Component retaining device

A device for retaining an electrical component such as a fuse relative to a circuit includes a retainer body portion that receives and supports the electrical component. A cover maintains the component in position on the retainer body portion. A housing that surrounds the circuit includes a guide member that guides the retainer and maintains it in proper alignment with the housing. The retainer is moveable between a first position where the component engages a connection terminal in the circuit and a second position where the component is disconnected from the circuit. The retainer includes structure that maintains the component in the disconnected position until the retainer is specifically manipulated to allow the component to be reinserted into the connection terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to a device for retaining an electrical 
component in a preselected orientation relative to a circuit. 
Modern vehicles include an increasingly large number of electrical and 
electronic components. While the introduction of these various components 
make vehicles more efficient and introduce the possibility for a more 
versatile driving experience, they introduce the problem of providing 
sufficient electrical connections throughout the vehicle. One aspect of 
the challenge to provide sufficient wiring in a vehicle is arranging the 
circuitry. Another is handling components such as fuses that are 
selectively inserted into and removed from connection with the circuitry. 
Complex assembly and repair operations can require handling many 
components such as fuses and often becomes cumbersome. 
This invention provides a component retainer device that maintains the 
component in a selected orientation relative to the circuitry. More 
specifically, this invention provides a retainer that holds a fuse in a 
position where it is aligned with a circuit connection even though it is 
disconnected from the circuitry. This invention prevents the loss and 
mishandling of fuses especially in complex arrangements such as in an 
automotive vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In general terms, this invention is a device for positioning a component 
such as a fuse relative to a circuit. A device designed according to this 
invention holds a component in a selected orientation and position 
relative to the circuitry so that the component is easily and accurately 
inserted into an electrical connection terminal and disconnected without 
getting lost. 
This invention includes several basic parts. A housing is adapted to house 
at least a portion of the circuit including a terminal connection for 
connecting a component such as a fuse to the circuit. A component receiver 
is adapted to receive and support the component. The component receiver is 
movably supported on a guide member that is, in turn, supported on the 
housing. The guide member guides the component receiver so that it can be 
moved between a first position where the component engages the connection 
terminal and a second position where the component is spaced from the 
connection terminal. The component receiver includes structure that 
maintains the component in the second position so that the component is 
disconnected from the electrical connection terminal and not removable 
from the housing, which prevents the component from being lost and 
facilitates reinserting the component into the circuit. 
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent 
to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the 
preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description 
can be briefly described as follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a component retainer device assembly 20 that is useful 
for handling an electrical component and maintaining it in a selected 
orientation and position relative to a circuit. A housing 22, which is 
adapted to house at least part of the circuitry, includes an opening 24 
through an exterior surface of the housing. A mounting member 26 is 
supported on the housing 22 at the opening 24. A guide member 28 extends 
generally away from the housing. 
A component receiver 30 includes a receiver body portion 32, a set of 
support arms 34 and a cover 36. The illustrated component receiver is 
adapted to support and retain a fuse 40 in position relative to a circuit. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, the receiver body 32 includes a pair of slots 42, 
each of which are adapted to support a separate fuse. Once the fuses 40 
are placed in position within the slots 42, the cover 36 is closed by 
manipulating it about the pivot axis and a living hinge 44 that connects 
the cover to the receiver body 32. In the preferred embodiment, the cover 
36 includes two recessed portions 46 that nestingly receive an outer edge 
of each fuse 40. A set of tabs 48 interact with engagement surfaces 50 to 
maintain the cover in a closed position. 
The receiver body portion 32 includes a central slot 52 that is aligned 
with a central slot 54 in the cover 36 when the cover is placed in a 
closed position. The receiver 30 can then be placed over the guide member 
28 so that the guide member extends through the central slots 52 and 54 as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The dimensions of the central slots 52 and 54 and 
the exterior surface on the guide member 28 ensure that the receiver 30 is 
maintained in a specific alignment relative to the housing 22. 
Importantly, the guide member 28 includes a stop member 60, which 
preferably comprises a tab. The stop member 60 preferably includes a 
ramped surface that allows the receiver 30 to be placed over the guide 
member 28. Once the receiver body portion 32 and the cover 36 pass beyond 
the stop member 60, the stop member prevents the receiver 30 from being 
removed from the guide member under normal circumstances. Since the 
various pieces of the device 20 are made of plastic, it is possible to 
later remove the receiver from the guide member as necessary, however, for 
practical purposes the retainer is maintained on the guide member 28 by 
the stop member 60. 
The mounting member 26 includes a pair of wing portions 62 along which 
inner surfaces of the support arms 34 are received. The mounting member 
also includes slots 64 that are positioned to receive prongs 66 on the 
fuses 40 so that the fuses can be inserted into a connection terminal in 
the circuit (not illustrated). The interaction between the guide member 28 
and the central slots 52 and 54 and the interaction between the winged 
portions 62 and the support arms 34 ensures that the component receiver 
will move in a specific direction and maintain a preferred alignment 
relative to the circuit and the housing 22. Perpendicular travel and 
alignment of the fuses relative to the housing is most preferred. 
The receiver 30 can be moved between a first position shown in FIG. 4 where 
the component (in this instance the fuses 40) engage a connection terminal 
on the circuit and a second position shown in FIG. 3 where the component 
is disconnected from the circuit. The support arms 34 include stop members 
68 that are biased positioned to automatically engage the winged portions 
62 on the mounting member 26 when the receiver 30 is place d in the second 
position. The stop members 68 ensure that the component will not be 
inadvertently or accidentally connected with the circuit but will be 
maintained in the second position. In the preferred embodiment, the 
support arms 34 are connected with the receiver body 32 so that a 
technician can manipulate an extension 70 on the end of each support arm 
34. By moving the extensions 70 toward each other the stop members 68 are 
moved out of engagement with the winged portions 62 and the entire 
receiver 30 can be moved into the first position so that the component can 
be connected to the terminal in the circuit. 
This invention provides several important advantages. First, an electrical 
component is maintained in a disconnected positioned without being 
completely separated from the housing. Further, the component cannot be 
moved back into a connected position without specifically operating the 
retainer device. The arrangement keeps the component in a specific 
alignment with the connection terminals of the circuit. Maintaining proper 
alignment is important to ensure that the component is properly connected 
to the connection terminal. 
The description of the preferred embodiment given above is exemplary rather 
than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed 
embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not 
necessarily depart from the purview and spirit and of this invention. The 
scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined 
by studying the following claims.