JPH09120856A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent water accessing to the open part of each terminal accommodation chamber of a connector concerned by furnishing a water sucking groove at the front face of a terminal metal piece accommodating part of the connector. SOLUTION: A connector concerned is composed of a terminal metal piece accommodating part 20 provided with a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers 21 to accommodate male side terminal metal pieces and a hood 30 extended from the front end peripheral edge of the terminal metal piece accommodating part 20. A water sucking groove 23 leading to a draining hole 24 is formed in the coupling part with hood 30 of this peripheral edge of the front face 22 of part 20. Accordingly the water going along the open part of each accommodation chamber 21 via the hood 30 is sucked to the groove by means of the capillery phenomenon, and does not intrude into chambers 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector,
In particular, the present invention relates to a connector suitable for use as a standby connector for vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of connector, a standby connector shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has been known. In the figure, the panel 1 is formed with a rectangular window portion 1a, and the connector 2 can be attached to the window portion 1a. That is, the connector 2 is provided with a substantially rectangular terminal holding portion 3 in which the terminal accommodating chamber 3 a is formed, and a hood portion 4 projecting from the peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion 3 in a cylindrical shape. The surface can be inserted in close contact with the peripheral edge of the window 1a. The outer peripheral surface of the tip of the hood portion 4 is provided with a flange 4a that comes into contact with the back surface of the panel 1 and a lock arm 4b having a wedge-shaped projection 4b1 that rides over the peripheral edge of the window portion 1a from the inside.

The lock arm 4b is formed by forming a cut from the opening end of the hood portion 4, and the protrusion 4b is formed.
When 1 gets over the edge of the window 1a, it can bend inward.

[0004]

When dew condensation is formed on the panel 1, the attached water may be transmitted to the inside of the hood portion 4 when it runs down. However, in the above-described conventional connector, from the inner surface of the hood portion 4. There is a problem that it may be transmitted to the surface of the terminal holding part 3 and enter the terminal holding chamber 3a.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a connector capable of preventing moisture that is transmitted from the surroundings from easily entering the terminal accommodating chamber. To aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a connector having a terminal accommodating chamber, wherein a water absorption groove is formed at an opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber. . According to a second aspect of the invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, the hood-shaped wall member is formed from the peripheral edge of the opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, and the water absorption groove is formed at the connecting portion with the hood-shaped wall member. Has been formed.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a drainage hole for connecting to the water absorption groove is formed in a lower portion.

[0008]

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, when water is transmitted to the opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, the water absorption groove sucks the water by the capillary phenomenon. It is not transmitted to the containment room. Further, in the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the water transmitted from the opening side of the hood-shaped wall material is formed in the connecting portion when it exceeds the connecting portion with the opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber. I was sucked in the water absorption groove,
I can't communicate.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the water sucked into the water absorption groove flows downward by its own weight, and the excess water that cannot be sucked in is discharged from the lower drainage hole.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention, by absorbing the water transmitted from the outside by the capillary phenomenon, it is possible to prevent the water from being transmitted to the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber. Can be provided.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the hood-shaped wall member is provided, only a slight water absorption groove is formed in the connecting portion with the opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, so that it is extremely easy. Can be configured. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, water can be easily drained from the drain hole formed in the lower portion, and water that cannot be completely sucked can be prevented from being transmitted to the terminal accommodating chamber.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle standby connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view.

In the figure, a connector 10 includes a terminal metal fitting housing 20 for housing a male side metal fitting (not shown), and a hood portion 3 extending from the front edge of the terminal metal fitting housing 20.
0. The terminal fitting housing portion 20 is formed with a plurality of cylindrical terminal housing chambers 21 capable of housing the male terminal fittings, and the hood at the peripheral portion of the front end face 22 extending the hood portion 30. A water absorption groove 23 is formed in a connecting portion with the portion 30.

In this embodiment, the male connector for accommodating the male terminal fittings is applied, but it is applicable as long as it has a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the terminal fittings.
It may be a female connector. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the one having the tubular hood portion 30, and can be applied to the one not having the hood portion 30. That is, the basic outer shape is not particularly limited. However, in the case where the hood portion 30 is provided, the dew condensation surface increases, and the water droplets condensed on the dew condensation surface easily reach the terminal accommodating chamber. Therefore, in the case of such a structure, it becomes more effective by providing the water absorption groove 23. Further, since it is formed at the connecting portion with the hood portion 30, the water transmitted through the hood portion 30 must always pass through the water absorbing groove 23, so it can be said that this is the most effective place.

The water absorbing groove 23 is formed so as to go around the peripheral edge of the front end face 22, and is connected to a drain hole 24 communicating with the outer surface at the lower part of the front end face 22. In the present embodiment, the water absorption groove 23 is formed so as to go around the peripheral edge, but it may be formed on the front end face 22. Therefore,
Water absorption grooves may be formed vertically and horizontally between the openings of the terminal accommodating chamber 21. In this case, it is desirable to form a drainage path because the absorbed water tends to collect at the lower end of the water absorption groove arranged in the vertical direction and overflows when the amount exceeds a predetermined amount. In the case of the present embodiment, the water absorbed along the entire circumference is drained to the outside through the drainage holes 24 at the lower end, but when arranged vertically and horizontally, the water absorption grooves oriented vertically are arranged. A drainage path may be formed in each of the above, or the lower ends may be connected to drain water from a small number of places. Further, the size of the water absorption groove 23 is such that water is absorbed and flows downward. That is, if it is too wide, the water absorption performance will decrease, and if it is too narrow, the amount of water drawn will decrease and it will become difficult to flow,
The width is adjusted appropriately.

In the drain hole 24, since the inner peripheral surface of the water absorption groove 23 is only exposed to the outside, even if splashes from the outside fly, they do not enter the hood portion 30. That is, by allowing the drainage hole 24 to face the inner peripheral surface of the water absorption groove 23, it is possible to easily drain water and make it difficult for water to enter from the outside. A flange portion 31 is formed on the front end side of the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 30, and the side wall of the hood portion 30 has flexibility inward and outward directions and wedge-shaped engaging projections 32a to 34a on the outer peripheral surface of the tip. With lock arms 32-34
And a window hole 41 formed in the vehicle panel 40.
With respect to the hood portion 30, the front end of the hood portion 30 is pushed in, and the flange portion 31 is pressed against the peripheral edge portion of the window hole 41, and the edge portions of the window hole 41 can be sandwiched and fixed by the engaging protrusions 32a to 34a of the lock arms 32 to 34. Has become. Further, the hood portion 30 is extended rearward so as to cover the upper surface of the terminal fitting housing portion 20, and the eaves portion 35 is formed. This allows
It is made difficult for the water droplets that drop directly from above to adhere to the terminal fitting housing 20. Further, a nut 26 is integrally formed inside while forming a bolt hole 25 penetrating the terminal fitting housing portion 20, and a bolt can be inserted from a mating connector (not shown) to be firmly fixed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the connector 10 is inserted into the window hole 41 of the panel 40 from the front end side of the hood portion 30, the flange portion 31 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 30 abuts the edge portion of the window hole 41 and the lock arms 32 to 34. The engaging projections 32a to 34a of the above-mentioned cross over the window hole 41 and ride over to the opposite side.
34a and the edge part of the window hole 41 of the panel 40 are sandwiched. Thereafter, the mating connector (not shown) is attached to the panel 40.
It is inserted into the hood portion 30 from the outer surface side and fixed with bolts.

On the other hand, when water drops flow down the panel 40 in such a state, the water drops may reach the hood portion 30. In this case, the water droplets that have propagated along the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 30 are not covered by the front end surface 2 of the terminal fitting housing 20.
2 is transmitted to the front end face 2 as described above.
When it comes into contact with the water absorption groove 23 formed in the connection portion with 2, the water absorption groove 23 is sucked into the water absorption groove 23. Therefore, the water does not get over the water absorption groove 23 and is not transmitted to the front end face 22, and the water does not enter the terminal accommodating chamber 21.

The water sucked into the water absorption groove 23 flows downward in the water absorption groove 23. Then, the water that cannot be retained in the water absorption groove 23 is dropped to the outside from the drain hole 24 by its own weight. As described above, the terminal fitting housing portion 20 of the connector 10 has the front end surface 22 in which the terminal housing chamber 21 is formed.
Since the water absorption groove 23 is formed around the water, the water transmitted along the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 30 can be sucked into the water absorption groove 23 and prevented from entering the terminal accommodating chamber 21.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a conventional connector.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Connector 21 ... Terminal accommodation chamber 22 ... Front end face 23 ... Water absorption groove 24 ... Drainage hole 30 ... Hood part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector having a terminal accommodating chamber, wherein a water absorption groove is formed on an opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a hood-shaped wall member is formed from a peripheral edge of an opening surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, and the water absorption groove is formed in a connecting portion with the hood-shaped wall member. Connector. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a drainage hole is formed in a lower portion to connect to the water absorption groove.