Wire harness assembly and method for manufacturing wire harness assembly

Abstract

To provide a wire harness assembly capable of improving the ease of routing a wire harness, and a method for manufacturing the wire harness assembly.SOLUTION: A wire harness assembly 1 includes a wire harness WH having an electric wire bundle 30 in which a plurality of electric wires W extending along an axial direction X are bundled together, a rigid member 10A having a wiring space portion 12 in which the electric wire bundle WH is routed along the axial direction X, and a slit 20 that is provided in an outer wall 11 of the rigid member 10A, extends along the axial direction X, and allows the electric wire bundle 30 to be inserted into the wiring space portion 12 from the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness assembly and a method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly.

Background Art

[0002] As a technique related to a conventional wire harness assembly, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness having a wire bundle in which a plurality of electric wires extending along the axial direction are bundled, and a rigid member provided with a wiring space portion in which the wire bundle is wired along the axial direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in this type of wire harness assembly, for example, there is still room for further improvement in terms of improving the wiring property of the wire harness.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wire harness assembly capable of improving the wiring property of a wire harness and a method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a wire harness assembly according to the present invention includes a wire harness having a wire bundle in which a plurality of wires extending along an axial direction are bundled, a rigid member provided with a wiring space portion in which the wire bundle is routed along the axial direction, and a slit provided on an outer wall of the rigid member, extending along the axial direction, and allowing the wire bundle to be inserted into the wiring space portion from the outside.

[0007] Also, in order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly according to the present invention includes a first step of holding a wire bundle in which a plurality of wires extending along an axial direction are bundled by a jig, a second step of inserting the jig into a slit provided on an outer wall of a rigid member and extending along the axial direction, and a third step of inserting the wire bundle into a wiring space portion of the rigid member from the outside while deforming or displacing the wire bundle so as to be narrower than an opening width of the slit by sliding the jig along the slit while holding the wire bundle by the jig.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] In the wire harness assembly and the method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly according to the present invention, a slit extending along the axial direction and allowing the wire bundle to be inserted into the wiring space portion from the outside is provided on the outer wall of the rigid member. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly and the method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly can, for example, route the wire bundle by inserting it into the wiring space portion from the outside of the rigid member through the slit. As a result, the wire harness assembly and the method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly have an effect of improving the routability of the wire harness.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Figure 17

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments and modified examples according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and modified examples. Also, the components in the following embodiments and modified examples include those that can be replaced by those skilled in the art and are easy to replace, or those that are substantially the same.

[0011] In addition, the embodiments and modified examples disclosed below include similar components. Therefore, hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be given to those similar components, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. In this specification, ordinal numbers are used only for distinguishing parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0012] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle 100 to which a wire harness assembly 1 according to an embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness assembly 1. The wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied to a vehicle 100 such as an automobile, and is used to connect between each device mounted on the vehicle 100 and for power supply and signal communication. The wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment includes, for example, a wire harness WH, a rigid member 10A provided with a wiring space portion 12 having a predetermined rigidity and in which the wire harness WH is wired, and a slit 20 provided on an outer wall 11 of the rigid member 10A and allowing the wire harness WH to be inserted into the wiring space portion 12 from the outside. The wire harness WH includes a wire bundle 30 (see FIG. 5) in which a plurality of conductive wires W are bundled. Note that the wire harness assembly 1 may further include, for example, a connector, a corrugated tube, a grommet, a fixture, and the like.

[0013] Here, in the present embodiment, the rigid member 10A is constituted by a body member 10 that constitutes the skeleton of the vehicle 100. The body member 10 is, for example, a cylindrical rocker that constitutes a side sill 3 of the vehicle 100, and is mounted on the vehicle 100 in a state where both end portions in the axial direction X of the wiring space portion 12 are closed. And in this embodiment, the wire harness WH is inserted and wired into the wiring space portion 12 as the internal space portion of the body member 10 through the slit 20. Thereby, for example, compared with the case where the wire harness WH is wired between the body member 10 and the scuff plate 4, the position of the scuff plate 4 can be set lower, and as a result, the opening area of the boarding and alighting opening of the vehicle 100 can be widened and the passengers can board and alight more smoothly. The slit 20 is installed on the vehicle 100 in a state covered by the scuff plate 4, for example.

[0014] In the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that intersect each other, the first direction is referred to as the "axial direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are substantially orthogonal to each other. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the extending direction of the wire harness WH, the longitudinal direction of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A), etc., and extends along the vehicle front-rear direction. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction (left-right direction) of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A), etc., and extends along the vehicle width direction. The height direction Z typically corresponds to the height direction (up-down direction) of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A), etc., and extends along the vehicle up-down direction. In addition, each direction used in the following description will be described as the direction in the state where the wire harness assembly 1 is assembled to the vehicle 100, unless otherwise specified. In FIGS. 2 and 8, etc., for the sake of convenience, the illustration of the plurality of electric wires W constituting the wire bundle 30 is simplified.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body member 10 of the wire harness assembly 1, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vicinity of the wide portion 22 of the slit 20 of the wire harness assembly 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body member 10 is constituted by, for example, an extruded material of a metal material, and has an outer wall 11 having a rectangular tubular cross-sectional shape intersecting the axial direction X. The outer wall 11 is a structure for partitioning the above-described wire routing space portion 12 as the internal space portion of the body member 10. The wire routing space portion 12 is a space portion through which the wire bundle 30 of the wire harness WH is inserted and routed. The outer wall 11 includes, for example, an upper wall 11a, a lower wall 11b, and a pair of side walls 11c, 11d.

[0016] Both the upper wall 11a and the lower wall 11b extend along a direction orthogonal to the height direction Z, and are provided in parallel with each other at an interval in the height direction Z. The upper wall 11a constitutes the upper end portion of the body member 10, and the lower wall 11b constitutes the lower end portion of the body member 10. The upper wall 11a faces the interior space of the vehicle 100, and the lower wall 11b faces the floor of the vehicle 100. The upper wall 11a and the lower wall 11b are formed in a flat plate shape extending horizontally along the axial direction X.

[0017] The pair of side walls 11c and 11d both extend along a direction orthogonal to the width direction Y and are provided in parallel with each other at an interval in the width direction Y. The side wall 11c extends between one end portions in the width direction Y of the upper wall 11a and the lower wall 11b and constitutes the right end portion of the body member 10. The side wall 11d extends between the other end portions in the width direction Y of the upper wall 11a and the lower wall 11b and constitutes the left end portion of the body member 10. The side wall 11c faces the interior space of the vehicle 100, and the side wall 11d faces the frame or the like of the vehicle 100. The pair of side walls 11c and 11d are formed in a flat plate shape extending horizontally along the axial direction X.

[0018] Here, in the present embodiment, among the upper wall 11a, the lower wall 11b, and the pair of 11c and 11d constituting the outer wall 11, for example, the upper wall 11a facing the interior space of the vehicle is provided with a slit 20 extending along the axial direction X. The upper wall 11a is a partition wall separating the wiring space portion 12 of the body member 10 from the interior space of the vehicle. The wiring space portion 12 is an internal space portion of the body member 10, and the interior space of the vehicle is an external space portion of the body member 10. The slit 20 is a through hole penetrating the upper wall 11a along the height direction Z and communicates the wiring space portion 12 of the body member 10 with the interior space of the vehicle. Thereby, the wire bundle 30 of the wire harness WH can be inserted into the wiring space portion 12 from the interior space side of the vehicle through the slit 20. In the present embodiment, the upper wall 11a is an example of the first wall portion.

[0019] Further, the slit 20 is configured to include, for example, a narrow-width portion 21 and a wide-width portion 22. The narrow-width portion 21 has an opening width d1 formed to be narrower than the outer diameter d (see FIG. 2) of the wire bundle 30, and the wide-width portion 22 has an opening width d2 formed to be wider than the outer diameter d of the wire bundle 30. The opening width d1 is the opening width along the width direction Y of the narrow-width portion 21, and the opening width d2 is the opening width along the width direction Y of the wide-width portion 22. In the present embodiment, the narrow-width portion 21 is provided across one end portion and the other end portion of the upper wall 11a in the axial direction X and penetrates the upper wall 11a along the axial direction X. The wide-width portion 22 is partially provided on the other end side of the narrow-width portion 21 in the axial direction X and communicates with the narrow-width portion 21. The wide-width portion 22 functions as, for example, an inlet opening when inserting a jig 5 (see FIGS. 8 to 10), which will be described later, into the slit 20.

[0020] Also, in the present embodiment, the opening width d1 of the narrow-width portion 21 is formed wider than the sum of the outer diameter d3 (see FIG. 6) of one wire W having the largest outer diameter among the plurality of wires W constituting the wire bundle 30 and the plate thickness d4 (see FIG. 9) of a pair of side walls 5b of the jig 5 for routing the wire bundle 30 into the wiring space portion 12 through the slit 20. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the plurality of wires W are configured to have the same outer diameter as each other, and the opening width d1 of the narrow-width portion 21 is set to the total width of the outer diameters d3 of about two or three of the plurality of wires W. In the present embodiment, the case where the plurality of wires W are configured to have the same outer diameter as each other is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, at least one of the plurality of wires W may be configured to have a different outer diameter from the other wires W.

[0021] In addition, in the present embodiment, although the slit 20 is exemplified as being configured to include the narrow-width portion 21 and the wide-width portion 22, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it may be configured only by the narrow-width portion 21 without the wide-width portion 22. Further, in the present embodiment, although the slit 20 is exemplified as being provided across one end portion and the other end portion in the axial direction X of the upper wall 11a, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it may be partially provided at an intermediate position between one end portion and the other end portion in the axial direction X of the upper wall 11a. Further, in the present embodiment, although the body member 10 is exemplified as having a rectangular cylindrical cross-sectional shape and being configured as an internal space portion in which the wiring space portion 12 is closed, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the body member 10 may be formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the wiring space portion 12 may not be closed. Further, in this case, the wiring space portion 12 may be closed by another member different from the body member 10.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wire harness WH of the wire harness assembly 1, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the binding posture maintaining portion 31 of the wire harness WH, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the binding posture variable portion 32 of the wire harness WH. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the wire harness WH has, for example, a wire bundle 30 in which a plurality of electric wires W are bundled. The electric wire W includes a core wire and an insulating coating that covers the core wire. The electric wires W each linearly extend along the axial direction X and are formed to extend with substantially the same diameter with respect to the axial direction X (extending direction). Further, the electric wire W is formed such that, for example, the cross-sectional shape of the core wire (the cross-sectional shape intersecting the axial direction X) is substantially circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the insulating coating is substantially annular, and the overall cross-sectional shape is substantially circular.

[0023] Also, the wire bundle 30 is configured to include, for example, a pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 and a bundling posture variable portion 32. The pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 are located at both end portions 30a in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30 and are portions bundled so as to maintain the bundling posture. In the present embodiment, a first bundling member 40 for bundling a plurality of wires W is provided on each of the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31. The pair of first bundling members 40 may be, for example, a bundling member such as a bundling band, a tape member such as an adhesive tape, or other members. The first bundling member 40 bundles a plurality of wires W so as to maintain the bundling posture of the wire bundle 30, in other words, the cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 6) intersecting the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30.

[0024] The first bundling member 40, for example, circulates around a plurality of wires W at the same position in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30. That is, the first bundling member 40 is wound around a plurality of wires W such that, in the overlapping portions with each other, the inner portion and the outer overlapping portion are at the same position in the axial direction X. In the section between one and the other of the pair of first bundling members 40 of the wire bundle 30, a plurality of wires W are exposed. In the present embodiment, the case where the first bundling member 40 is formed by a circumferential winding that circulates around a plurality of wires W at the same position in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30 is illustrated, but it is not limited to this example. For example, it may be formed by a spiral winding that circulates around a plurality of wires W at different positions in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30.

[0025] The variable bundling posture portion 32 is located between a pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30, and is a portion where the bundling posture is variable. In the present embodiment, the variable bundling posture portion 32 is provided with a second bundling member 50 that bundles a plurality of wires W more loosely than the first bundling member 40. The second bundling member 50 is provided, for example, at the central portion 30b in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30. The second bundling member 50 may be a bundling member such as a bundling band, a tape member such as an adhesive tape, or other members. The second bundling member 50 bundles a plurality of wires W so that the bundling posture of the wire bundle 30, in other words, the cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 7) intersecting the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30, is variable.

[0026] The second bundling member 50 has, for example, an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter d (see FIG. 2) of the wire bundle 30, and is configured to allow displacement along the radial direction of the wire bundle 30. That is, the second bundling member 50 is wound around a plurality of wires W so that the plurality of wires W can move relative to each other and become loose. The second bundling member 50 may be formed, for example, by a circumferential winding that goes around the plurality of wires W at the same position in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30, or by a spiral winding that goes around the plurality of wires W at different positions in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30. A plurality of wires W are exposed in the section of the wire bundle 30 between the second bundling member 50 and the pair of first bundling members 40 described above.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the case where the variable bundling posture portion 32 bundles a plurality of wires W by the second bundling member 50 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a plurality of wires W may not be bundled without providing the second bundling member 50. That is, the variable bundling posture portion 32 includes a form in which a bundling member itself such as the second bundling member 50 does not exist. The variable bundling posture portion 32 is also referred to as a variable cross-sectional shape portion, etc., and the bundling posture maintaining portion 31 is also referred to as a cross-sectional shape maintaining portion, etc.

[0028] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the wire harness assembly 1, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the jig 5, and FIG. 10 is a side view of the jig 5. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the jig 5 is used, for example, when inserting the wire bundle 30 of the wire harness WH into the routing space 12 of the body member 10 through the slit 20. The jig 5 is formed of a flexible and bendable member such as synthetic resin, and includes a bottom wall 5a, a pair of side walls 5b, a pair of flange walls 5c, a first cut portion 5f, and a second cut portion 5e.

[0029] The pair of side walls 5b are portions of the jig 5 that hold the wire bundle 30 from both sides in the width direction Y. Both of the pair of side walls 5b extend along a direction orthogonal to the width direction Y, and are provided parallel to each other with a gap in the width direction Y. One of the pair of side walls 5b constitutes the right end portion of the jig 5, and the other of the pair of side walls 5b constitutes the left end portion of the jig 5. The pair of side walls 5b are formed in a flat plate shape that extends horizontally along the axial direction X.

[0030] The bottom wall 5a extends in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the wire bundle 30, and is a portion that connects one end portions 5g in the height direction Z of the pair of side walls 5b. The bottom wall 5a has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is open toward the other side in the height direction Z. The bottom wall 5a constitutes the upper end portion of the jig 5 and holds the wire bundle 30 from one side in the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b are formed in a tapered shape that inclines such that the bottom wall 5a gradually approaches the other end portion 5h in the height direction Z of the pair of side walls 5b as it goes from one end portion 5j side to the other end portion 5k side in the axial direction X. Thereby, the insertability of the wire bundle 30 into the slit 20 is enhanced. That is, the bottom wall 5a functions as a guide when inserting the wire bundle 30 into the slit 20.

[0031] The pair of flange walls 5c are provided at the other ends 5h in the height direction Z of the pair of side walls 5b, and are portions that protrude from the other ends 5h toward the sides spaced apart from each other along the width direction Y. The pair of flange walls 5c are slidably locked to the peripheral edge portions of the slit 20 on the inner surface 11a1 (see FIG. 12) on the cable laying space portion 12 side of the upper wall 11a. The pair of flange walls 5c extend parallel to the upper wall 11a. The protruding amount along the width direction Y of the pair of flange walls 5c is appropriately set according to the opening widths d1, d2, etc. of the slit 20.

[0032] The first cut portion 5f is provided on the other end 5k side in the axial direction X of the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b, and is a portion that extends along the height direction Z across the bottom wall 5a and the other ends 5h of the pair of side walls 5b in the line of sight from the width direction Y (see FIG. 10). The first cut portion 5f has a flat end face facing the other side in the axial direction X. The first cut portion 5f is formed, for example, by cutting the other ends 5k in the axial direction X of the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b along the height direction Z. The first cut portion 5f is perpendicular to the pair of flange walls 5c. The first cut portion 5f functions, for example, as a portion that suppresses snagging when the jig 5 is inserted into the slit 20.

[0033] The second cut portion 5e is provided on the one end 5j side in the axial direction X of the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b, and is a portion that extends along the inclined direction between the height direction Z and the axial direction X across the bottom wall 5a and the one ends 5j of the pair of side walls 5b in the line of sight from the width direction Y (see FIG. 10). The second cut portion 5e is provided at the corner portion 5n where the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b intersect on the one end 5j side in the axial direction X. The second cut portion 5e has a flat end face facing one side in the axial direction X and one side in the height direction Z. The second cut portion 5e is formed, for example, by cutting the corner portion 5n of the bottom wall 5a and the pair of side walls 5b along the inclined direction between the height direction Z and the axial direction X. The second cut portion 5e is inclined with respect to the pair of flange walls 5c, the first cut portion 5f, etc. The second cut portion 5e functions, for example, as a portion that suppresses snagging when the jig 5 is inserted into the slit 20.

[0034] Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the wire harness assembly 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the method for manufacturing the wire harness assembly 1, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wire harness assembly 1 showing the first step S1, FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the wire harness assembly 1 showing the second step S2, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wire harness assembly 1 showing the third step S3, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wire harness assembly 1 showing the fourth step S4.

[0035] First, in the process of the first step S1, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a wire bundle 30 in which a plurality of electric wires W are bundled is held by a jig 5. In this case, the pair of side walls 5b of the jig 5 hold the above-described binding posture variable portion 32 of the wire bundle 30 from both sides in the width direction Y, and the binding posture variable portion 32 is deformed or displaced so as to be in a vertically long state along the height direction Z. Further, the jig 5 is tilted so that the bottom wall 5a of the jig 5 is parallel to the wire bundle 30 (axial direction X). In this case, the jig 5 is tilted so that one end portion 5j in the axial direction X approaches the slit 20 located on the other side in the height direction Z than the other end portion 5k.

[0036] Next, in the process of the second step S2, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the jig 5 is inserted into the slit 20 provided on the outer wall 11 of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A). In this case, the jig 5 is inserted into, for example, the wide portion 22 of the slit 20 and is inserted obliquely with respect to the wide portion 22. At this time, in the present embodiment, since the second cut portion 5e described above is provided at one end portion 5j in the axial direction X of the jig 5, the one end portion 5j in the axial direction X of the jig 5 is prevented from being caught by the edge portion of the wide portion 22 by the second cut portion 5e. Then, the jig 5 inserted obliquely with respect to the wide portion 22 is pushed into one side in the axial direction X, and the posture of the jig 5 is returned so that the pair of flange walls 5c of the jig 5 is parallel to the upper wall 11a. At this time, in the present embodiment, since the first cut portion 5f described above is provided at the other end portion 5k in the axial direction X of the jig 5, the other end portion 5k in the axial direction X of the jig 5 is prevented from being caught by the edge portion of the wide portion 22 by the first cut portion 5f.

[0037] Next, in the process of the third step S3, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the jig 5 is slid along the narrow portion 21 of the slit 20, so that the wire harness 30 is deformed or displaced to be narrower than the opening width d1 of the slit 20, and the wire harness 30 is inserted into the wiring space portion 12 of the body member 10 from the outside. In this case, the pair of flange walls 5c of the jig 5 is slidably locked to the peripheral edge portion of the slit 20 on the inner surface 11a1 of the upper wall 11a. The variable bundling posture portion 32 of the wire harness 30 is guided to the slit 20 side by the bottom wall 5a of the jig 5, and as the jig 5 slides axially X to one side with respect to the upper wall 11a, the variable bundling posture portion 32 falls from the opening 5d between the pair of side walls 5b through the slit 20 into the wiring space portion 12.

[0038] And in the process of the fourth step S4, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the jig 5 is removed from the slit 20. In this case, the jig 5 is pulled out obliquely with respect to the narrow portion 21 of the width of the slit 20, for example. When the wire harness 30 is assembled to the body member 10, the variable bundling posture portion 32 at the central portion 30b in the axial direction X of the wire harness 30 is routed in the wiring space portion 12, and the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 at both ends 30a in the axial direction X are pulled out to the outside of the body member 10 through the slit 20. Through the first step S1 to the fourth step S4 as described above, the wire harness 30 of the wire harness WH can be assembled to the wiring space portion 12 of the body member 10, and the wire harness assembly 1 can be manufactured. Note that the jig 5 is not limited to being used in the direction along the vertical direction (height direction Z) as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, and may be used, for example, in a laid-down direction in the horizontal direction (width direction Y or axial direction X).

[0039] As described above, in the wire harness assembly 1 and the method of manufacturing the wire harness assembly 1 according to the present embodiment, on the outer wall 11 of the rigid member 10A, a slit 20 is provided that extends along the axial direction X and allows the wire harness 30 to be inserted into the wiring space portion 12 from the outside. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 and the method of manufacturing the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, insert and route the wire harness 30 into the wiring space portion 12 through the slit 20 from the outside of the rigid member 10A. As a result, the wire harness assembly 1 and the method of manufacturing the wire harness assembly 1 can improve the routability of the wire harness WH.

[0040] Further, in the wire harness assembly 1 according to the present embodiment, the rigid member 10A is constituted by the body member 10 that constitutes the framework of the vehicle 100. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, insert and route the wire harness 30 into the wiring space portion 12 through the slit 20 with respect to the body member 10 (the rocker that constitutes the side sill 3) in a state where both ends in the axial direction X of the wiring space portion 12 are closed when mounted on the vehicle 100.

[0041] Further, in the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the slit 20 has a narrow portion 21 formed to be narrower than the outer diameter d of the wire bundle 30. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, make the opening width d1 of the slit 20 relatively small by the narrow portion 21, and thus can suppress the wire bundle 30 from coming out of the wiring space portion 12 through the slit 20, or can suppress foreign matters or the like from entering the wiring space portion 12.

[0042] Further, in the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the opening width d1 of the narrow portion 21 is formed wider than the sum of the outer diameter d3 of one wire W having the largest outer diameter among the plurality of wires W constituting the wire bundle 30 and the plate thickness d4 of a pair of side walls 5b of the jig 5 for inserting the wire bundle 30 into the wiring space portion 12 through the slit 20. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, ensure the insertability of the plurality of wires W into the slit 20, and thus can insert the wire bundle 30 into the wiring space portion 12 from the outside by deforming or displacing the wire bundle 30 by the jig 5 so as to be narrower than the opening width d1.

[0043] Further, in the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the slit 20 has a wide portion 22 that communicates with the narrow portion 21 and is formed wider than the outer diameter d of the wire bundle 30. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, improve the insertability of the wire bundle 30 and the jig 5 into the slit 20 by the wide portion 22.

[0044] Further, in the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the slit 20 is provided in the upper wall 11a (first wall portion) of the outer wall 11 that faces the passenger compartment space of the vehicle 100. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, attach the wire bundle 30 to the slit 20 from the passenger compartment space side, and thus can improve the workability of the attachment work of the wire harness WH.

[0045] In the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the wire bundle 30 includes a pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 that are positioned at both end portions 30a in the axial direction X and are bundled to maintain the bundling posture, and a bundling posture variable portion 32 that is positioned between the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 in the axial direction X and has a variable bundling posture. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1, for example, bundles a plurality of wires W constituting the wire bundle 30 as a single bundle by the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31, and then allows deformation, displacement, etc. of the wire bundle 30 by the bundling posture variable portion 32. As a result, the workability of the attachment work of the wire harness WH can be improved.

[0046] In the wire harness assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the bundling posture variable portion 32 is routed in the wiring space portion 12 of the rigid member 10A, and the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 are drawn out to the outside of the rigid member 10A via the slit 20. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can protect at least a part of the wire harness WH by the bundling posture variable portion 32 routed in the wiring space portion 12, and can improve the workability of the removal work of the wire harness WH by the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions 31 drawn out to the outside of the rigid member 10A via the slit 20.

[0047] [Modification Example] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the wire harness WH of the wire harness assembly 1 according to the modification example, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the bundling posture variable portion 32 of the wire harness WH according to the modification example. The wire harness assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 has the same configuration as the wire harness assembly 1 of the above embodiment. Therefore, the wire harness assembly 1 can obtain the same operations and effects as those of the above embodiment based on the same configuration.

[0048] However, in this modified example, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the second bundling member 50A is different from the above-described embodiment in that it is constituted by a stretchable bundling band or the like. Specifically, in this modified example, the second bundling member 50A loosely bundles a plurality of electric wires W more loosely than the first bundling member 40, and is provided at the central portion 30b in the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30. The second bundling member 50A bundles a plurality of electric wires W so that the bundling posture of the wire bundle 30, in other words, the cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 17) intersecting the axial direction X of the wire bundle 30 becomes variable.

[0049] The second bundling member 50A has, for example, an inner diameter equivalent to the outer diameter d (see FIG. 2) of the wire bundle 30, and is configured to allow deformation along the radial direction of the wire bundle 30. That is, the second bundling member 50A is wound around a plurality of electric wires W in a state where the wire bundle 30 can be elastically deformed. FIG. 17 shows the cross-sectional shape at the time of insertion (at the time of elastic deformation) into the slit 20 of the bundling posture variable portion 32 bundled by the second bundling member 50A.

[0050] As described above, in the wire harness assembly 1 of this modified example, the second bundling member 50A has an inner diameter equivalent to the outer diameter d of the wire bundle 30, and is configured to allow deformation along the radial direction of the wire bundle 30. With this configuration, the wire harness assembly 1 can, for example, allow deformation, displacement, etc. of the wire bundle 30 by the second bundling member 50A, and thus can improve the workability of the attachment work of the wire harness WH.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment and modified example, the case where the rigid member 10A is constituted by the body member 10 constituting the skeleton of the vehicle 100 is illustrated, but the example is not limited thereto. For example, it may be constituted by a metal exterior member that regulates the routing path of the wire bundle 30. Further, in the above-described embodiment and modified example, the case where the slit 20 is provided in the upper wall 11a of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A) is illustrated, but the example is not limited thereto. For example, it may be provided in the side wall 11c located on the vehicle interior space side among the pair of side walls 11c and 11d. In this case, the side wall 11c is an example of the first wall portion.

[0052] In addition, in the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification, the case where the slit 20 is provided to extend along the axial direction X with respect to the outer wall 11 of the body member 10 (rigid member 10A) has been illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the slit 20 may include a first portion extending along the axial direction X and a second portion communicating with the first portion and extending along the width direction Y. In this case, for example, by providing the second portion across the upper wall 11a of the outer wall 11 and the side wall 11c on the vehicle interior space side, the bundling posture maintaining portion 31 of the wire harness 30 can be drawn out from the side wall 11c.

[0053] As described above, the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been illustrated. However, the above-described embodiments and modifications are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Further, each configuration, shape, etc. of the specifications (structure, type, direction, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be appropriately changed and implemented.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 1 Wire harness assembly 5 Fixture 10 Body member 10A Rigid member 11 Outer wall 11a Upper wall (first wall portion) 12 Wiring space portion 20 Slit 21 Narrow portion 22 Wide portion 30 Wire harness 30a Both ends 31 Bundling posture maintaining portion 32 Bundling posture variable portion d Outer diameter d1 Opening width d3 Outer diameter d4 Plate thickness W Electric wire WH Wire Harness X-axis direction

Claims

1. A wire harness having a wire bundle in which a plurality of wires extending along an axial direction are bundled, a rigid member provided with a wiring space portion in which the wire bundle is routed along the axial direction, and a slit provided on an outer wall of the rigid member, extending along the axial direction, and allowing the wire bundle to be inserted into the wiring space portion from the outside. A wire harness assembly comprising the above.

2. The rigid member is constituted by a body member that constitutes a skeleton of a vehicle. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 1.

3. The slit has a narrow portion formed narrower than an outer diameter of the wire bundle. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. An opening width of the narrow portion is formed wider than a sum of an outer diameter of one of the plurality of wires having a maximum outer diameter among the plurality of wires constituting the wire bundle and a plate thickness of a jig for inserting the wire bundle into the wiring space portion through the slit. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 3.

5. The slit has a wide portion that communicates with the narrow portion and is formed wider than the outer diameter of the wire bundle. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 3.

6. The slit is provided on a first wall portion of the outer wall that faces a passenger compartment space of the vehicle. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 2.

7. The wire bundle includes a pair of bundling posture maintaining portions positioned at both ends in the axial direction and bundled to maintain a bundling posture, and a bundling posture variable portion positioned between the pair of bundling posture maintaining portions in the axial direction and having a variable bundling posture. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 1 or 2.

8. The bundling posture variable portion is routed in the wiring space portion of the rigid member. The pair of bundling posture maintaining portions are pulled out to the outside of the rigid member through the slit. The wire harness assembly according to Claim 7.

9. A first step of holding a wire bundle in which a plurality of wires extending along an axial direction are bundled by a jig. A second step of inserting the jig into a slit provided on an outer wall of a rigid member and extending along the axial direction. A third step of inserting the wire bundle into the wiring space portion of the rigid member from the outside while deforming or displacing the wire bundle so as to be narrower than the opening width of the slit by sliding the jig along the slit while holding the wire bundle by the jig; A method for manufacturing a wire harness assembly, comprising:

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