Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-05-22
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
C439S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234835
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a clip for attaching an electrical connector to the edge of a panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automotive vehicle wiring is made up of a number of wiring harnesses that are connected to each other with electrical connectors that include plastic connector bodies that hold electrical terminals attached to the ends of electrical leads. These electrical connectors are often attached to a panel edge in the vehicle body by a connector edge clip to route the wiring within the vehicle body.
The thickness of the panel edges in the vehicle body that the connector edge clips are attached to varies. This results in the use of a different connector edge clip for each panel edge thickness found in a particular vehicle body. Sometimes a particular connector edge clip can be used for a small range of panel edge thicknesses. However, even then several connector edge clips are required resulting in a proliferation of parts and increased assembly costs. Consequently there is a need for a connector edge clip that can be attached to panel edges that vary in thickness with a wide range.
During vehicle build, it is also often necessary to detach the connector edge clip from the panel edge, mate the electrical connector with the electrical connector of another wiring harness and then reattach the connector edge clip to the panel edge. Consequently there is also a need for a removable connector edge clip that not only holds the electrical connector on to the panel edge firmly but also one that is detached and reattached to the panel edge easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a removable connector edge clip that can be attached to panel edges that vary in thickness within a wide range and that holds an electrical connector on the panel edge firmly while facilitating detachment and reattachment of the connector edge clip to the panel edge.
The removable connector edge clip of the invention has a clamp that can be slid on any panel edge within a wide range of thicknesses, for instance from 1 mm to 4 mm, and held firmly on the panel edge by spring blades and barbs inside the clamp. The connector edge clip includes a connector attachment for an electrical connector and is configured so that the connector edge clip can be removed from the panel edge easily by applying pressure to the electrical connector. The connector edge clip is also preferably equipped with an anti-tangle tongue that prevents the connector edge clips from tangling up with each other during the manufacturing process. The spring blades inside the clamp also preferably provide an anti-tangle feature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3631569 (1972-01-01), Seckerson et al.
patent: 5148981 (1992-09-01), Lynch, Jr. et al.
Bakker John H.
Puhl Ronald A.
Reed Vickey E.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Donovan Lincoln
Jones Richard A.
Prasad Chandrika
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