Electrical feeding unit and cable holder

A feeding unit for supplying electrical power along a cable is coupled to a slide door. When the slide door is substantially closed, a protrusion is vertically restricted by a groove to vertically restrict an end of a connecting cable by a holder. In contrast, when the slide door is open, the protrusion that is accommodated in the groove is capable of moving vertically and horizontally.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Ser. Nos. 2006-061521, filed Mar. 7, 2006, and 2006-327126, filed Dec. 4, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to a feeding unit that supplies electrical power from a vehicle body to a slide door mounted to a side surface of a vehicle and a holder that allows for rotation of the power supply cable in more than one direction.

BACKGROUND

To electrically perform an opening/closing operation, a locking operation, etc., electrical power is supplied from a vehicle body side to a slide door that is mounted to a side surface of a vehicle. Feeding units that supply electrical power from the vehicle body side towards the slide door, such as that disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-40862, are known. Such a feeding unit has a caterpillar structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of a feeding unit for supplying electrical power are taught herein. One embodiment comprises a connecting cable mounted between a vehicle body and a slide door, wherein the slide door is mounted to a side surface of a vehicle, and wherein the connecting cable is configured to supply electrical power from a side of the vehicle body. This feeding unit also includes a holder for mounting a portion of the connecting cable to the vehicle body or the slide door, wherein the holder holds the portion of the connecting cable so that the portion of the connecting cable is rotatable vertically and horizontally, and wherein the holder vertically stops the portion of the connecting cable when the slide door is at a closed position.

Another example of a feeding unit taught herein comprises means for transmitting electrical power between a vehicle body and a slide door mounted to a side surface of a vehicle and means for mounting a portion of the transmitting means to either the vehicle body or the slide door, the mounting means supporting the portion of the transmitting means to be rotatable vertically and horizontally. Also, the mounting means vertically stops the portion of the transmitting means when the slide door is at a closed position.

A holding device of a cable is also taught herein. One such holding device comprises a holder for holding a section of the cable. The holder is configured to allow the section of the cable to rotate in a first main movement direction and a second movement direction perpendicular to the first main movement direction when the cable is at a first position on a line in the first main movement direction. The holder is further configured to stop the rotation of the section of the cable in the second movement direction when the cable is in a second position on the line in the first main movement direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The caterpillar structure from the vehicle body side to the slide door of the known feeding unit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-40862 is complicated. Therefore, manufacturing costs are high, a large number of movable parts is used, and noise tends to be generated by vibration.

In contrast, embodiments of the invention provide a feeding unit that has a relatively simple structure, that is low in cost and that does not easily become a source of noise. Embodiments of the feeding unit supply electrical power from a vehicle body to a slide door mounted to a surface of a vehicle. The feeding unit includes a connecting cable mounted between the vehicle body and the slide door and a holder that mounts at least one end of the connecting cable to either the vehicle body or the slide door. The holder holds the end(s) of the connecting cable so that the end(s) are rotatable vertically and horizontally, and the holder vertically stops the end(s) of the connecting cable when the slide door is at a closed position.

This relatively simple structure allows the connecting cable to move smoothly while following the movement of the slide door. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of movable parts as compared to that known in the art. Further, since rattling is restricted as a result of the end(s) of the connecting cable being stopped when the slide door is at its closed position, it is possible to correspondingly reduce vibration and noise.

A feeding unit according to certain embodiments of the invention are hereunder described with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1shows a state of a feeding unit2when a slide door1is at a closed position.FIG. 2shows a state of the feeding unit2when the slide door1is at an open position.FIGS. 3A and 3Bare enlarged views of only the feeding unit. A connecting cable3and a door-side holder5are shown when the door1is closed and when it is open inFIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3B, the feeding unit2according to a first embodiment includes the connecting cable3, a vehicle-body-side holder4and the door-side holder5. A signal wire8and a power supply wire9at the vehicle body side are connected to the vehicle-body-side holder4. These wires8,9are bundled up and passed through the inside of the connecting cable3. A connection portion of the vehicle-body-side holder4and the connecting cable3is formed so as to be rotatable while following the movement of the connecting cable3as the slide door1is opened/closed as discussed in more detail hereinbelow.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, an end3aof the connecting cable3that is adjacent to the slide door1is held by a ball joint mechanism7so as to be movable at the door-side holder5. More specifically, a ball50is provided at the end3aof the connecting cable3through a sleeve52, and a ball holding portion51for holding the ball50is provided at the door-side holder5. The ball50and the ball holding portion51constitute the ball joint mechanism7.

FIG. 4is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown inFIG. 5, andFIG. 4is a sectional view taken along line V-V shown inFIG. 4. However, while the ball holding portion51is shown in cross section, the ball50is not shown in cross section. Even though the ball holding portion51inFIGS. 4 and 5is shown as having an integral structure, it can be two divided portions that are connected to each other so as to easily accommodate the ball50therein.

The ball50can also be formed so as to be dividable in half. The sleeve52, which is rectangular in cross section, is interposed to prevent a portion3bof the connecting cable3from becoming dislodged from the ball50. A lead-out cable6connected to the connecting cable3and introduced in the ball50is led out vertically (illustrated U direction) from an upper portion of the ball50. As with the sleeve52, a sleeve53is also mounted to a lead-out portion of the lead-out cable6. The sleeve53is circular in cross section. A protrusion54parallel to the sleeve52is formed at the circumference of the ball50. The form of the protrusion54is such that one end of a rectangle gradually becomes smaller in width. The lead-out cable6and the connecting cable3may be connected in the ball50or may be formed as a continuous, integrated cable.

The door-side holder5has a flange55serving as a securing portion with respect to the slide door1and the ball holding portion51that accommodates the ball50. The ball holding portion51is connected to a center of one surface of the flange55. Through holes55aare formed in the flange55. By passing bolts57through the through holes55a, the door-side holder5is secured to the slide door1. The ball holding portion51has a spherical space (e.g., a spherical hollow) that accommodates the ball50therein. The ball holding portion51also has a slit58that guides the sleeve52when the ball50rotates. Further, the ball holding portion51has an insertion hole59that is formed perpendicularly to the slit58and that receives the sleeve53.

A groove60that guides the protrusion54is formed in an inner peripheral surface51adefining the space of the ball holding portion51that accommodates the ball50.FIG. 6is a development diagram (internal side view) of the inner peripheral surface51adefining the space that accommodates the ball50.FIG. 6shows a position of the protrusion54in the groove60when the slide door1is completely open (“door open” position) and a position of the protrusion54in the groove60when the slide door1is completely closed (“door close” position). The protrusion54moves, and the ball50rotates horizontally in H directions as the slide door1is opened and closed. As can be seen fromFIG. 6, at the “door close” position of the protrusion54when the slide door1is completely closed and within a predetermined range of the vicinity thereof, a width of the groove60(the vertical width, i.e., the illustrated U-direction) is substantially equal to a largest width of the protrusion54in the same direction.

Therefore, as the slide door1moves in the direction in which it is closed, the vertical width (i.e., the illustrated U-direction) of the groove60in correspondence with the protrusion54becomes smaller. The tapering protrusion54is guided by this groove60so that the protrusion54is smoothly moved to the “door close” position inFIG. 6. By vertically restricting the protrusion54by the groove60at the “door close” position and within the predetermined range of the vicinity thereof, rattling of the ball50with respect to the ball holding portion51(that is, rattling of the end3aof the connecting cable3with respect to the door-side holder5) is restricted. Therefore, vibration and noise produced when the vehicle travels are reduced. In such a structure, inclined side surfaces54adefining the tapering form of the protrusion54correspond to first guiding portions that guide the movement of the protrusion54to the “door close” position. Inclined side surfaces60athat define portions of the groove60whose width becomes gradually smaller correspond to second guiding portions that guide the protrusion54to the “door close” position.

On the other hand, the vertical width of the groove60is gradually increased towards the “door open position” of the protrusion54in the groove60when the slide door1is completely open, so that, in combination with the tapering form of the protrusion54, the ball50can easily be tilted in the ball holding portion51. When opening the slide door1, the slide door1moves outside the vehicle and then slides along a side surface of the vehicle. At this time, the ball50that is secured to the door-side end3aof the connecting cable3is rotatable both horizontally (main movement directions, or illustrated H directions) and vertically (directions perpendicular to the main movement directions, or illustrated U directions) in the ball holding portion51. In other words, the feeding unit is formed so that when the slide door1is open the protrusion54can easily move in the groove60. Therefore, an undue force that forcefully acts between the ball50and the ball holding portion51is restricted.

As mentioned above, when the slide door1is opened or closed, the ball50tilts with respect to the ball holding portion51, but the tilting is restricted by an edge defining the insertion hole59coming into contact with the sleeve53. When an attempt is made to restrict the tilting of the ball50by bringing an inner surface defining the groove60into contact with a side of the protrusion54, horizontal (illustrated H-direction) rotation of the ball50is restricted by frictional resistance occurring due to surface contact. However, when the tilting of the ball50is restricted by bringing the edge defining the insertion hole59into contact with the sleeve53as mentioned above, the contact is a point contact, so that frictional resistance is very small. Therefore, a significant problem related to frictional resistance does not occur. When the tilting of the ball50is too large, an undue force may act upon a wire. This problem is prevented in the above-described structure. In addition, it is possible to restrict wear and chipping of the internal surface defining the groove60and the protrusion54.

The above-described structure makes it possible to reduce the number of movable parts and costs. In addition, since the ball joint mechanism7is used, a degree of freedom in a movement direction is increased. Hence, a slight positional displacement between parts can be absorbed so that the slide door1can be opened and closed without undue force acting upon each part.

Although not illustrated, it is desirable that the connecting cable3be accommodated in a corrugated pipe that is oval or elliptical in cross section. The corrugated pipe has the form of a bellows, and its long axis in cross section is disposed vertically. When such a structure is used, the connecting cable3does not hang downward, and the connecting cable3can be flexibly horizontally bent when opening and closing the slide door1.

In the above-described embodiment, the ball50has the protrusion54at its outer peripheral surface50a, and the ball holding portion51has the groove60at its inner peripheral surface51afor accommodating the protrusion54. By restricting the vertical movement of the protrusion54by the groove60, the end3aof the connecting cable3is formed so as to be vertically stopped by the door-side holder5.

The groove width value where the slide door1is open and which corresponds with the protrusion54is larger than the groove width value where the slide door1is closed and which corresponds with the protrusion54.

By this, when the slide door1is closed, rattling of the protrusion54is restricted by the groove60so that rattling of the ball50in the ball holding portion51is restricted. As a result, generation of vibration noise is restricted. On the other hand, the protrusion54can move freely to a certain degree in the groove60when the slide door1is open. Therefore, the ball50can move and tilt flexibly in the ball holding portion51as the slide door1is opened.

In this embodiment, the ball holding portion51has the insertion hole59that receives the lead-out cable6. Therefore, tilting of the lead-out cable6by an amount that is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is restricted as a result of bringing the lead-out cable6into contact with the edge defining the insertion opening59.

Accordingly, restricting the tilting of the lead-out cable6with respect to the ball holding portion51by an amount that is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount by bringing the lead-out cable6(sleeve53) into contact with the edge defining the insertion hole59makes it possible to restrict load that is exerted upon the lead-out cable6and the connecting cable3.

The feeding unit is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the ball joint mechanism is only provided at the holder at the slide door side in this embodiment, but it may be provided at the vehicle-body-side holder. In such a case, when the structure according to the above-described embodiment including the protrusion and groove is used, it is possible to provide the same advantages as those provided by this structure. In addition, when the structure according to the embodiment in which the lead-out cable (sleeve) and the edge defining the insertion hole are brought into contact with each other is used, it is possible to provide the same advantages as those provided by this structure.

In addition, although the ball is provided at the end of the connecting cable and the ball holding portion is provided at the holder, the invention is not limited to this structure. For example, a structure in which the ball holding portion is provided at the end of the connecting cable and the ball is provided at the holder may also be used.

Herein, the protrusion is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the ball and the groove is formed at the inner peripheral surface of the ball holding portion. A structure in which the groove is formed at the outer peripheral surface of the ball and the protrusion is formed at the inner peripheral surface defining the ball holding portion may also be used.