Protective structure

Abstract

[Problem to be solved] An object of the present invention is to provide a protective structure to achieve a reduction in manufacturing cost. [Solution] A protective structure (1) is supported at a predetermined position of an electrical wire (10). The protective structure (1) is configured to include a cylindrical protective enclosure (2) having a protective space (20); and a housing (3) that retains the electrical wire (10) and is inserted into the protective space (20). The protective enclosure (2) includes a guide structure (4) that guides the housing (3) into the protective space (20). The housing (3) includes a pair of split bodies (31A, 31B) that clamp and retain the electrical wire (10), and a locking mechanism (5) to maintain a state in which the pair of split bodies (31A, 31B) retain the electrical wire (10).The locking mechanism (5) includes a locking portion (5A) located on one side of the split body pair (31A, 31B), and a lock receiving portion (5B) on the other side so as to engage with the locking portion (5A). The housing (3) is configured to be guided by the guide structure (4) when the housing (3) is inserted into the protective space (20) such that the split body pair (31A, 31B) move closer together as the locking portion (5A) and the lock receiving portion (5B) engage with each other. Figure for the abbreviation:

Description

Title of the invention: Protective structure technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective structure. Technological background

[0002] Automobiles are equipped with a wide variety of electronic devices, and wiring harnesses are used to transmit power, control signals, and similar signals to these electronic devices. A wiring harness includes a plurality of electrical wires and a connector, in which the wiring harness is connected to an electronic device or another wiring harness by installing a connector into a connector on the electronic device or another wiring harness.

[0003] In such a wire bundle, a protective structure, to which two protected cables carrying a high voltage from electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and the like can be attached, is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). As an example of the protective structure, there is a configuration comprising a housing for receiving an electrical wire with a terminal in which the terminal is connected to an end portion of the electrical wire, and a cylindrical protective casing into which the housing is inserted. The housing is configured to include a pair of split bodies for clamping the electrical wire between them. A locking portion is disposed on one side of the pair of split bodies, and a locking receiving portion with which the locking portion can engage is disposed on the other side of the pair of split bodies.By engaging the locking part and the lock receiving part with each other, the pair of split bodies are configured to maintain the state in which the electrical wire is tightened.

[0004] In the assembly of such a protective structure, in a locked state where the electrical wire is clamped by the pair of split bodies configuring the housing and the locking part is engaged with the locking receiving part, the pair of split bodies are inserted into the inside of a clamping device and after confirmation (detection) that the pair of split bodies are in the locked state, the pair of split bodies are received into the protective enclosure. In this way, the protective structure is assembled

[0005] List of citations

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent document 1 JP 2023-57199A Summary of the invention Technical problem

[0008] However, according to the conventional protection structure, the clamping device is used to detect whether the pair of split bodies is in the locked state. Consequently, the manufacturing cost is high due to the cost of preparing the clamping device and the labor required to detect whether the pair of split bodies is in the locked state.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a protective structure to reduce manufacturing costs. Solution to the problem

[0010] In order to solve the problem identified above, the invention referred to in claim 1 is a protective structure supported at a predetermined position of an electric wire, in which the protective structure includes a cylindrical protective enclosure having a protective space;and a housing that retains the electrical wire and is inserted into the protective space, wherein the protective enclosure includes a guide structure that guides the housing into the protective space, the housing includes a pair of split bodies that clamp and retain the electrical wire and a locking mechanism to maintain a state in which the pair of split bodies retain the electrical wire, the locking mechanism includes a locking portion located in one side of the pair of split bodies, and a lock-receiving portion in the other side thereof to engage with the locking portion, and the housing is configured to be guided by the guide structure when the housing is inserted into the protective space such that the pair of split bodies move closer to each other while the locking portion and the lock-receiving portion are engaged with each other.

[0011] Effect of the invention

[0012] According to the invention cited in claim 1, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the manufacturing cost. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a protective structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a protective envelope configuring the protective structure.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a housing configuring the protective structure retains an electrical wire.

[0016] Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating the housing from a lateral side.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of Fig. 4.

[0018] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view describing a situation in which the housing is in a detached state and inserted into a protective space of the protective envelope.

[0019] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a post-processing of that of Fig. 6. Description of the implementation methods

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated below based on the figures. [Fig. 1] is a perspective view illustrating a protective structure 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 2] is a perspective view illustrating a protective enclosure 2 configuring the protective structure 1. [Fig. 3] is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a housing 3 configuring the protective structure 1 retains an electrical wire 10. The protective structure 1 configures a wire harness that is routed in an automobile or similar vehicle, and the protective structure 1 configures a protective circuit to prevent electrical noise leakage to the outside of the electrical wire 10 that transmits control and similar signals, or electrical noise flowing from the inside to the outside.

[0021] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the protective structure 1 according to the present embodiment forms a protective circuit which is supported at a predetermined position of a pair of electrical wires 10 (electrical wires, as illustrated in [Fig. 1]) while being fixed to a metal attachment target on the vehicle body, in which the protective structure 1 includes a cylindrical protective enclosure 2 having a protective space 20 (as illustrated in [Fig. 2]), a housing 3 (as illustrated in [Fig. 1]) retaining the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 and being inserted in the protective space 20, and a protection-side guide portion 4 (guide structure, as illustrated in [Fig. 2]) being provided in the protective enclosure 2 to guide the housing 3 in the protective space 20.As regards each of the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 and the end parts thereof (rear end part, the end part at the front side of the [Fig.1]) are connected by terminal connectors which are not shown in the figures respectively.

[0022] The following is presented a case in which an axial direction of each of the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 is called the "front-to-back direction" and indicated by an "arrow Y", a direction in which the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 are arranged side by side is called the "left-to-right direction" and indicated by an "arrow X", and a direction orthogonal to arrow X and arrow Y in which a pair of split bodies 31A, 31B clamp the electrical wire 10 is called the "height direction" and indicated by an "arrow Z". Furthermore, with regard to arrow Y, there is a case in which one side (the back in [Fig. 1]) of the electrical wire 10 is called the "front side Y1", and the opposite side is called the "back side Y2". Furthermore, with regard to arrow Z, there is a case in which one side is called the "upper side Z1", and the other side is called the "lower side Z2".

[0023] The protective enclosure 2 is configured by performing the pressing and folding processes relative to a conductive metal plate. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], this protective enclosure 2 includes a main enclosure body 21 forming the protective space 20, a cylindrical portion 22 continuing into the front side Y1 of this main protective body 21, a vehicle body mounting portion 23 (extension plate) in the form of a plate which is disposed continuously in the rear side Y2 of the main enclosure body 21 and fixed by bolts to the attachment target which is not shown in the figures, a retaining portion 24 which is retained by a retaining arm 314 located in the housing 3 which is described below, and a guide portion on the enclosure side 4 which guides the housing 3 into the protective space 20.

[0024] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the main body 21 of the enclosure includes a main body 210 of the receiving part which includes an upper wall (first wall) 21A, a lower part (second wall) 21B and a pair of side walls 21C, 21D to be formed into a square cylindrical shape with the front-back direction Y as axis so as to form the protective space 20, and a blocking wall 211 positioned in a rear end part of this main body 210 of the receiving part to block the clearance between them with the cylindrical part 22.

[0025] A height dimension (an inside diameter dimension from the upper wall 21A to the lower wall 21B) L0 (as illustrated in [Fig.2]) of this main body 21 of the envelope is a dimension set to be greater than the height dimension of the housing 3 in a state of attachment, and to be less than the height dimension of the housing 3 in a state of decoupling which will be described below.

[0026] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the vehicle body mounting portion 23 is configured as a plate extending in the front-to-back direction Y and the left-to-right direction X, while being continuously provided with the lower wall 21B of the main body 21 via a lower-side guide portion 41 described below. This vehicle body mounting portion 23 has a bolt insertion hole 230 into which a bolt (not shown in the figures) is inserted.

[0027] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the retained portion 24 is disposed on the lower wall 21B of the main body 21 of the envelope, and a pair of retained portions 24 are provided to be separated from each other with a clearance between them in the left-right direction X. Each retained portion 24 is configured to have an inflated portion 24B inflating upwards towards the upper side ZI in the space protective element 20 with a cut edge 24A which is formed by cutting the lower wall 21B, and a hole 24C located at the front side Yl of the cutting edge 24A. The cut edge 24A configures the front edge of the inflated part 24B. This inflated part 24B is arranged continuously in the front-to-rear direction Y, its rear end being located in the vehicle body mounting part 23 and its front end (cut edge 24A) being located on the lower wall 21B of the main body 21 of the envelope through the lower side guide part 41 configuring the envelope side guide part 4 which will be described below.

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the envelope side guide part 4 includes an upper side guide part 40 (first guide part) and the lower side guide part 41 (second guide part).

[0029] The upper guide portion 40 is disposed at the rear end edge of the upper wall 21A of the main body 21 of the enclosure, while being configured to present a first guide surface that is inclined towards the lower side Z2 as it advances into the front side Y1. In other words, the upper guide portion 40 is a conical shape configured by cutting the rear end edge of the main body 21 of the enclosure. This upper guide portion 40 is disposed at a position spaced from the vehicle body mounting portion 23, with the lower guide portion 41 sandwiched between them in the front-to-back direction Y. Furthermore, the upper guide portion 40 is disposed at a position to make contact with the upper contact portion 60 (as illustrated in [Fig.3]) of housing 3 which will be described below when housing 3 is pushed upwards by the lower side guide part 4L.

[0030] The lower-side guide portion 41 is positioned at a difference in level between the lower wall 21B of the main body 21 of the enclosure and the vehicle body mounting portion 23 and is configured to present a second guide surface inclined towards the upper side ZI (inner side in the protective space 20) as it advances towards the front side YL

[0031] As illustrated in [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 4], the housing 3 includes a pair of wire insertion parts 30, 30 (as illustrated in [Fig. 3]) through which the pair of wires 10, 10 are respectively inserted, and which are provided with a split body on the upper side 31A and a split body on the lower side 31B (a pair of split bodies) clamping and retaining the pair of wires 10, 10, a locking structure 5 (as illustrated in [Fig. 4]) disposed on the lateral surface on one side in the left-right direction X of the split body on the upper side 31A and the split body on the lower side 31B, and a hinge 32 (as illustrated in [Fig. 3]) disposed on the lateral surface on the other side in the left- right X of the upper side split body 31A and of the lower side split body 31B to connect the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B.

[0032] The upper divided body 31A and the lower divided body 31B are structured respectively according to block shapes. The upper divided body 31A and the lower divided body 31B have divided surfaces 310a, 310b extending in directions (direction X and direction Y) orthogonal to the top-down direction respectively, and are configured such that the electrical wire 10 inserted through the electrical wire insertion portion 30 described below is held in a state in which the divided surfaces 310a, 310b are in contact with each other.

[0033] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], each wire insertion part 30 is configured to present a pair of concave groove parts 30A, 30B formed by cutting each of the split surfaces 310a, 310b of the pair of split bodies 31A, 31B according to a groove shape extending in the front-back direction Y. Below is presented a case in which one of the pair of concave groove parts 30A, 30B is called the "upper side concave groove part 30A" and the other of the pair of concave groove parts 30A, 30B is called the "lower side concave groove part 30B". The upper side concave groove part 30A is arranged in the upper side split body 31A, and the lower side concave groove part 30B is arranged in the lower side split body 31B.

[0034] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the upper side split body 31A includes a main upper side split body 310A in which the upper side concave groove portion 30A is formed in the upper side split surface 310a, a pair of upper side electrical wire support parts 31 IA, 31 IA continuing with the upper side concave portion 30A of this main upper side split body 310A and extending into the front side Y1 to support the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 respectively, and an upper side connecting part 312A connecting the pair of upper side electrical wire support parts 31 IA, 311A.

[0035] As illustrated in [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 6], the lower-side split body 31B includes a main lower-side split body 310B in which the lower-side concave portion 30B is formed in the lower-side split surface 310b, a lower-side electrical wire support portion 31 IB continuing with the lower-side concave groove portion 30B of this main lower-side split body 310B and being assembled with the upper-side electrical wire support portion 31 IA to support each of the electrical wire pairs 10, 10, a unilateral support portion 313B continuing with the lower-side concave groove portion 30B of the main lower-side split body 310B and extending into the rear side Y2 to support the electrical wire at one side, and the retaining arm 314 (as illustrated in [Fig. 6]) to retain the retained part 24 of the protective envelope 2.

[0036] As illustrated in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], an insertion portion 315, through which the retained portion 24 disposed in the main body 21 of the casing is inserted, is disposed in this main body 310B of the lower split body. As illustrated in [Fig. 6], the insertion portion 315 is positioned at the lower side Z2 of the concave groove portion 30B and is formed in the shape of a concave groove extending in the front-to-back direction Y in the lower surface of the main body 310B of the lower split body (the surface being able to come into contact with the lower wall 21B of the main body 21 of the casing).

[0037] As illustrated in [Fig.6] and [Fig.7], the retaining arm 314 is configured to have a main arm body 316 which is formed by cutting a wall portion 300 positioned between the concave groove portion on the lower side 30B and the insertion portion 315 and extending into the front side Yl, and a retaining projection 317 disposed in a free end of this main arm body 316 to retain the retained portion 24 (cut edge 24A).

[0038] As illustrated in [Fig.4] and [Fig.5], the locking structure 5 is configured to include a locking part 5A disposed in the upper side split body 31A and a locking receiving part 5B disposed in the lower side split body 31B to engage with the locking part 5A.

[0039] The locking portion 5A is configured in a U-shape to include a pair of extension portions 51, 51 extending in the up-down direction Z and aligned in the front-back direction Y, and a connecting portion 52 for connecting lower end portions of the pair of extension portions 51, 51. This locking portion 5A is configured to be able to approach and separate in the left-right direction X. In addition, in the locking portion 5A, an upper end is fixed to the lateral surface of the upper-side split body 31A at one side in the left-right direction X, and a lower end is provided to protrude into the lower side Z2 from the split surface 310a of the upper-side split body 31A.

[0040] The locking receiver portion 5B is configured as a projection portion extending from the lateral surface of the lower split body 31B to one side in the left-right direction X. This locking receiver portion 5B is configured to be positioned at the lower side of the U-shaped locking portion 5A, that is, at the inner side of the pair of extension portions 51, 51 and the connecting portion 52 when the upper split body 31A and the lower split body 31B approach each other and the split surfaces 310a, 310b come into contact with each other. According to the present embodiment, the state in which the locking receiver portion 5B is positioned at the inner side of the U-shaped locking portion 5A is called the "grip state where the locking part 5A and the lock receiving part 5B are engaged with each other", and in the grip state, the state in which the split body pair 31A, 31B retains the electrical wire 10 is maintained.

[0041] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig.4], an upper contact part 60 (contact part) coming into contact with the upper guide part 40 of the protective enclosure 2 and the lower guide part 61 coming into contact with the lower guide part 41 of the protective enclosure 2 are arranged in the housing 3.

[0042] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the upper contact portion 60 is disposed in a corner portion positioned at the boundary between the upper surface and the front surface of the upper divided body 31A and configured with a conical portion moving towards the lower side Z2 as it advances in the front side Y1. The conical portion of this lower contact portion 61 is configured to become the inverted conical portion with respect to the inclination (conical portion) of the upper guide portion 40 of the protective housing 2. Consequently, the upper contact portion 60 is configured to contact the upper guide portion 40 and slide when the housing 3 is moved in the front side Y1.

[0043] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the lower contact portion 61 is disposed in a corner portion positioned at a boundary between the lower surface and the front surface of the lower divided body 31B and configured with a conical portion moving towards the upper side ZI as it advances in the front side Yl. According to such a lower contact portion 61, the lower contact portion 61 is configured to slide relative to the lower guide portion 41 when the housing 3 is moved in the front side Yl.

[0044] Next, assembly steps for assembling the protective structure 1 having the configurations described above will be described with reference to [Fig.1] and [Fig.3] to [Fig.7]. In [Fig.6] and [Fig.7], the electrical wire 10 is omitted.

[0045] First, the protective enclosure 2 is arranged so that the vehicle body mounting portion 23 faces the rear side Y2, and the pair of electrical wires 10, 10 are inserted into the interior of the enclosure beforehand. Then, the housing 3 is positioned at the rear side Y2 of the protective enclosure 2, and the predetermined position of each electrical wire 10 is arranged in the concave groove portion on the upper side 30A (or concave groove portion on the lower side 30B) of the split body on the upper side 31A (or split body on the lower side 31B) of the housing 3, and each electrical wire 10 is secured to the split body on the upper side 31A (or split body on the lower side 31B) using cable ties or ribbons.

[0046] Then, the divided body on the upper side 31A and the divided body on the lower side 31B are moved so that they come closer to each other. The displacement of the body The upper split body 31A unfolds such that the pointed end of the locking part 5A located in the upper split body 31A comes into contact with the locking receiving part 5B of the lower split body 31B. The movement proceeds such that the locking part 5A comes into contact with the locking receiving part 5B and the locking part 5A is bent to slide onto the locking receiving part 5B. The movement continues such that the locking part 5A climbs onto the locking receiving part 5B and the locking part 5A returns to its normal position.At approximately the same time, the divided surfaces 310a, 310b of the upper divided body 31A and the lower divided body 31B come into contact with each other, and each electrical wire 10 is inserted through each wire insertion part 30 while the locking receiving part 5B is positioned on the inner side of the U-shaped locking part 5A, that is, on the inner side of the pair of extension parts 51, 51 and the connecting part 52, as illustrated in [Fig. 4] and [Fig. 5]. In this way, the housing 3 enters the engaged state in which the locking part 5A is engaged with the locking receiving part 5B. In this gripping state, as illustrated in [Fig.3], the state in which the pair of split bodies 31A, 31B retain the electrical wire 10 by squeezing the electrical wire 10 is maintained.

[0047] Subsequently, in relation to the protective envelope 2, the housing 3 (in the taken state) is moved towards the front side Yl. The movement continues, and the lower contact portion 61 of the housing comes into contact with the lower guide portion 41 of the protective enclosure 2. As illustrated in [Fig. 7], as the movement continues further, the lower contact portion 61 slides due to the inclination of the second guide surface of the lower guide portion 41, allowing it to slide along the lower guide portion 41, and the housing 3 is inserted into the protective space 20 of the protective enclosure 2. As the movement continues, the retaining arm 314 of the housing 3 holds the retained portion 24 of the protective enclosure 2. Consequently, the housing 3 cannot be removed from the protective enclosure 2. In this way, the assembly of the protective enclosure 2 is complete.

[0048] Next, a situation in which the housing 3 in a state (disconnected state), i.e., the lock receiving part 5B is positioned at the level of the inner side of the U-shape of the locking part 5A, i.e., at the level of the inner side of the pair of extension parts 51, 51 and the connecting part 52, is inserted into the protective space 20 of the protective enclosure 2 will be described with reference to [Fig.6] and [Fig.7].

[0049] Relative to the protective casing 2, the housing 3 (in the detached state) is moved to the front side YL. The movement continues and The lower contact part 61 of the housing 3 comes into contact with the lower guide part 41 of the protective housing 2. As illustrated in [Fig. 6], as the movement continues, the lower contact part 61 slides due to the inclination of the lower guide part 41 to slide on the lower guide part 41. Approximately simultaneously, the upper contact part 60 of the housing 3 comes into contact with the upper guide part 40 of the protective housing 2. The movement continues further, and then the upper contact part 60 slides due to the inclination of the first guide surface of the upper guide part 40, and the upper split body 31A is pressed onto the lower split body 31B.Consequently, the locking part 5A moves closer to the lock receiving part 5B, and the lock receiving part 5B is positioned on the inner side of the U-shaped locking part 5A, i.e., on the inner side of the pair of extension parts 51 and the connecting part 52. In this way, the housing 3 enters the engaged state in which the locking part 5A engages with the lock receiving part 5B, and as illustrated in [Fig. 7], the insertion of the housing 3 into the protective space 20 is permitted. The movement continues, and the retaining arm 314 of the housing holds the retained part 24 of the protective part 2. As a result, the housing 3 cannot be removed from the protective enclosure 2. Thus, the assembly of the protective structure 1 is completed.

[0050] Next, the protective structure 1 is fixed to the vehicle body mounting part 23 by bolts. In this way, the protection circuit is configured to prevent electrical noise leakage to the outside from the electrical wire 10, which transmits control signals and similar signals, or electrical noise flowing into it from the outside.

[0051] According to the embodiment described above, when the housing 3 is inserted into the protective space 20, the housing 3 is configured such that, when guided by the envelope-side guide portion 4 (guide structure), the split body pair 31A, 31B move closer to each other, and the locking portion 5A and the locking receiver portion 5B engage with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the cost of preparing the clamping device and to omit the operations to confirm (detect) whether the split body pair 31A, 31B are engaged, as in conventional technology, thus reducing manufacturing costs.

[0052] Furthermore, the envelope-side guide portion 4 (guide structure) includes the upper-side guide portion 40 (first guide portion), and the upper-side guide portion 40 is configured to have the first guide surface arranged on the upper wall 21A (first wall) while being inclined to project towards the lower wall 21B (second wall) as moving towards the front side Y1 (the insertion direction where the housing 3 is inserted into the protection space 20). According to this configuration, in the situation in which the housing 3 is in the disengaged state, the housing 3 slides due to the inclination of the first guide surface configuring the upper side guide part 40, and one side of the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B is pressed towards the other side of the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B in such a way that it is possible to achieve the configuration in which the pair of split bodies 31A, 31B approach each other to be inserted into the protective space 20 while the locking part 5A and the lock receiving part 5B are in the engaged state where they are engaged with each other.

[0053] Furthermore, the envelope side guide part 4 (guide structure) includes the lower side guide part 41 (second guide part) and the lower side guide part 41 is configured to have the second guide surface which is disposed on the lower wall 21B (second wall) and the fixing part 23 (extension plate) of the vehicle body while being inclined to project towards the upper wall 21A (first wall) as moving towards the front side Y1 (the insertion direction where the housing 3 is inserted into the protective space 20).According to this configuration, in the situation in which the housing 3 is in the disengaged state, the housing 3 slides due to the inclination of the second guide surface, configuring the lower side guide part 41 to slide on the second guide surface, and the other side of the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B is pressed towards the one side of the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B in such a way that it is possible to achieve the configuration in which the pair of split bodies 31 A, 31B approach each other to be inserted into the protective space 20 while the locking part 5A and the lock receiving part 5B are in the engaged state where they are engaged with each other.

[0054] Furthermore, the housing 3 includes the upper contact portion 60 (contact portion) in the upper split body 31A (one side of the pair of split bodies 31A, 31B) which can come into contact with the upper guide portion 40 (first guide portion). The upper guide portion 40 is arranged on the side separating from the vehicle body mounting portion 23 (extension plate) to sandwich the lower guide portion 41 (second guide portion) between them, and the upper guide portion 40 is positioned to be in contact with the upper contact portion 60 when the housing 3 is guided by the lower guide portion 41. According to this configuration, the moment when the housing 3 comes into contact with the upper contact portion 60 lower side guide 41 of the protective envelope 2 and the moment when the housing 3 comes into contact with the upper side guide part 40 are offset so that even in the state of disengagement, it is possible to achieve the configuration to bring the housing 3 into the protective space 20 smoothly with a low force even in the state of disengagement.

[0055] The internal dimension LO of the main body 21 of the enclosure, in the direction in which the pair of split bodies 31A, 31B clamp the electrical wire 10, is set to be smaller than that of the housing 3 in the disengaged state when the locking part 5A and the locking receiving part 5B are disengaged, and larger than that of the housing 3 in the disengaged state when the locking part 5A and the locking receiving part 5B are engaged with each other. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the housing 3 from being inserted into the protective space 20 in the disengaged state.

[0056] The best configurations, methods, and similar implementations of the present invention are disclosed above; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is to say, the present invention is illustrated in the drawings and described according to the specific embodiment; however, various modifications of the shapes, materials, quantities, and other configurations in detail with respect to the embodiment described above may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.Therefore, the descriptions which limit the shapes, materials and similar things disclosed above are provided by way of example to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and this does not mean that they limit the present invention in such a way that descriptions in the names of elements where some or all of the limitations of these shapes, materials and similar things are excluded must also be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0057] List of reference signs

[0058]

[0059] 1: protective structure

[0060] 10: electrical wire

[0061] 2: protective casing

[0062] 20: protection space

[0063] 21: main body of envelope

[0064] 21A: upper wall (first wall)

[0065] 21B: lower wall (second wall)

[0066] 23: vehicle body mounting part (extension plate)

[0067] 3: housing

[0068] 31A: split body upper side (one side of the pair of split bodies)

[0069]

[0070]

[0071]

[0072]

[0073]

[0074]

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] 31B: lower side split body (other side of the split body pair) 4: envelope side guide part (guide structure) 40: upper side guide part (first guide part) 41: lower side guide part (second guide part) 5: locking structure 5A: locking part 5B: lock receiving part 60: upper side contact part (contact part) Y1: front side (insertion direction into the protective space)

Claims

Claims

1. A protective structure (1) supported at a predetermined position of an electric wire (10), comprising: a cylindrical protective casing (2) having a protective space (20); and a housing (3) which retains the electric wire (10) and is inserted into the protective space (20), wherein the protective cover (2) includes a guide structure (4) which guides the housing (3) to the protective space (20), the housing (3) includes a pair of split bodies (31A, 31B) clamping and retaining the electric wire (10) and a locking mechanism (5) for maintaining a state in which the pair of split bodies (31A, 31B) retain the electric wire (10), the locking mechanism (5) includes a locking part (5A) located in one side of the pair of split bodies (31A, 31B), and a lock receiving part (5B) in the other side thereof for being able to engage with the locking part (5A),and the housing (3) is configured to be guided by the guide structure (4) when the housing (3) is inserted into the protection space (20) such that the pair of divided bodies (31A, 31B) approach each other while the locking part (5A) and the lock receiving part (5B) engage each other.,

2. A protective structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure (4) includes a first guide portion (40), the protective casing includes a cylindrical casing main body (21) forming the protective space and an extension plate (23) extending in a direction separating from the casing main body (21), the casing main body (21) includes a first wall (21A) and a second wall (21B) facing each other in a direction in which the pair of divided bodies (31A, 31B) clamp the electric wire (10), the extension plate (23) is located in continuity with the second wall (21B), and the first guide portion (40) is configured to include a first guide surface which is provided on the first wall (21A) and is inclined to project toward the second wall (21B) when the housing (3) advances in an insertion direction in which the housing (3) is inserted into the protection space (20).

3. The protective structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the guide structure (4) includes a second guide portion (41), and the second guide portion (41) is configured to include a second guide surface which is located between the second wall (21B) and the extension plate (23) and is inclined to project toward the first wall (21A) when the housing (3) advances in the insertion direction in which the housing (3) is inserted into the protective space (20).

4. The protective structure (1) according to claim 3, wherein the housing (3) includes a contact portion (60) for being able to contact the first guide portion (40) in one side of the pair of divided bodies (31A, 31B), the first guide portion (40) is disposed at a side separating from the extension plate (23) for sandwiching the second guide portion (41) therebetween, and the first guide portion (40) is disposed at a position for being in contact with the contact portion (60) when the housing (3) is guided by the second guide portion (41).

5. A protective structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein an inner dimension (L0) of the casing main body (21) in a direction in which the pair of divided bodies (31A, 31B) clamp the electric wire (10) is smaller than that of the housing (3) in a disengagement state when the locking part (5A) and the lock receiving part (5B) are disengagement and larger than that of the housing (3) in an engagement state when the locking part (5A) and the lock receiving part (5B) are engagement.

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