United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Essex Group, Inc.

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

United Technologies Automotive, Inc./ford Motor Company

Robert G Szudarek

H Winston Maue

Dhirendra C Roy

Brian E Henderson

Alex Zaguskin

Arnold David Nielsen

Thomas C Wolanzyk

Yew T Yeow

Roger Cook

An inventive rear lamp module for a vehicle incorporates a trailer tow connector to provide electrical signals to a trailer that is to be pulled by the vehicle. Preferably, two separate connectors are formed on a rear face of an electric lamp module. A first connector receives input signals from the vehicle and a second connector is an optional connector to be connected to a trailer connector when the trailer is connected to a vehicle. The present invention eliminates the need of a separate wire harness for the trailer connector, and thus reduces cost. In addition, by positioning the trailer tow connector within a plastic part mounted in a secure position in the vehicle, the trailer tow connector is easily maintained.

Rear lamp module with trailer tow connector

A vehicle includes a frame having an inner surface and a trim panel having an outer surface adapted to overlie the inner surface of the frame. A plurality of electrical devices are secured in the frame and the trim panel for carrying out various tasks and operations. A plurality of electrical wires are secured to the outer surface of the trim panel and electrically connect to the several electrical devices. Wire routing elements extend from the outer surface of the trim panel for individually and sequentially securing the plurality of electrical wires on the outer surface of the trim panel to eliminate the need for a prefabricated wiring harness. The routing elements may comprise a series of L-shaped posts between which the electrical wires are woven, a series of tabs having a V-shaped receiving notch into which the wires are seated, channels along which the electrical wires are secured by glue, or self-locking strap-like clamps for clamping the electrical wires to the trim panel. The individual electrical wires are routed directly, so that a separate wire harness is eliminated. Also, the subject method eliminates one step on the automobile assembly line process, namely the attachment of the prior art wiring harness to the door frame or to the trim panel.

Wire harness assembly on trim panel

An electronic module includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) which contains a plurality of circuit elements. The electronic module is electrically connected to other electrical components in a vehicle by a connector. The PCB is contained within an electrically conductive housing which includes a box and a cover. A ground trace printed on the PCB extends to a mounting hole in the PCB and provides a ground path for the circuit elements. An electrically conductive metal ferrule which elevates the PCB above the box and the cover above the PCB, extends through the mounting hole in the PCB and contacts the cover and box when the cover is fitted onto the box. A mounting bolt extends through the cover inside the ferrule through the box and into a nut mounted into a metal portion of the vehicle.

Vehicle electronic module with integral mounting and grounding means

The present invention anti-rotational fastener for an automotive vehicle comprises a cap portion suitable for attachment to an electrical apparatus and a barbed shaft. The shaft has a pair of broad sides and a pair of thin sides, all of which extend perpendicularly downward from the cap portion for attachment to an automotive vehicle body panel. This difference in shaft side dimensions corresponds to an elongated slot cut within the vehicle body panel, thereby preventing rotation of the fastener and, in turn, the electrical apparatus. Furthermore, an upper portion of the shaft broad sides has a pair of wings oppositely extending outward therefrom in order to mechanically stabilize the fastener against rotational movements in vertical planes which would otherwise tend to loosen the fastener. In an alternative embodiment, the anti-rotational fastener of the present invention can be used to retain and prevent rotation of a portion of a wire harness.

Anti-rotational fastener

A multiconnector block (19) for insertion between a junction block (4) and wire harness connectors (13), has a first array of terminals (24) to interconnect with the junction block (4), a second array of terminals (26) to interconnect with the connectors (13), and electrical connections among selective of the first and second arrays of terminals to provide required electrical circuitry.

Selective multiconnector block

An automobile junction box (2), programmable in relation to vehicle options that may be required, houses printed circuit boards (24, 25) having receptacles (28) for receiving tabs (36) depending from an elongated member (34). The tabs connect the circuit pathways (26) corresponding to vehicle options. The selected circuit pathways may be modified by the inclusion of a second set of receptacles (29) on the printed circuit boards for receiving electrical components (14) such as diodes, resistors, zener diodes and the like.

Programmable junction box

An electrical connector assembly for making electrical connections to the flat electrical conductors of ribbon type electrical cable. In the connector assembly of the invention, the insulation is removed from a portion of the ribbon cable so as to expose the flat electrical conductors. The exposed portion of the flat electrical conductors is axially twisted so that the plane defined thereby is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the ribbon cable. A housing member encloses the portion of the ribbon cable from which insulation has been removed and supports electrical terminal means which mate with the twisted electrical conductors.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Robert G Szudarek