Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Sealing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-03-06
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part including flexing insulation
Sealing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196872
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a small-sized and multipolor waterproof connector that enhances waterproofing between a connector housing and plural electric wires connected with terminals and an assembling method of the same.
2. Description of Relevant Art
In a kind of a waterproof connector and an assembling method of the same, the housing of the waterproof connector is composed of a synthetic resin-made inner housing which is integrally formed with a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers, a synthetic resin-made outer housing in which the inner housing is fitted, a synthetic resin spacer which is interposed between the inner housing so as to the outer housing and keeps female terminals accommodated in each terminal accommodation chamber. The outer housing has a rubber plug accommodation portion for receiving a rubber plug accommodated therein. An electric wire passes through each through hole of the outer housing, rubber plug and spacer and is connected with a terminal of the inner housing.
However, in typical waterproof connectors, when the inner housing is fitted in a side of the outer housing, the rubber plug is accommodated in the rubber plug accommodation portion. Thus, when the inner housing is fitted inside the spacer, which that has been fitted in the inside of the outer housing, while the electric wires are slide through each hole of the spacer and the outer housing, the rubber plug presses upon the electric wire and the electric wire is likely to buckle by friction force to be generated between the rubber plug and the electric wire. As a result, the efficiency of the assembling operation of the waterproof connector is decreased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary object of the invention is to provide a miltipolar waterproof connector that enhances efficiency of assembling work and an assembling method of the same.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembling method of a waterproof connector having terminals connected to electric wires accommodated in a connector housing and so as to be sealed by an elastic plug. The method comprises the steps of: passing an electric wire through a first housing, an elastic plug and a spacer; fitting the spacer inside the first housing so as to align the elastic plug with the plug accommodation portion of the first housing connecting the electric wire while the terminal is in the second housing; fitting a second housing inside the spacer; and fitting the spacer inside the first housing to press the an elastic plug into the plug accommodation portion of the first housing.
In accordance with a second exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterproof connector having terminals connected to electric wires accommodated in a connector housing so as to be sealed by an elastic plug. The waterproof connector comprises: an electric wire which is connected with a terminal; a first housing having a plug accommodation portion and configured for receiving the electric wire passed theretrough; a spacer fitted inside the first housing configured for receiving the electric wire passed therethrough; a second housing fitted inside the spacer and configured for receiving the terminal and receiving the electric wire being passed therethrough; an elastic plug which is accommodated in the plug accommodation portion, and is configured for receiving the electric wire being passed therethough; and a positioning means arranged between the first housing and the spacer so as to align the elastic plug to be aligned with the plug accommodation portion of the first fusing, before the elastic plug is accommodated inside the plug accommodation portion.
Preferably, the positioning means comprise a first taper portion provided on an opening side of the plug accommodation portion of the first housing.
Alternately, the positioning means comprises a second taper portion which is provided on the spacer, so as to oppose the plug accommodation portion of the first housing;
The positioning may also comprise an engagement member configured for engaging the elastic plug while being slid into the first housing.
From a third exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterproof connector having terminals connected to electric wires accommodated in a connector housing so as to be sealed by an elastic plug. The waterproof connector comprises: an electric wire connected with a terminal; a first housing having a plug accommodation portion and configured for receiving the electric wire being passed therethrough; a spacer fitted in the first housing configured for receiving the electric wire being passed therethrough; a second housing fitted in the spacer and configured for accommodating the terminal, and receiving the electric wire being passed therethrough; and an elastic plug which is selectively accommodated in the plug accommodation portion and is configured for receiving the electric wire being passed therethrough. A first taper portion is formed on an opening side of the plug accommodation portion of the first housing. A second taper portion is formed on the spacer and is opposed to the plug accommodation portion. The elastic plug is interposed between the first taper portion and the second taper portion before the elastic plug is accommodated in or pressed into the plug accommodation portion.
Preferably, the elastic plug has an inside diameter equal to or greater than a diameter of the electric wire and the elastic plug has an outside diameter greater than a diameter of the plug accommodation portion.
In the assembling method of the waterproof connector, when the second housing, or inner housing, is fitted in the spacer in a provisionally by-engagement kept state where it has been fitted in an inside of the first housing, or outer housing, with the elastic plug interposed therebetween, while the electric wire is being slid to each insertion through hole of the spacer and the first housing, the elastic plug is not subjected to pressure force of the elastic plug. Thus, the electric wire is smoothly assembled without buckling, and the multipolar connector which has an excellent waterproofness is easily assembled over a short period of time, so that the efficiency of the entire assembling operation is further enhanced.
In the waterproof connector, when the second housing is fitted inside the spacer that has been fitted in an inside of the first housing, while the electric wire is being slid to each electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer and the first housing, there becomes a provisionally by-engagement kept state where the elastic plug is interposed between the first taper portion of the plug accommodation portion and the second taper portion near each electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer. The electric wire is slid to each electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer and the first housing before the elastic plug is accommodated in the plug accommodation portion. Thus, the electric wire is prevented from being buckled by pressure force of the elastic plug, and the efficiency of the assembling operation is enhanced. Further, the elastic plug is smoothly and securely accommodated in the plug accommodation portion by the second taper portion of the spacer, and seal efficiency is enhanced.
In the waterproof connector, the inside diameter of the elastic plug is greater than a diameter of the electric wire and the elastic plug does not press the electric wire. Thus, when the second housing is fitted in the spacer that has been fitted in an inside of the first housing in a provisionally by-engagement kept state, the electric wire is smoothly slid to each electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer and the first housing without being buckled. As a result, the waterproof connector is easily assembled, and the efficiency of the assembling operation is further enhanced. Further, the outside diameter of the elastic plug is greater than a diameter of the plug accommodation portion, and reliability of w
Fukuda Masaru
Murakami Takao
Abrams Neil
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Yazaki -Corporation
Zarroli Michael C.
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