JPH0677176U - Connector protective cap - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To improve the sealing property and facilitate the extraction work. [Structure] A cap body 1 that can be fitted into a connector housing H is molded from a soft resin material, and sealing edges 6a and 6b are formed between the cap body 1 and the connector housing H. Further, an operation part 5 for pulling out is extended to the rear part of the connector housing H, and a high hardness part 7 for catching is set here.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 This invention relates to a protective cap for a connector.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, male and female connectors used in the engine room of automobiles are mated with each other in the assembly line, but until the mating work is done, the terminal terminals are exposed. Therefore, some dust-proof and waterproof measures must be taken. Therefore, conventionally, it has been often done to cover with a protective cap C'as shown in FIG.

Although not shown, the protective cap C ′ and the connector housing are designed so as not to be easily disengaged by engaging with a retaining projection provided on the housing side. It was performed by the dedicated operation piece 20 formed on C '.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, although the unlocking operation is easy in the method of FIG. 6, it is necessary to select a hard resin material (for example, PBT resin) which is costly in terms of material due to the molding of such an operating portion. I won't get it. In addition, tests that use water (bench tests, etc.) are sometimes carried out in automobile inspection lines, and in order to respond to this, a rubber seal ring must be installed inside. Incurring higher costs.

However, the protective cap is a so-called disposable component that is discarded when the connectors are completely coupled to each other. Considering this, cost reduction of the protective cap is an extremely important issue. For that purpose, first of all, molding the protective cap C ′ with an inexpensive soft resin must be considered. However, if you simply change the material, it will be hard to pinch when removing the cap, and it will be difficult to operate if there is no catch even if you pull it. In addition, as for waterproofness, changing the material alone is not a solution, and if a seal ring is required to be added, it is the same as in the past and the required cost will not be achieved.

The present invention has been developed and devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide an inexpensive protective cap that realizes a good sealing property and an easy extraction operation. .

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The structure of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a protective cap mounted in an opening of a connector housing in which a terminal is arranged, and a cap body made of a soft resin material has a space between the connector housing and the connector housing. A seal edge is formed to seal the above, and an operation part for extracting the protective cap is extended at the rear part, and a high hardness part is provided on the tip side of this operation part. It is characterized by that.

[0008]

[Action]

 When the protective cap is attached to the connector housing, the sealing edge is in close contact with the connector housing to achieve the sealing function. When removing the protective cap, grasp the operating part and pull in the pulling direction. In this case, the high hardness portion becomes a catch during the pulling operation.

[0009]

[Effect of device]

 The effects of the present invention are as follows. Since the protective cap is molded from a soft resin material, which is relatively inexpensive, the overall manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the sealing edge is formed on the cap body, good sealing performance for the connector housing is secured. Furthermore, since the cap body is provided with an operation part and a high hardness part for catching is set, the removing operation becomes easy.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The cap body 1 of the protective cap C is integrally formed of a soft resin material (PVC material in this example), and its front portion is a connector fitting portion 2 that fits into the connector housing H. The front surface of this connector fitting portion 2 has a rectangular opening that fits the outer peripheral shape of the connector housing H, and the central portion of the upper surface in FIG. A detachable lock claw 4 is formed to project. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the connector fitting portion 2, a plurality of seal edges 6a, 6b (two in this example) are formed so as to sandwich the lock claw 4 and have good flexibility. . These seal edges 6a and 6b are formed along the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the connector fitting portion 2, and their protruding height is elastic along the entire circumference with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing H. So that they can be in close contact with each other.

An operating portion 5 is extended from the cap body 1 so as to be continuous with the connector fitting portion 2 described above. The operation portion 5 is formed in a hollow shape so as to communicate with the connector fitting portion 2, and in this example, is formed to be slightly smaller than the connector fitting portion 2 so as to be easily gripped. Further, at the rear end of the operation portion 5, a high hardness portion 7 formed by partially inserting a hard resin (may be embedded with a metal plate) is arranged. The high-hardness portion 7 serves as a catch when the cap body 1 is pulled out.

The first embodiment is configured as described above, and since the cap body 1 is molded of a relatively inexpensive PVC material, the manufacturing cost can be kept low. Further, when the protective cap C is fitted in the connector housing H, the engagement of the locking projection 3 and the lock claw 4 restricts the removal of the protective cap C, and the product is a soft resin molded product. The disadvantage of is effectively avoided as follows. That is, since the front and rear seal edges 6a and 6b elastically adhere to each other along the outer periphery of the connector housing H, waterproof and dustproof with the connector housing H can be achieved. In addition, in case of removing the protective cap C, the operation section 5 for extracting operation is secured, and if the operation section 5 is grasped and elastically deformed and then pulled in the extracting direction, Since the hardness portion 7 becomes caught, the engagement between the locking convex portion 3 and the lock claw 4 is forcibly released to facilitate the removal of the protective cap C. Further, since the cap body 1 of this example has an extremely simple structure, the molding die can be manufactured at low cost.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and shows a modification of the high hardness portion 7. In the second embodiment, the rear end of the operating portion 5 is formed thick and this portion is projected like a brim.

Also in the second embodiment configured as described above, the thickened high hardness portion 7 becomes a catch, which facilitates the removal of the protective cap C.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the same operational effect can be exhibited.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the connector fitting portion 2 is expanded and deformed in conjunction with the grip operation of the operating portion 5 so that the protective cap C It is designed to smoothly perform the disengagement operation. That is, in the third embodiment, the connector fitting portion 2 has the hard resin pieces 8 (which may be metal plates) formed by insert molding on the upper surface and the lower surface in the figure, but the side surfaces connecting these can easily be stretched and deformed. For this reason, it is made of, for example, a thin soft resin material.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, so that the same operational effect can be exhibited.

The present invention can be modified in various ways and should not be limited to the embodiments. For example, if the sealing force of the seal piece is strengthened and the frictional force can be used to easily prevent the protective cap from coming off, the locking claw and the locking projection can be eliminated. Further, the shape of the protective cap or the shape and number of the seal pieces can be appropriately changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective cap according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of a connector housing H and a protective cap.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a fitted state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a fitted state of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a detachment operation state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional protection cap.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Cap main body 2 ... Connector fitting part 5 ... Operation part 6a, 6b ... Seal edge 7 ... High hardness part C ... Protective cap H ... Connector housing

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A protective cap mounted in an opening of a connector housing having a terminal inside, wherein a cap edge made of a soft resin material is formed with a sealing edge for sealing with the connector housing. A protective cap for a connector, characterized in that an operating portion for extracting the protective cap is extended at a rear portion of the operating portion, and a high hardness portion is provided on a tip side of the operating portion.