US20060131049A1 - Continuous power supply device - Google Patents
Continuous power supply device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060131049A1 US20060131049A1 US11/311,284 US31128405A US2006131049A1 US 20060131049 A1 US20060131049 A1 US 20060131049A1 US 31128405 A US31128405 A US 31128405A US 2006131049 A1 US2006131049 A1 US 2006131049A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- spring holder
- protector
- supply device
- power supply
- wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/0207—Wire harnesses
- B60R16/0215—Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G11/00—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
Definitions
- This invention relates to a continuous power supply device in which a wiring harness is fixed with a holder having a flat spring in a protector so as to cancel an excessive length of the wiring harness by an energizing force of the flat spring.
- FIG. 12, 13 shows a usual continuous power supply device (refer Patent Reference 1).
- a power supply device 50 is wired in a slide door 41 of a vehicle.
- the power supply device 50 includes a protector 42 made of synthetic resign for bendably receiving a wiring harness (showing only a base of the protector 42 and omitting a cover in a figure), and a metallic flat spring 44 for energizing the wiring harness 43 upwardly in the protector 42 .
- a bottom end of the flat spring 44 together with the wiring harness 43 is fixed at a bottom side of a front end of the protector 42 , and a front end of the flat spring 44 supports the wiring harness 43 slidably.
- a cap 49 made of synthetic resin is mounted at a front end of the flat spring 44 for supporting the wiring harness 43 stably.
- the wiring harness 43 is formed by covering a plurality of electric wires 43 a with a corrugate tube 43 b made of synthetic resin. A bottom portion of a front end of the corrugate tube 43 b is fixed on the protector 42 by winding a tape around it.
- the corrugate tube 43 b is good flexible by alternating a groove and a projected stripe.
- One end of the electric wires 43 a of the wiring harness 43 is led from a front side of the protector 42 to be connected with an auxiliary device in the slide door.
- the corrugate tube 43 b at the other end of the wiring harness 43 is wired from a long bottom opening 45 of the protector 42 through a traversing space 46 to a vehicle body 47 to swing freely.
- the electric wires 43 a in the wiring harness 43 between the traversing space 46 are protected safely from interference with outside, water drops and dust by the corrugate tube 43 b.
- FIG. 12 shows complete-closed condition of the slide door 41 .
- FIG. 13 shows partly open condition of the slide door 41 nearing to full-open condition.
- the wiring harness 43 is pulled rearwardly.
- the wiring harness 43 is pulled forwardly.
- the wiring harness tends to droop downwardly, but slack (excessive length) thereof is canceled by energizing the wiring harness 43 upwardly with the flat spring 44 . Thereby, bite caused by drooping is prevented.
- Reference Patent 1 is Japan Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-354085.
- the protector 42 increases in an energizing direction of the flat spring, that is a direction of height in accordance with increase of the excessive length to be canceled. Thereby, freedom of laying the other parts to be installed in the slide door is limited.
- the spring cap 49 (harness supporting part) fixed at the flat spring 44 hits an inner surface of a vertical wall or an inner surface of the cover wall of the protector 42 and generates sound noise.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous power supply device, which can make a protector lower height and prevent a harness holding member fixed on a flat spring from generating sound noise by interference with an inner wall of a protector. How to attain the object of the present invention
- a continuous power supply device is characterized in that a wiring harness is wired to have a loop formed by curving the wiring harness into a loop-shape within a protector, and that a spring holder is fixed at the loop of the wiring harness and has an elastic arm, and that a front end of a flat spring is fixed at the spring holder and the flat spring energizes the loop to increase a radius of the loop, and that the elastic arm is continuously and elastically in contact with an inner wall of the protector.
- the wiring harness is wired to have the loop in the protector, and slack (excessive length) of the wiring harness is cancelled by increasing a radius of the loop, and the wiring harness is led from the protector in accordance with decrease of the radius of the loop.
- the flat spring increases the radius of the loop.
- the elastic arm is continuously and elastically in contact with the inner wall of the protector, so that a spring holder body other than the elastic arm does not abut on the inner wall of the protector and thereby generating sound noise is prevented.
- the continuous power supply device is furthermore characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arm has a projection on an outer surface at an front end thereof to be in contact with the inner wall of the protector.
- an outer surface of the projection of the front end of the elastic arm is in contact with the inner wall of the protector at a small area of point contact or line contact.
- the continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arm is formed by cutting a side wall of the spring holder partially into an arm shape.
- the elastic arm is deflected within a range of a wall thickness of a side wall of the spring holder or into an inside of the side wall of the spring holder when the elastic arm absorbs the vibration.
- an occupied space by the elastic arm can be miniaturized.
- the continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided at both sides of the spring holder in a lateral direction and perpendicular to an inner wall of a base of the protector, to be respectively in contact with the inner wall of the base and an inner wall of a cover of the protector.
- the spring holder is supported stably in a center of widthwise of the protector by the elastic arms at the both sides thereof. Thereby, it is prevented that the both side walls of the spring holder and the both inner walls of the protector are in contact with each other, so that the spring holder can slide smoothly with low friction by only contact of elastic arms at the both sides and inner walls of the protector.
- the continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided symmetrically on mirror planes at the both sides of the spring holder.
- the spring holder can be supported stably without tilting in the protector by the elastic arms at the both sides of a position at the same height. Interference between the outer surface of the front end of the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector during the protector is vibrated is prevented. Absorption of vibration is improved also.
- the spring holder can slide securely on the inner walls of the protector only with the elastic arms. Thereby, rubbing of the spring holder body other than the elastic arms and the inner walls of the protector and increase of slide resistance thereby are prevented. More number of the elastic arms will improve function of preventing tilting of the protector, and also increase resistance against sliding.
- a suitable number of the elastic arms depends on a size of the spring holder, but usually 1-4 arms at one side are suitable.
- the continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided rotation symmetrically in a vertical direction at the both sides of the spring holder.
- the vibration is absorbed by the elastic arm at lower portion of one side of the spring holder and the elastic arm at upper portion of the other side of the spring holder, and the spring holder slides along the both inner walls of the protector only by the elastic arms.
- the spring holder rotates in a direction of tilting (rotates so as to make the upper portion of one side of the spring holder and the lower portion of the other side of the spring holder close to the inner walls of the protection).
- the protector by pulling and returning the wiring harness with the loop in the protector, the protector is miniaturized in the vertical direction. Thereby, freedom for layout of components mounted on the slide door of the vehicle is increased.
- the spring holder When the spring holder is vibrated by vibration of the vehicle, the interference between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector can be prevented by the elastic arms absorbing the vibration. Therefore, the sound noise is prevented and a high-commercial-value vehicle can be provided.
- the elastic arm slides at the projection thereof on the inner walls of the protector with low friction, so that sliding motion of the spring holder, that is expansion/contraction of the loop of the wiring harness, can be acted smoothly by a small force, and operatability of the slide door and reliability of continuous power supplying are improved.
- a projecting amount of the elastic arm can be controlled to be small, so that the whole width of the spring holder can be miniaturized and the protector can be made thinner.
- the interference between the both side walls of the spring holder and the both inner walls of the protector is prevented by the elastic arms at the both sides of the spring holder.
- the spring holder can slide smoothly at the elastic arms thereof on the both inner walls of the protector with low friction, so that slidability of the spring holder is improved, and operatability of opening/closing the slide door and reliability of continuous power supplying are more improved.
- the spring holder is supported stably without tilting by the elastic arms at the both sides of the spring holder, so that absorbing efficiency of vibration (prevention efficiency of sound noise) is increased, and slidability of the spring holder is improved since sliding between an edge of the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector is prevented.
- each elastic arm securely absorbs the vibration and prevents the sound noise, and since the pushing force of each elastic arm is controlled to be small, and slide resistance is reduced, the spring holder can slide smoothly.
- FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view of a main area of an embodiment of a continuous power supply device according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a front view showing a condition of a wiring harness shrunk in radius of the continuous power supply device shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded front view showing a condition before assembling a spring holder of the continues power supply device shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a front view (viewing from a flat spring) showing a condition of an assembled spring holder shown in FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 is a front view of one modification of the spring holder
- FIG. 6 is a front view of the other modification of the spring holder
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2 , showing a condition of contact between an elastic arm of the spring holder and a protector;
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when a gap between the spring holder and the protector is small;
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the gap between the spring holder and the protector is large;
- FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the modified spring holder is applied;
- FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the gap between the other modified spring holder and the protector is small;
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a continuous power supply device by prior art.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an action of the continuous power supply device shown in FIG. 12 .
- FIGS. 1, 2 show an embodiment of a continuous power supply device according to the present invention.
- a continuous power supply device 1 includes a protector 4 having a base 2 made of synthetic resin and a cover 3 , a metal flat spring 6 curved freely along an annular wall 5 inside the base 2 , a wiring harness 7 wired outside the flat spring 6 to be bent in a loop shape along the annular wall 5 and a spring holder 9 made of synthetic resin, which is fixed at a front end of the flat spring 6 , for holding the wiring harness 7 to connect and fix a protection tubes 25 and 26 , which are outer covers of the wiring harness 7 , with each other at a loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 .
- the spring holder 9 includes elastic arms 71 , which are continuously and elastically in contact with an inner wall of each base plate 10 , 11 of the base 2 and the cover 3 of the protector 4 , for preventing a sound noise.
- the power supply device 1 is usually installed in a slide door (not shown) of a vehicle.
- the base 2 and the cover 3 of the protector 4 have a triangular or trapezoid vertical base plate 10 , 11 and a narrow width surrounding wall 12 , 13 perpendicular to the base plate 10 , 11 at an upper side and a front/rear sides thereof.
- the surround wall 12 , 13 has a substantially vertical front end wall 12 a , 13 a ,a short horizontal top end wall 12 b , 13 b and a long slant rear wall 12 c , 13 c .
- a harness guide wall 15 with a curved shape in cross-section is formed to face outwardly at a side of the lower opening 14 of the cover 3 .
- the cover 3 is provided at a center thereof with a projecting ring wall engaging with an inside of the annular wall 5 of the base 2 .
- the protector 4 is designed to be lower on height than a usual protector ( FIG. 12 ). It is realized by a structure receiving the wiring harness 7 , which is curved into a small radius loop along the annular wall 5 , in the protector 4 .
- the protector 4 is fixed by a bracket 17 , vertically in the slide door of the vehicle.
- the annular wall 5 is formed integrally at the center of the base 2 .
- a spring fixing portion 18 is provided integrally at a rear side of the annular wall 5 .
- a harness leading groove 19 is provided at the base plate 10 , adjacent to a rear of the spring fixing portion 18 , and formed inside a drainpipe-like wall 21 extending upwardly.
- a cutout 22 for passing the wiring harness there through is formed at a position in which the surround wall 12 of the base 2 intersects the harness leading groove 19 .
- a curved harness guide wall 23 is formed continuously from an upper side of the annular wall 5 , adjacent to a rear of the harness leading groove 19 . Therein, a front/rear direction of the power supply device corresponds to that of the vehicle.
- a base end of the flat spring 6 is press-fitted into a slit 24 of the spring fixing portion 18 .
- the flat spring 6 is provided to curve along the annular wall 5 with a restoring force to increasing a radius thereof, as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the flat spring 6 is straight in unloaded condition and elastically curves for mounting in the, protector 4 .
- the wiring harness 7 is wired in a loop shape outside the flat spring 6 along the annular wall 5 .
- One end 7 a of the wiring harness 7 is led upwardly from the leading groove 19 .
- the wiring harness 7 is held in the drainpipe-like wall 21 and led into the slide door.
- the one end 7 a of the wring harness 7 is connected with each auxiliary devices, such as a power regulated window unit, a door lock unit and a door mirror unit (not shown).
- the other end 7 b of the wiring harness 7 is wired from the guide wall 23 through the lower opening 14 in the vehicle body.
- the wiring harness 7 can swing freely along the inner surface of the base plate 10 without interference with a part of the wiring harness 7 in the harness leading groove 19 .
- the spring holder 9 is fixed at the front end of the flat spring 6 .
- the protection tube (corrugate tube) 25 as an outer cover of the wiring harness 7 is fixed at one end of the spring holder 9 .
- the protection tube (mesh tube or braided tube) 26 as a outer cover of the wiring harness 7 is fixed at the other end of the spring holder 9 .
- the meshed tube 26 is applied in a range from the leading grove 19 along the annular wall 5 to the spring holder 9 .
- the corrugate tube 25 is applied in a range from the spring holder 9 through the lower opening 14 to the vehicle body.
- the mesh tube 26 and the corrugate tube 25 are connected with each other through the spring holder 9 .
- the mesh tube 26 is more flexible than the corrugate tube 25 .
- the corrugate tube 25 is solider then the mesh tube 25 , and has stiffness and waterproofness to protect electric wires in the wiring harness 7 safely from interference with outside and water.
- the corrugate tube 25 is provided with a groove and projected stripe alternately.
- the corrugate tube 25 in this embodiment is formed into an ellipse shape in a cross-section and arranged to be the cross section in lengthwise.
- the wiring harness 7 includes each protection tubes 25 , 26 and a plurality of electric wires 27 received in the tubes.
- the spring holder 9 can slide freely along an outer surface of the annular wall 5 .
- the spring holder 9 is bent to form an L shape in a tangential direction of the annular wall 5 .
- the spring holder 9 is provided respectively at a front half part and a rear half part thereof with an elastic arm 71 for preventing sound noise.
- Each elastic arm 71 is formed inside a cutout slit 74 to be in the same plane of an outer surface of the side wall 73 by cutting out each side wall 73 of the front half part 28 and the rear half part 29 in a U-shape at the center of the spring holder 9 in a height direction.
- the elastic arm 71 at the front half part has the front end thereof facing front, and the elastic arm 71 at the rear half part has the front end thereof facing rear to be symmetric to each other.
- front half part is defined as a side extending from the front end of the flat spring 6 .
- Each elastic arm 71 has a semispherical projection 72 for pushing with contact on an outer surface of the front end thereof.
- the projection 72 projects outwardly from an outer surface of the side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 .
- An arm body other than the projection 72 is located approximately in the same plane as the outer surface of the side wall 73 .
- Each projection 72 is positioned in the center of the spring holder in the height direction thereof.
- Each projection 72 is continuously and elastically in contact with the inner surface of the base plate 10 , 11 as each inner wall of the base 2 or the cover 3 of the protector 4 to prevent interference of the spring holder 9 and the protector 4 .
- the arm body of the elastic arm 71 is not in contact with the inner surface of each base plate 10 , 11 .
- the spring holder 9 has the front half part 28 for fixing the corrugate tube 25 , the rear half part 29 for fixing the mesh tube 26 , and provided with the elastic arms 71 at the both side walls 73 of the front and rear half parts 28 , 29 .
- FIG. 2 shows the side door of a left side of the vehicle in a condition of full open.
- the slide door is moved rearwardly in the vehicle.
- the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 is pulled from the lower opening 14 of the protector 4 forwardly (toward a side of fixing the wiring harness at the body of vehicle).
- a part of the mesh tube 26 and a part of the corrugate tube 25 continued to the spring holder 9 of the wiring harness 7 are shrunk in radius to make a loop 8 along the annular wall 5 and the guide wall 23 .
- a bottom surface of the spring holder 9 slides along the outer surface of the annular wall 5 .
- the flat spring 6 is shrunk in radius along the annular wall 5 to be mostly in contact with an inner surface of the mesh tube 26 of the hiring harness 7 into annular shape with the smallest radius.
- an outward return force by a restoring force of the flat spring 6 acts on the spring holder 9 .
- an expand force to expand the loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 outwardly is generated by the restoring force of the flat spring 6 .
- FIG. 1 shows the slide door in a condition of partial open.
- the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 tends to droop largely between the body of the vehicle and the slide door.
- the loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 expands largely outside the annular wall 5 about a reference point of a gate of the harness leading groove 19 .
- the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 is returned securely through the lower opening 14 into the protector 4 , so that an excessive length is cancelled securely.
- the front end of the flat spring 6 is fixed through the spring holder 9 on the each protection tubes 25 , 26 at the loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 .
- an energizing force of the flat spring 6 acts directly on the protection tubes 25 , 26 of the wiring harness 7 , so that expanding/shrinking actions of the loop 8 , especially expanding action by the energizing force of the flat spring 6 , are performed securely without any slips, and the excessive length (slack or sag) of the wiring harness 7 is cancelled securely.
- the slide door moves together with the power supply device 1 forwardly at the vehicle.
- the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 is pulled rearwardly from the lower opening 14 of the protector 4 toward a harness fix member (not shown) of the body of the vehicle.
- the loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 is expanded in a slightly larger diameter than that of full-open of the slide door, but shrunk in diameter by that the flat spring 6 is pulled together with the loop 8 .
- the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 moves rearwardly in the lower opening 14 .
- the loop 8 of the wiring harness 7 expands in radius as mentioned above.
- the spring holder 9 slides smoothly with low friction force by a small contact area between the projections 72 of the elastic arms 71 and the inner walls (inner surfaces of the base plates 10 , 11 ) of the protector 4 .
- the projections 72 are continuously and elastically in contact with the inner walls of the protector 4 without aparting therefrom.
- the interference between the spring holder 9 and the protector 4 is occurred not only by open/close operation of the slide door, but also by vibrations of an engine in the complete closed condition of the stopped vehicle and vibrations of the driving vehicle.
- the spring holder 9 is vibrated (moved) in widthwise of left/right direction, since the projections 72 of the elastic arms 71 are continuously and elastically in contact with the inner walls of the protector 4 , the elastic arms 71 to be bent can absorb the vibration. Thereby, the interference between the spring holder 9 (spring holder body other than the elastic arms 71 ) and the inner walls of the protector 4 can be prevented securely.
- FIG. 3 (exposed front view) shows an embodiment of the spring holder 9 and a structure for connecting the spring holder 9 and each protecting tube 25 , 26 of the wiring harness 7 according to the continuous power supply device 1 of the present invention.
- the spring holder 9 has a structure to be right/left separated to a holder base (separated holder) 31 and a holder cover (separated holder) 32 , made of synthetic resin.
- the holder base 31 and the holder cover 32 are formed into almost symmetric half-annular shape or C-shape and L-shape by bending at the center thereof.
- the holder base 31 and the holder cover 32 respectively have the front half part 28 for the corrugate tube 25 of the wiring harness 7 and the rear half part 29 for the mesh tube 26 of the wiring harness 7 .
- Each front half part 28 has a plurality of projected stripes 33 (two stripes in this embodiment) engaging with the grooves 25 a of the corrugate tube 25 at a front end and a middle portion thereof in parallel on an inner surface with a semi-ellipse cross section and a wide projected stripe 75 at a rear end thereof.
- a fan-shape space 69 is provided between the front half part 28 and the rear half part 29 .
- the plurality of electric wires 27 to be exposed between the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 of the wiring harness 7 are passed through the fan-shape space 69 .
- Each rear half part 29 has a pair of wide projected stripes 35 holding an insert member 34 of the mesh tube 26 inside thereof at a front end and a rear end of the rear half part 29 on an inner surface with a semi-ellipse cross section.
- An interval of the projected stripes 33 is equal to a value of multiplying N (integer number: 1, 2, 3 and others) and an interval of the grooves 25 a of the corrugate tube 25 .
- An interval of the projected stripe 35 is slightly larger than a length of the insert member 34 .
- the groove 25 a of the corrugate tube 25 is positioned between the projected stripes 25 b adjacent to the both sides of groove 25 a.
- the insert member 34 of the mesh tube 26 is made of synthetic resin to have an ellipse cross section by molding to insert an end of the mesh tube 26 into the synthetic resin in a molding die.
- the end of the mesh tube 26 is fixed integrally with inside of the insert member 34 .
- the holder base 31 and the holder cover 32 are engaged and locked by a locking device, such as a locking projection 36 and a flexible engaging piece 37 to form a cylindrical member having an inner wall with an ellipse cross section and a rectangular outer wall.
- the locking member is applied not only by the locking projection 36 and the engaging piece 37 , but also by a locking arm and an engaging recess (not shown).
- the elastic arm 71 is arranged between each projected stripe 33 , 75 at the front end and the rear end so as to traverse the projected stripe 33 at the middle portion of the front half part 28 .
- a base end 71 a of the elastic arm 71 is located at front side of the projected stripe 75 at the rear end.
- a front end 71 b of the elastic arm 71 is located at slightly rear side of the projected stripe 33 at the front end.
- the elastic arm 71 is arranged between each projected stripe 35 at the front and rear ends.
- a base end 71 a of the elastic arm 71 is located at rear side of the projected stripe 35 at the front end.
- a front end 71 b of the elastic arm 71 is located at front side of the projected stripe 33 at the rear end.
- each elastic arm 71 Lengthwise of each elastic arm 71 is perpendicular to lengthwise of the each projected stripe 33 , 33 .
- Each elastic arm 71 is formed by cutting out from the side wall 73 of the holder base 31 with the U-shape slit 74 .
- the front end 71 b of the elastic arm 71 is formed into a semicircular shape, and provided on an outer surface thereof integrally with the semispherical projection 72 .
- the base end 71 a of each elastic arm 71 is continued integrally to the side wall 73 of the holder base 31 .
- Each elastic arm 71 can be elastically flexed freely in a direction of thickness of the arm about the base end 71 a as a supporting point.
- the elastic arm 71 is provided similarly as the above holder base 31 . Therefore, detailed description is omitted.
- Each elastic arm 71 of the holder base 31 and the holder cover 32 is provided to have the same shape symmetrically on a plane (at the same position in height).
- a flat spring fixing portion 51 is provided integrally at a bottom side of the holder base 31 .
- a bottom surface of the flat spring fixing portion 51 is a surface to be attached on the annular wall 5 of the protector 4 .
- a bottom portion 70 of the rear half part 29 of the holder cover 32 is engaged together with the flat spring fixing portion 51 .
- the flat spring fixing portion 51 is provided with a slit hole 66 for inserting and fixing the flat spring 6 and a circular lock projection 40 in the slit hole 66 .
- FIG. 4 is a plan view showing assembling condition of the spring holder 9 .
- the projection 72 of each elastic arm 71 at the front/rear and right/left of the spring holder 9 projects outwardly from the outside surfaces of the right/left side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 .
- marking 6 shows a flat spring
- marking 53 shows a window formed on the bottom surface of the flat spring fixing portion 51 .
- Marking 40 shows projection for locking the flat spring
- marking 36 shows a lock projection of the spring holder 9 .
- Marking 37 shows a engaging piece
- marking 25 is a corrugate tube.
- the spring holder 9 Inserting the plurality of electric wires 27 through the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 , engaging the end of the corrugate tube 25 with the front half part 28 of the holder base 31 , engaging the insert member 34 of the mesh tube 26 with the rear half part 29 , and engaging the holder cover 32 with the holder base 31 , the spring holder 9 is assembled into a unit.
- the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 are easily connected together tightly against a pulling force through the spring holder 9 .
- the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 are applied for the protection tube.
- a corrugate tube or a flexible thin-wall vinyl tube (not shown) can be applied.
- the electric wires 27 can be wired in an exposure condition.
- the corrugate tube 25 with the ellipse cross-section is for miniaturizing the protector 4 in thickness.
- a corrugate tube with a round cross-section can be used.
- the inner wall of the spring holder 9 will be formed to have a round cross-section.
- the cross-section shape of the mesh tube 26 can be designed according to the cross-section shape of the corrugate tube 25 (to be as same as the cross-section shape of the corrugate tube 25 ).
- the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 are respectively fixed with the spring holder 9 .
- the corrugate tube 25 and the mesh tube 26 those respective ends are overlapped, can be fixed by clamping them by the spring holder 9 .
- the protector 4 is installed vertically in the slide door. By installing the protector 4 horizontally in the body of the vehicle, the wiring harness 7 can be wired from the long lower opening 14 toward the slide door and from the harness leading groove 19 in the protector to the body of the vehicle.
- the above power supply device 1 can be applied for a slide seat in the vehicle or a slide door other than the vehicle.
- the spring holder 9 is formed into an L-shape along the annular wall 5 .
- the spring holder 9 which is formed into a straight shape instead of the L-shape, can be used.
- the elastic arms 71 are arranged at a front area and a rear area on a line along lengthwise of the spring holder 9 .
- FIGS. 5, 6 show the other embodiments of a structure for arranging the elastic arms 71 of the spring holder 9 .
- one elastic arm 71 1 is located in the center in a direction of height of a front half part of a spring holder 9 ′, and two elastic arms 71 2 are located at an upper area and a lower area of a rear half part of the spring holder 9 ′.
- FIG. 5 shows only holder cover 32 .
- the same elastic arms 71 1 , 71 2 are located at the same position as the holder cover 32 .
- Number of the elastic arm 71 ( 71 1 , 71 2 ) is six by totaling three on one side surface and three of the other side surface of a spring holder 9 1 .
- the elastic arm 71 1 at the front half part is arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the front half part 28 of the spring holder 9 1 .
- the elastic arms 71 2 at the rear half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the rear half part 29 of the spring holder 9 1 .
- Shapes of each elastic arm 71 and the spring holder 9 1 are the same as those in FIG. 3 . Therefore, description of the projection 72 , the flat spring fixing portion 51 and the others is omitted.
- FIG. 6 shows only holder cover 32 .
- the same elastic arms 71 1 , 71 2 are located at the same position as the holder cover 32 .
- Number of the elastic arm 71 ( 71 1 , 71 2 ) is eight by totaling four on one side surface and four of the other side surface of a spring holder 9 2 .
- the elastic arms 71 1 at the front half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the front half part 28 of the spring holder 9 2 .
- the elastic arms 71 2 at the rear half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the rear half part 29 of the spring holder 9 2 .
- a crossing angle of center lines of the elastic arm 71 1 at the front half part and the elastic arm 71 2 at the rear half part is equal to a bending angle of the spring holder 9 2 .
- Shapes of each elastic arm 71 and the spring holder 9 2 are the same as those in FIG. 3 . Therefore, applying the same marking, detailed description is omitted.
- FIGS. 7-9 show contact conditions between the projections 72 of the elastic arms 71 of the spring holder 9 and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a at a position of a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2 , by comparing small and large sizes of gaps between the protector 4 and the spring holder 9 .
- FIG. 7 shows a projecting condition of the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 when a distance L 1 between the inner surface 10 a of the base 2 and the inner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of the protector 4 is equal to a value with a middle design tolerance of the outer width between the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 , that is when the gap between the inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 is in a middle value.
- Each projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 is pushed slightly into the spring holder 9 together with the elastic arm 71 by each inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 (the elastic arm 71 is slightly bent inwardly).
- the spring holder 9 is in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 , only at the projections 72 of the elastic arms 71 .
- the elastic arms 71 When the protector 4 or the spring holder 9 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction in the above condition, the elastic arms 71 receives the vibration and controls the vibration of the spring holder 9 . Thereby, interference between the spring holder 9 and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 is prevented. When the protector 4 receives strong vibration in the traverse direction, the elastic arms 71 are bent inwardly to absorb the vibration. Thereby, interference (hitting) between the spring holder 9 (the spring holder body other than the elastic arms 71 ) and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 is prevented.
- marking 76 shows a harness passing space in the protector 4
- marking 5 shows an annular wall
- marking 77 shows a hole for fixing the protector 9
- markings 13 a , 13 b show respective outer walls of the protector. This structure is the same as that in FIGS. 8-11 .
- FIG. 8 shows a projecting condition of the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 when a distance L 2 between the inner surface 10 a of the base 2 and the inner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of the protector 4 at the position of a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2 is in a value with a negative design tolerance of the outer width between the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 , that is when the gap between the inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 is in a small value.
- Each projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 is strongly pushed deeply into the spring holder 9 together with the elastic arm 71 by each inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 (the elastic arm 71 is large bent inwardly).
- the spring holder 9 is in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 , only at the projections 72 of the elastic arms 71 .
- FIG. 9 shows a projecting condition of the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 when a distance L 3 between the inner surface 10 a of the base 2 and the inner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of the protector 4 at the position of a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2 is in a value with a positive design tolerance of the outer width between the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 , that is when the gap between the inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 is in a large value.
- Each elastic arm 71 is almost not bent inwardly, and the projection 72 projects large outwardly to be continuously and elastically in contact with each inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- the protector 4 or the spring holder 9 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction in the above condition, since the elastic arms 71 are large bent inwardly to absorb the vibration, interference between the spring holder and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and generating sound noise are prevented.
- an elastic arm 71 3 at one side wall 73 and an elastic arm 71 4 at the other side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 3 are arranged on one diagonal line.
- the elastic arm 71 3 is arranged at a lower area of one side wall 73 and the elastic arm 71 4 is arranged at a upper area of the other side wall 73 .
- a pair of elastic arms 71 1 , 71 2 is arranged at each lower area of the front half part and the rear half part of the one side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 2 .
- a pair of elastic arms 71 1 , 71 2 is arranged at each upper area of the front half part and the rear half part of the other side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 2 .
- FIG. 10 shows a projecting condition of the projection 72 of each elastic arm 71 3 , 71 4 when a distance L 3 between the inner surface 10 a of the base 2 and the inner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of the protector 4 is in a value with a positive design tolerance of the outer width between the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 3 , that is when the gap between the inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 93 is in a large value, similarly as FIG. 9 .
- a shape of each elastic arm 71 3 , 71 4 is the same as that of the aforesaid elastic arm 71 .
- the spring holder 9 3 is supported without tilting by the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 3 at the lower area of the one side wall 73 and the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 4 at the upper area of the other side wall 73 elastically in contact with the inner walls 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- the protector 4 or the spring holder 9 3 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction, one elastic arm ( 71 3 or 71 4 ) pushed to one inner surface ( 10 a or 11 a ) is bent inwardly to absorb the vibration similarly as FIG. 9 , so that interference between the spring holder 9 3 and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 is prevented.
- FIG. 11 shows a projecting condition of the spring holder 9 3 when a distance L 2 between the inner surface 10 a of the base 2 and the inner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of the protector 4 is in a value with a negative design tolerance of the outer width between the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 3 similarly as FIG. 8 , that is when the gap between the inner surface 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the both side walls 73 of the spring holder 9 3 is in a small value.
- the spring holder 9 3 in a normal condition is tilted (rotated) in the traverse direction.
- the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 at the lower area of the one side wall 73 and the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 at the upper area of the other side wall 73 are respectively in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- it is no concern that an upper edge 73 a of the one side wall 73 and a lower edge 73 b of the other side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 3 are respectively in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- one elastic arm ( 71 3 or 71 4 ) pushed to one inner surface ( 10 a or 11 a ) is bent inwardly to absorb the vibration, and the spring holder 9 3 is not tilted and stands vertically so as to be at the projections 72 of the right/left elastic arms 71 , 71 at a point in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- interference between the spring holder 9 3 and the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 and the sound noise caused by that are prevented.
- the arm body (part other than the projection 72 ) of the elastic arm 71 in the unload condition is arranged in the same plane as the side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 .
- the elastic arm 71 By forming the elastic arm 71 into a L shape, extending a slant portion (not shown) at the base end of the elastic arm outwardly from the side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 , arranging a straight portion (not shown) of the elastic arm continued to the slant portion in parallel to the side wall 73 so as to project the straight portion outwardly from the side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 , forming the straight portion to be short instead of providing the projection 72 for contacting/pushing at a front end of the straight portion, it can make the whole straight portion elastically in contact with the inner surfaces 10 a , 11 a of the protector 4 .
- the spring holder 9 increases slightly with an amount of projecting the elastic arm outwardly in widthwise thereof.
- Each above elastic arm 71 is formed by cutting out the side wall 73 of the spring holder 9 in an arm shape.
- the elastic arm can be formed by projecting it outwardly from the outer surface of the side wall 73 as the base end. However, in this case, the width in the traverse direction of the spring holder including the elastic arm will increase.
- the elastic arms 71 are arranged at the both sides in the widthwise of the spring holder 9 .
- the elastic arms 71 are arranged at the both sides in the widthwise of the spring holder 9 .
- each elastic arm 71 is provided at the front/rear half parts of the spring holder 9 .
- one elastic arm 71 can be provided at both sides of the spring holder, a pair of elastic arms 71 at the both side of the spring holder can be provided at upper/lower areas of the spring holder in parallel, and the pair of elastic arms 71 at upper/lower area can be arranged in opposite directions to each other (the projections 72 are provided at front half and rear half parts).
- the shape of the projection 72 of the elastic arm 71 is not limited semispherical, but pyramidal, rectangular or semicircular in cross-section.
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Abstract
Description
- The priority application Number Japan Patent Application 2004-371182 upon which this patent application is based is hereby incorporated by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to a continuous power supply device in which a wiring harness is fixed with a holder having a flat spring in a protector so as to cancel an excessive length of the wiring harness by an energizing force of the flat spring.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
-
FIG. 12, 13 shows a usual continuous power supply device (refer Patent Reference 1). - A
power supply device 50 is wired in aslide door 41 of a vehicle. Thepower supply device 50 includes aprotector 42 made of synthetic resign for bendably receiving a wiring harness (showing only a base of theprotector 42 and omitting a cover in a figure), and a metallicflat spring 44 for energizing thewiring harness 43 upwardly in theprotector 42. - A bottom end of the
flat spring 44 together with thewiring harness 43 is fixed at a bottom side of a front end of theprotector 42, and a front end of theflat spring 44 supports thewiring harness 43 slidably. Acap 49 made of synthetic resin is mounted at a front end of theflat spring 44 for supporting thewiring harness 43 stably. - The
wiring harness 43 is formed by covering a plurality ofelectric wires 43 a with acorrugate tube 43 b made of synthetic resin. A bottom portion of a front end of thecorrugate tube 43 b is fixed on theprotector 42 by winding a tape around it. Thecorrugate tube 43 b is good flexible by alternating a groove and a projected stripe. - One end of the
electric wires 43 a of thewiring harness 43 is led from a front side of theprotector 42 to be connected with an auxiliary device in the slide door. Thecorrugate tube 43 b at the other end of thewiring harness 43 is wired from a long bottom opening 45 of theprotector 42 through a traversingspace 46 to avehicle body 47 to swing freely. Theelectric wires 43 a in thewiring harness 43 between the traversingspace 46 are protected safely from interference with outside, water drops and dust by thecorrugate tube 43 b. -
FIG. 12 shows complete-closed condition of theslide door 41.FIG. 13 shows partly open condition of theslide door 41 nearing to full-open condition. When theslide door 41 is in the complete-closed condition, thewiring harness 43 is pulled rearwardly. When theslide door 41 is in the full-open condition, thewiring harness 43 is pulled forwardly. When the wiring harness is in the partly open condition, the wiring harness tends to droop downwardly, but slack (excessive length) thereof is canceled by energizing thewiring harness 43 upwardly with theflat spring 44. Thereby, bite caused by drooping is prevented. -
Reference Patent 1 is Japan Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-354085. - Objects to be Solved
- In the usual continuous
power supply device 50, theprotector 42 increases in an energizing direction of the flat spring, that is a direction of height in accordance with increase of the excessive length to be canceled. Thereby, freedom of laying the other parts to be installed in the slide door is limited. The spring cap 49 (harness supporting part) fixed at theflat spring 44 hits an inner surface of a vertical wall or an inner surface of the cover wall of theprotector 42 and generates sound noise. - To overcome the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous power supply device, which can make a protector lower height and prevent a harness holding member fixed on a flat spring from generating sound noise by interference with an inner wall of a protector. How to attain the object of the present invention
- In order to attain the object of the present invention, a continuous power supply device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a wiring harness is wired to have a loop formed by curving the wiring harness into a loop-shape within a protector, and that a spring holder is fixed at the loop of the wiring harness and has an elastic arm, and that a front end of a flat spring is fixed at the spring holder and the flat spring energizes the loop to increase a radius of the loop, and that the elastic arm is continuously and elastically in contact with an inner wall of the protector.
- According to the above structure, the wiring harness is wired to have the loop in the protector, and slack (excessive length) of the wiring harness is cancelled by increasing a radius of the loop, and the wiring harness is led from the protector in accordance with decrease of the radius of the loop. The flat spring increases the radius of the loop. By forming the wiring harness into a loop shape in the protector and increasing/decreasing the radius of the loop, the protector can be miniaturized in a height direction. When the spring holder for holding a wiring harness is vibrated in a widthwise while the wiring harness is pulled out or returned into or a vehicle having a continuous power supply device is vibrated, the elastic arm is continuously and elastically in contact with the inner wall of the protector, so that a spring holder body other than the elastic arm does not abut on the inner wall of the protector and thereby generating sound noise is prevented.
- The continuous power supply device is furthermore characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arm has a projection on an outer surface at an front end thereof to be in contact with the inner wall of the protector.
- According to the above structure, an outer surface of the projection of the front end of the elastic arm is in contact with the inner wall of the protector at a small area of point contact or line contact. Thereby, slide-contact between the projection and the inner wall of the protector is acted smoothly with small friction. The slide-contact of the projection is acted when the wiring harness is pulled out and returned into.
- The continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arm is formed by cutting a side wall of the spring holder partially into an arm shape.
- According to the above structure, the elastic arm is deflected within a range of a wall thickness of a side wall of the spring holder or into an inside of the side wall of the spring holder when the elastic arm absorbs the vibration. Thereby, an occupied space by the elastic arm can be miniaturized. When providing the projection at the elastic arm, by projecting only the projection to an outside of the side wall of the spring holder, the space can be miniaturized.
- The continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided at both sides of the spring holder in a lateral direction and perpendicular to an inner wall of a base of the protector, to be respectively in contact with the inner wall of the base and an inner wall of a cover of the protector.
- According to the above structure, the spring holder is supported stably in a center of widthwise of the protector by the elastic arms at the both sides thereof. Thereby, it is prevented that the both side walls of the spring holder and the both inner walls of the protector are in contact with each other, so that the spring holder can slide smoothly with low friction by only contact of elastic arms at the both sides and inner walls of the protector.
- The continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided symmetrically on mirror planes at the both sides of the spring holder.
- According to the above structure, the spring holder can be supported stably without tilting in the protector by the elastic arms at the both sides of a position at the same height. Interference between the outer surface of the front end of the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector during the protector is vibrated is prevented. Absorption of vibration is improved also. When pulling or returning the wiring harness, the spring holder can slide securely on the inner walls of the protector only with the elastic arms. Thereby, rubbing of the spring holder body other than the elastic arms and the inner walls of the protector and increase of slide resistance thereby are prevented. More number of the elastic arms will improve function of preventing tilting of the protector, and also increase resistance against sliding. A suitable number of the elastic arms depends on a size of the spring holder, but usually 1-4 arms at one side are suitable.
- The continuous power supply device is still further characterized in the continuous power supply device mentioned above in that the elastic arms are provided rotation symmetrically in a vertical direction at the both sides of the spring holder.
- According to the above structure, when a gap between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector is large, the vibration is absorbed by the elastic arm at lower portion of one side of the spring holder and the elastic arm at upper portion of the other side of the spring holder, and the spring holder slides along the both inner walls of the protector only by the elastic arms. When the gap between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector is small, the spring holder rotates in a direction of tilting (rotates so as to make the upper portion of one side of the spring holder and the lower portion of the other side of the spring holder close to the inner walls of the protection). Thereby, allowable displacements (deflections) of the upper and lower elastic arms are ensured, and each elastic arm securely absorbs the vibration, so that the interference between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector and the sound noise caused by the same are prevented. Since the allowable displacements (deflections) of the upper and lower elastic arms are ensured, a pushing force between each elastic arm and each inner wall of the protector is relaxed, and the slide resistance is reduced.
- Effect of the Invention
- According to the invention as mentioned above, by pulling and returning the wiring harness with the loop in the protector, the protector is miniaturized in the vertical direction. Thereby, freedom for layout of components mounted on the slide door of the vehicle is increased. When the spring holder is vibrated by vibration of the vehicle, the interference between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector can be prevented by the elastic arms absorbing the vibration. Therefore, the sound noise is prevented and a high-commercial-value vehicle can be provided.
- According to the invention, the elastic arm slides at the projection thereof on the inner walls of the protector with low friction, so that sliding motion of the spring holder, that is expansion/contraction of the loop of the wiring harness, can be acted smoothly by a small force, and operatability of the slide door and reliability of continuous power supplying are improved.
- According to the invention, by receiving the elastic arms inside from the outer surface of the spring holder, a projecting amount of the elastic arm can be controlled to be small, so that the whole width of the spring holder can be miniaturized and the protector can be made thinner.
- According to the invention, the interference between the both side walls of the spring holder and the both inner walls of the protector is prevented by the elastic arms at the both sides of the spring holder. The spring holder can slide smoothly at the elastic arms thereof on the both inner walls of the protector with low friction, so that slidability of the spring holder is improved, and operatability of opening/closing the slide door and reliability of continuous power supplying are more improved.
- According to the invention, the spring holder is supported stably without tilting by the elastic arms at the both sides of the spring holder, so that absorbing efficiency of vibration (prevention efficiency of sound noise) is increased, and slidability of the spring holder is improved since sliding between an edge of the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector is prevented.
- According to the invention, even if the gap between the spring holder and the inner walls of the protector is small, the spring holder rotates in the tilting direction, and amount of the displacement of each elastic arm is ensured. Thereby, each elastic arm securely absorbs the vibration and prevents the sound noise, and since the pushing force of each elastic arm is controlled to be small, and slide resistance is reduced, the spring holder can slide smoothly.
- The above and other objects and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view of a main area of an embodiment of a continuous power supply device according to the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a condition of a wiring harness shrunk in radius of the continuous power supply device shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is an exploded front view showing a condition before assembling a spring holder of the continues power supply device shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a front view (viewing from a flat spring) showing a condition of an assembled spring holder shown inFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a front view of one modification of the spring holder; -
FIG. 6 is a front view of the other modification of the spring holder; -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A inFIG. 2 , showing a condition of contact between an elastic arm of the spring holder and a protector; -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when a gap between the spring holder and the protector is small; -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the gap between the spring holder and the protector is large; -
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the modified spring holder is applied; -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition of contact between the elastic arm of the spring holder and the protector when the gap between the other modified spring holder and the protector is small; -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a continuous power supply device by prior art; and -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an action of the continuous power supply device shown inFIG. 12 . -
FIGS. 1, 2 show an embodiment of a continuous power supply device according to the present invention. - A continuous
power supply device 1 includes aprotector 4 having abase 2 made of synthetic resin and a cover 3, a metalflat spring 6 curved freely along anannular wall 5 inside thebase 2, awiring harness 7 wired outside theflat spring 6 to be bent in a loop shape along theannular wall 5 and aspring holder 9 made of synthetic resin, which is fixed at a front end of theflat spring 6, for holding thewiring harness 7 to connect and fix aprotection tubes wiring harness 7, with each other at aloop 8 of thewiring harness 7. Thespring holder 9 includeselastic arms 71, which are continuously and elastically in contact with an inner wall of eachbase plate base 2 and the cover 3 of theprotector 4, for preventing a sound noise. Thepower supply device 1 is usually installed in a slide door (not shown) of a vehicle. - The
base 2 and the cover 3 of theprotector 4 have a triangular or trapezoidvertical base plate width surrounding wall base plate surround wall front end wall top end wall rear wall base 2 and the cover 3 together to overlap thesurround wall 13 of the cover 3 on an outside of thesurround wall 12 of thebase 2, a longlower opening 14 for leading thewiring harness 7 is formed at a lower side of theprotector 4. - A
harness guide wall 15 with a curved shape in cross-section is formed to face outwardly at a side of thelower opening 14 of the cover 3. The cover 3 is provided at a center thereof with a projecting ring wall engaging with an inside of theannular wall 5 of thebase 2. Theprotector 4 is designed to be lower on height than a usual protector (FIG. 12 ). It is realized by a structure receiving thewiring harness 7, which is curved into a small radius loop along theannular wall 5, in theprotector 4. Theprotector 4 is fixed by abracket 17, vertically in the slide door of the vehicle. - The
annular wall 5 is formed integrally at the center of thebase 2. Aspring fixing portion 18 is provided integrally at a rear side of theannular wall 5. Aharness leading groove 19 is provided at thebase plate 10, adjacent to a rear of thespring fixing portion 18, and formed inside a drainpipe-like wall 21 extending upwardly. Acutout 22 for passing the wiring harness there through is formed at a position in which thesurround wall 12 of thebase 2 intersects theharness leading groove 19. A curvedharness guide wall 23 is formed continuously from an upper side of theannular wall 5, adjacent to a rear of theharness leading groove 19. Therein, a front/rear direction of the power supply device corresponds to that of the vehicle. - A base end of the
flat spring 6 is press-fitted into aslit 24 of thespring fixing portion 18. Theflat spring 6 is provided to curve along theannular wall 5 with a restoring force to increasing a radius thereof, as shown inFIG. 2 . Theflat spring 6 is straight in unloaded condition and elastically curves for mounting in the,protector 4. - The
wiring harness 7 is wired in a loop shape outside theflat spring 6 along theannular wall 5. Oneend 7 a of thewiring harness 7 is led upwardly from the leadinggroove 19. Thewiring harness 7 is held in the drainpipe-like wall 21 and led into the slide door. The oneend 7 a of the wringharness 7 is connected with each auxiliary devices, such as a power regulated window unit, a door lock unit and a door mirror unit (not shown). Theother end 7 b of thewiring harness 7 is wired from theguide wall 23 through thelower opening 14 in the vehicle body. Thewiring harness 7 can swing freely along the inner surface of thebase plate 10 without interference with a part of thewiring harness 7 in theharness leading groove 19. - The
spring holder 9 is fixed at the front end of theflat spring 6. The protection tube (corrugate tube) 25 as an outer cover of thewiring harness 7 is fixed at one end of thespring holder 9. The protection tube (mesh tube or braided tube) 26 as a outer cover of thewiring harness 7 is fixed at the other end of thespring holder 9. Themeshed tube 26 is applied in a range from the leadinggrove 19 along theannular wall 5 to thespring holder 9. Thecorrugate tube 25 is applied in a range from thespring holder 9 through thelower opening 14 to the vehicle body. Thus, themesh tube 26 and thecorrugate tube 25 are connected with each other through thespring holder 9. - The
mesh tube 26 is more flexible than thecorrugate tube 25. Thecorrugate tube 25 is solider then themesh tube 25, and has stiffness and waterproofness to protect electric wires in thewiring harness 7 safely from interference with outside and water. Thecorrugate tube 25 is provided with a groove and projected stripe alternately. Thecorrugate tube 25 in this embodiment is formed into an ellipse shape in a cross-section and arranged to be the cross section in lengthwise. Thus, thewiring harness 7 includes eachprotection tubes electric wires 27 received in the tubes. - The
spring holder 9 can slide freely along an outer surface of theannular wall 5. Thespring holder 9 is bent to form an L shape in a tangential direction of theannular wall 5. Thespring holder 9 is provided respectively at a front half part and a rear half part thereof with anelastic arm 71 for preventing sound noise. - Each
elastic arm 71, as shown inFIG. 3 , is formed inside a cutout slit 74 to be in the same plane of an outer surface of theside wall 73 by cutting out eachside wall 73 of the fronthalf part 28 and therear half part 29 in a U-shape at the center of thespring holder 9 in a height direction. Theelastic arm 71 at the front half part has the front end thereof facing front, and theelastic arm 71 at the rear half part has the front end thereof facing rear to be symmetric to each other. Herein, front half part is defined as a side extending from the front end of theflat spring 6. - Each
elastic arm 71 has asemispherical projection 72 for pushing with contact on an outer surface of the front end thereof. Theprojection 72 projects outwardly from an outer surface of theside wall 73 of thespring holder 9. An arm body other than theprojection 72 is located approximately in the same plane as the outer surface of theside wall 73. Eachprojection 72 is positioned in the center of the spring holder in the height direction thereof. Eachprojection 72 is continuously and elastically in contact with the inner surface of thebase plate base 2 or the cover 3 of theprotector 4 to prevent interference of thespring holder 9 and theprotector 4. The arm body of theelastic arm 71 is not in contact with the inner surface of eachbase plate - Thus, the
spring holder 9 has the fronthalf part 28 for fixing thecorrugate tube 25, therear half part 29 for fixing themesh tube 26, and provided with theelastic arms 71 at the bothside walls 73 of the front andrear half parts -
FIG. 2 shows the side door of a left side of the vehicle in a condition of full open. The slide door is moved rearwardly in the vehicle. Thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 is pulled from thelower opening 14 of theprotector 4 forwardly (toward a side of fixing the wiring harness at the body of vehicle). A part of themesh tube 26 and a part of thecorrugate tube 25 continued to thespring holder 9 of thewiring harness 7 are shrunk in radius to make aloop 8 along theannular wall 5 and theguide wall 23. A bottom surface of thespring holder 9 slides along the outer surface of theannular wall 5. Theflat spring 6 is shrunk in radius along theannular wall 5 to be mostly in contact with an inner surface of themesh tube 26 of thehiring harness 7 into annular shape with the smallest radius. - In
FIG. 2 , an outward return force by a restoring force of theflat spring 6 acts on thespring holder 9. In a middle part in lengthwise of theflat spring 6, an expand force to expand theloop 8 of thewiring harness 7 outwardly is generated by the restoring force of theflat spring 6. -
FIG. 1 shows the slide door in a condition of partial open. Thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 tends to droop largely between the body of the vehicle and the slide door. By the return force of thespring holder 9 by theflat spring 6 and the expand force by theflat spring 6, theloop 8 of thewiring harness 7 expands largely outside theannular wall 5 about a reference point of a gate of theharness leading groove 19. Thereby, thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 is returned securely through thelower opening 14 into theprotector 4, so that an excessive length is cancelled securely. - The front end of the
flat spring 6 is fixed through thespring holder 9 on the eachprotection tubes loop 8 of thewiring harness 7. Thereby, an energizing force of theflat spring 6 acts directly on theprotection tubes wiring harness 7, so that expanding/shrinking actions of theloop 8, especially expanding action by the energizing force of theflat spring 6, are performed securely without any slips, and the excessive length (slack or sag) of thewiring harness 7 is cancelled securely. - When the slide door is closed completely from the condition of
FIG. 1 , the slide door moves together with thepower supply device 1 forwardly at the vehicle. Thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 is pulled rearwardly from thelower opening 14 of theprotector 4 toward a harness fix member (not shown) of the body of the vehicle. Theloop 8 of thewiring harness 7 is expanded in a slightly larger diameter than that of full-open of the slide door, but shrunk in diameter by that theflat spring 6 is pulled together with theloop 8. By moving the slide door, thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 moves rearwardly in thelower opening 14. - When the slide door is opening from the complete closed condition, the condition in
FIG. 1 is changed to the condition inFIG. 2 by actions opposite to that mentioned above. Actions of theflat spring 6, thespring holder 9 andwiring harness 7, performed during the process of opening the slide door, are similar as that performed during the above process of closing the slide door. - According to open/close operation of the slide door, the
loop 8 of thewiring harness 7 expands in radius as mentioned above. Thereby, thespring holder 9 slides smoothly with low friction force by a small contact area between theprojections 72 of theelastic arms 71 and the inner walls (inner surfaces of thebase plates 10, 11) of theprotector 4. Theprojections 72 are continuously and elastically in contact with the inner walls of theprotector 4 without aparting therefrom. Thus, interference of theside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 and inner walls of theprotector 4 is prevented and the sound noise generated by the interference can be prevented securely. - The interference between the
spring holder 9 and theprotector 4 is occurred not only by open/close operation of the slide door, but also by vibrations of an engine in the complete closed condition of the stopped vehicle and vibrations of the driving vehicle. In the both cases, even if thespring holder 9 is vibrated (moved) in widthwise of left/right direction, since theprojections 72 of theelastic arms 71 are continuously and elastically in contact with the inner walls of theprotector 4, theelastic arms 71 to be bent can absorb the vibration. Thereby, the interference between the spring holder 9 (spring holder body other than the elastic arms 71) and the inner walls of theprotector 4 can be prevented securely. -
FIG. 3 (exposed front view) shows an embodiment of thespring holder 9 and a structure for connecting thespring holder 9 and each protectingtube wiring harness 7 according to the continuouspower supply device 1 of the present invention. - The
spring holder 9 has a structure to be right/left separated to a holder base (separated holder) 31 and a holder cover (separated holder) 32, made of synthetic resin. Theholder base 31 and theholder cover 32 are formed into almost symmetric half-annular shape or C-shape and L-shape by bending at the center thereof. Theholder base 31 and theholder cover 32 respectively have the fronthalf part 28 for thecorrugate tube 25 of thewiring harness 7 and therear half part 29 for themesh tube 26 of thewiring harness 7. - Each front
half part 28 has a plurality of projected stripes 33 (two stripes in this embodiment) engaging with thegrooves 25 a of thecorrugate tube 25 at a front end and a middle portion thereof in parallel on an inner surface with a semi-ellipse cross section and a wide projectedstripe 75 at a rear end thereof. A fan-shape space 69 is provided between the fronthalf part 28 and therear half part 29. The plurality ofelectric wires 27 to be exposed between thecorrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26 of thewiring harness 7 are passed through the fan-shape space 69. - Each rear
half part 29 has a pair of wide projectedstripes 35 holding aninsert member 34 of themesh tube 26 inside thereof at a front end and a rear end of therear half part 29 on an inner surface with a semi-ellipse cross section. An interval of the projectedstripes 33 is equal to a value of multiplying N (integer number: 1, 2, 3 and others) and an interval of thegrooves 25 a of thecorrugate tube 25. An interval of the projectedstripe 35 is slightly larger than a length of theinsert member 34. Thegroove 25 a of thecorrugate tube 25 is positioned between the projectedstripes 25 b adjacent to the both sides ofgroove 25 a. - The
insert member 34 of themesh tube 26 is made of synthetic resin to have an ellipse cross section by molding to insert an end of themesh tube 26 into the synthetic resin in a molding die. The end of themesh tube 26 is fixed integrally with inside of theinsert member 34. - The
holder base 31 and theholder cover 32 are engaged and locked by a locking device, such as a lockingprojection 36 and a flexibleengaging piece 37 to form a cylindrical member having an inner wall with an ellipse cross section and a rectangular outer wall. The locking member is applied not only by the lockingprojection 36 and the engagingpiece 37, but also by a locking arm and an engaging recess (not shown). - In the front
half part 28 of theholder base 31, theelastic arm 71 is arranged between each projectedstripe stripe 33 at the middle portion of the fronthalf part 28. Abase end 71 a of theelastic arm 71 is located at front side of the projectedstripe 75 at the rear end. Afront end 71 b of theelastic arm 71 is located at slightly rear side of the projectedstripe 33 at the front end. In therear half part 29, theelastic arm 71 is arranged between each projectedstripe 35 at the front and rear ends. Abase end 71 a of theelastic arm 71 is located at rear side of the projectedstripe 35 at the front end. Afront end 71 b of theelastic arm 71 is located at front side of the projectedstripe 33 at the rear end. - Lengthwise of each
elastic arm 71 is perpendicular to lengthwise of the each projectedstripe elastic arm 71 is formed by cutting out from theside wall 73 of theholder base 31 with theU-shape slit 74. Thefront end 71 b of theelastic arm 71 is formed into a semicircular shape, and provided on an outer surface thereof integrally with thesemispherical projection 72. Thebase end 71 a of eachelastic arm 71 is continued integrally to theside wall 73 of theholder base 31. Eachelastic arm 71 can be elastically flexed freely in a direction of thickness of the arm about thebase end 71 a as a supporting point. - In the
holder cover 32, theelastic arm 71 is provided similarly as theabove holder base 31. Therefore, detailed description is omitted. Eachelastic arm 71 of theholder base 31 and theholder cover 32 is provided to have the same shape symmetrically on a plane (at the same position in height). - A flat
spring fixing portion 51 is provided integrally at a bottom side of theholder base 31. A bottom surface of the flatspring fixing portion 51 is a surface to be attached on theannular wall 5 of theprotector 4. Abottom portion 70 of therear half part 29 of theholder cover 32 is engaged together with the flatspring fixing portion 51. The flatspring fixing portion 51 is provided with aslit hole 66 for inserting and fixing theflat spring 6 and acircular lock projection 40 in theslit hole 66. -
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing assembling condition of thespring holder 9. Theprojection 72 of eachelastic arm 71 at the front/rear and right/left of thespring holder 9 projects outwardly from the outside surfaces of the right/left side walls 73 of thespring holder 9. InFIG. 4 , marking 6 shows a flat spring, marking 53 shows a window formed on the bottom surface of the flatspring fixing portion 51. Marking 40 shows projection for locking the flat spring, marking 36 shows a lock projection of thespring holder 9. Marking 37 shows a engaging piece, and marking 25 is a corrugate tube. - Inserting the plurality of
electric wires 27 through thecorrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26, engaging the end of thecorrugate tube 25 with the fronthalf part 28 of theholder base 31, engaging theinsert member 34 of themesh tube 26 with therear half part 29, and engaging theholder cover 32 with theholder base 31, thespring holder 9 is assembled into a unit. Thecorrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26 are easily connected together tightly against a pulling force through thespring holder 9. - In the above embodiment, the
corrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26 are applied for the protection tube. Instead of themesh tube 26, a corrugate tube or a flexible thin-wall vinyl tube (not shown) can be applied. Not applying the protection tube, theelectric wires 27 can be wired in an exposure condition. - The
corrugate tube 25 with the ellipse cross-section is for miniaturizing theprotector 4 in thickness. When a space in thickness has more rooms, a corrugate tube with a round cross-section can be used. In this case, the inner wall of thespring holder 9 will be formed to have a round cross-section. The cross-section shape of themesh tube 26 can be designed according to the cross-section shape of the corrugate tube 25 (to be as same as the cross-section shape of the corrugate tube 25). - In the above embodiment, the
corrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26 are respectively fixed with thespring holder 9. Thecorrugate tube 25 and themesh tube 26, those respective ends are overlapped, can be fixed by clamping them by thespring holder 9. - In the above
power supply device 1, theprotector 4 is installed vertically in the slide door. By installing theprotector 4 horizontally in the body of the vehicle, thewiring harness 7 can be wired from the longlower opening 14 toward the slide door and from theharness leading groove 19 in the protector to the body of the vehicle. The abovepower supply device 1 can be applied for a slide seat in the vehicle or a slide door other than the vehicle. - In the above embodiment, the
spring holder 9 is formed into an L-shape along theannular wall 5. When the length of thespring holder 9 is short, or the bending radius of theannular wall 5 is larger than that of the embodiment inFIG. 1 , thespring holder 9, which is formed into a straight shape instead of the L-shape, can be used. In this case, theelastic arms 71 are arranged at a front area and a rear area on a line along lengthwise of thespring holder 9. When the minimum radius of theloop 8 is designed relatively large during closing/opening the slide door, theannular wall 5 can be removed, and the base end of theflat spring 6 can be fixed on a projectingwall 18 provided on thebase plate 10 of theprotector 4. -
FIGS. 5, 6 show the other embodiments of a structure for arranging theelastic arms 71 of thespring holder 9. - In
FIG. 5 , oneelastic arm 71 1 is located in the center in a direction of height of a front half part of aspring holder 9′, and twoelastic arms 71 2 are located at an upper area and a lower area of a rear half part of thespring holder 9′.FIG. 5 shows onlyholder cover 32. In theholder base 31 at a rear side of the holder cover, the sameelastic arms holder cover 32. Number of the elastic arm 71 (71 1, 71 2) is six by totaling three on one side surface and three of the other side surface of aspring holder 9 1. - The
elastic arm 71 1, at the front half part is arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the fronthalf part 28 of thespring holder 9 1. Theelastic arms 71 2 at the rear half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of therear half part 29 of thespring holder 9 1. Shapes of eachelastic arm 71 and thespring holder 9 1 are the same as those inFIG. 3 . Therefore, description of theprojection 72, the flatspring fixing portion 51 and the others is omitted. - In
FIG. 6 , twoelastic arms 71 1 are arranged in parallel to each other at an upper area and a lower area of the front half part of thespring holder 9 2 and twoelastic arms 71 2 are arranged in parallel to each other at an upper area and a lower area of the rear half part of thespring holder 9 2.FIG. 6 shows onlyholder cover 32. In theholder base 31 at a rear side of the holder cover, the sameelastic arms holder cover 32. Number of the elastic arm 71 (71 1, 71 2) is eight by totaling four on one side surface and four of the other side surface of aspring holder 9 2. - The
elastic arms 71 1 at the front half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of the fronthalf part 28 of thespring holder 9 2. Theelastic arms 71 2 at the rear half part are arranged in parallel to an upper edge and a lower edge of therear half part 29 of thespring holder 9 2. A crossing angle of center lines of theelastic arm 71 1 at the front half part and theelastic arm 71 2 at the rear half part is equal to a bending angle of thespring holder 9 2. Shapes of eachelastic arm 71 and thespring holder 9 2 are the same as those inFIG. 3 . Therefore, applying the same marking, detailed description is omitted. -
FIGS. 7-9 show contact conditions between theprojections 72 of theelastic arms 71 of thespring holder 9 and theinner surfaces FIG. 2 , by comparing small and large sizes of gaps between theprotector 4 and thespring holder 9. -
FIG. 7 shows a projecting condition of theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 when a distance L1 between theinner surface 10 a of thebase 2 and theinner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of theprotector 4 is equal to a value with a middle design tolerance of the outer width between the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9, that is when the gap between theinner surface protector 4 and the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 is in a middle value. - Each
projection 72 of theelastic arm 71 is pushed slightly into thespring holder 9 together with theelastic arm 71 by eachinner surface elastic arm 71 is slightly bent inwardly). Thespring holder 9 is in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4, only at theprojections 72 of theelastic arms 71. - When the
protector 4 or thespring holder 9 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction in the above condition, theelastic arms 71 receives the vibration and controls the vibration of thespring holder 9. Thereby, interference between thespring holder 9 and theinner surfaces protector 4 is prevented. When theprotector 4 receives strong vibration in the traverse direction, theelastic arms 71 are bent inwardly to absorb the vibration. Thereby, interference (hitting) between the spring holder 9 (the spring holder body other than the elastic arms 71) and theinner surfaces protector 4 is prevented. When thespring holder 9 is vibrated by stronger vibration in the traverse direction, since theelastic arms 71 support thespring holder 9 elastically against theinner surfaces protector 4, thespring holder 9 does not interfere impulsively with theinner surfaces protector 4, and sound noise is not generated. - In
FIG. 7 , marking 76 shows a harness passing space in theprotector 4, marking 5 shows an annular wall, marking 77 shows a hole for fixing theprotector 9, andmarkings FIGS. 8-11 . -
FIG. 8 shows a projecting condition of theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 when a distance L2between theinner surface 10 a of thebase 2 and theinner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of theprotector 4 at the position of a cross section taken along the line A-A inFIG. 2 is in a value with a negative design tolerance of the outer width between the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9, that is when the gap between theinner surface protector 4 and the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 is in a small value. - Each
projection 72 of theelastic arm 71 is strongly pushed deeply into thespring holder 9 together with theelastic arm 71 by eachinner surface elastic arm 71 is large bent inwardly). Thespring holder 9 is in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4, only at theprojections 72 of theelastic arms 71. When a part (the side wall 73) of thespring holder 9 abuts on theinner surfaces protector 4, since theprojections 72 are continuously and elastically in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4, thespring holder 9 does not interfere impulsively with theinner surfaces protector 4, and sound noise is not generated. -
FIG. 9 shows a projecting condition of theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 when a distance L3 between theinner surface 10 a of thebase 2 and theinner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of theprotector 4 at the position of a cross section taken along the line A-A inFIG. 2 is in a value with a positive design tolerance of the outer width between the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9, that is when the gap between theinner surface protector 4 and the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 is in a large value. - Each
elastic arm 71 is almost not bent inwardly, and theprojection 72 projects large outwardly to be continuously and elastically in contact with eachinner surface protector 4. When theprotector 4 or thespring holder 9 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction in the above condition, since theelastic arms 71 are large bent inwardly to absorb the vibration, interference between the spring holder and theinner surfaces protector 4 and generating sound noise are prevented. - Deferring from the examples in
FIGS. 7-9 , inFIGS. 10, 11 , anelastic arm 71 3 at oneside wall 73 and anelastic arm 71 4 at theother side wall 73 of thespring holder 9 3 are arranged on one diagonal line. For example, theelastic arm 71 3 is arranged at a lower area of oneside wall 73 and theelastic arm 71 4 is arranged at a upper area of theother side wall 73. Describing thespring holder 9 inFIG. 6 , a pair ofelastic arms side wall 73 of thespring holder 9 2. A pair ofelastic arms other side wall 73 of thespring holder 9 2. -
FIG. 10 shows a projecting condition of theprojection 72 of eachelastic arm inner surface 10 a of thebase 2 and theinner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of theprotector 4 is in a value with a positive design tolerance of the outer width between the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 3, that is when the gap between theinner surface protector 4 and the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 93 is in a large value, similarly asFIG. 9 . A shape of eachelastic arm elastic arm 71. - The
spring holder 9 3 is supported without tilting by theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 3 at the lower area of the oneside wall 73 and theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 4 at the upper area of theother side wall 73 elastically in contact with theinner walls protector 4. When theprotector 4 or thespring holder 9 3 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction, one elastic arm (71 3 or 71 4) pushed to one inner surface (10 a or 11 a) is bent inwardly to absorb the vibration similarly asFIG. 9 , so that interference between thespring holder 9 3 and theinner surfaces protector 4 is prevented. -
FIG. 11 shows a projecting condition of thespring holder 9 3 when a distance L2 between theinner surface 10 a of thebase 2 and theinner surface 11 a of the cover 3 of theprotector 4 is in a value with a negative design tolerance of the outer width between the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 3 similarly asFIG. 8 , that is when the gap between theinner surface protector 4 and the bothside walls 73 of thespring holder 9 3 is in a small value. - The
spring holder 9 3 in a normal condition is tilted (rotated) in the traverse direction. Theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 at the lower area of the oneside wall 73 and theprojection 72 of theelastic arm 71 at the upper area of theother side wall 73 are respectively in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4. In this case, it is no concern that an upper edge 73 a of the oneside wall 73 and alower edge 73 b of theother side wall 73 of thespring holder 9 3 are respectively in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4. - When the
protector 4 or thespring holder 9 3 receives force by vibration in a traverse direction, one elastic arm (71 3 or 71 4) pushed to one inner surface (10 a or 11 a) is bent inwardly to absorb the vibration, and thespring holder 9 3 is not tilted and stands vertically so as to be at theprojections 72 of the right/leftelastic arms inner surfaces protector 4. Thereby, interference between thespring holder 9 3 and theinner surfaces protector 4 and the sound noise caused by that are prevented. - In the
spring holder 9 of each above embodiment, the arm body (part other than the projection 72) of theelastic arm 71 in the unload condition is arranged in the same plane as theside wall 73 of thespring holder 9. By forming theelastic arm 71 into a L shape, extending a slant portion (not shown) at the base end of the elastic arm outwardly from theside wall 73 of thespring holder 9, arranging a straight portion (not shown) of the elastic arm continued to the slant portion in parallel to theside wall 73 so as to project the straight portion outwardly from theside wall 73 of thespring holder 9, forming the straight portion to be short instead of providing theprojection 72 for contacting/pushing at a front end of the straight portion, it can make the whole straight portion elastically in contact with theinner surfaces protector 4. In this case, thespring holder 9 increases slightly with an amount of projecting the elastic arm outwardly in widthwise thereof. Alternatively, amount of bending the elastic arm inwardly and the spring force can be given, and it can accept larger vibration than that in the above examples. - Each above
elastic arm 71 is formed by cutting out theside wall 73 of thespring holder 9 in an arm shape. The elastic arm can be formed by projecting it outwardly from the outer surface of theside wall 73 as the base end. However, in this case, the width in the traverse direction of the spring holder including the elastic arm will increase. - In the above embodiments, the
elastic arms 71 are arranged at the both sides in the widthwise of thespring holder 9. By providing large elastic arms (not shown) only at oneside wall 73, it is possible to make theother side wall 73 of the spring holder continuously in contact with the inner surface (10 a or 11 a) of theprotector 4 by a pushing force of the elastic arm. In this case, contact area is increased, and slide resistance of the spring holder will be increased. - In the above embodiments, each
elastic arm 71 is provided at the front/rear half parts of thespring holder 9. When thespring holder 9 is short in whole length, oneelastic arm 71 can be provided at both sides of the spring holder, a pair ofelastic arms 71 at the both side of the spring holder can be provided at upper/lower areas of the spring holder in parallel, and the pair ofelastic arms 71 at upper/lower area can be arranged in opposite directions to each other (theprojections 72 are provided at front half and rear half parts). - The shape of the
projection 72 of theelastic arm 71 is not limited semispherical, but pyramidal, rectangular or semicircular in cross-section.
Claims (20)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2004-371182 | 2004-12-22 | ||
JP2004371182A JP4414875B2 (en) | 2004-12-22 | 2004-12-22 | Constant power supply device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060131049A1 true US20060131049A1 (en) | 2006-06-22 |
US7075011B1 US7075011B1 (en) | 2006-07-11 |
Family
ID=36585734
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/311,284 Active US7075011B1 (en) | 2004-12-22 | 2005-12-20 | Continuous power supply device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7075011B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4414875B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102005061644B4 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2879848B1 (en) |
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US20110114779A1 (en) * | 2008-07-02 | 2011-05-19 | Yazaki Corporation | Power feeding device and wire harness arranging structure using the same |
US11120923B2 (en) * | 2018-10-09 | 2021-09-14 | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | Wiring member |
US11293344B2 (en) * | 2017-08-24 | 2022-04-05 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Cover member mounting structure for engine |
CN114365363A (en) * | 2019-09-12 | 2022-04-15 | 株式会社自动网络技术研究所 | Wire harness laying device |
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JP2006180620A (en) * | 2004-12-22 | 2006-07-06 | Yazaki Corp | Firm power supply |
JP2006180619A (en) * | 2004-12-22 | 2006-07-06 | Yazaki Corp | Firm power supply |
JP4681988B2 (en) * | 2005-05-16 | 2011-05-11 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Constant power supply device |
JP4660383B2 (en) * | 2005-06-24 | 2011-03-30 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Harness surplus length absorption mechanism |
JP4999102B2 (en) * | 2005-09-05 | 2012-08-15 | 古河電気工業株式会社 | Power supply device for sliding door |
JP2007116782A (en) * | 2005-10-18 | 2007-05-10 | Yazaki Corp | Cabling device |
JP2007185062A (en) * | 2006-01-10 | 2007-07-19 | Yazaki Corp | Power supplying apparatus for sliding structure |
JPWO2008001593A1 (en) | 2006-06-30 | 2009-11-26 | 株式会社ニコン | Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method |
JP5012063B2 (en) * | 2007-02-05 | 2012-08-29 | 住友電装株式会社 | Wiring harness wiring structure for automobile |
JP2008252993A (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-16 | Yazaki Corp | Power feeding box |
GB0807626D0 (en) * | 2008-04-25 | 2008-06-04 | Ultra Electronics Ltd | Routing of cables |
JP5386126B2 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2014-01-15 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Wire harness |
US8684760B1 (en) | 2011-03-25 | 2014-04-01 | Google Inc. | Power cord with anti-theft assembly |
JP5691751B2 (en) * | 2011-04-01 | 2015-04-01 | 住友電装株式会社 | Protector for wire harness |
JP2013091461A (en) * | 2011-10-27 | 2013-05-16 | Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd | Wire harness routing structure section |
US8723039B2 (en) | 2012-03-27 | 2014-05-13 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | Wire harness with slack absorption |
US9120435B2 (en) * | 2012-05-23 | 2015-09-01 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | Wire harness protector |
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JP7166077B2 (en) * | 2018-06-06 | 2022-11-07 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | bending protector |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7075011B1 (en) | 2006-07-11 |
DE102005061644A1 (en) | 2006-07-13 |
JP4414875B2 (en) | 2010-02-10 |
FR2879848A1 (en) | 2006-06-23 |
FR2879848B1 (en) | 2010-03-12 |
DE102005061644B4 (en) | 2008-04-10 |
JP2006180623A (en) | 2006-07-06 |
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