Abstract:
A multi-positional wire cover having a first piece configured to detachably engage a second piece having an opening configured to allow passage of one or more wires. The second piece is moveable about the first piece and removable to a second position once a first position is found. The wire cover has a feature that provides both an audible and tactical indication of an available position. A lock is provided to secure the second piece in place once a desired location is determined.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a connector with multiple wire routing positions and more specifically, a two-piece wire cover with multiple wire routing positions using a latch and proper routing position assurance. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Connectors are required to provide electrical power or electrical or electronic signals between components, such as computers, printers, auxiliary hardware, etc. Often, these connections are required in less than optimum areas and require protection from shorts, damage, and other obstacles that may interfere with the transmission of the power or other signals. It is therefore desirable for the connectors to provide support, protection and direction/orientation to the wires and other materials transmitting the power or data. 
   Connector systems, including automotive connectors systems, often require that wires be routed in different directions and/or with differing orientation depending on connector location and wire routing within the vehicle. An example of a known system is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein a connector system  100  utilizes a wire cover  101  to engage connector  103 .  FIG. 1  shows the connector  103  and wire cover  101  in a disengaged position and  FIG. 2  shows the connector  103  and the wire cover  101  in an engaged position. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wire cover  101  permits routing of the wires in a single direction, wherein alternate wiring directions, when desired, would require a wire cover  101  configured differently. Specifically, accommodating these various routings often require tooling and molding several different wire covers that mate to the same connector but have different wire routing directions. The single direction routing wire covers cause added expense to tool, store and maintain these multiple part options. The known wire cover systems are typically shipped separately or as a kit. In either case, a customer must assemble the wire cover onto the connector after inserting the contact wires, causing an added expense for the customer to assemble them. 
   In addition, wire cover systems that allow for different wire routing options are either a single molded cover with two or more fixed exits or two piece covers where one piece fits on the other and can be positioned to the desired routing location but does not have a way to be locked into position to assure the correct routing location without the use of tape or wire ties, thus making wire routing changes difficult. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a two piece wire cover offering multiple directions for routing wire that also has a built in position assurance feature to assure and lock in proper wire routing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a wire cover having a first piece with a collar, where the collar has a plurality of notched slots along an outside surface. The wire cover also has a second piece that secures around the collar of the first piece. The second piece has a latch and a lock, and the latch has at least one raised bump. The second piece is rotatable about the collar, and the at least one raised bump is configured to fit in each notched slot of the plurality of notched slots. The raised bump produces an audible signal and tactical signal when the second piece is rotated about the collar and the at least one bump passes over at least one notched slot. Also, the lock is set in an engaged position to secure the at least one raised bump in at least one notched slot to prevent the second piece from rotating about the first piece and defining a first position, and the lock is set in a disengaged position to allow the second piece to rotate about the first piece until a second position is located. 
   The present invention is also directed to a wire cover having a first piece with a cylindrical collar, the collar having a plurality of notched slots disposed laterally along an outside surface. The cover includes a second piece configured to secure around the collar with a latch and a lock, the latch having at least one raised bump. The second piece is rotatable about the collar, and the at least one raised bump being configured to fit in each notched slot of the plurality of notched slots. The raised bump produces an audible and tactical signal when the second piece is rotated about the collar and the at least one bump passes over at least one notched slot, and the lock is set in an engaged position to secure the at least one raised bump in at least one notched slot to prevent the second piece from rotating about the first piece and defining a first position. The lock is set in a disengaged position to allow the second piece to rotate about the first piece until a second position is located. 
   An advantage of the present invention is multiple wire routing positions with a secure two-piece connector design. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that second piece of the wire cover is movable to alternate positions, even after a first predetermined position is determined. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that the latch may be manually or automatically actuated to locate a second predetermined position. 
   Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the wire cover has a position assurance feature that prevents the latch from actuating to a second position. 
   Still another advantage of the present invention is that once the wire cover is in place, no additional reinforcement such as tape is needed to secure the cover in position. 
   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  illustrates an exploded view of a prior art wire cover. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the prior art wire cover in the assembled position. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the first piece of the wire cover. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the second piece of the wire cover. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an inside view of the second piece of the wire cover in the open position. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the second piece of the wire cover in the closed position. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the lock in the engaged position on the second piece shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the lock in the engaged position. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the first and second pieces of the wire cover assembled together with the lock disengaged. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the first and second pieces as shown in  FIG. 9  with the lock engaged. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an alternate position of the second piece. 
   

   Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 3  illustrates the first piece  22  of the two-piece wire cover  11  (Shown in  FIG. 9 ) of the wire cover. The first piece  22  is a single molded body  10  with a protruding arcuate collar  12  with a raised rail  14  and a plurality of notched slots  16  extending longitudinally around the outer surface of the collar  12  in an axial direction away from the raised rail  14 . The collar  12  protrudes from the body  10  of the first piece  22 , to act as a receptacle for the second piece  24  ( FIG. 4 ) of the wire cover, meaning that the second piece  24  fits over the collar  12  of the first piece  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , arcuate collar  12  subscribes an arc that approximates the shape of a semi-cylinder, but is not restricted to this shape, as it may encompass more or less than a semi-cylinder or it may assume an elliptical or circular shape. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an outside view of the second piece  24  of the two-piece wire cover  11  in an open position. The second piece has two halves, a first half  21  and a second half  23 . The first half  21  and second half  23  are movable about and connected by a living hinge  18  or a plurality of living hinges  18 . When the second piece  24  is in the open position, it can be placed over the collar  12  of the first piece  22  and create a directional ferrule. The two halves  21 ,  23  are in the open position when the latches  33  are not engaged with the protrusions  31 . Once the second piece  24  is placed over the collar  12  of the first piece  22 , the first half  21  can be rotated about the hinge  18  to engaged the latches  33  with the protrusions  31 , thereby into a closed position, creating a ferrule around the collar  12  of the first piece  22 . The second piece  24  is shaped such that when placed on the first piece  22  and closed, a secure fit is made around the collar  12 . Upon closing the second piece  24  about the hinge  18 , latches  33  engage with protrusions  31  to secure the second piece  24  in the closed position. A force may be applied to depress the protrusions  31  to open the second piece  24  about the hinge  18  if necessary. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second piece  24  has a recessed channel  26  that accepts the raised rail  14  of the first piece  22 . Once the second piece  24  is secured over the collar  12  of the first piece  22 , the second piece  24  can rotate about the collar  12  while in the closed position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , an exit opening  20  on one portion of the second piece  24  allows the wires to be routed in a plurality of predetermined positions. The opening  20  is shaped in an elbow form, to allow the wires to exit and bend, if necessary. However, it should be noted from  FIGS. 10-11  that the opening  20  is not a closed elbow, as a portion of the opening is not covered to allow for even more flexibility of the wires routed through the two piece wire cover. The wires exit the first piece  22  at a predetermined angle, and may exit the second piece  24  at the same predetermined angle, or the wires may be routed to exit the second piece  24  through the opening  20  at a different predetermined angle. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the second piece  24  has a raised bump  34  that is aligned to fit into the notched slots  16  of the collar  12  when the second piece  24  is assembled to the first piece  22 . The raised bump  34  provides both a tactical feel and audible indication when the second piece  24  is rotated around the collar  12 . Each instance where the raised bump  34  rests in a notched slot  16 , a predetermined position is located. The second piece also has a latch  38  with a second bump  36  that fits into the notched slots  16  on the collar  12 . The second bump is adjacent to the raised bump and aligns with the same notched slot as the raised bump  34 . The second bump  36  is larger in size than the raised bump  34  and held to a tighter fit in the notched slots  16  than the raised bump  34 . A greater force is necessary to move the second bump  36  between the notched slots  16 . When the second piece  24  is being rotated about the collar  12 , the latch  38  is self-actuating and is displaced each time the raised bump  34  and second bump  36  passed by a notched slot  16 . The latch  38  moveably pivots to allow the second bump  36  to pass from one notched slot  16  to the next. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , once the desired wire routing position is obtained, the flexible lock or position assurance feature  40  may be used to secure the second piece  24  in place and prevent the second piece  24  from rotating further around the collar  12 . When the lock  40  secures the second piece  24  in place, the lock  40  is in the engaged position. In the engaged position, the lock  40  prevents the latch  38  from pivoting or being movably displaced from one notched slot  16  to the next. The second bump  36  is disposed in a notched slot  16 , and cannot be displaced to move to the next adjacent notched slot  16 . However, if a new position is desired or required after a preliminary position is selected, the lock  40  can be disengaged, and the latch  38  can then self actuate and displace or pivot to allow the second bump  36  to pass to the next notched slot  16 . The second piece  24  is rotated to the desired position, and the lock  40  is reengaged to lock the second piece  24  in the new position. 
   As long as the lock  40  is in the disengaged position, the second piece  24  may rotate around the collar  12 . The lock  40  may be secured in the engaged position by a fastener  42  or a plurality of fasteners  42 . In the exemplary embodiments, the fasteners  42  are protrusions extending from one end of the lock  40  that engage with apertures (not shown) when in the engaged position. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any type of fastener may be used. 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a second bump  36  that is held to a tighter fit in the notched slots  16 , and is not easily displaced, even when a greater force is applied. The raised bump  34  provides an audible and tactical signal to notify the user when a position is located, and the second bump  36  secures the second piece  24  in place once a desired location is determined. However, though the second bump  36  in the exemplary embodiment is not easily displaced once secured in a notched slot  16 , a force with a high enough magnitude may cause rotation of the second piece  24  about the collar  12 , though this force may actually cause damage to the wire cover  11 . Alternately, a user or a technician may depress the latch  38  to displace the second bump  36  from the notched slot  16  and allow the second piece  24  to rotate about the collar  12 . Once the user releases the latch  38 , the second bump  36  is secured in the notched slot  16  and not easily movable. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the latch  38  being unitary with the second piece  24 , and not a separate piece. Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the position assurance feature  40  being unitary with the second piece  24 , and not a separate piece. Yet another exemplary embodiment includes the present invention being used in an automotive application. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate the first piece  22  and second piece  24  of the present invention assembled together.  FIG. 9  illustrates the second piece  24  being closed around the first piece  22 , with the lock  40  in the disengaged position.  FIG. 10  illustrates the second piece  24  being closed around the first piece  22 , with the lock  40  in the engaged position. In both  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second piece  24  is aligned with the first piece  22  so that the recessed channel  26  of the second piece  24  is aligned with the collar  12  of the first piece  22 . The collar  12  of the first piece is encased within the recessed channel  26  of the second piece  24  so that the second piece  24  is assembled onto the first piece  22 . However, the recessed channel  26  is sized to provide a minimal clearance between the recessed channel  26  and the raised rail  14  without being able to remove the second piece  24  and still allow the second piece to be rotated along the collar  12 . The second piece  24  can be rotated substantially 360 degrees around the collar  12  to a position within the restraints of the notched slots  16 . As shown in the Figures, the collar  12  is not a full 360 degree surface with notched slots  16  around a full 360 degree surface. The collar  12  is more than 180 degrees, but less than 360 degrees, having notched slots  16  along the entire surface of the collar  12 . For example, if the collar  12  has thirty-two notched slots  16 , the second piece  24  is limited to thirty-two positions. While thirty-two notched slots  16  have been provided as an example, any number of notched slots may be used. Alternately, an additional piece (not shown) may be added and connected to the collar  12  with a living hinge. The additional piece completes the 360-degree surface of the collar  12  and provide a full 360 degrees of positions. 
     FIG. 11  illustrates a different position of the second piece  24  as disposed on the collar  12 . While the Figures illustrate discrete positions selected along the collar  12 , one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any position along the collar  12  is available, dependant upon the number of notched slots  16  provided along the collar  12 . For example, thirty-six notched slots  16  would provide discrete positions at 100 intervals. While thirty-six notched slots  16  have been used as an example, the present invention is not limited to that number. In addition, both the first piece  22  and second piece  24  may be constructed of a durable material such as plastic or die cast metal. 
   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 scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.