Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/191,654, filed 28 Jul. 2005 now abandoned, and also claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/726,751, filed 14 Oct. 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to hardware for securing bundled elongate articles, such as wires, cables, hoses, tubing, fiber optics, conduits, vines, etc., to a supporting structure. More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting element for securing elongated articles, extending from the hardware and into the supporting structure or its facing surface. 
   In many applications, it is sufficient merely to secure the items into a bundle. Such applications might include, for example, stationary electronic equipment that remains in one place and is subject to little or no vibration in use. In other applications, it is necessary or desirable not only to secure the items into a bundle, but to secure the resulting bundle to a supporting chassis or framework as well. Such applications are also common, for example, in cars, trucks, airplanes, ships, boats and other vehicles where the bundle is likely to be subjected to severe jostling and vibration. In other applications (e.g. buildings), where vibration might not be an important consideration, it is still desirable to secure cables, hoses, tubes, etc., to a fixed structure. 
   Specifically, automobiles manufactured today feature numerous electronic components provided for the safety, comfort, and convenience of passengers. Many of these features are located in or near the seat of the automobile. For example, automatic seat position controls, seat heaters, and safety sensors such as seatbelt engagement sensors and weight sensors for engagement of an airbag system. However, the motor controls for these components may be located away from the seat, closer to the motor of the automobile. This results in numerous wires running between the components on a vehicle. Generally, these wires are attached with a wire connector or plastic fitting which is then left to dangle at various locations. However, a dangling wire connector is free to move about and may cause problems such as noise or electronic circuitry failure due to wire abrasion or wire fatigue. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a wire connector which could be set in a fixed position. 
   Many mounts do not provide an efficient, tight grip when applied to a support surface. Previous Christmas tree or fir tree mounts, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,510, issued to Benoit et al., contemplates strengthened mounting studs, but still leaves room for improvement. Such mounts may not provide sufficient resistance and tightness against the support surface for adequately supporting a bundled item. Likewise, such mounts may utilize a longer than necessary mounting stud and may not be easily inserted into the support surface. Additionally, many mounts do not provide for anti-rotation rotation when applied to a support surface, or require more than one mounting shaft to prevent rotation. The present invention provides for an improved mounting assembly to address these problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved rectangular fir tree mount assembly for securely supporting bundled items against a supporting surface. The assembly provides a rectangular fir tree mount which can be securely and nonrotatably attached to a supporting surface. Branches extend from either side of a center segment of the mounting section. The branches flex to pass through an aperture in the supporting surface, then spring back to engage the backside of the supporting surface to retain the rectangular fir tree mount in the rectangular aperture. 
   The invention may also include a pair of flexible springs which engage the supporting surface to provide tension and resistance when the mounting stud is inserted into the supporting surface. The invention may also include an attachment section and a snap hook to attach the rectangular fir tree mount to a wire connector. The invention may also include a clip or clamp to connect at least one wire or other elongate object to the rectangular fir tree mount. The invention may also include a saddle to connect a cable tie, optionally secured around a bundle of objects, to the rectangular fir tree mount. A rectangular fir tree mount assembly according to the present invention may include any combination of the above features. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view of the rectangular fir tree mount of  FIG. 3 , taken along the line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the rectangular fir tree mount of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front end view of the wire connector of the present invention with the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified cross sectional view of the rectangular fir tree mount of  FIG. 3  lined up for connection with the wire connector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a simplified cross sectional view of the rectangular fir tree mount of  FIG. 3  being partially connected to the wire connector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a simplified cross sectional view of the rectangular fir tree mount of  FIG. 3  in its final connected position with the wire connector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention lined up to be inserted into an aperture in a panel. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention inserted into an aperture in a panel. 
       FIGS. 11-15  depict different embodiments of a rectangular fir tree mount of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     FIGS. 1-4  show a rectangular fir tree mount  10  according to the present invention. The rectangular fir tree mount  10  of the preferred embodiment comprises an attachment section  12 , a latch section  14 , a spring section  16 , and a mounting section  18  ending in a tapered leading tip  20 . The attachment section  12  has a generally I-shaped cross section. The horizontal I-shaped section is made of a mounting plate  22 , a bottom segment  24 , and a cross segment  26 . 
   The spring section  16  extends from the bottom segment  24 . The spring section  16  is comprised of a pair of springs  28  attached to a rectangular center spring section  30 . The center spring section  30  is parallel to and extends from the bottom segment  24 . Each spring  28  has a generally rectangular shape. However, as can best be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the springs  28  curve slightly toward the tapered leading tip  20  of the rectangular fir tree mount  10 . The flexible springs  28  are also tapered at the free end thereof, to increase the range of flexibility of the springs  28 . 
   Extending beneath the flexible springs  28  is the mounting section  18 . The mounting section  18  can be best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 . The mounting section  18  consists of a front end segment  32 , a back end segment  34 , and a center segment  36  which forms a vertical I-shaped section. The front end segment  32 , back end segment  34 , and center segment  36  each extends from the center spring section  30 .  FIG. 3A  is a cross section cut through line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3A  shows the I-shape of the front end, back end, and center segment  32 , 34 , 36 . The center segment  36  extends between the front end segment  32  and the back end segment  34  such that the plane of the center segment  36  is generally perpendicular to the plane of the front end segment  32  and the back end segment  34 . The center segment  36  has a first surface  38  and a second surface  40  with a plurality of branches  42  formed on each of said surfaces  38 , 40 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the branches  42  curve toward the attachment segment  12 , and each branch  42  is tapered at its free end. As is best seen in  FIG. 3 , the front end segment  32  and the back end segment  34  are tapered to form a tapered leading tip  20 . The leading tip  20  is tapered so as to aid in insertion of the fastener  10  in a mounting aperture  44  in a supporting panel  46 . 
   As can be seen best in  FIG. 1 , the front end segment  32  extends beyond the mounting section  18  to meet the mounting plate  22 . Similarly, the back end segment  34  extends beyond the mounting section  18  to meet the mounting plate  22 . The front end segment  32  and the back end segment  34  have a notch  48  on either side of the segment  32 , 34  which corresponds to the area between the mounting plate  22  and the bottom segment  24 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , these notches  48  corresponds generally to the center segment  36 , however, the center segment  36  is narrower than the notches  48 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1-4 , the snap section  14  extends from the front end segment  32 . The snap section  14  comprises a snap beam  50  and a snap hook  52 . The snap beam  50  is a flexible generally rectangular arm which extends perpendicularly from the front end segment  32  at generally the same location as the notches  48 . A snap hook  52  is formed at the free end of the snap beam  50 . The snap hook  52  extends from the top surface of the snap beam  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the top surface  54  is generally parallel to the snap beam  50 . As is best seen in  FIG. 2 , the leading surface  58  of the snap hook  52  slopes from the tip of the snap beam  50  back towards the attachment section  12 . The trailing surface  60  is also sloped to provide increased retention, although the trailing surface  60  is closer to perpendicular to the snap beam  50  than the leading surface  58 . 
   The rectangular fir tree mount  10  is designed to be easily attached to a wire connector  62 . To achieve this, the wire connector  62  is formed with a plurality of raised segments. The connector has at least two angle segments and a raised segment. The first angle segment  64  and the second angle segment  66  are each formed as a right angle. The first angle segment  64  and the second angle segment  66  each have a portion which extends perpendicularly from the connector  62  and a portion which is horizontal to the connector  62 . The first angle segment  64  and the second angle segment  66  are oriented such that the two segments  64 , 66  form a slot  70  into which the rectangular fir tree mount  10  attachment section  12  can slide. 
   The raised segment  68  is best shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The raised segment  68  is generally rectangular. The raised segment  68  has a leading end  71  and an abutment face  72 . The leading end  71  is formed as a first ramped portion that extends from the surface of the connector  62  to the surface of the raised segment  68 . At the trailing end  73  the raised segment  68  has a second ramped surface  76 . The raised segment  68  ends in an abutment face  72  which is somewhat perpendicular to the connector  62 . 
   As is shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the rectangular fir tree mount  10  can be attached to the wire connector  62  aligning the rectangular fir tree mount  10  with the slot  70  on the wire connector  62 . The rectangular fir tree mount  10  is then slid into the slot  70 . The horizontal portion of the first angle segment  64  and the second angle segment  66  engage the groove formed on the attachment section  12  of the rectangular fir tree mount  10 . The top surface  54  of the snap hook  52  slides along the surface of the raised segment  68 . When the snap hook  52  reaches the trailing end  73  of the raised segment  68 , the leading surface  58  of the snap hook  52  engages the second ramped surface  76  of the raised segment  68 . The second ramped surface  76  acts as a cam surface, so that as the rectangular fir tree mount  10  is slid further into the slot  70  the snap hook  52  continues to slide along the second ramped surface  76  and the snap beam  50  is caused to flex as shown in  FIG. 7 . As the snap hook  52  passes the end of the second ramped surface  76 , the snap beam  50  springs back to its original unflexed position. The rectangular fir tree mount  10  cannot be slid out of the slot  70  in the wire connector  62  because of the engagement of the trailing surface  60  of the snap hook  52  with the abutment end  72  of the raised segment  68 . The wire connector  62  and the rectangular fir tree mount  10  are thereby interlocked. However, to disengage the rectangular fir tree mount  10  from the wire connector  62 , the snap hook  52  can be manually lifted out of engagement with the abutment end  72  and the rectangular fir tree mount  10  can be slid from the slot  70  in the wire connector  62 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  show how the rectangular fir tree mount  10  of the present invention is inserted into a mounting aperture  44  in a supporting panel  46 . The mount  10  is shown without the wire connector  62  being attached to aid in the clarity of the figures. However, it should be understood that the rectangular fir tree mount  10  can be inserted into a mounting aperture  44  with or without the wire connector  62  attached to the rectangular fir tree mount  10 . The tapered leading tip  20  of the rectangular fir tree mount  10  is lined up with the mounting aperture  44  in the panel  46  as seen in  FIG. 9 . The leading tip  20  is inserted into the mounting aperture  44 . When the rectangular fir tree mount  10  is pushed further into the aperture  44 , the branches  42  flex and are wedged into the inner surface of the aperture  44 . The branches  42  then spring back to their original configuration after they exit the mounting aperture  44  on the opposite side of the panel  46 . 
   When the rectangular fir tree mount  10  is securely inserted into a mounting aperture  44 , the free end of a set of branches  42  will engage the backside of the panel  46 . The ends of the flexible springs  28  engage the supporting panel  46  when the rectangular fir tree mount  10  is completely inserted into a mounting aperture  44  in the panel  46 . The flexible springs  28  apply a preload pressure to the top of the supporting surface  46  which stabilizes the rectangular fir tree mount  10  and the attached wire harness  62 . The rectangular fir tree mount  10  is securely retained in the aperture  44  by the ends of the branches  42  engaging the backside of the panel  46 , and the flexible springs  28  engaging the opposite side of the panel  46 . 
   The flexibility of the springs  28  allows them to be utilized on a variety of panel  46  thicknesses. The force applied by the springs  28  prevents the rectangular fir tree mount  10  and attached wire harness  62  from being wobbly on varying panel thicknesses. The plurality of branches  42  on the rectangular fir tree mount  10  also allows for variety of panel thicknesses to be accommodated. Further, the ends of the front end segment  32  and the back end segment  34  each make contact with the corners of the rectangular mounting aperture to provide anti-rotation. 
   The use of a rectangular fir tree mount  10  has several advantages over other possible means of securing a connector. The rectangular fir tree mount  10  has a low insertion force which is below 18 lbs. The rectangular fir tree mount  10  has a high retention force which is above  60  lbs. Only a single rectangular mounting hole  44  is required to achieve anti-rotation of the device. An alternate configuration would require at least two holes to achieve anti-rotation. The single mounting hole  44  requires less space than a two hole configuration. The single rectangular fir tree mount  10  is easier to align and push in to the rectangular mounting hole  44  than an alternate configuration which would require at least two mounting holes and mounting retainers or fasteners. 
   It is clear that the present invention could be manufactured by various methods, and of various materials. Preferably the components for the mounting device are injection molded from a strong, durable plastic, such as Nylon 6/6. 
   Although the preferred application is for use in an automobile, it should be understood that the invention could also be utilized in many different devices including, but not limited to other vehicles such as airplanes, boats, and trucks, computer equipment, consumer electronics devices, communication devices, and medical instruments and devices. The invention can generally be applied to any application where a bundle of elongate articles are desired to be secured/to a rigid apparatus. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment described a wire connector  62 , the rectangular fir tree mount  10  could be attached to any type of device which could be formed with the raised segments  64 , 66 , 68  described above. 
   An alternate embodiment of the rectangular fir tree mount  110  is shown in  FIG. 11 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 11  is similar to the preferred embodiment, however the latch section  114  has a slightly different configuration. The latch section  114  includes a snap beam  150  which extends generally perpendicularly from the front end segment  32  at generally the same location as the notches  48 . The snap beam  150  is a flexible arm which is formed with a ramped angle portion. A snap hook  152  is formed at the free end of the snap beam  150 . The snap hook  152  is similar to the snap hook of the preferred embodiment. The effect of the ramped angle portion of the snap beam  150  is that the snap hook  152  does not extend beyond the mounting plate  22  of the attachment section  12 . Additionally, the snap beam  150  is more rigid and will not deflect as easily. This provides higher retention forces with only slightly higher insertion forces. 
   An alternate embodiment of the rectangular fir tree mount  210  is shown in  FIG. 12 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  is similar to the preferred embodiment; however the attachment section  212  and the snap section  214  are formed at an angle relative to the flexible spring portion  16 . The mounted wire connector  62  runs parallel to the attachment section  212  and at an angle to the mounting panel  46 . 
     FIGS. 13-15  are examples of the features of the present invention used in different embodiments. The embodiments of  FIGS. 13-15  employ the spring section and mount section as described above. The embodiments of  FIGS. 13-15  are not adapted to be attached to a wire connector; rather these embodiments are designed to attach to a bundle of at least one elongate item. Therefore, the embodiments of  FIGS. 13-15  do not include the attachment section and the latch section described above. Each of the embodiments of  FIGS. 13-15  utilizes a different type of device to attach the at least one elongate item to the rectangular fir tree mount. The additional embodiments of the rectangular fir tree mount are attached to a panel as described above with respect to the preferred embodiment. 
   The front end segment  332 , 432 , 532  and back end segment  334 , 434 , 534  of mount in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 13-15  has a slightly different configuration than that of the preferred embodiment. The embodiments of  FIGS. 13-15  do not include the attachment section. Therefore, the front end segment  332 , 432 , 532  and the back end segment  334 , 434 , 534  extend along the length of the mounting section  18  to meet the flexible springs  28 , rather than meeting the mounting plate of the attachment section. The front end segment  332 , 432 , 532  and back end segment  334 , 434 , 534  also form the vertical “I” beam structure of the rectangular fir tree mount. It should also be clear that because the front end segment  332 , 432 , 532  and back end segment  334 , 434 , 534  do not extend beyond the flexible springs  28 , there is no notched section in the front end segment  332 , 432 , 532  or the back end segment  334 , 434 , 534 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a rectangular fir tree mount  310  of the present invention employing the spring section  16  and mounting section  18  as described above. The attachment section and the latch section have been replaced by a clamp  312 . The clamp  312  extends from the center spring section  30 , not shown. The clamp  312  may be tightened around a single item of various diameters, including a single item of a larger diameter or a bundle of items with smaller diameters. 
     FIG. 14  shows a rectangular fir tree mount  410  of the present invention employing the spring section and mount section as described above. In the present embodiment the attachment section and the latch section have been replaced by a clip  412 . The clip  412  extends from the center spring section  30 , and is adapted to be clipped around an elongate item such as a wire, cable, hose, tubing, harness, etc. 
     FIG. 15  shows a rectangular fir tree mount  510  of the present invention employing the spring section and mount section as described above. In the present embodiment the attachment section and the latch section have been replaced by a saddle mount  512 . The saddle mount  512  extends from the center spring section  30  and has notches cut into the top surface there of. A slot shaped passage is formed in line with the notches and forms a rectangular through-hole to allow cable ties to pass therethrough. The notches are adapted to have a cable tie passed therethrough to attach a bundle of items to the rectangular fir tree mount  510 . 
   The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Technology Category: 5