Harness protector

Abstract

To provide a harness protector capable of leading out a branched wire harness having high rigidity.SOLUTION: A harness protector 1 has: a body part 1a that surrounds and protects an outer periphery of each of wire harnesses 10a, 10b; and a projection part 1b formed by projecting from the body part 1a. Herein, the body part 1a is formed with an opening 6a capable of drawing the wire harness 10b in a branch passage branched from a middle of a main passage. The projection part 1b is formed with a step consisting of a bottom wall 1b1 along the branch passage, a side wall 1b2 standing along the branch passage from one end edge in a width direction of the bottom wall 1b1, and an upper wall 1b3 projecting in a horizontal direction from an upper end of the side wall 1b2. Accordingly, rigidity of the harness protector 1 can be enhanced by the projection part 1b, and movement of the wire harness 10b led out to the branch passage can be regulated by the step formed at the projection part 1b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a harness protector that protects a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] A known harness protector for protecting a wire harness of an automobile is, for example, the protector disclosed in Patent Document 1. The protector in Patent Document 1 has a base that houses the wire harness and covers part of the outer periphery of the wire harness, and a cover that closes an opening of the base, and the base and cover are positioned by a positioning mechanism, and the cover is fixed to the base by an engagement mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-103156 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Automotive harness protectors are mounted and fixed inside the vehicle. The harness protector bundles various wire harnesses, which may branch into multiple paths depending on the type of wire harness, or the path through which the wire harness passes may be curved. In such cases, depending on the shape and fixed position of the harness protector, or the branching pattern of the wire harness, there may be areas in the harness protector where stress is likely to act, creating a demand for increased harness protector rigidity. Furthermore, allowing the branched and pulled wire harness to move freely could result in the breakage of weak parts of the wire harness due to vibrations or other factors.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to increase the rigidity of a harness protector and to restrict the movement of a drawn-out wire harness, thereby making it difficult for the wire harness to break. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the harness protector of the present invention includes a main body portion that surrounds an outer periphery of a wire harness to protect the wire harness, and a protruding portion that is formed to protrude from the main body portion and that can lead the wire harness drawn out from the main body portion to the outside, the main body portion has a curved main passage connecting a first opening serving as one of the outlets of the wire harness and a second opening serving as the other of the outlets, and the protruding portion protrudes from the main body portion so as to bridge the first opening side and the second opening side of the curved main passage, The protruding portion is characterized in that a step is formed to restrict movement of the wire harness pulled out from the main body portion (claim 1).

[0007] The protruding portion may have an opening around which a cable tie for fixing the wire harness drawn out from the main body can be wound (claim 2).

[0008] The protruding portion may have a rib formed along its edge, the opening formed at the tip of the protruding portion in the protruding direction, and the rib may be formed at least on the edge of the protruding portion where the opening is formed (Claim 3). The opening of the protruding portion around which the binding band can be wound has two insertion holes. A plurality of ribs may be formed on the protruding portion, and the plurality of ribs may be arranged so as to sandwich the two insertion holes (claim 4). [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention of claim 1, the rigidity of the harness protector can be increased by forming an overhanging portion from the main body that protects the wire harness. Also, the overhanging portion has a step that restricts the movement of the wire harness pulled out from the main body, preventing the pulled wire harness from moving due to vibration or the like and breaking the weak portion.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 2, an opening is formed in the protruding portion around which a cable tie for fixing the wire harness can be wound, so that the pulled-out wire harness can be fixed to the protruding portion, further improving the impact resistance of the wire harness.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 3, a rib is formed on the edge of the protruding portion where an opening for winding the cable tie is formed, so that sufficient rigidity can be ensured even when an opening is formed in the protruding portion. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 4, when a cable tie is inserted through two insertion holes to secure the wire harness, the rib can restrict the movement of the cable tie and prevent the two insertion holes from breaking. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a view of the harness protector according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the harness protector is fixed inside a vehicle, and surrounding areas of the harness protector. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are perspective views of the harness protector of FIG. 1, where FIG. 2A is a perspective view when viewed from the duct side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view when viewed from the PCU side. [Figure 3] 5A and 5B are perspective views of a base member of the harness protector, where FIG. 5A is a perspective view as seen from the duct side, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a step in the protruding portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the base member of the harness protector. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an opening formed in a protruding portion, in which (a) is a perspective view of the harness protector as seen from the duct side, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in (a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a harness protector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] <Embodiment> (Harness protector) The harness protector 1 according to this embodiment surrounds the outer periphery of the wire harnesses 10a, 10b to mechanically protect the wire harnesses 10a, 10b, and is disposed, for example, inside the hood of a vehicle. As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, a PCU 2 (power control unit) that controls the electric power of the vehicle and an engine intake duct 3 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are disposed inside the hood, and the harness protector 1 is fixed above the PCU 2.

[0015] In the following, the directions related to the harness protector 1 will be described assuming that the harness protector 1 is fixed to the vehicle, with the front of the vehicle being the front, the rear being the rear, the left direction when looking at the vehicle being the left, the right direction when looking at the vehicle being the right, the top of the vehicle being the top, and the bottom of the vehicle being the bottom.

[0016] For example, the wire harnesses 10a and 10b are configured with a power supply line connected to a DC-DC converter, an earth wire for grounding, and the like.

[0017] The harness protector 1 has a main body 1a that bundles and surrounds a plurality of wire harnesses 10a, 10b, and a protruding portion 1b that protrudes to the left side of the main body 1a when looking at the vehicle (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The main body 1a has a first opening 1a1 that serves as an outlet for drawing the wire harnesses 10a, 10b toward the front side of the vehicle, and a second opening 1a2 that serves as an outlet for drawing the wire harnesses 10a, 10b toward the left rear side of the vehicle (see FIG. 2(a)).

[0018] Here, if the passage connecting the first opening 1a1 and the second opening 1a2 is defined as the main passage (see Figure 3), the main body 1a further has a third opening 1a3 (see Figure 2(a)) that branches off from the main passage midway and serves as an outlet for pulling out some of the wire harnesses 10a, 10b in a left-front direction, and multiple openings (a fourth opening 1a4, a fifth opening 1a5, a sixth opening 1a6: see Figure 2(b)) that also branch off from the main passage midway and each serve as an outlet for pulling out some of the wire harnesses 10a, 10b in a right-rear direction.

[0019] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the main passage of the main body 1a curves to the left when looking at the vehicle as it moves from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and accordingly, the main body 1a is also formed in a shape that curves to the left midway.

[0020] When viewed from above, the protruding portion 1b is located between the left end edge of the main body portion 1a and the first openings at both ends of the main passage. 1a1 The second opening 1a1 is provided to protrude to the left of the main body portion 1a so as to fill the area formed by the line connecting the first opening 1a1 and the second opening 1a2 and the left edge of the main body portion 1a.

[0021] The harness protector 1 has a base member 4a in which a storage space for a plurality of wire harnesses 10a, 10b is formed, and a cover member 4b (see FIG. 2) that closes an opening 5 (see FIG. 3(a)) above the base member 4a.

[0022] The base member 4a has a bottom wall 4a1 formed along the main line and restricting downward movement of the wire harnesses 10a, 10b passing through the main passage, a left wall 4a2 provided at the left end of the bottom wall 4a1 (one end in the width direction of the bottom wall 4a1) along the main line and erected in a direction approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall 4a1, and a right wall 4a3 provided at the right end of the bottom wall 4a1 (the other end in the width direction of the bottom wall 4a1) along the main line and erected in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 4a1. These three walls 4a1 to 4a3 form a storage space for the wire harnesses 10a, 10b.

[0023] The left wall 4a2 and right wall 4a3 of the base member 4a are disposed substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart by the short-side length of the bottom wall 4a1 (the width of the main passage). At one longitudinal end (front end) of the main passage, a first opening 1a1 is formed by the left wall 4a2, right wall 4a3, and bottom wall 4a1 (and their respective front ends) and the cover member 4b. At the other longitudinal end (rear end) of the main passage, a second opening 1a2 is formed by the left wall 4a2, right wall 4a3, and bottom wall 4a1 (and their respective rear ends) and the cover member 4b.

[0024] A first cutout portion 6a having a U-shape and an open upper side is formed in the left wall 4a2 at a position corresponding to the center of the main passage. twist By closing the opening, the open portion of the first cutout portion 6a is closed, and a third opening 1a3 is formed.

[0025] Further, two U-shaped second and third cutouts 6b and 6c, each open at the top, and one U-shaped fourth cutout 6d are formed in the right wall 4a3 at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the center of the main passage. When the opening 5 of the base member 4a is closed by the cover member 4b, the open portions of the cutouts 6b, 6c, and 6d are closed, and a fourth opening 1a4 (second cutout 6b), a fifth opening 1a5 (third cutout 6c), and a sixth opening 1a6 (fourth cutout 6d) are formed.

[0026] (Protruding part) 3(a) and 3(b), the protruding portion 1b has a bottom wall 1b1 provided along a branch path (described later) and restricting downward movement of the wire harness 10b passing through the branch path, a side wall 1b2 provided at one end edge of the bottom wall 1b1 (one end edge in the width direction of the branch path) along the branch path (the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 1b1) and erected in a direction approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall 1b1, and an upper wall 1b3 protruding horizontally from the upper end of the side wall 1b2, and these walls 1b1 to 1b3 form a step (the upper wall 1b3 is on the higher side, and the bottom wall 1b1 is on the lower side). One longitudinal end of the bottom wall 1b1 is connected to a third opening 1a3 (first cutout portion 6a) which is a junction between the main passage and the branch path.

[0027] At the other end edge of the bottom wall 1b1 (the other end edge in the width direction of the branch passage (the short side direction of the bottom wall 1b1)), a flat opposing piece 7 is provided along the branch passage (the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 1b1) and stands in a direction approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall 1b1. The side wall 1b2 and the opposing piece 7 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by the width of the branch passage, and restrict movement of the branched wire harness 10b in the horizontal direction (the width direction of the branch passage). In this embodiment, the side wall 1b2 is formed in a rectangular shape, while the opposing piece 7 is formed in a trapezoidal shape. As described above, in the protruding portion 1b, a branch passage is formed by the step formed by the top wall 1b3, the side wall 1b2, and the bottom wall 1b1, and the opposing piece 7 provided opposite the side wall 1b2, which guides the wire harness 10b branching from the middle of the main passage toward the left front direction.

[0028] Furthermore, a first insertion hole 8a (corresponding to the "opening around which a cable tie can be wound" of the present invention) through which a cable tie 14 (see FIG. 5(b)) can be inserted is formed in the upper wall 1b3 at a location corresponding to the tip of the branch path (the tip of the protruding portion 1b in the protruding direction). Further, a second insertion hole 8b (corresponding to the "opening around which a cable tie can be wound" of the present invention) through which a cable tie 14 can be inserted is formed in the bottom wall 1b1 at a location corresponding to the tip of the branch path (see FIGS. 3, 5, etc.).

[0029] As shown in Figure 5(b), when the wire harness 10b is placed in the branch path and the tip of the cable tie 14 is passed through the first insertion hole 8a and the second insertion hole 8b and wound around it, the wire harness 10b is pressed against the side wall 1b2 and the bottom wall 1b1, and the wire harness 10b is fixed to the protruding portion 1b.

[0030] 4, ribs 11, 11a, and 11b are formed all over the back surface (bottom surface) of the base member 4a. The ribs 11, 11a, and 11b are provided along the edge of the base member 4a, and a plurality of ribs 11, 11a, and 11b are formed in a lattice pattern inside the ribs 11, 11a, and 11b on the edge.

[0031] Regarding the ribs 11a and 11b near the locations where the first insertion hole 8a and the second insertion hole 8b are located, the rib 11a is provided along the edge of the protruding portion 1b, and the first and second insertion holes 8a and 8b are located inside the rib 11a (the side closer to the main body portion 1a). On the other hand, the rib 11b is parallel to the rib 11a and is located further inside than the first and second insertion holes 8a and 8b. In other words, the ribs 11a and 11b are provided so that the first and second insertion holes 8a and 8b are sandwiched between the ribs 11a and 11b. As a result, when the cable tie 14 is fastened, the cable tie 14 is sandwiched between the ribs 11a and 11b, restricting movement of the cable tie 14 in the width direction.

[0032] Furthermore, a fitting recess 12 is formed on the back surface of the base member 4a to fit a fixing member (for example, the tip of a bracket) for fixing the harness protector 1 to a vehicle.

[0033] <Action and effect> As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the protruding portion 1b is formed from the main body 1a of the harness protector 1 that protects the wire harnesses 10a, 10b, thereby increasing the rigidity of the harness protector 1. In particular, in this embodiment, the fitting recess 12 that defines the mounting position of the harness protector 1 on the vehicle is disposed near the first opening 1a1, so when an impact such as vibration is applied to the harness protector 1, the displacement is greater near the second opening 1a2 that is farther from the fitting recess 12 than near the first opening 1a1. In this case, stress may be concentrated at a specific location, which may cause damage to the harness protector 1 starting from that specific location. However, since the protruding portion 1b is formed from the main body 1a, the rigidity of the entire harness protector 1 is increased, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

[0034] Furthermore, the increased rigidity of the harness protector 1 reduces displacement of the harness protector 1 when subjected to shock such as vibration, thereby preventing the harness protector 1 from coming into contact with the PCU 2 provided below it.

[0035] In addition, a step consisting of an upper wall 1b3, a side wall 1b2, and a bottom wall 1b1 is formed in the protruding portion 1b of the harness protector 1, and this step can regulate the movement of the wire harness 10b branching off from the main body portion 1a, preventing the wire harness 10b from moving due to vibration or the like and causing the weak portion to break.

[0036] In addition, a first insertion hole 8a and a second insertion hole 8b through which a cable tie 14 can be inserted are formed at the location corresponding to the tip of the branch path (the tip of the protruding portion 1b in the protruding direction), so that the wire harness 10b passing through the branch path can be securely fixed to the protruding portion 1b, further improving the impact resistance of the wire harness 10b.

[0037] Furthermore, a plurality of ribs 11, 11a, 11b are formed in a grid pattern including the edge on the back surface of the base member 4a, thereby increasing the rigidity of the harness protector 1. Furthermore, ribs 11a are also formed on the back surface of the overhanging portion 1b at the edge of a location corresponding to the tip of the branch path, so that the rigidity of the overhanging portion 1b can be sufficiently ensured even when first and second insertion holes 8a, 8b through which the cable tie 14 can be inserted are formed at the tip of the branch path.

[0038] Furthermore, since the parallel ribs 11a and 11b are arranged to sandwich the first and second insertion holes 8a and 8b, movement of the cable tie 14 in the width direction can be restricted when the cable tie 14 is fastened.

[0039] Furthermore, since the ribs 11a, 11b are arranged so as to sandwich the first and second insertion holes 8a, 8b, even if the first and second insertion holes 8a, 8b are provided at the tip end of the protruding portion 1b (the tip end in the protruding direction), the first and second insertion holes 8a, 8b can be prevented from breaking.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041] For example, since the wire harness 10b drawn out to the branch path can be fixed by the step formed in the protruding portion 1b and the binding band 14, the facing piece 7 of the protruding portion 1b may be omitted.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the first and second insertion holes 8a, 8b are provided at the tip end of the branch passage, but the location of the holes can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1: Harness protector 1a: Main body 1b: Protruding part 1b1: Bottom wall (step) 1b2: Side wall (step) 1b3: Upper wall (step) 8a: First insertion hole (opening) 8b: Second insertion hole (opening) 10a, 10b: Wire harness 11, 11a, 11b: Rib 14: Cable ties

Claims

1. a main body portion that surrounds the outer periphery of the wire harness to protect the wire harness; a protruding portion formed to protrude from the main body portion and capable of leading the wire harness drawn out from the main body portion to the outside; Equipped with the main body portion has a curved main passage connecting a first opening serving as one outlet for the wire harness and a second opening serving as the other outlet for the wire harness, the protruding portion protrudes from the main body portion so as to bridge the first opening side and the second opening side of the curved main passage, The protruding portion has a step that restricts movement of the wire harness pulled out from the main body portion. A harness protector characterized by the above.

2. 2. The harness protector according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion has an opening through which a binding band for fixing the wire harness drawn out from the main body can be wound.

3. The protruding portion has a rib formed along its edge, the opening is formed at a tip end of the protruding portion in a protruding direction, 3. The harness protector according to claim 2, wherein the rib is formed at least on an edge of the protruding portion where the opening is formed.

4. The opening in the protruding portion around which the cable tie can be wound has two insertion holes, A plurality of ribs are formed on the protruding portion, The plurality of ribs are arranged so as to sandwich the two insertion holes.

3. The harness protector according to claim 2, wherein the harness protector is a conductor.

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