Wire holding clips, wire holding structures

Abstract

We provide wire-holding clips and the like that can be flexibly modified to accommodate changes in wire harness diameter, number of branches, and other specifications. [Solution] The wire holding clip 1 is a component capable of holding multiple wire harnesses and consists of a base portion 3 and an add-on portion 5. The base portion 3 is the part that is fixed to the object to be fixed and has a wire holding portion 3a and an anchor portion 9 provided on the lower side of the wire holding portion 3a. The add-on portion 5 is detachably attached to the base portion 3. The base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 each have a plurality of recesses 7a and 7b in which wire harnesses are placed. With the add-on portion 5 attached to the base portion 3, it is possible to place wire harnesses in the respective recesses 7a and 7b and fix them with a fixing member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, an electric wire holding clip for fixing a wire harness routed in an automobile, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] For example, wire harnesses used in automobiles and the like are routed at predetermined portions of a vehicle body. As automobiles have become more multifunctional and sophisticated, the number of circuits in wire harnesses has increased, leading to larger diameters, while the need to expand the space in the vehicle cabin is high. For example, increasing the diameter of an instrument panel wire harness raises the instrument panel surface, which leads to deterioration of forward visibility. Increasing the diameter of a floor wire harness raises the rocker portion, which leads to deterioration of ease of getting on and off the vehicle.

[0003] In response to this, a clamp has been proposed that includes an engagement portion for attaching to a vehicle body, a placement portion for placing a wire harness, and a pressing portion for pressing the wire harness (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the pressing portion has pressing main body portions that face each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire harness, and opposing extending portions that connect them. For this reason, the wire harness can be temporarily assembled to the placement portion in a state where the wire harness is pressed down to reduce its height by the pressing portion. Further, in this temporarily assembled state, the wire harness can be fixed by bundling the placement portion and the opposing extending portions together with the low-profile wire harness between the opposing pressing main body portions.

[0006] However, the clamp described in Patent Document 1 cannot flexibly accommodate the diameter of the wire harness being fixed. Furthermore, it is difficult to flexibly accommodate changes in the number of wires in the harness.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a wire-holding clip, etc., that can be flexibly modified to accommodate changes in the diameter and number of branches of the wire harness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the first invention is a wire-holding clip capable of holding multiple wire harnesses, comprising a base portion fixed to an object to be fixed, and an add-on portion detachable from the base portion, wherein the base portion and the add-on portion each have a plurality of recesses on which wire harnesses are arranged, and the wire harnesses can be arranged and fixed in each of the recesses with the add-on portion attached to the base portion.

[0009] With respect to the base portion, the installation position of the add-on portion can be changed in the X direction in which the recesses are parallel, and it may be possible to change between a state in which all of the recesses of the add-on portion are arranged on the same straight line perpendicular to the X direction with respect to the recesses of the base portion, and a state in which at least one of the recesses of the add-on portion is shifted in the X direction with respect to the recess of the base portion and is arranged on another straight line perpendicular to the X direction.

[0010] A fitting hole or fitting projection may be provided between the recesses of the base portion, and a fitting projection or fitting hole that can fit with the fitting hole or fitting projection may be provided between the recesses of the add-on portion, and the add-on portion may be attached to the base portion by inserting the fitting projection into the fitting hole.

[0011] An anchor portion for fixing to the object to be fixed is provided on the lower side of the base portion, and the add-on portion may be attached to the base portion by overlapping the add-on portion from above the base portion.

[0012] According to the first invention, the base part and the add-on part are constructed as separate components, and the add-on part can be attached to and detached from the base part. By combining the base part and the add-on part, it is possible to adapt to various wire harness routing applications.

[0013] For example, if the installation position of the add-on part can be changed relative to the base part, the number of wire harnesses held can be changed according to the number of branches in the wire harness by positioning at least one recess of the add-on part in a straight line different from the recess of the base part.

[0014] Furthermore, by providing fitting holes or fitting protrusions between the recesses of the base portion, and providing fitting protrusions or fitting holes that can fit with these fitting holes or fitting protrusions between the recesses of the add-on portion, the base portion and the add-on portion can be attached by fitting the protrusions and holes together.

[0015] Furthermore, by attaching the add-on part so that it overlaps the base part from above, interference between the anchor part of the base part and the add-on part can be avoided.

[0016] The second invention is a wire holding structure in which a wire harness is fixed to a wire holding clip according to the first invention, characterized in that the wire harness is arranged in the recess, and the base portion, the add-on portion, and the wire harness are fixed together with a sheet member having tape or adhesive.

[0017] According to the second invention, it is possible to securely fix the electric wire to the electric wire fixing part with a fixing member such as tape or a sheet member having an adhesive. Furthermore, because it is fixed with a fixing member such as tape, it can be used regardless of the diameter or number of electric wires. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wire holding clip and the like that can flexibly adapt to changes in the diameter of a wire harness, the number of branches, and the like. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] An exploded perspective view of the wire holding clip 1. [Figure 2] (a) is an exploded cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1, (b) is a diagram showing a state where the wire holding clip is assembled and a wire harness is arranged with respect to (a), and (c) is a plan view of (b). [Figure 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the wire holding structure 20, and (b) is a plan view showing the wire holding structure 20. [Figure 4] A diagram showing another assembled state with respect to Figure 2, where (a) is an exploded cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1, and (b) and (c) are plan views. [Figure 5] (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the wire holding structure 20a, and (b) is a plan view showing the wire holding structure 20a. [Figure 6] An exploded perspective view of the wire holding clip 1a. [Figure 7] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1b, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1c. [Figure 8] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1d, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the wire holding clip 1e. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the wire holding clip 1. The wire holding clip 1 is a member capable of holding a plurality of wire harnesses, and is composed of a base portion 3 and an add-on portion 5.

[0021] The base portion 3 is the part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, and has a wire holding portion 3a and an anchor portion 9 provided on the lower side of the wire holding portion 3a. That is, the direction in which the anchor portion 9 is provided is downward from the wire holding clip 1. The anchor portion 9 is the part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, such as a vehicle body. For example, the wire holding clip 1 is fixed to the object by inserting the anchor portion 9 into a hole formed in the vehicle body. Note that the shape of the anchor portion 9 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be circular in shape, for example, in addition to being elliptical.

[0022] Multiple recesses 7a for arranging wire harnesses are formed at predetermined intervals on the upper surface of the wire holding portion 3a of the base portion 3. The recesses 7a are cut out in a roughly arc shape, and in the illustrated example, three recesses 7a are formed roughly parallel to each other. The parallel direction of the recesses 7a is defined as the X direction. That is, the axial direction of the wire harnesses arranged in the recesses 7a is perpendicular to the X direction.

[0023] Fitting holes 11 are provided between the recesses 7a of the base portion 3. The fitting holes 11 are the parts that engage with the fitting projections described later. In other words, the wire holding portion 3a has four fitting holes 11, including at both ends, and three recesses 7a formed between the fitting holes 11.

[0024] The add-on section 5 is detachable from the base section 3. The add-on section 5 consists of a pair of wire holders 5a connected by a connecting section 13. Each wire holder 5a has multiple recesses 7b formed at predetermined intervals and approximately parallel to each other, where a wire harness is placed. The recesses 7b are cut out in an approximately arc shape, and in the illustrated example, three recesses 7b are formed. That is, the base section 3 and the add-on section 5 are each provided with multiple recesses 7a and 7b where a wire harness is placed, and they are arranged in parallel in the X direction as described above.

[0025] Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the wire-holding clip 1 corresponding to the connecting portion 13. A fitting projection 15 that protrudes downward is provided on the lower surface of the connecting portion 13. That is, a fitting projection 15 that can be fitted with a fitting hole 11 is provided between the recesses 7b of the add-on portion 5. Note that the fitting hole 11 and the fitting projection 15 may be reversed, and the fitting projection 15 may be provided between the recesses 7a of the base portion 3, and the fitting hole 11 may be provided between the recesses 7b of the add-on portion 5.

[0026] By attaching the add-on part 5 so that it overlaps the base part 3 from above, and the wire holding part 3a of the base part 3 is positioned between the wire holding parts 5a of the add-on part 5, the fitting projection 15 can be inserted into the fitting hole 11, as described above, and the add-on part 5 can be attached to the base part 3.

[0027] Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the add-on part 5 attached to the base part 3, and Figure 2(c) is a plan view of Figure 2(b). In the illustrated example, all the recesses 7b of the add-on part 5 are aligned in the same line with respect to the recesses 7a of the base part 3. That is, by aligning the recesses 7a and 7b in the same line perpendicular to the aforementioned X direction, wire harnesses 17 can be positioned along the three rows of recesses 7a and 7b. The radii of curvature of the recesses 7a and 7b are approximately the same and are larger than the radius of curvature of the wire harness 17 to be positioned. In this way, wire harnesses 17 of various sizes can be positioned in the recesses 7a and 7b.

[0028] Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a wire holding structure in which a wire harness is fixed to a wire holding clip 1, and Figure 3(b) is a plan view. As mentioned above, the wire harness 17 is placed in the recesses 7a and 7b. The base portion 3, the add-on portion 5, and the wire harness 17 are all fixed together by a fixing member 21. The fixing member 21 is, for example, a sheet member having tape or adhesive. In this way, with the add-on portion 5 attached to the base portion 3, it is possible to place the wire harness 17 in the respective recesses 7a and 7b and fix the wire harness 17 to the wire holding clip 1 with the fixing member 21.

[0029] If the fixing member 21 is tape, the fixing member 21 is attached to the lower surface of the base portion 3 in a diagonal pattern, avoiding the anchor portion 9. When the add-on portion 5 is attached to the base portion 3, the lower surfaces of the wire holding portions 3a and 5a become almost flush, so the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 can be securely fixed by the fixing member 21.

[0030] Furthermore, the wire harness 17 can be fixed to the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 on the upper surfaces of the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5. In this case, even if the diameter of the wire harness 17 changes, the fixing member 21 can reliably fix the wire harness 17.

[0031] Furthermore, if the fixing member 21 is a sheet member, a hole can be made in the part corresponding to the anchor portion 9, and the sheet member can be attached while avoiding the anchor portion 9.

[0032] Next, we will describe other wire holding structures using the same wire holding clip 1. First, as shown in Figure 4(a), the add-on part 5 is positioned relative to the base part 3, offset in the parallel direction of the recesses 7a and 7b, and in that state, the add-on part 5 is attached to the base part 3.

[0033] Figure 4(b) is a plan view showing the add-on part 5 attached to the base part 3 in a different position. As shown in Figure 4(b), in this case, at least one of the 7b recesses of the add-on part 5 is shifted in the X direction relative to the recess 7a of the base part 3, and is positioned on another straight line perpendicular to the X direction. In this state, as shown in Figure 4(c), the wire harness 17 is placed in the respective recesses 7a and 7b.

[0034] Specifically, at one end (left side in the figure), the wire harness 17 is positioned only in the recess 7b of the wire holding portion 5a. Also, at the two locations in the central part, similar to Figure 2(c), the recesses 7a and 7b are arranged to be aligned on the same straight line perpendicular to the X direction, so the wire harness 17 is positioned along the recesses 7a and 7b. Furthermore, at the other end (right side in the figure), the wire harness 17 is positioned only in the recess 7a of the wire holding portion 3a.

[0035] Even in this case, as shown in the wire holding structure 20a in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), with the add-on part 5 attached to the base part 3, the wire harness 17 can be placed in the respective recesses 7a and 7b and fixed with the fixing member 21.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, by separating the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5, and making the add-on portion 5 detachable from the base portion 3, it is possible to change the mounting position of the add-on portion 5 relative to the base portion 3 in the X direction. For example, it is possible to change between a state in which the parallel position of the recess 7b of the add-on portion 5 perfectly matches the parallel position of the recess 7a of the base portion 3, and a state in which some of the recesses 7b of the add-on portion 5 are positioned offset in the X direction from the recess 7a of the base portion 3. Therefore, the number of mutually parallel grooves formed by the recesses 7a and 7b can be changed as needed, and the usage configuration can be changed according to the number of branches of the wire harness 17.

[0037] Furthermore, the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 can be positioned by fitting the fitting projection 15 and the fitting hole 11, making installation easy. Also, since the recesses 7a and 7b are formed with a sufficiently large curvature relative to the outer shape of the wire harness 17, the wire harness 17 can be placed in the recesses 7a and 7b and fixed with the fixing member 21 regardless of its diameter.

[0038] Furthermore, although an anchor portion 9 is provided below the base portion 3, the add-on portion 5 is attached from above the base portion 3, so that the anchor portion 9 and the add-on portion 5 do not interfere with each other.

[0039] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the wire-holding clip 1a according to the second embodiment. In the following description, components that perform the same function as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 5, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0040] The wire-holding clip 1a has substantially the same configuration as the wire-holding clip 1, but differs in that the add-on part 5 is attached from below the base part 3. The add-on part 5 is provided with multiple holes 19 at predetermined intervals, into which the anchor part 9 of the base part 3 can be inserted. The base part 3 is attached to the add-on part 5 from above between a pair of wire-holding parts 5a. At this time, the fitting projection 15 of the add-on part 5 is inserted into the fitting hole 11 of the base part 3 to position it.

[0041] Even in this case, the base portion 3 can be installed with all recesses 7a and 7b of the add-on portion 5 aligned, or the add-on portion 5 can be installed with a slight offset relative to the base portion 3. Therefore, the number of grooves formed by the recesses 7a and 7b can be changed. Furthermore, if positioning is possible using the anchor portion 9 and the hole 19, the fitting hole 11 and fitting projection 15 may be omitted.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 6, protrusions 18 are provided near the four corners of the add-on portion 5, extending from both ends of the add-on portion 5 (both ends in the parallel direction of the recess 7b). The protrusions 18 help to suppress displacement of the fixing member 21 when it is attached. The protrusions 18 can also be applied to other embodiments.

[0043] According to the second embodiment, the same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, since only the add-on portion 5 is exposed on the lower side except for the anchor portion 9, the work of attaching the fixing member 21 is easy. Also, on the upper side, once the wire harness 17 is fixed to the add-on portion 5, the base portion 3 will not come off the add-on portion 5, making it easy to fix with the fixing member 21. Thus, as long as the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 can be fixed with a relative offset in the parallel direction of the recesses 7a and 7b, the vertical relationship between the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 is not particularly limited.

[0044] Next, a third embodiment will be described. Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a wire-holding clip 1b according to the third embodiment. The wire-holding clip 1b has substantially the same configuration as the wire-holding clip 1, but differs in that the number and arrangement of the recesses 7b of the add-on part 5 do not match those of the recesses 7a of the base part 3.

[0045] In the wire-holding clip 1b, the base portion 3 has three recesses 7a arranged in parallel, while the add-on portion 5 is bent in an L-shape, with three recesses 7b formed at positions corresponding to the recesses 7a of the base portion 3, and another recess 7b formed outside the bent portion. In other words, the recesses 7b of the add-on portion 5 differ from those of the base portion 3 in both arrangement and number. Since the base portion 3 is not located at the bent portion, the recesses 7b may be formed continuously along the entire length without being divided into two in the axial direction.

[0046] With wire-holding clip 1b, only the add-on part 5 can be replaced. In other words, with wire-holding clips 1 and 1a, the number of grooves could be changed by changing the relative position of the add-on part 5 with respect to the base part 3, but with wire-holding clip 1b, the base part 3 is common, and the number of grooves and layout can be changed by changing the add-on part 5.

[0047] Furthermore, the add-on section 5 may be configured in two stages, as shown in the wire-holding clip 1c in Figure 7(b). In the wire-holding clip 1c, as described above, the base section 3 has three recesses 7a arranged in parallel. On the other hand, the add-on section 5 is bent in a roughly U-shape, with three recesses 7b formed in the first stage at positions corresponding to the recesses 7a of the base section 3, and three more recesses 7b formed on the second stage surface. In other words, the recesses 7b of the add-on section 5 differ from those of the recesses 7a of the base section 3 in both arrangement and number. Note that since the base section 3 is not positioned in the second stage, the recesses 7b may be formed continuously along the entire length without being divided into two in the axial direction.

[0048] Furthermore, the form of the add-on part 5 may be configured in a two-tiered, stepped manner, as shown in the wire-holding clip 1d in Figure 8(a). In the wire-holding clip 1d, as described above, the base part 3 has three recesses 7a arranged in parallel. On the other hand, the add-on part 5 is bent in a roughly U-shape, with three recesses 7b formed in the first tier at positions corresponding to the recesses 7a of the base part 3, and two more recesses 7b formed on the second tier surface. In other words, the recesses 7b of the add-on part 5 differ from those of the recesses 7a of the base part 3 in both arrangement and number. Note that since the base part 3 is not positioned in the second tier, the recesses 7b may be formed continuously along the entire length without being divided into two in the axial direction.

[0049] Furthermore, the form of the add-on part 5 may be configured by bending it diagonally, as shown in the wire-holding clip 1e in Figure 8(b). In the wire-holding clip 1e, as described above, the base part 3 has three recesses 7a arranged in parallel. On the other hand, the add-on part 5 has three recesses 7b formed at positions corresponding to the recesses 7a of the base part 3, and additional recesses 7b are formed in the diagonally bent portion. In other words, the recesses 7b of the add-on part 5 differ from those of the recesses 7a of the base part 3 in both arrangement and number. Note that since the base part 3 is not located in the bent portion, the recesses 7b may be formed continuously along the entire length without being divided into two in the axial direction.

[0050] According to the third embodiment, the same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, since the add-on part 5 can be attached to and detached from the base part 3, the base part 3 can be standardized and only the add-on part 5 can be changed for use. In addition, in the wire holding clips 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e, the three parallel recesses 7a and 7b of the base part 3 and the add-on part 5 may be fixed in a staggered manner.

[0051] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0052] For example, the number of recesses 7a and 7b provided in the base portion 3 and the add-on portion 5 is not limited to the example shown.

[0053] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e... Wire holding clips 3…Base section 3a……Wire holding part 5…Add-on section 5a……Wire holding part 7a, 7b... recessed 9... Anchor section 11…Matching hole 13……Connection part 15…Matching projection 17…Wire harness 18……protrusion 19……hole 20, 20a……Wire holding structure 21…Fixing member

Claims

1. A wire retaining clip capable of holding multiple wire harnesses, A base part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, A detachable add-on part is provided for the base part, It is equipped with, The base portion and the add-on portion each have a plurality of recesses in which a wire harness is arranged. A wire-holding clip characterized in that, with the add-on portion attached to the base portion, it is possible to position and secure a wire harness in each of the recesses.

2. The wire-holding clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the installation position of the add-on portion can be changed in the X direction in which the recesses are parallel to the base portion, and it is possible to change between a state in which all of the recesses of the add-on portion are arranged on the same straight line in a direction perpendicular to the X direction with respect to the recesses of the base portion, and a state in which at least one of the recesses of the add-on portion is shifted in the X direction with respect to the recess of the base portion and is arranged on another straight line in a direction perpendicular to the X direction.

3. A fitting hole or fitting projection is provided between the recesses of the base portion. Between the recesses of the add-on portion, there is a fitting projection or fitting hole that can be fitted with the fitting hole or fitting projection. The wire holding clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the add-on portion can be attached to the base portion by inserting the fitting projection into the fitting hole.

4. An anchor portion is provided on the lower side of the base portion to be fixed to the object to be fixed. The wire-holding clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the add-on portion is attached to the base portion by overlapping the add-on portion from above the base portion.

5. A wire holding structure in which a wire harness is fixed to a wire holding clip according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A wire harness is placed in the recess, A wire holding structure characterized in that the base portion, the add-on portion, and the wire harness are fixed together with a sheet member having tape or adhesive.

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