Waterproof connector

Details Waterproof connector Waterproof connector

2000-06-09

2002-12-17

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With sealing element or material for cooperation with...

Combined with distinct cable sheath sealing element or material

C439S071000, C439S587000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06494731

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a small size multi-way waterproof connector in which a waterproof seal between a connector housing and a plurality of wires, each connected to a terminal, is enhanced.
A related waterproof connector, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-329571A, will now be described specifically with reference to
FIGS. 6
to
8
. A connector housing
11
of the waterproof connector
10
includes an inner housing
12
, which is integrally molded of synthetic resin, and has a plurality of terminal chambers
13
, an outer housing
17
of synthetic resin, in which the inner housing
12
is fitted, and a spacer
28
of synthetic resin which is provided between the inner housing
12
and the outer housing
17
to retain female terminals
14
As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, the inner housing
12
has a box-like body
12
a
, and upper and lower sides of this box-like body
12
a
are open at a rear portion thereof. The terminal chambers
13
are formed by a central horizontal wall
12
b
and upper and lower vertical side walls (serving as partition walls)
12
c
. The female terminals
14
ale adapted to be received in the terminal chambers
13
, respectively. Retaining pawls
15
are integrally formed respectively on opposite side portions and a central portion of each of the upper and lower faces of the body
12
a
. Insertion holes
12
d
of a rectangular shape are formed respectively through those portions of a front wall of the body
12
a
opposed respectively to the terminal chambers
13
, and male terminals in a mating connector (not shown) are passed through these insertion holes
12
d
, respectively. Two pairs of press connecting blades
14
b
are formed by stamping on opposite side walls of a box-like portion
14
a
of the female terminal
14
at a rear portion thereof.
As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, the outer housing
17
includes an inner wall portion
17
a
of a substantially square tubular shape, an outer wall portion
17
b
of a substantially square tubular shape formed around the inner wall portion
17
a
, and a bottom wall portion
17
c
interconnecting rear end portions of the inner and outer wall portions
17
a
and
17
b
. Thus, the outer housing
17
has a double-wall box
2
shaped construction having an open front side. A central portion of the bottom wall portion
17
c
is thickened, and rubber plug chambers or recesses
19
of a circular cross-section With a large diameter are formed respectively in those portions of an inner face of this thickened portion opposed respectively to the terminal chambers
13
, and waterproof rubber plugs
18
are inserted respectively into these rubber plug chambers
19
by press-fitting or the like. Wire insertion holes
21
of a circular cross-section with a smaller diameter are formed in the outer face of the thickened portion, and communicate with the rubber plug chambers
19
, respectively, and wires
20
are passed through the wire insertion holes
21
, respectively. The waterproof rubber plug
18
has corrugated, cylindrical inner and outer peripheral faces, and the wire
20
is passed through the bore of the rubber plug
18
, with no gap formed therebetween.
Retaining hole of a rectangular shape are formed respectively in opposite side portions o a front portion of each of upper and lower walls of the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
, and the retaining pawls
15
, formed respectively on the opposite side portions of the upper and lower faces of the body
12
a
of the inner housing
12
, are releasably engaged in these retaining holes
22
, respectively. A rectangular longitudinal retaining hole
23
is formed in a central portion of the front portion of each of the upper and lower walls of the inner wall portion
17
a
, and the retaining pawls
15
, formed respectively on the central portions of the upper and lower faces of the body
12
a
of the inner housing
12
, are releasably engaged in these retaining holes
23
, respectively. A V-shaped packing-receiving part
25
for receiving an annular waterproof packing
24
of rubber is formed integrally on the outer face of the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
at the inner end portion thereof. Those portions of the inner face of the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
, disposed immediately adjacent respectively to front edges of the retaining holes
22
and
23
, are formed respectively into tapered faces
26
. Retaining holes
27
are formed respectively in upper and lower walls the outer wall portion
17
b
of the outer housing
17
, and elastic retaining arms of the mating connector (not shown) are releasably engaged in these retaining holes
27
, respectively.
As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, the spacer
28
includes a body
28
a
of a substantially square tubular shape for fitting in the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
, a flange portion
28
b
of a substantially square tubular shape, integrally formed on and extending in a stepped manner rearwardly from a front end of the body
28
a
so a to fit on the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
, and a bottom wall portion
28
c
closing a rear end of the body
28
a
. Thus, the spacer
28
has a box-like shape having an open front end.
The body
12
a
of the inner housing
12
is fitted into the tubular body
28
a
of the spacer
28
. Rib-like projections
29
for preventing disengagement of the terminals are formed integrally on inner faces of upper and lower walls of the body
28
a
of the spacer
28
, and these projections
29
serve to retain the rear edge of the body
12
a
of the inner housing
12
, and also serve to retain the rear edges of the box-like portions
14
a
of the female terminals
14
, received respectively in the terminal chambers
13
, respectively.
Notches
30
are formed respectively in those portions of an interconnecting portion (which interconnects the body
28
a
and the flange portion
28
b
of the spacer
28
), corresponding respectively to the retaining pawls
15
on the inner housing
12
, and also notches
31
are formed respectively in those portion of this interconnecting portion corresponding respectively to flanges
16
formed on the inner housing
12
. A retaining pawl
32
is formed integrally on the outer face of each of the upper and lower walls of the body
28
a
of the spacer
28
, and is disposed between the upper or lower) notches
30
, and these retaining pawls
32
are releasably engages respectively in the retaining holes
23
in the outer housing
17
. When the spacer
28
is completely fitted into the outer housing
17
, the distal end of the flange portion
28
a
of the spacer
28
serves to hold the packing
24
retained on the packing-receiving part
25
on the inner wall portion
17
a
of the outer housing
17
.
Wire insertion holes
33
are formed respectively through those portions of the bottom wall portion
28
c
of the spacer
28
corresponding respectively to the wire insertion holes
21
in the outer housing
17
. When the spacer
28
is completely fitted into outer housing
17
, the bottom wall portion
28
c
of the spacer
28
serves to hold the rubber plugs
18
inserted respectively in the rubber plug chambers
19
in the bottom wall portion
17
c
of the outer housing
17
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the wires
20
are passed respectively through the wire insertion holes
21
in the outer housing
17
, the rubber plugs
18
and the wire insertion holes
33
in the spacer
28
, a d each wire
20
is press-fitted into a space between each pair of press-connecting blades
14
b
of the female terminal
14
received in the associated terminal chamber
13
, and the terminal chambers
13
and the wires
20
are sealed by the rubber plugs
18
and the packing
24
.
For assembling the waterproof connector
10
of the above construction, the rubber plugs
18
are inserted respectively into the rubber plug chambers
19
, formed in the inner face of the bottom wall portion
17
c
of the outer housing
17
(which forms the outer portion of the conn

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