Protector, wire harness, and locking mechanism

Abstract

To provide a protector, a wire harness, and a lock mechanism capable of properly locking a locking object.SOLUTION: A protector 1 applied to a wire harness WH has a body part 10 and a locking mechanism 100. The locking mechanism 100 has a flexible arm part 110 extending in a cantilever fashion along a detachable direction Z1 intersecting an axial direction X of a corrugated tube C1 from wall parts 10a and 10b of the body part 10, elastically deformable along a width direction Y intersecting the detachable direction Z1, and in which an end part of the corrugated tube C1 can be locked at a locking position L1 within a housing space part 30, and a deformation regulation part 120 extending in the cantilever fashion along the detachable direction Z1 from the wall parts 10a and 10b, located with an interval on an opposite side from a side where the corrugated tube C1 is located with respect to the width direction from the flexible arm part 110, and elastically deformable together with the flexible arm part 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protector, a wire harness, and a locking mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] Protectors are known as components that are mounted on vehicles such as automobiles and incorporated into wire harnesses to protect wiring materials such as electric wires. For example, in a protector described in Patent Document 1, an upper-layer protector body having a concave cross-section is fitted into a lower-layer protector body having a concave cross-section, with an electric wire inserted into the lower-layer protector body. In this protector, both side walls of the upper-layer protector body are placed on the inner surfaces of both side walls of the lower-layer protector body, and with the electric wire inserted into the upper-layer protector body, the protector is closed with a lid, and the lid is connected and fixed by locking means provided on both side walls of the lower-layer protector body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-201392 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-described protector may hold multiple stacked ends of exterior materials, such as corrugated tubes through which wiring materials are inserted. In such cases, the end of the first exterior material must be stored at the back of the protector before the end of the second exterior material is installed at the front of the protector. In this case, there is a risk that the exterior material previously stored in the protector will float toward the front before the new exterior material is installed due to, for example, a change in tension in the wire harness. Therefore, such protectors are desired to have a locking mechanism that properly locks the previously stored exterior material, such as the exterior material, in a desired locking position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a protector, a wire harness, and a locking mechanism that can properly lock an object to be locked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the protector according to the present invention has a main body portion through which a conductive wiring material is inserted in a storage space formed by a wall portion. , inside and a locking mechanism capable of locking an end of the exterior material through which the wiring material has been inserted in a portion of the storage space, the locking mechanism comprising: a flexible arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction that intersects with the axial direction of the exterior material, and that is elastically deformable along the width direction that intersects with the attachment / detachment direction, and that is capable of locking the end of the exterior material at a locking position within the storage space; and a deformation regulating portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction, and that is located at a distance from the flexible arm portion on the opposite side to the side on which the exterior material is located in the width direction, and that is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material, an outer casing material through which the wiring material is inserted, a main body through which the wiring material is inserted into a storage space formed by wall portions, and a protector having a locking mechanism capable of engaging an end of the outer casing material, wherein the locking mechanism has a flexible arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along an attachment / detachment direction that intersects with the axial direction of the outer casing material and is elastically deformable along a width direction that intersects with the attachment / detachment direction and is capable of engaging the end of the outer casing material at an engagement position within the storage space, and a deformation regulating portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction and is located at a distance from the flexible arm portion on the opposite side to the side on which the outer casing is located in the width direction and is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the locking mechanism of the present invention is characterized by comprising a flexible arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the support structure along the attachment / detachment direction of the interlocked member, and that is elastically deformable in a width direction intersecting the attachment / detachment direction, and that is capable of interlocking the interlocked member in an interlocking position, and a deformation control portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction, and that is located at a distance from the flexible arm portion on the opposite side of the width direction from the side on which the interlocked member is located, and that is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The protector, wire harness, and locking mechanism according to the present invention have the advantage that the object to be locked can be properly locked at a desired locking position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a wire harness to which a protector according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a wire harness to which the protector according to the embodiment is applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a wire harness to which a protector according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a wire harness to which the protector according to the embodiment is applied. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the protector according to the embodiment, and is a view for explaining the locking mechanism. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the assembly of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the assembly of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the assembly of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the assembly of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the assembly of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0012] [Embodiment] The wire harness WH shown in Figures 1 to 4 is, for example, a collective component made by bundling together multiple wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices installed in a vehicle, and connecting the multiple wiring materials W to each device using connectors, etc.

[0013] The wire harness WH includes a conductive wiring material W, a corrugated tube C as an exterior material through which the wiring material W is inserted, and a protector 1. The protector 1 is formed of a plurality of walls (side walls 10a, 10b, and a bottom 10c, which will be described later), and includes a main body 10 through which the wiring material W is inserted into a storage space 30 formed by the walls, and a locking mechanism 100 capable of locking an end of the corrugated tube C. The wire harness WH may further include a grommet, a fixture, a connector, etc.

[0014] The wiring material W is, for example, an insulated electric wire in which a core wire made of a bundle of multiple conductive metal wires is covered with an insulating covering portion. Note that the wiring material W may also be a bundle of multiple insulated electric wires. Furthermore, the wiring material W may also be an insulated metal rod in which a conductive metal rod is covered with an insulating covering portion.

[0015] The corrugated tube C has a wiring material W inserted therethrough to protect the wiring material W. The corrugated tube C is formed in a flexible cylindrical shape using an insulating resin material or the like. The corrugated tube C has annular concave-convex portions Ca formed along the circumferential direction on its outer surface, and a plurality of the concave-convex portions Ca are provided along the extension direction (axial direction X described below), forming a bellows shape (see also Figure 5, etc.). The corrugated tube C may have slits formed along the extension direction for inserting the wiring material W inside. In this embodiment, the corrugated tube C will be described as an example of an exterior material, but the type of exterior material is not particularly limited. The exterior material may be, for example, a metal pipe made of a metal material.

[0016] The protector 1 holds the end of the corrugated tube C and stores and protects the wiring material W inserted inside the corrugated tube C, and is used as a member that regulates the routing path of the wiring material W when fixed to a vehicle. The protector 1 of this embodiment employs a locking mechanism 100 as a locking structure for properly locking the end of the corrugated tube C, thereby realizing a configuration that can properly lock the corrugated tube C at a desired locking position (locking position L1 shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 11) within the protector 1. Each component of the protector 1 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0017] In the following description, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction as the "width direction Y," and the third direction as the "stacking direction Z." The axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the stacking direction Z are perpendicular to each other. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the extending direction of the corrugated tube C held in the protector 1, the inserting direction of the wiring material W into the protector 1, the extending direction of the wiring material W inserted into the protector 1, etc. The stacking direction Z typically corresponds to the stacking direction of the corrugated tube C held at the end of the protector 1, the attachment / detachment direction Z1 of the corrugated tube C to / from the protector 1 (see FIG. 3, etc.), etc. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description will be described as the directions when the various parts of the protector 1 are assembled.

[0018] 1 to 6, the protector 1 includes a main body 10 having a storage space 30 formed by side walls 10a, 10b and a bottom 10c, through which a conductive wiring material W is inserted, and a lid 20 attached to the main body 10 and closing an opening 10d formed in the main body 10. The main body 10 also includes a locking mechanism 40 that holds the lid 20 in a closed position, and a locking mechanism 100 that is provided at an end of the main body 10 and can lock the end of a corrugated tube C through which the wiring material W is inserted.

[0019] The protector 1 is formed into a generally rectangular tubular shape with both ends open in the axial direction X by assembling the lid portion 20 to the main body portion 10. The protector 1 has a storage space portion 30 formed in the main body portion 10 enclosed by the main body portion 10 and the lid portion 20, so that the end of the corrugated tube C and the wiring material W exposed from the end of the corrugated tube C can be inserted and wired along the axial direction X.

[0020] The protector 1 can also accommodate the ends of a pair of corrugated tubes C in the stacking direction Z, with the locking mechanism 100 sandwiched between them.

[0021] 2 and 6, the main body 10 includes a pair of side walls 10a, 10b and a bottom 10c. The pair of side walls 10a, 10b and the bottom 10c are integrated together to form a U-shaped cross section of the main body 10 along the stacking direction Z.

[0022] The pair of side wall portions 10a, 10b are both formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the plate thickness direction being the width direction Y, and are positioned opposite each other with a gap in between along the width direction Y. The side wall portions 10a, 10b also extend along the axial direction X and the stacking direction Z. Here, the side wall portions 10a and 10b are formed so that their lengths along the axial direction X and the stacking direction Z are substantially equal.

[0023] The bottom portion 10c is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the stacking direction Z as the plate thickness direction, and is located between the pair of side wall portions 10a, 10b in the width direction Y, with both ends connected to each of the side wall portions 10a, 10b. The bottom portion 10c also extends along the width direction Y and the axial direction X. More specifically, the side wall portion 10a stands upright from one end of the bottom portion 10c in the width direction Y along the stacking direction Z, and the side wall portion 10b stands upright from the other end of the bottom portion 10c in the width direction Y on the same side as the side wall portion 10a in the stacking direction Z. The bottom portion 10c also extends along the axial direction X from one end of the side wall portions 10a, 10b to the other end.

[0024] The main body 10 also has a storage space 30 formed by the side walls 10a, 10b and the bottom 10c. The storage space 30 is a space in which the end of the corrugated tube C and the wiring material W exposed from the end of the corrugated tube C are located.

[0025] The lid portion 20 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape large enough to close the opening (corresponding to the opening 10d of the main body 10) between the pair of side wall portions 10a, 10b of the main body 10. The lid portion 20 extends along the axial direction X and the width direction Y in a state in which the opening 10d of the main body 10 is closed (see FIG. 1, etc.).

[0026] When the lid portion 20 is attached to the end of the side wall portions 10a, 10b opposite the bottom portion 10c in the stacking direction Z, it closes the opening 10d of the main body portion 10. At this time, the lid portion 20 is locked to the side wall portions 10a, 10b via the locking mechanism 40, so that it is held in a closing position that closes the opening 10d of the main body portion 10, and is provided on the opposite side of the bottom portion 10c in the stacking direction Z with a gap therebetween.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1 , the locking mechanism 40 includes a plurality of locking pieces 11 provided on the side walls 10a, 10b of the main body 10, and locking pieces 21 provided on the lid 20 to correspond to each of the locking pieces 11. A total of four sets of locking pieces 11 and locking pieces 21 are provided, two on each side of the main body 10 and the lid 20 in the width direction Y. Each locking piece 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the width direction Y being the plate thickness direction. Each locking piece 11 is provided on the outer side of each side wall 10a, 10b in the width direction Y, and is positioned opposite the side wall 10a, 10b with a gap in between along the width direction Y, and two locking pieces 11 are provided with a gap in between along the axial direction X. Each of the locking pieces 11 is supported on the outer wall surfaces of the side walls 10a, 10b via supports or the like, and has a locking hole 12 into which a locking protrusion 22 provided on the locking piece 21 is inserted. Each of the locking holes 12 opens along the width direction Y. Meanwhile, the locking piece 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the width direction Y being the plate thickness direction. Each of the locking pieces 21 extends from the cover portion 20 along the stacking direction Z, and its tip side is formed to protrude outward in the width direction Y from the end in the width direction Y. Each of the locking pieces 21 is also formed with a locking protrusion 22 as a portion to be inserted into the locking hole 12 provided on the locking piece 11. Each of the locking protrusions 22 is formed in a claw shape protruding outward in the width direction Y from the corresponding locking piece 21.

[0028] The main body portion 10 and the lid portion 20 have an engaging portion 50 that engages with the uneven portion Ca formed on the outer surface of the corrugated tube C stored in the storage space portion 30 when assembled to the main body portion 10 in which the ends of a pair of corrugated tubes C are stored.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5 , the interlocking portion 50 includes a plurality of body-side interlocking portions 13 provided on the body portion 10 and a plurality of lid-side interlocking portions 23 provided on the lid portion 20. Three body-side interlocking portions 13 and three lid-side interlocking portions 23 are provided at intervals along the axial direction X. Each body-side interlocking portion 13 is formed on the inner wall surface of the bottom portion 10c, i.e., the inner wall surface facing the storage space 30, and interlocks with the uneven portion Ca of the corrugated tube C on the bottom portion 10c side. On the other hand, each lid-side interlocking portion 23 is formed on the inner wall surface of the lid portion 20, i.e., the inner wall surface facing the storage space 30, and interlocks with the uneven portion Ca of the corrugated tube C on the opening 10d side. More specifically, each interlocking portion 50 includes a portion on the inner wall surface that is curved along the width direction Y to match the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the corrugated tube C. Each of the interlocking portions 50 is tapered from the protruding base end on the inner wall surface side of the interlocking portion 50 toward the protruding tip end on the storage space portion 30 side.

[0030] In the above description, the lid portion 20 is described as being formed separately from the main body portion 10, but this is not limited to this. The lid portion 20 may be formed integrally with the main body portion 10, for example, so as to be rotatably supported on the side wall portion 10a or the like via a hinge connection portion or the like.

[0031] The locking mechanism 100 is provided at an end of the main body 10 in the axial direction X and midway along the stacking direction Z of the main body 10 (see FIGS. 2, 4, 6, etc.). When the corrugated tubes C are stored in the storage space 30 and the lid 20 is attached to the main body 10, the protector 1 can be stored with the ends of the pair of corrugated tubes C stacked in the stacking direction Z with the locking mechanism 100 sandwiched between them (see FIG. 11). At this time, the end of the corrugated tube C on the bottom 10c side is held by the main body 10 in a space 31 on the locking position L1 side within the storage space 30 (the space on the bottom 10c side across the locking mechanism 100). Meanwhile, the end of the corrugated tube C on the opening 10d side is held by the lid 20 in a space 32 on the opposite side of the locking position L1 within the storage space 30 (the space on the opening 10d side across the locking mechanism 100). In the following description, when distinguishing between the two corrugated tubes C, the corrugated tube C on the bottom 10c side (rear side) will be referred to as "corrugated tube C1" and the corrugated tube C on the opening 10d side (front side) will be referred to as "corrugated tube C2", and when there is no need to particularly distinguish between the two, they may simply be referred to as "corrugated tube C".

[0032] 6, the locking mechanism 100 includes flexible arms 110 extending from the side walls 10a, 10b that constitute the wall, and deformation restricting portions 120 extending from the side walls 10a, 10b and provided at an interval on the outer side of the flexible arms 110. Note that the "outside" here means the side opposite the flexible arms 110 from the side on which the corrugated tubes C are located in the width direction Y (the storage space 30 side).

[0033] The flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 are provided in two slits 10e (see FIGS. 2 and 4) formed from each of the side walls 10a, 10b to the bottom portion 10c, and are provided as a pair facing each other across the storage space portion 30 in the width direction Y. Each flexible arm portion 110 includes a guide portion 111 provided on the base end side and a locking portion 112 provided on the tip end side (see FIG. 6). In the following description, when distinguishing between the two flexible arm portions 110, the flexible arm portion 110 extending from the side wall portion 10a will be referred to as the "flexible arm portion 110a," and the flexible arm portion 110 extending from the side wall portion 10b will be referred to as the "flexible arm portion 110b." When there is no need to particularly distinguish between the two, they may be simply referred to as the "flexible arm portion 110." Furthermore, when distinguishing between the two deformation restricting portions 120, they are distinguished in the same way as the flexible arm portion 110, and are referred to as "deformation restricting portion 120a" and "deformation restricting portion 120b." When distinguishing between the guide portion 111 and the locking portion 112 formed on each flexible arm portion 110, the guide portion 111 and the locking portion 112 formed on the flexible arm portion 110a are referred to as "guide portion 111a" and "locking portion 112a," and the guide portion 111 and the locking portion 112 formed on the flexible arm portion 110b are referred to as "guide portion 111b" and "locking portion 112b," and when there is no need to particularly distinguish between them, they may be simply referred to as "guide portion 111" and "locking portion 112." In addition, in the locking mechanism 100 of the wire harness WH to which the protector 1 of this embodiment is applied, the side wall portions 10a, 10b of the main body portion 10 correspond to the support structure, and the corrugated tube C1 stored in the storage space portion 30 corresponds to the locked member.

[0034] The pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b extend in a cantilevered manner from the side wall portions 10a, 10b in each slit 10e along the stacking direction Z of the corrugated tube C. The pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b are configured to be elastically deformable along the width direction Y that intersects with the stacking direction Z. This configuration allows the pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b to have higher flexibility in the width direction Y than the side wall portions 10a, 10b.

[0035] The pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b are positioned to protrude toward the storage space 30. More specifically, the pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b extend from the side walls 10a, 10b and include rising portions that extend from the respective side walls 10a, 10b and are provided so as to narrow the distance D1 between the side walls 10a, 10b that defines the width of the storage space 30, and an extending portion that extends from the rising portions and is provided along the stacking direction Z. By being formed so as to protrude toward the storage space 30, the pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b divide at least a portion of the storage space 30 in the stacking direction Z into a space on the bottom 10c side (hereinafter referred to as a space 31 in the storage space 30) and a space on the opening 10d side (hereinafter referred to as a space 32 in the storage space 30). Furthermore, the pair of flexible arms 110a, 110b come into contact with the corrugated tube C1 that has moved into the space 31 within the storage space 30, thereby locking the end of the corrugated tube C1 at the locking position L1.

[0036] The pair of guide portions 111a, 111b are provided on the base end side of each of the flexible arms 110a, 110b. More specifically, they are provided between the rising portion and the extending portion of each of the flexible arms 110a, 110b, and are provided on the inner wall surface of each of the flexible arms 110a, 110b in the width direction Y. The pair of guide portions 111a, 111b are positioned opposite each other with a gap in between along the width direction Y.

[0037] The pair of guide portions 111a, 111b are formed in a tapered shape so as to narrow a distance D2 between them and an opposing object along the width direction Y as they approach the tip side of the flexible arm portion 110. The distance D2 between them means the distance between the guide portions 111a, 111b that defines the width of the storage space portion 30.

[0038] The pair of locking portions 112a, 112b are provided on the tip side of the flexible arm portion 110. More specifically, they are provided on an extending portion of the flexible arm portion 110, on the inner wall surface of each of the flexible arms 110a, 110b in the width direction Y. The pair of locking portions 112a, 112b are positioned opposite each other with a gap in between along the width direction Y.

[0039] The pair of locking portions 112a, 112b are tapered to widen a distance D3 between them and an opposing object along the width direction Y as they approach the tip of the flexible arm portion 110. The distance D3 between them refers to the distance between the locking portions 112a, 112b that defines the width of the storage space 30. The corrugated tube C1 locked at the locking position L1 may tend to move from the locking position L1 toward the opening 10d due to, for example, an upward force (sometimes referred to as a lifting force acting on the corrugated tube C1) generated by a change in tension of the wire harness. The tapered shape of the pair of locking portions 112a, 112b allows them to make surface contact with the corrugated tube C1, thereby preventing damage to the corrugated tube C1, which is the object to be locked.

[0040] The pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b extend in a cantilever fashion from the side wall portions 10a, 10b in each slit 10e along the stacking direction Z. The pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b are configured to be elastically deformable along the width direction Y that intersects with the stacking direction Z. The pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b are provided at positions where the distal ends of the flexible arms 110a, 110b that are bent outward can come into contact with the pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b (see FIG. 7 in particular). Therefore, when the flexible arms 110a, 110b come into contact with the pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b, the pair of deformation restricting portions 120a, 120b apply a reaction force of an external force to the flexible arms 110a, 110b, and elastically deform together with the flexible arms 110a, 110b (see FIG. 8 in particular).

[0041] Next, the operation of assembling the protector 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0042] First, the worker assembles the corrugated tube C1, through which the wiring material W is inserted, to the main body 10. At this time, the worker inserts the end of the corrugated tube C1 into the storage space 30 along the stacking direction Z, with the extension direction of the corrugated tube C1 aligned with the axial direction X.

[0043] Then, the worker pushes the corrugated tube C1 from the space 32 toward the space 31 within the storage space 30. Specifically, the worker brings the corrugated tube C1 into contact with the guide portion 111 of the flexible arm portion 110 and applies an external force (pushing force) to change the corrugated tube C1 from an unloaded state (a state in which the corrugated tube C1 is not in contact with the flexible arm portion 110) to an initial state (a state in which the corrugated tube C1 is in contact with the flexible arm portion 110 and has started to move further toward the bottom portion 10c). At this time, the guide portion 111 is provided on the base end side of the flexible arm portion 110, and therefore the pushing force bends only the flexible arm portion 110 outward, thereby guiding the corrugated tube C1 into the space 31. Furthermore, the guide portion 111 is formed in a tapered shape, and therefore operates to gradually widen the flexible arm portion 110 due to the pushing force applied to the corrugated tube C1.

[0044] Then, the worker further pushes the corrugated tube C1, causing the outwardly bent flexible arm portions 110 to abut against the deformation restricting portions 120 (see FIG. 7). Specifically, the worker applies a pushing force to the corrugated tube C1, thereby changing the corrugated tube C1 from the initial state to a transition state (a state in which the corrugated tube C1 moves toward the bottom portion 10c while applying an external force to the flexible arm portions 110 and the deformation restricting portions 120). At this time, the deformation restricting portions 120 operate to apply a reaction force to the flexible arm portions 110 against the external force applied by the flexible arm portions 110. Therefore, the pushing force required to bend the flexible arm portions 110 and the deformation restricting portions 120 outward is greater than the pushing force required to bend only the flexible arm portions 110 outward. However, because the guide portion 111 is formed in a tapered shape, the pushing force required to bend the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 outward gradually increases from the initial pushing force that bends only the flexible arm portion 110 outward. Therefore, the guide portion 111 makes it easier for the operator to apply a pushing force to the corrugated tube C.

[0045] Then, the worker bends the flexible arm 110 and the deformation restricting part 120 outward (see FIG. 8 ) to store the corrugated tube C1 in the space 31 within the storage space 30. Specifically, the worker applies a pushing force to the corrugated tube C1 to change the corrugated tube C1 from the transition state to the completed state (a state in which the movement is completed and the corrugated tube C1 is stored in the space 31 within the storage space 30). At this time, the flexible arm 110 is retracted from the storage space 30. Therefore, the worker can move the corrugated tube C1 over the locking mechanism 100 and into the space 31 within the storage space 30. Furthermore, when the corrugated tube C1 moves over the flexible arm 110 to the space 31 within the storage space 30, the flexible arm 110 and the deformation restricting part 120 elastically return to their original positions, and the flexible arm 110 returns to the position protruding toward the storage space 30. Therefore, the main body 10 equipped with the locking mechanism 100 holds the end of the corrugated tube C1 with the walls (side walls 10a, 10b), bottom 10c, and main body-side mating portion 13 of the main body 10, and locks the end of the corrugated tube C1 with the locking portion 112 of the flexible arm 110 (see FIG. 9). Furthermore, when the corrugated tube C1 attempts to move from the locking position L1 toward the opening 10d due to a levitation force, the deformation restricting portion 120 applies a reaction force to the flexible arm 110 in response to an external force applied from the flexible arm 110 that has bent outward, thereby preventing the flexible arm 110 from bending. Therefore, the main body 10 equipped with the locking mechanism 100 can properly lock the corrugated tube C1 stored in the space 31 in the storage space 30 at the locking position L1.

[0046] Then, the worker assembles the corrugated tube C2 to the main body 10. At this time, the worker inserts the corrugated tube C2 into the storage space 30 and stores it in the space 32 within the storage space 30 (see FIG. 10). The corrugated tube C2 is stored in the space 32 of the storage space 30 with the end of the corrugated tube C1 held by the walls (side walls 10a, 10b), bottom 10c, and main body-side mating portion 13 of the main body 10 and locked by the locking mechanism 100.

[0047] Then, the worker assembles the lid portion 20 to the main body portion 10 via the locking mechanism 40 (see FIG. 11). Through this assembly operation, the protector 1 can store the corrugated tubes C1, C2 along the stacking direction Z with the end of the corrugated tube C2 held by the wall portions (side wall portions 10a, 10b) of the main body portion 10 and the lid portion-side interlocking portion 23. Then, the protector 1 is in a state where the wiring material W exposed from the end of each corrugated tube C is inserted and routed within the storage space portion 30 of the main body portion 10.

[0048] The protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above include a flexible arm 110 that extends in a cantilevered manner from a wall (side wall 10a, 10b) serving as a support structure along the stacking direction Z (attachment / detachment direction Z1) and is elastically deformable along the width direction Y, and a deformation restricting part 120 that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall along the stacking direction Z and is located at an interval from the flexible arm 110 on the side opposite to the side on which the exterior material (corrugated tube C) serving as the locked member is located in the width direction Y, and is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm 110. With this configuration, when the deformation restricting part 120 bends together with the flexible arm 110, the flexible arm 110 can move the corrugated tube C to the space 31 (the space on the locking position L1 side) within the storage space 30. Furthermore, the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 elastically return to their original positions when the corrugated tube C1 moves over the flexible arm portion 110 as it moves into the space 31 within the storage space portion 30. Therefore, the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 can properly lock the end of the corrugated tube C1 that has moved into the space 31 within the storage space portion 30 at the locking position L1.

[0049] Furthermore, by providing the deformation restricting portion 120 on the outside of the flexible arm portion 110, the locking mechanism 100 can reduce the pushing force required in the initial stage of the assembly operation while ensuring sufficient holding force to lock the corrugated tube C at the locking position L1. Generally, when a locked member, such as the corrugated tube C, bends a locking member, such as the flexible arm portion 110, outward, a method of thinning the locking member's thickness can be adopted, considering only the locking member's flexibility. However, thinning the locking member can result in a problem of insufficient holding force to lock the locked member at the desired locking position. Furthermore, increasing the locking member's thickness to ensure this holding force increases the pushing force applied to the locked member. Therefore, the locking mechanism 100 solves these problems by providing the deformation restricting portion 120 on the outside of the flexible arm portion 110, which is the locking member, without changing the thickness of the flexible arm portion 110 itself. With this configuration, the locking mechanism 100 ensures the flexibility of the locking member while also ensuring a holding force, thereby improving the work efficiency of the worker.

[0050] Furthermore, when the corrugated tube C comes into contact with the flexible arm portion 110 of the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above and an external force (pushing force) is applied to it as the corrugated tube C moves toward the locking position L1 along the stacking direction Z, the flexible arm portion 110 elastically deforms along the width direction Y, and when an external force is applied to the deformation restricting portion 120 as the flexible arm portion 110 comes into contact with the flexible arm portion 110, the deformation restricting portion 120 elastically deforms together with the flexible arm portion 110 while applying a reaction force to the external force to the flexible arm portion 110. With this configuration, when the corrugated tube C tries to move from the space 31 to the space 32 in the storage space portion 30 due to a levitation force, the deformation restricting portion 120 bends outward and applies a reaction force to the abutting flexible arm portion 110, thereby preventing the flexible arm portion 110 from bending. Therefore, the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 can properly lock the corrugated tube C1 stored in the space 31 in the storage space portion 30 at the locking position L1.

[0051] Furthermore, the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 of the protector 1, the wire harness WH, and the locking mechanism 100 described above are provided as a pair facing each other across the storage space 30 in the width direction Y, and the flexible arm portion 110 is provided so as to protrude toward the storage space 30. With this configuration, the flexible arm portion 110 can divide at least a part of the storage space 30 in the stacking direction Z into a space on the bottom 10c side (space 31 within the storage space 30) and a space on the opening 10d side (space 32 within the storage space 30). Furthermore, the flexible arm portion 110 can abut against the corrugated tube C stored in the space 31 within the storage space 30, thereby properly locking the corrugated tube C at the locking position L1.

[0052] Furthermore, the flexible arm 110 of the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above has a guide portion 111 provided on the base end side, and the guide portion 111 is formed to have a tapered shape so that the distance D2 between the flexible arm 110 and an opposing object along the width direction Y becomes narrower as the guide portion 111 approaches the tip side of the flexible arm 110. With this configuration, the guide portion 111 is provided on the base end side of the flexible arm 110, and by applying a pushing force, only the flexible arm 110 is bent outward, thereby guiding the corrugated tube C into the space 31 in the storage space 30. Furthermore, by forming the guide portion 111 in a tapered shape, the pushing force applied to the corrugated tube C gradually widens the flexible arm 110, gradually increasing the pushing force required to push the corrugated tube C. Therefore, the guide portion 111 makes it easier for the operator to apply force to the corrugated tube C.

[0053] Furthermore, the flexible arm portion 110 of the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above does not abut against the deformation restricting portion 120 in an unloaded state in which the corrugated tube C is not in contact with the flexible arm portion 110, but abuts against the deformation restricting portion 120 in a transition state in which between one-third and one-half of the length of the corrugated tube C along the stacking direction Z has moved from the base end of the flexible arm portion 110 toward the locking position L1. With this configuration, the locking mechanism 100 has the characteristic of easily bending outward in response to a pushing force applied to the corrugated tube C, but not easily bending outward in response to a lifting force applied to the corrugated tube C. Specifically, in an unloaded state, the worker only needs to bend the flexible arm portion 110 outward via the corrugated tube C, thereby reducing the pushing force applied to the corrugated tube C. Then, after the corrugated tube C has moved to a certain extent into the space 31 within the storage space 30, the worker feels a reaction force applied from the deformation restricting part 120 to the flexible arm part 110. The worker needs to increase the pushing force in response to this reaction force, but since the width of a cylindrical member such as a corrugated tube is generally greatest at the center of its height, the flexible arm part 110 and the deformation restricting part 120 can be bent by the force of pushing in the member that has been inserted to a certain extent.

[0054] Furthermore, the flexible arm 110 of the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above has a locking portion 112 provided at its tip end that abuts against and locks the end of the corrugated tube C at the locking position L1, and the locking portion 112 is formed to have a tapered shape that widens the distance D3 between the locking portion 112 and an opposing object along the width direction Y as it approaches the tip end of the flexible arm 110. With this configuration, the locking portion 112 can come into surface contact with the corrugated tube C when the corrugated tube C locked at the locking position L1 attempts to move from the locking position L1 toward the opening 10d due to a levitation force. Therefore, the locking portion 112 can prevent the corrugated tube C1, which is the object to be locked, from being damaged.

[0055] Furthermore, the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 described above are assembled to the main body 10 and include a lid 20 that closes an opening formed in the main body 10. The storage space 30 can store ends of a pair of corrugated tubes C in the stacking direction Z, sandwiching the locking mechanism 100 therebetween, with the end of one of the pair of corrugated tubes C (corrugated tube C1) held by the locking mechanism 100 in a space 31 on the locking position L1 side within the storage space 30, and the end of the other of the pair of corrugated tubes C (corrugated tube C2) held by the lid 20 in a space 32 on the opposite side of the locking position L1 side within the storage space 30. According to this configuration, the corrugated tube C2 is stored in the space 32 of the storage space 30 with the end of the corrugated tube C1 held by the wall portions (side walls 10a, 10b), bottom portion 10c, and main body-side interlocking portion 13 of the main body 10 and locked by the locking mechanism 100. Furthermore, the protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 can store the corrugated tubes C1, C2 along the stacking direction Z with the end of the corrugated tube C2 held by the wall portions (side walls 10a, 10b) of the main body 10 and the lid-side interlocking portion 23. This improves the work efficiency of the worker.

[0056] The protector 1, wire harness WH, and locking mechanism 100 according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the thickness (length along the width direction Y) of the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restricting portion 120 is not particularly limited. By changing the thickness of the deformation restricting portion 120, which can apply a reaction force to the flexible arm portion 110, it is possible to adjust the pushing force and holding force on the object to be locked.

[0057] Furthermore, although the flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restriction portion 120 have been described as being provided in pairs in the width direction Y, the number thereof is not particularly limited. The flexible arm portion 110 and the deformation restriction portion 120 may be provided on one side in the width direction Y.

[0058] Furthermore, the flexible arm portion 110 does not necessarily have to include the guide portion 111 or the locking portion 112.

[0059] Although the corrugated tubes C1 and C2 are stacked and stored in the protector 1 in the above description, the storage configuration of the corrugated tubes is not particularly limited. For example, the corrugated tubes stored in the protector may be only those that are locked in a desired locking position by a locking mechanism, and the number of other corrugated tubes stored is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the number of locking mechanisms applied to the protector and the positions of the locking mechanisms relative to the main body are not particularly limited.

[0060] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 100 has been described as being applied to the protector 1, but is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0061] For example, the locking mechanism can be applied to the locking mechanism 40 (locking hole portion 12 or locking protrusion portion 22) of the protector 1 described above, the locking mechanism of a fitting part such as a connector, the fitting lock portion of a bracket, etc. Below, with reference to Fig. 8, a modified form of the fitting lock portion of the bracket will be described.

[0062] A locking mechanism 100A applied to fitting parts such as connectors includes a flexible arm portion 210 extending from a support structure 200, and a deformation restricting portion 220 extending from the support structure 200 and provided at a distance outside the flexible arm portion 210. The flexible arm portion 210 also includes a protrusion 211 at its tip end that can be fitted into a locked member 300.

[0063] The flexible arm portion 210 extends in a cantilevered manner from the support structure 200 in the attachment / detachment direction of the locked member 300 (direction Z1 shown in FIG. 12, which corresponds to direction Z; hereinafter referred to as attachment / detachment direction Z1), and is configured to be elastically deformable in a width direction (corresponding to direction Y shown in FIG. 12, which hereinafter referred to as width direction Y) that intersects with the attachment / detachment direction Z1. This configuration allows the flexible arm portion 210 to have higher flexibility in the width direction Y than the support structure 200.

[0064] The deformation restricting portion 220 extends in a cantilevered manner from the support structure 200 along the attachment / detachment direction Z1 of the locked member 300, and is configured to be elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion 210. The deformation restricting portion 220 is provided in a position where it can come into contact with the tip side of the flexible arm portion 210 that is bent outward. Therefore, when the flexible arm portion 210 comes into contact with the deformation restricting portion 220, the deformation restricting portion 220 elastically deforms together with the flexible arm portion 210 while applying a reaction force of the external force to the flexible arm portion 210.

[0065] The member to be locked 300 is configured to include a hole 310 on the tip side into which the protrusion 211 can be fitted.

[0066] The deformation restricting portion 220 of the locking mechanism 100A can bend outward while applying a reaction force to the flexible arm portion 210. With this configuration, the locking mechanism 100A has the characteristic of easily bending outward in response to a pushing force applied to the locked member 300, but not easily bending outward in response to a floating force applied to the locked member 300, similar to the above-described embodiment. On the other hand, the locking mechanism 100A locks the locked member 300 in a positional relationship different from that of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the locking mechanism 100A can properly lock the locked member 300, which is the object to be locked, at a desired locking position (locking position L2 shown in FIG. 12 ) via the protrusion 211 of the flexible arm portion 210 by inserting the protrusion 211 into the hole 310 of the locked member 300.

[0067] The protector, wire harness, and locking mechanism according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiment and modified examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Protector 10 Main body 10a, 10b Side wall (wall, support structure) 20 Lid 30 Storage space 40 Locking mechanism 50 meshing part 100 Locking mechanism 110 Flexible arm 111 Guide section 112 Locking part 120 Deformation control section C Corrugated tube (exterior material, retained member) Ca uneven part D2 Distance between opposing objects (guide distance) D3 Distance from opposing object (distance between locking parts) L1, L2 locking position W Routing material WH Wire Harness X-axis direction Y width direction Z stacking direction Z1 Attachment / detachment direction

Claims

1. a main body portion through which a conductive wiring material is inserted into a storage space portion formed by a wall portion; a locking mechanism capable of locking an end of the exterior material through which the wiring material is inserted, The locking mechanism is a flexible arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along an attachment / detachment direction that intersects with the axial direction of the exterior material, and is elastically deformable along a width direction that intersects with the attachment / detachment direction, and is capable of locking an end of the exterior material at a locking position within the storage space; a deformation restricting portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction, is located at an interval from the flexible arm portion on the opposite side to the side on which the exterior material is located in the width direction, and is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion, Protector.

2. When an external force is applied to the flexible arm portion by the exterior material coming into contact with the flexible arm portion in association with an operation of moving the exterior material toward the locking position in the attachment / detachment direction, the flexible arm portion elastically deforms along the width direction, When an external force is applied to the deformation restricting portion by the flexible arm portion coming into contact with the deformation restricting portion, the deformation restricting portion applies a reaction force of the external force to the flexible arm portion and elastically deforms together with the flexible arm portion. The protector according to claim 1 .

3. the flexible arm portion and the deformation restricting portion are provided as a pair facing each other across the storage space portion in the width direction, The flexible arm portion is positioned to protrude toward the storage space portion. The protector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the flexible arm portion has a guide portion provided on a base end side, the guide portion has a tapered shape provided so as to narrow a distance between the guide portion and an opposing object facing the guide portion along the width direction toward the tip side of the flexible arm portion. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the flexible arm portion does not abut on the deformation restricting portion in an unloaded state in which the exterior material is not in contact with the flexible arm portion, In a transition state in which one-third to one-half of the length of the outer casing along the attachment / detachment direction has moved from the base end of the flexible arm portion toward the locking position, the outer casing abuts against the deformation restricting portion. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the flexible arm portion has a locking portion provided on a tip side thereof and abutting against and locking with an end portion of the exterior material in the locking position, the engaging portion has a tapered shape provided so as to widen a gap between the engaging portion and an opposing object along the width direction toward the tip side of the flexible arm portion, The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. a lid portion attached to the main body portion and closing an opening formed in the main body portion; the storage space can store the pair of ends of the exterior materials in the attachment / detachment direction, with the locking mechanism interposed therebetween; an end portion of one of the pair of exterior materials is held in the space on the locking position side within the storage space by the locking mechanism, an end portion of the other of the pair of exterior materials is held by the lid portion in a space on the opposite side to the locking position side within the storage space portion; The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A conductive wiring material; An exterior material into which the wiring material is inserted; a main body portion through which the wiring material is inserted into a storage space portion formed by a wall portion; and a protector having a locking mechanism capable of locking an end portion of the exterior material, The locking mechanism is a flexible arm portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along an attachment / detachment direction that intersects with the axial direction of the exterior material, and is elastically deformable along a width direction that intersects with the attachment / detachment direction, and is capable of locking an end of the exterior material at a locking position within the storage space; a deformation restricting portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the wall portion along the attachment / detachment direction, is located at an interval from the flexible arm portion on the opposite side to the side on which the exterior material is located in the width direction, and is elastically deformable together with the flexible arm portion, Wire harness.

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