Electric wire

Abstract

To provide an electric wire in which information protected inside can be visually recognized from the outside without peeling an outer layer material, thereby enhancing designability.SOLUTION: An electric wire 1A comprises a wire body 10A including an outer layer body disposed outside a conductor 11 so as to satisfy a specification required for the conductor and the electric wire. The outer layer body is composed of an information presenting tape that constitutes an information presenting layer 20, which presents information unrelated to manufacturing or specifications of the electric wire and includes at least either of a design and a pattern. A translucent protective layer 30 is provided to cover the information presenting tape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric wire. [Background technology]

[0002] Some conventional electric wires have been designed to be easily identifiable by changing the color of the exterior material (insulator or sheath) surrounding the conductor. Also, there are known electric wires in which information related to the specifications and manufacturing of the electric wire is printed using letters, symbols, diagrams, etc. on the outer layer of the electric wire or on the inner layer that is visible after peeling, using a printer, marking roll, etc. (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-303523 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-349025 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there have been few attempts to improve the design of electric wires.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an electric wire that allows information protected on the inside to be visible from the outside without peeling off the outer layer material, thereby improving design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electric wire according to the present invention has the following features. An electric wire, The electric wire has a wire body including a conductor and an outer layer provided on the outside of the conductor to satisfy specifications required for the electric wire, the outer layer body is made of an information presenting tape constituting an information presenting layer presenting information unrelated to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, the information including at least one of a picture and a design, A light-transmitting protective layer is provided to cover the information display tape. Electric wire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, information protected inside can be seen from the outside without peeling off the outer layer material, thereby providing an electric wire with improved design.

[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric wire 1A of this embodiment has an electric wire main body 10A including a conductor 11 and an outer layer (an information presentation layer 20 described later) provided on the outside of the conductor 11 to meet the specifications required of the electric wire 1A, and a translucent protective layer 30 covering the electric wire main body 10A.

[0012] The electric wire main body 10A is composed of a central conductor 11, an insulator 12 covering the outer periphery of the conductor 11, and an information presentation layer 20 as an outer layer covering the insulator 12. The information presentation layer 20 as an outer layer is composed of an information presentation tape that presents information unrelated to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire 1A, including at least one of a picture and a design. The light-transmitting protective layer 30 is provided so as to cover the information presentation tape that constitutes the information presentation layer 20. The light-transmitting protective layer 30 corresponds to the outermost layer and is also called a skin layer or sheath. The light-transmitting protective layer 30 is provided as an exterior covering for the information presentation layer 20. The light-transmitting protective layer 30 is a resin layer that is transparent to visible light and has the function of preventing the information presentation layer 20 from peeling and the function of protecting the information printed on the information presentation layer 20.

[0013] The information presenting tape that constitutes the information presenting layer 20 is made of nonwoven fabric tape. The information presenting layer 20 is formed by spirally winding or vertically attaching this tape, and the information presented in the information presenting layer 20 is displayed by printing it on the nonwoven fabric tape with aqueous pigment ink. In addition, the boundary surface between the light-transmitting protective layer 30 and the information presenting layer 20 is configured to be a non-adhesive surface.

[0014] Conventional printing on electric wires is performed by, for example, bringing a marking roll or printer into contact with the surface of the wire, so printing can only be done on a small part of the wire surface, making it particularly difficult to print widely in the circumferential direction of the wire.It is also difficult to print complex patterns or characters or other designs with photographic-like high resolution.

[0015] In the electric wire 1A of this embodiment, the information presented by the information presentation layer 20 inside can be seen through the translucent protective layer 30 provided as an outer layer. The information presented by the information presentation layer 20 is information that is not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire and includes at least one of a picture and a design (for example, a highly designed picture or design). Therefore, the information presented inside (such as a picture or design) can be seen without peeling off the outer layer (the translucent protective layer 30), and the electric wire 1A can be given a variety of designs by selecting the information presentation layer 20. The design may include text or may consist only of decorative text.

[0016] The configuration of the electric wire 1A makes it possible to provide an electric wire 1A with a picture or pattern that matches the scenery of a room. Furthermore, the information presentation layer 20 with the picture or other information is composed of tape that is placed on the outer periphery of the conductor 11 to meet the specifications required of the electric wire, so that a wide variety of information can be presented all around the electric wire by printing on the tape, thereby giving the electric wire a high level of design.

[0017] In particular, the information (pictures, designs, etc.) to be displayed on the tape can be easily printed using a laser printer, etc. Also, since the output object is tape, it is easy to print the same picture or design repeatedly in the direction of the tape. In particular, when the tape is placed vertically, the width of the tape can be increased, allowing for larger designs, and therefore the printing speed can be set faster.

[0018] Furthermore, using nonwoven fabric tape offers the advantage of using compatible aqueous pigment inks. Specifically, aqueous pigment inks melt easily when heated, penetrate nonwoven fabrics easily, and do not bleed easily. This makes it ideal for printing complex, multicolored, highly saturated patterns, characters, and designs on the tape with high resolution, like a photograph. In other words, the heat and pressure applied during extrusion molding of the translucent protective layer 30 allow the molten ink to penetrate between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric, eliminating the risk of the image stretching and bleeding, which reduces visibility, and allowing for a high level of design flexibility.

[0019] Furthermore, because the configuration uses a tape (information presentation layer 20) on which information such as pictures or patterns is presented, it is not necessary to print information directly on the electric wire, and it is possible to present information such as pictures or patterns all around the electric wire 1A without requiring equipment for printing all around the electric wire. In other words, the information presented all around the electric wire 1A can be made visible without peeling off the translucent protective layer 30. Furthermore, the translucent protective layer 30 serves the functions of preventing peeling off of the underlying tape (information presentation layer 20) and protecting the pictures or patterns printed on the tape. Furthermore, although the information presentation layer 20 and the translucent protective layer 30 are in close contact, the boundary surface between them is a non-adhesive surface, so the translucent protective layer 30 can be easily peeled off as needed.

[0020] In the above-mentioned first embodiment of the electric wire 1A, the electric wire main body 10A has an insulator 12 on the outside of the conductor 11, and an information presentation layer 20 made of information presentation tape is provided on the outside of that. However, the present invention can also be applied to an electric wire main body 10B having a structure without an insulator 12, such as the electric wire 1B of the second embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[0021] 2, in the electric wire 1B of the second embodiment, the electric wire main body 10B is composed of a central conductor 11 and an information presenting layer 20 covering the conductor 11, and a light-transmitting protective layer 30 as the outermost layer is provided on the outer periphery of the information presenting layer 20. In this case, at least the light-transmitting protective layer 30 functions as an insulator. The information presenting layer 20 does not necessarily have to be composed of an insulator.

[0022] In this electric wire 1B as well, the information presenting layer 20 is provided as an outer layer included in the electric wire main body 10B, and therefore, the information (such as a picture or design) inside can be seen through the light-transmitting protective layer 30. In the electric wire 1B of this embodiment as well, the configurations of the information presenting layer 20 and the light-transmitting protective layer 30 are similar to those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire 1C according to the third embodiment. In this third embodiment of the electric wire 1C, the electric wire body 10C is composed of a central conductor 11, an insulator 12 surrounding the outside of the conductor, and an information presentation layer 20 composed of information presentation tape surrounding the insulator 12.

[0024] A translucent protective layer 30 that functions as a sheath is provided on the outside of the information presentation layer 20, and an intermediate protective layer 25 made of a translucent material and much thinner than the translucent protective layer 30 is provided between the translucent protective layer 30 and the information presentation layer 20. By interposing the intermediate protective layer 25 in this way and setting the extrusion temperature of the material of the intermediate protective layer 25 lower than the extrusion temperature of a normal sheath (in this case, the translucent protective layer 30), it is possible to prevent the information on the information presentation layer 20 from bleeding due to the heat and pressure that occurs when the sheath is extruded.

[0025] Although the above first to third embodiments have been described with reference to a single core wire, the present invention can also be applied to an electric wire in which a plurality of core wires are bundled together.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire according to the fourth embodiment. The electric wire 1D of the fourth embodiment includes a bundle of a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) core wires 40, which includes an electric wire body 10D and a light-transmitting protective layer 30. The electric wire body 10D is composed of a central conductor 11, an insulator 12 surrounding the outside of the conductor, and an information presenting layer 20 made of information tape and surrounding the insulator 12. The electric wire 1D is obtained by surrounding the bundle of a plurality of core wires 40 with a jacket 50. The plurality of core wires 40 are bundled, for example, in a twisted wire form.

[0027] In the electric wire 1D having this configuration, by peeling off the jacket 50, the information presenting layer 20 (picture or design) of each core wire 40 disposed inside can be seen from the outside through the light-transmitting protective layer 30.

[0028] 4, the jacket 50 may be made of, for example, the same translucent resin as the translucent protective layer 30, in which case the translucent protective layer 30 does not need to be provided for each core wire 40. By making the jacket 50 of the translucent resin, the information (picture or design) presented on the information presenting layer 20 underneath the jacket 50 can be seen from the outside without peeling off the jacket 50.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire according to the fifth embodiment. The electric wire 1E of the fifth embodiment has an electric wire main body 10E surrounded by a jacket 50 made of a translucent resin. The electric wire main body 10E has a bundle of multiple (three in the illustrated example) core wires 42 surrounded by an information presenting layer 20 made of information presenting tape. Each core wire 42 is composed of a central conductor 11 and an insulator 12 surrounding the central conductor 11. The multiple core wires 42 are bundled, for example, in a twisted wire form. Note that, as long as the specifications of the electric wire main body 10E are satisfied, the information presenting layer 20 may cover only a portion of the bundle of multiple core wires 42 in the longitudinal direction, for example.

[0030] Although the first to fifth embodiments have been described above with reference to round electric wires, the present invention can also be applied to flat electric wires.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire according to the sixth embodiment. The electric wire 1F of the sixth embodiment is obtained by replacing the round electric wire body 10E of the electric wire 1E of the fifth embodiment with a flat electric wire body 10F, and the electric wire body 10F is surrounded by a jacket 50 made of a translucent resin. The electric wire body 10F is obtained by surrounding a bundle of multiple (three in the illustrated example) parallel-arranged core wires 42 with an information presentation layer 20 made of an information presentation tape. Each core wire 42 is composed of a central conductor 11 and an insulator 12 surrounding the central conductor 11. Note that, as long as the specifications of the electric wire body 10F are satisfied, the information presentation layer 20 may cover only a portion of the bundle of multiple core wires 42 in the longitudinal direction (of the bundle of multiple core wires 42). Furthermore, in the flat electric wire body 10F, each core wire 42 may be provided with a translucent protective layer 30, and the jacket 50 may not be translucent. Furthermore, each core wire 42 may not have an insulator 12.

[0032] In the first to sixth embodiments, the light-transmitting protective layer 30 is only required to have light-transmitting properties that allow the information presenting layer 20 to be visible, and is not limited to being colorless and transparent, and may be colored.

[0033] Furthermore, the light-transmitting protective layer 30 and the information presenting layer 20 are not limited to being a single layer, but may be configured by stacking multiple layers. For example, the layers may be stacked in the following order from the outside to the inside: a first light-transmitting protective layer, a second light-transmitting protective layer, and an information presenting layer made of tape (configuration similar to that of the third embodiment). In this case, the second light-transmitting protective layer serves to protect the information presenting layer from heat generated when processing the first light-transmitting protective layer, which is the outermost layer.

[0034] Also, for example, when creating a two-layer information presentation layer 20 by wrapping tape, by adopting a design in which the outer tape is wrapped spirally with a gap, the information on the inner tape can be seen through the gap.

[0035] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the information presentation layer 20 may present information related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire in addition to information that is not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire and includes at least one of a picture and a design.

[0036] The present invention is also applicable to cases where the electric wire body includes a braid.

[0037] Here, the features of the electric wire according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [7]. [1] An electric wire, The electric wire has a conductor (11) and an outer layer (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) including an outer layer provided on the outside of the conductor to satisfy specifications required for the electric wire, The outer layer body is made of an information presenting tape constituting an information presenting layer (20) that presents information unrelated to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, including at least one of a picture and a design, A light-transmitting protective layer (30) is provided on the outer layer of the information tape so as to cover it. Electric wires (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F).

[0038] According to the electric wire having the configuration [1] above, the information presented by the information presentation layer (20) inside it, i.e., information unrelated to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire and including at least one of a design and a pattern (e.g., a highly designed design or pattern), can be visually recognized through the translucent protective layer (30) provided as an outer layer. Therefore, since the information presented inside (such as a design or pattern) can be viewed without peeling off the outer layer (translucent protective layer), the electric wire can be given a variety of designs by selecting the information presentation layer. For example, it is possible to provide an electric wire with a design or pattern that matches the landscape of the room. In particular, the information presentation layer (20) with information such as a design or pattern is composed of tape that is placed around the conductor to meet the specifications required of the electric wire. Therefore, by printing on the tape, a wide variety of information can be presented around the entire circumference of the electric wire. This allows the electric wire to have a high level of design. Furthermore, by wrapping the tape spirally or vertically and then providing a light-transmitting protective layer to cover them, it is possible to easily create an information presentation layer that presents information all around while protecting the tape.

[0039] [2] The electric wire body (10A, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) is composed of the conductor (11), an insulator (12) surrounding the conductor, and an information presenting layer (20) made of the information presenting tape surrounding the insulator. The electric wire (1A, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) described in [1] above.

[0040] According to the configuration [2] above, a translucent protective layer (30) is provided on the information presentation layer (20), which is the outer layer of the electric wire main body (10A, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F), so that the information inside (such as a picture or design) can be seen through the translucent protective layer.

[0041] [3] The wire body (10B) is composed of the conductor (11) and the information presenting layer (20) covering the conductor. The electric wire (1B) according to [1] above.

[0042] According to the configuration [3] above, by providing the information presenting layer (20) on the outer periphery of the conductor (11) of the electric wire body, the information inside (such as a picture or design) can be seen through the translucent protective layer.

[0043] [4] A bundle of a plurality of core wires (40) each having the wire body (10D) and the light-transmitting protective layer (30), the bundle being surrounded by a jacket (50). The electric wire (1D) according to [1] above.

[0044] According to the configuration [4] above, by peeling off the jacket (50), the information (pictures or designs) of each core wire (42) arranged inside can be seen from the outside through the translucent protective layer.

[0045] [5] An electric wire body (10E, 10F) including a bundle of a plurality of core wires (42) including the conductor (11) and the information tape as the outer layer provided on the outside of the bundle to satisfy the specifications required for the electric wire, The wire body is surrounded by a jacket (50). The electric wire (1E, 1F) described in [1] above.

[0046] According to the configuration [5] above, by peeling off the jacket (50), the information (design or pattern) of the information tape underneath the jacket can be seen from the outside. Also, if the jacket is made of a translucent resin, the information (design or pattern) of the information tape underneath the jacket can be seen from the outside without peeling off the jacket.

[0047] [6] The boundary surface between the information-presenting tape constituting the information-presenting layer (20) and the light-transmitting protective layer (30) is a non-adhesive surface. The electric wire described in [1] above.

[0048] According to the above configuration [6], the information presenting layer and the light-transmitting protective layer are not adhered to each other, so that the light-transmitting protective layer can be easily peeled off.

[0049] [7] The information-presenting tape is made of nonwoven fabric, and the information is printed with aqueous pigment ink. The electric wire described in [1] above.

[0050] According to the above-mentioned configuration [7], by using a nonwoven fabric tape as the information display tape, the advantage of using a compatible aqueous pigment ink is obtained. That is, aqueous pigment ink has the properties of being easily melted by heat, easily soaking into the nonwoven fabric, and not easily bleeding. Therefore, it is suitable for printing complex patterns, characters, designs, etc., with high saturation and multicolor in high resolution like a photograph on the tape, resulting in a high level of design.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified, improved, and so forth as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, numerical values, configuration, number, location, and so forth of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they achieve the present invention. The type of electric wire to which the present invention is applied is not limited. For example, the configuration of the electric wire body is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may include braiding, tape, or interposition. Furthermore, the shape of the electric wire (cable) is not limited to a round shape but may also be flat or may have a multi-core structure. In such cases, the structure of the insulator and sheath may be a solid extrusion structure or a tube extrusion structure. Furthermore, the conductor structure may have a rectangular cross section or a stranded wire structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F electric wire 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F Wire body 11 Conductor 12 Insulators 13 Sheath 20 Information presentation layer 25 Intermediate protective layer 30 Translucent protective layer 40, 42 core wire 50 jacket

Claims

1. An electric wire, The electric wire has a wire body including a conductor and an outer layer provided on the outside of the conductor to satisfy specifications required for the electric wire, the outer layer body is made of an information presenting tape constituting an information presenting layer presenting information unrelated to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, the information including at least one of a picture and a design, A light-transmitting protective layer is provided to cover the information display tape. Electric wire.

2. The wire body is composed of the conductor, an insulator surrounding the conductor, and an information presenting layer made of the information presenting tape surrounding the insulator. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

3. The wire body is composed of the conductor and an information presenting layer covering the conductor. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

4. a bundle of a plurality of core wires each including the electric wire body and the light-transmitting protective layer, the bundle being surrounded by a jacket; The electric wire according to claim 1 .

5. an electric wire body including a bundle of a plurality of core wires including the conductor, and the information tape as the outer layer provided on the outside of the bundle to satisfy specifications required for the electric wire, The wire body is surrounded by a jacket. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

6. the boundary surface between the information presenting tape constituting the information presenting layer and the light-transmitting protective layer is a non-adhesive surface; The electric wire according to claim 1 .

7. The information-presenting tape is made of nonwoven fabric, and the information is printed with aqueous pigment ink. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

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