Wire harness

Abstract

To reduce a cost.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a wire harness including: an electric wire group 20 formed by connecting electric connection tools together for each combination of n-1 (n is a natural number of at least 3) number of pairs of electric connection tools 10; and a pair of sheet-like external members 30 for storing all electric wire groups by holding the electric wire groups. The other electric connection tools of n number of electric connection tools other than one pair of electric connection tools 11 are sub electric connection tools 12 arranged separately in a direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting one pair of main electric connection tools. All electric wire groups include one main electric wire groups 21 which linearly connects a combination of main electric connection tools in a shortest route, and the other electric wire groups are sub electric wire groups 22 which linearly connect all of at least n-1 pairs of electric wire tools other than one pair of main electric connection tools. The combinations of at least n-1 pairs of electric connection tools include at least one pair of a main electric connection tool and a sub electric connection tool connected by a sub electric wire group.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a wire harness that includes n (n=3 or more natural number) electrical connectors (connectors, etc.) and a group of electric wires that connects at least n-1 pairs of electrical connectors among the n electrical connectors for each combination. This type of wire harness is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-185353 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A conventional wire harness includes a first group of electric wires connecting a first electric connecting device and a second electric connecting device, a second group of electric wires connecting the first electric connecting device and a third electric connecting device, and a third group of electric wires connecting the second electric connecting device and the third electric connecting device. Furthermore, the third electric connecting device is disposed in a direction intersecting the axis of the first group of electric wires, which connects the first electric connecting device and the second electric connecting device via the shortest path. In this wire harness, for example, the second group of electric wires runs parallel to the first group of electric wires from the first electric connecting device, and is bent at a branch portion midway through the first group of electric wires to face the third electric connecting device. In this wire harness, for example, the third group of electric wires runs parallel to the first group of electric wires from the second electric connector, and the third group of electric wires is bent at a branch portion midway through the first group of electric wires and directed toward the third electric connector. In this conventional wire harness, the second group of electric wires and the third group of electric wires are routed along a path that passes through the branch portion, so the path length is longer than the distance between the first and third electric connectors and the distance between the second and third electric connectors. The longer the path length of the electric wire groups, the higher the material cost. In addition, in this conventional wire harness, for example, adhesive tape is wrapped around the branch portion of the first group of electric wires, the second group of electric wires, and the third group of electric wires, or the branch portion of the first group of electric wires, the second group of electric wires, and the third group of electric wires is bundled with a clamp to prevent the first group of electric wires, the second group of electric wires, and the third group of electric wires from becoming untied at the branch portion. In this case, costs for the adhesive tape and clamp materials, as well as the labor costs for wrapping the adhesive tape, are incurred.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wire harness that can reduce the cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an electric connecting device that includes n electric wires (n=3 or more natural number) and is configured to connect at least n-1 pairs of electric wires, each pair being made up of two or more electric connecting devices; and a group of electric wires that includes a plurality of electric wires and connects the pair of electric connecting devices to each other for each of the at least n-1 pairs of electric connecting devices that are configured to connect the electric wires; and a pair of insulating sheet-like exterior members that sandwich and accommodate all of the groups of electric wires therein, wherein one of the at least n-1 pairs of electric connecting devices that are configured to connect the electric wires is a pair of main electric connecting devices that are arranged at a distance from each other, and the remaining n pairs of electric connecting devices excluding the pair of main electric connecting devices in the n number of electric connecting devices are configured to connect the electric wires. Each of the electric wire groups is a secondary electric connector arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting a straight line connecting the pair of main electric connectors, and one of the electric wire groups is a main electric wire group that linearly connects the combination of the pair of main electric connectors via the shortest route, and the rest of the electric wire groups are secondary electric wire groups that linearly connect the remaining combinations, excluding the combination of the pair of main electric connectors, via the shortest route, of the at least n-1 pairs of combinations of electric connectors to be connected, and the at least n-1 pairs of combinations of electric connectors to be connected include at least one combination of the main electric connector and the secondary electric connector connected by the secondary electric wire group. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the wire harness according to the present invention, in all combinations of electric connecting devices to be connected to electric wires, the electric wires are connected in a straight line along the shortest route by the electric wire groups. Therefore, this wire harness can reduce the material cost of the electric wire groups, thereby reducing the cost. Furthermore, this wire harness arranges all electric wire groups in a straight line along the shortest route, and then sandwiches and fixes all electric wire groups between a pair of exterior members. Therefore, this wire harness does not have a branching portion of the electric wire groups as in conventional wire harnesses, and therefore does not require adhesive tape or clamps to bundle the electric wire groups at the branching portion, thereby also reducing the cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a wire harness (n=3) according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a wire harness (n=4) according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the first exterior installation step. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the first exterior installation step, in which the view of arrow A in FIG. 5 is rotated by 90 degrees so that the jig plate is positioned vertically downward. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the electric wire installation process. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the electric wire holding step. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second exterior installation step. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of installation in a vehicle. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified wire harness (n=4). [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an outline of a modified wire harness (n=4). [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an outline of a modified wire harness (n=4). [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the first exterior installation step of the modified example. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the electric wire installation process of the modified example. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second exterior installation step of the modified example. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of installation of a modified wire harness in a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a wire harness according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a wire harness according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 indicates a wire harness according to this embodiment.

[0012] This wire harness 1 includes n electric connecting devices 10 (n = a natural number of 3 or more), all of which are used to combine two by two to form at least n-1 pairs of electric wire connection targets (FIGS. 1 to 4). The electric connecting devices 10 are, for example, connectors, and are physically and electrically connected to mating connectors of electrical equipment or mating connectors at the ends of electric wires. In this wire harness 1, when all of the n electric connecting devices 10 are used to combine two by two, at least n-1 pairs of electric connecting devices 10 are combined. Therefore, in this wire harness 1, at least n-1 pairs of combinations are targets for connection with electric wires (electric wire connection targets).

[0013] For the sake of convenience, the n number of electrical connectors 10 are roughly divided into a pair of main electrical connectors 11 and all the remaining auxiliary electrical connectors 12 as follows.

[0014] Of at least n-1 pairs of electrical connectors 10 to be used for connecting electric wires, one is a pair of main electrical connectors 11 (first main electrical connector 11A, second main electrical connector 11B) spaced apart from each other (FIGS. 1 and 3). In other words, the n number of electrical connectors 10 includes the pair of main electrical connectors 11 (first main electrical connector 11A, second main electrical connector 11B). The rest of the n number of electrical connectors 10, excluding the pair of main electrical connectors 11 (first main electrical connector 11A, second main electrical connector 11B), are sub-electrical connectors 12 spaced apart in a direction intersecting the line connecting the pair of main electrical connectors 11 (first main electrical connector 11A, second main electrical connector 11B) (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0015] Here, whether the number of sub-electrical connecting devices 12 included in the n number of electrical connecting devices 10 is one or more, the combination of at least n-1 pairs of electrical connecting devices 10 to be used for connecting electric wires includes at least one pair of a main electrical connecting device 11 and a sub-electrical connecting device 12 (Figures 1 and 3).

[0016] Furthermore, when n electric connecting devices 10 include a plurality of secondary electric connecting devices 12, at least one pair of secondary electric connecting devices 12 may be included in the at least n-1 pairs of electric connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires (FIG. 3) when the following condition is met: at least one secondary electric connecting device 12 is arranged on one side with a gap in a direction intersecting a straight line connecting the pair of main electric connecting devices 11 (first main electric connecting device 11A, second main electric connecting device 11B), and at least one other secondary electric connecting device 12 is arranged on the other side with a gap in a direction intersecting the straight line.

[0017] For example, when there are three electrical connectors 10 (n=3), there are a pair of main electrical connectors 11 (a first main electrical connector 11A and a second main electrical connector 11B) and one sub-electrical connector 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In this case, at least two pairs of electrical connectors 10 to be connected to electric wires are combined, and up to three pairs of electrical connectors 10 to be connected to electric wires are combined. Of the at least two pairs of electrical connectors 10 to be connected to electric wires, one is a pair of main electrical connectors 11 (a first main electrical connector 11A and a second main electrical connector 11B), and the remaining are at least one of the combinations of the first main electrical connector 11A and the sub-electrical connector 12 and the combination of the second main electrical connector 11B and the sub-electrical connector 12.

[0018] For example, when there are four electrical connecting devices 10 (n=4), a pair of main electrical connecting devices 11 (first main electrical connecting device 11A, second main electrical connecting device 11B) and two secondary electrical connecting devices 12 (first secondary electrical connecting device 12A, second secondary electrical connecting device 12B) are provided (FIGS. 3 and 4). In this case, at least three pairs of electrical connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires are combined, and up to six pairs of electrical connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires are combined. One of the combinations of at least three pairs of electrical connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires is a combination of a pair of main electrical connecting devices 11 (first main electrical connecting device 11A, second main electrical connecting device 11B). The remaining combinations of at least three pairs of electrical connectors 10 to be used for connecting electric wires may consist of only at least one pair of a main electrical connector 11 and a secondary electrical connector 12, or may be a mixture of at least one pair of a main electrical connector 11 and a secondary electrical connector 12 and a combination of two secondary electrical connectors 12 (a first secondary electrical connector 12A and a second secondary electrical connector 12B). In this case, the combination of at least one pair of main electrical connector 11 and secondary electrical connector 12 to be connected to the electric wires means at least one combination of the first main electrical connector 11A and one secondary electrical connector 12 (first secondary electrical connector 12A), the first main electrical connector 11A and the other secondary electrical connector 12 (second secondary electrical connector 12B), the second main electrical connector 11B and one secondary electrical connector 12 (first secondary electrical connector 12A), and the second main electrical connector 11B and the other secondary electrical connector 12 (second secondary electrical connector 12B).

[0019] This wire harness 1 includes a plurality of electric wires, and for each combination of at least n-1 pairs of electric connecting devices 10 to be connected to the electric wires, includes an electric wire group 20 that connects the pairs of electric connecting devices 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3). In this electric wire group 20, a plurality of electric wires are bundled together.

[0020] One of all the electric wire groups 20 is a main electric wire group 21 that linearly connects a pair of main electric connectors 11 (first main electric connector 11A, second main electric connector 11B) via the shortest route (FIGS. 1 and 3). The rest of all the electric wire groups 20 are secondary electric wire groups 22 that linearly connect, via the shortest route, the remaining combinations of at least n-1 pairs of electric connectors 10 to be connected, excluding the pair of main electric connectors 11 (first main electric connector 11A, second main electric connector 11B) (FIGS. 1 and 3). The combinations of the main electric connectors 11 and secondary electric connectors 12 shown above are connected by the secondary electric wire group 22 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The combinations of the secondary electric connectors 12 shown above (first secondary electric connector 12A, second secondary electric connector 12B) are also connected by the secondary electric wire group 22 (FIG. 3).

[0021] The wire harness 1 illustrated here has three electrical connectors 10 (n=3), and includes a main electric wire group 21 that connects a pair of main electric connectors 11 (first main electric connector 11A, second main electric connector 11B) in a straight line along the shortest route, a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects a pair of first main electric connector 11A and secondary electric connector 12 in a straight line along the shortest route, and a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects a pair of second main electric connector 11B and secondary electric connector 12 in a straight line along the shortest route (FIG. 1).

[0022] The wire harness 1 illustrated here, which has four electric connecting devices 10 (n=4), includes a main electric wire group 21 that connects a pair of main electric connecting devices 11 (first main electric connecting device 11A, second main electric connecting device 11B) in a straight line along the shortest route, a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects a pair of first main electric connecting device 11A and first secondary electric connecting device 12A in a straight line along the shortest route, and a secondary electric wire group 23 that connects a pair of first main electric connecting device 11A and second secondary electric connecting device 12B in a straight line along the shortest route. a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects the combination of the second main electrical connector 11B and the first secondary electric connector 12A in a straight line over the shortest route, a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects the combination of the second main electrical connector 11B and the second secondary electric connector 12B in a straight line over the shortest route, and a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects the combination of the first secondary electric connector 12A and the second secondary electric connector 12B in a straight line over the shortest route (Figure 3).

[0023] The wire harness 1 includes a pair of sheet-like insulating exterior members 30 that sandwich and accommodate all of the electric wire groups 20 therein (FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0024] The pair of exterior members 30 have a joint 31 where they are joined together (FIGS. 1 and 3). The joint 31 may be a portion formed by welding the pair of exterior members 30 together, or may be a portion formed by joining the pair of exterior members 30 with a fixing member (hereinafter referred to as an "exterior fixing member") 41 (FIGS. 1 and 3). When the pair of exterior members 30 are joined by welding, they are molded from an insulating raw material that enables the welding. In this case, the exterior members 30 are molded from raw materials such as vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, etc., and are welded using well-known welding techniques such as high-frequency welding and ultrasonic welding. When the pair of exterior members 30 are joined with the exterior fixing member 41, they are molded from an insulating raw material that matches the shape of the exterior fixing member 41. In this example, the pair of exterior members 30 are joined at multiple locations by a stapler serving as the exterior fixing member 41, and are molded from a raw material (such as vinyl chloride) that can be penetrated by the staple. The pair of exterior members 30 may be made of different materials or may be made of the same material. The exterior members 30 may be flexible.

[0025] Between the pair of exterior members 30, an electric wire outlet 32 ​​for drawing the inner electric wire group 20 outward is formed for each electric connecting device 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3). This electric wire outlet 32 ​​draws at least one electric wire group 20 from the inside to the outside. The electric wire group 20 is connected to the electric connecting device 10 at the end where it is drawn outward from the electric wire outlet 32.

[0026] This wire harness 1 includes a fixing member (hereinafter referred to as "wire fixing member") 42 that fixes all of the groups of electric wires 20 drawn outward from the common electric wire outlet 32 ​​to the exterior member 30 at the electric wire outlet 32 ​​(FIGS. 1 and 3). This wire fixing member 42 is, for example, a cable tie, and bundles all of the groups of electric wires 20 drawn outward from the common electric wire outlet 32 ​​together and fixes them to one of the pair of exterior members 30. In this case, two through holes (hereinafter referred to as "wire fixing holes") 33 are formed in the one exterior member 30, through which the electric wire fixing members 42 are inserted (FIG. 5).

[0027] This wire harness 1 is assembled on a jig plate 500 by the following manufacturing method (FIG. 6).

[0028] The manufacturing method of this wire harness 1 includes a first exterior installation step of supporting one exterior member 30 on a support member 510 placed on a jig plate 500 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0029] The support member 510 has a support portion 511 that supports one exterior member 30, and is set upright on a jig plate 500 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The support portion 511 has at least two support pins 511a that are arranged facing each other with a gap between them, and a connecting portion 511b that connects one end of the at least two support pins 511a (FIGS. 5 and 6). The support portion 511 illustrated here is formed in a U-shape by the two support pins 511a and the connecting portion 511b.

[0030] The support member 510 is provided for each electric wire outlet 32 ​​formed when a pair of exterior members 30 are joined, and supports one of the exterior members 30 at the location formed as the electric wire outlet 32. Therefore, in one of the exterior members 30, a through hole (hereinafter referred to as an "exterior support hole") 34 through which the support pin 511a is inserted is formed for each support pin 511a at the location formed as the electric wire outlet 32 ​​(FIGS. 1 and 3). In this one exterior member 30, two electric wire fixing holes 33 are formed inside the location that becomes the open end of the electric wire outlet 32, and an exterior support hole 34 for each support pin 511a is formed further inside these two electric wire fixing holes 33. The exterior support hole 34 for each support pin 511a is also formed in the other exterior member 30 at the location formed as the electric wire outlet 32.

[0031] In the first exterior installation step, when one exterior member 30 is installed on the jig plate 500, the support pins 511a are inserted from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510, thereby supporting the one exterior member 30 on the connecting portions 511b side of the support portions 511. For example, in the case where there are four electrical connecting devices 10 (n=4), in the first exterior installation step, the support pins 511a are inserted from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 of the one exterior member 30 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510 at four locations (FIG. 5).

[0032] This manufacturing method includes an electric wire installation step of placing all of the electric wire groups 20 on one of the exterior members 30 (FIG. 7).

[0033] In this electric wire installation process, for each support portion 511 of the support member 510, the electric wire group 20 passing through the electric wire outlet 32 ​​corresponding to this support member 510 is inserted between two support pins 511a and installed (FIG. 7). Then, in this electric wire installation process, when installing the electric wire group 20, the electric wire group 20 is linearly routed so as to pass through the shortest route between the two support members 510 (FIG. 7). For example, in the case where there are four electric connecting devices 10 (n=4), in the electric wire installation process, a main electric wire group 21 that linearly connects the combination of a pair of main electric connecting devices 11 (first main electric connecting device 11A, second main electric connecting device 11B) through the shortest route, a secondary electric wire group 22 that linearly connects the combination of the first main electric connecting device 11A and the first secondary electric connecting device 12A through the shortest route, and a secondary electric wire group 23 that linearly connects the combination of the first main electric connecting device 11A and the second secondary electric connecting device 12B through the shortest route are installed. A secondary electric wire group 22 that connects in a straight line by a path, a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects in a straight line the combination of the second main electric connector 11B and the first secondary electric connector 12A in the shortest path, a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects in a straight line the combination of the second main electric connector 11B and the second secondary electric connector 12B in the shortest path, and a secondary electric wire group 22 that connects in a straight line the combination of the first secondary electric connector 12A and the second secondary electric connector 12B in the shortest path are respectively arranged.

[0034] This manufacturing method includes an electric wire holding step of fixing all of the electric wire groups 20 supported by each supporting portion 511 of the supporting member 510 to one exterior member 30 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0035] In this electric wire holding step, for example, for each support portion 511, cable ties serving as electric wire fixing members 42 are inserted sequentially from the tip into the two electric wire fixing holes 33 in one exterior member 30, and the electric wire fixing members 42 are wound around all of the groups of electric wires 20 supported by this one exterior member 30 and the support portion 511 (FIGS. 8 and 9). For example, in the case where there are four electric connecting devices 10 (n=4), in the electric wire holding step, the one exterior member 30 and the groups of electric wires 20 are fixed with the electric wire fixing members 42 for each of the support portions 511 of the support member 510 at four locations.

[0036] This manufacturing method includes a second exterior installation step of placing the other exterior member 30 on the one exterior member 30 and all of the electric wire groups 20, and sandwiching all of the electric wire groups 20 between the one exterior member 30 and the other exterior member 30 (FIG. 10).

[0037] In this second exterior installation step, the other exterior member 30 is installed by inserting the support pins 511a from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510 (FIG. 10). For example, in the case where there are four electrical connecting devices 10 (n=4), in the second exterior installation step, the support pins 511a are inserted from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 of the other exterior member 30 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510 at four locations.

[0038] This manufacturing method includes an exterior joining step of joining the pair of exterior members 30 together (FIG. 3).

[0039] In this exterior joining step, the outer peripheral edges of the pair of exterior members 30 are fixed together at multiple locations using staples that serve as exterior fixing members 41 (FIG. 3). For example, in the case where there are four electrical connecting devices 10 (n=4), in the exterior joining step, the outer peripheral edges between the first main electrical connecting device 11A side and the first sub-electrical connecting device 12A side of the pair of exterior members 30, the outer peripheral edges between the first main electrical connecting device 11A side and the second sub-electrical connecting device 12B side of the pair of exterior members 30, the outer peripheral edges between the second main electrical connecting device 11B side and the first sub-electrical connecting device 12A side of the pair of exterior members 30, and the outer peripheral edges between the second main electrical connecting device 11B side and the second sub-electrical connecting device 12B side of the pair of exterior members 30 are fixed together with the exterior fixing members 41.

[0040] In the wire harness 1 of the present embodiment shown above, in all combinations of pairs of electric connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires, the pairs of electric connecting devices 10 are connected linearly via the shortest route by the electric wire groups 20. Therefore, this wire harness 1 can keep the material cost of the electric wire groups 20 low, thereby reducing the cost. Furthermore, in this wire harness 1, all of the electric wire groups 20 are routed linearly via the shortest route, and then all of the electric wire groups 20 are sandwiched and fixed between a pair of exterior members 30. Therefore, this wire harness 1 does not have a branch portion of the electric wire groups 20 as in the conventional wire harness, and therefore does not require adhesive tape or clamps to bundle the electric wire groups 20 at the branch portion, thereby also reducing the cost.

[0041] The wiring harness 1 is routed along and fixed to a wiring object, such as a vehicle body (floor panel, dash panel, roof panel, etc.) or a door of a vehicle. Therefore, the wiring harness 1 includes at least one fixing member (hereinafter referred to as a "harness fixing member") 43 that fixes the pair of exterior members 30 to the wiring object (FIGS. 11 and 12). The pair of exterior members 30 has a through-hole (hereinafter referred to as an "insertion hole") 35 for inserting the harness fixing member 43 for each harness fixing member 43 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 12). The insertion hole 35 has a periphery of the through-hole. Woha The pair of exterior members 30 are fixed to the object to be routed by being sandwiched between the harness fixing members 43 and the object to be routed. For example, a so-called anchor-type clip is used as the harness fixing members 43. In this example, the object to be routed is a door D.

[0042] The pair of exterior members 30 have insertion holes 35 at multiple locations, and a harness fixing member 43 is inserted into each of the insertion holes 35 at multiple locations. The pair of exterior members 30 are fixed to the wiring object by the harness fixing members 43 at multiple locations. Conventional wire harnesses are fixed by inserting clips or the like attached to predetermined locations of the electric wires into the wiring object, making it difficult to maintain the shape of the electric wires when assembling the clips or the like to the wiring object. In contrast, the wire harness 1 of this embodiment is made easier to assemble the harness fixing member 43 to the wiring object than conventional wire harnesses by, for example, molding the exterior member 30 to the minimum hardness necessary to maintain the shape. Therefore, the wire harness 1 of this embodiment can shorten the time required for assembling the wire harness to the wiring object.

[0043] On the other hand, when the pair of exterior members 30 are fixed to the object to be routed by the harness fixing members 43 at multiple locations, the outer wall surface of one of the exterior members 30 may be brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the object to be routed. In this case, it is desirable to provide flexibility to the pair of exterior members 30 in the wire harness 1 to increase the adhesion between the outer wall surface of the one of the exterior members 30 and the outer wall surface of the object to be routed. For example, here, the inner panel D1 of the door D is used as the object to be routed, and the pair of exterior members 30 are fixed to the inner panel D1 by the harness fixing members 43 at multiple locations while the outer wall surface of one of the exterior members 30 is brought into close contact with a flat portion of the inner panel D1 ( FIG. 12 ). This reduces input from the vehicle body side in the wire harness 1, thereby suppressing transmission of the input to the electrical connecting device 10. Therefore, the durability of the wire harness 1 can be improved. Furthermore, this wire harness 1 has the door trim D2 tightly attached to the outer wall surface of the other exterior member 30 and is sandwiched between the inner panel D1 and the door trim D2, so that transmission of input from the vehicle body to the electrical connecting device 10 can be further suppressed (FIG. 12). Therefore, the durability of this wire harness 1 can be further improved.

[0044] [Variations] 13 to 15 indicates a wire harness of this modified example. The wire harness 2 of this modified example corresponds to the wire harness 1 of the above-described embodiment in which the pair of exterior members 30 are replaced with a first exterior member 150 and a second exterior member 160. Therefore, in the following description of this modified example, the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment will denote the same parts, portions, etc. as those in the embodiment. Furthermore, descriptions that overlap with those in the embodiment will be omitted here.

[0045] The first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 are formed as sheet-like insulating members, similar to the exterior member 30 of the embodiment.

[0046] The first exterior member 150 has a flat main body 151, a main electric wire routing path 152 in which a portion of the main body 151 is recessed along the routing path of the main electric wire group 21 and the main electric wire group 21 is routed after being inserted through a main electric wire insertion port 152a on the main body 151 side, and a secondary electric wire routing path 153 in which a portion of the main body 151 is recessed along the routing path of the secondary electric wire group 22 for each secondary electric wire group 22 and the secondary electric wire group 22 is routed after being inserted through a secondary electric wire insertion port 153a on the main body 151 side (FIGS. 13 to 15). In order to maintain this shape, the first exterior member 150 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin to have that shape.

[0047] The main body 151 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The main electric wire routing path 152 is formed in a groove shape that linearly connects opposing sides (first side 151a and second side 151b) of the main body 151 (FIGS. 13 to 15). The secondary electric wire routing path 153 shown here includes a first secondary electric wire routing path 153A that linearly connects opposing sides (third side 151c and fourth side 151d) of the main body 151, a second secondary electric wire routing path 153B that linearly connects one end of the main electric wire routing path 152 on the first side 151a side to one end of the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A on the third side 151c side, and a third secondary electric wire routing path 153B that linearly connects one end of the main electric wire routing path 152 on the second side There are provided a third secondary electric wire wiring path 153C that linearly connects the other end on the 151b side to one end of the first secondary electric wire wiring path 153A, a fourth secondary electric wire wiring path 153D that linearly connects one end of the main electric wire wiring path 152 to the other end of the first secondary electric wire wiring path 153A on the fourth side 151d side, and a fifth secondary electric wire wiring path 153E that linearly connects the other end of the main electric wire wiring path 152 to the other end of the first secondary electric wire wiring path 153A (Figures 13 to 15).

[0048] The second exterior member 160 is formed in a flat plate shape (FIGS. 13 to 15). The second exterior member 160 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. A main body 151 of the first exterior member 150 has a plurality of smooth sheet surfaces 151e in areas excluding the main electric wire routing passage 152 and the secondary electric wire routing passage 153 (first secondary electric wire routing passage 153A, second secondary electric wire routing passage 153B, third secondary electric wire routing passage 153C, fourth secondary electric wire routing passage 153D, and fifth secondary electric wire routing passage 153E) (FIG. 15). The second exterior member 160 brings its own smooth sheet surface 161 (FIG. 15) into close contact with the sheet surface 151e of the main body 151 of the first exterior member 150 to close the main electric wire insertion opening 152a and the secondary electric wire insertion opening 153a.

[0049] In the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160, the sheet surfaces 151e and 161 are joined at their respective locations where they are in close contact, and these locations form joints 31 similar to those in the embodiment (FIGS. 13 and 14). Like the joints 31 in the embodiment, these joints 31 may be portions formed by welding the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 together, or may be portions formed by joining the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 with an exterior fixing member 41. For example, the second exterior member 160 shown here is formed as a rectangular film sheet member and is thermocompression bonded to the first exterior member 150. Here, the sheet surfaces 151e of the first exterior member 150 and the sheet surfaces 161 of the second exterior member 160, which are in close contact with each other, are thermocompression bonded at their respective locations.

[0050] In this wire harness 2, a first main electric wire outlet 132A is formed between one end of the main electric wire routing path 152 and the second exterior member 160, through which the main electric wire group 21 of the main electric wire routing path 152, the secondary electric wire group 22 of the second secondary electric wire routing path 153B, and the secondary electric wire group 22 of the fourth secondary electric wire routing path 153D are pulled outward and connected to the main electric wire group 21 and the secondary electric wire group 22 at the end of the pulled out ends of the main electric wires (first main electric connector 11A) (FIGS. 13 and 14). In addition, between the other end of the main electric wire routing path 152 and the second exterior member 160, a second main electric wire outlet 132B is formed, which pulls out the main electric wire group 21 of the main electric wire routing path 152, the secondary electric wire group 22 of the third secondary electric wire routing path 153C, and the secondary electric wire group 22 of the fifth secondary electric wire routing path 153E to the outside and connects the main electric wire group 21 and the secondary electric wire group 22 to the main electric connector 11 (second main electric connector 11B) at the end of the pulled-out end (Figures 13 and 14).

[0051] In addition, between one end of the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A and the second exterior member 160, a first secondary electric wire outlet 132C is formed, which draws out the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A, the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the second secondary electric wire routing path 153B, and the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the third secondary electric wire routing path 153C to the outside and connects the secondary electric wire groups 22 to the secondary electric connecting device 12 (first secondary electric connecting device 12A) at the end where they are drawn out (Figures 13 and 14). In addition, between the other end of the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A and the second exterior member 160, a second secondary electric wire outlet 132D is formed, which pulls out the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A, the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the fourth secondary electric wire routing path 153D, and the secondary electric wire groups 22 of the fifth secondary electric wire routing path 153E to the outside and connects the secondary electric wire groups 22 to the secondary electric connecting device 12 (second secondary electric connecting device 12B) at the end where they are pulled out (Figures 13 and 14).

[0052] In this modified example as well, a support member 510 is provided for each of the electric wire outlets (the first main electric wire outlet 132A, the second main electric wire outlet 132B, the first sub-electric wire outlet 132C, and the second sub-electric wire outlet 132D). The support member 510 in this modified example supports the first exterior member 150. In the first exterior member 150, exterior support holes 34 are formed for each support pin 511a in locations formed as the electric wire outlets (the first main electric wire outlet 132A, the second main electric wire outlet 132B, the first sub-electric wire outlet 132C, and the second sub-electric wire outlet 132D) at the groove bottoms of the main electric wire routing passage 152 and the first sub-electric wire routing passage 153A (FIG. 13).

[0053] In the first exterior installation process of this modified example, the support pins 511a are inserted from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510, and the first exterior member 150 is supported on the connecting portion 511b side of the support portion 511, thereby installing the first exterior member 150 on the jig plate 500 (Figure 16). Then, in the electric wire installation process, the main electric wire group 21 is inserted through the main electric wire insertion port 152a and arranged in the main electric wire routing path 152, and the secondary electric wire group 22 is inserted through the secondary electric wire insertion port 153a and arranged in the secondary electric wire routing path 153 (first secondary electric wire routing path 153A, second secondary electric wire routing path 153B, third secondary electric wire routing path 153C, fourth secondary electric wire routing path 153D, fifth secondary electric wire routing path 153E), and the electric wire group 20 (main electric wire group 21, secondary electric wire group 22) is inserted between the two support pins 511a for each support portion 511 of the support member 510 (FIG. 17).

[0054] In the electric wire holding process of this modified example, similar to the electric wire holding process of the embodiment, for each support part 511, cable ties serving as electric wire fixing members 42 are inserted sequentially from the tip into two electric wire fixing holes (not shown) at the bottom of the groove of each of the main electric wire routing path 152 and the first secondary electric wire routing path 153A, and the electric wire fixing members 42 are wrapped around all of the electric wire groups 20 (main electric wire group 21, secondary electric wire group 22) supported by the first exterior member 150 and the support part 511.

[0055] In the second exterior installation step of this modified example, the support pins 511a are inserted from their tips into the exterior support holes 34 of the second exterior member 160 for each support portion 511 of the support member 510, thereby installing the second exterior member 160 on the first exterior member 150 (FIG. 18). Then, in the exterior joining step of this modified example, pressure and heat are applied to the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 at locations where the sheet surfaces 151e and 161 are in close contact, and the closely contacted sheet surfaces 151e and 161 are thermocompression bonded at each location.

[0056] The wire harness 2 of this modified example is routed along a vehicle structure as an object to be routed, and is fixed to the object to be routed, similarly to the wire harness 1 of the embodiment. Therefore, similarly to the wire harness 1 of the embodiment, the wire harness 2 of this modified example includes at least one harness fixing member 43, and an insertion hole 35 is provided in the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 for each harness fixing member 43 (FIGS. 13 and 19).

[0057] Here, the wire harness 2 of this modified example is fixed to an object to be routed in which a groove-shaped electric wire routing path is formed. For example, here, a groove-shaped electric wire routing path D1a is formed in an inner panel D1 of a door D, which is the object to be routed (FIG. 19). In the wire harness 2 of this modified example, a main electric wire routing path 152 and a secondary electric wire routing path 153 that can be fitted into the electric wire routing path D1a are formed in a first exterior member 150 (FIG. 19). Therefore, in the wire harness 2 of this modified example, the main electric wire routing path 152 and the secondary electric wire routing path 153 are fitted into the electric wire routing path D1a of the inner panel D1, and the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160 are fixed to the inner panel D1 with harness fixing members 43 at multiple locations while the outer wall surface of the first exterior member 150 is aligned with the flat portion of the inner panel D1 (FIG. 19).

[0058] In the wire harness 2 of this modified example shown above, in the same manner as the wire harness 1 of the embodiment, in all combinations of pairs of electric connecting devices 10 to be connected to electric wires, the pairs of electric connecting devices 10 are connected in a straight line by the shortest route by the electric wire group 20. Wire harness 2 This allows the material cost of the electric wire groups 20 to be kept low, thereby reducing the cost. Furthermore, in this wire harness 2, all of the electric wire groups 20 are arranged in a straight line along the shortest route, and then all of the electric wire groups 20 are sandwiched and fixed between the first exterior member 150 and the second exterior member 160. Therefore, in this wire harness 2, a branch portion of the electric wire groups 20 as in the conventional case is not formed, and therefore adhesive tape or clamps for bundling the electric wire groups 20 at the branch portion are not required, and therefore, the cost can be reduced in this respect as well. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1,2 Wire harness 10 Electrical connectors 11 Main electrical connector 11A First main electrical connector 11B Second main electrical connector 12 Sub-electrical connector 12A First Sub Electrical Connector 12B Second auxiliary electrical connector 20 wire group 21 Main wire group 22 Sub wire group 30 Exterior materials 31 Joint 32 Wire outlet 35 Insertion hole 42 Wire fixing member 43 Harness fixing member 132A 1st main wire outlet 132B 2nd main wire outlet 132C 1st sub wire outlet 132D 2nd auxiliary wire outlet 150 First exterior member 151e seat surface 151 Subject 151a 1st side 151b Second side 151c 3rd side 151d Fourth side 152 Main electric wiring route 152a Main wire insertion port 153 Sub-wire wiring route 153A 1st sub-wire route 153B 2nd sub-wire route 153C 3rd sub-wire route 153D 4th sub-wire route 153E 5th secondary electric wiring route 153a Sub-wire insertion port 160 Second exterior member 161 Seat surface

Claims

1. An electrical connecting device having n numbers (n=a natural number of 3 or more) and configured to connect at least n-1 pairs of electrical wires, each pair being a combination of two or more electrical connecting devices; a group of electric wires including a plurality of electric wires, for each combination of at least n-1 pairs of the electric connecting devices to be connected to the electric wires, connecting the pair of the electric connecting devices to each other; a pair of sheet-like insulating exterior members that sandwich and accommodate all of the electric wire groups therein; Equipped with One of the at least n-1 pairs of electrical connection devices to be connected to the electric wires is a pair of main electrical connection devices arranged at a distance from each other, the remainder of the n number of electrical connecting devices, excluding the pair of main electrical connecting devices, are auxiliary electrical connecting devices arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting a straight line connecting the pair of main electrical connecting devices, One of all the electric wire groups is a main electric wire group that connects a pair of the main electric connecting devices in a straight line along the shortest route, and the rest of the electric wire groups are secondary electric wire groups that connect the remaining combinations, excluding the pair of the main electric connecting devices, of at least n-1 pairs of the electric connecting devices to be connected to the electric wires in a straight line along the shortest route, The wire harness is characterized in that the combinations of at least n-1 pairs of electrical connecting devices to be connected to the electric wires include at least one combination of the main electrical connecting device and the secondary electrical connecting device connected by the secondary group of electric wires.

2. When n = 4 or more, the electrical connection device comprises at least one of the auxiliary electrical connection devices arranged on one side in the intersecting direction relative to the straight line with a gap therebetween, and at least one of the auxiliary electrical connection devices arranged on the other side in the intersecting direction relative to the straight line with a gap therebetween, 2. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein, when n=4 or more, the at least n-1 pairs of electrical connecting devices to be connected to the electric wires include at least one combination of one of the secondary electrical connecting devices and the other of the secondary electrical connecting devices connected by the secondary electric wire group.

3. Between the pair of exterior members, an electric wire outlet for drawing out the electric wires from the inner side to the outer side is formed for each of the electric connecting devices, The electric wires are connected to the electric connecting device at the ends thereof that are drawn outward from the electric wire drawing outlet, 3. The wire harness according to claim 1, further comprising a wire fixing member that fixes all of the wires drawn out from the common wire outlet to the exterior member at the wire outlet.

4. 3. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the pair of exterior members have a joint portion where the exterior members are joined together.

5. At least one harness fixing member is provided to fix the pair of exterior members to an object to be routed, 3. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the pair of exterior members are through holes through which the harness fixing members are inserted, and each harness fixing member has an insertion hole whose periphery is sandwiched between the harness fixing member and the object to be routed.

6. a first exterior member of the pair of exterior members having a main body having a flat plate shape; a main electric wire routing path in which the main electric wire group inserted from a main electric wire insertion port on the main body side is routed, and a secondary electric wire routing path in which the main electric wire group inserted from a secondary electric wire insertion port on the main body side is routed, and a main body having a groove shape in which the main electric wire group inserted from a secondary electric wire insertion port on the main body side is routed, 3. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the second exterior member of the pair of exterior members is formed in a flat plate shape, and the smooth sheet surface of the second exterior member is brought into close contact with the sheet surface of the main body of the first exterior member to close the main electric wire insertion port and the secondary electric wire insertion port.

7. The wire harness according to claim 6, wherein the sheet surface of the second exterior member is thermocompression bonded to the sheet surface of the first exterior member.

8. The main body and the second exterior member are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, The main electric wire routing path is formed in a groove shape that linearly connects a first side portion and a second side portion that face each other on one side of the main body, The secondary electric wire routing paths include a first secondary electric wire routing path that linearly connects the other opposing third side portion and fourth side portion of the main body, a second secondary electric wire routing path that linearly connects one end of the main electric wire routing path on the first side portion side to one end of the first secondary electric wire routing path on the third side portion side, a third secondary electric wire routing path that linearly connects the other end of the main electric wire routing path on the second side portion side to the one end of the first secondary electric wire routing path, a fourth secondary electric wire routing path that linearly connects the one end of the main electric wire routing path to the other end of the first secondary electric wire routing path on the fourth side portion side, and a fifth secondary electric wire routing path that linearly connects the other end of the main electric wire routing path to the other end of the first secondary electric wire routing path, a first main electric wire outlet is formed between the one end of the main electric wire routing path and the second exterior member, through which the main electric wire group of the main electric wire routing path, the secondary electric wire group of the second secondary electric wire routing path, and the secondary electric wire group of the fourth secondary electric wire routing path are pulled out to the outside and connected to the main electric wire group and the secondary electric wire group at the ends where they are pulled out, a second main electric wire outlet is formed between the other end of the main electric wire routing path and the second exterior member, through which the main electric wire group of the main electric wire routing path, the secondary electric wire group of the third secondary electric wire routing path, and the secondary electric wire group of the fifth secondary electric wire routing path are pulled out to the outside and connected to the main electric wire group and the secondary electric wire group at the ends where they are pulled out, a first secondary electric wire outlet is formed between the one end of the first secondary electric wire routing path and the second exterior member, through which the secondary electric wire group of the first secondary electric wire routing path, the secondary electric wire group of the second secondary electric wire routing path, and the secondary electric wire group of the third secondary electric wire routing path are pulled out to the outside and connected to the secondary electric connecting device at the end where the secondary electric wire groups are pulled out; 7. The wire harness according to claim 6, wherein a second secondary wire outlet is formed between the other end of the first secondary wire routing path and the second exterior member, through which the secondary wire groups of the first secondary wire routing path, the secondary wire groups of the fourth secondary wire routing path, and the secondary wire groups of the fifth secondary wire routing path are pulled outward and connected to the secondary electrical connector at the end of the pulled out secondary wire groups.

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