Title of Invention	"CONNECTOR CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION, CLAMPING MEMBER AND METHOD OF MOUNTING CONNECTOR CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION"
Abstract	A connector connecting construction, comprising: a handle-side connector (30) to be fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) and displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned, a frame-side connector (40) to be located in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), and displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned, characterized in that if further comprises at least one clamping member (60) including at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40), a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable.

Title of Invention

"CONNECTOR CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION, CLAMPING MEMBER AND METHOD OF MOUNTING CONNECTOR CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION"

Abstract

A connector connecting construction, comprising: a handle-side connector (30) to be fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) and displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned, a frame-side connector (40) to be located in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), and displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned, characterized in that if further comprises at least one clamping member (60) including at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40), a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable.

Full Text	The present invention relates to a connector connecting construction. The present invention relates to a connector connecting construction arranged in or at a door handle and a handle frame and a clamping member for retaining wires drawn out from a frame-side connector, The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector connecting construction. Various systems for improving convenience in opening and closing automotive doors have been conventionally known. Various electric parts are built in door handles and handle frames in conformity with such systems. For example, in a system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-82091, a handle-side connector is mounted in a door handle and a frame-side connector is held in a handle frame. An end of the door handle is hinged to the handle frame and the door handle is turned about this hinged end, As the door handle is turned, the two connectors connected with each other are cooperatively and substantially integrally displaced. Since the frame-side connector is connected with an end of a wire group extending from the interior of a vehicle while being separated from the door handle, there are cases where the frame-side connector is pulled inside by this wire group, cannot easily move toward the door handle and, therefore, cannot flexibly follow the displacement of the handle-side connector when the' door handle is turned. Then, stresses act on the connecting surfaces of both connectors in directions of displacement, which might result in the action of unnecessary stresses on connected parts of terminal fittings in both connectors. The present invention wes developed in view of the above situation, and an robject thereof is to enable a frame^side connector to be smoothly displaced when a door handle is turned. This object is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims, According to the invention, there is provided a connector connecting constructiqn, comprising; a handle-side connector fixed or to be fixed to a doqr handle piyotally hinged to a handle frame and displaceable as the door handle is turned or operated, a frame-side connector located or to be located (at least partly) in or at the handle frame so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector, and disiplaceable together with the handle^side connector in its connected state as the door handle is turned, and at least one clamping member including at least one wire retaining portion for retaining a wire group drawn out through or at or near an end surface of the frame-side connector and at least one handle attaching portion substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion and attachable to the door handle so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable. As the door handle is turned or operated, the handle-side connector is displaced and the frame-side connector connected with this handle-side connector is displaced together. At this time, the wire group drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector is substantially retained by the wire retaining portion of the clamping member, and the handle attaching portion of this clamping member is attached or mounted to the door handle so as to make the relative position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable. Thus, as the door handle is turned or operated, no unnecessary stress acts on the wire retaining portion from the end surface of the frame-side connector. As a result, stresses acting on the connecting surfaces of the two connectors in directions of displacement can be suppressed, thereby guaranteeing the smooth displacements of the two connector during the turning movement of the door handle. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an elevating surface of a door glass is or is to be located at a side of the frame-side connector substantially opposite to the door handle. Preferably, the wire group includes an inclined portion to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector, and the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one inclined guiding means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion. Since the elevating surface of the door glass is located at the side of the frame-side connector substantially opposite to the door handle, the wire group drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector may interfere with the door glass. However, the wire retaining portion of the clamping member includes the inclined guiding means, thereby keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion arranged oblique or inclined or at an angle different from 0° or 180° to the elevating surface of the door glass in such a manner as to widen the clearance to the elevating surface as the wire group extends along the direction away from the end surface of the frame-'Side connector, Therefore, the interference of the wire group and the door glass can be avoided. Further preferably, the end surface of the frame-side connector faces or is to be arranged so as to substantially face the elevating surface of the door the wire group is bent after being drawing out through or at or near the end surface of the frame-side connector, the inclined portion extending from the bent position, and has an intermediate part thereof bundled at a bundling position by at least one bundling means, and out of a plurality of wires forming the wire group, the one to be located at an inner side of the bend by the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame-side connector and the bundling position than a wire to be located at an outer side of the bend- With the wire group bent, the wire located at the inner side of the bend is bent at the bent portion while bulging outward for length adjustment, which might result in difficulty in being spatially accommodated. However, according to the above, the wire located at the inner side of the bend is set to have a shorter length between the end surface of the frame-side connector and the bundling position than the wire located at the outer side of the bend. Thus, the bulging-out length at the bent portion of the wire located at the inner side of the bend can be set shorter, wherefore the wire group can have a compact configuration at the bent portion. Most preferably, the clamping member further comprises a connector attaching portion attachable to the frame-side connector, wherein: the wire retaining portion preferably is substantially in the form of a strip extending from the connector attaching portion, and/or an extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the wire retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion. According to the invention, there is further provided a clamping member used in the case where a handle-side connector fixed to a door handle pivotally hinged to a handle frame is displaced as the door handle is turned, whereby a frame-side connector connected with the handle^side connector and located in the handle frame is displaced together with the handle-side connector, comprising: i at least one wire retaining portion for retaining a wire group drawn out through an end surface of the frame-side connector, and at least one handle attaching portion substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion and attachable to the door handle so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an elevating surface of a door glass is or is to be located at a side of the frame-side connector substantially opposite to the door handle. Preferably, the wire group includes an inclined portion to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector, and the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one inclined guiding means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion. Further preferably, a connector attaching portion attachable to the frameside connector is further provided: the wire retaining portion preferably is substantially in the form of a strip extending from the connector attaching portion, and/or an extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the wire retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion, Since the extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the wire retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group arranged along the plate surface of the wire retaining portion, the wire group can be easily bent and can be stably kept bent, Further, the wire group is protected by the wire retaining portion and the connector attaching portion, According to the invention, there is further provided method of mounting a connector connecting construction, in particular according to the invention or a preferred embodiment thereof, comprising the following steps: fixing a handle-side connector to a door handle pivotally hinged to a handle frame so as to be displaceable as the door handle is turned, locating a frames-side connector in or at the handle frame s@ as to be connectable with the handle^side connector, wherein the frame-^side connector is displaceable together with the handle-side connector in its connected state as the door handle is turned, retaining a wire group drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector by means of at least one wire retaining portion of at least one clamping member, and attaching at least ope handle attaching portion substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion to the door handle so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of; arranging an inclined portion of the wire group oblique to an elevating surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from the encj surface of the framesjde connector, wherein the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one inclined guiding means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion, Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of; arranging the end surface of the frameTside connector so as to substantially face the elevating surface of the door glass , bending the wire group after being drawing out through or at the end surface of the frameside connector, the inclined portion extending from the bent position, and bundling an intermediate part thereof at a bundling position by at least one bundling means, and out of a plurality of wires forming the wire group, the one to be located at an inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame side connector and the bundling position than a wire to be located at an outer side of the bend These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments, FIG, 1 ig a side view of a connector connecting construction according to a first embodiment, FlCi 2 is a side view showing a state before a. wire group and a cjamping member are bent, FIG, 3 is a rear view of the damping member, FIG, 4 is a plan view of the clamping member, FIG. 5 is a side view of the clamping member, FIG. 6 is a side view of a connector connecting construction according to a second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a rear view of a clamping member, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the clamping member, and FIG, 9 is a side view of the clamping member A first preferred embodiment of the, present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. This embodiment illustrates a connector connecting construction in a vehicle door handle device S and a clamping member 60 used therein. The door handle device S is for building a so-called smart door-lock system applied upon locking and unlocking a door lock and includes a door handle 10 and a handle frame 20, wherein a handle-side connector 30 is provided at least partly in or at the door handle 10 and a frame-side connector 40 is provided at least partly in or at the handle frame 2Q. As shown in ilC3, 1, the door handle 10 at least partly projects on the outer surface of a door panel 15 (door outer plate) and is comprised of an armshaped fulcrum portion 11 and a (preferably substantially hollow and/or flat) handle main body 12 extending laterally (or backward of a vehicle) from the outer1 edge of the fulcrum portion 11. The inner surface of the handle main body 12 is formed into a curved surface 12A separated fr-om a concave surface 1SA of the door panel 15, thereby being substantially grip-shaped so as to be easily gripped. Various electric parts (not shown) such as a sensor are built in or provided at the handle main body 12, The handle-side connector 30 electrically connected with the sensor and the like is integrally or unitarily supported adjacent to the fulcrum portion 11 at a position of the handle main body 12 near the fulcrum portion 11. This har;dle^side connector 30 integrally moves with the doorhandle 1Q. The fulcrum portion 11 is at least partly inserted together with the handle^side connector 30 through a handle insertion opening 16 formed in the door panel 15 to be located at least partly inside the door panel 15. A handle frame 20 to be secured to the inner surface of the door panel 15 is prepared inside the door panel 15, and the fulcrum portion 11 and the handle-side connector 30 located at least partly inside the door panel 15 are introduced into the handle frame 20r The fulcrum portion 11 includes a shaft 13, which is engaged or engageable with a bearing portion (not shown) of the handle frame 20 to permit the door handle 10 to turn or pivot about the shaft 13 relative to the handle frame 20. More specifically, the handle main body 12 is inclined in an inclination direction ID (arrow of FIG. 1) about the shaft 13 by pulling the rear part of the handle main body 12 with respect to the vehicle in a direction away from the door panel 15. Further, the frame-side connector 4Q is pivotally arranged in or at the handle frame 20. The frame-side connector 40 is arranged such that the connecting surface thereof is substantially faced toward the door handle 10 substantially in conformity with the arranged position of the handle-side connector 30 when the two connectors 30, 4Q are connected, An elevating surface 91 of a door glass 90 is arranged in proximity to the handle frame 20 at the inner side of the handle frame 20, i.e. at a side of the handle frame 20 substantially opposite to the door handle 10, The elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 is located at a position substantially behind the connected frameside connector 40 with respect to a connecting direction GP and/or proximate to the frameside connector 40, One or more, preferably a plurality of terminal fittings (not shown) are at least partly aecemmodated in the fram©side connector 40, and the one or more respective terminal fittings are connected with an end of a wire group 80 (one or more, preferably a plurality of (two in the shown case) wires 81) fixed or mounted to a door body and extending substantially from the connected with one or more electric signal lines inside the vehicle via the wire group 8Q. The clamping member 60 is engaged with the wire group 80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40. The clamping member 60 includes a wire retaining portion 61 integrally or unitarily formed of a synthetic resin material and adapted to retain the wire group 80, and a handle attaching portion 62 substantially continuous with this wire retaining portion 61 and attachable to the door handle 10 with the wire group 80 retained by the wire retaining 61. The clamping member 60 further includes a connector attaching portion 63 substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion 61 and/or attachable to the frame-side connector 4Q; As shown in FIG, 5, the wire retaining portion 6,1 preferably is substantially band- or strip^shaped, and one (upper surface shown in FIG. 5) of the substantially opposite plate surfaces thereof serves as a placing surface 61A for the wire group 80, At a position of the wire retaining portion 61 near one end (position near the connector attaching portion 63) is provided a hinge portion 64, which preferably is thinner than areas of he wire retaining portion 61 before and/or after the hinge portion 64, If the wire retaining portion 61 is turned about the connector attaching portion 63 in a turning direction TD (arrow shown in FIG. 2) from a state where the wire group 80 is placed on the placing surface 61 A, the hinge portion 64 is resiliently deformed substantially into an arcuate shape and the wire group 80 is forcibly bent near the end surface of the frame-side Qgnneptar 40, The, wire retaining portion 6.1 preferably extends in one direction from a connected part thereof to the connector attaching portion 63 before being bent, and is provided at a rear portion (preferably substantially at a rear half) thereof with respect to an extending direction with a base plate portion 65 including the hinge portion 64 and/or to i^e arranged substantiilly in parallel with the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 9Q, and at a front portion (preferably substantially at a front half) thereof with respect to the extending direction with an inclined guiding portion 66 sloped upward toward the leading end. The inclined guiding portion 66 is substantially continuous with tlr? base plate portion 65 preferably via a step or bent portion so as to be slightly higher than the base plate portion 65, and/or the width thereof in transverse direction preferably is narrower than that of the base plate portion 65,. The wire group 80 retained by the wire retaining portion 61 is caused to extend in such a direction as to gradually widen a clearance to the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 91 by the inclined guiding portion 66, Here, an inclined portion 8QA of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed. In other words, after extending toward the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 from the end surface of the frame-side connector 40, the wire group 80 becomes an inclined portion 80A via a bent portion 806. The inclined portion 80A can be held inclined in a substantially constant posture by being supported by the inclined guiding portion 66. As shown JD PISS. S and 4, the connector attaching portion 6,3 includes one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) draw-out guiding plates 67 (preferably substantially opposed to each other) and standing up from the (preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of a rear end of the wire retaining portion 61 with respect to the extending direction, and one or more connector attaching main bodies 68 preferably joined on the outer surfaces of the draw-out guiding plates 67. As shown in FIG, §, the draw-out guiding plate(s) 67 preferably has/have a substantially quarter circular shape in side view by each having an arcuate edge 67A substantially corresponding to the shape of the bent hinge portion 64 of the wire retaining portion 61, and the arcuate edge 67A is arranged substantially along the corresponding side edge of the bent hinge portion 64 of the wire retaining portion 61. The draw^out guiding plates 67 preferably rastrist tee. movements of the wire group 80 along width direction by baing located at the lateral side(s) (preferably at the substantially opposite outer sides) of the wire group 80 retained by the wire retaining partion 61, The connector attaching main bodies 68 preferably have a larger thickness than th© draw-out guiding plates 67 and include one or more parts projecting more backward than the rear ends of the draw-out guiding plates 67 with respect to the extending direction, and one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) mounting grooves 69 extending substantially along the rear end(s) of the draw-out guiding plate(s) 67 and making one or more openings in the upper end surface(s) and/or the facing surfaee(s) of the connector attaching main body/bodies 68 are formed in these backward projecting part(s). The mounting grooves 69 preferably are in the form of rail grooves substantially transversely symmetrical with respective to the axial line of the wire retaining portion $1. 0ne or more mounting ribs 41 substantially corresponding to the mounting grooves 69 are provided on an end portion of the frame-side connector 40, By at least partly fitting the end portion of the frame^side connector 40 substantially between .the facing surfaces of the connector attaching main bodies 68, the mounting ribs 41 are slid or inserted into the mounting grooves 69 'through the openings made in the upper end surfaces of the connector attaching main bodies 68 by the mounting grooves 69. In this way, the clamping member 60 is detaehably attached to the frameside connector 40. The handle attaching portion 62 includes one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) reinforcing plates 71 (preferably substantially opposed to each other) and standing up or projecting from or near the (preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of an intermediate part (preferably a substantially middle part) of the wire retaining portion 61 with respect to the extending direction, i,e. a part between the base plate portion 65 and the inclined guiding portion 66, and one or mm® handle attaching main bodies 72 extending upward substantially in parallel with the outer surface(s) of the reinforeing plate(s) 71 after projecting sideways from the outer surfaee(s) of the reinforeing plate(s) 71. One or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) facing walls 75 preferably extending substantially up to the same position as the extending ends of the handle attaching main bodies 72 and/or substantially facing the corresponding handle attaching main bodies 72 while defining one or more slits 74 are provided on or at the reinforcing plates 71. The facing walls 75 preferably are located more toward the central axial line of the wire retaining portion 61 than the connector attaching main bodies 68. Each handle attaching main body 72 is gate=shaped in side view by being comprised of one or more, preferably a pair qf front and/or rear pieces 72A and a beam 72EI, and has an engaging hole 73 inside. One or more engaging projections 14 substantially corresponding to the engaging holes 73 are provided on or at the fulcrum portion 11 of the door handle 1Q, The handle attaching portions 62 are brought closer to the door handle 10 to at least partly insert one or more frame plates 11A of the fulcrum portion 11 into the slits 74, whereby the frame plates 11A preferably are held between the handle attaching main bodies 72 and the substantially facing walls 75. When the handle attaching portions 62 are pushed toward the door handle 10, the handle attaching main bodies 72 resilisntly move over the engaging projections 14 to at least partly fit the engaging prpjectipns 14 into the engaging holes 73, with the result that the handle attaching portions 62 are attached to the door handle 10. In this attached state, the end surfaces of the frame plates 11A rest on the bottom surfaces of the slits 74, thereby preventing the handle attaching portions 62 from being pushed any further. Next, an assembling procedure, functions and effects gf this embodiment are described, First, the bandle.sjde ccpnegtQC 3Q is sugpQrtid, o.n the gjp.pj handle, 1p, the handler-side connector 3Q and the fulcrum pgrtian 11 are at least partly introduced into the handle frame 20 through the handle insertion opening 16 of the door handle 10 in this state, and the door handle 10 is hinged to the handle frame 20 via the shaft 13. The frame-side connector 40 connected with the end of the wire group 80 is pivotally located inside the handle frame 20, and the clamping member 60 is attached to the frameside connector 40 laterally (from the right side in FIG. 2) by sliding the mounting ribs 41 substantially along the mounting grooves 69. The wire group 80 is bundled with the inclined guiding portion 66 by a bundling portion 85 (corresponding to preferred bundling means) preferably by taping or clamping or strips-bundling at an intermediate part thereof. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the handle-side connector 30 and the frame-side connector 40 are connected to bring the sDnneeting surtaxes o,f both into contact. When the two connectors 30, 40 are properly connected, the one qr more terminal fittings at least partly accommodated inside them are securely connected, In the connected state of the two connectors 30, 40, the wire group 80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 preferably extends substantially straight along the wire retaining portion 61 without being bent at its intermediate position as shown in FIG. 2. At this time, out of the wire group 80, the wire 81A located at an inner side of the bend in the bent state preferably extends substantially straight so as to be at a shortest distance from the end surface Qf the frame-side connector 40 to a bundling position by the bundling portion 85, whereas the wire 81B located at an outer side of the bend extends obliquely inward from the end surface of the frame^side connector 40 to the bundling position. In other words, the wires 81A located at the inner side of the bend preferably is shorter between the end surface of the framerside connector 40 and the bundling position than the wire 81B located at the outer sjde., After the, two Qonoectgrs gq, 4Q ace Qgnoeotad. with each Ptftex thi clamping member 60 (wire retaining portion 61) is turned in the turning direction TD (a direction of arrow in FIG. 2), At this time, since the clamping member 60 and the wire group 80 are united by the bundling portion 85 via the inclined guiding portion 66, the clamping member 60 may be turned by holding the wire group 80, Then, the hinge portion 64 is bent about the connector attaching portipn 63 to extend substantially along the arcuate edges 67A of the drawraut guiding plates 67, whereby the handle attaching portion 62 gradually approaches the fulcrum portion 11 of the door handle 10. While the clamping member 60 is being turned, the wire group 80 comes substantially into contact with the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61 to be at least partly placed thereon, and the bent portion SOB is formed as the hinge pprtion 64 is bent. The inclined posture of the inclined portion 8QA is defined by the inclined guiding portion 66, and the respective wires 81 are at least partly supported one above the other on the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61. The wire group 80 preferably is not in contact with the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61 between the hinge portion 64 and the inclined guiding portion 66 by the presence of the step or bent portion of the inclined guiding portion 66. When the handle attaching portion 6? is turned up to an attaqhed position to the door handle 10, the handle attaching main bodies 72 are resiliency engaged with the engaging projections 14 as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the clamping member 60 and the door handle 10 are united or integral. In this attached state, the inclined portion 80A of the wire group 80 is supported to substantially extend in such a direction as to widen the clearance to the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 toward the leading end by the inclined guiding portion 66. The bent portion SOB of th© wire 81A located at the inner side of the bend largely bulges out substantially in U-shape as if covering the wire 81B located at the outer side of the bend due to the presence of the inclined portion 80A, but has a compact configuration. After the clamping member 60 is attached to the door handle 10 in this way, the door handle 10 is turned or pivoted in the inclination direction ID (direction of arrow of FIG. 1) about the shaft 13. Then, the handle-side connector 30 is displaced in the rotating direction ID of the door handle 10 and the frame-side connector 40 connected with this handle-side connector 30 is likewise displaced in the rotating direction ID of the door handle 10, following the displacement of the handle-side connector 30. At this time, the wire group 80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 is retained by the wire retaining portion 61 of the clamping member 60, and the handle attaching portion 62 of the clamping member 60 is attached and fixed to the door handle 10 with the wire group 80 kept retained by the wire retaining portion @1, Thus, even if the door handle 10 is turned, th© relative position of the wire retaining portion 61 to the door handle 10 is fixed. Accordingly, no unnecessary stress acts on the part of the wire group 80 retained by the wire retaining portion 61 from the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 as the door handle 10 is turned. As a result, stresses acting on the connecting surfaces (connecting areas) of the two connectors 30, 40 in directions of displacement are suppressed and the two connectors 30, 40 are smoothly displaced during the turning movement of the door handle 10. Since the elevating surface 91 of the deer glass 90 is located at the side 5 of the frame-side connector 40 opposite to the door handle 10, the wire group 80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 may interfere with the door glass 90. However, according to this embodiment, the wire group 80 preferably has the inclined portion 80A arranged oblique to the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 to widen th© clearance to this elevating surface 91 along a direction away from the end surface of the frameside connector 40, and/or the inclined posture of this inclined portion 80A is stably supported from below by the inclined guiding portion 66 of the clamping member 60. Therefore, the interference of the wire group 80 and the door glass 90 can be avoided. Further, the wire 81A to be located at the inner side of the bend by the bending operation is bent at the bent portion 80S while bulging outward for length adjustment because of the presence of the inclined portion 80A, which might result in an excessive bending stress and difficulty in being spatially 18 accommodated. However, according to this embodiment, the wire 81A located at the inner side of the bend preferably is set to have a shorter length between the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 and the bundling position than the wire 81B located at the outer side of the bend. Thus, the bulging^Qut length at the bent portion 8QB of the wire 81A located at the inner side of the bend ©an be set shorter, wherefore the action of an unneoessarJiy large bending stress at this position can be prevented and the wire group 80 can have a eompast configuration. Furthermore, since the extending direction of the wire group 80 can be defined by turning the wire retaining portion 61 about the connector attaching portion 63 with the wire group 80 arranged substantially along the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61, the wire group 80 can be easily bent and stably kept bent. Further, the draw^-out end of the wire group 80 can be protected by being at least partly covered by the wire retaining portion 61 and the connector attaching portion 63. Accordingly, to enable a frame-side connector to be smoothly displaced, a door handle device S is provided with a handle^side connector 30 to be fixed to a door handle 10 to be pivotally hinged to a handle frame 20 and displaceable as the door handle 10 is turned, a frame^side connector 40 located at or at least partly in the handle frame 20, conneetable with the handleside connector 30 and displaceable together with the handle-side connector 30 in its connected state as the door handle 10 is turned or operated, and at least one clamping member 60 including at least one wire retaining portion 61 for retaining a wire group 80 drawn out through or at an end surface of the frameside connector 40 and a handle attaching portion 62 substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion 61 and attachable to the door handle 10 so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion 61 to the door handle 10 ep,p.n.d I Next, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. The second embodiment partly differs from the first embodiment in the shape of a clamping member 60A, but is substantially similar to the first embodiment in qthej points. Thus, similar o,r the same part? as the first embodiment §re identified by the same reference numerals and are ngt repeatedly described, A wire retaining portion 01 B is comprised only of a base plate portion 64 having no inclined guiding portion 66 and/or extending substantially straight in one direction from a connected position with a connector attaching portion 63A before being bent as shown in FIG. 9. Unlike the first embodiment, there is no technical idea of supporting the wire group 80 in an inclined posture in the second embodiment, wherefore there is no likelihood that the bent portion SOB bulges outward and cannot be easily accommodated. A part of the wire retaining portion 61 B located before the connected part with the handle attaching portion 62 is shorter than in the first embodiment, and one or more ribs 77 extending substantially in width direction for guiding a finger placing movement are formed on the bottom surface of the wire retaining portion 61 B opposite to a placing surface 61 A for the wire group 80 while being spaced apart in forward and backward directions. Preferably, there is nothing equivalent to the bundling portion 85 in the vicinity of the clamping member 2.0 60A, and the handle attaching portion 62 has the same shape as in the first embodiment. One or more draw-out guiding plates 67A of the connector attaching portions 63A are shorter in forward and bacKward directions than in the first embodiment because the bent portion SOB of the wire group 80 does not bulge outward, and one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) drop preventing portions 78 project substantially inward at or near the extending ends of the drawout guiding plates 67A. The drop preventing portions 78 preferably are substantially in the form of ribs narrow and long along the extending direction of the draw*out guiding plates 67A, and preferably are transversely symmetrically arranged (preferably at the substantially same height position) on the innec surfaces (substantially faQing surfaces) of the dr-iw^ogt guiding plates 67A. As shown in FIG, 8, one or more eutouts 648 are made at the (preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of a hinge portion 64A by removing molds for the drop preventing portions 78. Here, when the hinge portion 64A is bent as the clamping member 60A is turned, the drop preventing portions 78 are brought substantially into contact in width direction with the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61 B, more specifically an end position of the bending operation by the hinge portion 64A (position near or immediately before the hinge portion 64A). Thus, although the hinge portion 64A preferably has a lower rigidity by being thinned, the hinge portion 64A can be stably held in its bent posture by being supported by the drop preventing portion 78. Embodimeots> The present jnypntjgn i§ 0$ lirnitgd tg tb§ etee desQrJbe,c! and illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes-can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the ejaims, (1) Although the clamping member is attachable tp the frame«side GQFineGtoT by having the connector attaehing portion in the foregoing embodiments, it may not be engaged with the frame-side eo-nnector without having the connector attaching portion according to the present invention. For example, the elamping member may be comprised of a wire re\|aining portion for retaining the wire group drawn out through the end surface of {he frame-side connector at a position distant from this end surface and a handle attaching portion continuous with this wire retaining portion. In short, it is sufficient for the elamping member to have an invariable relative position to the door handle by having the handle attaching portion, (2) Although the bundling portion by taping or the like is provided in addition to the clamping member in the first embodiment, the wire retaining portion may double as the bundling portion according to the present invention. This can reduce the number of parts. (3) Although the wire group extends via the bent portion while substantially facing the elevating surface of the door glass in the foregoing embodiments, it may extend without via the bent portion while facing the elevating surface of the door glass. In this case, the facing directions of the connecting surfaces of the two connectors may be set substantially parallel to the elevating surface of the door glass and/or their connecting direction may be substantially normal to the elevating surface of the door glass, (4) In the foregoing embodiments, the sleep handle is provided with the engaging projections and the clamping member is pr-ovided with th© handle attaching main bodies in the form of projecting pieces. Conversely, according to the present invention, the door handle may be provided with members in the form of projecting pieces equivalent to the handle attaching main bodies and th@ clamping member may be provided with engaging projections, (5) In the foregoing embodiments, the mounting grooves are formed in the connector attaching portion and the mounting r-ibs are provided ©n the frame-side connector. Conversely, according to the present invention, the connector attaching portion may be provided with mounting ribs and the frameside connector may be provided with mounting grooves. (6) Although the handle frame is a member separate from the door panel in the foregoing embodiments, it may be constructed as the same member as the door panel according to the present invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 9 .,. door handle device 10 ,„ dpor hand'® 11 .„ fulcrum portion 13 ... shaft 20 ... handle frame 30 ... handle-side connector 40 ••• frame-side connector 60 ... clamping member 61 ... wire retaining portion 62 .... handle attaching pQrtiQo 63 - connecter attaqhing pertiao 64 ,., hinp RQrtipn, 66 ... inclined guiding portjpn (inclined guiding means) 80 ... wire group 8QA ... inclined portion 85 ... bundling portion (bundling means) 90 ... deo,r glass 91 ... elevating surface WE CLAIM: 1. A connector connecting construction, comprising: a handle-side connector (30) to be fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) and displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned, a frame-side connector (40) to be located in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), and displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned, characterized in, that it further comprises at least one clamping member (60) including at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40), a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable. 2. A connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the wire group (80) includes an inclined portion (80A) to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), and the wire retaining portion (61) preferably includes at least one inclined guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A). 3. A connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) is to be arranged so as to face the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90), the wire group (80) is bent after being drawing out through or at the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), the inclined portion (80A) extending from the bent position, and has an intermediate part thereof bundled at a bundling position by at least one bundling means (85); and out of a plurality of wires (81) forming the wire group (80), the one (81A) to be located at an inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) and the bundling position than a wire (81B) to be located at an outer side of the bend. 4. A connector connecting construction as claimed in one or more the preceding claims, wherein: the wire retaining portion (61) preferably is substantially in the form of a strip extending from the connector attaching portion (63), and/or an extending direction of the wire group (80) is defined by turning the wire retaining portion (61) about the connector attaching portion (63) with the wire group (80) at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion (61). 5. A clamping member (60) used in the case where a handle-side connector (30) fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) is displaced as the door handle (10) is turned, whereby a frame-side connector (40) connected with the handle-side connector (30) and located in or at the handle frame (20) is displaced together with the handle-side connector (30), comprising: at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at and end surface of the frame-side connector (40), a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable. 6. A clamping member as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the wire group (80) includes an inclined portion (80A) to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), and the wire retaining portion (61) preferably includes inclined at least one guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A). 7. A clamping member as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein: the wire retaining portion (61) preferably is substantially in the form of a slip extending from the connector attaching portion (63), and/or an extending direction of the wire group (80) is defined by turning the wire retaining portion (61) about the connector attaching portion (63) with the wire group (80) at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion (61). 8. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction, comprising the following steps: fixing a handle-side connector (30) to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) so as to be displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned; locating a frame-side connector (40) in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), wherein the frame-side connector (40) is displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned; retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40) by means of at least one wire retaining portion (61) of at least one clamping member (60); attaching a connector attaching portion 863) of the clamping member (60) to the frame-side connector (40); and attaching at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable. 9. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 8, wherein a step of: arranging an inclined portion (80A) of the wire group (80) oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40); wherein, the wire retaining portion (61) preferably included at least one inclined guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A). 10. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of: arranging the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) so as to substantially face the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90); bending the wire group (80) after being drawing out through or at the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), the inclined portion (80A) extending from the bent position, and bundling an intermediate part thereof at a bundling position by at least one bundling means (85); and out of a plurality of wires (81) forming the wire group (80), the one (81 A) to be located at an inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) and the bundling position than a wire (8 IB) to be located at an outer side of the bend.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a connector connecting construction.
The present invention relates to a connector connecting construction arranged in or at a door handle and a handle frame and a clamping member for retaining wires drawn out from a frame-side connector, The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector connecting construction.
Various systems for improving convenience in opening and closing automotive doors have been conventionally known. Various electric parts are built in door handles and handle frames in conformity with such systems. For example, in a system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-82091, a handle-side connector is mounted in a door handle and a frame-side connector is held in a handle frame. An end of the door handle is hinged to the handle frame and the door handle is turned about this hinged end, As the door handle is turned, the two connectors connected with each other are cooperatively and substantially integrally displaced.
Since the frame-side connector is connected with an end of a wire group extending from the interior of a vehicle while being separated from the door handle, there are cases where the frame-side connector is pulled inside by this wire group, cannot easily move toward the door handle and, therefore, cannot flexibly follow the displacement of the handle-side connector when the' door handle is turned. Then, stresses act on the connecting surfaces of both connectors in directions of displacement, which might result in the action of
unnecessary stresses on connected parts of terminal fittings in both
connectors.
The present invention wes developed in view of the above situation, and
an robject thereof is to enable a frame^side connector to be smoothly displaced
when a door handle is turned.
This object is solved according to the invention by the features of the
independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the
dependent claims,
According to the invention, there is provided a connector connecting
constructiqn, comprising;
a handle-side connector fixed or to be fixed to a doqr handle piyotally
hinged to a handle frame and displaceable as the door handle is turned or
operated,
a frame-side connector located or to be located (at least partly) in or at
the handle frame so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector, and
disiplaceable together with the handle^side connector in its connected state as
the door handle is turned, and
at least one clamping member including at least one wire retaining
portion for retaining a wire group drawn out through or at or near an end
surface of the frame-side connector and at least one handle attaching portion
substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion and attachable to the
door handle so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion to the
door handle substantially invariable.
As the door handle is turned or operated, the handle-side connector is
displaced and the frame-side connector connected with this handle-side
connector is displaced together. At this time, the wire group drawn out through
the end surface of the frame-side connector is substantially retained by the wire
retaining portion of the clamping member, and the handle attaching portion of
this clamping member is attached or mounted to the door handle so as to make
the relative position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially
invariable. Thus, as the door handle is turned or operated, no unnecessary
stress acts on the wire retaining portion from the end surface of the frame-side
connector. As a result, stresses acting on the connecting surfaces of the two
connectors in directions of displacement can be suppressed, thereby
guaranteeing the smooth displacements of the two connector during the turning
movement of the door handle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an elevating
surface of a door glass is or is to be located at a side of the frame-side
connector substantially opposite to the door handle.
Preferably, the wire group includes an inclined portion to be arranged
oblique to an elevating surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a
clearance to the elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from
the end surface of the frame-side connector, and
the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one inclined guiding
means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion.
Since the elevating surface of the door glass is located at the side of the
frame-side connector substantially opposite to the door handle, the wire group
drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector may interfere
with the door glass. However, the wire retaining portion of the clamping member
includes the inclined guiding means, thereby keeping the inclined posture of the
inclined portion arranged oblique or inclined or at an angle different from 0° or
180° to the elevating surface of the door glass in such a manner as to widen
the clearance to the elevating surface as the wire group extends along the
direction away from the end surface of the frame-'Side connector, Therefore, the
interference of the wire group and the door glass can be avoided.
Further preferably, the end surface of the frame-side connector faces or
is to be arranged so as to substantially face the elevating surface of the door
the wire group is bent after being drawing out through or at or near the
end surface of the frame-side connector, the inclined portion extending from the
bent position, and has an intermediate part thereof bundled at a bundling
position by at least one bundling means, and
out of a plurality of wires forming the wire group, the one to be located at
an inner side of the bend by the bending operation preferably is set shorter
between the end surface of the frame-side connector and the bundling position
than a wire to be located at an outer side of the bend-
With the wire group bent, the wire located at the inner side of the bend is
bent at the bent portion while bulging outward for length adjustment, which
might result in difficulty in being spatially accommodated. However, according
to the above, the wire located at the inner side of the bend is set to have a
shorter length between the end surface of the frame-side connector and the
bundling position than the wire located at the outer side of the bend. Thus, the
bulging-out length at the bent portion of the wire located at the inner side of the
bend can be set shorter, wherefore the wire group can have a compact
configuration at the bent portion.
Most preferably, the clamping member further comprises a connector
attaching portion attachable to the frame-side connector, wherein:
the wire retaining portion preferably is substantially in the form of a strip
extending from the connector attaching portion, and/or
an extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the wire
retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group at
least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion.
According to the invention, there is further provided a clamping member
used in the case where a handle-side connector fixed to a door handle pivotally
hinged to a handle frame is displaced as the door handle is turned, whereby a
frame-side connector connected with the handle^side connector and located in
the handle frame is displaced together with the handle-side connector,
comprising: i
at least one wire retaining portion for retaining a wire group drawn out
through an end surface of the frame-side connector, and
at least one handle attaching portion substantially continuous with the
wire retaining portion and attachable to the door handle so as to make a relative
position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an elevating
surface of a door glass is or is to be located at a side of the frame-side
connector substantially opposite to the door handle.
Preferably, the wire group includes an inclined portion to be arranged
oblique to an elevating surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a
clearance to the elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from
the end surface of the frame-side connector, and
the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one inclined guiding
means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion.
Further preferably, a connector attaching portion attachable to the frameside
connector is further provided:
the wire retaining portion preferably is substantially in the form of a strip
extending from the connector attaching portion, and/or
an extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the wire
retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group at
least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion,
Since the extending direction of the wire group is defined by turning the
wire retaining portion about the connector attaching portion with the wire group
arranged along the plate surface of the wire retaining portion, the wire group
can be easily bent and can be stably kept bent, Further, the wire group is
protected by the wire retaining portion and the connector attaching portion,
According to the invention, there is further provided method of mounting
a connector connecting construction, in particular according to the invention or
a preferred embodiment thereof, comprising the following steps:
fixing a handle-side connector to a door handle pivotally hinged to a
handle frame so as to be displaceable as the door handle is turned,
locating a frames-side connector in or at the handle frame s@ as to be
connectable with the handle^side connector, wherein the frame-^side connector
is displaceable together with the handle-side connector in its connected state
as the door handle is turned,
retaining a wire group drawn out through or at an end surface of the
frame-side connector by means of at least one wire retaining portion of at least
one clamping member, and
attaching at least ope handle attaching portion substantially continuous
with the wire retaining portion to the door handle so as to make a relative
position of the wire retaining portion to the door handle substantially invariable.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method
further comprises a step of;
arranging an inclined portion of the wire group oblique to an elevating
surface of a door glass in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the
elevating surface of the door glass along a direction away from the encj surface
of the frame*sjde connector,
wherein the wire retaining portion preferably includes at least one
inclined guiding means for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion,
Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of;
arranging the end surface of the frameTside connector so as to
substantially face the elevating surface of the door glass ,
bending the wire group after being drawing out through or at the end
surface of the frame*side connector, the inclined portion extending from the
bent position, and bundling an intermediate part thereof at a bundling position
by at least one bundling means, and
out of a plurality of wires forming the wire group, the one to be located at an
inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter
between the end surface of the frame side connector and the bundling position
than a wire to be located at an outer side of the bend These
and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be
understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single
features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments,
FIG, 1 ig a side view of a connector connecting construction according to
a first embodiment,
FlCi 2 is a side view showing a state before a. wire group and a cjamping
member are bent,
FIG, 3 is a rear view of the damping member,
FIG, 4 is a plan view of the clamping member,
FIG. 5 is a side view of the clamping member,
FIG. 6 is a side view of a connector connecting construction according to
a second embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a rear view of a clamping member,
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the clamping member, and
FIG, 9 is a side view of the clamping member

A first preferred embodiment of the, present invention is described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. This embodiment illustrates a connector connecting
construction in a vehicle door handle device S and a clamping member 60 used
therein. The door handle device S is for building a so-called smart door-lock
system applied upon locking and unlocking a door lock and includes a door
handle 10 and a handle frame 20, wherein a handle-side connector 30 is
provided at least partly in or at the door handle 10 and a frame-side connector
40 is provided at least partly in or at the handle frame 2Q.
As shown in ilC3, 1, the door handle 10 at least partly projects on the
outer surface of a door panel 15 (door outer plate) and is comprised of an armshaped
fulcrum portion 11 and a (preferably substantially hollow and/or flat)
handle main body 12 extending laterally (or backward of a vehicle) from the
outer1 edge of the fulcrum portion 11. The inner surface of the handle main body
12 is formed into a curved surface 12A separated fr-om a concave surface 1SA
of the door panel 15, thereby being substantially grip-shaped so as to be easily
gripped. Various electric parts (not shown) such as a sensor are built in or
provided at the handle main body 12, The handle-side connector 30 electrically
connected with the sensor and the like is integrally or unitarily supported
adjacent to the fulcrum portion 11 at a position of the handle main body 12 near
the fulcrum portion 11. This har;dle^side connector 30 integrally moves with the
doorhandle 1Q.
The fulcrum portion 11 is at least partly inserted together with the
handle^side connector 30 through a handle insertion opening 16 formed in the
door panel 15 to be located at least partly inside the door panel 15. A handle
frame 20 to be secured to the inner surface of the door panel 15 is prepared
inside the door panel 15, and the fulcrum portion 11 and the handle-side
connector 30 located at least partly inside the door panel 15 are introduced into
the handle frame 20r The fulcrum portion 11 includes a shaft 13, which is
engaged or engageable with a bearing portion (not shown) of the handle frame
20 to permit the door handle 10 to turn or pivot about the shaft 13 relative to the
handle frame 20. More specifically, the handle main body 12 is inclined in an
inclination direction ID (arrow of FIG. 1) about the shaft 13 by pulling the rear
part of the handle main body 12 with respect to the vehicle in a direction away
from the door panel 15.
Further, the frame-side connector 4Q is pivotally arranged in or at the
handle frame 20. The frame-side connector 40 is arranged such that the
connecting surface thereof is substantially faced toward the door handle 10
substantially in conformity with the arranged position of the handle-side
connector 30 when the two connectors 30, 4Q are connected, An elevating
surface 91 of a door glass 90 is arranged in proximity to the handle frame 20 at
the inner side of the handle frame 20, i.e. at a side of the handle frame 20
substantially opposite to the door handle 10, The elevating surface 91 of the
door glass 90 is located at a position substantially behind the connected frameside
connector 40 with respect to a connecting direction GP and/or proximate to
the frame*side connector 40, One or more, preferably a plurality of terminal
fittings (not shown) are at least partly aecemmodated in the fram©*side
connector 40, and the one or more respective terminal fittings are connected
with an end of a wire group 80 (one or more, preferably a plurality of (two in the
shown case) wires 81) fixed or mounted to a door body and extending
substantially from the connected with one or more electric signal lines inside the vehicle via the wire
group 8Q.
The clamping member 60 is engaged with the wire group 80 drawn out
through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40. The clamping member
60 includes a wire retaining portion 61 integrally or unitarily formed of a
synthetic resin material and adapted to retain the wire group 80, and a handle
attaching portion 62 substantially continuous with this wire retaining portion 61
and attachable to the door handle 10 with the wire group 80 retained by the
wire retaining 61. The clamping member 60 further includes a connector
attaching portion 63 substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion 61
and/or attachable to the frame-side connector 4Q;
As shown in FIG, 5, the wire retaining portion 6,1 preferably is
substantially band- or strip^shaped, and one (upper surface shown in FIG. 5) of
the substantially opposite plate surfaces thereof serves as a placing surface
61A for the wire group 80, At a position of the wire retaining portion 61 near one
end (position near the connector attaching portion 63) is provided a hinge
portion 64, which preferably is thinner than areas of *he wire retaining portion
61 before and/or after the hinge portion 64, If the wire retaining portion 61 is
turned about the connector attaching portion 63 in a turning direction TD (arrow
shown in FIG. 2) from a state where the wire group 80 is placed on the placing
surface 61 A, the hinge portion 64 is resiliently deformed substantially into an
arcuate shape and the wire group 80 is forcibly bent near the end surface of the
frame-side Qgnneptar 40,
The, wire retaining portion 6.1 preferably extends in one direction from a
connected part thereof to the connector attaching portion 63 before being bent,
and is provided at a rear portion (preferably substantially at a rear half) thereof
with respect to an extending direction with a base plate portion 65 including the
hinge portion 64 and/or to i^e arranged substantiilly in parallel with the
elevating surface 91 of the door glass 9Q, and at a front portion (preferably
substantially at a front half) thereof with respect to the extending direction with
an inclined guiding portion 66 sloped upward toward the leading end. The
inclined guiding portion 66 is substantially continuous with tlr? base plate
portion 65 preferably via a step or bent portion so as to be slightly higher than
the base plate portion 65, and/or the width thereof in transverse direction
preferably is narrower than that of the base plate portion 65,. The wire group 80
retained by the wire retaining portion 61 is caused to extend in such a direction
as to gradually widen a clearance to the elevating surface 91 of the door glass
91 by the inclined guiding portion 66, Here, an inclined portion 8QA of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed. In other words, after
extending toward the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 from the end
surface of the frame-side connector 40, the wire group 80 becomes an inclined
portion 80A via a bent portion 806. The inclined portion 80A can be held
inclined in a substantially constant posture by being supported by the inclined
guiding portion 66.
As shown JD PISS. S and 4, the connector attaching portion 6,3 includes
one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) draw-out guiding
plates 67 (preferably substantially opposed to each other) and standing up from
the (preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of a rear end of the wire
retaining portion 61 with respect to the extending direction, and one or more
connector attaching main bodies 68 preferably joined on the outer surfaces of
the draw-out guiding plates 67. As shown in FIG, §, the draw-out guiding
plate(s) 67 preferably has/have a substantially quarter circular shape in side
view by each having an arcuate edge 67A substantially corresponding to the
shape of the bent hinge portion 64 of the wire retaining portion 61, and the
arcuate edge 67A is arranged substantially along the corresponding side edge
of the bent hinge portion 64 of the wire retaining portion 61. The draw^out
guiding plates 67 preferably rastrist tee. movements of the wire group 80
along width direction by baing located at the lateral side(s) (preferably at the
substantially opposite outer sides) of the wire group 80 retained by the wire
retaining partion 61,
The connector attaching main bodies 68 preferably have a larger
thickness than th© draw-out guiding plates 67 and include one or more parts
projecting more backward than the rear ends of the draw-out guiding plates 67
with respect to the extending direction, and one or more, preferably a pair of
lateral (left and/or right) mounting grooves 69 extending substantially along the
rear end(s) of the draw-out guiding plate(s) 67 and making one or more
openings in the upper end surface(s) and/or the facing surfaee(s) of the
connector attaching main body/bodies 68 are formed in these backward
projecting part(s). The mounting grooves 69 preferably are in the form of rail
grooves substantially transversely symmetrical with respective to the axial line
of the wire retaining portion $1. 0ne or more mounting ribs 41 substantially
corresponding to the mounting grooves 69 are provided on an end portion of
the frame-side connector 40, By at least partly fitting the end portion of the
frame^side connector 40 substantially between .the facing surfaces of the
connector attaching main bodies 68, the mounting ribs 41 are slid or inserted
into the mounting grooves 69 'through the openings made in the upper end
surfaces of the connector attaching main bodies 68 by the mounting grooves
69. In this way, the clamping member 60 is detaehably attached to the frameside
connector 40.
The handle attaching portion 62 includes one or more, preferably a pair
of lateral (left and/or right) reinforcing plates 71 (preferably substantially
opposed to each other) and standing up or projecting from or near the
(preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of an intermediate part
(preferably a substantially middle part) of the wire retaining portion 61 with
respect to the extending direction, i,e. a part between the base plate portion 65
and the inclined guiding portion 66, and one or mm® handle attaching main
bodies 72 extending upward substantially in parallel with the outer surface(s) of
the reinforeing plate(s) 71 after projecting sideways from the outer surfaee(s) of
the reinforeing plate(s) 71. One or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or
right) facing walls 75 preferably extending substantially up to the same position
as the extending ends of the handle attaching main bodies 72 and/or
substantially facing the corresponding handle attaching main bodies 72 while
defining one or more slits 74 are provided on or at the reinforcing plates 71.
The facing walls 75 preferably are located more toward the central axial line of
the wire retaining portion 61 than the connector attaching main bodies 68.
Each handle attaching main body 72 is gate=shaped in side view by
being comprised of one or more, preferably a pair qf front and/or rear pieces
72A and a beam 72EI, and has an engaging hole 73 inside. One or more
engaging projections 14 substantially corresponding to the engaging holes 73
are provided on or at the fulcrum portion 11 of the door handle 1Q, The handle
attaching portions 62 are brought closer to the door handle 10 to at least partly
insert one or more frame plates 11A of the fulcrum portion 11 into the slits 74,
whereby the frame plates 11A preferably are held between the handle attaching
main bodies 72 and the substantially facing walls 75. When the handle
attaching portions 62 are pushed toward the door handle 10, the handle
attaching main bodies 72 resilisntly move over the engaging projections 14 to at
least partly fit the engaging prpjectipns 14 into the engaging holes 73, with the
result that the handle attaching portions 62 are attached to the door handle 10.
In this attached state, the end surfaces of the frame plates 11A rest on the
bottom surfaces of the slits 74, thereby preventing the handle attaching portions
62 from being pushed any further.
Next, an assembling procedure, functions and effects gf this
embodiment are described,
First, the bandle.sjde ccpnegtQC 3Q is sugpQrtid, o.n the gjp.pj handle, 1p,
the handler-side connector 3Q and the fulcrum pgrtian 11 are at least partly
introduced into the handle frame 20 through the handle insertion opening 16 of
the door handle 10 in this state, and the door handle 10 is hinged to the handle
frame 20 via the shaft 13. The frame-side connector 40 connected with the end
of the wire group 80 is pivotally located inside the handle frame 20, and the
clamping member 60 is attached to the frame*side connector 40 laterally (from
the right side in FIG. 2) by sliding the mounting ribs 41 substantially along the
mounting grooves 69. The wire group 80 is bundled with the inclined guiding
portion 66 by a bundling portion 85 (corresponding to preferred bundling
means) preferably by taping or clamping or strips-bundling at an intermediate
part thereof. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the handle-side connector 30 and the
frame-side connector 40 are connected to bring the sDnneeting surtaxes o,f both
into contact. When the two connectors 30, 40 are properly connected, the one
qr more terminal fittings at least partly accommodated inside them are securely
connected,
In the connected state of the two connectors 30, 40, the wire group 80
drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 preferably
extends substantially straight along the wire retaining portion 61 without being
bent at its intermediate position as shown in FIG. 2. At this time, out of the wire
group 80, the wire 81A located at an inner side of the bend in the bent state
preferably extends substantially straight so as to be at a shortest distance from
the end surface Qf the frame-side connector 40 to a bundling position by the
bundling portion 85, whereas the wire 81B located at an outer side of the bend
extends obliquely inward from the end surface of the frame^side connector 40
to the bundling position. In other words, the wires 81A located at the inner side
of the bend preferably is shorter between the end surface of the framerside
connector 40 and the bundling position than the wire 81B located at the outer
sjde.,
After the, two Qonoectgrs gq, 4Q ace Qgnoeotad. with each Ptftex thi
clamping member 60 (wire retaining portion 61) is turned in the turning direction
TD (a direction of arrow in FIG. 2), At this time, since the clamping member 60
and the wire group 80 are united by the bundling portion 85 via the inclined
guiding portion 66, the clamping member 60 may be turned by holding the wire
group 80, Then, the hinge portion 64 is bent about the connector attaching
portipn 63 to extend substantially along the arcuate edges 67A of the drawraut
guiding plates 67, whereby the handle attaching portion 62 gradually
approaches the fulcrum portion 11 of the door handle 10. While the clamping
member 60 is being turned, the wire group 80 comes substantially into contact
with the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61 to be at least partly
placed thereon, and the bent portion SOB is formed as the hinge pprtion 64 is
bent. The inclined posture of the inclined portion 8QA is defined by the inclined
guiding portion 66, and the respective wires 81 are at least partly supported one
above the other on the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61. The
wire group 80 preferably is not in contact with the placing surface 61A of the
wire retaining portion 61 between the hinge portion 64 and the inclined guiding
portion 66 by the presence of the step or bent portion of the inclined guiding
portion 66.
When the handle attaching portion 6? is turned up to an attaqhed
position to the door handle 10, the handle attaching main bodies 72 are
resiliency engaged with the engaging projections 14 as shown in FIG. 1,
whereby the clamping member 60 and the door handle 10 are united or
integral. In this attached state, the inclined portion 80A of the wire group 80 is
supported to substantially extend in such a direction as to widen the clearance
to the elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 toward the leading end by the
inclined guiding portion 66. The bent portion SOB of th© wire 81A located at the
inner side of the bend largely bulges out substantially in U-shape as if covering
the wire 81B located at the outer side of the bend due to the presence of the
inclined portion 80A, but has a compact configuration.
After the clamping member 60 is attached to the door handle 10 in this
way, the door handle 10 is turned or pivoted in the inclination direction ID
(direction of arrow of FIG. 1) about the shaft 13. Then, the handle-side
connector 30 is displaced in the rotating direction ID of the door handle 10 and
the frame-side connector 40 connected with this handle-side connector 30 is
likewise displaced in the rotating direction ID of the door handle 10, following
the displacement of the handle-side connector 30. At this time, the wire group
80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 is
retained by the wire retaining portion 61 of the clamping member 60, and the
handle attaching portion 62 of the clamping member 60 is attached and fixed to
the door handle 10 with the wire group 80 kept retained by the wire retaining
portion @1, Thus, even if the door handle 10 is turned, th© relative position of
the wire retaining portion 61 to the door handle 10 is fixed. Accordingly, no
unnecessary stress acts on the part of the wire group 80 retained by the wire
retaining portion 61 from the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 as the
door handle 10 is turned. As a result, stresses acting on the connecting
surfaces (connecting areas) of the two connectors 30, 40 in directions of
displacement are suppressed and the two connectors 30, 40 are smoothly
displaced during the turning movement of the door handle 10.
Since the elevating surface 91 of the deer glass 90 is located at the side
5
of the frame-side connector 40 opposite to the door handle 10, the wire group
80 drawn out through the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 may
interfere with the door glass 90. However, according to this embodiment, the
wire group 80 preferably has the inclined portion 80A arranged oblique to the
elevating surface 91 of the door glass 90 to widen th© clearance to this
elevating surface 91 along a direction away from the end surface of the frameside
connector 40, and/or the inclined posture of this inclined portion 80A is
stably supported from below by the inclined guiding portion 66 of the clamping
member 60. Therefore, the interference of the wire group 80 and the door glass
90 can be avoided.
Further, the wire 81A to be located at the inner side of the bend by the
bending operation is bent at the bent portion 80S while bulging outward for
length adjustment because of the presence of the inclined portion 80A, which
might result in an excessive bending stress and difficulty in being spatially
18
accommodated. However, according to this embodiment, the wire 81A located
at the inner side of the bend preferably is set to have a shorter length between
the end surface of the frame-side connector 40 and the bundling position than
the wire 81B located at the outer side of the bend. Thus, the bulging^Qut length
at the bent portion 8QB of the wire 81A located at the inner side of the bend ©an
be set shorter, wherefore the action of an unneoessarJiy large bending stress at
this position can be prevented and the wire group 80 can have a eompast
configuration.
Furthermore, since the extending direction of the wire group 80 can be
defined by turning the wire retaining portion 61 about the connector attaching
portion 63 with the wire group 80 arranged substantially along the placing
surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61, the wire group 80 can be easily
bent and stably kept bent. Further, the draw^-out end of the wire group 80 can
be protected by being at least partly covered by the wire retaining portion 61
and the connector attaching portion 63.
Accordingly, to enable a frame-side connector to be smoothly displaced,
a door handle device S is provided with a handle^side connector 30 to be fixed
to a door handle 10 to be pivotally hinged to a handle frame 20 and
displaceable as the door handle 10 is turned, a frame^side connector 40
located at or at least partly in the handle frame 20, conneetable with the handleside
connector 30 and displaceable together with the handle-side connector 30
in its connected state as the door handle 10 is turned or operated, and at least
one clamping member 60 including at least one wire retaining portion 61 for
retaining a wire group 80 drawn out through or at an end surface of the frameside
connector 40 and a handle attaching portion 62 substantially continuous
with the wire retaining portion 61 and attachable to the door handle 10 so as to
make a relative position of the wire retaining portion 61 to the door handle 10
ep,p.n.d I
Next, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is
described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. The second embodiment partly differs
from the first embodiment in the shape of a clamping member 60A, but is
substantially similar to the first embodiment in qthej points. Thus, similar o,r the
same part? as the first embodiment §re identified by the same reference
numerals and are ngt repeatedly described,
A wire retaining portion 01 B is comprised only of a base plate portion 64
having no inclined guiding portion 66 and/or extending substantially straight in
one direction from a connected position with a connector attaching portion 63A
before being bent as shown in FIG. 9. Unlike the first embodiment, there is no
technical idea of supporting the wire group 80 in an inclined posture in the
second embodiment, wherefore there is no likelihood that the bent portion SOB
bulges outward and cannot be easily accommodated. A part of the wire
retaining portion 61 B located before the connected part with the handle
attaching portion 62 is shorter than in the first embodiment, and one or more
ribs 77 extending substantially in width direction for guiding a finger placing
movement are formed on the bottom surface of the wire retaining portion 61 B
opposite to a placing surface 61 A for the wire group 80 while being spaced
apart in forward and backward directions. Preferably, there is nothing
equivalent to the bundling portion 85 in the vicinity of the clamping member
2.0
60A, and the handle attaching portion 62 has the same shape as in the first
embodiment.
One or more draw-out guiding plates 67A of the connector attaching
portions 63A are shorter in forward and bacKward directions than in the first
embodiment because the bent portion SOB of the wire group 80 does not bulge
outward, and one or more, preferably a pair of lateral (left and/or right) drop
preventing portions 78 project substantially inward at or near the extending
ends of the drawout guiding plates 67A. The drop preventing portions 78
preferably are substantially in the form of ribs narrow and long along the
extending direction of the draw*out guiding plates 67A, and preferably are
transversely symmetrically arranged (preferably at the substantially same height
position) on the innec surfaces (substantially faQing surfaces) of the dr-iw^ogt
guiding plates 67A. As shown in FIG, 8, one or more eutouts 648 are made at
the (preferably substantially opposite) side edge(s) of a hinge portion 64A by
removing molds for the drop preventing portions 78.
Here, when the hinge portion 64A is bent as the clamping member 60A
is turned, the drop preventing portions 78 are brought substantially into contact
in width direction with the placing surface 61A of the wire retaining portion 61 B,
more specifically an end position of the bending operation by the hinge portion
64A (position near or immediately before the hinge portion 64A). Thus,
although the hinge portion 64A preferably has a lower rigidity by being thinned,
the hinge portion 64A can be stably held in its bent posture by being supported
by the drop preventing portion 78.
Embodimeots>
The present jnypntjgn i§ 0$ lirnitgd tg tb§ etee desQrJbe,c! and
illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also
embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the
claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes-can be made
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined
by the ejaims,
(1) Although the clamping member is attachable tp the frame«side
GQFineGtoT by having the connector attaehing portion in the foregoing
embodiments, it may not be engaged with the frame-side eo-nnector without
having the connector attaching portion according to the present invention. For
example, the elamping member may be comprised of a wire re|aining portion
for retaining the wire group drawn out through the end surface of {he frame-side
connector at a position distant from this end surface and a handle attaching
portion continuous with this wire retaining portion. In short, it is sufficient for the
elamping member to have an invariable relative position to the door handle by
having the handle attaching portion,
(2) Although the bundling portion by taping or the like is provided in
addition to the clamping member in the first embodiment, the wire retaining
portion may double as the bundling portion according to the present invention.
This can reduce the number of parts.
(3) Although the wire group extends via the bent portion while
substantially facing the elevating surface of the door glass in the foregoing
embodiments, it may extend without via the bent portion while facing the
elevating surface of the door glass. In this case, the facing directions of the
connecting surfaces of the two connectors may be set substantially parallel to
the elevating surface of the door glass and/or their connecting direction may be
substantially normal to the elevating surface of the door glass,
(4) In the foregoing embodiments, the sleep handle is provided with
the engaging projections and the clamping member is pr-ovided with th© handle
attaching main bodies in the form of projecting pieces. Conversely, according to
the present invention, the door handle may be provided with members in the
form of projecting pieces equivalent to the handle attaching main bodies and
th@ clamping member may be provided with engaging projections,
(5) In the foregoing embodiments, the mounting grooves are formed
in the connector attaching portion and the mounting r-ibs are provided ©n the
frame-side connector. Conversely, according to the present invention, the
connector attaching portion may be provided with mounting ribs and the frameside
connector may be provided with mounting grooves.
(6) Although the handle frame is a member separate from the door
panel in the foregoing embodiments, it may be constructed as the same
member as the door panel according to the present invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
9 .,. door handle device
10 ,„ dpor hand'®
11 .„ fulcrum portion
13 ... shaft
20 ... handle frame
30 ... handle-side connector
40 ••• frame-side connector
60 ... clamping member
61 ... wire retaining portion
62 .... handle attaching pQrtiQo
63 - connecter attaqhing pertiao
64 ,., hinp RQrtipn,
66 ... inclined guiding portjpn (inclined guiding means)
80 ... wire group
8QA ... inclined portion
85 ... bundling portion (bundling means)
90 ... deo,r glass
91 ... elevating surface

WE CLAIM:
1. A connector connecting construction, comprising:
a handle-side connector (30) to be fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) and displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned,
a frame-side connector (40) to be located in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), and displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned,
characterized in, that it further comprises
at least one clamping member (60) including at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40), a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable.
2. A connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the wire group (80) includes an inclined portion (80A) to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), and
the wire retaining portion (61) preferably includes at least one inclined guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A).
3. A connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) is to be arranged so as to face the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90),
the wire group (80) is bent after being drawing out through or at the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), the inclined portion (80A) extending from the bent position, and has an intermediate part thereof bundled at a bundling position by at least one bundling means (85); and
out of a plurality of wires (81) forming the wire group (80), the one (81A) to be located at an inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) and the bundling position than a wire (81B) to be located at an outer side of the bend.
4. A connector connecting construction as claimed in one or more the preceding
claims, wherein:
the wire retaining portion (61) preferably is substantially in the form of a strip extending from the connector attaching portion (63), and/or
an extending direction of the wire group (80) is defined by turning the wire retaining portion (61) about the connector attaching portion (63) with the wire group (80) at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion (61).
5. A clamping member (60) used in the case where a handle-side connector (30)
fixed to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) is displaced as the
door handle (10) is turned, whereby a frame-side connector (40) connected with the
handle-side connector (30) and located in or at the handle frame (20) is displaced together
with the handle-side connector (30), comprising:
at least one wire retaining portion (61) for retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at and end surface of the frame-side connector (40),
a connector attaching portion (63) attachable to the frame-side connector (40), and
at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire
retaining portion (61) and attachable to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative
position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable.
6. A clamping member as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
the wire group (80) includes an inclined portion (80A) to be arranged oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), and
the wire retaining portion (61) preferably includes inclined at least one guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A).
7. A clamping member as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein:
the wire retaining portion (61) preferably is substantially in the form of a slip extending from the connector attaching portion (63), and/or
an extending direction of the wire group (80) is defined by turning the wire retaining portion (61) about the connector attaching portion (63) with the wire group (80) at least partly arranged along a plate surface of the wire retaining portion (61).
8. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction, comprising the
following steps:
fixing a handle-side connector (30) to a door handle (10) pivotally hinged to a handle frame (20) so as to be displaceable as the door handle (10) is turned;
locating a frame-side connector (40) in or at the handle frame (20) so as to be connectable with the handle-side connector (30), wherein the frame-side connector (40) is displaceable together with the handle-side connector (30) in its connected state as the door handle (10) is turned;
retaining a wire group (80) drawn out through or at an end surface of the frame-side connector (40) by means of at least one wire retaining portion (61) of at least one clamping member (60);
attaching a connector attaching portion 863) of the clamping member (60) to the frame-side connector (40); and
attaching at least one handle attaching portion (62) substantially continuous with the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) so as to make a relative position of the wire retaining portion (61) to the door handle (10) substantially invariable.
9. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 8,
wherein a step of:
arranging an inclined portion (80A) of the wire group (80) oblique to an elevating surface (91) of a door glass (90) in such a manner as to widen a clearance to the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90) along a direction away from the end surface of the frame-side connector (40);
wherein, the wire retaining portion (61) preferably included at least one inclined guiding means (66) for keeping the inclined posture of the inclined portion (80A).
10. A method of mounting a connector connecting construction as claimed in claim 9,
further comprising the steps of:
arranging the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) so as to substantially face the elevating surface (91) of the door glass (90);
bending the wire group (80) after being drawing out through or at the end surface of the frame-side connector (40), the inclined portion (80A) extending from the bent position, and bundling an intermediate part thereof at a bundling position by at least one bundling means (85); and
out of a plurality of wires (81) forming the wire group (80), the one (81 A) to be located at an inner side of the bend of the bending operation preferably is set shorter between the end surface of the frame-side connector (40) and the bundling position than a wire (8 IB) to be located at an outer side of the bend.

Documents:

633-DEL-2007-Abstract-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-Abstract-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-abstract.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Assignment-(15-09-2008).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Claims-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-Claims-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-claims.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Correspondence Others-(07-02-2012).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Correspondence Others-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-Correspondence Others-(18-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-Correspondence Others-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Correspondence-Others-(15-09-2008).pdf

633-del-2007-Correspondence-Others-(19-07-2013).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Correspondence-Others-(24-12-2010).pdf

633-del-2007-correspondence-others-1.pdf

633-del-2007-correspondence-others.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Description (Complete)-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-description (complete).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Drawings-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-drawings.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-1-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-1-(15-09-2008).pdf

633-del-2007-Form-1-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-form-1.pdf

633-del-2007-form-13-(15-09-2008).pdf

633-del-2007-form-18.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-2-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-Form-2-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-form-2.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-3-(07-02-2012).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-3-(24-12-2010).pdf

633-del-2007-form-3.pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-5-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-DEL-2007-Form-5-(15-09-2008).pdf

633-del-2007-Form-5-(29-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-form-5.pdf

633-DEL-2007-GPA-(08-11-2011).pdf

633-del-2007-GPA-(19-07-2013).pdf

633-del-2007-gpa.pdf

633-del-2007-Petition-137-(29-07-2013).pdf

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Patent Number

257359

Indian Patent Application Number

633/DEL/2007

PG Journal Number

39/2013

Publication Date

27-Sep-2013

Grant Date

26-Sep-2013

Date of Filing

23-Mar-2007

Name of Patentee

SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD.

Applicant Address

1-14, NISHISUEHIRO-CHO, YOKKAICHI-CITY, MIE 510-8503, JAPAN

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	1.TOMOHIKO KOBAYASHI,2.TOMOYUKI FUNAYAMA,3.TOMOO KAKEGAWA,4.SHIGEKI NISHIYAMA,5.HIROSHI KOBAYASHI	1.C/O SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.,1-14, NISHISUEHIRO-CHO, YOKKAICHI-CITY, MIE 510-8503, JAPAN; 2,3,4 and 5.c/o TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, 1, Toyota-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi- ken, 471-8571, Japan.

PCT International Classification Number

H01R0/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	JP2006-092106	2006-03-29	Japan