Patent Publication Number: US-11378260-B2

Title: Mounting fixture for mounting an LED connector assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a mounting fixture for mounting an LED connector assembly. In particular, the invention is directed to a mounting fixture which do not require additional mounting hardware. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     LED are used in many applications, including, but not limited to automotive applications. When mounting or securing the LEDs, mounting hardware, such as nuts, are used to secure the LEDs in position. The use of mounting hardware adds expense and requires additional parts. In addition, as space is often at a premium, the use of mounting hardware may require increased space, which is not desirable. 
     Mounting hardware may also increase the complexity of the mounting of the LEDs. As LEDs are often mounted in tight spaces, the ability to use tooling to mount the LEDs is limited due to the particular space configurations. 
     It would be, therefore, be beneficial to provide a mounting fixture for mounting an LED connector assembly which avoids the problems described above. In particular, it would be beneficial to provide a mounting fixture which does not require additional mounting hardware. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment is directed to a mounting frame for mounting an LED connector assembly. The mounting frame has a mounting opening which extends from a first surface of the mounting frame toward a second surface of the mounting frame. Centering ribs are provided about a circumference of the mounting opening. The centering ribs are spaced from the first surface. Retention projections are provided about the circumference of the mounting opening. The retention projections are spaced from the centering ribs. 
     An embodiment is directed to an LED assembly. The LED assembly includes a mounting frame and an LED connector. The mounting frame include a mounting opening which extends from a first surface of the mounting frame toward a second surface of the mounting frame. Centering ribs are provided about a circumference of the mounting opening. The centering ribs are spaced from the first surface. Retention projections are provided about the circumference of the mounting opening. The retention projections are spaced from the centering ribs. The LED connector is positioned in the mounting opening. The LED connector has a mounting portion with a positioning portion and a threaded portion. The positioning portion is positioned to cooperate with the centering ribs to center the LED connector in the mounting opening. The threaded portion is positioned to cooperate with the retention projections to secure the LED connector in the mounting opening of the mounting frame. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative frame member with an LED assembly mounted in an opening of a mounting member of the frame member. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the opening of the mounting member of the frame member with no LED assembly provided therein. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional, perspective view of the opening of the mounting member of the frame member. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an LED assembly for mounting in the opening of the frame member. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the frame member with an LED assembly mounted in an opening of the frame member taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the frame member with an LED assembly mounted in an opening of the frame member taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-section view of the opening showing the retention projections in engagement with the mounting portion of the LED assembly. top perspective view of the electrical connector fully inserted into a module housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
     Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portion of a panel or frame  10  is shown. The panel or mounting frame  10  can be used to mount components, such as, but not limited to LED connector assembly  12 . The panel or frame  10  may be used in different application, including, but not limited to, automotive applications. 
     The frame  10  includes a LED mounting area  14  which extends from a first surface  16  of the frame to an oppositely facing second surface  18 . An LED mounting member  20  is provided in the mounting area  14  and extends from the first surface  16  to the second surface  18 . In the embodiment shown, the mounting member  20  has a cylindrical configuration, however, other configurations may be used. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , a mounting opening  22  is provided in the mounting member  20 . The mounting opening  22  extends from the first surface  16  toward the second surface  18 . When viewed from the first surface  16 , the mounting opening  22  has a diameter D 1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Centering ribs  24  are provided about the circumference of the mounting opening  22 . The centering ribs  24  extend from a side wall  26  of the opening  22  toward a longitudinal axis  28  of the opening  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the centering ribs  24  are spaced equidistant around the circumference of the mounting opening  22 . In the embodiment shown, three centering ribs  24  are provided. However, other numbers, positioning and configurations of the centering ribs  24  may be provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the centering ribs  24  have lengths L 1  which extend along the side wall  26  of the mounting opening  22  from proximate the first surface  16  toward the second surface  18  of the mounting frame  10  in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis  28  of the opening  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , the centering ribs  24  have bases  30  which are attached to the side wall  26  and free ends  32  which extend into the opening  22  toward the longitudinal center axis  28  of the mounting opening  22 . The free ends have rounded configurations to prevent the centering ribs  24  from damaging the LED connector assembly  12 . 
     Retention or mounting projections  34  are provided about the circumference of the mounting opening  22 . The retention projections  34  extend from the side wall  26  of the opening  22  toward the longitudinal axis  28  of the opening  22 . The retention projections  34  are spaced from the centering ribs  24  and are spaced between a distance L 2  and a distance L 3  ( FIG. 3 ) from the first surface  16  of the mounting frame  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the retention projections  34  are spaced around the circumference of the mounting opening  22 . In the embodiment shown, six retention projections  34  are provided. However, other numbers, positioning and configurations of the retention projections  34  may be provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the retention projections  34  are staggered, whereby retention projections  34   a  are spaced a distance L 2  from the first surface  16  of the mounting frame  10  and retention projections  34   b  are spaced a distance L 3  from the first surface  16  of the mounting frame  10 . The distance L 2  is less than the distance L 3 . Consequently, the retention projections  34   a  are staggered relative to the retention projections  34   b , thereby allowing the retention projections  34   a  and the retention projection  34   b  to engage different portions of the LED connector assembly  12  to provide for increased retention of the LED connector assembly  12  in the mounting opening  22  of the mounting member  20  of the frame  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7 , the retention projections  34  have fixed ends  40  which are attached to the side wall  26  and free ends  42  which extend toward a longitudinal center axis of the mounting opening  22 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the retention projections  34  have upper sloped or lead-in walls  44  which extend between the fixed ends  40  and the free ends  42  and locking shoulders  46  which extend between the fixed ends  40  and the free ends  42 . The lead-in walls  44  are positioned on the side of the retention projections  34  which are closer to the first surface  16 . The lead-in walls  44  are sloped from the fixed ends  40  to the free ends  42  in a direction toward the second surface  18 . The locking shoulders  46  are positioned on the side of the retention projections  34  which are further from the first surface  16 . The locking shoulders  46  are sloped from the fixed ends  40  to the free ends  42  in a direction approximately parallel to or toward the second surface  18 . The angle  48  that the locking shoulders  46  project from the side wall  26  is configured to be 90 degrees or less. The free ends  42  have sharp or pointed configurations to allow the retention projections  34  to engage and maintain the LED connector assembly  12  is position. The free ends  32  of the centering ribs  24  are rounded or have an arcuate configuration to prevent the centering ribs  24  from damaging the LED connector assembly  12 . The free ends  42  of the retention projections  34  extend toward the longitudinal center axis  28  of the mounting opening  22  further than the free ends  32  of the centering ribs  24 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the LED connector assembly  12  has a LED  50  with a first end  52  and a second end  56 . A cover  54  surrounds the LED  50  and maintains the LED in position on the LED connector assembly  12 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the cover  54  has a diameter D 5  which is larger than the diameter D 1  of the mounting opening  22 . A mounting portion  55  extends from the cover  54  toward the second end  56  of the LED connector assembly  12 . The mounting portion  55  has a threaded securing portion  58  and a positioning portion  60 . The threaded securing portion  58  extends from the cover  54  to the positioning portion  60 . The diameter D 6  of the threaded securing portion  58  is smaller than the diameter D 5  of the cover  54  and smaller than the diameter D 1  of the mounting opening  22 . The positioning portion  60  extends from the securing threaded portion  58  to the second end  56 . The diameter D 7  of the positioning portion  60  is smaller than the diameter D 6  of the threaded securing portion  58  and smaller than the diameter D 1  of the mounting opening  22 . 
     To assemble the LED connector assembly  12  to the frame  10 , the LED connector assembly  12  is positioned and secured in the mounting opening  22  of the mounting member  20  of the mounting area  14  of the frame  10 . Initially, the LED connector assembly  12  is moved into alignment with the mounting opening  22 . The mounting portion  26  of the LED connector assembly  12  is moved into the opening  22 . As this occurs, the positioning portion  60  of the LED connector assembly  12  engages the centering ribs  24  of the opening  22 , thereby facilitating the proper position of the LED connector assembly  12  in the opening  22  as insertion continues. 
     As insertion continues, the threaded securing portion  58  of the LED connector assembly  12  is moved into the opening  22 . Continued insertion of the LED connector assembly  12  causes the threaded securing portion  58  to engage the centering ribs  24  and the retention projections  34 . As the lead-in surfaces  44  of the retention projections  34  are sloped toward the second surface  18 , the threaded securing portion  58  can be inserted into the opening  22  without encountering significant force which opposes the insertion. The insertion of the LED connector assembly  12  into the opening  22  is continued until further insertion is prevented by the engagement of the cover  54  with the first surface  16  of the frame  10 . 
     In the fully inserted position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the free ends  40  of the retention projections  34  are positioned between threads  62  of the threaded securing portion  58  of the LED connector assembly  12 . In this position, the locking shoulders  46  of the retention projections  34  engage the threads  62 . Because of the angle  48  that the locking shoulders  46  extend from the side wall  26 , the retention projections  34  lock the LED connector assembly  12  in position in the opening, thereby preventing the unwanted removal of the LED connector assembly  12  from the opening  22  and the frame  10 . 
     In the fully assembled position, the centering ribs  24  also engage the ends of the threads  62  of the threaded securing portion  58  to properly position the LED connector assembly  12  in the opening  22  and to prevent the unwanted movement of the LED connector assembly  12  in the opening  22 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials and components and otherwise used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.