Waterproof electrical connector and connection body of waterproof electrical connector

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a waterproof electrical connector with which it is possible to prevent a part of a seal material from protruding to the outside of a housing from an opening of the housing, and to ensure watertightness. [Solution] A waterproof electrical connector 1 according to the present invention includes: an inner shell; an outer shell which is disposed outside the inner shell and has an opening 24 formed in a part thereof; a seal material 40 which is disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell with a part of the seal material 40 exposed from the opening 24; and a CPA member 50 which covers a part of the seal material 40 where a part of the seal material 40 is exposed from the opening 24.

Description

Waterproof electrical connector and waterproof electrical connector connection body

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproof electrical connector and a connecting body of the waterproof electrical connector.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, waterproof electrical connectors are known that prevent water from entering the connection portion with a mating connector.

[0003] When mating a waterproof electrical connector with a mating connector, the sealing material attached to the electrical connector is compressed by abutting the housing of the mating connector against the sealing material, ensuring watertightness at the mating portion of the connector.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an annular packing and a male connector housing, in which an engaging recess is provided on the inner periphery of the annular packing to receive a support portion provided on the male connector housing, and a locking claw is provided at the rear end of the annular packing to lock into a locking hole provided in a bushing portion disposed on the outside of the male connector housing. The structure of the annular packing and the male connector housing prevents deformation even if a local force is applied to the annular packing when the female connector and the male connector are mated, ensuring sealing performance.

[0005] Publication No. 03-130471

[0006] The size and shape of the connector are limited, which in turn limits the shape of the housing, and for example, an opening may be provided in the housing that surrounds the periphery of the sealant. When this connector is mated with a mating connector, the sealant may be deformed by being pressed against the mating housing, and part of the sealant may protrude outside the housing through the opening.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof electrical connector that can prevent a portion of the sealing material from protruding outside the housing from the opening of the housing, thereby ensuring waterproofing.

[0008] The waterproof electrical connector of the present invention comprises an inner shell, an outer shell arranged outside the inner shell and having an opening formed in part of it, a sealing material arranged between the inner shell and the outer shell and having part of the sealing material exposed from the opening, and a CPA member arranged in the opening and covering the sealing material with part of the sealing material exposed from the opening.

[0009] In the waterproof electrical connector of the present invention, the surface of the CPA member facing the sealing material is preferably positioned so that when the sealing material is pressed against the mating connector, the sealing material is deformed and can come into contact with the portion of the waterproof electrical connector that protrudes from the inside to the outside.

[0010] In the waterproof electrical connector of the present invention, the inner shell is preferably a shield and the outer shell is preferably a housing.

[0011] The connection between a waterproof electrical connector and a mating connector of the present invention comprises a waterproof electrical connector (1) and a mating connector having a housing and mated with the waterproof electrical connector, the housing of the mating connector being inserted between the CPA member and the sealing material.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a waterproof electrical connector that can prevent a portion of the sealing material from protruding outside the housing from the opening of the housing and ensure waterproofing.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a front view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention at an initial stage in the middle of mating with a mating connector; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention at an intermediate stage in the middle of mating with a mating connector; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention after mating with a mating connector has been completed;

[0014] Hereinafter, a connection between an electrical connector and a mating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This connection refers to both an electrical connection and a mechanical connection. For ease of explanation, as shown in the drawings, the up-down direction of the electrical connector 1 is referred to as the third direction Z, the first direction X perpendicular to the third direction Z, and the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. [Electrical Connector 1: See Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6] The electrical connector 1, which is a waterproof electrical connector, includes a female connector housing 10 provided with a contact holding portion 26, an annular sealant 40 that seals between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100, and a CPA member 50 serving as a connector position assurance (CPA) that ensures mating between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100. The electrical connector 1 is a so-called female connector, and the mating connector 100 is a so-called male connector. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since other objects are adjacent to both sides of the electrical connector 1 in the second direction Y, the dimensions and shape of the electrical connector 1 in the second direction Y are limited.

[0015] [Female connector housing 10: see Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6] The female connector housing 10 comprises a shield 11 as an inner shell, a housing 21 as an outer shell that is arranged outside the shield 11 and engaged with the shield 11, a contact holding portion 26 that accommodates a plurality of contacts (not shown), and a support member 27 that prevents the sealing material 40 arranged between the shield 11 and the housing 21 from falling off.

[0016] The shield 11 is made of a metal material and reduces the effects of external electromagnetic noise. The shield 11 is formed with a locking hole 13 for locking the housing 21. The cross section of the shield 11 in the first direction X is hollow and approximately circular. The outer diameter of the shield 11 changes in stages. As shown in FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the shield 11 decreases in two stages downward in the third direction Z. A tapered portion is formed in the portion where the outer diameter decreases.

[0017] A contact holding portion 26 is disposed inside the shield 11. When the electrical connector 1 is mated with the mating connector 100, the plurality of contacts housed in the contact holding portion 26 are connected to the plurality of contacts of the mating connector 100, thereby establishing an electrical connection.

[0018] The housing 21 is disposed on the outside of the shield 11. The locking claws 22 of the housing 21 are locked into the locking holes 13 of the shield 11, thereby locking the shield 11 and the housing 21 together.

[0019] Housing 21 is formed with locking claws 22 that lock into locking holes 13 of shield 11, a seat 23 against which a flange portion of seal material 40 abuts, an opening 24 that is partially open on one side of housing 21 in first direction X, and a CPA member accommodating portion 25 that accommodates CPA member 50. Housing 21 is formed by injection molding from a resin material.

[0020] The cross section of the housing 21 is hollow and generally circular. The outer diameter of the housing 21 changes in stages, except for the flange portion that protrudes outward. As shown in FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the housing 21 increases in one stage downward in the third direction Z. The portion of the housing 21 with the smaller outer diameter is referred to as the first housing 21-1, and the portion of the housing 21 with the larger outer diameter than the first housing 21-1 is referred to as the second housing 21-2. A seal material 40 is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the shield 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2.

[0021] The opening 24 is formed on one side surface of the second housing 21-2 in the first direction X. In a horizontal cross section of the first housing 21-1, the housing is continuously connected in an annular shape. On the other hand, in a horizontal cross section of the second housing 21-2, the opening 24 is formed on one side of the second housing 21-2 in the first direction X, so the housing is not continuously connected in an annular shape. In other words, in the horizontal cross section of the second housing 21-2, there is an interrupted portion of the housing. Therefore, a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shield 11 is exposed from the opening 24 of the second housing 21-2. Furthermore, a portion of the outer peripheral surfaces of the seal material 40 and the support member 27, which are arranged between the shield 11 and the housing 21, are each exposed from the opening 24 of the second housing 21-2.

[0022] CPA member accommodating portion 25 that accommodates CPA member 50 is formed with locking portion 28. After the mating of electrical connector 1 and mating connector 100 is completed, CPA member 50 moves downward, and locking portion 28 of CPA member accommodating portion 25 is locked with locking portion 51.

[0023] The contact holding portion 26 is disposed in the center of the shield 11. A plurality of contacts connected to a plurality of electric wires (not shown) are housed in the contact holding portion 26. The plurality of contacts housed in the contact holding portion 26 are electrically connected to the plurality of contacts of the mating connector 100, respectively.

[0024] The support member 27 prevents the seal material 40 from falling off the outer peripheral surface of the shield 11 .

[0025] [Sealing material 40: see Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6] The sealing material 40 elastically deforms when pressed against the male connector housing 120 of the mating connector 100, and elastically adheres to both the female connector housing 10 and the male connector housing 120, ensuring waterproofing between them. In this embodiment, if the outer peripheral surface side of the sealing material 40 is the front side and the inner peripheral surface side of the sealing material 40 is the back side, four back lips are provided on the back side of the sealing material 40, and three front lips are provided on the front side of the sealing material 40. The front lips are taller than the back lips. In Figure 4, the flange portion of the sealing material 40 is formed in an annular shape on the upper side in the third direction Z, protruding toward the front side of the sealing material 40.

[0026] The flange and lip of the seal member 40 are integrally formed by injection molding using an elastic material such as natural rubber, silicone rubber, etc. In this embodiment, the seal member 40 has an annular shape when viewed from above.

[0027] The low back lip of the sealant 40 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the shield 11. When the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 are mated and fixed, the high front lip of the sealant 40 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120. The back lip of the sealant 40 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the shield 11, and the back lip of the sealant 40 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120, and they are elastically in close contact with each other, thereby ensuring watertightness.

[0028] When the sealing material 40 is pressed further against the inner peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120 after the tip of the male connector housing 120 abuts against it, it deforms so as to warp outward from the female connector housing 10, or the flange portion of the sealing material 40 deforms so as to expand toward the outside of the female connector housing 10. At this time, the deformed portion of the sealing material 40 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2, thereby suppressing further deformation of the sealing material 40. By suppressing further deformation of the sealing material 40, it is possible to prevent the sealing material 40 from being pushed between the tip of the male connector housing 120 and the seat surface 23. This allows the mating position of the mating completion position to be reached.

[0029] However, in the area where the opening 24 is formed, the deformed portion of the sealant 40 does not abut against the inner circumferential surface of the second housing 21-2. Therefore, when the sealant 40 is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the male connector housing 120 in the area where the opening 24 is formed, a portion of the sealant 40 may protrude from the opening 24 to the outside of the housing 21. If a portion of the sealant 40 protrudes to the outside of the housing 21, the surface lip of the sealant 40 may not be crushed by the male connector housing 120, and watertightness may not be ensured. Furthermore, if the sealant 40 is pushed between the tip end of the male connector housing 120 and the seat surface 23, the male connector housing 120 may not reach the mating completion position. Therefore, a CPA member 50 is placed in the opening 24 to prevent the sealant 40 from protruding from the opening 24 to the outside of the housing 21.

[0030] [CPA member 50: see Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6] The CPA member 50 is a connector position assurance mechanism that ensures the mating of the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100. When it is confirmed that the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 are mated in a position that ensures mating, the CPA member 50 can be moved downward in the third direction Z to engage with the locking portion 28. The CPA member 50 is formed with a locking portion 51 that engages with the locking portion 28 when the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 are mated in a position that ensures mating. The CPA member 50 also has a protrusion prevention portion 52 that prevents a portion of the sealant 40 from protruding outside the housing 21 from the opening 24. The CPA member 50 is positioned to cover the sealant 40, a portion of which is exposed from the opening 24. In this embodiment, the CPA member 50 is positioned to cover the portion of the sealant 40 that is exposed from the opening 24. The CPA member 50 may be disposed so as to cover the entire sealing material 40 exposed from the opening 24. The CPA member 50 is formed by injection molding from a resin material.

[0031] The locking portion 51 is formed in a shape that curves outward from the female connector housing 10, and thus has the function of a leaf spring.

[0032] The protrusion prevention portion 52 prevents a portion of the sealant 40 from protruding outward from the opening 24 when the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 are mated. The distance L1 between the outer peripheral surface of the sealant 40 and the inner surface of the protrusion prevention portion 52, which faces the outer peripheral surface of the sealant 40, is substantially the same as the distance L2 between the outer peripheral surface of the sealant 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2. Positioning the inner surface of the protrusion prevention portion 52 at the above-described position allows it to function the same as the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2. In other words, by positioning the inner surface of the protrusion prevention portion 52 at a position where it can contact the portion of the sealant 40 that deforms and protrudes from the inside to the outside of the female connector housing 10, further deformation of the sealant 40 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the sealant 40 can be prevented from being pushed between the tip end of the male connector housing 120 and the seat surface 23, allowing the mating connector 100 to be mated to the fully mated position with the electrical connector 1.

[0033] [Regarding Mating: See FIGS. 6, 7, and 8] FIGS. 6 to 8 are cross-sectional views showing the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 being mated.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6, when mating the electrical connector 1 with the mating connector 100, first, the male connector housing 120 is inserted between the shield 11 and the housing 21. After the tip of the male connector housing 120 reaches the sealant 40, the male connector housing 120 is inserted between the sealant 40 and the housing 21 while pressing the sealant 40. At this time, the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2 functions as a guide for the outer peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120. In addition, the inner surface of the protrusion prevention portion 52 of the CPA member 50 functions as a guide for the outer peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, the male connector housing 120 inserted between the seal material 40 and the housing 21 is further inserted upward in the third direction Z while pressing the lip on the front side of the seal material 40 .

[0036] When the sealant 40 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the male connector housing 120, it is pushed upward in the third direction Z and deforms so as to warp outward from the female connector housing 10, or so as to cause the flange portion of the sealant 40 to expand outward from the female connector housing 10. However, because the CPA member 50 is disposed in the opening 24, the deformed portion of the sealant 40 abuts against the inner surface of the protrusion prevention portion 52 of the CPA member 50, thereby suppressing further deformation of the sealant 40 and preventing a portion of the sealant 40 from protruding from the opening 24. In addition, the sealant 40 is prevented from being forced between the tip end of the male connector housing 120 and the seat surface 23, allowing the mating connector 100 to be mated with the electrical connector 1 to the fully mated position.

[0037] In the portion of the second housing 21-2 other than the opening 24, the deformed portion of the sealant 40 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the second housing 21-2, thereby suppressing further deformation of the sealant 40. By suppressing further deformation of the sealant 40, it is possible to prevent the sealant 40 from being pushed into the gap between the tip end of the male connector housing 120 and the seat surface 23, and the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 can be mated to the fully mated position.

[0038] 8 , when the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 are inserted to a position that ensures mating, the locking portion 121 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the male connector housing 120 and the locking portion 28 formed on the CPA member accommodating portion 25 are locked together. When the locking portion 121 of the male connector housing 120 and the locking portion 28 of the CPA member accommodating portion 25 are locked together, the CPA member 50 can be moved downward in the third direction Z. As the tip of the locking portion 51 of the CPA member 50 moves outward from the female connector housing 10, the CPA member 50 moves downward in the third direction Z. When the tip of the locking portion 51 of the CPA member 50 moves below the locking portion 28 of the CPA member accommodating portion 25, the mating of the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 100 is completed, and the waterproof electrical connector connection body 200 is assembled.

[0039] [Effects of the embodiment] The electrical connector 1 includes a shield 11, a housing 21 disposed on the outside of the shield 11 and having an opening 24 formed in a portion thereof, a sealant 40 disposed between the shield 11 and the housing 21, with a portion of the sealant 40 exposed from the opening 24, and a CPA member 50 covering the portion of the sealant 40 exposed from the opening 24. This limits the dimensions and shape of the connector, thereby limiting the shape of the housing, preventing a portion of the sealant from protruding outside the housing from the opening formed in the housing and ensuring watertightness.

[0040] In addition to the above, the configurations given in the above embodiments can be selected or changed as appropriate to other configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041] In this embodiment, the metal shield 11 is disposed inside the housing 21, but this is not limiting. A resin housing may be disposed inside the housing 21.

[0042] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Electrical connector 10 Female connector housing 11 Shield 13 Locking hole 21 Housing 21-1 First housing 21-2 Second housing 22 Locking claw 23 Seat surface 24 Opening 25 CPA member accommodating portion 26 Contact holding portion 27 Support member 28 Locking portion 40 Sealing material 50 CPA member 51 Locking portion 52 Protrusion prevention portion 100 Mating connector 110 Fastening portion 120 Male connector housing 200 Connecting body L1 Distance L2 Distance X First direction Y Second direction Z Third direction

Claims

1. A waterproof electrical connector (1) comprising: an inner shell (11); an outer shell (21) disposed outside the inner shell (11) and having an opening (24) formed therein; a sealing material (40) disposed between the inner shell (11) and the outer shell (21), with a part of the sealing material (40) being exposed from the opening (24); and a CPA member (50) covering a part of the sealing material (40) exposed from the opening (24).

2. The waterproof electrical connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the CPA member (50) facing the sealing material (40) is disposed at a position where it can contact a portion protruding from the inside to the outside of the waterproof electrical connector (1) when the sealing material (40) is deformed when the sealing material (40) is pressed against the mating connector (100).

3. The waterproof electrical connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner shell (11) is a shield (11) and the outer shell (21) is a housing (21).

4. A connection body (200) of a waterproof electrical connector, comprising: the waterproof electrical connector (1) according to claim 1; a mating connector (100) having a housing (120) and being fitted with the waterproof electrical connector (1) according to claim 1; and wherein the housing (120) of the mating connector (100) is inserted between the CPA member (50) and the sealing material (40).

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