JPH10117418A - Bellows grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent extension of a bellows part at the time of extending the diameter of the bellows with a grommet switch for prevention of damage caused by an extension to insert a wire harness into a bellows grommet. SOLUTION: Bands 15, 16 are formed integrally with the first fitted part 13 provided at the end part on one side of a bellows part 12 and bent to be engaged with the engagement protrusions 24, 25 of the second fitted part 14 on the other side. The bands 15, 16 are shorter than the bellows part 12, and therefore, the length of the bellows part 12 is reduced. Even if the diameter of the bellows part 12 is increased by a grommet switch 5, the bands 15, 16 restrain the bellows 12 from extending, so that, it is possible to prevent damages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bellows grommet for protecting a wire harness routed between panels of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wire harness is routed over a vehicle body panel and a door panel in order to supply electric power to the inside of a door of an automobile. A bellows grommet is used to protect the wire harness from vibration and condensation. I have.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional structure of a grommet. The grommet 1 has a hollow cylindrical bellows portion 2 and first and second mounting portions 3 and 4 integrally formed at both ends of the bellows portion, and is entirely formed of rubber. The bellows portion 2 has a wire harness (not shown) inserted therein so as to cover and protect the wire harness, and is capable of extending and contracting so as to follow the opening and closing operation of the door.
The mounting portions 3 and 4 are formed in a large-diameter flange shape, and the first mounting portion 3 is fitted and fixed in an insertion hole (not shown) of a wire harness formed in the vehicle body panel, and the second mounting portion 3 is fixed. The mounting portion 4 is fitted and fixed in an insertion hole (not shown) of a wire harness formed in the door panel.

The bellows portion 2 covers the wire harness in a tight state, so that the wire harness is inserted into the bellows portion 2 while the length of the bellows portion 2 is reduced. This is performed by expanding the diameter of the part 2.

FIG. 7 shows a grommet switch 5 used for the diameter expansion, and four diameter expansion pins 7 protrude from the front end face of the main body 6. By operating the main body 6, the diameter-enlarging pin 7 spirally moves the tip end surface of the main body 6 outward to move away from each other, and this movement causes the bellows 2 to expand in diameter from the inside.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the bellows grommet 1 is expanded, in which the length of the bellows portion 2 is reduced, and in this state, the expanding pin 7 of the grommet switch 5 is inserted into the bellows portion 2. Then, the main body 6 of the grommet switch 5 is operated to separate the diameter-enlarging pins 7 from each other, thereby expanding the bellows portion 2 of the bellows grommet 1. In this expanded state, the wire harness is passed through the bellows portion 2 from the first mounting portion 3.

[0007]

However, when the diameter of the bellows portion 2 is expanded by the grommet switch 5, there is a disadvantage that the bellows portion 2 extends. Due to this elongation, as shown in FIG. 9, there is a problem that the distal end portion of the diameter-enlarging pin 7 breaks through the middle portion of the bellows portion 2 and damages the bellows portion 2. This is because the diameter-enlarging pin 7 is shorter than the length of the bellows portion 2,
It is conceivable that the diameter-enlarging pin 7 is lengthened to prevent the bellows portion 2 from sticking. However, if the diameter-enlarging pin 7 is made longer than necessary, the stress for diameter expansion is insufficient and the diameter is sufficiently expanded. The diameter cannot be increased, and the merit of using the grommet switch 5 is lost.

FIG. 10 shows a bellows grommet 1 described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-128348, in which the bellows portion 2 is inclined with respect to the mounting portions 3 and 4 at both ends. Even in this case, when the diameter of the bellows portion 2 is expanded by the grommet switch, the expanding pin pierces the bellows portion 2 and damages the bellows portion, and this is not a fundamental solution.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and provides a bellows grommet having a structure that does not damage the bellows when the bellows is expanded by a grommet switch. The purpose is to:

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a hollow cylindrical bellows portion through which a wire harness is inserted, and connected to both ends of the bellows portion and fixed to a panel. A band that is provided to extend from one of the mounting portions, is bent in the direction of the other mounting portion, and has a tip that engages with the other mounting portion to reduce the length of the bellows portion. It is characterized by having.

The band is bent in the direction of the other mounting portion,
When the band is engaged with the attachment portion, the band restrains the extension of the bellows portion. For this reason, even if the bellows portion is expanded by the grommet switch, the bellows portion does not extend, and the expanding pin of the grommet switch does not stick into the middle portion of the bellows portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, at least one pair of the bands is provided.

By providing a pair of bands or more, the force for restraining the bellows portion from expanding is increased, and the expansion can be more reliably prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a locking portion for locking the band by holding the leading end of the band is formed on one of the mounting portions. It is characterized by having.

By locking the tip of the band to one of the mounting portions, the band is bent and does not move freely. Therefore, there is no hindrance in storing and transporting the bellows grommet.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a locking portion is provided on one of the mounting portions, the locking portion for locking the tip of the band to maintain the bent state of the band. The band is characterized in that the band is formed with ribs which are exposed on the outer surface of the band in a bent state and serve as guides for a fixing tape wound around the wire harness.

When the tip of the band is locked by the locking portion of the one mounting portion, the rib is exposed on the outer surface of the band,
This rib can be used as a guide for the fixing tape.
Therefore, winding of the fixing tape can be performed reliably and easily.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein an engaging projection is formed on the other mounting portion, and the engaging hole engages with the engaging projection. Is formed in the band, and this engaging hole can also be locked to the locking portion of one of the mounting portions.

Since the engagement holes of the band can be engaged with both the engagement projections of the other mounting portion and the locking portions of the one mounting portion, it is necessary to form holes corresponding to these. In addition, the strength of the band can be prevented from lowering due to the formation of a large number of holes.

[0020]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bellows grommet 11 in a free state, and FIG. FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a modified embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounted state to an automobile.

In these figures, bellows grommet 11
The bellows portion 12 and the first mounting portions 1 at both ends of the bellows portion 12
It comprises a third and second mounting portion 14 and a pair of bands 15 and 16, and is entirely formed of an insulating elastic material such as rubber.

The bellows portion 12 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape.
The wire harness 17 (see FIG. 4) in which the electric wires are bundled is inserted inside to protect the inserted wire harness 17.
The bellows 12 is covered so as to be in close contact with the wire harness 17 to be inserted. The bellows portion 12 is expandable and contractable, and can follow the opening and closing of the door of the automobile by the expansion and contraction.

The mounting portions 13 and 14 are formed in a flange shape having a diameter larger than that of the bellows portion 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the first mounting portion 13 is formed of a wire harness formed on a vehicle body panel 18 of an automobile. The second mounting portion 14 is fitted and fixed in the insertion hole of the wire harness formed in the door panel 19 while being fitted and fixed in the insertion hole.

The pair of bands 15 and 16 have bendable flexibility and are integrally formed at positions facing the first mounting portion 13 on the vehicle body panel side. Band 15, 1
6 are provided so as to extend from the first mounting portion 13 in the length direction of the bellows portion 12, and the free ends 15 a, 1 a
6a is wide, and engagement holes 20 and 21 are formed at the roots of the tips 15a and 16a, respectively.

The pair of bands 15 and 16 have a length shorter than the length of the bellows portion 12 in a free state, and thereby the bands 15 and 16 are bent so that the engagement holes 20 and
When the second mounting portion 14 is engaged with the second mounting portion 14, the length of the bellows portion 12 can be reduced as shown in FIG.

Each of the bands 15 and 16 has a rib 2
2, 23 are formed. Ribs 2 and 23 are band 1
5 and 16, the tips 15a, 16
a, and the bands 15, 1
When the wire 6 is bent, it is exposed on the outer surfaces of the bands 15, 16 as shown in FIGS.

With respect to such bands 15 and 16, the second
On the outer surface of the mounting portion 14, engagement projections 24 and 25 with which the engagement holes 20 and 21 are engaged are formed, and the bands 15 and 16 are bent so that the engagement holes 20 and 21 are 25, as shown in FIG.
The free states of the bellows 5 and 16 are restrained, and the length of the bellows 12 can be reduced.

Further, on the outer surface of the first mounting portion 13, projection-like locking portions 26, 27 for locking the engaging holes 20, 21 of the bands 16, 16 are formed. 3 to 5 by locking the engagement holes 20 and 21 with 26 and 27, respectively.
As shown in (1), the bands 15 and 16 are bent and cannot move freely.

Next, a method of using this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a case where the grommet switch 5 is used to insert the wire harness 17.
The pair of bands 15, 16 are bent in the direction of the second mounting portion 14, and the engagement holes 20, 2,
1 is engaged with the engagement protrusions 24 and 25 of the second mounting portion 14. By this engagement, the bands 15 and 16 are restrained in a free state, but are shorter than the bellows portion 12,
Is reduced in length. In this state, the expanding pin 7 of the grommet switch 5 is inserted into the bellows section 12, and the operation of the main body section 6 causes the expanding pins 7 to be separated from each other, thereby expanding the bellows section 12.

When the diameter of the bellows portion 12 is increased, the band 15
Since the 16 engagement holes 20 and 21 are engaged with the engagement protrusions 24 and 25 of the second mounting portion 14, the bellows portion 12 does not inadvertently extend, and the portion where the enlarged diameter pin 7 extends The bellows portion 12 is not damaged by being pierced. Therefore,
The wire harness 17 can be smoothly inserted.

In this embodiment, a pair of bands 15 and 16 are provided at opposing positions to prevent the bellows portion 12 from being extended by the restraining force of the pair of bands 15 and 16, so that the extension can be surely prevented. Note that the number of bands may be three or more, and if the elongation can be reliably prevented, one band may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the bellows grommet 11 is stored or transported, and the bands 15 and 16 are attached to the first mounting portion 1.
Bending in three directions, the engagement holes 20 and 21 are
3 is locked by the locking portions 26 and 27. By this locking, the bands 15 and 16 are kept in a bent state and a free state is restrained, and the entire length is shortened. Therefore, the bands 15 and 16 can be easily stored and transported without careless movement. it can.

FIG. 4 shows a state where the wire harness 17 is inserted through the bellows grommet 11, and the engagement holes 20 and 21 of the bands 15 and 16 are
7 This locking causes the distal halves of the bands 15, 16 to be inverted, so that the ribs 22, 23 are exposed. The fixing tape 28 can be wound around the bands 15 and 16 as a guide around the ribs 22 and 23.
Therefore, the fixing tape 28 can be wound smoothly and without any deviation.

FIG. 5 shows that the first mounting portion 13 is attached to the vehicle body panel 1.
8 and the second mounting portion 14 is fixed to the vehicle body with the door panel 19 fixed. Even if the door panel 19 moves due to opening and closing of the door, the bellows portion 12 expands and contracts and follows. 17 can be reliably protected.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the band is bent in the direction of the other mounting portion and engaged with the band, so that the band restrains the expansion of the bellows portion. Therefore, the bellows portion is expanded by the grommet switch. Even if the diameter is increased, the bellows portion does not extend, and the expanding pin of the grommet switch does not stick into the middle portion of the bellows portion, so that damage can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a pair of bands or more are provided, the force for restraining the bellows portion from expanding is increased, and the stretching can be reliably prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the band is restrained in a bent state by locking the tip of the band to one of the mounting portions and does not move freely, the bellows grommet can be stored, It does not interfere with transportation.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the rib is exposed on the outer surface of the band by locking the tip of the band to the locking portion of the one mounting portion, and this rib is used as a guide for the fixing tape. Therefore, the winding of the fixing tape can be performed reliably and easily.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the engagement hole of the band can be engaged with both the engagement protrusion of the other attachment portion and the engagement portion of the one attachment portion, It is not necessary to form corresponding holes, and the strength of the band does not decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bellows grommet in a free state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bellows portion of the embodiment in an expanded state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment during storage and transportation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment when a wire harness is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention attached to an automobile.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional bellows grommet.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a grommet switch.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional bellows grommet in an expanded state.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a problem of the conventional bellows grommet.

FIG. 10 is a front view of another conventional bellows grommet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Bellows grommet 12 Bellows part 13 First mounting part 14 Second mounting part 15 16 Band 17 Wire harness 18 Body panel 19 Door panel 20 21 Engagement hole 22 23 Rib 24 25 Engagement projection 26 27 Engagement part 28 Fixing tape

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A hollow cylindrical bellows portion through which a wire harness is inserted, a flange-like mounting portion connected to both ends of the bellows portion and fixed to a panel, and provided to extend from one of the mounting portions. At the same time, it is bent in the direction of the other mounting part,
A bellows grommet comprising: a band having a tip engaged with the other mounting portion to reduce the length of the bellows portion. 2. The bellows grommet according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of said bands is provided. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein a locking portion that locks a leading end of the band to hold a bent state of the band is formed on one of the mounting portions. And the bellows grommet. 4. The band according to claim 1, wherein a locking portion for locking a tip of the band to hold a bent state of the band is formed on one of the attachment portions, and the bent state of the band. A bellows grommet, wherein ribs are formed on the band so as to be exposed on the outer surface of the band and guide the fixing tape wound around the wire harness. 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein an engagement protrusion is formed on the other mounting portion, and an engagement hole for engaging with the engagement protrusion is formed on the band. And
The bellows grommet is characterized in that the engagement hole can also be locked to a locking portion of one of the mounting portions.