# US 11,309,659 B2 · Drip-proof structure, connector with drip-proof structure and electric connection box

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- Number: US 11,309,659 B2
- Document ID: US11309659B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/169,791
- Filed: 2021-02-08
- Published: 2021-09-16
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-12
- Assignees: Yazaki Corporation
- Applicants: Yazaki Corporation
- Inventors: Teppei Doi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309659B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/5227: {with evacuation of penetrating liquids}
- B60R 16/0239: {Electronic boxes}
- H01R 13/5213: {Covers}
- H02G 3/088: {Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets}
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A drip-proof structure includes an upper wall of a connector body and an inclined face, the connector body being configured to be mounted to protrude in a canopy-like fashion from a panel-like object extending in a vertical direction and to extend in a traverse direction for a length equal to or greater than a width of a component mount area located below to block liquid from falling onto the component mount area, the inclined face being provided on an upper face of the upper wall and extending from a tip portion side to the panel-like object side of the connector body, the inclined face being inclined downward, with respect to the traverse direction, from a top position toward a side edge of the upper face to a terminal position positioned with a gap from the side edge to guide liquid received by the upper wall to the terminal position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drip-proof structure comprising:
an upper wall of a connector, the upper wall being mounted, at a mount position close to an upper end of a panel-like object, so as to protrude in a canopy-like fashion from the mount position, the upper wall extending in a vertical direction and in a traverse direction intersecting the vertical direction, along the panel-like object, for a length equal to or greater than a traverse width of a component mount area located below the mount position, on the panel-like object, the upper wall being configured to block liquid from falling onto the component mount area, the traverse direction being arranged along a long side of a substantially rectangular shaped upper face of the upper wall of the connector; and
an inclined face provided on an upper face of the upper wall so as to extend from a tip portion side of the connector, in a protruding direction to a side of the connector corresponding to the panel-like object, wherein,
the inclined face is inclined downward, with respect to the traverse direction, from an arbitral top position of the inclined face, toward at least one of side edges at both ends, in the traverse direction, of the upper face of the upper wall, to a terminal position on the upper face of the upper wall which is positioned with a gap from the at least one of the side edges, and
the inclined face is configured to guide the liquid received by the upper wall to the terminal position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drip-proof structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a rib wall standing up from a peripheral edge of the upper face of the upper wall, such that at least a part of the rib wall, which corresponds to the arbitral top position of the inclined face, has a height equal to or greater than a height of the arbitral top position of the inclined face, wherein
a part of a side portion of the rib wall which stands up from the at least one of the side edges of the upper face is cut out to form a discharge spout for the liquid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The drip-proof structure as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
a terminal side horizontal face extending between the terminal position on the upper face of the inclined face and the side portion of the rib wall, and which extends from the tip portion side of the connector to the side of the connector corresponding to the panel-like object.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The drip-proof structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a top side horizontal face provided adjacent to the arbitral top position of the inclined face, on the upper face, and extending from the tip portion side of the connector to the side of the connector corresponding to the panel-like object.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The drip-proof structure as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
a pair of guide walls configured to allow the liquid to flow between each other to thereby guide the liquid discharged from the discharge spout, wherein
the pair of guide walls is provided from a part of the side portion of the rib wall, where the discharge spout is provided, across a side face of the connector corresponding to the at least one of the side edges.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drip-proof structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
another inclined face, such that the inclined face and the another inclined face are provided as a pair, wherein
the pair of inclined faces are provided such that the inclined faces are inclined downward, when viewed from the traverse direction, from either the arbitral top position of the inclined face, or from a pair of top positions aligned adjacent to each other toward respective side edges at the both ends of the upper face to respective terminal positions, respectively, and
each of terminal positions of the pair of inclined faces are positioned with a gap from each of respective side edges of the upper face.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A connector comprising:
the drip-proof structure of claim 1, and
a connector body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An electric connection box; comprising:
the drip-proof structure of claim 1,
a housing;
the panel-like object, the panel-like object being mounted inside the housing so as to extend in a vertical direction; and
a connector body.