The present teachings generally relates to an enforced one-time snap connection system for securely fasting one component to another. The present teachings more particularly, the present teachings relate to a one-time snap connect and sealing system for mounting a component or conduit, such as a sensor or heated port, to a duct, such as an air intake duct of a motor vehicle. The present teachings more particularly, relates to mounting systems which self-destruct and become inoperable when tampered with, so as to not be usable again.
The snap connection and sealing system can be quickly and easily connected together with a locking action, and thereafter the component parts of the connector will not be separable from each other without destroying the snap connection system. In one particular application, the present teachings relate to a one-time fixed tamper-resistant snap connection system mounting a heated port or sensor tube onto a clean side air duct of a motor vehicle.
The accompanying Figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth in the drawings and more particularly in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred; however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Referring to
In
The first component 16 of an interacting pair of components of the enforced one-time snap connection system 10 may be realized as, for example, and an elongated sensor or conducting tube 28. In this example, the tubular sleeve component 20 may be circumferentially arranged on and secured onto a radially outer surface of an elongated sensor or conducting tube 28. The elongated sensor tube 28 may optionally form part of a conduit conducting the flow of gases from or into the air intake duct 22, for example, crankcase PCV gases. In other embodiments, the tubular sleeve component 20 may directly form the elongated sensor or conducting tube 28 such that a separate elongated sensor or conducting tube 28 is eliminated.
The tubular sleeve component 20 may be unitarily formed in one piece with the elongated sensor or conducting tube 28, forming a unitary one-piece component, or the tubular sleeve component 20 may be over-molded onto the elongated sensor or conducting tube 28 or adhesively secured thereto.
In some embodiments, the air intake duct 22 may be a molded rubber duct of an elastic and flexible rubber material, for example, AEM Rubber. In another embodiment, the air intake duct 22 may be realized as an injection molded or blow molded plastic duct using techniques known in the art.
A second component 24 of an interacting pair of components, configured as an annular mounting adapter 24 may be provided on the air intake duct 22. The annular mounting adapter 24 includes an internal bore 26 extending through the air intake duct 22 from a radial exterior of the air intake duct 22 to a radial interior of the air intake duct 22. AS shown in
In the present example, where the first component 16 may be used in a PCV gas conducting circuit, the optionally an electrically heated port, the first component 16 may include annular port portion 30 configured to fluidically connect to an associated PCV tube or conduit conducting a gas flow from the PCV gas conducting circuit (not shown) into the fluid path at an interior of the air intake duct 22.
As best seen in the cross section of
As best seen on
The disclosed enforced one-time snap connection system 10 finds advantageous use in meeting the requirements of the California Air resources Board (CARB) and environmental protection standards to meet tamper proof connection CARB requirements so as to avoid end user to trying to manipulate, disengage and reattach the components mounted by the enforced one-time snap connection system 10. The enforced one-time snap connection system 10 prevents the elongated sensor or conducting tube 28 from being removed from the air duct 22 without damaging the elongated sensor or conducting tube 28, making it unserviceable and assure that the component assembly would still comply with the CARB requirements.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/357,929, filed Jul. 1, 2016. The entire contents of the aforesaid U.S. Provisional Application being incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62357929 | Jul 2016 | US |