Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-03-27
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C248S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206331
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of wire harness clips used for securing wire harnesses to surfaces such as vehicle body panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wire harness clips are often used in the automotive industry for releasably securing wire harnesses to the interior surfaces of vehicle body panels as the harnesses are routed throughout the vehicle. Such known wire harness clips often include a Christmas tree type fastener adapted to be lockingly inserted into a hole in the vehicle panel, and a wire harness receiving portion provided with a ratchet-type lock adapted to clamp a portion of the wire harness in secure but releasable fashion. It is also known to secure a portion of the wire harness to the clip by means of taping provisions, usually in the form of rigid or semi-rigid tabs extending from the clip so that tape can be wrapped around the wire harness and the tab.
In certain vehicle wiring application it is desirable to form the wires in the harness into a D-shaped bundle, often using what is known in the art as D-shaped “scroll”, comprising a thin-walled plastic sleeve having a D-shaped cross section adapted to fit over the wire harness. D-shaped scroll is particularly useful where it is desirable to have a flat wire harness surface against a flat vehicle panel surface. In some cases fasteners such as Christmas tree clips are formed directly on the scroll to eliminate the need for an intermediate wire harness clip, but such an arrangement makes it difficult to de-mount the wire harness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a wire harness clip specifically designed to mount D-shaped scroll type wire harnesses to vehicle body panels. The inventive wire harness clip generally comprises a D-shaped wire harness trough closed by a flat-surfaced cover. The wire harness clip also includes a panel-mounting portion provided with a mechanism for attaching it to a vehicle body panel, for example a standard Christmas tree clip. The Christmas tree clip or other structure for connecting the clip to the vehicle panel is located on the same side of the clip as the trough and cover.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover is hinged at an outer edge of the trough, with a downwardly extending lock finger which engages an inner side of the trough, and further includes an extension of the cover beyond the trough and lock arm. In a further preferred embodiment, the trough is provided with a tape positioning tab extending from either side, such that the overall shape of the wire harness clip is that of a “T”. The D-shape of the trough prevents rotation of the scrolled wire harness; the locking cover prevents radial release of the wire harness; and the tape positioning tabs prevent motion of the wire harness longitudinally. Moreover, the releasable and reusable locking connection provided by the flat cover complements the disposable tape attachment of the wire harness to the tape positioning tabs in a manner which provides ease in initially positioning the clip on the wire harness, and then a positive mechanical connection between the clip and the harness.
The locking connection between the cover and trough is preferably self-guiding for blind assembly operations, using a guide member associated with the inner end of the trough
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon further reading of the written specification and reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4386752 (1983-06-01), Pavlak et al.
patent: 4564163 (1986-01-01), Barnett
patent: 4840345 (1989-06-01), Neil et al.
patent: 4871134 (1989-10-01), Oikawa
patent: 4963700 (1990-10-01), Olsen et al.
patent: 5024405 (1991-06-01), McGuire
patent: 5113717 (1992-05-01), Plamper
patent: 5344112 (1994-09-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 5367750 (1994-11-01), Ward
patent: 5615851 (1997-04-01), LeBeau
patent: 5622341 (1997-04-01), Stana
patent: 5653410 (1997-08-01), Stroeters et al.
patent: 5694678 (1997-12-01), Karasik
patent: 5725185 (1998-03-01), Auclair
patent: 5820048 (1998-10-01), Shereyk et al.
Keith Brett Allen
Niezur Michael C.
Braun Leslie A.
EWD, L.L.C.
Le Tan
Young & Basile P.C.
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