Waterproof connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10164353-B2
Application number	US-201615552919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 23, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

To simplify an assembling process and reduce a height while keeping a reliable waterproof structure by improving structures of a housing and an elastic body. Provided are an insulative housing 31, an insulative elastic body 40 which is held by the housing 31, and terminal pins 50 which penetrate through the elastic body 40 and are held by the housing 31. The insulative elastic body 40 has an outside elastic portion 41 and inside elastic portions 42 into which the insulative elastic body 40 is partitioned by the housing 31 and link portions 45 which link the outside elastic portion 41 to the inside elastic portions 42. The housing 31 is provided with wall portions 35 with which the inside elastic portions 42 through which the respective terminal pins 50 penetrate are in contact in a compressed state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A waterproof connector comprising:
an insulative housing;
an insulative elastic body held by the housing; and
a terminal pin which penetrates through the elastic body and which is held by the housing,
wherein the insulative elastic body includes an inside elastic portion and an outside elastic portion which are partitioned by the housing to each other, a link portion which links the inside elastic portion and the outside elastic portion to each other, and the inside elastic portion is surrounded by the outside elastic portion, and
wherein the housing includes a wall portion with which the inside elastic portion through which the terminal pin penetrates is in contact in a compressed state.

2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 , wherein the wall portion is formed so as to surround an entire circumference of the terminal pin.

3. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a tunnel in a portion where the insulative elastic body is partitioned into the inside elastic portion and the outside elastic portion, and wherein the link portion is formed in the tunnel.

4. The waterproof connector according to claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a base portion which supports a bottom surface of the insulative elastic body and a terminal holding portion which projects from a top surface of the base portion and partitions the insulative elastic body into the inside elastic portion and the outside elastic portion;
wherein the terminal holding portion is formed with a recess including a portion which is fitted with a head of the terminal pin and the wall portion, for each of a plurality of terminal pins, and
wherein the tunnel allows an outer circumferential surface of the terminal holding portion and the recess to communicate with each other.

5. The waterproof connector according to claim 4 , wherein the base portion includes a through-hole with which an insertion end portion of the terminal pin fits, and
wherein a groove extending from the through-hole to a side surface of the base portion is formed on a bottom surface of the base portion.

6. The waterproof connector according to claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a tunnel in a portion where the insulative elastic body is partitioned into the inside elastic portion and the outside elastic portion, and wherein the link portion is formed in the tunnel.

7. The waterproof connector according to claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a base portion which supports a bottom surface of the insulative elastic body and a terminal holding portion which projects from a top surface of the base portion and partitions the insulative elastic body into the inside elastic portion and the outside elastic portion;
wherein the terminal holding portion is formed with a recess including a portion which is fitted with a head of the terminal pin and the wall portion, for each of a plurality of terminal pins, and
wherein the tunnel allows an outer circumferential surface of the terminal holding portion and the recess to communicate with each other.

8. The waterproof connector according to claim 7 , wherein the base portion includes a through-hole with which an insertion end portion of the terminal pin fits, and
wherein a groove extending from the through-hole to a side surface of the base portion is formed on a bottom surface of the base portion.

9. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 , wherein the insulative housing and the insulative elastic body are integrally formed.

10. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal pin includes a cylindrical portion, and the inside elastic portion surrounds the cylindrical portion of the terminal pin.

11. The waterproof connector according to claim 2 , wherein the inside elastic portion is surrounded and compressed by the wall portion.

12. The waterproof connector according to claim 3 , wherein the outside elastic portion is placed on the top surface of the base portion to surround the outer circumferential surface of the terminal holding portion.

13. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 , wherein the insulative elastic body is positioned at a medium position in a height direction of the insulative housing.

14. The waterproof connector according to claim 4 , wherein the inside elastic portion includes a first through hole and the base portion includes a second through hole, such that the first and second through holes are configured continuously in a concentric manner, through which the terminal pin penetrates.

15. The waterproof connector according to claim 14 , wherein the terminal pin includes an insertion-side end portion that is inserted through the first through hole and engaged with and held by the second through hole.

16. The waterproof connector according to claim 15 , wherein the groove is wider than the insertion-side end portion of the terminal pin.

Assignees

• Yokowo Seisakusho Kk

Inventors

• Miki Katsuo
• Orikasa Shingo

Classifications

• H01R13/52

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases · CPC title

• H01R9/223 Primary

  Insulating enclosures for terminals (for switches H01H9/0264) · CPC title

• H01R13/521 Primary

  Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert · CPC title