Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-07-24
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
C016S002100, C174S15300A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263634
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of grommets, and, in particular to a grommet that is mountable in a formed aperture in a web section of a formed metal structural member, and a combination of the grommet with a structural member.
BACKGROUND ART
It is possible to manufacture formed sheet metal posts and beams that can be used as an alternative building material to wooden studs, rafters, stringers, and beams that have been commonly used. It is advantageous to produce such structural members in a manner that may tend to enhance their strength-to-weight ratio, while also tending to reduce the heat loss that may occur across the section of the structural member. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,625 of Bodnar, issued Jun. 18, 1996, one way to address these objective is to provide a roll-formed metal member having a web and a pair of opposed flanges, in a generally C-shaped channel-like section, and then to blank the web to leave alternating diagonal struts with formed flanges such that the remaining web has a somewhat truss-like appearance when viewed perpendicular to the web.
The manner in which the openings are formed through the web of the structural member, and the manner of forming the flanges, is such that it is advantageous to provide a relatively smoothly radiused transition into the web adjacent to the opposed out-of-plane flanges.
In a conventional wooden stud or rafter, services, such as electrical power wiring, plumbing, telephone or other communications wiring, or built-in vacuum lines, may tend to be carried though holes bored in the mid-section of the stud or rafter. Wooden studs tend not to be good electrical conductors, and may tend to dampen vibration. In most cases services can be mounted directly in contact with the wood. It is not desirable to have holes bored in sheet metal structural members on the job site, since this is a process over which there is very little quality control, and hence significant opportunity to impair the structural performance of the section. Furthermore, in a formed sheet metal structural member that has had openings blanked in it, and flanged struts formed in it adjacent to the openings, there may be little or no need to drill additional openings.
However, while it would be possible to run services directly through the openings formed in the web, it may also be undesirable. The formed metal member may have sharp edges, and it may tend not to be practical to have all of those edges smoothed down. It may not be desirable to have electrical wiring chafe against a sharp metal edge over a period of time, under vibration loads. Similarly, it may not be desirable to run water pipes, whether hot or cold, in direct contact with the metal section. For these reasons an intermediate isolating or cushioning member may be desired.
A cushioning member, or grommet, for use with the formed sheet metal structural member has a number of desirable properties. In a construction project such a grommet may be required at one or more formed openings in every stud in a wall, and in one or more walls in every room in a house or other building. The person installing the grommets may do so many times per day. An installation that requires complicated tools or procedures is unlikely to be one that will be undertaken with a high level of diligence on a repetitive basis, particularly as the installer grows weary or disinterested.
While it is advantageous for the grommet to be easily installed, it is also desirable that the grommet not tend to be too easily removed. The grommet may be required to stay in service for many years. A loose fit may not be desirable, particularly if vibration is a concern, as it may be in a water pipe fitting, or a fitting subject to repetitive loading over a relatively long period of time.
In the type of sheet metal structural member in question, the depth of the strut flanges may tend to be greatest at mid strut, and may tend to be reduced in the radiused corners where the struts meld into the margin of the web that adjoins the flanges. The dimensional control over the distance from strut to strut may tend to be poorest at mid strut, and relatively greater in the corners of the opening adjacent to the web margin. The web margin may also tend to be a region of lesser potential for deflection due to vibration than the mid strut region. It is advantageous to have an insulating grommet that is capable of engaging the root corners of the formed opening.
It is advantageous to produce a family of grommets of the same, or similar, base width dimension, each having a different attitude for use with a different width of structural member, rather than using the same longitudinal base to cross-web altitude aspect ratio. The use of the same aspect ratio grommet at different sizes would correspond to structural members having greater pitch centers between adjacent openings. When using a rotary press with interchangeable dies, the pitch center distance is determined by the fixed radius of the successive pivot axes of the rotary dies carriers and seats. Since it is difficult to change this dimension it is advantageous to change the height of the openings transverse to the web, while maintaining the pitch between openings at a constant distance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is a grommet, for use with a structural member having a web and an opening defined in the web. The opening has flangework adjacent the opening. The grommet is insertable into the opening when moved forwardly along an insertion direction. The grommet comprises a peripheral wall defining a passageway therewithin. The wall has a leading portion for insertion into the opening and a trailing portion; and at least two seating elements extending outwardly from the trailing portion of the wall to prevent the trailing portion from passing through the opening. The grommet has at least two abutments connected to the peripheral wall. The abutments are moveable to a deflected position to permit entry of the leading portion into the opening, and the abutments are biased outwardly relative to the peripheral wall to an opposed position relative to the seating elements. The seating elements are spaced from the abutments in the insertion direction to permit the web flangework to be captured therebetween. The abutments and the seating elements are spaced about the peripheral wall to inhibit forward and rearward motion of the grommet relative to the structural member in the insertion direction when the abutments are in the opposed position.
In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention, at least one of the seating elements is resilient. The grommet is moveable to an inserted position relative to the structural member. In the inserted position the abutments are able to move to the opposed position and the resilient seating element is pre-loaded. The pre-loaded resilient seating element is operable to exert a rearward force on the abutments.
In another additional feature of that aspect of the invention, at least one of the seating elements is resilient and has a distal tip region that is cantilevered outwardly from the peripheral wall. The distal tip region has a forwardly protruding formation thereon. The grommet is moveable to an inserted position relative to the structural member. In the inserted position the abutments are able to move to the opposed position and the forwardly protruding formation is engageable with the structural member to cause the distal tip region to deflect rearwardly relative to the peripheral wall, thereby applying a pre-load to the resilient seating element. The pre-loaded resilient seating element is operable to exert a rearward force on the abutments, thereby squeezing the structural member between the abutments and the seating elements.
In a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention, the seating elements include flanges cantilevered out from the peripheral wall. The flanges have a rearward face and a distal edge, and, when installed on the structural member, the rearward face of the can
Bodnar Ernest R.
Bogart Ronald J.
Lamers John P.
Cuomo Peter M.
Hansen James O.
Rotary Press Systems Inc.
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