GB2601594A

GB2601594A - Connector and connector rear cover

Info

Publication number: GB2601594A
Application number: GB2110992.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takahashi Kazuya; Seike Eita; Fukuyama Yuji; Kose Hirotaka
Original assignee: Yazaki Corp
Current assignee: Yazaki Corp
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2021-07-30
Publication date: 2022-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2041-07-30
Also published as: GB202110992D0; GB2601594B; GB2601594B8; JP2022027051A; JP7221910B2

Abstract

A connector (1) comprises a terminal-equipped electric wire (2) in which a terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire (5). A connector housing (3) is configured to receive the terminal fitting, and a connector rear cover (4) is fixed to a housing rear portion (7). The connector rear cover (4) includes a first cover (12) and a second cover (13) configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to a connector axis (CL). The first cover (12) and the second cover (13) have a sandwiching and bending structure (14) for sandwiching the electric wire (5) drawn out from the housing rear portion (7) at a predetermined bending position. The electric wire (5) bends in a direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the connector axis (CL). Additionally, to the connector (1), a connector rear cover (4) which comprises the features of the rear cover (4) of the connector (1) is also specified.

Description

CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR REAR COVER

FIELD

100011 The present disclosure relates to a connector having a connector rear cover fixed to a housing rear portion from which an electric wire is drawn out, and the connector rear portion

BACKGROUND

100021 JP-A-2000-348810 discloses an example of a connector for a wire harness to be used for electric connection. The connector includes an insulating connector housing, a conductive terminal fitting that is received in the connector housing, and a connector rear cover that is fixed to a housing rear portion which is a rear portion of the connector housing. The terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire. The terminal fitting and the electric wire are used as a terminal-equipped electric wire. The electric wire is drawn out rearward and straightly along an axis of the connector from the housing rear portion of the connector housing. The electric wire drawn out is bent in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector by a worker's hand. When the connector rear cover is then fixed to the housing rear portion, the bent electric wire is covered with the connector rear cover.

[0003] In the connector, the connector rear cover is fixed to the housing rear portion.

Therefore, the electric wire drawn out straightly from the housing rear portion has to be bent by a worker's hand This working is performed without regulating the position where the electric wire is bent. As a result, the position where the electric wire is bent is extremely close to the housing rear portion. Thus, the electric wire is bent sharply. When the distance between the position where the electric wire is bent and the terminal fitting is short, the influence of the sharp bending may reach the terminal fitting to apply a load to the terminal fitting. In addition when the terminal-equipped wire includes a waterproof plug, the influence may reach the waterproof plug received in the housing rear portion so that the waterproofness cannot be ensured.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector and a connector rear cover in which an electric wire can be bent without applying a load to a terminal fitting.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a connector including a terminal-equipped electric wire in which a terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire; a connector housing configured to receive the terminal fitting; and a connector rear cover fixed to a housing rear portion of the connector housing, wherein the connector rear cover includes a first cover and a second cover configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, and wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector.

[0006] In addition, the present disclosure provides a connector rear cover configured to be fixed to a housing rear portion of a connector housing configured to receive a terminal fitting of a terminal-equipped electric wire in which the terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire, the connector rear cover including. a first cover and a second cover configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to bend an electric wire without applying a load to a terminal fitting. Thus, it is possible to contribute to improvement in assemblability of a connector or improvement in productivity of a wire harness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector and a connector rear cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line A-A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector; Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a housing rear portion; Figs. 5A to 5C are views of a first cover, Fig. 5Abeing an overall perspective view, Fig. 5B being an enlarged view of a part B in Fig. 5A, Fig. 5C being an enlarged view of a part C in Fig. 5A; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first cover viewed from above: Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second cover; Figs. 8A and 8B are views of the second cover, Fig. 8A being a plan view, Fig 8B being a bottom view; Fig. 9 is a perspective view in which the first cover has been mounted on the housing rear portion; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of Fig 9; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

100091 An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector and a connector rear cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line A-A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a housing rear portion. Figs. 5A to 5C and Fig. 6 are views of a first cover. Fig. 7 and Figs. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a second cover. Fig. 9 is a perspective view in which the first cover has been mounted on the housing rear portion. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of Fig. 1. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the arrows P, Q and R shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are defined as an up/down direction, a left/right direction and a front/rear direction.

100101 <Connector 1> In Figs. 1 to 3, the reference numeral 1 represents a connector to be used for electric connection. The connector 1 is provided at an end of a harness body forming a wire harness. The connector 1 includes two terminal-equipped electric wires 2, a connector housing 3, and a connector rear cover 4. The connector 1 is connectable to a counterpart connector (not shown). The connector 1 may be a male connector or may be a female connector. Constituent elements of the connector 1 will be described below.

100111 <Terminal-Equipped Electric Wire 2> In Figs. 1 to 4, each terminal-equipped electric wire 2 includes an electric wire 5, a terminal fitting (not shown), and a waterproof plug (not shown). The number of terminal-equipped electric wires 2 is two in the present embodiment. However, the number is an example That is, the number of electric wires 2 is not limited to two, but may be one, or three or more. Each electric wire 5 is flexible enough to be bent. The electric wire 5 includes a conductor, and an insulator covering the conductor. The electric wire 5 may be a low-voltage electric wire, or may be a high-voltage electric wire. The electric wire 5 is formed into a desired length. The conductor has a circular shape in cross-section and is formed of copper or a copper alloy, or aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The conductor may have a conductor stnicture constituted by twisted strands, or may have a rod-like conductor structure having a circular shape (round shape) in cross-section. The insulator including an insulating resin material is formed on the outer surface of the conductor by extrusion.

100121 The insulator is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the conductor by extrusion using a thermoplastic resin material. The insulator is formed as a coating having a circular shape in cross-section. The insulator has a predetermined thickness. Various known kinds of thermoplastic resins may be used. For example, the thermoplastic resin material is selected suitably from polymeric materials such as polyvinylchloride resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, etc. The terminal fitting and the waterproof plug are provided at an end of the electric wire 5. The terminal fitting includes an electric contact portion, and an electric wire connection portion which is continuously connected to the electric contact portion. The waterproof plug is a seal member made of rubber. The waterproof plug is configured to closely contact both the electric wire 5 and the connector housing 3.

100131 <Connector Housing 3> In Figs. 1 to 4, the connector housing 3 is a resin molded article having an insulation property. The connector housing 3 is formed to have two terminal reception chambers (not shown) when seen from the inside, and to have a connector fitting portion 6 and a housing rear portion 7 when seen from the outside. The two terminal reception chambers receive and retain the terminal fittings of the two terminal-equipped electric wires 2, respectively. The two terminal reception chambers extend straightly along a connector axis CL. The two terminal reception chambers are disposed side by side in the left/right direction. The terminal fittings are inserted from the housing rear portion 7 and received in the terminal reception chambers, respectively. Each of the terminal fittings received and retained in the terminal reception chambers is disposed such that the electric contact portion is positioned on the more front side (closer to the connector fitting portion 6) than the electric wire connection portion. The connector fitting portion 6 is formed like a hood as a fitting part to a connector housing of a counterpart connector. The housing rear portion 7 is a part which is disposed on the rear side. The housing rear portion 7 is continuously connected to the connector fitting portion 6.

100141 <Housing Rear Portion 7> In Figs. 3 and 4, the housing rear portion 7 includes an electric wire drawing portion 8 which is provided at a rear part or a rear end part thereof The two electric wires 5 are drawn out from the electric wire drawing portion 8. In addition, the housing rear portion 7 includes a first sandwiched portion 9 provided in a lower part thereof and a second sandwiched portion 10 provided in an upper part thereof The first sandwiched portion 9 and the second sandwiched portion 10 are sandwiched and held from above and below in the up/down direction by the connector rear cover 4. The housing rear portion 7 includes columnar fixation portions 11 provided on the left and right sides, respectively. Each of the columnar fixation portions 11 has a substantially quadrangular columnar shape extending straightly in the up/down direction. The columnar fixation portions 11 are formed to allow the connector rear cover 4 to sandwich the first sandwiched portion 9 and the second sandwiched portion 10 from above and below in the up/down direction, and to regulate movement of the rear cover 4 in the front/rear direction. Although each of the columnar fixation portions 11 has a simple columnar shape in the present embodiment, the shape of the columnar fixation portion 11 is not limited thereto, but may be a shape like a locking protrusion.

Incidentally, not to say, movement of the connector rear cover 4 in the left/right direction is also regulated by the columnar fixation portions 11.

100151 <Connector Rear Cover 41> In Figs. 1 to 3, the connector rear cover 4 is a resin molded article which has an insulation property in the same manner as the connector housing 3. The connector rear cover 4 is fixed to the housing rear portion 7. The connector rear cover 4 includes a first cover 12 and a second cover 13 which engage each other in the up/down direction. The connector rear cover 4 has a sandwiching and bending structure 14, an electric wire retaining structure 15, a fixation structure 16, and a guide structure 17. The sandwiching and bending structure 14, the electric wire retaining structure 15, the fixation structure 16, and the guide structure 17 are formed by the first cover 12 and the second cover 13.

100161 <First Cover 12> In Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Figs. 5A to SC and Fig. 6, the first cover 12 is a cover which is disposed on the lower side. The first cover 12 is configured to engage the second cover 13 by moving the first cover 12 upward when the first cover 12 is fixed to the housing rear portion 7.

The first cover 12 includes a cover center portion 18, a cover left portion 19, and a cover right portion 20. In addition, the first cover 12 includes a cover front portion 21 which forms a space.

[0017] The cover center portion 18 includes a wall-like part which faces a rear part or a rear end part of the housing rear portion 7 so as to secure a predetermined distance therefrom. The cover center portion 18 includes a bending point regulating portion 22 and an electric wire retaining face 23. The bending point regulating portion 22 constitutes at least a part of the sandwiching and bending structure 14. The bending point regulating portion 22 is configured to regulate bending points of the two electric wires 5 drawn out from the housing rear portion 7. The bending point regulating portion 22 is disposed in accordance with a predetermined distance between the cover center portion 18 and the rear part or the rear end part of the housing rear portion 7. The predetermined distance is determined in consideration of the positions of the bending points of the electric wires 5. In addition, the bending point regulating portion 22 has a curved face which has a shape in consideration of a curvature with which each of the electric wires 5 should be bent. The curved face of the bending point regulating portion 22 extends in the left/right direction.

[0018] The electric wire retaining face 23 has a face which extends straightly and downward so as to be continuously connected to a lower end of the curved face of the bending point regulating portion 22. The electric wire retaining face 23 is formed to regulate the two bent electric wires 5 to prevent the bent electric wires 5 from moving frontward, that is, toward the housing rear portion 7. The electric wire retaining face 23 constitutes at least a part of the electric wire retaining structure 15. The electric wire retaining face 23 extends in the lower left direction so as to be connected to a band-fixing portion 27 which is provided in the cover left portion 19.

[0019] The cover left portion 19 is continuously connected to the left side of the cover center portion 18. The cover left portion 19 has a column-engagement recess portion 24, an engagement protruding portion 25, a left guide portion 26, and a band-fixing portion 27. The column-engagement recess portion 24 engages one of the columnar fixation portions 11 of the housing rear portion 7. Specifically, the column-engagement recess portion 24 has a recess shape into which the columnar fixation portion 11 can be inserted from below. The column-engagement recess portion 24 is disposed in the inner surface of the cover left portion 19. In addition, the column-engagement recess portion 24 is disposed on the more front side than the bending point regulating portion 22. The upper end of the column-engagement recess portion 24 is disposed in a more upper position than the bending point regulating portion 22. The engagement protruding portion 25 is disposed on the outer surface of the cover left portion 19 and at the upper end thereof The engagement protruding portion 25 engages the second cover 13. The engagement protruding portion 25 has a protruding shape like a claw in the present embodiment. The column-engagement recess portion 24 and the engagement protruding portion 25 constitute at least a part of the fixation structure 16.

100201 The left guide portion 26 is formed so that the left guide 26 can guide the second cover 13 when the first cover 12 engages the second cover 13. The left guide portion 26 constitutes at least a part of the guide structure 17. Further, the left guide portion 26 is formed to regulate movement of the second cover 13 in the left/right direction or in the front/rear direction. In addition, the left guide portion 26 is formed to guide and position a cover left portion 35 of the second cover 13 together with a projecting wall 28 of the cover left portion 19. The left guide portion 26 is disposed to put the engagement protruding portion 25 between the left guide portion 26 and the projecting wall 28.

[0021] The band-fixing portion 27 is formed to be continuously connected to the lower sides of the left guide portion 26 and the projecting wall 28. The band-fixing portion 27 is formed in a part where the two electric wires 5 (or one of the two electric wires 5) should be fixed by a band member (not shown) such as a cable tie. The band-fixing portion 27 in the present embodiment is formed such that the band member is inserted thereto and wound around the electric wires 5. Incidentally, the band-fixing portion 27 may be disposed in the cover right portion 20 or a cover rear portion 33 of the second cover 13. The cover rear portion 33 will be described later.

[0022] The cover right portion 20 is continuously connected to the right of the cover center portion 18. The cover right portion 20 includes a column-engagement recess portion 29, an engagement protruding portion 30, a right guide portion 31, and a projecting wall 32. The column-engagement recess portion 29 and the engagement protruding portion 30 have the same shapes and the same functions as the column-engagement recess portion 24 and the engagement protruding portion 25 of the cover left portion 19, respectively. The column-engagement recess portion 29 is disposed in the inner surface of the cover right portion 20, and the engagement protruding portion 30, the right guide portion 31 and the projecting wall 32 are disposed on the outer surface of the cover right portion 20. The right guide portion 31 is formed to be shorter on the lower side than the left guide portion 26 of the cover left portion 19. Incidentally, the shape of the right guide portion 31 is an example. The right guide portion 31 has a similar function to that of the left guide portion 26. In addition, the projecting wall 32 also has a slightly different shape in comparison with the projecting wall 28 of the cover left portion 19. Incidentally, the shape of the projecting wall 32 is an example. The projecting wall 32 has a similar function to that of the projecting wall 28 The column-engagement recess portion 29 and the engagement protruding portion 30 in the cover right portion 20 constitute at least a part of the fixation structure 16 In addition, the right guide portion 29 constitutes at least a part of the guide structure 17.

[0023] For example, the cover front portion 21 has a space to which a lower part (the first sandwiched portion 9) of the housing rear portion 7 can be inserted. Incidentally, a cover front portion and a cover center portion of the second cover 13, which will be described below, also have a space to which the housing rear portion 7 can be inserted.

[0024] <Second Cover 13> In Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 7 and Figs. 8A and 8B, the second cover 13 is disposed on the upper side. The second cover 13 is configured to engage the first cover 12 by moving the second cover 13 downward when the second cover 13 is fixed to the housing rear portion 7. The second cover 13 includes the cover rear portion 33, a cover upper portion 34, the cover left portion 35, and a cover right portion 36. In addition, the second cover 13 includes the cover front portion and the cover center portion which form a space.

[0025] The cover rear portion 33 includes a wall-like part which faces the cover center portion 18 of the first cover 12 so as to secure a distance therefrom. The cover rear portion 33 includes an electric wire pressing portion 37, an electric wire retaining face 38, a left guide portion 39, and a right guide portion 40. The electric wire pressing portion 37 constitutes at least a part of the sandwiching and bending structure 14. The electric wire pressing portion 37 is configured to press the two electric wires 5, which is drawn out from the housing rear portion 7, in the bending direction (downward in the present embodiment). The electric wire pressing portion 37 is disposed in accordance with the positions of the bending points of the electric wires 5. In addition, the electric wire pressing portion 37 is disposed in a position farther from the housing rear portion 7 than the bending point regulating portion 22 of the first cover 12. The electric wire pressing portion 37 is disposed at the lower end of the cover rear portion 33 in the present embodiment. Incidentally, the position of the lower end of the cover rear portion 33 is set in consideration of the function of the electric wire retaining face 38 which will be described below. The electric wire pressing portion 37 (the lower end of the cover rear portion 33) extends straightly in the left/right direction. The electric wire pressing portion 37 has a shape which does not hook the two electric wires 5 to be pressed 100261 The electric wire retaining face 38 faces the electric wire retaining face 23 of the first cover 12. The electric wire retaining face 38 is a face which constitutes at least a part of the electric wire retaining structure 15. The electric wire retaining face 38 is disposed such that the two electric wires 5 is placed with a predetermined clearance space between the electric wire retaining face 38 and the electric wire retaining face 23 of the first cover 12. The electric wire retaining face 38 is formed to regulate the two bent electric wires 5 not to move rearward. The left guide portion 39 and the right guide portion 40 are guided by the first cover 12 when the second cover 13 engages the first cover U. The left guide portion 39 and the right guide portion 40 are disposed on the left and right of the cover rear portion 33, respectively. The left guide portion 39 and the right guide portion 40 constitute at least a part of the guide structure 17.

100271 The cover upper portion 34 includes a wall part which engages an upper part (the second sandwiched portion 10) of the housing rear portion 7 and which is located on the upper side when sandwiching the housing rear portion 7 together with the first cover 12 from above and below in the up/down direction. The inner surface of the cover upper portion 34 includes a pair of column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42. In addition, the inner surface of the cover upper portion 34 includes a retention part 43 for the second sandwiched portion 10. The pair of column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42 are configured to engage the left and right columnar fixation portions 11 of the housing rear portion 7. Specifically, the pair of column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42 have recessed shapes to which the columnar fixation portions 11 can be inserted from above. The pair of column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42 constitute at least a part of the fixation structure 16 together with a pair of engagement recess portions 44 and 45 which will be described later [0028] The cover left portion 35 and the cover right portion 36 are disposed at the left end and the right end of the cover upper portion 34, respectively. Each of the cover left portion 35 and the cover right portion 36 has a substantially rectangular shape hanging down. Each of the cover left portion 35 and the cover right portion 36 includes a cantilever arm which can be slightly bent outward. The engagement recess portions 44 and 45 are formed in the inner surfaces of the cover left portion 35 and the cover right portion 36, respectively. The engagement recess portions 44 and 45 have recessed shapes which can engage the engagement protruding portion 25 and the engagement protruding portion 30 of the first cover 12, respectively. The distal end (lower end) of the cover left portion 35 and the distal end (lower end) of the cover right portion 36 have tapered shapes which can abut against and get over the engagement protruding portion 25 and the engagement protruding portion 30 of the first cover 12, respectively.

[0029] <Sandwiching and Bending Structure 14, Electric Wire Retaining Structure 15, Fixation Structure 16, and Guide Structure 17> In Fig. I to Fig. 8B, the sandwiching and bending structure 14 is arranged to sandwich the two electric wires 5 drawn from the housing rear portion 7 at predetermined bending position, and bend the two electric wires 5 downward in the present embodiment. The sandwiching and bending structure 14 includes the bending point regulating portion 22 and the electric wire pressing portion 37. The bending point regulating portion 22 is formed in the first cover 12 so as to regulate the bending points of the two electric wires 5 drawn out from the housing rear portion 7. The electric wire pressing portion 37 is formed in the second cover 13 so as to press the two electric wires 5 downward at a position farther from the housing rear portion 7 than the bending point regulating portion 22. According to the sandwiching and bending structure 14, the bending points of the two electric wires 5 can be regulated by the bending point regulating portion 22, and the two electric wires 5 can be pressed downward by the electric wire pressing portion 37. Accordingly, the worker does not have to bend the electric wires 5 by his/her hand Thus, there is no fear that the electric wires 5 are bent sharply.

[0030] The electric wire retaining structure 15 includes the wall-like parts which face each other such that the two electric wires 5 which have been bent downward can be disposed between the wall-like parts. Specifically, the electric wire retaining structure 15 includes the electric wire retaining face 23 of the first cover 12 and the electric wire retaining face 38 of the second cover H. The first cover 12 and the second cover 13 constitute the electric wire retaining structure 15 such that the two electric wires 5 which have been bent can be retained.

Thus, the bending states of the electric wires 5 can be stabilized.

[0031] The fixation structure 16 includes the column-engagement recess portions 24 and 29 of the first cover 12 and the column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42 of the second cover 13. The fixation structure 16 sandwiches and fixes the housing rear portion 7. The fixation structure 16 further includes the engagement protruding portions 25 and 30 of the first cover 12 and the engagement recess portions 44 and 45 of the second cover 13. The fixation structure 16 fiinctions as a locking or fitting structure. According to the fixation structure 16, the housing rear portion 7 does not have to have a locking or fitting structure. Thus, the structure of the housing rear portion 7 can be simplified. In addition, according to the guide structure 17, the first cover 12 and the second cover 13 have structures which can guide each other due to the left guide portions 26 and 39 and the right guide portions 31 and 40. Accordingly, it is possible to smoothly sandwich the housing rear portion 7 or allow the first cover 12 and the second cover 13 to engage each other. 1]

[0032] <Fixation of Connector Rear Cover 4 to Housing Rear Portion 7> The procedure of fixing the connector rear cover 4 to the housing rear portion 7 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the two electric wires 5 extend straightly and rearward along the connector axis CL from the electric wire drawing portion 8 of the housing rear portion 7. In this state, first, the first cover 12 is disposed on the lower side of the housing rear portion 7 while the second cover 13 is disposed on the upper side of the same. Next, the first cover 12 is moved upward so that the first cover 12 is fitted to and engages the lower part (the first sandwiched portion 9) of the housing rear portion 7 as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the left and right columnar fixation portions 11 are inserted into the column-engagement recess portions 24 and 29 so as to complete the engagement of the first cover 12 with the housing rear portion 7. When the engagement of the first cover 12 with the housing rear portion 7 is completed, the bending point regulating portion 22 of the first cover 12 is disposed in a predetermined position from the electric wire drawing portion 8. The bending point regulating portion 22 is disposed in a position where the bending point regulating portion 22 contacts (or is situated in the vicinity of) the two electric wires 5 extending straightly and rearward.

100331 When the engagement of the first cover 12 with the housing rear portion 7 is completed, the second cover 13 is next moved downward so that the second cover 13 engages the upper part (the second sandwiched portion 10) of the housing rear portion 7 as shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 1. On this occasion, the electric wire pressing portion 37 of the second cover 13 presses the two electric wires 5. Accordingly, the two electric wires 5 are bent downward. Then, the two bent electric wires 5 are sandwiched and held by the electric wire retaining face 23 of the first cover 12 and the electric wire retaining face 38 of the second cover 13. Due to the downward movement of the second cover 13, the columnar fixation portions 11 of the housing rear portion 7 are inserted into the column-engagement recess portions 41 and 42.

After that, the engagement recess portions 44 and 45 of the second cover 13 engage the engagement protruding portion 25 and the engagement protruding portion 30 of the first cover 12. Thus, the fixation of the connector rear cover 4 to the housing rear portion 7 is completed.

[0034] <Effect> As has been described above with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11, the connector 1 and the connector rear cover 4 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure have an effect that the two electric wires 5 can be bent without applying a load to the terminal fittings or the waterproof plugs.

[0035] The present disclosure provides a connector including: a terminal-equipped electric wire in which a terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire; a connector housing configured to receive the terminal fitting; and a connector rear cover fixed to a housing rear portion of the connector housing, wherein the connector rear cover includes a first cover and a second cover configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, and wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector [0036] In the connector, the connector rear cover includes the first cover and the second cover configured to engage each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector.

In addition, the first cover and the second cover have the sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion and bending in a predetermined bending position. With this configuration, a worker does not have to bend the electric wire by his/her hand. Thus, there is no fear that the electric wire or the electric wires are bent sharply as in the background art Accordingly, when the connector rear cover is fixed to the housing rear portion, the electric wire can be bent by the connector rear cover itself As a result, a load can be prevented from being applied to the terminal fitting. Further, since the electric wire is bent by the connector rear cover itself, it is possible to contribute to improvement in assemblability (productivity) of the connector or improvement in productivity of a wire harness.

[0037] In the connector, the sandwiching and bending structure includes: a bending point regulating portion formed in the first cover and configured to regulate a bending point of the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion, and an electric wire pressing portion formed in the second cover and configured to press the electric wire in the bending direction at a position farther from the housing rear portion than the bending point regulating portion.

[0038] With this configuration, the sandwiching and bending structure includes the bending point regulating portion and the electric wire pressing portion Thus, the bending point of the electric wire can be regulated by the bending point regulating portion. In addition, the electric wire can be pressed in the bending direction by the electric wire pressing portion.

Accordingly, an improved form can be provided as the structure by which the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion can be sandwiched and bent at a predetermined bending position.

H

[0039] In the connector, the first cover and the second cover have an electric wire retaining structure including wail portions that face each other such that the electric wire extending in the bending direction is disposed between the wall portions [0040] With this configuration, the first cover and the second cover have the electric wire retaining structure. Thus, a bent part of the electric wire can be retained so that the bending state of the electric wire can be stabilized.

[0041] In the connector, one of the first cover and the second cover includes a band-fixing portion for fixing the electric wire by a band member.

100421 With this configuration, the band-fixing portion is provided in one of the first cover and the second cover. Accordingly, the electric wire can be fixed by use of the band member. Thus, even if external force is applied to the electric wire outside the connector rear cover, the influence of the external force can be stopped by the band member not to reach the position of the terminal fitting.

100431 In the connector, the first cover and the second cover have a fixation structure for allowing the first cover and the second cover to engage each other in a state where the housing rear portion is sandwiched by the first cover and the second cover.

100441 With this configuration, the fixation of the connector rear cover to the housing rear portion can be achieved by the sandwiching structure by the first cover and the second cover. Thus, the structure of the housing rear portion for the fixation can be simplified.

100451 In the connector, the first cover and the second cover have a guide structure for guiding the first cover and the second cover each other.

[0046] With this configuration, the first cover and the second cover include the guide structure Accordingly, the first cover and the second cover guide each other so that the housing rear portion can be sandwiched smoothly or the first cover and the second cover can engage each other smoothly.

100471 In the connector, the terminal-equipped electric wire includes a waterproof plug configured to closely contact the electric wire and the connector housing.

100481 With this configuration, the electric wire can be also bent without applying a load to the waterproof plug.

[0049] The present disclosure provides a connector rear cover configured to be fixed to a housing rear portion of a connector housing configured to receive a terminal fitting of a terminal-equipped electric wire in which the terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire, the connector rear cover including: a first cover and a second cover configured to engage

N

each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector.

[0050] The connector rear cover includes the first cover and the second cover configured to engage each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector, In addition, the first cover and the second cover have the sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion and bending the electric wire in a predetermined bending position or predetermined bending positions. With this configuration, the worker does not have to bend the electric wire or the electric wires by his/her hand. Thus, there is no fear that the electric wire is bent sharply as in the background art. Accordingly, when the connector rear cover is fixed to the housing rear portion, the electric wire can be bent by the connector rear cover itself As a result, a load can be prevented from being applied to the terminal fitting.

[0051] It is a matter of course that various modifications can be made on the present disclosure without changing the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A connector comprising: a terminal-equipped electric wire in which a terminal fitting is provided at an end of an el ectri c wire; a connector housing configured to receive the terminal fitting; and a connector rear cover fixed to a housing rear portion of the connector housing, wherein the connector rear cover comprises a first cover and a second cover configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, and wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the sandwiching and bending structure comprises: a bending point regulating portion formed in the first cover and configured to regulate a bending point of the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion; and an electric wire pressing portion formed in the second cover and configured to press the electric wire in the bending direction at a position farther from the housing rear portion than the bending point regulating portion.3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the first cover and the second cover have an electric wire retaining structure comprising wall portions that face each other such that the electric wire extending in the bending direction is disposed between the wall portions.4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein one of the first cover and the second cover comprises a band-fixing portion for fixing the electric wire by a band member.The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first cover and the second cover have a fixation structure for allowing the first cover and the second cover to engage each other in a state where the housing rear portion is sandwiched by the first cover and the second cover.6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the first cover and the second cover have a guide structure for guiding the first cover and the second cover each other.7. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminal-equipped electric wire comprises a waterproof plug configured to closely contact the electric wire and the connector housing.8. A connector rear cover configured to be fixed to a housing rear portion of a connector housing configured to receive a terminal fitting of a terminal-equipped electric wire in which the terminal fitting is provided at an end of an electric wire, the connector rear cover comprising: a first cover and a second cover configured to engage each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the connector, wherein the first cover and the second cover have a sandwiching and bending structure for sandwiching the electric wire drawn out from the housing rear portion at a predetermined bending position and bending the electric wire in a bending direction extending along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connector.