Appeal No. 2004-0019 Page 5
Application No. 09/884,914
Wakata discloses in Figures 4-5 that it was known to use a rubber plug 2 for
waterproofing a connector. The rubber plug 2 has a cylindrical shape having a through
hole 2a extending along a centerline thereof for passing a wire 1 therethrough. The
rubber plug has two flange-like collars 2b formed at a rear end portion 7 thereof. A
front end portion 5 of the rubber plug has an outer diameter such that the front end
portion 5 can be compressively clamped by an insulation barrel 3a of a terminal 3 with
the wire 1 passing through the front end portion 5. A connector housing 4 has a tubular
terminal-receiving chamber 4a for retaining and holding the terminal at its front portion
8, the terminal receiving chamber having an open rear end portion 9. The open rear
end portion 9 has a diameter such that the collars 2b are held in tight contact with the
peripheral wall when the rubber plug 2 and the wire 1 are inserted into the housing 4.
When the terminal 3 is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 4a of the connector
housing 4, the terminal 3 defining the leading side is retained at the inner end portion of
the terminal receiving chamber 4a, and the rubber plug 2 at the rear end 9 of the
terminal is received in the terminal receiving chamber 4a in intimate contact with the
peripheral wall of the chamber, with the collars 2b being slightly elastically deformed.
When water is poured on the open end 9 of the terminal receiving chamber 4a, the
intrusion of the water is prevented because of the intimate contact between the
peripheral wall of the terminal receiving chamber 4a and the collars 2b of the rubber
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Last modified: November 3, 2007