The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 27, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1999
Paul Matthews Pickett, Jr., North Branch, MI (US);
Robert Jay Slais, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An engagement device for a cantilevered conduit connection that provides an assembler with visible, audible, and tactile redundant verification that the connection is completely engaged. The engagement device assists in holding a connecting block in place to a housing. The housing includes a fastener port with a fastener fastened therein. The engagement device includes a locking portion at one end thereof, and circumscribes a portion of the fastener. The connecting block mounts to the housing and includes a fastener passage through the connecting block that mounts around the engagement device. The connecting block further includes an engagement surface that mates with the locking portion of the engagement device to assist in fastening the connecting block to the housing. The locking portion of the engagement device expands against the engagement surface of the connecting block to provide visible, audible, and tactile verification that the connecting block is completely engaged to the housing. Additionally, a method of using the engagement device with the cantilevered conduit connection is also disclosed.