US 11,850,917 B2
Snap fit heat exchanger bracket
Michael Brett Sovine, Canton, MI (US); Kenneth James Hayes, Northville Township, MI (US); Jeff James Cremering, Livonia, MI (US); and Korey Martin Erickson, Wixom, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/717,955.
Prior Publication US 2021/0178861 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. B60H 1/32 (2006.01); B60K 11/08 (2006.01); B60K 11/04 (2006.01); B60R 19/52 (2006.01); F01P 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/3229 (2013.01) [B60K 11/04 (2013.01); B60K 11/08 (2013.01); B60K 11/085 (2013.01); B60R 19/52 (2013.01); F01P 3/18 (2013.01); F01P 2070/52 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat exchanger bracket for an automotive cooling module of a vehicle, the heat exchanger bracket comprising:
a first mounting assembly disposed at a first end of the heat exchanger bracket, the first mounting assembly comprising a first free floating retention point;
a second mounting assembly disposed at a second end of the heat exchanger bracket, the second mounting assembly comprising a second free floating retention point; and
a bracket container disposed between the first and second ends of the heat exchanger bracket, the bracket container being configured to receive a heat exchanger,
wherein the bracket container includes a first flexible retainer disposed at a first longitudinal end thereof, and a second flexible retainer disposed at a second longitudinal end thereof,
wherein the first and second flexible retainers are configured to engage opposing longitudinal ends of the heat exchanger responsive to insertion of the heat exchanger into the bracket container,
wherein the first and second free floating retention points each comprise a respective instance of a snap clip and a retention slot that, together, operably couple the heat exchanger bracket to a portion of the vehicle, and
wherein relative sizing of the retention slot and the snap clip at each of the first and second free floating retention points provides freedom of movement of the heat exchanger bracket relative to the portion of the vehicle to which the heat exchanger bracket is operably coupled.