Abstract:
A vehicle includes a body panel defining a pass-through, a grommet sealed against the body panel, an electrical connector having a surface defining a sleeve and a tab, and a walled retainer in the grommet and seated within the pass-through. The walled retainer has a prong formed thereon. The prong is configured to slidably receive the sleeve orienting the electrical connector within the pass-through. The prong further defines a channel terminating a ledge. The channel, ledge, and tab are arranged such that the channel and ledge cooperate to retain the tab to prevent movement of the connector relative to the walled retainer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present application relates to grommet assemblies for vehicle body panels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electrical connectors are required in order to make electrical connections throughout a vehicle. Certain connectors may need to pass through vehicle body panels. These connectors should be properly seated within the body panels. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A vehicle includes a body panel defining a pass-through, a grommet covering the pass-through and sealed against the body panel, an electrical connector having a surface defining a sleeve and a tab, and a walled retainer in the grommet and seated within the pass-through. The walled retainer has a prong formed thereon configured to slidably receive the sleeve to orient the electrical connector within the pass-through. The prong defines a channel terminating at a ledge. The channel, ledge, and tab are arranged such that the channel and ledge cooperate to retain the tab to prevent movement of the connector relative to the walled retainer. 
         [0004]    A vehicle includes a body panel defining a pass-through, a grommet covering the pass-through and sealed against the body panel, and a walled retainer in the grommet and seated within the pass-through. The walled retainer has a prong formed thereon. The prong is configured to slidably receive a sleeve of an electrical connector to orient the electrical connector within the pass-through. The prong defines a channel terminating at a ledge. The channel and ledge are configured to retain a tab of the electrical connector to prevent movement of the connector relative to the walled retainer when engaged. 
         [0005]    A vehicle includes a body panel defining a pass-through, a grommet covering the pass-through and sealed against the body panel, and a walled retainer in the grommet and seated within the pass-through. The walled retainer has a prong formed thereon. The prong is configured to slidably receive an electrical connector and orient the electrical connector within the pass-through. The vehicle further includes an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a sleeve engaged with the prong to connect the electrical connector to the walled retainer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a vehicle body panel having a pass-through, a grommet covering the pass-through, and a prior art retainer having electrical connectors formed to the retainer. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a vehicle body panel with the pass-through press, a grommet, a walled retainer having a prong, and an electrical connector. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a walled retainer having a prong and an electrical connector attached to the prong. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a walled retainer and a plurality of attached electrical connectors of different sizes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features of the present invention is illustrated and described with reference to any one of the Figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other Figures to produce embodiments of the present disclosure that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. However, various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure may be desired for particular applications or implementations. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a prior art grommet assembly  10  for a vehicle body panel  12  is provided. The grommet assembly  10  includes a grommet  14 , a retainer  16 , and at least one electrical connector  18 . The retainer  16  is surrounded by the grommet  14  and is secured to a pass-through  20  in a vehicle door body panel  12 . Generally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the electrical connectors  18  are formed on the retainer  16 . This makes the retainer  16  and electrical connectors  18  one piece. This retainer  16  and electrical connector  18  design has a set number of electrical connections. With a set number of electrical connections, the current design cannot be adapted to support differing electrical requirements. Lacking adaptability, the current design has some disadvantages. Different vehicle packages require a variety of differing electrical connections. For example, a vehicle with power locks and windows will need more electrical connections than a vehicle with manual windows and locks. It may be advantageous then to use additional electrical connectors  18  with a vehicle having more electrical options and fewer electrical connectors  18  with vehicles requiring less electrical connections. 
         [0012]    The current retainer  16 , with formed electrical connectors  18 , does not allow for interchangeability between similar vehicles with differing electrical requirements. Retainer size is dependent on a thickness of the vehicle body panel  12 , and the type and number of electrical connectors  18  is dependent on electrical options. Therefore, a design in which the number of electrical connections varies within a standard retainer  16  may have numerous advantages. For example, a body panel thickness between 1-3 mm would be able to use the same retainer  16  regardless of the amount of electrical connections. A larger electrical connector  18  could just be attached to the retainer  16  already in use. Likewise, vehicles requiring fewer electrical connections would be able to use a smaller electrical connector  18 . This saves cost by eliminating the need for the larger electrical connector  18 . Further by forming the electrical connectors  18  to the retainer  16 , the grommet  14  must be modified. Modifying the grommet  14  to fit the retainer  16  causes problems sealing the grommet assembly  10  to the vehicle body panel  12 . It also requires more force to insert the grommet assembly  10  into the pass-through  20  defined in the vehicle body panel  12 . 
         [0013]    It may be advantageous to design a grommet assembly  10  capable of providing a variety of different electrical connectors  18  while maintaining a standard retainer  16  size. Forming a retainer  16  capable of supporting a variety of different electrical connectors  18  allows for flexibility when similar vehicles need different electrical connections. Having flexibility with the electrical connectors  18  provides for standardization of grommet assembly  10  per vehicle body panel  12  thicknesses. For example, a vehicle package with power windows and locks might require two large electrical connectors  18 . A vehicle without power windows or locks might require one large and one small electrical connector  18 . Providing for a variety of electrical connectors  18  to be supported by the retainer  16  allows the grommet assembly  10  to be dependent on vehicle body panel  12  thickness. A standard grommet  14  and retainer  16  could be used to fit a range of body panel thicknesses, while being able to account for differing electrical requirements. Having interchangeable electrical options for the grommet assembly  10  eliminates concerns regarding the number of electrical connections and the vehicle body panel  12  thickness. This may save time, cost, and manufacturing expenses. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a grommet assembly  22  for a vehicle body panel  12  is provided. The grommet assembly  22  includes a grommet  24 , a walled retainer  26 , and an electrical connector  28 . The grommet  24  covers a pass-through  30  defined by the body panel  12  and is sealed against the body panel  12 . The grommet  24  also includes a groove  32 . The walled retainer  26  has an edge portion  34  that mates with the groove  32  to secure the walled retainer  26  to the grommet  24 . The walled retainer  26  is seated within the pass-through  30  defined by the body panel  12 . A plurality of tabs  36  formed around the perimeter of the walled retainer  26  engages the body panel  12 . Engagement between the plurality of tabs  36  and the body panel  12  seats the walled retainer  26  within the pass-through  30 . The walled retainer further includes a prong  38  formed on the walled retainer  26 . 
         [0015]    The prong  38  has a hat shaped cross-sectional area and is configured to slidably receive an electrical connector  28 . The electrical connector  28  includes a sleeve  40  that engages the prong  38 . The electrical connector  28  may be of varying size, shape, and terminal patterns. Therefore, the prong  38  must be able to receive a variety of different electrical connectors  28  with differing sleeve  40  designs. For example, the prong  38  is capable of receiving and interchanging multiple different electrical connectors  28  using a clip slot design. The prong  38  supports the differing electrical connectors  28  and orients them within the body panel pass-through  30 . Adapted to support different types of electrical connectors  28 , the prong  38  allows for interchangeability between different types of electrical connectors  28 . 
         [0016]    For example, a smaller electrical connector  28  would suffice if the application did not need too many electrical connections. However, applications requiring a lot of electrical connections require a larger or multiple electrical connectors  28 . The prong  38  is adapted to secure either of a small  28  or a large electrical connector  28  or any other range of electrical connectors  28 . Being able to simply interchange the electrical connector  28  allows for some standardization of retainer  26  and grommet  24  sizes depending on vehicle body panel  12  thicknesses. This saves packaging space and also allows for some flexibility during manufacturing. 
         [0017]    The prong  38  is designed with a hat-shaped cross sectional area. The sleeve  40 , despite having various styles, utilizes this same design. It has a complementary cross-sectional area that secures the electrical connector  28  to the prong  38 . The prong  38  has two portions. A first portion  42  has a width that allows the first portion  42  to slide through the sleeve  40 . The electrical connector  28  may also include a tab  44 . The tab  44  engages the first portion  42  of the prong  38  and prevents the electrical connector  40  from sliding vertically off of the prong  38 . It does this using a ledge  48  and a channel  50  disposed on the first portion  42  of the prong  38  immediately below the ledge  48 . As the ledge  48  of the first portion  42  of the prong  38  slides past the tab  44 , the tab  44  engages the channel  50 . 
         [0018]    The second portion  46 , being substantially wider than the first portion  42 , engages the sleeve  40  holding the electrical connector  28  against the prong  38 . This constrains the electrical connector  28  to the prong  38  in the horizontal direction. This does not permanently affix the electrical connector  28  to the retainer  26 . The prong  38  is designed to allow the electrical connectors  28  to be removed and replaced by a different electrical connector  28  depending on the application. Slight lateral pressure on the first portion  42  of the prong  38  disengages the first portion  42  from the tab  44 . This allows the sleeve  40  to slide off of the second portion  46  of the prong  38 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a walled retainer  52  is provided. The walled retainer  52  may include a frame  54 , a plurality of tabs  56 , and at least one prong  58 . The frame  54  may be made of a relatively hard material. Further, the plurality of tabs  56  may be formed on an outer wall  60  of the frame  54 . The plurality of tabs  56  secures the walled retainer  52  within a pass-through (not shown) in a vehicle body panel (not shown). The frame  54  may also include an edge portion  62  disposed on the outer wall  60  of the frame  54 . The edge portion  62  may be used to secure the walled retainer  52  to a grommet (not shown). 
         [0020]    At least one prong  58  is attached to an inner wall  64  of the frame  54 . The prong  58  does not engage the vehicle body panel (not shown) and is within the pass-through (not shown) of the vehicle body panel. The at least one prong  58  is positioned such that it secures an electrical connector  66  within the vehicle body panel pass-through. The prong  58  does not permanently affix the electrical connector  66 . Having a hat-shaped cross sectional area, the prong  58  engages a sleeve  68  on the electrical connector  66 . The sleeve  68  has a complementary cross-sectional area that mates with the prong  58 . The at least one prong  58  has modularity such that many different electrical connectors  66  may be used interchangeably per prong  58 . 
         [0021]    For example, a prong  58  has the capability to receive one of most different types, sizes, and terminal patterns depending on the need of the electrical connector  66 . This allows for different options of electrical connectors  66  to be used with a standard retainer  52  and grommet (not shown) for each range of vehicle body panel thickness. Allowing for differing types and styles of electrical connectors  66 , the prong  58  supports at least one as well as a variety of differing electrical connectors  66  within the pass-through (not shown). This modularity allows the prong  58  to support differing types and styles of electrical connectors  66 . 
         [0022]    Achieving the desired modularity is dependent on the interaction between the prong  58  and the sleeve  68  on the electrical connector  66 . The prong  58  has two portions. A first portion  70  being less wide than a second portion  72 . The first portion  70  is designed to direct the prong  58  through the complementary sleeve  68  on the electrical connector  66 . The first portion  70  slides through the sleeve  68  until it engages a tab  74  on the electrical connector  66 . 
         [0023]    This aids in securing the electrical connector  66  to the prong  58 . The tab  74  is disposed at a distance from the sleeve  68 . The distance between the sleeve  68  and the tab  74  is such that as the first portion  70  of the prong  58  engages the tab  74 , the second portion  72  of the prong  58  engages the sleeve  68 . This constrains the electrical connector  66  both laterally and longitudinally to the prong  58 . The electrical connector  66  may be released from the prong  58 . Lateral pressure on the first portion  70  of the prong  58  disengages the tab  74  from the prong  58  and allows the sleeve  68  to slide off of the second portion  72  of the prong  58 . Any size, type, or terminal pattern electrical connector  66  utilizing this sleeve  68  and tab  74  design may be used with the walled retainer  52 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a walled retainer  76  is provided. The walled retainer  76  may include a frame  78 . The frame  78  is formed with a plurality of tabs  80  on an outer wall  82  and at least one prong  84 . The plurality of tabs  80  engages a vehicle body panel (not shown) and secures the walled retainer  76  within a pass-through (not shown) in a vehicle body panel. The at least one prong  84  may be formed on an inner wall  86  of the frame  78 . Forming the prong  84  on the inner wall  86  positions it within the pass-through. Designs that allow interchangeability between electrical connectors  88  within a pass-through in a vehicle body panel may utilize a hat-shaped cross-sectional area that engages a complementary sleeve  90  on the electrical connectors  88 . Engaging the sleeve  90  may be done in a variety of different ways. There are many different styles of sleeve  90 . However, each style incorporates the complementary hat-shaped cross-section of the prong  84 , such as in a clip-slot design. Utilizing this design, the prong  84  can be adapted to fit a large variety of electrical connectors  88 . 
         [0025]    For example, the walled retainer  76  may be used in an application that uses only  26  terminals on the electrical connector  88  and the prong  84  is able to support this type of electrical connector  88 . Further, the same type of walled retainer  76  may be used in an application that requires use of  52  terminals on the electrical connector  88 . The prong  84  would also be able to support this larger electrical connector  88  despite it being different from the smaller terminal electrical connector  88 . The attachment between the prong  84  and electrical connector  88  is dependent on the cross-sectional area of the prong  84 . The cross-sectional area of the prong  84  slidably receives the sleeve  90 . The prong  84  has a height allowing it to extend above the inner wall  86  of the walled retainer  76 . The prong  84  has a first width  92  at a first portion  94  and a second width  96  at a second portion  98 . 
         [0026]    The second width  96  and portion  98  are wider than the first width  92  and portion  94 . The first portion  94  allows the prong  84  to slide through the sleeve  90 . The second portion  98  engages and secures the sleeve  90  to the prong  84 . As the prong  84  slides through the sleeve  90 , the first portion  94  of the prong  84  interacts with a tab  100  on the sleeve  90 . Designed with a channel  102  through the center, the first portion  94  of the prong  84  engages the tab  100  and prevents the electrical connector  88  from sliding off of the prong  84 . The tab  100  fits into the channel  102  and is prevented from sliding off the prong  84  by a tip segment  104  of the first portion  94 . The tip segment  104 , which does not include the channel  102 , acts as a barrier to the tab  100  and constrains the electrical connector  88 . The second portion  98  of the prong  84  engages a wider section of the sleeve  90 . The width of the second portion  96  is such that the engagement between the second portion  98  and the sleeve  90  prevents the electrical connector  88  from moving laterally within the walled retainer  76 . This allows the prong  84  to secure the electrical connector  88  within the walled retainer  76  in both directions. 
         [0027]    To remove the electrical connector  88  from the prong  84 , lateral pressure on the first portion  94  is required. Applying lateral pressure to the first portion  94  of the prong  84  disengages the tab  100  from the channel  102 . This allows the sleeve  90  to slide off of the second portion  98  of the prong  84 . Being able to remove the electrical connector  88  permits the retainer  76  to constrain a variety of electrical connectors  88 . Traditionally, retainers  76  have only been able to support one type or another, and have not been able to support the use of different types simultaneously. The prong  84  has this modularity and allows for interchangeability between different styles, sizes, and capabilities. 
         [0028]    While the best mode has been described in detail, those familiar with the art will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments within the scope of the following claims. While various embodiments may have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments with respect to one or more desired characteristics, as one skilled in the art is aware, one or more characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes include, but are not limited to: cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. The embodiments discussed herein that are described as less desirable than other embodiments are prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.