Brake hose prototype assembly and method for prototyping a brake hose assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902388-B2
Application number	US-201514600524-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

The device for prototyping a conduit between a first vehicular component and a second vehicular component includes a flexible cylindrical member, a first connector, and a second connector. The flexible cylindrical member has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion. The flexible cylindrical member has a plurality of equally spaced first and second indicia extending longitudinally and circumferentially, respectively, on an outer surface of the cylindrical member. The first connector is fixedly connected to the first end portion of the cylindrical member. The first connector is connected to the first vehicular body component. The second connector connects to the second vehicular body component. The second connector is positioned between a closed position in which the second end portion is releasably connected to the second connector and an open position in which the second end portion is rotatable and linearly displaceable with respect to the second connector.

First claim

It is claimed:

1. A device for prototyping a conduit between a first vehicular component and a second vehicular component, said device comprising:
a flexible cylindrical member having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the cylindrical member having a plurality of equally spaced first indicia extending longitudinal in a first direction on an outer surface of the cylindrical member and a plurality of equally spaced second indicia extending circumferentially in a second direction on the outer surface of the cylinder member, the first direction extending generally normal to the second direction;
a first connector fixedly connected to the first end portion of the cylindrical member, the first connector connected to the first vehicular body component; and
a second connector positionable between a closed position in which the second end portion is releasably connected to the second connector and an open position in which the second end portion is rotatable and linearly displaceable with respect to the second connector, the plurality of equally spaced first indicia and the plurality of equally spaced second indicia are configured to facilitate evaluation of the rotational and linear displacement of the second end of the flexible cylindrical member, the second connector connected to the second vehicular body component.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said second connector includes a securement member that positions the second connector in the closed position or the open position, the securement member frictionally engages the flexible cylindrical member to the second connector in the closed position to prevent relative movement between the flexible cylindrical member and the second connector.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the securement member is a clamp.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the second connector is a circular collar and the securement member is a fastener that engages with an internally threaded aperture formed in the circular collar.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said second connector includes a securement member that positions the second connector in the closed position or the open position, the securement member pierces the outer surface of the flexible cylindrical member in the closed position to prevent relative movement between the flexible cylindrical member and the second connector.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the securement member is a pin, and wherein the second connector is formed with an aperture formed, in the closed position the pin is received within the aperture and pierces the outer surface of the flexible member.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the second member is formed as a cylindrical collar positioned around the outer surface of the flexible member, the cylindrical collar having a slot at least partially bisecting the collar in a longitudinal direction thereof,
wherein the securement member is formed as a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from an inner surface of the collar.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a third connector positioned on the flexible cylindrical member between the first connector end and the second connector, the third connected to the a third vehicular body component, the third connector is fixedly connected to the flexible cylindrical member between the first end portion and the second end portion.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a third connector positioned on the flexible cylindrical member between the first connector end and the second connector, the third connected to the a third vehicular body component, the third connector is positionable between a closed position in which a portion of the flexible cylindrical member is releasably connected to the third connector and an open position in which the flexible cylindrical member is rotatable and linearly displaceable with respect to the third connector.

10. A brake hose prototype assembly adapted for determining a suitable length of a brake hose between a first vehicular body component and a second vehicular body component, and adapted for determining an orientation of the brake hose relative to the second vehicular body component, said brake hose prototype assembly comprising:
a flexible cylindrical member having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the cylindrical member having a plurality of equally spaced first indicia extending longitudinal in a first direction on an outer surface of the cylindrical member and a plurality of equally spaced second indicia extending circumferentially in a second direction on the outer surface of the cylinder member, the first direction extending generally normal to the second direction;
a first connector fixedly connected to the first end portion of the cylindrical member, the first connector connected to the first vehicular body component; and
a second connector positionable between a closed position in which the second end portion is releasably connected to the second connector and an open position in which the second end portion is rotatable and linearly displaceable with respect to the second connector, the plurality of equally spaced first indicia and the plurality of equally spaced second indicia are configured to facilitate evaluation of the rotational and linear displacement of the second end of the flexible cylindrical member, the second connector connected to the second vehicular body component.

11. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said second connector includes a securement member that positions the second connector in the closed position or the open position, the securement member frictionally engages the flexible cylindrical member to the second connector in the closed position to prevent relative movement between the flexible cylindrical member and the second connector.

12. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the securement member is a clamp.

13. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 12 , wherein second connector is a circular collar the securement member is a fastener that engages with an internally threaded aperture formed in the circular collar.

14. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said second connector includes a securement member that positions the second connector in the closed position or the open position, the securement member pierces the outer surface of the flexible cylindrical member in the closed position to prevent relative movement between the flexible cylindrical member and the second connector.

15. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the securement member is a pin, and wherein the second connector is formed with an aperture formed, in the closed position the pin is received within the aperture and pierces the outer surface of the flexible member.

16. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the second member is formed as a cylindrical collar positioned around the outer surface of the flexible member, the cylindrical collar having a slot at least partially bisecting the collar in a longitudinal direction thereof,
wherein the securement member is formed as a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from an inner surface of the collar.

17. The brake hose prototype assembly according to claim 10 further comprising:
a third connector positioned on the flexible cylindrical member between the first connector end and the second connector, the third connected to the a third veh

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Heutchy Andrew W

Classifications

• B62D65/028

  by determining relative positions by measurement · CPC title

• B60T17/046 Primary

  Devices for pipe guiding and fixing · CPC title