Compressing snap grommet
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorJoel R. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a grommet assembly for compressing a pliable component relative to a rigid component. The grommet assembly includes a flexible grommet and compression sleeve. The flexible grommet includes a grommet collar and a flared sidewall structure. The flared sidewall structure includes a plurality of fin elements and a plurality of gaps. The compression sleeve includes a sleeve collar and a vertical sidewall. The compression sleeve receives the flexible grommet and to compress it via the vertical sidewall.
Claims20
A grommet assembly for compressing a pliable component relative to a rigid component, the grommet assembly comprising:
- a flexible grommet having a grommet collar and a flared sidewall structure extending therefrom,
- wherein the flared sidewall structure is flared outward at a leading end thereof and comprises a plurality of fin elements and a plurality of gaps;
- and
- a compression sleeve having a sleeve collar and a vertical sidewall,
- wherein the compression sleeve is configured to receive the flexible grommet and to compress it via the vertical sidewall.
A snap grommet assembly comprising:
- a flexible grommet having a grommet collar and a flared sidewall structure,
- wherein the flared sidewall structure comprises a plurality of fin elements and a plurality of gaps;
- and
- a compression sleeve having a sleeve collar and a vertical sidewall,
- wherein the compression sleeve is configured to receive the flexible grommet such that the sleeve collar and grommet collar come into contact and the compression sleeve compresses the flexible grommet via the vertical sidewall, and
- wherein the compression sleeve comprises one or more snap features formed in a portion of the vertical sidewall, each of the one or more snap features configured to retain the flexible grommet relative to the compression sleeve in a pre-assembled position.
A snap grommet assembly for compressing a pliable component relative to a rigid component, the snap grommet assembly comprising:
- a flexible grommet having a grommet collar and a flared sidewall structure,
- wherein the flared sidewall structure comprises a plurality of fin elements and a plurality of gaps, and
- wherein the grommet collar defines a grommet opening sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a rigid component;
- and
- a compression sleeve having a sleeve collar and a vertical sidewall,
- wherein the compression sleeve is configured to receive the flexible grommet and to compress it via the vertical sidewall,
- wherein the sleeve collar defines a sleeve opening sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the rigid component, and
- wherein the compression sleeve comprises one or more snap features formed in an external portion of the vertical sidewall, each of the one or more snap features configured to retain the flexible grommet relative to the compression sleeve in a pre-assembled position, and
- wherein the plurality of fin elements are configured to engage a portion of the rigid component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.