JP2000243505A - Rubber plug for waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof-connector rubber plug usable for a terminal metal piece with a stabilizer. SOLUTION: A one-body waterproof rubber plug 30 has a circular insertion hole 32 through which a plurality of electric wires are individually inserted and which can be made waterproof by closely contacting the outer face of the electric wires. Through the insertion hole 32, a female terminal metal piece 23 with a stabilizer 25 passes. In the inner face of the insertion hole 32, a slit 50 is openly provided at a position corresponding to the stabilizer 25. When the female terminal metal piece 23 passes through the insertion hole 32 with radially expanded deformation, the stabilizer 25 breaks into and spreads out the slit 50 and makes its way through an opening 51 formed in the slit 50, and thus damage by the stabilizer 25 to the inner face of the insertion hole 32 is prevented. After the female terminal metal piece 23 passes through, the insertion hole 32 elastically and diametrically shrinks to close the opening 51, and a lip 33 intimately contacts with the outer face of the electric wires.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber plug for a waterproof connector, and more particularly to a rubber plug for a waterproof connector suitable for inserting a terminal fitting having a stabilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A one-piece waterproof rubber stopper is disclosed in, for example,
As described in Japanese Patent No. 43972, the terminal fitting is fitted to an opening on the rear surface of a housing provided with a cavity, and an insertion hole is opened at a position corresponding to each cavity. When the wire with the fixed is inserted, the terminal fitting is first passed while elastically widening the insertion hole, and when the terminal fitting is passed and accommodated in the cavity, the insertion hole is elastically restored and reduced in diameter. , So that the seal can be removed.

[0003]

On the other hand, in recent years, most terminal fittings have a stabilizer protruded to stabilize insertion into the cavity and prevent reverse insertion. When a terminal fitting provided with a stabilizer is inserted into the hole, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole may be damaged by the stabilizer and may not be able to secure sealing performance. Therefore, conventionally, there has been a problem that when a collective rubber stopper is used, a terminal fitting having a stabilizer cannot be used. The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a rubber plug for a waterproof connector that can be used for a terminal fitting provided with a stabilizer.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first aspect of the present invention is to fit a terminal having a cavity into a terminal at a position corresponding to the cavity. A rubber plug for a waterproof connector, through which an electric wire having a metal fitting can be inserted, and an insertion hole which can be fitted in a watertight manner around the outer periphery of the electric wire, wherein the stabilizer functions to stabilize the insertion posture with respect to the cavity. Is used by penetrating a terminal fitting provided with a protrusion, and is characterized in that a slit is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole at a position corresponding to a stabilizer of the terminal fitting. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a tapered guide surface that guides the terminal fitting into a posture corresponding to the slit is provided at an edge of the insertion hole on the entrance side. It has features where it is used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the terminal fitting is formed in a box shape having a corner, and an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole has
It is characterized in that a corner slit extending in the radial direction is formed at a position corresponding to the corner.

[0006]

<Operation and effect of the invention><Invention of claim 1> When the stabilizer is aligned with the position of the slit and the terminal fitting is inserted into the insertion hole, the terminal fitting passes through the insertion hole while the stabilizer breaks into the slit. After the terminal fitting has passed, the insertion hole closes the slit and contracts elastically so that it comes into close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire. By providing the slit for passing the stabilizer, the terminal fitting can be passed without damaging the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, and the seal with the electric wire can be reliably taken. From the viewpoint of the waterproof connector, since the terminal fitting provided with the stabilizer can be applied after securing the sealing property, for example, it is possible to insert the terminal fitting in the cavity in a stable state or to prevent the terminal fitting from being reversely inserted. Can be.

<Invention of claim 2> When the terminal fitting is pressed against the edge of the entrance side of the insertion hole, even if the direction of the terminal fitting is slightly shifted, the stabilizer is guided by the guide surface and the stabilizer corresponds to the slit. It is inserted into the insertion hole while being adjusted in the normal direction. Since it is not necessary to pay much attention to the insertion posture of the terminal fitting, the operation of inserting the terminal fitting can be performed efficiently.

<Invention of Claim 3> When the terminal fitting is passed through the insertion hole, the corner portion enters the corner slit and passes while elastically pushing open the corner slit, and after the terminal fitting passes. The insertion hole is elastically reduced in diameter while closing the corner slit, and is closely attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire. Even if the terminal fitting is box-shaped, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole is prevented from being scratched, and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole can be elastically adhered over the entire outer periphery of the electric wire, The sealing function can be reliably performed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a female terminal fitting having a stabilizer is passed through a collective waterproof rubber plug used for a female waterproof connector. As shown in FIG. 1, the waterproof connector is provided on the rear side of a female connector housing 10 (hereinafter referred to as a female housing 10).
A waterproof rubber plug 30 capable of collectively waterproofing a plurality of electric wires 28 provided with female terminal fittings 23 at the terminal and a pressing member 20 are sequentially attached.

The female housing 10 is formed of a synthetic resin material. Inside the female housing 10, a plurality of cavities 11 capable of individually accommodating the female terminal fittings 23 crimped to the ends of the electric wires 28 are provided in three rows vertically. The mating male housing (not shown) can be fitted in the fitting recess 12 formed on the front side. On the other hand, a hood-shaped opening 13 is provided on the rear end side of the female housing 10, and a waterproof rubber plug 30 and a pressing member 20 thereof are attached to the opening 13 from the rear.

The waterproof rubber plug 30 is provided with a plurality of lips 31 on the outer periphery so that it can be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening 13. On the other hand, a plurality of insertion holes 32 are provided in the inside at positions corresponding to the cavities 11 of the female housing 10, and as described later in detail, the insertion holes 32 are provided.
The female terminal fitting 23 can pass through the
8 can be adhered.

The pressing member 20 is attached so as to press the rear surface of the waterproof rubber plug 30 from behind. Lock arms 21 are provided extending from the left and right side surfaces of the holding member 20 to the front.
1 can be engaged with a lock portion 14 provided to protrude from the outer peripheral side of the opening 13 of the female housing 10.
Further, the holding member 20 is provided with a through hole 22 communicating with the insertion hole 32, and the female terminal fitting 23 is passed from the rear. A groove is formed in the lower right portion of the through hole 22 for allowing the stabilizer 25 of the female terminal fitting 23 to be described subsequently to pass therethrough.

The female terminal fitting 23 is, as shown in FIG.
It comprises a box-shaped connecting portion 24 provided at the front, and two barrel portions 27 provided at the rear thereof and crimped to the covering portion and the core portion at the end of the electric wire 28. On the lower surface of the connecting portion 24, a stabilizer 25 is provided to protrude downward from a right side edge in FIG. When the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the cavity 11 of the female housing 10, the stabilizer 25 is provided with a groove (not shown) provided on the lower surface side of the cavity 11.
The female terminal fittings 23 can be stably inserted by being inserted into the female terminal fittings 23 (see FIG. 1). Further, since the connection portion 24 is formed in a box shape as described above, the connection portion 24 has four corner portions 26, and a mating male terminal fitting inserted from the front is connected inside the corner portion 26. Possible connection pieces (not shown) are provided.

Next, the insertion hole 32 of the waterproof rubber plug 30 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insertion hole 32 is formed in a circular shape in accordance with the shape of the electric wire 28, and opens on both front and rear surfaces of the waterproof rubber plug 30. This insertion hole 32
Are provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and the inner diameter of the lip 33 is formed smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire 28 so that the lip 33 of the insertion hole 32 is formed on the outer periphery of the inserted electric wire 28. Are brought into close contact with each other.

Insertion hole 3 on rear side of waterproof rubber plug 30
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a first guide portion 34 is provided at the edge of the second. This first guide portion 34
The entrance is formed in a front rectangular shape larger than the connection portion 24 of the female terminal fitting 23, the inner surface is tapered so as to form a square trumpet shape from the entrance toward the inside, and the inner side is connected to the insertion hole 32. ing. In other words, the first guide portion 34
Are formed on the inner surface of the device, four inclined surfaces 35 gradually projecting toward the center toward the back. Each corner 26 of the connection portion 24 of the female terminal fitting 23 can be brought into contact with the oblique side 36 located between the inclined surfaces 35 in the first guide portion 34 having such a shape.

The lower right portion of the first guide portion 34 is formed to open downward in a rectangular shape by a predetermined width, and a groove-shaped second guide portion 40 is provided here. The cross section of the second guide portion 40 is formed in a triangular groove shape, and a groove bottom 42 is formed by fitting the left and right inclined surfaces 41 forming the inner surface at the back end. Also, a slope 43 is provided inward from the lower side of the second guide portion.
The groove bottom 42 is formed straight in the up-down direction, and is provided at a position where the stabilizer 25 can abut when the female terminal fitting 23 is oriented normally. A slit 50 having a predetermined depth is provided along the groove bottom 42. The slit 50 is formed so as to open into the insertion hole 32 and is cut so as to reach the front surface of the waterproof rubber plug 30 as shown in FIG.

The present embodiment has the above-described structure, and the assembling procedure will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the waterproof rubber stopper 30 is connected to the opening 1 of the female housing 10.
After fitting into the inside 3, the holding member 20 is attached by engaging the lock arm 21 of the holding member 20 with the lock portion 14 of the opening 13 from behind. Subsequently, the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the through hole 22 while aligning the stabilizer 25 of the female terminal fitting 23 crimped to the end of the electric wire 28 with the groove of the through hole 22 of the holding member 20. The female terminal fitting 23 passed through the through hole 22 is inserted into the through hole 3 of the waterproof rubber stopper 30.
2 is inserted.

At this time, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 6, even when the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted in the insertion hole 32 in a position slightly shifted in the circumferential direction, the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the edge of the entrance of the insertion hole 32. The corner 26 of the connecting portion 24 is guided toward the oblique side 36 by the inclined surface 35 of the first guide portion 34 provided, and the circumferential displacement of the female terminal fitting 23 is corrected. When the female terminal fitting 23 is pushed deep into the insertion hole 32, as shown in FIG. 7, the insertion hole 32 is widened as a whole, and the lower right corner 26 pushes the oblique portion of the slit 50. Open and enter gap 51 formed there. The straight portion of the slit 50 is also slightly opened as the corner portion 26 enters.

When the female terminal fitting 23 is further pushed inward, the stabilizer 25 enters the second guide portion 40. At this time, the female terminal fitting 23 may slightly shift in the rotation direction due to the insertion pressure or the like accompanying the insertion. However, the stabilizer 25 is guided along the inclined surface 41 of the second guide portion 40 to the groove bottom 42 at the back end thereof, so that the stabilizer 25 is reliably brought into contact with the groove bottom 42.

Subsequently, when the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted, the stabilizer 25 is opened.
The gap 5 formed there.
Pass 1 Therefore, the stabilizer 25 is inserted into the insertion hole 3.
The inner peripheral surface 2, especially the lip 33, is not scratched by being caught and tearing the lip 33. And female terminal fitting 2
After passing through the insertion hole 32, the front female housing 10
In the cavity 11. At this time, the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted with the stabilizer 25 fitted in the groove of the cavity 11, so that the female terminal fitting 23 can be inserted into the cavity 11 in a stable state. 23 can be prevented from rattling.

After the female terminal fitting 23 has passed, the electric wire 28 is inserted into the insertion hole 32 as shown in FIG. At this time, the insertion hole 32 expanded by the female terminal fitting 23
Is elastically reduced in diameter while closing and closely contacting the gap 51. As a result, the lip 33 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32 is brought into close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire 28 over the entire periphery, and the seal around the electric wire 28 is reliably taken.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Since the slit 50 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32 of the waterproof rubber plug 30 corresponding to the stabilizer 25 of the connection portion 24 of the female terminal fitting 23, when the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the insertion hole 32, The stabilizer 25 can pass through the slit 50 while entering the slit 50, thereby preventing the stabilizer 25 from being caught and damaged by the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32. As described above, the sealability of the waterproof connector is ensured, and the stabilizer 2 is attached to the collective waterproof rubber stopper 30.
5 can be used, the female terminal fitting 23 can be stably inserted into the cavity 11, and the reverse insertion of the female terminal fitting 23 can be prevented. The slit 50 once pushed open by the insertion of the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the female terminal fitting 23.
After passing through, the insertion hole 32 is closed as the diameter thereof is elastically reduced, and the lip 33 is elastically adhered to the outer periphery of the electric wire 28, so that the sealing function can be reliably performed.

In addition, at the entrance edge of the insertion hole 32,
Since the tapered second guide portion 40 is formed, even if the direction of the female terminal fitting 23 is slightly shifted in the rotation direction,
The orientation is corrected by the inclined surface 41 of the second guide portion 40 to the normal direction, and the stabilizer 25 can be reliably inserted into the slit 50. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay much attention to the insertion posture of the female terminal fitting 23, and thus the insertion work of the female terminal fitting 23 can be performed efficiently.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a case in which a corner slit for passing the corner of the female terminal fitting is provided will be described. First guide part 3
As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a corner slit 52 extending in the radial direction is provided along three oblique sides 36 excluding the lower right side. The corner slit 52 is formed at a predetermined depth, and
Similarly to the case 0, the cutout is formed so as to reach the front surface of the waterproof rubber plug 30.

When the female terminal fitting 23 is inserted into the insertion hole 32, the connection portion 2 is formed by the inclined surface 35 of the first guide portion 34.
4 is guided toward the hypotenuse 36, and the hypotenuse 36
Contacted. When the female terminal fitting 23 is pushed into the insertion hole 32 from this state, as shown in FIG. 12, the corner 26 is broken open into the slit 50 and the corner slit 52, while pushing it open, Gap 5
1 and 53. Subsequently, the stabilizer 25
Pass through the gap 51 while breaking into the slit 50.
As a result, the corner 26 and the stabilizer 25 are
2 can be prevented from being scratched by being caught on the inner peripheral surface, particularly the lip 33, and tearing it.

After the female terminal fitting 23 has passed, as shown in FIG. 13, when the electric wire 28 is inserted into the insertion hole 32, the insertion hole 32 expanded in diameter by the female terminal fitting 23 has a gap 5
The diameter is elastically reduced while the first and third members 53 are closed and brought into close contact with each other. As a result, the seal around the electric wire 28 can be reliably removed. Other structures, operations and effects are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in 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) For example, if the female terminal fitting is passed through the through-hole of the holding member so as to be surely corrected to the correct posture, the guide portion of the insertion hole of the waterproof rubber plug does not necessarily need to be provided. However, the present invention includes, for example, those excluding the first guide portion and those excluding both guide portions.

(2) The present invention can be similarly applied to a rubber stopper through which a male terminal fitting having a stabilizer is inserted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a waterproof rubber stopper and a female terminal fitting.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a waterproof rubber stopper.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the waterproof rubber stopper.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which the female terminal fitting is in contact with the first guide portion in a direction shifted in the rotation direction.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the connection portion of the female terminal fitting is inserted into the insertion hole.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state where an electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a waterproof rubber stopper according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view taken along line YY of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the waterproof rubber stopper.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state where the connection portion of the female terminal fitting is inserted into the insertion hole.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a state where an electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Female housing (housing) 11 ... Cavity 23 ... Female side terminal fitting (terminal fitting) 25 ... Stabilizer 26 ... Corner part 28 ... Electric wire 30 ... Waterproof rubber plug 32 ... Insertion hole 40 ... 2nd guide part 41 ... Inclined surface ( Guide surface) 50 ... Slit 52 ... Corner slit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric wire provided with a terminal fitting at a terminal can be inserted into a position corresponding to the cavity so as to be fitted to a rear surface side of a housing having a cavity, and can be fitted in a watertight manner around the outer periphery of the electric wire. A rubber plug for a waterproof connector having an insertion hole, wherein the rubber plug is used by inserting a terminal fitting having a stabilizer projecting therefrom that functions to stabilize an insertion posture with respect to the cavity; A rubber plug for a waterproof connector, wherein a slit is formed on a surface at a position corresponding to a stabilizer of the terminal fitting. 2. A tapered guide surface which guides the terminal fitting to a position corresponding to the slit of the terminal fitting is provided at an edge of the insertion hole on the entrance side. Rubber stopper for waterproof connector as described. 3. The terminal fitting is formed in a box shape having a corner, and a corner slit extending in a radial direction is formed at a position corresponding to the corner on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. The rubber plug for a waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: