Wire harness fixing clip

Abstract: The invention allows upper (12) and lower (13) plates of a harness clip (11) to be aligned simply, irrespective of the diameter of a wire harness. A wire harness fixing clip (11) has a ring-like frame (14) through which a wire harness is passed, fixing holes (12a,13a) being provided on upper (12) and lower (13) plates, and a retaining member being passed through these fixing holes (12a,13a) to fix the wire harness clip (11) to a fixture. The clip has an L-shaped side locking member (16) on one of the upper (12) and lower (13) plates, the other of these plates catching from the side with the locking member(16), the pair of plates (12,13) thereby resting one above the other, on the locking member (16) and thereby becoming aligned.

Description: Technical Field The present invention relates to a wire harness fixing clip for fixing a wire harness distributed within an automobile to a car body or the like. In particular, the clip can accommodate wire harnesses of varying diameter. US 2338006 describes a clip according to the preamble of claim 1. JP 63-83923 describes a type of wire harness fixing clip, wherein a joining member of a pair of upper and lower plate members comprises a ring shaped frame through which a wire harness is passed, and wherein the fixing holes are provided on the pair of upper and lower plate members, a retaining member being passed therethrough to fix the clip to the fixture, as shown in Figures 12-14 of this application. This clip 1 has a hook member 1c provided on one end (on the plate member 1a) of an open anterior end of a pair of upper and lower plate members 1a and 1b. The other end (on the plate member 1b) has a fixing member 1d which connects with the hook member 1c and comprises a frame shaped receiving member or the like. In the case where the hook member 1c and the fixing member 1d are provided on the open ends of the pair of upper and lower plate members 1a and 1b, these upper and lower plate members 1a and 1b open out when a wire harness W/H is passed through a ring shaped frame 1e provided between the plate members 1a and 1b. At this juncture, lateral slippage can easily occur between the upper and lower plate members 1a and 1b, and as a consequence, the position of the hook member 1c may no longer correspond with the fixing member 1d. Thus the two may not easily connect. In particular, in the case where the outer diameter of the wire harness W/H is large, it is difficult to correct the lateral slippage. It is difficult to align the fixing holes 1f and 1g formed on the upper and lower plate members, and it is difficult to fix the clip to a car body panel or the like. The present invention has taken the above problem into consideration, and aims to provide a wire harness fixing clip wherein upper and lower plate members can be positioned so as to correspond without lateral slippage irrespective of the width of the outer diameter of the wire harness, the fixing holes on the upper and lower plate members therefore being easily aligned, thereby allowing the clip to be fixed simply and reliably to a fixture. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a wire harness fixing clip comprising a ring-like frame having an axis and being adapted to receive an elongate wire harness along said axis, said clip having substantially planar ends adapted for overlying contact, said ends each having an aperture therethrough for receiving a fixing member, one of said planar ends is provided with a latching member adapted to receive an edge of the other of said planar ends, said latching member being further adapted to extend over the other of said planar ends in the direction of said axis characterised in that one of said apertures is elongate relative to the other aperture in a direction transverse to said axis. Preferably, the latching member is hook-like. The latching member may extend from a side of one of said planar ends, or from a surface thereof, for example, by punching out of a metal clip. One or both of said apertures may be elongate in a direction perpendicular to said axis, in order to accommodate a variation in the wire harness diameter. The latching member may engage a slot in the side of the other of said planar members, and the slot is preferably longer than the width of the locking member in order to allow for variation in the wire harness diameter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of several preferred embodiments shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a diagonal view showing a clip, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-section through the part of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a diagonal view of the clip in an open state, Figure 5 shows schematic plan views of an opening-closing process of the clip, Figure 6 shows schematic side views of the opening-closing process of the clip, Figure 7 is a diagonal view showing a clip according to the present invention, Figure 8 is a diagonal view showing the clip of the first embodiment with a wide diameter wire harness passing therethrough, Figure 9 shows explanatory figures relating to the operation of the clip, Figure 10 is a diagonal view showing the clip, Figure 11 is a diagonal view showing the clip, and Figures 12-14 show a prior art wire harness clip. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is described below with the aid of Figures 1-11. Figure 1 shows a wire harness W/H sheathed by a corrugated tube 10, and passing through a clip 11. The clip 11 is retained by a bolt passing through bolt holes 12a, 13a, and is thereby fixed along a wire distribution path of the wire harness within a car body. The clip 11 is formed from metal and is provided with a ring shaped frame 14 through which the wire harness passes, this ring shaped frame 14 being formed at a joining portion of a pair of upper and lower plates 12 and 13. The clip 11 need not be formed from metal; it may equally be formed from a suitable hard plastic. Circular fixing holes 12a and 13a pass through plates 12 and 13. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, an extending member 15 is formed on a side face of the lower plate 13 at a location adjoining the ring shaped frame 14, this extending member 15 facing outwards and protruding slightly in a horizontal direction (as viewed). An L-shaped side locking member 16, formed in a unitary manner, protrudes from the extending member 15. This side locking member 16 comprises a vertical member 16a protruding upwards from the extending member 15, and a gripping member 16b which extends horizontally inwards from a tip of the vertical member 16a. The dimension L of the space between the gripping member 16b and the lower plate 13 is considerably greater than the plate thickness W of the upper plate 12 (Figure 3). Consequently, a space remains between the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 13 when the upper plate 12 is engaged between the gripping member 16b and the lower plate 13. The extending member 15 need not necessarily be provided. Moreover, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the bends may be curved rather than at right angles. With reference to Figure 4, the wire harness W/H sheathed in the corrugated tube 10 is passed through the upper and lower plates 12 and 13 of the clip 1 while these are in an open state, and the upper plate 12 is subsequently engaged in the side locking member 16. In order to fix the wire harness the upper and lower plates 12 and 13 are forcefully made to flare, the wire harness W/H sheathed in the corrugated tube 10 is passed through the bent frame member 14, and then the upper plate 12 is twisted slightly in a lateral direction in order to prevent interference with the gripping member 16b of the side locking member 16, and is brought into contact with the lower plate, thus going from the state shown in Figure 5A to the state shown in Figure 5B. If the upper plate 12 is twisted forcefully in a lateral direction, it returns naturally to its original position and, as shown in Figure 5C, slides into the gripping member 16b of the side locking member 16. As shown in Figures 6A-6C, even if the upper plate 12 lies on an upper face of the gripping member 16b it may slide on the side locking member 16 and then naturally slide into the gripping member 16b. If it is difficult for the upper plate 12 to return to its original position naturally, the operator may laterally slide the upper plate 12 into the gripping member 16b. In this manner, as shown in Figure 1, the upper and lower plates 12 and 13 overlap precisely, and the fixing holes 12a and 13a formed in the upper and lower plates 12 and 13 are aligned. Consequently, after the fixing holes 12a and 13a have been positioned so as to correspond with the bolt holes of the fixture of the car body panel, etc., the bolt is passed therethrough and fixed by being tightened, thereby fixing the clip 11 and the wire harness. Figure 7 shows a clip 11' according to the invention. A pair of upper and lower plates 12' and 13' are provided with fixing holes, these comprising a circular fixing hole 13a' provided on the lower plate 13' adjacent to a fixture, and a slot shaped fixing hole 12a' provided on the upper plate 12'. In this configuration, as shown in Figure 8, even if the position of the upper plate 12' should move away from the position of the lower plate 13' towards a ring shaped frame 14' because the outer diameter of a wire harness W/H is large, the position of the slot shaped fixing hole 12a' will correspond to the position of a bolt hole of the fixture while still being aligned with the circular fixing hole 13a' of the lower plate 13'. Moreover, the shape of the fixing holes may be inverted, with the fixing hole 13a' of the lower plate 13' being slot shaped and the fixing hole 12a' of the upper plate 12' being circular. Alternatively, both the fixing hole 12a' and the fixing hole 13a' may be slot like. Figures 9A and 9B show a clip. A side locking member having an inverted L-shape is not formed in advance. Instead, as shown in Figure 9A, a long member 30 protrudes in a horizontal direction from a side face of the plate (a lower plate 13). As shown in Figure 9B, the length of the vertical portion of the member 30 is adjusted depending on the outer diameter of the wire harness so as to form an inverted L-shape. In this case, the member 30 is thin in order for it to bend easily. In this manner, the size of the vertical portion of the inverted L-shaped side locking member can be regulated so as to correspond to the diameter of the wire harness. Consequently, the locking member can easily be made to correspond even with a wire harness having a varying diameter. Figure 9C shows a partial plan view, on a reduced scale, of the member 30 in the unbent state. Figure 10 shows a wire harness fixing clip 51. An inverted L-shaped side locking member 56 does not protrude from a side face of a lower plate 53. Instead, the side locking member 56 protrudes from an inner upper face of the lower plate 53. This side locking member 56 is formed by punching out a portion of the lower plate 53 so that a side face of this punched portion remains attached thereto, the punched portion is bent to form the side locking member 56 which has a vertical member 56a and a gripping member 56b. This embodiment allows the number of manufacturing steps to be decreased when the clip 51 is formed from metal or the like. A cut-away member 52d is formed by cutting away a side portion of an upper plate 52 at a location corresponding to the side locking member 56. The length of the cut-away member 52d in a longitudinal direction is longer than the width of the side locking member 56. Further, a slot-shaped punched member 52e is formed at a location close to a central portion of a member which joins the upper plate 52 and ring shaped frame 54. The shape, etc., of fixing holes 52a and 53a formed on the upper and lower plates 52 and 53 is identical with that of the fixing holes of the first and second embodiments. When the clip 51 is to be fixed to the wire harness, the side locking retainer 56 of the lower plate 53 is housed within the cut-away member 52d of the upper plate 52, and lower face of the gripping member 56b grips an upper face of the upper plate 52. Moreover, even if the diameter, etc., of the corrugated tube within which the wire harness is fixed is increased or decreased, the length of the cut-away member 52d in a longitudinal direction is ample relative to the width of the side locking member 56. Consequently, it can be made to correspond to the diameter of the tube and fit therewith. Furthermore, when the upper plate 52 is bent from an open state towards the lower plate 53, the punched member 52e reduces the resistance of the upper plate 52, allowing bending to occur with this location as the fulcrum. As a result, the positions of the upper plate 52 and the lower plate 53 can easily be made to correspond. Further, less force is required for bending. The punched member 52e need not be slot shaped. It may equally well be round or square. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the location of the punched member 52e need not be central. Rather, punched members 52e' may be formed on both sides of the upper plate 52. This punched member 52e is suitable for the clip 51.

Claims: A wire harness fixing clip (11) comprising a ring-like frame (14) having an axis and being adapted to receive an elongate wire harness along said axis, said clip (11) having substantially planar ends (12,13) adapted for overlying contact, said ends (12,13) each having an aperture (12a,13a) therethrough for receiving a fixing member, one of said planar ends (13) is provided with a latching member (16,56) adapted to receive an edge of the other of said planar ends (12), said latching member (16,56) being further adapted to extend over the other of said planar ends (12) in the direction of said axis characterized in that one of said apertures (12a,13a) is elongate relative to the other aperture in a direction transverse to said axis. A clip according to claim 1 wherein said latching member (16,56) is hook-like. A clip according to claim 2 wherein said latching member (16,56) comprises an upstanding limb (16a, 56a) substantially perpendicular to the corresponding planar end (13), and a transverse limb (16b, 56b) in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said planar end (13) . A clip according to claim 3 wherein said latching member (16) extends from a side of one of said planar ends (13), said side being substantially transverse to said axis. A clip according to claim 3 wherein said latching member (56) extends from the surface of one of said planar ends (53). A clip according to claim 5 wherein said clip is of metal, and said latching member (56) is punched out of one of said planar ends (53). A clip according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said latching member (56) engages a recess (52d) in one edge of the other of said planar ends (52). A clip according to claim 7 wherein said recess (52d) is longer than said locking member (56) is wide. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein both of said apertures are elongate in a direction transverse to said axis. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein said ring like frame (54) includes a cut-out (52e) in the wall thereof, said cut-out being adapted to enhance flexibility of said frame about said axis. A clip according to claim 10 wherein said cut-out is a hole (52e). A clip according to claim 10 wherein said cut-out is an edge recess (52e').

Inventors: WADA TETSUAKI, WADA, TETSUAKI,, Wada, Tetsuaki,, c/o Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F16L3, H02G3, B60R16, F16B2, F16B7