Patent ID: 6675439
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B60R,F16L,H02G,Y10T

Abstract:
A grommet for mounting on a bundle of wires and for insertion in an insertion direction into a through hole in a panel, the grommet being formed from an elastomer, and in an unbiased condition, comprising:a small-diameter tube portion having opposite front and rear ends, an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface extending between the ends, at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter tube portion being dimensioned for surrounding and closely contacting the bundle of wires, portions of the small-diameter tube portion adjacent the front end having a selected thickness; a jaw projecting in a backward direction from a location on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter tube portion adjacent the front end of the small-diameter tube portion, the jaw having a slanted outer surface with a gradually increasing outer diameter at locations further from the front end of the small diameter tube portion, said jaw defining different radial thicknesses at different axial positions along the jaw; and an outwardly facing body locking recess formed in the jaw and adjacent the slanted outer surface of the jaw; wherein the jaw comprises at least one thinned wall portion adjacent the small diameter tube portion which allows a substantially radial movement of the jaw towards the small-diameter tube portion upon insertion of the grommet into the through hole, the thinned wall portion being thinner than the radial thicknesses at other locations on the jaw and thinner than the selected thickness of the front end of the small diameter tube portion.