Low cost error proofing cap assembly

• US 6,222,123 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schwarz, Dwight Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/447,720
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/60, 174/67, 174/659, 174/51, 174/152.R, 174/152.G, 174/153.G, 248/56, 16/21, 16/22, 439/137-140, 439/145, 439/93, 439/113
• US Class Current: 174/60
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings

Abstract

An error proofing cap assembly which has an annular ring for attaching an electronic module to a mounting. The error proofing cap assembly protects a pre-attached fastener of the electronic module prior to fastening the electronic module to a mounting and serves to insure that an electronic module is properly seated on a mounting before it can be fastened. The error proofing cap assembly remains attached to the electronic module prior to and after fastening to a mounting through its annular ring, the annular ring being engaged to a portion of a pre-attached fastener of the electronic module.

Claims

1. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting comprising:

a top portion that is alignable with an upper portion of a pre-attached fastener disposed on the electronic module;

an annular ring having an inner periphery defining an opening, said annular ring engaging a bottom surface of the electronic module and slidable along said bottom surface between a fastener engaging position, wherein said top portion is alignable with said upper portion of the electronic module, and a fastener unengaging position, wherein said upper portion of said pre-attached fastener is exposed, said annular ring being disposed between said bottom surface and a large end of said pre-attached fastener such that said error proofing cap assembly is retained in communication with the electronic module in both said fastener engaging position and said fastener unengaging positions;

a ledge extending between said top portion and said annular ring, said ledge being mateable with a top mounting foot of the electronic module and;

at least one flange extending downward from said annular ring for engaging a keyhole slot of the mounting when attaching the electronic module on the mounting.

2. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 1, wherein the error proofing cap assembly has a back snap that engages a lower surface of said mounting when said error proofing assembly cap is seated on said mounting in a fastener engaging position or a fastener unengaging position.

3. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 1, wherein the error proofing cap assembly is composed of a polymer.

4. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 3, wherein said polymer is flexible.

5. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 1, wherein the error proofing cap assembly is used in a vehicle.

6. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 1, wherein the error proofing assembly cap is attached to the electronic module that is part of an air bag system.

7. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 1, wherein the pre-attached fastener has a shelf, the thickness of said shelf being greater than the thickness of the annular ring such that the mounting substantially contacts said shelf upon tightening of the pre-attached fastener.

8. An improved error proofing cap assembly comprising:

a top portion for protecting a pre-attached fastener of an electronic module;

an annular ring for engaging said electronic module and said pre-attached fastener, said annular ring having an opening;

a ledge extending from said top portion to said annular ring for attaching to a top mounting foot of said electronic module and;

at least one flange extending downward from said annular ring for engaging within a keyhole slot of a mounting when attaching said electronic module to said mounting.

9. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, wherein the error proofing cap assembly has a back snap that engages a lower surface of said mounting when said error proofing assembly cap is seated on said mounting in both a fastener engaging position and a fastener unengaging position.

10. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, wherein said error proofing assembly cap is composed of a polymer.

11. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, where said polymer is flexible.

12. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, wherein the error proofing cap assembly is used in a vehicle.

13. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, wherein the error proofing assembly cap is attached to the electronic module that is part of an air bag system.

14. An error proofing cap assembly for securing an electronic module to a mounting according to claim 8, wherein the pre-attached fastener has a shelf, the thickness of said shelf being greater than the thickness of the annular ring such that the mounting substantially contacts said shelf upon tightening of the pre-attached fastener.

15. A method of fastening an electronic module having a pre-attached fastener to a mounting, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an error proofing cap assembly having an annular ring to the electronic module, said error proofing cap assembly being moveable between a fastener engaging position and a fastener unengaging position, where said annular ring is disposed between a large end of the pre-attached fastener and a bottom surface of the electronic module such that said error proofing cap assembly is retained in communication with the electronic module in both the fastener engaging position and the fastener unengaging positions;

positioning the error proofing cap assembly in the fastener engaging position such that the error proofing cap assembly covers the pre-attached fastener thereby protecting the pre-attached fastener prior to attaching the electronic module to the mounting;

seating the electronic module on a mounting such that at least one flange of said error proofing cap assembly is engaged to a keyhole slot of the mounting;

positioning the error proofing cap assembly in the fastener unengaging position such that said at least one flange of the error proofing cap assembly is engaged within said keyhole slot of the mounting and such that a head of the pre-attached fastener is exposed; and

fastening the pre-attached fastener to the mounting.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of positioning the error proofing cap assembly in the fastener engaging position comprises mating a ledge of the error proofing cap assembly onto a top mounting foot of the electronic module containing the pre-attached fastener.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein step of positioning the error proofing cap in the fastener unengaging position comprises unmating a ledge of the error proofing cap assembly from a top mounting foot and engaging said at least one flange from the error proofing cap assembly into said keyhole slot of the mounting.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of fastening the pre-attached fastener to the mounting comprises tightening the pre-attached fastener so that the mounting contacts a shelf of said pre-attached fastener.