Exterior members and wire harnesses

The exterior member and wire harness utilize a main body portion and elastic support structures for secure and easy assembly to vehicle fixtures, addressing assembly challenges and ensuring stable attachment.

JP7803741B2Active Publication Date: 2026-01-21YAZAKI CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022029083
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-02-28
Publication Date
2026-01-21
Estimated Expiration
2042-02-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing exterior members for wire harnesses, such as those described in Patent Document 1, lack an optimal configuration for easy and secure assembly to vehicle body fixtures.

Method used

The exterior member and wire harness incorporate a main body portion wrapped around the wiring material, with fixing portions and at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portions relative to the main body, allowing for easier assembly and secure attachment to vehicle fixtures.

Benefits of technology

The configuration enables proper assembly to fixing portions, accommodating positional variations and tolerances, and ensures secure attachment without interference with surrounding components, even in narrow spaces.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide an exterior member and a wiring harness, which can be appropriately assembled to a fixing portion.SOLUTION: A wiring harness WH comprises: a wiring material W with a conductivity; and an exterior member 1 that covers the wiring material W. The exterior member 1 comprises: a main body part 10 that covers the wiring material W; a fixing part 20 that is fixed to a fixing portion; and at least three liner elastic support parts 30 that elastically support the fixing part 20 with respect to the main body part 10. For example, the plurality of pairs of fixing part 20 and at least the three liner elastic support parts 30 is provided in an extension direction X of the main body part 10. Thus, the present invention obtains an effect that the exterior member 1 and the wiring harness WH can be appropriately assembled to the fixing portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior member and a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional exterior member, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protector including a protector main body that covers at least a part of a wire harness, a first fixing part that is provided on the protector main body and can be attached to a vehicle body, and a second fixing part that is provided on the protector main body and can be attached to the vehicle body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-96880 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the protector described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is, for example, assembled to a fixed portion of the vehicle body via a first fixing part and a second fixing part, but there is room for further improvement in terms of the configuration for more appropriate assembly.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an exterior member and a wire harness that can be properly assembled to a fixing portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the exterior member of the present invention comprises a main body portion that is exteriorly wrapped around a wiring material, a fixing portion that is fixed to a fixing portion, and at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material and an exterior member wrapped around the wiring material, and the exterior member comprises a main body portion wrapped around the wiring material, a fixing portion fixed to a fixing portion, and at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The exterior member and the wire harness according to the present invention have the effect of being able to be properly assembled to the fixing portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an exterior member according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of an exterior member according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view including a fixing portion of the exterior member according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view including a fixing portion of the exterior member according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view including a fixing portion of the exterior member according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view including a linear elastic support portion of an exterior member according to a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view including a linear elastic support portion of an exterior member according to a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view including a linear elastic support portion of an exterior member according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 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.

[0011] In the following drawings, some of the wiring material is omitted with dashed double-dashed lines. In the following description, the first, second, and third directions, which intersect with each other, are referred to as the "first direction X," "second direction Y," and "third direction Z," respectively. Here, the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other. The first direction X typically corresponds to the axial direction of the main body portion of the exterior member, the extension direction of the main body portion of the exterior member, the wiring direction of the wiring material in the exterior member, etc. The second direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction of the main body portion of the exterior member, the opposing direction of the pair of structures of the main body portion of the exterior member, the intersecting direction that intersects with the axial direction, etc. The third direction Z typically corresponds to the thickness direction of the main body portion of the exterior member, the stacking direction of the base member and cover member of the main body portion of the exterior member, the fixing direction of the fixing part to the fixing part, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description are described as directions when the parts are assembled together.

[0012] [Embodiment] 1 is a wiring harness WH in which, for example, a plurality of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication are bundled together to form an assembly component for connecting various devices mounted on a vehicle, and the wiring materials W are connected to the respective devices using connectors, etc. The wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a conductive wiring material W and an exterior member 1 that is exteriorly fitted to the wiring material W.

[0013] 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. The wiring material W may also be a bundle of multiple insulated electric wires. The wiring material W may also be an insulated metal rod in which a conductive metal rod is covered with an insulating covering. The exterior member 1 is a protector (protective member) that protects the wiring material W by being assembled to and exteriorizing the wiring material W. The exterior member 1 is inserted and routed inside, protecting the wiring material W, and is fixed to a fixing portion 100 of the vehicle to regulate the routing path of the wiring material W. The wire harness WH may further include various other components such as grommets, electrical connection boxes, fixtures, connectors, etc.

[0014] In the exterior member 1 according to this embodiment, the main body portion 10 is wrapped around a wiring material W, and then fixed to a fixing portion 100 via a fixing portion 20. In this configuration, the exterior member 1 according to this embodiment has the fixing portion 20, which is fixed to the fixing portion 100, elastically supported by a plurality of linear elastic support portions 30 relative to the main body portion 10, thereby improving the ease of assembly to the fixing portion 100. The configuration of the exterior member 1 will be described in detail below with reference to the respective drawings.

[0015] Here, the wiring path of the wiring material W in the exterior member 1 is described as being a path generally along the first direction X, but it is not limited to this and may be a path that is slightly curved three-dimensionally, a path that is partially bent, etc.

[0016] The fixing portion 100 to which the exterior member 1 is fixed will be described as being provided on a wiring surface of a vehicle body, for example. Here, the fixing portion 100 is configured by a structural member for supporting the exterior member 1 mounted on the wiring material W while the wiring material W is routed along the routing surface. The fixing portion 100 of this embodiment is configured by a structural member such as a plate-shaped sheet metal whose thickness direction is along the third direction Z, and has a locking hole 101 formed therein for locking and fixing the fixing portion 20 of the exterior member 1. The locking hole 101 is a through-hole formed by penetrating the structural member constituting the fixing portion 100 along the third direction Z, and is formed, for example, in a substantially circular or substantially oval shape. A plurality of the locking holes 101 are provided at intervals along the first direction X. That is, the plurality of locking holes 101 are positioned side by side at intervals along the routing direction of the wiring material W in the exterior member 1 (in other words, the extension direction of the exterior member 1). 5, 6, etc., which will be described later, the fixing portion 100 is formed so that there is a slight difference in height in the third direction Z between a portion that supports the main body portion 10 of the exterior member 1 and a portion that supports the fixing portion 20 of the exterior member 1. In the fixing portion 100 of this embodiment, the portion that supports the fixing portion 20, in other words, the portion where the locking hole 101 is formed and where the fixing portion 20 is locked and fixed, is formed so that it protrudes toward the front surface of the fixing surface (near side) in the third direction Z relative to the portion that supports the main body portion 10.

[0017] Here, the wire harness WH includes a first exterior member 1A and a second exterior member 1B as exterior members 1. The exterior members 1A and 1B are positioned adjacent to each other along the first direction X and are connected to each other via a connecting structure 1C attached to both of them to form a connected body. Here, the exterior members 1A and 1B are slightly different in shape, size, number of components, etc., but are substantially similar in that they include a main body portion 10, fixing portions 20, and linear elastic support members 30. For this reason, the following FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mainly illustrate the exterior member 1A, and unless otherwise noted, the exterior members 1A and 1B will be described together. In the following description, the exterior members 1A and 1B will be referred to as the "exterior member 1A" and the "exterior member 1B," respectively, when they are to be distinguished from each other. When there is no need to distinguish between the exterior members 1A and 1B, they will simply be referred to as the "exterior member 1."

[0018] Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the exterior member 1 of this embodiment includes a main body portion 10, fixing portions 20, and linear elastic support portions 30. The main body portion 10 is the main portion of the exterior member 1 that is fitted to the routing material W. The fixing portions 20 are portions of the exterior member 1 that are fixed to fixing locations 100. The linear elastic support portions 30 are portions of the exterior member 1 that elastically support the fixing portions 20 relative to the main body portion 10. At least three (four in this example) linear elastic support portions 30 are provided for one fixing portion 20. In the exterior member 1, the main body portion 10, the fixing portions 20, and the linear elastic support portions 30 are integrally formed from an insulating resin material.

[0019] In the exterior member 1 of this embodiment, the fixing portions 20 and the at least three linear elastic support members 30 are provided in multiple sets along the first direction X, which corresponds to the extension direction of the main body 10. In the exterior member 1A, the fixing portions 20 and the at least three linear elastic support members 30 are provided in two sets spaced apart along the first direction X. On the other hand, in the exterior member 1B, the fixing portions 20 and the at least three linear elastic support members 30 are provided in three sets spaced apart along the first direction X.

[0020] Although the fixing portions 20 and linear elastic support portions 30 of each set are slightly different in shape, size, etc., they basically have substantially the same configuration, and therefore, in the following, unless otherwise specified, the configuration of each set will be described in common.

[0021] More specifically, the main body 10 of this embodiment includes a pair of structures 11 and 12 and a connecting portion 13, as shown in FIGS.

[0022] The pair of structures 11, 12 each constitute a major portion of the main body 10 and extend along a first direction X corresponding to the axial direction. Each of the pair of structures 11, 12 is formed in a substantially linear rod shape to which various shapes such as concave portions, convex portions, cutout portions, and rib-shaped portions have been added. The pair of structures 11, 12 are positioned opposite each other across the fixed portion 20 in a second direction Y corresponding to the intersecting direction intersecting with the first direction X (axial direction). In other words, the pair of structures 11, 12 are spaced apart in the second direction Y, and each fixed portion 20 is located between the pair of structures 11, 12. Furthermore, the pair of structures 11, 12 are positioned on both sides of the fixed portion 20 in the second direction Y.

[0023] The connecting portion 13 is a beam-shaped portion that connects the pair of structures 11, 12 in the main body 10, and extends along the second direction Y. The connecting portion 13 is formed in a substantially linear rod shape along the second direction Y. A plurality of connecting portions 13 are provided at intervals along the first direction X in the space between the pair of structures 11, 12. In the exterior member 1A, four connecting portions 13 are provided at intervals along the first direction X. On the other hand, in the exterior member 1B, six connecting portions 13 are provided at intervals along the first direction X. Each connecting portion 13 is connected to the structure 11 at one end and to the structure 11 at the other end, thereby connecting and integrating the pair of structures 11, 12 with each other in the main body 10.

[0024] In the main body 10 of this embodiment, a wiring material W is wired to at least one of the pair of structures 11 and 12.

[0025] Here, in the exterior member 1A, of a pair of structures 11 and 12, a wiring material W is routed in one structure 11, and the other structure 12 is not routed in the wiring material W. That is, in the exterior member 1A, the structure 11 constitutes a wiring protection portion 14 that is wrapped around the wiring material W and in which the wiring material W is routed, and the structure 12 constitutes a beam-shaped structural rigid portion 15. In this exterior member 1A, the wiring material W is routed in the structure 11 that constitutes the wiring protection portion 14 along the first direction X.

[0026] On the other hand, in the exterior member 1B, the wiring material W is routed to both of the pair of structures 11, 12. That is, in the exterior member 1B, the structures 11 and a part of the structures 12 are sheathed by the wiring material W and constitute a wiring protection portion 14 in which the wiring material W is routed. In this exterior member 1B, the wiring material W is routed so as to be stretched across the pair of structures 11, 12 along the connecting portion 13, and is routed along the first direction X to each of the structures 11, 12 that constitute the wiring protection portion 14.

[0027] Here, the main body 10 is configured by a base member 16 and a cover member 17. The base member 16 is a generally trough-shaped member formed to correspond to the pair of structures 11, 12 and the connecting portion 13. The cover member 17 is a generally lid-shaped member formed on the portion of the pair of structures 11, 12 and the connecting portion 13 that constitutes the wiring protection portion 14. The structural rigid portion 15 described above does not have this cover member 17 and is a portion formed only by the base member 16. The base member 16 and the cover member 17 are assembled facing each other in the portion that constitutes the wiring protection portion 14, thereby forming a generally rectangular tube as a whole and defining a wiring space S1 (see also Figures 5, 6, etc.) inside. The wiring space S1 is a space for routing the wiring material W and is formed mainly inside the generally trough-shaped base member 16. The wiring space S1 is closed by the cover member 17, thereby becoming a space surrounded by the base member 16 and the cover member 17. As described above, the wiring space S1 becomes a space generally along the first direction X. Here, the base member 16 and the cover member 17 are integrally formed and connected to each other via a hinge portion 18 (see also Figures 5, 6, etc.) so as to be able to open and close. The cover member 17 is locked to the base member 16 via a locking mechanism 19 at a closed position where the wiring space S1 is closed. However, the base member 16 and the cover member 17 are not limited to this, and may be formed as separate members and then assembled to each other.

[0028] The fixing portion 20 of this embodiment includes a fixing base portion 21 and a clamp portion 22, as shown in FIGS.

[0029] The fixed base 21 constitutes a base portion of the fixed part 20. The fixed base 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with its plate thickness direction aligned with the third direction Z, and is positioned away from the main body part 10. More specifically, when viewed along the third direction Z (see FIG. 3 ), the fixed base 21 is positioned within a substantially rectangular fixed part arrangement space S2 surrounded by the pair of structures 11, 12 and the pair of connecting parts 13, and is elastically supported by the structures 11, 12 via a plurality of linear elastic support members 30. That is, the fixed base 21 (in other words, the fixed part 20) is provided within the fixed part arrangement space S2, separated from the structures 11, 12 and the connecting parts 13 that constitute the main body part 10, and is formed separately from the main body part 10 in the portions other than the linear elastic support members 30. Note that the fixed base 21 also has formed therein die-cut holes and the like for molding the clamp parts 22.

[0030] The clamp portion 22 constitutes a portion of the fixed part 20 that is actually engaged and fixed to the fixed site 100. The clamp portion 22 is integrally formed and protrudes from the fixed base 21 toward the fixed site 100 in the third direction Z. Specifically, the clamp portion 22 includes a shaft portion 22a, a pair of arm portions 22b, and a pair of locking claw portions 22c (see also Figures 5, 6, etc.). The shaft portion 22a is formed to extend in a columnar shape from the fixed base 21 in the third direction Z. A base end of the shaft portion 22a is connected to the fixed base 21, while a pair of arm portions 22b is connected to a tip end of the shaft portion 22a. The pair of arm portions 22b are formed at positions facing each other across the shaft portion 22a in the second direction Y. The pair of arm portions 22b protrude from the tip end of the shaft portion 22a in the second direction Y and are formed in an arm shape by bending back toward the fixed base 21 in the third direction Z. The pair of arm portions 22b each have a base end connected to the tip end of shaft portion 22a, and a locking claw portion 22c formed at the tip end. Each locking claw portion 22c is a portion that is locked onto the edge of a locking hole 101 (see Figures 5, 6, etc.) formed in fixed portion 100. The pair of arm portions 22b of clamp portion 22 are flexible and are formed so that the arm portions 22b can be inserted into locking hole 101 while bending. When arm portions 22b are inserted into locking hole 101 while bending, and each locking claw portion 22c is locked onto the edge of locking hole 101, clamp portion 22 is locked and fixed to fixed portion 100 (see Figure 6, etc.).

[0031] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the linear elastic support member 30 of this embodiment is formed as a linear portion that is three-dimensionally elastically deformable in the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z. The linear elastic support member 30 is interposed between the structures 11 and 12 of the main body 10 and the fixed base 21 of the fixed part in the second direction Y, and extends along the second direction Y so as to bridge between the structures 11 and 12 and the fixed base 21. Here, as one example, the linear elastic support member 30 is formed in a serpentine shape in which a wire having a substantially circular cross section travels back and forth multiple times along the first direction X, curves, and then folds back. Due to this shape, the linear elastic support member 30 is configured to be three-dimensionally elastically deformable in the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z.

[0032] As described above, at least three linear elastic support members 30 are provided for one fixed portion 20. Here, four linear elastic support members 30 are provided for one fixed portion 20. In other words, one fixed portion 20 is elastically supported at four points by the four linear elastic support members 30 relative to the main body portion 10. More specifically, a total of four linear elastic support members are provided for one fixed portion 20, one for each of the four corners 21a of the fixed base 21, and elastically support the corners 21a relative to the main body portion 10. In this way, the four linear elastic support members 30 elastically support the fixed portion 20 so that it can be displaced three-dimensionally within the fixed portion arrangement space S2.

[0033] Here, the multiple linear elastic support members 30 provided for one fixed portion 20 include two first linear elastic support members 31 and two second linear elastic support members 32. One end of each first linear elastic support member 31 is connected to the structure 11, and the other end is connected to a corner 21a of the fixed base 21. As a result, each first linear elastic support member 31 elastically supports the corner 21a of the fixed base 21 of the fixed portion 20 with respect to the structure 11, which is one of the pair of structures 11, 12. On the other hand, one end of each second linear elastic support member 32 is connected to the structure 12, and the other end is connected to the corner 21a of the fixed base 21. As a result, each second linear elastic support member 32 elastically supports the corner 21a of the fixed base 21 of the fixed portion 20 with respect to the structure 12, which is the other of the pair of structures 11, 12. As a result, the multiple linear elastic support members 30 elastically support the fixed base 21 of the fixed part 20 by spanning between the structures 11 and 12 in the second direction Y using the first linear elastic support members 31 and the second linear elastic support members 32. In the following description, when the first linear elastic support members 31 and the second linear elastic support members 32 are to be distinguished from each other, they will be referred to as the "first linear elastic support members 31" and the "second linear elastic support members 32," respectively, and when there is no need to distinguish between the first linear elastic support members 31 and the second linear elastic support members 32, they will sometimes be simply referred to as the "linear elastic support members 30."

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5, each linear elastic support member 30 of this embodiment is formed to support the entire fixing portion 20 at a position spaced away from the fixing portion 100 side relative to the structures 11, 12 when the clamping portion 22 of the fixing portion 20 is not yet engaged with the engaging hole 101 of the fixing portion 100 (in other words, in an unloaded normal state). Fig. 5 shows a state in which the clamping portion 22 has not yet been engaged with the engaging hole 101 after the exterior member 1 has been placed on the fixing portion 100, and the fixing base 21 of the fixing portion 20 is slightly raised relative to the fixing portion 100. As shown in Fig. 5, when the fixing portion 20 is not fixed to the fixing portion 100, each linear elastic support member 30 elastically supports the fixing base 21 of the fixing portion 20 in a state in which it is raised toward the opposite side from the fixing portion 100 side relative to the structures 11, 12 of the main body portion 10 along the third direction Z.

[0035] 6, when the clamp portion 22 of the fixing part 20 is locked and fixed to the locking hole 101 of the fixing part 100, the linear elastic support portion 30 elastically deforms along the third direction Z, which corresponds to the fixing direction of the fixing part 20 with respect to the fixing part 100, and generates a pressing force F that presses the entire main body portion 10 toward the fixing part 100. In other words, when the fixing part 20 is locked and fixed to the fixing part 100, the linear elastic support portion 30 elastically deforms along the third direction Z, and the restoring force (elastic force) accompanying this elastic deformation presses the locking claw portion 22c of the clamp portion 22 locked to the edge of the locking hole 101 against the edge, and the reaction force of the restoring force generates a pressing force F that presses the entire main body portion 10 toward the fixing part 100.

[0036] In the exterior member 1 configured as described above, the wiring material W is routed in the routing space S1 with the cover member 17 open. Thereafter, the cover member 17 of the exterior member 1 is rotated to the closed position and locked to the base member 16, thereby closing the routing space S1 with the cover member 17. In this state, the clamp portions 22 of each fixing portion 20 of the exterior member 1 are inserted into the locking holes 101 of the fixing portion 100 along the third direction Z and locked. That is, the pair of arm portions 22b of the clamp portions 22 are inserted into the locking holes 101 while bending from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 6, whereby the locking claw portions 22c are locked to the edges of the locking holes 101 and fixed to the fixing portion 100. As a result, by fixing the outer casing 1 to the fixing portion 100 of the vehicle, the wire harness WH can protect the wiring material W with the outer casing 1 while regulating and fixing the wiring path of the wiring material W within the vehicle.

[0037] In this state, the restoring force of each linear elastic support member 30 elastically deformed along the third direction Z (elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of each linear elastic support member 30) presses the locking claw portions 22c of the clamp portions 22 against the edge of the locking hole 101, and the reaction force of this restoring force generates a pressing force F that presses the entire main body portion 10 toward the fixed portion 100. As a result, the locking claw portions 22c of the exterior member 1, which are locked to the edge of the locking hole 101, are pressed against the edge along the third direction Z, and the reaction force presses the entire main body portion 10, including the structures 11 and 12, against the fixed portion 100. In other words, the exterior member 1 utilizes the spring properties of each linear elastic support portion 30 to urge the entire fixing portion 20 in a direction that eliminates the gap between the locking claw portion 22c and the edge of the locking hole 101, and can press the entire main body portion 10 toward the fixing portion 100 in a direction that eliminates the gap between the main body portion 10 and the fixing portion 100.

[0038] The wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 described above elastically support the fixing portions 20, which are fixed to the fixing portions 100, with respect to the main body 10, which is sheathed on the routing material W, by at least three, here four, linear elastic support portions 30. With this configuration, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can support the fixing portions 20 by the linear elastic support portions 30 so that they can be displaced three-dimensionally in the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z. As a result, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can be easily assembled while adjusting the positions of the fixing portions 20 with respect to the locking holes 101 of the fixing portions 100, for example. As a result, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can be properly assembled to the fixing portions 100.

[0039] More specifically, in the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 described above, for example, even when a plurality of fixing portions 20 are provided and each fixing portion 20 is fixed to a respective locking hole 101, each fixing portion 20 is supported by the linear elastic support member 30 so as to be three-dimensionally displaceable, and therefore each fixing portion 20 can be easily fixed to the fixing location 100 while absorbing positional variations and various tolerances of the locking holes 101. This allows the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 to be properly assembled to the fixing location 100.

[0040] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 described above, for example, when the fixing portions 20 are fixed to the fixing location 100, the linear elastic support members 30 elastically deform along the third direction Z, thereby generating a pressing force F that presses the main body 10 toward the fixing location 100. As a result, when the fixing portions 20 are fixed to the fixing location 100, the entire main body 10 including the structures 11 and 12 can be pressed toward the fixing location 100 by the pressing force F. As shown in FIG. 6 , the exterior member 1 can be assembled to the fixing location 100 without interfering with the peripheral component 102, even in a narrow space. In other words, when the fixing portions 20 are fixed to the fixing location 100, the exterior member 1 can ensure a more appropriate and wider clearance (gap) between the peripheral component 102 and the exterior member 1, thereby expanding the so-called living space of the exterior member 1. In this respect, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can be assembled to the fixing location 100 appropriately.

[0041] Here, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 described above elastically support the fixing portion 20 by using the first linear elastic support members 31 and the second linear elastic support members 32 as the linear elastic support members 30 to span the pair of structures 11, 12 that constitute the main body 10. With this configuration, the exterior member 1 can elastically support the fixing base 21 of the fixing portion 20 in a balanced manner across the pair of structures 11, 12, making it easier to maintain the entire exterior member 1 in an appropriate posture when the fixing portion 20 is fixed to the fixing portion 100. In this respect, the wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can be properly assembled to the fixing portion 100.

[0042] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 described above, one fixed portion 20 is provided with linear elastic support members 30 corresponding to each of the four corners 21a of the fixed base 21, and each linear elastic support member 30 elastically supports the corner 21a relative to the main body 10. With this configuration, the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 can elastically support the corners 21a of the fixed base 21 of the fixed portion 20 with each linear elastic support member 30 so that the corners 21a can be more easily displaced three-dimensionally, making it even easier to adjust the position of the fixed portion 20. As a result, the wire harness WH and exterior member 1 can be more appropriately assembled to the fixed part 100.

[0043] The exterior member and the wire harness 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.

[0044] In the above description, the linear elastic support member 30 has been described as being formed in a serpentine shape, but this is not limiting. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show examples of modified linear elastic support members 30. The linear elastic support member 30A according to the modified example shown in FIG. 7 is formed in a straight rod shape using a wire material having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and thinner than the fixed base 21, etc. The linear elastic support member 30B according to the modified example shown in FIG. 8 is formed in a hinge shape with a wire material having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and thinner than the fixed base 21, etc., bent at its midsection. The linear elastic support member 30C according to the modified example shown in FIG. 9 is formed in a spiral shape using a wire material having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around a central axis 30Ca along the second direction Y. Due to the above-described shapes, the linear elastic support members 30A, 30B, and 30C are all configured to be three-dimensionally elastically deformable in the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z. The wire harness WH and the exterior member 1 can be properly assembled to the fixing portion 100 in the same manner as described above, regardless of which of these linear elastic supporting portions 30A, 30B, and 30C is used.

[0045] In the above description, the exterior member 1 has been described as a protector that protects the wiring material W by being assembled to and exteriorizing the wiring material W, but this is not limited thereto. The exterior member may be, for example, a so-called corrugated clamp formed in a flexible cylindrical shape from an insulating resin material or the like, which holds a corrugated tube through which the wiring material W is inserted and fixes it to the fixing portion 100. In this case, the main body may be configured as a part that holds the corrugated tube and is indirectly exteriorized on the wiring material W via the corrugated tube.

[0046] In the above description, the fixing part 20 has been described as including the fixing base 21 and the clamp part 22, but this is not limited to this. For example, the fixing part 20 may not include the clamp part 22, and may be of a type in which the fixing base 21 is inserted and fixed to a stud bolt or the like provided in the fixing part 100.

[0047] In the above explanation, the fixing portion 100 has been described as being formed so that the portion supporting the main body portion 10 of the exterior member 1 and the portion supporting the fixing portion 20 of the exterior member 1 have a height difference in the third direction Z, but this is not limited to this.

[0048] In the above description, the wire harness WH has been described as having a first exterior member 1A and a second exterior member 1B as the exterior member 1, but this is not limited thereto and it is sufficient that the wire harness WH has at least one exterior member 1.

[0049] In the above description, it has been described that a plurality of sets of the fixed portion 20 and the linear elastic support portion 30 are provided along the first direction X, but this is not limiting, and it is sufficient that at least one set is provided.

[0050] In the above description, the main body 10 has been described as including a pair of structures 11, 12 and the connecting portion 13, but is not limited to this and may be formed of a single structure.

[0051] The exterior member and the wire harness according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiments and modified examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1, 1A, 1B Exterior material 10 Main body 11, 12 Structure 13 Connecting part 14 Wiring protection section 15 Structural rigid body 16 Base member 17 Cover member 18 Hinge part 19 Locking mechanism 20 Fixed part 21 Fixed base 21a Corner 22 Clamp section 22a Shaft 22b Arm part 22c Locking claw part 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Linear elastic support part 31 First linear elastic support portion 32 second linear elastic support portion 100 fixed parts 101 Locking hole 102 Peripheral parts F Pressing force S1 Routing space S2 Fixed part placement space W Routing material WH Wire Harness X 1st direction (axial direction, extension direction) Y Second direction (cross direction) Z 3rd direction (fixed direction)

Claims

1. A main body portion that is exteriorly covered with a wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, When the fixing portion is fixed to the fixing site, the linear elastic support portion elastically deforms along a fixing direction of the fixing portion relative to the fixing site, thereby generating a pressing force that presses the main body portion toward the fixing site. Exterior parts.

2. A main body that is sheathed in a wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, The main body portion includes a pair of structures extending along an axial direction and positioned opposite each other across the fixing portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and a connecting portion connecting the pair of structures, and the wiring material is arranged on at least one of the pair of structures, The plurality of linear elastic support portions include first linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixed portion with respect to one of the pair of structures, and second linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixed portion with respect to the other of the pair of structures. Exterior parts.

3. A main body that is sheathed in a wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, the fixing portion is formed in a rectangular plate shape and includes a fixing base portion located apart from the main body portion, The linear elastic support portions are provided one each corresponding to four corners of the fixed base portion, and elastically support the corners relative to the main body portion. Exterior parts.

4. The fixing portion and the at least three linear elastic support portions are provided in multiple sets along the extension direction of the main body portion. The exterior member according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A wiring material having conductivity, An exterior member that is exteriorly attached to the wiring material, The exterior member is A main body portion that is sheathed on the wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, When the fixing portion is fixed to the fixing site, the linear elastic support portion elastically deforms along a fixing direction of the fixing portion relative to the fixing site, thereby generating a pressing force that presses the main body portion toward the fixing site. Wire harness.

6. A conductive wiring material; An exterior member that is exteriorly attached to the wiring material, The exterior member is A main body portion that is sheathed on the wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, The main body portion includes a pair of structures extending along an axial direction and positioned opposite each other across the fixing portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and a connecting portion connecting the pair of structures, and the wiring material is arranged on at least one of the pair of structures, The plurality of linear elastic support portions include first linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixed portion with respect to one of the pair of structures, and second linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixed portion with respect to the other of the pair of structures. Wire harness.

7. A wiring material having conductivity; An exterior member that is exteriorly attached to the wiring material, The exterior member is A main body portion that is sheathed on the wiring material; a fixing part fixed to the fixing portion; at least three linear elastic support portions that elastically support the fixing portion relative to the main body portion, the fixing portion is formed in a rectangular plate shape and includes a fixing base portion located apart from the main body portion, The linear elastic support portions are provided one each corresponding to four corners of the fixed base portion, and elastically support the corners relative to the main body portion. Wire harness.

Citation Information

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