Screw grommet

Claim 1

A plastic screw grommet comprising a body having a polygonal sectional profile having a plurality of lateral surfaces each having a predetermined width, said body being complementary to and of smaller dimensions throughout the length of the body than a polygonal hole formed in a panel and a flange integrally extending outwardly from a top end of said body, said screw grommet being formed with an axial hole serially passing through the centers of said body and said flange, said second mentioned hole having a portion adjacent a lower end of the body smaller than a hole portion in said flange, said body having a diagonal slit formed longitudinally therein from its lower end so as to intersect said second mentioned hole and dividing said body into at least two legs each having an extending end, and a flexible hook portion integral with the at least one of said legs adjacent the entering end thereof and projecting toward said flange, said flexible hook portion being adjacent to an edge of said slit and including a free end outwardly inclined from said one division toward the bottom of said flange, said hook portion having a width substantially less than said predetermined with, said body inwardly of said hook portion being relieved but imperforate to permit flexing of said hook portion to a position substantially parallel to the axis of said hole, said free end end projecting laterally outwardly of said polygonal profile of said body for initially retaining the body within the polygonal hole in the panel when the grommet is assembled with the panel, said hook portion free end being laterally spaced from and flexible substantially independently of said body, said body being expanded upon threading of a complementary screw into said second mentioned hole for urging sides of the body outwardly for engagement beneath said panel.