Patent Publication Number: US-2022219512-A1

Title: Door hole cap and sealing member

Description:
This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 on Patent Applications No. 2021-003036 filed in Japan on Jan. 12, 2021 and No. 2021-156742 filed in Japan on Sep. 27, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a door hole cap and a sealing member. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Door hole caps have been conventionally used in order to prevent rainwater or the like from entering a vehicle through a door hole formed in a door inner panel of a door of the vehicle. The entry of rainwater or the like is prevented, typically by affixing a spongy material or the like to a peripheral part of a door hole cap. However, affixing a spongy material or the like to a door hole cap takes time and effort in positioning and requires proficiency. This causes an increase in the number of steps required to attach the sealing member to the door hole cap, resulting in an increase in manufacturing costs. Accordingly, there is demand for a door hole cap that makes it possible to both maintain water stopping performance and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a resin panel having a foamed sealing material, the resin panel including: a resin panel body having a recessed groove; and a foamed sealing material that has expanded to a surface of the panel body through foaming and curing, in the recessed groove, of a liquid raw material of a foam resin. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] 
     Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2009-166421 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     According to the resin panel having the foamed sealing material disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the liquid raw material of a foam resin is injected into the recessed groove, and then foamed and cured. In an operation to inject the liquid raw material of a foam resin into the recessed groove, the amount of the injected liquid raw material varies depending on a worker. This may reduce water stopping performance of the resin panel having the foamed sealing material. In addition, time required for foaming and curing the liquid raw material of a foam resin causes an increase in operation time. This results in an increase in manufacturing costs. Further, once the foamed sealing material is formed on the resin panel body, it is impossible to easily remove the foamed sealing material alone. As a result, in a case where a fault occurs only in the foamed sealing material after the foamed sealing material is formed, it is necessary to replace the whole resin panel body. This results in an increase in manufacturing costs. 
     An aspect of the present invention has been made in light of the above problems. The object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a door hole cap and a sealing member that make it possible to both maintain water stopping performance of the door hole cap and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to solve the above problems, a door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is provided. The door hole cap is to be attached to a door hole that is formed in a door inner panel of a vehicle, the door hole cap comprising: a capping member for covering the door hole from an inside of the vehicle, the capping member having a groove that is recessed toward the inside of the vehicle; and a sealing member to be attached to the groove, the groove being formed along an entire perimeter of a first peripheral part that is a peripheral part of the capping member, the sealing member including a main body section to be inserted into the groove, a first sealing section which extends from an outside-vehicle side end of the main body section toward an outside of the vehicle and which abuts on an inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel, and a groove touch section which extends, from a position located further inside the vehicle than the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section, toward at least one inner surface of the groove and which abuts on the at least one inner surface. 
     A sealing member in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is to be attached to a groove in a door hole cap to be attached to a door hole that is formed in a door inner panel of a vehicle, the groove being formed along an entire perimeter of a first peripheral part and being recessed toward an inside of the vehicle, the first peripheral part being a peripheral part of a capping member for covering the door hole from the inside of the vehicle, the sealing member comprising: a main body section to be inserted into the groove; a first sealing section which extends from an outside-vehicle side end of the main body section toward an outside of the vehicle and which abuts on an inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel; and a groove touch section which extends, from a position located further inside the vehicle than the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section, toward at least one inner surface of the groove and which abuts on the at least one inner surface. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     An aspect of the present invention makes it possible to provide a door hole cap and a sealing member that make it possible to both maintain water stopping performance of the door hole cap and reduce manufacturing costs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a structure of a front door to which a door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment is attached, as viewed from the inside of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 , the cross-sectional view illustrating a cross sectional shape of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a sealing member of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating respective cross sectional views taken along lines B-B, C-C, and D-D in  FIG. 1 , the cross sectional views illustrating cross sectional shapes of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line E-E in  FIG. 1 , the cross sectional view illustrating a cross sectional shape of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a variation of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of another variation of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of still another variation of the door hole cap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating positions of fixing areas in which a through hole is formed in the variation of the door hole cap illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating how an air outlet in accordance with an example application is attached. 
         FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a structure of the air outlet in accordance with the example application. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     &lt;Overview of Door Hole Cap  1  and Example of Attachment of Door Hole Cap  1 &gt; 
     The following description will discuss an overview of a door hole cap  1  and an example of attachment of the door hole cap  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to  FIG. 1 . In an example in  FIG. 1 , the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the near side, and the far side of a drawing sheet of  FIG. 1  correspond respectively to the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, an inside-vehicle side (the inside of a vehicle), and an outside-vehicle side (the outside of a vehicle) of a vehicle. Note that  FIG. 1  is a view of a front door D as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. However, this manner of viewing does not pose any limitation on a direction from which the door hole cap  1  is attached to the vehicle. The door hole cap  1  can be attached to the vehicle from any direction. 
     A front door D is an example of a door of the vehicle, and is attached, to an opening (not illustrated) for a front door of the vehicle, in a manner that allows the front door D to open and close. The front door D includes a door outer panel (not illustrated) and a door inner panel D 1 . The door inner panel D 1  has a door hole D 2 . The door hole D 2  is an opening through which a worker puts the hand, a tool, etc. to, for example, repair various parts disposed inside the front door D. Note that the manner, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , of forming the front door D is merely an example. The number of the door holes D 2  and the location of the door hole D 2  can be changed to any number and any location as needed. 
     The door inner panel D 1  includes the door hole cap  1  attached to an inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel D 1 . Blocking, with the door hole cap  1 , the door hole D 2  from the inside of the vehicle prevents entry, into the vehicle through the door hole D 2 , of rainwater or the like that has entered the inside of the front door D through a gap between door glass of the vehicle (not illustrated) and a beltline outer weather strip (not illustrated) attached to the door outer panel. 
     The door hole cap  1  includes a capping member  10  and a sealing member  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The capping member  10  has a groove  11  that is recessed toward the inside of the vehicle. The capping member  10  is attached to the door inner panel D 1  so as to cover the door hole D 2  from the inside of the vehicle. The sealing member  20  is attached to the groove  11  and abuts on the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel D 1 . This prevents rainwater or the like from entering the vehicle through the door hole D 2 . 
     The above-described manner of attaching the door hole cap  1  is merely an example. For example, a door of the vehicle to which the door hole cap  1  is attached is not limited to the front door D illustrated in the example in  FIG. 1 . Any kind of door can be used provided that the door is a door of a vehicle. The door hole cap  1  can therefore be attached to, for example, a rear door or a sliding door (not illustrated). Further, the door hole cap  1  is attached to any kind of vehicle. Examples of the vehicle to which the door hole cap  1  is to be attached include a sedan, a hardtop vehicle, and a convertible. 
     &lt;Structure of Door Hole Cap  1 &gt; 
     The following description will discuss a structure of the door hole cap  1  with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A, of the door hole cap  1  attached to the door inner panel D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, in an example in  FIG. 2 , the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the near side, and the far side of a drawing sheet of  FIG. 2  correspond respectively to the upper side, the lower side, the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle), the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle), the front side, and the rear side of the vehicle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the door hole cap  1  has a structure in which the sealing member  20  is inserted in the groove  11  that is formed in a first peripheral part  12 , which is a peripheral part of the capping member  10 . The groove  11  is formed along an entire perimeter of the first peripheral part  12 . When the door hole cap  1  is attached to the door inner panel D 1 , the door hole cap  1  covers the door hole D 2  from the inside of the vehicle, and the sealing member  20  abuts on the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel D 1 , the inside-vehicle side surface facing the first peripheral part  12 . 
     When seen from the lateral side of the vehicle, the capping member  10  has a shape similar to that of the door hole D 2 , and is somewhat larger than the door hole D 2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , since the sealing member  20  is attached to the first peripheral part  12 , the sealing member  20  has such a structure as to surround the door hole D 2 . 
     Examples of a material of the capping member  10  can include vulcanized rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic resin, and metal. Examples of the vulcanized rubber can include an ethylene-propylene-dien rubber (EPDM), isoprene rubber (IR), chloroprene rubber (CR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer can include a thermoplastic olefinic elastomer (TPO) and a thermoplastic styrenic elastomer (TPS). Examples of the thermoplastic resin can include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Examples of a composite can include a fiber composite such as a fiberglass blend. Examples of the metal can include aluminum and iron. 
     &lt;Structure of Sealing Member  20 &gt; 
     The following description will discuss the structure of the sealing member  20  with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Note that  FIG. 3  is a magnified cross-sectional view of the sealing member  20 . In an example in  FIG. 3 , the upper side and the lower side of a drawing sheet of  FIG. 3  correspond respectively to the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle) and the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle). In the present embodiment, the sealing member  20  includes a main body section  21 , a first sealing section  22 , groove touch sections  23 , lip sections  24 , and a second sealing section  25 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The main body section  21  is to be inserted into the groove  11 . The main body section  21  is formed so as to have a length equal to or greater, in a direction from the outside of the vehicle to the inside, than the depth of the groove  11  when being inserted in the groove  11 . The first sealing section  22  extends from an outside-vehicle side end of the main body section  21  toward the outside of the vehicle and abuts on the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel D 1 . The groove touch sections  23  having a lip shape each extend, from a position located further inside the vehicle than the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section  21 , toward at least one inner surface of the groove  11 . The groove touch sections  23  abut on the at least one inner surface of the groove  11 . 
     In the present embodiment, the groove touch sections extend from respective positions toward both inner surfaces of the groove  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. The groove touch sections  23  only need to extend toward at least one of both inner surfaces of the groove  11 . When the groove touch sections  23  abut on the at least one inner surface of the groove  11 , it is possible to firmly attach the sealing member  20  to the groove  11 . 
     The groove touch sections  23  extend toward the inner surface of the groove  11  in such a manner as to incline toward the outside of the vehicle. This makes the groove touch sections  23  likely to be elastically deformed so as to bend toward the outside of the vehicle when the sealing member  20  is inserted into the groove  11 . Accordingly, the groove touch sections  23  are less likely to interfere with the insertion of the sealing member  20  into the groove  11 . Conversely, the groove touch sections  23  are less likely to bend toward the inside of the vehicle. This makes the sealing member  20  less likely to slip out of the groove  11 . Therefore, the groove touch sections  23  make it possible to prevent the sealing member  20  from accidentally slipping out of the groove  11 . 
     Even in a case where the groove touch sections  23  extends from respective positions of the main body section  21  toward the inner surfaces of the groove  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is also possible to both give the sealing member  20  a shape that makes the sealing member  20  even less likely to slip off the groove  11  and keep the sealing member  20  easily insertable into the groove  11 . 
     When the sealing member  20  includes the main body section  21 , the first sealing section  22 , and the groove touch sections  23 , attachment of the sealing member  20  to the capping member  10  is completed only by a simple and easy operation of inserting the sealing member  20  into the groove  11  of the capping member  10 . In conventional cases in which a spongy material or the like as a sealing member is affixed to the door hole cap, operations including positioning and bonding are needed. In contrast, the present invention eliminates the need to perform such operations, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the door hole cap  1 . 
     Additionally, the first sealing section  22  abutting on the door inner panel D 1  prevents entry of rainwater or the like from the outside of the vehicle to the inside through the door hole D 2 . The sealing member  20  has a structure so as to surround the door hole D 2 , and the first sealing section  22  abuts on the door inner panel D 1 , at the circumference of the door hole D 2 . The door hole cap  1  in the present embodiment of the present invention therefore makes it possible to both maintain water stopping performance and reduce the manufacturing costs. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sealing member  20  can include the lip sections  24 . The lip sections  24  extend from the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section  21  toward respective second peripheral parts  13  that are peripheral parts on both sides of the groove  11 . The lip sections  24  abut on the respective second peripheral parts  13  from a direction of the outside of the vehicle. When the lip sections  24  abut on the respective second peripheral parts  13  on both sides of the groove  11  from the direction of the outside of the vehicle, the groove  11  is kept covered by the lip sections  24 . This makes it possible for the lip sections  24  to prevent entry of rainwater or the like into the groove  11 , thereby reducing entry of the rainwater or the like into the vehicle through the groove  11 . As a result, the sealing member  20  that has the lip sections  24  improves water stopping performance of the door hole cap  1  in comparison with the sealing member  20  that does not have the lip sections  24 . 
     When the lip sections  24  abut on the respective second peripheral parts  13  on both sides of the groove  11 , the lip sections  24  structurally support, from two directions, the sealing member  20  attached to the groove  11 . Consequently, the sealing member  20  that has the lip sections  24  is capable of being attached to the groove  11  in a more stable position than is the sealing member  20  that does not have the lip sections  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sealing member  20  further includes the second sealing section  25 . The second sealing section  25  of the sealing member  20  extends from one of the lip sections  24 , the one being closer to an edge of the door hole cap  1 . More specifically, the second sealing section  25  extends from a position on the one of the lip sections  24  that is closer to the edge than the other, the position being closer to the main body section  21  than is the tip of the one of the lip sections  24 , and extends toward the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel D 1 . The second sealing section  25  abuts on the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel. 
     When the sealing member  20  includes the second sealing section  25  that abuts on the door inner panel D 1 , both the first sealing section  22  and the second sealing section  25  make it possible to effectively prevent rainwater or the like from entering the vehicle after reaching the sealing member  20 . The sealing member  20  that has the second sealing section  25  therefore enables improves stop performance of the door hole cap  1  in comparison with the sealing member  20  that does not have the second sealing section  25 . 
     Further, the second sealing section  25  extends from one of the lip sections  24 . When the second sealing section  25  abuts on the door inner panel D 1 , a force exerted in a direction from the door inner panel D 1  to the inside of the vehicle acts on the lip sections  24  via the second sealing section  25 . This causes the lip sections  24  to be firmly pressed against the second peripheral parts  13  from the direction of the outside of the vehicle. It is therefore possible to effectively prevent rainwater or the like from entering through the groove  11 . 
     The sealing member  20  is constituted by parts that can be made mainly of, for example, vulcanized rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin. Examples of a material that can be used for the vulcanized rubber include EPDM, isoprene rubber (IR), chloroprene rubber (CR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Examples of a material that can be used for the thermoplastic elastomer include a thermoplastic olefinic elastomer (TPO) and a thermoplastic styrenic elastomer (TPS). Examples of a material that can be used for the thermoplastic resin include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and soft polyvinyl chloride. These materials can each be solid, spongy by foaming, or in a mixed state where a part of the material is spongy by foaming and the remainder is solid. 
     The first sealing section  22  can be formed so as to be softer than the main body section  21 . The concept of the term “soft” as used herein includes an aspect in which a changeable form such as a hollow form is formed, in addition to an aspect in which a material itself is soft. In a case where the first sealing section  22  is softer than the main body section  21 , when the first sealing section  22  is pressed against the door inner panel D 1 , the first sealing section  22 , which is flexible, easily comes into close contact with the door inner panel D 1 . Further, since the main body section  21  is less flexible than the first sealing section  22 , the main body section  21  is less likely to be deformed. This makes it possible to easily keep the sealing member  20  stably attached to the groove  11 . It is therefore possible for the door hole cap  1  to stably deliver high water stopping performance. 
     The first sealing section  22  can mainly be made of the same material as the sealing member  20  is. In that case, it is preferable to make the main body section  21  solid and make the first sealing section  22  spongy by foaming. For example, the first sealing section  22  is particularly preferably made of a highly-foamed EPDM. 
     The sealing member  20  can be manufactured by extrusion molding. Manufacturing the sealing member  20  by extrusion molding, in comparison with other manufacturing methods including die-molding, makes it possible to more easily and more inexpensively manufacture the first sealing section  22  and the main body section  21 , when, for example, the first sealing section  22  and the main body section  21  are manufactured by using different materials. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sealing member  20  can be manufactured by conventional, well-known manufacturing methods. 
     &lt;Structure of Groove  11 &gt; 
     The following description will discuss a structure of the groove  11  of the capping member  10  with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The reference sign  401  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B, of the door hole cap  1  having been attached to the door inner panel D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The reference sign  402  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view, taken along line C-C, of the door hole cap  1  having been attached to the door inner panel D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The reference sign  403  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view, taken along line D-D, of the door hole cap  1  having been attached to the door inner panel D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In an example in  FIG. 4 , the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the near side, and the far side of a drawing sheet of  FIG. 4  correspond respectively to the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle), the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle), the front side of the vehicle, the rear side of the vehicle, the lower side of the vehicle, and the upper side of the vehicle. 
     In the present embodiment, as a part of the groove  11 , a paralleling part  16  is formed in the groove  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the paralleling part  16  includes one end part  14  and the other end part  15  of the groove  11  that face each other and that are arranged in parallel in a plane in which the groove  11  of the capping member  10  is formed. The paralleling part  16  includes, as a part thereof, a wide part  17  in which the one end part  14  and the other end part  15  are connected to each other. The groove  11  is therefore wider at the wide part  17  than at the remainder of the groove  11 . The specific description will follow. 
     The reference sign  401  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view of the door hole cap in which the sealing member  20  is inserted in an area  11   a  of the groove  11 , the area  11   a  being an area other than the paralleling part  16 . The area  11   a  of the groove  11  has a groove which is capable of receiving the sealing member  20  in a single row and which has a width suitable for an insertion of the sealing member  20  in a single row. The reference sign  402  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view of the door hole cap in which the sealing member  20  is inserted in an area  11   b  of the groove  11 , the area  11   b  being the wide part  17 . The area  11   b  of the groove  11  has a groove which is capable of receiving the sealing member  20  in two rows and which has a width suitable for an insertion of the sealing member  20  arranged in two rows. The reference sign  403  of  FIG. 4  indicates a cross-sectional view of the door hole cap in which the sealing member  20  is inserted in an area  11   c  of the groove  11 , the area  11   c  being both end parts of the paralleling part  16 . The area  11   c  of the groove  11  has grooves, arranged in parallel, each of which is capable of receiving the sealing member  20  in a single row and each of which has a width suitable for an insertion of the sealing member  20  in a single row. 
     In a case where the capping member  10  includes, as a part of the groove  11 , the paralleling part  16  described above, it is possible to surely attach the sealing member  20  along the entire perimeter of the first peripheral part  12 . In a case where the capping member  10  does not include the paralleling part  16 , the groove  11  formed along the entire perimeter of the first peripheral part  12  only has a width of the area  11   a  in an example indicated by the reference sign  401  of  FIG. 4 , throughout the groove  11 . In this case, when the sealing member  20  is inserted in the groove  11 , the sealing member  20  which has a shorter length due to manufacturing variations makes it impossible for both ends of the sealing member  20  to abut on each other, thereby reducing water-tightness. This may cause the first peripheral part  12  to have a portion which is poorly sealed by the sealing member  20 . 
     Conversely, in a case where the paralleling part  16  is formed in the capping member  10 , the groove  11  partially has a width of the area  11   b  in an example indicated by the reference sign  402  of  FIG. 4 . The capping member  10  can include an area in which the grooves  11  are arranged in parallel as in the area  11   c  in an example indicated by the reference sign  403  of  FIG. 4 . As a result, even when manufacturing variations occur in the sealing member  20 , both end portions of the sealing member  20  are partially attached to the paralleling part  16  in parallel. This makes it possible to prevent the first peripheral part  12  from having the poorly sealed portion. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the wide part  17  includes the area  11   b , which is wider, of the groove  11 , whereas both end parts of the paralleling part  16  include the area  11   c  in which two grooves  11  are arranged in parallel. In this context, the wide part  17  receives the sealing member  20  arranged in two rows inside a single groove  11 . This may form, along the groove  11 , a passage S that is surrounded by the sealing member  20  arranged in two rows and the door inner panel D 1  and that is tubular and extremely narrow. 
     For example, in a case where an end part (the one end part  14  in the present embodiment), on the lower side of the vehicle, of the groove  11  is serving as the wide part  17 , the passage S formed in the one end part  14  is likely to be exposed to rainwater or the like. When exposed to rainwater or the like, the passage S sucks, by capillary action, the rainwater or the like, so that the rainwater or the like may enter the vehicle. Conversely, in a case where the area  11   c  is formed in a part, on the lower side of the vehicle, of the paralleling part  16 , the passage S formed in the one end part  14  is located so as to be further on the upper side of the vehicle than a lower end of the sealing member  20  that is on the door hole D 2  side. This makes the passage S less likely to be exposed to rainwater or the like, thereby enabling a reduction in a possibility of entry, by capillary action, of the rainwater or the like into the groove  11 . This configuration improves water stopping performance of the door hole cap  1  in comparison with the configuration in which the wide part  17  is formed, by the grooves  11  connected together, throughout the paralleling part  16 . 
     Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described structure of the groove  11 , and the groove  11  only needs to be formed along the entire perimeter of the first peripheral part  12 . 
     &lt;Drainage Structure&gt; 
     The following description will discuss a drainage structure with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line E-E, of the door hole cap  1  attached to the door inner panel D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, in an example in  FIG. 5 , the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the near side, and the far side of a drawing sheet of  FIG. 5  correspond respectively to the upper side, the lower side, the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle), the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle), the front side, and the rear side of the vehicle. 
     In the present embodiment, the door hole cap  1  can have a drainage structure for draining water through a space between the first sealing section  22  and the second sealing section  25 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the door inner panel D 1  can have a drain hole D 3  below the door hole D 2 . With the drain hole D 3 , even when rainwater or the like that has reached the first sealing section  22  from the door hole D 2  enters the space between the first sealing section  22  and the second sealing section  25 , the rainwater or the like moves to a lower part of the door inner panel D 1  by gravity, and is then drained through the drain hole D 3 . That is, the drain hole D 3  form a drainage structure, together with the first sealing section  22  and the second sealing section  25  that are formed so as to be apart from each other. This structure enables improved water stopping performance of the door hole cap  1 . 
     [Variation] 
     (Variation of Sealing Member  20 ) 
     There are more than one possible variation of the door hole cap  1  and of the sealing member  20  in accordance with the present embodiment. The following description will discuss respective variations of the door hole cap  1  and the sealing member  20  in accordance with the present embodiment, with respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . A reference sign  601  of  FIG. 6  indicates a cross-sectional view of a sealing member  201  in accordance with a variation of the present invention. A reference sign  701  of  FIG. 7  indicates a cross-sectional view of a sealing member  202  in accordance with the variation of the present invention. A reference sign  602  of  FIG. 6  indicates a cross-sectional view of a door hole cap  2  in accordance with the variation of the present invention. A reference sign  702  of  FIG. 7  indicates a cross-sectional view of a door hole cap  3  in accordance with the variation of the present invention. 
     In an example indicated by the reference sign  601  of  FIG. 6  and an example indicated by the reference sign  701  of  FIG. 7 , the upper side and the lower side of drawing sheets of  FIGS. 6 and 7  correspond respectively to the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle) and the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle). In an example indicated by the reference sign  602  of  FIG. 6  and an example indicated by the reference sign  702  of  FIG. 7 , the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the near side, and the far side of drawing sheets of  FIGS. 6 and 7  correspond respectively to the inside-vehicle side (the inside of the vehicle), the outside-vehicle side (the outside of the vehicle), the front side of the vehicle, the rear side of the vehicle, the lower side of the vehicle, and the upper side of the vehicle. 
     As illustrated in the example indicated by the reference sign  601  of  FIG. 6 , the sealing member  201  differs from the sealing member  20  in the shape of the first sealing section  221 . As illustrated in the example indicated by the reference sign  602  of  FIG. 6 , the first sealing section  221  has a larger cross section than the first sealing section  22  of the sealing member  20 . This results in an increased area of contact between the first sealing section  221  and the door inner panel D 1 . This configuration makes it difficult for rainwater or the like to enter the inside of the vehicle through the first sealing section  221 , and thus enables an improved water stopping performance of the door hole cap  2 . Further, as illustrated in the example indicated by the reference sign  602  of  FIG. 6 , when the sealing member  201  arranged in two rows is inserted in the groove  11  in the wide part  17 , it is possible to achieve a structure in which a gap is less likely to be formed between the two rows of the sealing member  201 . This enables an improved water stopping performance of the door hole cap  2 . 
     As illustrated in the example indicated by the reference sign  701  of  FIG. 7 , the sealing member  202  differs from the sealing member  20  in the shape of the main body section  211 . When the main body section  211  has a length smaller, in a direction from the outside of the vehicle to the inside, than that of the main body section  21  of the sealing member  20 , the amount of a material required for the manufacture of the sealing member  202  is reduced. This enables reduced manufacturing costs of the door hole cap  3 . Further, as illustrated in the example indicated by the reference sign  702  of  FIG. 7 , since the main body section  211  of the sealing member  202  has a short length in cross section, it is possible to make the groove  11  of the capping member  101  short in depth. This reduces the amount of the material required for the manufacture of the capping member  101 , and thus enables reduced manufacturing costs of the door hole cap  3 . Moreover, the sealing member  202  becomes easy to insert deeply into the groove  11 . 
     (Variation of Groove  11 ) 
     The following description will discuss a variation of the groove  11  of the door hole cap  1  in accordance with the present embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . A reference sign  801  of  FIG. 8  indicates a cross-sectional view, taken along a line at a position similar to that of line B-B in  FIG. 1 , of a door hole cap  4  in accordance with a variation of the present invention. A reference sign  802  of  FIG. 8  indicates a cross-sectional view, taken along a line at a position similar to that of line B-B in  FIG. 1 , of a door hole cap  5  in accordance with the variation of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in an example indicated by the reference sign  801  of  FIG. 8 , the door hole cap  4  differs from the door hole cap  1  in that the door hole cap  4  includes a capping member  102  that has a groove  11   c  in which a through hole H 1  is formed. The through hole H 1  is formed by cutting away a part of the groove  11  that is approximately half the depth of the groove  11   c  and that is on the bottom side. When the sealing member  20  is inserted in the groove  11   c  thus formed, at least some of the groove touch sections  23  are inserted in the through hole H 1 . The groove touch sections  23  inside the through hole H 1  are locked by a circumferential wall of the through hole H 1  even when the sealing member  20  is on the verge of slipping out. Therefore, the groove  11   c  of the door hole cap  4  preferably has, in at least a part thereof, the through hole H 1  into which at least some of the groove touch sections  23  are inserted. 
     In some cases, the groove  11   c  is made into a taper shape that is narrower toward the bottom, so that a molding die easily slips out of the groove  11   c  during manufacture. In such cases, as with the molding die, the sealing member  20  easily slips out of the groove  11   c . However, since the groove  11   c  has the through hole H 1 , the groove touch sections  23  are locked by the circumferential wall of the through hole H 1 . This makes it possible to prevent the sealing member  20  from slipping out of the groove  11   c.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , it is preferable to provide a plurality of fixing areas  18  in the groove  11   c  of the door hole cap  4 . The fixing areas  18  are so configured that the sealing member  20  is easily fixed to the groove  11   c . In the door hole cap  4 , the through hole H 1  is formed in the fixing areas  18 . The fixing areas  18  are preferably located in the periphery of the door hole cap  4  not only at straight sections in which the groove  11   c  is formed in a straight manner but also at corner sections in which the groove  11   c  is formed in a bending manner. At such corner sections, the sealing member  20  is less likely to be stably received in the groove  11   c . It is therefore preferable to give the corner sections a structure which makes the sealing member  20  especially less likely to slip out of the groove  11   c.    
     The fixing areas  18  can have a through hole H 2  formed only in a part which is so tight that, when the sealing member  20  is inserted deeply into the groove  11   d , any one of the groove touch sections  23  abuts on the part, as can be seen in the door hole cap  5  illustrated in an example of the reference sign  802  of  FIG. 8 . With the through hole H 2  thus formed, it is also possible to cause the groove touch section  23  to be well locked by the circumferential wall of the through hole H 2 . This makes the sealing member  20  less likely to slip out of the groove  11   d  having the through hole H 2 . 
     Alternatively, in a variation of the door hole cap  1 , the fixing areas  18  can be formed so as to be less wide than the other areas, instead of having a through hole. When the groove  11  is less wide, it is more difficult for the sealing member  20  that is inserted in the groove  11  to slip out of the groove  11 . In this case, with a configuration in which the fixing areas  18  are not provided along an entire perimeter of the door hole cap  1  but are discontinuously provided at a plurality of locations, it is possible to both eliminate the need for excessively applying force to insert the sealing member  20  and make the sealing member  20  less likely to slip out of the groove  11 . 
     Alternatively, in a variation of the door hole cap  1 , the groove  11  in the fixing areas  18  can have a side wall inner surface of the groove  11 , the side wall inner surface having a part which abuts on at least some of the groove touch sections  23  and which has a greater friction coefficient than the other parts. For example, in the fixing areas  18 , the side wall inner surface that abuts on the groove touch sections can have been subjected to a process for reducing flatness such as graining or texturing. This configuration also causes the groove touch sections  23  that abut on the side wall inner surface of the groove  11  to be less likely to slide on the side wall inner surface and thus makes the sealing member  20  less likely to slip out of the groove  11 . 
     Example Application 
     The following description will discuss, with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an example application in which the configurations of the groove  11  and the sealing member  20  of door hole cap  1  are applied.  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating how an air outlet C 1  is attached to a vehicle C. A reference sign  1101  of  FIG. 11  is a view of the air outlet C 1  as seen from the outside of the vehicle. A reference sign  1102  of  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F indicated in the reference sign  1101 . 
     The configurations of the groove  11  and the sealing member  20  of the door hole cap  1  are applicable to, besides the door hole cap, various plate-shaped members to be attached to the vehicle C. In particular, the configurations are suitably applicable to a plate-shaped member that is attached to the vehicle C in a manner that requires water stopping performance. The air outlet C 1  illustrated in  FIG. 10  is an example of such a plate-shaped member. 
     The air outlet C 1  is attached to an outside-vehicle side opening C 3  of an air duct C 2 . The air duct C 2  carries air from the internal space of the vehicle C. The outside-vehicle side opening C 3  is formed on an inner side panel of a rear bumper C 4  of the vehicle C. The air outlet C 1  improves door closeability by, when a door of the vehicle C is closed, discharging air in order to reduce an increase in a pressure inside the vehicle C. 
     The air outlet C 1  is attached to the outside-vehicle side opening C 3  facing the outside of the vehicle C and thus needs to have water stopping performance. Conventionally, the water stopping performance has been secured by affixing a water stop seal made of, for example, urethane foam to a peripheral part of an air outlet, in a case where the air outlet is attached to the outside-vehicle side opening C 3 . Such a conventional method includes steps of positioning and bonding the water stop seal, and the steps cause an increase in manufacturing costs. This problem can be solved by applying, to the air outlet C 1 , the configurations of the groove  11  and the sealing member  20  of the door hole cap  1 . 
     As illustrated in an example indicated by the reference sign  1101  of  FIG. 11 , the air outlet C 1  includes a plate-shaped body C 11  and a sealing member C 13 . A groove C 12  to be formed in the plate-shaped body C 11  and the sealing member C 13  to be inserted in the groove C 12  can be described by using the respective descriptions of the groove  11  and the sealing member  20  of the door hole cap  1 . The groove C 12  of the air outlet C 1  includes a paralleling part C 14  that corresponds to the wide part  17  of the door hole cap  1 . 
     The plate-shaped body C 11  includes a discharge valve C 15  and a fixing member C 16 , in addition to the groove C 12 . The discharge valve C 15  is normally closed. When air pressure is applied from the inside of the vehicle through the air duct C 2 , the discharge valve C 15  opens and discharges the air out of the vehicle. 
     The fixing member C 16 , which is locked in a peripheral end part of the outside-vehicle side opening C 3 , fixes the air outlet C 1  to the outside-vehicle side opening C 3 , as illustrated in an example indicated by the reference sign  1102  of  FIG. 11 . When the air outlet C 1  is fixed to the outside-vehicle side opening C 3 , the sealing member C 13  abuts on an outer surface of the outside-vehicle side opening C 3 . This brings about high water stopping performance. 
     The sealing member C 13  can be manufactured by, for example, extrusion molding. It is therefore possible to manufacture the sealing member C 13  at a lower cost than to manufacture a conventional water stop seal. Further, attachment of the sealing member C 13  to the plate-shaped body C 11  is completed only by a simple and easy operation of inserting the sealing member C 13  into the groove C 12 . Therefore, with the configuration in which the plate-shaped body C 11  has the groove C 12  and the sealing member C 13  is inserted into the groove C 12 , it is possible to both reduce costs for manufacturing the air outlet C 1  and secure high water stopping performance. 
     [Main Points] 
     In order to solve the above problems, a door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is provided. The door hole cap is to be attached to a door hole that is formed in a door inner panel of a vehicle, and includes a capping member for covering the door hole from an inside of the vehicle, the capping member having a groove that is recessed toward the inside of the vehicle; and a sealing member to be attached to the groove, the groove being formed along an entire perimeter of a first peripheral part that is a peripheral part of the capping member, the sealing member including a main body section to be inserted into the groove, a first sealing section which extends from an outside-vehicle side end of the main body section toward an outside of the vehicle and which abuts on an inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel, and a groove touch section which extends, from a position further inside the vehicle than the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section, toward at least one inner surface of the groove and which abuts on the at least one inner surface. 
     With this configuration, an attachment of the sealing member to the capping member is completed only by a simple and easy operation of inserting the sealing member into a groove of the capping member. This eliminates the need for operations, including positioning and bonding, that are required when a spongy material or the like are affixed to the door hole cap. Further, manufacturing variations depending on proficiency is less likely to occur. In addition, in a case where a fault occurs only in the sealing member after the sealing member is attached to the capping member, it is possible to readily replace the sealing member alone. This enables reduced manufacturing costs of the door hole cap. 
     In this configuration, the first sealing section that has been attached to the first peripheral part of the door hole cap abuts on the door inner panel. It is therefore possible to both maintain water stopping performance of the door hole cap and reduce the manufacturing costs. 
     According to the door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the sealing member can include lip sections which extend from the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section toward respective second peripheral parts that are respective peripheral parts on both sides of the groove and which abut on the respective second peripheral parts from a direction of the outside of the vehicle. 
     With this configuration, the lip sections abut, from the direction of the outside of the vehicle, the respective second peripheral parts that are respective peripheral parts on both sides of the groove. This produces a state in which the lip sections cover the groove. The lip sections therefore enable a reduction in entry of rainwater or the like into the groove. Consequently, the sealing member which has the lip sections improves water stopping performance of the sealing member in comparison with the sealing member which does not have lip sections. 
     Additionally, with this configuration, the lip sections abut on the respective second peripheral parts on both sides of the groove, and therefore structurally support, from both sides, the sealing member that has been attached to the groove. Consequently, the sealing member having the lip sections is capable of being attached to the groove in a more stable position than the sealing member not having the lip sections. 
     According to the door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the sealing member can further include a second sealing section which extends from a position on one of the lip sections that is closer to an edge of the door hole cap than the other, the position being closer to the main body section than is a tip of the one of the lip sections, and extends toward the inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel and which abuts on the inside-vehicle side surface. 
     In this configuration, the sealing member includes the second sealing section that abuts on the door inner panel. This makes it possible to effectively prevent, by both the first sealing section and the second sealing section, rainwater or the like from entering a vehicle after reaching the sealing member. The sealing member having the second sealing section therefore improves water stopping performance in comparison with the sealing member not having the second sealing section. 
     Further, the second sealing section extends from one of the lip sections. Accordingly, when the second sealing section abuts on the door inner panel, a force exerted in a direction from the door inner panel to the inside of the vehicle acts on the lip sections via the second sealing section. This causes the lip sections to be firmly pressed against the second peripheral parts from the direction of the outside of the vehicle. It is therefore possible to effectively prevent entry of rainwater or the like into the inside of the groove. 
     According to the door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the capping member can include, as a part of the groove, a paralleling part in which one end part and the other end part of the groove face each other and are arranged in parallel in a plane in which the groove of the capping member is formed. In a part of the paralleling part, the one end part and the other end part are connected to each other, and the groove is therefore wider at the part than at a remainder of the groove. 
     In this configuration, the paralleling part is formed in the groove included in the capping member. In a case where the paralleling part is not formed in the groove, it may be impossible for end portions of the sealing member to abut on each other in a manner that secures water tightness, due to manufacturing variations. This may cause the first peripheral part to have a portion which is poorly sealed by the sealing member. Conversely, in the capping member, both end portions of the sealing member are attached to the paralleling part so as to be partially arranged in parallel. This makes it possible to prevent generation of the portion which is poorly sealed. 
     Further, the grooves are connected in a part of the paralleling part, whereas the grooves are not connected in the other parts of the paralleling section and the two grooves are arranged in parallel. This configuration makes it possible to reduce a possibility of entry, by capillary action, of rainwater or the like into the groove, even in a case where a narrow passage is formed by the sealing member arranged in two rows that abut on each other and the door inner panel in the part of the paralleling part in which the end parts of the groove are connected. This configuration improves water stopping performance of the door hole cap in comparison with a configuration in which the grooves are connected throughout the paralleling part. 
     In the paralleling section in which the grooves are connected to each other, it is preferable to first attach a portion, of the sealing member, to be located on the door hole side. This causes the second sealing section to be folded between the first sealing section and the groove touch section, and makes it possible to also cause the first sealing sections, of the two rows of the sealing member that abut on each other, to abut on each other in the paralleling part in which the grooves are connected to each other. This further improves water stopping performance. 
     According to the door hole cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the first sealing section can be softer than the main body section. With this configuration, the first sealing section is flexibly deformed and is likely to come into contact with the door inner panel, when pressed against the door inner panel. Conversely, the main body section is less likely to be deformed because the main body section is less flexible than the first sealing section. It is therefore possible to both easily keep the sealing member stably attached to the groove and achieve high water stopping performance. 
     A sealing member in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is to be attached to a groove in a door hole cap to be attached to a door hole that is formed in a door inner panel of a vehicle, the groove being formed along an entire perimeter of a first peripheral part and being recessed toward an inside of the vehicle, the first peripheral part being a peripheral part of a capping member for covering the door hole from the inside of the vehicle, the sealing member comprising: a main body section to be inserted into the groove; a first sealing section which extends from an outside-vehicle side end of the main body section toward the outside of the vehicle and which abuts on an inside-vehicle side surface of the door inner panel; and a groove touch section which extends, from a position located further inside the vehicle than the outside-vehicle side end of the main body section, toward at least one inner surface of the groove and which abuts on the at least one inner surface. 
     [Supplementary Note] 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and variations, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. An embodiment derived from a proper combination of technical means each disclosed in a different embodiment or variation is also encompassed in the technical scope of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 : Door hole cap 
               10 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 : Capping member 
               11 : Groove 
               12 : First peripheral part 
               13 : Second peripheral part 
               14 : One end part 
               15 : Another end part 
               16 : Paralleling section 
               17 : Wide section (part of paralleling part) 
               20 ,  201 ,  202 : Sealing member 
               21 ,  211 : Main body section 
               22 ,  221 : First sealing section 
               23 : Groove touch section 
               24 : Lip section 
               25 : Second sealing section 
             D 1 : Door inner panel 
             D 2 : Door hole