JPH11306890A - Grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grommet where a brim part is surely transformed taperingly when a second cylindrical part is inverted, at the same time, appropriate repulsive force for restoring the second cylindrical part to the initial state is generated in the brim part, and furthermore which can be applied to narrow parts. SOLUTION: This grommet is provided with a first cylindrical part 21 which a wire harness is penetrated through in order to hold the wire harness penetrating a mounting hole 12 of a mounting board 11, a second cylindrical part 22 connected to the first cylindrical part 21 through a connecting part 23, a groove part 24 formed around the second cylindrical part 22, a brim part 25 formed between the connecting part 23 and the groove part 24 around the second cylindrical part 22, and plural concave parts 29 radialized along the end surface of the brim part 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a grommet,
In particular, the present invention relates to a grommet capable of securely and easily penetrating and holding a long member such as a wire harness with respect to a mounting plate such as a vehicle body panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-212857 discloses that a small-diameter cylindrical portion fitted to a wire harness and a fitting hole are provided in order to dispose a wire harness so as to penetrate an automobile body panel. A grommet having a large-diameter tubular portion that can be fitted, a tapered tubular portion connecting the small-diameter tubular portion and the large-diameter tubular portion, and a groove edge and a holding piece provided along the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter tubular portion is provided. 1 (conventional example). According to this conventional example, by turning over the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion so as to face outward,
If the periphery of the holding piece is tapered and inserted into the mounting hole, then the small-diameter tube is pulled into the mounting hole. Can be easily and reliably mounted with a small force.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional example, if the holding piece is formed in a continuous ring shape along the circumferential direction of the large-diameter cylindrical portion, the holding piece is accompanied by the reversal of the large-diameter cylindrical portion. Irregular wrinkles are likely to occur on the holding piece. Therefore, there arises a problem that the holding piece is hardly deformed into a desired shape and it is difficult to insert the holding piece into the mounting hole. For this reason, in the above-described conventional example, a plurality of tongue pieces extending radially from the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion are illustrated as the holding pieces in order to taper the peripheral edge of the holding piece. These tongue pieces have a relatively small thickness and a relatively long radial length so that they can be easily deformed.

However, such a grommet is
Since the thickness of each independent tongue piece is set relatively thin, there is a problem that it is difficult to generate a repulsive force for restoring the inverted large-diameter cylindrical portion to its initial shape. In addition, since the grommet has a relatively long radiating length of each tongue, the occupied area of the grommet with respect to the vehicle body panel must be increased, and there is a problem that it cannot be applied to a narrow portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make sure that when a second cylindrical portion is inverted, a flange portion is surely deformed to a tapered shape, and that the second cylindrical portion has an initial shape. A good repulsive force is generated in the collar part that restores
Another object of the present invention is to provide a grommet that can be applied to a narrow portion.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a method for holding a long member through a mounting hole formed in a mounting plate.
A first cylindrical portion through which the long member can be inserted, a second cylindrical portion connected through an annular connecting portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion, and an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion And a flange provided between the groove and the connecting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion, and the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion is outward. By inserting the periphery of the flange portion into the mounting hole by turning over so as to face the first cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion is inserted into the mounting hole by restoring the second cylindrical portion to the initial shape. A grommet for fitting the groove into an opening edge of a mounting hole, wherein a plurality of recesses are provided radially along an end surface of the flange.

Here, the first cylindrical portion only needs to have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of a long member such as a wire harness, and has a slightly smaller inner diameter so that the long member is press-fitted. May be provided. In addition, this first
The cylindrical portion does not need to have the same inner diameter or outer diameter continuously along the longitudinal direction, and may have, for example, a stepped cylindrical shape or a tapered cylindrical shape. The connecting portion may be protruded radially from an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion and may be continuous in the circumferential direction. For example, the connecting portion may be formed in a flat ring shape or a substantially conical shape. .

On the other hand, the second cylindrical portion only needs to have an outer diameter dimension corresponding to the inner diameter dimension of the mounting hole, and the base end portion may be connected to the peripheral edge of the connection portion. Therefore, the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion may be arranged, for example, in a substantially nested manner, or may be arranged continuously along the axial direction via a connecting portion.
The first cylindrical portion, the connecting portion, and the second cylindrical portion may be formed integrally with each other by a synthetic resin having appropriate elasticity and water resistance. However, the first cylindrical portion, the connecting portion, and the second cylindrical portion may have appropriate elasticity and water resistance. If they are obtained, they may be separate from each other.

In addition, the flange may be provided with a groove having a substantially U-shaped cross section or a substantially U-shaped cross section on one or both of its both end faces, or the flange may be corrugated. It may be formed in a shape.

In the grommet constructed as described above, since a plurality of concave portions are provided radially along the end surface of the flange portion, when the second cylindrical portion is inverted, the bottom surface forming the concave portion is curved and deformed. As a result, the pair of opposed wall surfaces forming the concave portion come closer to each other, whereby the flange portion is reduced in diameter while generating regular radial wrinkles. Therefore, in this grommet, even if the flange portion is continuous along the outer circumferential direction of the second cylindrical portion, the flange is continuous with the inversion of the second cylindrical portion.
Since the diameter is reliably reduced to a tapered shape while generating regular wrinkles, the problem that it is difficult to insert through the mounting hole unlike the related art does not occur.

Further, in this grommet, even if the maximum thickness dimension of the circumferentially continuous flange portion is set large, the diameter of the recessed portion is surely reduced by deformation, so that the inverted second cylindrical portion is initially formed. Sufficient repulsion to restore the shape is obtained. Furthermore, in this grommet, even if the flange is continuous in the circumferential direction and the maximum thickness dimension is set relatively large, a sufficient repulsion force can be obtained, so that the radial dimension is smaller than in the past. It can be made smaller. As described above, the above-described object is achieved.

Next, in the present invention, if each of the recesses is provided on an end surface of the flange portion facing the connection portion side, the other end surface of the flange portion is made flat. By forming them, unnecessary gaps do not occur between the mounting plate and the mounting plate, so that waterproofness, sound insulation, heat insulation, and the like are not impaired.

Further, in the present invention, as described in claim 3, if each of the recesses has a rectangular cross section, the minimum thickness dimension of the flange can be made uniform. When the bottom surface forming the concave portion is bent and deformed into a mountain shape, the diameter of the flange portion is surely reduced.

The present invention is characterized in that, as set forth in claim 4, an engaging portion tapering from the groove toward the tip is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion. In such a grommet, since the engaging portion is formed to be tapered from the groove portion to the tip in advance, when the second cylindrical portion is inverted, the engaging portion extends along the axial direction from the end of the inner peripheral surface. Taper off. Therefore, for example, when a flange is formed along the opening edge of the mounting hole, if this flange is covered with the inverted second cylindrical portion, the axis of the mounting hole and the axis of the second cylindrical portion are engaged by the engaging portion. And the groove can be uniformly fitted to the opening edge of the mounting hole.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a grommet, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view and a main part perspective view showing a state where the grommet is inverted, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a procedure for attaching the grommet.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a grommet 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a body panel (not shown) for arranging a wire harness (not shown) so as to penetrate a body panel 11 of an automobile. The wire harness can be fitted into the mounting hole 12 provided in the connector 11 while being inserted and held. The mounting hole 12 has a circular shape, and a flange 13 having a predetermined height is formed along the opening edge.

The grommet 10 has a first cylindrical portion 21 through which a wire harness can be inserted, an annular connecting portion 23 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 21, and a first cylindrical portion 21 through the connecting portion 23.
A second cylindrical portion 22 connected to the cylindrical portion 21, a groove 24 provided along the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 22, and a portion between the groove 24 and the connecting portion 23 on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 22. The collar part provided in
25 and a tapered engaging portion 26 formed from the groove 24 on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 22 toward the open end. In such a grommet 10, a first cylindrical portion 21 and a second cylindrical portion 22 are integrally formed of a synthetic resin having appropriate elasticity and water resistance.

The first cylindrical portion 21 has a small diameter portion 27 and a large diameter portion 28.
Have a stepped shape continuously provided along the same axis. The small diameter portion 27 has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the wire harness, and is provided with an annular rib 27A along the inner peripheral surface. When the wire harness is press-fitted into the small-diameter portion 27, the rib 27A is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wire harness while being elastically deformed, thereby holding the wire harness while maintaining airtightness.

On the other hand, the outer diameter portion 28 has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 27, and is provided with a plurality of annular ribs 28A along the inner peripheral surface. This large diameter part 28
After the wire harness is press-fitted, a predetermined filler is filled and solidified to maintain the airtightness and to hold the wire harness.

The connecting portion 23 has a substantially conical shape that expands from the boundary between the small-diameter portion 27 and the large-diameter portion 28 toward the open end of the large-diameter portion 28. The second cylindrical portion 22 includes the mounting hole 12
Having an outer diameter corresponding to the opening size of
The large diameter portion 28 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 28 and is connected to the connection portion 23. Therefore, the second cylindrical portion 22
The large-diameter portion 28 is housed so as to accommodate the large-diameter portion 28 at a predetermined interval.
Are arranged in a substantially nested manner. The groove 24 has a substantially U-shaped cross section in which the flange 13 of the mounting hole 12 can be fitted, and is formed continuously along the circumferential direction orthogonal to the axis of the second cylindrical portion 22.

The flange 25 has a diameter larger than the opening dimension of the mounting hole 12 and is formed continuously along the circumferential direction orthogonal to the axis of the second cylindrical portion 22 so as to be adjacent to the groove 24. I have. This flange portion 25 extends along a conical surface facing the connection portion 23 side,
A plurality of concave portions 29 are provided radially, and have a substantially differential gear shape (see FIG. 2). The recess 29 has a substantially rectangular cross section in which a bottom surface 29A and a pair of wall surfaces 29B, 29B adjacent to the bottom surface 29A are orthogonal to each other. The engagement portion 26 is a second cylindrical portion
It has a substantially conical shape continuously formed along a circumferential direction orthogonal to the 22 axes.

Next, a procedure for disposing a wire harness using such a grommet 10 will be described. First, the wire harness is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 21 of the grommet 10, and the large diameter portion 28 is filled with a predetermined filler and solidified.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the second cylindrical portion 22 is set with the vicinity of the connecting portion 23 as a fulcrum with respect to the first cylindrical portion 21.
Is turned over so that the inner peripheral surface faces outward, and the diameter is reduced so that the peripheral edge of the flange portion 25 faces inward. Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, the flange portion 29 has an initial shape in which the bottom surface 29A and the respective wall surfaces 29B, 29B are orthogonal to each other, but the second cylindrical portion 22
3C, the bottom surface 29A is curved and deformed as shown in FIG. 3 (C), so that the wall surfaces 29B and 29B come close to each other, whereby regular radial wrinkles are formed and the diameter is reduced. The second cylindrical portion 22 has its inner peripheral surface, which was originally the outer peripheral surface, moved from the open end to the connection
Tapering towards 23.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the grommet 10 is disposed so that the second cylindrical portion 22 covers the flange 13 of the mounting hole 12. At this time, the inner peripheral surface, which was originally the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 22, is tapered toward the connecting portion 23 by the engaging portion 26, so that the grommet 10 is surely the same as the mounting hole 12. It is located on the axis. Thereafter, by pulling a wire harness (not shown) from the vehicle body panel 11 to the left in the figure, the first cylindrical portion 22 is deformed into a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to restore the initial shape. The small diameter portion 27 of the cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the mounting hole 12. At this time, since the grommet 10 holds the wire harness in the first cylindrical portion 21 via the filler, even if the wire harness is pulled leftward in the drawing, the wire harness is not removed from the first cylindrical portion 21. There is no risk of falling off.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, when the wire harness is further pulled leftward in the figure, the second cylindrical portion
Since the open end of 22 is in contact with the vehicle body panel 11, the second
Deformation is started so that the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 22 which was originally the outer peripheral surface is reversed. And, the second cylindrical portion 22
When the groove 24 is deformed into a substantially Δ-shaped cross section and the conical surface of the engaging portion 26 is pressed against the vehicle body panel 11, the reduced-diameter flange 25 is deformed into a tapered cylindrical shape, and the small-diameter end is attached. Guided into hole 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the wire harness is further pulled toward the left in the figure, the connecting portion 23 has a large diameter so that the cylindrically deformed flange 25 can pass through the mounting hole 12. It deforms until it comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the portion 28. At this time, since the engaging portion 26 is separated from the vehicle body panel 11, the groove 24 is restored to a substantially U-shaped cross section.

As shown in FIG. 7, thereafter, the wire harness is further pulled leftward in the figure, and when the flange 25 moves to a predetermined position, the wire harness is changed from a cylindrical shape to a disk-shaped initial shape. The resilience that restores is released. For this reason, the grommet 10 is moved to the left in the figure by itself, whereby the flange 25 is restored to the initial shape, and the mounting hole is
The groove 24 is fitted to the flange 13 of the groove 12. At this time, the collar 25
Since the radial concave portion 29 provided on the end face thereof generates a uniform repulsive force in the radial direction, the grommet 10 is maintained on the same axis with respect to the mounting hole 12, and for example, the grommet is Mounting hole with 10 inclined
There is no danger that the groove 24 will fit in the 12.

According to the grommet 10 described above, the collar portion
When the second cylindrical portion 22 is inverted by a radial concave portion 29 provided along the end face of the flange 25, the flange portion 25 is reduced in diameter to a tapered cylindrical shape while generating regular radial wrinkles.
The open end of the second cylindrical portion 22 can be easily inserted into the second cylindrical portion 12, so that workability can be improved as compared with the related art. Further, in the grommet 10, since the flange portion 25 is continuous along the circumferential direction, a favorable repulsive force is generated in the flange portion 25 such that the second cylindrical portion 22 is restored to the initial shape. Assembly work can be performed easily. And according to this grommet 10, the collar portion
Since it is not necessary to increase the diameter of the flange 25 more than necessary in order to generate a sufficient repulsive force on the body 25, the area occupied by the vehicle body 11 can be reduced as compared with the related art.

Further, in the grommet 10, since each concave portion 29 is provided on the end surface of the flange portion 25 facing the connection portion 23 side, by forming the opposite end surface flat,
Unnecessary gaps do not occur between the vehicle body panel 11 and the waterproof, sound-insulating and heat-insulating properties. In addition, since each concave portion 29 has a rectangular cross section, the minimum thickness of the flange portion 25 can be made uniform, and when the second cylindrical portion 22 is inverted,
Since the bottom surface 29A constituting the concave portion 29 is bent and deformed into a mountain shape, the diameter can be easily, reliably and uniformly reduced. Since the grommet 10 has an engagement portion 26 tapered from the groove 24 toward the open end on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 22, the inverted second cylindrical portion 22 is By covering the flange 13, the mounting hole 12 is maintained on the same axis, and the groove 24 can be uniformly fitted to the mounting hole 12.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be appropriately modified and improved.
Materials, shapes, dimensions, forms, numbers, and locations of mounting plates, mounting holes, first cylindrical portions, connecting portions, second cylindrical portions, grooves, flanges, concave portions, engaging portions, and the like exemplified in the above-described embodiment. Etc. are arbitrary and not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, since a plurality of concave portions are provided radially along the end surface of the flange portion, the second cylindrical portion is provided. When the flange is reversed, the flange is surely deformed to a taper, and a good repulsive force is generated in the flange to restore the second cylindrical portion to the initial shape, and the flange can be applied to a narrow portion.
Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 2, since each concave portion is provided on the end surface facing the connection portion side in the flange portion, by forming the opposite end surface flat, Unnecessary gaps do not occur with the vehicle body panel, and the waterproofness, sound insulation, heat insulation, etc. are not impaired.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as described in claim 3, since each recess has a rectangular cross section, the minimum thickness dimension can be made uniform, and the flange can be easily formed when the second cylindrical portion is inverted. , Sure and uniform diameter reduction. According to the present invention, as described in claim 4, since the engaging portion tapering from the groove toward the open end is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion, the inverted second cylindrical portion is formed. By covering the part on the flange of the mounting hole, it is possible to maintain the same axis with respect to the mounting hole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a grommet.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a main part perspective view illustrating a state where a grommet is inverted.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for mounting the grommet.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for mounting the grommet.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for mounting the grommet.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for attaching the grommet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Grommet 11 Body panel (mounting plate) 12 Mounting hole 21 First cylindrical part 22 Second cylindrical part 23 Connection part 24 Groove part 25 Flange part 26 Engagement part 29 Recess

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first cylindrical portion through which the long member can be inserted, and an outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion provided to penetrate and hold the long member through a mounting hole formed in the mounting plate. A second cylindrical portion connected via an annular connecting portion, a groove provided along an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion, and a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion and the connecting portion. A flange portion provided between the second cylindrical portion, and the second cylindrical portion is turned over so that an inner peripheral surface thereof faces outward, thereby inserting a peripheral edge of the flange portion into the mounting hole, and then the second cylindrical portion. A grommet for allowing the first cylindrical portion to be inserted into the mounting hole by restoring the initial shape, and fitting the groove portion to the opening edge of the mounting hole, along the end surface of the flange portion. A grommet comprising a plurality of concave portions provided radially. 2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein each of the concave portions is provided on an end surface of the flange portion facing the connection portion side. 3. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses has a rectangular cross section. 4. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein an engaging portion tapering from the groove toward the tip is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion.