JPH0766837B2 - Waterproof connector structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a waterproof connector in which female and male connectors can be easily fitted and removed.

[Prior art]

As a conventional waterproof connector structure, for example, there is one as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. (For example, the actual exploitation 55-9798
8) That is, in the figure, A'is a female connector, and has a female connector terminal 4 inside the female connector housing 1 ',
A flexible locking arm 6 is provided on the upper surface of the female connector housing 1'for engaging and disengaging the cantilevered male connector B '.
Is formed, and the recess 10 is formed in the middle thereof. Further, a rectangular support portion 11 for supporting the female connection terminal 4 is provided inside the female connector housing 1 ', and a seal rubber 3 is attached to the peripheral surface of the support portion 11. Reference numeral B'denotes a male connector having a male connecting terminal 5 inside the male connector housing 2 ', and a front base portion 6a of the flexible locking arm 6 is easily inserted into the upper surface of the male connector housing 2'and is rigid. A flexible locking arm housing 7 is formed, and an engaging projection 9 that engages with a recess 10 formed in the flexible locking arm 6 is provided inside. Further, the male connector housing 2'has a rectangular supporting portion 12 for supporting the male connecting terminal 5.

In the conventional waterproof connector described above, when the female and male connectors are fitted together, the male connector housing 2'of the male connector B'is inserted into the female connector housing 1'of the female connector A'as shown in FIG. , The male connection terminal 5 is connected to the female connection terminal 4 to be able to conduct electricity, and the end portion of the male connector housing 2'of the male connector B'is composed of the seal rubber 3 and the female connector housing 1'of the female connector A '. And the sealing rubber 3 and the supporting portion 11 are brought into close contact with each other, and the female connector A'and the male connector B'are connected through the gaps between the sealing rubber 3 and the connector housing and the supporting portion 11 from between the connector housings 1'and 2 '. The terminals 4 and 5 are closely attached to prevent water from entering. In the figure, 4a and 5a indicate wiring.

Such a waterproof connector has a sufficient sealing function, but since the internal space is hermetically sealed by the seal rubber 3 at the time of fitting and disengaging, the female connector A ′ and the male connector B ′ are connected. At the time of fitting, the air is compressed, and the fitting force of the compressed air becomes heavy, making it difficult to fit.
On the contrary, when the connectors A ′ and B ′ are detached, the internal space of the seal rubber 3 is changed from the airtight state to the vacuum state, which is also difficult to detach. Also, other than this,
Another factor that makes it difficult to separate is the frictional force generated between the end of the male connector housing 2'and the seal rubber 3.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector structure in which a female connector and a male connector can be easily fitted and separated.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a flexible locking arm having a concave portion on the upper surface of one connector housing of female and male connector housings fitted to each other, and supporting a connection terminal therein. A waterproof part is provided with a support part, a seal rubber is attached to the outer periphery of the support part, and an engagement protrusion that engages with the concave part of the flexible locking arm is provided on the other connector housing, and a support part that supports the connection terminal is provided therein. -Shaped connector structure, a protrusion is formed in front of the recess of the flexible locking arm, an opening is formed in the connector housing surface that abuts the sealing rubber of the flexible locking arm, and a portion that abuts the sealing rubber of the flexible locking arm. A pressing portion that is inserted into the opening and presses the seal rubber is provided.

[Action]

According to the present invention, during the mating of the female connector and the male connector, the projection of the flexible locking arm and the engaging projection are in contact with each other to press the flexible locking arm toward the connector housing, and the pressing portion is opened. By compressing and deforming the seal rubber through the portion so that the internal space and the outside are communicated with each other, the air that is about to be compressed escapes from the opening portion, thereby facilitating the consolidation.

When the female connector and the male connector are completely fitted together, the engaging projection engages with the concave portion of the flexible locking arm, so that the pressing portion is separated from the opening portion, and the seal rubber returns from the compressed state to open the opening portion. Is sealed and the hermeticity is maintained.

During the disconnection of the female connector and the male connector, the protrusion of the flexible locking arm and the engaging protrusion contact each other to press the flexible locking arm toward the connector housing, and the pressing portion presses the seal rubber through the opening. By compressively deforming and communicating the internal space that is about to become a vacuum state with the outside, air can enter from the outside and be easily released.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. A is a female connector having a female connecting terminal 4 inside, and a flexible locking arm 16 for fitting and detaching with a cantilevered male connector B at a position on the opening side at the center of the entire width of the upper surface of the female connector housing 1. To form. A recess 20 is formed on the upper surface of the flexible rocking arm 16, and a step 22 that is a projection is formed in front of the recess 20 (on the opening side). The protrusion may not be a step but may have a shape gradually inclined from the base of the locking arm.

The flexible locking arm 16 is normally inclined upward by a predetermined angle (α °) rearward with respect to the female connector housing 1, and when the flexible locking arm 16 comes into contact with the engaging projection 9 of the flexible locking arm housing of the male connector B, the female connector is formed. The structure is such that it flexes toward the housing 1. A pressing portion 24 is formed below the tip of the flexible locking arm 16, and
It usually has a length l that does not contact the female connector housing 1. An opening 26 into which the pressing portion 24 of the flexible locking arm 16 is inserted is formed on the upper surface of the female connector housing 1. Further, a rectangular support portion 11 for supporting the female connection terminal 4 is formed inside the female connector housing 1 of the flexible locking arm 16, and a ring-shaped seal rubber 3 is attached to the peripheral surface of the support portion 11. Has been done. There is a gap between the seal rubber 3 and the female connector housing 1 ′ so that the male connector housing 2 ′ enters and seals.

B is a male connector having a male connecting terminal 5 inside the male connector housing 2 ', and a base 16a at the front part of the flexible locking arm 16 of the female connector A is slidably inserted into the upper surface of the male connector housing 2. A flexible locking arm housing 7 is formed so as to facilitate the operation, and an engaging protrusion 9 that engages with a recess 20 formed in the flexible locking arm 16 is provided inside.

An opening 28 (which may be a notch or a hole) into which the flexible locking arm 16 is pressed and the pressing portion 24 is inserted is formed on the front side of the opening 2a of the male connector housing 2. The edge of the opening 28 is slightly inclined so that the pressing portion 24 gradually moves upward. Further, it has a rectangular support portion 12 for supporting the male connection terminal 5 inside.

Next, the process of fitting the waterproof connector of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, in order to connect the connection terminals 4 and 5 of the female and male connectors A and B, the openings 1a and 2a of the connector housings 1 and 2 are provided opposite to each other. In this case, the flexible locking arm 16 of the female connector A is inclined at the upper rear part by α °, and the pressing portion 24 of the flexible locking arm 16 has the opening portion of the female connector housing 1.
It is located above 26 (the operating force at the time of mating is a in Fig. 6).
point).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the end portion of the male connector housing 2 of the male connector B is inserted into the opening 1a of the female connector A, the operating force is at the initial stage of the mating operation (point b in FIG. 6). Of the flexible locking arm housing 7 comes into contact with the front side of the projection 16 of the flexible locking arm 16 at the side of the base 16a, and the pressing portion 24 of the flexible locking arm 16 makes the female connector A
The female connector housing 1 is inserted through the opening 26, and the seal rubber 3 is pressed from the side surface. In this case, the pressing portion 24 is not in contact with the notch which is the opening of the male connector B. Therefore, in this state, as shown by the arrow, the air in the mutually sealed connector housings is pushed out by a small amount of the seal rubber 3 by the pressing portion 24 as shown by the arrow and escapes from the gap.

Next, when both connectors are further fitted, as shown in FIG. 4, the projection 22 of the flexible locking arm 16 comes into contact with the engaging projection 9 of the flexible locking arm housing 7, and the pressing portion 24 is maximized. To press the side surface of the seal rubber 3 (the operation force is point c in FIG. 6 in the latter stage of the fitting process). In this case, the notch 28 of the male connector B is not yet in contact with the tip of the seal rubber 3. Therefore, in the midway of the fitting, the air in the internal space S can escape as shown by the arrow.

When both connectors A and B are further fitted, the flexible locking arm 16 is fitted to the engaging projection 9 of the flexible locking arm housing.
As shown in Fig. 5, the flexible locking arm engages with the recess 20 of
16 is bent upward, the pressing portion 24 is separated from the seal rubber 3, and the notch 28 of the male connector housing 2 of the male connector B is provided.
Positioned higher (operation force during mating is d in Fig. 6)
point).

The seal rubber 3 is sandwiched between the male connector housing 2 and the support portion 11 and blocks the internal space S from the outside air to exert a sealing function.

Therefore, since the sealed space of both connectors and the outside air are communicated with each other in the middle of the fitting of both connectors, the compressed air goes out and can be fitted easily.

When completely fitted, the sealed internal space S and the outside air are shut off, so there is no risk of water entering.

Next, when both connectors are detached, the reverse process of mating is followed. In this case, the air flow is opposite to that at the time of fitting, and in FIGS. 4 and 3, the air pulls the two connectors from each other in the sealed internal space S in both connectors, so that the sealed internal space S is vacuumed. However, since the pressing portion 24 presses the seal rubber 3, a gap is formed between the seal rubber 3 and the female connector housing 1, the outside air communicates with the internal space S, and the internal space S where the air is sealed is formed. Invades inside.

Therefore, since the sealed internal space S of both connectors and the outside air communicate with each other in the middle of the disconnection of both connectors, both connectors can be easily separated.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the present invention has been described above, it has the following effects.

(1) Since the sealed space formed by both connectors is communicated with the outside air in the middle of fitting and disconnecting both connectors, the work of fitting and disconnecting the waterproof connector can be performed lightly and easily.
(The operating force is reduced from the broken line curve to the solid line curve in FIG. 6) (2) When the two connectors are fitted together, the closed space and the outside air are communicated midway, so the feel of both connectors at the time of communication makes the contact terminals Connection is easier to check.

(3) The fitting of both connectors is smooth, and the connection of the connection terminals is reliable.

(4) When the male connector housing is inserted between the seal rubber and the female connector housing, since the seal rubber is pressed by the pressing portion, the frictional force at the time of fitting is slightly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view in which a female connector and a male connector are separated, FIG. 2 is a general sectional view in which both connectors are separated, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a general sectional view showing an early stage of the mating of both connectors, and FIG. 4 is a general sectional view showing a latter stage of the mating of both connectors.
FIG. 5 is a general sectional view showing a completely mated state of both connectors, FIG. 6 is a graph showing an operating force at a mating stage of both connectors, and FIG. 7 is a general sectional view of conventional two connectors separated from each other.
FIG. 8 is a general cross-sectional view showing a completely fitted state of both conventional connectors. A, A '... female connector, B, B' ... male connector, 1, 1 '... female connector housing, 2, 2' ... male connector housing, 3
... Seal rubber, 6,16 ... Flexible locking arm, 7 ... Flexible locking arm housing, 9 ... Engaging protrusions, 10,20 ...
Recesses, 11, 12 ... Supporting parts, 22 ... Projections, 24 ... Pressing parts, 26 ... Opening parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flexible locking arm having a concave portion is provided on an upper surface of one connector housing of female and male connector housings to be fitted to each other, and a support portion for supporting a connection terminal is provided therein. In a waterproof connector structure in which a seal rubber is attached to the outer periphery of a supporting portion, an engaging protrusion that engages with the concave portion of the flexible locking arm is provided on the other connector housing, and a supporting portion that supports a connection terminal is provided therein. A protrusion is formed in front of the recess of the flexible locking arm, an opening is formed in a connector housing surface that abuts the seal rubber of the flexible locking arm, and abuts the seal rubber of the flexible locking arm. A waterproof connector structure, characterized in that a pressing portion that is inserted into the opening and presses the seal rubber is provided at a portion.