Patent Publication Number: US-7591678-B2

Title: Through-panel connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a through-panel connector which is used in wiring an electric wire through a panel. 
     BACKGROUND OF ART 
     This kind of through-panel connector is disclosed in Patent document No. 1. This through-panel connector is provided, on its fixing side, with a female connector having a flexible arm and a latch and is attached to a mounting hole in a panel so as to allow be displaceable to the mounting hole. Again, the female connector is provided, in an insert-side brim part, with an insertion hole broadened at a slant, while a mating male connector is provided with a guide rod having a pointed tip. Further, electrical terminals are arranged in the insertion hole and the guide rod, respectively. The electrical terminal in the guide rod of the male connector is held by a spring part of the electrical terminal in the insertion hole of the female connector, effecting a connection between the terminals. Consequently, even if the connector on the fixing side is misaligned with the mating connector or both of the connectors have dimensional errors in manufacturing, the fitting of the connectors would be carried out in their normal positions, whereby it is possible to do away with defective contact between the terminals and damage thereon and also possible to improve spatial effectiveness of the connector body. 
     Patent document No. 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-139250 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In the conventional through-panel connector, the female connector on the fixing side is fixed on the mounting hole by a claw at the tip end of the flexible arm and the latch  25 . However, since there is no technique idea to hold the female connector at the center of the mounting hole, that conventional waterproof connector requires only to align the female connector with the male connector to be mated and does not have a function to hold the connector at the center of the mounting hole. 
     In the conventional through-panel connector, additionally, when mounting the female connector on the mounting hole, an insertion force gets larger as approaching a root part of the flexible arm. Consequently, a force required at an early stage of fitting gets large, causing the fitting workability to deteriorate. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a through-panel connector which is superior in fitting workability and which can be positioned at the center of the mounting hole. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, in an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a through-panel connector comprising: a first connector housing and a second connector housing which are disposed on one side and the other side of a panel respectively and fitted to each other through a mounting hole formed in the panel, wherein at least one of the first connector housing and the second connector housing has a plurality of flexible holding ribs formed on at least one of both outer peripheral surfaces of the first connector housing and the second connector housing opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, the holding ribs being formed so as to be extended from a base end part standing on the outer peripheral surface and extended along a circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole and along the inserting direction into the mounting hole, the holding ribs making contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole on condition that the at least one of the first connector housing and the second connector housing is mounted on the panel. 
     According to the aspect of the present invention, since the positioning of the connector is accomplished by inserting the connector into the mounting hole, the positioning to the panel can be simplified and the force required to insert the connector into the mounting hole can be generally equalized from beginning to end, whereby the fitting work can be simplified. 
     Further, the holding ribs may be formed on the outer peripheral surface at even intervals. 
     According to the above constitution, since respective biasing and holding forces to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole are uniformed, the connector can be centered with respect to the mounting hole by inserting the connector thereinto. Thus, it is possible to accomplish the positioning of the connector to the panel more certainly. 
     Further, the holding ribs may be provided, on the sides of respective tips of the holding ribs, with engagement projections that are engaged with an opening edge of the mounting hole. 
     According to the above constitution, since both connector&#39;s positioning and assembling to the panel can be performed by a single action owing to the provision of the engagement projections for engagement with the opening edge of the mounting hole on the sides of respective tips of the holding ribs, it is possible to simplify the fitting work. 
     Still further, the engagement projections may be provided, on the sides of respective base end parts of the holding ribs, with biasing-force adjusting parts, such as slits. 
     According to the above constitution, owing to the provision of the biasing-force adjusting parts, such as slits, on the sides of respective base end parts of the holding ribs of the engagement projections, it is possible to make a force for mounting the connector on the panel equal to a force for positioning the connector. 
     Still further, the connector housing having the holding ribs may be provided, on its surface opposed to the panel, with a sealing part that is held between the surface opposed to the panel and the panel on condition that the engagement projections are engaged with the opening edge. 
     According to the above constitution, the sealing part arranged on the surface of the connector housing having the holding ribs, the surface being opposed to the panel, is held between the surface opposed to the panel and the panel on condition that the engagement projections are engaged with the opening edge. Consequently, it is possible to ensure a fastening span allowing the sealing part to exert sufficient water tightness stably. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a female connector which constitutes a through-panel connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and a panel on which the through-panel connector is mounted. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the female connector of the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the female connector constituting the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a holding rib of the female connector of the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing the panel before assembling the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention and the panel female connector. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing the panel after assembling the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention and the panel female connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a female connector and a male connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and a panel on which the female and male connectors are mounted. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the male connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring to accompanying drawings, a waterproof connector in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, below. In the drawings, identical or similar elements are indicated with same or similar reference numerals, respectively. However, it should be noted that the drawings are typical ones and therefore, there are differences between elements in the drawings and actual elements, in terms of the relationship of each element between its thickness and dimensions in plan view, the percentage of a thickness of each layer and so on. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a female connector  10  of a through-panel connector  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and a panel  50  on which the through-panel connector  1  is mounted.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the female connector  10  of the through-panel connector  1  in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a top view of the female connector  10  of the through-panel connector  1  in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a holding rib  11  of the female connector  1  of the through-panel connector in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a side view showing the panel  50  before assembling and the through-panel connector  1  in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a side view showing the panel  50  after assembling and the through-panel connector  1  in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the through-panel connector  1  of this embodiment includes a female housing  10  as a first connector housing and a male housing  58  as a second connector housing. The female connector  10  and the male connector  58  are arranged on both sides of the panel  50  respectively and furthermore, respective terminals  31  of the female connector  10  and the male connector  58  are connected with each other through a mounting hole  51  formed in the panel  50 . 
     The mounting hole  51  is provided with a torus part  52  having a substantially-cylindrical configuration. The torus part  52  is provided, on its inner periphery, with an inner peripheral surface  53  forming an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole. 
     The female connector  10  and the male connector  58  have substantially-circular shaped cross sections and are together formed with connecting surfaces  20  as surfaces opposed to the panel  50 . 
     Under condition that the female connector  10  is assembled to the panel  50 , a part of the female connector  10  projecting from a back side  56  of the panel  50  and another part extending from the circumference of an outer rim of the connecting surface  20  up to the connecting surface  20  are covered by a grommet  22 . The grommet  22  is provided, at its part covering the connecting surface  20  from the circumference of the outer rim of the connecting surface  20 , with annular ribs  21  as a sealing part. 
     The annular ribs  21  are shaped and formed by material, such as rubber material and elastomer, having elasticity and capable of sticking fast to the panel  50  for contact. 
     Again, the annular ribs  21  are formed so as to lie outside the mounting hole  51  and describe concentric double circles in a condition where the through-panel connector  1  is mounted on the panel  50 . Additionally, the annular ribs  21  are formed so as to gradually approach centers of the double circles as approaching ribs&#39; tips. 
     Further, the female connector  10  and the male connector  58  have terminal accommodating parts  30  formed at respective central portions. When the terminal accommodating part  30  of the female connector  10  is inserted into the terminal accommodating part of the male connector  58 , a mutual connection between terminals  31  of both connectors is accomplished. 
     The terminal accommodating part  30  of the female connector  10  is formed so as to project from the connecting surface  20  and allow the part  30  to be inserted into the mounting hole  51 . On an outer peripheral surface  32  of the terminal accommodating part  30  opposed to the torus inner peripheral surface  53 , additionally, holding ribs  11  are formed in three positions at substantially-even intervals. 
     Using material having flexibility, these holding ribs  11  are formed on the outer peripheral surface  32  so as to be extended along the inserting direction of the mounting hole  51  and separated from outer peripheral surface  32  while being extended from a base end part  12  to a tip part  13  along the torus inner peripheral surface  53 . Under condition that the female connector  10  is mounted on the panel  50 , the holding ribs  11  are retained in the torus inner peripheral surface  53  by force. 
     The holding ribs  11  are respectively provided, at their tip ends and on their outer peripheral sides, with “inner peripheral surface” abutment parts  14  that abut on the torus inner peripheral surface  53  on condition that the female connector  10  is mounted on the panel  50 . 
     Again, the holding ribs  11  are respectively provided, on their tip sides, with engagement projections  15  that are engaged with an opening edge  54  of the torus part  52  as an opening edge of the mounting hole  51  on condition that the female connector  10  is mounted on the panel  50 . Further, each engagement projection  15  is provided, on the side of a base end of the holding rib  11 , with a slit  17  as a biasing-force adjusting part. 
     Next, we present a condition that the female connector  10  is mounted on the panel  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , the female connector  10  is arranged on a backside  56  of a panel surface  55  provided with the torus part  52 . The leading end of the terminal accommodating part  30  is inserted into the mounting hole  51 . Then, the holding ribs  11  slide under their flexible deformations while the “inner peripheral surface” abutment parts  14  are contacting with the torus inner peripheral surface  53 . 
     Subsequently, when the terminal accommodating part  30  is further inserted into the mounting hole  51 , the holding rib  11  further bends at its portion of the slit  17 , so that rib&#39;s part in contact with the torus inner peripheral surface  53  changes from the “inner peripheral surface” abutment part  14  to a sliding slant surface  16 . 
     When further inserting the terminal accommodating part  30  into the mounting hole  51 , the annular ribs  21  are pressed on the backside of the panel  50  and deformed elastically. Then, when inserting the terminal accommodating part  30  furthermore, the torus inner peripheral surface  53  climbs over the engagement projection  15 , so that the engagement projection  15  is engaged with the opening edge  54  of the torus part  52 . 
     Under condition that the engagement projection  15  is engaged with the opening edge  54  of the torus part  52 , the “inner peripheral surface” abutment part  14  is forcibly retained in the torus inner peripheral surface  53  due to a repulsive force of the holding rib  11 . 
     As for the other holding ribs  11  formed on the outer peripheral surface  32  of the terminal accommodating part  30 , the engagement projections  15  are similarly engaged with the opening edge  54  of the torus part  52  with the insertion of the terminal accommodating part  30  into the mounting hole  51 , so that the abutment parts  14  are forcibly retained in the torus inner peripheral surface  53 . Consequently, the female connector  10  comes into contact with the torus inner peripheral surface  53  by only the “inner peripheral surface” abutment parts  14 , accomplishing the positioning of the female connector  10 . 
     In this way, the male connector is connected to the female connector  10  while the through-panel connector  1  under such a positioned condition is held by the panel  50 . 
     Again, on condition that the through-panel connector  1  is held by the panel  50 , the annular ribs  21  are interposed between the connecting surface  20  and the backside  56  of the panel  50  while being elastically deformed therebetween. Then, since the engagement projections  15  are engaged with the opening edge  54  in opposition to repulsive forces of the annular ribs  21 , the annular ribs  21  stick fast to the backside  56  of the panel  50 . Consequently, water tightness between the female connector  10  and the panel  50  is ensured. 
     As above, in the through-panel connector  1  of this embodiment, the plural flexible holding ribs  11  are formed on the outer peripheral surface  32  of the female connector  10  opposed to the torus inner peripheral surface  53  of the panel  50  along the inserting direction into the mounting hole  51 , while the flexible holding ribs  11  have respective tips formed along the torus inner peripheral surface  53 . Thus, the holding ribs  11  are forcibly held by the torus inner peripheral surface  53  on condition that the through-panel connector  1  is mounted on the panel  50 , so that the positioning of the female connector  10  is accomplished by inserting the female connector  10  into the mounting hole  51  and furthermore, the force required to insert the female connector  10  into the mounting hole  51  can be generally equalized from beginning to end, whereby the fitting work can be simplified. 
     Further, in the through-panel connector  1  of this embodiment, owing to the provision of the engagement projections  15  for engagement with the opening edge  54  of the mounting hole  51  on the sides of respective tips of the holding ribs  11 , both connector&#39;s positioning and assembling to the panel  50  can be performed by a single action, allowing the fitting work to be further simplified. 
     Further, in addition to the above effects, since respective holding forces to the torus inner peripheral surface  53  as the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole are uniformed owing to the provision of the holding ribs  11  on the outer peripheral surface  32  at even intervals, the female connector  10  can be centered with respect to the mounting hole  51  by inserting the female connector  10  into the mounting hole  51 . Thus, it is possible to accomplish the positioning of the female connector  10  to the panel more certainly. 
     Further, in the through-panel connector  1  of this embodiment, owing to the provision of the slits  17  as the biasing-force adjusting parts on the sides of respective base end parts of the holding ribs  11  of the engagement projections  15 , it is possible to make a force for mounting the female connector  10  on the panel  50  equal to a force for positioning the female connector. 
     Further, owing to the provision of the torus part  52  about the mounting hole  51 , it is possible to attach the through-panel connector  1  to the mounting hole  51  without reducing mechanical strength of the panel  50  in the circumference of the mounting hole  51 . 
     Additionally, the annular ribs  21  arranged on the surface  20  of the connector housing  10  having the holding ribs  11 , the surface  20  being opposed to the panel  50 , are held between the surface  20  opposed to the panel  50  and the panel  50  on condition that the engagement projections  15  are engaged with the opening edge  54 . Consequently, since the holding ribs  11  are engaged with the opening edge  54  in opposition to the repulsive forces of the annular ribs  21 , it is possible to ensure a fastening span allowing the annular ribs  21  to exert sufficient water tightness stably. 
     Although the holding ribs  11  are formed on the outer peripheral surface  32  of the terminal accommodating part  30  of the female connector  10  in the embodiment, the similar effect would be obtained by an arrangement where the male connector  58  is formed so that its terminal accommodating part projects in order to allow its inserting into the mounting hole  51  and furthermore, holding ribs are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating part. 
     As stated above, we describe the present invention by way of its embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this and therefore, constitution of respective parts may be replaced by optional constitutions having similar functions to those of the parts. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention can provide a through-panel connector that can simplify its positioning with respect to a panel and thus simplify its installation work.