JPH10255878A - Protecter for wire terminal and protection of wire terminal therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate mounting operation of a wire bundle. SOLUTION: A retaining part 12 for a wire bundle WB in a tubular part 11 is formed. The retaining part 12 includes a protruding part 13. A locking protrusion 14 is formed at the outer surface of the protruding part 13. The locking protrusion 14 is entrapped in the bundling member 1 of the wire bundle WB in the process of storing the wire bundle WB in the tubular part 11. A shoulder part 14B is formed at the locking protrusion 14 to fix the inserted bundling member 1. By fixing the protruding part 13 with the bundling member 1 when the wire bundle WB bundled previously by the bundling member 1 is inserted in the tubular part 11, it is possible to conduct a storing process and a holding process concurrently attaining locking by the shoulder part 14B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire terminal protector and a method for protecting a wire terminal using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wire harness and a subassembly constituting the wire harness (hereinafter referred to as a "wire assembly"), a measuring wire, which is a main component, is temporarily removed until it is processed as a wire assembly. Conventionally, various types of protective equipment have been proposed for protecting the ends of the bundle of wires in which the measuring wires are bundled.

[0003] For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-30787 discloses a converging portion integrally protruding in the axial direction at an opening end of a cylindrical portion having a bottom and a converging portion and / or a converging portion. And a converging member that allows the end of the wire bundle to converge to the converging portion. The convergence member of this protector can be directly abutted on the wire bundle exposed in the circumferentially notched portion on the open end side of the cylindrical portion, and can be bundled by pressing the wire bundle against the convergence portion. After the wire bundle before bundling is housed in the cylindrical part,
It was configured to be bound by a binding member.

[0004] In the above-described protective device, it is necessary to store the uncovered electric wires in the tubular portion after storing the uncoated wires in the tubular portion. In the process of bundling, it was necessary to proceed with the work while being careful not to separate the covered electric wires, and the workability was poor. On the other hand, there have been proposed some protective devices for protecting a bundle of electric wires bundled in advance by a binding member (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-15854 and 7-25568).

[0005]

When the electric wires are previously bound by the binding member, the workability when inserting the end of the electric wire bundle into the tubular portion is somewhat improved. However, there is still room for improvement in the work of connecting the inserted insulated wire and the tubular portion. For example, in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-15854, a configuration is adopted in which a locking portion for locking a projection integrally formed on a binding member is formed in a cylindrical portion, and the projection is locked to the locking portion after insertion of the wire bundle. Therefore, there are restrictions on the types of binding members, and furthermore, there are two tasks: inserting the wire bundle into the tube portion and locking the inserted wire bundle into the locking portion of the tube portion. There was room for improvement in terms of workability because it had to be performed at the stage.

In the case of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-25568, a hole is formed in the protective cylinder so that a finger can be inserted into the protective cylinder. In this case, the operation of inserting the electric wire bundle into the cylindrical portion and the operation of locking the binding member of the inserted electric wire bundle to the cylindrical portion must be performed in two steps.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a wire terminal protector capable of easily performing a wire bundle mounting operation and a wire terminal protection method using the same.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to form a substantially cylindrical shape having at least one open end, and to bind the open end with a binding member in advance. A wire terminal protector comprising: a tubular portion that accommodates and protects a terminal of an electric wire bundle that is provided; and a holding portion that is provided in the tubular portion and that holds the covered electric wire in the tubular portion via the binding member. The holding portion is provided on an outer surface of the projecting portion, which protrudes in the axial direction of the tube portion from the open end of the tube portion, and is a direction in which a terminal of the wire bundle is inserted into the tube portion. And a substantially arrowhead-shaped locking projection forming a shoulder capable of locking the binding member on the downstream side.

[0008] In the invention including this specific matter, when the terminal of the wire bundle previously bound by the binding member is inserted into the tubular portion, the tip of the projecting portion formed in the tubular portion is moved along the inside of the binding member. As a result, the locking projection formed in a substantially arrowhead shape is inserted into the binding member by the operation of inserting the end of the wire bundle, and the protruding portion is bound to the binding member together with the covered electric wire by the binding member. Further, the locking projection has a lower portion on the upstream side in the direction of inserting the end of the wire bundle into the cylindrical portion, and a shoulder portion capable of locking the binding member is formed on the downstream side. Even when the pulling-out force acts on the binding member, the binding member is maintained in the state of being locked to the shoulder of the locking projection.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the projecting portion has a locking projection formed at a position axially spaced from an opening end of the cylindrical portion, and the locking projection is formed. And an extended portion extending further along the axial direction from the portion where it is located. In the invention including this specific matter, the extension portion extending further along the axial direction from the portion where the locking protrusion is formed extends along the wire bundle by locking the binding member to the locking protrusion. Become. As a result, the wire bundle is pressed against the extending portion by the binding force of the binding member, and is held by the tubular portion in a state where play is restricted.

[0010] In another preferred aspect of the present invention, a support wall portion for continuously supporting the end of the wire bundle is further provided between the protruding portion and the open end of the cylindrical portion. In the invention including this specific matter, the wire bundle fixed to the protruding portion is fixed while being further reinforced by the support wall. In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion has a rib formed along the axial direction.

In the invention including the specific matter, the mechanical strength of the projecting portion itself is improved by the rib, and the rib acts as a stopper for the end of the wire bundle held by the projecting portion, and the Regulate axial displacement. In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical portion is formed in a tapered shape in which one and the other have different outer diameters so as to allow stacking of another protective device.

[0012] In the invention including the specific matter, by inserting the small diameter side of the cylindrical portion into the large diameter side, it becomes possible to stack a plurality of protective gears. In another preferred aspect of the present invention, a restricting portion provided on the protruding portion and opposed to the locking projection at an axial interval is further provided with a restricting portion for restricting displacement of the binding member in the insertion direction. Contains.

[0013] In the invention including the specific matter, the binding member is locked between the locking projection and the restricting portion, so that the axial displacement is regulated by the both, and as a result, the electric wire bound by the binding member is formed. The bundle can also move in the axial direction only by the amount of displacement by which the binding member is regulated. In another preferred aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the locking projections are continuously provided along a longitudinal direction of the protruding portion.

[0014] In the invention including this specific matter, when the binding member is locked, a plurality of locking positions are provided by the individual locking projections along the insertion direction of the terminal of the wire bundle. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for protecting a wire terminal using a wire terminal protector, wherein the vicinity of the end of the wire bundle is previously bound with an endless binding member, and a holding portion protrudes inside the binding member. A method for protecting an electric wire terminal, comprising inserting an end of an electric wire bundle into a cylindrical portion while inserting the electric wire through the portion.

[0015] In the invention including this specific matter, the projecting portion constituting the holding portion is introduced into the inside of the binding member by the operation of inserting the wire end into the cylindrical portion, and the wire bundle is projected by the fastening force of the binding member. It becomes possible to stop at the part.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protector 10 and an electric wire bundle WB according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a use mode of the protector 10 of FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 1, an electric wire bundle WB illustrated in FIG. 1 is obtained by crimping a terminal fitting T to an end of a covered electric wire W and bundling it with a rubber band 1 as a binding member. is there. The wire bundle WB may be one that protects the terminal of the covered electric wire W to which the terminal fitting T is crimped, or may be the one before the terminal fitting T is crimped. The protective device 10 includes a cylindrical portion 11 having both ends 11A and 11B open, and a holding portion 12 formed at one open end 11A of the cylindrical portion 11.
And a resin molded product integrally having

In the illustrated example, the cylindrical portion 11 is a cylindrical member having a substantially truncated cone shape in which one open end 11A is formed to have a larger diameter than the other open end 11B.
The dimensions of both ends 11A and 11B are set so that the other open end 11B of the same type of protection device 10 can be inserted. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of protective gears 10, 10 can be stacked.

The holding portion 12 has a projecting portion 13 projecting from one opening end 11A in the axial direction L of the cylindrical portion 11.
And a locking projection 14 formed on the outer surface of the protruding portion 13. The projecting portion 13 is provided in the axial direction L.
The wire bundle WB is formed into a long
Is set to a width L1 necessary and sufficient to hold the width L1. This facilitates a later-described insertion operation into the rubber band 1.

The locking projection 14 has a distal end (a wire bundle WB).
And a shoulder 14B having a rectangular step is defined at the base end (downstream in the insertion direction of the wire bundle WB). In the above configuration, the wire bundle WB previously bound with the rubber band 1 is gripped with one hand, the cylindrical portion 11 is gripped with the other hand, and the terminal of the wire bundle WB is directed toward the cylindrical portion 11 to hold the wire bundle WB. The terminal fittings T of the wire bundle WB are introduced into the cylindrical portion 11 by making them close to each other along the axial direction L. At this time, the holding portion 12 is slightly pressed down with the finger of the hand holding the cylindrical portion 11 and the tip of the locking projection 14 is merely guided inside the rubber band 1. , The projecting portion 13 is sandwiched between the rubber band 1 and the wire bundle WB. As a result, the wire bundle WB is fixed to the projecting portion 13 by the rubber band 1, and is held by the projecting portion 13. After the locking projections 14 have passed through the rubber band 1, the rubber bands 1 are locked to the shoulders 14B defined by the locking projections 14 to prevent the rubber bands 1 from coming off, and the wire bundle W
Even if the force for pulling B out of the cylindrical portion 11 acts on the rubber band 1,
The state where the rubber band 1 is locked to the shoulder portion 14B of the locking projection 14 is maintained.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the step of accommodating the terminal (terminal fitting T) of the wire bundle WB in the cylindrical portion 11 by one insertion operation, and the step of holding the wire bundle WB by the holding portion 13 Can be performed at the same time,
Workability is improved, and a remarkable effect that the mounting operation can be easily performed is achieved. Various modifications other than the above-described embodiment are possible.

For example, the specific shape of the locking projection 14 is as follows.
It is not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 3 and 4 are partial perspective views showing a modification of the protection device 10 of FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
May be, for example, a groove shape that enters the distal end side of the protruding portion 13. With this shape, it is possible to more reliably exert the action of preventing the rubber band 1 from falling off.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
May be formed in a boat-like shape in which the tip side is narrower when viewed in a plane. When this shape is adopted, the work of inserting the locking projection 14 into the rubber band 1 becomes even easier. Further, the respective shapes of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 may be appropriately combined. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of FIG. Also,
6A and 6B are side views for illustrating the operation of FIG. 5, in which FIG. 6A is a development process similar to that of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6B is a development process similar to that of FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 5, in this modified example, the projecting portion 13 has a locking projection 14 formed at a position axially spaced from the opening end 11A of the cylindrical portion 11 by a distance L2. At the same time, it has an extended portion 15 that extends further along the axial direction from the portion where the locking projection 14 is formed. The extension portion 15 has a distal end that is narrow in a boat shape when viewed in a plane. In this modification, the extension portion 15 is introduced into the rubber band 1 (see FIG. 1) prior to the locking projection 14. It has become.

In the case where the illustrated modification is adopted, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a portion P1 in the tubular portion 11 that abuts on a terminal (terminal fitting T) of the wire bundle WB, a portion P2 where the rubber band 1 is stopped, and a tip portion P3 of the extension portion 15, so to speak, Since the wire bundle WB is supported at three points, the wire bundle WB
As a result, the wire bundle WB is stably held along the entire length of the holding portion 12, so that the wire bundle WB is stably held and relatively firmly stopped. Therefore, there is an advantage that the end (terminal fitting T) of the wire bundle WB is less likely to be scratched or deformed by rubbing against the inner wall of the tubular portion 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), when there is no extension portion 15, the wire bundle WB swings around the portion P2 where the rubber band 1 is locked as a fulcrum. is there.
FIG. 7 shows a further modification of the present invention. As shown in the figure, when the extension portion 15 is further provided on the holding portion 12, in order to increase the rigidity of the holding portion 12 including the extension portion 15, the holding portion 12 is formed into a curved shape along the arc of the cylindrical portion 11. Is preferred. Alternatively, the entire holding portion 12 may be formed thick.

FIG. 8 shows a further modification of the present invention, wherein (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a front view. FIG.
With reference to (A) and (B), in the illustrated embodiment, the support wall portion 16 is provided between the projecting portion 13 and the opening end 11A of the cylindrical portion 11.
Are further formed. The support wall 16 is for supporting the side of the wire bundle WB continuously between the two. As is well shown in FIG. 8B, the support wall portion 16 is preferably formed in a substantially tapered shape such that the front end side is inclined inward. When the support wall portion 16 is employed, the wire bundle WB in which the terminals are accommodated in the tubular portion 11 does not fall down, and the wire bundle WB is held in the holding portion 12 in a more stable state. When the front end side of the support wall portion 16 is formed in a substantially tapered shape that enters inside, the side portion of the wire bundle WB is securely fixed to the support wall portion 16 regardless of the diameter of the wire bundle WB. The support wall 16
There is an advantage that versatility of the wire bundle WB can be improved.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing another embodiment adopting the support wall shown in FIG. As shown in the figure,
The support wall portion 16 is provided with the holding portion 12 having no extension portion 15.
The same can be applied to. Further, a side edge portion 16A formed between the distal end portion of the support wall portion 16 and the open end 11A.
9A may be formed linearly as shown in FIG. 9A, or may be formed stepwise as shown in FIG. 9B.

FIG. 10 shows a further modification of the present invention, wherein (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a side view showing a used state. As shown in FIG.
By making the one opening end 11A and the other opening end 11B different in diameter from each other, the stacking of the protective device 10 may be performed to increase the diameter of the other opening end 11B. In this case, since the holding unit 12 is stacked while being housed in the cylindrical portion 11 of another protection device 10 to be stacked, the holding unit 12 can be protected. Needless to say, such a tubular portion 11 can be similarly employed in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a plurality of locking projections 14 formed on the holding portion 12 may be continuously provided along the longitudinal direction of the projecting portion 13. When this embodiment is adopted, the rubber band 1 (see FIG. 1)
Can be arbitrarily selected along the longitudinal direction of the projecting portion 13, so that there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the tightening position of the rubber band 1 is increased.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
A restricting portion 18 for partitioning a step 17 facing the shoulder of the locking projection 14 may be provided. The restricting portion 18 is formed so as to be symmetrical with the locking projection 14 in a plane crossing the projecting portion 13, so that the restricting portion 18 faces the locking projection 14 at an interval in the axial direction L. Thus, the displacement of the rubber band 1 in the insertion direction is restricted.

In this modification, the rubber band 1 is
As a result, the displacement of the rubber band 1 in the axial direction is restricted by both members, so that the rubber band 1 is locked.
Terminal of the wire bundle WB bound by the rubber band 1
Can be moved in the axial direction only by the restricted displacement. Therefore, from this point as well, the holding state of the wire bundle WB can be stabilized, and it is not necessary to provide a bottom in the cylindrical portion 11, and problems such as accumulation of dust on the bottom of the cylindrical portion 11 can be avoided. Become.

FIGS. 13A to 13C are perspective views showing still another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, a rib 20 along the axial direction L may be formed to increase the rigidity of the holding portion 12. As shown in FIG. 13 (A), the rib 20 extends over the entire length of the inner wall portion of the cylindrical portion 11 or, as shown in FIGS. 13 (B) and (C), a part of the inner surface of the projecting portion 13. It is possible to appropriately adopt a raised one.

When the rib 20 is employed, the mechanical strength of the projecting portion 13 itself is improved, and the rib 20 acts as a stopper for the wire bundle WB held by the projecting portion.
It is possible to regulate the axial displacement of the covered electric wire. Each of the above embodiments is merely an example of a preferred specific example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in each of the illustrated embodiments, the cylinder 1
Although the one that both ends of 1 are open is adopted,
The cylindrical part 11 itself may have a bottom. However,
When both ends of the cylindrical portion 11 are open, there is an advantage that dust hardly accumulates inside, and maintenance and the like become easy. It goes without saying that various other design changes are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The step of accommodating the end of the wire bundle in the cylindrical portion and the step of holding the wire bundle by the holding portion can be performed simultaneously by one insertion operation, so that the workability is improved and the mounting operation can be easily performed. It has a remarkable effect that it can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective device and an electric wire bundle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a mode of use of the protective device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a modification of the protection device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a modification of the protection device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of FIG. 5, and FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the shape of FIG. 5, and FIG. 5B shows the process of development similar to the shape of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a further modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a further variant of the invention,
(A) is a perspective view, (B) is a front view.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment employing the support wall of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a further variant of the invention,
(A) is a front view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a side view showing a use state.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rubber band (bundling member) 10 Protective device 11 Cylindrical part 12 Holding part 13 Protrusion part 14 Locking projection 14B Shoulder part 15 Extension part 16 Support wall part 18 Restriction part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A tubular portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having at least one open end, and containing and protecting an end of an electric wire bundle previously bound by a binding member from the open end; And a holding portion provided on the tubular portion and holding the covered electric wire in the tubular portion via the binding member, wherein the holding portion is the open end of the tubular portion. A projecting portion that protrudes in the axial direction of the tubular portion from the outer surface of the projecting portion, the upstream end is lower in the direction of inserting the end of the wire bundle into the tubular portion, and the binding member can be locked to the downstream side And a substantially arrowhead-shaped locking projection forming a simple shoulder. 2. The wire terminal protective device according to claim 1, wherein said projecting portion has a locking projection formed at a portion axially spaced from an opening end of the cylindrical portion, and is provided with a locking portion. A wire terminal protector integrally having an extended portion extending further along an axial direction from a portion where a projection is formed. 3. The wire terminal protective device according to claim 1, further comprising a support wall portion for continuously supporting the terminal of the wire bundle between the projecting portion and the opening end of the tubular portion. Wire terminal protection. 4. The wire terminal protector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the projecting portion has a rib formed along an axial direction. 5. The wire terminal protective device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portion has a tapered shape having one and another outer diameters different from each other so as to allow stacking of another protective device. Protective equipment for the formed wire end. 6. The protective device for an electric wire terminal according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire terminal protector is provided on the projecting portion and faces the locking projection with an interval in the axial direction. Accordingly, the wire terminal protector further includes a restricting portion for restricting displacement of the binding member in the insertion direction. 7. The wire terminal protection device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said locking projections are continuously provided along a longitudinal direction of the projecting portion. Protective equipment. 8. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
In the method for protecting a wire terminal using the wire terminal protector according to the above description, the vicinity of the end of the wire bundle is tied in advance with an endless tying member, and the projecting portion of the holding portion is inserted inside the tying member,
A method for protecting an end of an electric wire, comprising inserting an end of the electric wire bundle into a tubular portion.