Integrated fuel injector orientation and retention device

A fuel injector apparatus comprising:

• a fuel injector;
• a tab integral with the fuel injector, the tab further comprising a first prong, a second prong and a gap disposed between the first prong and the second prong;
• and
• a fuel injector cup that defines a notch through which the first prong and the second prong pass;
• wherein
• when the first and second prongs pass through the notch in an axial direction, a surface of the tab engages a surface of the fuel injector cup to prevent axial movement of the fuel injector with respect to the fuel injector cup;
• when the first and second prongs pass through the notch, rotational movement of the fuel injector with respect to the cup is prevented;
• and
• the first prong defining a first entry contact surface having a first specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch;
• the first prong defining a first exit contact surface having a first specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the first exit contact surface and the first entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions;
• the second prong defining a second entry contact surface having a second specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch;
• the second prong defining a second exit contact surface having a second specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the second exit contact surface and the second entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions;
• and
• the first and second specified removal angles are larger than the first and second specified insertion angles, respectively, such that the amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch is less than the amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch.

A fuel injector apparatus comprising:

• a fuel injector;
• a tab integral with the fuel injector, the tab further comprising:
• a solid head portion from which a first flexible prong and a second flexible prong protrude in an axial direction, together the first and second flexible prongs defining a gap disposed between the first and second flexible prongs;
• and
• a fuel injector cup that defines a notch through which the first flexible prong and the second flexible prong reside to secure the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup;
• wherein
• when the first and second prongs reside within the notch, a surface of the tab engages a surface of the fuel injector cup to prevent axial movement of the fuel injector with respect to the fuel injector cup;
• when the first and second prongs reside within the notch, rotational movement of the fuel injector with respect to the cup is prevented;
• and
• the first flexible prong defining a first entry contact surface having a first specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch;
• the first flexible prong defining a first exit contact surface having a first specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the first exit contact surface and the first entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions;
• the second flexible prong defining a second entry contact surface having a second specified insertion angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch;
• the second flexible prong defining a second exit contact surface having a second specified removal angle with respect to the axial direction to control an amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch, the second exit contact surface and the second entry contact surface are angled in opposite directions;
• and
• the first and second specified removal angles are larger than the first and second specified insertion angles, respectively, such that the amount of force required to insert the tab into the notch is less than the amount of force required to remove the tab from the notch.