Patent Application
20070066125
The present invention generally relates to a retainer or clip for a flat flexible cable, and in particular to a clip that can be positioned at a desired location along the cable with a locating feature for preventing movement of the cable when the clip is positioned at a desired location along the cable.
Conventional methods for attaching wire harnesses to a vehicle body require a troublesome process for binding a wire harness clip to the wire harness. Typically, the wire harness and the wire harness clip are bound together by adhesives, such as tape wrap. As a result, the location of the clip is not adjustable along the wire harness. Consequently, the wire harness and the wire harness clip may not be properly aligned with the corresponding apertures in the vehicle body. The result is that the wire harness and the wire harness clip may not be properly mounted to the vehicle body, or in some extreme cases, the wire harness and wire harness clip may not be able to be mounted at all to the vehicle body.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized these and other problems associated with the wire harness clips. To this end, the inventors have invented a clip for a flat, flexible cable comprising a first closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a hinge member for hingedly connecting the first and second closure members, and a locating feature for preventing movement of a flat cable when said clip is placed in a closed position.
In one embodiment, the locating feature comprises a first closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a hinge member for hingedly connecting the first and second closure members, and a locating feature for preventing movement of a flat cable relative to said clip when said clip is placed in a closed position.
In another aspect of the invention, a clip for a flat cable comprises a first closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a hinge member for hingedly connecting the first and second closure members, a post extending from one of said first and second closure members, and an aperture in the other one of said first and second closure members capable of receiving said post, wherein said post and said aperture, in combination, define a locating feature for preventing movement of a flat cable relative to said clip when said clip is placed in a closed position.
In yet another aspect of the invention a clip for a flat cable comprises a first closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second closure member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a hinge member for hingedly connecting the first and second closure members, a nib extending from a sidewall of one of said first and second closure members, and a cutout located in said flat cable, wherein said nib and said cutout, in combination, define a locating feature for preventing movement of a flat cable relative to said clip when said clip is placed in a closed position.
Referring to
As illustrated, the clip 10 also includes a retaining member 18 similar to a conventional “Christmas tree” retainer, as is known in the art. The retaining member 18 comprises a plurality of truncated flat surfaces 18a generally forming the shape of a cone. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the retaining member 18 may be substituted with any other type of mounting clip, stud and other known equivalents can be used. For example, the retaining member 18 may comprise an adhesive, tape, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining member 18 is centrally located on the first closure member 12. However, it will be appreciated that the retaining member 18 can be located at any desirable location on the clip 10, such as, for example, on the second closure member 14.
The first closure member 12 includes a top surface 20, a bottom surface 22 and a side surfaces 26. The bottom surface 22 may have a substantially planar surface. However, the invention is not limited by the profile of the bottom surface 22. The bottom surface 22 includes a ledge 22a formed in one end of the bottom surface 22. The side surface 26 is angled with respect to the top and bottom surfaces 20, 22. A post 28 extends outwardly from the top surface 20 of the first closure member 12. The post 28 is generally circular in cross-sectional shape and has a diameter that is generally less than the space, S, between the conductors of a flat cable, shown generally at 50. For example, the diameter of the post 28 may be approximately 1.5 mm and the space, S, between conductors 52 of the flat cable 50 may be approximately 2.2 mm. It will be appreciated that the space, S, may vary depending on the width of the flat cable 50. As illustrated, the flat cable 50 includes a pair of conductors 52. However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be practiced with a flat cable having more than two conductors.
At least one aperture 54 is provided in the flat cable 50, and in combination with the post 28, provides a locating feature for the clip 10 such that when the post 28 is inserted through an aperture 54 of the flat cable 50, the clip 10 is positioned at a desired location along the flat cable 50. It will be appreciated that the flat cable 50 may include a plurality of apertures 54 to provide for several locations at which the clip 10 can be located along the flat cable 50.
The second closure member 14 includes a top surface 30, a bottom surface 32 and a side surfaces 36. The bottom surface 32 may have a substantially planar surface. However, the invention is not limited by the profile of the bottom surface 32. As seen in
As seen in
In operation, the flat flexible cable 50 is placed over the first closure member 12 when the clip 10 is in an open position such that the aperture 54 in the cable 50 is aligned with the post 28 of the clip 10. Then, the post 28 is inserted through the aperture 54 in the cable 50 to locate the clip 10 at the desired location on the cable 50 as shown in
Referring now to
As illustrated, the clip 100 also includes a retaining member 108 similar to a conventional “Christmas tree” retainer, as is known in the art. The retaining member 108 comprises a plurality of truncated flat surfaces 108a generally forming the shape of a cone. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the retaining member 108 may be substituted with any other type of mounting clip, stud and other known equivalents can be used. For example, the retaining member 108 may comprise an adhesive, tape, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining member 108 is centrally located on the first closure member 102. However, it will be appreciated that the retaining member 108 can be located at any desirable location on the clip 100, such as, for example, on the second closure member 104.
The first closure member 102 includes a top surface 120, a bottom surface 122 and sidewalls or side surfaces 124, 126. The bottom surface 122 may have a substantially planar surface. However, the invention is not limited by the profile of the bottom surface 122. The side surfaces 124, 126 are separated by a width, W, approximately equal to a width of a flat cable 150. For example, the width, W, may be approximately 11.0 mm. The flat cable 150 includes a pair of conductors 152 and at least one pair of cutouts 154 formed in the side surfaces of the cable 150. At least one of the side surfaces 124, 126 includes a rib limiter or projecting nib 128 that cooperates with the at least one cutout 154 of the cable 150. The combination of the rib limiter or projecting nib 128 and the cutout 154 provides a locating feature for the clip 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the rib limiter or projecting nib 128 is provided on each side surface 124, 126 opposite each other. However, it will be appreciated that the flat cable 150 can be provided with a plurality of pairs of cutouts 154 disposed substantially opposite each other along the flat cable 150, thereby providing a plurality of locations at which the clip 100 may be located along the flat cable 150. In addition, it is not necessary that the nibs 128 and corresponding cutouts 154 be provided opposite each other, and that the invention can be practiced with a pair of cutouts 154 that are offset from each other. As illustrated, the flat cable 150 includes a pair of conductors 152. However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be practiced with a flat cable having more than two conductors.
The second closure member 104 includes a top surface 130, a bottom surface 132 and sidewalls or side surfaces 134, 136. The bottom surface 132 may have a substantially planar surface. However, the invention is not limited by the profile of the bottom surface 132.
In operation, the flat flexible cable 150 is placed on the top surface 120 of the first closure member 102 when the clip 100 is in an open position such that the cutouts 154 in the cable 150 are aligned with the nibs 128 of the clip 100. It will be appreciated that the cable 150 may be provided with a plurality of cutouts 154 to allow the clip 150 to be located at a plurality of locations along the cable 150. Then, the first and second closure members 102, 104 are hinged about the hinge member 106 until the first and second closure members 102, 104 are snapped together to place the clip 100 in a closed position. When the clip 100 is in the closed position, the cable 150 is prevented from movement relative to the clip 100, thereby preventing movement of the cable 150 and maintaining the clip 100 at the desired location along the cable 150.
The embodiments disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiarizing the reader with novel aspects of the invention. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.
