Prestolite Wire Corporation

Ronald P Sturdevan

Michael E LaCanne

Alexander J Pickelhaupt

A rigid shell surrounding a spark plug cable elastomer boot for giving columnar strength thereto as an aid for installation and removal of its associated spark plug cable in relation to a spark plug. In a first preferred embodiment, an elastomer boot is surrounded by a rigid shell, where the rigid shell is held in fixed relation to the elastomer boot by an interlocking relationship between an annular flange on the upper end of the elastomer boot and a plurality of axially aligned ribs on the lower end of the elastomer boot. In a second preferred embodiment, a flange is provided at the upper end of the elastomer boot which interlocks between a cup on the upper end of the rigid shell and a cap snapped onto the cup. In a third preferred embodiment, the second preferred embodiment is modified to include a plurality of axially aligned ribs on the lower end of the elastomer boot, as well as including an interlocking relationship between retainer nibs on the elastomer boot and retainer apertures on the rigid shell.

Reinforced boot for spark plug cables

A rigid sheath for a spark plug cable and its associated boot is provided by combining two lockable components, each of which is mutually symmetrical along the axial direction. The rigid sheath includes a lower portion structured to interlock with the boot and an upper portion structured to route a portion of the spark plug cable through a bend of substantially 90.degree. so that it is kept out of the way of structures within the engine compartment. Because the rigid sheath combines columnar strength, a handle and an interlocking relationship with the boot, easy installation and removal of the spark plug cable and its associated boot in relation to a spark plug is made possible, even where the spark plug is surrounded by nearby structures such as a deep well of the engine.

Rigid sheath for a spark plug cable and its associated boot

An elastomer angled boot for an angled spark plug cable terminal having an angular bend of between 90.degree. and 180.degree.. The angled boot has two protuberances, the first protuberance providing a pressing surface and the second protuberance providing a pulling surface. Each of the pressing and pulling surfaces is oriented in a plane perpendicular to the spark plug insertion axis, and serve as an aid during installation on, and removal from the spark plug. A concave notch is provided at the bend in the spark plug cable terminal which interlockingly cooperates with a convex knob on the angled boot to prevent relative slippage therebetween.

Angled boot for angled spark plug cable terminals

An electrical connector for connecting a spark plug cable to the high voltage output terminal of a distributorless ignition system. The connector has a tower member having a cup-shaped electrode which electrically connects the spark plug cable's electrical terminal with the high voltage output terminal of the distributorless ignition system. An insulator boot encloses the end of the spark plug cable and engages the tower member to form a watertight seal. A retainer, circumscribing a portion of the insulator boot, has a pair of latches which engage a radial flange provided on the tower member to lock the insulator boot to the tower member to maintain the watertight seal and hold the spark plug's electrical terminal securely in the tower member's cup-shaped electrode. A lock tab provided on the retainer engages a notch provided in the insulator boot to lock these two components together.

Growing community of inventors

Tifton, GA, United States of America

Ronald P Sturdevan