Two-dimensional tether retainer with accompanying tooling assembly

Abstract

A tether retainer is provided which includes a base and a flap having a slot. The flap is attached to the base. A locking tab is positioned on the base and is constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether. The retainer may also be nested within a tooling assembly. Preferably, the tooling assembly is designed such that when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly, the retainer is positioned on a receiving portion. A positioning blade and a press may also be added to the tooling assembly. The positioning blade is designed to pass through the slot whereas the press is designed to contact and/or push against the flap.

1 . A tether retainer comprising: 
 a base;    a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot; and    a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether.    
     
     
         2 . A retainer as in  claim 1  wherein the retainer encloses the tether between the base and the flap.  
     
     
         3 . A retainer as in  claim 1  further comprising a tear seam.  
     
     
         4 . A retainer as in  claim 1  wherein the flap folds over the base.  
     
     
         5 . A retainer as in  claim 1  wherein the retainer is constructed to be mounted on an interior vehicle surface.  
     
     
         6 . A retainer as in  claim 1  further comprising a mounting portion having one or more bolt holes.  
     
     
         7 . A retainer as in  claim 6  wherein the retainer is mounted on an interior vehicle surface via one or more fasteners that pass through the bolt holes.  
     
     
         8 . A retainer as in  claim 1  further comprising a clearance hole.  
     
     
         9 . A retainer as in  claim 8  wherein the clearance hole is positioned proximate one or more gripping tabs.  
     
     
         10 . A retainer as in  claim 1  wherein the locking tab further comprises one or more tips.  
     
     
         11 . The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the locking tab may be raised into an extended position.  
     
     
         12 . The retainer of  claim 1  wherein a tooling assembly may mechanically enclose the tether within the retainer.  
     
     
         13 . The tether as in  claim 1  wherein the retainer is constructed such that it may be nested within a tooling assembly.  
     
     
         14 . A retainer as in  claim 13  wherein the tooling assembly comprises a positioning blade that may be passed through the slot.  
     
     
         15 . A retainer as in  claim 13  wherein the tooling assembly comprises an alignment pin.  
     
     
         16 . A retainer as in  claim 13  wherein the tooling assembly comprises a receiving portion that is designed such that when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly, the retainer is positioned on the receiving portion.  
     
     
         17 . A retainer as in  claim 13  wherein the tooling assembly further comprises a press that is configured to contact the retainer.  
     
     
         18 . A retainer as in  claim 17  wherein the press contacts the retainer by pushing against the flap.  
     
     
         19 . A tether retainer comprising: 
 a base;    a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot; and    a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of the tether between the base and the flap.    
     
     
         20 . A retainer as in  claim 19  further comprising a tear seam.  
     
     
         21 . A retainer as in  claim 19  wherein the retainer is constructed to be mounted on an interior vehicle surface.  
     
     
         22 . A retainer as in  claim 19  further comprising a mounting portion having one or more bolt holes.  
     
     
         23 . A retainer as in  claim 19  further comprising a clearance hole.  
     
     
         24 . A retainer as in  claim 19  wherein the locking tab further comprises one or more tips.  
     
     
         25 . A retainer of  claim 19  wherein the locking tab may be raised into an extended position.  
     
     
         26 . A retainer as in  claim 19  wherein the retainer is constructed such that it may be nested within a tooling assembly.  
     
     
         27 . A retainer as in  claim 19  wherein a tooling assembly may mechanically enclose the tether within the retainer.  
     
     
         28 . A tooling assembly designed to nest a tether retainer having a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether, the tooling assembly comprising: 
 a receiving portion constructed such that when the retainer is nested, the retainer is positioned on the receiving portion;    a positioning blade positioned on the receiving portion; and    a press constructed such that it may contact the retainer.    
     
     
         29 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the positioning blade raises the locking tab into an extended position.  
     
     
         30 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the positioning blade is designed to pass through the slot.  
     
     
         31 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the positioning blade extends upwards from the receiving portion.  
     
     
         32 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  further comprising an alignment pin.  
     
     
         33 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 32  wherein the alignment pin is constructed to pass through a clearance hole in the retainer.  
     
     
         34 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 32  wherein the alignment pin extends upwards from the receiving portion.  
     
     
         35 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the tooling assembly is made of metal.  
     
     
         36 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the retainer encloses a portion of the tether between the base and the flap.  
     
     
         37 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the press pushes against the flap and ensures that the positioning blade and the locking tab pass through the slot.  
     
     
         38 . A tooling assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the tooling assembly mechanically encloses the tether within the retainer.  
     
     
         39 . A method for retaining a tether comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a tether retainer, the retainer comprising a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether;    placing the tether on the base; and    enclosing a portion of the tether within the retainer.    
     
     
         40 . A method as in  claim 39  wherein the enclosing step comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.  
     
     
         41 . A method as in  claim 39  further comprising the step of folding the flap over the base.  
     
     
         42 . A method as in  claim 39  wherein the portion of the tether is enclosed between the base and the flap.  
     
     
         43 . A method for retaining a tether comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a tether retainer, the retainer comprising a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether;    nesting the tether retainer on a tooling assembly comprising a receiving portion, a positioning blade positioned on the receiving portion, and a press;    placing the tether on the base; and    enclosing a portion of the tether within the retainer.    
     
     
         44 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein the enclosing step comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.  
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein the portion of the tether is enclosed between the base and the flap.  
     
     
         46 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein the locking tab is positioned into an extended position when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly.  
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 43  comprises passing the positioning blade through the slot.  
     
     
         48 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein the tooling assembly further comprises an alignment pin.  
     
     
         49 . A method as in  claim 48  wherein alignment pin passes through a clearance hole in the retainer when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly.  
     
     
         50 . A method as in  claim 43  wherein the enclosing step comprises folding the flap of the over the tether that has been placed on the base.  
     
     
         51 . A method as in  claim 50  wherein the enclosing step further comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.  
     
     
         52 . A method as in  claim 51  wherein the enclosing step further comprises the step of lowering the press onto the retainer.  
     
     
         53 . A method as in  claim 52  wherein the lowering step ensures that the locking tab passes through the slot.