CABLE BUNDLE RETENTION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable bundle retention device (200), comprising: an elongated element (302); one or more clipping elements (208) mounted on the elongated element (302), the one or more clipping elements (208) being configured to permanently connect the elongated element (302) to a structural element (206) of a machine; and one or more fastening elements (304) coupled to the elongated element (302) to permanently receive a cable bundle (202) passing through it. Abstract figure: Figure 3A

Description

Title of the invention: CABLE HARNESS RETAINING DEVICE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to wire harness support structures, and more particularly to a wire harness retaining device for effectively securing one or more wire harnesses to a structural member of a machine in a stable manner. Previous techniques

[0002] The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be considered prior art simply because it is mentioned in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be considered to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter discussed in the background section represents only different approaches that, in themselves, may correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.

[0003] Wire harnesses are typically used in machines, such as motor vehicles, generators, motors, and the like, to collectively route cables to various components of the machine while allowing for greater installation efficiencies by packaging the cables in a single structure. However, if the wire harnesses are only loosely attached throughout the machine, they may be struck or damaged by other components installed in close proximity to them.

[0004] To secure wire harnesses to structural members or panels of machines, brackets or conduits are frequently used. Figure 1 illustrates a conventional wire harness support structure that uses a bracket 102 to secure the wire harness 104 to the structural member 106 of the machine. Such brackets 102 are usually made of a metal or a fiber-reinforced polymer, and require mounting by means of fasteners 106 such as rivets or bolts. This type of installation of the wire harnesses 104 increases the overall weight of the machine, and also leads to an increase in its installation costs. Furthermore, such installation processes are labor-intensive, and the brackets or conduits 102 are susceptible to damage when pulled on during installation or operation of the machine.Additionally, the wire harness 104 may eventually lose its defined shape due to vibrations communicated through the machine during operation, and may . damage or interfere with nearby machine components.

[0005] [Fig. 1B] illustrates a conventional wire harness support structure for retaining a wire harness 152 routed near a dynamic component 154 of a machine, such as a lever, a motor, a pump, and the like. [Fig. 1C] illustrates another wire harness support structure for receiving a wire harness 172 routed near a flexible component 174 of the machine. The flexible component 174 may comprise, for example, a bundle of flexible hoses. In such wire harness support structures, the wire harnesses 152 and 172 tend to interfere with the operation of the dynamic component 154 and the flexible component 174 of the machine, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, respectively. During operation of the machine, the wire harnesses 152 and 172 may become loose and tend to move in a direction perpendicular to their axial direction.This frequently leads to interference with or damage to the dynamic component 154 or the flexible component 174. Thus, conventional wire harness support structures have failed to effectively limit unwanted movement of the wire harnesses.

[0006] In view of the aforementioned drawbacks, there is a need to provide a wire harness retaining device for securing one or more harnesses to a structural member of a machine, while effectively preventing any unwanted slack or bending of the wire harnesses. Aims of the invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness retaining device for effectively securing one or more wire harnesses to a structural member of a machine, such as motor vehicles, generators, engines and the like, in a stable manner.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to prevent excessive slack or bending of the wire harness when secured to the structural member.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and inexpensive wire harness retaining device capable of maintaining a predetermined clearance between the wire harness and machine components present in the vicinity thereof.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to prevent damage to or interference of the wiring harness with operations of the machine components.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible wire harness retaining device capable of efficiently routing the wire harness, while allowing the wire harness to bend in any direction. to meet installation requirements even in tight machine spaces.

[0012] The abstract is provided to introduce aspects relating to a wire harness retaining device for effectively securing one or more wire harnesses to a structural member of a machine, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine or limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0013] The wire harness retainer includes an elongate member, one or more clipping members mounted on the elongate member, and one or more fasteners coupled to the elongate member. The one or more clipping members are configured to securely connect the elongate member to the structural member of the machine, such as motor vehicles, generators, engines, and the like. The one or more fasteners are coupled to the elongate member to securely receive one or more wire harnesses passing therethrough.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cable bundle passes through the one or more fastening elements in the lengthwise direction of the elongate member. The one or more fastening elements may include a fastening strip for securely receiving the cable bundle with the elongate member. The cable bundle may include a tubular sheath member enclosing one or more cables.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elongate member maintains a clearance between the wire harness and one or more machine components adjacent to the structural member by limiting excessive lateral movement of the wire harness.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elongate element is made of a flexible metal rod coated with an elastomeric sheath. The elastomeric sheath may be made of an electrically insulated material.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elongate member has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end being configured to bend relative to a central portion thereof. Each of the first end and the second end of the elongate member is configured to bend to a predetermined angle relative to the central portion, to route the wire bundle while limiting excessive lateral movement of the wire bundle.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more clipping elements are arranged at the central portion of the elongate element. According to Another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more fastening elements are disposed at the first end, the second end and the central portion of the elongated member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide a better understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention used to describe the principles of the present invention. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which references indicate like elements. It should be noted that references to "an" embodiment in this invention are not necessarily references to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. In the drawings:

[0020] [Fig.lA] illustrates a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a conventional wire harness support structure, in accordance with the prior art

[0021] [Fig.lB] illustrates a 3D representation of a conventional wire harness support structure for routing a wire harness in the vicinity of a dynamic component of a machine, in accordance with the prior art.

[0022] [Fig.lC] illustrates a 3D representation of another conventional wire harness support structure for routing a wire harness in the vicinity of a flexible component of the machine, in accordance with the prior art.

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates a 3D representation of a wire harness retainer installed in a machine and for routing a wire harness therethrough, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention

[0024] [Fig.3A], [Fig.3B], [Fig.3C], [Fig.3D] and [Fig.3E] illustrate perspective views of the wire harness retaining device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] [Fig.5A] illustrates a 3D representation of the wire harness retainer routing a wire harness through a machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] [Fig.5B] illustrates an enlarged view of the wire harness retainer shown in [Fig.5A], in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027] [Fig.6] illustrates a 3D representation of the wire harness retainer routing a wire harness through a machine having multiple components present in close proximity to the wire harness, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The detailed description presented below in connection with the accompanying drawings is intended to be a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be applied. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided only as an example or illustration of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of ensuring a full understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be applied without such specific details.

[0029] As used in the description herein and in all the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," "the," and "the" includes reference to the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0030] The terms "or" and "and / or" as used herein shall be interpreted as being inclusive or meaning any or any combination. Therefore, "A, B or C" or "A, B and / or C" means "any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C". An exception to this definition will only occur when a combination of elements, functions, steps or actions are in themselves inherently mutually exclusive.

[0031] The present invention relates to a wire harness support structure (also referred to as a "wire harness retainer" hereinafter) for routing one or more wire harnesses through a machine, such as motor vehicles, generators, motors and the like. The wire harness support structure is capable of securing the wire harness to a structural member or panel of the machine, so that the wire harness can be efficiently routed therethrough in a stable manner. The wire harness support structure allows the wire harness to bend in any direction to meet installation requirements even in tight spaces of the machine.

[0032] [Fig. 2] illustrates a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a wire harness retainer 200 installed in a machine and for routing a wire harness 202 therethrough. The wire harness 202 may include a tubular sheath member 204 enclosing one or more electrical cables to be routed to corresponding electrical components of the machine. The The wire harness retainer 200 couples the wire harness 202 to one or more structural members 206 of the machine via one or more clipping members 208. The structural members 206 may be selected based on installation requirements of the wire harness retainer 200, and any include panels or mounting surfaces of the machine that are adapted to receive the clipping members 208. The wire harness retainer 200 routes the wire harness 202 while maintaining a predetermined clearance between the wire harness 202 and machine components located in close proximity thereto, to prevent the wire harness 202 from damaging or interfering with the operation of the machine components.

[0033] Referring now to Figures 3A-3E, various perspective views of the wire harness retainer 200 are shown. The wire harness retainer 200 includes an elongate member 302 having a first end 302-1 and a second end 302-2. The elongate member 302 is comprised of a flexible metal rod coated with an elastomeric sheath. The elastomeric sheath may be comprised of an electrically insulated material, such as fiberglass, cellulose, foam, and the like. The flexible metal rod may have a diameter of approximately 3 mm coated with the elastomeric sheath of approximately 1 mm thickness.The flexible metal rod of the elongated member 302 may be made of any of spring steel, stainless steel, or any other metal alloy, and is adapted to bend relative to an axial direction thereof, as shown in Figures 3A and 3D, to guide the wire harness 202 mounted thereon through any direction while routing the wire harness 202 even through tight spaces of the machine.

[0034] The wire harness retainer 200 also includes one or more fasteners 304 coupled to the elongate member 302 for securely receiving the wire harness 202 therethrough, as shown in Figures 3A and 3E. The fastener 304 may include a tie band assembly having a band that wraps around the wire harness 202, while the wire harness 202 passes through the tie band assembly lengthwise of the elongate member 302, and releasably engages a locking portion of the tie band assembly to securely mount the wire harness 202 to the elongate member 302.In another arrangement, the securing member 304 may include a taping assembly having a tape that wraps around the wire bundle 202 and releasably engages a locking portion thereof to tightly mount the wire bundle 202 to the elongate member 302. The fasteners 304 may be positioned at the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2 of the elongate member 302, or at any position between the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2. Further, the fastener 304 may be coupled at a central portion 302-3 of the elongate member 302, as shown in [Fig. 3B].

[0035] The wire harness retainer 200 also includes the clip member 208 having a fastener formed in association with means for retaining the wire harness retainer 200 with the structural member 206. The fastener itself may be adapted to be reciprocally lockedly coupled to the structural member 206. The fastener of the clip member 208 may be a fir tree fastener adapted to be inserted into a threaded opening formed in the structural member 206. Alternatively, the fastener of the clip member 208 may be selected as screws or bolts adapted to fixedly attach the wire harness retainer 200 to the structural member 206. The clip member 208 may also include a ratchet-type locking device for retaining the wire harness 202 on the clip member 208.The ratchet-type locking device may include a band that wraps around the wire harness 202 and releasably engages another portion of the locking device.

[0036] The clipping element 208 may be coupled at the central portion 302-3 of the elongate member 302, as shown in Figures 3B, 3C and 3D. The clipping element 208 may be coupled at any intermediate position between the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2 of the elongate member 302. The wire harness retainer 200 may also be used to secure an individual cable 202-1 (as shown in [Fig. 3E]) of the wire harness 202 to the structural member 206. The cables 202-1 may have one or more connectors at one end thereof, configured to provide power to corresponding electrical components of the machine.

[0037] [Fig. 4] illustrates a front view of the elongated member 302 of the wire harness retainer 200, showing the extent to which its first end 302-1 and second end 302-2 bend. Each of the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2 of the elongated member 302 is configured to bend to a predetermined angle ranging from 0° to 180° along a vertical direction relative to the central portion 302-3, to efficiently route the wire harness 202 while limiting excessive lateral displacement of the wire harness. A position locus of the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2 in bent states is shown by dotted lines in [Fig. 4]. As shown in Figures 3A and 3D, the first end 302-1 and the second end 302-2 can bend relative to the central portion 302-3 by a desired angle, to allow the wire harness 202 to bend in any direction to meet installation requirements even in tight spaces of the machine. This allows efficient routing of the wire harness 202 in any desired orientation.

[0038] [Fig. 5A] illustrates a 3D representation of the wire harness retainer 200 routing the wire harness 200 through the machine. [Fig. 5B] illustrates an enlarged view of the wire harness retainer 200 shown in [Fig. 5A]. Compared to the conventional wire harness assembly as shown in Figures 1B and 1C, the wire harness retainer 200 limits unwanted movement of the wire harness 202 in a direction other than its axial direction, to prevent excessive slack or bending of the wire harness 202.

[0039] Referring to [Fig. 6], a 3D representation of the wire harness retainer 200 routing the wire harness 202 through the machine having multiple components present in close proximity to the wire harness 202 is shown. The wire harness retainer 200 effectively routes the wire harness 200 near a flexible component or a dynamic component of the machine. The flexible component may include a set of flexible hoses, lubricant tubes, and the like, which vibrate during operation of the machine. The dynamic component of the machine may include components such as a lever, motor, pump, and the like, the operation of which communicates vibrations through the machine.The wire harness retainer 200 secures the wire harness 202 to the structural members of the machine, while the wire harness 202 is fixedly coupled to the fastening members 304 arranged at multiple positions of the elongated member 302. For this purpose, any undesirable slack or bending of the wire harness 202 in a direction perpendicular to its axial direction is prevented. Thus, the wire harness retainer 200 maintains a predetermined clearance of at most 16 mm between the wire harness 202 and the machine components present in the vicinity thereof. Interference of the flexible component or the dynamic component with the wire harness 202 is therefore effectively prevented.

[0040] Thus, the present invention provides a flexible, lightweight, and inexpensive wire harness retainer that utilizes a simple mechanism to route a wire harness through a machine, such as an automotive vehicle, engine, pump, power supply apparatus, and the like, and eliminates the use of brackets and other expensive fastening components for routing the wire harness. The flexible wire harness retainer prevents damage to or interference of the wire harness with operations machine components located in close proximity to it, and allows the wire harness to bend in any direction to meet installation requirements even in tight machine spaces.

[0041] One skilled in the art will understand that although the wire harness retainer described above is used to route electrical cables, the wire harness retainer is not limited thereto, and may be used to securely route other wire harnesses containing optical fibers, refrigerant lines, lubricant tubes, and the like.

[0042] In view of the present disclosure, which describes the present invention, all changes, modifications, and variations in the meaning and range of equivalence are considered to be included within the scope of the invention. It will be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form another embodiment of the disclosure.

Claims

Claims

1. A wire harness retaining device (200), comprising: an elongate member (302); one or more clipping members (208) mounted on the elongate member (302), the one or more clipping members (208) being configured to fixedly connect the elongate member (302) to a structural member (206) of a machine;and one or more fastening elements (304) coupled to the elongate member (302) for fixedly receiving a wire harness (202) passing therethrough, wherein the elongate member (302) comprises a first end (302-1) and a second end (302-2), each end of the first end (302-1) and the second end (302-2) being configured to bend relative to a central portion (302-3) thereof, the one or more clipping elements (208) being disposed at the central portion (302-3) of the elongate member (302), characterized in that the one or more fastening elements (304) are disposed at the first end (302-1), the second end (302-2) and the central portion (302-3) of the elongate member (302).;

2. The wire harness retainer (200) of claim 1, wherein the elongate member (302) maintains a clearance between the wire harness (202) and one or more components adjacent the structural member (206) by limiting lateral movement of the wire harness (202).

3. The wire harness retaining device (200) of claim 1, wherein the elongate member (302) is comprised of a flexible metal rod coated with an elastomeric sheath.

4. The wire harness retainer (200) of claim 1, wherein each end of the first end (302-1) and the second end (302-2) of the elongate member (302) is configured to bend to a predetermined angle relative to the central portion (302-3), to route the wire harness (202) while limiting lateral movement of the wire harness (202).

5. The wire harness retaining device (200) of claim 1, wherein the one or more fasteners

6.

7. (304) include a tie strip for securely receiving the wire harness (202) with the elongate member (302). The wire harness retaining device (200) of claim 1, wherein the wire harness (202) passes through the one or more fasteners (304) lengthwise of the elongate member (302). The wire harness retaining device of claim 1, wherein the wire harness (202) comprises a tubular sheath member surrounding one or more cables.

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