Wire harness and grommet

Abstract

A wire harness (10) is provided with: a plurality of electric wires (20); a grommet (30) having a plurality of cylindrical parts (32) through which the plurality of electric wires (20) are respectively inserted; and a binding member (40) provided so as to fasten the outer peripheries of the plurality of cylindrical parts (32) so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires (20) and the cylindrical parts (32). The binding member (40) is provided so as to fasten the plurality of cylindrical parts (32) together. The plurality of cylindrical parts (32) have a plurality of contact surfaces (32a) that face each other and are in surface-contact with each other without a gap in a state in which the plurality of cylindrical parts (32) are fastened by the binding member (40).

Description

Wire harnesses and grommets

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wire harness and a grommet.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a wire harness including a plurality of electric wires and a grommet (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The grommet has a fitting portion that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like, and a tubular portion through which the plurality of electric wires pass. Furthermore, a portion of the extending direction of the plurality of electric wires is sandwiched between a foam sheet and gathered into a single cylindrical shape, thereby forming the cylindrical portion together with the foam sheet. The cylindrical portion is then disposed within a tubular portion whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion. This prevents liquid from passing between the electric wires and the tubular portion.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-165061

[0004] However, in the above-described wire harness, the workability of inserting the cylindrical portion into the tubular portion having a small inner diameter is poor. Therefore, for example, a wire harness configured such that a grommet is provided with a plurality of tubular portions through which a plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, and the outer periphery of the tubular portions is fastened with a fastening member such as a cable tie, can be considered. In such a wire harness, the outer periphery of the tubular portions is fastened with a fastening member after the electric wires are passed through the tubular portions, thereby facilitating the wire passing work and ensuring watertightness.

[0005] However, in such a wire harness, if a bundling member is provided for each tubular portion, the number of parts increases.Furthermore, if a single bundling member is used to fasten multiple tubular portions together, large gaps may be formed between the multiple tubular portions, which may reduce adhesion and watertightness at those locations.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wire harness and a grommet that can ensure watertightness while reducing the number of parts.

[0007] The wire harness of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of electric wires, a grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, and a binding member arranged to tighten the outer periphery of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions, the binding member arranged to tighten the plurality of tubular portions together, and the plurality of tubular portions have a plurality of contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when tightened together by the binding member.

[0008] According to the wire harness of the present disclosure, it is possible to ensure watertightness while reducing the number of parts.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a wire harness in one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of a wire harness in one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wire harness in one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a wire harness in another example. FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of a wire harness in another example. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wire harness in another example. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a wire harness in another example. FIG. 8 is a partial exploded perspective view of a wire harness in another example. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wire harness in another example.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A wire harness of the present disclosure includes: [1] a plurality of electric wires; a grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed; and a bundling member provided to fasten the outer peripheries of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions, the bundling member being provided to fasten the plurality of tubular portions together, and the plurality of tubular portions having a plurality of contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when fastened together by the bundling member.

[0011] With this configuration, the multiple tubular parts have multiple contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when fastened together by the bundling member, so that the gaps between the multiple tubular parts can be reduced while using a single bundling member, thereby ensuring watertightness in each of the multiple tubular parts while reducing the number of parts.

[0012] [2] In the above [1], the plurality of cylindrical portions may have the same shape. According to this configuration, since the plurality of cylindrical portions have the same shape, it is possible to apply a uniform force to the plurality of cylindrical portions by the binding member.

[0013] [3] In the above [2], the plurality of cylindrical portions may be formed into a shape that is equally divided radially from a center of a circle when viewed in the direction of extension of the plurality of cylindrical portions. According to this configuration, the plurality of cylindrical portions are formed into a shape that is equally divided radially from a center of a circle when viewed in the direction of extension of the plurality of cylindrical portions, which makes design easier and allows a uniform force to be applied to the plurality of cylindrical portions by the binding member.

[0014] [4] In any one of [1] to [3] above, the tubular portion may have a pair of engagement steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction. According to this configuration, the tubular portion has a pair of engagement steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction, thereby preventing the binding member from slipping relative to the tubular portion.

[0015] [5] In any one of [1] to [4] above, the bundling member may be made of a resin material. According to this configuration, the bundling member is made of a resin material, which can be made lighter and less expensive than when made of, for example, a metal material.

[0016] The grommet of the present disclosure is [6] a grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which a plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, the plurality of tubular portions being fastened together by a binding member, and the plurality of tubular portions having a plurality of contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when fastened together by the binding member.

[0017] According to this configuration, the multiple tubular parts have multiple contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when fastened together by the bundling member, so that the gaps between the multiple tubular parts can be reduced while using a single bundling member, thereby ensuring watertightness in each of the multiple tubular parts while reducing the number of parts of the wire harness.

[0018] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for the convenience of explanation, some of the configurations may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions of each part may differ from one drawing to another. Furthermore, 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 equivalent to the claims.

[0019] 1 and 2 includes a plurality of electric wires 20, a grommet 30, and a bundling member 40. The wire harness 10 of this embodiment includes two electric wires 20.

[0020] (Configuration of Electric Wire 20) As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 20 has a core wire 21 and an insulating coating 22 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 21.

[0021] The core wire 21 is, for example, a twisted wire made by twisting together a plurality of conductive wires, a single-core wire, etc. The core wire 21 is made of a metal material such as copper or aluminum. The cross section of the core wire 21 in this embodiment is formed to be a perfect circle.

[0022] The insulating coating 22 covers the entire outer periphery of the core wire 21. The insulating coating 22 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin containing, as a main component, a polyolefin resin such as cross-linked polyethylene or cross-linked polypropylene.

[0023] (Configuration of Grommet 30) The grommet 30 is made of, for example, rubber or elastomer. As shown in Fig. 2, the grommet 30 has a fitting portion 31 that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like (not shown), and a plurality of tubular portions 32 through which a plurality of electric wires 20 are respectively passed. The grommet 30 of this embodiment has two tubular portions 32. The tubular portion 32 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction by forming a recess in a portion of the tubular portion 32 that is part of the extending direction of the tubular portion 32 and does not face the other tubular portion 32.

[0024] (Configuration of Binding Member 40) The binding member 40 is made of, for example, a resin material. The binding member 40 of this embodiment is a cable tie having a flexible strip-shaped portion 41 and a locking portion 42 that is provided at one end of the strip-shaped portion 41 in the longitudinal direction and locks the strip-shaped portion 41 when it is passed through.

[0025] 1 and 3, the bundling member 40 is provided to fasten the outer periphery of the tubular portion 32, thereby preventing the passage of liquid between the electric wires 20 and the tubular portion 32. The bundling member 40 of this embodiment is provided to fasten a plurality of tubular portions 32 together. Note that Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wire harness 10 before assembly, and schematically illustrates the bundling member 40 in a state where the belt-like portion 41 is passed through the lock portion 42.

[0026] 3, the multiple tubular portions 32 of the grommet 30 have multiple contact surfaces 32a that face each other and come into surface contact with each other without gaps when fastened together by the binding member 40. In other words, each tubular portion 32 has a contact surface 32a at a location facing another tubular portion 32 that can come into surface contact with the other tubular portion 32 without gaps.

[0027] Specifically, the multiple cylindrical portions 32 have the same shape. When viewed in the extension direction of the multiple cylindrical portions 32 (see FIG. 3 ), the multiple cylindrical portions 32 are formed into a shape equally divided radially from the center of a circle. In this embodiment, when viewed in the extension direction of the two cylindrical portions 32, the two cylindrical portions 32 are formed into a shape equally divided by grooves 34 extending in two directions at 180° intervals from the center of the circle. That is, in this embodiment, the two cylindrical portions 32 are formed into a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the extension direction of the cylindrical portions 32. As a result, when the two cylindrical portions 32 are fastened together by the binding member 40 (see FIG. 3 ), they have multiple contact surfaces 32 a (two in total) that face each other and make surface contact with no gaps. Each contact surface 32 a is, for example, a flat surface. Note that, as shown in FIG. 2 , the multiple cylindrical portions 32 are formed such that the contact surfaces 32 a are slightly spaced apart by the grooves 34 provided between them when they are not fastened by the binding member 40 and are in an unloaded state.

[0028] (Operation of the embodiment) Next, the operation of the wire harness 10 configured as described above will be described. The grommet 30 has multiple tubular portions 32 through which the multiple electric wires 20 are respectively inserted. Therefore, the multiple electric wires 20 can be easily inserted into the multiple tubular portions 32 without being fastened by the binding member 40. Note that in a configuration in which multiple insertion holes are formed in a single tubular portion 32, when a first electric wire 20 is inserted into an insertion hole, the other insertion holes may become smaller or be difficult to expand, which may impair the workability of inserting a second electric wire 20 into the insertion hole. In contrast, the grommet 30 of the present embodiment has multiple independent tubular portions 32. Therefore, even if a first electric wire 20 is inserted into a tubular portion 32, the workability of inserting a second electric wire 20 into the tubular portion 32 is not impaired.

[0029] The multiple tubular portions 32 are then fastened together by the binding member 40. At this time, the opposing contact surfaces 32a of the multiple tubular portions 32 are in surface contact with each other, thereby suppressing the occurrence of gaps inside the binding member 40. This prevents escape routes for flesh from being created between the multiple tubular portions 32, and suppresses a decrease in adhesion inside the binding member 40. Therefore, liquid is prevented from passing between the electric wires 20 and the tubular portions 32.

[0030] (Effects of the Embodiment) Next, the effects of the above embodiment are described below. (1) The multiple tubular portions 32 each have multiple contact surfaces 32a that face each other and make surface contact without gaps when fastened together by the binding member 40. This allows for small gaps between the multiple tubular portions 32 while maintaining a single binding member 40. This reduces the number of parts and ensures watertightness in each of the multiple tubular portions 32. The reduced number of parts in the binding member 40 contributes to a reduction in assembly steps and contributes to a more compact wire harness 10. In particular, when the binding member 40 is a cable tie as in the present embodiment, the assembly process is facilitated because the steps of passing the belt-shaped portion 41 through the locking portion 42 and cutting off the excess belt-shaped portion 41 are performed only once.

[0031] (2) Because the multiple tubular portions 32 have the same shape, the binding member 40 can apply a uniform force to the multiple tubular portions 32. Therefore, the multiple tubular portions 32 can have a uniform water-stopping property.

[0032] (3) The multiple tubular portions 32 are formed in a shape that is equally divided radially from the center of a circle when viewed in the extension direction of the multiple tubular portions 32, making design easier and allowing the binding member 40 to apply uniform force to the multiple tubular portions 32.

[0033] (4) The tubular portion 32 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both widthwise ends of the binding member 40, thereby preventing the binding member 40 from shifting relative to the tubular portion 32. This prevents, for example, the binding member 40 from falling off the tubular portion 32.

[0034] (5) Because the binding member 40 is made of a resin material, it can be made lighter and less expensive than, for example, a binding member made of a metal material. (Modifications) The above embodiment can be modified as follows. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the wire harness 10 includes two electric wires 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may include three or more electric wires 20. In this case, the number of the cylindrical portions 32 needs to be changed depending on the number of the electric wires 20.

[0036] For example, the wiring harness 10 may be modified as shown in Figures 4 to 6. The wire harness 10 of this example includes three electric wires 20, a grommet 50, and a binding member 40. The grommet 50 of this example has a fitting portion 51 that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like (not shown), and three tubular portions 52 through which the three electric wires 20 pass, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, the tubular portion 52 has a pair of engagement steps 53 that can be engaged with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction.

[0037] 6 , the three tubular portions 52 have a plurality of contact surfaces 52a that face each other and come into surface contact with each other without gaps when fastened together by the binding member 40. In other words, each tubular portion 52 has a contact surface 52a that can come into surface contact with the other tubular portion 52 without gaps at a position where it faces the other tubular portion 52.

[0038] Specifically, the three cylindrical portions 52 have the same shape. When viewed in the direction of extension of the three cylindrical portions 52 (see FIG. 6 ), the three cylindrical portions 52 are formed in a shape equally divided radially from the center of a circle by grooves 54 extending in three directions at 120° intervals from the center of the circle. As a result, when the three cylindrical portions 52 are fastened together by the binding member 40 (see FIG. 6 ), they have multiple (six in total) contact surfaces 52 a that face each other and make surface contact without gaps. Each contact surface 52 a is, for example, flat. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5 , the three cylindrical portions 52 are formed so that the contact surfaces 52 a are slightly spaced apart by the grooves 54 provided between them when they are not fastened by the binding member 40 and are in an unloaded state. This configuration can also achieve the same effects as the above embodiment.

[0039] 7 to 9 may also be used. The wire harness 10 of this example includes four electric wires 20, a grommet 60, and a binding member 40. The grommet 60 of this example has a fitting portion 61 that can be fitted into a fixing hole provided in a panel or the like (not shown), and four tubular portions 62 through which the four electric wires 20 pass, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, the tubular portion 62 has a pair of engagement steps 63 that can be engaged with both ends of the binding member 40 in the width direction.

[0040] 9, when the four tubular portions 62 are fastened together by the binding member 40, the opposing portions of the four tubular portions 62 form contact surfaces 62a that come into surface contact with each other without any gaps. In other words, the four tubular portions 62 have contact surfaces 62a that can come into surface contact with each other without any gaps at the opposing portions.

[0041] Specifically, the four cylindrical portions 62 have the same shape. When viewed in the direction of extension of the four cylindrical portions 62 (see FIG. 9 ), the four cylindrical portions 62 are formed in a shape equally divided radially from the center of a circle by grooves 64 extending in four directions at 90° intervals from the center of the circle. As a result, when the four cylindrical portions 62 are fastened together by the binding member 40 (see FIG. 9 ), they have a plurality of contact surfaces 62 a (eight in total) that face each other and make surface contact without gaps. Each contact surface 62 a is, for example, flat. Note that, as shown in FIG. 8 , the four cylindrical portions 62 are formed so that the contact surfaces 62 a are slightly spaced apart by the grooves 64 provided between them when they are not fastened by the binding member 40 and are in an unloaded state. This configuration can also achieve the same effects as the above-described embodiment.

[0042] - In the above embodiment, the multiple tubular portions 32 have the same shape as each other, but the multiple tubular portions 32 may have different shapes as long as they have contact surfaces 32a that face each other and make surface contact without any gaps when fastened together by the binding member 40.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the multiple tubular portions 32 are formed in a shape that is equally divided radially from the center of a circle when viewed in the extension direction of the multiple tubular portions 32, but this is not limited to this and the multiple tubular portions 32 may be formed in other shapes.

[0044] -In the above embodiment, the tubular portion 32 of the grommet 30 has a pair of engagement steps 33 that can engage with both ends of the width direction of the binding member 40, but this is not limited to this, and the configuration may not have a pair of engagement steps 33.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the binding member 40 is made of a resin material, but is not limited to this and may be made of other materials such as metal. The binding member 40 may also be changed to an adhesive tape.

[0046] The illustrated non-limiting embodiment of the wire harness and grommet may be for an automobile, similar to those in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-165061 (Patent Document 1). The wire harness and grommet may be attached to a vehicle body so as to penetrate a panel, which may be a vehicle body panel, in the thickness direction of the panel.

[0047] In the non-limiting embodiments of grommets 30, 50, and 60, the fitting portions 31, 51, and 61 may be referred to as water-stopping fitting portions or radially outer water-stopping portions, each tubular portion 32, 52, and 62 may be referred to as an elastic tubular portion, and the lumen of each tubular portion 32, 52, and 62 may be referred to as a radially inner water-stopping portion.

[0048] As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 8, a non-limiting embodiment of a grommet may include a waterproof fitting portion that can be elastically fitted into a hole and has an outline that may be a circular outline, and multiple elastic tubular portions that rise from the waterproof fitting portion at an angle that may be a right angle, for example, and are configured to pass multiple electric wires through. The multiple elastic tubular portions may each have multiple lumens that extend substantially parallel to each other and are configured to fit closely to the outer circumferential surfaces of the multiple electric wires. Each of the multiple elastic tubular portions may have a base end portion close to the waterproof fitting portion and a distal end portion. The multiple elastic tubular portions may be bundled together with a band-shaped bundling member to form a single columnar body that may be, for example, a cylinder. When the multiple elastic tubular portions form the single columnar body, the multiple elastic tubular portions may have multiple contact surfaces that make surface contact with each other without gaps, at least at the distal end of the multiple elastic tubular portions. Each elastic tubular portion may have a semicircular or fan-shaped cross section. The multiple contact surfaces that make surface contact at the tip ends of the multiple elastic tubular portions are advantageous in preventing or reducing the movement of water from the tip ends of the multiple elastic tubular portions toward the base ends.

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Wire harness 20 Electric wire 21 Core wire 22 Insulating coating 30 Grommet 31 Fitting portion 32 Cylindrical portion 32a Contact surface 33 Engagement step 34 Groove 40 Binding member 41 Belt-shaped portion 42 Locking portion 50 Grommet 51 Fitting portion 52 Cylindrical portion 52a Contact surface 53 Engagement step 54 Groove 60 Grommet 61 Fitting portion 62 Cylindrical portion 62a Contact surface 63 Engagement step 64 Groove

Claims

1. A wire harness comprising: a plurality of electric wires; a grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which the plurality of electric wires are respectively passed; and a binding member provided to fasten the outer peripheries of the plurality of tubular portions so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the electric wires and the tubular portions, wherein the binding member is provided to fasten the plurality of tubular portions together, and the plurality of tubular portions have a plurality of contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact with each other without any gaps when fastened together by the binding member.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cylindrical portions have the same shape.

3. The wire harness according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of cylindrical portions are formed into a shape that is equally divided radially from the center of a circle when viewed in the direction in which the plurality of cylindrical portions extend.

4. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cylindrical portions have a pair of engaging steps that can engage with both ends of the binding member in the width direction.

5. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the bundling member is made of a resin material.

6. A grommet having a plurality of tubular portions through which a plurality of electric wires are respectively passed, the plurality of tubular portions being fastened together by a bundling member, wherein the plurality of tubular portions have a plurality of contact surfaces that face each other and make surface contact with each other without any gaps when fastened together by the bundling member.

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