The grommet prevents the cord from tearing through the hole, thereby providing structural integrity. The smooth and sometimes soft inner surface of the grommet shields the wire from damage. The connecting shackle runs through a grommet at each of these points. The grommet doubles as a "vent" hole for two-sided drums. A cable grommet is a tube or ring through which an electrical cable passes. Typically it encloses a metal grommet for reinforcement and to reduce wear. Insert a grommet in the eardrum to help evacuate the excess fluid within. The grommet that becomes the new tack is typically hooked onto the boom. The ropes would either be single-leg or grommet leg type ropes. In this context, "cringle" and "grommet" coincide enough that the two are sometimes used interchangeably. The most commonly used type is shaped like a grommet. In October 2017, Ace Hardware acquired a majority stake in The Grommet. It can be struck with a hammer to set the grommet. If the pressure continues to increase, the grommet itself will blow out to release pressure. These tests followed the "Operation Grommet" series and preceded the "Operation Arbor" series.