Vehicle Wire Harness Protector With Lid Protrusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protectors for wire harnesses in vehicles cannot distinguish between regular and non-regular arrangements of wiring members, leading to potential misalignment and inefficient use of wiring lengths.

Innovation Solution

A protector design with a protrusion on the lid member that prevents locking when wiring members are in a non-regular arrangement, ensuring proper alignment and engagement only when they are arranged correctly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the engagement mechanism is designed to lock the lid member to the protector body without any arrangement restrictions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because wiring members may be accommodated in non-regular arrangements leading to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of locking lid memberVSAvoidarrangement precision of wiring members

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion is pre-positioned on the lid member at a location that corresponds to where the second wiring member should be placed in the regular arrangement. Before the engagement mechanism can lock, the wiring members must already be in the correct arrangement, allowing the protrusion to pass through the second wiring member. This preliminary positioning requirement ensures proper arrangement is established before final locking occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the lid member and the wiring members. It physically interacts with the second wiring member during the engagement process, serving as a mediator that verifies the correct arrangement. The protrusion passes through the second wiring member only when the wiring members are in the regular arrangement, thereby mediating the engagement condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the engagement mechanism allows locking in both regular and non-regular arrangements, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because misaligned wiring members may be shipped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in wiring member arrangementVSAvoidquality assurance of wiring arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement mechanism performs self-verification of the wiring member arrangement through the protrusion's interaction with the second wiring member. The system automatically prevents locking when the arrangement is incorrect, without requiring external inspection or intervention. The protrusion's geometry ensures that only the correct arrangement allows the engagement mechanism to complete its locking action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion function is extracted from the general engagement mechanism and implemented as a separate structural feature on the lid member. This extracted element specifically handles the verification function, allowing the main engagement mechanism to focus on the locking function while the protrusion ensures proper arrangement verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If a protrusion is added to the lid member to prevent non-regular arrangement locking, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrangement precision of wiring membersVSAvoidstructural complexity of lid member

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion is merged with the lid member as an integrated structural feature rather than a separate component. This combining of the verification function into the existing lid member structure minimizes additional complexity while achieving the precision goal. The protrusion utilizes the same material and manufacturing process as the lid member itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11721959B2Protector

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A protector includes a protector body, a lid member, and an engagement mechanism. The lid member has a ceiling and a protrusion. When a first wiring member and a second wiring member are accommodated in an accommodating space in a non-regular arrangement in which a peripheral surface of the first wiring member contacts a bottom and a peripheral surface of the second wiring member contacts the peripheral surface of the first wiring member, the peripheral surface of the second wiring member contacts the protrusion on the way of the transition of the engagement mechanism from a non-engagement state to an engagement state. When accommodated in a regular arrangement, the engagement mechanism transitions from the non-engagement state to the engagement state.