Snap-fit sensing apparatus

• US 6,435,017 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nowicki, James Lee Jr., Gramlich, Donald Lee Jr., Wache, Michael Paul Josef, Wicklein, Arthur P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/526,358
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 731/182, 731/21, 731/29, 731/16, 732/025, 732/041.1, 732/041.9, 439/9, 279/2.04, 279/19.4, 279/2.17, 403/92, 403/96, 403/93, 403/94
• US Class Current: 73/114.68
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32336 Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32344 Side of rod engages recess in radial face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32361 Engaging recess in radial face

Abstract

A snap-fit sensing apparatus (20) for use in automotive applications including a housing (22) having a pair of flexible arms (30), a top portion (24), and a bottom portion (26), the flexible arms (30) extending from the top portion (24) to the bottom portion (26), at least one of the flexible arms (30) comprises a locking flange (32). The sensing apparatus (20) also includes a retaining mechanism (40) fixedly connected with the top portion (24), the retaining mechanism (40) securing the sensing apparatus (20) in place. In one preferred embodiment, the sensing apparatus (20) further comprises a sensor (50) located within the housing (22) for sensing one of temperature and pressure. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible arms (30) are connected with the top portion (24) and the bottom portion (26). In one preferred embodiment, the retaining mechanism (40) is a wave spring (42) fixedly connected with the top portion (24), wherein the wave spring (42) has a retaining flange (44) for securing the snap-fit sensing apparatus (20) in place.

Claims

1. A removable snap-fit sensing apparatus for installation in automotive applications, the removable apparatus comprising:

a housing having a pair of flexible arms, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the flexible arms extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, at least one of the flexible arms comprises a locking flange; and

a retaining mechanism fixedly connected with the top portion for securing the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus in an installed position in an automotive application;

wherein the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus is configured to be removed from the installed position by decoupling the retaining mechanism and rotating the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus to a removable position.

2. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor located within the housing for sensing one of temperature and pressure.

3. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible arms are connected with the top portion and the bottom portion.

4. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top portion further comprises an o-ring seal.

5. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining mechanism is a retaining flange.

6. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of semi-rigid arms extending from the top portion to the bottom portion.

7. A removable snap-fit sensing apparatus for installation in automotive applications, the removable apparatus comprising:

a housing having a pair of flexible arms, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the flexible arms connected with and extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a wave spring fixedly connected with the top portion, the wave spring having a retaining flange securing the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus in an installed position in an automotive application; and

a sensor located within the housing, the sensor sensing one of temperature and pressure.

8. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a pair of semi-rigid arms extending from the top portion to the bottom portion.

9. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein one semi-rigid arm is opposed to the other semi-rigid arm.

10. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein one flexible arm is opposed to the other flexible arm, each flexible arm comprises a locking flange.

11. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an o-ring seal around the top portion.

12. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the top portion is generally cylindrical in shape, and the o-ring seal is generally toroidal in shape.

13. A removable snap-fit sensing apparatus for use in automotive applications, the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus to be mated with a hole, the removable apparatus comprising:

a housing having a pair of flexible arms, a top portion, a bottom portion, the flexible arms connected with the top portion and the bottom portion, and a locking flange located on at least one of the flexible arms;

a retaining mechanism fixedly connected with the top portion for securing the snap-fit sensing apparatus in an installed position when disposed in the hole; and

a sensor located within the housing;

wherein the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus is configured to be removed from the installed position by decoupling the retaining mechanism and rotating the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus within the hole to a removable position.

14. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the hole forms at least one exit notch designed to mate with each locking flange when the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus is in the removable position.

15. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor senses one of temperature and pressure.

16. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a wave spring fixedly connected with the top portion, the wave spring having a retaining flange securing the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus in place when the removable snap-fit sensing apparatus is in the installed position.

17. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the hole forms an entrance groove for guiding the removable snap-fit apparatus into the hole.

18. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 17 wherein the entrance groove mates with the locking flange.

19. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pair of locking flanges, each locking flange located on each flexible arm.

20. The removable snap-fit sensing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an o-ring seal around the top portion.