Grommet and method of inserting grommet
US5203051A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49961
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A grommet for automatic insertion into a mounting hole in a panel by a robot including a head portion 1 having a longitudinal bore for receiving a screw through its center, a bottom portion 3 including a stepped portion 7 elastically engaging the robot arm located within the longitudinal bore; and locking claws 4 attached to the grommet which reflect during insertion of the grommet into the mounting hole and then spring snap into engagement when the locking claws 4 clear the mounting hole, such that the force required to disengage the robot arm 5 from the stepped portion 7 is less than the force required to extract the grommet from the panel, which enables the robot to easily determine whether or not the grommet is accurately inserted into the mounting hole.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.