JP2014186819A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof connector capable of improving waterproofness between a housing and a conductive member such as a shell and a contact.SOLUTION: On the surface of an arm 33b of the shell buried into the housing, in order to intercept water immersion along a boundary surface between the housing and the arm 33b, a shell groove 34 is formed in such a manner that the center line thereof in a cross section obliquely extends toward a depth direction from the surface of the arm 33b.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector, and more particularly, to a waterproof connector in which conductive members such as shells and contacts are integrally formed in a housing made of an insulating resin.

In recent years, electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones have been widely used, but these electronic devices are usually provided with connectors for transmitting signals by connecting to external devices. As this type of connector, in order to prevent an electric signal to be transmitted from being affected by an external electromagnetic wave, a connector with a shield against the electromagnetic wave is desired.
Further, in electronic devices, there is a high demand for a waterproof function, and accordingly, development of a waterproof connector having waterproofness is in progress.
Such a connector having both a shield against electromagnetic waves and a waterproof property is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In this connector, as shown in FIG. 32, a contact 2 for conductive connection is arranged inside a cylindrical metal shell 1, and the shell 1 and the contact 2 are made of an insulating resin by insert molding or the like. The housing 3 is integrally molded.

A ground terminal 4 exposed from the housing 3 is formed at the rear end portion of the shell 1. By connecting the ground terminal 4 to a ground pattern or the like of a board on which the connector is mounted, the shell 1 becomes a ground potential. As a result, the contact 2 is shielded.
Further, since the shell 1 is integrally molded in the housing 3, the surface of the shell 1 is in close contact with the insulating resin forming the housing 3, and is grounded from the outside of the connector through the boundary between the housing 3 and the shell 1. Water is prevented from entering the terminal 4 side, that is, the board side on which the connector is mounted.

JP 2012-59540 A

  However, in general, the metal material forming the shell 1 and the resin material forming the housing 3 have different coefficients of thermal expansion. For example, soldering work when mounting the connector on the circuit board of the electronic device, for example, When the connector is exposed to a high temperature environment by reflow mounting, the expansion amount of the shell 1 and the expansion amount of the housing 3 are different, and the insulating resin that is in close contact with the surface of the shell 1 may be peeled off from the surface of the shell 1. is there. Once peeling occurs, a gap is formed between the surface of the shell 1 and the housing 3, and even if the temperature drops to room temperature, there is a risk that water may enter the ground terminal 4 side through this gap. .

In addition, when the mating connector is fitted to the connector, so-called malicious fitting is performed such that the fitting shaft is forcedly engaged from an oblique direction with respect to the fitting shaft, and a large stress is generated between the housing 3 and the shell 1. May act. Also in this case, the insulating resin of the housing 3 may be peeled off from the surface of the shell 1 and the waterproofness of the connector may be impaired.
Further, similarly, when the insulating resin of the housing 3 is peeled off from the surface of the contact 2, the waterproof property is impaired.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector capable of improving the waterproof property between a housing and a conductive member such as a shell and a contact. And

  The waterproof connector according to the present invention is a waterproof connector in which a conductive member is integrally formed with a housing made of an insulating resin, and the conductive member is exposed from the housing and connected to the mating connector, A board mounting portion that is exposed from the housing and attached to the board; and a housing holding portion that is connected between the mating connector connection portion and the board mounting portion and is embedded in the housing. A waterproof shape portion for blocking water intrusion along the interface between the housing holding portion and the housing is formed, and the waterproof shape portion faces the surface of the housing holding portion on the side of the mating connector connecting portion and the board mounting portion side. The center line from the opening to the bottom of the waterproof groove in the cross-sectional shape is the housing holding portion. Those extending obliquely in the depth direction with respect to the surface.

The waterproof groove preferably has a groove depth of 0.01 mm or more.
The waterproof groove preferably has a round groove bottom.
Further, preferably, the waterproof groove is formed so as to be closed around the housing holding portion.
Further, it is preferable that the waterproof groove is formed on all surfaces of the housing holding portion that contacts the housing. In this case, the waterproof groove may have a center line inclined in the same direction with respect to any surface of the housing holding portion, or may be provided on each surface according to a plurality of surfaces of the housing holding portion. The center line may be inclined in different directions.

The waterproof shape part can also have a plurality of waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding part. In this case, the plurality of waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding portion may have centerlines that are inclined in the same direction with respect to the surface, or may be centered with respect to the surface. The line may include waterproof grooves that are inclined in different directions.
The opening of the waterproof groove can be configured to extend in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the housing holding part or obliquely with respect to the central axis of the housing holding part on the surface of the housing holding part.

The conductive member is made of a shell, the mating connector connecting portion is made of a fitting portion that fits with the mating connector, and the housing holding portion includes a shell constriction portion formed narrower than the fitting portion, and is waterproof. The portion can be formed on the surface of the shell constriction.
Alternatively, the conductive member is made of a shell, the mating connector connecting portion is a fitting portion that fits into the mating connector, the housing holding portion has a hollow shape, and the waterproof shape portion is the housing holding portion. It can also comprise so that it may each be formed in the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface.
Further, the conductive member is composed of one or more contacts, the mating connector connecting portion is composed of a contact portion that contacts the contact of the mating connector, and the housing holding portion is formed to be narrower than the contact portion and the board connecting portion. In addition, the waterproof portion may be formed on the surface of the contact constriction portion, including the contact constriction portion.
Further, the conductive member may be constituted by a shell and one or more contacts, and the waterproof shape portion may be formed on the shell and the one or more contacts, respectively.

  According to the present invention, the waterproof shape portion formed on the surface of the housing holding portion of the conductive member embedded in the housing separates the surface of the housing holding portion into the mating connector connecting portion side and the board mounting portion side. The center line extending from the opening to the bottom of the waterproof groove in the cross-sectional shape extends obliquely in the depth direction with respect to the surface of the housing holding portion. It becomes possible to improve waterproofness between members.

1 shows a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view obliquely upward and viewed from the front, (B) is a perspective view obliquely upward and from the rear, and (C) is diagonally downward and forward. The perspective view seen from (D) is the perspective view seen from diagonally downward and back. The shell used for the waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 is shown, (A) is the perspective view seen from diagonally upward and the front, (B) is the perspective view seen diagonally upward and from the back, (C) is diagonally downward and The perspective view seen from the front, (D) is the perspective view seen from diagonally downward and the back. The shell used for the waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a rear view, (C) is a plan view, (D) is a bottom view, and (E) is a side view. is there. 3 is a perspective view showing a shell waterproof shape portion of a shell used in the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of a shell waterproofing shape part. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the shell groove | channel formed in the shell waterproofing shape part. 3 is a development view of a shell used in the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a contact used in the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a contact fixing portion used in the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the fixing | fixed part of a contact. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 with the height of the shell waterproofing shape part. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 in the position of a contact. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 attached to the housing | casing. The waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 aligned with the board | substrate is shown, (A) is the perspective view seen from diagonally upward and the front, (B) is the perspective view seen diagonally downward and the back. It is a perspective view which shows the waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 mounted in the board | substrate. The waterproof connector of Embodiment 1 attached to the housing | casing is shown, (A) is the perspective view seen from diagonally forward, (B) is the perspective view seen from diagonally back. 6 is a plan view showing a shell used in the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a shell used in a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 3 in the position of the board | substrate attachment part of a shell. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 3 in the position of a contact. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a waterproof groove used in a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a waterproof groove used in a waterproof connector according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a waterproof groove used in a waterproof connector according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 4. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a waterproof groove used in a waterproof connector according to Modification 3 of Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a partial plan view showing a waterproof groove used in a waterproof connector according to Modification 4 of Embodiment 4. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional waterproof connector.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The waterproof connector includes a housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, a plurality of contacts 20 fixed to the housing 10, and a shell 30 fixed to the housing 10 and shielding the plurality of contacts 20. The housing 10 is made of an insulating resin, and the contacts 20 and the shell 30 are made of a conductive metal material.

The shell 30 has a hollow fitting portion 31 that opens to the front surface 10 a side of the housing 10, and a space S for fitting with the mating connector is formed inside the fitting portion 31. A contact portion 21 disposed at the front end of each contact 20 is disposed in the space S of the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30. On the other hand, the board connecting portions 22 arranged at the rear ends of the respective contacts 20 are exposed to the outside of the housing 10 from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10.
The shell 30 has a pair of board mounting portions 32, and these board mounting portions 32 are exposed from the lower surface 10 c of the housing 10 to the outside of the housing 10.

  2 and 3, the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 has a central axis C1 and a cylindrical shape with a flat cross-sectional shape elongated in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C1. Here, for convenience, the direction extending parallel to the central axis C1 from the front to the rear of the fitting portion 31 is the X direction, the surface from which the upper surface 31a of the flat fitting portion 31 extends is the XY surface, and the upper surface of the fitting portion 31 A direction perpendicular to 31a and directed downward is referred to as a Z direction.

The shell 30 has a holding portion 33 that connects between the fitting portion 31 and the pair of substrate mounting portions 32. The holding portion 33 constitutes a housing holding portion in the shell 30, and a rear protruding portion 33 a protruding in the X direction along the central axis C <b> 1 of the fitting portion 31 from the center of the upper rear end of the fitting portion 31. A pair of arms 33b extending from the rear end of the rearward projecting portion 33a to both the directions parallel to the upper surface 31a of the flat fitting portion 31 and perpendicular to the central axis C1, that is, the Y direction and the -Y direction, respectively. A pair of leg portions 33c extending downward from the tip of the portion 33b, that is, in the Z direction is included. And the board | substrate attaching part 32 is connected to the lower end of a pair of leg part 33c, respectively. The pair of board mounting portions 32 are formed to extend from the rear to the front of the fitting portion 31, that is, on the XY plane and in the −X direction.
The rear projecting portion 33a, the pair of arm portions 33b, and the pair of leg portions 33c of the holding portion 33 all form a shell narrowing portion that is thinner than the fitting portion 31, and the holding portion having such a shell narrowing portion. 33 is embedded in the housing 10 when the shell 30 is molded into the housing 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of shell grooves 34 parallel to each other are formed as waterproof grooves on the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of arm portions 33b. Each shell groove 34 is formed so as to surround and surround the periphery of the arm portion 33 b, and the surface of the holding portion 33 is formed between the portion on the fitting portion 31 side and the substrate attachment portion 32 side by each shell groove 34. Separated into parts. These shell grooves 34 form a shell waterproof shape portion for blocking water intrusion along the interface between the holding portion 33 and the housing 10 when the shell 30 is molded into the housing 10. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shell groove 34 is a groove dug down in an oblique direction, not in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the arm portion 33 b. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the center line C of the shell groove 34 is defined by a straight line connecting the midpoint M of both ends A and B of the opening of the shell groove 34 and the bottom P of the shell groove 34. Then, the shell groove 34 is formed so that the center line C from the opening in the cross-sectional shape to the bottom extends obliquely in the depth direction with respect to the surface of the arm 33b. Here, when the length of the line segment MP composed of the midpoint M of both ends A and B of the opening of the shell groove 34 and the bottom portion P of the shell groove 34 is referred to as the groove depth D of the shell groove 34, the shell In order to block water intrusion along the interface between the 30 holding portions 33 and the housing 10, it is desirable that the groove depth D has a value of 0.01 mm or more, for example. As shown in FIG. 5, due to the formation of the shell groove 34, the plate thickness T2 of the portion where the shell groove 34 is formed is smaller than the plate thickness T1 of the portion where the shell groove 34 is not formed. By digging the groove 34 in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the arm portion 33b, the degree of reduction in the plate thickness T2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the groove having the same groove depth is formed perpendicular to the surface of the arm portion 33b. It's small. That is, the shell groove 34 having the same groove depth can be formed while suppressing a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the arm portion 33b as viewed from the direction in which the current I flows. For this reason, it is possible to suppress an increase in temperature during operation by suppressing an increase in electrical resistance due to a decrease in cross-sectional area while securing a groove depth necessary for waterproofing.

The shell 30 having such a configuration can be manufactured by cutting a conductive metal plate 35 into a shape as shown in FIG. 7 and then bending it with a press or the like. The band-shaped portion 35a is formed into a flat cylindrical shape to form the fitting portion 31, the rear protruding portion 33a protrudes from the central outer edge of the band-shaped portion 35a, and a pair of arm portions 33b are connected to the tips of the rear protruding portion 33a. The pair of leg portions 33c are connected to the tips of the pair of arm portions 33b, and the substrate attachment portion 32 is formed by the flat plate portions 35b connected to the tips of the pair of legs 33c.
As is apparent from the developed view of FIG. 7, arms 33 b each having a shell groove 34 in the middle of the path from the band-shaped portion 35 a forming the fitting portion 31 to the pair of flat plate portions 35 b forming the substrate mounting portion 32. Is present.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the contact 20. The contact 20 is formed of a rod-shaped member or a flat plate member, and a fixing portion 23 is formed between the contact portion 21 and the substrate connecting portion 22. The fixing portion 23 constitutes a housing holding portion in the contact 20, and is a portion that is embedded in the housing 10 and fixed to the housing 10 when being molded into the housing 10 together with the shell 30. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of contact grooves 24 parallel to each other are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 23 as waterproof grooves. Each contact groove 24 is formed so as to surround and surround the periphery of the fixing portion 23, and the contact groove 24 allows the surface of the contact 20 to be in contact with the contact portion 21 side portion and the substrate connection portion 22 side portion. Have been separated. These contact grooves 24 form a contact waterproof shape portion for blocking water intrusion along the interface between the fixed portion 23 and the housing 10 when the contact 20 is molded into the housing 10. .

As shown in FIG. 10, the contact groove 24 is also a groove dug down in an oblique direction, not in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the fixed portion 23, as in the case of the shell groove 34. The contact groove 24 is formed so that the center line C extending to the line extends obliquely in the depth direction with respect to the surface of the fixed portion 23. The groove depth of the contact groove 24 desirably has a value of, for example, 0.01 mm or more in order to block water intrusion along the interface between the fixed portion 23 and the housing 10.
By forming such a contact groove 24 dug down obliquely, the contact groove 24 having the same groove depth can be formed while suppressing a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the fixing portion 23 as viewed from the direction in which the current I flows. In addition, it is possible to suppress an increase in temperature during operation by suppressing an increase in electrical resistance due to a decrease in cross-sectional area while securing a groove depth necessary for waterproofing.

FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of the waterproof connector. The inner surface of the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 is exposed to the front end side of the housing 10, the holding portion 33 in which the shell groove 34 is formed is embedded in the housing 10, and the board mounting portion 32 is exposed from the lower surface 10 c of the housing 10. The housing 20 is configured such that the contact portions 21 of the plurality of contacts 20 are exposed in the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30, the fixing portion 23 is embedded in the housing 10, and the board connecting portion 22 is exposed from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10. 10 is molded integrally with the shell 30 and the plurality of contacts 20.
At this time, the plurality of contacts 20 and the shell 30 are set in a mold (not shown) so that the contact portion 21 of the contact 20 is located in the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30, and the mold is closed and melted in the mold. After injecting the insulating resin material, the housing 10 and the plurality of contacts 20 and the shell 30 are integrally formed by cooling, and the waterproof connector as shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured.

  FIG. 12 shows a state in which the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 1 is cut along the XY plane at the height of the pair of arm portions 33b of the shell 30. FIG. A holding portion 33 of the shell 30 is embedded in the housing 10, and a pair of arm portions 33 b are connected from the fitting portion 31 via the rearward protruding portion 33 a. Further, the inner surface of the fitting portion 31 is exposed without being covered by the housing 10. Since a plurality of shell grooves 34 are formed in the arm portion 33b so as to surround and surround the periphery of the arm portion 33b, as shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 34 appears.

  Moreover, the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector along the XZ surface in the position of the contact 20 is shown in FIG. The contact portion 21 of the contact 20 is exposed in the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30, the substrate connecting portion 22 is exposed to protrude rearward from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10, and the fixing portion 23 is embedded in the housing 10. A cut surface of the arm portion 33 b of the shell 30 is shown above the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20. Since a plurality of contact grooves 24 are formed in the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20 so as to surround and close the periphery of the fixing portion 23, as shown in FIG. 15, on both side edges of the cut surface of the fixing portion 23. Shows the cross-sectional shape of the contact groove 24.

  By integrally molding the housing 10 with the shell 30 and the contact 20, the insulating resin constituting the housing 10 is brought into close contact with the surfaces of the holding portion 33 of the shell 30 and the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20 embedded in the housing 10.

As described above, the holding portion 33 of the shell 30 embedded in the housing 10 has a plurality of arms 33b so as to surround and close the periphery of the arm portion 33b existing in the path from the fitting portion 31 to the board mounting portion 32. A shell groove 34 is formed. For this reason, due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the insulating resin material constituting the housing 10 and the metal material forming the shell 30, or in an oblique direction with respect to the fitting axis when mated with the mating connector Thus, the so-called spurious fitting is performed such that the insulating resin of the housing 10 that is in close contact with the surface of the holding portion 33 of the shell 30 is peeled off from the holding portion 33 and the fitting portion 31 is engaged. Even if water enters along the interface between the holding portion 33 and the housing 10, the water that has entered the arm portion 33 b of the holding portion 33 is blocked by the plurality of shell grooves 34, and the lower surface of the housing 10. It is prevented from reaching the board mounting portion 32 exposed from 10c.
In particular, since the arm portion 33b in which the plurality of shell grooves 34 are formed constitutes a shell constriction portion that is thinner than the fitting portion 31, the amount of water that enters is limited by the narrowing of the water intrusion path. The shell groove 34 can effectively exhibit a waterproof function.

Similarly, since the plurality of contact grooves 24 are formed in the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20 embedded in the housing 10 so as to surround and close the periphery of the fixing portion 23, even if the thermal expansion coefficient is different, or The insulating resin of the housing 10 that is in close contact with the surface of the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20 peels off from the fixing portion 23 and is exposed in the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 due to so-called meantime fitting or the like. Even if water enters from the contact portion 21 along the interface between the fixed portion 23 and the housing 10, the intruded water is blocked by the plurality of contact grooves 24 and exposed from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10. It is prevented to reach the portion 22.
In this way, it is possible to improve the waterproofness between the housing 10 and the shell 30 and the contacts 20 and prevent water from entering the inside of the apparatus, that is, the substrate side on which the waterproof connector is mounted.

Further, since the shell groove 34 and the contact groove 24 are dug down obliquely so that the center line C extending from the opening to the bottom in the cross-sectional shape extends obliquely in the depth direction, the groove depth necessary for waterproofing is increased. While ensuring, the reduction of the cross-sectional area seen from the direction in which the current flows can be suppressed, and the decrease in rigidity of the shell 30 and the contact 20 due to the formation of the groove can be suppressed. As a result, the connector can be assembled with good workability.
Such shell grooves 34 and contact grooves 24 can be formed by using, for example, mechanical processing such as laser processing, press processing, and grinding processing, or chemical processing such as etching.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the waterproof connector according to the first embodiment is used by being mounted on a substrate 41 mounted in a housing 40 of an electronic device such as a mobile phone. An opening 42 corresponding to the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 is formed in the housing 40, and a gap between the inner surface of the housing 40 and the front surface 10 a of the housing 10 at the periphery of the opening 42 is sealed with a gasket 43. The
With this configuration, moisture outside the housing 40 is caused by the plurality of shell grooves 34 of the holding portion 33 of the shell 30 embedded in the housing 10 and the plurality of contact grooves 24 of the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20. The intrusion into the housing 40 from the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 is prevented, and the gasket 43 prevents the intrusion into the housing 40 from between the housing 40 and the housing 10, thereby providing a waterproof function. Can be fulfilled.

  When attaching the waterproof connector in the housing 40, first, as shown in FIG. 17, the board mounting portion 32 of the shell 30 exposed from the lower surface 10c of the housing 10 is connected to the ground pattern 44 on the board 41. And the board connecting portions 22 of the plurality of contacts 20 exposed from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10 are aligned with the wiring pattern 45 on the board 41. Next, by soldering the substrate attachment portion 32 of the shell 30 to the ground pattern 44 on the substrate 41 and soldering the substrate connection portions 22 of the plurality of contacts 20 to the wiring pattern 45 on the substrate 41, FIG. As shown, the waterproof connector is fixed on the substrate 41. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 16, the substrate 41 is fixed in the housing 40, the inner surface of the fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 is exposed through the opening 42 of the substrate 41, and the inner surface of the housing 40 and the housing 10 are exposed. What is necessary is just to make it the state into which the gasket 43 was pushed in between the front surfaces 10a.

  In addition, even if one shell groove 34 is formed instead of forming a plurality of shell grooves 34 in the arm portion 33b of the shell 30, water intrusion along the interface with the housing 10 can be suppressed. A higher waterproof function can be exhibited by forming the plurality of shell grooves 34. Similarly, even if one contact groove 24 is formed instead of forming the plurality of contact grooves 24 in the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20, water intrusion along the interface with the housing 10 can be suppressed. A better waterproof effect can be obtained by forming the plurality of contact grooves 24.

The shell 30 has a pair of substrate mounting portions 32 exposed from the lower surface 10 c of the housing 10. However, the shell 30 may have only one substrate mounting portion 32 or three or more substrate mounting portions 32. In the case where there is one substrate mounting portion 32, one arm portion 33b is formed in the middle of the path from the fitting portion 31 to the substrate mounting portion 32, and the shell groove 34 is formed on the surface of the arm portion 33b. . Further, when the shell 30 has three or more substrate mounting portions 32, the shell 30 may be arranged so that any shell groove 34 exists in the middle of the path from the fitting portion 31 to each of the substrate mounting portions 32. The number of the arm portions 33b in which the shell grooves 34 are formed may be the same as the number of the board mounting portions 32 or may be smaller than the number of the board mounting portions 32.
The fitting portion 31 of the shell 30 has a flat cylindrical shape that covers the entire circumference of the contact portions 21 of the plurality of contacts 20, but is not limited thereto, and the contacts of the plurality of contacts 20 are not limited thereto. Even if only a part of the portion 21 is covered, a shielding effect can be achieved depending on the usage of the waterproof connector. Furthermore, when the shell is used as a member for attaching the waterproof connector to the substrate 41 via the substrate attachment portion 32 without having to obtain a shielding effect, the shell covers the contact portions 21 of the plurality of contacts 20. It does not have to be.

Embodiment 2
In the shell 30 used in the first embodiment, the plurality of shell grooves 34 are formed in the arm portion 33b of the holding portion 33. However, the shell portion 34 is not limited to the arm portion 33b, and is embedded in the housing 10. Thus, it may be formed in the narrowed portion of the holding portion 33 arranged in the middle of the path from the fitting portion 31 to the board mounting portion 32.

  For example, like the shell 50 shown in FIG. 20, a plurality of shell grooves 54 dug down in an oblique direction can be formed on the surface of the rear protrusion 53 a that protrudes rearward from the rear end of the fitting part 51. The shell 50 has the same configuration as that of the shell 30 used in the first embodiment except that a plurality of shell grooves 54 are formed in the rearward protruding portion 53a. That is, the holding portion 53 is disposed between the fitting portion 51 and the pair of board mounting portions 52, and the holding portion 53 is connected to the rear protruding portion 53a and the rear end of the rear protruding portion 53a. And a pair of leg portions 53c connected to the tips of both arm portions 53b, and a board mounting portion 52 corresponding to the tip of each leg portion 53c is connected.

In order to reach both the board mounting portions 52 from the fitting portion 51 along the surface of the shell 50, it is necessary to pass through the rear protrusion 53a, and a plurality of shell grooves 54 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rear protrusion 53a. As a result, it is possible to block water intrusion along the interface between the holding portion 53 and the housing 10.
Similarly, a plurality of shell grooves 54 may be formed on the surfaces of the pair of leg portions 53c instead of the rear projecting portion 53a. Even if it does in this way, the same waterproofing effect will be acquired.

Embodiment 3
In the shells 30 and 50 used in the first and second embodiments, the plurality of shell grooves 34 and 54 are formed in the leg portion 33c and the rearward protruding portion 53a, which are narrow portions, respectively. It is not necessary to form in a part.
FIG. 21 shows an exploded view of the waterproof connector according to the third embodiment. This waterproof connector uses a shell 60 that does not have a narrowed portion instead of the shell 30 in the waterproof connector of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 22, the shell 60 has a hollow flat cylindrical fitting portion 61 and a hollow flat cylindrical holding portion 63 connected to the rear end side of the fitting portion 61. And a pair of board mounting portions 62 are formed so as to protrude from the rear end of the holding portion 63. That is, one cylindrical body is divided into a front end portion and a rear end portion, and the front end portion is used as the fitting portion 61 and the rear end portion is used as the holding portion 63.
The fitting portion 61 covers the periphery of the contact portion 21 disposed at the front ends of the plurality of contacts 20, and the inner surface portion is exposed from the housing 10, and the holding portion 63 has the inner surface portion and the outer surface portion all within the housing 10. Embedded.

A plurality of shell grooves 64 that are parallel to each other are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 63, and a plurality of shell grooves 65 that are parallel to each other are also formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion 63. Each shell groove 64 is formed so as to surround and close the outer periphery of the holding portion 63, and each shell groove 65 is formed so as to close and surround the inner periphery of the holding portion 63. These shell grooves 64 and 65 are dug down in an oblique direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the holding portion 63.
In order to reach both the board mounting parts 62 from the fitting part 61 along the surface of the shell 60, it is necessary to cross the shell groove 64 or the shell groove 65. By these shell grooves 64 and 65, the holding part 63 and the housing Thus, it is possible to block the intrusion of water along the interface with 10.

  FIG. 23 shows a state in which the waterproof connector according to Embodiment 3 is cut along the XZ plane at the position of the board mounting portion 62 of the shell 60. The inner surface of the fitting portion 61 of the shell 60 is exposed without being covered by the housing 10, the holding portion 63 is embedded in the housing 10, and the board mounting portion 62 connected to the rear end of the holding portion 63 is the rear surface of the housing 10. It protrudes from 10b and is exposed. Since the shell grooves 64 and 65 are formed on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion 63, respectively, the shell grooves 64 and 65 are formed on both side edges of the cut surface of the holding portion 63 as shown in FIG. A cross-sectional shape appears.

Moreover, the state which cut | disconnected the waterproof connector along the XZ surface in the position of the contact 20 is shown in FIG. The contact portion 21 of the contact 20 is exposed in the fitting portion 61 of the shell 60, the substrate connecting portion 22 is exposed to protrude rearward from the rear surface 10 b of the housing 10, and the fixing portion 23 is embedded in the housing 10. Since a plurality of contact grooves 24 are formed in the fixing portion 23 of the contact 20 so as to surround and surround the periphery of the fixing portion 23, as shown in FIG. 26, on both side edges of the cut surface of the fixing portion 23. Shows the cross-sectional shape of the contact groove 24.
Thus, even if the shell 60 having the hollow holding portion 63 is used, an excellent waterproof effect can be obtained between the housing 10 and the shell 60 and the contact 20.

Embodiment 4
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, each of the waterproof grooves comprising the shell grooves 34, 54, 64 and 65 and the contact groove 24 used in the first to third embodiments has a sharply pointed groove bottom. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 27, the groove bottom R may be formed by a rounded curved surface. By having such a round groove bottom R, the rigidity of the shell and the contact formed with the waterproof groove is further increased, and the workability in the connector assembly process is improved.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the waterproof groove including the shell grooves 34, 54, 64 and 65 and the contact groove 24 surrounds the housing holding portion including the holding portions 33, 53 and 63 and the fixing portion 23, respectively. However, it is not always necessary to surround the entire circumference of the housing holding portion, and a waterproof effect can be obtained even if it is formed only at a part along the circumference of the housing holding portion. However, it is possible to exhibit a more excellent waterproof function if it is formed so as to surround and close the housing holding portion.

Further, it is desirable that the waterproof grooves are respectively formed on all surfaces of the housing holding portion that contacts the housing 10. If comprised in this way, even if a water | moisture content tries to permeate through any surface among the surfaces of the housing holding part which contacts the housing 10, a water | moisture content permeation can be prevented with the waterproof groove formed in the surface. it can.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, the waterproof grooves may be formed at the same position on either side of the housing holding portion. However, as shown in FIG. Can be formed at different positions by shifting the position by the amount of positional deviation d by the surface of the housing holding portion. 5 and FIG. 10, the waterproof groove has the center line C inclined in the same direction on any surface of the housing holding portion. However, as shown in FIG. The center line C may be inclined in different directions depending on the surface of the housing holding portion.
Thus, the current is generated by shifting the formation position of the waterproof groove G according to the surface of the housing holding part, or by changing the inclination direction of the center line C of the waterproof groove G according to the surface of the housing holding part. The reduction in the cross-sectional area of the shell and the contact as viewed from the flowing direction is further suppressed, and the increase in the electrical resistance and the decrease in the rigidity of the shell and the contact due to the formation of the waterproof groove G can be further suppressed.

In each of the housing holding portions shown in FIGS. 5, 10, 28, and 29, a plurality of waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding portion are inclined in the same direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 30, the center line C includes a plurality of waterproof grooves G inclined in different directions on one surface of the housing holding portion. May be.
In this way, by forming a plurality of waterproof grooves G dug down in different inclination directions on one surface of the housing holding portion, the housing 10 and the housing holding portion are caused by so-called meander fitting or the like. Even if stress is applied from any direction, peeling between the insulating resin of the housing 10 and the housing holding portion is less likely to occur, and the waterproofness can be further improved.

  Furthermore, in the above first to third embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4, 9, 22, and the like, the opening of the waterproof groove is on the center axis of the housing holding portion on the surface of the housing holding portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 31, the opening of the waterproof groove G is formed on the surface of the housing holding portion H with the housing holding portion H. It may be formed to extend obliquely with respect to the central axis HC.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the shell and the contact are formed integrally with the housing 10 and the waterproof grooves are formed in the housing holding portions of both the shell and the contact. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The waterproof groove may be formed only in the housing holding part of either the shell or the contact. However, a more excellent waterproof function can be exhibited by forming waterproof grooves on both the shell and the contact.
In addition, a waterproof groove can be formed in the housing holding portion of one or more contacts of the connector having no shell.

  1 shell, 2 contact, 3 housing, 4 ground terminal, 10 housing, 10a front surface, 10b rear surface, 10c lower surface, 20 contact, 21 contact portion, 22 substrate connection portion, 23 fixing portion, 24 contact groove, 30, 50, 60 Shell, 31, 51, 61 Fitting part, 31a Upper surface of fitting part, 32, 52, 62 Substrate mounting part, 33, 53, 63 Holding part, 33a, 53a Backward projecting part, 33b, 53b Arm part, 33c, 53c Leg part, 34, 54, 64, 65 Shell groove, 35 Metal plate, 35a Band-like part, 35b Flat plate part, 40 Housing, 41 Substrate, 42 Opening part, 43 Gasket, 44 Ground pattern, 45 Wiring pattern, S space , C1 center axis of the fitting part of the shell, C center line of the waterproof groove, R round groove bottom, G waterproof groove, d displacement , H housing holder, the central axis of the HC housing holder.

Claims (16)

In a waterproof connector in which a conductive member is integrally formed with a housing made of an insulating resin,
The conductive member includes a mating connector connecting portion that is exposed from the housing and connected to the mating connector, a board mounting portion that is exposed from the housing and attached to the board, and the mating connector connecting portion and the board mounting. A housing holding part which is connected between the parts and embedded in the housing,
On the surface of the housing holding portion, a waterproof shape portion for blocking water intrusion along the interface between the housing holding portion and the housing is formed,
The waterproof shape portion comprises one or more waterproof grooves formed so as to separate the surface of the housing holding portion into the mating connector connecting portion side and the board mounting portion side, A waterproof connector characterized in that a center line extending from the opening to the bottom of the waterproof groove extends obliquely in the depth direction with respect to the surface of the housing holding part.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof groove has a groove depth of 0.01 mm or more.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof groove has a round groove bottom.   The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the waterproof groove is formed so as to surround and surround the housing holding portion.   The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the waterproof groove is formed on each surface of the housing holding portion that contacts the housing.   The waterproof connector according to claim 5, wherein the waterproof groove has the center line inclined in the same direction with respect to any surface of the housing holding portion.   The waterproof connector according to claim 5, wherein the waterproof groove has the center line inclined in different directions with respect to the surfaces according to a plurality of surfaces of the housing holding portion.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof shape portion includes a plurality of the waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding portion.   The waterproof connector according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding portion have the center lines inclined in the same direction with respect to the surface.   The waterproof connector according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of waterproof grooves formed on one surface of the housing holding portion includes the waterproof grooves in which the center lines are inclined in different directions with respect to the surface. .   The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the opening of the waterproof groove extends in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the housing holding part on a surface of the housing holding part.   The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the opening of the waterproof groove extends obliquely with respect to a central axis of the housing holding part on a surface of the housing holding part. The conductive member comprises a shell,
The mating connector connecting portion comprises a fitting portion that mates with the mating connector,
The housing holding portion includes a shell narrowing portion formed narrower than the fitting portion,
The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the waterproof shape portion is formed on a surface of the shell constriction portion. The conductive member comprises a shell,
The mating connector connecting portion comprises a fitting portion that mates with the mating connector,
The housing holding part has a hollow shape,
The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the waterproof shape portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the housing holding portion, respectively. The conductive member comprises one or more contacts,
The mating connector connecting portion is composed of a contact portion that contacts the mating connector contact,
The housing holding part includes a contact narrowing part formed narrower than the contact part and the board connection part,
The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof shape portion is formed on a surface of the contact narrowing portion. The conductive member comprises a shell and one or more contacts;
The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof shape portion is formed on the shell and the one or more contacts, respectively.

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