Connector holder and wire harness

Abstract

To provide a connector holder and a wire harness configured to reduce the load applied to a clamp when a second connector is inserted into a first connector.SOLUTION: A connector holder 11 includes a holding unit 21 which holds a first connector 12, a clamp 22 fixed to a through hole formed in a fixed surface Ta of an attachment object T, and an elastic contact section 23 which is brought into elastic contact by its own elasticity with the object T so as not to be fixed to the object T. The second connector 13 is inserted to the first connector 12 held by the holding unit 21, in an insertion direction D2 along the fixed surface Ta. Base on a first imaginary plane P1 orthogonal to the insertion direction D2 and located in the same position as the clamp 22, the elastic contact section 23 is provided in a front region Af, the front region Af being a region forward of the first imaginary plane P1 in the insertion direction D2, a rear region Ab being a region behind the first imaginary plane P1 in the insertion direction D2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector holder and a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a connector holder that holds a first connector and is fixed to a body panel of a vehicle. The connector holder includes a holding portion that holds the first connector and a clamp portion that is fixed to a through hole formed in the body panel. A second connector is inserted into the first connector held by the holding portion. This makes an electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-62972 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned connector holder, studies have been conducted on how to reduce the load applied to the clamp portion due to the insertion force when inserting the second connector into the first connector. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector holder and a wire harness capable of reducing the load applied to a clamp portion when a second connector is inserted into a first connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The connector holder of the present disclosure is a connector holder that holds a first connector and is fixed to a fixed surface of an attachment target, and includes a holding portion that holds the first connector, a clamp portion that is fixed to a through hole formed in the fixed surface, and an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the attachment target by its own elasticity in a manner that is not fixed to the attachment target, and when a second connector is inserted into the first connector held by the holding portion in an insertion direction along the fixed surface, and when a virtual plane that is perpendicular to the insertion direction and at the same position as the clamp portion is used as a reference, the area forward of the virtual plane in the insertion direction is defined as a front area, and the area rearward of the virtual plane in the insertion direction is defined as a rear area, the elastic contact portion is provided in the front area. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the connector holder and wire harness of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the clamp portion when the second connector is inserted into the first connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the wire harness in the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the wire harness in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the operation of the wire harness in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector holder of the present disclosure comprises: [1] A connector holder which holds a first connector and is fixed to a fixed surface of an attachment target, the connector holder comprising: a holding portion which holds the first connector; a clamp portion which is fixed to a through hole formed in the fixed surface; and an elastic contact portion which elastically contacts the attachment target by its own elasticity in a manner not fixed to the attachment target, wherein a second connector is inserted into the first connector held by the holding portion in an insertion direction along the fixed surface, and when an imaginary plane which is perpendicular to the insertion direction and at the same position as the clamp portion is used as a reference, a region forward of the imaginary plane in the insertion direction is defined as a front region, and a region rearward of the imaginary plane in the insertion direction is defined as a rear region, the elastic contact portion is provided in the front region.

[0009] According to this configuration, the elastic contact portion is provided in a region forward of the clamp portion in the insertion direction of the second connector. This makes it possible to elastically contact the elastic contact portion with the attachment target when the second connector is inserted into the first connector held in the holding portion of the connector holder. Therefore, the insertion force when inserting the second connector into the first connector is also distributed to the elastic contact portion that contacts the attachment target, making it possible to reduce the load on the clamp portion.

[0010] [2] In the above item [1], the connector holder may include only one clamp portion and a plurality of the elastic contact portions provided in the front region. According to this configuration, the insertion force applied when inserting the second connector into the first connector is distributed to the multiple elastic contact portions, so that the load applied to the clamp portion can be further reduced.

[0011] [3] In the above [2], when the virtual plane is a first virtual plane, a plane perpendicular to the first virtual plane and at the same position as the clamp portion is a second virtual plane, and one of the areas separated by the second virtual plane is a first area and the other is a second area, the multiple elastic contact portions may include a first elastic contact portion provided in the first area and a second elastic contact portion provided in the second area.

[0012] According to this configuration, the connector holder can be supported in a well-balanced manner by the first elastic contact portion and the second elastic contact portion. [4] In any one of the above [1] to [3], the elastic contact portion may have a dish shape that expands in diameter toward the tip portion that contacts the attachment object.

[0013] According to this configuration, the resilient contact portion has a dish shape, so that the resilient contact portion can be brought into suitable contact with the attachment target. [5] In any one of the above [1] to [4], the connector holder may include a plurality of the retaining portions aligned along an attachment direction of the clamp portion relative to the through hole.

[0014] According to this configuration, the multiple holding parts arranged along the mounting direction of the clamp parts include a holding part far away from the mounting object. When inserting the second connector into the first connector held by the holding part far away from the mounting object, there is a concern that a large moment force will be generated with the clamp parts as a fulcrum, but it is possible to disperse the moment force to the elastic contact parts. Therefore, the effect of providing the elastic contact parts can be obtained more significantly.

[0015] [6] The wire harness of the present disclosure includes a connector holder according to any one of [1] to [5] above, a first connector held in a holding portion of the connector holder, and a second connector inserted into and connected to the first connector.

[0016] According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned connector holder. [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector holder and wire harness of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, some of the configurations may be exaggerated or simplified. In addition, the dimensional ratio of each part may differ in each drawing. In each drawing, an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are mutually perpendicular are illustrated. In this specification, the direction along the X-axis is referred to as the X-axis direction, the direction along the Y-axis is referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the direction along the Z-axis is referred to as the Z-axis direction. In addition, "parallel," "vertical," and "orthogonal" in this specification do not only mean strictly parallel, vertical, or orthogonal, but also include roughly parallel, vertical, or orthogonal within the range in which the action and effect of this embodiment can be achieved. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and the like in this specification are used simply to distinguish objects, and do not rank the objects. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims and the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0017] (Wire harness 10) A wire harness 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is provided, for example, in a vehicle. The wire harness 10 includes a connector holder 11, a first connector 12 held by the connector holder 11, and a second connector 13 inserted into and connected to the first connector 12. The connector holder 11 is formed, for example, partially or entirely, from a synthetic resin. The connector holder 11 is fixed to a fixing surface Ta (see FIG. 2) of an attachment object T. The attachment object T is, for example, a body panel of a vehicle. The attachment object T is, for example, a flat plate perpendicular to the X-axis direction. That is, the fixing surface Ta of the attachment object T is, for example, a planar surface perpendicular to the X-axis direction. A through hole Tb for attaching the connector holder 11 is formed in the fixing surface Ta. The through hole Tb is, for example, a hole penetrating the body panel in the X-axis direction. The connector holder 11 is attached to the through hole Tb toward an attachment direction D1 along the X-axis.

[0018] The wire harness 10 of this embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of first connectors 12 held by a connector holder 11. The wire harness 10 also includes a plurality of second connectors 13 corresponding to the plurality of first connectors 12, respectively. In the wire harness 10 of this embodiment, the number of each of the first connectors 12 and the second connectors 13 is, for example, four. The plurality of second connectors 13 are inserted into the plurality of first connectors 12 in the same insertion direction D2 along the Y axis. This electrically connects each of the first connectors 12 and each of the second connectors 13. An electric wire (not shown) is connected to each of the first connectors 12. An electric wire (not shown) is connected to each of the second connectors 13.

[0019] (Connector holder 11) 1 and 2, the connector holder 11 includes a holding portion 21, a clamp portion 22, and an elastic contact portion 23. The holding portion 21 holds the first connectors 12. The connector holder 11 of this embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of holding portions 21 corresponding respectively to the plurality of first connectors 12. In the connector holder 11 of this embodiment, the number of holding portions 21 is, for example, four. The plurality of holding portions 21 hold the plurality of first connectors 12, respectively.

[0020] In the connector holder 11 of this embodiment, for example, two of the multiple holding parts 21 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. That is, the two first connectors 12 held by the two holding parts 21 arranged side by side in the X-axis direction are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. Here, one of the two holding parts 21 arranged side by side in the X-axis direction is the first holding part 21a, and the other is the second holding part 21b. The first holding part 21a is located farther from the attachment object T than the second holding part 21b.

[0021] Also, for example, at least two of the multiple holding parts 21 are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. That is, the multiple first connectors 12 held by the multiple holding parts 21 arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, the second holding part 21b is included in the multiple holding parts 21 arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction.

[0022] (Clamp part 22) The connector holder 11 includes, for example, only one clamp portion 22. The clamp portion 22 is fixed to a through hole Tb of the mounting object T. More specifically, the clamp portion 22 includes an engagement portion 31 and a pressing portion 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement portion 31 is inserted into the through hole Tb of the mounting object T in the mounting direction D1 and is engaged with the back surface of the mounting object T. The pressing portion 32 presses the fixing surface Ta of the mounting object T by its own elasticity. The pressing portion 32 has, for example, a dish shape that expands in diameter toward its tip portion that contacts the fixing surface Ta. The clamp portion 22 is fixed to the mounting object T by sandwiching the mounting object T in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) between the engagement portion 31 and the pressing portion 32. The clamp portion 22 has a central axis La extending along the mounting direction D1. The engagement portion 31 of the clamp portion 22 is inserted into the through hole Tb along the central axis La.

[0023] (elastic contact portion 23) The connector holder 11 includes, for example, two elastic contact portions 23 that come into contact with a fixing surface Ta of the attachment target T. Each elastic contact portion 23 is formed, for example, from the synthetic resin that forms the connector holder 11. Of the two elastic contact portions 23, one is a first elastic contact portion 41 and the other is a second elastic contact portion 42.

[0024] The first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 have, for example, the same shape. Note that FIG. 2 illustrates the first elastic contact portion 41 in cross section. Each of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 has, for example, a dish shape that expands in diameter toward its tip portion that contacts the fixed surface Ta. This allows each of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 to elastically bend in the X-axis direction upon contact with the fixed surface Ta. Also, each of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 has, for example, a circular shape when viewed from a direction along the X-axis.

[0025] In the connector holder 11, each elastic contact portion 23, i.e., the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42, is not a portion fixed to the mounting object T, unlike the clamp portion 22. In other words, each of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 is a portion that simply contacts a portion of the mounting object T where no through hole Tb is formed. Therefore, even if the number of mounting through holes Tb cannot be increased due to design constraints of the mounting object T, it is possible to use the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42. In addition, in the mounting object T, the fixing surface Ta where the through hole Tb is formed and the portion where the elastic contact portion 23 contacts are located on the same plane.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, in the connector holder 11, a region on the front side of the first imaginary plane P1 in the insertion direction D2 is defined as a front region Af, and a region on the rear side of the first imaginary plane P1 in the insertion direction D2 is defined as a rear region Ab. The first imaginary plane P1 is a plane that is perpendicular to the insertion direction D2 of the second connector 13 and is located at the same position as the clamp portion 22. The central axis La of the clamp portion 22 is located on the first imaginary plane P1. The front region Af and the rear region Ab are separated by the first imaginary plane P1. The multiple elastic contact portions 23, i.e., the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42, are each provided in the front region Af.

[0027] In the connector holder 11, a plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary plane P1 and is at the same position as the clamp portion 22 is defined as a second imaginary plane P2. The central axis La of the clamp portion 22 is located on the second imaginary plane P2. The first imaginary plane P1 and the second imaginary plane P2 are perpendicular to each other at the position of the central axis La of the clamp portion 22. When one of the regions separated by the second imaginary plane P2 is defined as a first region A1 and the other is defined as a second region A2, the first elastic contact portion 41 is provided in the first region A1, and the second elastic contact portion 42 is provided in the second region A2.

[0028] The first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 are arranged side by side, for example, in the Z-axis direction. The first elastic contact portion 41 has a central axis L1 extending along, for example, the X-axis direction. The second elastic contact portion 42 has a central axis L2 extending along, for example, the X-axis direction. A straight line L3 perpendicular to both the central axis L1 of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the central axis L2 of the second elastic contact portion 42 extends along the Z-axis. In other words, the straight line L3 is parallel to the first imaginary plane P1.

[0029] (Action of this embodiment) The operation of this embodiment will now be described. When the second connector 13 is to be connected to the first connector 12 held by each holding portion 21 of the connector holder 11, the second connector 13 is inserted into the first connector 12 in an insertion direction D2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, a moment force F is generated in the connector holder 11 with the clamp portion 22 as a fulcrum. In the connector holder 11 of this embodiment, the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 are provided in the front region Af with respect to the clamp portion 22 (first imaginary plane P1), and therefore the moment force is distributed to the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the clamp portion 22 when the second connector 13 is inserted into the first connector 12.

[0030] 4 illustrates a state in which the second connector 13 is inserted into the first connector 12 held by the first holding portion 21a, which is located farther from the mounting object T, of the first holding portion 21a and the second holding portion 21b aligned along the mounting direction D1 (X-axis direction). Since the first holding portion 21a is farther from the mounting object T, the moment force F generated at this time tends to be particularly large. Therefore, by providing the elastic contact portion 23 in the connector holder 11 having the holding portions 21 aligned along the mounting direction D1, the effect of reducing the load on the clamp portion 22 by the elastic contact portion 23 can be more significantly obtained.

[0031] (Effects of this embodiment) The effects of this embodiment will be described below. (1) The elastic contact portion 23 in the connector holder 11 is provided in a front region Af in the insertion direction D2 forward of the first imaginary plane P1 at the same position as the clamp portion 22. According to this configuration, the elastic contact portion 23 is provided in a front region Af forward of the clamp portion 22 in the insertion direction D2 of the second connector 13. This makes it possible to elastically contact the elastic contact portion 23 with the attachment target T when inserting the second connector 13 into the first connector 12 held by the holding portion 21 of the connector holder 11. Therefore, since the insertion force when inserting the second connector 13 into the first connector 12 is also distributed to the elastic contact portion 23 that contacts the attachment target T, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the clamp portion 22. In addition, since the elastic contact portion 23 simply contacts the attachment target T, it is not necessary to form a through hole or the like corresponding to the elastic contact portion 23 in the attachment target T. Therefore, in a case where the number of attachment through holes Tb cannot be increased due to design constraints or the like of the attachment target T, the effect of the elastic contact portion 23 can be obtained significantly.

[0032] (2) The connector holder 11 includes only one clamp portion 22 and multiple elastic contact portions 23 provided in the front region Af. With this configuration, the insertion force applied when inserting the second connector 13 into the first connector 12 is distributed to the multiple elastic contact portions 23 (the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42), making it possible to further reduce the load applied to the clamp portion 22.

[0033] (3) A plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary plane P1 and coincides with the clamp portion 22 is defined as a second imaginary plane P2, and one of the regions defined by the second imaginary plane P2 is defined as a first region A1, and the other is defined as a second region A2. The multiple elastic contact portions 23 include a first elastic contact portion 41 provided in the first region A1 and a second elastic contact portion 42 provided in the second region A2. With this configuration, the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 can support the connector holder 11 in a well-balanced manner.

[0034] (4) The elastic contact portion 23 has a dish shape that expands in diameter toward the tip portion that contacts the attachment object T. According to this configuration, the elastic contact portion 23 has a dish shape, which makes it possible for the elastic contact portion 23 to suitably contact the attachment object T.

[0035] (5) The connector holder 11 includes a plurality of holding portions 21 (first holding portion 21a and second holding portion 21b) arranged along the mounting direction D1 of the clamp portion 22 relative to the through hole Tb of the mounting object T. According to this configuration, the plurality of holding portions 21 arranged along the mounting direction D1 of the clamp portion 22 includes the first holding portion 21a located far away from the mounting object T. When the second connector 13 is inserted into the first connector 12 held by the first holding portion 21a located far away from the mounting object T, there is a concern that a large moment force F will be generated with the clamp portion 22 as a fulcrum. However, it is possible to distribute the moment force F to the elastic contact portion 23. Therefore, the effect of providing the elastic contact portion 23 can be obtained more significantly.

[0036] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0037] In the connector holder 11 of the above embodiment, the multiple holding portions 21 do not have to include holding portions 21 aligned in the mounting direction D1. That is, all of the holding portions 21 in the connector holder 11 may be aligned in the Z-axis direction, for example.

[0038] The shapes of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the second elastic contact portion 42 of the connector holder 11 are not limited to the dish shape of the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the connector holder 11.

[0039] In the connector holder 11 of the above embodiment, the straight line L3 perpendicular to both the central axis L1 of the first elastic contact portion 41 and the central axis L2 of the second elastic contact portion 42 may be inclined with respect to the first imaginary plane P1.

[0040] In the connector holder 11 of the above embodiment, all of the elastic contact portions 23 may be provided in only one of the first area A1 and the second area A2. The number of elastic contact portions 23 in the connector holder 11 is not limited to that in the above embodiment, and may be one or three or more.

[0041] The number of clamp portions 22 in the connector holder 11 is not limited to that in the above embodiment, and may be two or more. The number of first connectors 12 and second connectors 13 in the wire harness 10 is not limited to that in the above embodiment, and may be three or less, including one, or five or more. In addition, the number of holding portions 21 that hold the first connectors 12 in the connector holder 11 can be changed as appropriate depending on the number of first connectors 12.

[0042] In the attachment target T of the above embodiment, the fixing surface Ta on which the through hole Tb is formed and the location where the elastic contact portion 23 comes into contact do not have to be located on the same plane. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 Wire Harness 11 Connector holder 12 First Connector 13 Second Connector 21 Holding part 21a 1st holding part 21b Second holding part 22 Clamp section 23 Elastic contact part 31 Locking part 32 Pressing section 41 First elastic contact portion 42 Second elastic contact portion A1 1st area A2 2nd area Ab posterior region Af anterior area D1 Installation direction D2 Insertion direction F Moment Force L1: Central axis of the first elastic contact part L2: Central axis of the second elastic contact part L3 straight line La Central axis of clamp P1 First virtual plane (virtual plane) P2 Second virtual plane T Installation target Ta fixed surface Tb through hole

Claims

1. A connector holder that holds a first connector and is fixed to a fixing surface of an attachment target, A holding portion that holds the first connector; A clamp portion fixed to a through hole formed in the fixing surface; an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the attachment object by its own elasticity in a manner not fixed to the attachment object, a second connector is inserted into the first connector held by the holding portion in an insertion direction along the fixing surface, When an imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the insertion direction and coincides with the clamp portion is used as a reference, a region on the front side of the imaginary plane in the insertion direction is defined as a front region, and a region on the rear side of the imaginary plane in the insertion direction is defined as a rear region, The elastic contact portion is provided in the front region. Connector holder.

2. the connector holder includes only one clamp portion and a plurality of elastic contact portions provided in the front region; The connector holder according to claim 1 .

3. When the virtual plane is defined as a first virtual plane, a plane that is perpendicular to the first virtual plane and is at the same position as the clamp portion is defined as a second virtual plane, and one of the regions defined by the second virtual plane is defined as a first region and the other is defined as a second region, The plurality of elastic contact portions include a first elastic contact portion provided in the first region and a second elastic contact portion provided in the second region. The connector holder according to claim 2 .

4. The elastic contact portion has a dish shape that expands in diameter toward a tip portion that contacts the attachment object. The connector holder according to claim 1 .

5. The connector holder includes a plurality of the holding portions arranged along a mounting direction of the clamp portion relative to the through hole. The connector holder according to claim 1 .

6. A connector holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a first connector held by a holding portion of the connector holder; A second connector that is inserted into and connected to the first connector. Wire harness.

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