Patent Publication Number: US-2022214002-A1

Title: Corrugated-tube protective member

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001214, filed on Jan. 7, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a corrugated-tube protective member. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a corrugated-tube protective member having a tubular portion as a tubular main body disposed on the inner circumference of an end part of a corrugated tube having a plurality of ridge portions disposed along a longitudinal direction is known (see JP 2019-75946 A). 
     In the corrugated-tube protective member, a rib configured to be arranged inside the corrugated tube and configured to engage with the ridge portion at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body with respect to the corrugated tube is formed on an outer circumference of the tubular portion. On the outer circumference at an end part in a longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, an outlet flange as a stopper whose outer diameter is set equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion and which is arranged so as to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube in an insertion direction of the main body into the corrugated tube is inserted is provided. 
     In such a corrugated-tube protective member, the rib engages with the ridge portion at an inside of the ridge portion and prevents the corrugated-tube protective member from coming off from the corrugated tube. Further, by arranging the outlet flange and the end surface of the corrugated tube to face each other, an excessive insertion of the corrugated-tube protective member into the corrugated tube is prevented. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the conventional corrugated-tube protective member, an interval between the stopper and the rib is set to be equal to an interval between inner ribs of a protector in which the corrugated tube is arranged. The interval between the inner ribs is set shorter than that between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions. Therefore, in the conventional corrugated-tube protective member, the interval between the stopper and the rib is shorter than the interval between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions. 
     If the interval between the stopper and the rib is made shorter than that between the engaged surfaces to be engaged with the ribs of the adjacent ridge portions, the ridge portions and the ribs may not be engaged inside the ridge portions depending on a cut shape at the end part of the corrugated tube. More specifically, depending on the cut shape of the end part of the corrugated tube, when the stopper and the end surface of the corrugated tube are brought into contact with each other, the engaged surface of the ridge portion to be engaged with the rib may not exist in the ridge portion. When the ridge portion and the rib cannot be engaged, the corrugated-tube protective member may come off from the corrugated tube. 
     One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing a corrugated-tube protective member configured to engage a ridge portion and a rib stably. 
     A corrugated-tube protective member according to one or more embodiments includes a main body with tubular shape configured to be arranged at an inner circumference of an end part of a corrugated tube, the corrugated tube having a plurality of ridge portions disposed along a longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube; a rib on an outer circumference of the main body configured to be arranged inside the corrugated tube and configured to engage with a ridge portion of the plurality of ridge portions at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body with respect to the corrugated tube; a stopper on an outer circumference at an end part in a longitudinal direction of the main body having an outer diameter set to be equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion and configured to be arranged to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube in an insertion direction of the main body into the corrugated tube. An interval between the stopper and the rib is set to be equal to or larger than an interval between engaged surfaces on the ridge portions adjacent to each other, the engaged surface being a surface configured to engage with the rib. 
     The interval between the stopper and the rib may be set to be equal to the interval between the engaged surfaces on the ridge portions adjacent to each other. 
     A surface of the rib on a front side of the insertion direction side may be an inclined surface. 
     A plurality of the ribs may be disposed along the longitudinal direction of the main body. 
     At least one portion in the circumferential direction of the main body may be provided with a dividing portion configured to divide the main body in the circumferential direction. 
     According to the above configuration, a corrugated-tube protective member capable of stably engaging the ridge portion and a rib is provide. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a corrugated-tube protective member according to one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail cross-sectional view of the corrugated-tube protective member being assembled to a corrugated tube; 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the corrugated-tube protective member being attached to the corrugated tube; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the corrugated-tube protective member being attached to a corrugated tube having a different cut surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Hereinafter, a corrugated-tube protective member according to one or more embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The dimensional ratio of the drawings may differ from the actual ratio. 
     The corrugated-tube protective member  1  according to one or more embodiments includes a tubular main body  7  arranged at an inner circumference of an end part of the corrugated tube  5  having a plurality of ridge portions  3  disposed along the longitudinal direction. 
     A rib  9  is provided on an outer circumference of the main body  7  and is configured to be disposed inside the corrugated tube  5  and configured to be engaged with the ridge portion  3  at an inside of the ridge portion in a direction of removal of the main body  7  with respect to the corrugated tube  5 . 
     Further, a stopper  11  on an outer circumference of an end part in a longitudinal direction of the main body  7  has an outer diameter set to be equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the ridge portion  3  and is configured to be arranged to face an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube  5  in an insertion direction of the main body  7  into the corrugated tube  5 . 
     A interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is set to be equal to or larger than an interval L 2  between engaged surfaces  13  on the ridge portions  3  adjacent to each other. Here, the engaged surface  13  is a surface configured to engage with the rib  9 . 
     In some embodiments, the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  may be set to be equal to the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  on the ridge portions  3  adjacent to each other. 
     Further, a surface of the rib  9  on a front side of the insertion direction of the main body  7  into the corrugated tube  5  is an inclined surface  15 . 
     A plurality of the ribs  9  are disposed along the length direction of the main body  7 . 
     Further, at least one portion in a circumferential direction of the main body  7  is provided with a dividing portion  17  configured to divide the main body  7  in the circumferential direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the corrugated tube  5  has a plurality of ridge portions  3  disposed along the longitudinal direction. The corrugated tube  5  is flexible. The corrugated tube  5  prevent interference between an electric wire (not illustrated) and a peripheral member in a state that the electric wire for electrically connecting a power source and an apparatus mounted on a vehicle is inserted through the corrugated tube  5 , for example. 
     In the corrugated tube  5 , a slit (not illustrated) into which an electric wire can be inserted is formed along the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube  5 . By forming the slit as described above, the corrugated tube  5  can be attached to an intermediate portion of the electric wire even in a state the electric wire is routed in a vehicle. 
     When an external force is applied to the corrugated tube  5  from the outside in the radial direction, the corrugated tube  5  may be deformed so as to collapse toward the inside. In particular, if deformation occurs at the end part of the corrugated tube  5 , the corrugated tube  5  may not be attached to a mounting member such as a protector on which an electric wire is routed. Therefore, the corrugated-tube protective member  1  is arranged at the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the corrugated-tube protective member  1  is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin having rigidity higher than rigidity of the corrugated tube  5 . The corrugated-tube protective member  1  includes a main body  7 , a rib  9 , and a stopper  11 . 
     The main body  7  is formed into a tubular shape having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the corrugated tube  5  and configured to be inserted into the corrugated tube  5 . The main body  7  is divided in the circumferential direction by one dividing portion  17  in the circumferential direction, and a part opposed to the dividing portion  17  in the radial direction is connected via a hinge (not illustrated) so as the main body  7  to open and close. 
     By providing the dividing portion  17  to the main body  7  as described above, the corrugated-tube protective member  1  can be attached to the intermediate portion of the electric wire even in a state the electric wire is routed in the vehicle. The main body  7  is held in a state where the dividing portion  17  is engaged through a locking part  19 . The rib  9  and the stopper  11  are provided on the outer circumference of the main body  7 . 
     The rib  9  is provided on the outer circumference of the main body  7  continuous in the circumferential direction of the main body  7  and protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the main body  7  toward the outside. The rib  9  and the main body  7  are formed as a single member being continuous with each other. An outer diameter of the rib  9  is set smaller than the outer diameter of the ridge portion  3  of the corrugated tube  5 . The rib  9  is disposed inside the ridge portion  3  in a state the main body  7  is inserted into the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     The surface of the rib  9  on the direction of removal of the main body  7  with respect to the corrugated tube  5  (a left side surface of the rib  9  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) is an engaging surface  21 , the engaging surface  21  formed substantially perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the main body  7 . The engaging surface  21  is configured to engage with the engaged surface  13  facing the engaging surface  21  on the inner circumference of the ridge portion  3  inside the ridge portion  3 . 
     The main body  7  is prevented from coming off the corrugated tube  5  by the engagement of the engaging surface  21  and the engaged surface  13 . A plurality of ribs  9  (three ribs in this embodiment) are provided along the longitudinal direction of the main body  7 . By providing a plurality of ribs  9  as described above, a plurality of engagement portions between the engaging surface  21  and the engaged surface  13  can be obtained, and the corrugated-tube protective member  1  can be stably held on the corrugated tube  5 . 
     The surface of the rib  9  in the insertion direction of the main body  7  into the corrugated tube  5  (a right side surface of the rib  9  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) is an inclined surface  15  inclined upward from the front side in the insertion direction toward the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the main body  7 . That is, the inclined surface  15  is inclined so as to increase the outer diameter of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  from the front side toward the rear side in the insertion direction. By providing the inclined surface  15  on the rib  9  as described above, the main body  7  can be stably inserted into the corrugated tube  5 , and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  to the corrugated tube  5  can be improved. 
     The stopper  11  is provided on the outer circumference of the end part of the main body  7  continuous in the circumferential direction of the main body  7  and protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the main body  7  toward the outside. The stopper  11  and the main body  7  are formed as a single member being continuous with each other. An outer diameter of the stopper  11  is set equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the ridge portion  3  of the corrugated tube  5 . In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the stopper  11  is set equal to an outer diameter of the ridge portion  3  of the corrugated tube  5 . The stopper  11  is exposed from the corrugated tube  5  in a state that the main body  7  is inserted into the inner circumference of the end part of the corrugated tube  5 , and is arranged to face the end surface in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     By arranging the stopper  11  in a manner described above, the stopper  11  abuts the end surface of the corrugated tube  5 , when the main body  7  is to be excessively inserted into the corrugated tube  5 . The main body  7  can be prevented from being excessively inserted into the corrugated tube  5  by abutting the stopper  11  with the end surface of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     If the interval Ll between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  adjacent to the stopper  11  is shorter than the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  on the ridge portions  3  adjacent to each other, the engaged surfaces  13  to be engaged with the ribs  9 , the rib  9  and the ridge portion  3  may not be engaged depending on the cut shape of the end part of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     More specifically, the corrugated tube  5  may be cut at the end part of the corrugated tube  5  so that the engaged surface  13  is eliminated at the top of the ridge portion  3 . With such a cut shape, even if the stopper  11  and the end surface of the corrugated tube  5  abut against each other, since the interval Ll between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is short, the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  may not be positioned on the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9 . 
     Therefore, the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  adjacent to the stopper  11  is set to be an interval equal to or larger than the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  on the ridge portions  3  adjacent to each other so as to be engaged with the ribs  9 . By setting the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  as described above, it is possible to arrange the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  on the engagement surface  21  of the rib  9  regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cut surface  23  at the end of the corrugated tube  5  may be cut straight in the radial direction so as to eliminate the engaged surface  13  at the top of the ridge portion  3 . Even with such a cut surface  23 , the cut surface  23  can be arranged between the stopper  11  and the rib  9 , and the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be engaged onto the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9 . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the cut surface  25  at the end of the corrugated tube  5  may be cut between the adjacent engaged surfaces  13  so as to eliminate the engaged surface  13  at the top of the ridge portion  3 . Even with such a cut surface  25 , the cut surface  25  can be arranged between the stopper  11  and the rib  9 , and the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be engaged onto the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9 . 
     By setting the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  to be an interval equal to or larger than the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13 , the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be engaged to the engaged surface  21  of the rib  9  regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube  5 . Thus, the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9  and the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be securely engaged, and the corrugated-tube protective member  1  can be stably held on the corrugated tube  5 . 
     Here, as the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is larger than the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  of the ridge portion  3  adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs  9 , the engaged surface  13  on the ridge portion  3  can be engaged to the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9 . However, when the interval Ll between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is wide, the main body  7  may be elongated in the longitudinal direction, and the corrugated-tube protective member  1  may be enlarged. 
     Therefore, the interval Ll between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  adjacent to the stopper  11  is set equal to the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  of the ridge portion  3  adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs  9 . By setting interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  as described above, the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  is configured to engage with the engaging surface  21  of the rib  9  at a minimum required interval. Therefore, an elongation of the main body  7  in the longitudinal direction may be prevented, and an upsizing of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  may be prevented. 
     In the corrugated-tube protective member  1 , the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is set to be equal or larger than the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  of the ridge portion  3  adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs  9 . Therefore, regardless of the cut shape of the corrugated tube  5 , the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be engaged to the rib  9 . 
     Therefore, the corrugated-tube protective member  1  according to one or more embodiments stably engages the ridge portion  3  and the rib  9 . 
     Further, in some embodiments, the interval L 1  between the stopper  11  and the rib  9  is set equal to the interval L 2  between the engaged surfaces  13  of the ridge portion  3  adjacent to each other to be engaged with the ribs  9 . Therefore, the engaged surface  13  of the ridge portion  3  can be arranged with respect to the rib  9  at a necessary minimum interval, and an upsizing of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  can be prevented. 
     Further, a surface of the rib  9  on front side in the insertion direction of the main body  7  to the corrugated tube  5  is formed by an inclined surface  15 . Therefore, the main body  7  can be stably inserted into the corrugated tube  5 , and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  to the corrugated tube  5  can be improved. 
     A plurality of ribs  9  are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the main body  7 . Thus, a plurality of engagement portions between the ribs  9  and the ridge portions  3  can be obtained, and the corrugated-tube protective member  1  can be stably held on the corrugated tube  5 . 
     Further, at least one portion in the circumferential direction of the main body  7  is provided with the dividing portion  17  configured to divide the main body  7  in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the main body  7  can be assembled to the intermediate portion of the electric wire, and the assemblability of the corrugated-tube protective member  1  to the electric wire can be improved. 
     Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. 
     For example, in the present embodiment, three ribs are provided on the main body, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and two or fewer or four or more ribs may be provided on the main body. 
     The dividing portion is provided at one position in the circumferential direction of the main body, and the main body is formed to open and close via a hinge, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the dividing portion may be provided at two positions in the circumferential direction of the main body, and the main body divided into two may be assembled and form the main body. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.