EP0938161A2

EP0938161A2 - Improved module carrier for two modules

Info

Publication number: EP0938161A2
Application number: EP98500283A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eduardo Jorda Nogales; Gerard Vall Gendra
Original assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Current assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Priority date: 1998-02-24
Filing date: 1998-12-29
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Also published as: ES1039613U; ES1039613Y; WO1999044259A3; WO1999044259A2; EP0938161A3

Abstract

The proposed module carrier has a noticeably prismatic body and without an upper base, thus estabilishing a mouth for the introduction of the corresponding modules. The introduction of said modules is easier because of an inclined plane provided in said mouth which allows the reduction of the module insertion force inside the module carrier, all of which being assisted because of an interior arrangement of small walls allowing the separation between the two modules that can be included inside said module carrier and which are of the lateral insertion type.

Description

The present application for a Patent of Invention consists as recited in its title in an IMPROVED MODULE CARRIER FOR TWO MODULES, which novel characteristics of manufacturing, shaping and design fullfill the object for which it has been specifically designed, with a maximum safety and efficiency.
More specifically the invention refers to a module carrier designed in such a way that inside it can be lodged two modules which, at the same time and in grace to its own construction are able of including in its body a male terminal and a female terminal.
The technical segment for the present invention is that of the small auxiliary elements for the electrical and electronic wiring and connections in the automotive industry, whose function is that of setting an order in the several electric wires and the joining and connection of same at certain points of an automobile, in the speediest and more efficient way and with no failures whatsoever.
There exist in the market and therefore can be considered the State of the Art, a plurality of module carriers which can lodge inside same modules including in themselves the corresponding male and female terminals, having to this goal a series of guiding and retaining elements.
The object of the module carriers is, as is well known, that of giving access to the corresponding modules which, because of their geometric characteristics, must be included in said module carrier in a determined direction and orientation, for which it is of a paramount importance the interior design of same, which must allow the introduction of said modules in a quick, reliable way and with no error whatsoever, and which as said must include in its interior a series of male and female terminals, by which the task of inserting said modules into the module carrier must be as direct, quick and with the lightest use of strenght possible, since said operations are fully manual.
The proposed module carrier has a noticeably prismatic body and without an upper base, thus estabilishing a mouth for the introduction of the corresponding modules. The introduction of said modules is easier because of an inclined plane provided in said mouth which allows the reduction of the module insertion force inside the module carrier, all of which being assisted because of an interior arrangement of small walls allowing the separation between the two modules that can be included inside said module carrier and which are of the lateral insertion type.
In the minor lateral walls of the module and in its upper portion are arranged the corresponding windows, including an inverted inclined plane, the function of which is that of improving the clicking into place and increasing the retention of the modules included in the interior of the module carrier, since these incorporate the protuberances or jutting points for fitting into said windows.
In one of the major lateral bases of the module carrier is provided a single external attachment catch insuring the total clicking into place and which is fully protected by a sort of wings and a protecting base as a continuity surface which avoid what can be wire's entanglements and a later break of same if and when said wires become entangled with the catch provided in said major lateral wall.
Other details and characteristics of the present application for a Patent of Invention will be manifest through the reading of the description given herebelow, in which reference is made to the figures attached to this description where the above details are depicted in a rather schematic way. These details are given as an example, referring to a case of a possible practical embodiment, but is not limited to the details outlined; therefore this description must be considered from an illustrative point of view and with no limitations whatsoever.
There follows a detailed report of the several elements named in the present application : (10) module carrier, (11) major lateral walls, (12) minor lateral walls, (13) lower base, (14) upper lip, (15) windows, (16) inclined plane, (17) small wall, (18) catch, (19) spur, (20) wings, (21) pressure plane, (protection) protection base, (23) mouth.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the module carrier (10).
Figure 2 is a cross section view of the module carrier (10).
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a partial section of the portion bordering the mouth (14) of the module carrier (10).
Figure 4 is an upper plant view of the module carrier (10).
In one of the preferred embodiments of what is the object of the present application, and as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the module carrier (10) has a noticeably prismatic configuration with chamfered corners and the upper mouth (23) of which forming a skirt or upper lip (14) directed towards the outside and perpendicular to the walls (11-12) of (10).
The module carrier (10) is formed by major lateral walls (11) and minor lateral walls (12) emerging perpendicularly from a lower base (13).
In the minor lateral walls (12) there are provided windows noticeably rectangular (15) next to the upper lip (14) the function of which is that of acting as retention means of the modules to be introduced into (10).
In one of the major lateral walls (11) are provided wings (20) perpendicularly to (11) and which converge in its upper portion in an U-shaped protection base (22) protecting the catch, which in the upper part is provided with a pressure plane (21) which makes easier the total clicking into place of same when are introduced the correponding modules into (10) through the mouth (23).
In the interior portion of the module carrier (10) and as can be seen in Figure 4, arranged in the interior part of the minor lateral walls are certain small walls or ridges (17) perpendicular to same which guide and limit the access of the modules to the interior of the module carrier (10).
In order to make easier the access of the modules to the interior of the module carrier (10), in the neighbourghood of the mouth (23) has been designed an inclined plane (16) in the upper part of the minor lateral walls (12), see Figure 3, with the object or function of reducing the insertion force of the modules when these are manually introduced into the interior of the module carrier (10).
Complementary to the above function and in order to a better retention of the modules introduced inside the module carrier (10) there has been designed windows (15) in the upper portion of the minor lateral walls (12) which have an inverse inclined plane for making better clicking into place and increasing the retention of the modules into the module carrier (10), as has been above mentioned.
In order to insure the full clicking into place of the module carrier (10) there has been designed and provided in the major lateral wall (11) a single exterior fixation catch (18) emerging from the lower base (13), see Figure 2, and having in its median portion a sort of a spur (19) and in its upper portion a pressure plane (21).
In order to avoid that the wires may come entangled with said catch (18) same has been protected by means of wings (20) perpendicular to the lateral wall (11) and which in the upper portion merge into an U-shaped protection base (22), in such a way that the user neeeds only pressing with the thumb over the pressure plane (21) for clicking or un-clicking into place in order to make easier the access of the modules through the mouth (23) to the interior of the module carrier (10).
Enough disclosed what the present application for a Patent of Invention in agreement with the figures attached is, it's understood that can be introduced in same any detail modifications regarded as convenient, always without departing from the essence of the present Patent as summarized in the following claims.

Claims

"IMPROVED MODULE CARRIER FOR TWO MODULES" of those shaped with a noticeably prismatic body formed with major lateral walls (11) and minor lateral walls (12) emerging perpendicularly from a lower base (13) ending in the upper portion in a mouth (23) characterized in that around said mmouth (23) and in a perimetral way to it emerge perpendicularly to the major lateral walls (11) and minor lateral walls (12) an upper lip (14) which in the center zone of one of the major lateral walls extends widening itself into a protecting base (22), the cross section of which is U-shaped and which is extended in the lower portion by wings (20) perpendicular to (11) and going from said protecting base (22) to the neighbourhood of the base (13) of the module carrier (10) incorporating same means for making easier the access of lateral insertion modules and for retention of the modules into the inside of the module carrier (10).
"IMPROVED MODULE CARRIER FOR TWO MODULES" characterized as per the Claim 1 in that the means for making easier the access of lateral insertion modules in the interior of the module carrier (10) are formed with inclined planes each (16) in the neighbourhood of the upper lip (14) and provided in the interior face of the minor lateral walls (12).
"IMPROVED MODULE CARRIER FOR TWO MODULES" characterized as per the Claim 1 in that the means for increasing the retention of the module in the interior of the module carrier (10) are formed with windows (15) each provided in the upper portion of the minor lateral walls (12) and in the neighbourhood of the upper lip (14), shaping said windows and in its inside perimeter an inverse inclined plane.