Fixing device for wire harness

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a wiring harness fixing device, by which a wiring harness can be easily removed from a panel of a motor vehicle and the saving of resources can be attained. A wiring clip as the wiring harness fixing device fixes a wiring harness on a panel. The wiring clip includes a mount and an engaging part. The mount has a flat plate-shape. The engaging part includes a standing piece standing up from the mount, a pair of engaging pieces, a thin part, and a thick part. The pair of engaging pieces has a mountain-shape, in which one end thereof continues to an end of the standing piece. The thin part is formed concave from an outer surface of the standing piece and has the minimum cross-sectional area in the standing piece. The thick part protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece. The thin part is situated nearer to the mount than the thick part is situated near the mount.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wiring harness fixing device for fixing a wiring harness on a panel which constitutes a vehicle body of a motor vehicle and so on as a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Various electronic instruments are mounted on a motor vehicle as a vehicle. The motor vehicle is provided with a wiring harness which transmits electric power from an electric source such as a battery and transmits control signals from control devices to the electronic instruments. The wiring harness includes a plurality of electric wires (hereinafter, wires) and connectors attached to ends and so on of the wires.

Each wire is a so-called coated wire which includes an electrically conductive core wire and an electrically insulating coating that coats the core wire. Each connector includes terminal fittings, each of which is electrically connected to the core wire of the wire, and an insulating connector housing which receives the terminal fittings. The connector is to be coupled with a connector of the electronic instrument. Thus, the wiring harness transmits the electric power and various signals to the electronic instruments.

For example, as shown inFIG. 7, a wiring harness fixing device101is used to fix a wiring harness107on a panel100that constitutes a vehicle body of a motor vehicle. The wiring harness fixing device101integrally includes a flat plate-shaped mount102and an engaging part103. The wiring harness fixing device101is made of synthetic resin.

The engaging part103integrally includes a standing piece104, which stands up from the mount102, and a pair of engaging pieces105. The engaging pieces105continue to each other at an end thereof. The end of the pair of engaging pieces105continues to the tip of the standing piece104, the tip being away from the mount102. Opposite ends of the respective engaging pieces105are away from each other having a distance therebetween and having a distance from the standing piece104.

Each engaging piece105gradually approaches toward the mount102as extending from the one end to the opposite end. The engaging pieces105gradually parts from each other and from the standing piece104as extending from the one end to the opposite end. The pair of the engaging pieces105is formed in a mountain-shape from a side view thereof. Each opposite end of the pair of the engaging pieces105is provided with a notch106. The notch106is formed by notching an outer edge of the opposite end of the corresponding engaging pieces105. The pair of the engaging pieces105can be elastically deformed in a direction that the opposites ends of the pair of the engaging pieces105approach toward each other.

The wires of the wiring harness107are put on the mount102and a tape108is wound up on the outer circumference of the mount102and the wires, thereby the wiring harness fixing device101is fixed to the wiring harness107.

Then, the pair of the engaging pieces105is inserted into a hole109formed in the panel100. The pair of the engaging pieces105is once elastically deformed in a direction that the opposites ends of the pair of the engaging pieces105approach toward each other. Thereafter, when each opposite end of the pair of the engaging pieces105is inserted into the corresponding hole109, the opposite ends of the pair of the engaging pieces105is displaced in a direction that the opposites ends of the pair of the engaging pieces105part away from each other by an elastic recovering force. Then, the notch106comes in contact with an inner edge of the hole109. Thus, the engaging part103is engaged with the hole109formed in the panel100. Thus, as shown inFIG. 7, the wiring harness fixing device101fixes the wiring harness107on the panel100.

When the wiring harness107fixed on the panel100with the wiring harness fixing device101is removed from the panel100, an end of the wiring harness107is displaced in a direction of moving away from the panel100along an arrow K shown inFIG. 8. Then, the tape108is cut as shown inFIG. 9, thereby the wiring harness107is removed from the panel100.

In the wiring harness fixing device101, the tape108is cut so as to remove the wiring harness107from the panel100. Therefore, the wiring harness107must be displaced in a direction of moving away from the panel100causing a problem for a worker that the wiring harness107is hard to be removed from the panel100.

Further, in the wiring harness fixing device101, even if the wiring harness107is removed from the panel100, the engaging part103is still engaged with the hole109of the panel100, that is, still attached on the panel100. Since the engaging part103is engaged in the hole109of the panel100, it is difficult to remove the wiring harness fixing device101from the panel100. That is, it is difficult to easily remove the wiring harness fixing device101from the panel100of a motor vehicle that becomes unnecessary. Such a situation is undesirable from the viewpoint of saving of resources.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a wiring harness fixing device, by which a wiring harness can be easily removed from a panel of a motor vehicle and the saving of resources can be attained.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is a wiring harness fixing device for mounting a wiring harness on a panel that constitutes a body of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a mount to be put on the wiring harness;

an engaging part, which stands up from the mount and can engage with a hole formed in the panel;

a thin part, which is provided at an end of the engaging part on the side of the mount and has the smallest cross-sectional area in the engaging part, said cross-sectional area being taken along an extending direction of the wiring harness; and

displacement means for displacing the engaging part in a direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount around the thin part when the mount is displaced along the extending direction of the wiring harness.

That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount. Then, the engaging part is broken from the thin part, at which the cross-sectional area of the engaging part is minimum. That is, the engaging part is cut at the thin part.

Thus, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the engaging part is separated. Therefore, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be removed from the panel. That is, when the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also removed from the panel.

Further, in the present invention, the displacement means is provided at an end of the engaging part on the side of the mount and the thin part is situated nearer to the mount than the displacement means is situated near the mount.

That is, the thin part is situated nearer to the mount than the displacement means is situated near the mount. Therefore, when the displacement means inclines the engaging part toward the mount, the engaging part is securely broken from the mount. That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be securely removed from the panel. That is, when the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also securely removed from the panel.

Further, in the present invention, the engaging part includes;

a standing piece standing up from the mount; and

a pair of engaging pieces, which engages with the hole formed in the panel, continues to an end of the standing piece on the opposite side of the mount, and is inclined in a direction of moving away from each other as the pair of engaging pieces approaches toward the mount, wherein the thin part and the displacement means are provided at an end of the standing piece on the side of the mount, the thin part has the smallest cross-sectional area in the standing piece, said cross-sectional area being taken along an extending direction of the wiring harness, and the displacement means protrudes from an outer surface of the standing piece toward an outer direction of the standing piece.

That is, the displacement means protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece. Therefore, when the mount is displaced along the extending direction of the wiring harness, the engaging pieces do not approach the standing piece to come in contact with the standing piece. That is, the displacement means securely displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part.

Further, in the present invention, the displacement means includes a first inclined surface, which protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece toward the outer direction of the standing piece and is inclined in a direction of gradually approaching toward the outer surface of the standing piece as the first inclined surface moves away from the mount.

That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount. Then, the engaging part is broken from the thin part, at which the cross-sectional area of the engaging part is minimum. That is, the engaging part is cut at the thin part.

Therefore, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be more securely removed from the panel. That is, when the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also more securely removed from the panel.

Further, in the present invention, the displacement means includes a second inclined surface, which is provided between the first inclined surface and the thin part, protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece toward the outer direction of the standing piece, and is inclined in a direction of gradually advancing toward the outside of the standing piece as the second inclined surface moves away from the mount.

That is, the second inclined surface is situated nearer to the thin part than the first inclined surface is situated near the thin part. The second inclined surface is inclined in a direction of gradually advancing toward the outside of the standing piece as the second inclined surface moves away from the mount. Therefore, when the mount is displaced along the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means more securely inclines the engaging part toward the mount.

Therefore, when the displacement means inclines the engaging part toward the mount, the engaging part is more securely broken from the mount. That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be more securely removed from the panel. That is, when the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also more securely removed from the panel.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, a wiring clip1as a wiring harness fixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1–6. The wiring clip1shown inFIG. 1and so on fixes a wiring harness2to be mounted on a motor vehicle as a mobile unit on a panel3(shown inFIG. 3and so on) of the motor vehicle.

The wiring harness2includes a plurality of electric wires (hereinafter, wires) and connectors attached to ends and so on of the wires. Each wire is a coated wire which includes an electrically conductive core wire and an electrically insulating coating that coats the core wire. Each connector includes electrically conductive terminal fittings and an insulating connector housing. Each terminal fitting is electrically connected to the core wire of the wire. The connector housing is formed in a box-shape and receives the terminal fittings therein. In the wiring harness2, the connectors are coupled with mating connectors of various electronic instruments, thereby transmitting the electric power and various signals to the electronic instruments. The panel3constitutes a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. As shown inFIG. 3and so on, the panel3is provided with a hole4.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the wiring clip1integrally includes a flat plate-shaped mount10, engaging part11which engages with the hole4, and support piece12. The wiring clip1is made of synthetic resin. The mount10is formed in a band plate-shape. The mount10is put on wires of the wiring harness2and wound up by a tape5(shown inFIG. 3) together with the wires around the outer circumference thereof. The mount10is fixed to the wiring harness2. The longitudinal direction of the mount10and a surface of the mount10is parallel to an extending direction (shown by an arrow A inFIG. 3) of the wiring harness2. That is, the arrow A shows the longitudinal direction of the wires in the wiring harness2.

The engaging part11stands up from the mount10. The engaging part integrally includes a standing piece13which stands up from the mount10, a pair of engaging pieces14, a thin part15, and a thick part16as the displacement means. The standing piece13extends from the mount10in a direction crossing a surface of the mount10at right angles.

One end14aof the pair of the engaging pieces14continues to an end13aof the standing piece13on the opposite side of the mount10. That is, the end13ais an end of the standing piece13, which is situated on the opposite side of the mount10. Opposite ends14bof the pair of the engaging pieces14have a distance therebetween. Each end14bhas a distance from the standing piece13.

The pair of the engaging pieces14gradually approaches toward the mount10as each engaging piece14extends from the end14ato the opposite end14b.The pair of the engaging pieces14gradually moves away from each other and gradually moves away from the standing piece13as each engaging piece14extends from the end14ato the opposite end14b.The pair of the engaging pieces14is formed in a mountain-shape viewed from the side thereof. The opposite end14bis provided with a notch17. The notch17is formed by notching an outer edge of the opposite end14b.The pair of the engaging pieces14can be elastically deformed in a direction that the opposite ends14bapproaches toward each other.

The thin part15is provided at a base end13bof the standing piece13, which is situated on the side of the mount10. The base end13bis an end of the engaging part11on the side of the mount10and is also an end of the standing piece13on the side of the mount10. The thin part15is formed concave from an outer surface of the standing piece13. The cross-sectional area of the standing piece13taken along the surface of the mount10becomes minimum at the thin part15.

That is, the cross-sectional area of the standing piece13taken along the arrow A inFIG. 3becomes minimum at the thin part15. That is, the cross-sectional area of the thin part15taken parallel to the surface of the mount10is smaller than the cross-sectional area of any other part of the standing piece13taken parallel to the surface of the mount10. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the engaging part11taken along the arrow A becomes minimum at the thin part15.

The thick part16is also provided at the base end13bof the standing piece13, which is situated on the side of the mount10. The mount10is situated nearer to the thin part15than the thick part16. That is, the thin part15is situated nearer to the mount10than the thick part16is situated near the mount10. The thick part16protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece13toward the outer direction of the standing piece13. As described later on, when the mount10is displaced along the arrow A, the thick part16comes in contact with the opposite end14bof one engaging piece14. The thick part16includes a first inclined surface18and a second inclined surface19.

The first inclined surface18is provided at an end of the thick part16, which is situated on the opposite side of the mount10. The first inclined surface18protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece13toward the outer direction of the standing piece13. The first inclined surface18is inclined in a direction that the first inclined surface18gradually approaches toward the outer surface of the standing piece13as the first inclined surface18moves away from the mount10. The first inclined surface18is inclined to both the direction of the arrow A and a direction crossing the direction of the arrow A at right angles.

The second inclined surface19is provided at another end of the thick part16, which is situated on the side of the mount10. That is, the second inclined surface19is situated between the first inclined surface18and the thin part15. The second inclined surface19protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece13toward the outer direction of the standing piece13. The second inclined surface19is inclined in a direction that the second inclined surface19gradually advances toward the outside of the standing piece13as the second inclined surface19moves away from the mount10. The second inclined surface19is inclined to both the direction of the arrow A and a direction crossing the direction of the arrow A at right angles.

The support piece12is formed in a ring-shape. An inner edge of the support piece12continues to the base end13b.The support piece12extends from the standing piece13toward the outer direction of the standing piece13. The support piece12is slightly inclined to the surface of the mount10in a direction that the support piece12gradually moves away from the mount10as the support piece12extends from the inner edge thereof to the outer edge thereof.

As explained above, according to the invention, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount. Then, the engaging part is broken from the thin part, at which the cross-sectional area of the engaging part is minimum. That is, the engaging part is cut at the thin part.

Then, the engaging part11is faced to the hole4of the panel3. The engaging part11is inserted through the hole4from the one end14aof the pair of the engaging pieces14and the end13aof the standing piece13. The pair of the engaging pieces14is once elastically deformed in a direction that the opposite ends14bapproach toward each other. Thereafter, when the opposite ends14bof the pair of the engaging pieces14enter in the hole14, the opposite ends14bare displaced in a direction that the opposite ends14bmove away from each other by an elastic recovery force.

Then, the notch17comes in contact with the inner edge of the hole4. The engaging part11is engaged with the hole4of the panel3. Then, the outer edge of the support piece12comes in contact with the surface of the panel3. Thus, as shown inFIG. 3, the wiring clip1fixes the wiring harness2on the panel3.

The wiring harness2, which is fixed on the panel3with the wiring clip1, is removed from the panel3as follows. First, the wiring harness2is displaced, i.e. the mount2is displaced along a direction (i.e. the extending direction of the wiring harness2) of the arrow A1shown inFIG. 4. Then, as shown inFIG. 4, the thick part comes in contact with the opposite end14bof one of the pair of the engaging pieces14. Then, the opposite end14bcannot approach toward the standing piece13any more. That is, the opposite end14bdoes not approach the standing piece13to come in contact with the standing piece13.

Since the first inclined surface18and the second inclined surface19are inclined as described above, as shown inFIG. 5, in a direction that the extending direction of the standing piece13is becoming parallel to the surface of the mount10, the standing piece13is displaced (rotated), i.e. the engaging part11is displaced (rotated) along an arrow B (shown inFIG. 5) around the thin part15. In this specification, that the standing piece13is displaced, i.e. the engaging part11is displaced around the thin part15in the direction (shown by the arrow B inFIG. 5) that the extending direction of the standing piece13is becoming parallel to the surface of the mount10means that the engaging part11is inclined toward the mount10around the thin part15. Thus, when the mount10is displaced along the arrow A1, the thick part16displaces the engaging part11in a direction that the engaging part11is inclined toward the mount10.

Then, a part (shown, by19ainFIG. 5) of the second inclined surface19on the side of the one engaging piece14moves away from the support piece12, while a part (shown by19binFIG. 5) of the second inclined surface19on the side of the opposite engaging piece14approaches toward the support piece12. Then, since the thin part15has the minimum cross-sectional area in the standing piece13, the standing piece13breaks from the one engaging piece14-side of the thin part15. Then, as shown inFIG. 6, the standing piece13is cut at the thin part15, thereby the standing piece13and the pair of the engaging pieces14are separated from the mount10. That is, the engaging part11is separated from the mount10. Then, the wiring harness2together with the mount10can be removed from the panel3.

According to the preferred embodiment, the thick part16protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece13toward the outer direction of the standing piece13. The first inclined surface18is inclined in a direction that the first inclined surface18gradually approaches toward the outer surface of the standing piece13as the first inclined surface18moves away from the mount10. The second inclined surface19is inclined in a direction that the second inclined surface19gradually advances toward the outside of the standing piece13as the second inclined surface19moves away from the mount10. The thin part15is situated nearer to the mount10than the thick part16is situated near the mount10. The second inclined surface19is situated between the first inclined surface18and the thin part15. Further, the thick part16is situated at a position where the thick part16comes in contact with the opposite end14bof the one engaging piece14.

When the mount10is displaced along the arrow A1, the opposite end14bof the one engaging piece14comes in contact with the thick part16and does not come in contact with the standing piece13. Therefore, being pushed by the opposite end14bof the one engaging piece14, the thick part16securely displaces the engaging part11in the direction (shown by the arrow B inFIG. 5) that the thick part16inclines the engaging part11toward the mount10around the thin part15. Then, the standing piece13breaks at the thin part15that has the minimum cross-sectional area in the standing piece13. That is, the engaging part11is cut at the thin part15.

Thus, when the mount10is displaced along the arrow A1, the engaging part11is separated from the mount10. That is, when the mount10is displaced along the arrow A1, the mount10and the wiring harness2can be removed from the panel2. Therefore, the wiring harness2can be easily removed from the panel3.

When the wiring harness2is removed from the panel3, the mount10is also removed from the panel3. Accordingly, the mount10can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, according to the invention described in claim1, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount. Then, the engaging part is broken from the thin part, at which the cross-sectional area of the engaging part is minimum. That is, the engaging part is cut at the thin part.

Thus, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the engaging part is separated. Therefore, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be removed from the panel. That is, the wiring harness can be easily removed from the panel. When the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also removed from the panel. Therefore, the mount can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.

According to the invention, the thin part is situated nearer to the mount than the displacement means is situated near the mount. Therefore, when the displacement means inclines the engaging part toward the mount, the engaging part is securely broken from the mount. That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be securely removed from the panel. That is, the wiring harness can be easily removed from the panel. When the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also securely removed from the panel. Therefore, the mount can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.

According to the invention, the displacement means protrudes from the outer surface of the standing piece. Therefore, when the mount is displaced along the extending direction of the wiring harness, the engaging pieces do not approach the standing piece to come in contact with the standing piece. That is, the displacement means securely displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part.

Therefore, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be removed from the panel. That is, the wiring harness can be easily removed from the panel. When the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also securely removed from the panel. Therefore, the mount can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.

According to the invention, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means displaces the engaging part in the direction of inclining the engaging part toward the mount. Then, the engaging part is broken from the thin part, at which the cross-sectional area of the engaging part is minimum. That is, the engaging part is cut at the thin part.

Therefore, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be more securely removed from the panel. That is, the wiring harness can be easily removed from the panel. When the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also more securely removed from the panel. Therefore, the mount can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.

According to the invention, the second inclined surface is situated nearer to the thin part than the first inclined surface is situated near the thin part. The second inclined surface is inclined in a direction of gradually advancing toward the outside of the standing piece as the second inclined surface moves away from the mount. Therefore, when the mount is displaced along the extending direction of the wiring harness, the displacement means more securely inclines the engaging part toward the mount.

Therefore, when the displacement means inclines the engaging part toward the mount, the engaging part is more securely broken from the mount. That is, when the mount is displaced in the extending direction of the wiring harness, the mount and the wiring harness can be more securely removed from the panel. That is, the wiring harness can be easily removed from the panel. When the wiring harness is removed from the panel, the mount is also more securely removed from the panel. Therefore, the mount can be recycled, thereby attaining the saving of resources.