Grommet Protrusions Prevent Binding Band Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grommet-equipped wire harnesses have a fastening portion with a smaller outer diameter, leading to displacement of the binding band and poor workability, making it difficult to recognize and secure the electric wire member effectively, resulting in unreliable fixation.

Innovation Solution

The grommet features protrusions adjacent to the fastening portion that protrude outward in the radial direction, exceeding the binding band's radial extent, enhancing stability and visibility, thereby improving the reliability of the fixed state and workability during binding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fastening portion is made with a smaller outer diameter to enable binding band fastening, then the binding band can be secured to the tube, but the binding band is likely to be displaced in the lengthwise direction and is difficult to visually recognize

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed state reliabilityVSAvoidworkability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual differentiation by making the protrusions have a different color or shade than the tube body, enabling operators to easily recognize the fastening portion location and preventing binding band displacement through visual guidance during assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds radial protrusions that extend outward from the tube surface, creating a three-dimensional visual and tactile feature that highlights the fastening portion location, making it easily identifiable and improving workability without compromising fixation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed state reliabilityVSAvoidbinding band position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates protrusions that preemptively prevent binding band displacement by creating visual and physical guides that keep the binding band properly positioned during the fastening process, counteracting the tendency toward displacement before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The differently colored or shaded protrusions provide visual feedback that guides the binding band to the correct position and maintains proper alignment, preventing lengthwise displacement through visual constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240290521A1Grommet and grommet-equipped wire harnesses

Publication Date: 2024.08.29 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

A grommet including: a tube into which an electric wire can be inserted, wherein: a corrugated tube covers the electric wire, the tube extends so as to have a length in an axial direction thereof, the tube includes: a fastener provided in a portion of the tube in the axial direction and to which a binding band is fastened from an outer periphery of the fastener with the corrugated tube being inserted thereinto; and protrusions that are provided adjacent to the fastener in the axial direction of the tube, that protrude outward in a radial direction of the tube, and for which a protruding amount is set so that the protrusions protrude more outward than the binding band in the radial direction.