# US 12,113,322 B2 · Wire harness

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,113,322 B2
- Document ID: US12113322B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/441,511
- Filed: 2020-01-06
- Published: 2022-05-26
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-28
- Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Katsutoshi Izawa; Masashi Hayashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113322B2

## CPC

- H01R 4/72: using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve
- B60R 16/0215: {Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor}
- H01B 7/0045: {Cable-harnesses}
- H02G 1/14: for joining or terminating cables
- H02G 15/04: Cable-end sealings
- H02G 15/1806: {Heat shrinkable sleeves (insulation of electrical connections using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve H01R4/72)}
- B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses}
- H01R 11/12: End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A wire harness including: a first conductor; a second conductor electrically connected to the first conductor; and a tubular contraction tube that covers a connection between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein a determination pattern that includes a first determination pattern that allows a first contraction rate in a radial direction of the contraction tube to be determined is printed on an outer circumferential surface of the contraction tube.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wire harness comprising:
a first conductor;
a second conductor electrically connected to the first conductor; and
a tubular contraction tube that covers a connection between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein:
a determination pattern is printed on an outer circumferential surface of the contraction tube,
the determination pattern includes a first determination pattern that allows a first contraction rate in a radial direction of the contraction tube to be determined, and
the first contraction rate in the radial direction of the contraction tube is determined based on a first ratio of a distance in the first determination pattern before contraction to a distance in the first determination pattern after contraction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1,
wherein the determination pattern is printed on the entire outer circumferential surface of the contraction tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein:
the first conductor is a core wire of an electric wire that includes the core wire and an insulating coating that coats an outer circumference of the core wire,
the second conductor is a connection terminal made of metal,
the core wire exposed from the insulating coating is electrically connected to the connection terminal, and
the contraction tube is formed to cover a region reaching from the connection between the core wire and the connection terminal to an end of the insulating coating.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1,
wherein the contraction tube includes a layered structure that includes a heat-contraction tube and an adhesive layer formed on an inner circumferential surface of the heat-contraction tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1,
wherein the determination pattern includes a second determination pattern that allows a second contraction rate in a lengthwise direction of the contraction tube to be determined.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wire harness according to claim 5, wherein:
the first determination pattern is a pattern in which a plurality of first patterns extending along the lengthwise direction of the contraction tube are printed at equal intervals along a circumferential direction of the contraction tube, and
the second determination pattern is a pattern in which a plurality of second patterns extending along the circumferential direction of the contraction tube are printed at equal intervals along the lengthwise direction of the contraction tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein:
the first conductor is a first core wire of a first electric wire that includes the first core wire and a first insulating coating that coats an outer circumference of the first core wire,
the second conductor is a second core wire of a second electric wire that includes the second core wire and a second insulating coating that coats an outer circumference of the second core wire,
the first core wire exposed from an end of the first insulating coating and the second core wire exposed from an end of the second insulating coating are electrically connected to each other, and
the contraction tube is formed to cover a region reaching from the end of the first insulating coating to the end of the second insulating coating.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wire harness according to claim 7, wherein:
an inner circumferential surface of one end of the contraction tube is adhered to an outer circumferential surface of the end of the first insulating coating through welding, and
an inner circumferential surface of the other end of the contraction tube is adhered to an outer circumferential surface of the end of the second insulating coating through welding.