Laminated members and wire harnesses for flat wiring

Abstract

The present invention provides a flat cable routing laminated member that allows for branching of the tip without the need to pre-cut notches, even in a structure where flat members can be folded and stacked. [Solution] The flat wiring laminate member 1 has a linear outer shape and comprises a plurality of electric wires 3 arranged in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the wire, a sheet-like insulator that covers the plurality of electric wires 3 together, a sheet portion 5 that can be folded and laminated while covering the electric wires 3, a tear portion 11 in the sheet portion 5 that is a linear portion formed between adjacent electric wires 3 so as to connect one end in the axial direction to the other end, which becomes a fold when the sheet portion 5 is folded and can be torn along the wire with a tear force of less than 4.91 N, and a fixing portion 7 provided on the overlapping surfaces F1 and F2 of the sheet portion 5 when folded and fixed the overlapping surfaces F1 and F2 together in the folded state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminated member for flat cables and a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] Wire harnesses used in automobiles are desired to be made lower-profile in order to maximize the space inside the vehicle cabin. Conventionally, by making part of the wire harness a flat member such as a flat cable (FC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), the requirement for lower-profile has been met. However, these structures have many demerits such as difficulty in branching and terminal processing of the wire harness and being unsuitable for large circuits. Therefore, there are cases where a structure suitable for wiring of large circuits is achieved by laminating flat members. On the other hand, in a structure in which flat members are laminated, since it is necessary to maintain the state in which each layer is laminated, time required for adhesion and fixation of each layer and materials for adhesion and fixation are required. Also, when each layer is manufactured separately, time and equipment are required to manufacture the wiring material. Furthermore, it is necessary to accurately position each layer to be laminated. In contrast, a technique is known in which a fold line is provided in the length direction of a single FFC and a laminated structure is formed by folding along the fold line (Patent Document 1). On the other hand, in order to branch the tip of the FFC of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a cut portion in advance at the portion to be branched. In contrast, a structure in which perforations are provided in the FFC and the perforations are torn to be separable at the position of the perforations is also known (Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the FFC in Patent Document 2 has a cut section called a half-cut formed along the perforation. Therefore, in order to branch the tip, it is necessary to make a cut section in the FFC in advance, which requires additional work to make the cut section.

[0005] The present invention was made to solve these problems, and its objective is to provide a flat wiring laminated member and wire harness that can branch the tip without having to pre-cut a notch, even in a structure in which flat members can be folded and laminated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a laminated flat cable routing member comprising: a plurality of electric wires having a linear outer shape and arranged in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the wires; a sheet-like insulator that covers the plurality of electric wires together, and a sheet portion that can be folded and laminated while covering the electric wires, wherein the sheet portion comprises a linear portion formed between adjacent electric wires so as to connect one end in the axial direction to the other end, which serves as a fold when the sheet portion is folded and can be torn along the line with a tearing force of less than 4.91 N; and a fixing portion provided on the surfaces of the sheet portion that overlap each other when folded, for fixing the overlapping surfaces together when folded.

[0007] The wire harness of the present invention is formed by folding and laminating the sheet portion of the flat wiring laminated member described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, even in a structure in which flat members can be folded and stacked, it is possible to provide a flat wiring laminated member and a wire harness that can branch the tip without having to make a pre-cut portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing a laminated member for flat cable routing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a flat wiring laminated member for electric wires. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a front view showing the flat cable routing laminated member in a folded state. [Figure 5] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a torn section of a flat cable routing laminated member. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing a first modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, and corresponds to Figure 1. [Figure 7] This figure shows a second modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat cable routing laminated member folded and stacked, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). [Figure 8] This figure shows a third modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat cable routing laminated member folded and stacked, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). [Figure 9] This figure shows a fourth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat cable routing laminated member folded and stacked, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, and corresponds to Figure 2. [Figure 11] A plan view showing a sixth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of a flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) shows the case where the planar shape of the recesses and protrusions is circular, (b) shows the case where the planar shape of the recesses and protrusions is square, and (c) shows the case where the planar shape of the recesses and protrusions is rhombic. [Figure 12]This diagram shows the procedure for manufacturing a wire harness, with (a) being a flat wiring laminated member used in the manufacturing process (fixing parts are omitted), (b) being a state in which a portion of the torn section of (a) has been torn, and (c) being a state in which the sheet section of (b) has been folded. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a plan view showing a modified example of folding the sheet portion. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing a flat cable used in a test to confirm its ability to be bent and torn, where (a) shows the state before the tear test and (b) shows the state during the tear test, and the electric wires are omitted from the illustration. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be described below in accordance with preferred embodiments. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in the embodiments shown below, some illustrations and descriptions of certain components are omitted. It goes without saying that, regarding the details of the omitted technologies, publicly known or well-known technologies are applied as appropriate, to the extent that they do not contradict the content described below.

[0011] First, the configuration of the flat wiring laminated member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. Figure 1 is a plan view showing the flat wiring laminated member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the flat wiring laminated member shown in Figure 2 with an electric wire. Figure 4 is a front view showing the flat wiring laminated member shown in Figure 1 in a folded state. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the torn portion of the flat wiring laminated member shown in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a plan view showing a first modified example of the recess and protrusion of the flat wiring laminated member, and corresponds to Figure 1. Figure 7 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the recess and protrusion of the flat wiring laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat wiring laminated member folded and laminated, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). Figure 8 shows a third modified example of the recesses and protrusions of the flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat cable routing laminated member folded and stacked, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). Figure 9 shows a fourth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of the flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) is a plan view showing the flat cable routing laminated member folded and stacked, and (b) is a front view enlarged from a part of (a). Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of the flat cable routing laminated member, corresponding to Figure 2. Figure 11 is a plan view showing a sixth modified example of the recesses and protrusions of the flat cable routing laminated member, where (a) shows the case where the plan shape of the recesses and protrusions is circular, (b) shows the case where the plan shape of the recesses and protrusions is square, and (c) shows the case where the plan shape of the recesses and protrusions is rhombic.

[0012] The flat cable laminated member 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a member for manufacturing a wire harness 100 described later, which is used in automobiles and the like. As shown in Fig. 2, it includes an electric wire 3, a sheet portion 5, a tear portion 11, and a fixing portion 7. The electric wire 3 is a member that serves as a wiring in the flat cable laminated member 1. It has a linear outer shape, extends in the X direction, which is the axial direction of the wire, and is arranged in the width direction orthogonal to the X direction, here the Y direction. The electric wire 3 is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the conductivity, strength, etc. required for wiring. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, conductors such as flat wires 3a to 3f (electric wires) can be exemplified, but various stranded wires, single-core wires, or insulated electric wires 4a to 4f (electric wires) in which the stranded wires are covered with an insulating coating such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or polyolefin as shown in Fig. 3 may also be used. Further, the electric wire 3 may be a twisted wire or a coaxial wire. Note that the electric wire 3 may be an optical fiber instead of a conductor.

[0013] The sheet portion 5 is a sheet-like insulator that collectively covers the electric wire 3 and includes an upper layer 5a and a lower layer 5b. The upper layer 5a is a sheet-like insulating member that covers the electric wire 3 from above, and the lower layer 5b is a sheet-like insulating member provided below the electric wire 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the sheet portion 5 sandwiches the electric wire 3 between the upper layer 5a and the lower layer 5b, bonds them together, and collectively covers the electric wire 3 by fusing it with the electric wire 3 using heat, ultrasonic waves, or the like. Note that as a means of fusion, an adhesive such as hot melt may be used instead of heat or ultrasonic waves. The materials constituting the upper layer 5a and the lower layer 5b of the sheet portion 5 are not particularly limited as long as they can insulate the electric wire 3 and have a desired strength. Specific materials include, for example, laminate coating materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyolefin, fluororesin, PVC, polyimide, silicone, cellophane, and polyamide.

[0014] The tearing portion 11 is a portion that serves as a fold line when the sheet portion 5 is folded as shown in FIG. 4, and is also a portion for branching the end portion of the sheet portion 5 by tearing the folded sheet portion 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the tearing portion 11 is provided between adjacent electric wires 3 in the sheet portion 5, and as shown in FIG. 1, it is a linear portion formed along the electric wire 3 (see FIG. 2) so as to connect one end portion 6a and the other end portion 6b in the X direction, which is the axial direction. In FIG. 1, tearing portions 11a to 11e extending in the X direction are illustrated as the tearing portion 11. Among the tearing portions 11, for example, the tearing portion 11a is provided between the flat wires 3a and 3b, which are adjacent electric wires 3, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] The tearing portion 11 has a structure that can be torn along the line with a tearing force (load) of less than 4.91 N. In this configuration, by applying a tearing force of less than 4.91 N to the tearing portion 11, the sheet portion 5 is torn at the tearing portion 11 and the wiring branches. By making the tearing portion 11 have such a structure, it is possible to branch a part of the wiring by tearing the tearing portion 11 without providing a structure for facilitating the tearing of the tearing portion 11 such as a cut portion in the sheet portion 5. Therefore, even in a structure where flat members can be folded and laminated, the wiring can be branched at a desired position without previously providing a cut portion corresponding to the length of the branch. The lower limit of the tearing force is not particularly limited, but for example, it is 1.5 N or more.

[0016] The tearing portion 11 is a portion corresponding to the fold line, that is, the rotation axis of the hinge, when the sheet portion 5 is folded, and the specific structure is not particularly limited as long as the sheet portion 5 can be torn in the folded state. In FIG. 1, a perforation is illustrated as the tearing portion 11. When the tearing portion 11 is a perforation, as a means for making it have a structure that can be torn along the line with a tearing force of less than 4.91 N, for example, the length of the joint and the length of the cut of the perforation may be adjusted. The perforation may be formed, for example, using a tool such as a perforation cutter after the electric wire 3 is covered with the sheet portion 5, or may be formed by an extruder when the sheet portion 5 is formed by extrusion molding.

[0017] As shown in Figure 5, the tear portion 11 may be a thin-walled portion. If the tear portion 11 is a thin-walled portion, a means of creating a structure that can be torn along the line with a tearing force of less than 4.91 N can be, for example, by adjusting the thickness of the thin-walled portion. Specifically, the thin-walled portion can be formed, for example, in an extruder when forming the sheet portion 5 by extrusion molding.

[0018] Whether the tearable portion 11 is made into a perforated section or a thin-walled section can be appropriately selected by considering the advantages of each. For example, if the tearable portion is made into a perforated section, it is advantageous in that there are many manufacturing method options, as the perforations can be formed using a perforation cutter or by extrusion molding. On the other hand, if the tearable portion 11 is made into a thin-walled section, it is advantageous in that no cut is formed in the tearable portion 11, making it easier to increase the strength of the sheet portion 5.

[0019] The fixing part 7 is a member that fixes the sheet part 5 in a state where the overlapping surfaces are folded together, and is provided on the surfaces of the sheet part 5 that overlap when folded. For example, consider the case in Figure 2 where the tearing part 11c is used as a fold line, and as shown by arrow B, the surface F1 to the right of the tearing part 11c (one of the overlapping surfaces) is folded back and overlapped with the left surface F2 (the other overlapping surface). In this case, the fixing part 7 comprises a recess 7a and a protrusion 7b. The recess 7a is a point-shaped indentation formed on the right surface F1 of the sheet part 5, which is one of the surfaces that overlap when folded together. The protrusion 7b is a point-shaped projection formed on the left surface F2, which is the other surface that overlaps when folded together, and fits into the recess 7a. In this configuration, the tear portion 11c is used as a fold, the surface F1 to the right of the tear portion 11c is folded back and overlapped with the surface F2 to the left, and the protrusion 7b is fitted into the recess 7a, thereby fixing the left surface F2 and the right surface F1 in the folded state. In this configuration, the position of the overlapping surfaces when fixed is determined by the positions of the recess 7a and the protrusion 7b, making it easier to improve the accuracy of positioning the overlapping surfaces.

[0020] The recessed portion 7a and the convex portion 7b may be integrated with the sheet portion 5 as shown in Figure 2, or they may be separate components. If the recessed portion 7a and the convex portion 7b are integrated with the sheet portion 5, they may be formed in an extruder when forming the sheet portion 5 by extrusion molding. Alternatively, the recessed portion 7a and the convex portion 7b may be transferred to the surfaces of the upper layer 5a and the lower layer 5b by providing an uneven shape on the surface of a pressing means such as a roller used when bonding the upper layer 5a and the lower layer 5b of the sheet portion 5. If the recessed portion 7a and the convex portion 7b are separate components, the recessed portion 7a and the convex portion 7b can be formed by attaching a component with an uneven shape on its surface, such as an embossed sheet, to the right surface F1 and the left surface F2 of the sheet portion 5.

[0021] Figure 1 illustrates a case where the recess 7a and protrusion 7b are point-like planar shapes. However, the planar shapes of the recess 7a and protrusion 7b are not limited to points, as long as the overlapping surfaces of the sheet 5 can be fixed together when folded. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the recess 7a and protrusion 7b may be linear in a plan view, extending in the axial direction, or X direction. In this configuration, the linear protrusion 7b fits into the linear recess 7a, thereby fixing the overlapping surfaces when folded together. Even when the recess 7a and protrusion 7b are linear, they can be formed by extrusion molding or transfer by pressure.

[0022] Whether the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b are made into points or lines can be appropriately selected by considering the advantages of each. For example, if the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b are made into points, it is advantageous in that the number of recesses 7a and protrusions 7b can be increased compared to when they are made into lines, making it easier to improve positioning accuracy. On the other hand, if the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b are made into lines, it is advantageous in that the number of recesses 7a and protrusions 7b can be reduced compared to when they are made into points, making it easier to form the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b.

[0023] If the recess 7a and protrusion 7b are point-shaped, the specific planar shape is not particularly limited, as long as the overlapping surfaces of the sheet 5 can be fixed together when folded. For example, the planar shape of the recess 7a and protrusion 7b may be circular as shown in Figure 7(a), square as shown in Figure 8(a), or rhombic as shown in Figure 9(a). Similarly, the three-dimensional shape is not particularly limited, as long as the overlapping surfaces of the sheet 5 can be fixed together when folded. For example, it may be hemispherical as shown in Figure 7(b), columnar as shown in Figure 8(b), or a cube as shown in Figure 9(b). In these configurations, the overlapping surfaces of the sheet 5 are fixed together when folded by fitting the circular, square, or rhombic protrusion 7b into the circular, square, or rhombic recess 7a. These configurations are advantageous in that they offer a wide range of choices for planar and three-dimensional shapes. Furthermore, if the recess 7a and protrusion 7b are point-shaped, a square or rhombus shape in the planar form is preferable because it allows for a greater holding force, which is the force that holds the overlapping surfaces together. This is because a square or rhombus shape, which has corners, allows the corners of the recess 7a and protrusion 7b to engage when the fixing part 7 fixes the overlapping surfaces together when the sheet 5 is folded, thereby increasing the holding force. In addition, the larger the planar dimensions of the recess 7a and protrusion 7b, the greater the holding force.

[0024] The fixing part 7 is not limited to a configuration having a recess 7a and a protrusion 7b, as long as it can fix the overlapping surfaces of the sheet part 5 when folded. For example, the fixing part 7 may be a hook-and-loop fastener as shown in Figure 10. When the fixing part 7 is a hook-and-loop fastener, the fixing part 7 comprises a hook sheet 7c and a loop sheet 7d. The hook sheet 7c is a sheet-like member having hook portions 8 (fibers), which are hook-shaped fibers, on its surface, and is attached to the right surface F1 of the sheet part 5, which is one of the surfaces that overlap when folded. The loop sheet 7d is a sheet-like member having loop portions 10 (fibers), which are loop-shaped fibers that engage with the hook portions 8, on its surface, and is attached to the left surface F2 of the sheet part 5, which is the other surface that overlaps when folded. In this configuration, by attaching the hook sheet 7c and the loop sheet 7d together, the hook portions 8 engage with the loop portions 10, and the left surface F2 and the right surface F1 are fixed to each other. In this configuration, the fixing part 7 can be formed simply by attaching the existing hook-and-loop fastener to the surface of the sheet part 5 (upper layer 5a).

[0025] The fixing portion 7 does not necessarily need to be provided on the entire surface of the overlapping surfaces of the sheet portion 5 when folded; it may be provided on only a portion of the overlapping surfaces when folded. For example, consider the case shown in Figure 11 where the tear portion 11c is used as a fold, and the surface F1 to the right of the tear portion 11c is folded back and overlapped with the surface F2 on the left. In this case, a recess 7a is provided in a portion of area R1 along the Y-direction end 16a of the right surface F1, which is the width direction, and a protrusion 7b is provided in a portion of area R2 along the Y-direction end 16b of the left surface F2, which is the width direction. In this configuration, the width direction ends 16a and 16b of the overlapping surfaces are fixed. Therefore, the overlapping surfaces of the sheet portion 5 can be fixed together without providing the fixing portion 7 on the entire surface of the overlapping surfaces.

[0026] The laminated member 1 for flat cable routing may have flexibility similar to that of a flexible flat cable, but it may also have the same structure as a non-flexible flat cable as long as it can be folded using the tear portion 11 as a crease. The above is a description of the structure of the laminated member 1 for flat cable routing.

[0027] Next, the procedure for manufacturing a wire harness using the flat wiring laminated member 1 will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a diagram showing the procedure for manufacturing a wire harness, where (a) shows the flat wiring laminated member 1 used in manufacturing (fixing part is omitted), (b) shows the state after some of the torn parts 11a to 11e of (a) have been torn, and (c) shows the state after the sheet part 5 of (b) has been folded. Figure 13 is a plan view showing a modified example when the sheet part 5 is folded in Figure 12.

[0028] First, as shown in Figure 12(a), a laminated member 1 for flat cable routing is prepared, and if necessary, a portion of the ends 6a and 6b of the sheet portion 5 is cut in the Y direction to expose the electric wire 3, and the exposed electric wire 3 is electrically connected to a terminal (not shown). Next, as shown in Figure 12(b), a tearing force of less than 4.91 N is applied to the portion of the torn sections 11a to 11e that is to be branched, and the section is torn partway. In Figure 12(b), the torn section 11c is torn partway from end 6a to 6b to form the split section 13c. Also, the torn sections 11a and 11e are torn partway from end 6b to end 6a to form the split sections 13a and 13b. Furthermore, the laminated member 1 for flat cable routing is folded and laminated. Specifically, as shown by arrow B in Figure 12(b), the right side surface F1 is folded back along the tear portion 11c and overlapped with the left side surface F2, and then fixed with a fixing part 7 (not shown), thereby completing the wire harness 100 as shown in Figure 12(c). In the wire harness 100 shown in Figure 12(c), the end 6b is split into branching section 41 and branching section 43 by the tear portions 13a and 13b midway in the Y direction. Also, the end 6a of the wire harness 100 is split into branching section 45 and branching section 47 by the tear portion 13c midway in the X direction. In this way, by applying a tearing force of less than 4.91 N to the tear portion 11 of the wire harness 100, the sheet portion 5 is torn at the tear portion 11 and the wiring branches. By giving the tearable portion 11 this structure, it is possible to tear the tearable portion 11 and branch off a part of the wiring without having to provide a structure such as a cut in the sheet portion 5 to make the tearable portion 11 easier to tear. Therefore, even in a structure in which flat members can be folded and stacked, it is possible to branch the wiring at the desired position without having to provide a cut in advance according to the length to be branched.

[0029] In Figure 12, the laminated member 1 for flat cable routing is bent along the tear portion 11, which is formed parallel to the X direction, the axial direction of the electric wire 3. Therefore, the fold is a straight line parallel to the X direction. However, the fold is not limited to a straight line parallel to the X direction and may be curved. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 13, the fold may be such that the orientation of end 6b is perpendicular to the orientation of end 6a. Therefore, the part to be bent, such as fold 51, does not necessarily have to be the tear portion 11.

[0030] Furthermore, in Figure 12, the right-hand surface F1 and the left-hand surface F2, which are folded over each other, have the same dimensions and shape. However, the right-hand surface F1 and the left-hand surface F2 do not need to have the same dimensions and shape; they may differ in length, the presence or absence of cuts, the presence or absence of holes, etc. Also, each layer that is folded over does not need to be the same shape as long as it can be unfolded into a flat surface and folded over. In addition, if it is desired to more firmly fix the right-hand surface F1 and the left-hand surface F2 of the wire harness 100, adhesive tape or hook-and-loop fastener tape 9 may be wrapped around the outer circumference as viewed from the X direction, as shown in Figure 4. The above is a description of the procedure for manufacturing a wire harness 100 using the flat wiring laminated member 1.

[0031] As described above, the flat wiring laminated member 1 of this embodiment comprises an electric wire 3, a sheet portion 5 that covers the electric wire 3 and can be folded and stacked, a tear portion 11 that forms a fold in the sheet portion 5 and can be torn with a force of less than 4.91 N, and a fixing portion 7 that fixes the overlapping surfaces of the sheet portion 5. In this configuration, by applying a tearing force of less than 4.91 N to the tear portion 11, the sheet portion 5 is torn at the tear portion 11 and the wiring branches. By making the tear portion 11 such a structure, it is possible to tear the tear portion 11 and branch a part of the wiring without providing a structure such as a cut portion in the sheet portion 5 to make the tear portion 11 easier to tear. Therefore, even with a structure in which flat members can be folded and stacked, the wiring can be branched at the desired position without providing a cut portion corresponding to the length to be branched in advance.

[0032] Furthermore, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the tear portion 11 may be a perforation. In this configuration, the sheet portion 5 is folded and torn along the perforation. This configuration is advantageous because it allows for a wide range of manufacturing method options, as the perforation can be formed either by a perforation cutter or by extrusion molding.

[0033] Furthermore, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the tear portion 11 may be a thin-walled portion. In this configuration, the sheet portion 5 is bent and torn along the thin-walled portion. This configuration is advantageous because no cut is formed in the tear portion 11, making it easier to increase the strength of the sheet portion 5.

[0034] On the other hand, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the fixing portion 7 comprises a recess 7a formed on the right surface F1, which is one of the surfaces of the sheet portion 5 that overlap each other when folded, and a protrusion 7b formed on the left surface F2, which is the other surface, and which fits into the recess 7a. In this configuration, the surfaces that overlap each other when folded are fixed together by the fit of the protrusion 7b into the recess 7a. In this configuration, the position of the overlapping surfaces at the time of fixing is determined by the positions of the recess 7a and the protrusion 7b, making it easier to improve the accuracy of positioning the overlapping surfaces.

[0035] Furthermore, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b may be linear in shape, extending in the X direction, which is the axial direction in a plan view. In this configuration, the linear protrusions 7b fit into the linear recesses 7a, fixing the overlapping surfaces together when folded. In this configuration, the number of recesses 7a and protrusions 7b can be reduced compared to making the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b point-like, making it easier to form the recesses 7a and protrusions 7b.

[0036] Furthermore, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the recess 7a and the protrusion 7b may be round, square, or rhombus-shaped in plan view. In this configuration, the round, square, or rhombus-shaped protrusion 7b fits into the round, square, or rhombus-shaped recess 7a, thereby fixing the overlapping surfaces together when folded. These configurations are advantageous in that they offer a wide range of choices for planar and three-dimensional shapes.

[0037] On the other hand, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the fixing portion 7 may be a hook-and-loop fastener comprising a hook sheet 7c formed on the right side surface F1 of the sheet portion 5 and having a hook portion 8 formed thereon, and a loop sheet 7d formed on the left side surface F2 and having a loop portion 10 formed thereon. In this configuration, the hook portion 8 engages with the loop portion 10 by bonding the hook sheet 7c and the loop sheet 7d of the hook-and-loop fastener together, and the overlapping surfaces are fixed together when folded. Therefore, the fixing portion 7 can be formed simply by attaching an existing hook-and-loop fastener to the upper layer 5a of the sheet portion 5.

[0038] Furthermore, in the flat cable routing laminated member 1 of this embodiment, the fixing portion 7 is provided in a portion of the sheet portion 5, specifically in areas R1 and R2 along the widthwise ends 16a and 16b of the surfaces that overlap each other when folded. In this configuration, the widthwise ends 16a and 16b of the surfaces that overlap each other when folded are fixed together. Therefore, the overlapping surfaces can be fixed together without providing the fixing portion 7 across the entire surface of the overlapping surfaces.

[0039] Furthermore, the wire harness 100 of this embodiment is formed by folding and laminating the flat wiring laminated member 1 described above, and is equipped with the flat wiring laminated member 1. Therefore, even though it is a structure that can be folded and laminated flat members, the tip can be branched without providing a cut in advance. Also, since the wire harness 100 of this embodiment is formed by folding and laminating one flat wiring laminated member 1, the width of the wire harness 100 can be narrowed to any width by adjusting the number of folds. It can also be applied to locations with a large number of circuits or branches. Moreover, since the wire harness 100 of this embodiment is formed by folding and laminating one flat wiring laminated member 1, there is no need to manufacture and stack multiple flat wiring laminated members 1. Also, since the wire harness 100 of this embodiment forms a conductive path by folding and laminating a sheet-like flat wiring laminated member 1, it is easy to work with, for example, to attach terminals to the electric wires 3, or to strip a portion of the sheet 5 when attaching terminals. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wire harness 100 reduces misalignment during stacking due to the fixing portion 7, thus allowing for narrower tolerances in length and during operation.

[0040] The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0041] (Bending and tearing test) First, as a test to confirm the ability to bend and tear, a flat cable as shown in Figure 14 was fabricated and tested for bending and tearing. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the flat cable used in the test to confirm the ability to bend and tear, where (a) shows the state before the tear test and (b) shows the state during the tear test, and the electric wire 3 is omitted from the illustration. First, a flat cable 1a as shown in Figure 14 was fabricated. Specifically, a 14-core cable with dimensions of 0.13 sq, extending in the Y direction and arranged in the X direction, was prepared as an electric wire 3 (not shown). Next, two PET films with a total thickness of 0.3 mm and an adhesive layer of 0.042 mm formed on the surface were prepared as sheet parts 5, and the electric wire 3 was sandwiched between the two PET films and the adhesive layers were bonded together to fabricate the flat cable 1a. Seven flat cables 1a were fabricated, and these are referred to as sample numbers 1 to 7. Next, perforations, which serve as tear-off sections 11, were formed parallel to the X direction between two wires 3 of the seven flat cables 1a using a commercially available perforation cutter. Specifically, perforations were formed on the seven flat cables 1a such that the length of the cuts ranged from 1 mm to 4 mm, and the length of the joints ranged from 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0042] Next, a tensile and compression testing machine, "Strograph VE10D," manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho, was prepared. Furthermore, the right end portion 61a of the flat cable 1a, which is the part to the right of the torn portion 11, was gripped with a vise chuck 71a, a fixture of the testing machine, as shown in Figure 14(b). The vise chuck 71a was then fixed to the tensile and compression testing machine in a position where the right end portion 61a was facing downwards in the Z direction, Z1. In addition, the left end portion 61b of the flat cable 1a, which is the part to the left of the torn portion 11, was gripped with another fixture of the testing machine, a vise chuck 71b, and the vise chuck 71b was fixed to the tensile and compression testing machine. Furthermore, the tensile and compression testing machine was driven, and with the vise chuck 71a fixed, the vise chuck 71b was raised at a speed of 50 mm / min in the Z2 direction (upward in the Z direction), and the left end 61b was pulled to tear the tear portion 11 by 125 mm. Other test conditions were as described in JIS K 6854 (1999). After tearing, the sheet portion 5 was visually evaluated to see if any part other than the tear portion 11 had broken, and if it had not broken, it was judged as "Tear: ○". On the other hand, if any part other than the tear portion 11 had broken, specifically if tearing caused parts other than the tear portion 11 to tear as well, and it was not possible to tear the sheet portion 5 along the line of the tear portion 11, it was judged as "Tear: ×". After that, the flat cable 1a was removed from the tensile and compression testing machine, and it was manually checked whether it could be bent along the tear portion 11. As a result, if the sheet portion 5 could be folded without tearing, it was determined as "Folding: ○", and if the sheet portion 5 could not be folded without tearing, it was determined as "Folding: ×". The results are shown in Table 1.

[0043] [Table 1]

[0044] As shown in Table 1, samples 1-5 were flat cables 1a that were torn at the tear section 11 with a tear force of less than 4.91 N, and both tearing and bending were successful ("○"). On the other hand, sample 6 was a flat cable 1a that was torn at the tear section 11 with a tear force of 4.91 N, and while bending was successful ("○"), tearing was unsuccessful ("×"). Sample 7 was a flat cable 1a that was torn at the tear section 11 with a tear force of 4.95 N, and both tearing and bending were unsuccessful ("×"). From these results, it was found that if the tear force is less than 4.91 N, the tear section 11 can be torn and bent regardless of the ratio of the length of the cut to the joint.

[0045] (Lamination test) Next, we attempted to manufacture a wire harness 100 by forming a fixing part 7 on the surface of a flat cable 1a that was able to be bent and torn in tear and bend tests, then bending and laminating it, and fixing the bent state with the fixing part 7. Two types of fixing parts 7 were used: an embossed sheet (with a planar shape of round, square, or rhombus, and dimensions of 5.5 mm vertically, 3.0 mm horizontally, and 1.0 mm deep, with indentations arranged without gaps) and a hook-and-loop fastener (PST-019 hook-and-loop fastener manufactured by Pstyle). The planar dimensions of the fixing part were 6 cm wide and 1 cm long. As a result, in both cases where the fixing part 7 was an embossed sheet and a hook-and-loop fastener, the bent and laminated state of the sheet part 5 could be held by the fixing part 7, and a wire harness 100 could be manufactured. Furthermore, the positional misalignment between the bent and laminated surfaces in the wire harness 100 was 0.5 mm or less in all directions (front, back, left, and right), indicating that the lamination was carried out with high precision.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described above based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and other technologies may be combined as appropriate to the extent possible. Furthermore, publicly known or well-known technologies may be combined as appropriate to the extent possible.

[0047] For example, in the embodiment described above, the flat cable routing laminated member 1 is folded once and the case of lamination in two layers is illustrated, but the number of layers may be three or more. In this case, the flat cable routing laminated member 1 may be folded in an accordion shape, for example.

[0048] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the fixing portion 7 has a recess 7a formed only on the right surface F1, which is one of the surfaces that overlap each other when the sheet portion 5 is folded, and a recess 7a formed only on the left surface F2, which is the other surface. However, the arrangement of the recess 7a and the protrusion 7b is not limited to this arrangement. Specifically, the fixing portion 7 may have a recess 7a formed on one surface when the sheet portion 5 is folded, and a protrusion 7b that fits into the recess 7a formed on the other surface. More specifically, one surface may be provided with a recess 7a and a protrusion 7b, and the other surface may be provided with a protrusion 7b that fits into the recess 7a and protrusion 7b on the one surface. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1: Laminated member for flat cable routing 3:Electric wire 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f: Flat wire (electric wire) 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f: Insulated wire (electric wire) 5: Seat section 6a, 6b: End 7:Fixed part 7a: recess 7b: Convex part 7c: Hook sheet 7d: Loop sheet 8: Hook part (fiber) 10: Loop section (fiber) 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e: Tear area 16a, 16b: End 100: Wire harness F1: Right side (overlapping side, one side) F2: Left side (overlapping side, the other side) R1, R2: area

Claims

1. A flat wiring laminate member comprising: a plurality of wires having a linear outer shape and arranged in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the wires; and a sheet-like insulator that covers the plurality of wires together, and a sheet portion that can be folded and laminated while covering the wires, In the sheet portion, there is a linear portion formed between adjacent electric wires so as to connect one end in the axial direction to the other end, which serves as a fold when the sheet portion is folded, and which can be torn along the line with a tearing force of less than 4.91 N, The aforementioned sheet portion has a fixing portion provided on the surfaces that overlap each other when folded, which fixes the overlapping surfaces together in the folded state, Equipped with A laminated member for flat cable routing, characterized by the following features.

2. The flat cable routing laminated member according to claim 1, characterized in that the tear portion is a perforation.

3. The laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 1, characterized in that the torn portion is a thin-walled portion.

4. The fixing portion comprises a recess formed on one of the overlapping surfaces of the sheet portion, and a protrusion formed on the other surface that fits into the recess. A laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 1, characterized in that...

5. The recess and the protrusion are linear in shape, extending in the axial direction when viewed from above. A laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 4, characterized in that

6. The recess and the protrusion are either round, square, or rhombus-shaped when viewed from above. A laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 4, characterized in that

7. The fastening portion is a hook-and-loop fastener comprising a hook sheet formed on one of the overlapping surfaces of the sheet portion and having hook-shaped fibers, and a loop sheet formed on the other surface and having loop-shaped fibers that engage with the hook-shaped fibers. A laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 1, characterized in that...

8. The fixing portion is provided in a portion of the sheet portion, along the edge in the width direction of the overlapping surface. A laminated member for flat cable routing according to claim 1, characterized in that...

9. The sheet portion of the flat cable routing laminated member described in any one of claims 1 to 8 is folded and laminated. A wire harness characterized by the following features.

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