Branch wire tie band, binding structure, and method of binding a wiring harness

Abstract

A branch wire tie band including a strap portion on which ratchet grooves are formed, the strap portion extending from a head portion within which a strap locking channel is formed. A curved attachment coil, which is preformed as an integral portion of the strap portion, is placed around the branched portion of a wire harness after which the strap portion is inserted and locked into the band locking channel. The tie band may includes two tie band strap portions extending from respective head portions and an anchor plate within which left and right through holes are formed. The two tie band straps may be inserted through the left and right through holes in the anchor plate from where they extend diagonally, their tip portions crossing, and their head portions prevented from passing through the through holes.

1 . A branch wire tie band for use on a wire harness, said tie band comprising: 
 a head portion having a lock channel formed therein;    a strap portion extending from said head portion, said strap portion including ratchet teeth formed thereon; and    a curved attachment coil provided as a portion of the strap portion;    wherein said attachment coil is configured to be cross wrapped around a wire branch region on a wire bundle of a wire harness, and said strap portion is configured to be inserted into said lock channel of said head portion and tightened to bind the branching wire region.    
   
   
       2 . The branch wire tie band according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment coil of said strap portion is configured as a curved spiral shape including first and second curved loops, said attachment coil extending from said head portion to the tip of said strap portion, wherein the tip of said strap portion extends from said second curved loop and is configured to be inserted into said lock channel of said head portion.  
   
   
       3 . The branch wire tie band according to  claim 1  wherein the center portion of said strap portion curves in the lengthwise direction providing a curved portion followed by a tip portion that crosses said head portion to form said attachment coil.  
   
   
       4 . The branch wire tie band according to  claim 1 , further including spikes which project from the inner wire-bundle-contacting surface of said strap portion to prevent displacement of said strap portion.  
   
   
       5 . The branch wire tie band according to  claim 1 , wherein said tie band is formed of synthetic resin.  
   
   
       6 . A wire harness branch wire binding structure including the branch wire tie band according to  claim 1 , wherein said strap portion is cross wrapped around the trunk wires and branch wires of said wire harness and tightened.  
   
   
       7 . A method of binding the branched wire portion of a wiring harness, said method comprising: 
 providing a branch wire tie band including: 
 a head portion having a lock channel formed therein;  
 a strap portion extending from said head portion, said strap portion including ratchet teeth formed thereon; and  
 a curved attachment coil formed as a portion of the strap portion;  
 wherein said attachment coil is configured to be cross wrapped around a wire branch region on a wire bundle of a wire harness, and said strap portion is configured to be inserted into the lock channel of the head portion and tightened to bind the branching wire region;  
   placing a bundle of wires on a wiring jig provided on a wire harness assembly stand; and    separating branch wires from trunk wires by passing between multiple wire support posts extending upward from the topmost portion of the wiring jig main post, wherein the attachment coil of the strap portion extends from the trunk wires to wrap around one side of the branch wires,    the strap portion continues to a position facing the lock channel of the head portion located on the other side of the branch wires, and returns to cross over the attachment coil and lock within the lock channel to bind the wire branch location with the cross wrapped tie band,    wherein said method is performed without removing the wire bundle from the wiring jig at the wire branch location.    
   
   
       8 . The method of binding the branched wire portion of a wiring harness according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiring jig includes three uniformly spaced wire support posts formed at the topmost portion thereof to accommodate a T-shaped wire branch pattern, and 
 said branch wire tie band is configured to bind the T-shaped wire branch location.    
   
   
       9 . The method of binding the branched wire portion of a wiring harness according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiring jig includes four uniformly spaced wire support posts formed at the topmost portion thereof to accommodate an X-shaped wire branch pattern, and 
 said branch wire tie band is configured to bind the X-shaped wire branch location.    
   
   
       10 . A wire harness branch wire tie band comprising: 
 two tie bands, each said tie band including strap portions having ratchet grooves formed thereon, each said strap portion extending from a respective head portion within which lock channels are formed; and    an anchor plate including left and right through holes formed therein;    wherein said two strap portions are configured to be loosely inserted through the left and right through holes in said anchor plate and extend diagonally therefrom, their tip portions mutually crossing, and their head portions prevented from passing through said through holes; and    at the location where the branch wires divert from the trunk wires, said two strap portions pass along both sides of the branch wires, and wrap around and mutually cross over the wire bundle, each strap portion then projecting through the lock channel of the other strap to bind the bundle of wires at the branching wire location.    
   
   
       11 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 10 , wherein said anchor plate is configured as a long, thin, planar member including through holes formed therein at right and left extremities thereof, and further comprising: 
 a vehicle body attachment plug provided at a center portion of the anchor plate.    
   
   
       12 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle body attachment plug is formed integrally and in one piece with said anchor plate.  
   
   
       13 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle body attachment plug is configured to be removably inserted into a vehicle body attachment plug hole provided on said anchor plate.  
   
   
       14 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 10 , wherein said anchor plate is configured as a planar T-shaped member including through holes formed therein at left and right extremities of a horizontal portion thereof, and further comprising: 
 a vehicle body attachment plug provided at the end of a vertical portion extending from the midportion of said horizontal portion of said anchor plate.    
   
   
       15 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle body attachment plug is formed integrally and in one piece with the end of the vertical portion of said anchor plate.  
   
   
       16 . The wire harness branch wire tie band according to  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle body attachment plug is configured to be removably inserted into a vehicle body attachment plug hole provided on the end of the vertical portion of said anchor plate.  
   
   
       17 . A wire harness branch wire binding structure including the branch wire tie band according to  claim 10 , wherein said two strap portions are cross wrapped around the trunk wires and branch wires and tightened.  
   
   
       18 . A method of binding the branch wire portion of a wiring harness, said method comprising: 
 providing a branch wire tie band including: 
 two tie bands, each said tie band including strap portions having ratchet grooves formed thereon, each said strap portion extending from a respective head portion within which lock channels are formed; and  
 an anchor plate including left and right through holes formed therein;  
   placing a wire bundle on a wiring jig on a wire harness assembly stand at the location where branch wires divert from trunk wires, and supporting the wire bundle between multiple wire support posts that branch upward from a wiring jig main post, and    wrapping said strap portions around the trunk wires at both sides of the branch wires after which they mutually cross, then inserting and locking each strap portion into the lock channel of the head portion of the other tie band without removing the wire bundle from the wiring jig at the branching wire location.    
   
   
       19 . The method of binding the branched wire portion of a wiring harness according to  claim 18 , wherein the wiring jig includes three uniformly spaced wire support posts formed at the topmost portion thereof to accommodate a T-shaped wire branch pattern, and 
 said branch wire tie band is configured to bind the T-shaped wire branch location.    
   
   
       20 . The method of binding the branched wire portion of a wiring harness according to  claim 18 , wherein the wiring jig includes four uniformly spaced wire support posts formed at the topmost portion thereof to accommodate an X-shaped wire branch pattern, and 
 said branch wire tie band is configured to bind the X-shaped wire branch location.