Flexible grommet assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorStephen Christy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible grommet assembly includes a first grommet body and a second grommet body. The first grommet body includes first articulated segments that define a first hinge region. The second grommet body includes second articulated segments that define a second hinge region. The first and second grommet bodies are configured to cooperatively couple to an opening of a panel such that the first and second grommet bodies are flexed about their respective first and second hinge regions to conform to a curvature in the panel.
Claims20
A flexible grommet assembly comprising:
- a first grommet body comprising first articulated segments that define a first hinge region;
- and
- a second grommet body comprising second articulated segments that define a second hinge region, wherein the first and second grommet bodies are configured to cooperatively couple to an opening of a panel such that the first and second grommet bodies are flexed about their respective first and second hinge regions to conform to a curvature in the panel.
An aircraft comprising:
- an interior cabin including a curved panel, the curved panel defining an opening therethrough;
- and
- a flexible grommet assembly installed on the curved panel, the flexible grommet assembly comprising a first grommet body and a second grommet body, the first grommet body including first articulated segments that define a first hinge region, the second grommet body including second articulated segments that define a second hinge region, wherein the first and second grommet bodies are configured to cooperatively couple to the opening of the curved panel such that the first and second grommet bodies are flexed about their respective first and second hinge regions to conform to a curvature in the curved panel.
A method of installing a flexible grommet assembly on a panel, the method comprising:
- positioning a first grommet body along a first side of a panel at an opening that extends through the panel, the first grommet body comprising first articulated segments that define a first hinge region;
- positioning a second grommet body along a second side of the panel at the opening, the second side opposite the first side, the second grommet body comprising second articulated segments that define a second hinge region;
- and
- coupling the first and second grommet bodies together through the opening such that the first and second grommet bodies are flexed about their respective first and second hinge regions to conform to a curvature in the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.