Patent Description:
A wire assembly (e.g., a wire harness, cable harness, etc.) typically includes wires configured for electronic capabilities, such as the transmission of signals or provision of electric power. In some applications, the respective wires may vary in length spanning distances up to several meters or throughout a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, aircraft, spacecraft, ship, etc.). Accordingly, a wire assembly may include a clip used to bind or gather the wires to secure the wires, prevent degradation of wire integrity, reduce human contact, etc. The clip may attach the wire assembly to a supporting structure, such as a stud. An ongoing need exists for improved designs that allow for such wire assemblies to be easily and reliably mounted to such supporting structures.

Such conventional clips are not without limitations. For example, conventional clips limit the options by which a wire assembly can be attached to a stud and fail to provide temporary retention features to allow the wire assembly to be attached to a stud by single hand operation. However, the inventors have identified various problems and difficulties that occur in securing a wire assembly to a protrusion coupled to a vehicular surface. The inventors have solved such obstacles achieved by developing an unconventional solution that secures a wire assembly to a protrusion coupled to a vehicular surface.

<CIT> relates to a fastening clip having at least one seat for a line, and at least one hermaphroditic coupling section for connecting the fastening clip to a second fastening clip of identical construction. The first connecting structure has a groove that widens away from an oblong opening and is open in the longitudinal direction, and the second connecting structure has a protruding rail that can engage into the groove and has a thickened portion on its free end. A second locking structure is arranged offset by <NUM> degrees in relation to a first locking structure. The locking structures are arranged such that the first locking structure of a first fastening clip can lock with the second locking structure of a second fastening clip having an identical coupling section, and the second locking structure of the first fastening clip can lock with the first locking structure of the second fastening clip.

<CIT> discloses to stackable clip with a flat profile on a weld stud. As described, a vehicle has a plurality of studs secured to its frame at predetermined locations. At least one groups of wires used to electrically interconnect electrical components of the vehicle are taped together and routed along the vehicle frame. Clips, each having a beam including a beam opening with a gripping device in the opening, are forced down onto the studs to secure the clips onto the studs. At least one wire of the group of wires is secured to the clip and therefore to the stud. The other wires of the group of wires, which are taped to the at least one wire, are according secured to the stud. A method of securing groups of wires to the vehicle frame incorporates use of the clips.

<CIT> discloses a wire assembly securement apparatus, comprising a retainer body configured to attach, via a plurality of binding attachments, to a wire assembly, the retainer body extending between a first side surface and a second side surface and further comprising: a first wall having a first end and a second end and extending between the first and second side surfaces; a second wall having a first end and a second end and extending between the first and second side surfaces, wherein the first end of the first wall is located adjacent the first end of the second wall; and a generally concave wall extending between the second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall; first and second elongated arms structured to extend from the retainer body, wherein the first elongated arm extends from the first side surface of the retainer body and the second elongated arm extends from the second side surface of the retainer body; and facilitate, via the plurality of binding attachments, attachment of the retainer body to the wire assembly; a retainer portion having an ovate passage formed therein, the ovate passage being configured to receive a protrusion and wherein the retainer body comprises a first receiver passage extending through a portion of the first wall at a location adjacent the first side surface of the retainer body and a second receiver passage extending through a portion of the second wall at a location adjacent the second side surface of the retainer body.

The present invention relates to a wire assembly securement apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

These and other features of the implementations described herein, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below.

Other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims, in which:.

It will be recognized that some or all of the figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration. The figures are provided for the purpose of illustrating one or more implementations with the explicit understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Referring to the figures generally, an apparatus (a clip, strain relief assembly, etc.) for securing a wire assembly to a protrusion coupled to (e.g., extending from) a surface is described. The surface may include a surface of, or corresponding to, a vehicle operable via at least one of a motor (e.g., an electric motor), engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine, gasoline engine, jet engine, steam engine, hybrid engine, etc.), propeller, rail, road, air, water, etc. Accordingly, the apparatus <NUM> may be utilized interior to the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus <NUM> may be utilized exterior to the vehicle.

Referring to <FIG>, a frontal view of an apparatus <NUM> is illustrated according to an example embodiment. As depicted, the apparatus <NUM> may include a retainer body <NUM>, a concave surface <NUM>, first and second elongated arms <NUM>, first and second capture flanges <NUM>, a retainer portion <NUM>, and an ovate passage <NUM>. The retainer body <NUM> is configured to retain (e.g., accommodate, hold, receive, etc.) a wire assembly (e.g., a wire harness or other assembly comprising one or more wires). The retainer body <NUM> may be made of material such as a plastic or composite material. In the depicted embodiment, for example, the retainer body <NUM> comprises an injection molded non-conductive plastic and measures a length (L) and width (W), configured to accommodate the various assemblies (e.g., wire assemblies) as described herein. In other embodiments, the retainer body <NUM> may be made from any suitable material and/or combinations of materials.

In further embodiments, the retainer body <NUM> may be configured (e.g., sized and shaped) to accommodate different sizes, numbers, or types of wire assemblies, wires, tubes, cables etc. In this regard, in some embodiments, the retainer body <NUM> is configured to retain a wire assembly and/or one or more wires comprising a plurality of diameters as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In an example embodiment, the plurality of diameters may result in cross sections ranging from <NUM><NUM> (square millimeters) to <NUM><NUM> in area.

The retainer body <NUM> is structured to attach to a wire assembly via a plurality of types of binding attachments as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, in the illustrated example, the retainer body <NUM> and the elongated arms <NUM> are structured to attach to a wire assembly via a plurality of types of binding attachments comprising a first type of attachment and a secondary type of attachment. For example, the first type of attachment may be tie wraps. The tie wraps may be made of nylon or other material and may have a flexible tape section with teeth that engage with a pawl in a head of the tie wrap to form a ratchet. As such, as the free end of the tape section is pulled, the tie-wrap tightens and does not come undone. The second type of attachment may be an attachment by tape or other flame retardant adhesive wrapped around the elongated arms <NUM>. In some embodiments, the retainer body <NUM> may be structured to attach to a wire assembly via either the first type of attachment or by the second type of attachment or by both.

The apparatus <NUM> as illustrated includes first and second elongated arms <NUM>. The first and second elongated arms <NUM> may be structured to extend from the retainer body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first and second elongated arms <NUM> may be structured to facilitate, via a plurality of binding attachments, attachment of the retainer body <NUM> to a wire harness. The first and second elongated arms <NUM> may comprise arm walls <NUM> as illustrated with reference to <FIG>. The arm walls <NUM> may be disposed perpendicular to each respective first and second elongated arm <NUM>. In the example embodiment as depicted, the first and second elongated arms <NUM> and the arm walls <NUM> may form lips <NUM>. In this regard, a wire assembly may be secured via a plurality of attachments corresponding to a plurality of fasteners. For example, a plurality of fasteners (e.g., tie wrap, tape, a combination thereof, etc.), may be placed around (e.g., looped around, bent around, etc.) the first and second elongated arms <NUM>. In turn, the lips <NUM> may retain at least one of the plurality of fasteners or the wire assembly to the first and second elongated arms <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>. To that end, the lips <NUM> may prevent the plurality of fasteners from sliding off or otherwise becoming disengaged from the first and second elongated arms <NUM>.

With reference back to <FIG>, as depicted, the apparatus <NUM> includes a retainer portion <NUM> structured to define an ovate passage <NUM>. In this regard, the retainer portion <NUM> is configured to receive, via the ovate passage <NUM>, a protrusion (not shown) as described herein below. The retainer portion <NUM> extends from the retainer body <NUM> forming angles, at or near, <NUM>° (degrees) with the first and second elongated arms <NUM>. In some embodiments, the retainer portion <NUM> may be structured to form angles less than <NUM>° or greater than <NUM>° with the first and second elongated arms <NUM>. In other example embodiments, the retainer portion <NUM> may be coupled to the retainer body <NUM> via one or more fasteners (e.g., one or more screws, joints, adhesives, etc.) Though the retainer portion <NUM>, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a rectangular formation, the retainer portion <NUM> may comprise a square, circular, or any other suitable formation. The retainer portion <NUM> may be made of material plastic or a composite material. For example, the retainer portion <NUM> may comprise injection molded non-conductive plastic. Further description with respect to the retainer portion <NUM> is described herein with reference to <FIG>.

As depicted, the apparatus <NUM> includes the first and second capture flanges <NUM> (e.g., flanges configured to lock or secure) structured to extend via an ovate passage <NUM>. The first and second capture flanges <NUM> may be configured to secure a protrusion (not shown) received through the ovate passage <NUM>. The protrusion may comprise a stud, nail, screw, or other type of mechanical faster. In some embodiments, the protrusion (e.g., a stud) may be coupled to a vehicular surface (e.g., a surface of, or corresponding to, a vehicle operable via at least one of a motor or engine). To that end, the first and second capture flanges <NUM> are configured for a first secure attachment to the protrusion coupled to the vehicular surface. For example, the first and second capture flanges <NUM> may be configured for a first secure attachment such as, but not limited to, locking the protrusion (e.g., a stud) to temporarily secure the protrusion prior to applying a fastener (e.g., a nut, bolt, or other type of mechanical fastener). In this regard, the first and second capture flanges <NUM> are operable to move (e.g., expand, collapse, or otherwise adjust) between a first position (e.g., a non-engaged state, resting state, free state, unoccupied state, etc.) and a second position (e.g., an engaged state, expanded state, etc.). Accordingly, the first and second capture flanges <NUM> may be operable to move from the first position (e.g., the non-engaged state) to the second position (e.g.. , the engaged state) in response to retaining (e.g., receiving) one or more protrusions (e.g., a stud).

In some embodiments, the first and second capture flanges <NUM> may be structured to retain one or more protrusions comprising a plurality of diameters. For example, the one or more protrusions may range in size or diameter. The first and second capture flanges <NUM> may be made of material such as plastic, rubber or composite material configured for flexible motion, extended motion, etc..

With reference to <FIG>, a front perspective view of the apparatus <NUM> is illustrated according to an example embodiment. As depicted previously, the apparatus <NUM> comprises the retainer body <NUM>, the central portion <NUM>, the concave surface <NUM>, the first and second elongated arms <NUM>, the receiver passages <NUM>, the one or more raised portions <NUM>, and the retainer portion <NUM>.

As more clearly depicted in <FIG>, the retainer body <NUM> includes a central portion <NUM> configured to support the retention of the wire assembly. The first and second elongated arms <NUM>, as depicted, are structured to extend from the central portion <NUM>. The central portion <NUM> may be made of material such as plastic or a composite material. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the central portion <NUM> comprises an injection molded non-conductive plastic. As will be appreciated, the central portion <NUM> may be made of a like or different material as the material forming the retainer body or any other components or portions thereof.

The apparatus <NUM> as illustrated comprises a concave surface <NUM> to receive the wire assembly. (An exploded view of the concave surface <NUM> according to one embodiment is shown in <FIG>. ) For example, the wire assembly may be placed into the concave surface <NUM> or otherwise provided and, thereby, coupled to the concave surface <NUM>. Although a concave surface <NUM> is depicted, the apparatus <NUM> may include a convex (e.g., a surface structured to curve outward) or any other type of surface structured to receive a wire assembly.

As depicted, the retainer body <NUM> is structured to define a plurality of receiver passages <NUM> (e.g., receiving cavities). The plurality of receiver passages <NUM> are structured to receive a plurality of fasteners corresponding to the plurality of binding attachments. For example, the plurality of receiver passages <NUM> may be structured to receive a plurality of tie wraps (not shown) which may pass through the plurality of receiver passages. The plurality of fasteners may then secure (e.g., by looping or wounding around) the apparatus <NUM> to the wire assembly. Although two receiver passages <NUM> are illustrated, the apparatus <NUM> may include, in some embodiments, any number of receiver passages <NUM> necessary to receive a plurality of fasteners. As illustrated, the plurality of receiver passages <NUM> are disposed within, or otherwise defined by, the central portion <NUM>. In further embodiments, the plurality of receiver passages <NUM> may be defined by other portions or components of the apparatus <NUM>. For example, the plurality of receiver passages <NUM> may be defined by the first and second elongated arms <NUM>.

In the embodiment as illustrated, the retainer body <NUM> comprises one or more raised portions <NUM> structured to prevent the wire assembly from an unstable motion (e.g., a slipping motion). The one or more raised portions <NUM> may comprise one or more raised bands, ridges, or other raised protrusions. For example, the one or more raised portions <NUM> may prevent the wire assembly, or otherwise the wires, from moving in a parallel direction with respect to the apparatus <NUM>. In so doing, the one or more raised portions <NUM> provides traction, slip-resistance, etc. to prevent the wire assembly from an unstable motion.

With respect to <FIG>, a rear view of an apparatus <NUM> is illustrated according to an example embodiment. As described above, the apparatus <NUM> includes a retainer portion <NUM> structured to define an ovate passage <NUM>. The ovate passage <NUM> is structured to receive one or more protrusions comprising various shapes and/or sizes. For example, the ovate passage <NUM> may receive protrusions comprising round, oval, or other shapes.

The ovate passage <NUM> comprises one or more ovate walls as illustrated. The one or more ovate walls may comprise the inner wall <NUM>, the intermediate wall <NUM>, and the outer wall <NUM>. The intermediate wall <NUM> is disposed between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM>. The one or more ovate walls may comprise at least one of a metallic material, polymer material, composite material, or other material. For example, the intermediate wall <NUM>, as illustrated, comprises a metal structured to support the retention of the protrusion (e.g., a stud comprising sheet metal protruding from a vehicular surface).

Claim 1:
A wire assembly securement apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
a retainer body (<NUM>) configured to attach, via a plurality of binding attachments, to a wire assembly, the retainer body (<NUM>) extending between a first side surface and a second side surface and further comprising:
a first wall having a first end and a second end and extending between the first and second side surfaces;
a second wall having a first end and a second end and extending between the first and second side surfaces, wherein the first end of the first wall is located adjacent the first end of the second wall; and
a generally concave wall (<NUM>) extending between the second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall;
first and second elongated arms (<NUM>) structured to:
extend from the retainer body (<NUM>), wherein the first elongated arm (<NUM>) extends from the first side surface of the retainer body and the second elongated arm extends from the second side surface of the retainer body (<NUM>); and
facilitate, via the plurality of binding attachments, attachment of the retainer body (<NUM>) to the wire assembly;
a retainer portion (<NUM>) having an ovate passage (<NUM>) formed therein, the ovate passage being configured to receive a protrusion; and
wherein the retainer body (<NUM>) comprises a first receiver passage (<NUM>) extending through a portion of at least one of the first wall and the second wall at a location adjacent the first side surface of the retainer body (<NUM>) and a second receiver passage (<NUM>) extending through a portion of at least one of the first wall and the second wall at a location adjacent the second side surface of the retainer body, and wherein a portion of the first receiver passage (<NUM>) and the second receiver passage (<NUM>) are positioned on the concave wall (<NUM>).