Open and close-ended grommets having one or more flange cut-out and crease-marks for further flexibility in their attachment to apertures of metal studs or panels

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved grommet for protecting wires and tubes that must be placed thru apertures in building panels or studs made of steel or the like. The grommet disclosed here includes a single piece, soft plastic body having any configuration, (e.g. polygonal, round, oval, semi-circle, or even polygonal with curved edges) which is flanged along its periphery. On one side of the outer surface of grommet body's wall are arranged one or more protruding, male nubs which securely hold, in the gap formed between the wall flange and said male nubs, the rims of the aperture in a metal stud. Due to its larger than aperture size, which includes one or more openings and cut-outs in its flange, one or more crease-marks in its body wall, and whose body can be either open-ended or close-ended, the grommet disclosed herein has increased flexibility when it is pinched in along the sides of it's body's wall, and upon release an improved outward pressure is achieved against the rims of the stud aperture. The protruding male nubs in relation to the wall flange allows this device to remain firmly attached to the aperture rims once attached thereto. This improved grommet can be used to protect wires on any stud aperture, and due to its soft plastic material, together with the combination of flange cut-outs, and crease-marks, its increase flexibility will cause the grommet to approach the shape of the stud aperture it is to be attached to.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.