# US 10,246,033 B2 · Protector and wire harness > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,033 B2 - Document ID: US10246033B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/747,338 - Filed: 2016-07-08 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-28 - Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Ryouya Okamoto; Hiroki Hirai; Tetsuji Tanaka; Hiroomi Hiramitsu; Hiroshi Shimizu; Hitoshi Takeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246033B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/0215: {Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor} - H02G 3/04: Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs - H02G 3/0487: {with a non-circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence)} - H02G 3/0608: {Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A protector includes: a first unit into which an electrical wire is to be inserted; and a second unit into which a portion of the electrical wire is to be inserted, the portion being other than a portion that is not to be inserted into the first unit. The first unit includes a coupling-target portion, and the second unit includes a coupling portion that is coupled to the coupling-target portion so as to be rotatable relative to the coupling-target portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wire harness comprising a protector, the protector comprising: a first unit into which an electrical wire is to be inserted; and a second unit into which a portion of the electrical wire is to be inserted, the portion being a portion that is not to be inserted into the first unit, wherein the first unit includes a coupling-target portion that is tubular, the second unit includes a coupling portion that is also tubular, the coupling-target portion being concentric to the coupling portion so as to be rotatable relative to the coupling portion, the coupling portion forming a passage for which the electric wire is routed and the first unit and the second unit are configured to be orientated such that a direction in which the second unit extends is orthogonal to a direction in which the first unit extends, upon the coupling portion being rotated relative to the coupling-target portion; wherein the wire harness further includes a connector housing that forms a connector that allows another connector to be fitted thereto from a lateral side relative to the direction in which the first unit extends and the direction in which the second unit extends. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protector according to claim 1, further comprising a restriction portion that restricts the coupling portion from being rotated by more than a predetermined amount relative to the coupling-target portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling-target portion includes a first tubular portion that is tubular, and an engagement-target portion that is provided in an inner surface of the first tubular portion, and the coupling portion includes a second tubular portion that is tubular and is fitted into the first tubular portion, and an engagement portion that is provided on an outer surface of the second tubular portion and engages with the engagement-target portion to restrict the coupling portion from moving in a coupling direction relative to the coupling-target portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The protector according to claim 3, wherein the first tubular portion includes an extension portion so that a length of a protrusion of the first tubular portion in an axial direction thereof is greater than a length of a protrusion of the second tubular portion in an axial direction thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protector according to claim 1, wherein the first unit includes a first main portion that is continuous with the coupling-target portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, the second unit includes a second main portion that is continuous with the coupling portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, and upon the coupling portion being rotated relative to the coupling-target portion, the first main portion and the second main portion extend to the same side in substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The protector according to claim 2, wherein the coupling-target portion includes a first tubular portion that is tubular, and an engagement-target portion that is provided in an inner surface of the first tubular portion, and the coupling portion includes a second tubular portion that is tubular and is fitted into the first tubular portion, and an engagement portion that is provided on an outer surface of the second tubular portion and engages with the engagement-target portion to restrict the coupling portion from moving in a coupling direction relative to the coupling-target portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The protector according to claim 2, wherein the first unit includes a first main portion that is continuous with the coupling-target portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, the second unit includes a second main portion that is continuous with the coupling portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, and upon the coupling portion being rotated relative to the coupling-target portion, the first main portion and the second main portion extend to the same side in substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The protector according to claim 3, wherein the first unit includes a first main portion that is continuous with the coupling-target portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, the second unit includes a second main portion that is continuous with the coupling portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, and upon the coupling portion being rotated relative to the coupling-target portion, the first main portion and the second main portion extend to the same side in substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The protector according to claim 4, wherein the first unit includes a first main portion that is continuous with the coupling-target portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, the second unit includes a second main portion that is continuous with the coupling portion and into which the electrical wire is to be inserted, and upon the coupling portion being rotated relative to the coupling-target portion, the first main portion and the second main portion extend to the same side in substantially parallel to each other.