Wire harness

Abstract

A wire harness (10) includes: a plurality of wires (20); a grommet (30) including a plurality of cylindrical parts (32) through which the plurality of wires (20) are passed; a binding member (40) provided so as to fasten outer peripheries of the plurality of cylindrical parts (32) so as to prevent passage of liquid between the wires (20) and the cylindrical parts (32); and a spacer (50) interposed between the plurality of cylindrical parts (32). The binding member (40) is provided so as to collectively fasten the plurality of cylindrical parts (32) together with the spacer (50).

Description

Wire harness

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wire harness.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a wire harness including a plurality of electric wires and a grommet (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The grommet has a fitting portion that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like, and a tubular portion through which the plurality of electric wires pass. Furthermore, a portion of the extending direction of the plurality of electric wires is sandwiched between a foam sheet and gathered into a single cylindrical shape, thereby forming the cylindrical portion together with the foam sheet. The cylindrical portion is then disposed within a tubular portion whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion. This prevents liquid from passing between the electric wires and the tubular portion.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-165061

[0004] However, in the above-described wire harness, the workability of inserting the cylindrical portion into the tubular portion having a small inner diameter is poor. Therefore, for example, a wire harness configured such that a grommet is provided with a plurality of tubular portions through which a plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, and the outer periphery of the tubular portions is fastened with a fastening member such as a cable tie, can be considered. In such a wire harness, the outer periphery of the tubular portions is fastened with a fastening member after the electric wires are passed through the tubular portions, thereby facilitating the wire passing work and ensuring watertightness.

[0005] However, in such a wire harness, if a bundling member is provided for each tubular portion, the number of parts increases.Furthermore, if a single bundling member is used to fasten multiple tubular portions together, large gaps are formed between the multiple tubular portions, which may reduce adhesion at those portions and decrease waterproofing properties.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wire harness that can ensure watertightness while reducing the number of parts.

[0007] The wire harness of the present disclosure comprises a grommet having a plurality of electric wires and a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, a binding member arranged to tighten the outer periphery of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions, and a spacer member interposed between the plurality of tubular portions, and the binding member arranged to tighten the plurality of tubular portions together together with the spacer member.

[0008] According to the wire harness of the present disclosure, it is possible to ensure watertightness while reducing the number of parts.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a wire harness in one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the wire harness in one embodiment. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wire harness in one embodiment. Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of a wire harness in another example. Fig. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of a wire harness in another example. Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wire harness in another example.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A wire harness of the present disclosure includes: [1] a grommet including a plurality of electric wires, a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, a bundling member provided to fasten the outer peripheries of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions, and a spacer member interposed between the plurality of tubular portions, and the bundling member is provided to fasten the plurality of tubular portions together together with the spacer member.

[0011] According to this configuration, the bundling member is provided to fasten the multiple tubular portions together with the spacer members interposed between the multiple tubular portions, so that the gaps between the multiple tubular portions caused by the spacer members can be reduced while using a single bundling member, thereby ensuring watertightness in each of the multiple tubular portions while reducing the number of parts.

[0012] [2] In the above [1], the spacer member may have an arcuate surface that is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portions. According to this configuration, the spacer member has an arcuate surface that is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portions, so that gaps created between the cylindrical portions by the spacer member can be made smaller than in a configuration without an arcuate surface, for example. Therefore, the water-stopping properties of each of the cylindrical portions can be improved.

[0013] [3] In the above [1] or [2], the spacer member may have a pair of engaging ribs that protrude to be engageable with both ends of the binding member in the width direction. According to this configuration, the spacer member has a pair of engaging ribs that protrude to be engageable with both ends of the binding member in the width direction, thereby preventing the binding member from slipping relative to the spacer member.

[0014] [4] In the above [3], the pair of engaging ribs may be provided on both sides in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the cylindrical portions are arranged. According to this configuration, since the pair of engaging ribs are provided on both sides in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the cylindrical portions are arranged, the binding member is more effectively prevented from shifting relative to the spacer member than, for example, when the pair of engaging ribs are provided only on one side in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the cylindrical portions are arranged.

[0015] [5] In the above [3] or [4], the spacer member may have a cover portion that covers the binding member by connecting the tips of the pair of engaging ribs. According to this configuration, the spacer member has a cover portion that covers the binding member by connecting the tips of the pair of engaging ribs, preventing the binding member from climbing over the engaging ribs. Therefore, slippage of the binding member relative to the spacer member is further prevented.

[0016] [6] In any one of [1] to [5] above, each of the plurality of tubular portions may have a pair of engagement steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction. According to this configuration, the tubular portion has a pair of engagement steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction, thereby preventing the binding member from slipping relative to the tubular portion.

[0017] [7] In any one of [1] to [6] above, the spacer member may be made of a resin material. According to this configuration, the spacer member is made of a resin material, and therefore can be made lighter and less expensive than when made of a metal material, for example.

[0018] [8] In any one of [1] to [7] above, the bundling member may be made of a resin material. According to this configuration, the bundling member is made of a resin material, and therefore can be made lighter and less expensive than when made of, for example, a metal material.

[0019] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for the convenience of explanation, some of the configurations may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions of each part may differ from one drawing to another. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0020] 1 and 2 includes a plurality of electric wires 20, a grommet 30, a bundling member 40, and a spacer member 50. The wire harness 10 of this embodiment includes two electric wires 20.

[0021] (Configuration of Electric Wire 20) As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 20 has a core wire 21 and an insulating coating 22 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 21.

[0022] The core wire 21 is, for example, a twisted wire made by twisting together a plurality of conductive wires, a single-core wire, etc. The core wire 21 is made of a metal material such as copper or aluminum. The cross section of the core wire 21 in this embodiment is formed to be a perfect circle.

[0023] The insulating coating 22 covers the entire outer periphery of the core wire 21. The insulating coating 22 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin containing, as a main component, a polyolefin resin such as cross-linked polyethylene or cross-linked polypropylene.

[0024] (Configuration of Grommet 30) The grommet 30 is made of, for example, rubber or elastomer. As shown in Fig. 2, the grommet 30 has a fitting portion 31 that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like (not shown), and a plurality of tubular portions 32 through which a plurality of electric wires 20 are respectively passed. The grommet 30 of this embodiment has two tubular portions 32. Furthermore, the tubular portion 32 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction by reducing the outer diameter of the tubular portion 32 in part of the extension direction.

[0025] (Configuration of Binding Member 40) The binding member 40 is made of, for example, a resin material. The binding member 40 of this embodiment is a cable tie having a flexible strip-shaped portion 41 and a locking portion 42 that is provided at one end of the strip-shaped portion 41 in the longitudinal direction and locks the strip-shaped portion 41 when it is passed through.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the bundling member 40 is provided to fasten the outer periphery of the tubular portion 32 so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires 20 and the tubular portion 32. The bundling member 40 of this embodiment is provided to fasten a plurality of tubular portions 32 together together with a spacer member 50, which will be described later. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wire harness 10 before assembly, and schematically illustrates the bundling member 40 in a state in which the belt-like portion 41 is threaded through the lock portion 42.

[0027] (Configuration of Spacer Member 50) The spacer member 50 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyacetal, ABS resin, etc. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the spacer member 50 is interposed between the multiple cylindrical portions 32. The spacer member 50 is formed so as to reduce the gaps that occur between the multiple cylindrical portions 32.

[0028] 3, the spacer member 50 has arcuate surfaces 51 that are in surface contact with the outer peripheral surfaces 32a of the cylindrical portions 32. A pair of arcuate surfaces 51 are provided corresponding to the outer peripheral surfaces 32a of the two opposing cylindrical portions 32.

[0029] 2, the spacer member 50 has a pair of engaging ribs 52 that protrude to be engageable with both ends in the width direction of the binding member 40. The pair of engaging ribs 52 are provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the direction in which the cylindrical portions 32 are lined up, as viewed in the extension direction of the cylindrical portions 32 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging ribs 52 are provided so as to protrude from a flat surface that is aligned along a straight line connecting the outer peripheral surfaces 32a of the two cylindrical portions 32, as viewed in the extension direction of the cylindrical portions 32.

[0030] (Operation of the embodiment) Next, a description will be given of the operation of the wire harness 10 configured as described above. A part of the outer circumferential surface 32a of the tubular portion 32 is in contact with the spacer member 50, while the other part of the outer circumferential surface 32a is fastened by the binding member 40. This prevents liquid from passing between the electric wires 20 and the tubular portion 32.

[0031] (Effects of the Embodiment) Next, the effects of the above embodiment are described below. (1) The binding member 40 is provided to fasten the plurality of tubular portions 32 together together with the spacer members 50 interposed between the plurality of tubular portions 32. Therefore, while using a single binding member 40, the spacer members 50 can reduce the gaps between the plurality of tubular portions 32. Therefore, it is possible to ensure watertightness in each of the plurality of tubular portions 32 while reducing the number of parts. Note that the reduction in the number of parts of the binding member 40 contributes to a reduction in the number of assembly steps and contributes to a reduction in the size of the wire harness 10. In particular, when the binding member 40 is a cable tie as in this embodiment, the assembly work is facilitated because the work of passing the belt-shaped portion 41 through the locking portion 42 and the work of cutting off the excess belt-shaped portion 41 are performed only once.

[0032] (2) The spacer member 50 has an arcuate surface 51 that is in surface contact with the outer circumferential surface 32a of the cylindrical portion 32. Therefore, for example, compared to a configuration that does not have the arcuate surface 51, the spacer member 50 can further reduce gaps that occur between the multiple cylindrical portions 32. Therefore, the water-stopping properties of each of the multiple cylindrical portions 32 can be further improved.

[0033] (3) The spacer member 50 has a pair of engaging ribs 52 that protrude and can engage with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction, thereby preventing the binding member 40 from shifting relative to the spacer member 50. This prevents, for example, the spacer member 50 from falling off the binding member 40.

[0034] (4) Since the pair of engaging ribs 52 are provided in both the direction in which the multiple tubular portions 32 are arranged and the direction intersecting the direction in which the multiple tubular portions 32 are arranged, the binding member 40 is more effectively prevented from shifting relative to the spacer member 50 than, for example, when the engaging ribs 52 are provided only in one of the directions intersecting the direction in which the tubular portions 32 are arranged.

[0035] (5) The tubular portion 32 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both widthwise ends of the binding member 40, thereby preventing the binding member 40 from shifting relative to the tubular portion 32. This prevents, for example, the binding member 40 from falling off the tubular portion 32.

[0036] (6) The spacer member 50 is made of a resin material, which can be lighter and less expensive than, for example, a metal material. (7) The binding member 40 is made of a resin material, which can be lighter and less expensive than, for example, a metal material.

[0037] (Modifications) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0038] The spacer member 60 may be changed to the one shown in Figures 4 to 6. Similar to the spacer member 50 of the above embodiment, the spacer member 60 of this example has an arcuate surface 61 that comes into surface contact along the outer peripheral surface 32a of the tubular portion 32, and a pair of engaging ribs 62 that protrude and are engageable with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction. The spacer member 60 of this example further has a cover portion 63 that covers the binding member 40 by connecting the tips of the pair of engaging ribs 62. In other words, the spacer member 60 has an insertion hole 64 formed by the engaging rib 62 and the cover portion 63 so that the binding member 40 can be inserted therethrough.

[0039] In this way, the binding member 40 is inserted into the insertion hole 64, and the binding member 40 is prevented from climbing over the engaging rib 62. Therefore, the binding member 40 is further prevented from shifting relative to the spacer member 60.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the spacer member 50 has the arcuate surface 51 that is in surface contact with the outer circumferential surface 32a of the cylindrical portion 32, but this is not limited thereto and the spacer member 50 may be modified to have a different shape as long as it is formed to reduce the gaps that occur between the multiple cylindrical portions 32. For example, the arcuate surface 51 may be modified to a series of multiple flat surfaces that are substantially aligned with the outer circumferential surface 32a of the cylindrical portion 32.

[0041] -In the above embodiment, the spacer member 50 has a pair of engaging ribs 52 that protrude so as to be able to engage with both ends of the width direction of the binding member 40, but this is not limited to this and the spacer member 50 may be configured not to have a pair of engaging ribs 52.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the pair of engaging ribs 52 are provided in both the direction in which the tubular portions 32 are arranged and the direction intersecting the direction, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the engaging ribs 52 may be provided only in one of the directions intersecting the direction in which the tubular portions 32 are arranged.

[0043] -In the above embodiment, the tubular portion 32 of the grommet 30 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both ends of the width direction of the binding member 40, but this is not limited to this, and the configuration may not have a pair of engagement steps 33.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the spacer member 50 is made of a resin material, but is not limited to this and may be made of other materials such as metal or rubber. In the above embodiment, the binding member 40 is made of a resin material, but is not limited to this and may be made of other materials such as metal. The binding member 40 may also be changed to an adhesive tape.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the wire harness 10 includes two electric wires 20, but is not limited thereto and may include three or more electric wires 20. In this case, the number of tubular portions 32 and the number of spacer members 50 need to be changed depending on the number of electric wires 20. In the case of three electric wires 20, the wire harness 10 may include three tubular portions 32 and two spacer members 50.

[0046] The spacer members 50, 60 of the non-limiting embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 5 may be referred to as add-on spacers that are added to the grommet 30. In a comparative example that does not include the spacer members of the non-limiting embodiments, the tightening load of the binding member may not be applied to the portions of the outer circumferential surface of each tubular portion that face the other tubular portions (i.e., the portions on the gap side). In this regard, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the spacer members 50 (60) are interposed between the multiple tubular portions 32, so that when the binding member 40 tightens the multiple tubular portions 32, the tightening load of the binding member 40 can be applied via the spacer members 50 (60) to the portions of the outer circumferential surface of each tubular portion 32 that face the other tubular portions (i.e., the portions on the gap side).

[0047] In the comparative example of the non-limiting embodiment that does not include a spacer member, when the multiple tubular portions are subjected to the tightening load of the binding member, the multiple tubular portions bend toward each other from their original upright position. When the tubular portions are bent, the bending deformation can cause slight distortion of the inner contour of each tubular portion, forming gaps between the inner surface of each tubular portion and the outer surface of the electric wire, which can reduce waterproof performance. In this regard, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figure, the spacer member 50 (60) fills or reduces the gaps between the multiple tubular portions 32, thereby preventing the multiple tubular portions 32 from bending from their original upright position or reducing the bending deformation, which is advantageous in that it can reduce distortion of the inner contour of each tubular portion.

[0048] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Wire harness 20 Electric wire 21 Core wire 22 Insulating coating 30 Grommet 31 Fitting portion 32 Cylindrical portion 32a Outer circumferential surface 33 Engagement step 40 Binding member 41 Belt-shaped portion 42 Locking portion 50 Spacer member 51 Circular surface 52 Engagement rib 60 Spacer member 61 Circular surface 62 Engagement rib 63 Cover portion 64 Insertion hole

Claims

1. A wire harness comprising: a plurality of electric wires; a grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed; bundling members arranged to fasten the outer peripheries of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions; and spacer members interposed between the plurality of tubular portions, wherein the bundling members are arranged to fasten the plurality of tubular portions together together with the spacer members.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the spacer member has an arcuate surface that is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical portions.

3. A wire harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer member has a pair of engaging ribs that protrude and are engageable with both ends of the binding member in the width direction.

4. The wire harness according to claim 3, wherein the pair of engaging ribs are provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the direction in which the plurality of cylindrical portions are arranged.

5. The wire harness according to claim 3, wherein the spacer member has a covering portion that covers the binding member by connecting the tips of the pair of engaging ribs together.

6. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical portions has a pair of engaging steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction.

7. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the spacer member is made of a resin material.

8. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the bundling member is made of a resin material.

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