Over-molded grommet for hose applications
Disclosed herein is a hose connector assembly including a hose having a wall defining a lumen and having a first end, and a grommet molded to the hose at the first end and having an annular wall surrounding the hose and spaced therefrom by an annular gap. An insertion surface extends axially along the annular wall from an inner end to an outer end, and a return surface extends from the inner end to a bottom surface of the annular wall.
1 . A hose connector assembly comprising:
a hose having a wall defining a lumen and having a first end; and
a grommet molded to the hose at the first end and having an annular wall surrounding the hose and spaced therefrom by an annular gap, an insertion surface extends axially along the annular wall and terminates in an outer end; and
wherein the grommet is of a different material from the hose.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the insertion surface is tapered.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the outer end extends axially beyond the first end of the hose.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a return surface extending from the insertion surface toward the annular wall.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the insertion surface is adapted to be inserted into an opening permitted by the annular gap and the return surface rests against an inner surface of the opening upon insertion.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein each of the buttresses has a tapered surface.
7 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular wall is radiused.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular wall has a peripheral edge and further comprising a sealing rim extending axially toward the outer end.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the grommet includes a tube in communication with the lumen.
10 . The assembly of claim 9 wherein the tube is coaxially disposed with the lumen.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is no adhesive between the hose and the grommet.
12 . A grommet comprising:
an annular wall defining a through hole into a first cylindrical chamber having a first inner diameter, a second cylindrical chamber extends coaxially from the first cylindrical chamber and has a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, and a tube extends coaxially from the second cylindrical chamber and has a third inner diameter smaller than the second inner diameter; and
wherein the annular wall has a peripheral edge and a sealing rim extending axially toward the outer end.
13 . The grommet of claim 12 wherein the grommet is for connecting to a hose having an outer diameter generally equal to the second inner diameter.
14 . The grommet of claim 12 further comprising an outer surface connecting the first cylindrical chamber, the second cylindrical chamber and the third cylindrical chamber.
15 . The grommet of claim 14 wherein the outer surface is tapered.
16 . A method for forming a hose connector assembly comprising:
providing a hose having a first wall of a first material defining a lumen and having a first end;
providing a mold for forming a grommet;
positioning the first end into the mold;
delivering a flowable flexible second material different from the first material into the mold to form a grommet in securement with the hose; and,
wherein the grommet has a second wall surrounding the hose and spaced therefrom by a gap.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of cutting the first end of the hose prior to the step of positioning the first end into the mold.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein there is no adhesive between the hose and the grommet.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the second wall is tapered.