Patent Publication Number: US-10320114-B2

Title: Waterproof connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a waterproof connector. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-131484 discloses a connector in which a waterproof plug having a ventilation film is inserted into a cavity of a housing in an airtight manner. This connector can alleviate a pressure difference by causing air to flow through the ventilation film while keeping the inside of the housing airtight when the pressure difference is generated between the inside and outside of the housing. 
     The cavity accommodating the ventilation film originally is a space into which a terminal fitting is inserted. Thus, the number of poles is sacrificed by providing the ventilation film in the connector. Thought has been given to a structure for mounting a ventilation film in an accommodation recess formed in a wire draw-out surface of a housing that is covered by a wire cover. However, the wire cover has wire pull-out openings to accommodate wires drawn out from the wire draw-out surface to the outside of the wire cover. Thus, water penetrating through the wire pull-out openings may be pooled in the accommodation recess, and a ventilation function of the ventilation film may be lost. 
     The invention was completed based on the above situation and arranges a ventilation film on a wire draw-out surface without impairing a ventilation function of the ventilation film. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a waterproof connector with a housing formed with a terminal accommodation chamber inside. The housing has an outer surface that includes a wire draw-out surface. A terminal fitting is connected to an end part of a wire and is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber with the wire drawn to outside of the housing from the wire draw-out surface. An accommodation recess is formed in the wire draw-out surface and is configured to accommodate a ventilation film. A wire cover configured to cover the wire draw-out surface and the accommodation recess. A wire bending space is formed inside the wire cover and is configured to bend the wire drawn out from the wire draw-out surface. A partitioning portion formed in the wire cover and is configured to partition between the accommodation recess and the wire bending space by being brought into contact with the wire draw-out surface to cover an opening of the accommodation recess. A drainage portion is formed in a contact area between the wire draw-out surface and the partitioning portion and has a convexo-concave or stepped cross-sectional shape. 
     Water may penetrate into the wire bending space from outside the wire cover and may adhere to the outer surface of the accommodation recess or the partitioning portion. That water may penetrate into the accommodation recess. However, the drainage portion is formed in the contact area between the wire draw-out surface and the partitioning portion and has a convexo-concave or stepped cross-sectional shape. Thus, the water in the wire bending space cannot penetrate into the accommodation recess, and the ventilation film can be arranged on the wire draw-out surface without impairing a ventilation function of the ventilation film. 
     The opening of the accommodation recess may face up, and a drainage path may be formed in the housing to open in a lower surface of the accommodation recess. According to this configuration, any water that penetrates into the accommodation recess is discharged to the outside of the housing through the drainage path. Thus, there is no possibility that water is pooled in the accommodation recess. 
     A blocking portion may be formed at an intermediate position of a drainage route in the drainage path and may form the drainage path into a bent route. According to this configuration, the bent part blocks any water that penetrates into the drainage path from a downstream end of the drainage path and moves toward the accommodation recess. Thus, there is no possibility that the water reaches the accommodation recess. 
     A one-piece rubber plug may be mounted in the housing with the wire passed therethrough in an airtight manner. A peripheral wall may be formed in the housing and may be configured to surround the one-piece rubber plug in an airtight manner. A tubular ventilation portion may penetrate through the one-piece rubber plug and may be configured to accommodate the ventilation film. The accommodation recess may be formed from an inner side to an outer side of the peripheral wall, and an upstream end of the drainage path may be open in an area of the accommodation recess outside the peripheral wall. According to this configuration, the shape of the tubular ventilation portion and that of the drainage path can be simplified. 
     A restricting portion may be formed in the wire cover and may be configured to restrict a displacement of the ventilation film in a direction separating from the accommodation recess. According to this configuration, the separation of the ventilation film from the accommodation recess can be prevented even if the accommodation recess is not formed with a resiliently deformable locking means. Thus, the shape of the accommodation recess can be simplified. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a wire cover and wires removed from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wire cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lever, sliders and a ventilation member. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the ventilation member mounted in a housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view showing the ventilation member mounted in the housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view showing the ventilation member mounted in the housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the ventilation member removed from  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the connector. 
         FIG. 10  is a section along A-A of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a section along B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the wire cover. 
         FIG. 15  is a section along C-C of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a section along D-D of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing a state where a wire cover and wires are removed in a connector of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view showing a ventilation member mounted in a housing. 
         FIG. 19  is a right side view showing the ventilation member is mounted in the housing. 
         FIG. 20  is a front view showing the ventilation member mounted in the housing. 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view showing the ventilation member removed from  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the wire cover. 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view of the connector. 
         FIG. 24  is a section along E-E of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 25  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a section along F-F of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 27  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 16 . Note that, in the following description, a right side in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and a left side in  FIGS. 5, 6, 8 to 11, 14 and 15  are defined as a front concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4, 6, 7, 10 to 13, 15 and 16  are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. A lower side in  FIGS. 5 and 8  is defined as a left side and left and right sides shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction. 
     A waterproof connector  1  of the first embodiment includes a housing  10 , female terminal fittings  14 , a one-piece rubber plug  19 , a seal ring  21 , two sliders  42 , a lever  46 , a wire cover  50  and a ventilation member  62 . With the housing  10  connected to a mating housing, a sealing space (not shown) isolated from the outside of the waterproof connector  1  in an airtight manner is configured in a clearance between the housing  10  and the mating housing (not shown) and is disposed inside the housing  10  by the seal ring  21  and the one-piece rubber plug  19 . 
     &lt;Housing  10 &gt; 
     The housing  10  includes an inner housing  11  made of synthetic resin and an outer housing  12  made of synthetic resin and assembled with the inner housing  11  from above. Terminal accommodation chambers  13  (see  FIG. 10 ) are formed inside the inner housing  11 , and a terminal fitting  14  connected to a wire  15  is inserted into each terminal accommodation chamber  13  from above (from a back surface side of the housing  10 ). 
     A peripheral wall  16  in the form of a rectangular tube extends up along the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of an upper end part of the inner housing  11 . A space enclosed by the peripheral wall  16  serves as a rubber plug accommodation space  17  open to the upper ends of all the terminal accommodation chambers  13 . The inner housing  11  is formed with a ventilation space  18  (see  FIG. 12 ) allowing the rubber plug accommodation space  17  to communicate with the sealing space in the inner housing  11 . 
     &lt;One-Piece Rubber Plug  19 &gt; 
     The one-piece rubber plug  19  is fit in the rubber plug accommodation space  17 . The outer periphery of the one-piece rubber plug  19  is held in close contact with the inner periphery of the rubber plug accommodation space  17  in an airtight manner. The one-piece rubber plug  19  is formed with vertically penetrating sealing holes  20  (see  FIG. 10 ) individually corresponding to the respective terminal accommodation chambers  13 . Each sealing hole  20  defines a passage route when the terminal fitting  14  is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber  13 . The wire  15  is passed through each sealing hole  20  in an airtight manner. 
     &lt;Seal Ring  21 &gt; 
     The seal ring  21  for sealing a clearance between the outer periphery of the inner housing  11  and the inner periphery of a receptacle (not shown) of the mating housing in an airtight manner is mounted on the outer periphery of the inner housing  11 . The seal ring  21  is mounted from below the inner housing  11  (a front surface side of the housing  10 ) and held mounted by a front member (see  FIG. 12 ) attached to a lower end part of the inner housing  11 . 
     &lt;Outer Housing  12 &gt; 
     The outer housing  12  is assembled with the inner housing  11  from above (back side). As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the outer housing  12  includes a back wall  23  and a tubular fitting  24 . The back wall  23  covers an opening in the upper surface of the rubber plug accommodation space  17  and is held in contact with the upper surface (back surface) of the one-piece rubber plug  19 . As shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 and 8 , the back wall  23  is formed with vertical penetrating insertion holes  25  individually corresponding to the terminal accommodation chambers  13  and the sealing holes  20 . Each insertion hole  25  serves as the passage route when the terminal fitting  14  is inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber  13 . The wire  15  fixed to the terminal fitting  14  is inserted into each insertion hole  25 . The upper surface of the back wall  23  (housing  10 ) serves as a wire draw-out surface  26  from which wires  15  are drawn out upward. 
     The tubular fitting  24  extends down from the outer peripheral edge of the back wall  23  and surrounds the outer periphery of the inner housing  11  (peripheral wall  16 ) over the entire periphery. A space between the outer periphery of the inner housing  11  and the inner periphery of the tubular fitting  24  serves as a connection space  35  for accommodating the receptacle. With the mating housing and the housing  10  connected, the receptacle surrounds the inner housing  11  and the tubular fitting  24  surrounds the receptacle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , left and right side walls  27  constituting the tubular fitting  24  are formed with left and right guide recesses  28  open in the inner surfaces of the side walls  27  and extending in the front-rear direction. Supporting plates  29  project down from the back wall  23  and long in the front-rear direction are formed on upper ends of both left and right guide recesses  28 . Sliding pins  30  project toward the guide recesses  28  from the left and right supporting plates  29  while being spaced in the front-rear direction. 
     &lt;Accommodation Recess  31 &gt; 
     The outer housing  12  is formed with an accommodation recess  31  for accommodating the ventilation member  62  to be described later. The accommodation recess  31  is formed by recessing a right-front end part of the upper surface (outer surface) of the back wall  23 . In a plan view, the accommodation recess  31  is formed from the inside (rubber plug accommodation space  17 ) to the outside of the peripheral wall  16 . Specifically, a front end part of the accommodation recess  31  is disposed outside the rubber plug accommodation space  17  (before the front end of the peripheral wall  16 ) and a rear end part of the accommodation recess  31  is disposed inside the rubber plug accommodation space  17 . 
     Further, a right end part of the accommodation recess  31  is disposed outside the rubber plug accommodation space  17  (to the right of the right end of the peripheral wall  16 ) and a left end part of the accommodation recess  31  is disposed inside the rubber plug accommodation space  17 . The upper surface of the accommodation recess  31  is entirely open in the wire draw-out surface  26 . A communication hole  32  is formed in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  31  and communicates with the rubber plug accommodation space  17 . 
     &lt;Drainage Passages  33 &gt; 
     Drainage holes  34  (see  FIGS. 8 and 13 ) are formed in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  31  and communicate with the upper ends of the guide recesses  28 . The drainage holes  34  are disposed at positions near the supporting plates  29  in the lateral direction. The drainage holes  34 , clearances between the inner surfaces of the guide recesses  28  and the sliders  42  and the connection space  35  between the tubular fitting  24  and the outer periphery of the inner housing  11  constitute drainage paths  33 . The drainage paths  33  function as drainage routes for discharging water or liquid to the outside of the housing  10  when the water or liquid penetrates into the accommodation recesses  31 . 
     A blocking portion  36  (see  FIG. 13 ) is formed at an intermediate position of the drainage path  33 . The blocking portion  36  laterally projects from a surface of the supporting plate  29  facing the rubber plug accommodation space  17 . The upper surface of the blocking portion  36  is facing an opening in the lower end of the drainage hole  34  while being spaced therefrom. The projecting end surface of the blocking portion  36  slides in contact with the inner surface of the slider  42  or faces the inner surface of the slider  42  with a tiny clearance defined therebetween. An area of the drainage path  33  where the blocking portion  36  is formed serves as a route bent along both upper and lower surfaces and the projecting end surface of the blocking portion  36 . 
     &lt;Drainage Means of Wire Draw-Out Surface  26 &gt; 
     The wire draw-out surface  26  is formed with a drainage means surrounding the accommodation recess  31  substantially over the entire periphery in a plan view. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the drainage means is composed of a front edge drainage portion  37  (drainage portion as claimed), a right edge drainage portion  38  (drainage portion as claimed), a rear edge drainage portion  39  (drainage portion as claimed) and an arcuate edge drainage portion  40  (drainage portion as claimed). 
     The front edge drainage portion  37  projects in a stepped manner from the wire draw-out surface  26  along the front edge of the accommodation recess  31 . A planar shape of the front edge drainage portion  37  has a bent part and extends in the lateral direction as a whole. The front surface (outer surface) of the front edge drainage portion  37  obliquely stands up in a stepped manner from the wire draw-out surface  26 . The right edge drainage portion  38  projects in a stepped manner from the wire draw-out surface  26  along the right edge of the accommodation recess  31 . The right surface (outer surface) of the right edge drainage portion  38  extends straight rearward from the right end of the front surface of the front edge drainage portion  37  and obliquely stands up in a stepped manner from the wire draw-out surface  26 . 
     The rear edge drainage portion  39  projects in a stepped manner from the wire draw-out surface  26  from the rear end of the upper surface of the right edge drainage portion  38 . The front surface of the rear edge drainage portion  39  extends leftward a short distance from the rear end of the right edge drainage portion  38  in a plan view and obliquely stands up in a stepped manner from the upper surface of the right edge drainage portion  38 . The arcuate drainage portion  40  is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a substantially quarter-circular rib  41  extending from a position near the left end of the rear edge drainage portion  39  to the left end of the front edge drainage portion  37  in a plan view. The arcuate drainage portion  40  is formed by recessing the inner peripheral surface of the substantially quarter-circular rib into a groove. 
     &lt;Sliders  42 &gt; 
     The pair of left and right sliders  42  are in the form of plates which are long and narrow in the front-rear direction and whose plate thickness directions are oriented in the lateral direction as shown in  FIG. 4 . The slider  42  is fit into the guide recess  28  with a sliding groove  43  formed in the inner surface of the slider  42  and extending in the front-rear direction fit to the sliding pins  30  of the inner housing  11 , and slidable in the front-rear direction. Three cam grooves  44  arranged side by side in the front-rear direction are formed in the inner surface of the slider  42 , and a driven hole  45  is formed in a rear end part of the outer side surface of the slider  42 . 
     &lt;Lever  46 &gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lever  46  is in the form of a substantially rectangular frame as a whole. A pair of left and right plate-like arm portions  47  constituting the lever  46  are formed with a pair of rotary shafts  48  and a pair of drive pins  49  projecting from rear end parts of the inner surfaces of the arm portions  47 . The lever  46  is so mounted on the outer housing  12  as to be rotatable between an initial position and a connection position by locking the rotary shafts  48  to bearing portions (not shown) of the outer housing  12 . 
     The drive pins  49  of the lever  46  are fit into the driven holes  45  of the sliders  42 . When the lever  46  is rotated from the initial position to the connection position, the sliders  42  slide from an initial position to a connection position by a boosting action due to the principle of leverage. When the sliders  42  slide from the initial position to the connection position with cam followers (not shown) of the mating housing fit in the cam grooves  44 , the housing  10  and the mating housing are connected by a boosting action by the cam grooves  44  and the cam followers. 
     &lt;Wire Cover  50 &gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wire cover  50  is for turning the plurality of wires  15  drawn out upward from the wire drawn-out surface  26  of the housing  10  (outer housing  12 ) rearwardly. The wire cover  50  is mounted by being slid from front with respect to the outer housing  12  and covers the entire area of the wire drawn-out surface  26 . 
     The wire cover  50  includes a front plate portion  51 , an upper plate portion  52  extending rearward from the upper end edge of the front plate portion  51  and a pair of left and right side plate portions  53  extending downward from both left and right side edges of the upper plate portion  52  and linked to both left and right side edges of the front plate portion  51 . An internal space of the wire cover  50  serves as a wire bending space  54  for turning the wires  15  drawn out upward from the wire drawn-out surface  26  rearwardly. The lower surface of the wire bending space  54  is facing the wire drawn-out surface  26  by being open in the lower surface of the wire cover  50 . Further, the rear surface of the wire bending space  54  is open as a wire draw-out opening  55  in the rear surface of the wire cover  50 . 
     &lt;Partitioning Portion  56 &gt; 
     The wire cover  50  is formed with a partitioning portion  56  linked to a lower end part of the inner surface of the front plate portion  51  and a lower end part of the inner surface of the right side plate portion  53 . With the wire cover  50  mounted on the housing  10 , the partitioning portion  56  is in contact with the wire drawn-out surface  26  to cover an opening of the accommodation recess  31  and the accommodation recess  31  is partitioned from the wire bending space  54  by this contact. Further, the lower surface of the partitioning portion  56  functions as a restricting portion  57  configured to be held in contact with or proximately face the upper surface of the ventilation member  62 . The partitioning portion  56  is disposed on a side opposite to the wire drawn-out opening  55  in the front-rear direction. 
     &lt;Drainage Means of Wire Cover  50 &gt; 
     The partitioning portion  56  is formed with a drainage means to be fit to the drainage means of the housing  10  (wire drawn-out surface  26 ) in a liquid-tight manner over the entire periphery thereof. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the drainage means of the partitioning portion  56  is composed of a front edge rib  58  (drainage portion as claimed), a right edge rib  59  (drainage portion as claimed), a rear edge step portion  60  (drainage portion as claimed) and an arcuate rib  61  (drainage portion as claimed). 
     A bottom surface shape of the front edge rib  58  has a bent part and extends in the lateral direction as a whole. The rear surface of the front edge rib  58  is fit to the front edge drainage portion  37  of the wire drawn-out surface  26  over the entire length thereof. The right edge rib  59  extends straight in the front-rear direction as a whole. A left side surface of the right edge rib  59  is fit to the right edge drainage portion  38  of the wire drawn-out surface  26  over the entire length thereof. The right edge drainage portion  38  and the right edge rib  59  are parallel to an assembling direction of the wire cover  50  with the housing  10 . 
     The rear surface of the rear edge step portion  60  extends leftward a short distance from the rear end of the right edge rib  59  in a bottom view. The rear surface of the rear edge step portion  60  is fit to the front surface of the rear edge drainage portion  39 . The arcuate rib  61  is formed from a position near the left end of the rear edge step portion  60  to the left end of the front edge rib  58  in a bottom view and projects from the outer peripheral surface of the partitioning portion  56 . The arcuate rib  61  is fit to the groove-like arcuate drainage portion  40  of the wire drawn-out surface  26 . 
     &lt;Ventilation Member  62 &gt; 
     The ventilation member  62  includes a disc-shaped ventilation film  63  and a holder  64  (see  FIG. 4 ) to be mounted into the housing  10  while holding the ventilation film  63 . The ventilation film  63  is made of a material which allows the passage of air, but does not allow the passage of liquid (moisture). A porous PTFE film is used as a specific example. 
     The holder  64  is made of synthetic resin and is a single component including an accommodating portion  65  (see  FIGS. 11 and 13 ) for accommodating the ventilation film  63  and a tubular ventilation portion  66  projecting downward from the accommodating portion  65 . The inside of the accommodating portion  65  communicates with the outside of the holder  64  via a vent  67  formed in the outer periphery of the accommodating portion  65 . The tubular ventilation portion  66  is in the form of a tube whose axis line is oriented in the vertical direction (direction substantially parallel to a film thickness direction of the ventilation film  63 ) and arranged at a position eccentric from a center of the accommodating portion  65  toward an outer peripheral side. The tubular ventilation portion  66  penetrates through the communication hole  32  and the one-piece rubber plug  19  to face the sealing space, thereby allowing communication between the sealing space and the inside of the accommodating portion  65 . 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of First Embodiment&gt; 
     The waterproof connector  1  of the first embodiment includes the housing  10 , the plurality of terminal fittings  14 , the ventilation film  63  and the wire cover  50 . The terminal accommodation chambers  13  are formed inside the housing  10 , and a part of the outer surface of the housing  10  serves as the wire drawn-out surface  26 . The terminal fittings  14  are connected to the end parts of the wires  15  and inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers  13  with the wires  15  drawn to the outside of the housing  10  (up) from the wire drawn-out surface  26 . 
     Further, the wire draw-out surface  26  is formed with the accommodation recess  31  for accommodating the ventilation film  63 , and the wire cover  50  is mounted on the housing  10  to cover the wire draw-out surface  26  and the accommodation recess  31 . The wire bending space  54  for bending the wires  15  drawn out from the wire draw-out surface  26  is formed inside the wire cover  50 . Likewise, the partitioning portion  56  is formed inside the wire cover  50  for partitioning between the accommodation recess  31  and the wire bending space  54  by coming into contact with the wire draw-out surface  26  to cover the opening of the accommodation recess  31 . 
     Since water may enter the inside (wire bending space  54 ) of the wire cover  50  through the wire draw-out opening  55 , the water having entered may be pooled in the accommodation recess  31  for the ventilation film  63  to impair a ventilation function by the ventilation film  63 . However, since the opening in the upper surface of the accommodation recess  31  is closed by the partitioning portion  56  and the accommodation recess  31  is partitioned from the wire bending space  54 , there is no possibility that water penetrates into the accommodation recess  31 . 
     Further, a clearance in a contact part between an opening edge part of the accommodation recess  31  in the wire draw-out surface  26  and the partitioning portion  56  may become a water penetration route. Specifically, if water having penetrated into the wire bending space  54  from the outside of the wire cover  50  adheres to the outer surface of the accommodation recess  31  or the partitioning portion  56 , that water may penetrate into the accommodation recess  31 . Accordingly, in a contact area between the wire draw-out surface  26  and the partitioning portion  56 , the drainage portions whose cross-sections have a labyrinth shape such as a convexo-concave shape or a stepped shape, i.e. a bent shape are provided. 
     Specific configurations of the drainage portions are as follows. The front edge drainage portion  37  of the wire draw-out surface  26  and the front edge rib  58  of the partitioning portion  56  come into contact in the front-rear direction, the right edge drainage portion  38  of the wire draw-out surface  26  and the right edge rib  59  of the partitioning portion  56  come into contact in the lateral direction, the rear edge drainage portion  39  of the wire draw-out surface  26  and the rear edge step portion  60  of the partitioning portion  56  come into contact in the front-rear direction and the arcuate drainage portion  40  of the wire draw-out surface  26  and the arcuate rib  61  of the partitioning portion  56  come into contact in the front-rear direction or lateral direction. 
     Since the drainage portions formed in the contact area between the accommodation recess  31  and the partitioning portion  56  and fit to each other have a convexo-concave or stepped cross-sectional shape, there is no possibility that water in the wire bending space  54  penetrates into the accommodation recess  31 . Thus, it is realized to arrange the ventilation film  63  on the wire draw-out surface  26  without impairing the ventilation function of the ventilation film  63 . 
     Further, since the opening of the accommodation recess  31  is facing upward, water may penetrate into the accommodation recess  31  due to dimensional tolerances of the wire draw-out surface  26  and the partitioning portion  56 . Accordingly, as a measure against that, the drainage paths  33  open in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  31  are formed in the housing  10 . By providing the drainage paths  33 , even if water penetrates into the accommodation recess  31 , the water having penetrated is discharged to the outside of the housing  10  through the drainage paths  33 . Therefore, there is no possibility that water is pooled in the accommodation recess  31 . 
     Further, the blocking portion  36  forming the drainage path  33  into a bent route is provided at the intermediate position of the drainage route in the drainage path  33 . According to this configuration, even if water penetrates into the drainage path  33  from a downstream end of the drainage path  33  (lower part of the accommodation recess  31 ) and moves toward the accommodation recess  31 , a movement of that water is blocked in the bent part, wherefore there is no possibility that the water reaches the accommodation recess  31 . 
     Further, the waterproof connector  1  includes the one-piece rubber plug  19  mounted in the housing  10  while allowing the wires  15  to pass therethrough in an airtight manner. The peripheral wall portion  16  is formed in the upper end part of the housing  10  and the one-piece rubber plug  19  is surrounded in an airtight manner by the peripheral wall portion  16 . The ventilation film  63  is accommodated in the accommodating portion  65  of the holder  64  and the holder  64  is formed with the tubular ventilation portion  66  vertically penetrating through the one-piece rubber plug  19  and allowing communication between the inside of the accommodating portion  65  and the sealing space. The accommodation recess  31  is formed from the inner side to the outer side of the peripheral wall portion  16  and upstream ends (drainage holes  34 ) of the drainage paths  33  are open in an area of the accommodation recess  31  outside the peripheral wall portion  16 . According to this configuration, the shape of the tubular ventilation portion  66  and those of the drainage paths  33  can be simplified without being bent. 
     Further, the wire cover  50  is formed with the restricting portion  57  for restricting a displacement of the ventilation member  62  (ventilation film  63 ) in a direction separating from the accommodation recess  31 . The restricting portion  57  is located to be held in contact with or proximately face the upper surface of the accommodating portion  65  of the holder  64  of the ventilation member  62 . According to this configuration, since the ventilation film  63  can be prevented from being separated from the accommodation recess  31  even if the accommodation recess  31  is not formed with a resiliently deformable locking means, the shape of the accommodation recess  31  can be simplified. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second specific embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 17 to 27 . A waterproof connector  2  of the second embodiment includes a housing  70 , a plurality of female terminal fittings  14  (not shown), a one-piece rubber plug  19 , a seal ring  21 , a pair of sliders  42 , a lever  46 , a wire cover  88  and a ventilation member  62 . Since a basic configuration of the housing  70 , those of the terminal fittings  14  and the one-piece rubber plug  19 , that of the seal ring, that of the sliders, that of the lever and the ventilation member  62  are substantially the same as or the same as those in the first embodiment, these are not described. 
     Note that, in the following description, a right side in  FIGS. 18, 21, 22, 24 and 25  is defined as a front concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 17, 19, 20 and 24 to 27  are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. An upper side in  FIGS. 18, 21  is defined as a right side and left and right sides shown in  FIGS. 20, 26 and 27  are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction. 
     &lt;Accommodation Recess  73 &gt; 
     An outer housing  71  constituting the housing  70  is formed with an accommodation recess  73  for accommodating the ventilation member  62  to be described later. The accommodation recess  73  is formed by recessing a right-front end part of the upper surface (outer surface) of a back wall portion  72 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , in a plan view, the accommodation recess  73  is formed from the inside (rubber plug accommodation space  76 ) to the outside of a peripheral wall portion  75  of an inner housing  74  constituting the housing  70 . 
     Specifically, a front end part of the accommodation recess  73  is disposed outside the rubber plug accommodation space  76  (before the front end of the peripheral wall portion  75 ) and a rear end part of the accommodation recess  73  is inside the rubber plug accommodation space  76 . Further, a right part of the accommodation recess  73  is outside the rubber plug accommodation space  76  (to the right of the right end of the peripheral wall portion  75 ) and a left part of the accommodation recess  73  is inside the rubber plug accommodation space  76 . The upper surface of the accommodation recess  73  is entirely open in a wire draw-out surface  85 . A communication hole  77  is formed in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  73  and communicates with the rubber plug accommodation space  76  (see  FIG. 25 ). 
     &lt;Drainage Passages  78 &gt; 
     Drainage holes  80  communicating with the upper ends of guide recesses  79  in side wall portions of the outer housing  71  are formed in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  73  as shown in  FIG. 26 . The drainage holes  80  are formed at positions near supporting plate portions  81  in the lateral direction. The drainage holes  80 , clearances between the inner surfaces of the guide recesses  79  and the sliders and a connection space  83  between a tubular fitting portion  82  of the outer housing  71  and the outer periphery of the inner housing  74  constitute drainage paths  78 . The drainage paths  78  function as drainage routes for discharging liquid to the outside of the housing  70  when the liquid such as water penetrates into the accommodation recesses  73 . 
     A blocking portion  84  is formed at an intermediate position of the drainage path  78 . The blocking portion  84  laterally projects from a surface of the supporting plate portion  81  facing the rubber plug accommodation space  76 . The upper surface of the blocking portion  84  is facing an opening in the lower end of the drainage hole  80  while being spaced therefrom. The projecting end surface of the blocking portion  84  slides in contact with the inner surface of the slider  42  or faces the inner surface of the slider  42  with a tiny clearance defined therebetween. An area of the drainage path  78  where the blocking portion  84  is formed serves as a route bent along both upper and lower surfaces and the projecting end surface of the blocking portion  84 . 
     &lt;Drainage Means of Wire Draw-Out Surface  26 &gt; 
     The wire draw-out surface  85  is formed with a drainage means surrounding the accommodation recess  73  substantially over the entire periphery in a plan view as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 21 . The drainage means is composed of an upward facing rib  86  (drainage portion as claimed) standing up from the wire draw-out surface  85 . The outer peripheral surface of the upward facing rib  86  is oblique to the wire draw-out surface  85  and also oblique to the vertical direction perpendicular to a wire projecting surface. Further, left and right lock projections  87  for locking the wire cover  88  in a mounted state on the housing  70  are formed on a front end part of the upper surface (wire draw-out surface  85 ) of the outer housing  71 . The right lock projection  87  is disposed adjacent to a right end part of the upward facing rib  86 . 
     &lt;Wire Cover  88 &gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , the wire cover  88  is for turning a plurality of wires  15  drawn out upward from the wire drawn-out surface  85  of the housing  70  (outer housing  71 ) rearwardly. The wire cover  88  is mounted on the outer housing  71  from above and covers the entire area of the wire drawn-out surface  85 . 
     The wire cover  88  includes a front plate portion  89 , an oblique plate portion  90  extending obliquely to an upper-rear side from the upper end edge of the front plate portion  89 , an upper plate portion  91  extending rearward from the upper end edge of the oblique plate portion  90  and a pair of left and right side plate portions  92  extending downward from both left and right side edges of the oblique plate portion  90  and the upper plate portion  91  and linked to both left and right side edges of the front plate portion  89 . An internal space of the wire cover  88  serves as a wire bending space  93  for turning the wires  15  drawn out upward from the wire drawn-out surface  85  rearwardly. The wire bending space  93  is facing the wire drawn-out surface  85  by being open in the lower surface of the wire cover  88 . Further, the wire bending space  93  is open as a wire draw-out opening  94  in the rear surface of the wire cover  88 . 
     &lt;Partitioning Portion  95 &gt; 
     The wire cover  88  is formed with a partitioning portion  95  linked to the inner surface of the front plate portion  89 , the inner surface of a front end part of the oblique plate portion  90  and the inner surface of the right side plate portion  92 . With the wire cover  88  mounted on the housing  70 , the partitioning portion  95  is in contact with the wire drawn-out surface  85  to cover an opening of the accommodation recess  73  and the accommodation recess  73  is partitioned from the wire bending space  93  by this contact. Further, a restricting portion  96  configured to be held in contact with or proximately face the upper surface of the ventilation member  62  is formed on a lower end part of the partitioning portion  95 . The partitioning portion  95  is disposed on a side opposite to the wire drawn-out opening  94  in the front-rear direction. 
     &lt;Drainage Means of Wire Cover  88 &gt; 
     A downward facing rib  97  (drainage portion as claimed) is formed as a drainage means to be fit to the drainage means of the housing  70  (wire draw-out surface  85 ) over the entire periphery in a liquid-tight manner. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the downward facing rib  97  is disposed to extend along the outer periphery of the partitioning portion  95  and surround the restricting portion  96  in a bottom view. Further, the downward facing rib  97  is disposed at a position above the restricting portion  96 . The inner peripheral surface of the downward facing rib  97  is oblique to a horizontal plane and also oblique to the vertical direction. 
     &lt;Functions and Effects of Second Embodiment&gt; 
     The waterproof connector  2  of the second embodiment includes the housing  70 , the terminal fittings  14 , the ventilation film  63  and the wire cover  88 . Terminal accommodation chambers (not shown) are formed inside the housing  70 , and a part of the outer surface of the housing  70  serves as the wire drawn-out surface  85 . The terminal fittings  14  are connected to end parts of the wires  15  and inserted into the terminal accommodation chambers with the wires  15  drawn to the outside of the housing  70  (upwardly) from the wire drawn-out surface  85 . 
     Further, the wire draw-out surface  85  is formed with the accommodation recess  73  for accommodating the ventilation member  62  (ventilation film  63 ), and the wire cover  88  is mounted on the housing  70  to cover the wire draw-out surface  85  and the accommodation recess  73 . The wire bending space  93  for bending the wires  15  drawn out from the wire draw-out surface  85  is formed inside the wire cover  88 . Likewise, the partitioning portion  95  for partitioning between the accommodation recess  73  and the wire bending space  93  by coming into contact with the wire draw-out surface  85  to cover the opening of the accommodation recess  73  is formed inside the wire cover  88 . 
     Since water may enter the inside (wire bending space  93 ) of the wire cover  88  through the wire draw-out opening  94 , the water having entered may be pooled in the accommodation recess  73  for the ventilation film  63  to impair a ventilation function by the ventilation film  63 . However, since the opening in the upper surface of the accommodation recess  73  is closed by the partitioning portion  95  and the accommodation recess  73  is partitioned from the wire bending space  93 , there is no possibility that water penetrates into the accommodation recess  73 . 
     Further, a clearance in a contact part between an opening edge part of the accommodation recess  73  in the wire draw-out surface  85  and the partitioning portion  95  may become a water penetration route. Specifically, if water having penetrated into the wire bending space  93  from the outside of the wire cover  88  adheres to the outer surface of the accommodation recess  73  or the partitioning portion  95 , that water may penetrate into the accommodation recess  73 . Accordingly, in a contact area between the wire draw-out surface  85  and the partitioning portion  95 , the drainage portions whose cross-sections have a labyrinth shape such as a convexo-concave shape or a stepped shape, i.e. a bent shape are provided. 
     Specific configurations of the drainage portions are as follows. The outer peripheral surface of the upward facing rib  86  of the wire draw-out surface  85  and the inner peripheral surface of the downward facing rib  97  of the wire cover  88  (partitioning portion  95 ) are in contact over the entire periphery. Since the upward facing rib  86  and the downward facing rib  97  have a stepped cross-sectional shape, there is no possibility that water in the wire bending space  93  penetrates into the accommodation recess  73 . Thus, the ventilation film  63  can be arranged on the wire draw-out surface  85  without impairing the ventilation function of the ventilation film  63 . 
     Further, the opening of the accommodation recess  73  faces up, and water may penetrate into the accommodation recess  73  due to dimensional tolerances of the wire draw-out surface  85  and the partitioning portion  95 . Accordingly, as a measure against that, the drainage paths  78  open in the lower surface of the accommodation recess  73  are formed in the housing  70 . By providing the drainage paths  78 , even if water penetrates into the accommodation recess  73 , the water having penetrated is discharged to the outside of the housing  70  through the drainage paths  78 . Therefore, there is no possibility that water is pooled in the accommodation recess  73 . 
     Further, the blocking portion  84  forming the drainage path  78  into a bent route is provided at the intermediate position of the drainage route in the drainage path  78 . According to this configuration, even if water penetrates into the drainage path  78  from a downstream end of the drainage path  78  (lower part of the accommodation recess  73 ) and moves toward the accommodation recess  73 , a movement of that water is blocked in the bent part, wherefore there is no possibility that the water reaches the accommodation recess  73 . 
     Further, the waterproof connector  2  includes the one-piece rubber plug  19  mounted in the housing  70  while allowing the wires  15  to pass therethrough in an airtight manner. The peripheral wall portion  75  is formed in the upper end part of the housing  70  and the one-piece rubber plug  19  is surrounded in an airtight manner by the peripheral wall portion  75 . The ventilation film  63  is accommodated in an accommodating portion  65  of a holder  64  and the holder  64  is formed with a tubular ventilation portion  66  vertically penetrating through the one-piece rubber plug  19  and allowing communication between the inside of the accommodating portion and a sealing space (not shown). The accommodation recess  73  is formed from the inner side to the outer side of the peripheral wall portion  75  and upstream ends (drainage holes  80 ) of the drainage paths  78  are open in an area of the accommodation recess  73  outside the peripheral wall portion  75 . According to this configuration, the shape of the tubular ventilation portion and those of the drainage paths  78  can be simplified without being bent. 
     Further, the wire cover  88  is formed with the restricting portion  96  for restricting a displacement of the ventilation member  62  (ventilation film  63 ) in a direction separating from the accommodation recess  73 . The restricting portion  96  is located to be held in contact with or proximately face the upper surface of the accommodating portion of the holder  64  of the ventilation member  62 . According to this configuration, since the ventilation film  63  can be prevented from being separated from the accommodation recess  73  even if the accommodation recess  73  is not formed with a resiliently deformable locking means, the shape of the accommodation recess  73  can be simplified. Further, since an assembling direction of the wire cover  88  with the housing  70  is a downward direction, the lift of the ventilation member  62  can be reliably prevented by inserting the restricting portion  96  projecting downward into the accommodation recess  73 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments also are included in the technical scope of the invention. 
     Although the drainage paths are formed in the housing in the above first and second embodiments, the housing may include no drainage path. 
     Although the one-piece rubber plug is used as a waterproofing means on the wire draw-out surface in the above first and second embodiments, there is no limitation to this and an opening of each terminal accommodation chamber may be sealed by an individual rubber plug individually mounted on each wire. 
     Although the blocking portion having a bent shape is formed at the intermediate position of the drainage route in the drainage path in the above first and second embodiments, the drainage path may have no bent part. 
     Although the accommodation recess is formed from the inner side to the outer side of the peripheral wall portion in the above first and second embodiments, the accommodation recess may be formed only on the inner side of the peripheral wall portion or may be formed only on the outer side of the peripheral wall portion. In the former case, the drainage path can be disposed outside the peripheral wall portion by having a bent shape. In the latter case, the tubular ventilation portion can be disposed inside the peripheral wall portion by forming the tubular ventilation portion into a bent shape. 
     Although the wire cover is formed with the restricting portion as a means for restricting the separation of the ventilation film from the accommodation recess in the above first and second embodiments, there is no limitation to this and the separation of the ventilation film may be restricted by a resiliently deformable locking means formed in the accommodation recess. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1 ,  2  . . . waterproof connector 
           10 ,  70  . . . housing 
           13  . . . terminal accommodation chamber 
           14  . . . terminal fitting 
           15  . . . wire 
           16 ,  75  . . . peripheral wall 
           19  . . . one-piece rubber plug 
           26 ,  85  . . . wire draw-out surface 
           31 ,  73  . . . accommodation recess 
           33 ,  78  . . . drainage path 
           36 ,  84  . . . blocking portion 
           37  . . . front edge drainage portion (drainage portion) 
           38  . . . right edge drainage portion (drainage portion) 
           39  . . . rear edge drainage portion (drainage portion) 
           40  . . . arcuate drainage portion (drainage portion) 
           50 ,  88  . . . wire cover 
           54 ,  93  . . . wire bending space 
           56 ,  95  . . . partitioning portion 
           57 ,  96  . . . restricting portion 
           58  . . . front edge rib (drainage portion) 
           59  . . . right edge rib (drainage portion) 
           60  . . . rear edge step portion (drainage portion) 
           61  . . . arcuate rib (drainage portion) 
           63  . . . ventilation film 
           64  . . . holder 
           66  . . . tubular ventilation portion 
           86  . . . upward facing rib (drainage portion) 
           97  . . . downward facing rib (drainage portion)