Grommet

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grommet capable of easy installation by reducing an insertion resistance when conducting an insertion of the grommet into an opening of a vehicle panel. The configuration of the grommet allows molds for forming the grommet to have reduced processing costs, and molding and installation time can also be decreased. The grommet includes wire harness holding areas for tightly engaging around the periphery of the wire harness and an engagement area which fixedly engages an opening provided on a vehicle panel. A tapered area connects a wire harness holding area and an engagement area with a near-conical tapered surface extending over the outer surface of a tapered area, and a plurality of linear convex areas are provided to extend from a wire harness holding area to the engagement area, in an insertion direction of the grommet over the entire periphery on the tapered area.

1. A grommet comprising:
 a linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, an engagement area for engagement with an installation opening through which said linear holder portion is arranged to penetrate;  
 a tapered portion which connects said linear holder portion and said engagement area;  
 wherein a plurality of linear convex areas are provided on said tapered portion and are arranged to extend from adjacent said engagement area toward said holder portion around the entire periphery of said tapered portion and are configured to slidably contact an edge of the installation opening during insertion, wherein said linear convex areas are formed from a material that is harder than that forming said tapered portion, thereby reducing insertion resistance of the grommet during installation.  
 
     
     
       2. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said linear convex areas terminate adjacent said holder portion. 
     
     
       3. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said linear convex areas project a distance above said tapered portion, said distance tapers from a greater distance at an end thereof adjacent said engagement area to a lesser distance at the opposite end thereof. 
     
     
       4. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said linear convex areas extend no more than half the distance between said engagement area and said holder portion. 
     
     
       5. A grommet in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said linear convex areas project a distance above said tapered portion, said distance tapers from a greater distance at an end thereof adjacent said engagement area to a lesser distance at the opposite end thereof. 
     
     
       6. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , including a second linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, said second holder portion formed on said grommet adjacent said engagement area. 
     
     
       7. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be circular. 
     
     
       8. A grommet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be non-circular. 
     
     
       9. A grommet comprising:
 a linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, an engagement area for engagement with an installation opening through which said linear holder portion is arranged to penetrate; and  
 a tapered portion which connects said linear holder portion and said engagement area;  
 wherein a plurality of linear concave areas are provided on said tapered portion and are arranged to extend from adjacent said engagement area toward said linear holder portion around the entire periphery of said tapered portion, thereby forming convex tapered portions intermediate said linear concave areas that slidably contact an edge of the installation opening during insertion, thereby reducing frictional insertion resistance of the grommet during installation.  
 
     
     
       10. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said linear concave areas terminate adjacent said holder portion. 
     
     
       11. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said linear concave areas allow said tapered area to fold inwardly in the manner of an umbrella to thereby further reduce insertion resistance of the grommet during installation. 
     
     
       12. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said linear concave areas extend no more than half the distance between said engagement area and said holder portion. 
     
     
       13. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said linear concave areas are arranged to be equally spaced about said tapered portion. 
     
     
       14. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , including a second linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough and formed on said grommet adjacent said engagement area. 
     
     
       15. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be circular. 
     
     
       16. A grommet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be non-circular. 
     
     
       17. A grommet comprising:
   a linear holder portion configured to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, an engagement area for engagement with an installation opening through which said linear holder portion is arranged to penetrate;        a tapered portion which connects said linear holder portion and said engagement area;        a plurality of convex areas are provided on said tapered portion and are arranged to extend toward said linear holder portion around the entire periphery of said tapered portion and are configured to slidably contact an edge of the installation opening during insertion into the installation opening, thereby reducing insertion resistance of the grommet during installation; and        wherein at least one of said convex areas is configured to have an inclined end, said inclined end located adjacent to said linear holder portion and formed by a surface inclined with respect to an uppermost surface of said at least one convex area, such that said inclined end is engageable with said linear holder portion in the event said linear holder portion is caused to move toward said engagement area.      
     
     
       18. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said convex areas project a distance above said tapered portion, and said distance tapers from a greater distance at an end thereof adjacent said engagement area to a lesser distance at the opposite end thereof.  
     
     
       19. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said convex areas have a uniform protruding height along the length thereof up to said inclined end.  
     
     
       20. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , including a second linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, said second holder portion formed on said grommet adjacent said engagement area.  
     
     
       21. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be circular.  
     
     
       22. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be non- circular.    
     
     
       23. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein each said convex area extends from adjacent said engagement area to a position adjacent to, but spaced from, said linear holder portion.  
     
     
       24. The grommet in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of convex areas comprises more than four.  
     
     
       25. A grommet comprising:
   a linear holder portion configured to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, an engagement area for engagement with an installation opening through which said linear holder portion is arranged to penetrate;        a tapered portion which connects said linear holder portion and said engagement area;        a plurality of linear convex areas are provided on said tapered portion and are arranged to extend from adjacent said engagement area toward said linear holder portion around the entire periphery of said tapered portion and are configured to slidably contact an edge of the installation opening during insertion into the installation opening, thereby reducing insertion resistance of the grommet during installation; and        wherein at least one of said convex areas is configured to have a generally uniform convex section area over the majority of the length of said at least one convex area.      
     
     
       26. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said convex areas have a uniform protruding height along the length thereof up to an inclined end.  
     
     
       27. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , including a second linear holder portion adapted to tightly engage around the periphery of a member inserted therethrough, said second holder portion formed on said grommet adjacent said engagement area.  
     
     
       28. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be circular.  
     
     
       29. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said engagement area is configured to be non- circular.    
     
     
       30. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein each said convex area extends from adjacent said engagement area to a position adjacent to, but spaced from, said linear holder portion.  
     
     
       31. The grommet in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of convex areas comprises more than four.