Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2001-05-08
Riley, Shawn (Department: 2838)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229091
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protector for a wire harness, and more particularly to a wire harness protector which can be firmly fixed to a mounting member.
2. Related Art
FIG. 12
shows a wire harness protector disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication Sho. 62-21718, and this wire harness protector
1
includes a grip portion
2
of a U-shaped cross-section, and a mounting portion
4
for fixedly holding a wire harness
3
, and this protector
1
is mounted on a flange member (mounting member)
5
.
The grip portion
2
has two arm-like, elastic (long and short) walls
6
and
7
of different lengths, and projections
8
and
9
are formed respectively at distal ends of the walls
6
and
7
, and project in a direction toward each other. The projections
8
and
9
can hold the flange member
5
, and each of the projections
8
and
9
is formed into a generally claw-like shape which has a tapering portion
8
a,
9
a
so that the mounting operation can be effected smoothly.
An internal space of the grip portion
2
is formed by the walls
6
and
7
and a wall
10
, interconnecting these walls, and an elastic arm
11
is formed on an inner surface of the short wall
7
, and when the grip portion
2
is mounted on the flange member
5
, the elastic arm
11
presses the flange member
5
into intimate contact with the grip portion
2
.
The mounting portion
4
comprises a rectangular flat plate bent into a generally L-shape, and projections
4
a
and
4
a,
are formed at opposite ends thereof, respectively, and these projections
4
a
and
4
a
prevent the displacement of tapes
12
and
12
wound on the mounting portion
4
to fix the wire harness
3
. Reinforcing portions
4
b
of a generally triangular shape are formed at a central portion of the mounting portion
4
.
When the wire harness protector
1
of the above construction is mounted on the flange member
5
, the walls
6
and
7
are flexed, with the projections
8
and
9
moved away from each other, and then when the wall
10
abuts against the flange member
5
, the projections
8
and
9
are retainingly engaged with the flange member
5
, thereby preventing the protector
1
from being disengaged from the flange member
5
, and also holding the flange member
5
.
At this time, the elastic arm
11
presses the flange member
5
, and therefore the wire harness protector
1
is fixed more firmly.
In the above prior art technique, however, the wire harness protector
1
is not sufficiently fixed to the flange member
5
.
More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 13
, if a relatively large external force is applied to the wire harness
3
, so that the mounting portion
4
is flexed through the wire harness
3
, the position of the wall
10
of the grip portion
2
is shifted toward the long wall
6
, and this results in a possibility that the projection
9
of the short wall
7
is disengaged from the flange member
5
, so that the fixing of the wire harness protector
1
is canceled.
Particularly where the wall
7
is sufficiently short, it is quite possible that the wire harness protector
1
is disengaged from the flange member
5
.
If the wire harness protector
1
is disengaged from the flange member
5
, the wire harness
3
with the wire harness protector
1
is suspended between other mounting fixing portions, and for example in a vehicle, this can result in the generation of abnormal sounds during the travel and wear of the wire harness
3
, and in some cases, this leads to a possibility of rare short-circuit, thus inviting a very dangerous condition.
In the above wire harness protector
1
, the walls
6
and
7
are elastic, and therefore it is thought that this protector has been devised, regarding the inserting capability (mounting capability as important.
However, any countermeasures for an excessive external force have not yet been taken into consideration, it is thought that a further improvement is necessary.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
With the above problems in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a wire harness protector which can be easily mounted on a mounting member, and can be firmly fixed to the mounting member.
The above object has been achieved by a wire harness protector of the present invention, wherein the wire harness protector is capable of holding a wire harness, and includes a grip portion of a generally U-shaped cross-section having opposed projections for holding a mounting member, and the grip portion is flexed, with the projections moved away from each other, and is mounted on the mounting member; CHARACTERIZED in that the wire harness protector further includes a cover which can be held in contact with one side of the grip portion, facing away from the other side thereof in a direction of a thickness thereof, thereby preventing the flexing of the grip portion, the other side of the grip portion being adapted to contact the mounting member.
In the above construction, the wire harness protector is capable of holding the wire harness, and has the grip portion, and the grip portion is mounted on the mounting member while being flexed, and the wire harness protector further includes the cover for preventing the flexing of the grip portion.
With this construction, the grip portion is mounted on the mounting member while being flexed, as in the conventional construction, and therefore the mounting operation can be easily effected in the same manner as in the conventional construction. After the grip portion is thus mounted on the mounting member, the flexing of the grip portion is prevented by the cover, and therefore even if an excessive external force is applied to the wire harness protector, this wire harness protector will not be disengaged from the mounting member.
Therefore, there can be provided the wire harness protector which can be easily mounted on the mounting member, and can be firmly fixed to the mounting member.
In the wire harness protector of the present invention, a recess portion for receiving the wire harness is formed immediately adjacent to the grip portion in continuous relation thereto, and an open side of the recess portion is covered with the cover, thereby forming a receiving portion for receiving the wire harness.
In the above construction, the recess portion for receiving the wire harness is formed immediately adjacent to the grip portion in continuous relation thereto, and the open side of the recess portion is covered with the cover, thereby forming the receiving portion for receiving the wire harness.
With this construction, the receiving portion for the wire harness can be easily formed, and there is no need to provide any special separate member for holding the wire harness.
Therefore, in addition to the above effects, the cost can be reduced to a minimum, and the wire harness can be easily mounted.
In the wire harness protector of the present invention, the cover is pivotally movable through a hinge smaller in thickness than the cover, and a projection, a through hole or a recessed hole for retaining engagement purposes is provided at the one side of the grip portion.
In the above construction, the cover is pivotally movable through the hinge smaller in thickness than the cover, and the projection, the through hole or the recessed hole for retaining engagement purposes is provided at the one side of the grip portion.
The cover is pivotally moved through the hinge, and is retainingly engaged with the grip portion, and therefore the wire harness protector can be firmly fixed, and also can be quite easily mounted, and the mounting operation is not affected.
When the retainingly-engaged condition of the cover is canceled, the wire harness protector can be easily removed from the mounting member, and therefore the position of the wire harness protector relative to the mounting member can be easily adjusted.
Therefore, in addition to the above effects, the mounting efficiency can be further enhanced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5945635 (1999-08-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 53-55069 (1978-0
Ogawa Tatsuo
Yamazaki Kenji
Riley Shawn
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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