U.S. patent application number 14/595699 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-07 for electric-wire binding structure for protector.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAZAKI CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Yazaki Corporation. Invention is credited to Shungo Kamigaichi.
Application Number | 20150121658 14/595699 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49916139 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150121658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamigaichi; Shungo |
May 7, 2015 |
Electric-Wire Binding Structure for Protector
Abstract
A protector is equipped with a main body and a lid which are
combined together to form a tubular body capable of housing cables;
a pair of band insertion holes formed through the main body; a band
fastening space which is defined in the main body so as to contain
one band insertion hole and in which to place a buckle of a cable
tie with its top position lower than a housing height of the
cables; and a fastening space closing plate which closes the band
fastening space when the lid is attached to the main body.
Inventors: |
Kamigaichi; Shungo;
(Hiroshima-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yazaki Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YAZAKI CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
49916139 |
Appl. No.: |
14/595699 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2013/069033 |
Jul 11, 2013 |
|
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14595699 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/16PB |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/1498 20150115;
B60R 16/0215 20130101; H02G 3/30 20130101; H02G 3/0487 20130101;
B65D 63/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/16PB |
International
Class: |
B65D 63/10 20060101
B65D063/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2012 |
JP |
2012-157837 |
Claims
1. A cables tying structure of a protector comprising: a main body
and a lid which are combined together to form a tubular body
capable of housing cables; a pair of band insertion holes which are
formed through the main body so as to be arranged in a direction
that crosses the cables housed; a band fastening space which is
defined in the main body so as to contain one of the pair of band
insertion holes and in which to place a buckle of a cable tie with
its top position lower than a housing height of the cables; and a
fastening space closing plate which is formed in the lid and closes
the band fastening space when the lid is attached to the main
body.
2. The cables tying structure of a protector according to claim 1,
wherein the band fastening space is formed so as to have such a
size that the buckle and a fastening tip portion of a band
fastening tool can be inserted into it.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT application No.
PCT/JP2013/069033, which was filed on Jul. 11, 2013 based on
Japanese patent application (patent application 2012-157837) filed
on Jul. 13, 2012, whose contents are incorporated herein by
reference. Also, all the references cited herein are incorporated
as a whole.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a cables tying structure of
a protector.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] Wire harness protectors to be attached to a vehicle body
panel or the like in a state that they house and protect a
vehicular wire harness (cables) are known (refer to Japanese Patent
Publication No. JP-A-H08-33156).
[0006] As shown in FIG. 7, in a wire harness protector 501 of this
kind, a protector main body 503 is shaped like a gutter and plural
insertion holes 507 are formed through an end wall portion 505. A
cable tie 509, which assumes a band shape, is inserted into the
inside in such a manner that its two end portions are inserted
through the respective insertion holes 507. And the cable tie 509
is wound around and thereby holds a wire harness 513 consisting of
plural cables 511 provided inside. A band portion 515 is provided
with a buckle 517 at one end and a lock hole 519 is formed through
the buckle 517. A nail is formed inside the lock hole 519. When the
band portion 515 is inserted into the lock hole 519, a portion of a
projection-recess structure 521 is engaged with the nail, whereby
the band portion 515 is locked.
SUMMARY
[0007] However, the orientation and position of the buckle 517 that
are employed when the cables 511 housed in the protector 501 are
fixed to the protector main body 503 by means of the cable tie 509
vary depending on workers, resulting in a variation in the quality
of the cables protection structure. At protector attachment
locations having only a small gap due to a vehicle layout design,
the orientation of the buckle 517 of the cable tie 509 needs to be
restricted. To this end, for example, attachment work is carried
out according to a management item that specifies a range A of
placement of the buckle 517 (see FIG. 8). Furthermore, a protector
501 that is attached to a vehicle floor is required to be as small
as possible in height dimension H. In this case, attachment work is
carried out according to a management item that the buckle 517
should not be placed above cables 511. As a result, workers are
obliged to work carefully (i.e., do complicated work) because of,
for example, an increased number of management items; the load on
workers who attach cables 511 is increased.
[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances, and an object of the invention is therefore to
provide a cables tying structure of a protector which facilitates
standard work of placing the buckle of a cable tie within a cables
housing height and enables manufacture of a high-quality cable
protection structure by simple work.
[0009] The above object of the invention is attained by the
following configurations:
[0010] (1) A cables tying structure of a protector comprising a
main body and a lid which are combined together to form a tubular
body capable of housing cables; a pair of band insertion holes
which are formed through the main body so as to be arranged in a
direction that crosses the cables housed; a band fastening space
which is defined in the main body so as to contain one of the pair
of band insertion holes and in which to place a buckle of a cable
tie with its top position lower than a housing height of the
cables; and a fastening space closing plate which is formed in the
lid and closes the band fastening space when the lid is attached to
the main body.
[0011] In the cables tying structure of protector having the
configuration of item (1), a band tip portion of a cable tie is
inserted through one of the pair of band insertion holes that are
formed in the main body, from the side of the band fastening space
that is defined on the top side of the main body. The band tip
portion penetrates through the main body to its back side, and is
then pulled up so as to be inserted through the other band
insertion hole and return to the top side. The band tip portion,
pulled up to the top side and shaped like a loop, of the cable tie
surrounds the cables housed in the main body by its inner surface,
and is then inserted through the buckle that is provided at the
rear end of the cable tie and placed in the band fastening space,
whereby the cables are tied to the main body. The cable tie that is
now fixed to the main body and ties the cables is placed in the
band fastening space in such a manner that the buckle is in contact
with the main body with its top position lower than the housing
height of the cables.
[0012] If the buckle of a cable tie were not properly placed within
the band fastening space and projected upward beyond the level of
the housing height of the cables, the fastening space closing plate
of the lid would interfere with the buckle to disable attachment of
the lid. This allows the worker to recognize that the cable tie is
not applied regularly. Furthermore, any worker can set the buckle
of a cable tie in place in the band fastening space. Thus, the
orientation and position of the buckle in cables fixing work are
standardized and a quality variation of the cables protection
structure can be made small.
[0013] (2) A cables tying structure of a protector which is based
on the configuration of item (1) and in which the band fastening
space is formed so as to have such a size that the buckle and a
fastening tip portion of a band fastening tool can be inserted into
it.
[0014] Where a cable tie is fastened using a band fastening tool,
the cables tying structure of a protector having the configuration
of item (2) allows the worker to bring a fastening tip portion of
the band fastening tool into direct contact with a space bottom
surface of the band fastening space. This makes it possible to
produce a high-quality cables protection structure by simpler
work.
[0015] The invention has been described above concisely. The
details of the invention will become more apparent when modes for
carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as an
embodiment) described below are read through with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main body of a cables
tying structure of a protector according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, as viewed from the back side,
of a lid which is attached to the main body shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, as viewed from direction B
shown in FIG. 1, of the main body shown in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a band fastening
space shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state that
a fastening space closing plate of the lid is placed over the band
fastening space shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the cables tying
structure of a protector according to the embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional cables tying
structure of a protector.
[0023] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a range of
placement of a buckle in a conventional cables tying structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter
described with reference to the drawings.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cables tying structure of a
protector 11 according to the embodiment is equipped with a main
body 15 and a lid 17 which are combined together to form a tubular
body capable of housing cables 13 (see FIG. 6). The main body 15
has two side portions 19 which are spaced from each other with the
cables 13 interposed between them. The two side portions 19 are
erected from the two respective sides of a long bottom plate 21
which extends along the cables 13. That is, the main body 15
assumes a U shape (open at the top) in a cross section taken
perpendicularly to its longitudinal direction. The top open portion
is a main body opening 25 which exposes a cables housing space 23
(see FIGS. 1 and 3) which is the inside space of the main body
15.
[0026] In the embodiment, two cables 13 are housed in the main body
15 (see FIG. 6). A partition wall 27 is erected from the bottom
plate 21 at a middle position between the two side portions 19. The
partition wall 27 divides the cables housing space 23 into two
parts that extend in its longitudinal direction. Although in the
embodiment the main body 15 houses the two cables 13, the protector
according to the invention may be such as to house one cable 13 or
three or more cables 13. A bundle of cables 13 may be housed
instead of each cable.
[0027] Although the main body 15 is curved in the embodiment, it
may assume a straight shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the main
body 15 is formed with a first-end-side cables lead-in/lead-out
portion 29 at one end in its longitudinal direction and a
second-end-side cables lead-in/lead-out portion 31 at the other
end. The main body 15 is provided with a vehicle body fixing
bracket 33 at the side of the first-end-side cables
lead-in/lead-out portion 29. A vehicle body fixing lock hole 35 is
formed through the vehicle body fixing bracket 33.
[0028] The lid 17 has the same plan-view shape as the main body 15
(i.e., it conforms to the main body opening 25). As shown in FIG.
2, the lid 17 is formed, at the two respective sides, with lid
flanges 37 which extend along the cables 13. The lid flanges 37 are
inserted into the main body 15 inside the two respective side
portions 19.
[0029] The main body 15 and the lid 17 are provided with plural
lock portions 41 which are arranged in their longitudinal
directions. The lock portions 41 serve to lock (engage) each of the
two side portions 19 of the main body 15 and the corresponding one
of two side edges 39 of the lid 17 on (with) each other. The lock
portions 41 are arranged at prescribed intervals in the
longitudinal directions in the main body 15 and the lid 17. Each
lock portion 41 is composed of a receiving portion 43 (an outer
side surface 47 of each of the two side portions 19 is formed with
receiving portions 43) and a engagement piece 45 (each of the two
side edges 39 of the lid 17 is formed with engagement pieces
45).
[0030] Each receiving portion 43 projects like a hollow plate from
one of the outer side surfaces 47 of the two respective side
portions 19. The top surface of the hollow plate shape is formed
with a rectangular engagement piece insertion opening 49 (see FIG.
1). Each of the receiving portion 43 has a cut 51 through which its
inside is exposed to the outside. The inside of each receiving
portion 43 is also exposed to the outside through the engagement
piece insertion opening 49. A portion, above the cut 51, of each
receiving portion 43 is an engagement beam 53.
[0031] The engagement pieces 45 which are provided on the two side
edges 39 (which are outside portions of the respective lid flanges
37) of the lid 17 project toward the main body 15. An engagement
nail 55 (see FIG. 2) projects from the outer surface of each
engagement piece 45. When each engagement piece 45 is inserted
through the corresponding engagement piece insertion opening 49,
the engagement nail 55 is engaged with the engagement beam 53 (see
FIG. 1), whereby the engagement piece 45 is prevented from coming
off the receiving portion 43.
[0032] A cylinder 57 having a rectangular opening is formed in the
main body 15 used in the embodiment approximately at the center in
its longitudinal direction so as to divide the partition wall 27.
The lid 17 is formed with a rectangular hole 59 which conforms to
the cylinder 57. When the lid 17 is attached to the main body 15,
the rectangular hole 59 is registered with the cylinder 57 and the
inside of the cylinder 57 is exposed to the outside through the
rectangular hole 59.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of band insertion holes 65a and
65b through which a band portion 63 of a cable tie 61 (see FIG. 6)
can be inserted are formed through the bottom plate 21 of the main
body 21. As shown in FIG. 6, in the main body 15, the band
insertion holes 65a and 65b are arranged in a direction that
crosses (in the embodiment, is perpendicular to) the cables 13
housed in the main body 15.
[0034] Two end portions of the cable tie 61, which assumes a band
shape, are inserted through the band insertion holes 65a and 65b of
the main body 15 into its inside. Thus, the cable tie 61 ties the
cables 13 provided inside to the main body 15. A rear end portion
of the band portion 63 is provided with a buckle 67 and a lock hole
69 is formed through the buckle 67. A nail is formed inside the
lock hole 69. When a band tip portion of the band portion 63 is
inserted through the lock hole 69, a portion of a projection-recess
structure that is formed in the surface of the band portion 63 is
engaged with the nail, whereby the band portion 63 is locked.
[0035] In the protector 11 according to the embodiment, a band
fastening space 71 is defined in the main body 15 so as contain the
one band insertion hole 65a. The band fastening space 71 is a space
for housing the buckle 67 of the cable tie 61 so that its top is
lower than a housing height D (in the embodiment, equal to the
height of the cables housing space 23). The second-end-side cables
lead-in/lead-out portion 31 (see FIG. 1) of the main body 15 is
provided with an elevated stage portion 73 which is elevated from
the bottom plate 21 and extends along one of the two side portion
19. An elevated surface 75 of the elevated stage portion 73 is
recessed to form the band fastening space 71. As a result, the
bottom plate 21 and a space bottom surface 77 of the band fastening
space 71 are approximately in the same plane.
[0036] The one band insertion hole 65a formed in the band fastening
space 71 is interposed between a pair of guide walls 81 (see FIG.
4). The band portion 63 of the cable tie 61 is interposed between
the guide walls 81 in the width direction, whereby its movement in
the width direction is restricted. The band fastening space 71
communicates with the cables housing space 23 through a side
division opening 83 which is formed in the one of the two side
portions 19. The partition wall 27 is formed with a recess-like cut
85 at a position in the same portion of a circling path of the
cable tie 61 as the side division opening 83 is located. The side
division opening 83 and the recess-like cut 85 serve to prevent
interference with the band portion 63 which surrounds and ties the
cables 13.
[0037] In the embodiment, the band fastening space 71 has such a
size that the buckle 67 and a fastening tip portion 89 of a band
fastening tool 87 can be inserted into it. That is, the band
fastening space 71 such a size that the buckle 67 that is mounted
on the band fastening tool 87 can be inserted into it together with
the fastening tip portion 89 of the band fastening tool 87. The
fastening tip portion 89 of the band fastening tool 87 is shaped
like a rectangular prism, for example. The band fastening space 71
is formed so as to be approximately similar to and enable insertion
of the rectangular-prism-shaped fastening tip portion 89. The band
fastening tool 87 may be either a manual fastening tool or a
pneumatic fastening tool.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, a fastening space closing plate 91
projects from the lid 71 which covers the main body opening 25 of
the main body 15. The fastening space closing plate 91 assumes a
rectangular shape so as to be able to close the band fastening
space 71 in which the buckle 67 is housed when the lid 17 is
attached to the main body 15. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG.
5, the fastening space closing plate 91 is formed so as to be flush
with the lid 17.
[0039] Next, a description will be made of how the cables tying
structure of the above-configured protector 11 works.
[0040] In the cables tying structure of the protector 11 according
to the embodiment, a band tip portion of a cable tie 61 is inserted
through the one (i.e., band insertion hole 65a) of the pair of band
insertion holes 65a and 65b that are formed in the main body 15,
from the side of the band fastening space 71 that is defined on the
top side of the main body 15. The band tip portion penetrates
through the main body 15 to its back side, and is then pulled up so
as to be inserted through the other band insertion hole 65b and
return to the top side. The band tip portion, pulled up to the top
side and shaped like a loop, of the cable tie 61 surrounds the two
cables 13 housed in the main body 15 by its inner surface, and is
then inserted through the buckle 67 that is provided at the rear
end of the cable tie 61 and placed in the band fastening space 71,
whereby the cables 13 are tied to the main body 15. As shown in
FIG. 6, the cable tie 61 that is now fixed to the main body 15 and
ties the cables 13 is placed in the band fastening space 71 in such
a manner that the buckle 67 is in contact with the main body 15
with its top position lower than the housing height D of the cables
13. That is, the buckle 67 does not project upward beyond the level
of the housing height D of the cables 13 as long as the housing
height D of the cables 13 is greater than the height h of the
buckle 67.
[0041] If the buckle 67 of a cable tie 61 were not properly placed
within the band fastening space 71 and projected upward beyond the
level of the housing height D of the cables 13, the fastening space
closing plate 91, to be attached to the main body 15 so as to be
close to the cables 13, of the lid 17 would interfere with the
buckle 67 to disable attachment of the lid 17. This allows the
worker to recognize that the cable tie 61 is not applied
regularly.
[0042] Furthermore, any worker can set the buckle 67 of a cable tie
61 in place in the band fastening space 71. Thus, the orientation
and position of the buckle 67 in cables fixing work are
standardized and a quality variation of the cables protection
structure can be made small.
[0043] Where a cable tie 61 is fastened using the band fastening
tool 87, the cables tying structure of the protector 11 according
to the embodiment allows the worker to bring the fastening tip
portion 89 (see FIG. 6) of the band fastening tool 87 into direct
contact with the space bottom surface 77 of the band fastening
space 71. This makes it possible to produce a high-quality cables
protection structure by simpler work.
[0044] As such, the cables tying structure of the protector 11
according to the embodiment facilitates standard work of placing
the buckle 67 of a cable tie 61 within the housing height D of
cables 13 even in cases that the protector 11 is attached to a
protector attachment location having only a small gap due to a
vehicle layout design or a vehicle floor that is required to be as
small as possible in height dimension. A high-quality cables
protection structure can be produced by simple work.
[0045] The features of the above-described cables tying structure
of a protector according to the embodiment of the invention will be
summarized below concisely.
[0046] [1] A cables tying structure of a protector 11 comprising a
main body 15 and a lid 17 which are combined together to form a
tubular body capable of housing cables 13; a pair of band insertion
holes 65a and 65b which are formed through the main body 15 so as
to be arranged in a direction that crosses the cables 13 housed; a
band fastening space 71 which is defined in the main body 15 so as
to contain one band insertion hole 65a and in which to place a
buckle 67 of a cable tie 61 with its top position lower than a
housing height of the cables 13; and a fastening space closing
plate 91 which is formed in the lid 17 and closes the band
fastening space 71 when the lid 17 is attached to the main body
15.
[0047] [2] The cables tying structure of a protector 11 according
to item [1], wherein the band fastening space 71 is formed so as to
have such a size that the buckle 67 and a fastening tip portion 89
of a band fastening tool 87 can be inserted into it.
[0048] The cables tying structure of a protector according to the
invention is not limited to the one according to the above
embodiment, and various modifications, improvements, etc. can be
made as appropriate. The material, shape, dimensions, related
numerical values, form of implementation, number (where plural ones
are provided), location, etc. of each constituent element of the
embodiment are optional and no limitations are imposed on them as
long as the invention can be implemented.
[0049] The cables tying structure of a protector according to the
invention facilitates standard work of placing the buckle of a
cable tie within a cables housing height and enables manufacture of
a high-quality cable protection structure by simple work.
* * * * *