Vehicle Wire Harness Holder Impact Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine wiring harness holders made from materials like polypropylene or nylon are not adequately protected against impact damage during vehicle crashes, as they do not incorporate impact-resistant materials suitable for flexible features such as living hinges and clips.
Innovation Solution
A wire harness holder with a housing comprising a lower and upper part hingedly connected via flexible living hinges, featuring an arch-shaped protection member made of impact-resistant glass-filled nylon to securely route and protect the +B cable within an elongated channel, using adhesive sleeves for securement and connectors for easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional materials like polypropylene or nylon are used for the wire harness holder, then flexible features such as living hinges and clips can be molded, but impact protection during vehicle crashes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a flexible polymer material (for the housing and living hinges) with a separate impact-resistant protection member made from glass-filled nylon or similar impact-resistant material. This allows the housing to maintain flexibility for molding living hinges while the protection member provides crash protection without requiring the entire housing to be made from impact-resistant material, which would compromise moldability of flexible features.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If impact resistant materials like glass-filled nylon are used, then protection during crashes is improved, but flexible features such as living hinges and clips cannot be molded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wire harness holder into two distinct components: a housing made from flexible polymer material that can be molded with living hinges and clips, and a separate protection member made from impact-resistant material. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the housing for flexibility and the protection member for impact resistance - without compromising either property.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing impact protection only in the specific area where the +B cable is routed, rather than making the entire housing from impact-resistant material. The protection member is positioned locally around the cable routing area, providing targeted protection where debris impact is most likely to occur while maintaining flexibility in other parts of the housing.
3Reliability
If a separate protection member is added, then cable protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protection member with the housing assembly by providing mounting features that integrate the two components into a single functional unit. The protection member includes mounting features that engage with the housing, and the assembly method describes how to properly assemble these components together. This merging approach maintains reliability through dedicated protection while managing complexity through integrated design and straightforward assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A wire harness holder for mounting to an associated vehicle engine includes a housing having a lower housing part and an upper housing part hingedly connected to the lower housing part. In a closed position of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part the housing defines a first interstitial space for routing of associated fused wires. A protection member is releasably mounted to the lower housing part. The protection member together with the lower housing part define a separate second interstitial space within the first interstitial space for routing of an associated +B cable. To mount the protection member to the lower housing part one of the lower housing part and the protection member includes a projection and the other of the lower housing part and the protection member includes a groove for receiving the projection.