Patent Publication Number: US-2023162884-A1

Title: Wiring member and method of manufacturing the wiring member

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a wiring member. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness including a functional exterior member formed into a sheet-like shape and an electrical wire disposed to overlap with the functional exterior member in at least a part of a region along a longitudinal direction. At least a part of a portion where an insulating covering of the electrical wire and the functional exterior member overlap with each other is welded in this wire harness. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-137208 
     SUMMARY 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     There is a case where plural types of a wire harness are set for wire harnesses provided in the same portion in a vehicle. The plural types of the wire harness are set in accordance with a difference in a grade and an optional component, for example, and can be distinguished by a combination of electrical wires to be incorporated therein. In such a case, it is desired that a type of a wiring member can be easily identified. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique capable of easily identifying a type of a wiring member. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     A wiring member according to the present disclosure is a wiring member including: a base member having a holding surface; and at least one wire-like transmission member held on the holding surface, wherein at least one missing wire-like transmission member identification mark indicating at least one missing wire-like transmission member position is provided on the holding surface. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, a type of a wiring member can be easily identified. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view illustrating a wiring member according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a II-II line cross-sectional view in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an explanation diagram illustrating plural types of a wiring member. 
         FIG.  4    is an explanation diagram illustrating plural types of a wiring member. 
         FIG.  5    is a plan view illustrating a wiring member according to a modification example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Description of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described firstly. 
     A wiring member according to the present disclosure is as follows. 
     (1) A wiring member includes: a base member having a holding surface; and at least one wire-like transmission member held on the holding surface, wherein at least one missing wire-like transmission member identification mark indicating at least one missing wire-like transmission member position is provided on the holding surface. According to the present wiring member, a type of a wiring member is easily identified using a missing wire-like transmission member on a holding surface as a clue. 
     (2) In the wiring member according to (1), the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member identification marks may be provided to indicate the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member positions. The plurality of missing wire-like transmission member positions can be recognized using the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member identification marks as a clue. Accordingly, more various types of a wiring member can be identified. 
     (3) In the wiring member according to (1) or (2), it is applicable that the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark includes a plurality of marks provided in each one of the missing wire-like transmission members to indicate routes of the missing wire-like transmission members. Accordingly, a type of a wiring member is easily identified using a route of a missing wire-like transmission member as a clue. 
     (4) It is applicable that the wiring member according to any one of (1) to (3) includes the plurality of wire-like transmission members, wherein at least a part of the plurality of wire-like transmission members is held in a parallel state on the holding surface, and the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark includes at least one of a middle identification mark provided between the plurality of wire-like transmission members or an outer side identification mark provided on an outer side position of the plurality of wire-like transmission members in an arrangement direction in a portion in which at least a part of the plurality of wire-like transmission members is held in a parallel state on the holding surface. A type of the wiring member is identified using at least one of the middle identification mark and the outer side identification mark as a clue. 
     (5) In the wiring member according to any one of (1) to (4), the wire-like transmission member is fused to the holding surface via a fusion part, and the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark is provided adjacent to the fusion part. The identification mark can be easily formed when the wire-like transmission member is fused to the holding surface. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Specific examples of a wiring member of the present disclosure are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by claims, and it is intended that meanings equivalent to claims and all modifications within a scope of claims are included. 
     Embodiment 
     A wiring member according to an embodiment is described hereinafter.  FIG.  1    is a plan view illustrating a wiring member  10 .  FIG.  2    is a 11-11 line cross-sectional view in  FIG.  1   . 
     The wiring member  10  includes a base member  20  and a wire-like transmission member  30 . 
     The base member  20  includes a holding surface  22 . The wire-like transmission member  30  is disposed on the holding surface  22 . The wire-like transmission member  30  is held to form a predetermined route on the holding surface  22 . That is to say, the base member  20  is a member having a holding surface  22  holding the wire-like transmission member  30  along the predetermined route. It is sufficient that the base member  20  is a member with the holding surface  22  for holding the wire-like transmission member  30 . The base member  20  may be formed into a sheet-like shape or a three-dimensional shape. The holding surface  22  may be a planar surface, a curved surface, a convex-concave surface, or a surface in which a planar surface and a curved surface are combined. 
     In the description herein, the base member  20  is a member having a flat part, more specifically, a sheet member  20  which can be bended. 
     The sheet member  20  may be formed into a shape along a wiring route of the wire-like transmission member  30 . Herein, the sheet member  20  is formed into a quadrangular shape elongated in one direction. The sheet member may be a bended. The sheet member may have a portion bended to have a curved shape. The sheet member may have a branched portion. 
     A material constituting the sheet member  20  is not particularly limited, however, the sheet member  20  may be formed of a material containing resin of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polypropylene (PP), for example. The sheet member  20  may be a sheet material with an inner portion evenly filled or a non-woven sheet, for example. The sheet member  20  may contain a material such as metal. The sheet member  20  preferably has flexibility of being easily bended in a thickness direction. The sheet member  20  may be made up of a single layer or a plurality of stacked layers. When the sheet member is made up of the plurality of stacked layers, it is considered that a resin layer and a resin layer are stacked, for example. More specifically, for example, the sheet member  20  is considered to be made up of a resin sheet material with an inner portion evenly filled and a non-woven sheet stacked on each other. It is also considered that the sheet member  20  is made up of a resin layer and a metal layer stacked on each other, for example. 
     The wire-like transmission member  30  is assumed to be a wire-like transmission member connecting components in a vehicle so as to be able to perform communication therebetween or supply electrical power. The wire-like transmission member  30  is disposed on a side of the holding surface  22  described above to extend along a wiring route in accordance with a position of a component to which the wire-like transmission member  30  is connected. 
     More specifically, the wire-like transmission member  30  may be a wire-like member transmitting electrical power or light, for example. For example, the wire-like transmission member  30  may be a general wire having a core wire  32  and a covering layer  34  around the core wire  23 , or may also be a bare wire, a shield wire, a twisted wire, an enamel wire, a nichrome wire, or an optical fiber. 
     The wire-like transmission member  30  transmitting the electrical power may be various kinds of signal wires or various kinds of power wires. Some of the wire-like transmission members transmitting the electrical power may be used as an antenna or coil, for example, transmitting or receiving a signal or electrical power to or from a space. 
     The wire-like transmission member  30  may be a single wire-like object or a composite object of a plurality of wire-like objects (a twisted wire and a cable made up of a plurality of wire-like objects covered by a sheath). 
     The wire-like transmission member  30  is held on the holding surface  22  of the sheet member  20 . It is sufficient that the wire-like transmission member  30  is held along a constant route on the sheet member  20 , thus a specific configuration for holding is not particularly limited. 
     For example, the wire-like transmission member  30  may be fused (or welded) to the holding surface of the sheet member  20 . A fusion part thereby formed has a configuration that a part of at least one of the wire-like transmission member  30  or the sheet member  20  is melted and adheres to the other side member. The wire-like transmission member  30  and the sheet member  20  may be fused by ultrasonic fusion or thermal fusion. It is also applicable that a surface of at least one of the wire-like transmission member  30  or the sheet member  20  is melted by a solvent to fuse the wire-like transmission member  30  and the sheet member  20 . For example, the wire-like transmission member  30  may be fixed to the sheet member  20  by an adhesive agent or a double-sided tape, for example. For example, the wire-like transmission member  30  may be sewn to the sheet member  20  by a sewing thread, for example. It is also applicable that an adhesive tape is attached to the holding surface  22  of the sheet member  20  across the wire-like transmission member  30  in a state where the wire-like transmission member  30  is disposed on the holding surface  22  of the sheet member  20  to hold the wire-like transmission member  30  on the holding surface  22  of the sheet member  20 , for example. 
     In an example described herein, the wire-like transmission member  30  is an electrical wire  30  having a core wire  32  and a covering layer  34 . Also described is an example that the electrical wire  30  is fused to the holding surface  22  of the sheet member  20  via a fusion part  38 . In each drawings, the electrical wires  30  may be held straight on the holding surface  22  or curved and held thereon. When the plurality of electrical wires  30  are located, some of the plurality of electrical wires  30  may be branched from the other some thereof. An end portion of the electrical wire  30  extends from an end portion of the sheet member  20 . The end portion of the electrical wire  30  is connected to a connector  14 . 
     A missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  indicating a missing wire-like transmission member position is provided in the holding surface  22 . Any mark is applicable to the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  as long as it can be visually recognized. For example, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  may be provided by a concave-convex shape formed in a surface of the sheet member  20 . For example, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  may be formed by a coating material adhering to the surface of the sheet member  20 . Described in the present embodiment is an example that the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is provided by a concave-convex shape formed in the surface of the sheet member  20 . In  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , two short concave-convex portions are formed in the holding surface  22  at an interval corresponding to a diameter of the electrical wires  30 , thus the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is formed. With regard to a sign  28  of the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28 , a parenthesized number may be added after the sign  28  for convenience of distinction. 
     A missing wire-like transmission member position is described. Firstly, the missing wire-like transmission member is a wire-like transmission member which may be held on the holding surface depending on a type of the wiring member, but is not actually held. The missing wire-like transmission member position is a position in which a wire-like transmission member corresponding to such a missing wire-like transmission member may be held. 
     A more specific example is described with reference to  FIG.  3   . That is to say, assumed is a wiring member  110  incorporated into a certain portion located in a vehicle. The wiring member  110  electrically connects two sections in a vehicle, for example. The wiring member  110  may include a common electrical wire  30  regardless of a difference in a grade and optional component in a vehicle or an electrical wire  30  which is incorporated or is not incorporated depending on a difference in a grade and optional component. Assumed is the wiring member  110  including a largest number of electrical wires  30  for convenience of description. Six electrical wires  30  in the wiring member  110  may be distinguished as electrical wires  30  ( 1 ),  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ),  30 ( 5 ), and  30 ( 6 ) as necessary. 
     Wiring members  110 B,  110 C, and  110 D, each of which is similar to the wiring member  110  except that some electrical wire  30  is omitted, are set. The electrical wires  30 ( 1 ),  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ), and  30 ( 5 ) are held on the holding surface  22  of the wiring member  1101 B, and the electrical wire  30 ( 6 ) is omitted. That is to say, the electrical wire  30 ( 6 ) is a missing wire-like transmission member. The electrical wires  30 ( l ),  30 ( 4 ), and  30 ( 5 ) are held on the holding surface  22  of the wiring member  110 C, and the electrical wires  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ), and  30 ( 6 ) are omitted. That is to say, the electrical wires  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ), and  30 ( 6 ) are missing wire-like transmission members. The electrical wires  30 ( 1 ),  30 ( 2 ), and  30 ( 5 ) are held on the holding surface  22  of the wiring member  1101 ), and the electrical wires  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ), and  30 ( 6 ) are omitted. That is to say, the electrical wires  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ), and  30 ( 6 ) are missing wire-like transmission members. 
     As understood from  FIG.  3   , when one of the wiring members  110 B,  110 C, and  110 D are solely observed, it is hard to recognize which electrical wire  30  is omitted. Accordingly, it is difficult to identify a type of the wiring members  110 B,  110 C, and  110 D. For example, when the wiring member  110 B is observed, it is hard to even recognize whether the omitted electrical wire (missing wire-like transmission member) is located. Also when the wiring members  110 C and  110 D are observed, it is hard to recognize whether a gap between the electrical wires  30  is a gap originally located or a gap caused by the omitted electrical wire (missing wire-like transmission member) 
     In contrast, as illustrated in  FIG.  1    or  FIG.  4   , when the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is provided in the missing wire-like transmission member position, a position where the electrical wire  30  is omitted is easily recognized. In  FIG.  4   , the wiring member  110 B provided with the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is distinguished as a wiring member  10 B, the wiring member  110 C provided with the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is distinguished as a wiring member  10 C, and the wiring member  110 D provided with the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is distinguished as a wiring member  10 D, 
     For example, in the wiring member  10 B, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28 ( 6 ) is provided in a position of the omitted electrical wire  30 ( 6 ). In the wiring member  10 C, the missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 2 ),  28 ( 3 ), and  28 ( 6 ) are provided in positions of the omitted electrical wires  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ), and  30 ( 6 ). In the wiring member  10 D, the missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 3 ).  28 ( 4 ), and  28 ( 6 ) are provided in positions of the omitted electrical wires  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ), and  30 ( 6 ). The wiring member  10  illustrated in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    corresponds to the wiring member  101 ) in  FIG.  4   . Thus, when viewing the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D, it can be easily recognized which one of the electrical wires  30 ( 1 ),  30 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ),  30 ( 5 ), and  30 ( 6 ) is held or omitted. The type of the wiring members  110 ,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D can be thereby easily identified. 
     In the wiring members  10 C and  20 D illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28  indicating the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member positions, respectively, are provided. For example, in the wiring member  10 C, each of the plurality of missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 2 ).  28 ( 3 ), and  28 ( 6 ) indicates a corresponding missing wire-like transmission member position. Only one missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28 ( 6 ) indicating one missing wire-like transmission member position may be provided as with the wiring member  10 B. 
     As with the wiring members  10 C and  10 D, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  may include a middle identification mark provided between the plurality of electrical wires  30  in a parallel holding portion in a configuration that at least a part of the plurality of electrical wires  30  is held on the holding surface  22  in a parallel state. The missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 2 ) and  28 ( 3 ) are middle identification marks in the wiring member  10 C. The missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 3 ) and  28 ( 4 ) are middle identification marks in the wiring member  10 D. 
     As with the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  may include an outer side identification mark provided in an outer side position in the arrangement direction in a parallel holding portion in a configuration that at least a part of the plurality of electrical wires  30  is held on the holding surface  22  in a parallel state. The missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28 ( 6 ) is the outer side identification mark in the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D. 
     Each missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  described above is formed along a route of the corresponding electrical wire  30 . Thus, the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  includes a plurality of marks  28   a  provided for each corresponding missing wire-like transmission member (electrical wire)  30  to indicate a route of the corresponding missing wire-like transmission member (electrical wire)  30 . The missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  needs not necessarily indicate the route of the corresponding missing wire-like transmission member (electrical wire)  30 . For example, as with the wiring member  210  illustrated in  FIG.  5   , a missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  228  may indicates only one position on the route of the corresponding missing wire-like transmission member (electrical wire). 
     The missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  may be provided adjacent to the fusion part  38 . In the present embodiment, each electrical wire  30  is fused by the plurality of fusion parts  38 . The plurality of fusion parts  38  are provided at a predetermined pitch in the extension direction of the electrical wire  30 . The pitch of the plurality of fusion parts  38  may be constant or may be changed. In other words, the electrical wire  30  is intermittently fused to the holding surface  22  by the plurality of fusion parts  38 . 
     The missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  also includes the plurality of marks  28   a  intermittently provided along a route of the corresponding electrical wire  30 . The plurality of marks  28   a  are formed at the same pitch as the plurality of fusion parts  38 . Thus, the plurality of marks  28   a  are formed adjacent to the plurality of fusion parts  38 . The plurality of marks  28   a  of the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  can be easily formed using a device for fusion and thermal energy at a time of fusing the electrical wires  30  to the holding surface  22  to form the fusion part  38 , for example. 
     According to the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D having such a configuration, it is easily identified which electrical wire  30  is missing or is not missing for the wiring member  110  using the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  in the holding surface  22  as a clue. Accordingly, the type of the wiring members  110 ,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D can be easily identified. 
     The plurality of missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28  are provided in the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D. Accordingly, various types of the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D can be easily identified except for a plurality of missing electrical wires in the electrical wires  30 ( l ),  20 ( 2 ),  30 ( 3 ),  30 ( 4 ),  30 ( 5 ), and  30 ( 6 ). 
     The missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  indicates the route of the electrical wire  30 . Thus, a route of the missing electrical wire  30  and a connection destination thereof, for example, can be recognized. Accordingly, the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D can be more easily identified. 
     When the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  includes the missing wire-like transmission member identification marks  28 ( 2 ),  28 ( 3 ), and  28 ( 4 ) as the middle identification marks provided between the electrical wires  30  in a parallel portion of the plurality of electrical wires  30 , it is easily identified whether the gap between the plurality of electrical wires  30  is simply a gap or a gap caused by the missing electrical wire  30 . Accordingly, the wiring members  101 ,  10 C, and  10 D can be more easily identified. When the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  includes the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28 ( 6 ) as the outer side identification marks provided on the outer side of the electrical wire  30  in the arrangement direction in the parallel portion of the plurality of electrical wires  30 , it is easily identified whether the gap on the outer side of the plurality of electrical wires  30  is simply a gap or a gap caused by the missing electrical wire  30 . Accordingly, the wiring members  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D can be more easily identified. 
     When the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  is provided adjacent to the fusion part  38 , each mark  28   a  of the missing wire-like transmission member identification mark  28  can be easily formed at the time of fusing the electrical wires  30  to the holding surface  22 . 
     Each configuration described in the embodiment and each modification example can be appropriately combined as long as they are not contradictory. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               10  wiring member 
               10 B wiring member 
               10 C wiring member 
               101 D wiring member 
               14  connector 
               20  sheet member (base member) 
               22  holding surface 
               28  missing wire-like transmission member identification mark 
               28   a  mark 
               30  electrical wire (wire-like transmission member) 
               32  core wire 
               34  covering 
               38  fusion part 
               110  wiring member 
               110 B wiring member 
               110 C wiring member 
               110 D wiring member