JP2012243739A - Rubber plug - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To certainly hold predetermined waterproofness.SOLUTION: In an electric insertion hole 12 of a rubber plug body 11, a terminal fitting 70 is made to pass through, and then an electric wire connected to the terminal fitting 70 is inserted. On an inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole 12 of the rubber plug body 11, protection lips 14F and 14R, and a waterproof lip 15 are formed to be aligned in a passing direction of the terminal fitting 70. The protection lips 14F and 14R are positioned on a front side in the passing direction of the terminal fitting 70. During the passing of the terminal fitting 70, the terminal fitting 70 interferes with the protection lips 14F and 14R, so that the protection lips 14F and 14R fall down to the waterproof lip 15 side to cover an apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15. Furthermore, after the passing of the terminal fitting 70, the protection lips 14F and 14R are elastically displaced in a returning direction to retract from the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15, the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15 is stuck to an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90.

Description

  The present invention relates to a rubber plug.

  A conventional rubber stopper is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This is provided with a rubber plug body having an electric wire insertion hole, and an electric wire is inserted into and closely attached to the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body. The electric wire is connected to the terminal fitting, and the terminal fitting is passed through the electric wire insertion hole prior to the electric wire. Further, a plurality of strips of lips are formed side by side on the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body. The inner diameter of each lip is made smaller than the outer dimensions of the terminal fitting and the outer diameter of the electric wire.

JP 2002-50430 A

  In the conventional rubber plug described above, when the terminal fitting passes through the wire insertion hole of the rubber plug main body, the terminal fitting interferes with all the lips. If the lip that contributes to waterproofing is worn and damaged, there is a situation that it is difficult to ensure a predetermined waterproof property.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to ensure a predetermined waterproof property.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a rubber plug body having an electric wire insertion hole, and after the terminal fitting is passed through the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body, The electric wire connected to the terminal fitting is inserted and brought into intimate contact, thereby waterproofing around the electric wire, and a protective lip and waterproofing are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug main body. Lips are formed side by side in the direction of passage of the terminal fitting, and the protective lip is positioned on the front side in the passage direction of the terminal fitting, and the terminal fitting interferes with the protective lip while passing through the terminal fitting. By doing so, the protective lip falls to the waterproof lip side to cover the top of the waterproof lip, and further, after passing through the terminal fitting, the protective lip is elastically displaced in the return direction from the top of the waterproof lip. The Kukoto, having characterized in that the apex of the waterproof lip is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wire.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the protective lips are arranged on both sides of the waterproof lip.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the inner diameter of the protective lip is made smaller than the inner diameter of the waterproof lip.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one according to any one of the first to third aspects, the surface of the outer surface of the protective lip that is in sliding contact with the terminal fitting during the passage of the terminal fitting is defined as the first surface. When the opposite surface is a second surface, the first surface is characterized in that it has a gentler slope in the passing direction of the terminal fitting than the second surface.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a surface of the outer surface of the protective lip on which the terminal fitting is in sliding contact with the first surface is defined as the first surface. In this case, the first surface is characterized in that a step is formed on which the terminal fitting can be hooked.

<Invention of Claim 1>
In the process in which the terminal fitting is passed through the wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body, the protective lip falls to the waterproof lip side by interference with the terminal fitting and covers the top of the waterproof lip. There is no contact. On the other hand, after passing through the terminal fitting, the protective lip is elastically displaced in the return direction and retracts from the waterproof lip, so that the top of the waterproof lip is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. The Therefore, it is avoided that the waterproof lip contributing to waterproofing is worn and damaged by the terminal fitting. As a result, predetermined waterproofness is ensured.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the protective lips are disposed on both sides of the waterproof lip, the waterproof lip is protected by the protective lip even when the rubber plug body is inverted, and the predetermined waterproof property is more reliably maintained. The waterproof lip is also protected by the protective lip when the terminal fitting is pulled out from the wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the inner diameter of the protective lip is smaller than the inner diameter of the waterproof lip, the protective lip can reliably cover the top of the waterproof lip while passing through the terminal fitting.

<Invention of Claim 4>
The first surface with which the terminal fitting is slidably contacted has a gentler slope in the passing direction than the second surface on the opposite side, so that the protective lip can easily fall down to the waterproof lip side and the insertion resistance is reduced. In addition, the protective lip can securely cover the top of the waterproof lip.

<Invention of Claim 5>
Since the step where the terminal fitting can be hooked is formed on the first surface where the terminal fitting slides, the protective lip can be pulled following the terminal fitting and the protective lip can reliably cover the top of the waterproof lip. Become.

It is sectional drawing showing the state just before the rubber plug which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is integrated in a connector, and a terminal metal fitting with an electric wire is inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug main body. It is sectional drawing showing the state which the terminal metal fitting with an electric wire was inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug main body, and the front end of the terminal metal fitting contacted the protective lip. It is sectional drawing showing the state in which the terminal metal fitting with an electric wire is inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug main body, and a protective lip covers the top of a waterproof lip when pushing in a terminal metal fitting. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the state after the terminal metal fitting with an electric wire was passed through the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug main body. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the state in which the terminal metal fitting with an electric wire is inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug main body, and a protective lip covers the top of a waterproof lip at the time of extraction of a terminal metal fitting. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a principal part fracture side view of a rubber stopper. It is a front view of a rubber stopper.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The rubber plug 10 according to the present embodiment is incorporated in a connector 60 as shown in FIG. The connector 60 includes a connector housing 61 made of synthetic resin. The connector housing 61 has a block shape and has a plurality of cavities 62 therein. A terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the cavity 62 of the connector housing 61. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the direction in which the terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the cavity 62 is defined as the front, and the direction in which the terminal fitting 70 is extracted from the cavity 62 is defined as the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a housing recess 63 capable of housing the rubber plug 10 is formed in the rear portion of the connector housing 61. The housing recess 63 is configured to open to the rear surface of the connector housing 61, and the rear end of each cavity 62 faces the front surface. In addition, the holder 80 is assembled to the rear portion of the connector housing 61 after the rubber stopper 10 is accommodated in the accommodating recess 63. The rubber stopper 10 is held in the accommodation recess 63 by the holder 80 so as not to come off. The holder 80 is formed with a plurality of wire insertion holes 81 through which the wire 90 connected to the terminal fitting 70 is inserted in a loosely-fitted state after the terminal fitting 70 has passed.

  The terminal fitting 70 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like, and has a box-shaped terminal body 71 as shown in FIG. A male tab (not shown) is inserted and connected to the terminal body 71 from the front. A barrel portion (not shown) is formed at the rear portion of the terminal body 71. The barrel portion is crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire 90, and thereby the electric wire 90 is connected to the terminal fitting 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer dimensions of the terminal main body 71 are larger than the outer diameter of the electric wire 90, and a stepped portion 75 is formed between the rear end of the terminal main body 71 and the electric wire 90. The outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 is lowered by one step in the diameter reducing direction from the outer peripheral surface of the terminal main body 71 via the step portion 75.

  The rubber plug 10 is made of rubber such as silicon rubber, and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is formed of a flat block-shaped rubber plug main body 11 having four rounded corners. The rubber plug main body 11 is formed with a plurality of wire insertion holes 12 penetrating in the front-rear direction. Each wire insertion hole 12 is arranged coaxially with the respective cavity 62 of the connector housing 61 and each wire insertion hole 81 of the holder 80 in the front-rear direction and aligned in the height direction and the width direction. And as shown in FIG. 5, after the terminal metal fitting 70 passes into the electric wire insertion hole 12 of the rubber plug main body 11, the electric wire 90 is inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of outer peripheral lips 13 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rubber plug main body 11 side by side. Each outer peripheral lip 13 is in the form of a rib that surrounds the entire outer peripheral surface of the rubber plug body 11. Specifically, each outer peripheral lip 13 has a substantially semicircular cross section, has substantially the same protruding dimension, and has substantially the same shape. In the state where the rubber plug main body 11 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 63, as shown in FIG. 1, each outer peripheral lip 13 is elastically brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation recess 63, whereby the inside of the connector housing 61 is liquid tight. Sealed.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 9, protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R and a waterproof lip 15 are formed side by side on the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole 12 of the rubber plug body 11. Each of the protective lips 14F, 14R and the waterproof lip 15 has a rib shape surrounding the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole 12 over the entire circumference. The waterproof lip 15 is disposed at the center in the front-rear direction of the wire insertion hole 12, and the protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R are disposed in pairs on the front and rear sides sandwiching the waterproof lip 15. Further, the protective lips 14F and 14R have a substantially symmetrical shape with respect to the front and rear direction center of the waterproof lip 15, and in the case of this embodiment, the rubber plug 10 as a whole has a substantially symmetrical shape.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the waterproof lip 15 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, is slightly thinner than the outer peripheral lip 13 and thicker than the protective lips 14F, 14R, and has three outer peripheral lips 13 in the front and rear direction. Of these, they are arranged at substantially the same front-rear position as the outer peripheral lip 13 in the middle. The front surface of the waterproof lip 15 is a front protective slope 16F inclined toward the rear, and the rear surface of the waterproof lip 15 is a rear protective slope 16R inclined toward the front. The inclination angles of both protective slopes 16F and 16R are substantially the same. The inner ends of the protective slopes 16F and 16R are connected to each other via a substantially arcuate apex 17.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R are arranged close to the waterproof lip 15. In this case, the separation distance between the protective lips 14F, 14R and the waterproof lip 15 is smaller than the separation distance between the adjacent outer peripheral lips 13. Further, the protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R have projecting dimensions larger than the waterproof lip 15. In other words, the inner diameter of the protective lips 14F and 14R is smaller than the inner diameter of the waterproof lip 15.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the front surface of the front protective lip 14 </ b> F is a front first surface 18 </ b> F that gradually decreases in diameter from the front end side of the wire insertion hole 12 toward the rear. The rear surface of the rear protective lip 14 </ b> R is a rear first surface 18 </ b> R that gradually decreases in diameter from the rear end side of the wire insertion hole 12 toward the front. The first surfaces 18F and 18R are steeply reduced in diameter at positions closer to the center than the front and rear end sides and closer to the waterproof lip 15 side. A plurality of steps 19 are formed on the first surfaces 18F and 18R of the protective lips 14F and 14R. As shown in FIG. 4, each step 19 is partitioned by a vertical surface 21 facing the front and rear opening surfaces of the wire insertion hole 12 and a horizontal surface 22 facing the axial center side of the wire insertion hole 12, and protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R. It is connected in a staircase pattern toward the top 23 of.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the rear surface of the front protective lip 14F is a front second surface 24F substantially along the height direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Further, the rear surface of the rear protective lip 14R is a rear second surface 24R substantially along the height direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The front second surface 24F is disposed to face the front protective slope 16F, and the rear second surface 24R is disposed to face the rear protective slope 16R. Further, the first surfaces 18F and 18R have a gentler slope in the front-rear direction than the second surfaces 24F and 24R. The inner ends of the first surfaces 18F and 18R and the second surfaces 24F and 24R are connected to each other via a substantially pointed apex 23. The protective lips 14F and 14R are flexible so that they can be pushed down by the terminal fitting 70 and fall into the protective lips 14F and 14R.

The structure of the rubber plug 10 and the like according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, an operation of passing the terminal fitting 70 through the wire insertion hole 12 of the rubber plug 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the rubber plug is connected in a state where the electric wire 90 is connected to the terminal fitting 70, the rubber plug body 11 is received in the receiving recess 63 of the connector housing 61, and the holder 80 is assembled to the connector housing 61. The terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole 12 of the main body 11 from the rear. In this case, the terminal main body 71 of the terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole 81 of the holder 80 in a substantially positioned state, whereby the insertion posture of the terminal main body 71 into the electric wire insertion hole 12 is corrected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the terminal body 71 is inserted shallowly into the wire insertion hole 12, the rear side protective lip 14 </ b> R located on the front side in the insertion direction (passing direction) of the terminal fitting 70 contacts the terminal body 71. Touch. At this time, the front end edge of the terminal body 71 is hooked and locked to the step 19 of the protective lip 14R.

  Further, when the terminal body 71 is pushed into the wire insertion hole 12, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal body 71 is protected due to the hook between the terminal body 71 and the step 19 and the frictional resistance between the terminal body 71 and the protective lip 14R. The lip 14R follows the terminal fitting 70 and is dragged in the insertion direction (forward). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the protective lip 14 </ b> R falls to the waterproof lip 15 side and elastically extends forward, and the vertex 23 covers the vertex 17 of the waterproof lip 15. Further, the protective lip 14R is elastically sandwiched between the terminal body 71 and the waterproof lip 15, and the waterproof lip 15 is pressed and elastically pressed against the terminal body 71 via the protective lip 14R. And while the terminal main body 71 is inserted in the electric wire insertion hole 12, the outer peripheral surface of the terminal main body 71 slides on the 1st surface 18R of the protective lip 14R. For this reason, between the terminal metal fitting 70 and the waterproof lip 15 is maintained in a substantially non-contact state.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the terminal main body 71 (terminal fitting 70) passes through the wire insertion hole 12 and is inserted into the cavity 62 of the connector housing 61, the protective lip 14 </ b> R becomes higher than the stepped portion 75. As a result, it is elastically displaced in the return direction and retracts from the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15, and the apex 23 of the protective lip 14 </ b> R contacts the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90. Simultaneously with the retraction of the protective lip 14 </ b> R, the waterproof lip 15 is also elastically displaced in the return direction, and its apex 17 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90. Thereafter, even when the terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the cavity 62 at a normal depth, the state where the apex of the waterproof lip 15 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 is maintained. Accordingly, the periphery of the electric wire 90 is liquid-tightly sealed by the waterproof lip 15.

  By the way, when the terminal fitting 70 is removed from the cavity 62 of the connector housing 61 for maintenance or the like, the electric wire 90 is picked and pulled backward. Then, the rear end edge of the terminal body 71 comes into contact with the front protective lip 14F and is hooked and locked to the step 19 of the protective lip 14F. Further, when the terminal main body 71 enters the electric wire insertion hole 12 from the front side, the protective lip 14F follows the terminal fitting 70 and is dragged rearward as shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the front protective lip 14 </ b> F falls to the waterproof lip 15 side and elastically extends rearward so that the vertex 23 covers the vertex 17 of the waterproof lip 15. Therefore, even when the terminal fitting 70 is pulled out, the waterproof lip 15 is protected by the front protective lip 14F.

  Even when the rubber plug main body 11 is turned upside down, the front protective lip 14F in the above wraps around to the rear side and functions as the rear protective lip 14R. For this reason, when the terminal fitting 70 passes, the protective lip 14F covers the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15. Therefore, regardless of the direction of the rubber plug 10, the protective function by the protective lips 14F and 14R is exhibited.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the process (passing process) in which the terminal fitting 70 is passed through the wire insertion hole 12 of the rubber plug body 11, the protective lips 14 </ b> F and 14 </ b> R are interfered with the terminal fitting 70. The waterproof lip 15 does not substantially contact the terminal fitting 70 because it falls to the waterproof lip 15 side and covers the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15. On the other hand, after passing through the terminal fitting 70, the protective lips 14F and 14R are elastically displaced in the return direction and retracted from the waterproof lip 15, whereby the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90. The lip 15 provides waterproofing around the electric wire 90. Therefore, the waterproof lip 15 that contributes to waterproofing is prevented from being damaged by the terminal fitting 70. As a result, predetermined waterproofness is ensured.

  Further, since the protective lips 14F and 14R are arranged on both the front and rear sides of the waterproof lip 15, the waterproof lip 15 is protected by the protective lips 14F and 14R even when the rubber plug body 11 is reversed forward and backward. Waterproofness is more reliably maintained. In this case, the waterproof lip 15 is similarly protected when the terminal fitting 70 is pulled out. Moreover, since the inner diameters of the protective lips 14F and 14R are smaller than the inner diameter of the waterproof lip 15, the protective lips 14F and 14R can reliably cover the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15 while passing through the terminal fitting 70. Become.

Furthermore, since the first surfaces 18F and 18R with which the terminal fitting 70 is slidably contacted have a gentler slope in the front-rear direction than the second surfaces 24F and 24R on the opposite side, the waterproof lip 15 side of the protective lips 14F and 14R This makes it easy to fall down, reduces the insertion resistance, and allows the protective lips 14F, 14R to reliably cover the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15.
Furthermore, since the step 19 on which the terminal fitting 70 can be hooked is formed on the first surfaces 18F, 18R with which the terminal fitting 70 is slidably contacted, the protective lips 14F, 14R are pulled following the terminal fitting 70, and the protective lip 14F and 14R can reliably cover the apex 17 of the waterproof lip 15.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment 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) It is only necessary that the protective lip is positioned on the front side of the terminal fitting in the passing direction. In the case of the first embodiment, the front protective lip can be omitted.
(2) The step can be omitted. For example, instead of a step, a structure in which the followability to the terminal fitting is improved by increasing the frictional resistance by performing a satin finish on the surface of the protective lip.
(3) The second surface of the protective lip may be disposed so as to be inclined forward and backward from the height direction.
(4) The protective lip may have a structure that does not extend when covering the top of the waterproof lip as long as it has a sufficient protruding height.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Rubber plug 11 ... Rubber plug main body 12 ... Electric wire insertion hole 14F ... Front side protective lip 14R ... Rear side protective lip 15 ... Waterproof lip 17 ... Vertex 18F ... Front side first surface 18R ... Rear side first surface 19 ... Step 24F ... Second side on the front side 24R ... Second side on the rear side 60 ... Connector 61 ... Connector housing 62 ... Cavity 70 ... Terminal fitting 90 ... Electric wire

Claims (5)

A rubber plug body having an electric wire insertion hole is provided, and after the terminal fitting is passed through the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body, the electric wire connected to the terminal fitting is inserted and brought into close contact therewith, thereby A rubber plug that waterproofs the wire,
On the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole of the rubber plug body, a protective lip and a waterproof lip are formed side by side in the passing direction of the terminal fitting, and the protective lip is located on the front side in the passing direction of the terminal fitting. And
During the passage of the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting interferes with the protective lip, so that the protective lip falls to the waterproof lip side and covers the top of the waterproof lip,
After passing through the terminal fitting, the protective lip is elastically displaced in the return direction and retracts from the top of the waterproof lip so that the top of the waterproof lip is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wire. plug.   2. The rubber plug according to claim 1, wherein the protective lip is disposed on both sides of the waterproof lip.   The rubber plug according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner diameter of the protective lip is smaller than an inner diameter of the waterproof lip.   Of the outer surface of the protective lip, when the surface on which the terminal fitting is slidably contacted during the passage of the terminal fitting is the first surface and the opposite surface is the second surface, the first surface is the first surface. The rubber plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rubber plug has a gentle slope in the direction of passage of the terminal fitting from two surfaces.   In the outer surface of the protective lip, when the surface on which the terminal fitting is slidably contacted during the passage of the terminal fitting is the first surface, a step is formed on the first surface so that the terminal fitting can be caught. The rubber stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

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