JP3155190B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector provided with a retainer, and more particularly to a connector which is designed to provide a simple waterproof structure at a mounting portion of the retainer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-292
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 76-76, there is a device that uses a retainer as a means for controlling removal of a terminal fitting housed in a terminal fitting housing chamber. This connector has a configuration in which a retainer insertion hole is formed in an outer surface of a connector housing, and a retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole for mounting, and the retainer is engaged with the terminal fitting in a retaining state. .

[0003]

The connector provided with the retainer as described above has a structure in which the retainer insertion hole is opened to the outside of the connector housing. Therefore, the connector insertion hole and the retainer are formed on the outer surface of the connector housing. Is slightly opened. Therefore, when water drops on the opening of the gap, the water may enter the minute gap due to surface tension. Therefore, in an environment where water is dripped, this type of connector housing is not used, and a connector exhibiting a high waterproof function by providing waterproof means such as mounting a seal member has been used. If a connector having a high waterproof function is used, the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to control the spread of water in a gap between a retainer and a retainer insertion hole while keeping costs low.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector housing in which a terminal is mounted, and a retainer which is inserted into a retainer insertion hole of the connector housing to prevent the terminal from being removed. In a connector in which a minute gap serving as a waterlogging path due to surface tension is retained between the inner wall surface of the retainer insertion hole and the outer wall surface of the retainer, a water drainage portion that can regulate the spread of water is provided in the waterlogging path. The connector housing has the retainer.
From the insertion hole to the outer surface of the connector housing
A drain hole is formed, and the retainer has a drain hole.
It is characterized in that a communicating drainage through hole is formed .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the draining portion is formed by bending the retainer and the retainer insertion hole into a crank shape while maintaining the opposing surfaces at a predetermined interval. It has features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the gap between the opposing surfaces is enlarged on one or both of the opposing surfaces of the retainer and the retainer insertion hole, and the distance between the opposing surfaces is increased. It is characterized in that the draining portion is formed by forming a concave portion having a dimension at which the surface tension effect is lost.

[0008] The invention of claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
The present invention is characterized in that the drainer is arranged between adjacent terminal fitting accommodating chambers.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
In either aspect, the draining unit, the draining
It is characterized in that it is formed so as to correspond to the through hole for use .

[0010] The invention of claim 6 is the first to fifth aspects of the present invention.
The invention is characterized in that the drainage hole is disposed so as to pass between the adjacent terminal fitting accommodating chambers.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if water enters the minute gap between the retainer insertion hole and the retainer draining portion due to surface tension, the intruded water spreads further in the draining portion. Is regulated. Since it is not necessary to provide a waterproof means such as a seal member that exhibits a high waterproof function, it is possible to prevent water from spreading in the gap between the retainer insertion hole and the retainer while keeping costs low. Also, it entered the gap between the retainer and the retainer insertion hole.
Water drains out of the connector housing through the drain hole
Is done.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the drainage portion is bent in the shape of a crank, the inundation path is lengthened, so that it is difficult for water to spread to the back.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the surface tension effect disappears at the draining portion, the progress of water due to surface tension is restricted.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the provision of the draining portion makes it difficult for water to be transmitted from one of the adjacent terminal fitting accommodating chambers to the other.

[0015]

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the drainage holes are arranged between the adjacent terminal fitting accommodating chambers, the water spread from one terminal fitting accommodating chamber is directed to the other terminal fitting accommodating chamber. It is discharged by the drain hole without reaching.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector according to the present embodiment includes a pair of male and female connector housings 10 and 30 that can be fitted and disengaged from each other, and both connector housings 1 and 30.
0, 30 and the terminal fittings 12, 3 attached to the connector housings 10, 30, respectively.
2 and retainers 20 and 40 for holding a simple waterproof structure as described later.

First, the male connector housing 10 will be described. Upper and lower two male terminal fitting receiving chambers 11 are formed in the male connector housing 10, and the male terminal fittings 12 are formed in the male terminal fitting receiving chamber 11 through an opening on the rear side.
Is inserted and held at a predetermined position by the lance 13 and a retainer 20 described later. The male tab 12 </ b> A of the male terminal fitting 12 projects from a front opening of the male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11, and faces a hood portion 14 that projects in a rectangular cylindrical shape from the peripheral edge of the front end face of the male connector housing 10.

A drain hole 15 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at a height between the two male terminal fitting accommodating chambers 11. The drainage hole 15 is open at the rear end surface of the male connector housing 10 and is connected to a drainage hole 35 of the female connector housing 30 described later.

Further, a retainer insertion hole 16 is formed in the male connector housing 10. Retainer insertion hole 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes an opening on the lower surface of the male connector housing 10, penetrating vertically through the lower male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11 and the drain hole 15, and opening to the lower face of the upper male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11. A retainer 20 is inserted into the retainer insertion hole 16.
The male terminal fittings 12 are attached to a temporary locking position that allows insertion of the male terminal fittings 12 and a permanent locking position that holds the male terminal fittings 12 in place. The retainer 20 has a male terminal fitting through-hole 21 communicating with the lower male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11 and a drainage through-hole 22 communicating with the drainage hole 15, and the upper end portion has an upper male terminal fitting. It protrudes into the storage chamber 11.

On the other hand, the female connector housing 30 is fitted so as to be accommodated in the hood portion 14 of the male connector housing 10. This female connector housing 30
Two female terminal fitting receiving chambers 31 are formed in the upper and lower chambers. Female terminal fittings 32 are inserted into the female terminal fitting receiving chambers 31 through openings on the rear side thereof. Is held at a predetermined position. The female terminal fitting 32 is waiting for the male tab 12A at the opening on the front side of the female terminal fitting accommodating chamber 31.

Similarly, the female connector housing 30 has
A drain hole 35 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at a height between the female terminal fitting housing chambers 31 of the chamber. The drain hole 35 is open at the rear end face of the female connector housing 30 and is connected to the drain hole 15 of the male connector housing 10.

Further, a retainer insertion hole 36 is formed in the female connector housing 30. The retainer insertion hole 36 is opened on the upper surface of the female connector housing 30, penetrates vertically through the upper female terminal fitting receiving chamber 31 and the drainage hole 35, and is opened on the upper wall surface of the lower female terminal fitting receiving chamber 31. ing. A retainer 40 is inserted into the retainer insertion hole 36.
Are attached to a temporary locking position where insertion of the female terminal fitting 32 is allowed and a full locking position where the female terminal fitting 32 is retained and retained. The retainer 40 has a female terminal fitting through-hole 41 communicating with the upper female terminal fitting accommodating chamber 31 and a drainage through-hole 42 communicating with the drainage hole 36. It protrudes into the chamber 31.

Next, a simple waterproof structure provided in the connector of the present embodiment will be described. The waterproof structure includes a minute gap between the retainers 20, 40 and the retainer insertion holes 16, 36, and a contact surface (front end surfaces opposed to each other at the time of fitting) between the male and female connector housings 10, 30. Adopted in the gap.

Retainers 20, 40 and retainer insertion hole 1
The simple waterproof structure of the gap between the first and second gaps is as follows. The front side of the retainer insertion hole 16 on the male side (FIGS. 3 and 4).
The inner wall surface on the right side is formed in a vertical straight line, but the inner wall surface on the rear side is such that the upper inner wall surface is located forward of the lower inner wall surface at the height where the drain hole 15 is formed. It is bent in a crank shape so as to be positioned, thereby forming a drainage portion 19. The bent portion of the drainer 19 is squared at a right angle when viewed from the side.

On the other hand, a drain portion 23 is formed on the front wall surface of the retainer 20 by being cut out in a substantially U-shape at a height corresponding to the upper surface wall of the drain hole 22. The opening edge of the draining portion 23 is chamfered at an angle of 45 °, and the upper and lower bent portions at the rear end of the draining portion 23 are squared at right angles. Further, the rear wall surface of the retainer 20 is cut off at a portion above the height where the drainage through hole 22 is formed, and the drainage portion 19 of the retainer insertion hole 16 is cut off. And a crank-shaped draining portion 24 that matches the shape of the draining portion. Among the front and rear bent portions of the draining portion 24 of the retainer 20, the front bent portion is squared at a right angle, while the rear bent portion is chamfered at an angle of about 45 °.

The inner wall surface on the front side (left side in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the female-side retainer insertion hole 36 is formed in a vertical straight line, while the rear inner wall surface is formed above the drain hole 36. At the height of the wall surface, the upper inner wall surface is bent in a crank shape so as to be located rearward of the lower inner wall surface, thereby forming a drain portion 39. This drainer 3
The bent portion 9 is squared at a right angle when viewed from the side.

On the other hand, a drain portion 43 is formed on the front wall surface of the retainer 40 by cutting out in a substantially U-shape at a height corresponding to the upper surface wall of the drain hole 42. The opening edge of the draining portion 43 is chamfered at an angle of 45 °, and the upper and lower bent portions at the rear end of the draining portion 43 are squared at right angles. The rear wall surface of the retainer 40 is cut off at a portion below the height where the drainage through hole 42 is formed, and the drainage portion of the retainer insertion hole 36 is formed. A crank-shaped drainer 44 is formed which is aligned with 39. Of the two front and rear bent portions of the draining portion 44, the front bent portion is squared at a right angle, but the rear bent portion is approximately 45 °.
The chamfer of the angle is given.

Next, a waterproof structure for a gap between the abutting surfaces 18, 38 of the connector housings 10, 30 will be described. On the abutting surface of the female connector housing 30, a rectangular rib (hereinafter, referred to as a peripheral rib) 45 protruding forward along an outer peripheral edge thereof is formed. On the other hand, a receiving portion 25 is formed on the abutting surface 18 of the male connector housing 10 in a rectangular groove shape capable of receiving the peripheral rib 45. Only a small gap is provided between the peripheral rib 45 and the receiving portion 25 in consideration of dimensional tolerance.

The abutting surface 38 of the female connector housing 30 has a pair of upper and lower plate-like ribs (hereinafter referred to as connection ribs) projecting forward in a state flush with the upper wall surface and the lower wall surface of the drain hole 35. ) 46 are formed.
Both side edges of the connecting rib 46 are continuous with the inner surface of the peripheral rib 45. In contrast, male connector housing 1
Receiving portions 26, 26 capable of receiving the connection ribs 46, 46 by notching the upper and lower edges of the opening of the drain hole 15 are formed on the abutting surface 18 of the zero. The two connector housings 1 are formed by the connection rib 46 and the receiving portion 26.
The drain holes 15, 35 of 0, 30 are connected to each other.

The front ends of the upper and lower connecting ribs 46, 46 are provided at the front ends with tapered watertight holding portions 46A, 46A.
A is formed, and watertight holding portions 26A, 26A having a tapered shape are formed at the inner ends of the receiving portions 26, 26 (see FIG. 7). The taper angle of the watertight holding portion 46A of the connection rib 46 (the angle formed with respect to the fitting direction of both connector housings) is the watertight holding portion 26A of the receiving portion 26.
The water tightness holding portions 46A, 46A,
26A are in close contact with each other in line contact, and
Water leakage is prevented at the connection portions 5, 35.

Further, on the abutment surface 38 of the female connector housing 30, on the upper side and the lower side of the drain hole 35, respectively,
A short-circuit release piece (operating piece, which is a constituent element of the present invention) 47 which can enter the male connector housing 10 and performs a short-circuit and short-circuit release operation between the male terminal fittings 12, 12 is formed to protrude. (See FIG. 2). These short-circuit release pieces 47 are housed in two spaces formed by the peripheral rib 45 and the connection rib 46. This prevents other members from hitting the short-circuit release piece 47.

A terminal fitting rib 28 is formed on the abutment surface 18 of the male connector housing 10 along the edge of the opening of the male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 8 in an enlarged manner, the outer peripheral edge of the terminal fitting rib 28 is formed in a tapered shape with a taper. On the other hand, on the abutting surface 38 of the female connector housing 30, a receiving portion 48 is formed which is tapered inwardly along the edge of the opening of the female terminal fitting housing chamber 31. The ribs 28 are adapted to enter.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Terminal fittings 12,
32, and the retainers 20, 40 are fully locked,
When the connector housings 10 and 30 are fitted to each other, the following simple waterproof function is exhibited.

A gap between the retainer 20 and the retainer insertion hole 16 is opened on the lower surface of the male connector housing 10, and when water droplets jumping up adhere to this opening, the water penetrates into the gap due to surface tension. May be.
However, the intruded water is supplied to the crank-shaped drainers 19 and 24 provided in the middle of the flood path and the U-shaped drainers 23.
In is regulated the spread of water. That is, in the crank-shaped drainers 19 and 24, the creepage distance between the mutually opposing surfaces of the retainer 20 and the retainer insertion hole 16 forming the inundation path is long, so that it is difficult for water to reach the depth. Has become. On the other hand, in the U-shaped draining portion 23, the interval between the opposing surfaces of the retainer 20 and the retainer insertion hole 16 is greatly widened and the surface tension effect disappears. Progress is regulated. In this way, a simple waterproof effect is exhibited,
Spreading of the water deeper than the drainers 19, 23, 24 is regulated.

Even if water that has entered the male terminal fitting accommodating chamber 11 through the opening at the rear end surface of the male connector housing 10 enters the gap between the retainer insertion hole 16 and the retainer 20, this water is applied in the same manner as described above. Are the drainers 19, 23, 2
4, the extension to the back is regulated.

Further, since the draining portions 19, 23, 24 are provided so as to face the drain holes 15, even if the flooding amount is large and the water overflows in the draining portions 19, 23, 24, the water is removed. Does not spread deeper than the drainers 19, 23, and 24, flows into the drain hole 15, and is discharged to the outside.

In the female connector housing 30, similarly to the male connector housing 10, the female connector housing 30 is provided in the middle of the water infiltration path between the retainer 40 and the retainer insertion hole 36.
Crank-shaped drainers 39 and 44 and U-shaped drainer 4
3 is provided, so that the spread of water that has entered the gap is regulated. In addition, the drainers 39, 43, 44
In this case, even if the water overflows, the water is discharged to the outside by the drain hole 35. Since the female connector housing 30 is housed in the hood portion 14 and the opening of the retainer insertion hole 36 is concealed from the outside, the female connector housing 30 is unlikely to be flooded from the opening of the retainer insertion hole 36.

The male and female connector housings 10, 3
Since the ribs 45 and 46 and the receiving portions 25 and 26 are formed between the abutting surfaces 18 and 38, the creepage distance between the connector housings 10 and 30 is long. Thereby, even if water intrudes through the gap between the outer periphery of the female connector housing 30 and the inner periphery of the hood portion 14, it is possible to stop the spread of the water at the peripheral rib 45. If the abutment surfaces 18, 3
Even if water intrudes into the gap between the eight, it is possible to stop the spread of the water in the gap or the connecting rib 46.
In particular, since the connection ribs 46 and the receiving portions 26 provided at the connection portions of the drainage holes 15 and 35 are formed with the watertight holding portions 46A and 26A, the water in the drainage holes 15 and 35 is exposed to the abutment surface 18. , 38 do not leak. Further, since the terminal fitting ribs 28 are provided in the opening of the male terminal fitting storage chamber 11, it is difficult for water to enter the male terminal fitting storage chamber 11 through the gap between the abutting surfaces 18 and 38.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the drainage portions 19, 23, 24, 39, 43, 44 bent into the gaps between the retainers 20, 40 and the retainer insertion holes 16, 36.
Is provided to regulate the spread of water in the gap, so that a waterproof effect can be exhibited. In particular, the drainers 19, 23, 24, 39, 43, 4
Since the water drain holes 15 and 35 are provided so that the front surface 4 faces, and water is discharged to the outside of the connector housing, a higher waterproof function is exhibited. In addition, the drainers 19, 23, 24, 39, 43, 44 and the drain holes 15,
35 is the upper and lower terminal fitting accommodating chambers 11, 11 and 31, 31
Thus, transmission of water from one terminal fitting receiving chamber 11, 31 to the other terminal fitting receiving chamber 11, 31 is also prevented.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the front draining portion is formed in a crank shape. However, the crank draining portion may be provided on both front and rear sides, or may be provided only on the rear side. Good.

(2) In the above embodiment, the front draining portion is formed to be concave in a U-shape. However, the U-shaped draining portion may be provided on both front and rear sides, or provided only on the rear side. May be.

(3) In the above embodiment, the U-shaped drainer is provided only on the retainer side, but may be provided on the retainer insertion hole side.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the drainage portion is disposed between the terminal fitting receiving chambers. However, the drainage portion may be disposed between the outer surface of the connector housing and the terminal fitting receiving chamber.

(5) In the above embodiment, the drain hole is provided between the two terminal fitting receiving chambers. However, the drain hole may be provided between the outer surface of the connector housing and the terminal fitting receiving chamber.

(6) Although the drain holes are provided in the above embodiment, a configuration without the drain holes may be adopted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fitted state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a separated state.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a fitted state.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a separated state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retainer attached to the female connector housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a retainer attached to the male connector housing.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure at a connection portion of a drain hole.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a waterproof structure at an opening of the terminal fitting accommodating chamber.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Male connector housing 12 ... Male terminal fitting 15 ... Drain hole 16 ... Retainer insertion hole 19 ... Drain part 20 ... Retainer 23 ... Drain part 24 ... Drain part 30 ... Female connector housing 32 ... Female terminal fitting 35 ... Drain hole 36 ... Retainer insertion hole 39 ... Draining part 40 ... Retainer 43 ... Draining part 44 ... Draining part

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takahiro Yoneda 2 Takara-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takafumi Kishi 2 Takara-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. 56) References JP-A-7-220798 (JP, A) JP-A 7-32868 (JP, U) JP-A 1-93913 (JP, U) JP-A 1-150417 (JP, U) 56-57486 (JP, U) JP 7-19969 (JP, U) JP 2-29656 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13 / 52-13/533

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A connector housing in which a terminal fitting is mounted; and a retainer inserted into a retainer insertion hole of the connector housing to prevent the terminal fitting from being removed.
In a connector having a minute gap serving as a waterlogging path due to surface tension between an inner wall surface of the retainer insertion hole and an outer wall surface of the retainer, a water drainage portion capable of restricting the spread of water is provided in the waterlogging path. The connector housing is inserted through the retainer insertion hole.
A drain hole communicating with the outer surface of the connector housing is formed.
And the retainer has a drainage passage communicating with the drainage hole.
A connector having a through hole . 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the drainage portion is formed by bending the retainer and the retainer insertion hole into a crank shape while maintaining the opposing surfaces at a predetermined interval. 3. A concave portion having a dimension that enlarges the gap between the opposing surfaces on one or both of the opposing surfaces of the retainer and the retainer insertion hole so that the surface tension effect between the opposing surfaces is lost. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the drain portion is formed by being formed. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the draining portion is disposed between the adjacent terminal fitting accommodating chambers. 5. The draining part is provided with the drain hole.
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is formed so as to correspond . 6. The method of claim 1乃, characterized in that are arranged so as to pass between the terminal fitting accommodating chamber drainage holes are adjacent
The connector according to any one of claims 5 to 6 .