JP2002025685A - Protection cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protection cover that can be assembled in an existing connector, and having a superior assemblage property, a simple structure, and versalility. SOLUTION: This protection cover 1 comprises a base part 2 and a cover part 4 being provided in the base part 2 via a hinge 3. The protection cover 1 is fitted to a through lock part 24 being formed in the rear end of the connector from the bottom side of the connector 5 and integrally assembled in the connector 5 by closing the cover part 4. The base part 2 is formed with a pair of opposed sidewall part 6a and 6b and an opening 8 in a part surrounded with an abutment part 7 in the front end bottom of the sidewall parts. A part of the rear end side of the base part 2 is closed by a closure part 9. The sidewall parts 6a and 6b are formed with lock recesses 14 and 15 on their inside. The cover part 4 is formed in one side of the base part 2 via the hinge 3 and provided with lock projections 19 and 20 to be locked in the lock recesses 14 and 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protective cover for protecting a connector used for connection of an electric system of an automobile or the like, and more particularly to a protective cover for a connector used for equipment having a severe use environment. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vehicles such as automobiles, connectors are frequently used to connect wire harnesses or to connect electronic equipment to wire harnesses. This type of connector basically has a configuration in which a connection terminal is housed in a housing made of a synthetic resin, and a covered electric wire connected to the connection terminal is led out from a rear end of the housing. Further, in an automobile or the like in which the usage environment is severe, muddy water is applied to the connector while the vehicle is running, or high-pressure water is applied to the vehicle during washing. In addition, the vehicle may vibrate violently during traveling.

In consideration of such a use environment, a waterproof connector as shown in FIG. 6 has been proposed. The waterproof connector 50 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin,
And a hinge 52, and a pair of covers 53 and 54. The housing body 51 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers inside the rear side of the outer wall 55 having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape.
Inside the front side, there is provided an insertion portion 57 for a mating connector (not shown), and a lock portion 58 for locking the mating connector inserted into the upper surface of the outer wall is formed.

[0004] At the rear end of the housing main body 51, a quadrangular cylindrical portion 59 having a smaller diameter than the outer wall 55 is formed. A pair of covers 53 and 54 are integrally provided on both side surfaces of the rear end of the square tubular portion 59 via a hinge portion 52. The central portion 52a of the hinge portion 52 is formed in a thin shape so as to have flexibility.

[0005] The covers 53 and 54 have a square tubular portion 59.
Are divided in half along the axial direction.
Are pivoted in directions approaching each other with the fulcrum as the fulcrum,
When 3a and 54a are joined, the shape becomes continuous from the rear end of the square tubular portion 59. A recess 54c is formed at the center of the rear end surfaces of the covers 53, 54,
When 54 is closed, it becomes a wire through hole. The covers 53 and 54 are provided with a locking projection 64 and a locking frame groove 65 which are engaged with each other in a joined state.

Next, a second example of a conventional connector will be described with reference to FIG. The connector 70 shown in FIG. 7 includes a connector housing 71, a rear holder 72, and a waterproof cover 73 which covers the rear outer end surface of the rear holder 72 and is connected to the rear holder 72 so as to be openable and closable in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. . The rear holder 72 is formed of a plate-like block, and is fitted and fixed to the connector housing 71.
The waterproof cover 73 includes a pair of lids 74, 75, one end of which is connected to the upper surface and the lower surface of the rear holder 72 by a flexible band 76.
The outer end face of the rear holder 71 is opened and closed by 75.

The strip portion 76 of the cover 74 is connected to a lower portion of the inner end surface of the rear holder 72, and the cover 74 opens upward in the direction of the arrow with this being used as a fulcrum. A belt-like portion (not shown) of the lid 75 is connected to a lower portion of the inner end surface of the rear holder 72, and the lid 75 is configured to open downward in the direction of the arrow using this as a fulcrum. Although not shown, a connection terminal is accommodated in the connector housing 71, and the insulated wire 7 connected to the connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal.
7 is led out from the rear end of the connector housing 71. Then, the connector housing 71 and the rear holder 7
2. In a state where the waterproof cover 73 is integrally assembled, the covered electric wire 77 is led out from an opening 78 formed at the center of the rear end of the waterproof cover 73.

[0008]

However, the conventional waterproof connector 50 is used for trucks or the like where high pressure washing or severe vibration conditions are required. Because of the provision of 53 and 54, there is a problem that the production cost is increased due to the complicated structure. In addition, depending on the usage of the connector, waterproofing may not be required. In view of such usage, it is necessary to prepare a waterproof connector and a connector that does not have a waterproof function. Arrangement and the like are troublesome, and these contribute to high costs.

Further, in the conventional connector 70, since the connector housing 71 and the cover 73 are separate parts, the cover 73 need not be used when the waterproof function is not required, and the above problem can be solved. However, since the rear holder 72 and the two lids 74 and 75, which are separate parts, are assembled, the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased. Further, there is a new problem that the assembling work is troublesome and the number of production steps is increased.

Further, the shape and standard of the rear holder 72 and the lids 74 and 75 are formed in accordance with the standard of the connector housing 71, so that there is no other way but to use the connector for a specific dedicated connector. Also, there are various types of connector specifications corresponding to the amount of current, the arrangement position, and the like. For example, a connector provided with a locking portion for locking the connectors on a housing, or a connector related to a part of a vehicle body. For example, there is one provided with a locking portion for stopping on a housing. However, the cover 73 of the connector 70 can be applied to only one of the connectors, and lacks versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object the purpose of being able to assemble with an existing connector as required, and having excellent assemblability, and having a simple structure and a general-purpose structure. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a protective cover that can be used.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to cover a connector having a through-lock portion for accommodating a connection terminal connected to a mating connector and leading out an electric wire connected to the connection terminal. In the protective cover, a gutter-shaped base portion for fitting the through lock portion, an opening for exposing an end of the through lock portion fitted to the base portion outside the base portion, A cover that is connected via a hinge and covers the base in a state where the through lock is fitted to the base, and a lock that locks the cover to the base. This can be solved by a protective cover that is characterized.

According to the protective cover having the above-described configuration, a gutter-shaped base portion for fitting the through lock portion, and an opening for exposing the end of the through lock portion fitted to the base portion to the outside of the base portion. A cover portion connected to the base portion via a hinge and covering the base portion with the through lock portion fitted to the base portion; and a lock portion for locking the cover portion to the base portion. And Therefore, when the base portion of the protective cover is fitted to the through-lock portion formed in a part of the connector housing, a part thereof is exposed from the opening formed in the base portion. Therefore, the present invention can be applied irrespective of the shape of the through lock portion, and is excellent in versatility.

Further, since a cover portion is integrally formed on the base portion via a hinge and a lock portion is provided on the cover portion, the cover portion is put on after fitting the base portion to the connector housing. By locking, the connector and the protective cover can be integrated to protect the connector.

The above object is also achieved in the protective cover, wherein the base portion and the cover portion are provided with a locking groove for locking an end portion of a bellows-shaped tube at a rear end, and are led out from the through lock portion. This problem can be solved by a protective cover, wherein the electric wire is covered with the tube. Therefore,
A bellows-shaped tube known as a corrugated tube is put on an electric wire led out from the rear end of the connector housing, and one end of the tube is locked by locking grooves formed in a base portion and a cover portion. Therefore, the electric wire is not sharply bent at a position derived from the rear end of the housing, and it is possible to surely prevent disconnection, disconnection of the connection terminal, and the like.

[0016] Furthermore, in the protective cover, the base portion has a contact portion that contacts a step portion that forms the through lock portion, and an obstruction whose edge contacts an end portion of the through lock portion. This can be solved by a protective cover characterized in that a protective cover is provided. Therefore, when the through lock portion is fitted to the base portion, the contact portion and the edge of the closing portion are in a semi-fixed state, so that the work of locking the cover portion becomes easy, and the assembling property and workability are improved. Can be planned.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a protective cover according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the protective cover and the connector of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the process of attaching the protective cover to the connector in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the protective cover in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a completed state of assembling the protective cover in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in FIG. In the description of the present embodiment, first, the configuration of the protective cover will be described, and then the process of assembling to the connector will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a protective cover 1 according to this embodiment includes a gutter-shaped base 2 as shown in the lower part of the figure, and a cover 4 provided on the base 2 via a hinge 3. Are integrally formed of a synthetic resin. The protective cover 1 is fitted from below the connector 5 into a through-lock portion 24 formed at the rear end of the connector 5, and is integrated with the connector 5 by closing the cover portion 4.

First, the configuration of the base 2 will be described. The base 2 has a pair of opposed side walls 6 on both sides of its front end.
a, 6b are formed, and lower portions of the front ends of the side walls 6a, 6b are connected by a plate-shaped contact portion 7.
An opening 8 is formed below the portion surrounded by the pair of side wall portions 6a and 6b and the contact portion 7 as a fitting space communicating vertically. The rear end side of the base 2 is partially closed by the closing portion 9, and a semicircular cylindrical portion is formed adjacent to the closing portion 9, and the locking groove 11 is formed on the inner surface thereof. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 3, the height H1 of the contact portion 7
And heights H2 and H3 of the side walls 6a and 6b. The height H1 of these side walls 6a, 6b
H3, the width W of the inner surface of the side wall portions 6a, 6b, the contact portion 7
The length L1 from the inner surface to the tip of the closing portion 9 is set in accordance with the shape of the outer surface of the housing 21 constituting the connector 5 described later.

The inner surfaces of the upper edges of the heights H2 of the side walls 6a, 6b have curved portions 12a, 1 partially projecting outward.
2b is formed to reinforce this part and to elastically engage with a housing 21 described later. Further, a step 13 is formed at the position of the height H4 inside the height H3. The step 13 is provided with the cover 4
The step portion 13 regulates the position of the cover portion 4.

Further, two locking concave portions 14 and 15 are formed inside the height H3 of the side wall portions 6a and 6b.
The cover 4 is locked so as not to come out. The locking recesses 14 and 15 are also formed on the inner surfaces of the opposing side walls (only one locking recess is shown in FIG. 1). On the cover part 4 side, a locking projection 19, which will be described later, which is locked in the locking recesses 14, 15, will be described.
20 are provided.

Next, the structure of the cover 4 will be described.
The cover part 4 is formed on one side surface of the base part 2 via a hinge 3. The cover 4 includes a pair of side walls 16 a and 16 b and a top plate 17, and a locking groove 18 adjacent to the top plate 17. The locking groove 18 is formed such that the peak and the valley coincide with the locking groove 11 formed in the base 2. Therefore, when the cover part 4 is put on the base part 2, an annular groove which substantially matches the bellows-like groove shape of the tube 28 described later is formed. In addition, the pair of side wall portions 16
Locking projections 19 and 20 that are locked in the locking recesses 14 and 15 are formed on the outside of a and 16b. Further, the hinge 3 is integrally connected to the outside of the top plate 17.

Next, the configuration of the connector 5 will be described.
Two connection terminals 2 are provided in the housing 21 of the connector 5.
2 are accommodated, and the electric wires 23 connected to the respective connection terminals 22 are led out from a through lock portion 24 provided on the rear end side of the housing 21. As shown in FIG. 5, terminal housing chambers 25 are formed side by side in the housing 21 with partition walls interposed therebetween, and the connection terminals 22 are housed therein so as not to come out. That is, the rod-shaped connection portion 22a provided at the tip of the connection terminal 22 protrudes into the fitting opening 26 into which the mating connector is fitted, and the electric wire 23 connected to the rear end of the connection terminal 22 by caulking or the like is used as a through lock. Part 24
(See FIG. 1).
A waterproof plug 27 is externally fitted to the electric wire 23 in the housing 21.

A locking portion 31 for locking with the mating connector is formed on the upper portion of the housing 21, and a step portion 32 is formed on the rear end side. A through lock portion 24 is provided behind the step portion 32. Is formed. Further, a part of the through lock portion 24 protrudes from a lower portion of the housing 21, and a locking portion 33 is formed therein (see FIG. 5). The locking portion 33 is for fixing the connector 5 to a predetermined mounting portion of a vehicle, for example. Note that the conventional protective cover cannot be applied to the one in which the locking portion 33 is formed, but the protective cover 1 of the present embodiment is
3 can be applied regardless of the presence or absence, and is excellent in versatility.

Next, the assembly of the protective cover 1 to the connector 5 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, when assembling, the cover portion 4 of the protective cover 1 is opened, and fitted into the through lock portion 24 from below the connector 5. At this time, the connector 5 is inserted into the opening 8 between the contact portion 7 and the tip of the closing portion 9 so that the projecting portion of the lower portion of the through lock portion 24 where the locking portion 33 is formed is inserted. 1.

To explain this state in more detail, the gap L1 is set so that the step portion 24a of the through lock portion 24 contacts the inner surface of the contact portion 7 and the rear end contacts the tip of the closing portion 9. Get stuck in between. As a result, the connector 5 is fitted without play in the connector fitting direction. Moreover, since the curved portions 12a and 12b are formed on the pair of side wall portions 6a and 6b, the connector 5 is elastically fitted. Since the flanges 35 are formed on both sides of the housing 21, the upper edge of the side wall portions 6a and 6b set to the height H2 as shown in FIG. As a result, further insertion becomes impossible, and inconveniences such as the protective cover 1 being obliquely fitted to the connector 5 are prevented.

As described above, the protective cover 1 is formed on the rear end side of the housing 21 of the connector 5 by the through lock portion 2
After being engaged with the tube 4, the tube 28 is connected to the tube 2 as shown in FIG.
The wire is put on the electric wire 23, and the bellows-shaped annular groove formed on the surface thereof is locked according to the locking groove 11 (see FIG. 1).
Next, the cover part 4 is rotated about the hinge 3,
The pair of side walls 16a and 16b are pushed in while being fitted into the side walls 6a and 6b. Thereby, the locking projections 19, 2
0 is locked in the locking recesses 14 and 15, and the cover 4 is engaged with the base 2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the base 2
4 and 5, the entire through lock 24 is covered with the protective cover 1, and the tube 2 that covers the end of the electric wire 23 from the rear end side as shown in FIGS.
8 is derived.

As described above, the protective cover 1 is connected to the connector 5
When assembled to the side wall 1, which constitutes the cover 4
Steps 36 formed outside the upper edges of 6a, 16b abut on step 13 formed on the inner surfaces of side walls 6a, 6b, and the inside of the upper edge extends from step 13 to the inside of side walls 16a, 16b. It comes down along the side. That is, at the position where the step portions 13 and 36 abut, the outer surfaces of both abut in a crank shape, so that the contact surface is widened. Therefore, the base 2 and the cover 4
In the contact position, the watertightness is high, and for example, even if muddy water is applied during traveling or high-pressure water is applied for car washing or the like, water can be prevented from entering.

Since the electric wire 23 is covered with the tube 28 and the end of the tube 28 is locked to the end of the protective cover 1, it is possible that the end of the electric wire 23 is not bent at a sharp angle. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the connection terminal 22 in the housing 21 from slipping back.

Further, despite the fact that the protective cover 1 is fitted to the connector 5, the locking portion 33 is exposed from the opening 8 formed in the base 2, so that the connector 5 can be connected to a predetermined position of the vehicle. The protective cover 1 can be attached at the position, and the versatility of the protective cover 1 can be improved. Further, when the protective cover 1 is fitted to the connector 5, the front end of the top plate 17 constituting the cover part 4 comes into contact with the step 32, so that the contact part 7 of the protective cover 1 and the front end of the closing part 9 are formed. And the front end of the top plate 17, the positioning with the connector 5 is reliably performed.
The play of the protective cover 1 can be prevented.

As described above, the protective cover 1 of the present embodiment
In the above, the protective cover 1 is attached to the connector 5 by a simple operation of fitting the base 2 into the through lock portion 24 provided on the connector 5 and closing the cover 4 provided on the base 2 via the hinge 3. Can be assembled. In addition, since the opening 8 that exposes the end of the through lock portion 24 is formed in the base portion 2, the engaging portion 33 is provided in the exposed portion of the through lock portion 24 as in the present embodiment. However, since it can be applied, versatility can be improved.

An engaging groove 1 is provided in the base 2 and the cover 4.
1 and 18 are provided, so that the cover 4
Is closed, the tube 28 whose end portion of the electric wire 23 is covered can be locked. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 23 from being sharply bent and to prevent direct intrusion of muddy water or the like. Further, since the base portion 2 and the cover portion 4 are provided with a lock portion that engages with each other, even if the hinge 3 is cut off during traveling of the vehicle, for example, the cover portion 4 may be removed from the base portion 2. The part 4 does not fall off. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the protective cover 1 from dropping out of the connector 5 or the tube 28, and to obtain a highly reliable protective cover.

[0034]

As described above, the protective cover of the present invention has a gutter-shaped base for fitting the through-lock portion and the end of the through-lock portion fitted to the base outside the base. An opening to be exposed, a cover connected to the base via a hinge, and covering the base with the through lock fitted to the base, and a lock for locking the cover to the base. And Therefore, when the base portion of the protective cover is fitted to the through-lock portion formed in a part of the connector housing, a part thereof is exposed from the opening formed in the base portion. Therefore, the protective cover can be used regardless of the shape of the through lock portion, and the versatility is excellent.

Further, since a cover portion is integrally formed on the base portion via a hinge, and a lock portion is provided on the cover portion, the cover portion is put on after fitting the base portion to the connector housing. The connector and the protective cover can be integrated simply by pushing the connector. Therefore, the protection cover can be easily attached to the connector, and the protection cover can be reliably prevented from rattling.

In the protective cover, the base portion and the cover portion may be provided at the rear end with a locking groove for locking an end portion of the bellows-shaped tube, and the electric wire led out of the through lock portion may be formed by the tube. Because it covers, the wire is not sharply bent at the position derived from the rear end of the housing,
Disconnection and back-out of the connection terminal can be reliably prevented.

Further, in the protective cover, the base portion is provided with a contact portion abutting a step portion forming a through lock portion, and a closing portion having an edge portion abutting on an end of the through lock portion. Therefore, when the through lock portion is fitted to the base portion, the protective cover is in a semi-fixed state by the contact portion and the closing portion, and the work of locking the cover portion becomes easy. Therefore,
It is possible to further improve the assemblability and workability of the protective cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a protective cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector is being assembled to the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a protective cover in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where assembly to the connector in FIG. 1 is completed.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional connector.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Protective cover 2 Base part 3 Hinge 4 Cover part 5 Connector 6a, 6b, 16a, 16b Side wall part 7 Contact part 8 Opening 9 Closing part 11, 18 Locking groove 13 Step part 14, 15 Locking concave part (lock part) 19, 20 Locking projection (locking portion) 22 Connection terminal 23 Electric wire 24 Through lock portion 24a Step portion 25 Terminal accommodation chamber 26 Fitting opening 28 Tube 31, 33 Locking portion 35 Flange portion 36 Step portion

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01R 13/56 H01R 13/56 H02G 3/04 H02G 3/04 J 3/38 3/28 F F term ( Reference) 3H024 AA03 AB07 AC03 5E021 FA03 FA09 FB07 FB20 FC02 FC03 FC05 FC32 FC40 GB08 GB20 HC09 5E087 EE07 FF06 FF12 GG15 HH04 LL03 LL04 LL12 LL17 LL29 LL33 QQ04 RR11 RR12 RR15 DG15 DD02 RR15

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A protective cover for accommodating a connection terminal connected to a mating connector and covering a connector provided with a through lock portion for leading out an electric wire connected to the connection terminal, wherein the through lock portion is fitted. A gutter-shaped base portion, an opening for exposing an end of the through-lock portion fitted to the base portion outside the base portion, connected to the base portion via a hinge, and connected to the base portion with the hinge. A protective cover, comprising: a cover portion that covers the base portion with a through-lock portion fitted therein; and a lock portion that locks the cover portion to the base portion. 2. The base and the cover are provided with a locking groove at a rear end for locking an end of a bellows-shaped tube, and cover the electric wire led out from the through-lock portion with the tube. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The base portion includes a contact portion that contacts a step portion forming the through lock portion, and a closing portion whose edge contacts an end of the through lock portion. The protective cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein