The present arrangement is directed to a hole retainer. More particularly, the present arrangement is for an improved hole retainer with locking teeth for engaging threads.
A hole retainer is a device that interfaces with a hole, such as a threaded hole, that retains a secondary object (part or piece) to it. In the automotive industry, there are often items such as wire harnesses that need to be attached to holes located at various locations on the vehicle. For example, when assembling a car, often wire harnesses are routed on a completed engine or chassis assembly, and/or throughout the entire interior of a vehicle.
The most common use for such hole retainers is in the automotive industry for cars and commercial vehicles. However, hole retainers may be used in other industrial applications as well.
In the prior art, as shown in
The present application is directed to a hole retainer with features that allow it to be inserted into a threaded hole with lower and constant engage force that provides the same or higher level of retention than prior art fir tree designs. As noted in more detail below staggered locking teeth can match thread size and pitch and provide constant engagement with threads within a hole regardless of retainer installation orientation. Additionally, flexible lock arms are configured to engage on one side only. The lock arm design functions in a manner that flexes easily during installation to reduce insertion effort. Then once engaged, breakage is required for extraction without unscrewing (twisting) from hole, resulting in a high retention to insertion ratio.
To this end, the present arrangement provides a hole retainer for insertion into a threaded hole. The hole retainer has a saddle configured to accept and retain an object, a stabilizing post, and a plurality of staggered locking teeth. The staggered locking teeth extend from the bottom of the stabilizing post upward in a manner such that they engage with threads inside the threaded hole.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present arrangement as shown in
Retainer 10 is typically constructed from injection molding using Polyamide 66 or Polyamide 46, however, the features of the present arrangement may be used with other polymers depending on the application. Wire bundle saddle 12 is the structure on retainer 10 that is configured to receive the wire harness. Wire saddle 12 aids in the installation of the wire harness covering or other objects attached to retainer 10, providing a more uniform fit for the wire harness as compared to prior art retainer such as the fir tree clips.
Preload flange 14 is designed to help maintain proper tooth engagement to the threads in the threaded hole once stabilizing post 16 and staggered locking teeth 20A and 20B of retainer 10 are installed. Anti-rattle posts 18 located near the top of stabilizing post 16 keep threaded hole retainer 10 from moving laterally within the threaded hole and in instances where “noise” or vibration is a concern. Such anti rattle posts 18 serve to keep retainer 10 and an attached (wire harness) in a stable attached position.
As shown in
When in use as shown in
During the installation process retainer 10 is inserted to a depth such that preload flange 14 flexes so that once teeth 20a and 20b are engaged with the threads in the hole, preload flange 14 provides directed pressure to the threaded hole to help hold retainer 10 in position. As noted above, with retainer 10 inserted, anti-rattle posts 18 work to keep threaded hole retainer 10 stable.
While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.