GROMMET APPARATUS

Abstract

A grommet apparatus for cable passage is provided at a component opening. It includes a radially circumferential connecting portion for connecting the grommet apparatus to an edge region of a component opening in an assembly direction and a cable passage portion.

Claims

1. A grommet apparatus for the passage of lines through a component opening, comprising a cable passage portion, and a radially circumferential connecting portion for connecting the grommet apparatus to an edge region of a component opening in an assembly direction, wherein the connecting portion has an inner and an outer stiffening wall, which are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to one another.

2. The grommet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer stiffening walls extend approximately parallel to an assembly direction.

3. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer stiffening walls (12, 10) are connected to one another by means of radially circumferentially arranged struts (11), wherein the struts (11) are arranged to be equally spaced apart from one another.

4. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion (2) comprises a fastening portion (5), wherein the fastening portion (5) comprises radially circumferentially arranged catching means (7) for rearward engagement with an edge of a component lying in the assembly direction (3).

5. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein the catching means (7) are configured as catching members (8) and have a catching edge (9) facing opposite to the assembly direction (3), wherein the catching members (8) extend outwardly from the fastening portion (5) in radial direction (23), and wherein the catching members (8) are arranged radially circumferentially and uniformly spaced apart from one another on the catching portion and are integrally formed on the grommet apparatus (1).

6. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion (2) comprises a sealing portion (4), wherein the sealing portion (4) has a radially circumferential sealing lip (6) extending substantially in the assembly direction (3).

7. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cable passage portion (13) is approximately funnel-shaped and extends counter to the assembly direction (3), wherein a cable passage opening (14) is formed at approximately the center of the cable passage portion (13), and wherein the cable passage portion (13) is limited by the inner stiffening wall (12).

8. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cable passage portion (13) comprises a bending portion (16) and a guiding portion (17) having a cable passage opening (14), wherein the guiding portion (17) and the bending portion (16) extend in a home position (30) substantially in the axial direction (19), and wherein the bending portion (16) has flexible structures, which are configured such that the bending portion (16) and the guiding portion (17) are hinged in radial direction (23), such that the guiding portion (17) is inclined in an assembly position (24) at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction (19).

9. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the bending portion (16) and the guiding portion (17) are hinged in radial direction (23) about a hinge axis (32) arranged transverse to the axial direction (19) and transverse to the transverse direction (31), such that the guiding portion (17) is hinged in an assembly position (24) at a predetermined angle of about 10° to 165°, with respect to the axial direction (19).

10. The grommet apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the grommet apparatus 1 is manufactured by means of a single-component injection molding process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] The grommet apparatus according to the invention is explained in the following on the basis of two exemplary embodiments as shown in the figures. The figures show:

[0079] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a grommet apparatus according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment,

[0080] FIG. 2 a side-cut view of the grommet apparatus,

[0081] FIG. 3 a further perspective view of the grommet apparatus,

[0082] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a grommet apparatus according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment,

[0083] FIG. 5 a further perspective view of the grommet apparatus according to the invention,

[0084] FIG. 6 a further perspective view of the grommet apparatus according to the invention,

[0085] FIG. 7 a side-cut view of the grommet apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment in a home position,

[0086] FIG. 8 a side-cut view of the grommet apparatus from FIG. 7 in an assembly position,

[0087] FIG. 9 a side-cut perspective view of the grommet apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment in a home position, and

[0088] FIG. 10 a side-cut perspective view of the grommet apparatus from FIG. 9 in an assembly position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] A grommet apparatus 1 according to the invention for the passage of lines through a component is described in more detail in the following on the basis of a first exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0090] The grommet apparatus 1 comprises a radially circumferential connecting portion 2 for connecting the grommet apparatus 1 to an edge region of a component opening (not shown).

[0091] The grommet apparatus 1 is provided for insertion into the component opening in an assembly direction 3.

[0092] The connecting portion 2 has a sealing portion 4 and a fastening portion 5.

[0093] The sealing portion 4 has a circular annular sealing lip 6, which extends substantially in the assembly direction 3. In a home state, the sealing lip 6 extends approximately at an angle of 30 to 75 degrees opposite a horizontal. Accordingly, the sealing lip 6 extends both in the assembly direction 3 as well as transversely thereto.

[0094] The sealing lip 6 of the sealing portion 4 is connected to the fastening portion 5 by a portion opposite to the assembly direction 3.

[0095] The fastening portion 5 is approximately tubular in shape. Catching means 7 are integrally formed on the fastening portion 5. The catching means 7 are provided for rearward engagement with an edge of a component lying in the assembly direction 3. The catching means 7 are configured as catching members 8, wherein the catching members 8 have a catching edge 9 arranged to face opposite to the assembly direction. That is to say, the catching edge 9 faces the assembly direction 3 and extends approximately transversely thereto.

[0096] The catching edges 9 are configured in order to rearwardly engage a portion of a component opening facing in the assembly direction 3. The catching members 8 are arranged on the fastening portion 5 in a radially circumferential manner and approximately equally spaced apart from one another.

[0097] A region of the fastening portion 5 lying in the assembly direction 3 is connected to an outer stiffening wall 10. The outer stiffening wall 10 is approximately tubular in shape and extends substantially parallel to the assembly direction 3 or in an axial direction 19 of the grommet apparatus 1.

[0098] The outer stiffening wall 10 is connected to an inner stiffening wall 12 via struts 11 extending in the assembly direction. The inner stiffening wall 12 is also approximately tubular in shape.

[0099] The struts 11, in particular stiffening struts, are provided radially circumferential and equally spaced apart from one another between the outer stiffening wall 10 and the inner stiffening wall 12.

[0100] A region of the inner stiffening wall 11 lying opposite to the assembly direction 3 is connected to a line/cable passage portion 13. Accordingly, the inner stiffening wall 12 limits the cable passage portion 13.

[0101] In the context of the present invention, the cable passage portion is used in order to receive one or more electrical cables or to receive one or more lines or hoses, in particular lines for liquids.

[0102] The cable passage portion 13 extends in the assembly direction 3 and is approximately conical in shape. In the center of the cable passage portion 13, a cable passage opening 14 is provided.

[0103] The approximately conical cable passage portion 13 extends over the fastening portion and the inner and outer stiffening walls 12, 10 in the assembly direction 3 such that sufficient space is still available in order to seal a cable that is passed through the cable passage opening 14 or a plurality of cables that are passed through the cable passage opening 14 or a corresponding cable harness with adhesive tape against the cable passage opening.

[0104] This means that the cable passage portion has approximately twice the length of a base body 15 of the apparatus in the assembly direction or in the axial direction 19.

[0105] The base body 15 is the connecting portion 2 with the sealing portion 4 and the fastening portion 5 as well as the inner and outer stiffening walls 12, 10 with the corresponding struts 11.

[0106] Instead of the catching members 8 with corresponding catching edges 9, other suitable connecting members for the rearward engagement of a component opening, for example corresponding catching tabs, or any other type of catching members can also be provided.

[0107] In the following, the grommet apparatus 1 according to the invention is described based on a second exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 4 to 10). Unless otherwise described, the grommet apparatus 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention has the same technical features as the grommet apparatus 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention described above. The same technical features bear the same reference numerals.

[0108] Preferably, the grommet apparatus 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment also comprises an inner stiffening wall 12 and an outer stiffening wall 10. However, it can also be provided that only one stiffening wall is provided and/or the connecting portion 2 forms the stiffening wall.

[0109] According to the second embodiment, the cable passage portion 13 comprises a bending portion 16 and a guiding portion 17. The guiding portion 17 is tapered or conical in shape counter to the assembly direction 3.

[0110] The guiding portion 17 further has the cable passage opening 14.

[0111] The bending portion 16 comprises flexible structures 18. The flexible structures 18 are preferably formed as radially circumferential folds 20 extending in an axial direction 19.

[0112] In accordance with the present exemplary embodiment, two such folds 20 are provided. The folds 20 extend in approximately the axial direction 19, wherein each fold 20 has a first and a second leg 21, 22.

[0113] The flexible structures 18 and/or the folds 20 are configured such that the bending portion 16 and the guiding portion 17 are hinged in radial direction 23 such that the guiding portion 17 is inclined in an assembly position 24 at a predetermined angle to the axial direction 19.

[0114] The apparatus 1 according to the invention according to the first exemplary embodiment is characterized in that, among other things, the guiding portion 17 and the bending portion 16 extend substantially in the axial direction 19 in a home position. In this way, no sliders are necessary in the manufacture of the inventive grommet apparatus by means of an injection molding method, because all structures of the grommet apparatus get along without undercuts in the deformation direction.

[0115] As explained above, two folds 20 are provided in the grommet apparatus 1 according to the invention. A first leg 21 of a first fold 25 directly adjoins the connecting portion 2. This leg forms a first hinge segment 27.

[0116] However, only one fold 20 or three or four or five or more folds 20 can be provided.

[0117] A length of the folds 25, 26 in the axial direction 19 increases along a transverse direction 31 running transversely to the axial direction 19.

[0118] A second leg 22 of the first fold together with a first leg 21 of the second fold 26 forms a second hinge segment 28.

[0119] The second leg 22 of the second fold 26 is connected to the guiding portion 17 and forms a third hinge segment 29.

[0120] When transferring the grommet apparatus 1 according to the invention from the home position 30 into the assembly position 24, the first, second, and third hinge segments 27, 28, 29 can be hinged in radial direction 23 about a folding axis 32 arranged transversely to the axial direction 19 and transversely to the transverse direction 31.

[0121] In this way, the guiding portion is inclined in the assembly position 24 at a predetermined angle of about 10° to 165°, or about 25° to 145°, or about 45° to 110°, or about 75° to 90°, relative to the axial direction.

[0122] Because, in the home position 30, the guiding portion 17 and the bending portion 16 extend substantially in the axial direction 19, the present invention can be produced easily and cost-effectively without a slider by means of an injection molding method.

[0123] In addition, nearly any cable outputs can be realized at a predetermined angle relative to the axial direction within a range of 10° to 165°.

[0124] Naturally, in the context of the present invention, three or four or more folds can also be provided in addition to the first and the second folds 25, 26. Accordingly, two, three, four, five or more hinge segments can also be provided.

[0125] In principle, a predefined cable output with only one fold can also be implemented; then, however, this only allows a smaller angle with respect to the axial direction.

[0126] According to a method of manufacture according to the invention, the grommet apparatus 1 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), preferably integrally, by means of a single-component injection molding process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0127] 1. Grommet apparatus [0128] 2. Connecting portion [0129] 3. Assembly direction [0130] 4. Sealing portion [0131] 5. Fastening portion [0132] 6. Sealing lip [0133] 7. Catching means [0134] 8. Catching members [0135] 9. Catching edge [0136] 10. Outer stiffening wall [0137] 11. Strut [0138] 12. Inner stiffening wall [0139] 13. Cable passage portion [0140] 14. Cable passage opening [0141] 15. Base body [0142] 16 Bending portion [0143] 17 Guiding portion [0144] 18 Flexible structures [0145] 19 Axial direction [0146] 20 Fold [0147] 21 Leg [0148] 22 Leg [0149] 23 Radial direction [0150] 24 Mounting position [0151] 25 First fold [0152] 26 Second fold [0153] 27 First hinge segment [0154] 28 Second hinge segment [0155] 29 Third hinge segment [0156] 30 Home position [0157] 31 Transverse direction [0158] 32 Hinge axis