Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plug and a
receptacle that are electrically connected by inserting plug
pins of the plug into pin receivers of the receptacle
through insertion ports of the receptacle, respectively.
Background of the Invention
A plug is usually used for being inserted into a
receptacle. There is known a receptacle with a door body
capable of pivoting to cover insertion ports of the
receptacle for the purpose of preventing dust deposition on
the insertion ports and protecting the insertion ports from
an external atmosphere (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 11-185861).
By the way, in such plug and receptacle, plug pins of
the plug are inserted into pin receivers of the receptacle
to come into contact with terminal plates of the receptacle,
respectively, so that an electrical connection therebetween
is made. However, in such plug and receptacle, it is
difficult to prevent an infiltration of water into between
the plug pins of the plug.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above, the object of the present
invention is to provide a plug and a receptacle capable of
ensuring waterproof performance by preventing the
infiltration of water into between the plug pins of the plug.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a plug including: a plug body;
a plurality of plug pins protruding from a tip end surface
of the plug body, the plug pins being adapted to be inserted
into respective insertion ports formed on a plug insertion
surface of a receptacle; and a waterproof seal member
provided to the tip end surface through which the plug pins
are extended, the waterproof seal member being in contact
with the plug body, wherein the waterproof seal member is in
contact with the plug insertion surface of the receptacle
and surrounds the plug pins in the state where the plug pins
are inserted into the respective insertion ports of the
receptacle.
The plug body may include a tip end cover defining the
tip end surface of the plug body and a body part coupled to
the tip end cover, and the waterproof seal member may be
protruded beyond the tip end surface of the plug body and
interposed between the tip end cover and the body part.
With such configuration, the waterproof seal member is
in contact with the plug body and the plug insertion surface
of the receptacle unit and surrounds the plug pins in the
state where the plug pins are inserted into the respective
insertion ports of the receptacle. Therefore, the
waterproof seal member prevents infiltration of water toward
the plug pins. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the
waterproof performance because the water is prevented from
infiltrating into between the plug pins of the plug.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a plug including: a plug body
to be inserted into a recess formed in a receptacle; a
plurality of plug pins protruding from a tip end surface of
the plug body, the plug being connected to the receptacle by
inserting the plug pins into respective insertion ports
formed in a bottom surface of the recess of the receptacle;
and a waterproof seal member provided on an outer peripheral
surface of the plug body to contact with the plug body, the
waterproof seal member being in contact with an inner
surface of the recess of the receptacle and surrounding the
plug pins in the state where the plug body is inserted into
the recess of the receptacle.
The plug body may include a tip end cover defining the
tip end surface of the plug body and the body part coupled
to the tip end cover, and the waterproof seal member may be
protruded beyond the outer peripheral surface of the plug
body and interposed between the tip end cover and the body
part.
With such configuration, the waterproof seal member
achieves waterproofing between the tip end surface of the
plug body and the recess in the state where the tip end
portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess of the
receptacle unit. Besides, the waterproof seal member
prevents water from infiltrating into the plug body through
between the tip end cover and the body part. In addition,
in the state before the tip end portion of the plug body is
inserted into the recess of the receptacle unit, the
waterproof seal member also prevents water from infiltrating
into the plug body through between the tip end cover and the
body part.
The waterproof seal member may be protruded beyond the
tip end surface of the plug body to the tip end side.
With such configuration, even if waterdrops are stuck
on the tip end surface of the tip end cover, the waterproof
seal member prevents the waterdrops from flowing toward the
plug body side. Therefore, the waterdrops are prevented
from being stuck on a user's hand when the user holds the
plug body. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the use
from connecting and disconnecting the plug to and from the
receptacle in the state where the waterdrops are stuck on
his/her hand.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a receptacle including: a
receptacle unit provided with a recess into which a tip end
portion of a plug is adapted to be inserted, the receptacle
being connected to the plug by inserting plug pins
protruding from a tip end surface of the plug into
respective insertion ports formed in a bottom surface of the
recess; and a waterproof seal member provided on the bottom
surface and/or a side surface of the recess of the
receptacle unit to contact with the receptacle unit, the
waterproof seal member being in contact with the plug and
surrounding the plug pins of the plug in the state where the
tip end portion of the plug is inserted into the recess of
the receptacle unit.
With such configuration, a gap is generated between
the inner surface of the recess and the plug body in the
state that the tip end portion of the plug body is inserted
into the recess of the receptacle unit so that water would
infiltrate to the plug pin through the gap. The waterproof
seal member is in contact with the plug body and the
receptacle unit and surrounds the plug pins while being
interposed between an opening of the recess and the plug
pins. Therefore, the waterproof seal member prevents
infiltration of water flowing from the opening of the recess
to the plug pins. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the
waterproof performance because the water is prevented from
infiltrating into between the plug pins of the plug.
The receptacle unit may be provided with a door body
pivotable between a closed position in which an opening of
the recess is closed and an opened position in which the
opening of the recess is exposed to the outside. In this
case, the plug pins of the plug remain in the respective
insertion ports of the receptacle unit in the state where
the tip end portion of the plug is inserted into the recess
of the receptacle unit when the door body is in the opened
position.
With such configuration, the door body in the opened
position holds the state where the plug pins are inserted
into the respective pin receivers of the receptacle when the
tip end portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess
of the receptacle unit. From a viewpoint of ensuring
waterproof performance, that is preferable.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a plug and receptacle
including: a plug including a plug body, and a plurality of
plug pins protruding from the plug body; and a receptacle
including a receptacle unit provided with a recess into
which a tip end portion of the plug body is adapted to be
inserted, the plug and the receptacle being connected to
each other by inserting the plug pins of the plug into
respective insertion ports formed in a bottom surface of the
recess; and a waterproof seal member provided to a tip end
surface through which the plug pins of the plug are extended,
the waterproof seal member being in contact with the plug
body, wherein the waterproof seal member is in contact with
an inner surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and
surrounds the plug pins in the state where the tip end
portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess of the
receptacle unit.
With such configuration, a gap is generated between
the inner surface of the recess and the plug body in the
state that the tip end portion of the plug body is inserted
into the recess of the receptacle unit so that water would
infiltrate toward the plug pin through the gap. The
waterproof seal member is in contact with the plug body and
the inner surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and
surrounds the plug pins while being interposed between an
opening of the recess and the plug pins. Therefore, the
waterproof seal member prevents infiltration of water
flowing from the opening of the recess to the plug pin.
Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the waterproof
performance because the water is prevented from infiltrating
into between the plug pins of the plug.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a plug and receptacle
including: a plug including a plug body, and a plurality of
plug pins protruding from the plug body; and a receptacle
including a receptacle unit provided with a recess into
which a tip end portion of the plug body is adapted to be
inserted, the plug and the receptacle being connected to
each other by inserting the plug pins of the plug into
respective insertion ports formed in a bottom surface of the
recess; and a waterproof seal member provided on an outer
peripheral surface of the plug body to contact with the plug
body, the waterproof seal member being in contact with an
inner surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and
surrounding the plug pins in the state where the tip end
portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess of the
receptacle unit.
With such configuration, a gap is generated between
the inner surface of the recess and the plug body in the
state that the tip end portion of the plug body is inserted
into the recess of the receptacle unit so that water would
infiltrate to the plug pin through the gap. The waterproof
seal member is in contact with the plug body and the inner
surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and surrounds
the plug pins while being interposed between an opening of
the recess and the plug pins. Therefore, the waterproof
seal member prevents infiltration of water flowing from the
opening of the recess to the plug pin. Accordingly, it is
possible to ensure the waterproof performance because the
water is prevented from infiltrating into between the plug
pins of the plug.
According to the present invention, there are provided
a plug and a receptacle capable of preventing the
infiltration of water into between the plug pins of the plug
and ensuring waterproof performance.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a plug and receptacle
of a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the plug
and receptacle of the first embodiment;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
receptacle of the first embodiment;
Fig. 4A is a perspective view showing an exploded
perspective structure of a receptacle block of the first
embodiment, and Fig. 4B is a plane view showing a front
structure of pin insertion ports;
Fig. 5A is a perspective view showing a perspective
structure of a door body viewed from above in the first
embodiment, and Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a
cross-sectional structure of the door body taken along line
A-A in Fig. 5A;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-
sectional structure of the receptacle of the first
embodiment;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the plug adapted to be
connected to the receptacle of the first embodiment, which
is viewed from below;
Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the plug adapted to be
connected to the receptacle of the first embodiment, which
is viewed from below;
Fig. 9A is an exploded perspective view showing an
exploded perspective structure of a plug adapted to be
connected to the receptacle of the first embodiment, and Fig.
9B is a plane view of the plug body viewed from its front
side;
Fig. 10A and 10B show the plug adapted to be connected
to the receptacle of the first embodiment, wherein Fig. 10A
is a plane view showing a front structure of a waterproof
member, and Fig. 10B is a side view showing a side structure
of the waterproof member;
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a tip end portion
of the plug of the first embodiment;
Figs. 12A to 12D are views for explaining a process of
inserting the plug into the receptacle of the first
embodiment, wherein Fig. 12A is a schematic view showing a
relation between the door body and the plug when the door
body is in the closed state, Fig. 12B is a schematic view
showing a relation between the door body and the plug when
the door body is in the opened state, Fig. 12C is a
schematic view showing a state where the plug is inserted
from the state of Fig. 12B, and Fig. 12D is a schematic view
showing a state where a protruding part is accommodated in a
restricting part;
Figs. 13A to 13C are views for explaining a process of
inserting the plug into the receptacle of the first
embodiment, wherein Fig. 13A is a schematic view showing a
state where a holding part is engaged with the protruding
part, Fig. 13B is a schematic view showing a state where the
protruding part stays on a top surface of the holding part,
and Fig. 13C is a schematic view showing a state where the
protruding part is accommodated in an engaging part;
Figs. 14A and 14B are views for explaining a process
of detaching the plug from the receptacle of the first
embodiment, wherein Fig. 14A is a schematic view showing a
state where a user pushes the door body down, and Fig.l4B is
a schematic view showing a movement of the door body after
detaching the receptacle;
Fig. 15 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a plug and
receptacle of a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a plug and
receptacle of a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a plug and
receptacle of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-
sectional structure of a tip end portion of the plug body in
accordance with another embodiment showing an appearance of
the plug and receptacle of the present invention; and
Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-
sectional structure of a tip end portion of the plug body in
accordance with still another embodiment showing an
appearance of the plug and receptacle of the present
invention.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
(First Embodiment)
With reference to Figs. 1 to 13C, there will be
described a plug and a receptacle in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention. In the present
embodiment, a receptacle A installed on an outer wall of a
house and a plug B to be inserted into the receptacle A are
exemplified as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 1 and 2 show
the state where the plug B is inserted into the receptacle A.
As shown in Fig. 3, the waterproof receptacle
(hereinafter, referred to as "receptacle A") includes: a
receptacle unit 1A provided with insertion ports 75 (see
Figs. 4A and 4B) into which plug pins 91 (see Fig. 7) of a
plug B are inserted; and a door opening/closing mechanism 1B
for opening and closing the insertion ports 75 while being
provided in the receptacle unit 1A.
Hereinafter, a direction indicating front and rear
sides of a wall surface of the wall is defined as "front-
rear direction X", a vertical direction is defined as "up-
down direction Z", and a direction perpendicular to both the
front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z is
defined as "left-right direction Y". Further, in the front-
rear direction X, a direction heading to the front side of
the wall surface is defined as "forward", and a direction
heading to the rear side of the wall surface is defined as
"rearward".
The receptacle unit 1A is provided with: a receptacle
block 2 connected to an electric wire and serving to supply
electric power from the wire to the plug connected thereto;
and a body 3 in which the receptacle block 2 is accommodated.
In the rear side of the body 3, a waterproof packing
(hereinafter, referred to as "packing 4") is interposed
between the wall surface and the body 3 in the front-rear
direction X. Both the body 3 and packing 4 are fastened to
a mounting frame 5 disposed on the rear side of the wall
surface by using screws SC1. The receptacle block 2 is
fixed to the body 3 by using screws SC'2. Further, a
decorative cover 6 is attached to a front face of the body 3.
The body 3 includes a body part 20 as a substantially
rectangular frame, and a holding section 21 protruding
forwardly from the body part 20. The receptacle block 2 is
accommodated in the holding section 21. Further, through
holes 22 for inserting the screws SC1 therethrough are
formed at upper and lower ends of a central portion of the
body 3 in the left-right direction Y. Over the through
holes 22 at the lower end, a cover 23 for covering the screw
SC1 is attached.
The packing 4 includes a body part 30 as a
substantially rectangular frame and a lid part 31 covering
the front surface of the body part 30. In an upper portion
of the lid part 31, there is provided a wire opening 32
having a substantially rectangular shape formed through the
lid part 31 in the front-rear direction X. Electric wires
are inserted into the wire opening 32 from the rear side of
the wall surface. In a joint portion between an outer
periphery of the lid part 31 and the body part 30, a step
portion 33 is formed over the joint portion. The packing 4
and the body 3 are engaged with each other by the step
portion 33. Further, through holes 34 for inserting the
screws SC1 are provided at positions of packing 4
corresponding to the through holes 22 of the body 3.
The mounting frame 5 includes a body part 40
configured as a substantially rectangular frame in which an
opening 41 with an approximately rectangular shape is formed.
In both sides of the opening in the up-down direction Z,
mounting holes 42 formed through the body part 40 in the
front-rear direction X are provided, so that screw members
(not shown) are inserted thereinto to attach the body part
40 to a switch box (not shown) disposed in the rear side of
the wall surface. Besides, in an upper and a lower side of
the respective mounting holes 42, there are provided through
holes 43 that are formed through the body part 40 in the
front-rear direction X while corresponding to the through
holes 34 of the packing 4.
The decorative cover 6 includes: a side wall portion
50 covering the holding part 21 from the front side and
having a curved surface; and an upper wall 51 covering an
upper portion of the side wall portion 50 and tilting
upwardly as it goes backwardly. The decorative cover 6 is
constituted by the side wall portion 50 and the upper wall
51 to be opened downwardly.
The door opening/closing mechanism 1B includes a door
body 7 for opening and closing the insertion ports 75, a
shaft 8 attached to the door body 7, and a shaft support
body 9 for accommodating and holding the shaft 8. The shaft
support body 9 is attached to the body 3 with screws SC3.
Further, a pair of coil springs (hereinafter, referred to as
"springs 10") for biasing the door body 7 to the insertion
ports 75 are attached to the shaft 8.
In the door opening/closing mechanism 1B, the shaft 8
is inserted into a shaft through hole 9a formed in the shaft
support body 9, and then the springs 10 are attached to both
outer sides of the shaft 8 protruding from the shaft through
hole 9a in the left-right direction Y. In this state, the
door body 7 is attached to the shaft 8 at outer portions
than the springs 10 in the left-right direction Y, so that
the door body 7 can pivot about the shaft 8. Accordingly,
the operation of opening and closing the door body 7 is
carried out by pivoting the door body 7 about the shaft 8.
In the receptacle block 2, as shown in Fig. 4A, a
receptacle body 11 and a receptacle cover 12 serving as a
case held by the body 3 (see Fig. 3) are molded of a
synthetic resin by injection molding. In an internal space
defined by the receptacle body 11 and the receptacle cover
12, there are received three terminal plates 13, four
locking springs 14, and two release buttons 15. Further,
the receptacle block 2 includes a socket cover 16 for
receiving plug pins 91 (see Figs. 7 and 8), which is a
different member from the receptacle body 11 and the
receptacle cover 12.
The receptacle body 11 and the receptacle cover 12
respectively have a fixing part 11a and a fixing part 12a to
be fitted with the socket cover 16. In a bottom wall 11b of
the receptacle body 11, there are provided wire through
holes 11c that are formed through the bottom wall 11b in the
front-rear direction X to communicate with the above
internal space. Electric wires are inserted into the wire
through holes 11c. Further, in the bottom wall 11b, there
are provided operation holes 11d for manipulating the
release buttons 15, the operation holes 11d being formed
through the bottom wall 11b in the front-rear direction X.
Terminal plate 13 is constituted by two power terminal
plates 13A and 13B arranged in the left-right direction Y,
and one ground terminal plate 13B adjacent to the power
terminal plates 13A and 13B in the front-rear direction X.
Each of the power terminal plates 13A and 13B
includes: a flat-plate base 60 extending in the up-down
direction Z and the left-right direction Y; a pin receiver
61 extending downwardly from the base 60; a pair of locking
spring contact portions 62 extending rearwardly from a lower
end of the base 60; and a pair of wire contact portions 63
extending rearwardly from an upper end of the base 60. The
locking spring 14 is accommodated between the locking spring
contact portion 62 and the wire contact portion 63 in the
up-down direction Z, while being in contact with the base 60.
The release button 15 is interposed between the locking
springs 14 disposed adjacent to each other in the left-right
direction Y. The pin receiver 61 is provided with a pair of
first gripping pieces 64A, and a second gripping piece 64B
disposed adjacent to the first holding pieces 64A in the
left-right direction Y.
The ground terminal plate 13C is provided with a base
(not shown), a pin receiver 65, a pair of locking spring
contact portions 66, and a pair of wire contact portions 67,
like the power terminal plate 13A and 13B. In the grounding
terminal plate 13C, there are provided two spring contact
portions 66 and two wire contact portions, which are
separated from each other in the left-right direction Y
respectively. Further, the locking spring 14 is
accommodated between the locking spring contact portion 66
and the wire contact portion 67, and the release button 15
is interposed between the locking springs 14 disposed
adjacent to each other in the left-right direction Y.
The socket cover 16 includes a body part 70 having a
substantially square shape viewed from the up-down direction
Z. In an upper portion of the body part 70, a side wall
surface 71 for fitting with the fixing part 11a and the
fixing part 12a is provided. Further, in a lower portion of
the body part 70, a recess 73 formed into a circular shape
viewed from the up-down direction Z and recessed upwardly
from an under surface 72 is provided. In a bottom surface
(plug insertion surface) 73a of the recess 73, insertion
ports 7 5 are provided.
As shown in Fig. 4B, the insertion ports 75 include: a
power-pin insertion port 75a having a substantially
rectangular shape whose long side is extended in the left-
right direction Y viewed from the up-down direction Z; a
power-pin insertion port 75b with a substantially L-shape;
and a ground-pin insertion port 75c with a substantially
circular shape. The power-pin insertion ports 7 5a, 75b are
arranged in the left-right direction Y, and the ground-pin
insertion port 75c is positioned between the power insertion
ports 75a, 75b in the left-right direction Y and rearward of
the power insertion ports 75a, 75b. The tip end portion 90c
of the plug body 90 can be inserted into the recess 7 3 of
the receptacle unit 1A, and the plug pins 91 are detachably
inserted through the insertion ports 75.
Hereinafter, a way of connecting and disconnecting an
electric wire and the receptacle block 2 will be described
schematically. When being connected to the receptacle block
2, the electric wire is inserted through the wire through
hole I1c. Then, the electric wire comes into contact with
the locking spring 14 and is pressed by the locking spring
14 against the wire contact portion 63. Thus, the
connection of the electric wire and the terminal plate 13 is
completed. When the electric wire is disconnected from the
receptacle block 2, a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver
is inserted into the operation hole 11d to push the release
button 15 forwardly. Accordingly, the release button 15
pushes the locking spring 14 to decrease the force of the
locking spring 14 pressing the electric wire. In this state,
the electric wire is pulled backwardly to be disconnected
from the receptacle block 2.
As shown in Fig. 5A, the door body 7 has a base 80
formed into a flat plate. In the base 80, a recess 81
recessed downwardly from a surface 80a of a center portion
thereof is provided. At a rear end of the base 80, a pair
of shaft support portions 82 having through holes for
inserting the shaft 8 (see Fig. 3) therethrough is provided.
At a front end and a center portion of the base 80 in the
left-right direction Y, a depression 83 curved downwardly is
provided.
The recess 81 includes a bottom 84 forming a lower
portion of the recess 81 and joint portions 85 joining the
bottom 84 and the surface 80a of the base 80. -The joint
portions 85 include a front slope face 85a joining the
bottom 84 and the surface 80a of the base 80 in the front-
rear direction X and tilting backwardly as it goes downward,
and a" pair of side slope faces 85b joining the bottom 84 and
the surface 80a of the base 80 in the left-right direction Y
and coming closer to each other as they go downward.
In the central portion of the recess 81 in the front-
rear direction X, there is provided a partition wall 86
protruding upwardly from the bottom 84 and joining the side
slope faces 85b that are opposed to each other in the left-
right direction Y. A rear surface 86a (see Fig. 5B) of the
partition wall 86 is formed into a plane shape extending
along the left-right direction Y and the up-down direction 2.
Besides, the partition wall 86 divides the recess 81 into a
restricting part 87 positioned forward of the partition wall
86 and a fixing part 88 positioned rearward of the partition
wall 86.
In the bottom 84 corresponding to the restricting part
87, a plane 8 4a extending along the front-rear direction X
and the left-right direction Y is provided. In the bottom
84 corresponding to the fixing part 88, a plane 84b (see Fig.
5B) similar to the plane 84a and a slope 84c tilting
upwardly as it goes rearward are provided. The slope 84c is
formed to have a tilting angle smaller than those of the
front slope face 35a and the side slope faces 85b.
On a front face 86b of the partition wall 86, there
are provided, e.g., two slope portions 89 joining a top face
86c of the partition wall 86 and the plane 84a, and tilting
downwardly as it goes forward from the front face 86b. The
slope portions 89 are arranged spaced apart from each other
in the left-right direction Y.
As shown in Fig. 6, the receptacle block 2 is fitted
to a fitting part 24 provided in a lower end portion of the
holding section 21 so that its position relative to the
holding section 21 is determined. Specifically, the
receptacle block 2 is inserted into an opening 25 provided
in the fitting part 24 and comes into contact with a
contacting face 26 around the peripheral edge of the opening
25, so that the bottom surface 73a of the socket cover 16 in
which the insertion ports 75 are formed is positioned
inwardly of the opening 25 of the receptacle A. In the
state where the receptacle block 2 is fixed to the body 3,
the recess 7 3 is arranged so as to tilt downwardly and
rearwardly, while being opened downwardly. Accordingly, the
bottom surface 73a of the recess 73 and the insertion ports
75 are exposed downwardly.
As for the receptacle A, "a closed state" is defined
by a state where the door body 7 is in contact with a bottom
end surface 52 of the side wall portion 50 in the decorative
cover 6 (the door body 7 illustrated by the solid line in
Fig. 6). The position of the door body 7 in the closed
state is referred to as "a closed position". Further, the
bottom end surface 52 is formed so as to be parallel to the
bottom surface 73a of the recess 73 in the socket cover 16.
The shaft 8 is disposed near the opening 25, so that
the door body 7 can pivot downwardly from the closed
position. Further, as indicated by a long dashed double-
short dashed line, "an opened state" is defined by a state
where the door body 7 is separated from the bottom end
surface 52. The position of the door body 7 in the opened
state is referred to as "an opened position". Hereinafter,
a direction of operating the door body 7 to the closed state
or the opened state is defined as "an opening/closing
direction W". The opening/closing direction W corresponds
to a direction in which the spring 10 biases the door body 7.
In the opening/closing direction W, a direction heading to
the closed position is defined as "a close direction", and a
direction heading to the opened position is defined as "an
open direction". Further, in the closed position, the base
80 is kept pressed against the bottom end surface 52 of the
decorative cover 6 by the spring 10 (see Fig. 3).
As shown in Fig. 5A, the bottom end surface 52 of the
decorative cover 6 is formed to surround the recess 73.
Specifically, the decorative cover 6 exposes the bottom
surface 73a of the recess 73 downwardly and covers the
receptacle block 2 from the front and the left and right
side except for the bottom surface 73a. Further, in the
closed position, the door body 7 covers the insertion ports
75 (formed in the bottom surface 73a) from below. At this
time, the recess 81 is positioned to correspond to the
insertion ports 75, and the base 80 comes into contact with
the bottom end surface 52 along the circumference thereof.
A structure of the plug B will be described with
reference to Figs. 7 to 11.
As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the plug B includes: a plug
body 90 with a substantially cylindrical shape for being
held by a user; and plug pins 91 protruding forwardly of a
tip end 90a of the plug body 90. Further, in the rear side
of the plug body 90, there is provided a cable 92 for
supplying an electric power received by the plug pins 91 to
an apparatus (not shown). The plug body 90 and a tip end
cover 140 are molded of a synthetic resin by injection
molding. Further, the tip end cover 140 and a waterproof
seal member 97 are attached to the plug body 90 with screws
SC10 and SC11.
The plug body 90 includes: holding portions 93 with a
flat shape provided on left and right sides thereof in a
center portion thereof in the front-rear direction X and
held by the user's fingers; a protruding part 94 protruding
downwardly from a lower portion thereof; and a position
indicator 95 (see Fig. 1) provided in an upper portion
thereof, for allowing the user to recognize visually the
orientation of the plug B. Further, in the plug body 90,
there is provided the tip end cover 140 with a substantially
disc shape joined to the tip end portion 90c of the plug
body 90.
The plug pins 91 include: a first power plug pin 91a
and a second power plug pin 91b that are to be inserted into
the power-pin insertion ports; and a ground plug pin 91c
that is to be inserted into the ground-pin insertion port.
The ground plug pin 91c is protruded further forwardly than
the power plug pins 91a, 91b. Further, the power plug pin
91a is formed into a substantially rectangular shape whose
long side extends in the left-right direction Y as viewed
from the front-rear direction X, the power plug pin 91b is
formed into a substantially L-shape as viewed from the
front-rear direction X, and the ground plug pin 91b is
formed into a round pin shape.
The position indicator 95 (see Fig. 1) is, e.g., a
rectangular protrusion. In the case where the position
indicator 95 is disposed in the upper portion of the plug B,
the power plug pins 91a, 91b are arranged in the left-right
direction Y.
The protruding part 94 includes: a lower end portion
94a; a front slope portion 94b tilting upwardly as it goes
forward from the lower end portion 94a in the front
direction; and side slope portions 94c tilting upwardly as
it goes laterally from the lower end portion 94a in the
left-right direction Y. Further, at a rear end of the lower
end portion 94a, a holding face 94d extending upwardly is
provided. A planar contact face 96 extending backwardly
from the protruding part 94 is provided rearwardly of the
protruding part 94 of the plug body 90. The external
diameter of the portion of the plug body 90, corresponding
to the contact face 96, is smaller than that of the other
cylindrical portions. The front slope portion 94b is formed
to have a larger width in the left-right direction Y as it
goes forward. The front slope portion 94b is provided with
a recess portion 94e that is recessed upwardly and has a
substantially triangular shape as viewed from below (see Fig.
8). The recess portion 94e serves to reduce the thickness
of the protruding part 94, which prevents shrinkage or void
from being formed in the protruding part 94 and around it.
The tip end 90a of the plug body 90 is provided with
the waterproof seal member 97. The waterproof seal member
97 is made of a rubber or the like. As shown in Figs, 9A to
10B, the waterproof seal member 97 has: a seal member body
98 with an annular shape; a peripheral wall part 99 formed
into a substantially cylindrical shape; and a bottom plate
100, and these members are formed integrally. The seal
member body 98 is provided around one opening end of the
peripheral wall part 99, and the bottom plate 100 is
provided in the other opening end of the peripheral wall
part 99. In the bottom plate 100, there are formed screw
insertion holes 100a and 100b through which the screws SC10
and SC11 are to be inserted, respectively. The peripheral
wall part 99 of the waterproof seal member 97 is engaged
with the cylindrical plug body 90, and then the screws SC10
and SC11 are screwed into the plug body 90 through the screw
insertion holes 100a and 100b, so that the waterproof seal
member 97 is fixed to the plug body 90. In this state, as
shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the seal member body 98 of the
waterproof seal member 97 protrudes forwardly over an entire
circumference of the tip end 90a of the plug body 90. The
waterproof seal member 97 is in contact with the plug body
90.
As shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, at the tip end portion
90c of the plug body 90, there is provided an inward
protrusion SOd being in contact with the bottom plate 100 of
the waterproof seal member 97. The inward protrusion 90d is
provided with: an annular protrusion 90e extending over an
entire inner circumference 90g of the tip end portion 90c of
the plug body 90; and three extension protrusions 90f
protruding inwardly and separated from each other in a
circumferential direction of the inner circumference 90g.
The tip end cover 140 includes: plug-pin insertion
holes 141, 142, 149 formed through the tip end cover 140 in
the front-rear direction X, for inserting the power plug
pins 91a, 91b and the ground plug pin 91c, respectively; and
screw insertion holes 143, 144 formed through the tip end
cover 14 0 in the front-rear direction X, for inserting the
screws SC10, SC11. The screw insertion holes 143, 144 are
formed at portions corresponding to the screw insertion
holes 100a, 100b in the bottom plate 100 of the waterproof
seal member 97. The power plug pins 91a, 91b and the ground
plug pin 91c protrude forwardly from a tip end surface 147
of the tip end cover 14 0, i.e., the tip end surface of the
plug body 90 while passing through the plug-pin insertion
holes 141, 142 and 149, respectively.
As shown in Fig. 11, in the state where the tip end
cover 140 is assembled into the plug body 90, the peripheral
wall part 99 of the waterproof seal member 97 is compressed
by an outer peripheral surface 145 of the tip end cover 140
and the inner circumference 90g of the tip end portion 90c
of the plug body 90 while being interposed therebetween. In
addition, the bottom plate 100 of the waterproof seal member
97 is compressed by a rear surface 14 6 of the tip end cover
140 and the inward protrusion 90d, while being interposed
therebetween.
Further, in this state, the seal member body 98 of the
waterproof seal member 97 is disposed forwardly of the tip
end surface 147 of the tip end. cover 140, i.e., the tip end
surface of the plug body 90. Thus, the seal member body 98
is formed to cover the tip end 90a of the plug body 90 from
its front side while being disposed forwardly of the tip end
90a.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the waterproof seal
member (packing) 97 is disposed between an inner surface of
the recess 73 and the plug body 90, in the state where the
tip end portion 90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the
recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A.
With reference to Figs. 12A to 14B, a process of
connecting the plug B to the receptacle A and a process of
disconnecting the plug B from the receptacle A will be
described. Figs. 12A to 12D show the process in which the
plug B opens the door body 7 to be accommodated in the
restricting part 87. Figs. 13A to 13C show the process in
which the protruding part 94 of the plug B climbs and passes
over the partition wall 86 to be accommodated in the fixing
part 88 and then the connection of the receptacle A is
completed. Figs. 14A and 14B show the process in which the
plug B is disconnected from the receptacle A. Note that the
cable 92 of the plug B is omitted in Figs. 12A to 14B.
With respect to the door body 7 in the closed position,
as shown in Fig. 12A, the portion of the door body 7 that is
protruded from the decorative cover 6 is hooked by the front
end of the plug body 90, and the door body 7 is pivoted to
the opened position. As another way of opening the door
body 7, the user may open the door body 7 by his/her fingers.
As shown in Fig. 12B, the plug pins 91 are directed to
the socket cover 16 to be inserted thereinto in the state
where the plug pins 91 are located at the position
corresponding to the bottom surface 73a of the recess 73 in
the socket cover 16. Hereinafter, a direction of inserting
the plug pins 91 is referred to as "a plug pin insertion
direction V". In the plug pin insertion direction V, a
direction of connecting the plug B to the socket cover 16 is
referred to as "a connecting direction", and a direction of
disconnecting the plug B from the socket cover 16 is
referred to as "a disconnecting direction".
As shown in Fig. 12C, when the plug B is inserted in
the connecting direction, the protruding part 94 of the plug
B comes into contact with the front end of the door body 7.
When the plug B is further inserted in the connecting
direction from this state, the door body 7 is further
pivoted in the open direction by the front slope portion 94b
of the protruding part 94. Accordingly, the lower end
portion 94a comes into contact with the door body 7.
As shown in Fig. 12D, when the plug B is further
inserted in the connecting direction from the state where
the lower end portion 94a is in contact with the door body 7,
the protruding part 94 is accommodated in the restricting
part 87. Specifically, the protruding part 94 is guided
into the restricting part 87 by the front slope face 85a of
the door body 7 and then comes into contact with the bottom
84 of the restricting part 87. Thus, the door body 7 pivots
in the close direction as the protruding part 94 is guided
into the restricting part 87.
Besides, in this state, the plug pins 91 are
positioned to correspond to the insertion ports 75 in the
plug pins insertion direction V. Specifically, a tip end
91cl of the ground plug pin 91c is inserted into the
corresponding insertion port 75 (the ground-pin insertion
port 75c}. On the other hand, the power plug pins 91a, 91b
are positioned in front of the corresponding insertion ports
75 in the plug pin insertion direction V.
As shown in Fig. 13A, when the plug B is further
inserted in the plug pin insertion direction from the state
where the protruding part 94 is accommodated in the
restricting part 87, the front slope portion 94b of the
protruding part 94 comes into contact with the slope
portions 89 of the recess 81. Then, the protruding part 94
moves to the top face 8 6c while sliding on the slope
portions 89. The contact of the protruding part 94 with the
slope portions 89 makes the door body 7 move in the open
direction. Further, the power plug pins 91a, 91b are
inserted into the corresponding insertion ports 75 (power-
pin insertion ports 75a, 75b).
As shown in Fig. 13B, when the plug B is inserted into
the receptacle A while the lower end portion 94a of the
protruding part 94 is in contact with the top face 86c, the
door body 7 comes to be moved to the greatest opened
position. As shown in Fig. 13C, after passing over the top
face 86c, the protruding part 94 is accommodated in the
fixing part 88. At that time, the door body 7 pivots to the
close direction. The holding face 94d of the protruding
part 94 is brought into contact with the partition wall 86,
and the contact face 96 comes into contact with the top face
8 6c. In this way, the connection of the plug B to the
receptacle A is completed. In other words, the plug pins 91
are held by the pin receivers 61, 65 (see Fig. 4).
As described above, the receptacle unit 1A is provided
with the door body 7 capable of pivoting between the closed
position in which the opening of the recess 73 is covered
and the opened position in which the opening thereof is
exposed to the outside. In state where the tip end' portion
90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of
the receptacle unit 1A when the door body 7 is in the opened
position, the respective plug pins 91 of the plug B are
remained in the pin receivers 61, 65 of the receptacle A.
Further, in this state, the tip end portion 91c, which
is a portion of the plug body 90 to be inserted into the
recess 73, has an outer diameter substantially the same as
an inner diameter of the recess 73. Accordingly, the plug
body 90 and the recess 73 have a slight gap therebetween.
Herein, "a slight gap" means that a gap does not allow a
user to put his/her finger thereinto.
At this time, as shown in Fig. 2, the seal member body
98 of the waterproof seal member (packing) 97 provided in
the plug B is pressed to the bottom surface 73a of the
recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, so that they are in
close contact with each other. Further, the seal member
body 98 of the waterproof seal member (packing) 97 is also
in close contact with the plug body 90. Therefore, the
waterproof seal member 97 is in close contact with both the
plug body 90 and the receptacle unit 1A to become watertight,
thereby providing a waterproof seal. In detail, a gap is
generated between the inner surface of the recess 73 and the
plug body 90 in the state where the tip end portion 90c of
the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A. Through the gap, there is formed a path
in which water infiltrates from the opening of the recess 73
to the plug pins 91, and then the water would infiltrate
into the path. Herein, the waterproof seal member 97, which
is provided at the tip end 90a of the plug body 90 and is in
contact with the plug body 90, comes into contact with the
inner surface of the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A and
surrounds the plug pins 91. Additionally, the waterproof
seal member 97 is positioned between the opening of the
recess 73 and the plug pins 91. Therefore, the waterproof
seal member 97 prevents the water from infiltrating to the
plug pins 91 from the opening of the recess 73. Accordingly,
the infiltration of the water into between the plug pins of
the plug B can be prevented. As a result, waterproof
performance is ensured.
As shown in Fig. 14A, when a user disconnects the plug
B from the receptacle A, the user pushes a proximal portion
of the base 80 in the open direction so that the protruding
part 94 is not overlapped with the partition wall 86 in the
plug pin insertion direction V. In other words, the holding
face 94d is in no contact with the partition wall 86. In
the state, by pulling the plug B in the disconnecting
direction, the user can disconnect the plug B from the
receptacle A.
As shown in Fig. 14B, after the plug B is disconnected
from the receptacle A, by the biasing force of the spring 10
(see Fig. 3), the door body 7 pivots to the bottom end
surface 52 of the decorative cover 6, i.e., to the closed
position.
According to the present embodiment, the following
effects are expected.
(1) At the tip end 90a of the plug body 90, there is
provided the waterproof seal member 97 being in contact with
the plug body 90. In the state where the tip end portion
90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of
the receptacle unit 1A, the waterproof seal member 97 comes
into contact with the inner surface of the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A and surrounds the plug pins 91 while
being interposed between the opening of the recess 73 and
the plug pins 91. Accordingly, the waterproof seal member
97 prevents the infiltration of water into between the plug
pins of the plug B, thereby ensuring waterproof performance.
(2) In the state where the tip end portion 90c of the
plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A when the door body 7 is in the opened
position, the plug pins of the plug B remain in the
respective pin receivers 61, 65, which is desirable from a
viewpoint of ensuring waterproof performance by the
waterproof seal member 97.
(3) In the present embodiment, the seal member body 98
can ensure waterproof performance between the tip end 90a of
the plug body 90 and the recess 73, in the state where the
tip end portion 90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the
recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A. Further, the
peripheral wall part 99 prevents water from infiltrating
into the plug body through between the plug body 90 and the
tip end cover 140.
Additionally, in the state before the tip end portion
90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of
the receptacle unit 1A, the peripheral wall part 99 also
prevents water from infiltrating into the plug body through
between the plug body 90 and the tip end cover 140.
Furthermore, the seal member body 98, the peripheral
wall part 99, and the bottom plate 100 are formed integrally.
That is, the seal member body 98, the peripheral wall part
99, and the bottom plate 100 are formed as a single member.
Accordingly, the number of components can be reduced as
compared with the case where the seal member body 98, the
peripheral wall part 99, and the bottom plate 100 are formed
individually.
(4) In the present embodiment, even if waterdrops are
stuck to the tip end surface 147 of the tip end cover 140,
the seal member body 98 prevents the waterdrops from flowing
toward the plug body 90, and the waterdrops are . prevented
from being stuck to a user's hand when the user holds the
plug body. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the user
from connecting and disconnecting the plug to and from the
receptacle in the state where the waterdrops are stuck to
his/her hand.
(5) In the present embodiment, also in the state
before the tip end portion 90c of the plug body 90 is
inserted into the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, the
bottom plate 100 is compressed by the inward protrusion 90d
and the tip end cover 140. Accordingly, the infiltration of
water into the plug body 90 through between the inward
protrusion 90d and the tip end cover 140 can be suppressed.
(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present
invention will be described with respect to mainly
differences between the second embodiment and the first
embodiment.
Instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, in the
present embodiment, a waterproof seal member (packing) 110
is provided on the bottom surface 73a of the recess 73 of
the receptacle unit 1A, as shown in Fig. 15. In detail, an
annular recess 111 is formed on the bottom surface 73a of
the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A along the periphery
thereof. Inside the recess 111, the waterproof seal member
110, such as an O-ring, is disposed. The waterproof seal
member 110 is in contact with the receptacle unit 1A and
surrounds the plug pins 91 while being interposed between
the opening of the recess 73 and the plug pins 91.
Further, the waterproof seal member 110 is in contact
with the plug body 90 in the state where the tip end portion
90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 7 3 of
the receptacle unit 1A. In other words, the waterproof seal
member 110, which is provided on the bottom surface 73a of
the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, is pressed by the
tip end 90a of the plug body 90, so that the waterproof seal
member 110 and the tip end 90a of the plug body 90 are in
close contact with each other to become watertight. Further,
the waterproof seal member 110 is also in close contact with
an inner surface of the recess 111 to become watertight.
Accordingly, in the state where the tip end portion of
the plug body is inserted into the recess of the receptacle
unit, a gap is generated between the inner surface of the
recess 73 and the plug body, so that water would infiltrate
to the plug pins from the opening of the recess 73 through
the gap. Now, the waterproof seal member 110, which is
provided on the bottom surface of the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A, is in contact with the receptacle unit
1A and surrounds the plug pins 91. Additionally, the
waterproof seal member 110 is interposed between the opening
of the recess 73 and the plug pins 91, and is in contact
with the plug body 90. Therefore, the waterproof seal
member 110 prevents water from infiltrating to the plug pins
91 from the opening of the recess 73. Accordingly, the
infiltration of the water into between the plug pins of the
plug can be prevented, and waterproof performance is ensured.
(Third Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present
invention will be described with respect to mainly
differences between the third embodiment and the first
embodiment.
Instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, in the
present embodiment, a waterproof seal member (packing) 120
is provided on the outer peripheral surface 90b of the plug
body 90, as shown in Fig. 16. In detail, a recess 121 is
formed in the outer peripheral surface 90b of th.e tip end
portion 90c of the plug body 90 to have an annular shape
extending over its entire circumference. Inside the recess
121, the waterproof seal member 120, such as an O-ring, is
disposed. The waterproof seal member 120 is in contact with
the plug body 90.
Further, in the state where the tip end portion 90c of
the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A, the waterproof seal member 120 is in
contact with an inner surface of the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A and surrounds the plug pins 91 while
being interposed between the opening of the recess 73 and
the plug pins 91. In other words, the waterproof seal
member 120, which is provided on the outer peripheral
surface 90b of the plug body 90, is pressed against a side
surface 7 3b of the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, so
that the waterproof seal member 120 and the side surface 73b
of the recess 73 are in close contact with each other to
become watertight. Further, the waterproof seal member 120
is also in close contact with an inner surface of the recess
121 to become watertight.
Thus, the waterproof seal member 120 is in contact
with both the plug body 90 and the receptacle unit 1A and
surrounds the plug pins 91 while being interposed between
the opening of the recess 73 and the plug pins 91.
Therefore, the waterproof seal member 120 prevents the
infiltration of the water flowing from the opening of the
recess 73 to the plug pins (it is possible to block the
water flow to the plug pins). Accordingly, the infiltration
of the water into between the plug pins of the plug can be
prevented, and waterproof performance is ensured.
(Fourth Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present
invention will be described with respect to mainly
differences between the fourth embodiment and the first
embodiment.
Instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, in the
present invention, a waterproof seal member (packing) 130 is
provided on a side surface 73b of the recess 73 of the
receptacle unit 1A, as shown in Fig. 17. In detail, a
recess 131 is formed in the side surface 73b of the recess
7 3 of t the receptacle unit 1A to have an annular shape
extending over its entire circumference. Inside the recess
131, the waterproof seal member 130, such as an O-ring, is
disposed. The waterproof seal member 130 is in contact with
the receptacle unit 1A and surrounds the plug pins 91 while
being interposed between the opening of the recess 73 and
the plug pins 91.
Further, the waterproof seal member 130 is in contact
with the plug body 90, in the state where the tip end
portion 90c of the plug body 90 is inserted into the recess
73 of the receptacle unit 1A. In other words, the
waterproof seal member 130, which is provided on the side
surface 73b of the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, is
pressed by an outer peripheral surface 90b of the plug body
90, so that the waterproof seal member 130 and the outer
peripheral surface 90b of the plug body 90 are in close
contact with each other to become watertight. Further, the
waterproof seal member 130 is also in close contact with an
inner surface of the recess 131 to become watertight.
Thus, the waterproof seal member 130 is in contact
with both the plug body 90 and the receptacle unit 1A and
surrounds the plug pins 91 while being interposed between
the opening of the recess 73 and the plug pins 91.
Therefore, the waterproof seal member 130 prevents the
infiltration of the water flowing from the opening of the
recess 73 to the plug pins (it is possible to block the
water flow to the plug pins). Accordingly, the infiltration
of the water into between the plug pins of the plug can be
prevented, and waterproof performance is ensured.
The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments, and the above embodiments may be modified as
follows. In the first embodiment, although the bottom plate
100 is provided in the waterproof seal member 97, the bottom
plate 100 may be omitted. In this case, the rear surface
146 of the tip end cover 140 and the inward protrusion 90d
come into contact with each other.
In the first embodiment, although the waterproof seal
member 97 is formed as a single member, the configuration
thereof is not limited thereto. For example, the seal
member body 98, the peripheral wall part 99, and the bottom
plate 100 may be formed individually. Alternatively, the
seal member body 98 and the peripheral wall part 99 may be
formed as a single member, and the bottom plate 100 may be
formed as a separate member. Alternatively, the peripheral
wall part 99 and the bottom plate 100 may be formed as a
single member, and the seal member body 98 may be formed as
a separate member.
In the first embodiment, the seal member body 98 of
the waterproof seal member 97 is disposed forwardly of the
tip end surface 147 of the tip cover 140. The seal member
body 98, however, may be disposed at the same position or
rearwardly of the tip end surface 147 of the tip end cover
140 in the front-rear direction X.
In the third embodiment, although the waterproof seal
member 120 with an annular shape is provided on the outer
peripheral surface of the plug body 90, the shape of the
waterproof seal member 120 is not limited thereto. For
instance, as shown in Fig. 18, there may be provided a
waterproof seal member 150 including: a peripheral wall part
151 attached on the outer peripheral surface of the plug
body 90; and a seal member body 152 covering both the tip
end 90a of the plug body 90 and the outer peripheral surface
of the tip end surface 147 of the tip end cover 140 from its
front side. The peripheral wall part 151 and the seal
material body 152 are formed as a single unit. That is, the
waterproof seal member 150 is formed of a single member.
Accordingly, the effect (3) in the first embodiment is
expected. In addition, since the seal member body 152
covers a gap between the tip end cover 140 and the plug body
90, it is possible to suppress water from infiltrating into
the plug body through the gap between the tip end cover 140
and the plug body 90. In addition, since the seal member
body 152 covers an outer periphery of the tip end surface
147 of the tip end cover 140 from its front side, the effect
(4) in the first embodiment is expected.
Further, the waterproof seal member 150 is interposed
between the inner surface of the recess 73 and the plug body
90 in the state where the tip end portion 90c of the plug
body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of the receptacle
unit 1A. Accordingly, the waterproof seal member 150 and
the inner surface of the recess 73 are in close contact with
each other to become watertight.
Further, as shown in Fig. 19, there may be provided a
waterproof seal member 160 including: a seal member body 161
protruding outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the
plug body 90; a top plate 162 interposed between the tip end
9Ca of the plug body 90 and the tip end cover 140; a
peripheral wall part 163 interposed between an inner
circumference of the tip end portion 90c of the plug body 90
and the tip end cover 140; and a bottom plate 164 interposed
between the inward protrusion 90d and the tip end cover 140.
The seal member body 161, the top plate 162, the peripheral
wall part 163, and the bottom plate 164 are formed as a
single unit. That is, the waterproof seal member 160 is
formed of a single member. Accordingly, the effect (3) in
the first embodiment is expected.
Further, the waterproof seal member 160 is disposed
between the inner surface of the recess 73 and the plug body
90 in the state where the tip end portion 90c of the plug
body 90 is inserted into the recess 73 of the receptacle
unit 1A. Accordingly, the waterproof seal member 160 and
the seal member body 161 are in close contact with each
other to become watertight.
In the respective embodiments, only one waterproof
seal member is provided. A plurality of waterproof seal
members, however, may be provided by combining the
waterproof seal members in accordance with the respective
embodiments. For instance, each of the waterproof seal
members may be provided at the tip end of the plug and on
the side surface of the recess of the receptacle. The
provision of the plurality of waterproof seal members
results in increased waterproof performance.
As described above, the waterproof seal member, which
is in contact with the plug body 90, may be provided at the
tip end and/or on the outer peripheral surface of the plug
body 90. Further, the waterproof seal member may be
provided on the bottom surface and/or the side surface of
the recess 73 of the receptacle unit 1A, so that the
waterproof seal member is in contact with the receptacle
unit 1A and surrounds the plug pins 91 while being
interposed between the opening of the recess 73 and the plug
pins 91.
In the above respective embodiments, the receptacle A
is exemplified as an outdoor receptacle. The receptacle A,
however, may be an indoor receptacle. Further, the
receptacle A may be applied to a charging system for a
secondary battery of the electrical vehicle (E.V.). That is,
the receptacle A may be applied to a system in which the
secondary battery of the electrical vehicle is charged by
connecting a plug connected to a charging device of the
vehicle to a receptacle.
While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A plug, comprising:
a plug body;
a plurality of plug pins protruding from a tip end
surface of the plug body, the plug pins being adapted to be
inserted into respective insertion ports formed on a plug
insertion surface of a receptacle; and
a waterproof seal member provided to the tip end
surface through which the plug pins are extended, the
waterproof seal member being in contact with the plug body,
wherein the waterproof seal member is in contact with
the plug insertion surface of the receptacle and surrounds
the plug pins in the state where the plug pins are inserted
into the respective insertion ports of the receptacle.
2. A plug, comprising:
a plug body to be inserted into a recess formed in a
receptacle;
a plurality of plug pins protruding from a tip end
surface of the plug body, the plug being connected to the
receptacle by inserting the plug pins into respective
insertion ports formed in a bottom surface of the recess of
the receptacle; and
a waterproof seal member provided on an outer
peripheral surface of the plug body to contact with the plug
body, the waterproof seal member being in contact with an
inner surface of the recess of the receptacle and
surrounding the plug pins in the state where the plug body
is inserted into the recess of the receptacle.
3. The plug as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the plug
body comprises a tip end cover defining the tip end surface
of the plug body; and a body part coupled to the tip end
cover, and
wherein the waterproof seal member is protruded beyond
the tip end surface of the plug body and interposed between
the tip end cover and the body part.
4. The plug as set forth in Claim 2, wherein the plug
body comprises a tip end cover defining the tip end surface
of the plug body; and the body part coupled to the tip end
cover, and
wherein the waterproof seal member is protruded beyond
the outer peripheral surface of the plug body and interposed
between the tip end cover and the body part.
5. The plug as set forth in Claim 2 or 4, wherein the
waterproof seal member is protruded beyond the tip end
surface of the plug body to the tip end side.
6. A receptacle, comprising:
a receptacle unit provided with a recess into which a
tip end portion of a plug is adapted to be inserted, the
receptacle being connected to the plug by inserting plug
pins protruding from a tip end surface of the plug into
respective insertion ports formed in a bottom surface of the
recess; and
a waterproof seal member provided on the bottom
surface and/or a side surface of the recess of the
receptacle unit to contact with the receptacle unit, the
waterproof seal member being in contact with the plug and
surrounding the plug pins of the plug in the state where the
tip end portion of the plug is inserted into the recess of
the receptacle unit.
7. The receptacle as set forth in Claim 6, wherein the
receptacle unit is provided with a door body pivot able
between a closed position in which an opening of the recess
is closed and an opened position in which the opening of the
recess is exposed to the outside, and
wherein the plug pins of the plug remain in the
respective insertion ports of the receptacle unit in the
state where the tip end portion of the plug is inserted into
the recess of the receptacle unit when the door body is in
the opened position.
8. A plug and receptacle, comprising:
a plug including a plug body, and a plurality of plug
pins protruding from the plug body; and
a receptacle including a receptacle unit provided with
a recess into which a tip end portion of the plug body is
adapted to be inserted, the plug and the receptacle being
connected to each other by inserting the plug pins of the
plug into respective insertion ports formed in a bottom
surface of the recess; and
a waterproof seal member provided to a tip end surface
through which the plug pins of the plug are extended, the
waterproof seal member being in contact with the plug body,
wherein the waterproof seal member is in contact with
an inner surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and
surrounds the plug pins in the state where the tip end
portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess of the
receptacle unit.
9. A plug and receptacle, comprising:
a plug including a plug body, and a plurality of plug
pins protruding from the plug body;
a receptacle including a receptacle unit provided with
a recess into which a tip end portion of the plug body is
adapted to be inserted, the plug and the receptacle being
connected to each other by inserting the plug pins of the
plug into respective insertion ports formed in a bottom
surface of the recess; and
a waterproof seal member provided on an outer
peripheral surface of the plug body to contact with the plug
body, the waterproof seal member being in contact with an
inner surface of the recess of the receptacle unit and
surrounding the plug pins in the state where the tip end
portion of the plug body is inserted into the recess of the
receptacle unit.

ABSTRACT

A plug & receptacle includes a plug having plug pins
protruded from a tip end of a plug body (90), and a
receptacle. The receptacle has a receptacle unit (IA)
provided with a recess (73) into which a tip end portion
of the plug body is to be inserted and pin receivers into
which the plug pins are to be inserted through insertion
ports (75) formed in a bottom surface (73a) of the recess
(73), respectively. A waterproof seal member (97)
provided at the tip end (90a) of the plug body (90) is in
contact with the plug body (90) and an inner surface of
the recess (73) of the receptacle unit and surround the
plug pins (91) while being interposed between an
opening of the recess (73) and the plug pins (91). The
plug and receptacle prevents infiltration of water between
the plug pins, thereby ensuring waterproof performance.