JP2012221718A - Flat cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate parallel-disposition of a plurality of flat cables.SOLUTION: A flat cable 100 includes a coating part 12 and a plurality of strands 14, ..., 14, and 14. Any of the strands 14, ..., 14, and 14are extended in the same extending direction L, and arranged in the width direction W+ and W- perpendicular to the extending direction L. The coating part 12 has a first engagement part 123 in an end part on the width direction W+ side (one of side end parts in the width direction), and a second engagement part 126 in an end part on the width direction W- side (the other of side end parts in the width direction) separately. The first engagement part 123 and the second engagement part 126 take the form of a first shape and a second shape respectively in a sectional view from the extending direction L. The first shape takes the form of a projecting part 121 projecting in the direction T+ and a recessed part 122 opened in the direction T+, and the second shape takes the form of a projecting part 125 projecting in the direction T- and a recessed part 124 opened in the direction T-.

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat cable having a plurality of conductor portions and a method for manufacturing the flat cable.

  Conventionally, there exists a thing disclosed in patent document 1 as a flat cable provided with the multiple conductor part. Patent document 1 is disclosing the flat cable provided with the some strand in parallel.

JP 2010-135203 A

  The flat cable disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a fixed number of strands, and has a low degree of freedom in wiring. For example, in the flat cable disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of strands constitute a conductor portion that is one linear conductor, and the conductor portions are arranged in, for example, three rows. Therefore, when such a flat cable is used, in a wiring configuration in which four rows of conductor portions are required, two flat cables are necessary, and unnecessary conductor portions are provided, making it impossible to use the space effectively. Or as a flat cable, it is necessary to prepare several types from which the number of the conductor parts provided is different.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, it is conceivable to prepare a flat cable having only one conductor portion (hereinafter referred to as “single conductor portion flat cable”). The single conductor flat cables can be further arranged in parallel in the direction in which the plurality of strands constituting the conductor are arranged. Therefore, by using a single conductor flat cable, it is possible to cope with a plurality of wiring forms having different numbers of conductors.

  However, in order to arrange a plurality of flat cables in parallel, it is necessary to temporarily position them in the arrangement direction. For example, when a plurality of flat cables are arranged in parallel and fixed with an adhesive tape or the like, a jig for arranging them once will be required.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to facilitate arranging a plurality of strips of a flat cable in parallel (not limited to a single conductor flat cable).

  The first aspect of the flat cable according to the present invention includes a plurality of strands extending in the same extending direction and arranged in a width direction orthogonal to the extending direction, and at least the plurality of strands. A covering portion covering in the width direction.

  The covering portion includes a first engaging portion that exhibits a first shape in a cross-sectional view as viewed from the extending direction, at one of the end portions on the width direction side of the covering portion, and the width direction side of the covering portion. In the other end, it has the 2nd engaging part which exhibits the 2nd shape by the above-mentioned section view.

  The first shape and the second shape are engaged with each other to lock each other in at least one of a pair of other directions perpendicular to both the extending direction and the width direction. .

  The 2nd aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention is the 1st aspect, Comprising: The said 1st shape and the said 2nd shape mutually leave | separate in the said width direction by engaging with each other Lock together.

  The 3rd aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention is the 2nd aspect, Comprising: The said 1st shape is the convex part which protrudes to one side of the said other direction, and opens to said one side of the said other direction Presents a concave portion.

  The second shape presents a convex portion projecting to the other in the other direction and a concave portion opening to the other in the other direction.

  4th aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention is the 1st aspect, Comprising: The said 1st shape exhibits the convex part which protrudes in the one side of the said width direction, The said 2nd shape is A recess opening on the other side in the width direction is presented.

  The 5th aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention is the 4th aspect, Comprising: At least any one of the said 1st engaging part and the said 2nd engaging part can deform | transform.

  According to the 1st aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention, it is suppressed that a pair of flat cable adjacent in the width direction leaves | separates to at least any one of another direction, The said direction of a pair of flat cables Positioning with respect to becomes easy.

  According to the 2nd aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention, it is suppressed that a pair of flat cable adjacent in the width direction leaves | separates in the width direction, and positioning of the width direction of a pair of flat cables becomes easy.

  According to the 3rd aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention, the convex part which the 1st shape which the 1st engaging part of one flat cable exhibits has the other which adjoins the one flat cable in the width direction. The recesses of the second shape exhibited by the second engagement portion of the flat cable are engaged with each other, and the first shape and the first shape are separated from each other in the width direction. The two shapes are locked together, and a pair of adjacent flat cables are prevented from separating in the width direction.

  According to the 4th aspect of the flat cable concerning this invention, it is suppressed that a pair of flat cable adjacent in the width direction leaves | separates to at least any one of another direction by engagement with a convex part and a recessed part. Is done.

  According to the fifth aspect of the flat cable according to the present invention, the convex portion of one first engaging portion of the pair of flat cables adjacent to each other in the width direction is transferred to the concave portion of the other second engaging portion. It can be press-fitted and engaged. Since the first shape and the second shape are locked in the width direction, the pair of adjacent flat cables are prevented from separating in the width direction.

It is a cross-sectional perspective view which shows the shape of the flat cable which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the flat cable which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that a pair of adjacent flat cable which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention mutually engages. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the flat cable which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that a pair of adjacent flat cable which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention mutually engages.

First embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat cable 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a conductor portion 140 that is a linear conductor and a covering portion 12. The conductor 140 is composed of a plurality of strands 14 ₁ ,..., 14 ₇ , 14 ₈ . The plurality of strands 14 ₁ ,..., 14 ₇ , 14 ₈ all extend in the same extending direction L and are arranged in the width direction W +, W− perpendicular to the extending direction L. The direction toward the strand 14 ₁ from the wire 14 ₈ Here, the one side in the width direction W-, the direction from the wire 14 ₁ to the wire 14 _8, and the width direction of the other side W +.

In the following drawings including FIG. 1, the strands 14 ₁ ,..., 14 ₇ , 14 ₈ are shown in contact with each other, but are not necessarily in contact. Further, the number of the number is eight as an example, and is not a premise of the present embodiment and the second embodiment. Further, the flat cable is not assumed to be a single conductor flat cable.

  Now, when the extending direction L is uniquely determined, a pair of directions T + and T− orthogonal to both the extending direction L and the width directions W + and W− are also uniquely determined. Here, in the so-called right hand coordinate system, the width direction W + is adopted as the right thumb, the extending direction L is adopted as the right index finger, and one of the pair of directions T + is adopted as the right hand ring finger. Similarly, the width direction W- is adopted as the right thumb, the extending direction L is adopted as the right index finger, and the other T- in the pair of directions is adopted as the right hand ring finger.

The covering portion 12 covers the plurality of strands 14 _{1 to} 14 ₈ , that is, the conductor portion 140 at least on both sides in the width direction W +, W−. When the surface of the strands employed in the flat cable is covered with an insulating film for each of them, the covering portion 12 is not necessarily required to cover the plurality of strands 14 _{1 to} 14 ₈ in the directions T + and T−. Absent.

However, in the present embodiment and the following embodiments, the covering portion 12 covers the plurality of strands 14 _{1 to} 14 ₈ not only on both sides of the width direction W +, W− but also in the directions T +, T−. The case where it has is illustrated. The covering portion 12 exposes the first surface 120 on the direction T− side and the second surface 129 on the direction T + side.

  The covering portion 12 includes the first engaging portion 123 at the end portion on the width direction W + side (one of the end portions on the width direction side), and the second end portion on the width direction W− side (the other end portion on the width direction side). Each has an engaging portion 126.

  The first engaging portion 123 and the second engaging portion 126 have a first shape and a second shape, respectively, in a cross-sectional view as viewed from the extending direction L.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment, the first shape presents a convex portion 121 protruding in the direction T + and a concave portion 122 opening in the direction T +, and the second shape includes a convex portion 125 protruding in the direction T− and A recess 124 that opens in the direction T- is presented.

  In FIG. 3, a pair of flat cables 100 adjacent to each other in the width direction are represented by reference numerals 100A and 100B, respectively. Moreover, the code added about the flat cable 100A was described by adding the symbol A to the end of the code used in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the flat cable 100. Similarly, the reference numerals added to the flat cable 100B are indicated by adding the symbol B to the end of the flat cable 100 used in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The protrusion 121B having the first shape exhibited by the first engagement portion 123B of the flat cable 100B and the recess 124A having the second shape exhibited by the second engagement portion 126A of the flat cable 100A are mutually related. Match. Similarly, the concave portion 122B having the first shape exhibited by the first engaging portion 123B of the flat cable 100B and the convex portion 125A having the second shape exhibited by the second engaging portion 126A of the flat cable 100A are mutually connected. Engage with.

  Since the engagement as described above is realized, the first shape of the flat cable 100B and the second shape of the flat cable 100A are mutually locked, and the pair of flat cables 100A and 100B are separated in the width direction. Is suppressed. However, here, the direction in which the flat cable 100A is separated from the flat cable 100B is the width direction WA (leftward on the paper surface), and the direction in which the flat cable 100B is separated from the flat cable 100A is the width direction WB (rightward on the paper surface).

  As described above, the pair of flat cables 100A and 100B adjacent to each other in the width direction W + and W− are prevented from being separated from each other in the width direction, thereby easily positioning the pair of flat cables 100A and 100B in the width direction. Become.

  Further, due to the engagement as described above, the first shape and the second shape are locked to each other in the directions T + and T−. Thereby, it is suppressed that a pair of flat cable 100A, 100B leaves | separates to direction TA and T + B, and positioning with respect to the said direction of a pair of flat cable 100A, 100B becomes easy. More specifically, the flat cable 100A is inhibited from moving in the direction TA (downward on the paper surface), and the flat cable 100A is inhibited from moving in the direction T + B (upward on the paper surface).

  However, in order for the first shape and the second shape to be locked to each other in the directions T + and T−, (i) the convex portion 121B and the bottom of the concave portion 124A abut on the directions T + and T−. (ii) It is desirable that at least one of the convex portion 125A and the bottom portion of the concave portion 122B abut on the directions T + and T− is realized. Both (i) and (ii) do not need to be established, but if neither is established, the covering portion 12 is deformable (including elastic deformation and plastic deformation), and (iii) the convex portion 121B is It is desirable to realize one of press fitting into the recess 124A and (iv) pressing the protrusion 125A into the recess 122B. The press-fitting generates compressive stress along the directions W + and W− between the convex portion 121B and the concave portion 124A or between the convex portion 125A and the concave portion 122B, and shear stress along the directions T + and T−. This is because a frictional force against the above is realized.

  As described above, a special jig is not required to arrange the plurality of strips of the flat cable 100 in parallel (not limited to the single conductor flat cable), and the arrangement becomes easy. Once the plurality of strips of the flat cable 100 are arranged in parallel, they can be grouped together with, for example, an adhesive tape.

  Since the first shape and the second shape shown in the first embodiment are shapes that engage with each other, the cross-sectional shape of the flat cable 100 is uniform, and the manufacturing process is not complicated. .

The flat cable 100 can be manufactured by employing a known process, for example, a drawing process of the wires 14 _{1 to} 14 ₈ and an extrusion process of extruding the covering portion 12. The shape of the die employed in the extrusion molding is adapted to the cross section of the covering portion 12 shown in FIG.

Second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the flat cable 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the flat cable 100 according to the first embodiment. And a covering portion 12. However, in the present embodiment, the first shape of the first engaging portion 123 that is shown in a cross-sectional view as viewed from the extending direction L is a convex portion 121a that protrudes in the width direction W− side. Further, the second shape exhibited by the second engaging portion 126 in a cross-sectional view viewed from the extending direction L presents a recess 124a that opens to the width direction W + side. The concave portion 124a has a shape with which the shape of the convex portion 121a is engaged.

  FIG. 5 shows a pair of flat cables 100A and 100B adjacent to each other in the width direction. Similarly to the first embodiment, the reference numerals added to the flat cable 100A are added to the reference numerals employed in FIG. For the flat cable 100, the symbol B is added to the symbol employed in FIG.

  The protrusion 121aB of the first shape exhibited by the first engagement portion 123B of the flat cable 100B and the recess 124aA of the second shape exhibited by the second engagement portion 126A of the flat cable 100A are related to each other. Match.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, since the above-described engagement is realized, the first shape of the flat cable 100B and the second shape of the flat cable 100A are mutually in the directions T + and T−. Lock. Thereby, it is suppressed that a pair of flat cable 100A, 100B leaves | separates to direction TA and T + B, and positioning with respect to the said direction of a pair of flat cable 100A, 100B becomes easy. More specifically, the flat cable 100A is inhibited from moving in the direction TA (downward on the paper surface), and the flat cable 100A is inhibited from moving in the direction T + B (upward on the paper surface).

  Desirably, at least one of the first engaging portion 123B and the second engaging portion 126A can be deformed (including elastic deformation and plastic deformation). This is because the convex portion 121aB can be press-fitted and engaged with the concave portion 124aA. As a result, the first shape and the second shape are locked in the width direction W +, W−, so that the pair of flat cables 101A, 101B are prevented from separating in the width direction.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the direction in which the flat cable 100A is separated from the flat cable 100B is the width direction WA (leftward on the paper surface), and the flat cable 100B is separated from the flat cable 100A. The direction is the width direction WB (rightward on the page).

  As described above, the pair of flat cables 100A and 100B adjacent to each other in the width direction W + and W− are prevented from being separated from each other in the width direction, thereby easily positioning the pair of flat cables 100A and 100B in the width direction. Become.

  In order for the first shape and the second shape to be locked in the directions T +, T−, W +, and W−, the convex portion 121aB and the bottom of the concave portion 124aA are in the directions W + and W−. There is no need to touch. Regarding the directions T + and T−, the protrusions 121aB and the recesses 124aA are locked in the directions T + and T−. This means whether or not the protrusions 121aB and the bottoms of the recesses 124aA are in contact with each other in the directions W + and W−. Because it is not greatly affected. In addition, in the directions W + and W−, compressive stress is generated along the directions T + and T− between the convex portions 121aB and the concave portions 124aA due to press-fitting, and counteracts the shear stress along the directions W + and W−. This is because a frictional force is realized.

  As described above, as in the first embodiment, it is easy to arrange a plurality of strips of the flat cable 100 in parallel, and the manufacturing process of the flat cable 100 is not complicated.

Deformation.
In FIG. 3 (first embodiment) and FIG. 5 (second embodiment), the first surfaces 120A and 120B and the second surfaces 129A and 129B may be flush with each other. Illustrated. However, this relationship is not necessarily an aspect required for the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion, and the first surfaces 120A and 120B and the second surfaces 129A and 129B each have a step. It may be formed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Flat cable 12 Covering part 120 1st surface 121,121a, 125 convex part 122,122a, 124 recessed part 123 1st engaging part 126 2nd engaging part 129 2nd surface 140 Conductor part (linear conductor)
14 _{1 to} 14 ₈ strands

Claims (5)

A plurality of strands extending in the same extending direction and arranged in the width direction perpendicular to the extending direction,
A covering portion that covers the plurality of strands at least in the width direction;
The covering portion is
On one of the end portions on the width direction side of the covering portion, a first engaging portion that exhibits a first shape in a cross-sectional view as viewed from the extending direction;
On the other of the end portions in the width direction of the covering portion, a second engaging portion that exhibits a second shape in the cross-sectional view,
The first shape and the second shape are engaged with each other to lock each other in at least one of a pair of other directions perpendicular to both the extending direction and the width direction. A flat cable characterized by that.   The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the first shape and the second shape are engaged with each other so as to be locked to each other in a direction away from each other in the width direction. The first shape presents a convex portion projecting in one of the other directions and a concave portion opening to the one in the other direction,
The flat cable according to claim 2, wherein the second shape presents a convex portion projecting to the other of the other directions and a concave portion opening to the other of the other directions. The first shape presents a convex portion protruding on one side in the width direction,
The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the second shape exhibits a concave portion that opens to the other side in the width direction.   The flat cable according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is deformable.

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