ROUTING STRUCTURE

A routing structure includes: a protector disposed on a sliding door of a vehicle; an electric wire connecting a vehicle body and the sliding door of the vehicle; a rotating member rotatably supported by the protector, the rotating member having a cylindrical shape through which the electric wire is inserted; and a shielding member that follows rotation of the rotating member while sliding with respect to the protector, in which the protector has a routing path through which the electric wire drawn out from the rotating member towards the sliding door is routed, and the shielding member is disposed closer to the vehicle body than to the electric wire in the routing path and covers the electric wire from a space on the vehicle body side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-137813 filed in Japan on Aug. 28, 2023.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a routing structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there is a routing structure for sliding doors. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2015-154520 discloses a power feeding device including a rotary member and a support member that pivotally supports the rotary member. The rotary member includes: an outer peripheral unit; a harness lead-out unit disposed in the outer peripheral unit; and an appearance wall provided along the outer peripheral unit from the harness lead-out unit, in which the rotation center of the rotary member is disposed to be eccentric with respect to the outer peripheral unit, the support member has an opening to make the harness lead-out unit to be positioned in a freely rotatable manner, and the appearance wall closes the opening when the rotary member rotates in one direction.

There is still room for study in a structure for making electric wires difficult to be visually recognized. For example, since the appearance wall rotates together with the rotary member, it is necessary to design the entire power feeding device in consideration of the rotation locus of the appearance wall. The structure in which the electric wire is covered with a member different from the rotary member leaves room for examination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a routing structure in which an electric wire is hardly visually recognized.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a routing structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a protector disposed on a sliding door of a vehicle; an electric wire connecting a vehicle body of the vehicle and the sliding door; a rotating member rotatably supported by the protector, the rotating member having a cylindrical shape through which the electric wire is inserted; and a shielding member that follows rotation of the rotating member while sliding with respect to the protector, wherein the protector has a routing path through which the electric wire drawn out from the rotating member towards the sliding door is routed, and the shielding member is disposed closer to the vehicle body than to the electric wire in the routing path and covers the electric wire from a space on the vehicle body side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a routing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the invention is not limited by the embodiment. In addition, components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

EMBODIMENT

An embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to9. The present embodiment relates to a routing structure.FIG.1is a perspective view of a routing structure according to an embodiment,FIGS.2and3are plan views of the routing structure according to the embodiment,FIGS.4and5are exploded perspective views of the routing structure according to the embodiment,FIG.6is a plan view illustrating the inside of a protector according to the embodiment,FIG.7is a front view of the routing structure according to the embodiment,FIG.8is a plan view illustrating the inside of the protector according to the embodiment, andFIG.9is a front view of the routing structure according to the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the routing structure1of the present embodiment includes a protector2, a rotating member3, a shielding member4, and an electric wire W. As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the electric wire W connects a vehicle body110of the vehicle100and a sliding door120. The electric wire W is connected to a power source such as a battery or a control unit such as an ECU in the vehicle body110.

The sliding door120slides in a first direction X with respect to the vehicle body110. The first direction X is, for example, the front-rear direction of the vehicle100. The sliding door120slides while being guided by a rail disposed on the vehicle body110, for example. The sliding door120may slide by an operation of a link mechanism that connects the vehicle body110and the sliding door120.

FIG.2is a diagram illustrating the routing structure1when the sliding door120is at a fully closed position. When the sliding door120is at the fully closed position, as illustrated inFIG.2, the electric wire W extends from the protector2in the first direction X.FIG.3is a diagram illustrating the routing structure1when the sliding door120is at a fully open position. When the sliding door120is in the fully open position, as illustrated inFIG.3, the electric wire W extends from the protector2in a second direction Y. The second direction Y is, for example, the width direction of the vehicle100. When the sliding door120is at the fully open position, the rotating member3protrudes from the protector2towards a space130on the vehicle body110side. In the routing structure1of the present embodiment, the rotation angle of the rotating member3when the sliding door120moves between the fully closed position and the fully open position is larger than 90°.

The protector2is disposed on the sliding door120and held by the sliding door120. The rotating member3is rotatably supported by the protector2. As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the rotating member3rotates as the extending direction of the electric wire W changes due to the movement of the sliding door120.

A cylindrical exterior member5may be disposed between the rotating member3and the vehicle body110. In this case, the rotating member3holds one end5aof the exterior member5. The other end of the exterior member5is held by a holding member disposed in the vehicle body110. The electric wire W is inserted into the exterior member5and protected by the exterior member5.

The shielding member4shields the electric wire W inside the protector2from the space on the vehicle body110side. The shielding member4is slidable with respect to the protector2and is structured in such a manner as to follow the rotation of the rotating member3.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the protector2includes a protector body6and a cover7. The protector body6and the cover7are molded from, for example, insulating synthetic resin. The protector body6has a semi-cylindrical shape. The protector body6has a routing path60through which the electric wire W is routed. The routing path60includes a bottom wall61, a first side wall64, and a second side wall65.

The routing path60has a first opening60aand a second opening60b. The first opening60ais an opening through which the electric wire W is drawn out towards the vehicle body110. The vicinity of the first opening60ain the routing path60has a tapered shape in which the opening width decreases as it is closer to the second opening60b. The first opening60ais formed in such a manner as not to interfere with the rotating member3on the basis of the rotation range of the rotating member3. The second opening60bis an opening through which the electric wire W is drawn out towards the sliding door120. The illustrated second opening60bopens upward.

The bottom wall61of the routing path60includes a through hole62that rotatably supports a rotating shaft83of the rotating member3. The through hole62is disposed in the vicinity of the first opening60a. The bottom wall61includes a guide groove63that guides the shielding member4. The guide groove63extends from the vicinity of the through hole62towards the second opening60balong the routing direction of the electric wire W.

The cover7is a member that engages with the protector body6and covers the routing path60from above. The protector body6and the cover7surround the electric wire W routed in the routing path60and protect the electric wire W. The cover7has a recess that rotatably supports a rotating shaft93of the rotating member3. The recess is disposed at a position facing the through hole62of the protector body6.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the rotating member3includes a first member8and a second member9. The first member8and the second member9are molded from, for example, insulating synthetic resin. The first member8has a bottom wall80, a first side wall81, and a second side wall82. The bottom wall80, the first side wall81, and the second side wall82constitute a semi-cylindrical portion having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The rotating shaft83having a columnar shape is provided at an end of the bottom wall80. The rotating shaft83is rotatably supported by the through hole62of the protector2.

The second member9has a top wall90, a first side wall91, and a second side wall92. The top wall90, the first side wall91, and the second side wall92constitute a semi-cylindrical portion having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The rotating shaft93having a columnar shape is provided at an end of the top wall90. The rotating shaft93is rotatably supported by the cover7of the protector2.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the rotating member3includes a cylindrical portion31having a rectangular cylindrical shape. The cylindrical portion31includes the semi-cylindrical portion of the first member8and the semi-cylindrical portion of the second member9. The rotating member3is rotatable about the rotating shafts83and93. The rotating member3follows the electric wire W by changing the direction of the cylindrical portion31when the sliding door120is opened and closed.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the shielding member4is a plate-like member. The shielding member4is molded from, for example, insulating synthetic resin. The shielding member4includes a body40, a first shaft portion41, and a second shaft portion42. The body40has a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view. The body40has a bent portion43. The body40is bent at an obtuse angle at the bent portion43.

The first shaft portion41is rotatably supported by the rotating member3. The shielding member4is connected with the rotating member3at the first shaft portion41. The second shaft portion42is guided by the guide groove63of the protector2. The first shaft portion41is provided at one end of the body40and protrudes from both sides of the body40in the width direction of the body40. The first member8of the rotating member3has a recess84that rotatably supports the first shaft portion41. The recess84is adjacent to an end81aof the first side wall81. The end81ais an end close to the rotating shaft83. That is, the recess84is disposed such that the first side wall81and the shielding member4can form a continuous wall portion to cover the electric wire W. The second member9has a recess similar to the recess84and rotatably supports the first shaft portion41. That is, the rotating member3rotatably supports both ends of the first shaft portion41.

The second shaft portion42is provided at an end of the body40on a side opposite to the first shaft portion41side. The second shaft portion42protrudes from one side of the body40in the width direction of the body40.

Illustrated inFIG.6is the inside of the protector2when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position. InFIG.6, the cover7of the protector2and the second member9of the rotating member3are omitted. The shielding member4is disposed on the vehicle body110side with respect to the electric wire W in the routing path60. That is, the shielding member4is disposed in such a manner as to cover the electric wire W from the space130on the vehicle body110side.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the guide groove63has a first end63aand a second end63b. The first end63ais an end located on the first opening60aside. The second end63bis an end located on the second opening60bside. When the sliding door120is at the fully closed position, the second shaft portion42of the shielding member4is positioned at the first end63a.

The first end63ais disposed in such a manner as to overlap the first side wall64when viewed from the second direction Y. Therefore, the shielding member4can cover the routing path60when viewed from the space130on the vehicle body110side. As illustrated inFIG.6, the guide groove63of the protector2is disposed along a first side wall64. Therefore, the shielding member4is positioned on the first side wall64side with respect to the electric wire W in the routing path60. The shielding member4can cover the electric wire W routed between the first side wall64and the second side wall65.

FIG.7is a front view of the protector2, the rotating member3, and the shielding member4when the sliding door120is in the fully closed position as viewed from the second direction Y. As illustrated inFIG.7, the shielding member4covers the electric wire W inside the protector2from the external space. The height of the shielding member4is determined in such a manner as to be able to cover the electric wire W from the upper end to the lower end thereof. The length of the shielding member4is determined in such a manner that the electric wire W inside the protector2is not visually recognized when viewed from the second direction Y.

More specifically, the length of the shielding member4is set on the basis of an opening width L1between the rotating member3and the protector2. The opening width L1is a length from an end31aof the rotating member3to an end64aof the protector2in the first direction X. The end31ais an end on the rotation center side of the cylindrical portion31. The end64ais an end of the first side wall64of the protector body6on the first opening60aside. The length of the shielding member4is equal to or larger than the opening width L1.

An arrow AR1illustrated inFIG.6is the rotation direction of the rotating member3when the sliding door120is opened. The rotation direction of the arrow AR1is referred to as a “first rotation direction”. When the rotating member3rotates in the direction of the arrow AR1, the shielding member4slides by being pushed by the rotating member3. The sliding direction at this point is a direction approaching the second opening60balong the guide groove63.

Illustrated inFIG.8is the inside of the protector2when the sliding door120is at the fully open position. InFIG.8, the cover7of the protector2and the second member9of the rotating member3are omitted. When the sliding door120is at the fully open position, the second shaft portion42of the shielding member4is positioned at the second end63bof the guide groove63. The electric wire W is curved inside the protector2. The electric wire W includes a first extending portion W1, a second extending portion W2, and a curved portion W3. The first extending portion W1is a portion extending in the second direction Y from the protector2towards the vehicle body110. The second extending portion W2is a portion extending in the routing path60of the protector2along the first direction X. The curved portion W3is a portion curved between the first extending portion W1and the second extending portion W2.

The shielding member4is accommodated in a space between the first side wall64of the protector2and the second extending portion W2of the electric wire W. Since the shielding member4is located on an inner side in the curving direction with respect to the curved electric wire W, the shielding member4is unlikely to be interfered with the electric wire W.

FIG.9is a front view of the protector2and the rotating member3when the sliding door120is at the fully open position as viewed from the space130on the vehicle body110side. As illustrated inFIG.9, the rotating member3covers the electric wire W inside the protector2. As illustrated inFIGS.8and9, the shielding member4overlaps the rotating member3and is hidden by the rotating member3when viewed from the second direction Y.

When the sliding door120rotates from the fully open position towards the fully closed position, the rotating member3rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow AR2inFIG.8. The rotation direction of the arrow AR2is referred to as a “second rotation direction”. When the rotating member3rotates in the second rotation direction, the shielding member4slides in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member3. The direction of movement of the shielding member4at this point is a direction away from the second opening60balong the first direction X. The shielding member4moves in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member3while covering the electric wire W inside the protector2.

As described above, the routing structure1of the present embodiment is structured such that the electric wire W inside the protector2is not visually recognized from the vehicle body110side when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position, at the fully open position, and is moving. Therefore, the routing structure1of the present embodiment can suppress deterioration in appearance due to the electric wire W being visually recognized by the user.

As described above, the routing structure1of the present embodiment includes the protector2, the electric wire W, the rotating member3having the cylindrical shape, and the shielding member4. The protector2is disposed on the sliding door120of the vehicle100. The electric wire W connects the vehicle body110of the vehicle100and the sliding door120. The rotating member3is rotatably supported by the protector2, and the electric wire W is inserted into the rotating member3. The shielding member4follows the rotation of the rotating member3while sliding with respect to the protector2.

The protector2has the routing path60through which the electric wire W drawn out from the rotating member3towards the sliding door120is routed. The shielding member4is disposed closer to the vehicle body110than to the electric wire W in the routing path60and covers the electric wire W from the space130on the vehicle body110side. The routing structure1of the present embodiment includes the shielding member4that covers the electric wire while following the rotation of the rotating member3. Therefore, the routing structure1of the present embodiment can achieve the effect that the electric wire W is hardly visually recognized from the space130on the vehicle body110side.

The shielding member4of the present embodiment is connected to the rotating member3. The protector2has the guide groove63that guides the shielding member4. The shielding member4is connected to the rotating member3and follows the rotation of the rotating member3while being guided by the guide groove63. With such a configuration, the shielding member4can be slid along a predetermined locus.

First Modification of Embodiment

A first modification of the embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.10.FIG.10is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a protector according to the first modification of the embodiment. A routing structure1of the first modification of the embodiment is different from the routing structure1of the above embodiment in that, for example, the protector2includes a housing chamber66that houses the shielding member4.

Similarly to the shielding member4of the above embodiment, a shielding member4of the first modification slides along the extending direction of the electric wire W in the routing path60. As illustrated inFIG.10, the protector2of the first modification includes the housing chamber66. The housing chamber66is included inside the protector body6and is disposed on the first side wall64side with respect to the routing path60. The housing chamber66has a partition wall67. The partition wall67is erected from the bottom wall61of the protector body6. The partition wall67extends along the routing direction of the electric wire W in the routing path60and separates the electric wire W and the shielding member4.

The guide groove63is disposed between the partition wall67and the first side wall64. Therefore, the guide groove63can guide the shielding member4to the inside of the housing chamber66when the sliding door120is opened.

As described above, in the routing structure1according to the first modification of the embodiment, the shielding member4slides along the extending direction of the electric wire W in the routing path60. The protector2has the housing chamber66that houses the shielding member4. The housing chamber66has the partition wall67that separates the shielding member4and the electric wire W. Therefore, the routing structure1of the first modification can suppress interference between the electric wire W and the shielding member4.

Second Modification of Embodiment

A second modification of the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.11to14. A routing structure1of the second modification of the embodiment is different from the routing structure1of the above embodiment in that, for example, the shielding member4is caused to follow the rotation of the rotating member3using the weight of the shielding member4itself.FIGS.11and12are diagrams illustrating the internal structure of a protector according to the second modification of the embodiment, andFIGS.13and14are cross-sectional views of the routing structure according to the second modification of the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.11, the protector2of the second modification has a housing chamber66similar to the housing chamber66of the first modification. The housing chamber66has a partition wall67that separates the electric wire W and the shielding member4. The partition wall67is erected from the bottom wall61of the protector body6and extends along the extending direction of the electric wire W in the routing path60.

The shielding member4of the second modification is not connected with the rotating member3and can slide independently from the rotating member3. The shielding member4has a body40similar to the body40of the above embodiment. The body40has a first end44and a second end45. The first end44is one end of the body40in the first direction X. The shielding member4slides in the first direction X while being guided by the partition wall67and the first side wall64.

The end31aof the rotating member3is disposed on a locus of the first end44when the shielding member4slides. The rotating member3is structured to be rotatable while the end31ais kept being in contact with the first end44. Therefore, the rotating member3can slide the shielding member4to the back portion of the housing chamber66while rotating in the direction of the arrow AR1.

The second end45of the shielding member4is the other end of the body40in the first direction X. Illustrated inFIG.11is the inside of the protector2when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position. When the sliding door120is in the fully closed position, the second end45of the shielding member4is inserted into the housing chamber66. Therefore, the shielding member4can shield the electric wire W inside the protector2from the external space when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position.

An arrow AR1illustrated inFIG.11is a rotation direction of the rotating member3when the sliding door120is opened. When the sliding door120is opened, the end31aof the rotating member3pushes the shielding member4into the housing chamber66.

Illustrated inFIG.12is the inside of the protector2when the sliding door120is at the fully open position. The shielding member4is housed in the housing chamber66and is locked by the rotating member3.

Illustrated inFIG.13is a cross section of the housing chamber66along the first direction X. A bottom wall68of the housing chamber66has an inclined surface68a. The inclined surface68ais inclined upward from the first opening60atowards the second opening60balong the first direction X. When the rotating member3rotates as indicated by the arrow AR1inFIG.11, the rotating member3presses the shielding member4. As illustrated inFIG.13, a pressing force F1at this point is a force applied in a direction in which the shielding member4is pushed into the back of the housing chamber66. With this pressing force F1, the shielding member4is inserted into the housing chamber66while sliding on the inclined surface68a. When the sliding door120moves up to the fully open position, the rotating member3stops rotating and locks the shielding member4in a state of being accommodated in the housing chamber66.

When the sliding door120moves from the fully open position towards the fully closed position, the rotating member3rotates in a direction opposite to the arrow AR1. As a result, the locking of the rotating member3with respect to the shielding member4is released. When the locking is released, the shielding member4slides down along the inclined surface68aas indicated by an arrow AR3inFIG.14. That is, the shielding member4slides in a direction opposite to the insertion direction to the housing chamber66. Therefore, the shielding member4can follow the rotation of the rotating member3while sliding on the inclined surface68a.

As described above, when rotating in the first rotation direction, the rotating member3according to the second modification of the embodiment presses the shielding member4to insert the shielding member4into the housing chamber66. The protector2has the inclined surface68a. The inclined surface68acauses the shielding member4to slide in the direction opposite to the insertion direction to the housing chamber66. Therefore, in the routing structure1of the second modification, the shielding member4can be caused to follow the rotation of the rotating member3.

Third Modification of Embodiment

A third modification of the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.15to18. A routing structure1of the third modification of the embodiment is different from the routing structure1of the above embodiment in that, for example, a spring69that biases the shielding member4is included.FIG.15is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a protector according to a third modification of the embodiment,FIG.16is a cross-sectional view of the routing structure according to the third modification of the embodiment,FIG.17is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the protector according to the third modification of the embodiment, andFIG.18is a cross-sectional view of the routing structure according to the third modification of the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIGS.15and16, the routing structure1according to the third modification of the embodiment includes the spring69disposed in the housing chamber66. The spring69is, for example, a coil spring. The spring69extends in the first direction X and generates a biasing force in the first direction X. One end of the spring69is in contact with the shielding member4, and the other end of the spring69is in contact with the protector body6. The spring69presses the shielding member4towards the rotating member3.

Illustrated inFIGS.15and16is the shielding member4and the spring69when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position. The spring69is compressed between the shielding member4and the protector body6when the sliding door120is at the fully closed position. The spring69can suppress the vibration of the shielding member4by pressing the shielding member4towards the rotating member3.

When the rotating member3rotates as indicated by an arrow AR1inFIG.15, the rotating member3presses the shielding member4. As illustrated inFIG.16, the pressing force F1at this point is a force applied in a direction in which the shielding member4is pushed into the back of the housing chamber66. With this pressing force F1, the shielding member4is inserted into the housing chamber66while compressing the spring69. When the sliding door120moves up to the fully open position, the rotating member3stops rotating and locks the shielding member4in a state of being accommodated in the housing chamber66. Illustrated inFIG.17is the rotating member3, the shielding member4, and the spring69when the sliding door120is at the fully open position. The spring69applies a biasing force F2to the shielding member4. The biasing force F2is a force applied in a direction to push out the shielding member4from the housing chamber66. The rotating member3locks the shielding member4against the biasing force F2.

When the sliding door120moves from the fully open position towards the fully closed position, the rotating member3rotates in a direction opposite to the arrow AR1. As a result, the locking of the shielding member4by the rotating member3is released. When the locking is released, the shielding member4moves by the biasing force F2of the spring69. As indicated by an arrow AR4inFIG.18, the shielding member4slides towards the first opening60a. The spring69presses the shielding member4towards the rotating member3and causes the shielding member4to follow the rotation of the rotating member3.

As described above, when rotating in the first rotation direction, the rotating member3according to the third modification presses the shielding member4to insert the shielding member4into the housing chamber66. The spring69is disposed in the housing chamber66. The spring69biases the shielding member4in the direction opposite to the insertion direction to the housing chamber66. Therefore, in the routing structure1of the third modification, the shielding member4can be caused to follow the rotation of the rotating member3.

The content disclosed in the above embodiment and the modifications can be implemented in combination as appropriate.

A routing structure according to the present embodiment includes: a protector disposed on a sliding door of a vehicle; an electric wire that connects a vehicle body and the sliding door of the vehicle; a rotating member rotatably supported by the protector, the rotating member having a cylindrical shape through which the electric wire is inserted; and a shielding member that follows rotation of the rotating member while sliding with respect to the protector. The shielding member is disposed closer to the vehicle body than to the electric wire in the routing path and covers the electric wire from the space on the vehicle body side. According to the routing structure of the present embodiment, there is an effect that the electric wire is hardly visually recognized.