U.S. patent application number 09/783094 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for grommet.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.. Invention is credited to Akoshima, Shigeru, Kasahara, Yasuhiro, Uchida, Yoshimi.
Application Number | 20010049857 09/783094 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18562343 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uchida, Yoshimi ; et
al. |
December 13, 2001 |
Grommet
Abstract
A grommet for a wire harness is provided that includes a
small-diameter portion into which a wire harness is insertable and
which is tightly contactable with the wire harness, a
large-diameter portion having an engaging groove engageable with an
inner peripheral edge of an automobile body panel, an extending
portion extending past an end of the small-diameter portion along
an axial direction thereof, and a lip portion radially projecting
from an outer peripheral surface of the extending portion. The lip
portion tightly contacts an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole from inside when the grommet is mounted. The lip
portion has a step portion including a first face and a second face
respectively engageable with the inner peripheral surface and an
outer surface adjacent to a peripheral edge of the insertion hole.
Thus, the tightness of the seal between the grommet and a sound
insulator secured on the automobile body panel is improved.
Inventors: |
Uchida, Yoshimi;
(Yokkaichi-city, JP) ; Akoshima, Shigeru;
(Nishikamo-gun, JP) ; Kasahara, Yasuhiro;
(Kariya-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS,
LTD.
Yokkaichi City
JP
|
Family ID: |
18562343 |
Appl. No.: |
09/783094 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/2.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/05 20150115;
Y10T 16/063 20150115; B60R 16/0222 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
16/2.1 |
International
Class: |
H02G 003/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 16, 2000 |
JP |
JP2000-038640 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A grommet configured to be mounted in tight contact with a
through hole in an automobile body panel and an insertion hole in a
sound insulator secured on a surface of the automobile body panel,
said grommet comprising: a small-diameter portion into which a wire
harness is insertable, said small-diameter portion being tightly
contactable with the wire harness; a large-diameter portion that
radially extends from an outer peripheral surface of said
small-diameter portion intermediate a length in an axial direction
of said small-diameter portion, an outer peripheral surface of said
large-diameter portion having an engaging groove that is engageable
with an inner peripheral edge of the through hole; an extending
portion that extends past an end of said small-diameter portion
along said axial direction; and a lip portion radially projecting
from an outer peripheral surface of said extending portion, said
lip portion tightly contacting an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole in the sound insulator from inside when said grommet
is mounted.
2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein said lip portion
includes a step portion at a peripheral edge of said lip portion,
and said step portion includes a first face and a second face that
are elastically tightly engageable with the inner peripheral
surface and an outer surface adjacent to a peripheral edge of the
insertion hole in the sound insulator.
3. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein said extending portion
includes a seal member holding portion having a diameter larger
than a diameter of said small-diameter portion and being configured
to receive a seal member in an interior thereof, and wherein said
lip portion projects from an outer peripheral surface of said seal
member holding portion.
4. The grommet according to claim 2, wherein a length between said
engaging groove of said large-diameter portion and said step
portion of said lip portion is shorter than a thickness of the
sound insulator, and whereby, when said large-diameter portion
engages with the through hole, said lip portion is pressed toward
said engaging groove and elastically contacts the outer surface
adjacent to the peripheral edge of the insertion hole in the sound
insulator.
5. A grommet configured to be mounted in tight contact with a
through hole in an automobile body panel and an insertion hole in a
sound insulator secured on a surface of the automobile body panel,
said grommet comprising: a small-diameter cylindrical portion into
which a wire harness is insertable, said small-diameter cylindrical
portion being tightly contactable with the wire harness; a
large-diameter cylindrical portion that radially extends from an
outer peripheral surface of said small-diameter cylindrical portion
intermediate a length in an axial direction of said small-diameter
cylindrical portion, an outer peripheral surface of said
large-diameter cylindrical portion having an engaging groove that
is engageable with an inner peripheral edge of the through hole; an
extending portion that extends past an end of said small-diameter
cylindrical portion along said axial direction; and a lip portion
radially projecting from said extending portion, said lip portion
being tightly contactable with an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole in the sound insulator from inside, wherein said lip
portion includes a step portion at a peripheral edge of said lip
portion, and said step portion are elastically tightly engageable
with the inner peripheral surface and an outer surface adjacent to
a peripheral edge of the insertion hole in the sound insulator.
6. The grommet according to claim 5, wherein said extending portion
includes a seal member holding portion having a diameter larger
than a diameter of said small-diameter cylindrical portion and
being configured to receive a seal member in an interior thereof,
and wherein said lip portion projects from an outer peripheral
surface of said seal member holding portion.
7. The grommet according to claim 5, wherein a length between said
engaging groove of said large-diameter cylindrical portion and said
step portion of said lip portion is shorter than a thickness of the
sound insulator, and whereby, when said large-diameter cylindrical
portion engages with the through hole, said lip portion is pressed
toward said engaging groove and elastically contacts the outer
surface adjacent to the peripheral edge of the insertion hole in
the sound insulator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a grommet mounted to an automobile
body panel of an automobile. In particular, this invention improves
tightness between the grommet and a sound insulator secured to the
automobile body panel.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A sound insulator to prevent a noise is secured to an
automobile body panel that divides an engine compartment and a
passenger compartment of an automobile. A wire harness extending
between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment is
mounted through a through hole in the automobile body panel and
through an insertion hole into the sound insulator. When the wire
harness is mounted, in order to ensure waterproofness and
soundproofness between the engine compartment and the passenger
compartment, a grommet disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 11-150837 is used, for example.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 5(A), the grommet 1 is provided with a
small-diameter portion 2, in which the wire harness W/H is
inserted, a large-diameter portion 3 having an engaging groove 3a
to engage with a through hole Pa in an automobile body panel P, a
seal member holding portion 4, in which seal member M can be
filled, and a lip portion 5 that tightly contacts the area
surrounding a peripheral edge of an insertion hole Sa of a sound
insulator S from the outside (right side in FIG. 5(A)). Since the
lip portion 5 closes the insertion hole Sa, noise is prevented from
intruding through an area where the sound insulator S does not
exist. Further, since the lip portion 5 is spaced from the
large-diameter portion 3 and is independent from the large-diameter
portion 3, the lip portion 5 is easily elastically extensible.
Accordingly, in the event that the grommet 1 is mounted in the
through hole Pa, when the entire grommet 1 is pushed into the
through hole Pa from the engine compartment side E toward the
passenger compartment side R, the lip portion 5 having a
large-diameter does not become an obstacle.
[0006] However, as shown in FIG. 5(B), due to a mounting route of
the wire harness W/H, the wire harness W/H might be mounted in a
condition in which the wire harness W/H is bent and inclines in one
direction away from the axial direction of the grommet 1. In this
condition, the small-diameter portion 2 and the seal member holding
portion 4 also incline with the wire harness W/H, and thus, the lip
portion 5 is pressed in the same direction, as well. As a result,
since the lip portion 5 only contacts at the area surrounding the
peripheral edge of the insertion hole Sa from the outside, the lip
portion 5 at the side opposite to the direction in which the wire
harness W/H inclines might become separated from the peripheral
edge of the insertion hole Sa, and thus, a gap X might occur. The
gap X might become a factor that deteriorates soundproofness of the
assembly.
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is provided in view of
the above-described problem, and an objective of the present
invention is to prevent the lip portion from separating from the
area surrounding the insertion hole of the sound insulator, and to
close the lip portion tightly, even if the wire harness inserted
into the grommet inclines and is bent when mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To achieve the above and/or other goals, the present
invention provides a grommet configured to be mounted in tight
contact with a through hole in an automobile body panel and an
insertion hole in a sound insulator secured on a surface of the
automobile body panel. The grommet includes a small-diameter
portion into which a wire harness is insertable and that is tightly
contactable with the wire harness, and a large-diameter portion
that radially extends from an outer peripheral surface of the
small-diameter portion intermediate a length in an axial direction
of the small-diameter portion. An outer peripheral surface of the
large-diameter portion has an engaging groove that is engageable
with an inner peripheral edge of the through hole. The grommet
further includes an extending portion that extends past an end of
the small-diameter portion along the axial direction, and a lip
portion radially projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the
extending portion. The lip portion is tightly contactable with an
inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole in the sound
insulator from inside.
[0009] Preferably, the lip portion includes a step portion at the
peripheral edge of the lip portion. The step portion is elastically
tightly engageable with the inner peripheral surface and an end
face adjacent to a peripheral edge of the insertion hole.
[0010] According to the construction described above, since the lip
portion (or step portion thereof) projects in a direction toward
the insertion hole of the sound insulator and the step portion is
provided to elastically tightly contact the inner peripheral
surface as well as the outer surface of the sound insulator, the
desired result of tightly closing the insertion hole can be
achieved. Accordingly, when the wire harness inserted into the
grommet is bent in one direction and to have a curved portion
mounted, and as a result, the small-diameter portion is also bent
in the one direction and the grommet tends to become slightly
separated from the outer surface adjacent to the insertion hole in
the sound insulator, the grommet maintains the insertion hole
tightly closed due to the engagement of the step portion with the
inner peripheral surface.
[0011] It is possible that the extending portion includes a seal
member holding portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of
the small-diameter portion and is configured to receive a seal
member in an interior thereof, and the lip portion projects from an
outer peripheral surface of the seal member holding portion.
According to this construction, the seal member inserted into the
seal member holding portion can improve waterproofness of the wire
harness. In addition, when the wire harness is bent, the seal
member holding portion contacts the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole of the sound insulator via the step portion of the
lip portion. Accordingly, the wire harness can be prevented from
being bent excessively.
[0012] Preferably, a length between the engaging groove of the
large-diameter portion and the step portion of the lip portion is
shorter than a thickness of the sound insulator. When the
large-diameter cylindrical portion engages with the through hole,
the lip portion is pressed toward the engaging groove and
elastically contacts the outer surface adjacent to the peripheral
edge of the insertion hole in the sound insulator. According to
this construction, the lip portion is mounted in the insertion hole
of the sound insulator in a condition that a tensile force is
applied in a direction closing the insertion hole (i.e. toward the
engaging groove). Thus, the effectiveness of the lip portion to
close the insertion hole against bending of the wire harness can be
improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention is further described in the detailed
description which follows, with reference to the noted plurality of
drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments
of the present invention, in which like reference numerals
represent similar parts throughout the several views of the
drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a grommet
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grommet according to
the embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a condition
when the grommet is mounted to an automobile body panel;
[0017] FIG. 3(B) is an enlarged partial view of a lip portion in
the condition of FIG. 3(A);
[0018] FIG. 4(A) is a cross sectional view illustrating a condition
when the grommet is mounted to the automobile body panel in a
condition that the wire harness inclines;
[0019] FIGS. 4(B) and 4(C) are enlarged partial views illustrating
lip portions in the condition of FIG. 4(A); and
[0020] FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are views illustrating a conventional
grommet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Embodiments of the present invention are explained in the
following with reference to figures. FIGS. 1-4(C) illustrate a
grommet according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
grommet 11 is made of a resilient material, such as a rubber or
elastomer, and is provided with a small-diameter cylindrical
portion 12, into which a wire harness W/H can be inserted and which
tightly contacts the wire harness W/H. The grommet includes a
large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 that engages with a through
hole Pa provided in an automobile body panel P, and a lip portion
15 that can tightly contact an insertion hole Sa of a sound
insulator S. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 12, the
large-diameter cylindrical 13 and the lip portion 15 are
sequentially arranged in this order in the axial direction of the
grommet. In this embodiment, the sound insulator S includes a sound
absorber Sb, which is made of felt, for example, and a cover layers
Sc, which is made of vinyl chloride, for example.
[0022] The large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 radially extends
from the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical
portion 12 substantially at the center in the axial direction, so
as to form a tapered-shape that is gradually enlarged toward the
lip portion 15. The large-diameter portion 13 and the
small-diameter portion 12 are unitarily formed as one piece. The
engaging groove 13a is provided in an outer peripheral surface of
the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 adjacent the end so as to
engage with an inner peripheral edge of the through hole Pa. One
end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 12 is provided with
extending portion 12a that extends through the interior of the
large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 in the axial direction
thereof, and is spaced from the large-diameter cylindrical portion
13. Another end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 12
extends in the direction opposite to the extending portion 12a to
form a fixing portion 12c, which is fixed to the wire harness W/H
by using tape T.
[0023] The extending portion 12a is provided with a seal member
holding portion 14 extending from the end of the extending portion
12a in the axial direction, and has a diameter that gradually
enlarges to an outer end. The seal member holding portion 14 is
formed so that a seal member M can be inserted therein. One end of
the seal member holding portion 14 is provided with an insertion
opening 14a that inclines outwardly so that the diameter thereof is
gradually enlarged.
[0024] The lip portion 15 projects radially from the outer
peripheral surface of the seal member holding portion 14 so as to
engage with an inner peripheral surface of an insertion hole Sa of
the sound insulator S from the inside. The lip portion 15 and the
seal member holding portion 14 are unitarily formed as one piece.
The outer peripheral end of the lip portion 15 is provided with a
step portion 15a including a first pressing contact surface 15a1
that can tightly and elastically contact an inner peripheral
surface of a peripheral edge of the insertion hole Sa, and a second
pressing contact surface 15a2 that can elastically and tightly
contact the outer surface of the sound insulator around the
peripheral edge of the insertion hole Sa. Further, the lip portion
15, in a normal condition before mounting, is formed so that the
length L1 from the contact surface between the engaging groove 13a
of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 and the automobile
body panel P to an inner surface of the second pressing contact
surface 15a2 at the step portion 15a is set to be shorter than the
thickness L2 of the sound insulator S, for example, about 4 mm.
According to the above construction, when the grommet 11 is
inserted into and engaged with the insertion hole Pa of the
automobile body panel P, the step portion 15a of the lip portion 15
is elastically pressed in the direction of the engaging groove 13a
and contacts the peripheral edge of the insertion hole Sa of the
sound insulator S. Note that, the reference numeral 16 in FIG. 3(A)
indicates an additional path, such as a spare path for inserting a
tube, such as a windshield washer hose.
[0025] When the grommet 11 having the above construction is mounted
to an automobile body panel P, in a manner similar to a usual
(conventional) mounting operation, first, the diameters of the
large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 and the lip portion 15 of the
grommet 11 mounted around the outer periphery of the wire harness
W/H are contracted, and inserted from the engine compartment side E
to the passenger compartment side R. Then, by pulling the wire
harness W/H toward the engine compartment side E, as shown in FIG.
3(A), the engaging groove 13a of the large-diameter cylindrical
portion 13 engages with the insertion hole Pa of the automobile
body panel P. At the same time, the step portion 15a of the lip
portion 15 tightly contacts the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole Sa and the outer surface around the peripheral edge
of the insertion hole Sa of the sound insulator S, to engage with
one another.
[0026] When the grommet 11 is mounted, since the length L1 between
the engaging groove 13a and the step portion 15a is set to be
shorter than the thickness L2 of the sound insulator S, as shown in
FIG. 3(B), the base portion 15b of the lip portion 15 inclines
toward the right side of the drawing against the elasticity, from
the position (condition) shown by the two-dot chain line.
Accordingly, due to the effect of the elastic recovery force of the
base portion 15b of the lip portion 15, the first pressing contact
surface 15a1 and the second pressing contact surface 15a2 are
elastically pressed toward the inner peripheral surface and the
outer surface around the peripheral edge of the insertion hole Sa,
respectively, so as to tightly contact each other.
[0027] When the wire harness is mounted in a normal condition, the
step portion 15a of the lip portion 15 tightly closes the insertion
hole Sa, as described above. However, as shown in FIG. 4(A), when
the wire harness W/H is bent in one direction and mounted with a
curved portion, the following condition occurs. At the side toward
which the wire harness W/H inclines, as shown in FIG. 4(C), the
base portion 15b of the lip portion 15 is further bent, and as a
result, the second pressing contact surface 15a2 tightly contacts
the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole Sa. On the other
hand, at the opposite side, as shown in FIG. 4(B), application of
the elastic force by the base portion 15b of the lip portion 15
decreases, and the second pressing contact surface 15a2 is slightly
separated from the outer surface around the peripheral edge of the
insertion hole Sa. However, the first pressing contact surface 15a1
maintains tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion hole Sa. Accordingly, the insertion hole Sa is closed
tightly and perfectly, and thus the sound insulation is
maintained.
[0028] Further, since the seal member holding portion 14 is filled
with a solid seal material M, which may be any suitable sealing
material, for example, a mold resilient seal or a curable liquid
sealant, and when the wire harness W/H is bent, the outer
peripheral surface of the seal member holding portion 14 contacts
the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole Sa via the lip
portion 15. Accordingly, excessive inclination of the grommet to
the extent that the step portion 15a is separated from the
insertion hole Sa, is prevented.
[0029] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the lip
portion 15 is formed to extend from the seal member holding portion
14. However, it is possible to have a construction without the seal
member holding portion 14 and to form the lip portion 15 directly
extending from the small-diameter cylindrical portion 12.
Additionally, the base portion 15b of the lip portion 15 can extend
perpendicular to, or can be inclined with respect to, the axial
direction of the grommet in a normal condition (before mounting).
Further, the angle between the first pressing contact surface 15a1
and the second pressing contact surface 15a2 of the step portion
15a can be a right angle, or can be set to form a positional
relationship of an obtuse angle when considering the engaging
condition with the insertion hole Sa.
[0030] As clearly described above, according to the grommet of the
present invention, even if the wire harness is mounted to have a
curved portion, and inclines to some extent in one direction with
respect to the axial direction, the grommet can constantly and
securely maintain a tight contact with the insertion hole by the
step portion of the lip portion. Accordingly, a gap between the lip
portion and the sound insulator is prevented from being formed, and
thus, the noise insulating effect does not decrease.
[0031] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided
merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be
construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present
invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments,
it is understood that the words which have been used herein are
words of description and illustration, rather than words of
limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended
claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects.
Although the present invention has been described herein with
reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the
present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all
functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are
within the scope of the appended claims.
[0032] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in priority Japanese Application No. 2000-38640, filed on Feb. 16,
2000, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
* * * * *