Heat shield positioning assembly

Abstract

An assembly for protecting a sensor connected to a wiring harness is disclosed. The assembly includes a heat shield having a bore for receiving the sensor. An elongated harness sleeve extends outwardly from the sensor and through the bore of the heat shield, the harness sleeve surrounding the wiring harness. A positioning device for holding the heat shield at a predetermined position along the harness sleeve engages both the harness sleeve and the heat shield. The positioning device is formed from an elongated band that surrounds a central space. A plurality of flexible, resilient fingers are positioned on the band and extend inwardly into the central space. The fingers forcibly engage the harness sleeve to hold the device and the heat shield with which it is engaged in a predetermined position along the harness sleeve surrounding the sensor.

1 . A positioning device for holding a first elongated member at a predetermined position along a second elongated member, said second elongated member being positioned within a bore extending through said first elongated member, said positioning device comprising: 
 a band surrounding a central space; and    a plurality of flexible, resilient fingers, each having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending inwardly into said central space, said second ends being engageable with said second elongated member received within said central space, said band and said fingers being slidably movable along said second elongated member to said predetermined position upon the application of a force to said band directed along said second elongated member and sufficient to overcome resistance between said fingers and said second elongated member, said fingers forcibly engaging said second elongated member and holding said band in said predetermined position in the absence of said force, said band being engageable with said first elongated member for holding said first elongated member in said predetermined position along said second elongated member.    
   
   
       2 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said band has a circular perimeter.  
   
   
       3 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said band is elongated.  
   
   
       4 . A positioning device according to  claim 3 , wherein said band is sized so as to interfit within said bore of said first elongated member.  
   
   
       5 . A positioning device according to  claim 3 , wherein said band is tapered.  
   
   
       6 . A positioning device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a rim attached to said band and extending outwardly therefrom, said rim being engageable with said second elongated member.  
   
   
       7 . A positioning device according to  claim 6 , wherein said rim is attached at one end of said band.  
   
   
       8 . A positioning device according to  claim 7 , wherein said fingers are positioned at an end of said band opposite to said one end.  
   
   
       9 . A positioning device according to  claim 7 , wherein said fingers are positioned at said one end of said band.  
   
   
       10 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said fingers are wedge shaped, said first end being wider than said second end.  
   
   
       11 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said fingers are positioned adjacent to one another.  
   
   
       12 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said fingers are positioned in spaced apart relation around said band relatively to one another.  
   
   
       13 . A positioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end of at least one of said fingers has a shape complementary to said second elongated member.  
   
   
       14 . In combination, a positioning device and an elongated member, said positioning device for holding a sleeve at a predetermined position along said elongated member, said elongated member being positionable within a bore extending through said sleeve, said combination comprising: 
 a band surrounding a central space and engageable with said sleeve; and    a plurality of flexible, resilient fingers, each having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending inwardly into said central space, said second ends being engageable with said elongated member received within said central space, said band and said fingers being slidably movable along said elongated member to said predetermined position upon the application of a force to said band directed along said elongated member and sufficient to overcome resistance between said fingers and said elongated member, said fingers forcibly engaging said elongated member and holding said band in said predetermined position in the absence of said force, said band being engageable with said sleeve for holding said sleeve in said predetermined position along said elongated member.    
   
   
       15 . A combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said elongated member comprises a plurality of corrugations, said fingers engaging said corrugations and thereby maintaining said band in said predetermined position, said fingers being resiliently flexible and passing over said corrugations upon motion of said band relatively to said elongated member.  
   
   
       16 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said band has a circular perimeter.  
   
   
       17 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said band is elongated.  
   
   
       18 . A positioning device according to  claim 17 , wherein said band is sized so as to interfit within said bore of said elongated member.  
   
   
       19 . A positioning device according to  claim 17 , wherein said band is tapered.  
   
   
       20 . A positioning device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a rim attached to said band and extending outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       21 . A positioning device according to  claim 20 , wherein said rim is attached at one end of said band.  
   
   
       22 . A positioning device according to  claim 21 , wherein said fingers are positioned at an end of said band opposite to said one end.  
   
   
       23 . A positioning device according to  claim 21 , wherein said fingers are positioned at said one end of said band.  
   
   
       24 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said fingers are wedge shaped, said first end being wider than said second end.  
   
   
       25 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said fingers are positioned adjacent to one another.  
   
   
       26 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said fingers are positioned in spaced apart relation around said band relatively to one another.  
   
   
       27 . A positioning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said second end of at least one of said fingers has a shape complementary to said elongated member.  
   
   
       28 . An assembly for protecting a sensor connected to a wiring harness, said assembly comprising: 
 a heat shield having a bore for receiving said sensor;    an elongated harness sleeve being positionable to extend outwardly from said sensor and through said bore of said heat shield, said harness sleeve being positionable to surround said wiring harness;    a positioning device for holding said heat shield at a predetermined position along said harness sleeve, said positioning device comprising: 
 an elongated band surrounding a central space;  
 a plurality of flexible, resilient fingers, each having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending inwardly into said central space, said second ends being engageable with said harness sleeve;  
 a rim attached to said band and extending outwardly therefrom; and  
 said band, said fingers and said rim being slidably movable along said harness sleeve to said predetermined position upon the application of a force to said band directed along said harness sleeve and sufficient to overcome resistance between said fingers and said harness sleeve, said fingers forcibly engaging said harness sleeve and holding said band in said predetermined position in the absence of said force, one of said band and said rim being engageable with said heat shield and holding it in said predetermined position along said harness sleeve.