Connector with one or more windows for viewing resistance spot weld
AssigneeNorma U.S. Holding LLC
InventorsMiguel Angel Gallegos de la Peña, David Reyes Lopez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector used to join metal pipes, rubber hoses, and other tubular bodies and lines together in order to establish a fluid-tight joint therebetween. The connector is a v-clamp in an example. One or more windows reside in a metal wall portion of the connector. The metal wall portion is a part of a band of the connector, per an example. The window(s) is located at a resistance spot welding site. By way of the window(s), an inspector can visually view and examine whether an intended resistance spot weld has been properly established at the metal wall portion of the connector.
Claims17
A connector, comprising:
- a band composed of metal;
- a wall portion composed of metal;
- and
- at least one window residing in said band or residing in said wall portion at a resistance spot-welding site of said band or of said wall portion;
- wherein, when said band and said wall portion are brought together and a resistance spot weld is established at said resistance spot-welding site, a resistance spot weld formation is viewable via said at least one window.
A method of attaching a first metal wall portion of a connector to a second metal wall portion of the connector together, the method comprising:
- producing at least one window in said first metal wall portion of the connector, said at least one window spanning wholly through said first metal wall portion;
- bringing said first metal wall portion and said second metal wall portion together in abutment, said at least one window situated at a site of the abutment;
- and
- establishing a resistance spot weld formation at the site of the abutment between said first metal wall portion and said second metal wall portion, said resistance spot weld formation located adjacent said at least one window.
A connector, comprising:
- a first metal wall portion having a resistance spot-welding site;
- a second metal wall portion;
- at least one window residing in said first metal wall portion and located at said resistance spot-welding site, said at least one window spanning wholly through said first metal wall portion at said resistance spot-welding site;
- and
- at least one resistance spot weld formation located between said first metal wall portion and said second metal wall portion, said at least one resistance spot weld formation exposed to view at said first metal wall portion via said at least one window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.