Waterproof electrical connector

Claim 2

A waterproof electrical connector comprising a housing (20) inserted into a cavity (50) defined in a counterpart of the connector and a generally annular sealing member (40) fitted with the housing (20) through a front portion thereof relative to a direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, thereby sealing a gap between the housing and an inner peripheral wall surface of the cavity (50), characterized in that the housing (20) has a stepped portion (23) in a rear portion thereof relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart such that an enlarged portion (22) is provided by the stepped portion (23) and characterized by an engagement member (30) engaging an outer periphery of the housing (20) at a position where the same abuts one end of the sealing member (40) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, in a condition that the sealing member (40) is fitted with the housing (20) to thereby abut the stepped portion (23), thereby providing another enlarged portion.

Claim 3

A connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (20) includes a pair of terminal apertures (25) into which a pair of terminals (10) are inserted respectively, the terminal apertures (25) being formed to extend through front and rear ends of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, each terminal aperture (25) having an engagement aperture (27) communicating with the outer peripheral surface of the housing (20), and that the engagement member (30) has engagement convex portions (35) invading the terminal apertures (25) through the engagement apertures (27) to thereby engage the terminals (10) respectively.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement member (30) is formed into the shape of a cap covering the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart.

Claim 5

A connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the engagement member (30) is formed into the shape of a cap covering the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart.

Claim 6

A connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the engagement convex portions (35) of the cap-shaped engagement member (30) are formed to advance into and retreat out of the engagement apertures (27) respectively.

Claim 7

A connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the cap-shaped engagement member (30) has cylindrical portions (32) opposite the peripheral face of the housing (20), each cylindrical portion (32) having a part (34) opened and closed by means of a hinge (33), and the engagement convex portions (35) are formed on the inner peripheral face of the engagement member (30).

Claim 8

A connector according to claim 6, characterized in that each engagement aperture (27) extends to the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart.

Claim 9

A connector according to claim 4, characterized in that each engagement aperture (27) extends to the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart and that each engagement convex portion (35) is formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical portion (32) of the cap-shaped engagement member (30) opposed to the periphery of the housing (20) so that each engagement convex portion (35) faces the engagement aperture (27).

Claim 10

A connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the cap-shaped engagement member (130) has cylindrical portions (132) opposite the peripheral face of the housing (120), each cylindrical portion (132) having a notch forming an elastic piece (134) and the engagement convex portions (135) are formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the elastic pieces (134) so as to be opposed to the engagement apertures (127) respectively.

Claim 11

A connector according to claim 9, characterized in that each engagement aperture (127) extends to the front end of the housing (120) relative to the direction in which the hornsing (120) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart.

Claim 12

A connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement member (230) is formed into the shape of a ring inserted into the housing from the front end of housing (220) relative to the direction in which the housing (220) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart.

Claim 13

A connector according to claim 2, wherein the engagement member (230) is formed into the shape of a ring inserted into the housing (220) from the front end of housing (220) relative to the direction in which the housing (220) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart and the engagement convex portions ( of the cap-shaped engagement member (230) are formed to advance into and retreat out of the engagement apertures respectively.

Claim 14

A waterproof electrical connector comprising a first connector having a cavity (50) with an inner peripheral wall continuous in a direction of the depth from an open end thereof and a second connector comprising a housing (20) inserted into a cavity (50) defined in a counterpart of the connector and a generally annular sealing member (40) fitted with the housing (20) through a front portion thereof relative to a direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, thereby sealing a gap between the housing and an inner peripheral wall surface of the cavity (50), characterized in that the housing (20) has a stepped portion (23) in a rear portion thereof relative to the direction in which the hornsing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart such that an enlarged portion (22) is provided by the stepped portion (23) and characterized by an engagement member (30) engaging an outer periphery of the housing (20) at a position where the same abuts one end of the sealing member (40) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, in a condition that the sealing member (40) is fitted with the housing (20) to thereby abut the stepped portion (23), thereby providing another enlarged portion.

Claim 15

A waterproof electrical connector comprising a first connector having a cavity (50) with an inner peripheral wall continuous in a direction of the depth from an open end thereof and a second connector comprising a housing (20) inserted into a cavity (50) defined in a counterpart of the connector and a generally annular sealing member (40) fitted with the housing (20) through a front portion thereof relative to a direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, thereby sealing a gap between the housing and an inner peripheral wall surface of the cavity (50), characterized in that the housing (20) has a stepped portion (23) in a rear portion thereof relative to the direction in which the hornsing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart such that an enlarged portion (22) is provided by the stepped portion (23) and characterized by an engagement member (30) engaging an outer periphery of the housing (20) at a position where the same abuts one end of the sealing member (40) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, in a condition that the sealing member (40) is fitted with the housing (20) to thereby abut the stepped portion (23), thereby providing another enlarged portion.

Claim 16

A waterproof electrical connector comprising a housing (20) having a pair of terminal apertures (25) into which a pair of terminals (10) are inserted respectively, the terminal apertures (25) being formed to extend through front and rear ends of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into a cavity (50) of a counterpart, characterized in that each terminal aperture (25) has an engagement aperture (27) communicating with the outer peripheral surface of the housing and characterized by a housing cap (30) engageable with the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, thereby covering the front end, the housing cap (30) having engagement convex portions (35) inserted through the engagement apertures (27) into the terminal apertures (25) so that the engagement convex portions (35) are engaged with terminals (10) in the terminal apertures (25), respectively.

Claim 17

A waterproof electrical connector comprising a housing (20) having a pair of terminal apertures (25) into which a pair of terminals (10) are inserted respectively, the terminal apertures (25) being formed to extend through front and rear ends of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into a cavity (50) of a counterpart, characterized in that each terminal aperture (25) has an engagement aperture (27) communicating with the outer peripheral surface of the housing and characterized by a housing cap (30) engageable with the front end of the housing (20) relative to the direction in which the housing (20) is inserted into the cavity (50) of the counterpart, thereby covering the front end, the housing cap (30) having engagement convex portions (35) inserted through the engagement apertures (27) into the terminal apertures (25) so that the engagement convex portions (35) are engaged with terminals (10) in the terminal apertures (25), respectively.

Claim 18

A connector according to claim 14, characterized in that the housing cap (130) has cylindrical portions (32) opposite the peripheral face of the housing (120), each cylindrical portion (132) having a part opened and closed by means of a hinge (133) and that the engagement convex portions (135) are formed on the inner peripheral face of the engagement member (130).

Claim 19

A connector according to claim 15, characterized in that each engagement aperture (127) extends to the front end of the housing (120) relative to the direction in which the housing (120) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart.

Claim 20

A connector according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing (120) includes a body (121) projecting in the direction in which the housing (120) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart, either openings of the respective terminal apertures (125) are formed in a distal end of the housing body (121) and that the engagement apertures (127) are open to extend from the opening of the terminal apertures (125) to the sides of the housing body (121) respectively.

Claim 21

A connector according to claim 14, characterized in that the cap-shaped retainer (130) has cylindrical portions (132) opposite the peripheral face of the housing (120), each cylindrical portion (132) having a notch forming an elastic piece (134) and the engagement convex portions (135) are formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the elastic pieces(134) so as to be opposed to the engagement apertures (127) respectively.

Claim 22

A connector according to claim 18, characterized in that each engagement aperture (127) extends to the front end of the housing (120) relative to the direction in which the housing (120) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart.

Claim 23

A connector according to claim 19, characterized in that the housing (120) includes a body (121) projecting in the direction in which the housing (120) is inserted into the cavity of the counterpart, either openings of the respective terminal apertures (125) are formed in a distal end of the housing body (121) and in that the engagement apertures (127) are open to extend from the opening of the terminal apertures (125) to the sides of the housing body (121) respectively.