# US 11,909,149 B2 · Rotary connector device and rotation body of rotary connector device

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- Number: US 11,909,149 B2
- Document ID: US11909149B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/096,956
- Filed: 2020-11-13
- Published: 2021-03-04
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-28
- Assignees: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.; Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
- Applicants: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.; Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
- Inventors: Satoshi Kitao; Shingo Nambu; Kenji Yoshimura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909149B2

## CPC

- H01R 35/025: {having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis}
- H01R 35/04: Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle {with frictional contact members}
- H01R 13/52: Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
- H02G 11/02: using take-up reel or drum
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A rotary connector device includes a fixed body, a rotation body, and a connector. The rotation body is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the fixed body. The connector includes a cover, a conductor, and a holding member. The cover includes a first wall and a space therein. The first wall extends from the rotation body in an axial direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis. The holding member is attached to the cover in the space and holds the conductor. The holding member includes, in the first wall, an exposed portion exposed to an outside of the space. The cover and the holding member include a restriction structure to restrict foreign matter from entering the space through the exposed portion. The restriction structure includes a first protrusion that protrudes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall and a first recess in which the first protrusion is fitted.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotary connector device comprising:
a fixed body;
a rotation body assembled to the fixed body, the rotation body being rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the fixed body; and
a connector connected to the rotation body, the connector comprising:
a cover including a first wall and a space therein, the first wall extending from the rotation body in an axial direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis;
a conductor electrically connected to a cable conducting wire and disposed in the space; and
a holding member attached to the cover inserted in the space and holding the conductor, the holding member including, in the first wall, an exposed portion exposed to an outside of the space,
the cover and the holding member including a restriction structure to restrict foreign matter from entering the space through the exposed portion,
the restriction structure comprising:
a first protrusion that protrudes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall; and
a first recess in which the first protrusion is fitted,
the holding member including the first recess,
the cover including the first protrusion,
the holding member including a second recess recessed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall,
the first recess and the second recess being provided to sandwich the exposed portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction along the first wall, and
the cover including a second protrusion fitted in the second recess.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rotary connector device according to claim 1,
wherein the second recess and the second protrusion extend from the rotation body in the axial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rotary connector device according to claim 1,
wherein the cover includes a second wall disposed at a distance from the first wall in a radial direction of the rotation axis, and
the first wall is provided inward of the second wall in the radial direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rotary connector device according to claim 1,
wherein the first recess includes:
a first surface extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall;
a second surface extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall; and
a third surface substantially parallel to the axial direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface, and
the first protrusion includes:
a fourth surface extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall;
a fifth surface extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall; and
a sixth surface substantially parallel to the axial direction and connecting the fourth surface and the fifth surface,
the first surface is in contact with the fourth surface,
the second surface is in contact with the fifth surface, and
the third surface is in contact with the sixth surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rotary connector device according to claim 1,
wherein a length of the first protrusion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall is greater than ⅕ of a length of the exposed portion in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction along the first wall.

### Claim 6

A rotary connector device comprising:
a fixed body;
a rotation body assembled to the fixed body, the rotation body being rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the fixed body; and
a connector connected to the rotation body, the connector comprising:
a cover including a first wall and a space therein, the first wall extending from the rotation body in an axial direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis;
a conductor electrically connected to a cable conducting wire and disposed in the space; and
a holding member attached to the cover inserted in the space and holding the conductor, the holding member including, in the first wall, an exposed portion exposed to an outside of the space,
the cover and the holding member including a restriction structure to restrict foreign matter from entering the space through the exposed portion,
the restriction structure comprising:
a first protrusion that protrudes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall; and
a first recess in which the first protrusion is fitted,
the holding member including the first recess,
the cover including the first protrusion, and
the first recess and the first protrusion extending from the rotation body in the axial direction.

### Claim 7

A rotation body of a rotary connector device, comprising:
an annular member to be assembled to a fixed body, the annular member being rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the fixed body; and
a connector connected to the annular member, the connector comprising:
a cover including a first wall and a space therein, the first wall extending from the annular member in an axial direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis;
a conductor electrically connected to a cable conducting wire and disposed in the space; and
a holding member that is attached to the cover inserted in the space and holds the conductor, the holding member including, in the first wall, an exposed portion exposed to an outside of the space,
the cover and the holding member including a restriction structure to restrict foreign matter from entering the space through the exposed portion,
the restriction structure comprising:
a first protrusion that protrudes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall; and
a first recess in which the first protrusion is fitted,
the holding member including the first recess,
the cover including the first protrusion,
the holding member including a second recess recessed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first wall,
the first recess and the second recess being provided to sandwich the exposed portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction along the first wall, and
the cover including a second protrusion fitted in the second recess.