Abstract:
Provided is a wiring holding structure, wherein wiring for electrically connecting a vehicle body to the vehicle sliding door is held in the vehicle body. The wiring holding structure comprises a step member provided adjacent to the vehicle sliding door and a holding portion for holding the wiring. The step member is molded of plastic material. The holding portion is for holding the wiring. The holding portion comprises a first holding portion integrally molded onto the step member; and a second holding member that is fixed to face the first holding section. The second holding member holds the wiring together with the first holding portion. The number of components necessary for the wiring holding structure can thereby be reduced, and the size of the wiring holding structure is made more compact.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a wire holding structure that holds, in the body of a vehicle, wires connected to a sliding door of the vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventionally, various electric components such as a power window motor and a door lock device are mounted in a sliding door of a vehicle. As a wire holding structure for holding in the body of a vehicle wires connected to the vehicle sliding door, which is actuated to selectively open and close, and connected to electric components mounted in the sliding door, a structure having a holding member formed by joining an upper holding member and a lower holding member each formed of a plastic material, for example, is known. Wires are held in the holding member and the holding member is fixed to the body of a vehicle. See, for example, Patent Document 1. In a wire holding structure described in Patent Document 1, a corrugated tube accommodating a plurality of wires (harnesses) is rotationally held in the holding member such that the wires move in correspondence with opening/closing of the vehicle sliding door, or, in other words, with improved responsiveness. The holding member is fixed to, for example, a step member, which is arranged adjacently to the sliding door, at the rear end of the step member with respect to the vehicle using screws. See, for example, Patent Document 2. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-153417 
     Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-68346 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    However, the upper holding member and the lower holding member disadvantageously increase the number of components necessary for forming the wire holding structure. Also, since the corrugated tube (including the wires) is held on the step member through the lower holding portion, the height of the wire holding structure increases. This makes it difficult to provide a low-floor passenger compartment, for example. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a wire holding structure that has a decreased number of components and is reduced in size. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a wire holding structure for holding, in a body of a vehicle, a wire for electrically connecting the body of the vehicle to a sliding door of the vehicle. The structure includes a step member arranged adjacent to the vehicle sliding door and molded of a plastic material and a holding portion for holding the wire. The holding portion includes a first holding portion molded integrally with the step member and a second holding member fixed to face the first holding portion. The second holding member holds the wire in the space between the second holding member and the first holding portion. 
         [0006]    In this configuration, the step member and a part (the first holding portion) of the holding portion are configured by a common component. This decreases the number of the necessary components compared to the configuration in which the holding member formed by joining the upper holding member and the lower holding member is fixed to the step member. Also, the step member is molded from a plastic material instead of metal as in a typical case. The step member is thus allowed to have wide variety of shapes. This facilitates integral formation of the step member and the first holding portion. Further, since the step member and the first holding portion are formed integrally, the step member and the first holding portion are prevented from being overlapped with each other and thus enlarged in size, unlike a case in which the step member and the first holding portion are fixed together as separate bodies. The wire holding structure as a whole is thus reduced in size. 
         [0007]    The first holding portion and the second holding member may be engaged with each other by a claw structure. 
         [0008]    This configuration decreases the number of the necessary components and facilitates assembly compared to fixation using a screw. Particularly, the claw structure must have a complicated shape to allow claw engagement. However, since the step member is molded from a plastic material, it is easy to form a part (for example, a claw engagement portion) of the claw structure in the step member. 
         [0009]    The holding portion may include a cylindrical holding portion, and the wire may be held by a rotary holding member rotationally held by the cylindrical holding portion. 
         [0010]    In this configuration, the wire moves in correspondence with opening/closing of the vehicle sliding door with improved responsiveness. Particularly, since the holding portion has the cylindrical holding portion, the first holding portion has a complicated structure. However, the step member is molded from a plastic material and thus allows a part of the cylindrical holding portion to be formed in the first holding portion (the step member). 
         [0011]    The holding portion may have a restriction opening formed in an end portion of the holding portion. The restriction opening may become gradually larger toward an end to restrict excessive bending of the wire, and a curved portion forming a part of the restriction opening may be formed in the first holding portion. 
         [0012]    This configuration protects the wire and improves responsiveness of the wire in correspondence with opening/closing of the vehicle sliding door. Further, since the step member is molded from a plastic material, the curved portion is easily formed in the first holding portion (the step member). 
         [0013]    The wire holding structure may include a corrugated tube for accommodating a plurality of wires, and the holding portion may hold the corrugated tube. 
         [0014]    This configuration facilitates handling of the wires. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a wire holding structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the wire holding structure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a claw structure of the illustrated embodiment; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view showing the claw structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle includes a step unit  1 , which is arranged adjacently to a non-illustrated sliding door of the vehicle. In  FIG. 1 , the upward arrow indicates the outer side of the passenger compartment in the width direction of the vehicle. The downward arrow indicates the inner side of the passenger compartment in the width direction of the vehicle. 
         [0021]    The step unit  1  is a type including a drive device (a motor unit)  2  for actuating the sliding door to selectively open and close. The step unit  1  is configured mainly by a drive device  2  and a substantially plate-like step member (a step)  3 . Specifically, the step unit  1  is fixed to a non-illustrated body serving as the vehicle body. The top surface of the step unit  1  as a whole is covered by a non-illustrated scuff plate, which is a thin plate-like decoration member. 
         [0022]    The step member  3  is molded from a plastic material. The step member  3  is located in the passenger compartment adjacent to the vehicle sliding door at the time when the sliding door is closed. The step member  3  includes a flat portion  3   a,  which functions as a step for an occupant of the vehicle when the occupant enters or leaves the passenger compartment, and a drive device mounting portion  3   b.  The drive device mounting portion  3   b  is formed continuously from the flat portion  3   a  at the front end of the flat portion  3   a  in the opening direction of the sliding door, which is the rear end of the flat portion  3   a  with respect to the vehicle. The drive device  2  is fixed to the drive device mounting portion  3   b.    
         [0023]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a first holding portion  3   c  is formed integrally with the step member  3 . Specifically, the first holding portion  3   c  is formed integrally with the step member  3  at a position rearward to the drive device mounting portion  3   b  with respect to the vehicle. 
         [0024]    The first holding portion  3   c  has a first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d.  The first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d  is shaped like an arcuate recess that extends about the axis (which extends substantially in the width direction of the vehicle in the illustrated embodiment) parallel to the plane formed by the flat portion  3   a  and opens upward with respect to the step member  3 . 
         [0025]    The first holding portion  3   c  has a first holding portion  3   e,  which extends from an end of the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d  that is located outward with respect to the passenger compartment (closer to the vehicle sliding door). The first holding portion  3   e  has a flat bottom  3   f  and side walls  3   g,  which project from opposite sides of the bottom  3   f.  The recess formed by the bottom  3   f  and the side walls  3   g  extends continuously from the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d.  In the illustrated embodiment, curved portions  3   h  are formed at positions outward with respect to the side walls  3   g  in the passenger compartment such that the interval between the curved portions  3   h  becomes gradually greater toward an end thereof. 
         [0026]    The first holding portion  3   c  also includes a second holding portion  3   i,  which extends from the other end of the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d  that is located inward with respect to the passenger compartment. The second holding portion  3   i  has a bottom  3   j  and side walls  3   k,  which project from opposite sides of the bottom  3   j.  The recess formed by the bottom  3   j  and the side walls  3   k  extends continuously from the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d.    
         [0027]    A second holding member  12  for holding a plurality of wires  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the space between the second holding member  12  and the first holding portion  3   c  is opposed and fixed to the first holding portion  3   c.  The first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12  configure a holding portion  13 . In other words, the second holding member  12  closes the upper opening end of the first holding portion  3   c  and configures the holding portion  13 , which is tubular as a whole, together with the first holding portion  3   c.  The wires  11  are received in the tubular holding portion  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the wires  11  are bundled together and accommodated in a corrugated tube  14 . The holding portion  13  holds the corrugated tube  14 . The wires  11  electrically connect the body (and a power supply mounted in the body) of the vehicle and the sliding door (and the electric components in the sliding door) of the vehicle. 
         [0028]    Specifically, the second holding member  12  has a second semi-cylindrical holding portion  12   a,  which includes a semi-cylindrical portion to configure, together with the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d,  a cylindrical holding portion  13   a  (see  FIG. 1 ) having an inner circumferential surface of a true circle. 
         [0029]    The second holding member  12  includes a first holding portion  12   b  to configure a tubular first holding portion  13   b  (see  FIG. 1 ) together with the first holding portion  3   e.  The first holding portion  13   b  extends continuously from the end of the second semi-cylindrical holding portion  12   a  that is located outward with respect to the passenger compartment (closer to the vehicle sliding door). The first holding portion  12   b  has a flat top wall  12   c  and side walls  12   d  projecting from opposite sides of the top wall  12   c.  Curved portions  12   e  are formed at positions outward with respect to the side walls  12   d  in the passenger compartment such that the interval between the curved portions  12   e  becomes gradually greater toward an end. As a result, a restriction opening  13   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) is formed in the first holding portion  13   b  including the curved portions  3   h,    12   e.  The restriction opening  13   c  becomes gradually larger to an end to restrict excessive curving, or, in other words, permit slight curving, of the corrugated tube  14  (and the wires  11 ). 
         [0030]    The second holding member  12  has a second holding portion  12   f  to configure a tubular second holding portion  13   d  (see  FIG. 1 ) together with the second holding portion  3   i.  The second holding portion  13   d  extends continuously from the end of the second semi-cylindrical holding portion  12   a  that is located inward with respect to the passenger compartment. The second holding portion  12   f  has a flat top wall  12   g  and side walls  12   h  projecting from opposite sides of the top wall  12   g  (only one of the side walls  12   h  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0031]    The second holding member  12  is engaged with the first holding portion  3   c  by means of a claw structure, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Specifically, in the second holding member  12  of the illustrated embodiment, the second semi-cylindrical holding portion  12   a  and the second holding portion  12   f  (or the side walls  12   h ) have a pair of claw portions  12   i  and a pair of claw portions  12   j,  respectively (only one of each pair of the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  is shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 ). In contrasting, in the first holding portion  3   c  of the illustrated embodiment, the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d  and the second holding portion  3   i  (or the side walls  3   k ) have claw engagement portions  3   l  and claw engagement portions  3   m,  respectively. When the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  are inserted into the corresponding claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m  from above, the claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m  stop the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  from separating. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12  are engaged with each other by means of the claw structure (including the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  and the claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m ), which is configured as described above. 
         [0032]    The corrugated tube  14  (including the wires  11 ) is held in a state passed through the holding portion  13  (the cylindrical holding portion  13   a,  the first holding portion  13   b,  and the second holding portion  13   d ), which is configured as described above. With reference to  FIG. 1 , a rotary holding member  15  having a cylindrical shape (the outer circumferential surface forms a true circle) is arranged around the corrugated tube  14  (the wires  11 ) of the illustrated embodiment to hold the corrugated tube  14  (the wires  11 ). The rotary holding member  15  is rotationally received and held by the cylindrical holding portion  13   a  such that the rotary holding member  15  is rotational relative to the holding portion  13  (about the axis of the corrugated tube  14 ). The portion of the corrugated tube  14  extending out from the second holding portion  13   d  is electrically connected to, for example, a power supply mounted in the body of the vehicle. The portion of the corrugated tube  14  (including the wires  11 ) extending out from the first holding portion  13   b  (the restriction opening  13   c ) is electrically connected to, for example, an electric component mounted in the vehicle sliding door. 
         [0033]    Operation and advantages characteristic to the illustrated embodiment will hereafter be described. 
         [0034]    (1) The holding portion  13  is configured by the first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12 . The first holding portion  3   c  is molded integrally with the step member  3  arranged adjacent to the vehicle sliding door. The second holding member  12  is opposed and fixed to the first holding portion  3   c  and holds the wires  11  (the corrugated tube  14 ) in the space between the second holding member  12  and the first holding portion  3   c.  This configuration decreases the number of the necessary components compared to the technique (the conventional technique) in which the holding member formed by joining the upper holding member and the lower holding member is fixed to the step member. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, the step member  3  and the first holding portion  3   c,  which is a portion of the holding portion  13 , are configured by a common component, thus decreasing the number of the components. Also, the step member  3 , which is typically formed of metal, is molded from a plastic material in the illustrated embodiment. This allows the step member  3  to have wide variety of shapes, thus facilitating integral formation of the step member  3  and the first holding portion  3   c.  Also, since the step member  3  and the first holding portion  3   c  are formed integrally with each other, the step member  3  and the first holding portion  3   c  are prevented from overlapping each other and being enlarged in size, unlike a case where the step member  3  and the first holding portion  3   c  are fixed together as separate bodies (as in the conventional technique). This reduces the size of the wire holding structure as a whole. As a result, a low-floor passenger compartment, for example, is obtained. 
         [0035]    (2) The first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12  are engaged with each other by means of the claw structure (the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  and the claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m ). This decreases the number of components and facilitates assembly compared to a case in which the first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12  are fixed together using, for example, a screw. Particularly, the claw structure must have a complicated shape to allow claw engagement. However, since the step member  3  is molded from a plastic material, portions (for example, the claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m ) of the claw structure are easily formed in the step member  3 . 
         [0036]    (3) The holding portion  13  has the cylindrical holding portion  13   a.  The wires  11  are (the corrugated tube  14  is) held by the rotary holding member  15 , which is rotationally held by the cylindrical holding portion  13   a.  This allows the wires  11  (the corrugated tube  14 ) to rotate relative to the holding portion  13  (about the axis of the corrugated tube  14 ). The wires  11  thus move in correspondence with opening/closing of the vehicle sliding door with improved responsiveness. Particularly, since the holding portion  13  has the cylindrical holding portion  13   a,  the first holding portion  3   c  has a complicated shape. However, the step member  3  is molded from a plastic material and thus facilitates formation of a portion (the first semi-cylindrical holding portion  3   d ) of the cylindrical holding portion  13   a  in the first holding portion  3   c  (the step member  3 ). 
         [0037]    (4) The holding portion  13  has the restriction opening  13   c,  which is formed in an end portion of the holding portion  13 . The restriction opening  13   c  becomes gradually larger toward an end to restrict excessive curving, or, in other words, permit slight curving of the wires  11  (the corrugated tube  14 ). This configuration protects the wires  11  and improves responsiveness of the wires  11  in movement corresponding to opening/closing of the vehicle sliding door. The first holding portion  3   c  has the curved portions  3   h,  each of which configures a portion of the restriction opening  13   c.  However, since the step member  3  is formed from a plastic material, the curved portions  3   h  are formed easily in the first holding portion  3   c.    
         [0038]    (5) The multiple wires  11  are accommodated in the corrugated tube  14 . The holding portion  13  holds the corrugated tube  14 . This configuration facilitates handling of the wires  11 . 
         [0039]    The illustrated embodiment may be modified to the forms described below. 
         [0040]    Engagement between the first holding portion  3   c  and the second holding member  12  is not restricted to engagement through the claw structure (the claw portions  12   i,    12   j  and the claw engagement portions  3   l,    3   m ), but may be fixed using a screw, for example. 
         [0041]    The wires  11  may be held by the holding portion  13  in a non-rotational manner. In other words, the wire holding structure may include neither the cylindrical holding portion  13   a  nor the rotary holding member  15 . 
         [0042]    The holding portion  13  may be modified to a holding portion without the restriction opening  13   c  (the curved portions  3   h,    12   e ). Alternatively, the restriction opening  13   c  of the illustrated embodiment may gradually enlarge toward an end in upward and downward directions (curved portions may be formed in the bottom  3   f  and the top wall  12   c ). Further, such enlargement may be added to the configuration of the embodiment. 
         [0043]    The wires  11  do not necessarily have to be received in the corrugated tube  14 . In this case, the wires  11  are held by a holding portion without employing the corrugated tube  14 . 
         [0044]    The step unit  1  does not necessarily have to include the drive device  2 . In this case, it is unnecessary for the step member  3  to have the drive device mounting portion  3   b.