Grommet and wire harness

Abstract

The invention provides a grommet and a wire harness capable of appropriately preventing a branch portion of a wiring material from being exposed to the outside. A grommet (1) is provided with: a main body part (2) into which a wiring material (W) can be inserted in the axial direction (X); and a housing section (3) that protrudes from one end of the body section (2) in the axial direction (X), intersects the axial direction (X), is formed in a first branching direction (Y) and a second branching direction (Z) that are different from each other, and houses a branching section (Wa) of the wiring material (W). The accommodating part (3) is provided with a cover-shaped part (10), the cover-shaped part (10) can open and close a slit (13) formed from a first opening end (15) to a second opening end (16), the slit (13) is in a closed state in the accommodating state, and the cover-shaped part (10) covers the branch part (Wa). The cover-shaped part (10) is provided with a locking hole (17) which is locked with a locking projection (21) arranged on the main body part (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to grommets and wire harnesses. Background Art

[0002] In conventional grommets, there has been provided a grommet that ensures the waterproofness of a branched portion of a wiring material and is easy to assemble (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-46616 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in conventional grommets, it has been difficult to wind a tape around the central portion of a lid-like portion that covers a branched portion of a wiring material, and thus this winding operation has not been performed. On the other hand, the central portion of the lid-like portion that has not been tape-wound slightly opens, for example, during the laying operation of a wire harness, and there is a possibility that the branched portion of the wiring material is exposed to the outside. Therefore, there is room for improvement.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a grommet and a wire harness that can appropriately prevent a branched portion of a wiring material from being exposed to the outside.

[0009] Technical Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a grommet according to the present invention is characterized by including:

[0011] a main body portion that fits into a through hole that penetrates an object to be installed in the axial direction and seals the through hole, and the main body portion can axially insert a wiring material therein; and a housing portion that protrudes from one end of the main body portion in the axial direction, is formed to face two different directions that intersect the axial direction, and houses a branched portion of the wiring material. The housing portion has: a first open end that guides a first wiring material branched from the branched portion in one of the two directions when the branched portion is housed in the housing portion; a second open end that guides a second wiring material branched from the branched portion in the other of the two directions in the housed state; and a lid-like portion that is formed to be able to open and close a slit formed from the first open end to the second open end, and in the housed state, the slit is in a closed state and the lid-like portion covers the branched portion, and the lid-like portion has a locking hole that locks with a locking protrusion provided on the main body portion.

[0012] Advantages of the Invention

[0013] The grommet and the wire harness according to the present invention have the effect of being able to appropriately prevent the branched portion of the wiring material housed in the grommet from being exposed to the outside. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet and the wire harness of the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet of the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a partially enlarged view showing a schematic structure of the locking structure of the lid portion in the grommet of the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet of a modified example of the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the locking structure of the lid portion in the grommet of a modified example of the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing a temporary locking state of the lid portion in the grommet of a modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the constituent elements in the following embodiments include elements that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, or substantially the same elements, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0021] [Embodiment]

[0022] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet and the wire harness of the embodiment. Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet of the embodiment. Figure 3 It is a partially enlarged view showing a schematic structure of the locking structure of the lid portion in the grommet of the embodiment.

[0023] As Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the grommet 1 of the present embodiment is assembled to a wire harness WH disposed in a vehicle or the like. Here, the wire harness WH bundles a plurality of wiring materials W for power supply and signal communication as an integrated component for connection between various devices mounted on the vehicle, and connects the plurality of wiring materials W to the respective devices through connectors or the like. The wire harness WH includes: a conductive wiring material W and a grommet 1 provided on the wiring material W and through which the wiring material W is inserted. In addition, the wire harness WH may also be configured to further include various components such as an outer packaging component such as a corrugated pipe, a resin tape, a protector, an electrical connection box, and a fixing member.

[0024] In addition, in the following description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, in the illustrated X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, the X direction is set as the "axial direction X", the Y direction is set as the "first branch direction Y", and the Z direction is set as the "second branch direction Z". The axial direction X, the first branch direction Y, and the second branch direction Z intersect with each other. The axial direction X corresponds to the thickness direction of the illustrated mounting panel 100 and corresponds to the insertion direction of the wiring material W and the grommet 1 with respect to the through hole 101. The first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z are directions that intersect with the axial direction X and are different from each other. The first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z may also be directions along each other. In addition, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description is described in the state where the grommet 1 is assembled to the mounting panel 100.

[0025] The wiring material W is formed of, for example, a wire bundle formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires. The electric wire is formed by covering the outside of a conductor portion (core wire) formed of a plurality of conductive metal wire materials with an insulating covering portion. The wiring material W as a whole has flexibility and softness. The wiring material W is composed of a main line WM, a branch portion Wa, a first wiring material W1, and a second wiring material W2.

[0026] The main line WM is a part of the wiring in Figure 1 one of the two spaces divided by the illustrated mounting panel 100. The main line WM is led out to one space side from an opening portion (not shown) provided on one side in the axial direction X of the grommet 1. The main line WM is fixed to the grommet 1 by winding an unillustrated belt member.

[0027] The branch portion Wa is a part where the main line WM branches into two directions, namely, the first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z, and is accommodated inside the grommet 1.

[0028] The first wiring material W1 is equivalent to a branch line for the main line WM. It is formed by extending from the branch portion Wa along the first branch direction Y and is a part that is routed in the other space divided by the mounting panel 100 as a boundary. The first wiring material W1 is led out from the first opening 11 provided on one side of the grommet 1 in the first branch direction Y to the other space side. The portion of the first wiring material W1 led out from the first opening 11 is wound together with a part of the grommet 1 by the belt member T. That is, the grommet 1 winds the belt member T from the first wiring material W1 to the grommet 1 along both sides of the first branch direction Y with the first opening 11 as the center, thereby fixing the first wiring material W1 to the grommet 1.

[0029] The second wiring material W2 is equivalent to a branch line for the main line WM. It is formed by extending from the branch portion Wa along the second branch direction Z and is a part that is routed in the other space divided by the mounting panel 100 as a boundary. The second wiring material W2 is led out from the second opening 12 provided on one side of the grommet 1 in the second branch direction Z to the other space side. The portion of the second wiring material W2 led out from the first opening 11 is wound together with a part of the grommet 1 by the belt member T. That is, the grommet 1 winds the belt member T from the second wiring material W2 to the grommet 1 along both sides of the second branch direction Z with the second opening 12 as the center, thereby fixing the second wiring material W2 to the grommet 1.

[0030] The grommet 1 is applied to the through hole 101 when routing the wiring material W across the two spaces divided by the mounting panel 100 via the through hole 101 formed in the mounting panel 100 to be mounted. The mounting panel 100 is, for example, a metal plate constituting the vehicle body, etc., and the through hole 101 penetrates the mounting panel 100 along the plate thickness direction. The two spaces divided by the mounting panel 100 are typically the interior space of the vehicle (e.g., the passenger compartment) and the exterior space of the vehicle (e.g., the engine compartment). And, the grommet 1 is assembled to the through hole 101 in a state of being inserted through the wiring material W of the wire harness WH and being externally mounted around the wiring material W, thereby protecting the wiring material W passing through the through hole 101 and preventing water leakage (waterproofing) of the through hole 101. In addition to waterproofing the through hole 101, the grommet 1 also has functions such as dust prevention and sound insulation.

[0031] Specifically, as Figure 1 、 Figure 2As shown, the grommet 1 of the present embodiment is a sealing member that is inserted through the wiring material W along the axial direction X inside and can prevent water leakage between it and the through-hole 101 of the mounting panel 100. The grommet 1 is configured to include: a main body portion 2 mounted on the mounting panel 100; and a housing portion 3 that houses the branched portion Wa of the wiring material W, and they are integrally formed as an elastomer. The grommet 1 is formed of an insulating elastic resin material with low rigidity and high flexibility such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (for example, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), etc.).

[0032] The main body portion 2 is a portion that fits into the through-hole 101 penetrating the mounting panel 100 along the axial direction X to prevent water leakage from the through-hole 101, and can insert the wiring material W through it along the axial direction X. The main body portion 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the axial direction X as the central axis. The main body portion 2 has a cylindrical space (not shown) that extends in the axial direction X and through which the wiring material W is inserted, and a locking projection 21.

[0033] As Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the locking projection 21 is a portion that protrudes outward from the main body portion 2 and locks the lid-shaped portion 10 that constitutes the housing portion 3. The locking projection 21 is formed on the main body fitting portion 2a, which is a portion on the side of the housing portion 3 in the axial direction X provided on the main body portion 2. The locking projection 21 has a locking portion 22 that locks into the locking hole 17. The locking portion 22 is inserted through the locking hole 17 formed in the lid-shaped portion 10 of the housing portion 3, and by locking with the locking hole 17, the lid-shaped portion 10 that constitutes the housing portion 3 is fixed to the main body portion 2. In the state where the locking portion 22 is inserted through the locking hole 17, it fits into the inside of the notch 17a provided in the locking hole 17. The locking portion 22 has folding portions 22a on both sides in the width direction of the locking projection 21 as Figure 3 shown.

[0034] A pair of folding portions 22a are respectively formed to fold back from the end in the extending direction of the locking portion 22 toward the main body fitting portion 2a side. As Figure 3 shown, in the state where the locking projection 21 is engaged with the notch 17a of the locking hole 17, the pair of folding portions 22a sandwich the locking hole forming portions 14 formed in the lid-shaped portion 10 of the housing portion 3 between the end on the main body fitting portion 2a side in the extending direction of the locking portion 22 and the main body fitting portion 2a.

[0035] The main body fitting portion 2a is a portion that, in the housing state where the branched portion Wa of the wiring material W is housed in the housing portion 3, a part or all of the surface of the main body fitting portion 2a is in opposed contact with the locking hole forming portion 14 formed in the lid-shaped portion 10 of the housing portion 3. Here, the so-called housing state means, as Figure 1 ,Figure 2 As shown, the main line WM is plugged into the main body portion 2 and the branch portion Wa is housed in the housing portion 3. The main body mating portion 2a is formed on the main body portion 2 side between the main body portion 2 and the housing portion 3.

[0036] The housing portion 3 is a portion that protrudes from one end of the main body portion 2 in the axial direction X, is formed in the first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z that intersect the axial direction X and are different from each other, and houses the branch portion Wa of the wiring material W. The housing portion 3 has: a lid-like portion 10, a first opening portion 11, a second opening portion 12, a slit 13, a locking hole forming portion 14, a first opening end 15, a second opening end 16, and a locking hole 17.

[0037] The lid-like portion 10 can open and close the slit 13 formed from the first opening end 15 to the second opening end 16, and is formed such that in the housing state where the housing portion 3 houses the branch portion Wa via the slit 13, the slit 13 is in a closed state, and the lid-like portion 10 covers the branch portion Wa. When the slit 13 is in a closed state, the lid-like portion 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape from one side in the first branch direction Y toward the other side in the second branch direction Z. When the slit 13 is in a closed state, one end in the circumferential direction of the lid-like portion 10 is connected to the main body portion 2, and the other end is separated from the main body portion 2 to form the slit 13. When the slit 13 is in a closed state, the lid-like portion 10 is fixed to the main body portion 2 by the engagement of the locking hole 17 and the locking projection 21.

[0038] The first opening portion 11 is a portion that opens toward the first branch direction Y side when the slit 13 is in a closed state. When the locking hole 17 of the lid-like portion 10 is engaged with the locking projection 21 of the main body portion 2 and the lid-like portion 10 is in a closed state, the first opening portion 11 is formed at one end in the first branch direction Y. The first opening portion 11 has a first opening end 15. The shape of the first opening end 15 as viewed from one side in the first branch direction Y is formed in a ring shape. When the slit 13 is in an open state, the first opening end 15 becomes non-ring-shaped due to the slit 13. In a state where the first opening end 15 becomes non-ring-shaped, the first opening portion 11 houses the first wiring material W1 inside via the slit 13, and in a state where the first opening end 15 is in a ring shape, the periphery of the first opening portion 11 is wound together with the first wiring material W1 by the belt member T.

[0039] The second opening portion 12 is a portion that opens toward the second branch direction Z when the slit 13 is in the closed state. When the locking hole 17 of the lid-like portion 10 is locked to the locking projection 21 of the main body portion 2 and the lid-like portion 10 is in the closed state, the second opening portion 12 is formed at one end in the second branch direction Z. The second opening portion 12 has a second opening end 16. The shape of the second opening end 16 as viewed from one side in the second branch direction Z is formed in a ring shape. When the slit 13 is in the open state, the second opening end 16 becomes non-ring-shaped due to the slit 13. In a state where the second opening end 16 is non-ring-shaped, the second wiring material W2 is accommodated inside the second opening portion 12 via the slit 13, and in a state where the second opening end 16 is ring-shaped, the periphery of the second opening portion 12 is wound together with the second wiring material W2 by the belt member T.

[0040] The slit 13 is formed from the first opening end 15 to the second opening end 16. The slit 13 is formed to be openable and closable by elastic deformation of the lid-like portion 10, and in the open state, the routing of the first wiring material W1, the second wiring material W2, and the branch portion Wa in the wiring material W can be performed.

[0041] The locking hole forming portion 14 is formed in the lid-like portion 10 and forms a part of the opening end of the slit 13. The locking hole forming portion 14 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a fixed width along the extending direction of the slit 13. The locking hole forming portion 14 is formed to be in contact with the main body fitting portion 2a of the main body portion 2 in a facing manner in the closed state of the slit 13. The locking hole 17 is formed in a substantially central portion of the lid-like portion 10 in the extending direction. Here, the extending direction of the lid-like portion 10 is set as the direction along the extending direction of the slit 13.

[0042] The locking hole 17 and the locking projection 21 together constitute a locking structure, and the lid-like portion 10 is fixed to the main body portion 2 side by being locked to the locking projection 21. The locking hole 17 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape to match the shape of the locking projection 21 as viewed from the extending direction of the locking projection 21, and has a notch 17a on the slit 13 side. The notch 17a is formed in the locking hole forming portion 14 so as to be recessed toward the slit 13 side. The notch 17a is a portion that is fitted to the locking portion 22 in a state where the locking hole 17 is locked to the locking projection 21.

[0043] In the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH of the present embodiment, the lid-shaped portion 10 that is formed to be able to open and close the slit 13 has a locking hole 17 formed in a substantially central portion in the extending direction of the lid-shaped portion 10. The main body portion 2 has a locking projection 21 at a position opposed to the locking hole 17 when the slit 13 is in the closed state. Thus, in the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, for example, when assembling the wiring material W to the grommet 1, the assembler engages the locking hole 17 with the locking projection 21, so that the lid-shaped portion 10 is fixed to the main body portion 2 side, and the closed state of the slit 13 can be maintained without winding a tape around a substantially central portion in the extending direction of the lid-shaped portion 10.

[0044] As described above, the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH of the present embodiment include a housing portion 3 that is formed from the main body portion 2 through which the wiring material W is inserted toward the first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z, respectively, and houses the branched portion Wa of the wiring material W. The housing portion 3 has a lid-shaped portion 10 that is formed of an elastic member capable of opening and closing the slit 13 formed from the first opening end 15 to the second opening end 16, and is formed to cover the branched portion Wa with the slit 13 in the closed state in the housed state. The lid-shaped portion 10 has a locking hole 17 that engages with the locking projection 21 provided on the main body portion 2.

[0045] With the above structure, the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH of the present embodiment can lock a substantially central portion in the extending direction of the lid-shaped portion 10, which is difficult to wind with a tape, to the main body portion 2. As a result, in the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, for example, when bundling the wire harness WH or during the laying operation of the wire harness WH, although the peripheries of the first opening portion 11 and the second opening portion 12 are fixed by the tape member T, the slit 13 of the lid-shaped portion 10 will not open to expose the branched portion Wa of the wiring material W or fly out to the outside. In addition, with the above structure, the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH can maintain the closed state of the slit 13, and can improve the airtightness of the grommet 1 located between two spaces divided by the mounting panel 100. As a result, the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH can make the slit less likely to open through the locking structure provided on the main body portion 2 and the lid-shaped portion 10 of the grommet 1, and can improve the sound insulation and noise reduction performance of the grommet 1 installed in the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100.

[0046] In addition, in the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, the locking hole 17 has a notch 17a formed to be recessed toward the slit 13 side, and the locking portion 22 has a pair of folded-back portions 22a. Thus, in the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, in the locked state where the locking hole 17 engages with the locking projection 21, the locking portion 22 is fitted into the notch 17a, so that a state is formed in which the locking hole forming portion 14 is sandwiched between the pair of folded-back portions 22a and the main body engaging portion 2a, and the closed state of the slit 13 is easily maintained.

[0047] In addition, the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH have a flat locking hole forming portion 14, which is formed in the lid-like portion 10 and forms a part of the opening end of the slit 13. The locking hole forming portion 14 has a locking hole 17 formed in a substantially central portion in the extending direction of the lid-like portion 10. Thus, in the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, for example, when assembling the wiring material W to the grommet 1, the assembler can pinch the locking hole forming portion 14. Moreover, the assembler can easily open and close the slit 13 by pinching the locking hole forming portion 14 while closing or opening the lid-like portion 10.

[0048] Next, the grommet 1A and the wire harness WH of the modification of the embodiment will be described. Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the grommet of the modification of the embodiment. Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the locking structure of the lid-like portion in the grommet of the modification of the embodiment.

[0049] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing a temporary locking state of the lid-like portion in the grommet of the modification of the embodiment.

[0050] As Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the grommet 1A of the modification is different from the above-described grommet 1 in that the locking projection 21A has a rib 23. Hereinafter, the locking projection 21A will be described.

[0051] The locking projection 21A has a locking portion 22 and a rib 23. The rib 23 is formed to extend from the locking portion 22 in the extending direction of the locking projection 21A or the locking portion 22, and is located on the end side in the extending direction of the locking portion 22. The rib 23 is formed so as to be able to be inserted into the locking hole 17 prior to the locking portion 22. Specifically, as Figure 6 shown, when the locking projection 21A is locked to the locking hole 17, the rib 23 is inserted into the locking hole 17 before the locking portion 22 is inserted into the locking hole 17.

[0052] In the grommet 1A and the wire harness WH of the modification, since the rib 23 is provided more outward than the locking portion 22 in the locking projection 21A, as Figure 6 shown, the rib 23 projects from the locking hole 17 prior to the locking portion 22. As a result, in the grommet 1A and the wire harness WH, for example, when assembling the wiring material W to the grommet 1A, the assembler can pinch the rib 23 that projects from the locking hole 17 prior to the locking portion 22. Moreover, the assembler pulls while pinching the rib 23, so that the entire locking projection 21A is elastically deformed in the extending direction of the locking portion 22, and the pair of folded-back portions 22a of the locking portion 22 contract in the width direction of the locking portion 22, and the locking portion 22 can easily pass through the locking hole 17.

[0053] As described above, in the grommet 1A and the wire harness WH of the modification of the present embodiment, the assembler inserts the rib 23 into the locking hole 17 and pinches and pulls the rib 23, so that the locking of the locking portion 22 to the locking hole 17 becomes easier, and the load on the locking operation of the cover portion 10 by the assembler can be reduced.

[0054] It should be noted that in the above-mentioned embodiment and modification, the first branch direction Y and the second branch direction Z are set to be directions that intersect with the axis direction X and are different from each other, but are not limited thereto, and they may also be the same direction.

[0055] Description of Reference Numerals

[0056] 1 Grommet

[0057] 2 Main body portion

[0058] 3 Receiving portion

[0059] 10 Cover portion

[0060] 13 Slit

[0061] 15 First opening end

[0062] 16 Second opening end

[0063] 17 Locking hole

[0064] 21 Locking projection

[0065] 22 Locking portion

[0066] 100 Mounting panel

[0067] 101 Through hole

[0068] WH Wire harness

[0069] W Wiring material

[0070] Wa Branch portion

[0071] W1 First wiring material

[0072] W2 Second wiring material

Claims

1. A grommet, characterized in that, Comprising: A main body portion that fits into a through-hole penetrating an installation object in the axial direction and seals the through-hole, and the main body portion can insert a wiring material therein along the axial direction; And A housing portion that protrudes from one end of the main body portion in the axial direction, is formed to face two different directions intersecting the axial direction, and houses a branch portion of the wiring material, The housing portion has: A first open end that, in a housing state where the branch portion is housed in the housing portion, leads out a first wiring material branched from the branch portion in one of the two directions; A second open end that, in the housing state, leads out a second wiring material branched from the branch portion in the other of the two directions; And A lid-like portion that is formed to be able to open and close a slit formed from the first open end to the second open end, and in the housing state, the slit is in a closed state and the lid-like portion covers the branch portion, The lid-like portion has a locking hole that locks with a locking projection provided on the main body portion.

2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein The locking projection has: A locking portion that locks with the locking hole; and A rib that extends from the locking portion in the extending direction of the locking projection and can be inserted into the locking hole prior to the locking portion.

3. A wiring harness, characterized in that, Comprising: A wiring material having conductivity; and, A grommet provided on the wiring material, The grommet comprises: A main body portion that fits into a through-hole penetrating an installation object in the axial direction and seals the through-hole, and the main body portion can insert a wiring material therein along the axial direction; And A housing portion that protrudes from one end of the main body portion in the axial direction, is formed to face two different directions intersecting the axial direction, and houses a branch portion of the wiring material, The housing portion has: A first open end that, in a housing state where the branch portion is housed in the housing portion, leads out a first wiring material branched from the branch portion in one of the two directions; A second open end that, in the housing state, leads out a second wiring material branched from the branch portion in the other of the two directions; And A lid-like portion that is formed to be able to open and close a slit formed from the first open end to the second open end, and in the housing state, the slit is in a closed state and the lid-like portion covers the branch portion, The lid-like portion has a locking hole that locks with a locking projection provided on the main body portion.

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