US 8,739,363 B2 · Removable grommet device with enlargeable slit and method thereof

Abstract

A grommet device and method of using a grommet device is provided. The grommet device includes a substantially circular base structure. A substantially circular top structure is connected to the substantially circular base structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein an aperture having an interior space is positioned interior of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. A flexible top surface is connected to the substantially circular top structure, wherein the flexible top surface is substantially planar. At least one enlargeable slit is formed within the flexible top surface and through an entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein an unobstructed path is positioned from a location proximate to an exterior side of the flexible top surface, through the at least one enlargeable slit, and into the interior space of the aperture.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A grommet device comprising:

a substantially circular base structure;
a substantially circular top structure connected to the substantially circular base structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein an aperture having an interior space is positioned interior of the substantially cylindrical middle portion;
a flexible top surface connected to the substantially circular top structure, wherein the flexible top surface is substantially planar;
and
at least one enlargeable slit formed within the flexible top surface and through an entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein an unobstructed path is positioned from a location proximate to an exterior side of the flexible top surface, through the at least one enlargeable slit, and into the interior space of the aperture, wherein a radial dimension of the substantially circular base structure is larger than a radial dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion.

2 more elements

A system for sterilizing a medical instrument comprising:

a medical instrument sterilization platform having a plurality of holes formed therein;
a grommet device positioned in one of the plurality of holes of the medical instrument sterilization platform, wherein the grommet device has a substantially circular base structure connected to a substantially circular top structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein the substantially circular top structure is positioned on a first side of the medical instrument sterilization platform and the substantially circular base structure is positioned on a second side of the medical instrument sterilization platform, wherein the first side is positioned opposite the second side;
an aperture defined by the substantially cylindrical middle portion positioned substantially concentrically of the one of the plurality of holes;
and
a flexible top surface integrally connected to the substantially circular top structure, the flexible top surface having at least one enlargeable slit formed therein, wherein the medical instrument is frictionally retained in a substantially stationary position by the flexible top surface within the at least one enlargeable slit and at least partially within the aperture, wherein a radial dimension of the substantially circular base structure is larger than a radial dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Removable grommet device with enlargeable slit and method thereof

Life of this patent

Removable grommet device with enlargeable slit and method thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13