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 comprises: a wire body 10A composed of a conductor 11, an insulator 12 covering the conductor, and a sheath 13 covering the insulator; an information presenting layer 20 disposed on an outer periphery of the sheath of the wire body to present information unrelated to manufacturing or specifications of the electric wire and includes at least either of a design and a pattern, the information being visibly recognized from the outside; and a translucent protective layer 30 covering the information presenting layer.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, a wire body including a conductor; an information presentation layer disposed on the outer periphery of the electric wire body and presenting information not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, the information including at least one of a picture and a design, in a manner visible from the outside; a light-transmitting protective layer covering the information presenting layer; having 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. 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] 1, the electric wire 1A of this embodiment has an electric wire main body 10A including a conductor 11, an information presentation layer 20, and a translucent protective layer 30 provided as an outer layer covering the information presentation layer 20. The information presentation layer 20 is disposed on the outer periphery of the electric wire main body 10A and presents information that is not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire 1A and includes at least one of a picture and a design so that it can be seen from the outside. The translucent protective layer 30 corresponds to the outermost layer of the electric wire 1A and is also called a skin layer.

[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 a sheath 13 covering the insulator 12. An information presentation layer 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the sheath 13, and a light-transmitting protective layer 30 is provided to cover the information presentation layer 20. The information presentation layer 20 is formed, for example, by spirally winding or longitudinally attaching a nonwoven fabric tape. The information presented in the information presentation layer 20 is printed, for example, with an aqueous pigment ink on the nonwoven fabric tape. 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 peeling of the information presentation layer 20 and the function of protecting the information printed on the information presentation layer 20. The interface between the light-transmitting protective layer 30 and the information presentation layer 20 is configured to be a non-adhesive surface.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] The configuration of the electric wire 1A makes it possible to provide an electric wire 1A with a picture or pattern that matches the landscape of a room. Furthermore, the information presentation layer 20 with information such as a pattern can be added later to an existing electric wire, that is, to an electric wire body 10A manufactured in advance to meet the required specifications for the electric wire, thereby enhancing the versatility of the electric wire body 10A. Furthermore, the information presentation layer 20 to be combined with the electric wire body 10A can be freely selected and determined, thereby enhancing the diversity of designs.

[0016] Furthermore, by forming the information presentation layer 20 from tape, it is possible to wrap the tape spirally or vertically, and then provide the translucent protective layer 30 to cover them. This makes it easy to create an information presentation layer 20 that presents information all around while being protected by the translucent protective layer 30. Information (such as a picture or design) to be presented on the tape can be easily printed using a laser printer or the like. Furthermore, since the output target is tape, it is easy to print the same picture or design repeatedly in the extending direction of the tape. In particular, when the tape is vertically applied, the tape width can be increased, allowing for larger designs, and therefore the printing speed can be set faster.

[0017] 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, photographic-like quality. 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 can impair visibility, and allowing for a high level of design flexibility.

[0018] Furthermore, because the tape (information presentation layer 20) bearing information such as pictures and patterns is later wound around the wire main body 10A, there is no need to print information directly on the wire, and no equipment for printing on the entire circumference of the wire is required, making it possible to present information such as pictures and patterns around the entire circumference of the wire 1A. The information presented around the wire 1A is visible through the translucent protective layer 30. In other words, the information presented around the entire circumference of the wire 1A can be made visible without peeling off the translucent protective layer 30. The translucent protective layer 30 also serves the function of preventing peeling off of the underlying tape (information presentation layer 20) and protecting the pictures and patterns printed on the tape. Although the information presentation layer 20 and the translucent protective layer 30 are in close contact, their boundary surface is a non-adhesive surface, allowing the translucent protective layer 30 to be easily peeled off as needed.

[0019] In the electric wire 1A of the first embodiment described above, the electric wire body 10A has the sheath 13 as the outermost layer. However, the present invention can also be applied to an electric wire body 10B having a structure without a sheath, such as the electric wire 1B of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, in this second embodiment of the electric wire 1B, the electric wire main body 10B is composed of a central conductor 11 and an insulator 12 covering the conductor 11, an information presentation layer 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the insulator 12, and a translucent protective layer 30 is provided as an outer layer of the information presentation layer 20.

[0021] In this electric wire 1B as well, by providing an information presenting layer 20 on the insulator 12 of the electric wire body 10B, 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.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electric wire 1C according to the third embodiment. The electric wire 1C of the third embodiment includes a bundle of multiple (three in the illustrated example) core wires 40 each having an electric wire main body 10A, an information presenting layer 20, and a light-transmitting protective layer 30, and the bundle of core wires 40 is surrounded by a jacket 50. The structure of the core wire 40 is similar to that of the electric wire 1A of the first embodiment. The multiple core wires 40 are bundled, for example, in a twisted wire shape.

[0023] In the electric wire 1C having this configuration, by peeling off the jacket 50, the information presenting layer 20 (picture or design) of each core wire 40 (electric wire 1A) arranged inside can be seen from the outside through the translucent protective layer 30.

[0024] 3, the jacket 50 may be made of, for example, the same translucent resin as the translucent protective layer 30, in which case it is not necessary to provide the translucent protective layer 30 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.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire according to the fourth embodiment. In the electric wire 1D of the fourth embodiment, an electric wire body 10D is composed of a bundle of multiple (three in the illustrated example) core wires 42, an information presentation layer 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the electric wire body 10D, and a jacket 50 made of a light-transmitting resin is provided as an outer layer of the information presentation layer 20. Each core wire 42 is composed of a central conductor 11 and an insulator 12 covering the conductor 11. The multiple core wires 42 are bundled together, for example, in a twisted wire form. Note that the information presentation layer 20 may cover only a portion of the bundle of multiple core wires 42 (the electric wire body 10D) in the longitudinal or circumferential direction, for example.

[0026] Although the first to fourth embodiments have been described above with reference to round electric wires, the present invention can also be applied to flat electric wires.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire according to the fifth embodiment. The electric wire 1E of the fifth embodiment is obtained by replacing the round electric wire body 10D of the electric wire 1D of the fourth embodiment with a flat electric wire body 10E, and the electric wire body 10E is surrounded by a jacket 50 made of a light-transmitting resin. The electric wire body 10E has a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) core wires 42 arranged in parallel. Each core wire 42 is composed of a central conductor 11 and an insulator 12 surrounding the central conductor 11. Note that, for example, only a portion of the bundle of the core wires 42 (the electric wire body 10E) in the longitudinal or circumferential direction may be covered. Furthermore, in the flat electric wire body 10E, each core wire 42 may be provided with a light-transmitting protective layer 30, or the jacket 50 may not be light-transmitting. Furthermore, each core wire 42 may not have an insulator 12.

[0028] In the first to fifth embodiments, the light-transmitting protective layer 30, which is a skin layer, 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.

[0029] Furthermore, the light-transmitting protective layer 30 and the information presenting layer 20 are not limited to being a single layer, but may each 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. In this case, the second light-transmitting protective layer serves to protect the information presenting layer from the heat generated when processing the first light-transmitting protective layer, which is the outermost layer (skin layer).

[0030] 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.

[0031] The information presentation layer 20 can be made by extrusion molding of a marble-like resin, instead of using tape. Extrusion molding allows irregular patterns to be created.

[0032] 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 including at least one of a picture and a design that is not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire. For example, information related to the specifications of the electric wire may be printed on the outermost layer of the electric wire body using a marking roll or the like, and a tape with a printed picture or the like may be spirally wrapped around the outermost layer of the electric wire body so that the information related to the specifications of the electric wire can be seen through the gap.

[0033] 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] Electric wire (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E), an electric wire body (10A, 10B, 10D, 10E) including a conductor (11); an information presentation layer (20) arranged on the outer periphery of the electric wire body, which presents information not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, including at least one of a picture and a design, in a manner visible from the outside; a light-transmitting protective layer (30) covering the information presenting layer; having Electric wires (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E).

[0034] According to the electric wire having the configuration [1] above, the information presented by the information presentation layer (20) inside the translucent protective layer (30), 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). Therefore, since the information presented inside (such as a design or pattern) can be visually recognized 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 a room. In particular, the information presentation layer with information such as a design can be added later to an existing electric wire (electric wire body) that has been manufactured in advance, thereby increasing the versatility of the electric wire body to be used. Furthermore, the information presentation layer to be combined with the electric wire body can be freely selected, thereby increasing the variety of designs.

[0035] [2] The wire body (10A) is composed of a conductor (11), an insulator (12) covering the conductor, and a sheath (13) covering the insulator, The information presenting layer (20) is provided on the outer periphery of the sheath (13), and the light-transmitting protective layer (30) is provided to cover the information presenting layer. The electric wire (1A) described in [1] above.

[0036] According to the configuration [2] above, by providing an information presentation layer (20) on top of the sheath (13) of the electric wire body (10A) having the sheath (13) on the outside of the insulator (12), the information inside (such as a picture or design) can be seen through the translucent protective layer.

[0037] [3] The wire body (10B) is composed of a conductor (11) and an insulator (12) covering the conductor, The information presenting layer (20) is provided on the outer periphery of the insulator (12), and the light-transmitting protective layer (30) is provided to cover the information presenting layer. The electric wire (1B) according to [1] above.

[0038] According to the configuration [3] above, by providing the information presentation layer (20) on top of the insulator (12) of the electric wire body, the information inside (such as a picture or design) can be seen through the translucent protective layer.

[0039] [4] A bundle of a plurality of core wires (40) each having the wire body (10A), the information presenting layer (20), and the light-transmitting protective layer (30), and the bundle is surrounded by a jacket (50). The electric wire (1C) according to [1] above.

[0040] According to the configuration [4] above, by peeling off the jacket (50), the information (pictures or designs) of each core wire (40) arranged inside can be seen from the outside through the translucent protective layer.

[0041] [5] An electric wire body (10D, 10E) including a bundle of a plurality of core wires (42) including the conductor (11) and the information presenting layer (20) provided on the outer periphery of the bundle, The wire body is surrounded by a jacket (50). The electric wire (1D, 1E) described in [1] above.

[0042] 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.

[0043] [6] The boundary surface between the information presenting layer (20) and the light-transmitting protective layer (30) is a non-adhesive surface. The electric wire described in [1] above.

[0044] 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.

[0045] [7] The information presenting layer (20) is a nonwoven fabric tape presenting the information, and the information is printed on the nonwoven fabric tape using aqueous pigment ink. The electric wire described in [1] above.

[0046] According to the configuration [7] above, the information presentation layer is made of tape. By spirally wrapping the tape or vertically applying the tape and then providing a translucent protective layer to cover it, an information presentation layer that presents information around the entire circumference while protecting the tape can be easily created. Information (e.g., pictures or patterns) to be presented on the tape can be easily printed using a laser printer or the like. It is also easy to print the same picture or pattern repeatedly along the tape's length. Vertical application of the tape allows for larger designs, enabling faster printing. 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 are resistant to bleeding. Therefore, complex, multicolored, and highly saturated patterns, characters, and designs can be printed on the tape with high resolution, similar to a photograph, resulting in a highly sophisticated design.

[0047] 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. An information presentation layer and a translucent protective layer may be provided on an electric wire body including a braid, tape, or filler. Furthermore, the shape of the electric wire (cable) is not limited to a round shape, but may also be a flat shape or 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 be a rectangular cross section or a stranded wire structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1A, 1B, 1C wire 10A, 10B wire body 11 Conductor 12 Insulators 13 Sheath 20 Information presentation layer 30 Translucent protective layer 40, 42 core wire 50 jacket

Claims

1. An electric wire, a wire body including a conductor; an information presentation layer disposed on the outer periphery of the electric wire body and presenting information not related to the manufacture or specifications of the electric wire, the information including at least one of a picture and a design, in a manner visible from the outside; a light-transmitting protective layer covering the information presenting layer; having Electric wire.

2. The wire body is composed of a conductor, an insulator covering the conductor, and a sheath covering the insulator, The information presenting layer is provided on the outer periphery of the sheath, and the light-transmitting protective layer is provided to cover the information presenting layer. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

3. The wire body is composed of a conductor and an insulator covering the conductor, The information presenting layer is provided on the outer periphery of the insulator, and the light-transmitting protective layer is provided to cover the information presenting layer. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

4. a bundle of a plurality of core wires including the wire body, the information presenting layer, 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 presenting layer provided on an outer periphery of the bundle, The wire body is surrounded by a jacket. The electric wire according to claim 1 .

6. the boundary surface between 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 layer is a nonwoven fabric tape presenting the information, and the information is printed on the nonwoven fabric tape using an aqueous pigment ink; The electric wire according to claim 1 .

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