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US 4,971,500 AGranted
Enclosed plastic screw grommet
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsThomas A. Benoit, Ronald K. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enclosed plastic screw grommet includes a head flange and a shank portion. The head flange is provided with four radially extending U-shaped slots so as to permit flexing upon insertion into a panel, thereby reducing the force needed. The shank portion includes two sets of opposed ramps formed on its outer surface and which are disposed in an offset relationship with respect to each other to thereby accommodate a variety of panel thicknesses.
Claims11
An enclosed plastic screw grommet for insertion and retention in an aperture in a panel for receiving a threaded element so as to mount another apertured member to the panel, said grommet comprising:
- a relative flat rectangularly-shaped head flange having a central opening therein and being formed of a front surface and a back surface;
- said head flange being formed with four radially extending U-shaped slots which are equally spaced around its periphery, each of said slots extending inwardly from the periphery and terminating a short distance from said opening so as to present four head portions being resiliently inwardly flexible to facilitate its insertion into the panel aperture with a reduced force;
- a shank portion extending from the back side of said head flange and defining a threaded element receiving bore which is in communication with said central opening in said head flange;
- said shank portion including four convexshaped corner posts extending axially from said back surface of said head flange, an end member interconnecting the free ends of said corner posts and being spaced from said back surface to define a closed free entering end on said shank portion, a first set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion in a first intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means being located a first predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange, a second set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion and disposed perpendicularly to said first set of ramp means in a second intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said second set of ramp means being offset from said first set of ramp means and located at a second predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange to thereby accommodate a variety of panel thicknesses, a plurality of U-shaped spring-like members being formed on the outer surfaces of said shank portion and interconnecting each of said first and second sets of ramp means to corresponding adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said spring-like members extending axially between said back surface of said head flange and said end member;
- and
- said corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said U-shaped spring-like members forming a closed periphery for said shank portion.
3 more elements
An enclosed plastic screw grommet for insertion and retention in an aperture in a panel for receiving a threaded element so as to mount another apertured member to the panel, said grommet comprising:
- a relative flat head flange having a central opening therein and being formed of a front surface and a back surface;
- said head flange being formed with a pair of radially extending U-shaped slots which are located opposite each other, each of said slots extending inwardly from the periphery thereof and terminating a short distance from said opening so as to present head portions being resiliently inwardly flexible to facilitate its insertion into the panel aperture with a reduced force;
- a shank portion extending from the back side of said head flange and defining a threaded element receiving bore which is in communication with said central opening in said head flange;
- said shank portion including four convexshaped corner posts extending axially from said back surface of said head flange, an end member interconnecting the free ends of said corner posts and being spaced from said back surface to define a closed free entering end on said shank portion, a first set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion in a first intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means being located a first predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange, a second set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion and disposed perpendicularly to said first set of ramp means in a second intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said second set of ramp means being offset from said first set of ramp means and located at a second predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange to thereby accommodate a variety of panel thicknesses, a plurality of U-shaped spring-like members being formed on the outer surfaces of said shank portion and interconnecting each of said first and second sets of ramp means to corresponding adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said spring-like members extending axially between said back surface of said head flange and said end member;
- and
- said corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said U-shaped spring-like members forming a closed periphery for said shank portion.
3 more elements
An enclosed plastic screw grommet for insertion and retention in an aperture in a panel for receiving a threaded element so as to mount another apertured member to the panel, said grommet comprising:
- a relative flat head flange having a central opening therein and being formed of a front surface and a back surface;
- said head flange being formed with at least one radially extending U-shaped slot, said at least one slot extending inwardly from the periphery thereof and terminating a short distance from said opening so as to present head portions being resiliently inwardly flexible to facilitate its insertion into the panel aperture with a reduced force;
- a shank portion extending from the back side of said head flange and defining a threaded element receiving bore which is in communication with said central opening in said head flange;
- said shank portion including four convexshaped corner posts extending axially from said back surface of said head flange, an end member interconnecting the free ends of said corner posts and being spaced from said back surface to define a closed free entering end on said shank portion, a first set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion in a first intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means being located a first predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange, a second set of opposed ramp means formed on the outer surface of said shank portion and disposed perpendicularly to said first set of ramp means in a second intermediate area between adjacent corner posts, said second set of ramp means being offset from said first set of ramp means and located at a second predetermined distance from the back surface of said head flange to thereby accommodate a variety of panel thicknesses, a plurality of U-shaped spring-like members being formed on the outer surfaces of said shank portion and interconnecting each of said first and second sets of ramp means to corresponding adjacent corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said spring-like members extending axially between said back surface of said head flange and said end member;
- and
- said corner posts, said first set of ramp means, said second set of ramp means, and said U-shaped spring-like members forming a closed periphery for said shank portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.