Connector retention structure

Abstract

To provide a connector holding structure capable of preventing a connector to be connected to a predetermined device from being unconnected.SOLUTION: A spiral cable component 30 has an annular body part 31 which accommodates a spiral cable. A connector holder 1 has a fixed part 14 fixed to a vehicle, and a connector holding part 12 holding a connector 2 connected to a predetermined device. When the spiral cable component 30 has specifications corresponding to the predetermined device, the connector holder 1 is so arranged that a connector fitting part 32 fitted to the connector 2 is located before the connector holding part 12 in the insertion direction of the connector 2. The connector fitting part 32 stops the connector 2 from being coupled to the connector holding part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector holding structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Many wire harnesses, each consisting of a bundle of electric wires, are routed inside a vehicle such as an automobile. Protectors are attached to these wire harnesses to protect the electric wires, and an option connector is sometimes fixed to the protector using a component holder (see Patent Document 1). This option connector is a connector provided at the end of a branch line portion of the wire harness. In Patent Document 1, when an option part is used, the protective cap is removed from the option connector, and a mating connector connected to the option part is joined to the option connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-47606 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the structure described above, regardless of whether optional parts (specified equipment) are used or not, the connector can be connected to the part holding portion (connector holder) provided on the protector side, and the connector that should be connected to the specified equipment may not be connected.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector holding structure that can prevent a connector that should be connected to a predetermined device from being left unconnected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A connector holding structure according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a spiral cable part having a ring-shaped main body portion in which a spiral cable is stored, a fixing portion to be fixed to a vehicle, and a connector holder having a connector holding portion for holding a connector connected to a specified device, and the connector holder is configured such that when the spiral cable part is specified to be compatible with the specified device, the connector fitting portion provided on the spiral cable part into which the connector is fitted is positioned forward of the connector holding portion in the connector insertion direction, and the connector fitting portion prevents the connector from being coupled to the connector holding portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector holding structure that can prevent a connector that should be coupled to a predetermined device from being left uncoupled. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a connector holder according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector holder is attached to the wire harness. [Figure 3] 10 is an enlarged front view of a main part showing a state in which a connector holder is attached to a wire harness when the spiral cable component is not a steering heater specification. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a state in which a connector holder is attached to a wire harness when the spiral cable part is not a steering heater specification. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a state in which a connector holder is attached to a wire harness when the spiral cable part is a steering heater specification; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connector holding structure according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] 1 and 2, the connector holder 1 according to this embodiment includes a holder body 11. This connector holder 1 (holder body 11) is made of, for example, a resin material.

[0011] The holder body 11 has a connector holding portion 12 to which a female connector (connector 2) of a specified device (in this embodiment, a steering heater) can be connected, a fixing piece portion 13 to which the wire harness 3 can be fixed with a tie band 4, and a fixing portion 14 to which the connector holder 1 can be fixed to the vehicle.

[0012] The connector holding portion 12 holds the connector 2 to be connected to the steering heater. The connector holding portion 12 has a cylindrical housing 12a into which the connector 2 is inserted. An opening on one end of the housing 12a serves as a connector insertion port for the connector 2. On the other hand, a beam portion 12b spans the opening on the other end of the housing 12a, so that the connector 2 cannot be inserted through the opening on the other end of the housing 12a.

[0013] The wire harness 3 is fixed to the fixing piece 13. The fixing piece 13 is also formed with a recess 13a for holding the wire harness 3. In this embodiment, a cable tie (tie band 4) is used as a fixing member for fixing the wire harness 3, but this is not limiting, and other fixing members such as fixing tape may also be used.

[0014] The fixing portion 14 is fixed to the vehicle. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 14 is a locking member that is locked into a hole by so-called snap fit, but this is not limited to this, and other locking members that are locked using bolts or the like may also be used.

[0015] The fixed piece portion 13 and the fixed portion 14 are connected by a connecting portion 15. In other words, the connecting portion 15 is formed between the fixed piece portion 13 and the fixed portion 14.

[0016] In this embodiment, the wire harness 3 includes a main wire 3a and branch wires 3b branching from the main wire 3a.

[0017] In this embodiment, the specified device to which the connector 2 is to be connected is a steering heater, but this is not limited to this, and the specified device may be a device other than a steering heater installed in a vehicle.

[0018] 3 and 4 show a state in which the connector holder 1 is attached to the wire harness 3 when the spiral cable part 20 does not have specifications compatible with a predetermined device (steering heater). In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector 2 is assembled to the connector holder 1.

[0019] The spiral cable component 20 is a cable winding device. The spiral cable component 20 is configured to have at least an annular main body portion 21 in which the spiral cable is housed.

[0020] 3 and 4, the connector 2 is a so-called throwaway connector that is not actually used. Furthermore, a pair of side walls 2a, 2a of the connector 2 held by the connector holding portion 12 of the connector holder 1 are arranged along a direction parallel to the tangential direction of the annular main body portion 21 of the spiral cable component 20. Therefore, spaces S for holding the connector 2 between the fingers of an operator or the like are formed adjacent to the pair of side walls 2a, 2a of the connector 2 (see FIG. 3).

[0021] 5 shows a state in which the connector holder 1 is attached to the wire harness 3 when the spiral cable part 30 has specifications compatible with a predetermined device (steering heater). Also, in FIG. 5, the connector 2 is assembled to the spiral cable part 30.

[0022] The spiral cable component 30 is a cable winding device. The spiral cable component 30 is configured to have at least an annular main body portion 31 in which the spiral cable is housed, and a connector fitting portion 32 in which the connector 2 is fitted.

[0023] 5, the connector holder 1 is positioned so that the connector fitting portion 32 provided on the spiral cable component 30 and into which the connector 2 is fitted is located forward of the connector holding portion 12 of the connector holder 1 in the insertion direction of the connector 2. As a result, the connector 2 interferes with (comes into contact with) the connector fitting portion 32 of the spiral cable component 30, and the connector 2 cannot be coupled to the connector holding portion 12 of the connector holder 1. Therefore, the connector 2 is coupled to the connector fitting portion 32 of the spiral cable component 30, and it is possible to prevent the connector 2 that should be coupled to the spiral cable component 30 from being left uncoupled.

[0024] That is, the connector 2 cannot come into contact with the spiral cable component 30 that is compatible with the steering heater and be coupled to the connector holder 1 (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, the connector 2 can be coupled to the connector holder 1 without coming into contact with the spiral cable component 20 that is not compatible with the steering heater (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The connector holder 1 is disposed at such a position in the vehicle, and is fixed to both the vehicle and the wire harness 3 (see FIGS. 3 to 5).

[0025] As described above, the connector holding structure according to this embodiment includes a spiral cable component 30 and a connector holder 1. The spiral cable component 30 has an annular main body 31 in which a spiral cable is housed. The connector holder 1 has a fixing portion 14 that is fixed to a vehicle, and a connector holding portion 12 that holds a connector 2 that is connected to a predetermined device (steering heater). The connector holder 1 is configured such that the connector fitting portion 32, which is provided on the spiral cable component 30 that meets the specifications of the predetermined device and into which the connector 2 is fitted, is located forward of the connector holding portion 12 in the insertion direction of the connector 2. The connector fitting portion 32 prevents the connector 2 from being coupled to the connector holding portion 12.

[0026] When the spiral cable part 30 is of steering heater specification (see FIG. 5), the connector fitting portion 32 of the spiral cable part 30 is located before the connector holding portion 12 in the insertion direction of the connector 2, and the connector 2 interferes with (comes into contact with) the connector fitting portion 32. As a result, the connector 2 cannot be coupled to the connector holding portion 12 of the connector holder 1, and it is possible to prevent the connector 2 that should be coupled to the spiral cable part 30 from being left uncoupled.

[0027] Furthermore, when the spiral cable component 20 is not a steering heater specification (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the connector 2 is a so-called throwaway connector that is not actually used, but this connector 2 is completely fixed to the connector holder 1. This effectively suppresses the generation of abnormal noise due to vehicle vibrations and the like.

[0028] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector holding structure that can prevent the connector 2 (steering heater connector) that should be coupled to a predetermined device (steering heater) from being left uncoupled.

[0029] In the connector holding structure, when the connector 2 is held by the connector holding portion 12, the pair of side walls 2a, 2a of the connector 2 may be arranged along a direction parallel to the tangential direction of the annular main body 21 of the spiral cable component 20. Spaces S for holding the connector 2 between fingers may be formed adjacent to the pair of side walls 2a, 2a of the connector 2, respectively.

[0030] According to this embodiment, a space S can be secured around the connector holder 1 so that the connector 2 can be coupled to the connector holding portion 12.

[0031] In the connector holding structure, the connector holder 1 may further have a fixing piece 13 to which the wire harness 3 is fixed, and the connector 2 may be attached to an end of a branch wire 3b of the wire harness 3.

[0032] Since the connector holder 1 is fixed to the vehicle and the wire harness 3, the generation of abnormal noise due to vibrations of the vehicle or the like is effectively suppressed.

[0033] In the connector holding structure, the predetermined device may be a steering heater.

[0034] According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector holding structure that can prevent the connector 2 (steering heater connector) that should be connected to the steering heater from being left unconnected.

[0035] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Connector holder 2 connectors 2a Side wall part 3 Wire harness 3b branch line 12 Connector holder 13 Fixed piece 14 Fixed part 20 Spiral cable parts 21 Annular body 30 Spiral cable parts 31 Annular body 32 Connector fitting part S space part

Claims

1. a spiral cable component having an annular main body portion in which a spiral cable is housed; a connector holder having a fixing portion to be fixed to a vehicle and a connector holding portion to which a connector to be connected to a predetermined device can be coupled; the connector holding portion includes a cylindrical housing having an opening at one end thereof into which the connector is inserted, When the spiral cable component has specifications compatible with the predetermined device, a connector fitting portion provided on the spiral cable component and into which the connector is fitted is positioned forward of the opening of the housing in the connector insertion direction, and at least a portion of the opening is covered by the connector fitting portion, so that the connector is prevented from coupling to the connector holding portion by the connector fitting portion. Connector retention structure.

2. When the connector is held by the connector holding portion, a pair of side wall portions of the connector are arranged along a direction parallel to a tangential direction of the annular main body portion of the spiral cable component, A space portion for holding the connector between fingers is formed adjacent to each of the pair of side wall portions of the connector. The connector holding structure according to claim 1 .

3. The connector holder further includes a fixing piece to which the wire harness is fixed, The connector is attached to an end of a branch wire of the wire harness. The connector holding structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 3. The connector holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is a steering heater.

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