Patent ID: 8997717
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
1. A fuel injector apparatus comprising: a fuel injector; a fuel injector cup having a flange that defines a notch; and a tab integral with the fuel injector, the tab extending in an axial direction to attach the fuel injector to the cup, the tab having a first prong, a second prong and a gap disposed between the first prong and the second prong; wherein when the tab is attached to the fuel injector cup, a surface of the first prong and a surface of the second prong of the tab engages a surface of the fuel injector cup to prevent axial movement of the fuel injector with respect to the fuel injector cup; the attachment of the tab to the fuel injector cup prevents rotational movement of the fuel injector with respect to the cup; the first prong and the second prong of the tab protrude through the notch to secure the tab to the flange; the first prong defining a first entry contact surface having a first specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch; the first prong defining a first exit contact surface having a first specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the first exit contact surface and the first entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions; the second prong defining a second entry contact surface having a second specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch; the second prong defining a second exit contact surface having a second specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the second exit contact surface and the second entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions; and the first and second specified removal angles are larger than the first and second specified insertion angles, respectively, such that the amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch is less than the amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch.