# US 12,224,513 B2 · Connector device and wire harness manufacturing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,513 B2 - Document ID: US12224513B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/838,506 - Filed: 2022-06-13 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-23 - Assignees: Yazaki Corporation - Applicants: Yazaki Corporation - Inventors: Syuji Kimura; Sadaharu Okuda; Terumitsu Sugimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224513B2 ## CPC - H01R 4/70: Insulation of connections (end caps H01R4/22) - H01R 13/03: characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials - H01R 4/625: {Soldered or welded connections} - H01R 13/405: Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting - H01R 43/005: {for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing} - H01R 43/02: for soldered or welded connections - H01R 13/506: assembled by snap action of the parts - H01R 13/5216: {characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector device includes a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber, a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal, a corrosion-proof material to be disposed at a position facing the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber and a corrosion-proof target portion of the electric wire, and a corrosion-proof material support portion retaining the corrosion-proof material above the connector housing such that the corrosion-proof material can be moved toward the corrosion-proof target portion. A melting point of the corrosion-proof material is set to be lower than a melting point of a material forming the connector housing, and the corrosion-proof material is configured to be melted and then cured while covering the corrosion-proof target portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector device comprising: a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber; a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber; an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal; a corrosion-proof material to be disposed at a position facing the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber and a corrosion-proof target portion of the electric wire; and a corrosion-proof material support portion retaining the corrosion-proof material above the connector housing such that the corrosion-proof material can be moved toward the corrosion-proof target portion, wherein a melting point of the corrosion-proof material is set to be lower than a melting point of a material forming the connector housing, and the corrosion-proof material is configured to be melted and then cured while covering the corrosion-proof target portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-proof material is melted after the corrosion-proof material moves to a position close to the corrosion-proof target portion while being retained by the corrosion-proof material support portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover member configured to be engaged with the connector housing and to cover an opening of the connector housing, the opening being formed at a position corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber, wherein the opening and the cover member are disposed at positions facing the corrosion-proof target portion, and wherein the corrosion-proof material support portion is provided in the cover member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the opening is formed at a position facing the corrosion-proof target portion in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the terminal and the electric wire. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the terminal accommodating chamber is a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, wherein the opening of the connector housing is formed over the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, and wherein the cover member covers an entirety of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers. ### Claim 6 A wire harness manufacturing method for manufacturing a wire harness including a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber, a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal, the wire harness manufacturing method including: disposing the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber and fixing the terminal to the terminal accommodating chamber; fixing the electric wire to the terminal by physically and electrically connecting the electric wire to the terminal; bringing a corrosion-proof material close to a corrosion-proof target portion including a connection portion at which the terminal and the electric wire are connected to each other; and melting and then curing the corrosion-proof material to perform a corrosion-proof operation to the corrosion-proof target portion, wherein the melting the corrosion-proof material comprises heating the corrosion-proof material at a temperature that is higher than a melting point of the corrosion-proof material and is lower than a melting point of a material forming the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the melting comprises performing a welding operation on the corrosion-proof material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-proof material support portion retains the corrosion-proof material above the connector housing such that a first side of the corrosion-proof material faces the terminal accommodating chamber and a second side opposite to the first side is exposed to an outside of the connector housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire includes a core wire and an insulating sheath, the insulating sheath at an end portion of the electric wire is peeled off to expose the core wire, wherein the electric wire is configured to be connected to the terminal at the exposed portion of the core wire, and the corrosion-proof target portion of the electric wire includes a connection portion at which the terminal and the core wire are connected to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the electric wire includes a core wire and an insulating sheath, the insulating sheath at an end portion of the electric wire is peeled off to expose the core wire, wherein the electric wire is configured to be connected to the terminal at the exposed portion of the core wire, and the corrosion-proof target portion of the electric wire includes a connection portion at which the terminal and the core wire are connected to each other.