JP7548061B2 - Wire Harnesses and Connectors - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to wire harnesses and connectors.

Conventionally, a waterproof connector is known, as described in the following Patent Document 1. This waterproof connector has a male housing and a female housing that can be mated with each other. Male terminal fittings are held in the male housing. The male terminal fittings are connected to a circuit board. Female terminal fittings are held in cavities in the female housing. The female terminal fittings are connected to the ends of electric wires.

The mating surface of the female housing has lattice-like ribs. The ribs individually surround the front end opening of each cavity. The mating surface of the female housing is covered with a seal member. The seal member is integrally formed on the back surface of the front plate of the holder. The holder is attached to the mating surface of the female housing.

The mating surface of the male housing has a seal protrusion. The tab portion of the male terminal passes through the seal protrusion. The seal protrusion fits into a through hole formed in the seal member. The peripheral surface of the through hole has a lip.

When the male housing and female housing are mated, the ribs of the female housing bite into the seal member. Also, when the male housing and female housing are mated, the lip of the through hole of the seal member comes into close contact with the seal protrusion of the male housing. This makes each cavity waterproof.

JP 2003-297479 A

When waterproofing the cavities individually using the above configuration, the tab portion of the male terminal fitting needs to be long enough to penetrate the front plate of the holder and the seal member. However, to maintain strength and ease of connection, there is a demand for the tab portion to be short. For this reason, there is a demand for a wire harness and connector that can waterproof the cavities individually and also has a short tab portion.

Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a wire harness and connector that can waterproof the cavities individually and shorten the tab portion.

The wire harness of the present disclosure includes a non-waterproof connector, a plurality of electric wires to one end of which the non-waterproof connector is connected, and a connector to be connected to the other end of the plurality of electric wires, the connector having a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted together, a seal member, a plurality of first terminal fittings housed in the first housing and connected to the other end of each of the plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of second terminal fittings electrically connected to each of the first terminal fittings, the first housing having a first fitting surface, and the second housing having a fitting state between the first housing and the second housing. In this embodiment, the housing has a second mating surface facing the first mating surface, the seal member is disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface, the first housing has a plurality of first cavities for accommodating the first terminal fittings, the second housing has a plurality of second cavities for accommodating the second terminal fittings, the first mating surface has a first protrusion portion that surrounds the opening of the first cavity individually and contacts the seal member, and the second mating surface has a second protrusion portion that surrounds the opening of the second cavity individually and contacts the seal member.

The connector of the present disclosure is a connector that is connected to the other end side of a plurality of electric wires, one end of which is connected to a non-waterproof connector, and includes a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted together, a seal member, a plurality of first terminal fittings that are accommodated in the first housing and connected to the other end of each of the plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of second terminal fittings that are electrically connected to each of the first terminal fittings, the first housing having a first fitting surface that faces the first fitting surface when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together. The housing has a second mating surface that is in contact with the first terminal fittings, the seal member is disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface, the first housing has a plurality of first cavities that accommodate the first terminal fittings, the second housing has a plurality of second cavities that accommodate the second terminal fittings, the first mating surface has a first protrusion that surrounds the opening of the first cavity and contacts the seal member, and the second mating surface has a second protrusion that surrounds the opening of the second cavity and contacts the seal member.

This disclosure makes it possible to provide a wire harness and connector that can waterproof individual cavities and shorten the tab portion.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a wire harness according to the present embodiment in a state where a non-waterproof connector is connected. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the housing. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the first housing. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the first housing with the seal member attached. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the seal member and the first housing. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the first housing with the seal member attached. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a part of the first fitting surface. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the second housing. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the second connector. FIG. 11 is a front view showing the second housing. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a part of the second fitting surface. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first mating surface and the second mating surface in a mated state of the first housing and the second housing.

[Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

The wire harness of the present disclosure includes:
(1) A connector comprising a non-waterproof connector, a plurality of electric wires to one end of which the non-waterproof connector is connected, and a connector to be connected to the other end of the plurality of electric wires, the connector having a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted together with each other, a seal member, a plurality of first terminal fittings housed in the first housing and connected to the other ends of the plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of second terminal fittings electrically connected to the first terminal fittings, the first housing having a first fitting surface, and the second housing having a first mating surface and a second mating surface that is connected to the other ends of the plurality of electric wires. , a second mating surface opposed to the first mating surface, the seal member disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface, the first housing is provided with a plurality of first cavities for accommodating the first terminal metal fittings, the second housing is provided with a plurality of second cavities for accommodating the second terminal metal fittings, the first mating surface has a first protrusion surrounding the opening of each of the first cavities and contacting the seal member, and the second mating surface has a second protrusion surrounding the opening of each of the second cavities and contacting the seal member. With this configuration, the first protrusion and the second protrusion come into contact with the seal member, thereby making it possible to waterproof the cavities individually. Also, since there is no holder, the tab portion provided on either the first terminal metal fitting or the second terminal metal fitting does not need to have a length sufficient to penetrate the holder. Therefore, the tab portion can be shortened since the cavities can be waterproofed individually.
(2) The connector preferably has a locking portion that holds the first housing and the second housing in a mated state, and the locking portion is preferably provided in a pair facing each other in a direction parallel to the first mating surface and the second mating surface. According to this configuration, the pair of locking portions restrict the displacement of the first mating surface and the second mating surface in a direction away from each other at positions facing each other in a direction parallel to the first mating surface and the second mating surface. Therefore, the seal member is less likely to be partially separated from the first mating surface and the second mating surface, thereby improving the sealing performance.
(3) In the mated state, the second terminal fitting has a tab portion that protrudes from the second mating surface toward the first cavity, and the second housing has a hood portion that surrounds the tab portion, and it is preferable that the seal member is held by the first mating surface when the first housing and the second housing are in a non-mated state. Here, when the seal member is held on the second mating surface, the hood portion tends to become large. However, since the seal member is held on the first mating surface, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the hood portion. Therefore, an increase in the size of the connector can be avoided.
(4) It is preferable that the first fitting surface has a recess having a shape that conforms to an outer shape of the seal member. With this configuration, the seal member fitted in the recess is prevented from spreading in a planar direction, thereby improving sealing performance.
(5) It is preferable that, in the fitted state, the second fitting surface has a cylindrical portion protruding toward the seal member, the tab portion passes through a through hole formed in the cylindrical portion, and the cylindrical portion fits into a fitting hole formed in the seal member. With this configuration, the tab portion of the second terminal fitting does not come into direct contact with the seal member, thereby preventing damage to the seal member due to contact with the tab portion.

[Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the wire harness and connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness H includes an electric wire W and a connector 10 connected to one end of the electric wire W. The electric wire W is a linear conductor surrounded by an insulating coating. The connector 10 includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 50. The first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are electrically connected. The first connector 20 is connected to an end portion of the electric wire W. The second connector 50 is connected to an end portion of the electric wire 100. The connector 10 is a so-called wire-to-wire type.

The wire harness H is mounted on a motorcycle. The wire harness H is connected to the FI-ECU. The FI-ECU is a computer that controls the engine. A non-waterproof connector C is connected to the wire harness H. The non-waterproof connector C is connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire W on the opposite side to the connector 10.

In FIG. 2, the X-axis direction is the mating direction between the first housing 21 and the second housing 51. The Y-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and parallel to the first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58 (see FIG. 3). The Z-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. In this embodiment, "perpendicular" includes a state in which the two directions are substantially perpendicular in addition to a strictly perpendicular state. For example, substantially perpendicular means that the angle between the two directions is 85 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees. "Parallel" includes a state in which the two directions are substantially parallel in addition to a strictly parallel state. For example, substantially parallel means that the angle between the two directions is 10 degrees or less, preferably 5 degrees or less. In the following, the positive side of the X-axis is the front side, the negative side of the X-axis is the rear side, the positive side of the Y-axis is the upper side, the negative side of the Y-axis is the lower side, the positive side of the Z-axis is the left side, and the negative side of the Z-axis is the right side. Additionally, in each component of the second connector 50, the positive side of the X axis will be described as the rear side, the negative side of the X axis as the front side, the positive side of the Y axis as the top side, the negative side of the Y axis as the bottom side, the positive side of the Z axis as the right side, and the negative side of the Z axis as the left side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 10 has a flat shape. The height dimension of the connector 10 is smaller than the width dimension. The height dimension of the connector 10 is a dimension that allows it to be easily held between a person's fingers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 10 has a first housing 21 and a second housing 51 that can be fitted together. The first housing 21 is the housing of the first connector 20. The second housing 51 is the housing of the second connector 50. The first housing 21 and the second housing 51 can be fitted together.

The first housing 21 is provided with a plurality of first cavities 23 that individually accommodate the first terminal fittings 22. The first terminal fittings 22 are crimped to the end portions of the electric wires W. The first terminal fittings 22 are manufactured by pressing plated metal plate material. The first terminal fittings 22 are female terminal fittings. The first terminal fittings 22 have a cylindrical main body portion 24.

The first cavity 23 is provided with a first lance 25 on its peripheral surface. The first lance 25 extends forward in a cantilever shape. The first lance 25 prevents the first terminal fitting 22 housed in the first cavity 23 from coming loose.

The rear opening of the first cavity 23 is sealed by a first rubber plug 26. The first rubber plug 26 seals the rear openings of all the first cavities 23 collectively. The first rubber plug 26 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of each electric wire W. The first rubber plug 26 is held in the first housing 21 by a first rear holder 27.

The second housing 51 is provided with a plurality of second cavities 53 that individually accommodate the second terminal fittings 52. The second terminal fittings 52 are crimped to the end portions of the electric wires 100. The second terminal fittings 52 are manufactured by pressing plated metal plates. The second terminal fittings 52 are male terminal fittings. The second terminal fittings 52 have a tab portion 54 formed in a rod shape. The tab portion 54 is inserted into the inside of the main body portion 24 of the first terminal fitting 22 when the first terminal fittings 22 and the second terminal fittings 52 are connected. The second housing 51 has a hood portion 62. The hood portion 62 surrounds all the tab portions 54. The first housing 21 fits inside the hood portion 62.

The peripheral surface of the second cavity 53 is provided with a second lance 55. The second lance 55 extends forward in a cantilever shape. The second lance 55 prevents the second terminal fitting 52 housed in the second cavity 53 from falling out.

The rear opening of the second cavity 53 is sealed by a second rubber plug 56. The second rubber plug 56 seals the rear openings of all the second cavities 53 at once. The second rubber plug 56 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of each electric wire 100. The second rubber plug 56 is held in the second housing 51 by a second rear holder 57. Both the first cavity 23 and the second cavity 53 can be molded without using a slide mold that cuts out in the left-right direction.

The mating surface of the first housing 21 (referred to as the first mating surface 28) and the mating surface of the second housing 51 (referred to as the second mating surface 58) face each other in the front-rear direction when the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are mated. The second mating surface 58 is the rear surface of the hood portion 62. The first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58 are arranged parallel to each other when the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are mated. The first cavity 23 opens at the first mating surface 28. The second cavity 53 opens at the second mating surface 58.

The connector 10 has a locking portion 13 that holds the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 in a mated state. The locking portion 13 is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connector 10. The upper and lower locking portions 13 face each other in the up-down direction (a direction parallel to the first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58). The locking portion 13 has a locking arm 29 and a locking protrusion 59. The locking arm 29 is provided on the first housing 21. The locking protrusion 59 is provided on the second housing 51.

The locking arms 29 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the first housing 21. The upper locking arm 29 and the lower locking arm 29 are vertically symmetrical with respect to the center position in the vertical direction.

The lock arm 29 is elastically displaceable in the vertical direction. The front end of the lock arm 29 can be engaged with the lock protrusion 59 (see FIG. 2). The rear end of the lock arm 29 is the release operation part 31. The upper and lower release operation parts 31 can be pinched and pressed simultaneously with the index finger and thumb to easily release the upper and lower lock parts 13 from their locked state.

The first housing 21 is provided with a lock protection portion 32. The lock protection portion 32 can prevent unintended elastic displacement of the lock arm 29. The lock protection portion 32 is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the first housing 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lock protection section 32 includes a front protection section 33 and a side protection section 34. The front protection section 33 is disposed in front of the lock arm 29. The side protection sections 34 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the lock arm 29. The side protection sections 34 extend in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lateral protection portion 34 has a guide groove portion 35 formed therein. The guide groove portion 35 is provided on the lower surface of the upper lateral protection portion 34 and on the upper surface of the lower lateral protection portion 34. The guide groove portion 35 extends in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 10 includes a seal member 80 disposed between the first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58. The first cavity 23 and the second cavity 53 are individually waterproofed by the first rubber plug 26, the second rubber plug 56, and the seal member 80.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the seal member 80 is held on the first mating surface 28 in a non-mated state in which the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are not mated. The first mating surface 28 has a recess 36 as shown in Fig. 6. The recess 36 has a shape that follows the outer shape of the seal member 80. The front openings of all the first cavities 23 are located within the recess 36.

The recess 36 is surrounded by a peripheral wall portion 37. The peripheral wall portion 37 is formed around the entire circumference of the first fitting surface 28. The corners on the inner circumference side of the peripheral wall portion 37 are arc-shaped.

The peripheral wall portion 37 has a plurality of locking holes 38. The locking holes 38 are provided on both the top and bottom and on both the left and right sides of the first fitting surface 28. Each locking hole 38 penetrates from the inside (the recess 36 side) to the outside of the peripheral wall portion 37. Each locking hole 38 has a rectangular shape that is elongated in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion 37.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first mating surface 28 has a first protrusion 40. The first protrusion 40 individually surrounds the front opening of the first cavity 23. The first protrusion 40 is lattice-shaped. The first protrusion 40 has a first vertical rib 41 and a first horizontal rib 42. The first vertical rib 41 and the first horizontal rib 42 are perpendicular to each other. The first vertical rib 41 is disposed on both the left and right sides of each first cavity 23. The first horizontal ribs 42 are disposed on both the top and bottom sides of each first cavity 23.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first protrusion 40 is provided on the front surface of the first partition wall 43. The first protrusion 40 protrudes forward one step from the front surface of the first partition wall 43. The first partition wall 43 separates adjacent first cavities 23.

The first bulkhead 43 includes a vertical bulkhead 44 and a horizontal bulkhead 45. The vertical bulkhead 44 separates the left and right first cavities 23. The horizontal bulkhead 45 separates the upper and lower first cavities 23. The first vertical rib 41 is provided on the front surface of the vertical bulkhead 44. The width dimension (left-right dimension) of the first vertical rib 41 is smaller than the wall thickness dimension (left-right dimension) of the vertical bulkhead 44. The width dimension (up-down dimension) of the first horizontal rib 42 is smaller than the wall thickness dimension (up-down dimension) of the horizontal bulkhead 45.

As shown in FIG. 6, the seal member 80 includes a seal body 81 and a locking projection 82. The seal body 81 has a rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The seal body 81 is large enough to cover the front sides of all the first cavities 23 together.

The seal body 81 is formed with a plurality of fitting holes 83. The number of fitting holes 83 is the same as the number of first cavities 23. Each fitting hole 83 is circular. Each fitting hole 83 penetrates the seal body 81 in the front-rear direction. A lip 84 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of each fitting hole 83.

The locking projections 82 are provided on the top, bottom, left and right sides of the seal member 80. The locking projections 82 protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the seal body 81. The locking projections 82 are elongated in the circumferential direction of the seal body 81. The locking projections 82 fit into the locking holes 38. When the locking projections 82 are fitted into the locking holes 38, the protruding ends of the locking projections 82 do not protrude outward from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 37 (see FIG. 7). By locking the locking projections 82 into the locking holes 38, the seal member 80 is held on the first fitting surface 28 without the use of adhesives, holders, etc.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second housing 51 has locking protrusions 59. A pair of locking protrusions 59 are provided side by side on the left and right. The pair of locking protrusions 59 are located in the center of the second housing 51 in the left-right direction. The pair of locking protrusions 59 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 62.

Guide protrusions 61 are provided on both the left and right sides of the pair of locking protrusions 59. The guide protrusions 61 extend in the front-rear direction. The guide protrusions 61 fit into the guide groove portions 35 of the first housing 21. The left and right guide protrusions 61 are parallel to each other.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pair of locking protrusions 59 and the pair of guide protrusions 61 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the second housing 51. The upper locking protrusions 59 and the guide protrusions 61 and the lower locking protrusions 59 and the guide protrusions 61 are vertically symmetrical with respect to the center position in the vertical direction.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the second mating surface 58 has a second protrusion 70. The second protrusion 70 individually surrounds the front opening of the second cavity 53. The second protrusion 70 is lattice-shaped. The second protrusion 70 has a second vertical rib 71 and a second horizontal rib 72. The second vertical rib 71 and the second horizontal rib 72 are perpendicular to each other. The second vertical rib 71 is disposed on both the left and right sides of each second cavity 53. The second horizontal ribs 72 are disposed on both the top and bottom sides of each second cavity 53.

The second protrusion portion 70 is provided on the front surface of the second partition wall 73, as shown in FIG. 12. The second partition wall 73 separates adjacent second cavities 53. The second partition wall 73 includes a vertical partition wall 74 and a horizontal partition wall 75. The vertical partition wall 74 separates the left and right second cavities 53. The horizontal partition wall 75 separates the upper and lower second cavities 53. The second vertical rib 71 is provided on the front surface of the vertical partition wall 74, and the second horizontal rib 72 is provided on the front surface of the horizontal partition wall 75.

The vertical bulkhead 74 is provided with a side wall portion 76. The side wall portion 76 protrudes from the wall surface of the vertical bulkhead 74. As shown in FIG. 11, the side wall portion 76 is disposed on both the left and right sides of the second lance 55. The side wall portion 76 is provided at the left and right corners of each second cavity 53. As shown in FIG. 12, the second protrusion portion 70 protrudes forward from the front surface of the side wall portion 76. When the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are fitted together, the distance in the front-rear direction between the second protrusion portion 70 and the first protrusion portion 40 is smaller than the distance in the front-rear direction between the front surface of the side wall portion 76 and the first protrusion portion 40.

The horizontal bulkhead 75 is provided with a front wall portion 77. The front wall portion 77 protrudes from the wall surface of the horizontal bulkhead 75. The front wall portion 77 is located below each second cavity 53. The second protrusion portion 70 protrudes one step forward from the front surface of the front wall portion 77.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the second mating surface 58 has a tubular portion 78. The outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 78 is cylindrical. The center of the tubular portion 78 is a through hole. The through hole penetrates in the front-rear direction. When viewed from the front side, the through hole has a rectangular shape. The tubular portion 78 is disposed below each second cavity 53. The tubular portion 78 protrudes forward from the front surface of the front wall portion 77. The lower end of each tubular portion 78 is connected to the horizontal partition wall 75 below each second cavity 53. The front end of the tubular portion 78 is located forward of the front surface of the second protrusion portion 70.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cylindrical portion 78 fits into the fitting hole 83 of the seal member 80 when the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are fitted together. The lip 84 of the fitting hole 83 is in line contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 78. This reduces the insertion force required to insert the cylindrical portion 78 into the fitting hole 83 compared to when the outer circumferential surface of the fitting hole 83 and the cylindrical portion 78 are in surface contact. The tab portion 54 penetrates the through hole of the cylindrical portion 78 and protrudes forward beyond the front end of the cylindrical portion 78. Since the tab portion 54 penetrates the cylindrical portion 78, it is difficult for the tab portion 54 to directly contact the seal member 80 when connecting the first connector 20 and the second connector 50. This prevents the tab portion 54 from directly contacting the seal member 80 and causing damage such as tearing of the seal member 80.

When the first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are connected, the first ridge portion 40 contacts the surface of the seal member 80 that faces the first mating surface 28. When the first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are connected, the second ridge portion 70 contacts the surface of the seal member 80 that faces the second mating surface 58. When the first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are connected, the first ridge portion 40 and the second ridge portion 70 contact both the front and rear surfaces of the seal member 80, thereby forming a surface seal between the front opening of the first cavity 23 and the front opening of the second cavity 53.

Next, the operation and effect of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The wire harness H includes an electric wire W and a connector 10. The connector 10 is connected to one end of the electric wire W, and the non-waterproof connector C is connected to the other end of the electric wire W. The connector 10 includes a first housing 21, a second housing 51, and a seal member 80. The first housing 21 and the second housing 51 can be fitted to each other. The seal member 80 is disposed between the first fitting surface 28 and the second fitting surface 58. The first housing 21 includes a plurality of first cavities 23 that accommodate the first terminal fittings 22. The second housing 51 includes a plurality of second cavities 53 that accommodate the second terminal fittings 52. The first fitting surface 28 includes a first protrusion 40 that individually surrounds the opening of the first cavity 23. The second fitting surface 58 includes a second protrusion 70 that individually surrounds the opening of the second cavity 53. When the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are fitted together, the first protrusion 40 and the second protrusion 70 are in contact with the seal member 80.

According to this configuration, the first cavity 23 and the second cavity 53 can be individually waterproofed by the first protrusion 40 and the second protrusion 70 coming into contact with the seal member 80. Here, the electric wires W of the wire harness H are connected to the non-waterproof connector C. In the non-waterproof connector C, water can enter the cavity. Water that enters the cavity of the non-waterproof connector C can enter the inside of the insulating coating at the end of the electric wire W, travel inside the electric wire W, and reach the connector 10 side. Water that reaches the connector 10 side can reach the first cavity 23. However, since the connector 10 is individually waterproofed, water that reaches one first cavity 23 can be prevented from entering the other first cavity 23.

The connector 10 is configured without a front holder that holds the seal member 80, so the number of parts can be reduced compared to when a front holder is included. The tab portion 54 does not need to penetrate the front holder, so the length dimension can be made smaller than when it penetrates the holder. Because the length dimension of the tab portion 54 can be made smaller, it is easy to ensure the strength of the tab portion 54, even when the second terminal fitting 52 is formed by bending a metal plate. Therefore, the connector 10 can accommodate the second terminal fitting 52 that is connected to the electric wire 100.

In addition, because the length dimension of the tab portion 54 can be reduced, the insertion operation can be performed more easily than when a long tab portion is inserted into the main body portion 24 of the first terminal fitting 22. This improves the workability of connecting the first connector 20 and the second connector 50.

The connector 10 has a locking portion 13 that holds the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 in a mated state. The locking portion 13 is provided in a pair facing each other in the vertical direction (parallel to the first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58). With this configuration, the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are held in a properly mated state by the upper and lower locking portions 13, and the first mating surface 28 and the second mating surface 58 are restricted from being displaced away from the mating surface on both the upper and lower sides. Therefore, even if the connector 10 is tilted or continues to vibrate during use, the entire first protrusion portion 40 and the entire second protrusion portion 70 are held in contact with the seal member 80, and individual waterproofing is maintained, improving the sealing performance.

When the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are engaged, the second terminal metal fitting 52 has a tab portion 54 that protrudes from the second engagement surface 58 toward the first cavity 23. The second housing 51 has a hood portion 62 that surrounds the tab portion 54. When the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are not engaged, the seal member 80 is held on the first engagement surface 28. Here, when the seal member is held on the second engagement surface, the hood portion tends to be large. This is because the hood portion of the waterproof connector cannot be formed with a hole that penetrates from the inside to the outside as a locking structure for the seal member. In other words, the locking structure provided on the hood portion needs to be a recess with the outer periphery side blocked, so the hood portion tends to be large. However, since the connector 10 holds the seal member 80 on the first engagement surface 28, the hood portion 62 can be avoided from being large. Therefore, the connector 10 can be avoided from being large.

The first mating surface 28 has a recess 36 that is shaped to match the contour of the seal member 80. With this configuration, the seal member 80 fitted into the recess 36 is prevented from spreading in the planar direction, improving the sealing performance.

The second mating surface 58 has a cylindrical portion 78. When the first housing 21 and the second housing 51 are mated, the cylindrical portion 78 protrudes toward the seal member 80. The tab portion 54 passes through a through hole formed in the cylindrical portion 78, and the cylindrical portion 78 fits into a mating hole portion 83 formed in the seal member 80. With this configuration, the tab portion 54 of the second terminal fitting 52 does not come into direct contact with the seal member 80, so damage to the seal member 80 due to contact with the tab portion 54 can be prevented.

[Another embodiment of the present disclosure]
The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.
In the above embodiment, the wire harness H is mounted on a two-wheeled vehicle. In another embodiment, the wire harness may be mounted on a four-wheeled vehicle.
In the above embodiment, a wire-to-wire type connector 10 is illustrated. In another embodiment, the connector may be a type that is directly connected to a device.
In the above embodiment, the non-waterproof connector C is connected to the end portion of the electric wire W on the first connector 20 side. In another embodiment, a non-waterproof connector may be connected to the end portion of the electric wire on the second connector side.

C...Non-waterproof connector H...Wire harness W...Electric wire 10...Connector 13...Lock portion 20...First connector 21...First housing 22...First terminal fitting 23...First cavity 24...Main body 25...First lance 26...First rubber plug 27...First rear holder 28...First fitting surface 29...Lock arm 31...Release operation portion 32...Lock protection portion 33...Front protection portion 34...Horizontal protection portion 35...Guide groove portion 36...Recess 37...Peripheral wall portion 38...Engagement hole 40...First protrusion portion 41...First vertical rib 42...First horizontal rib 43...First partition wall 44...Vertical partition wall 45...Horizontal partition wall 50...Second connector 51...Second housing 52...Second terminal fitting 53...Second cavity 54...Tab portion 55...Second lance 56...Second rubber plug Description of the drawings: 57: second rear holder 58: second fitting surface 59: locking projection 61: guide projection 62: hood portion 70: second protrusion portion 71: second vertical rib 72: second horizontal rib 73: second partition wall 74: vertical partition wall 75: horizontal partition wall 76: side wall portion 77: front wall portion 78: cylindrical portion 80: seal member 81: seal body 82: locking projection 83: fitting hole portion 84: lip 100: electric wire

Claims (5)

Non-waterproof connectors,
A plurality of electric wires each having one end connected to the non-waterproof connector;
a connector connected to the other end of the plurality of electric wires,
the connector includes a first housing and a second housing that are fittable with each other, a seal member, a plurality of first terminal fittings that are accommodated in the first housing and connected to the other ends of the plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of second terminal fittings that are electrically connected to the first terminal fittings,
the first housing has a first mating surface;
the second housing has a second mating surface that faces the first mating surface when the first housing and the second housing are mated with each other,
the seal member is disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface,
The first housing is provided with a plurality of first cavities for accommodating the first terminal fittings, and the second housing is provided with a plurality of second cavities for accommodating the second terminal fittings,
the first fitting surface has first protrusions surrounding the openings of the first cavities and contacting the seal member;
the second fitting surface has second protrusions surrounding the openings of the second cavities and contacting the seal member,
The first fitting surface has a recess that is shaped to conform to an outer shape of the seal member,
The seal member has a seal body and a locking projection protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the seal body,
The recess is surrounded by a peripheral wall portion, a locking hole is formed in the peripheral wall portion, and the locking protrusion is engaged with the locking hole, thereby holding the sealing member against the first mating surface. the connector has a lock portion that holds the first housing and the second housing in a mated state,
The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is provided as a pair facing each other in a direction parallel to the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface. the second terminal fitting has a tab portion that protrudes from the second fitting surface toward the first cavity in the fitted state,
The second housing has a hood portion surrounding the tab portion,
3. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is held by the first mating surface when the first housing and the second housing are in a non-fitted state. the second fitting surface has a cylindrical portion that protrudes toward the seal member in the fitted state,
The tab portion passes through a through hole formed in the cylindrical portion,
The wire harness according to claim 3 , wherein the tubular portion is fitted into a fitting hole formed in the seal member. A connector to be connected to one end of a plurality of electric wires each having a non-waterproof connector connected to the other end of the electric wire,
a first housing and a second housing that are fittable with each other, a seal member, a plurality of first terminal fittings that are accommodated in the first housing and connected to the other ends of the plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of second terminal fittings that are electrically connected to the first terminal fittings,
the first housing has a first mating surface;
the first housing has a second mating surface that faces the first mating surface when the first housing and the second housing are mated with each other,
the seal member is disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface,
The first housing is provided with a plurality of first cavities for accommodating the first terminal fittings, respectively, and the second housing is provided with a plurality of second cavities for accommodating the second terminal fittings, respectively;
the first fitting surface has first protrusions surrounding the openings of the first cavities and contacting the seal member;
the second fitting surface has second protrusions surrounding the openings of the second cavities and contacting the seal member,
The first fitting surface has a recess that is shaped to conform to an outer shape of the seal member,
The seal member has a seal body and a locking projection protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the seal body,
A connector in which the recess is surrounded by a peripheral wall portion, a locking hole is formed in the peripheral wall portion, and the locking protrusion engages with the locking hole, thereby holding the sealing member against the first mating surface.

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