Abstract:
A multi-directional wiring routing device and method for operating thereof removably or permanently connects to a female housing of an electrical connector system. The multi-directional wiring routing device secures thereon and directs the wiring, at any desired routing direction, the wiring extending from the female housing. The wiring routing device includes an end portion having a substantially diamond-shape configuration portion, which is fitted into a corresponding substantially diamond-shape opening of the female housing of the electrical connector system. While maintaining the optimal performance of the electrical connector system, a bundle of wiring thereof can be neatly secured and efficiently routed towards any desired direction with the use of the multi-directional wiring routing device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a multi-directional wiring routing device and a method for operating thereof, the wiring routing device capable of being removably or permanently coupled to a female housing of an electrical connector system. More particularly, the multi-directional wiring routing device of this invention includes a first end portion, an intermediate portion, and a second end portion. The first end portion of the wiring routing device is removably or permanently coupled to the female housing, while the intermediate portion and second end portion of the wiring routing device accommodate thereon and direct the route towards any desired direction of a wiring bundle that extends from the female housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The multi-directional wiring routing device and method for operating thereof of this invention includes the first end portion, which removably or permanently connects to the female housing of the electrical connector system, and the intermediate portion and second end portion, which secure thereon and direct the wiring at any desired routing direction, the wiring extending from the female housing. While maintaining the optimal performance of the electrical connector system, a bundle of wiring thereof can be neatly secured by this invention, and efficiently routed towards any desired direction with the use of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of the wiring routing device of this invention. 
         [0003]    The multi-directional wiring routing device and method for operating thereof of this invention include the first end portion thereof removably coupled or permanently coupled to the female housing of the electrical connector system. Alternatively, this invention may be removably coupled or permanently coupled to the connector position assurance (CPA) device or the TPA device of the electrical connector system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the female housing of the electrical connector system, which is connectable to the multi-directional wiring routing device of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the multi-directional wiring routing device and the female housing being connected to each other. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the multi-directional wiring routing device and the female housing showing a first end portion of the wiring routing device about to be joined to the female housing. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a back elevational view of the female housing showing the manner in which a substantially diamond-like shape member of the first end portion of the wiring routing device is accommodated and locked within the female housing. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wiring bundle extending from the female housing and being routed towards a leftward direction by the multi-directional wiring routing device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wiring bundle extending from the female housing and being routed towards a rightward direction by the multi-directional wiring routing device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the wiring bundle extending from the female housing and being routed towards a downward direction by the multi-directional wiring routing device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the multi-directional wiring routing device, similar to that shown in  FIG. 3  except for it being turned or rotated by 180°, showing the first end portion of the wiring routing device about to be connected to the female housing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the wiring bundle extending from the female housing and being routed towards an upward direction by the multi-directional wiring routing device. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a perspective view of a second embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device connected to the female housing ( FIG. 10 ) and in operation ( FIG. 11 ). 
           [0014]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a perspective view of a third embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device connected to the female housing ( FIG. 12 ) and in operation ( FIG. 13 ). 
           [0015]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device connected to the female housing ( FIG. 14 ) and in operation ( FIG. 15 ). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates, in perspective view, a female housing  1  of an electrical connector system, while  FIG. 2  illustrates a multi-directional wiring routing device (generally referred to by reference number  5 ) removably or permanently connected to the female housing  1 . The female housing  1  includes wiring connecting holes  3 , and has a substantially box-like configuration with a predetermined dimension. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the multi-directional wiring routing device  5 , generally includes a first end portion  7 , an intermediate portion  10 , and a second end portion  13 . The intermediate portion  10  includes a bent portion  16 . The second end portion  13  includes, on each side end thereof, a guard portion  18 . The guard portion  18  has a substantially semi-circular shape with a substantially flat portion  20  and a substantially curved portion  22 . 
         [0018]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3  is the manner in which the first end portion  7  of the wiring routing device  5  connects with the female housing  1 . Here, the first end portion  7  includes a substantially diamond-shaped member  25  to be inserted and accommodated within a substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  passing through a lower portion of the female housing  1 . An elevational view showing the substantially diamond-shaped member  25  of the wiring routing device  5  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The substantially diamond-shaped member  25  is provided on each side of the first end portion  7 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The substantially diamond-shaped members  25  respectively extend from substantially flat portions  23  of the first end portion  7  that faces the female housing  1 . 
         [0019]    The substantially diamond-shaped members  25  of the wiring routing device  5  to be fitted into the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1  are shaped as such so as to be symmetrical so that when the wiring routing device  5  is turned 180°, the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  will still fit and become accommodated within the substantially-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . 
         [0020]    When a wiring bundle  30  extends from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1 , while the wiring routing device  5  is connected to the female housing  1 , the wiring bundle  30  is extended or routed, in its entirety, towards the leftward direction by having the wiring bundle  30  mount over the intermediate portion  10  of the wiring routing device  5  and turned towards the left, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and guided by the second end portion  13 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 5 , while the wire bundle  30  is directed towards the left, a clamp  32  secures the wiring bundle  30 , the clamp  32  surrounding the wire bundle  30  and the second end portion  13  of the wiring routing device  5 . One of the guard portions  18  of the second end portion  13  prevents the clamp  32  from being dislodged or removed from the second end portion  13  of the wiring routing device  5 . 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the wiring bundle  30  extends from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1 , while the wiring routing device  5  is connected to the female housing  1 , the wiring bundle  30  is extended or routed, in its entirety, towards the rightward direction by having the wiring bundle  30  mount over the intermediate portion  10  of the wiring routing device  5  and turned towards the right, as shown in  FIG. 6 , and guided by the second end portion  13 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , while the wiring bundle  30  is directed towards the right, a clamp  32  secures the wiring bundle  30 , the clamp  32  surrounding the wiring bundle  30  and the second end portion  13  of the wiring routing device  5 . One of the guard portions  18  of the second end portion  13  prevents the clamp  32  from being dislodged or removed from the second end portion  13  of the wiring routing device  5 . 
         [0022]    As shown in both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , while the clamp  32  surrounds and supports the wiring bundle  30 , the wiring bundle  30  directly abuts against the substantially flat portion  20  of the guard portion  18  on the left-hand side of the second end portion  13  ( FIG. 5 ) or the right-hand side of the second end portion  13  ( FIG. 6 ) of the wiring routing device  5  when the wiring bundle  30  is directed or routed towards the left ( FIG. 5 ) or towards the right ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 7 , the wiring bundle  30  extending from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1  mounts over the bent portion  16  of the intermediate portion  10  and extends over the second end portion  13  of the wiring routing device  5 , the wiring bundle  30  being directed in the downward direction. A clamp  35  surrounds the wiring bundle  30  and the wiring routing device  5  to secure the wiring bundle  30  onto the wiring routing device  5 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the multiple-directional wiring routing device  5 , similar to that shown in  FIG. 3  except for it being turned by 180°, showing the first end portion  7  of the wiring routing device  5  about to be connected to the female housing  1 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first end portion  7  includes the substantially diamond-shaped member  25  to be inserted and accommodated within the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  passing through the lower portion of the female housing  1 . The substantially diamond-shaped member  25  is provided on each side of the first end portion  7 . As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 3 , the substantially diamond-shaped member  25  is provided on each side of the first end portion  7 ; and the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  respectively extend from the substantially flat portions  23  of the first end portion  7  that faces the female housing  1 . When the wiring routing device  5  is joined to the female housing  1 , the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  are fitted into and accommodated within the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28 . 
         [0025]    The wiring routing device  5  in  FIG. 8  is shown in operation in  FIG. 9 , whereby the wiring bundle  30  extending from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1  further extend along the first end portion  7 , the intermediate portion  10 , and the second end portion  13  in the upward direction. The wiring bundle  30  is secured onto the second end portion  13  by a clamp  35  surrounding the intermediate portion  10  of the wiring routing device  5  and the wiring bundle  30 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a second embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device  40 , as connected to the female housing  1  ( FIG. 10 ) and in operation ( FIG. 11 ). The wiring routing device  40  also includes a first end portion  42 , an intermediate portion  44 , and a second end portion  46 . The intermediate portion  44  is similarly bent, as in the first embodiment. The second end portion  46  includes at each end thereof a guard portion  50 , each guard portion  50  having a substantially U-shaped configuration. 
         [0027]    The first end portion  42  similarly includes substantially diamond-shaped portions (not shown), as in the first embodiment, extending from a substantially flat portion of the first end portion  42  that faces the female housing  1 . The substantially diamond-shaped portions of the first end portion  42  of the wiring routing device  40  of the second embodiment are fitted into and accommodated within the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the second embodiment of the wiring routing device  40 , the wiring bundle  30  extending from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1  further extend above and supported on the intermediate portion  44  and further extend towards the rightward direction and further supported by a ledge portion  54  of the second end portion  46  and the legs  52  of the substantially U-shaped guard portion  50 . Because of the symmetrical configuration of the second end portion  46 , which includes two opposing substantially U-shaped guard portions  52 , the wiring bundle  30  can be similarly directed to the leftward direction and supported by the ledge portion  54  and the other one of the substantially U-shaped guard portions  50 . As further shown in  FIG. 11 , a clamp  56 , which surrounds the second end portion  46  and the wiring bundle  30 , secures the wiring bundle  30  onto the ledge portion  54  and the substantially U-shaped guard portion  50 . The wiring bundle  30  can also be directed towards the downward direction 
         [0029]    The substantially diamond-shaped members  25  of the wiring routing device  40  to be fitted into the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1  are shaped as such so as to be symmetrical so that when the wiring routing device  40  is turned 180°, the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  will still fit and become accommodated within the substantially-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . In such a structural arrangement, the wiring bundle  30  can be routed by the wiring routing device  40  of the second embodiment from the wiring holes  3  towards an upward direction. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a third embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device  60 , as connected to the female housing  1  ( FIG. 12 ) and in operation ( FIG. 13 ). The wiring routing device  60  also includes a first end portion  62 , an intermediate portion  64 , and a second end portion  66 . The intermediate portion  64  is similarly bent, as in the first and second embodiments. At each of the side edges of the first end portion  62 , the intermediate portion  64 , and the second end portion  66  is an upstanding guard rail  70  extending along thereon. 
         [0031]    The first end portion  62  similarly includes substantially diamond-shaped portions (not shown), as in the first and second embodiments, extending from a substantially flat portion of the first end portion  62  that faces the female housing  1 . The substantially diamond-shaped portions of the first end portion  62  of the wiring routing device  60  of the third embodiment are fitted into and accommodated within the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , in the third embodiment of the wiring routing device  60 , the wiring bundle  30  extending from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1  further extend above and supported on the intermediate portion  64  and further extend towards a rightward direction and may be further supported by at least an upstanding guard rail  70  along the first and intermediate portions  62 ,  64 . Because of the symmetrical configuration of the wiring routing device  60 , the wiring bundle  30  can be similarly directed to the leftward direction and supported by at least an upstanding guard rail  70  when routed towards the leftward direction or the downward direction. Each of the upstanding guard rails  70  near the second end portion  66  may include a notch  73 , which may be used to further accommodate and support therein a portion of the wiring bundle  30 . 
         [0033]    In the third embodiment, the intermediate portion  64  includes a pair of apertures  76  and a pair of bottom notches  77  passing therethrough, as shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , a clamp  78  surrounds the wiring bundle  30  and the wiring routing device  60 , while the clamp  78  passes through one of the apertures  76  and one of the bottom notches  77 , so as to secure and support the wiring bundle  30 . 
         [0034]    The substantially diamond-shaped members  25  of the wiring routing device  60  to be fitted into the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1  are shaped as such so as to be symmetrical so that when the wiring routing device  60  is turned 180°, the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  will still fit and become accommodated within the substantially-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . In such a structural arrangement, the wiring bundle  30  extend from the wiring holes  3  along the wiring routing device  60  towards an upward direction. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the multi-directional wiring routing device  80 , as connected to the female housing  1  ( FIG. 14 ) and in operation ( FIG. 15 ). The wiring routing device  80  also includes a first end portion  82 , an intermediate portion  84 , and a second end portion  86 . The intermediate portion  84  is similarly bent, as in the first, second, and third embodiments. The second end portion  86  includes at each end thereof a guard portion  90 , each guard portion  90  having a substantially U-shaped configuration, each of the flat portions of the guard portions  90  extend along the entire second end portion  86  to define a ledge  92 . 
         [0036]    The first end portion  82  similarly includes substantially diamond-shaped portions (not shown), as in the first, second, and third embodiments, extending from a substantially flat portion of the first end portion  82  that faces the female housing  1 . The substantially diamond-shaped portions of the first end portion  82  of the wiring routing device  80  of the fourth embodiment are fitted into and accommodated within the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , in the fourth embodiment of the wiring routing device  80 , the wiring bundle  30  extending from the wiring connecting holes  3  of the female housing  1  further extend above and supported on the intermediate portion  84  and further extend towards the rightward direction and further supported by the ledge portion  92  of the second end portion  86 . Because of the symmetrical configuration of the second end portion  86 , the wiring bundle  30  can be similarly directed to the leftward direction and supported by the ledge  92 . As further shown in  FIG. 15 , a clamp  98  surrounds the wiring bundle  30  and the second end portion  86  to secure the wiring bundle  30  onto the ledge  92 . Although not shown, the wiring bundle  30  can also be directed towards the downward direction abutting the second end portion  86  between the guard portions  90  with the clamp  98  surrounding the wiring bundle  30  and the intermediate portion  84  to secure the wiring bundle  30 . 
         [0038]    The substantially diamond-shaped members  25  of the wiring routing device  80  to be fitted into the substantially diamond-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1  are shaped as such so as to be symmetrical so that when the wiring routing device  80  is turned 180°, the substantially diamond-shaped members  25  will still fit and become accommodated within the substantially-shaped opening  28  of the female housing  1 . In such a structural arrangement, the wiring bundle  30  extend from the wiring holes  3  along the wiring routing device  80  towards an upward direction. 
         [0039]    In all of the embodiments of the wiring routing device, in order to minimize the space needed for the implementation or use of this invention, it is preferable that the sizes of the first end portion, the intermediate portion, and the second end portion be at most the width of the female housing, the connector position assurance (CPA) device or the TPA of the electrical connector system to which the multi-directional wiring routing device of this invention connects. 
         [0040]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments; and various modifications in design, structural arrangement or the like may be used without departing from the scope or equivalents of the present invention.