Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Trim molding fastener – Plastic type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-29
2004-07-13
Sakran, Victor (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Trim molding fastener
Plastic type
C024S295000, C024S458000, C024S517000, C174S1520GM, C174S15300A, C411S508000, C411S510000, C016S002100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06760957
ABSTRACT:
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-131914, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a grommet for mounting on a panel, forming a vehicle body of a vehicle such as an automobile, a wire harness being passed through the inside of this grommet.
2. Related Art
A wire harness is passed through a hole
103
(shown in
FIG. 12
) formed through a panel
102
(shown in FIGS.
11
and
12
), forming a vehicle body of a vehicle such as an automobile, and for example, a grommet
101
, shown in
FIGS. 9
to
12
, is used for the purpose of preventing moisture, such as water, from depositing on the wire harness. In the example shown in
FIG. 12
, the hole
103
is an elongate hole of a generally oval or elliptical shape.
The grommet
101
, shown in
FIGS. 9
to
12
, is formed into a tubular shape, and is mounted on the panel
102
, and the wire harness is passed through this grommet. From the viewpoint of the quality, the grommet
101
of this kind is required to be able to be easily fitted into the hole
103
and also to have a reliable sealing performance.
The grommet
101
, shown in
FIGS. 9
to
12
, includes a grommet body
104
of a tubular shape, a fitting portion
105
, a flange portion
106
, and a lip
107
. The fitting portion
105
is formed at an end of the grommet body
104
, and is fitted in the hole
103
. The flange portion
106
is formed at the end of the grommet body
104
at which the fitting portion
105
is formed.
The flange portion
106
extends generally radially outwardly from the grommet body
104
(and hence from the grommet
101
). The flange portion
106
is formed on the grommet body
104
over the entire periphery thereof. The flange portion
106
includes a pair of straight portions
108
, spaced from each other, and a pair of arcuate portions
109
which are spaced from each other, and interconnect the pair of straight portions
108
.
The lip
107
is formed at an outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion
106
over the entire periphery thereof. When the fitting portion
105
is fitted in the hole
103
, the lip
107
is held in contact with the panel
102
as shown in FIG.
12
. The lip
107
cooperates with the panel
102
to form a liquid-tight seal therebetween, thereby preventing a liquid, such as water, from intruding into the grommet body
104
through a gap between the lip
107
and the panel
102
.
In order to ensure the waterproof property, the grommet
101
is molded of elastically-deformable rubber or the like. Therefore, particularly, the fitting portion
105
of the grommet
101
is formed into a size slightly larger than that of the hole
103
.
Therefore, when the fitting portion
105
is fitted in the hole
103
, and is mounted on the panel
102
as shown in
FIG. 12
, the flange portion
106
is, in some cases, elastically deformed in such a manner that central portions of the pair of straight portions
108
are displaced toward the inside of the grommet body
104
, as shown in FIG.
11
. Thus, there was a fear that the conventional grommet
101
might detract from the appearance as a result of elastic deformation of the straight portions
108
. And, this may cause the user of the automobile or others to have a double about the sealing performance of the grommet
101
although the lip
107
is held in intimate contact with the panel
102
to form a liquid-tight seal therebetween.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a grommet which will not detract from the appearance when the grommet is mounted on a vehicle body of a vehicle.
(1) In order to solve the above problem to achieve the object, the invention provides a grommet including a pair of straight portions, spaced from each other, and a pair of arcuate portions which are spaced from each other, and interconnect the pair of straight portions, the pair of straight portions and the pair of arcuate portions defining a space through which a wire harness is adapted to be passed; wherein the grommet includes a fitting portion of a tubular shape for fitting in a hole, formed in a panel forming a vehicle body of a vehicle, and the interior of the fitting portion is in communication with the space; characterized in that the grommet includes a lip which is formed at outer edge portions of the pair of straight portions and the pair of arcuate portions over an entire periphery thereof, and is adapted to be held in contact with the panel upon fitting of the fitting portion in the hole, thereby forming a liquid-tight seal between the lip and the panel; and a projected portion projecting outwardly from one of the pair of straight portions.
(2) The grommet of the invention, depending from (1), is characterized in that the projected portion is formed at a central portion of one of the pair of straight portions, and extends along a direction of spacing of the pair of arcuate portions from each other, and an amount of projecting of the projected portion from the associated straight portion is decreasing gradually toward each arcuate portion.
(3) According to the invention, there is provided a grommet including a pair of first straight portions, spaced from each other, and a pair of second straight portions which are spaced from each other, and interconnect the pair of first straight portions, the pair of first straight portions and the pair of second straight portions defining a space through which a wire harness is adapted to be passed; wherein the grommet includes a fitting portion of a tubular shape for fitting in a hole, formed in a panel forming a vehicle body of a vehicle, and the interior of the fitting portion is in communication with the space; characterized in that the grommet includes a lip which is formed at outer edge portions of the pair of first straight portions and the pair of second straight portions over an entire periphery thereof, and is adapted to be held in contact with the panel upon fitting of the fitting portion in the hole, thereby forming a liquid-tight seal between the lip and the panel; and a first projected portion projecting outwardly from one the pair of first straight portions.
(4) The grommet of the invention, depending from (3), is characterized in that the first projected portion is formed at a central portion of one of the pair of first straight portions, and extends along a direction of spacing of the pair of second straight portions from each other, and an amount of projecting of the first projected portion from the associated first straight portion is decreasing gradually toward each second straight portion.
(5) According to the invention, there is provided a grommet including a pair of first straight portions, spaced from each other, and a pair of second straight portions which are spaced from each other, and interconnect the pair of first straight portions, the pair of first straight portions and the pair of second straight portions defining a space through which a wire harness is adapted to be passed; wherein the grommet includes a fitting portion of a tubular shape for fitting in a hole, formed in a panel forming a vehicle body of a vehicle, and the interior of the fitting portion is in communication with the space; characterized in that the grommet includes a lip which is formed at outer edge portions of the pair of first straight portions and the pair of second straight portions over an entire periphery thereof, and is adapted to be held in contact with the panel upon fitting of the fitting portion in the hole, thereby forming a liquid-tight seal between the lip and the panel; and second projected portions projecting outwardly from the pair of second straight portions, respectively.
(6) The grommet of the invention, depending from according to (5), characterized in that the second projected portions are formed respectively at central portions of the pair of second straight portions, and extend along a direction of spacing of the pair of first straight portions from each other, and the amou
Sakran Victor
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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