Wire harness

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a wire harness capable of improving the workability of connection work. A wire harness (WH) is provided with: a flexible flat wiring member (10); a connector (20) which is attached to the surface (10a) of the flat wiring member (10) and which is fitted and connected to an electronic device (50) along a fitting direction (Z) intersecting the surface (10a); and a terminal-equipped electric wire (30) interposed between the flat wiring member (10) and the connector (20), the terminal (31) being housed in the housing (21) of the connector (20) and electrically connected to the electronic device (50), and the electric wire (30) having a terminal (31) and an electric wire (32) having one end electrically connected to the terminal (31) and the other end electrically connected to the flat wiring member (10), the terminal-equipped electric wire (30) being provided with the terminal (31) and the electric wire (32) being interposed between the flat wiring member (10) and the connector (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a wire harness. Background Technology

[0002] As a technology related to conventional wire harnesses, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness comprising: a flat wiring component having flexibility; and a connector mounted on the surface of the flat wiring component and fitted into an electronic device along a mating direction intersecting the surface.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-296294 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] However, in the wire harness described in Patent Document 1 above, for example, the connector is fixed to the surface of the flat wiring component, and there is room for further improvement in terms of improving the operability of the connection operation between the connector and the electronic device.

[0008] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a wire harness that can improve the workability of connection operations.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the wiring harness of the present invention comprises: a flat wiring component having flexibility; a connector mounted on the surface of the flat wiring component and connected to an electronic device along a mating direction intersecting the surface; and a terminald wire having: a terminal housed in the housing of the connector and electrically connected to the electronic device; and a wire having one end electrically connected to the terminal and the other end electrically connected to the flat wiring component, the terminald wire being sandwiched between the flat wiring component and the connector.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] In the wire harness of the present invention, the terminald wire has: a terminal that is housed in the connector housing and electrically connected to the electronic device; and a wire, one end of which is electrically connected to the terminal and the other end of which is electrically connected to the flat wiring component, the terminald wire being sandwiched between the flat wiring component and the connector. According to this structure, the wire harness, for example, can allow the connector to shift relative to the flat wiring component in a direction intersecting the mating direction via the terminald wire, thereby absorbing positional offset (tolerance) of the connector relative to the electronic device in a direction intersecting the mating direction. As a result, the wire harness improves the workability of the connection operation. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is an exemplary top view of the wiring harness in the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wire harness in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is an exemplary and schematic perspective view (partial cross-sectional view) of the wiring harness of the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wiring harness of the embodiment, showing the state before connection of the connector offset at one end relative to the electronic device in the width direction.

[0017] Figure 5 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wiring harness of the embodiment, and a diagram showing the connected state after the positional offset of the connector relative to the electronic device has been absorbed.

[0018] Figure 6 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wiring harness of the embodiment, showing the state of the connector before connection, with the connector offset relative to the other end of the electronic device in the width direction.

[0019] Figure 7 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wiring harness of the embodiment, and a diagram showing the connected state after the positional offset of the connector relative to the electronic device has been absorbed.

[0020] Figure 8 This is an exemplary three-dimensional view of a modified wire harness.

[0021] Figure 9 This is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a modified wire harness.

[0022] Figure 10 This is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a modified wire harness.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0024] 10 Flat wiring components

[0025] 10a surface

[0026] 20 connectors

[0027] 21. Shell

[0028] 23. Locking part

[0029] 30 Wires with terminals

[0030] 31 terminal

[0031] 32 wires

[0032] 40 Protective components

[0033] 41 Opening

[0034] 41a Inner surface

[0035] 50 Electronic devices

[0036] 53. Counterparty connector

[0037] 60, 70 Fastening components

[0038] 100 Mounting Panel

[0039] WH and WH1 harnesses

[0040] X-direction of extension (direction of intersection)

[0041] Y-axis (direction of intersection)

[0042] Z-direction of interlocking Detailed Implementation

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described below. Additionally, the constituent elements in the embodiments and modifications described below include elements that can be easily substituted by those skilled in the art, or elements that are substantially the same.

[0044] Furthermore, the same constituent elements are included in the embodiments and variations disclosed below. Therefore, these same constituent elements will be labeled with common reference numerals below, and repeated descriptions will be omitted. In addition, in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish parts, components, locations, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0045] [Example]

[0046] Figure 1 This is a top view of the wire harness WH involved in the embodiment. Figure 1The wiring harness WH shown in this embodiment is applied to a vehicle, connecting various devices mounted on the vehicle and used for power supply and signal communication. The wiring harness WH of this embodiment includes, for example, a flat wiring component 10, a connector 20, and a wire 30 with terminals. The wiring harness WH is provided, for example, on a mounting panel 100 of the vehicle and is laid along the mounting panel 100. The mounting panel 100 is a front bulkhead or similar component that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment (driver's cab), constituting a structural component (skeleton component) of the vehicle. Furthermore, the wiring harness WH may also include various components such as fasteners, protectors, and cable loops.

[0047] Furthermore, in the following description, the first direction among the intersecting first, second, and third directions will be referred to as "extension direction X", the second direction as "width direction Y", and the third direction as "fitting direction Z". Here, extension direction X, width direction Y, and fitting direction Z are approximately orthogonal to each other. Extension direction X typically corresponds to the long side direction of wire harness WH and flat wiring component 10, etc. Width direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction (short side direction) of wire harness WH and flat wiring component 10, etc. Fitting direction Z typically corresponds to the vertical direction (board thickness direction) of wire harness WH and flat wiring component 10, connector 20 and electronic device 50 (see reference). Figure 4 The direction of mating (connection direction), etc. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, all directions used in the following description are described as those in the state where the wiring harness WH is assembled in the vehicle.

[0048] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of wire harness WH. Figure 3 This is a schematic three-dimensional view (partial sectional view) of the wire harness WH. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the flat wiring component 10 is a wiring component constituting the wire harness WH, and is made of, for example, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), flexible flat cables (FFCs), etc. The flat wiring component 10 is generally formed as a rectangular plate that is laterally longer along the extension direction X. The flat wiring component 10 is a thin and flexible (bendable) flat wiring component along the mating direction Z.

[0049] The flat wiring component 10 includes, for example, a base film, a wiring pattern, and a cover layer. The base film is a substrate with excellent flexibility that defines the overall shape of the flat wiring component 10. The base film is formed, for example, from a polyimide resin with excellent heat resistance. The wiring pattern is laminated on the surface of the base film, forming multiple conductor circuit portions (pattern layers). The wiring pattern is formed, for example, from a conductive material such as copper foil, and is printed on the surface of the base film as a printed circuit. The cover layer is laminated on the surface of the base film via an adhesive or the like, and functions as a protective layer for the conductor circuit portions of the wiring pattern. Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, on the surface 10a of the flat wiring component 10, at least a portion of the wiring pattern is exposed from the cover layer, and this exposed portion is electrically connected to a terminal wire 30 via a solder joint 12.

[0050] Connector 20 is mounted on surface 10a of flat wiring component 10 and engages with counterpart connector 53 of electronic device 50 along engagement direction Z (see [link]). Figure 4 Connector 20, for example, has a housing 21 and a plurality of terminals 31 housed within the housing 21 (see reference). Figure 2 The housing 21 is formed, for example, in a flat rectangular cylindrical shape along the extending direction X. Multiple cavities 22 are provided in the housing 21 for insertion of multiple terminals 31 along the mating direction Z. The multiple cavities 22 are spaced apart from each other in the housing 21 along the extending direction X and the width direction Y.

[0051] Connector 20 is electrically connected to the wiring pattern of flat wiring component 10 via wire 30 with terminals. The multiple conductor circuits formed by the wiring pattern can function as any of the following circuits: signal circuit, signal GND (ground) circuit, power grounding circuit, etc. The signal circuit is, for example, a circuit that transmits communication signals between electronic device 50 and various electronic devices within the vehicle. The signal GND circuit is an accessory to the signal circuit that conducts between the vehicle devices, ensuring that the potential used as a reference for circuit operation is consistent between the vehicle devices. The power grounding circuit is a circuit that grounds the power system of the vehicle devices.

[0052] Terminaled wires 30 form terminals 31 of connector 20, which are electrically connected to the flat wiring component 10. In this embodiment, multiple terminaled wires 30 are provided corresponding to the multiple cavities 22 of connector 20. The multiple terminaled wires 30 are each configured to include terminals 31 and wires 32. Terminal 31 is, for example, a male terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material, which is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal of the other connector 53. Terminal 31 is configured, for example, to include an electrical connection portion electrically connected to the counterpart terminal and a wire crimp portion electrically connected to one end (conductor portion 32a) of wire 32.

[0053] The wire 32 is configured to include a conductive, linear conductor portion 32a and an insulating covering portion 32b that covers the outer side of the conductor portion 32a. The wire 32 is an insulated wire in which the insulating covering portion 32b covers the conductor portion 32a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the conductor portion 32a is a core wire formed by bundling multiple conductive metal wires, but it can also be a stranded core wire formed by twisting the multiple metal wires together. The insulating covering portion 32b is a wire covering that covers the outer periphery of the conductor portion 32a. The insulating covering portion 32b is formed, for example, by extruding an insulating resin material.

[0054] The wires 32 are formed to extend linearly along the mating direction Z, with approximately the same diameter in the mating direction Z (the extension direction). In each wire 32, for example, the cross-sectional shape of the conductor portion 32a (the cross-sectional shape intersecting the mating direction Z) is formed to be approximately circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the insulating covering portion 32b is formed to be approximately annular, resulting in an overall approximately circular cross-sectional shape. The insulating covering portion 32b is stripped from both ends of each wire 32 in the mating direction Z, exposing the conductor portion 32a from the insulating covering portion 32b. Furthermore, the conductor portion 32a exposed at one end of the wire 32 is electrically connected to the terminal 31, and the conductor portion 32a exposed at the other end of the wire 32 is electrically connected to the flat wiring member 10 via the solder joint 12.

[0055] In this embodiment, the housings 21 of the flat wiring component 10 and the connector 20 are separated from each other along the mating direction Z, and the terminald wire 30 extends between the flat wiring component 10 and the connector 20 in a manner that spans between them. The wire 32 of the terminald wire 30 is capable of deforming (bending) along directions intersecting the mating direction Z, i.e., the extension direction X and the width direction Y, allowing the connector 20 to shift relative to the flat wiring component 10 along the extension direction X and the width direction Y. That is, the terminald wire 30 is configured to be used in the electronic device 50 described later (see reference...). Figure 4 , Figure 5 When the connector 20 is engaged, the wire 32 is deformed (bent) to follow the movement of the connector 20. The connector 20 is positioned in a standby state on the surface 10a of the flat wiring component 10 relative to the electronic device 50.

[0056] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness WH, showing the state of connector 20 before connection, with its position offset relative to one end of the electronic device 50 in the width direction Y. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the wiring harness WH, showing the state after connection where the positional offset of connector 20 relative to electronic device 50 is absorbed. Additionally, Figure 6This is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness WH, showing the state of connector 20 before connection, with its position offset relative to the other end of the electronic device 50 in the width direction Y. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness WH, showing the state after connection where the positional offset of connector 20 relative to electronic device 50 is absorbed.

[0057] like Figures 4-7 As shown, the electronic device 50 is configured, for example, to include a housing 51, a flange 52, a mating connector 53, and a conical surface 54. The flange 52 is located at both ends of the housing 51 in the width direction Y, protruding from these ends towards a mutually separated side along the width direction Y. The flange 52 has through holes for fastening components 60, such as bolts, that secure the vehicle mounting panel 100 to the electronic device 50 to be inserted along the mating direction Z. The fastening components 60 are fastened to fastening components 70, such as nuts, when inserted into the through holes of the flange 52.

[0058] The counterpart connector 53 is formed in a concave shape, for example, on the bottom wall of the housing 51. The counterpart connector 53 is configured to include a counterpart terminal that is electrically connected to the terminal 31 of the connector 20. The counterpart terminal is, for example, constructed of a female terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material. Furthermore, a tapered surface 54 is provided at the open end of the counterpart connector 53. The tapered surface 54 is inclined in a manner that it faces both sides in the width direction Y and the extension direction X, along the mating direction Z towards the connector 20. In this embodiment, the tapered surface 54 of this shape improves the insertability of the connector 20 relative to the counterpart connector 53.

[0059] In this embodiment, as the electronic device 50 is fastened to the mounting panel 100 of the vehicle by the fastening members 60 and 70, the connector 20 and the counterpart connector 53 on the electronic device 50 side engage with each other along the engagement direction Z. Specifically, in this embodiment, the fastening member 60 is provided in a state where it protrudes from the mounting panel 100 toward the electronic device 50 side along the engagement direction Z, and is fastened to the fastening member 70 while being inserted through the through hole formed in the flange 52. Thus, the fastening members 60 and 70 function as auxiliary bolts when the connector 20 engages with the counterpart connector 53 on the electronic device 50 side, thereby making the engagement of the connector 20 and the counterpart connector 53 easier and smoother.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector 20 is allowed to shift relative to the flat wiring component 10 along the width direction Y and the extension direction X, which intersect the mating direction Z, via the wire 32 of the terminald wire 30 sandwiched between the flat wiring component 10 and the connector 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the connector 20 is mated with the other connector 53, the connector 20 moves relative to the flat wiring component 10, thereby absorbing the positional offset between the connector 20 and the other connector 53 in the width direction Y and the extension direction X.

[0061] As described above, in the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the terminald wire 30 includes: a terminal 31, which is housed in the housing 21 of the connector 20 and electrically connected to the electronic device 50; and a wire 32, one end of which is electrically connected to the terminal 31 and the other end of which is electrically connected to the flat wiring member 10, and the terminald wire 30 is sandwiched between the flat wiring member 10 and the connector 20. According to this structure, the wire harness WH, for example, can allow the connector 20 to shift relative to the flat wiring member 10 along the extension direction X and the width direction Y, which intersect the mating direction Z, through the wire 32 of the terminald wire 30, thereby absorbing the positional offset (tolerance) of the connector 20 relative to the electronic device 50 along the extension direction X and the width direction Y. As a result, the wire harness WH can improve the workability of connection operations.

[0062] Furthermore, in the wiring harness WH of this embodiment, the flat wiring component 10 is laid along the vehicle's mounting panel 100. As the electronic device 50 is fastened relative to the mounting panel 100 by the fastening components 60 and 70, the connector 20 engages with the counterpart connector 53 on the side of the electronic device 50 along the engagement direction Z. According to this structure, the wiring harness WH, for example, when the electronic device 50 is fastened to the vehicle's mounting panel 100 by the fastening components 60 and 70, can absorb positional offsets (tolerances) of the connector 20 relative to the electronic device 50 along the extension direction X and the width direction Y by the wire 32 of the terminald wire 30. As a result, the wiring harness WH can further improve the workability of connection operations.

[0063] [Variation Example]

[0064] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional view of the modified wire harness WH1. Figure 8 The wire harness WH1 shown has the same structure as the wire harness WH in the above embodiment. Therefore, the wire harness WH1 can achieve the same function and effect as the above embodiment based on the same structure.

[0065] However, in this variant example, as Figure 8As shown, a protective member 40 is provided to cover the connector 20 and the terminald wire 30, which differs from the embodiment described above. The protective member 40 covers and protects the connector 20 and the terminald wire 30 from both sides in the extension direction X and both sides in the width direction Y. An opening 41 is provided in the protective member 40 for the connector 20 and the terminald wire 30 to be inserted along the mating direction Z. The protective member 40 is formed, for example, as a rectangular cylinder along the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21 of the connector 20. The protective member 40 is mounted on the surface 10a of the flat wiring member 10 and is connected via the solder joint 12 (11) (see See Figure 10 ) and so on, fixed to the flat wiring component 10.

[0066] Figure 9 This is an exploded 3D view of wire harness WH1. Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of wire harness WH1. (For example...) Figure 9 , Figure 10 As shown, in this modified example, a gap G is provided between the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 and the connector 20, allowing the connector 20 to move relative to the protective member 40 along the extension direction X and the width direction Y. The gap G is, for example, formed by a rectangular opening that runs along the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21 of the connector 20 and is larger than the outer peripheral surface.

[0067] Additionally, a locking portion 23 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21 to engage with the protective member 40. In this modified example, the locking portions 23 are provided at both ends of the housing 21 in the extending direction X, and protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21 toward the protective member 40 in a cantilever spring shape. The pair of locking portions 23 are respectively configured to include an arm portion 23a and a claw portion 23b, and are engaged relative to the inner surface 41a of the opening portion 41 in a manner that allows elastic deformation along the extending direction X.

[0068] A pair of arms 23a are formed, for example, in a position where the housing 21 is sandwiched between them in the extending direction X. The pair of arms 23a protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21 along the fitting direction Z and is formed in an arm-like (umbrella-like) shape that gradually expands towards both sides in the extending direction X as it moves towards the protective member 40 along the fitting direction Z. That is, one end of the pair of arms 23a in the fitting direction Z is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the housing 21, while the other end in the fitting direction Z is configured as a free end that can elastically deform along the extending direction X.

[0069] A pair of claw portions 23b are provided, for example, at the ends of a pair of arm portions 23a, and are formed in a claw shape to engage with the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 and the upper surface of the protective member 40. The pair of claw portions 23b, for example, have a generally L-shaped cross-sectional shape that opens toward the periphery of the opening 41. In this modified example, the pair of claw portions 23b engage with the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 in a manner that allows elastic deformation along the extension direction X, thereby allowing the connector 20 to move relative to the protective member 40 along the extension direction X.

[0070] As described above, in the wire harness WH1 of this modified example, a protective member 40 is provided. This protective member 40 has an opening 41 for inserting a connector 20 and a terminald wire 30 along the mating direction Z. A gap G is provided between the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 and the connector 20, allowing the connector 20 to move relative to the protective member 40 along the extending direction X and the width direction Y, which intersect the mating direction Z. According to this structure, the wire harness WH1 can, for example, absorb the positional displacement (tolerance) of the connector 20 relative to the electronic device 50 along the extending direction X and the width direction Y through the gap G of the protective member 40, and can protect the connector 20 and the terminald wire 30.

[0071] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH1 of this modified example, the connector 20 has a locking portion 23 that protrudes towards the protective member 40 in a cantilever spring shape and engages with the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 in an elastically deformable manner along the extending direction X. According to this structure, the wire harness WH1, for example, can allow the connector 20 to move relative to the protective member 40 along the extending direction X via the locking portion 23, and suppress interference between the housing 21 of the connector 20 and the protective member 40 that occurs accompanying this relative movement.

[0072] Furthermore, in this modified example, the locking portion 23 is provided at both ends of the connector 20 in the extension direction X, but it is not limited to this example. For example, it can also be provided at both ends of the connector 20 in the width direction Y. In this case, the locking portion 23 can lock onto the inner surface 41a of the opening 41 in a way that allows elastic deformation along the width direction Y. In addition, the locking portion 23 can also be provided at both ends of the connector 20 in the extension direction X and both ends of the connector 20 in the width direction Y. Furthermore, for example, when the electronic device 50 is fastened to the mounting panel 100 by the fastening members 60 and 70, the connector 20 may not engage with the counterpart connector 53 of the electronic device 50.

[0073] The above examples illustrate embodiments and modifications of the present invention. However, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of various structures, shapes, etc. (construction, type, orientation, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, quantity, configuration, position, material, etc.) can be appropriately modified for implementation.

Claims

1. A wire harness, characterized in that, have: A flat wiring component, the flat wiring component being flexible; A connector, said connector being mounted on the surface of said flat wiring component and engaging with an electronic device along an engagement direction intersecting said surface; and A terminald wire having: a terminal housed in the housing of the connector and electrically connected to the electronic device; and a wire having one end electrically connected to the terminal and the other end electrically connected to the flat wiring component, the terminald wire being sandwiched between the flat wiring component and the connector.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flat wiring components are laid along the vehicle's mounting panel. As the electronic device is secured relative to the mounting panel by fastening components, the connector engages with the counterpart connector on the side of the electronic device along the engagement direction.

3. The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The wiring harness includes a protective component with an opening for inserting the connector and the terminald wire along the mating direction. A gap is provided between the inner surface of the opening and the connector, allowing the connector to move relative to the protective member in a direction intersecting the mating direction.

4. The wire harness according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connector has a locking portion that protrudes toward the protective member in a cantilever spring shape and engages with the inner surface of the opening in an elastically deformable manner along the intersecting direction.

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