JP2009060731A - Bendable protector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bendable protector which can reduce the damage on a wiring material by preventing the twining of fellow wiring materials. <P>SOLUTION: This bendable protector includes many blocks 100 roughly U-shaped in cross section which are coupled in the form of a bendable chain in that state, being arrayed in a row along a flexible flat circuit body, and each block is provided with first storage space 101 on the side of its inner bottom which accommodates the flexible flat circuit body 20 and second storage space 102 which accommodates the wiring material 10 including other cables upper than it. It is provided with engaging claws 114, which engage both side edges of the flexible flat circuit, on both sides of the inner bottom of each block, and also includes a projection 115, which engages a bored locking hole 25 with the insulator of the flexible flat circuit body, at the center of the inner bottom of each block. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bendable protector for protecting a flexible flat circuit body and other wiring members together.

  As a bendable protector for protecting a flexible flat circuit body such as FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), ribbon electric wire, etc., one shown in FIG. 3 is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

  In this protector, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a large number of rectangular cylindrical blocks 200 are connected flexibly by a hinge 205 to form a chain, and the wiring member 210 is accommodated therein. The hinge 205 is configured by passing the pin 203 through the holes of the brackets 201 and 202 provided in each block 200.

JP-A-9-322356

  By the way, since the conventional protector shown in FIG. 3 simply loads a plurality of routing materials 210 into the cavity inside the block 200, the routing materials 210 may be entangled with each other. For example, when a flexible flat circuit body and electric wires are mixed and wired as the wiring material 210, the wiring materials 210 are easily entangled with each other, and the wiring material 210 having low strength may be broken or worn. is there.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, The objective is to provide the bendable protector which prevents the tangle between wiring materials and can reduce the damage to a wiring material.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the bendable protector according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (4).
(1) It is arranged in a line along a strip-shaped flexible flat circuit body to be protected, and includes a large number of blocks having a substantially U-shaped cross-section connected in a chain that can be bent in that state,
In each of the blocks, there is a first accommodation space on the inner bottom side that accommodates the flexible flat circuit body, and a second accommodation space on the upper side that accommodates a wiring material including other electric wires. Provided,
Furthermore, an engagement mechanism that engages with the flexible flat circuit body inserted into the first accommodation space of the block is provided at the inner bottom of each of the blocks.
(2) In the bendable protector configured as described in (1) above,
The engagement mechanism is
Engagement claws formed on both side portions of the inner bottom portion of each of the blocks in order to engage with both side edges of the flexible flat circuit body inserted into the first accommodation space;
A protrusion formed at the center of the inner bottom of each of the blocks to engage with a locking hole formed in the insulator of the flexible flat circuit body;
Having
(3) In the bendable protector configured as described in (1) or (2) above,
Each of the blocks is independent of each other and is connected to the flexible flat circuit body so that it can be bent by the flexible flat circuit body.
(4) In the bendable protector configured as described in any one of (1) to (3) above,
Each of the blocks has a flat bottom wall and a pair of trapezoidal side walls, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section. The bottom wall is arranged in a row by adjoining the sides of the adjacent blocks. In addition, the upper end of the pair of side walls is provided with a retaining wall that is bent inward and prevents the wiring member from coming off by being close to each other. Being.

According to the bendable protector having the above configuration (1), the flexible flat circuit body and the wiring material including the electric wires are accommodated and protected so as not to be entangled with each other in the first and second separate accommodation spaces. can do. In addition, when the flexible flat circuit body is bent, the blocks connected in a chain form freely bend following the bending of the flexible flat circuit body. Can be protected with a protector. In that case, the engagement mechanism provided in the block can maintain the integrity of the flexible flat circuit body and the block.
According to the bendable protector configured as described in (2) above, the engaging claw provided on the block prevents the flexible flat circuit body from coming out of the block, and the protrusion provided on the block is positioned relative to the bracket of the flexible flat circuit body. Since the function of preventing displacement is achieved, the integrity of the flexible flat circuit body and the block can be more reliably maintained.
According to the bendable protector configured as described in (3) above, the blocks are connected by a flexible flat circuit body, so there is no need to provide hinge means between the blocks, simplifying the component configuration and reducing the number of components. Can be achieved.
According to the bendable protector configured as described in (4) above, the bottom wall of each block having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and the pair of side walls are formed in a trapezoidal shape. The blocks can be arranged in a row without any gaps in close contact with each other, so that even if independent blocks are simply connected, the connection between the blocks can be stable and flexible. The protection performance against the flat circuit body can be enhanced. Further, at the bent portion, the sides of the trapezoidal side wall are in contact with each other, so that the flexible flat circuit body can be similarly protected with high stability. Moreover, since the retaining wall is provided at the upper end of the side wall, it is possible to keep the wiring member such as the electric wire inserted into the second accommodation space from falling off.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent entanglement between the wiring materials and to reduce damage to the wiring materials.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the best mode for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state in which the bendable protector of the embodiment is mounted on a flexible flat circuit body, and an electric wire is routed as another routing material, and FIG. 1B constitutes the protector. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a portion where the flexible flat circuit body is engaged with one block, FIG. 2A is a side view when the flexible flat circuit body with the protector attached is kept in a straight line, and FIG. b) is a side view of the bent state.

  This protector is arranged in a line along a strip-shaped flexible flat circuit body 20 to be protected, and is attached to the flexible flat circuit body 20 in this state, thereby being connected in a bendable chain shape. A large number of substantially U-shaped blocks 100 are provided.

  Each block 100 has a flat bottom wall 110 and a pair of trapezoidal side walls 112, so that the cross-section is formed in a substantially U shape. The bottom wall 110 is a side of the bottom wall 110 of the adjacent block 100. It is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate so that they can be placed in close contact with each other. Further, at the upper ends of the pair of side walls 112, a retaining wall 113 that is bent inward and approaches each other to prevent the routing member 10 and the flexible flat circuit body 20 accommodated therein from coming off is provided. .

  Moreover, in each block 100, the 1st accommodation space 101 by the side of the inner bottom which accommodates the flexible flat circuit body 20, and the 2nd which accommodates the wiring materials 10, such as another electric wire above it. Storage space 102 is provided. In addition, the routing material 10 in this embodiment is a round electric wire.

  Further, engaging claws 114 that engage both side edges of the flexible flat circuit body 20 inserted into the first receiving space 101 form part of the engaging mechanism on both side portions of the inner bottom portion of each block 100. It is provided as something to do. Further, at the center of the inner bottom portion of each block 100, a projection 115 for engaging a locking hole 25 drilled in the insulator of the flexible flat circuit body 20 inserted in the first accommodation space 101 is an engagement mechanism. It is provided as a part of. The engaging claws 114 are configured so that both side edges of the flexible flat circuit body 20 can be fitted into the recesses below the engaging claws 114, and a pair of the engaging claws 114 are provided at intervals corresponding to the width dimension of the flexible flat circuit body 20. However, the flexible flat circuit body 20 is formed smaller than the length of the bottom wall 110 of the block 100 so as not to hinder the bending of the flexible flat circuit body 20. Further, the protrusion 115 and the engaging claw 114 are arranged at substantially the same position in the length direction (bending direction) of the main body 110 of the block 100 so as not to hinder the bending of the flexible flat circuit body 20.

  In the case of this embodiment, no hinge means such as a pin or a bracket is provided between the blocks 100, and each block 100 is an independent component, and the block 100 is mounted on the flexible flat circuit body 20. Thus, the flexible flat circuit body 20 is connected in a bendable chain shape.

  When this protector is used, both side edges of the flexible flat circuit body 20 are engaged with the engaging claws 114, and the locking holes 25 of the flexible flat circuit body 20 are engaged with the protrusions 115, so that they are arranged in a line. The blocks 100 are sequentially attached to the flexible flat circuit body 20, and the sides of the bottom walls 110 of the adjacent blocks 100 are brought into close contact with each other. By doing so, the flexible flat circuit body 20 is accommodated in the first accommodation space 101 of each block 100. Then, the other wiring material 10 such as an electric wire is accommodated in the second accommodation space 102 of each block 100.

  By doing in this way, while being able to be connected in a chain form so that a large number of blocks 100 can be bent by the flexible flat circuit body 20, the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the routing material 10 such as electric wires can be connected to the large number of blocks 100. It can be protected by a protector provided. In addition, in this state, when the wiring member 10 such as the flexible flat circuit body 20 or the electric wire is bent inward (on the side opposite to the side on which the block 100 is mounted), the block 100 can be Since the flexure of the routing material 10 is flexibly followed, the bent portion can be safely protected.

  As described above, according to this bendable protector, the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the routing material 10 such as an electric wire are not entangled with each other in the first and second separate accommodation spaces 101 and 102, respectively. Can be housed and protected. In addition, when the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the wiring material 10 such as an electric wire are bent, the blocks 100 connected in a chain manner follow the bending of the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the wiring material 10 such as an electric wire. Therefore, the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the routing material 10 such as an electric wire can be safely protected with a protector even at the bent portion. At that time, the engaging claw 114 provided on the block 100 prevents the flexible flat circuit body 20 from coming out of the block 100, and the protrusion 115 functions to prevent the positional displacement of the flexible flat circuit body 20 with respect to the bracket 100. Therefore, the integrity of the flexible flat circuit body 20 and the block 100 can be maintained.

  Further, in this protector, since the blocks 100 are connected by the flexible flat circuit body 20 itself, it is not necessary to provide a hinge means between the blocks 100, so that the component configuration can be simplified and the number of components can be reduced. it can.

  Further, since the bottom wall 110 of each block 100 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed in a rectangular plate shape and the pair of side walls 112 are formed in a trapezoidal shape, the sides of the bottom wall 110 are in close contact with each other. The blocks 100 can be arranged in a row without any gaps, so that even if the independent blocks 100 are simply connected, the connection between the blocks 100 can be made stable, and the flexible flat circuit body The protection performance against 20 can be enhanced. Further, at the bent portion, the sides of the trapezoidal side wall 112 are in contact with each other, so that the flexible flat circuit body 20 can be similarly protected with high stability. Further, since the retaining wall 113 is provided at the upper end of the side wall 112, the wiring member 10 such as an electric wire inserted into the second accommodation space 102 can be kept so as not to drop off.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

  For example, the blocks 100 may be connected by some hinge means.

(A) is the perspective view which shows the state which mounted | worn the flexible protector of embodiment of this invention to the flexible flat circuit body, and also wired the electric wire as another wiring material, and (b) comprises the protector. It is a perspective view which shows the location which engages a flexible flat circuit body with respect to one block. (A) is a side view when the flexible flat circuit body equipped with the protector is kept in a straight line, and (b) is a side view when it is in a bent state. (A) is a block diagram of a conventional protector, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of a hinge portion of the protector.

Explanation of symbols

10: Routing material such as electric wire 20: Flexible flat circuit body 25: Locking hole 100: Block 110: Bottom wall 112: Side wall 113: Retaining wall 114: Engaging claw 115: Projection

Claims (4)

It is arranged in a line along a strip-shaped flexible flat circuit body to be protected, and includes a large number of blocks having a substantially U-shaped cross section connected in a chain shape that can be bent in that state,
In each of the blocks, there is a first accommodation space on the inner bottom side that accommodates the flexible flat circuit body, and a second accommodation space on the upper side that accommodates a wiring material including other electric wires. Provided,
Furthermore, the bendable protector characterized in that an engagement mechanism that engages with the flexible flat circuit body inserted in the first accommodation space of the block is provided at the inner bottom of each of the blocks. The engagement mechanism is
Engagement claws formed on both side portions of the inner bottom portion of each of the blocks in order to engage with both side edges of the flexible flat circuit body inserted into the first accommodation space;
A protrusion formed at the center of the inner bottom of each of the blocks to engage with a locking hole formed in the insulator of the flexible flat circuit body;
The bendable protector according to claim 1, comprising:   3. The block according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are independent of each other and are connected to the flexible flat circuit body so as to be bent in a chain shape. The bendable protector described.   Each of the blocks has a flat bottom wall and a pair of trapezoidal side walls, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section. The bottom wall is arranged in a row with the sides of the adjacent blocks in close contact with each other. In addition, the upper end of the pair of side walls is provided with a retaining wall that is bent inward and prevents the wiring member from coming off by being close to each other. The bendable protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bendable protector is provided.

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