Grommet

Abstract

To reduce initial cost.SOLUTION: A grommet has a main body 10 that has one insertion groove 11 obtained by dividing an insertion path 1a into two in a routing axis direction, a movable body 20 that has the other insertion groove 21, a hinge 50 that relatively rotates these bodies between an open state and a closed state, and a lip 70 that projects from inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of the insertion grooves, brings the respective ends 71a, 71b into contact with each other in the closed state to form an internal slit 63, and becomes a cantilever cylinder to adhere to an outer peripheral surface of a routing material We. The inner peripheral surface of the insertion path has adhesion surfaces 11c, 21c that adhere to the outer peripheral surface of a reference routing material We0, and the lip becomes a truncated cone cylinder with a fixing end side as a lower base 73a in the closed state without the routing material, becomes a cylinder having an increased diameter part 74 spread out in the routing material according to the diameter of the routing material in the closed state with the routing material, and increases the width of the internal slit in the open state to expose an inner wall surface 72 from the internal slit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, when a wiring material such as an electric wire is passed through an insertion portion such as a through-hole or a groove between two spaces, a grommet is sometimes placed in the insertion portion to protect the wiring material from the periphery of the insertion portion. The grommet is sometimes made liquid-proof to prevent liquids such as water from passing between the two spaces through the insertion portion. For example, this type of grommet is disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-106091 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, depending on the specifications, wiring materials of different diameters may be passed through the insertion portion. For example, conventional grommets are prepared as dedicated products for each wiring material of different diameters to accommodate this. For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the cost of conventional grommets.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a grommet that can reduce costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a main body having an insertion passage for inserting a straight portion of a wiring material, the insertion passage having one insertion groove divided into two in the wiring axis direction of the straight portion, and an opening of the one insertion groove serving as an insertion port for the wiring material; a movable body having the other insertion groove divided into two in the insertion passage, and the opening of the other insertion groove serving as an insertion port for the wiring material; a hinge connecting the main body and the movable body, and rotating the main body and the movable body relatively between an open state and a closed state around an axis of rotation extending in the wiring axis direction; and a lip protruding from an inner peripheral surface of each of the insertion grooves, and in the closed state, abutting each end portion around the axis of the wiring material to form an internal slit between the end portions, and becoming a cantilevered cylinder with a cylinder axis in the wiring axis direction, and being in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material around one circumference. In the closed state, an external slit is formed between the ends of the wiring material by abutting the respective ends around the axis of the wiring material, and in the closed state, the insertion openings of the one insertion groove and the other insertion groove are aligned to form the insertion passage, and in the open state, the width of the external slit is expanded to expose the insertion openings of each insertion groove from the external slit, the inner surface of the insertion passage has a contact surface that contacts the outer surface of a standard wiring material of a standard diameter around the entire circumference, and the lip becomes a truncated conical cylinder with the fixed end side as the bottom base in the closed state without wiring material, and in the closed state with wiring material present, becomes a cylinder having an expanded diameter portion that is pressed against the wiring material between the bottom base and the top base according to the diameter of the wiring material, and in the open state, the width of the internal slit is expanded to expose the inner wall surface from the internal slit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The grommet of the present invention can protect wiring materials with diameters ranging from the standard diameter of the standard wiring material to the minimum diameter by using a lip, and can improve the liquid-proof property between the wiring materials with diameters in between and the insertion passage. Therefore, this grommet does not need to be prepared as a dedicated product for each wiring material with a different diameter, and can protect the wiring materials with diameters within that range and improve the liquid-proof property between the wiring materials and the insertion passage with a single product. Therefore, the grommet of the present invention can be used for wiring materials of different diameters, which reduces the cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a grommet in a closed state according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grommet in the closed state according to the embodiment, seen from a different angle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the grommet in the closed state according to the embodiment, as viewed from the protruding body side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the grommet in the closed state according to the embodiment, as viewed from the lip side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the grommet in the open state according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the grommet in the open state according to the embodiment, viewed from a different angle. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the grommet in the open state according to the embodiment, as viewed from the protruding body side. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the grommet in the open state according to the embodiment, as viewed from the lip side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the grommet in the closed state according to the embodiment, as viewed from the connector side. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows the lip with the reference wiring material installed. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 shows a lip to which a wiring material having a diameter equal to or smaller than that of the standard wiring material is attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a grommet according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a grommet according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 13 denotes a grommet of this embodiment. This grommet 1 is disposed in a through-hole (hereinafter referred to as a "routing material insertion hole") through which a wiring material We (FIG. 1) passes between two spaces. It protects the wiring material We from the periphery of the wiring material insertion hole in the partition between the two spaces and prevents liquids such as water from passing between the two spaces through the gap between the periphery and the wiring material We. Therefore, this grommet 1 is molded from a flexible synthetic resin material such as synthetic rubber. Here, the wiring material We refers to, for example, an electric wire (such as an electric wire serving as a communication line or a power supply line). The partition between the two spaces may be, for example, a plate-like member such as a panel of a vehicle body, or the wall of a housing box such as an electrical junction box.

[0012] The grommet 1 has a grommet body 1A having an insertion passage 1a formed therein for inserting the straight portion of the wiring material We, and a connecting body 1B connected to the grommet body 1A outside the grommet body 1A (Figures 1 to 8).

[0013] The grommet 1 is held in place by placing its connector 1B in the routing material insertion hole via the connector 1B. For example, when the grommet 1 is attached to a storage box, the storage box includes a box body having an insertion opening for inserting an object to be stored therein, and a cover for covering the insertion opening. In this storage box, a notch on the insertion opening side in the wall of the box body is closed with a cover, so that the notch is used as a routing material insertion hole. The wall of the box body may also be formed with a storage chamber having wall portions projecting from the periphery of the notch toward both space sides (the interior space side of the box body and the space outside the box body), with routing material insertion holes provided on both space sides. In this storage box, the two wiring material insertion holes are arranged opposite each other in the axial direction of the straight portion of the wiring material We (hereinafter referred to as the "wiring axis direction"), and the connecting body 1B is stored in the storage chamber and held within this storage chamber.

[0014] The grommet body 1A includes a main body 10 having an insertion passage 1a split into two insertion grooves 11 in the axial direction of the straight portion of the wiring material We, with the opening of one of the insertion grooves 11 serving as an insertion opening 11a for the wiring material We, and a movable body 20 having the other insertion groove 21 split into two in the insertion passage 1a, with the opening of the other insertion groove 21 serving as an insertion opening 21a for the wiring material We (FIGS. 1 to 9). A connector 1B is connected to one end of the grommet body 1A in the axial direction. The grommet body 1A also includes a protrusion 30 protruding coaxially from the other end of the main body 10 in the axial direction (FIGS. 1 to 8).

[0015] The main body 10 shown here has one-side insertion grooves 11 at two locations aligned in the direction of the wiring axis. Each of the insertion grooves 11 extends to the end of the protruding body 30 in the protruding direction (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6). Also, the movable body 20 shown here is provided for each insertion passage 1a (i.e., for each one-side insertion groove 11).

[0016] The connecting body 1B has a first connecting body 41 connected to one end of the main body 10 in the wiring axis direction, and a second connecting body 42 for each movable body 20 connected to one end of the movable body 20 in the wiring axis direction (Figures 2 and 4 to 8).

[0017] The grommet 1 has hinges 50 that connect the main body 10 and the movable body 20 and also connect the first link body 41 and the second link body 42, and that allow the main body 10 and the movable body 20 and the first link body 41 and the second link body 42 to rotate relatively between an open state and a closed state around a rotation axis extending in the wiring axis direction (FIGS. 2 and 4 to 9). This hinge 50 is provided for each combination of the movable body 20 and the second link body 42. That is, in this grommet 1, the main body 10 and the movable body 20 are integrated via the hinges 50, and the main body 10, the two movable bodies 20, and portions of the hinges 50 at two locations, plus the protrusions 30, form the grommet main body 1A. In addition, in this grommet 1, the first connecting body 41 and the second connecting body 42 are integrated via a hinge 50, and the first connecting body 41, the two second connecting bodies 42, and the remaining two hinges 50 form a connecting body 1B.

[0018] In the grommet 1, by providing this hinge 50, the main body 10, the movable body 20, the first connecting body 41 and the second connecting body 42 are arranged in the following positional relationship in the closed state and the open state.

[0019] When in the closed state, the main body 10 and the movable bodies 20 abut their respective ends (hereinafter referred to as "first external slit peripheral portions") 12, 22 around the axis of the wiring material We to form an external slit (hereinafter referred to as "first external slit") 61 between the first external slit peripheral portions 12, 22 (Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 5 to 9). This first external slit 61 is provided for each movable body 20. When in the closed state, the main body 10 and the movable bodies 20 align the insertion openings 11a, 21a of one insertion groove 11 and the other insertion groove 21 to form an insertion passage 1a. When in the closed state, the main body 10 and the two movable bodies 20 have an external shape that is a rectangle.

[0020] In a closed state, the first connecting body 41 and the two second connecting bodies 42 form an external slit (hereinafter referred to as the "second external slit") 62 between the second external slit peripheral portions 42a, 42b, which are formed by abutting the respective ends (hereinafter referred to as the "second external slit peripheral portions") 42a, 42b of the two second connecting bodies 42 (FIGS. 1 to 9). The first connecting body 41 and the two second connecting bodies 42 form an annular body in a closed state. Here, when the first connecting body 41 and the two second connecting bodies 42 are in a closed state, they form a rectangular annular connecting body 1B. Furthermore, when the first connecting body 41 and the two second connecting bodies 42 are in a closed state, the inner space of the annular body becomes a communicating passage 1b connecting the two insertion passages 1a (FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7). This communication passage 1b also serves as a space that connects the two insertion passages 1a to one of the two spaces (here, the internal space of the box body).

[0021] In this grommet 1, the two first external slits 61 and the second external slit 62 are formed as a single trident-shaped slit in which one end of each slit is gathered in one place when closed (FIGS. 3 and 7). Here, a single Y-shaped slit is formed, as if branching from the second external slit 62 to the two first external slits 61.

[0022] Meanwhile, the main body 10 and the movable body 20, in the open state, expand the width of the first external slit 61 to expose the insertion openings 11a, 21a of the respective insertion grooves 11, 21 from the first external slit 61, and in this open state, the wiring material We is inserted into the respective insertion grooves 11, 21 from the first external slit 61. Then, the first connecting body 41 and the two second connecting bodies 42, in the open state, expand the width of the second external slit 62 to expose the wall surfaces (respective inner wall surfaces) of the communicating passage 1b from the second external slit 62, and in this open state, the wiring material We is inserted from the second external slit 62. In other words, in this grommet 1, when the main body 10, the movable body 20, and the first connecting body 41 and the second connecting body 42 are in the open state, one wiring material We can be assembled from one of the first external slits 61 and the second external slit 62, and the other wiring material We can be assembled from the other of the first external slits 61 and the second external slit 62.

[0023] In this grommet 1, a first external slit 61 is provided for each movable body 20 between the main body 10 and the movable body 20, and a second external slit 62 is provided between the first linking body 41 and the second linking body 42. In this grommet 1, due to the relative positions of the main body 10, movable body 20, first linking body 41, second linking body 42, and hinge 50, when the main body 10 and movable body 20 and the first linking body 41 and second linking body 42 are in a closed state, the two first external slits 61 and the second external slit 62 form a single slit with one end connected at one point. Here, the two first external slits 61 and the second external slit 62 form a single trident-shaped (Y-shaped) slit. Therefore, in this grommet 1, when the main body 10, the movable body 20, the first linking body 41, and the second linking body 42 are in the open state, the width of the second external slit 62 can be made wider than the width of each of the first external slits 61. Therefore, when assembling the wiring material We in this grommet 1, the wiring material We can be inserted first through the wider second external slit 62, and then the wiring material We can be inserted through the first external slit 61, thereby improving the assembling work of the wiring material We.

[0024] Here, the hinge 50 is formed to open the main body 10, the movable body 20, the first link body 41, and the second link body 42 in an unloaded state. As a result, in this grommet 1, it is not necessary to widen the widths of the two first external slits 61 and the second external slits 62 from a closed state to an open state when assembling the wiring material We. Furthermore, this grommet 1 does not require a jig or the like for keeping the two first external slits 61 and the second external slits 62 in an open state. Therefore, this grommet 1 can also improve the assembling work of the wiring material We in this respect.

[0025] This grommet 1 has a maximum diameter for a standard wiring material We0 with a standard diameter and protects wiring material We with a diameter equal to or smaller than the standard diameter (Fig. 9). Therefore, the inner surface of the insertion passage 1a has a contact surface that fits tightly against the outer surface of the standard wiring material We0 all around. In other words, the inner surfaces 11b, 21b of each insertion groove 11, 21 have contact surfaces 11c, 21c that fit tightly against the outer surface of the standard wiring material We0 all around when in the closed state (Figs. 9 and 10).

[0026] Furthermore, this grommet 1 has a lip 70 that protrudes from the inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of each insertion groove 11, 21 and abuts the respective end portions 71a, 71b around the axis of the wiring material We when closed, forming an internal slit 63 between the end portions 71a, 71b and tightly contacting the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material We ( FIGS. 4 to 8 ). This lip 70 is provided for each insertion passage 1a (i.e., for each combination of one insertion groove 11 and the other insertion groove 21). In the closed state, the lip 70 shown here is a cantilevered cylinder whose cylindrical axis is aligned with the wiring axis, and tightly contacts the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material We when open. In the open state, the lip 70 widens the width of the internal slit 63, exposing the inner wall surface 72 from the internal slit 63. In this open state, the wiring material We is inserted through the internal slit 63 ( FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 ).

[0027] This lip 70 is a truncated cone-shaped cylinder with a lower base 73a at the fixed end when the cable spool We is not inserted (FIGS. 4, 10, and 11). The lip 70 shown here protrudes from the inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of the insertion grooves 11, 21 toward the protruding body 30, with the lower base 73a located on the connecting body 1B side and the upper base 73b at the free end located on the protruding body 30 side (FIGS. 4, 10, and 11). Furthermore, when the cable spool We is inserted and the cable spool We is inserted, the lip 70 is a cylinder having an expanded diameter portion 74 that is expanded by the cable spool We between the lower base 73a and the upper base 73b according to the diameter of the cable spool We (FIGS. 12 and 13). The lip 70 shown in FIG. 12 represents a state in which a standard cable spool We0 is installed. Moreover, the lip 70 shown in FIG. 13 represents a state in which a wiring material We having a diameter equal to or smaller than the diameter of the standard wiring material We0 is assembled.

[0028] When in a closed state without a wiring material, the lip 70 forms a truncated cone-shaped cylinder that is eccentric toward the internal slit 63 as it moves from the lower base 73a to the upper base 73b. When in a closed state with a wiring material present, the lip 70 expands in diameter in accordance with the diameter of the wiring material We without changing the positions of the respective ends 71a, 71b on the internal slit 63 side. For example, the lip 70 has a thin main portion for flexibility in order to improve adhesion to the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material We, but by making the thickness of each end 71a, 71b thicker than the main portion to increase rigidity, the lip 70 expands in diameter in accordance with the diameter of the wiring material We without changing the positions of the respective ends 71a, 71b when in a closed state with a wiring material present.

[0029] This lip 70 is designed to be in a closed state and to fit tightly around the outer surface of a wiring material We whose diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the standard wiring material We0, and the minimum diameter to be protected is a wiring material We whose diameter can be fitted tightly around the entire surface using only its upper base 73b.

[0030] Here, the inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of each insertion groove 11, 21 have accommodating recesses 11d, 21d that accommodate the lip 70 that is pushed open against the standard wiring material We0 in the closed state (FIGS. 4 and 8). The accommodating recesses 11d, 21d are portions of the inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of each insertion groove 11, 21 that are recessed from the contact surfaces 11c, 21c. The lip 70 protrudes from the boundary between the contact surfaces 11c, 21c and the accommodating recesses 11d, 21d on the inner peripheral surfaces 11b, 21b of each insertion groove 11, 21. As a result, when the grommet 1 is in a closed state with the standard wiring material We0 inserted, the lip 70 can escape into the accommodation recesses 11d, 21d, so that the contact surfaces 11c, 21c can be tightly attached to the outer peripheral surface of the standard wiring material We0 all around without causing the standard wiring material We0 to float up from the contact surfaces 11c, 21c. Therefore, the grommet 1 can improve the liquid-proof property between the lip 70 and the wiring material We.

[0031] This grommet 1 is made of a flexible synthetic resin material such as synthetic rubber, and is molded as a single component in which the grommet body 1A (main body 10, movable body 20, protruding body 30), connecting body 1B (first connecting body 41, second connecting body 42), hinge 50 and lip 70 are integrated.

[0032] As described above, the grommet 1 of this embodiment can protect the wiring material We having a diameter between the standard diameter of the standard wiring material We0 and the minimum diameter described above by using the lip 70, and can improve the liquid-proof property between the wiring material We having a diameter between the diameters and the insertion passage 1a. Therefore, this grommet 1 does not need to be prepared as a dedicated product for each wiring material of different diameters. For wiring material We having a diameter within this range, a single grommet 1 can protect the wiring material We and improve the liquid-proof property between the wiring material We and the insertion passage 1a. Therefore, the grommet 1 of this embodiment can be used with wiring materials We of different diameters, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, the grommet 1 of this embodiment can assemble wiring materials We of different diameters into each insertion passage 1a, thereby also reducing costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 grommet 1a Insertion passage 10 subjects 11,21 Insertion groove 11a, 21a insertion slot 11b,21b Inner surface 11c, 21c contact surface 11d, 21d Recessed portion 12, 22 First outer slit peripheral portion (end portion) 20 Movable body 50 hinges 61 First external slit (external slit) 63 Internal slit 70 Lip 71a,71b End 72 Inner wall surface 73a bottom 73b Upper bottom 74 Expanded diameter part We wiring material We0 standard wiring material

Claims

1. A main body in which an insertion passage for inserting a straight portion of a wiring material has one insertion groove divided into two in the wiring axis direction of the straight portion, and an opening of the one insertion groove serves as an insertion port for the wiring material; a movable body having the other of the two divided insertion grooves in the insertion passage, and an opening of the other insertion groove serving as an insertion port for the wiring material; a hinge that connects the main body and the movable body and rotates the main body and the movable body relatively between an open state and a closed state around a rotation axis that extends in the wiring axis direction; Lips protrude from the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion grooves, and in the closed state, the ends of the wiring material around its axis are brought into contact with each other to form an internal slit between the ends, and the lips form a cantilevered cylindrical body with the wiring axis direction as its cylindrical axis, and are in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material around its entire circumference; and In the closed state, the main body and the movable body form an external slit between the ends of the wiring material around its axis by abutting the ends together, and in the closed state, the insertion openings of the one insertion groove and the other insertion groove are aligned to form the insertion passage, and in the open state, the width of the external slit is expanded to expose the insertion openings of each insertion groove from the external slit, The inner peripheral surface of the insertion passage has a contact surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of a reference wiring material having a reference diameter over the entire circumference, The lip is a truncated cone-shaped cylinder with the fixed end side being the lower base in the closed state without the wiring material, and when in the closed state with the wiring material present, it is a cylinder having an expanded diameter portion that is pressed against the wiring material between the lower base and the upper base in accordance with the diameter of the wiring material, and in the open state, the width of the internal slit is expanded to expose the inner wall surface from the internal slit, characterized by the above.

2. The grommet according to claim 1 , wherein the inner peripheral surface of each of the insertion grooves has an accommodation recess for accommodating the lip that is expanded against the reference wiring material in the closed state.

3. A grommet as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when in the closed state without wiring material, the lip becomes a truncated cone-shaped cylinder that is eccentric toward the internal slit as it moves from the lower base to the upper base, and when in the closed state with wiring material, the lip expands in diameter according to the diameter of the wiring material without changing the position of each of the ends on the internal slit side.

4. The main body has the one insertion groove at two locations aligned in the wiring axis direction, The movable body and the lip are provided for each of the insertion passages, 3. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the external slit is provided for each of the movable bodies.

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