JP3997879B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector provided with an electric wire cover.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of connector with an electric wire cover, for example, when sufficient wiring space cannot be secured on the rear surface side depending on the mounting position of the connector, and it is necessary to bend and wire the wire immediately after the rear surface of the housing. It is used for the case where the side is simply waterproofed with a cover, and the one described in Patent Document 1 is known as an example of the conventional technology.
This is composed of a housing in which a terminal fitting fixed to the end of the electric wire is inserted from the rear side, and a split cover that is attached to the rear end of the housing so as to form an L-shaped cylinder. The electric wire drawn out from the rear surface of the housing is led out in a direction bent at a right angle through the inside of the cover.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-150059
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, the cover mounting structure in the above-described conventional example is provided with a half-fitting fitting cylinder that is positioned and fitted to the outer periphery of the rear end of the housing at the end of each divided cover on the housing mounting side. The split cover has a structure in which a plurality of locking means including a lock piece and a lock protrusion are provided at the butting edge of each split cover. It was supposed to be attached to the rear end.
[0005]
Therefore, in the actual assembly, after inserting the terminal fitting into the housing, it was fitted while bending one of the wires that was pulled out by supporting one of the divided covers, and in some cases it was fitted on the outer periphery of the wire The corrugated tube must be fitted on the lead-out end side, then the two divided covers are aligned, and the respective fitting cylinders must be fitted to the rear end of the housing while locking the two divided covers. There was a problem that it took time and effort. Moreover, in recent years, since the connector, that is, the cover tends to be miniaturized, the difficulty of work has become more prominent.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the workability of attaching the cover.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a cylindrical shape that covers the electric wire drawn from the rear surface is provided on the rear surface of the connector housing into which the terminal fitting fixed to the terminal of the electric wire is inserted. In the connector to which the cover is attached, the cover is composed of a pair of split covers that are combined to form a cylindrical shape, and a pair of projecting pieces project symmetrically in the opposite direction at the rear end of the connector housing. And a pair of holding plates corresponding to a distance between the protruding pieces projecting from one of the pair of divided covers. The one holding plate of the pair of holding plates Has a fitting groove that fits into one of the pair of protruding pieces, and the other holding plate has an oblique posture in which the fitting groove is fitted into the one protruding piece. The split cover was rotated from the state To come and the other holding plate is formed a fitting groove to be fitted to the other of the protrusion and restoring deformation after riding in the other protrusion while open resiliently, the side wall, the both split cover It is characterized in that it has a configuration in which a locking means for locking the two in a united state is provided.
[0007]
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the cover can be led out in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the wire is bent and inserted and pulled out.
The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the two divided covers are connected via a hinge so as to be opened and closed.
A fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking means is provided in the vicinity of the holding plate to maintain the holding state presses the holding plate However, it has characteristics.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the end of the cover on the side from which the electric wire is led is fitted to the outer periphery of the corrugated tube and is prevented from coming off. It is characterized in that a stop is provided.
[0008]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
As an example of assembly, when the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing, one of the divided covers is held on the rear surface of the connector housing by the holding means, and then the electric wire drawn out into the held divided cover is fitted. Finally, the other divided cover is put together and locked by the locking means. As a result, the attachment of the cover is completed, and accordingly, the electric wire drawn from the rear surface of the connector housing is led out in a predetermined direction through the cover.
Since one split cover is structured to be held in a predetermined position with respect to the connector housing, even if the split cover is not specially supported, it is possible to continuously fit the drawn wires and Locking together can be performed easily and smoothly, that is, the cover can be mounted efficiently.
[0009]
<Invention of Claim 2>
Even in the so-called side-out type, the work of fitting the electric wire in the split cover can be easily performed.
<Invention of Claim 3>
Assembling work can be further simplified, and the number of parts can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.
<Invention of Claim 4>
Along with the locking between the two divided covers, the holding plate is pressed, that is, held double, so that the cover can be more firmly attached to the connector housing.
<Invention of Claim 5>
When attaching the corrugated tube fitted to the outer periphery of the wire to the lead-out end of the cover, first fit the corrugated tube into the latching part of the divided cover held by the connector housing, and then attach the other divided cover. When closed, the locking portions of both split covers are fitted to the outer periphery of the corrugated tube to prevent it from coming off, that is, the corrugated tube can be easily attached.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, a female-side waterproof connector is illustrated, for example, so as to be fitted to a mating male connector protruding from the device. As shown in FIG. Is formed of a female connector housing 20 (hereinafter referred to as a female housing) and a laterally extending cover 30 (FIG. 5 and the like) attached to the rear surface of the female housing 20.
The female terminal 10 is formed by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity, and has a rectangular tube-shaped connecting portion 11 that accommodates a contact piece that comes into contact with a male terminal accommodated in a mating male connector. The barrel 12 formed on the rear side thereof is caulked so that the waterproof rubber plug 13 is crimped to the end of the electric wire 15.
[0011]
The female housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the female housing 20 has a tower portion 21 having a horizontally long front shape, and a hood portion 22 is formed around the tower portion 21. In the tower portion 21, five cavities 23 into which the above-described female terminals 10 can be inserted from the rear are formed side by side. When the female terminals 10 are inserted to their normal positions, they are provided on the wall surface of the cavity 23. A lance (not shown) is used to prevent it from coming off.
A lock arm 25 is provided on the ceiling surface of the hood 22 to lock the mating male connector in a fitted state.
[0012]
The five electric wires 15 drawn out from the rear surface of the female housing 20 are bundled into one and inserted into the cover 30 as will be described later, but are bundled for waterproofing with the cover 30. A corrugated tube 17 having a predetermined length (see FIG. 13) is fitted to the electric wire 15 thus obtained. The corrugated tube 17 has a shape in which circumferential grooves 17A and ridges 17B are alternately provided on the outer peripheral surface along the axial direction, and has appropriate flexibility.
[0013]
A cover 30 can be attached to the rear surface side of the female housing 20. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a mounting wall 27 is formed on the back surface of the hood portion 22 so as to surround the lower side from the left and right sides of the inlets 23 </ b> A of the cavities 23 arranged side by side. The reason why the upper side portion of the mounting wall 27 is cut is to allow tilting of the lock arm 25 on the operation end 26 side.
On the left and right outer surfaces of the mounting wall 27, a pair of projecting pieces 28 are symmetrically projected and formed at substantially the center height position on the rear edge (front side in FIG. 1). In addition, a recessed portion 29 that is recessed on the wall surface side of the mounting wall 27 is formed at the base position of the upper and lower surfaces of the projecting piece 28.
[0014]
The cover 30 is also made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a main body cover 31 and a lid cover 32 divided into two are formed to be openable and closable via a hinge 33. As will be described in detail later, when the covers 31 and 32 are properly combined, as shown in FIG. 13, a rectangular tube shape having an L shape and an outer shape of the bent portion is cut off obliquely as shown in FIG. The narrow side of the opening at one end is the attachment end 35 to the female housing 20, the narrow side of the opening at the other end is the lead-out end 36 for leading the electric wire 15 to the outside, and the attachment end 35 and the lead-out end 36 are arranged orthogonally. Has been.
[0015]
More specifically, the body cover 31 has side walls 39 rising from the attachment end 35 to the lead-out end 36 along both side edges of the bottom plate 38. However, the side wall 39A on the lead-out end 36 side is about half as tall as the others. Further, on the inner surface on the lead-out end 36 side, three semicircular locking protrusions 40 that fit into the grooves 17A of the corrugated tube 17 are formed.
And the abutting part 42 which abuts against the right and left both side edge of the front in the attachment wall 27 of the female housing 20 is formed in the edge part by the side of the attachment end 35 of the both-sides wall 39 by bending at right angles inward. .
[0016]
At the same time, a pair of holding plates 43 that are slightly taller than the side walls 39 from the edge of the both side walls 39 on the mounting end 35 side can sandwich the left and right outer surfaces of the mounting wall 27 exactly. It is opened and opened. Inner corners at the projecting ends of both holding plates 43 are tapered guide surfaces 44. Both holding plates 43 are cut into fitting grooves 45 into which the projecting pieces 28 provided on the left and right outer surfaces of the mounting wall 27 are closely fitted. Further, at the upper and lower positions of the fitting groove 45 on the inner surface of the holding plate 43, a stuffing protrusion 46 that fits into the concave portion 29 provided above and below the protruding piece 28 is formed.
[0017]
One lid cover 32 has a literal lid plate 48 that is substantially symmetrical with the bottom plate 38 of the main body cover 31 described above, and is closed against the protruding end of the side wall 39 of the main body cover 31. However, on the lead-out end 36 side, a side wall 39B is formed so as to fill the portion of the main body cover 31 that is short on the side wall 39A, and the inner surface on the lead-out end 36 side is opposite to the corrugated tube 17. Similarly, semi-circular locking protrusions 40 that fit into the groove 17A on the surface side are formed corresponding to the three lines.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 6, the lid cover 32 is formed side by side with the main body cover 31 in a symmetrical posture with the lead-out ends 36 facing outward. A band-like hinge 33 is passed between adjacent edges on the attachment end 35 side of the side wall 39 of 31. Thereby, the lid cover 32 can be opened and closed while the hinge 33 is bent with respect to the main body cover 31.
In order to close the lid cover 32 in alignment with the opening of the main body cover 31, there is a difference between the left and right side edges on the mounting end 35 side on the back surface of the lid plate 48 and the positions slightly inside the inclined edges. The insert piece 50 is formed. These insertion pieces 50 can be respectively inserted into the inner surface of the body cover 31 on the side of the attachment end 35 of the side walls 39 and the inner surface of the inclined portion of the side wall 39.
[0019]
Between the main body cover 31 and the lid cover 32, a total of four locking means 52 for locking the covers 30 in the combined state are set.
Specifically, the main body cover 31 includes an outer surface of both side walls 39A on the lead-out end 36 side, an outer surface of the inclined portion of the side wall 39, and an outer surface of the side wall 39 opposite to the side on which the hinge 33 is formed on the mounting end 35 side. Lock protrusions 53 and 53L are formed at a total of four locations. The locking protrusions 53 and 53L are locking surfaces 54 whose bottom surfaces are raised, and a guide surface 55 whose upper surface is tapered. The lock protrusion 53L provided on the outer surface of the side wall 39 on the attachment end 35 side is formed larger than the other three lock protrusions 53.
[0020]
On the other hand, corresponding positions in the lid cover 32, that is, both side walls 39B on the lead-out end 36 side, the inclined edge of the lid plate 48, and the edge on the side opposite to the side where the hinge 33 is formed on the attachment end 35 side of the lid plate 48 are provided. From the side, lock pieces 57 and 57L are projected. Each lock piece 57, 57L can be slidably contacted along the outer surface of the other side wall 39, 39A, and the angle of the inner surface of the protruding end is a tapered guide surface 58, and the corresponding lock protrusion A lock hole 59 into which 53 and 53L are fitted is opened.
[0021]
Note that the lock pieces 57L that fit into the larger lock protrusions 53L provided on the side wall 39 on the attachment end 35 side of the main body cover 31 are formed correspondingly large.
On the outer surfaces (surfaces) of the bottom plate 38 of the main body cover 31 and the lid plate 48 of the lid cover 32, a non-slip portion 61 with irregularities is formed. Further, the bottom plate 38 and the lid plate 48 are formed with drain holes 63 for draining the water that has entered the cover 30, provided that both the drain ports 63 do not directly open outward. It is formed in a blindfold shape.
[0022]
The present embodiment has the above-described structure, and the assembly procedure will be described next.
First, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the female terminal 10 fixed to the end of the electric wire 15 is inserted into the corresponding cavity 23 of the female housing 20. Here, the five electric wires 15 drawn out from the rear surface of the female housing 20 are bundled together, and the corrugated tube 17 is fitted on the outer periphery thereof.
[0023]
Next, the cover 30 is temporarily held on the rear surface of the female housing 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the body cover 31 is placed in an oblique posture, and the holding plate 43 on the side closer to the hinge 33 is first applied to the corresponding side surface of the mounting wall 27 of the female housing 20 while fitting. The protruding piece 28 is fitted into the groove 45.
From this state, when the main body cover 31 is pushed in while rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the holding plate 43 on the opposite side is elastically opened and rides on the corresponding projecting piece 28, so 10 is pushed in until it hits the front surface of the mounting wall 27, the corresponding holding piece 43 is restored and deformed, and the corresponding protruding piece 28 is fitted into the fitting groove 45 as shown in FIG. As a result, the protrusions 28 are properly fitted in the fitting grooves 45 of the two holding plates 43, and the pair of upper and lower bump protrusions 46 are also fitted in the upper and lower recesses 29 at the base of the protrusions 28. (See FIG. 11), the attachment end 35 side of the main body cover 31 is temporarily held against the attachment wall 27 of the female housing 20 without rattling.
[0024]
When the main body cover 31 is temporarily held in this manner, as shown in FIG. 11, the wires 15 gathered in a bundle are fitted into the main body cover 31 while being bent at a right angle, and the corrugated tube 17 is placed on the front side (in the figure). The upper half of the front end portion is fitted into the locking protrusion 40.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, when the lid cover 32 is folded back from the hinge 33 toward the upper surface of the main body cover 31, the insertion piece 50 is inserted inside the side wall 39 and the lock pieces 57 and 57 L are inserted into the side wall 39, When proceeding along the outer surface of 39A and riding on the locking protrusions 53 and 53L while elastically opening and folding back until the cover cover 32 properly covers the main body cover 31, as shown in FIGS. While the pieces 57 and 57L are deformed and deformed, the corresponding lock protrusions 53 and 53L are fitted into the lock hole 59, and the covers 31 and 32 are locked in the combined state. In addition, the remaining half circumference of the corrugated tube 17 fits into the locking protrusion 40 on the lid cover 32 side.
[0025]
The assembly is completed as described above, and the electric wire 15 drawn out from the rear surface of the female housing 20 is bent at a right angle while passing through the inside of the cover 30 and the corrugated tube 17, and as shown in FIG. Derived.
From this state, the anti-slip portions 61 of the covers 31 and 32 are picked and the female housing 20 is fitted to the mating male connector.
[0026]
When the electric wire 15 drawn out from the rear surface of the female housing 20 is led out to the left side when viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. 16, the main body cover 31 is turned upside down, and the procedure described above is used. The wire 15 is temporarily held on the mounting wall 27 of the female housing 20, and the wire 15 is fitted into the main body cover 31 together with the corrugated tube 17 while being bent at a right angle. Finally, the lid cover 32 is closed and locked. As a result, the electric wire 15 is bent at a right angle while passing through the cover 30 and the corrugated tube 17 and is led out to the left as viewed from the front as shown in FIG.
[0027]
As described above, in this embodiment, since one of the divided body covers 31 can be held in advance with respect to the mounting wall 27 of the female housing 20, the body cover 31 is not particularly supported. In addition, it is possible to easily and smoothly perform the fitting of the wire 15 and the corrugated tube 17 that are subsequently drawn out and the closing and locking of the lid cover 32. In particular, in the side-out type, it is necessary to bend and fit the electric wire 15 at a right angle in a narrow place, but since the main body cover 31 is temporarily held by the female housing 20, the hand can be used effectively and can be fitted smoothly. . Therefore, the attaching operation of the cover 30 can be performed efficiently.
[0028]
Further, the main body cover 31 is held by the pair of holding plates 43 being fitted to the projecting pieces 28 while sandwiching the left and right side surfaces of the mounting wall 27. One of the locking means 52 for the cover 31 and the lid cover 32 is set, and this locking means 52 functions to hold the holding plate 43 to prevent it from opening. The main body cover 31 and thus the cover 30 can be more firmly attached to the female housing 20.
[0029]
<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, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) The main body cover and the lid cover may be formed separately.
(2) The present invention can be similarly applied to a straight type cover in which an electric wire drawn out from the rear surface of the female housing is led out in the same direction as it is.
(3) The present invention can also be applied to male connectors, and can also be applied to wire-wire connectors.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female housing and a female terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the female housing. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the female housing. FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof. FIG. 7 is a bottom view. FIG. 8 is a front view of the body. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the mounting operation of the main body cover. FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a state where the wire is temporarily held on the rear surface. FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a state in which the electric wire is fitted in the main body cover. 13] Plan view with both covers combined. [Fig. 14] Side view. [Fig. 15] Front view. [Fig. 16] The main body cover is temporarily attached to the rear surface of the female housing when the direction of the electric wire is reversed. FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a state in which the cover is held. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
10 ... Female terminal (terminal fitting)
15 ... Electric wire 17 ... Corrugated tube 20 ... Female housing (connector housing)
23 ... Cavity 23A ... Inlet 27 (of cavity 23) ... Mounting wall 28 ... Projection piece 29 ... Recess 30 ... Cover 31 ... Main body cover 32 ... Lid cover 33 ... Hinge 35 ... Mounting end 36 ... Lead end 39, 39A, 39B ... Side wall 40 ... locking protrusion 42 ... abutting portion 43 ... holding plate (holding means)
45 ... fitting groove 46 ... stuffing projection 52 ... lock means 53, 53L ... lock projection 57, 57L ... lock piece 59 ... lock hole

Claims (5)

On the rear surface of the connector housing into which the terminal fitting fixed to the end of the electric wire is inserted, a connector with a cylindrical cover that covers the electric wire drawn from the rear surface,
The cover is composed of a pair of split covers that are combined to form a cylindrical shape ,
A pair of projecting pieces projecting symmetrically in opposite directions are formed on the rear end of the connector housing, and one of the pair of divided covers corresponds to the distance between the projecting pieces. A pair of holding plates protrudes,
One holding plate of the pair of holding plates is formed with a fitting groove that fits into one of the pair of protruding pieces, and the other holding plate has the fitting groove with the fitting groove. When the split cover is rotated from the oblique posture fitted to one of the projecting pieces, the other holding plate is elastically opened while riding on the other projecting piece, and then restored and deformed. A fitting groove that fits into the protruding piece is formed,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is provided with locking means for locking both split covers in a combined state.   2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover can be led out in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the electric wire is bent and inserted and pulled out.   The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two divided covers are connected via a hinge so as to be opened and closed. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the locking means, characterized in that provided in the vicinity of the holding plate to maintain the holding state presses the holding plate.   The end portion of the cover on the side where the electric wire is led out is provided with a locking portion that fits on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube and prevents it from coming off. The connector described.

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