JP2004274886A - Grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grommet, with which the user can obtain proper feeling of moderation, when installing it into the through hole of a panel. <P>SOLUTION: The grommet 21 is an integrated molded item of rubber material, and its grommet body 22 is equipped with a peripheral groove 27 for locking to engage with the brim of the through hole, at the periphery between a small-diameter annular part 25 and a large-diameter annular part 26. The periphery of the small-diameter part 25 is a tapered guide face 25a. One hooking projection 30 and one or more projections 31 for proper feeling of moderation are provided on the guide face 25a. When mounting the grommet body 22 into the through hole of the panel, the projection 31 for click-stop feeling produces resistance when it passes the through hole, and when the brim of the through hole engages with the peripheral groove, it causes sudden resistance change, so that the user can obtain a sure feeling of touch that the brim of the through hole has engaged with the peripheral groove 27, that is, a proper feeling of click-stop. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a grommet made of an elastic material which is mounted in a through hole formed in a panel, and more particularly to a grommet which is suitably mounted in a through hole through which a wire harness of an automobile passes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a car, when a wire harness is passed through a through hole of a panel (body panel), a grommet made of a rubber material is attached to the through hole to protect the wire harness and waterproof, dustproof, and soundproof the through hole portion into the vehicle interior. It is being done.
[0003]
7 to 9 show a conventional grommet. The grommet 1 is used, for example, when a wire harness (hereinafter, referred to as an electric wire 10) is passed from a vehicle interior to an engine room or a trunk room in an automobile, and is mounted in a through hole 9a of a panel 9 as shown in FIG. You. The grommet 1 includes a substantially cylindrical grommet main body 2 directly mounted in the through hole 9a, and an electric wire guide holding cylinder 3 for guiding and holding an electric wire 10 passing through the grommet main body 2. It is a grommet with a wire guide holding tube part integrally formed with. The wire guide holding tubular portion 3 includes a straight portion 3a, a bellows-shaped portion 3b, and an L-shaped portion 3c. The L-shaped portion 3c is connected to the grommet main body 2.
[0004]
The grommet body 2 includes a small-diameter annular portion 5 that passes through the through-hole 9a and a large-diameter annular portion 6 that stops behind the through-hole 9a when the grommet body 2 is mounted in the through-hole 9a of the panel 9. A peripheral groove 7 for engaging the peripheral edge of the through hole 9a is provided on the outer periphery between the outer peripheral portion and the large-diameter annular portion 6. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter annular portion 5 is a tapered guide surface 5a. Further, on the large-diameter annular portion 6 side, a seal portion 6a for keeping the through hole 9a in a sealed state when the through hole 9a is attached to the panel 9 around the peripheral groove 7 is formed. . Reference numeral 8 denotes an electric wire fixing member for fixing the electric wire 10 with a tape.
[0005]
When the grommet 1 is attached to the through hole 9a of the panel 9, a certain insertion force is required to insert the grommet 1 into the through hole 9a. However, as shown in FIG. By reducing the inclination angle θ, the force required for inserting the grommet 1 is reduced.
[0006]
As another grommet for reducing the insertion force into the through hole, there is, for example, a grommet 11 (see JP-A-10-247550) shown in FIGS.
The grommet 11 extends from the fixed flange portion (large-diameter annular portion) 12, an engaging flange portion (small-diameter annular portion) 13 protruding concentrically from the front surface of the fixed flange portion 12, and a fixed flange portion 12. It is an integral grommet made of a rubber material having a bellows-like electric wire holding portion 17, and the periphery of the through hole 9a of the panel 9 is slightly fitted between the fixed flange 12 and the engagement flange 13. A shallow circumferential groove 14 is formed. In the grommet 11, two pairs (a total of four) of locking ribs 18 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the engaging flange portion 13, and the circumferential grooves 14 are provided to facilitate bending of the locking ribs 18. Is deepened to form a notch groove 19 deeper than the circumferential groove 14.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-247550 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The grommet 1 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 can reduce the force inserted into the through hole 9a of the panel 9 by reducing the inclination angle θ of the guide surface 5a of the small-diameter annular portion 5. When the grommet 1 is adopted, a moderation feeling (that is, a feeling that the peripheral edge of the through hole 9a is surely fitted to the peripheral groove 7) when mounting the grommet 1 in the through hole 9a is not obtained so much. There is a risk of incomplete installation.
The grommet 11 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can reduce the force required for insertion into the through hole 9a and can secure a strong holding force with the through hole 9a. The peripheral edge of the through hole 9a comes into contact with the portion of only the shallow peripheral groove 14 and the portion of the locking rib 18 having the deep notch groove 19, and the peripheral portion of the through hole 9a contacts in the circumferential direction. Since the pressure is not uniform, the sealing pressure, that is, the pressure for bringing the fixed flange portion 12 into close contact with the surface of the panel 9, that is, the sealing pressure, cannot be obtained uniformly. For this reason, there is a possibility that the sealing property of the grommet 11 is deteriorated due to aging of the material of the grommet 11.
[0009]
Although it is not an integrally molded product, a low insertion force grommet composed of a two-part structure composed of a resin inner grommet and a rubber outer grommet may be used, but this type of grommet is provided in a through hole of a panel. Although a moderation feeling at the time of mounting is obtained, there is a problem that the cost is increased.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages, and can not only reduce the insertion force into the through-hole of the panel, but also provide a good moderation feeling when mounted in the through-hole, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a grommet capable of obtaining a uniform sealing pressure.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking device in which a peripheral edge of a through-hole is fitted to an outer periphery between a small-diameter annular portion passing through a through-hole of a panel and a large-diameter annular portion stopping behind the through-hole. A grommet integrally molded with an elastic material having a peripheral groove for the elastic member having an outer peripheral surface of the small diameter annular portion as a tapered guide surface,
On the guide surface of the small-diameter annular portion, one hooking projection and one or more moderation-sensing projections extending from the boundary between the guide surface and the peripheral groove to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion are circumferentially spaced. It is characterized by being provided.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the grommet of the first aspect, the hooking projection has a height higher than that of the moderation sensation, and the moderation sensation projection has a shape in which the top surface is substantially along the taper of the guide surface. And
[0013]
A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the grommet of the first and second aspects, a rear end surface which is a boundary between the moderation feeling projection and the peripheral groove is substantially vertical.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the grommet of the first to third aspects, the moderation feeling projection also extends to the distal end surface of the small-diameter annular portion.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the grommet of the first to fourth aspects, a peripheral groove for adjusting resistance at the time of insertion is formed on an inner surface corresponding to the peripheral groove on the outer periphery.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the grommet of the first to fifth aspects, a rod-shaped wire fixing member that projects further forward from the distal end surface of the small-diameter annular portion is provided integrally with the hooking projection.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that a peripheral groove for engaging the periphery of the through hole is formed on the outer periphery between the small diameter annular portion passing through the through hole of the panel and the large diameter annular portion stopping behind the through hole. A grommet main body having an outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter annular portion formed as a tapered guide surface, and a wire guide holding tubular portion for guiding and holding an electric wire passing through the grommet main body are integrally formed of an elastic material. Grommet with wire guide holding part
On the guide surface of the small-diameter annular portion of the grommet main body, one hooking projection and one or more moderation sense projections extending from the boundary between the guide surface and the circumferential groove to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion are arranged in the circumferential direction. Are provided at intervals.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grommet 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the grommet 21, and FIG.
The grommet 21 in the illustrated example is used when a wire harness (hereinafter, referred to as an electric wire 10) is passed from a vehicle interior to an engine room or a trunk room in an automobile, and as shown in FIGS. It is mounted in the hole 9a. The grommet 21 includes an approximately cylindrical grommet main body 22 directly mounted in the through-hole 9a, and an electric wire guide holding cylinder 23 for guiding and holding the electric wire 10 that passes through the grommet main body 22 using an elastic material. It is a grommet with a wire guide holding tube part integrally formed with. It is preferable to use a rubber material such as ethylene-propylene rubber as the elastic material.
The wire guide holding tubular portion 23 includes a straight portion 23a, a bellows-like portion 23b, and an L-shaped portion 23c. The L-shaped portion 23c is connected to the grommet body 22. The linear portion 23a is provided with a positioning projection 23d for tightening the band.
[0019]
The grommet body 22 includes a small-diameter annular portion 25 that passes through the through-hole 9a and a large-diameter annular portion 26 that stops behind the through-hole 9a when the grommet body 22 is mounted in the through-hole 9a of the panel 9. A peripheral groove 27 for engaging the peripheral edge of the through hole 9a is provided on the outer periphery between the outer peripheral portion and the large-diameter annular portion 26. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter annular portion 25 is a tapered guide surface 25a. Further, on the large-diameter annular portion 26 side, a seal portion 26a for keeping the through hole 9a in a sealed state when the through hole 9a is mounted on the large diameter annular portion 26 is formed so as to be in surface contact with the panel 9 around the peripheral groove 27. . The opening of the grommet body 22 is indicated by 28.
[0020]
In the range described above, it is almost the same as the conventional one, but in the present invention, one hooking projection 30 and one or more moderation feeling projections 31 are provided on the guide surface 25a of the small-diameter annular portion 25 in the circumferential direction. At intervals. Each of the projections 30 and 31 is formed from the boundary p between the guide surface 25a and the circumferential groove 27 to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion 25, and the height of the hooking projection 30 is higher than that of the moderation feeling projection 31. In addition, the moderation sensation projection 31 has a top surface 31b shaped substantially along the taper of the guide surface 25a. The height of the hooking projections 30 may be slightly higher, but the height of the moderation projections 31 is, for example, 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in order to obtain an appropriate moderation feeling. A range between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm is appropriate. Further, in this embodiment, the hooking projections 30 are provided on the side where the wire guide holding tubular portion 23 extends (the right side in FIG. 2), and the two moderation feeling projections 31 are provided on the opposite side with an interval. I have. In each of the hooking projections 30 and the moderation feeling projections 31 in the illustrated example, rear end surfaces 30a and 31a that are boundaries P with the circumferential groove 27 are substantially vertical as shown in FIG. In addition, the moderation sensation protrusion 31 in the illustrated example also extends to the distal end surface 25 b of the small-diameter annular portion 25. Further, a circumferential groove 33 for adjusting resistance at the time of insertion is formed on an inner surface corresponding to the circumferential groove 27 for locking on the outer periphery of the grommet body 22. Further, a rod-shaped wire fixing member 34 protruding further forward from the distal end surface of the small-diameter annular portion 25 is provided integrally with the hooking projection 30.
[0021]
When attaching the grommet 21 to the panel 9, usually, the electric wire 10 is passed in advance through the electric wire guide holding tubular portion 23 and the grommet main body 22, and is fixed to the electric wire fixing member 34 with tape or the like. Next, first, only the portion of the hooking projection 30 is inserted into the through hole 9a of the panel 9, and the peripheral groove 27 of the portion of the hooking projection 30 is hooked on the edge of the through hole 9a of the panel 9, and then When the entire grommet main body 22 is pushed in with force particularly on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 4), the top surface 31b of the two moderation projections 31 slides on the periphery of the through-hole 9a, and the small-diameter annular portion The whole of 25 passes through the through hole 9a, the peripheral edge of the through hole 9a fits into the peripheral groove 27, and the grommet main body 22 is mounted in the through hole 9a of the panel 9.
[0022]
The operation when the grommet 21 is attached to the through hole 9a will be described in detail.
While the moderation projection 31 is being pushed in while being in contact with the periphery of the through hole 9a of the panel 9, the insertion resistance against the pushing of the grommet main body 22 gradually increases. When the moderation projection 31 passes through the through-hole 9a, the rear end face 31a of the moderation projection 31 is substantially vertical and immediately becomes the circumferential groove 27. Therefore, the insertion resistance rapidly disappears, and at the same time, the penetration hole 9a Is fitted into the circumferential groove 27. This sudden change in resistance provides a reliable feeling that the peripheral edge of the through hole 9a is fitted into the peripheral groove 27 without fail, that is, a moderation feeling.
Further, since the engaging circumferential groove 27 of the grommet 21 is uniform and has a sufficient depth over the entire circumference, the notch groove 19 at the portion of the locking rib 18 like the grommet 11 in FIGS. A sufficiently high holding force can be secured as compared with the case where the peripheral groove 7 has only the shallow circumferential groove 7.
[0023]
When the grommet main body 22 is mounted in the through hole 9a, the end surfaces 30a and 31a of the projections 30 and 31 do not contact the panel 9 (and do not exert a force even if they do), so that the sealing portion 26a is 9 can be brought into surface contact with a uniform sealing pressure over the entire circumference of the through hole 9a. That is, the sealing portion 26a is in close contact with the surface of the panel 9 with sufficient pressure over the entire circumference of the through hole 9a, and therefore, even if the material of the grommet 21 has deteriorated over time, the sealing performance of the grommet 21 is reliably suppressed. be able to.
Further, since the peripheral groove 33 for adjusting the resistance at the time of insertion is provided on the inner surface corresponding to the peripheral groove 27 for locking on the outer periphery, the thickness of the peripheral groove 27 for locking is thinner and the flexibility is increased, Therefore, the small-diameter annular portion 25 is easily bent, and the force required for inserting the grommet body 22 into the through-hole 9a can be reduced. Further, since the circumferential groove 33 is located on the inner surface side and is not a part in the circumferential direction but a whole circumference, a part of the shallow circumferential groove 14 (the part of the locking rib 18) as shown in FIGS. Unlike the conventional grommet 11 that is deep (notch groove 19) and is not uniform in the circumferential direction, a uniform sealing property is maintained over the entire circumference of the through hole 9a.
[0024]
In addition, since the wire fixing member 34 is provided inside the hooking projection 30, the wire 10 extending from the opening 28 of the grommet body 22 does not become an obstacle, and the grommet body 22 is inserted into the through hole 9a. Workability at the time of installation is improved.
[0025]
The number of the moderation protrusions 31 in the grommet of the present invention is not limited to two. For example, like the grommet 21A shown in FIG. 5, only one moderation projection 31 may be provided at a position 180 ° opposite to the hooking projection 30, or as in the grommet 21B shown in FIG. Three moderation projections 31 may be provided. The other parts in FIGS. 5 and 6 are the same as those in the embodiment in FIGS.
[0026]
In addition, the grommet 21 of each of the above-described embodiments has a configuration in which the wire guide holding tubular portion 23 extends in an L shape, but extends linearly in the axial direction of the grommet body 22 (right in FIG. 4). It may be configured to have a straight electric wire guide holding tubular portion that extends to the right. Further, the embodiment is a grommet with a wire guide holding tube portion provided integrally with the wire guide holding tube portion 23 on the grommet body portion 22, but there is no wire guide holding tube portion, and only the grommet body portion 22 is provided. Ordinary grommets may be used.
Further, the grommet of the present invention is to be attached to the through hole of the panel. Here, the panel does not necessarily mean a wide surface, and may be, for example, a wall of a case.
Further, the grommet of the present invention is not limited to a grommet for an automobile, and can be applied as a grommet for various uses. Moreover, what passes through the grommet is not limited to an electric wire, but may be a tube, a hose, or the like.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the grommet of the present invention, on the tapered guide surface of the small-diameter annular portion, one hooking projection and one or more moderation sensations extending from the boundary between the guide surface and the circumferential groove to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion. Since the projections are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the grommet is mounted in the through hole of the panel, the moderation projection becomes a resistance when passing through the through hole, and when the periphery of the through hole is fitted into the peripheral groove, the resistance changes sharply. A certain feeling that the peripheral edge of the through hole is definitely fitted into the groove, that is, a good moderation feeling can be obtained.
{Circle around (2)} The circumferential groove for engagement is uniform and has a sufficient depth over the entire circumference, and therefore has a shallow circumferential groove except for the notched groove at the locking rib portion as in the conventional grommet (FIGS. 11 and 12). Sufficiently high holding force can be ensured as compared with the one having only the groove.
{Circle around (3)} In a state where the grommet body is mounted in the through hole, the end face of each projection does not contact the panel (and does not exert a force even if it does), so the sealing portion extends over the entire circumference of the through hole. Surface contact can be achieved with a uniform sealing pressure, ie, close contact with sufficient pressure. Therefore, even if the material of the grommet deteriorates over time, it is possible to surely suppress the deterioration of the sealing property of the grommet.
[0028]
According to the second aspect, the function of the hooking projection and the function of the moderation projection are appropriately and effectively exerted, and a good moderation feeling when the grommet is attached can be obtained.
According to the third aspect, since the insertion resistance of the grommet into the through hole rapidly disappears, a sense of moderation at the time of mounting the grommet can be obtained more reliably.
According to the fourth aspect, when the grommet is attached to the through-hole, the initial operation of the moderation sense projection contacting the through-hole becomes smooth.
[0029]
According to the fifth aspect, since the peripheral groove for adjusting the resistance at the time of insertion is provided on the inner surface corresponding to the peripheral groove for locking on the outer periphery, the portion of the small-diameter annular portion is easily bent, and the grommet main body is formed through the through hole. This reduces the force required for insertion into the device. Further, since this circumferential groove is on the inner surface side and is not a part in the circumferential direction but the whole circumference, a conventional grommet having a circumferentially non-uniform groove in which a part of the shallow circumferential groove is deepened (FIG. 11, Unlike FIG. 12), uniform sealing properties are maintained over the entire circumference of the through hole.
[0030]
According to the sixth aspect, since the wire fixing member is provided on the inner side of the hooking projection, the wire does not become a hindrance, and the workability when mounting the grommet in the through hole is improved.
[0031]
According to the seventh aspect, the grommet body that fits into the through hole of the panel and the wire guide holding tube that guides and holds the wire to be passed through the grommet body are integrally provided. It is suitable for a grommet or the like through which a wire harness passes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grommet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of a main part of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a grommet according to another embodiment of the present invention. .
FIG. 6 is a front view of a grommet according to still another embodiment of the present invention. .
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional grommet.
FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a front view of another conventional grommet.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 11;
[Explanation of symbols]
9 Panel 9a Through-hole 10 Electric wire 21 Grommet 22 Grommet main body 23 Wire guide holding tubular portion 23a Linear portion 23b Bellows-like portion 23c L-shaped portion 23d Positioning protrusion 25 Small-diameter annular portion 25a Guide surface 25b (of small-diameter annular portion) Tip surface 26 Large-diameter annular portion 26a Seal portion 28 Opening 30 Hook projection 31 Moderation projection 31a Rear end surface 33 (of moderation sense projection) Inner surface circumferential groove 34 Wire fixing member P Boundary between guide surface and circumferential groove

Claims (7)

An outer peripheral portion between a small-diameter annular portion passing through the through-hole of the panel and a large-diameter annular portion stopping behind the through-hole is provided with a locking peripheral groove for fitting a peripheral edge of the through-hole, and the small-diameter annular portion is provided. In a grommet integrally molded with an elastic material, the outer peripheral surface of which is a tapered guide surface,
On the guide surface of the small-diameter annular portion, one hooking projection and one or more moderation-sensing projections extending from the boundary between the guide surface and the peripheral groove to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion are circumferentially spaced. A grommet characterized by being provided. 2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the hooking projection has a height higher than that of the moderation projection, and the moderation projection has a top surface substantially along the taper of the guide surface. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a rear end surface of the moderation sensation projection that is a boundary with the circumferential groove is substantially vertical. The grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the moderation sensation projection also extends to a distal end surface of the small-diameter annular portion. 5. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral groove for adjusting resistance at the time of insertion is formed on an inner surface corresponding to the peripheral groove on the outer periphery. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a rod-shaped wire fixing member projecting further forward from a tip end surface of the small-diameter annular portion is provided integrally with the hooking projection. An outer peripheral portion between a small-diameter annular portion passing through the through-hole of the panel and a large-diameter annular portion stopping behind the through-hole is provided with a locking peripheral groove for fitting a peripheral edge of the through-hole, and the small-diameter annular portion is provided. A grommet body having a tapered guide surface on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a wire guide holding portion integrally formed of an elastic material with a wire guide holding tubular portion for guiding and holding an electric wire passing through the grommet body. In the grommet,
On the guide surface of the small-diameter annular portion of the grommet main body, one hooking projection and one or more moderation sense projections extending from the boundary between the guide surface and the circumferential groove to the tip of the small-diameter annular portion are arranged in the circumferential direction. A grommet characterized by being provided at an interval.

Images