of the housing. However, according to another embodiment, the housing may be configured to be separable into an inner housing and an outer housing, the outer housing having a rear wall portion located at the rear end thereof and a peripheral wall portion that protrudes forward from the outer periphery of the rear wall portion and surrounds the inner housing, and the rear wall portion may be configured as a rear holder that is accommodated in the accommodation space of the inner housing. In the first embodiment, the protrusion is disposed at one of the left-right ends on the upper surface of the terminal body. In contrast, in other embodiments, the protrusion may be disposed adjacent to one of the left-right ends of the adjacent surface on the upper surface of the terminal body, and may be disposed, for example, in the middle between the left and right ends of the upper surface of the terminal body. In the first embodiment, the upwardly inclined surface portion is provided on the rear end side of the inner lower surface portion of the through hole, with a straight portion interposed between the upwardly inclined surface portion and the frontal inclined surface portion. In contrast, in other embodiments, the upwardly inclined surface portion may be provided from the rear end side to the front end side of the inner lower surface portion of the through hole, and may be continuous with the frontal inclined surface portion without an intervening straight portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10...Connector 20. Housing 21...Front holder 22...Retainer 23...Seal ring 24...Lever 25...Housing body 26...Outer periphery 27...cavity 28...Retainer mounting hole 29…Lance 30...Sealing member 31...Seal hole 33...Outer lip 34...Inner lip 35...(Front) guide surface 36...(rear) guide surface 42... Housing tube 43...Containment space 44...Latching receiving part 45...Spindle 46...Cam plate part 47...Connection part 48...Axle hole 50...Terminal fitting 51...Terminal body 52...Contact piece 53...Protrusion 54...Adjacent surface part 55...Barrel 60...Rear holder 61...Holder body 63...Latching part 64...Through hole 65…Inner upper surface part 66…Inner lower surface part 67…Inner side part 68…Lower slope part 69...Upper slope section 71...Top guide surface section 72...Front slope 73...Left and right slopes 74...Downward protrusion 75...Flat surface facing downwards 76...Downward slope 77...Receding slope 78...Relief space 79...Movement-permitted space 81...Upward protrusion 82...Upward facing flat surface 83...insertion slot 84...Upward slope 85...Straight section 86...Concave curved surface part 90…wire

Claims

1. a terminal fitting connected to an end portion of an electric wire; a housing in which the terminal fitting is accommodated; a seal member facing a rear surface of the housing; and a rear holder for holding the seal member between the housing and the rear holder; The housing has a cavity extending in the front-rear direction, the sealing member has a sealing hole that communicates with the cavity from the rear and is in close contact with the electric wire; the rear holder has a through-hole that communicates with the seal hole from the rear and penetrates the rear holder in the front-rear direction, The terminal fitting has a cylindrical terminal body that is disposed in the cavity through the through hole and the seal hole, an adjacent surface portion that forms a part of an upper surface of the terminal body, and a protrusion that protrudes from the upper surface of the terminal body adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the adjacent surface portion, The rear holder has an inner upper surface portion located on the upper side of the inner surface of the through hole, a downward protrusion portion that protrudes from the front end side of the inner upper surface portion and can face the adjacent surface portion, an escape space portion that forms part of the internal space of the through hole and is adjacent to one of the left and right sides of the downward protrusion, and a movement-permitting space portion that forms another part of the internal space of the through hole and is open to the rear of the downward protrusion.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the downward protrusion is a downwardly inclined portion that slopes forward as it extends downward.

3. the rear holder has an inner lower surface portion located on a lower side of the inner surface of the through hole, and an upward protrusion portion protruding from a rear end side of the inner lower surface portion, 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a front surface of the upward protrusion is an upwardly inclined surface that slopes forward as it extends downward.

4. the rear holder has an inner lower surface portion located on a lower side of the inner surface of the through hole, and a front inclined surface portion that slopes downward as it extends forward on a front end side of the inner lower surface portion, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the front inclined surface portion is disposed below the downward protrusion at a distance.

5. a rear surface of the sealing member is disposed along the vertical direction so as to contact a front surface of the rear holder; the seal member has a guide surface portion whose diameter increases from a position near the rear end of the inner circumferential surface of the seal hole to a rear surface of the seal member, 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein, when the seal member is held between the housing and the rear holder, the downward protrusion is positioned rearward of the guide surface portion of the seal member, and the front inclined surface portion is positioned rearward of the rear surface of the seal member.

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