High torque screw and grommet fastener assembly

Claim 1

A screw and grommet fastener assembly for retaining a mating panel having a throughhole to a supporting panel having an oblong fitting hole where the grommet can withstand substantially high torque from screws of slightly different sizes and dimensions and is adapted to absorb variations in the relative positions of the supporting panel and the mating panel, said assembly comprising: a screw having desired major and minor helical threads; an oblong grommet having a head portion, a body portion and a central oblong opening extending through said head portion and said body portion, said head portion including a front surface and a back surface, said body portion being substantially rectangular in cross-sectional configuration defined by a first pair of opposing major sides and a second pair of opposing minor sides, a first proximal end connected to said back surface of said head portion and a second distal end extending away from said head portion a predetermined distance; and two sets of lugs, one set each positioned on said opposing major sides of said body portion for threading engagement with said screw threads, each set including a predetermined number of lugs, being staggered with respect to each other and being positioned a predetermined distance away from said proximal end of said body portion, said predetermined distance selected to enable outward flexing of said body portion proximate said lugs so that said grommet can withstand substantial torque from screws of different sizes and dimensions without breaking.