Abstract:
A mounted structure of an on-connector cover includes: a connector from which an electric wire is drawn out at a rear end of the connector; and an on-connector cover covering a rear portion of the connector. In the structure, cover-guiding wall portions are formed on each of both side walls of the connector; guiding groove portions into which the cover-guiding wall portions are respectively inserted are formed in each of both side walls of the on-connector cover; and the on-connector cover covers at least three side surfaces of a rear portion of the connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mounted structure of an on-connector cover that is mounted on a connector for connecting both of distributed wires to each other. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As a conventional on-connector cover there is known a technique that is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-83641. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector  1  and an on-connector cover  2 . 
     First, an explanation will be given of the construction of the connector  1  prior to the explanation of the construction of the on-connector cover  2 . In the connector  1 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, a plate-like portion  3  is extended from an edge portion constituting one side of one end surface of a rectangular-parallelopiped-like connector main body  1 A. The connector main body  1 A has formed therein a plurality of terminal insertion holes  4 , within each of that there is disposed a terminal metal fitting  5  having an electric wire W connected thereto. On both side surfaces on a said one end surface side of the connector main body  1 A there are projectingly provided engaging/retaining pawls  6  so that these pawls  6  may be directed sideward. It is to be noted that the terminal metal fitting  5  is located within an opening (not illustrated) formed in the other end surface of the connector main body  1 A. It is thereby arranged that this terminal metal fitting  5  be electrically connected to another connector (not illustrated) side to be connected to the connector  1 . 
     Next, the construction of the on-connector  2  will be explained. The on-connector cover is generally constructed of a large-width groove portion  7 , a small-width groove portion  8  that is projectingly formed on one end of the large-width groove portion  7 , and engaging/retaining leg portions  9  extended from both sides of the other end of the large-width groove portion  7 . In this on-connector cover  2 , in a state of its being mounted on the connector  1 , the following arrangement is made. Namely, a plurality of the electric wires W connected to the terminal metal fittings  5  accommodated within the connector  1  are received within the grooves of the large-width groove portion  7  and the small-width groove portion  8  (in FIG. 1 located on a lower-surface side of the on-connector cover  2 ). Also, in the on-connector cover  2 , by the engaging/retaining leg portions  9  being engaged with and retained by the engaging/retaining pawls  6  formed on both sides of the connector  1 , a mounted state of the cover  2  is maintained. 
     However, in the above-described conventional techniques, the cover  2  is certainly retained by the connector  1  through the engagement of the engaging/retaining leg portions  9  of the on-connector cover  2  with the engaging/retaining pawls  6  formed on both sides of the connector  1 . But the lower portion of the on-connector cover  2  is not retained by the connector  1  side. Therefore, the on-connector cover  2  is likely to totter about the portion of engagement/retention between the engaging/retaining leg portion  9  and the engaging/retaining pawl  6  as a fulcrum. Therefore, the on-connector cover had the problem that its retention strength was low. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mounted structure of an on-connector cover where the above problem to be solved by the resides in what means should be taken in order to obtain a mounted structure of an on-connector cover that is not only suitable for the mounting onto a small-sized connector but, when having been mounted, is also retained with a high strength. 
     A first aspect of the present invention provides a mounted structure of an on-connector cover comprising: a connector from which an electric wire is drawn out at a rear end of the connector; and an on-connector cover covering a rear portion of the connector, wherein cover-guiding wall portions are formed on each of both side walls of the connector; guiding groove portions into which the cover-guiding wall portions are respectively inserted are formed in each of both side walls of the on-connector cover; and the on-connector cover covers at least three side surfaces of a rear portion of the connector. 
     Accordingly, in the first aspect of the present invention, because the on-connector cover is fitted onto the connector in such a way as to cover at least three side surfaces of the rear portion of the connector, the force of retaining the on-connector cover by the connector can be made large against the load vertically applied from below to above or horizontally from left or right. Also, according to the first aspect, it is constructed that the guiding groove portions formed in the inner surfaces of both side walls of the on-connector cover be engaged with the protruding portions formed on both side walls of the connector. Therefore, the mounted structure of the first aspect has durability even against the load that presses the on-connector cover from below to above. For this reason, the on-connector cover becomes unlikely to be disengaged against the load applied horizontally as well as vertically. Accordingly, the mounting of the cover can be performed with a high rigidity. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides a mounted structure of an on-connector cover in that, in the mounted structure of an on-connector cover of the first aspect, the cover-guiding wall portions are formed two or more in number on each side wall of the connector so as to become parallel with each other, and in each of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the on-connector cover, the guiding groove portions that are the same in number as the cover-guiding wall portions are formed in correspondence with the cover-guiding wall portions. 
     According to the second aspect, a plurality of the cover-guiding wall portions are formed on the side wall of the connector. Therefore, by engaging these cover-guiding wall portions with the guiding groove portions, it is possible to suppress vertical totter of the on-connector cover and thereby to improve the cover-retaining force. 
     A third aspect of the present invention provides a mounted structure of an on-connector cover in that, in the mounted structure of an on-connector cover of the second aspect, locating wall portions which vertically extend are formed on forward end portions of the cover-guiding wall portions of the connector; and the on-connector cover is formed with a protruding portion which is inserted into between the locating wall portions in a state of this cover having the connector fitted thereto. 
     Accordingly, by the protruding portion of the on-connector cover being inserted in between the locating wall portions of the connector side, it is possible to further increase the area at and by which the connector side and the on-connector cover side are engaged with each other. Accordingly, the load applied to the on-connector cover can be dispersed into the area of engagement. And therefore it is possible to prevent the shear stress from being concentrated on a particular portion. Accordingly, the mounted structure of an on-connector cover is obtained with a high durability. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a mounted structure of an on-connector cover in that, in the mounted structure of an on-connector cover of the first to third aspect, a hood portion extending downwardly is formed on a rear portion of the on-connector cover; and the cover-guiding wall portions and the guiding groove portions are formed at least with respect to lower portions on each side of the connector and on-connector cover. 
     In the mounted structure of an on-connector cover according to the fourth aspect, by forming the downwardly extending hood portion at the lower portion of the rear end of the on-connector cover, the efficiency of bundling the distributed wires is enhanced. Also, even when having provided the hood portion, since the portions at which the connector side and the on-connector cover side are engaged with each other are situated on the lower portions on each side wall thereof near the hood portion, the following advantage exists. Namely, even when a load pressing the hood portion in a rearward, oblique upward direction is generated, the distance from the load applied position to the fulcrum is short. For this reason, the length of the arm corresponding to the moment of the stress is short and this decreases the load-multiplying action. And from this, there is obtained the effect of suppressing the occurrence of partial damages. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional on-connector cover; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an improved mounted structure of an on-connector cover; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a method of mounting the on-connector cover illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a connector on which the on-connector cover illustrated in FIG. 3 is mounted; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of a mounted structure of an on-connector cover according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a cover-mounted state according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a cover-mounted state according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an on-connector cover according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX—IX of FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line X—X of FIG. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     There will be detailed below the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like members are designated by like reference characters. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 to  4 , a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a state where an on-connector cover  12  is assembled to a connector  11 . FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a method of assembling. And FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the connector  11 . 
     The construction of this on-connector cover  12  will hereafter be explained along with the construction of the connector  11 . The connector  11  is substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped, within that a plurality of terminal insertion through-holes (not illustrated) are formed along the leftward/rightward direction of FIG.  2 . In these terminal insertion through-holes, there are inserted and disposed terminal metal fittings not illustrated, respectively. Also, it is arranged that electric wires similarly not illustrated be connected to their corresponding terminal metal fittings. In an upper surface of the connector  11 , as illustrated in FIG. 4, there are formed insertion hole opening portions  13 A of engaging/retaining insertion holes  13  that have been formed in the vertical direction. The on-connector cover  12  is mounted on the connector  11  in such a way as to cover a rear portion of the upper surface, and a rear side, of this connector  11 . And in the underside of the on-connector cover  12  there are projectingly provided a plurality of engaging/retaining pieces  14  so that these pieces may be directed downward. In this construction, the on-connector  12  has its engaging/retaining pieces  14  inserted into the engaging/retaining insertion holes  13  of the connector  11 . And, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by forward ends  14 A of the engaging/retaining pieces  14  being engaged with and retained by the connector  11  side, the cover  12  is retained by the connector  11 . 
     In the above-described techniques, although the engaging/retaining pieces  14  of the on-connector cover  12  are relatively deeply inserted into their corresponding engaging/retaining insertion holes  13  of the connector  11 , the portion of the cover  12  that covers a rear end portion of the connector  11  is not retained by the connector  11  side. For this reason, the length of the arm corresponding to the stress moment of the on-connector cover  12  covers the length of an arrow (a) in FIG.  2 . As a result, the latter conventional technique has the point of problem that the retention strength of the on-connector cover  12  is low none the less. Namely, because the stress is concentrated on a base portion of the engaging/retaining piece  14 , there was the problem that cracks were likely to occur in the base portion of the engaging/retaining piece  14 . 
     Further, in this mounted structure, in order to increase the mechanical strength of the engaging/retaining piece  14 , there is the need to equip the on-connector cover  12  with a plurality of the engaging/retaining pieces  14 . And in correspondence with this there is also the need to form a plurality of the engaging/retaining piece insertion holes  13  on the connector  11  side. Therefore, in a case where the connector has a small size of connector housing, there is the point of problem that the above-described mounted structure is not suitable. 
     In this connection, the inventors have improved another mounted structure of an on-connector cover as another embodiment which will be described hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 5 to  10 . 
     Before explaining the construction of an on-connector cover  20  of a second embodiment, the construction of a connector  30  will be explained. In the connector  30 , on each of both side surfaces of a rear portion of a connector main body  31  shaped substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped there are formed a pair of upper/lower protrusion portions  32  and  33 . These protrusion portions  32  and  33  respectively have cover-guiding wall portions  32 A and  33 A parallel with each other and locating wall portions  32 B and  33 B extended from forward end portions of the cover-guiding wall portions  32 A and  33 A in such a way as to approach each other and situated opposing each other with a prescribe distance existing in between. It is to be noted that, within the connector main body  31 , as illustrated in FIG. 7, there are formed a plurality of terminal accommodation spaces.  34 . And it is arranged that within this terminal accommodation space  34  there be accommodated from a rear end surface side a corresponding terminal metal fitting that an electric wire not illustrated is connected to. 
     The on-connector cover  20  has on a frontward portion thereof a fitting portion  21 , the configuration of that is shaped like a horizontally thrown U in section, and that is superposed on an upper surface and left and right side surfaces of the rear portion of the connector  30  in such a way as to cover these surfaces. The on-connector cover  20  has on a rear portion thereof a hood portion  22  that downwardly vertically extends. In inner surfaces of both side walls of the fitting portion  21  there are parallel-formed guiding groove portions  23  and  24  corresponding to the cover-guiding wall portions  32 A and  33 A formed on each of the both side surfaces of the connector main body  31 . Also, between these guiding groove portions  23  and  24  in the frontward ends on both side walls of the fitting portion  21  there are formed protruding portions  25  that forwardly protrude and have a prescribed width dimension. Each of these protruding portions  25  has its dimension so set as to be closely inserted into the space between the locating wall portions  32 B and  33 B situated in opposition that are formed on both side surfaces of the connector main body  31 . FIG. 6 illustrates a state where the on-connector cover  20  has been mounted on the connector  30  and the protruding portions  25  have been thereby inserted in between the locating wall portions  32 B and  33 B. 
     Also, in the interior of the on-connector cover  20 , there are formed a plurality of ribs  26  along the back-and-forth direction of the on-connector cover  20  as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, thereby increasing the rigidity of the on-connector cover  20 . It is to be noted that FIG. 9 illustrates a section taken along a line IX—IX of FIG. 8 while FIG. 10 illustrates a section taken along a line X—X of FIG.  8 . Further, on the frontward end surface of the on-connector cover  20  there are projectingly provided a plurality of engaging protruding pieces  27  in such a way as for them to be directed frontward. Also, in an upper portion of the frontward end of the on-connector cover  20  there are formed engaging groove portions  28  that are engaged with the connector  30  side. 
     The constructions of the connector  30  and the on-connector cover  20  have been explained as above. Next, a method of mounting the on-connector cover  20  onto the connector  30  will be explained with the use of FIG.  5 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, the method is first to cause the frontward end surface of the on-connector cover  20  to oppose the rearward end surface of the connector  30 . The method is then to insert the engaging protruding pieces  27  of the on-connector cover  20  into insertion openings not illustrated on the connector  30  side. Subsequently, the method is to cause the on-connector cover  20  to come nearer to the connector  30 , thereby bringing the guiding groove portions  23  and  24  of the on-connector cover  20  side into alignment with the locating wall portions  32 B and  33 B of the connector  30  side. The method is further to force the on-connector cover  20  into the connector  30  side so as for the locating wall portions  32 B and  32 B to be relatively inserted into the guiding groove portions  23  and  24 . The method is thereby to insert the protruding portions  25  of the on-connector cover  20  into between the  32 A and the  32 B. And the method is then to insert engaging protrusions not illustrated formed on the connector  30  side into engaging groove portions  28  formed in an upper portion of the frontward end of the on-connector cover  20 . By doing so, it is possible to mount the on-connector cover  20  to the connector  30 . 
     Next, the function of the on-connector cover  20  of this embodiment will be explained. Suppose now that the on-connector cover  20  is in a state of its having been mounted on the connector  30 . When in this state a load acting in a direction indicated by an arrow x in FIG. 6 has been applied, the distance indicated by an arrow b in the same figure substantially corresponds to the length of the arm that represents the moment of the stress. Namely, the portion at which the cover-guiding wall portion  33 A is engaged with the guiding groove portion  24  serves as a fulcrum that supports the load. Assuming that the hood  12 A of the convention improved on-connector cover  12  illustrated in FIG. 2 be substantially the same in length as the hood portion  22  of the on-connector cover  20  of this embodiment, the following is seen from this. Namely, in this embodiment, the length of the arm of the stress moment is shorter and therefore the load multiplying effect is small. And accordingly the mounted structure of an on-connector cover  20  is unlikely to be impaired due to the load applied thereto. Also, in the fitting portion  21  of this embodiment, construction is made such that the guiding groove portions  23  and  24  and the protruding portions  25  are engaged with the locating wall portions  32 B and  32 B and the locating wall portions  32 B and  32 B of the connector  30  side. Therefore, when the load acting in the x-indicated direction of FIG. 6 has been applied, the strength with which the on-connector cover  20  is retained by the connector  30  is large and so the on-connector cover  20  remains unlikely to be disengaged. Also, because the area of engagement between the connector  30  side and the on-connector cover  20  side is large, this embodiment has the function of mitigating the load applied to each portion of engagement. Further, because it is possible to design the configuration of the on-connector cover  20  by utilizing the configuration of the connector  30 , it is possible to apply the structure of the on-connector  20  of this embodiment even to a small-sized connector  30 . Therefore, it is possible to obtain a stable force of retaining even regarding the small-sized connector  30 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been explained as above, the invention is not limited thereto and permits various changes in design to be made which are incidental to the subject matter of Its construction. For instance, although in the above-described embodiment there has been provided on the on-connector cover  20  the hood portion  22  that extends downwardly at the rear portion thereof, the direction in that the hood portion  22  extends is not limited thereto. Also, a construction having no hood portion  22  may be also adopted. Also, although in the above-described embodiment there have been provided the engaging protruding pieces  27  forwardly protruding from the on-connector cover  20 , such protruding pieces may be omitted as the occasion demands correspondingly to the corresponding connector. Further, although in the above-described embodiment construction has been made such that the two guiding groove portions  23  and  24  are formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the on-connector cover  20 , a construction having a single piece of groove portion may be also adopted. It is to be noted that as the connector that the on-connector cover is mounted on there are applied various kinds of connectors in addition to a male connector, a female connector, etc. 
     The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P11-155374 (filed Jun. 2, 1999) are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments descried above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.