Insert for an opening
AssigneeTRW Automotive U.S. LLC
InventorsDaniel D. Carlson, Timothy M. Barnes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insert (10) for an opening in a base (20) includes a housing (12) having a peripheral side wall (18) defining an interior space (24). The peripheral side wall (18) includes at least one latch member (90) having a latching position. The latch member (90) engages the base (20) to secure the housing (12) in the opening when the latch member (90) is in the latching position. The housing (12) is inserted into the opening in a first direction (A) to engage the latch member (90) with the base (20). At least one indicator (100) shows when the at least one latch member (90) is in the latching position. The indicator (100) is visible in the first direction (A) when the insert (10) is in the opening in the base (20).
Claims29
An insert for an opening in a base, the insert comprising:
- a housing having a peripheral side wall defining an interior space and including at least one latch member having a latching position, the peripheral side wall including a first portion and a second portion defining the interior space, the second portion moving relative to the first portion during insertion of the insert into the base, the at least one latch member being disposed on the second portion, the latch member engaging the base to secure the housing in the opening when the latch member is in the latching position, the housing being inserted into the opening in a first direction to engage the latch member with the base;
- and
- at least one indicator assembly moving with the at least one latch member to show when the at least one latch member is in the latching position, the at least one indicator assembly being visible in the first direction when the insert is in the opening in the base,
- wherein the at least one indicator assembly includes a plurality of indicators on the first and second portions of the peripheral side wall, the indicators on the first portion being aligned with the indicators on the second portion when the at least one latch member is in the latching position and being misaligned when the at least one latch member is not in the latching position,
- the peripheral side wall further includes a flexible connecting portion that continuously interconnects the first portion and the second portion and is formed of a different material than the first portion and the second portion.
An insert for an opening in a base, the insert comprising:
- a housing having a peripheral side wall defining an airflow passage through the housing, the peripheral side wall comprising a first portion and a second portion defining the airflow passage and the insert capable of controlling airflow through the airflow passage, the second portion moving relative to the first portion when the insert is placed in the opening in the base;
- and
- at least one latch member disposed on the second portion and having a latching position, the latch member engaging the base to secure the housing in the opening when the latch member is in the latching position, the housing being inserted into the opening in a first direction to engage the at least one latch member with the base;
- the second portion of the peripheral side wall having a first position inward of the first portion to allow the housing to be inserted into the opening and a second position substantially aligned with the first portion to place the at least one latch member in the latching position and secure the housing in the opening, the second portion moving from the first condition to the second condition as the housing is inserted into the opening along the first direction,
- wherein the peripheral side wall further includes a flexible member interconnecting the first portion and the second portion and is formed of a different material than the first portion and the second portion, the flexible member continuously connecting the first portion and the second portion and therefore preventing contaminants from entering an interior space defined by the peripheral side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.