Waterproof connectors and sealing members

Abstract

To provide a waterproof connector in which a cost is reduced, and provide a seal member that applies waterproofness to the connector.SOLUTION: A seal member 20 of a waterproof connector includes a shape in which a family seal part that is nipped by an inner housing 30 and an outer housing 40 and plays a role of waterproofness of the circumference of an electric wire which is not shown in a drawing and a seal ring part which plays a role of waterproof between mating housings 2A are integrated. A standing plate part 31 of the inner housing 30 penetrates a long hole 22 of the seal member 20, and a hook-shaped engagement projection part 311 formed on an upper part of the standing plate part 31 is engaged to an engaged part 43 of the outer housing to assemble the inner housing 30 and the outer housing 40 in a state of nipping the family seal part of the seal member 20. Each mating housing 2A is contacted to a third waterproof part 24 of the seal member 20 which acts as the seal ring part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seal member responsible for waterproofing of a connector and a waterproof connector using such a seal member.

Background Art

[0002] Connectors having waterproof performance, that is, waterproof connectors are widely used. In a waterproof connector, a seal member plays a role in waterproofing. Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a waterproof connector having a structure in which an elastic seal member is integrally formed on a rear cover.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of a waterproof connector to which a plurality of arranged electric wires are connected, as moisture intrusion paths, there are an intrusion path along the electric wires and an intrusion path from the gap between the connector housing and the housing of the mating connector, and it is necessary to block both of these intrusion paths. For this reason, in the case of this type of waterproof connector, a first seal member called a so-called family seal that surrounds each electric wire and blocks the intrusion path along the electric wire, and a second seal member called a seal ring that is arranged so as to surround the connector housing over a full circle and blocks the moisture intrusion path from the gap between the housings are adopted. In this case, two seal members, a family seal and a seal ring, are required.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector in which cost reduction is achieved and a seal member that imparts waterproofness to a connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The waterproof connector of the present invention, which achieves the above objective, A connector housing that mates with the mating housing, The sealing member is characterized by comprising a continuous, integrated component, a family seal portion that surrounds each of the multiple arranged electric wires to waterproof the space between the wires, and a sealing ring portion that is positioned between the mating housing and the connector housing when mated with the mating housing to waterproof the space between the mating housing and the connector housing.

[0007] The waterproof connector of the present invention includes the above-mentioned sealing member. This makes it possible to reduce costs compared to waterproof connectors that employ two separate sealing members, a family seal and a sealing ring.

[0008] Here, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, The above connector housing comprises a first housing and a second housing that sandwich the family seal portion from both sides in the mating direction, The above sealing member has a through hole that penetrates in the fitting direction, It is preferable that the first housing has a through-locking portion that penetrates the through-hole and locks into the second housing.

[0009] In the present invention, by providing the above-mentioned through hole and through locking portion, a structure can be realized in which the family seal portion is sandwiched from both sides in the mating direction, similar to the case of a waterproof connector that employs two sealing members, a family seal and a seal ring.

[0010] Furthermore, when the above-mentioned through-hole and through-locking portion are provided, it is preferable that the inner wall surface of the through-hole has a shape that waterproofs the area around the portion of the through-locking portion that passes through the through-hole.

[0011] By shaping the inner wall surface of the through-hole to waterproof the area around the through-locking portion, the water intrusion path along the through-locking portion can also be blocked.

[0012] Furthermore, in a configuration in which the connector housing comprises a first housing and a second housing, it is preferable that the sealing member has a recess into which the first housing fits, and that the inner wall surface of the recess that contacts the first housing has a shape that waterproofs the space between the first housing and the sealing member.

[0013] This waterproof shape blocks the water intrusion path between the sealing member and the first housing.

[0014] Furthermore, in a configuration in which the connector housing comprises a first housing and a second housing, The second housing has a wall portion that is in contact with the outer wall surface of the sealing member all the way around. It is preferable that the sealing member has a shape that provides waterproofing between the sealing member and the wall portion.

[0015] The sealing member has a shape that waterproofs the space between the sealing member and the wall portion, thereby waterproofing the space between the sealing member and the second housing.

[0016] Furthermore, the sealing member of the present invention that achieves the above objective is A continuous, integrated component equipped in a waterproof connector having a connector housing that mates with a mating housing, A family seal section surrounds each of the multiple wires arranged in a grid, providing waterproofing around each wire. It is characterized by having a sealing ring portion that is positioned between the mating housing and the connector housing when mated with the mating housing, thereby providing waterproofing between the mating housing and the connector housing.

[0017] By employing the sealing member of the present invention, a waterproof connector can be realized at a lower cost compared to the case in which two separate sealing members, a family seal and a sealing ring, are employed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention as described above, cost reduction of the waterproof connector can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a waterproof connector as an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the inner housing and the seal member in an assembled state. [Figure 3] It is a view showing the seal member. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view (A) of the seal member along the arrow Y3 - Y3 shown in FIG. 3(A) and an enlarged view of the portion of the circle R1 shown in FIG. 4(A). [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of the seal member and the inner housing along the arrow X3 - X3 shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view (A) of the assembly of the seal member and the inner housing along the arrow Y2 - Y2 shown in FIG. 2 and an enlarged view of the portion of the circle R2 shown in FIG. 6(A). [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view (A) of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 1 along the arrow X1 - X1 and an enlarged view of the portion of the circle R3 shown in FIG. 7(A). [Figure 8] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector along the arrow X2 - X2 shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector along the arrow Y3 - Y3 shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] It is an enlarged view of the portion of the circle R4 shown in FIG. 9 of the waterproof connector.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof connector as an embodiment of the present invention. In this FIG. 1, a waterproof connector 1 in a state of being fitted with a mating connector 2 is shown.

[0022] This waterproof connector 1 is equipped with a sealing member as one embodiment of the present invention. The sealing member will be described later.

[0023] Furthermore, the connector housing 10 of this waterproof connector 1 is composed of an inner housing and an outer housing. The structure of the connector housing 10 will be described later.

[0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the inner housing and sealing member in an assembled state. In other words, Figure 2 shows the inner housing and sealing member located inside the waterproof connector whose external appearance is shown in Figure 1, with the outer housing removed.

[0025] The sealing member 20 is positioned to cover the inner housing 30 so as to cover the upper part of the inner housing 30 and the upper part of the side surface of the inner housing 30. This inner housing 30 corresponds to an example of the first housing as referred to in the present invention.

[0026] The sealing member 20 has a family sealing portion 20A in which a number of wire insertion holes 21 are formed that penetrate in the fitting direction, i.e., in the vertical direction in Figure 2. One wire (not shown) is inserted into each wire insertion hole 21 formed in this family sealing portion 20A. This family sealing portion 20A corresponds to an example of a family sealing portion as described in the present invention.

[0027] Furthermore, the sealing member 20 has elongated holes 22 extending in the width direction at three locations, including both ends in its longitudinal direction. Upright plates 31 provided in the inner housing 30 are inserted into these elongated holes 22 from below and protrude through to the top of the sealing member 20. The elongated holes 22 correspond to an example of a through hole as defined in the present invention, and the upright plates 31 correspond to an example of a through-locking portion as defined in the present invention. The elongated holes 22 and the upright plates 31 will be described later.

[0028] Figure 3 shows the sealing member. Here, Figure 3(A) is a perspective view of the sealing member, and Figure 3(B) is a cross-sectional view along the arrow X4-X4 shown in Figure 3(A).

[0029] The sealing member 20 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. A recess 201 that opens downward is formed at the lower part of the sealing member 20, as can be seen in the cross-section in Figure 3(B). The sealing member 20 is positioned so as to fit over the inner housing 30, that is, so that the inner housing 30 fits into the recess 201.

[0030] Furthermore, a first waterproof section 211 having a wave-like shape with repeated undulations in the vertical direction is formed on the inner wall surface of the wire insertion hole 21, as can be seen in the cross-section of Figure 3(B). These undulations surround the wire inserted into the wire insertion hole 21, providing waterproofing around the wire.

[0031] Furthermore, the sealing member 20 has a second waterproof section 23 on the upper half of its outer circumferential surface. This second waterproof section has a wave-like shape with repeated indentations and protrusions in the vertical direction, and the indentations and protrusions forming this wave shape extend around the entire circumference of the sealing member 20. This second waterproof section 23 is responsible for waterproofing between the sealing member 20 and the outer housing, which will be described later.

[0032] Furthermore, the sealing member 20 has a third waterproof portion 24 on the lower half of its outer circumferential surface. This third waterproof portion 24, like the second waterproof portion 23, has a wave-like shape with repeated indentations and protrusions in the vertical direction, and the indentations and protrusions forming this wave shape extend around the entire circumference of the sealing member 20. This third waterproof portion 24 is a sealing ring portion 20B that is responsible for waterproofing between the mating connector 2 (see Figure 1) and the mating housing (described later). This sealing ring portion 20B corresponds to an example of a sealing ring portion as described in the present invention.

[0033] Furthermore, the sealing member 20 has a fourth waterproof section 25 on the wall surface of the recess 201. This fourth waterproof section 25, like the second waterproof section 23 and the third waterproof section 24, has a wave-like shape with repeated indentations and protrusions in the vertical direction, and the indentations and protrusions forming this wave shape extend all the way around the inner wall surface of the recess 201. This fourth waterproof section 25 is responsible for waterproofing between the outer wall surface of the inner housing 30 that fits into the recess 201 and the sealing member 20.

[0034] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view (A) of the sealing member along the arrow Y3-Y3 shown in Figure 3(A), and an enlarged view of the circle R1 shown in Figure 4(A).

[0035] On the inner wall surface 22A of the elongated holes 22 formed in three locations along the longitudinal direction of the sealing member 20, a fifth waterproof section 221 is formed, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 4(B), with repeated indentations and protrusions in the vertical direction, and the shape of these indentations and protrusions continuing horizontally around the inner wall surface 22. When the vertical plate portion 31 is inserted into this elongated hole 22, the protruding parts of the indentations and protrusions formed on the inner wall surface 22A of the elongated hole 22 are crushed by the vertical plate portion 31, causing it to adhere tightly to the vertical plate portion 31 and providing waterproofing. Furthermore, the vertical irregularities formed on the inner wall surface 22A of the elongated hole 22 do not necessarily have to be identical and repeating; the shape of one irregularity and the shapes of the irregularities above and below it may be different. Also, the vertical irregularities may be wave-shaped, or they may consist of angular grooves or angular protrusions, or they may even be triangular and jagged irregularities. The variations in the shape of the irregularities constituting this waterproof structure are not limited to the fifth waterproof section 221 described here, but are also common to the first waterproof section 211, the second waterproof section 23, the third waterproof section 24, and the fourth waterproof section 25.

[0036] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of the sealing member and the inner housing, along the line X3-X3 shown in Figure 2.

[0037] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the sealing member 20 and the inner housing 30. Although the inner housing 30 is composed of multiple members, the structure of the inner housing 30 itself is not the theme of this embodiment, and therefore, the description of the inner housing 30 is omitted except for the part related to the features of this embodiment.

[0038] Figure 6 also shows a cross-sectional view (A) of the assembly of the sealing member and the inner housing along the arrow Y2-Y2 shown in Figure 2, and an enlarged view of the circle R2 shown in Figure 6(A).

[0039] The inner housing 30 is assembled with the sealing member 20 such that it fits into the recess 201 of the sealing member 20 (see Figure 3(B)). When the inner housing 30 is fitted into the recess 201 of the sealing member 20, as shown in Figure 6(B), the outer wall surface of the inner housing 30 comes into contact with the fourth waterproof portion 25 of the sealing member 20, and the water intrusion path along the outer wall surface of the inner housing 30 is blocked.

[0040] Furthermore, when the inner housing 30 is assembled with the sealing member 20, the vertical plate portion 31 of the inner housing 30 is inserted into the elongated hole 22 of the sealing member 20, and the upper part of the vertical plate portion 31 protrudes upward. A fifth waterproof portion 221 is formed in the elongated hole 22 of the sealing member 20, and as shown in Figure 6(B), the fifth waterproof portion 221 is in contact with the vertical plate portion 31 inserted into the elongated hole 22, thereby blocking the water intrusion path along the vertical plate portion 31.

[0041] A hook-shaped locking projection 311 is formed at the upper end of this vertical plate portion 31. This locking projection 311 locks into the outer housing. The outer housing will be described later.

[0042] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view (A) of the waterproof connector shown in Figure 1, along the line X1-X1, and an enlarged view of the circle R3 shown in Figure 7(A). However, in Figure 7, the inner housing 30 is not shown; only the sealing member 20 and the outer housing 40 are shown. This outer housing 40 corresponds to an example of the second housing as referred to in the present invention.

[0043] The outer housing 40 has a wall portion 41 that contacts the second waterproof portion 23 (see Figure 3(B)) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the sealing member 20 all the way around. In other words, the sealing member 20 is assembled to fit into the wall portion 41 that is formed all the way around the outer housing 40.

[0044] Furthermore, the outer housing 40 has multiple wire passage holes 42 that communicate with each of the wire insertion holes 21 of the sealing portion 20.

[0045] Furthermore, Figure 7 shows the locking wall 43 of the outer housing 40. As shown in Figure 10, which will be described later, the locking projection 311 (see Figure 6(B)) at the tip of the vertical plate portion 31 of the inner housing 30 is locked to this locking wall 43.

[0046] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector along the line X2-X2 shown in Figure 1.

[0047] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector along the line Y1-Y1 shown in Figure 1. Similar to Figure 8, Figure 9 also shows the sealing member 20, inner housing 30, outer housing 40, and mating housing 2A.

[0048] Furthermore, Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the portion of the waterproof connector shown as circle R4 in Figure 9.

[0049] Figures 8 to 10 show not only the sealing member 20 and the outer housing 40, but also the inner housing 30 and the mating housing 2A that constitutes the mating connector 2, which is responsible for mating with the waterproof connector 1.

[0050] As shown in Figure 10, the locking projection 311 formed at the tip of the vertical plate portion 31 of the inner housing 30, which passes through the elongated hole 22 of the sealing member 20, locks into the locking wall 43 of the outer housing 40. As a result, the sealing member 20 is positioned so that the portion of its wire insertion hole 21 is sandwiched between the inner housing 30 and the outer housing 40.

[0051] A fifth waterproof section 221 is formed on the inner wall of the elongated hole 22 of the sealing member 20. This ensures that the area around the vertical plate section 31 is waterproofed.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the wire passage hole 42 of the outer housing 40 is connected to the wire insertion hole 21 of the sealing member 20, and further connected to the inside of the inner housing 30. The wires inserted into these wire passage holes 42 and wire insertion holes 2121 are connected to terminals (not shown) provided inside the inner housing 30 that are responsible for electrical contact with the mating connector 2. The wires are protected from water intrusion by the first waterproof section 211, which consists of irregularities on the inner wall of the wire insertion hole 21 of the sealing member 20.

[0053] Furthermore, the outer housing 40 has a wall portion 41 that is in contact with the second waterproof portion 23 formed on the outer surface of the sealing member 20 all the way around, thereby blocking the water intrusion path along the wall surface of the outer housing 40.

[0054] Furthermore, the outer wall surface of the inner housing 30 is in contact with the fourth waterproof portion 25 of the sealing member 20 all the way around. This blocks the water intrusion path along the outer wall surface of the inner housing 30.

[0055] Furthermore, when the mating connector 2 is mated to the waterproof connector 1, the mating housing 2A comes into contact with the third waterproof portion 24 of the sealing member 20 all the way around. This blocks the water intrusion path along the mating housing 2A.

[0056] Thus, according to this embodiment, the cost of the waterproof connector 1 is reduced by employing a sealing member 20 that is molded as a continuous, integrated part, having a family seal portion that waterproofs the area around the electric wire and a sealing ring portion that waterproofs the space between the housing of the waterproof connector 1 and the mating housing.

[0057] Furthermore, when a wire is inserted into the wire insertion hole 21, the sealing member 20 receives a force that widens the wire insertion hole 21. This means that the sealing member 20 expands horizontally, as indicated by the arrow W in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the sealing member 20 has both a portion where the wire insertion hole 21 is formed, which corresponds to an example of a family seal portion that waterproofs around the wire, and a third waterproof portion 23, which corresponds to an example of a seal ring portion that waterproofs between housings. Therefore, the expansion caused by inserting the wire into the wire insertion hole 21 also affects the third waterproof portion 24, and the amount by which it expands causes the third waterproof portion 24 to be pressed more firmly against the mating housing 2A, improving the waterproof performance of that portion. In this embodiment, the second waterproof portion 23 is also pressed more firmly against the outer housing 40. Thus, the waterproof connector 1 of the present invention can be expected to have the secondary effect of improved waterproof performance compared to waterproof connectors that employ separate family seals and reel rings. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1 Waterproof connector 2. The other connector 2A Opposite Housing 10 Connector Housing 20 sealing member 20A Family Seal Section 20B Seal ring section 201 Recess of sealing member 21 Wire insertion holes 211 1st waterproof section 22 Long hole (through hole) 22A Inner wall surface 221 5th waterproof section 23 2nd waterproof section 24 Third waterproof section 25 4th waterproof section 30 Inner Housing 31 Vertical plate section (through-locking section) 311 Locking protrusion 311 40 Outer Housing 41 Wall 42 Wire passing hole 43 Locked wall

Claims

1. A connector housing that mates with the mating housing, A sealing member comprising a continuous, integrated component, having a family seal portion that surrounds each of a plurality of arranged electric wires to waterproof the area around each electric wire, and a sealing ring portion that is positioned between the mating housing and the connector housing when fitted with the mating housing to waterproof the area between the mating housing and the connector housing, The connector housing comprises a first housing and a second housing that sandwich the family seal portion from both sides in the mating direction. The second housing has a wall portion that surrounds the seal ring portion from all sides and is in contact with the outer wall surface of the seal ring portion all the way around. The sealing member has a shape that waterproofs the space between the sealing member and the wall portion. The sealing member has a through hole that penetrates in the fitting direction between the family sealing portion and the sealing ring portion, The first housing has a through-locking portion that penetrates the through-hole and locks into the second housing, The outer wall surface of the seal ring portion is in contact with the second housing and the mating housing, The sealing member, It has a first direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and a second direction perpendicular to both the fitting direction and the first direction, and having a larger dimension than the first direction. The aforementioned through hole, One is provided between the family seal portion and the seal ring portion at both ends in the second direction, The aforementioned through-locking portion One is provided at each end of the second direction corresponding to the through hole, A waterproof connector characterized in that, on the back side of the outer wall surface, the inner wall surface of the through-hole surrounds and contacts the through-locking portion from all sides.

2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner wall surface of the through hole has a shape that waterproofs the area around the portion of the through-locking part that passes through the through hole.

3. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing member has a recess into which the first housing is fitted, and the inner wall surface of the recess that is in contact with the first housing has a shape that waterproofs the space between the first housing and the sealing member.

4. The aforementioned through hole, The family seal portion in the intermediate portion in the second direction is provided, The aforementioned through-locking portion The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided in the intermediate portion in the second direction corresponding to the through hole.

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