Abstract:
A resin-molded, annular protector for a wire harness for a vehicle includes a split pair of a main body and a lid body both having a semiannular shape, and split ends of the protector are joined and locked together. Lock holes are provided in a peripheral wall of the lid body by cutting portions of the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall from the split ends, leaving engagement sections on the outer peripheral side of the lid body and opening the top ends of the cut portions in the outer peripheral surface of the lid body. Lock sections projecting from the inner peripheral side of the split ends are provided in the peripheral wall of the main body, at positions facing the lock holes. Lock claws engaging with the engagement sections of the lock holes from the inner peripheral side are provided on the outer surface side of the projecting tips of the lock sections. When the main body and the lid body are joined and locked, the lock sections and the lock claws do not project form the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the lid body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to protectors for wire harnesses, and more particularly, the invention improves lock parts of a protector in which a main body and a lid body are joined and locked. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, wire harnesses that are routed in vehicles are covered with resin-molded protectors in the required areas to protect the electrical wires of the wire harnesses from external interference materials and the like, and to regulate directions of the electrical wires. This type of protectors normally includes a main body and a lid body. The main body and the lid body are joined and locked while a wire harness is passed therethrough. 
         [0005]    As an example of a lock structure of the above-described protectors, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication H6-86425 (Related Art 1) discloses the lock structure of a protector  1  shown in  FIG. 7 . The protector  1  includes a main body  2  and a lid body  3  both having a semiannular shape. The main body  2  and the lid body  3  are connected via a thin-walled hinge part  4  at a first end side thereof, while a lock claw  5  that is provided in an outer surface of a second end side of the main body  2  engages with a lock frame  6  that is provided in an outer surface of the second end side of the lid body  3 . Thereby, the main body  2  and the lid body  3  are joined and locked. 
         [0006]    In the lock structure described in Related Art 1, the lock claw  5  projects from the outer surface of the main body  2 , and the lock frame  6  from the outer surface of the lid body  3  of the protector  1 . Therefore, when the main body  2  and the lid body  3  are joined and locked, the lock part projects from an outer peripheral surface of the protector  1  that is mounted to form an annular shape. Consequently, the protector  1  becomes bulky and could be unlocked when the lock part thereof interferes with external members. In addition, when a wire harness that is inserted through the protector  1  presses the lid body  3  to expand outwardly, the lock frame  6  is caused to bend outwardly. Consequently, the lock claw  5  possibly disengages from the lock frame  6 . 
         [0007]    Related Art 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication H6-86425 
         [0008]    A purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems. In the present invention, lock parts of a protector do not project outwardly, and therefore the size of the protector is reduced. In addition, the lock parts are prevented from interfering with external members, and engagement force of the lock parts is improved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a resin-molded, annular protector for mounting on a wire harness for a vehicle that includes a split pair of a main body and a lid body both having a semiannular shape. The main body and the lid body are connected via a thin-walled hinge part at first split ends thereof, and are joined and locked at second split ends thereof as an opening/closing part. Alternatively, the main body and the lid body are provided as separate bodies, and are joined and locked at the both split ends thereof. The lid body is provided with lock holes in a peripheral wall by cutting portions of an inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall from the split ends. The top ends of the cut portions are opened through an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall, while engagement parts are left on an outer peripheral side of the lid body. The main body is provided with lock sections that project from an inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall of the split ends, at positions facing the lock holes. The lock sections are provided with lock claws on an outer surface side of projecting tips thereof. The lock claws engage with the engagement parts of the lock holes from the inner peripheral side. When the main body and the lid body are joined and locked, the lock sections and the lock claws do not project from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the lid body. 
         [0010]    As described above, according to the protector of the present invention, the lock sections project along the inner peripheral side of the mating body. The main body, into which a wire harness is inserted first, is provided with the lock sections that project along an inner peripheral surface of the lid body. The reason for this is that, with the lid body having the lock sections therein, insertion of the lock sections into an inner surface side of the main body would be prevented by the wire harness in the main body. 
         [0011]    According to the protector having the previously-described structure, the lock sections project from an inner peripheral surface, not from the outer peripheral surface of the main body. Therefore, the lock sections project to an inner peripheral surface side of the lid body. The lock sections are inserted into the lock holes in the lid body from an inner surface side, causing the lock claws at the lock section tips to engage with the engagement parts of the lock holes. Consequently, the main body and the lid body are joined and locked. At that time, the lock claws do not project from the outer peripheral surface of the lid body while engaging with the engagement parts. Since the lock claws do not interfere with external members, the protector is prevented from being unlocked when the lock claws are pressed by the external members. In addition, the size of the protector can be reduced. The lock sections are disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the lid body to cause the lock claws, which project on the outer surface side of the lock sections, to engage with the engagement parts of the lock holes. When the wire harness that is inserted into the protector presses the protector outwardly from inside, the lock sections are pressed against inner surface of the lid body, causing the lock claws of the lock sections to more firmly engage with the lock holes. Consequently, joining and locking force can be strengthened. 
         [0012]    It is preferred that the above-described lock holes are provided by cutting portions of the inner peripheral part of the peripheral wall of the lid body in parallel to a diametrical direction. It is also preferred that the lock sections project from the inner peripheral part of the peripheral wall of the main body in parallel to the diametrical direction. Having the lock holes and the lock sections both in parallel to the diametrical direction improves matching accuracy of the lock hole direction and the lock section direction, allowing smooth insertion of the lock sections into the lock holes. 
         [0013]    The wire harness that is inserted into the protector of the present invention is provided with a T-shaped branch part at which branch lines separate from main lines, the main and branch lines being passed through corrugated tubes. The protector is most preferably used to cover the T-shaped branch part of the wire harness. Conventionally, wires of the wire harness are often bound with tape for convergence and protection thereof. The tape binding requires skill and adds to workload. Presently, wires are often passed through corrugated tubes for convergence and protection thereof, the corrugated tubes being provided with crests and recesses alternatively in an axis direction for increased flexibility. However, with the corrugated tubes, the wires that are pulled out of the ends of the corrugated tubes are exposed at a branching point of the wire harness. Therefore, the branch part at which the wires are exposed is covered with the protector. 
         [0014]    The T-shaped protector includes the main body and the lid body both having a horizontal shaft part for main lines and a vertical shaft part for branch lines. The horizontal shaft part and the vertical shaft part both have a semiannular shape and are connected to form a T-shape. The lock holes and the lock sections having the lock claws are provided on both sides in the direction of axis of the horizontal shaft parts for the main lines, and on both sides in a circumferential direction of an end portion of the vertical shaft parts for the branch lines. Thereby, the horizontal shaft parts for the main lines and the vertical shaft parts for the branch lines of the main body and of the lid body are respectively joined and locked. 
         [0015]    Although the structure is complex in which the wire harness separates, the protector is not bulky, since, as described above, the lock parts do not project on an exterior of the protector. The main body and the lid body of the protector that is mounted on the T-shaped branch part are joined and locked multi-directionally. In this type of structure, lock parts tend to interfere with external members. However, the protector is prevented from being unlocked by having the joined and locked parts not projecting outwardly. The protector receives large press force from the wire harness therein when the wire harness is bent at the branch part. However, since the lock sections project to the inner surface side of the lid body, the lock sections do not lose engagement force when being pressed by the inner peripheral surface of the mating body. Therefore, the protector is reliably prevented from being unlocked. 
         [0016]    The protector is not limited to use for T-shaped branch parts of wire harnesses. The protector can be mounted on either main lines or branch lines to regulate directions thereof or to protect them from external members, the main or branch lines being passed through corrugated tubes. In this case, the protector is a straight tube that includes a split pair of a main body and a lid body both having a semiannular shape. Fitting ribs are provided on both sides in a longitudinal direction of the semiannular parts to fit into the recesses of the corrugated tubes. 
         [0017]    The protector for mounting on a wire harness that is passed through corrugated tubes is provided with the semiannular fitting ribs that project from the inner peripheral surface of the main body and of the lid body to fit into the recesses of the corrugated tubes. In addition, the lock sections projecting from the main body are provided with swelled parts on an inner surface side thereof. It is preferred that the swelled parts function as temporary fixing parts for the corrugated tubes by abutting the recesses of the corrugated tubes. 
         [0018]    As described above, the main body is provided with the lock sections that project from edges thereof. In addition, the lock sections are provided with the swelled parts on the inner surface side thereof for fixing the corrugated tubes temporarily. As a wire harness is fitted into the main body while the lid body is still opened, the recesses of the corrugated tubes that cover the wire harness can be pressed and fixed by the swelled parts from an oblique upper direction. Thereby, the corrugated tubes can be prevented from coming out of the inside of the main body. In addition, when the main body and the lid body are joined and locked, operators do not need to hold the corrugated tubes in the main body to position and to fix the corrugated tubes therein. Consequently, the main body and the lid body can be easily joined and locked. 
         [0019]    As described above, according to the protector of the present invention, the lock sections that project from the main body are provided along the inner peripheral side of the lid body. When the main body and the lid body are joined and locked, the lock sections do not project on the outer surface side of the lid body. Therefore, the size of the protector can be reduced. In addition, since the lock sections do not interfere with external members, the protector is prevented from being unlocked. Moreover, when the wire harness that is inserted into the protector presses the protector outwardly from inside, the lock sections are pressed against the inner surface of the lid body, causing the lock claws of the lock sections to more firmly engage with the lock holes. Consequently, joining and locking force can be strengthened. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a top surface side of a protector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a bottom surface side of the protector; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  (A) is a cross sectional view of a main body; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  (B) is a cross sectional view of a lid body; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the main body of the protector having a wire harness inserted thereinto; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of lock parts of the protector; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  (A) is a cross sectional view of a protector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a main body and a lid body are opened; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  (B) is a cross sectional view of the protector according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the main body and the lid body are locked; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of conventional technology. 
       
    
    
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  Protector 
               11  Main body 
               11   a  Horizontal shaft part for main lines 
               11   b  Vertical shaft part for branch lines 
               11   c  Fitting rib 
               11   d  Lock section 
               11   e  Lock claw 
               11   f  Swelled part 
               11   x  Peripheral wall 
               11   y  Split end 
               12  Lid body 
               12   a  Horizontal shaft part for main lines 
               12   b  Vertical shaft part for branch lines 
               12   c  Fitting rib 
               12   d  Cut portion 
               12   e  Lock hole 
               12   x  Peripheral wall 
               12   y  Split end 
               30 ,  31  Corrugated tube 
             W/H Wire harness 
             W/H 1  Main line 
             W/H 2  Branch line 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0051]    The present invention is described hereinafter in reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 1 to 5  illustrate a protector  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the protector  10 , branch lines W/H 2  separate in a T shape from main lines W/H 1  of a wire harness W/H. The main lines and the branch lines are passed through corrugated tubes  30  ( 30 A and  30 B) and  31 . The protector  10  is mounted on a T-shaped branch part in which wires are pulled out of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  and are exposed. 
         [0052]    The protector  10  includes a main body  11  and a lid body  12  both having a T shape. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the main body  11  includes a horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines and a vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines, which are connected to form a T shape. The horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines includes a semiannular part and is mounted on the main lines W/H 1  of the wire harness W/H. The vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines includes a semiannular part and orthogonally projects from a middle region in a direction of axis of the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines. Similarly, the lid body  12  includes a horizontal shaft part  12   a  for the main lines and a vertical shaft part  12   b  for the branch lines, which are connected to form a T shape. The horizontal shaft part  12   a  for the main lines includes a semiannular part. The vertical shaft part  12   b  for the branch lines includes a semiannular part and orthogonally projects from a middle region in a direction of axis of the horizontal shaft part  12   a  for the main lines. 
         [0053]    The main body  11  is covered with the lid body  12  while the main lines and the branch lines, which are passed through the corrugated tubes  30  and  31 , are fitted thereinto. Lock sections  11   d  that project from split ends of a peripheral wall  11   x  of the main body  11  is inserted into and engage with lock holes  12   f  that are bored through a peripheral wall  12   x  of the lid body  12 , so as to join and lock the main body  11  and the lid body  12 . 
         [0054]    Specifically, the main body  11  is circumferentially provided with semiannular fitting ribs  11   c  projecting from an inner surface of both sides in the direction of axis of the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines and from an inner surface of an end portion of the vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines. The fitting ribs  11   c  are fitted into recesses  30   a  and  30   b  of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31 . Three fitting ribs are provided at each location at certain intervals in the axis direction. At the locations corresponding to the fitting ribs  11   c  that are middle ribs of the three fitting ribs, cut portions  11   z  are provided from both split ends  11   y  of the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines and of the vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines. The lock sections  11   d  project from the cut portions. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 3  (A), inner surfaces  11   d - 1  of the lock sections  11   d  are connected to inner peripheral ends, which abut the split ends, of the fitting ribs  11   c . The lock sections  11   d  project in parallel to a diametrical direction S of the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines, which has a semiannular cross sectional view. In addition, the lock sections  11   d  project outwardly from the split ends  11   y . Outer surfaces  11   d - 2  of the lock sections  11   d  do not project from an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  11   x , but project from an inner peripheral side of the split ends  11   y  of the peripheral wall  11   x . The lock sections  11   d  are provided with lock claws  11   e  in a middle region of a projecting end side of outer surfaces  11   d - 1 . Outer ends of the lock claws  11   e  do not project outwardly beyond virtual extension lines of the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  11   x . On the inner surfaces  11   d - 1  of the lock sections  11   d , the portions that project from the split ends  11   y  curve to an inner surface side along virtual extension lines of the fitting ribs  11   c . The lock sections  11   d  are provided with swelled parts  11   f  that project from the inner surface side of the lock sections  11   d . These swelled parts  11   f  of the lock sections  11   d  that project from both of the split ends  11   y  are fitted into recesses of an upper exposed portion of the corrugated tubes  30  from an oblique upper direction, as the corrugated tubes  30  are fitted to the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines and to the vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines. In  FIG. 3  (A), holes  11   h  provided at a base side of the lock sections  11   d  are die cut holes to form the swelled parts  11   f.    
         [0056]    Meanwhile, similar to the main body  11 , the lid body  12  of the protector  10  is provided with fitting ribs  12   c  circumferentially extending on an inner surface of both sides in the direction of axis of a horizontal shaft part  12   a  for the main lines and on an inner surface of an end portion of a vertical shaft part  12   b  for the branch lines. The fitting ribs  12   c  are fitted into the recesses  30   a  and  30   b  of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31 . Three fitting ribs are provided at each location at certain intervals in the axis direction. At the locations of the fitting ribs  12   c  that are facing the lock sections  11   d  of the main body  11 , the lock holes  12   f  are provided near both split ends  12   y  of the peripheral wall  12   x  of the lid body  12 , the fitting ribs  12   c  being middle ribs of the three fitting ribs. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 3  (B), the lock holes  12   f  are provided by providing cut portions  12   d  from an inner peripheral side of the split ends  12   y . The cut portions  12   d  are provided in parallel to a diametrical direction S of the horizontal shaft part  12   a  for the main lines and of the vertical shaft part  12   b  for the branch lines both having a semiannular shape. The cut portions  12   d  have top ends thereof opened in an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  12   x  to form the lock holes  12   f . At the split ends  12   y , the cut portions  12   d  are provided at the inner peripheral side, with engagement parts  12   e  left on an outer peripheral side. Bottom end surfaces  12   e - 1  of the engagement parts  12   e  shown in  FIG. 3  (B) function as fitting surfaces that engage with the lock claws  11   e  of the lock sections  11   d.    
         [0058]    Next, a mounting method of the protector  10  for the wire harness H/W is described. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the main lines W/H 1  of the wire harness W/H, which are passed through the corrugated tubes  30 A and  30 B, are passed through the horizontal shaft part  11   a  for the main lines of the main body  11 . The recesses  30   a  of the corrugated tubes  30  that are mounted on the main lines W/H 1  are fitted to the fitting ribs  11   c  of the main body  11 . At the same time, the recesses  30   a  of the corrugated tubes  30  are abutted on the swelled parts  11   f  of the main body  11 . Then, the branch lines W/H 2 , which are passed through the corrugated tube  31 , are passed through the vertical shaft part  11   b  for the branch lines of the main body  11 . Then, the recesses  31   a  of the corrugated tube  31  that are mounted on the branch lines W/H 2  are fitted to the fitting ribs  11   c  of the main body  11 . At the same time, the recesses  31   a  of the corrugated tube  31  are abutted on the swelled parts  11   f  of the main body  11 . At that time, the corrugated tubes  30  and  31 , which are mounted on the wire harness W/H, are positioned in the axis direction by the fitting ribs  11   c , and are abutted by the swelled parts  11   f  of the lock sections  11   d  from an oblique upper direction, the lock sections  11   d  projecting from both of the split ends  11   y . The wire harness W/H is temporarily fixed to the main body  11 , and is prevented from coming off before the lid body  12  is put on. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lid body  12  is put on the main body  11 , and then the lock sections  11   d  of the main body  11  are inserted into the lock holes  12   f  from an inner surface side, along inner surfaces of the cut portions  12   d  of the lid body  12 . Then, the lock claws  11   e  on outer surfaces of the lock sections  11   d  engage with the engagement parts  12   e  of the lock holes  12   f . Thereby, the main body  11  and the lid body  12  are joined and locked to mount the protector  10  on the branch part of the wire harness W/H. In  FIG. 5 , the wire harness W/H and the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  are omitted. 
         [0060]    According to the above-described structure, the lock sections lid that project from the main body  11  are provided along the inner surfaces of the cut portions  12   d  of the lid body  12 . The lock claws  11   e  that project on the outer surfaces of the lock sections  11   d  do not project beyond a virtual outer peripheral surface that extends from the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall  11   x  of the main body  11  that has a semiannular shape. Therefore, when the main body  11  and the lid body  12  are joined and locked, the lock sections  11   d  and the lock claws  11   e  do not project on an outer surface side of the protector  10 . Consequently, the size of the protector  10  can be reduced. In addition, since the lock sections  11   d  and the lock claws  11   e  do not interfere with external members, the protector  10  is prevented from being unlocked. Moreover, when the wire harness W/H that is inserted into the protector  10  presses the protector  10  to expand outwardly from inside, the lock sections  11   d , that are provided on the main body  11 , are pressed against an inner surface of the lid body  12 , causing the lock claws  11   e  of the lock sections  11   d  to more firmly engage with the engagement parts  12   e . Consequently, joining and locking force can be strengthened. 
         [0061]    Furthermore, as end portions of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  that are mounted on the wire harness W/H are inserted into the main body  11  of the protector  10 , the fitting ribs  11   c  of the main body  11  are fitted into the recesses  30   a  and  31   a  of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31 , causing the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  to be positioned in the axis direction. The swelled parts  11   f  of the lock sections  11   d  of the main body  11  are abutted on the recesses  30   a  and  31   a  of the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  from an oblique upper direction. Thereby, the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  are prevented from coming out of the inside of the main body  11 . In addition, when the main body  11  and the lid body  12  are joined and locked, operators do not need to hold the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  in the main body  11  to position and to fix the corrugated tubes  30  and  31  therein. Consequently, the main body  11  and the lid body  12  can be easily joined and locked. 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  (A) and  FIG. 6  (B) illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a main body  11  and a lid body  12  of a protector  10  are not separate bodies. The main body  11  and the lid body  12  are connected via a thin-walled hinge part  13  at a first end side of horizontal shaft parts  11   a  and  12   a  for main lines to be one body. Similar to those in the first embodiment, the main body  11  and the lid body  12  are provided with lock sections  11   d  and lock holes  12   f , but only on a second end side of the horizontal shaft parts  11   a  and  12   a  for the main lines of the main body  11  and the lid body  12 . The lock sections  11   d  having lock claws  11   e  project from split ends  11   y  of the main body  11 . The lock holes  12   f  are provided near split ends  12   y  of the lid body  12 . Otherwise, the configurations and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment, therefore the same symbols are used and an explanation thereof is omitted.