Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wiring harness with which it is possible to simplify work of fixing electric wires, leaf spring members and exterior members to a protector.SOLUTION: A wiring harness WH pertaining to the present embodiment comprises an electric wire 1, a leaf spring member 2, an exterior member 3, and a protector 4 that integrally holds an end 3a of the exterior member 3 and portions of the electric wire 1 and leaf spring member 2 that are led out from the end 3a of the exterior member 3. The protector 4 includes: a protector body 10 that has a routing space 14 in which the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2 and the exterior member 3 are routed along an axial direction Y; a lid 30 attached to the protector body 10, that closes the routing space 14; a protrusion 16 that protrudes from the protector body 10 toward the lid 30 and holds a portion of the electric wire 1 between a second fitting base part 33 of the lid 30 and itself; and a plurality of first projections and a plurality of second projections 34, 35 that protrude from the lid 30 toward the projector body 10 and lock the exterior member 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, electrical components such as sunroofs and sliding doors of automobiles are supplied with power through wire harnesses. Patent Document 1 describes a wiring structure for a wire harness that includes a protector (holding member), electric wires, and a leaf spring, and fixes the electric wires and the leaf spring to the protector using tie bands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-57317 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional configurations, for example, tie bands are used to secure the electric wires, leaf springs, and protectors, and when securing the electric wires to the exterior member, adhesive tape may be wrapped around the end of the exterior member and the electric wire exposed from the end, and when securing the leaf springs to the protector, a recess may be formed in the protector to secure the leaf springs. In conventional configurations, for example, a securing method is determined for each component, so a separate working space is required for each securing method, which creates a problem of cumbersome work.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a wire harness that can simplify the work of fixing electric wires, a leaf spring member, and an exterior member to a protector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a wire harness according to the present invention includes flexible electric wires, elastic leaf spring members extending along the electric wires and regulating the path of the electric wires, a flexible outer casing through which the electric wires and the leaf spring members are inserted, and a retaining member that integrally holds ends of the outer casing and portions of the electric wires and the leaf spring members extending from the ends of the outer casing, wherein the retaining member includes: a main body having a routing space in which the electric wires, the leaf spring members, and the outer casing are routed along an axial direction; a lid attached to the main body and closing the routing space; a protrusion that protrudes from one side of the main body and the lid member toward the other and holds a portion of the electric wire between the main body and the lid member; and a plurality of protrusions that protrude from one side of the main body and the lid member toward the other and engage the outer casing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The wire harness according to the present invention has an advantage that the work of fixing the electric wires, the leaf spring member, and the exterior member to the protector can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view that schematically shows a sunroof of an automobile in which a wire harness according to an embodiment is arranged. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wire harness. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a protector body of the wire harness. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the protector body shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the wire harness. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 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.

[0010] [Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a sunroof of an automobile in which a wire harness according to an embodiment is arranged. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wire harness according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a protector body of the wire harness. Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the protector body shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an assembled sectional view of the wire harness.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wire harness WH of this embodiment electrically connects, for example, the vehicle body and a sunroof (glass window) 100 of a vehicle, and is used for power supply and signal communication. The sunroof 100 is a mobile object mounted on the roof of the vehicle body and electrically slides relative to the vehicle body. The sunroof 100 has electrical devices 100a, such as switches and motors, that are operated by power supplied from the vehicle battery. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wire harness WH has electric wires 1, a leaf spring member 2, an exterior member 3, a protector (holding member) 4, and a connector 5. In this embodiment, the protector 4 of the wire harness WH is attached to the sunroof 100 by, for example, engaging grooves 4c formed on both sides of the protector 4 with claws of a bracket (not shown). The connector 5 provided at the end of the electric wire 1 leading out from the protector 4 is coupled to a mating connector and connected to the electrical device 100a.

[0012] In the following description, for convenience, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "width direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "axial direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "height direction Z." The width direction X, the axial direction Y, and the height direction Z are typically perpendicular to (intersect with) one another. Here, the axial direction Y corresponds to the sliding movement direction of the sunroof 100 described above and corresponds to the axial direction of the protector 4 attached to the sunroof 100. The width direction X and the height direction Z correspond to the width direction and height direction of the protector 4 attached to the sunroof 100. The height direction Z also includes a state in which the protector 4 is turned upside down.

[0013] The electric wire 1 is a flexible conductive member. The electric wire 1 has a conductor portion (core wire) made of a plurality of conductive metal wires covered with an insulating coating portion. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the wire harness WH is configured to include two electric wires 1.

[0014] The leaf spring member 2 is a band-shaped elastic member that extends along the electric wire 1 and regulates the path of the electric wire 1.

[0015] The exterior member 3 is flexible. In this embodiment, the exterior member 3 is formed by weaving insulating fibers into a cylindrical (tube-like) shape, and has, for example, an oval cross-sectional shape. As shown in FIG. 2 , the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 are inserted into the exterior member 3. The electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 are inserted into the exterior member 3 together in a state where they are overlapped in the height direction Z. Ends of the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 are led out from an end 3a of the exterior member 3.

[0016] The end portions 21 of the leaf spring member 2 have a convex shape that protrudes in the width direction X that intersects with the axial direction Y. Specifically, the leaf spring member 2 has cutout portions 22 that are formed by partially cutting out both ends of the leaf spring member 2 in the width direction, and these cutout portions 22 cause the end portions 21 of the leaf spring member 2 to have a convex shape that protrudes relatively in the width direction X. Note that the end portions 21 of the leaf spring member 2 may have a convex shape that protrudes relatively in the width direction X, and both ends of the width direction may also have a convex shape that protrudes in the width direction.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the protector 4 is made of insulating synthetic resin and has a hollow, generally rectangular cylindrical shape. The protector 4 introduces the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2, and the exterior member 3 through an inlet 4a provided at one axial end thereof, and leads the electric wire 1 out through an outlet 4b provided at the other axial end thereof. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the protector 4 routes the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2, and the exterior member 3, and also integrally holds the end 3a of the exterior member 3 and the portions of the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 that lead out from the end 3a of the exterior member 3 inside thereof.

[0018] The protector 4 includes a protector main body (main body) 10 and a lid portion 30. The protector main body 10 has a first side surface 11, a second side surface 12, and a third side surface 13. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the second side surface 12 and the third side surface 13 of the protector main body 10 face each other, and the surface (lower surface) facing the first side surface 11, which serves as the upper surface, is open, forming a U-shape. The protector main body 10 has a wiring space 14 formed by the first side surface 11, the second side surface 12, and the third side surface 13. The wiring space 14 routes the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2, and the exterior member 3 along the axial direction Y. In this case, the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 are inserted into the exterior member 3 in a state where they are overlapped with each other so that the leaf spring member 2 faces the protector main body 10. Therefore, the electric wire 1 is located on the lid portion 30 side of the exterior member 3.

[0019] The lid portion 30 is formed in a plate shape, and in the example of FIG. 2 , it is attached to the surface (underside) facing the first side surface portion 11 of the protector body 10 to close the above-mentioned wiring space 14. In this embodiment, the lid portion 30 is attached to the protector body 10 by being fitted to the second side surface portion 12 and the third side surface portion 13 of the protector body 10. The lid portion 30 includes a base portion 31, a first fitting base portion 32, a second fitting base portion 33, a plurality of first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35, and a pair of fitting pieces 36. When the protector body 10 and the lid portion 30 are fitted together, the base portion 31 closes the wiring space 14 and forms the side surface of the protector 4.

[0020] The first fitting base 32 and the second fitting base 33 are arranged side by side in the axial direction Y on the upper surface 31a of the base portion 31 (the surface facing the wiring space 14 of the protector body 10). The first fitting base 32 is formed on the inlet 4a (FIG. 1) side in the axial direction Y of the protector 4, and the second fitting base 33 is formed on the outlet 4b side. The first fitting base 32 and the second fitting base 33 have outer surfaces that are the same shape as the inner surfaces of the second side surface 12 and the third side surface 13, and are fitted between the second side surface 12 and the third side surface 13. In this embodiment, when the upper surface 31a of the base portion 31 is used as a reference, the upper surface 32a of the first insertion base portion 32 (the surface facing the wiring space portion 14 of the protector main body 10) is formed at a higher height position in the height direction Z than the upper surface 33a of the second insertion base portion 33 (the surface facing the wiring space portion 14 of the protector main body 10).

[0021] The first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35 are erected from the upper surface of the first fitting base portion 32 (the surface facing the wiring space 14 of the protector body 10) so as to protrude toward the protector body 10. As shown in FIG. 5 , the first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35 engage with the exterior member 3 routed in the wiring space 14, thereby fixing the exterior member 3 within the protector 4. Specifically, since the exterior member 3 is formed by knitting resin fibers, the tips of the first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35 pierce (penetrate) the gaps between the stitches of the exterior member 3, thereby locking the exterior member 3. Note that, although the exterior member 3 is formed by knitting resin fibers in this embodiment, it may be formed of any flexible material (such as synthetic rubber) as long as it can be locked onto the tips of the first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35, or the tips of the first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35 may be locked into grooves in a corrugated tube.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first protrusion 34 is formed on the introduction port 4a side in the axial direction Y of the protector 4, and the second protrusion 35 is formed closer to the center in the axial direction Y than the first protrusion 34. The first protrusion 34 is formed on the outer side in the width direction X of the protector 4, and the second protrusion 35 is formed closer to the center (inner side) in the width direction X than the first protrusion 34. The height positions of the tips of the multiple first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 in the height direction Z of the protector 4 differ depending on the formation positions of each protrusion. In the example of FIG. 2 , the height positions of the tips of the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 35 in the height direction Z are different. For example, when the leaf spring member 2 routed in the routing space portion 14 is used as a reference, the height position of the tip of the first protrusion 34 is lower than that of the second protrusion 35. In this way, the height positions of the tips of the multiple first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 in the height direction Z of the protector 4 differ depending on the formation position of each protrusion, so that even if excess portions such as wrinkles or slack occur in the circumferential direction of the exterior member 3, the components can be properly assembled. Furthermore, even if the exterior member 3 is pulled, the first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 having different heights distribute stress, preventing excessive load from being applied to these protrusions or the exterior member 3.

[0023] The pair of fitting pieces 36 are arranged side by side in the width direction X with the first fitting base portion 32 in between, and stand on the upper surface 31a of the base portion 31. The pair of fitting pieces 36 are also formed on the second fitting base portion 33 side of the first fitting base portion 32 in the axial direction Y. These fitting pieces 36 are fitted into recesses 15 formed on the inner surfaces of the second side surface portion 12 and the third side surface portion 13 of the protector body 10.

[0024] 3 and 4, the protector body 10 includes a recess 15, a protrusion 16, a defining portion 17, and an accommodating recess 18 formed on the inner surface exposed to the wiring space 14. The protrusion 16 is formed on the outlet 4b (FIG. 1) side in the axial direction Y of the protector 4, and protrudes toward the lid 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 16 is formed opposite to the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33 of the lid 30, and clamps a part of the electric wire 1 that is led out from the end portion 3a of the exterior member 3 and routed in the wiring space 14 between the protrusion 16 and the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33.

[0025] In this embodiment, the electric wire 1 is disposed closer to the lid 30 than the leaf spring member 2, and the protrusion 16 protrudes from the protector body 10 toward the lid 30. Therefore, when the electric wire 1 is sandwiched between the protrusion 16 and the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33, the electric wire 1 can be easily separated from the leaf spring member 2. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 1 from coming into contact with the end of the leaf spring member 2, and to make the electric wire 1 less likely to be damaged. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the surface of the protrusion 16 facing the electric wire 1 in the axial cross section is curved. Therefore, when the electric wire 1 is sandwiched between the protrusion 16 and the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 1 from being damaged by the sandwiching.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5 , the recess 15 is formed between the protruding portion 16 and the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 35 provided on the lid portion 30 in the axial direction Y. The recess 15 is formed on each inner surface of the second side surface portion 12 and the third side surface portion 13, and engages with the convex end 21 of the leaf spring member 2 to position the end 21 of the leaf spring member 2 in the axial direction Y. When assembling the wire harness WH, the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 inserted through the exterior member 3 are placed in the wiring space 14, and the convex end 21 of the leaf spring member 2 is engaged with the recess 15 of the protector body 10. This makes it easy to position the end 21 of the leaf spring member 2 in the axial direction Y, and the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2, and the exterior member 3 can be assembled to the protector body 10. Furthermore, a pair of fitting pieces 36 provided on the lid portion 30 are fitted into the recess 15. As a result, by assembling the cover portion 30 to the protector body 10, the end portion 21 of the leaf spring member 2 is prevented from coming off the recessed portion 15, and the leaf spring member 2 can be fixed to the protector 4.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the defining portions 17 support both ends of the wired leaf spring member 2 in the width direction X via the exterior member 3 and define the height position of the leaf spring member 2 within the protector 4 in the height direction Z. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the leaf spring member 2 is curved in a substantially U-shape outside the protector 4 together with the electric wire 1 and the exterior member 3. That is, the leaf spring member 2 is folded back in the axial direction Y outside the protector 4 and passes below the protector 4 in the height direction Z. Therefore, a biasing force generated by the bending acts on the end of the leaf spring member 2, and this biasing force constantly presses the leaf spring member 2 within the protector main body 10 (protector 4) against the defining portions 17. This allows the height position of the leaf spring member 2 within the protector 4 to be aligned with the position of the defining portions 17 (reference position).

[0028] The accommodating recess 18 is a recess that is located between the pair of defining portions 17 and is formed farther away from the leaf spring member 2 in the height direction Z than the defining portions 17. With this, for example, if an excess portion such as wrinkles or slack occurs in the circumferential direction of the exterior member 3, this excess portion is accommodated in the accommodating recess 18, so that the height position of the leaf spring member 2 can be set to the reference position regardless of the excess portion, and each member can be assembled in an appropriate positional relationship.

[0029] The wire harness WH according to the present embodiment includes flexible electric wires 1, leaf spring members 2 extending along the electric wires 1 and regulating the path of the electric wires 1 while having elasticity, a flexible exterior member 3 through which the electric wires 1 and the leaf spring members 2 are inserted, and a protector 4 integrally holding an end 3a of the exterior member 3 and portions of the electric wires 1 and the leaf spring members 2 extending from the end 3a of the exterior member 3. The protector 4 is configured to hold the electric wires 1, the leaf spring members 2, and the like along an axial direction Y. The protector includes a protector body 10 having a wiring space 14 in which a spring member 2 and an outer member 3 are arranged, a lid portion 30 attached to the protector body 10 and closing the wiring space 14, a protrusion 16 protruding from the protector body 10 toward the lid portion 30 and clamping a part of the electric wire 1 between the lid portion 30 and a second insertion base portion 33 of the lid portion 30, and a plurality of first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 protruding from the lid portion 30 toward the protector body 10 and engaging the outer member 3.

[0030] According to this configuration, the electric wire 1 and the leaf spring member 2 inserted in the exterior member 3 are arranged in the wiring space 14, and then the cover 30 is attached to the protector body 10, which is a simple operation that allows the electric wire 1 and the exterior member 3 to be fixed together to the protector 4. This simplifies the work of fixing the electric wire 1, the leaf spring member 2, and the exterior member 3 to the protector 4.

[0031] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, the leaf spring members 2 are formed in a strip shape, and the ends 21 thereof have a convex shape that protrudes relatively in a width direction X intersecting with the axial direction Y, and the protector body 10 has recesses 15 formed between the protrusions 16 and the first and second protrusions 34, 35 in the axial direction Y, the recesses 15 being engaged with the convex ends 21 of the leaf spring members 2 to position the ends 21 of the leaf spring members 2. According to this configuration, the electric wires 1 and the leaf spring members 2 inserted in the exterior member 3 are arranged in the wiring space 14, and the convex ends 21 of the leaf spring members 2 are engaged with the recesses 15 of the protector body 10, thereby facilitating the positioning of the ends 21 of the leaf spring members 2. Therefore, the electric wires 1, the leaf spring members 2, and the exterior member 3 can be assembled to the protector body 10.

[0032] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, the exterior member 3 is formed by weaving insulating fibers into a tubular shape, and the tips of the plurality of first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 are inserted into gaps in the stitches of the exterior member 3, thereby locking the exterior member 3. According to this configuration, the exterior member 3 can be fixed to the protector 4 by a simple operation of attaching the cover portion 30, on which the plurality of first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 are formed, to the protector body 10.

[0033] Moreover, the protrusion 16 is provided on the protector body 10, and has a curved surface facing a part of the electric wire 1. With this configuration, when the electric wire 1 is clamped between the protrusion 16 and the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33, the electric wire 1 can be easily separated from the leaf spring member 2. This makes it possible to prevent the electric wire 1 from coming into contact with the end 21 of the leaf spring member 2, and to make the electric wire 1 less likely to be damaged. Furthermore, because the surface of the protrusion 16 facing the electric wire 1 is curved, when the electric wire 1 is clamped between the protrusion 16 and the upper surface 33a of the second fitting base 33, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 1 from being damaged due to the clamping.

[0034] The wire harness WH according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 16 that clamps a portion of the electric wire 1 is provided on the protector body 10, but this is not limited thereto, and the protrusion may protrude from the lid portion 30 toward the protector body 10. Furthermore, although the lid portion 30 is provided with a plurality of first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 that engage the exterior member 3, the first protrusions 34 and second protrusions 35 may be provided from the protector body 10 toward the lid portion 30.

[0035] In addition, in the present embodiment, the exterior member 3 has been described as being formed by weaving insulating fibers into a cylindrical shape, but this is not limiting and, for example, a flexible rubber-based material may be used as long as it can be engaged with the first protrusions 34 and the second protrusions 35. Also, the exterior member 3 may be configured to have a plurality of grooves that engage with the tips of the protrusions, like a corrugated tube.

[0036] In this embodiment, the height position of the tip of the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 35 in the height direction Z is based on the leaf spring member 2, but this is not limited to this and, for example, the top surface 32a of the first fitting base portion 32 of the lid portion 30 may be based on the height position. In this case, the tip of the first protrusion 34 is higher in height position than the second protrusion 35.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sunroof 100 has been described as a moving body to which the wire harness WH is provided, but it goes without saying that it may also be provided in, for example, a sliding door. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 electric wire 2 Leaf spring member 3 Exterior materials 3a end 4 Protector (retaining member) 4a entrance 4b outlet 5 Connectors 10 Protector body (main body) 14 Wiring space 15 recess 16 Protrusion 17 Regulations 18 Recessed storage area 21 End 22 Notch 30 Lid 33 Second insertion base part 33a Top side 34 First protrusion (protrusion) 35 Second protrusion (protrusion) 36 Inset piece 100 Sunroof WH Wire Harness

Claims

1. a flexible electric wire; a leaf spring member extending along the electric wire, regulating the path of the electric wire, and having elasticity; a flexible exterior member through which the electric wires and the leaf spring members are inserted; a holding member that integrally holds the end of the exterior member, the electric wire, and the portion of the leaf spring member that is led out from the end of the exterior member, The holding member includes a main body having a wiring space in which the electric wires, the leaf spring member, and the exterior member are arranged along an axial direction; a lid portion attached to the main body and closing the wiring space portion; a protrusion protruding from one of the main body and the lid toward the other and sandwiching a portion of the electric wire between the other of the main body and the lid; a plurality of protrusions that protrude from one of the main body and the lid portion toward the other and that engage the exterior member, The leaf spring member is formed in a band shape, and an end portion thereof has a convex shape that relatively protrudes in a width direction intersecting with the axial direction, The main body is formed with a recess between the protruding portion and the projection in the axial direction, the recess engaging with the convex end of the leaf spring member to position the end of the leaf spring member. Wire harness.

2. A wire harness as described in claim 1, wherein the outer casing member is formed by weaving insulating fibers into a tubular shape, and the tips of the multiple protrusions are inserted into the gaps in the weave of the outer casing member to lock the outer casing member in place.

3. A flexible electric wire, a leaf spring member extending along the electric wire, regulating the path of the electric wire, and having elasticity; a flexible exterior member through which the electric wires and the leaf spring members are inserted; a holding member that integrally holds the end of the exterior member, the electric wire, and the portion of the leaf spring member that is led out from the end of the exterior member, The holding member includes a main body having a wiring space in which the electric wires, the leaf spring member, and the exterior member are arranged along an axial direction; a lid portion attached to the main body and closing the wiring space portion; a protrusion protruding from one of the main body and the lid toward the other and sandwiching a portion of the electric wire between the other of the main body and the lid; a plurality of protrusions that protrude from one of the main body and the lid portion toward the other and that engage the exterior member, The exterior member is formed by weaving insulating fibers into a tubular shape, and the tips of the plurality of protrusions are inserted into gaps in the weave of the exterior member to lock the exterior member in place.

4. The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided on the main body side, and a surface facing a part of the electric wire is curved.

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