JP2021039900A - Connector cover - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector cover which can hold a protective member with high holding force while ensuring excellent assembling workability.SOLUTION: A first cover 11 and a second cover 12 comprise: holding grooves 23, 33 which abut against each other so as to hold an end of a corrugated tube 80; and a plurality of locking projections 24, 34 which are formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the holding grooves 23, 33 so as to lock a plurality of troughs 82 formed in the circumferential direction on an outer surface of the corrugated tube 80 and disposed at equal pitches in the axial direction. The second cover 12 has extension parts 37, 38 which are obtained by extending both edges of the holding groove 33 to an abutting side with the first cover 11. Portions, of the locking projection 34, which are formed on the extension parts 37, 38 serve as holding ribs 37a, 38a disposed to face each other. A distance W between edges of the holding ribs 37a, 38a is slightly smaller than an outer diameter D of the corrugated tube 80 at the troughs 82.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a connector cover.

There is a cover attached to the end of the connector on the lead-out side of the electric wire to cover and protect the electric wire drawn from the connector. As this cover, the ridges and grooves of the corrugated tube are engaged with the locking grooves and the locking protrusions formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the main body and the lid, which are split in half, respectively, to form the main body and the lid. Some hold the corrugated tube by engaging the lids with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-357386

By the way, in order to increase the holding force of the corrugated tube, the inner diameter of the holding portion of the corrugated tube in the main body and the lid is reduced, or the entire overhang of the locking protrusion for locking the groove of the corrugated tube is increased. Can be considered. However, in this case, the corrugated tube is compressed in the assembling direction, the assembling force required for assembling the lid portion to the main body portion increases, and the assembling workability deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector cover capable of holding a protective member with a high holding force while maintaining good assembly workability. is there.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector cover according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (3).
(1) It is mounted between a connector and a tubular protective member through which an electric wire drawn from the connector is inserted, connects the connector and the protective member, and connects the electric wire drawn from the connector. It is a connector cover that covers
It has a pair of covers that are abutted against each other and are connected by sandwiching the connector and the protective member.
The cover is formed on a holding groove portion that holds an end portion of the protective member by being abutted against each other and an inner peripheral surface of the holding groove portion, and is formed on the outer surface of the protective member in the circumferential direction in the axial direction. It has a plurality of locking ridges, which lock a plurality of valleys arranged at equal pitches.
At least one of the covers has an extending portion in which both edges of the holding groove portion extend to the abutting side with the other cover.
The portion of the locking ridge formed on the extending portion is a holding rib arranged so as to face each other, and the distance between the edges of the holding rib is larger than the outer diameter at the valley portion of the protective member. A connector cover that is characterized by being slightly smaller.
(2) The connector cover according to (1), wherein the holding rib has an edge formed in a straight line along an assembling direction of the covers.
(3) The extending portion having the holding rib is provided on one of the covers.
The connector cover according to (1) or (2), wherein the pair of covers face each other at a position deviated from the center position of the protective member to be held in the extending direction of the extending portion. ..

According to the connector cover having the configuration of (1) above, when the covers are assembled via the protective member, the locking ridges formed in the holding groove of each cover enter the valley of the protective member and lock the cover. As a result, the protective member is prevented from coming off. Further, by inserting the valley portion of the protective member between the holding ribs of the extending portion of one cover, the protective member is firmly locked and the holding force is enhanced. Here, the holding rib provided on one cover is provided on the extending portion extending toward the abutting side with the other cover. That is, it is provided along the assembling direction to the other cover. Therefore, the holding force of the protective member by these holding ribs is applied in the direction intersecting the assembling direction of the covers. As a result, it is possible to increase the holding force of the protective member while ensuring good assembling workability by suppressing an increase in the assembling force along the assembling direction between the covers as much as possible.
According to the connector cover having the configuration of (2) above, the valley portion of the protective member is smoothly slid between the edges of the holding ribs formed linearly along the assembling direction of the covers. It can be fitted.
According to the connector cover having the configuration of (3) above, when the pair of covers are assembled to hold the protective member, the valley portion of the protective member is fitted between the holding ribs provided on the extending portion of one cover. By making it possible to hold the protective member easily. In addition, since the pair of covers face each other at a position that is biased toward the extending direction of the extending portion from the center position of the protective member to be held, the wires pulled out from the connector can be caught at the facing points of the covers. It can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector cover capable of holding a protective member with a high holding force while maintaining good assembly workability.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. ..

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector to which the connector cover according to the present embodiment is attached. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector and the connector cover. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector cover. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line X in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 3 showing an assembled state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembling work of the connector cover. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II and a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3 for explaining a state during assembly. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector cover according to the reference example. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 8 for explaining a state during assembly.

Hereinafter, examples of embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector to which the connector cover according to the present embodiment is attached. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector and the connector cover.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector cover 10 according to the present embodiment is assembled on the lead-out side of the electric wire 41 in the connector 40. The electric wire 41 is protected by being passed through a corrugated tube 80 which is a protective member formed in a tubular shape. The corrugated tube 80 is made of a resin tube, and a plurality of peaks 81 and valleys 82 formed in the circumferential direction are alternately formed in the axial direction. The end of the corrugated tube 80 is locked and held by the connector cover 10. As a result, the connector 40 and the corrugated tube 80 are connected by the connector cover 10, and the electric wire 41 drawn from the connector 40 is covered and protected by the connector cover 10 between the connector 40 and the corrugated tube 80.

The connector 40 to which the connector cover 10 is assembled includes a housing 43, two female terminals 44 housed in the housing 43, an annular seal member 46 mounted on the housing 43, and a retainer 47 mounted on the housing 43. Is configured with. By fitting the connector 40 into the mating side connector (not shown), the female terminal 44 is electrically connected to the male terminal (not shown) of the mating side connector.

The housing 43 is formed with two terminal accommodating chambers 50 into which female terminals 44 are inserted from the rear. Each terminal accommodating chamber 50 is opened at the tip of the housing 43, and a tab-shaped male terminal is inserted from the opened tip.

The female terminal 44, which is inserted into and accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 50, is crimped and connected to the end of the electric wire 41. A rubber stopper 53 is attached to the electric wire 41 to which the female terminal 44 is connected. The rubber stopper 53 is fitted into the terminal accommodating chamber 50 to seal the terminal accommodating chamber 50. The housing 43 has an inner housing 54 projecting forward, and a sealing member 46 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface at the base of the inner housing 54.

The retainer 47 is attached to the inner housing 54 from the side thereof. The retainer 47 is formed of a synthetic resin and has a U-shaped cross section in which one side is open. The retainer 47 has a front plate portion 61 that covers the front end. An insertion port 62 is formed in the front plate portion 61. When the retainer 47 is mounted from the side of the inner housing 54, the front end thereof is covered by the front plate portion 61 of the retainer 47, and the terminal accommodating chamber 50 and the insertion port 62 of the retainer 47 are communicated with each other. A tab-shaped male terminal of the mating connector is inserted into the insertion port 62, and is electrically connected to the female terminal 44 housed in the terminal accommodating chamber 50.

A lock arm 66 having a locking claw 65 at the tip thereof is formed on the upper portion of the housing 43. The lock arm 66 is supported in a cantilever shape. In the lock arm 66, when the housing 43 is fitted to the mating housing of the mating connector, the locking claw 65 locks the locking projection (not shown) formed on the mating housing. As a result, the housing 43 is locked in a state of being fitted to the mating housing. Further, the housing 43 is formed with locking pieces 67 and 68 projecting outward on both sides and a lower portion at the rear end, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector cover. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line X in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 3 showing an assembled state.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the connector cover 10 assembled to the connector 40 has a first cover 11 and a second cover 12. The first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are rotatably connected to each other by a hinge portion 13. The first cover 11, the second cover 12, and the hinge portion 13 are integrally molded of synthetic resin. In the connector cover 10, the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are brought into contact with each other by rotating the second cover 12 with respect to the first cover 11 from the state where the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are open. Combined in a butted state.

The first cover 11 has locking portions 21 on both sides on one end side, which is an end portion on the side for assembling to the connector 40. The locking portion 21 locks the locking piece 67 formed in the housing 43 of the connector 40. Each of the locking portions 21 has a locking groove 22, and by inserting the locking piece 67 into these locking grooves 22, the locking portion 21 is locked by the locking piece 67. As a result, the first cover 11 is assembled to the housing 43 of the connector 40.

The first cover 11 has a holding groove portion 23 that is recessed in an arc shape in a cross-sectional view on the abutting side with the second cover 12. A plurality of locking ridges 24 are formed on the inner surface of the holding groove portion 23. These locking ridges 24 are evenly spaced apart from each other. The locking ridges 24 are arranged at the same arrangement pitch as the pitch of the valley 82 of the corrugated tube 80. The end of the corrugated tube 80 is arranged in the holding groove 23. Then, when the corrugated tube 80 is arranged at a predetermined position of the holding groove portion 23, the locking ridge 24 enters the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80, whereby the end portion of the corrugated tube 80 engages with the holding groove portion 23. It will be stopped. The first cover 11 has mating portions 25 and 26 formed on both edges of the holding groove portion 23 and formed of a plane orthogonal to the assembling direction with the second cover 12.

Further, on the abutting side of the first cover 11 with the second cover 12, a positioning wall 20 is formed on the side where the connector 40 is assembled to the housing 43. The positioning wall 20 is formed along a width direction orthogonal to the lead-in direction of the electric wire 41, and the corrugated tube 80 is positioned in the axial direction by abutting the end portions of the corrugated tube 80.

The second cover 12 has a locking portion 31 on one end side, which is an end portion on the side for assembling to the connector 40. The locking portion 31 locks the locking piece 68 formed in the housing 43 of the connector 40. The locking portion 31 has a locking groove 32, and by inserting the locking piece 68 into the locking groove 32, the locking portion 31 is locked by the locking piece 68. As a result, the second cover 12 is assembled to the housing 43 of the connector 40.

The second cover 12 has a holding groove portion 33 that is recessed in an arc shape in a cross-sectional view on the abutting side with the first cover 11. A plurality of locking ridges 34 are formed on the inner surface of the holding groove portion 33. These locking ridges 34 are evenly spaced apart from each other. The locking ridges 34 are arranged at the same arrangement pitch as the pitch of the valley portions 82 of the corrugated tube 80, similarly to the locking ridges 24 formed in the holding groove portion 23 of the first cover 11. The end of the corrugated tube 80 is arranged in the holding groove 33. Then, when the corrugated tube 80 is arranged at a predetermined position of the holding groove portion 33, the locking ridge 34 enters the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80, whereby the end portion of the corrugated tube 80 engages with the holding groove portion 33. It will be stopped. The second cover 12 has mating portions 35 and 36 formed on both edges of the holding groove portion 33 and formed of a plane orthogonal to the assembling direction with the first cover 11.

Further, on the abutting side of the second cover 12 with the first cover 11, a positioning wall 30 is formed on the side where the connector 40 is assembled to the housing 43. The positioning wall 30 is formed along a width direction orthogonal to the lead-in direction of the electric wire 41, and the corrugated tube 80 is positioned in the axial direction by abutting the end portions of the corrugated tube 80.

The first cover 11 is formed with a lock hole 51 on the connecting side with the second cover 12. A lock convex portion 51a is formed on the inner side surface of the lock hole 51 on one side thereof. Further, the first cover 11 is formed with a lock piece 52 on the side opposite to the connecting side with the second cover 12. A lock claw 52a is formed at the tip of the lock piece 52.

A lock piece 55 is formed on the second cover 12 on the connecting side with the first cover 11. A lock claw 55a is formed at the tip of the lock piece 55. Further, the second cover 12 is formed with a recess 56 on the side opposite to the connecting side with the first cover 11. A lock convex portion 56a is formed in the concave portion 56.

In the first cover 11, both edges of the holding groove portion 23 having the mating portions 25 and 26 are pulled in in the direction opposite to the assembling direction with the second cover 12. On the other hand, in the second cover 12, both edges of the holding groove 33 having the mating portions 35 and 36 extend to the butt side with the first cover 11. As a result, when the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are abutted against each other, the mating portions 25 and 26 and the mating portions 35 and 36 face each other at positions biased toward the first cover 11.

The portions of both edges of the holding groove 33 of the second cover 12 extending toward the abutting side with the first cover 11 are the extending portions 37 and 38. The locking ridges 34 formed in the holding groove 33 have holding ribs 37a and 38a formed inside the extending portions 37 and 38. The edges of these holding ribs 37a and 38a are formed linearly along the assembling direction to the first cover 11, and the distance W thereof is larger than the outer diameter D of the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80. It has been made slightly smaller (see FIG. 5).

Next, a case where the connector cover 10 is assembled to the connector 40 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembling work of the connector cover. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II and a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3 for explaining a state during assembly.

First, the first cover 11 of the connector cover 10 is attached to the connector 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the first cover 11 is brought close to the upper portion at the rear end of the connector 40, and is formed in the housing 43 of the connector 40 in the locking groove 22 of the locking portion 21 of the first cover 11. The locking piece 75 is inserted and engaged. In this way, the electric wire 41 drawn from the connector 40 is drawn into the holding groove portion 23 of the first cover 11 and arranged.

Next, the corrugated tube 80 is attached to the first cover 11 of the connector cover 10. Specifically, the corrugated tube 80 is brought close to the connector 40 to which the first cover 11 of the connector cover 10 is mounted, the end portion of the corrugated tube 80 is brought into contact with the positioning wall 20 for positioning, and the corrugated tube 80 is inserted into the holding groove portion 23. .. Then, the locking ridge 24 of the holding groove portion 23 enters the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80, and the end portion of the corrugated tube 80 is locked to the holding groove portion 23.

After that, the second cover 12 is rotated toward the first cover 11 side (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6) around the connecting portion by the hinge portion 13. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the holding ribs 37a, 38a of the extending portions 37, 38 come into contact with the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80. As a result, the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80 is pressed diagonally inward with respect to the assembling direction. That is, on the corrugated tube 80, component forces F2 in a direction different from the assembling force F1 along the assembling direction act on both sides of the valley portion 82 from the holding ribs 37a and 38a of the extending portions 37 and 38. As a result, in the corrugated tube 80, the valley portion 82 having the outer diameter D is slightly elastically deformed by the component force F2, and is fitted and held between the holding ribs 37a and 38a having an interval W smaller than the outer diameter D. To.

Then, the second cover 12 is assembled to the first cover 11 which is attached to the connector 40 and to which the corrugated tube 80 is locked. Then, the locking piece 75 formed in the housing 43 of the connector 40 is inserted into the locking groove 32 of the locking portion 31 of the second cover 12 and engaged with the locking groove 32. Then, the corrugated tube 80 enters the holding groove 33 of the second cover 12. As a result, the corrugated tube 80 is held by the locking ridges 34 of the holding groove 33 entering the valleys 82 and the ends being locked and held by the holding grooves 23 and 33 of the first cover 11 and the second cover 12. The cover.

Then, when the second cover 12 is abutted against the first cover 11, the lock piece 55 of the second cover 12 is inserted into the lock hole 51 of the first cover 11, and the lock claw 55a of the lock piece 55 is locked. The lock convex portion 51a of the hole 51 is locked. Further, the lock piece 52 of the first cover 11 enters the recess 56 of the second cover 12, and the lock claw 52a of the lock piece 52 locks the lock protrusion 56a of the recess 56. As a result, the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are locked in a state of being abutted against each other.

Here, the connector cover 100 according to the reference example will be described.
The same components as those of the connector cover 10 according to the present embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector cover according to the reference example. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 8 for explaining a state during assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the connector cover 100 according to the reference example, the second cover 12 does not have extending portions 37 and 38 at both edges of the holding groove portion 33. Further, in a state where the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are assembled with each other, the mating portions 25, 26 and the mating portions 35, 36 face each other at positions passing through the center of the corrugated tube 80.

In the connector cover 100, in order to increase the holding force of the end portion of the corrugated tube 80, the inner diameters of the holding groove portions 23, 33 are reduced, and the locking protrusions 24, 34 for locking the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80 are used. If the overhang of the cover is increased, the assembling force required for assembling the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 is increased, and the assembling workability is lowered.

On the other hand, according to the connector cover 10 according to the present embodiment, the holding ribs 37a and 38a of the second cover 12 into which the valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80 is fitted extend to the abutting side with the first cover 11. It is provided on the extending portions 37 and 38, and follows the assembling direction to the first cover 11. Therefore, on the corrugated tube 80, from the holding ribs 37a and 38a of the extending portions 37 and 38, a component force F2 in a direction different from the assembling force F1 along the assembling direction acts as a holding force on both sides of the valley portion 82. This is the case (see FIG. 7). As a result, it is possible to increase the holding force of the corrugated tube 80 while ensuring good assembling workability by suppressing an increase in the assembling force F1 along the assembling direction of the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 as much as possible. it can.

Moreover, since the edges of the holding ribs 37a and 38a are formed linearly along the assembling direction of the first cover 11 and the second cover 12, the edges of the holding ribs 37a and 38a are formed. The valley portion 82 of the corrugated tube 80 can be smoothly fitted between the two while sliding.

Further, extending portions 37, 38 having holding ribs 37a, 38a are provided on the second cover 12, and the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 extend beyond the center position of the corrugated tube 80 to be held. They face each other at positions biased in the extending direction of 37 and 38. Therefore, when the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 are assembled to hold the corrugated tube 80, the corrugated tube 80 is held between the holding ribs 37a and 38a provided on the extending portions 37 and 38 of the second cover 12. The corrugated tube 80 can be easily held by fitting the valley portion 82 of the above. Further, since the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 face each other at positions biased in the extending direction of the extending portions 37 and 38 from the center position of the corrugated tube 80 to be held, they are pulled out from the connector 40. It is possible to suppress the biting of the electric wire 41 at the position where the first cover 11 and the second cover 12 face each other.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, and the like. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

Here, the features of the above-described connector cover embodiment of the present invention are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3], respectively.
[1] A tubular protective member (corrugated tube 80) through which an electric wire (41) drawn from the connector (40) is inserted is mounted between the connector (40) and the connector (40) and the connector (40). A connector cover (10) that connects to a protective member (corrugated tube 80) and covers the electric wire (41) drawn from the connector (40).
It has a pair of covers (first cover 11, second cover 12) that are abutted against each other and are connected by sandwiching the connector (40) and the protective member (corrugated tube 80).
The covers (first cover 11, second cover 12) have a holding groove portion (23, 33) for holding an end portion of the protective member (corrugated tube 80) by being abutted against each other, and the holding groove portion (23, 33,). A plurality of valley portions (82) formed on the inner peripheral surface of 33), formed over the outer surface of the protective member (corrugated tube 80) in the circumferential direction, and arranged at equal pitches in the axial direction. With locking ridges (24,34),
At least one of the covers (second cover 12) has an extending portion (37, 38) in which both edges of the holding groove portion (33) extend toward the abutting side with the other cover (first cover 11). Have,
The portions of the locking ridge (34) formed on the extending portions (37, 38) are holding ribs (37a, 38a) arranged to face each other, and the holding ribs (37a, 38a) are A connector cover characterized in that the distance (W) between the edges is slightly smaller than the outer diameter (D) at the valley portion (82) of the protective member (corrugated tube 80).
[2] The holding ribs (37a, 38a) are characterized in that their edges are formed linearly along the assembling direction of the covers (first cover 11, second cover 12). The connector cover according to [1].
[3] The extending portion (37, 38) having the holding ribs (37a, 38a) is provided on one of the covers (second cover 12).
The pair of covers (first cover 11, second cover 12) are positioned at positions biased in the extending direction of the extending portion (37, 38) from the center position of the protective member (corrugated tube 80) to be held. The connector cover according to [1] or [2], wherein the connector covers are opposed to each other.

10: Connector cover 11: First cover (cover)
12: Second cover (cover)
23, 33: Holding groove portions 24, 34: Locking ridges 37, 38: Extended portions 37a, 38a: Holding rib 40: Connector 41: Electric wire 80: Corrugated tube (protective member)
82: Valley part D: Valley part outer diameter W: Interval

Claims (3)

A connector cover that is mounted between a connector and a tubular protective member through which an electric wire drawn from the connector is inserted, connects the connector and the protective member, and covers the electric wire drawn from the connector. And
It has a pair of covers that are abutted against each other and are connected by sandwiching the connector and the protective member.
The cover is formed on a holding groove portion that holds an end portion of the protective member by being abutted against each other and an inner peripheral surface of the holding groove portion, and is formed on the outer surface of the protective member in the circumferential direction in the axial direction. It has a plurality of locking ridges, which lock a plurality of valleys arranged at equal pitches.
At least one of the covers has an extending portion in which both edges of the holding groove portion extend to the abutting side with the other cover.
The portion of the locking ridge formed on the extending portion is a holding rib arranged so as to face each other, and the distance between the edges of the holding rib is larger than the outer diameter at the valley portion of the protective member. A connector cover that is characterized by being slightly smaller. The connector cover according to claim 1, wherein the holding rib has an edge portion formed linearly along an assembling direction between the covers. The extending portion having the holding rib is provided on one of the covers.
The connector cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pair of covers face each other at a position deviated from the central position of the protective member to be held in the extending direction of the extending portion. ..

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