The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 06, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1998
David C Stillinger, Cardiff, CA (US);
Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A ball-compression grommet is disclosed which is used for mounting an object, such as an electrical or fiber optic cable, through a panel access hole. The ball-compression grommet allows the object to rotate to a wide variety of desired angles with respect to the panel surface, while maintaining an environmental seal against moisture and other contaminants found in outdoor environments. The ball-compression grommet comprises a spherical object having a passage formed substantially through its center. A threaded sleeve and nut are then used to capture the spherical object therebetween, while allowing rotation in relation to the nut and threaded sleeve. Both the threaded sleeve and the nut have an inside portion which is shaped to fit the contour of the spherical object. The spherical object is free to rotate in relation to the threaded sleeve/nut assembly, while at the same time forming an environmental seal from a compression fitting that results between the spherical object and the threaded sleeve. The sleeve/nut assembly may be mounted to an access hole using a retaining nut, securing the ball-compression grommet to the mounting surface.