protector

Abstract

To provide a protector 1 capable of suppressing a protector constitution body 20 from being sized larger and maintaining a routing state of a desired wire harness WH.SOLUTION: There is provided a protector 1 which protects a wire harness WH inserted into it, wherein a protector body 2 is composed of a plurality of protector constitution bodies 20 connected along a routing direction of the wire harness WH, a cover 4 is composed of a plurality of cover constitution bodies 40 fitted to the protector constitution bodies 20 to close an opening, and a protector constitution body 20 comprises a recess-sectioned constitution body main body 21 and a set of connection parts 22 to which another protector constitution body 20 is connected; and a connection part 22 is a plate-like flange part 23 protruded from an end part of the constitution body main body 21 or a fitting groove part 24 having a groove part 24a to which the flange part 23 is fitted, and the constitution body main body 21 is provided with a lock hole part 21c for fixing the cover constitution body 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protector that protects, for example, an electric wire inserted therein and regulates the position of the electric wire along a desired wiring path of the electric wire. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, electronic devices mounted on a vehicle are electrically connected to each other via electric wires routed through the vehicle. The electric wires routed through the vehicle are protected by being inserted through a protector to prevent them from being damaged due to interference with members around the wiring path, and the position of the electric wires is restricted by the protector so that they are aligned along a desired wiring path.

[0003] Such a protector may have a long and complicated shape depending on the wiring path of the electric wire, and the shape may be a factor in reducing moldability and portability. Therefore, in order to suppress the reduction in moldability and portability, the protector may be divided into multiple parts along the wiring direction of the electric wire.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protector in which a protector body having a concave cross-section with a bottom surface and a pair of opposing side walls, and a cover (protector cover) that covers an opening in the protector body, are divided into multiple pieces along the wiring direction of the electric wires.

[0005] Specifically, the protector body of Patent Document 1 is composed of multiple protector components (first protector part, second protector part) extending along the wiring direction of the electric wires. Furthermore, the cover of Patent Document 1 is composed of multiple cover components (first cover part, second cover part) attached to each protector component.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, the protector is constructed by connecting the protector constituents to each other by engaging a locking portion provided on one protector constituent from above with a locked portion provided on the other protector constituent, and by engaging the engaging claw of the cover constituent with the engaging portion of the protector constituent. In this way, Patent Document 1 prevents deterioration in moldability and portability of the protector by dividing the protector body and cover that constitute the protector.

[0007] Incidentally, the protector of Patent Document 1 has guide means for guiding the connection between the protector components and a tongue portion for holding the electric wires provided on the inner surface of the protector component. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to ensure an internal space of the protector component larger than the space required to accommodate the electric wires, and the protector component tends to become large and heavy.

[0008] In such a case, the protector of Patent Document 1 may be deformed, for example by bending at the connection points of the protector components due to its own weight, and the desired wiring state of the electric wires may not be stably maintained. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-95126 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a protector that can maintain a desired wiring state of electric wires while suppressing an increase in the size of the protector structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to a protector for protecting an electric wire passing through an interior thereof, the protector body being made up of a plurality of protector components connected along a wiring direction of the electric wire, the cover being made up of a plurality of cover components attached to the protector components and closing the opening, the protector components being made up of a component body having a concave cross section constituting the bottom portion and the pair of opposing sidewalls, and a set of connection parts provided at ends of the component body in the wiring direction to which another protector component is connected, the connection parts being: provided on one end side of the component body in the wiring direction, A plate-shaped flange portion protruding from an end portion of the component body toward the outside in the opposing direction in which the pair of side wall portions are opposed to each other. and provided on the other end side of the component body in the wiring direction, The protector assembly is provided at an end thereof so as to protrude outward in the opposing direction, and is provided from the opening side. Another protector structure The flange portion is a fitting groove portion having a groove portion into which the flange portion is fitted, and the component body is provided with a fixing portion for fixing the cover component on an outer surface in a direction in which the pair of side wall portions face each other. The cover structure has a fixed portion fixed to the fixing portion, and is provided with a main body cover portion that covers the opening of the structure main body in the protector structure, and a connection cover portion that covers the opening of the connection portion connected to another protector structure among the connection portions, and the cover structure does not cover the opening at a location corresponding to the connection portion different from the connection portion connected to the other protector structure. It is characterized by:

[0012] The above-mentioned "concave cross section" refers to a cross section in which the bottom surface and the side wall surface are substantially perpendicular to each other, or a cross section in which the bottom surface is curved and substantially U-shaped. The set of connecting portions refers to at least one flange portion and one fitting groove portion, or at least two flange portions or at least two fitting groove portions.

[0013] According to the present invention, the protector can maintain a desired wiring state of the electric wires while suppressing an increase in the size of the protector structure. Specifically, the connection portion to which another protector component is connected is configured as a flange portion or a fitting groove portion protruding in the opposing direction of a pair of side wall portions, so that the contact area of ​​the protector component with the connection portion of the other protector component is larger than when connected by locking.

[0014] Therefore, the protector assembly can stably support another protector assembly connected to the connection portion. Furthermore, since a fixing portion for fixing the cover component is provided on the outer surface of the protector component, the connecting means for connecting the protector component and the connecting means for connecting the cover component do not protrude from the inner surface of the component body.

[0015] For this reason, the protector can prevent the internal space of the component body from becoming large by the connecting means for connecting the cover component and the connecting means for connecting the protector component. In other words, the protector does not need to make the internal space of the component body larger than the space required to accommodate the electric wires.

[0016] This allows the protector to have a compact body, so that even if connecting parts protruding in opposing directions are provided, the size and weight of the protector component can be prevented from increasing. Therefore, for example, the protector can be prevented from being deformed by its own weight at the connecting parts of the protector component, such as by bending. Therefore, the protector can maintain the desired wiring state of the electric wires while suppressing an increase in the size of the protector structure.

[0017] As an aspect of the invention, the cover structure may have a fixed portion fixed to the fixing portion, and may be provided with a main body cover portion that covers the opening of the structure main body in the protector structure, and a connection cover portion that covers the opening of at least one of the connection portions to which another protector structure is connected.

[0018] With this configuration, the length of the cover component in the wiring direction is not longer than that of the protector component, so that the protector can prevent the cover component from becoming larger in size while ensuring portability equivalent to that of the protector component.

[0019] Furthermore, since the opening of the component body is blocked by the main body cover portion and the opening of the connection portion is blocked by the connection cover portion, the protector can completely block the opening of the protector component connected along the wiring direction.

[0020] This makes it possible for the protector to more effectively prevent foreign matter from entering the fitting portion between the flange portion and the fitting groove portion and into the inside of the protector structure, thereby enabling the protector to reliably protect the electric wires inserted therein.

[0021] As a further aspect of the present invention, the connection portion, the opening of which is covered by the connection cover portion, may be the fitting groove portion. According to this configuration, the opening of the fitting groove is blocked by the connection cover portion, so that the protector can reliably prevent the protector component fitted into the fitting groove from moving in the removal direction in which the flange portion is removed from the fitting groove.

[0022] This allows the protector to more stably support another protector assembly connected to the protector assembly, which can prevent the protector from being deformed, for example, by bending at the connection point of the protector assembly due to the weight of the protector assembly itself. Therefore, the protector can more reliably maintain the desired wiring state of the electric wires.

[0023] As a further aspect of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of protector structures may be a branched protector structure provided with three or more of the connection portions. According to this configuration, the protector can protect, for example, a branch point of an electric wire branching in a different wiring direction with the branch protector structure.

[0024] Furthermore, the protector can connect, for example, a plurality of protector assemblies to one protector assembly via a branch protector assembly, and therefore, the protector can be configured with a branch protector assembly to form a protector body suitable for electric wires branching in different wiring directions.

[0025] As a further aspect of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of protector components may be a bending protector component in which the component body is bent. The above-mentioned component body being bent refers to, for example, a state in which it is curved in an arc shape, a state in which it is bent in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction, or a state in which it is bent in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction.

[0026] According to this configuration, the protector can protect the electric wire that is routed so as to be curved or bent with the bending protector structure. Furthermore, the protector can connect protector assemblies arranged such that, for example, a pair of connecting parts face in different directions via a bending protector assembly. Therefore, the protector can be configured with a bending protector assembly to form a protector body suitable for an electric wire that is routed in a curved routing direction.

[0027] As another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the multiple protector structures may be a tapered protector structure in which the size of the cross-sectional shape along the opposing direction in which the pair of side wall portions oppose each other gradually changes along the wiring direction.

[0028] The tapered protector structure refers to a protector structure whose cross-sectional size gradually increases along the wiring direction, or a protector structure whose cross-sectional size gradually decreases along the wiring direction. According to this configuration, the taper protector structure can connect protector structures having different sizes of cross-sectional shapes along the opposing direction via the taper protector structure.

[0029] For example, the protector body can be formed by connecting a protector component through which the wire harness is inserted and a protector component through which electric wires branching from the wire harness are inserted, using a tapered protector component. Therefore, the protector can be configured with a tapered protector body that is suitable for the thickness of the electric wire to be inserted, for example.

[0030] In another aspect of the present invention, the connection portion of the protector component which is one end of the protector main body may be the fitting groove portion, and a corrugated fixing body may be provided which is inserted into the groove portion of the fitting groove portion from the opening side and fits into a recess of a corrugated tube surrounding the electric wire.

[0031] According to this configuration, since the corrugated tube can be sandwiched between the protector component and the corrugated fixing body, the protector can fix the electric wire surrounded by the corrugated tube at a desired position of the protector body. At this time, since the corrugated fixing body fits into the fitting groove, the protector can effectively utilize one end of the protector body, i.e., the fitting groove to which another protector component is not connected.

[0032] In addition, by closing the opening of the fitting groove portion into which the corrugated fixed body is fitted with the cover structure, the protector can reliably prevent the corrugated fixed body from coming off, and therefore the protector can stably maintain the desired wiring state of the electric wire.

[0033] As another aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion of the protector structure to which the cover structure is fixed may have a length in the opposing direction in which the pair of side wall portions oppose each other that is shorter than that of the connection portion.

[0034] According to this configuration, the length of the protector assembly in the opposing direction can be reduced compared to when the length of the fixing portion in the opposing direction is longer than the connecting portion, so that the protector can be configured to have a compact protector main body in the opposing direction. Therefore, the protector can be prevented from becoming large in size in the opposing direction.

[0035] Furthermore, by configuring the protector structure so that, for example, a pair of connection parts face each other in a substantially linear wiring direction and the spacing in the wiring direction is short, when a contact object comes into contact with the protector from the opposing direction, the protector can bring the contact object into contact with the connection parts before the fixed part. This makes it possible for the protector to prevent the fixed state between the protector component and the cover component from being released. Effect of the Invention

[0036] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a protector that can maintain a desired wiring state of electric wires while suppressing an increase in the size of the protector structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of the protector into which the wire harness is inserted; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of the protector with the cover separated. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the external appearance of the protector. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of a protector body and a fixing member. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of the protector assembly as viewed from the front. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of the protector assembly as viewed from the rear. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the external appearance of a protector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a branch protector structure. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a taper protector structure. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a bending protector structure. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of a slope protector structure according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of another fixing member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0039] The protector 1 of the first embodiment accommodates and protects a wire harness WH routed along the front-rear direction X. Such a protector 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7.

[0040] Note that Figure 1 shows an external oblique view of protector 1 with wire harness WH inserted therethrough, Figure 2 shows an external oblique view of protector 1 with cover 4 separated, Figure 3 shows a plan view of protector 1, and Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 3.

[0041] Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows an external perspective view of the protector body 2 and the fixing member 3, FIG. 6 shows an external perspective view of the protector assembly 20 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 7 shows an external perspective view of the protector assembly 20 as viewed from the rear.

[0042] 1 is the upper side of protector 1, and the lower side of FIG. 1 is the lower side of protector 1. Arrow X in the figure indicates the front-to-rear direction of protector 1 (hereinafter referred to as front-to-rear direction X), and arrow Y indicates the direction perpendicular to front-to-rear direction X in a plan view (hereinafter referred to as width direction Y). Furthermore, in the front-rear direction X, the direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front, and the direction from the left side to the right side in FIG.

[0043] First, the wire harness WH is configured by bundling together a plurality of electric wires, each of which has a conductor covered with an insulating coating. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the wire harness WH is arranged such that its longitudinal direction coincides with the front-rear direction X.

[0044] Further, the wire harness WH is inserted into a corrugated tube C extending in the front-rear direction X, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The corrugated tube C is formed in a bellows shape with peaks and valleys alternately arranged in the front-rear direction X, as shown in Fig. 3. Although detailed illustration is omitted, an end of the corrugated tube C is fixed to the wire harness WH by, for example, an adhesive tape.

[0045] The protector 1 through which such a wire harness WH is inserted protects the inserted wire harness WH and also regulates the position of the wire harness WH so that it is routed along a desired routing path.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this protector 1 has an opening at the top and is equipped with a protector main body 2 having a concave cross-sectional shape extending in the wiring direction of the wire harness WH (front-rear direction X), and a fixing member 3 that fixes the wire harness WH to the protector main body 2. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, protector 1 is provided with cover 4 which is attached to protector body 2 from above and closes the upper opening of protector body 2.

[0047] In detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the protector body 2 of the protector 1 is formed into a cross-sectional concave shape having a bottom surface portion 2a forming the bottom of the protector 1, and a pair of side wall portions 2b erected from both ends of the bottom surface portion 2a in the width direction Y and facing each other in the width direction Y.

[0048] 5, the protector body 2 is composed of a plurality of protector components 20 arranged side by side along the wiring direction (front-rear direction X) of the wire harness WH. The protector body 2 is composed by connecting adjacent protector components 20 to each other.

[0049] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the protector component 20 is composed of a component main body 21 having a concave cross-sectional shape extending in the wiring direction of the wire harness WH (front-to-rear direction X), and a pair of connection portions 22 provided at the front and rear of the component main body 21.

[0050] Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the component body 21 is formed with a concave cross-section by a body bottom portion 21a that forms the bottom surface portion 2a of the protector body 2, and a pair of body side portions 21b that form the side wall portions 2b of the protector body 2.

[0051] Of these, the main body bottom portion 21a is in the shape of a flat plate having a thickness in the up-down direction, and is formed to have a length in the width direction Y that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube C. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the vicinity of the front end of this main body bottom portion 21a is formed to protrude outward in the width direction Y beyond the main body side portion 21b and function as the bottom of the connection portion 22 (the fitting groove portion 24 described later).

[0052] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pair of main body side portions 21b are formed in the shape of flat plates having a vertical length approximately equal to the outer diameter of the corrugated tube C and extending upward from both ends in the width direction Y of the main body bottom portion 21a.

[0053] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, this main body side portion 21b has approximately the same length in the front-to-rear direction X as the main body bottom portion 21a, and is offset rearward from the main body bottom portion 21a so that its front end is located rearward relative to the front end of the main body bottom portion 21a and its rear end is located rearward relative to the rear end of the main body bottom portion 21a.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the main body side portion 21b has a pair of locking holes 21c into which the cover 4 is locked, provided on the main surface (outer surface) opposite to the main surface (inner surface) facing the other main body side portion 21b. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, this locking hole portion 21c has a generally rectangular box shape in a plan view that protrudes in the width direction Y from the outer surface of the main body side portion 21b, and is formed in a shape having an opening that penetrates in the vertical direction.

[0055] 5 to 7, the pair of connecting portions 22 is a portion where adjacent protector components 20 in the front-rear direction X are connected. The pair of connecting portions 22 is composed of a pair of flange portions 23 provided at the rear of the protector components 20 and a pair of fitting groove portions 24 provided at the front of the protector components 20, as shown in FIGS.

[0056] Here, the width direction Y from one main body side portion 21b to the other main body side portion 21b is defined as the inner side of the width direction Y, and the width direction Y in the opposite direction to the inner side is defined as the outer side of the width direction Y, and the flange portion 23 and the fitting groove portion 24 will be described in further detail.

[0057] The flange portion 23 is formed in a flat plate shape protruding from the rear end of the main body side portion 21b outward in the width direction Y. The flange portion 23 is in the shape of a flat plate having a thickness in the front-rear direction X, and is formed on the main body side portion 21b with approximately the same length in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 23 protrudes from the main body side portion 21b with a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the locking hole portion 21c and shorter than the fitting groove portion 24.

[0058] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the fitting groove portion 24 protrudes outward in the width direction Y from the front end of the main body side portion 21b so that the front portion of the main body bottom portion 21a protruding in the width direction Y becomes the bottom portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the fitting groove portion 24 is protruded with a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the locking hole portion 21c.

[0059] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, this fitting groove portion 24 is formed with a groove portion 24a, which is a fitting groove into which the flange portion 23 of the protector component 20 adjacent to and connected in the front-rear direction X fits from above. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, this groove portion 24a is recessed outward in the width direction Y on the inner surface of the fitting groove portion 24 that faces each other in the width direction Y, and is formed in a recessed groove shape extending in the vertical direction.

[0060] In addition, groove portion 24a is generally rectangular in plan view, having a length in the front-to-rear direction X that is the same as the thickness of flange portion 23, and a length in the width direction Y that is the same as that of flange portion 23, and is formed with a length in the up-down direction that is generally the same as that of main body side portion 21b.

[0061] As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the fixing member 3 of the protector 1 is attached by being fitted into a fitting groove portion 24 on the front side of the protector component 20, which is the end portion of the protector main body 2 in the front-rear direction X and to which another protector component 20 is not connected.

[0062] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the fixing member 3 is fitted into the fitting groove portion 24 of the protector component 20 so that the valley portion of the corrugated tube C, through which the wire harness WH is inserted, is clamped between the fixing member 3 and the main body bottom portion 21a of the protector component 20.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing member 3 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness that allows it to be fitted into the fitting groove portion 24 of the protector assembly 20. Furthermore, the fixing member 3 is formed in a shape having a notch 3a cut upward from the lower end at approximately the center in the width direction Y as a portion into which the valley portion of the corrugated tube C fits in the vertical direction.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 5, the cutout portion 3a is cut into an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front, with a semicircular portion at the top that protrudes upward and has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valley portion of the corrugated tube C when viewed from the front.

[0065] 1 to 3, the cover 4 of the protector 1 is composed of a plurality of cover constituent bodies 40 divided into the same number as the protector constituent body 20. The plurality of cover constituent bodies 40 are attached to the protector constituent body 20, respectively, and are formed so as to close the upper opening of the protector constituent body 20. The cover component 40 is formed in a flat plate shape having a length in the front-rear direction X from the front end of the fitting groove portion 24 to the rear end of the component main body 21 .

[0066] In detail, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cover component 40 is integrally formed of a main body cover portion 41 that covers the opening of the component main body 21 in the protector component 20, and a connection cover portion 42 that covers the opening of the fitting groove portion 24 in the protector component 20.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the main body cover portion 41 is a flat plate that is elongated in the front-rear direction X and has a generally rectangular shape in plan view. The lower surface of the main body 41 is formed so as to be able to abut against the upper end surface of the component main body 21. Specifically, the main body cover portion 41 is formed as a flat plate having substantially the same length in the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y as the component main body 21, as shown in FIG.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the main body cover portion 41 has a pair of locking claw portions 41a formed in the locking hole portion 21c of the protector assembly 20, which are formed downward from both ends in the width direction Y.

[0069] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection cover portion 42 is a generally rectangular flat plate elongated in the width direction Y in plan view, and its lower surface is formed so as to be able to abut against the upper end surface of the fitting groove portion 24. Specifically, the connection cover portion 42 is formed as a flat plate having approximately the same length in the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y as the fitting groove portion 24, and is integrally formed at the front end of the main body cover portion 41.

[0070] Next, an assembly process for assembling the protector assembly 20, the fixing member 3, and the cover assembly 40 to construct the protector 1 will be briefly described. First, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, an operator or an assembly device fits the flange portion 23 of the protector component 20 arranged adjacent to the protector component 20 in the front-rear direction X from above downward into the fitting groove portion 24 of the protector component 20.

[0071] At this time, the worker or the assembly device fits the flange portions 23 of the protector components 20 arranged adjacently in the front-rear direction X until they abut the bottom of the fitting groove portion 24 (main body bottom portion 21a of the component main body 21).

[0072] Similarly, an operator or an assembly device fits the flange portions 23 into the fitting groove portions 24 of the protector components 20 adjacent to each other in the fore-and-aft direction X, thereby connecting the multiple protector components 20 along the fore-and-aft direction X and configuring a protector main body 2 having a desired length in the fore-and-aft direction X.

[0073] After assembling the protector body 2, an operator or an assembly device places the corrugated tube C, through which the wire harness WH has been inserted, inside the protector body 2 through an opening of the protector body 2 facing the bottom portion 2a, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0074] At this time, the worker or the assembly device positions the protector component 20, which is the end portion of the protector main body 2, so that the valley portion of the corrugated tube C coincides with the groove portion 24a of the mating groove portion 24 on the front side to which another protector component 20 is not connected in the fore-and-aft direction X.

[0075] 2 and 5, the worker or the assembly device fits the fixing member 3 into the fitting groove 24 of the protector constituent body 20, which is the end of the protector main body 2. At this time, the worker or the assembly device fits the fixing member 3 into the fitting groove 24 so that the valley portion of the corrugated tube C is sandwiched between the main body bottom 21a of the protector constituent body 20 and the notch portion 3a of the fixing member 3.

[0076] Once the fitting of the fixing member 3 is complete, the worker or assembly device assembles the cover component 40 from above to the protector component 20 so that the main body cover portion 41 abuts against the upper end surface of the component main body 21 and the connection cover portion 42 abuts against the upper end surface of the fitting groove portion 24.

[0077] At this time, the worker or the assembly device engages the locking claw portion 41 a of the cover component 40 with the locking hole portion 21 c of the protector component 20 , and attaches the cover component 40 to the protector component 20 .

[0078] Then, the worker or the assembly device assembles the cover components 40 to all of the protector components 20 to form the cover 4, thereby forming the protector 1 that closes the opening of the protector main body 2 and protects the inserted wire harness WH. In this manner, in the protector 1 of the first embodiment, the protector constituent bodies 20 that are adjacently connected in the front-rear direction X are supported by each other at the flange portions 23 and the fitting groove portions 24 that are in surface contact with each other.

[0079] As described above, the protector 1 of this embodiment 1 is provided with a protector main body 2 having a concave cross-section, which has a bottom surface portion 2a and a pair of opposing side wall portions 2b, and a cover 4 which covers an opening of the protector main body 2 opposite the bottom surface portion 2a, and protects the wire harness WH which passes through the inside.

[0080] The protector body 2 of this protector 1 is composed of a plurality of protector components 20 connected along the front-rear direction X. On the other hand, the cover 4 of the protector 1 is composed of a plurality of cover components 40 which are attached to the protector component 20 to close the opening.

[0081] Furthermore, the protector component 20 includes a component main body 21 having a concave cross-section that constitutes the bottom surface portion 2a and a pair of opposing side wall portions 2b, and a pair of connection portions 22 that are provided at the end of the component main body 21 in the fore-and-aft direction X and to which another protector component 20 is connected.

[0082] This set of connection portions 22 is a plate-shaped flange portion 23 protruding from the rear end of the component body 21 toward the outward side in the width direction Y, and a fitting groove portion 24 protruding from the front end of the protector component 20 toward the outward side in the width direction Y and having a groove portion 24a into which the flange portion 23 fits from above.

[0083] The component body 21 is provided on its outer surface in the width direction Y with a locking hole portion 21c for fixing the cover component 40 thereto. According to this, the protector 1 can maintain a desired routing state of the wire harness WH while suppressing an increase in size of the protector structure 20.

[0084] Specifically, the connection portion 22 to which another protector component 20 is connected is configured with a flange portion 23 or a fitting groove portion 24 protruding outward in the width direction Y, so that the contact area of ​​the protector component 20 with the connection portion 22 of the other protector component 20 is larger than when connected by locking.

[0085] Therefore, the protector assembly 20 can stably support another protector assembly 20 connected to the connection portion 22 . Furthermore, since a locking hole portion 21c for fixing the cover component 40 is provided on the outer surface of the protector component 20, the connecting means for connecting the protector component 20 and the connecting means for connecting the cover component 40 do not protrude from the inner surface of the component main body 21 of the protector 1.

[0086] For this reason, in the protector 1, the internal space of the component body 21 can be prevented from becoming large by the connecting means for connecting the cover component 40 and the connecting means for connecting the protector component 20. In other words, in the protector 1, it is not necessary to make the internal space of the component body 21 larger than the space required to accommodate the wire harness WH.

[0087] As a result, the protector 1 can have a compact component body 21, and therefore, even if the connecting portion 22 protruding in the width direction Y is provided, the size and weight of the protector component 20 can be prevented from increasing. Therefore, for example, the protector 1 can be prevented from being deformed by bending at the connecting portion of the protector component 20 due to the weight of the protector component 20 itself. Therefore, the protector 1 can maintain a desired routing state of the wire harness WH while suppressing an increase in size of the protector structure 20.

[0088] In addition, the cover component 40 has a locking claw portion 41a that is fixed to the locking hole portion 21c, and is provided with a main body cover portion 41 that covers the opening of the component main body 21 in the protector component 20, and a connection cover portion 42 that covers the opening of at least one of the connection portions 22 to which another protector component 20 is connected.

[0089] According to this configuration, the length of the cover component 40 in the forward / rearward direction X is not longer than that of the protector component 20, so that the protector 1 can prevent the cover component 40 from becoming large, while ensuring portability equivalent to that of the protector component 20.

[0090] Furthermore, since the opening of the component body 21 is covered by the main body cover portion 41 and the opening of the connection portion 22 is covered by the connection cover portion 42, the protector 1 can completely cover the opening of the protector component 20 connected along the front-rear direction X.

[0091] This makes it possible for the protector 1 to more effectively prevent foreign matter from entering the fitting portion between the flange portion 23 and the fitting groove portion 24 and the inside of the protector structure 20. Therefore, the protector 1 can reliably protect the wire harness WH inserted therein.

[0092] Furthermore, since the connection portion 22, whose opening is blocked by the connection cover portion 42, is the fitting groove portion 24, the protector 1 can reliably prevent the protector component 20 fitted into the fitting groove portion 24 from moving upward, where the flange portion 23 would disengage from the fitting groove portion 24.

[0093] This allows the protector 1 to more stably support another protector assembly 20 connected to the protector assembly 20. This prevents the protector 1 from being deformed, for example, by the weight of the protector assembly 20, such as bending at the connection point of the protector assembly 20. Therefore, the protector 1 can more reliably maintain the desired routing state of the wire harness WH.

[0094] The protector 1 is inserted from above into the groove portion 24a of the mating groove portion 24 of the protector body 20, which is one end of the protector main body 2, and is provided with a fixing member 3 that fits into the valley portion of the corrugated tube C that surrounds the wire harness WH.

[0095] According to this configuration, the corrugated tube C can be sandwiched between the protector component 20 and the fixing member 3, so that the protector 1 can fix the wire harness WH surrounded by the corrugated tube C to a desired position of the protector body 2. At this time, because the fixing member 3 fits into the fitting groove portion 24, the protector 1 can effectively utilize one end of the protector body 2, i.e., the fitting groove portion 24 to which another protector component 20 is not connected.

[0096] In addition, by closing the opening of the fitting groove portion 24 into which the fixing member 3 is fitted with the cover constituent body 40, the protector 1 can reliably prevent the fixing member 3 from coming off. Therefore, the protector 1 can stably maintain the desired wiring state of the wire harness WH.

[0097] Further, the length of the locking hole portion 21c of the protector component 20 to which the cover component 40 is fixed in the width direction Y is shorter than that of the connecting portion 22. According to this configuration, since the length of the protector assembly 20 in the width direction Y can be reduced compared to a case in which the length of the locking hole portion 21c in the width direction Y is longer than the connection portion 22, the protector 1 can configure a protector main body 2 that is compact in the width direction Y. Therefore, the protector 1 can be prevented from becoming large in size in the width direction Y.

[0098] Furthermore, for example, by shortening the distance in the front-to-rear direction X between the flange portion 23 and the fitting groove portion 24, when a contact object comes into contact with the protector 1 from the width direction Y, the contact object can come into contact with the flange portion 23 or the fitting groove portion 24 before the locking claw portion 41a of the cover component 40. This makes it possible to prevent the locking claw portion 41a of the cover constituent body 40 from being pressed by a contact object, thereby preventing the locked state between the protector constituent body 20 and the cover constituent body 40 from being released. EXAMPLES

[0099] Next, a protector 100 for protecting a wire harness WH in which electric wires are routed in different directions from a predetermined branch point will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 11. Figs.

[0100] Note that Figure 8 shows a plan view of the protector 100 in Example 2, and Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram outlining the branch protector structure, with Figure 9(a) showing an external oblique view of the three-branch protector structure 140 and Figure 9(b) showing an external oblique view of the two-branch protector structure 150.

[0101] Furthermore, Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram outlining the taper protector structure, where Figure 10(a) shows an external oblique view of the first taper protector structure 160, and Figure 10(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the first taper protector structure 160 in a longitudinal section along the width direction Y.

[0102] In addition, FIG. 11 shows an explanatory diagram outlining the bend protector structure. In FIG. 8, in order to clearly show the protector 100, the cover is omitted, and the wire harness WH is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 8, the protector 100 of the second embodiment is configured by connecting a plurality of protector components having different shapes according to the wiring direction of the electric wires that configure the wire harness WH. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the wire harness WH of the second embodiment is composed of a first electric wire E1, a second electric wire E2, a third electric wire E3, and a fourth electric wire E4, and is arranged from the front to the rear in the front-rear direction X.

[0104] Of these, the first electric wire E1, as shown in FIG. 8, is arranged so as to branch off toward one side in the width direction Y (upper side in the drawing) at a predetermined branch point. As shown in FIG. 8, the second electric wire E2 is routed so as to branch off toward the other side in the width direction Y (the lower side in the figure) at a predetermined branch point, and then routed forward.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 8, the third electric wire E3 is routed so as to branch off toward the other side in the width direction Y (the lower side in the figure) at a predetermined branch point, and then routed toward the rear. 8, the fourth electric wire E4 is wired so as to extend further rearward from a predetermined branch point and then curve toward the other side in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG.

[0106] The protector body (symbol omitted) of the protector 100 into which such a wire harness WH is inserted is composed of a combination of a straight-shaped protector component extending in a predetermined direction, a branched protector component having three or more connection parts, a tapered protector component having an approximately trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, and a bent protector component in which the component body is bent, as shown in Figure 8.

[0107] Specifically, as a straight-shaped protector component, the protector 100 is provided with a first protector component 110, which is disposed on the front side in the fore-and-aft direction X and through which the wire harness WH is inserted, and a second protector component 120 through which the first electric wire E1 branched to one side in the width direction Y is inserted, as shown in FIG.

[0108] Furthermore, as a straight-shaped protector component, the protector 100 includes a third protector component 130 through which the second electric wire E2 and the third electric wire E3 branched to the other side in the width direction Y are inserted, as shown in FIG.

[0109] Further, as a branch protector component, the protector 100 is provided with a three-branch protector component 140, which is connected to the first protector component 110 as shown in FIG. 8 and through which a portion of the wire harness WH that is to become a predetermined branch point is inserted.

[0110] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the protector 100 includes, as a branch protector component, a two-branch protector component 150 through which a second electric wire E2 and a third electric wire E3 branching toward the front side and the rear side, respectively, are inserted.

[0111] Further, as a taper protector component, the protector 100 includes a first taper protector component 160, which is connected to one side in the width direction Y of the three-branch protector component 140 and through which the first electric wire E1 branched to one side in the width direction Y is inserted, as shown in FIG.

[0112] Furthermore, as a taper protector component, the protector 100 is provided with a second taper protector component 170, as shown in FIG. 8, which is connected to the rear side of the three-branch protector component 140 and through which the fourth electric wire E4 branched to the rear side is inserted.

[0113] As the bending protector component, the protector 100 includes a first curved protector component 180 and a second curved protector component 190, which are connected to the second tapered protector component 170 and through which the fourth electric wire E4, which is routed toward the rear, is inserted, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0114] Furthermore, as a bending protector component, the protector 100 is provided with a bending protector component 200, as shown in FIG. 8, which is connected to the second curved protector component 190 and through which the fourth electric wire E4, which is arranged toward the other side in the width direction Y, is inserted.

[0115] In more detail, first, the first protector component 110, the second protector component 120, and the third protector component 130 are formed in a shape in which the component body having a concave cross-sectional shape extends in a predetermined direction, similar to the protector component 20 of Example 1.

[0116] The first protector component 110 and the third protector component 130 are formed so that the cross-sectional concave shapes of the component bodies have substantially the same size. On the other hand, the second protector component 120 is formed so that the cross-sectional concave shape of the component body is smaller than that of the first protector component 110.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 8, the three-branch protector component 140 is a protector component having a generally rectangular shape in a plan view, which is connected to the fitting groove portion 111 of the first protector component 110, and is formed to be capable of accommodating a wire harness WH branching from the front-rear direction X to the width direction Y and rearward.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 9(a), this three-way branch protector component 140 is composed of a component body 141 and a pair of connecting parts (reference numerals omitted). Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the three-branch protector component 140 has a flange portion 142 and a fitting groove portion 143 arranged opposite each other in the front-rear direction X, and a flange portion 144 and a fitting groove portion 145 arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y, as shown in FIG. 9(a).

[0119] Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 9(a), the component body 141 is composed of a body bottom 141a that is roughly cross-shaped when viewed from above, a pair of first body side portions 141b that stand upright from the body bottom 141a and face each other in the width direction Y, and a pair of second body side portions 141c that stand upright from the body bottom 141a and face each other in the front-to-rear direction X.

[0120] Of these, the first main body side portion 141b is formed in a shape having an opening through which the wire harness WH is inserted, approximately at the center in the front-rear direction X. Similarly, the second main body side portion 141c is formed in a shape having an opening through which the wire harness WH is inserted, approximately at the center in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 9(a), a pair of second main body side portions 141c opposed to each other in the front-rear direction X are formed with locking holes 141d to which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0121] The flange portion 142 and the fitting groove portion 143 are arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction X, as shown in FIG. 9(a), with the flange portion 142 protruding from the front end of the first main body side portion 141b and the fitting groove portion 143 protruding from the rear end of the first main body side portion 141b. Incidentally, the first protector component 110 is connected to the flange portion 142.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 9(a), the flange portion 144 and the fitting groove portion 145 are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y, with the flange portion 144 protruding from an end portion of the second main body side portion 141c on one side in the width direction Y, and the fitting groove portion 145 protruding from an end portion of the second main body side portion 141c on the other side in the width direction Y.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 8, the two-branch protector component 150 is a protector component having an approximately T-shape in plan view that is connected to the mating groove portion 145 of the three-branch protector component 140 via the third protector component 130, and is formed to be capable of accommodating the second electric wire E2 and the third electric wire E3 that are routed forward and backward from the width direction Y.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 9(b), this two-branch protector component 150 is composed of a component body 151 and a pair of connecting parts (reference numerals omitted). Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the two-branch protector component 150 has a flange portion 152 connected to the third protector component 130, and a flange portion 153 and a fitting groove portion 154 arranged opposite each other in the front-rear direction X, as shown in FIG. 9(b).

[0125] Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 9(b), the component body 151 has a body bottom 151a that is approximately T-shaped when viewed from above, and a pair of first body side portions 151b that are erected from the body bottom 151a and face each other in the width direction Y.

[0126] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9(b), the component body 151 has a pair of second body side portions 151c that are erected from the body bottom portion 151a and opposed to each other in the front-rear direction X so as to extend from an opening edge that is approximately in the center in the front-rear direction X of the first body side portion 151b on one side of the width direction Y toward one side in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 9(b), a pair of first main body side portions 151b opposed to each other in the width direction Y are formed with locking holes 151d to which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0127] The flange portion 152 connected to the third protector component 130 is provided so as to protrude from an end portion of the second main body side portion 151c on one side in the width direction Y, as shown in FIG. 9(b). The flange portion 153 and the fitting groove portion 154 are arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction X, as shown in FIG. 9(b), with the flange portion 153 protruding from the front end of the first main body side portion 151b and the fitting groove portion 154 protruding from the rear end of the first main body side portion 151b.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 8, the first taper protector component 160 is a protector component having a generally trapezoidal shape in a plan view, which is connected to the flange portion 144 of the three-branch protector component 140 provided on one side in the width direction Y, and is formed to be capable of accommodating the first electric wire E1 arranged toward one side in the width direction Y.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 10(a), this first taper protector component 160 is composed of a component body 161 and a set of connecting parts (symbols omitted), and is formed so as to be capable of connecting protector components having component bodies with cross-sectional concave shapes of different sizes.

[0130] Furthermore, as one connecting portion, the first taper protector component 160 includes a flange portion 162 and a fitting groove portion 163 disposed opposite each other in the width direction Y, as shown in FIG. 10(a).

[0131] Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 10(a), the component body 161 is composed of a body bottom 161a that is approximately trapezoidal in plan view, with one side in the width direction Y being the short side, and a pair of body side portions 161b that are erected from the body bottom 161a and face each other in the front-to-rear direction X.

[0132] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10(b), in a longitudinal cross section along the width direction Y, the lower ends of the main body bottom portion 161a and the pair of main body side portions 161b are formed so that the lower surface slopes upward as it goes from the other side in the width direction Y to one side in the width direction Y.

[0133] That is, the component body 161 is formed into a cross-sectional concave shape in a longitudinal section along the front-rear direction X that gradually becomes smaller from the other side in the width direction Y to one side in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 10(a), the pair of main body side portions 161b are formed with locking holes 161c to which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0134] On the other hand, the flange portion 162 and the fitting groove portion 163 arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction X are such that the flange portion 162 protrudes from an end portion of the main body side portion 161b on one side in the width direction Y, and the fitting groove portion 163 protrudes from an end portion of the main body side portion 161b on the other side in the width direction Y.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 8, the second taper protector component 170 is a protector component having a generally trapezoidal shape in a plan view, which is connected to the mating groove portion 143 of the three-branch protector component 140 provided at the rear, and is formed to be capable of accommodating the fourth electric wire E4 arranged toward the rear.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 8, like the first taper protector component 160, this second taper protector component 170 is composed of a component body 171 and a set of connecting parts (symbols omitted), and is formed so as to be capable of connecting protector components having component bodies with cross-sectional concave shapes of different sizes.

[0137] Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the second taper protector component 170 has a flange portion 172 protruding from the front end of the component body 171, and a fitting groove portion 173 protruding from the rear end of the component body 171, as shown in Figure 8.

[0138] In addition, the second taper protector component 170 has approximately the same configuration as the component body 161 of the first taper protector component 160, except that the cross-sectional concave shape of the component body 171 is larger than that of the component body 161, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 8, the first curved protector component 180 is a protector component connected to the fitting groove portion 173 of the second tapered protector component 170, and is formed to be capable of accommodating the fourth electric wire E4 arranged rearward and toward the other side in the width direction Y.

[0140] As shown in Figures 8 and 11, this first curved protector component 180 is formed in a curved shape in a planar view by a component main body 181 that extends from the front to the rear and then curves rearward toward the other side in the width direction Y, and a pair of connecting parts (symbols omitted).

[0141] Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the first curved protector component 180 has a flange portion 182 protruding from the front end of the component main body 181, and a fitting groove portion 183 protruding from the rear end of the component main body 181, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0142] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the component body 181 is composed of a body bottom portion 181a that extends from the front to the rear and then curves rearward toward the other side in the width direction Y, and a pair of body side portions 181b that stand upward from the edge of the body bottom portion 181a. 11, a locking hole 181c is formed in the main body side portion 181b of the component main body 181, into which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0143] Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the second curved protector component 190 is a protector component connected to the mating groove portion 183 of the first curved protector component 180, and is formed to be capable of accommodating the fourth electric wire E4 arranged toward the rear.

[0144] As shown in Figures 8 and 11, this second curved protector component 190 extends rearward and to the other side in the width direction Y, and then is formed in a curved shape in a planar view by a component main body 191 that curves rearward and a pair of connecting parts (symbols omitted).

[0145] Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the second curved protector component 190 has a flange portion 192 protruding from the front end of the component main body 191, and a fitting groove portion 193 protruding from the rear end of the component main body 191, as shown in Figure 11.

[0146] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the component body 191 is composed of a body bottom 191a that extends rearward and toward the other side in the width direction Y and then curves rearward, and a pair of body side portions 191b that stand upward from the edge of the body bottom 191a. 11, a locking hole 191c is formed in the main body side portion 191b of the component main body 191, into which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 8, the bending protector component 200 is a protector component having a generally L-shape in plan view connected to the fitting groove portion 193 of the second curved protector component 190, and is formed to be capable of accommodating a fourth electric wire E4 arranged from the front-rear direction X toward the other side in the width direction Y.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 8, this bend protector construct 200 is composed of a construct body 201 that is roughly L-shaped when viewed from above, and a pair of connection parts (reference numbers omitted) provided on the construct body 201. Furthermore, as a set of connecting parts, the bend protector component 200 has a flange portion 202 protruding from the front end of the component main body 201, and an engaging groove portion 203 protruding from the rear end of the component main body 201, as shown in Figure 8.

[0149] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the component body 201 is composed of a body bottom portion 201a that extends from the front to the rear in a plan view and then bent at approximately a right angle toward the other side in the width direction Y, and a pair of body side portions 201b that stand upward from the edge of the body bottom portion 201a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, a locking hole 201c is formed in the main body side portion 201b of the component body 201, into which a cover component (not shown) is locked.

[0150] In this manner, the protector 100 of the second embodiment is formed by assembling a straight-shaped protector component, a branched protector component, a tapered protector component, and a bent protector component to form a protector body that follows the routing path of the wire harness WH.

[0151] The protector 100 of the second embodiment configured as above has each protector component including a flange portion and a fitting groove portion, and therefore can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, in the protector 100 of the second embodiment, at least one of the multiple protector assemblies is a branched protector assembly provided with three or more connection parts (three-branched protector assembly 140, two-branched protector assembly 150).

[0152] According to this configuration, the protector 100 can protect, for example, a branch point of the wire harness WH that branches in different wiring directions with the branch protector structure.

[0153] Furthermore, the protector 100 can connect a plurality of protector constituents (the third protector constituent 130, the first taper protector constituent 160, and the second taper protector constituent 170) to the first protector constituent 110 via the branch protector constituents. Therefore, the protector 100 can configure a protector main body suitable for a wire harness WH that branches in different wiring directions, for example, with the branch protector constituents.

[0154] At least one of the multiple protector constituents is a bending protector constituent (first curved protector constituent 180, second curved protector constituent 190, bending protector constituent 200) in which the constituent body is bent. According to this configuration, the protector 100 can protect the wire harness WH, which is routed so as to be curved or bent, with the bending protector structure.

[0155] Furthermore, the protector 100 can connect protector constituents arranged such that, for example, a pair of connection parts face in different directions via the bending protector constituent. Therefore, the protector 100 can configure a protector main body suitable for a wire harness WH that is routed in a curved routing direction, for example, with the bending protector constituent.

[0156] At least one of the multiple protector components is a tapered protector component (first tapered protector component 160, second tapered protector component 170) in which the size of the cross-sectional shape along the opposing direction in which a pair of main body side portions oppose each other gradually changes along the wiring direction of the wire harness WH.

[0157] According to this configuration, the taper protector structure can connect protector structures having different sizes of cross-sectional shapes along the opposing direction via the taper protector structure.

[0158] For example, the protector 100 can be configured by connecting a three-branch protector component 140 through which the wire harness WH is inserted and a second protector component 120 through which a first electric wire E1 branched from the wire harness WH is inserted, using a tapered protector component to form the protector body. Therefore, in protector 100, the protector body suitable for the thickness of the electric wire to be inserted can be configured with a tapered protector component.

[0159] In the configuration of the present invention and the correspondence with the above-mentioned embodiment, The electric wire of the present invention corresponds to the wire harness WH of the embodiment, Similarly, The protector structures correspond to the protector structure 20, the first protector structure 110, the second protector structure 120, the third protector structure 130, the three-branched protector structure 140, the two-branched protector structure 150, the first taper protector structure 160, the second taper protector structure 170, the first curved protector structure 180, the second curved protector structure 190, and the bend protector structure 200; The fixing portion corresponds to the locking hole portions 21c, 141d, 151d, 161c, 181c, 191c, and 201c. The fixed portion corresponds to the locking claw portion 41a. The branch protector structures correspond to a three-branch protector structure 140 and a two-branch protector structure 150; The bend protector structures correspond to a first bend protector structure 180, a second bend protector structure 190, and a bend protector structure 200; The taper protector structure corresponds to a first taper protector structure 160 and a second taper protector structure 170, The corrugated fixed body corresponds to the fixing member 3, The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0160] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the protector 1 has a flat bottom surface 2a and a concave cross-section, but this is not limited to this, and the protector may be formed with a curved bottom surface that has a roughly U-shaped concave cross-section.

[0161] In addition, the protector body 2 is formed by connecting together the protector constituents 20 in which a set of connection portions 22 are the flange portions 23 and the fitting groove portions 24, but this is not limited to this. For example, the protector body may be formed by connecting a protector constituent in which a set of connection portions are all flange portions to a protector constituent in which a set of connection portions are all fitting groove portions.

[0162] In addition, the locking claw portion 41a provided on the cover component 40 is configured to lock into the locking hole portion 21c provided in the protector component 20, but this is not limited to this, and the locking claw portion provided on the protector component may be configured to lock into the locking hole portion provided in the cover component.

[0163] In addition, the cover construct 40 is configured to abut against the construct body 21 and the fitting groove 24 of the protector construct 20 to close the opening of the construct body 21 and the opening of the fitting groove 24, but is not limited to this. For example, the cover construct may be configured with a main body cover portion that abuts against the construct body of the protector construct to close the opening of the construct body, and a connection cover portion that abuts against the flange portion of the protector construct to close the opening of the flange portion. In this case, the connection cover portion of the cover construct is formed to be approximately the same size as the fitting groove portion of the protector construct to be connected, rather than the flange portion.

[0164] In addition, in Example 2, one of the branch protector components is a three-branch protector component 140, but this is not limited to this, and it may be a four-branch protector component or a five-branch protector component composed of a component body having a polygonal shape when viewed in a plane. In addition, in Example 2, one of the branch protector structures is a bifurcated protector structure 150 having an approximately T-shape in plan view, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, a bifurcated protector structure having an approximately Y-shape in plan view.

[0165] Further, the protector components have a flat main body bottom, but this is not limiting, and at least one of the multiple protector components may be a slope protector component 210 in which the component body is inclined.

[0166] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 which shows an external perspective view of a slope protector component 210 in another embodiment, the component body 211 of the slope protector component 210 may have an inclined shape such that the rear end is positioned higher than the front end.

[0167] 12, the component body 211 may be formed rearward and upward from the fitting groove 212 toward the flange 213 without changing the size of the cross-sectional concave shape in a longitudinal section along the width direction Y. Alternatively, the component body 211 may be shaped so that the size of the cross-sectional concave shape in a longitudinal section along the width direction Y changes from the fitting groove 212 toward the rearward and upward.

[0168] In this case, the cover component 220 attached to the slope protector component 210 is formed so that the main body cover portion 221 has an inclined shape that can abut against the component main body 211 of the slope protector component 210, as shown in FIG.

[0169] In addition, the fixing member 3 that fits into the valley portion of the corrugated tube C is provided separately from the protector body 2 and the cover 4, but this is not limited to this, and the fixing member may be formed integrally with the cover component 40 that is attached to the protector component 20 that forms the end of the protector body 2.

[0170] In addition, the fixing member 3 has the notch 3a having an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front, but is not limited thereto, and may have a through hole 3b having a circular shape when viewed from the front, as shown in Fig. 13(a) which is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of another fixing member 3. In this case, the fixing member 3 is composed of a first divided portion 31 and a second divided portion 32 which are divided along a virtual straight line extending in the up-down direction through approximately the center in the width direction Y, as shown in Fig. 13(b).

[0171] 13(b), the worker or the assembly device abuts the first divided portion 31 and the second divided portion 32 in the width direction Y so as to fit into the valley portion of the corrugated tube C, thereby forming the fixing member 3. Thereafter, the worker or the assembly device fits the fixing member 3 attached to the corrugated tube C into the fitting groove portion 24 of the protector constituent body 20, thereby fitting the wire harness WH into the protector body 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0172] 1,100…Protector 2…Protector body 2a…Bottom part 2b...Side wall part 3…Fixing member 4. Cover 20...Protector structure 21,141,151,161,171,181,191,201,211...Main body of the construct 21c, 141d, 151d, 161c, 181c, 191c, 201c...Lock hole part 22…Connection 23,142,144,152,153,162,182,192,172,202,213...Flange section 24,111,143,145,154,163,173,183,203,212...Mating groove 24a…Groove part 40...Cover structure 41…Main body cover 41a...Latching claw part 42…Connection cover part 110...First protector structure 120...Second protector structure 130...Third protector structure 140...Three-way branch protector assembly 150...Two-branch protector structure 160...First taper protector structure 170...Second taper protector structure 180...First curved protector structure 190...Second curved protector structure 200...Flex protector structure 210...Slope protector structure C…Corrugated tube WH…Wire harness X…Anteroposterior direction Y: Width direction

Claims

1. A protector for protecting an electric wire passing through an inside of the protector body, the protector body having a concave cross section and a bottom surface and a pair of opposing side walls, and a cover for closing an opening of the protector body opposing the bottom surface, The protector body includes: The protector assembly is made up of a plurality of protector structures connected along the wiring direction of the electric wire, The cover is a plurality of cover structures attached to the protector structure to close the opening, The protector structure includes: a cross-sectionally concave component body constituting the bottom surface portion and the pair of opposing side wall portions; a pair of connection portions provided at an end of the component body in the wiring direction and to which another protector component is connected; The connection portion is A plate-shaped flange portion is provided on one end side of the component body in the wiring direction and protrudes from the end of the component body toward the outside in the opposing direction in which the pair of side wall portions oppose each other; a fitting groove portion provided on the other end side of the component body in the wiring direction, protruding from an end of the protector component toward the outside in the opposing direction, and having a groove portion into which the flange portion provided on another protector component is fitted from the opening side; The body of the structure is A fixing portion for fixing the cover constituent body is provided on an outer surface in a direction in which the pair of side wall portions face each other, The cover structure includes: a body cover portion having a fixed portion fixed to the fixing portion and covering the opening of the component body in the protector component; a connection cover portion that covers the opening of the connection portion that is connected to another of the protector structures, The cover structure does not cover the opening at a location corresponding to the connection portion different from the connection portion connected to another protector structure. Protector.

2. At least one of the plurality of protector structures includes: A branch protector structure having three or more of the above-mentioned connection parts. The protector according to claim 1 .

3. At least one of the plurality of protector structures includes: The body of the structure is a bent bend protector structure. The protector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. At least one of the plurality of protector structures includes: The size of the cross-sectional shape of the pair of side wall portions along the opposing direction gradually changes along the wiring direction. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the connecting portion of the protector component which is one end of the protector main body is the fitting groove portion, A corrugated fixing body is provided which is inserted into the groove portion of the fitting groove portion from the opening side and fits into a recess of a corrugated tube surrounding the electric wire. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The fixing portion of the protector assembly to which the cover assembly is fixed is The length of the pair of side wall portions in the opposing direction is shorter than the length of the connecting portion. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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