Two-piece sliding grommet

• US 6,553,615 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Hansen, Wayne M., Tisol, James S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/666,782
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 16/21, 16/22, 174/65.E, 174/152.G, 174/152.R
• US Class Current: 16/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0241 with the possibility for the connection to absorb deformation, e.g. thermal or vibrational

Abstract

The grommet includes a base and a slider. The base includes a rectangular slot which receives an extended screw boss of the slider. The extended screw boss can slide linearly within the rectangular slot with a single degree of freedom. The base includes guide tracks and inwardly extending protrusions between which lateral guide tracks of the slider are slidably engaged.

Claims

1. A grommet including:

a base including a head and a shank, with a slot extending through said head and said shank;

a slider including a boss inserted through said slot of said base, wherein said slider can transversely slide within said slot relative to the axis of said shank of said base, and wherein an aperture is formed within said boss; and

first engagement elements formed on said base which slidably engage second engagement elements formed on said slider such that said slider transversely slides within said slot relative to the axis of said shank of said base, wherein one of said first engagement elements and said second engagement elements includes stems with inwardly extending protrusions and the other of said first engagement elements and said second engagement elements includes lateral wings which are engaged by said stems.

2. The grommet of claim 1 wherein said slider slides linearly within said base with only a single degree of freedom.

3. The grommet of claim 2 wherein said first engagement elements include stems with inwardly extending protrusions and said second engagement elements include lateral wings which are engaged by said stems.

4. The grommet of claim 3 wherein said stems are formed on said head of said base.

5. The grommet of claim 4 wherein guide rails are formed on said head adjacent to said slot, wherein said lateral wings are slidably engaged between said inwardly extending protrusions and said guide rails.

6. The grommet of claim 5 further including detent fingers formed on an exterior of said shank for engaging a first panel between said detent fingers and said head.

7. The grommet of claim 6 wherein said aperture of said boss is configured to receive a screw which passes through a second panel.

8. The grommet of claim 7 wherein said slot is rectangular with a width substantially equal to a width of said boss.

9. The grommet of claim 8 wherein said inwardly extending protrusions and said lateral wings include complementary ramped surfaces to urge said stems apart during initial assembly of said slider to said base.

10. The grommet of claim 9 wherein said aperture is countersunk.

11. The grommet of claim 10 wherein said base is formed from acetel and said slider is formed from nylon.

12. A grommet for attaching two panels to one another, said grommet comprising:

a base including a head and a shank, with a slot extending through said head and said shank, and with said shank being orthogonal to said head, said base being adapted for engagement with a first panel;

a slider including a sliding portion and a boss inserted through said slot of said base, wherein an aperture is formed within said boss, and wherein said boss is orthogonal to said sliding portion such that said boss is adjustably positioned within said slot when said sliding portion is moved linearly along said head, said boss being adapted to receive a fastener so as to allow a second panel to be attached to said slider, the second panel being adjustably positioned with respect to the first panel in accordance with the adjustable positioning of said boss with in said slot; and

first engagement elements formed on said base which slidably engage second engagement elements formed on said slider such that said slider slides perpendicular to said shank of said base.

13. The grommet of claim 12, wherein said slider slides linearly within said base with only a single degree of freedom.

14. The grommet of claim 12, wherein said aperture extends through said sliding portion and said boss.

15. The grommet of claim 12, wherein said first engagement elements include stems formed on said head with inwardly extending protrusions and said second engagement elements include lateral wings formed on said sliding portion which are engaged by said stems.

16. The grommet of claim 15, wherein guide rails are formed on said head adjacent to said slot, wherein said lateral wings are slidably engaged between said inwardly extending protrusions and said guide rails.

17. The grommet of claim 16, further including detent fingers formed on an exterior of said shank for engaging a first panel between said detent fingers and said head.

18. The grommet of claim 17, wherein said aperture of said boss is configured to receive a screw which passes through a second panel.

19. The grommet of claim 18, wherein said slot is rectangular with a width substantially equal to a width of said boss.

20. The grommet of claim 19, wherein said sliding portion of said slider has an upper planar surface orthogonal to said boss for supporting said second panel in a parallel relationship to said first panel.