Mold-in cable, wire harness and component retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040674-B1
Application number	US-201916716694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2019
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

The present invention relates to wire harness and automotive component retention devices, and particularly to a mold-in retention feature in the automotive field for securing a wire harness to a light-signal housing comprising: first and second longitudinal flexible arms with engagement portions protruding from a flexible indentation or membrane on the housing where the first arm is juxtaposed opposite the second arm and where the associated arms are spaced away from each other in an open position and mate together in a closed position. The arms are configured to move from closed to open when a force is applied on the housing's backside so that depression of a flexible indentation or membrane causes associated arms to spread open and receive harness components. Furthermore, arms may move from open to closed position when an applied force is released on a flexible membrane so that a received harness component becomes secured between arms.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mold-in wire retainer for securing a wire harness to a lighting device housing of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a first and a second longitudinal flexible arm having an engagement-portion protruding from a flexible indentation provided on said housing, wherein the first arm is juxtaposed opposite the second arm, and wherein said arms are spaced away from each other in an open position and mate with each other in a closed position;
wherein said arms are configured to move from the closed position to the open position when a force is applied on a backside of said housing such that the flexible indentation is depressed causing the arms to spread open to receive the wire harness between said arms; and
wherein said arms are configured to move from the open position to the closed position upon-releasing the applied force such that the wire harness that is secured between the arms in the closed position.

2. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of each respective arm includes a stepped surface at each respective end such that the-stepped surface of the first arm mates with the-stepped surface of the second arm to engage with each other.

3. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are of different lengths.

4. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm of equal lengths.

5. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is at least one of a headlamp and a rear lamp of the motor vehicle.

6. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the wire harness extends from a printed circuit board (PCB) in a lighting device to a plurality of electronic devices.

7. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein said housing and the mold-in wire retainer are made of same material.

8. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the mold-in wire retainer is made from polypropylene.

9. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 1 , wherein the mold-in wire retainer is molded to said housing of the lighting device.

10. A mold-in wire retainer for securing a wire harness to a housing of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
first and second longitudinal flexible arms having an engaging portion protruding from a top side of a flexible indentation provided on the housing, and a disengaging portion protruding from a back side of the flexible indentation, wherein the first arm is juxtaposed opposite to the second arm, and wherein the engaging portion of the arms are spaced away from each other in an open position, and mate with each other in a closed position;
wherein the arms are configured to move from the closed position to the open position when the disengaging portions of the arms are deflected towards each other such that the flexible indentation is depressed causing the engaging portion of the arms to spread open to receive the wire harness between the engaging portions of the arms; and
wherein the arms are configured to move from the open position to the closed position when the disengaging portions of the arms are deflected away from each other such that the received wire harness is secured between the engaging portions of the arms in the closed position.

11. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the disengaging portions of the arms are deflected towards each other when the disengaging portions of the arms are pushed towards each other by an applied force.

12. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 11 , wherein the disengaging portions of the arms are deflected away from each other by releasing the applied force.

13. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the engaging portions of the arms include a stepped surface at each respective arm end such that a stepped surface of the first arm mates with a stepped surface of the second arm to engage one another.

14. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are of different lengths.

15. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the first arm and the second arm of equal lengths.

16. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the mold-in wire retainer is molded to a housing of the lighting device.

17. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the housing and the mold-in wire retainer are made of same material.

18. The mold-in wire retainer of claim 10 , wherein the mold-in wire retainer is made from polypropylene.

19. A lamp assembly of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a housing;
a bezel;
a reflector mounted in the housing;
a light source;
a heat sink;
a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted on a heat sink and coupled to the light source; and
a number of mold-in wire retainers molded on the housing for securing a wire harness to the housing of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
first and second longitudinal flexible arms having an engaging portion protruding from a flexible indentation provided on the housing, wherein the first arm is juxtaposed opposite to the second arm, and wherein the arms are spaced away from each other in an open position and mate with each other in a closed position;
wherein the arms are configured to move from the closed position to the open position when a force is applied on a backside of the housing such that when the flexible indentation is pushed the arms are caused to spread open to receive the wire harness between the arms; and
wherein the arms are configured to move from the open position to the closed position by releasing the applied force such that the wire harness is secured between the arms in the closed position; and
wherein the mold-in wire retainer is molded to the housing of the lighting device.

Assignees

• Valeo North America Inc

Inventors

• King Robert

Classifications

• B60Q1/0088

  Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60R16/0215 Primary

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title

• B60Q1/0094

  Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps (arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60Q1/04

  the devices being headlights · CPC title