Grommet and grommet-equipped wiring member

Abstract

Provided are a grommet and a wiring member with the grommet, which are easy to maintain an engaged state and a water stop state. The grommet is a tubular grommet having a through-hole through which the wiring member passes. The grommet is provided with a tubular part in which a through hole is formed, an engagement part, and a counterpart-side engagement part that can engage with the engagement part. The tubular portion includes at least one set of first and second divided ends extending in a penetrating direction of the wiring member. The engaging portion is formed along the first divided end. The mating engagement portion is formed along the second divided end. The engagement part and the mating engagement part are continuously engaged with each other in the through direction, so that the first split end and the second split end are in a state in which the water stop state is continuously maintained in the through direction.

Description

Wire sheaths and wiring components with wire sheaths Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to cable sheaths and wiring components with cable sheaths. Background Technology

[0002] In automobiles and other vehicles, there is sometimes a body panel separating the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. A through hole is formed in the body panel for the wire harness to pass through. Furthermore, sometimes a wire protector is provided, which is fitted onto the wire harness and assembled into the through hole. As such a wire protector, a wire protector described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-40433 is known. The wire protector described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-40433 consists of two segments that are divided in half along the direction of the wire harness's passage. The two segments clamp the wire harness between them and are engaged. The two segments are provided with a locking mechanism for engaging with each other. The locking mechanism consists of a locking claw protruding from the segmented end of one segment and a locking frame protruding from the segmented end of the other segment for engaging and locking the locking claw. [Prior Art Documents, Patent Documents]

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-40433 The invention aims to solve the following problem:

[0004] People hope that the split ends of the cable sheath can be more easily locked and more easily kept dry.

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to make it easier to maintain a locking state and a waterproof state at the split end of the sheath. The solution to this problem...

[0006] The disclosed cable sheath is tubular and has a through hole for a wiring component to pass through. It comprises: a tubular portion having the through hole; a locking portion; and a counter-locking portion capable of engaging with the locking portion. The tubular portion includes at least one set of first and second segmented ends extending along the through direction of the wiring component. The locking portion is formed along the first segmented end, and the counter-locking portion is formed along the second segmented end. The locking portion and the counter-locking portion continuously engage with each other along the through direction, thereby maintaining a water-stopped state where the first and second segmented ends are continuously connected along the through direction.

[0007] The disclosed wiring component with a sheath comprises: the sheath; and a wiring component extending through the through hole in the sheath. Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to this disclosure, a cable sheath and a wiring component with a cable sheath can be provided, which are easy to keep in a locked state and easy to maintain a waterproof state. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 is a front view showing the cable guard, wiring components, and body panel together. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the cable guard. Figure 3 is a side view showing the engaging part, the opposite engaging part, and the slider together. Detailed Implementation

[0010] (Description of embodiments of this disclosure) First, embodiments of this disclosure will be described.

[0011] The cable sheath disclosed herein is as follows.

[0012] (1) It is tubular and has a through hole for the wiring component to pass through, comprising: a tubular portion having the through hole; a locking portion; and a counter-locking portion capable of locking with the locking portion, wherein the tubular portion includes at least one set of first segmented ends and second segmented ends extending along the through direction of the wiring component, the locking portion is formed along the first segmented end, and the counter-locking portion is formed along the second segmented end, and the locking portion and the counter-locking portion are continuously locked with each other along the through direction, thereby maintaining a water-stopping state where the first segmented end and the second segmented end are continuously kept in the through direction.

[0013] According to this cable sleeve, since the engaging portion and the engaging portion on the opposite side continuously engage with each other, the stress load can be distributed throughout their entire engaging area. For example, when a force is applied to release the engagement, compared to a partial engaging configuration, the force load can be distributed throughout the stressed portion. Therefore, the engaging state of the engaging portion is easy to maintain. In addition, since the continuous engaging state is maintained, the water-stopping state is easy to maintain throughout the entire through direction.

[0014] (2) In the cable sheath of (1), at least one of the first segmented end and the engaging portion, and the second segmented end and the opposing engaging portion, may have a deformable flexible portion extending along the first segmented end or the second segmented end. According to this cable sheath, the flexible portion extending along the first segmented end or the second segmented end is deformable. Therefore, even if there is unevenness in the through direction at the first segmented end or the second segmented end of the cable sheath, the unevenness can be absorbed by the shape deformation of the flexible portion between the first segmented end and the engaging portion, or between the second segmented end and the opposing engaging portion. Thus, even if the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion are formed in a straight line, it is easy to make the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion continuously engage.

[0015] (3) In the cable sleeve of (1) or (2), a slider may also be provided, which moves along the engaging part and the opposite-side engaging part, and engages or disengages the engaging part and the opposite-side engaging part according to its moving direction. According to this cable sleeve, the engaging part and the opposite-side engaging part can be easily engaged by the sliding movement of the slider.

[0016] (4) In the cable sleeve of (3), at least one of the engaging portion and the opposite-side engaging portion may have a stop member at its end, the stop member being engaged with the slider in a manner that restricts the slider from disengaging. According to this cable sleeve, since the stop member keeps the slider engaged, even if the engaging portion and the opposite-side engaging portion are disengaged, the slider can be prevented from being lost.

[0017] (5) In the cable protector sleeve of (3), the slider can also be detached from the ends of the engaging portion and the opposite engaging portion. With this cable protector sleeve, the slider can be removed from the ends of the engaging portion and the opposite engaging portion. By making the slider non-existent in the engaged state, the slider will not obstruct the cable protector sleeve when it is fitted onto the vehicle body.

[0018] (6) In any of (1) to (5) of the cable sleeve, one of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion may have an engaging groove that extends along the through direction and narrows at the outlet, and the other of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion may have an engaging protrusion that extends along the through direction and is wider at the top than at the base, the engaging protrusion engaging continuously with the engaging groove through the outlet of the engaging groove. According to this cable sleeve, the engaging protrusion engaging with the engaging groove can maintain the engagement without the need for filler or waterproofing material.

[0019] (7) In any of (1) to (6), the cable sheath may also have multiple sets of the aforementioned engaging portions and the opposite-side engaging portions, which are arranged side by side at different distances relative to the tubular portion. According to this cable sheath, since it has multiple sets of engaging portions and the opposite-side engaging portions arranged side by side, the waterproof or soundproof performance is improved.

[0020] (8) In any of (1) to (7), the cable sheath may also include only one set of the first segmented end and the second segmented end. According to this cable sheath, since it includes only one set of the first segmented end and the second segmented end, the waterproof and soundproof performance is improved compared to the case that includes two or more sets.

[0021] The wiring components with sheaths disclosed herein are as follows.

[0022] (9) The wiring component with a sheath includes: a sheath of any one of (1) to (8); and a wiring component that passes through the through hole of the sheath.

[0023] According to this wiring assembly with a protective sleeve, since the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion continuously engage with each other, stress load can be distributed throughout their entire engaging area. For example, when a force is applied to release the engagement, compared to a partial engaging configuration, the force load can be distributed throughout the stressed portion. Therefore, the engaging state of the engaging portion is easy to maintain. Furthermore, since the continuous engaging state is maintained, the water-stopping state is easy to maintain throughout the entire through direction.

[0024] (Details of Embodiments of This Disclosure) Hereinafter, specific examples of the wiring component with a sheath according to this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown by way of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0025] In the accompanying drawings, for ease of explanation, some components may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions of the various parts may differ in each drawing. Additionally, the terms "parallel" or "orthogonal" in this specification refer not only to strictly parallel or perpendicular arrangements, but also to approximately parallel or orthogonal arrangements within the scope of their function and effect in this embodiment.

[0026] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the wiring component 1 with a protective sleeve according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0027] (Overall Structure) First, the overall structure of the wiring component 1 with the cable sheath will be described. Figure 1 is a front view showing the cable sheath 10, the wiring component 2, and the vehicle body panel 3 together. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the cable sheath 10. Also, in Figures 1 and 2, the engaging part 20 is indicated by dashed lines.

[0028] (Regarding the wiring component 1 with a cable sheath) The wiring component 1 with a cable sheath includes a wiring component 2 and a cable sheath 10. The cable sheath 10 is a component that is mounted on a through hole 3a formed in a body panel 3 while being externally mounted on the wiring component 2. The body panel 3 is, for example, a plate-shaped component that separates the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. In Figure 1, for example, the right side of the body panel 3 is the engine compartment, and the left side of the body panel 3 is the passenger compartment. In this state, the cable sheath 10 seals the space between the wiring component 2 and the through hole 3a, thereby preventing water from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment. A through hole 3a for laying the wiring component 2 is formed on the body panel 3. The through hole 3a is circular in this case, but it does not necessarily have to be circular.

[0029] The wiring component 2 is composed of multiple wires bundled together. Also, in Figure 1, the individual wires are not shown; only the outer diameter of the wiring component 2 is shown. The wiring component 2 may also include optical cables, etc. Furthermore, the wires contained in the wiring component 2 may branch at the middle of the extending direction of the wiring component 2. The portion of the wiring component 2 that is inserted into the cable sheath 10 is bundled into a single unit. The wiring component 2, for example, connects various electrical components on the engine compartment side to various electrical components on the passenger compartment side.

[0030] (Wire Sheath 10) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire sheath 10 has a through hole 11a through which the wiring component 2 passes. The wire sheath 10 is tubular. In addition, the wire sheath 10 has a tubular portion 11, a locking portion 20, and a locking portion 30 on the opposite side. Furthermore, the wire sheath 10 also has flexible portions 14 and 15 and a slider 40.

[0031] The tubular portion 11 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber. The tubular portion 11 includes a cylindrical first cover 16 covering the wiring component 2 on the engine compartment side, a cylindrical second cover 17 covering the wiring component 2 on the passenger compartment side, and a fitting portion 18 that fits into the through hole 3a in the body panel 3. The fitting portion 18 has large outer diameter portions 18a and 18b and a groove 18c located between the large outer diameter portions 18a and 18b. The outer diameter of the annular bottom of the groove 18c is set to be equal to the inner diameter of the through hole 3a. With the inner periphery of the through hole 3a in the body panel 3 inserted into the groove 18c, the cable protector 10 is assembled to the body panel 3. By sealing the gap between the wiring component 2 and the inner periphery of the through hole 3a by the cable protector 10, water can be prevented from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment through the through hole 3a.

[0032] A through hole 11a is formed on the tubular portion 11. The inner diameter of the through hole 11a, for example, in the portion disposed in the passenger compartment, is large enough to allow for close contact with the wiring member 2. The portion of the through hole 11a disposed in the passenger compartment has an inner diameter that is the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the wiring member 2. Furthermore, after the wiring member 2 is covered by the tubular portion 11, the engine compartment side end of the first cover 16 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the first cover 16 can be wrapped, for example, with tape. Similarly, the passenger compartment side end of the second cover 17 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the second cover 17 can be wrapped, for example, with tape. This prevents water from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment through the through hole 11a. Alternatively, the area around the first cover 16 and the wiring member 2 can be sealed with other sealing components instead of tape. Similarly, the second cover 17 and the area around the wiring component 2 can also be sealed with other sealing components instead of tape.

[0033] The tubular portion 11 includes a set of first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13 extending along the through direction A of the wiring member 2. The first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13 are continuously formed from one end to the other of the tubular portion 11. The tubular portion 11 is separated in the through direction A by the first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13. The first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13 are arranged facing each other. In this embodiment, the first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13 are a set, but at least one set is acceptable. For example, there may be two or more sets of the first dividing ends 12 and second dividing ends 13.

[0034] (Closing part 20 and opposite side closing part 30) Figure 3 is a side view showing the closing part 20 and the opposite side closing part 30 together with the slider 40.

[0035] In this embodiment, the engaging portion 20 is fixed to the flexible portion 14, which will be described in detail later. Similarly, the opposing engaging portion 30 is fixed to the flexible portion 15, which will also be described in detail later. The engaging portion 20 and the flexible portion 14 can be fixed, for example, by adhesive or heat welding, or they can be integrally formed. Likewise, the opposing engaging portion 30 and the flexible portion 15 can be fixed, for example, by adhesive or heat welding, or they can be integrally formed. The engaging portion 20 is formed along the first dividing end 12. The opposing engaging portion 30 is formed along the second dividing end 13. The opposing engaging portion 30 can engage with the engaging portion 20. The engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 are made of an elastic material having the degree to which they can engage or disengage. The engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 can be formed, for example, of polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing-side engaging portions 30 are provided. The two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing-side engaging portions 30 are arranged side by side with different distances relative to the tubular portion 11. Also, while this embodiment employs a configuration with two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing-side engaging portions 30, it could also be a combination of one set of engaging portions 20 and opposing-side engaging portions 30, or a combination of three or more sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing-side engaging portions 30.

[0037] The engaging part 20 and the engaging part 30 on the opposite side continuously engage with each other along the through direction A. As a result, the first dividing end 12 and the second dividing end 13 are in a state of continuous water-stopping along the through direction A.

[0038] The engaging portion 20 extends along the through direction A. The engaging portion 20 has two engaging protrusions 21 and 22, and a supporting wall portion 20a supporting the engaging protrusions 21 and 22. The supporting wall portion 20a extends from the portion fixed to the flexible portion 14 to the engaging protrusions 21 and 22. The two engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are arranged side-by-side at different distances relative to the tubular portion 11. For example, the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are arranged side-by-side in a direction perpendicular to the through direction A.

[0039] The engaging protrusions 21 and 22 have top ends 21a and 22a and base ends 21b and 22b. The base ends 21b and 22b are supported by the support wall portion 20a. Furthermore, when viewed from the side, the top ends 21a and 22a protrude from the base ends 21b and 22b. The top ends 21a and 22a of the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are wider than the base ends 21b and 22b.

[0040] The engaging portion 30 on the opposite side extends along the through direction A. The engaging portion 30 on the opposite side has engaging grooves 31 and 32. The engaging grooves 31 and 32 are narrowed at the outlets 31e and 32e. The specific configuration is as follows: The engaging groove 31 is formed by a support wall portion 30a, a protruding receiving portion 31a extending from the support wall portion 30a, and a top portion 31b extending from the upper end of the support wall portion 30a. The protruding receiving portion 31a has an extending portion 31c extending from the support wall portion 30a and a protrusion 31d protruding upward from the top end of the extending portion 31c. In the engaging groove 31, the top end of the protrusion 31d and the top portion 31b form the outlet 31e.

[0041] The engaging groove 32 is formed by a support wall portion 30a, a protruding receiving portion 32a extending from the support wall portion 30a, and the lower surface of the protruding receiving portion 31a. The protruding receiving portion 32a has an extending portion 32c extending from the support wall portion 30a and a protrusion 32d protruding upward from the top end of the extending portion 32c. In the engaging groove 32, an outlet 32e is formed by the top end of the protrusion 31d and the lower surface of the protruding receiving portion 31a.

[0042] The widths of the top ends 21a and 22a of the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are greater than the widths of the outlets 31e and 32e of the engaging grooves 31 and 32. The engaging grooves 31 and 32 are respectively formed to correspond in shape to the engaging protrusions 21 and 22. "Corresponding in shape to the engaging protrusions 21 and 22" means that the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 can be accommodated within the engaging grooves 31 and 32. For example, when viewed from the side in the through direction A, the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are equal to or slightly smaller than the engaging grooves 31 and 32. Furthermore, the widths of the base ends 21b and 22b of the engaging protrusions 21 and 22 are smaller than the widths of the outlets 31e and 32e of the engaging grooves 31 and 32. The engaging protrusions 21 and 22 continuously engage with the engaging grooves 31 and 32 through the outlets 31e and 32e of the engaging grooves 31 and 32.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 20 has engaging protrusions 21 and 22, and the opposing engaging portion 30 has engaging grooves 31 and 32. However, it may also be configured such that the engaging portion 20 has engaging grooves and the opposing engaging portion 30 has engaging protrusions. In addition, in this embodiment, it is configured to have two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing engaging portions 30. However, it may also be configured to have only one set of engaging portions 20 and opposing engaging portions 30, or to have three or more sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing engaging portions 30.

[0044] The supporting wall portion 20a of the engaging portion 20 has a corrugated portion 23 between the fixed portion with the flexible portion 14 and the engaging protrusions 21 and 22. The corrugated portion 23 has a plurality of flat portions 24 and a plurality of bent portions 25 located between the flat portions 24. The corrugated portion 23 can expand and contract by changing the angle at which the flat portions 24 are connected to each other at the bent portions 25. By having the corrugated portion 23, the engaging portion 20 has expandability in the width direction B when viewed from the side.

[0045] Similarly, the support wall 30a of the opposite-side engaging portion 30 has a corrugated portion 33 between the fixed portion with the flexible portion 15 and the engaging grooves 31, 32. The corrugated portion 33 has a plurality of flat portions 34 and bent portions 35 located between the flat portions 34. The corrugated portion 33 can expand and contract by changing the angle at which the flat portions 34 are connected to each other at the bent portions 35. By having the corrugated portion 33, the opposite-side engaging portion 30 has expandability in the width direction B when viewed from the side. For example, when the cable sleeve 10 is assembled to the body panel 3, it is conceivable that the flexible portions 14, 15 are bent and stored. In this way, as a result of bending the flexible portions 14, 15, even if a force is applied to the engaging portion 20 and the opposite-side engaging portion 30 to cause them to be misaligned, this misalignment can be absorbed by the corrugated portions 23, 33.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the end of the engaging portion 20 is provided with stops 27 and 28 for engaging the slider 40, which will be described later. In the engaging portion 20, the end on the passenger compartment side is provided with stop 27, and the end on the engine compartment side is provided with stop 28. Additionally, in this embodiment, the passenger compartment side end of the opposing engaging portion 30 is also provided with a stop 37 to restrict the slider 40. When the slider 40 is located at the end of the engaging portion 20 or the opposing engaging portion 30, the stops 27, 28, and 37 restrict the slider 40 from disengaging from the engaging portion 20 or the opposing engaging portion 30. Specifically, the stops 27, 28, and 37 abut against the outer guide portion 42 of the slider 40, which will be described in detail later, thereby restricting the slider 40 from disengaging from the engaging portion 20 or the opposing engaging portion 30.

[0047] (Flexible portions 14, 15) Flexible portions 14 and 15 are deformable. Flexible portions 14 and 15 are made of a highly flexible material. High flexibility means that they are easily deformed by external force. Flexible portions 14 and 15 may also have a flexibility that makes them easier to bend and deform than the tubular portion 11. Furthermore, preferably, flexible portions 14 and 15 may also have a flexibility that makes them easier to bend and deform than the engaging portion 20 and the opposite engaging portion 30. Flexible portions 14 and 15 may, for example, be sheet-shaped from polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

[0048] The flexible portion 14 is located between the first dividing end 12 and the engaging portion 20. The flexible portion 14 extends along the first dividing end 12. The flexible portion 14 also serves to connect the first dividing end 12 and the engaging portion 20. The flexible portion 15 is located between the second dividing end 13 and the opposing engaging portion 30. The flexible portion 15 extends along the second dividing end 13. The flexible portion 15 also serves to connect the second dividing end 13 and the opposing engaging portion 30. In this embodiment, both the flexible portion 14 and the flexible portion 15 are provided, but only one of them may be provided. For example, if only the flexible portion 14 is provided, the opposing engaging portion 30 is directly fixed to the second dividing end 13. In addition, if only the flexible portion 15 is provided, the engaging portion 20 is directly fixed to the first dividing end 12.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer periphery of the cable sheath has irregularities formed in the through direction A. Flexible portions 14 and 15 are located between the engaging portion or the opposing engaging portion and the irregularly shaped portion of the cable sheath 10, absorbing the irregularities formed on the outer periphery of the cable sheath. Therefore, the flexible portions 14 and 15 allow the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 to engage linearly along the through direction A.

[0050] When the cable sleeve 10 is fitted into the through hole 3a formed on the body panel 3, flexible portions 14 and 15 (see Figure 1) are wrapped around the outer periphery of the portion of the tubular portion 11 fitted into the through hole 3a. At this time, due to the flexibility of the flexible portions 14 and 15, the flexible portions 14 and 15 are tightly wrapped around the outer periphery of the tubular portion 11. In addition, the slider 40, which will be described in detail later, is not positioned to abut against the through hole 3a when the engaging portion 20 engages with the opposing engaging portion 30. Specifically, the slider 40 is positioned at the ends of the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 while being restricted by the stops 27 and 37.

[0051] Furthermore, even without the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 of the stop members 27 and 37, the slider 40 can be completely disengaged from the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30. In this case, when the slider 40 is completely disengaged from the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30, and the engagement of the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 is released, the slider 40 can be reassembled from the ends of the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration having the soft portions 14 and 15 is adopted, but a configuration without the soft portions 14 and 15 may also be adopted.

[0053] (Slider 40) As shown in Figures 1 to 3, slider 40 moves along engaging portion 20 and opposite engaging portion 30. Slider 40 is made of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. Slider 40 engages or disengages engaging portion 20 and opposite engaging portion 30 according to its direction of movement. Slider 40 has a base 41, a pair of outer guide portions 42, and an inner guide portion 43. The lower surface of base 41 moves along the upper part of engaging portion 20 and opposite engaging portion 30.

[0054] A pair of outer guide portions 42 hang down from both ends of the base 41 in the width direction. The pair of outer guide portions 42 may also be flexible. The pair of outer guide portions 42 may also be able to elastically flex and deform in the inward and outward directions with the two ends of the base 41 in the width direction as fulcrums. The pair of outer guide portions 42 press the outer side surface 29 of the engaging portion 20 and the outer side surface 39 of the opposite engaging portion 30 in the inward direction. By this inward pressing force, the engaging portion 20 engages with the opposite engaging portion 30. Specifically, the top end 21a of the engaging protrusion 21 of the engaging portion 20 presses the outlet 31e of the engaging groove 31 of the opposite engaging portion 30. As a result, the outlet 31e expands, and the top end 21a passes through the outlet 31e and is received in the engaging groove 31. Thus, as the slider 40 moves in the engaging direction (as shown in FIG2, in this embodiment, the direction of the passenger compartment), the engaging portion 20 engages with the opposite engaging portion 30.

[0055] Regarding the engaging protrusion 22 and engaging groove 32, since their relationship is the same as that of the engaging protrusion 21 and engaging groove 31 described above, the explanation is omitted.

[0056] Furthermore, the inner guide portion 43 is located in the base 41 on the passenger compartment side, closer to the through direction A than the outer guide portion 42. The inner guide portion 43 hangs down from the center of the base 41 in the width direction. As shown in FIG3, the inner guide portion 43 can penetrate between the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30. As the slider 40 moves in the direction of disengagement (as shown in FIG2, in this embodiment, from the passenger compartment side to the engine compartment side), the inner guide portion 43 sequentially penetrates between the mutually engaging engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30, and the engagement between the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 is released.

[0057] (Manufacturing and Assembly Method of Wiring Component 1 with Sheath) The tubular portion 11 in the sheath 10 is formed by injection molding. Furthermore, the first segmented end 12 and the second segmented end 13 can also be formed by injection molding using a mold. Alternatively, after being formed into a tubular shape by a mold, the first segmented end 12 and the second segmented end 13 can be formed by cutting along the through direction A. Thus, for the tubular portion 11, the flexible portion 14, equipped with the engaging portion 20, is fixed to the first segmented end 12. Similarly, for the tubular portion 11, the flexible portion 15, equipped with the opposing engaging portion 30, is fixed to the second segmented end 13. This fixing can also be achieved by adhesive or welding. The flexible portions 14 and 15 can also be integrally formed on the tubular portion 11.

[0058] Next, the wiring component 2 is housed in the through hole 11a between the first dividing end 12 and the second dividing end 13. Furthermore, in order to house the wiring component 2 within a sheath that is not separated from the first dividing end 12 and the second dividing end 13, previously, a process was performed where the through hole of the sheath was enlarged using specialized equipment before the wiring component 2 was inserted. In contrast, since the sheath 10 of this disclosure is separated from the first dividing end 12 and the second dividing end 13, it is not necessary to enlarge the through hole using specialized equipment, and the wiring component 2 can be housed within the through hole 11a.

[0059] In this state, the engaging part 20 and the engaging part 30 on the opposite side are engaged by the movement of the slider 40. Afterwards, the end of the first cover 16 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the first cover 16 can also be wrapped with tape. Additionally, the end of the second cover 17 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the second cover 17 can also be wrapped with tape. Thus, the wiring member 1 with a protective sheath is manufactured.

[0060] The wiring component 1 with the wire sheath is pressed into the through hole 3a of the body panel 3 by means of the fitting part 18 fitting into the fitting part 18, thereby fixing the wiring component 1 with the wire sheath to the body panel 3.

[0061] When the wiring component 2 in the wiring component 1 with the cable sheath is replaced or added, firstly, the cable sheath 10 is removed from the vehicle body panel 3. At this time, the existing wiring component 2 can also remain in the state of still passing through the through hole 3a. With the cable sheath 10 removed from the vehicle body panel 3, the tape is removed as needed. In addition, the engagement between the locking part 20 and the opposite locking part 30 is released by the movement of the slider 40. The slider 40 can be removed from one side of the locking part 20 and the opposite locking part 30 and remain stationary on the other side, or it can be removed from both sides. In this state, a part of the wiring component 2 can be replaced, or additional wiring components can be added.

[0062] After the wiring component 2 is replaced or added, the slider 40 is used again to engage the engaging part 20 with the engaging part 30 on the opposite side. Then, it is assembled into the through hole 3a in the same way as described above.

[0063] (Effects, etc.) In the wiring component 1 with a protective sheath constructed as described above, since the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 continuously engage with each other, stress load can be distributed throughout their entire engaging area. For example, when a force is applied to the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 to release the engagement, compared to a partial engaging configuration, stress load can be distributed throughout the stressed area, and the engaging state is easier to maintain. Furthermore, since the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 continuously engage with each other, a water-stopping structure can be easily achieved throughout the entire through-direction A.

[0064] Furthermore, since the tubular portion 11 can be divided by the first dividing end 12 and the second dividing end 13, as described above, the sheath 10 can be removed from the through hole 3a, leaving the wiring member 2 in a state through the through hole 3a. In this state, the sheath 10 can be easily removed from the wiring member 2. Additionally, wiring members can be easily added to the sheath 10. Therefore, operations such as replacing or adding wiring members 2 can be easily performed. Furthermore, since the sheath 10 can be easily assembled to the wiring member 2, there is no need for the special equipment or tools required to allow the wiring member 2 to pass through the sheath 10, which has been a problem until now.

[0065] Furthermore, between the first dividing end 12 and the engaging portion 20, and between the second dividing end 13 and the opposing engaging portion 30, there are deformable flexible portions 14 extending along the first dividing end 12 and 15 extending along the second dividing end 13. Therefore, even if there are irregularities in the outer periphery of the cable sheath 10 along the through direction A, these irregularities can be absorbed by the shape deformation of the flexible portions 14 and 15 between the first dividing end 12 and the engaging portion 20, and between the second dividing end 13 and the opposing engaging portion 30. Thus, even if the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 are straight lines instead of irregular shapes along the first dividing end 12 or the second dividing end 13, the ease of engagement is not significantly affected. In particular, when engagement is achieved by the movement of the slider 40, if the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 are straight lines, the slider 40 moves easily.

[0066] Furthermore, since it also has a slider 40, which moves along the engaging portion 20 and the opposite engaging portion 30, and engages or disengages the engaging portion 20 and the opposite engaging portion 30 according to its moving direction, it can be easily engaged by sliding the slider 40.

[0067] Furthermore, the passenger compartment side ends of the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 (the side engaged by the movement of the slider 40) are equipped with stop members 27 and 37, which are engaged with the slider 40 to prevent it from disengaging. The engine compartment side ends of the engaging portion 20 or the opposing engaging portion 30 (the side where the engagement is released by the movement of the slider 40) are equipped with a stop member 28, which is engaged with the slider 40 to prevent it from disengaging. Therefore, since the stop members 27, 37, and 28 keep the slider 40 engaged, even after the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 have engaged to their ends, the slider 40 will not leave the engaging portion 20 or the opposing engaging portion 30 even if the engagement of the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 is released. Therefore, the loss of the slider 40 can be prevented.

[0068] Furthermore, the engaging portion 30 on the opposite side extends along the through direction A and has engaging grooves 31 and 32 that narrow at the outlets 31e and 32e. The engaging portion 20 also extends along the through direction A and has engaging protrusions 21 and 22 whose top ends 21a and 22a are wider than their base ends 21b and 22b. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to use fillers or waterproofing materials required for cable sheaths with locking mechanisms that have multiple points at the dividing ends of the segment. In addition, waterproofing can also be ensured through the engagement of the engaging grooves 31 and 32 with the engaging protrusions 21 and 22.

[0069] In addition, since it has two sets of engaging parts 20 and the opposite side engaging part 30, and the two sets of engaging parts 20 and the opposite side engaging part 30 are arranged side by side with different distances relative to the tubular part 11, the soundproofing or waterproofing is improved.

[0070] In addition, since the cable sheath 10 only includes one set of first dividing end 12 and second dividing end 13, its soundproofing or waterproofing is improved compared to cases that include two or more sets.

[0071] (Other) In the above embodiment, the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 are configured with stops 27, 37, and 28, but this configuration is not limited to this. Stops may be provided only at the end of the engaging portion 20 on the passenger compartment side (the side engaged by the movement of the slider 40) or only at the end of the opposing engaging portion 30 on the passenger compartment side (the side engaged by the movement of the slider 40). Alternatively, the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 may not have stops 27, 37, and 28, allowing the slider 40 to be intentionally removed from both the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30. In this configuration, the slider 40 will not be caught between the fitting portion 18 and the fitting portion of the through hole 3a, and will not affect the fitting. Furthermore, it is also possible to engage the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 by pressing the outer side surface 29 of the engaging portion 20 and the outer side surface 39 of the opposing engaging portion 30 without the aid of a slider.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the direction of engagement by moving the slider 40 is from the engine compartment side to the passenger compartment side, but it is not limited to the direction of action. By reversing the orientation of the slider 40, the direction of engagement by moving the slider 40 can also be from the passenger compartment side to the engine compartment side.

[0073] The various configurations described as embodiments 1 and their variations can be appropriately combined as long as they do not contradict each other.

[0074] As described above, the present invention has been described in detail, but the above description is illustrative in all respects and the invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that numerous variations not illustrated can be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention. (Explanation of reference numerals in the drawings)

[0075] 1 Wiring component with cable sheath 2 Wiring component 3 Body panel 3a Through hole 10 Cable sheath 11 Tubular part 11a Through hole 12 First dividing end 13 Second dividing end 14, 15 Flexible part 16 First cover part 17 Second cover part 18 Fitting part 18a, 18b Large outer diameter part 18c Groove part 20 Engaging part 20a Support wall part 21, 22 Engaging protrusion part 21a, 22a Top end 21b, 22b Base end 23, 33 Corrugated part 24, 34 Flat part 25, 35 Bending part 27, 28, 37 Stop 29, 39 Outer side 30 Opposite side engaging part 30a Support wall part 31, 32 Engaging groove 31e, 32e Outlet 40 Slider 41 Base part 42 Outer guide part 43 Inner guide part A Through direction B, width direction.

Claims

1. A cable sheath, which is tubular and has a through hole for a wiring component to pass through, comprising: a tubular portion having the through hole; a locking portion; and a counter-locking portion capable of engaging with the locking portion, the tubular portion including at least one set of first segmented ends and second segmented ends extending along the through direction of the wiring component, the locking portion being formed along the first segmented end, the counter-locking portion being formed along the second segmented end, and the locking portion and the counter-locking portion being continuously engaged with each other along the through direction, thereby maintaining a water-stopped state where the first segmented end and the second segmented end are continuously engaged along the through direction.

2. The cable sheath according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the first dividing end and the engaging portion, and the second dividing end and the opposing engaging portion, has a deformable flexible portion extending along the first dividing end or the second dividing end.

3. The cable sheath according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, It also includes a slider that moves along the engaging portion and the opposite-side engaging portion, and engages or disengages the engaging portion and the opposite-side engaging portion according to its moving direction.

4. The cable sheath according to claim 3, wherein, At least one of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion has a stop member at its end, the stop member being engaged with the slider in a manner that restricts the slider from disengaging.

5. The cable sheath according to claim 3, wherein, The slider can be detached from the engaging portion and the end of the opposite engaging portion.

6. The cable sheath according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, One of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion has an engaging groove that extends along the through direction and narrows at the outlet. The other of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion has an engaging protrusion that extends along the through direction and is wider at the top end than at the base end. The engaging protrusion engages continuously with the engaging groove through the outlet of the engaging groove.

7. The cable sheath according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, It has multiple sets of the engaging portion and the opposing engaging portion, and the multiple sets of engaging portions and the opposing engaging portion are arranged side by side with different distances relative to the tubular portion.

8. The cable sheath according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The cable sheath includes only one set of the first segmented end and the second segmented end.

9. A wiring component with a sheath, comprising: a sheath according to claim 1 or claim 2; and a wiring component extending through the through hole of the sheath.

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