JP7469183B2 - Bonder Cap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bonder cap made of synthetic resin that covers the bonder (thermal welded part) of a bundle of electric wires and serves the functions of waterproofing, insulation, etc.

One such type of bonder cap is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The bonder cap disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom and an opening on one side, and is equipped with a resin cap that covers the bonder (terminal connection part) of the bundle of electric wires branching off from the main wire of the wire harness, and a tongue piece that is fixed to the bundle of electric wires by wrapping tape around it.

When holding two bonder caps, a bonder holding section with slits in the holding plate is used, and the tongues fixed to the wire bundles of the two bonder caps by wrapping tape are inserted into the slits, and the two resin caps are placed and held on the holding plate.

JP 2014-230427 A

However, when attempting to fix two bonder caps to the main wire harness by wrapping tape around the holder holding portion of the conventional bonder caps, the holder holding portion gets in the way and becomes bulky. To solve this problem, if an attempt is made to directly fix two bonder caps to the main wire harness by wrapping tape around them, the resin caps will rotate and become easily misaligned because the cross-sectional shapes of the wire harness and resin caps are both circular. Therefore, it is difficult to line up two or more resin caps closely together and fix them to the wire harness by wrapping tape around them, and if the wire harness is mounted in this state on a vehicle, the resin caps will interfere with other components such as the vehicle panel and mounted components.

The present invention was made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a bonder cap that can easily be fixed to a wire harness by arranging two or more cap bodies without gaps, and that can prevent interference with other components when mounting the wire harness on a vehicle, thereby improving the mountability of the wire harness on the vehicle.

The bonder cap according to this aspect of the invention is a bonder cap that includes a cap body that is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with one end closed and that is placed over a bonder of a bundle of electric wires, and a cap fixing part that protrudes like a tongue from a part of the edge of the opening at the other end of the cap body and is tied to the bundle of electric wires, and the cap body has a mating convex part and a mating concave part at opposing positions on the outer circumferential surface.

It is preferable that the cap body has a mating protrusion and a mating recess at opposing positions 180° apart in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface.

The mating convex portion is composed of a pair of prismatic projections protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cap body at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction, and the mating concave portion is composed of a pair of recessed rectangular holes at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cap body, and it is preferable that the pair of prismatic projections and the pair of rectangular holes of the cap body are mutually matable with and detachable from a pair of rectangular holes and a pair of prismatic projections similarly provided on the cap body of the other bonder cap.

The mating convex portion is a semi-cylindrical protrusion extending along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral surface of the cap body to both ends, and the mating concave portion is a semi-circular groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral surface of the cap body to both ends, and it is preferable that the semi-cylindrical protrusion and semi-circular groove of the cap body are mutually matable with and detachable from a semi-circular groove and semi-cylindrical protrusion similarly provided on the cap body of the other bonder cap.

It is preferable that the cap body has a storage and holding chamber on one end side of the inner circumferential surface in which the bonder of the wire bundle is stored and held.

The present invention provides a bonder cap that can easily fix two or more cap bodies to a wire harness by arranging them closely together, preventing interference with other components when mounting the wire harness on a vehicle and improving the mountability of the wire harness on the vehicle.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state before a bonder cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention is connected to another bonder cap; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bonder cap. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bonder cap. FIG. 2 is a front view of the bonder cap. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the bonder cap. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the bonder cap. FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of a state in which the two bonder caps connected in the same orientation are fixed to a main wire harness. FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of a bonder cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the bonder cap of the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view of the bonder cap of the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the bonder cap of the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a left side view of the bonder cap of the second embodiment. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a bonder cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention is in the middle of being connected to another bonder cap; FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the bonder cap of the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the bonder cap of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view of the bonder cap of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the bonder cap of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a left side view of the bonder cap of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which two bonder caps of the third embodiment connected in the same orientation are fixed to a main wire harness. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which two bonder caps of the third embodiment, which are connected in a staggered orientation, are fixed to a main wire harness.

The bonder cap according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state before a bonder cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention is connected to another bonder cap. Figure 2 is a plan view of the bonder cap. Figure 3 is a bottom view of the bonder cap. Figure 4 is a front view of the bonder cap. Figure 5 is a right side view of the bonder cap. Figure 6 is a left side view of the bonder cap. Figure 7 is a front view showing an example of a state in which two bonder caps connected in the same orientation are fixed to a main wire harness.

As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the bonder cap 10 comprises a cap body 11 that is placed over the bonder 22 of the wire bundle 20, and a tape fastening flapper part (cap fixing part) 19 that is taped to the wire bundle 20 with adhesive tape T. The cap body 11 and the tape fastening flapper part 19 are integrally molded from an insulating resin material such as soft PVC that has appropriate flexibility.

As shown in Figures 1, 4 to 6, the cap body 11 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a closed tip (one end) 12 and an opening 13 at the other end, and is fitted over the bonder 22 of the electric wire bundle 20. The inner surface 14 of the cap body 11 has a small-diameter inner surface 14a on the tip 12 side into which the electric wire bundle 20 is press-fitted, a large-diameter inner surface 14b on the opening 13 side into which the electric wire bundle 20 is inserted, and a tapered surface 14c between them that makes it easier to insert the end side of the electric wire bundle 20. Due to the shape of the inner surface 14, the cap body 11 covers the periphery of the bonder 22 of the electric wire bundle 20 in a sealed state, fulfilling roles such as waterproofing and insulation.

As shown in Fig. 7, a pair of ribs 16, 16 are integrally formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11 to mark the winding position of the adhesive tape T to be wound around the main wire harness W/H and to serve as a winding restriction section. Also, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, a protrusion (fitting convex portion) 17 and a hole portion (fitting concave portion) 18 are formed at opposing positions 180° apart in the circumferential direction on the inside of the pair of annular ribs 16, 16 on the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11. The protrusions 17 are a pair of rectangular columns protruding from the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11 at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction. Also, the hole portion 18 is a pair of rectangular recesses at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction from the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11. As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of rectangular pillar-shaped protrusions 17, 17 and a pair of rectangular holes 18, 18 of one bonder cap 10 can be fitted into and removed from a pair of similarly provided rectangular holes 18, 18 and a pair of rectangular pillar-shaped protrusions 17, 17 of the other bonder cap 10. As shown in Fig. 7, the two bonder caps 10, 10 are connected by fitting the protrusions 17 and holes 18 of the two cap bodies 11, 11 into each other, and then fixed to the main wire harness W/H by taping with adhesive tape T.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tape fastening flaps (cap fixing parts) 19 are integrally formed as tongue pieces protruding from part of the edge 13a of the opening 13 of the cap body 11, and are adapted to be taped (bound) to the bundle of electric wires 20 by wrapping adhesive tape T around them. A restricting protrusion 19a that restricts the wrapping of the adhesive tape T is integrally formed at the end of the tape fastening flaps 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wire bundle 20 is a bundle of multiple electric wires 21, and has a bonder (thermal welding part) 22 at the end of the multiple electric wires 21, which electrically connects and integrates the core wires (conductor parts) 21a exposed from the insulating coating by welding or the like. The bonder 22 is protected by covering it with the cap body 11. The wire bundle 20 is a branch line of the wire harness W/H, which is the main line.

According to the bonder cap 10 of the first embodiment described above, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the protrusion 17 of one bonder cap 10 can be fitted into the hole 18 of the other bonder cap 10, so that the two bonder caps 10, 10 can be connected side-by-side with no gaps. As a result, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the cap bodies 11, 11 of the two bonder caps 10, 10 from shifting or rotating relative to each other.

When the two bonder caps 10, 10 are fixed to the main wire harness W/H by wrapping the tape around them, the adhesive tape T can be wrapped around the pair of protrusions 17, 17 of the cap body 11 to prevent the adhesive tape T from shifting. Furthermore, because of the simple structure of only forming the protrusions 17 and the holes 18 on the cap body 11, the bonder caps 10 can be manufactured at low cost, improving production efficiency.

In this way, the two cap bodies 11, 11 can be lined up without any gaps and easily fixed to the wire harness W/H with adhesive tape T, preventing interference with other components when mounting the wire harness W/H on a vehicle and improving the mountability of the wire harness W/H on a vehicle.

Figure 8 is a front view showing an example of a bonder cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a bottom view of the bonder cap. Figure 10 is a front view of the bonder cap. Figure 11 is a right side view of the bonder cap. Figure 12 is a left side view of the bonder cap.

The bonder cap 10 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it has a storage and holding chamber 14d in which the bonder 22 of the wire bundle 20 is stored and held on the tip 12 side of the inner circumferential surface 14 of the cap body 11. In other words, at the back of the small-diameter inner circumferential surface 14a of the inner circumferential surface 14, a storage and holding chamber 14d consisting of a cross-shaped space when viewed from the front in which the bonder 22 is stored and held is formed. Note that the other configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, so the same components are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

The bonder cap 10 of this second embodiment has a storage and holding chamber 14d on the tip 12 side of the inner circumferential surface 14 of the cap body 11 in which the bonder 22 of the wire bundle 20 is stored and held, and in addition to providing the same effects as the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the bonder 22 from being exposed. In other words, the bonder 22 is stored and held in the storage and holding chamber 14d of the cap body 11 and is not exposed to the outside, which improves the quality of the bonder cap 10. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the workability when storing the bonder 22 of the wire bundle 20 in the cap body 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in the middle of connecting a bonder cap according to the third embodiment of the present invention to another bonder cap. Figure 14 is a plan view of the bonder cap. Figure 15 is a bottom view of the bonder cap. Figure 16 is a front view of the bonder cap. Figure 17 is a right side view of the bonder cap. Figure 18 is a left side view of the bonder cap. Figure 19 is a perspective view showing two bonder caps connected in the same orientation and fixed to a main wire harness. Figure 20 is a perspective view showing two bonder caps connected in alternating orientations and fixed to a main wire harness.

The bonder cap of this third embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the mating convex portion is a semi-cylindrical protrusion 17A, and the mating concave portion is a semi-circular groove 18A. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions are omitted.

In the bonder cap 10 of the third embodiment, a semi-cylindrical protrusion (fitting convex portion) 17A is formed on the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11, protruding to both ends along the longitudinal direction. In addition, a semi-circular groove (fitting concave portion) 18A is formed at a position 180° away from the protrusion 17A on the outer peripheral surface 15 of the cap body 11 in the circumferential direction, recessed and extending to both ends along the longitudinal direction. The semi-cylindrical protrusion 17A and semi-circular groove 18A of the cap body 11 can be fitted into and removed from the semi-circular groove 18A and semi-cylindrical protrusion 17A similarly provided on the cap body 11 of the other bonder cap 10 by sliding.

According to the bonder cap 10 of the third embodiment, as shown in Figures 13, 19, and 20, the semi-cylindrical protrusion 17A of one bonder cap 10 is slid into the semi-circular groove 18A of the other bonder cap 10 to fit it. This fitting allows the two bonder caps 10, 10 to be connected side-by-side with no gaps, similar to the action and effect of the first embodiment.

In addition, the cap bodies 11, 11 of the two bonder caps 10, 10 can be easily and reliably prevented from shifting or rotating relative to each other, and can be easily and efficiently fixed to the main wire harness W/H with adhesive tape T. This prevents interference with other components when mounting the bonder caps on a vehicle, improving the mountability of the wire harness W/H on the vehicle. Furthermore, because of the simple structure of only forming a semi-cylindrical protrusion 17A and a semi-circular groove 18A on the cap body 11, the bonder cap 10 can be manufactured at low cost, improving production efficiency.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

That is, in the above embodiment, the bonder cap and the wire bundle or wire harness are fixed by wrapping them with adhesive tape, but the bonder cap and the wire bundle or wire harness may be fixed by other fixing members such as cable ties.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, two bonder caps connected in the same direction are fixed to the main wire harness by wrapping tape around them, but as in the second embodiment, two bonder caps connected in alternating directions may also be fixed to the main wire harness by wrapping tape around them.

10 Bonder cap 11 Cap body 12 Tip (one end)
13 Opening (other end)
13a Edge 14 Inner peripheral surface 14d Storage and holding chamber 15 Outer peripheral surface 17, 17 Pair of prismatic projections (fitting projections)
17A Semi-cylindrical protrusion (fitting protrusion)
18, 18 Pair of rectangular holes (fitting recesses)
18A Semicircular groove (fitting recess)
19 Tape fastening part (cap fixing part)
20. Wire bundle (branch wire)
22 Bonder (thermal welding part)

Claims (4)

A bonder cap comprising: a cap body formed in a bottomed tubular shape with one end closed, which is to be placed on a bonder of an electric wire bundle; and a cap fixing part projecting like a tongue from a part of an edge of an opening at the other end of the cap body, which is to be tied to the electric wire bundle,
The cap body has a fitting protrusion and a fitting recess at opposing positions on an outer circumferential surface ,
The fitting protrusions are formed of a pair of prismatic projections protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the cap body at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction,
The fitting recesses are formed of a pair of rectangular recessed holes spaced a predetermined distance apart in the longitudinal direction from the outer circumferential surface of the cap body,
A bonder cap in which a pair of prismatic protrusions and a pair of rectangular holes of the cap body are capable of being fitted into and detached from a pair of rectangular holes and a pair of prismatic protrusions similarly provided on the cap body of the other bonder cap. The bonder cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body has a mating protrusion and a mating recess at opposing positions spaced 180° apart in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface. A bonder cap comprising: a cap body formed in a bottomed tubular shape with one end closed, which is to be placed on a bonder of an electric wire bundle; and a cap fixing part projecting like a tongue from a part of an edge of an opening at the other end of the cap body, which is to be tied to the electric wire bundle,
The cap body has a fitting protrusion and a fitting recess at opposing positions on an outer circumferential surface,
The fitting protrusion is a semi-cylindrical protrusion extending to both ends along the longitudinal direction of the outer circumferential surface of the cap body,
The fitting recess is a semicircular groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the outer circumferential surface of the cap body to both ends,
A bonder cap, in which the semi-cylindrical protrusion and semi-circular groove of the cap body are capable of being fitted into and separated from a semi-circular groove and semi-cylindrical protrusion similarly provided on the cap body of the other bonder cap . 4. The bonder cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body has an accommodation/holding chamber on one end side of an inner circumferential surface thereof for accommodating and holding a bonder for the electric wire bundle.

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