JP2011054472A - Connector for lead wire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain waterproofness reliably by utilizing an outer appearance composition function of an upper connector itself. <P>SOLUTION: The connector for a lead wire is composed of: an upper connector having a plurality of upper-terminal-insertion holes on an upper face; and a lower connector which has a plurality of lower-terminal-insertion holes opposing to each of the upper-terminal-insertion holes on a lower face and moreover is connected directly or indirectly with a lower part of the upper connector. The upper face of the upper connector is formed in level difference so that water adhering to the surface of one upper-side lead wire to be inserted into the upper terminal insertion hole or water entering into the upper terminal insertion hole may not become conductive with an adjacent lower-side lead wire in a state keeping its surface tension. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lead wire connector having a waterproof function.

  Patent Document 1 describes an example of a waterproof connector. This waterproof connector is composed of a male connector and a female connector that is integrally coupled (for example, fitted) to the male connector in the same manner as an ordinary general connector in practical use. A plurality of wire cables or lead wire terminal insertion holes are formed from one end of the housing toward the inside.

  The waterproof connector of Patent Document 1 further has insertion openings (openings) facing the terminal insertion holes in the respective side walls of the male connector and the female connector, and each of the insertion openings has the wire cable or lead. A terminal locking member for locking the terminal at the insertion tip of the wire is fitted.

  Since the waterproof connector of Patent Document 1 is mainly used in a horizontal state, the waterproof connector is formed from, for example, a gap formed between the outer surface of the male connector housing and the outer surface of the terminal locking member. In order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional example (FIG. 11 of Patent Document 1) in which condensed water intrudes into the interior, a configuration is adopted in which the insertion hole of the terminal locking member is surrounded by an elastic sealing material ( FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).

  However, since the waterproof connector described in Patent Document 1 has a vertical end surface where a plurality of terminal insertion holes are formed, if the waterproof connector is used in a vertical state, the terminal insertion is performed. Water condensing on the surface of one lead wire inserted and held in the hole is connected to the surface of another adjacent lead wire while maintaining its surface tension, and the inside of the waterproof connector from the clearance of each terminal insertion hole Intrusion into the cable may lead to a so-called conduction state, which causes a problem that a short circuit or a leak occurs between the connection terminals (electrodes).

  This problem is that an upper connector having a plurality of upper terminal insertion holes on the upper surface and a plurality of lower terminal insertion holes respectively opposed to the upper terminal insertion holes on the lower surface and integrated with the lower portion of the upper connector. This also applies to a small-sized lead wire connector composed of a lower connector that is coupled to the upper connector because the upper end surface of the upper connector is a “horizontal plane”.

  Here, an example of a small lead wire connector X is shown in FIGS. The lead wire connector X is used, for example, for connecting an electric lock attached to a door. Reference numeral 1 denotes an upper connector, while reference numeral 2 denotes a lower connector that is integrally fitted (coupled) to the upper connector. As is well known, the terminals 6 and 7 that are crimped (fixed) to the distal end portion 5 a of the lead wire 5 are inserted into the terminal insertion holes 3 and 4 of the upper connector 1 and the lower connector 2.

  With reference to FIG. 8, reference numeral 6 denotes a plurality of male terminals respectively inserted into a plurality of terminal insertion holes 3 formed in the female housing 8 of the upper connector 1, and these male terminals 6 are inserted into the terminals. It is received in the female housing 8 of the upper connector 1 while being supported by the inner peripheral surface of the hole 3.

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 10, the female housing 8 includes a rectangular block-shaped terminal holding portion 8a having a plurality of terminal insertion ports 3a on a flat upper end surface, and a lower end portion of the terminal holding portion 8a. And a fitting portion 8b having a downward fitting recess 9 provided continuously therewith, and an engagement hole 10 as a locking means is formed in one vertical side wall of the fitting portion 8b.

  In contrast, reference numeral 7 denotes a plurality of female terminals respectively inserted into a plurality of terminal insertion holes 4 formed in the male housing 11 of the lower connector 2, and these female terminals 7 are connected to the terminal insertion holes 4. Is housed in the male housing 11 of the lower connector 2 while being supported by the inner peripheral surface of the lower connector 2.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the male housing 11 is formed in a rectangular block having a plurality of terminal insertion ports 4 a on the horizontal lower end surface, and the engagement hole 10 of the upper connector 1 is formed on one vertical side wall thereof. A small protrusion 12 is provided to engage and disengage. In addition, the upper end surface of the lower connector 2 is also a horizontal surface like the lower end surface. Moreover, each terminal insertion hole 3 and 4 has mutually opposed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the fitting portion 8b of the female housing 8 of the upper connector 1 and the male housing 11 of the lower connector 2 are fitted together, the pin-shaped male terminals 6 and the pipe-shaped female terminals 7 Are integrally coupled to each other so that the upper and lower lead wires 5 and 5 are connected in the vertical direction.

  By the way, when dew condensation occurs on the outer peripheral surface 5a of the lead wire 5 due to environmental changes in temperature and humidity, the condensed water W is connected to the surface 5a of another adjacent lead wire 5 while maintaining its surface tension, and When it penetrates into the inside of the upper connector from the gap 13 of each terminal insertion port 3a of the upper connector 1, a so-called conductive state is established, and as a result, a short circuit or a leak occurs between the connection terminals (electrodes).

  Therefore, at least the upper connector is not a conventional method in which the periphery of the insertion port of each terminal insertion hole is surrounded by an elastic seal material, or a conventional method of providing a waterproof elastic rod near the insertion end of an electric cable or lead wire. There is a demand for the appearance of a connector that has a new appearance configuration and can reliably obtain a waterproof effect.

JP 2001-160451 A

  An intended object of the present invention is that a waterproof effect can be reliably obtained by making use of the function of the external configuration of the upper connector itself, without inserting an elastic seal into the gap between each terminal insertion opening of the upper connector 1. is there. The second purpose is to reduce the manufacturing cost. The third purpose is to ensure that the connection terminals on the upper connector side and the connection terminals on the lower connector side are securely coupled when fitted.

  The lead wire connector of the present invention has an upper connector having a plurality of upper terminal insertion holes on the upper surface, and a plurality of lower terminal insertion holes respectively facing the upper terminal insertion holes on the lower surface, and the upper connector. In a lead wire connector comprising a lower connector that is directly or indirectly coupled to the lower portion of water, water adhering to the surface of one upper lead wire inserted and held in the upper terminal insertion hole or insertion of the upper terminal The top surface of the upper connector is formed in a stepped shape so that the water that has entered the hole does not conduct with the adjacent lower lead wires while maintaining the surface tension.

  The above configuration is characterized in that at least one of the upper and lower lower terminal insertion ports 3a is positioned stepwise with respect to the upper one upper terminal insertion port 3a. Further, the lower upper terminal insertion port 3a in the diagonal direction is positioned in a stepped manner with respect to the upper one upper terminal insertion port 3a. Further, when the fitting portion 8b of the housing 8A of the upper connector and the upper end portion of the lower connector are fitted together, each terminal 6 on the upper side held by the terminal holding portion 8a of the housing 8A and the housing of the lower connector 2A The upper surface of the housing 11A corresponds to the vertical position of the insertion tip of each of the upper terminals 6 so that the lower terminals 7 held by 11A are integrally coupled, and It is characterized by being formed in a stepped shape through the fitting groove 15.

  Here, “the water adhering to the surface of the lead wire or the water entering the upper terminal insertion hole” includes water condensed on the surface of the lead wire, rain water, or salt water that flies on the sea breeze. included.

(1) For example, the upper connector prevents water condensed on the surface of one lead wire inserted and held in the upper terminal insertion hole from being in conduction with other adjacent lead wires while maintaining its surface tension. Since the upper surface of the upper connector 1 is formed in a stepped shape, it is possible to reliably obtain a waterproof effect by utilizing the function of the external configuration of the upper connector itself without inserting an elastic seal in the gap between the terminal insertion openings of the upper connector 1. .
(2) Since it is only necessary to form the end portion of the upper connector in a stepped shape corresponding to the position of the adjacent terminal insertion opening, a waterproof member is not required, and as a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. it can.
(3) Since the upper surface of the housing 11A of the lower connector 2A is also formed in a stepped shape through the fitting groove, the connection terminal on the upper connector side and the connection terminal on the lower connector side are securely coupled when fitted.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 are explanatory views showing the best embodiments of the present invention. 8 to 11 are explanatory views showing an example of the prior art.
The conceptual diagram which shows the state which fitted 1 A of upper connectors, and 2 A of lower connectors. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the center part of FIG. The perspective view of female type housing 8A of upper connector 1A. A front view of female housing 8A. The perspective view of male type housing 11A of a lower connector. The top view of 11 A of male type housings. Schematic explanatory drawing to the effect that water in a water droplet state is separated by a step portion. Schematic explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional connector X for lead wires (the upper connector and the lower connector are in a separated state). The schematic explanatory drawing of the state which the upper connector and the lower connector couple | bonded. The perspective view of the female housing 8 of an upper connector. The perspective view of the male housing 11 of a lower connector.

  The lead wire connector X1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is an improvement of the lead wire connector X shown in FIGS. In addition, the lead wire connector X1 is an improvement in the external configuration of the conventional lead wire connector X. Therefore, for convenience of explanation, the reference numerals of the lead wire connector X are used, and the same components are identical or The same reference numerals are assigned and redundant descriptions are omitted.

First, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the upper connector 1A and the lower connector 2A are fitted. As with the conventional lead wire connector X, the lead wire connector X1 includes an upper connector 1A having a plurality of upper terminal insertion holes 3 on the upper surface, and a lower terminal insertion facing the upper terminal insertion hole 3 on the lower surface. The lower connector 2A has a hole 4 and is directly (in this embodiment) or indirectly (for example, via a cylindrical connector) coupled to the lower portion of the upper connector 1A.
The upper connector 1A includes a female housing 8A and a plurality of connection terminals (for example, male terminals) 6 that are respectively inserted into the terminal insertion holes 3 from the plurality of terminal insertion ports 3a on the upper surface of the female housing 8A. And a plurality of lead wires 5 on the upper side in which insertion tip portions are respectively crimped to the connection terminals 6.

  Similarly, the lower connector 2A, which is the counterpart of the upper connector 1A, has a plurality of male housings 11A and a plurality of terminals inserted into the respective terminal insertion holes 4 from the plurality of terminal insertion ports 4a on the lower surface of the male housing 11A. It consists of connection terminals (for example, female terminals) 7 and a plurality of lead wires 5 on the lower side in which insertion tips are respectively crimped to these connection terminals 7.

  2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the central portion of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the female housing 8A, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the female housing 8A. As is clear from these drawings, the upper surface of the female housing 8A constituting the upper connector 1A is formed in a stepped shape so that the condensed water W is separated.

  That is, the water W condensed on the surface of one lead wire 5 inserted and held in a plurality of (for example, nine in total) upper insertion holes 3 or the water W that has entered the upper insertion holes 3 has its surface tension. The upper surface of the female housing 8A of the upper connector 1A is formed in a plurality of steps so as not to be in conduction with other adjacent lead wires 5 in the maintained state.

  Here, referring to FIG. 3, the terminal holding portion 8a of the female housing 8A has a total of nine terminal insertion ports 3a aligned in the left-right and front-rear direction on the upper surface thereof. 3a is located in steps with respect to each other. In other words, the central terminal insertion port 3a is positioned one step higher than the left and right front / rear terminal insertion ports 3a, and the left / right front / rear terminal insertion ports 3a are diagonal to the central terminal insertion port 3a. It is located one step higher than the terminal insertion port 3a located in the direction.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, at least the other terminal insertion ports 3a in the left-right or front-rear direction are positioned stepwise with respect to one terminal insertion port 3a. Further, the other terminal insertion ports 3a in the diagonal direction are also positioned in steps with respect to one terminal insertion port 3a.

  In addition, when other terminal insertion ports 3a exist not only in the left and right or / and front and rear directions of one terminal insertion port 3a serving as a reference, but also in the diagonal direction of the terminal insertion port 3a serving as a reference, The terminal insertion openings 3a need to be stepped so as not to have the same height.

  In the embodiment, the reference terminal insertion port 3a is positioned higher than the left and right and front and rear direction terminal insertion ports 3a by a required amount, and the left and right and front and rear terminal insertion ports 3a are the reference terminal insertions. It is positioned higher than the terminal insertion port 3a located in the diagonal direction with respect to the port 3a.

  Although the height of the step is not particularly limited in numerical value, water condensed on the outer peripheral surface of one lead wire 5 gathers on one upper surface having the terminal insertion port 3a serving as a reference, and becomes a droplet shape. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, when the water W in the form of water drops flows down the vertical surface or the inclined surface forming the step of each terminal holding portion 8a, the water gathered on the high upper surface and the other lower upper surface As long as the water and the falling water are separated from each other.

  By the way, since the male terminals 6 held in the insertion holes 3 of the terminal holding portions 8a of the female housing 8A of the upper connector 1A have the same length, in this embodiment, they are connected to the terminal holding portions 8a. The lower end surfaces of the fitting portions 8b to be provided are also stepped.

  Next, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the external configuration of the male housing 11A of the lower connector 2A. As described above, the lower connector 2A includes the male housing 11A and a plurality of connection terminals (for example, females) respectively inserted into the terminal insertion holes 4 from the plurality of terminal insertion ports 4a on the lower surface of the male housing. Terminal) 7 and a plurality of lead wires 5 on the lower side each having an insertion tip portion crimped to each of the connection terminals 7.

  Therefore, the length of each female terminal 7 is standardized in the same manner as the length of the male terminal 6 and is the same length, the same shape, etc. Therefore, the upper end portion of the male housing 11A of the lower connector 2A is also connected to the upper connector 1A. The shape is the same as the terminal holding portion 8a of the female housing 8A.

  In other words, since the insertion tips of the male terminals 6 held by the terminal holding portions 8a of the female housing 8A are positioned differently, the fitting portion 8b of the female housing 8A and the male type are inserted. The upper surface of the male housing 11A is positioned in the vertical direction of the insertion tip of each male terminal 6 so that each male terminal 6 and each female terminal 7 are integrally coupled when the housing 11A is fitted together. Are formed in steps.

  The upper surface of the upper end portion of the male housing 11A is formed with a fitting groove 15 that looks like a streak or a lattice in plan view. In the present embodiment, the lower end portion of the male housing 11A is also formed in a step shape, but this is not an essential matter of the invention.

  FIG. 7 shows, for example, water condensed on the surface of one lead wire 5 inserted and held in the upper terminal insertion hole 3 of the upper connector 1A or water W such as water droplets, rain water, and salt water entering the upper terminal insertion hole 3. In the state where the surface tension is maintained, it flows from the upper surface of the stepped shape of the female housing 8A to the lower upper surface so as not to be connected to the surface of another adjacent lead wire 5 or the terminal of the insertion tip. It is shown that the male terminals 6 and 6 are separated from each other on a vertical plane so as not to be in a conductive state.

  Since the lead wire connector X1 is an example showing the technical idea of the present invention, if the number of the terminal insertion holes 3 and 4 is plural, the number is not limited to the embodiment.

  The present invention is used for connecting, for example, an electric lock side lead wire attached to a door and a door frame side lead wire. Further, the upper connector 1A and the lower connector 2A may be of a type that is coupled via a cylindrical coupling body that is fitted to the butted portions of the connectors 1A and 2A.

X1 ... Lead wire connector, 1A ... Upper connector, 2A ... Lower connector, 3 ... Upper terminal insertion hole, 3a ... Terminal insertion port, 4 ... Lower terminal insertion hole, 4a ... Terminal insertion port, 5 ... Lead wire, 6 ... Connection terminal (for example, male terminal), 7 ... Connection terminal (for example, female terminal), 8A ... Female housing, 8a ... Terminal holding portion, 8b ... Fitting portion, 11A ... Male housing, 15 ... Fitting groove, W ... Condensed water.

Claims (4)

An upper connector having a plurality of upper terminal insertion holes on the upper surface, and a plurality of lower terminal insertion holes respectively opposed to the upper terminal insertion holes on the lower surface, and directly or indirectly coupled to the lower portion of the upper connector In the lead wire connector comprising the lower connector, the water adhering to the surface of the upper one lead wire inserted and held in the upper terminal insertion hole or the water entering the upper terminal insertion hole A lead wire connector characterized in that the upper surface of the upper connector is formed in a step shape so as not to be in a conductive state with an adjacent lower lead wire in a state where tension is maintained. In claim 1, at least one of the upper and lower lower terminal insertion ports 3a is positioned in a stepped manner with respect to the upper one upper terminal insertion port 3a. Lead wire connector. 2. The lead wire connector according to claim 1, wherein the lower upper terminal insertion port 3a in the diagonal direction is positioned stepwise with respect to the upper one upper terminal insertion port 3a. 2. Each terminal on the upper side held by the terminal holding portion 8a of the housing 8A when the fitting portion 8b of the housing 8A of the upper connector 1A and the upper end portion of the lower connector 2A are fitted together. 6 and the lower terminal 7 held by the housing 11A of the lower connector 2A are integrally connected to each other so that the upper surface of the housing 11A is positioned in the vertical direction of the insertion tip of each upper terminal 6 And a lead wire connector characterized by being formed in a stepped shape with a fitting groove 15 therebetween.

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