Patent Publication Number: US-2016248235-A1

Title: Protector for wire harness

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a protector for a wire harness to be mounted in order to protect wires in the wire harness, when routing the wire harness in a panel of a vehicle, for example. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, when a wire harness is routed in a vehicle panel, the wire harness is sheathed with a molded protector, which is a plastic sheathing component, for electric wire protection and path regulation. Normally, the molded protector includes a protector main body housing the wire harness and a lid to be locked with the protector main body. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , as an example of such a molded protector, a protector  10  has already been proposed which facilitates locking connection of locking portions  26  on a protector main body  11  and a lid  12  when the locking portions  26  cannot be formed at opposing locations on both sides of the protector  10  (see Patent Document 1, for example). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to Be Solved by the Invention 
     However, while the conventional protector  10  can facilitate locking connection of the protector main body  11  with the lid  12 , even when a locking portion  26  cannot be formed on a first end side of a vehicle fixating portion  2  due to the shortened distance from an end  17   a  to the first side, it has been difficult to securely lock the lid  12  on the first end side. 
     In other words, the conventional protector  10  described above has a structure that includes, on the first end side, a protruding piece  28  (instead of a locking portion  26 ) and a narrow width L-shaped stopper  29  that contacts a bottom end of the protruding piece  28 . Therefore, the protector main body  11  and the lid  12  cannot be securely locked. 
     In a protector such as the protector  10 , the protector main body  11  and the lid  12  are preferably capable of securely locking in order to protect the wires. In order to provide secure locking, however, the locking portions  26  must be provided on the opposing sides of the protector  10 . 
     The lock portions  26  require some flexibility that allows a lock claw  26   a  to be pushed into a lock claw engagement frame  26   b . Therefore, the lock portions  26  must be formed with a predetermined width. Therefore, in order to provide the lock portions  26 , the protector main body  11  needs to be made longer than an axial direction length of the wires to be protected. 
     However, the conventional protector  10  cannot have the protector main body  11  formed in an unnecessarily long length in a case where the vehicle fixating portion  27  is formed near the end  17   a  or where the length between the end  17   a  and the vehicle fixating portion  27  must be short. Accordingly, there is a problem in the conventional technology which made it difficult to securely lock the protector main body  11  with the lid  12 . 
     In view of the circumstances above, the present invention provides a protector for a wire harness which shortens an axial direction length of a protector main body, while securely locking the protector main body with a lid. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     A protector for a wire harness according to the present invention protects wire harness wires inserted through the protector, and the protector includes a protector main body that has a trough-shaped recess housing the wires; and a lid member mounted to be capable of opening and closing on an opening side of the protector main body. The protector main body and the lid member have a plurality of lock portions that mutually engage when the lid member is closed and retain a closed state of the lid member. The plurality of lock portions are configured with a first lock portion and a second lock portion, the first lock portion locking the protector main body and the lid member in a certain length area in an axis direction of the trough-shaped recess, the second lock portion locking the protector main body and the lid member in a certain width area of the trough-shaped recess. When the lid member is in the closed state, an additional function shaped portion is provided between the first lock portion and the second lock portion, the additional function shaped portion branching and supporting the wires. 
     With the configuration described above, according to the wire harness protector of the present invention, the second lock portion can lock the protector main body and the lid member in a certain width area of the trough-shaped recess housing the wires. Therefore, even when the additional function shaped portion is provided, the length of the protector main body in the axis direction can be sufficiently shortened while securely maintaining the closed state of the protector main body with the lid member. 
     The additional function shaped portion described above may include a branched exit that branches off a portion of the wires, or a vehicle fixating portion for supporting the wires on the vehicle body. 
     In the protector for a wire harness according to the present invention, the first lock portion may be configured with a first engagement projection and a first engagement recess, the first engagement projection having a hook-shaped engagement claw on a forefront end, the first engagement recess being engaged with the engagement claw of the first engagement projection. Further, the second lock portion may be configured with a second engagement projection and a second engagement recess, the second engagement projection having a hook-shaped engagement claw on a forefront end, the second engagement recess being engaged with the engagement claw of the second engagement projection. In addition, the engagement claw of the first engagement projection which is provided with the first engagement recess and the engagement claw of the second engagement projection engaged with the second engagement recess may be substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     With the configuration described above, according to the wire harness protector of the present invention, the second lock portion locking the protector main body and the lid member has a shortened length in the axis direction of the trough-shaped recess portion housing the wires, the length being substantially the same as a combined thickness of the second engagement projection and the second engagement recess. Accordingly, the protector main body and the lid member are securely locked, and the additional function shaped portion may be positioned near the end portion of the protector main body. 
     In the protector for a wire harness according to the present invention, the second engagement recess may be provided with a reinforcement member that ensures a degree of strength of the second lock portion. 
     With the configuration described above, according to the wire harness protector of the present invention, the strength of the second lock portion may be increased against a load applied when the lid member is closed. 
     In the protector for a wire harness according to the present invention, the second engagement recess may be provided with an opening below the second engagement recess. 
     With the configuration described above, according to the wire harness protector of the present invention, the opening enlarges an open area of the first end portion of the protector main body, thereby easily accommodating an increased amount of wire harness wires to be inserted through the protector main body. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     The present invention provides a protector for a wire harness which shortens an axial direction length of a protector main body, while securely locking the protector main body with a lid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a protector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an expanded view of a main portion illustrating a portion of the protector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a main portion of a protector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an expanded view of the main portion illustrating a portion of the protector shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a main portion of a protector according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an expanded view of the main portion illustrating a portion of the protector shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional protector. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. In each of the embodiments, descriptions are given of cases where the invention is applied to a protector for a wire harness to be routed in a panel of a vehicle, such as an automobile. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a protector  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The protector  100  includes a protector main body  110  that opens on a top surface and into which wire harness wires W are inserted; and a lid  120  that covers the open top surface of the protector main body  110  by forming a locking connection. The protector main body  110  has a trough-shaped depression  110   c  that houses the wire harness wires W along a length direction of the protector main body  110  (see  FIG. 5 ). The lid  120  is mounted to the protector main body  110  to be capable of opening and closing on an opening side X of the protector main body  110 . 
     In the present embodiment, the lid  120  is a lid member according to the present invention. Further, the length direction is an axis direction of the trough-shaped depression of the protector main body  110 . 
     The protector  100  is a molded protector such as a plastic sheathing member (e.g., resin molded product) and is mounted in order to protect and regulate paths of the wire harness wires W, when routing the wire harness wires W in a panel of a vehicle, for example. 
     As to the wire harness wires W, a corrugated tube T is externally provided on front and back areas of a wire insertion portion  115  (described later) of the protector  100 , and only the wires W are inserted through the wire insertion portion  115  of the protector  100 , without the corrugated tube T sheathing the wires. 
     Further, the corrugated tube T may continue to sheathe the wire harness wires W even into the area inserted into the protector  100 , or the corrugated tube T sheathing may be omitted. 
     The corrugated tube T is provided with alternating annular recesses and projections (not shown in the drawings) with respect to the axis direction so as to be flexible. 
     In the present embodiment, the wire harness wires W have a branched portion Wa as branch wires. The branched portion Wa is provided to branch off a portion of the wire harness wires W and direct the branched wires to a different direction from the axis direction, for example, an orthogonal direction. 
     The protector main body  110  includes a trough-shaped wire insertion portion  115  and flat plate-shaped tube fixing portions  116   a  and  116   b . The wire insertion portion  115  has a bottom wall  113  and two side walls  114   a  and  114   b . The tube fixing portions  116   a  and  116   b  are continuously formed on a first end portion  110   a  and a second end portion  110   b , respectively, of the axis direction of the wire insertion portion  115 . Inner circumferential surfaces of the tube fixing portions  116   a  and  116   b  may be provided with a plurality of ribs to fit with the recesses of the corrugated tube T. 
     In order to draw out the branched portion Wa in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction, the protector main body  110  has a branched exit  117  and a flat plate-shaped branch fixing portion  118 . The branched exit  117  is an opening provided to a first side wall  114   a  proximate to the first end portion  110   a , and the branch fixing portion  118  is continuously formed on the wire insertion portion  115  in a portion corresponding to the branched exit  117 . The branched exit  117  is an additional function shaped portion that branches off the wires according to the present invention. 
     In the branched portion Wa, when the corrugated tube T is sheathing the area coming out of the protector  100 , an inner circumferential surface of the branch fixing portion  118  may be provided with a plurality of ribs to fit with the recesses of the corrugated tube T. 
     The wire harness wires W are fixated on the tube fixing portions  116   a  and  116   b  with a tape  119 , and the branched portion Wa is also fixated on the branch fixing portion  118  with the tape  119 . 
     The lid  120  is formed to have a substantially flat plate shape to correspond to the shape of the wire insertion portion  115  of the protector main body  110 . 
     The lid  120  and the protector main body  110  are provided with a first lock portion  130  and a second lock portion  140  on the opening side X, the first and second lock portions mutually engaging when the lid  120  is closed and the closed state of the lid  120  is retained. 
     When the lid  120  is in the closed state, the branched exit  117  is positioned between the first lock portion  130  and the second lock portion  140 . 
     In this example, there are a plurality of first lock portions  130  (three, for example) spaced at predetermined interval apart in the axis direction of the protector main body  110 , which lock together the protector main body  110  and the lid  120  in a certain length area in the axis direction. The certain length area described above refers to a predetermined width of the first lock portion  130  with respect to the axis direction. 
     The first lock portion  130  includes a lock claw  130   a  and a lock claw engagement frame  130   b . The lock claw  130   a  projects from a forefront end outer surface of the lid  120  on the opening side X and has a hook-shaped engagement claw  130   c  on the forefront end. The lock claw engagement frame  130   b  projects from a top end outer surface of the side wall  114   a  of the protector main body  110  on the opening side X, and engages with the forefront end of the lock claw  130   a . The lock claw  130   a  is a first engagement projection according to the present invention, and the lock claw engagement frame  130   b  is a first engagement recess according to the present invention. 
     Meanwhile, there is at least one second lock portion  140  provided on the first end portion  110   a  of the axis direction of the protector main body  110 , provided in the width direction of the protector main body  110 , so as to lock together the protector main body  110  and the lid  120  in a certain width area with respect to the axis direction. The certain width area described above refers to a predetermined width of the second lock portion  140  with respect to the direction orthogonal to the axis direction. 
     The second lock portion  140  includes a lock claw  140   a  and a lock claw engagement frame  140   b . The lock claw  140   a  projects from an end portion outer surface of the lid  120  on the opening side X and has a hook-shaped engagement claw  140   c  on a forefront end (see  FIG. 2 ). The lock claw engagement frame  140   b  projects from an end portion outer surface of the protector main body  110  on the opening side X, and engages with the forefront end of the lock claw  140   a . The lock claw  140   a  is a second engagement projection according to the present invention, and the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  is a second engagement recess according to the present invention. 
     In the present embodiment, the second lock portion  140  is arranged in a direction rotated approximately 90° with respect to the first lock portion  130 . Specifically, the engagement claw  130   c  (of the lock claw  130   a  engaged with the lock claw engagement frame  130   b ) and the engagement claw  140   c  (at the forefront end of the lock claw  140   a  engaged with the lock claw engagement frame  140   b ) are substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     In other words, the second lock portion  140  is provided in the width direction of the protector main body  110  at the first end portion  110   a . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the length in the axis direction required to provide the second lock portion  140 . Therefore, even when the branched portion Wa and the branched exit  117  are provided near the first end portion  110   a  of the axis direction of the protector main body  110 , it becomes possible to shorten the distance between the first end portion  110   a  and the branched exit  117  of the protector main body  110 , while securely locking the protector main body  110  with the lid  120 . 
       FIG. 2  is an expanded view of a main portion illustrating a portion of the protector  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first end portion  110   a  of the axis direction of the protector main body  110  is provided with the lock claw  140   a  having the hook-shaped engagement claw  140   c  on the forefront end, the lock claw  140   a  projecting downward from an end portion outer surface  121  of the lid  120  on the opening side X. 
     Further, an end portion outer surface  111  of the protector main body  110  on the opening side X is provided with the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  projecting in the axis direction. 
     In other words, in the second lock portion  140 , when the lid  120  is closed, the engagement claw portion  140   c  of the lock claw  140   a  is engaged with the lock claw engagement frame  140   b.    
     With the configuration described above, the second lock portion  140  has a length in the axis direction which is substantially the same as a sum combining thickness A (of the lock claw  140   a  member) and thickness B (of the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  member). Accordingly, compared to the conventional protector, the protector  100  allows the second lock portion  140  of the protector  100  to have a shortened length with respect to the axis direction of the protector main body  110 . 
     As described above, the protector  100  according to the present embodiment can securely lock the protector main body  110  with the lid  120  at the end portion  110   a  and has shortened length in the axis direction, even when the branched exit  117  is positioned near the end portion  110   a.    
     In other words, since the protector  100  is provided with the second lock portion  140  along the width direction of the protector main body  110 , the distance between the first end portion  110   a  and the branched exit  117  of the protector main body  110  in the axis direction can be shortened to thickness C (of the end portion outer surface  121  member of the lid  120 ). Further, even with the shortened distance as described above, the protector  100  can securely maintain the closed state of the lid  120 . 
     Therefore, with the protector  100 , it is possible to resolve the problem of the lid  120  lifting up during the closed state, even when the length of the protector  100  is shortened or the branched exit  117  is positioned near the first end portion  110   a  due to a layout requirement of a battery in a vehicle or the like. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a protector  101  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A configuration that is the same as in the protector  100  of the first embodiment is indicated using the same reference numeral as in the first embodiment and detailed description is omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the protector  101  according to the present embodiment has a rib  141  formed on the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  that configures the second lock portion  140 , thereby improving strength of the second lock portion  140 . 
     In other words, the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  is provided with the rib  141  as a reinforcement member, in order to secure the strength of the second lock portion  140 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rib  141  extends downward from an end of the lock claw engagement frame  140   b , and is formed to have a length that reaches the tube member  116   a . Accordingly, the protector  101  can securely maintain the closed state of the lid  120 , while improving the strength of the second lock portion  140  against a load applied when the lid is closed, even when the distance between the first end portion  110   a  and the branched exit  117  of the protector main body  110  in the axis direction is shortened. 
     However, in the case of the protector  101  according to the present embodiment, when the wire harness wires W are fixated to the tube fixing portion  116   a , the tape  119  needs to be wound while leaving a portion of the wires not wrapped for the length of the rib  141  in the axis direction. Therefore, compared to the protector  100  according to the first embodiment, the shortening effect is smaller although the difference is very small. 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a protector  102  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A configuration that is the same as in the protector  100  of the first embodiment is indicated using the same reference numeral as in the first embodiment and detailed description is omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the protector  102  according to the present embodiment has an opening  142  formed below the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  that configures the second lock portion  140 , thereby enlarging the open area of the first end portion  110   a  of the protector main body  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the opening  142  is formed below the lock claw engagement frame  140   b  and is connected to the opening of the first end portion  110   a  of the protector main body  110 . Accordingly, the protector  102  can securely maintain the closed state of the lid  120 , even when the distance between the first end portion  110   a  and the branched exit  117  of the protector main body  110  in the axis direction is shortened. Further, the protector  102  easily accommodates an increased amount of wire harness wires W to be inserted through the protector  102 . 
     As described above, with any of the protectors  100 ,  101 , and  102  according to the first through the third embodiments, using the second lock portion  140  makes it possible to lock the protector main body  110  with the lid  120 , in a certain width area of the protector main body  110  housing the wire harness wires W. 
     In other words, in each of the embodiments described above, the second lock portion  140  is provided along the width direction of the protector main body  110  at the first end portion  110   a  of the axis direction of the protector main body  110 , so that the angle of the second lock portion  140  relative to the first lock portion  130  is substantially 90°. Accordingly, it becomes possible to securely lock the protector main body  110  with the lid  120  at the end portion  110   a . Therefore, even when the branched portion Wa and the branched exit  117  are provided near the end portion  110   a , the length of the protector  100  in the axis direction can be sufficiently shortened while maintaining the closed state of the protector main body  110  with the lid  120 . 
     Further, in addition to a case where the branched portion Wa and the branched exit  117  are provided near the end portion  110   a , even when there is a need to retreat the position of the wire harness wires W on a component side (e.g., vehicle battery side), the length of the protector  100  in the axis direction can be sufficiently shortened while maintaining the closed state of the protector main body  110  with the lid  120 . 
     In each of the embodiments described above, the description were given using a case where the branched portion Wa and the branched exit  117  are provided near the end portion  110   a . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar effect can be achieved when a vehicle fixating portion and the like are provided near the end portion  110   a  in order to fixate the protector  100 ,  101 , or  102 . 
     In this case, the vehicle fixating portion has a hole into which a bolt is inserted, and acts as an additional function shaped portion that supports wire harness wires to be routed in the vehicle panel. 
     Without being limited to each of the embodiments described above, a protector may also be provided with the protector main body  110  and the lid  120  as separate components. 
     Further, while descriptions are given for a protector for a wire harness to be routed in a panel of a vehicle in each of the embodiments, the invention is not limited to this. 
     As described above, the protector for a wire harness according to the present invention can shorten the length in the axis direction while securely locking the protector main body with the lid even with the shortened length, and can be used in all wire harness protectors for wire protection and path regulation. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           100 ,  101 ,  102  protector 
           110  protector main body 
           110   a  end portion 
           117  branched exit 
           120  lid 
           130  first lock portion 
           130   a  lock claw 
           130   b  lock claw engagement frame 
           130   c  engagement claw 
           140  second lock portion 
           140   a  lock claw 
           140   b  lock claw engagement frame 
           140   c  engagement claw 
           141  rib (reinforcement member) 
           142  opening 
         W wire harness wires 
         Wa branched portion 
       
    
     RELATED ART 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2008-86171