Abstract:
A retainer harness clip apparatus for securing a wire harness to a bezel of a vehicle bumper includes a retainer member having a ring-shaped portion configured to fit around the bezel, a securing portion configured to secure the retainer to the bezel, and a first attachment part. The retainer harness clip apparatus further includes a harness clip member engageable with the retainer member and has a wire harness securing portion and a second attachment part. Upon engagement of the retainer member and the harness clip member, the first attachment part and the second attachment part mutually engage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention generally relates to a retainer and clip for a bezel in a vehicular bumper, and more particular relates to a retainer and clip for a bezel in a vehicular bumper capable of securing a bumper wire harness to a bezel. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    A vehicular bumper typically contains a wire harness, which is necessary to electrically connect components of the bumper to the vehicle main body. The wire harness may contain wires for numerous different applications, including impact sensors and distance sensors. Such sensors are often added to an existing vehicle after market, or incorporated when manufacturing the vehicle. In either case, the sensors are attached to the bumper and the wires from the sensors are integrated into the wire harness. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for a retainer harness clip apparatus for securing a wire harness to a vehicle bumper. In one or more embodiments, the retainer harness clip apparatus secures a wire harness to a bezel of a vehicle bumper. 
         [0006]    In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a retainer harness clip apparatus comprises a retainer member comprising a ring-shaped portion configured to fit around a bezel, a securing portion configured to secure the retainer to the bezel, and a first attachment part; and a harness clip member engageable with the retainer member and comprising a wire harness securing portion and a second attachment part. Upon engagement of the retainer member and the harness clip member the first attachment part and the second attachment part mutually engage. 
         [0007]    In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a retainer harness clip apparatus comprises a retainer member configured to fit around a bezel, and a harness clip member engageable with the retainer member. The retainer member comprises a securing means configured to secure the retainer to the bezel, and a first attachment means. The harness clip member comprises a wire harness securing means and a second attachment means. Upon engagement of the retainer member and the harness clip member, the first attachment means and the second attachment means mutually engage. 
         [0008]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a vehicle having distance sensor assemblies according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of a vehicle having distance sensor assemblies according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a distance sensor assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of a distance sensor assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an assembled distance sensor assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an assembled distance sensor assembly with a wire harness attached in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a retainer according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a retainer according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a view of a retainer in the x-y plane according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a view of a retainer in the x-y plane according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a view of a retainer in the y-z plane according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a view of a retainer in the x-z plane according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the harness clip according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a view of the harness clip in the x-y plane according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures. Like items in the figures are shown with the same reference numbers. 
         [0024]    In one or more embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the invention relate to a retainer and clip for attaching a vehicle bumper wire harness to the vehicle bumper. More specifically, one or more embodiments of the invention relate to a retainer and clip for attaching a vehicle bumper wire harness to a bezel disposed in the vehicle bumper such that the wire harness is secured to the bezel. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a vehicle  10  having a rear bumper  100 . The rear bumper  100  has distance sensor assemblies  101 ,  103 ,  105 ,  107  disposed thereon. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the location and number of distance sensor assemblies  101 ,  103 ,  105 ,  107  of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are only examples, and can vary depending on the application. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show an exploded view of a distance sensor assembly  101  according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bumper  100  has an opening  102  therein. The opening  102  could be drilled or cut from the bumper, or the bumper could be formed with the opening  102  therein. The distance sensor assembly  101  has a bezel  401 , retainer  200 , wire harness clip  300 , distance sensor  403 , sensor wire  501 , and sensor plug  405 . The bezel  401 , which is in the shape of a hollow cylinder in this embodiment, is disposed within the opening  102 . Once the bezel  401  is secured within the opening  102 , the retainer  200  is disposed around the bezel  401 , in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0029]    The retainer  200  will be described in greater detail below. A coaxial cylindrical end  411  of distance sensor  403  is plugged into the bezel  401 , in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The harness clip  300  is then attached to a the retainer  200 . The harness clip  300 , and the way by which it attaches to the retainer  200 , will be explained in detail below. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows an assembled distance sensor assembly  101  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 6  shows the assembled distance sensor assembly  101  shown in  FIG. 5  with a wire harness  500  attached. The sensor plug  405 , which is disposed at a first end of the sensor wire  501 , is plugged into a semi-cylindrical end  413  of the distance sensor  403 , the semi-cylindrical end  413  being normal to the axis of the bezel  401 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the axis of the bezel is the z-axis, while the axis of the semi-cylindrical end  413  is the x-axis. A second end of the sensor wire  501  is attached to the wire harness  500 . The wire harness  500  is secured to the distance sensor assembly  101  by the inner surface of a curved plate  301  of the harness clip  300 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0031]    The retainer  200  will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 7-12 .  FIGS. 7-12  show various views of the retainer  200  according one embodiment of the present invention. The retainer  200  has a ring-shaped portion  205 , which is configured to fit around the bezel  401 . The retainer also has guiding protrusions  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214  on the inner surface of the ring shaped portion  205 . The guiding protrusions  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214  correspond to co-axial grooves on the bezel  401 . The guiding protrusions  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214  guide the retainer  200  axially along the z-axis onto the bezel  401  and prevent rotational movement of the retainer  200  about the z-axis with respect to the bezel  401 . The retainer  200  further includes deformable securing latches  207 ,  208 . The deformable securing latches  207 ,  208  have smaller thicknesses than the ring shaped portion  205 . The ends of the deformable securing latches  207 ,  208  curve towards the center of the ring shaped portion  205 . The securing latches  207 ,  208  secure the retainer  200  into place, once the retainer  200  is at the desired position around the bezel  401 , by hooking the curved ends onto grooves on the bezel  501 . The retainer  200  also includes a pair of deformable attachment prongs  201 ,  202  and stoppers  203 ,  204 . The deformable attachment prongs  201 ,  202  have hook-shaped ends which curve outwards. The function of the attachment prongs  201 ,  202  and stoppers  203 ,  204  will be discussed below in conjunction with the harness clip  300 . The retainer  200  also may include cylindrical cutout portions  209 ,  210  to save material during manufacturing. 
         [0032]    The harness clip  300  will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  show a perspective and x-y view respectively of the harness clip  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The harness clip  300  includes a block shaped main body  302  with a rectangular opening  309  therein. The rectangular opening  309  divides the main body  301  into an upper portion  303  and a lower portion  305 . One pair of the attachment prongs  201 ,  202  of the retainer  200  is inserted into the opening  309 , such that the attachment prongs  201 ,  202  bend inwards until completely inserted, at which point the hook-shaped ends of the attachment prongs  201 ,  202  latch onto the harness clip  300 . The stoppers  203 ,  204  stop movement of the harness clip  300  once inserted, such that the harness clip is effectively secured between the ends of the attachment prongs  201 ,  202  and the stoppers  203 ,  204 . The upper portion  303  has a smaller thickness than the lower portion  305 . One end of the lower portion  305  extends past the upper portion  303  and is bent into a curved portion  307 . A rectangular curved plate  301  is attached to the curved portion  307 . The wire harness  500  is secured by the inner surface of the curved plate  301 . 
         [0033]    One or more embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the following advantages. When installing sensors and/or bezels, a bumper supplier can attach a wire harness to a bumper without having to make any changes to the design of the bumper. The retainer harness clip apparatus of one or more embodiments allows a wire harness to be secured to bezels in order to properly route the wire harness. In one or more embodiments, a retainer harness clip apparatus is provided that allows easy assembly and disassembly and allows a single, simple apparatus to be used in different locations on the bumper. One or more embodiments allow multiple wire harnesses to be attached to a bumper by having multiple attachment prongs on the retainer. 
         [0034]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.