Improvements in Grommets or Eyelets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1899 - Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grommets or Eyelets.
I, BURTON LOUIS ANDRUS, of 512, Eighth Street, North East, in the City of
Washington and District of Columbia, United States of America, Tool Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention relates to grommets for mail bags, awnings, and other similar
articles; and it consists in forming hollow pointed projections upon one of the
grommet members before attaching it to the material. When the grommet is
secured in position these hollow pointed projections penetrate the material and
prevent it from slipping between the grommet members.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a round grommet drawn to an enlarged size.
Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line in Figure 1 and showing the
parts before being secured together. Figure 3 is a plan view of an oval grommet.
Figure 4 is a cross-section taken on the line y-y in Figure 3.
The grommet is made of two opposed parts or members A and B which are
stamped or pressed out of thin sheet metal. One part A has a bell-mouthed
flange around its hole; and the other part B has a conical tubular portion d
which projects through the hole in the part A.
The two parts are secured together and to the material D by turning over the
smaller end of the portion d.
E are hollow conical projections which are pressed up from the surface of one
or both grommet members during the process of making the grommet members
from a plate of thin sheet metal, and before the grommet members are placed
in engagement with the materia!.
These projections are formed between two dies, and they have sharp corners
at their bases, and imperforate points at their apices sharp enough to penetrate
the material to which the grommet is subsequently to be attached.
These projections do not add materially to the cost of making the grommets
and do not add anything to their weight, and they are very rigid laterally so that
they do not bend when forced into the material.
When both parts of the grommet are provided with projections E as shown in
Figures 3 and 4, the projections on one part are arranged between the projec-
tions on the other part. If desired holes f can be punched in one grommet
member opposite the projections on the other grommet member to assist in
securing the material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
ention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is:-
1. A grommet provided with hollow conical projections pressed up between

page_text: two dies and adapted to penetrate the material to which the grommet is subse-
quently attached, substantially as set forth.
2. A grommet provided with hollow conical projections having sharp corners
at their bases and imperforate points, substantially as set forth.
3. A grommet provided with hollow conical projections on one of its members,
and holes in its other member opposite the said projections, substantially as set
forth.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel.Chart. Inst.P.A.,
Agent for the said Applicant,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.