System for securing wire harness with lacing

Abstract

A system for securing a wire harness with a lace. The system includes: a body defining a channel configured to receive a wire harness; and a carrier adjacent the channel, the carrier configured to retain a head of the lacing, the carrier defining an opening for passage of the lacing. The wire harness is secured within the channel by a tether that extends from the bracket through the opening to below the body, spans the channel and cooperates with a head disposed in the bracket.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] introduction

[0002] The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the present disclosure. The work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section and in all aspects of this description that may not otherwise be considered prior art at the time of filing, is neither explicitly nor implicitly admitted to be prior art against the present disclosure.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a system for securing a wiring harness using a tether. Background Art

[0004] A wiring harness is an assembly of cables or wires that transmit signals or power. The cables may be bundled together by durable materials such as rubber, vinyl, electrical tape, etc. By bundling the wires and cables into a cable harness, the wires and cables may be better protected from, for example, vibration, abrasion, and moisture. Installation time is reduced, and the process can be easily standardized, since the installer only has to install one wiring harness (rather than multiple loose wires). Summary of the invention

[0005] Among various features, the present disclosure includes a system for securing a harness using a tether. The system includes a body defining a channel configured to receive the harness, and a bracket adjacent the channel configured to hold a head of the tether, the bracket defining an opening through which the tether passes. The harness is secured within the channel by the tether, which extends from the bracket through the opening, under the body, across the channel and in cooperation with the head disposed in the bracket.

[0006] In further features, the bracket is external to the channel.

[0007] In further features, the body includes a base and sidewalls defining a channel.

[0008] In further features, at least one of the side walls includes a notch aligned with the bracket and configured to receive the tether within the notch.

[0009] In further features, the bracket is integral with one of the side walls.

[0010] In further features, the bracket includes a clamp configured to attach the bracket to one of the side walls.

[0011] In further features, the bracket includes a retention tab at the opening configured to retain the strap within the opening and the head within the bracket.

[0012] In further features, the bracket defines a recess configured to receive an end of the strap that projects outwardly from the head.

[0013] In a further feature, a raised ledge is within the bracket, the raised ledge being configured to support a head of the tether.

[0014] In further features, the bracket is configured to hold the head in only a single orientation.

[0015] Among various features, the present disclosure further provides a system for securing a harness. The system includes a tether extending from a head, the head being configured to lock onto the tether, a support member configured to hold the harness, and a bracket adjacent to the support member, the bracket being configured to hold the head of the tether, the bracket defining an opening through which the tether passes. The tether is configured to secure the harness against the support member by extending around the support member and cooperating with the head.

[0016] In further features, the bracket is outside of a channel defined by the support member.

[0017] In further features, the bracket is integrally molded with the support member.

[0018] In further features, the bracket is clamped to the support member.

[0019] In further features, the bracket includes a metal clamp configured to clamp to a surface of the support member.

[0020] In further features, the bracket includes a retention tab at the opening configured to retain the strap within the opening and the head within the bracket.

[0021] In a further feature, a raised rim is within the bracket, the raised rim being configured to support a head of the tether.

[0022] In further features, the bracket is configured to hold the head in only a single orientation and receive the head within the bracket.

[0023] Among various features, the present disclosure further includes a system for securing a harness. The system includes: a tether extending from a head, the head configured to receive an end of the tether and lock to the tether; a support member including a channel defined by a base, a first side wall, and a second side wall; a bracket outside the channel and at one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the bracket configured to hold the head of the tether in only a single orientation, the bracket defining an opening at a bottom of the bracket for the tether to pass through; and a retaining tab at the opening of the bracket, the retaining tab configured to retain the tether in the opening and retain the head in the bracket. The harness is secured in the channel by a tether extending from the bracket through the opening, below the base, across the channel and cooperating with the head disposed in the bracket.

[0024] In further features, the bracket includes a clamp configured to attach the bracket to one of the first side wall and the second side wall.

[0025] The present disclosure also relates to the following technical solutions:

[0026] 1. A system for securing a harness using a tether, the system comprising:

[0027] a body defining a channel configured to receive the wiring harness; and

[0028] a bracket adjacent the channel, the bracket being configured to retain a head of the tether, the bracket defining an opening through which the tether passes;

[0029] The harness is fixed in the channel by the tether, and the tether extends from the bracket through the opening to the bottom of the body, spans the channel and cooperates with the head placed in the bracket.

[0030] 2. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the bracket is outside the channel.

[0031] 3. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the body includes a base and side walls that define the channel.

[0032] 4. A system according to technical solution 3, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a recess, which is aligned with the bracket and is configured to accommodate the strap within the recess.

[0033] 5. A system according to technical solution 3, wherein the bracket is integrated with one of the side walls.

[0034] 6. A system according to technical solution 3, wherein the bracket includes a clamp configured to attach the bracket to one of the side walls.

[0035] 7. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the bracket includes a retaining tab at the opening, and the retaining tab is configured to retain the strap in the opening and retain the head in the bracket.

[0036] 8. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the bracket defines a recess configured to accommodate an end of the strap protruding outward from the head.

[0037] 9. The system according to technical solution 1 further includes a protruding edge within the bracket, wherein the protruding edge is configured to support the head of the strap.

[0038] 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to hold the head in only a single orientation.

[0039] 11. A system for securing a wiring harness, the system comprising:

[0040] a strap extending from the head, the head being configured to lock onto the strap;

[0041] a supporting member configured to hold the wire harness; and

[0042] a bracket adjacent to the support member, the bracket being configured to retain the head of the tether, the bracket defining an opening through which the tether passes;

[0043] Wherein the tether is configured to secure the harness against the support member by extending around the support member and cooperating with the head.

[0044] 12. A system according to technical solution 11, wherein the bracket is outside the channel defined by the support member.

[0045] 13. The system according to solution 11, wherein the bracket is molded integrally with the support member.

[0046] 14. The system according to solution 11, wherein the bracket is clamped to the support member.

[0047] 15. The system according to solution 11, wherein the bracket comprises a metal clamp configured to clamp onto a surface of the support member.

[0048] 16. A system according to technical solution 11, wherein the bracket includes a retaining tab at the opening, and the retaining tab is configured to retain the strap in the opening and retain the head in the bracket.

[0049] 17. The system according to technical solution 11 further includes a protruding edge within the bracket, wherein the protruding edge is configured to support the head of the strap.

[0050] 18. A system according to technical solution 11, wherein the bracket is configured to hold the head in only a single orientation and receive the head within the bracket.

[0051] 19. A system for securing a wiring harness, the system comprising:

[0052] a tether extending from a head, the head being configured to receive an end of the tether and lock to the tether;

[0053] a support member comprising a channel defined by a base, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall;

[0054] a bracket outside the channel and at one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the bracket being configured to hold the head of the tether in only a single orientation, the bracket defining an opening at a bottom of the bracket through which the tether passes; and

[0055] a retention tab at the opening of the bracket, the retention tab being configured to retain the strap within the opening and the head within the bracket;

[0056] wherein the harness is secured within the channel by the tie, the tie extending from the bracket through the opening, to below the base, across the channel and cooperating with the head disposed in the bracket.

[0057] 20. A system according to technical solution 19, wherein the bracket includes a clamp configured to attach the bracket to one of the first side wall and the second side wall.

[0058] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and accompanying drawings.The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0060] Figure 1is a perspective view of a system for securing a wiring harness according to the present disclosure;

[0061] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a bracket of the system, wherein the head of the tie is lifted upward and out of the bracket;

[0062] Figure 3 is another perspective view of the bracket, wherein the head of the tether is disposed within the bracket and the tether extends from within the bracket;

[0063] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bracket without the head and ties;

[0064] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an additional bracket according to the present disclosure, the bracket being configured to hold a head of a tether; and

[0065] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Another perspective view of a bracket with the clamp separated from the bracket.

[0066] In the drawings, reference numerals may be repeated to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] Figure 1 An exemplary system 10 for securing a wiring harness is illustrated. Figure 1 An exemplary wiring harness 20 is illustrated and includes a plurality of cables or wires 22. The wiring harness 20 further includes a connector 24. The wiring harness 20 may be configured for use in any suitable automotive application, and may also be configured for use in any suitable non-automotive application.

[0068] The system 10 includes a body 30 that is configured to receive, hold, or otherwise support the wiring harness 20. Thus, the body 30 can be configured as a support member for the wiring harness 20. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 4 , the body 30 includes a pair of side walls 32 spaced apart on opposite sides of a base 34. The side walls 32 and the base 34 generally define a channel 36 that is configured to receive the wiring harness 20 therein.

[0069] The system 10 further includes a bracket 50 configured to hold the head 110 of the tether 112. The bracket 50 is outside of and adjacent to the channel 36. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 5 , the bracket 50 is integral with one of the side walls 32 and on the exterior of the side wall 32. The bracket 50 may be integrally molded with the side wall 32. The side wall 32 opposite the bracket 50 (on the opposite side of the channel 36) includes a first recess 40 configured to receive the lace 112. The side wall 32 at the bracket 50 defines a second recess 42 ( Figure 2 ), the second recess is opposite to the first recess 40. The second recess 42 is also configured to receive the tether 112, as explained herein.

[0070] Continue to refer Figure 1 , and additionally refer to Figures 2 to 4 , a raised rim 52 is included within the bracket 50. The raised rim 52 is configured to support the head 110. The raised rim 52 and the overall interior size and shape of the bracket 50 are configured to support the head 110 in only a single orientation so as to properly orient the head 110 and the strap 112, as explained in detail herein.

[0071] The bracket 50 defines an opening 54 at the bottom of the bracket 50, such as particularly Figure 3 and Figure 4 . The opening 54 is configured to receive a lace 112 extending from the head 110. At the opening 54, the bracket 50 includes a retaining tab 60 that is configured to contact the lace 112 so as to retain the lace 112 within the opening 54 and thereby retain the head 110 within the bracket 50. For example, the retaining tab 60 can be a flexible member biased toward the side wall 32. When the lace 112 is inserted into the bracket 50 and passes through the opening 54, the retaining tab 60 will flex outward to accommodate the lace 112 as it passes through the opening 54. With the lace 112 disposed within the opening 54, the retaining tab 60 presses against the lace 112 to limit movement of the lace 112. The bracket 50 further defines a recess 56 that is on the outer surface of the bracket 50 and opposite the second recess 42.

[0072] The strap 112 extends from the head 110, which defines an opening, such as a slot 114. The slot 114 is configured to receive the strap 112. The distal end 120 of the strap 112 passes through the slot 114. Within the head 110 is any suitable retention member, such as a retention tab, which is configured to cooperate with the strap 112 after the strap 112 passes through the slot 114 to lock or otherwise retain the strap 112 within the head 110. The head 110 and strap 112 can be any suitable retention tie known in the art.

[0073] The use of the tether 112 to secure the harness 20 to the body 30 will now be described. The tether 112 is first passed through the opening 54 of the bracket 50 and pulled through the opening 54 until the head 110 is seated within the bracket 50 against the raised rim 52. Thus, with the head 110 seated in the bracket 50, the tether 112 will hang downward from the bracket 50 until the tether 112 is wrapped around the body 30. The bracket 50 may be sized and shaped to receive the head 110 only in a single orientation. For example, the bracket 50 may be sized and shaped to receive the head 110 only in an orientation in which the entry or entrance side of the slot 114 faces the channel 36 and the exit or exit side of the slot 114 faces the recess 56. Such positioning of the head 110 within the bracket 50 may be performed, for example, by a manufacturer or supplier of the system 10. With the head 110 seated in the bracket 50 and the tether 112 suspended therefrom, the system 10 may be provided to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or other assembler for use in securing the wiring harness 20 to the body 30 .

[0074] With harness 20 positioned in channel 36, tether 112 is pulled around the lower surface of base 34, pulled upward against the outer surface of sidewall 32 defining first notch 40, positioned within first notch 40, pulled across channel 36 and through second notch 42, and then passed through slot 114 of head 110 (or any other opening configured to receive and retain tether 112). Recess 56 of bracket 50 is configured to accommodate any portion of tether 112 extending from within head 110.

[0075] The tether 112 is pulled tightly across the channel 36 so that the tether 112 extends across the channel 36 generally perpendicular to the length of the channel 36. Thus, the tether 112 generally extends around the channel 36 and is not within the channel 36 so as not to reduce the volume of the channel 36 or otherwise obstruct the channel 36. By extending around the channel 36, the tether 112 maximizes the area available for the harness 20. Furthermore, the tether 112 does not protrude any significant distance from the body 30 and, therefore, does not protrude into the environment surrounding the system 10 at the installed location of the system 10.

[0076] Figure 5 and Figure 6 An additional configuration of the bracket 50 is illustrated at 50'. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In, use Figures 1 to 4The same reference numerals used in the description but supplemented with a prime (') designation are used to identify features of the bracket 50' that are similar or identical to those of the bracket 50. Unlike the bracket 50, the bracket 50' is a separate component that is attached to one of the side walls 32. For example, the bracket 50' may be molded independently of the body 30 and then clamped to one of the side walls 32. The bracket 50' includes a clamp 70 that is configured to extend over the side wall 32 to seat against the inner surface of the side wall 32 and to allow the remainder of the bracket 50' to hang outside of the channel 36 opposite the outer surface of the side wall 32. The clamp 70 includes any suitable retaining device, such as a clamp 72. The clamp 72 is flexible and may include two or more fingers 74 configured to engage opposite sides of the side wall 32. For example, the clamp 72 may be a metal clamp having metal fingers 74 that are biased toward each other. When the clamp 70 is placed on the side wall 32, the fingers 74 spread out to receive the side wall 32 therebetween. Once placed on the side wall 32, the fingers 74 apply pressure to the opposite side of the side wall 32 to limit the movement of the clamp 70 along the side wall 32 and prevent the bracket 50 from disengaging from the side wall 32.

[0077] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or use. The broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, although the present disclosure includes specific examples, the true scope of the present disclosure should not be so limited, because when studying the drawings, the specification and the following claims, other modifications will become apparent. It should be understood that one or more steps in the method can be performed in different orders (or simultaneously) without changing the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented and / or combined with it in the features of any one of the other embodiments, even if the combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and the arrangement of one or more embodiments to each other is still within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0078] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "immediately adjacent," "on top of," "above," "below," and "disposed." Unless explicitly described as "directly," when describing a relationship between a first element and a second element in the above disclosure, the relationship may be a direct relationship in which no other intervening elements exist between the first element and the second element, but may also be an indirect relationship in which one or more intervening elements exist (either spatially or functionally) between the first element and the second element. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be interpreted to mean a logical (A OR B OR C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be interpreted to mean "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."

[0079] In the drawings, the direction of the arrows, as indicated by the arrows, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) that the illustration is concerned with. For example, when element A and element B exchange various information but the information transmitted from element A to element B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is transmitted from element B to element A. Further, for information sent from element A to element B, element B may send a request for the information or a receipt acknowledgment to element A.

Claims

1. A system for securing a harness using a tether, the system comprising: a body defining a channel configured to receive the wiring harness; as well as a bracket adjacent the channel, the bracket being configured to retain a head of the tether, the bracket defining an opening through which the tether passes; The harness is fixed in the channel by the tether, and the tether extends from the bracket through the opening to the bottom of the body, spans the channel and cooperates with the head placed in the bracket.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The bracket is outside the channel.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The body includes a base and sidewalls defining the channel.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein: At least one of the side walls includes a notch aligned with the bracket and configured to receive the tether within the notch.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein: The bracket is integral with one of the side walls.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein: The bracket includes a clamp configured to attach the bracket to one of the side walls.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The bracket includes a retention tab at the opening configured to retain the strap within the opening and the head within the bracket.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The bracket defines a recess configured to receive an end of the strap that projects outwardly from the head.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a raised rim within the bracket, the raised rim configured to support the head of the strap.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The bracket is configured to hold the head in only a single orientation.

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