Abstract:
A grommet holder capable of bending and guiding a wiring harness. The grommet holder includes a grommet holding portion having a grommet mounting hole configured to interconnect with a grommet, the grommet configured to accept a wiring harness therein. The grommet holder also includes a wiring harness fastening portion integrally connected to the grommet holding portion, and forming a predetermined angle with respect to the grommet holding portion. The wiring harness is affixed to the wiring harness fastening portion by a fastening device. Also provided is a method of bending a wiring harness using a grommet holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a grommet holder and method of bending a wiring harness, and more particularly, to a grommet holder and method for bending and guiding a wiring harness. 
     2. Description of Background Information 
     Wiring harnesses used in automobiles are often mounted at predetermined positions and are connected with respective electrical devices installed in, for example, an automobile. Wiring harnesses often have to be bent at predetermined angles for connecting respective electrical devices, depending on the position and direction of the device. 
     In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. (Hei) 9-35537, shown in FIG. 5, a known bending device  100  for bending a wiring harness W/H is shown. A heat shrink sheet  3  is wound around the around the portion of wiring harness W/H to be bent, and both ends of the device  100  are fastened with tape. Then, the inner side to be bent is heated, resulting in only the inside portion  3   a  of the heat shrink sheet  3  being shrunk. 
     To connect a wiring harness with this known bending device  100 , each wire S of wiring harness W/H is inserted into a grommet  2  which is mounted on the grommet holder  1  for easier wire connection, as shown in FIG.  6 . Each wire is guided so that each wire S is at a predetermined interval in accordance with a connecting end of a device to be wired (not illustrated). The end portion of each wire S may then be connected with the device to be wired, for installation in an automobile. 
     Therefore, when connecting the wiring harness with a device to be wired along a bent path, for instance, it is necessary to use both the heat shrink sheet and the grommet holder in combination, which necessitates an increased number of parts and presents a problem of increasing manufacturing processes with a resulting increase in cost. Moreover, the heat shrink sheet requires the application of a heat process that is dangerous and laborious, and requires difficulty in setting the required predetermined angle when bending the wiring harness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a device and method for bending a wiring harness at a predetermined angle without increasing the number of parts and production processes. The grommet holder of the present invention includes a grommet holding portion having a grommet mounting hole configured to interconnect with a grommet, the grommet being configured to accept a wiring harness therein. Also provided is a wiring harness fastening portion integrally connected to the grommet holding portion, and forming a predetermined angle with respect to the grommet holding portion. The wiring harness is affixed to the wiring harness fastening portion by a fastening device. 
     The grommet holder may further include a generally V-shaped bent portion having a point and extending in a generally perpendicular direction between the grommet holding portion and the wiring harness fastening portion. The V-shaped bent portion provides for the bending of the wiring harness in contact with the point of the V-shaped bent portion, and further provides for the bending of the wiring harness in a direction generally perpendicular to the grommet holding portion. 
     The V-shaped bending portion of the grommet holder sets a bending portion and a bending angle of wiring harness, thereby reducing the biasing force that would otherwise return the grommet to a linear shape, by positioning the wiring harness perpendicular to the grommet holding portion. 
     The grommet holder may also include a stop provided on the grommet holding portion adapted to be fastened to the counterpart of the holder fastening unit. By providing a stop on the grommet holding portion, the grommet holder can be fastened onto a counterpart of a holder fastening unit. 
     Also, the grommet holder may include a connecting portion connecting the grommet holding portion to the wiring harness fastening portion, the connecting portion having a first end forming a generally perpendicularly extending, generally L-shaped member with the grommet holding portion, the connecting portion further having a second end connected to the fastening portion. 
     The generally L-shaped grommet holder can bend the wiring harness at a greater radius and can reduce a load due to the bending of the wiring harness. In addition, by properly setting the predetermined angle, it is possible to provide a bending portion of the wiring harness at a higher elevation than a horizontal connecting portion of the wiring harness. Thus, the harness may be bent without interference from other parts present beneath the horizontal portion of the wiring harness. 
     The method of bending a wiring harness using a grommet holder includes inserting a wire of the wiring harness through the grommet mounting hole, inserting the grommet into the grommet mounting hole, and fastening the wiring harness to the wiring harness fastening portion. The method may also include bending the wiring harness in contact with a bent portion of the grommet holder. 
     The grommet holder of the present invention allows the wiring harness to be bent to a predetermined angle without the use of other devices. In addition, when fastening the grommet holder to a device to be wired, or the like, no load is borne by the connecting portion between the wires and the device to be wired, because the load can be borne by the grommet holder even when the load is transferred to the wiring harness, thereby resulting in increased wiring harness performance. Furthermore, there is no increase in the number of parts, which eliminates the heating process, thereby reducing the production costs of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 (A) shows a perspective view of a grommet holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  1 (B) shows a side elevational view of a grommet holder according to the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side schematic diagram of a binder used as a fastening device of the present invention; 
     FIG.  3 (A) shows a perspective view of a grommet holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  3 (B) shows a side elevational view of a grommet holder according to the second embodiment; 
     FIG.  4 (A) shows a perspective view of a grommet holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  4 (B) shows a side elevational view of a grommet holder according to the third embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a bent known wiring harness; and 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a connection portion of the known wiring harness. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like elements, FIGS.  1 (A) and  1 (B) show a first embodiment of the grommet holder  10  according to the present invention. The grommet holder  10  bends a wiring harness W/H and is provided with a grommet holding portion  10   a  at a distal end of the grommet holder which interconnects with a grommet  20 . A wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  which fastens with the wiring harness W/H by a fastening device, such as a conventional binder  30  (shown in detail in FIG.  2 ), is provided at the proximal end of the grommet holder  10 . 
     The grommet holding portion  10   a  is also provided with a pair of penetration holes  10   d  for accepting a bolt therethrough as a stop of the grommet mounting hole  10   c  and the grommet holder  10 . When the grommet holder  10  is not fastened to a device to be wired, provision of the penetration holes  10   d  may not be necessary. 
     The wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  is provided with a concave notch  10   e  on both sides thereof to prevent the fastening device  30  from sliding axially along the length of the grommet holder. In addition, a proximal end  10   f  of the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  is bent upwardly so that the wiring harness W/H is not damaged by the grommet holder  10 . 
     The grommet holding portion  10   a  and the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  are unitarily connected by a connecting portion  10   g . The grommet holding portion  10   a  and the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  are positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. The predetermined angle may be set to a desired angle for bending the wiring harness W/H. The wiring harness W/H is generally perpendicularly arranged with respect to the grommet holding portion  10   a . Angle X, which is between the grommet holding portion  10   a  and the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  (shown in FIG.  1 (B)), and bending angle Y (also shown in FIG. 1 (B)) which is between the horizontal portion of wiring harness W/H, have the relationship of Y=X−90, thereby allowing bending angle Y of the wiring harness W/H to be set. 
     The grommet  20  to be interconnected with the grommet holding portion  10   a  is constructed, for example, of an elastomer or an chloroprene rubber, although other natural and synthetic elastomeric materials may be used in alternative embodiments. The grommet has an insertion hole  20   a  with a predetermined depth to provide for the generally perpendicular crossing of each electric wire S of wiring harness W/H with respect to an insertion face  20   d  of the grommet. In addition, the grommet  20  has a thickness sufficient to hold the inserted wire S, and is provided with a lip-shaped stop portion  20   b  and a stop claw  20   c  to maintain the interconnection of the grommet  20  with the grommet mounting hole  10   c  of the grommet holder  10 . 
     The fastening device used for fastening the wiring harness W/H may be a conventional binder  30  as shown in FIG.  2 . However, other fastening devices may be used in alternative embodiments. The width of binder  30  is smaller than the width of the notch  10   e  of the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b , thereby maintaining the fastening position of the wiring harness W/H by the binder  30 . 
     To bend the wiring harness W/H by the grommet holder  10 , each wire S of wiring harness W/H is inserted into an insertion hole  20   a  of the grommet  20  which is in turn interconnected with the grommet mounting hole  10   c , to a position where the wires may be appropriately connected with a device to be wired (not shown). Alternatively, after inserting the wires S of the wiring harness W/H into the grommet  20  to a predetermined position, the grommet  20  may then be interconnected with the grommet holder  10 . 
     The wiring harness W/H may then be fastened to the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b  by the binder  30 . The wiring harness W/H may be fastened in an appropriately bent configuration, without drooping, between the grommet  20  and the binder  30 , and without being under linear tension. Therefore, when the penetration holes  10   d  are provided, the grommet holder  10  may be fastened to the device to be wired by inserting a bolt through a penetration hole  10   d  of the grommet holder  10 . 
     The direction of each wire S of the wiring harness W/H is regulated, by being positioned in the grommet  20  through an insertion hole  20   a . Each wire S is generally perpendicular to the grommet holding portion  10   a , and the wiring harness W/H is bent at angle Y with respect to the connection portion  10   g  by fastening the wiring harness to the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b.    
     When fastening the grommet holder  10  to a device to be wired, no load is borne by the connecting portion  10   g  between the wires S and the device, because the grommet holder  10  bears the load through the grommet  20 . Connection can thus be carried out by a connecting method that is weak in resistance to force, such as soldering. 
     FIGS.  3 (A) and  3 (B) show a grommet holder  10 ′ according to a second embodiment of the invention, which is integrally provided with a generally V-shaped bent portion  10   h ′ extending generally perpendicularly between a grommet holding portion  10   a ′ and a wiring harness fastening portion  10   b ′. As shown in FIG.  3 (A), the width of the bent portion  10   h ′ extends a greater distance than the width to which the wires S extend, thereby ensuring that the wires stay below the bent portion  10   h ′. Other portions are the same as those in the first embodiment. 
     To bend the wiring harness W/H by grommet holding portion  10 ′ (in the same manner as with the first embodiment), the wiring harness W/H is inserted into a grommet  20  which is interconnected with the grommet holding portion  10   a ′. A bending point K is provided by the V-shape bent portion  10   h ′ (as shown in FIG.  3 (B)). A binder  30  fastens the wiring harness W/H to the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b ′. The bending angle Y′ of wiring harness W/H may be set in reference to a relative angle between the grommet holding portion  10   a ′ and the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b′.    
     Since the wiring harness W/H is bent at the bent portion  10   h ′ and each wire S of wiring harness W/H is generally perpendicular to the grommet holding portion  10   a ′, a biasing force which would otherwise return the wiring harness W/H to a linear position is not transferred to the grommet, thereby enhancing the interconnection of the wiring harness with the grommet holding portion  10   a ′ without deformation of the grommet  20 . 
     FIG.  4 (A) and FIG.  4 (B) show a grommet holder  10 ″ according to a third embodiment of the invention. As in the first embodiment, the grommet holder  10 ″ has a grommet holding portion  10   a ″ and a wiring harness fastening portion  10   b ″. A connecting portion  10   g ″ connects the grommet holding portion  10   a ″ and the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b ″. A first end of the connecting portion  10   g ″ forms a generally perpendicularly extending L-shaped member with the grommet holding portion  10   a ″, and forms an angle C therebetween (as shown in FIG.  4 (B)). A second end of the connecting portion  10   g ″ connects the connecting portion  10   g ″ with the fastening portion  10   b ″, forming another predetermined angle D. 
     To bend a wiring harness W/H by the grommet holding portion  10 ″, (performed in the same manner as with the first embodiment), the wiring harness W/H is inserted into a grommet  20  which in turn interconnects with the grommet holding portion  10   a ″. The wiring harness W/H is fastened to the wiring harness fastening portion  10   b ″ by a binder  30 . Other portions are the same as those in the first embodiment. The bending angle Y″ of the wiring harness W/H can be set in accordance with predetermined angle C, predetermined angle D, and/or a length of the connecting portion  10   g″.    
     In addition, the grommet holder  10 ″ can position a bent portion U of wiring harness W/H higher than the horizontal portion T of the wiring harness W/H depending on angle C, angle D, and/or connecting portion  10   g ″. Therefore, the grommet holder  10 ″ allows the wiring harness W/H to be bent without interference from other parts of a device to be wired. 
     Furthermore, when positioning the bent portion U of wiring harness W/H higher than the horizontal portion T, the wiring harness W/H is not bent at the fastening portion  10   b ″ of binder  30 , but becomes smooth bent portion U, thus reducing the load resulting from bending. Moreover, the linear restoring biasing force of the wiring harness W/H acting against the grommet  20  is reduced. 
     It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. 
     Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Utility Model Application No. JP 10-212581 filed on Jul. 28, 1998, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.