AU2002311385B2 - Temporary holding structure for connector holder - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLSON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: Temporary holding structure for connector holder The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- FP02-269AU BACKGROUNG OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a temporary holding structure for a connector holder and more particularly relates to a structure that temporarily supports a connector holder, in which connectors coupled to conductors in a wire harness are accommodated and arranged, on an electrical connection box to be coupled to the wire harnesses or a panel to be secured to a vehicle body without suspending the connector holders from the wire harnesses during transportation before securing the connector holders to the vehicle body.

Connectors are coupled to ends of electric wires in wire harnesses to be arranged in an interior of an automobile. The connector is coupled to a mating connector connected to another wire harness.

However, vibrations generated when an automobile is running cause interference between adjacent connectors or between a connector and a peripheral part, thereby generating noise and a break in the connector.

For convenience of explanation, a prior art temporary holding structure for a connector holder will be described by referring to Figures 6 to Figure 7B. Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional connector holder. Figure 7A and Figure 7B are perspective views of the conventional connector holder, illustrating a problem in the holder.

FPO2-269AU In order to protect a connector and to prevent the generation of noise, as shown in Figure 6, a plurality of connectors 3 are accommodated and arranged in a containing chamber 2 in a connector holder 1.

In the case where a wire harness produced by a wire harness manufacturer is transported to an automobile manufacturer, the automobile manufacturer may require a certain packed configuration for the purpose of enhancement of workability and handling, and prevention of breakage in parts.

In this case, a wire harness is folded in a certain length and bound by a vinyl tape, a string, or the like and then it is delivered to the automobile manufacturer.

The vinyl tape or the string is ripped or unbound on an assembling line in the automobile manufacturer.

Also, in compliance with a demand for a design in a module, a package in which a wire harness is attached to an instrument panel or a junction box may be delivered.

In the case where the wire harness is folded and bound as described above, as shown in Figure 7A, a connector holder 1 accommodating the connectors 3 coupled to the conductors in the ends of the wire harness W/H is suspended from the wire harness. Also, as shown in Figure 7B, in the case where a wire harness W/H is transported from the wire harness manufacturer to a secondary working manufacturer, the wire harness is attached to an instrument panel I and the like together with an electrical connection box and the like in the second 2 FP02-269AU working manufacturer to make a module. When the second working manufacturer delivers the module to the automobile manufacturer, the wire harness W/H an end of which suspends a connector holder 1 is suspended from the instrument panel I and the like.

In either case, the connector holder is suspended from the wire harness W/H while the holder contains the connectors coupled to electric wires in the wire harness.

The suspended connector holder 1 and the wire harness W/H coupled to the holder are readily broken on account of interference of external parts during transportation.

If the suspended connector holder 1 is secured to the wire harness or the electrical connection box by binding a vinyl tape or the like around the connector holder to form a packed configuration, this will require a laborious work and lower an efficiency in space upon packaging.

Also, if the vinyl tape or the string is ripped or unbound on an assembling line after being delivered to the automobile manufacturer, this will increase the number of man-hours and the ripped tape will adhere to a worker's hand thereby lowering workability.

Further, unbound strings are wastes and obstructive to the assembling line and disposal of the vinyl tape (polyvinyl chloride) will affect environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the 3 FPO2-269AU present invention to provide a structure that can temporarily hold a connector holder suspended from a wire harness without lowering workability and requiring any auxiliary members.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a temporary holding structure for a connector holder wherein a flexible temporary locking bar extends from an exterior of a connector holder that accommodates and holds a plurality of connectors coupled to conductors in ends of a wire harness, the temporary locking bar has a major diameter portion for temporary locking, a temporary locking hole is formed in an electrical connection box and/or a panel that are attached to a wire harness to which a connector accommodated in the connector holder is coupled during transportation, the temporary locking hole is formed into a keyhole-like configuration to include a major diameter hole portion that permits the major diameter portion for temporary locking to pass and a minor width slot that does not permit the major diameter portion to pass but permits the temporary locking bar to pass, and upon transportation, after passing the major diameter portion of the bar through the major diameter hole portion in the hole, the bar is slid into the minor width slot to temporarily lock the bar in the hole in a removable manner.

The connector holder includes an inner chamber for containing the connectors, walls enclosing the inner chamber, and a plurality of connector-receiving portions 4 FPO2-269AU projecting from the walls into the chamber. The connector-receiving portions support a plurality of connectors to arrange them in the chamber. The connector holder is provided on the exterior with clips or bolts adapted to engage a vehicle body.

According to the above construction, the connector holder accommodates the connectors and is suspended from the wire harness coupled to the connectors. The temporary locking bar is inserted into the temporary locking hole in another member such as an electrical connection box, an instrument panel or the like comprising a junction box to be assembled with a wire harness upon delivering them to the automobile manufacturer. Thus, it is possible to temporarily hold the connector holder without swinging it during transportation.

Consequently, it is possible to improve a process for temporarily holding the connector holder, to require no auxiliary member (vinyl tape, string or the like) for temporary holding, and to reduce the number of parts.

Also, when the connector holder is removed from the temporary holding portion after it has been delivered in the automobile manufacturer, the connector holder is easily released from the temporary holding portion, thereby enhancing workability, and eliminating any waste such as an auxiliary member that will affect environment.

It will be preferably that the major diameter portion is a major diameter bulb expanded on an intermediate part of the temporary locking bar.

FPO2-269AU That is, the process of temporarily holding the temporary locking bar in the temporary locking hole is completed by inserting the temporary locking bar into the major diameter hole portion until the major diameter bulb passes the outlet of the major diameter hole portion, and by sliding the bar into the minor width slot in the temporary locking hole.

When the temporary locking is released, the temporary locking bar is slid onto the minor width slot until the major diameter bulb reaches the outlet of the major diameter hole portion and the temporary locking bar is drawn out from the major diameter hole portion.

In comparison with, for example, a structure using a locking mechanism for temporary fixing, the above construction does not need to use any tool for disconnection and can reduce a work of disconnection, thereby enhancing workability in assembling of a vehicle body.

In practice, it is preferable that a wire harness is designed in a module by attaching the wire harness to an instrument panel, a connector coupled to each of the opposite ends of the wire harness is accommodated in the connector holder, and a temporary locking bar on one of connector holders is temporarily held in the temporary locking hole formed in the instrument panel while a temporary locking bar on the other of the connector holders is temporarily held in the temporary locking hole formed in a junction box to be coupled to the wire harness.

6 FP02-269AU BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a temporary holding structure for a connector holder in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connector holder to be used in the above embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a connector; Figure 4 is an explanatory view of a connector holder, illustrating a temporary position into an instrument panel; Figure 5A and Figure 5B are sectional views of a main part of a connection holder, illustrating processes for temporarily holding a temporary locking bar of the connector holder into a locking hole; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional connector holder; and Figure 7A and Figure 7B are perspective views of the conventional connector holder, illustrating a problem in the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a temporary holding structure for a connector holder in accordance with the present invention 7 FP02-269AU will be described below by referring to the drawings.

In the embodiment of a temporary holding structure for a connector holder, as shown in Figure i, connector holders 10 (10-1, 10-2) contain and hold a plurality of connectors 20 coupled to the opposite ends of a main line in a wire harness W/H arranged in an instrument panel I.

As shown in Figure 2, each connector holder includes a housing 11 made of a synthetic resin material and having a deep dish-like configuration with an open topside. The housing 11 is provided on the inner surfaces of sidewalls lla with receiving portions 12 for securing the connectors 20 contained in an inner chamber S.

A lower clamping plate 15 is provided on an top edge of one of the sidewalls lla while an upper clamping plate 14 extends through a hinge portion 16 from a longitudinal end of the lower clamping plate 15. The wire harness W/H drawn out from the connector 20 accommodated in the connector holder 10 is clamped between the upper and lower clamping plates 14 and 15 to prevent the wire harness W/H from spreading.

An L-shaped temporary locking bar 13 is provided on a top edge of the opposite sidewall lla. The temporary locking bar 13 is provided on an inner side slightly from the distal end with a major diameter bulb 13a as a temporary locking portion.

Stepped projections 19 each having a clamp attachment hole 19a at the center are provided on given portions of the top edges of the sidewalls 1la.

8 FP02-269AU The receiving portion 12 is formed into a box-like configuration with an open topside. Slits 12a are provided in the opposite ends of a sidewall 12c facing the inner chamber S. Each slit 12a extends downward from a top edge of the sidewall 12c.

As shown in Figure 2, the connector 20 to be accommodated in the connector holder 10 is provided on a sidewall with a plurality of locking portions 21 (only a single portion 21 is shown in Figure 3) adapted to engage the receiving portion 12. The locking portion 21 includes opposed longitudinal wall sections 21b standing from the sidewall of the connector 20 and an H-shaped lateral wall section 21c that interconnects the opposed longitudinal wall sections 21b. An engaging piece 21a having latch pawls 21a-1 extends upward from a central part of the Hshaped lateral wall section 21c.

As shown in Figure 2, the lower clamping plate includes boxes 17 with open topsides on the upper surface of the longitudinal opposite ends. A pair of opposed latch pawls 17a are provided on the opposed inner surfaces of each box 17. The upper clamping plate 14 includes low lid portions 18 on the upper surface of each longitudinal end to engage the boxes 17. Locking frames 18a are disposed on the inner surfaces of each lid portion 18 to oppose each other in the lid portion 18.

When the connector 20 is accommodated in the connector holder 10, the longitudinal wall sections 21b of the locking portion 21 on the connector 20 slide downward 9 FP02-269AU into the slits 12a in the receiving portion 12 to contain the lateral wall section 21c in an inner space 12b in the receiving portion 12. The latch pawls 21a-1 of the engaging piece 21a engage the receiving portions (not shown) on the inner surface of the sidewall 12c to lock them.

Plural wire harnesses (not shown) led out from the plural connectors 20 contained in the inner chamber S in the connector holder 10 pass the space defined between the opposite boxes 17 on the lower clamping plate 15. Then, the upper clamping plate 14 is folded onto the lower clamping plate 15 about the hinge 16 so that the locking frames 18a engage the latch pawls 17a, thereby clamping the wire harness between the upper and lower clamping plates 14 and 15 to prevent the wire harness from spreading.

On the other hand, before the module is delivered to the automobile manufacturer, the wire harness with the connector holder is transported from the wire harness manufacturer to the secondary working manufacturer. In the secondary working manufacturer, a junction box J/B is connected beforehand to an end of the wire harness W/H and then attached to the instrument panel 30 to make the module.

A plurality of the connectors 20 are secured to the opposite ends of a main line in the wire harness W/H connected to the instrument panel 30. The connectors are accommodated and arranged in the respective connector FP02-269AU holders 10 (10-1, 10-2).

Temporary locking holes 31 (31-1, 31-2) are provided beforehand in an end of the instrument panel 30 and in a housing of the junction box J/B to temporarily hold the respective connector holders 10 (10-1, 10-2).

Each of the temporary locking holes 31, as shown in Figure 4, is formed into a keyhole-like configuration to include a circular major diameter hole portion 31a and a minor width slot 31b extending downward from the end of the major diameter hole portion 31a.

As shown in Figure I, temporary locking bars 13 of the connector holders 10 (10-1, 10-2) that are suspended from the wire harness W/H arranged in the instrument panel are inserted into the temporary locking hole 31-1 in the instrument panel 30 and the temporary locking hole 31- 2 in the junction box J/B to temporarily hold them, respectively.

In more detail, as shown in Figure 5A, the temporary locking bar 13 is inserted into the major diameter hole portion 31a of the temporary locking hole 31 until the major diameter portion 13a passes the outlet of the major diameter hole portion 31a. As shown in Figure 5B, the temporary locking bar 13 is slid down into the minor width slot 31b of the hole 31. Since the external diameter of the major diameter portion 13a is greater than the width of the minor width slot 31b in this position, the major diameter portion 13a is temporarily held in the minor width slot 31b.

FP02-269AU As described above, the connector holders 10 (10-1, 10-2) accommodate the connectors 20 while the connector holders 10 are suspended from the wire harness W/H. Then, the temporary locking bars 13 are inserted into the temporary locking holes 31-1 and 31-2 in the instrument panel 30 and junction box J/B, thereby eliminating the suspension of the connector holders 10. Thus, it is possible to carry out the process of temporarily holding the connector holders 10 by an one-touch single operation and not to use any auxiliary member such as a vinyl tape, a string, or the like.

It is also possible to prevent the wire harness W/H and the connector holders 10 from being broken during transportation to the automobile manufacturer, since the connector holders 10 are temporarily held on the instrument panel 30 and the junction box J/B secured to the panel When the connector holders 10 are released from the temporary holding position after the modules are delivered to the automobile manufacturer, the connector holders can be readily disconnected from the instrument panel and junction box by sliding the temporary locking bar 13 in the minor width slot to the major diameter hole portion 31a and drawing out the bar 13 from the portion 31a.

Accordingly, the present invention does not need to use a disconnecting tool, which is used in a locking mechanism in a temporary fixing structure, and can reduce a work of disconnection, thereby enhancing workability in 12 FP02-269AU an assembling process of a vehicle body, eliminating the waste such as a vinyl tape or the like, and improving environment.

A mating member in which a connector holder is temporarily held is not limited to an instrument panel or a junction box. A temporary locking hole may be provided in a member that is designed in a module by being assembled together with the connector holder 10 and the connector holder may be temporarily held in the member before securing it to the vehicle body.

From the above description of the invention, one skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-393028 filed on December 26, 2001 including the specification, claims, drawings and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (3)

1. A temporary holding structure for a connector holder wherein a flexible temporary locking bar extends from an exterior of a connector holder that accommodates and holds a plurality of connectors coupled to conductors in ends of a wire harness, said temporary locking bar has a major diameter portion for temporary locking, a temporary locking hole is formed in an electrical connection box and/or a panel that are attached to a wire harness to which a connector accommodated in said connector holder is coupled during transportation, said temporary locking hole is formed into a keyhole-like configuration to include a major diameter hole portion that permits said major diameter portion for temporary locking to pass and a minor width slot portion that does not permit the major diameter portion to pass but permits the temporary locking bar to pass, and upon transportation, after passing said major diameter portion of said bar through said major diameter hole portion in said hole, said bar is slid into said minor width slot to temporarily lock said bar in said hole in a removable manner.

2. A temporary holding structure for a connector holder according to Claim 1, wherein a wire harness is designed in a module by attaching said wire harness to an instrument panel, a connector coupled to each of the 14 FP02-269AU opposite ends of said wire harness is accommodated in said connector holder, and a temporary locking bar on one of connector holders is temporarily held in said temporary locking hole formed in said instrument panel while a temporary locking bar on the other of said connector holders is temporarily held in said temporary locking hole formed in a junction box to be coupled to said wire harness. Q %OPERGCPU25965S cv 065 dm64M32051

16- 3. A temporary holding structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 00