Protection shield positioning assembly and positioning device therefor and method of use

An assembly for protecting a sensor connected to a wiring harness, said assembly comprising:

• a protective shield having a bore for receiving said sensor;
• an elongated harness sleeve extending from adjacent said sensor and through said bore of said protective shield, said harness sleeve surrounding at least a portion of said wiring harness;
• and
• a positioning device for maintaining said protective shield at a predetermined position along said harness sleeve to protect said sensor, said positioning device having an elongated band surrounding a central space and at least one flexible, resilient finger having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending radially inwardly toward said central space, at least one of said second ends being engageable with said harness sleeve received within said central space, said band and said at least one finger being slidably movable upon application of a purely axially directed force along said harness sleeve to said predetermined position, at least one of said second ends forcibly engaging said harness sleeve and maintaining said band and said protective sleeve in said predetermined position upon removal of said force.

A method of protecting a device connected to an end of an elongated wiring harness having an outer harness sleeve, comprising:

• providing an annular band having a central space and at least one flexible, resilient finger having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending radially inwardly toward said central space;
• providing a tubular protection shield;
• positioning said protection shield in a protective position at least partially surrounding said device to provide protection to said device;
• disposing said harness sleeve in said central space of said band;
• and
• sliding said band with said protection shield along said harness sleeve to releasably maintain said protection shield in said protective position, said sliding causing at least one of said second ends of said at least one finger to flexibly engage said harness sleeve upon application of an axially applied force on said band, at least one of said second ends of said at least one finger remaining in engagement with said harness sleeve and maintaining said protection shield in said protective position in the absence of said force.