Waterproof connector

Abstract

To provide a waterproof connector capable of suppressing a seal member from twisting when mating / unmating with the mating connector.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector 100 includes a terminal 200, a housing 300, and a seal member 500. The housing 300 is formed with an attachment part 310. The attachment part 310 has a peripheral shape enclosing multiple first edges 320 and multiple first connections 330 when viewed in the front-to-rear direction. The seal member 500 is formed of an elastic material and is attached to the attachment part 310. The seal member 500 has a closed ring shape enclosing multiple second edges 520 and multiple second connection parts 540. Each of the second edges 520 includes at least one specific second edge 530. Defining the length of each second edge 520 before being attached to the attachment part 310 of the seal member 500 as L2, and the length of first edge 320 corresponding to the second edge 520 as L1, L1>L2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproof connector provided with a seal member.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a waterproof connector 900 of this kind. Referring to FIG. 17, the waterproof connector 900 of Patent Document 1 can be fitted with a mating connector (not shown) along the X direction (fitting direction). The waterproof connector 900 includes a terminal 910, a housing 920, and a seal member 950. The terminal 910 is held by the housing 920. The housing 920 is provided with a mounting portion 922. The seal member 950 is formed of an elastic material and is attached to the mounting portion 922.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the waterproof connector 900 of Patent Document 1, when fitting and removing from the mating connector, the seal member 950 may be twisted.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector capable of suppressing twisting of the seal member when fitting and removing from the mating connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In the process of considering a waterproof connector capable of suppressing the twisting of a seal member, the inventor of the present application found that when the shape and size of the seal member are made smaller than those of the mounting portion of the housing in a plane orthogonal to the fitting direction, it is possible to suppress the twisting of the seal member. On the other hand, in this case, it was also noticed that the sealing characteristics between the waterproof connector and the mating connector may deteriorate.

[0007] Here, the inventor further examined the cause of the deterioration of the sealing characteristics and found that the deterioration of the sealing characteristics is due to the following: when the magnitudes of the distortions generated on each side of the seal member when the seal member is attached to the mounting portion are different, the balance of the forces acting on the connecting portion connecting the sides deteriorates, and the position of the connecting portion in the mounting portion deviates from the appropriate position.

[0008] Therefore, the inventor proposed to provide concave portions at both ends in the fitting direction for a specific side that is assumed to have the maximum distortion compared to the other sides, to make the above-mentioned specific side easier to stretch, improve the balance of the forces acting on the connecting portion when the seal member is attached to the mounting portion, and prevent the position of the connecting portion in the mounting portion from deviating from the appropriate position, thus arriving at the present invention.

[0009] That is, the present invention, as a first waterproof connector, is a waterproof connector that can be fitted with a mating connector along the front-rear direction, the waterproof connector includes terminals, a housing, and a seal member, the terminals are held by the housing, the housing is provided with a mounting portion, the mounting portion has an outer peripheral shape including a plurality of first sides and a plurality of first connecting portions when viewed along the front-rear direction, the first connecting portions extend in different directions from each other each of the first connecting portions connects the adjacent first sides to each other, the seal member is formed of an elastic material and is attached to the mounting portion, When viewed along the front-rear direction, the seal member has a closed-loop shape including a plurality of second sides and a plurality of second connecting portions. The second sides respectively correspond to the first sides. The second connecting portions extend in different directions from each other. Each of the second connecting portions connects the adjacent second sides to each other. At least one specific second side is included in the second sides. The at least one specific second side is provided with a front concave portion and a rear concave portion. The front concave portion is recessed rearward in the front-rear direction. The rear concave portion is recessed forward in the front-rear direction. Let the length of each of the second sides in the state before attachment of the seal member to the mounting portion be L 2 , and the length of the corresponding first side be L 1 . Then, L 1 >L 2 . When the assumed strain G of each of the second sides during attachment of the seal member to the mounting portion is G=(L 1 -L 2 ) / L 2 , the at least one specific second side is the second side where the assumed strain G is the maximum. Provide a waterproof connector.

[0010] Further, the present invention provides, as a second waterproof connector, a first waterproof connector, wherein there are two of the at least one specific second sides, the plurality of first sides include two long sides and two short sides, each of the two long sides extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, each of the two short sides extends in a vertical direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the horizontal direction, and each of the specific second sides is the second side corresponding to the first side that is one of the two long sides. Provide a waterproof connector.

[0011] Further, the present invention provides, as a third waterproof connector, the first or second waterproof connector, wherein in a state before attachment of the seal member to the attachment portion, the lengths of the second sides are equal to each other a waterproof connector is provided.

[0012] Further, the present invention provides, as a fourth waterproof connector, any one of the first to third waterproof connectors, wherein the housing has a rear end portion, the rear end portion is located outside the attachment portion in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the attachment portion extends forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion, the rear end of the seal member in the front-rear direction is pressed against the rear end portion a waterproof connector is provided.

[0013] Further, the present invention provides, as a fifth waterproof connector, the fourth waterproof connector, wherein a rear rotation prevention portion is provided on the housing, the rear rotation prevention portion protrudes forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion, the rear rotation prevention portion is located within the rear concave portion a waterproof connector is provided.

[0014] Further, the present invention provides, as a sixth waterproof connector, the fourth or fifth waterproof connector, wherein the waterproof connector further includes a front retainer, the front retainer is attached to the attachment portion, the front retainer has a front end portion, the seal member is sandwiched between the front end portion and the rear end portion in the front-rear direction a waterproof connector is provided.

[0015] Further, the present invention provides a seventh waterproof connector, which is the sixth waterproof connector, wherein the front retainer is provided with a front rotation prevention portion, the front rotation prevention portion protrudes rearward in the front-rear direction from the front end portion, and the front rotation prevention portion is located within the front concave portion to provide a waterproof connector.

[0016] Further, the present invention provides an eighth waterproof connector, which is any one of the first to seventh waterproof connectors, wherein the specific second side extends in a first predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the second sides other than the specific second side extend in a second predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the first predetermined direction of the portion of the specific second side where the front concave portion is provided is smaller than the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the second predetermined direction of the second sides other than the specific second side to provide a waterproof connector.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] The waterproof connector of the present invention is configured as follows: The mounting portion has an outer peripheral shape including a plurality of first sides and a plurality of first connecting portions when viewed along the front-rear direction; the sealing member has a closed annular shape including a plurality of second sides and a plurality of second connecting portions when viewed along the front-rear direction; the length of each second side in the state before the sealing member is attached to the mounting portion is L 2 , and the length of the first side corresponding to the second side is L 1 . Then, L 1 > L 2 . Thereby, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, the twisting of the sealing member is suppressed when fitting and removing the mating connector.

[0018] Further, the waterproof connector of the present invention is configured as follows: At least one specific second side is included in the second side; the assumed strain G of each second side when the sealing member is attached to the mounting portion is G = (L1 -L 2 ) / L 2 When it is set as such, at least one specific second side is the second side where the assumed strain G is maximum; at least one specific second side is provided with a front concave portion and a rear concave portion. Thereby, the above-mentioned at least one specific second side is easier to stretch compared to other second sides, and the 2 The displacement of the position of the mounting portion of the connecting portion from an appropriate position is prevented. That is, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, deterioration of the sealing property is avoided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the waterproof connector 100 of the embodiment of the present invention can be fitted to a mating connector along the front-rear direction. More specifically, the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment can be fitted from the rear along the front-rear direction to the mating connector located in front of the waterproof connector 100. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is the X direction. Here, the front is the +X direction, and the rear is the -X direction.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 7, the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment includes a housing 300, a seal member 500, and a plurality of terminals 200. Note that the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of terminals 200 may be one. That is, the waterproof connector 100 only needs to include a housing 300, a seal member 500, and a terminal 200.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 7, the housing 300 of the present embodiment is made of an insulator. The housing 300 has an enclosing portion 305.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 9, the enclosing portion 305 of the present embodiment defines the outer end in the direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the housing 300.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 300 is provided with a mounting portion 310.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 11, a part of the mounting portion 310 of the present embodiment is surrounded by the surrounding portion 305 in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The mounting portion 310 has an outer periphery in the shape of a rounded rectangle in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. That is, when viewed along the front-rear direction, the mounting portion 310 has an outer peripheral shape including a plurality of first sides 320 and a plurality of first connecting portions 330.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 11, each of the first sides 320 of the present embodiment includes two long sides 322 and two short sides 324. Specifically, the first side 320 is composed of two long sides 322 and two short sides 324.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 11, each of the long sides 322 of the present embodiment extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the horizontal direction is the Y direction. Also, the horizontal direction is the left-right direction. Here, the right direction is the +Y direction, and the left direction is the -Y direction. The two long sides 322 are separated from each other in the vertical direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the horizontal direction. Among the two long sides 322, the upper long side 322 defines the upper end of the mounting portion 310 in the vertical direction. Among the two long sides 322, the lower long side 322 defines the lower end of the mounting portion 310 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the Z direction. Here, the upper direction is the +Z direction, and the lower direction is the -Z direction.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 11, each of the short sides 324 of the present embodiment extends in the vertical direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the horizontal direction. The two short sides 324 are separated from each other in the horizontal direction. Among the two short sides 324, the right short side 324 defines the right end of the mounting portion 310 in the left-right direction. Among the two short sides 324, the left short side 324 defines the left end of the mounting portion 310 in the left-right direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 11, the horizontal length L of the long side 322 1A is longer than the vertical length L of the short side 324. 1B

[0030] As shown in FIG. 11, the first connecting portions 330 of the present embodiment extend in different directions from each other. Each of the first connecting portions 330 connects the first sides 320 adjacent to each other. More specifically, each of the first connecting portions 330 connects the adjacent long side 322 and short side 324 to each other.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 300 has a rear end portion 340.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 11, the rear end portion 340 of the present embodiment faces forward in the front-rear direction. The rear end portion 340 is located outside the mounting portion 310 in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. As understood from FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting portion 310 extends forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion 340. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end 510 of the seal member 500 in the front-rear direction is pressed against the rear end portion 340.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 300 further has a wall portion 360 and a first accommodating portion 370.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 11, the wall portion 360 of the present embodiment is located inside in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the surrounding portion 305. The mounting portion 310 is located inside the wall portion 360 in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the wall portion 360 extends forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion 340. In the front-rear direction, the front end of the wall portion 360 is located behind the front end of the surrounding portion 305. In the front-rear direction, the front end of the wall portion 360 is located behind the front end of the mounting portion 310.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 11, the wall portion 360 includes a right side wall portion 362 and a left side wall portion 364.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 11, the right side wall portion 362 of the present embodiment is located on the right side of the left side wall portion 364 in the left-right direction. The right side wall portion 362 and the left side wall portion 364 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The right side wall portion 362 and the left side wall portion 364 are located at the same position in the front-rear direction.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 11, the left side wall portion 364 of the present embodiment is located on the left side of the right side wall portion 362 in the left-right direction.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 11, the first accommodating portion 370 of the present embodiment is a recess that is recessed rearward in the front-rear direction. The first accommodating portion 370 is located between the wall portion 360 and the mounting portion 310. The first accommodating portion 370 is located inside the wall portion 360 in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The first accommodating portion 370 is located outside the mounting portion 310 in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The rear end portion 340 defines the rear end in the front-rear direction of the first accommodating portion 370. The first accommodating portion 370 includes a right first accommodating portion 372 and a left first accommodating portion 374.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 11, the right first accommodating portion 372 of the present embodiment is located on the right side of the left first accommodating portion 374 in the left-right direction. The right first accommodating portion 372 is located on the left side of the right side wall portion 362 in the left-right direction. The right first accommodating portion 372 and the left first accommodating portion 374 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, the left first accommodating portion 374 of the present embodiment is located on the left side of the right first accommodating portion 372 in the left-right direction. The left first accommodating portion 374 is located on the right side of the left side wall portion 364 in the left-right direction.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 11, two rear rotation prevention portions 350 are provided in the housing 300. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of the rear rotation prevention portions 350 may be one.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the rear rotation prevention portions 350 protrudes forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion 340. As shown in FIG. 11, each of the rear rotation prevention portions 350 is located at the center in the horizontal direction of the housing 300. The two rear rotation prevention portions 350 are arranged vertically. In the front-rear direction, the front end of the rear rotation prevention portion 350 is located at the same position as the front end of the wall portion 360. The two rear rotation prevention portions 350 are located at the same position as each other in the left-right direction. The right wall portion 362 is located on the right side of the rear rotation prevention portion 350 in the left-right direction. The right wall portion 362 is connected to the rear rotation prevention portion 350. The right wall portion 362 connects the two rear rotation prevention portions 350 to each other. The left wall portion 364 is located on the left side of the rear rotation prevention portion 350 in the left-right direction. The left wall portion 364 is connected to the rear rotation prevention portion 350. The left wall portion 364 connects the two rear rotation prevention portions 350 to each other. Each of the rear rotation prevention portions 350 is located between the right first accommodation portion 372 and the left first accommodation portion 374 in the left-right direction. The right first accommodation portion 372 is located on the right side of the rear rotation prevention portion 350 in the left-right direction. The left first accommodation portion 374 is located on the left side of the rear rotation prevention portion 350 in the left-right direction.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 14, the seal member 500 of the present embodiment is formed of an elastic material. More specifically, the seal member 500 is made of rubber. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the seal member 500 has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction and passing through the center of the seal member 500 in the front-rear direction. Referring to FIG. 13, the seal member 500 has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction and passing through the center of the seal member 500 in the up-down direction. The seal member 500 has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction and passing through the center of the seal member 500 in the left-right direction. When viewed along the front-rear direction, the seal member 500 has a closed annular shape including a plurality of second sides 520 and a plurality of second connecting portions 540. More specifically, when viewed along the front-rear direction, the seal member 500 has a closed annular shape including four second sides 520 and four second connecting portions 540. Specifically, when viewed along the front-rear direction, the seal member 500 has a closed annular shape composed of four second sides 520 and four second connecting portions 540. That is, the seal member 500 has a rounded square outer periphery in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 6, the seal member 500 is attached to the mounting portion 310. The seal member 500 is surrounded by the surrounding portion 305 in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, in the front-rear direction, the front end of the seal member 500 is located behind the front end of the surrounding portion 305.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, the second sides 520 respectively correspond to the first sides 320. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, let the length of each of the second sides 520 in the state before the seal member 500 is attached to the mounting portion 310 be L 2 and the length of the first side 320 corresponding to the second side 520 be L 1 . Then, L 1 >L 2Thus, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, when fitting and removing the mating connector, the twisting of the seal member 500 is suppressed. In the state before the seal member 500 is attached to the attachment portion 310, the length L of the second side 520 2 is equal to each other. Also, the length L of the second side 520 in the state before the seal member 500 is attached to the attachment portion 310 2 is shorter than the vertical length L of the short side 324 1B That is, L 2 < L 1B < L 1A is satisfied.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the second side 520 includes two specific second sides 530 and two second sides 560 other than the specific second side 530. Hereinafter, the two second sides 560 other than the specific second side 530 are referred to as non-specific second sides 560.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 13, each of the specific second sides 530 of the present embodiment extends in a first predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the first predetermined direction is the horizontal direction. The specific second sides 530 are respectively second sides 520 corresponding to the first side 320 which is two long sides 322. Referring to FIGS. 6, 11, and 13, when the assumed strain G of each of the second sides 520 at the time of attaching the seal member 500 to the attachment portion 310 is set to G = (L 1 - L 2 ) / L 2 , each of the specific second sides 530 is a second side 520 where the assumed strain G is the maximum.

[0048] As understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, a part of the specific second side 530 is accommodated in the first accommodation portion 370.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 14, each of the specific second sides 530 is provided with a front recess 532 and a rear recess 534.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 14, the front recess 532 of the present embodiment is recessed rearward in the front-rear direction. The front recess 532 is located at the center of the seal member 500 in the horizontal direction. The front recess 532 is located in front of the rear recess 534 in the front-rear direction.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 14, the rear recess 534 of the present embodiment is recessed forward in the front-rear direction. The rear recess 534 is located at the center of the seal member 500 in the horizontal direction. The rear recess 534 is located behind the front recess 532 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear rotation prevention portion 350 is located within the rear recess 534.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, each of the non-specific second sides 560 of the present embodiment extends in a second predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. That is, each of the second sides 560 other than the specific second side 530 extends in a second predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the second predetermined direction is the vertical direction. The non-specific second sides 560 are each a second side 520 corresponding to the first side 320 which is two short sides 324.

[0053] As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, a part of the non-specific second side 560 is accommodated in the first accommodation portion 370.

[0054] As described above, the first accommodation portion 370 accommodates a part of the specific second side 530 and a part of the non-specific second side 560. That is, the first accommodation portion 370 accommodates a part of the seal member 500. Thereby, twisting of the seal member 500 and escape of the seal member 500 to the outside in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction during fitting of the waterproof connector 100 and the mating connector are prevented.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 13, the second connecting portions 540 extend in different directions from each other. Each of the second connecting portions 540 connects adjacent second sides 520 to each other. The second connecting portion 540 connects a specific second side 530 and a non-specific second side 560 that are adjacent to each other. As understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, a part of the second connecting portion 540 is accommodated in the first accommodating portion 370. As shown in FIG. 6, the second connecting portions 540 respectively correspond to the first connecting portions 330. When the seal member 500 is attached to the mounting portion 310, each of the second connecting portions 540 is located at the same position as the corresponding first connecting portion 330.

[0056] As described above, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, the second side 520 includes two specific second sides 530. When the seal member 500 is attached to the mounting portion 310, the assumed strain G of each of the second sides 520 is G = (L 1 -L 2 ) / L 2 When this is the case, each of the specific second sides 530 is the second side 520 where the assumed strain G is the largest. That is, when the seal member 500 is attached to the mounting portion 310, the strain generated in the specific second side 530 is larger than the strain generated in the non-specific second side 560. Therefore, if a seal member 500 without the front concave portion 532 and the rear concave portion 534 provided in the specific second side 530 is attached to the mounting portion 310 immediately after attachment, the tension of the specific second side 530 becomes larger than the tension of the non-specific second side 560. Here, in order to relieve this imbalance in tension, the position of the second connecting portion 540 deviates from the corresponding first connecting portion 330 in the mounting portion 310. This positional deviation of the second connecting portion 540 deteriorates the sealing performance of the waterproof connector 100.

[0057] However, in the sealing member 500 of the present embodiment, a front concave portion 532 and a rear concave portion 534 are provided on each of the specific second sides 530. As a result, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, the specific second side 530 where the assumed strain G is maximum is more likely to stretch than the non-specific second side 560 where the assumed strain G is smaller than the specific second side 530. Immediately after the sealing member 500 is attached to the attachment portion 310, the imbalance between the tension of the specific second side 530 and the tension of the non-specific second side 560 is alleviated. Therefore, when the sealing member 500 is attached to the attachment portion 310, the position of the second connecting portion 540 in the attachment portion 310 is prevented from deviating from the corresponding first connecting portion 330 at an appropriate position. That is, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, deterioration of the sealing performance is avoided.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the first predetermined direction of the portion of the specific second side 530 where the front concave portion 532 is provided is smaller than the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the second predetermined direction of the non-specific second side 560. That is, the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the first predetermined direction of the portion of the specific second side 530 where the front concave portion 532 is provided is smaller than the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the second predetermined direction of the second side 560 other than the specific second side 530. As a result, the specific second side 530 is more likely to stretch than the non-specific second side 560, and the position of the second connecting portion 540 in the attachment portion 310 is prevented from deviating from an appropriate position. That is, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, deterioration of the sealing performance is avoided.

[0059] Also, referring to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the first predetermined direction of the portion of the specific second side 530 where the rear concave portion 534 is provided is smaller than the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the second predetermined direction of the non-specific second side 560. That is, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the first predetermined direction of the portion of the specific second side 530 where the rear concave portion 534 is provided is smaller than the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the second predetermined direction of the second side 560 other than the specific second side 530. Thereby, the specific second side 530 is easier to stretch than the non-specific second side 560, and the position of the mounting portion 310 of the second connecting portion 540 is prevented from deviating from the appropriate position. That is, in the waterproof connector 100 of the present embodiment, deterioration of the sealing property is avoided.

[0060] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the seal member 500 has a front accommodation portion 570 and a rear accommodation portion 580.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 14, the front accommodation portion 570 of the present embodiment is located at the front end of the seal member 500 in the front-rear direction. The front accommodation portion 570 includes a front right accommodation portion 572 and a front left accommodation portion 574.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 14, the front right accommodation portion 572 of the present embodiment is located on the right side of the front left accommodation portion 574 in the left-right direction. The front right accommodation portion 572 and the front left accommodation portion 574 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 14, the front left accommodation portion 574 of the present embodiment is located on the left side of the front right accommodation portion 572 in the left-right direction. The front concave portion 532 is located between the front right accommodation portion 572 and the front left accommodation portion 574 in the left-right direction. The front right accommodation portion 572, the front left accommodation portion 574, and the front concave portion 532 are located at the same position in the front-rear direction.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 14, the rear accommodation portion 580 of the present embodiment is the rear end of the seal member 500 in the front-rear direction 510It is located there. As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, the rear housing part 580 is housed in the first housing part 370. The rear housing part 580 includes a rear right housing part 582 and a rear left housing part 584.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 14, the rear right housing part 582 of the present embodiment is located on the right side of the rear left housing part 584 in the left - right direction. The rear right housing part 582 and the rear left housing part 584 are arranged side by side in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear right housing part 582 is housed in the right first housing part 372.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 14, the rear left housing part 584 of the present embodiment is located on the left side of the rear right housing part 582 in the left - right direction. The rear recess 534 is located between the rear right housing part 582 and the rear left housing part 584 in the left - right direction. The rear right housing part 582, the rear left housing part 584, and the rear recess 534 are located at the same position in the front - rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear left housing part 584 is housed in the left first housing part 374.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 7, each of the terminals 200 of the present embodiment is made of metal. The terminal 200 is a so - called female contact. As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 200 is held by the housing 300.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7, the waterproof connector 100 further includes a front retainer 400.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4, the front retainer 400 of the present embodiment is attached to the mounting part 310. As shown in Figure 16, The front retainer 400 has a front end part 480.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, the front end portion 480 of the present embodiment faces rearward in the front-rear direction. The seal member 500 is sandwiched between the front end portion 480 and the rear end portion 340 in the front-rear direction. That is, the seal member 500 is sandwiched between the front retainer 400 and the housing 300 in the front-rear direction.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 16, the front retainer 400 further has a second accommodating portion 470.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 16, the second accommodating portion 470 is a recess that is recessed forward in the front-rear direction. The front end portion 480 defines the front end of the second accommodating portion 470 in the front-rear direction. Referring to FIGS. 3, 13, and 16, the second accommodating portion 470 accommodates a part of a specific second side 530 and a part of a non-specific second side 560. That is, the second accommodating portion 470 accommodates a part of the seal member 500. Thereby, further prevention is provided against the twisting of the seal member 500 and the seal member 500 escaping outward in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction when the waterproof connector 100 is fitted with the mating connector. The second accommodating portion 470 includes a right second accommodating portion 472 and a left second accommodating portion 474.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 16, the right second accommodating portion 472 of the present embodiment is located on the right side of the left second accommodating portion 474 in the left-right direction. The right second accommodating portion 472 and the left second accommodating portion 474 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the front right accommodated portion 572 is accommodated in the right second accommodating portion 472.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 16, the left second accommodating portion 474 of the present embodiment is located on the left side of the right second accommodating portion 472 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the front left accommodated portion 574 is accommodated in the left second accommodating portion 474.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 16, two front rotation prevention portions 410 are provided on the front retainer 400 of the present embodiment. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of the front rotation prevention portions 410 may be one.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3, each of the front anti-rotation portions 410 of the present embodiment protrudes in the front-rear direction from the front end portion 480. More specifically, the front anti-rotation portion 410 protrudes rearward in the front-rear direction from the front end portion 480. The front anti-rotation portion 410 is located within the front concave portion 532. As shown in FIG. 4, in the front-rear direction, the rear end of the front anti-rotation portion 410 is located behind the front end of the surrounding portion 305 of the housing 300.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 16, the front anti-rotation portion 410 is located between the right second accommodating portion 472 and the left second accommodating portion 474 in the left-right direction. The right second accommodating portion 472 is located on the right side of the front anti-rotation portion 410 in the left-right direction. The left second accommodating portion 474 is located on the left side of the front anti-rotation portion 410 in the left-right direction.

[0078] As described above, the present invention has been specifically described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible.

[0079] In the waterproof connector 100 of the above-described embodiment, the second side 520 included two specific second sides 530. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the second side 520 may include at least one specific second side 530. At this time, when the assumed strain G of each of the second sides 520 during attachment of the seal member 500 to the attachment portion 310 is G = (L 1 -L 2 ) / L 2 , the at least one specific second side 530 is the second side 520 where the assumed strain G is the maximum. The at least one specific second side 530 needs to be provided with a front concave portion 532 and a rear concave portion 534. Thereby, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

[0080] The housing 300 of the above-described embodiment had a rear end portion 340, a first accommodating portion 370, and a rear rotation prevention portion 350, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the housing 300 may not have the first accommodating portion 370. Further, the housing 300 may not have the rear rotation prevention portion 350. Similarly, the front retainer 400 of the above-described embodiment had a front end portion 480, a second accommodating portion 470, and a front rotation prevention portion 410, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the front retainer 400 may not have the second accommodating portion 470. Further, the front retainer 400 may not have the front rotation prevention portion 410. In order to obtain the same effect as in the present embodiment where the seal member 500 is sandwiched between the front retainer 400 and the housing 300 in the front-rear direction, the waterproof connector 100 needs to be configured such that the housing 300 has the rear end portion 340 and the front retainer 400 has the front end portion 480. Further, when providing the rear rotation prevention portion 350 in the housing 300 in the waterproof connector 100 having such a configuration, the rear rotation prevention portion 350 needs to protrude forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion 340. Similarly, when providing the front rotation prevention portion 410 in the front retainer 400 in the waterproof connector 100 having such a configuration, the front rotation prevention portion 410 needs to protrude rearward in the front-rear direction from the front end portion 480.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0081] 100 Waterproof connector 200 Terminal 300 Housing 305 Surrounding portion 310 Mounting portion 320 First side 322 Long side 324 Short side 330 First connecting portion 340 Rear end portion 350 Rear rotation prevention portion 360 Wall portion 362 Right side wall portion 364 Left side wall portion 370 First accommodating portion 372 Right first accommodating part 374 Left first accommodating part 400 Front retainer 410 Front anti-rotation part 470 Second accommodating part 472 Right second accommodating part 474 Left second accommodating part 480 Front end part 500 Seal member 510 Rear end 520 Second side 530 Specific second side 532 Front recess 534 Rear recess 540 Second connecting part 560 Second side (non-specific second side) 570 Front accommodated part 572 Front right accommodated part 574 Front left accommodated part 580 Rear accommodated part 582 Rear right accommodated part 584 Rear left accommodated part L 1 Length L 1A Length L 1B Length L 2 Length G Assumed distortion

Claims

1. A waterproof connector that can be fitted with a mating connector along the front-rear direction, The waterproof connector includes a terminal, a housing, and a sealing member, The terminal is held by the housing, The housing is provided with a mounting portion, The mounting portion has an outer peripheral shape including a plurality of first sides and a plurality of first connecting portions when viewed along the front-rear direction, The first connecting portions extend in different directions from each other, Each of the first connecting portions connects the adjacent first sides to each other, The sealing member is formed of an elastic material and is attached to the mounting portion, The sealing member has a closed annular shape including a plurality of second sides and a plurality of second connecting portions when viewed along the front-rear direction, The second sides respectively correspond to the first sides, The second connecting portions extend in different directions from each other, Each of the second connecting portions connects the adjacent second sides to each other, At least one specific second side is included in the second sides, The at least one specific second side is provided with a front recess and a rear recess, The front recess is recessed rearward in the front-rear direction, The rear recess is recessed forward in the front-rear direction, Let the length of each of the second sides in the state before attachment of the seal member to the mounting portion be L ２ and the length of the corresponding first side be L １ Then, L １ > L ２ and When the assumed strain G of each of the second sides during attachment of the seal member to the mounting portion is G = (L １ − L ２ ) / L ２ at least one of the specific second sides is the second side where the assumed strain G is maximum Waterproof connector.

2. The waterproof connector according to Claim 1, There are two of the at least one specific second side, The plurality of first sides include two long sides and two short sides, Each of the two long sides extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, Each of the two short sides extends in a vertical direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the horizontal direction, The specific second sides are respectively the second sides corresponding to the first sides that are the two long sides, Waterproof connector.

3. The waterproof connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, In the state before the sealing member is attached to the mounting portion, the lengths of the second sides are equal to each other, Waterproof connector.

4. The waterproof connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, The housing has a rear end portion, The rear end portion is located outside the mounting portion in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, The mounting portion extends forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion, The rear end in the front-rear direction of the sealing member is pressed against the rear end portion, Waterproof connector.

5. The waterproof connector according to claim 4, wherein a rear rotation prevention portion is provided on the housing, the rear rotation prevention portion protrudes forward in the front-rear direction from the rear end portion, the rear rotation prevention portion is located within the rear concave portion Waterproof connector.

6. The waterproof connector according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the waterproof connector further includes a front retainer, the front retainer is attached to the mounting portion, the front retainer has a front end portion, the seal member is sandwiched between the front end portion and the rear end portion in the front-rear direction Waterproof connector.

7. The waterproof connector according to claim 6, wherein a front rotation prevention portion is provided on the front retainer, the front rotation prevention portion protrudes rearward in the front-rear direction from the front end portion, the front rotation prevention portion is located within the front concave portion Waterproof connector.

8. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the specific second side extends in a first predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the second sides other than the specific second side extend in a second predetermined direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, a cross-sectional area of a portion of the specific second side where the front concave portion is provided, orthogonal to the first predetermined direction, is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the second sides other than the specific second side, orthogonal to the second predetermined direction Waterproof connector.

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