A grommet is a ring inserted into a hole through thin material, such as fabric. Grommets are generally flared or collared on each side to keep them in place, and are often made of metal, plastic, or rubber. They may be used to prevent tearing or abrasion of the pierced material, to cover sharp edges of the piercing, or both. A small grommet may also be called an eyelet, used on shoes for lacing purposes.[1]
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Grommets are used to reinforce holes in leather, cloth, shoes, canvas and other fabrics.[2] They can be made of metal, rubber, or plastic, and are easily used in common projects, requiring only the grommet itself, a grommet-setting tool (a metal rod with a convex tip usually sold with the grommets), and a hammer.[2] Higher end grommet presses (as shown in the picture) exist as well, though generally a hammer and the grommet-setting tool is equally effective for small projects. Common uses include strengthening holes for boot and shoe laces, corsets and other laced clothing, as well as curtains and other household items that require hanging from hooks. The grommet prevents the cord from tearing through the hole, thereby providing structural integrity. Small grommets are also called eyelets, especially when used in clothing or crafting. When using eyelets for crafting, they are generally used decoratively. When used in sailing and various other applications they are called cringles.
If metal or another hard material has a hole made in it, the hole may have sharp edges.[3] Electrical wires, cord, rope, lacings, or other soft vulnerable material passing through the hole can become abraded or cut, or electrical insulation may break due to repeated flexing at the exit point.[3] Rubber, plastic or plastic coated metal grommets are each used to avoid this. The grommet also protects the wiring/cabling from contamination from dirt, air, water, etc.[3] The smooth and sometimes soft inner surface of the grommet shields the wire from damage.[3]
Grommets are generally used whenever wires pass through punched sheet metal or plastic casings for this reason.[3] Molded and continuous strip grommets, also known as edge grommets, are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and lengths expressly for this purpose; they are usually a single piece which can be inserted by hand. Two-piece hard plastic devices are available which also grip the wire that passes through. This is called strain relief and is often used on power supply cords that attach to a piece of equipment, to prevent a tug on the wire from stressing the electrical connections inside the equipment. Sleeved grommets have a flexible extension (sleeve), usually tapered or moulded to flex increasingly towards the free end in order to prevent fracture of electrical insulation. Sometimes field workers may refer to grommets as grunyons.
A grommet can be used in furniture to protect wires, cables or cords for computer equipment or other electronic equipment in homes or offices. They are also used decoratively and can be bought in a large variety of sizes, colors and finishes.
The grommets usually consist of two pieces: A liner that goes into the hole of the furniture and a cap with a hole (often adjustable in size) for the cables to go through.
In chronic cases of otitis media with effusions present for months, surgery is sometimes performed to insert a grommet, called a "tympanostomy tube" into the eardrum to allow air to pass through into the middle ear, and thus release any pressure buildup and help clear excess fluid within. This is also a correcting measure for a patulous Eustachian tube (when air moves to and from the middle ear with each breath making the eardrum flap).