Flexible electric cable for sliding vehicle door

摘要

A vehicle has a body with a track beneath a side opening and a sliding side door for closing the side opening that has a roller assembly that engages the track. A flexible electric cable that connects electrical components on the sliding side door to a power source in the body includes a flat cable and a flexible stiffener attached to the flat cable inside an outer sheath. A clamp attaches an inner portion of the flexible electric cable to the track in cantilever fashion, and a second clamp attaches an outer portion of the flexible electric cable to the roller assembly of the sliding side door in cantilever fashion. The flexible electric cable has a vertical loop portion attaching a free end of the inner portion to a free end of the outer portion. The first clamp includes an attachment strip that is attached to the flat cable and the flexible stiffener inside the sheath and that has a portion projecting out of the sheath through a slot in the sheath for attachment to the track. The flexible stiffener has a slightly curved cross section that has a convex side that engages the flat cable. The second clamp has a rib for maintaining the slightly curved cross section of the flexible stiffener. The flexible stiffener is made of a thin strip of spring tempered steel.