WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A wire harness assembly comprises: a wire harness (3) comprising an electric wire (7) and a connector (9) electrically connected to one end of the electric wire; and a joining member (5) in which the wire harness is arranged. The joining member comprises: a base (11) and a cover (13) fixed to the base via a connecting portion (15). The connecting portion comprises an outer connecting portion (17) arranged along an outer edge of the joining member. A non-connecting region (29) in which the connecting portion is not arranged is provided between the base and the cover. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRICAL HARNESS ASSEMBLY Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical harness assembly. Context

[0002] JP 2015-67071 A discloses a wire harness assembly comprising a wire harness and a joining sheet as a joining member in which the wire harness is arranged, the wire harness comprising an electric wire and a connector electrically connected to one end of the electric wire. In the wire harness assembly, the joining sheet comprises a soundproofing / heat insulation sheet as a base and a bonding sheet as a cover. The wire harness is arranged between the soundproofing / heat insulation sheet and the bonding sheet. In the wire harness assembly, an adhesive is applied to the entire surface of the bonding sheet to form a bonding portion, and the bonding sheet is attached to the soundproofing / heat insulation sheet via the bonding portion. Summary

[0003] In the above-described wiring harness assembly, since the connecting portion for fixing the cover to the base is provided on the entire surface of the assembly member, a large amount of adhesive is used for the connecting portion, resulting in a high cost.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical harness assembly which can be manufactured at low cost.

[0005] A wire harness assembly according to the present invention comprises: a wire harness comprising an electric wire and a connector electrically connected to one end of the electric wire; and a joining member in which the wire harness is arranged. The joining member comprises: a base and a cover fixed to the base via a connecting portion. The connecting portion comprises an outer connecting portion arranged along an outer edge of the joining member. A non-connecting region in which the connecting portion is not arranged is provided between the base and the cover.

[0006] According to the configuration described above, the cost of the electrical harness assembly can be reduced.

[0007] Optionally, the connecting portion comprises an internal connecting portion arranged in a position avoiding the electrical wire inside the external edge of the assembly element.

[0008] Optionally, the external connecting portion includes a split interrupt portion to avoid the electrical wire. Brief description of the drawings

[0009] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of an electrical harness assembly according to one embodiment.

[0010] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of the electrical harness assembly according to the present embodiment.

[0011] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view when a masking sheet is arranged on a base of the electrical harness assembly according to the present embodiment

[0012] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view when an adhesive is sprayed onto the masking sheet of the electrical harness assembly according to the present embodiment.

[0013] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view when the adhesive is applied to the masking sheet of the electrical harness assembly according to the present embodiment.

[0014] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view when the masking sheet is removed from the base of the electrical harness assembly according to the present embodiment. Detailed description

[0015] An electrical harness assembly 1 according to one embodiment is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for ease of explanation, and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0016] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the wiring harness assembly according to the present embodiment is applied, for example, to a wiring harness 3 that electrically connects electrical components (not shown), for example, by connecting a vehicle-mounted power supply and a device or by connecting a device and a device. The wiring harness 3 is arranged in a predetermined shape inside an assembly member 5 integrally assembled therewith. The wiring harness assembly 1 is assembled to a target member (not shown), for example, a door trim of a vehicle.

[0017] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the electrical harness assembly 1 comprises an electrical harness 3 and an assembly element 5.

[0018] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the electrical harness 3 comprises an electrical wire 7 and a connector 9.

[0019] The electric wire 7 comprises, for example, a sheathed electric wire in which an outer periphery of a core wire made of a conductive material is sheathed with an insulating sheath, and a plurality (four in the present embodiment) of electric wires 7 are used. The electric wire 7 may be a flat cable in which the outer peripheries of a plurality of core wires are sheathed with an insulating sheath in a state in which the plurality of core wires are arranged in parallel. The plurality of electric wires 7 are arranged so that the ends are exposed, for example the ends are exposed on both sides thereof, from the joining member 5. The plurality of electric wires 7 are arranged so that the ends of one side are gathered at one location, and the ends of the other end side are connected.

[0020] The connector 9 comprises, for example, a housing (not shown) made of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin, and a terminal (not shown) made of a conductive material. The housing can be mounted, for example, on a coupling housing (not shown) of a coupling connector (not shown) electrically connected to an electrical component mounted on the vehicle. The terminal is electrically connected to the end of the electric wire 7 and is housed in the housing. The terminal is electrically connected to a coupling terminal (not shown) housed in the coupling housing by mounting / fitting the housing onto the coupling housing. A plurality (five in the present embodiment) of connectors 9 are used to correspond to the ends of the plurality of electric wires 7 that exit from the joining member 5.

[0021] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the assembly element 5 comprises a base 11 and a cover 13.

[0022] The base 11 is made, for example, of urethane foam or the like, or of a nonwoven fabric of polypropylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyester-based fibers or the like, and has soundproofing and heat-insulating properties. The base 11 is formed into a sheet shape with a predetermined dimension so that the base 11 is arranged within the overall size range of the target member, and is assembled to the target member by a fastening means (not shown) such as by press fitting. On one surface side of the base 11, the plurality (four in the present embodiment) of electric wires 7 of an electric harness 3 are arranged in a predetermined shape.The ends of the plurality of electric wires 7, each of the electric wires 7 being arranged on the base 11, are exposed from an outer edge of the base 11 with a predetermined length, and the connectors 9 are arranged outside the base 11.

[0023] The cover 13 is made, for example, with a film of vinyl chloride, polyethylene or the like or a closed-cell foam or a cell foam open polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, elastomer or similar and has soundproofing and thermal insulation properties. The cover 13 is formed in a sheet shape with a size determined to be equal to that of the base 11 so that the cover 13 is arranged within the footprint range of the target member, and with a thickness determined to be less than that of the base 11. A bonding portion 15 formed with an adhesive is provided on a surface of the cover 13 facing the base 11. The cover 13 is fixed on one surface side of the base 11 by the bonding portion 15, so that the plurality of electric wires 7 are sandwiched between the cover 13 and the base 11. In a state in which the cover 13 is fixed to the base 11, the plurality of electric wires 7 arranged in a predetermined shape are held between the base 11 and the cover 13.Therefore, the assembly member 5 can protect the electric wire 7 of the electric harness 3 and maintain the arrangement shape of the electric wire 7.

[0024] The connector 9 exposed from the assembly member 5 is mounted on a coupling connector in a state in which the electrical harness assembly 1 is assembled to the target member. At this time, the electrical wire 7 is exposed from the outer edge of the assembly member 5 with a predetermined length, the connector 9 can move freely, facilitating the mounting of the connector 9 on a coupling connector. By mounting / adjusting the connector 9 on / to the coupling connector, the electrical components are electrically connected together.

[0025] Here, in a conventional wiring harness assembly, a connecting portion is provided for fixing a base and a cover over the entire surface of an assembly member. Therefore, a large amount of adhesive is used for the connecting portion, resulting in a high cost.

[0026] In contrast, in the present embodiment, the connecting portion 15 comprises an outer connecting portion 17 and an inner connecting portion 19. A non-connecting region 29 in which the connecting portion 15 is not arranged is provided between the base 11 and the cover 13.

[0027] The external connecting portion 17 is arranged along an outer edge of the joining member 5 between the base 11 and the cover 13 of the joining member 5. The external connecting portion 17 connects outer edges of the base 11 and the cover 13 to each other to fix the base 11 and the cover 13 integrally. By providing the external connecting portion 17 on the outer edge of the joining member 5, the base 11 and the cover 13 can be isolated, and the non-connection region 29 where the connecting portion 15 is not arranged can be formed inside the outer edge of the joining member 5. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of adhesive usage over the entire non-connection region 29 inside the outer edge of the joining member 5.

[0028] The external connecting portion 17 has an interrupting portion 21 interrupted to avoid the electric wire 7. In the present embodiment, four interrupting portions 21 are provided in the external connecting portion 17. Since the electric wire 7 arranged in the interrupting portion 21 is not connected to the external connecting portion 17, the electric wire 7 can move freely in the interrupting portion 21. Therefore, the connector 9 provided at the end of the electric wire 7 can move freely, thereby facilitating the assembly of the connector 9. In addition, by providing the interrupting portion 21 in the external connecting portion 17, the interrupting portion 21 can be used as a guide for arranging the electric wire 7 and the assembly capability can be improved.On the other hand, since the electric wire 7 arranged in the external connecting part 17 is connected to the external connecting part 17, the movement of the electric wire 7 is limited. Therefore, for example, when the movement of the connector 9 is limited due to the interference with the peripheral members or the like, the connector 9 can be positioned by regulating the movement of the connector 9 provided at the end of the electric wire 7. In the present embodiment, four interruption parts 21 are provided in the external connecting part 17, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of interruption parts 21 and the locations of the interruption parts 21 can be determined by taking into consideration the limitations of the peripheral members, etc.

[0029] The internal connecting portion 19 is arranged inside the outer edge of the joining member 5 between the base 11 and the cover 13 of the joining member 5. The internal connecting portion 19 is arranged in a position avoiding the electric wire 7 of the electric harness 3. A different portion from the internal connecting portion 19 between the base 11 and the cover 13 is a non-connecting region 29 where the connecting portion 15 is not arranged. The internal connecting portion 19 connects portions inside the outer edges of the base 11 and the cover 13 to fix the base 11 and the cover 13 integrally. By arranging the inner connecting portion 19 in a position avoiding the electric wire 7 inside the outer edge of the joining member 5, it is possible to stably integrate the base 11 and the cover 13 while suppressing a reduction in the non-connecting region 29 and minimizing the amount of adhesive usage.In addition, by arranging the internal connecting portion 19 in a position avoiding the electric wire 7, the internal connecting portion 19 can be used as a guide for arranging the electric wire 7 and the assembly capability can be improved.

[0030] An example of a method for forming the connecting portion 15 is described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In the following description, it is assumed that the connecting portion 15 is formed on the base 11, but the connecting portion 15 may be formed on the cover 13. First, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], a masking sheet 25, in which through holes 23 are formed in positions in which a An external bonding portion 17 and an internal bonding portion 19 are to be provided when the bonding portion 15 is arranged on one surface side of the base 11. Then, as shown in [Fig. 4], an adhesive 27 is sprayed onto the masking sheet 25. As shown in [Fig. 5], the adhesive 27 is applied into the through holes 23 of the masking sheet 25 on which the adhesive 27 is sprayed. Then, as shown in [Fig. 6], by removing the masking sheet 25 from the base 11, an external bonding portion 17 and an internal bonding portion 19 as the bonding portion 15 and a non-bonding region 29 are formed on the base 11.

[0031] The wiring harness assembly 1 according to the present embodiment comprises a wiring harness 3 comprising an electric wire 7 and a connector 9 electrically connected to one end of the electric wire 7 and a joining member 5 in which the wiring harness 3 is arranged. The joining member 5 comprises a base 11 and a cover 13 fixed to the base 11, via a connecting portion 15. The connecting portion 15 comprises an outer connecting portion 17 arranged along an outer edge of the joining member 5. A non-connecting region 29 in which the connecting portion 15 is not arranged, is provided between the base 11 and the cover 13.

[0032] By providing the outer bonding portion 17 in the bonding portion 15, the base 11 and the cover 13 can be secured together, and the non-bonding region 29 in which the bonding portion 15 is not arranged can be formed inside the outer edge of the joining member 5. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of adhesive usage as much as possible in the non-bonding region inside the outer edge of the joining member 5.

[0033] For this reason, the cost of the electrical harness assembly 1 can be reduced.

[0034] The connecting part 15 comprises an internal connecting part 19 arranged in a position avoiding the electric wire 7 inside the external edge of the assembly element 5.

[0035] By providing the internal connecting portion 19 in the connecting portion 15, it is possible to stably integrate the base 11 and the cover 13 while suppressing a reduction in the non-connecting region 29 and minimizing the amount of adhesive usage. In addition, the internal connecting portion 19 can be used as a guide for arranging the electric wire 7, and the assembly capability can be improved.

[0036] The external connecting part 17 has an interrupting part 21 interrupted to avoid the electric wire 7.

[0037] Since the electric wire 7 arranged in the interruption portion 21 is not connected to the external connection portion 17, the electric wire 7 can freely move in the interruption portion 21. Therefore, the connector 9 provided at the end of the electric wire 7 can freely move, facilitating the mounting of the connector 9. In addition, the interrupting portion 21 can be used as a guide for arranging the electric wire 7, and the assembly capability can be improved.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the number of electric wires 7 in the wire harness 3 is four, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of electric wires 7 may be three or less or may be five or more. In the above-described embodiments, the end sides of the plurality of electric wires 7 are collected in a connector 9, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the connector 9 may be provided on each of the end sides of the plurality of electric wires 7.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and the configuration of the parts may be replaced by any configuration having a similar function, as long as it is within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A wiring harness assembly (1) comprising: a wiring harness (3) comprising an electric wire (7) and a connector (9) electrically connected to one end of the electric wire (7), and a joining member (5) in which the wiring harness (3) is arranged, the joining member (5) comprising: a base (11) and a cover (13) fixed to the base (11) via a connecting portion (15), the connecting portion (15) comprising an outer connecting portion (17) arranged along an outer edge of the joining member (5), and a non-connecting region (29) in which the connecting portion (15) is not arranged, being provided between the base (11) and the cover (13).

2. An electrical harness assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion (15) comprises an inner connecting portion (19) arranged in a position avoiding the electrical wire (7) inside the outer edge of the joining member (5).

3. An electrical harness assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external connecting portion (17) comprises an interrupting portion (21) interrupted to avoid the electrical wire (7).

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