Wire Harness Grommets With Pull Handles and Methods Of Use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021285573-A1
Application number	US-202016817024-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2020
Priority date	Mar 12, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wire harness grommet includes a grommet body including a first flared portion, a second flared portion and a narrow portion between the first flared portion and the second flared portion. The first flared portion has a wire receiving opening extending therethrough for receiving one or more wires. A pull handle has a first end located at a first side of the first flared portion and a second end located at an opposite, second side of the first flared portion forming a closed loop.

First claim

1 . A wire harness grommet comprising:
a grommet body comprising a first flared portion, a second flared portion and a narrow portion between the first flared portion and the second flared portion, the first flared portion having a wire receiving opening extending therethrough for receiving one or more wires; and a pull handle having a first end located at a first side of the first flared portion and a second end located at an opposite, second side of the first flared portion forming a closed loop.

2 . The wire harness grommet of claim 1 , wherein the grommet body and pull handle are a single, monolithic piece of material.

3 . The wire harness grommet of claim 1 , wherein the first flared portion is dome-shaped having a tapering profile to an apex area.

4 . The wire harness grommet of claim 3 , wherein the first and second ends of the pull handle are located at the apex area.

5 . The wire harness grommet of claim 3 , wherein the wire receiving opening is located offset from the apex area.

6 . The wire harness grommet of claim 1 , wherein the narrow portion has a reduced width compared to the first and second flared portions.

7 . The wire harness grommet of claim 6 , wherein a maximum width of the grommet body is at the second flared portion.

8 . A method of forming a wire harness grommet, comprising:
pouring a liquid elastic forming material into a mold; and allowing the elastic forming material to solidify; wherein the mold comprises a cavity that is shaped to form
a grommet body comprising a first flared portion, a second flared portion and a narrow portion between the first flared portion and the second flared portion, the first flared portion having a wire receiving opening extending therethrough for receiving one or more wires; and
a pull handle having a first end located at a first side of the first flared portion and a second end located at an opposite, second side of the first flared portion forming a closed loop.

9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising removing the wire harness grommet from the mold.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the grommet body is circular in cross-section.

11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising inserting at least one wire through the wire receiving opening.

12 . A method of running wire though a vehicle panel, the method comprising:
positioning a wire harness grommet behind the vehicle panel, the wire harness grommet comprising:
a grommet body comprising a first flared portion, a second flared portion and a narrow portion between the first flared portion and the second flared portion, the first flared portion having a wire receiving opening extending therethrough for receiving one or more wires; and
a pull handle having a first end located at a first side of the first flared portion and a second end located at an opposite, second side of the first flared portion forming a closed loop;
grasping the pull handle and pulling the first flared portion through a panel opening in the vehicle panel until the narrow portion is aligned with the vehicle panel.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the grommet body and pull handle are a single, monolithic piece of material.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first flared portion is dome-shaped having a tapering profile to an apex area.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first and second ends of the pull handle are located at the apex area.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the wire receiving opening is located offset from the apex area.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Ishihara Yoshiyuki
• Thomas Travis

Classifications

• B60R16/0222 Primary

  Grommets · CPC title

• H02G3/22

  Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings · CPC title

• F16B13/0841

  with a deformable sleeve member driven against the abutting surface of the head of the bolt or of a plug · CPC title

• F16L5/10 Primary

  by using sealing rings or sleeves only · CPC title