1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a waterproof connector mainly used for connecting automotive wiring harnesses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One example of a conventional waterproof connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Specification No. Sho 64-36986 and is constructed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, a male connector housing a is integrally provided, via a rear wall c, with an outer hood h in such a manner as to circumferentially enclose the housing a with an annular space s therebetween. A seal ring d is provided on the male connector housing a in the annular space s. A cantilever resilient locking arm e, which has a locking portion e1 at its front end and an operating portion e3 at its rear end, is provided on the male connector housing a via an intermediate support e2 and accommodated inside a bulged portion b1 of the outer hood b (FIG. 7).
FIG. 7 shows the male connector housing a in a coupled state with a mating female connector housing f, in which the male connector housing a is received in a hood portion f1 of the female connector housing f to have their respective terminal lugs connected with each other, while the hood portion f1 is in turn received in the annular space s to be pressingly brought into contact with the seal ring d and provide a watertightness. In this instance, the locking portion e1 of the resilient locking arm e is engaged with an engagement projection g on the hood portion f1 of the female connector housing f to lock the connector housings together.
In the prior art connector, however, since the locking arm e is supported in a cantilever manner by the intermediate support e2, the force with which the connector housings are locked may not be sufficient.
Another example of a conventional waterproof connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Specification No. Sho 62-18467 and is constructed as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, a male connector housing a' is integrally provided, via a rear wall (not shown), with an outer hood b' to circumferentially enclose the connector housing a' with an annular space s' therebetween in which is contained a seal ring as mentioned above. On the outer hood b', a locking member is provided which comprises two spaced resilient locking arms e', each including a locking projection e1' and being doubly supported at its front and rear ends by front and rear supports e2' and e4', respectively. An operating portion e3' is bridgingly provided on the locking arms e', and an insertion guide slit p is formed in the outer hood b' between the locking arms e'.
On a female connector housing f' at the hood portion f1', an engagement rod g' is provided upright with laterally extended engagement projections g1' formed at the upper end.
On coupling the male and female connector housings a' and f', the hood portion f1' is received into the annular space s' and the engagement rod g' into the insertion guide slit p. As the engagement rod g' advances into the insertion guide slit p, its engagement projections g1' contact and resiliently displace the locking arms e' downwardly until the engagement projections g1' pass over the locking projections e1', whereat they engage the locking projections e1' to lock the connector housings together.
In the prior art connector, the resilient locking arms e' each is doubly supported and may provide a sufficient locking force. The resilient locking arms e', however, are entirely exposed to the outside even when the connector housings a' and f' are coupled and subject to external forces, resulting in the locking being unstable.