Fuel regulator retaining clip

A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:

• a fuel rail for supplying fuel and power to a plurality of fuel injectors of said engine, said fuel rail having a radially outward directed lip;
• a fuel regulator for regulating said fuel supply, said fuel regulator having a radially outward directed lip;
• a pliable retaining clip for securing a fuel regulator having a radially outward directed lip to a fuel rail, also having a radially outward directed lip, said retaining clip, when attached, having an axis that is coincident with the axis of said fuel regulator and said fuel rail, said retaining clip comprising:
• a first arcuately shaped leg having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a second arcuately shaped leg having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface, with said first and said second legs being joined together at said first ends;
• a channel formed in said inner surfaces of said first and second legs, with said channel being adapted to engage with the lips of the fuel regulator and the fuel rail;
• a cantilever arm extending from said outer surface of said first leg at said second end thereof, with said cantilever arm comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said proximal portion being formed adjacent said second end of said first leg;
• a tab extending along said outer surface of said second leg for cooperating with said cantilever arm to engage thereto, with said tab comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said proximal portion being formed adjacent said second end of said second leg, with said cantilever arm extending in a substantially circumferential manner toward said tab, and when engaged thereto, said cantilever arm overlays said tab whereby said proximal portion of said tab lies adjacent said distal portion of said cantilever arm and said distal portion of said tab lies adjacent said proximal portion of said cantilever arm, with said retaining clip thereby forming a coupling between the fuel regulator and the fuel rail.

A pliable retaining clip for securing a fuel regulator having a radially outward directed lip to a fuel rail, also having a radially outward directed lip, said retaining clip, when attached, having an axis that is coincident with the axis of said fuel regulator and said fuel rail, said retaining clip comprising:

• a first arcuately shaped leg having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a second arcuately shaped leg having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface, with said first and said second legs being joined together at said first ends;
• a channel formed in said inner surfaces of said first and second legs, with said channel being adapted to engage with the lips of the fuel regulator and the fuel rail;
• a cantilever arm extending from said outer surface of said first leg at said second end thereof, with said cantilever arm comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said proximal portion being formed adjacent said second end of said first leg;
• a tab extending along said outer surface of said second leg for cooperating with said cantilever arm to engage thereto, with said tab comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said proximal portion being formed adjacent said second end of said second leg, with said cantilever arm extending in a substantially circumferential manner toward said tab, and when engaged thereto, said cantilever arm overlays said tab whereby said proximal portion of said tab lies adjacent said distal portion of said cantilever arm and said distal portion of said tab lies adjacent said proximal portion of said cantilever arm, with said retaining clip thereby forming a coupling between the fuel regulator and the fuel rail;
• a plurality of serrated catches spaced adjacently along said inner surface of said cantilever arm and said outer surface of said tab, such that said cantilever arm catches oppose said tab catches, wherein said catches are aligned with a longitudinal axis of said body and extend the full axial length of said body;
• a latch formed in a spaced manner from said tab, with said latch comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said proximal portion being formed adjacent said second end of said second leg, with said latch extending from said proximal portion in a substantially circumferential manner toward said cantilever arm, such that when said tab engages said cantilever arm, said latch secures said tab and said cantilever arm, and wherein said distal portion of said latch lies adjacent to said proximal portion of said cantilever arm;
• an axially extending notch is formed at an intersection of said inner surfaces of said first and second legs, such that said retaining clip can flex thereabout.