Grommets and wiring components with grommets

Abstract

Provides grommets that are easy to attach and detach from vehicle body panels. [Solution] The grommet 10 comprises a grommet body 20 including a cylindrical portion 21, a mounting portion 23, and a groove portion 26, and a groove-filling member 30. The wiring member 2 is inserted through the cylindrical portion 21. The mounting portion 23 has a locking portion 24 that engages with a through-hole portion 3a formed in the vehicle body panel 3. The groove portion 26 is formed in the mounting portion 23. The groove-filling member 30 is detachably fitted into at least a part of the groove portion 26.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to grommets and wiring members with grommets.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles may be provided with a body panel that separates the outside of the vehicle from the passenger compartment. A through-hole portion for passing a wire harness is formed in the body panel. And, a grommet may be provided that is attached to the wire harness and attached to the through-hole portion. As such a grommet, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The grommet described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a grommet main body portion including a panel attachment portion attached to the body panel, and an annular seal portion provided so as to surround the wire harness insertion portion. The grommet main body portion includes a plurality of divided grommet divided bodies.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of a plurality of divided grommet divided bodies, since the grommet main body portion is divided in the circumferential direction of the through-hole portion, the grommet divided bodies are easily attached to and detached from the through-hole portion. On the other hand, even in a configuration where the grommet main body portion is not divided, there is a need for a grommet that is easily passed through the through-hole portion and easily attached to and detached from the body panel.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a grommet that is easily attached to and detached from a body panel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The grommet of this disclosure comprises a grommet body having a cylindrical portion through which a wiring member is inserted and a mounting portion having a locking portion that engages with a through hole formed in a vehicle body panel, wherein a groove portion is formed in the mounting portion, and a groove-filling member that is detachably fitted into at least a part of the groove portion.

[0007] Furthermore, the wiring member with a grommet of this disclosure comprises a wiring member inserted through the cylindrical portion of the grommet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a grommet that is easy to attach to and detach from a vehicle body panel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the grommet together with a portion of the vehicle body panel and wiring components. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the grommet. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view showing the grommet from the direction in which the wiring member is inserted. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the grommet along with a portion of the vehicle body panel before it is attached to the vehicle body panel. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a portion of the grommet after it has been attached to the vehicle body panel and before the groove-filling member has been fitted, along with a portion of the vehicle body panel. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a grommet of another embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a grommet of another embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a grommet of another embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a grommet of another embodiment together with a portion of the vehicle body panel and wiring components. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described.

[0011] The grommets of this disclosure are as follows:

[0012] (1) A grommet comprising a grommet body having a cylindrical portion through which a wiring member is inserted and a mounting portion having a locking portion that engages with a through hole formed in a vehicle body panel, wherein a groove portion is formed in the mounting portion, and a groove-filling member that is detachably fitted into at least a part of the groove portion.

[0013] This grommet comprises a grommet body with a groove formed in it and a groove-filling member that is detachably fitted into the groove. When the groove-filling member is removed from the groove, the deformation of the groove increases the flexibility of the grommet, making it easier to attach and detach the grommet body to the through-hole in the vehicle panel. When the groove-filling member is fitted into the groove while the grommet body is locked in the through-hole, the groove becomes less prone to deformation, increasing the grommet's retention force on the vehicle panel. In this way, the retention force of the grommet on the vehicle panel can be changed by attaching and detaching the groove-filling member to the groove.

[0014] (2) The grommet of (1), wherein an annular groove is formed on the outer surface of the mounting portion and is attached to the outer circumference of the through hole, and the groove portion may be formed inside the annular groove. With this grommet, the groove portion is compressed when it is locked to the vehicle body panel, making it easier to lock to the vehicle body panel. Furthermore, when the groove portion is compressed and the groove-filling member is fitted into the groove portion, the grommet body is supported by the groove-filling member and the through hole portion, so the holding force of the grommet to the vehicle body panel tends to increase.

[0015] (3) A grommet as in (2), wherein in the insertion direction of the wiring member, the depth of the groove portion may be formed to be greater than the length of the burring portion formed in the through-hole portion of the vehicle body panel. According to this grommet, since the depth of the groove portion is greater than the length of the burring portion, in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the wiring member, the positions of the groove portion and the burring portion are easily adjusted. Thereby, the grommet main body is easily sandwiched between the groove filling member and the burring portion.

[0016] (4) A grommet according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the groove filling member may be formed of a material that is more difficult to deform than the grommet main body or an equivalent material. According to this grommet, since the deformation of the groove filling member is less than or equivalent to the deformation of the grommet, the holding force of the grommet to the vehicle body panel is likely to increase.

[0017] (5) A grommet according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the groove portion has an opening that opens in the insertion direction of the wiring member, and the width of the opening may be smaller than the maximum width of the groove filling member. According to this grommet, since the width of the opening of the groove portion is smaller than the maximum width of the groove filling member, the dropping of the groove filling member from the groove portion after the groove filling member is once fitted into the groove is suppressed.

[0018] (6) A grommet according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the groove portion may be formed along the periphery of the through-hole portion. According to this grommet, it is difficult for the holding force of the grommet to the vehicle body panel to be biased at the periphery of the through-hole portion.

[0019] (7) Any one of the grommets from (1) to (6), wherein the groove-filling member may be open in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion. If the groove-filling member is an endless member, it is necessary to insert it into the groove along the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion after inserting the wiring member, but with this grommet, since the groove-filling member is open in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion, the groove-filling member can be attached to and detached from the grommet body from a direction intersecting the direction in which the wiring member is inserted. Furthermore, with this grommet, a rotation prevention member is placed between one end edge and the other end edge of the opening to prevent rotation of the groove-filling member in the circumferential direction, thereby suppressing rotation of the groove-filling member relative to the grommet body.

[0020] (8) Any one of the grommets from (1) to (7), wherein the groove-filling member may comprise a plurality of segmented members divided in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion. With this grommet, since the groove-filling member comprises a plurality of segmented members, the reaction force from the groove when each groove-filling member is fitted into the groove is reduced. In addition, since each segmented member opens in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion, the segmented members can be attached to and detached from the grommet body from a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the wiring member.

[0021] (9) A grommet may be any one of (1) to (8), further comprising a connecting member that connects the grommet body and the groove-filling member. With this grommet, the connecting member connects the grommet body and the groove-filling member, thus preventing the loss of the groove-filling member. In addition, when the groove-filling member is removed from the groove, the groove-filling member can be pulled out of the groove by pulling the connecting member. This improves the workability of removing the groove-filling member from the groove.

[0022] (10)(9) The grommet may be formed from the same resin using a mold, with the grommet body, the groove filling member, and the connecting member being molded together. This grommet can reduce the number of parts.

[0023] Furthermore, the grommet-equipped wiring component of this disclosure is as follows:

[0024] (11) A wiring member with a grommet, comprising one grommet from (1) to (10) and a wiring member inserted through the cylindrical portion of the grommet.

[0025] This wiring component with a grommet comprises a grommet body with a groove formed in it and a groove-filling member that is detachably fitted into the groove. When the groove-filling member is removed from the groove, the flexibility of the grommet increases due to the deformation of the groove, making it easier to attach and detach the grommet body to the through-hole in the vehicle panel. When the groove-filling member is fitted into the groove while locked in the through-hole, the groove becomes less prone to deformation, increasing the grommet's holding force. In this way, the holding force of the grommet can be changed by attaching and detaching the groove-filling member to the groove.

[0026] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] Specific examples of the grommet-equipped wiring members of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and is intended to be expressed in the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0027] In each drawing, some parts of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified for ease of explanation. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ in each drawing. Furthermore, the terms "parallel" and "orthogonal" in this specification include not only cases where they are strictly parallel or orthogonal, but also cases where they are approximately parallel or orthogonal within the range that achieves the function and effect of this embodiment.

[0028] [Embodiment 1] The following describes the wiring member 1 with a grommet according to Embodiment 1.

[0029] <Overall Structure> First, the overall configuration of the wiring member 1 with a grommet will be described. Figure 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the grommet 10 together with the vehicle body panel 3 and a part of the wiring member 2. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the grommet 10. Figure 3 is a plan view showing the grommet 10 from the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. Note that in Figures 1 and 2, the wiring member 2 is shown by a dashed line. Figure 1 corresponds to a cross-section along line II in Figure 3.

[0030] <Regarding wiring component 1 with grommet> The wiring member 1 with a grommet comprises a wiring member 2 and a grommet 10. The grommet 10 is a component that is fitted into a through-hole 3a formed in the vehicle body panel 3 while being externally mounted on the wiring member 2. The vehicle body panel 3 is, for example, a plate-shaped component that separates the outside from the inside of the vehicle. In Figure 1, for example, the right side of the vehicle body panel 3 is the outside of the vehicle, and the left side of the vehicle body panel 3 is the inside of the vehicle. In this state, the grommet 10 seals the space between the wiring member 2 and the through-hole 3a, preventing water from entering the vehicle from the outside to the inside. The vehicle body panel 3 has a through-hole 3a for routing the wiring member 2. The through-hole 3a is circular in this example, but it does not necessarily have to be circular. The through-hole 3a may be elongated or non-circular in shape. In this embodiment, a burring portion 3b is formed on the periphery of the through-hole 3a. The burring portion 3b is the raised portion of the plate-shaped component formed around the through-hole 3a. The burring portion 3b is positioned on the outside of the vehicle, but it may also be positioned on the inside. Having the burring portion 3b on the periphery of the through-hole 3a increases the thickness of the periphery of the through-hole 3a. The burring process is performed by pressing a punch with a larger diameter than the pilot hole into the pilot hole formed in the vehicle panel 3. This burring process creates a plate-like member that rises around the through-hole 3a as the burring portion 3b. In this embodiment, the burring portion 3b is formed on the vehicle panel 3, but a configuration without the burring portion 3b is also possible.

[0031] The wiring member 2 may consist of a single wire or multiple wires bundled together. In this embodiment, a wiring member 2 consisting of multiple bundled wires is used. Note that in Figure 1, the individual wires are not shown, and only the outer diameter of the wiring member 2 is shown. The wiring member 2 may include optical cables or the like. The wires included in the wiring member 2 may also branch in the middle of the wiring member 2 in the direction of extension. The portion of the wiring member 2 that is inserted into the grommet 10 is bundled together as a single wire. The wiring member 2 connects, for example, various electrical components on the outside of the vehicle to various electrical components on the inside of the vehicle.

[0032] <Grommet 10> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the grommet 10 has an insertion hole 11 through which the wiring member 2 is inserted. The grommet 10 comprises a grommet body 20 and a groove-filling member 30 that is detachable from the grommet body 20. In this embodiment, the grommet 10 further comprises a connecting member 40 that connects the grommet body 20 and the groove-filling member 30.

[0033] <Grommet body 20> The grommet body 20 is made of an elastic material, such as an elastomer like ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM). The grommet body 20 includes a cylindrical portion 21 and a mounting portion 23. A groove 26 is formed in the mounting portion 23. The wiring member 2 is inserted through the cylindrical portion 21. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 21 is configured to cover the wiring member 2 on both the outer and inner sides of the vehicle.

[0034] The mounting portion 23 has a locking portion 24 that engages with the through-hole portion 3a formed in the vehicle body panel 3. The locking portion 24 is part of the mounting portion 23. The mounting portion 23 is formed in an annular shape on the outside of the cylindrical portion 21. An annular groove 24d is also formed on the outer surface of the locking portion 24. The peripheral edge of the through-hole portion 3a fits into the annular groove 24d. The annular groove 24d is formed to accommodate the burring portion 3b. As shown in Figure 4, in the annular groove 24d under no load, the diameter M1 of the bottom portion 24a of the annular groove 24d in the direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2 may be larger than the diameter M2 of the inner circumference of the burring portion 3b. When the annular groove 24d is attached to the through-hole portion 3a, the grommet body 20 elastically deforms so that the bottom portion 24a of the annular groove 24d is located on the inner circumference of the burring portion 3b and is compressed by the burring portion 3b, as will be described in detail later. As a result, the annular groove 24d is attached to the through-hole 3a with the bottom 24a of the annular groove 24d pressing against the inner circumference of the burring portion 3b. In this way, the bottom 24a of the annular groove 24d is attached in close contact with the burring portion 3b. In addition, in the annular groove 24d, a flat portion 24c is extended from the side of the body between the bottom 24a and the opening 24b, contacting the side of the vehicle body panel 3 on which the burring portion 3b is not provided. In addition, in the mounting portion 23, a flat portion 23a is formed outside the opening 24b, contacting the side of the vehicle body panel 3 on which the burring portion 3b is formed. In this way, the vehicle body panel 3 contacts the flat portion 24c and the flat portion 23a, thereby enhancing the waterproof or dustproof effect from the outside to the inside of the vehicle through the periphery of the through-hole 3a and the burring portion 3b. In this way, the annular groove 24d houses the burring portion 3b. In this embodiment, the bottom 24a of the annular groove 24d is wider than the opening 24b. The grommet body 20 is flexible, and when the burred portion 3b is inserted, the portion having the flat portion 24c deforms to a reduced diameter. As a result, the burred portion 3b passes through the opening 24b, and the peripheral edge of the through-hole portion 3a engages with the annular groove 24d.

[0035] The groove 26 is formed in the inner connecting portion 25 of the mounting portion 23. In this embodiment, the inner connecting portion 25 is formed between the cylindrical portion 21 and the annular groove 24d. As shown in Figure 3, the groove 26 is formed inside the annular groove 24d. When the mounting portion 23 is locked into the through hole portion 3a, the groove 26 is positioned inside the through hole portion 3a. In this embodiment, the groove 26 is formed inside the annular groove 24d, but the groove 26 may also be formed outside the annular groove 24d. Furthermore, the groove 26 may be formed in any other part of the mounting portion 23.

[0036] The groove 26 is formed along the periphery of the through hole 3a. The groove 26 is formed such that the distance from the through hole 3a is constant in the portion facing the periphery of the through hole 3a. The thickness of the portion between the annular groove 24d and the groove 26 is constant in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the groove 26 is formed in a circular shape similar to the periphery of the through hole 3a. If the through hole 3a is elongated, it is preferable that the groove 26 is also formed in an elongated shape similar to the through hole 3a. The groove 26 has an opening 26a that opens toward the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. In this embodiment, the opening 26a opens toward the outside of the vehicle. With a configuration that opens toward the outside of the vehicle, the groove filling member 30 can be attached to and detached from the groove 26 from outside the vehicle. The opening 26a may also be configured to open toward the inside of the vehicle. Alternatively, the opening 26a may be configured to open toward a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the width L1 of the opening 26a is smaller than the maximum width L2 of the groove-filling member 30. The groove 26 is provided with a projection 26b near the opening 26a that narrows the opening 26a. In this embodiment, the projection 26b protrudes from the side of the opening 26a that is spaced away from the outer wall to the inner side. When the groove-filling member 30 is inserted, the grommet body 20 elastically deforms so that the opening 26a inside the projection 26b widens. As a result, the groove-filling member 30 passes through the opening 26a and is fitted into the groove 26. Furthermore, with this configuration, once the groove-filling member 30 is fitted into the groove 26, it is restricted by the projection 26b. This prevents the groove-filling member 30 from coming out of the groove 26.

[0038] The cylindrical portion 21 has a large diameter portion 27 in a predetermined range from the position where the mounting portion 23 is positioned in the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. A part of the outer surface 27a of the large diameter portion 27 forms a groove portion 26, and another part protrudes to the outside of the groove portion 26 in the insertion direction A. This allows the groove filling member 30 to move into the groove portion 26 along the outer surface 27a of the large diameter portion 27 when it is fitted into the groove portion 26. In addition, a cavity portion 27b is formed between the large diameter portion 27 and the wiring member 2. Therefore, when removing the groove filling member 30 from the groove portion 26, the outer surface 27a of the large diameter portion 27 is pressed toward the cavity portion 27b, causing the outer surface 27a to recess toward the cavity portion 27b. When the outer surface 27a is recessed in this way, the groove filling member 30 can be easily removed from the groove portion 26.

[0039] <Groove-filling member 30> The groove-filling member 30 is detachably fitted into the groove 26. The groove-filling member 30 does not need to be fitted into the entire groove 26; it is sufficient if it is fitted into at least a portion of the groove 26. The groove-filling member 30 is made of the same material as the grommet body 20. Therefore, the groove-filling member 30 and the grommet body 20 have the same resistance to deformation in parts with similar thickness. Here, resistance to deformation refers to a high Young's modulus of the material. In this embodiment, the grommet body 20, the groove-filling member 30, and the connecting member 40 are formed from the same resin using the same mold.

[0040] The connecting member 40 is flexible. In this embodiment, the connecting member 40 is formed in a thin, strip-like shape. One end of the connecting member 40 is fixed to the grommet body 20 at a position outside the groove 26. The other end of the connecting member 40 is fixed to a part of the groove-filling member 30.

[0041] The grommet body 20, the groove-filling member 30, and the connecting member 40 may each be molded using separate molds. If they are molded separately, they are fixed to each other after molding. This fixing may be done by adhesive or welding, or by clips or the like. If the groove-filling member 30 is molded separately from the grommet body 20, the groove-filling member 30 may be made of a different material than the grommet body 20. Also, if the groove-filling member 30 and the grommet body 20 are made of different materials, the groove-filling member 30 and the grommet body 20 may be molded, for example, by two-color molding. Furthermore, the material of the groove-filling member 30 may be selected and molded so that the groove-filling member 30 is less prone to deformation than the grommet body 20.

[0042] In this embodiment, the groove-filling member 30 has an opening 31. The opening 31 of the groove-filling member 30 is a portion where a part of the circumferential direction of the groove-filling member 30 is interrupted. In an unloaded state, the radius of curvature of the groove-filling member 30 is approximately circular, having a radius of curvature that is the same as or larger than the radius of curvature of the groove 26 when the grommet body 20 is attached to the through-hole 3a. When the groove-filling member 30 is fitted into the groove 26, the radius of curvature of the groove-filling member 30 is larger than the radius of curvature of the groove 26 to the extent that the wall portion of the groove 26 opposite to the outer surface 27a is pressed by the groove-filling member 30. When the wall portion of the groove 26 opposite to the outer surface 27a is pressed by the groove-filling member 30, the grommet body 20 is easily sandwiched between the vehicle body panel 3 and the groove-filling member 30.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a rotation-suppressing member 50, as shown in Figure 3, may be fitted to the portion of the groove 26 where the groove-filling member 30 is not fitted by the opening 31. The rotation-suppressing member 50 is positioned between one end edge 31a and the other end edge 31b of the opening 31. This rotation-suppressing member 50 prevents the groove-filling member 30 from rotating relative to the groove 26. In addition, similar to the groove-filling member 30, the rotation-suppressing member 50 may also be connected to the grommet body 20 at the position of the opening 31 by a connecting member (not shown). In this case, the grommet body 20 is more easily sandwiched between the vehicle body panel 3 and the rotation-suppressing member 50.

[0044] <Installation of wiring component 1 with grommet to vehicle body panel 3> Figure 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the grommet 10 together with a portion of the vehicle body panel 3 before attachment to the vehicle body panel 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a portion of the grommet 10 together with a portion of the vehicle body panel 3 after attachment to the vehicle body panel 3 and before the groove-filling member 30 is fitted in.

[0045] The wiring member 1 with a grommet is fixed to the vehicle body panel 3 by press-fitting it so that the peripheral edge of the through-hole 3a of the vehicle body panel 3 fits into the annular groove 24d, with the groove-filling member 30 fitted into the groove 26.

[0046] When attaching the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 to the vehicle body panel 3, first, the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 is inserted into the through-hole 3a on the vehicle side while the area around the groove 26 is pressed. As the mounting portion 23 of the grommet body 20 is inserted around the periphery of the through-hole 3a, the mounting portion 23 is pressed in the direction of arrow B in Figure 4. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the mounting portion 23 is pressed around the groove 26. At this time, the groove 26 shrinks in a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2, making it easier to attach the annular groove 24d to the periphery of the through-hole 3a. The annular groove 24d is then attached to the outer circumference of the through-hole 3a. At this time, the burring portion 3b is housed in the annular groove 24d. The burring portion 3b is housed in the bottom portion 24a of the annular groove 24d.

[0047] After the grommet body 20 is attached to the through hole 3a, the groove filling member 30 is moved in the direction of the groove 26 (arrow C direction), as shown in Figure 5. When the groove filling member 30 moves to the opening 26a of the groove 26, the groove filling member 30 comes into contact with the projection 26b. The groove filling member 30 is pressed inward into the groove 26 to such an extent that the projection 26b elastically deforms and expands. As a result, the groove filling member 30 penetrates beyond the projection 26b and into the inside of the groove 26. When the entire groove filling member 30 has penetrated into the inside of the groove 26, the projection 26b is released from the pressure from the groove filling member 30. As a result, the projection 26b returns to its original position. In this way, the groove filling member 30 is fitted into the groove 26.

[0048] <Removal of the wiring component 1 with grommet from the vehicle body panel 3> When the wiring member 2 in such a grommet-equipped wiring member 1 is replaced or added, the grommet 10 is first removed from the vehicle body panel 3. At this time, the existing wiring member 2 may remain in place, passing through the through-hole 3a.

[0049] When removing the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 from the vehicle body panel 3, the groove-filling member 30 is removed first. For example, the connecting member 40 is pulled in the direction of arrow D shown in Figure 1. As the connecting member 40 is pulled, the groove-filling member 30 fixed to the connecting member 40 is also pulled in the direction of D. The groove-filling member 30 is pulled outward from the groove 26 to the extent that the projection 26b undergoes elastic deformation. As a result, the groove-filling member 30 moves beyond the projection 26b and out to the outside of the groove 26. Once the entire groove-filling member 30 has moved out to the outside of the groove 26, the projection 26b is released from the pressure exerted by the groove-filling member 30. As a result, the projection 26b returns to its original position. In this way, the groove-filling member 30 is removed from the groove 26.

[0050] When the groove-filling member 30 is removed from the groove 26, the outer surface 27a of the large-diameter portion 27 may be pressed. When the outer surface 27a is pressed in this way, it becomes recessed toward the cavity 27b. When the outer surface 27a is recessed in this way, the groove-filling member 30 is easier to remove from the groove 26.

[0051] When the groove-filling member 30 is removed from the groove 26, the mounting portion 23 becomes more susceptible to diameter deformation toward the groove 26. In this state, the mounting portion 23 is pressed in the direction of arrow B shown in Figure 4, while the grommet body 20 is pulled in the direction of arrow D in Figure 1. At this time, the groove 26 shrinks in a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2, making it easier for the annular groove 24d to be removed from the periphery of the through-hole 3a. The annular groove 24d is then removed from the outer circumference of the through-hole 3a. At this time, the burring portion 3b also comes out of the annular groove 24d. In this way, the grommet body 20 is removed from the through-hole 3a.

[0052] In this embodiment, a connecting member 40 is provided to connect the grommet body 20 and the groove-filling member 30, but a configuration without the connecting member 40 is also possible. In this case, for example, a handle may be fixed to the groove-filling member 30, and the groove-filling member 30 may be pulled in the direction of arrow D shown in Figure 1 by pulling the handle. Alternatively, the groove-filling member 30 may be removed by inserting a finger into the groove 26 through the opening 31.

[0053] <Effects of Embodiment 1> The grommet-equipped wiring member 1 configured as described above includes a grommet body 20 having a cylindrical portion 21 through which the wiring member 2 is inserted, and a mounting portion 23 having a locking portion 24 that engages with a through-hole portion 3a formed in the vehicle body panel 3, with a groove portion 26 formed in the mounting portion 23, and a groove-filling member 30 that is detachably fitted into at least a part of the groove portion 26. As a result, when the groove-filling member 30 is removed from the groove portion 26, the flexibility of the grommet body 20 is increased due to the deformation of the groove portion 26, making it easier to attach and detach the grommet body 20 to the through-hole portion 3a of the vehicle body panel 3. When the groove-filling member 30 is fitted into the groove portion 26 with the grommet body 20 engaged with the through-hole portion 3a, the groove portion 26 becomes less prone to deformation, and the holding force of the grommet 10 to the vehicle body panel 3 is increased. In this way, the retaining force of the grommet 10 on the vehicle body panel 3 can be changed by attaching or detaching the groove-filling member 30 to the groove 26.

[0054] Furthermore, an annular groove 24d is formed on the outer surface of the mounting portion 23, which is attached to the outer circumference of the through hole portion 3a, and the groove portion 26 is formed inside the annular groove 24d. As a result, when the grommet is locked to the vehicle body panel 3, the groove portion 26 is compressed, making it easier to lock to the vehicle body panel 3. Also, when the groove filling member 30 is fitted into the groove portion 26 while the groove portion 26 is compressed, the grommet body 20 is supported by the groove filling member 30 and the through hole portion 3a. Therefore, the holding force of the grommet 10 to the vehicle body panel 3 is easily increased.

[0055] Furthermore, the groove-filling member 30 is formed to be less deformable than or equivalent to the grommet body 20. As a result, the deformation of the groove-filling member 30 is less than or equivalent to the deformation of the grommet body 20. Therefore, the vehicle body panel 3 is more easily pressed by the groove-filling member 30. Consequently, the holding force of the groove-filling member 30 on the vehicle body panel 3 tends to increase.

[0056] Furthermore, the groove 26 has an opening 26a that opens toward the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2, and the width L1 of the opening 26a is smaller than the maximum width L2 of the groove filling member 30. This prevents the groove filling member 30 from falling out of the groove 26 after it has been fitted into the groove 26.

[0057] Furthermore, the groove 26 is formed along the periphery of the through-hole 3a. This makes it less likely for the holding force of the grommet 10 to be uneven at the periphery of the through-hole 3a.

[0058] Furthermore, the groove-filling member 30 opens in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 21. This allows the groove-filling member 30 to be attached to and detached from the grommet body 20 from a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. For example, in the case of an annular groove-filling member without an opening 31, it can only be attached to and detached from the end of the grommet body 20 in the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2, whereas with this grommet 10, it can be attached to and detached from an intermediate part of the grommet body 20 in the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. Thus, the ease of attaching and detaching the groove-filling member 30 to and from the grommet body 20 is improved. In addition, with this grommet 10, a rotation-suppressing member 50 may be fitted between one end edge 31a and the other end edge 31b of the opening portion (opening 31). Such a rotation-suppressing member 50 prevents the groove-filling member 30 from rotating relative to the groove portion 26. In other words, the rotation of the groove-filling member 30 relative to the grommet body 20 is suppressed.

[0059] Furthermore, a connecting member 40 is provided to connect the grommet body 20 and the groove filling member 30. As a result, the connecting member 40 connects the grommet body 20 and the groove filling member 30, preventing the loss of the groove filling member 30. In addition, when the groove filling member 30 is removed from the groove 26, the groove filling member 30 can be removed from the groove 26 by pulling the connecting member 40, which pulls the groove filling member 30 away from the connecting member 40. This improves the workability of removing the groove filling member 30 from the groove 26.

[0060] Furthermore, the grommet body 20, the groove filling member 30, and the connecting member 40 are molded as a single unit. This reduces the number of parts.

[0061] [Embodiment 2] The following describes the grommet 210 that constitutes the wiring member with a grommet according to Embodiment 2. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the grommet 210 of Embodiment 2.

[0062] The grommet 210 according to Embodiment 2 includes a groove-filling member 230 instead of the groove-filling member 30 of Embodiment 1. The groove-filling member 230 does not have an opening. The groove-filling member 230 is annular. With such a groove-filling member 230, the retention force of the grommet 210 to the vehicle body panel 3 in the circumferential direction in the groove portion 26 is less likely to be uneven.

[0063] In this embodiment, the annular groove-filling member 230 may have a configuration in which the opening can be opened and closed. The groove-filling member 230 with an openable and closable configuration is composed of, for example, two divided members, and the ends of one divided member and the ends of the other divided member are pivotally supported, so that the two divided members rotate about an axis. This forms an opening between the two divided members. When the opening is closed, the ends that are not pivotally supported engage with each other, fixing the ends in the closed position. When the opening is open, the ends that are not pivotally supported form a gap. With this configuration in which the opening can be opened and closed, the groove-filling member 230 is fitted into the groove 26 when the opening is closed. Also, when the opening is open, the groove-filling member 230 can be attached to and detached from the grommet body 20 from a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2. In addition, the groove-filling member 230 may have a structure in which the opening can be opened and closed by elastic deformation of a single elastic member, rather than being made up of two divided members.

[0064] [Embodiment 3] The following describes the grommet 310 that constitutes the wiring member with a grommet according to Embodiment 3. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the grommet 310 of Embodiment 3.

[0065] The grommet 310 according to Embodiment 3 includes a groove-filling member 330 instead of the groove-filling member 30 of Embodiment 1. The groove-filling member 330 in the grommet 310 according to Embodiment 3 includes a plurality of divided members 331 that are divided in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 21. In this embodiment, the groove-filling member 330 includes two divided members 331. Note that the groove-filling member 330 may include three or more divided members instead of two. Each divided member 331 is fixed to a connecting member 40 which is fixed to the grommet body 20. As a result, the connecting member 40 connects the grommet body 20 to each divided member 331, preventing the loss of each divided member 331. Furthermore, when the divided member 331 is removed from the groove 26, the divided member 331 can also be removed from the groove 26 by pulling the connecting member 40, which pulls the divided member 331 away from the connecting member 40. This improves the workability of removing the divided member 331 from the groove 26.

[0066] In the grommet 310 according to Embodiment 3, the groove-filling member 330 is equipped with a plurality of divided members 331, so that the reaction force from the groove 26 and projection 26b when each divided member 331 is fitted into the groove 26 is reduced. In addition, since each divided member 331 opens in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 21, the divided members 331 can be attached to and detached from the grommet body 20 from a direction intersecting the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2.

[0067] [Embodiment 4] The following describes the grommet 410 that constitutes the wiring member with a grommet according to Embodiment 4. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the grommet 410 of Embodiment 4.

[0068] The grommet 410 according to Embodiment 4 does not include the connecting member 40 of Embodiment 1. With such a grommet 410, there is no connecting member 40 that connects the grommet body 20 and the groove filling member 30, so the range of motion of the groove filling member 30 is not restricted.

[0069] [Embodiment 5] The following describes the grommet 510 that constitutes the wiring member with a grommet according to Embodiment 5. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the grommet 510 of Embodiment 5.

[0070] The grommet 510 according to Embodiment 5 includes a groove 526 instead of the groove 26 of Embodiment 1. The depth T1 of the groove 526 in Embodiment 5 is formed to be greater than the length T2 of the burring portion 3b in the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2.

[0071] The length T3 of the groove-filling member 30 in the insertion direction A of the wiring member 2 is, for example, more than half of the depth T1 of the groove 526. This makes it easy to adjust the position of the groove-filling member 30 within the groove 526. Here, adjusting the position of the groove-filling member 30 within the groove 526 means adjusting the position so that the grommet body 520 is sandwiched between the burring portion 3b and the groove-filling member 30.

[0072] According to the grommet 510 of Embodiment 5, since the depth T1 of the groove 526 is greater than the length T2 of the burring portion 3b, the position between the groove 526 and the vehicle body panel 3 is easily adjusted. As a result, the grommet body 520 is easily held between the groove filling member 30 and the burring portion 3b.

[0073] <Other> The configurations described as Embodiments 1 to 5 can be combined as appropriate, as long as they do not contradict each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1. Wiring component with grommet 2 Wiring components 3 Body panels 3a Through hole section 3b Burring process section 10,210,310,410,510 Grommets 11 Through hole 20,520 Grommet body 21 Cylindrical part 23 Mounting part 23a Flat part 24 Locking part 24a bottom 24b opening 24c flat part 24d Annular groove 25 Inner connecting part 26,526 grooves 26a opening 26b Protrusion 27 Large diameter section 27a Exterior 27b Cavity 30,230,330 Groove filling member 31 Opening 31a One end edge 31b Other edge 40 Connecting member 50 Rotation suppression member 331 Divided Members A Insertion direction B, C, D arrows L1 width L2 maximum width M1,M2 diameter T1 Depth T2 Length

Claims

1. A grommet body comprising a cylindrical portion through which a wiring member is inserted, and a mounting portion having a locking portion that engages with a through-hole formed in the vehicle body panel, wherein a groove portion is formed in the mounting portion, A groove-filling member that is detachably fitted into at least a portion of the groove, A grommet equipped with this feature.

2. The grommet according to claim 1, An annular groove is formed on the outer surface of the mounting portion, which is attached to the outer circumference of the through hole portion. The groove portion is a grommet formed inside the annular groove.

3. The grommet according to claim 2, A grommet in which, in the insertion direction of the wiring member, the depth of the groove is formed to be greater than the length of the burring portion formed in the through-hole in the vehicle body panel.

4. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The groove-filling member is a grommet formed from a material that is less prone to deformation than or equivalent to the grommet body.

5. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The groove portion has an opening that opens toward the direction in which the wiring member is inserted, A grommet in which the width of the opening is smaller than the maximum width of the groove-filling member.

6. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The groove portion is a grommet formed along the periphery of the through-hole portion.

7. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The groove-filling member is a grommet that opens in a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

8. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The groove-filling member is a grommet comprising a plurality of segmented members divided in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

9. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A grommet further comprising a connecting member that connects the grommet body and the groove-filling member.

10. The grommet according to claim 9, The grommet is formed by molding the grommet body, the groove-filling member, and the connecting member from the same resin.

11. A grommet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A wiring member inserted through the cylindrical portion of the grommet, A wiring component with a grommet.

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