GB2379479A

GB2379479A - Protector for vehicle wire harness

Info

Publication number: GB2379479A
Application number: GB0218709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tsutomu Sakata
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-10
Filing date: 2002-08-12
Publication date: 2003-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-12
Also published as: GB0218709D0; GB2379479B; JP2003087928A; JP3791372B2

Abstract

A plurality of sections 11 and 12 for fixing to a vehicle frame are provided in a resin protector 10 holding a wire harness The sections 11 and 12 are formed in a trough-like configuration. A coupling section 13 is provided between the adjacent sections 11, 12 as a continuation of wall members of the sections. The coupling section 13 is of bellows-like configuration and is flexible and extensible. The sections 11, 12 and have clips 14, 15 for connecting the protector to the vehicle.

Description

PROTECTOR FOR WIRE HARNESS This invention relates to a protector for a wire harness for holding a wire harness disposed in a vehicle such as an automobile, and to a combination of a wire harness and such a protector as well as to a vehicle having such a protector.

For convenience of explanation, a prior art protector for a wire harness will be described by referring to Figure 6 which is a perspective view of a portion of the prior art protector of trough shape shown holding a wire harness W/H to protect it. The protector 1 is provided on its outer surface with projecting brackets la. Bolts (not shown) that pass through holes la-1 in the brackets la secure the protector 1 to a vehicle frame.

The pitch between the brackets la is fixed.

Consequently, bolt-receiving portions on the vehicle frame must be positioned to accord with the holes la-l in the brackets la. However, if the bolt-receiving portions are changed in position for every automobile model, the boltreceiving portions do not accord with the through-holes la-1 in the bracket sections la. This requires a new protector for every automobile model.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protector for a wire harness that can flexibly comply with variations in the positions of bolt-receiving portions on the vehicle frame.

The present invention provides a protector for a

wire harness having a plurality of sections, each fixable to a vehicle frame, for holding the wire harness, each section having a trough or sheath configuration with plural wall members, a coupling joining two adjacent said sections as a continuation of corresponding wall members thereof, said coupling being flexible and extensible.

A wire harness disposed in an automobile is thus provided with protecting or covering means for preventing the wire harness from interfering with other equipment.

In the present invention, the coupling that is provided between the adjacent plural sections of the protector for a wire harness is a continuation of respective adjacent corresponding wall members of the sections, e. g. joining only one wall member of each secion. Consequently, the protector is flexible at the coupling, thereby enabling the positions between the adjacent fixing points to a vehicle frame to be finely adjustable. The coupling is extensible, e. g. by flexing of its material.

Accordingly, even if the attachment positions on the vehicle frame are varied, no new protector is required and thus the same protector can comply with the variation in position, thereby obtaining general versatility.

In addition, if the fixing portions for a vehicle frame serve as brackets so that the fixing portions are secured to the vehicle frame by bolts or the like, the protector may turn about the axes of the bolts. The coupling can follow the rotation of the protector, since the coupling flexibly coupled to one of the wall members

of the protector. Preferably the coupling is coupled to only one wall member of each section of the protector, whereby it is possible to reduce cost of materials. The coupling may be formed in one piece with the sections, e. g. of synthetic resin material.

The coupling section may be preferably formed into a bellows-like configuration to enhance flexible and extensible characteristics.

The sections of the protector may have clipping sections comprising projecting or axle portions projecting from the sections and locking wing portions at the distal ends of the projecting portions. The clipping sections are inserted into through-holes in a vehicle frame to secure the protector to the frame.

The clipping sections can be attached to the vehicle frame by only a single step of inserting the locking wing portions into the through-holes in the vehicle frame to lock the wing portions on the rear surfaces adjacent the through-holes, thereby eliminating a step of fastening bolts or the like.

Suitably a tape-winding tongue projects from each of the opposite ends of the protector, so that it is possible to secure the wire harness inserted into the protector to the protector by winding a tape around the wire harness along with the tongue.

The protector sections may have a trough-like configuration, or may be formed into a tube-like or sheath-like configuration into which the wire harness can

be inserted.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a protector for a wire harness in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of protector of Fig. 1 ; Figure 3 (A) is a perspective view of the protector of Fig" 1, illustrating the inserted wire harness; Figure 3 (B) is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the protector mounted on a vehicle frame; Figure 4 (A) is a perspective view of a portion of a protector for a wire harness which is a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 (B) is a cross sectional view of the protector of Fig. 4 (A) mounted on a vehicle frame ; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a protector for a wire harness which is a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a prior art protector.

Figures 1 to 3 show a protector for a wire harness embodying the present invention, made of a synthetic resin material as a one-piece body. The protector 10 includes a bellows section (coupling) 13 that interconnects bottom wall members lla and 12a of a first trough-like section 11

and a second trough-like section 12, respectively. Tapewinding tongues 16 and 17 are provided on ends of the first and second trough-like sections 11 and 12 with the tongues being bent on the ends at a right angle. Clipping sections 14 and 15 are provided on sidewall members lib and 12b of the trough-like protector 10.

The first and second trough-like sections 11 and 12, as shown in Figure 2, are bent in a smooth chute-like configuration as seen in side view.

The clipping sections 14 and 15 include axle portions 14a and 15a projecting from the sidewall members lib and 12b of the first and second trough-like sections at the right angle, and locking wing portions 14b and 15b (each having two wings). The locking wing portions 14b and 15b are provided on their distal ends with L-shaped supporting portions 14b-1 and 15b-1 that engage areas around through-holes H in a vehicle frame P as shown in Fig. 3 (B).

The tape-winding tongues 16 and 17 have L-shapes in section. Projections 16a and 17a provided on the distal ends of the tongues 16 and 17 prevent displacement of a tape T.

As shown in Figure 3 (A), a wire harness W/H is inserted into the protector 10 and a tape T is wound around the opposite ends of the protector 10 and the tapewinding tongues 16 and 17 to secure the wire harness W/H to the protector 10. As shown in Figure 3 (B), the clipping sections 14 and 15 are inserted into the through-

holes H in the vehicle frame P with deflection of the locking wing portions 14b and 15b. Then, the supporting portions 14b-1 and 15b-1 engage the areas around the through-holes H.

When the protector 10 is fixed on the vehicle frame P, the protector 10 may swing about the axle portions 14a and 15a of the clipping sections 14 and 15 in the directions shown by arrows in Figure 2. However, in this embodiment of the present invention, since the bellows section 13 interconnects the first and second trough-like sections 11 and 12 only at the bottom wall members lla and 12a, the bellows section 13 can follow the swinging motion on account of its flexible and stretchable characteristics.

According to the above structure, the bellows portion 13 is provided between the clipping sections 14 and 15 on the protector 10 to interconnect only the bottom wall members lla and 12a and thus the protector 10 can be bendable at the coupling section 13. Accordingly, it is possible to finely adjust the relative position between the clipping sections 14 and 15. Consequently, even if the positions of the through-holes H in the vehicle frame P vary in each automobile model, no new protector is required and thus the same protector can comply with the variation in place, thereby obtaining general versatility.

The protector is not limited to a trough-like configuration. It may be formed into a tube-like configuration into which the wire harness can be inserted.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a protector

for a wire harness in accordance with the present invention.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a reverse bend looped section 13'is provided in lieu of the bellows section 13 and brackets 14'and 15'are provided in lieu of the clipping sections 14 and 15.

As shown in Figure 4 (A), the looped section 13' connects only the bottom wall members between a first trough section 11'and a second trough section 12'. The brackets 14'and 15'project upward from upper edges of sidewall members llb'and 12b'of the first and second trough sections 11'and 12'. The bracket sections 14'and 15'are provided with through-holes 14a'and 15a'for fixing bolts.

As shown in Figure 4 (B), bolts B pass through the holes 14a'and 15a'in the brackets 14'and 15', the through-holes H in the vehicle frame P, and nuts N bear on the rear surfaces of the through-holes H to fasten them.

In the fixed condition, the protector may undergo rotation around the bolts B. However, the looped section 13'is bent and follows the rotation flexibly, since the looped section 13'interconnects the first and second trough sections 11'and 12'at only the bottom wall members 11a'and 12a'.

In this structure, the protector 10 can be bendable at the looped section 13'. Accordingly, it is possible to finely adjust the relative position between the brackets

ections 14'and 15'. Consequently, even if the positions of the through-holes H in the vehicle frame P vary in every automobile, no new protector is required and thus the same protector can comply with the variation in place, thereby obtaining general versatility.

Since the other structures in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, their explanation is omitted here.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of a protector for a wire harness in accordance with the present invention.

The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that brackets 14"and 15"are provided extending horizontally, in lieu of the clipping sections 14 and 15, and bellows section 13"is provided to connect sidewall members of a first trough section 11"and a second trough section 12".

The brackets 14"and 15"project horizontally (parallel to the basewalls) from lower ends of sidewall members lIb" and 12b" of the first and second trough sections 11"and 12". Bolts are vertically inserted into through-holes 14a"and 15a"in the brackets 14"and 15". Consequently, rotation of the protector around the bolt in the bolt-fixing condition occurs in a horizontal plane in the third embodiment but it occurs in a vertical plane in the first embodiment.

Since the bellows section 13"interconnects the first and second trough-like sections 11"and 12"at only the sidewalls 11c" and 12c", the bellows section 13"is

bent horizontally and can follow the rotation flexibly.

Since the other structures in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, their explanation is omitted here.

Claims

Claims 1. A protector for a wire harness having a plurality of sections, each fixable to a vehicle frame, for holding the wire harness, each section having a trough or sheath configuration with plural wall members, a coupling joining two adjacent said sections as a continuation of corresponding wall members thereof, said coupling being flexible and extensible.
2. A protector for a wire harness according to Claim 1 ; wherein said coupling section has a bellows-like configuration or a loop configuration.
3. A protector for a wire harness according to Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said sections have clipping sections comprising first portions projecting from said protector and locking wing portions at the distal ends of said first portions, to be inserted into through-holes in a vehicle frame to lock the protector onto the frame.
4. A protector for a wire harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a tape-winding tongue projects from each of the opposite ends of said protector.
5. A protector for a wire harness according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the or each said coupling is formed with said sections as one piece of synthetic resin

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material.
6. A protector for a wire harness substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In combination, a wire harness and a protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A vehicle having a wire harness and at least one protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6.