Electrical connectors – With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint – Curved conductor path
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-14
2001-12-04
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint
Curved conductor path
C439S587000, C439S936000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325661
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art waterproof connector is identified generally by the numeral
1
in
FIGS. 7 and 8
. The connector
1
has a terminal fixture
3
connected with an electric wire
2
. The connector
1
also has a housing
5
with a cavity
4
configured for accommodating the terminal fixture
3
. A cover
6
is installed on a rear end portion of the housing
5
, and is configured to enable a bend of the electric wire
2
. An insulation barrel
3
A is provided at a rear end portion of the terminal fixture
3
to fixedly crimp a rubber plug
7
into which the electric wire
2
has been inserted. The rubber plug
7
is in close contact with an inner peripheral wall of the cavity
4
and with the electric wire
2
to waterproof each cavity
4
.
The cover
6
is constructed of a pair of half covers
6
A and
6
B that are butted to each other. An electric wire lead-out opening
8
is formed on an end surface of each of the half covers
6
A and
6
B. The electric wire
2
is taken out to the exterior through the electric wire lead-out opening when both half covers
6
A and
6
B are bought into contact with each other.
The prior art connector
1
has a length A from the front end of the connector
1
to an electric wire-bending portion. This length A is required to be as small as possible because of a limited space. However, the conventional waterproof connector is constructed so that the electric wire
2
is sealed with the rubber plug
7
that extends rearward from the rear end portion of the terminal fixture
3
. Thus the prior art housing
5
must be long enough to incorporate the rubber plug
7
in the rear part of the cavity
4
. Further, the electric wire
2
is bent at a position rearward of the rubber plug
7
. Thus, the prior art construction prevents the length A from being reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that has a short length from a front end to an electric wire-bending portion thereof.
A connector in accordance with the invention comprises a terminal fixture that has opposed ends. One end of the terminal fixture is a connection portion that can be connected to one end of an electric wire. The opposed end of the terminal fixture is configured to be connected with a terminal of a mating connector.
The connector also comprises a housing with opposite front and rear ends. The housing has a cavity that is open at front end of the housing and at the rear end thereof. The cavity is capable of accommodating the terminal fixture.
A cover is installed on the housing and covers a draw-out portion of the electric wire. The cover guides the electric wire that is led out from the cavity through an electric wire lead-out opening, such that the electric wire is bent sideways. A sealing member is provided for sealing a gap between the cover and the housing. Furthermore, a rubber plug is installed on the electric wire and seals a periphery of the electric wire at the electric wire lead-out opening. The rubber plug may be fixed to the connection portion.
According to the invention, the gap between the housing and the cover is sealed with the sealing member, and the periphery of the electric wire at the electric wire draw-out portion is sealed with the rubber plug. Thus, it is unnecessary to provide a rear part of the cavity with a part for installing the rubber plug thereon. Accordingly, it is possible to bend the electric wire at the rear end of the terminal fixture and thus reduce the length from the front end of the connector to the electric wire-bending portion.
Further, according to the invention, the rubber plug is easy to place in position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4863177 (1989-09-01), Rockwood et al.
patent: 4869686 (1989-09-01), Michaels et al.
patent: 5145402 (1992-09-01), Plyler et al.
patent: 5667406 (1997-09-01), Tabata et al.
patent: 5931699 (1999-08-01), Saito
patent: 6039603 (2000-03-01), Wakata et al.
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Patel Tulsidas
Prasad Chandrika
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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