Electrical connectors – With sealing element or material for cooperation with... – Combined with distinct cable sheath sealing element or material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2001-12-25
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
Combined with distinct cable sheath sealing element or material
C439S587000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332797
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a waterproof connector structured such as to press a waterproof seal member attached to a rear end of a connector housing by a rear holder.
A waterproof connector requires two functions comprising an electric wire seal function for sealing between an electric wire and a connector housing and a connector seal function for sealing between both connectors at a time of fitting a connector to an opposing connector.
In conventional, a waterproof connector structured such that these two functions are achieved by one waterproof seal member so as to reduce the number of parts and a time and labor for assembly is exemplified by a structure shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
FIG. 1
shows an example of a waterproof connector
1
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,898 and
FIG. 2
shows an example of a waterproof connector
11
described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1-146478. Simultaneously explaining the both, these waterproof connectors
1
and
11
have male type connector housings
2
and
12
, mat-shaped waterproof seal members
3
and
13
attached to rear ends thereof, and rear holders
4
and
14
attached to rear portions thereof and engaged with the connector housings
2
and
12
so as to press the waterproof seal members
3
and
13
to the connector housings
2
and
12
. Hood portions
5
and
15
are attached to the rear holders
4
and
14
, and lock mechanisms
6
and
16
for locking with female side connectors
10
and
20
are provided in the hood portions
5
and
15
.
A plurality of terminals
7
and
17
are inserted to inner portions of the connector housings
2
and
12
from rear portions, and electric wires
8
and
18
connected to the respective terminals
7
and
17
extend rearward the waterproof connectors
1
and
11
through respective through holes
9
and
19
of the waterproof seal members
3
and
13
. The mat-shaped main body portions having the through holes
9
and
19
correspond to electric wire seal portions
3
A and
13
A. In addition to the mat-shaped electric wire seal portions
3
A and
13
A, connector seal portions
3
B and
13
B for sealing gaps between both the connectors
1
,
10
,
11
and
20
at a time of fitting to the opposing female connectors
10
and
20
are integrally provided in the waterproof seal members
3
and
13
. In the case of these waterproof connectors
1
and
11
, the connector seal portions
3
B and
13
B are arranged within the hood portions
5
and
15
.
In this case, as mentioned above, in the conventional waterproof connectors
1
and
11
, since the connector seal portions
3
B and
13
B of the waterproof seal members
3
and
13
are protected by the hood portions
5
and
15
, there is a problem that outer shapes of the waterproof connectors
1
and
11
are increased at a degree that the hood portions
5
and
15
are provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made by taking the matters mentioned above into consideration, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector which intends to further reduce a size.
A first aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector comprising: a connector housing having a terminal receiving chamber; a waterproof seal member attached to a rear end of the connector housing; a rear holder for pressing the waterproof seal member to the connector housing; an electric wire seal portion closely attached to an outer periphery of an electric wire extending rearward from a terminal inserted to the terminal receiving chamber so as to seal between the electric wire and the connector housing; a connector seal portion for sealing between both of the connector housings at a time of fitting the connector housing to an opposing connector housing; and the electric wire seal portion and the connector seal portion being integrally formed in the waterproof seal member, wherein the connector seal portion of the waterproof seal member is provided on an outer peripheral surface of at least one of the connector housing and the rear holder in an exposed manner so as to be closely attached to an inner periphery of a hood portion of the opposing connector housing at a time of fitting the connector housing to the opposing connector housing.
In accordance with the waterproof connector, since the connector seal portion of the waterproof seal member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of at least one of the connector housing and the rear holder in an exposed manner, it is possible to make an outer shape of the connector compact at a degree that the hood portion is omitted.
A second aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the first aspect, wherein the connector seal portion of the waterproof seal member is constituted by a thin outer peripheral wall fitted to an outer periphery of the rear holder, and the connector seal portion constituted by the thin outer peripheral wall is supported by an outer peripheral wall of the rear holder made of a material harder than the waterproof seal member from an inner side.
In accordance with the waterproof connector, since the connector seal portion is constituted by the thin outer peripheral wall and is supported by the hard rear holder from the inner side, it is easy to properly control an elasticity of the connector seal portion and there is not a risk that the connector seal portion is excessively deformed and the sealing property is deteriorated. Further, it is possible to prevent the sealing property from being reduced due to deterioration of the connector seal portion.
A third aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein an annular convex portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector seal portion so as to be continuous in a peripheral direction.
In accordance with the waterproof connector, since the annular convex portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector seal portion, it is possible to increase a close attaching property of the opposing connector with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a lock arm engaging with an engaging portion of the inner periphery of the hood portion of the opposing connector housing at a time of fitting to the opposing connector housing is arranged at a front position of the connector seal portion in the connector housing in such a manner as to be retracted to the inner peripheral side from the connector seal portion.
In the conventional waterproof connector, the lock means with respect to the opposing connector is provided in the hood portion, however, in accordance with the waterproof connector of the present invention, there is no portion to be provided with the lock means because the hood portion is omitted. Then, the lock arm is arranged at the front position of the connector seal portion. Further, by arranging at the position retracted to the inner peripheral side from the connector seal portion, the structure is made such that the hood portion of the opposing connector can pass through the lock arm and reach the connector seal portion. Further, by arranging the lock arm in such a manner as to be retracted to the inner peripheral side from the connector seal portion as mentioned above, the waterproof connector can be made compact.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4940421 (1990-07-01), Kano et al.
patent: 4973268 (1990-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4978314 (1990-12-01), Maejima
patent: 5197898 (1993-03-01), Nagamine
patent: 5618206 (1997-04-01), Sawada et al.
patent: 5671311 (1997-09-01), Stillie et al.
patent: 5879201 (1999-03-01), Fukamachi et al.
patent: 6053754 (2000-04-01), Kano et al.
patent: 6152752 (2000-11-01), Fukuda
patent: H1-146478 (1989-10-01), None
Kurosawa Tohru
Taguchi Naoto
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Harvey James
Ta Tho D.
Yazaki -Corporation
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