Electrical connector with bulging portion at a bend to discharge water

A connector includes: a terminal fitting; a housing containing the terminal fitting inside and provided with a fitting portion inserted and fitted into inside of a hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion of a counterpart wall member; and a shield shell including a cylindrical portion covering, from outside, a projecting portion of the housing projecting from the counterpart fitting portion, a flange portion projecting outer than an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and a fixed portion bent from an end portion of the flange portion and fixed on an end surface of the counterpart wall member. The shield shell is provided with a bent portion between the flange portion and the fixed portion, and a bulging portion including an inner wall surface positioned inside a curve of the bent portion at an end portion in an extending direction of a bending line of the bent portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-136542 filed in Japan on Aug. 13, 2020.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

In conventional art, as a connector, shield connectors are known. Each of shield connectors includes a housing including a fitting portion inserted and fitted into a hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion provided in a counterpart wall member, and a shield shell covering a portion of the housing projecting from the counterpart fitting portion from outside. In the connector, the shield shell is fixed to the counterpart wall member. For example, a known example of the shield shell includes a cylindrical portion covering the projecting portion of the housing from outside, a flange portion disposed opposite to a wall surface of the counterpart wall member, and a fixed portion bent from an end portion of the flange portion and fixed to the end surface of the counterpart wall member. A connector of this type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2016-71982.

In such a conventional connector, when liquid, such as water, exists inside the curve of the bent portion between the flange portion and the fixed portion in the shield shell, the liquid may flow into a space between the fitting portion and the counterpart fitting portion via a space between the flange portion and the wall surface of the counterpart wall member. For example, in the connector of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2016-71982, a liquid draining through hole is provided in a portion of the flange portion or the fixed portion adjacent to the bent portion, to prevent accumulation of the liquid inside the curve of the bent portion. However, in the connector, the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion may enter the space between the flange portion and the wall surface of the counterpart wall member before the liquid goes outside through the through hole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this reason, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector promoting discharge of liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a terminal fitting attached to a terminal of an electrical wire; a housing containing the terminal fitting inside and provided with a fitting portion inserted and fitted into inside of a hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion of a counterpart wall member; and a shield shell including a cylindrical portion, a flange portion, and a fixed portion, the cylindrical portion covering, from outside, a projecting portion of the housing projecting from the counterpart fitting portion on a side opposite to an insertion direction of the fitting portion into the counterpart fitting portion, the flange portion projecting outer than an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and disposed opposite to a wall surface of the counterpart wall member with a space therebetween, the fixed portion being bent from an end portion of the flange portion and fixed on an end surface of the counterpart wall member, wherein the shield shell is provided with a bent portion between the flange portion and the fixed portion, and a bulging portion including an inner wall surface positioned inside a curve of the bent portion at an end portion in an extending direction of a bending line of the bent portion and extruded largely toward outside of the curve as the bent portion extends toward an end in the extending direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the connector, it is desirable that the inner wall surface of the bulging portion has a section orthogonal to the extending direction and having an arc shape.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the connector, it is desirable to further include an annular water stop member attached to the flange portion and pressed between the flange portion and the wall surface of the counterpart wall member.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the connector, it is desirable that the bent portion is provided with a through hole causing inside and outside thereof to communicate with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a connector according to the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

Embodiment

An embodiment of a connector according to the present invention will be described on the basis ofFIG. 1toFIG. 4.

Reference numeral1inFIG. 1toFIG. 3denotes a connector according to the present embodiment. The connector1is inserted and fitted into the inside of a hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion521including an inner circumferential wall surface521a, and electrically connected with counterpart terminal fittings510(FIG. 1). The connector1is inserted into and extracted from the hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion521along a hole axis direction of the counterpart fitting portion521. The counterpart fitting portion521is formed with, for example, a circular or oval section orthogonal to the hole axis direction.

For example, the connector1is electrically connected with the counterpart terminal fittings510of a counterpart apparatus500to electrically connect the counterpart apparatus500with an apparatus (not illustrated) connected with electrical wires We (FIG. 1). The counterpart apparatus500includes a housing501formed of metal, and a through hole formed in a wall member (hereinafter referred to as “counterpart wall member”)502of the housing501is used as the counterpart fitting portion521. The counterpart fitting portion521has a hole axis direction being a direction orthogonal to a planar wall surface502a(FIG. 1) of the counterpart wall member502, and the connector1is inserted and extracted along the hole axis direction. The counterpart apparatus500also includes a terminal block or a counterpart connector (not illustrated) inside the housing501. The counterpart terminal fittings510are included in the terminal block or the counterpart connector. Accordingly, the connector1is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521, and electrically connected with the counterpart terminal fittings510of the terminal block or the counterpart connector inside the housing501.

In the following description, when the term “insertion direction” is simply used without any special reference, the term “insertion direction” indicates the insertion direction of the connector1with respect to the counterpart fitting portion521. When the term “extraction direction” is simply used without any special reference, the term “extraction direction” indicates the extraction direction of the connector1with respect to the counterpart fitting portion521. In addition, when the term “insertion/extraction direction” is simply used without any special reference, the term “insertion/extraction direction” indicates the insertion/extraction direction of the connector1with respect to the counterpart fitting portion521.

The connector1includes terminal fittings10, a housing20, and a shield shell30(FIG. 1andFIG. 3).

The terminal fittings10are formed of a conductive material, such as metal. For example, the terminal fittings10are formed in a predetermined shape by press-forming, such as folding and cutting, for a metal plate serving as the base material. The terminal fittings10are attached to terminals of the electrical wires We to be electrically connected with the electrical wires We. The terminal fittings10are electrically connected with the counterpart terminal fittings510. For this reason, the terminal fittings10include terminal connecting portions11physically and electrically connected with the counterpart terminal fittings510, and electrical wire connecting portions12physically and electrically connected with the terminals of the electrical wires We (FIG. 3).

Each of the terminal connecting portions11illustrated herein is formed in a piece member shape (FIG. 1andFIG. 3). Each of the terminal connecting portions11is provided with a through hole11a. The terminal connecting portions11are, for example, screwed to the counterpart terminal fittings510via the through holes11aand thereby physically and electrically connected with the counterpart terminal fittings510. The connection form of the terminal fittings10and the counterpart terminal fittings510is not necessarily such a screwing structure. For example, the terminal fittings10and the counterpart terminal fittings510may have mutually fittable shapes, one of them may be formed in a female terminal shape, and the other may be formed in a male terminal shape.

The electrical wire connecting portions12are, for example, crimped or welded to core wires of the terminals of the electrical wires We and thereby physically and electrically connected with the electrical wires We. Each of the electrical wire connecting portions12illustrated herein is crimped to the core wire by caulking a bare core wire with two barrel pieces.

Each of the illustrated terminal fittings10is formed in a straight shape in which the terminal connecting portion11and the electrical wire connecting portion12are arranged in a straight line. For this reason, the electrical wire We is drawn out of the electrical wire connecting portion12in an extending direction of the terminal fitting10extending along the straight line. The terminal fitting10may have a structure in which the terminal connecting portion11and the electrical wire connecting portion12are arranged to cross each other, and for example, they are arranged orthogonally.

The connector1illustrated herein includes two pairs each of which is formed of the terminal fitting10and the electrical wire We.

The housing20is formed of an insulating material, such as synthetic resin. The housing20contains the terminal fittings10and the electrical wires We inside. In the housing20, the terminal fittings10are retained in a contained state, and the electrical wires We are drawn out from the inside to the outside.

The housing20includes a fitting portion21containing the terminal fittings10inside and to be inserted and fitted into the inside of the hole-shaped counterpart fitting portion521of the counterpart wall member502(FIG. 1andFIG. 3). The fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521along the insertion direction, and extracted from the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521along the extraction direction opposite to the insertion direction. The fitting portion21is formed in a cylindrical shape having a cylinder axis direction being the insertion/extraction direction (insertion direction, extraction direction) with respect to the counterpart fitting portion521. For this reason, in the following description, the term “cylinder axis direction” is also used instead of the insertion/extraction direction. The fitting portion21illustrated herein has a section orthogonal to the cylinder axis and having an oval cylindrical shape, and the two terminal fittings10are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the oval. The fitting portion21illustrated herein retains the terminal connecting portions11inside, and end portions of the terminal connecting portions11on the through hole11aside project from the inside to the outside. The fitting portion21illustrated herein contains therein portions of the terminal connecting portions11on the electrical wire connecting portion12side and portions of the electrical wire connecting portions12on the terminal connecting portion11side. The inside of the fitting portion21is provided with a partition wall (not illustrated) between the adjacent terminal fittings10.

In the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521, a portion of the housing20positioned on the extraction direction side beyond the fitting portion21projects from the counterpart fitting portion521. The housing20includes cylindrical electrical wire containing portions22containing the electrical wires We inside, as the projecting portion projecting from the counterpart fitting portion521on the extraction direction side (FIG. 1andFIG. 3). The electrical wire containing portions22illustrated herein are each formed in a cylindrical shape and are provided for the respective electrical wires We. The electrical wire containing portions22are arranged in the arrangement direction of the two terminal fittings. The housing20includes a cylindrical portion23between the fitting portion21and the electrical wire containing portions22. The cylindrical portion23is coaxial with the cylindrical axis of the fitting portion21and provided outer than an outer circumferential wall surface21aof the fitting portion21. The cylindrical portion23illustrated herein has a section orthogonal to the cylindrical axis and having an oval cylindrical shape, and is disposed with an annular space with respect to the outer circumferential wall surface21aof the fitting portion21.

In the housing20, the electrical wires We provided with the terminal fittings10are inserted through openings22aof the electrical wire containing portions22(FIG. 3). Accordingly, the electrical wires We are drawn out of the openings22ato the outside. In this state, an annular space is formed between the electrical wire containing portion22and the electrical wire We. For this reason, in the connector1, the electrical wire We is inserted through an annular water stop member (hereinafter referred to as “inner water stop member”)41(FIG. 3) in advance, and the inner water stop member41is inserted into the electrical wire containing portion22together with the electrical wire We to fill the annular space between the electrical wire containing portion22and the electrical wire We. The inner water stop member41is a rubber plug.

The connector1includes a front holder51into which the distal end (end portion on the insertion direction side) of the fitting portion21of the housing20is inserted (FIG. 1toFIG. 3). The front holder51maintains a retained state of the terminal fittings10contained together with the fitting portion21in the housing20. The front holder51includes a cylindrical portion51ahaving a cylindrical axis direction being the insertion/extraction direction, and the distal end of the fitting portion21is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion51a(FIG. 3). The cylindrical portion51aillustrated herein has a section orthogonal to the cylindrical axis and having an oval cylindrical shape.

In the connector1, an annular end surface of the cylindrical portion51aof the front holder51on the extraction direction side is opposed to an end surface of the cylindrical portion23of the housing20on the insertion direction side, with a space therebetween in the insertion/extraction direction. Accordingly, in the connector1, an annular groove is formed between the end surfaces of the cylindrical portions23and51a, and the outer circumferential wall surface21aof the fitting portion21serves as a groove bottom of the annular groove. In the connector1, the annular groove is provided with an annular water stop member (hereinafter referred to as “first outer water stop member”)42(FIG. 1andFIG. 3).

The inner circumferential surface side of the first outer water stop member42is brought into close contact with the groove bottom of the annular groove, and the outer circumferential surface side of the first outer water stop member42is brought into close contact with the inner circumferential wall surface521aof the counterpart fitting portion521, to fill the annular space between the groove bottom of the annular groove and the inner circumferential wall surface521aof the counterpart fitting portion521. In this manner, the first outer water stop member42suppresses infiltration of liquid, such as water, from the space between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521into the inside of the housing501. For this reason, the first outer water stop member42is formed of an elastically deformable synthetic resin material, such as rubber.

The first outer water stop member42includes a cylindrical base portion42a, a coaxial annular lip (hereinafter referred to as “inner circumferential lip”)42bformed to project from the inner circumferential surface of the base portion42a, and a coaxial annular lip (hereinafter referred to as “outer circumferential lip”)42cformed to project from the outer circumferential surface of the base portion42a(FIG. 3). In the first outer water stop member42, a plurality of inner circumferential lips42band a plurality of outer circumferential lips42care arranged in the cylinder axis direction of the base portion42a. The first outer water stop member42illustrated herein is provided with two inner circumferential lips42band two outer circumferential lips42c. A section of the base portion42aillustrated herein orthogonal to the cylinder axis is formed in an oval cylindrical shape. Each of the inner circumferential lips42band the outer circumferential lips42cillustrated herein has a section orthogonal to the cylinder axis of the base portion42aand having an oval annular shape.

In the connector1, a rear holder52holding the electrical wires We while suppressing bending of the electrical wires We is mounted between the openings22aof the electrical wire containing portion22and the inner water stop members41(FIG. 3). The illustrated rear holder52adopts a two-division structure including a first holder member52A and a second holder member52B, and holds and retains the electrical wires We between the first holder member52A and the second holder member52B. Each of the electrical wires We is drawn to the outside from the opening22avia the rear holder52. Although it is not described in detail, the rear holder52is held with the electrical wire containing portions22by engaging locking portions provided on each of the first holder member52A and the second holder member52B with hook portions provided on the electrical wire containing portions22. Each of the first holder member52A and the second holder member52B is formed of an insulating material, such as synthetic resin.

The shield shell30suppresses entrance of noise from the outside into the electrical wires We positioned inside by covering, from outside, projecting portions (electrical wire containing portions22) of the housing20projecting from the counterpart fitting portion521on the extraction direction side. For this reason, the shield shell30is formed of a metal material (for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy). The shield shell30illustrated herein is press-formed, with a metal plate used as the base material.

The shield shell30includes a cylindrical portion31covering the electrical wire containing portions22from outside (FIG. 1toFIG. 4). The cylindrical portion31has a section orthogonal to the cylinder axis and having an oval cylindrical shape, and the two electrical wire containing portions22are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the oval.

The shield shell30also includes a flange portion32and a fixed portion33(FIG. 1toFIG. 4). The flange portion32is formed to project outer than the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion31, and disposed opposite to the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502with a space therebetween in a state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521. The fixed portion33is bent from an end portion of the flange portion32, and fixed on an end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502in the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521.

The flange portion32is coaxial with the cylinder axis of the cylindrical portion31, and formed in an annular and planar shape projecting outer than the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion31. One flat surface32aof the flange portion32is disposed opposite to the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502with a space therebetween, in the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521(FIG. 2).

The end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502is a flat surface orthogonally connecting to the wall surface502a, and one flat surface33aof the planar fixed portion33is disposed opposite to the end surface502bin the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521(FIG. 2). The fixed portion33illustrated herein is bent by 90° from the end portion of the flange portion32to be orthogonal to the flange portion32. The fixed portion33illustrated herein is fixed on the end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502by screwing. Accordingly, the end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502is provided with fixing portions502cserving as female screw portions to fix the fixed portion33(FIG. 1). Each of the fixing portions502cillustrated herein includes an annular spacer portion502dprojecting from the end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502. The flat surface33aof the fixed portion33is offset from the end surface502bof the counterpart wall member502by the thickness of the spacer portions502d. The fixed portion33is provided with through holes33bdisposed opposite to the fixing portions502cin the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521(FIG. 1). Male screw portions (not illustrated) to be screwed into the fixing portions502care inserted into the through holes33b. Two pairs of the through holes33band the fixing portions502care provided in this example.

The connector1includes a braid (not illustrated) covering the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion31of the shield shell30and the electrical wires We drawn out of the openings22aof the electrical wire containing portions22to the outside. The braid is a member formed by plaiting a metal material in a cylindrical and net shape, and suppresses entrance of noise into the electrical wires We drawn out of the openings22ato the outside. The braid is brought into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion31using a cylindrical connecting member35(FIG. 1andFIG. 3).

In the connector1, the first outer water stop member42illustrated above suppresses infiltration of liquid, such as water, into the inside of the housing501via the space between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521. In addition, in the connector1, it is desirable to reduce the inflow of the liquid entering the space between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521, in view of liquid tightness between them. For this reason, the connector1includes an annular water stop member (hereinafter referred to as “second outer water stop member”)43attached to the flange portion32of the shield shell30and pressed between the flange portion32and the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502(FIG. 1toFIG. 3).

The second outer water stop member43is formed of an elastically deformable synthetic resin material, such as rubber. More specifically, the second outer water stop member43is formed using a spongy sheet member. The second outer water stop member43illustrated herein is formed using ethylene-propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and coaxial with the cylindrical portion31of the shield shell30, and has a section orthogonal to the cylinder axis and having an oval annular shape. An annular wall surface of the annular member of the second outer water stop member43on the extraction direction side serves as an attachment surface attached to the flange portion32, and the attachment surface is bonded to the flat surface32aof the flange portion32using an adhesive or an adhesive member (such as a double-sided tape). In the state in which the fitting portion21is inserted and fitted into the inside of the counterpart fitting portion521, the second outer water stop member43is pressed between the flat surface32aof the flange portion32and the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502, and suppresses infiltration of liquid from the outside into the space.

In addition, the connector1also reduces the inflow of the liquid into the space between the flat surface32aof the flange portion32and the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502. This structure improves the liquid tightness with the second outer water stop member43provided therebetween, and further improves the liquid tightness between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521. However, in the connector1, a portion between the flange portion32and the fixed portion33is bent in the shield shell30. When liquid, such as water, enters the inside of the curve of a bent portion30a(FIG. 1toFIG. 4) or dew condensation occurs inside the curve of the bent portion30a, the liquid may accumulate inside the curve of the bent portion30a. For example, in the connector1, liquid may flow into the inside of the curve of the bent portion30aover the flat surface33ain the fixed portion33. In addition, in the connector1, when the liquid located inside the curve of the bent portion30aaccumulates until it touches the second outer water stop member43or when the liquid accumulating inside the curve of the bent portion30aflows to the second outer water stop member43due to traveling vibration of the vehicle or the like, the liquid may enter the space between the flat surface32aof the flange portion32and the second outer water stop member43, or enter the space between the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502and the second outer water stop member43.

For this reason, in the connector1, liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30ais discharged to the outside. Specifically, the shield shell30is provided with bulging portions34(FIG. 1toFIG. 4). The bulging portions34include inner wall surfaces positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30aat end portions in an extending direction of the bending line of the bent portion30aand extruded largely toward the outside of the curve as the bent portion30aextends toward the ends in the extending direction.

The bulging portions34are regions having a function like a gutter to discharge the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30ato the outside from the end portions thereof in the extending direction of the bending line. For this reason, in the bulging portions34, as described above, the inner wall surfaces34a(FIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 4) are extruded largely toward the outside of the curve as the bent portion30aextends toward the ends in the extending direction such that the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30aand having flowed to the inner wall surfaces34ais easily discharged to the outside from the ends of the extending direction of the bending line. In this manner, the bulging portions34include the inner wall surfaces34ainclined toward the outside of the curve with respect to the flat surface32aof the flange portion32and/or the flat surface33aof the fixed portion33as the bent portion30aextends toward the ends in the extending direction of the bending line of the bent portion30a. Accordingly, the connector1is enabled to discharge the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30ato the outside through the bulging portions34before the liquid accumulates inside the curve of the bent portion30a, or discharge the liquid to the outside through the bulging portions34even when the liquid accumulates inside the curve of the bent portion30a.

The inner wall surfaces34aof the bulging portions34may have any shape as long as the shape enables discharge of the liquid. For example, the inner wall surface34aof each of the bulging portions34illustrated herein has an arc-shaped section orthogonal to the extending direction of the bending line of the bent portion30a. The inner wall surfaces34amay be formed with uniform or substantially equal radii of curvature of the arcs at positions in the extending direction of the bending line of the bent portion30a, or with the radii of curvature gradually increasing toward the ends of the extending direction.

The bulging portion34may be provided at least one of the two end portions of the bent portion30ain the extending direction of the bending line, according to the mount state thereof on the vehicle. For example, in the connector1, when one of the end portions of the bent portion30ais disposed lower than the other end portion in the vertical direction, it suffices that the bulging portion34is provided at least in the lower end portion of the bent portion30a. As another example, in the connector1, when the two end portions of the bent portion30aare arranged in the same or substantially equal positions in the vertical direction, the bulging portion34should be provided in each of the two end portions.

As described above, the connector1according to the present embodiment includes the second outer water stop member43between the flange portion32and the wall surface502aof the counterpart wall member502. With the structure, the connector1enables reduction of inflow of liquid entering the space between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521via the space therebetween. In particular, because the connector1is provided with the first outer water stop member42between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521, the connector1is enabled to retain liquid tightness between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521with the first outer water stop member42by suppressing inflow of liquid into the space therebetween. In addition, the connector1according to the present embodiment includes the bulging portions34provided at end portions of the bent portion30aof the shield shell30, and is enabled to discharge liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30ato the outside through the bulging portions34. As described above, the connector1according to the present embodiment is enabled to promote discharge of liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion30aand suppress inflow of the liquid into the space between the fitting portion21and the counterpart fitting portion521.

Modification

Reference numeral2inFIG. 5andFIG. 6denotes a connector of the present modification. The connector2corresponds to a structure acquired by replacing the shield shell30by the following shield shell130in the connector1according to the embodiment described above. The shield shell130according to the present modification corresponds to a structure acquired by partly changing the shape of the shield shell30according to the embodiment. For this reason, in the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components and/or regions as those of the connector1according to the embodiment as necessary, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The shield shell130according to the present modification includes a cylindrical portion131, a flange portion132, and a fixed portion133that are similar to the cylindrical portion31, the flange portion32, and the fixed portion33of the shield shell30according to the embodiment, respectively (FIG. 5andFIG. 6). Accordingly, the shield shell130includes a bent portion130asimilar to the bent portion30aaccording to the embodiment between the flange portion132and the fixed portion133. In addition, the shield shell130according to the present modification includes bulging portions134similar to the bulging portions34of the shield shell30according to the embodiment (FIG. 5andFIG. 6). The bulging portions134according to the present modification include inner wall surfaces134ahaving larger extrusion quantity toward the outside of the curve than that of the bulging portions34according to the embodiment.

By contrast, in the shield shell130according to the present modification, the bent portion130ais provided with a through hole135causing the inside and the outside thereof to communicate with each other, in addition to the bulging portions134, to discharge liquid positioned inside the bent portion130ato the outside (FIG. 5andFIG. 6). The through hole135is a liquid draining hole to discharge liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ato the outside. This structure enables the connector2according to the present modification to discharge the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ato the outside through the through hole135before the liquid accumulates inside the curve of the bent portion130a, or discharge the liquid to the outside through the through hole135even when the liquid accumulates inside the curve of the bent portion130a. For example, the connector2according to the present modification is enabled to discharge liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ato the outside with a combination of the bulging portions134and the through hole135. In addition, even when liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ais not completely discharged to the outside through the bulging portions134at the end portions, the connector2according to the present modification is enabled to discharge the liquid that has not completely been discharged, to the outside through the through hole135. Besides, even when liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ais not completely discharged to the outside through the through hole135, the connector2according to the present modification is enabled to discharge the liquid that has not completely been discharged, to the outside through the bulging portions134at the end portions.

The through hole135is desirably disposed opposite to the second outer water stop member43without any space therebetween in the insertion/extraction direction, and provided with a space from the second outer water stop member43except the oppositely disposed portion. In the connector2, the through hole135and the second outer water stop member43are arranged opposite to each other without any space therebetween in the insertion/extraction direction. This structure enables the connector2to discharge, to the outside through the through hole135, the liquid accumulating inside the curve of the bent portion130ato an amount touching the second outer water stop member43or liquid flowing from the inside of the curve to the second outer water stop member43, before the liquid enters the space between the flat surface32aof the flange portion132and the second outer water stop member43. For this reason, the through hole135is desirably formed to extend to the flange portion132. In addition, in the connector2, a space is provided between the through hole135and the second outer water stop member43except the oppositely disposed portion. This structure enables the connector2to discharge the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ato the outside through the space. As described above, the liquid may flow into the inside of the curve of the bent portion130aover the flat surface33aof the fixed portion133. For this reason, the through hole135is desirably formed to extend to the fixed portion133. This structure enables the connector2to discharge the liquid flowing over the flat surface33aof the fixed portion133to the outside through the through hole135at an early stage.

In addition, the through hole135is desirably provided in a place located inside the curve of the bent portion130aand having a minimum distance from the second outer water stop member43before the through hole135is provided. Because liquid most easily accumulates in such a place, providing the through hole135in the place enables discharge of the liquid to the outside through the through hole135without accumulation of the liquid inside the curve of the bent portion130a.

As described above, the connector2according to the present modification is also provided with the through hole135in the bent portion130aof the shield shell130. This structure enables the connector2to discharge the liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130ato the outside through the bulging portions134and the through hole135. With this structure, the connector2has an enhanced function of discharging liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion130a, in comparison with the connector1according to the embodiment.

The connector according to the present embodiment is provided with a bulging portion at an end portion of the bent portion of the shield shell, and is enabled to discharge liquid positioned inside the curve of the bent portion to the outside from the bulging portion.