Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness that enables proper assembly to a vehicle.SOLUTION: A wire harness WH includes a conductive routing member W, and a protector 1 that is provided in a quadrangular prism shape integrally with the routing member W and holds the periphery of the routing member W. The protector 1 includes a rib 4 extending along a longitudinal direction X of the routing member W on a side surface 2 of the protector 1. The protector 1 is formed in a quadrangular prism shape and has a shape bent to one side surface 2 side of the quadrangular prism together with the routing member W, and the rib 4 is provided on at least one of the side surfaces 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] An exterior member is essential for a wire harness to protect the electric wires from external structures such as steel plates of a vehicle. Conventionally, for example, a wire harness described in Patent Document 1 includes a bundle of electric wires and a molded body integrally provided at a mounting portion that is a part of the axial direction of the bundle of electric wires, and the molded body is made of a thermoplastic resin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-160568 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional wire harnesses can be made smaller and more space-saving because multiple wiring materials such as electric wires are bundled in a molded exterior member. However, because the route of the wiring materials routed in a vehicle is precisely specified, conventional wire harnesses have room for improvement in terms of suppressing deformation of the exterior member and properly regulating the route of the wiring materials.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a wire harness that can be properly assembled to a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material and a molded member that is formed in a columnar shape integral with the wiring material and holds the periphery of the wiring material, and the molded member has a rib on its outer surface that extends along the extension direction of the wiring material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The wire harness according to the present invention has a rib on the outer surface of the molded member that extends in the direction of the wiring material, which prevents deformation of the molded member and allows the routing of the wiring material to be properly regulated, thereby achieving the effect of properly assembling the wire harness to the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a wire harness according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness WH according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness WH shown in FIG. 1 taken along line AA. The wire harness WH of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is intended to be installed in a vehicle or the like. The wire harness WH is, for example, a collection of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices mounted on a vehicle, and the wiring materials W are electrically connected to the devices using connectors or the like. The wire harness WH includes a plurality of conductive wiring materials W and a protector (molded member) 1 integrally provided around the plurality of wiring materials W so as to bundle the plurality of wiring materials W. The wire harness WH may further include various other components such as a corrugated tube, a resin tape, an electrical connection box, and a fixture.

[0011] The wiring material W is composed of, for example, a metal rod, an electric wire, a bundle of electric wires, etc. The metal rod is a rod-shaped member having electrical conductivity. The electric wire is a conductor portion (core wire) made of multiple conductive metal wires. The bundle of electric wires is a bundle of such electric wires. Note that each wiring material W may be covered with an insulating covering portion.

[0012] The protector 1 is provided as an exterior member that regulates the route along which the multiple wiring materials W are routed and protects the wiring materials W. The protector 1 is provided along a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as the extension direction X) in which the multiple wiring materials W extend, and holds the periphery of the multiple wiring materials W so as to bundle the multiple wiring materials W. The protector 1 is formed, for example, from an insulating elastic resin material (e.g., ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)) that has low rigidity and high flexibility, such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The protector 1 is integrally provided around the multiple wiring materials W by molding the elastic resin material, such as injection molding, so as to bundle the multiple wiring materials W. Therefore, the wire harness WH can have flexibility together with the protector 1. The protector 1 collectively covers a portion of the multiple wiring materials W, and the portion of the multiple wiring materials W is buried. In addition, the covering portion that constitutes the wiring material W is typically an insulating covering member that is provided over the entire length of the wiring material W, whereas the protector 1 is a protective member that is provided further outside such a covering member at a necessary location on the wiring material W for protecting the wiring material W, regulating the route, etc.

[0013] In this embodiment, the protector 1 is formed in the shape of a quadrangular prism with a substantially rectangular cross section, whose axial direction is along the extension direction X of the wiring material W. The multiple wiring materials W are arranged inside the protector 1 around the axial center of the quadrangular prism, which is the shape of the protector 1. In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, the axial direction S of the quadrangular prism-shaped protector 1 is also bent in a substantially L-shape along the extension direction X of the multiple wiring materials W bent in a substantially L-shape.

[0014] Furthermore, the protector 1 is configured to have ribs 4 extending along the extension direction X of the wiring material W on the outer surface of the protector 1. In the example of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the axial direction S of the protector 1 is bent toward one side surface (one outer surface) 2 of the square pillar, and ribs 4 are formed on this one side surface 2 and the other side surface (other outer surface) 3 opposite to the one side surface 2. The ribs 4 are formed from one end to the other end of the protector 1 in the axial direction S.

[0015] Here, one side surface 2 refers to the side surface located on the inside when the protector 1 is bent, i.e., the side surface on the side where the angle when the axial direction S is bent is less than 180°. The other side surface 3 refers to the side surface located on the outside when the protector 1 is bent, i.e., the side surface on the side where the angle when the axial direction S is bent is greater than 180°.

[0016] Thus, in this embodiment, the rectangular prism-shaped protector 1 is bent toward one side surface 2 of the rectangular prism with its axial direction aligned with the extension direction X of the wiring material W, and ribs 4 extending along the extension direction X of the wiring material W are formed on this one side surface 2 and the other side surface 3 opposite to the one side surface 2. According to this configuration, the formed ribs 4 suppress deformation of the protector 1 (particularly changes in the bending angle), so that the path of the wiring material W can be properly regulated.

[0017] In this embodiment, the protector 1 has been described as a rectangular prism-shaped as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and the protector may be configured to have a cylindrical shape or another polygonal shape (triangular prism, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, etc.). In this case, the protector 1 has a bent shape together with the wiring material W, and the rib 4 is provided at least on the inside or outside of the bend of the protector 1. The inside of the bend refers to the side where the angle of the axial direction S of the protector 1 when bent is less than 180°. The outside of the bend refers to the side where the angle of the axial direction S of the protector 1 when bent is greater than 180°.

[0018] Next, a modified example will be described. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a wire harness WH1 according to the modified example. In this description, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The wire harness WH1 includes a plurality of electrically conductive wiring materials W and a protector 1A integrally provided around the plurality of wiring materials W so as to bundle the plurality of wiring materials W.

[0019] This protector 1A differs from the above-described protector in that the axial direction S is not bent. That is, the protector 1A is integrally provided around a plurality of wiring materials W so as to bundle the wiring materials W, which extend in a substantially straight line without bending, and the axial direction S extends linearly along the extension direction of the wiring materials W. In this configuration as well, it is necessary to suppress deformation of the protector 1A (especially bending or curvature of the protector 1A) and regulate the path of the wiring material W so that it is routed in a roughly straight line. For this reason, in this modified example, the wire harness WH1 has a rib 4 formed on any side surface (outer surface) 2A of the protector 1A formed in a rectangular prism shape, extending along the extension direction X of the wiring material W.

[0020] In this configuration, the formed ribs 4 of the protector 1A suppress deformation of the protector 1A (especially bending or curving of the protector 1A), thereby enabling proper regulation of the path of the wiring material W. In the example of Fig. 3, the ribs 4 are provided on any one of the four side surfaces of the protector 1A formed in the shape of a square pillar, namely, the side surface 2A, but it goes without saying that the ribs 4 may also be provided on other side surfaces besides the side surface 2A.

[0021] As described above, the wire harness WH, WH1 of this embodiment includes a conductive wiring material W and a protector 1, 1A that is integral with the wiring material W and has a rectangular prism shape to hold the periphery of the wiring material W. The protector 1, 1A includes a rib 4 that extends along the extension direction X of the wiring material W on a side surface 2, 2A of the protector 1, 1A. According to this configuration, the formed rib 4 suppresses deformation of the protector 1, 1A, thereby properly regulating the path of the wiring material W. As a result, the wire harness WH, WH1 can be properly assembled to a predetermined position of the vehicle.

[0022] Furthermore, by forming the protectors 1, 1A of the wire harnesses WH, WH1 by injection molding (molding) rather than extrusion molding, for example, it is possible to directly provide the protectors 1, 1A of various shapes to the wiring material W on a jig plate using a mold during the manufacturing process. This eliminates the need to manually assemble protective members such as protectors, and the wire harnesses WH, WH1 can be manufactured automatically using various manufacturing devices. Therefore, the wire harnesses WH, WH1 have good manufacturing efficiency, and can contribute to the automation of the manufacturing process by performing injection molding (molding) on a jig plate.

[0023] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the protector 1 has a bent shape together with the wiring material W, and the rib 4 is provided at least on the inner side or the outer side of the bend of the protector 1, so that the formed rib 4 suppresses changes in the bending angle of the protector 1 formed in a columnar shape, thereby properly regulating the path of the wiring material W. As a result, the wire harness WH can be properly assembled to a predetermined position on the vehicle.

[0024] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the protector 1 is formed in a rectangular prism shape and has a shape that is bent toward one side surface 2 of the rectangular prism together with the wiring material W, and the rib 4 is provided on at least one side surface 2, so that the formed rib 4 suppresses changes in the bending angle of the protector 1 formed in a rectangular prism shape, thereby properly regulating the path of the wiring material W. As a result, the wire harness WH can be properly assembled to a predetermined position on the vehicle.

[0025] The wire harnesses WH, WH1 according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0026] In the above description, the protectors 1, 1A have been described as being formed in the shape of a rectangular prism, but they may also be formed in the shape of a cylinder or other rectangular prism as long as ribs 4 extending along the extension direction X of the wiring material W are formed on the outer surface of the protector. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1, 1A protector 2 One side (one outer surface) 2A side 3 The other side 4. Ribs W Routing material WH, WH1 wire harness S Axial direction X extension direction

Claims

1. A cable material having conductivity, and a molded member provided integrally with the cable material in a columnar shape to hold the periphery of the cable material. The wire harness is provided with ribs extending along the extending direction of the cable material on the outer surface of the molded member. The molded member has a shape bent together with the cable material, and the wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided at least on the inner side or the outer side of the bend of the molded member.

2. The molded member has a shape bent together with the cable material, and the wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided at least on the inner side or the outer side of the bend of the molded member.

3. The molded member is formed in a prismatic shape and has a shape bent together with the cable material on one outer surface side of the prism, and the wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rib is provided at least on the one outer surface. ​ ​

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