Abstract:
Waterproof connector in which the inner wall of a waterproof rubber packing is prevented from being damaged and waterproof function is not deteriorated. The waterproof connector comprises: a terminal accommodating chamber; and a waterproof rubber packing mounted on a terminal insertion side of the terminal accommodating chamber, wherein a side wall of the terminal accommodating chamber on the terminal insertion side has notches to form a resilient wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a waterproof connector for use in an electrical circuit. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional connector for use in an electrical circuit is provided with a waterproof rubber packing on a terminal insertion side of a terminal accommodating chamber to prevent intrusion of water or the like. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of such waterproof connectors. In FIG. 5, the waterproof connector 1 comprises a connector housing 5, a cover 3, and waterproof rubber packing 4. After inserted into the waterproof connector 1 assembled with the waterproof rubber packing 4 and the cover 3 through through-holes 3b and 4a of the cover 3 and the waterproof rubber packing 4 respectively, a terminal 2 (including a tip 2a, a tip metal 2b, and a wire portion 2c) further advances in a terminal accommodating chamber 5d in the connector housing 5 and is locked therein. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector housing 5 taken along the line I--I of FIG. 5. The connector housing 5 is made from synthetic resin, and on the terminal insertion side, that is, at right of the figure, is formed a waterproof rubber packing accommodating portion 5b which is surrounded by an outer peripheral wall 5c. Behind the waterproof packing accommodating portion 5b are formed a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5d. In this conventional connector housing 5, the terminal accommodating chambers 5d are vertically juxtaposed, and each of the terminal accommodating chamber 5d is provided with a resilient locking arm 5e extending from the upper wall thereof. The resilient locking arm 5e locks the terminal 2 which is inserted from right side of the connector housing 5. The connector housing 5 further comprises an outer surface 5a and a locking arm 5f integral with the outer surface 5a to mate the connector housing 5 with the other connector not shown. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, the waterproof rubber packing 4 is formed to be a substantial rectangular, and corners thereof are rounded so as to be inserted into the waterproof packing accommodating portion 5b of the connector housing 5 and is secured thereto. The waterproof rubber packing 4 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 4a at positions corresponding to the terminal accommodating chambers 5d of the connector housing 5 through which the terminal 2 passes. The waterproof rubber packing 4 is mounted to prevent the intrusion of water or the like into the terminal accommodating chamber 5d from outside, so that two sealing portions 4c are formed around the side surface 4b of the waterproof rubber packing 4 and the sealing portions 4c closely contact with the inner wall of the outer peripheral wall 5c when the waterproof rubber packing 4 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 5d. The diameter of the through-holes 4a is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the wire portion 2c, and when the terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 5d the inner wall of the through-holes 4a closely contact with the outer surface of the wire portion 2c. 
     The cover 3 is also made of synthetic resin, like the connector housing 5, and covers the waterproof rubber packing 4 which is inserted into the waterproof packing accommodating portion 5b. The cover 3 becomes integral with the connector housing 5 through the locking piece 3a and has a function of fixing the waterproof rubber packing 4 to the connector housing 5. The cover 3 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 3b at portions corresponding to the terminal accommodating chambers 5d, like the waterproof rubber packing 4, though which the terminal 2 passes. 
     At the use of the waterproof connector 1 with the above-mentioned construction, at first, the waterproof rubber packing 4 is inserted into the waterproof packing accommodating portion 5b of the connector housing 5, and the cover 3 is fixed to the connector housing 5 while covering the waterproof rubber packing 4, and at the same time, the waterproof rubber packing 4 is also secured to the connector housing 5 to assemble the waterproof connector 1. Then, the terminal 2 is inserted into the waterproof connector 1 through the through-holes 3b the cover 3 and the through-holes 4a of the waterproof rubber packing 4, and finally the terminal 2 passes through the terminal accommodating chamber 5d of the connector housing 5 so as to be locked in the connector housing 5 with the resilient locking arm 5e. As a result, behind the terminal 2 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 5d is positioned the waterproof rubber packing 4, which prevents the intrusion of the water or the like into the terminal accommodating chamber 5d from outside. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the conventional waterproof connector with the above construction, however, there is a problem at the insertion of the terminal 2 into the terminal accommodating chamber 5d. As illustrated in FIG. 7 which is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector 1 taken along the line II--II of FIG. 6, which shows the condition immediately before the tip 2a of the terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 5d, when the tip 2a of the terminal 2 passes through the inner wall 4b of the through-holes 4a of the waterproof rubber packing 4, a part of the inner wall 4b is shifted leftward in FIG. 7, and a part 4c of the inner wall 4b is nipped between the tip 2a and the front face 5g of the terminal accommodating chamber 5d, which damages the inner wall 4b of the waterproof rubber packing 4, resulting in poor sealing performance. 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of the problem of the conventional waterproof connector, and it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a waterproof connector in which the inner wall of the waterproof rubber packing is prevented from being damaged and the waterproof function is not deteriorated. 
     The waterproof connector according to the present invention comprises: a terminal accommodating chamber; and a waterproof rubber packing mounted on a terminal insertion side of the terminal accommodating chamber, wherein a side wall of the terminal accommodating chamber on the terminal insertion side has notches to form a resilient wall. 
     In this waterproof connector, the side wall on the terminal insertion side may divide neighboring terminal accommodating chambers. 
     The above-mentioned waterproof connectors may have a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers which are vertically closely juxtaposed to each other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more apparent from the ensuring description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a waterproof connector housing according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of side surfaces of terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the process of inserting a terminal into the waterproof connector according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a terminal locked in the waterproof connector according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional waterproof connector; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a connector housing of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the process of inserting a terminal into the conventional waterproof connector; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of side surfaces of terminal accommodating chambers of the conventional connector housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawings. 
     Basic construction of the waterproof connector 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) according to the present invention is the same as the conventional waterproof connector 1 (illustrated in FIG. 5,) therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. In the waterproof connector according to the present invention also, the terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 15d (see FIG. 1) in the connector housing 15 of the waterproof connector 1 and is locked therein through the cover 3, waterproof rubber packing 4 of the waterproof connector 1. 
     The waterproof connector according to the preset invention is characterized of a connector housing 15 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the connector housing 15 corresponding to that of the connector housing 5 shown in FIG. 6 as a conventional one. The connector housing 15 is made of synthetic resin like the conventional one, and on the terminal insertion side of the connector housing 15, that is, at right portion thereof is formed a waterproof rubber packing accommodating portion 15b surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 15c like the conventional one, and behind the waterproof rubber packing accommodating portion 15b are formed a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 15d. 
     In this embodiment also, the terminal accommodating chambers 15d are vertically juxtaposed, and each of the terminal accommodating chamber 15d is provided with a resilient locking arm 15e extending from the upper wall thereof to lock the terminal 2 inserted. The connector housing 15 further comprises the outer surface 15a, a locking arm 15f integral with the outer surface 15a to mate the connector housing 15 with the other connector not shown. 
     The connector housing 15 according to the present invention is characterized of the side walls 15h. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, the side walls 5h of the conventional connector housing 5 are successively formed with the upper and lower walls, and as illustrated in FIG. 8, when observed from terminal insertion side, the side walls 5h constitutes the box-shaped terminal accommodating chamber 15d and functions as partitions of the terminal accommodating chambers 15d as well. 
     On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side walls 15h of the connector housing 15 according to the present invention have notches at portions adjacent to the upper and lower walls, that is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the side walls 15h are discontinued with the upper and lower walls from terminal insertion openings to portions apart from the openings to some extent. As a result, the side walls 15h have horizontal resiliency in FIG. 1. 
     In the waterproof connector according to the present invention also, like the conventional waterproof connector 1, at first, the waterproof rubber packing 4 is inserted into the waterproof packing accommodating portion 15b of the connector housing 15, and the cover 3 is fixed to the connector housing 5 in such a manner as to cover the waterproof rubber packing 4, and at the same time, the waterproof rubber packing 4 is also secured to the connector housing 15 to assemble the waterproof connector. Then, the terminal 2 is inserted into the waterproof connector through the through-holes 3b of the cover 3 and the through-holes 4a of the waterproof rubber packing 4, and finally the terminal 2 passes through the terminal accommodating chamber 15d of the connector housing 15 so as to be locked in the connector housing 15 with the resilient locking arm 15e. As a result, behind the terminal 2 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 15d is positioned the waterproof rubber packing 4, which prevents the intrusion of the water or the like into the terminal accommodating chamber 15d from outside. 
     At that moment, the side walls 15h of the connector housing 15 functions as described below. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the condition immediately before the tip 2a of the terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 15d, and this figure corresponds to FIG. 7 showing the conventional waterproof connector. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, when the tip 2a passes through the through-holes 4a of the waterproof rubber packing 4, a part of the inner wall 4b is leftward moved in this figure, therefore, even if a part 4c of the inner wall 4b is nipped between the tip 2a and the front face 15g of the terminal accommodating chamber 15d, the side walls 15h horizontally and resiliently deform. As a result, after the tip metal 2b of the terminal 2 advances in the terminal accommodating chamber 15d and is completely locked therein, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the side walls 15h return to their original positions, which prevents the inner wall 4b of the waterproof rubber packing 4 from being damaged, so that the wire portion 2c properly contacts the inner wall 4b of the waterproof rubber packing 4 to provide improved waterproof function. 
     With the waterproof connector according to the present invention, at the insertion of a terminal into the waterproof connector, the inner wall of the waterproof rubber packing is prevented from being damaged, which prevents waterproof function of the waterproof rubber packing from being deteriorated.