device for fixing a cable bundle to a structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for fixing a bundle (2) of cables to an element (3) present in the vicinity of said bundle (2) of cables, and intended to modify the trajectory of this bundle (2) of cables relative to said element (3). According to the invention, the fixing device comprises a first part (4) and a second part (5) secured to each other by clipping. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Device for fixing a cable bundle to a structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing a cable bundle to a structure.

[0002] For example, it may appear that in certain vehicles, cable bundles naturally extend in a direction that may prove unsatisfactory. Indeed, when cable bundles extend, for example, between two solid parts, said cable bundles present over time a significant risk of being damaged by said solid parts. Similarly, a cable bundle may exert pressure on an element placed in the immediate environment of said cable bundle, with the consequence of creating strong stresses on said element, which risks being damaged and / or whose function risks being biased. One way of preserving these cable bundles and avoiding any unfortunate interaction of these with other elements present in their immediate environment, consists of making them adopt a more suitable trajectory, placing them at a certain distance from said elements.

[0003] Cable harness offset devices currently exist for performing this type of function, such as the one described in publication JP2007185053. As can be seen, this offset device has a fairly complex operating mechanism, a relatively large volume and a weight that has not been optimized.

[0004] A fixing device according to the invention allows a cable bundle to have a modified trajectory allowing it to adapt to a given environment, while overcoming the drawbacks encountered in the fixing devices of the state of the art.

[0005] The invention relates to a device for fixing a cable bundle to an element present near said cable bundle, intended to modify the trajectory of this cable bundle relative to said element.

[0006] According to the invention, the fixing device comprises: - a first part comprising a first attachment section having a first flat contact surface and a first elongated extension extending said first attachment section, - a second part comprising a second attachment section having a second flat contact surface, and an elongated slide extending said second attachment section, the first part being secured to the second part by means of an insertion of the first extension into the slide, so that the first contact surface and the second contact surface constitute the two zones furthest from the fixing device in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first extension and of the elongated slide.

[0007] A fixing device according to the invention is made of two separate parts, each having a flat contact surface against which a surface of the cable bundle and a surface of the element are intended to come into contact. In this way, a fixing device according to the invention is available in three separate versions: - a first version for which the first part and the second part are joined to each other, - a second version corresponding to the first part alone, - a third part corresponding to the second part alone.

[0008] In this way, depending on the needs encountered, the fixing device according to the invention can adapt to a given environment, having more or less significant clearance spaces. The fixing device according to the invention can thus take different forms allowing it to easily adapt to a given environment. Since the two contact surfaces represent the areas of the fixing device that are furthest apart in a given direction, said fixing device according to the invention will serve as a spacer between the cable bundle and the element. This element can, for example, represent a wall of a structure or another cable bundle.

[0009] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first extension is inserted into the slide by clipping. In this way, a fixing device according to the invention can very easily be mounted by securing the first part to the second part, or be very easily dismantled by separating said parts. Indeed, no specific tools or any restrictive handling are necessary to mount or dismantle the fixing device. For this configuration, the fixing device can be prepared in the right version to adapt to the environment encountered up to the last moment.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first attachment section comprises a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall, said two walls being of small thickness, the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall being parallel and connected to each other by two separate pillars, the first contact surface being constituted by an external surface of the first cylindrical wall and the first extension being secured to an external surface of the second cylindrical wall. With such a configuration, the element or the cable bundle are preferably secured to the fixing device by means of a deformable part, which could for example be a wire, a strap or a cable tie. Such a deformable part will pass between the two parallel walls and between the two pillars, surrounding the cable bundle or element.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two pillars are arranged relative to each other while being diametrically opposed. Such a position of the pillars will make it possible to generate homogeneous passage sections for the deformable part intended to secure the cable bundle and / or the element to the fixing device.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the second attachment section comprises a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall, said two walls being of small thickness, the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall being parallel and connected to each other by two separate pillars, the second contact surface being constituted by an external surface of the first cylindrical wall and the slide being secured to an external surface of the second cylindrical wall. In a preferred configuration, the first attachment section and the second attachment section are identical.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two pillars are arranged relative to each other while being diametrically opposed.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the fixing device is available in three distinct versions: - a first version for which the first part and the second part are joined to each other, - a second version corresponding to the first part alone, - a third part corresponding to the second part alone.

[0015] Another subject of the invention is an area of ​​a motor vehicle comprising a cable harness and an element placed close to said cable harness, said cable harness and said element being fixed to each other by means of a fixing device according to the invention.

[0016] According to the invention, the first contact surface of the first part bears against a surface of the cable bundle and the second contact surface of the second part bears against a surface of the element, attachment means making it possible to fix the cable bundle to the first part, and the element to the second part. In this way, when the fixing device is made up of the first part and the second part, it will serve as a spacer between the cable bundle and the element. The cable bundle and the element can be secured by any attachment means to the contact surfaces of the first part and the second part of the fixing device. These attachment means can for example be made up of glue or cable ties.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the attachment means are consisting of two clamps, one of which passes through the first attachment section surrounding the cable bundle and the other of which passes through the second attachment section surrounding the element.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the element is constituted by another cable bundle.

[0019] A fixing device according to the invention has the advantage of being able to easily connect a cable bundle to another cable bundle or to a structural element, while remaining light and compact. It also has the advantage of being able to be easily mounted by clipping without the need for a specific tool or complicated handling. Finally, it has the advantage of being able to be available in three different versions depending on the needs encountered, namely, the first part and the second part fixed to each other, the first part alone or the second part alone, giving said fixing device a character of great versatility.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a fixing device according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a first part of a fixing device according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a second part of a device for fixing according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a first part and a second part fixed to each other to form a fixing device according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of two cable bundles and a fixing device according to the invention connecting said two cable bundles,

[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a first part of a fixing device according to the invention connecting a cable bundle and an electrical connector of a secondary cable.

[0026] A fixing device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to fix a bundle 2 of cables to an element 3 present in the immediate environment of said bundle 2 of cables, said element 3 being able for example to be another bundle of cables or a wall of a structure. It should be noted that a fixing device 1 according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for securing a bundle 2 of cables in a motor vehicle. The use of such a fixing device 1 is justified by the fact that certain bundles of cables 2 present in the vehicle must have their trajectory modified, either because they come to bear against parts by exerting pressure on them at the risk of distorting their functions or damaging them, or because they risk wearing out prematurely by rubbing against other parts already present in the vehicle.This fixing device 1 is intended in particular to fix a bundle 2 of cables to a specific location on the vehicle so as to relax said . wiring harness 2 which was initially under stress, and / or to move said wiring harness 2 away from other elements already present in the vehicle, in order to prevent the occurrence of a degraded situation, as mentioned above.

[0027] To this end, referring to [Fig. 3], a fixing device 1 according to the invention comprises a first part 4 and a second part 5 which are distinct, which are fixed to each other by means of a clipping-type interaction.

[0028] Referring to [Fig.l], the first part 4 comprises a first attachment section 6 and a first elongated extension 7, extending said first attachment section 6. The first attachment section 6 comprises a first cylindrical wall 8 and a second cylindrical wall 9, said two walls 8, 9 being of small thickness. These two cylindrical walls 8, 9 have the same diameter and are parallel. They are arranged concentrically with respect to each other so that their axes of revolution coincide. The term "small thickness" means that if the first wall 8 and the second wall 9 have a diameter of a few centimeters, said thickness will be less than half a centimeter, and more advantageously, less than 0.3 centimeters.The first cylindrical wall 8 and the second cylindrical wall 9 are connected to each other by two separate pillars 10 in the shape of an arc of a circle, arranged diametrically opposite one another, around said two cylindrical walls 8, 9. In other words, schematically, the first attachment section 6 is a cylindrical-shaped part, having a cylindrical body through the presence of the two pillars 10 in the shape of an arc of a circle, and two closed ends through the presence of the first cylindrical wall 8 and the second cylindrical wall 9. The first cylindrical wall 8 has an inner surface located opposite the second cylindrical wall 9, and an outer surface 18 which will serve as a contact surface for a bundle 2 of cables. The second wall 9 has an inner surface located opposite the first cylindrical wall 8 and an outer surface to which the first extension 7 is secured.

[0029] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the first elongated extension 7 is comparable to a straight and profiled fixing lug. The first attachment section 6 is fixed to one end of this first extension 7, considered along a longitudinal axis of said first extension.

[0030] This first part 4 is made of a plastic material.

[0031] Referring to [Fig. 2], the second part 5 comprises a second attachment section 11 and an elongated slide 12. Since the second attachment section 11 is identical to the first attachment section 6 of the first part 4, it will not be described in more detail here. However, it should be noted that for this second part 5, the first cylindrical wall 8 has an inner surface located opposite the second cylindrical wall 9, and an outer surface 19 which will serve contact surface to a bundle 2 of cables. The second wall has an inner surface located opposite the first cylindrical wall and an outer surface to which the elongated slide 12 is secured.

[0032] The elongated slide 12 is delimited by a flat bottom 13 and by two flat and parallel lateral edges 14, 15, extending perpendicularly to said flat bottom 13. These two lateral edges 14, 15 extend over the entire length of the elongated slide 12. The second attachment section 11 is secured to a central zone of the elongated slide 12.

[0033] This second part 5 is made of a plastic material, and preferably of the same plastic material as that of the first part 4.

[0034] Referring to [Fig.3], the first part 4 and the second part 5 are secured to each other so that: - the first elongated extension 7 of the first part 4 is inserted into the elongated slide 12 of the second part 5 by clipping, - the contact surface 18 of the first attachment section 6 of the first part 4 and the contact surface 19 of the second attachment section 11 of the second part 5 represent the two zones furthest from the fixing device 1, in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first extension 7 and of the elongated slide 12.

[0035] Referring to [Fig. 4], once the two parts 4, 5 of the fixing device 1 have been fixed to each other by clipping, the fixing device 1 according to the invention can be used to connect two separate cable bundles 2. To do this, the contact surface of the first attachment section 6 of the first part 4 of the fixing device 1 is placed in contact with a surface of one of the two cable bundles 2. A clamp 16 then passes through the spaces provided between the first cylindrical wall 8 and the second cylindrical wall 9, and between the two pillars 10 of the first attachment section 6, after having gone around the cable bundle 2. This operation is repeated between the other cable bundle 2 and the second attachment section 11 of the second part 5 of the fixing device 1. In this way, the fixing device 1 serves as a spacer for the two cable bundles 2.

[0036] As a fixing device 1 according to the invention has the particularity of being made up of two distinct parts 4, 5 which can be fixed to each other by clipping, it can also be used in two other configurations: - a configuration corresponding only to the first part 4, - a configuration corresponding only to the second part 5.

[0037] In this way, the fixing device 1 according to the invention can be used instantly in one of the three previous configurations, depending on the needs encountered.

[0038] By way of example, referring to [Fig. 5], only the first part 4 can for example be used as a fixing device. This first part 4 is fixed to a bundle 2 of cables by means of a clamp 16 surrounding said bundle 2 of cables and passing through the interstices of the first attachment section 6. The elongated extension 7 of the first part 4 of the fixing device 1 serves as a fixing support for a connector 17 located at one end of a secondary cable 18. Preferably, said connector 17 is secured to the elongated extension 7 by clipping. The term “secondary” applied to the cable has no other function than to distinguish it from the bundle 2 of cables.

[0039] The fact that a fixing device 1 according to the invention can be available in three different versions gives said fixing device 1 a character of great versatility.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for fixing a bundle (2) of cables to an element (3) present near said bundle (2) of cables, intended to modify the trajectory of this bundle (2) of cables relative to said element (3), characterized in that it comprises: - a first part (4) comprising a first attachment section (6) having a first flat contact surface (18), and a first elongated extension (7) extending said first attachment section (6), - a second part (5) comprising a second attachment section (11) having a second flat contact surface (19), and an elongated slide (12) extending said second attachment section (H), and that the first part (4) is secured to the second part (5) by means of an insertion of the first extension (7) into the slide (12),such that the first contact surface (18) and the second contact surface (19) constitute the two areas furthest from the fixing device (1) in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first extension (7) and of the elongated slide (12).,

2. Fastening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first extension (7) is inserted into the slide (12) by clipping.

3. Fixing device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first attachment section (6) comprises a first cylindrical wall (8) and a second cylindrical wall (9), said two walls (8, 9) being of small thickness, and in that the first cylindrical wall (8) and the second cylindrical wall (9) are parallel and connected to each other by two separate pillars (10), the first contact surface (18) being constituted by an external surface of the first cylindrical wall (8) and the first extension (7) being secured to an external surface of the second cylindrical wall (9).

4. Fixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two pillars (10) are arranged relative to each other as diametrically opposed.

5. Fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second attachment section (11) comprises a first cylindrical wall (8) and a second cylindrical wall. (9), said two walls (8, 9) being of small thickness, and in that the first cylindrical wall (8) and the second cylindrical wall (9) are parallel and connected to each other by two separate pillars (10), the second contact surface (19) being constituted by an external surface of the first cylindrical wall (8) and the slide (12) being secured to an external surface of the second cylindrical wall (9).

6. Fixing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the two pillars (10) are arranged relative to each other as diametrically opposed.

7. Fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is available in three distinct versions: - a first version for which the first part (4) and the second part (5) are secured to each other, - a second version corresponding to the first part (4) alone, - a third part corresponding to the second part (5) alone.

8. Area of ​​a motor vehicle comprising a cable harness (2) and an element (3) placed in proximity to said cable harness (2), said cable harness (2) and said element (3) being fixed to each other by means of a fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first contact surface (18) of the first part (4) bears against a surface of the cable harness (2) and the second contact surface (19) of the second part (5) bears against a surface of the element (3), and in that hooking means (16) make it possible to fix the cable harness (2) to the first part (4), and the element (3) to the second part (5).

9. Vehicle area according to claim 8, characterized in that the attachment means consist of two clamps (16), one of which passes through the first attachment section (6) surrounding the cable bundle (2) and the other of which passes through the second attachment section (11) surrounding the element (3).

10. Vehicle area according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the element (3) consists of another cable bundle.

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