Patent Publication Number: US-9887486-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A technique disclosed by this specification relates to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-105011 discloses a connector for individually waterproofing electrodes. This connector is connectable to a mating connector and includes a housing for holding a plurality of contacts and a seal provided in the front end of the housing. The seal is provided with first through holes. When the mating connector and the housing are connected, surrounding portions for surrounding base ends of mating contacts in the mating connector are inserted through the first through holes to seal between the surrounding portions and the housing to waterproof each electrode individually. 
     According to the above-described configuration, sealing is provided between the mating connector and the housing by the seal provided in the front end of the housing. Thus, the mating connector and the housing may wrench and rattle each other with the position of the seal member acting as a fulcrum and contact parts between the mating connector and the contacts may slide and abrade. 
     A technique for suppressing the abrasion of contact parts by suppressing rattling between connectors is disclosed in this specification. 
     SUMMARY 
     This specification is directed to a connector that is connectable to a mating connector. The connector is provided with a housing including a fitting portion that is fittable into the mating connector. A connector resilient member is fit on an outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion and is configured to be held resiliently in close contact with the mating connector and the fitting portion when the fitting portion is fit into the mating connector. Terminal accommodating portions are provided in the housing and are configured respectively to accommodate terminals to be connected to mating terminals that are fit respectively into mating cavities in the mating connector. The connector also has individual resilient members to be fit on outer peripheral surfaces of the individual terminal accommodating portions and configured to be held resiliently in close contact with inner peripheral surfaces of the mating cavities and the individual terminal accommodating portions when the individual terminal accommodating portions are fit into the mating cavities. The connector resilient member and the individual resilient members are displaced in a connecting direction. 
     The resilient members are held resiliently in close contact with the mating connector and the connector at two positions in the connecting direction by displacing the connector resilient member and the individual resilient members in the connecting direction. Thus, the mating connector and the connector can be prevented from wrenching and rattling with the resilient members acting as fulcrums, for example, as compared to the case where a resilient member is held in close contact with the mating connector and the connector at one position in the connecting direction. In this way, contact parts between the mating terminals and the terminals can be prevented from sliding to be abraded. 
     Further, the displacement of the connector resilient member and the individual resilient members in the connecting direction disperses connection resistance when connecting the mating connector and the connector as compared to the case where the connector resilient member and the individual resilient members are arranged at the same position in the connecting direction. 
     The connector resilient member may be a connector seal made of a resilient material and configured to stop water between the mating connector and the fitting portion by being held resiliently in close contact with the mating connector and the fitting portion over the entire periphery. Additionally, the individual resilient member may be individual seals made of a resilient material and configured to stop water between the inner peripheral surface of the mating cavity and the individual terminal accommodating portion by being held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mating cavity and the individual terminal accommodating portion over the entire periphery. 
     According to this configuration, the connector seal configured to stop water between the mating connector and the fitting portion and the individual seals configured to stop water between the inner peripheral surfaces of the mating cavities and the individual terminal accommodating portions can be also used as rattling suppressing members for preventing rattling of the mating connector and the connector. In this way, the number of components can be reduced, for example, as compared to the case where a rattling suppressing member is provided separately. 
     Either the connector resilient member or the individual resilient members may be arranged on one end part in the connecting direction of an area where the fitting portion is arranged, and the other(s) may be arranged on the other end part in the connecting direction of the area where the fitting portion is arranged. 
     According to this configuration, the rattling of the mating connector and the connector with the positions of the resilient members acting as fulcrums can be suppressed further, for example, as compared to the case where the connector resilient member and the individual resilient members are displaced slightly in the connecting direction. 
     The fitting portion may hold a shield shell to be held in contact with a mating shell provided in the mating connector. Additionally, the connector resilient member and the individual resilient members may be arranged in areas at both sides in the connecting direction of a position where the mating shell and the shield shell are in contact. 
     According to this configuration, not only contact parts between the mating terminals and the terminals, but also the mating shell and the shield shell can be prevented from sliding to be abraded. Thus, this configuration is particularly effective when the connector includes a shield shell. 
     According to by this specification, it is possible to suppress the abrasion of contact parts by suppressing rattling between connectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a waterproof connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a device-side connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a section, corresponding to a cross-section along A-A of  FIG. 1  and a cross-section along C-C of  FIG. 2 , showing a state before the device-side connector and the waterproof connector are connected. 
         FIG. 4  is a section, corresponding to a cross-section along B-B of  FIG. 1 , showing the state before the device-side connector and the waterproof connector are connected. 
         FIG. 5  is a section, corresponding to a cross-section of  FIG. 3 , showing a state after the device-side connector and the waterproof connector are connected. 
         FIG. 6  is a section, corresponding to a cross-section of  FIG. 4 , showing the state after the device-side connector and the waterproof connector are connected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
     A waterproof connector (an example of a “connector”)  10  to be connected to a device-side connector (an example of a “mating connector”)  80  provided in a device to be installed in a vehicle is illustrated in this embodiment. Note that, in the following description, a vertical direction is based on a vertical direction in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Further, a front-rear direction is based on a lateral direction in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and sides of the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  to be connected to each other are referred to as front sides. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 , the device-side connector  80  includes a device-side housing (corresponding to a “mating housing”)  81  made of synthetic resin and connectable to the waterproof connector  10 . The device-side housing  81  is formed such that an inner tube  83  including two device-side cavities (an example of “mating cavities”)  84  is provided inside a substantially rectangular outer tube  82 . 
     The two device-side cavities  84  are provided side by side in a width direction, and male terminals (an example of “mating terminals”)  85  in the form of flat plates projecting forward from a back wall are accommodated respectively in the device-side cavities  84 . 
     A lock  86  is formed on a front end part of the upper surface of the outer tube  82 , and a tubular device-side shell (an example of a “mating shell”)  87  is mounted on the outer periphery of the inner tube  83 . The device-side shell  87  is made of metal excellent in conductivity and surrounds the inner tube  83  over the entire periphery. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 , the waterproof connector  10  includes female terminals (an example of “terminals”)  20  connectable to the male terminals  85  of the device-side connector  80 , a housing  30  configured to accommodate a plurality of female terminals  20  and to be connected to the device-side housing  81  and a shield shell  50  configured to collectively surround the female terminals  20  by being accommodated into the housing  30 . 
     The female terminal  20  is formed by press-working a metal plate material excellent in conductivity and, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , is connected to an end of a shielded cable  25 . 
     The shielded cable  25  includes a core  26 , an insulating inner coating  27 , a braided wire  28  and an insulating outer coating  29  concentrically arranged from an inner side, and the end of the shielded cable  25  is exposed successively from the core  26  to the braided wire  28 . 
     The female terminal  20  is formed, for example, by press-working a metal plate material that is excellent in conductivity. The female terminal  20  has a terminal connecting portion  21  and a wire connecting portion  22  provided behind the terminal connecting portion  21 . The terminal connecting portion  21  is to be connected to the male terminal  85  of the device-side connector  80 . The wire connecting portion  22  is crimped to the core  26  and to the inner coating  27  of the shielded cable  25  for connecting the female terminal  20  to the shielded cable  25 , and a rubber plug G is fit externally on the inner coating  27 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the terminal connecting portion  21  is in the form of a rectangular tube open forward and rearward, and the male terminal  85  of the device-side connector  80  is inserted into the terminal connecting portion  21  from the front. A resilient contact piece  23  is provided in the terminal connecting portion  21  and is configured to resiliently contact the male terminal  85  of the device-side connector  80 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , this resilient contact piece  23  resiliently contacts the male terminal  85  and vertically sandwiches the male terminal  85  together with an upper plate of the terminal connecting portion  21  when the male terminal  85  is inserted into the terminal connecting portion  21 . Thus, the female terminal  20  and the male terminal  85  are connected electrically. 
     The housing  30  is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , includes a receptacle  31  into which the device-side housing  81  of the device-side connector  80  is fit from the front, and a housing body  32  substantially in the form of a rectangular tube penetrates through a back wall  31 A of the receptacle  31  in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 , the receptacle  31  is open forward and is long in the width direction. A lock arm  33  is formed on the top of the receptacle  31  and is lockable to the lock  86  of the device-side housing  81  in the front-rear direction. The lock arm  33  is locked to the lock  86  in the front-rear direction to lock the housing  30  and the device-side housing  81  in a connected state, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the receptacle  31  and the device-side housing  81  are fit properly. 
     The housing body  32  arranged in the receptacle  31  serves as a fitting  34  to be fit between the outer tube  82  and the inner tube  83  of the device-side housing  81 . 
     The fitting  34  is substantially in the form of a rectangular tube with four rounded corners, as shown in  FIG. 1 . An annular connector seal ring (an example of a “connector resilient member” and a “connector seal member”) is fit on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , and is prevented from coming off forward by a seal presser  35 . The connector seal ring  36  is made of an oil-containing resilient material. Outer peripheral lips  36 A are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector seal ring  36  and inner peripheral lips  36 B are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the connector seal ring  36 . When the fitting  34  is fit into the outer tube  82 , the outer peripheral lips  36 A of the connector seal ring  36  are held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube  82  over the entire periphery and the inner peripheral lips  36 B are held resiliently in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34  over the entire periphery. In this way, water is stopped between the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube  82  and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34  by the connector seal ring  36 . 
     The seal presser  35  is formed to cover the front surface, the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of an opening edge part of the front end of the fitting  34 , and is held on the fitting  34  by locking an unillustrated locking projection provided on the seal presser  35  and an unillustrated locked portion on the fitting  34  in the front-rear direction. 
     Two individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are provided side by side in the width direction inside the fitting  34  for individually accommodating the female terminals  20 . The individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are substantially of circular tubes extending forward from a back part of the fitting  34  and are long in the front-rear direction. Front end parts of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  project forward from the fitting  34 . Further, the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are fit respectively into the device-side cavities  84  of the inner tube  83  when the fitting  34  and the device-side housing  81  are fit together. 
     The female terminal  20  and the rubber plug G can be accommodated individually into the individual terminal accommodating portion  37  from behind. When the female terminal  20  and the rubber plug G are accommodated into the individual terminal accommodating portion  37 , a locking lance  37 A provided in the individual terminal accommodating portion  37  retains the female terminal  20  and water is stopped between the individual terminal accommodating portion  37  and the shielded cable  25  by the rubber plug G. Thus, when the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are connected and the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are fit into the device-side cavities  84  of the inner tube  83 , the male terminals  85  enter the terminal connecting portions  21  through the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  and the female terminals  20  and the male terminals  85  are connected electrically, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , an annular individual seal ring (an example of an “individual resilient member” and an “individual seal member”)  38  is fit on the outer peripheral surface of each individual terminal accommodating portion  37  and is retained by a front cap FC. 
     The individual seal ring  38  is made of an oil-containing resilient material. Outer peripheral lips  38 A are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the individual seal ring  38  and inner peripheral lips  38 B are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the individual seal ring  38 . When the individual terminal accommodating portion  37  is fit into the device-side cavity  84 , the outer peripheral lips  38 A of the individual seal ring  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the device-side cavity  84  over the entire periphery and the inner peripheral lips  38 B of the individual seal ring  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the individual terminal accommodating portion  37  over the entire periphery. In this way, the individual seal ring  38  stops water from entering between the inner peripheral surface of the device-side cavity  84  and the outer peripheral surface of the individual terminal accommodating portion  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a part of the housing body  32  arranged behind the receptacle  31  serves as a wire accommodating portion  39  for collectively accommodating a plurality of shielded cables  25  pulled out rearward from the individual terminal accommodating portions  37 . 
     A caulk ring  40  made of metal and connected to the braided wire  28  exposed on the end of the shielded cable  25  is fit on the outer periphery of each shielded cable  25  arranged in the wire accommodating portion  39 . The caulk ring  40  is formed into a stepped cylindrical shape having a larger diameter in a rear part than in a front part, and the rear part of the caulk ring  40  is connected to the shield shell  50  made of metal. 
     The shield shell  50  is formed, for example, by press-working a metal plate material excellent in conductivity. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the shield shell  50  includes a shell body  51  in the form of a rectangular tube arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the housing body  32  and long in the front-rear direction. The shell body  51  is formed to cover from substantially central parts of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  in the front-rear direction to the caulk rings  40  from outside. In other words, the shell body  51  is arranged from a substantially central part of the fitting  34  in the front-rear direction to the wire accommodating portion  39  while collectively surrounding rear parts of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  accommodating the female terminals  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , two pairs of upper and lower resilient pieces  52  are formed side by side in the lateral direction in a rear part of the shell body  51  for vertically sandwiching the respective caulk rings  40  connected to the shielded cables  25 . Each resilient piece  52  is cantilevered rearward and is resiliently displaceable in an in-out direction of the shell body  51 . 
     Further, each resilient piece  52  has a chevron shape by being bent outwardly after projecting more inwardly of the shell body  51  toward a rear side from the substantially central part of the shell body  51  in the front-rear direction. A top part of the chevron shape of each resilient piece  52  serves as a ring contact portion  52 A configured to contact the caulk ring  40 . The shield shell  50  is connected electrically to the braided wire  28  of the shielded cable  25  via the caulk ring  40  by the ring contact portion  52 A resiliently contacting the outer peripheral surface of the caulk ring  40 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a shell contact portion  51 A is provided on the inner surface of a front end part of the shell body  51  and is capable of contacting the outer peripheral surface of the device-side shell  87  of the device-side connector  80 . The shell contact portion  51 A projects inwardly at the position of a substantially central part of the fitting  34  in the front-rear direction. When the fitting  34  is fit between the outer tube  82  and the inner tube  83  of the device-side housing  81  and the device-side shell  87  of the device-side connector  80  is arranged in the shell body  51 , the shell contact portion  51 A contacts the outer peripheral surface of the device-side connector  87 . In this way, the device-side shell  87  and the shield shell  50  are connected electrically for electromagnetically shielding an area where the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  and the caulk rings  40  are arranged. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a one-piece rubber plug  41  is mounted in a rear part of the wire accommodating portion  39  for stopping water between the inner peripheral surface of the wire accommodating portion  39  and the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective shielded cable  25 . The one-piece rubber plug  41  is fit in a rear end part of the wire accommodating portion  39  with the plurality of shielded cables  25  inserted therethrough in the front-rear direction, and is prevented from coming off rearward by a cap-shaped rubber plug holder  42  mounted on the rear end part of the wire accommodating portion  39 . 
     The connector seal ring  36  fit on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34  is arranged on a rear end part of the fitting  34 , and the individual seal rings  38  fit on the outer peripheral surfaces of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are arranged at positions slightly more forward than substantially central parts of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  in the front-rear direction and inside the seal presser  35  mounted on the fitting  34 . Further, the connector seal ring  36  and the individual seal rings  38  are arranged in areas at both front and rear sides of a position where the device-side shell  87  and the shell contact portion  51 A in the shell body  51  of the shield shell  50  are in contact. 
     In other words, the connector seal ring  36  and the individual seal rings  38  are displaced large distances in the front-rear direction, which is a connecting direction. More particularly, the connector seal ring  36  is arranged in a rear end part, which is one end part of an area where the fitting  34  is arranged, and the individual seal rings  38  are arranged in a front end part, which is the other end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged. 
     Accordingly, when the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are connected, the connector seal ring  36  is held resiliently in close contact with the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  in the rear end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged, and the individual seal rings  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  in the front end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged. That is, the connector seal ring  36  or the individual seal rings  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  in the front end part and the rear end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged, i.e. at two front and rear positions. 
     This embodiment is configured as described above. Next, functions and effects in connecting the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are described. 
     First, the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are arranged opposite to each other as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and are connected, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by being brought closer to each other. 
     In the process of connecting the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80 , the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  first are inserted into the device-side cavities  85  in the inner tube  83  of the device-side connector  80  and the outer tube  82  of the device-side connector  80  is inserted into the receptacle  31 . When a connecting operation is continued, the fitting  34  is fit between the outer tube  82  and the inner tube  83  as the outer tube  82  is fit between the receptacle  31  and the fitting  34 . In this way, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the male terminals  85  are inserted into the terminal connecting portions  21  and the female terminals  20  and the male terminals  85  are connected electrically. 
     Further, when the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are connected properly, the connector seal ring  36  is held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the outer tube  82  and the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the fitting  34  over the entire periphery, and the individual seal rings  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the device-side cavities  84  and the outer peripheral surfaces of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  over the entire periphery, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this way, water is stopped between the outer tube  82  and the fitting  34  and between the inner tube  83  and the individual terminal accommodating portions  38 . Thus, the interiors of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  are waterproofed doubly. Further, water is stopped between electrodes by the individual seal rings  38 , for example, even if water intrudes into the fitting  34  before connection. Thus, a short circuit between the female terminals  20  can be prevented. 
     Further, when the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are connected properly, the lock  86  of the device-side connector  80  and the lock arm  33  of the waterproof connector  10  are locked in the front-rear direction and the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  are locked in the connected state, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     For example, in the case of a waterproof connector including only a connector seal or a waterproof connector including only individual seal rings, the seal ring(s) is/are held in close contact with a device-side connector and the waterproof connector only at one position. Thus, if vibration from a device is transmitted to the connectors, the device-side connector and the waterproof connector wrench and rattle each other with the position of the seal ring(s) acting as a fulcrum, and contact parts between male terminals of the device-side connector and female terminals of the waterproof connector may slide and abrade. 
     However, according to this configuration, the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  are held resiliently in close contact with the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  at two front and rear positions between the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80 . Thus, the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  can be prevented from wrenching and rattling each other. In this way, the abrasion of the contact parts between the male terminals  85  and the resilient contact pieces  23  of the female terminals  20  can be prevented. 
     Further, according to this embodiment, the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  are arranged at distant positions largely displaced in the front-rear direction in the front end part and the rear end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged. Thus, the rattling of the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  can be prevented more reliably, for example, as compared to the case where individual seal rings and a connector seal ring are arranged proximately in the front-rear direction or arranged to overlap radially. 
     Further, according to this embodiment, the rattling of the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  is prevented by arranging the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  in the areas at both front and rear sides (both sides in the connecting direction) of the position where the device-side shell  87  and the shell contact portion  51 A of the shield shell  50  are in contact. Thus, the device-side shell  87  and the shell contact portion  51 A can be prevented from sliding and will not abrade. That is, displacing the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  large amounts in the front-rear direction is very effective for preventing the waterproof connector  10 , including the shield shell  50 , from rattling relative to the device-side connector  80 . 
     As described above, according to this embodiment, the individual seal rings  38  or the connector seal ring  36  are held resiliently in close contact with the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  at two front and rear positions between the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  spaced largel distances in the front-rear direction in the front end part and the rear end part of the area where the fitting  34  is arranged. Thus, the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  can be prevented from wrenching and rattling each other. In this way, the abrasion of the contact parts between the male terminals  85  and the resilient contact pieces  23  of the female terminals  20  can be prevented. 
     Further, according to this embodiment, the connector seal ring  36 , configured to stop water between the outer tube  82  and the fitting  34 , and the individual seal rings  38 , configured to stop water between the inner peripheral surfaces of the device-side cavities  84  and the individual terminal accommodating portions  37 , are used also as rattling suppressing members for preventing rattling between the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80 . Thus, the number of components can be reduced as compared to the case where a separate rattling suppressing member is provided between the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80 . 
     Further, since the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  are displaced in the front-rear direction, connection resistance is dispersed when connecting the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80 , for example, as compared to the case where individual seal rings and a connector seal ring are arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction. 
     Further, according to this embodiment, the rattling of the waterproof connector  10  and the device-side connector  80  is prevented by arranging the individual seal rings  38  and the connector seal ring  36  in the areas at both front and rear sides of the position where the device-side shell  87  and the shell contact portion  51 A of the shield shell  50  are in contact. Thus, not only the contact parts between the male terminals  85  and the female terminals  20 , but also the device-side shell  87  and the shell contact portion  51 A can be prevented from sliding and abrasion. That is, in waterproof connectors including a shield shell as in this embodiment, it is very effective to displace individual seal rings and a connector seal ring in the front-rear direction. 
     The technique disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following various modes are also included. 
     In the above embodiment, the connector seal ring is arranged behind the individual seal rings. However, there is no limitation to this and the connector seal ring may be arranged before the individual seal rings. 
     In the above embodiment, the device-side shell and the shell contact portion are in contact at the position behind the individual seal rings and before the connector seal ring. However, there is no limitation to this and the device-side shell and the shell contact portion may be in contact at the position before the individual seal rings or behind the individual seal rings. 
     In the above embodiment, the individual seal rings  38  are held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the device-side cavities  84  and the outer peripheral surfaces of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  over the entire periphery, and the connector seal ring  36  is held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube  82  and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34  over the entire periphery. However, there is no limitation to this and individual seal rings may be held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the device-side cavities  84  and parts of the outer peripheral surfaces of the individual terminal accommodating portions  37  and a connector seal ring may be held resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube  82  and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fitting  34  or either the individual seal rings or the connector seal ring may be partially resiliently held in close contact. 
     In the above embodiment, the waterproof connector including the shield shell is illustrated as an example. However, there is no limitation to this and the technique disclosed in this specification may be applied to waterproof connectors including no shield shell and connectors having no waterproof function. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10 : waterproof connector (connector) 
           20 : female terminal (terminal) 
           30 : housing 
           34 : fitting 
           36 : connector seal ring (connector resilient member, connector seal member) 
           37 : individual terminal accommodating portion 
           38 : individual seal ring (individual resilient member, individual seal member) 
           50 : shield shell 
           80 : device-side connector (mating connector) 
           84 : device-side cavity (mating cavity) 
           85 : male terminal (mating terminal) 
           87 : device-side shell (mating shell)