Grommet with Segmented Lip and Recessed Work Pressing Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grommets require excessive force for mounting due to their design, which involves sliding into a through hole with a gradually increasing outer diameter, making the process difficult and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A grommet design featuring a first and second harness insertion portion, a lip mountain integrated with the first portion, a panel abutment portion, a connection portion, and work pressing portions with recesses, allowing the grommet to be easily pushed into a through hole by reducing weight and improving grip and rigidity through the work unit's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the grommet outer circumference gradually increases toward the fitting portion (mounting direction), then the grommet can be securely fitted into the through hole, but excessive force is required for mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into multiple sections along its axial length, with each section having a different outer diameter. The outer diameter gradually decreases from the fitting portion toward the rear end, creating distinct segments that reduce the force required for mounting while maintaining fitting security.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the outer diameter toward the fitting portion as in conventional grommets, this grommet inverts the design by decreasing the outer diameter from the fitting portion toward the rear end. This inversion reduces the mounting force requirement while ensuring secure fitting.
2Ease of operation
If the outer side portion is pushed toward the inner side during mounting, then the grommet can be installed, but an excessive force is required since the outer circumference tries to increase in diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet inverts the conventional design by having the outer diameter decrease from the fitting portion toward the rear end. This allows the outer side portion to be pushed toward the inner side with reduced force, as the structure naturally contracts rather than expands during mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer diameter parameter is changed along the axial length of the grommet, with the diameter at the fitting portion being larger than at the rear end. This parameter variation enables easier mounting by reducing the resistance force during the pushing operation.
3Reliability
If the inner side lip outer diameter is small at the front end and increases toward the fitting portion, then the grommet can be fitted, but excessive force is required due to the mountain-shaped cross section
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet inverts the mountain-shaped cross section design by making the outer diameter at the fitting portion larger than at the rear end. This creates a smooth contraction profile that reduces mounting effort while maintaining fitting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner side lip is segmented into multiple sections with progressively decreasing outer diameters from the fitting portion toward the rear end. This segmentation creates a stepped contraction profile that reduces the force required for mounting while ensuring stable fitting.
Data Source
AI summary
A grommet includes an inner side harness insertion portion extending toward an inner side of a vehicle, an outer side harness insertion portion extending toward an outer side of the vehicle, a lip mountain base integrated with the inner side harness insertion portion, a lip mountain integrated with the lip mountain base, a panel abutment portion abutting on a periphery of the through hole in an outer side surface of a vehicle body panel, a connection portion connecting the lip mountain and the panel abutment portion, a work unit formed across the outer side harness insertion portion and the panel abutment portion, and a work pressing portion integrated with the outer side harness insertion portion and the work unit. A plurality of recesses are formed between facing surfaces of the work pressing portion and radially arranged about a central axis of the outer side harness insertion portion.