Universal plug retention mechanism
A universal plug retention system is disclosed, designed for securing plugs, such as USB-C connectors, to electronic devices in environments subject to vibration, shock, and pulling forces. The system comprises a housing bracket ( 800 ) attachable to an electronic device, a plug retainer ( 1200 ) accommodating plugs with varying overmold sizes, and an engagement mechanism allowing adjustable positioning of the retainer while resisting withdrawal. The engagement mechanism includes features such as a ratchet rack ( 1290 ) with ratchet ribs ( 1280 ), a ratchet pawl ( 862 ), and optional sidewall teeth ( 1622 ) or angled teeth ( 1620 ). The plug retainer includes a front wall aperture ( 1240 ) for capturing plugs via orientation change and zip tie apertures ( 1250 ) for additional retention. The system ensures secure, vibration-resistant connections without requiring custom overmolds, supporting diverse plug geometries. Applications include telematics devices, asset trackers, and other electronic systems requiring robust plug retention in dynamic environments.
1 . A universal plug retention mechanism comprising:
a housing bracket configured to attach to an electronic device having a device housing and provide a plug retainer support interface;
a plug retainer configured to secure a plug to the electronic device and to accommodate plugs with varying overmold sizes; and
an engagement mechanism between the housing bracket and the plug retainer configured to permit advancement of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal, thereby providing discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket and securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket during vibration or pulling forces to maintain the plug engaged with the device;
wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a ratchet rack including a plurality of parallel ratchet ribs each having a sloped leading surface and an upright trailing surface to allow insertion adjustment of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal; and
wherein the plug retainer support interface includes a tongue projecting into a bracket groove, and a ratchet pawl is formed at a distal end of the tongue.
2 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the tongue further comprises a longitudinal guide ridge and the plug retainer comprises a retainer bottom groove with front and rear guiding notches sized to slidingly receive the guide ridge.
3 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the retainer bottom groove is comprised of a plurality of notches formed on a top wall of a plurality of ratchet ribs.
4 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the plug retainer includes a front wall aperture dimensioned to admit a plug overmold in a first orientation and to retain the plug overmold after rotation to a second orientation approximately 90 degrees from the first orientation.
5 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bracket groove receiving the plug retainer is formed in an extended portion of the housing bracket and has a rectangular cross-section with opposed sidewalls guiding insertion of the plug retainer.
6 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet pawl is integrally molded with the housing bracket and includes a resilient hinge region enabling elastic deflection during advancement of the plug retainer.
7 . A universal plug retention mechanism comprising:
a housing bracket configured to attach to an electronic device having a device housing and provide a plug retainer support interface;
a plug retainer configured to secure a plug to the electronic device and to accommodate plugs with varying overmold sizes; and
an engagement mechanism between the housing bracket and the plug retainer configured to permit advancement of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal, thereby providing discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket and securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket during vibration or pulling forces to maintain the plug engaged with the device;
wherein, when the electronic device is installed in the housing bracket, a bottom surface of the device housing bears against an upper surface of a lower wall of the plug retainer to apply a force that maintains engagement between the housing bracket and the plug retainer during vibration or pulling forces, thereby securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket and maintaining the plug engaged with the device.
8 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the bracket groove includes a plurality of bracket groove sidewall teeth on opposed bracket groove sidewalls, and a plug retainer lower wall comprises left and right resilient fingers separated by a longitudinal slot, each finger having outwardly facing finger teeth that are engageable with the bracket groove sidewall teeth to provide discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket by side-to-side tooth engagement.
9 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 7 , wherein a bottom of the bracket groove includes a plurality of angled teeth and a plug retainer lower wall includes complementary angled teeth, the angled teeth being configured to permit insertion advancement by ramp sliding toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal by a backstop angle.
10 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 7 , wherein an interference fit between the bottom surface of the device housing and the upper surface of the plug retainer lower wall is configured to maintain engagement between the housing bracket and the plug retainer.
11 . A universal plug retention mechanism comprising:
a housing bracket configured to attach to an electronic device having a device housing and provide a plug retainer support interface;
a plug retainer configured to secure a plug to the electronic device and to accommodate plugs with varying overmold sizes; and
an engagement mechanism between the housing bracket and the plug retainer configured to permit advancement of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal, thereby providing discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket and securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket during vibration or pulling forces to maintain the plug engaged with the device;
wherein the plug retainer includes a front wall aperture dimensioned to admit a plug overmold in a first orientation and to retain the plug overmold after rotation to a second orientation approximately 90 degrees from the first orientation; and
wherein the plug retainer includes a plurality of zip tie apertures positioned at different distances from the front wall aperture to accommodate different overmold depths.
12 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a zip tie routed through zip tie channels of the housing bracket and through a selected one of the zip tie apertures of the plug retainer, the zip tie preventing front-to-back translation of the retainer relative to the housing bracket.
13 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the housing bracket includes a left side zip tie channel and a right side zip tie channel each configured to laterally confine the zip tie and resist displacement under vibration.
14 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the housing bracket includes a self-feeding zip tie channel arranged to guide a zip tie from a first side of the bracket to an opposite side even when the bracket is flush-mounted to a surface, the self-feeding zip tie channel being comprised of the left side zip tie channel and the right side zip tie channel and a bottom zip tie channel formed axially on a bottom surface of the housing bracket.
15 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the bracket groove includes a plurality of bracket groove sidewall teeth on opposed bracket groove sidewalls, and a plug retainer lower wall comprises left and right resilient fingers separated by a longitudinal slot, each finger having outwardly facing finger teeth that are engageable with the bracket groove sidewall teeth to provide discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket by side-to-side tooth engagement.
16 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein a bottom of the bracket groove includes a plurality of angled teeth and a plug retainer lower wall includes complementary angled teeth, the angled teeth being configured to permit insertion advancement by ramp sliding toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal by a backstop angle.
17 . A universal plug retention mechanism comprising:
a housing bracket configured to attach to an electronic device having a device housing and provide a plug retainer support interface;
a plug retainer configured to secure a plug to the electronic device and to accommodate plugs with varying overmold sizes; and
an engagement mechanism between the housing bracket and the plug retainer configured to permit advancement of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal, thereby providing discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket and securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket during vibration or pulling forces to maintain the plug engaged with the device;
wherein the housing bracket further includes snap members on opposite side walls configured to engage complementary side grooves on the electronic device to retain the bracket to the device by a snap fit.
18 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the bracket side walls is resiliently deflectable outward during insertion of the electronic device and returns inward to engage the side grooves after insertion.
19 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the bracket groove includes a plurality of bracket groove sidewall teeth on opposed bracket groove sidewalls, and a plug retainer lower wall comprises left and right resilient fingers separated by a longitudinal slot, each finger having outwardly facing finger teeth that are engageable with the bracket groove sidewall teeth to provide discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket by side-to-side tooth engagement.
20 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 17 , wherein a bottom of the bracket groove includes a plurality of angled teeth and a plug retainer lower wall includes complementary angled teeth, the angled teeth being configured to permit insertion advancement by ramp sliding toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal by a backstop angle.
21 . A universal plug retention mechanism comprising:
a housing bracket configured to attach to an electronic device having a device housing and provide a plug retainer support interface;
a plug retainer configured to secure a plug to the electronic device and to accommodate plugs with varying overmold sizes; and
an engagement mechanism between the housing bracket and the plug retainer configured to permit advancement of the plug retainer toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal, thereby providing discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket and securing the plug retainer against movement relative to the housing bracket during vibration or pulling forces to maintain the plug engaged with the device;
wherein the housing bracket has a right zip tie channel and a left zip tie channel each including a bend where the respective channel meets a bracket base, the bend being configured to deflect a zip tie into and out of a bottom zip tie channel.
22 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 21 , wherein the bracket groove includes a plurality of bracket groove sidewall teeth on opposed bracket groove sidewalls, and a plug retainer lower wall comprises left and right resilient fingers separated by a longitudinal slot, each finger having outwardly facing finger teeth that are engageable with the bracket groove sidewall teeth to provide discrete, adjustable positioning of the plug retainer relative to the housing bracket by side-to-side tooth engagement.
23 . The universal plug retention mechanism of claim 21 , wherein a bottom of the bracket groove includes a plurality of angled teeth and a plug retainer lower wall includes complementary angled teeth, the angled teeth being configured to permit insertion advancement by ramp sliding toward the electronic device while resisting withdrawal by a backstop angle.