Abstract:
A harness routing structure includes: a supporting portion; a link pivotally supported by the supporting portion; and a harness protector provided on the supporting portion. The harness protector includes a harness guide portion for guiding to lead a wire harness thereto, a harness guide path, successive to the harness guide portion, along which the wire harness is routed, and a harness accommodating portion, successive to the harness guide path, for accommodating the wire harness bendably. The wire harness is led from the link to the harness protector to be routed in the harness protector. An excess length of the wire harness is absorbed into the harness accommodating portion in conjunction with rotation of the link.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a harness routing structure for a link for routing a wire harness for power feeding along a rotary type link from a harness protector in an automobile or the like. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]      FIG. 5  shows one form of a conventional harness routing structure for a link (refer to patent document 1). 
         [0005]    In this structure, a pair of links  41  and  42  are rotatably connected to each other, a proximal end portion of one link  41  is rotatably supported by a vehicle body  43  of an automobile by means of a shaft portion  44 , a distal end portion of the other link  42  is supported freely by a slide door  45 , and a wire harness  46  for power feeding is routed from the vehicle body  43  to the slide door  45  along the both links  41  and  42 . The arrangement provided is such that, in conjunction with the opening and closing of the slide door  45 , the one link  41  is made swingable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by using the shaft portion  44  as a fulcrum, while the other link  42  is made swingable with a greater angle than the one link  41  by using an intermediate shaft portion  47  as a fulcrum, to thereby follow the movement of the slide door  45 . 
         [0006]    The wire harness  46  is fixed to the links  41  and  42  by taping  48 . A connector  49  at a leading end of the wire harness  46  is connected to the wire harness on the slide door side. A wire harness portion  50  led from a distal end of the other link  42  is extended and contracted in conjunction with the opening and closing of the slide door  45 . 
         [0007]      FIG. 6  shows one form of a conventional harness routing structure (refer to patent document 2). 
         [0008]    In this structure, to effect feeding electric power to a rotary type side door  51  of an automobile, a harness protector  53  is provided in the door  51 , and a wire harness  56  is bendably routed in the protector  53  from an elastic grommet  54  on a vehicle body  52  side by means of a slidable hard tube (guide member)  55  and is led out from the protector  53  into the door interior, to be thereby connected to an electrical device, an auxiliary machine, or the like 
         [0009]    When the door  51  shown in  FIG. 6  is opened, the hard tube  55  is drawn out from the protector  53 , the wire harness  56  is extended along a front-side inner surface  57  of the protector  53 . When the door  51  is closed, the hard tube  55  enters the protector interior, and the wire harness  56  is compressed along a rear-side inner surface  58  of the protector  53 , as indicated by chain lines. 
         [0010]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show another form of a related harness routing structure for a link. 
         [0011]    In this structure, a link  2  is pivotally supported by a vertical supporting plate  1 , a harness protector  61  is provided on the supporting plate  1 , and a wire harness  6  is routed from the link  2  along the protector  61 . 
         [0012]    The wire harness  6  is fixed to the link by a band  15  or the like, is fixed to a lower end-side leading-out port  62  of the protector  61  by a band  16  or the like, and swings along an upper opening  63  of the protector  61  in conjunction with the rotation of the link  2 . The link  2  rotates at a large angle of 180° or thereabouts.  FIG. 7A  shows the state before the rotation, and  FIG. 7B  shows the state after the rotation. 
         [0013]    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-260770 (FIG. 1) 
         [0014]    [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-117054 
         [0015]    However, with the above-described structure of  FIG. 5 , there has been concern that, in conjunction with the rotation of the links  41  and  42 , the wire harness  46  becomes loose at the connecting portion  47  between the both links  41  and  42  and can possibly cause interference with other members. In addition, with the above-described structure of  FIG. 6 , there has been concern that the hard tube (guide member)  55 , which is a separate member, is required for guiding the wire harness  56  into the protector  53 , so that the structure becomes complex and results in higher cost. 
         [0016]    In addition, with the above-described structure of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an excess length (slack) of the harness at least occurs within the scope of the dimensional tolerance of the wire harness  6 . Additionally, a large excess length of the harness is likely to occur in the vicinity of the shaft portion of the link  2  in conjunction with the rotation of the link  2  at a large angle of 180° or thereabouts. Hence, there has been concern that the excess length portion of the harness interferes with the link  2  and the like and can possibly cause damage or generate abnormal noise. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In view of the above-described aspects, an object of the invention is to provide a harness routing structure for a link which is capable of reliably absorbing the excess length of the wire harness with a simple structure in correspondence with the link which rotates at a large angle as in the case of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , for example. 
         [0018]    To attain the above object, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a harness routing structure, including: a supporting portion; a link pivotally supported by the supporting portion; and a harness protector provided on the supporting portion. The harness protector includes: a harness guide portion for guiding to lead a wire harness thereto; a harness guide path, successive to the harness guide portion, along which the wire harness is routed; and a harness accommodating portion, successive to the harness guide path, for accommodating the wire harness bendably. The wire harness is led from the link to the harness protector to be routed in the harness protector. An excess length of the wire harness is absorbed into the harness accommodating portion in conjunction with rotation of the link. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the harness guide portion has a first curved guide wall along which the wire harness is routed in a first direction before the rotation of the link, and a second curved guide wall along which the wire harness is routed in a second direction differed from the first direction after the rotation of the link. 
         [0020]    By virtue of the above-described configuration, the wire harness is led from the link, is passed via an inlet-side harness guide portion of the harness protector and the harness guide path continuing therefrom, is accommodated in such a manner as to be capable of absorbing an excess length (bendably in the harness accommodating portion, and is led out from an exit port on the harness accommodating portion side to the outside. The harness guide portion guides the wire harness smoothly into the harness guide path without being caught, and the harness guide path supports the wire harness slidably. In conjunction with the rotation of the link, the wire harness is drawn into the harness accommodating portion while sliding on the harness guide path, and the excess length is absorbed as the wire harness is deflected or curved and undergoes expansion (enlargement) of the radius of curvature inside the harness accommodating portion. Alternatively, the wire harness is drawn out from the harness guide portion toward the link side while sliding on the harness guide path from the harness accommodating portion. 
         [0021]    As for the harness routing structure for a link according to a second aspect of the invention, the wire harness is constantly curved to form a substantially loop-shaped bent portion in the harness accommodating portion so that a radius of the loop-shaped bent portion is expanded to absorb the excess length of the wire harness in conjunction with the rotation of the link. 
         [0022]    By virtue of the above-described configuration, the substantially loop-shaped bent portion is routed in the harness accommodating portion of the harness protector in a loop form with leeway (loosely movably). As the substantially loop-shaped bent portion constantly tends to expand outward by the restoring force (resilient force due to rigidity) of its own, when slack (excess length) has occurred in the wire harness outside the harness protector, that excess length is immediately drawn into the harness protector and is thereby absorbed. 
         [0023]    By virtue of the above-described configuration, an excess length produced due to the variation of the length of the wire harness is absorbed into the harness accommodating portion of the harness protector irrespective of the presence or absence of the rotation of the link and on the basis of a principle similar to that of the excess length of the harness produced in conjunction with the rotation of the link. Thus, the length of the wire harness portion which is led out from the harness protector to the link side becomes fixed irrespective of the variation of the length o the wire harness. 
         [0024]    As for the harness routing structure for a link according to a third aspect of the invention, a spring portion is provided in the harness accommodation portion to urge the loop-shaped bent portion in a direction of expanding the radius of the loop-shaped bent portion. 
         [0025]    By virtue of the above-described configuration, the substantially loop-shaped bent portion is constantly urged by the resiliency of the spring portion outward (in the direction of expanding the radius of curvature). Thus, when an excess length has been produced in the wire harness outside the harness protector (on the link side), the spring portion causes the substantially loop-shaped bent portion to undergo expansion of its radius of curvature, thereby absorbing the excess length of the harness speedily and reliably into the harness protector. The spring portion may be integrally resin-molded with the harness protector, or may be a metal spring separate from the harness protector. 
         [0026]    According to the above-described configurations of the invention, since the harness protector has the harness guide portion, the harness guide path, and the harness accommodating portion, the separate guide member as in the related example of  FIG. 6  becomes unnecessary, so that the structure becomes simplified and is made low in cost and lightweight. In addition, since the excess length of the wire harness is absorbed into the protector during the rotation of the link, the concern over the excess length of the harness interfering with other members and causing damage or generating abnormal noise can be overcome, and the reliability of electric power feeding by the wire harness is enhanced. 
         [0027]    According to the above-described configurations of the invention, since the substantially loop-shaped bent portion of the wire harness undergoes enlargement of its radius of curvature inside the harness protector and absorbs the excess length of the harness in the outside, the interference of the excess length of the harness in the first aspect of the invention is reliably prevented. 
         [0028]    According to the above-described configurations of the invention, the dimensional tolerance of the overall length of the wire harness is absorbed into the harness protector as an excess length of the harness, and the length of the wire harness portion outside the harness protector becomes fixed irrespective of the dimensional tolerance, thereby overcoming the problems of the interference, appearance, and the like due to the excess length. 
         [0029]    According to the above-described configurations of the invention, the substantially loop-shaped bent portion is made to undergo enlargement of its radius of curvature by the resiliency of the spring portion, thereby reliably absorbing into the harness protector the excess length of the harness outside the harness protector. In addition, as the spring portion is constantly in pressing contact with the inner surface of the substantially loop-shaped bent portion of the wire harness, there are no possibilities of unwanted free movement of the bent portion as well as abnormal noise, wear, and the like accompanying the same inside the harness protector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0031]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a first embodiment of a harness routing structure for a link in accordance with the invention, in which  FIG. 1A  is a front elevational view of a state before the rotation of a link, and  FIG. 1B  is a front elevational view of a state after the rotation of the link; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a protector which is similarly used in the harness routing structure for a link, in which  FIG. 2A  is a front elevational view of a case in which the line length of a wire harness is short, and  FIG. 2B  is a front elevational view of a case in which the line length of the wire harness is long; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a second embodiment of the harness routing structure for a link in accordance with the invention, in which  FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of a state before the rotation of the link, and  FIG. 3B  is a front elevational view of a state after the rotation of the link; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a third embodiment of the harness routing structure for a link in accordance with the invention, in which  FIG. 4A  is a front elevational view of a state before the rotation of a link, and  FIG. 1B  is a front elevational view of a state after the rotation of the link; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a related harness routing structure for a link; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view illustrating one form of a related harness routing structure; and 
           [0037]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate another form of a related harness routing structure for a link, in which  FIG. 7A  is a front elevational view of a state before the rotation of a link, and  FIG. 1B  is a front elevational view of a state after the rotation of the link. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a first embodiment of a harness routing structure for a link in accordance with the invention. A description will be given by denoting those component parts that are similar to those of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  by the same reference numerals. 
         [0039]    In this structure, a link  2  is rotatably connected to a vertical supporting plate (supporting portion)  1  on a fixing side by means of a shaft portion  3 , a harness protector  5  is vertically disposed in such a manner as to extend alongside both the supporting plate  1  and a base portion  4  continuing from a lower side of the supporting plate  1 , and a wire harness  6  is led from the link  2  side toward the base portion  4  side via the protector  5 . In this structure, the protector  5  has a harness accommodating space  8  provided on a lower half side and surrounded by a substantially annular peripheral wall  7 ; an upwardly extending narrow guide path  9  provided on an upper half side and communicating with the accommodating space  8 ; and a harness leading-out port  10  continuing from an upper end side of the guide path  9  and having its width expanded in a substantially flared form. 
         [0040]    In addition, as the wire harness  6  is bent substantially in a loop form (a form close to an annular shape and is accommodated in a harness accommodating portion  11  having a substantially annular outer shape and including the harness accommodating space  8 , a resilient force acting in the direction of enlarging the radius of curvature is generated in a substantially loop-shaped harness portion (bent portion)  12 , to thereby allow an excess-length portion of the wire harness  6  to be drawn into the protector  5  by the resilient force of the wire harness itself. 
         [0041]    The protector  5  is composed of a synthetic resin-made protector body or protector base (reference numeral  5  is also used for it) and a cover (not shown), and the cover is fixed to the protector body ( 5 ) by a retaining means (not shown). The supporting plate  1  and the link  2  are formed of a metal or a synthetic resin. The supporting plate  1  may be called a fixing link or a bracket, and the link  2  may be called a movable link or a rotary link. 
         [0042]    The base portion  4  is flush with the supporting plate  1  and continues therefrom as an integral or separate unit. A proximal end portion  2   a  of the link  2  is brought into sliding contact with a surface of the supporting plate  1  opposite to its protector joining surface (fixing surface)  1   a  rotatably about the shaft portion  3 . The proximal end portion  2   a  and a longitudinally intermediate portion of the link  2  continue with each other via a stepped portion  13 . The intermediate portion of the link is located flush with the projector joining surface. The wire harness  6  is routed in a substantially flush plane in a range covering the protector  5  and the link  2 . 
         [0043]    The wire harness  6  is fixed to the intermediate portion of the link  2  and to a vicinity of a harness leading-out port  14  on the harness accommodating portion  11  side of the protector  5  by banding members (harness fixing portions)  15  and  16  such as bands and tapes. If necessary, a protector (not shown) may be provided on the link  2  side as well, and the wire harness  6  may be inserted and fixed in that protector. The shaft portion  3  is provided in the supporting plate  1  in such a manner as to project horizontally to be passed through and support the link  2  without interfering, for instance, the protector  5 . 
         [0044]    As also shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the harness accommodating portion  11  of the protector  5  is composed of a substantially semicircular left half portion  11   a  and a substantially triangular right half portion  11   b.  A curved wall portion  7   a  on the left half side integrally continues to a right-upwardly slanting tilted wall portion  7   b  on the right half side, and the tilted wall portion  7   b  integrally continues to a horizontal wall portion  7   c  on the upper side, to hence form the peripheral wall  7 . The wall portion  7   c  on the upper side and the curved wall portion  7   a  on the left half side integrally continue to a cylindrical or rectangular tube-shaped wall portion (reference numeral  9  is also used for it) which forms the harness guide path  9 . The peripheral wall  7  is formed in the periphery of a vertical wall portion (base board portion)  24  on the reverse surface side contiguous to the base portion  4  ( FIG. 1A ). 
         [0045]    A guide wall  17  having a circular arc-shaped or curved guide surface with a small radius of curvature integrally continues from an upper portion of a left-side wall portion  9   a  of the harness guide path  9 , while a guide wall (reference numeral  18  is also used for it) having a curved guide surface  18  with a large radius of curvature is integrally formed on an upper portion of a right-side wall portion  9   b  of the guide path  9 . The right-side guide wall  18  protrudes more upward than the left-side guide wall  17 , and the both guide walls  17  and  18  are connected to each other by a substantially fan-shaped rear surface-side wall portion  19  having a circular arc-shaped upper end  19   a.  The wall portion  19  is located flush with the wall portion  24  on the lower half side. 
         [0046]    The narrow port  14  for leading out the harness is provided along the upper right wall portion  7   c  of the harness accommodating portion  11 , and a frame portion (harness fixing portion)  20  for inserting a band is integrally provided in the vicinity of the port  14 . The harness accommodating portion  11  on the lower half side protrudes (bulges) more to the left and right than a harness guide portion  21  constituted by the upper half guide walls  17  and  18 . It should be noted that, in this specification, the “left and right” directions are for the sake of explanation, and do not necessarily coincide with the direction in which the protector  5  is mounted in a vehicle or the like. In addition, the shape of the protector  5  is changeable, as required, in correspondence with the shape of the protector  5  as well as the shapes of the supporting plate  1 , the base portion  4 , and the like. 
         [0047]      FIG. 1A  shows a state before the rotation of the link, and  FIG. 1B  shows a state after the rotation of the link when the link  2  is rotated counterclockwise from the state shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 1A , the link  2  is positioned in such a manner as to be tilted rightwardly upward, and the wire harness  6  is routed rectilinearly from the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2  toward the curved guide wall  18  on the right side, and is then routed rectilinearly downward from the guide wall  18  along the harness guide path  9 . The wire harness  6  is then curved substantially in a loop form from a lower end of the guide path  9  along the inner surface side of the peripheral wall  7  of the harness accommodating portion  11 , and is led from the right-side port  14  to the outside. 
         [0049]    As the wire harness  6  bulges outward substantially in the loop form inside the harness accommodating portion  11  by the restoring force due to its own rigidity, an excess length of the harness is absorbed (drawn) into the accommodating portion  11 , and the wire harness  6  is routed without slack between the guide wall  18  of the protector  5  and the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2 . Since the excess length of the harness is not produced, it is possible to prevent the bending of the wire harness  6  and the interference with the link  2  and the like due to the excess length of the harness. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 1B , the link  2  is positioned in such a manner as to be tilted leftwardly downward, and the wire harness  6  is routed in an upwardly curved form from the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2  toward the curved guide wall  17  on the left side, and is then routed rectilinearly downward from the guide wall  17  along the harness guide path  9 . The wire harness  6  is then curved substantially in a loop form from the lower end of the guide path  9  along the peripheral wall  7  of the harness accommodating portion  11 , and is led from the right-side port  14  to the outside. 
         [0051]    In conjunction with the rotation of the link  2 , the wire harness  6  is slid upward on the guide path  9  and is drawn out from the guide wall  17 , so that the radius of curvature of the loop-shaped harness portion (bent portion)  12  is slightly smaller than that of the state shown in  FIG. 1A . As the wire harness  6  bulges outward substantially in the loop form inside the accommodating portion  11  by the restoring force due to its own rigidity, the excess length of the harness is absorbed (drawn) into the accommodating portion  11 , and the wire harness  6  is routed in a smooth curved shape without slack between the guide wall  17  of the protector  5  and the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2 . Since the excess length of the harness is not produced, it is possible to prevent the bending of the wire harness  6  and the interference with the link  2  and the like due to the excess length of the harness. 
         [0052]    Even at an intermediate position between  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , i.e., in a state in which the link  2  is positioned at a leftwardly upward halfway in the rotation of the link  2 , in the same way as described above, the wire harness  6  bulges outward (undergoes enlargement of its radius of curvature) substantially in the loop form inside the accommodating portion  11  by the restoring force due to its own rigidity, so that the excess length of the harness is absorbed (drawn) into the accommodating portion  11 , and the wire harness  6  is routed without slack between the upper end of the harness guide path  9  of the protector  5  and the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2 . Since the excess length of the harness is not produced, it is possible to prevent the bending of the wire harness  6  and the interference with the link  2  and the like due to the excess length of the harness. As the link  2  is rotated from the state shown in  FIG. 1B  to the state shown in  FIG. 1A , the wire harness  6  is lid downward on the guide path  9 , and is drawn into the accommodating portion  11 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 2A  shows a state in which the line length of the wire harness  6  is short, and  FIG. 2B  shows a state in which the line length of the wire harness  6  is long (the relative length of the line length inevitably occurs at least within the scope of the dimensional tolerance of the wire harness). The position of the link  2  corresponds to that in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0054]    In the case where the line length is long in  FIG. 2B , an excess length can possibly be produced from the guide portion  21  of the protector  5  toward the outside, but since the wire harness  6  undergoes enlargement of its radius of curvature in a loop form within the accommodating portion  11 , as shown by arrow A, the excess length of the harness is absorbed while the wire harness  6  slides downward along the guide path  9 , as shown by arrow B. Therefore, the length of the harness portion L from the guide portion  21  to the outside becomes identical. Since the excess length of the harness is not produced, it is possible to prevent the bending of the wire harness  6  and the interference with the link  2  and the like due to the excess length of the harness. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a second embodiment of the harness routing structure for a link. This structure is characterized by providing a harness urging spring portion  23  inside the harness accommodating portion  11  of a harness protector  22 . Since the other configuration portions are similar to those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , those component parts that are similar to those of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0056]    The spring portion  23  is arranged such that a substantially annular (not completely annular) wall portion  25  is integrally formed projectingly on a wall portion (vertical base board portion)  24  on the rear surface side of the accommodating portion  11  of the protector  22 , and at least a distal end-side half portion (preferably, a portion excluding a proximal end side  25   a ) of the substantially annular wall portion  25  is cut out from the rear surface-side wall portion  24  by vertical slits (not shown), so as to be formed into the shape of leaf spring. The proximal end portion  25   a  of the substantially annular wall portion  25  is preferably reinforced by a rib  26  with respect to the rear surface-side wall portion  24 . In this example, a hole  27  is provided in the wall portion  24  on the inner side of the substantially annular spring portion  23 . 
         [0057]    The spring portion  23  resiliently urges an intermediate portion of the substantially loop-shaped bent portion  12  of the wire harness  6  so as to push and enlarge that intermediate portion outward, as shown by arrow C. As a result, before the link rotation in  FIG. 3A , after the link rotation in  FIG. 3B , and in the course of link rotation intermediate therebetween, the wire harness  6  is constantly spring-urged in a direction in which it is drawn into the accommodating portion  22 , thereby reliably absorbing the excess length of the harness outside the protector. In addition, as the spring portion  23  is constantly in pressing contact with the inner surface of the substantially loop-shaped bent portion  12 , there are no possibilities of unwanted free movement of the bent portion  12  as well as abnormal noise, wear, and the like accompanying the same. 
         [0058]    It should be noted that, instead of the spring portion  23  of the protector body, it is possible to use as the spring portion a resilient member such as a metallic leaf spring separate from the protector  22 . In that case, however, the cost increases as compared with the case where the spring portion  23  is integrally resin-molded on the protector  22 , and a structure for fixing the spring portion  23  to the protector  22  is also required, which results in the complexity of the structure and an increase in the number of steps of fixing operation. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a protector structure in a case where the amount of absorption of the excess length of the harness can be small in accordance with a third embodiment of the harness routing structure for a link. Since the structure of the guide portion  21 , the link  2 , and the supporting plate  1  on the upper half side of a harness protector  28  are similar to those of the first embodiment, similar component parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0060]    In this protector  28 , the harness guide portion  21  is integrally formed in the upper half, a harness guide path  9 ′, which continues from the harness guide portion  21  and is shorter than the guide path in the example of  FIG. 1A , is integrally formed intermediately, and a substantially trapezoidal harness accommodating portion  29  of a size equivalent to the guide portion  21  is integrally formed in a lower half. The accommodating portion  29  is made compact to a size which is half the accommodating portion  11  of the example of  FIG. 1  or smaller. 
         [0061]    A lower half portion of a vertical left-side wall portion  9   a ′ of the guide path  9 ′ forms a portion of the wall portion of the accommodating portion  29 , a lower half portion of the wall portion  9   a ′ continues to a right-downwardly tilted wall portion  31 , and the tilted wall portion  31  continues to a horizontal wall portion  32  on the bottom side. Further, the harness leading-out port  14  and the harness fixing portion  16  are provided on the right end side of the bottom-side wall portion  32 , the port  14  continues to a left-upwardly tilted wall portion  33 , and the tilted wall portion  33  continues at an angle to a vertical right-side wall portion  9   b ′ of the guide path  9 ′. The accommodating portion  29  is thus formed which constitutes a polygonal harness accommodating space  30  by being surrounded by the respective wall portions  9   a ′ and  31  to  33  and by a vertical wall portion (reference numeral  30  is used for it) on the rear surface side. The wall portions  9   a ′ and  9   b ′ may not necessarily be vertical, and the wall portions  9   a ′,  9   b ′, and  31  to  33  may be formed not rectilinearly but in a curved form. It goes without saying that the protector  28  includes the cover (not shown) which covers the accommodating space  30 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 4A  shows a state before the rotation of the link, and  FIG. 4B  shows a state after the rotation of the link when the link  2  is rotated counterclockwise from the state shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0063]    In  FIG. 4A , the link  2  is positioned in such a manner as to be tilted rightwardly upward, and the wire harness  6  is led from the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2  without slack via the guide wall  18  and the guide path  9 ′, is then routed in a curved manner along the left-side tilted wall portion  31  of the accommodating portion  29 , and is led from the right-end port  14  to the outside. 
         [0064]    In  FIG. 4B , the link  2  is positioned in such a manner as to be tilted leftwardly downward, and the wire harness  6  is led from the harness fixing portion  15  of the link  2  in a rightwardly upward direction via the left-side guide wall  17  and the guide path  9 ′ while being curved substantially in an inverse U-shape, is then routed straightly along the right-side tilted wall portion  33  of the accommodating portion  29 , and is led from the right-end port  14  to the outside. At an intermediate position between  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , i.e., halfway in the rotation of the link  2 , the wire harness  6  is positioned substantially in the center of the accommodating portion  29  inside the accommodating portion  29  without coming into contact with the left and right tilted wall portions  31  and  33 . 
         [0065]    In the state shown in  FIG. 4B , the wire harness  6  is drawn out from the protector  29  toward the link  2  side and is curved substantially in the inverse U-shape, whereas, in the state shown in  FIG. 4A , the wire harness  6  is drawn into the protector  29 . Since the excess length of the harness is small, the excess length can be absorbed by merely allowing the wire harness  6  to be deflected in the curved form inside the accommodating portion  29 . 
         [0066]    As one example of application of each of the above-described harness routing structures, the supporting plate  1  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  is disposed in an upwardly oriented manner in a rear portion of a vehicle body in correspondence with a vertically rotatable type back door of an automobile, for example. A wire harness portion  6   b  led out from the lower port  14  of the protector  5  is routed and connected to the vehicle body (power supply side), and a wire harness portion  6   a  on the link side is routed on the back door side. When the back door is fully closed, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the link  2  is positioned in a manner as to be oriented diagonally downward toward the rear side of the vehicle. When the back door is fully open, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the link  2  is positioned in a manner as to be oriented diagonally upward toward the front side of the vehicle. The supporting plate  1  and the base portion  4  may be portions of the vehicle body. 
         [0067]    As another example of application, the above-described harness routing structure can also be applied, for example, as a structure for opening and closing a roof of an automobile or for effecting the accommodation of a roof into a luggage space in the rear portion of the vehicle. Still alternatively, it is also possible to cope with the opening and closing of a slide door or a side door by disposing the supporting plate  1  not vertically but horizontally. 
         [0068]    The wire harness  6  is generally composed of a plurality of electric wires and harness protecting tubes (corrugated tubes, net-like tubes, etc.) covering them. In particular, if a corrugated tube alternately having circumferential recessed grooves and projections is used, it is possible to enhance the function of enlarging the radius of curvature of the wire harness  6  inside the accommodating portion  11  of the protector  5 , i.e., the excess length absorbing function. As the wire harness  6 , it is also possible to use a plurality of electric wires by partially winding them by tapes, bands, or the like. 
         [0069]    The wire harness  6  is accommodated in advance within the protector  5 , and in that state the protector  5  is fixed to the supporting plate  1  and the base portion  4  by a fixing means such as retaining clips, bolting, or the like. The protector  5  is preferably constructed in a split fashion (openably) by the protector base (reference numeral  5  is also used for it) and the cover in the light of enhancing the efficiency of inserting (accommodating) operation of the wire harness  6 . 
         [0070]    The above-described configurations shown in  FIGS. 1A to 4B  are also effective as a protector structure for a link, a harness excess-length absorbing structure, an electric power feeding structure, and the like, apart from the harness routing structure for a link. The link  2  and the supporting plate  1 , together with the protector  5 , can also be formed into a unit as an electric power feeder.