Protective bundle routing grommet for wide range panel thickness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10969037-B2
Application number	US-201715817406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A two-piece grommet assembly is placed on opposite sides of an opening in a panel and secured thereto. The grommet pieces can be identical in construction. One piece of the grommet assembly is placed on a first side of the panel opening and the second piece of the grommet assembly is placed on the opposite side of the opening. They are applied in mirror orientation and thus “sandwich” the panel opening. The pair of grommets are secured within the opening and to each other with one or more grommet assembly cable ties. Each grommet has one or more saddle surfaces to support and retain one or more objects that pass through the grommet assembly. Each object may be secured to at least one grommet piece with a cable tie or similar device. A single piece grommet is also disclosed herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A grommet assembly configured to be disposed within an aperture in a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the grommet assembly comprising:
a first grommet piece configured to contact the first surface of the panel, wherein the first grommet piece defines a first opening configured to surround the aperture, a pair of first cable tie slots adjacent the first opening, and a pair of second cable tie slots on a side of the first opening opposite the pair of first cable tie slots; and
a second grommet piece configured to contact the second surface of the panel, wherein the second grommet piece defines a second opening configured to surround the aperture, the second grommet piece further defining a pair of third cable tie slots adjacent the second opening and aligned with the pair of first cable tie slots, and a pair of fourth cable tie slots on a side of the second opening opposite the pair of third cable tie slots and aligned with the pair of second cable tie slots, wherein the pair of first cable tie slots and the pair of third cable tie slots are configured to receive a first cable tie, and wherein the pair of second cable tie slots and the pair of fourth cable tie slots are configured to receive a second cable tie,
wherein the first grommet piece is configured to be secured to the second grommet piece by the first cable tie received within the pair of first cable tie slots and the pair of third cable tie slots, wherein the first grommet piece is further configured to be secured to the second grommet piece by the second cable tie received within the pair of second cable tie slots and the pair of fourth cable tie slots, wherein the grommet assembly is configured for sandwiching the panel between the first grommet piece and the second grommet piece thereby securing the grommet assembly to the panel, wherein the first and second cable ties each have an elongate tail defining a plurality of serrations.

2. The grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first and second cable ties each comprises a locking head attached to the elongate tail including an internal pawl configured to engage the plurality of serrations on the elongate tail.

3. A grommet assembly configured to be disposed within an aperture in a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the grommet assembly comprising:
a first grommet piece configured to contact the first surface of the panel, wherein the first grommet piece defines a first opening configured to surround the aperture, a pair of first cable tie slots adjacent the first opening, and a pair of second cable tie slots on a side of the first opening opposite the pair of first cable tie slots;
a second grommet piece configured to contact the second surface of the panel, wherein the second grommet piece defines a second opening configured to surround the aperture, the second grommet piece further defining a pair of third cable tie slots adjacent the second opening and aligned with the pair of first cable tie slots, and a pair of fourth cable tie slots on a side of the second opening opposite the pair of third cable tie slots and aligned with the pair of second cable tie slots, wherein the pair of first cable tie slots and the pair of third cable tie slots are configured to receive a first cable tie, and wherein the pair of second cable tie slots and the pair of fourth cable tie slots are configured to receive a second cable tie;
the first cable tie; and
the second cable tie,
wherein the first grommet piece is secured to the second grommet piece by the first cable tie received within the pair of first cable tie slots and the pair of third cable tie slots, wherein the first grommet piece is further secured to the second grommet piece by the second cable tie received within the pair of second cable tie slots and the pair of fourth cable tie slots, the grommet assembly being configured for sandwiching the panel between the first grommet piece and the second grommet piece with the first and second cable ties securing the grommet assembly to the panel, wherein the first and second cable ties each have an elongate tail defining a plurality of serrations.

4. The grommet assembly in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the first and second cable ties each comprise a locking head attached to the elongate tail including an internal pawl engaging the plurality of serrations on the elongate tail.

Assignees

• Hellermanntyton Corp

Inventors

• Vaughn Reese L
• Gallion Justin
• Geiger Gerard G

Classifications

• B60R16/0222 Primary

  Grommets · CPC title

• F16L5/00 Primary

  Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions (installations of electric cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings H02G3/22) · CPC title

• H02G3/22

  Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings · CPC title

• F16L3/137

  and consisting of a flexible band · CPC title