A connector

Abstract: A cover 20 is comprised of a pair of half pieces 20A which could be obtained by dividing a rectangular tube into halves as a whole. The pair of half pieces 20A have the same configuration and are assembled in rotationally inverted positions about an axis. When assembling the cover 20, it is not necessary to precisely select different types of parts to be assembled as in the case where a cover is comprised of two types of parts having different configurations. This leads to a better operability, reduced production costs, and easy storage and handling.

Description: The present invention relates to a connector which protects wires coming out of a connector housing by a cover according to the precharacterized part of claim 1. Such a connector is known from US-A-4,108,527. Each half piece of this known cover assembly comprises at one side thereof two latching ears and on the other side thereof two slots with respective detents. When both half pieces of this known cover assembly are mounted together the latching ears are inserted into the slots and engage with the detents. The latching ears of this known embodiment must, on the one hand, provide a lateral positioning of the half pieces and must therefore be stiff enough to withstand torsion forces applied to the cover assembly when the connector is in use, and the latching ears must, on the other hand, be flexible enough to allow the latching engagement with the detents. A known connector which protects wires coming out of a connector housing by a cover is shown in FIG. 7. In this connector, wires (not shown) come out of a connector housing through its rear end surface, and a tubular cover 2 is mountable on a rear end portion of the connector housing 1 so as to surround the wires. The cover 2 is formed by assembling two half pieces 2A, 213. These two half pieces 2A, 2B have substantially the same shape as a whole, but have different lock members for holding the half pieces 2A, 2B assembled. Specifically, in one half piece 2A, two projections 3 projecting outward from a contact edge with the other half piece 2B are formed on each of two sides. In the other half piece 213, two elastic lock portions 4 projecting to the half piece 2A from a contact edge with the half piece 2A along an outer periphery are formed on each of two sides. When the two half pieces 2A, 2B are assembled, the projections 3 and the lock portions 4 are engaged with each other, thereby holding the half pieces 2A, 2B assembled. Since the cover 2 is formed by assembling two types of half pieces 2A, 2B having different configurations, different half pieces 2A, 2B to be assembled should precisely be selected. This leads to a poor operability when the cover 2 is mounted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector as defined in the precharacterizing part of claim 1 having an improved operability when a cover is mounted and when the connector is in use. This object is solved by a connector according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1 with the features as claimed in the characterizing part of claim 1. According to the present invention the positioning means comprise inner positioning walls which contact the inner surface of the opposing half piece when the cover assembly is mounted. These positioning walls define the lateral localization, whereas the edge engagement means of both half pieces provide the latching of both half pieces. The positioning walls are provided to tightly engage the first contact edges therebetween, so as to prevent displacement of the half pieces with more certainty. Furthermore, these walls are provided to correct warpage of the half pieces whjch may result from molding operation. Accordingly, they serve the double functions of preventing displacement and correcting warpage of the half pieces. Accordingly, since the half pieces which construct the cover have the same configuration, it is not necessary to precisely select different types of parts to be assembled when assembling the cover. Thus, the inventive connector has a better operability as compared to a case where the cover is constructed by assembling parts having different configurations. According to a preferred embodiment, an engaging portion is formed preferably on one of two contact edges of the half piece to come into contact with the mating half piece and a receiving portion is formed preferably on the other contact edge, and the separation of the half pieces is restricted by the engagement of the engaging portions of both half pieces with the receiving portions of the mating half pieces. Accordingly, since the engaging portion and the receiving portion for holding the half pieces assembled are formed in the half pieces themselves, the cover can be held assembled without using a separate part. Preferably, the receiving portion is formed on the outer surface of the half piece and the engaging portion is so formed on the outer surface of the mating half piece as to be elastically deformable in such a direction that it is disengaged from the receiving portion. Accordingly, the cover can be disassembled, i.e. the half pieces can be separated by elastically deforming the engaging portion exposed on the outer surface of the half piece to disengage it from the receiving portion. Since the engaging portions are provided on the outer surfaces of the half pieces, the cover can be easily disassembled and/or detached. Preferably, at least two engaging portions and at least two mating receiving portions are formed on the half pieces such that when the two half pieces are connected or fitted to each other, one engaging portion on one half piece is arranged in a direction substantially opposed to a direction of an adjacent engaging portion on the other half piece. Accordingly there is avoided or prevented an unwanted release of the two half pieces. Further preferably, at least one positioning portion for positioning the pair of half pieces in a predeterminable or predetermined relative position, preferably in a specified assembled state, is formed on the half piece, preferably on a contact edge thereof. Accordingly, since both half pieces can be positioned preferably in their assembled state, the assembling can be easily performed and a displacement of the half pieces along the contact surfaces can be prevented. Further preferably, at least two positioning portions are provided at positions substantially spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, wherein the one positioning portion is provided preferably on the outer side of the half pieces and the other positioning portion is preferably provided on the inner side of the half pieces. According to a further preferred embodiment, the tubular cover is to be mounted on the rear end portion of the connector housing in such a manner as to substantially surround the wires. Preferably, the cover comprises connector housing engaging means for the engagement with cover engaging means of the connector housing for mounting the cover to the connector housing. Further preferably, the cover comprises tube engaging means for the engagement with cover engaging means of a protection tube for the wires. Most preferably, the cover comprises an opening for the insertion of the protection tube into the cover. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a side view in section showing a state where a corrugated tube is engaged with half pieces of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment when a cover is mounted on a connector housing, FIG. 4 is a rear view partly in section of the first embodiment when the cover is assembled, FIG. 5 is a section of the first embodiment when the cover is assembled, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a half piece according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a prior art connector. < Embodiment 1 > Hereafter, a first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. A first embodiment of a connector according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and compris a connector housing 10 which accommodates terminals (not shown) inside. A cover 20 is mounted on a rear end portion of the connector housing 10, and preferably a corrugated tube 30 (as a protection tube) is mounted on or at the cover 20. A plurality of wires (not shown) are connected with the terminals and come out of the connector housing 10 through a rear end surface, which is the end of the connector housing 10 opposite that shown in FIG. 1. Vertically extending mount grooves 11 are formed in the opposite side surfaces of the rear end portion of the connector housing 10 for mounting the cover 20. The mount grooves 11 are transversely and/or substantially vertically symmetrical. Wires coming out of the connector housing 10 preferably are surrounded by the corrugated tube 30 having circumferentially extending grooves 31 and projections 32 alternately formed in its outer surface as shown in FIG. 2. The corrugate tube 30 is spaced from the connector housing 10, but is movable or extendable along its length and relative to both the wires and the connector housing 10. By being surrounded by the corrugated tube 30, the wires are protected without being exposed. Lock plates or projections 24 and lock grooves or recesses 25 of the cover 20 to be described later are to be engaged with the grooves 31 and the projections 32 of the corrugated tube 30 for lockingly connecting the cover 20 with the corrugated tube 30. The cover 20 includes a front end portion 20F for mounting to the rear end portion of the connector housing 10. The cover 20 also includes a rear end portion 20R for receiving the corrugated tube 30. The cover 20 comprises a pair of half pieces 20A which could be obtained by dividing a rectangular tube into halves by a plane extending parallel to two opposed sides of the rectangular tube. Each half piece 20A has a first contact edge 20A1 and a second contact edge 20A2. The first and second contact edges 20A and 20A2 are symmetrical about a line or axis passing centrally therebetween. The pair of half pieces 20A preferably have substantially the same configuration and preferably are assembled in rotationally inverted positions about the central axis of the cover 20 such that a first contact edge 20A1 of one half piece 20A abuts a second contact edge 20A2 of a second half piece 20A. When the pair of half pieces 20A are assembled to form the cover 20 and are mounted on the connector housing 10, the tubular cover 20 substantially surrounds the portions of the wires coming out of the connector housing 10 to protect the wires. In the inner surface of a front end portion of each half piece 20A are formed mount portions 22 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The mount portions 22 are engageable with the corresponding mount grooves 11 of the connector housing 10. By engaging the mount portions 22 with the mount grooves 11, a relative movement of the half pieces 20A, i.e. of the cover 20 with respect to the connector housing 10 along forward and backward directions and/or along vertical direction is restricted. In the rear end surface of each half piece 20A is formed a preferably substantially semicircular notch 23 for receiving of the corrugated tube 30 therein. The shape of the notch or opening 23 is adapted or corresponds to the shape of the corrugated tube 30, and in particular to the shape of the leading end of the corrugated tube 30 to be connected to the cover 20. On the inner surface of each half piece 20A are formed the lock plates 24 and the lock grooves 25 which are to be engaged with the grooves 31 and the projections 32 on the outer surface of the corrugated tube 30. When they are engaged, the lock plates 24 and the projections 32 are substantially locked with each other, thereby restricting a loose movement of the corrugated tube 30 with respect to the cover 20 along longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 30. An engaging portion 26 and a receiving portion 27 are formed on each contact edge 20A1 and 20A2 of the half pieces 20A which abut or interact or are engaged with each other when the half pieces 20A are assembled. In the half piece 20A located on the right side with respect to the rear end surface of the connector housing 10 when viewed from behind, the engaging portions 26 are preferably arranged in a substantially rear end position of the upper contact edge and a substantially front end position of the lower contact edge, whereas the receiving portions 27 are preferably arranged in a substantially front end position of the upper contact edge and a substantially rear end position of the lower contact edge. In other words, the contact edge 20A1 has the engaging portion 26 near its front end and the receiving portion 27 near its rear end. Conversely, the contact edge 20A2 has the engaging portion near its rear end and the receiving portion near its front end. With this construction, a half piece 20A in a pair of identical half pieces may be rotated about the central axis such that the contact edge 20A1 of one half piece 20A will be opposed to the contact edge 20A2 of the other half piece 20A. In this orientation, the engaging portions 26 on either of the half pieces 20A will align with the receiving portions 27 on the opposed half piece 20A. Each receiving portion 27 projects from the outer surface of the half piece 20A, and is formed with a slanted surface 27A for allowing a smooth engagement of the receiving portion 27 with the engaging portion 26. Each engaging portion 26 projects sideways from the contact edge 20A1 and 20A2 along the outer surface of the half piece 20A, and an opening for engagement with the receiving portion 27 is formed in its projecting portion. The engaging portions 26 engage the corresponding receiving portions 27 while being located on the outer surface of the mating half pieces 20A in an assembled state, and are elastically deformable in a direction away from the outer surface of the mating half pieces 20A (in a direction to be disengaged from the receiving portions 27). An outer surface positioning portion 28 is formed between the engaging portion 26 and the receiving portion 27 on the second contact edge 20A2. This positioning portion 28 extends along the length of the contact edge and projects sideways from the second contact edge 20A2 along the outer surface of the half piece 20A. n inner surface positioning portion 29 projects substantially sideways from the second contact edge 20A2 at a position on the inner surface corresponding to the position of the receiving portion 27. These positioning portions 28, 29 hold the first contact edge 20A1 of the mating half piece 20A from opposite sides along inward and outward directions in the assembled state. It should be noted that the positioning portions 28, 29 are preferably not formed on the first contact edge 20A1. When the cover 20 is mounted on the connector housing 10, the pair of half pieces 20A are fitted to the rear end portion of the connector housing 10 sideways after being located in rotationally inverted positions about the central axis. During this operation, the mount portions 22 of a first half piece 20A initially are partly engaged with the mount grooves 11 of the connector housing 10, and the lock plates 24 and the lock grooves 25 of a second and substantially same, preferably identical half piece 20A are partly engaged with the grooves 31 and the projections 32 of the corrugated tube 30. The second half piece 20A is then fitted to the connector housing 10, and the first half piece 20A is fitted to the corrugated tube 30. Thus, the mount portions 22 of the first and second fitted half pieces 20A are engaged with the mount grooves 11 of the connector housing 10. Simultaneously, the lock plates 24 and the lock grooves 25 of the first and second half pieces 20A are engaged with the grooves 31 and the projections 32of the corrugated tube 30. This mating causes the engaging portions 26 and the opposed receiving portions 27 of both half pieces 20A to be engaged with each other. The first contact edges 20A1 of the mating half piece 20A are held between the outer and inner surface positioning portions 28 and 29 of the respective second edges 20A2. In this way, the half pieces 20A are assembled as the tubular cover 20, and this cover 20 is mounted on the rear end portion of the connector housing 10 at the same time the corrugated tube 30 is engaged with the cover 20. In the mounted state, a loose displacement of the cover 20 with respect to the connector housing 10 is restricted by the engagement of the mount portions 22 and the mount grooves 11, and the separation of the half pieces 20A along transverse direction and a displacement thereof along forward and backward directions are restricted by the engagement of the engaging portions 26 with the receiving portions 27. The displacement of the half pieces 20A along substantially vertical direction is restricted by the outer and inner surface positioning portions 28, 29 holding the first contact edges 20A1 therebetween. As described above, according to this embodiment, the cover 20 is formed by assembling a pair of half pieces 20A having the same configuration in rotationally inverted positions about an axis. Accordingly, when assembling the cover 20, it is not necessary to precisely select different types of parts to be assembled as in the case where a cover is comprised of two types of parts having different configurations. This leads to a better operability, reduced production costs, and easy storage and handling. Further, according to this embodiment, since the engaging portions 26 and the receiving portions 27 for holding the half pieces 20A assembled are formed in the half pieces 20A themselves, the cover 20 can be held assembled without using a part separate from the half pieces 20A. When the cover 20 is disassembled and/or detached, the engaging portions 26 exposed on the outer surface of the half pieces 20A can be easily disengaged from the receiving portions 27 only by being elastically deformed outwardly. In this respect as well, this embodiment has a good operability. A second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 and differs from the first embodiment in the construction of the cover. Since the basic constructions of the connector housing and of the corrugated tube except their dimensions and configurations are similar or same to those of the first embodiment, the constructions thereof are neither illustrated nor described here. A cover 40 according to the second embodiment is comprised of a pair of half pieces 40A which could be obtained by dividing a preferably rectangular tube into halves as described with respect to the first embodiment. The pair of half pieces 40A preferably have the same configuration and are assembled in rotationally inverted positions about an axis. In the inner surface of a front end portion of each half piece 40A are formed mount portions 42 which are engageable with mount grooves of a connector housing (not shown). In the rear end surface of each half piece 40A is formed a substantially semicylindrical insertion portion 43 used for the insertion of wires (not shown). First and second contact edges 40A1 and 40A2 are defined on the half pieces 40A and come into contact with each other when the half pieces 40A are assembled. Engaging portions 46 and receiving portions 47 are formed on the contact edges 40A1 and 40A2. Since the configuration and arrangement of the engaging portions 46 and the receiving portions 47 are similar to their counterparts of the first embodiment, no description is given thereon. In the half piece 40A located on the right side with respect to the rear end surface of the connector housing when viewed from behind or from the wire side (state as shown in FIG. 6), an outer surface positioning portion 48 is formed between the engaging portion 46 and the receiving portion 47 on the second contact edge 40A2. This positioning portion 48 substantially extends along the length of the second contact edge 40A2 and projects substantially sideways from the contact edge along the outer surface of the half piece 40A. On the second contact edge 40A2 where the outer surface positioning portion 48 is formed, there also is formed an inner surface positioning portion 49 which extends substantially over the entire length of the outer surface positioning portion 48. Specifically, the positioning portion 49 extends along substantially forward and substantially backward directions along the second contact edge 40A2 and projects substantially sideways along the inner surface of the half piece 40A. These positioning portions 48, 49 hold the upper contact edge of the mating half piece 40A from opposite sides in inward and outward directions in the assembled state. Since the long outer and inner surface positioning portions 48, 49 extend along forward and backward directions in the second embodiment, a parallel displacement of the half pieces 40A along vertical direction along the contact surfaces as well as a rotational displacement thereof along the contact surfaces can be securely restricted. The present invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the invention is also applicable to a connector provided with no corrugated tube. Although the receiving portions and the engaging portions are engageable projections and holes in the foregoing embodiments, according to the invention, the receiving portions may be recesses or holes formed in the outer surface of the half pieces and the engaging portions may be fitted in these recesses or holes. Although the engaging portions and the receiving portions are formed on the outer surfaces of the half pieces in the foregoing embodiments, they may be formed on the inner surfaces of the half pieces or the contact surfaces of the contact edges thereof, so that the engaged portions of the engaging portions and the receiving portions are not exposed to the outside of the cover in the assembled state. Although the positioning portions project from the contact edge along the outer and inner surfaces thereof in the foregoing embodiments, a projection and a recess which are engageable with each other may be formed in the contact surfaces of both half pieces as positioning portions according to the invention. The corrugated or projection tube 30 may be used for preventing (or protecting from) excessive bending or damage of the wires W at the opening 23, and may be formed with circumferentially spaced openings (not shown) allowing for its radial bending (outside of the cover 20; 40). The protection tube 30 may be arranged on only a portion of the wires W and not only over their substantially entire length outside the connector 10 and the cover 20; 40. These and other variations of the subject connector are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 ... Connector Housing 20 ... Cover 20A ... Half Piece 26 ... Engaging Portion 27 ... Receiving Portion 28 ... Outer Surface Positioning Portion 29 ... Inner Surface Positioning Portion 40 ... Cover 40A ... Half Piece 46 ... Engaging Portion 47 ... Receiving Portion 48 ... Outer Surface Positioning Portion 49 ... Inner Surface Positioning Portion

Claims: A connector, comprising: a connector housing (10) through an end surface of which wires come out, and a cover assembly (20, 40) for mounting to said connector housing (10) and for protecting the wires extending from the connector housing (10), said cover assembly (20, 40) being substantially tubular and comprising a pair of identical half pieces (20A, 40A) engaged with one another, each said half piece (20A, 40A) being semi-tubular and having an inner surface, an outer surface and first and second longitudinal contact edges (20A1, 20A2, 40A1, 40A2), the first contact edge (20A1, 40A1) of each said half piece (20A, 40A) engaging the second contact edge (20A2, 40A2) of the other of said half pieces (20A, 40A) in said pair, at least the second contact edge (20A2, 40A2) of each said half piece (20A, 40A) having positioning means for ensuring a predetermined positioning of the edges (20A1, 20A2, 40A1, 40A2) of the respective half pieces (20A, 40A) in the pair of said half pieces (20A, 40A), wherein each said edge (20A1, 20A2, 40A1, 40A2) further has at least one edge engagement means (26, 46) for engagement with one of said edge engagement means (27, 47) on the other of said half pieces (20A, 40A) in said pair of said half pieces, characterized in that the positioning means comprises an inner positioning wall (29, 49) extending from portions of said inner surface of each said half piece (20A, 40A) adjacent said second contact edge (20A2, 40A2), said inner positioning wall (29, 49) is disposed in engagement with the inner surface on the other of said half pieces (20A, 40A) adjacent the first contact edge (20A1, 40A1) thereof, and positioning means further comprises an outer positioning wall (28, 48) extending continuously from the outer surface of each said half piece (20A, 40A) adjacent the second contact edge (20A2, 40A2) thereof, said outer positioning wall (28, 48) being configured to lie in supporting engagement with the outer surface of the other of said half pieces (20A, 40A) adjacent the first contact edge (20A1, 40A1) thereof. A connector according to claim 1, of which wires come out, wherein the cover (20;40) half pieces (20A, 40A) have the substantially same configuration in rotationally inverted positions about an axis. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion (27; 47) is formed on the outer surface of the half piece (20A; 40A) and the engaging portion (26; 46) is so formed on the outer surface of the mating half piece (20A; 40A) as to be elastically deformable in such a direction that it is disengaged from the receiving portion (27; 47). A connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least two engaging portions (26; 46) and at least two mating receiving portions (27; 47) are formed on the half pieces (20A, 40A) such that when the two half pieces (20A; 40A) are connected to each other, one engaging portion (26; 46) on one half piece (20A; 40A) is arranged in a direction substantially opposed to a direction of an adjacent engaging portion (26; 46) on the other half piece (20A.; 40A). A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least two positioning portions (28, 29; 48, 49) are provided at positions substantially spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, wherein the one positioning portion (28; 48) is preferably provided on the outer side of the half pieces (20A; 40A) and the other positioning portion (29; 49) is preferably provided on the inner side of the half pieces (20A; 40A). A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular cover (20; 40) is to be mounted on the rear end portion of the connector housing (10) in such a manner as to substantially surround the wires. A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (20; 40) comprises connector housing engaging means (22; 42) for the engagement with cover engaging means (11) of the connector housing (10) for mounting the cover (20; 40) to the connector housing (10). A connector according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (20; 40) comprises tube engaging means (24; 25) for the engagement with cover engaging means (31; 32) of a protection tube (30) for the wires. A connector according to claim 8, wherein the cover (20; 40) comprises an opening (23; 43) for the insertion of the protection tube (30) into the cover (20; 40).

Inventors: TABATA MASAAKI, TSUJI TAKESHI, TABATA, MASAAKI, TSUJI, TAKESHI
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R24