JPH07105774A - Air grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ease attachment of an air grommet to a panel, make it unnecessary to enlarge a wall thickness to heighten the toughness, improve the workability at the time of attachment, and make the grommet light. CONSTITUTION:Regarding a grommet 37 in which panel fixing part 23 and a wiring harness insertion part 25 are formed respectively in a large diameter side and a small diameter side of a funnel-shaped elastic body and a panel fixing groove 29 is formed in the outer circumference of the panel fixing part 23, the panel fixing part 23 is composed of an insertion part 23a and a contact part 23b which are set face to face while having the panel fixing groove 29 between them and a hollow part 31 is formed in the inside of the insertion part 23a. A valve body 33 is stuck to the inner wall of the hollow part 31 wherein an air sending tube can be stuck into and pulled out of the valve body 33 while air-tightness being kept.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a grommet which is attached to an opening of a vehicle panel to prevent contact between the opening and a wire harness, water intrusion, and the like. More specifically, the grommet is easily attached to the opening. Related to the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The opening (panel hole) of a vehicle panel is
A grommet made of an elastic material is attached for sealing, sound insulation and electrical insulation between the wire harness and the wire harness. FIG. 7 is a half sectional view of a conventional grommet.
This type of grommet 1 is a funnel-shaped elastic rubber body having a panel fitting portion 3 on the large diameter side and a wire harness insertion portion 5 on the small diameter side. An annular panel fitting groove 9 that fits into the panel hole 7a is formed. The panel fitting portion 3 is formed to have a large wall thickness so as to have high rigidity, and the fixing force with respect to the panel 7 is improved.

To mount the grommet 1 thus constructed on the panel 7, first, the wire harness insertion portion 5 on the small diameter side is inserted into the panel hole 7a, and the wire harness insertion portion 5 is opposite to the insertion side. Pull from. When the wire harness insertion part 5 is pulled, the insertion part 3a of the panel fitting part 3 is elastically deformed, and the diameter of the insertion part 3a passes through the panel hole 7a.
Fit a. Grommet 1 attached in this way
The panel fitting portion 3 having rigidity sandwiches the edge portion of the panel hole 7a and is fixed to the panel 7, thereby sealing between the wire harness (not shown) inserted through the inner periphery and the panel hole 7a, It is designed for sound insulation and electrical insulation.

[0004]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional grommet 1
When mounted on the panel 7, the wire harness insertion part 5 is pulled from the side opposite to the insertion side, the insertion part 3a of the panel fitting part 3 is elastically deformed to reduce the diameter, and the panel fitting groove 9 is inserted into the panel hole 7a. Had been fitted to. However, the insertion part 3
a is larger than the panel hole 7a, and is thicker in order to give a fixing force to the panel 7 to increase rigidity, so that it is difficult to enter the panel hole 7a even by pulling, and workability is improved. It was extremely bad.
Further, since the panel fitting portion 3 is solid and thick to increase the rigidity, there is also a drawback that the weight becomes heavy. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, provides an air grommet that can be easily mounted on a panel and does not need to have a large thickness in order to increase rigidity.
The purpose is to improve workability during mounting and reduce weight.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the air grommet according to the present invention has a panel fitting portion formed on the large diameter side of a funnel-shaped elastic body and a wire harness on the small diameter side. In a grommet in which an insertion portion is formed and an annular panel fitting groove that fits in a panel hole is formed on the outer periphery of the panel fitting portion, a panel is formed by an insertion portion and an abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove interposed. The fitting-shaped air-tight hollow part is formed inside the insertion part, and it is made of an elastic material that has an adhesive force. It is characterized by being adhered to the inner wall of the part. Further, the structure of the air grommet according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that the panel fitting portion is formed on the large diameter side of the funnel-shaped elastic body and the wire harness insertion portion is formed on the small diameter side. In a grommet in which an annular panel fitting groove that fits into a hole is formed on the outer periphery of the panel fitting portion, the panel fitting portion is configured by an insertion portion and an abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove sandwiched therebetween. Then, an airtight hollow portion is formed inside the insertion portion, and an air injection path that communicates with the hollow portion and is made of a rubber material or a heat exchange plastic material is used to bond or heat-seal to seal an air injection path. The present invention is characterized in that the valve body is provided in the hollow portion. Further, the structure of the air grommet may be characterized in that the hollow portion is formed over the inside of the insertion portion, the panel fitting groove, and the contact portion.

[0006]

[Operation] At the time of mounting, since the internal pressure is not applied to the hollow part, the insertion part is soft, and when the wire harness insertion part is pulled, the hollow part is dented and the insertion part is reduced in diameter.
Easily passes through the panel holes. After passing through the panel hole, the insertion portion is restored by the elastic force, and the panel is sandwiched between the insertion portion and the contact portion. In this state, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the air supply pipe is pierced into the valve body and air is injected into the hollow portion, the internal pressure of the hollow portion rises, the insertion portion expands, and the outer shell becomes hard. As a result, the adhesion to the panel hole is improved, the rigidity is increased, and the fixing force to the panel is increased. After injecting air, when the air pipe is pulled out, the penetrating part is blocked by the adhesive force,
The airtightness of the hollow part is maintained with a high internal pressure, and the fixing force is maintained. Moreover, since the inside of the insertion portion is hollow, the weight of the same portion is lighter than that of a solid case. Also, in the structure where a hollow part is formed in the entire panel fitting part, when air is injected, all of the insertion part, the panel fitting groove, and the abutting part expand, and they should come into close contact with the panel from three directions. Therefore, the adhesion to the panel hole is further increased. In addition, the volume of the hollow portion is increased, and the weight thereof is further reduced.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the air grommet according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the air grommet of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part at the time of injecting air, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main part after injecting air. The grommet main body 21 is a funnel-shaped elastic rubber body having a large-diameter side panel fitting portion 23 and a small-diameter side wire harness insertion portion 25. The vehicle-side panel is provided on the outer periphery of the panel fitting portion 23. An annular panel fitting groove 29 that fits into the hole 7a is formed.

The panel fitting portion 23 is composed of an inserting portion 23a and an abutting portion 23b which face each other with the panel fitting groove 29 interposed therebetween. The insertion portion 23a is a bulging portion that protrudes like a collar, and is the side that is inserted into the panel hole 7a. Abutting portion 23b
Is a flange-shaped member having a diameter larger than that of the insertion portion 23a, and the panel 7
It comes into contact with. An annular hollow portion 31 is formed inside the insertion portion 23a, and the hollow portion 31 is closed to maintain airtightness. The insertion portion 23a is
Since the hollow portion 31 is formed inside, the hollow portion 31 is soft and is easily recessed when an external force is applied. Further, since the hollow portion 31 is formed, the weight of that portion is lighter than that of the conventional solid portion.

A cylindrical valve element 33 is adhered to the inner wall of the hollow portion 31, and the valve element 33 is made of a rubber material having an adhesive force. This valve body 33 is a needle-shaped air supply pipe 35 (see FIG. 2).
Can be pierced freely, and when pierced, the air tube 35 is closely attached so that no gap is created. In addition, when the inserted air supply pipe 35 is pulled out, the valve body 33 is
The elastic force and the adhesive force close the penetrating portion to maintain the airtightness inside the hollow portion 31. An air grommet 37 according to this embodiment with the panel fitting portion 23, the insertion portion 23a, the hollow portion 31, and the valve body 33 as main members and portions.
Is configured.

The air grommet 37 constructed in this way
The action of will be explained. When the air grommet 37 is attached to the panel 7, the hollow portion 31 is in a state where no internal pressure is applied, and the insertion portion 23a is soft. When the wire harness insertion portion 25 is pulled, the insertion portion 23
When a receives a reaction force from the panel 7 and the hollow portion 31 is recessed, the diameter of the insertion portion 23a is reduced, and the panel hole 7 can be extremely easily
Pass a. Inserted portion 23a that has passed through the panel hole 7a
Is restored to its original shape by the elastic force, and the panel fitting groove 29
Then, the panel 7 is fitted to and the panel 7 is sandwiched by the abutting portion 23b (see the state of FIG. 1).

In this way, when the air supply pipe 35 is inserted into the valve body 33 and a predetermined amount of air is injected into the hollow portion 31 with the panel fitting portion 23 sandwiching the panel 7, the hollow portion The internal pressure of 31 rises, and this internal pressure presses the inner wall of the hollow portion 31. When the inner wall of the hollow portion 31 is pressed, the insertion portion 23a slightly expands, the outer shell becomes harder, the adhesion to the panel hole 7a is improved, and the rigidity is increased to fix the panel 7 to the panel 7. Power will be enhanced. When the air supply pipe 35 is pulled out after the air is injected, the penetrating portion is closed by the elastic force and the adhesive force of the valve body 33, and the hollow portion 31 is kept airtight in a state of high internal pressure (see the state of FIG. 3).
The fixing force to the panel hole 7a is maintained.

According to the above air grommet 37, since the hollow portion 31 is formed in the insertion portion 23a of the panel fitting portion 23, when the insertion portion 23a is attached to the panel hole 7a, the hollow portion 31 is recessed. It can be extremely easily inserted into the panel hole 7a, and the mountability on the panel 7 can be significantly improved. Further, when air is injected into the hollow portion 31, the internal pressure of the hollow portion 31 rises, the insertion portion 23a expands and the rigidity increases, the adhesion to the panel hole 7a improves, and the fixing force also increases. The air grommet 37 can be reliably sealed to the panel 7. Furthermore, since the inside of the insertion portion 23a is hollow, the weight is reduced and a soundproof effect can be expected.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the air grommet of the present invention. Air grommet 41 according to this embodiment
The basic shape is similar to that of the air grommet 37 described above, but a hollow portion is formed in the entire panel fitting portion 23. That is, a hollow portion 31a is formed in the insertion portion 23a, a hollow portion 31b is formed in the panel fitting groove 29, and a hollow portion 31c is formed in the contact portion 23b.
31c communicates. A columnar valve element 33 is adhered to the inner wall of the hollow portion 31a, like the air grommet 37 described above. Therefore, when the air supply pipe 35 is inserted into the valve body 33 and air is injected, the hollow portions 31a, 31b, 31
All the internal pressure of c will increase. According to the air grommet 41 according to this embodiment, when air is injected,
Since the internal pressures of all the hollow portions 31a, 31b, 31c rise, the insertion portion 23a, the panel fitting groove 29, the contact portion 23b.
All of them expand and come into close contact with the panel 7 from three directions, so that the adhesion to the panel hole 7a can be further improved. Moreover, since the volume of the hollow portion is increased, the weight can be further reduced.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main portion of another embodiment in which a valve body of another shape is provided, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main portion when the valve body is closed. The air grommet 51 according to this embodiment has the same hollow portion 31 (or hollow portions 31a, 31b, 31c) as the air grommet 37 (or air grommet 41), but the cylindrical valve body 53 has an insertion portion. It is formed so as to protrude from the outer wall of 23a. The valve body 53 has an air injection passage 55.
Is formed, and the air injection passage 55 communicates with the hollow portion 31. The valve body 53 is made of a rubber material or a thermoplastic material (elastomer material or the like), and can be bonded or fused by heat. In this air grommet 51, after the air is injected from the air injection passage 55 into the hollow portion 31, the tip of the valve body 53 is closed. That is, when the valve body 53 is made of a rubber material, the tip is adhered, and when it is made of a thermoplastic material, the tip is heat-sealed to form a spatula, and the air injection passage 55 is closed. Yes (see the state of FIG. 6). According to the air grommet 51, the valve body 53 can be easily formed, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where air is injected into the hollow portion 31 has been described as an example. However, in addition to air, a liquid such as water or oil may be injected into the hollow portion 31. .
Further, the hollow portion 31 is formed in an annular shape, but may be formed by being divided into two or more hollow portions by a partition wall. With such a structure,
Although the number of the valve elements 33 (53) increases, it is possible to prevent the internal pressure of the entire hollow portion from decreasing due to a crack or the like at one location, and the fixing force from decreasing.

[0016]

As described in detail above, according to the air grommet of the present invention, since the hollow portion is formed in the insertion portion of the panel fitting portion, the hollow portion is recessed when it is mounted in the panel hole. As a result, it can be inserted into the panel hole very easily, and the mountability on the panel can be significantly improved. Moreover, since the inside of the insertion portion is hollow, the weight can be reduced. As a result, the workability at the time of mounting can be remarkably improved and the weight can be reduced. Further, according to the air grommet in which the hollow portion is formed over the entire inside of the panel fitting portion, when the air is injected, the insertion portion, the panel fitting groove, and the contact portion all expand,
The adhesion to the panel hole is further increased, the volume of the cavity is increased, and the weight can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air grommet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the air grommet of FIG. 1 when injecting air.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the air grommet of FIG. 1 after injecting air.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the air grommet of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of another embodiment in which a valve body having another shape is provided.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the air grommet shown in FIG. 5 when the valve body is closed.

FIG. 7 is a half sectional view of a conventional grommet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7a Panel hole 23 Panel fitting part 23a Insertion part 23b Abutting part 25 Wire harness insertion part 29 Panel fitting groove 31 Hollow part 33 Valve body 35 Air supply pipe 37 Air grommet

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 19, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the air grommet according to the present invention has a panel fitting portion formed on the large diameter side of a funnel-shaped elastic body and a wire harness on the small diameter side. In a grommet in which an insertion portion is formed and an annular panel fitting groove that fits in a panel hole is formed on the outer periphery of the panel fitting portion, a panel is formed by an insertion portion and an abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove interposed. The fitting-shaped air-tight hollow part is formed inside the insertion part, and it is made of an elastic material that has an adhesive force. It is characterized by being adhered to the inner wall of the part. Further, the structure of the air grommet according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that the panel fitting portion is formed on the large diameter side of the funnel-shaped elastic body and the wire harness insertion portion is formed on the small diameter side. In a grommet in which an annular panel fitting groove that fits into a hole is formed on the outer periphery of the panel fitting portion, the panel fitting portion is configured by an insertion portion and an abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove sandwiched therebetween. and, an airtight possible hollow portion formed inside of the insertion portion, the hollow portion and communicating and sealable air injection passage adhered or heat-sealed by a rubber material or heat-friendly plastic material The present invention is characterized in that the valve body is provided in the hollow portion. further,
The structure of the air grommet may be characterized in that the hollow portion is formed over the inside of the insertion portion, the panel fitting groove, and the contact portion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A panel fitting portion is formed on a large diameter side of a funnel-shaped elastic body and a wire harness insertion portion is formed on a small diameter side thereof, and an annular panel fitting groove fitted into a panel hole is formed in the panel. In the grommet formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion, the panel fitting portion is configured by the insertion portion and the abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove sandwiched therebetween, and the airtight hollow portion of the insertion portion is formed. An air grommet characterized in that a needle-shaped air supply pipe formed inside is made of an elastic material having an adhesive force, and a valve body which can be pierced and pulled out in an airtight holding state is adhered to an inner wall of the hollow portion. 2. A panel fitting portion is formed on the large diameter side of a funnel-shaped elastic body and a wire harness insertion portion is formed on the small diameter side, and an annular panel fitting groove fitted into a panel hole is provided in the panel. In the grommet formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion, the panel fitting portion is configured by the insertion portion and the abutting portion that face each other with the panel fitting groove interposed therebetween, and an airtight hollow portion is formed inside the insertion portion. And a valve body having an air injection passage which is formed in the hollow portion and communicates with the hollow portion and is made of a rubber material or a heat exchange plastic material so as to be sealed by adhesion or heat fusion. Air grommet to be. 3. The air grommet according to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion is formed over the inside of the insertion portion, the panel fitting groove, and the contact portion.