JPH09320370A - Grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate occurrence of the bending of a linear portion occurring when an elliptic grommet is fitted into the opening portion of a panel so as to be brought into close contact with the opening portion, and surely prevent the infiltration of water and the like by forming ribs on the linear portion of the grommet. SOLUTION: One pair of ribs 15 are formed as reinforcing members on the linear portion 12b inner periphery face of the base end portion 12 of a grommet which is made of rubber or the like and is composed of a base end portion 12 in the elliptical outer periphery portion of which a fitting slit is surroundedly provided and a cylinder portion 13. In the case of the fitting of the grommet to a panel 14, the linear portion 12b is compression deformed, the fitting slit 12a is fitted into an opening portion 14a, and the pressing of the linear portion 12b is released. Then, by restoring force against an inner periphery portion of the opening portion 14a, the restoring force is uniformly given to the outer periphery portion of the fitting slit 12a via the ribs 15, the linear portion can be restored to the original state without bending. Thereby, the adhesion of the opening portion 14a is heightened so that the infiltration of water or the like from the opening portion 14a can be surely prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to grommets, and more particularly, to grommets used when a wire rod bundle such as a wire harness is routed through a panel of a vehicle body, electric equipment or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a wire rod such as a wire harness is penetrated through a panel of a vehicle body or an electric device, it is necessary to prevent the wire harness from being damaged at the penetrating portion or to improve the waterproof property of the penetrating portion. Therefore, the grommet formed of an elastic member such as rubber is attached to the penetrating portion.

As this type of conventional grommet, for example, those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are known. Figure 4,
In FIG. 5, the grommet 1 is fitted into an inner peripheral portion of an oval opening 2a formed in a panel 2 of a vehicle body, electric equipment or the like, and has an oval base end portion 3 opening to the opening 2a.
A fitting groove 3a that fits into the inner peripheral portion of the opening 2a is formed on the outer circumference of the.

In order to fit this type of grommet 1 into the opening 2a, the grommet 1 is pressed in a state in which the linear portion of the base end portion 3 is pressed by hand to be compressed and deformed so that the linear portion approaches.
4A in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4A, and then the fitting groove 3a
Is fitted to the opening 2a and the pressing of the linear portion is released, whereby the fitting groove 3a is fitted into the opening 2a by the restoring force of the base end portion 3. As a result, the fitting groove 3a and the opening 2a
It is possible to prevent water and the like from coming into contact with each other through the opening 2a.

By the way, in this grommet 1,
In order to improve the adhesion between the fitting groove 3a and the opening 2a,
It is necessary to form the outer peripheral portion of the fitting groove 3a to be slightly larger in diameter than the inner peripheral portion of the opening 2a, or to make the width of the fitting groove 3a larger than the plate thickness of the panel 2. However, in the case of the former, as shown in FIG. 6, the straight portion of the base end portion 3 is bent and wrinkles are likely to occur, and the wrinkle portion causes the opening 2a.
There will be a problem that water and the like will enter. Further, in the latter case, the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral portion of the opening 2a and the outer peripheral portion of the fitting groove 3a becomes large, so that the straight portion bends and wrinkles as described above. Is likely to occur, causing a problem that water or the like enters the opening 2a from the wrinkle portion.

As a solution to such a problem, there is, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-282666. In this structure, a protrusion that protrudes toward the panel 2 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting groove 3a in a portion other than the straight portion, that is, in the curved portion, so that the fitting groove is fitted into the opening. At this time, the curved portion is firmly brought into close contact with the opening portion, and the straight portion is easily returned to the straight shape to prevent the straight portion from bending and wrinkling.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional grommet, the protrusion is provided only on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting groove in the curved portion of the base end portion, and the adhesion force between the curved portion and the panel is increased. However, in order to restore the straight part to its original state, the sliding resistance between the straight part and the panel must be reduced. There wasn't. For this reason, after the fitting, the adhesion force between the straight line portion and the opening portion cannot be made sufficient, and water or the like may enter from between the straight line portion and the opening portion.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the strength of the linear portion of the base end portion of the oval shape is positively increased so that the linear portion bends when the fitting groove is fitted into the opening of the mating member. To provide a grommet that can prevent wrinkles from occurring and can firmly prevent water and the like from entering through the opening by firmly adhering the opening and the fitting groove. It is an object.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above problems, in a grommet having an oblong base end portion around which a fitting groove that fits in the peripheral edge of the opening of the mating member is provided around the outer peripheral portion, a straight line portion of the base end portion. It is characterized in that a reinforcing member is provided in the. In that case,
When the linear portion is compressed and deformed and the fitting groove is fitted into the opening of the mating member, a restoring force is evenly applied to the outer peripheral portion of the fitting groove with respect to the inner peripheral portion of the opening, and the linear portion is It is possible to easily return to the original state, and it is possible to prevent wrinkles from being generated because the straight portion remains bent. As a result, it is possible to prevent the adhesion of the opening from being lowered, and to reliably prevent water or the like from entering through the opening.

Further, even if the sliding resistance between the panel and the fitting groove is large to some extent, the straight line portion can be surely returned to the original state, and the adhesion between the straight line portion and the panel is deteriorated. Can be prevented. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the reinforcing member comprises a rib.

In this case, the ribs can be formed on the straight line portion only by forming the grooves for forming the ribs on the mold, and the production cost of the grommet can be prevented from increasing. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the reinforcing member is divided and provided via a slit.

In this case, when the linear portion is compressed and deformed to fit the fitting groove into the opening, the reinforcing member is separated from the dividing surface as a boundary, so that the linear portion is compressed and deformed with a small force. Therefore, the work of attaching the grommet to the mating member can be easily performed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are views showing an embodiment of the grommet according to the present invention. First, the configuration will be described. 1 and 2, 11 is made of rubber or elastomer,
The grommet 11 is a grommet into which a wire bundle such as a wire harness is inserted, and the grommet 11 is composed of an elliptic base end 12 and a cylindrical part 13 protruding from the base 12. Proximal end
A fitting groove 12a is provided around the outer periphery of the fitting 12. The fitting groove 12a is provided on a panel 14 of a counterpart member such as a vehicle body or an electric device.
It is adapted to be fitted to the inner peripheral portion (peripheral edge) of the oval opening 14 formed in the. The outer diameter of the fitting groove 12a is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 14a.

A pair of ribs 15a as reinforcing members are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the linear portion (hereinafter referred to as the linear portion) 12b of the base end portion 12. The rib 15 may be integrally formed with the grommet 11, or may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the linear portion 12b after the grommet 11 is formed. Next, a method of attaching the grommet 11 to the panel 14 will be described. A wire harness (not shown) is attached to the grommet 11.

First, an operator moves the grommet 11 in the direction of the opening 14a in a state in which the linear portion 12b of the base end portion 12 of the grommet 11 is manually pressed and deformed so that the linear portion 12b approaches. After that, the fitting groove 12a is aligned with the opening 14a.
Then, by releasing the pressing of the linear portion 12b, the fitting groove 12a is fitted into the opening 14a by the restoring force of the base end portion 12.

In this embodiment, since the rib 15 is provided on the straight line portion 12b of the base end portion 12, the straight line portion 12b is compressed and deformed to fit into the fitting groove.
When 12a is fitted into the opening 14a, a restoring force is evenly applied to the outer circumference of the fitting groove 12a with respect to the inner circumference of the opening 14a,
The straight portion 14b can be easily returned to the original state,
It is possible to prevent the straight portion 14b from being bent and wrinkling. As a result, it is possible to prevent the adhesion of the opening 14a from being deteriorated, and to reliably prevent water or the like from entering through the opening 14.

Further, even if the sliding resistance between the panel 14 and the fitting groove 12a is large to some extent, the straight line portion 12b can be surely returned to the original state, and the straight line portion 12b and the panel 14 can be reliably returned.
It is possible to prevent the decrease in the adhesiveness with. Further, since the rib 15 is provided as the reinforcing member, the rib 15 can be formed on the linear portion 12b only by forming a groove for forming the rib on the mold, and the production cost of the grommet 11 can be prevented from increasing. You can

In this embodiment, the rib 15 is continuously provided on the inner peripheral portion of the base end portion 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and FIG.
It may be formed as shown in FIG. That is, the straight part
The rib 21 may be divided and provided on the 12b via the slit 22. In this case, when the linear portion 12b is compressed and deformed to fit the fitting groove 12a into the opening 14a, the rib 21 separates from the dividing surface as shown in FIG. 3B. Therefore, the linear portion 12b can be compressed and deformed with a small force, and the work of attaching the grommet 11 to the panel 14 can be easily performed.

[0019]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the straight groove is compressed and deformed to fit the fitting groove into the opening of the mating member, the fitting groove is fitted to the inner peripheral portion of the opening. It is possible to apply a restoring force evenly to the outer peripheral portion of the to straight line portion to easily return to the original state, it is possible to prevent the wrinkle from occurring while the straight portion remains bent. . As a result, it is possible to prevent the adhesion of the opening from being lowered, and to reliably prevent water or the like from entering through the opening.

Further, even if the sliding resistance between the panel and the fitting groove is large to some extent, the straight line portion can be surely returned to the original state, and the adhesion between the straight line portion and the panel is deteriorated. Can be prevented. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the rib can be formed in the straight line portion only by forming the groove for forming the rib in the mold, and it is possible to prevent the manufacturing cost of the grommet from increasing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the linear portion is compressed and deformed to fit the fitting groove into the opening, the reinforcing member is separated from the dividing surface as a boundary. It can be compressed and deformed with a small force, and the work of attaching the grommet to the counterpart member can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are views showing an embodiment of a grommet according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof.
(C) is a top view thereof.

2A is a perspective view of a grommet and a panel of one embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 (a) is a bottom view showing another aspect of the grommet, and FIG. 3 (b) is a bottom view showing a state in which a linear portion is compressed and deformed.

4A is a perspective view of a conventional grommet, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view thereof.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a conventional grommet when it is attached to a panel, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which wrinkles are generated on the straight line portion of the grommet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Grommet 12 Base end 12a Fitting groove 12b Straight part (straight part) 14 Panel (counterpart member) 14a Opening part 15, 21 Rib (reinforcing member) 22 Slit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A grommet having an oval-shaped base end portion around the outer periphery of which a fitting groove for fitting to the periphery of an oval opening portion of a mating member is provided, and a linear portion of the base end portion. A grommet characterized in that a reinforcing member is provided on the. 2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a rib. 3. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is divided and provided via a slit.