Cap holder and wire harness with cap holder

Abstract

To provide a cap holder 5 and a wire harness 1 with the cap holder which can improve the degree of freedom in layout of a main line 21 of the wire harness 2.SOLUTION: A cap holder 5 includes a substantially cylindrical holder body 7 that accommodates and holds a joint cap 3 attached to a connection portion 24 where conductors 22a of two electric wires 22 branched from a main line 21 of a wire harness 2 are connected, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder body 7 to a predetermined fixing part P other than the main line 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap holder for fixing a joint cap attached to the tip of a branch wire branching from a main wire of a wire harness, for example, to a fixing point other than the main wire, and to a wire harness with a cap holder. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a wire harness mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile has not only a trunk line made up of a bundle of electric wires, but also branch lines made up of a plurality of electric wires branching off from the trunk line and connected to electrical equipment or the like. Furthermore, some branch wires of such wire harnesses are not connected to electrical devices but are connected to each other.

[0003] Specifically, it is known that a connection section is formed by connecting conductors exposed from the tips of multiple electric wires together, and a joint cap (also called an end cap or insulating cap) is attached to the connection section for insulation (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Incidentally, the branch wires fitted with the joint caps are fixed to the trunk wires of the wire harness with adhesive tape or the like, as in Patent Document 1. In this case, the branch wires and the joint caps fixed to the trunk wires of the wire harness make it difficult to bend parts of the trunk wires of the wire harness, which causes a problem of reducing the degree of freedom in the layout of the trunk wires. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-32598 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a cap holder and a wire harness with a cap holder that can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line of the wire harness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention is provided with a substantially cylindrical holder body that accommodates and holds a joint cap attached to a portion where conductors of a plurality of electric wires branched from a main wire of a wire harness are connected together, and a fixing portion that fixes the holder body to a fixing portion other than the main wire. The holder body includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion having an opening at one end into which the joint cap is inserted and a closed other end, and a position restricting portion that protrudes from the one end of the main body portion toward the opening of the main body portion and restricts movement of the joint cap in a removal direction from the other end of the main body portion toward the one end of the main body portion. It is characterized by being a cap holder.

[0008] The term "approximately cylindrical" refers to a substantially circular cylindrical shape, a substantially triangular cylindrical shape, a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape, or a substantially polygonal cylindrical shape. The fixing points other than the main wire refer to the parts provided on the peripheral components arranged around the main wire of the wire harness.

[0009] According to this invention, since the joint cap can be fixed to a fixing location other than the main wire of the wire harness, the cap holder does not need to fix the joint cap or branched wires to the main wire of the wire harness.

[0010] Therefore, the cap holder can prevent the problem that the wire harness becomes difficult to bend in parts due to the electric wires or the joint cap fixed to the main line. Furthermore, the cap holder can prevent the clearance between the wire harness and the peripheral components from being obstructed by the electric wires fixed to the main line and the joint cap.

[0011] This allows the cap holder to easily realize a wiring route for the main cable that passes closer to the peripheral components. Therefore, the cap holder can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line of the wire harness.

[0012] The holder body also includes a generally cylindrical main body portion having an opening at one end through which the joint cap is inserted and a closed other end, and a position restriction portion that protrudes from the one end of the main body portion toward the opening of the main body portion and restricts movement of the joint cap in the removal direction from the other end of the main body portion toward the one end of the main body portion.

[0013] According to this configuration, by cooperation between the main body portion whose other end is closed and the position control portion that controls the movement of the joint cap, the holder main body of the cap holder can prevent the joint cap from detaching from the holder main body in the insertion direction from one end of the main body portion to the other end of the main body portion, and in the detachment direction opposite to the insertion direction.

[0014] Furthermore, since the position restricting portion protrudes toward the opening of the main body, the position restricting portion comes into contact with the end face of the joint cap, making the cap holder less susceptible to the influence of the outer diameter of the joint cap compared to when the position is restricted by engaging with the circumferential surface of the joint cap.

[0015] As a result, the cap holder can prevent the joint cap from coming off the holder main body through cooperation between the main body and the position restricting portion, even if the joint cap has a different outer diameter. Therefore, the cap holder does not require a holder body according to the outer diameter of the joint cap, and the holder body can be standardized.

[0016] As an aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion may be structured to be locked to the fixing location. According to this configuration, the cap holder can more easily secure the holder body to the fixing location than when the holder body is secured to the fixing location with a cable tie, for example.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion may be configured to be detachable from the holder body. With this configuration, the fixing part is detachable, so the fixing part can be replaced depending on the size and shape of the fixing point of the cap holder. Therefore, the cap holder can be made to use the same holder body regardless of the fixing structure.

[0018] Furthermore, by removing the fixing portion of the cap holder, the holder body can be easily fixed to, for example, the main wire of the wire harness using adhesive tape. Therefore, even if the cap holder has the fixing portion, it is possible to selectively fix the cap holder to either the fixing portion or the main wire of the wire harness.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, the holder body may be formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical body. According to this configuration, for example, when a plurality of holder bodies are arranged side by side with their outer surfaces in contact with each other, the cap holder can easily come into surface contact with another adjacent holder body.

[0020] Therefore, the cap holder can stabilize the contact state with adjacent holder bodies compared to when the outer surfaces of the substantially cylindrical holder bodies are in contact with each other. This ensures that the cap holder is stably connected even when, for example, a plurality of holder bodies arranged side by side are connected with adhesive tape.

[0021] As another aspect of the present invention, the holder main body may be provided with a connecting portion to which another holder main body juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface is connected. The outer surfaces mentioned above refer to the surfaces excluding the opening into which the joint cap is inserted. For example, in the case of a holder main body formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical body with the other end closed, the outer surfaces refer to the four outer surfaces of the cylindrical body and the outer surface of the part that closes the other end of the cylindrical body.

[0022] According to this configuration, by providing a connecting portion to which another holder body is connected, the cap holder can connect another holder body more easily and firmly than when connecting another holder body with adhesive tape. Therefore, the cap holder can fix multiple holder bodies to one fixing location via one fixing portion.

[0023] The present invention is also characterized in that it is a wire harness with a cap holder, comprising: a wire harness having branch wires branched from a trunk wire formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires; a joint cap attached to a connection portion where conductors of the plurality of electric wires constituting the branch wires are connected together; and the above-mentioned cap holder, wherein the joint cap attached to the connection portion is housed and held in the cap holder. According to the present invention, the cap holder-equipped wire harness is provided with the cap holder, thereby improving the degree of freedom in layout of the main line of the wire harness. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cap holder and a wire harness with a cap holder that can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line of the wire harness. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the appearance of the wire harness with the cap holder. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of the wire harness with a cap holder. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts in an exploded state as viewed from above and in front. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts in an exploded state as viewed from the rear downward. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 2(a). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a connected state in which another holder body is connected. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the holder body as viewed from the arrow BB in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cap holder of the second embodiment in a connected state. [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 8(a). [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the appearance of a holder main body. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cap holder of the third embodiment in a connected state. [Figure 12] Cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in Figure 11(a). [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the appearance of a holder main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0027] In the first embodiment, a wire harness 1 with a cap holder that can fix a joint cap attached to a branch wire branched from a main wire to a fixing point other than the main wire will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 .

[0028] Note that Figure 1 shows an external perspective view of the wire harness 1 with a cap holder, and Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram explaining the main parts of the wire harness 1 with a cap holder, where Figure 2(a) shows an external perspective view of the main parts as viewed from above in the front, and Figure 2(b) shows an external perspective view of the main parts as viewed from below in the rear.

[0029] 3 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts as viewed from above and in the front, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts as viewed from below and in the rear, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2(a). In addition, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating a connected state in which another holder body 7 is connected, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the holder body 7 as viewed in the direction of the arrow BB in FIG.

[0030] Moreover, the arrow X in the drawing indicates the front-rear direction of the cap holder 5 (hereinafter referred to as the front-rear direction X). In the front-rear direction X, the direction from right to left in FIG. 2(a) is the front of the cap holder 5, and the direction from left to right in FIG. 2(a) is the rear of the cap holder 5.

[0031] Furthermore, the upper side in Figure 1 is the upper direction of the cap holder 5, and the lower side in Figure 1 is the lower direction of the cap holder 5, and the arrow Y in the figure indicates the width direction of the cap holder 5 (hereinafter referred to as the width direction Y) which is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction X in a planar view.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire harness 1 with cap holder includes a wire harness 2 having a branch wire 23, a joint cap 3 attached to the tip of the branch wire 23, and a filler 4 (see Figure 5) filled inside the joint cap 3.

[0033] Furthermore, the wire harness 1 with cap holder includes a cap holder 5 that houses and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the tip of the branch wire 23, as shown in FIGS.

[0034] First, as shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness 2 has a trunk line 21 formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires (not shown) using adhesive tape, cable ties, etc., and a branch line 23 formed by two electric wires 22 branching off from the trunk line 21.

[0035] 3, the branch wire 23 is configured to connect the conductors 22a of the electric wires 22 exposed from the tip of the insulating coating (reference numeral omitted) with each other by, for example, soldering, etc. The portion where the conductors 22a are connected together is hereinafter referred to as a connection portion 24.

[0036] The joint cap 3 is an insulating cap having insulating properties, and is attached to the connecting portion 24 where the two electric wires 22 are connected. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the joint cap 3 is integrally formed of a substantially cylindrical cap body 31 that houses the wire connection portion 24 and an electric wire fixing portion 32 to which the branch wire 23 is fixed.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the cap body 31 of the joint cap 3 is formed as an approximately cylindrical body having an opening at the front through which the wiring part 24 is inserted, and is made up of an approximately cylindrical cylindrical part 31a extending in the front-to-rear direction X and an approximately dome-shaped hemispherical part 31b that closes the opening at the rear of the cylindrical part 31a.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the cap body 31 is formed in a shape having a length in the front-to-rear direction X that integrally covers the range from the tip of the wire connection portion 24 to the vicinity of the tip of the insulating coating of the electric wire 22, and an inner diameter that can accommodate two electric wires 22 inside.

[0039] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3, the electric wire fixing portion 32 of the joint cap 3 is formed in a substantially arc shape extending forward from the front end surface of the cap body 31. As shown in Fig. 2, the branch wire 23 is fixed to this electric wire fixing portion 32 using adhesive tape 6.

[0040] The filler 4 is an insulating synthetic resin material that fills the cap body 31. The filler 4 insulates the connection portion 24 and prevents moisture from entering the inside of the cap body 31.

[0041] The cap holder 5 is a holding member that accommodates and holds the joint cap 3 and also locks the joint cap 3 to a predetermined fixing portion P (see FIG. 5) other than the main line 21. The predetermined fixed portion P other than the main line 21 may be, for example, an opening provided in the body of the vehicle, an opening provided in a peripheral component arranged around the route of the main line 21, or the like.

[0042] The cap holder 5 of the first embodiment will now be described in further detail. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the cap holder 5 comprises a substantially cylindrical holder body 7 that accommodates and holds the cap body 31 of the joint cap 3, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P by engagement.

[0043] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the holder main body 7 of the cap holder 5 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 71 extending in the front-to-rear direction X, a pair of position control portions 72 provided on the front end surface of the main body portion 71, and an attachment portion 73 provided on the underside of the main body portion 71 to which the fixing member 8 is attached.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the holder main body 7 is configured so that separate holder main bodies 7 can be connected to one side in the width direction Y and the other side in the width direction Y, respectively.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the holder body 7 has a first connecting portion 74 for connecting another holder body 7 to one side in the width direction Y, and a second connecting portion 75 for connecting yet another holder body 7 to the other side in the width direction Y. The other holder body 7 has the same shape as the holder body 7 of the cap holder 5 described above, and accommodates and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 of a different branch wire 23 .

[0046] 3 to 5 and 7, the main body 71 of the holder main body 7 is formed as a cylindrical body with an open front side, and includes a cylindrical portion 71a that is generally rectangular in front view and extends in the front-rear direction X, and a bottom portion 71b that closes the opening on the rear side of the cylindrical portion 71a. The main body 71 has an internal space that is slightly longer in the front-rear direction X than the cap main body 31.

[0047] The main body 71 of the holder main body 7 has an opening on the front side of the cylindrical portion 71a which serves as an insertion port S (see Figure 3) through which the joint cap 3 is inserted along the insertion direction Xi from the front to the rear, and a bottom portion 71b which closes the rear side of the cylindrical portion 71a which serves as a restricting portion which restricts the movement of the joint cap 3 in the insertion direction Xi.

[0048] 3 and 5, the pair of position regulating parts 72 of the holder main body 7 are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction on the front end surface of the main body part 71, with the insertion opening S in between. As shown in Fig. 5, the pair of position regulating parts 72 regulate movement of the joint cap 3 in the removal direction Xo from the rear to the front when the cap main body 31 of the joint cap 3 is housed inside the main body part 71.

[0049] Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the position control portion 72 is integrally formed of an extension portion 72a that extends slightly forward from the front end surface of the main body portion 71, and a claw portion 72b that protrudes from the tip of the extension portion 72a toward the other position control portion 72.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, the extension portion 72a is thinner than the main body portion 71 and is formed in a generally flat plate shape that is flexible. On the other hand, the claw portion 72b is formed in a shape having an opposing surface 72c that faces the end surface of the cap body 31 housed in the main body portion 71 in the front-rear direction X, as shown in FIG.

[0051] 4 and 5, the mounting portion 73 of the holder main body 7 is formed on the lower front surface of the holder main body 7 in a shape that holds the fixing member 8 inserted from the rear toward the front.

[0052] Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, the mounting portion 73 is arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined distance in the width direction Y, and is integrally formed with a pair of clamping portions 73a that clamp the fixing member 8 with the underside of the holder main body 7, and a locking portion 73b that is arranged between the clamping portions 73a and has a locking claw at its rear end that locks onto the fixing member 8.

[0053] As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the first connecting portion 74 of the holder main body 7 is provided at the upper end of the main body portion 71 on one side of the holder main body 7 in the width direction Y, and is formed so that a second connecting portion 75 of another holder main body 7 can engage with it from below upward.

[0054] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the first connecting portion 74 is formed of a first engaging portion 741 that engages with another holder main body 7 and a first engaged portion 742 that engages with another holder main body 7. The first engagement portion 741 is formed in a shape having substantially the same length in the up-down direction as the holder main body 7 and substantially the same length in the front-rear direction X as the holder main body 7.

[0055] More specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the first engagement portion 741 of the first connecting portion 74 is composed of a flat wall portion 741a facing the main body portion 71 on one side in the width direction Y at a predetermined distance, and two locking claw portions 741b protruding downward from the lower end surface of the wall portion 741a.

[0056] The locking claw portions 741b protrude at a predetermined interval in the front-to-rear direction X, and are formed so as to be able to engage with the second connecting portion 75 (locking hole 752a of the second engaged portion 752 described later) of another holder main body 7 when the other holder main body 7 is assembled.

[0057] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, the first engaged portion 742 of the first connecting portion 74 has a length in the width direction Y that is slightly longer than the thickness of the wall portion 751a of the second engaging portion 751 of the second connecting portion 75 described later, and connects the upper end of the first engaging portion 741 to the upper end of the main body portion 71.

[0058] As shown in Figures 3 and 7, this first engaged portion 742 has two locking holes 742a formed at approximately the same position in the front-to-rear direction X as the locking claw portion 741b, into which the second connecting portion 75 (locking claw portion 751b of the second engaging portion 751 described later) of another holder main body 7 is engaged.

[0059] In addition, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the second connecting portion 75 of the holder main body 7 is provided at the lower end of the main body portion 71 on the other side of the holder main body 7 in the width direction Y, and is formed so that the first connecting portion 74 of another holder main body 7 can engage with it from above toward below.

[0060] As shown in Figure 7, this second connecting portion 75 is formed in a shape that is obtained by rotating the first connecting portion 74 180 degrees in a rotational direction with the front-to-rear direction X passing through approximately the center of the main body portion 71 when viewed from the front. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the second connecting portion 75 is formed of a second engaging portion 751 that engages with another holder main body 7 and a second engaged portion 752 that engages with another holder main body 7. The second engagement portion 751 is formed in a shape having approximately the same length in the up-down direction as the holder main body 7 and approximately the same length in the front-rear direction X as the holder main body 7.

[0061] More specifically, the second engagement portion 751 of the second connecting portion 75 is composed of a flat wall portion 751a that faces the main body portion 71 on the other side in the width direction Y at a predetermined distance, and two locking claw portions 751b that protrude upward from the upper end surface of the wall portion 751a, as shown in Figures 3 and 7.

[0062] This locking claw portion 751b protrudes from the locking hole 742a of the first connecting portion 74 at approximately the same distance in the front-to-rear direction X, and is formed so as to be able to engage with the locking hole 742a of the first connecting portion 74 of another holder main body 7 when the other holder main body 7 is assembled.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, the second engaged portion 752 of the second connecting portion 75 has a length in the width direction Y that is slightly longer than the thickness of the wall portion 741a of the first engaging portion 741, and connects the lower end of the second engaging portion 751 to the lower end of the main body portion 71.

[0064] As shown in Figures 4 and 7, this second engaged portion 752 has two locking holes 752a formed at approximately the same position in the front-to-rear direction X as the locking claw portion 751b, into which the locking claw portion 741b of the first connecting portion 74 of another holder main body 7 is engaged.

[0065] 3 to 5, the fixing member 8 of the cap holder 5 is configured to be detachable from the mounting portion 73 of the holder main body 7. The fixing member 8 is integrally formed of an anchor portion 81 that is engaged with a predetermined fixing site P, a flat plate-shaped base portion 82 to which the base end of the anchor portion 81 is connected, and a mounted portion 83 that is mounted on the mounting portion 73 of the holder main body 7.

[0066] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the anchor portion 81 of the fixing member 8 is a columnar body that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction X and has a generally oblong shape when viewed from the bottom, and locking claws (symbol omitted) that lock onto a predetermined fixing portion P are formed opposite each other in the minor axis direction of the generally oblong shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the base 82 of the fixing member 8 is in the shape of a generally flat plate having a thickness in the vertical direction, and an anchor portion 81 is formed on the lower surface thereof.

[0067] 3 and 5, the mounting portion 83 of the fixing member 8 is a generally flat plate facing the base portion 82 at a predetermined distance above the base portion 82, and has its rear end connected to the rear end of the base portion 82. A locking hole 83a into which the locking portion 73b of the mounting portion 73 is locked is formed in the mounting portion 83.

[0068] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the cap holder 5 of Example 1 accommodates the joint cap 3 attached to the branch wire 23 of the wire harness 2 by inserting the joint cap 3 into the holder main body 7 through the insertion port S.

[0069] In this state, the cap holder 5 holds the joint cap 3 by the bottom portion 71b of the holder main body 7 restricting the movement of the joint cap 3 in the insertion direction Xi, and the position restriction portion 72 of the holder main body 7 restricting the movement of the joint cap 3 in the removal direction Xo.

[0070] The cap holder 5 fixes the holder body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P via the fixing member 8, thereby fixing the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 to a portion other than the main wire 21.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cap holder 5 can be connected to another holder body 7 along one side in the width direction Y by a first connecting portion 74 with which a second connecting portion 75 of the other holder body 7 engages from below.

[0072] Similarly, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cap holder 5 can be connected to another holder body 7 along the other side in the width direction Y by means of a second connecting portion 75 with which the first connecting portion 74 of the other holder body 7 engages from above.

[0073] As described above, the cap holder 5 of Example 1 includes an approximately cylindrical holder body 7 that accommodates and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 that connects the conductors 22a of two electric wires 22 branching from the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P other than the main wire 21. In the wire harness 1 with cap holder of the first embodiment, the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 is housed and held in the cap holder 5 described above.

[0074] According to this configuration, the joint cap 3 can be fixed to a predetermined fixing location P other than the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2, so that the cap holder 5 does not need to fix the joint cap 3 or the branched electric wires 22 to the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2.

[0075] Therefore, the cap holder 5 can prevent the problem that the wire harness 2 becomes difficult to bend in parts due to the electric wires 22 fixed to the trunk line 21 or the joint cap 3 from occurring. Furthermore, the cap holder 5 can prevent the electric wires 22 fixed to the trunk line 21 and the joint cap 3 from hindering the clearance between the wire harness 2 and the peripheral components.

[0076] This allows the cap holder 5 to easily realize a wiring route for the trunk line 21 that passes closer to the peripheral components. Therefore, the cap holder 5 and the wire harness 1 with the cap holder can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line 21 of the wire harness 2.

[0077] Furthermore, since the fixing member 8 is engaged with the predetermined fixing portion P, the cap holder 5 makes it easier to fix the holder main body 7 to the predetermined fixing portion P compared to, for example, fixing the holder main body 7 to the predetermined fixing portion P with a cable tie.

[0078] Furthermore, since the fixing member 8 is detachable from the holder body 7, the fixing member 8 can be replaced in the cap holder 5 depending on the size and shape of the predetermined fixing portion P. Therefore, the cap holder 5 can be made to use the same holder body 7 regardless of the fixing structure.

[0079] Furthermore, by removing the fixing member 8, the cap holder 5 can easily fix the holder body 7 to, for example, the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2 using adhesive tape. Therefore, even if the cap holder 5 includes the fixing member 8, it is possible to selectively fix the cap holder 5 to either the predetermined fixing portion P or the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2.

[0080] Furthermore, the holder main body 7 has an approximately cylindrical main body portion 71 having an insertion opening S at one end through which the joint cap 3 is inserted and a closed end at the other end, and a position control portion 72 that protrudes from the front end of the main body portion 71 toward the opening of the main body portion 71 and controls the movement of the joint cap 3 in the removal direction Xo. Therefore, the holder main body 7 of the cap holder 5 can prevent the joint cap 3 from removing from the holder main body 7 in the insertion direction Xi and the removal direction Xo.

[0081] Furthermore, since the position restricting portion 72 protrudes toward the opening of the main body portion 71, the position restricting portion 72 comes into contact with the end face of the joint cap 3. Therefore, the cap holder 5 is less susceptible to the influence of the outer diameter of the joint cap 3 compared to when the position is restricted by engaging with the circumferential surface of the joint cap 3.

[0082] As a result, the cap holder 5 can prevent the joint cap 3 from coming off the holder main body 7 through cooperation between the main body portion 71 and the position regulating portion 72, even if the joint cap 3 has a different outer diameter. Therefore, the cap holder 5 does not require a holder body 7 according to the outer diameter of the joint cap 3, and the holder body 7 can be standardized.

[0083] Furthermore, the holder main body 7 is provided with the first connecting portion 74 and the second connecting portion 75 to which another holder main body 7 juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface is connected, so that the cap holder 5 can connect another holder main body 7 more easily and firmly than when connecting another holder main body 7 with adhesive tape. Therefore, the cap holder 5 can fix multiple holder main bodies 7 to one predetermined fixing site P via one fixing member 8. [Example]

[0084] The cap holder 5 of the second embodiment is configured so that another holder main body 7 can be connected to the rear of the holder main body 7, not only in the width direction Y. The cap holder 5 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 10.

[0085] Note that Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cap holder 5 of Example 2 in a connected state, where Figure 8(a) shows an external oblique view of the connected state as viewed from above and from the front, and Figure 8(b) shows an external oblique view of the connected state as viewed from below and from the rear.

[0086] Furthermore, Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the CC arrow in Figure 8(a), and Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram explaining the appearance of the holder main body 7, where Figure 10(a) shows an oblique view of the appearance of the holder main body 7 as viewed from above and in the front, and Figure 10(b) shows an oblique view of the appearance of the holder main body 7 as viewed from below and in the rear. Moreover, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0087] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the cap holder 5 of Example 2 comprises a roughly cylindrical holder main body 7 that houses and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the wire connection portion 24, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder main body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P by engagement.

[0088] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the holder body 7 of the cap holder 5 has the first connecting portion 74 and the second connecting portion 75 of Example 1, and a rear locking portion 76 and a rear locked portion 77 provided at the rear of the holder body 7 to which another holder body 7 is connected.

[0089] As shown in Figure 9, the holder main body 7 of this Example 2 has a rear locking portion 76 that locks onto a rear locked portion 77 of another holder main body 7, and the rear locking portion 76 of another holder main body 7 locks onto the rear locked portion 77, making it possible to connect another holder main body 7 to the rear. At this time, the fixing member 8 of the other holder body 7 is removed, and the other holder body 7 is connected after being rotated 180 degrees around the front-rear direction X as the rotation center.

[0090] In detail, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rear engagement portion 76 is integrally formed on the rear surface of the holder main body 7 by a thin plate-shaped extension portion 76a extending rearward from the upper end at approximately the center in the width direction Y, and a claw portion 76b protruding downward from the tip of the extension portion 76a.

[0091] 9 and 10, the rear locked portion 77 is formed on the rear end of the lower surface of the holder main body 7, approximately in the center in the width direction Y. Specifically, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rear engaging portion 77 is made up of a rear recessed portion 77a, which is recessed into the underside of the holder main body 7 to a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the extended portion 76a of the rear engaging portion 76, and a front recessed portion 77b, which is recessed to a vertical length longer than the claw portion 76b of the rear engaging portion 76, connected in this order from the rear, thereby enabling the rear engaging portion 76 to be engaged.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap holder 5 of the second embodiment accommodates the cap body 31 of the joint cap 3 therein while restricting the movement of the joint cap 3 in the insertion direction Xi and the removal direction Xo. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap holder 5 has a rear locking portion 76 and a rear locked portion 77, allowing another holder main body 7 to be connected to the rear.

[0093] As described above, the cap holder 5 of Example 2 includes a holder main body 7 that accommodates and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 of two electric wires 22 branching from the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder main body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P.

[0094] According to this configuration, the cap holder 5 and the cap holder-equipped wire harness 1 can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line 21 of the wire harness 2, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0095] Furthermore, since the holder main body 7 is provided with a rear engaging portion 76 and a rear engaged portion 77 to which another holder main body 7 arranged in parallel at the rear is connected, the cap holder 5 can easily and firmly connect to another holder main body 7 compared to when the other holder main body 7 is connected with adhesive tape. Therefore, the cap holder 5 can fix a plurality of holder bodies 7 to one predetermined fixing portion P via one fixing member 8. [Example]

[0096] The cap holder 5 of the third embodiment is configured so that another holder main body 7 can be connected not only in the width direction Y but also above the holder main body 7. The cap holder 5 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 13.

[0097] Note that Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cap holder 5 of Example 3 in a connected state, where Figure 11(a) shows an external oblique view of the connected state as viewed from above and from the front, and Figure 11(b) shows an external oblique view of the connected state as viewed from below and from the rear.

[0098] Furthermore, Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in Figure 11(a), and Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram explaining the appearance of the holder main body 7, where Figure 13(a) shows an oblique view of the appearance of the holder main body 7 as viewed from above in the front, and Figure 13(b) shows an oblique view of the appearance of the holder main body 7 as viewed from below in the rear.

[0099] In order to clarify the illustration in FIG. 12, another holder body 7 accommodating the joint cap 3 is shown by a two-dot chain line. Moreover, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0100] As shown in Figures 11 to 13, the cap holder 5 of Example 3 comprises a roughly cylindrical holder main body 7 that houses and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the wire connection portion 24, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder main body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P by engagement.

[0101] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the holder body 7 of the cap holder 5 has the first connecting portion 74 and the second connecting portion 75 of Example 1, and a third connecting portion 78 that is provided at approximately the center in the front-to-back direction X on the upper surface of the holder body 7 and to which another holder body 7 is connected. As shown in FIG. 12, in the holder body 7 of the third embodiment, the mounting portion 73 for mounting the fixing member 8 is formed on the lower surface of the body portion 71 at approximately the center in the front-rear direction X.

[0102] As shown in Figure 12, the cap holder 5 of this third embodiment allows another holder body 7 to be connected upward by engaging the mounting portion 73 of the other holder body 7 from which the fixing member 8 has been removed with the third connecting portion 78. That is, the mounting portion 73 of the cap holder 5 is formed as a portion that selectively receives the mounting of the fixing member 8 or the mounting of another holder main body 7 .

[0103] In detail, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the third connecting portion 78 is formed in a roughly L-shape when viewed from the side, and is made up of a roughly flat connecting body 781 that faces the upper surface of the main body portion 71 of the holder main body 7 at a predetermined distance above, and a support portion 782 that connects the rear end of the connecting body 781 to the main body portion 71 of the holder main body 7.

[0104] 13, a locking hole 78a having a generally rectangular shape in plan view is formed penetrating the connecting body 781 of the third connecting part 78 in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 12, a locking portion 73b of the mounting part 73 of another holder body 7 is locked into this locking hole 78a.

[0105] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cap holder 5 of the third embodiment accommodates the cap body 31 of the joint cap 3 therein while restricting the movement of the joint cap 3 in the insertion direction Xi and the removal direction Xo. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cap holder 5 is configured such that another holder main body 7 can be connected upward by a third connecting portion 78.

[0106] As described above, the cap holder 5 of Example 3 includes a holder main body 7 that accommodates and holds the joint cap 3 attached to the connection portion 24 of two electric wires 22 branching from the main wire 21 of the wire harness 2, and a fixing member 8 that fixes the holder main body 7 to a predetermined fixing portion P.

[0107] According to this configuration, the cap holder 5 and the cap holder-equipped wire harness 1 can improve the degree of freedom in layout of the main line 21 of the wire harness 2, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0108] Furthermore, the holder main body 7 is provided with a third connecting portion 78 to which another holder main body 7 arranged above it is connected, so that the cap holder 5 can connect another holder main body 7 more easily and firmly than if the other holder main body 7 were connected with adhesive tape. Therefore, the cap holder 5 can fix multiple holder main bodies 7 to one predetermined fixing portion P via one fixing member 8.

[0109] In correspondence between the configuration of this invention and the above-mentioned embodiment, The branched electric wires of the present invention correspond to the two electric wires 22 of the embodiment, Similarly, The connected portion corresponds to the connection portion 24, The fixing point corresponds to a predetermined fixing portion P, The connecting portions correspond to the first connecting portion 74 and the second connecting portion 75 of the first embodiment, the rear engaging portion 76 and the rear engaged portion 77 of the second embodiment, and the third connecting portion 78 of the third embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0110] For example, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the connecting portion 24 is configured with two electric wires 22, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the connecting portion 24 may be configured with three or more electric wires 22. Furthermore, although the joint cap 3 is approximately cylindrical, this is not limited to this, and it may be a cylindrical body having a polygonal outer shape when viewed from the front, as long as it has an internal space that can accommodate the wire connection portion 24.

[0111] In addition, although one joint cap 3 is attached to the wire harness 2 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and the wire harness 2 may be attached with a plurality of joint caps 3. In this case, a cap holder 5 is attached to the joint cap 3 that is desired to be fixed to a fixing point other than the main wire 21.

[0112] Furthermore, although the filler 4 is filled inside the cap body 31 of the joint cap 3, the present invention is not limited to this, and the filler 4 does not necessarily have to be filled into the cap body 31. Furthermore, the wire connection portion 24 is inserted inside the joint cap 3, but in addition to this, the cap body 31 may be configured to hold the wire connection portion 24 by crimping the cap body 31.

[0113] Furthermore, in the above-described Examples 1 to 3, the main body portion 71 of the holder main body 7 is a cylindrical body that is approximately rectangular when viewed from the front, but this is not limited to this, and the cylindrical body may be an approximately circular cylindrical body, an approximately triangular cylindrical body, or an approximately polygonal cylindrical body as long as it has an internal space that can accommodate and hold the joint cap 3.

[0114] Furthermore, although the fixing member 8 is configured as a separate body from the holder main body 7, this is not limitative, and the fixing portion that fixes it to a predetermined fixing position P may be configured as an integral part of the holder main body 7. Furthermore, the first connecting portion 74 and the second connecting portion 75 of Example 1, the rear locking portion 76 and the rear locked portion 77 of Example 2, and the third connecting portion 78 of Example 3 are connecting portions to which another holder main body 7 is connected, but the shape and structure of the connecting portion are not limited to this. The shape and structure of the connecting portion may be any appropriate configuration as long as it is possible to connect another holder main body along a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the holder main body 7.

[0115] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, another holder body 7 is connected in the width direction Y, rearward, or upward, but this is not limited to this, and another holder body 7 may be connected in the width direction Y, rearward, or upward. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, another holder body 7 from which the fixing member 8 has been removed is connected to the cap holder 5, but this is not limited to this, and the fixing member 8 may be attached to another holder body 7.

[0116] Furthermore, the cap holder 5 has a connecting portion provided on the holder main body 7, but is not limited to this, and the cap holder 5 may have a generally rectangular holder main body 7 in front view and no connecting portion provided thereon. According to this configuration, the holder body 7 is formed into an approximately rectangular cylindrical body, so that, for example, when multiple holder bodies 7 are arranged side by side with their outer surfaces in contact with each other, the cap holder 5 can easily come into surface contact with another adjacent holder body 7.

[0117] Therefore, the cap holder 5 can stabilize the contact state with the adjacent holder main body 7 compared to when the outer surfaces of the substantially cylindrical holder main bodies are in contact with each other. This allows the cap holder 5 to ensure a stable connection state even when, for example, a plurality of holder bodies 7 arranged side by side are connected with adhesive tape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 1...Wire harness with cap holder 2...Wire harness 3...Joint cap 5...Cap holder 7...Holder body 8...Fixing member 21…Main line 22...Electric wire 22a...conductor 24...Wiring section 71...Main body 72...Position regulation section 74...1st connection part 75…Second connection part 76...Rear locking part 77...Rear locked part 78...Third connection part P: Predetermined fixed part Xo…Leaving direction

Claims

1. a substantially cylindrical holder body that accommodates and holds a joint cap attached to a portion where conductors of a plurality of electric wires branched from a main wire of the wire harness are connected to each other; a fixing portion for fixing the holder body to a fixing location other than the trunk line, The holder body is a substantially cylindrical main body having an opening at one end into which the joint cap is inserted and a closed end at the other end; a position restricting portion that protrudes from the one end of the main body portion toward the opening of the main body portion and restricts movement of the joint cap in a removal direction from the other end of the main body portion toward the one end of the main body portion. Cap holder.

2. The fixing portion is configured to be locked to the fixing location. The cap holder according to claim 1 .

3. The fixing portion is configured to be detachable from the holder body. The cap holder according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The holder body is formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical body. The cap holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The holder body is provided with a connecting portion to which another holder body arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface is connected. The cap holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. a wire harness having branch wires branching from a trunk wire formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires; a joint cap attached to a connection portion where the conductors of the plurality of electric wires constituting the branch wire are connected to each other; a cap holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5; The joint cap attached to the wire connection portion is housed and held in the cap holder. Wire harness with cap holder.

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