Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a connector giving a click feeling by devising the shape of an originally required housing, and a connector assembly composed of the connector and a mating connector.SOLUTION: A second connector 20 includes: a second fitting portion 22 that fits with a first fitting portion 12 of a first connector 10; and a waterproof rubber 23 that is in contact with the second fitting portion 22 over one circumference and is also in contact with the first fitting portion 12 over one circumference by fitting. A part of a front end surface 15 of the first fitting portion 12 on the side of the second fitting portion 22 in the fitting posture is formed with a preceding contact portion 16 having a shape that comes into contact with a waterproof rubber 23 prior to a slope 171, which is another contact portion 17 that comes into contact with the waterproof rubber 23 when the front end face 15 is fitted and receives a large resistance from the waterproof rubber 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a waterproof connector assembly comprising the connector and a mating connector. [Background technology]

[0002] When constructing a waterproof connector assembly, a structure is adopted in which a waterproof rubber is placed around the entire outer periphery of the male mating portion of one of the two connectors that make up the connector assembly, and when mated, the waterproof rubber is sandwiched between the female mating portion of the other connector.

[0003] In the case of this structure, the waterproof rubber is compressed by the inner wall surface of the female fitting portion when the connectors are mated, and friction is constantly generated between the waterproof rubber and the inner wall surface, which may result in an unclear feeling of mating.

[0004] Patent Document 1 proposes a connector having a structure in which a separate rotatable member is attached to the housing in order to give the user a clear clicking sensation indicating mating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-045764 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the case of a connector having the structure described in Patent Document 1, a component for providing the clicking sensation must be prepared separately from the housing and assembled to the housing, which can result in a complex structure and high costs.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that provides a clicking sensation by devising a housing shape that is essentially required, and a connector assembly comprising said connector and a mating connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector of the present invention that achieves the above object comprises: A connector including a first housing having a first fitting portion that fits with a mating connector, the mating connector comprises a second housing having a second fitting portion that fits with the first fitting portion, and a waterproof rubber that is disposed in the second fitting portion and that contacts the second fitting portion all around when fitted and also contacts the first fitting portion all around; A leading contact portion is formed on a part of the front end surface of the first fitting portion facing the second fitting portion when in the fitting position, and the leading contact portion contacts the waterproof rubber prior to other contact portions of the front end surface that contact the waterproof rubber when the front end surface is fitted.

[0009] According to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to give the user a clicking sensation upon mating by simply changing the shape of the housing to form the above-mentioned pre-contact portion, without adding any additional parts.

[0010] Here, in the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the leading contact portion has a shape that receives a larger resistance per unit length in the circumferential direction from the waterproof rubber when it comes into contact with the waterproof rubber, compared to other contact portions.

[0011] The greater the resistance that the preceding contact portion receives, the stronger the clicking sensation that can be obtained.

[0012] In the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the other contact portion has a slanted surface that comes into contact with the waterproof rubber when mated, and the preceding contact portion has a shape that protrudes from the slanted surface.

[0013] Specifically, by forming such an inclined surface and a shape protruding from the inclined surface, it is possible to impart a clicking sensation.

[0014] In the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of leading contact portions are formed at positions equidistantly spaced in the circumferential direction on the front end face.

[0015] By forming a plurality of leading contact portions at equally spaced positions around the front end face, it is possible to prevent resistance that is biased to one side during mating and result in a force that tilts the connector.

[0016] Specifically, when forming the multiple preceding contact portions, the wall surface of the first fitting portion that contacts the waterproof rubber all around when fitted has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the fitting direction, and the preceding contact portions may be formed in the center of each of the four sides of the substantially rectangular shape connected to that wall surface of the front end face.

[0017] Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, the first fitting portion has a fitting opening into which the second fitting portion is fitted, A waterproof rubber is disposed around the outer periphery of the second fitting portion, The leading contact portion may be formed on the front end surface at a position inwardly adjacent to the fitting opening of the first fitting portion.

[0018] A connector assembly according to the present invention includes a connector according to any one of the embodiments of the present invention and the mating connector. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention described above, by devising the shape of the housing, which is essentially necessary, it is possible to impart a clicking sensation without adding any other components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are mated with each other; [Diagram 3] 4 is a perspective view showing the fitting opening side of the first connector. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion of circle R drawn in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the front end face comes into contact with the waterproof rubber during fitting. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the waterproof rubber and the front end surface in the state shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing how the preceding contact portion advances while interfering with the waterproof rubber. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing how a connector having a sloping surface all around and no preceding contact portion moves forward while interfering with a waterproof rubber. FIG. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the effect of forming a preceding contact portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] This connector assembly 100 is composed of a first connector 10 shown in Fig. 1(A) and a second connector 20 shown in Fig. 1(B). The first connector 10 corresponds to an example of the connector of the present invention, and the second connector 20 corresponds to an example of the mating connector of the present invention.

[0024] Since the contacts constituting the connectors 10 and 20 are not related to the features of this embodiment, the contacts are not shown in any of the drawings including FIG.

[0025] The first connector 10 includes a first housing 11, and the first housing 11 is formed with a first mating portion 12 that mates with the second connector 20.

[0026] The second connector 20 also includes a second housing 21, and the second housing 21 is formed with a second fitting portion 22 that fits with the first fitting portion 12 of the first connector 10.

[0027] Specifically, the second fitting portion 22 has a generally rectangular protruding shape. On the other hand, the first fitting portion 12 is formed with a generally rectangular fitting opening 13 into which the second fitting portion 22 is fitted.

[0028] The second connector 20 is also provided with a waterproof rubber 23. This waterproof rubber 23 has an endless shape and is arranged around the entire circumference of the second fitting portion 22 so as to be fitted into a groove 24 (see FIG. 2) formed around the entire circumference.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the connector assembly in which the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other.

[0030] When the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are mated by fitting the second mating portion 22 into the mating opening 13 of the first mating portion 12, as shown in Figure 2, the waterproof rubber 23 is pressed all around against the inside of the groove 25 of the second mating portion 22 and also against the inner wall surface 14 of the mating opening 13 of the first mating portion 12, thereby providing a waterproof effect that prevents water from entering the mating opening 13 inside the waterproof rubber 23, i.e., the contact portion between the contacts (not shown) of the first connector 10 and the second connector 20.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the fitting opening side of the first connector.

[0032] Furthermore, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of circle R drawn in Fig. 2. However, while Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view, Fig. 4 is a view of the cross section as seen from the front.

[0033] 3, a leading contact portion 16 is formed on a part of a circumferential direction of a front end face (upper face in FIG. 2) 15 of the first fitting portion 12 on the second fitting portion 22 side in a mated position, the leading contact portion 16 protruding beyond both sides in the circumferential direction at an inner position of the front end face 15 that is connected to the fitting opening 13. A plurality of leading contact portions 16 are formed on the front end face 15 at positions equidistantly spaced in the circumferential direction. Specifically, in this embodiment, the leading contact portions 16 are formed in the center of each of the four sides of a substantially rectangular shape of the front end face 15 that is connected to the inner wall surface 14 that defines the fitting opening 13.

[0034] These leading contact parts 16 protrude and thus come into contact with the waterproof rubber 23 prior to other contact parts 17 of the front end face 15 that come into contact with the waterproof rubber 23 when mated. The other contact parts 17, excluding the leading contact parts 16, form inclined surfaces 171 that come into contact with the waterproof rubber when mated.

[0035] 4, the leading contact portion 16 is indicated by a solid line, and a slope 171 which is (a part of) the other contact portion 17 is indicated by a dashed line. The leading contact portion 16 has a shape protruding from the slope.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing how the front end face comes into contact with the waterproof rubber during mating. Fig. 5(A) shows how the leading contact portion 16 comes into contact with the waterproof rubber 23, and Fig. 5(B) shows how the inclined surface 171 of a connector that does not have the leading contact portion 16 and has an inclined surface 171 formed all around the circumference comes into contact with the waterproof rubber 23. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the waterproof rubber and the front end surface in the state shown in FIG.

[0037] In the case of the structure of this embodiment in which the leading contact portion 16 and the slope 171 are formed as shown in FIG. 5(A), the leading contact portion 16 comes into contact with the waterproof rubber 23 before the slope 171 formed on both sides of the leading contact portion 16. Furthermore, the leading contact portion 16 has a shape that receives a large resistance from the waterproof rubber 23 per unit length in the circumferential direction when it comes into contact with the waterproof rubber 23, compared to the slope 171. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6(A) as an example, the leading contact portion 16 has an angle θ with the contact surface 231 of the waterproof rubber 23, and comes into contact so as to abut against a narrow width w1 portion of the contact surface 231. Therefore, the waterproof rubber 23 is partially deformed greatly, and the leading contact portion 16 receives a large reaction force. As a result, the leading contact portion 16 has a larger rise angle (amount of elastic deformation) when it interferes with the waterproof rubber 23 as the engagement progresses more than in the state shown in FIG. 5, compared to the slope 171, and the load required to ride up the waterproof rubber 23 becomes higher. As the fitting progresses, the amount of deformation of the waterproof rubber 23 decreases, producing a strong clicking sensation.

[0038] On the other hand, in the case of a connector shown in Fig. 5(B) in which there is no preceding contact portion 16 and the inclined surface 171 is formed all around the circumference in the circumferential direction, the mating proceeds while the entire circumference of the waterproof rubber 23 is simultaneously crushed by the entire circumference of the inclined surface 171. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6(B) as an example, the inclined surface 171 is formed almost parallel to the contact surface 231 of the waterproof rubber 23 and contacts the wide width w2 portion of the waterproof rubber 23. As a result, the waterproof rubber 23 is crushed all over, and the crushed state continues even as the mating proceeds. For this reason, when the entire circumference is the inclined surface 171, only a weak clicking sensation is obtained.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the leading contact portion advances while interfering with the waterproof rubber.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how a connector having a slope all around and no preceding contact portion moves forward while interfering with a waterproof rubber.

[0041] In both Figures 7 and 8, the fitting proceeds in the order of (A), (B), and (C). In both Figures 7 and 8, the waterproof rubber 23 is depicted as if it is biting into the first fitting portion 12, but this is because the waterproof rubber 23 is depicted in its original shape without being crushed, and in reality, as the waterproof rubber 23 is crushed, the waterproof rubber 23 is pressed against the inside of the groove 24 of the second fitting portion 22 and the inner wall surface 14 of the first fitting portion 12, thereby fulfilling the waterproof function.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the effect obtained by forming a preceding contact portion.

[0043] The horizontal axis is the mating displacement (mm) from the start of mating. The further to the right, the more mating has progressed. The vertical axis shows the mating force (N) required to advance the mating.

[0044] Here, the solid line graph is a graph of an example corresponding to this embodiment in which a leading contact portion is formed. The dashed line graph is a comparative example in which there is no leading contact portion and the entire circumference is a slope. In both the solid line graph and the dashed line graph, the mating force rises sharply at the mating displacement position of 4 mm, which means that the mating force does not progress any further at the mating displacement position of 4 mm, which is the position of complete mating.

[0045] In the case of the embodiment shown by the solid line, as shown by circle A1, the peak load occurs at a position near the fitting displacement of 1.5 mm, and then the load decreases and changes to the bottom load shown by circle B. On the other hand, in the case of the comparative example shown by the dashed line, the load changes to the bottom load shown by circle B via the peak load shown by circle A2.

[0046] Here, the magnitude of the click is Sensation rate = (peak load - bottom load) / peak load x 100% The higher this touch rate is, the clearer the click feeling will be.

[0047] In the case of the comparative example shown by the dashed line in FIG. Feeling rate=(25−20) / 25×100=20% The tactile response is low and the clicking sensation is unclear.

[0048] On the other hand, in the case of the embodiment shown by the solid line in FIG. Feeling rate=(43−20) / 45×100=50% This provides a clear clicking sensation.

[0049] As described above, according to this embodiment, by forming the pre-contact portion, a clear clicking sensation is imparted even to a waterproof connector assembly.

[0050] In this embodiment, the leading contact parts are formed at positions on the front end face that are equally spaced around the circumference, specifically, at the center of each of the four sides of the rectangle. This prevents the leading contact parts 17 from receiving resistance biased to one side when they hit the waterproof rubber 23, resulting in a force that tilts the connector.

[0051] Although the connector assembly in which waterproof rubber 23 is disposed on the outer periphery of the second fitting portion 22 of the second connector 20 and the second fitting portion 22 is fitted into the fitting opening 13 of the first fitting portion 12 of the first connector 10 has been described as an example here, the present invention is not limited to being applied to a connector assembly having this structure. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a connector assembly in which the second fitting portion of the second connector has a fitting opening into which the first fitting portion of the first connector is fitted, and waterproof rubber is disposed on the inner periphery of the fitting opening so as to fit along the inner wall surface that defines the fitting opening. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 First Connector 11 First Housing 12 First fitting part 13 Mating opening 14 Inner wall surface 15 Front end surface 16 Pre-contact part 17 Other contact parts 171 Slope 20 Second Connector 21 Second Housing 22 Second fitting portion 23 Waterproof Rubber 24 groove 100 Connector assembly

Claims

1. A connector including a first housing having a first fitting portion that fits with a mating connector, the mating connector comprises a second housing having a second fitting portion that fits with the first fitting portion, and a waterproof rubber that is disposed in the second fitting portion by fitting and contacts the second fitting portion all around and also contacts the first fitting portion all around, a leading contact portion is formed on a part of a front end surface of the first fitting portion on the side of the second fitting portion in a position during fitting, the leading contact portion being in contact with the waterproof rubber prior to other contact portions of the front end surface that are in contact with the waterproof rubber during fitting; A connector characterized in that the width of the contact surface where the preceding contact portion contacts the waterproof rubber is narrower than the width of the contact surface where the other contact portion contacts the waterproof rubber.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the preceding contact portion has a shape that receives a greater resistance per unit length in the circumferential direction from the waterproof rubber when it comes into contact with the waterproof rubber than the other contact portions.

3. the other contact portion has a slope that contacts the waterproof rubber when fitted, the preceding contact portion has a shape protruding from the inclined surface, 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pre-contact portion contacts the contact surface that contacts the waterproof rubber at a predetermined angle.

4. A connector described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of the leading contact portions are formed at equally spaced positions in the circumferential direction on the front end face.

5. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that a wall surface of the first mating portion that contacts the waterproof rubber all around when mated has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the mating direction, and the preceding contact portion is formed in the center of each of the four sides of the substantially rectangular shape of the front end face that connects to the wall surface.

6. the first fitting portion has a fitting opening into which the second fitting portion is fitted, The waterproof rubber is disposed at a position surrounding an outer periphery of the second fitting portion, 6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pre-contact portion is formed on the front end face at an inward position that leads to the fitting opening of the first fitting portion.

7. A connector assembly comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the mating connector.

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