Forked cable holder for wire harness production with securing of cables carried therein

Abstract

The invention relates to a forked cable holder (100) suitable for carrying one or more cables (200) during wire harness production. The cable holder comprises: a support part (110), which is designed to be attached to a construction board for wire harness production; a forked cable receptacle (120), which has a first leg (121), a second long (122) opposite the first leg (121) and a base portion (123) interconnecting the first leg (121) and the second leg (122), wherein the first and / or second leg (121, 122) has an opening (124, 125) directed towards the other leg (121, 122) in each case; and at least one spring element (130), which is designed to penetrate the opening (124) of the first and / or second leg (121, 122) in a compressed state, to fix itself inside the opening (124, 125) in a relaxed state and thus to at least partially close the forked cable holder (120).

Description

[0001] FORK-SHAPED CABLE HOLDER FOR WIRING HARNESS PRODUCTION WITH

[0002] SECURING CABLES CARRIED THEREIN

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The present invention relates to a fork-shaped wire holder for supporting one or more wires during wire harness production. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a spring element in such a wire holder and / or the use of such a wire holder for wire harness production.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Cable holders are known from the practice of cable harness production. These serve as a means of production in that they are attached to a so-called construction board and support one or more cables until the cable harness is fully configured and can be removed or transported away if necessary. The individual cables can be inserted, i.e. collected, in such a cable holder. The cables can be or will be provided with holding parts, contact parts, housings, such as connector housings, or the like. The individual cables can then, for example, be tied off, i.e. at least partially bundled, a functional test can be carried out, etc. Typically, such a cable holder is designed with a fork-shaped cable receptacle and is open in a direction facing away from the construction board so that the one or more cables can be inserted into the cable receptacle from a direction above the construction board.

[0007] In practice, it has been shown that cables can move out of the upwardly open cable holder, for example due to their stiffness, twisting, or other reasons. Therefore, there is a need for an improved cable holder that can at least hold the cables more securely within the cable holder. Since the cable holder is a mass-produced product, and many of them can be arranged on the construction board, there is also a need for a structurally simple and / or cost-effective way of securing the cables carried by the cable holder.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] An object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved cable holder with a securing of the cables held therein using means that are as simple as possible in terms of construction.

[0010] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying figures.

[0011] A fork-shaped cable holder is proposed, which is suitable for supporting one or more cables during cable harness production. The cable holder has a support part that is designed to be attached to a construction board for cable harness production. Furthermore, the cable holder has a fork-shaped cable receptacle that has a first leg, a second leg opposite the first leg, and a base section connecting the first leg and second leg to one another. The first and / or second leg has an opening directed toward the respective other leg.The cable holder further comprises at least one spring element which is configured to penetrate the opening of the first and / or second leg in a compressed state and / or to be inserted or pushed through therein, to fix itself within the opening in a relaxed state and thus to at least partially close the fork-shaped cable receptacle.

[0012] Thus, simply arranging a spring element in such a way that it extends into the forked cable receptacle allows for a structurally simple yet effective securing of the cable carried by the cable receptacle. At the very least, the cable carried by the cable receptacle is better secured against moving out of the receptacle than if the cable receptacle were open in a direction away from the construction board, i.e., upwards. In other words, the cable holder described above makes it possible to at least partially close the forked cable receptacle in order to retain a cable inserted therein or carried by it from a forked opening in the cable receptacle or to keep the cable within the cable receptacle.Since the spring element is designed separately from the cable receptacle, an existing cable receptacle can be retrofitted with such a spring element, provided the cable receptacle has a suitable opening or is provided with one. This makes securing the cable particularly cost-effective, which can be significant for mass-produced cable holders. In addition, the springy effect of the spring element results in a haptically appealing and easy handling, because the cable can be inserted into the cable receptacle simply by overcoming the spring force of the spring element, which can be set, for example, by the selected hardness and / or stiffness of the spring element, with the spring element then returning to its original shape. The cable holder described above thus improves handling and use during cable harness production and thus improves the efficiency of the process.

[0013] For example, the support part can be attached to a flat side of a construction board designed for cable harness production in such a way that it protrudes, preferably vertically, from the flat side of the construction board, so that the fork-shaped cable receptacle is open in a direction above the construction board. The support part can, for example, be detachably attached and / or fixed to the construction board.

[0014] Furthermore, for example, a direction or axis through the cable receptacle can be defined in which the one or more cables extend through the cable receptacle, i.e. which corresponds approximately to the longitudinal direction of the one or more cables. This direction or axis can therefore be referred to as the longitudinal axis through the cable receptacle. The first and the second leg can each be arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis so that the one or more cables, when inserted into the cable receptacle, can rest on the base section and can be held laterally by the first and second legs. It should be noted that not every one of the cables necessarily has to rest on the base section as long as the respective cable is located within a space formed by the base section and the first and second legs.The at least one opening extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis defined above and can therefore be referred to as a transverse axis. Consequently, the spring element accommodated in the opening also extends along the transverse axis and can thus block the opening of the fork-shaped cable receptacle accordingly, i.e., at least partially close it.

[0015] In other words, the at least one spring element can form a type of resilient barrier for an opening of the forked cable receptacle, which barrier can deflect both in a direction toward the construction board or toward the base section of the cable receptacle and in a direction opposite thereto (and possibly also transversely thereto along a longitudinal axis through the cable receptacle) when a force that overcomes the spring force of the spring element is exerted on the spring element. By deflecting the spring element, which can act as a type of barrier, the opening of the forked cable receptacle is optionally at least partially closed or at least partially opened. The force required for deflection can be applied for inserting the spring element into the opening and can also be applied, possibly with a smaller amount of force, when inserting or removing the one or more cables.In order to insert the spring element into the opening, a variable cross-section of the spring element can be changed, in particular reduced, to such an extent that the spring element fits through the opening, whereby for this purpose a base section of the spring element can form a stop with the respective leg of the cable receptacle.

[0016] It should be noted that in principle a single spring element and possibly also just a single opening is sufficient if the single spring element extends far enough into the cable receptacle that at least one cable of the cable harness to be manufactured can be held within the cable receptacle.

[0017] It should also be noted that the line holder can have at least two openings, namely at least one first opening in the first leg and a second opening in the second leg, wherein the line holder can further have at least two spring elements, namely a first spring element and a second spring element, one of which is introduced into each of the at least two openings as described above. An axis, in particular the transverse axis described above, can be a common axis of the first and second openings. This means that the first and second openings can be formed at a common height of the line receptacle, whereby the at least two fault elements are consequently also arranged at the same height of the line receptacle.

[0018] According to a further development, the spring element can be made of an elastic plastic material. In particular, the spring element can have spring-elastic properties. Suitable materials for this include, for example, a relatively soft thermoplastic, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), or similar. As a result, the spring element always returns to its initial state, i.e., its relaxed state, and can thus be easily inserted into the cable receptacle and deflected when inserting a cable into the cable receptacle or removing it from it, in order to release the opening of the cable receptacle.

[0019] In a further development, the spring element can have an eyelet shape that has a smaller diameter and / or is more elongated in the compressed state than in the relaxed state. In other words, the spring element can be deformed by applying a force to it to such an extent that it fits through the cross-section of the opening, but without the applied force, it is larger than the cross-section of the opening. The eyelet shape promotes easy deformability of the spring element and is easy to grasp with the fingers of a mechanic.

[0020] According to a further development, the spring element can have a plate-shaped base section and an eyelet hinged at two points on the base section. The eyelet can taper towards a hinged area on the base section, while the base section can be widened again relative to the taper. This allows the spring element to form a positive connection with the cable receptacle, securing the spring element in both directions of the transverse axis described above.

[0021] In a further development, the base section of the spring element and the eyelet can be shaped larger in their relaxed state than a cross-section of the opening, such that they each form an undercut with the opening and thereby fix the spring element within the opening. For example, the eyelet can be arranged on a side facing the cable receptacle, i.e. between the first and second legs of the cable receptacle, and the base section of the spring element According to a further development, the eyelet can have at least one barb which fixes the spring element relative to the first and / or second leg in a direction that is directed away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle. For example, the barb can be shaped on an outer circumference of the eyelet in order to widen the cross-section of the eyelet or of the spring element in this area and to bring about an undercut with the leg of the cable receptacle.For example, the barb can have a shape that slopes upwards toward one side, forming a stop with the inside of the leg of the cable retainer. The shape of the barb, which slopes upwards toward one side, can facilitate the insertion of the spring element in its installation direction, while the barb on the side with the sloped shape makes it more difficult to remove the spring element. This allows the spring element to be easily attached to the cable retainer while also being securely held there.

[0022] In a further development, the spring element can have a visually perceptible coding that is synchronized or matched to the one or more cables to be supported. For example, the spring element can have a marking, color, etc., that is synchronized with an identical marking, color, etc., of a cable, a housing attached to it, or the like. This provides an assembly aid for the installer, requiring only matching identical codings.

[0023] According to a further development, the fork-shaped cable receptacle can be made of a harder and / or stiffer material than the spring element. The material of the cable receptacle can be, for example, a metal material, such as steel or the like, a plastic material, or the like, provided the material has sufficient strength.

[0024] In a further development, the support part can be rod-shaped and have a portion of a screw connection at an end facing away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle. For example, the support part can be made of a plastic or metal material with a thread, a screw sleeve, or something similar. However, it is also possible for the support part to be configured for a clamp connection to the construction board or to be attached to the construction board in another way. This allows the cable holder to be attached to the construction board in a particularly simple manner.

[0025] Also proposed is the use of a spring element having an eyelet shape in a fork-shaped cable holder which is designed to support one or more cables during cable harness production and whose fork-shaped cable receptacle has a first leg, a second leg opposite the first leg, and a base section connecting the first leg and second leg to one another, wherein the first and / or second leg has an opening directed towards the respective other leg, wherein the spring element is designed to be inserted into the opening of the first and / or second leg in a compressed state and to be fixed within the opening in a relaxed state in order to at least partially close the fork-shaped cable receptacle.

[0026] This use of the spring element significantly simplifies wiring harness production, as one or more wires can be inserted into and removed from the wire holder by simply deflecting the spring element. Furthermore, depending on the design of existing wire holders and / or by creating a cutout in them, the spring element can be easily retrofitted.

[0027] In addition, it is proposed to use the fork-shaped cable holder according to one of the preceding claims for cable harness production, wherein the fork-shaped cable holder is attached to a construction board for cable harness production.

[0028] Also proposed is a construction board with a forked cable holder according to one or more of the above-described embodiments. The forked cable holder can be arranged on a flat side of the construction board and protrude therefrom to support one or more cables during cable harness production. A spring element of the forked cable holder can at least partially close a forked cable receptacle thereof. Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures.

[0029] Short character description

[0030] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fork-shaped wire holder for supporting one or more wires during wire harness production according to one embodiment.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a side view of a fork-shaped wire holder for supporting one or more wires during wire harness production according to an embodiment.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a fork-shaped cable holder according to an embodiment in its intended use when supporting one or more cables during cable harness production.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a fork-shaped cable holder according to an embodiment in its intended use when supporting one or more cables during cable harness production.

[0035] The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate the invention. Identical or equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals throughout.

[0036] Detailed description

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fork-shaped cable holder 100 which is suitable for carrying one or more cables 200 (see e.g. Fig. 3 or Fig. 4).

[0038] The cable holder 100 has a support part 110 that is designed to be attached to a construction board 300 for cable harness production (see arrangement on the construction board in, for example, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4). The support part 110 can, for example, be rod-shaped and attached at one end to the construction board 300. Furthermore, the cable holder 100 has a fork-shaped cable receptacle 120 that has a first leg 121 and a second leg 122 opposite the first leg 121, and a base section 123 that connects the first leg 121 and the second leg 122 to one another. As a result, the first leg 121, the second leg 122 and the base portion 123 together form a fork shape which is open in a direction extending away from the building board 300, ie upwards with respect to the building board 300.The one or more cables 200 can thus be inserted into the cable receptacle 120 and are thus carried and / or held by the cable receptacle 120.

[0039] At least one of the legs 121, 122, but preferably both legs 121, 122, has an opening 124, 125 directed toward the other leg 121, 122. In Fig. 1, the cable receptacle 120 has, merely as an example, an opening 124, 125 in each of the two legs 121, 122, which completely penetrates the material toward the cable receptacle formed between the legs 121, 122. It should be noted that only one leg 121, 122 can have such an opening 124, 125.

[0040] In addition, the cable holder 100 has at least one spring element 130, but preferably two spring elements 130, which are configured to penetrate the opening 124, 125 of the first and / or second leg 121, 122 in a compressed state, to fix themselves within the opening 124, 125 in a relaxed state, and thus to at least partially close the fork-shaped cable receptacle 120. In other words, the spring element 130, when inserted into the opening 124, 125, projects one hundred and twenty degrees into the cable receptacle and thus acts like a deflectable barrier that at least partially closes or restricts the opening of the cable receptacle. The spring element 130 is made of an elastic plastic material, such as a thermoplastic, a thermoplastic elastomer, or the like, and preferably has spring-elastic properties. This means that the spring element can be deformed by the action of force, iebe brought into a compressed state, but returns at least substantially to its initial state, i.e. its relaxed state. The spring element 130 has an eyelet shape which, in the compressed state, has a smaller diameter and / or is more elongated than in the relaxed state. The spring element has a plate-shaped base section 131 and an eyelet hinged at two points on the base section 131. The base section 131 and the eyelet, in their relaxed state, are larger than a cross-section of the opening 124, 125 of the first and / or second leg 122, 122, so that they each form an undercut with the opening 124, 125 and thereby fix the spring element 130 within the opening 124, 125.Furthermore, the eyelet has at least one barb 132, which fixes the spring element 130 relative to the first and / or second leg 121, 122 in a direction directed away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle 122. It should be noted that only a single spring element 130 can be provided, which preferably extends far enough into the cable receptacle 120 that it fulfills at least a similar or approximately the same function as two cooperating spring elements 130.

[0041] From Fig. 1, it can also be seen that the cable receptacle 120 has a longitudinal axis L, along which the one or more cables 200 are usually inserted. A transverse axis T, which extends through the openings 124, 125, runs transversely to the longitudinal axis L. According to Fig. 1, the openings 124, 125 lie on a common axis.

[0042] From a functional perspective, a force can be applied to the spring element 130 in the direction of arrows A, causing it to deform, as is indicated for the spring element 130 on the right in Fig. 1. In this compressed state, the eyelet shape is smaller than in the relaxed state, i.e. the initial state in which no force is applied to it, and the spring element 130 is more elongated and therefore has a more oblong shape than a bulbous shape. Fig. 1 clearly illustrates that the spring element 130 is therefore large enough, i.e. in the compressed state, to fit through the opening 125 so that it can be inserted into it. If the force is removed in the direction of arrows A, the spring element 130 expands again because it returns to its relaxed state.By means of the above-described base section 131 and the at least one barb 132, the spring element 130 is fixed within the opening 125, namely both by its shape itself and by the base section 131 acting as a stop, which abuts the leg 122 laterally on the outside (as viewed transversely to the longitudinal axis L), as well as by the at least one barb 132, which abuts the leg 122 laterally on the inside (as viewed transversely to the longitudinal axis L). It should be noted that Fig. 1 shows the functional spring element 130 fixed in the opening 124 on the left side of the cable receptacle 100 in the image, i.e. on the first leg 121, and the spring element 130 is compressed and thus ready to be inserted into the opening 125 on the right side of the cable receptacle 100 in the image, i.e. on the second leg 122.

[0043] It should also be noted that the cable receptacle 120 is made of a harder and / or stiffer material than the spring element 130. Thus, it has sufficient mechanical strength, rigidity, structure, etc., to stably support and hold the one or more cables 200.

[0044] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the operational cable holder 100 from Fig. 1, provided with functional spring elements 130. It can be seen that the opening of the cable receptacle 120 is blocked by the spring elements in a barrier-like manner, whereby a cable 200 inserted therein is securely held and cannot escape through the opening of the cable receptacle 120 unless a force is applied that reaches or exceeds a spring force of the spring element 130. In Fig. 2, dashed arrows in the area of ​​the spring elements 130 indicate that these can be deflected to open the opening of the cable receptacle 120. It should be noted that the respective spring element 130 can be deflected not only in the plane shown, but also into the plane of Fig. 1 and out of this plane in order to release the opening.It is understood that the withdrawal of a force applied to the spring element 130 to deflect it results in the spring element 130 returning to its relaxed state, in which it at least partially closes the opening of the cable receptacle 120 again. It should be noted that.

[0045] In Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the respective spring element 130 forms an undercut with the first and second legs 121, 122 of the cable receptacle 120 in both directions along the transverse axis T, whereby the spring element 130 is fixed in the respective opening 124, 125.

[0046] Fig. 3 shows the cable holder 100 with a number of cables 200, which are inserted into the

[0047] A perspective view of the spring elements 130 being inserted into and held in the cable receptacle 120. It can be seen that the spring element 130 has a visually perceptible coding, such as a coloring, a marking, or the like, which is tunable or adapted to the one or more cables 200 to be supported. In the example according to Fig. 3, the spring elements 130 have the same visually perceptible coding as a housing 210 attached to the cables 200, which housing is, for example, a plug housing. As a result, the spring element 130 simultaneously functions as a visual assembly aid, in which only the same coding needs to be brought to the same coding.

[0048] Fig. 3 also shows the construction board 300, to whose flat side the above-described cable holder 100 is attached and protrudes from it to support the one or more cables 200 above the flat side. For example, an assembly plan or the like can be applied to the flat side of the construction board, which serves as a layout plan for the cables 200 to be laid.

[0049] In addition, Fig. 3 shows that the support part (110) is rod-shaped and has, at an end facing away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle 120, a part of a screw connection 111, the counterpart of which forms a part of a screw connection 310 which is formed on the construction board 300.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the cable holder 100 in its intended use, namely arranged on the construction board 300 and carrying a number of cables 200, which are held by the spring elements 130 within the cable receptacle 120.

[0051] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0052] 100 forked cable holders

[0053] 110 Support part

[0054] 111 (Part of a) screw connection

[0055] 120 fork-shaped cable holder

[0056] 121 first leg

[0057] 122 second leg

[0058] 123 Base Section

[0059] 124 first breakthrough

[0060] 125 second breakthrough

[0061] 130 spring element

[0062] 131 Base Section

[0063] 132 barbs

[0064] 200 lines

[0065] 300 building boards

[0066] 310 (part of a) screw connection

[0067] L (longitudinal) axis (along a line's longitudinal extension direction)

[0068] T (transverse) axis (central axis through a breakthrough 124, 125)

Claims

REQUIREMENTS 1. Fork-shaped cable holder (100) for carrying one or more cables (200) during cable harness manufacturing, comprising: a support part (110) designed to be attached to a workbench for cable harness manufacturing, a fork-shaped cable holder (120) having a first leg (121), a second leg (122) opposite the first leg (121), and a base section (123) connecting the first leg (121) and second leg (122), wherein the first and / or second leg (121, 122) has an opening (124, 125) directed towards the other leg (121, 122), and at least one spring element (130) designed to close the opening (124) of the first and / or second leg (121, 122) in a compressed state. to penetrate, to remain in a relaxed state within the breakthrough (124,125) to fix and thus at least partially close the fork-shaped cable receptacle (120).

2. Cable holder (100) according to claim 1, wherein the spring element (130) is made of an elastic plastic material.

3. Cable holder (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring element (130) has an eyelet shape which has a smaller diameter and / or is more elongated in the compressed state than in the relaxed state.

4. Cable holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (130) has a plate-shaped base section (131) and an eyelet hinged at two points of the base section (131).

5. Cable holder (100) according to claim 4, wherein the base section (131) of the spring element (130) and the eyelet are formed larger in their relaxed state than a cross-section of the opening (124, 125), so that they each form an undercut with the opening (124, 125) and thereby fix the spring element (130) within the opening (124, 125).

6. Cable holder (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the eyelet has at least one barb (132) which fixes the spring element (130) relative to the first and / or second leg in a direction that is directed away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle.

7. Cable holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (130) has an optically perceptible coding which is tunable or adapted to the one or more cables (200) to be supported.

8. Cable holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fork-shaped cable receptacle (120) is made of a material that is harder and / or stiffer than the spring element (130).

9. Cable holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support part (110) is rod-shaped and has a part of a screw connection (111, 310) at one end facing away from the fork-shaped cable receptacle (120).

10. Use of a spring element (130) having an eyelet shape in a fork-shaped conductor holder (100) designed to support one or more conductors (200) during cable harness manufacturing, the holder having a first leg (121), a second leg (122) opposite the first leg (121), and a base section (123) connecting the first leg (121) and second leg (122), wherein the first and / or second leg (121, 122) has a through-hole (124, 125) facing the other leg (121, 122), the spring element (130) being designed to be inserted into the through-hole (124, 125) of the first and / or second leg (121, 122) in a compressed state and to remain within the through-hole in a relaxed state. (124, 125) to fix in order to at least partially close the forked cable receptacle (120), and / or Use of the fork-shaped wire holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims for cable harness production, wherein the fork-shaped wire holder (100) is attached to a building board (300) for cable harness production.

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