Waterproof connector

Details Waterproof connector Waterproof connector

2001-09-07

2003-05-06

Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2836)

Electrical connectors

With sealing element or material for cooperation with...

C439S587000, C439S589000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06558178

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a waterproof electrical connector.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A conventional connector
101
is shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
of this specification. This conventional connector is a waterproof connector employing a configuration whereby a space between a terminal housing member
103
and a skirt member
111
of a corresponding connector
110
is sealed by a sealing ring
102
. This sealing ring
102
is annular and is housed within a fitting space
104
. When the connector
101
is to be fitted to the corresponding connector
110
, the skirt member
111
is inserted into the fitting space
104
, and the sealing ring
102
is gripped between inner walls of the skirt member
111
and outer walls of the terminal housing member
103
, thereby waterproofing the interior of the connector.
In the above configuration, the outer circumference of the fitting space
104
must be increased to the extent of the thickness of the sealing ring
102
, thereby requiring the connector
101
to be larger in size. Furthermore, a space
105
is formed within the fitting space
104
. This corresponds to the space between an anterior end
102
A of the sealing ring
102
and a fitting face
112
of the corresponding connector
110
, and has the thickness of the sealing ring
102
. This space
105
is surplus space which serves no fiction for the connector. If removed, the size of the connector could be reduced.
The present invention has taken the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a waterproof connector wherein the surplus space is removed, and the connector can thereby have a smaller size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a waterproof connector comprising a terminal accommodating member adapted to house a terminal fitting, a hood surrounding said accommodating member, a fitting space formed between said hood and accommodating member, a corresponding connector having a tubular mouth being insertable into said fitting space, and a waterproofing member being provided at said fitting space, one of the inner and outer circumferential faces of said waterproofing member forming a sealing face with the corresponding connector characterized in that one of an inner wall face of said hood and an outer wall face of said accommodating member is provided with a recess to house said waterproofing member. Such a connector has no dead space, and can easily be miniaturized.
In a preferred embodiment the connector is in two part form, the accommodating member and hood being moulded separately and assembled after positioning of the waterproofing member. Such an arrangement permits convenient assembly of the components.
The waterproofing member preferably fits precisely in the associated recess without clearance, and radial faces thereof may provide sealing against relatively movable parts of an assembled connector. Furthermore this arrangement provides for easy insertion and retention of the waterproofing member, and with suitable attention to tolerances, may exert an end load on the waterproofing member with a consequent bulging in the radial direction, thus improving the waterproofing ability thereof.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4973859 (1990-11-01), Shodai
patent: 5197898 (1993-03-01), Nagamine
patent: 5556294 (1996-09-01), Hofmeister et al.
patent: 5613867 (1997-03-01), Hotea
patent: 5957715 (1999-09-01), Fukuda
patent: 6045383 (2000-04-01), Fujiwara
patent: 964 481 (1999-12-01), None
patent: 967 688 (1999-12-01), None
patent: 63-257187 (1988-10-01), None

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