Outer protective assembly of wire harness for door and arranging structure of wire harness for door

A wire harness for a door is spanned between a door inner panel of a motor vehicle and a vehicle body and is arranged near an indoor side over a weather strip. An outer protective assembly includes a flange outward fitting portion that is mounted on an outer surface of a flange projecting from a door facing surface of the vehicle body and that defines a wire harness threading space for passing the wire harness. The wire harness that passes through the wire harness threading space in the flange outward fitting portion can be arranged in a vehicle body inner panel. The outer protective assembly includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers are coupled to each other to define a flat space for juxtaposing electrical wires of the wire harness. The inner and outer covers are bent in a U-shaped configuration around the flange to define the flange outward fitting portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an outer protective assembly of a wire harness for a door (hereinafter referred to as a “door harness”) and an arranging structure of the door harness protected by the outer protective assembly. In more detail, the door harness spanned from the door to a vehicle body is arranged on an inner surface of a vehicle body inner panel in the vehicle body without inserting the door harness into a through-hole in the vehicle body inner panel, and an end of the door harness can be easily connected to an end of a wire harness arranged on the vehicle body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Before, in the case where electrical components are installed in a side door of a motor vehicle, a door harness that is arranged in the side door and is drawn into a vehicle body is arranged in a space defined between a door outer panel and a door inner panel of the side door. A portion spanned between the door to the vehicle body is sheathed by a grommet. Vehicle body engaging portions provided on the opposite ends of the grommet are fitted in a through-hole in a vehicle body side end surface of the door panel and in a through-hole in the vehicle body panel.

A job of inserting the wire harness into the through-holes in the door panel has been a very hard task. Also, since the door harness in the prior art is arranged near a rotary axle of a hinge between the vehicle body and the door, the door harness is subject to only bending and twisting actions and is not subject to stretching and compressing actions when the door is opened and closed, and the through-holes are disposed near an outdoor side over a weather strip. Accordingly, since it is necessary to provide a waterproofing structure on the grommet sheathing a spanned portion of the door harness, there is a problem that a job for attaching the grommet to the through-holes has required much labor.

In order to overcome the above problem, as shown inFIG. 15, the present applicant has disclosed an arranging structure of a wire harness in JP HEI 10 (1998)-934 (Patent Document 1). In this arranging structure of the wire harness, an inner panel1aof a door1is provided on an indoor side surface with a substantially triangular space1c. A wire harness W/H is provided with an excess length portion that can follow opening and closing operations of the door. The excess length portion is contained in the triangular space1cand is drawn out from an outlet in the triangular space1cto a vehicle body.

According to the above construction, the wire harness W/H is drawn out from the triangular space1cwhen the door1is opened, and the excess length portion of the wire harness W/H is contained in the triangular space1cwhen the door1is closed. Thus, the wire harness W/H can follow the opening and closing operations of the door1. Furthermore, since the wire harness W/H is arranged near an indoor side over a weather strip4, it is not necessary to provide a waterproofing structure.

Although the wire harness W/H can be drawn into the vehicle body without inserting the wire harness W/H into the through-hole in the inner panel1aof the door1in the above structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wire harness W/H must be inserted into the through-hole2bin the outer panel2bof a vehicle body2and the inserted wire harness W/H must be connected through a connector to a wire harness on the vehicle body2, thereby requiring much expense in time during a vehicle body side job. This causes room for improvement.Patent Document 1: JP HEI 10 (1998)-934

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to arrange a door harness from a door to a vehicle body without inserting the wire harness into a through-hole in a vehicle body panel as well as a through-hole in the door and to easily connect the door harness to a vehicle body harness.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer protective assembly of a wire harness for a door. The wire harness is spanned between a door inner panel of a motor vehicle and a vehicle body and is arranged near an indoor side over a weather strip. The outer protective assembly includes a flange outward fitting portion that is mounted on an outer surface of a flange projecting from a door facing surface of the vehicle body and that defines a wire harness threading space for passing the wire harness. The wire harness that passes through the wire harness threading space in the flange outward fitting portion can be arranged in a vehicle body inner panel.

As described above, in the present invention, since the door harness to be extended to the vehicle body is inserted into the outer protective assembly, and since the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly sheathes the flange that interconnects the inner and outer panels of the vehicle body to each other, the door harness can pass over the flange and can be extended from the vehicle body outer panel to the vehicle body inner panel, thereby connecting the door harness to the vehicle body harness at the inner panel side.

Thus, it is not necessary to insert the door harness spanned between the door and the vehicle body into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel, thereby facilitating a job of attaching the door harness to the vehicle body panel.

Also, since the door harness is arranged near the indoor side over the weather strip, it is not necessary to provide a waterproofing structure on the spanned portion of the door harness.

Preferably, the outer protective assembly includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers are coupled to each other to define a flat space for juxtaposing electrical wires of the wire harness. The inner and outer covers are bent in a U-shaped configuration around the flange to define the flange outward fitting portion. The electrical wires are bent in the flange outward fitting portion.

As described above, since the outer protective assembly at the vehicle side includes inner and outer covers, the inner and outer covers can clamp the door harness and threads the door harness in the flat space so that the electrical wires of the door harness are juxtaposed in the flat space. Consequently, it is possible to easily thread the door harness in the outer protective assembly and to reduce an amount of the door harness projecting from the vehicle body panel. Thus, it is possible to prevent a passenger or a driver from contacting with the door harness by reducing the projecting amount and it is possible to make the door harness inconspicuous in appearance.

Also, since the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly bends the door harness, even if the door harness swings when the door is opened and closed, the swinging action of the door harness can be absorbed by the bent portion of the door harness.

The inner cover of the outer protective assembly may be a sheet made of a resin molding product with stiffness. The outer cover may be made of a resin molding product with stiffness. The sheet-like inner cover may be adhered to the inner surface of the outer cover. In this case, since the sheet-like inner cover is thin, it is possible to reduce an entire thickness of the vehicle body side mounting member and to reduce the projecting amount from the door facing surface of the vehicle body panel.

The outer protective assembly may be formed into an integrated cylindrical molding product.

Preferably, the inner and outer covers are coupled to a vehicle body side end of the grommet that passes the spanned portion of the wire harness. The grommet includes a cylindrical portion, an outer panel contacting portion that surrounds a vehicle body side opening in the cylindrical portion and contacts with a vehicle body outer panel near an outdoor side over the flange projecting position on the vehicle body, and a covering portion that is contiguous with the outer panel contacting portion and is mounted on an outer surface of the vehicle body side mounting portion. The outer cover is layered on an inner surface of the grommet and is provided with the opening communicated with the cylindrical portion opening in the grommet. The inner cover includes a base portion parallel to the outer cover and side walls on the opposite ends of the base plate. The side walls are contacted with the outer cover to define the flat space. The base plate is provided with an engaging clip to be engaged with the vehicle body outer panel.

As described above, since the inner and outer covers of the outer protective assembly at the vehicle body side are coupled to each other, threads the door harness, and are fitted in the covering portion of the grommet, the inner and outer covers can be integrated with the grommet. Since the flange outward fitting portion is secured to the flange at the vehicle side, it is possible to easily attach the inner and outer covers to the vehicle body. Furthermore, since the inner cover is provided with the engaging clip and the inner cover is secured to the vehicle body outer panel by the clip, it is possible to strongly secure the outer protective assembly to the vehicle side panel.

A second invention provides an arranging structure of a wire harness for a door wherein the outer protective assembly sheathes the wire harness spanned between a door inner panel of a motor vehicle and a vehicle body and arranged near an indoor side over a weather strip.

In the arranging structure of a wire harness for a door, there are following three modes for attaching the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly to the flange of the vehicle body panel.

In a first mode, an opening trim that covers the flange of the vehicle body is cut off. The flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly is fitted in the cut-off portion of the opening trim. The flange outward fitting portion is directly attached to the flange.

According to the above construction, since the flange outward fitting portion is fixed to the flange exposed at the cut-off portion of the opening trim, the flange outward fitting portion attached to the flange does not protrude so greatly from the opening trim, thereby preventing a passenger or a driver from contacting with the flange outward fitting portion. This will be excellent in design.

In a second mode, the flange outward fitting portion of the vehicle body side protective assembly is attached to the opening trim that covers the flange.

According to the above construction, since it is not necessary to carry out a work for attaching the outer protective assembly to the flange and opening trim, a cost in production can be reduced and strength of the flange is not lowered.

In a third mode, the flange is provided on a part of an outer edge with a stepped recess for attachment. The flange outward fitting portion of the vehicle body side protective assembly is attached to the stepped recess. The opening trim covers a surface of the flange outward fitting portion.

According to the above construction, since the opening trim covers the flange outward fitting portion mounted on the flange, it is possible to positively secure the outer protective assembly to the flange. Since the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly cannot be seen from the outside by the opening trim, it is possible to further enhance a design.

Also, in the arranging structure of a wire harness for a door, preferably, a connector connected to ends of the electrical wires of the wire harness, which is drawn out from the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly and is disposed at the indoor side of the vehicle body inner panel, is held on and projected from an end of the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly. A mating connector to be coupled to the door side connector is attached through a connector securing member to the indoor side of the vehicle body inner panel.

As described above, according to the arranging structure of the door harness of the present invention, the door harness is drawn out from the door and spanned to the vehicle body, and is guided to the inner surface of the vehicle body inner panel along the door facing surface of the vehicle body panel by the outer protective assembly. The connector on the vehicle body side distal end of the door harness supported by the outer protective assembly can be connected to a mating connector on a distal end of a vehicle side wire harness that is secured to the vehicle body inner panel under a standby condition.

That is, it is not necessary to insert the door harness into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel even at the vehicle body side, the outer protective assembly is attached to the flange of the vehicle body, and the connector on the door harness distal end is coupled to the mating standby connector fixed on the vehicle body inner panel. Thus, the door harness can be connected to the vehicle body harness.

Also, as described above, since the door harness passing through the outer protective assembly is bent in the flange outward fitting portion, it is possible to absorb vibrations caused upon opening and closing the door. Accordingly, a great load is not directly applied to the terminal contained in the connector on the vehicle body distal end wire harness, and it is possible to prevent the terminal from being damaged or causing a fault in contact.

Furthermore, in the arranging structure of a wire harness for a door, preferably, the door harness arranged in the door of a motor vehicle is extended from the indoor side of the door inner panel to the vehicle body near the indoor side over the weather strip without inserting the door harness into a through-hole to be provided in the door panel, and the door side panel and vehicle body side panel are not provided with through-holes.

In more detail, the grommet sheathes the door harness spanned between the door and the vehicle body. A door side distal end of the grommet is drawn out from the indoor side of the door inner panel and a vehicle body side distal end of the grommet is disposed near the indoor side over a weather strip contacting position. The outer protective assembly is attached to the vehicle body side distal end of the grommet without inserting the grommet into any through-holes in the door side panel and vehicle side panel.

According to the above arranging structure, since it is not necessary to insert the door harness into the through-holes in both panels at the door side and vehicle body side, it is possible to make arrangement of the door harness easy in comparison with the prior art arrangement of the door harness, and it is possible to substantially improve a working efficiency in attachment of the door harness.

Also, since the door harness is disposed near the indoor side over the weather strip, waterproofing measures are not required.

Furthermore, if the door harness is arranged below a door checker by about 50 to 100 mm (millimeters), it is possible to prevent a passenger or a driver from contacting with the door harness by being protected by the door checker.

Effects of the Invention

As described above, according to the outer protective assembly for the door harness to be arranged on the vehicle body side in accordance with the first invention, since the door harness is inserted into the flange outward fitting portion of the outer protective assembly that sheathes the flange that interconnects the inner and outer panels of the vehicle body to each other, the door harness can pass over the flange and can be extended from the vehicle body outer panel to the vehicle body inner panel, thereby connecting the door harness to the vehicle body harness at the inner panel side. Thus, it is not necessary to insert the door harness spanned between the door and the vehicle body into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel.

Also, since the door harness is arranged near the indoor side over the weather strip, it is not necessary to provide a waterproofing structure on the spanned portion of the door harness.

According to the arranging structure of the door harness in accordance with the second invention, since it is possible to insert the door harness into the outer protective assembly and to pass the door harness over the flange of the vehicle body panels, and since a projecting amount of the outer protective assembly from the flange can be reduced, it is possible to arrange the door harness on the indoor side of the vehicle body inner panel without causing a conspicuous appearance.

Furthermore, if the vehicle body side distal end connector of the door harness supported by the outer protective assembly is coupled to the mating connector on the vehicle body side wire harness distal end fixed on the vehicle body inner panel, the door harness distal end connector is coupled to the mating standby connector fixed on the vehicle body inner panel after the outer protective assembly is attached to the vehicle body side flange, thereby simplifying an electrical connecting work.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of an outer protective assembly of a wire harness for a door and an arranging structure of a wire harness for a door protected by the outer protective assembly in accordance with the present invention will be described below.

FIGS. 1 to 7show a first embodiment of the outer protective assembly and the arranging structure in accordance with the present invention. A wire harness W/H for a door (hereinafter referred to a “door harness” W/H) is arranged in a side door10of a motor vehicle and is led to a vehicle body20. A grommet30sheathes a portion of the door harness W/H spanned between the side door10and the vehicle body20. An outer protective assembly40covers a portion of the door harness W/H extended to the vehicle body20. The outer protective assembly40is bent along a shape of an indoor side from a weather strip contact position P (FIG. 3) on a vehicle body outer panel21.

As shown inFIG. 1, the door harness W/H is arranged on the indoor side of a door inner panel12coupled to a door outer panel11at the side of the side door10(hereinafter referred to as a “door”10). The door harness W/H is contained in a space between the door inner panel12and a door trim13covering an indoor side of the door inner panel12. The door harness W/H is drawn out from an opening13ain the trim13to the vehicle body20. The door harness W/H is spanned between the door10and the vehicle body20near the indoor side over a weather strip14.

Furthermore, the wire harness W/H passes over a flange23that interconnects the vehicle body outer panel21and the vehicle body inner panel22of the vehicle body20to each other and that projects toward a door facing surface, is arranged along the indoor side surface of the vehicle body inner panel22, and is connected to a connector50on a wire harness W/H2arranged on the vehicle body20, as shown inFIG. 2.

In the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, opening trims24that cover the flange23on the side of the vehicle body20are separated from each other to form a cut-off portion. A flange outward fitting portion40cof the outer protective assembly40is fitted in the cut-off portion so that the flange outward fitting portion40cis directly attached to the flange23.

The grommet30made of rubber or elastomer sheathes the spanned portion of the door harness W/H, and an engaging portion30bprovided on a vehicle body side distal end of a bellows cylindrical portion30aof the grommet30is attached to and communicated with an engaging portion40aof the outer protective assembly40.

As shown inFIG. 3, the outer protective assembly40includes an outer cover41and an inner cover42made of a resin molding product made of polypropylene or the like. The inner and outer covers42and41are disposed in parallel to each other adjacent to a flat wiring space S. As shown inFIG. 4, electrical wires of the door harness W/H drawn out from the grommet30are juxtaposed in the wiring space S, and the inner cover42is mounted on the electrical wires to integrate them.

As shown inFIG. 3, the outer protective assembly40that interconnects the inner and outer covers42and41to each other receives the engaging portion30bof the grommet30at the distal end of the vehicle body side. The outer protective assembly40includes an engaging portion40ato be engaged with a door side facing surface of the vehicle body outer panel21, a curved portion40bbent from the engaging portion40a, a flange outward fitting portion40cthat is contiguous with the curved portion40band is bent into a U-shaped configuration to be fitted to the flange23that interconnects the vehicle body inner and outer panels22and21to each other, and a connector holding portion40dcontiguous with an end of the flange outward fitting portion40c.

As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the outer cover41includes an outer side wall41abent into a desired shape, and side walls41b,41bprojecting inward from opposite end edges of the outer side wall41a. The outer cover41is provided on an end at the side of the engaging portion40awith a cut-out portion41c. The engaging portion30bof the grommet30is fitted on a peripheral surface around the cut-out portion41c. The outer cover41is also provided on an end inner surface at the side of a connector holding portion40bwith a connector receiving groove41d(FIG. 3) to hold a connector43. Further, the outer cover41is provided at desired positions on the inner surface of the opposite side walls41bwith engaging pawls41eto lock the inner cover42.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 6, the inner cover42includes an inner side wall42abent in a desired shape so as to extend along the vehicle body inner and outer panels22and21, and side walls42bprojecting outward from the opposite end edges of the inner side wall42a. The inner cover42is provided on an end at the side of the engaging portion40awith a clip42cto be engaged with the vehicle body panel and is provided on an end inner surface at the side of the connector holding portion40dwith a connector fitting groove42d(FIG. 3) so as to receive the connector43. Furthermore, the inner cover42is provided at a desired position on the opposite side walls42bwith engaging apertures42eand engaging pawls42fthat are engaged with the engaging pawls41eof the outer cover41.

When the inner and outer covers42and41are coupled to each other, they are formed into a configuration shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B.

The door harness W/H drawn out from a vehicle body side end of the grommet30is disposed along the inner surface of the outer side wall41aof the outer cover41. The engaging portion30bof the grommet30is engaged with the peripheral surface around the cut-out portion41c. Thus, the grommet30is attached to the outer cover41. A part of the connector43on the distal end of the door harness W/H is received in the connector receiving groove41d.

Under the above condition, the inner cover42is locked on the inner surface side of the outer cover41, and the inner and outer covers42and41clamp and hold the connector43. At this time, the distal end of the connector43at the fitting side projects from the outer protective assembly40comprising the inner and outer cover42and41.

The engaging aperture21ais provided on the vehicle body side, to which the outer protective assembly40is attached, so that the clip42dof the outer protective assembly40is inserted into and engaged with the engaging aperture21a. A mating connector50connected to an end of a wire harness W/H2arranged on the vehicle body is secured to the vehicle body inner panel22by a bolt to serve as a standby connector. In more detail, the mating connector50is provided on an outer surface with a bolt hole50a(FIG. 3), and the vehicle body inner panel22is provided with a through-hole22afor passing a bolt B. The bolt B is inserted into the through-hole22ain the vehicle body inner panel22and is screwed into the bolt hole50ain the mating connector50. Thus, the mating connector50is secured to the vehicle body inner panel22.

An attaching position of the mating connector50is set so that the connector43connected to the distal end of the door harness W/H is fitted to the mating connector50when the outer protective assembly40mounted on the door harness W/H is attached to the vehicle body panel.

As described above, when, as shown inFIG. 3, the clip42cis inserted into and engaged with the engaging aperture42cin the vehicle body side, the flange outward fitting portion40cis mounted on the flange23, and the outer protective assembly40is attached to the vehicle body panel, the connector43on the end of the door harness W/H is coupled to the mating connector50fixed to the vehicle body inner panel22and the door harness W/H sheathed by the grommet30and outer protective assembly40is connected to the wire harness W/H2arranged on the vehicle body.

Thus, the door harness W/H spanned from the door10to the vehicle body20can be arranged on the indoor side of the vehicle body inner panel22without threading the door harness W/H through the through-aperture in the vehicle body panel.

The grommet30is contained in a space between the door inner panel12and the trim13at the side of the door10so that the grommet30can be under a flexible condition. When the door is opened, the bellows cylindrical portion30ais drawn out from the opening13ain the trim13in a substantially straight line. When the door is closed, the bellows cylindrical portion30ais contained in the space between the door inner panel12and the trim13in the bent condition so that an excess length of the bellows cylindrical portion is absorbed in the space.

According to the above construction, since the outer protective assembly40that sheaths the door harness W/H covers the flange23interconnecting the vehicle body inner and outer panels22and21, the door harness W/H can pass over the flange23and can be arranged from the vehicle body outer panel21to the vehicle body inner panel22of the vehicle body20. The connector50of the vehicle body side wire harness W/H2is attached to the vehicle body inner panel22as a standby connector and is connected to the door harness W/H. The outer protective assembly40that sheathes the door harness W/H is attached to the vehicle body panel. The connector43on the distal end of the door harness W/H is connected to the mating connector50. Thus, it is possible to easily connect the door harness W/H to the wire harness W/H2arranged on the vehicle body20at the vehicle body inner panel21. Accordingly, it is not necessary to insert the door harness W/H spanned between the door10and the vehicle body20into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel and it is possible to facilitate a job of attaching the grommet30, which receives the door harness W/H, to the vehicle body panel.

Also, as shown inFIG. 3, since the door harness W/H is bent and arranged in an S-shaped posture in the outer protective assembly40, the bent portion of the door harness W/H can absorb swinging and tensioning actions caused in the electrical wires when the door10is opened and closed, thereby preventing a great load from being applied to a terminal on an end of the door harness W/H.

Furthermore, since the door harness W/H is arranged near the indoor side over the weather strip14, it is not necessary to provide a waterproofing structure on the spanned portion of the door harness W/H.

In addition, since the flange outward fitting portion of the grommet30is secured to the flange23exposed at the cut-off portion of the opening trims24, the flange outward fitting portion of the grommet30does not protrude greatly from the opening trims24. It is possible to prevent the flange outward fitting portion from contacting with a passenger or a driver. The flange outward fitting portion is excellent in design.

It should be noted that the outer protective assembly40is not limited to the above construction. The inner cover of the outer protective assembly40may be formed into a sheet60made of resin, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or the like. The sheet60is adhered to the inner surface of the outer cover41to form a cylindrical body and the door harness W/H may be arranged in the cylindrical body. In this case, the connector connected to the door harness W/H is strongly held by the outer cover and a vehicle body engaging clip is provided on the outer cover.

The outer protective assembly does not have to be formed by the separated inner and outer covers but the assembly may be formed into an integrated molded product having a flat cylindrical shape.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bshow a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, a structure for attaching the outer protective assembly40to the flange23is different from the structure in the first embodiment.

That is, in the second embodiment, the opening trim24that covers the flange23is not provided with the cut-off portion. The flange outward fitting portion40cof the outer protective assembly40is mounted directly on an outer surface of the opening trim24.

The connector connected to the distal end of the door harness W/H is omitted inFIGS. 8A and 8B.

According to the above construction, it is not necessary to insert the door harness W/H spanned between the door10and the vehicle body20into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel, as in the case of the first embodiment.

Also, since it is not necessary to carry out a job for attaching the grommet30to the flange23and opening trim24, a cost in production can be reduced and strength of the flange is not lowered.

Since the other constructions and operational effects in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the explanation of them is omitted by giving the same designators to the same elements.

FIG. 9shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the flange23is provided on a part of an outer edge with a stepped recess23a, the flange outward fitting portion40cof the outer protective assembly40is attached to the stepped recess23a, and the opening trim24covers the flange outward fitting portion40c.

The connector connected to the distal end of the door harness W/H is omitted inFIG. 9.

According to the above construction, it is not necessary to insert the door harness W/H spanned between the door10and the vehicle body20into the through-hole in the vehicle body panel, as in the case of the first embodiment.

Also, since the opening trim24covers the flange outward fitting portion40cof the outer protective assembly40mounted on the flange23, it is possible to positively secure the outer protective assembly40to the flange23. Since the flange outward fitting portion40cof the outer protective assembly40cannot be seen from the outside because covered by the opening trim24, it is possible to further enhance a design.

Since the other constructions and operational effects in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the explanation of them is omitted by giving the same designators to the same elements.

FIG. 10shows an alteration of the third embodiment.

In the alteration of the third embodiment, the flange23is provided on one side with a stepped recess23afor attachment and on the other side with a stepped projection23bopposite from the stepped recess23ato uniform a width of the flange23.

The connector connected to the distal end of the door harness W/H is omitted inFIG. 10.

According to the above construction, since the flange23in the flange23does not become a narrow width at the stepped recess23a, it is possible to prevent to lower strength of the flange.

Since the other constructions and operational effects in the alteration of the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the explanation of them is omitted by giving the same designators to the same elements.

FIGS. 11 to 13show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment with respect to the fact that a covering portion for the outer cover41is provided on the grommet31that sheathes the door harness W/H spanned between the door and the vehicle body. A structure for attaching the outer protective assembly40to the vehicle body20is the same as that of the first embodiment. The opening trim24that covers the flange23is cut off, the flange outward fitting portion of the grommet30is fitted on the cut-off portion, and the flange outward fitting portion is directly attached to the flange23.

The grommet31that sheathes the spanned portion of the door harness is made of an elastic material, such as rubber or elastomer. The grommet31surrounds an opening in a vehicle side distal end of the cylindrical portion31aand includes an outer panel contacting portion31bthat contacts with the vehicle body side outer panel21at the indoor side from the flange projecting position of the vehicle body20, and a covering portion31cbent in a U-shaped configuration from the outer panel contacting portion31bat the side of the flange23.

The cylindrical portion31ais provided on the opposite ends with bellows-cylindrical portion31a-1on which crests and troughs are formed alternately in an axial direction and is provided on an intermediate part between the bellows cylindrical portion31a-1with a flat cylindrical portion31a-2having a uniform diameter. The door harness W/H is secured to an open end of the cylindrical portion31aat the side of the door10by means of winding a tape around the door harness and open end. The grommet31is provided at the open end with two tongues31dopposed in a radial direction in order to facilitate a tape-winding operation.

The outer panel contacting portion31band covering portion31care provided with edging peripheral portions31e(FIG. 13) extending along the outer edges of the portions31band31c. As shown inFIG. 13, the edging peripheral portions31eare disposed on the opposite sides of the portions31band31cin a width direction perpendicular to a threading direction of the door harness W/H. Each of the edging peripheral portions31eis bent inward in an L-shaped configuration at an end to form an engaging portion31e-1for engaging with a cover member32. Furthermore, outer ribs31fproject outward and incline downward from the outer peripheral surface of the edging peripheral portions31e.

As shown inFIG. 12, an outer side wall41aof an outer cover41is fitted in the edging peripheral portions31eof the grommet31to contact with inner surfaces of the outer panel contacting portion31band covering portion31c.

The other constructions and operational effects in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 14A and 14Bshow a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In the fifth embodiment, a grommet60that sheathes the door harness spanned between the door and the vehicle body extends as a sheathing portion at the vehicle side, a shape of the grommet is different from that in the above embodiments, and the inner and outer covers in the above embodiments are not required.

The grommet60in the fifth embodiment is not provided with the outer panel contacting portion and includes a cylindrical portion61through which the door harness W/H threads, and a flange fitting cylindrical portion62that is contiguous with the cylindrical portion61and has a greater diameter and a central axis aligned with that of the cylindrical portion61. The flange fitting cylindrical portion62is provided on an outer peripheral surface with a fitting groove62athat is fitted in an edge of a stepped recess23athat is formed by cutting out the flange23.

After the door harness W/H is inserted into the cylindrical portion61of the grommet60and is drawn out from the flange fitting cylindrical portion62, the fitting groove62ain the flange fitting cylindrical portion62of the grommet60is fitted in the stepped recess23aof the flange23, the grommet60is attached to the flange23, and an opening trim24is mounted on the flange23.

According to the above construction, it is not necessary to insert the door harness W/H spanned between the door10and the vehicle body20into the through-hole in the panel at the side of the vehicle body20.