Protector with clamp, wire harness with protector and clamp

Abstract

To provide a protector 3 with a clamp, a wire harness 1 with a protector, and a clamp 20 that can prevent a wire harness 2 arranged in an inside part S2 of a protector 10 from falling off.SOLUTION: A protector 3 with a clamp includes a clamp 20 for attaching a wire harness 2 to a predetermined position K in an inside part S2 of a protector 10. The protector 10 is provided with a long hole-shaped through-hole 123 having a length along which the clamp 20 can move to the predetermined position K and extending in a branch wire routing direction X2. The clamping unit 20 includes a harness holding portion 21 that holds the wire harness 2, and a mounting portion that is attached to the through-hole 123. The harness holding portion 21 is provided with a wide portion 213 whose length in a width direction Y is longer than the through-hole 123. The mounting portion includes an insertion portion 22 arranged in the through-hole 123, and an extraction preventing portion 23 whose length W2 in the width direction Y is longer than the through-hole 123, and which is in contact with the protector 10 from the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a protector with a clamp for arranging a wire harness inside, a wire harness with a protector in which a wire harness is arranged inside the protector, and a clamp for attaching a wire harness inside the protector.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a vehicle such as an automobile, a power source and electrical devices are electrically connected using a wire harness formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires. This wire harness may be arranged inside a protector to regulate the wiring path and prevent contact with surrounding components for protection (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, some protectors for arranging a wire harness inside are provided with a clamp such as a band clamp for holding the wire harness in order to regulate the position of the wire harness inside, as in Patent Document 1.

[0004] <000->Specifically, the protector with a clamp in Patent Document 1 fixes the wire harness at a predetermined position and regulates the position by attaching a clamp holding the wire harness to a through hole provided at a predetermined position inside the protector by locking.

[0005] <0->However, when the wire harness is routed along a curved wiring path and the clamp holds a position close to the curved portion of the wire harness, the positions of the clamp attached to the wire harness and the through hole may be misaligned, making it difficult to lock the clamp to the through hole.

[0006] Therefore, it is conceivable to make the through hole into an elongated hole shape that is long in the wiring direction of the wire harness, expand the range of the predetermined position, facilitate the locking of the clamp to the through hole, and arrange the wire harness in a desired wiring path.

[0007] However, in a wire harness, which is made by bundling multiple wires together, its high rigidity means that the reaction force of the wire harness due to bending acts on the clamp that is locked into the elongated through-hole.

[0008] As a result, the clamp would twist and tilt due to the reaction force of the wire harness, releasing the clamp's locking mechanism in the elongated through-hole, which could cause the wire harness to fall off. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-246663 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a protector with a clamp, a wire harness with a protector, and a clamp that can prevent a wire harness placed inside the protector from falling out. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This invention relates to a clamp-equipped protector comprising a protector for which a wire harness is disposed internally, and a clamp for attaching the wire harness to a predetermined position inside the protector, wherein the protector has a through hole that penetrates the inside and the outside of the protector, with an elongated shape extending in a predetermined direction for a length that allows the clamp to move to the predetermined position, the clamp being disposed inside and comprising a harness holding portion for holding the wire harness, and a mounting portion that is slidably mounted to the through hole, wherein the harness holding portion is formed with a length in the width direction that is longer than the through hole and is provided with a wide portion that contacts the protector from the inside, the mounting portion is disposed inside the through hole and comprises an insertion portion with a length in the width direction that is shorter than the through hole, and a substantially plate-shaped portion that is longer in the width direction that is longer than the through hole and has thickness in the direction that penetrates the through hole, and is provided with an anti-pull-out portion that contacts the protector from the outside. The through-hole is formed by cutting out a section from the edge of the protector along the predetermined direction passing through the predetermined position, and the open end of the through-hole on the edge side in the predetermined direction is considered the open end. The mounting portion is integrally configured with the harness holding portion and is formed to be attachable along the predetermined direction from the open end, and the protector is provided with a cover portion that closes the open end of the through-hole. It is characterized by the following.

[0012] Furthermore, this invention is characterized by a wire harness with a protector, comprising the above-described clamp-equipped protector and a wire harness disposed inside the protector and attached to a predetermined position inside the protector by the clamp.

[0013] Furthermore, this invention relates to a clamp for attaching a wire harness to a protector that has a wire harness inside, the clamp comprising: a harness holding portion disposed inside and holding the wire harness; and an attachment portion provided at the predetermined position of the clamp, which is slidably attached to a through hole that extends in a predetermined direction for a length that allows the clamp to move and penetrates the inside and outside, the harness holding portion being formed with a length in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction that is longer than the through hole, and having a wide portion that contacts the protector from the inside; and the attachment portion being disposed in the through hole and comprising: an insertion portion being shorter than the through hole in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and a substantially plate-shaped portion being formed with a length longer than the through hole in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction and having thickness in the direction that penetrates the through hole, and having an anti-pull-out portion that contacts the protector from the outside.

[0014] The elongated hole shape mentioned above refers to an elongated ellipse shape that is long in a given direction, or a roughly rectangular shape that is long in a given direction, etc. The above-mentioned through-hole having a thickness in the direction of penetration refers to a roughly plate-like or flat shape that has a space into which the insertion part is inserted.

[0015] According to this invention, the clamp-equipped protector, the wire harness with protector, and the clamp can prevent the wire harness, which is placed inside the protector, from falling out.

[0016] Specifically, by providing a wider harness holding section than the through-hole and an anti-pull-out section on the mounting section, the clamp, when installed in a predetermined position, can clamp the protector from both sides in the direction of passage through the through-hole between the wider harness holding section and the anti-pull-out section on the mounting section. Therefore, the clamp can prevent tilting even when a reaction force acts on it, for example, when a wire harness is routed in a curved manner.

[0017] Furthermore, since the extraction prevention portion is formed in a substantially plate shape having a thickness in the through direction of the through hole, the clamp can secure a larger contact area with the protector than when it is attached to a predetermined position by locking. Therefore, even when it is twisted so as to rotate about the through direction, for example, the clamp can bring at least a part of the main surface of the extraction prevention portion into contact with the protector.

[0018] Thereby, the clamp can prevent, by the cooperation of the wide portion of the harness holding portion and the extraction prevention portion of the attachment portion, the state of being attached to the predetermined position from being unintentionally eliminated by, for example, the reaction force of the wire harness that is curved and routed. Therefore, the protector with the clamp, the wire harness with the protector, and the clamp can prevent the wire harness disposed inside the protector from falling off.

[0019] Furthermore, the through-hole is formed by cutting out a section from the edge of the protector along the predetermined direction passing through the predetermined position, and the open end of the through-hole on the edge side in the predetermined direction is considered the open end, and the mounting portion is integrally configured with the harness holding portion and is formed to be attachable along the predetermined direction from the open end.

[0020] With this configuration, the insertion portion can be inserted in a predetermined direction into a through hole cut out in a predetermined direction from the edge of the protector, so the clamp can easily attach the mounting portion, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion, to the through hole of the protector.

[0021] Furthermore, since the mounting portion is integrated with the harness holding portion, the clamp will not separate from the harness holding portion due to, for example, the reaction force of the wire harness directed from the outside to the inside of the protector.

[0022] Therefore, the clamp can easily and securely grip the protector with its wide harness holding section and its anti-slip mounting section. Therefore, the clamp can prevent the wire harness, which is placed inside the protector, from falling out without impairing the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector in a predetermined position.

[0023] Furthermore, the protector is provided with a cover portion that closes the open end of the through hole. With this configuration, the clamp-type protector can prevent the clamp, which is attached to the through-hole, from unintentionally falling off the open end, thanks to the cover portion. Therefore, the clamp-type protector can more securely attach the wire harness to the protector.

[0024] In one aspect of this invention, the protector may be provided with a pivot support portion that supports the lid portion so that it can be opened and closed. With this configuration, the clamp-type protector can more easily close the open end of the through-hole compared to a detachable cover. Therefore, the clamp-type protector can improve the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector at a predetermined position.

[0025] Also As an aspect of this invention, the wide portion may be an elastic wide portion that biases the protector toward the outside. In this configuration, the clamp's wide elastic section biases the protector outward, allowing the wide section to absorb the swaying motion of the held wire harness. As a result, the clamp can prevent the generation of abnormal noise associated with the swaying motion of the wire harness.

[0026] In another aspect of this invention, the protector may have a main wire housing section for housing the main wire of the wire harness and a branch wire housing section for housing branch wires branched from the main wire, and the through hole may be provided in the branch wire housing section.

[0027] With this configuration, the clamp-type protector can attach the branch wires of the wire harness to a predetermined position in the branch wire housing section via the clamp. Furthermore, when attaching branch wires to a predetermined position, the clamp that holds the branch wire can move along the longitudinal direction of the through-hole in the branch wire housing section, allowing the clamp-equipped protector to easily attach branch wires to the predetermined position.

[0028] In another aspect of this invention, the through-hole may be provided in the branch wire housing section of the protector that houses branch wires branched from the main wire of the wire harness, the branching point where the branch wires branch off from the main wire is defined as the branching point, and the length from the branching point to the mounting position on the branch wire where the clamp is attached is defined as the reference length, with the open end of the through-hole positioned outside the region defined by the reference length from the branching point as the radius.

[0029] In this configuration, when the branch wire is held by the harness holding portion of the clamp attached to the through hole, the open end of the through hole of the clamp-equipped protector will be located outside the region defined by a radius equal to the reference length from the branch point. In other words, the open end of the through hole will be located beyond the range of sliding movement of the clamp holding the branch wire.

[0030] This prevents the clamp holding the branch wire from reaching the open end when it slides along the through hole. As a result, the clamp protector can more reliably prevent the clamp holding the branch wire from unintentionally falling out of the through hole.

[0031] In another aspect of this invention, the through-hole in the branch wire housing portion may be formed such that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the direction in which the branch wire is routed within the branch wire housing portion. With this configuration, the routing direction of the branch wires in the branch wire housing section and the longitudinal direction of the through-holes are approximately the same, so the clamp-type protector can absorb length tolerances in the branch wires of the wire harness. Therefore, the clamp-type protector can more easily attach the branch wires to the predetermined positions in the branch wire housing section.

[0032] In another aspect of this invention, at least the harness holding portion and the anti-detachment portion may be configured to be engageable with each other. As stated above, the statement that the harness holding portion and the anti-removal portion are configured to be engageable separately includes cases where the harness holding portion and the insertion portion are integrated and the anti-removal portion is configured separately, cases where the insertion portion and the anti-removal portion are integrated and the harness holding portion is configured separately, and further cases where the harness holding portion, the insertion portion and the anti-removal portion are configured separately.

[0033] With this configuration, the anti-pull-out part, which is positioned at least outside the protector, is configured to be separate and engageable with the harness holding part. As a result, the clamp can easily insert the insertion part into the through hole, and after inserting the insertion part into the through hole, the anti-pull-out part can be engaged with the harness holding part.

[0034] Therefore, the clamp can easily and securely grip the protector with its wide harness holding section and its anti-slip mounting section. Therefore, the clamp can prevent the wire harness, which is placed inside the protector, from falling out without impairing the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector in a predetermined position.

[0035] In another aspect of this invention, the insertion portion may be integrally configured with the harness holding portion, and the insertion portion, which is integrally configured with the harness holding portion, may engage with the anti-extraction portion on the outside. In this configuration, the clamp inserts the insertion portion, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion, through the through hole from the inside to the outside of the protector, and the anti-pull-out portion, which is separate from the harness holding portion, can be engaged with the insertion portion on the outside of the protector.

[0036] As a result, the clamp can easily grip the protector between the wide part of the harness holding section and the anti-pull-out section of the mounting section, thereby improving the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector in a predetermined position.

[0037] In another aspect of this invention, the removal prevention portion may be provided with an engaging hole that engages with the insertion portion along the through-hole's through-direction, and the insertion portion may be provided with an engaging portion that engages with the engaging hole of the removal prevention portion.

[0038] With this configuration, during the process of inserting the insertion portion, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion, into the through-hole from the inside to the outside of the protector, the clamp can engage the insertion portion with the anti-pull-out portion. Therefore, the clamp can further improve the ease of attaching the wire harness to a predetermined position on the protector.

[0039] In another aspect of this invention, the protector may be provided with a position-restricting portion that restricts the position of the externally positioned anti-removal portion relative to the through-hole. With this configuration, since the position of the pull-out prevention part is restricted relative to the through hole, the clamp-type protector can prevent problems such as the pull-out prevention part unintentionally falling off and becoming unable to engage when the insertion part is engaged with the pull-out prevention part.

[0040] Therefore, the clamp-type protector facilitates the engagement of the insertion portion with the anti-pull-out portion, further improving the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector.

[0041] In another aspect of this invention, the extraction prevention portion may be provided with a locking portion that engages with the insertion portion along a direction intersecting the through-hole's penetration direction, and the insertion portion may be provided with a locked portion that engages with the locking portion of the extraction prevention portion.

[0042] With this configuration, the clamp can engage the insertion portion and the anti-extraction portion simply by assembling the anti-extraction portion to the insertion portion, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion on the outside of the protector, in a direction intersecting the penetration direction.

[0043] As a result, the clamp can easily grip the protector between the wide part of the harness holding section and the anti-pull-out section of the mounting section, thereby improving the ease of attaching the wire harness to the protector in a predetermined position.

[0044] In another aspect of this invention, the locking portion of the removal prevention portion and the locked portion of the insertion portion may be configured to be detachably locked. With this configuration, the clamp can release the locking between the insertion portion and the anti-pull-out portion, making it easier to remove the wire harness from the protector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0045] The present invention provides a protector with a clamp, a wire harness with a protector, and a clamp that can prevent a wire harness placed inside the protector from falling out. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0046] [Figure 1] An external perspective view showing the appearance of a wire harness with a protector, as seen from above. [Figure 2] A plan view showing the external appearance of a wire harness with a protector. [Figure 3] An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, as seen from above. [Figure 4] An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, viewed from below. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view taken along arrow BB in Figure 2. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view taken along the CC arrow in Figure 1. [Figure 8] An external perspective view showing the appearance of the wire harness with protector in Example 2. [Figure 9] An external perspective view showing the appearance of a wire harness with a protector, as seen from below. [Figure 10] A plan view showing the external appearance of a wire harness with a protector. [Figure 11] An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, as seen from above. [Figure 12]An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, viewed from below. [Figure 13] Cross-sectional view taken along arrow DD in Figure 10. [Figure 14] Cross-sectional view taken along arrow EE in Figure 10. [Figure 15] An external perspective view showing the appearance of the wire harness with protector in Example 3. [Figure 16] A plan view showing the external appearance of a wire harness with a protector. [Figure 17] An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, as seen from above. [Figure 18] An exploded perspective view showing the disassembled state of the clamp-on protector, viewed from below. [Figure 19] Cross-sectional view taken along the FF arrow in Figure 15. [Figure 20] An explanatory diagram illustrating the structure of the bottom of the branch wire storage section. [Figure 21] Cross-sectional view taken along the GG arrow in Figure 16. [Figure 22] Cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in Figure 16. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0047] One embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0048] In Example 1, a wire harness with a protector 1, in which the wire harness 2 is attached inside the protector 10 via a clamp 20, will be described using Figures 1 to 7. Figure 1 shows an external perspective view of the wire harness 1 with protector as seen from above, Figure 2 shows a plan view of the wire harness 1 with protector, Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the protector 3 with clamp as seen from above, and Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the protector 3 with clamp as seen from below.

[0049] Furthermore, Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA in Figure 2, Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow BB in Figure 2, and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in Figure 1. Furthermore, with the upper side of Figure 1 being considered upward and the lower side being considered downward, the arrow X1 in the figure indicates the routing direction of the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 in a plan view (hereinafter referred to as the main wire routing direction X1).

[0050] Furthermore, arrow X2 in the figure indicates the routing direction of the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 in a plan view (hereinafter referred to as the branch wire routing direction X2), and arrow Y in the figure indicates the width direction which is approximately perpendicular to the branch wire routing direction X2 in a plan view (hereinafter referred to as the width direction Y).

[0051] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire harness 1 with protector of Example 1 comprises a wire harness 2 having branch wires 2b and a protector 3 with clamps that protects the wire harness 2.

[0052] First, the wire harness 2 comprises a main line 2a, which is made up of multiple electric wires (not shown), and branch lines 2b that branch off from the main line 2a. As shown in Figure 2, the wire harness 2 has a main line 2a that is slightly bent along the main line routing direction X1, forming a roughly crank shape in plan view, and branch lines 2b that branch off from predetermined branching points on the main line 2a are routed along a branch line routing direction X2 that intersects the main line routing direction X1 in plan view.

[0053] The wire harness 2 is held in place at predetermined mounting positions on the main line 2a by cable ties (not shown in the figure), and at predetermined mounting positions on the branch lines 2b by clamps 20 of the clamp-equipped protector 3 (described later), and each is attached to the protector 10 of the clamp-equipped protector 3 (described later).

[0054] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the clamp-type protector 3 comprises a protector 10 in which the wire harness 2 is placed, and a clamp 20 for attaching the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position inside the protector 10.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the protector 10 of the clamp-type protector 3 includes a main wire housing section 11 with a concave cross-section that houses the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2, and a branch wire housing section 12 with a concave cross-section that houses the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the protector 10 includes a position regulating section 13 below the branch wire housing section 12 that regulates the position of the lower part of the clamp 20 attached to the branch wire housing section 12 (the pull-out prevention section 23, which will be described later), and a pair of lower wall sections 14 that are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y, with the position regulating section 13 in between.

[0057] More specifically, the main line housing section 11 of the protector 10 is formed in a shape that extends along the main line routing direction X1, with a substantially concave cross-section that is open at the top, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This main cable housing section 11 is formed with a concave cross-section that is open at the top, consisting of a flat plate-shaped bottom section 111 having thickness in the vertical direction and a pair of flat plate-shaped side wall sections 112 facing each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main cable routing direction X1 in a plan view.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the main cable housing section 11 has a space enclosed by a bottom portion 111 and a pair of side wall portions 112, which is defined as the interior S1 of the main cable housing section 11, and the main cable 2a of the wire harness 2 is housed in the interior S1.

[0059] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the bottom portion 111 of the main wire housing 11 is formed in a roughly crank shape in plan view, along the routing path of the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2. This bottom portion 111 is formed such that the length in the direction approximately perpendicular to the main wire routing direction X1 in plan view is slightly longer than the diameter of the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pair of side wall portions 112 of the main cable housing portion 11 are erected upward from the ends of the bottom portion 111 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main cable routing direction X1 in a plan view. Furthermore, of the pair of side wall portions 112, one side wall portion 112 on the side of the branch wire housing portion 12 has an outlet 11a through which the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 are led out, and this outlet is formed near the branching point of the branch wires 2b in the main line 2a.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the branch wire housing section 12 of the protector 10 branches off from the main wire housing section 11 and is formed with a roughly concave cross-sectional shape that is open at the top and extends along the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0062] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the branch wire housing section 12 is formed with a concave cross-section that is open at the top, consisting of a flat plate-shaped bottom section 121 having thickness in the vertical direction and a pair of flat plate-shaped side wall sections 122 facing each other in the width direction Y which is approximately perpendicular to the branch wire routing direction X2 in a plan view.

[0063] As shown in Figure 2, the branch wire housing section 12 has a space enclosed by a bottom section 121 and a pair of side wall sections 122, which is defined as the interior S2 of the branch wire housing section 12, and the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 are housed in the interior S2.

[0064] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the bottom 121 of the branch line housing section 12 extends from the bottom 111 of the main line housing section 11 toward the branch line routing direction X2, branching off from the bottom 111 of the main line housing section 11 toward the branch line routing direction X2, and together with the bottom 111 of the main line housing section 11, it constitutes the bottom of the protector 10. For the sake of simplifying the following explanation, in the branch wire routing direction X2, the end of the branch wire housing section 12 opposite to the main wire housing section 11 at the bottom 121 of the branch wire housing section 12 is defined as the edge 12a of the branch wire housing section 12.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pair of side walls 122 of the branch line housing section 12 are erected upward from the ends in the width direction Y at the bottom section 121. The edges of these side walls 122 on the main line housing section 11 side are connected to the edges of the side walls 112 of the main line housing section 11 that form the outlet 11a.

[0066] As shown in Figure 3, the branch wire housing section 12 has a through hole 123 formed at a predetermined position in the bottom 121, to which a clamp 20 is attached. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, this through hole 123 is an opening that penetrates the bottom 121 from the inside S2 downwards to the outside, and is formed in a substantially elongated elliptical shape in plan view. As shown in Figure 2, the through-hole 123 is formed so that, in plan view, its major axis is approximately elliptical and coincides with the branch line routing direction X2.

[0067] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the through-hole 123 is formed in a substantially elongated ellipse shape in plan view, extending from the predetermined position K toward the edge 12a of the branch wire housing section 12 toward the edge 12a, with the predetermined position K being the position where the clamp 20 can be attached, and the predetermined position K being the position toward the edge 12a.

[0068] The length of the branch wire routing direction X2 in this through hole 123 is formed to allow the clamp 20 to slide within a predetermined sliding range L from a predetermined position K toward the end edge 12a side of the branch wire routing direction X2. The sliding range L is defined as the range within which the longitudinal length tolerance in the branch line 2b can be absorbed by the sliding movement of the clamp 20.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the position regulating portion 13 of the protector 10 is provided on the lower surface of the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12, and together with the bottom portion 121, it forms a roughly box shape with the main wire housing portion 11 side closed in the branch wire routing direction X2 and the end edge portion 12a side open in the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0070] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the position regulating section 13 has an opening on the edge portion 12a side which serves as an insertion port 13a into which the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the clamp 20 (described later) is inserted. The anti-pull-out portion 23 is housed in its internal space, and the position of the anti-pull-out portion 23 relative to the through hole 123 is regulated by the bottom portion 121.

[0071] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the position regulating section 13 comprises a pair of substantially flat first regulating wall sections 131 arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y with the through hole 123 in between, and a substantially flat second regulating wall section 132 connecting the ends of the first regulating wall sections 131 on the main line housing section 11 side.

[0072] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the position regulating section 13 includes a substantially flat regulating bottom 133 that closes the lower opening surrounded by a pair of first regulating wall sections 131 and a second regulating wall section 132. In addition, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the position regulating section 13 includes a lid section 134 that closes the insertion opening 13a and a pivot support section 135 that pivotally supports the lid section 134.

[0073] Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pair of first restricting wall portions 131 of the position restricting portion 13 are arranged opposite each other with a distance in the width direction Y that is approximately the same as the length in the width direction Y of the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the clamp 20, which will be described later.

[0074] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the first restricting wall portion 131 is formed in a substantially flat shape, having a length in the branch wire routing direction X2 from the edge portion 12a of the branch wire housing portion 12 to a position closer to the main wire housing portion 11 than the through hole 123, and a vertical length that is approximately the same as the vertical length of the pull-out prevention portion 23 of the clamp 20, which will be described later.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the second restricting wall portion 132 of the position restricting portion 13 connects a pair of first restricting wall portions 131 in the width direction Y on the main line housing portion 11 side of the through hole 123. As shown in Figure 7, a pair of lower wall portions 14, which will be described later, are connected to this second restricting wall portion 132.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the restricting bottom portion 133 of the position restricting portion 13 is positioned facing downwards from the through hole 123 of the branch line housing portion 12 and is connected to the lower ends of a pair of first restricting wall portions 131 and the lower end of one second restricting wall portion 132.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover portion 134 of the position regulating portion 13 comprises a substantially flat cover body 134a capable of closing the insertion opening 13a of the position regulating portion 13, and a pair of locking claw portions 134b that engage with one of the lower wall portions 14. The lid portion 134 is connected to the other lower wall portion 14 in a manner that allows it to rotate with the vertical direction as the axis of rotation.

[0078] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, the lid body 134a is formed as a substantially rectangular flat plate having a vertical length longer than the vertical length of the insertion opening 13a of the position regulating portion 13, and a width Y length that is approximately the same as the distance between the lower wall portions 14 in the width Y direction.

[0079] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the locking claw portion 134b is provided projecting from one end of the lid body 134a in the width direction Y, at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 7, this locking claw portion 134b is formed to be able to lock onto the curved end of one of the lower wall portions 14 when the lid body 134a is closed to the insertion opening 13a.

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the pivot support portion 135 of the position regulating portion 13 is pivotally connected to the other lower wall portion 14 at the other end of the lid portion 134 in the width direction Y, with the vertical direction as the axis of rotation.

[0081] This pivot support portion 135 is a flexible plate-like shape that is thinner than the thickness of the lid portion 134, and is formed in such a way that it extends from the lower wall portion 14 in one direction in the width direction Y, and then folds back to the other direction in the width direction Y, with its tip connected to the lid body 134a of the lid portion 134.

[0082] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4, 6, and 7, the pair of lower wall portions 14 of the protector 10 are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y with the position regulating portion 13 in between, and extend downward from the lower surface of the bottom portion 121 so as to be continuous with the side wall portion 122 with the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12 in between.

[0083] Of this pair of lower wall sections 14, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, one of the lower wall sections 14 is curved at the end on the main line housing section 11 side and connected to the second restricting wall section 132 of the position restricting section 13, and the end on the edge section 12a side is formed to extend slightly toward the other lower wall section 14.

[0084] On the other hand, of the pair of lower wall sections 14, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, the end of the other lower wall section 14 on the main line housing section 11 side is curved and connected to the second restricting wall section 132 of the position restricting section 13, and the end on the edge section 12a side is connected to the pivot support section 135.

[0085] Furthermore, the clamp 20 attached to the protector 10 described above is equipped with a harness holding portion 21 located inside the branch wire housing portion 12 S2, an insertion portion 22 located in the through hole 123, and an anti-pull-out portion 23 located inside the position regulating portion 13, as shown in Figures 1 to 5. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the clamp 20 has an insertion portion 22 integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, while the anti-pull-out portion 23 is configured separately from the harness holding portion 21.

[0086] More specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the harness holding portion 21 of the clamp 20 holds a predetermined mounting position on the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2 inside the branch wire housing portion 12 S2.

[0087] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the harness holder 21 comprises a cable tie 211 that is wrapped around the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2, a base portion 212 through which the cable tie 211 is inserted, and a wide portion 213 integrally formed on the lower surface of the base portion 212.

[0088] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the cable tie 211 of the harness holding portion 21 comprises a substantially strip-shaped band portion 211a extending in a predetermined direction, and a locking portion 211b connected to the longitudinal base end of the band portion 211a, to which the band portion 211a is fixed.

[0089] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the base 212 of the harness holding portion 21 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that extends in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, an insertion hole 212a is formed in this base 212, which penetrates along the radial direction of the base 212 and through which the band portion 211a of the cable tie 211 is inserted.

[0090] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the wide portion 213 of the harness holding portion 21 is formed in a roughly umbrella shape that widens downward from the base portion 212, and is also formed in an elastic shape that biases the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12 from the inside S2 of the branch wire housing portion 12 downward to the outside.

[0091] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the wide portion 213 is an umbrella-shaped structure in plan view with a diameter longer than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 123, and is formed to gradually become thinner from the base 212 towards the tip.

[0092] Therefore, when the wide portion 213 is attached to the branch wire housing portion 12, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the upper surface of the bottom portion 121 from the inside S2, and biases the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12 downwards toward the outside from the inside S2.

[0093] Furthermore, the insertion portion 22 of the clamp 20 is formed to be engageable with the pull-out prevention portion 23. In addition, the insertion portion 22 is composed of the pull-out prevention portion 23 and a mounting portion that allows the harness holding portion 21 to be slidably attached to the through hole 123. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the insertion portion 22 is arranged coaxially with the base portion 212 of the harness holding portion 21 and extends downward from the wide portion 213 of the harness holding portion 21.

[0094] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the insertion portion 22 has an outer diameter slightly shorter than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 123, and is formed as a substantially cylindrical body with a cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction that is an inverted tree shape. The irregularities on the circumferential surface of this insertion portion 22 are formed as engaging portions 22a that engage with the pull-out prevention portion 23.

[0095] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the clamp 20 is roughly plate-shaped in plan view and is roughly rectangular in shape, with thickness in the vertical direction which is the direction through which the through hole 123 passes. An engaging hole 23a is formed approximately in the center in plan view, into which the engaging portion 22a of the insertion portion 22 engages from above downwards. In the first embodiment, the pull-out prevention part 23 is composed of, for example, an insert nut, and the screw hole that penetrates in the vertical direction is the engaged hole 23a into which the insertion part 22 engages.

[0096] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the extraction prevention portion 23 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, having a width direction length W2 that is longer than the width direction length Y in the through hole 123. Furthermore, the pull-out prevention section 23 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, where the length of the branch wire routing direction X2 is roughly equal to the length W2 in the width direction Y.

[0097] Due to this configuration, as shown in Figure 6, when the pull-out prevention section 23 is housed in the position regulating section 13, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the lower surface of the bottom section 121 from outside the branch wire housing section 12.

[0098] Next, we will briefly explain the assembly process for the wire harness 1 with protector, as described above, using an example. First, the worker or assembly device places the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the clamp 20 into the position-regulating portion 13 of the protector 10, and closes the cover portion 134 to block the insertion opening 13a of the position-regulating portion 13.

[0099] Furthermore, the worker or assembly device attaches the harness holding portion 21 of the clamp 20 to the predetermined mounting position of the branch wire 2b that branches off from the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2. At this time, the worker or assembly device holds the branch wire 2b by wrapping the cable tie 211, which is inserted through the base portion 212 of the harness holding portion 21, around the predetermined mounting position of the branch wire 2b.

[0100] Afterward, the worker or assembly device places the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 into the main wire housing section 11 of the protector 10, and then secures the main wire 2a to the main wire housing section 11 with cable ties or the like (not shown in the figure).

[0101] Furthermore, the worker or assembly device inserts the insertion portion 22 of the clamp 20 into the through hole 123 of the branch wire housing 12 from the inside S2 of the branch wire housing 12 toward the outside, and while engaging the insertion portion 22 of the clamp 20 with the engagement hole 23a of the pull-out prevention portion 23, the worker or assembly device houses the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 in the branch wire housing 12.

[0102] In this process, the worker or assembly device slides the pull-out prevention part 23 along the long axis direction of the through hole 123, i.e., the branch wire routing direction X2, while engaging the insertion part 22 with the pull-out prevention part 23.

[0103] Then, the worker or assembly device inserts the insertion portion 22 into the pull-out prevention portion 23 until the wide portion 213 of the clamp 20 contacts the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12. In this way, the worker or assembly device completes the assembly of the wire harness with protector 1.

[0104] As described above, the clamp 20 of Embodiment 1 attaches the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position K inside the protector 10, which has the wire harness 2 placed inside the protector S2. This protector 10 is provided with a harness holding portion 21 located inside S2 and holding the wire harness 2, and a mounting portion provided at a predetermined position K of the clamp 20, which is slidably attached to a through hole 123 that has an elongated shape extending in a predetermined direction (branch wire routing direction X2) for a length that allows the clamp 20 to move, and penetrates the inside S2 and the outside.

[0105] Furthermore, the harness holding portion 21 is formed with a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the through hole 123, and is provided with a wide portion 213 that contacts the protector 10 from the inside S2. On the other hand, the mounting portion is provided with an insertion portion 22 positioned in the through hole 123, the length in the width direction Y being shorter than the through hole 123, and an anti-pull-out portion 23 which is formed in a substantially plate shape with a length W2 in the width direction Y being longer than the through hole 123 and having thickness in the direction of penetration of the through hole 123, and which contacts the protector 10 from the outside.

[0106] Furthermore, the clamp-equipped protector 3 of Embodiment 1 comprises the clamp 20 described above and a protector 10 having an elongated through-hole 123 at a predetermined position K that extends in a predetermined direction (branch wire routing direction X2) and is long enough for the clamp 20 to move.

[0107] Furthermore, the wire harness 1 with protector of Embodiment 1 includes the clamp-equipped protector 3 described above, and a wire harness 2 which is positioned inside S2 of the protector 10 in the clamp-equipped protector 3 and attached to a predetermined position K inside S2 with a clamp 20.

[0108] With this configuration, the clamp-equipped protector 3, the wire harness 1 with protector, and the clamp 20 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is placed inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out.

[0109] Specifically, by providing a wider harness holding portion 213 that is wider than the through-hole 123, and an anti-pull-out portion 23 for the mounting portion, the clamp 20, when mounted in a predetermined position K, can clamp the protector 10 from both sides in the direction of penetration of the through-hole 123 between the wider harness holding portion 213 and the anti-pull-out portion 23 for the mounting portion. Therefore, the clamp 20 can prevent tilting even when a reaction force acts on it, for example, from the wire harness 2 which is routed in a curved manner.

[0110] Furthermore, since the pull-out prevention portion 23 is formed in a substantially plate shape with thickness in the direction of penetration of the through hole 123, the clamp 20 can secure a larger contact area with the protector 10 compared to when it is attached to a predetermined position K by locking.

[0111] Therefore, even if it is twisted to rotate around the penetrating direction, for example, the clamp 20 can still make contact with the protector with at least a portion of the main surface of the pull-out prevention portion 23.

[0112] As a result, the clamp 20 can be prevented from being unintentionally released from its fixed position K due to, for example, the reaction force of the wire harness 2 which is routed in a curved manner, through the cooperation of the wide portion 213 of the harness holding portion 21 and the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the mounting portion.

[0113] Therefore, the clamp-equipped protector 3, the wire harness 1 with protector, and the clamp 20 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is placed inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out.

[0114] In addition, since the clamp 20 is attached to the elongated through-hole 123 which is long in a predetermined direction (branch wire routing direction X2), the clamp 20 can be easily moved along the branch wire routing direction X2. Therefore, the clamp-equipped protector 3 can absorb the length tolerance of the wire harness 2 by the sliding movement of the clamp 20 along the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0115] As a result, even when attaching the wire harness 2 held by the harness holding part 21 to a predetermined position K, or when the clamp 20 attached to the predetermined position K holds the wire harness 2 in a predetermined mounting position, the clamp-equipped protector 3 can improve the workability of attaching the wire harness 2 to the predetermined position K.

[0116] Furthermore, because the wide portion 213 is umbrella-shaped and biases the protector 10 outward, the clamp 20 can absorb the swaying of the wire harness 2 it holds with the wide portion 213. As a result, the clamp 20 can prevent the generation of abnormal noise associated with the swaying of the wire harness 2.

[0117] Furthermore, since the anti-pull-out portion 23, which is located at least outside the protector 10, is configured separately so as to be engageable with the harness holding portion 21, the clamp 20 can easily insert the insertion portion 22 into the through hole 123, and after inserting the insertion portion 22 into the through hole 123, the anti-pull-out portion 23 can be engaged with the harness holding portion 21.

[0118] Therefore, the clamp 20 can easily and securely clamp the protector 10 between the wide portion 213 of the harness holding portion 21 and the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the mounting portion. Therefore, the clamp 20 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is located inside the protector 10 S2, from falling out without impairing the ease of attaching the wire harness 2 to the predetermined position K of the protector 10.

[0119] Furthermore, since the insertion portion 22 is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, and the insertion portion 22, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, engages with the anti-removal portion 23 externally, the clamp 20 can insert the insertion portion 22, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, into the through hole 123 from the inside S2 of the protector 10 to the outside, and engage the anti-removal portion 23, which is separate from the harness holding portion 21, with the insertion portion 22 externally of the protector 10.

[0120] As a result, the clamp 20 can easily clamp the protector 10 between the wide portion 213 of the harness holding portion 21 and the anti-pull-out portion 23 of the mounting portion, thereby improving the ease of mounting the wire harness 2 to the predetermined position K of the protector 10.

[0121] Furthermore, the pull-out prevention part 23 is provided with an engaging hole 23a along the through-direction of the through-hole 123 into which the insertion part 22 engages, and the insertion part 22 is provided with an engaging portion 22a that engages with the engaging hole 23a of the pull-out prevention part 23.

[0122] With this configuration, in the process of inserting the insertion portion 22, which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, into the through hole 123 from the inside S2 of the protector 10 to the outside, the clamp 20 can engage the insertion portion 22 with the pull-out prevention portion 23. Therefore, the clamp 20 can further improve the ease of attaching the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position K of the protector 10.

[0123] Furthermore, since the protector 10 is provided with a position-restricting part 13 that restricts the position of the externally positioned anti-removal part 23 relative to the through hole 123, the anti-removal part 23 is positioned relative to the through hole 123, and when the insertion part 22 engages with the anti-removal part 23, the clamp-equipped protector 3 can prevent the anti-removal part 23 from unintentionally falling off and failing to engage.

[0124] Therefore, the clamp-type protector 3 facilitates the engagement of the insertion portion 22 with the anti-pull-out portion 23, further improving the ease of attaching the wire harness 2 to the protector 10.

[0125] Furthermore, the protector 10 has a main wire housing section 11 for housing the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 and a branch wire housing section 12 for housing the branch wires 2b that branch off from the main wire 2a, and a through hole 123 is provided in the branch wire housing section 12. Therefore, the clamp-equipped protector 3 can attach the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position K in the branch wire housing section 12 via the clamp 20.

[0126] Furthermore, when attaching the branch wire 2b to a predetermined position K, the clamp 20 that holds the branch wire 2b can move along the branch wire routing direction X2, so the clamp-equipped protector 3 can easily attach the branch wire 2b to a predetermined position K.

[0127] Furthermore, since the through-hole 123 of the branch wire housing section 12 is formed so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the branch wire routing direction X2, the clamp-type protector 3 can absorb length tolerances in the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2. Therefore, the clamp-type protector 3 can more easily attach the branch wires 2b to the predetermined position K of the branch wire housing section 12.

[0128] Furthermore, since the length of the branch wire routing direction X2 and the length of the width direction Y W2 in the pull-out prevention section 23 are longer than the length of the width direction Y W1 in the through hole 123, even if the position regulating section 13 is not provided, the clamp 20 will not detach from the through hole 123 by rotation with the vertical direction as the center of rotation.

[0129] As a result, the clamp-equipped protector 3, the wire harness 1 with protector, and the clamp 20 can more reliably prevent the wire harness 2, which is located inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out.

[0130] Furthermore, since the wire harness 2 can be attached to the protector 10 simply by attaching the clamp 20 holding the wire harness 2 to the through hole 123, the clamp-equipped protector 3 makes it easier to attach the wire harness 2 to the protector 10 compared to the case where the wire harness is placed inside the protector and then secured by wrapping a cable tie inserted through the protector around the wire harness. [Examples]

[0131] The wire harness 4 with protector in Example 2 differs from that in Example 1 in the configuration of the clamp-type protector. This wire harness 4 with protector in Example 2 will be explained using Figures 8 to 14.

[0132] Figure 8 shows an external perspective view of the wire harness 4 with protector in Example 2, Figure 9 shows an external perspective view of the wire harness 4 with protector viewed from below, and Figure 10 shows a plan view of the wire harness 4 with protector.

[0133] Furthermore, Figure 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the clamp-equipped protector 5 viewed from above, Figure 12 shows an exploded perspective view of the clamp-equipped protector 5 viewed from below, Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in Figure 10, and Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow EE in Figure 10. Furthermore, components identical to those in Example 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0134] As shown in Figure 8, the wire harness 4 with protector of Example 2 comprises a wire harness 2 having branch wires 2b and a protector 5 with clamps that protects the wire harness 2.

[0135] First, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the clamp-equipped protector 5 comprises a protector 10 in which the wire harness 2 is placed, and a clamp 30 for attaching the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position inside the protector 10.

[0136] This protector 10 differs from the protector 10 of Embodiment 1 in that it does not have a position regulating portion 13 and a pair of lower wall portions 14, and the configuration of the through-holes in the branch wire housing portion 12 is different.

[0137] More specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the protector 10 includes a main wire housing section 11 with a concave cross-section that houses the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2, and a branch wire housing section 12 with a concave cross-section that houses the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2.

[0138] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the branch wire receiving section 12 of the protector 10 is formed with a concave cross-sectional shape that is open at the top, consisting of a flat plate-shaped bottom section 121 having thickness in the vertical direction and a pair of flat plate-shaped side wall sections 122 facing each other in the width direction Y.

[0139] As shown in Figure 11, the branch wire housing section 12 has a through hole 124 formed at a predetermined position in the bottom 121, to which a clamp 30 is attached. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, this through hole 124 is an opening that penetrates the bottom 121 from the inside S2 downwards toward the outside, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, elongated in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the through-hole 124 is formed so that, in plan view, its longitudinal direction is approximately rectangular and coincides with the branch line routing direction X2.

[0140] Specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 13, the through-hole 124 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, extending from the predetermined position K toward the edge 12a of the branch wire housing section 12 toward the edge 12a, with the predetermined position K being the position where the clamp 30 can be attached, and the predetermined position K being the position toward the edge 12a.

[0141] The length of the branch wire routing direction X2 in this through hole 124 is formed to allow the clamp 30 to slide by a predetermined sliding range L from a predetermined position K toward the end edge 12a side of the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0142] Furthermore, the clamp 30 attached to the protector 10, as shown in Figures 8 to 13, is equipped with a harness holding portion 31 located inside the protector 10 S2, an insertion portion 32 located in the through hole 124, and an anti-pull-out portion 33 located outside the branch wire housing portion 12. As shown in Figure 12, the clamp 30 has an insertion portion 32 integrally formed with the harness holding portion 31, while the anti-pull-out portion 33 is configured separately from the harness holding portion 31.

[0143] More specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the harness holding portion 31 of the clamp 30 holds a predetermined mounting position on the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2 inside the branch wire housing portion 12 S2.

[0144] As shown in Figures 11, 12, and 14, the harness holding portion 31 comprises a band portion 311 that is wrapped around the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2, a base portion 312 which is roughly rectangular in plan view and connected to the base end of the band portion 311, and a wide portion 313 which is integrally formed on the lower surface of the base portion 312.

[0145] Specifically, the band portion 311 and base portion 312 of the harness holder 31 have substantially the same components as a cable tie. The base portion 312 of the harness holder 31 is provided with a locking portion (not shown) through which the band portion 311, which is wrapped around the branch wire 2b, is inserted and locked.

[0146] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the wide portion 313 of the harness holding portion 31 is formed as a pair of plates that widen downward from the base portion 312, and is also formed in an elastic shape that biases the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12 downward from the inside S2 of the branch wire housing portion 12 outwards.

[0147] Specifically, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the wide portion 313 is composed of a pair of plate-like bodies that are arranged opposite each other at a predetermined distance in the branch wire routing direction X2 and extend downward from the lower surface of the base portion 312 in the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0148] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, this wide portion 313 has a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 124, and is formed to gradually become thinner from the base portion 312 towards the tip.

[0149] Therefore, when the wide portion 313 is attached to the branch wire housing portion 12, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the upper surface of the bottom portion 121 from the inside S2, and biases the bottom portion 121 of the branch wire housing portion 12 downwards toward the outside from the inside S2.

[0150] Furthermore, the insertion portion 32 of the clamp 30 is formed to be able to be locked into the pull-out prevention portion 33. In addition, the insertion portion 32 is composed of the pull-out prevention portion 33 and an attachment portion for which the harness holding portion 31 is slidably attached to the through hole 124.

[0151] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, this insertion portion 32 extends downward from the base portion 312 of the harness holding portion 31 at approximately the center of the branch wire routing direction X2 and approximately the center of the width direction Y in the wide portion 313 of the harness holding portion 31.

[0152] Specifically, as shown in Figures 12 to 14, the insertion portion 32 comprises a roughly columnar main body portion 321 extending downward from the lower surface of the base portion 312 of the harness holding portion 31, and a roughly flat fitting portion 322 projecting from the lower end of the main body portion 321 in the branch wire routing direction X2. As shown in Figures 12 to 14, the main body portion 321 of the insertion portion 32 is a roughly rectangular columnar body that is long in the branch wire routing direction X2 and has a vertical length that passes through the through hole 124.

[0153] The main body portion 321 of the insertion portion 32 is formed as a substantially columnar body having a length in the width direction Y that is slightly shorter than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 124, and a length in the branch wire routing direction X2 that is shorter than the length X2 in the branch wire routing direction of the through hole 124. As shown in Figures 12 and 14, the lower surface of the main body portion 321 has a recessed portion 32a in the width direction Y, which locks the anti-removal portion 33, and is located approximately in the center of the width direction Y.

[0154] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the fitting portion 322 of the insertion portion 32 is composed of a pair of flat plates that have thickness in the vertical direction and protrude from the lower end of the main body portion 321 in the branch wire routing direction X2. The fitting portion 322 is formed with approximately the same width Y length as the main body portion 321.

[0155] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 9, 12, and 14, the anti-pull-out portion 33 of the clamp 30 is roughly plate-shaped with a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, having thickness in the vertical direction which is the through-hole 124's penetration direction, and has an internal space into which the fitting portion 322 of the insertion portion 32 fits, and is formed to be able to lock onto the locked portion 32a of the insertion portion 32.

[0156] As shown in Figure 14, the pull-out prevention portion 33 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, having a length W2 in the width direction Y that is longer than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 124. Furthermore, the pull-out prevention section 33 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, where the length in the branch wire routing direction X2 is longer than the length W2 in the width direction Y, and the sliding range L is long enough to allow sliding movement.

[0157] Due to this configuration, as shown in Figure 14, when the pull-out prevention part 33 is attached to the branch wire housing part 12, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the lower surface of the bottom part 121 from outside the branch wire housing part 12.

[0158] Specifically, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the removal prevention section 33 consists of a substantially flat top plate portion 331 having thickness in the vertical direction, a bottom plate portion 332 and a locking portion 333 facing the top plate portion 331 at a predetermined distance below it, and three side portions 334 extending downward from three consecutive sides of the top plate portion 331.

[0159] As shown in Figures 11 and 13, the top plate portion 331 of the pull-out prevention portion 33 has an opening 331a through which the main body portion 321 of the insertion portion 32 is inserted. This opening is formed by cutting out a roughly rectangular shape in plan view along the width direction Y from the end approximately in the center of the width direction Y.

[0160] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the bottom plate portion 332 of the anti-pull-out section 33 is positioned opposite the top plate portion 331 at a vertical distance approximately the same as the thickness of the fitting portion 322 in the insertion section 32, and is composed of a pair of flat plates positioned at a predetermined distance in the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0161] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 14, the locking portion 333 of the anti-extraction part 33 is positioned between a pair of bottom plate portions 332 and approximately in the center in the branch wire routing direction X2. In other words, the locking portion 333 is positioned opposite the opening 331a of the top plate portion 331.

[0162] This locking portion 333 extends from the lower end of the side portion 334 toward one direction in the width direction Y, and a locking claw is provided at its tip that detachably locks onto the locking portion 32a of the insertion portion 32 toward the top plate portion 331.

[0163] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the three side portions 334 of the anti-pull-out section 33 consist of two side portions 334 arranged opposite each other in the branch wire routing direction X2, and one side portion 334 arranged on the other side in the width direction Y.

[0164] Furthermore, two side portions 334 positioned opposite each other in the branch wire routing direction X2 connect the end of the top plate portion 331 and the end of the bottom plate portion 332 in the branch wire routing direction X2, while one side portion 334 positioned on the other side in the width direction Y connects the end of the top plate portion 331, the end of the bottom plate portion 332, and the end of the locking portion 333 on the other side in the width direction Y.

[0165] Due to this configuration, the extraction prevention portion 33 is formed in a roughly plate-like shape with an open interior on one side in the width direction Y. Furthermore, the extraction prevention portion 33 sandwiches the fitting portion 322 of the insertion portion 32 between the top plate portion 331 and the bottom plate portion 332, and the locking portion 333 is locked to the locked portion 32a of the insertion portion 32.

[0166] Next, we will briefly explain the assembly process for the wire harness 4 with protector, as described above, using an example. First, the worker or assembly device attaches the harness holding portion 31 of the clamp 30 to the predetermined mounting position of the branch wire 2b that has branched off from the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2. At this time, the worker or assembly device wraps the band portion 311 of the harness holding portion 31 around the predetermined mounting position of the branch wire 2b to hold the branch wire 2b in place.

[0167] Afterward, the worker or assembly device places the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 into the main wire housing section 11 of the protector 10, and then secures the main wire 2a to the main wire housing section 11 with cable ties or the like (not shown in the figure).

[0168] Furthermore, the worker or assembly device inserts the insertion portion 32 of the clamp 30 into the through hole 124 of the branch wire housing 12, moving from the inside S2 of the branch wire housing 12 to the outside, while housing the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 in the branch wire housing 12.

[0169] In this process, the worker or assembly device slides the harness holding portion 31 and insertion portion 32 of the clamp 30 along the long axis direction of the through hole 124, i.e., the branch wire routing direction X2, to position the branch wire 2b on the desired routing path.

[0170] When the insertion portion 32 of the clamp 30 is inserted into the through hole 124, the worker or assembly device attaches the pull-out prevention portion 33 along the width direction Y to the insertion portion 32 of the clamp 30 that protrudes from the through hole 124 of the branch wire housing portion 12. At this time, the worker or assembly device inserts the main body portion 321 of the insertion portion 32 into the opening 331a of the top plate portion 331 of the pull-out prevention portion 33, and fits the fitting portion 322 of the insertion portion 32 between the top plate portion 331 and the bottom plate portion 332.

[0171] Furthermore, the worker or assembly device locks the locking portion 333 of the anti-pull-out portion 33 onto the locked portion 32a of the insertion portion 32. In this way, the worker or assembly device completes the assembly of the wire harness 4 with protector.

[0172] As described above, the clamp 30 of Embodiment 2 is provided with a harness holding portion 31 located inside S2 for holding the wire harness 2, and a mounting portion that is slidably attached to a through hole 124 provided at a predetermined position K of the clamp 30.

[0173] Furthermore, the harness holding portion 31 is formed with a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the through hole 124, and is provided with a wide portion 313 that contacts the protector 10 from the inside S2. On the other hand, the mounting portion is positioned in the through hole 124 and includes an insertion portion 32 whose length in the width direction Y is shorter than the through hole 124, and an anti-pull-out portion 33 which is formed in a substantially plate shape with a length W2 in the width direction Y being longer than the through hole 124 and having thickness in the direction of penetration of the through hole 124, and which contacts the protector 10 from the outside.

[0174] Furthermore, the clamp-equipped protector 5 of Embodiment 2 comprises the clamp 30 described above and a protector 10 having an elongated through-hole 124 at a predetermined position K that extends in a predetermined direction (branch wire routing direction X2) and is long enough for the clamp 30 to move.

[0175] Furthermore, the wire harness 4 with protector in Embodiment 2 includes the clamp-equipped protector 5 described above, and a wire harness 2 which is positioned inside S2 of the protector 10 in the clamp-equipped protector 5 and attached to a predetermined position K inside S2 with a clamp 30.

[0176] With this configuration, the clamp-equipped protector 5, the wire harness 4 with protector, and the clamp 30 of Embodiment 2 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is placed inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out, similar to Embodiment 1.

[0177] Furthermore, the extraction prevention portion 33 is provided with a locking portion 333 that engages with the insertion portion 32 along the width direction Y, and the insertion portion 32 is provided with a locked portion 32a that engages with the locking portion of the extraction prevention portion 33.

[0178] With this configuration, the clamp 30 can engage the insertion portion 32 and the pull-out prevention portion 33 simply by assembling the clamp 30 along the width direction Y to the insertion portion 32 which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 31 outside the protector 10.

[0179] As a result, the clamp 30 can easily clamp the protector 10 between the wide portion 313 of the harness holding portion 31 and the anti-pull-out portion 33 of the mounting portion, thereby improving the ease of mounting the wire harness 2 to the predetermined position K of the protector 10.

[0180] Furthermore, because the locking portion 333 of the anti-pull-out portion 33 and the locked portion 32a of the insertion portion 32 are configured to be detachably locked, the clamp 30 can release the locking state between the insertion portion 32 and the anti-pull-out portion 33, making it easy to remove the wire harness 2 from the protector 10. [Examples]

[0181] The wire harness 6 with protector in Example 3 differs from that in Example 1 described above in the configuration of the clamp-type protector. This wire harness 6 with protector in Example 3 will be explained using Figures 15 to 22.

[0182] Figure 15 shows an external perspective view of the wire harness 6 with protector in Example 3, Figure 16 shows a plan view of the wire harness 6 with protector, Figure 17 shows an exploded perspective view of the protector 7 with clamp viewed from above, and Figure 18 shows an exploded perspective view of the protector 7 with clamp viewed from below.

[0183] Furthermore, Figure 19 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the FF arrow in Figure 15, Figure 20 shows an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the bottom 151 of the branch line housing section 15, Figure 21 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the GG arrow in Figure 16, and Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the HH arrow in Figure 16. In addition, components identical to those in Example 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0184] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the wire harness 6 with protector of Embodiment 3 comprises a wire harness 2 having branch wires 2b and a protector 7 with clamps that holds the wire harness 2 inside.

[0185] First, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, the clamp-equipped protector 7 comprises a protector 10 in which the wire harness 2 is placed, and a clamp 40 for attaching the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position inside the protector 10. This protector 10 differs from the protector 10 of Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the branch wire housing section 12.

[0186] More specifically, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, the protector 10 includes a main wire housing section 11 with a concave cross-section that houses the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2, and a branch wire housing section 15 with a concave cross-section that houses the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2.

[0187] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 17 to 19, the protector 10 includes a position regulating section 16 below the branch wire housing section 15 that regulates the position of the lower part of the clamp 40 attached to the branch wire housing section 15 (the pull-out prevention section 43, which will be described later), and a pair of lower wall sections 14 that are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y, with the position regulating section 16 in between.

[0188] As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the branch wire housing section 15 of Embodiment 3 is formed in a concave cross-sectional shape with an open top, consisting of a flat plate-shaped bottom section 151 having thickness in the vertical direction and a pair of flat plate-shaped side wall sections 152 facing each other in the width direction Y.

[0189] As shown in Figure 16, the bottom 151 of the branch line housing section 15 extends from the bottom 111 of the main line housing section 11 toward the branch line routing direction X2, so as to branch off from the bottom 111 of the main line housing section 11 toward the branch line routing direction X2. For the sake of simplifying the following explanation, in the branch wire routing direction X2, the end of the branch wire housing section 15 opposite to the main wire housing section 11 at the bottom 151 of the branch wire housing section 15 is defined as the edge 15a of the branch wire housing section 15.

[0190] Here, as shown in Figure 20, the point where the branch wire 2b branches off from the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 is defined as the branch point P, the predetermined mounting position of the clamp 40 on the branch wire 2b is defined as the mounting position Q, and the straight-line length from the branch point P to the mounting position Q in a plan view is defined as the reference length R.

[0191] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, the bottom portion 151 of the branch wire housing portion 15 extends over a length X2 in the branch wire routing direction, with its end edge portion 15a located outside the region U, which has a radius of reference length R, centered on the branch portion P.

[0192] As shown in Figure 17, a through hole 153 for attaching a clamp 40 is formed at a predetermined position in the bottom 151 of the branch wire housing section 15. As shown in Figures 17 and 20, this through hole 153 is an opening that penetrates the bottom 151 from the inside S2 downwards toward the outside, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, elongated in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, the through-hole 153 is formed so that, in plan view, its longitudinal direction is approximately rectangular and coincides with the branch line routing direction X2.

[0193] Specifically, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, the through-hole 153 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, from the predetermined position K to the edge 15a of the branch wire housing section 15, with the predetermined position K being a predetermined distance away from the edge 15a of the branch wire housing section 15 in the branch wire routing direction X2, and the clamp 40 being attached at this predetermined position K.

[0194] In other words, the through hole 153 is formed by cutting out the bottom 151 of the branch wire housing portion 15 along the branch wire routing direction X2 passing through a predetermined position K from the edge portion 15a of the branch wire housing portion 15. Therefore, as shown in Figure 21, the through hole 153 is formed so that the clamp 40 can slide within a sliding range L from the predetermined position K toward the edge portion 15a side of the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0195] Furthermore, since the bottom portion 151 is located outside the region U, the open end portion 153a of the through hole 153, on the edge portion 15a side in the branch wire routing direction X2, is located outside the region U with a radius of reference length R, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 20.

[0196] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 17 to 19, the position regulating portion 16 of the protector 10 is provided on the lower surface of the bottom portion 151 of the branch wire housing portion 15, and together with the bottom portion 151, it forms a roughly box shape with the main wire housing portion 11 side closed in the branch wire routing direction X2 and the edge portion 15a side open in the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0197] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the position regulating section 16 has an opening on the edge portion 15a side which serves as an insertion port 16a into which the anti-pull-out portion 43 of the clamp 40 (described later) is inserted. The anti-pull-out portion 43 is housed in its internal space, and the position of the anti-pull-out portion 43 relative to the through hole 153 is regulated by the bottom portion 151.

[0198] As shown in Figures 19, 21, and 22, the position regulating section 16 comprises a pair of substantially flat first regulating wall sections 161 arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y with the through hole 153 in between, and a substantially flat second regulating wall section 162 connecting the ends of the first regulating wall sections 161 on the main line housing section 11 side.

[0199] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the position regulating section 16 includes a substantially flat regulating bottom 163 that closes the lower opening surrounded by a pair of first regulating wall sections 161 and a second regulating wall section 162.

[0200] In addition, as shown in Figures 17 to 19, the position regulating section 16 includes a cover portion 164 that closes the insertion opening 16a of the position regulating section 16 and the open end 153a of the through hole 153, and a pivot support portion 165 that pivotally supports the cover portion 164. Since the position regulating unit 16 in Example 3 has the same configuration as the position regulating unit 13 in Example 1, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0201] Furthermore, the clamp 40 attached to the protector 10 as described above is equipped with a harness holding portion 41 located inside the protector 10 S2, an insertion portion 42 located in the through hole 153, and an anti-pull-out portion 43 located inside the position regulating portion 16, as shown in Figures 15 to 18 and Figure 21. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the clamp 40 has an insertion portion 42 and an anti-pull-out portion 43 integrally formed with the harness holding portion 41.

[0202] More specifically, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, the harness holding portion 41 of the clamp 40 holds a predetermined mounting position on the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2 inside the protector 10 S2.

[0203] As shown in Figures 17 and 22, the harness holding portion 41 comprises a band portion 411 that is wrapped around the branch wire 2b of the wire harness 2, a base portion 412 which is roughly rectangular in plan view and connected to the base end of the band portion 411, and a wide portion 413 which is integrally formed on the lower surface of the base portion 412.

[0204] Note that the band portion 411 and base portion 412 of the harness holding portion 41 have the same configuration as the band portion 311 and base portion 312 of the clamp 30 in the above-described embodiment 2, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0205] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 18 and 21, the wide portion 313 of the harness holding portion 31 is formed as a pair of plates that widen downward from the base portion 412, and is also formed in an elastic shape that biases the bottom portion 151 of the branch wire housing portion 15 downward from the inside S2 of the branch wire housing portion 15 outwards.

[0206] Specifically, as shown in Figures 18 and 21, the wide portion 413 is composed of a pair of plate-like bodies that are arranged opposite each other at a predetermined distance in the branch wire routing direction X2 and extend downward from the lower surface of the base portion 412 in the branch wire routing direction X2.

[0207] As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the wide portion 413 has a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 153, and is formed to gradually become thinner from the base portion 412 towards the tip.

[0208] Therefore, when the wide portion 413 is attached to the branch wire housing portion 15, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the upper surface of the bottom portion 151 from the inside S2, and biases the bottom portion 151 of the branch wire housing portion 15 downward toward the outside from the inside S2.

[0209] Furthermore, the insertion portion 42 of the clamp 40 is composed of a mounting portion and an anti-pull-out portion 43, which allows the harness holding portion 41 to be slidably attached to the through hole 153. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the insertion portion 42 extends downward from the lower surface of the base portion 412 of the harness holding portion 41, approximately in the center of the branch wire routing direction X2 and approximately in the width direction Y of the wide portion 413 of the harness holding portion 41.

[0210] Specifically, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the insertion portion 42 is a roughly rectangular columnar body that is long in the branch wire routing direction X2 and has a vertical length that penetrates the through hole 153.

[0211] This insertion portion 42 is formed as a substantially columnar body having a length in the width direction Y that is slightly shorter than the length W1 in the width direction Y of the through hole 153, and a length in the branch wire routing direction X2 that is shorter than the length X2 in the branch wire routing direction of the through hole 153.

[0212] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 18, 21, and 22, the anti-pull-out portion 43 of the clamp 40 is a roughly plate-like shape with thickness in the vertical direction, which is the direction through which the through-hole 153 passes, and is integrally formed with the lower end of the insertion portion 42.

[0213] Specifically, as shown in Figure 22, the extraction prevention portion 43 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, having a width direction length W2 that is longer than the width direction length Y in the through hole 153. Furthermore, the pull-out prevention section 43 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with a length X2 in the branch wire routing direction being longer than the length W2 in the width direction Y, and with a length that allows the through hole 153 to slide.

[0214] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 21, the pull-out prevention section 43 is connected to the lower end of the insertion section 42 at a position slightly closer to the main line housing section 11 than approximately the center of the branch line routing direction X2.

[0215] Due to this configuration, as shown in Figure 22, when the pull-out prevention section 43 is housed in the position regulating section 16, at least the vicinity of both ends in the width direction Y contacts the lower surface of the bottom section 151 from outside the branch wire housing section 15.

[0216] Next, we will briefly explain the assembly process for the wire harness 6 with protector, as described above, using an example. First, the worker or assembly device inserts the insertion portion 42 of the clamp 40 into the through hole 153 along the branch wire routing direction X2 from the open end 153a of the through hole 153, and accommodates the pull-out prevention portion 43 of the clamp 40 in the position regulating portion 16 of the protector 10.

[0217] Furthermore, the worker or assembly device closes the cover portion 164 of the protector 10 to close the insertion opening 16a of the position regulating portion 16 and the open end portion 153a of the through hole 153. Afterward, the worker or assembly device places the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 into the main wire housing section 11 of the protector 10, and then secures the main wire 2a to the main wire housing section 11 with cable ties or the like (not shown in the figure).

[0218] Then, the worker or assembly device places the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 into the branch wire housing section 15, and then attaches the harness holding section 41 of the clamp 40 to the predetermined mounting position of the branch wires 2b. At this time, the worker or assembly device slides the clamp 40 along the long axis direction of the through hole 153, i.e., the branch wire routing direction X2, and wraps the band portion 411 of the harness holding portion 41 around the predetermined mounting position of the branch wire 2b to hold the branch wire 2b. In this way, the worker or assembly device completes the assembly of the wire harness 6 with protector.

[0219] As described above, the clamp 40 of Embodiment 3 is provided with a harness holding portion 41 located inside S2 for holding the wire harness 2, and a mounting portion that is slidably attached to a through hole 153 provided at a predetermined position K of the clamp 40.

[0220] Furthermore, the harness holding portion 41 is formed with a length in the width direction Y that is longer than the through hole 153, and is provided with a wide portion 413 that contacts the protector 10 from the inside S2. On the other hand, the mounting portion is provided with an insertion portion 42 positioned in the through hole 153, the length in the width direction Y being shorter than the through hole 153, and an anti-pull-out portion 43 which is formed in a substantially plate shape with a length W2 in the width direction Y being longer than the through hole 153 and having thickness in the direction of penetration of the through hole 153, and which contacts the protector 10 from the outside.

[0221] Furthermore, the clamp-equipped protector 7 of Embodiment 3 comprises the clamp 40 described above and a protector 10 having an elongated through-hole 153 at a predetermined position K that extends in a predetermined direction (branch wire routing direction X2) with a length that allows the clamp 40 to move.

[0222] Furthermore, the wire harness 6 with protector of Embodiment 3 includes the clamp-equipped protector 7 described above, and a wire harness 2 which is positioned inside S2 of the protector 10 in the clamp-equipped protector 7 and attached to a predetermined position K inside S2 with a clamp 40.

[0223] With this configuration, the clamp-equipped protector 7, the wire harness 6 with protector, and the clamp 40 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is placed inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out, similar to the first embodiment.

[0224] Furthermore, because the wide portion 413 is plate-shaped and biases the protector 10 outward, the clamp 40 can absorb the swaying of the wire harness 2 it holds with the wide portion 413. As a result, the clamp 40 can prevent the generation of abnormal noise associated with the swaying of the wire harness 2.

[0225] Furthermore, the through-hole 153 is formed by cutting out from the edge portion 15a of the protector 10 along the branch wire routing direction X2 passing through a predetermined position K, and the mounting portion (insertion portion 42 and pull-out prevention portion 43) is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 41 and is formed so that it can be attached along the branch wire routing direction X2 from the open end portion 153a of the through-hole 153.

[0226] With this configuration, the insertion portion 42 can be inserted along the branch wire routing direction X2 into the through hole 153 cut out from the edge portion 15a of the protector 10 along the branch wire routing direction X2. Therefore, the clamp 40 can easily attach the mounting portion (insertion portion 42 and pull-out prevention portion 43), which is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 41, to the through hole 153 of the protector 10.

[0227] Furthermore, since the mounting portion is integrally formed with the harness holding portion 41, the clamp 40 will not separate from the harness holding portion 41 due to, for example, the reaction force of the wire harness 2 directed from the outside of the protector 10 to the inside S2.

[0228] Therefore, the clamp 40 can easily and securely clamp the protector 10 between the wide portion 413 of the harness holding portion 41 and the anti-pull-out portion 43 of the mounting portion. Therefore, the clamp 40 can prevent the wire harness 2, which is located inside the protector 10 S2, from falling out without impairing the ease of attaching the wire harness 2 to the predetermined position K of the protector 10.

[0229] Furthermore, since the protector 10 is provided with a cover portion 164 that closes the open end 153a of the through hole 153, the clamp-type protector 7 can prevent the clamp 40 attached to the through hole 153 from unintentionally falling off the open end 153a by the cover portion 164. As a result, the clamp-type protector 7 can attach the wire harness 2 to the protector 10 more stably.

[0230] Furthermore, since the protector 10 is provided with a pivot support portion 165 that supports the lid portion 164 so that it can be opened and closed, the clamp-type protector 7 can easily close the open end 153a of the through hole 153 compared to a detachable lid portion. For this reason, the clamp-type protector 7 can improve the ease of attaching the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position on the protector 10.

[0231] Furthermore, the protector 10 has a main wire housing section 11 for housing the main wire 2a of the wire harness 2 and a branch wire housing section 15 for housing the branch wires 2b that branch off from the main wire 2a, and a through hole 153 is provided in the branch wire housing section 15. Therefore, the clamp-equipped protector 7 can attach the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2 to a predetermined position in the branch wire housing section 15 via the clamp 40.

[0232] Furthermore, when attaching the branch wire 2b to a predetermined position, the clamp 40 that holds the branch wire 2b can move along the longitudinal direction of the through hole 153 of the branch wire housing section 15, so the clamp-equipped protector 7 can easily attach the branch wire 2b to a predetermined position.

[0233] Furthermore, the point where the branch line 2b branches off from the main line 2a is defined as the branching point P, and the length from the branching point P to the mounting position Q on the branch line 2b where the clamp 40 is attached is defined as the reference length R. The open end 153a of the through hole 153 is located outside the region U, which has a radius of the reference length R from the branching point P.

[0234] In this configuration, when the branch wire 2b is held by the harness holding portion 41 of the clamp 40 attached to the through hole 153, the open end 153a of the through hole 153 of the clamp-equipped protector 7 will be located outside the region U, which has a radius of reference length R from the branching portion P. In other words, the open end 153a of the through hole 153 will be located beyond the range of sliding movement of the clamp 40 holding the branch wire 2b.

[0235] As a result, the clamp-equipped protector 7 can prevent the clamp 40 holding the branch wire 2b from reaching the open end 153a when it slides along the through hole 153. Therefore, the clamp-equipped protector 7 can more reliably prevent the clamp 40 holding the branch wire 2b from unintentionally falling out of the through hole 153.

[0236] Furthermore, since the through-hole 153 of the branch wire housing section 15 is formed so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the branch wire routing direction X2, the clamp-type protector 7 can accommodate length tolerances in the branch wires 2b of the wire harness 2. As a result, the clamp-type protector 7 can more easily attach the branch wires 2b to a predetermined position in the branch wire housing section 15.

[0237] Furthermore, since the length of the branch wire routing direction X2 and the length of the width direction Y in the pull-out prevention section 43 are longer than the length W1 of the width direction Y in the through hole 153, even if the position regulating section 16 is not provided, the clamp 40 will not detach from the through hole 153 by rotation with the vertical direction as the center of rotation.

[0238] As a result, the clamp-equipped protector 7, the wire harness 6 with protector, and the clamp 40 can more reliably prevent the wire harness 2, which is located inside S2 of the protector 10, from falling out.

[0239] Furthermore, since the wire harness 2 can be attached to the protector 10 simply by holding it with the clamp 40 attached to the protector 10, the clamp-equipped protector 7 makes it easier to attach the wire harness 2 to the protector 10 compared to the case where the wire harness is placed inside the protector and then secured by wrapping a cable tie inserted through the protector around the wire harness.

[0240] In the correspondence between the structure of this invention and the embodiments described above, The predetermined direction of this invention and the direction of branch wire routing in the branch wire housing section correspond to the branch wire routing direction X2 of the embodiment. The same applies to the following: The direction of penetration of the through hole corresponds to the vertical direction. The direction intersecting the through-hole's penetration direction corresponds to the width direction Y, This invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0241] Specifically, in the above-described embodiments 1 to 3, the protector 10 had a concave cross-section with an open top, but it is not limited to this, and the protector may also have a main body with a concave cross-section and a cover that closes the opening at the top of the main body.

[0242] Furthermore, while the protector 10 in Examples 1 to 3 had a main line housing section 11 and branch line housing sections 12 and 15, it is not limited to this, and a protector composed of either a main line housing section or a branch line housing section may also be used.

[0243] Furthermore, in Examples 1 to 3, the clamps 20, 30, and 40 were attached to the branch line housing sections 12 and 15, but the system is not limited to this configuration, and the clamps 20, 30, and 40 may also be attached to the main line housing section 11.

[0244] Furthermore, in Examples 1 to 3, the through holes 123, 124, and 153 were made into elongated holes extending from a predetermined position K toward the edge portions 12a and 15a. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the elongated holes may be made with the predetermined position K approximately in the center and extending in both directions of the branch wire routing direction X2, or they may be made into elongated holes extending from the predetermined position K toward the branch wire routing direction X2 toward the main wire housing portion 11.

[0245] Furthermore, although the through-hole 123 in Example 1 was made into a roughly elongated ellipse in plan view, it is not limited to this, and any elongated hole shape that is long in a predetermined direction, preferably the branch wire routing direction X2, may be used, for example, a roughly rectangular through-hole in plan view.

[0246] In addition, in Example 1, the position restricting portion 13 having the first restricting wall portion 131, the second restricting wall portion 132, the restricting bottom portion 133, and the lid portion 134 was used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a position restricting portion composed only of the first restricting wall portion 131 may be used.

[0247] In addition, in Example 1 and Example 3, the lid portions 134 and 164 of the position restricting portions 13 and 16 were pivotally connected to the lower wall portion 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. A lid portion that is detachable from the pair of lower wall portions 14 may be used.

[0248] In addition, in Example 1, the harness holding portion 21 having the bundling band 211 separate from the base portion 212 was used, but the present invention is not limited to this. A harness holding portion in which a band portion is integrally formed on the base portion as in Example 2 may be used. In addition, in Example 1, the wide portion 213 was formed in an umbrella shape that is substantially circular in plan view, but the present invention is not limited to this. An umbrella shape that is substantially oval in plan view and long in the branch wire laying direction X2 may be used.

[0249] In addition, in Example 1, the extraction preventing portion 23 was, for example, an insert nut, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it has an engaged hole 23a with which the insertion portion 22 of the clamp 20 engages and is substantially plate-shaped with a thickness in the vertical direction, any appropriate configuration may be used. Note that the engaged hole 23a may be a through hole without a screw hole or the like as long as the insertion portion 22 of the clamp 20 can engage with it.

[0250] In addition, in Example 1, the insertion portion 22 was integrally formed with the harness holding portion 21, but the present invention is not limited to this. The insertion portion may be integrally formed with the extraction preventing portion, and a configuration in which the insertion portion integrally formed with the extraction preventing portion engages with the harness holding portion along the through direction of the through hole 123 may be used.

[0251] In addition, in Example 2, the through hole 124 was substantially rectangular in plan view, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it has an elongated hole shape that is long in a predetermined direction, preferably the branch wire laying direction X2, a through hole that is substantially oval in plan view may be used.

[0252] Furthermore, in Example 2, the pull-out prevention part 33 is provided which is locked to the insertion part 32 of the clamp 30 from one side in the width direction Y. However, the invention is not limited to this, and any pull-out prevention part with an appropriate configuration may be used as long as it can be locked to the insertion part from a direction intersecting the through-hole 124's through-direction (up and down direction).

[0253] Furthermore, although the through-hole 153 in Example 3 was made into a roughly elongated ellipse shape in plan view, it is not limited to this, and any elongated hole shape that is long in a predetermined direction, preferably the branch wire routing direction X2, may be used, for example, a through-hole with an end on the main wire housing 11 side that is roughly semicircular in plan view.

[0254] Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, the position regulating portion 16 of the protector 10 is configured to have a cover portion 164, but the invention is not limited to this, and the protector 10 may also be provided with no first regulating wall portion, second regulating wall portion, and regulating bottom portion, and only a cover portion 164 that closes the open end 153a of the through hole 153.

[0255] Alternatively, the protector 10 may not have a cover portion 164 on the position regulating portion 16. Even in this case, since the open end 153a of the through hole 153 is located outside the region U, the clamp-equipped protector 7 can prevent the clamp 40 holding the branch wire 2b from unintentionally falling out of the through hole 153.

[0256] Furthermore, in Example 3, the open end 153a of the through hole 153 was provided outside the region U, but the invention is not limited to this, and the through hole 153 may have an open end 153a located within the region U. Even in this case, the clamp-equipped protector 7 can prevent the clamp 40 holding the branch wire 2b from unintentionally falling out of the through hole 153 by the cover portion 164. [Explanation of symbols]

[0257] 1, 4, 6… Wire harness with protector 2…Wire harness 2a... Main line 2b…branch line 3, 5, 7…Protector with clamp 10… Protector 11…Main line storage area 12... Branch line storage area 12a, 15a...Edge 13...Position regulation part 15... Branch line storage area 20, 30, 40… clamps 21, 31, 41… Harness holding section 22, 32, 42… Insertion part 22a...Engagement part 23,33,43...Ejection prevention part 23a…Engaged hole 32a...Locked part 123, 124, 153… through holes 213,313,413... Wide section 333…Locking part 153a...Open end 164…Lid part 165...Pivotal support part K...Predetermined position P... Branching point Q...Installation location R...Reference length S2…Internal U…area X2…Branch wire wiring direction Y...Width direction

Claims

1. A protector that houses the wire harness internally, A clamp-type protector is provided with a clamp for attaching the wire harness to a predetermined position inside, The aforementioned protector is A through hole is provided in the predetermined position, which has an elongated shape extending in a predetermined direction for a length that allows the clamp to move, and which penetrates the inside of the protector and the outside of the protector. The clamp mentioned above is A harness holding section, which is located inside the above and holds the wire harness, It is provided with a mounting portion that is slidably attached to the through hole, The width direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated through-hole. The harness holding portion is, The widthwise length is formed to be longer than the through hole, and a wide portion is provided that contacts the protector from the inside. The aforementioned mounting portion is An insertion portion is provided in the through hole, and its length in the width direction is shorter than that of the through hole, The aforementioned widthwise length is longer than the through hole and the through hole has thickness in the through-hole direction, and the material is formed in a substantially plate shape and is provided with an anti-removal portion that contacts the protector from the outside. The through hole is formed by cutting out a section from the edge of the protector along the predetermined direction passing through the predetermined position, The open end on the edge side in the predetermined direction of the through hole is defined as the open end. The mounting portion is integrally formed with the harness holding portion and is formed to be attachable along the predetermined direction from the open end. The protector is provided with a cover portion that closes the open end of the through hole. Protector with clamp.

2. The protector is provided with a pivot support portion that supports the lid portion so that it can be opened and closed. A clamp-type protector according to claim 1.

3. The wide portion is an elastic wide portion that biases the protector toward the outside. A clamp-type protector according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The aforementioned protector is A main wire housing section for housing the main wire of the aforementioned wire harness, It has a branch line housing section that houses branch lines that branch off from the main line, The through hole is provided in the branch wire housing section. A clamp-type protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The through-hole is provided in the branch wire housing section of the protector, which houses branch wires that have branched off from the main wire of the wire harness. The point where the branch line branches off from the main line is defined as the branching point. The length from the branching point to the mounting position on the branch wire where the clamp is attached is used as the reference length. The open end of the through hole is located outside the region defined by the reference length from the branching portion. A clamp-type protector according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The through-holes in the branch wire housing section are formed such that their longitudinal direction is aligned with the direction in which the branch wires are routed within the branch wire housing section. A clamp-type protector according to claim 4 or claim 5.

7. A clamp-type protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The clamp-equipped protector is provided with a wire harness that is positioned inside the protector and attached to a predetermined location inside by the clamp. Wire harness with protector.

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