Branch part protector and wire harness with branch part protector

Abstract

To provide a branch part protector capable of reliably protecting a branch part while being compatible with various outer diameters of a trunk line and a branch line in the branch part, and a wire harness with a branch part protector in which the branch part protector is mounted.SOLUTION: A branch part protector 10 protects a branch part 503 where a branch line 502 is branched from a trunk line 501 in a wire harness 500 and comprises: a winding part 11 which is wound around the trunk line 501 on both sides in the trunk line 501 in a length direction L of the branch part 503; a hook-and-loop fastener 14 which fixes a wound state of the winding part 11 corresponding to an outer diameter of the trunk line 501; a branch line protection part 12 which bridges and couples the winding parts 11 disposed while interposing a predetermined interval in the length direction L along a portion of an outer periphery of the trunk line 501; and a cover part 13 which covers a branch location 504 where the branch line 502 is branched from the trunk line 501 between the winding parts 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a branch portion protector that protects a branch portion where a branch wire branches off from a trunk wire in a wire harness, for example, and a wire harness with the branch portion protector attached thereto. [Background technology]

[0002] Automobiles and other vehicles are equipped with wire harnesses, which are bundles of covered electric wires that electrically connect various electrical components. Such wire harnesses are protected by exterior members to prevent interference with other installed components.

[0003] However, since the wire harness is routed along a complex routing path to various locations in a vehicle, a branch section where branch wires branch off from a main trunk line may be provided. Such a branch section is protected by a protector such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0004] The protector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed in the shape of a sheet of a predetermined shape that is wrapped around a trunk wire to bring it into close contact with the trunk wire. Specifically, the protector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a main body that is wrapped around the trunk wire and two extension pieces that protrude in opposite directions from the main body. The main body is wrapped around and attached to the trunk wire side of the branch portion, and the extension pieces are wrapped around and attached to both sides of the branch wire in the extension direction of the trunk wire, so that the extension pieces are arranged to sandwich the branch wire in the extension direction, and the branch portion can be protected with a single sheet-like protector.

[0005] Recently, with the increase in the number of electrical components installed in vehicles, the outer diameters of the main and branch wires at the branching section have become more diverse. In such cases, the protector disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot accommodate the diversifying outer diameters of the main and branch wires, for example, when the outer diameter of the branch wire is large, a gap may occur between the extension piece and the branch wire, and the branching section may not be protected appropriately. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-011813 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a branch section protector that can reliably protect the branch section while accommodating various outer diameters of the main wire and branch wires at the branch section, and a wire harness with the branch section protector attached thereto. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a branch section protector for protecting a branch section where a branch wire branches off from a main wire in a wire harness having a main wire extending in a predetermined direction and a branch wire branching off from the main wire, characterized in that the device is provided with a winding section that winds around the main wire on both sides of the branch section in the predetermined direction, a fixing section that fixes the winding state of the winding section according to the outer diameter of the main wire, a connecting section that extends along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the main wire and connects the winding sections that are arranged at a predetermined interval in the predetermined direction, and a covering section that covers at least a portion of the branch section where the branch wire branches off from the main wire between the winding sections.

[0009] The predetermined direction is the direction in which the trunk line extends, in other words, the longitudinal direction of the trunk line. The wire harness includes not only covered electric wires and bundles of covered electric wires, but also communication cables such as optical fiber cables, bundles of communication cables, bundles of covered electric wires and communication cables, and the like.

[0010] The fixing portion may be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the main surface of the wound portion, or a binding band provided on the wound portion. It may also be a so-called snap button provided on the main surface of the wound portion and configured with a recess and a protrusion that can fit together. There is no particular limit to the number of recesses and protrusions. For example, there may be a plurality of recesses and only one protrusion, or there may be a plurality of protrusions and only one recess. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of both recesses and protrusions.

[0011] The branch point refers to a portion where the branch line protrudes from the main line at a branching point where the branch line branches off from the main line, in other words, the base of the branch line. The branch point includes not only the base of the branch line, but also a predetermined range including the base of at least one of the main line or the branch line.

[0012] The covering portion may be provided, for example, on the winding portion or on the connecting portion. Furthermore, it may be configured separately from the winding portion and the connecting portion. Furthermore, the covering portion may cover not only a portion of the branching portion, but also the entire branching portion. Furthermore, the number of covering portions is not limited, and may be the same as the number of winding portions, or multiple covering portions may be provided on one winding portion.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably protect the branching portion while accommodating various outer diameters of the main wire and branch wires at the branching portion. In more detail, the branch portion protector protects a branch portion in a wire harness where a branch wire branches off from a trunk wire extending in a predetermined direction, and includes a winding portion that winds the trunk wire on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction of the trunk wire, and a fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the winding portion according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire, so that the winding condition of the winding portion can be freely adjusted according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire and then fixed with the fixing portion. In other words, trunk wires of various outer diameters can be protected by winding the winding portion on both sides of the predetermined direction of the branch portion, and it is also possible to prevent the winding condition of the winding portion around the trunk wire, which has been adjusted to a desired winding condition, from being inadvertently released.

[0014] Furthermore, since the connecting portion connects the winding portions by bridging them together, the winding portions can be integrated together.Furthermore, compared to when the winding portions arranged on both sides of the branch portion in a predetermined direction are each formed as separate bodies, the workability of protecting the branch portion with the branch portion protector can be improved.

[0015] When the length of the connection at the connection part corresponds to the outer diameter of the branch wire, the spacing in a predetermined direction between the winding parts connected by the connection part corresponds to the outer diameter of the branch wire. Specifically, the spacing between the winding parts increases as the outer diameter of the branch wire increases, and the spacing decreases as the outer diameter of the branch wire decreases. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the branch point from being exposed.

[0016] Furthermore, because the connecting portion follows at least a portion of the outer periphery of the trunk wire, the connecting portion can protect at least a portion of the outer periphery of the trunk wire between the winding portions. In other words, at the branch portion, the winding portions on both sides of the branch portion and the connecting portion can protect a portion of the branch portion. However, the branch point where the branch wire branches off from the trunk wire cannot be protected by the winding portion and the connecting portion. This can result in a gap between the winding portion and the branch wire, leaving a portion of the branch point exposed. In contrast, because the covering portion covers at least a portion of the branch point, the branch point can be surrounded and protected by the winding portion, the connecting portion, and the covering portion that covers the branch point. Therefore, the branch point protector can reliably protect the branch point while accommodating various outer diameters of the trunk wire and branch wire at the branch point.

[0017] As an aspect of the present invention, the cover portion may have flexibility that allows it to deform in accordance with the branch wires branching from the branch point. Being able to deform to conform to the branch wire as described above refers to, for example, a case in which a cross-shaped notch is made in the covering portion, and the branch wire is inserted into the notch, causing the covering portion at the notch to deform to conform to the outer diameter of the branch wire.

[0018] According to this invention, the cover portion deforms to follow the outer diameter of the branch wire, so that the cover portion can cover the branch point even if the outer diameter of the branch wire becomes thicker. Therefore, the branch point can be more reliably protected by the branch point protector.

[0019] As another aspect of the present invention, the cover may be provided with a cover-side fixing portion that follows the branch wire and fixes the deformed state. The cover fixing portion may be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the main surface of the cover, or a binding band provided on the winding portion. It may also be a so-called snap button provided on the main surface of the cover and composed of a recess and a protrusion that can fit together. There is no particular limit to the number of recesses and protrusions. For example, there may be a plurality of recesses and only one protrusion, or there may be a plurality of protrusions and only one recess. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of both recesses and protrusions.

[0020] According to this invention, when the branch point is covered with the covering part, the deformed state of the covering part that has deformed to follow the outer diameter of the branch wire can be maintained by the covering part side fixing part. In other words, it is possible to prevent the protection of the branch point by the covering part from being inadvertently lost, and it is possible to more reliably protect the branch point.

[0021] As another aspect of the present invention, the cover may be provided with a deformation assisting means for assisting the cover to deform to follow the branch wire. The deformation assisting means includes, for example, a slit or a crease provided in the cover portion.

[0022] This invention improves the deformability of the cover, allowing the cover to more easily deform to follow the branch line. This improves the workability of covering the branch point with the cover. In other words, it improves the workability of protecting the branch point with the branch point protector.

[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, a branch wire winding section is provided for winding around the branch wire, and the branch wire winding section extends from at least one of the winding section and the connecting section, and a branch wire winding section side fixing section is provided for fixing the winding state of the branch wire winding section according to the outer diameter of the branch wire.

[0024] According to this invention, the branch wire winding portion that is wound around the branch wire extends from at least one of the winding portion and the connecting portion, so that the branch wire can be protected from the branch point to a predetermined range by the branch wire winding portion of the branch portion protector attached to the branch portion. Furthermore, since the branch wire winding portion side fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the branch wire winding portion according to the outer diameter of the branch wire is provided, it is possible to prevent the winding state of the branch wire winding portion that has been adjusted to a desired winding state according to branch wires of various outer diameters from being unintentionally released.

[0025] As another aspect of the present invention, the branch wire winding portion may be provided with a branch wire winding portion deformation assisting means for assisting the branch wire winding portion in deformation to follow the branch wire. The branch wire winding portion deformation assisting means includes, for example, a slit or a crease provided in the branch wire winding portion. According to this invention, the branch wire winding portion can be more easily deformed to follow the large diameter branch wire, thereby improving the workability of protecting the branch portion with the branch portion protector.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the winding portion, the covering portion, and the branch wire winding portion may be formed of an elastic material. According to this invention, at least one of the winding section, the covering section, and the branch wire winding section, which are made of an elastic material, can be deformed according to the outer diameter of the main wire and the outer diameter of the branch wire simply by stretching or contracting, thereby making it easier to protect the branch section.

[0027] In another aspect of the present invention, the winding portion may include a winding main body portion that is wound around a portion of the main wire in the circumferential direction, and an extending piece portion that extends from one winding end so as to be overlapped with the other winding end in the circumferential direction of the winding main body portion, and the fixing portion may include a one-side engaging portion provided at the one winding end, and a other-side engaging portion provided at the overlapping point of the extending piece portion with the other winding end.

[0028] According to this invention, by winding the extending piece around the winding main body, the one-side engaging portion and the other-side engaging portion can be engaged. In other words, it is possible to prevent the winding state of the extending piece around the winding main body, which has been adjusted to the desired winding state according to the trunk wires of various outer diameters, from being inadvertently released. Furthermore, because the winding end of the winding main body and the winding end of the extending piece are configured to overlap, exposure of the trunk wire from the winding main body and the extending piece can be prevented when the extending piece is wound around the winding main body. Therefore, the branch section can be reliably protected with a simple configuration.

[0029] In another aspect of the present invention, the winding portion has a length such that one winding end and the other winding end overlap radially when wound around the entire circumference of the main wire, and the fixing portion may include a one-side engaging portion provided at the one winding end of the winding portion wound around the entire circumference of the main wire, and a other-side engaging portion provided at the other winding end so as to be engageable with the one-side engaging portion.

[0030] According to this invention, by winding the winding portion around the trunk wire, the one-side engaging portion and the other-side engaging portion can be engaged. This also prevents the winding state of the extension piece around the winding body portion, which has been adjusted to the desired winding state according to branch wires of various outer diameters, from being inadvertently released. Furthermore, since the winding portion has a length such that one winding end and the other winding end overlap in the radial direction, exposure of the trunk wire from the winding portion can be prevented when the winding portion is wound around the trunk wire. Therefore, the branch portion can be reliably protected with a simple configuration.

[0031] In another aspect of the present invention, the cover portion may be a movable cover portion that is movable relative to the winding portion so as to be able to approach the branching point of the trunk line. The movable covering parts may be of any configuration or number as long as they are movable relative to the winding parts so as to be able to approach the branching point. For example, the number of movable covering parts may be the same as the number of winding parts, or multiple movable covering parts may be provided on one winding part.

[0032] According to this invention, the branch point can be covered simply by moving the movable cover relative to the winding part while the winding part is wound around the trunk wire, so that the branch point can be easily protected. For example, if the movable cover is movable in a predetermined direction of the trunk wire relative to the winding part, the branch point can be covered according to the outer diameter of the branch wire by adjusting the distance between the movable cover and the winding part.

[0033] As another aspect of the present invention, the movable covering portion may be configured to be movable in the predetermined direction relative to the winding portion. With this invention, the branch point can be covered simply by moving the movable covering part in a predetermined direction relative to the winding part while the winding part is wound around the main wire, so that the branch point can be protected more easily regardless of the outer diameter of the branch wire.

[0034] As another aspect of the present invention, the movable covering portion may be configured to be movable in the circumferential direction of the main wire relative to the winding portion. With this invention, with the winding portion wound around the main wire, the branching point can be covered simply by moving the movable covering portion in the circumferential direction of the main wire relative to the winding portion, making it easier to protect the branching point regardless of the outer diameter of the branch wire.

[0035] In another aspect of the present invention, the winding portion may have a through-hole that penetrates a portion of the circumferential direction, the through-hole being provided over the entire length of the winding portion in the specified direction, and the movable covering portion may be configured to be movable circumferentially so as to block the through-hole.

[0036] According to this invention, the trunk line can be inserted through the through-hole. That is, the branch section protector can be easily attached to the branch section of the trunk line. Furthermore, with the trunk line inserted through the through-hole, the branch section can be covered simply by moving the movable cover section in the circumferential direction so as to block the through-hole, and a cylindrical body can be formed that surrounds the trunk line. Therefore, the branch section can be protected more easily and reliably.

[0037] The present invention also provides a branch portion protector for protecting a branch portion at which a branch wire branches off from a main wire in a wire harness having a main wire extending in a predetermined direction and a branch wire branching off from the main wire, the branch portion protector including, on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction of the main wire, a winding portion that winds around the main wire, a fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the winding portion in accordance with the outer diameter of the main wire, a connecting portion that follows at least a part of the outer periphery of the main wire and spans and connects the winding portions that are arranged at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction, and a spacing adjustment portion that adjusts the spacing between the winding portions in accordance with the diameter of the base end of the branch wire.

[0038] According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably protect the branching portion while accommodating various outer diameters of the main wire and branch wires at the branching portion. In more detail, the branch portion protector protects a branch portion in a wire harness where a branch wire branches off from a trunk wire extending in a predetermined direction, and includes a winding portion that winds the trunk wire on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction of the trunk wire, and a fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the winding portion according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire, so that the winding condition of the winding portion can be freely adjusted according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire and then fixed with the fixing portion. In other words, trunk wires of various outer diameters can be protected by winding the winding portion on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction, and it is also possible to prevent the winding condition of the winding portion that has been adjusted to a desired winding condition from being inadvertently released.

[0039] Furthermore, since the connecting portion connects the winding portions by bridging them together, the winding portions can be integrated together.Furthermore, compared to when the winding portions arranged on both sides of the branch portion in a predetermined direction are each formed as separate bodies, the workability of protecting the branch portion with the branch portion protector can be improved.

[0040] When the length of the connection at the connection part corresponds to the outer diameter of the branch wire, the spacing in a predetermined direction between the winding parts connected by the connection part corresponds to the outer diameter of the branch wire. Specifically, the spacing between the winding parts increases as the outer diameter of the branch wire increases, and the spacing decreases as the outer diameter of the branch wire decreases. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the branch point from being exposed.

[0041] Furthermore, because the connecting portion follows at least a portion of the outer periphery of the trunk wire, the connecting portion can protect at least a portion of the outer periphery of the trunk wire between the winding portions. In other words, at the branch portion, the winding portions on both sides of the branch portion and the connecting portion can protect a portion of the branch portion. However, the branch point where the branch wire branches off from the trunk wire cannot be protected by the winding portion and the connecting portion. This can result in a gap between the winding portion and the branch wire, exposing a portion of the branch point. In response to this, the spacing between the winding portions can be adjusted using the spacing adjustment portion, so the spacing between the winding portions can be adjusted so that the branch point is not exposed. In other words, the spacing between the winding portions can be adjusted to accommodate branch wires with various outer diameters, ensuring reliable protection of the branch point.

[0042] As another aspect of the present invention, the distance adjusting portion may be configured by a bellows-like expandable portion formed on the connecting portion. According to this invention, the spacing between the winding parts can be adjusted simply by expanding or contracting the bellows-shaped expansion part, which makes it easier to adjust the spacing between the winding parts and allows the winding parts to be positioned at desired positions to accommodate branch wires with various outer diameters.

[0043] As another aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion may be provided with a biasing member that biases the wound portions in a direction in which they approach each other. The biasing member is not particularly limited as long as it exerts a restoring force when an applied external force is removed, such as a rubber string, etc. However, since it is provided in a location close to a wire harness made of conductive copper wires, it is preferable that the biasing member be an insulating member.

[0044] According to this invention, the spacing between the winding portions can be adjusted more easily, and the branch portion can be reliably protected. Specifically, one of the winding portions is wound around one side of the branch wire of the trunk wire, and then an external force is applied to move the other winding portion away from the first winding portion. Then, the other winding portion is wound around the other side of the branch wire of the trunk wire, and the applied external force is removed. As a result, the biasing force of the biasing member causes the other winding portion to move toward the first winding portion. At this time, because a branch wire is disposed between the winding portions, the biasing force of the biasing member can bring the winding portion into close contact with the branch wire. Furthermore, because the biasing force continues to act on the winding portion, the branch wire can restrict movement of the winding portion in a predetermined direction, preventing the winding portion from unintentionally moving from its desired position. This makes it easier to adjust the spacing between the winding portions and reliably protect the branch portion.

[0045] In another aspect of the present invention, the winding portion includes a winding main body portion that winds around a portion of the circumferential direction of the main wire, and an extending piece portion that extends from one winding end so as to overlap with the other circumferential winding end of the winding main body portion, the fixing portion includes a one-side engaging portion provided at the one winding end, and an other-side engaging portion provided at the overlapping point of the extending piece portion with the other winding end, and the spacing adjustment portion may be configured to move the extending piece portion and the fixing portion along the specified direction relative to the winding main body portion.

[0046] According to this invention, by winding the extending piece portion around the winding main body portion, the one-side engaging portion and the other-side engaging portion can be engaged. In other words, the winding state of the extending piece portion around the winding main body portion, which has been adjusted to the desired winding state, can be prevented from being inadvertently released. Furthermore, because the winding end of the winding main body portion and the winding end of the extending piece portion are configured to overlap, exposure of the trunk wire from the winding main body portion and the extending piece portion can be prevented when the extending piece portion is wound around the winding main body portion. Furthermore, because the spacing adjustment portion has a movable structure that moves the extending piece portion and the fixed portion in a predetermined direction relative to the winding main body portion, the spacing between the extending piece portion and the fixed portion can be adjusted to prevent the branch portion from being exposed.

[0047] The present invention is also characterized in that it is a wire harness equipped with the branch portion protector described above. This allows the winding state of the winding portion to be properly fixed according to the main wires and branch wires having various outer diameters, and the wire harness can be obtained in which the branch portions are properly protected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0048] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a branch section protector that can reliably protect the branch section while accommodating various outer diameters of the main wire and branch wires at the branch section, and a wire harness with a branch section protector attached thereto. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a manner in which a branch portion protector according to a fifth embodiment is attached to a wire harness. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a bifurcation portion protector according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to an eighth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a bifurcation portion protector according to an eighth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a wire harness with a branch portion protector according to a ninth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a development view of a bifurcation portion protector according to a ninth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing a method for configuring a bifurcation section protector according to a ninth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (First embodiment) Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the wire harness 1 with a branch section protector, Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the wire harness 1 with a branch section protector, and Fig. 3 shows an explanatory diagram of the wire harness 1 with a branch section protector. In Fig. 2, the hook surface 141 and the loop surface 142 are schematically illustrated by multiple points, and the branch point 504 and the main line protected portion 505 are schematically illustrated by hatching. The branch point 504 and the main line protected portion 505 are similarly illustrated in Fig. 3 and the subsequent corresponding figures.

[0051] Fig. 3 will be described in detail. Fig. 3(a) shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the central portion in the width direction W and in the longitudinal direction L of the wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector, Fig. 3(b) shows a schematic side view of the wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector, Fig. 3(c) shows a schematic side view of the wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector in the case where a smaller diameter main wire 501 is used, Fig. 3(d) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the covering portion 13 in a state where a branch wire 502 is inserted into the second slit 133, and Fig. 3(e) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the covering portion 13 in a state where a larger diameter branch wire 502 is inserted into the second slit 133.

[0052] Here, the direction along the extension direction of the trunk line 501 of the wire harness 500 is defined as the longitudinal direction L, and the right rear side in FIG. 1 is defined as one side La of the longitudinal direction L, and the left front side is defined as the other side Lb of the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, among directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, the direction connecting the right front side and the left rear side is defined as the width direction W, and the up-down direction is defined as the height direction H. The right front side of the width direction W in FIG. 1 is defined as the right side Wr, and the left rear side is defined as the left side Wl. The upper side of the height direction H is defined as the upper side Hu, and the lower side is defined as the lower side Hd. The same applies hereinafter to FIGS. 2 to 21.

[0053] The wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch portion protector 10 attached to the wire harness 500 to protect a branch portion 503 in the wire harness 500.

[0054] 1 and 2, the wire harness 500 is a bundle of insulated electric wires for electrically connecting electrical components mounted on a vehicle, and has a trunk line 501 extending in a longitudinal direction L and branch lines 502 branching off from the trunk line 501 in a height direction H. Here, a portion where the branch line 502 branches off from the trunk line 501 is referred to as a branching section 503, and a predetermined range at the base of the branch line 502 in the branching section 503 is referred to as a branching point 504 (see FIG. 2).

[0055] Specifically, the branch point 504 is a predetermined range including the base end, which is the root portion of the branch wire 502 at the branching portion 503, and a predetermined range on both sides of the root portion of the branch wire 502 in the longitudinal direction L on the upper side Hu of the trunk line 501. Furthermore, in main wire 501, a range of a predetermined length on both sides of branch wire 502 in longitudinal direction L, that is, a portion wound by winding unit 11 described later, is set as main wire protected portion 505 (see FIG. 2).

[0056] The branch section protector 10 that protects such a branch section 503 is a member that forms a long cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction L, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is integrally composed of two winding sections 11 that are wound around the main line 501, a branch line protection section 12 that spans and connects the winding sections 11, and a cover section 13 that covers the above-mentioned branch point 504 between the winding sections 11.

[0057] The winding portion 11 is composed of a winding main body portion 111 that is wound circumferentially around the main line protected portion 505 of the main line 501, an extension piece portion 112 that is wrapped around the winding main body portion 111, and a hook-and-loop fastener 14 provided on the winding main body portion 111 and the extension piece portion 112.

[0058] The winding main body 111 is a member with a substantially semicircular cross section that opens on the upper side Hu, and has a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction L. The bending radius of the inner peripheral surface of the arc-shaped winding main body 111 is larger than the outer diameter of the main wire 501, and is formed so as to cover approximately half of the circumference of the lower side Hd of the main wire 501 in the circumferential direction. The outer peripheral surface of the winding main body 111 forms a hook surface 141 on which a large number of fine hook-shaped hooks 141a are erected over the entire surface. The hook surface 141 forms a hook and loop fastener 14 together with a loop surface 142 of the extension piece 112, which will be described later.

[0059] The extending piece 112 is a flexible sheet extending a predetermined length from the end of the left side Wl of the winding main body 111. Specifically, when the extending piece 112 is wound around the winding main body 111, the leading end of the extending piece 112 in the extending direction extends to a length that radially overlaps the end of the right side Wr of the winding main body 111. The extending piece 112 is formed to have a length in the longitudinal direction L that is approximately equal to that of the winding main body 111. When the extending piece 112 is wound around the winding main body 111, the surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the winding main body 111 forms a loop surface 142 on which a large number of fine circular loops 142a are erected. As described above, the loop surface 142, together with the hook surface 141, forms the hook and loop fastener 14. Two winding sections 11 configured in this manner are arranged in series at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction L. The two winding sections 11 arranged in series are connected by a branch wire protection section 12.

[0060] The branch line protection portion 12 is composed of a connecting portion 121 and a covering portion 13 extending from the connecting portion 121. The connecting portion 121 has substantially the same shape as the winding main body portion 111, except for the length in the longitudinal direction L. That is, like the winding main body portion 111, the connecting portion 121 is a member having a substantially semicircular cross section with an open upper side Hu, and the bending radius of the inner peripheral surface is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the main wire 501, and the connecting portion 121 is formed to cover approximately half of the circumference of the main wire 501. The outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 121 forms a hook surface 141 on which a large number of fine hook-shaped hooks 141a are erected over the entire surface. The hook surface 141 of the connecting portion 121 also forms a hook-and-loop fastener 14 together with a loop surface 142 of the cover portion 13, which will be described later. The connecting portion 121 configured in this manner is integral with the winding main body portion 111, that is, formed as a single component. Therefore, the connecting portion 121 and the two winding main body portions 111 form a substantially semicircular cross-sectional member that is long in the longitudinal direction L and has one upper side Hu that is open.

[0061] The covering portion 13 that covers the branch point 504 is in the form of a flexible sheet that extends from the end of the left side Wl of the connecting portion 121 by approximately the same extension length as the extending piece portion 112. When the covering portion 13 is wrapped around the connecting portion 121, the surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the connecting portion 121 forms a loop surface 142 with a large number of fine circular loops 142a standing upright all over the surface. As described above, the loop surface 142 of the covering portion 13 also forms the hook and loop fastener 14 together with the hook surface 141 of the connecting portion 121.

[0062] Cover portion 13 is provided with slits 131 for inserting branch wire 502 while covering branch point 504. Slit 131 is composed of a first slit 132 and a second slit 133.

[0063] The first slit 132 is a cut in the center of the longitudinal direction L of the cover portion 13, spanning the entire length in the extending direction of the cover portion 13, that is, the direction connecting the base end and the tip end of the cover portion 13 (see FIG. 2). The second slits 133 are configured with a plurality of slits extending in a direction perpendicular to the first slits 132, that is, in the longitudinal direction L.

[0064] More specifically, the second slits 133 are composed of eight slits provided in the cover portion 13. The eight slits are provided at predetermined intervals in the extension direction of the cover portion 13, and are formed so that the length in the longitudinal direction L gradually increases from the tip and base ends toward the center in the extension direction.

[0065] The second slits 133, which are made up of eight such slits, are provided slightly closer to the base end in the extending direction of the cover part 13. A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10 configured as above to the wire harness 500 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

[0066] First, with the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 and the central portion of the connecting portion 121 of the branch portion protector 10 aligned in the longitudinal direction L, the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121 with the extending piece portion 112 and the covering portion 13 open are placed along the semi-circumferential surface of the lower side Hd of the wire harness 500, i.e., the lower half surface (see FIG. 2). In this state, the position of the branch point 504 provided on the semi-circumferential surface of the upper side Hu of the trunk line 501, i.e., the upper half surface, in the longitudinal direction L is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the central portion of the connecting portion 121 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0067] Next, the winding portion 11 is attached to the main wire protected portion 505 of the wire harness 500. Note that, since the above-mentioned two winding portions 11 are attached to the main wire protected portion 505 in the same manner, only the winding portion 11 on one side will be described below, and the description of the attachment operation of the winding portion 11 on the other side will be omitted.

[0068] The degree of winding of the winding portion 11 is adjusted according to the outer diameter of the main wire 501. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c), the end of the extending piece portion 112 that has been wound around the winding main body portion 111 is overlapped with the winding main body portion 111 according to the outer diameter of the main wire 501, and the overlap length is adjusted according to the outer diameter of the main wire 501.

[0069] At this time, the degree of winding of the winding portion 11 is adjusted to match the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501, and the tip of the extending piece portion 112 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the winding main body portion 111, and the hook 141a of the hook surface 141 and the loop 142a of the loop surface 142 are engaged with each other. This fixes the winding state of the extending piece portion 112 around the winding main body portion 111, and also mounts the winding portion 11, which forms a tubular body surrounding the trunk wire protected portion 505, in the wire harness 500. That is, the branch portion protector 10 is attached to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500.

[0070] Then, with the branch portion protector 10 attached to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 in this manner, the cover portion 13 is wrapped around the connecting portion 121 . Here, as described above, branch point 504 is located in the center of connecting portion 121 in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, branch wire 502 is located on the winding path of cover portion 13 around connecting portion 121. However, because cover portion 13 is provided with first slit 132, branch wire 502 can be inserted into first slit 132.

[0071] In this way, covering part 13 is wound around connecting part 121 while branch wire 502 is wedged into first slit 132. Note that covering part 13 is also wound around connecting part 121 so that the end portion thereof overlaps connecting part 121 according to the outer diameter of main wire 501, and the overlap length is adjusted according to the outer diameter of main wire 501, after which hook 141a of hook surface 141 and loop 142a of loop surface 142 are engaged with each other. This fixes the state in which covering part 13 is wound around connecting part 121.

[0072] Note that the branch wire 502 inserted into the first slit 132 moves relatively toward the base end side in the first slit 132 of the covering portion 13 by wrapping the covering portion 13 around the connecting portion 121. The base end side of the covering portion 13 is provided with the second slit 133, which is composed of multiple slits as described above. Therefore, when the covering portion 13 is wrapped around the connecting portion 121, the branch wire 502 deforms so that each of the portions divided by the multiple slits that make up the second slit 133 of the covering portion 13 is bent upward Hu and protrudes (see FIGS. 3(a) and 3(d)). The bent portions of the covering portion 13 lean against the branch wire 502 due to elastic force, and the branch point 504 is covered by the covering portion 13.

[0073] Through the above procedure, the winding main body 111 and the extending piece 112 wound around the winding main body 111 can form a cylindrical body surrounding both outer portions of the main wire 501 in the longitudinal direction L than the branch point 504, i.e., the main wire protected portion 505. Furthermore, the connecting portion 121 and the covering portion 13 wound around the connecting portion 121 can form a cylindrical body surrounding the branch point 504 of the wire harness 500, and the branch wire 502 can be led out to the upper side Hu from the portion divided by the multiple slits that constitute the second slits 133 in the covering portion 13. Therefore, since the branch portion 503 and the main wire protected portion 505 are surrounded by the branch portion protector 10, the wire harness 1 with branch portion protector can be configured in which the wire harness 500 including the branch portion 503 is protected from various external factors.

[0074] The branch section protector 10 configured as described above and worn as described above protects a branch section 503 at which the branch wire 502 branches off from the trunk wire 501 in a wire harness 500 having the trunk wire 501 extending in the longitudinal direction L and the branch wire 502 branching off from the trunk wire 501. The branch section protector 10 is provided with a winding section 11 that winds around the trunk wire 501 on both sides of the branch section 503 in the longitudinal direction L of the trunk wire 501, and a hook-and-loop fastener 14 that fixes the winding state of the winding section 11 in accordance with the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501. The branch section protector 10 is further provided with a branch wire protector 12 that extends along part of the outer periphery of the trunk wire 501 and connects the winding sections 11 that are arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction L, and a cover section 13 that covers a branch point 504 at which the branch wire 502 branches off from the trunk wire 501, between the winding sections 11.

[0075] This allows the branching portion 503 to be reliably protected while accommodating various outer diameters of the trunk line 501 and the branching line 502 at the branching portion 503 . More specifically, the branch portion protector 10 protects the branch portion 503 in the wire harness 500 where the branch wire 502 branches off from the trunk wire 501 extending in the longitudinal direction L. The branch portion protector 10 includes a winding portion 11 that winds the trunk wire 501 on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L of the trunk wire 501, and a hook-and-loop fastener 14 that fixes the winding state of the winding portion 11 in accordance with the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501. This allows the winding condition of the winding portion 11 to be freely adjusted in accordance with the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501 and then fixed with the hook-and-loop fastener 14. That is, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c), trunk wires 501 having various outer diameters can be protected by winding the winding portion 11 on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L, and it is also possible to prevent the winding state of the winding portion 11, which has been adjusted to a desired winding condition, from being inadvertently released.

[0076] Furthermore, because the branch wire protecting portion 12 spans and connects the winding portions 11, it is possible to integrate the winding portions 11. Furthermore, compared to a case where the winding portions 11 arranged on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L are each configured as separate bodies, the workability of protecting the branch portion 503 with the branch portion protector 10 can be improved.

[0077] Furthermore, because the branch wire protection section 12 having the connecting section 121 covers approximately half of the lower side Hd of the outer periphery of the trunk wire 501, the connecting section 121 can protect approximately half of the lower side Hd of the outer periphery of the trunk wire 501 between the winding sections 11. That is, at the branch section 503, the winding sections 11 on both sides of the branch section 503 and the connecting section 121 can protect approximately half of the lower side Hd of the outer periphery of the branch section 503. However, the winding sections 11 and the connecting section 121 cannot protect the branch point 504 where the branch wire 502 branches off from the trunk wire 501. As a result, a gap may occur between the winding sections 11 and the branch wire 502, resulting in a portion of the branch point 504 being exposed. In contrast, since the covering portion 13 covers the branching point 504, the main effect is that the branching point 503 can be surrounded and protected by the winding portion 11, the connecting portion 121, and the covering portion 13 covering the branching point 504.

[0078] Furthermore, since the wire harness 1 with branch section protector is equipped with the above-mentioned branch section protector 10 on the wire harness 500, the winding state of the winding section 11 is appropriately fixed and then wound according to the main wires 501 and branch wires 502 having various outer diameters, thereby achieving a second effect of obtaining a wire harness 500 in which the branch section 503 is appropriately protected.

[0079] Furthermore, the covering portion 13 has flexibility that allows it to deform in accordance with the branch wire 502 branching from the branch point 504, and therefore the covering portion 13 deforms in accordance with the outer diameter of the branch wire 502, so that even if the outer diameter of the branch wire 502 becomes thicker, the covering portion 13 can cover the branch point 504 (see FIG. 3(e)). Therefore, a third effect can be achieved in that the branch point 503 can be more reliably protected by the branch point protector 10.

[0080] Furthermore, covering portion 13 is provided with hook-and-loop fasteners 14 that fix the deformed state of covering portion 13 in accordance with branch wire 502. As a result, when covering portion 13 covers branch point 504, the deformed state of covering portion 13 that has deformed in accordance with the outer diameter of branch wire 502 can be maintained by hook-and-loop fasteners 14. In other words, it is possible to prevent the state in which covering portion 13a protects branch point 504 from being inadvertently released, and a fourth effect can be achieved in which branch point 503 can be more reliably protected.

[0081] Furthermore, since the covering portion 13 is provided with the slits 131 that assist the deformation of the covering portion 13 to follow the branch wire 502, the deformability of the covering portion 13 can be improved. Therefore, the covering portion 13 can be more easily deformed to follow the branch wire 502. This improves the workability of covering the branch point 504 with the covering portion 13. In other words, a fifth effect can be achieved in which the workability of protecting the branch point 503 with the branch point protector 10 can be improved.

[0082] Furthermore, winding main body 111 and extending piece 112 constituting winding part 11 have lengths such that the winding end of winding main body 111 and the winding end of extending piece 112 overlap in the radial direction when wound around the entire circumference of main wire 501. Hook and loop fastener 14 is provided on winding main body 111 of winding part 11 wound around the entire circumference of main wire 501 and includes hook surface 141 having hook 141a, and loop surface 142 having loop 142a and provided on extending piece 112 so as to be engageable with hook 141a.

[0083] As a result, by winding the winding portion 11 around the main wire 501, the hook surface 141 having the hook 141a and the loop surface 142 having the loop 142a can be engaged with each other. That is, it is possible to prevent the winding state of the extension piece 112 around the winding main body 111, which has been adjusted to a desired winding state according to the main wires 501 having various outer diameters, from being inadvertently released. Furthermore, the winding main body 111 and the extension piece 112 constituting the winding portion 11 have lengths such that one winding end and the other winding end overlap in the radial direction, so that when the winding portion 11 is wound around the main wire 501, the main wire 501 can be prevented from being exposed from the winding portion 11. Therefore, a sixth effect can be achieved in which the branch portion 503 can be reliably protected with a simple configuration.

[0084] As described above, a hook and loop fastener 14 consisting of a hook surface 141 and a loop surface 142 is provided as a structure for fixing the wound state of the winding main body portion 111 around the extension piece portion 112 and the wound state of the covering portion 13 around the connecting portion 121.

[0085] Therefore, by simply winding the extending piece portion 112 and the covering portion 13 around the outer circumferential surfaces of the winding main body portion 111 and the connecting portion 121, the respective wound states can be fixed, and the extending piece portion 112 and the connecting portion 121 can be easily peeled off from the wound state. This provides a seventh effect that, for example, even if it is desired to readjust the degree of winding of the extending piece portion 112 and the covering portion 13 that have already been wound, the degree of winding can be easily changed by peeling the extending piece portion 112 and the covering portion 13 off the winding main body portion 111 and the connecting portion 121 and winding them again.

[0086] Furthermore, the winding portion 11 and the covering portion 13 can be wound and fixed around the trunk line 501 and the branching point 504 without using adhesive fasteners such as glue or tape. Therefore, when the branching portion protector 10 is removed from the wire harness 500, for example, during dismantling of a vehicle, no adhesive remains on the surface of the wire harness 500. Therefore, an eighth effect can be achieved in which the reusability of the wire harness 500 can be improved and the branching portion protector 10 itself can be made recyclable.

[0087] In the above description, the hook fastener 14 has the hook surfaces 141 on the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121, and the loop surfaces 142 on the extending piece 112 and the cover portion 13. However, for example, the loop surfaces 142 may be provided on the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121, and the hook surfaces 141 may be provided on the extending piece 112 and the cover portion 13.

[0088] Furthermore, although hook and loop fastener 14 is configured with hook surface 141 and loop surface 142 that can engage with each other, the configuration is not limited to this as long as it is a so-called hook and loop fastener. For example, both hook surface 141 and loop surface 142 may be formed on one of the inner circumferential surfaces of winding main body portion 111 and connecting portion 121, and one of the outer circumferential surfaces of extension piece portion 112 and covering portion 13.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the winding main body portion 111 and the connecting portion 121 are integrally formed, i.e., constituted as a single part, but for example, the winding main body portion 111 and the connecting portion 121 having similar cross-sectional shapes may be assembled together.

[0090] Furthermore, the inner peripheral surfaces of the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121 that come into contact with the trunk wire 501 may be provided with a structure such as spikes or ribs that function as anti-slip between the trunk wire 501 and the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121. This can suppress relative movement between the branch portion protector 10 and the wire harness 500, thereby suppressing inadvertent movement of the branch portion protector 10 in a state in which the branch point 504 is protected by the covering portion 13. The spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the covering portion 13 and the extending piece portion 112, for example.

[0091] (Second embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1a and a branch portion protector 10a according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same components as those described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0092] Here, FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1a, and FIG. 5 shows an explanatory view of the branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1a. 5 in detail, FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the cover portion 13a relative to the main wire 501, FIG. 5(c) is a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1a with a branch portion protector in a state where the branch wire 502 is inserted into the notch 136 of the cover portion 13a, and FIG. 5(d) is a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1a with a branch portion protector in a state where the large-diameter branch wire 502 is inserted through the notch 136 of the cover portion 13a.

[0093] The wire harness 1a with branch section protector shown in Figures 4 and 5 is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10a that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects the branch section 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with branch section protector that is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10.

[0094] The branch section protector 10a is a member that forms a long cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction L, and includes two winding sections 11 that are wound around the main line 501, a branch line protector 12a that spans and connects the winding sections 11, and a cover section 13a that covers the branch point 504 between the winding sections 11.

[0095] The branch line protection portion 12a is composed of a connecting portion 121 and a cover portion 13a extending from the connecting portion 121. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 121 is formed to have a shorter length in the longitudinal direction L than in the first embodiment described above.

[0096] The cover portion 13a extends from the right side Wr of the connecting portion 121. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5(a), and Fig. 5(c), the cover portion 13a extends in an arc shape from a side Hd slightly below the end of the upper side Hu on the right side Wr of the connecting portion 121 so as to follow the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion 121. The cover portion 13a has a width in the longitudinal direction L that is approximately equal to that of the connecting portion 121.

[0097] Such a cover portion 13a is composed of a bellows-shaped portion 134 and a tip portion 135 extending from the bellows-shaped portion 134. The bellows-shaped portion 134 is an expandable bellows structure provided at a base portion of the cover portion 13a extending from the connecting portion 121 with a predetermined length in the radial direction (see FIGS. 5(a) and 5(c)).

[0098] The tip portion 135 is a member formed integrally with the bellows-shaped portion 134, protruding toward the upper side Hu and having a generally arcuate shape in a side view, and has a notch 136. The notch 136 is a notch formed in a predetermined shape in the center portion of the cover portion 13a in the longitudinal direction L in a plan view.

[0099] Specifically, the notch 136 is formed as an approximately trapezoidal space at the tip end of the cover portion 13a, with two edges spaced a predetermined distance apart in the longitudinal direction L and inclined to approach each other as they move from the tip end to the base end, and an edge connecting the two edges in the longitudinal direction L (see Figure 5(c)).

[0100] In the cover 13a configured in this manner, by expanding and contracting the bellows-shaped portion 134, the tip portion 135 having the notch 136 can move freely in the circumferential direction relative to the connecting portion 121 (see arrow Xa in FIG. 4).

[0101] Furthermore, in the covering portion 13a configured in this manner, the inner surface of the tip portion 135 is a loop surface 142 on which a large number of loops 142a that can engage with the hooks 141a of the connecting portion 121 are erected, and together with the hook surface 141 of the connecting portion 121, they form the hook-and-loop fastener 14.

[0102] The branch section protector 10a configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the branch section 503 of the wire harness 500, thereby surrounding the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1a with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors. A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10a to the wire harness 500 will be briefly described below.

[0103] First, to attach the branch portion protector 10a to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500, the winding portion 11 is wound around the trunk line protected portion 505 in the same manner as when attaching the above-mentioned branch portion protector 10 to the wire harness 500. Note that the method for attaching the winding portion 11 of the branch portion protector 10a to the wire harness 500 is the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0104] In this manner, with the branch portion protector 10 a attached to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 , the tip portion 135 is wound around the connecting portion 121 . Specifically, the bellows-shaped portion 134 of the cover portion 13a is stretched, whereby the tip portion 135 can be moved from the right side Wr to the left side Wl along the circumferential direction of the connecting portion 121 (see arrow Xa in FIG. 5).

[0105] Here, branch wire 502 is arranged on the winding path of tip portion 135 around connecting portion 121. However, because tip portion 135 has notch 136 as described above, branch wire 502 can be inserted into notch 136.

[0106] In this way, covering portion 13a is wound around connecting portion 121 while branch wire 502 is wedged into notch 136. Note that the end of covering portion 13a that has been wound around connecting portion 121 is overlapped with connecting portion 121 according to the outer diameter of main wire 501, and the overlapping length is adjusted according to the outer diameter of main wire 501, and then hook 141a of hook surface 141 and loop 142a of loop surface 142 are engaged with each other. This fixes the state in which covering portion 13a is wound around connecting portion 121.

[0107] By following the above procedure, the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505 are surrounded by the branch section protector 10a, thereby forming a wire harness 1a with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500 including the branch section 503 is protected from various external factors.

[0108] Furthermore, the wire harness 1a with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10a configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effect, second, fourth, seventh and eighth effects of the first embodiment.

[0109] Specifically, the winding portion 11 includes a winding main body portion 111 that is wound around a portion of the main wire 501 in the circumferential direction, and an extension piece portion 112 that extends from an end portion on a left side Wl in the circumferential direction of the winding main body portion 111 so as to be overlapped with an end portion on a right side Wr of the winding main body portion 111. The hook and loop fastener 14 is provided on the winding main body portion 111 and includes a hook surface 141 having a hook 141a, and a loop surface 142 having a loop 142a that is provided on the extension piece portion 112 at a location where the extension piece portion 112 overlaps with the end portion of the winding main body portion 111.

[0110] As a result, by winding the extending piece portion 112 around the winding main body portion 111, the hook surface 141 having the hook 141a and the loop surface 142 having the loop 142a can be engaged with each other. That is, it is possible to prevent the winding state of the extending piece portion 112 around the winding main body portion 111, which has been adjusted to a desired winding state according to the trunk wires 501 of various outer diameters, from being inadvertently released. Furthermore, since the winding end of the winding main body portion 111 and the winding end of the extending piece portion 112 are configured to overlap with each other, it is possible to prevent the trunk wire 501 from being exposed from the winding main body portion 111 and the extending piece portion 112 when the extending piece portion 112 is wound around the winding main body portion 111 that is wound around the trunk wire 501. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the first effect of the second embodiment, that is, to reliably protect the branch portion 503 with a simple configuration.

[0111] Furthermore, the tip portion 135 of the covering portion 13a is configured to be movable relative to the winding portion 11 so as to be able to approach the branching portion 504 of the trunk line 501. This makes it possible to cover the branching portion 504 simply by moving the tip portion 135 relative to the winding portion 11, thereby achieving the second effect of the second embodiment, that is, to easily protect the branching portion 503.

[0112] Furthermore, tip portion 135 of covering portion 13a is configured to be movable in the circumferential direction of main wire 501 relative to winding portion 11. This allows branch point 504 to be covered simply by moving tip portion 135 in the circumferential direction of main wire 501 relative to winding portion 11, thereby achieving the third effect of the second embodiment, that is, branch point 503 can be more easily protected regardless of the outer diameter of branch wire 502.

[0113] Furthermore, the cover portion 13a is provided with a notch 136. Therefore, as shown in Figures 5(c) and 5(d), it is possible to accommodate various outer diameters of the branch wires 502. Specifically, since notch 136 has two edges that are inclined so as to approach each other as they move from the distal end side to the proximal end side of cover portion 13a as described above, branch wire 502 and the above-mentioned edges come into contact with each other when cover portion 13a is wound around connecting portion 121. Therefore, as shown in Figures 5(c) and 5(d), whether the outer diameter of branch wire 502 is small or large, cover portion 13a can be wound around connecting portion 121 up to the portion where the outer peripheral surface of branch wire 502 and the above-mentioned edges come into contact with each other, and the fourth effect of the second embodiment, that is, branch point 504 can be reliably covered, can be achieved.

[0114] In this embodiment, hook-and-loop fastener 14 is used as a component for following branch wire 502 of covering portion 13a to fix the deformed state, but it may also be, for example, a so-called snap button in which a recess and a protrusion that can fit together are provided on the main surface of covering portion 13a or connecting portion 121. There is no particular limit to the number of the recesses and protrusions, and for example, there may be a plurality of recesses and only one protrusion, or there may be a plurality of protrusions and only one recess. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of both recesses and protrusions.

[0115] Furthermore, the cover portion 13a is configured so that the tip portion 135 can move in the circumferential direction relative to the connecting portion 121 as a result of the bellows-shaped portion 134 expanding and contracting. However, for example, the cover portion 13a may be configured to slide in the circumferential direction relative to the connecting portion 121.

[0116] Furthermore, similar to the branch section protector 10, the inner peripheral surfaces of the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121, which come into contact with the trunk cable 501, may be provided with a structure such as spikes or ribs that function as anti-slip between the trunk cable 501 and the winding main body 111 and the connecting portion 121. This can achieve the same effect as described above.

[0117] (Third embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1b and a branch portion protector 10b according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, Fig. 6(a) shows a schematic perspective view of the wire harness with branch portion protector 1b, Fig. 6(b) shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the wire harness with branch portion protector 1b before the covering portion 13b is slid relative to the connecting portion 121b, and Fig. 6(c) shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the wire harness with branch portion protector 1b after the covering portion 13b is slid relative to the connecting portion 121b. Fig. 6(b) and Fig. 6(c) are cross-sectional views taken along the line AA in Fig. 6(a). Fig. 6(a) illustrates the winding portion 11b on one side La with the extending piece 112b wound around the winding main body 111b, and the winding portion 11b on the other side Lb with the extending piece 112b before being wound around the winding main body 111b.

[0118] The wire harness 1b with branch section protector shown in Figure 6 is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10b that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects the branch section 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with branch section protector that is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10.

[0119] The branch section protector 10b is a member that forms a long cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction L, and is integrally composed of two winding sections 11b that are wound around the main line 501, a branch line protector 12b that spans and connects the winding sections 11b, and a cover section 13b that covers the branch point 504 between the winding sections 11b.

[0120] The winding portion 11b is made up of a winding main body portion 111b that is wound around the main wire protected portion 505 of the main wire 501 in the circumferential direction, and an extending piece portion 112b that is wound around the winding main body portion 111b. The winding main body 111b is formed to be thicker than the winding main body 111 of the branch portion protector 10, and is a member having a slide hole 113 formed inside the wall thickness and opening on the upper side Hu. The winding main body 111b is formed to have a substantially C-shaped cross section, with a circumferential length slightly longer than that of the winding main body 111, which has a substantially semicircular cross section protruding toward the lower side Hd. Here, the opening on the upper side Hu of the winding main body 111b is referred to as an opening 114. The winding main body 111b is made of a material that can be bent in a direction to widen or narrow the opening width of the opening 114.

[0121] The slide hole 113 is a space within the thickness of the winding main body portion 111b, which has a substantially C-shaped cross section and extends along the longitudinal direction L (see FIG. 6(b)). A locking portion (not shown) for locking the extending piece portion 112b (described later) is formed inside the slide hole 113.

[0122] The extending piece 112b is a slider that is movable along the slide hole 113, i.e., in the circumferential direction, and extends in a generally arc-like shape in side view from the inside of the right side Wr of the slide hole 113. The extending piece 112b is formed to have a length in the longitudinal direction L that is approximately one size shorter than the winding main body 111b, and is formed to have a bending radius that is approximately equal to the bending radius of the slide hole 113.

[0123] Further, the extending piece 112b, which is slid to close the opening 114, is configured so as to be insertable into the end of the slide hole 113 on the left side Wl of the winding main body 111b. A locked portion (not shown) that can be locked with the locking portion inside the slide hole 113 is formed on the main surface of the extending piece 112b.

[0124] Such an extension piece portion 112b is configured so that it can be slid out from the end on the right side Wr of the slide hole 113 toward the end on the left side Wl (see arrow Xb in Figure 6 and Figure 6(b)).

[0125] Specifically, as described above, the extending piece 112b, which is formed with the same diameter as the slide hole 113, is configured to be slidable in the circumferential direction along the slide hole 113. Furthermore, by sliding the extending piece 112b extending from the right side Wr of the slide hole 113 in the circumferential direction and inserting it from the left side Wl of the slide hole 113, the extending piece 112b can bridge between the right side Wr and the left side Wl of the slide hole 113 and close the opening 114.

[0126] In this way, the circumferential position of the extending piece 112b can be fixed with respect to the winding main body 111b by engaging the locked portion of the extending piece 112b that bridges the right side Wr and the left side Wl of the slide hole 113 and closes the opening 114 with the locking portion provided inside the slide hole 113. In other words, the winding state of the winding part 11b, which is made up of the winding main body 111b and the extending piece 112b, with respect to the main wire protected part 505, can be fixed.

[0127] The branch line protection portion 12b is composed of a connecting portion 121b and a covering portion 13b extending from the connecting portion 121b. The connecting portion 121b has substantially the same shape as the winding main body portion 111b, except that the connecting portion 121b has a different length in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the connecting portion 121b is a hollow member having a substantially C-shaped cross section, with a slide hole 113 provided inside the wall and an opening 114 on the upper side Hu. Note that the connecting portion 121b configured in this manner is integral with the winding main body portion 111b, that is, it is configured as a single component. Therefore, the connecting portion 121b and the two winding main bodies 111b form a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional member that is long in the longitudinal direction L and has an opening on the upper side Hu.

[0128] The cover portion 13b has substantially the same shape as the extending piece portion 112b, except that a notch 136 similar to that of the second embodiment is provided in the center portion in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the cover portion 13b is a slider that is movable along the slide hole 113 of the connecting portion 121b, that is, in the circumferential direction, and extends from the right side Wr of the slide hole 113 in a substantially arc-like shape in side view, with a bending radius substantially equal to the bending radius of the connecting portion 121b.

[0129] The cover portion 13b, like the extension piece portion 112b, is configured so that the cover portion 13b extending from the right side Wr can be slid circumferentially and inserted into the left side Wl of the slide hole 113, thereby bridging the right side Wr and the left side Wl of the slide hole 113 and blocking the opening 114.

[0130] The branch section protector 10b configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the branch section 503 of the wire harness 500, thereby surrounding the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1b with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors. A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10b to the wire harness 500 will be briefly described below.

[0131] First, the winding portion 11b is attached to the wire harness 500. Since the above-mentioned two winding portions 11b are attached to the wire harness 500 in the same manner, only the winding portion 11b on one side will be described below, and the description of the attachment operation of the winding portion 11b on the other side will be omitted.

[0132] First, with the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 and the central portion of the connecting portion 121b in the branch portion protector 10b aligned in the longitudinal direction L, the winding main body portion 111b and the connecting portion 121b with the extension piece portion 112b and the cover portion 13b open are placed along the lower half surface of the lower side Hd of the wire harness 500.

[0133] At this time, winding main body 111b and connecting portion 121b are bent, and trunk wire 501 including branch portion 503 is inserted through opening 114 in a state where opening 114 is widened. As a result, branch wire 502 is arranged in opening 114, and branch point 504 is arranged in the center portion in the longitudinal direction L of connecting portion 121b.

[0134] In this state, the extending piece 112b is slid in the circumferential direction relative to the winding main body 111b, that is, on the outside of the main wire 501. Then, the extending piece 112b is pulled out from the end of the right side Wr of the slide hole 113 provided in the winding main body 111b and inserted into the end of the left side Wl of the slide hole 113.

[0135] Furthermore, a locking portion (not shown) provided inside the slide hole 113 is locked with a locked portion (not shown) of the extending piece portion 112b in accordance with the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501. This fixes the state in which the extending piece portion 112b is wound around the winding main body portion 111b, and the winding portion 11b, which constitutes two cylindrical bodies, is attached to the wire harness 500 so as to sandwich the branch wire 502 in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the branch portion protector 10b is attached to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500.

[0136] Then, with the branch portion protector 10b attached to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 in this manner, the cover portion 13b is slid in the circumferential direction relative to the connecting portion 121b. Here, branch wire 502 is arranged on the sliding path of cover portion 13b relative to connecting portion 121b. However, because cover portion 13b has notch 136 as described above, branch wire 502 can be inserted into notch 136.

[0137] In this way, the cover portion 13b is slid relative to the connecting portion 121b while inserting the branch wire 502 into the notch 136. Then, similar to the extending piece portion 112b described above, the cover portion 13b is slid from the end portion on the right side Wr of the slide hole 113 and inserted into the end portion on the left side Wl of the slide hole 113. Then, a locking portion (not shown) provided inside the slide hole 113 in accordance with the outer diameter of the main wire 501 is locked with a locked portion (not shown) of the cover portion 13b. This fixes the state in which the cover portion 13b is wound around the connecting portion 121b.

[0138] By following the above procedure, the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505 are surrounded by the branch section protector 10b, thereby forming a wire harness 1b with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500 including the branch section 503 is protected from various external factors.

[0139] Furthermore, the wire harness 1b with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10b configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effect, the second and eighth effects of the first embodiment and the second and third effects of the second embodiment.

[0140] Specifically, the winding portion 11b has an opening 114 that penetrates a portion of the circumferential direction, and the opening 114 is provided over the entire length of the winding portion 11b in the longitudinal direction L, and the covering portion 13b is configured to be movable in the circumferential direction so as to cover the opening 114.

[0141] This allows the trunk line 501 to be fitted through the opening 114. That is, the branch portion protector 10b can be easily attached to the branch portion 503 of the trunk line 501. Furthermore, by simply moving the cover portion 13b from one end to the other circumferential end of the winding portion 11b, it is possible to cover the branch point 504 and form a cylindrical body that surrounds the trunk line 501. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the first effect of the third embodiment, that is, to more easily and reliably protect the branch portion 503.

[0142] Note that, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, a configuration such as spikes or ribs that function as anti-slip between the main wire 501 and the winding main body 111b and the connecting portion 121b may be provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the winding main body 111b and the connecting portion 121b that come into contact with the main wire 501. This can achieve the same effect as described above.

[0143] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1c and a branch portion protector 10c according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the wire harness 1c with a branch portion protector, FIG. 8 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the wire harness 1c with a branch portion protector, and FIG. 9 shows an explanatory view of the wire harness 1c with a branch portion protector.

[0144] 9 in detail, FIG. 9(a) shows a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1c with a branch section protector in a state where a branch wire 502 is inserted between the cover portions 13c, and FIG. 9(b) shows a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1c with a branch section protector in a state where a branch wire 502 with a larger diameter is inserted between the cover portions 13c.

[0145] The wire harness 1c with branch section protector shown in Figures 7 to 9 is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10c that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects the branch section 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with branch section protector that is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10.

[0146] The branch portion protector 10c is composed of two winding portions 11c that are wound around the main line 501, a connecting portion 121c that connects the winding portions 11c by bridging them together, and a covering portion 13c that covers the branch point 504 between the winding portions 11b.

[0147] The winding portion 11c is made up of a winding main body portion 111c that is wound around the main line protected portion 505 of the main line 501 in the circumferential direction, and a binding band 14c that is provided on the winding main body portion 111c. The winding main body portion 111c has substantially the same shape as the winding main body portion 111b, except that it does not have the slide hole 113. That is, the winding main body portion 111c is a member having a substantially C-shaped cross section with an opening on the upper side Hu. Note that, since the winding main body portion 111c does not have the slide hole 113 as described above, it is formed with a thinner plate thickness than the winding main body portion 111b. In addition, the winding main body portion 111c is made of a material that can be bent in a direction to widen or narrow the opening width.

[0148] The binding bands 14c are each provided on the outer peripheral surface of the winding main body 111c, and are composed of a buckle 143 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the winding main body 111c and a long, strip-like band 146 extending from the buckle 143 (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0149] The buckle 143 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right side Wr of the winding main body 111c near the center in the height direction H, and has a through-hole 144 that penetrates in the height direction H. Inside the through-hole 144, a locking piece 145 is provided that can be locked with a locking protrusion 147 of a band 146, which will be described later.

[0150] The band 146 extends from the right side Wr to the left side Wl along the outer circumferential surface of the winding main body 111c from the lower side Hd of the buckle 143. A plurality of locking protrusions 147 that can be locked with the above-mentioned locking pieces 145 are provided on the surface of the band 146 that faces the inner circumferential surface of the winding main body 111c when the band 146 is wound around the winding main body 111c.

[0151] The band 146 extends from a buckle 143 provided on the right side Wr of the winding main body 111c, and is configured to a length that allows the tip to overlap again in the radial direction with the right side Wr of the winding main body 111c after winding the winding main body 111c. The band 146 is formed to a predetermined thickness, and has an insertion hole 148 that penetrates in the longitudinal direction L inside the thickness.

[0152] The binding band 14c configured in this manner is configured so that the binding state of the band 146 to the buckle 143 can be fixed by inserting the band 146 into the through hole 144 of the buckle 143 and engaging the locking protrusion 147 with the locking piece 145.

[0153] The binding band 14c is provided with the above-mentioned covering portion 13c. The covering portion 13c is a rectangular plate-like body having a length in the longitudinal direction L that is shorter than the extension length of the band 146 and equal to that of the winding main body portion 111c.

[0154] The cover portion 13c has flexibility at least as great as that of the band 146, and is configured to bend in accordance with the curvature of the band 146 when the band 146 is wound around the main wire 501 (see FIG. 7).

[0155] The cover portion 13c configured in this manner is inserted into the insertion hole 148 of the band 146 and is configured to be movable inside the insertion hole 148 in the longitudinal direction L (see arrow Xc1 in Figure 7), and is also configured to be positionally restricted at a desired position relative to the band 146.

[0156] The connecting portion 121c, which connects the winding portions 11c together, has substantially the same shape as the winding main body portion 111c. That is, the connecting portion 121c is a member having a substantially C-shaped cross section that is open on the upper side Hu and protrudes toward the lower side Hd. Note that the connecting portion 121c configured in this manner is integral with the winding main body portion 111c, that is, is configured as a single component. Therefore, the connecting portion 121c, together with the two winding main body portions 111c, form a single substantially C-shaped cross-sectional member that is long in the longitudinal direction L and has an open upper side Hu.

[0157] The branch section protector 10c configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1c with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors. A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10c to the wire harness 500 will be briefly described below.

[0158] First, with the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500 and the central portion of the connecting portion 121c in the branch portion protector 10c aligned in the longitudinal direction L, the integrally formed winding main body portion 111c and connecting portion 121c are placed along the lower half surface of the lower side Hd of the wire harness 500.

[0159] Then, the band 146 of the binding band 14c is wound around the winding main body 111c together with the main wire 501 and inserted into the through-hole 144 of the buckle 143 (see arrow Xc2 in FIG. 8). At this time, the degree of winding of the band 146 around the winding main body 111c is adjusted according to the outer diameter of the main wire 501, and the locking protrusion 147 is locked with the locking piece 145. As a result, the band 146, which has been wound around the main wire 501 together with the winding main body 111c, is fixed in a tied state around the buckle 143, and the branch portion protector 10c is attached to the wire harness 500.

[0160] Then, by winding the band 146 of the binding band 14c together with the main wire 501 around the winding body 111c, the covering portions 13c inserted into the insertion holes 148 of the band 146 are curved together with the band 146 and positioned on the upper side Hu of the main wire 501 (see FIGS. 7 and 9). Here, the covering portions 13c extending from the band 146 are slid in the longitudinal direction L toward the branch wires 502. In this way, the spacing between the covering portions 13c is appropriately adjusted in accordance with the outer diameter of the branch wires 502, and the branch points 504 are covered with the covering portions 13c.

[0161] Incidentally, since cover portion 13c has approximately the same length as winding main body portion 111c in the longitudinal direction L, cover portion 13c remains disposed on the upper side Hu of main wire 501 even when cover portion 13c is slid toward branch wire 502. Therefore, winding main body portion 111c and cover portion 13c can form a substantially cylindrical body that surrounds main wire 501 in the circumferential direction.

[0162] Therefore, by attaching the branch section protector 10c to the wire harness 500, the branch point 504 of the branch section 503 can be reliably protected by the covering portion 13c, and a wire harness 1c with a branch section protector can be constructed that can protect the main line protected portion 505.

[0163] Furthermore, the wire harness 1c with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10c configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effect, the second and eighth effects of the first embodiment and the first effect of the second embodiment.

[0164] Specifically, the covering portion 13c is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction L relative to the winding portion 11c. More specifically, the covering portion 13c is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction L relative to the cable tie 14c provided on the winding portion 11c. As a result, with the winding portion 11c and the band 146 of the cable tie 14c wound around the trunk wire 501, the branch point 504 can be covered simply by moving the covering portion 13c in the longitudinal direction L relative to the winding portion 11c. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the first effect of the fourth embodiment can be achieved, that is, the branch point 503 can be more easily protected regardless of the outer diameter of the branch wire 502.

[0165] Furthermore, in binding band 14c, band 146 is provided with a plurality of locking projections 147 that project radially when wound around trunk line 501, and locking pieces 145 that can be locked with locking projections 147 are provided inside through holes of buckle 143. As described above, buckle 143 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of winding main body 111c, and therefore buckle 143 can be wound around winding main body 111c, and buckle 143 can be inserted into through holes 144 of buckle 143, adjusted to a desired degree of winding, and then fixed.

[0166] This allows for adjustment of the fastening strength of the cable tie 14c to accommodate trunk wires 501 with various outer diameters. Furthermore, by wrapping the cable tie 14c around the trunk wire 501, the fastening force of the cable tie 14c can be applied to the trunk wire 501 via the cover portion 13c. This makes it possible to suppress relative movement between the branch portion protector 10c and the wire harness 500, thereby achieving the second effect of the fourth embodiment, that is, to suppress unintentional movement of the branch portion protector 10c in a state where the branch point 504 is protected by the cover portion 13c.

[0167] Note that covering portion 13c may be provided, for example, at the inner end in longitudinal direction L and the center in width direction W, with a slit along longitudinal direction L or a notch tapering outward in longitudinal direction L, that is, in the direction away from branch wire 502. This allows covering portion 13c to be brought closer to branch wire 502 while accommodating various outer diameters of branch wire 502, thereby more reliably protecting branch point 504.

[0168] Furthermore, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, a configuration such as spikes or ribs that function as anti-slip between the trunk cable 501 and the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c that come into contact with the trunk cable 501. This can achieve the same effect as described above. Note that the spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the band 146, for example.

[0169] Furthermore, covering portion 13c is configured to be movable in longitudinal direction L within insertion hole 148 provided in band 146 of binding band 14c. However, covering portion 13c may be configured to be movable in a direction intersecting longitudinal direction L, such as the circumferential direction of winding portion 111c, in addition to longitudinal direction L. This allows covering portion 13c to be moved in the circumferential direction and positioned on upper side Hu of main wire 501 even when covering portion 13c is positioned away from upper side Hu of main wire 501 depending on how band 146 is wound around main wire 501 and winding main body 111c. Therefore, covering portion 13c can be positioned in an appropriate position depending on main wires 501 with various outer diameters, and main wire 501 can be more reliably protected together with winding main body 111c.

[0170] In the above description, the branch point 504 is covered by simply moving the covering portion 13c in the longitudinal direction L relative to the winding portion 11c with the winding portion 11c and the band 146 of the binding band 14c wound around the trunk wire 501. However, the covering portion 13c may be moved in advance relative to the band 146 to align with the branch wire 502, and then the band 146 of the binding band 14c may be wound around the branch wire 502. This method can also achieve the same effect.

[0171] (Fifth embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1d and a branch portion protector 10d according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, Figure 10 shows a schematic oblique view of a wire harness 1d with a branch section protector, Figure 11 shows a schematic exploded oblique view of the wire harness 1d with a branch section protector, Figure 12 shows a schematic oblique view showing how the branch section protector 10d is attached to the wire harness 500, and Figure 13 shows an explanatory diagram of the wire harness 1d with a branch section protector.

[0172] 13 in detail, FIG. 13(a) shows a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1d with a branch section protector in a state where a branch wire 502 is inserted between the cover portions 13d, and FIG. 13(b) shows a schematic plan view of the wire harness 1d with a branch section protector in a state where a branch wire 502 with a larger diameter is inserted between the cover portions 13d.

[0173] The wire harness 1d with branch section protector shown in Figures 10 to 13 is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10d that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects the branch section 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with branch section protector that is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10.

[0174] The branch section protector 10d is composed of two winding sections 11d that are wound around the main line 501, a connecting section 121c that is similar to the connecting section 121c of the wire harness with branch section protector 1c and that connects the winding sections 11d together, and a covering section 13d that covers the branch point 504 between the winding sections 11d.

[0175] The winding portion 11d is composed of a winding main body portion 111c similar to the winding main body portion 111c of the winding portion 11c, which is wound circumferentially around the main line protected portion 505 of the main line 501, and a binding band 14d provided on the winding main body portion 111c. In addition, a stopper 16d is provided on the inner surface of the winding main body 111c near the outer end in the longitudinal direction L, protruding radially inward to prevent the housed cover portion 13d from accidentally falling off (see Figure 11).

[0176] Binding band 14d has the same shape as binding band 14c, except that binding band 14d does not have insertion holes 148 provided in band 146. That is, binding band 14d is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right side Wr of winding main body 111c and is configured of buckle 143 having locking pieces 145 therein, and band 146 that is elongated and strip-like and extends from buckle 143 and has multiple locking projections 147.

[0177] As described above, the band 146 in this embodiment is not provided with the insertion hole 148 through which the cover portion 13c is inserted, and therefore is configured to have a thinner plate thickness than the band 146 in the fourth embodiment.

[0178] Covering portion 13d is configured as a separate body from winding main body 111c, and has substantially the same shape as winding main body 111c, but is slightly smaller than winding main body 111c and is symmetrical from top to bottom. Specifically, unlike the covering portion 13c of the branch portion protector 10c, which is formed in a thin plate shape, the covering portion 13d is a member having an opening on the lower side Hd and a generally C-shaped cross section that protrudes toward the upper side Hu. The covering portion 13d is formed to a size that can be housed inside the winding main body 111c. Two such covering portions 13d are provided, and are housed inside the winding main body 111c with their openings facing the lower side Hd (see FIG. 11). The covering portion 13d is made of the same material as the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c. That is, the covering portion 13d is made of a material that can be bent in a direction that widens or narrows the opening width.

[0179] The branch section protector 10d configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1d with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors.

[0180] A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10d to the wire harness 500 will be briefly described below. First, to attach the branch portion protector 10d to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500, the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c are attached to the wire harness 500. Note that the method of attaching the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c to the wire harness 500 is the same as in the fourth embodiment described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0181] In this manner, the two covering portions 13d are housed in the winding main body 111c of the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 121c attached to the wire harness 500, with the opening facing downward Hd. As a result, the opening on the upper side Hu of the winding main body 111c is closed by the covering portions 13d, and the covering portions 13d are disposed on both sides of the branch wire 502 in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, since the inner circumferential surface of the winding main body 111c is provided with the retaining member 16d as described above, excessive movement of the housed covering portions 13d outward in the longitudinal direction L can be restricted. That is, the covering portions 13d can be prevented from falling off from the winding main body 111c.

[0182] Then, the two covering portions 13d housed in the winding main body portion 111c are each slid in the longitudinal direction L toward the branch wire 502 (see arrow Xd in FIG. 12). In this way, the spacing between the covering portions 13d is appropriately adjusted according to the outer diameter of the branch wire 502, and then the branch point 504 is covered with the two covering portions 13d.

[0183] The cable tie 14d is then tied and fixed in place. Note that the method for tying the cable tie 14d is the same as in the fourth embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. As a result, the binding force of the binding band 14c acts on the main line 501 and the cover portion 13d, and in addition to the restriction by the above-mentioned anti-slip device 16d, the relative movement of the cover portion 13d positioned at the desired position with respect to the winding main body portion 111c is restricted, and the relative movement between the branch portion protector 10d and the wire harness 500 is also restricted.

[0184] Therefore, by attaching the branch portion protector 10d to the wire harness 500, it is possible to configure a wire harness 1d with a branch portion protector in which the wire harness 500 including the branch portion 503 is protected from various external factors.

[0185] The wire harness 1d with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10d configured in this manner can achieve the main effect, the second and eighth effects of the first embodiment, the first effect of the second embodiment, and effects equivalent to the first effect of the fourth embodiment.

[0186] Note that covering portion 13d may be provided, for example, at an inner end portion in longitudinal direction L and a central portion in width direction W, with a slit along longitudinal direction L or a notch tapering outward in longitudinal direction L, that is, in a direction away from branch wire 502. This allows covering portion 13d to be brought closer to branch wire 502 while accommodating various outer diameters of branch wire 502, thereby more reliably protecting branch point 504.

[0187] Furthermore, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, the inner circumferential surfaces of the winding main body 111c, the connecting portion 121c, and the covering portion 13d that come into contact with the trunk cord 501 may be provided with a structure that functions as an anti-slip between the trunk cord 501 and the winding main body 111c, the connecting portion 121c, and the covering portion 13d, such as spikes or ribs. This can achieve the same effect as described above. Note that the spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the band 146, for example.

[0188] (Sixth embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1e and a branch portion protector 10e according to a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 14 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the wire harness 1e with a branch portion protector, and FIG. 15 shows an explanatory view of the wire harness 1e with a branch portion protector.

[0189] 15(a) shows a schematic enlarged bottom view of the wire harness with branch section protector 1e in a state where a branch wire 502 is inserted between the winding portions 11d, and FIG. 15(b) shows a schematic enlarged bottom view of the wire harness with branch section protector 1e in a state where a branch wire 502 with a larger diameter is inserted between the winding portions 11d. Note that in FIG. 14, the length of the main wire 501 in the longitudinal direction L is shown shorter than in the first embodiment and the like. In addition, in FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b), the wire harness 500 is shown by a two-dot chain line to clarify the structure of the branch section protector 10e.

[0190] 14 and 15 is configured by a wire harness 500 and a branch portion protector 10e that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects a branch portion 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector configured by the wire harness 500 and the branch portion protector 10. In this embodiment, the main wire protected portion 505 in the wire harness 500 is positioned slightly closer to the branch point 504, i.e., closer to the branch wire 502, compared to the first embodiment and the like.

[0191] The branch portion protector 10e is composed of two winding portions 11d wound around the trunk line 501, and a connecting portion 12e that connects the winding portions 11d together. The winding portion 11d is configured with a winding main body 111c and a binding band 14d, similar to the winding portion 11d of the branch section protector 10d of the fifth embodiment described above. Although a description of the configurations of the winding main body 111c and the binding band 14d will be omitted, in this embodiment, the binding band 14d is provided at the inner end of the winding main body 111c in the longitudinal direction L, that is, the end on the branch wire 502 side.

[0192] The connecting portion 12e is a member having a substantially arc-shaped cross section that extends from an inner end of the winding portion 11d in the longitudinal direction L and from a part of the lower side Hd and protrudes toward the lower side Hd. The connecting portion 12e has a bellows portion 15e in the central part in the longitudinal direction L.

[0193] The bellows portion 15e has a bellows shape in which concave and convex portions are alternately formed and is expandable and contractible in the longitudinal direction L. By expanding and contracting the connecting portion 12e having the bellows portion 15e in this manner, the distance between the winding portions 11d can be freely widened or narrowed (see arrow Xe in FIG. 14).

[0194] The branch section protector 10e configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness with branch section protector 1e in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors.

[0195] A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10e to the wire harness 500 and adjusting the spacing between the winding portions 11d will be briefly described below. First, to attach the branch portion protector 10e to the branch portion 503 of the wire harness 500, the winding main body 111c is attached to the wire harness 500. Note that the method of attaching the winding main body 111c to the wire harness 500 is the same as in the fourth embodiment described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0196] In this way, the winding main body 111c of one of the two winding portions 11d is attached to the wire harness 500, and the cable tie 14d is tied according to the outer diameter of the main wire 501, and the branch wire 502 is led out from between the bands 146 of the cable tie 14d toward the upper side Hu. The method for binding the binding band 14d is the same as the operations and methods in the fifth embodiment and the like, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0197] The spacing between the winding portions 11d is adjusted by expanding or contracting the bellows portion 15e. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 15(a), in the case of a branch wire 502 with a slightly small diameter, the spacing between the winding portions 11d is narrowed by contracting the bellows portion 15e. Conversely, as shown in Fig. 15(b), in the case of a branch wire 502 with a slightly large diameter, the spacing between the winding portions 11d is widened by expanding the bellows portion 15e.

[0198] In this way, the winding main body 111c of one of the two winding portions 11d is attached to the wire harness 500, and the interval between the winding portions 11d is adjusted according to the outer diameter of the branch wire 502, and then the winding main body 111c of the other winding portion 11d is attached to the wire harness 500. In this way, the branch portion protector 10e can be attached to the wire harness 500 with the interval between the winding portions 11d adjusted according to the outer diameter of the branch wire 502.

[0199] As described above, the binding bands 14d constituting the winding portion 11d are provided on the winding main body 111c, and therefore the spacing between the winding portions 11d is the spacing between the binding bands 14d. Therefore, by adjusting the spacing between the winding portions 11d, the spacing between the binding bands 14d is also adjusted at the same time.

[0200] The branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1e and the branch portion protector 10e configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effects and the second and eighth effects of the first embodiment described above.

[0201] Specifically, the branch portion protector 10e protects a branch portion 503 at which the branch wire 502 branches off from the main wire 501 in a wire harness 500 having a main wire 501 extending in a longitudinal direction L and a branch wire 502 branching off from the main wire 501. The branch portion protector 10e has a winding portion 11d that winds around the main wire 501 on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L, and a winding state in the winding portion 11d that is in accordance with the diameter of the main wire 501. The branch wire 502 is provided with a cable tie 14d for fixing the main wire 501, a connecting portion 12e that runs along the outer periphery of the main wire 501 and connects the winding portions 11d arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction L, and a bellows portion 15e that adjusts the interval between the winding portions 11d according to the diameter of the base end of the branch wire 502. This makes it possible to reliably protect the branch wire 503 while accommodating various outer diameters of the main wire 501 and the branch wire 502 at the branch wire 503.

[0202] More specifically, the branch portion protector 10e protects the branch portion 503 in the wire harness 500 where the branch wire 502 branches off from the trunk wire 501 extending in the longitudinal direction L, and includes the winding portion 11d that winds around the trunk wire 501 on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L of the trunk wire 501, and the binding bands 14d that fix the winding state of the winding portion 11d according to the diameter of the trunk wire 501. Therefore, the winding condition of the winding portion 11d can be freely adjusted according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire 501 and then fixed with the binding bands 14d. That is, trunk wires 501 having various outer diameters can be protected by winding the winding portion 11d on both sides of the longitudinal direction L of the branch portion 503, and it is also possible to prevent the winding condition of the winding portion 11d that has been adjusted to a desired winding condition from being inadvertently released.

[0203] Furthermore, since the connecting portion 12e spans and connects the winding portions 11d, the winding portions 11d can be integrated together. Furthermore, compared to a case where the winding portions 11d arranged on both sides of the branch portion 503 in the longitudinal direction L are each formed as separate bodies, the workability of protecting the branch portion 503 with the branch portion protector 10e can be improved.

[0204] Note that the connection length of connection by connecting portion 12e corresponds to the outer diameter of branch wire 502, and therefore the distance in the longitudinal direction L between winding portions 11d connected by connecting portion 12e corresponds to the outer diameter of branch wire 502. Specifically, as the outer diameter of branch wire 502 increases, the distance between winding portions 11d increases, and as the outer diameter of branch wire 502 decreases, the distance between winding portions 11d decreases. Therefore, exposure of branch point 504 can be suppressed.

[0205] Furthermore, because the coupling portion 12e is disposed along the lower side Hd of the outer periphery of the main wire 501, the coupling portion 12e can protect a portion of the lower side Hd of the main wire 501 between the winding portions 11d. That is, at the branch portion 503, the winding portions 11d on both sides of the branch portion 503 and the coupling portion 12e can protect a portion of the branch portion 503. However, the winding portion 11d and the coupling portion 12e cannot protect the branch portion 504 where the branch wire 502 branches off from the main wire 501. As a result, a gap may be generated between the winding portion 11d and the branch wire 502, exposing a portion of the branch portion 504. In response to this, the bellows portion 15e can adjust the spacing between the winding portions 11d, so the spacing between the winding portions 11d can be adjusted so that the branch portion 504 is not exposed. That is, since the interval between the winding portions 11d can be adjusted in accordance with various outer diameters of the branch wire 502, the first effect of the sixth embodiment, that is, the branch portion 503 can be reliably protected, can be achieved.

[0206] Furthermore, the bellows portion 15e provided in the connecting portion 12e is configured to adjust the spacing between the winding portions 11d in accordance with the diameter of the base end of the branch wire 502. As a result, as shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), the spacing between the winding portions 11d can be adjusted simply by expanding and contracting the bellows portion 15e. Therefore, the second effect of the sixth embodiment, that is, the spacing between the winding portions 11d can be adjusted more easily, can be achieved.

[0207] Note that, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, the inner circumferential surfaces of the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 12e, which come into contact with the trunk cord 501, may be provided with a structure that functions as an anti-slip between the trunk cord 501 and the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 12e, such as spikes or ribs. This can achieve the same effect as described above. Note that the spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the band 146, for example.

[0208] (Seventh embodiment) In the above description, the bellows portion 15e formed in the connecting portion 12e is expanded or contracted to adjust the spacing between the winding portions 11d in accordance with the outer diameter of the base end of the branch wire 502. However, for example, as shown in Fig. 16 , a branch portion protector 10f of the seventh embodiment in which a rubber plate 15f is provided in place of the bellows portion 15e in the connecting portion 12e and a wire harness 1f with a branch portion protector in which the branch portion protector 10f is attached to a wire harness 500 may be used.

[0209] 16(a) shows a schematic enlarged bottom view of the wire harness with branch portion protector 1f in a state in which a branch wire 502 is inserted between the winding portions 11d, and FIG. 16(b) shows a schematic enlarged bottom view of the wire harness with branch portion protector 1f in a state in which a branch wire 502 with a larger diameter is inserted between the winding portions 11d. In FIG. 16(a) and FIG. 16(b), the wire harness 500 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line to clarify the structure of the branch portion protector 10f.

[0210] The rubber plate 15f provided on the branch portion protector 10f is a plate-like body with an approximately arc-shaped cross section that extends from the inner end of the winding portion 11d in the longitudinal direction L and from a part of the lower side Hd, protruding toward the lower side Hd, and urges the winding portions 11d in a direction that brings them closer to each other.

[0211] The branch section protector 10f configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10e described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1f with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors.

[0212] Furthermore, the wire harness 1f with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10f configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effect and second effect of the first embodiment described above, the second effect of the fourth embodiment, and the first effect of the sixth embodiment.

[0213] Specifically, the connecting portion 12e is provided with a rubber plate 15f that biases the winding portions 11d in a direction in which they approach each other, thereby making it easier to adjust the spacing between the winding portions 11d and reliably protecting the branching portion 503.

[0214] More specifically, after one of the winding portions 11d is wound around one side of the branch wire 502 of the main wire 501, an external force is applied to the other winding portion 11d, which moves the other winding portion 11d in a direction away from the one winding portion 11d. Then, the other winding portion 11d is wound around the other side of the branch wire 502 of the main wire 501, and the applied external force is removed. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), the biasing force F1 of the rubber plate 15f causes the other winding portion 11d to move in a direction approaching the one winding portion 11d. At this time, because the branch wire 502 is disposed between the winding portions 11d, the biasing force F1 of the rubber plate 15f can bring the winding portion 11d into close contact with the branch wire 502. Furthermore, because the biasing force F1 continues to act on the winding portion 11d, the branch wire 502 can restrict movement of the winding portion 11d along the longitudinal direction L, and the winding portion 11d can be prevented from unintentionally moving from a desired position. Therefore, the first effect of the seventh embodiment can be achieved, that is, the spacing between the winding portions 11d can be adjusted more easily and the branch portion 503 can be reliably protected.

[0215] Although rubber plate 15f is used as a biasing member that biases winding portions 11d toward each other, the biasing member is not particularly limited as long as it exerts a restoring force when an applied external force is removed. However, since the biasing member is provided in a location close to wire harness 500 made of conductive copper wire or the like, it is preferable that the biasing member be an insulating member.

[0216] Note that, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, the inner circumferential surfaces of the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 12e, which come into contact with the trunk cord 501, may be provided with a structure that functions as an anti-slip between the trunk cord 501 and the winding main body 111c and the connecting portion 12e, such as spikes or ribs. This can achieve the same effect as described above. Note that the spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the band 146, for example.

[0217] (Eighth embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1g and a branch portion protector 10g according to an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 17 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1g, and FIG. 18 shows an explanatory view of the branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1g.

[0218] 18, (a) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the branch section protector 10g in a state where a branch wire 502 is inserted between the winding portions 11g, and (b) shows a schematic enlarged plan view of the branch section protector 10g in a state where a branch wire 502 with a larger diameter is inserted between the winding portions 11g. Note that in FIG. 17, the length of the trunk wire 501 is shown shorter than in the first embodiment and the like. In addition, in FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b), the wire harness 500 is shown by a two-dot chain line to clarify the structure of the branch section protector 10g.

[0219] 17 and 18 is configured by a wire harness 500 and a branch portion protector 10g that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects a branch portion 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with a branch portion protector configured by the wire harness 500 and the branch portion protector 10. Note that in this embodiment, the main wire protected portion 505 in the wire harness 500 is positioned slightly closer to the branch point 504, i.e., closer to the branch wire 502, compared to the first embodiment and the like.

[0220] The branch section protector 10g has a winding main body portion 111g that is wound circumferentially around the trunk line protected portion 505 of the trunk line 501, two winding portions 11g that are wound around the trunk line 501, a connecting portion 12g that spans and connects the winding main body portions 111g, and a spacing adjustment mechanism 15g that adjusts the spacing between the winding portions 11g.

[0221] The winding main body 111g has substantially the same shape as the winding main body 111c, except that the outer peripheral surface is provided with rails 115. That is, the winding main body 111g is a member having a substantially C-shaped cross section with an open upper side Hu.

[0222] 17, the rail 115 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right side Wr of the winding main body portion 111g, near the center in the height direction H. The rail 115 is composed of two L-shaped members facing each other in the height direction H. Although not shown, the rail 115 is provided with a stopper that prevents a buckle 143 (described later) from accidentally falling out of its fitted state, and a restricting portion that restricts movement of the buckle 143 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0223] The winding portion 11g is composed of a winding main body 111g and a binding band 14g provided on the outer circumferential surface of the winding main body 111g. Cable tie 14g has the same shape as cable tie 14d, except that a groove 149 is provided in buckle 143. That is, cable tie 14g is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right side Wr of winding main body 111g and is configured of buckle 143 having through-hole 144, and long, strip-like band 146 extending from buckle 143 and having multiple locking projections 147.

[0224] The band 146 extends from a buckle 143 provided on the right side Wr of the winding main body 111g, and is configured to a length that allows the tip to be radially overlapped with the right side Wr of the winding main body 111g again after winding the band 146 around the winding main body 111g. As will be described later, the band 146 functions as a covering portion that covers the branch point 504 .

[0225] The groove 149 is a groove formed by recessing the surfaces along the height direction H near the end of the left side Wl of the approximately rectangular buckle 143, and is formed with a width and depth that allows the rail 115 to fit into it.

[0226] The binding band 14g configured in this manner is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction L along the rail 115 by fitting the groove 149 of the buckle 143 into the rail 115 (see arrow Xg in FIG. 17).

[0227] The connecting portion 12g that connects the winding main body portions 111g to each other has substantially the same shape as the winding main body portions 111g except for the difference in length in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the connecting portion 12g is a member having a substantially C-shaped cross section with a rail 115 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right side Wr and an open upper side Hu.

[0228] The branch section protector 10g configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10e described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1g with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors.

[0229] In the branch section protector 10g, as described above, the rail 115 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the winding main body 111g, and the rail 115 fits into the groove 149 of the buckle 143, allowing it to move freely in the longitudinal direction L.

[0230] Therefore, the distance between the winding portions 11g having the binding bands 14g can be freely adjusted simply by moving the buckle 143 along the rail 115. In other words, the rail 115 and the binding band 14g having the buckle 143 that fits into the rail 115 constitute a distance adjustment mechanism 15g that can adjust the distance between the winding portions 11g (see FIG. 18).

[0231] 18(a) and 18(b), the gap adjusting mechanism 15g configured in this manner adjusts the gap between the winding portions 11g in accordance with the outer diameter of the branch wire 502, thereby preventing the branch point 504 from being exposed between the winding portions 11g. Therefore, the branch point 504 can be protected by the winding portion 11g. In other words, the band 146 of the winding portion 11g functions as a cover that covers the branch point 504.

[0232] As described above, a stopper is provided to prevent buckle 143 from accidentally falling off from a state in which it is fitted into rail 115, and a restricting portion is provided to restrict movement of buckle 143 in longitudinal direction L. This prevents buckle 143, i.e., cable tie 14g, which has been moved to a desired position in accordance with the outer diameter of branch wire 502, from unintentionally moving, and also prevents buckle 143 from falling off rail 115 and causing the cable tie 14g including buckle 143 to be lost.

[0233] The branch section protector 10g configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the second and eighth effects of the first embodiment, the second effect of the fourth embodiment, and the first effect of the sixth embodiment.

[0234] Specifically, binding band 14g constituting winding portion 11g includes winding main body 111g that is wound around a portion of trunk line 501 in the circumferential direction, and band 146 that extends from one winding end so as to overlap with the other winding end in the circumferential direction of winding main body 111g. Binding band 14g includes locking piece 145 of buckle 143 provided at one winding end and locking protrusion 147 provided at the overlapping portion of band 146 with the other winding end, and gap adjustment mechanism 15g is configured so that band 146 and buckle 143 can move freely along longitudinal direction L relative to winding main body 111g.

[0235] As a result, by winding the band 146 around the winding main body 111g and then inserting it through the through-hole 144, the locking piece 145 and the locking protrusion 147 can be engaged with each other. That is, the band 146 can be prevented from being unintentionally released from the desired state of being wound around the winding main body 111g after being adjusted to a desired state. Furthermore, because the winding end of the winding main body 111g and the winding end of the band 146 can overlap with each other, exposure of the main wire 501 from the winding main body 111g and the band 146 can be prevented when the band 146 is wound around the winding main body 111g. Furthermore, the spacing adjustment mechanism 15g allows the band 146 and the buckle 143 to move freely along the longitudinal direction L relative to the winding main body 111g. This achieves the first effect of the eighth embodiment, that is, the spacing between the binding bands 14g can be adjusted so that the branch portions 503 are not exposed.

[0236] Note that, similar to the above-described branch section protector 10, the inner circumferential surfaces of the winding main body 111g and the connecting portion 12g, which come into contact with the trunk cord 501, may be provided with a structure that functions as an anti-slip between the trunk cord 501 and the winding main body 111g and the connecting portion 12g, such as spikes or ribs. This can achieve the same effect as described above. Note that the spikes or ribs may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the band 146, for example.

[0237] (Ninth embodiment) Next, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1h and a branch portion protector 10h according to a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, Fig. 19 shows a schematic perspective view of the wire harness 1h with a branch section protector, Fig. 20 shows a development view of the sheet-like branch section protector 10h, and Fig. 21 shows a schematic perspective view showing a method of configuring the wire harness 1h with a branch section protector. Note that in Fig. 21, the wire harness 500 is omitted from the illustration in order to clarify the structure of the branch section protector 10h.

[0238] The wire harness 1h with branch section protector shown in Figures 19 and 21 is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10h that is attached to the wire harness 500 and protects the branch section 503 in the wire harness 500, similar to the wire harness 1 with branch section protector that is composed of a wire harness 500 and a branch section protector 10.

[0239] The branch section protector 10h is a sheet-like device made entirely of an elastic material, and as shown in Figures 19 and 20, is integrally composed of a main wire winding section 100 that is wound around the main wire 501 and a branch wire winding section 200 that is wound around the branch wire 502.

[0240] 20, the main wire winding part 100 has a main body part 101 that is substantially rectangular with long sides in the longitudinal direction L in the branch section protector 10h in the unfolded state, winding protrusions 102 that protrude to the left side Wl from both sides in the longitudinal direction L of the main body part 101, and an extension part 103 that protrudes to the right side Wr from the center of the main body part 101 in the longitudinal direction L. The main wire winding part 100 is provided with a plurality of locking parts 104, each of which is composed of a locking claw 105 and a locking recess 106 that can be locked with the locking claw 105.

[0241] The main body 101 has winding portions 11h arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction L, and a branch wire protection portion 12h arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction L and connecting the winding portions 11h together. In this embodiment, the branch wire protection portion 12h is set to have a longer length in the longitudinal direction L than the winding portion 11h. Specifically, the branch wire protection portion 12h is formed to have a length that is approximately 1.5 times that of the winding portion 11h. The branch wire winding portion 200 is arranged on the left side Wl at the center in the longitudinal direction L of the main body portion 101 formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0242] As described above, the winding protrusions 102 protrude to the left side Wl on both sides of the main body 101 in the longitudinal direction L, that is, as part of the winding portion 11h in the main body 101, and are arranged on both sides of the branch wire winding portion 200 in the longitudinal direction L. The winding protrusions 102 are formed in a substantially square shape in plan view, and are separated from the branch wire winding portions 200 adjacent to them in the longitudinal direction L.

[0243] The extending portion 103 is an extending piece that extends further to the right side Wr by a predetermined length from the end portion on the right side Wr of the branch wire protecting portion 12h, which is the central portion in the longitudinal direction L of the main body portion 101. A total of three extending portions 103 are provided in the longitudinal direction L. Specifically, the extending portion 103 includes two first extending portions 1031 extending to the right side Wr by a predetermined length, and a second extending portion 1032 extending by a length shorter than the first extending portions 1031, and the second extending portion 1032 is disposed between the two first extending portions 1031.

[0244] The first extension portion 1031 is formed to have an extension length that allows the tip portion to radially overlap the end portion on the left side Wl of the main body portion 101 when the branch portion protector 10h is attached to the wire harness 500. Further, the extending portion 103 composed of the two first extending portions 1031 and the second extending portion 1032 functions as a covering portion 13h that covers the branching point 504 of the branching portion 503 in the wire harness 500.

[0245] As described above, the plurality of locking portions 104 provided on the main wire winding portion 100 are each composed of a locking claw 105 and a locking recess 106 . The locking claw 105 is formed as a gate-shaped notch with an opening on the left side Wl (see FIG. 20).

[0246] The locking recess 106 is formed in a gate-shaped notch that is oriented symmetrically to the locking claw 105, that is, opens on the right side Wr (see FIG. 20). The locking portion 104, which is composed of the locking claw 105 and the locking recess 106 configured in this way, is provided on each of the winding portions 11h arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction L of the main wire winding portion 100.

[0247] Specifically, locking claw 105 constituting locking portion 104 is disposed near the end of left side Wl at the center in the longitudinal direction L of winding protrusion 102 provided as part of main body 101. Locking recess 106 constituting locking portion 104 together with locking claw 105 is disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction L at the right side Wr of winding portion 11h of main body 101. There are three locking recesses 106 disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction L at the right side Wr of winding portion 11h of main body 101, spaced a predetermined distance apart in the width direction W.

[0248] The branch wire winding portion 200 wound around the branch wire 502 is adjacent to the left side Wl of the main wire winding portion 101, which is rectangular in plan view and constitutes the main wire winding portion 100, in the center in the longitudinal direction L, i.e., in the branch wire protection portion 12h, and is arranged between the winding protrusions 102 that protrude from the main wire portion 101 to the left side Wl.

[0249] Specifically, in the branch section protector 10h in the unfolded state, the branch wire winding portion 200 has a substantially rectangular shape with long sides in the longitudinal direction L, and includes a branch wire-side locking portion 203. The branch wire winding portion 200 is formed to have a length that is about twice the length in the width direction W of the winding protrusion 102, which is formed to have a substantially square shape. The branch wire winding portion 200 is also formed to have a rectangular shape with a length in the longitudinal direction L that is about 60% and a length in the width direction W that is about 70% of the length of the main body portion 101, which is rectangular in plan view.

[0250] The branch wire winding portion 200 formed in a rectangular shape as described above has a connecting central portion 201 that is disposed in the center in the longitudinal direction L and is connected to the main body portion 101, and winding fixing portions 202 that extend from the connecting central portion 201 to both sides in the longitudinal direction L. In the rectangular shape as seen in plan view formed as described above, the connecting central portion 201 is formed so that the length in the longitudinal direction L is about ¼ of that of the branch wire winding portion 200.

[0251] In addition, the right side Wr of the connecting central portion 201 located in the center of the longitudinal direction L is connected to the central portion in the longitudinal direction L on the left side Wl of the branch line protection portion 12h located in the center of the longitudinal direction L of the main body portion 101 described above. In contrast, the winding fixing portions 202 extending on both sides in the longitudinal direction L with respect to the connecting central portion 201 are separated from the winding protruding portions 102 and the main body portion 101 adjacent thereto in the longitudinal direction L.

[0252] The branch wire winding portion 200 is provided with a plurality of branch wire side locking portions 203 each including a branch wire side locking claw 204 and a branch wire side locking recess 205 that can be locked with the branch wire side locking claw 204 . The branch line side locking claw 204 constituting the branch line side locking portion 203 has substantially the same shape as the locking claw 105, but is arranged so that the opening in the gate-shaped notch faces one side La.

[0253] The branch line side locking recess 205, which together with the branch line side locking claw 204 constitutes the branch line side locking portion 203, has approximately the same shape as the locking recess 106, but is positioned so that the opening in the gate-shaped notch faces the other side Lb. The branch wire side locking portion 203, which is composed of the branch wire side locking claw 204 and the branch wire side locking recess 205 configured in this manner, is provided on both the left side Wl and the right side Wr relative to the center in the width direction W of the branch wire winding portion 200, which is rectangular in plan view.

[0254] Furthermore, the branch wire side locking claws 204 constituting the branch wire side locking portions 203 provided on both the left side Wl and the right side Wr with respect to the center in the width direction W of the branch wire winding portion 200 are arranged in the winding fixing portion 202 on one side La, and the branch wire side locking recesses 205 are arranged in the winding fixing portion 202 on the other side Lb. There are three branch wire side locking recesses 205 arranged in the winding fixing portion 202 on the other side Lb, spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction L.

[0255] The branch section protector 10h configured in this manner, like the branch section protector 10 described above, is attached to the wire harness 500 to surround the branch section 503 and the main line protected section 505, thereby forming a wire harness 1h with a branch section protector in which the wire harness 500, including the branch section 503, is protected from various external factors. A method for attaching the branch portion protector 10h to the wire harness 500 will be briefly described below with reference to FIG.

[0256] First, the main wire winding section 100 is attached to the main wire 501 . Specifically, the wire harness 500 and the branch section protector 10h are aligned in the longitudinal direction, and the position of the branch point 504 and the center of the branch wire protecting portion 12h in the main body 101 of the trunk wire winding portion 100 in the branch section protector 10h in the unfolded state are aligned in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. In this state, the locking recess 106 is arranged on the right side Wr of the trunk wire 501, and the locking claw 105 is arranged on the left side Wl.

[0257] Then, the main body portion 101 is wound around the main wire 501 from both sides in the width direction W, and the winding protrusion 102 is wound around the end of the main body portion 101 on the right side Wr, and the locking portion 104 is locked in accordance with the outer diameter of the main wire 501. Specifically, in the main body portion 101 wound around the main wire 501, the locking claws 105 provided on the winding protrusion 102 are locked in any of a plurality of locking recesses 106 provided in accordance with the outer diameter of the main wire 501, adjusting the winding to an appropriate degree, and the main wire is locked and fixed by the locking portion 104 (see arrow Xh1 in FIG. 21 ). As a result, the main wire winding portion 100 becomes cylindrical, and the main wire winding portion 100 surrounds the branch wires 502 to the main wire protected portion 505 in the wire harness 500. That is, in the main body 101 of the main wire winding section 100, the winding sections 11h provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction L function as two winding sections that wind around the main wire protected section 505 of the main wire 501.

[0258] By winding the trunk wire 501 around the winding portion 11h, the branch wire protecting portion 12h in the main body portion 101 of the trunk wire winding portion 100 also curves to follow the winding portion 11h. As a result, the trunk wire 501 is covered inward in the longitudinal direction L from the portion surrounded by the winding portion 11h. In other words, the branch wire protecting portion 12h at the center in the longitudinal direction L of the main body portion 101 of the trunk wire winding portion 100 functions as a connecting portion that spans and connects the two winding portions 11h arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction L with respect to the branch wire 502.

[0259] Furthermore, the trunk wire winding portion 100 is provided with extending portions 103 (first extending portion 1031 and second extending portion 1032) extending from the end portion on the left side Wl. Therefore, the extending portions 103 can be wound around the portions of the trunk wire 501 that are not covered by the branch wire protecting portions 12h (see arrow Xh2 in FIG. 21). The portions that are not covered by the branch wire protecting portions 12h are the branch points 504.

[0260] Specifically, of the extending portion 103 protruding from the main body portion 101 to the right side Wr, first extending portions 1031 on both sides in the longitudinal direction L are wound around the end portion on the left side Wl of the main body portion 101, and a second extending portion 1032 in the center of the extending portion 103 in the longitudinal direction L is curved along the branch wire 502. As a result, a branch point 504, which is located on the inside in the longitudinal direction L of the portion of the trunk wire 501 surrounded by the above-mentioned winding portion 11h, is covered by the extending portion 103. In other words, the extending portion 103 functions as a covering portion 13h that covers the branch point 504.

[0261] Then, with the trunk-wire protected portion 505 and the branch point 504 covered by the winding portion 11h, the branch-wire protecting portion 12h, and the covering portion 13h, the branch-wire winding portion 200 is wound around the branch wire 502 and locked by the branch-wire-side locking portion 203 in accordance with the outer diameter of the branch wire 502. Specifically, in the branch-wire winding portion 200 wound around the branch wire 502, the branch-wire-side locking claw 204 is locked in one of the multiple branch-wire-side locking recesses 205 provided in accordance with the diameter of the branch wire 502, adjusting the degree of winding to an appropriate level, and the branch wire is locked and fixed by the branch-wire-side locking portion 203 (see arrow Xh3 in FIG. 21 ). This forms a cylindrical body that surrounds the branch wire 502 from the branch point 503 to a predetermined height in the height direction H.

[0262] In order to wind the branch wire winding portion 200 around the branch wire 502, only the connecting central portion 201 is connected to a part of the branch wire protection portion 12h of the trunk wire winding portion 100, and the winding fixing portion 202 is separated from the adjacent winding protrusion portion 102 and the main body portion 101. This allows the branch wire winding portion 200 to be wound around the branch wire 502 smoothly.

[0263] In the above explanation, the main wire winding portion 100 is first wound around and fixed to the main wire 501, and then the branch wire winding portion 200 is wound around and fixed to the branch wire 502. However, because the winding and fixing portion 202 of the branch wire winding portion 200 is separated from the main body portion 101 of the main wire winding portion 100 as described above, it is also possible to first wind the branch wire winding portion 200 around and fix the branch wire 502, and then wind the main wire winding portion 100 around and fix the main wire 501.

[0264] As described above, by attaching the branch section protector 10h to the wire harness 500, similar to the branch section protector 10 described above, the branch point 504 of the branch section 503 can be reliably protected by the extension portion 103 that functions as the covering portion 13h, and the main line protected portion 505 can also be protected, and further, a portion of the branch line 502 can also be protected by the branch line winding portion 200. By attaching the branch portion protector 10h to the wire harness 500, a branch portion protector-equipped wire harness 1h can be configured in which the branch portion 503 is protected by the branch portion protector 10h.

[0265] Furthermore, the wire harness 1h with branch section protector and the branch section protector 10h configured in this manner can achieve the following effects in addition to the main effect and the second, third, fifth and eighth effects of the first embodiment. Specifically, a branch wire winding section 200 is provided for winding around the branch wire 502, and the branch wire winding section 200 extends from the winding section 11h (main wire winding section 100) and is provided with a branch wire side locking section 203 (204, 205) for fixing the winding state of the branch wire winding section 200 according to the outer diameter of the branch wire 502.

[0266] As a result, the branch wire winding portion 200 that is wound around the branch wire 502 extends from the trunk wire winding portion 100, and the branch wire 502 can be protected from the branch point 504 of the branch wire 502 to a predetermined range by the branch wire winding portion 200 of the branch portion protector 10h attached to the branch portion 503. Furthermore, because the branch wire-side locking portions 203 (204, 205) that fix the winding state of the branch wire winding portion 200 according to the outer diameter of the branch wire 502 are provided, it is possible to prevent the winding state of the branch wire winding portion 200, which has been adjusted to a desired winding state according to branch wires 502 of various outer diameters, from being inadvertently released, which is the first effect of the ninth embodiment.

[0267] Furthermore, since the winding fixing portion 202 is separated from the winding portion 11h of the main body portion 101 of the trunk winding portion 100 and the winding protruding portion 102 to assist the deformation of the branch wire winding portion 200 to follow the branch wire 502, the branch wire winding portion 200 can be more easily deformed to follow the large diameter branch wire 502, thereby achieving the second effect of the ninth embodiment, that is, the workability of protecting the branch portion 503 with the branch portion protector 10h can be improved.

[0268] Furthermore, the winding portion 11h, the covering portion 13h, and the branch wire winding portion 200 are made of an elastic material. This allows the winding portion 11h, the covering portion 13h, and the branch wire winding portion 200, which are made of an elastic material, to be deformed in accordance with the outer diameter of the main wire 501 and the outer diameter of the branch wire 502 simply by flexing them. This therefore achieves the third effect of the ninth embodiment, that is, the branch portion 503 can be protected more easily.

[0269] Although it has been stated that the branch wire winding portion 200 can be assisted in deforming to conform to the branch wire 502 by separating the winding fixing portion 202 of the branch wire winding portion 200 from the winding portion 11h of the main body portion 101 and the winding protruding portion 102, it is also possible to provide a fold or the like at the boundary between the trunk wire winding portion 100 and the branch wire winding portion 200. Even in this case, it is possible to assist the branch wire winding portion 200 in deforming to conform to the branch wire 502. Furthermore, although the branch wire winding portion 200 is configured to extend from the branch wire protecting portion 12h, it may also extend from, for example, the winding portion 11h, or from both the winding portion 11h and the branch wire protecting portion 12h.

[0270] As with the branch section protector 10 described above, the inner peripheral surfaces of the trunk wire winding portion 100 and the branch wire winding portion 200, which come into contact with the trunk wire 501 and the branch wire 502, may be provided with a structure such as spikes that function as an anti-slip barrier between the trunk wire 501 and the trunk wire winding portion 100 and the branch wire winding portion 200. This can achieve the same effects as those described above.

[0271] In correspondence between the configuration of this invention and the above-mentioned embodiment, The predetermined direction of the present invention corresponds to the longitudinal direction L of the embodiment, and similarly hereinafter, The trunk corresponds to trunk 501, The branch line corresponds to branch line 502, The wire harness is compatible with the Wire Harness 500. The branch corresponds to branch 503, Branch protection equipment corresponds to branch protection equipment 10, 10a to 10h, The winding portion corresponds to the winding portions 11, 11b to 11d, 11g, 11h and the binding band 14g, The fixing portion corresponds to the hook-and-loop fastener 14 and the binding bands 14c, 14d, and 14g. The connecting portions correspond to the branch line protecting portions 12, 12a, 12b, and 12h and the connecting portions 12e and 12g, The branch point corresponds to the branch point 504. The cover parts correspond to the cover parts 13, 13a to 13e, and 13h, The cover-side fastening portion is compatible with the hook-and-loop fastener 14, The deformation assisting means corresponds to the slit 131, The branch wire winding portion corresponds to the branch wire winding portion 200, The branch wire winding portion side fixing portion corresponds to the branch wire side locking claw 204 and the branch wire side locking recess 205, The winding main body portion corresponds to the winding main body portions 111, 111b, 111c, and 111g, The extension pieces correspond to the extension pieces 112, 112b and the band 146, The engaging portion on one side corresponds to the hook surface 141 and the locking piece 145, The other engaging portion corresponds to the loop surface 142 and the locking projection 147. The movable cover parts correspond to the cover parts 13a to 13d, The through-hole corresponds to the opening 114, The gap adjusting portion corresponds to the bellows portion 15e, the rubber plate 15f, and the gap adjusting mechanism 15g. The bellows-shaped expansion section corresponds to the bellows section 15e, The biasing member corresponds to the rubber plate 15f, The wire harness with branch part protector corresponds to the wire harness with branch part protector 1, 1a to 1h, The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0272] For example, the wire harness 500 is configured as a bundle of insulated electric wires, but is not limited to this and may be, for example, a communication cable such as an optical fiber cable, a bundle of communication cables, or a bundle of insulated electric wires and communication cables.

[0273] In addition, although the outer diameter of branch wire 502 has been described as being smaller than the outer diameter of trunk wire 501, for example, branch wire 502 may have the same outer diameter as trunk wire 501. Even in such a case, branch point 504 can be reliably protected by branch portion protector 10 or the like.

[0274] Furthermore, branch point 504 is set so as to straddle main line 501 and branch line 502 at a portion where branch line 502 protrudes from main line 501 at branching section 503, i.e., at the base of branch line 502. However, branch point 504 may be set, for example, only in a portion of the upper side Hu of main line 501, or only in a portion of the base of branch line 502 in the height direction H.

[0275] Furthermore, in the above description, the number of covering portions that cover the branch point 504 is the same as the number of winding portions, but this does not necessarily have to be the same as the number of winding portions. For example, one covering portion may be provided for two connected winding portions, or even multiple covering portions may be provided for one winding portion.

[0276] Furthermore, there is no limitation on the configuration or number of covering portions 13a to 13d as long as they are movable relative to winding portion 11 so as to be able to approach branch point 504. Covering portions 13a to 13d may be configured to be movable in the height direction H relative to branch point 504, for example. Furthermore, the number of covering portions 13a to 13d may be the same as the number of winding portions 11, or one winding portion 11 may be provided with multiple covering portions 13a to 13d.

[0277] In the above-described ninth embodiment, the branch portion protector 10h is entirely formed in a sheet shape of a stretchable material. However, any one of the winding portion 11h, the cover portion 13h (i.e., the trunk wire winding portion 100), and the branch wire winding portion 200 may be formed of a stretchable material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0278] 1, 1a to 1h...Wire harness with branch protection 10, 10a~10h... Branch protection equipment 11, 11b to 11d, 11g, 11h...winding section 12,12a,12b,12h…branch wire protection section 12e,12g…Connection part 13, 13a to 13e, 13h...Covering part 14...Velcro 14c, 14d, 14g... Cable ties 15e…bellows section 15f...Rubber plate 111,111b,111c,111g…Wound body part 112,112b...Extending piece 114...Opening 131...Slit 141...Hook surface 142...Loop surface 145...Latching piece 146...Band 147…Latching protrusion 200... Branch wire winding section 204...Branch line side locking claw 205... Branch line side locking recess 500...Wire harness 501…Main line 502...branch line 503...Branch 504...Fork L...Longitudinal direction

Claims

1. A branch portion protector for protecting a branch portion at which a branch wire branches from a trunk wire in a wire harness having a trunk wire extending in a predetermined direction and a branch wire branching from the trunk wire, a winding portion that is wound around the trunk line on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction; a fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the winding portion according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire; a connecting portion that is disposed along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the main wire and that connects the winding portions that are disposed at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction by bridging the winding portions; a covering portion that covers at least a part of a branching point where the branch wire branches off from the trunk wire, between the winding portions; Branch section protection equipment.

2. The cover portion has flexibility that allows it to deform in accordance with the branch line branching from the branch point. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

3. The cover portion is provided with a cover portion side fixing portion that follows the branch wire and fixes the deformed state. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

4. A deformation assisting means for assisting the deformation of the cover portion to follow the branch line is provided on the cover portion. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

5. a branch wire winding section that winds the branch wire, the branch wire winding portion extends from at least one of the winding portion and the connecting portion, A branch wire winding portion side fixing portion is provided to fix the winding state of the branch wire winding portion according to the outer diameter of the branch wire. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

6. a branch wire winding portion deformation assisting means for assisting the branch wire winding portion in deformation to follow the branch wire is provided on the branch wire winding portion; The bifurcation protector according to claim 5.

7. At least one of the winding portion, the covering portion, and the branch wire winding portion is formed of an elastic material. The bifurcation protector according to claim 5.

8. The winding portion is a winding body portion wound around a part of the trunk wire in the circumferential direction; and an extension piece portion extending from one winding end of the winding body portion so as to be overlapped with the other winding end in the circumferential direction, The fixing portion includes a one-side engaging portion provided at the one winding end; and a second engaging portion provided at a position where the extending piece overlaps with the second winding end. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

9. the winding portion has a length such that one winding end and the other winding end overlap in a radial direction when the winding portion is wound around the entire circumference of the trunk wire, The fixing portion includes a first engaging portion provided at one winding end of the winding portion wound around the entire circumference of the trunk wire, and a second engaging portion provided at the other winding end so as to be engageable with the first engaging portion. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

10. The cover portion is a movable cover portion that is movable relative to the winding portion so as to be able to approach the branching point of the trunk line. The bifurcation protector according to claim 1 .

11. The movable covering portion is configured to be movable in the predetermined direction relative to the winding portion. The bifurcation protector according to claim 10.

12. The movable cover portion is configured to be movable in the circumferential direction of the main wire relative to the winding portion. The bifurcation protector according to claim 10.

13. The winding portion has a through-portion that penetrates a part of the winding portion in the circumferential direction, the through portion is provided over the entire length of the winding portion in the predetermined direction, The movable covering portion is configured to be movable in a circumferential direction so as to cover the through-hole. The bifurcation protector according to claim 12.

14. A branch portion protector for protecting a branch portion at which a branch wire branches from a trunk wire in a wire harness having a trunk wire extending in a predetermined direction and a branch wire branching from the trunk wire, a winding portion that is wound around the trunk line on both sides of the branch portion in the predetermined direction; a fixing portion that fixes the winding state of the winding portion according to the outer diameter of the trunk wire; a connecting portion that is disposed along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the main wire and that connects the winding portions that are disposed at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction by bridging the winding portions; a spacing adjustment section that adjusts the spacing between the winding sections in accordance with the diameter of the base end of the branch wire; Branch section protection equipment.

15. The distance adjusting portion is constituted by a bellows-like expansion and contraction portion formed on the connecting portion. The bifurcation protector according to claim 14.

16. The connecting portion is provided with a biasing member that biases the winding portions in a direction in which they approach each other. The bifurcation protector according to claim 14.

17. The winding portion is a winding body portion wound around a part of the trunk wire in the circumferential direction; and an extension piece portion extending from one winding end of the winding body portion so as to be overlapped with the other winding end in the circumferential direction, The fixing portion includes a one-side engaging portion provided at the one winding end; a second engaging portion provided at an overlapping portion between the extension piece and the second winding end, The distance adjusting section is configured to be able to move the extension piece section and the fixing section along the predetermined direction relative to the winding main body section. The bifurcation protector according to claim 14.

18. A branch portion protector according to any one of claims 1 to 17 is attached. Wire harness with branch protection.

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