Multi-position low profile snap-on mount assembly

Abstract

To provide a mount assembly designed so as to fix a cable to a vehicle frame.SOLUTION: A mount assembly includes a base and a mounting component based on the base. The base has a securing flange and a mating flange with a latch window. The mounting component has a mounting member and a cable receiving member. The mounting member has a latch arm with a latch extending from the latch arm. The latch engages the latch window of the mating flange so as to secure the mounting component to the base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mount assembly, and more particularly to a multi-position low-profile snap-on mount assembly.

Background Art

[0002] The shift from vehicles powered by fossil fuels to vehicles powered by electricity continues to accelerate. Electric passenger vehicles are leading this shift, but now large trucks are converting to electric. As with any vehicle design, space and weight are the biggest concerns when designing a vehicle or truck. Passenger vehicles typically weigh between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds, but a fully loaded tractor-trailer or large truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Therefore, more energy is required to power large trucks and the loads being towed. The cables used to transport electricity are typically larger in large trucks compared to passenger vehicles, and the batteries are located away from the motor. As a result, electric vehicle manufacturers for large trucks and passenger vehicles are looking for ways to save space and weight for routing power cables within the vehicle. There is a desire for cable routing methods that are low cost, easy to install, easy to remove for maintenance or repair, and that can withstand the harsh environments and vibrations associated with outdoor road use of trucks or vehicles.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is directed to a multi-position snap-on mount assembly that is fixed to a vehicle frame for wiring a cable. The snap-on mount assembly includes a base and a mount component. The base has a fixed flange and a mating flange with a latch window. The mount component is disposed on the base. The mount component has a mounting member and a cable receiving member. The mounting member has a latch arm that extends from a latch. The latch engages with the latch window of the mating flange to fix the mount component to the base and form the snap-on mount assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] FIG. 1 shows a multi-position low-profile snap-on mount 50 of the present invention. The snap-on mount 50 includes a base 52 and a mount component 90 designed to accommodate up to three cables.

[0006] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the base 52 of the snap-on mount 50. The base 52 is formed from stamped steel, although other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. The base 52 includes a fixed flange 54, a 90-degree bend 58, and a mating flange 60 perpendicular to the fixed flange 54. The fixed flange 54 includes mounting holes 56. The mounting holes 56 receive fasteners 202 for securing the base 52 to the vehicle frame 200 (see FIGS. 7-10). The mating flange 60 includes an upper surface 62, a front surface 66, a rear surface 68, and side surfaces 70. The upper surface 62 includes tapered corners 64, and the side surfaces 70 include recessed mating notches 72 that define an upper portion 74 of the mating flange 60. The mating notch 72 includes a horizontal recess that connects to a vertical side that extends to the tapered corner 64. The mating flange 60 also includes a latch window 76 at the center of the mating flange 60. The latch window 76 is rectangular and has an upper surface 78, a bottom surface 80, and side surfaces 82.

[0007] Figure 3 shows the mount component 90 of the snap-on mount 50. The mount component 90 is injection molded from a rugged polymer. The mount component 90 includes a mounting member 92 and a cable receiving member 120. The mounting member 92 includes legs 94 having an upper surface 96, a bottom surface 98, a front surface 100, a rear surface 102, and side surfaces 104. The mounting member 92 includes a latch arm 106 having a latch 108 that extends between each leg 94. The latch 108 is a protrusion that extends toward the center of the mounting member 92. The latch arm 106 extends longer than the legs 94 to facilitate engagement with the latch window 76 within the mating flange 60 of the base 52. As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 92 also includes a mating cavity 110. The mating cavity 110 is defined by the upper surface 96, the bottom surface 98, the front surface 100, the rear surface 102, and the side surfaces 104 of the legs 94. As described below, the mating cavity 110 receives the mating flange 60 of the base 52 to form the snap-on mount assembly.

[0008] The cable receiving member 120 includes a cable receiving lobe 122, a cable spacer arm 124, and a lobe stem 126. The lobe stem 126 is a vertical member that supports the cable spacer arm 124. The cable spacer arm 124 extends from the lobe stem 126 and includes a curved outer end portion. The lobe stem 126 creates the cable receiving lobe 122 with a space between the cable spacer arms 124. As shown in FIG. 1, the cable spacer arm 124 defines three concave cable receiving lobes 122 for receiving the cable. The cable receiving member 120 also includes a central cable tie passing slot 128 for receiving a cable tie 210 to secure the cable 220 disposed on the cable receiving lobe 122.

[0009] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the snap-on mount 50. The mount component 90 is fixed to the base 52 by disposing the upper portion 74 of the mating flange 60 into the mating cavity 110. A latch 108 extending from the latch arm 106 engages the upper surface 78 of the latch window 76 to fix the mount component 90 to the base 52. The bottom surface of the leg rests on the horizontal recess of the concave mating notch 72. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the snap-on mount 50 where the latch arm 106 closes the latch window 76 of the base 52.

[0010] Figures 7-10 show the multi-position low-profile snap-on mount 50 when installed on the vehicle frame 200. The base 52 is attached to the structural frame 200 of the vehicle via the fastener 202. Next, the mount component 90 is placed on top of the base 52. The tapered corner 64 of the base 52 helps guide the base 52 into the mating cavity 110 of the mount component 90. The upper portion 74 of the base 52 is disposed within the mating cavity 110, with the horizontal recess and vertical sides of the concave mating notch 72 engaging the mating cavity 110. While the latch 108 engages the upper surface 78 of the latch window 76 to secure the mount component 90 to the base 52, the latch arm 106 remains adjacent to the latch window 76. Next, the cable 220 is placed on the cable receiving lobe 122 for wiring. The cable tie 210 is passed through the cable tie passage slot 128 and wrapped around the cable 220. The cable tie 210 is passed through the cable tie head 212 and tension is applied around the cable 220. When tension is applied, the cable tie tail is removed (not shown). Figure 10 shows a plurality of snap-on mounts 50 fixed to the structural frame 200 of the vehicle. The snap-on mounts 50 are aligned along the vehicle frame 200 to facilitate the wiring of the power cable within the vehicle.

[0011] Figures 11-14 show a second embodiment of the multi-position low-profile snap-on mount assembly. The multi-position low-profile snap-on mount assembly 250 includes the same base 52 as described above and a mount component 290 designed to accommodate up to five cables. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the mount component 290 includes a mounting member 292 and a cable receiving member 320. The mounting member 292 includes legs 294 having an upper surface 296, a bottom surface 298, a front surface 300, a rear surface 302, and side surfaces 304. The mounting member 292 includes a latch arm 306 having a latch 308 extending between each leg 294. The latch arm 306 extends longer than the legs 294 to facilitate engagement with the latch window 76 within the mating flange 60 of the base 52.

[0012] The cable receiving member 320 includes a central opening 321, a cable receiving lobe 322, and a cable spacer arm 324 having a range acquisition cavity 326. The cable spacer arm 324 is arranged to define five semi-circular cable receiving lobes 322.

[0013] The mount assembly 250 also includes a central cable tie through slot 328 for receiving a cable tie 210 to secure the cable 220 disposed on the cable receiving lobe 322.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 13, the mounting member 292 also includes a fitting cavity 310. The fitting cavity 310 is defined by the front surface 300, the rear surface 302, and the side surface 304 of the leg 294. The mounting member 292 is fixed to the base 52 in the same manner as described above with respect to the mount component 90. The upper portion 74 of the fitting flange 60 of the base 52 is disposed within the fitting cavity 310 of the mount component 290. A latch 308 extending from the latch arm 306 engages the upper surface 78 of the latch window 76 to fix the mount component 290 to the base 52.

[0015] As described above with respect to the snap-on mount 50, the cable is placed on the cable receiving lobe 322 of the snap-on mount 250 to maintain the cable in a separated state. The cable tie is passed through the cable tie passage slot, the cable tie is passed, tension is applied, and the tail is removed. The center of the cable receiving lobe 322 is offset from the circumference of the cable receiving member 320 of the snap-on mount 250, whereby the cable can be easily fitted into a location within the snap-on mount 250 during installation. Thereby, since the cable is fixed to the cable receiving lobe 322, the installer's hand is freed to install the cable tie, making assembly easier. The range acquisition cavity 326 is located at the distal end of the cable spacer arm 324 to enable the mount to receive cables of various sizes. If the installer decides to place a smaller cable within the cable receiving lobe 322 of the snap-on mount 250, the range acquisition cavity 326 allows the cable tie to be tightened to a different outer circumference, thereby maintaining the smaller cable in place.

[0016] FIG. 14 shows a plurality of snap-on mounts 250 fixed to the vehicle structure frame 200. The snap-on mounts 250 are aligned along the vehicle frame 200 to facilitate the routing of power cables within the vehicle.

[0017] The snap-on mount of the present invention is of low profile, lightweight, and minimizes the space required along the vehicle frame. The snap-on mount is easy to install and easy to remove when maintenance is required. The cable spacer arm of the snap-on mount provides sufficient spacing to adjacent cables, thereby eliminating accidental contact between the cables. Further, the structural frame can be designed with a tapered corner, a concave notch, and a latch window to directly receive the mount component as needed. This enables the end user to use only the mount component, thereby reducing weight, cost, and simplifying the installation of the snap-on mount.

[0018] It should be noted that, although specific preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention. The matters disclosed in the above description and the accompanying drawings are provided by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. The actual scope of the present invention is intended to be defined by the claims when the claims are appropriately evaluated based on the prior art.

Claims

1. 1. A mount assembly for fastening a cable to a vehicle frame, the mount assembly comprising: a base having a fixing flange and a mating flange having a latch window; a mount component disposed on the base, the mount component having a mounting member and a cable receiving member, the mounting member having a latch arm with a latch extending therefrom; Equipped with The mount assembly, wherein the latch extending from the latch arm of the mounting member engages the latch window of the mating flange to secure the mount component to the base.

2. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixing flange of the base has mounting holes for receiving fasteners to secure the base to the vehicle frame.

3. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mating flange of the base is perpendicular to the fixed flange of the base.

4. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch window is rectangular having a top, a bottom, and sides.

5. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mating flange includes a top surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface, the top surface of the mating flange having a tapered corner and the side surface of the mating flange having a mating notch.

6. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member includes legs disposed on either side of the latch arm, the legs having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces.

7. The mount assembly of claim 6 , wherein the mounting member further includes a mating cavity defined by the front, rear, and side surfaces of the foot, the mating cavity receiving the mating flange of the base.

8. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable receiving member further comprises a lobe stem having a cable spacer arm defining a recessed cable receiving lobe for receiving a cable.

9. The mount assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cable receiving member has a central cable tie pass-through slot for receiving a cable tie to secure the cable disposed in the cable receiving lobe.

10. The mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable receiving member further includes cable spacer arms arranged to define a semicircular cable receiving lobe for receiving a cable.

11. The mount assembly of claim 10 , wherein the cable spacer arm includes a range acquisition cavity located at a distal end thereof to enable the mount assembly to receive cables of various sizes.

12. The mount assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a central cable tie pass-through slot for receiving a cable tie to secure the cable disposed in the semicircular cable-receiving lobe.

13. 1. A mount assembly for fastening a cable to a vehicle frame, the mount assembly comprising: a base having a fixing flange and a mating flange having a latch window, the mating flange including a top surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface, the top surface of the mating flange having a tapered corner and the side surface of the mating flange having a mating notch; a mount component disposed on the base, the mount component having a mounting member and a cable receiving member, the mounting member having a latch arm with a latch extending therefrom, the mounting member including legs disposed on either side of the latch arm, the legs having top, bottom, front, rear and side surfaces that define a mating cavity for the mounting member; Equipped with The mount assembly, wherein the mating cavity receives the mating flange of the base and the latch engages the latch window of the mating flange to secure the mount component to the base.

14. The mount assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cable receiving member further includes a lobe stem having a cable spacer arm defining a recessed cable receiving lobe for receiving a cable.

15. The mount assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cable receiving member has a central cable tie pass-through slot for receiving a cable tie to secure the cable disposed in the cable receiving lobe.

16. The mount assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cable receiving member further includes cable spacer arms arranged to define semicircular cable receiving lobes for receiving a cable.

17. The mount assembly of claim 16 , wherein the cable spacer arm includes a range acquisition cavity located at a distal end thereof to enable the mount assembly to receive cables of various sizes.

18. 17. The mount assembly of claim 16, further comprising a central cable tie pass-through slot for receiving a cable tie to secure the cable disposed in the semicircular cable-receiving lobe.

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