JP2012113987A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce adhesion of foreign materials such as dust to the seal surface of a seal member for sealing between a connector housing and a cap.SOLUTION: This waterproof connector mounted with a short-circuit terminal 20 having a plurality of pin-shaped connection parts 21 to which a plurality of female terminal fittings 10 can be connected includes a connector housing 30 capable of housing the female terminal fittings 10 while having a hood part 31, a cover 50 for covering the opening part of the hood part 31, and a rubber ring 70 mounted to the cover 50 and stuck fast to the inner peripheral surface of the hood part 31 over the entire circumference to fluid-tightly seal between the hood part 31 and the cover 50. The cover 50 is movably provided in a sealed state between an initial position of engagement at which the rubber ring 70 is positioned at the front end opening fringe part of the hood part 31 and a completion position of engagement at which the rubber ring 70 is housed in the back side of the hood part 31.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector having a short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting a plurality of terminal fittings.

As this type of waterproof connector, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. This waterproof connector includes a connector housing that houses terminal fittings, a terminal holding body that has a short-circuit terminal and is attached to the connector housing, and a cap that is attached to the connector housing so as to cover the bus bar body and the connector housing. Configured. A plurality of cavities that open in the front-rear direction are provided inside the connector housing, and a batch rubber plug having a wire insertion hole provided corresponding to the rear end opening of each cavity is provided behind the connector housing. It is installed. An electric wire connected to the terminal fitting is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole, and when the terminal fitting is accommodated in the cavity from the rear and the terminal fitting is accommodated in a proper position, the electric wire insertion hole The inner peripheral lip provided on the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire inserted into the cable, so that the waterproof property in the cavity is achieved.
After attaching all terminal fittings in the cavity of the connector housing, the terminal holder is attached to the connector housing from the front, and the short-circuit terminals are connected to all the terminal fittings accommodated in the cavity. Are to be short-circuited.

  On the other hand, the cap has a hood shape and is provided so as to accommodate a connector housing on which a bus bar body is mounted. When the connector housing and the cap are properly fitted, the outer peripheral lip of the batch rubber plug attached to the rear of the connector housing is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cap and the water resistance inside the cavity is improved. It is supposed to be.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-15204

  However, in this type of waterproof connector, the cap and the connector housing are stored separately, and the cap is assembled and fitted to the connector housing after the terminal fitting is mounted in the cavity of the connector housing. Therefore, until the cap is attached to the connector housing, the outer peripheral lip of the collective rubber plug remains exposed. Moreover, since a general lump rubber stopper is impregnated with oil, foreign matters such as dust are likely to adhere to the outer peripheral lip. Further, since the waterproof connector is mounted with the batch rubber plug exposed behind the connector housing, the operator touches the batch rubber plug when fitting the cap with the connector housing. There is a possibility that foreign matter may adhere to the outer peripheral lip. For this reason, when the connector housing and the cap are fitted, there is a possibility that a foreign matter is sandwiched between the outer peripheral lip and the cap, resulting in a gap, and the waterproofness is lowered due to the gap.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the adhesion of foreign matters such as dust to the sealing surface of a sealing member that seals between a connector housing and a cap. To do.

  As means for achieving the above object, the present invention provides a waterproof connector comprising a short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting a plurality of terminal fittings, and a connector housing having a hood portion and capable of accommodating the terminal fittings. A cover that closes the opening of the hood, and a liquid tight seal between the hood and the cover by being attached to the cover and closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the hood over the entire circumference. A sealing member that seals, and the cover includes a fitting initial position where the sealing member is located at a front end opening edge of the hood portion, and the back side of the hood portion where the sealing member is located relative to the fitting initial position. It is characterized in that it is provided so as to be movable in a sealed state between the fitting completion position located at the position.

  According to the waterproof connector having such a configuration, it is not necessary to manage the cover and the connector housing separately, and the seal member is always in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion. Can be reduced as much as possible. In addition, the cover and connector housing can be properly fitted by simply moving the cover from the mating initial position to the mating completion position after all the terminal fittings have been installed, and the cover and connector housing can be mated. Can be improved.

The following configuration is preferable as an embodiment of the present invention.
The said cover is good also as a structure provided with the cover wall which covers the front-end opening edge part of the said food | hood part.
According to such a configuration, since the front edge opening edge of the hood portion is covered with the covering wall, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the hood portion as compared with the case where there is no covering wall. .

The cover is provided on the cover wall, and is engaged with a pair of holding protrusions provided on an outer surface of the connector housing at the initial fitting position, thereby a pair of locking grooves for preventing the cover from being removed, A pair provided with a locking hole for holding the cover and the connector housing in a regular fitting position by locking with a pair of locking protrusions provided on the outer surface of the connector housing at the fitting completion position. The pair of elastic locking pieces rides on the locking projections and elastically deforms in the fitting process between the cover and the connector housing, and the cover and the When the connector housing reaches a normal fitting position, the locking protrusion is accommodated in the locking hole and is elastically restored, and the elastic locking piece has a front end in the fitting direction, It may be the locking projection abuts Configurations in serial fitting the initial position.
According to such a configuration, the cover at the initial mating position is restricted from moving in the removal direction, and the cover at the initial mating position is unintentionally moved toward the mating completion position. The movement can be restricted.

The pair of elastic locking pieces are formed to extend forward in the fitting direction from a rear end portion in the fitting direction of the cover, and base end portions on both side edges of the elastic locking pieces are integrated with the cover wall. You may make it the structure currently formed in this.
According to such a configuration, the covering wall and the elastic locking piece can be in a relationship of reinforcing each other. Thereby, the rigidity of an elastic locking piece can be improved compared with the case where a cover wall and an elastic locking piece are separated and formed separately. Further, the rigidity of the entire cover can be improved.

The pair of locking protrusions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the hood portion in a plane orthogonal to the fitting direction, and the pair of holding protrusions are located at the approximate center of the pair of locking protrusions. You may make it the structure which has shifted and arranged in the opposite direction.
According to such a configuration, when an external force acts so as to be inclined with respect to the cover held in the normal fitting posture at the initial fitting position, the fitting direction front end portion in the locking groove, When the holding projection comes into contact with the connector housing, it is possible to restrict the cover from being inclined.

A lance that extends in a cantilevered manner from the inner wall of the connector housing is provided inside the connector housing, and holds the terminal fitting in the connector housing, and between the lance and the inner wall of the connector housing. The lance is provided with a bending space, and the lance is pressed by the terminal fitting in the process of mounting the terminal fitting on the connector housing, and is bent and deformed in the bending space. It is configured to return elastically by reaching a normal fitting position mounted at a position and engage with the terminal fitting, and the cover is fitted into the hood portion and accommodated in the bending space. In the half-inserted state before the terminal fitting reaches the regular fitting position, the lance is bent into the bending space. Wherein the fitting portion and the locking hole by interfering with the engaging protrusion may be not made structure can lock.
According to such a configuration, when the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state, the lance is bent and deformed in the space, and when the cover is attached to the connector housing, the fitting portion interferes with the lance and is fitted. The part cannot be accommodated in the bending space. As a result, it is possible to detect that the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state because the locking hole and the locking projection cannot be locked.

The sealing member may be configured to be attached to the fitting portion.
According to such a configuration, since the seal member can be attached to the fitting portion, it is not necessary to separately provide the fitting portion and the seal attachment portion for attaching the seal member to the cover. The whole can be reduced in size.

In the connector housing, a terminal accommodating portion for accommodating the plurality of terminal fittings side by side is formed, and the bending space is provided in such a manner that the bending spaces of the adjacent lances are connected to each other. The fitting portion is provided in a horizontally flat plate shape corresponding to the region in which the terminal accommodating portion is provided, and the fitting portion is provided on the connector housing. You may make it the structure accommodated in the said bending space so that an inner wall and the outer surface of the said terminal metal fitting may be followed.
According to such a structure, since the inner peripheral wall which accommodates a terminal metal fitting is comprised by a fitting part and a terminal accommodating part, a connector housing can be reduced in height.

The cover wall is provided with a lid portion that is connected to the proximal end side of the fitting portion and can be brought into contact with the front end in the fitting direction of the hood portion, and the lid portion includes the fitting portion. A detection hole that faces the seal member fitted to the cover may be formed.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to confirm whether or not the seal member is mounted from the detection hole even when the cover is disposed at either the initial position of the fitting or the position of the completion of the fitting.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can reduce that foreign materials, such as dust, adhere to the sealing surface of the sealing member which seals between a connector housing and a cap.

The top view which shows the state before fitting the cover and connector housing which concern on embodiment Side view The exploded perspective view of the waterproof connector concerning an embodiment Front view of the connector housing according to the embodiment VV line sectional view of FIG. Rear view of the cover according to the embodiment The front view which shows the state by which the cover was hold | maintained in the fitting initial position in the connector housing which concerns on embodiment VIII-VIII line partially broken sectional view of FIG. The top view which shows the state by which the cover was partially fractured in the state by which the cover was hold | maintained in the fitting completion position to the connector housing which concerns on embodiment Sectional drawing equivalent to the state which the connector housing and cover of FIG. 8 reached the fitting completion position Sectional drawing equivalent to the state which the lance of the connector housing of FIG. 8 and the fitting part of the cover contact | abutted

<Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the waterproof connector according to this embodiment is a connector housing that can accommodate a plurality of female terminal fittings (corresponding to “terminal fittings” of the present invention) 10 connected to the electric wires W. 30, a short-circuit terminal 20 to which a plurality of female terminal fittings 10 are connected, a cover 50 attached to the connector housing 30, and a rubber ring that seals between the connector housing 30 and the cover 50 (“seal of the present invention” 70 corresponding to “member”. In the following description, “front” and “rear” refer to the front side and the rear side in the operation direction for fitting the connector housing 30 and the cover 50 together.

  The female terminal fitting 10 includes a rectangular tube-shaped connection tube portion 11 to which the short-circuit terminal 20 is connected, a wire barrel 12 provided behind the connection tube portion 11, and an insulation provided further rearward of the wire barrel 12. And a construction barrel 13. The connection cylinder part 11 is provided with a locking step part 14 slightly protruding from the outer surface of the connection cylinder part 11 on the upper surface side opposite to the bottom plate 11A.

  The wire barrel 12 is electrically connected to the female terminal fitting 10 and the electric wire W by being crimped and crimped to the core wire W1 of the electric wire W. The insulation barrel 13 is caulked and crimped to the insulation coating W2 of the electric wire W and the cylindrical rubber plug G fitted to the insulation coating W2.

  The connector housing 30 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a flat shape extending long in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the connector housing 30 is formed such that the front part is wider than the rear part in the front-rear direction substantially central part, and the thickness dimension of the front part is rearward. It is larger in the vertical direction than the thickness dimension of the part.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front end portion of the connector housing 30 is a hood portion 31 that opens toward the front, and the terminal housing portion 32 is behind the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral edge of the front end of the hood portion 31 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners at the upper and lower corners, and the corners located above are gentler than the corners located below. It is formed in a large arc shape. The front end opening of the hood portion has a horizontally long circular shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear portion of the outer surface located on both lateral sides of the hood portion 31 is formed to bulge slightly outward, and a locking projection 33 is provided at the center thereof. It has been.

  The locking projection 33 has a front inclined surface 33A that is inclined in a direction away from the outer surface of the hood portion 31 from the front to the rear, and is parallel to the outer surface of the hood portion 31 from the rear end of the front inclined surface 33A. And extending from the rear end thereof toward the outer surface of the hood portion 31 so as to be orthogonal to the outer surface of the hood portion 31. In addition, holding projections 34 having front ends in the front and rear direction substantially central portions are formed on the outer surfaces of the hood portion 31 located on both sides in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holding projection 33 extends from the front to the rear in a direction away from the outer surface of the hood portion, and then extends in parallel with the outer surface of the hood portion 31 from the rear end. It is formed to extend slightly rearward and to extend perpendicularly from the rear end toward the outer surface of the hood portion, and the surface orthogonal to the outer surface of the hood portion 31 is a rear vertical surface 34A. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding projection 34 is disposed with an offset of substantially the same dimension in the opposite direction with the substantially central portion in the horizontal direction as a boundary. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the central position in the vertical direction of the hood portion 31 is formed to be offset upward from the central position in the vertical direction of the terminal accommodating portion 32.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of cavities 35 in which the female terminal fittings 10 are accommodated are formed inside the terminal accommodating portion 32, and the cavities 35 and the hood portions 31 are disposed in front of the cavities 35. The terminal holding part 36 which hold | maintains the short circuit terminal 20 is located between.

  The cavities 35 are formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction from the rear end of the terminal holding portion 36 to the rear end of the connector housing 30, and a plurality of cavities 35 (five in the present embodiment) are provided side by side. Each cavity 35 is opened circularly toward the rear, and is provided so that the female terminal fitting 10 can be accommodated from the rear. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a lance 37 is provided on the upper surface of the inner wall of the cavity 35 so as to be cantilevered from the position of the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the terminal accommodating portion 32 toward the front. Yes.

  The lance 37 can be elastically bent and deformed upward, and when the female terminal fitting 10 is properly inserted into the cavity 35, the lance 37 is inserted into the connecting tube portion 11 of the female terminal fitting 10 from the rear. By being pressed, it is elastically bent upward and deformed, and when the female terminal fitting 10 is properly inserted to the normal position, it is elastically restored and is locked with the locking step 14 of the connecting tube portion 11. Thus, the female terminal fitting 10 is held in the cavity 35.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the cavity 35 accommodates the connecting tube portion 11 of the female terminal fitting 10 in the front portion thereof, and accommodates the rubber plug G fitted to the electric wire W in the rear portion thereof. It is like that. When the rubber plug G is accommodated in the cavity 35, the rubber plug G is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W and the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 35, thereby sealing the inside of the cavity 35 in a liquid-tight manner. .

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the terminal holding portion 36 is provided over the entire region in the lateral direction of the terminal accommodating portion 32 so that a short-circuit terminal 20 described later is inserted from the hood portion 31 and attached. It has become. A concave groove 36 </ b> A is formed on the upper surface of the terminal holding portion 36 in a region corresponding to each cavity 35. In addition, a plurality of terminal insertion holes 38 provided corresponding to the cavities 35 are formed inside the terminal holding portion 36. The terminal insertion hole 38 is open in the front-rear direction, and has a form communicating with the internal space of the hood portion 31 and the cavity 35.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a recessed portion 39 extending rearward from the rear wall 31 </ b> A of the hood portion 31 is formed above the terminal holding portion 36 and the front portion of each cavity 35 in the terminal accommodating portion 32. . The recess 39 is provided at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the back wall 31 </ b> A of the hood portion 31. Further, the vertical length of the recess 39 is smaller than the vertical length of the hood portion 31, and the horizontal length of the recess 39 is equal to the horizontal length of the terminal holding portion 36. It is set almost the same. Further, the inner part of the recess 39 is a bending space 40 that is accommodated when the lance 37 of the cavity 35 is bent and deformed upward. That is, the lower inner surface in the inner part of the recess 39 is constituted by the upper surface of the lance 37, and the inner space of the recess 39 communicates with the cavity 35. Moreover, the bending space 40 is collectively provided in the area | region in which the terminal accommodating part 32 was provided in the aspect in which the bending spaces 40 of the adjacent lances 37 continued.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the short-circuit terminal 20 includes a plurality of elongated pin-like connecting portions 21 extending in the front-rear direction and a connecting portion 22 that connects the plurality of pin-like connecting portions 21 in parallel in the lateral direction. . The pin-like connecting portion 21 has a base end portion 21 </ b> A that is slightly wider in the lateral direction than the other portions. Further, the pin-like connecting portion 21 is formed so as to be able to be inserted into the terminal insertion hole 38 in the terminal holding portion 36 of the terminal accommodating portion 32, and the pin-like connecting portion 21 is inserted to a normal position with respect to the terminal insertion hole 38. Then, the base end portion 21 </ b> A of the pin-like connecting portion 21 is press-fitted into the inner walls located on both sides of the terminal insertion hole 38 in the lateral direction. In this way, since the short-circuit terminal 20 is held by the terminal holding portion 36, the workability of assembling the short-circuit terminal 20 with respect to the connector housing 30 rather than forming the connector housing by insert-molding the short-circuit terminal. Is easy.

  Further, when the pin-like connecting portion 21 is inserted to a proper position, the pin-like connecting portion 21 is inserted to a position where the connecting cylinder portion 11 of the female terminal fitting 10 is accommodated in the cavity 35. Thereby, when the female terminal fitting 10 is mounted in each cavity 35, the connecting tube portion 11 and the pin-like connecting portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 10 are electrically connected, and each female die is connected by the connecting portion 22. The terminal fitting 10 is short-circuited.

  On the other hand, the cover 50 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, a horizontally long lid 51 and a pair extending forward from both lateral ends of the lid 51. The elastic locking piece 52 and a pair of cover walls 53 extending forward from both ends of the lid portion 51 in the vertical direction. The covering wall 53 is continuous with both side edges of the elastic locking piece 52 and the outer peripheral edge of the lid part 51. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the cover 50 is roughly formed in a hood shape that opens forward, and is formed so that the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30 can be fitted therein. As shown in FIG. 6, the front end opening of the cover 50 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners at the upper and lower four corners, and is provided corresponding to the outer shape of the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30. The cover 50 is formed so that the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30 is accommodated therein. Further, the corner portion located above the front end opening of the cover 50 is formed in an arc shape which is gentler and larger than the corner portion located below, similarly to the outer peripheral edge of the front end of the hood portion 31, and the cover 50 and the connector housing 30. Are formed so as not to be misfitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the outer peripheral shape of the lid part 51 is substantially the same as the opening edge part of the cover 50, and as shown in FIG. 10, the opening part of the hood part 31 is closed from the front. .

  A fitting part 54 extending forward is formed on the front side of the lid part 51. The fitting portion 54 has a generally flat plate shape, and is formed such that the plate thickness dimension decreases toward the tip. The lid portion 51 is connected to the proximal end side of the fitting portion 54 and can come into contact with the front end of the hood portion 31 in the fitting direction. Further, a front portion of the fitting portion 54 from the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction is a concave fitting portion 55 that can be accommodated in the concave portion 39 in the terminal accommodating portion 32 of the connector housing 30.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the distal end portion of the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is accommodated in each bending space 40 of the terminal accommodating portion 32 in a lump so as to restrict each lance 37 from being bent and deformed upward. It has become. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is provided with a wall portion 55 </ b> A standing up and down. When the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is accommodated in the recessed portion 39, the wall portion 55A is fitted into the recessed groove 36A of the terminal holding portion 36 in the terminal accommodating portion 32, and the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is guided to a proper position. Playing a role. The wall portion 55 </ b> A also serves to reinforce the recessed portion fitting portion 55.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are properly fitted, the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is accommodated and accommodated in the recessed portion 39 in the terminal accommodating portion 32 of the connector housing 30. An inner wall located above the front end of the cavity 35 among the inner peripheral wall that accommodates the female terminal fitting 10 is configured. As a result, the inner wall located above the front end of the cavity 35 is constituted by the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion 32, and further, the inner wall of the cavity 35 is equivalent to the inner wall of the cavity 35 as compared with the case where the recess fitting portion 55 is accommodated above the inner wall. Only the connector housing 30 can be reduced in height.

  The rear portion of the fitting portion 54 from the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction is a rubber ring mounting portion 56 to which the rubber ring 70 is fitted, and a rubber ring pressing portion that is widened over the entire circumference of the rubber ring mounting portion 56. 57. Further, the rubber ring mounting portion 56 and the rubber ring pressing portion 57 are formed so as to be accommodated in the hood portion 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the rubber ring 70 has an annular shape and is attached to the rubber ring attachment portion 56 from the front. In addition, the rubber ring 70 is provided with an inner peripheral lip 71 that can be adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the rubber ring mounting portion 56 over the entire circumference on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 31 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A plurality of outer peripheral lips 72 (two in the present embodiment) that can be in close contact with each other are provided.

  The rubber ring pressing portion 57 is located behind the rubber ring mounting portion 56 and is in close contact with the rear end portion of the rubber ring 70 over the entire circumference. The rubber ring pressing portion 57 plays a role of pushing the rubber ring 70 into the inner portion of the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30 when the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are fitted. Further, the rubber ring pressing portion 57 also plays a role of positioning when the rubber ring 70 is mounted on the rubber ring mounting portion 56 from the front.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.3 and FIG.7, the detection hole 58 penetrated in the front-back direction is provided in the cover part 51. FIG. The detection holes 58 are provided on both lateral sides of the fitting portion 54 and are formed so as to face the rubber ring 70 attached to the rubber ring attachment portion 56. That is, the rubber ring 70 can be visually recognized from the rear of the lid portion 51. Thereby, even when the cover 50 is fitted to the connector housing 30, it is confirmed whether or not the rubber ring 70 is attached to the rubber ring attachment portion 56 by checking the detection hole 58 from the rear of the cover 50. Can be done.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the both elastic locking pieces 52 are formed so as to face each other in the lateral direction and sandwich the hood portion 31 from both lateral sides. Further, the elastic locking piece 52 is configured to bend and deform elastically toward the outer side in the lateral direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the elastic locking piece 52 is set at a position corresponding to the locking projection 33 of the hood portion 31 and is formed in a U shape that opens rearward. In addition, a rectangular locking hole 52 </ b> A is formed at the center of the elastic locking piece 52, and extends between the elastic locking piece 52 and both lateral ends of the lid 51. The locking hole 52 </ b> A is provided inside so as to accommodate the locking projection 33 of the hood portion 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the corner portion located at the center in the vertical direction inside the front ends of both elastic locking pieces 52 has a tapered surface 52B that is tapered so as to be inclined inward from the front toward the rear. Has been.

  When the cover 50 is assembled to the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30 and fitted to each other, the elastic locking piece 52 and the tapered surface 52B of the elastic locking piece 52 and the front inclined surface 33A of the locking projection 33 of the hood portion 31 are formed. , The elastic locking piece 52 bends and deforms outward and rides on the locking projection 33. Furthermore, when the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are fitted together, as shown in FIG. 9, the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are brought into a fitting completion position where they are properly fitted, and the locking projections 33 are locked into the locking holes. The elastic locking piece 52 is elastically restored by being accommodated in 52A. Accordingly, the cover 50 is held at the fitting completion position with respect to the connector housing 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover wall 53 extends forward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the lid portion 51 located between both elastic locking pieces 52 to the same position as the front end portion of the elastic locking piece 52. Has been. Further, the covering wall 53 is connected from the position of the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction on the both side edges of the elastic locking piece 52 to the position of the rear end portion. In other words, the cover wall 53 reinforces the elastic locking piece 52 from the rear end to the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction so that the elastic locking piece 52 is easily bent and is damaged. By making the bendable region as short as possible, the rigidity of the elastic locking piece 52 is increased and the locking force on the locking projection 33 is increased. In addition, elastic pieces 59 are provided at positions corresponding to the holding projections 34 of the hood portion 31 at the front end portion of the covering wall 53. A pair of slits 60 extending from the front end of the covering wall 53 toward the rear are provided on both sides of the elastic piece 59. Thereby, both elastic pieces 59 can be elastically bent and deformed outward.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, a locking groove 61 extending from a position slightly behind the front end of the elastic piece 59 to the lid portion 51 is provided on the inner surface of the elastic piece 59. The locking groove 61 is provided so as to correspond to the holding projection 34 of the hood portion 31 and can accommodate the holding projection 34. Therefore, when the cover 50 is assembled to the hood portion 31 of the connector housing 30 and fitted together, the holding projection 34 is accommodated in the locking groove 61 as shown in FIG. The front edge 61A of the locking groove 61 in the elastic piece 59 is locked, and the cover 50 does not fall off from a state where it is fitted to the connector housing 30 by about half (in a fitting initial position described later). It is like that. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8, in the cover 50, the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is shallowly fitted to the recessed portion 39, and the rubber ring mounting portion 56 is disposed on the front end opening edge of the hood portion 31. As shown in FIG. 10, the fitting is completed when the recessed portion fitting portion 55 is accommodated in the recessed portion 39 and the rubber ring mounting portion 56 is disposed at the back of the hood portion 31. It can move between positions. That is, in a state where the cover 50 is assembled to the connector housing 30 at the initial fitting position, the female terminal fitting 10 can be attached to the cavity 35, and the cover 50 is assembled to the connector housing 30 at the fitting completion position. In this state, the female terminal fitting 10 is held in the cavity 35 so as not to come off.

  Further, in a state where the locking groove 61 of the elastic piece 59 and the holding projection 34 are locked, the tapered surface 52B of the elastic locking piece 52 and the front inclined surface 33A of the locking projection 33 of the hood portion 31 are in contact with each other. Since they are in contact with each other, the cover 50 can be prevented from unintentionally moving in the fitting direction from the fitting initial position toward the fitting completion position, and the cover 50 is temporarily moved to the fitting initial position. It can be locked.

  In addition, since both holding projections 34 and the locking grooves 61 in both elastic pieces 59 are offset to the opposite sides of the hood portion 31 and the cover 50 at the substantially central portion in the horizontal direction, Even if an external force is applied to the cover 50 held in a regular posture at a position so as to be inclined, the front edge of the locking groove 61 and the holding projection 34 come into contact with each other. It can control that 50 becomes a posture inclined with respect to a regular fitting posture.

  Now, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the rubber ring 70 fitted to the rubber ring mounting portion 56 in the fitting portion 54 of the cover 50 is arranged at the initial fitting position and the fitting completion position. In this state, the rubber ring mounting portion 56 and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 31 are in close contact with each other. Specifically, the inner peripheral lip 71 of the rubber ring 70 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rubber ring mounting portion 56, and the outer peripheral lip 72 of the rubber ring 70 extends over the inner peripheral surface and the entire periphery of the hood portion 31. It is in close contact. That is, the rubber ring 70 is always in a sealed state in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rubber ring mounting portion 56 and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 31 while the cover 50 moves from the initial fitting position to the fitting completion position. ing.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a method for electrically short-circuiting and connecting a plurality of female terminal fittings 10 using the waterproof connector of the present embodiment will be described. The operational effects of will be described.

  First, the connector housing 30 in which the cover 50 is mounted at the initial fitting position and the female terminal fitting 10 connected to the electric wire W are prepared. As shown in FIG. 8, the cover 50 arranged at the initial fitting position is in contact with the rear vertical surface 34 </ b> A of the holding projection 34 and the front edge 61 </ b> A of the locking groove 61 in the cover wall 53, and the hood 31. The front inclined surface 33A of the locking protrusion 33 and the tapered surface 52B of the elastic locking piece 52 are in contact with each other. As a result, the cover 50 is temporarily engaged with the connector housing 30 at the initial fitting position with the outer peripheral lip 72 of the rubber ring 70 in close contact with the inner peripheral edge of the front end opening of the hood 31 over the entire periphery. It has been stopped. That is, since the waterproof connector of the present embodiment can be shipped with the cover 50 placed at the initial mating position, the direction in which the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are mated is confirmed one by one at the shipping destination. Since it is not necessary to fit each other, it is possible to improve work efficiency on the shipping destination side.

  Next, when the female terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the respective cavities 35 of the connector housing 30 from the rear, the connecting tube portion 11 of the female terminal fitting 10 contacts and slides on the lance 37, and the lance 37 is moved upward. Bend and deform. Further, when the female terminal fitting 10 is inserted and the female terminal fitting 10 is properly inserted to the proper position, the lance 37 is elastically restored, and the locking step 14 of the connecting tube portion 11 and the front end of the lance 37 are restored. The female terminal fitting 10 is prevented from coming out of the cavity 35 backward. In this way, the female terminal fitting 10 is attached to all the cavities 35. Thereby, the plurality of female terminal fittings 10 can be electrically connected to each other to short-circuit each female terminal fitting 10.

  Finally, when all the female terminal fittings 10 are connected to the connector housing 30, the cover 50 is moved from the initial mating position to the mating complete position, and as shown in FIG. By fitting the fitting portion 55 into the concave portion 39 of the terminal accommodating portion 32, the distal end portion of the concave portion fitting portion 55 is accommodated in the bending space 40 of the terminal accommodating portion 32. Then, the upper surface of the distal end portion of the recess fitting portion 55 is in close contact with the upper inner surface of the bending space 40, and the lower surface of the distal end portion of the recess fitting portion 55 is in close contact with the upper surface of the lance 37. The displacement is restricted by the portion 55, and the waterproof connector in which the female terminal fitting 10 is doubly locked is completed.

  Further, in the fitting process between the cover 50 and the connector housing 30, the rubber ring 70 in the rubber ring mounting portion 56 is pushed into the inner portion of the hood portion 31 by the rubber ring pressing portion 57, and the outer peripheral lip 72 of the rubber ring 70 is The hood portion 31 slides in close contact with the inner peripheral wall of the hood portion 31. That is, while the cover 50 is moved from the initial mating position to the mating completion position, the inner peripheral lip 71 is always in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rubber ring mounting portion 56, and the outer peripheral lip 72 is always in the hood portion. This is in a state of being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of 31 so that foreign matters such as dust do not adhere to the seal surface. Thereby, it can prevent that a foreign material penetrate | invades between the outer peripheral lip 72 and the internal peripheral surface of the hood part 31, and waterproofness falls.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the cover 50 can be shipped in a state where it is held at the initial fitting position, it can be transported and stored, and even during the assembly process of the female terminal fitting 10. The outer peripheral lip 72 and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 31 are always in close contact with each other, and foreign matter can be prevented from being caught between the outer peripheral lip 72 and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the cover wall 53 of the cover 50 covers both the upper and lower sides of the opening edge of the rubber ring 70 and the hood portion 31 in a state where the cover 50 is temporarily locked at the initial fitting position. Therefore, the entry of foreign matter such as dust into the hood portion 31 from the opening of the hood portion 31 is restricted, and the attachment of foreign matter to the rubber ring 70 is reduced.

  Further, in the fitting process between the cover 50 and the connector housing 30, the tapered surface 52 </ b> B of the elastic locking piece 52 in the cover 50 and the front inclined surface 33 </ b> A of the locking projection 33 in the hood portion 31 slide to elastically engage. The stop piece 52 rides on the locking projection 33. Then, when reaching the fitting completion position where the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are properly fitted with each other, the locking projection 33 is received in the locking hole 52A of the elastic locking piece 52 as shown in FIG. Thus, the elastic locking piece 52 is elastically restored, and the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are held in the normal fitting state (fitting completion position).

  However, if at least one female terminal fitting 10 inserted into the cavity 35 of the connector housing 30 is in a half-inserted state, the lance 37 is moved by the connecting tube portion 11 of the female terminal fitting 10 as shown in FIG. It is in a state of being bent and deformed upward, and is in a state of being accommodated in the bending space of the terminal accommodating portion 32. Then, when the cover 50 is moved from the fitting initial state to the fitting completed state, the tip of the recess fitting portion 55 of the cover 50 interferes with the tip of the lance 37 in the recess 39, and the recess fitting portion 55. Cannot be fitted into the recess 39. Accordingly, the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 cannot be properly fitted, and the locking hole 52A of the elastic locking piece 52 of the cover 50 and the locking projection 33 of the hood portion 31 cannot be locked. It can be detected that any of the female terminal fittings 10 is in a half-inserted state.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the recess fitting portion 55 is formed at the tip of the fitting portion 54, and the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are accommodated in the recess 39 when the cover 50 and the connector housing 30 are properly fitted. Although the terminal metal fitting 10 is configured to be doubly locked, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, it is not necessary to form the recess fitting portion 55 in the fitting portion 54 by separately using a front retainer that can be accommodated in the recess 39.
(2) In the embodiment described above, the cover 50 moves from the initial mating position toward the mating completion position unintentionally by bringing the elastic latching piece 52 into contact with the latching protrusion 33 of the hood portion 31. Although configured to regulate this, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, a temporary locking protrusion is provided in front of the holding protrusion 34, and a temporary locking protrusion that can be locked to the protrusion is provided in the center of the locking groove 61 of the cover wall 53. You may make it do.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the recess fitting portion 55 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is configured to be collectively fitted into the bending space 40 of the recess 39, so that the deformation of each lance 37 is collectively regulated. The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, you may comprise the recessed part fitting part 55 in the comb shape which connected the control part which can be fitted to each bending space 40. FIG.

10: Female terminal fitting (terminal fitting)
20: Short circuit terminal 30: Connector housing 31: Hood part 32: Terminal accommodating part 33: Locking protrusion 34: Holding protrusion 37: Lance 40: Deflection space 50: Cover 51: Cover part 52: Elastic locking piece 52A: Locking Hole 53: Covering wall 54: Fitting part 58: Detection hole 61: Locking groove 70: Rubber ring (seal member)

Claims (9)

A waterproof connector having a short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting a plurality of terminal fittings,
A connector housing having a hood portion that can accommodate the terminal fitting, a cover that closes the opening of the hood portion, and a cover that is attached to the cover and closely contacts the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion. A seal member that seals between the hood portion and the cover in a liquid-tight manner,
The cover includes a fitting initial position where the seal member is located at a front end opening edge of the hood portion, and a fitting completion position where the seal member is located on the back side of the hood portion with respect to the fitting initial position. A waterproof connector characterized by being provided so as to be movable in a sealed state.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a covering wall that covers a front end opening edge portion of the hood portion. The cover is
A pair of locking grooves provided on the cover wall and locking the pair of holding protrusions provided on an outer surface of the connector housing at the initial fitting position, thereby preventing the cover from coming off;
A pair provided with a locking hole for holding the cover and the connector housing in a regular fitting position by locking with a pair of locking protrusions provided on the outer surface of the connector housing at the fitting completion position. And is configured with an elastic locking piece,
In the process of fitting the cover and the connector housing, the pair of elastic locking pieces rides on the locking protrusion and elastically deforms, and when the cover and the connector housing reach a normal fitting position, The locking protrusion is accommodated in the locking hole and is configured to return elastically,
The waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a front end portion in the fitting direction of the elastic locking piece is in contact with the locking protrusion at the fitting initial position. The pair of elastic locking pieces are formed to extend forward in the fitting direction from the rear end portion in the fitting direction of the cover,
The waterproof connector according to claim 3, wherein base end portions on both side edges of the elastic locking piece are formed integrally with the cover wall. The pair of locking protrusions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the hood portion in a plane orthogonal to the fitting direction,
5. The waterproof connector according to claim 3, wherein the pair of holding protrusions are arranged so as to be shifted in opposite directions with respect to a substantial center of the pair of locking protrusions. A lance that extends in a cantilevered manner from the inner wall of the connector housing is provided inside the connector housing, and holds the terminal fitting in the connector housing, and between the lance and the inner wall of the connector housing. , A bending space of the lance is provided,
The lance is pressed by the terminal fitting in the process of attaching the terminal fitting to the connector housing, and is bent and deformed in the bending space to reach a normal fitting position where the terminal fitting is attached at a regular position. It is configured to return elastically and lock with the terminal fitting,
The cover is formed with a fitting portion that fits in the hood portion and is accommodated in the bending space.
In the half-inserted state before the terminal metal fitting reaches the normal fitting position, the lance is bent into the bending space and interferes with the fitting portion, whereby the locking hole and the locking protrusion The waterproof connector according to claim 3, wherein the waterproof connector cannot be locked.   The waterproof connector according to claim 6, wherein the seal member is attached to the fitting portion. In the connector housing, a terminal accommodating portion for accommodating the plurality of terminal fittings side by side is formed,
The bending space is collectively provided in a region where the terminal accommodating portion is provided in a mode in which the bending spaces of the adjacent lances are continuous with each other.
The fitting portion is provided in a horizontally flat plate shape corresponding to the region where the terminal accommodating portion is provided,
The waterproof connector according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the fitting portion is accommodated in the bending space along an inner wall of the connector housing and an outer surface of the terminal fitting. The cover wall is provided with a lid portion that is connected to the proximal end side of the fitting portion and can be brought into contact with the front end in the fitting direction of the hood portion, and the lid portion includes the fitting portion. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein a detection hole is formed to face the seal member that is fitted to the seal member.

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