Electrical connectors – With sealing element or material for cooperation with... – Combined with distinct cable sheath sealing element or material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-03-20
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
Combined with distinct cable sheath sealing element or material
C439S271000, C439S587000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203348
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof connector of a compact multi-polar type that has an enhanced waterproof nature between a connector housing assembly and a plurality of electric wires provided with terminals attached to their ends, as well as a waterproof rubber member therefor.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Such a type of waterproof connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Japanese Publication No. 11-329571 filed in Japan by the assignee of the present application.
This waterproof connector comprises: a connector housing assembly having a terminal accommodation cavity (to be waterproofed), and a number of separated wire leading cavities which communicate at their rear ends with outside via a number of first wire insertion holes formed through an outer rear wall (as a so-called “bottom wall” portion) of the housing assembly and at their front ends with the terminal accommodation cavity via a number of second wire insertion holes formed through an inner rear wall of the housing assembly; a number of rubber plugs fitted in the wire leading cavities and formed with wire leading holes; a number of female terminals set in positions in the terminal accommodation cavity; and a number of insulated electric wires lead via the first wire insertion holes, the wire leading holes and the second wire insertion holes into the terminal accommodation cavity, where they are connected at their front ends to the terminals.
The housing assembly comprises a waterproof outer housing formed with the outer rear wall, a waterproof spacer formed with the inner rear wall and fitted in and locked to the outer housing, and a waterproof inner housing formed with partially exposed partition walls and fitted in and locked to the spacer. Each wire leading cavity is defined by a recess in the outer rear wall closed with the inner rear wall.
The terminal accommodation cavity is defined by the spacer and the inner housing and divided by the partition walls into a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers. To be waterproof, this cavity should be sealed watertight at its front end, where a number of mating terminals are plugged, and at its rear end, where the insulated electric wires are lead in for connection.
The front end of that cavity is sealed with a mating waterproof connector adapted therefor. The rear end of the cavity is sealed with the rubber plugs sufficiently compressed between the first and second rear walls, to fit watertight to walls of the wire leading cavities and insulators of the wires.
The outer housing may however be damaged for external causes, with a potential failure to keep the terminal accommodation chamber waterproof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved with such points in view.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof connector improved for a practical waterproof property to be ensured even with damage to an outer housing member, and a waterproof rubber member therefor.
To achieve the object, an aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector comprising: an outer housing member having a first wall formed with a wire insertion hole and a first cavity; an inner housing assembly fitted in the outer housing member, the inner housing assembly defining therein a terminal accommodation cavity and having a second wall formed with a second cavity; a waterproof rubber member fitted watertight in the first and second cavities and formed with a wire leading hole; and an electric wire lead through the wire insertion hole and the wire leading hole to the terminal accommodation cavity.
According to this aspect of the invention, a terminal accommodation cavity is kept waterproof, normally, with a waterproof rubber member fitted watertight in both a first cavity in a first wall of an outer housing member and a second cavity in a second wall of an inner housing assembly and, when the outer housing member is damaged, with the waterproof rubber member fitted watertight in the second cavity.
Another aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector comprising: an inner housing formed with a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating therein a terminal at an end of a wire; and outer housing adapted to be assembled with the inner housing and formed with a wire insertion hole at a bottom wall portion thereof in opposition to the terminal accommodation chamber, the bottom wall portion having a rubber plug reception recess at a location on an inside thereof in opposition to the wire insertion hole; a spacer having a hollow trunk portion fitted on the inner housing and adapted to be fitted in the outer housing together with the inner housing, and a bottom wall portion thereof formed with a wire leading cavity; and a waterproof rubber plug for sealing the terminal accommodation chamber, the waterproof rubber plug having a first rubber plug portion fitted tight in the rubber plug reception recess, a second plug portion fitted tight in the wire leading cavity, and a wire leading hole provided through the first and second plug portions for the wire to be lead watertight therethrough into the inner housing.
According to this aspect of the invention, a second plug portion fitted tight in a wire leading cavity seals an interior region of a spacer, even if an outer housing is damaged with a failure to keep therein waterproof.
Further, to achieve the object described, another aspect of the invention provides a waterproof rubber member for waterproof connectors, comprising: a plate portion; a first plug portion formed on one side of the plate portion; a second plug portion formed on another side of the plate portion; and a wire leading hole provided through the first plug portion, the plate portion and the second plug portion.
According to this aspect of the invention, a wire leading hole is kept waterproof irrespective of peripheral conditions of a waterproof rubber member.
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Bradley Paula
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Ta Tho D.
Yazaki -Corporation
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