Patent Publication Number: US-11646525-B2

Title: Connector having seal member

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-177725, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 2000-133367 and 2002-305052 discloses a connector provided with a seal member, through which a wire is passed. The connector of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-133367 includes a housing (inner housing), an outer housing, a spacer and a seal member (waterproof rubber plug). The housing is arranged inside the outer housing and locked to the outer housing. The spacer is arranged between the housing and the outer housing and locked to the outer housing. The seal member is held by being sandwiched by the spacer and the outer housing. 
     The connector of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-305052 includes a housing, a receptacle and a seal member (rubber plug). The seal member is fit into a rubber plug accommodation chamber formed in the rear surface of the housing and prevented from coming out by the receptacle locked to the housing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a connector of this type, it is preferred that the vibration of a wire is not transmitted to a housing. However, in the connector of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-133367, the housing (inner housing) and the spacer are respectively locked to the outer housing not to be relatively displaced. Thus, the vibration of the wire is transmitted to the housing without being attenuated via the spacer and the outer housing holding the seal member. Also in the connector of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-305052, the housing is locked to the receptacle not to be relatively displaced. Thus, the vibration of the wire is transmitted to the housing without being attenuated via the seal member. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a technique capable of suppressing the vibration of a wire to be transmitted to a housing. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a terminal fitting to be connected to a wire, a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, a seal member including a seal hole, the wire being passed through the seal hole in a liquid-tight manner, and a mounting member for holding the seal member by sandwiching the seal member between the housing and the mounting member, the mounting member being in contact with the seal member and movably mounted on the housing. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the vibration of a wire to be transmitted to a housing. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view of a connector of one embodiment and a mating connector. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the connector of the one embodiment connected to the mating connector. 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the connector of the one embodiment connected to the mating connector. 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom view of the connector of the one embodiment connected to the mating connector. 
         FIG.  5    is a back view of the connector of the one embodiment connected to the mating connector. 
         FIG.  6    is a section along A-A of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a section along B-B of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  8    is a back view of a housing of the one embodiment. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a seal member of the one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting to be connected to a wire, a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, a seal member including a seal hole, the wire being passed through the seal hole in a liquid-tight manner, and a mounting member for holding the seal member by sandwiching the seal member between the housing and the mounting member, the mounting member being in contact with the seal member and movably mounted on the housing. 
     In this connector, since the mounting member is in contact with the seal member, the vibration of the wire passed through the seal member is transmitted to the mounting member via the seal member. However, since the mounting member is movable with respect to the housing, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member is less likely to be transmitted to the housing. Therefore, the vibration of the wire can be released to the mounting member, with the result that the vibration of the wire to be transmitted to the housing can be suppressed. 
     (2) Preferably, the seal member includes a tube portion, the seal hole is formed in the tube portion, and the mounting member includes a through hole to be held in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tube portion. 
     According to this configuration, a vibration force of the wire can be efficiently transmitted to the mounting member via the tube portion. Thus, the vibration of the wire to be transmitted to the housing via the seal member is reduced. Further, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member via the tube portion is less likely to be transmitted to the housing as described above. Therefore, the vibration of the wire to be transmitted to the housing can be further suppressed. 
     (3) Preferably, the housing includes a lock arm on a side surface of an outer periphery, the lock arm locking a mating connector in a connected state, the member includes an outer wall for covering the side surface of the housing, and the outer wall includes an opening for exposing the lock arm and protection walls arranged on both sides across the opening to cover the lock arm from the both sides. 
     According to this connector, the lock arm is less likely to interfere with external mattes due to the protection walls of the mounting member. Thus, for example, the lock arm can be prevented from being inadvertently released. 
     (4) Preferably, the housing includes a locking portion, and the seal member includes a lock receiving portion for restricting separation of the seal member from the housing by being locked by the locking portion. 
     According to this connector, relative positions of the seal member and the housing can be prevented from changing when the mounting member moves with respect to the housing. 
     (5) Preferably, the housing includes an engaging portion, the mounting member includes an engagement receiving portion, and at least one of the engaging portion and the engagement receiving portion is deflectable and deformable during vibration of the wire. 
     According to this connector, since at least one of the engaging portion and the engagement receiving portion is deflected and deformed during the vibration of the wire, the vibration is less likely to be transmitted between the engaging portion and the engagement receiving portion. Therefore, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member via the seal member is even less likely to be transmitted to the housing, with the result that the vibration of the wire to be transmitted to the housing can be further suppressed. 
     (6) Preferably, the mounting member includes a rear wall for sandwiching the seal member between the housing and the rear wall, the rear wall has, on a front surface, a seal restricting surface for restricting a rearward displacement of the seal member and a housing restricting surface for restricting a rearward displacement of the housing, and the housing restricting surface is arranged rearward of the seal restricting surface. 
     According to this configuration, if the mounting member is inclined with respect to the housing, for example, due to the vibration of the wire, the housing restricting surface can restrict a rearward displacement of the housing. Thus, it can be suppressed that the mounting member and the housing come any further closer. As a result, excessive compression of the seal member can be suppressed. 
     Details of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
     Embodiment 
     A connector  10  to be connected to a mating connector  90  is illustrated in one embodiment (see  FIG.  6   ). The mating connector  90  is, for example, provided in a device such as an engine. Note that, in the following description, a side of the connector  10  facing the mating connector  90  is referred to as a front side and an opposite side thereof is referred to as a rear side. A vertical direction shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  5 ,  6  and  8    is directly defined as a vertical direction. A lateral direction when the connector  10  is viewed from front is defined as a lateral direction. 
     The connector  10  is a waterproof connector. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the connector  10  includes terminal fittings  11 , a housing  12 , a seal member  13 , a mounting member  14 , a seal ring  15  and a front member  16 . 
     The terminal fitting  11  is formed, such as by bending a conductive metal plate. As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  6   , the terminal fitting  11  is a female terminal fitting and includes a body portion  20 , a wire barrel  21  and an insulation barrel  22 . The body portion  20  has a tubular shape (in particular, a rectangular tube shape) open in a front-rear direction. When the connector  10  is connected to the mating connector  90 , a tab  91  of the mating connector  90  is connected to the body portion  20 . The wire barrel  21  is arranged behind the body portion  20 . The wire barrel  21  is crimped to a conductor  82  exposed from a wire  80  by removing a coating  81 . The insulation barrel  22  is arranged behind the wire barrel  21 . The insulation barrel  22  is crimped to the wire  80 . In this way, the wire  80  is connected to a rear end side of the terminal fitting  11 . 
     The housing  12  is made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the housing  12  includes a housing body  30  and a lock arm  31  provided on a side surface (upper surface in this embodiment) of the outer periphery of the housing body  30 . The lock arm  31  includes a supporting portion  32  rising from the upper surface of the housing body  30 . The lock arm  31  includes a pair of left and right arm portions  33  connected to both left and right sides of the upper end of the supporting portion  32  and extending forward and rearward. The lock arm  31  includes a connector lock portion  34  coupling lower end sides of the pair of arm portions  33  to each other on a side in front of the supporting portion  32 . The lock arm  31  includes a releasing portion  35  coupling upper end sides of the pair of arm portions  33  on a side behind the supporting portion  32 . The upper surface of the releasing portion  35  is formed into a step shape to be higher toward a rear side. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the housing body  30  is shaped to be longer in the lateral direction than in the vertical direction. As shown in  FIG.  6   , the housing body  30  includes cavities  40  extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG.  8   , a plurality of (five in this embodiment) of the cavities  40  are provided side by side in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the housing body  30  includes locking lances  41  projecting into the cavities  40  from lower sides of the cavities  40 . Tip sides of the locking lances  41  can be deflected and deformed. The terminal fitting  11  is inserted from behind the housing body  30  and arranged in the cavity  40  while deflecting the locking lance  41 , and a rearward displacement thereof is restricted by the resiliently returned locking lance  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the housing body  30  includes tab insertion holes  42  on front sides of the cavities  40 . The tab insertion hole  42  is open in the front-rear direction and communicates with the cavity  40 . The tab  91  of the mating connector  90  is inserted into the cavity  40  via the tab insertion hole  42  and connected to the terminal fitting  11  arranged in the cavity  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the housing body  30  includes an accommodation recess  43  open in the rear surface of the housing body  30 . The accommodation recess  43  is formed by recessing the rear surface of the housing body  30 . An internal space of the accommodation recess  43  communicates with rear end parts of the respective cavities  40 . The seal member  13  is arranged in the accommodation recess  43 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  8   , the housing body  30  includes a locking portion  44  to be locked to the seal member  13 . The locking portion  44  includes a rearward projecting portion  45  projecting rearward from the back surface of the accommodation recess  43  and locking claw portions  46  projecting downward from a rear end side of the rearward projecting portion  45 . The rear end of the rearward projecting portion  45  is arranged in front of a rear opening end of the accommodation recess  43 . The rearward projecting portion  45  extends in the lateral direction. A width of the locking claw portion  46  is smaller than that of the rearward projecting portion  45 . Two locking claw portions  46  are provided at an interval in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the housing  12  includes a first engagement receiving portion  47  and second engagement receiving portions  48  to be engaged with the mounting member  14 . The first engagement receiving portion  47  projects downward from the lower surface of the accommodation recess  43 . The second engagement receiving portions  48  project laterally outward from both left and right side surfaces of the accommodation recess  43 . Each of the rear surfaces of the first and second engagement receiving portions  47 ,  48  is inclined to reduce a projection dimension toward a rear end. Each of the front surfaces of the first and second engagement receiving portions  47 ,  48  is arranged along the vertical direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  6   , the housing  12  includes rattling preventing ribs  49 . The rattling preventing ribs  49  are provided on the top and bottom of the housing body  30 . The upper rattling preventing ribs  49  project upward on an upper end side of the housing body  30 . The lower rattling preventing ribs  49  project downward on a lower end side of the housing body  30 . 
     The seal member  13  is made of rubber and configured as a one-piece rubber plug for sealing a plurality of the wires  80 . As shown in  FIGS.  6 ,  7  and  9   , the seal member  13  includes a seal body  50  through which the plurality of wires  80  are passed, and tube portions  51  projecting rearward from the rear surface of an upper part of the seal body  50  to individually surround the respective wires  80 . The seal body  50  is shaped to be long in the lateral direction in a front view. The seal body  50  includes seal holes  52  through which the respective wires  80  are passed in a liquid-tight manner. The seal holes  52  are provided to individually correspond to the respective wires  80  and penetrate through the seal body  50  and the tube portions  51 . An inner peripheral lip  53  extending over the entire periphery in a circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the seal hole  52 . The inner peripheral lip  53  is arranged only on the side of the seal body  50  and not arranged on the side of the tube portion  51 . Outer peripheral lips  54  extending over the entire periphery in a circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal body  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  9   , the seal body  50  includes a lock receiving portion  55  to be locked by the locking portion  44  of the housing  12 . The lock receiving portion  55  is arranged below the seal holes  52 . The lock receiving portion  55  includes a groove portion  56  open in the front surface of the seal body  50  and locking recesses  57  formed in the back surface of the groove portion  56 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the tube portions  51  are arranged side by side in a row in a width direction on the rear surface of the seal body  50 . The tube portion  51  is in the form of a tube having a rear part of the seal hole  52  formed inside and has four rounded corner parts in a back view. No lip is formed on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the tube portion  51 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the mounting member  14  is a member for sandwiching the seal member  13  between the housing  12  and the mounting member  14 . The mounting member  14  includes a rear wall  60  arranged along the vertical and lateral directions and a tubular outer wall  61  projecting forward from an outer peripheral end part of the rear wall  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the rear wall  60  includes a plurality of through holes  62  penetrating in the front-rear direction. The through holes  62  are provided to individually correspond to the respective tube portions  51  of the seal member  13 , and the tube portions  51  are arranged in a fit state inside. The rear wall  60  has a seal restricting surface  60 A and a housing restricting surface  60 B on a front surface. The seal restricting surface  60 A restricts a rearward displacement of the seal member  13 . The housing restricting surface  60 B is arranged behind the seal restricting surface  60 A to restrict a rearward displacement of the accommodation recess  43  in the housing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the outer wall  61  includes an opening  64  for exposing the upper surface of the lock arm  31 , protection walls  65  arranged on both sides across the opening  64  to cover the lock arm  31  from the both sides, and a bridge portion  66  arranged in front of the opening  64  and coupling front end sides of the protection walls  65  on both sides to each other. The protection wall  65  has an upper step portion  67 , the height position of which becomes higher in a stepwise manner toward a front side, on the upper surface of a rear end side. The front ends of the upper step portions  67  are arranged forward of the front end of the releasing portion  35  of the lock arm  31  with the mounting member  14  assembled with the housing  12 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , the outer wall  61  includes a lower step portion  68 , a downward projection amount of which is increased toward a rear side, on the lower surface of a rear end side. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the mounting member  14  includes a first engaging portion  71  and second engaging portions  72  to be engaged with the housing  12 . The first and second engaging portions  71 ,  72  are arranged to be deflectable and deformable in parts where the outer wall  61  is cut. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the first engaging portion  71  includes a first plate portion  73  projecting forward from the front surface of a lower end side of the rear wall  60  and a first engaging claw portion  74  projecting upward from a front end side of the first plate portion  73 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the first plate portion  73  has a rectangular shape long in the lateral direction in a bottom view. First slits  51  are formed between both left and right sides and a front side of the first engaging portion  71  and the outer wall  61 . Thus, even if the first engaging portion  71  is deflected and deformed, the first engaging portion  71  does not interfere with the outer wall  61 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the second engaging portions  72  include second plate portions  74  projecting forward from the front surfaces of both left and right sides of the rear wall  60  and second engaging claw portions  76  projecting laterally inward from front end sides of the second plate portions  75 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the second plate portion  75  has a rectangular shape long in the front-rear direction in a side view. Second slits S 2  are formed between both upper and lower sides and a front side of the second engaging portion  72  and the outer wall  61 . Thus, even if the second engaging portion  72  is deflected and deformed, the second engaging portion  72  does not interfere with the outer wall  61 . 
     The seal ring  15  is made of rubber and, as shown in  FIG.  1   , has an annular shape. Lips are formed over the entire periphery in a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the seal ring  15 . The seal ring  15  is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body  30 . 
     The front member  16  is made of synthetic resin and functions as a front retainer. As shown in  FIG.  6   , the front member  16  is mounted on a front side of the housing body  30  to restrict the deflection and deformation of the locking lances  41 . In this way, rearward escape of the terminal fittings  11  is more reliably prevented. 
     Next, functions and effects of the connector  10  are described. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the seal body  50  of the seal member  13  is accommodated into the accommodation recess  43  of the housing  12 . The locking portion  44  of the housing  12  is locked to the lock receiving portion  55  of the seal member  13 , whereby the separation of the seal member  13  from the housing  12  is restricted. Further, the tube portions  51  are arranged to project rearward from the accommodation recess  43 . 
     Subsequently, the mounting member  14  is mounted on the housing  12  from behind. In mounting the mounting member  14  on the housing  12 , the first engaging portion  71  of the mounting member  14  is pressed from below by the first engagement receiving portion  47  of the housing  12  to be deflected and deformed. When moving further forward, the first engaging portion  71  resiliently returns to engage the first engagement receiving portion  47 . A forward displacement of the first engagement receiving portion  47  is restricted by the first engaging claw portion  74  of the first engaging portion  71 . 
     Further, front end sides of the second engaging portions  72  of the mounting member  14  are pressed laterally outward by the second engagement receiving portions  48  of the housing body  12  to be deflected and deformed as shown in  FIG.  7   . When moving further forward, these front end sides resiliently return to engage the second engagement receiving portions  48 . Forward displacements of the second engagement receiving portions  48  are restricted by the second engaging claw portions  76  of the second engaging portions  72 . 
     Subsequently, the terminal fittings  11  are inserted into the cavities  40 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , each wire  80  is passed through each seal hole  52  of the seal member  13  in a liquid-tight manner. 
     The first engaging portion  71  is engaged with the first engagement receiving portions  47  and the second engaging portions  72  are engaged with the second engagement receiving portions  48 , whereby the mounting member  14  is mounted on the housing  12 . With the mounting member  14  mounted on the housing  12 , the seal body  50  is arranged in the accommodation recess  43  and a lower part of the seal body  50  is held by being sandwiched in the front-rear direction by the back surface of the accommodation recess  43  and the front surface of the rear wall  60  of the mounting member  14  as shown in  FIG.  6   . That is, the front surface of the lower part of the seal body  50  and the back surface of the accommodation recess  43  are in contact, and the rear surface of the lower part of the seal body  50  and the seal restricting surface  60 A are in contact. A rearward displacement of the lower part of the seal body  50  is restricted by the seal restricting surface  60 A, and a rearward displacement of the accommodation recess  43  accommodating the seal body  50  is restricted by the housing restricting surface  60 B arranged behind the seal restricting surface  60 A. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the housing restricting surface  60 B is arranged rearward of the seal restricting surface  60 A while a gap G 1  is formed between the housing  12  and the housing restricting surface  60 B. Further, when the seal member  13  is in a natural state, gaps G 2  are formed between the first engaging claw portion  74  of the first engaging portion  71  and the first engagement receiving portion  47  and between the second engaging claw portions  76  of the second engaging portions  72  and the second engagement receiving portions  48 . Thus, the mounting member  14  is allowed to be inclined with respect to the housing  12 . 
     Further, the tube portions  51  projecting rearward from the upper part of the seal body  50  are arranged in the through holes  62  of the mounting member  14 . In the above way, the connector  10  is manufactured. 
     The connector  10  is connected to the mating connector  90  not to be relatively displaced. The connector  10  is retained with respect to the mating connector  90  by the connector lock portion  34  of the lock arm  31  locking a connector lock receiving portion  92  of the mating connector  90 . When the connector  10  is connected to the mating connector  90 , the terminal fittings  11  are connected to the tabs  91  of the mating connector  90 . A receptacle  93  of the mating connector  90  is arranged between the housing  12  and the outer wall  61  of the connector  10 . The projecting ends of the rattling preventing ribs  49  of the housing  12  in the connector  10  are vertically facing the inner peripheral surface of the receptacle  93  of the mating connector  90 . Thus, vertical rattling of the housing  12  with respect to the mating connector  90  can be suppressed. Further, a gap G 3  is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall  61  of the connector  10  and the outer peripheral surface of the receptacle  93  of the mating connector  90 . Thus, the mounting member  14  is allowed to be vertically inclined with respect to the mating connector  90 . 
     Further, with the connector  10  connected to the mating connector  90 , the upper surface of the lock arm  31  of the housing  12  is exposed via the opening  64  of the mounting member  14  and both left and right sides of the lock arm  31  are covered by the protection walls  65  of the mounting member  14 . Thus, the lock arm  31  is protected by the protection walls  65  and less likely to interfere with external matters. Therefore, the lock arm  31  can be prevented from being inadvertently released. 
     During use, the vibration of the wire  80  may be transmitted to the connector  10 . The mounting member  14  is in contact with the wire  80  via the seal member  13 . Thus, the vibration of the wire  80  is transmitted to the mounting member  14  via the seal member  13 . However, since the mounting member  14  is movable with respect to the housing  12 , the vibration transmitted to the mounting member  14  is less likely to be transmitted to the housing  12 . Specifically, the gaps G 1 , G 2  are formed between the mounting member  14  and the housing  12 . Further, the gap G 3  is also formed between the mounting member  14  and the mating connector  90  connected to the housing  12 . Thus, if the wire  80  vibrates in the vertical and/or lateral direction, the mounting member  14  enters the gaps G 1 , G 2  and G 3  and the rear end side of the mounting member  14  is inclined in the vertical and/or lateral direction with respect to the housing  12 . Thus, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member  14  is less likely to be transmitted to the housing  12 . Therefore, the vibration of the wire  80  to be transmitted to the housing  12  can be suppressed. 
     Particularly, the seal member  13  includes the tube portions  51  individually corresponding to the respective wires  80 , and the respective wires  80  are passed through the seal holes  52  in the respective tube portions  51  in a liquid-tight manner. If the wire  80  vibrates, the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  51  individually holding the wire  80  swings and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through hole  62 . Further, the rear surface of the lower part of the seal body  50  is also in contact with the seal restricting surface  60 A. Thus, the vibration of the wire  80  is efficiently transmitted to the mounting member  14  via the tube portion  51 . In this way, the vibration of the wire  80  to be transmitted to the housing  12  via the seal member  13  is reduced. Further, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member  14  via the tube portion  51  is less likely to be transmitted to the housing  12  as described above. Thus, the vibration of the wire  80  to be transmitted to the housing  12  can be further suppressed. Note that although the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  51  is not in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole  62  of the mounting member  14  in a state where the wire  80  is not vibrating in this embodiment, these peripheral surfaces may be in contact before vibration. 
     Further, the first and second engaging portions  71 ,  72  are deflectable and deformable during the vibration of the wire  80 . Thus, by the deflection and deformation of the first and second engaging portions  71 ,  72  during the vibration of the wire  80 , vibration is less likely to be transmitted between the first engaging portion  71  and the first engagement receiving portion  47  or between the second engaging portions  72  and the second engagement receiving portions  48 . Therefore, the vibration transmitted to the mounting member  14  via the seal member  13  is even less likely to be transmitted to the housing  12 , with the result that the vibration of the wire  80  to be transmitted to the housing  12  can be further suppressed. 
     Other Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. 
     (1) Although the seal member includes the tube portions in the above embodiment, the seal member may not include the tube portions. 
     (2) Although the protection walls are provided in the above embodiment, the protection walls may not be provided. 
     (3) Although the locking portion and the lock receiving portion to be locked to each other are provided in the above embodiment, the locking portion and the lock receiving portion may not be provided. 
     (4) Although only the engaging portions, out of the engaging portions and the engagement receiving portions, are deflectable and deformable during the vibration of the wire in the above embodiment, only the engagement receiving portions may be deflectable and deformable, the both may be deflectable and deformable or neither of the both may be deflectable and deformable. 
     (5) Although no lip is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion in the above embodiment, lip(s) may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion. 
     (6) Although the housing restricting surface is provided in the above embodiment, the housing restricting surface may not be provided. 
     (7) Although the seal member is a one-piece rubber plug for collectively sealing the plurality of wires in the above embodiment, the seal member may be a rubber plug for sealing only one wire. 
     (8) The front-rear direction may be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction or may be a vertical direction during the use of the connector. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.