Patent ID: 7278810

Claim:
A grommet adapted to be inserted into an opening of a sheet member having opposite upper and lower surfaces, said grommet comprising: a shank extending in an axial direction of said grommet and having opposite upper and lower ends; at least a locking tab coupled to said shank between the upper and lower ends of said shank and radially flexible relative to said shank; and a head connected to the upper end of said shank and comprising a flange adapted to engage the upper surface of the sheet member when said shank and said locking tab are snapped into the opening; wherein said shank comprises a shoulder in a region adjacent the head, said shoulder being adapted to be placed below an edge of the opening when said shank is moved transversely to said axial direction after being snapped into the opening, thereby preventing withdrawal of said shank from said opening; and an outer surface section inclined relative to the axial direction and connecting said shoulder and the lower surface of said head, for engaging the edge of the opening and drawing said shank into the opening when said shank is moved transversely to said axial direction; and wherein, when said shank is seen in said axial direction, said shoulder is confined between an outer edge of said shank and a first boundary line intersecting said outer edge at first and second points, and said outer surface section is confined between said first boundary line and a second boundary line that intersects the outer edge of said shank at a third point, and a spacing between said first and second boundary lines decreases as the second boundary line extends from the third point toward the first point.