Wire Harness Protector Flat Fastener Base Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wire harness protectors in vehicles have a large fastener base due to a curved placement face, which increases the size and complexity of the fastener base.

Innovation Solution

A protector with a flat placement face for the fastener base and protrusions on either side to secure the wire harness, reducing the size of the fastener base and preventing displacement, while avoiding contact with lock portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the placement face of the fastener base is curved to match the outer circumferential face of the wire harness, then the wire harness can be accommodated, but the size of the fastener base increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of wire harnessVSAvoidsize of fastener base

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making only the placement face of the fastener base flat (local modification) while maintaining the curved outer circumferential face of the protector. This localized flat surface provides sufficient area for the wire harness to be fastened without requiring the entire fastener base to be large, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a fully curved three-dimensional surface to include a flat two-dimensional placement face. This dimensional change creates a simplified surface geometry that reduces the required area of the fastener base while still accommodating the wire harness effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the fastener base is reduced in size, then the protector becomes more compact, but the wire harness may become displaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of fastener baseVSAvoidpositioning stability of wire harness

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent concentrates the stabilization function locally on the placement face by making it flat. This localized flat surface provides a stable base that prevents wire harness displacement without requiring the entire fastener base to be large, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and positioning stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flat placement face is designed in advance to provide preliminary stabilization for the wire harness before fastening. This pre-positioning feature ensures the wire harness remains stable and prevents displacement, allowing for a compact fastener base design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11351937B2Protector and routing unit

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

A protector includes a protector main portion configured to accommodate a wire harness 100, and a second intermediate guiding portion configured to guide, to the outside, at least part of the wire harness 100 accommodated in the protector main portion. In the protector main portion, an outer face 23a of a side wall portion 23 of the protector main portion includes a fastener base 40 on which the wire harness 100 guided from the second intermediate guiding portion can be fastened with a cable tie B. The fastener base 40 has a placement face 41 on which the wire harness 100 is placed, the placement face being a flat face.