Two-piece sliding grommet

Details Two-piece sliding grommet Two-piece sliding grommet

2000-09-21

2003-04-29

Estremsky, Gary (Department: 3676)

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Bushing

C016S002200, C174S068300, C174S1520GM

Reexamination Certificate

active

06553615

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a two-piece grommet which is used to attach panels to one another. In particular, the grommet allows travel in one plane to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction between the panels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, it is known to use grommets to attach a first panel to a second panel. While sliding grommets are likewise known in the prior art to allow for sliding between the panels, these prior art grommets have been deficient in that the strip torque has been variable as the metal stamping process used to manufacture these grommets has typically not had good thread engagement characteristics. Similarly, these prior art sliding grommets have sometimes been deficient with respect to their resistance to rotation. Furthermore, these prior art sliding grommets typically have not provided good sealing characteristics with respect to water, dust and sound.
Some examples of prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,476 entitled “Fastener” issued on Apr. 14, 1998 to Assimakopoulos;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,125 entitled “Sliding Two-Piece Fastener” issued on Jul. 16, 1996 to Gaw, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,237 entitled “Grommet Fastener Assembly for Automobiles” issued on Jul. 9, 1996 to Higgins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,175 entitled “Cabinet Lock and Method for Using Same” issued on Jan. 16, 1996 to Teich et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,467 entitled “High Torque Screw and Grommet Fastener Assembly” issued on Jul. 4, 1995 to Gugle et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,768 entitled “Sliding Grommet” issued on Jul. 14, 1992 to Hoyle et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,500 entitled “Enclosed Plastic Screw Grommet” issued on Nov. 20, 1990 to Benoit et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,505 entitled “Structure for Mounting Automobile Interior Upholstering Material” issued on Sep. 12, 1989 to Okada; U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,606 entitled “Apparatus for Mounting a Wheel Cap” issued on Mar. 8, 1988 to Narita et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,579 entitled “Elastomeric Bumper Securing Press Fit Clip” issued on Aug. 23, 1977 to Meyer.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sliding grommet for attaching two panels wherein the grommet has increased resistance to rotation.
It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a sliding grommet for attaching to panels wherein the grommet has a relatively uniform strip torque.
It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide a sliding grommet for attaching two panels wherein the grommet provides increased sealing capabilities with respect to moisture, dust and sound.
It is therefore a final object of the present invention to provide a sliding grommet which achieves the above objects with a relatively low manufacturing cost.
These and other objects are attained by providing a two-piece grommet comprising a base which detent engages a rectangular aperture on a first panel. The two-piece grommet further includes a slider which includes an extended screw boss with a square cross section which is slidably engaged within a rectangular slot formed in the base. A second panel is engaged to the sliding grommet by a screw which extends through the second panel and is engaged within the extended screw boss.
The screw boss extends into the rectangular slot in the base and is slidably engaged therein. This reduces rotation between the slider and the base. Similarly, extending the screw boss into the body increases the strength of the screw boss, increases the strip torque and reduces the variability of the strip torque.
The resulting fit between the base and the slider, with reduced or eliminated exposed apertures, increases the sealing with respect to moisture, dust and sound. This sealing can be further improved by providing a foam or rubber washer between the base and the first panel.
Moreover, the resulting design is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2228176 (1941-01-01), Miller
patent: 4002821 (1977-01-01), Satoh et al.
patent: 4043579 (1977-08-01), Meyer
patent: 4407042 (1983-10-01), Schramme et al.
patent: 4458552 (1984-07-01), Spease et al.
patent: 4626620 (1986-12-01), Plyler
patent: 4729606 (1988-03-01), Narita et al.
patent: 4768907 (1988-09-01), Gauron
patent: 4865505 (1989-09-01), Okada
patent: 4971500 (1990-11-01), Benoit et al.
patent: 5129768 (1992-07-01), Hoyle et al.
patent: 5429467 (1995-07-01), Gugle et al.
patent: 5484175 (1996-01-01), Teich et al.
patent: 5533237 (1996-07-01), Higgins
patent: 5536125 (1996-07-01), Gaw, Jr.
patent: 5738476 (1998-04-01), Assimakopoulos
patent: 5806139 (1998-09-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 0 698 741 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 0 719 952 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 2 554 522 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 2 740 183 (1997-04-01), None

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