Connector retention structure

Abstract

The objective is to provide a connector holding structure that can securely hold the connector and suppress the generation of abnormal noise. [Solution] The connector holding structure 10 is a connector holding structure that holds a connector 26 provided on a wire harness 20 which is composed of a main line 22 and a plurality of wires including branch lines 24 branched from the main line 22. The holding portion 30 is provided on the side of the wire harness 20 in the extension direction prior to the branching portion 25 where the branch line 24 branches off, and the connector 26 provided on the tip side of the branch line 24 is held by folding the tip side of the branch line 24 back into the holding portion 30 and housing it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector holding structure for holding a connector provided in a harness composed of a plurality of electric wires including a main line and branch lines branched from the main line.

Background Art

[0002] A large number of wire harnesses are routed in a vehicle. Among these wire harnesses, there are those including branch lines having connectors. Such connectors need to be properly held until use.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a holding structure when inserting a connector at the tip of an electric wire constituting a wire harness into a through-hole of a vehicle body panel. This holding structure has a tapered cylindrical portion whose one end side expands more than the other end side, and a mounting portion provided at the other end of the cylindrical portion. The mounting portion is attached at a position away from the connector at the tip of the electric wire, and the connector of the other electric wire is inserted and housed into the inside of the cylindrical portion from the expanded one end side of the cylindrical portion. Thereby, the electric wire can be inserted into the through-hole of the vehicle body panel in a state where the connector is housed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the holding structure of the above prior art, since the connector is simply inserted and housed in the cylindrical portion, there is a possibility that the connector may come off from the cylindrical portion due to vibrations generated during vehicle operation. In a state where the connector has come off, there is a concern that the connector may interfere with peripheral members and generate abnormal noises.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a connector holding structure that can securely hold a connector and suppress the generation of abnormal noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The connector holding structure of the present invention is a connector holding structure that holds a connector provided on a harness composed of a main line and a plurality of wires including branch lines branched from the main line, characterized in that the holding portion is provided on the side of the harness in the extension direction prior to the branching portion where the branch line branches off, and the connector provided on the tip side of the branch line is held by folding the tip side of the branch line back into the holding portion and housing it.

[0008] The connector holding structure of the present invention folds the branch wire back and houses it in the holding part as described in (1) above. This causes the branch wire to bend, and a restoring force is generated that tries to return it from this bent state to its original straight state. This restoring force acts on the inner surface of the holding part, allowing the connector to be held stably. Therefore, the connector holding structure of the present invention can suppress the detachment of the connector due to vibration, etc., and the generation of abnormal noise caused by a detached connector.

[0009] (2) The connector holding structure of the present invention described above may have a binding portion that integrally fixes the branch line and the main line at the folded portion of the branch line.

[0010] The connector holding structure of the present invention integrally fixes the branch line and the main line by the binding portion as described in (2) above. This fixes the relative positional relationship of the branch line with respect to the main line, and suppresses vibration of the branch line relative to the main line. As a result, the connector holding structure of the present invention can suppress the generation of abnormal noise.

[0011] (3) The connector holding structure of the present invention described above is preferably configured such that the binding portion is made of a slit tape, and the slit tape has slits formed along the direction in which the branch line extends.

[0012] The connector holding structure of the present invention has a binding portion made of slit tape as described in (3) above, and slits are formed in this slit tape in the direction in which the branch wire extends. These slits define the tearing direction of the tape. As a result, when gripping and pulling apart both ends of the branch wire, the tape can be easily and reliably cut along the slits.

[0013] (4) The connector holding structure of the present invention described above includes a wire holder arranged along the extension direction of the harness, and the holding portion is preferably fixed integrally with the wire holder to the main line.

[0014] The connector holding structure of the present invention fixes the holding portion with a rigid wire holder as described in (4) above. As a result, deformation of the holding portion itself is restricted by the wire holder. Consequently, the connector holding structure of the present invention can impart straightness to the holding portion and suppress unnecessary displacement of the holding portion.

[0015] (5) The connector holding structure of the present invention described above may have a cylindrical portion in which the holding portion can accommodate the connector.

[0016] The connector holding structure of the present invention has a cylindrical portion as described in (5) above, thereby forming a holding surface that surrounds the entire outer surface of the connector. This allows a holding force to be applied to the connector from the entire circumferential direction, thereby achieving more reliable holding.

[0017] (6) In the connector holding structure of the present invention described above, it is preferable that the holding portion is positioned between the fixing point to the main line by the wire holder and the fixing point by the binding portion.

[0018] The connector holding structure of the present invention arranges the holding part between the fixing position by the wire holder and the fixing position by the bundling part as described in (6) above. Thereby, the holding part can be arranged at a position where the restoring force generated by the folding back of the branch wire acts most effectively between both fixing positions. As a result, the holding force of the connector can be utilized to the maximum extent.

[0019] In addition, the above-mentioned respective configurations can be arbitrarily combined. In particular, by combining (4) and (6), the directivity and stability of the holding part can be ensured simultaneously. By ensuring the straightness of the holding part by the wire holder and arranging the holding part at an optimal position, higher holding performance can be achieved.

Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector holding structure that can securely hold a connector and suppress the generation of abnormal noise.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a connector holding structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the holding part used in the connector holding structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing a state where a connector provided on the tip side of a branch wire is detached from the holding part with respect to the branch wire and the holding part constituting the connector holding structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing a state where a connector provided on the tip side of a branch wire is inserted into the holding part with respect to the main wire, the branch wire, the holding part, and the wire holder constituting the connector holding structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a state where the branch wire and the main wire are further fixed with a slit tape from the state of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing a state where the branch wire and the main wire are further fixed to the wire holder with a vinyl tape from the state of FIG. 4.

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, the connector holding structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail while referring to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector holding structure 10 according to the present embodiment includes a wire harness 20, a holding portion 30, a bundling portion 40, and a wire holder 50.

[0023] The wire harness 20 is composed of a plurality of electric wires including a main line 22 and branch lines 24 branched from the main line 22. The holding portion 30 is a structure for holding a connector 26 provided on the tip side of the branch line 24. The bundling portion 40 integrally fixes the branch line 24 and the main line 22 at the folded portion of the branch line 24. The wire holder 50 is arranged along the extending direction of the wire harness 20 and fixes the holding portion 30 to the main line 22.

[0024] The wire harness 20 mainly has a main line 22 for transmitting data for an accessory socket. The main line 22 has a branching portion 25 in the middle of its extending direction, and the branch line 24 is branched from this branching portion 25. A connector 26 such as a USB connector is provided on the tip side of the branch line 24. Further, in the present embodiment, the wire harness 20 includes a second main line 23 in addition to the main line 22 and the branch line 24.

[0025] The holding portion 30 is arranged on the front side in the extending direction of the wire harness 20 with respect to the branching portion 25. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the holding portion 30 has a cylindrical portion 32 and an extended portion 34. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 6, the cylindrical portion 32 is a cylindrical portion capable of folding back and accommodating the tip side of the branch line 24.

[0026] The cylindrical portion 32 is made of a resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape with internal dimensions that match the external dimensions of the connector 26. The cylindrical portion 32 has a retaining opening 32a that allows the connector 26 to be inserted and removed. The cylindrical portion 32 may also have an opening on the opposite side of the retaining opening 32a, but in this embodiment it is closed. This prevents dust and liquid from entering the inside of the cylindrical portion 32 when the connector 26 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 32.

[0027] The extension portion 34 is a plate-shaped part that extends in the cylindrical portion 32 toward the opposite side from where the holding opening 32a is formed. The extension portion 34 is positioned to run along the wire harness 20 and the fixing extension portion 52 of the wire holder 50, which will be described in detail later.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1, 3 to 6, the wire holder 50 is made of a resin material and integrally fixes the holding part 30 and the main wire 22. The wire holder 50 has a fixing extension part 52 that is positioned along the extension direction of the wire harness 20. The fixing extension part 52 defines the fixing position with respect to the holding part 30 and functions as a locking part when the wires are bundled by the binding part 40, which will be described later.

[0029] The binding section 40 includes a vinyl tape 42 that integrally fixes the wire holder 50 and the holding section 30, and a slit tape 44 that fixes the branch wire 24 and the main wire 22 at or near the folded portion (folded portion 24a) of the branch wire 24. The slit tape 44 has slits formed along the direction in which the branch wire 24 extends.

[0030] A holding portion 30 is positioned between the point where the wire holder 50 is fixed to the main line 22 and the point where the slit tape 44 is fixed. By positioning the holding portion 30 in this way, the restoring force generated by the folding of the branch line 24 can be effectively utilized.

[0031] Next, the assembly procedure for the connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment will be described. First, the holding part 30 is positioned at the location where the connector 26 is expected to arrive when the tip end of the branch wire 24 is folded back into the cylindrical part 32 of the holding part 30, as shown in Figure 3. The holding part 30 is positioned so that when the branch wire 24 is folded back as shown in Figure 3, the holding opening 32a faces the side where the connector 26 will arrive.

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the connector 26 provided on the tip side of the branch line 24 is inserted and housed through the holding opening 32a of the cylindrical part 32. Then, as shown in Figure 5, the branch line 24 and the main line 22 are integrally bound together with the slit tape 44 at or near the folded portion 24a. Finally, as shown in Figure 6, the vinyl tape 42 is wrapped around the fixing extension 52 and the wire harness 20 to secure them. This completes the assembly of the connector holding structure 10 as shown in Figure 1.

[0033] Next, the procedure for removing the connector 26 will be explained. When removing the connector 26, the slit tape 44 is cut. Here, the slit tape 44 is attached so that the slit extends in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the branch wire 24. Therefore, instead of cutting the slit tape 44 itself by hand or with scissors, by applying force in a direction that spreads the folded portion 24a of the branch wire 24, the slit tape 44 is torn from the slit formed along the direction in which the branch wire 24 extends. In other words, the slit tape 44 can also be cut by applying force to the branch wire 24 in a direction that causes the portion of the branch wire 24 closer to the connector 26 than the folded portion 24a and the portion closer to the base end (opposite side from the connector 26) to separate.

[0034] As described above, when the slit tape 44 is torn, the constraint on the folded portion 24a or the branch line 24 in its vicinity is released. As a result, the branch line 24 can be returned to its original straight state. This releases the connector holding structure 10, allowing the connector 26 to be easily removed from the holding portion 30.

[0035] <Effects> The connector holding structure 10 described above has the following characteristic configurations (a) to (f). Therefore, the connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment can achieve the following unique effects that cannot be achieved with the prior art.

[0036] (a) The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment is a connector holding structure that holds a connector 26 provided on a wire harness 20 which is composed of a main line 22 and a plurality of wires including branch lines 24 branched from the main line 22, wherein the holding portion 30 is provided on the side of the wire harness 20 in the extension direction prior to the branching portion 25 where the branch line 24 is branched, and the connector 26 provided on the tip side of the branch line 24 is held by folding the tip side of the branch line 24 back into the holding portion 30 and housing it.

[0037] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 folds the branch wire 24 back and houses it in the holding part 30 as shown in (a) above. This causes the branch wire 24 to bend, and a restoring force is generated that tries to return it from this bent state to its original straight state. This restoring force acts on the inner surface of the holding part 30, allowing the connector 26 to be held stably. This suppresses the generation of abnormal noise caused by the connector 26 falling out.

[0038] (b) The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has a binding portion 40 that integrally fixes the branch line 24 and the main line 22 at the folded portion of the branch line 24.

[0039] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 integrally fixes the branch line 24 and the main line 22 by the binding portion 40 as shown in (b) above. This fixes the relative positional relationship of the branch line 24 with respect to the main line 22, and suppresses vibration of the branch line 24 relative to the main line 22. As a result, the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

[0040] Although the connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has the configuration described in (b) above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector holding structure 10 may also be made without the configuration described in (b) above. In this case, the connector 26 can be held by folding and holding with the holding portion 30 alone.

[0041] (c) In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 has a binding portion 40 made of a slit tape 44, and the slit tape 44 has slits formed along the direction in which the branch line 24 extends.

[0042] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 has a binding portion 40 made of a slit tape 44 as shown in (c) above, and a slit is formed in the slit tape 44 along the direction in which the branch wire 24 extends. This slit defines the tearing direction of the tape. As a result, when gripping both ends of the branch wire 24 and pulling them apart, the tape can be easily and reliably cut along the slit.

[0043] The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has the configuration described in (c) above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector holding structure 10 can also use a binding member other than the slit tape 44.

[0044] (d) The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment includes a wire holder 50 arranged along the extension direction of the wire harness 20, and the holding portion 30 is fixed integrally with the wire holder 50 to the main line 22.

[0045] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 fixes the holding portion 30 with a rigid wire holder 50 as described in (d) above. As a result, deformation of the holding portion 30 itself is restricted by the wire holder 50. Consequently, the holding portion 30 is given straightness and unnecessary displacement of the holding portion 30 can be suppressed.

[0046] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 has the configuration described in (d) above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector holding structure 10 can also be configured to directly fix the holding portion 30 to the main line 22 without using the wire holder 50.

[0047] (e) The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has a holding portion 30 that has a cylindrical portion 32 capable of accommodating the connector 26.

[0048] The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has a cylindrical portion 32 as described in (e) above, thereby forming a holding surface that surrounds the entire outer surface of the connector 26. This allows a holding force to be applied to the connector 26 from the entire circumferential direction, thereby achieving more secure holding.

[0049] Although the connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has the configuration described in (e) above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector holding structure 10 may also employ a holding part with a shape other than cylindrical.

[0050] (f) In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 is arranged such that the holding portion 30 is positioned between the fixing point to the main line 22 by the wire holder 50 and the fixing point by the binding portion 40.

[0051] In this embodiment, the connector holding structure 10 is positioned as described in (f) above, with the holding portion 30 located between the fixing point by the wire holder 50 and the fixing point by the bundling portion 40. This allows the holding portion 30 to be positioned in a location where the restoring force generated by the folding of the branch wire 24 acts most effectively between the two fixing points. As a result, the holding force of the connector 26 can be utilized to its fullest extent.

[0052] The connector holding structure 10 of this embodiment has the configuration described in (f) above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector holding structure 10 allows for appropriate changes to the arrangement position of the holding portion 30.

[0053] The configurations (a) to (f) described above can be combined in any way. In particular, by combining (d) and (f), the directionality and stability of the holding part 30 can be ensured simultaneously. The straightness of the holding part 30 is ensured by the wire holder 50, and the holding part 30 is positioned in an optimal location, thereby achieving higher holding performance.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and other embodiments may exist in the spirit and teachings thereof, without departing from the scope of the claims. The components of the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights for these as well in amendments or divisional applications of this application. [Industrial applicability]

[0055] The present invention can be suitably used in a general context of connector holding structures that hold connectors provided on a harness composed of multiple electric wires, including a main line and branch lines branched from the main line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10: Connector retention structure 20: Wire harness 22: Main line 24: Branch Line 25: Branching point 26: Connector 30: Holding part 32: Cylindrical part 40: Binding part 44: Slit Tape 50: Wire holder

Claims

1. A connector holding structure for holding a connector provided on a harness consisting of multiple wires including a main line and branch lines branched from the main line, The retaining portion is provided on the side of the harness in the extension direction prior to the branching point where the branch line is branched. A connector holding structure characterized in that the connector provided on the tip side of the branch line is held by folding the tip side of the branch line back into the holding part and housing it.

2. The connector holding structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a binding portion that integrally fixes the branch line and the main line at the folded portion of the branch line.

3. The aforementioned fastening portion is made of slit tape, The connector holding structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the slit tape has slits formed along the direction in which the branch line extends.

4. The harness is equipped with wire holders arranged along the direction of extension of the harness, The connector holding structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding portion is integrally fixed to the main line with the wire holder.

5. The connector holding structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holding portion has a cylindrical portion capable of accommodating the connector.

6. The connector holding structure according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the holding portion is positioned between the fixing point to the main line by the wire holder and the fixing point by the binding portion.

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