Spring steel wire harness clip

• US 9,746,013 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Talley, Steven L, Nguyen, Tuan V, Tomlin, Jeromy, Turpin, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nkeisha
• Application Number:
  US15/065,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20160265566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 248549, 248300, 248301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/20 Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/24 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/241 of sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

A mounting clip and a mounting assembly include a mounting structure and the mounting clip. The mounting structure includes a mounting feature. The mounting clip includes a base, an inferior leg, and a catch. The base has a through hole therein. The inferior leg is disposed on an anterior side of the base. The catch is disposed on a posterior side of the base. The inferior leg and the catch are configured to engage the mounting structure when the mounting clip is assembled to the mounting structure, such that the mounting feature is accessible through the through hole when the mounting clip is assembled to the mounting structure. The mounting clip also includes a superior leg having a mounting aperture.

Claims

1. A mounting clip for attachment to a mounting structure of a support structure, the mounting clip comprising:

a base having a through hole and a catch, the catch adjacent a posterior side of the base, the base extending laterally between an inferior leg disposed on an anterior side of the base and a superior leg disposed on the posterior side of the base, the superior leg having a mounting aperture and a distal end of the inferior leg includes a barb that engages the mounting structure when the mounting clip is attached to the mounting structure;

lateral support arms disposed on and extending along and from opposed lateral sides of the base wherein the lateral support arms extend downwardly from the base; and

when the mounting clip is attached to the mounting structure the inferior leg extending downwardly from the anterior side of the base, the superior leg extending upwardly from the posterior side of the base, the inferior leg and the catch configured to engage the mounting structure and the through hole of the base opens to the aperture of the mounting structure allowing access to the aperture of the mounting structure through the through hole.

2. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the mounting clip is constructed from a resilient material.

3. The mounting clip of claim 2, wherein the resilient material includes a spring steel.

4. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the mounting clip is monolithically formed.

5. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the inferior leg and the catch are disposed on opposite sides of the mounting structure when the mounting clip is attached to the mounting structure.

6. A mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting structure having a mounting feature;

a mounting clip supported by the mounting structure, the mounting clip having a base with a through hole therein aligned with the mounting feature of the mounting structure wherein the mounting feature is accessible through the through hole, the base including a catch adjacent a posterior side of the base, the base extending laterally between an inferior leg disposed on an anterior side of the base and a superior leg disposed on the posterior side of the base, the superior leg having a mounting aperture, the inferior leg extending downwardly from the anterior side of the base and the superior leg extending upwardly from the posterior side of the base, the inferior leg and the catch configured to engage the mounting structure;

a first component having a portion extending through the through hole and mounted to the mounting feature of the mounting structure; and

a second component mounted to the mounting aperture of the superior leg.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 6 further including a wire harness attached to the first and second components.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting feature of the mounting structure includes a second through hole in the mounting structure.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 8, wherein the through hole in the base of the mounting clip includes a first central axis, and the second through hole in the mounting structure includes a second central axis parallel to the first central axis.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 8, wherein a portion of the first component is disposed in the first and second through holes.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting structure includes a portion of an engine.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting clip is constructed from a resilient material.

13. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the resilient material includes a spring steel.

14. The mounting clip of claim 6 further including lateral support arms disposed on and extending along and from opposed lateral sides of the base wherein the lateral support arms extend downwardly from the base.

15. The mounting clip of claim 14, wherein a distal end of the inferior leg includes a barb that engages the mounting structure.