# US 11,309,694 B2 · Wire harness

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- Number: US 11,309,694 B2
- Document ID: US11309694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/057,865
- Filed: 2019-05-16
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-05
- 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: Yuichi Kimoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309694B2

## CPC

- H02G 3/0406: {Details thereof (installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263)}
- B60R 16/0215: {Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor}
- H02G 3/0468: {Corrugated}
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A wire harness including: a wire; a flexible outer cover covering the wire; a route regulator that has an axial direction extending along a route where the wire is routed, and that is configured to regulate the route where the wire is routed, from an outside of the outer cover; and a fixing member that is configured to fix the route regulator to the outer cover, wherein the route regulator includes an elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wire harness comprising:
a wire;
a flexible outer cover covering the wire;
a route regulator that has an axial direction extending along a route where the wire is routed, and that is configured to regulate the route where the wire is routed, from an outside of the outer cover; and
a fixing member that is configured to fix the route regulator to the outer cover, wherein:
the route regulator includes an elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable,
the route regulator includes a plurality of plates,
the elastic deformation portion links the plurality of plates,
the elastic deformation portion is a hinge linking the plurality of plates,
a portion of inner surfaces of the plates is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the outer cover,
the outer cover is a tubular corrugated tube, and
an inner surface of the plates is a curved surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1,
wherein the route regulator has a bending rigidity that is higher than a bending rigidity of the outer cover.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein:
the route where the wire is routed includes straight routes and a curved route, and
the route regulator is fixed to the outer cover to regulate the straight routes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1,
wherein the route regulator is fixed to the outer cover to cover a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the outer cover located in a circumferential direction of the outer cover.

### Claim 5

A wire harness comprising:
a wire;
a flexible outer cover covering the wire;
a route regulator that has an axial direction extending along a route where the wire is routed, and that is configured to regulate the route where the wire is routed, from an outside of the outer cover; and
a fixing member that is configured to fix the route regulator to the outer cover, wherein:
the route regulator includes an elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable,
the route regulator includes a main body having the elastic deformation portion, and side walls that extend vertically from two ends of the main body located in a width direction of the main body,
the elastic deformation portion has an accordion structure in which crests and troughs are formed in an alternating manner,
the main body includes a plurality of plates, and the elastic deformation portion provided between the plurality of plates, and
an inner surface of the elastic deformation portion does not protrude from inner surfaces of the plates toward the outer cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wire harness according to claim 5, wherein:
the outer cover is a flat tubular corrugated tube, and
an inner surface of the main body and inner surfaces of the side walls are in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the outer cover.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The wire harness according to claim 5,
wherein the route regulator has a bending rigidity that is higher than a bending rigidity of the outer cover.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The wire harness according to claim 5, wherein:
the route where the wire is routed includes straight routes and a curved route, and
the route regulator is fixed to the outer cover to regulate the straight routes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The wire harness according to claim 5,
wherein the route regulator is fixed to the outer cover to cover a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the outer cover located in a circumferential direction of the outer cover.