Patent ID: 6489559
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: B60R,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A grommet which is insertable into a through hole formed in a body panel in one direction for engagement with portions of the body panel adjacent the through hole, the grommet, prior to insertion into the through hole, comprising:front and rear small-diameter tubes provided at opposite front and rear ends of the grommet and having substantially equal diameters, a widened tube extending between the front and rear small-diameter tubes such that the front and rear small-diameter tubes extend forwardly and rearwardly beyond the widened tube, the widened tube having a diameter greater than the diameters of the front and rear small-diameter tubes, a cut-away portion extending forwardly into the widened tube, thereby branching the widened tube into an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube being substantially continuous with the rear small-diameter tube, the cut-away portion having a front end, and a body locking recess defined in an outer surface of the outer tube at a location rearward of the front end of the cut-away portion, the body locking recess having a radially innermost bottom portion, the front end of the cut-away portion being located more radial inwardly than the bottom portion of the body locking recess, whereby insertion of the front end of the grommet into the through hole urges the outer surface of the outer tube against the body panel and deforms portions of the outer tube adjacent the body locking recess inwardly toward the cut-away portion.