Band clamp and wire harness

Abstract

To provide a band clamp and a wire harness, which can improve insertion property of a band part into a band insertion port of a locking part.SOLUTION: A band clamp 1 includes a clip part 10, a flange part 20, a locking part 30, and a band part 40. The flange part 20 is provided with a guide face 21 inclined toward the other end side of an attaching direction Z as it is separated from an open end 31a of a band insertion port 31 toward one end 20b side in a width direction Y of the flange part 20. The open end 31a is provided with a pair of taper faces 33 inclined to extend toward both sides of an axial direction X as they approach one end 20b side in the width direction Y of the flange part 20. The locking part 30 protrudes so that one end 31a1 side in the attaching direction Z of the open end 31a is positioned closer to the one end 20b side in the width direction Y of the flange part 20 than the other end 31a2 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As a technology relating to band clamps for conventional wire harnesses, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a band clamp that includes a clip portion that fits into a mounting hole provided on an object to be mounted along the mounting direction, a flange portion that is provided on one end side of the clip portion in the mounting direction and has a larger diameter than the clip portion, a lock portion that is provided on one end side of the flange portion in the mounting direction and has a band insertion opening that penetrates along a width direction that intersects with the mounting direction, and a band portion that protrudes in a strip-like shape from the lock portion and is engaged with the band insertion opening while being wound around a wiring material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-118209 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the band clamp described in Patent Document 1 above has room for further improvement, for example, in terms of improving the ease of inserting the band portion into the band insertion opening of the locking portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a band clamp and a wire harness that can improve the ease of inserting a band portion into a band insertion opening of a locking portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the band clamp of the present invention comprises a clip portion that fits into a mounting hole provided on an object to be mounted along an mounting direction; a flange portion that is provided on one end side of the clip portion in the mounting direction and has a larger diameter than the clip portion; a lock portion that is provided on one end side of the flange portion in the mounting direction and has a band insertion opening that penetrates along a width direction that intersects the mounting direction; and a band portion that protrudes in a strip-like shape from the lock portion and is engaged with the band insertion opening while being wound around a wiring material that extends along an axial direction that intersects the mounting direction and the width direction. The flange portion is provided with a guide surface that is inclined so that it approaches the other end side in the mounting direction as it moves away from the open end of the band insertion opening toward the one end side of the flange portion in the width direction, and the open end is provided with a pair of tapered surfaces that are inclined so that they widen toward both sides in the axial direction as they approach the one end side of the flange portion in the width direction, and the lock portion protrudes so that the one end side of the open end in the mounting direction is positioned closer to the one end side of the flange portion in the width direction than the other end side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the band clamp and wire harness according to the present invention, the flange portion is provided with a guide surface that slopes from the open end of the band insertion opening toward the other end in the installation direction as it moves away from one end of the flange portion in the width direction, and the open end is provided with a pair of tapered surfaces that slope so as to widen toward both sides in the axial direction as they move toward the one end of the flange portion in the width direction, and the locking portion protrudes so that the one end of the open end in the installation direction is positioned closer to the one end of the flange portion in the width direction than the other end. With this configuration, the band clamp and wire harness can guide the tip of the band portion toward the open end of the band insertion opening by, for example, the guide surfaces or the pair of tapered surfaces. As a result, the band clamp and wire harness exhibit the effect of improving the ease with which the band portion can be inserted into the band insertion opening of the locking portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a band clamp applied to a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of a locking portion of a band clamp according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a clamping portion of a band clamp according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following 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 identical. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish between parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0010] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a band clamp 1 applied to a wire harness WH according to an embodiment. The band clamp 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated into the wire harness WH to be routed in a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the wire harness WH is, for example, a composite component made by bundling wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices mounted on the vehicle, and the wiring materials W are connected to the devices using connectors or the like. The wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a conductive wiring material W and a band clamp 1 that supports the wiring material W. The wire harness WH may further include various other components such as grommets, electrical connection boxes, and fixtures.

[0011] In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "mounting direction Z." Here, the axial direction X, width direction Y, and mounting direction Z are approximately perpendicular to one another. The axial direction X typically aligns with the extension direction of the wiring material W or the insertion direction of the wiring material W into the band clamp 1. The width direction Y typically aligns with the width direction of the band clamp 1. The mounting direction Z typically aligns with the mounting direction of the band clamp 1 to the mounting panel 100, the height direction (vertical direction) of the band clamp 1, the thickness direction of the mounting panel 100, etc. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description will be described as directions when the band clamp 1 is assembled to the vehicle.

[0012] The wiring material W is composed of, for example, a metal rod, an electric wire, a bundle of electric wires, etc. A metal rod is a conductive rod-shaped member whose outside is covered with an insulating covering. An electric wire is a conductor (core wire) made of multiple conductive metal wires whose outside is covered with an insulating covering. A bundle of electric wires is a bundle of these electric wires. In the example of Figure 1, the wire harness WH includes one wiring material W, but this is not limited to this and the wiring harness WH may include multiple wiring materials W. The wiring material W extends along the axial direction X.

[0013] The band clamp 1 is fixed to a mounting hole 101 formed in a mounting panel 100 to which it is to be attached. The mounting panel 100 is, for example, a metal plate that constitutes a vehicle body or floor panel, and the mounting hole 101 is a through-hole that penetrates the mounting panel 100 along a mounting direction Z, which is the plate thickness direction. The band clamp 1 is fixed to the mounting hole 101 in a state where it is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the wiring material W, and is used as a member that regulates the wiring path of the wiring material W.

[0014] The band clamp 1 includes, for example, a clip portion 10, a flange portion 20, a locking portion 30, and a band portion 40. In this embodiment, the clip portion 10, flange portion 20, locking portion 30, and band portion 40 are integrally molded from the same resin material (for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene or nylon). The band clamp 1 is arranged in the attachment direction Z, for example, from one end (base end, lower end) side to the other end (tip end, upper end) side, with the band portion 40, locking portion 30, flange portion 20, and clip portion 10 lined up and connected to each other in this order.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the locking portion 30 of the band clamp 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clip portion 10 of the band clamp 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the clip portion 10 is a portion that is fixed to the mounting panel 100. The clip portion 10 is configured to include, for example, a shaft portion 11, a pair of arm portions 12, and a pair of locking claw portions 13. The shaft portion 11 is formed to extend in a columnar shape along the mounting direction Z. The shaft portion 11 is mounted in a state where it penetrates a mounting hole 101 of the mounting panel 100 along the mounting direction Z.

[0016] The pair of arm portions 12 are formed at positions facing each other in the axial direction X with the shaft portion 11 sandwiched therebetween. The pair of arm portions 12 protrude along the axial direction X from the other end (tip) of the shaft portion 11 in the mounting direction Z, and are formed like inclined arms that widen outward in the axial direction X toward one end 10a of the shaft portion 11 in the mounting direction Z. Each of the pair of arm portions 12 is connected to the shaft portion 11 at the other end side in the mounting direction Z, and has a locking claw portion 13 formed on one end side in the mounting direction Z.

[0017] The pair of locking claws 13 are portions that lock onto the periphery of a mounting hole 101 formed in the mounting panel 100. The pair of locking claws 13 are formed in a claw shape on one end side of the pair of arm portions 12 in the mounting direction Z. In this embodiment, the clip portion 10 is formed so that the pair of arm portions 12 are flexible and can be inserted into the mounting hole 101 while bending. The clip portion 10 is fixed to the mounting panel 100 when the pair of arm portions 12 are inserted into the mounting hole 101 while bending, and the pair of locking claws 13 lock onto the periphery of the mounting hole 101.

[0018] The flange portion 20 is provided on one end 10a side of the clip portion 10 in the mounting direction Z, and is formed with a larger diameter than the clip portion 10. The flange portion 20 protrudes in a flange shape (disk shape) from one end 10a of the clip portion 10 toward the outside in the radial direction of the shaft portion 11. The flange portion 20 supports the one end side of the mounting panel 100 in the mounting direction Z, i.e., the surface opposite to the pair of locking claw portions 13 described above. By sandwiching the mounting panel 100 between the flange portion 20 and the pair of locking claw portions 13, movement of the band clamp 1 along the mounting direction Z relative to the mounting panel 100 is restricted.

[0019] The flange portion 20 is also provided with a guide surface 21 (see FIG. 1 ) that guides the band portion 40, which will be described later, toward the open end 31 a of the band insertion opening 31. The guide surface 21 is formed on the one end 20 a side of the flange portion 20 in the mounting direction Z, i.e., on the back surface (underside) of the side facing the band insertion opening 31. The guide surface 21 is inclined toward the other end side in the mounting direction Z as it moves away from the open end 31 a of the band insertion opening 31 toward the one end 20 b of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y. The other end side of the guide surface 21 in the width direction Y is connected (coupled) to the open end 31 a, and the leading end of the band portion 40 can be guided into the band insertion opening 31 by sliding along the guide surface 21.

[0020] The locking portion 30 is provided on one end 20a of the flange portion 20 in the mounting direction Z, and is a portion formed with a band insertion opening 31 through which the band portion 40 is inserted along the width direction Y. The locking portion 30 is configured to include, for example, a locking portion main body 34, the band insertion opening 31, locking teeth 32 (see FIG. 2), and a pair of tapered surfaces 33. The locking portion main body 34 is a portion that protrudes like a wall along the mounting direction Z from the one end 20a of the flange portion 20 in the mounting direction Z. The locking portion main body 34 is formed with the band insertion opening 31 that penetrates the locking portion main body 34 along the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, the band insertion opening 31 is provided, for example, partially in the central portion of the locking portion main body 34 in the axial direction X.

[0021] The locking teeth 32 are portions that are locked with locking grooves (not shown) formed in the band portion 40. The locking teeth 32 are provided on the inner surface of the band insertion opening 31 and protrude along the attachment direction Z. In this embodiment, the band insertion opening 31 is provided with a plurality of locking teeth 32 spaced apart from one another in the width direction Y. The locking unit 30 can lock the tip end of the band portion 40 inserted into the band insertion opening 31 in the width direction Y due to the locking structure between the plurality of locking teeth 32 and the locking grooves of the band portion 40.

[0022] The pair of tapered surfaces 33 are provided at the open end 31a of the band insertion opening 31. The pair of tapered surfaces 33 are provided at both ends of the open end 31a in the axial direction X, and are inclined so as to widen towards both sides in the axial direction X as they move towards one end 20b (see FIG. 1) of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y. The other end sides of the pair of tapered surfaces 33 in the width direction Y are connected (coupled) to the inner surface of the band insertion opening 31, and the tip end of the band portion 40 can be guided into the band insertion opening 31 by sliding along the pair of tapered surfaces 33.

[0023] In this embodiment, the locking portion 30 protrudes so that one end 31a1 of the open end 31a in the mounting direction Z is positioned closer to one end 20b (see FIG. 1 ) of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y than the other end 31a2. The one end 31a1 is the end of the open end 31a opposite the guide surface 21, and the other end 31a2 is the end of the open end 31a closer to the guide surface 21. If the one end 31a1 were recessed so that it was positioned closer to the other end of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y than the other end 31a2, that is, if the one end 31a1 were positioned on an extension of the guide surface 21, there is a risk that the tip of the band portion 40, guided along the guide surface 21, would not be inserted into the band insertion opening 31 and would come off. In this regard, in this embodiment, the one end 31a1 side protrudes so as to be positioned closer to the one end 20b side of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y than the other end 31a2 side, thereby preventing the tip of the band portion 40 from coming off the band insertion opening 31.

[0024] The band portion 40 (see FIG. 1) extends in a strip-like shape from the locking portion 30 and is capable of binding the wiring material W by being locked by the locking portion 30 while being wound around the wiring material W. The other end of the band portion 40 in the mounting direction Z is connected to the locking portion 30, and extends along the mounting direction Z to the opposite side from the locking portion 30. The band portion 40 is formed, for example, so that its cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the thickness direction is substantially rectangular, and it has substantially the same thickness along the mounting direction Z, which is its extension direction. However, a portion of the tip side of the band portion 40, not shown, is formed so that its cross-sectional shape is smaller, and it is formed in a tapered shape toward the tip side.

[0025] The band portion 40 is also flexible. The band portion 40 is wound around the outer circumferential surface (circumferential direction) of the wiring material W, and is inserted into the band insertion opening 31 of the locking portion 30, allowing an excess portion to be pulled out from the band insertion opening 31 in the width direction Y. A continuous series of locking grooves (not shown) are provided on the surface of the band portion 40, and these locking grooves are engaged with the locking teeth 32 (see FIG. 2 ) formed in the band insertion opening 31. In this embodiment, for example, when the band portion 40 is inserted into the band insertion opening 31 in the width direction Y, the locking teeth 32 are disengaged from the locking grooves, allowing the band portion 40 to be inserted. On the other hand, when the band portion 40 is removed from the band insertion opening 31 in the width direction Y, the locking teeth 32 are not disengaged from the locking grooves, preventing the band portion 40 from being removed (loosened).

[0026] As described above, the band clamp 1 and the wire harness WH of this embodiment include the clip portion 10 that fits into the mounting hole 101 provided in the mounting panel 100 (mounting target) along the mounting direction Z, the flange portion 20 that is provided on one end 10a side of the clip portion 10 in the mounting direction Z and has a larger diameter than the clip portion 10, the lock portion 30 that is provided on one end 20a side of the flange portion 20 in the mounting direction Z and has a band insertion opening 31 that penetrates along the width direction Y, and the band portion 30 that protrudes in a strip-like shape from the lock portion 30 and is locked in the band insertion opening 31 in a state where it is wound around the wiring material W that extends along the axial direction X. and a band portion 40 that is inserted into the flange portion 20. The flange portion 20 is provided with a guide surface 21 that is inclined from the open end 31a of the band insertion opening 31 toward the other end in the mounting direction Z as it moves away from the open end 31a of the band insertion opening 31 toward one end 20b of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y, and the open end 31a is provided with a pair of tapered surfaces 33 that are inclined so as to widen toward both sides in the axial direction X as it moves toward the one end 20b of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y, and the lock portion 30 protrudes so that one end 31a1 side of the open end 31a in the mounting direction Z is positioned closer to the one end 20b of the flange portion 20 in the width direction Y than the other end 31a2 side.

[0027] With this configuration, the band clamp 1 and the wire harness WH can guide the tip of the band portion 40 toward the open end 31a of the band insertion opening 31 by, for example, the guide surface 21 or the pair of tapered surfaces 33. Furthermore, because one end 31a1 of the open end 31a protrudes so as to be positioned closer to one end 20b in the width direction Y of the flange portion 20 than the other end 31a2, the tip of the band portion 40 can be prevented from coming off the band insertion opening 31. As a result, the band clamp 1 and the wire harness WH can improve the ease of inserting the band portion 40 into the band insertion opening 31 of the locking portion 30.

[0028] In this embodiment, the clip portion 10 is provided with a pair of arm portions 12 and locking claw portions 13, but the number of arm portions 12 and locking claw portions 13 is not limited to this example, and for example, the clip portion 10 may be provided with three or more arm portions 12 and locking claw portions 13. In this case, the multiple arm portions 12 and locking claw portions 13 are arranged at equal intervals from one another along the circumferential direction of the shaft portion 11.

[0029] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, and the like (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 band clamp 10 Clip part 10a One end 20 Flange 20a One end 20b One end 30 Rock Club 31 Band insertion slot 31a Open end 31a1 One end 31a2 Other end 33 Tapered surface 40 Band 100 Mounting panel (mounting target) 101 Mounting hole W Routing material WH Wire Harness X-axis direction Y width direction Z installation direction

Claims

1. a clip portion that fits into a mounting hole provided in the mounting object along the mounting direction; a flange portion provided on one end side of the clip portion in the attachment direction and having a diameter larger than that of the clip portion; a locking portion provided on one end side of the flange portion in the mounting direction and having a band insertion opening formed therein that penetrates along a width direction intersecting the mounting direction; a band portion that protrudes in a band shape from the lock portion and is wound around a wiring material that extends along an axial direction that intersects the mounting direction and the width direction and is engaged with the band insertion port; The flange portion is provided with a guide surface that is inclined from the open end of the band insertion opening toward one end of the flange portion in the width direction toward the other end in the attachment direction, The open end portion is provided with a pair of tapered surfaces that are inclined so as to widen toward both sides in the axial direction as they approach one end side in the width direction of the flange portion, and the locking portion protrudes so that one end side of the open end in the mounting direction is positioned closer to one end side of the flange portion in the width direction than the other end side. Band clamp.

2. The wiring material, A band clamp for supporting the wiring material, The band clamp is a clip portion that fits into a mounting hole provided in the mounting object along the mounting direction; a flange portion provided on one end side of the clip portion in the attachment direction and having a diameter larger than that of the clip portion; a locking portion provided on one end side of the flange portion in the mounting direction and having a band insertion opening formed therein that penetrates along a width direction intersecting the mounting direction; a band portion that protrudes in a band shape from the lock portion and is wound around the wiring material extending along an axial direction that intersects the mounting direction and the width direction and is engaged with the band insertion port; The flange portion is provided with a guide surface that is inclined from the open end of the band insertion opening toward one end of the flange portion in the width direction toward the other end in the attachment direction, The open end portion is provided with a pair of tapered surfaces that are inclined so as to widen toward both sides in the axial direction as they approach one end side in the width direction of the flange portion, and the locking portion protrudes so that one end side of the open end in the mounting direction is positioned closer to one end side of the flange portion in the width direction than the other end side. Wire harness.

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