JP2737668B2 - Rubber stopper - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber stopper fixed to a terminal fitting for waterproofing a cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for waterproofing a cavity of a connector into which a terminal is inserted, a rubber stopper is attached to the terminal, and the rubber stopper is mounted in the cavity together with the terminal. The rubber stopper shown in FIG. 6 is conventionally known.

The rubber stopper 30 comprises a waterproof part 31 and a crimp part 32.
The shaft center portion is an insertion hole 33 through which the electric wire W passes. Two ribs 34 are formed on the outer periphery of the waterproof portion 31 to elastically deform and adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the cavity (not shown) to prevent water from entering the cavity. The crimping part 32 is for attaching to the terminal fitting T as shown in FIG. 8, and has a smaller outer diameter than the waterproof part 31.
A barrel B formed at the rear end of the terminal fitting T is crimped to the outer periphery of the crimping portion 32 by caulking. In a state where the barrel B is fitted to the crimping portion 32, the terminal fitting is located on the right side of the rubber plug 30 in FIG. 6, and the electric wire W fixed to the rear end of the terminal fitting passes through the insertion hole 33. 6 to extend from the rubber plug 30 to the left in FIG.

Further, the crimping portion 32 has a flange-shaped retaining portion 35 projecting outward at the outer peripheral position of a tip portion (right end portion in FIG. 6) opposite to the waterproof portion 31 over the entire circumference. The projection is formed. The retaining portion 35 functions to prevent the barrel B from coming off the crimping portion 32 when the rubber plug 30 is inserted into the cavity together with the terminal fitting.

When the rubber plug 30 having such a configuration is mounted in the cavity, the terminal fitting located on the right side of the rubber plug 30 in FIG. 6 is inserted first. In this insertion operation, first, the rubber stopper 30 is picked up with a finger and the rubber stopper 3 is removed.
0, while pressing the rear end face, if it is necessary to extend the rubber plug 30 to a deeper position in the cavity even after the rubber plug 30 is hidden in the cavity, the rubber plug 30 extends from the rubber plug 30 and extends outside the cavity. The electric wire W exposed to is picked and pushed.

At this time, while the terminal fitting is advanced to the back of the cavity together with the electric wire W, the rubber plug 30 is difficult to advance due to frictional resistance with the cavity. For this reason, there is a possibility that the barrel B may move relatively to the distal end side (the right side in FIG. 6) with respect to the crimping portion 32. (See FIG. 7), and further deviation is prevented, so that the barrel B is prevented from coming off the crimping portion 32 and coming off. Thereafter, the rubber plug 30 and the terminal fitting are integrally inserted into the cavity in the state shown in FIG.

[0007]

However, in the system in which the retaining portion 35 is simply protruded as described above, the rubber stopper 30 is not provided.
The frictional resistance between the cavity and the cavity increases, and barrel B
When the pressing force acting on the retaining portion 35 exceeds a certain limit, the barrel B elastically deforms the retaining portion 35 to the right in FIG. At the same time, the barrel B gets over the retaining portion 35 while gradually crushing the retaining portion 35. Thus, the barrel B may come off from the crimping portion 32, and the function of locking the barrel B may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rubber stopper having an enhanced function of preventing a barrel of a terminal fitting from coming off.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal fitting fixed to an electric wire having a through hole for penetrating an electric wire, a crimping portion being continuously formed at a tip end of a waterproof portion, and a crimping portion. A rubber stopper is attached to the terminal fitting by fitting the barrel at the end to the outer periphery of the crimping portion, and is inserted into the cavity of the connector from the tip side to waterproof the cavity. A stopper portion is formed at the position on the distal end side to lock the barrel by projecting outward, and a reversing portion that overhangs from the protruding end of the stopper portion to the barrel side and curves along the outer periphery of the crimping portion. It is characterized by having a configuration in which is formed.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the present invention, the retaining portion and the reversing portion are formed over the entire circumference.

[0011]

In the rubber stopper according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a force in the pull-out direction acts between the barrel and the rubber stopper, the stopper is liable to fall down and is deformed. Since the portion is formed continuously, the inversion portion is also deformed by the pulling force. At this time, the restoring force is added to the restoring force of the retaining portion itself, and acts.Therefore, the retaining portion is less likely to be elastically deformed by the amount enhanced by the reversing portion, and the overtravel of the barrel is suppressed accordingly. Have been.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the retaining portion and the reversing portion are formed over the entire periphery of the crimping portion, the influence of the deformation of the retaining portion extends over the entire periphery of the reversing portion. The retaining portion receives a force against the elasticity from the entire circumference of the reversing portion. Therefore, the retaining portion is less likely to be elastically deformed.

[0013]

The rubber stopper according to the first aspect of the present invention is effective in preventing the barrel from shifting because the reversing portion is provided to improve the elastic holding force against the pressing force in the falling direction of the retaining portion. Becomes

In the rubber stopper according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the retaining portion and the reversing portion are formed over the entire circumference of the crimping portion, the function of retaining the shape of the retaining portion is further enhanced, so that the barrel is more securely retained. Can be reliably achieved.

[0015]

【Example】

<Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. Rubber stopper 10 of the present embodiment
Is composed of a waterproof part 11 and a crimping part 12, and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. An insertion hole 13 for penetrating the electric wire W in a watertight state is formed at the axis thereof.

The waterproof part 11 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity of the connector (not shown). A rib 14 is formed on the outer periphery of the waterproof portion 11 over the entire periphery. When the rubber plug 10 is inserted into the cavity, the rib 14 elastically deforms and adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the cavity,
Thus, water is prevented from entering the inside of the cavity from outside the connector.

The crimping portion 12 is a portion for attaching the rubber stopper 10 with a terminal fitting having the same configuration as the conventional one.
The waterproof portion 11 is formed so as to protrude concentrically in the axial direction from an end surface on the distal end side (right side in FIGS. 2 and 3).
The outer diameter of the crimping portion 12 is smaller than that of the waterproof portion 11, and a U-shaped barrel B formed at the rear end of the terminal fitting is crimped around the outer periphery of the crimping portion 12 by caulking means. .

When the barrel B is fitted to the crimping portion 12, the terminal fitting is located on the right side of the rubber plug 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the electric wire W fixed to the rear end of the terminal fitting. Penetrates through the insertion hole 13 and extends from the rear end face (the left end face in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the waterproof part 11.

The crimping portion 12 is provided with a circumferential stopper 15 projecting outward in a flange shape at the outer peripheral position of the distal end opposite to the waterproof portion 11 over the entire circumference of the crimping portion 12. ing. The protrusion height of the retaining portion 15 is set to be larger than the thickness dimension of the barrel B, and the thickness of the retaining portion 15 in the axial direction is set to be approximately the same as the projection height.

Further, from the protruding end of the retaining portion 15,
The reversing portion 16 is formed integrally and continuously over the entire circumference. The reversing portion 16 overhangs from the retaining portion 15 toward the crimping position of the barrel B, and protrudes in a cylindrical shape concentric with the crimping portion 12 at a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral surface of the crimping portion 12.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The operation of attaching the rubber stopper 10 of this embodiment to the terminal fitting is performed by the barrel B
Is crimped to the crimping portion 12 by caulking means. When the rubber plug 10 is attached to the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting is connected to the rubber plug 10 on the crimping portion 12 side (right side in FIGS. 2 and 3) as described above. ) Located.

When the rubber plug 10 and the terminal fitting are mounted in the cavity, the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity with the rubber plug 10 pinched with a finger, and the terminal fitting and the rubber plug 10 are crimped. The part 12 and the waterproof part 11 are made to enter the cavity in this order.

When the waterproof portion 11 enters the cavity, the outer peripheral rib 14 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cavity while being elastically deformed. And frictional resistance is generated between them. For this reason, when the waterproof part 11 starts to be inserted into the cavity, a finger is put on the end face of the waterproof part 11 of the rubber stopper 10 to push the rubber stopper 10 into the cavity.

After the waterproof portion 11 is completely inserted into the cavity, if it is necessary to further move the rubber plug 10 to a predetermined deep position in the cavity, the rubber plug 10 is placed on the side of the waterproof portion 11 of the rubber plug 10. The electric wire W extending from the end face of the wire and exposed to the outside of the cavity is picked up with a finger, and the rubber plug 10 is inserted into the cavity by pushing the electric wire W.

At this time, while the terminal fitting is advanced to the back of the cavity together with the electric wire W, the rubber stopper 10 is
In the case where it is difficult to advance due to the frictional resistance between the cavity 4 and the cavity, the barrel B moves relatively to the distal end side (the right side in FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to the crimping portion 12.
When the barrel B shifts toward the distal end in this way, the barrel B comes into contact with the retaining portion 15 as shown in FIG. An axial pressing force acts like a tilt.

Here, in the rubber plug 10 of this embodiment, both the retaining portion 15 and the reversing portion 16 are formed over the entire circumference of the crimping portion 12. Therefore, when the retaining portion 15 is elastically deformed so as to fall to the distal end side, the reversing portion 16
Will also be stretched.
The elastic restoring force of the reversing portion 16 at this time functions as an elastic holding force of the retaining portion 15 against the pressing force from the barrel B.

The elastic retaining force of the retaining portion 15 itself and the elastic retaining force of the reversing portion 16 make it difficult for the retaining portion 15 to be elastically deformed such that it falls down to the tip side by the pressing force from the barrel B. . Therefore, the retaining portion 15
Holds the barrel B in a locked state, and prevents the barrel B from moving beyond the retaining portion 15 and coming off the crimping portion 12.

Therefore, if the pushing operation of the electric wire W is performed,
The rubber stopper 10 is inserted together with the terminal fitting while the barrel B is locked to the retaining portion 15 until it reaches a predetermined insertion position deep inside the cavity.

<Embodiment 2> Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The rubber stopper 20 of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the shape of the retaining portion and the reversing portion are different. On the outer periphery of the distal end portion (the end portion opposite to the waterproof portion 21) of the crimping portion 22, four retaining portions 25 protruding outward are formed at an equiangular pitch of 90 °. In this embodiment, the circumferential length of each retaining portion 25 is substantially equal to the outer peripheral dimension of the crimping portion 22.
/ 8. In addition, a reversing portion 26 having the same circumferential length as the retaining portion 25 is provided at the protruding end of each retaining portion 25 toward the crimping position side of the barrel (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The projection is formed so as to overhang. The reversing portion 26 has a curved shape concentric with the crimping portion 22.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the rubber plug 20 of the present embodiment, since the reversing portion 26 is curved in an arc shape concentric with the crimping portion 22, the reversing portion 26 is pulled when the retaining portion 25 is elastically deformed so as to fall to the distal end side. Elastic deformation due to bending deflection occurs. The elastic restoring force of the reversing portion 26 at this time functions as the elastic holding force of the retaining portion 25 against the pressing force from the barrel.

The elastic holding force of the reversing portion 26 and the retaining portion 25
Due to the elastic holding force of the barrel itself, there is no possibility that the retaining portion 25 will be elastically deformed to fall to the tip side by the pressing force from the barrel, and the barrel can be locked and held in the retaining state.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to 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) In the second embodiment, the four retaining portions 2
Although the case where 5 and the reversing portion 26 are provided has been described, the number of retaining portions and reversing portions may be 3 or less, or 5 or more. The arrangement of the retaining portions and the reversing portion in the circumferential direction and the length in the circumferential direction can be arbitrarily set.

(2) In the first embodiment, the case where both the retaining portion 15 and the reversing portion 16 are formed over the entire periphery of the crimping portion 12 has been described. However, the retaining portion is formed over the entire periphery, and the reversing portion is formed. The portion may be formed separately at a plurality of positions spaced appropriately in the circumferential direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a state where a barrel is crimped.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from the crimping portion side.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Rubber stopper 11 ... Waterproof part 12 ... Crimping part 13 ... Insertion hole 15 ... Detachment part 16 ... Inversion part B ... Barrel W ... Electric wire

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A crimping part is formed continuously at a tip end of a waterproof part having an insertion hole for penetrating an electric wire, and a barrel at a rear end of a terminal fitting fixed to the electric wire is attached to an outer periphery of the crimping part. A rubber plug that is attached to the terminal fitting by being fitted into the connector, and that is inserted into the cavity of the connector from the tip side to waterproof the cavity. Forming a retaining portion that locks the barrel by projecting to the opposite side, and forming a reversing portion that overhangs from the protruding end of the retaining portion toward the barrel side and curves along the outer periphery of the crimping portion. Rubber stopper characterized by the following. 2. The rubber stopper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion and the reversing portion are formed over the entire circumference.