JP2018166046A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector capable of surely preventing water even if an external force is applied.SOLUTION: An electric connector 1 comprises: a conductive contact 20; an insulation housing 10 that holds the contact 20; and an opening part 31 which can insert a mating side connector inserted into an attachment hole 101 while being opened to a front direction, and includes a cylindrical metal shell 30 that houses the housing 10, a seal member 40 with an elastic force which is contacted to inner walls 102 of the attachment hole 101 with a pressure while being provided on a front direction side of an outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30, and a projection part 32 that is arranged while having a gap between the inner walls 102 while being provided to an outer direction from the outer peripheral surface 30a while being provided to the metal shell 30, and is contacted and separated to/from the inner walls 102 in accordance with a compression width of the seal member 40. The seal member 40 can contact to each inner wall 102 with a pressure and in the compression width larger than that of the gap by each inner wall 102.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector having a waterproof function.

  Conventionally, as an electrical connector having a waterproof function attached to a housing of an electronic device or the like, a connector that seals the inside of the device by closing a space between the housing with a sealing material provided outside is known. (For example, patent document 1).

  As such an electrical connector, the one shown in FIG. 12 is known. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which an electrical connector 200 having a conventional waterproof function is attached to the attachment hole 301 of the housing 300 of the device. An electrical connector 200 shown in FIG. 12 is configured such that a sealing material 202 provided along the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shell 201 is pressed against an inner wall 302 of the mounting hole 301, thereby The inside of the device can be sealed from the space between the two.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-225712

  However, in the conventional electrical connector having a waterproof function, the sealing material is elastically deformed by the external force in the S direction shown in FIG. 12 applied when connecting to the mating connector, and the distance between the inner wall of the mounting hole and the shell is increased. Since it changes, it has the subject that a clearance gap will be produced between a sealing material and an inner wall, and waterproof performance will fall.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that can be reliably waterproofed even when an external force is applied.

  An electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector that is provided in a housing of an apparatus and is attached to a mounting hole that opens on an outer surface of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrically conductive contact and an insulating material that holds the contact. A housing and a connector opening that is open to the front and into which a mating connector that is inserted into the mounting hole can be inserted, are provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the shell and the cylindrical shell that houses the housing A seal member having an elastic force that presses against the inner wall of the mounting hole, and is disposed on the shell and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface with a gap between the inner wall and the seal member. And a projecting portion that contacts and separates from the inner wall in accordance with the compression width of the sealing member, and the seal member is compressed by the inner wall with a compression width larger than the width of the gap and can be pressed against the inner wall.

  When an external force is applied in the vertical and horizontal directions by the mating connector, the distance between the inner wall of the mounting hole and the shell changes, and the portion of the seal member that receives a greater pressing force than the inner wall undergoes elastic deformation with a large compression width In addition, the protruding portion disposed with a gap between the inner wall and the inner wall is restricted from increasing the compression width of the seal member due to contact with the inner wall, and the pressing member receives a larger pressing force than the inner wall of the sealing member. Since the portion other than the portion is in pressure contact with the inner wall with a compression width larger than the width of the gap, the state of being in pressure contact with the inner wall is maintained.

  According to the present invention, waterproofing can be ensured even when an external force is applied.

1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the electrical connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to the attachment hole of a housing | casing. It is an expanded sectional view of the state where the electric connector concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention was attached to the attachment hole of a case. It is sectional drawing which shows the case where an external force is added in the state which attached the electrical connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to the attachment hole of a housing | casing. It is a top view of the electrical connector which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view of the sealing material which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the sealing material which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the electrical connector which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to the attachment hole of a housing | casing. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the conventional electrical connector which has a waterproof function to the attachment hole of a housing | casing.

  Hereinafter, electrical connectors according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the figure, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis form a three-axis orthogonal coordinate system. The positive direction of the y-axis is the forward direction, the negative direction of the y-axis is the backward direction, the x-axis direction is the left-right direction, and the z-axis is A description will be given assuming that the positive direction is upward and the negative direction of the z-axis is downward.

(First embodiment)
<Configuration of electrical connector>
The configuration of the electrical connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical connector 1 is attached to a mounting hole 101 provided in the housing 100 of the device and opening on the outer surface of the housing 100, and includes a housing 10, a contact 20, a metal shell 30, a seal The member 40 and the subframe 50 are provided.

  The housing 10 is made of an insulating material and holds the contacts 20. The housing 10 includes a main body portion 11 and a plate-like portion 12.

  The main body 11 is fixed by being press-fitted into the metal shell 30. In addition, as a fixing means of the main-body part 11 with respect to the metal shell 30, not only press fitting but integral molding or engagement may be sufficient.

  The plate-like part 12 protrudes forward from the front end of the main body part 11 and fits with a mating connector (not shown).

  The contact 20 is made of a conductive material, and includes a connection portion 21, a terminal portion 22, and a fixing portion 23.

  The connecting portion 21 is exposed on the surface of the plate-like portion 12 and can be connected to the contact of the mating connector.

  The terminal portion 22 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the main body portion 11 and is connected to a conductive portion of a substrate (not shown) by soldering or the like.

  The fixing part 23 is fixed to the main body part 11 by integral molding. The fixing means of the fixing portion 23 with respect to the main body 11 is not limited to integral molding, and may be press-fitting or engagement.

  The metal shell 30 is provided with an opening 31 that opens forward and allows the mating connector to be inserted into the mounting hole 101 from the front, and accommodates the housing 10 that holds the contacts 20. The metal shell 30 includes a protruding portion 32 that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 30a.

  A plurality of protrusions 32 are provided along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a, and are provided at positions that oppose each other in the vertical direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a and at positions that oppose each other in the left-right direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a. . In addition, you may provide multiple protrusion part 32 in a random position along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a.

  The protrusion 32 is provided behind the seal member 40 and is provided on the seal member 40 side between the seal member 40 and the subframe 50. The protrusion 32 is formed by pressing the metal shell 30. The protruding portion 32 has an inner wall in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30. 102 with a gap between them. The protrusion 32 contacts and separates from the inner wall 102 according to the compression width of the seal member 40.

  The seal member 40 has an annular shape, is formed of a material having elasticity, and is provided at the front end of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30. The pressure contact portion 43, the front end portion 44, the opening portion 45, It is equipped with. The seal member 40 is larger than the width R2 of the gap between the protruding portion 32 and the inner wall 102 in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 that receives a substantially equal pressing force from the inner wall 102 as a whole. It is compressed by the inner wall 102 with a compression width R1 (R1> R2) and is in pressure contact with the inner wall 102. In FIG. 5, a broken line portion of the seal member 40 indicates a state before the seal member 40 is elastically deformed.

  The pressure contact portion 43 protrudes outward and presses against the inner wall 102.

  The front end portion 44 projects forward from the metal shell 30 and covers the front end surface of the metal shell 30.

  The opening 45 penetrates in the front-rear direction and allows the mating connector to be inserted. The opening 45 communicates with the opening 31.

  The subframe 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30, and is attached to the housing of the device. The electrical connector 1 may not have the subframe 50.

<Operation of electrical connector>
The operation of the electrical connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  First, the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mounting hole 101 of the housing 100 of the electronic device from the rear, and the electrical connector 1 is inserted to a predetermined position of the mounting hole 101. At this time, the electrical connector 1 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 101 because the pressure contact portion 43 of the seal member 40 is pressed by the inner wall 102 of the housing 100 and elastically deformed. Further, by providing the metal shell 30 with the protruding portion 32 so as to have a gap between the inner wall 102 and the electric connector 1 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 101, the protruding portion 32 is not caught on the inner wall 102. The state where 1 cannot be inserted into the mounting hole 101 can be prevented.

  In the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 is substantially equal along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30, the seal member 40 is elastic by the pressing force from the inner wall 102. It is deformed and compressed by the compression width R1, and receives a pressing force almost uniformly from the inner wall 102 as a whole and presses against the inner wall 102. In the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the protruding portion 32 is disposed to face the inner wall 102 with a gap.

  When the electrical connector 1 is connected to a mating connector (not shown), the lower side of the seal member 40 is elastically deformed with a large compression width by, for example, receiving an external force through the mating connector, and is strongly pressed against the inner wall 102. By doing so, the pressing state of the inner wall 102 with respect to the whole sealing member 40 becomes non-uniform | heterogenous. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102 to prevent the electrical connector 1 from moving downward relative to the mounting hole 101 beyond the state shown in FIG. 6. In addition, since a portion other than the lower side of the seal member 40 is in pressure contact with the inner wall 102 with a compression width R1 larger than the width R2 of the gap, the state of being pressed against the inner wall 102 is maintained, so that a predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained. it can. In addition, the protrusion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102 and restricts the movement of the electrical connector 1 with respect to the mounting hole 101, thereby preventing displacement of the electrical connector 1 with respect to the housing 100 of the electronic device.

  The electrical connector 1 returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 by the elastic restoring force of the seal member 40 when the external force applied via the mating connector is removed.

  Here, when the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 is not uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a due to the displacement of the mounting position of the electrical connector 1 with respect to the housing 100, an external force smaller than the counterpart connector is applied. Even in such a case, it is conceivable that a portion where the pressure contact force of the seal member 40 against the inner wall 102 becomes weak is generated. Even in such a case, by disposing the protruding portion 32 with a gap with respect to the inner wall 102, the protruding portion 32 contacts the inner wall 102 when an external force is applied, and the seal member 40 Since the compression width can be regulated and a predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained, a decrease in the waterproof effect due to an attachment error of the electrical connector 1 to the housing 100 can be prevented.

  According to this embodiment, by providing the protrusion 32 behind the seal member 40, the protrusion 32 can be used for positioning when the seal member 40 is attached to the front end of the metal shell 30.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by providing the protrusion 32 integrally with the metal shell 30, it is possible to eliminate the need to provide the protrusion 32 as a separate member, suppressing an increase in the number of parts, An increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
<Configuration of electrical connector>
The configuration of the electrical connector 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  7 to 10, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The electrical connector 2 according to the present embodiment is attached to a mounting hole 101 provided in the casing 100 of the device and opening on the outer surface of the casing 100, and includes a housing 10, a contact 20, a subframe 50, and a metal shell. 130 and a seal member 140.

  The main body 11 of the housing 10 is fixed by being press-fitted into the metal shell 130. The fixing means for the main body 11 with respect to the metal shell 130 is not limited to press-fitting but may be integral molding or engagement.

  The metal shell 130 is provided with an opening 131 that opens forward and allows the mating connector to be inserted therein, and houses the housing 10 that holds the contacts 20. The metal shell 130 includes a protruding portion 132 that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 130a.

  A plurality of protrusions 132 are provided along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a, and are provided at positions that oppose each other in the vertical direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a and at positions that oppose each other in the left-right direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a. . In addition, you may provide multiple protrusion part 132 in a random position along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a.

  The protrusion 132 is covered with the seal member 140. The protrusion 132 is formed by pressing the metal shell 130. The protrusion 132 has a gap with the inner wall 102 when the distance between the metal shell 130 and the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the metal shell 130. Arranged. The protrusion 132 contacts and separates from the inner wall 102 according to the compression width of the seal member 140.

  The seal member 140 has an annular shape, is formed of a material having elasticity, and is provided at the front end of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal shell 130. The press contact portion 143, the front end portion 144, the opening portion 145, It is equipped with. The seal member 140 is compressed with a compression width larger than the width of the gap between the projecting portion 132 and the inner wall 102 when the seal member 140 is generally in a state of receiving a pressing force substantially uniformly from the inner wall 102. Is in pressure contact. The seal member 140 includes a pressure contact part 143, a front end part 144, an opening part 145, and a recessed part 146.

  The pressure contact portion 143 protrudes outward and press-contacts the inner wall 102.

  The front end portion 144 projects forward from the metal shell 130 and covers the front end surface of the metal shell 130.

  The opening 145 penetrates in the front-rear direction and allows the mating connector to be inserted. The opening 145 communicates with the opening 131.

  The recessed portion 146 is recessed in the inner peripheral surface at a position facing the protruding portion 132 of the seal member 140, and is formed in a size that can accommodate the protruding portion 132. The recess 146 is provided behind the press contact part 143.

  The subframe 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal shell 130, and is attached to the casing of the device. Note that the electrical connector 2 may not have the subframe 50.

  Note that the operation of the electrical connector 2 is the same as the operation of the electrical connector 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  According to this embodiment, the seal member 140 provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the metal shell 130 and having an elastic force that presses against the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101, and the outer peripheral surface 130 a provided on the metal shell 130. A protrusion 132 that protrudes outward from the inner wall 102 and has a gap between the inner wall 102 and a protrusion 132 that contacts and separates from the inner wall 102 in accordance with the compression width of the sealing member 140. Since the inner wall 102 is compressed with a compression width larger than the width of the gap between the protrusion 102 and the protrusion 132 and can be pressed against the inner wall 102, waterproofing can be ensured even when an external force is applied.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, by providing the protruding portion 132 behind the press contact portion 143, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the elastic force when the seal member 140 presses against the inner wall 102.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by covering the protruding portion 132 with the seal member 140, the appearance of the electrical connector 2 can be made into a shape with less unevenness, and the appearance of the appearance can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the whole projecting portion 132 is covered by the seal member 140, but a part of the projecting portion 132 may be covered by the seal member.

  In the present invention, the type, arrangement, number, and the like of the members are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the constituent elements thereof are appropriately replaced with those having the same effects and the like, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course, it can be changed appropriately.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the metal shell is provided with the protruding portion that contacts and separates from the inner wall of the housing, but the housing other than the metal shell that faces the inner wall of the housing, etc. Projections can be provided on any of the members. Moreover, you may make it provide the member which has a protrusion part separately.

  In the first and second embodiments, the seal member is provided at the front end of the metal shell. However, the seal member may be provided slightly behind the front end of the metal shell, or the inner wall of the housing. A seal member can be provided at an arbitrary position of the metal shell facing the. In this case, the seal member has a shape that eliminates the front end portion that covers the front end surface of the metal shell.

  Moreover, in the said 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, although the several protrusion part was formed in the metal shell, you may form one protrusion part over the perimeter of a metal shell.

  Moreover, in the said 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, although the metal shell was provided in the electrical connector, you may provide the shell formed with the material which has insulation other than a metal in an electrical connector.

  The present invention is suitable for an electrical connector having a waterproof function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical connector 2 Electrical connector 10 Housing 11 Main body part 12 Plate-shaped part 20 Contact 21 Connection part 22 Terminal part 23 Fixing part 30 Metal shell 30a Outer peripheral surface 31 Opening part 32 Projection part 40 Seal member 43 Pressure end part 44 Front end part 45 Opening part 50 Subframe 100 Housing 101 Mounting hole 102 Inner wall 130 Metal shell 130a Outer peripheral surface 131 Opening portion 132 Projection portion 140 Seal member 143 Pressure contact portion 144 Front end portion 145 Opening portion 146 Recessed portion

An electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector that is provided in a housing of an apparatus and is attached to a mounting hole that opens on an outer surface of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrically conductive contact and an insulating material that holds the contact. A housing and a connector opening that is open to the front and into which a mating connector that is inserted into the mounting hole can be inserted, are provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the shell and the cylindrical shell that houses the housing A seal member having an elastic force that presses against the inner wall of the mounting hole, and is provided on the shell and partially protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface and is disposed with a gap between the inner wall, anda plurality of projections which contact and separation to the internal wall according to the compression width of the seal member, the seal member is pressed against the inner wall said compressed with greater compression than the width of the gap by the inner wall It is a function.

Claims (3)

An electrical connector provided in a mounting hole provided in a housing of an apparatus and opened to an outer surface of the housing,
Conductive contacts;
An insulating housing for holding the contact;
A cylindrical shell that houses the housing, including a connector opening that can be inserted into a mating connector that opens forward and is inserted into the mounting hole;
A seal member provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the shell and having an elastic force to press-contact the inner wall of the mounting hole;
A protrusion that is provided on the shell and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface with a gap between the inner wall and a protrusion that contacts and separates from the inner wall according to the compression width of the seal member;
Have
The sealing member is
The inner wall is compressed with a compression width larger than the width of the gap and can be pressed against the inner wall.
An electrical connector characterized by that. The protrusion is
Provided behind the seal member;
The electrical connector according to claim 1. The protrusion is
At least partly covered by the sealing member,
The electrical connector according to claim 1.

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