Grommet and wiring member with grommet

Abstract

The present invention provides a grommet and a wiring member with a grommet in which an engagement state is easily maintained and thus a waterproof state is easily maintained. Provided is a tubular grommet having a through hole through which a wiring member penetrates. The grommet comprises: a tubular part in which a through hole is formed; an engagement part; and a mating-side engagement part which can engage with the engagement part. The tubular part includes at least one set of a first split end and a second split end along the penetration direction of the wiring member. The engagement part is formed along the first split end. The mating-side engagement part is formed along the second split end. The engagement part and the mating-side engagement part are continuously engaged along the penetration direction; therefore, the first split end and the second split end continuously maintain a waterproof state along the penetration direction.

Description

Grommets and wiring components with grommets

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a grommet and a wiring member with a grommet.

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles may be equipped with a body panel that separates an engine compartment from a passenger compartment. The body panel may be formed with a through-hole through which a wire harness passes. A grommet may be attached to the wire harness and attached to the through-hole. One such grommet is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-40433. The grommet described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-40433 is composed of two halves divided along the direction in which the wire harness passes. The two halves are connected with the wire harness sandwiched between them. The two halves are provided with a locking mechanism for connecting them to each other. The locking mechanism is composed of a locking claw protruding from an end of one of the halves and a locking frame protruding from an end of the other halves for engaging and locking the locking claw.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-40433

[0004] It is desirable to make it easier to maintain the engagement state at the split ends of the grommet and to make it easier to maintain the waterproof state.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to make it easier to maintain an engaged state at the split ends of a grommet and to make it easier to maintain a waterproof state.

[0006] The grommet of the present disclosure is a tubular grommet having a through hole through which a wiring member passes, and comprises a tubular portion in which the through hole is formed, an engaging portion, and a mating engaging portion that can engage with the engaging portion, and the tubular portion includes at least one pair of first and second divided ends along the penetration direction of the wiring member, the engaging portion being formed along the first divided end, and the mating engaging portion being formed along the second divided end, and the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion continuously engage with each other along the penetration direction, so that the first divided end and the second divided end are maintained in a continuously waterproof state along the penetration direction.

[0007] A grommet-equipped wiring member according to the present disclosure includes the grommet and a wiring member that passes through the through hole of the grommet.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a grommet and a wiring member with a grommet that are easily maintained in an engaged state and easily maintain a waterproof state.

[0009] 1 is a front view of the grommet together with a wiring member and a vehicle body panel, FIG 2 is a perspective view of the grommet, and FIG 3 is a side view of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion together with a slider.

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

[0011] The grommet of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0012] (1) A tubular grommet having a through hole through which a wiring member passes, the grommet comprising: a tubular portion in which the through hole is formed; an engaging portion; and a mating engaging portion that can engage with the engaging portion, wherein the tubular portion includes at least one pair of a first divided end and a second divided end along the penetration direction of the wiring member, the engaging portion being formed along the first divided end, and the mating engaging portion being formed along the second divided end, and the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion being continuously engaged with each other along the penetration direction, thereby maintaining the first divided end and the second divided end in a continuously waterproof state along the penetration direction.

[0013] With this grommet, the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion are continuously engaged, which allows stress to be distributed across the entire area of ​​the engagement. For example, when a force is applied to disengage the engagement, the force is distributed across the entire area to which the force is applied, compared to a configuration in which only a portion of the engagement is engaged. This makes it easier for the engaging portions to maintain their engaged state. Furthermore, because the continuous engagement is maintained, it is easier for the watertight state to be maintained across the entire penetration direction.

[0014] (2) The grommet of (1) may further include a deformable flexible portion extending along the first divided end or the second divided end between the first divided end and the engaging portion or between the second divided end and the mating engaging portion. According to this grommet, the flexible portion extending along the first divided end or the second divided end is deformable. Therefore, even if the first divided end or the second divided end of the grommet has irregularities in the penetration direction, the irregularities are absorbed by the shape deformation of the flexible portion between the first divided end and the engaging portion or between the second divided end and the mating engaging portion. This makes it easy to continuously engage the engaging portion with the mating engaging portion even if the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion are formed linearly.

[0015] (3) The grommet of (1) or (2) may further include a slider that moves along the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion, engaging or disengaging the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion depending on the direction of movement. With this grommet, the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion can be easily engaged by sliding the slider.

[0016] (4) In the grommet of (3), at least one end of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion may be provided with a stopper that engages with the slider to prevent the slider from coming out. With this grommet, the stopper engages the slider, so that even if the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion are disengaged, the slider is prevented from being lost.

[0017] (5) In the grommet of (3), the slider may be detachable from the ends of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion. With this grommet, the slider can be removed from the ends of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion. By making the slider absent in the fully engaged state, the slider does not get in the way when the grommet is attached to the vehicle body.

[0018] (6) In the grommet of any one of (1) to (5), one of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion may have an engaging groove extending along the penetration direction and narrowing at its outlet, and the other of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion may have an engaging ridge portion extending along the penetration direction and formed with a tip wider than a base end, the engaging ridge portion passing through the outlet of the engaging groove and continuously engaging with the engaging groove. With this grommet, the engaging ridge portion engages with the engaging groove, thereby maintaining engagement without using a filler or a water-stopping material.

[0019] (7) The grommet of any one of (1) to (6) may include a plurality of pairs of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion, and the plurality of pairs of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion may be positioned in parallel at different distances from the tubular portion. This grommet has a plurality of parallel pairs of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion, which improves waterproofing and soundproofing.

[0020] (8) In any one of (1) to (7), the grommet may include only one pair of the first divided end and the second divided end. This grommet has improved waterproofing and soundproofing properties compared to when two or more pairs of the first divided end and the second divided end are included.

[0021] The grommet-equipped wiring member of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0022] (9) A grommet-attached wiring member including any one of the grommets (1) to (8) and a wiring member that is passed through the through hole of the grommet.

[0023] With this grommet-equipped wiring member, the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion are continuously engaged with each other, so stress can be distributed across the entire area of ​​the engagement. For example, when a force is applied to disengage the engagement, the force is distributed across the entire area to which the force is applied, compared to a configuration in which only a portion of the engagement is engaged. This makes it easier for the engaging portions to maintain their engaged state. Furthermore, because the continuous engagement is maintained, it is easier to maintain a waterproof state across the entire penetration direction.

[0024] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the grommet-equipped wiring member of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0025] In the drawings, for the sake of convenience, some of the components may be exaggerated or simplified. Also, the dimensional ratios of the components may differ from one drawing to another. Furthermore, in this specification, "parallel" and "orthogonal" do not only refer to cases where the components are strictly parallel or orthogonal, but also include cases where the components are roughly parallel or orthogonal within the scope of the functions and effects of this embodiment.

[0026] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a grommet-equipped wiring member 1 according to a first embodiment will be described.

[0027] <Overall Configuration> First, the overall configuration of the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 will be described. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the grommet 10 together with the wiring member 2 and the vehicle body panel 3. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the grommet 10. In Figs. 1 and 2, the engaging portion 20 is shown by imaginary lines.

[0028] <Regarding the grommet-equipped wiring member 1> The grommet-equipped wiring member 1 includes a wiring member 2 and a grommet 10. The grommet 10 is a member that is attached to the wiring member 2 and inserted into a through-hole 3a formed in a vehicle body panel 3. The vehicle body panel 3 is, for example, a plate-like member that separates an engine compartment from a passenger compartment. In FIG. 1 , for example, the right side of the vehicle body panel 3 is the engine compartment, and the left side of the vehicle body panel 3 is the passenger compartment. In this state, the grommet 10 blocks the gap between the wiring member 2 and the through-hole 3a, preventing water from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment. The vehicle body panel 3 is formed with a through-hole 3a for routing the wiring member 2. Although the through-hole 3a is circular here, it does not necessarily have to be circular.

[0029] The wiring member 2 is configured by bundling a plurality of electric wires. Note that in FIG. 1 , each of the plurality of electric wires is not shown, and only the outer diameter of the wiring member 2 is shown. The wiring member 2 may include an optical cable or the like. Furthermore, the electric wires included in the wiring member 2 may branch off at an intermediate portion in the extension direction of the wiring member 2. The portion of the wiring member 2 that is inserted into the grommet 10 is bundled into one wire. The wiring member 2 connects, for example, various electric components on the engine compartment side with various electric components on the passenger compartment side.

[0030] 1 and 2 , the grommet 10 has a through hole 11a through which the wiring member 2 passes. The grommet 10 is tubular. The grommet 10 includes a tubular portion 11, an engaging portion 20, and a mating engaging portion 30. The grommet 10 further includes flexible portions 14 and 15 and a slider 40.

[0031] The tubular portion 11 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber. The tubular portion 11 includes a cylindrical first cover portion 16 that covers the wiring member 2 on the engine compartment side, a cylindrical second cover portion 17 that covers the wiring member 2 on the passenger compartment side, and a fitting portion 18 that fits into the through hole 3a of the vehicle body panel 3. The fitting portion 18 is formed with large outer diameter portions 18a, 18b and a groove portion 18c located between the large outer diameter portions 18a, 18b. The outer diameter of the annular bottom of the groove portion 18c is set to be approximately the same as the inner diameter of the through hole 3a. The grommet 10 is attached to the vehicle body panel 3 with the inner peripheral edge of the through hole 3a of the vehicle body panel 3 fitted into the groove portion 18c. The grommet 10 blocks the gap between the wiring member 2 and the inner peripheral edge of the through hole 3a, thereby preventing water from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment through the through hole 3a.

[0032] A through hole 11a is formed in the tubular portion 11. The inner diameter of the through hole 11a is, for example, large enough to fit the wiring member 2 in the portion disposed inside the vehicle cabin. The portion of the through hole 11a disposed inside the vehicle cabin has an inner diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the wiring member 2. After the tubular portion 11 covers the periphery of the wiring member 2, the engine compartment-side end of the first cover portion 16 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the first cover portion 16 may be wrapped with, for example, adhesive tape. The passenger compartment-side end of the second cover portion 17 and the portion of the wiring member 2 protruding from the end of the second cover portion 17 may be wrapped with, for example, adhesive tape. This prevents water from entering the vehicle cabin from the engine compartment through the through hole 11a. The periphery of the first cover portion 16 and the wiring member 2 may be sealed with a sealing material other than adhesive tape. Similarly, the periphery of the second cover portion 17 and the wiring member 2 may be sealed with a sealing material other than adhesive tape.

[0033] The tubular portion 11 includes a pair of first divided ends 12 and second divided ends 13 that extend along the penetration direction A of the wiring member 2. The first divided ends 12 and second divided ends 13 are formed continuously from one end to the other of the tubular portion 11. The tubular portion 11 is divided in the penetration direction A by the first divided ends 12 and the second divided ends 13. The first divided ends 12 and the second divided ends 13 are positioned opposite each other. In this embodiment, there is one pair of the first divided ends 12 and the second divided ends 13, but at least one pair is sufficient. For example, there may be two or more pairs of the first divided ends 12 and the second divided ends 13.

[0034] <Engaging Portion 20 and Counterpart Engaging Portion 30> FIG. 3 is a side view showing the engaging portion 20 and the counterpart engaging portion 30 together with the slider 40. As shown in FIG.

[0035] In this embodiment, the engaging portion 20 is fixed to the flexible portion 14, which will be described in detail later. The mating engaging portion 30 is fixed to the flexible portion 15, which will be described in detail later. The engaging portion 20 and the flexible portion 14 may be fixed to each other by, for example, adhesive or thermal welding, or may be integrally formed. Similarly, the mating engaging portion 30 and the flexible portion 15 may be fixed to each other by, for example, adhesive or thermal welding, or may be integrally formed. The engaging portion 20 is formed along the first divided end 12. The mating engaging portion 30 is formed along the second divided end 13. The mating engaging portion 30 is engageable with the engaging portion 20. The engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are made of a material that is elastic enough to be able to engage and disengage with each other. The engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 may be made of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0036] In this embodiment, two sets of engaging portions 20 and counterpart engaging portions 30 are provided. The two sets of engaging portions 20 and counterpart engaging portions 30 are positioned in parallel at different distances from the tubular portion 11. In this embodiment, a configuration including two sets of engaging portions 20 and counterpart engaging portions 30 is adopted, but a combination of one set of engaging portions 20 and counterpart engaging portions 30, or a combination of three or more sets of engaging portions 20 and counterpart engaging portions 30 may also be used.

[0037] The engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are continuously engaged with each other along the penetration direction A. As a result, the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13 are continuously maintained in a waterproof state along the penetration direction A.

[0038] The engaging portion 20 extends along the penetration direction A. The engaging portion 20 has two engaging ridges 21, 22 and a support wall 20a that supports the engaging ridges 21, 22. The support wall 20a is the portion that extends from the portion fixed to the flexible portion 14 to the engaging ridges 21, 22. The two engaging ridges 21, 22 are positioned side by side at different distances from the tubular portion 11. The engaging ridges 21, 22 are, for example, side by side in a direction perpendicular to the penetration direction A.

[0039] The engaging ridges 21, 22 have distal ends 21 a, 22 a and proximal ends 21 b, 22 b. The proximal ends 21 b, 22 b are supported by the support wall 20 a. The distal ends 21 a, 22 a protrude from the proximal ends 21 b, 22 b in a side view. The distal ends 21 a, 22 a of the engaging ridges 21, 22 are formed wider than the proximal ends 21 b, 22 b.

[0040] The mating engagement portion 30 extends along the penetration direction A. The mating engagement portion 30 has engagement grooves 31, 32. The engagement grooves 31, 32 have narrowed exits 31e, 32e. The specific configuration is as follows: The engagement groove 31 is surrounded by a support wall portion 30a, a protruding receiving portion 31a extending from the support wall portion 30a, and a roof portion 31b extending from the upper end of the support wall portion 30a. The protruding receiving portion 31a has an extension portion 31c extending from the support wall portion 30a and a protrusion 31d protruding upward from the tip of the extension portion 31c. An exit 31e is formed in the engagement groove 31 by the tip of the protrusion 31d and the roof portion 31b.

[0041] The engagement groove 32 is formed by the support wall 30a, a protruding receiving portion 32a extending from the support wall 30a, and the underside of the protruding receiving portion 31a. The protruding receiving portion 32a has an extension portion 32c extending from the support wall 30a and a protrusion 32d protruding upward from the tip of the extension portion 32c. An outlet 32e is formed in the engagement groove 32 by the tip of the protrusion 31d and the underside of the protruding receiving portion 31a.

[0042] The widths of the tip ends 21a, 22a of the engaging ridges 21, 22 are larger than the widths of the exits 31e, 32e of the engaging grooves 31, 32, respectively. The engaging grooves 31, 32 are formed to conform to the shapes of the engaging ridges 21, 22, respectively. A shape conforming to the shapes of the engaging ridges 21, 22 means that the engaging ridges 21, 22 can be accommodated within the engaging grooves 31, 32. For example, in a side view from the penetration direction A, the engaging ridges 21, 22 are equal to or slightly smaller than the engaging grooves 31, 32. Furthermore, the widths of the base ends 21b, 22b of the engaging ridges 21, 22 are smaller than the widths of the exits 31e, 32e of the engaging grooves 31, 32, respectively. The engaging ridges 21, 22 pass through the exits 31e, 32e of the engaging grooves 31, 32 and continuously engage with the engaging grooves 31, 32.

[0043] In this embodiment, the engaging portion 20 has the engaging ridges 21, 22, and the mating engaging portion 30 has the engaging grooves 31, 32, but the engaging portion 20 may have the engaging groove, and the mating engaging portion 30 may have the engaging ridge. Also, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 20 is configured to have two pairs of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30, but the engaging portion 20 may have only one pair of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30, or may have three or more pairs of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30.

[0044] The support wall portion 20a of the engaging portion 20 has a bellows portion 23 between the fixed portion with the flexible portion 14 and the engaging ridge portions 21, 22. The bellows portion 23 has a plurality of flat portions 24 and a plurality of bent portions 25 located between the flat portions 24. The bellows portion 23 can expand and contract by bending the angle at which the flat portions 24 join together at the bent portions 25. By providing the bellows portion 23, the engaging portion 20 has expandability in the width direction B in a side view.

[0045] Similarly, the support wall portion 30a of the mating engagement portion 30 includes a bellows portion 33 extending from the portion where the flexible portion 15 is fixed to the mating engagement grooves 31, 32. The bellows portion 33 includes a plurality of flat portions 34 and a bent portion 35 located between the flat portions 34. The bellows portion 33 can expand and contract by bending the angle at which the flat portions 34 join together at the bent portion 35. The provision of the bellows portion 33 makes the mating engagement portion 30 stretchable in the width direction B in a side view. For example, it is assumed that the flexible portions 14, 15 will be folded and stored when the grommet 10 is attached to the vehicle body panel 3. In this way, even if a force is generated in a direction that causes the engagement portion 20 and the mating engagement portion 30 to shift relative to each other as a result of the flexible portions 14, 15 being bent, the shift is absorbed by the bellows portions 23, 33.

[0046] 1 to 3 , the ends of the engaging portion 20 are provided with stoppers 27, 28 that engage with a slider 40, which will be described later. The engaging portion 20 is provided with the stopper 27 at its end facing the passenger compartment, and the stopper 28 at its end facing the engine compartment. In this embodiment, the end of the mating engaging portion 30 facing the passenger compartment is also provided with a stopper 37 that restricts the slider 40. When the slider 40 is positioned at the end of the engaging portion 20 or the mating engaging portion 30, the stoppers 27, 28, 37 restrict the slider 40 from coming off the engaging portion 20 or the mating engaging portion 30. Specifically, the stoppers 27, 28, 37 come into contact with an outer guide 42 of the slider 40, which will be described in detail later, thereby restricting the slider 40 from coming off the engaging portion 20 or the mating engaging portion 30.

[0047] <Flexible portions 14, 15> The flexible portions 14 and 15 are deformable. The flexible portions 14 and 15 are made of a highly flexible material. High flexibility means that they are easily deformed by an external force. The flexible portions 14 and 15 may have flexibility that makes them easier to bend and deform than the tubular portion 11. Preferably, the flexible portions 14 and 15 may have flexibility that makes them easier to bend and deform than the engaging portion 20 and the counterpart engaging portion 30. The flexible portions 14 and 15 may be formed into sheets of, for example, vinyl chloride resin, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

[0048] The flexible portion 14 is located between the first divided end 12 and the engaging portion 20. The flexible portion 14 extends along the first divided end 12. The flexible portion 14 also serves to connect the first divided end 12 and the engaging portion 20. The flexible portion 15 is located between the second divided end 13 and the mating engaging portion 30. The flexible portion 15 extends along the second divided end 13. The flexible portion 15 also serves to connect the second divided end 13 and the mating engaging portion 30. In this embodiment, both the flexible portion 14 and the flexible portion 15 are provided, but only one of them may be provided. For example, if only the flexible portion 14 is provided, the mating engaging portion 30 is directly fixed to the second divided end 13. Furthermore, if only the flexible portion 15 is provided, the engaging portion 20 is directly fixed to the first divided end 12.

[0049] 1 and 2 , the outer periphery of the grommet is formed with irregularities in the penetration direction A. Flexible portions 14 and 15 are interposed between the engaging portion or the mating engaging portion and the uneven outer periphery of grommet 10, and absorb the irregularities formed in the outer periphery of the grommet. Therefore, flexible portions 14 and 15 allow engaging portion 20 and mating engaging portion 30 to linearly engage with each other in the penetration direction A.

[0050] When the grommet 10 is attached to the through hole 3a formed in the vehicle body panel 3, the flexible portions 14, 15 are wrapped around the outer periphery of the portion of the tubular portion 11 that is attached to the through hole 3a (see FIG. 1 ). At this time, due to the flexibility of the flexible portions 14, 15, the flexible portions 14, 15 are wrapped in close contact with the outer periphery of the tubular portion 11. Furthermore, the slider 40, which will be described in detail later, is not positioned to abut against the through hole 3a when the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are engaged. Specifically, the slider 40 is positioned at the ends of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 while being restricted by the stoppers 27, 37.

[0051] In the case of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 that are not provided with the stoppers 27, 37, the slider 40 may be completely removed from the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30. In this way, when the slider 40 is completely removed from the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30, the slider 40 is attached again from the end of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 when the engagement between the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 is released.

[0052] In this embodiment, a configuration in which the flexible portions 14 and 15 are provided is adopted, but a configuration in which the flexible portions 14 and 15 are not provided may also be adopted.

[0053] 1 to 3 , the slider 40 moves along the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30. The slider 40 is made of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. The slider 40 engages or disengages the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 depending on the direction of movement of the slider 40. The slider 40 includes a base 41, a pair of outer guides 42, and an inner guide 43. The lower surface of the base 41 moves along the upper portions of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30.

[0054] The pair of outer guides 42 hang down from both widthwise ends of the base 41. The pair of outer guides 42 may be flexible. The pair of outer guides 42 may be capable of elastically bending and deforming inward and outward with both widthwise ends of the base 41 as fulcrums. The pair of outer guides 42 press the outer side surface 29 of the engaging portion 20 and the outer side surface 39 of the mating engaging portion 30 inward. This inward pressing force engages the engaging portion 20 with the mating engaging portion 30. Specifically, the tip 21a of the engaging ridge portion 21 of the engaging portion 20 presses the outlet 31e of the engaging groove 31 of the mating engaging portion 30. As a result, the outlet 31e expands, and the tip 21a passes through the outlet 31e and is accommodated in the engaging groove 31. In this manner, the engaging portion 20 engages with the mating engaging portion 30 as the slider 40 moves in the engagement direction (toward the cabin in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 ).

[0055] The relationship between the engaging ridge portion 22 and the engaging groove 32 is similar to that between the engaging ridge portion 21 and the engaging groove 31 described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0056] Furthermore, the inner guide 43 is located on the base 41 closer to the passenger compartment in the penetration direction A than the outer guide 42. The inner guide 43 hangs down from the center of the base 41 in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 3 , the inner guide 43 can enter between the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30. As the slider 40 moves in the disengaging direction (the direction from the passenger compartment to the engine room in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2 ), the inner guide 43 sequentially enters between the mutually engaged engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30, and the engagement between the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 is released.

[0057] <Method of Manufacturing and Assembly of Grommet-Attached Wiring Member 1> The tubular portion 11 of the grommet 10 is formed by injection molding. The first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13 may be formed using a mold during injection molding. Alternatively, the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13 may be formed by molding the grommet into a pipe shape and then cutting it in the penetration direction A. In this manner, the flexible portion 14, to which the engaging portion 20 is attached, is fixed to the first divided end 12 of the tubular portion 11. Similarly, the flexible portion 15, to which the mating engaging portion 30 is attached, is fixed to the second divided end 13 of the tubular portion 11. This fixing may be performed by adhesive or welding. The flexible portions 14, 15 may be integrally formed with the tubular portion 11.

[0058] Next, the wiring member 2 is inserted into the through hole 11a from between the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13. In order to insert the wiring member 2 into a grommet that is not separated by the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13, for example, a dedicated device is used to enlarge the through hole of the grommet and then insert the wiring member 2 through the grommet. In contrast, the grommet 10 of the present disclosure is separated by the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13, so the wiring member 2 is inserted into the through hole 11a using a dedicated device without enlarging the through hole.

[0059] In this state, the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are engaged by the movement of the slider 40. Thereafter, the end of the first cover portion 16 and the portion of the wiring member 2 that protrudes from the end of the first cover portion 16 may be wrapped with adhesive tape. Also, the end of the second cover portion 17 and the portion of the wiring member 2 that protrudes from the end of the second cover portion 17 may be wrapped with adhesive tape. In this manner, the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 is manufactured.

[0060] The grommet-equipped wiring member 1 is press-fitted into the through-hole 3 a of the vehicle body panel 3 so that the fitting portion 18 fits into the through-hole 3 a of the vehicle body panel 3 , and the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 is fixed to the vehicle body panel 3 .

[0061] When replacing or adding the wiring member 2 in such a grommet-equipped wiring member 1, first, the grommet 10 is removed from the vehicle body panel 3. At this time, the existing wiring member 2 may remain passing through the through hole 3a. With the grommet 10 removed from the vehicle body panel 3, the adhesive tape is removed as necessary. Furthermore, the slider 40 is moved to release the engagement between the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30. The slider 40 may be removed from one of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 and left in the other, or may be removed from both. In this state, a portion of the wiring member 2 may be replaced, or a wiring member may be added.

[0062] After replacing or adding the wiring member 2, the slider 40 is again used to engage the engaging portion 20 with the mating engaging portion 30. Then, in the same manner as above, it is attached to the through hole 3a.

[0063] <Effects, etc.> With the grommet-equipped wiring member 1 configured as described above, the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are continuously engaged with each other, so stress burden can be distributed across the entire area of ​​engagement. For example, when a force that disengages the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 acts, the stress burden can be distributed across the entire area where the force is applied, making it easier to maintain the engaged state, compared to a configuration in which only a portion of the engaging portion is engaged. Furthermore, because the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are continuously engaged with each other, it is easier to achieve a waterproof structure across the entire penetration direction A.

[0064] Furthermore, because the tubular portion 11 can be separated into the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13, for example, as described above, the grommet 10 can be removed from the through hole 3a, leaving the wiring member 2 passing through the through hole 3a. In this state, the grommet 10 can be easily removed from the wiring member 2. Furthermore, wiring members can be easily added to the grommet 10. This facilitates tasks such as replacing or adding the wiring member 2. Furthermore, because the grommet 10 can be easily attached to the wiring member 2 in this way, there is no need for dedicated equipment or tools for passing the wiring member 2 through the grommet 10, which was a problem in the past.

[0065] Additionally, between the first divided end 12 and the engaging portion 20 and between the second divided end 13 and the mating engaging portion 30, there are provided deformable flexible portions 14 extending along the first divided end 12 and deformable flexible portions 15 extending along the second divided end 13. Therefore, even if the outer peripheral shape of the grommet 10 is uneven in the penetration direction A, the unevenness is absorbed by the shape deformation of the flexible portions 14, 15 between the first divided end 12 and the engaging portion 20 and between the second divided end 13 and the mating engaging portion 30. As a result, even if the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are formed in a straight line rather than in a line that follows the uneven shape of the first divided end 12 or the second divided end 13, the ease of engagement is less affected. In particular, when engagement is achieved by movement of the slider 40, the slider 40 is more likely to move if the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are linear.

[0066] In addition, the device further includes a slider 40 that moves along the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30, engaging or disengaging the engaging portion 20 and the opposing engaging portion 30 depending on the direction of movement, so that engagement can be easily achieved by sliding the slider 40.

[0067] Furthermore, the vehicle compartment-side ends of the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 (the sides that engage as the slider 40 moves) are provided with stoppers 27, 37 that engage with the slider 40 to prevent it from coming off. The engine compartment-side ends of the engaging portion 20 or the mating engaging portion 30 (the sides that disengage as the slider 40 moves) are provided with stoppers 28 that engage with the slider 40 to prevent it from coming off. Therefore, because the stoppers 27, 37, 28 engage the slider 40, even after the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are engaged all the way to their ends, the slider 40 will not come off the engaging portion 20 or the mating engaging portion 30 even if the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are disengaged. This prevents the slider 40 from being lost.

[0068] Furthermore, the mating engaging portion 30 has engaging grooves 31, 32 that extend along the penetration direction A and have narrowing outlets 31 e, 32 e, and the engaging portion 20 has engaging ridges 21, 22 that extend along the penetration direction A and have tip ends 21 a, 22 a that are wider than base ends 21 b, 22 b, so that engagement can be maintained without using fillers or waterproofing materials that are required for grommets that have locking means scattered at multiple locations on the divided ends of the divided body. Furthermore, the engagement between the engaging grooves 31, 32 and the engaging ridges 21, 22 ensures waterproofing.

[0069] In addition, two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing engaging portions 30 are provided, and the two sets of engaging portions 20 and opposing engaging portions 30 are positioned in parallel at different distances from the tubular portion 11, thereby improving soundproofing and waterproofing properties.

[0070] Furthermore, since the grommet 10 includes only one set of the first divided end 12 and the second divided end 13, soundproofing and waterproofing properties are improved compared to when two or more sets are included.

[0071] <Others> In the above-described embodiment, the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 are configured to include the stoppers 27, 37, and 28. However, this configuration is not limited thereto. A stopper may be provided only on the end of the engaging portion 20 facing the cabin (the side that engages when the slider 40 moves) or on the end of the mating engaging portion 30 facing the cabin (the side that engages when the slider 40 moves). Furthermore, the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30 may not include the stoppers 27, 37, and 28, and the slider 40 may be intentionally detached from the engaging portion 20 and the mating engaging portion 30. With this configuration, the slider 40 will not be caught in the mating portion between the fitting portion 18 and the through-hole 3a, and the mating will not be affected. Furthermore, the engaging portion 20 may be engaged by pressing the outer side surface 29 of the engaging portion 20 against the outer side surface 39 of the mating engaging portion 30, without using a slider.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the direction in which the slider 40 moves to engage is from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment, but this is not limited to this direction. By reversing the orientation of the slider 40, the direction in which the slider 40 moves to engage can also be from the passenger compartment to the engine compartment.

[0073] The configurations described as the first embodiment and its modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually contradictory.

[0074] Although the present invention has been described in detail as above, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects and does not limit the present invention. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0075] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Wiring member with grommet 2 Wiring member 3 Vehicle body panel 3a Through hole 10 Grommet 11 Tubular portion 11a Through hole 12 First divided end 13 Second divided end 14, 15 Flexible portion 16 First cover portion 17 Second cover portion 18 Fitting portion 18a, 18b Large outer diameter portion 18c Groove portion 20 Engagement portion 20a Support wall portion 21, 22 Engagement ridge portion 21a, 22a Tip end 21b, 22b Base end 23, 33 Bellows portion 24, 34 Flat portion 25, 35 Bent portion 27, 28, 37 Stopper 29, 39 Outer side surface 30 Counterpart engagement portion 30a Support wall portion 31, 32 Engagement groove 31a, 32a Outlet 40 Slider 41 Base 42 Outer guide 43 Inner guide A Penetration direction B Width direction

Claims

1. A tubular grommet having a through hole through which a wiring member passes, comprising: a tubular portion in which the through hole is formed; an engagement portion; and a mating engagement portion engageable with the engagement portion, wherein the tubular portion includes at least one pair of a first divided end and a second divided end along the penetration direction of the wiring member, the engagement portion being formed along the first divided end, and the mating engagement portion being formed along the second divided end, and the engagement portion and the mating engagement portion continuously engage with each other along the penetration direction, thereby maintaining the first divided end and the second divided end in a continuously waterproof state along the penetration direction.

2. A grommet as described in claim 1, comprising a deformable flexible portion extending along the first divided end or the second divided end at least either between the first divided end and the engaging portion or between the second divided end and the mating engaging portion.

3. A grommet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a slider that moves along the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion, engaging or disengaging the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion depending on the direction of movement.

4. A grommet as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one end of said engaging portion and said mating engaging portion is provided with a stopper that engages with said slider so as to prevent said slider from coming off.

5. A grommet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slider is detachable from the ends of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion.

6. A grommet as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion extends along the penetration direction and has an engaging groove with a narrowing outlet, and the other of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion extends along the penetration direction and has an engaging ridge portion whose tip is wider than its base end, and the engaging ridge portion passes through the outlet of the engaging groove and continuously engages with the engaging groove.

7. A grommet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of pairs of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion, the plurality of pairs of the engaging portion and the mating engaging portion being positioned in parallel at different distances from the tubular portion.

8. A grommet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grommet includes only one pair of the first divided end and the second divided end.

9. A wiring member with a grommet, comprising: the grommet according to claim 1 or 2; and a wiring member that is inserted into the through hole of the grommet.

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