Wire retention feature
AssigneeGuide Corporation
InventorR. Andrew Kidd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject invention relates to automotive lighting assemblies. Specifically, the subject invention relates to a device and method for retaining wires, which provide power to the light source, in the proper orientation. In an exemplary embodiment, a wire retaining cavity is formed by a molded rib on a cover and a molded retention feature with a hook portion on a light source retaining compartment. In this exemplary embodiment, the cover and retaining compartment are integrally connected to one another by a living hinge. The wire retaining cavity is formed once the cover is folded over the retaining cavity bringing the rib into close proximity of the wire retention feature and adjacent to the hook portion of the feature.
Claims22
An automotive lamp assembly comprising:
- a) a light source retaining compartment having at least one access opening, at least one compartment opening and at least one integral wire retention feature having at least one hook portion extending into the compartment opening;
- b) a cover pivotally connected to the retaining compartment so that the cover can be pivoted to cover the at least one access opening;
- and
- c) at least one rib located on the cover in a position such that the rib is adjacent to the at least one hook portion when the cover is pivoted to cover the access opening, so that at least one wire retention cavity is formed between the at least one rib and the at least one hook portion of the at least one wire retention feature.
A molded wire retention feature for an automotive lamp housing the wire retention feature comprising:
- a) a base integral with and attached to a lamp housing;
- b) a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side and a top edge detached from the lamp housing, wherein the top edge is located opposite the base, the fourth side is substantially parallel to and located opposite the first side, which faces the lamp housing, and the second and third sides are located opposite each other and substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the first and the fourth sides;
- c) at least one arch contour located on the first side in between the base and the top edge;
- and
- d) at least one hook portion located on the first side near the top edge and positioned adjacent to the at least one arch contour.
An automotive lamp assembly comprising:
- a) a light source retaining compartment with at least one wire retention feature integrally formed at a first end of an interior wall of said compartment and extending into an opening through a second wall of the retaining compartment;
- b) a hook portion located on a second end of the retention feature opposite the first end integrally formed to the interior wall;
- c) a cover integrally and pivotally connected to the light source retaining compartment by a living hinge;
- and
- d) at least one rib located on the cover and positioned in close proximity with the hook portion to form a wire retention cavity once the cover is folded over the living hinge to cover the access opening in the retaining compartment.
A method of retaining and properly aligning wires on a lamp assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a lamp assembly with a light source retaining compartment and an access opening with at least one retention feature having a base attached to and integral with the retaining compartment, a first side facing the retaining compartment, a second side and a third side substantially parallel to each other, a fourth side opposite the first side, and a top edge opposite the base, wherein the first side, the second side, the third side, the fourth side and the top edge are detached from the retaining compartment, and wherein a hook portion is positioned on the first side;
- b) providing a cover for the access opening having at least one rib;
- c) forming at least one wire retention cavity by placing the cover over the access opening to the retaining compartment so that the at least one rib is in close proximity with the hook portion of the at least one wire retention feature;
- and
- d) inserting at least one wire into the at least one wire retention cavity by sliding the at least one wire underneath the hook portion of the at least one retention feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.