Vehicle terminal holder assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12081008-B2
Application number	US-202117221038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2021
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle terminal holder assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an electronic latch configured to hold a closure assembly in a latched position, and a vehicle body structure. The terminal holder assembly further includes a terminal holder that can be accessed through an aperture in the vehicle body structure and moved to a disengaged position relative to the vehicle body structure through the aperture. At least one terminal is held by the terminal holder. The at least one terminal is operatively coupled to the electronic latch when the terminal holder is in the disengaged position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle terminal holder assembly, comprising:
an electronic latch configured to hold a closure assembly in a latched position;
a vehicle body structure;
a terminal holder configured to be accessed through an aperture in the vehicle body structure and moved to a disengaged position relative to the vehicle body structure through the aperture; and
at least one terminal held by the terminal holder, the at least one terminal operatively coupled to the electronic latch when the terminal holder is in the disengaged position.

2. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly is a frunk lid.

3. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 2 , further comprising an accessory battery held within a frunk covered by the frunk lid in a closed position, the accessory battery operatively coupled to the electronic latch.

4. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body structure is a fascia of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fascia is a front fascia of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fascia provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the aperture.

7. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bezel of the vehicle body structure, the terminal holder configured to engage the bezel of the vehicle body structure.

8. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bezel is sonically welded to a B-side of a fascia.

9. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 7 , wherein the terminal holder snap- fits to the bezel when the terminal holder engages the vehicle body structure.

10. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to conceal the terminal holder.

11. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one terminal includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and further comprising a first wire operably connected to the first terminal and a second wire operably connected to the second terminal.

12. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 11 , wherein the terminal holder includes a first rib and a second rib, wherein the first rib holds the first wire and the second rib holds the second wire.

13. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bezel of the vehicle body structure, wherein the terminal holder is slidably received within a bezel such that the at least one terminal is aft all portions of the bezel when the terminal holder is in the installed position.

14. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 13 , wherein the terminal holder is configured to clip to the bezel.

15. A vehicle terminal holder assembly, comprising:
a closure assembly;
an electronic latch configured to hold the closure assembly in a latched position;
a fascia;
a bezel secured to the fascia;
a terminal holder configured to snap-fit to the bezel, the terminal holder disposed within an aperture of the fascia when the terminal holder is snap-fit to the bezel;
at least one terminal held by the terminal holder, the terminal operatively coupled to the electronic latch; and
a cap configured to cover the terminal holder when the terminal holder is snap-fit to the bezel.

16. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 15 , further comprising at least one clip that engages the terminal holder with the bezel.

17. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one clip extends from the terminal holder through an aperture in the bezel when the terminal holder engages the bezel.

18. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 17 , wherein the closure assembly is a frunk lid.

19. The vehicle terminal holder assembly of claim 18 , further comprising an accessory battery held within a frunk of the vehicle, the accessory battery operatively coupled to the E-latch.

20. A vehicle E-latch actuation method, comprising;
accessing a terminal holder through an aperture in vehicle body structure;
transitioning, during the accessing, the a-terminal holder from an engaged position relative to the vehicle body structure to a disengaged position relative to the vehicle body structure;
holding first and second terminals with the terminal holder when the terminal holder is in the engaged position and when the terminal holder is in the disengaged position; and
powering an E-latch using the first and second terminals when the terminal holder is in the disengaged position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Glickman David Brian
• Deljevic Zeljko
• Huddy Michael John
• Stanhope Karen A
• Vitali Robert

Classifications

• B60R16/0215

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title

• B60R16/033 Primary

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• B60R13/005

  Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor · CPC title

• H02G3/32

  using mounting clamps · CPC title

• B60L53/16

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title