Retainer for overhead system wiring harness

• US 6,394,538 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Murdock, Jay Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/751,131
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 296/214 174/68.1,72 A,79,97 439/34
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor

Abstract

A motor vehicle overhead system adapted to accept a wiring harness having a minimum cross-sectional dimension. The overhead system comprises an energy management block having a routing channel, and a plurality of retainers disposed in the routing channel. The retainers extend over the routing channel to define a gap having a gap dimension less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the wiring harness, such that the wiring harness can be forced into the retainment channel and retained therein.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle overhead system including a headliner adapted to accept a wiring harness having a minimum cross-sectional dimension, the overhead system comprising:

an energy management block having a routing channel; and

a plurality of retainers disposed in the routing channel, the retainers extending over the routing channel to define a gap having a gap dimension less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the wiring harness, such that the wiring harness can be forced into the routing channel and retained therein.

2. The overhead system of claim 1 wherein the retainers are integral with the energy management block.

3. The overhead system of claim 1 wherein the routing channel has a generally circular cross-section.

4. The overhead system of claim 1 wherein the energy management block comprises foam.

5. The overhead system of claim 1 wherein the energy management block comprises expanded polypropylene.

6. A motor vehicle overhead system comprising:

a headliner adapted to accept a wiring harness having a minimum cross-sectional dimension; and

an energy management block having a routing channel and a plurality of integral retainers, the retainers extending over the routing channel to define a gap having a gap dimension less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the wiring harness, such that the wiring harness can be forced into the routing channel and retained therein.

7. The overhead system of claim 6 wherein the routing channel has a generally circular cross-section.

8. The overhead system of claim 6 wherein the energy management block comprises foam.

9. The overhead system of claim 6 wherein the energy management block comprises expanded polypropylene.

10. A motor vehicle overhead system adapted to accept a wiring harness having a minimum cross-sectional dimension, the overhead system comprising:

an energy management block comprising foam, the energy management block having a routing channel and;

a plurality of integral retainers, the retainers extending over the routing channel to define a gap having a gap dimension less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the wiring harness, such that the wiring harness can be forced into the routing channel and retained therein.

11. The overhead system of claim 10 wherein the routing channel has a generally circular cross-section.

12. The overhead system of claim 10 wherein the foam comprises expanded polypropylene.

13. A method of making a motor vehicle overhead system adapted to accept a wiring harness having a minimum cross-sectional dimension, the method comprising:

providing an energy management block having a routing channel; and

disposing a plurality of retainers in the routing channel, the retainers extending over the routing channel to define a gap having a gap dimension less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the wiring harness.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising locating the wiring harness in the routing channel.