Grommet

Abstract

To inhibit a grommet from rotating with respect to a panel when the grommet is fixed to the panel.SOLUTION: A grommet according to the present invention is mounted on a panel having a through hole. A main body has a plate shape having an upper main surface and a lower main surface. A lid part protrudes upward from the upper main surface of the main body and closes the through hole when the grommet is mounted onto the panel. A claw part includes a support part and a stopper part. The support part protrudes upward from the lid part. The stopper part protrudes outward from an outer edge of the lid part when viewed from above. Side surfaces of the lid part corresponding to the outer edge of the lid part include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface extends in an up-down direction. The second surface extends downward and outward from a lower end of the first surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a grommet. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of a conventional grommet-related invention is the grommet described in Patent Document 1. This grommet is attached to a panel having a through-hole. The grommet includes a tubular portion and a temporary fixing protrusion. The tubular portion is located within the through-hole. The temporary fixing protrusion temporarily fixes the tubular portion to the panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-154690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The grommet described in Patent Document 1 is fixed to a panel with bolts and nuts. However, when the grommet is fixed to the panel with the bolts and nuts, a force is applied to the grommet that rotates relative to the panel. As a result, there is a possibility that the grommet may rotate relative to the panel.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a grommet that can prevent the grommet from rotating relative to a panel when the grommet is fixed to the panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first aspect is A grommet attached to a panel having a through hole, The grommet includes a main body, a lid, and a claw portion, the main body has a plate shape with an upper main surface and a lower main surface, the cover portion protrudes upward from the upper main surface of the main body and closes the through hole when the grommet is attached to the panel; The claw portion includes a support portion and a retaining portion, The support portion protrudes upward from the lid portion, the retaining portion is connected to the support portion and protrudes from an outer edge portion of the lid portion to an outer side of the outer edge portion when viewed in a downward direction, At least a portion of a side surface of the lid portion corresponding to an outer edge of the lid portion includes a first surface and a second surface, The first surface extends in the vertical direction, The second surface extends downward and outward from the lower end of the first surface. Grommet.

[0007] The second aspect is the first surface does not come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the through hole during the process of attaching the grommet to the panel; the second surface contacts the inner circumferential surface of the through hole when the grommet is attached to the panel. 1 is a grommet according to a first aspect.

[0008] The third aspect is the support portion has a third surface; The third surface extends upward from the upper end of the first surface. The grommet is as described in either the first or second aspect.

[0009] The fourth aspect is The first surface and the second surface are provided over the entire length of the outer edge of the lid portion when viewed in a downward direction. The grommet is as set forth in any one of the first to third aspects. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, when the grommet is fixed to the panel, the grommet can be prevented from rotating relative to the panel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grommet unit 10 and a panel P. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grommet unit 10 and the panel P taken along the line AA. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the grommet unit 10 at B. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the grommet unit 10 and the panel P. As shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the grommet unit 10 at B. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] (Embodiment) [Grommet Unit 10] A grommet unit 10 including a grommet 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the grommet unit 10 and a panel P. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grommet unit 10 and the panel P taken along line AA. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the grommet unit 10 taken along line B.

[0013] In Figure 1, the normal direction to the upper main surface S1 of the body 120 of the grommet 12 is defined as the up-down direction. The direction in which the bolts 16 and the stud bolts 18 are aligned is defined as the left-right direction. The direction perpendicular to the up-down and left-right directions is defined as the front-rear direction. However, the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions in Figure 1 may be different from the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions when the grommet 12 is in use.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, grommet unit 10 includes a grommet 12, a retainer 14, and a stud bolt 18. As shown in Fig. 2, grommet 12 includes a main body 120, a lid portion 122, claw portions 124 and 126, and a tubular portion 128. The material of grommet 12 is, for example, rubber such as natural rubber, nitrile rubber, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), or silicone rubber, or resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 120 has a plate shape with an upper main surface S1 and a lower main surface S2. The upper main surface S1 is a plane having a normal vector extending in an upward direction. The lower main surface S2 is a plane having a normal vector extending in a downward direction. The main body 120 has a diamond shape when viewed from below. A through-hole H1 is provided at the left end of the main body 120. The through-hole H1 passes through the main body 120 in the vertical direction.

[0016] The lid portion 122 is located near the center of the upper main surface S1. The lid portion 122 protrudes upward from the upper main surface S1 of the main body 120. When viewed from below, the lid portion 122 has a diamond-shaped outer edge E. The lid portion 122 also has an upper main surface S101 and a side surface S102. The upper main surface S101 is a plane having a normal vector extending upward.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the side surface S102 connects the upper main surface S101 and the upper main surface S1 of the main body 120. The side surface S102 corresponds to the outer edge E. Hereinafter, the direction perpendicular to the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 and away from the lid portion 122 when viewed downward is defined as the first direction. The first direction is parallel to the horizontal direction. The first direction in FIG. 3 is referred to as the first direction D1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the right end portion of the lid portion 122. Therefore, the first direction D1 is the right direction.

[0018] The side surface S102 includes a first surface S11 and a second surface S12. The first surface S11 extends in the vertical direction. A normal vector of the first surface S11 coincides with the first direction D1. The second surface S12 is located below the first surface S11. The second surface S12 extends downward and outward from the lower end of the first surface S11. In this specification, "outward" refers to the direction away from the lid portion 122 when viewed from below, and coincides with the first direction D1. On the other hand, "inward" refers to the direction opposite to "outward." That is, the second surface S12 extends downward and in the first direction D1 from the lower end of the first surface S11. As a result, the second surface S12 is located outward from the first surface S11. That is, the second surface S12 is located in the first direction D1 relative to the first surface S11. The first surface S11 and the second surface S12 as described above are provided over the entire length of the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed in the downward direction.

[0019] The tubular portion 128 is cylindrical. The tubular portion 128 passes through the main body 120 and the lid portion 122 in the vertical direction. However, the tubular portion 128 is inclined so that the upper end of the tubular portion 128 is located forward of the lower end of the tubular portion 128. A shift cable (not shown) of the automobile is provided inside the tubular portion 128. As a result, the shift cable extends from the cabin of the automobile to the engine room. The shift cable includes a signal line and an insulator. A signal indicating the mode selected by the shift selector is transmitted through the signal line. The insulator covers the periphery of the signal line.

[0020] The claw portion 124 is located at the right end of the lid portion 122. The claw portion 124 includes a support portion 124a and a retaining portion 124b. The support portion 124a protrudes upward from the lid portion 122. In this embodiment, the support portion 124a protrudes upward from the right end of the upper main surface S101 of the lid portion 122. The support portion 124a has a third surface S13. A normal vector of the third surface S13 coincides with the first direction D1. The third surface S13 also extends upward from the upper end of the first surface S11. As a result, the third surface S13 is located more inward than the second surface S12. In other words, the third surface S13 is located in the opposite direction of the first direction D1 from the second surface S12.

[0021] The retaining portion 124b is connected to the support portion 124a. The retaining portion 124b extends outward from the upper end of the support portion 124a. As a result, the retaining portion 124b protrudes outward (in the first direction D1) from the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed downward. Therefore, the tip of the retaining portion 124b in the first direction D1 is located further in the first direction D1 (outward) than the lower end of the second surface S12.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the claw portion 126 is located at the left end of the lid portion 122. Therefore, the claw portion 124 and the claw portion 126 are located at diagonal corners of the diamond-shaped lid portion 122 when viewed from below. The claw portion 126 includes a support portion 126a and a retaining portion 126b. The support portion 126a protrudes upward from the lid portion 122. In this embodiment, the support portion 126a protrudes upward from the right end of the upper main surface S101 of the lid portion 122. The support portion 126a has a third surface S23. A normal vector of the third surface S23 coincides with the first direction D1'. The first direction D1' is the rightward direction. The third surface S23 also extends upward from the upper end of the first surface S11. As a result, the third surface S23 is located more inward than the second surface S12. That is, the third surface S23 is located in the opposite direction to the first direction D1' from the second surface S12.

[0023] The retaining portion 126b is connected to the support portion 126a. The retaining portion 126b extends outward from the upper end of the support portion 126a. As a result, the retaining portion 126b protrudes outward (in the first direction D1') from the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed downward. Therefore, the tip of the retaining portion 126b in the first direction D1' is located outward (in the first direction D1') from the lower end of the second surface S12.

[0024] The stud bolt 18 is fixed to the right end of the main body 120. The stud bolt 18 protrudes upward from the upper main surface S1 of the main body 120. Because the through hole H1 is located at the left end of the main body 120 and the stud bolt 18 is located at the right end of the main body 120, as shown in FIG. 1 , the lid portion 122 is located on a line L0 between the through hole H1 and the stud bolt 18 when viewed downward. Line L0 is a straight line connecting the through hole H1 and the stud bolt 18. Furthermore, the claw portions 124, 126 are located on the line L0 between the through hole H1 and the stud bolt 18 when viewed downward. Furthermore, the shortest distance from the claw portion 124 to the stud bolt 18 is shorter than the shortest distance from the lid portion 122 to the stud bolt 18. Similarly, the shortest distance from the claw portion 126 to the through hole H1 is shorter than the shortest distance from the lid portion 122 to the through hole H1.

[0025] The retainer 14 is a metal plate. The retainer 14 covers the lower main surface S2 of the main body 120 and the side surfaces of the main body 120. When viewed from below, the retainer 14 has the same diamond shape as the main body 120. The retainer 14 also has a through hole H10. When viewed from below, the through hole H10 is aligned with the through hole H1.

[0026] Next, the attachment of the grommet unit 10 to the panel P will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the grommet unit 10 and the panel P. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the grommet unit 10 at B.

[0027] The grommet unit 10 (grommet) is attached to a panel P as shown in FIG. 4. The panel P is a metal panel of an automobile. In this embodiment, the panel P is a dash panel of an electric automobile. The panel P is located between the cabin and the engine compartment. The panel P has an upper main surface S21 and a lower main surface S22. The upper main surface S21 faces the cabin. The lower main surface S22 faces the engine compartment. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the panel P is provided with a through hole H. The through hole H penetrates the panel P in the vertical direction. The through hole H has a diamond shape when viewed from below. When viewed from below, the shape of the through hole H substantially matches the shape of the outer edge portion E of the cover portion 122. Hereinafter, the surface surrounding the through hole H is defined as an inner peripheral surface S100.

[0028] When the grommet unit 10 is attached to the panel P, as shown in FIG. 1, the grommet unit 10 is set under the panel P. Then, the grommet unit 10 is raised. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid portion 122 is inserted into the through hole H. However, the first surface S11 and the third surface S13 are located inside the second surface S12. Therefore, the first surface S11 and the third surface S13 do not contact the inner peripheral surface S100 of the through hole H during the process of attaching the grommet unit 10 (grommet) to the panel P. In other words, there is a gap between the first surface S11 and the third surface S13 and the inner peripheral surface S100. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the second surface S12 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface S100 of the through hole H when the grommet unit 10 (grommet) is attached to the panel P.

[0029] Next, nuts 58 are attached to the stud bolts 18. After this, as shown in FIG. 2, the battery 500 is placed below the stud bolts 18. Finally, the bolts 16 are set into the through holes H1 and H10, and the nuts 56 are attached to the bolts 16. In this way, the grommet unit 10 is fixed to the panel P.

[0030] [effect] The grommet 12 can prevent the grommet 12 from rotating relative to the panel P when the grommet 12 is fixed to the panel P. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the side surface S102 includes a first surface S11 and a second surface S12. The first surface S11 extends in the vertical direction. The second surface S12 extends downward and outward from the lower end of the first surface S11. This positions the first surface S11 more inward than the second surface S12. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the first surface S11 and the third surface S13 do not come into contact with the inner circumferential surface S100 of the through hole H during the process of attaching the grommet unit 10 to the panel P. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the second surface S12 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface S100 of the through hole H when the grommet unit 10 is attached to the panel P. As a result, the lid portion 122 is positioned by the inner circumferential surface S100 of the through hole H when the nuts 56, 58 are not attached. As a result, when the nuts 56, 58 are attached, that is, when the grommet 12 is fixed to the panel P, the grommet 12 can be prevented from rotating relative to the panel P. In particular, in the grommet 12, the first surface S11 and the second surface S12 are provided over the entire length of the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed downward. As a result, the entire outer edge E of the lid portion 122 is positioned by the inner circumferential surface S100 of the through hole H. As a result, when the grommet 12 is fixed to the panel P, the grommet 12 can be effectively prevented from rotating relative to the panel P.

[0031] 3, the first surface S11 and the third surface S13 do not come into contact with the inner peripheral surface S100 of the through hole H during the process of attaching the grommet unit 10 to the panel P. This prevents the lid portion 122 of the grommet unit 10 from getting caught on the inner peripheral surface S100 of the through hole H. As a result, the grommet unit 10 can be easily attached to the panel P.

[0032] The grommet 12 prevents the grommet 12 from falling off the panel P before the grommet unit 10 is fixed to the panel P. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the claw portion 124 includes a support portion 124a and a retaining portion 124b. The retaining portion 124b is connected to the support portion 124a and protrudes outward from the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed downward. This causes a portion of the panel P located near the through-hole H to come into contact with the retaining portion 124b when the grommet unit 10 moves downward relative to the panel P. As a result, the grommet 12 is prevented from falling off the panel P before the grommet unit 10 is fixed to the panel P.

[0033] When viewed from below, the claws 124 and 126 are located at diagonal corners of the diamond-shaped cover 122. This allows the claws 124 and 126 to hook onto the panel P at two points that are far apart on the cover 122. This effectively prevents the grommet 12 from falling off the panel P before the grommet unit 10 is fixed to the panel P.

[0034] (Other embodiments) The grommet according to the present invention is not limited to the grommet 12, and can be modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0035] It should be noted that the lid portion 122 may have a shape other than a diamond shape when viewed from below. For example, the lid portion 122 may have a polygonal shape such as a triangle or a square when viewed from below.

[0036] Instead of a shift cable, a mechanical cable may be provided inside the tubular portion 128. The mechanical cable means a cable that moves along the central axis of the tubular portion 128 within the tubular portion 128 by operation of the driver.

[0037] At least a portion of the side surface S102 of the lid portion 122, which corresponds to the outer edge E of the lid portion 122, may include the first surface S11 and the second surface S12. In other words, the first surface S11 and the second surface S12 may be provided on a part of the outer edge E of the lid portion 122 when viewed in the downward direction.

[0038] The lower end of the inner peripheral surface S100 of the panel P in Fig. 3 may be chamfered. Also, the vicinity of the boundary between the second surface S12 and the upper main surface S1 in Fig. 3 may be chamfered. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10: Grommet unit 12: Grommet 14: Retainer 16: Bolt 18: Stud bolt 56,58: Nut 120:Main body 122: Lid 124, 126: Claws 124a, 126a: Support part 124b, 126b: Retaining part 128:Cylinder part 500: Battery E: Outer edge H, H1, H10: Through hole P: Panel S1, S101, S21: Upper main surface S100: Inner surface S102: Side S11: 1st page S12:Side 2 S13,S23:Side 3 S2, S22: Lower main surface S23:Side 3

Claims

1. A grommet attached to a panel having a through hole, The grommet includes a main body, a lid, and a claw portion, the main body has a plate shape with an upper main surface and a lower main surface, the cover portion protrudes upward from the upper main surface of the main body and closes the through hole when the grommet is attached to the panel; The claw portion includes a support portion and a retaining portion, The support portion protrudes upward from the lid portion, the retaining portion is connected to the support portion and protrudes from an outer edge portion of the lid portion to an outer side of the outer edge portion when viewed in a downward direction, At least a portion of a side surface of the lid portion corresponding to an outer edge of the lid portion includes a first surface and a second surface, The first surface extends in the vertical direction, The second surface extends downward and outward from the lower end of the first surface. Grommet.

2. the first surface does not come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the through hole during the process of attaching the grommet to the panel; the second surface contacts an inner circumferential surface of the through hole when the grommet is attached to the panel. The grommet of claim 1 .

3. The support portion has a third surface, The third surface extends upward from an upper end of the first surface. The grommet according to claim 1 or 2.

Images