Abstract: A grommet assembly includes a wire harness and a grommet including a hollow channel configured to receive the wire harness therein. At least one rib extends inwards from and substantially annularly about the interior surface of the hollow channel. At least one port configured to fluidly couple the hollow channel with an exterior environment is defined by the grommet. Material is injected into the channel through the port to secure the grommet relative to the wire harness. The material injected into the channel flows through interstices located between adjacent wires that define the wire harness so as to encapsulate the wires. The injected material also flows into other voids and openings located within the hollow channel. Upon setting, the injected material is configured to prevent movement of the grommet relative to the wire harness and to prevent the passage of contaminants through the grommet assembly.

Abstract: A grommet includes a body portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture. A hollow channel extends between the first aperture and the second aperture. The channel is defined by an interior surface of the body portion. One or more engagement structures are defined by the interior surface of the grommet body portion, and are configured to engage one or more corresponding engagement structures provided about an exterior surface of a mounting structure engaged about and elongated member that is positioned within the hollow channel of the grommet.

Abstract: A grommet assembly includes a wire harness and a grommet including a hollow channel configured to receive the wire harness therein. At least one rib extends inwards from and substantially annularly about the interior surface of the hollow channel. At least one port configured to fluidly couple the hollow channel with an exterior environment is defined by the grommet. Material is injected into the channel through the port to secure the grommet relative to the wire harness. The material injected into the channel flows through interstices located between adjacent wires that define the wire harness so as to encapsulate the wires. The injected material also flows into other voids and openings located within the hollow channel. Upon setting, the injected material is configured to prevent movement of the grommet relative to the wire harness and to prevent the passage of contaminants through the grommet assembly.

Abstract: A grommet includes a body portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture. A hollow channel extends between the first aperture and the second aperture. The channel is defined by an interior surface of the body portion. One or more engagement structures are defined by the interior surface of the grommet body portion, and are configured to engage one or more corresponding engagement structures provided about an exterior surface of a mounting structure engaged about and elongated member that is positioned within the hollow channel of the grommet.

Abstract: A convoluted tube for enclosing a wire harness can include a tubular body portion extending in a longitudinal direction. The tubular body portion can define a slit that extends in the longitudinal direction and that separates first and second contact surfaces of the tubular body portion. The convoluted tube can also include a conductive ink coupled to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces. The conductive ink can be configured to generate heat when an appropriate magnetic field is applied. The first contact surface can be configured to fuse with the second contact surface upon application of the appropriate magnetic field to the conductive ink such that the wire harness enclosed within the interior of the tubular body portion does not extend through the slit.

Abstract: A grommet assembly that has a retainer and a grommet that is coupled to the retainer. The retainer includes first and second body portions that are connected via a hinge that permits the first and second body portions to be spread apart into an open condition to receive a wire harness. The retainer also includes a latch that permits the first and second body portions to be held in a closed position. The grommet is coupled to the retainer and is configured to form a seal about the retainer. The grommet can have seal members that sealingly engage one another when the retainer is latched in the closed position. Additionally or alternatively, the retainer can have a channel that is configured to support a wire harness and the grommet can have a resilient tubular portion that can be stretched over the channel and the wire harness.

Abstract: A connector assembly can include a housing, a terminal retainer, and a terminal position assurance member. The terminal retainer can be removably coupled with the housing and define a primary retaining lock for an electrical contact assembly. The terminal retainer can cooperate with the housing to form a compartment that can receive the electrical contact assembly. The compartment can extend along a mating axis of the housing, with a first frontal opening and a rear opening spaced from one another along the mating axis. A portion of the first frontal opening can be elastically deformable such that a size of the first frontal opening is variable. The terminal position assurance member can be removably coupled with the housing to define a secondary retaining lock for the electrical contact assembly. The terminal position assurance member can be positioned to inhibit elastic deformation of the portion of the first frontal opening.

Abstract: A convoluted tube for enclosing a wire harness can include a tubular body portion extending in a longitudinal direction. The tubular body portion can define a slit that extends in the longitudinal direction and that separates first and second contact surfaces of the tubular body portion. The convoluted tube can also include a conductive ink coupled to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces. The conductive ink can be configured to generate heat when an appropriate magnetic field is applied. The first contact surface can be configured to fuse with the second contact surface upon application of the appropriate magnetic field to the conductive ink such that the wire harness enclosed within the interior of the tubular body portion does not extend through the slit.

Abstract: A grommet assembly that has a retainer and a grommet that is coupled to the retainer. The retainer includes first and second body portions that are connected via a hinge that permits the first and second body portions to be spread apart into an open condition to receive a wire harness. The retainer also includes a latch that permits the first and second body portions to be held in a closed position. The grommet is coupled to the retainer and is configured to form a seal about the retainer. The grommet can have seal members that sealingly engage one another when the retainer is latched in the closed position. Additionally or alternatively, the retainer can have a channel that is configured to support a wire harness and the grommet can have a resilient tubular portion that can be stretched over the channel and the wire harness.

Abstract: An over-current fuse of unitary, disposable construction is used to protect battery and alternator cables from over-current conditions. The fuse comprises a cylindrical body of high-temperature plastic having an axial through-bore and recessed annular seat surfaces formed into the opposite surfaces. Metal rings are mounted on the annular seat surfaces and are electrically interconnected by a fuse element.

Abstract: An auxiliary power port such as is found in an automotive vehicle passenger compartment has a receptacle connected with the vehicle electrical system and a sleeve rotatably mounted in the receptacle to receive a standard adapter plug of the type intended for use with automotive power ports. The sleeve is insulatively spaced from the inner surface of the receptacle, and includes at least one and preferably multiple PTC elements conductively sandwiched between the sleeve and the receptacle. The PTC elements are rotatable into and out of a non-conductive window in the receptacle to selectively adjust the overcurrent protection level provided by the power port, and to disconnect the PTC elements from current to allow them to reset after being tripped by overcurrent.

Abstract: An adjustable clip for flexible flat cables comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected scissors arms having retainer tabs on the opposite ends and detents so that angle between the arms can be set in any of several different positions to accommodate FFCs of different widths. A bayonet fastener extends through a center hub portion so as to be forcibly inserted into a preformed hole in a support structure such as an automotive body pillar.

Abstract: A sensor is attached to a backing plate of a brake pad. The sensor comprises a metal arm extending to one side of the brake pad. The metal arm is electrically insulated from the backing plate. A tab made from a dielectric material projects from a free end of the arm in the same direction that the brake pad extends from the backing plate. The tab is bonded to the arm by an electrically conductive paste. The tab has a wear face spaced from the backing plate the same distance as a brake surface of the brake pad. When a brake is applied by a vehicle operator, both the brake pad brake surface and the tab wear face frictionally engage a brake rotor fixed to a wheel hub. The dielectric material is selected so the tab wears at the same rate as the brake pad. A lead wire connected to the arm enables the capacitance of the tab to be measured by a grounded capacitance meter when the brake is applied. The capacitance changes as the dielectric material wears away.

Abstract: An auxiliary power port such as is found in an automotive vehicle passenger compartment has a receptacle connected with the vehicle electrical system and a tubular, removable sleeve which fits inside the receptacle and receives a standard adapter plug of the type intended for use with automotive power ports. The exterior surface of the sleeve is covered with a layer of positive temperature coefficient (positive temperature coefficient) material, and insertion of the sleeve into the receptacle places the positive temperature coefficient layer in contact with the inner surface of the receptacle. The inner surface of the receptacle, the outer surface of the sleeve, and the positive temperature coefficient layer sandwiched therebetween form a positive temperature coefficient circuit overcurrent protection device. A number of interchangeable sleeves having different hold currents are provided for use with different electrical devices.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a plurality of internal chambers containing wiring harness terminals for making connection with terminals of a mating wiring harness connector, and a locking wedge receptacle adjacent the terminal chambers having a plurality of electrical component terminals in communication therewith. Latch members separate the terminal chambers from the locking wedge receptacle and have nubs formed thereon which engage the terminals to retain them in their respective chambers. An electrical circuit component such as a fuse, resistor, capacitor or diode is sized to fit snugly within the locking wedge receptacle and has contacts which make electrical connection with the electrical component terminals when inserted therein.

Abstract: A self-resetting circuit overcurrent protection device comprises two or more flat positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements, each comprising a layer of PTC material sandwiched between two metal plates, disposed in a parallel, overlapping configuration and connected in electrical parallel. The resulting circuit protection device has a hold current equal to the sum of the hold currents of the component PTC elements, while having a surface area no greater than that of a PTC device comprising only one of the component PTC elements. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two PTC elements are used and one of the metal plates belonging to each of the PTC elements has a blade terminal integrally formed therewith, the terminals being substantially identical in configuration to the terminals of a standard automotive fuse which the device is intended to replace.

Abstract: A self-resetting circuit overcurrent protection device suitable for use as a replacement for a conventional cylindrical fuse has at least one semi-tubular positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element surrounded by a tubular, electrically insulating body and connected to terminal caps disposed at either end of the cylinder. In a first embodiment of the invention, first and second PTC elements are disposed such that the concave surfaces thereof are oriented toward one another and are connected in electrical parallel so that the hold current of the PTC device is equal to the sum of the hold current values of each of the two elements. In a second embodiment, a first pair of semi-tubular PTC elements are disposed in nested, concentric relationship to one another and a second pair of semi-tubular PTC elements are disposed in nested, concentric relationship to one another, the two pairs of PTC elements being disposed with concave surfaces thereof facing one another.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A collar for providing a grounding connection for a tube of electrically conductive fabric used to shield a cable from electromagnetic interference and/or radio frequency interference. The collar has an inner sleeve which fits around the cable and an outer sleeve which slides over the inner sleeve so that the shielding tube is sandwiched between the two sleeves. An electrically conductive ring around the inner circumference of the outer sleeve is pressed into contact with the shielding tube. A terminal extends from the ring for connection to ground. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector is formed integrally with the outer sleeve.