Detachable mounting mechanism for a fuel injector wiring harness cover

The present invention provides a detachable mounting mechanism for a fuel injector wiring harness cover. The cover is detachably mounted to a fuel injector assembly such as a fuel injector rail. The cover includes a base which has a channel for receiving the fuel injector wiring harness. A lid is adapted to be mounted on the base, thereby securing the fuel injector wiring harness within the channel. A pair of locking structures extend outwardly from the base. Each locking structure includes a continuous outer wall which defines a cavity adapted to receive a mounting tab located on the fuel injector assembly. A locking lever is pivotally attached to each locking structure and has a locked position and a released position. The locking lever is biased in the locked position. The locking lever includes an integrally formed handle extending outwardly from the locking structure and an integrally formed projection which extends into the cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a mounting mechanism for detachably 
mounting a fuel injector wiring harness cover to a fuel injector rail. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Most automobiles manufactured today use a fuel injection system to 
distribute fuel into the engine's cylinders. These fuel injection systems 
include wiring harnesses which transmit electrical control signals to the 
fuel injectors. The wiring harnesses are located in the engine compartment 
of the automobile and are thus exposed to heat, water, dirt and other 
contaminants. The wiring harness is also subject to engine vibration as 
well as stress due to acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. These 
forces threaten the integrity of the connections between the wires and the 
fuel injectors. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cover which will 
protect the wiring harness from the conditions in the engine compartment 
and reduce the strains which are placed on the wiring harness connections. 
To reduce movement of the wiring harness, the cover is preferably secured 
to a panel or component of the vehicle. Further, the cover is preferably 
detachable for repairing or servicing the fuel injectors or other vehicle 
components. Existing mounting systems use a locking structure which 
requires a special tool to release the lock mechanism. This tool can be 
difficult to operate in the confined spaces of the engine compartment. 
Repeated use of the release tool may damage the lock mechanism and reduce 
its locking effectiveness. If multiple lock mechanisms are used, removal 
becomes more difficult, requiring the locating of all lock mechanisms and 
properly releasing each lock mechanism with the tool. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a fuel injector wiring harness cover which 
is detachably mounted to a pair of tabs extending from a fuel injector 
rail. The cover includes a release mechanism which allows removal of the 
cover from the fuel injector rail without the use of tools. The release 
mechanism can be operated even when the mechanism is obstructed from view, 
i.e., by feel alone. The release mechanism may be repeatedly secured and 
released without damaging the mechanism or diminishing its ability to 
secure the cover to the fuel injector rail. 
The cover protects the fuel injector wiring harness from heat, water, dirt 
and other contaminants in the engine compartment. The cover also minimizes 
the movement of the wiring harness caused by engine vibration and vehicle 
acceleration and deceleration. Minimizing the movement of the wiring 
harness reduces the risk of damaged connections between the wires and the 
fuel injectors. 
The cover has a base which includes a channel to receive the fuel injector 
wiring harness. A lid is attached to the base and secures the wiring 
harness within the channel. The lid includes a plurality of locking arms 
which are inserted into corresponding locking slots formed on the base. 
The interaction of the locking arms with the locking slots secures the 
cover to the base. The base has a plurality of apertures for routing the 
fuel injector wiring harness into and out of the channel. 
In the preferred form, a pair of mounting tabs are attached to the fuel 
injector rail and extend upwardly from the rail. Each mounting tab 
contains an aperture located near the free end of the tab. 
A pair of locking structures extend perpendicularly downwardly from the 
bottom surface of the base. Each locking structure includes a continuous 
outer wall which defines a cavity having dimensions which permit a 
mounting tab to be inserted into the cavity. The locking structure further 
includes a locking lever which is pivotally attached to the outer wall of 
the locking structure. The locking lever may be pivoted between a released 
position and a locked position, and is biased in the locked position. The 
locking lever includes a handle projecting substantially perpendicularly 
therefrom for grasping by the user, allowing movement of the locking lever 
from the locked position to the released position. The handle is 
triangular in shape so as to be easily grasped and readily identified by 
feel if it cannot be seen by the user. The locking lever also contains a 
projection which extends into the cavity when the locking lever is in the 
locked position. When the locking lever is pivoted to the released 
position, the projection moves out of the cavity. The projection includes 
an angled cam surface along one side. 
In operation, a wiring harness is placed in the channel of the base, and 
properly routed through the channel and apertures. Once the wiring harness 
is correctly routed, the lid is attached to the base, thereby securing the 
wiring harness within the channel. The interaction between the locking 
arms of the lid and the locking slots of the base secure the lid to the 
base. 
To attach the cover to the fuel injector rail, the locking structures are 
aligned with the mounting tabs. The cover is then urged onto the mounting 
tabs. As the locking structures slide over the mounting tabs, the cam 
surface of the locking lever projection contacts the mounting tab, causing 
the projection to deflect toward the outer wall of the locking structure. 
As the projection is deflected toward the outer wall, the locking 
structures continue to slide over the mounting tabs. When the locking 
lever projection aligns with the aperture in the mounting tab, the locking 
lever automatically returns to the locked position. This secures the 
locking structure to the mounting tab and thereby secures the cover to the 
fuel injector rail. 
To remove the cover, the user first grasps the handle of the locking lever 
and pulls the handle away from the locking structure. Pulling the handle 
pivots the locking lever away from the locking structure, causing the 
locking lever projection to move toward the outer wall and out of the 
mounting tab aperture. When the locking lever projection has moved out of 
the mounting tab aperture, the cover is pulled away from the mounting tab 
and is thereby released from the fuel injector rail. In the preferred 
form, the present invention positions the handles such that both handles 
may be grasped and released by a single user simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A fuel injector wiring harness cover having a detachable mounting mechanism 
is illustrated in FIG. 1. The cover includes a base 10 which has a channel 
11 running lengthwise through the base. In the preferred embodiment, base 
10 contains a pair of locking structures 12 which secure the base to a 
pair of mounting tabs 26. However, it will be understood that base 10 may 
use any number of locking structures 12 and corresponding mounting tabs 26 
to secure the base to the mounting tabs. 
Base 10 also includes a plurality of U-shaped apertures 14 located on one 
side of the base. Apertures 14 and channel 11 are used to route a wiring 
harness 15 through the cover and to the fuel injectors (not shown). In the 
preferred embodiment, three apertures 14 are provided, but the number of 
apertures may vary depending on the particular application. In an 
alternate embodiment, apertures 14 may be located on both sides of base 
10. 
A lid 20 is contoured to cover channel 11 in base 10. Lid 20 has a 
plurality of locking arms 22 extending outwardly from the lid. Each 
locking arm 22 has a projection 24 formed at its distal end. Base 10 
includes a plurality of locking slots 16 formed on the outer surface of 
the base. Locking slots 16 are positioned to receive locking arms 22 on 
lid 20. Locking slots 16 have an edge 18 which interacts with locking arm 
projection 24 to secure lid 20 to base 10, thereby securing fuel injector 
wiring harness 15 within channel 11. To remove lid 20 from base 10, a flat 
blade tool (not shown) is used to release locking arm 22 from locking slot 
16. Although a particular locking bayonet-type mechanism has been 
disclosed for securing lid 20 to base 10, it should be understood that 
other locking mechanisms may be used which are commonly known in the art. 
Each mounting tab 26 contains an aperture 28. In the preferred form, 
mounting tabs 26 are attached to fuel injector rail 25. However, mounting 
tabs 26 may also be attached to a vehicle body panel or other vehicle 
component. 
Referring to FIG. 2, locking structure 12 includes a continuous outer wall 
29 and four triangular ribs 30 which function to strengthen the locking 
structure. As best seen in FIG. 3, a pair of substantially parallel slits 
36 are formed in outer wall 29, the slits defining therebetween a locking 
lever 32. Locking lever 32 is pivotally attached at its lower end to outer 
wall 29 and is free at its upper end proximate base 10. Locking lever 32 
can be pivoted between a locked position and a released position, as shown 
in FIG. 10. Locking lever 32 is biased in the locked position. A handle 34 
is integrally molded with locking lever 32 and extends substantially 
perpendicularly from the locking lever and parallel with the bottom 
surface of channel 10. Handle 34 permits the locking lever to be pivoted 
from the locked position to the released position. Handle 34 is generally 
triangular in shape, one of the vertices of the triangle being attached to 
locking lever 32, to provide a shape that may be firmly grasped between 
two fingers. The triangular shape is also tactilly cognizable, i.e., an 
operator can recognize the handle by feel when the handle is not visible 
because of its position below the cover, and so can be positive that 
he/she is grasping the proper portion of the latch mechanism. 
Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of locking structure 12 is shown. Locking 
structure 12 contains a cavity 40 which opens downwardly as viewed in FIG. 
4. Cavity 40 creates an opening which is slightly larger than mounting tab 
26, thereby allowing the mounting tab to slide into the cavity. A 
projection 38 is integrally molded to locking lever 32 and extends into 
cavity 40 when the locking lever is in the locked position. Projection 38 
includes a cam surface 39 along the lower side of the projection. 
Projection 38 is positioned such that when locking lever 32 is pivoted to 
the released position, projection 38 moves out of cavity 40 and aligns 
with outer wall 29, as shown in FIG. 10. 
As is best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hole 42 is formed in the bottom surface 
of channel 11 directly above locking lever 32 and handle 34. Hole 42 
provides access to handle 34 from the inside of channel 11 and allows an 
operator to actuate the locking lever to the release position by inserting 
a finger through the hole and pressing downwardly on the handle. In the 
preferred embodiment of the invention, hole 42 is directly aligned with 
handle 34, locking lever 32 and projection 38 This permits those 
components to be molded integrally with the cover 10 using a die tool. 
In operation, a fuel injector wiring harness 15 is positioned in channel 11 
of base 10. Wiring harness 15 is routed through channel 11 and the 
appropriate apertures 14. The particular routing of wiring harness 15 
depends on the location of base 12 with respect to the fuel injectors and 
other vehicle components. After wiring harness 15 is properly routed 
within base 10, lid 20 is attached to the base, securing the wiring 
harness within the base. Locking arms 22 on lid 20 are urged into locking 
slots 16 and engage edges 18 to secure lid 20 to base 10. 
To secure the cover to the fuel injector rail, locking structures 12 are 
aligned with mounting tabs 26. Locking structures 12 are then urged 
downwardly onto mounting tabs 26. As shown in FIG. 7, cam surface 39 of 
projection 38 contacts mounting tab 26. As locking structure 12 is urged 
onto mounting tab 26, cam surface 39 slides along tab 26, causing 
projection 38 to deflect toward outer wall 29, as shown in FIG. 8. The 
deflection of projection 38 causes locking lever 32 to pivot from the 
locked position toward the released position. As projection 38 is further 
deflected, mounting tab 26 passes the projection and continues into cavity 
40. As mounting tab 26 slides into cavity 40, aperture 28 in the mounting 
tab will align with locking lever projection 38. At this point, the 
biasing force of locking lever 32 will cause projection 38 to enter 
aperture 28, and the locking lever will return to the locked position, as 
shown in FIG. 9. With locking lever 32 in the locked position, the cover 
is secured to mounting tab 26. The interaction between locking lever 
projection 38 and aperture 28 prevents the cover from disengaging mounting 
tab 26. 
To remove the cover from the fuel injector rail, the operator uses handle 
34 located on locking lever 32. Handle 34 is of such size and shape that 
it can be readily located by feel and grasped on opposite sides using two 
fingers, such as a thumb and forefinger. The operator grasps handle 34 and 
pulls the handle away from locking structure 12. This causes locking lever 
32 to pivot from the locked position toward the released position, as 
shown in FIG. 10. When locking lever 32 is pulled to the released 
position, projection 38 is no longer in aperture 28 and, instead, aligns 
with outer wall 29. While locking lever 32 is held in the released 
position by the operator, the cover may be removed by pulling the cover 
away from mounting tab 26. Once the cover has been removed from mounting 
tab 26, handle 34 may be released. 
In the event that, due to congestion in the area in which cover 10 is 
mounted, it is not possible for the operator to reach handle 34 by 
reaching underneath the cover, the operator may remove wiring harness 15 
from channel 11 and move the handle to the released position by inserting 
a finger through hole 42. 
In the preferred embodiment, base 10, locking structures 12 and lid 20 are 
manufactured from a plastic material such as polypropylene. Mounting tabs 
26 are preferably manufactured from a metal such as steel. 
In the preferred embodiment, two mounting tabs 26 and two corresponding 
locking structures 12 are used. Mounting tabs 26 are positioned 
approximately eight inches apart and are welded to the fuel rail. 
Similarly, locking structures 12 are positioned approximately eight inches 
apart. Handles 34 are oriented such that the operator can simultaneously 
grasp one handle with each hand. Thus, in a single operation, the operator 
can grasp and release each handle 34 while pulling the cover away from 
mounting tabs 26. 
If mounting tabs 26 and corresponding locking structures 12 are positioned 
such that they cannot be released simultaneously, the operator will need 
to perform a separate operation to release each locking structure 12. The 
operator grasps one handle 34, releases locking lever 32 and pulls the 
locking structure away from mounting tab 26. In this situation, the 
operator may need to support the released end to prevent it from 
reattaching itself to the mounting tab while the other locking structure 
is removed. Finally, the operator grasps the second handle 34, releases 
locking lever 32 and pulls the cover away from mounting tabs 26. 
Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been 
described as used with a fuel injector wiring harness, it will be 
understood that the mounting mechanism may also be used with any structure 
requiring a detachable mounting mechanism.