Wire harness for vehicles

• US 5,912,511 A
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Hidaka, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/820,524
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 174/72 A, 174/72 R, 174/71 R, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 307/147, 307/148, 180/322-323, 361/826, 361/827, 361/828
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

The harness system adapts to a first type of vehicle having a tail ledge with right- or left-had drive and a second type of vehicle having no tail ledge with right- or left-hand drive. The harness wiring is so arranged that a front harness and a combined harness integrating floor harness and rear harness can be commonly used for these four types of vehicles. Only a combined harness integrating cowl harness and instrument harness is differently wired for the right- or left-hand drive vehicle. The front harness and the two sets of combined harnesses are connected to one another through a connecting means located on the same side, either on the right or left side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wiring harness system for vehicle adaptable to each of:

a first type of vehicle having a transverse tail ledge portion allowing a passage of wiring for interconnecting left and right brake lights thereof, said first type of vehicle being either a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive; and

a second type of vehicle having no transverse tail ledge portion allowing a passage of wiring for interconnecting left and right lights thereof, said second type of vehicle being either a left-hand or a right-hand drive, said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle having a front end and a rear end and adapted for movement in at least a forward direction,

said wiring harness system comprising at least a front harness, a first combined harness grouping a cowl harness and an instrument harness, and a second combined harness grouping a floor harness and a rear harness,

said front harness, said first combined harness, and said second combined harness each having at least one interconnection,

said front harness being U-shaped and open in said forward direction, said second combined harness being U-shaped and open in a rearward direction opposite said forward direction whereby

said front harness and said second combined harness are common for said first type and said second type of vehicle irrespective of whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle has a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive, said first combined harness being differently wired depending on whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle is a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive,

said front harness, said first combined harness, and said second combined harness are mutually interconnected through said at least one interconnection, said interconnection being located at one of either a left-hand or a right-hand part of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle, irrespective of whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle has a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive.

2. The wiring harness system of claim 1 wherein said rear harness comprises a wiring path between a left side and a right side of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle, thereby to connect said left side and said right side, said wiring path being spaced apart in said forward direction from a transverse portion of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle, said transverse portion being located at said rear end.

3. The wiring harness system of claim 2 comprising a further harness traversing said transverse portion of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle at said rear end.

4. The wiring harness system of claim 1 wherein said at least one interconnection is located on a side of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle at which a battery therefor is located.

5. A vehicle chosen from the group consisting of:

a first type of vehicle having a transversal tail ledge portion allowing a passage of wiring for interconnecting left and right brake lights thereof, said first type of vehicle being either a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive; and

a second type of vehicle having no transversal tail ledge portion allowing a passage of wiring for interconnecting left and right lights thereof, and second type of vehicle being either a left-hand or a right-hand drive, said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle having a front end and a rear end and adapted for movement in at least a forward direction,

said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle containing a wiring harness system comprising at least a front harness, a first combined harness grouping a cowl harness and an instrument harness and a second combined harness grouping a floor harness and a rear harness, said front harness, said first combined harness, and said second combined harness each having at least one interconnection,

said front harness being U-shaped and open in said forward direction, said combined harness being U-shaped and open in a rearward direction opposite said forward direction whereby said front harness and said second combined harness are common for said first type and second type of vehicle irrespective of whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle has a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive, said first combined harness being differently wired depending on whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle is a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive,

said front harness, said first combined harness and said second combined harness are mutually interconnected through said at least one interconnection, said interconnection being located at one of either a left-hand or a right-hand part of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle irrespective of whether said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle has a left-hand drive or a right-hand drive.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said rear harness comprises a wiring path between a left side and a right side of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle, thereby to connect said left side and said right side, and wiring path being spaced apart in said forward direction from a transverse portion of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle, said transverse portion being located at said rear end.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 comprising a further harness traversing said transverse portion of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle at said rear end.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said at least one interconnection is located on a side of said first type of vehicle or said second type of vehicle at which a battery therefor is located.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 which has a ledged-tail type vehicle.