GROMMET

• US 20090065235A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Automotive Systems Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited), Furukawa Electric Company Limited, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Furukawa Automotive Systems Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited), Furukawa Electric Company Limited, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Karino, Kyo, Mitani, Tetsuya, Watanabe, Daisuke, UCHIBORI, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,915,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/152.G
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0222 Grommets

Abstract

In a grommet (1), a centering unit and a temporary anchor unit are provided on an outer surface of a grommet inner member (2). The centering unit includes a plurality of centering portions (e.g., centering claws 8) configured to elastically abut on an attachment panel (20) at an inner edge thereof around an insertion hole (21) so as to position the grommet inner member (2) in a center of the insertion hole (21). The temporary anchor unit includes a plurality of engaging portions (e.g., temporary anchor claws 7) configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel (20), thereby supporting the grommet (1) in an axial direction thereof before lock portions (e.g., lock claws 6) make the grommet inner member (2) retained at the inner edge of the attachment panel (20) around the insertion hole (21) when the grommet inner member (2) is inserted into the insertion hole (21).

Claims

1. A grommet comprising:

a tubular grommet inner member to be inserted into an insertion hole formed in an attachment panel, the grommet inner member comprising a plurality of lock portions which are provided on an outer surface of the grommet inner member and configured to render the grommet inner member retainable at an inner edge of the attachment panel around the insertion hole from a first surface of the attachment panel; and

a tubular grommet outer member attached coaxially to an end of the grommet inner member from a second surface of the attachment panel, the grommet outer member being configured to abut on the attachment panel to provide sealing between the grommet inner member and the attachment panel,

wherein the grommet inner member further comprises at least one of a centering unit and a temporary anchor unit provided on the outer surface of the grommet inner member,

the centering unit comprising a plurality of centering portions configured to elastically abut on the attachment panel at the inner edge thereof around the insertion hole so as to position the grommet inner member in a center of the insertion hole when the grommet inner member is inserted into the insertion hole,

the temporary anchor unit comprising a plurality of engaging portions configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel around the insertion hole, thereby supporting the grommet inner member in an axial direction thereof before the lock portions make the grommet inner member retained at the inner edge of the attachment panel around the insertion hole when the grommet inner member is inserted into the insertion hole.

2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein each of the centering portions is an elastic piece which projects outwardly from the outer surface of the grommet inner member and has elasticity directed essentially only in a direction parallel to the attachment panel.

3. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of lock portions and the plurality of engaging portions of the temporary anchor unit are configured as elastic pieces each of which projects in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the grommet inner member, and comprises an engageable step portion disposed at an end thereof and configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel around the insertion hole;

and

wherein positions of the engageable step portions of each lock portion and each engaging portion are displaced from each other in the direction of insertion of the grommet inner member

4. The grommet according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of lock portions and the plurality of engaging portions of the temporary anchor unit are configured as elastic pieces each of which projects in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the grommet inner member, and comprises an engageable step portion disposed at an end thereof and configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel around the insertion hole;

and

wherein positions of the engageable step portions of each lock portion and each engaging portion are displaced from each other in the direction of insertion of the grommet inner member.

5. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the grommet inner member comprises an assembly of two split halves of which split faces extend in an axial direction, and at least one of the lock portions and at least one of the centering unit and the temporary anchor unit are provided on the outer surface of each split half.

6. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole and the grommet inner member are each shaped like an oblong circular figure.

7. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a burr sloped inwardly is formed around the insertion hole, and each centering portion is configured to elastically abut on an inner edge of the burr.

8. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a burr sloped inwardly is formed around the insertion hole, and each engaging portion of the temporary anchor unit is configured to engage with an inner edge of the burr.