Joint caps and electric wires with joint caps

Abstract

To provide a joint cap 10 and an electric wire 1 with the joint cap that can reduce the required number of connection portions 2c.SOLUTION: A joint cap 10 having insulating properties is attached to a connection portion 2c where conductors 2b exposed from a plurality of electric wires 2 are connected to each other includes a cap body 11 having a substantially cylindrical shape with one end closed, into which the connection portion 2c is inserted through an insertion opening 113 at the other end, and a partition portion 13 that forms a plurality of accommodation spaces S in which the connection portions 2c are accommodated with the cap body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint cap and an electric wire with a joint cap that are attached to a connection portion where conductors of electric wires exposed from the tip of an insulating coating are connected to each other, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when connecting multiple electric wires arranged side by side in the radial direction of the electric wires, the conductors of the electric wires exposed from the tip of the insulating coating are connected to each other by ultrasonic welding or resistance welding to enable electrical continuity. Furthermore, in such electric wires, it is known that an insulating joint cap (also called an end cap or insulating cap) is attached to the connection portion to insulate the connection portion where the conductors are connected (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The joint cap in Patent Document 1 is formed so that one connection part can be attached thereto. Therefore, for example, in a wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled together, when a plurality of connection parts are formed by a plurality of branch wires branching from a main wire, the wire harness requires the same number of joint caps as the number of connection parts. In this regard, the joint cap of Patent Document 1 may increase the number of parts, and therefore there is room for improvement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-9334 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a joint cap and an electric wire with a joint cap that can reduce the required number of joint caps relative to the number of wire connection portions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is an insulating joint cap that is attached to a connecting portion that connects conductors exposed from a plurality of electric wires, and that includes a cap body that is substantially cylindrical with one end closed and into which the connecting portion is inserted from an opening at the other end, and a partition wall that, together with the cap body, forms a plurality of storage spaces in which the connecting portions are stored. The partition wall is formed as a separate body from the cap body, and a through hole that functions as a communication hole that connects the adjacent storage spaces across the partition wall is provided in the partition wall. It is characterized by:

[0007] The partition wall may be integral with the cap body or may be separate from the cap body. The communication hole refers to an opening formed in the partition wall, or a gap formed between the cap body and the partition wall.

[0008] According to this invention, since the partitions form multiple storage spaces, the joint cap can store multiple wire connecting parts in one cap body. For example, if the partitions form two storage spaces inside the cap body, the joint cap can store two wire connecting parts.

[0009] In this case, the partition wall prevents the wire connection parts housed in the housing space from coming into contact with each other, so the joint cap can reliably insulate the wire connection parts even when multiple wire connection parts are housed in the cap body. Therefore, the number of joint caps required can be reduced relative to the number of wire connection parts.

[0010] Furthermore, since the partition portion is constructed separately from the cap body, the joint cap allows the interior of the cap body and the partition portion to be formed with greater precision than when the partition portion is integrally formed with the cap body.

[0011] This allows the joint cap to form accommodation spaces of a desired size inside the cap body, so that the joint cap can reliably accommodate the connecting parts in each accommodation space and insulate the connecting parts.

[0012] In addition, because the partitions are separate bodies, the joint cap can be selectively combined with partitions of different shapes for one cap body, which allows the joint cap to easily create any number of storage spaces and also allows the cap body to be standardized.

[0013] Furthermore, since the partition portion is provided with a through hole that functions as a communication hole that connects adjacent storage spaces on either side of the partition portion, the joint cap can easily move, for example, filler injected into one storage space or air within one storage space to an adjacent storage space via the communication hole.

[0014] Therefore, for example, when filling the cap body with a synthetic resin filler to ensure insulation and watertightness, the joint cap makes it easy for the filler injected into one storage space to spread throughout all storage spaces.

[0015] As a result, even when the joint cap is filled with a filler material inside the cap body, the filler material can be uniformly and efficiently filled into all of the storage spaces through the communication holes.

[0016] As an aspect of the present invention, at least one wire fixing portion may be provided that extends in a direction from one end of the cap body to the other end and that fixes the wire outside the cap body. The electric wire fixing portions are equal to or less than the number of the accommodation spaces, and refer to electric wire fixing portions extending from the partition wall portion or electric wire fixing portions extending from the cap body.

[0017] According to this configuration, the joint cap can hold the electric wire with the wire connection part housed in the housing space by the electric wire fastening part, and therefore, for example, when an unintended tensile load is applied to the electric wire, the joint cap can prevent the wire connection part from falling off the cap body.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the wire fixing portion may be formed by extending the partition wall portion. With this configuration, the joint cap can have the wire fastening parts adjacent to all of the accommodating spaces in the direction from one end to the other end of the cap body, so that the joint cap can hold all of the wires with the wire fastening parts to which the partition parts are extended.

[0019] As a result, the joint cap can reduce the number of steps required to fasten the electric wires compared to when, for example, the same number of electric wire fastening parts as the number of storage spaces is provided. Furthermore, since the joint cap does not require the same number of electric wire fastening parts as the number of storage spaces, its weight can be reduced.

[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, the cap body may have a substantially polygonal outer shape in a cross section taken along a direction perpendicular to a direction from one end of the cap body to the other end. According to this configuration, for example, when a plurality of cap bodies are arranged side by side with their outer surfaces in contact with each other, a joint cap can easily come into surface contact with another adjacent joint cap.

[0021] Therefore, the joint caps can be in more stable contact with adjacent joint caps than when the outer surfaces of the substantially cylindrical joint caps are in contact with each other. This ensures that the joint caps are stably connected together, even when a plurality of joint caps arranged side by side are connected together with adhesive tape.

[0022] In addition, the gap between adjacent joint caps can be made smaller than when the outer surfaces of the approximately cylindrical joint caps are in contact with each other, so the joint caps can be used to connect multiple joint caps in a compact manner.

[0023] The present invention is also characterized in that it is an electric wire with a joint cap, which includes a plurality of electric wires each having a conductor exposed from an end of an insulating coating and the above-mentioned joint cap, and the joint cap is attached to a connection portion where the conductors are connected to each other. According to this invention, the electric wire with a joint cap can reduce the number of joint caps required relative to the number of connection parts, thereby reducing the number of parts and improving assembly ease.

[0024] As another aspect of the present invention, a filler having insulating and waterproof properties may be provided to fill the inside of the joint cap. According to this configuration, the electric wire with a joint cap can prevent moisture from entering the inside of the cap body by the filler, which prevents corrosion of the connection portion and ensures stable conductivity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a joint cap and an electric wire with a joint cap, which can reduce the required number of joint caps relative to the number of wire connection portions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the appearance of an electric wire with a joint cap. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the electric wire with the joint cap in a disassembled state. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a joint cap in Example 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric wire with a joint cap according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of the joint cap in a connected state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of a joint cap according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a joint cap according to another embodiment, as viewed from the front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0028] In the first embodiment, a joint cap-equipped electric wire 1 in which a joint cap is attached to a connection portion where conductors of electric wires exposed from the tip of an insulating coating are connected to each other will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 .

[0029] 1 is an external perspective view of the electric wire 1 with a joint cap, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electric wire 1 with a joint cap in an exploded state.

[0030] 1 is the upward direction of the electric wire with joint caps 1, and the downward direction of the electric wire with joint caps 1, the arrow X in the figure indicates the front-to-back direction of the electric wire with joint caps 1 (hereinafter referred to as the front-to-back direction X), and the arrow Y indicates the width direction of the electric wire with joint caps 1 (hereinafter referred to as the width direction Y) which is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction X in a plan view.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 , the electric wire with joint cap 1 of Example 1 includes two pairs of electric wires 2 in which conductors 2b are connected to each other, an insulating joint cap 10 attached to the pair of electric wires 2, an adhesive tape 3 that fixes the electric wires 2 to the joint cap 10, and a filler 4 filled inside the joint cap 10.

[0032] First, as shown in FIG. 3, the pair of electric wires 2 are, for example, two sets of branch wires branched from a main wire of a wire harness, and each pair of electric wires 2 is arranged so that each set of electric wires 2 faces each other in the width direction Y. In addition, one set of electric wires 2 electrically connects the electric wires 2 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction to enable conduction.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the pair of electric wires 2 are electrically connected by connecting the conductors 2b exposed from the tip of the insulating coating 2a, for example, by ultrasonic welding or resistance welding. The part where the conductors 2b are connected to each other is hereinafter referred to as the connection part 2c.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the joint cap 10 of the electric wire with a joint cap is an insulating cap onto which two connecting portions 2c can be attached. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, this joint cap 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical cap body 11 that is closed on one side in the front-to-rear direction X, and a substantially plate-shaped flat member 12 that is adhesively fixed to approximately the center of the cap body 11 in the width direction Y.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the joint cap 10 has two storage spaces S in which two connecting portions 2c are independently housed, and a communication hole 10a that connects the two storage spaces S, formed inside the cap body 11.

[0036] More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cap body 11 of the joint cap 10 is integrally formed of a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 111 extending in the front-to-rear direction X and a substantially dome-shaped hemispherical portion 112 that closes an opening on one side of the tubular portion 111 in the front-to-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. 3, the cap body 11 has an opening on the other side of the cylindrical portion 111 in the front-rear direction X as an insertion opening 113 into which the two wire connection portions 2c are inserted.

[0037] The cylindrical portion 111 of the cap body 11 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 2c to near the tip of the insulating coating 2a of the electric wire 2, and an inner diameter that can accommodate one pair of electric wires 2 inside.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the cap body 11 has a pair of fitting portions 11a formed at the other edge end of the tubular portion 111 in the front-to-rear direction X (the edge end on the insertion opening 113 side of the cap body 11), into which the partition portion 13 described later fits.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, this pair of mating portions 11a are formed by cutting out the edge ends of the cap body 11 facing the insertion opening 113 in the vertical direction at approximately the center in the width direction Y, in an approximately rectangular shape when viewed from above, toward the hemispherical portion 112.

[0040] 2 and 3, the flat plate member 12 of the joint cap 10 is a plate having a thickness in the width direction Y, and is configured as a separate body from the cap body 11.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, this flat plate member 12 is integrally formed with a partition portion 13 that separates the internal space of the cap body 11 into two spaces, a pair of protrusions 14 that fit into the fitting portion 11a of the cap body 11, and an electric wire fixing portion 15 to which one pair of two sets of electric wires 2 are fixed.

[0042] More specifically, the partition wall portion 13 of the flat plate member 12 is a portion that is housed inside the cap body 11, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and is formed with a length in the front-rear direction X that is shorter than that of the cap body 11.

[0043] Specifically, the partition portion 13 is formed as a roughly rectangular plate in side view, having a length in the front-to-back direction X that is roughly the same as that of the cylindrical portion 111 of the cap body 11, and a length in the up-down direction that is roughly the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 111.

[0044] When the partition wall 13 is attached to the cap body 11, it and the inner circumferential surface of the cap body 11 form two storage spaces S in which the two wire connection portions 2c are respectively stored independently.

[0045] 3, the partition wall 13 has two through holes 13a formed therethrough in the width direction Y and spaced a predetermined distance apart in the front-rear direction X. These two through holes 13a are formed as communication holes that communicate the two storage spaces S separated by the partition wall 13 when the partition wall 13 is attached to the cap body 11, as shown in FIG.

[0046] 1 and 3, the protrusion 14 of the flat plate member 12 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape in a side view, protruding upward and downward from the other side of the partition wall 13 in the front-rear direction X. The protrusion 14 is formed to have a size that allows it to fit into the fitted portion 11a of the cap body 11.

[0047] 3, the wire fixing portion 15 of the flat plate member 12 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape in a side view, with the partition wall portion 13 extending toward the other side in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. 1, two sets of wires 2 are fixed to this wire fixing portion 15 using adhesive tape 3.

[0048] 2, the two storage spaces S of the joint cap 10 are formed by the inner surface of the cap body 11 and the partition wall portion 13, and are formed in a generally semicircular shape when viewed from the front. The two storage spaces S communicate with each other via a through-hole 13a of the partition wall portion 13 and a communication hole 10a, which will be described later.

[0049] In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the communicating hole 10a of the joint cap 10 is configured as a gap formed between the inner surface of the hemispherical portion 112 of the cap body 11 and the partition portion 13 when the partition portion 13 is assembled to the cap body 11.

[0050] The filler 4 of the electric wire 1 with a joint cap is an insulating synthetic resin that insulates the connection portion 2c and is filled into the cap body 11 to prevent moisture from entering the cap body 11. In other words, the filler 4 has insulating properties and water-stopping properties in the filled state.

[0051] The filler 4 is made up of, for example, a low-viscosity silicone resin that penetrates into the conductor 2b exposed from the insulating coating 2a, and a high-viscosity silicone resin that closes the insertion opening 113 of the cap body 11.

[0052] Next, the process of assembling the electric wire 1 with the joint cap having the above-mentioned configuration will be briefly described. First, an operator or an assembly device exposes the conductors 2b of the electric wires 2 from the ends of the insulating coatings 2a, and then connects the conductors 2b of a pair of electric wires 2 together to form a connection portion 2c. Thereafter, the worker or the assembly device fixes the pairs of electric wires 2 arranged opposite each other with the flat plate member 12 therebetween to the electric wire fixing portion 15 using adhesive tape 3 .

[0053] After the electric wire 2 is fixed to the flat plate member 12, the worker or the assembly device applies adhesive to the mating portion 11a of the cap body 11 and the protrusion portion 14 of the flat plate member 12, and then inserts the partition portion 13 of the flat plate member 12 through the insertion port 113 of the cap body 11 along the front-to-rear direction X. At this time, since two pairs of electric wires 2 are fixed to the flat plate member 12, the two wire connection portions 2c are inserted into the inside of the cap body 11 at the same time as the partition wall portion 13 is assembled.

[0054] Then, when the protrusion 14 of the flat member 12 is fitted into the fitted portion 11a of the cap body 11, the worker or the assembly device starts to inject the low-viscosity silicone resin into one of the housing spaces S. At this time, the low-viscosity silicone resin flows into the other housing space S through the communicating hole 10a and the through-hole 13a, thereby filling the two housing spaces S.

[0055] Once the injection of the low-viscosity silicone resin is completed, the worker or the assembly device injects high-viscosity silicone resin into the two storage spaces S so as to cover the low-viscosity silicone resin filled in the two storage spaces S, thereby forming a filler 4 consisting of low-viscosity silicone resin and high-viscosity silicone resin. In this manner, in the first embodiment, an electric wire with a joint cap 1 is configured in which one joint cap 10 is attached to two pairs of electric wires 2.

[0056] As described above, the joint cap 10 of the first embodiment is an insulating cap that is attached to the connection portion 2c where the conductors 2b exposed from the respective electric wires 2 are connected together. This joint cap 10 is roughly cylindrical with one end closed, and is provided with a cap body 11 into which the connecting portion 2c is inserted through an insertion opening 113 at the other end, and a partition portion 13 which, together with the cap body 11, forms two storage spaces S in which the connecting portion 2c is stored.

[0057] The electric wire with a joint cap 1 of Example 1 has the above-mentioned joint cap 10 attached to the connection portion 2c where the conductors 2b are connected to each other. According to this configuration, two storage spaces S are formed by the partition wall portion 13, and therefore, the joint cap 10 can store two wire connection portions 2c in one cap body 11.

[0058] In this case, the partition wall 13 can prevent the connection parts 2c contained in the storage space S from contacting each other, so the joint cap 10 can reliably insulate the connection parts 2c even when two connection parts 2c are contained in the cap body 11. Therefore, in the electric wire with joint cap 1, the number of joint caps 10 required relative to the number of connection portions 2c can be reduced. Therefore, the electric wire with joint cap 1 can reduce the number of parts and improve the ease of assembly.

[0059] The joint cap 10 is provided with one wire fixing portion 15 that extends in the front-rear direction X and to which the wire 2 is fixed outside the cap body 11. According to this configuration, the joint cap 10 can hold the electric wire 2, the connection portion 2c of which is accommodated in the accommodation space S, by the electric wire fastening portion 15. Therefore, for example, when an unintended tensile load is applied to the electric wire 2, the joint cap 10 can prevent the connection portion 2c from falling off from the cap body 11.

[0060] Furthermore, since the electric wire fixing portion 15 is formed by extending the partition wall portion 13, the joint cap 10 can have the electric wire fixing portion 15 adjacent to two storage spaces S in the front-rear direction X. Therefore, the joint cap 10 can hold two pairs of electric wires 2 with the electric wire fixing portion 15 which is an extension of the partition wall portion 13.

[0061] As a result, the joint cap 10 can reduce the number of steps required to fix the electric wires 2 compared to when, for example, the joint cap 10 is provided with the same number of electric wire fixing portions as the number of storage spaces S. Furthermore, since the joint cap 10 does not require providing the same number of electric wire fixing portions 15 as the number of storage spaces S, the weight of the joint cap 10 can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, since the partition portion 13 is constructed as a separate body from the cap body 11, the joint cap 10 can form the interior of the cap body 11 and the partition portion 13 with greater precision than if the partition portion 13 were integrally formed with the cap body 11.

[0063] This allows the joint cap 10 to form an accommodation space S of a desired size inside the cap body 11. Therefore, the joint cap 10 can reliably accommodate the connection portions 2c in each accommodation space S and insulate the connection portions 2c.

[0064] In addition, since the joint cap 10 is provided with communication holes (communication holes 10a, through holes 13a) that connect adjacent storage spaces S across the partition portion 13, the joint cap 10 can easily move, for example, the filler material 4 injected into one storage space S or the air within one storage space S to the adjacent storage space S via the communication holes (communication holes 10a, through holes 13a).

[0065] Therefore, when the filler 4 is filled into the cap body 11, the joint cap 10 allows the filler 4 injected into one storage space S to easily spread throughout all of the storage spaces S.

[0066] This allows the joint cap 10 to uniformly and efficiently fill the filler 4 into all of the storage spaces S through the communication holes (communication holes 10a, through holes 13a).

[0067] Furthermore, due to the communicating hole 10a formed by the cap body 11 and the partition portion 13, when the filler 4 is injected into one of the storage spaces S, the joint cap 10 allows the air in the hemispherical portion 112 of the cap body 11 to flow into the other storage space S together with the filler 4.

[0068] This makes it possible for the joint cap 10 to prevent air pockets from forming inside the filler 4. Therefore, the joint cap 10 allows the filler 4 to be filled more uniformly through the communication holes 10a.

[0069] The electric wire 1 with a joint cap is provided with a filler 4 filled inside the joint cap 10 and having insulating and waterproof properties. According to this configuration, the electric wire 1 with a joint cap can prevent moisture from entering the inside of the cap body 11 by the filler 4. Therefore, the electric wire 1 with a joint cap can prevent corrosion of the connection portion 2c and can ensure stable conductivity. [Example]

[0070] The joint cap 20 of the second embodiment is a cap that can be attached to three sets of electric wires (not shown), each set consisting of a pair of electric wires, and has three accommodation spaces S formed therein for accommodating the wire connection portions 2c. The joint cap 20 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0071] 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the outline of the joint cap 20 in the second embodiment, in which FIG. 4A shows an exploded perspective view of the joint cap 20 and FIG. 4B shows a front view of the joint cap 20. Moreover, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the joint cap 20 of the second embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical cap body 21 that is closed on one side in the front-rear direction X, and a three-way branching member 22 that is adhesively fixed to the cap body 21.

[0073] As shown in Figure 4(b), the joint cap 20 has three storage spaces S formed inside the cap body 21, in which connecting portions 2c that connect the conductors of a pair of electric wires are independently stored.

[0074] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the cap body 21 is integrally formed of an approximately cylindrical tubular portion (symbol omitted) extending in the front-to-rear direction X and an approximately dome-shaped hemispherical portion (symbol omitted) that closes an opening on one side of the tubular portion in the front-to-rear direction X. The cap body 21 has an opening on the other side of the cylindrical portion in the front-rear direction X as an insertion opening 211 into which the three wire connection portions 2c are inserted.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the cap body 21 has three fitting portions 21a formed at the other edge of the cylindrical portion in the front-to-rear direction X (the edge of the cap body 21 on the insertion opening 211 side), into which the protrusion portion 24 described later fits, spaced at predetermined intervals around the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the three-way branching member 22 is formed in a shape that branches in three directions from the center in the radial direction of the cap body 21 toward the fitted portion 21a in a front view.

[0077] More specifically, the three-way branching member 22 is formed into a shape that branches in three directions, with a roughly columnar shaft portion (symbol omitted) extending in the front-to-rear direction X, and flat plate portions (symbol omitted) protruding from the shaft portion at positions spaced a predetermined distance apart in the rotational direction about the front-to-rear direction X as the axis.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4(a), this three-way branching member 22 is integrally formed of a partition portion 23 that separates the internal space of the cap body 21 into three spaces, three protrusions 24 that protrude from the partition portion 23, and an electric wire fixing portion 25 that extends the partition portion 23 to the other side in the front-to-rear direction X. The protrusion 24 is formed to protrude from the other side of the partition wall 23 in the front-rear direction X so as to be able to fit into the fitting portion 21 a of the cap body 21 .

[0079] As shown in Figure 4(b), when the joint cap 20 having such a configuration has the three-way branching member 22 attached to the cap main body 21, the inner surface of the cap main body 21 and the partition portion 23 of the three-way branching member 22 form three storage spaces S that are approximately fan-shaped when viewed from the front.

[0080] As described above, the joint cap 20 of Example 2, like Example 1, is approximately cylindrical with one end closed, and is provided with a cap body 21 into which the connecting portion 2c is inserted through the insertion opening 211 at the other end, and a partition portion 23 that, together with the cap body 21, forms a plurality of storage spaces S in which the connecting portions 2c are stored. According to this configuration, similarly to the first embodiment, the number of joint caps 20 required can be reduced relative to the number of wire connection portions 2c. [Example]

[0081] The electric wire with joint caps 5 of Example 3 is different in the shape of the joint caps from the electric wire with joint caps 1 of Example 1. The electric wire with joint caps 5 of Example 3 will be described with reference to Figs.

[0082] 5 is an exploded perspective view of the electric wire 5 with a joint cap in the third embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the joint cap 30 in a connected state. Moreover, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 5, the electric wire with joint cap 5 of the third embodiment includes two pairs of electric wires 2 and an insulating joint cap 30 attached to the two pairs of electric wires 2. Furthermore, although detailed illustration is omitted, the electric wire 5 with joint cap includes an adhesive tape (not shown) that fixes the electric wire 2 to the joint cap 30, and a filler (not shown) filled inside the joint cap 30.

[0084] First, as shown in FIG. 5, the two sets of electric wires 2 in Example 3 are made up of three electric wires 2 as a set, and the conductors 2b exposed from the insulating coatings 2a of the three electric wires 2 are connected together to form one connecting portion 2c.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 5, the joint cap 30 of the third embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical cap body 31 that is closed on one side in the front-rear direction X, and a substantially flat plate member 32 that is adhesively fixed to the cap body 31 at approximately the center in the width direction Y.

[0086] 5, the cap body 31 is a cylindrical body that is elongated in the width direction Y and has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and the other side in the front-rear direction X forms an insertion opening (reference numeral omitted) for the wire connection portion 2c. The inner peripheral surface of the cap body 31 is formed in a generally oblong shape when viewed from the front and that is elongated in the width direction Y, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, in the cap body 31, similar to the fitted portion 11a of the first embodiment, fitted portions 31a are formed as cutouts at approximately the center in the width direction Y, and are arranged opposite each other in the up-down direction.

[0087] Furthermore, like the flat plate member 12 of Example 1, the flat plate member 32 is formed separately from the cap body 31, and includes a partition portion 33 that separates the interior of the cap body 31 into two spaces, a pair of protrusion portions 34 that fit into the fitting portion 31a of the cap body 31, and a wire fixing portion 35 to which one pair of two sets of electric wires 2 are fixed.

[0088] When assembled to the cap body 31, the partition wall portion 33 of this flat plate member 32 forms, together with the inner surface of the cap body 31, two storage spaces S in which the two wire connection portions 2c are each stored independently. The accommodation space S is formed in a generally semi-cylindrical shape when viewed from the front, with an arcuate surface protruding in the width direction Y.

[0089] The joint cap 30 having such a shape is suitable for connection to another joint cap 30 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the cap body 31. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the joint cap 30 of the third embodiment can easily bring the side surfaces in the width direction Y into contact with another joint cap 30 arranged side by side in the width direction Y.

[0090] Therefore, by fixing another joint cap 30 with its side surfaces in the width direction Y in contact with each other using the adhesive tape 3, multiple joint caps 30 can be connected in a surface-to-surface contact state.

[0091] As described above, the joint cap 30 of Example 3, like Example 1, is generally cylindrical with one end closed and includes a cap body 31 into which the connecting portion 2c is inserted from the opening at the other end, and a partition portion 33 that, together with the cap body 31, forms a plurality of storage spaces in which the connecting portions 2c are stored. The electric wire 5 with a joint cap of the third embodiment is one in which the above-mentioned joint cap 30 is attached to the connection portion 2c where the conductors 2b are connected to each other.

[0092] According to this configuration, the joint cap 30 and the electric wire 5 with a joint cap can reduce the number of joint caps 30 required relative to the number of connection portions 2c, as in Example 1. Therefore, the electric wire 5 with a joint cap can reduce the number of parts and improve the ease of assembly.

[0093] Furthermore, in a cross section along the width direction Y, the outer shape of the cap body 31 is an approximately polygonal cross section, so that, for example, when multiple cap bodies 31 are placed side by side with their outer surfaces in contact with each other, the joint cap 30 can easily come into surface contact with another adjacent joint cap 30.

[0094] Therefore, the joint caps 30 can be in stable contact with adjacent joint caps 30 compared to when the outer surfaces of the substantially cylindrical joint caps are in contact with each other. This allows the joint cap 30 to ensure a stable connected state even when, for example, a plurality of joint caps 30 arranged side by side are connected with adhesive tape.

[0095] In addition, since the gap between adjacent joint caps 30 can be made smaller than when the outer surfaces of the approximately cylindrical joint caps are in contact with each other, the joint caps 30 can connect multiple joint caps 30 in a compact manner.

[0096] In correspondence between the configuration of this invention and the above-mentioned embodiment, The communication holes of this invention correspond to the communication holes 10a and the through holes 13a in the embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0097] Specifically, in the above-described Example 1, two electric wires 2 are used as one set, and in Example 3, three electric wires 2 are used as one set, but this is not limited to this, and the number of electric wires 2 in one set may be any appropriate number as long as one connection portion 2c can be formed.

[0098] Furthermore, the joint caps 10, 20, 30 are provided with the partition wall portions 13, 23, 33 that are separate from the cap bodies 11, 21, 31, but are not limited to this, and the joint cap may have a partition wall portion integrally formed with the cap body.

[0099] Furthermore, although the filler 4 is made of low-viscosity silicone resin and high-viscosity silicone resin, this is not limited to this, and any filler material may be used as long as it has insulating and water-stopping properties in the filled state.

[0100] Furthermore, although the filler 4 is filled inside the cap body 11, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electric wire with a joint cap in which the filler 4 is not filled may also be used. Furthermore, although the configuration is such that the wire connection portion is inserted into the accommodation space S of the joint cap, in addition to this, the cap body may be configured to hold the wire connection portion by crimping the cap body.

[0101] Furthermore, although the electric wire 2 is fixed to the electric wire fixing portion 15 using the adhesive tape 3, this is not limitative, and the electric wire 2 may be fixed to the electric wire fixing portion 15 using, for example, a cable tie. In addition, in the first and second embodiments, similarly to the third embodiment, a plurality of joint caps 10, 20 may be arranged side by side and connected together using adhesive tape.

[0102] Furthermore, although the wire fixing portions 15, 25, and 35 are formed integrally with the partitions 13, 23, and 33, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the wire fixing portions and the partitions may be formed separately. For example, the wire fixing portions may be formed in a shape that extends from the edge of the cap body on the opening side along the front-rear direction X. In this case, the number of wire fixing portions is formed so that it is equal to or less than the number of storage spaces.

[0103] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the partition wall portion 13 has two through holes 13a formed therein, but this is not limitative, and the partition wall portion may have one through hole or three or more through holes. In addition, in Example 1, the partition wall 13 is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular plate in side view, but this is not limited thereto, and the partition wall 13 may be formed in a shape that follows the inner circumferential surface of the cap body 11, with a generally rectangular portion and a generally semicircular portion in side view. In this case, the communication hole may be formed as a through-hole provided in the partition wall. Alternatively, the communication hole may be formed as a gap formed between a notch provided in the partition wall and the cap body.

[0104] Furthermore, in Example 1, the joint cap 10 has one communicating hole 10a and two through holes 13a, but this is not limited to this, and the joint cap may be one that has only one of the communicating hole 10a and the through hole 13a, or one that has neither the communicating hole 10a nor the through hole 13a.

[0105] Furthermore, although the partitions 13, 23, and 33 are adhesively fixed to the cap bodies 11, 21, and 31 via the protrusions 14, 24, and 34, this is not limited to this, and the partitions may be configured to be adhesively fixed to the inner surface of the cap body without providing protrusions by applying adhesive to the side surfaces of the partitions.

[0106] Alternatively, a guide groove for guiding the insertion of the partition may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cap body, and the partition may be adhesively fixed to the guide groove. Alternatively, a protrusion may be provided on the tip of the partition, and the protrusion may be fitted into a recess provided in the closed portion of the cap body.

[0107] Furthermore, the number of storage spaces S for storing the wire connection portions is not limited to those in the above-described Examples 1 to 3, and may be any appropriate number. In this case, the partition portion is formed in a shape that allows the desired number of storage spaces S to be formed together with the cap body.

[0108] Furthermore, the cap bodies 11 and 21 are configured such that one type of partition wall can be attached thereto, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cap bodies may be configured such that a plurality of partition wall parts can be attached thereto. 7, which is an external perspective view showing the appearance of a joint cap 40 in another embodiment, the cap body 41 of the joint cap 40 may have a shape in which two fitted portions 41a corresponding to the protrusions 14 of the flat plate member 12 of Example 1 and three fitted portions 41b corresponding to the protrusions 24 of the three-way branching member 22 of Example 2 are formed. In this case, one of the two fitted portions 41a and one of the three fitted portions 41b may be shared.

[0109] According to this configuration, the joint cap 40 can selectively combine the partition wall portion 13 of the flat plate member 12 or the partition wall portion 23 of the three-way branching member 22 with one cap body 41. Therefore, the joint cap 40 can arbitrarily change the number of storage spaces S, and can also standardize the cap body 41.

[0110] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a plurality of joint caps 30 are connected using the adhesive tape 3, but this is not limitative, and the cap body 31 may be provided with a connecting portion to which another joint cap 30 is connected. In addition, in the third embodiment, the cap body 31 is generally rectangular in front view, but is not limited to this, and the cap body may have any suitable shape as long as it can come into surface contact with the adjacent joint cap.

[0111] For example, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), which are explanatory diagrams illustrating the outline of joint caps 50, 60 in another embodiment as viewed from the front, the cap bodies 51, 61 of the joint caps 50, 60 may be formed into a cylindrical body that is a substantially parallelogram when viewed from the front. Even with such a shape, the joint caps 50, 60 can come into surface contact with another adjacent joint cap 50, 60.

[0112] The shape of the storage space S is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be any suitable shape. For example, as in the joint cap 50 shown in Fig. 8(a), the storage space S may be formed into a substantially triangular shape in front view by a cap body 51 having a substantially parallelogram shape in front view and a partition wall portion 52 along one diagonal of the cap body 51.

[0113] Alternatively, as in the joint cap 60 shown in Figure 8(b), the storage space S may be formed in an approximately trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, by a cap body 61 which is a cylindrical body having an approximately parallelogram shape when viewed from the front, and a partition portion 62 which connects the upper and lower surfaces of the cap body 61.

[0114] Furthermore, for example, a plurality of joint caps may be connected together, each of which has a cross-sectional shape in a longitudinal section along the width direction Y that is a substantially isosceles trapezoid. In this case, the joint caps may be connected together so that the inclined surfaces thereof are in surface contact with each other to form a three-dimensional structure that is substantially annular in front view, and the main wire of a wire harness, for example, may be disposed inside the substantially annular shape in front view. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1,5... Wire with joint cap 2...Electric wire 2a...insulating coating 2b...conductor 2c...Connection section 4…Filling material 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60... Joint cap 10a...Communication hole 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61...Cap body 13,23,33,52,62...Partition part 13a...Through hole 15,25,35...Electric wire fixing part S...Storage space

Claims

1. An insulating joint cap that is attached to a connection portion where exposed conductors from a plurality of electric wires are connected to each other, a cap body having a generally cylindrical shape with one end closed and the other end open through which the wire connection portion is inserted; a partition wall portion that, together with the cap body, forms a plurality of accommodation spaces in which the wire connection portions are accommodated; the partition wall is formed separately from the cap body, A through hole is provided in the partition wall, which functions as a communication hole that connects the adjacent storage spaces across the partition wall. Joint cap.

2. At least one wire fixing portion is provided, which extends from one end of the cap body to the other end and fixes the wire outside the cap body. The joint cap according to claim 1.

3. The wire fixing portion is formed by extending the partition wall portion. The joint cap according to claim 2.

4. In a cross section taken along a direction perpendicular to a direction from one end of the cap body to the other end thereof, the outer shape of the cap body is a substantially polygonal cross section. The joint cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A plurality of electric wires each having a conductor exposed from a tip of an insulating coating; and the joint cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The joint cap is attached to the connection portion where the conductors are connected. Electric wire with joint cap.

6. A filler having insulating and waterproof properties is provided inside the joint cap. The electric wire with a joint cap according to claim 5 .

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