JP2015122179A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a retainer from being detached from a housing.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector includes: a housing 20 with which a terminal accommodation chamber 21 is formed; a fitting cylinder part 26 formed in the housing 20; a rubber stopper 30 fitted into the fitting cylinder part 26; a retainer 40 for preventing the rubber stopper 30 from being detached from the housing 20; a lock part 50 formed on an outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 and an inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder part 26 for preventing the retainer 40 from being separated from the fitting cylinder part 26; and an elastic bending part 55 which is formed at least either on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 or on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder part 26 and can be elastically bent while radially displacing the lock part 50. The elastic bending part 55 is abutted to the inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder part 26 while being accompanied with an elastic restoration force in a direction where an engaging margin is increased between a locking protrusion 50B of the retainer 40 and a locking recess 50A of the fitting cylinder part 26.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector.

  Conventionally, from a housing having a housing in which a terminal fitting fixed to an end portion of an electric wire is accommodated, sealing a gap between the electric wire and the housing inside a cylindrical portion provided in the housing, and the housing There is known a waterproof connector to which a retainer for preventing a rubber stopper from being detached is fitted.

  For example, in the waterproof connector described in Patent Document 1 below, a plurality of cavities in which the terminal fittings are accommodated are formed inside the housing, and the rubber plugs externally fitted to the electric wires are elastically crushed at the rear ends of the cavities. In this way, it is fitted in a watertight manner. The retainer is fitted into a retainer mounting space provided in communication with the rear of the plurality of cavities, and a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer engages with a locking hole formed on the peripheral surface of the retainer mounting space. By doing so, separation from the housing is prevented.

JP 2001-60475 A

  By the way, in the waterproof connector as described above, especially when the diameter dimension of the electric wire is large, the cylindrical portion in which the rubber plug is fitted in the housing receives the elastic force of the rubber plug. There is a concern that it will deform so as to expand. When the portion into which the rubber plug is fitted is deformed, the engagement margin between the retainer and the housing fitted on the rear side is reduced, and the retainer is easily detached from the housing. Further, in the process of fitting the housing with the mating housing, the volume of the space sealed by the waterproof means including the rubber plug is reduced and the internal pressure is increased, so that the internal pressure is retained by the rubber plug through the retainer. Acts as a force in the direction of separation.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and an object thereof is to prevent the retainer from being detached from the housing.

The waterproof connector of the present invention is
A synthetic resin housing in which a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal fitting fixed to the terminal portion of the electric wire is formed;
A fitting tube portion formed in the housing so as to communicate with the terminal accommodating chamber;
A rubber plug that prevents liquid from entering the terminal accommodating chamber by being fitted inside the fitting cylinder portion in a state of being fitted on the electric wire,
A retainer that is housed behind the rubber plug in the fitting tube portion and prevents the rubber plug from being detached from the housing;
A locking portion that is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting tube portion, and that restricts the retainer from detaching from the fitting tube portion by locking each other,
An elastic bending portion that is formed on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the retainer and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting tube portion, and is capable of elastic bending while being displaced in the radial direction. ,
In a state in which the elastic bending portion is accompanied by an elastic restoring force in a direction that increases a locking margin between the locking portion on the retainer side and the locking portion on the fitting tube portion side, It is in contact with the surface.

  According to the present invention, the elastic bending portion is in a state accompanied by an elastic restoring force in a direction that increases the locking allowance between the retaining portion on the retainer side and the engaging portion on the fitting cylinder portion side, and the other side circumference. Even if the fitting cylinder part is expanded and deformed by the rubber plug or the retainer receives a force in the detaching direction from the rubber plug side, the retainer side locking part and the fitting cylinder part side The latching part of this is surely kept in a locked state. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the retainer from being detached from the housing.

The top view which shows the waterproof connector in the present Example 1. Sectional view showing waterproof connector A perspective view showing a housing The perspective view which shows the terminal metal fitting fixed to the end part of a rubber stopper, a retainer, and an electric wire Front view showing retainer Partially expanded sectional view which shows the state before accommodating a retainer in a housing The partially expanded sectional view which shows the state after accommodating a retainer in a housing

  (1) The waterproof connector according to the present invention has a configuration in which the elastic deflection portion extends in a cantilevered manner from the outer peripheral surface of the retainer toward the front, and the locking portion is provided at a front end portion of the elastic deflection portion. It may be provided. Here, for example, when the elastic bending portion extends in a cantilevered manner toward the rear, and the locking portion is provided at the rear end, a rubber plug is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion. A space for accommodating the elastic bending portion is required between the mated portion and the locking portion. However, according to the above configuration, since such a space is not required in the fitting cylinder portion, it is possible to prevent the housing from being enlarged in the front-rear direction.

  (2) In the waterproof connector according to the present invention, the retainer has a pair of halves that are combined so that the electric wire is fitted inside, and the elastic flexure is formed of the pair of halves. It is good also as what is provided in the position elastically bent in the direction in alignment with the united direction of a body. According to such a configuration, the pair of halves are pushed in the united direction by the elastic deflecting portion, so that it is possible to prevent the pair of halves from rattling in the united direction within the fitting cylinder.

  (3) The waterproof connector of the present invention is provided with a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers, and the rubber plug fitting portion into which the rubber plug is fitted out of the fitting tube portion individually corresponds to the terminal accommodating chamber. The locking portion and the elastic bending portion may be provided corresponding to the plurality of rubber plug fitting portions. According to such a configuration, even if the diameter of each rubber plug fitting portion is expanded and deformed, the elastic bending portion is displaced outward corresponding to each rubber plug fitting portion, so that it corresponds to each rubber plug fitting portion. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the engagement allowance at the locking portion provided in this manner from being reduced, and to reliably prevent the retainer from being detached from the housing.

<Example 1>
Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
<Overall configuration of waterproof connector C>
The waterproof connector C according to the first embodiment has a terminal 20 in close contact with the housing 20 provided with the terminal accommodating chamber 21 in which the terminal fitting 11 fixed to the terminal portion of the electric wire 10 is accommodated, and the electric wire 10 and the housing 20. A rubber plug 30 that prevents liquid from entering the storage chamber 21, a retainer 40 that is positioned behind the rubber plug 30 to prevent the rubber plug 30 from being detached from the housing 20, and a shield shell 60 that covers the housing 20. It is what has. Hereinafter, in each component member, the fitting surface side (the right side in FIG. 1) with a mating connector (not shown) will be described as the front, the opposite side as the rear, the upper side in FIG.

<Housing 20>
The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and has a horizontally long flat shape as shown in FIG. A plurality of chambers (three chambers in the present embodiment) for accommodating the terminal fittings 11 from behind are provided inside the housing 20 so as to be arranged in the width direction (left-right direction). Each terminal accommodating chamber 21 is provided with a lance 22 that is engaged with the inserted terminal fitting 11 to prevent the terminal fitting 11 from coming off (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a flange portion 23 is provided at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the housing 20 so as to protrude outward over the entire circumference. A portion of the housing 20 on the front side of the flange portion 23 is a connector fitting portion 24 that fits with the mating connector. On the outer peripheral surface of the connector fitting portion 24, a seal ring 25 that seals between the mating connector is fitted (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a fitting cylinder portion 26 that can accommodate the rubber plug 30 and the retainer 40 is provided behind the flange portion 23 in the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the fitting cylinder portion 26 has three cylindrical portions 27 arranged in parallel so as to individually correspond to the three terminal accommodating chambers 21. Each cylindrical portion 27 constitutes a rear end portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 21, and the barrel portion 12 that is crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire 10 in the terminal fitting 11 is accommodated in the cylindrical portion 27.

  The fitting cylinder part 26 includes three rubber plug fitting parts 26 </ b> A that individually correspond to the terminal accommodating chamber 21 and the cylindrical part 27. Each rubber plug fitting portion 26 </ b> A has a cylindrical shape and constitutes a rear end portion of the cylindrical portion 27. A rubber plug 30 is fitted in each rubber plug fitting portion 26A.

  The fitting cylinder portion 26 includes a retainer fitting portion 26B adjacent to the rear of the rubber plug fitting portion 26A. The retainer fitting portion 26B has a horizontally long non-circular cylindrical shape in which a substantially circular space corresponding to the same shape as the rubber plug fitting portion 26A communicates with each other. The internal space of the retainer fitting portion 26B is in communication with all (three) rubber plug fitting portions 26A (cylindrical portion 27). The retainer 40 is fitted (accommodated) in the internal space of the retainer fitting portion 26B.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the retainer fitting portion 26B, three pairs of locking recesses 50A constituting the locking portion 50 are formed. In the left-right direction, the three pairs of locking recesses 50A are arranged so as to correspond to the three rubber plug fitting portions 26A (see FIG. 3). Each pair of locking recesses 50A is arranged separately on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the retainer fitting portion 26B. 50 A of latching recessed parts are located in the approximate center in the width direction of each rubber stopper fitting part 26A (tubular part 27).

  The locking recess 50A has a rectangular shape that is slightly longer in the width direction, and is a hole that vertically penetrates the fitting tube portion 26 from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. All the locking recesses 50A have substantially the same shape. The front end edge in the opening region of the locking recess 50A is disposed at the same position as the front end of the retainer fitting portion 26B (that is, the rear end of the rubber plug fitting portion 26A) in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, when the retainer 40 is fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26B, the locking convex portion 50B provided on the retainer 40 is guided to the locking concave portion 50A behind each locking concave portion 50A. A lead-in surface 51 is provided for this purpose. The guiding surface 51 is inclined to open outward toward the rear end of the retainer fitting portion 26B.

  Between the guiding surface 51 and the locking recess 50A, there is provided a restraining portion 56 that abuts an elastic bending portion 55 described later and suppresses elastic return to the outside. The holding part 56 is a substantially horizontal surface in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 has a plurality of (four in this embodiment) claws for restricting the shield shell 60 from being detached from the housing 20 by being locked to the rear end of the shield shell 60. A portion 28 is provided. A pair of claw portions 28 are disposed on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the fitting tube portion 26.

  The claw portion 28 is provided at the rear end of the extending portion 29 that extends in a cantilevered manner from the flange portion 23. The claw portion 28 is an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the fitting cylinder portion 26 and is located in front of the locking recess 50A. The extending portion 29 has a thin flat plate shape in which the upper surface and the lower surface are substantially horizontal, and can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction (inside and outside direction of the fitting tube portion 26).

  The claw portion 28 provided on the upper surface side of the fitting cylinder portion 26 protrudes from the upper surface of the extension portion 29 and is located above the upper end of the fitting cylinder portion 26. The claw portion 28 provided on the lower surface side of the fitting cylinder portion 26 protrudes from the lower surface of the extension portion 29 and is located below the lower end of the fitting cylinder portion 26.

  On the rear surface of each claw portion 28, when the shield shell 60 is assembled to the housing 20 from the rear, the bending guide portion that guides the shield shell 60 to abut against the claw portion 28 and the extended portion 29 to be elastically bent smoothly. 28A is formed. The bending guide portion 28A is a surface that is inclined so that the height dimension of the claw portion 28 gradually increases from the rear end of the claw portion 28 toward the front. As shown in FIG. 2, a movement restricting portion 28 </ b> B that restricts the rearward movement of the shield shell 60 by being locked to the rear end of the shield cylindrical portion 62 is provided on the front surface of each claw portion 28. The movement restricting portion 28 </ b> B is a surface that stands up substantially at a right angle to the extending portion 29.

<Rubber stopper 30>
As shown in FIG. 4, the rubber plug 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape into which the electric wire 10 can be inserted, and an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 10 and a rubber plug fitting portion 26 </ b> A are provided on the inner periphery and the outer periphery thereof, respectively. A plurality of lip bulges are provided so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lip. By fitting the rubber plug 30 fitted to the electric wire 10 into the rubber plug fitting portion 26A, a liquid is formed between the outer circumference of the electric wire 10 and the inner circumference of the rubber plug fitting portion 26A (cylindrical portion 27). Sealed tightly.

  In a free state where the rubber plug 30 is not fitted to the rubber plug fitting portion 26A, the outer dimension of the rubber plug 30 is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the rubber plug fitting portion 26A. Therefore, in a state where the rubber plug 30 is fitted in the rubber plug fitting portion 26A, the rubber plug 30 is elastically reduced in diameter and deformed. Due to the elastic restoring force of the rubber plug 30, a reaction force for expanding the diameter acts on the rubber plug fitting portion 26 </ b> A and the retainer fitting portion 26 </ b> B directly connected to the rubber plug fitting portion 26 </ b> A. Become.

<Retainer 40>
The retainer 40 is made of a synthetic resin, and is formed by connecting a pair of halves 41 joined together so as to fit the electric wire 10 inside by a thin plate-like hinge 42. Each of the halves 41 has an elongated shape in the arrangement direction (width direction) of the rubber plugs 30 as a whole, and one ends in the width direction are connected by a hinge 42.

  Each halved body 41 is formed with a semicircular recess 43 for avoiding interference with the electric wire 10. The pair of halves 41 are combined in the vertical direction so that the electric wire 10 is fitted in the recess 43. The retainer 40 is fitted into the retainer fitting portion 26B in a state where the pair of halves 41 are combined. As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer 40 fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26 </ b> B abuts the front surface of the half body 41 against the rear surface of the rubber plug 30. The contact action of the retainer 40 prevents the three rubber plugs 30 from moving backward or detaching from the housing 20. In addition, the contact position between the front surface of the retainer 40 (half member 41) and the rear surface of the rubber plug 30 is a boundary between the retainer fitting portion 26B and the rubber plug fitting portion 26A in the front-rear direction. This boundary is the same position as the front wall of the locking recess 50A in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 is configured such that arc-shaped surfaces (hereinafter referred to as arc-shaped surfaces 44) corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the cylindrical portion 27 are arranged in the width direction.

  The retainer 40 is provided with an inner peripheral wall 45 along the recessed portion 43, and an outer peripheral wall 46 is provided along the arcuate surface 44. Between the inner peripheral wall 45 and the outer peripheral wall 46, a lightening portion 47 is provided. Is formed.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40, three pairs of locking convex portions 50B constituting the locking portion 50 are formed. The three pairs of locking projections 50B are provided in pairs on the respective arcuate surfaces 44 so as to be locked with the locking recesses 50A in a state where the retainer 40 is fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26B. .

  The locking convex portion 50 </ b> B is provided at the front end of the retainer 40. The front surface of the locking projection 50B is an inclined surface 52 that facilitates smooth engagement of the locking projection 50B with the locking recess 50A when the retainer 40 is fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26B. The inclined surface 52 has an inclination that gradually increases the protruding dimension of the locking projection 50B from the front end of the locking projection 50B toward the rear. The rear surface of the locking projection 50B is a locking surface 53 that locks in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear surface of the locking recess 50A when the retainer 40 is fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26B. The locking surface 53 is a surface that stands substantially perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40. The retainer 40 is fixed to the housing 20 by fitting the latching convex portion 50B of the retainer 40 into the latching concave portion 50A of the retainer fitting portion 26B and latching the latching surfaces 53 respectively.

  In the retainer 40, slits 54 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on both sides of the locking projection 50B. The pair of slits 54 is provided along the side surface of the locking projection 50B.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of slits 54 is formed for each of the locking projections 50B. Each slit 54 is formed to extend rearward from the front end of the outer peripheral wall 46 of the retainer 40, and is configured to penetrate the outer peripheral wall 46 inward and outward and open forward. The slit 54 has a length dimension (dimension in the front-rear direction) that is slightly larger than the depth dimension of the thinned portion 47 (see FIG. 6).

  Between each of the slits 54 provided for each of the locking projections 50B, there is formed an elastic bending portion 55 that can be elastically bent in the inner and outer directions of the outer peripheral wall 46. One elastic bending portion 55 is provided for every arcuate surface 44. The elastic flexure 55 is provided at the apex of each arcuate surface 44, that is, at the uppermost end of the arcuate surface 44 in the upper half 41 and at the lowermost end of the arcuate surface 44 in the lower half 41. Thereby, each elastic bending part 55 elastically bends in the up-down direction (direction along the united direction of a pair of halves 41).

  The elastic deflecting portion 55 has the locking convex portion 50 </ b> B and is elastically bent inward by contact with the fitting cylindrical portion 26 in a state where the retainer 40 is accommodated in the fitting cylindrical portion 26. The width dimension of the elastic bending part 55 is equivalent to the width dimension of the latching convex part 50B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic deflecting portion 55 is cantilevered toward the front, and a locking convex portion 50 </ b> B is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion. The front end of the elastic deflecting portion 55 is arranged at a position aligned with the other portion without protruding from the other portion of the outer peripheral wall 46.

  The elastic deflecting portion 55 has a shape that is obliquely opened radially outward in a natural state (see FIG. 6). And the outer side surface 55A of the elastic bending part 55 inclines outside toward the front from a rear end. The outer side surface 55 </ b> A of the elastic bending portion 55 is positioned so as to protrude outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 other than the elastic bending portion 55. The inner side surface 55B of the elastic bending portion 55 is substantially parallel to the outer side surface 55A and is inclined in the same manner as the outer side surface 55A. The thickness dimension (the dimension in the inner and outer directions) of the elastic bending portion 55 is the same as that of the other part of the outer peripheral wall 46.

<Shield shell 60>
As shown in FIG. 1, the shield shell 60 is made of aluminum die cast, and has a shield plate 61 having a plate-like portion covering the connector fitting portion 24 and a cylindrical shape covering the outer peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder portion 26. The shield tube portion 62 formed, the overhang portion 63 that comes into contact with the flange portion 23 of the housing 20 from the rear when the shield shell 60 is assembled in a proper position with respect to the housing 20, and a metal case (not shown) And a fixed portion 64 to be fixed.

  The shield cylinder 62 has a horizontally long long cylindrical shape and is open in the front-rear direction. The shield tube portion 62 is sized to cover the front portion of the fitting tube portion 26. An end portion of a braided wire (not shown) that collectively shields the three electric wires 10 is caulked to the outer peripheral surface of the shield tube portion 62 by a caulking ring 68. The caulking ring 68 is caulked over substantially the entire shield tube portion 62.

  A claw locking portion 67 for locking with the claw portion 28 of the housing 20 is provided at the rear end of the shield tube portion 62 (see FIG. 2). The claw locking part 67 is provided so as to protrude inward from the opening edge at the rear end of the shield cylinder part 62 at a substantially right angle.

  The overhang portion 63 is provided at the front end of the shield tube portion 62 and is configured to protrude outward over substantially the entire circumference of the shield tube portion 62. The outer shape of the overhang portion 63 is a horizontally long rectangle. The shield plate portion 61 includes a bottom plate portion 61 </ b> A that forms a plate shape that covers the entire lower surface side of the housing 20, and a side plate portion 61 </ b> B that forms a plate shape that covers the entire side surface of the housing 20. The bottom plate portion 61 </ b> A has a long rectangular shape that is bent forward at a substantially right angle from the lower edge of the overhang portion 63. The pair of side plate portions 61 </ b> B has a long rectangular shape in the front-rear direction which is bent forward at a substantially right angle from both side edges of the overhang portion 63. The front ends of the bottom plate portion 61 </ b> A and the side plate portion 61 </ b> B reach the front side of the terminal fitting 11 protruding forward from the housing 20.

  The fixing portion 64 is provided at the front end of the shield plate portion 61. One fixing portion 64 is provided on each of the bottom plate portion 61A and the pair of side plate portions 61B. Each fixing portion 64 is bent outward at a substantially right angle from the bottom plate portion 61A and the pair of side plate portions 61B, and each fixing portion 64 has a bolt insertion hole 66 penetrating in the front-rear direction (plate thickness direction). Is formed. The shield shell 60 is fixed to the case by tightening the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole 66 into a bolt fastening hole provided in a metal case (not shown).

<Action and effect>
Next, an example of a procedure for assembling the waterproof connector C will be described. First, the shield shell 60 is assembled to the housing 20. The shield shell 60 is attached to the housing 20 from the rear so that the fitting tube portion 26 of the housing 20 is housed inside the shield tube portion 62 with the shield plate portion 61 facing forward. Then, the protruding portion 63 of the shield shell 60 abuts on the bending guide portion 28A of the claw portion 28 of the housing 20, and the extending portion 29 is elastically bent slightly inward.

  When the shield shell 60 is pushed forward as it is, the claw locking portion 67 of the shield shell 60 comes into contact with the bending guide portion 28A of the claw portion 28, and the extension portion 29 is elastically bent more inward to overcome the claw portion 28, It reaches the front. Then, the extending portion 29 is elastically restored, and the claw portion 28 is locked to the claw locking portion 67 of the shield shell 60.

  At this time, the projecting portion 63 of the shield shell 60 comes into contact with the rear surface of the flange portion 23 of the housing 20. Thus, the shield shell 60 disposed at a regular position with respect to the housing 20 is such that the shield tube portion 62 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction by the flange portion 23 and the claw portion 28 provided in the housing 20. The housing 20 is held in an assembled state.

  Next, the terminal fitting 11 to which the electric wire 10 is crimped is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 21 and engaged with the lance 22. Then, the rubber plug 30 that has been externally fitted to the electric wire 10 in advance is inserted into the fitting tube portion 26 and fitted into the rubber plug fitting portion 26A.

  After the rubber plug 30 is fitted to the rubber plug fitting portion 26A, the retainer 40 is fitted to the retainer fitting portion 26B in a state of being attached to the electric wire 10. At the time of fitting, the retainer 40 is pushed into the inside of the fitting tube portion 26 from behind. Then, the inclined surface 52 provided on the locking convex portion 50B of the retainer 40 abuts on the guide surface 51 provided on the rear side of the locking concave portion 50A. ), The latching protrusion 50B gets over the guiding surface 51 relatively smoothly, and is elastically returned to the outside to be locked in the latching recess 50A. At this time, it is possible to prevent the outer side surface 55A of the elastic bending portion 55 from coming into contact with the holding portion 56 provided on the front side of the guiding surface 51 and to return completely elastically. And the elastic bending part 55 is hold | maintained in the state elastically bent inside. Thus, the retainer 40 is held by the housing 20 in a state where it is reliably prevented from being detached from the housing 20. Thus, the assembly of the waterproof connector C is completed.

  The waterproof connector C of the present embodiment includes a synthetic resin housing 20 in which a terminal housing chamber 21 for housing the terminal fitting 11 fixed to the terminal portion of the electric wire 10 is formed. A fitting tube portion 26 is formed so as to communicate with the storage chamber 21. A rubber plug 30 that prevents liquid from entering the terminal accommodating chamber 21 is fitted inside the fitting cylinder portion 26. In addition, a retainer 40 that prevents the rubber plug 30 from being detached from the housing 20 is accommodated in the fitting cylinder portion 26.

  In a state where the retainer 40 is fitted in the retainer fitting portion 26B, the latching convex portion 50B formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 and the latching concave portion 50A formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder portion 26 are latched. The retainer 40 is detachably restricted by the locking portion 50 configured as described above. In addition, the slits 54 are formed on both sides of the locking projection 50B in the retainer 40, so that the fitting tube portion has the locking projection 50B and the retainer 40 is accommodated in the fitting tube portion 26. The elastic bending part 55 which will be in the state elastically bent inside by the contact with 26 is provided. That is, the elastic bending portion 55 can be elastically bent while displacing the locking convex portion 50B in the radial direction (that is, a direction approaching and separating from the inner peripheral surface of the retainer fitting portion 26B). ing.

  According to this configuration, in the state where the retainer 40 is accommodated in the fitting tube portion 26, an outward elastic force is always generated in the elastic bending portion 55 having the locking convex portion 50B. That is, the elastic bending portion 55 is accompanied by an elastic restoring force in a direction that increases a locking allowance between the locking projection 50B of the retainer 40 and the locking recess 50A of the retainer fitting portion 26B (fitting cylinder portion 26). In this state, it is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the retainer fitting portion 26B. Therefore, even if the fitting tube portion 26 in which the rubber plug 30 is fitted in the housing 20 is deformed by the rubber plug 30 to expand its diameter, the elastic deflecting portion 55 is displaced outward along with this, and the retainer 40 and the housing It is not necessary to make the engagement allowance in the engaging portion 50 with the 20 small.

  That is, for example, when the waterproof connector C and the mating connector are fitted, the pressure in the housing 20 sealed by the rubber plug 30 provided on the waterproof connector C and the rubber plug provided on the mating connector increases. The rubber plug 30 is strongly pressed by the pressure, and a large outward force acts on the rubber plug fitting portion 26A, so that the retainer fitting portion 26B continuously provided on the rubber plug fitting portion 26A spreads outward. Even if it is deformed, the elastic bending portion 55 elastically returns to the outside following the displacement of the restraining portion 56, and the engagement allowance between the locking convex portion 50B and the locking concave portion 50A is sufficiently secured. Even when the internal pressure of the housing 20 acts as a rearward detaching force on the retainer 40 through the rubber plug 30, the locking projection 50 </ b> B of the retainer 40 and the locking recess of the fitting cylinder portion 26 are used. 50A reliably keeps the locked state. Therefore, it is not necessary to reduce the engaging margin at the engaging portion 50 between the retainer 40 and the housing 20, and the retainer 40 is prevented from being easily detached from the housing 20 or from being detached.

  The elastic deflecting portion 55 is cantilevered from the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40 toward the front, and the locking convex portion 50 </ b> B is provided at the front end of the elastic deflecting portion 55. Here, for example, when the elastic bending portion is extended in a cantilevered manner toward the rear, and the locking portion is provided at the rear end of the elastic bending portion, the front end edge of the locking recess and the rubber plug An extra space for accommodating the elastic flexure is required between the rear end face and the rear end face. However, according to the configuration as in the present embodiment, an extra space for accommodating the elastic bending portion 55 between the front end edge of the locking recess 50A and the rear end surface of the rubber plug 30 is not necessary. Therefore, the front-rear length of the fitting tube portion 26 can be shortened, and as a result, an increase in the size of the housing 20 in the front-rear direction is avoided.

  The retainer 40 includes a pair of halves 41 that are combined so that the electric wire 10 is fitted inside, and the elastic bending portion 55 is a direction along the direction in which the pair of halves 41 are combined. It is provided at a position where it is elastically bent. Thereby, since the pair of halves 41 are pushed in the combined direction by the elastic deflecting portions 55, it is possible to prevent the pair of halves 41 from rattling in the combined direction within the fitting tube portion 26.

  The housing 20 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 21, and the rubber plug fitting portions 26 </ b> A into which the rubber plugs 30 are fitted out of the fitting cylindrical portions 26 correspond to the terminal accommodating chambers 21 individually. The locking portion 50 and the elastic bending portion 55 are provided corresponding to the plurality of rubber plug fitting portions 26A. Thereby, even if each rubber plug fitting part 26A is expanded in diameter, the elastic bending part 55 is displaced to the outside corresponding to each rubber plug fitting part 26A, so that it corresponds to each rubber plug fitting part 26A. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent the engaging margin of the engaging portion 50 provided from becoming small, and to reliably prevent the retainer 40 from being detached from the housing 20.

<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 retainer 40 is provided with the locking projection 50B and the fitting cylinder portion 26 is provided with the locking recess 50A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the retainer is provided with the locking recess. The engaging projection may be provided on the fitting cylinder.
(2) In the above embodiment, the rubber plugs 30 are individually fitted to the electric wires 10, and the rubber plug fitting portions 26 </ b> A into which the rubber plugs 30 are fitted correspond to the terminal accommodating chambers 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rubber plug may be a collective rubber plug that penetrates a plurality of electric wires and collectively seals the periphery of the electric wires. In this case, the rubber plug fitting portion into which the rubber plug is fitted may be provided in communication with the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers.
(3) In the above embodiment, the locking recess 50A has a hole shape penetrating the fitting tube portion 26 in the inner and outer directions. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A non-penetrating form in which the peripheral surface is recessed may be used.
(4) In the above embodiment, the locking portion 50 and the elastic bending portion 55 are provided so as to correspond to all of the three rubber plug fitting portions 26A. The bending part may be provided so as to correspond to only a part of the three rubber plug fitting parts.
(5) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic deflecting portion 55 has a shape that is slightly opened outward in the natural state, and its outer surface 55A projects slightly outward from the outer peripheral surface of the other part of the retainer 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a protruding portion may be provided on the housing side, and the outer surface of the elastic bending portion may be positioned on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the other portion of the retainer.
(6) In the above embodiment, the elastic deflecting portion 55 extends in a cantilever shape toward the front, but the elastic bending portion may extend in a cantilever shape toward the rear, and is circumferential. The shape may be extended in a cantilevered manner.
(7) In the above embodiment, the elastic bending portion 55 is cantilevered. However, the elastic bending portion is not limited to this, and both the front and rear ends or both ends in the circumferential direction are supported by the outer peripheral surface of the retainer. It is good also as what makes a possession.
(8) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic bending portions 55 are provided corresponding to all the locking convex portions 50B. However, the elastic bending portions may not necessarily be provided corresponding to all the locking convex portions. .
(9) In the above embodiment, the shield shell 60 is assembled to the housing 20 before the rubber plug 30 is fitted to the rubber plug fitting portion 26A. It is good also as what attaches a shield shell to a housing, after making it fit in a part.
(10) In the above embodiment, the elastic deflecting portion 55 is formed only on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 40. However, the elastic deflecting portion may be formed only on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting tube portion. You may form in both the internal peripheral surfaces of a fitting cylinder part.

C ... Waterproof connector 10 ... Electric wire 11 ... Terminal fitting 20 ... Housing 21 ... Terminal accommodating chamber 26 ... Fitting cylinder part 26A ... Rubber plug fitting part 30 ... Rubber plug 40 ... Retainer 41 ... Half split body 50 ... Locking part 55 ... Elastic flexure

Claims (4)

A synthetic resin housing in which a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal fitting fixed to the terminal portion of the electric wire is formed;
A fitting tube portion formed in the housing so as to communicate with the terminal accommodating chamber;
A rubber plug that prevents liquid from entering the terminal accommodating chamber by being fitted inside the fitting cylinder portion in a state of being fitted on the electric wire,
A retainer that is housed behind the rubber plug in the fitting tube portion and prevents the rubber plug from being detached from the housing;
A locking portion that is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting tube portion, and that restricts the retainer from detaching from the fitting tube portion by locking each other,
An elastic bending portion that is formed on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the retainer and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting tube portion, and is capable of elastic bending while being displaced in the radial direction. ,
In a state in which the elastic bending portion is accompanied by an elastic restoring force in a direction that increases a locking margin between the locking portion on the retainer side and the locking portion on the fitting tube portion side, A waterproof connector characterized by being in contact with a surface. The elastic bending part is a form extending in a cantilevered manner from the outer peripheral surface of the retainer toward the front,
The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is provided at a front end portion of the elastic bending portion. The retainer has a pair of halves that are combined so as to fit the electric wire inside.
The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic bending portion is provided at a position where the elastic bending portion is elastically bent in a direction along a direction in which the pair of halves are combined. A plurality of terminal housing chambers are provided;
The rubber plug fitting portion into which the rubber plug is fitted of the fitting tube portion is provided separately to correspond to the terminal accommodating chamber,
The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking portion and the elastic bending portion are provided corresponding to a plurality of the rubber plug fitting portions.

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