Method for securing a wire harness to a surface

• US 6,027,679 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Timothy F., Davis, Joseph J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhns, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US08/920,978
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 264/46.6, 264/46.7, 264/46.9, 264/261, 264/267, 264/272.11, 264/272.14, 264/46.4, 29/525, 29/451, 29/453
• US Class Current: 264/272.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

A component and wire harness combination includes a component comprising a panel having a channel with an opening. A plurality of wires are disposed in the channel. A sheath encases the plurality of wires in the channel, protecting the wires and retaining them within the channel.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a wire harness including the steps of:

a) forming a channel having an elongated opening in a component;

b) routing a plurality of wires in said channel in said component;

c) introducing a polymer around said plurality of wires to form a sheath having an outer diameter greater than said opening to said channel

d) deforming said sheath radially inwardly;

e) during said step, inserting said sheath and said plurality of wires through said elongated opening into said channel; and

f) retaining said plurality of wires in said channel with said sheath.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of deforming at least one tab formed on the component during said steps d) and e).

3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of forming a plurality of said at least one tabs on the component adjacent the channel.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the tabs extend generally away from the opening of the channel.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of forming an enlarged portion of increased outer diameter on the sheath.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of deforming at least one tab formed on the component with the enlarged portion during said steps d) and e).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongated opening is generally parallel to the channel and the wires.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the component is a panel.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the panel is an interior trim panel.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the panel is a door trim panel.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the component is a door.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the component is generally rigid.