BACKGROUND ART 0001 This invention relates to a watertight connector with improved watertight performance. 0002 As shown in FIG. 5, the applicants of the present application have proposed a watertight connector comprising: a connector housing 3 including receptors (cavities) 3a for inserting and holding terminals 2 fixed to wires 1 therein, and a seal setting portion 3b provided at a rear part of the receptors 3a; a resilient seal member 4 made of a soft material including a front surface 4a making contact with a rear surface 3c of the seal setting portion 3b of the connector housing 3, and press-fit holes 4c formed therein for passing the terminals and the wires for press-fitting; and a holder 5 including a holding portion 5a that makes contact with a rear surface 4b of the seal member 4 to encase the seal member 4, a pair of locking hollows 5b engageable with corresponding projections 3d on the connector housing 3 in a state that the seal member 4 is held between the connector housing 3 and the holder 5, and insertion holes 5c for inserting the terminals and the wires. 0003 In the above watertight connector, as shown in FIG. 6A, the connector housing 3, the seal member 4, and the holder 5 are assembled one another in a state that the seal member 4 is seated in fit contact with the seal setting portion 3b of the connector housing 3, the holding portion 5a of the holder 5 encases the rear surface 4b of the seal member 4 in fit contact therewith, and the projections 3d engage with the locking hollows 5b. 0004 In this state, after the terminals 2 pass through insertion holes 5c of the holder 5, as shown in FIG. 6B, the terminals 2 are press-fitted in the press-fit holes 4c of the seal member 4 and abutted against lance portions 3e while held by the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3. The wires 1 are press-fitted in the press-fit holes 4c of the seal member 4, and in this way, the outer surface of the wires 1 is sealed in a water-tight state. 0005 Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, when projections 6a of a retainer 6 are thrust into the receptors 3a from the front side of the connector housing 3, the tip ends of the projections 6a are abutted against the tip ends of the lance portions 3e to thereby hinder the retainer 6 from being further thrust any more. This is a half-fitted state where the terminals 2 are in incomplete engagement with the lance portions 3e. Further thrusting the terminals 2 from the rear side of the connector accomplishes a complete engagement with the lance portions 3e. 0006 When the projections 6a of the retainer 6 are completely thrust into the receptors 3a, the projections 6a engage with the lance portions 3e so that the lance portions 3e may not be deflected. Thus, the terminals 2 are prevented from loosening off from the connector. 0007 In the above conventional watertight connector, the terminals 2 and the wires 1 are required to be altogether press-fitted in the press-fit holes 4c of the seal member 4. Accordingly, it is highly likely that part of the seal member 4 around the press-fit holes 4c may be damaged or scraped off due to forcible insertion of the tubular terminals 2 each having a rectangular shape in cross-section into the press-fit holes 4c and that the scraped part may be intruded inside the terminals to thereby cause an electrical problem resulting from inferior contact of the connector. 0008 Another problem may rise from the following construction of the above watertight connector. Each of the terminals 2 is provided with a stabilizer 2a projecting outward on a lateral side thereof as a mark for preventing a possibility that the terminals 2 may be inserted upside down. Since the press-fit hole 4c has, as shown in detail in FIG. 7A, a smaller dimension than the outer configuration of the terminal 2 viewed from the front side, it is highly likely that the edge-shaped stabilizer 2a may damage the press-fit hole 4c while the terminal 2 being pressingly inserted in the press-fit hole 4c to thereby impair the sealability of the watertight connector around a portion where the wires are inserted. The above problem must be considered also in the case where the press-fit holes 4c have a slit-like shape, as shown in FIG. 7B. 0009 In view of the above problems residing in the prior art, it is an object of this invention to provide a watertight connector with improved watertight performance at a portion where a connector housing and wires are provided.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 0010 To solve the above problems, according to an aspect of this invention, this invention is directed to a watertight connector comprising: a connector housing formed with receptors for inserting and holding terminals connected to wires therein, and a seal setting portion provided at a rear part of the receptors; a resilient seal member made of a soft material including a front surface made in contact with a rear surface of the seal setting portion and formed with segment holes for inserting the terminals and the wires therein; and a holder including a pressing portion made in contact with a rear surface of the seal member to compress the seal member forward, a locking part engageable with the connector housing when the seal member is compressed, and insertion holes for inserting the terminals and the wires therein. The watertight connector has the features that the seal setting portion of the connector housing is formed with a housing recess for housing the seal member therein, and that the seal member is compressed by the pressing portion of the holder when the seal member is housed in the housing recess in a state that the terminals connected to the wires pass through the insertion holes of the holder and the segment holes of the seal member and are held in the receptors of the connector housing. 0011 According to this invention, the seal member is housed in the housing recess of the seal setting portion of the connector housing, and the terminals connected to the wires pass through the insertion holes of the holder and the segment holes of the seal member and are held in the receptors of the connector housing, whereby the seal member is compressed by the pressing portion of the holder. Consequently, the segment holes of the seal member reduce the respective sizes thereof due to the compression so as to deform in conformity with the outer shape of the wires. 0012 In this way, when the seal member is housed in the housing recess defined in the seal setting portion of the connector housing and compressed by the pressing portion of the holder, the front surface of the seal member makes fit contact with the rear surface of the seal setting portion, and the outer surface of the seal setting portion makes fit contact with the inner surface of the housing recess. Thus, the sealable contact area of the seal member with the connector housing increases to secure sealability of the connector at the connector housing portion. 0013 Further, as the compression of the seal member reduces the sizes of the segment holes, the seal member is deformed into such a shape as to follow the outer shape of the wires. Thus, secured is the sealability of the connector at a portion where the wires are inserted. 0014 There is an idea of forming a housing recess in a front surface of a pressing portion of a holder in place of forming the housing recess in the seal setting portion of the connector housing. In this case, the seal member is set in the housing recess of the holder. This arrangement may cause a problem that the sealable contact area of the seal member with the connector housing decreases because the contact of the seal member with the connector housing is limited to the contact of the front surface of the seal member with the rear surface of the seal setting portion of the connector housing without a fit contact of the outer surface of the seal member with the connector housing. This arrangement is liable to result in an insecure sealed state of the connector at the connector housing portion. 0015 In order to prevent the above-stated problem, there is an idea of increasing the front area of the seal member. This, however, would enlarge the outer configuration of the seal member and undesirably result in large-sized holder and connector housing. 0016 Also, the above idea of forming the housing recess in the holder results in that the seal member is set on the side of the holder when the connector is assembled. When the terminals connected to the wires pass through the insertion holes of the holder and the segment holes of the seal member and are held in the receptors of the connector housing, this arrangement may cause the following problem. Specifically, when attempting to insert the terminals connected to the wires in the segment holes of the seal member with this arrangement, the terminals may deform the seal member toward the connector housing where the seal setting portion is provided if there should remain a clearance between the front surface of the seal member and the rear surface of the connector housing where the seal setting portion is provided, thereby making the insertion operation difficult and causing an insecure sealed state of the connector where the wires are inserted. 0017 According to another aspect of this invention, each of the segment holes of the seal member may have such a size as to make free from intervening of the insertion of the terminals. With this arrangement, there is no possibility of forcibly widening the segment holes when the terminals are inserted in the segment holes of the seal member. The resistance exerted to the seal member and the wires at the time of insertion reduces, thereby lowering a possibility of bending the terminals during the insertion operation and accordingly improving the insertion operability. Particularly, a watertight connector provided with multipoles is constructed such that signal circuits occupy primary part of the connector due to its characteristic that the connector is used as a part of an electronic unit. Accordingly, this arrangement is effective in preventing lowering insertion operability of the connector of multipolar type. 0018 Also, there is no possibility that stabilizers of the terminals would scrape off or impair part of the seal member around the segment holes when the terminals are inserted in the segment holes of the seal member. Accordingly, prevented is deterioration of sealability of the connector at a portion where the wires are inserted, and watertight performance thereof is improved. 0019 According to still another aspect of this invention, preferably, each of the segment holes of the seal member may have such a size as to enable insertion of a plurality of terminals side by side in a row. With this arrangement, there is no need of molding a partition wall with a very small thickness in the seal member due to a small interval between the adjacent insertion holes of the seal member. Thereby, molding of the segment holes in the seal member is facilitated. 0020 According to yet another aspect of this invention, the insertion holes of the holder may be so formed as to correspond to the receptors of the connector housing. Provided that the dimension of the insertion holes of the holder should be set so large as to enable insertion of the plurality of terminals side by side in correspondence with the size of the segment holes of the seal member in addition to the structure that each of the segment holes of the seal member is so formed as to enable insertion of the plurality of terminals side by side in a row, such an arrangement would undesirably allow the seal member to deform into the shape of the large insertion holes of the holder when being compressed, thereby hindering effective compression of the seal member. Further, such an arrangement would make it impossible to accurately hold the position of the receptors of the connector housing at the time of terminal insertion and thus make it impossible to accurately insert the terminals in the receptors of the connector housing through the insertion holes of the holder and the segment holes of the seal member. The preferred arrangement, however, would eliminate such a problem. 0021 According to still further aspect of this invention, preferably, a front surface of the holder may be formed, at positions corresponding to the segment holes, with indents to receive a part of the press-deformed seal member when the holder is engaged with the connector housing. With this arrangement, as the part of the seal member is intruded in the indents when the seal member is compressed, the segment holes of the seal member are further deformed in conformity with the outer shape of the wires, thereby furthermore enhancing watertight effect of the connector where the wires are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0022 FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a watertight connector according to this invention; 0023 FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a front part of a holder of the watertight connector; 0024 FIGS. 2A to 2D are side views in section illustrating a sequence of assembling the watertight connector, 0025 FIG. 2A showing a state before a terminal is inserted, 0026 FIG. 2B showing a state that the terminal is on the way of insertion, 0027 FIG. 2C showing a state that the terminal is engaged, and 0028 FIG. 2D showing a state that a retainer is thrust; 0029 FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams illustrating a sequence of assembling the watertight connector, 0030 FIG. 3A being a plan view in section before the terminal is inserted, 0031 FIG. 3B being a side view in section showing a state that the terminal is on the way of insertion, 0032 FIG. 3C being a plan view in section showing a state that the terminal is engaged, and 0033 FIG. 3D being a plan view in section showing a state that the retainer is thrust; 0034 FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views respectively showing a seal member of the watertight connector and an altered form thereof; 0035 FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a watertight connector of prior art, 0036 FIG. 5A being an exploded perspective view, and 0037 FIG. 5B being a perspective view showing a front part of a holder of the conventional watertight connector; 0038 FIGS. 6A to 6C are side views in section showing a sequence of assembling the conventional watertight connector, 0039 FIG. 6A showing a state before a terminal is inserted, 0040 FIG. 6B showing a state that the terminal is engaged, and 0041 FIG. 6C showing a state that a retainer is thrust; and 0042 FIGS. 7A and 7B are front views each illustrating essential parts of a seal member of the conventional watertight connector.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 0043 As shown in FIG. 1, a watertight connector according to this invention comprises a connector housing 3 made of a synthetic resin. The connector housing 3 includes receptors (cavities) 3a for inserting and holding terminals 2 fixed to wires 1 and a seal setting portion 3b provided at a rear part of the receptors 3a. 0044 The seal setting portion 3b is formed with a hood portion protruding rearward from a rear part of the connector housing 3 to form a housing recess 3f defined by the hood portion in which a resilient seal member 14 made of a soft material is housed. 0045 The seal member 14 is, for example, made of a styrene thermoplastic elastomer or urethane gel or silicone gel, and is formed with insertion segment holes 14c (through holes) extending in rearward and forward directions of the connector for inserting the terminals and the wires. As depicted in detail in FIG. 4A, each segment hole 14c has a width W1 capable of inserting a group of terminals 2, for instance, three terminals, side by side in a row. 0046 Each segment hole 14c has a height T capable of inserting a group of terminals 2 altogether with stabilizers (projections) 2a. As shown in FIG. 4B, each segment hole 14c may have a width W2 capable of inserting a single terminal 2. 0047 When the seal member 14 is housed in the housing recess 3f of the connector housing 3, a front surface 14a of the seal member 14 is made in fit contact with a rear surface 3c of the seal setting portion 3b, while an outer surface 14d of the seal member 14 is made in fit contact with an inner surface 3g of the housing recess 3f. 0048 It is possible to mold the connector housing 3 made of a synthetic resin and the resilient seal member 14 made of a soft material into a single molded member made of multiple layers. Also, it is possible to mold the connector housing 3 and the seal member 14 in a state that one of the two members is inserted in the other. In both cases, an operation to set the seal member 14 in the connector housing 3 at the time of assembling the connector can be omitted. 0049 The (sic) holder 15 includes a pressing portion 15a made in contact with the rear surface 14b of the seal member 14 to compress the seal member 14 forward. The holder 15 is formed, at opposite ends of the pressing portion 5a, locking hollows 15b engageable with locking projections 3d of the connector housing 3 in a compressed state of the seal member 14, and sub locking hollows 15e that are temporarily engaged with the locking projections 3d in a non-compressed state of the seal member 14. 0050 The pressing portion 15a is formed with a certain number of insertion holes (through holes) 15c corresponding to the receptors 3b of the connector housing 3. Each insertion hole 15c extends in forward and rearward directions of the connector to insert the terminal and the wire. 0051 A front surface (compressing surface) 15d of the pressing portion 15a is, as shown in detail in FIG. 1B, formed with indents 15f for accommodating part of the seal member 14 in a compressed and deformed state in correspondence with the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14 when the holder 15 is engaged with the connector housing 3. 0052 In the above arrangement, when the connector housing 3, the seal member 14, and the holder 15 are assembled together, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the seal member 14 is housed in the housing recess 3f of the connector housing 3 with the seal member 14 seated on the seal setting portion 3b. Then, the locking projections 3d of the connector housing 3 are engaged with the sub locking hollows 15e of the holder 15. At this time, the seal member 14 is not compressed by the pressing portion 15a of the holder 15. 0053 In this state, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, after being inserted in the insertion holes 15c of the holder 15, the terminals 2 are easily provided in the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14, and then engaged with lance portions 3e while fittingly held by the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3. 0054 Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 3D, pushing the holder 15 forward with the front surface 15d of the pressing portion 15a made in contact with the rear surface 4b of the seal member 14 to engage the locking projections 3d with the locking hollows 15b enables to compress the seal member 14 forward against the pressing portion 15a. 0055 Accompanied by the compression, the segment holes 14c are inwardly compressed to thereby reduce their sizes thereof (compressed deformation) in conformity with the outer shape of the inserted wires 1. In this way, the outer circumferences of the wires 1 are sealed in a water-tight state. 0056 Simultaneously, part of the seal member 14 compressed during the engagement of the holder 15 with the connector housing 3 is intruded in the indents 15f of the front surface 15d of the holder 15 to thereby cause further deformation of the segment holes 14c in conformity with the outer shape of the wires 1. 0057 Subsequently, when projections 6a of a retainer 6 are thrust in the receptors 3a from the front side of the connector housing 3, the tip ends of the projections 6a abut against the tip ends of the lance portions 3e to thereby hinder the retainer 6 from being further thrust any more. This is a half-fitted state where the terminals 2 are in incomplete engagement with the lance portions 3e. Further pushing the terminals 2 from the rear side of the connector accomplishes a complete engagement with the lance portions 3e. 0058 When the projections 6a of the retainer 6 are completely thrust into the receptors 3a, the projections 6a engage with the lance portions 3e so that the lance portions 3e may not be deflected. Thus, the terminals 2 are prevented from loosening off from the connector. 0059 In the watertight connector having the above construction, the terminals 2 are inserted in the segment holes 14c through the insertion holes 15c in a state that the holder 15 is temporarily engaged with the connector housing 3, and then held by the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3. 0060 Thereafter, locking the holder 15 to the connector housing 3 compresses and deforms the seal member 14 by the pressing portion 15a of the holder 15 such that the segment holes 14c reduce the size thereof and deform in conformity with the outer shape of the wires 1. 0061 When the terminals 2 pass through the segment holes 14c, the seal member 14 is not yet compressed, and accordingly, the dimension of each segment hole 14c is substantially the same as the outer configuration of the group of terminals 2 viewed from the front side of the connector. Accordingly, there is no need of forcibly widening the segment holes 14c with insertion of the terminals 2, and a resistance exerted to the seal member 14 and the wires 1 during the insertion of the terminals 2 is reduced. Thus, the wires 1 hardly bend, and insertion operability of the wires 1 is improved. 0062 Particularly, the watertight connector provided with multipoles (for example, 27 poles) as shown in the embodiment is highly popular as a part of an electronic unit, and it is often the case that thin wires 1 which are liable to bend are provided due to the characteristic of the electronic unit that signal circuits occupy primary part of the unit. Accordingly, the above arrangement of the watertight connector is advantageous in preventing lowering of insertion operability of the wires. 0063 The above arrangement is effective because of no possibility of scraping off or damaging part of the seal member 14 around the segment holes 14c due to forcible insertion of the terminals 2. Thus, this arrangement is free from a problem of lowering sealability of the connector, and watertight effect of the part of the connector where the wires are inserted enhances. 0064 The terminals 2 and wires 1 altogether pass through the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14 without compression of the seal member 14 in a temporarily engaged state of the holder 15 with the connector housing 3. Since the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14 are not yet subject to compressive deformation at this stage, the terminals 2 and wires 1 can be smoothly inserted in the segment holes 14c, thereby facilitating assembling operation of the connector. 0065 Also, each of the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14 has such a size as to enable insertion of a group of terminals 2 side by side in a row. This arrangement eliminates molding of a partition wall of a very small thickness in the seal member 14 due to a small interval between the adjacent insertion holes 14c as having been formed in the conventional watertight connector, and accordingly facilitates molding of the segment holes 14c. 0066 The insertion holes 15c of the holder 15 are so formed as to correspond to the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3. 0067 Provided that the insertion holes 15c of the holder 15 should have the same dimension as the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14, the seal member 14 would easily deform into the large space configuration of the insertion holes 15c at the time of compression, thereby obstructing an effective deformation of the seal member 14. The above arrangement of this embodiment eliminates such a problem that would make it impossible to accurately hold the position of the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3 at the time of terminal insertion and would make it impossible to accurately insert the terminals in the receptors 3a of the connector housing 3 through the insertion holes 15c of the holder 15 and the segment holes 14c of the seal member 14. 0068 Further, since the indents 15f are formed in the front surface 15d of the pressing portion 15a of the holder 15 in correspondence with the segment holes 14c, part of the seal member 14 is intruded in the indents 15f in the compression of the seal member 14, and accordingly, the seal member 14 is subject to further compressive deformation following the outer shape of the wires 1, thus further enhancing watertight effect of the connector where the wires are inserted.

EXPLOITATION IN INDUSTRY 0069 The watertight connector according to this invention provides improved watertight performance on the part of the connector where the connector housing and the wires are provided.