Flow drill screw attached grounding block

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9437939-B2
Application number	US-201314036593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Sep 25, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A grounding block is provided. The grounding block includes a means for fastening and a formed metallic block. The formed metallic block further comprises two or more flanges, where each flange is configured to accept the means for fastening. The formed metal block further comprises a uniform clearance formed into the underside of the grounding block between the flanges and a hole formed through the grounding block configured to accept a bolt. Various embodiments include angled surfaces to optimize assembly ergonomics and variable depth to optimize the mass of the blocks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grounding block with a top surface and underside comprising:
a means for fastening; and
a contiguous formed metallic block, wherein the formed metallic block further comprises:
two or more flanges;
a first hole through each of the two or more flanges configured to accept the means for fastening;
a uniform clearance formed into the underside of the grounding block between the flanges; and

a second hole formed through the grounding block configured to accept one of a bolt or a screw, wherein:
the grounding block varies in a thickness between the underside of the grounding block and the top surface of the grounding block along a length thereof;
the grounding block is attached to a surface by a flow screw; and
the top surface is triangular.

2. The grounding block of claim 1 , wherein the top surface is planar.

3. The grounding block of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the triangular top surface comprises a hole normal to the top surface that is configured to receive one of a bolt or a screw.

4. The grounding block of claim 1 , wherein the formed metallic block is comprised of aluminum.

5. The grounding block of claim 1 , wherein:
the grounding block has a body having a body top surface and a body underside;
the two or more flanges extend from the body, specifically from the body top surface and the body underside; and
each of the two or more flanges has a respective flange top surface and a flange bottom surface, the flange top surface extending from and aligned with the body top surface, and the flange underside extending from and aligned with the body underside.

6. The grounding block of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the grounding block comprises at least two different, parallel, flat surfaces.

7. The grounding block of claim 6 , wherein the at least two different, parallel, flat surfaces each comprise a hole normal to each of the at least two surfaces that is configured to receive one of a bolt and a screw, wherein the surface with a larger height accommodates a larger bolt or screw.

8. The grounding block of claim 7 , wherein one bolt is insertable from each of the at least two different, parallel, flat surfaces.

9. A vehicle body portion comprising:
a chassis/body; and
a grounding block with a top surface and underside, the grounding block further comprising:
a means for fastening, and
a contiguous formed metallic block, wherein the formed metallic block further comprises:

two or more flanges,
a first hole through each of the two or more flanges configured to accept the means for fastening,
a uniform clearance formed into the underside of the grounding block between the two or more flanges, and
a second hole formed through the grounding block configured to accept a bolt,

wherein:
the grounding block varies in a thickness between an underside of the grounding block and the top surface of the grounding block along a length thereof;
the grounding block is attached to a surface by a flow screw; and
the top surface is triangular.

10. The vehicle body portion if claim 9 , wherein the top surface is planar.

11. The vehicle body portion of claim 9 , wherein a surface of the triangular top surface comprises a hole normal to the top surface that is configured to receive a bolt.

12. A grounding block comprising:
a triangular top surface; and
an underside comprising:
a means for fastening; and
a formed metallic block, wherein the formed metallic block further comprises:
two or more flanges;
a first hole through each of the two or more flanges configured to accept the means for fastening;
a uniform clearance formed into the underside of the grounding block between the flanges; and

a second hole formed through the grounding block configured to accept one of a bolt or a screw.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Saje Robert N
• Jensen Charles E

Classifications

• H01R4/66

  Connections with the terrestrial mass, e.g. earth plate, earth pin · CPC title

• H01R13/648

  Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding}   (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) · CPC title

• H01R4/64 Primary

  Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail · CPC title

• B60R16/02 Primary

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title