CA2747792A1 - Grommet - Google Patents
Grommet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2747792A1 CA2747792A1 CA2747792A CA2747792A CA2747792A1 CA 2747792 A1 CA2747792 A1 CA 2747792A1 CA 2747792 A CA2747792 A CA 2747792A CA 2747792 A CA2747792 A CA 2747792A CA 2747792 A1 CA2747792 A1 CA 2747792A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- diameter
- tubular part
- grommet
- small
- peripheral surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/22—Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/0207—Wire harnesses
- B60R16/0215—Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
- B60R16/0222—Grommets
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/06—Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
- H02G3/0616—Joints for connecting tubing to casing
- H02G3/0625—Joints for connecting tubing to casing with means for preventing disengagement of conductors
- H02G3/0658—Joints for connecting tubing to casing with means for preventing disengagement of conductors with means constricting the conductor-insulation
Abstract
A grommet mounted in a through-hole in a vehicle body panel and through which a wire harness is passed. Even if taping only one side, the grommet shape is retained and the grommet is prevented from deforming in the direction in which an engaging recess of the grommet separates from the peripheral edge of the through-hole. The grommet comprises: an enlarged-diameter tube which connects to the outer periphery of the longitudinal intermediate section of a small-diameter tube through which wires are tightly passed, and which is enlarged in diameter to surround the other side of the small-diameter tube; an engaging recess which is annularly formed in the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged-diameter tube on the large diameter side thereof; inner ribs provided at intervals in the circumferential direction and connecting between the inner periphery of the enlarged-diameter tube and the outer peripheral surface of the other side of the small-diameter tube; and wire insertion tubes which connect to through-holes for wires formed in the enlarged-diameter tube and which extend through the inside of the enlarged-diameter tube and project from the opening end on the large-diameter side. The inner ribs stick out with a clearance from the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged-diameter tube from the position where the enlarged-diameter tube contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the vehicle body panel to a position facing the engaging recess.
Description
SPECIFICAITON
GROMMET
TECHNICAL FIELD
0001 The present invention relates to a grommet which is mounted on a wire harness wired on a car and mounted on a through-hole of a car body pane. More particularly the present invention is intended to improve workability in mounting the wire harness on the grommet.
BACKGROUND ART
0002 The wire harness is wired from an engine room of a car to an interior side in penetration through a through-hole formed through a dash panel (or cowl panel) partitioning the engine room and the interior from each other. To prevent water and dust from penetrating into the interior from the through-hole, the wire harness is sheathed with the grommet made of rubber or elastomer integrally molded, and a car body-locking concave part formed on the grommet is locked to the peripheral edge of the through-hole.
0003 As this kind of the grommet, the present applicant proposed the grommet 100 shown in Fig. 9 as disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 2003-111250.
In the grommet 100, as shown in Fig. 9(A), the diameter-increased tubular part 102 where the car body-locking concave part 103 is formed is continuous with the first small-diameter tubular part 101. The closed wall part 104 is continuous with the open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 disposed at the large-diameter side thereof. The second small-diameter tubular part 105 is projected from the center of the closed wall part 104. As shown in Fig. 9(B), the adhesive tape T is wound around wire harness W/H at the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 disposed at one end of the grommet 100 in its longitudinal direction and the rear end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 disposed at the other end thereof in its longitudinal direction to fix the wire harness to the grommet 100.
The diameter-increased tubular part 102 is provided with the wire insertion part 106 composed of the through-hole 106a through which the wire consisting of the washer hose and the hood opener cable is inserted and the wire insertion tubular portion 106b inserted through the hollow portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 from the peripheral edge of the through-hole 106a and projected from the closed wall part 104. The wire insertion tubular portion 106b projected from the closed wall part 104 is positioned on the periphery of the second small-diameter tubular part 105.
0004 As described above, the wire insertion tubular portion 106b is projected from the closed wall part 104 and positioned
GROMMET
TECHNICAL FIELD
0001 The present invention relates to a grommet which is mounted on a wire harness wired on a car and mounted on a through-hole of a car body pane. More particularly the present invention is intended to improve workability in mounting the wire harness on the grommet.
BACKGROUND ART
0002 The wire harness is wired from an engine room of a car to an interior side in penetration through a through-hole formed through a dash panel (or cowl panel) partitioning the engine room and the interior from each other. To prevent water and dust from penetrating into the interior from the through-hole, the wire harness is sheathed with the grommet made of rubber or elastomer integrally molded, and a car body-locking concave part formed on the grommet is locked to the peripheral edge of the through-hole.
0003 As this kind of the grommet, the present applicant proposed the grommet 100 shown in Fig. 9 as disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 2003-111250.
In the grommet 100, as shown in Fig. 9(A), the diameter-increased tubular part 102 where the car body-locking concave part 103 is formed is continuous with the first small-diameter tubular part 101. The closed wall part 104 is continuous with the open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 disposed at the large-diameter side thereof. The second small-diameter tubular part 105 is projected from the center of the closed wall part 104. As shown in Fig. 9(B), the adhesive tape T is wound around wire harness W/H at the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 disposed at one end of the grommet 100 in its longitudinal direction and the rear end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 disposed at the other end thereof in its longitudinal direction to fix the wire harness to the grommet 100.
The diameter-increased tubular part 102 is provided with the wire insertion part 106 composed of the through-hole 106a through which the wire consisting of the washer hose and the hood opener cable is inserted and the wire insertion tubular portion 106b inserted through the hollow portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 from the peripheral edge of the through-hole 106a and projected from the closed wall part 104. The wire insertion tubular portion 106b projected from the closed wall part 104 is positioned on the periphery of the second small-diameter tubular part 105.
0004 As described above, the wire insertion tubular portion 106b is projected from the closed wall part 104 and positioned
2 on the periphery of the second small-diameter tubular part 105.
Thus in winding the adhesive tape T around the periphery of the group of electric wires of the wire harness W/H at the front end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105, the wire insertion tubular portion 106b positioned on the periphery of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 obstructs a tape-winding work, thus posing a problem that it is difficult to perform the tape-winding work. In addition, because it is necessary to wind the tape around the wire harness W/H at the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 disposed at one end of the grommet 100 in its longitudinal direction and the rear end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 disposed at the other end thereof in its longitudinal direction.
Thus it is necessary to perform the work of fixing the grommet 100 and the wire harness W/H to each other at many processes.
Further when the closed wall part 104 is formed at the end of the large-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part, a slit is diametrically formed through the closed wall part 104 to remove the core loaded in the hollow portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 in forming the grommet 100 with a molding die. The core removal work is not easy.
0005 But when the tape is wound around wire harness W/H at only one portion, namely, the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 continuous with the end of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 at its small-diameter side to fix the
Thus in winding the adhesive tape T around the periphery of the group of electric wires of the wire harness W/H at the front end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105, the wire insertion tubular portion 106b positioned on the periphery of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 obstructs a tape-winding work, thus posing a problem that it is difficult to perform the tape-winding work. In addition, because it is necessary to wind the tape around the wire harness W/H at the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 disposed at one end of the grommet 100 in its longitudinal direction and the rear end of the second small-diameter tubular part 105 disposed at the other end thereof in its longitudinal direction.
Thus it is necessary to perform the work of fixing the grommet 100 and the wire harness W/H to each other at many processes.
Further when the closed wall part 104 is formed at the end of the large-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part, a slit is diametrically formed through the closed wall part 104 to remove the core loaded in the hollow portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 in forming the grommet 100 with a molding die. The core removal work is not easy.
0005 But when the tape is wound around wire harness W/H at only one portion, namely, the front end of the first small-diameter tubular part 101 continuous with the end of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 at its small-diameter side to fix the
3 wire harness W/H and the grommet 100 to each other, the force of retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 at its large-diameter side decreases. Thereby the car body-locking concave part 103 disposed on the large-diameter side peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 102 to be locked to the through-hole of the car body panel is liable to deform, which poses a problem that the reliability of the waterproof function deteriorates.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
PATENT DOCUMENT
0006 Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 2003-111250 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
0007 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem. It is an object of the present invention to enhance the reliability of a waterproof function by setting a portion of the grommet where a tape is wound around a wire harness to only a front side of a small-diameter tubular part projected from an end of a diameter-increased tubular part at a small-diameter side thereof, not forming a second small-diameter tubular part where it is difficult to wind the tape, and enhancing the force of retaining a large-diameter side of the
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
PATENT DOCUMENT
0006 Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 2003-111250 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
0007 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem. It is an object of the present invention to enhance the reliability of a waterproof function by setting a portion of the grommet where a tape is wound around a wire harness to only a front side of a small-diameter tubular part projected from an end of a diameter-increased tubular part at a small-diameter side thereof, not forming a second small-diameter tubular part where it is difficult to wind the tape, and enhancing the force of retaining a large-diameter side of the
4 diameter-increased tubular part on which a car body-locking concave part to be locked to a through-hole of a car body panel is formed.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
0008 To solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a grommet, made of rubber or elastomer, which is locked to a through-hole of a car body panel with the grommet sheathing a wire harness for a car, having:
a small-diameter tubular part through which the wire harness composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness in close contact therewith to fix the wire harness to the grommet at only a front end of one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part with a tape wound around the wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part surrounding other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part;
a car body-locking concave part annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet, which connect an inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and a peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part to each other; and a wire insertion tubular part which is continuous with a through-hole for a wire formed through the diameter-increased tubular part and projects from a large-diameter side open end in penetration through the diameter-increased tubular part, wherein the inner rib is projectingly formed by separating the inner rib from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part in a region from a position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel to a position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming a gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part; a front-end portion of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part is projected from a front end of the inner rib; and the front-end portion of the small-diameter tubular part is disposed at the large-diameter side open end of the diameter-increased tubular part.
0009 As described above, in the grommet of the present invention, the adhesive tape is wound around the group of the electric wires of the wire harness at only the front end of the one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part which is continuous with the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side and projected outward to fix the wire harness to the grommet. Further the tape is not wound at the side where the wire insertion tubular part consisting of a washer hose or/and a hood opener cable projects. Thus the number of tape-winding portions is one. Therefore it is possible to decrease the number of tape-winding works. Further because the tape-winding work is eliminated at the side where the wire insertion tubular part projects, the work of winding the adhesive tape around the wire harness to fix the wire harness to the grommet can be easily performed.
0010 The inner rib connecting the peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part passing through the inside of the diameter-increased tubular part and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part with each other is extended to the neighborhood of the small-diameter side open end. Therefore it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part. Further because the front side of the small-diameter tubular part which closely contacts the wire harness is projected from the front end of the inner rib, it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part, restrain the deformation of the car body-locking concave part which is fitted in the through-hole of the car body panel, and thus enhance the reliability of the waterproof function.
0011 The inner rib is separated from the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel to the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming the gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. Therefore in fitting the car body-locking concave part of the grommet in the through-hole of the car body panel, it is possible to smoothly inwardly deform the diameter-increased tubular part and thus decrease the insertion force.
0012 It is preferable that at a position confronting a front-end surface of the inner rib with a gap formed between the front-end surface of the inner rib and the position, an annular interference wall is projected from a large-diameter side inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part.
The interference wall projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at its large-diameter side is set short in its radial direction to such an extent that the interference wall and the front-end surface of the inner rib disposed at the peripheral side thereof overlap on each other. The projected other end portion of the small-diameter tubular part is positioned at the center of the open end surrounded with the interference wall.
By forming the interference wall at the position confronting the inner rib, when the inner rib or a portion of the car body-locking concave part disposed at the side the of diameter-increased tubular part deforms, the inner rib and the interference wall contact each other, thus restraining deformation of the car body-locking concave part and enhancing the force of retaining the configuration of the grommet.
Thereby it is possible to hold the waterproof performance.
0013 It is preferable that a plurality of projected stepped parts is formed on a portion of the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part confronting a position at which the inner rib is formed by axially extending the projected stepped parts from ends thereof continuous with the small-diameter tubular part to a position at which the projected stepped parts reach the car body-locking concave part; and a mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed on an outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts in a region from an end thereof connected with the small-diameter tubular part to a contact position where the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts contacts a peripheral edge of the through-hole of the car body panel when the grommet is inserted into the through-hole; and a groove is axially formed between a portion of the diameter-increased tubular part on which the mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed and the small-diameter tubular part.
0014 As described above, by forming a plurality of the projected stepped parts axially extended from the small-diameter tubular part to the car body-locking concave part on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part by circumferentially spacing them at certain intervals, the area of contact between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel and the peripheral surface of the projected stepped part is decreased. Thus it is possible to decrease the insertion force required to mount the grommet on the through-hole.
0015 As described above, it is preferable that the mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed on the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts in the region from the end thereof connected with the small-diameter tubular part to the contact position where the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts contacts the peripheral edge of the through-hole of the car body panel when the grommet is inserted into the through-hole.
The mountain-shaped rib has a configuration which is projected in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the grommet from the end of the projected stepped part continuous with the small-diameter tubular part and has an inclined surface inclined from a projected end of a summit of the mountain-shaped rib toward the outer surface of the projected stepped part.
with the small-diameter tubular part being inserted into the through-hole of the car body panel and with the inclined surface of a portion of the mountain-shaped rib disposed at the lower side of the grommet being held on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, the grommet can be temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole till the small-diameter tubular part is pulled into the through-hole from the other side thereof. Further with the lower side of the grommet being temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, the peripheral edge of the through-hole is brought into contact with a position of the upper side of the grommet not beyond the car body-locking concave part.
0016 As described above, by forming a plurality of the projected stepped parts on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at certain intervals in the circumferential direction of the grommet and forming the mountain-shaped rib projectingly at the side of each projected stepped part connected with the small-diameter tubular part, even though the grommet is inclined by its dead weight during a period of time from a time when an operator inserts the small-diameter tubular part into the through-hole of the car body panel at one side thereof (for example, engine room side) till the operator performs a pulling work after moving to the other side (for example, interior side) of the through-hole, the inclined surface of a portion of the mountain-shaped rib disposed at the lower side of the grommet is caught by a lower-side inner peripheral surface of the through-hole. Thus it is possible to hold the grommet in a temporary state. That is, the mountain-shaped rib can be used to hold the grommet in a temporary state.
In performing the pulling work by gripping the small-diameter tubular part which has passed through the through-hole to hold the grommet in a state where at the upper side of the grommet opposed to the lower side thereof, the car body-locking part does not pass through the through-hole with the lower side of the grommet being held in the temporary state, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the car body-locking concave part disposed at the upper side of the grommet does not fit in the through-hole.
0017 In addition, the mountain-shaped rib which easily interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole is disposed on a portion of the projected stepped part at the side of the small-diameter tubular part. Thus when the grommet is obliquely inserted into the through-hole of the car body panel from the small-diameter tubular part and thus the summit of the mountain-shaped rib interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole, the portion of the mountain-shaped rib which has interfered with the peripheral edge of the through-hole cannot be inserted into the through-hole when the grommet is pulled at the other side of the through-hole. Thus the operator is incapable of inserting the grommet into the through-hole.
Thereby the operator finds that the grommet has been pulled in an oblique posture and is obliged to make the grommet straight to prevent the mountain-shaped rib from interfering with the peripheral edge of the through-hole. In this manner it is possible to securely prevent the grommet from being obliquely inserted into the through-hole.
0018 As described above, it is preferable to form the groove between the mountain-shaped rib and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part.
As described above, the mountain-shaped rib is projected from the end of the projected stepped part at the side of the small-diameter tubular part. Because the groove is formed between the mountain-shaped rib and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part, bending of the small-diameter tubular part is not restricted. When it is necessary to suddenly bend the small-diameter tubular part, the small-diameter tubular part can be easily bent without pulling the diameter-increased tubular part.
0019 It is preferable to form six to eight projected stepped parts on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and six to eight inner ribs on the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part confronting the projected stepped parts. The projected stepped parts and the inner ribs have an equal circumferential width and are extended axially.
Because as described above, the projected stepped parts and the inner ribs have an equal circumferential width and are extended axially, the projected stepped parts are extended radially with the ends of the adjacent projected stepped parts at the side of the small-diameter tubular part in proximity to each other to form a triangular dent portion consisting of the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part between the adjacent projected stepped parts (between adjacent inner ribs).
As described above, because the area of the thin dent portion becomes larger toward the car body-locking concave part, the grommet becomes increasingly flexible toward a radius decrease direction, and the grommet insertion force can be decreased.
As described above, by forming a large number of projected stepped parts, for example, six to eight projected stepped parts and the mountain-shaped rib on each projected stepped part, in inserting the grommet into the through-hole from the small-diameter tubular part and temporarily placing the grommet on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, it is possible to stably hold the grommet in the temporary state because a large number of the mountain-shaped ribs to be held by the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole is formed with the mountain-shaped ribs in contact therewith.
0020 The wire insertion tubular part is formed on the diameter-increased tubular part at the thin dent portion thereof where the projected stepped parts and the inner ribs are not formed.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
0021 As described above, because the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound around the wire harness to fix the wire harness to the grommet is set to the front end of the one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part projected from the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side, it is possible to decrease the number of processes at which the tape-winding work is performed. Further because the wire insertion tubular part is not disposed at the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound, and there is no portion which obstructs the tape-winding work, it is possible to easily perform the tape-winding work.
0022 In addition, the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part extended along the axis of the diameter-increased tubular part is continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part via the inner rib. Further the inner rib is extended to the neighborhood of the large-diameter side open portion of the diameter-increased tubular part. Thereby it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part at its large-diameter side and restrain the deformation of the car body-locking concave part which is fitted in the through-hole of the car body panel and hence enhance the waterproof performance.
Furthermore the inner rib is projectingly formed by separating the inner rib from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part in the region from the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole to the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming the gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. Therefore it is possible to decrease the grommet insertion force in fitting the car body-locking concave part in the through-hole of the car body panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grommet of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the grommet in an axial direction thereof.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the grommet in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view in which Fig. 2 is partly enlarged.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view in which Fig. 2 is partly enlarged.
Figs. 6(A) and 6(B) show a state in which a wire harness is inserted through the grommet and fixed thereto and the grommet is inserted through a car body panel.
Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of a temporary state from a time when a grommet insertion work finishes until before a pulling work starts.
Fig. 8 is an explanatory view in which a load is applied to the grommet.
Fig. 9 shows a conventional grommet.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
0024 An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Fig. 1 through Fig. 8.
Similarly to the conventional grommet shown in Fig. 9, a grommet 1 of this embodiment is fixed in advance to a wire harness W/H wired to an interior side (Y) from an engine room side (X) through a through-hole H of a dash panel P.
0025 The grommet 1 is made of rubber integrally molded.
The grommet 1 has a small-diameter tubular part 2 through which the wire harness W/H composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness W/H in close contact therewith to fix the wire harness W/H to only a front end 2d of one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 with a tape wound around the wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part 3 which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part 3 surrounding the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2;
a car body-locking concave part 4 annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs 5, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet 1, which connect an inner periphery of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and a peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 to each other;
projected stepped parts 6 formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at positions thereof where the projected stepped parts 6 confront the inner ribs 5 respectively; and a pair of wire insertion tubular parts 7 which is continuous with through-holes 7a for a wire respectively formed through a portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 where the projected stepped parts 6 and the inner ribs 5 are not formed and projects from a large-diameter side opening 3a in penetration through an inside of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
0026 In the small-diameter tubular part 2, a front side of the one side portion 2a projected from a small-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is cut in half. Ribs 2d and 2e are circumferentially formed at a distal end of the front side of the one side portion 2a and a proximal end of the front side thereof respectively. A region between the ribs 2d and 2e is set as a tape-winding portion.
Ribs 2f are axially formed at certain intervals on an inner peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b extended inside the diameter-increased tubular part 3 to enhance adhesion between the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the wire harness W/H inserted into the small-diameter tubular part 2.
0027 A side wall of the car body-locking concave part 4 is composed of a first wall 4a disposed at the side of a front-end thick portion 3b and a second wall 4c, disposed at the side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, which is opposed to the first wall 4a with the first wall 4a and the second wall 4c sandwiching a groove 4b therebetween. The projection amount of the first wall 4a with respect to a bottom surface of the groove 4b is large, whereas that of the second wall 4c is small. That is, the height of the first wall 4a and that of the second wall 4c are varied from each other. A lip 4e for pressure welding use is formed on the bottom surface of the groove 4b.
0028 The projected stepped parts 6 formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are axially extended at certain intervals in the circumferential direction of the grommet 1 from a small-diameter side thereof continuous with the small-diameter tubular part 2 to the front end of the second wall 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4. The projected stepped parts 6 are projected thickly and stepwise from the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
In this embodiment, eight projected stepped parts 6 are formed. The projected stepped parts 6 have an identical configuration. Widths W of the projected stepped parts 6 in the circumferential direction thereof are equal to each other. Each of the projected stepped parts 6 is radially formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 with each projected stepped part 6 being axially extended from a connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other to a front-end point P4 of the second wall 4c.
0029 A mountain-shaped rib 9 is projectingly formed on an outer surface 6a of each projected stepped part 6 in a region from the connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other to a contact position P3 where the outer surface 6a of each of the projected stepped parts contacts an inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H of the car body panel P when the grommet 1 is inserted into the through-hole H. The mountain-shaped rib 9 has a flat projected surface 9a projected from the connection end Pl in a direction Z orthogonal to an axis L of the grommet 1 and an inclined surface 9c inclined from a summit 9b disposed at the front end of the flat projected surface 9a toward the outer surface 6a of each of the projected stepped parts 6. The inclined surface 9c serves as a temporary placing surface to be used in a period of time between a time when the grommet 1 is inserted into the through-hole H from one side thereof and a time when the grommet 1 is pulled from the other side of the through-hole H.
A groove 11 is formed by axially extending the groove 11 from the connection end Pl at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other between the small-diameter tubular part 2 and a portion of the projected stepped part 6 having the mountain-shaped rib 9 formed thereon. That is, the connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other is disposed at the inner end of the groove 11.
0030 At a position where the inner rib 5 confronts the mountain-shaped rib 9, a portion of the inner rib 5 formed in confrontation with the projected stepped part 6 constitutes a connection portion 5a connected with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part 2. The inner rib 5 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at the front side of the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 and is connected to only the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part 2, thus projecting toward the open side disposed at the large-diameter side of the grommet 1 parallelly with the axial direction L to form a separation portion 5b.
The separation portion 5b projects to the inner peripheral side of the car body-locking concave part 4, thus forming a gap Cl between the separation portion 5b and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
A projected end surface 5c of the separation portion 5b is formed as a surface orthogonal to the axial line L. A front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is projected from the center of the projected end surface 5c.
0031 An annular interference wall 10 is projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 by forming a gap C2 between the front side of the projected end surface 5c of the inner rib 5 and the interference wall 10.
The projected amount of the interference wall 10 in its inner-diameter direction is set small to such an extent that the interference wall 10 and the peripheral side of the projected end surface 5c overlap on each other.
A front portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is positioned at the center of a large-diameter side opening 3a of the diameter-increased tubular part 3. surrounded with the annular interference wall 10. The wire insertion tubular part 7 is disposed on the peripheral side of the front portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and projected outward.
0032 A thin dent portion 12 which widens triangularly toward the large-diameter side of the grommet 1 is present between the adjacent projected stepped parts 6 (between the adjacent inner ribs 5 radially extended at the inner peripheral side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3) radially extended at the peripheral side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3. The through-hole 7a for the wire is formed through each dent portion 12. The wire insertion tubular part 7 is projected from the peripheral edge of the through-hole 7a for the wire. An axially extended concave center groove 12a is formed at the center of each dent portion 12 in its circumferential direction.
0033 In mounting the wire harness W/H on the grommet 1, the small-diameter tubular part 2 is expanded with an expanding jig (not shown) to insert the group of the electric wires of the wire harness W/H thereinto. As shown in Fig. 6, after the group of the electric wires is inserted into the small-diameter tubular part 2, an adhesive tape 20 is wound around the front portion of the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 projected outward from the small-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and around the periphery of the group of the electric wires pulled out of the front portion of the one side portion 2a to fix the wire harness W/H and the grommet 1 to each other with the adhesive tape 20. The winding region where the adhesive tape 20 is wound is disposed between the ribs 2d and 2e.
On the other hand, the adhesive tape 20 is not wound around the front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2, but the front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b thereof is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the group of the electric wires.
A closed portion of the wire insertion tubular part 7 disposed at the front end thereof is cut to insert a washer hose 22 and a hood opener cable 23 through the wire insertion tubular part 7.
0034 The method of mounting the grommet 1 attached to the wire harness W/H on the through-hole H of the car body panel P
consisting of the dash panel partitioning the engine room side (X) of the car and the indoor side (Y) thereof from each other is described below.
0035 The small-diameter tubular part 2 is inserted into the through-hole H from the engine room side (X) . At this time, as shown in Fig. 6(A), when the axial line L of the grommet 1 is coincident with the axial line SO of the through-hole H and when an inserted posture of the grommet 1 is straight, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the mountain-shaped rib 9 does not interfere with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, but is capable of entirely passing through the through-hole H.
0036 After an operator passes the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the mountain-shaped rib 9 through the through-hole H from the engine room side (X), the operator moves to the interior side (Y) and grips the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 which has penetrated through the through-hole H and projected into the interior side (Y) and performs the work of pulling the grommet 1 into the interior side (Y).
During the period of time from a time when the operator inserts the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 into the through-hole H until a time when the operator moves to the interior side (Y) and pulls the small-diameter tubular part 2, the grommet 1 is not held in the through-hole H
with the grommet 1 in close contact with the through-hole H.
This is because the grommet 1 has not been advanced to a contact point of the projected stepped part 6 having a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the through-hole H. Thus the grommet 1 is left when the grommet 1 is midway in the insertion into the predetermined position in the through-hole H with the grommet 1 being held by the wire harness W/H pulled out of both ends of the grommet 1.
As shown in Fig. 6(B), even though the grommet 1 is inserted straight into the through-hole H with the axial line L
of the grommet 1 being coincident with the axial line SO of the through-hole H, the grommet 1 may incline by its own weight because the peripheral surface of the grommet 1 is not held by an inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H of the car body with the peripheral surface of the grommet 1 in close contact with the inner peripheral surface Ha thereof.
0037 In this case, the grommet 1 is temporarily held with the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower peripheral edge of the grommet 1 being placed on the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H. Thus it is possible to restrain the grommet 1 from inclining at a larger angle. In the state in which the grommet 1 is temporarily held, the upper peripheral edge of the grommet 1 is capable of keeping the state in which the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H is in contact with the portion of the projected stepped part 6 disposed not beyond the car body-locking concave part 4. That is, it is possible to prevent an upper-side portion of car body-locking concave part 4 from passing through the through-hole H and entering into the interior side (Y).
On the other hand, when the axial line L of the grommet 1 inclines greatly from the axial line SO of the through-hole H, the flat projected surface 9a which is a part of the mountain-shaped rib 9 interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H and is incapable of passing into the through-hole H.
Thus the grommet 1 cannot be inserted thereinto. Therefore to prevent the flat projected surface 9a of the mountain-shaped rib 9 from interfering with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, the operator cannot help changing the insertion posture of the grommet 1 from the oblique posture to the straight posture.
Thus it is possible to prevent the grommet 1 from being obliquely inserted into the through-hole H.
0038 As described above, after the operator inserts the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 into the through-hole H and moves to the interior side (Y) from the engine room side (X) to perform the work of pulling the small-diameter tubular part 2 by gripping the one side portion 2a thereof which has projected into the interior side (Y), as shown in Fig. 7, the operator performs the pulling work in the state in which the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower side of the grommet 1 is temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H.
The operator performs the pulling work in the state in which the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower side of the grommet 1 is temporarily placed on the lower-side portion of the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H. Because the inclined surface 9c is continuous with the surface of projected stepped part 6 at the diameter-increased side thereof disposed at the side of the car body-locking concave part 4, the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H sliding down the inclined surface 9c according to the work of pulling the grommet 1 and smoothly contacts the outer surface of the projected stepped part 6.
0039 When by the pulling of the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at the interior side (Y), the diameter-increased tubular part 3 of the grommet 1 reaches the contact point of the projected stepped part 6 having the diameter equal to the inner diameter of the through-hole H, the operator presses the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at a stretch from this point as though the operator crushes the projected stepped part 6. The inner rib 5 continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 to form the gap Cl between the inner rib 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, and the groove 12a is formed in each of the dent portions 12 disposed between the adjacent projected stepped parts 6. Thereby the radius of the dent portion 12 is decreased smoothly. This construction makes it unnecessary to apply a large pressing force to the grommet 1.
By pressing the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at a low insertion force, it is possible to fit the car body-locking concave part 4 in the through-hole H of the car body panel P.
0040 As described above, only the front side of the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is fixed to the wire harness W/H with the adhesive tape 20 in the state in which the grommet 1 is mounted on the car body panel P. The peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are connected to each other with the inner rib S. This construction enhances the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 on which the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed and is capable of holding the state in which the car body-locking concave part 4 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole P without deforming the car body-locking concave part 4 and the waterproof performance.
0041 At the car body-locking concave part 4, the inner rib 5 disposed inside the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, but is extended to a position proximate to the large-diameter side opening 3a of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, and the front portion 2c of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is projected from the projected end surface Sc of the inner rib S. Because the small-diameter tubular part 2 is held by the group of the electric wires with the small-diameter tubular part 2 in close contact with the group of the electric wires, the inner rib 5 does not deform.
Because the connection portion 5a of the inner rib 5 integral with the separation portion 5b thereof is connected with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
0042 Further the projected end surface 5c of the separation portion 5b of the inner rib 5 and the annular interference wall projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 overlap on each other by forming the gap C2 therebetween. Therefore as shown in Fig. 8, when the small-diameter tubular part 2 is pulled, it is possible to prevent the second wall 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4 from deforming in a direction in which the second wall 4c separates from the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, because the projected end surface 5c of the inner rib 5 interferes with the annular interference wall 10. Thereby it is possible to hold the first and second walls 4a and 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4 at the peripheral edge of the through-hole H with the first and second walls 4a and 4c in close contact with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H and enhance the waterproof performance.
0043 As described above, in the grommet 1, only one end portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is fixed to the wire harness with the adhesive tape 20. But the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is extended to the open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 through a hollow portion thereof at its large-diameter side where the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed. Further the other side portion 2b and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are connected to each other with the inner rib 5. Therefore it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at its large-diameter side on which the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed and thus hold the waterproof performance.
0044 The form of the grommet of the present invention is not limited to that described in the above-described embodiment. It is unnecessary to form the mountain-shaped rib on the projected stepped part formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. It is possible to adopt a construction not having the projected stepped part.
That is, it is necessary to set the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound around the wire harness to fix the wire harness with the tape to the front side of the small-diameter tubular part projected from the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side, extend the small-diameter tubular part to the large-diameter side open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 through the hollow portion thereof, connect the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part to each other with the inner rib to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part and restrain the car body-locking concave part from deforming in the direction in which the car body-locking concave part separates from the peripheral edge of the through-hole.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS AND NUMERALS
P: car body panel H: through-hole 1: grommet 2: small-diameter tubular part 2a: one side portion 2b: other side portion 3: diameter-increased tubular part 4: car body-locking concave part
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
0008 To solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a grommet, made of rubber or elastomer, which is locked to a through-hole of a car body panel with the grommet sheathing a wire harness for a car, having:
a small-diameter tubular part through which the wire harness composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness in close contact therewith to fix the wire harness to the grommet at only a front end of one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part with a tape wound around the wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part surrounding other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part;
a car body-locking concave part annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet, which connect an inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and a peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part to each other; and a wire insertion tubular part which is continuous with a through-hole for a wire formed through the diameter-increased tubular part and projects from a large-diameter side open end in penetration through the diameter-increased tubular part, wherein the inner rib is projectingly formed by separating the inner rib from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part in a region from a position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel to a position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming a gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part; a front-end portion of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part is projected from a front end of the inner rib; and the front-end portion of the small-diameter tubular part is disposed at the large-diameter side open end of the diameter-increased tubular part.
0009 As described above, in the grommet of the present invention, the adhesive tape is wound around the group of the electric wires of the wire harness at only the front end of the one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part which is continuous with the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side and projected outward to fix the wire harness to the grommet. Further the tape is not wound at the side where the wire insertion tubular part consisting of a washer hose or/and a hood opener cable projects. Thus the number of tape-winding portions is one. Therefore it is possible to decrease the number of tape-winding works. Further because the tape-winding work is eliminated at the side where the wire insertion tubular part projects, the work of winding the adhesive tape around the wire harness to fix the wire harness to the grommet can be easily performed.
0010 The inner rib connecting the peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part passing through the inside of the diameter-increased tubular part and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part with each other is extended to the neighborhood of the small-diameter side open end. Therefore it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part. Further because the front side of the small-diameter tubular part which closely contacts the wire harness is projected from the front end of the inner rib, it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part, restrain the deformation of the car body-locking concave part which is fitted in the through-hole of the car body panel, and thus enhance the reliability of the waterproof function.
0011 The inner rib is separated from the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel to the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming the gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. Therefore in fitting the car body-locking concave part of the grommet in the through-hole of the car body panel, it is possible to smoothly inwardly deform the diameter-increased tubular part and thus decrease the insertion force.
0012 It is preferable that at a position confronting a front-end surface of the inner rib with a gap formed between the front-end surface of the inner rib and the position, an annular interference wall is projected from a large-diameter side inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part.
The interference wall projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at its large-diameter side is set short in its radial direction to such an extent that the interference wall and the front-end surface of the inner rib disposed at the peripheral side thereof overlap on each other. The projected other end portion of the small-diameter tubular part is positioned at the center of the open end surrounded with the interference wall.
By forming the interference wall at the position confronting the inner rib, when the inner rib or a portion of the car body-locking concave part disposed at the side the of diameter-increased tubular part deforms, the inner rib and the interference wall contact each other, thus restraining deformation of the car body-locking concave part and enhancing the force of retaining the configuration of the grommet.
Thereby it is possible to hold the waterproof performance.
0013 It is preferable that a plurality of projected stepped parts is formed on a portion of the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part confronting a position at which the inner rib is formed by axially extending the projected stepped parts from ends thereof continuous with the small-diameter tubular part to a position at which the projected stepped parts reach the car body-locking concave part; and a mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed on an outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts in a region from an end thereof connected with the small-diameter tubular part to a contact position where the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts contacts a peripheral edge of the through-hole of the car body panel when the grommet is inserted into the through-hole; and a groove is axially formed between a portion of the diameter-increased tubular part on which the mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed and the small-diameter tubular part.
0014 As described above, by forming a plurality of the projected stepped parts axially extended from the small-diameter tubular part to the car body-locking concave part on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part by circumferentially spacing them at certain intervals, the area of contact between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the car body panel and the peripheral surface of the projected stepped part is decreased. Thus it is possible to decrease the insertion force required to mount the grommet on the through-hole.
0015 As described above, it is preferable that the mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed on the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts in the region from the end thereof connected with the small-diameter tubular part to the contact position where the outer surface of each of the projected stepped parts contacts the peripheral edge of the through-hole of the car body panel when the grommet is inserted into the through-hole.
The mountain-shaped rib has a configuration which is projected in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the grommet from the end of the projected stepped part continuous with the small-diameter tubular part and has an inclined surface inclined from a projected end of a summit of the mountain-shaped rib toward the outer surface of the projected stepped part.
with the small-diameter tubular part being inserted into the through-hole of the car body panel and with the inclined surface of a portion of the mountain-shaped rib disposed at the lower side of the grommet being held on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, the grommet can be temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole till the small-diameter tubular part is pulled into the through-hole from the other side thereof. Further with the lower side of the grommet being temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, the peripheral edge of the through-hole is brought into contact with a position of the upper side of the grommet not beyond the car body-locking concave part.
0016 As described above, by forming a plurality of the projected stepped parts on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at certain intervals in the circumferential direction of the grommet and forming the mountain-shaped rib projectingly at the side of each projected stepped part connected with the small-diameter tubular part, even though the grommet is inclined by its dead weight during a period of time from a time when an operator inserts the small-diameter tubular part into the through-hole of the car body panel at one side thereof (for example, engine room side) till the operator performs a pulling work after moving to the other side (for example, interior side) of the through-hole, the inclined surface of a portion of the mountain-shaped rib disposed at the lower side of the grommet is caught by a lower-side inner peripheral surface of the through-hole. Thus it is possible to hold the grommet in a temporary state. That is, the mountain-shaped rib can be used to hold the grommet in a temporary state.
In performing the pulling work by gripping the small-diameter tubular part which has passed through the through-hole to hold the grommet in a state where at the upper side of the grommet opposed to the lower side thereof, the car body-locking part does not pass through the through-hole with the lower side of the grommet being held in the temporary state, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the car body-locking concave part disposed at the upper side of the grommet does not fit in the through-hole.
0017 In addition, the mountain-shaped rib which easily interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole is disposed on a portion of the projected stepped part at the side of the small-diameter tubular part. Thus when the grommet is obliquely inserted into the through-hole of the car body panel from the small-diameter tubular part and thus the summit of the mountain-shaped rib interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole, the portion of the mountain-shaped rib which has interfered with the peripheral edge of the through-hole cannot be inserted into the through-hole when the grommet is pulled at the other side of the through-hole. Thus the operator is incapable of inserting the grommet into the through-hole.
Thereby the operator finds that the grommet has been pulled in an oblique posture and is obliged to make the grommet straight to prevent the mountain-shaped rib from interfering with the peripheral edge of the through-hole. In this manner it is possible to securely prevent the grommet from being obliquely inserted into the through-hole.
0018 As described above, it is preferable to form the groove between the mountain-shaped rib and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part.
As described above, the mountain-shaped rib is projected from the end of the projected stepped part at the side of the small-diameter tubular part. Because the groove is formed between the mountain-shaped rib and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part, bending of the small-diameter tubular part is not restricted. When it is necessary to suddenly bend the small-diameter tubular part, the small-diameter tubular part can be easily bent without pulling the diameter-increased tubular part.
0019 It is preferable to form six to eight projected stepped parts on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and six to eight inner ribs on the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part confronting the projected stepped parts. The projected stepped parts and the inner ribs have an equal circumferential width and are extended axially.
Because as described above, the projected stepped parts and the inner ribs have an equal circumferential width and are extended axially, the projected stepped parts are extended radially with the ends of the adjacent projected stepped parts at the side of the small-diameter tubular part in proximity to each other to form a triangular dent portion consisting of the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part between the adjacent projected stepped parts (between adjacent inner ribs).
As described above, because the area of the thin dent portion becomes larger toward the car body-locking concave part, the grommet becomes increasingly flexible toward a radius decrease direction, and the grommet insertion force can be decreased.
As described above, by forming a large number of projected stepped parts, for example, six to eight projected stepped parts and the mountain-shaped rib on each projected stepped part, in inserting the grommet into the through-hole from the small-diameter tubular part and temporarily placing the grommet on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole, it is possible to stably hold the grommet in the temporary state because a large number of the mountain-shaped ribs to be held by the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole is formed with the mountain-shaped ribs in contact therewith.
0020 The wire insertion tubular part is formed on the diameter-increased tubular part at the thin dent portion thereof where the projected stepped parts and the inner ribs are not formed.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
0021 As described above, because the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound around the wire harness to fix the wire harness to the grommet is set to the front end of the one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part projected from the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side, it is possible to decrease the number of processes at which the tape-winding work is performed. Further because the wire insertion tubular part is not disposed at the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound, and there is no portion which obstructs the tape-winding work, it is possible to easily perform the tape-winding work.
0022 In addition, the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part extended along the axis of the diameter-increased tubular part is continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part via the inner rib. Further the inner rib is extended to the neighborhood of the large-diameter side open portion of the diameter-increased tubular part. Thereby it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part at its large-diameter side and restrain the deformation of the car body-locking concave part which is fitted in the through-hole of the car body panel and hence enhance the waterproof performance.
Furthermore the inner rib is projectingly formed by separating the inner rib from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part in the region from the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole to the position at which the diameter-increased tubular part confronts the car body-locking concave part by forming the gap between the inner rib and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. Therefore it is possible to decrease the grommet insertion force in fitting the car body-locking concave part in the through-hole of the car body panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grommet of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the grommet in an axial direction thereof.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the grommet in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view in which Fig. 2 is partly enlarged.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view in which Fig. 2 is partly enlarged.
Figs. 6(A) and 6(B) show a state in which a wire harness is inserted through the grommet and fixed thereto and the grommet is inserted through a car body panel.
Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of a temporary state from a time when a grommet insertion work finishes until before a pulling work starts.
Fig. 8 is an explanatory view in which a load is applied to the grommet.
Fig. 9 shows a conventional grommet.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
0024 An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Fig. 1 through Fig. 8.
Similarly to the conventional grommet shown in Fig. 9, a grommet 1 of this embodiment is fixed in advance to a wire harness W/H wired to an interior side (Y) from an engine room side (X) through a through-hole H of a dash panel P.
0025 The grommet 1 is made of rubber integrally molded.
The grommet 1 has a small-diameter tubular part 2 through which the wire harness W/H composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness W/H in close contact therewith to fix the wire harness W/H to only a front end 2d of one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 with a tape wound around the wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part 3 which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part 3 surrounding the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2;
a car body-locking concave part 4 annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs 5, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet 1, which connect an inner periphery of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and a peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 to each other;
projected stepped parts 6 formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at positions thereof where the projected stepped parts 6 confront the inner ribs 5 respectively; and a pair of wire insertion tubular parts 7 which is continuous with through-holes 7a for a wire respectively formed through a portion of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 where the projected stepped parts 6 and the inner ribs 5 are not formed and projects from a large-diameter side opening 3a in penetration through an inside of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
0026 In the small-diameter tubular part 2, a front side of the one side portion 2a projected from a small-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is cut in half. Ribs 2d and 2e are circumferentially formed at a distal end of the front side of the one side portion 2a and a proximal end of the front side thereof respectively. A region between the ribs 2d and 2e is set as a tape-winding portion.
Ribs 2f are axially formed at certain intervals on an inner peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b extended inside the diameter-increased tubular part 3 to enhance adhesion between the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the wire harness W/H inserted into the small-diameter tubular part 2.
0027 A side wall of the car body-locking concave part 4 is composed of a first wall 4a disposed at the side of a front-end thick portion 3b and a second wall 4c, disposed at the side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, which is opposed to the first wall 4a with the first wall 4a and the second wall 4c sandwiching a groove 4b therebetween. The projection amount of the first wall 4a with respect to a bottom surface of the groove 4b is large, whereas that of the second wall 4c is small. That is, the height of the first wall 4a and that of the second wall 4c are varied from each other. A lip 4e for pressure welding use is formed on the bottom surface of the groove 4b.
0028 The projected stepped parts 6 formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are axially extended at certain intervals in the circumferential direction of the grommet 1 from a small-diameter side thereof continuous with the small-diameter tubular part 2 to the front end of the second wall 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4. The projected stepped parts 6 are projected thickly and stepwise from the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
In this embodiment, eight projected stepped parts 6 are formed. The projected stepped parts 6 have an identical configuration. Widths W of the projected stepped parts 6 in the circumferential direction thereof are equal to each other. Each of the projected stepped parts 6 is radially formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 with each projected stepped part 6 being axially extended from a connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other to a front-end point P4 of the second wall 4c.
0029 A mountain-shaped rib 9 is projectingly formed on an outer surface 6a of each projected stepped part 6 in a region from the connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other to a contact position P3 where the outer surface 6a of each of the projected stepped parts contacts an inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H of the car body panel P when the grommet 1 is inserted into the through-hole H. The mountain-shaped rib 9 has a flat projected surface 9a projected from the connection end Pl in a direction Z orthogonal to an axis L of the grommet 1 and an inclined surface 9c inclined from a summit 9b disposed at the front end of the flat projected surface 9a toward the outer surface 6a of each of the projected stepped parts 6. The inclined surface 9c serves as a temporary placing surface to be used in a period of time between a time when the grommet 1 is inserted into the through-hole H from one side thereof and a time when the grommet 1 is pulled from the other side of the through-hole H.
A groove 11 is formed by axially extending the groove 11 from the connection end Pl at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other between the small-diameter tubular part 2 and a portion of the projected stepped part 6 having the mountain-shaped rib 9 formed thereon. That is, the connection end P1 at which the small-diameter tubular part 2 and each of the projected stepped parts 6 are connected to each other is disposed at the inner end of the groove 11.
0030 At a position where the inner rib 5 confronts the mountain-shaped rib 9, a portion of the inner rib 5 formed in confrontation with the projected stepped part 6 constitutes a connection portion 5a connected with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part 2. The inner rib 5 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at the front side of the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 and is connected to only the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part 2, thus projecting toward the open side disposed at the large-diameter side of the grommet 1 parallelly with the axial direction L to form a separation portion 5b.
The separation portion 5b projects to the inner peripheral side of the car body-locking concave part 4, thus forming a gap Cl between the separation portion 5b and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
A projected end surface 5c of the separation portion 5b is formed as a surface orthogonal to the axial line L. A front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is projected from the center of the projected end surface 5c.
0031 An annular interference wall 10 is projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 by forming a gap C2 between the front side of the projected end surface 5c of the inner rib 5 and the interference wall 10.
The projected amount of the interference wall 10 in its inner-diameter direction is set small to such an extent that the interference wall 10 and the peripheral side of the projected end surface 5c overlap on each other.
A front portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is positioned at the center of a large-diameter side opening 3a of the diameter-increased tubular part 3. surrounded with the annular interference wall 10. The wire insertion tubular part 7 is disposed on the peripheral side of the front portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and projected outward.
0032 A thin dent portion 12 which widens triangularly toward the large-diameter side of the grommet 1 is present between the adjacent projected stepped parts 6 (between the adjacent inner ribs 5 radially extended at the inner peripheral side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3) radially extended at the peripheral side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3. The through-hole 7a for the wire is formed through each dent portion 12. The wire insertion tubular part 7 is projected from the peripheral edge of the through-hole 7a for the wire. An axially extended concave center groove 12a is formed at the center of each dent portion 12 in its circumferential direction.
0033 In mounting the wire harness W/H on the grommet 1, the small-diameter tubular part 2 is expanded with an expanding jig (not shown) to insert the group of the electric wires of the wire harness W/H thereinto. As shown in Fig. 6, after the group of the electric wires is inserted into the small-diameter tubular part 2, an adhesive tape 20 is wound around the front portion of the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 projected outward from the small-diameter side of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 and around the periphery of the group of the electric wires pulled out of the front portion of the one side portion 2a to fix the wire harness W/H and the grommet 1 to each other with the adhesive tape 20. The winding region where the adhesive tape 20 is wound is disposed between the ribs 2d and 2e.
On the other hand, the adhesive tape 20 is not wound around the front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2, but the front portion 2c of the other side portion 2b thereof is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the group of the electric wires.
A closed portion of the wire insertion tubular part 7 disposed at the front end thereof is cut to insert a washer hose 22 and a hood opener cable 23 through the wire insertion tubular part 7.
0034 The method of mounting the grommet 1 attached to the wire harness W/H on the through-hole H of the car body panel P
consisting of the dash panel partitioning the engine room side (X) of the car and the indoor side (Y) thereof from each other is described below.
0035 The small-diameter tubular part 2 is inserted into the through-hole H from the engine room side (X) . At this time, as shown in Fig. 6(A), when the axial line L of the grommet 1 is coincident with the axial line SO of the through-hole H and when an inserted posture of the grommet 1 is straight, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the mountain-shaped rib 9 does not interfere with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, but is capable of entirely passing through the through-hole H.
0036 After an operator passes the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the mountain-shaped rib 9 through the through-hole H from the engine room side (X), the operator moves to the interior side (Y) and grips the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 which has penetrated through the through-hole H and projected into the interior side (Y) and performs the work of pulling the grommet 1 into the interior side (Y).
During the period of time from a time when the operator inserts the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 into the through-hole H until a time when the operator moves to the interior side (Y) and pulls the small-diameter tubular part 2, the grommet 1 is not held in the through-hole H
with the grommet 1 in close contact with the through-hole H.
This is because the grommet 1 has not been advanced to a contact point of the projected stepped part 6 having a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the through-hole H. Thus the grommet 1 is left when the grommet 1 is midway in the insertion into the predetermined position in the through-hole H with the grommet 1 being held by the wire harness W/H pulled out of both ends of the grommet 1.
As shown in Fig. 6(B), even though the grommet 1 is inserted straight into the through-hole H with the axial line L
of the grommet 1 being coincident with the axial line SO of the through-hole H, the grommet 1 may incline by its own weight because the peripheral surface of the grommet 1 is not held by an inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H of the car body with the peripheral surface of the grommet 1 in close contact with the inner peripheral surface Ha thereof.
0037 In this case, the grommet 1 is temporarily held with the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower peripheral edge of the grommet 1 being placed on the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H. Thus it is possible to restrain the grommet 1 from inclining at a larger angle. In the state in which the grommet 1 is temporarily held, the upper peripheral edge of the grommet 1 is capable of keeping the state in which the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H is in contact with the portion of the projected stepped part 6 disposed not beyond the car body-locking concave part 4. That is, it is possible to prevent an upper-side portion of car body-locking concave part 4 from passing through the through-hole H and entering into the interior side (Y).
On the other hand, when the axial line L of the grommet 1 inclines greatly from the axial line SO of the through-hole H, the flat projected surface 9a which is a part of the mountain-shaped rib 9 interferes with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H and is incapable of passing into the through-hole H.
Thus the grommet 1 cannot be inserted thereinto. Therefore to prevent the flat projected surface 9a of the mountain-shaped rib 9 from interfering with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, the operator cannot help changing the insertion posture of the grommet 1 from the oblique posture to the straight posture.
Thus it is possible to prevent the grommet 1 from being obliquely inserted into the through-hole H.
0038 As described above, after the operator inserts the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 into the through-hole H and moves to the interior side (Y) from the engine room side (X) to perform the work of pulling the small-diameter tubular part 2 by gripping the one side portion 2a thereof which has projected into the interior side (Y), as shown in Fig. 7, the operator performs the pulling work in the state in which the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower side of the grommet 1 is temporarily placed on the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H.
The operator performs the pulling work in the state in which the inclined surface 9c of the mountain-shaped rib 9 disposed on the lower side of the grommet 1 is temporarily placed on the lower-side portion of the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H. Because the inclined surface 9c is continuous with the surface of projected stepped part 6 at the diameter-increased side thereof disposed at the side of the car body-locking concave part 4, the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through-hole H sliding down the inclined surface 9c according to the work of pulling the grommet 1 and smoothly contacts the outer surface of the projected stepped part 6.
0039 When by the pulling of the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at the interior side (Y), the diameter-increased tubular part 3 of the grommet 1 reaches the contact point of the projected stepped part 6 having the diameter equal to the inner diameter of the through-hole H, the operator presses the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at a stretch from this point as though the operator crushes the projected stepped part 6. The inner rib 5 continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 to form the gap Cl between the inner rib 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, and the groove 12a is formed in each of the dent portions 12 disposed between the adjacent projected stepped parts 6. Thereby the radius of the dent portion 12 is decreased smoothly. This construction makes it unnecessary to apply a large pressing force to the grommet 1.
By pressing the grommet 1 into the through-hole H at a low insertion force, it is possible to fit the car body-locking concave part 4 in the through-hole H of the car body panel P.
0040 As described above, only the front side of the one side portion 2a of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is fixed to the wire harness W/H with the adhesive tape 20 in the state in which the grommet 1 is mounted on the car body panel P. The peripheral surface of the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are connected to each other with the inner rib S. This construction enhances the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 on which the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed and is capable of holding the state in which the car body-locking concave part 4 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole P without deforming the car body-locking concave part 4 and the waterproof performance.
0041 At the car body-locking concave part 4, the inner rib 5 disposed inside the diameter-increased tubular part 3 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, but is extended to a position proximate to the large-diameter side opening 3a of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, and the front portion 2c of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is projected from the projected end surface Sc of the inner rib S. Because the small-diameter tubular part 2 is held by the group of the electric wires with the small-diameter tubular part 2 in close contact with the group of the electric wires, the inner rib 5 does not deform.
Because the connection portion 5a of the inner rib 5 integral with the separation portion 5b thereof is connected with the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3, it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3.
0042 Further the projected end surface 5c of the separation portion 5b of the inner rib 5 and the annular interference wall projected from the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 overlap on each other by forming the gap C2 therebetween. Therefore as shown in Fig. 8, when the small-diameter tubular part 2 is pulled, it is possible to prevent the second wall 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4 from deforming in a direction in which the second wall 4c separates from the peripheral edge of the through-hole H, because the projected end surface 5c of the inner rib 5 interferes with the annular interference wall 10. Thereby it is possible to hold the first and second walls 4a and 4c of the car body-locking concave part 4 at the peripheral edge of the through-hole H with the first and second walls 4a and 4c in close contact with the peripheral edge of the through-hole H and enhance the waterproof performance.
0043 As described above, in the grommet 1, only one end portion of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is fixed to the wire harness with the adhesive tape 20. But the other side portion 2b of the small-diameter tubular part 2 is extended to the open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 through a hollow portion thereof at its large-diameter side where the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed. Further the other side portion 2b and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 are connected to each other with the inner rib 5. Therefore it is possible to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 at its large-diameter side on which the car body-locking concave part 4 is formed and thus hold the waterproof performance.
0044 The form of the grommet of the present invention is not limited to that described in the above-described embodiment. It is unnecessary to form the mountain-shaped rib on the projected stepped part formed on the peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part. It is possible to adopt a construction not having the projected stepped part.
That is, it is necessary to set the portion of the grommet where the tape is wound around the wire harness to fix the wire harness with the tape to the front side of the small-diameter tubular part projected from the end of the diameter-increased tubular part at its small-diameter side, extend the small-diameter tubular part to the large-diameter side open end of the diameter-increased tubular part 3 through the hollow portion thereof, connect the peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular part and the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part to each other with the inner rib to enhance the force for retaining the configuration of the diameter-increased tubular part and restrain the car body-locking concave part from deforming in the direction in which the car body-locking concave part separates from the peripheral edge of the through-hole.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS AND NUMERALS
P: car body panel H: through-hole 1: grommet 2: small-diameter tubular part 2a: one side portion 2b: other side portion 3: diameter-increased tubular part 4: car body-locking concave part
5: inner rib
6: projected stepped part
7: wire insertion tubular part 10: interference wall
Claims (4)
1. A grommet, made of rubber or elastomer, which is locked to a through-hole of a car body panel with said grommet sheathing a wire harness for a car, comprising:
a small-diameter tubular part through which said wire harness composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness in close contact therewith to fix said wire harness to said grommet at only a front end of one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part with a tape wound around said wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part surrounding other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part;
a car body-locking concave part annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet, which connect an inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and a peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part to each other; and a wire insertion tubular part which is continuous with a through-hole for a wire formed through said diameter-increased tubular part and projects from a large-diameter side open end in penetration through said diameter-increased tubular part, wherein said inner rib is projectingly formed by separating said inner rib from said inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part in a region from a position at which an inner peripheral surface of said through-hole of said car body panel and said diameter-increased tubular part contact each other to a position at which said diameter-increased tubular part confronts said car body-locking concave part by forming a gap between said inner rib and said inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part; a front-end portion of said other side portion of said small-diameter tubular part is projected from a front end of said inner rib; and said front-end portion of said small-diameter tubular part is disposed at said large-diameter side open end of said diameter-increased tubular part.
a small-diameter tubular part through which said wire harness composed of a group of electric wires is inserted with the wire harness in close contact therewith to fix said wire harness to said grommet at only a front end of one side portion of the small-diameter tubular part with a tape wound around said wire harness;
a diameter-increased tubular part which is continuous with a periphery of a middle portion of the small-diameter tubular part in a longitudinal direction thereof and increases in the diameter thereof with the diameter-increased tubular part surrounding other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part;
a car body-locking concave part annularly formed on a peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part at a large-diameter side thereof;
inner ribs, provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the grommet, which connect an inner peripheral surface of the diameter-increased tubular part and a peripheral surface of the other side portion of the small-diameter tubular part to each other; and a wire insertion tubular part which is continuous with a through-hole for a wire formed through said diameter-increased tubular part and projects from a large-diameter side open end in penetration through said diameter-increased tubular part, wherein said inner rib is projectingly formed by separating said inner rib from said inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part in a region from a position at which an inner peripheral surface of said through-hole of said car body panel and said diameter-increased tubular part contact each other to a position at which said diameter-increased tubular part confronts said car body-locking concave part by forming a gap between said inner rib and said inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part; a front-end portion of said other side portion of said small-diameter tubular part is projected from a front end of said inner rib; and said front-end portion of said small-diameter tubular part is disposed at said large-diameter side open end of said diameter-increased tubular part.
2. A grommet according to claim 1, wherein at a position confronting a front-end surface of said inner rib with a gap formed between said front-end surface of said inner rib and said position, an annular interference wall is projected from a large-diameter side inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part.
3. A grommet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of projected stepped parts is formed on a portion of said peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part confronting a position at which said inner rib is formed by axially extending said projected stepped parts from ends thereof continuous with said small-diameter tubular part to a position at which said projected stepped parts reach said car body-locking concave part; and a mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed on an outer surface of each of said projected stepped parts in a region from an end thereof connected with said small-diameter tubular part to a contact position where said outer surface of each of said projected stepped parts contacts a peripheral edge of said through-hole of said car body panel when said grommet is inserted into said through-hole; and a groove is axially formed between a portion of said diameter-increased tubular part on which said mountain-shaped rib is projectingly formed and said small-diameter tubular part.
4. A grommet according to claim 2 or 3, wherein not less than six projected stepped parts are formed on said peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part; and not less than six inner ribs are formed on an inner peripheral surface of said diameter-increased tubular part confronting said projected stepped parts.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2008327356A JP5109965B2 (en) | 2008-12-24 | 2008-12-24 | Grommet |
| JP2008-327356 | 2008-12-24 | ||
| PCT/JP2009/069555 WO2010073856A1 (en) | 2008-12-24 | 2009-11-18 | Grommet |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2747792A1 true CA2747792A1 (en) | 2010-07-01 |
| CA2747792C CA2747792C (en) | 2014-04-01 |
Family
ID=42287476
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2747792A Expired - Fee Related CA2747792C (en) | 2008-12-24 | 2009-11-18 | Grommet |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP5109965B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN102239617B (en) |
| BR (1) | BRPI0916088A2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2747792C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2010073856A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9896042B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2018-02-20 | Yazaki Corporation | Grommet and wire harness |
Families Citing this family (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP5619495B2 (en) * | 2010-07-02 | 2014-11-05 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Electrical junction box |
| JP5595811B2 (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2014-09-24 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Electrical junction box |
| JP5798361B2 (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2015-10-21 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Structure for preventing tape slippage at the wire outlet |
| JP5931465B2 (en) * | 2012-01-23 | 2016-06-08 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet mounting structure |
| JP5915431B2 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2016-05-11 | 富士電機株式会社 | Inverter device |
| KR101654560B1 (en) * | 2015-05-19 | 2016-09-06 | 오승영 | Joinning assembly and building bricks toy using this |
| CN105172672A (en) * | 2015-08-24 | 2015-12-23 | 安徽江淮汽车股份有限公司 | Installing assembly of outline marker lamp and automobile |
| JP2018153059A (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2018-09-27 | 住友電装株式会社 | Grommet and grommet attachment structure |
| JP6621438B2 (en) * | 2017-04-25 | 2019-12-18 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet |
| JP6770924B2 (en) * | 2017-05-25 | 2020-10-21 | 株式会社ニフコ | Grommet |
| JP6687577B2 (en) * | 2017-10-13 | 2020-04-22 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet |
| JP6991826B2 (en) * | 2017-10-13 | 2022-01-13 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet |
| JP7167729B2 (en) * | 2019-01-21 | 2022-11-09 | 住友電装株式会社 | Grommet and wire harness |
| JP7177025B2 (en) * | 2019-10-07 | 2022-11-22 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet and wire harness |
| JP7077347B2 (en) * | 2020-02-17 | 2022-05-30 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommets and wire harnesses |
| JP7110258B2 (en) | 2020-02-18 | 2022-08-01 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet and wire harness |
| CN114856327A (en) * | 2022-05-31 | 2022-08-05 | 岚图汽车科技有限公司 | Grommet for engine hood cable stay wire |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3417540B2 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 2003-06-16 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Grommet |
| US6603078B2 (en) * | 2000-09-22 | 2003-08-05 | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | Grommet |
| JP3985670B2 (en) * | 2002-11-29 | 2007-10-03 | 住友電装株式会社 | Grommet |
| JP4036135B2 (en) * | 2003-04-18 | 2008-01-23 | 住友電装株式会社 | Grommet |
| JP5266670B2 (en) * | 2007-06-13 | 2013-08-21 | 住友電装株式会社 | Grommet |
-
2008
- 2008-12-24 JP JP2008327356A patent/JP5109965B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2009
- 2009-11-18 CN CN200980142197.XA patent/CN102239617B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-11-18 WO PCT/JP2009/069555 patent/WO2010073856A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-11-18 CA CA2747792A patent/CA2747792C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-11-18 BR BRPI0916088A patent/BRPI0916088A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9896042B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2018-02-20 | Yazaki Corporation | Grommet and wire harness |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2747792C (en) | 2014-04-01 |
| CN102239617A (en) | 2011-11-09 |
| WO2010073856A1 (en) | 2010-07-01 |
| CN102239617B (en) | 2013-11-06 |
| JP5109965B2 (en) | 2012-12-26 |
| JP2010154601A (en) | 2010-07-08 |
| BRPI0916088A2 (en) | 2015-11-10 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20211118 |