Stackable terminal assembly

Abstract

A stackable terminal assembly mounted to a structure, the stackable terminal assembly comprising: a first eyelet terminal body, the first aperture terminal body has a flat base portion, an upstanding wall extending from the base portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a mounting feature for securing the first aperture terminal body to the structure; and a second eyelet terminal main body, the second eyelet terminal body has a planar base configured to extend between the base portion and the structure substantially parallel to the structure, a second mounting feature configured to allow the second eyelet terminal body to be secured between the structure and the first eyelet terminal body. A wire harness connected to the first eyelet terminal body and the second eyelet terminal body may be separated from a first wire harness connected to the first eyelet terminal body in a non-sealing manner and a second wire harness connected to the second eyelet terminal body in a sealing manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stackable terminal assembly for electrical wires. Background Art

[0002] When grounding a wiring harness in a vehicle, it is known to provide a seal for the harness at an eyelet having a U-shaped configuration (i.e., a pair of upright legs on either side of a flat surface). The U-shape of the harness eyelet provides bending strength but can make sealing the harness more difficult than desired. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An embodiment contemplates a stackable terminal assembly mounted to a structure, the stackable terminal assembly comprising: a first eyelet terminal body, the first eyelet terminal body having: a base portion, the base portion being substantially flat and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure; an upright wall, the upright wall extending from the base portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion; and a mounting feature configured to allow the first eyelet terminal body to be secured to the structure; and a second eyelet terminal body, the second eyelet terminal body having: a flat base, the flat base being substantially flat and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure between the base portion and the structure; a second mounting feature configured to allow the second eyelet terminal body to be secured between the structure and the first eyelet terminal body.

[0004] An embodiment contemplates a stackable terminal assembly configured to be mounted to a structure, the stackable terminal assembly comprising: a first eyelet terminal body, the first eyelet terminal body having: a base portion that is substantially flat and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure; and a mounting feature configured to allow the first eyelet terminal body to be secured to the structure; a second eyelet terminal body, the second eyelet terminal body having: a flat base that is substantially flat and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure between the base portion and the structure; a second mounting feature configured to allow the second eyelet terminal body to be secured between the structure and the first eyelet terminal body; a first wiring harness, the first wiring harness being connected to the first eyelet terminal body without the connection to the first eyelet terminal body being sealed; a second wiring harness, the second wiring harness being connected to the second eyelet terminal body; and a seal that surrounds and seals the connection between the second wiring harness and the second eyelet terminal body.

[0005] An advantage of an embodiment is that it allows the conductors of multiple wiring harnesses to be grounded while minimizing the height of the upright wall from the grounding surface (e.g., the overall height from the chassis to the far end of the upright wall is shorter). The shorter overall height of the upright wall allows for a more desirable package size while also providing the desired bending strength of the terminal assembly. An advantage of an embodiment is that the second eyelet terminal body is configured to jog around the first eyelet terminal body where the wiring harness is connected, thereby avoiding interference between the two wiring harnesses. An advantage of an embodiment is that the jogging of the second eyelet terminal body can be jogged to the left, to the right, or in both directions. An advantage of an embodiment is that the stackable terminal assembly provides a relatively slender overall footprint (i.e., a relatively narrow and short dimension) at the location where it is connected to the vehicle structure (e.g., the chassis). An advantage of an embodiment is that the stackable terminal assembly can allow for a drop-in replacement (i.e., assembled in the same packaging space) for previous designs of grounding terminals. An advantage of an embodiment is that a wiring harness that does not require wire sealing can be attached to the first eyelet terminal body, and a wiring harness that does require wire sealing can be attached to the second eyelet terminal body, which can be easier to seal because it does not include upstanding walls. In the absence of upstanding walls, sealing on the second eyelet terminal with glue or heat shrink can be easier. An advantage of an embodiment is that the stackable terminal assembly provides a separate second eyelet terminal body for attaching circuitry that is preferably sealed or isolated from other circuitry that can be attached to the first eyelet terminal body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a stackable terminal assembly and a portion of a vehicle's structure.

[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a stackable terminal assembly and a portion of a vehicle's structure.

[0008] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a stackable terminal assembly.

[0009] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a stackable terminal assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Figure 1 An example of a stackable terminal assembly 20 is shown that is configured to be mounted to a structure 22 (e.g., a vehicle structure such as a chassis) to provide wiring harnesses (in Figures 2 to 4 The stackable terminal assembly 20 includes a first eyelet terminal body 24, a second eyelet terminal body 26, and a fastener 28 (eg, a grounding bolt).

[0011] The first eyelet terminal body 24 includes a flat base portion 30 having a fastener hole 32 therethrough that receives the fastener 28. The fastener hole 32 is configured to align with a fastener hole 33 in the structure 22. The first eyelet terminal body 24 includes upstanding walls 34 extending from opposite sides of the flat base portion 30 around at least a portion of its perimeter and extending generally perpendicular to the flat base portion 30 and away from the structure 22. The upstanding walls 34 provide increased bending strength to the stackable terminal assembly 20. The first eyelet terminal body 24 includes a key 36 extending from the flat base portion 30 at an end 31 opposite a second end 44 for securing a wiring harness thereto. The key 36 includes an upstanding flange 38 extending from the flat base portion 30 toward the structure 22 and a securing flange 40 extending from a distal end of the upstanding flange 38 in a direction generally parallel to and away from the flat base portion 30. The upstanding flange 38 and the fixing flange 40 are configured as key holes 42 in the structure 22 (at Figure 2 4 and 5. The upstanding flange 38 is slidably secured to the second eyelet terminal body 24 and slides within the eyelet terminal body 24 to generally orient the first eyelet terminal body 24 relative to the structure 22. The upstanding flange 38 is long enough to extend through the thickness of the second eyelet terminal body and the thickness of a portion 45 of the surface of the structure 22 at the keyhole 42, thereby allowing the retaining flange 40 to fit on opposite sides of the surface portion 45 of the structure 22.

[0012] The second eyelet terminal body 26 includes a flat base portion 46 having fastener holes 48 therethrough that align with the fastener holes 32 and 33 and receive the fasteners 28 for securing the stackable terminal assembly 20 to the structure 22. The flat base portion 46 is mounted between the flat base portion 30 and the structure 22, and because the second eyelet terminal body 26 lacks upstanding walls, the first and second eyelet terminal bodies 24 and 26 can fit together flush and compactly. Furthermore, the upstanding walls 34 of the first eyelet terminal body 24, in addition to the first eyelet terminal body 24, provide increased bending strength to the second eyelet terminal body 26. The flat base portion 46 includes a slotted hole 50 that aligns with and receives the retaining flange 40 and upstanding flange 38 therethrough to generally orient the second eyelet terminal body 26 to the structure 22. The flat base portion 46 includes a first arm 52, a second arm 54, or two arms. The first arm 52 is angled laterally away from the longitudinal axis 56 defined by the center of the fastener hole 48 and the slotted hole 50; in this manner, a wiring harness connected to the first arm 52 does not interfere with a wiring harness connected to the second end 44 of the first eyelet terminal body 24. If used in a particular assembly, the second arm 54 can be angled laterally away from the longitudinal axis 56 in an opposite lateral direction than the first arm 52 (i.e., extending to the left rather than the right).

[0013] Figure 2An example of two first eyelet terminal bodies 24 mounted to a structure 22 is shown, with the second eyelet terminal body not shown. The upstanding flanges 38 are secured in the keyholes 42, and the fasteners 28 are secured in the fastener holes in the structure 22, as shown relative to Figure 1 As discussed. Figure 2 Each of the first eyelet terminal bodies 24 shown has a corresponding first wire harness 60 connected (e.g., by ultrasonic welding via a heat stake) to the corresponding second end 44 of the flat base portion 30. This provides grounding for the corresponding first wire harness 60. In the stackable terminal assembly 20, one or more second eyelet terminal bodies 26 (in Figure 1 and Figures 3 and 4 4 and 5. The first eyelet terminal body 24 is shown in FIG. 2 and is mounted between the corresponding first eyelet terminal body 24 and the structure 22. Depending on the particular application, the location where the first wire harness 60 is connected to the corresponding second end 44 may be sealed or unsealed. In the stackable terminal assembly 20 shown herein, the first wire harness 60 may extend from the second end 44 to a component 72 that does not require sealing, and therefore the connection to the first eyelet terminal body is unsealed.

[0014] Figure 3 and Figure 4 An example of a second eyelet terminal body 26 connected to a second wiring harness 62 is shown. The second eyelet terminal body 26 includes a flat base 46, a fastener hole 48, a slot 50, and a first arm 52, as shown relative to Figure 1 A second wire harness 62 for the second eyelet terminal body 26 may extend from the first arm 52 to the sealed component 70 . Figure 3 The second eyelet terminal body 26 is shown without a seal, and Figure 4 The second eyelet terminal body 26 is shown with a seal (e.g., a heat shrink sleeve) added to prevent moisture from migrating up the wires in the second wire harness 62 to the component 70. The substantially flat second eyelet terminal body 26, without upstanding walls, allows for easier sealing of the wire harnesses. The wires comprising the different wire harnesses 60, 62 can be separated such that the wires leading to the component 72 that does not require sealing (the non-sealed component) are contained in the first wire harness 60 connected to the first eyelet terminal body 24, and the wires leading to the component 70 that does require sealing are contained in the second wire harness 62 and employ the seal 64 at the first arm 52. Figures 3 and 4 The second eyelet terminal body 26 is shown mounted on the corresponding first eyelet terminal body 24 ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) and structure 22 (shown in Figure 2 shown in ).

[0015] While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A stackable terminal assembly configured to be mounted to a structure, the stackable terminal assembly comprising: a first eyelet terminal body having: a base portion that is generally planar and configured to extend generally parallel to the structure; an upstanding wall extending from the base portion generally perpendicular to the base portion; and a mounting feature configured to allow the first eyelet terminal body to be secured to the structure; as well as a second eyelet terminal body having: a planar base portion that is substantially planar and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure between the base portion and the structure; A second mounting feature is configured to allow the second eyelet terminal body to be secured between the structure and the first eyelet terminal body.

2. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising: A sealing harness connected to the second eyelet terminal body and a seal surrounding and sealing the connection of the sealing harness to the second eyelet terminal body.

3. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 2, further comprising: An unsealed wire harness connected to the first eyelet terminal body, wherein the connection between the unsealed wire harness and the first eyelet terminal body is not sealed from moisture.

4. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature is a fastener hole, the second mounting feature is a second fastener hole aligned with the fastener hole, and the fastener is configured to extend through the fastener hole and the second fastener hole and be secured to the structure.

5. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 4, wherein the second mounting feature further comprises a key hole, and the mounting feature further comprises a key configured to extend through the key hole and the structure to orient the stackable terminal assembly relative to the structure.

6. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the second mounting feature comprises a key hole, and the mounting feature comprises a key configured to extend through the key hole and a portion of the structure.

7. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the second eyelet terminal body includes a first arm extending from the flat base such that the first arm is laterally offset from an end of the first eyelet terminal body where the first eyelet terminal body is connected to a wiring harness.

8. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 7, wherein the second eyelet terminal body includes a second arm extending from the flat base such that the second arm is laterally offset from both the end of the first eyelet terminal body and the end of the first arm where the first arm is connected to a second wiring harness.

9. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 1 wherein said first eyelet terminal body includes a second upstanding wall spaced apart from said upstanding wall and extending from said base portion generally perpendicular to said base portion.

10. A stackable terminal assembly configured to be mounted to a structure, the stackable terminal assembly comprising: a first eyelet terminal body having: a base portion that is generally planar and configured to extend generally parallel to the structure; and a mounting feature configured to allow the first eyelet terminal body to be secured to the structure; a second eyelet terminal body having: a planar base portion that is substantially planar and configured to extend substantially parallel to the structure between the base portion and the structure; a second mounting feature configured to allow the second eyelet terminal body to be secured between the structure and the first eyelet terminal body; a first wiring harness connected to the first eyelet terminal body without the connection to the first eyelet terminal body being sealed; a second wiring harness connected to the second eyelet terminal body; as well as A seal surrounds and seals the connection of the second wire harness to the second eyelet terminal body.

11. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the second eyelet terminal body includes a first arm extending from the planar base such that the first arm is laterally offset from a location where the first eyelet terminal body is connected to the first wiring harness.

12. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 11, wherein the second eyelet terminal body includes a second arm extending from the flat base such that the second arm is laterally offset from both the position where the first eyelet terminal body is connected to the first wiring harness and a second position where the first arm is connected to the second wiring harness.

13. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the first eyelet terminal body includes an upstanding wall extending from the base portion generally perpendicular to the base portion.

14. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the second mounting feature comprises a key hole, and the mounting feature comprises a key configured to extend through the key hole and a portion of the structure.

15. The stackable terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting feature is a fastener hole, the second mounting feature is a second fastener hole aligned with the fastener hole, and a fastener is configured to extend through the fastener hole and the second fastener hole and be secured to the structure.

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