Twist-in-place grommet connection assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9790974-B2
Application number	US-201314758262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Jan 2, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A connection assembly adapted for receipt of a male connection member at the interior of a grommet. The connection assembly includes a grommet of hollow construction including a first collar and a second non-circular collar disposed in spaced-apart relation from the first collar. An axial bore extends entirely through the grommet. A sleeve insert including a hollow stem extends into the axial bore so as to at least partially line the axial bore. A complementary retaining panel includes a substantially non-circular access opening adapted to receive the second collar in pass-through relation and to block the first collar against insertion. Upon rotation, the grommet is blocked against withdrawal through the access opening and the retaining panel is held securely in place.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection assembly adapted for receipt of a male connection member at the interior of a grommet for operative attachment of retaining panel to a substructure, the connection assembly comprising:
a variable profile grommet of hollow unitary construction formed from elastomeric material comprising a first collar having a first effective diameter, a second collar disposed in spaced-apart relation from the first collar, the second collar being of substantially non-circular geometry defining a second effective diameter, the grommet further comprising a neck extending between the first collar and the second collar, and wherein an axial bore extends entirely through the grommet;
a sleeve insert comprising a hollow stem extending from a point of insertion on one side of the grommet into the axial bore so as to at least partially line the axial bore, the stem comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve insert further comprising an annular flange extending radially outwardly away from the proximal end of the stem, the annular flange having a diameter greater than the axial bore at the point of insertion;
an elongate bolt projecting into the stem, the bolt including a head disposed in overlying relation to the first collar and a distal end projecting outwardly beyond the second collar; and
a retaining panel including a substantially non-circular access opening adapted to receive the second collar in pass-through relation when the second collar is aligned with the access opening, the access opening being further adapted to block the first collar against pass-through insertion, and wherein upon rotation of the grommet following insertion of the second collar, the grommet is blocked against withdrawal through the access opening and the retaining panel is held between the first collar and the second collar with the second collar disposed in partial surrounding relation to the access opening;
wherein the sleeve insert further comprises a radially inwardly projecting detent adapted to hold the bolt within the sleeve insert.

2. A connection assembly adapted for receipt of a male connection member at the interior of a grommet for operative attachment of retaining panel to a substructure, the connection assembly comprising:
a variable profile grommet of hollow unitary construction formed from elastomeric material comprising a first collar having a first effective diameter, a second collar disposed in spaced-apart relation from the first collar, the second collar being of substantially non-circular geometry defining a second effective diameter, the grommet further comprising a neck extending between the first collar and the second collar, and wherein an axial bore extends entirely through the grommet;
a sleeve insert comprising a hollow stem extending from a point of insertion on one side of the grommet into the axial bore so as to at least partially line the axial bore, the stem comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve insert further comprising an annular flange extending radially outwardly away from the proximal end of the stem, the annular flange having a diameter greater than the axial bore at the point of insertion;
a flange nut disposed in aligned relation to the axial bore in overlying relation to the first collar; and
a retaining panel including a substantially non-circular access opening adapted to receive the second collar in pass-through relation when the second collar is aligned with the access opening, the access opening being further adapted to block the first collar against pass-through insertion, and wherein upon rotation of the grommet following insertion of the second collar, the grommet is blocked against withdrawal through the access opening and the retaining panel is held between the first collar and the second collar with the second collar disposed in partial surrounding relation to the access opening;
wherein an annular retainer ring extends between the annular flange and a flared distal base of the flange nut.

3. The connection assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the annular retainer ring includes an outer perimeter hooking edge adapted for hooking engagement beneath the annular flange and an inner perimeter compression foot adapted to press the flared distal base towards the annular flange.

4. A connection assembly adapted for receipt of a male connection member at the interior of a grommet for operative attachment of retaining panel to a substructure, the connection assembly comprising:
a variable profile grommet of hollow unitary construction formed from elastomeric material comprising a first collar having a first effective diameter, a second collar disposed in spaced-apart relation from the first collar, the second collar being of substantially non-circular geometry defining a second effective diameter, the grommet further comprising a neck extending between the first collar and the second collar, and wherein an axial bore extends entirely through the grommet;
a sleeve insert comprising a hollow stein extending from a point of insertion on one side of the grommet into the axial bore so as to at least partially line the axial bore, the stem comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve insert further comprising an annular flange extending radially outwardly away from the proximal end of the stem, the annular flange having a diameter greater than the axial bore at the point of insertion; and
a retaining panel including a substantially non-circular access opening adapted to receive the second collar in pass-through relation when the second collar is aligned with the access opening, the access opening being further adapted to block the first collar against pass-through insertion, and wherein upon rotation of the grommet following insertion of the second collar, the grommet is blocked against withdrawal through the access opening and the retaining panel is held between the first collar and the second collar with the second collar disposed in partial surrounding relation to the access opening;
wherein the axial bore has a variable diameter along its length with a first diameter within the neck and a second, greater diameter within the second collar to define a shoulder within the second collar.

5. The connection assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the axial bore has a substantially “I” shaped cross section.

6. The connection assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the stem comprises a radially outwardly projecting lip having a diameter greater than the axial bore within the neck, the lip being held in underlying relation to the shoulder within the second collar when the stem is in an inserted condition within the grommet.

7. A connection assembly adapted for receipt of a male connection member at the interior of a grommet for operative attachment of retaining panel to a substructure, the connection assembly comprising:
a variable profile grommet of hollow unitary construction formed from elastomeric material comprising a first collar having a first effective diameter, a second collar disposed in spaced-apart relation from the first collar, the second collar being of substantially non-circular geometry defining a second effective diameter, the grommet further comprising a neck extending between the first collar and the second collar, and wherein an axial bore extends entirely through the grommet;
a sleeve insert comprising a hollow stem extending from a point of insertion on one side of the grommet into the axial bore so as to at least partially line the axial bore, the stem comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve insert further comprising an annular flange extending radially outwardly away from the proximal end of the stem, the annular flange having a diameter greater than the

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Holt Jason D
• Owens Ii Ronald C
• Bisset John D
• Jipp Eric B
• Field Troy S
• Tuttle Jeremy R D

Classifications

• F16B37/042

  locking by rotation · CPC title

• F16B41/002

  Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins (devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04) · CPC title

• F16B21/02

  Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) · CPC title

• F16B5/0241 Primary

  with the possibility for the connection to absorb deformation, e.g. thermal or vibrational · CPC title

• F16B5/0258

  using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts (F16B43/001 takes precedence) · CPC title