JP2003016850A - Flat circuit body, and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily fold a flat circuit body on a plane which is coplanar to an arrangement plane for arranging a plurality of conductors, and to produce it at a low cost. SOLUTION: In this flat circuit body 1, provided with a flat cable 2 with its plurality of conductors 4 arranged in parallel with a prescribed space, and integrally coated with an insulator 5, a plurality of unit cable parts 7, having slits 6 formed in the insulator 5 between the conductors 4, are held each other in a state of being folded in a prescribed direction, in a plane coplanar to the arrangement plane for the conductors 4, and a terminal of the each unit cable part 7 is connected to each connector 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat circuit body used for electric wiring of, for example, an automobile and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a circuit body for electric wiring of automobiles,
Those using a flat cable are known. As shown in FIG. 7, the flat cable 22 includes a plurality of conductive wires 23.
Are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and the conductors 23 are integrally covered with an insulator 24 such as an insulating resin to form a linear strip shape. Further, this flat cable 22 can be easily bent to a plane orthogonal to the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductors 23, but there is a problem that it cannot be bent on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the conductors 23.

Therefore, in the conventional flat circuit body 21, for example, as shown in FIG.
7 is bent and overlapped at a portion indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 7 to set the routing direction of the flat cable 22 with respect to the connector 25.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional flat circuit body 21, the flat cable 2 is used.
Since 2 is folded, there is a problem that the number of bending steps is increased by one and the number of manufacturing steps is increased to increase the cost.

In order to manufacture the flat circuit body 21, in order to maintain the bending direction of the flat cable 22 after being bent, for example, as shown in FIG.
There is a problem that the bent portion needs to be fixed by the holding member 26 and the number of parts is increased.

Further, in the above-mentioned flat circuit body 21, since the conductor wire 23 is sharply bent at the bent portion, a large load is applied to the conductor wire 23 and the insulator 24, and the conductor wire 23 is broken or the insulator 24 is cracked. However, there is a problem that such a problem is likely to occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a flat circuit body which can be easily bent on the same plane as a surface on which a plurality of conducting wires are arranged and which can be manufactured at low cost, and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is such that a plurality of conducting wires are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and these conducting wires are integrally made of an insulator. A flat circuit body including a covered flat cable, wherein a plurality of unit cable portions each having a slit formed in an insulator between the conductor wires are bent in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductor wires. It is characterized in that the terminals of the respective unit cable portions are connected to a connector while being held together in a closed state.

According to the first aspect of the present invention having such a structure, a plurality of unit cable portions are formed by forming slits between the conductor wires of the linear insulator, and these unit cable portions are arranged on the surface on which the plurality of conductor wires are arranged. By bending on the same plane, the flat cable can be easily bent on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductors, and the bending direction (angle) can be freely set. Therefore, in the invention according to the first aspect, it is possible to easily set the routing direction of the flat cable with respect to the connector.

The invention according to claim 2 is the flat circuit body according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit cable portions are fixed to each other with an adhesive.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect of the invention, the unit cable portions are fixed to each other with an adhesive to ensure that the flat cable is maintained in the bending direction. There is an action.

Furthermore, the invention of claim 3 is the flat circuit body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a V-shaped groove is formed in advance at a position where the slit of the insulator is inserted. Is characterized by.

In this flat circuit body, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claims 1 and 2, the slit is formed accurately and easily by forming the V-shaped groove at the position where the slit of the insulator is inserted. It becomes possible to do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a flat circuit body, wherein a plurality of conducting wires are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and the conducting wires are integrally covered with an insulator. Forming a plurality of unit cable portions by inserting a slit between the conductors of the terminal portion of the cable;
A step of bending the plurality of unit cable portions in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conducting wires; a step of integrally holding the bent plurality of unit cable portions; and the plurality of units. And a step of attaching a connector to a terminal of the cable portion.

According to the present invention, a plurality of unit cables are formed by forming slits between the conductor wires of the linear insulator, and the plurality of unit cable portions are flush with the arrangement surface of the conductor wires. The flat circuit body can be easily manufactured at low cost because it can be bent above and a plurality of these bent unit cables can be held integrally.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a flat circuit body according to the fourth aspect, wherein the plurality of unit cable portions are fixed to each other with an adhesive.

According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the function of the invention of claim 4, by fixing the unit cable portion with an adhesive, it is possible to more reliably maintain the flat cable in the bending direction. There is an action.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, details of a flat circuit body according to the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a flat circuit body according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a flat cable of a straight portion, and FIG. 3 is a line A--A in FIG.
It is a line sectional view.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flat circuit body 1 of this embodiment comprises a flat cable 2 and a connector 3 connected to the flat cable 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flat cable 2 has a plurality of conducting wires 4 arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and the conducting wires 4 are integrally covered with an insulator 5 to form a linear strip shape. Is formed in.

As shown in FIG. 1, the insulator 5 at the end of the flat cable 2 is provided with a slit 6 between the conductors 4 and 4 along the longitudinal direction of the conductor 4. By inserting the slits 6 in this manner, the insulator 5 is divided into a narrow width at the end portion of the flat cable 2, and a plurality of unit cable portions 7 each including the conductive wire 4 separated from each other are formed. There is. As a result, the flat cable 2 includes a plurality of unit cable portions 7 and a main cable portion 8 other than the unit cable portions 7. The length of the slit 6 inserted into the end portion of the flat cable 2 is set according to conditions such as the number of poles of the connector 3 and the bending position of the flat cable 2.

The unit cable portion 7 includes the plurality of conductors 4
Are bent in a predetermined direction (for example, a direction that forms a right angle) with respect to the main cable portion 8 to form a bent portion 9 on the same plane as the arrangement planes that are arranged in parallel. The terminals of the plurality of bent unit cable portions 7 are aligned by, for example, trimming.

At the ends of the plurality of unit cable portions 7, the conductors 4 exposed by peeling off the insulator 5 at the terminal portions are connected to the terminals 1.
0 is crimped. In the present embodiment, the insulator 5 at the terminal portion is peeled off. However, for example, the conductor wire 4 is attached to the pressure contact blade of the terminal.
It may be configured so as to be pressed against each other, or so-called piercing connection.

The terminal 10 is inserted and fixed in the connector 3. The plurality of unit cable portions 7 of the bent portion 9 are fixed to each other with an adhesive, and the unit cables 7 are held integrally.

Next, the procedure for manufacturing the flat circuit body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

(A) First, as shown in FIG.
A slit 6 is inserted between the conductors 4 at the end portion of the flat cable 2. The length of the slit 6 is appropriately set depending on the number of poles of the connector 3, the bending position of the flat cable 2, and the like. As a result, a plurality of unit cable portions 7 are formed at the terminal portion of the flat cable 2.

(B) Next, as shown in FIG.
The plurality of unit cable portions 7 formed in the above process are bent in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface on which the plurality of conductors 4 are arranged in parallel to form a bent portion 9.

(C) After that, the entire bent portion 9 is fixed with an adhesive to hold the plurality of unit cable portions 9 together.

(D) Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the ends of the plurality of unit cables 7 are cut and aligned by, for example, trimming.

(E) After that, as shown in FIG. 4D, a plurality of unit cable portions 7 integrally held by an adhesive agent.
The conductor 5 is exposed by peeling off the insulator 5 at each end of the terminal 1, and the terminal 10 is crimped and attached to the conductor 4.
Insert 0 into connector 3 and fix. In this way, the production of the flat circuit body 1 is completed.

In the flat circuit body 1, slits 6 are formed between the conductors 4 of the linear insulator 5 to form a plurality of unit cable portions 7, and the unit cable portions 7 are arranged on the plurality of conductors 4. By bending on the same plane as the surface, the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductors 4 of the flat cable 2 can be easily bent on the same plane, and
The bending direction (angle) can be freely set.
Therefore, it is possible to easily set the routing direction of the flat cable 2 with respect to the connector 3.

Further, slits 6 are formed between the conductors 4 of the linear insulator 5 to form a plurality of unit cable portions 7, and the plurality of unit cable portions 7 are on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the conductors 4. The flat circuit body 1 can be manufactured at a low cost because the manufacturing process is easy because the unit cable parts 7 that are bent are integrally held.

In particular, in this embodiment, the plurality of unit cables 7 are bent in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement plane of the plurality of conductors 4 and the unit cables 7 are fixed to each other with an adhesive, It is possible to reliably maintain the flat cable 2 in the bending direction.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5A to 5D.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the method for manufacturing a flat circuit body according to the present invention.

(A) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of unit cable portions 7 are formed by forming slits 6 between the conductors 4 in the insulator 5 of the end portion of the flat cable 2. To do.

(B) Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the end portions of the plurality of unit cable portions 7 are diagonally cut inward in the bending direction of the unit cable portions 7 by trimming or the like. The angle of the diagonal cut is set so that the ends of the plurality of unit cables 7 are aligned in a state where the plurality of unit cable portions 7 are bent in a predetermined direction. The trimming process may be performed before the process of forming the slit 6.

(C) After that, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), a plurality of unit cables 7 are bent in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conducting wires 4 to form a bent portion 9, and The entire bent portion 9 is fixed with an adhesive to hold the plurality of unit cables 7 together.

(D) Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), the conductor 5 is exposed by peeling off the insulator 5 at each end of the plurality of unit cables 7 that are integrally held, and the conductor 4 is exposed. The terminal 10 is attached to the connector 3 by crimping, and the terminal 10 is inserted and fixed in the connector 3. In this way, the second embodiment
The fabrication of the flat circuit body 1 is completed.

In the method for manufacturing the flat circuit body 1, since the plurality of unit cables 7 are bent and cut so that the ends of the unit cables 7 are aligned, the step of bending the plurality of unit cable portions 7 is performed. Continue to connector 3
It is possible to start the connector mounting step of mounting the unit, and it is not necessary to interpose the cutting step of aligning the ends of the unit cable portions 7 between both steps. As a result, the manufacturing process becomes smooth and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

(Other Embodiments) It should not be understood that the description and drawings forming a part of the disclosure of the above-described first and second embodiments limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the unit cables 7 are held and fixed with an adhesive, but a holding means other than the adhesive, for example, a tightening member for bundling a plurality of unit cables 7 may be used. .

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), a V-shaped groove 11 may be formed in advance at the position of the slit 6 inserted between the conductor wires 4 of the insulator 5. In such a flat cable 2, the slit 6 of the insulator 5
Since the V-shaped groove 11 is formed at the position where the
The work of inserting the slit 6 becomes easy.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of unit cable portions are formed by forming slits between the conductors of the linear insulator to form these unit cable portions. By bending on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductors, it is possible to easily bend on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductors of the flat cable,
Moreover, the bending direction (angle) can be freely set. Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to easily set the routing direction of the flat cable with respect to the connector.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, by fixing the unit cable parts to each other with an adhesive, there is an effect that the flat cable is surely maintained in the bending direction. .

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2, by forming the V-shaped groove at the position where the slit of the insulator is inserted, the effect of making the slit easier is obtained. is there.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of unit cable portions are formed by forming slits between the conductor wires of the linear insulator, and the plurality of unit cable portions are arranged on the arrangement surface of the plurality of conductor wires. Since it suffices that the flat circuit body is bent on the same plane and the plurality of bent unit cable portions are integrally held, a flat circuit body can be easily manufactured at low cost.

According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 4, by fixing the unit cable portion with an adhesive, there is an effect that the flat cable can be more reliably maintained in the bending direction. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a flat circuit body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the flat cable of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

4A to 4D are explanatory views showing the manufacturing process of the flat circuit body according to the first embodiment.

5A to 5D are explanatory views showing a manufacturing process of the flat circuit body according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a modification of the flat circuit body according to the present invention. (B) is a BB line sectional view of (a).

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a flat cable of a conventional flat circuit body.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a flat circuit body of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 flat circuit body 2 flat cable 3 connectors 4 conductors 5 insulator 6 slits 7 unit cable section 11 V-shaped groove

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H01R 43/28 H01R 23/68 EF term (reference) 5E021 FA05 FA11 FB08 FB20 FC02 FC29 5E023 AA04 AA16 BB01 BB06 FF11 HH21 5G309 FA05 FA07 5G311 CC07 CF02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A flat circuit body having a flat cable in which a plurality of conductors are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and the conductors are integrally covered with an insulator, wherein insulation between the conductors is provided. A plurality of unit cable parts each having a slit formed on the body are held in a state of being bent in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conducting wires, and the ends of each unit cable part are connected to a connector. A flat circuit body characterized by being used. 2. The flat circuit body according to claim 1, wherein the unit cable portions are fixed to each other with an adhesive. 3. The flat circuit body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein V is previously provided at a position where a slit is formed in the insulator.
A flat circuit body having a groove formed therein. 4. A plurality of units in which a plurality of conducting wires are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and a slit is provided between the conducting wires of a terminal portion of a flat cable in which these conducting wires are integrally covered with an insulator. A step of forming a cable portion; a step of bending the plurality of unit cable portions in a predetermined direction on the same plane as the arrangement surface of the plurality of conducting wires; and a plurality of unit cable portions that are folded are integrally held. A method of manufacturing a flat circuit body, comprising: a step; and a step of attaching a connector to the terminals of the plurality of unit cable portions. 5. The method for manufacturing a flat circuit body according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of unit cable portions are fixed to each other with an adhesive.