U.S. patent application number 13/146227 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-22 for harness retaining means and harness wiring structure.
Invention is credited to Andrew Schultz.
Application Number | 20110308853 13/146227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42395892 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110308853 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schultz; Andrew |
December 22, 2011 |
Harness Retaining Means and Harness Wiring Structure
Abstract
There is disclosed a harness retaining device for retaining a
harness and causing the harness together with a connection element
for an electric/electronic circuit to be supported with respect to
a portion of a frame of a vehicle seat. The harness retaining
device includes a support arm having first and second end portions,
the first end portion of the support arm being configured so as to
be engagingly connectable with the connection element, an
anchor-like clip provided on the first end portion of the support
arm, and a locking member provided on the second end portion of the
support arm for fastening the harness. When the first end portion
of the support arm is connected to the connection element and the
anchor-like clip is fitted through the portion of the seat frame of
the vehicle seat, the connection element and the harness are
supported with respect to the portion of the frame of the vehicle
seat through the support arm.
Inventors: |
Schultz; Andrew;
(Reynoldsburg, OH) |
Family ID: |
42395892 |
Appl. No.: |
13/146227 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US09/32517 |
371 Date: |
July 26, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/70R |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/00 20130101; F16L
3/2332 20130101; B60R 16/0215 20130101; F16L 3/2334 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/70.R |
International
Class: |
H02G 3/00 20060101
H02G003/00 |
Claims
1. A harness retaining means for retaining a harness and causing
said harness together with a connection element for an
electric/electronic circuit to be supported with respect to a
portion of a seat frame of a vehicle seat, said harness retaining
means comprising: a support arm having first and second end
portions; said first end portion of said support arm being
configured so as to be engagingly connectable with said connection
element; an anchor-like clip provided on said first end portion of
said support arm; and a locking means provided on said second end
portion of said support arm for fastening said harness; wherein
when said first end portion of said support arm is connected to
said connection element and said anchor-like clip is fitted through
said portion of said seat frame of said vehicle seat, said harness
fastened by said locking means and the connection element are
supported with respect to said portion of said frame of said
vehicle seat through said support arm.
2. A harness retaining means according to claim 1, wherein said
locking means includes a fastening ring provided on said second end
portion of said support arm, and a winding band attached at an end
thereof to said fastening ring, said fastening ring having a band
insertion hole through which a free end portion of said winding
band is inserted, and said winding band being adapted to be wound
around said harness and inserted at the free end portion thereof
through said band insertion hole of said fastening ring, whereby
said harness is retained by said locking means.
3. A harness retaining means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
said clip and said locking means are formed integrally with said
support arm.
4. A harness retaining means according to claim 1, wherein said
connection element has a pair of elongated hold-down edge portions
of substantially L-shapes spaced apart from each other, and said
first end portion of said support arm is provided at both sides
thereof with elongated engaging-pieces, said first end portion of
said support arm being inserted in a space between said pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions of said connection element with
said elongated engaging-pieces being engaged with inner surfaces of
said pair of elongated hold-down edge portions.
5. A harness retaining means according to claim 2, wherein said
connection element has a pair of elongated hold-down edge portions
of substantially L-shapes spaced apart from each other, and said
first end portion of said support arm is provided at both sides
thereof with elongated engaging-pieces, said first end portion of
said support arm being inserted in a space between said pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions of said connection element with
said elongated engaging-pieces being engaged with inner surfaces of
said pair of elongated hold-down edge portions.
6. A harness retaining means according to claim 1, wherein said
support arm includes a clip supporting member of a substantially
C-shape in cross-section provided on said first end portion thereof
for removably supporting said clip, said clip supporting member
including a pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
substantially L-shapes in cross-section spaced apart from each
other, and an intermediate portion interconnecting said pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions and mounted on said first end
portion of the support arm, and wherein said clip includes a body
and elongated engaging-pieces provided at both sides of said body,
said clip being adapted to be detachably attached to said clip
supporting member with said body being inserted in a space between
said pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of said clip
supporting member and with said elongated engaging-pieces being
engaged with inner surfaces of said pair of elongated hold-down
edge portions.
7. A harness retaining means according to claim 2, wherein said
support arm includes a clip supporting member of a substantially
C-shape in cross-section provided on said first end portion thereof
for removably supporting said clip, said clip supporting member
including a pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
substantially L-shapes in cross-section spaced apart from each
other, and an intermediate portion interconnecting said pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions and mounted on said first end
portion of the support arm, and wherein said clip includes a body
and elongated engaging-pieces provided at both sides of said body,
said clip being adapted to be detachably attached to said clip
supporting member with said body being inserted in a space between
said pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of said clip
supporting member and with said elongated engaging-pieces being
engaged with inner surfaces of said pair of elongated hold-down
edge portions.
8. A harness retaining means according to claim 4, wherein said
support arm includes a clip supporting member of a substantially
C-shape in cross-section provided on said first end portion thereof
for removably supporting said clip, said clip supporting member
including a second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
substantially L-shapes in cross-section spaced apart from each
other, and an intermediate portion interconnecting said second pair
of elongated hold-down edge portions and mounted on said first end
portion of the support arm, and wherein said clip includes a body
and second elongated engaging-pieces provided at both sides of said
body, said clip being adapted to be detachably attached to said
clip supporting member with said body being inserted in a space
between said second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
said clip supporting member and with said second elongated
engaging-pieces being engaged with inner surfaces of said second
pair of elongated hold-down edge portions.
9. A harness retaining means according to claim 5, wherein said
support arm includes a clip supporting member of a substantially
C-shape in cross-section provided on said first end portion thereof
for removably supporting said clip, said clip supporting member
including a second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
substantially L-shapes in cross-section spaced apart from each
other, and an intermediate portion interconnecting said second pair
of elongated hold-down edge portions and mounted on said first end
portion of the support arm, and wherein said clip includes a body
and second elongated engaging-pieces provided at both sides of said
body, said clip being adapted to be detachably attached to said
clip supporting member with said body being inserted in a space
between said second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of
said clip supporting member and with said second elongated
engaging-pieces being engaged with inner surfaces of said second
pair of elongated hold-down edge portions.
10. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 1.
11. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 2.
12. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 3.
13. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 4.
14. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 5.
15. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 6.
16. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 7.
17. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 8.
18. A structure for wiring a harness so as to cause said harness
together with a connection element for an electric/electronic
circuit to be supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a
vehicle seat, utilizing said harness retaining means according to
claim 9.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a means for retaining a
harness and causing the harness together with a connection element
for an electric/electronic circuit to be supported with respect to
a portion of a frame of a seat in a vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, wiring of a harness of various
electric/electronic equipment in a vehicle is performed in such a
manner that the harness is wired so as to be crept along a frame of
a vehicle seat and a terminal of the harness is connected to a
connection element such as a coupler for an electric/electronic
circuit.
[0005] The connection element is fixed with respect to a surface of
a portion of the frame of the vehicle seat such as a pan frame by
an anchor-like clip. In order to prevent shift of the wiring of the
harness and/or application of tensile stress to the terminal of the
harness which may occur due to the weight of a person sitting on
the vehicle seat, the harness is fixed, through a harness retaining
clip of an anchor-shape, with respect to a surface of a second seat
frame portion or a flange surface which is adjacent the surface of
the seat frame portion to which the connection element is fixed.
The harness retaining clip is provided with a winding band and a
fastening ring for fastening the winding band. The winding band is
connected at an end thereof to the fastening ring. By causing the
winding band to be wound around the harness and then causing a free
end portion of the winding band to be inserted through the
fastening ring, the harness is retained by the harness retaining
clip. Such harness retaining clips are disclosed in Japanese
Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 6-73577 and Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-325326.
[0006] In order to fix the harness with respect to the surface of
the second seat frame portion or the flange surface by the harness
retaining clip, a wider space must be provided on the surface of
the second seat frame portion or the flange surface. In addition,
when plural harnesses are required to be wired so as to vertically
intersect, a lower harness must be wired under an upper harness
before fixing of the upper harness is performed. Therefore, the
wiring procedure of the harnesses may depend upon positions in
which the harness retaining clips are secured. Moreover, the
harness and the connection element are fixed by the separate clips,
resulting in increase in the number of parts required for wiring
the harness.
[0007] The most serious problem occurs when there is no optimal
position in which the harness retaining clip is secured. In a case
where the harness is not clipped to the seat frame portion, when
the person sits on the vehicle seat, to thereby cause a cushion of
the vehicle seat to be compressed by the weight of the person
and/or cause springs for supporting the cushion to be deformed by
the weight of the person, the harness may be shifted and/or the
tensile stress may be applied to the terminal of the harness which
is connected to the connection element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
harness retaining means, according to which it is unnecessary to
previously obtain a special installation space for a harness on a
surface of a portion of a frame of a vehicle seat.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
harness retaining means which does not give bad affect to a
procedure for wiring a plurality of harnesses so as to cause the
harnesses to vertically intersect.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a harness retaining means which allows a harness together
with a connection element for an electric/electronic circuit to be
supported with respect to a portion of a frame of a vehicle
seat.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a harness retaining means for retaining a harness
and causing the harness together with a connection element for an
electric/electronic circuit to be supported with respect to a
portion of a frame of a vehicle seat, the harness retaining means
comprising a substantially belt-like support arm having first and
second end portions, the first end portion of the support arm being
configured so as to be engagingly connectable with the connection
element, an anchor-like clip provided on the first end portion of
the support arm, and a locking means provided on the second end
portion of the support arm for fastening the harness. When the
first end portion of the support arm is connected to the connection
element and the anchor-like clip is fitted through the portion of
the frame of the vehicle seat, the harness fastened by the locking
means and the connection element are supported with respect to the
portion of the frame of the vehicle seat through the support
arm.
[0012] As discussed above, the harness retaining means according to
the present invention comprises the substantially belt-like support
arm, the anchor-like clip provided on the first end portion of the
support arm, and the locking means provided on the second end
portion of the support arm for fastening the harness. When the
first end portion of the support arm is connected to the connection
element and the anchor-like clip is fitted through the portion of
the seat frame of the vehicle seat, the harness fastened by the
locking means and the connection element can be supported with
respect to the portion of the frame of the vehicle seat through the
support arm. Therefore, it is unnecessary to fix the harness itself
using any clip and previously obtain a special installation space
for the harness on the surface of the frame portion. Moreover,
after the harness is fastened by the locking means, a different
harness can be wired so as to vertically intersect the harness
fastened by the locking means. Therefore, even in a case where
plural harnesses are wired, the wiring procedure will not be badly
affected. In addition, the support arm which is provided with the
clip and the harness retaining means retaining the harness and is
connected to the connection element is fixed to the seat frame
portion by the clip, so that it is possible to prevent shift of the
wiring of the harness and/or application of tensile stress to a
lead terminal of the harness which is connected to the connection
element.
[0013] The locking means may include a fastening ring provided on
the second end portion of the support arm, and a winding band
attached at an end thereof to the fastening ring, the fastening
ring having a band insertion hole through which a free end portion
of the winding band is inserted. The winding band is adapted to be
wound around the harness and inserted at the free end portion
thereof through the band insertion hole of the fastening ring,
whereby the harness is removably retained by the locking means. In
this case, the harness can be easily retained by the locking means
and can be easily released from the locking means. Therefore, it is
possible to easily replace the harness with a different
harness.
[0014] The clip and the locking means may be formed integrally with
the support arm. The harness and the connection element are
supported to the frame portion by causing the clip integrally
provided on the support arm to be fitted through the frame portion,
so that with a small number of parts, it is possible to cause both
the harness and the connection element to be supported with respect
to the frame portion and prevent the shift of the wiring of the
harness and/or the application of the tensile stress to the lead
terminal of the harness.
[0015] The connection element may have a pair of elongated
hold-down edge portions of substantially L-shapes spaced apart from
each other. In connection with this, the first end portion of the
support arm may be provided at both sides thereof with elongated
engaging-pieces. In this case, the first end portion of the support
arm is removably inserted in a space between the pair of elongated
hold-down edge portions of the connection element with the
elongated engaging-pieces being engaged with inner surfaces of the
pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of the connection
element. Therefore, when the first end portion of the support arm
is removed from the connection element, the connection element can
be used for connection to a harness in a position that does not
require the supporting of the harness.
[0016] The support arm may include a clip supporting member of a
substantially C-shape in cross-section provided on the first end
portion of the support arm for supporting the clip, the clip
supporting member including a second pair of elongated hold-down
edge portions of substantially L-shapes in cross-section spaced
apart from each other, and an intermediate portion interconnecting
the second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of the clip
supporting member and mounted on the first end portion of the
support arm. In connection with this, the clip may include a body
and second elongated engaging-pieces provided at both sides of the
body. The clip is adapted to be detachably supported to the clip
supporting member with the body being inserted in a space between
the second pair of elongated hold-down edge portions of the clip
supporting member and with the second elongated engaging-pieces of
the clip being engaged with inner surfaces of the second pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions of the clip supporting member.
Therefore, when the support arm is removed from the connection
element and the clip is removed from the clip supporting member of
the support arm, the clip can be used for fixing the connection
element with respect to any portion of the seat frame.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a structure for wiring a harness so as to cause
the harness together with a connection element for an
electric/electronic circuit to be supported with respect to a
portion of a frame of a vehicle seat, utilizing the harness
retaining means as discussed above.
[0018] In the structure for wiring a harness, it is unnecessary to
fix the harness itself using any clip and previously obtain a
special installation space for the harness on the surface of the
frame portion. Therefore, the wiring structure according to the
present invention facilitates simplification of a structure of the
seat frame.
[0019] Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the
present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description when considered in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a harness
retaining means according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a coupler
which is to be connected through the harness retaining means to a
harness;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where
the harness and the coupler are supported by the harness retaining
means;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a state where a
combination comprising the harness, the harness retaining means,
and the coupler is fixed with respect to a surface of a portion of
a frame of a vehicle seat;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a support arm
of a harness retaining means according to a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a clip which
is to be removably provided on the support arm of FIG. 5; and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a combination
comprising the support arm of FIG. 5, the clip of FIG. 6, and the
coupler of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Retaining means for retaining harnesses, according to
preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be discussed
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of
the illustrated embodiments, a harness retaining means is
configured so as to be used for retaining a harness H, for
connecting the harness H to a coupler 1 that is a connection
element for an electric/electronic circuit, and for causing the
harness H and the coupler 1 to be supported with respect to a
portion F of a frame of a vehicle seat, such as a pan frame of the
vehicle seat. In the drawings, the coupler 1 and/or an anchor-like
clip 2 (or 2') of the harness retaining means is shown in a state
where a side of the coupler and/or the clip, which is to be opposed
to the surface of the frame portion F when the coupler and the
harness are supported with respect to the frame portion F, faces
upward.
[0028] In each of the illustrated embodiments, the harness
retaining means basically includes the clip to be press-fitted
through the portion F of the frame of the vehicle seat, a
substantially belt-like support arm, and a locking means for
fastening the harness H.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the harness retaining means
according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be
discussed hereinafter. In the first embodiment, the clip 2, the
support arm 3 and the locking means 4 are integrally formed of any
suitable resin material. The support arm 3 has a first end portion
31 and a second end portion 32. The clip 2 is provided on the first
end portion 31 of the support arm 3. The locking means 4 is
provided on the second end portion 32 of the support arm 3. As will
be discussed hereinafter, the first end portion 31 of the support
arm 3 is configured so as to be engagingly connectable with the
coupler 1.
[0030] The clip 2 includes a substantially box-shaped body 20
provided on the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3, a
substantially ellipse-shaped flange 21 provided around the
substantially box-shaped body 20 so as to be spaced apart from a
surface of the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3, and
elastic claws 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d. The elastic claws 22a to 22d are
provided at four sides of a free end of the substantially
box-shaped body 20 so as to extend from edges of the four sides of
the free end of the substantially box-shaped body 20 toward the
flange 21. The clip 2 is adapted to be fixed with respect to the
surface of the frame portion F by causing the elastic claws 22a to
22d to be press-fitted through a stopping hole F' formed in the
frame portion F (FIG. 4), while causing the elastic claws 22a to
22d to be elastically deformed.
[0031] The connection of the first end portion 31 of the support
arm 3 to the coupler 1 is performed while causing the flange 21 of
the clip 2 to be slid on a pair of elongated hold-down edge
portions 12a, 12b of the coupler 1 which will be discussed in
greater detail hereinafter.
[0032] The locking means 4 includes a fastening ring 40 provided on
the second end portion 32 of the support arm 3, and a winding band
41 connected at an end thereof to the fastening ring 40. The
winding band 41 has a plurality of grooves 43 extending in a width
direction thereof. The fastening ring 40 has a band insertion hole
42 opening laterally of the support arm 3, and at least one
widthwise extending protrusion (not shown) provided in the band
insertion hole 42. By causing the winding band 41 to be wound
around the harness H, causing a free end portion of the winding
band 41 to be inserted through the band insertion hole 42, and then
causing any one of the grooves 43 to be engaged with the at least
one protrusion of the fastening ring 40, the harness H is fastened
by the locking means 4 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the coupler 1 includes a housing 11
which has a first receiving hole 10 in which a lead terminal of the
harness H is to be inserted in order to be electrically connected
to an internal terminal of the coupler 1, and a second receiving
hole (not shown) opposite the first receiving hole 10, in which a
lead terminal of a second harness (not shown) is inserted in order
to be electrically connected to the internal terminal of the
coupler 1. The housing 11 of the coupler 1 is formed of an
electrically insulating resin material.
[0034] As briefly discussed above, the coupler 1 includes the pair
of elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b. The elongated
hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b are formed on a bottom surface of
the housing 11 so as to be spaced apart from each other and opposed
to each other. Each of the elongated hold-down edge portions 12a,
12b is formed into a substantially L-shape in cross-section. As
shown in FIG. 1, the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3 is
narrower than the second end portion 32 of the support arm 3 and
has elongated engaging-pieces 33 provided at both sides of the
first narrow end portion 31. The elongated engaging-pieces 33 are
provided with stopper protrusions 34 projecting laterally from ends
of the elongated engaging-pieces 33.
[0035] The harness retaining means of the first embodiment which is
constructed as discussed above is connected to the coupler 1 by
causing the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3 to be
inserted into a space between the elongated edge portions 12a, 12b
of the coupler 1 while causing the elongated engaging-pieces 33 to
be operatively engaged with inner surfaces of the elongated
hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b of the coupler 1 and causing the
substantially ellipse-shaped flange 21 of the clip 2 to be slid on
the elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b. The insertion of
the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3 into the space
between the elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b of the
coupler 1 is performed until the stopper protrusions 34 of the
elongated engaging-pieces 33 are operatively abutted against an end
surface of the housing 11 of the coupler 1 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the coupler 1 connected to the harness
retaining means is fixed with respect to the surface of the frame
portion F by causing the clip 2 to be press-fitted through the
stopping hole F' of the frame portion F. After the coupler 1 is
fixed with respect to the surface of the frame portion F by the
clip 2, the harness H can be retained with respect to the locking
means 4 by causing the winding band 41 to be wound around the
harness H, causing the free end portion of the winding band 41 to
be inserted through the band insertion hole 42 of the fastening
ring 40, and then causing any one of the grooves 43 of the winding
band 40 to be engaged with the at least one protrusion of the
fastening ring 41. The lead terminal of the harness H is inserted
in the first receiving hole 10 of the coupler 1.
[0037] In the case where the clip 2 is press-fitted through the
stopping hole F' of the frame portion F as discussed above, the
harness H fastened by the locking means 4 is supported with respect
to the frame portion F through the support arm 3 of the harness
retaining means, so that it is unnecessary to fix the harness H
itself using any clip and previously obtain a special installation
space for the harness H on the surface of the frame portion F.
Therefore, the harness retaining means according to the present
invention facilitates simplification of the structure of the seat
frame.
[0038] Moreover, after the harness H is retained by the locking
means 4 of the harness-retaining means according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, a different harness can be
wired so as to vertically intersect the harness H retained by the
harness-retaining means. Therefore, even if plural harnesses are
vertically wired, the wiring procedure will not be badly affected.
In addition, the support arm 3 which is provided with the clip 2
and the harness retaining means 4 retaining the harness H and is
connected to the coupler 1 is fixed to the seat frame portion F by
the clip 2, so that it is possible to prevent shift of the wiring
of the harness and/or application of tensile stress to the lead
terminal of the harness which is connected to the coupler 1.
[0039] Moreover, the harness H can be easily retained by the
locking means 4 comprising the fastening ring 40 and the winding
band 41 and can be easily released from the locking means 4 by
causing the winding band 41 to be unwound from the harness H.
Therefore, retaining operation of the harness H by the locking
means 4 and replacing operation of the harness H can be easily
performed. As discussed above, the harness H and the coupler 1 are
supported to the frame portion F by causing the clip 2 provided on
the support arm 3 to be fitted through the stopping hole F' of the
frame portion F, so that with a small number of parts, it is
possible to cause both the harness H and the coupler 1 to be
supported with respect to the frame portion F and prevent the shift
of the wiring of the harness and/or the application of the tensile
stress to the lead terminal of the harness.
[0040] Incidentally, the support arm 3 is configured so as to be
removable from the coupler 1, so that when the support arm 3 is
removed from the coupler 1, the coupler 1 can be used for
connection to a harness in a position that does not require the
supporting of the harness.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the harness retaining means
according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be
discussed hereinafter. The harness retaining means according to the
second embodiment is substantially similar to that according to the
first embodiment of the present invention except that a different
support arm 3' and a different anchor-like clip 2' are employed and
the clip 2' is configured so as to be detachable from the support
arm 3'.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the support arm 3' is provided on a
first end portion 31' thereof with a clip supporting member 35 of a
substantially C-shape in cross-section for supporting the clip 2'.
More particularly, the clip supporting member 35 includes a pair of
elongated hold-down edge portions 35a, 35b of substantially
L-shapes in cross-section spaced apart from each other, and an
intermediate portion 35c that interconnects the elongated hold-down
edge portions 35a, 35b and is mounted on the first end portion 31'
of the support arm 3'. Like the first end portion 31 of the support
arm 3 of the harness retaining means according to the first
embodiment, the first end portion 31' of the harness retaining
means according to the second embodiment is narrower than a second
end portion 32' of the support arm 3' and has elongated
engaging-pieces 33' provided at both sides of the first narrow end
portion 31'. The elongated engaging-pieces 33' are provided with
stopper protrusions 34' projecting laterally from ends of the
elongated engaging-pieces 33'. Moreover, the locking means 4 is
provided on the second end portion 32' of the support arm 3'.
[0043] The clip 2' is formed independently from the support arm 3'.
As shown in FIG. 6, the clip 2' includes a substantially box-shaped
body 20', a substantially ellipse-shaped flange 21' provided around
the substantially box-shaped body 20', elastic claws 22a', 22b',
22c', 22d', and a base portion 23'. The elastic claws 22a' to 22d'
are provided at four sides of a free end of the substantially
box-shaped body 20' so as to extend from edges of the four sides of
the free end of the substantially box-shaped body 20' toward the
flange 21'. The base portion 23' is projected from the body 20' in
a direction opposite to the free end of the body 20'. The base
portion 23' is provided at both sides thereof with elongated
engaging-pieces 24' (only one elongated engaging-piece 24' is shown
in FIG. 6). The elongated engaging-pieces 24' has stopper
protrusions 25a', 25b' projecting laterally from ends thereof.
[0044] The clip 2' is detachably attached to the clip supporting
member 35 of the support arm 3' by causing the base portion 23' of
the clip 2' to be inserted into a space between the elongated
hold-down edge portions 35a, 35b of the clip supporting member 35
while causing the elongated engaging-pieces 24' to be operatively
engaged with inner surfaces of the elongated hold-down edge
portions 35a, 35b of the clip supporting member 35 of the support
arm 3' and causing the substantially ellipse-shaped flange 21' of
the clip 2' to be slid on the elongated hold-down edge portions
35a, 35b of the support arm 3'. The insertion of the base portion
23' of the clip 2' into the space between the elongated hold-down
edge portions 35a, 35b of the clip supporting member 35 is
performed until the stopper protrusions 25a', 25b' of the clip 2'
are abutted against an end surface of the clip supporting member 35
of the support arm 3' as shown in FIG. 7. In the second embodiment,
the harness is retained by the locking means 4 in the same manner
as the harness is retained by the locking means 4 of the harness
retaining means according to the first embodiment.
[0045] The first end portion 31' of the support arm 3' of the
harness retaining means according to the second embodiment is
connected to the coupler 1 (FIG. 2) in the substantially same
manner as the first end portion 31 of the support arm 3 of the
harness retaining means according to the first embodiment is
connected to the coupler 1. More particularly, the first end
portion 31' of the support arm 3' is connected to the coupler 1 by
causing the first end portion 31' of the support arm 3' to be
inserted into the space between the elongated edge portions 12a,
12b of the coupler 1 while causing the elongated engaging-pieces
33' to be operatively engaged with the inner surfaces of the
elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b of the coupler 1 and
causing the clip supporting member 35 of the support arm 3' to be
slid on the elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b. The
insertion of the first end portion 31' of the support arm 3' into
the space between the elongated hold-down edge portions 12a, 12b of
the coupler 1 is performed until the stopper protrusions 34' of the
elongated engaging-pieces 33' are abutted against the end surface
of the housing 11 of the coupler 1 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0046] The clip 2' having been attached to the clip supporting
member 35 as discussed above is then is attached with respect to
the surface of the frame portion F (see FIG. 4) by causing the
elastic claws 22a' to 22d' to be press-fitted through the stopping
hole F' formed in the frame portion F (see FIG. 4), while causing
the elastic claws 22a' to 22d' to be elastically deformed. Thus,
the coupler 1 and the harness H retained by the locking means 4 of
the harness retaining means according to the second embodiment of
the present invention are supported with respect to the frame
portion through the support arm 3' of the harness retaining means
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] The harness retaining means according to the second
embodiment of the present invention can exert the same effects as
the harness retaining means according to the first embodiment of
the present invention can do. In addition, the clip 2' of the
harness retaining means according to the second embodiment is
configured so as to be detachable from the support arm 3', so that
if a harness is not required to be retained, the clip 2' is removed
from the support arm 3' and can be used for fixing the connection
element with respect to any portion of the seat frame.
[0048] It is to be noted that the clips 3, 3' are merely employed
as illustrative examples and the configurations of the clips are
not limited to those described above. For example, there may be
employed a clip that includes a substantially Y-shaped body in lieu
of the substantially box-shaped body 20 (20'). In this case, two
elastic claws are provided at tip ends of branched portions of the
substantially Y-shaped body, in lieu of the four elastic claws. It
is to be also noted that the locking means is merely employed as an
illustrative example and the configuration of the locking means is
not limited to that described above. For example, the locking means
may comprise a ring-shaped member through which the harness is
fitted.
[0049] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein
are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no
intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any
equivalents of the features shown and described, or any portion
thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
* * * * *