JPH07131914A - Protector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent problems due to vibration of the branched wire for a circuit unused in some options, by inserting a connector, attached to the end of the branched wire, into a connector catch, formed on the external surface of a protector that has a wiring harness passed through it. CONSTITUTION:A wiring harness 1 is passed through a protector 10. A plurality of connector catches 14 are formed on the side of the protector body 11. A connector 2 is attached to the end of each of unused branched wires 1a of the wires comprising the wiring harness 1. The connectors 2 are coupled with the connector catches 14. The cover 12 of the protector 10 is freely openable, which facilitates inserting and taking out the wiring harness 1. The protector 10 is secured on the body of a car by means of securing sections 11b formed on the protector body 11. This prevents noises and damage to connectors due to vibration of unused branched wires.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protector for a wire harness for a vehicle, and more particularly to a protector for a connector which is connected to an excess electric wire of an option circuit among electric wires for an option circuit provided branching in the wire harness. It makes it possible to fix by using.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles include electrical components that are mounted in any vehicle type and optional electrical components that are not mounted in some vehicle types. However, if various wiring harnesses that connect these electrical components and the power supply are formed in correspondence with the circuit so that only the mounted electrical components are connected, there are too many types of wire harnesses, and storage management is troublesome. In addition, the cost is high.

Therefore, conventionally, the wire harness is formed in a state in which branch electric wires for optional circuits are also provided so that all optional electric components can be connected.
Excessive branch wires that are not used depending on the vehicle type are fixed and held as shown in FIG. 7 or 8.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a surplus option circuit branch wire 1a branched from the wire harness 1 is connected to a trunk line 1b.
Connector 2 which is tilted to the side and connected to the end of the branch electric wire 1a
The connection site with is fixed by winding the outer periphery with an adhesive tape 3 having a slit 3a together with the trunk line 1b. Also, a cap is provided on the opening 2a of the connector 2.
(Not shown) is attached to prevent water from entering the connector 2.

In FIG. 8, a box body 6 having a shape for accommodating the connector 2 is integrally formed at one end of an upper surface of a clamp 5 for positioning the wire harness 1 on a member (not shown) such as a vehicle body panel. Then, the connector 2 is fixed to the box body 6 to hold the excess branch electric wire 1a. (See Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-7212)

[0006]

However, in the fixing method shown in FIG. 7, since the place where the wire harness 1 is wired is in a bad environment such as the engine room or the door panel, it is possible that heat, water, dust, etc. The adhesive tape is easy to peel off. When the adhesive tape is peeled off in this way, the excessive branch electric wire 1a moves due to the vibration of the vehicle, and the connector 2 at the tip comes into contact with another member to cause abnormal noise, or
The connector 2 itself is damaged, or the wire harness 1
There are various problems such as disconnection.

Further, as described above, due to the vibration, the connector 2
In some cases, the cap attached to the opening 2a may come off, in which case the terminals housed inside the connector 2 are exposed. In this state, there is a problem that water is generated from the opening surface of the connector 2 and the adjacent terminals are energized by the water to cause a short circuit, or the electric wire is corroded to cause a disconnection. In addition, since the final user (vehicle purchaser) can visually recognize that the connector 2 of the surplus branch electric wire 1a is fixed only by the adhesive tape 3, the feeling of security is low and the appearance is not good.

Further, in the fixing method shown in FIG. 8, when a large number of surplus branch electric wires 1a are present, the clamp 5 provided with the box body 6 corresponding to the number is used as the main wire 1b of the wire harness 1. Since the outer circumference must be wound with tape and fixed together, there is a problem that the workability is poor and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and inserts a wire harness in order to fix and hold an excessive branch electric wire for an option circuit among the branched electric wires of the wire harness to be wired in a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a protector that can fix a plurality of redundant branch electric wires by using a protector that is fixed to a member to be attached.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a connector fixing portion for accommodating and holding a connector connector of a surplus circuit is provided on the outer surface of a protector for inserting and protecting a wire harness. A protector having a structure in which a connector connected to an excess electric wire for an option circuit branched from a harness is detachably inserted and fixed in the connector fixing portion.

The connector fixing portion has a tubular shape having a connector insertion opening, and has a lock portion for engaging with a locked portion provided in the connector. Further, the connector fixing portion is provided by integrally projecting a tubular portion from the outer surface of the protector. Alternatively, the connector fixing portion is provided separately from the protector and is detachably or movably attached to the outer surface of the protector.

In order to attach the connector fixing portion in a detachable manner, the connector fixing portion is formed as a separate box-shaped body with one end face opened, and the protector is inserted from one closed end of the connector fixing portion. A mounting piece that engages with an engagement frame that projects from the outer surface is provided.

Alternatively, in order to movably attach the connector fixing portion, a pair of holding pieces are projected from both ends of one closed surface of the connector fixing portion formed in a box-like body and are close to the tips of these holding pieces. A convex portion that projects inward is provided. In addition, the side wall of the protector is provided with a concave groove that slidably engages with the convex portion, so that the connector fixing portion can be positioned at an arbitrary position with respect to the protector.

A rubber seal is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the connector fixing portion, and the rubber seal is pressed against the outer wall surface of the connector housed in the connector fixing portion to waterproof the connector fitting surface to be inserted. preferable. In addition, the protector has a substantially U-shaped portion for positioning and holding an excessive branch electric wire.
It is preferable to provide a V-shaped locking portion.

[0015]

According to the protector of the present invention, the outer surface of the protector is provided with the connector fixing portion for fixing and holding the connector connected to the terminal of the branch electric wire for the option circuit branched from the wire harness. Fix the connector of the unused branch wire that is not used. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the movement of the redundant branch electric wire which is continuous with the connector.

Further, by making the connector fixing portion detachable or movable with respect to the protector, it is possible to easily correspond to the number of the above-mentioned surplus branch wires, and at the same time, the surplus with respect to the protector. Branch wire,
It can be positioned at the required position via the connector.

[0017]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show a protector 10 according to a first embodiment, which is a trough-shaped protector body having a fixing portion 11b for attaching to a member to be attached (not shown) at a required position of a bottom wall 11a. 11 and a lid 12 that engages with the protector main body 11, and stores the wire harness 1 in the storage portion 13 of the protector 10 and holds the branch electric wire 1a for an optional circuit which is not used depending on the vehicle model. There is. Since the protector body 11 and the lid 12 are engaged with each other by a known structure, a concrete illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 12 is integrally formed with a connector fixing portion 14 for fixing and holding the connector 2 connected to the end of the branch electric wire 1a. The connector fixing portion 14 is formed by outwardly projecting a tubular portion 14a into which the connector 2 is inserted from an outer surface required position of the upper wall 12a of the lid 12 with an upper surface as an opening surface 14c. Also,
The tubular portion 14a is provided with a lock portion 14b that engages with the claw portion 2c at a position facing the claw portion 2c protruding as the locked portion 2b of the connector 2.

The protector 10 having the above-described structure has a fastener (not shown) attached to the fixing portion 11b of the protector body 11 after the wire harness 1 is inserted into the storage portion 13 when the wire harness 1 is wired in a vehicle. To penetrate to the attached member such as the vehicle body panel. In this state, the connector 2 connected to the branch electric wire 1a for the optional circuit, which is not mounted depending on the vehicle model, is fitted into the connector fixing portion 14 and fixedly held.

When the connector 2 is fixed to the connector fixing portion 14, as shown in FIG.
With the inner wall surface of the connector 2 covering the outer wall surface of the connector 2,
Since the claw portion 2c of the connector 2 is engaged with the lock portion 14b, the connector 2 can be securely fixed and held without coming off.

As described above, since the connector 2 continuous with the surplus branch electric wire 1a can be easily fixed, the movement of the branch electric wire 1a itself can be surely suppressed and held. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the problem that the branch electric wire 1a moves due to the vibration as in the conventional case, an abnormal noise is generated, and the connector 2 itself is damaged. Further, since the opening 2a of the connector 2 is in a state of being fitted in the connector fixing portion 14 and hidden, the appearance is improved and the terminals mounted in the connector 2 are less likely to be flooded.

FIG. 3 shows a protector 10 according to a second embodiment. In the protector 10, the connector fixing portion 14 is formed separately from the lid 12 so as to be detachable. Specifically, the connector fixing portion 14 is formed into a box-shaped body having an open upper surface, and a mounting piece 14d protruding outward from one end of the other side surface facing the opening surface 14c is provided. A locking claw 14e is provided at the tip of 14d.

The lid 12 has a locking frame 12c for fixing the one side surface 12b by inserting the mounting piece 14d at a required position.
Is provided, and the connector fixing portion 14 can be attached to the outer surface of the upper wall 12a of the lid 12 at a required position.

Further, the lid 12 is provided with a substantially U-shaped locking portion 15, and an excessive branch electric wire 1a is arranged in the locking portion 15 as shown in the drawing, whereby the branch electric wire 1a is provided. I try to prevent the movement of.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting piece 14d may be projected from the side surface of the connector fixing portion 14 so that the opening surface 14c is located laterally.

FIG. 5 shows the protector 10 of the third embodiment. In the protector 10, the connector fixing portion 14 is formed separately as in the second embodiment, and the connector fixing portion 1 is formed.
4 is movable with respect to the lid 12 and can be arranged at an arbitrary position. Specifically, the connector fixing part 1
4 is formed to have a length slightly larger than the width of the lid 12, a pair of holding pieces 14f for holding both sides of the lid 12 are projected from both ends of the lower surface facing the opening surface 14c, and the holding pieces 14f are also held. An inwardly projecting convex portion 14g is provided near the tip of the piece 14f. In addition, the lid 12 is provided with concave grooves 12d extending in the length direction on both side surfaces 12b, 12b facing the convex portion 14g.

Further, the convex portion 1 of the connector fixing portion 14 is provided.
A moderation projection (not shown) is provided on the lower end surface of 4g, and a moderation hole 12e is provided in the concave groove 12d of the lid 12 so that the connector fixing portion 14 can be positioned at an arbitrary position on the outer surface of the lid 12. .

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a waterproof rubber seal 16 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the connector fixing portion 14 shown in the first to third embodiments, and the rubber seal 16 is attached. Thus, the outer wall surface of the connector 2 is pressure-welded to surely prevent water from entering the fitting surface of the connector 2.

The protector of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, and the protector of the above-mentioned embodiment is composed of the protector body and the lid which are engaged with each other, but the shape of the protector is not limited and the protector is not limited in shape. Any structure may be used as long as it has the connector fixing portion having the above-described structure integrally or separately on the outer surface. Further, it is preferable that the connector fixing portion is formed at a position invisible to the final user (vehicle purchaser) in the state of being attached to the vehicle.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, in the protector of the present invention, in order to hold an extra branch electric wire for an optional circuit branched from the wire harness accommodated in the protector, it is connected to the end of the branch electric wire. A connector fixing portion that accommodates the connector is formed at a required position on the outer surface of the protector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent various problems such as abnormal noise and damage to the connector itself due to vibration of the surplus branch wire and contact between the connector connected to the end of the branch wire and another member.

Further, by forming the connector fixing portion so that it can be attached to or detached from the protector, it is possible to attach a plurality of connector fixing portions, each corresponding to the length and number of surplus branch wires. Can be fixedly held.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a protector according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a protector of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a protector of a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the protector.

7A and 7B are perspective views showing a method of fixing an excessive branch electric wire of a conventional wire harness.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another conventional example of a method for fixing an excessive branch electric wire of a wire harness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Wire Harness 1a Branch Wire 2 Connector 2b Locked Part 10 Protector 11 Protector Body 12 Lid 12a Upper Wall 12b Locking Frame 14 Connector Fixing Part 14a Cylindrical Part 14b Locking Part 15 Locking Part 16 Rubber Seal

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connector fixing portion for accommodating and holding a connector of a surplus circuit is provided on an outer surface of a protector for inserting and protecting a wire harness inside, and a connector connected to a surplus option circuit electric wire branched from the wire harness. A protector having a structure in which the connector is detachably inserted and fixed to the connector fixing portion. 2. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the connector fixing portion has a tubular shape having a connector insertion opening, and includes a lock portion that engages with a locked portion provided in the connector. . 3. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the connector fixing portion is provided with a tubular portion integrally protruding from an outer surface of the protector. 4. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the connector fixing portion is provided separately from the protector and is detachably or movably attached to the outer surface of the protector. 5. A rubber seal is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the connector fixing portion, and the rubber seal is pressed against the outer wall surface of the connector housed in the connector fixing portion to waterproof the connector fitting surface to be inserted. The protector according to any one of the preceding claims, which is configured.