Patent Grant
9281615
N/A
The present disclosure relates to a clip attachable to a lamp for inhibiting an electrical connector of a wire harness from unintentionally separating from a mating connector on the lamp. More particularly, it relates to an injection molded thermoplastic clip to augment retention force provided by a conventional locking latch on the wire harness connector that is attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) header attached to the printed circuit board.
Conventional electrical connectors such as sold by the company ERNI Electronics known in the trade as mini-bridge connectors, some of which are known as Koshiri-type mini-bridge connectors, have a header attached to a PCB and a connector attached to a wire harness that matingly engage via a selectively releasable plastic latch, shown in PCT WO 2014/094706 (Lappoehn) and herein as first and second connectors 52, 72 at e.g.
Reference should be made to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts:
For a thorough understanding of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although the present disclosure is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient. Also, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
By way of introduction, while briefly referring to
Referring to
Lamp 10 may comprise a lens 14 which is secured in a lens housing 16. The lens housing 16 may be secured to a mounting base 20, which may also function as a mounting bracket and/or heat sink. As shown, lamp 10 is a headlamp of a motor vehicle, particularly an automobile, however in other embodiments lamp 10 may be any other type of lamp of any type of motor vehicle.
Referring to
Referring briefly to
As shown, the first connector 52 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) pin header (e.g. box header or shrouded header) mounted to printed circuit board (PCB) 40, and more particularly an angled header (i.e. the entrance to plug receptacle 54 may be perpendicular at a 90 degree right angle to the surface of the printed circuit board (PCB) 40). The first connector 50 may be secured to the printed circuit board (PCB) 40, which may be secured to the lamp 10 by being clamped between the lens housing 16 and the mounting base 20.
As best shown in
As such, first connector 50 and second connector 70 may be adapted to physically (mechanically) and electrically couple and operationally mate with one another. As shown, first connector 52 and second connector 72 may form a wire-to-board connector assembly.
First connector 52 and second connector 72 may be retained together by a first positive mechanical engagement connection. As used herein, a positive mechanical engagement connection may be understood as a connection formed between the components which does not rely solely on friction to inhibit separation of the components, and which includes a mechanical interlock to inhibit separation of the components (e.g. overlapping surfaces).
In order to provide a positive mechanical engagement connection, the second connector 72 may include a deformable tab 78 (best shown in
Alternatively, or in addition to the use of the positive mechanical engagement connection formed by deformable tab 78 and window opening 58, retainer clip 100 may be used to also provide a positive mechanical engagement connection which inhibits separation of the first connector 52 and the second connector 72. Where retainer clip 100 is used in combination with the positive mechanical engagement connection formed by deformable tab 78 and window opening 58, the retainer clip 100 may provide a retention force level greater than the retention force level provided by the deformable tab 78 and window opening 58. The structure of retainer clip 100 will now be discussed in detail, after which will be discussed the operation and assembly of retainer clip 100 with first connector 52 and second connector 72.
Referring now to
As best shown by
Retainer clip body 102 also comprises a second connector receptacle 140 defined by the retainer clip body 102, which is configured to receive the second connector 72, and more particularly the second connector housing 74, therein. As shown, second connector receptacle 140 is located between the inner facing surfaces 114, 164 of the deformable retaining arm 110 and platform 162 of support base 160, respectively, which may be substantially parallel surfaces. As used herein, surfaces 114, 164 may be considered substantially parallel if the surfaces 114, 164 are within 10 degrees, and more particularly within 5 degrees, of being parallel.
Retainer clip body 102 also comprises a first engagement element 112 configured to engage with the first connector 52, and a second engagement element 142 configured to engage with the second connector 72, particularly to inhibit separation thereof in separation plane 184. As shown, the first engagement element 112 may be part of deformable retaining arm 110, while the second engagement element 142 may be part of support base 160. More particularly, the second engagement element 142 may be provided by wall 144 of the support base 160 (which is substantially transverse to platform 162 of support base 160) which provides an end wall stop for the second connector receptacle 140. As shown, the wall 144 of the support base 160 is positioned and arranged to engage proximal end 75 (see
As will be made more apparent with discussion of the operation of the retainer clip 100 herein, the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 are separable in separation plane 184. In order to inhibit separation of the first connector 52 and the second connector 72, the first engagement element 112 is configured to detachably engage the first connector 52 in a first connector engagement plane 113 substantially transverse to the separation plane 184, and the second engagement element 142 is configured to detachably engage the second connector 72 in a second connector engagement plane 143 substantially transverse to the separation plane 184.
As used herein, the first connector engagement plane 113 may be considered substantially transverse to the separation plane 184 if the first connector engagement plane 113 is within 10 degrees, and more particularly within 5 degrees, of being perpendicular to the separation plane 184, and the second connector engagement plane 143 may be considered substantially transverse to the separation plane 184 if the second connector engagement plane 143 is within 10 degrees, and more particularly within 5 degrees, of being perpendicular to the separation plane 184.
The first engagement element 112 comprises a leading engagement element of the retainer clip body 102 configured to engage with a distal end 55 (see
As mentioned above, the first engagement element 112 is disposed on deformable retaining arm 110, and may particularly comprise a snap-fit hook. With regards to operation of deformable retaining arm 110, as explained in greater detail below, deformable retaining arm 110 is movable, and more particularly pivotable, to engage the first engagement element 112 with the first connector 52 and disengage the first engagement element 112 from the first connector 52.
As best shown by
More particularly, the deformable retaining arm 110 may be joined with the support base 160 at a mid-region 116 of the deformable retaining arm 110 by the at least two laterally spaced pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102. In such a manner, when a depression force is placed on a trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110, a leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 is configured to pivot about the laterally spaced pivot regions 150 and the first engagement element (112) disengage from the first connector 52. As shown, the trailing portion 120 may include a recess 124 to properly locate where the depression force should be applied.
It should be understood that while the foregoing description describes the deformable retaining arm 110 as pivotable in the foregoing manner, deformable retaining arm 110 may simply deform, and more particularly elastically deform, without necessarily pivoting to engage the first engagement element 112 with the first connector 52 as explained in greater detail below.
The second connector receptacle 140 may be located between and partially defined by the at least two laterally spaced pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102. As such, it may be understood that the second connector receptacle 140 is defined on two opposing sides by deformable retaining arm 110 and the support base 160 of the retainer clip body 102, and the remaining opposing sides by the laterally spaced pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102.
As shown, the trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110 overlies the support base 160, and the at least two laterally spaced pivot regions 150 space the deformable retaining arm 110 and the support base 160 from each other such that a wire harness passage 130 is established between the deformable retaining arm 110 and the support base 160. Also as shown, the wire harness passage 130 extends completely through the retainer clip body 102, with the second connector receptacle 140 forming a portion of the wire harness passage 130 between the deformable retaining arm 110 and the support base 160. Among other benefits, the platform 162 may support the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 such that the wires 48 do not make contact with the mounting base 20, which may be used as a heat sink. Also as shown, the spatial distance between the inner facing surfaces 114, 164 of the deformable retaining arm 110 and the support base 160, respectively, is substantially equal to the width of the second connector receptacle 140.
In order to accommodate the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 to extend through the confines of the retainer clip body 102, particularly to extend through the wire harness passage 130 between the trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110 and the platform 162 of support base 160, the wall 144 of the support base 160 is positioned and arranged to only engage proximal end 75 of the second connector housing 74 of the second connector 72, and not engage the wires 48 of the wire harness 44. In the foregoing manner, the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 are able to freely extend through wire harness passage 130, however, wall 144 of the support base 160 inhibits the second connector housing 74 from passing into the portion of wire harness passage 130 remote from the second connector receptacle 140.
As best shown by
Thus, with the foregoing configuration of the retainer clip body 102, it may be understood that the retainer clip body 102 is configured such that, when the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 are connected, the retainer clip body 102 may be assembled with or disassembled from the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 without disconnecting the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 from each other. Furthermore, the retainer clip body 102 is configured such that the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 may be installed or removed from the wire harness passage 130 when the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 are connected without disconnecting the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 from each other.
As set forth herein, support base 160 is configured to cooperate with the motor vehicle lamp 10 to align the second connector 72 with the first connector 52 in an operation plane 180, which may be further understood as a connection plane 182 or separation plane 184, depending on whether the first connector 52 and second connector 72 are being assembled or disassembled, respectively.
As best shown in
More particularly, the support base 160 may comprise at least two guide rails 166, and the support base 160 may be configured to cooperate with the motor vehicle lamp 10 to align the second connector 72 with the first connector 52 in the connection plane 182 to assemble the second connector 72 and the first connector 52 by arranging, and more particularly seating, the at least two guide rails 166 of the support base 160 in the guide channel 42 of the motor vehicle lamp 10.
Referring now to
As best shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
The second connector 72/retainer clip body 102 subassembly may then be slid in an engagement direction such that the first engagement element 112 makes contact with the first connector housing 54 of the first connector 52, causing the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot about pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102, resulting in the leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot upwards and the first engagement element 112 to slide along the top of the first connector housing 54 while the trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110 pivots downwards. Simultaneously, the plug 76 of the second connector 72 enters plug receptacle 56 of the first connector 52 to establish electrical contact of the terminal contacts therein. Thereafter, as the first engagement element 112 extends past the top of the first connector housing 54, the elastic memory in the pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102 forces the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot such that the leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 pivots downwards and the first engagement element 112 engages with the distal end 55 of the first connector housing 54 of the first connector 52 in abutting relationship.
Alternatively, the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 may be assembled before assembly of the retainer clip body 102 thereto. Once the first connector 52 and the second connector 72 are assembled, the retainer clip body 102 may be installed and assembled thereto by first inserting the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 into the wire harness passage 130 between deformable retaining arm 110 and support base 160.
Thereafter, retainer clip body 102 may be slid in an engagement direction along the wires 48 of the wire harness 44, and the guide rails 166 of the retainer clip body 102 may be inserted into guide channel 42 of mounting base 20 of motor vehicle lamp 10, such that the bottom of the guide rails 166 make contact with the bottom of the guide channel 42, in which case the first connector 52 and the second connector are now aligned in connection plane 182.
The retainer clip body 102 subassembly may then be slid in an engagement direction such that the first engagement element 112 makes contact with the second connector housing 74 of the second connector 72, causing the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot about pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102, resulting in the leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot upwards and the first engagement element 112 to slide along the top of the second connector housing 74 and subsequently the first connector housing 54 while the trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110 pivots downwards.
Simultaneously, the second connector housing 74 enters the second connector receptacle 140. Thereafter, as the first engagement element 112 extends past the top of the first connector housing 54, the elastic memory in the pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102 forces the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot such that the leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 pivots downwards and the first engagement element 112 engages with the distal end 55 of the first connector housing 54 of the first connector 52 in abutting relationship.
With regards to disassembly, the retainer clip body 102 may be disassembled from the first connector 52 and the second connector 54 by first depressing the trailing portion 120 of the deformable retaining arm 110, causing the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot about pivot regions 150 of the retainer clip body 102, resulting in the leading portion 122 of the deformable retaining arm 110 to pivot upwards and first engagement element 112 to disengage from first connector housing 54 of first connector 52. Thereafter, the retainer clip body 102 may be slid in a disengagement direction away from the first connector 52 and the second connector 72. Moreover, the wires 48 of the wire harness 44 may be removed from wire harness passage 130 such that the retainer clip may be completely removed from the wire harness 44 without disconnecting the first connector 52 and the second connector 72.
While a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present disclosure is/are used.
Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present disclosure is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, are understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly indicated to the contrary.
An abstract is submitted herewith. It is pointed out that this abstract is being provided to comply with the rule requiring an abstract that will allow examiners and other searchers to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, as set forth in the rules of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The following non-limiting reference numerals are used in the specification.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9136646 | Naito | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9147972 | Ohmura | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9184532 | Crovetti | Nov 2015 | B2 |
| 20150062952 | Lessard et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2014094706 | Jun 2014 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Co-filed U.S. Appl. No. 14/689,780 filed Apr. 17, 2015 on behalf of Osram Sylvania Inc. |
| Product data sheet of ERNI MiniBridge—Koshiri Single Row connector, Catalog E 074650, available at www.erni.com dated Aug. 2014 (4 pages, color). |
