Patent ID: 7033121

Claim:
A substantially watertight grommet for use in securing a pin to a first object, the grommet comprising: a head having an undersurface from which extends an elongate body, the body extending from the head in generally perpendicular relationship thereto, the head and the body defining therethrough a bore that is constructed and arranged to receive the pin; said head and said body being a single molded piece, wherein the head of the grommet includes a channel extending completely therethrough from an upper surface thereof to the undersurface thereof; at least one retention structure coupled to the body, the retention structure being constructed and arranged with respect to the head of the grommet such that when the grommet is received within a bore formed in the first object, the head and the retention structure will engage opposing surfaces of the first object so as to securely retain the grommet within the bore formed therethrough; a sealing mechanism overmolded to the head of the grommet that is constructed and arranged with a first portion thereof forming a substantially water-tight seal between an undersurface of the head and a surface of the first object and a second portion thereof forming a substantially water-tight seal between the pin and the bore defined by the head and body of the grommet, the sealing mechanism being further constructed and arranged such that an upper portion of the sealing mechanism extends at least partially into the bore defined by the head and body of the grommet so as to form an interference fit between the sealing mechanism and the pin, and such that the sealing mechanism first and second portions are joined together as a single molded component through the channel in the head of the grommet such that a portion of sealing mechanism is positioned above the upper surface of the head and a portion of the sealing mechanism is positioned below the undersurface of the head; and a catchment mechanism comprising a first portion formed into a shaft of the pin and a second portion formed into the body of the grommet, the first and second portions of the catchment mechanism being constructed and arranged to secure the pin within the grommet.