CORRUGATED-TUBE PROTECTIVE MEMBER

A corrugated-tube protective member includes a tubular main body configured to be arranged inside of an end part of a corrugated tube with ridge portions disposed along its longitudinal direction, a rib on an outer circumference of the main body arranged inside the corrugated tube and configured to engage with the ridge portion in a removal direction of the main body from the corrugated tube, and a stopper at an end part of the main body having an outer diameter set to be equal to or larger than that of the ridge portion and configured to be arranged to oppose an end surface of the corrugated tube. An interval between the stopper and the rib is set to be equal to or larger than an interval between engaged surfaces on the ridge portions adjacent to each other, the engaged surface being a surface configured to engage with the rib.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on, and claims priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001214, filed on Jan. 7, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a corrugated-tube protective member.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a corrugated-tube protective member having a tubular portion as a tubular main body disposed on the inner circumference of an end part of a corrugated tube having a plurality of ridge portions disposed along a longitudinal direction is known (see JP 2019-75946 A).

In the corrugated-tube protective member, a rib configured to be arranged inside the corrugated tube and configured to engage with the ridge portion at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body with respect to the corrugated tube is formed on an outer circumference of the tubular portion. On the outer circumference at an end part in a longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, an outlet flange as a stopper whose outer diameter is set equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion and which is arranged so as to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube in an insertion direction of the main body into the corrugated tube is inserted is provided.

In such a corrugated-tube protective member, the rib engages with the ridge portion at an inside of the ridge portion and prevents the corrugated-tube protective member from coming off from the corrugated tube. Further, by arranging the outlet flange and the end surface of the corrugated tube to face each other, an excessive insertion of the corrugated-tube protective member into the corrugated tube is prevented.

SUMMARY

In the conventional corrugated-tube protective member, an interval between the stopper and the rib is set to be equal to an interval between inner ribs of a protector in which the corrugated tube is arranged. The interval between the inner ribs is set shorter than that between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions. Therefore, in the conventional corrugated-tube protective member, the interval between the stopper and the rib is shorter than the interval between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions.

If the interval between the stopper and the rib is made shorter than that between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions, the ridge portions and the ribs may not be engaged inside the ridge portions depending on a cut shape at the end part of the corrugated tube. More specifically, depending on the cut shape of the end part of the corrugated tube, when the stopper and the end surface of the corrugated tube are brought into contact with each other, the engaged surface of the ridge portion to be engaged with the rib may not exist in the ridge portion. When the ridge portion and the rib cannot be engaged, the corrugated-tube protective member may come off from the corrugated tube.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing a corrugated-tube protective member configured to engage a ridge portion and a rib stably.

A corrugated-tube protective member according to one or more embodiments includes a main body with tubular shape configured to be arranged at an inner circumference of an end part of a corrugated tube, the corrugated tube having a plurality of ridge portions disposed along a longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube; a rib on an outer circumference of the main body configured to be arranged inside the corrugated tube and configured to engage with a ridge portion of the plurality of ridge portions at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body with respect to the corrugated tube; a stopper on an outer circumference at an end part in a longitudinal direction of the main body having an outer diameter set to be equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion and configured to be arranged to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube in an insertion direction of the main body into the corrugated tube. An interval between the stopper and the rib is set to be equal to or larger than an interval between engaged surfaces on the ridge portions adjacent to each other, the engaged surface being a surface configured to engage with the rib.

The interval between the stopper and the rib may be set to be equal to the interval between the engaged surfaces on the ridge portions adjacent to each other.

A surface of the rib on a front side of the insertion direction side may be an inclined surface.

A plurality of the ribs may be disposed along the longitudinal direction of the main body.

At least one portion in the circumferential direction of the main body may be provided with a dividing portion configured to divide the main body in the circumferential direction.

According to the above configuration, a corrugated-tube protective member capable of stably engaging the ridge portion and a rib is provide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a corrugated-tube protective member according to one or more embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The dimensional ratio of the drawings may differ from the actual ratio.

The corrugated-tube protective member1according to one or more embodiments includes a tubular main body7arranged at an inner circumference of an end part of the corrugated tube5having a plurality of ridge portions3disposed along the longitudinal direction.

A rib9is provided on an outer circumference of the main body7and is configured to be disposed inside the corrugated tube5and configured to be engaged with the ridge portion3at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body7with respect to the corrugated tube5.

Further, a stopper11on an outer circumference of an end part in a longitudinal direction of the main body7has an outer diameter set to be equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion3and is configured to be arranged to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube5in an insertion direction of the main body7into the corrugated tube5.

A interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9is set to be equal to or larger than an interval L2between engaged surfaces13on the ridge portions3adjacent to each other. Here, the engaged surface13is a surface configured to engage with the rib9.

In some embodiments, the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9may be set to be equal to the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13on the ridge portions3adjacent to each other.

Further, a surface of the rib9on a front side of the insertion direction of the main body7into the corrugated tube5is an inclined surface15.

A plurality of the ribs9are disposed along the length direction of the main body7.

Further, at least one portion in a circumferential direction of the main body7is provided with a dividing portion17configured to divide the main body7in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the corrugated tube5has a plurality of ridge portions3disposed along the longitudinal direction. The corrugated tube5is flexible. The corrugated tube5prevent interference between an electric wire (not illustrated) and a peripheral member in a state that the electric wire for electrically connecting a power source and an apparatus mounted on a vehicle is inserted through the corrugated tube5, for example.

In the corrugated tube5, a slit (not illustrated) into which an electric wire can be inserted is formed along the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube5. By forming the slit as described above, the corrugated tube5can be attached to an intermediate portion of the electric wire even in a state the electric wire is routed in a vehicle.

When an external force is applied to the corrugated tube5from the outside in the radial direction, the corrugated tube5may be deformed so as to collapse toward the inside. In particular, if deformation occurs at the end part of the corrugated tube5, the corrugated tube5may not be attached to a mounting member such as a protector on which an electric wire is routed. Therefore, the corrugated-tube protective member1is arranged at the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube5.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the corrugated-tube protective member1is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin having rigidity higher than rigidity of the corrugated tube5. The corrugated-tube protective member1includes a main body7, a rib9, and a stopper11.

The main body7is formed into a tubular shape having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the corrugated tube5and configured to be inserted into the corrugated tube5. The main body7is divided in the circumferential direction by one dividing portion17in the circumferential direction, and a part opposed to the dividing portion17in the radial direction is connected via a hinge (not illustrated) so as the main body7to open and close.

By providing the dividing portion17to the main body7as described above, the corrugated-tube protective member1can be attached to the intermediate portion of the electric wire even in a state the electric wire is routed in the vehicle. The main body7is held in a state where the dividing portion17is engaged through a locking part19. The rib9and the stopper11are provided on the outer circumference of the main body7.

The rib9is provided on the outer circumference of the main body7continuous in the circumferential direction of the main body7and protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the main body7toward the outside. The rib9and the main body7are formed as a single member being continuous with each other. An outer diameter of the rib9is set smaller than the outer diameter of the ridge portion3of the corrugated tube5. The rib9is disposed inside the ridge portion3in a state the main body7is inserted into the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube5.

The surface of the rib9on the direction of removal of the main body7with respect to the corrugated tube5(a left side surface of the rib9illustrated inFIG. 3) is an engaging surface21, the engaging surface21formed substantially perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the main body7. The engaging surface21is configured to engage with the engaged surface13facing the engaging surface21on the inner circumference of the ridge portion3inside the ridge portion3.

The main body7is prevented from coming off the corrugated tube5by the engagement of the engaging surface21and the engaged surface13. A plurality of ribs9(three ribs in this embodiment) are provided along the longitudinal direction of the main body7. By providing a plurality of ribs9as described above, a plurality of engagement portions between the engaging surface21and the engaged surface13can be obtained, and the corrugated-tube protective member1can be stably held on the corrugated tube5.

The surface of the rib9in the insertion direction of the main body7into the corrugated tube5(a right side surface of the rib9illustrated inFIG. 3) is an inclined surface15inclined upward from the front side in the insertion direction toward the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the main body7. That is, the inclined surface15is inclined so as to increase the outer diameter of the corrugated-tube protective member1from the front side toward the rear side in the insertion direction. By providing the inclined surface15on the rib9as described above, the main body7can be stably inserted into the corrugated tube5, and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member1to the corrugated tube5can be improved.

The stopper11is provided on the outer circumference of the end part of the main body7continuous in the circumferential direction of the main body7and protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the main body7toward the outside. The stopper11and the main body7are formed as a single member being continuous with each other. An outer diameter of the stopper11is set equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the ridge portion3of the corrugated tube5. In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the stopper11is set equal to an outer diameter of the ridge portion3of the corrugated tube5. The stopper11is exposed from the corrugated tube5in a state that the main body7is inserted into the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube5, and is arranged to face the end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube5.

By arranging the stopper11in a manner described above, the stopper11abuts the end surface of the corrugated tube5, when the main body7is to be excessively inserted into the corrugated tube5. The main body7can be prevented from being excessively inserted into the corrugated tube5by abutting the stopper11with the end surface of the corrugated tube5.

If the interval Ll between the stopper11and the rib9adjacent to the stopper11is shorter than the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13on the ridge portions3adjacent to each other, the engaged surfaces13to be engaged with the ribs9, the rib9and the ridge portion3may not be engaged depending on the cut shape of the end part of the corrugated tube5.

More specifically, the corrugated tube5may be cut at the end part of the corrugated tube5so that the engaged surface13is eliminated at the top of the ridge portion3. With such a cut shape, even if the stopper11and the end surface of the corrugated tube5abut against each other, since the interval Ll between the stopper11and the rib9is short, the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3may not be positioned on the engaging surface21of the rib9.

Therefore, the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9adjacent to the stopper11is set to be an interval equal to or larger than the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13on the ridge portions3adjacent to each other so as to be engaged with the ribs9. By setting the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9as described above, it is possible to arrange the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3on the engagement surface21of the rib9regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube5.

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the cut surface23at the end of the corrugated tube5may be cut straight in the radial direction so as to eliminate the engaged surface13at the top of the ridge portion3. Even with such a cut surface23, the cut surface23can be arranged between the stopper11and the rib9, and the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be engaged onto the engaging surface21of the rib9.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the cut surface25at the end of the corrugated tube5may be cut between the adjacent engaged surfaces13so as to eliminate the engaged surface13at the top of the ridge portion3. Even with such a cut surface25, the cut surface25can be arranged between the stopper11and the rib9, and the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be engaged onto the engaging surface21of the rib9.

By setting the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9to be an interval equal to or larger than the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13, the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be engaged to the engaged surface21of the rib9regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube5. Thus, the engaging surface21of the rib9and the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be securely engaged, and the corrugated-tube protective member1can be stably held on the corrugated tube5.

Here, as the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9is larger than the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13of the ridge portion3adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs9, the engaged surface13on the ridge portion3can be engaged to the engaging surface21of the rib9. However, when the interval Ll between the stopper11and the rib9is wide, the main body7may be elongated in the longitudinal direction, and the corrugated-tube protective member1may be enlarged.

Therefore, the interval Ll between the stopper11and the rib9adjacent to the stopper11is set equal to the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13of the ridge portion3adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs9. By setting interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9as described above, the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3is configured to engage with the engaging surface21of the rib9at a minimum required interval. Therefore, an elongation of the main body7in the longitudinal direction may be prevented, and an upsizing of the corrugated-tube protective member1may be prevented.

In the corrugated-tube protective member1, the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9is set to be equal or larger than the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13of the ridge portion3adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs9. Therefore, regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube5, the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be engaged to the rib9.

Therefore, the corrugated-tube protective member1according to one or more embodiments stably engages the ridge portion3and the rib9.

Further, in some embodiments, the interval L1between the stopper11and the rib9is set equal to the interval L2between the engaged surfaces13of the ridge portion3adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs9. Therefore, the engaged surface13of the ridge portion3can be arranged with respect to the rib9at a necessary minimum interval, and an upsizing of the corrugated-tube protective member1can be prevented.

Further, a surface of the rib9on front side in the insertion direction of the main body7to the corrugated tube5is formed by an inclined surface15. Therefore, the main body7can be stably inserted into the corrugated tube5, and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member1to the corrugated tube5can be improved.

A plurality of ribs9are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the main body7. Thus, a plurality of engagement portions between the ribs9and the ridge portions3can be obtained, and the corrugated-tube protective member1can be stably held on the corrugated tube5.

Further, at least one portion in the circumferential direction of the main body7is provided with the dividing portion17configured to divide the main body7in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the main body7can be assembled to the intermediate portion of the electric wire, and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member1to the electric wire can be improved.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, in the present embodiment, three ribs are provided on the main body, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and two or fewer or four or more ribs may be provided on the main body.

The dividing portion is provided at one position in the circumferential direction of the main body, and the main body is formed to open and close via a hinge, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the dividing portion may be provided at two positions in the circumferential direction of the main body, and the main body divided into two may be assembled and form the main body.