The invention relates to a grounding device for at least one component of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle.

In most vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, the grounding of different electric components or equipment to a reference potential is generally produced on the bodywork or chassis of the vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle, some components are in direct contact with the bodywork or the chassis, but when the components are not assembled directly on the bodywork or chassis, grounding is produced by means of an electric wire connecting said component to a grounding point on the bodywork.

In the known prior art, the electric wires are provided with a terminal at the wire end which is stacked with the respective terminals of other components that must be grounded by means of a screw welded to the bodywork of the vehicle. The terminal stack is then held on the screw by a nut. Several problems then occur, particularly due to the vibrations of the vehicle, which can loosen the assembly and lead to defective grounding, in which case the vehicle is at risk of electrical faults.

As well as the vibrations of the vehicle when it is running, other problems appear, for example during work on at least one given component of the vehicle that has been grounded. During this type of work, the bolt must be loosened in order to access the terminal of the wire connecting said component to the grounding point, which takes time and is not convenient for an operator if the corresponding component is for example the component whose terminal is right at the bottom of the terminal stack. Loosening and retightening the nut at each intervention eventually wears out the bolt formed by the screw welded to the grounding point and the nut, as the tightening torque applied initially is then not optimal to maintain the terminal stack effectively to the ground, and there is then a risk that the vehicle will be poorly grounded which can cause breakdowns.

Moreover, for reasons of space, ease of handling and tightening torque, most motor vehicle constructors impose a limit on the number of terminals that can be connected to the same grounding point, usually only three terminals stacked on the screw welded to the bodywork, and it is therefore necessary to adjust a plurality of grounding points at different places on the bodywork to be able to connect all the components that require grounding. There is therefore a need, particularly in motor vehicle construction, for a means of grounding components of a vehicle taking account of the different problems mentioned above, in particular avoiding having constantly to readjust the tightening torque, but also providing improved and easier access to the connection of each of the components grounded compared with the known prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a grounding device for at least one component of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, for use with at least one electric connector, said device comprising a main body and a main grounding contact, wherein the main body comprises at least one connector reception zone and is configured to be attached to a grounding point of the vehicle.

Once the inventive device has been attached to a grounding point of the vehicle, it is no longer necessary to intervene directly on the device when working on at least one component grounded by means of said device. The invention allows convenient mounting of the device on a grounding point, and the device then remains fixed relative to this grounding point and does not need to be disassembled for an intervention on a given item of equipment, as it is sufficient to plug/unplug the associated connector(s) without the need to use a special tool. In the case of a motor vehicle, it is possible to mount the device on a screw welded to a grounding point using a nut which is tightened once and for all with a suitable tightening torque during mounting. It is then no longer necessary to readjust the tightening torque, as the device does not need to be disassembled when working on the grounded equipment.

The use of connectors, which are advantageously interchangeable and adjustable to different wire cross-sections, renders the device "universal" as this allows a plurality of different components to be grounded. It is also possible to standardise an inventive device and give it a geometry adapted to a particular housing in the vehicle, for example in unencumbered places where numerous wires coming from different directions are redirected in order to ground a plurality of items of equipment.

An additional advantage of the invention is that a single grounding point can receive far more components that need to be grounded than in the cases of grounding known in the prior art, and access to the wires connected to these components is facilitated compared with the grounding methods known in the prior art for motor vehicles. The quality of vehicles, in particular of motor vehicles, can therefore be enhanced by better performance of the electrical system in the long term, given that the risk of poor grounding is reduced compared with the known prior art.

Advantageously, the main body may also comprise at least one main grounding contact reception zone with a geometry suited to the geometry of the main grounding contact, configured to receive and block the main grounding contact. This improves grounding compared with the known prior art by avoiding movements of the main grounding contact which could result in faulty grounding.

Preferably, the main grounding contact may extend in part into the at least one connector reception zone of the main body. It is thus possible to adapt the geometry of the main grounding contact to the geometry of at least one reception zone and also to the geometry of a connector to be housed in at least one connector reception zone.

In a preferred variant of an embodiment of the invention, the main grounding contact may comprise at least one contact strip which extends at least in part into the at least one connector reception zone, in particular the main contact may comprise as many contact strips as the main body comprises connector reception zones, each contact strip extending at least in part into a respective connector reception zone. It is thus possible to use connectors that are compatible with contact strips which can be standardised for an entire range of connectors. It is also possible to standardise the geometry of the connector reception zones and that of the connectors themselves in order to make standardised connection to the contact strips possible.

In a variant of a possible embodiment, the main grounding contact may be produced integrally with the main body. It is therefore possible either to have two separate parts, the main body and the main grounding contact, for example each made of a given material that is different from the other material, or to manufacture a single part that combines both the main body and the main grounding contact, which would in this case be made of a single material. Thus, in the case of two separate parts, the main body could be made of a non-conductive, or alternatively only partly conductive, material whereas the main grounding contact would preferably be made of a conductive material. In a variant, the main body could be made of the same material as the main contact. In the case where the two parts form only one part, that part could be cast just once and in this case would be made of a conductive material. Preferably, the main grounding contact may comprise a contact attachment opening for attaching the main grounding contact to the main body and to grounding point. Thus, the attachment of the main contact to the main body of the device, then to the grounding point, can also be standardised. In the case of a motor vehicle, it is therefore still possible to use a screw welded to the bodywork of the vehicle, to which the inventive device would then be attached.

Preferably, the main body may comprise a lower platform and an upper platform substantially parallel to one another and connected by at least two walls that are substantially perpendicular to the lower and upper platforms, the at least two walls delimiting the at least one connector reception zone. The geometry of the reception zones can also be standardised to correspond to that of the connectors, which are also standardised. It is thus possible to arrange a plurality of connector reception zones side-by-side, each separated from the adjacent zone(s) by a wall.

Different geometries can therefore be used for a device according to the first aspect of the invention. For example, it is possible to standardise an inventive device of substantially circular geometry with connector reception zones arranged on the periphery of the device, which has the advantage of making it possible to receive wires of components to be grounded from all possible directions in a plane around the device. In other variants of the invention, it is possible to use a device with a single connector reception zone, for example suitable for positioning in places where access is more restricted. In further variants, it is also possible to use rectangular shapes, aligning a plurality of connector reception zones. It is therefore possible to adapt the geometry, and consequently the number of connector reception zones, on a case-by-case basis, but it is also possible to standardise a range of devices for more general use.

Preferably, the lower platform may comprise at least one attachment opening for the main body with a geometry suited to the geometry of the grounding point, in particular polygon- shaped, in particular octagonal, configured for a positive mechanical connection with the grounding point, preventing movement of the device relative to the grounding point. In the case where a screw is used welded to a grounding point, it is therefore possible to adapt the geometry of the attachment point of the device to that of the head of the screw, which can also be chosen in a standard way to prevent rotation, or more generally movement, of the device around the grounding point. The inventive device and the screw for attachment to the grounding point are therefore in positive mechanical connection because the presence of the screw, in particular the geometry of the screw head, opposes any movement of the device. The risk of poor grounding is thus reduced compared to the known prior art as any play between the inventive device and the grounding point is prevented.

Advantageously, the at least one attachment opening of the main body can be comprised in the at least one main grounding contact reception zone. In this way, it is possible to overlap the respective attachment openings of the main contact and of the main body, which thus provides effective and simplified attachment to a single grounding point for an identical device of relatively compact geometry.

Preferably, the upper platform may comprise an opening that overlaps at least the attachment opening of the lower platform. The geometry of the device can thus be suitable for easy handling by an operator, in particular when assembling the main contact to the main body, and when mounting the device on the grounding point.

Advantageously, the opening of the upper platform may extend in at least one direction overlapping in part the at least one connector reception zone. It is thus also possible to adapt the geometry of the device to facilitate access by an operator to the connector reception zones.

Advantageously, the main body may comprise a plurality of connector reception zones, in particular four connector reception zones, two adjacent connector reception zones being separated by one of the at least two walls of the main body. It is thus possible to receive a plurality, in particular four, connectors at the same time.

Advantageously, the lower and upper platforms may be substantially disc-shaped. An advantageous arrangement of the connector reception zones, particularly in the case of four connector reception zones, is in this case on the periphery of a device of circular geometry, which enables connectors from four different directions to be received, thus covering most of the periphery of the device and therefore substantially all the possible directions of wires from components to be grounded.

Preferably, the at least one connector reception zone comprises at least one connector attachment limit stop, in particular two connector attachment limit stops. It is thus possible to attach the connector to a respective connector reception zone, thus improving grounding as any play and consequently the risk of poor grounding between the at least one connector and the device is prevented. It is also possible to standardise the attachment means, in the present case the connector attachment limit stops, of the connectors to the connector reception zone.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved by an electric connector for connecting at least one component of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, to a grounding device according to the first aspect of the invention and its different variants, the connector comprising a connector housing configured to be received by the at least one connector reception zone of the device, at least one contact reception zone and at least one grounding contact, the at least one grounding contact extending at least in part into the at least one contact reception zone, and the connector housing being configured to allow the at least one grounding contact to be connected to the main grounding contact of the device.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is thus possible to adapt connectors advantageously to all types of wires in a connection range in a particular field, which may be standard wires used for connection in this particular context. In particular, the same connector can receive one or more contacts and thus ground one or more components of the vehicle. It is also possible to standardise the geometry of the connectors according to the second aspect of the invention to make them all interchangeable and adaptable to any connector reception zone of a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageously, the at least one grounding contact can be configured to tighten the at least one contact strip of the main grounding contact of the grounding device. A connection by tightening or clipping the main grounding contact can also be standardised and has the advantage of ensuring a good connection between the at least one contact of the connector and the at least one contact strip of the main contact of a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageously, the connector may also comprise at least one locking lance configured to lock the connector to the main body, in particular a locking lance comprising a locking tab configured to abut the at least one connector attachment limit stop, in particular one of the two connector attachment limit stops, of the at least one connector reception zone. It is thus possible to standardise the attachment of a connector according to the second inventive aspect to a device according to the first aspect. The use of at least one locking lance provided with a locking tab ensures effective attachment of a connector to a reception zone of the device. In the case where a reception zone comprises two or more attachment limit stops, it is also possible to adapt the geometry of the connectors in such a way that the connectors can be received in two different ways in this type of reception zone, and the locking lance, in particular the locking tab, can be adapted to be locked to any of the two or more attachment limit stops of the reception zone. A connector according to the second aspect of the invention may comprise for example two locking lances, each with a locking tab, allowing even more effective attachment of the connector to a reception zone of a device according to the first aspect of the invention. However, it is preferable to have only a single locking lance, and thus a single locking tab, per connector in order to optimise storage of the connectors after manufacture. When storing connectors from the same batch for transport, connectors with a plurality of lances and locking tabs are more likely to hook together than connectors that have only one locking lance and one locking tab, which makes unpacking the connectors once they have arrived at their destination, for example at the premises of a vehicle constructor or assembler, less convenient.

Advantageously, the connector may comprise at least one electric contact locking component. It is also possible to use a secondary locking component allowing the connector to maintain a good contact with an item of equipment to be grounded. Thus the involuntary release of a contact from the connector can be prevented.

Advantageously, the connector may comprise a contact reception zone, in particular suitable to receive an electric wire with a cross-section of between 4 mm ² and 10 mm ² . Advantageously, the connector may comprise two contact reception zones, in particular suitable to receive respectively an electric wire with a cross-section of between 0.2 mm ² and 6 mm ² or with one suitable to receive a wire with a cross-section of between 0.2 mm ² and 6 mm ² and the other to receive a wire with a cross-section of between 0.22 mm ² and 2.5 mm ² . Advantageously, the connector may comprise three contact reception zones, in particular suitable respectively to receive a wire with a cross-section of between 0.22 mm ² and 2.5 mm ² . It is thus possible to use ranges with standard wire cross-sections, for example in the context of the motor industry. The connectors can then be adapted to standard connections and/or to different trade marked connections. It is also possible to produce hybrid connectors comprising at least two contacts suitable for different wire cross-sections, which further increases the versatility of the invention. The size and geometry of the connectors according to the second inventive aspect and of the device according to the first aspect can be standardised according to the largest wire cross- section that a connector is to receive. Moreover, the object of the invention is also achieved by an assembly comprising a grounding device according to the first aspect of the invention and its different variants and at least one electric connector according to the second aspect of the invention and its different variants, wherein at least one connector reception zone of the device is suitable to receive interchangeably different types of electric connectors according to the second aspect of the invention and its variants. Depending on the number of connector reception zones of a device according to the first inventive aspect, numerous embodiments of an assembly of the device with a connector or connectors are possible. It is thus possible to produce assemblies of at least one connector up to, in particular, as many connectors as there are connector reception zones for the same device. However, it is not necessary for all the connector reception zones to be used. Assemblies comprising fewer connectors than connector reception zones can therefore equally well represent embodiments of the invention.

Advantageously, at least one electric connector and at least one connector reception zone can be configured to be coupled in two different directions. The interchangeability and versatility of the connectors relative to a connector reception zone of a device according to the first aspect of the invention allows an operator to connect different items of equipment plugged in to inventive connectors without having to be concerned about the insertion direction of the connectors, or to know which connector is suitable to which connector reception zone. This is suited inter alia to the case where each connector reception zone comprises two connector attachment limit stops, and at least one connector comprises at least one locking lance which may comprise a locking tab.

The object of the invention is also achieved with the bodywork of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, equipped with at least one grounding device according to the first aspect of the invention. The bodywork of a motor vehicle or alternatively the chassis of another type of vehicle, for example an aircraft, spacecraft or sea-going vessel comprising at least one device according to the first aspect of the invention offers an improvement in the grounding of equipment compared with the solutions known from the prior art. Bodywork can be equipped with one or alternatively a plurality of devices according to the first inventive aspect depending on the quantity and arrangement of the components of an associated vehicle that must be grounded.

Finally, the object of the invention is also achieved with a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, equipped with at least one assembly as above, wherein the grounding point is a grounding point of the bodywork or chassis of the vehicle. The invention is inter alia suitable for application in the motor industry, but is in no case restricted to only this use and could also be used for other types of land, air, space or sea-going vehicles that need to connect at least one item of equipment to a reference potential. Depending on the number of components of the vehicle to be grounded, a vehicle could be provided with one or more devices according to the first inventive aspect, placed if need be at different points of the bodywork or chassis of the vehicle and each receiving one or more connectors according to the second inventive aspect.

The invention will be described below in more detail using the advantageous embodiments illustrated in the following figures:

Fig. 1 illustration of an example of a first embodiment of a grounding device according to the first aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 cross-section illustrating an exploded view of the example of the device of Fig.

1 ;

Fig. 3 illustration of an example of the step of attaching the device of Fig. 1 to a grounding point;

Fig. 4 illustration of an example of the device of Figs. 1 to 3 attached to a grounding point;

Fig. 5 cross-section of the view shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6A to 6C illustration of an example of a first embodiment of an electric connector according to the second aspect of the invention;

Figs. 7 A and 7B illustration of an example of a second embodiment of an electric connector according to the second aspect of the invention;

Figs. 8A and 8B illustration of an example of a third embodiment of an electric connector according to the second aspect of the invention; illustration of an example of possible coupling directions for an assembly of connectors to a grounding device according to the invention;

Fig. 10 illustration of an example of the possible coupling directions in an assembly of a device and a connector according to the invention;

Fig. 1 1 cross-section of an assembly of connectors to a grounding device;

Fig. 12 detail illustrating the possible connections between different types of connectors and the main grounding contact of a grounding device according to the invention;

Fig. 13 illustration of an assembly comprising a connector according to a variant of the second aspect of the invention and a grounding device according to an example of a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention;

Fig. 14 illustration of an assembly comprising a plurality of connectors according to different embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, and a grounding device according to an example of a third embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

In the different examples of embodiments of different aspects of the invention described below, the same reference numerals will be used to describe portions that are identical or that perform the same role.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a grounding device 1 according to an example of a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. Figs. 3 to 5 show the mounting of the device 1 on a grounding point 16 of a vehicle. In this example of a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention, the device 1 is used in the context of grounding items of equipment of a motor vehicle. However, the device 1 could be used in any other type of motor, sea-going, air or space vehicle comprising components that must be taken to the same potential.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in the first embodiment of the device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention, the device 1 comprises two main components, namely a main body 2 and a main grounding contact 2. Fig. 1 is a view in relief of the device 1 , and Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the example of the device of Fig. 1 , in an exploded view. In the example of Figs. 1 to 5, and below, without this limiting the materials concerned, the main body 2 may be made of a material containing glass fibres or any other polymer material suitable in particular to resist the vibrations to which the device 1 is subject in the context of its use on a motor vehicle, and the main contact 3 may be made of brass or any other conductive material. In a variant of a possible embodiment, the main body 2 could be made of the same material as the main contact 3, for example an aluminium alloy or any other conductive material, particularly in the case where the main body 2 and the main contact 3 are made in a single piece.

The main body 2 of the device 1 illustrating a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention comprises an upper platform 6 and a lower platform 7, seen in the views of Figs. 1 and 2, which are substantially parallel to each other and of which the substantially disc-shaped geometry gives the device 1 a substantially cylindrical overall geometry. These shapes are not limiting of other embodiments of the invention. Thus a device of parallelepipedic geometry for example, the upper surface and the lower surface of which were each of square or rectangular geometry, or of another geometry, may also be in conformity with the invention. Moreover, it is not necessary to the production of the invention that the two platforms 6, 7 have the same type of geometry, or the same dimensions. However, in the first embodiment described in Figs. 1 to 5, both platforms 6, 7 have a geometry that is substantially disc-shaped and both have substantially the same diameter.

The two platforms 6, 7 are connected to each other by a series of walls which are substantially perpendicular thereto, namely the four walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d in this example of an embodiment, of which two walls 15b, 15c can be seen in the cross-section of Fig. 2 and all of which can be seen in the cross-section of Fig. 1 1 . Fig. 1 1 shows in cross-section an example of a possible embodiment of an assembly of the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 with connectors 20, 20', 20" according to different examples of possible embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention. Details of the examples of embodiments of the connectors 20, 20', 20" will be given later, in particular in relation to Figs. 6A to 8B. Details of Fig. 1 1 will also be given later. In Fig. 1 it is also possible to distinguish the openings 1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c, 1 1 d on the upper surface or platform 6, which are optional openings designed to remove the locking portions from the mould, in particular the limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d of the main body 2 during manufacture. According to a variant of the invention, as shown in the cross-section of Fig. 1 1 , two successive walls, in particular two successive walls of the four vertical walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d delimit at least one connector reception zone, in this example the four connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. As in the case of the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are delimited by the walls 15b and 15c, 15c and 15d, 15d and 15a, 15a and 15b, respectively. The four connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are arranged in such a way that the connectors 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the present invention can be received in four different directions each oriented at substantially 90 ° to the adjacent zones, so as to receive the components to be grounded, the connections of which may come from any direction. Each of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d comprises at least one connector attachment limit stop, in this case in particular two limit stops 41 a and 42a, 41 b and 42b, 41 c and 42c, 41 d and 42d, placed respectively on one of the two walls 15b and 15c, 15c and 15d, 15d and 15a, 15a and 15b delimiting the connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and the object of which is to attach the connectors 20, 20', 20", according to the second aspect of the invention. The limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d can also be seen in the cross-section of Fig. 1 1 , details of which will be given later.

In the example of the first embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the device 1 comprises four connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. This configuration can be chosen so that the device 1 can receive up to four connectors 20, 20', 20" connecting components of the vehicle that must be grounded, the wires of which come from numerous directions. In other embodiments, the device 1 , still of substantially round or cylindrical geometry, can only have three reception zones separated by walls oriented at about 120 ° to the other two walls. In further embodiments, the geometry of the device 1 may be different, and the number of connector reception zones could also vary, as in the cases detailed below of the embodiments shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

In the example of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and below, both components of the grounding device 1 , namely the main body 2 and the main grounding contact 3, are two separate components assembled together, i.e. the main contact 3 is housed in a contact reception zone 5 of the main body 2 having a geometry suited to that of the main contact 3, so that the main contact 3 is blocked, in particular blocked mechanically, in its movements once housed in the reception zone 5. In particular, in the case shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the contact reception zone 5 comprises four attachment limit stops 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d on which the four attachment lances 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d of the main contact 3 abut respectively, preventing it from coming out of the contact reception zone 5 after assembly.

However according to a variant of an embodiment of the invention, the main contact 3 could be produced integrally with the main body 2, i.e. they could be produced in a single piece cast once. In this type of variant, the device 1 could only be made of a single conductive material, such as an alloy using aluminium or another metal, for example.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the main grounding contact 3 extends beyond the contact reception zone 5 and inside each connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the main body 2. In particular, the main contact 3 here comprises at least one contact strip, in the case illustrated in particular in Figs. 1 and 2, the four contact strips 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, which are each substantially parallel to the platforms 6, 7 of the main body 2 and each extend at least in part into a respective connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the main body 2. The main grounding contact 3 therefore comprises as many contact strips 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d as the main body 2 comprises connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Moreover, the contact strips 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d each comprise two attachment lances 91 a and 92a, 91 b and 92b, 91 c and 92c, 91 d and 92d, respectively, which, once the main contact 3 has been housed in the contact reception zone 5, also abut the four attachment limit stops 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, preventing movements of the main contact 3 in directions parallel to the planes of the upper 6 and lower 7 platforms of the main body 2.

Figs. 1 and 2 also show that the main contact 3 comprises an opening 13 which is an attachment opening 13 of the main grounding contact 3 to the grounding point 16 which will be described in more detail later in relation to Figs. 3 to 5. Moreover, the lower platform 7 of the main body 2 also comprises an attachment opening 14, which can be seen in Fig. 2, which in the first embodiment is polygonal, but here is octagonal, and is comprised in the contact reception zone 5. When the main contact 3 is housed in the contact reception zone 5, the respective attachment openings 13, 14 of the main contact 3 and of the main body 2 overlap.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper platform 6 further comprises an opening 12 overlapping the reception zone 5 of the lower platform 7 and in particular also the attachment opening 14 of the main body 2. The opening 12 extends in directions 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d overlapping in part the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. The geometry of this opening 12 and of its extensions 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d is suitable for allowing the mounting of the main contact 3 in the main body 2, as shown in particular in the cross-section of Fig. 2. The opening 12 of the upper platform 6 thus also overlaps the attachment opening 13 of the main contact 3, and thus allows the mounting of the device 1 on grounding point 16, as will be detailed later in relation to Figs. 3 to 5.

The device 1 of the example of the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention can be used to ground at least one, or indeed a plurality, of components of a motor vehicle. Mounting on a grounding point 16 of the vehicle is produced by means of a screw 18 of which the head 17 is welded to the grounding point 16, which is a grounding point 16 of the vehicle bodywork. The bodywork of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, can be therefore provided with one or more devices 1 according to the first inventive aspect. As shown in the illustrations of Figs. 3 to 5, the screw 18 has a polygonal, in particular an octagonal, head 17 in this embodiment. According to an aspect of the invention, the attachment opening 14 of the device 1 is therefore in positive mechanical connection with the head 17 of the screw 18 as the opening 14 is of a geometry adapted to that of the head 17 of the screw 18 welded to the grounding point 16 of the vehicle, which, once mounting has been effected, prevents any movement of the device 1 in relation to the screw 18 and thus to the grounding point 16.

In the same way, the attachment opening 13 of the main contact 3 is also of suitable geometry, in particular of a suitable diameter, this time for the body 18 of the screw 18. In this way, once the device 1 has been placed on the screw 18 and tightened by means of a nut 19 with a suitable tightening torque, the device 1 can no longer move in relation to the grounding point 16, in particular it can no longer turn freely about the grounding point 16 of the vehicle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The tightening torque applied to the attachment nut 19 can be selected in order effectively to attach and maintain the entire device 1 comprising the main body 2 and the main contact 3 to the screw 18 with an octagonal head 17 welded to the grounding point 16. The geometry of the opening 12 of the upper platform 6 of the main body 2 is also suitable for mounting the device 1 on the screw 18, in particular for positioning the nut 19. This mounting step is the only one where the operator requires a special tool, as the nut 19 must be screwed onto the screw 18, in particular with a suitable tightening torque. For the rest of the connections that must be made in order to ground the equipment of the vehicle according to the invention, the operator needs no other tool. For example, when working on equipment connected to ground by means of the device 1 , the operator does not need to disassemble the device 1 as he or she can simply disconnect the connector 20, 20', 20" associated with the equipment in question. Figs. 6A to 8B show three examples of possible, non-limiting embodiments of connectors 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the present invention. Figs. 6A to 8B use the same reference numerals for identical parts or parts that play an identical role.

An example of a first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is shown in Figs. 6A to 6C, illustrating an electric connector 20 to connect at least one component of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, to a grounding device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention. The connector 20 comprises a connector housing 21 , the geometry of which is suitable for the connector 20 to be received in a connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, for example of a device 1 according to the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The connector 20 also comprises a contact reception zone 22, the entrance of which can be seen in Fig. 6C and which extends inside the housing 21 to a connection opening 30 for grounding. The opening 30 is of suitable geometry to receive a main contact strip 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d of the main contact 3. According to the second aspect of the invention, the connector 20 also comprises a grounding contact 23, arranged inside the housing 21 and extending at least in part inside the contact reception zone 22.

The geometry of the housing 21 , in particular its connection opening 30, is suitable for the connector 20 to be housed in one of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the grounding device 1 , the grounding contact 23 is connected to the main contact 3 of the device 1 , in particular to one of the contact strips 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d of the main contact 3, which thus grounds at least one component of the vehicle connected to the grounding contact 23, given that the main contact 3 of the device 1 is itself connected to a grounding point 16 of the vehicle as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 and the above description. The grounding contact 23 is also configured to tighten a contact strip 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d of the main contact 3 as will be explained in detail later in relation to Fig. 12.

According to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, as shown in Figs. 6A to 6C, the housing 21 of the connector 20 further comprises two side handles 27a, 27b which also define two respective spaces 28a, 28b. At least one of the two spaces 28a, 28b comprises a locking lance 24 configured to lock with one of the limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d of one of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the main body 2. In this embodiment, the locking lance 24 further comprises a locking tab 25 configured to abut one of the limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d of the device 1 , so as to lock the connector 20 in one of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. This can also be seen in the cross- section of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 1 , where a connector 20 according to this embodiment of the second aspect of the invention can be seen connected to a device 1 according to the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. In Fig. 1 1 , the connector 20 is housed in the reception zone 4d of the device 1 , and the locking tab 25 of the locking lance 24 abuts the limit stop 41 d of the connector reception zone 4d. The locking lance 24 has a degree of flexibility which allows the connector 20 to be unlocked by pushing the lance 24 so as to release the tab 25 from the limit stop 41 d. In this variant of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the connector 20 comprises a single locking lance 24 in the space 28b, but in another variant, the connector 20 could also comprise a second locking lance, also provided with a locking tab, in the space 28a, which is also configured to lock the connector 20 in one of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of a device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention.

As shown in Figs. 6A to 6C, the housing 21 of the connector 20 further comprises an upper surface 34 and a lower surface 35 of similar geometry, in particular substantially identical or symmetrical to each other. The upper surface 34 of the housing 21 comprises an opening on the contact reception zone 22, and an optional locking hinge 26, illustrated in the closed position in Fig. 6A, and in the open position in Figs. 6B and 6C. This hinge 26 comprises a locking limit stop 29 configured, in the closed position as shown in Figs. 6B and 6C, to be housed in a locking opening 33 of the upper surface 34 and to lock the grounding contact 23 by applying pressure to a locking strip 32.

In the example shown in Figs. 6A to 6C, the connector 20 is suitable to receive a single wire (not shown) coming from an item of equipment to be grounded by means of the device 1 , and the cross-section of which can vary between 4 mm ² and 10 mm ² . In a variant of a particular embodiment, it could therefore concern for example a connector for a Maxi-Power-Timer or MPT (registered trade mark). However, this type of connector and these connector cross-sections are not limiting and nor are they illustrative of the invention itself. Other variants of other embodiments of the second aspect of the invention can therefore be adapted to other wire cross-sections and to other types of connections.

Figs. 7A and 7B show a second example of an embodiment of a connector 20' according to the second aspect of the present invention. The connector 20' of the second embodiment is in all points similar to the connector 20 of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 6A to 6C, and also comprises inter alia a housing 21 suitable for being housed in one of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of a device 1 such as that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The connector 20' therefore also comprises inter alia the two side handles 27a, 27b and the spaces 28a, 28b, at least one of which comprises a locking lance 24 provided with a locking tab 25, and a locking hinge 26 having the same functions as the example shown in Figs. 6A to 6C. Reference is therefore made to the previous description for details of each common portion, in particular the grounding of at least one component of the vehicle.

A major difference with the example of the connector 20 shown in Figs. 6A to 6C is that the second example of a connector 20' according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention shown in Figs. 7A and 7B comprises two contact reception zones 22a, 22b instead of the single zone 22 of the connector 20. Similarly, the connector 20' comprises two grounding contacts 23a, 23b housed in a respective contact reception zone 22a, 22b. The locking hinge 26 of the connector 20', which can be seen in the open position in Fig. 7B, consequently comprises two locking limit stops 29a, 29b configured, in the closed position of the hinge 26 as shown in Fig. 7A, to be housed in respective locking openings 33a, 33b of the upper surface 34 and to lock the grounding contacts 23a, 23b by applying pressure to respective locking strips 32a, 32b.

In the example shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, the connector 20' is suitable to receive two wires (not shown) coming from at least one item of equipment to be grounded by means of the device 1 , and the cross-section of which may vary between 0.2 mm ² and 6 mm ² . While these diameters are not limiting of other embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention, in a variant of a particular embodiment, it could therefore be for example a connector suitable for two Standard-Power-Timers or SPTs (registered trade mark), or alternatively a hybrid connector for an SPT and a Junior-Power-Timer or JPT (registered trade mark). However, this type of connector and these connector cross-sections are not limiting, nor are they illustrative of the invention itself. Other variants and other embodiments of the second aspect of the invention can therefore be adapted to other wire cross-sections and to other types of connections.

Figs. 8A and 8B show a third example of an embodiment of an electric connector 20" according to the second aspect of the present invention, to connect at least one component of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, to a grounding device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention. The connector 20" is in all points similar to the connectors 20 and 20' of the first and second embodiments shown in Figs. 6A to 7B, and therefore also comprises inter alia a housing 21 suitable for being housed in one of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of a device 1 like that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, two side handles 27a, 27b and the spaces 28a, 28b, at least one of which comprises a locking lance 24 provided with a locking tab 25, and a locking hinge 26 having the same functions as in the examples of the connectors 20 and 20' shown in Figs. 6A to 7B. Reference is therefore made to the previous description for details of each common part, inter alia the grounding of at least one component of the vehicle.

The third example of a connector 20" according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention shown in Figs. 8A and 8B however comprises three contact reception zones 22a, 22b, 22c, three grounding contacts 23a, 23b, 23c housed in respective contact reception zones 22a, 22b, 22c of the housing 21 . The locking hinge 26 of the connector 20", which can be seen in the open position in Fig. 8B, consequently comprises three locking limit stops 29a, 29b, 29c configured, in the closed position of the hinge 26 as shown in Figs. 8A, to be housed in the three respective locking openings 33a, 33b, 33c of the upper surface 34 and to lock the three grounding contacts 23a, 23b, 23c of the connector 20" by applying pressure to three respective locking strips 32a, 32b, 32c.

Thus, in the example shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, the connector 20" is suitable to receive three wires (not shown) coming from at least one item of equipment to be grounded by means of the device 1 , and the cross-section of which may vary between 0.22 mm ² and 2.5 mm ² . While these diameters are not limiting of other embodiments of a connector according to the second aspect of the present invention, in a variant of a particular embodiment, it could therefore be a connector suitable for three Junior-Power-Timers or JPTs (registered trade mark). As with the connectors 20 and 20', this type of connector and these connector cross-sections are not limiting, nor are they illustrative of the invention itself. Other variants of other embodiments of the second aspect of the invention can therefore be adapted to other wire cross-sections and to other types of connections.

Fig. 9 shows an example of an assembly comprising a device 1 according to the first example of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, and at least one connector 20, 20', 20" according to different examples of embodiments of the second aspect of the invention. According to the invention, the same device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention can be used with one or more connectors 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect. The type and number of connectors 20, 20', 20" used must be determined depending on the type and number of items of equipment to be connected to the grounding point. Moreover, the connectors 20, 20', 20" are all interchangeable, i.e. each connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 is suitable to receive any of the types of connector 20, 20', 20". For example, a device 1 can receive from one to four connectors 20 according to the example described in Figs. 6A to 6C, or alternatively from one to four connectors 20' according to the second embodiment described in relation to Figs. 7A and 7B, or alternatively from one to four connectors 20" according to the example of an embodiment described with reference to Figs. 8A and 8B. It is also possible to combine different types of connectors 20, 20', 20", as shown in Fig. 9, in which a connector 20, a connector 20' and a connector 20" can be seen before insertion in the respective reception zones 4d, 4b, 4c of the device 1 . In the example of Fig. 9, three zones 4b, 4c, 4d are used and receive the connectors 20, 20', 20" in the insertion directions shown by the arrows, and the connector reception zone 4a is not used. In other examples of possible embodiments of an inventive assembly of a device 1 and of at least one connector 20, 20', 20", one or alternatively two of the four zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d can be used. In further examples, the four zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, could all receive a respective connector 20, 20', 20" in order to use all the options and the four possible insertion directions of connectors 20, 20', 20" in the device 1 and produce the most multi-purpose assembly possible, capable of receiving a large number of wires coming from a large number of components of the vehicle that must be grounded.

To sum up, Fig. 9 therefore shows the interchangeability of the connectors 20, 20', 20" and the multiplicity of possible combinations of connectors 20, 20', 20" for the same device 1 in an assembly according to the invention, as well as the multiplicity of insertion directions or coupling directions of these connectors 20, 20', 20" which can be coupled to any of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 .

Fig. 10 shows an additional advantage of the inventive connectors 20, 20', 20" and of the inventive device 1 , namely that the geometry of the two surfaces 34, 35 and of the housing 21 of the connectors 20, 20', 20", as well as the geometry of each of the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 allow insertion and coupling in two different directions. Fig. 10 shows the case of a connector 20 according to the example of a first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, as described in Figs. 6A to 6C. According to a variant of the invention, the connector 20 can be inserted in one of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d with its upper 34 and lower 35 surfaces exposed to the upper 6 and lower 7 platforms respectively of the device 1 , which could be described as "right side up" as shown in Fig. 10 with the connector 20 positioned in front of the zone 4d. However, the connector 20 can also be inserted in one of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d by presenting the lower 35 and upper 34 surfaces thereof to the upper 6 and lower 7 platforms of the device 1 , respectively, i.e. pivoted at 180 ° relative to the position described above, which could be described as the "upside down" or "back to front" position compared with the previous position, which is shown by the "upside down" connector 20 in front of the reception zone 4a of the device 1 of the assembly shown in Fig. 10.

It will be understood that the property described in relation to Fig. 10 could be shared by any other embodiment of an inventive connector 20, 20', 20". In particular the connectors 20', 20" according to the second and third examples of possible embodiments of the second aspect of the invention described in Figs. 7A to 8B could also share these properties. Both forms of insertion are possible on the one hand because the geometry of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and of the housing 21 of the connectors 20, 20', 20" is suited thereto, and on the other hand because as the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d have pairs of limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, they are suitable to receive and lock the connectors 20, 20', 20" which have respectively at least one locking lance 24 provided in particular with a locking tab 25, whether they are inserted in the "right side up" or "upside down" position. Thus, for example, the assembly shown in Fig. 9 shows the connectors 20 and 20' being inserted in the "right side up" position in zones 4d and 4b, respectively, and the connector 20" being inserted in the "upside down" position in the connector reception zone 4c.

The assembly of a device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention and of at least one connector 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect is shown in Fig. 1 1 in a cross-section, with three connectors 20, 20', 20" coupled to three respective reception zones 4d, 4b, 4c. Fig. 1 1 takes the example of an assembly of at least one connector 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect with a device 1 according to the first aspect described earlier in relation to Fig. 10, this time with the connectors 20, 20', 20" fully inserted in the reception zones 4d, 4b, 4c, and therefore coupled to the device 1 .

In Fig. 1 1 , it can be seen that the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 are formed so as to be able to receive all types of connectors 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the invention. In particular, the pairs of limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d placed on either side of the reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d allow any of the connectors 20, 20', 20" to be received in the "right side up" or "upside down" position as described earlier in relation to Fig. 10. If a connector 20, 20', 20" has only a single locking lance 24 provided with a tab 25, locking of the connector 20, 20', 20" is still possible in these two directions as each zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d has a limit stop 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d on which the tab 25 will abut whatever the insertion direction, "right side up" or "upside down". In alternative embodiments, it is also possible for a connector 20, 20', 20" to have two locking lances 24, each arranged in a space 28a, 28b on either side of the housing 21 of the connector 20, 20', 20", each comprising a locking tab 25. In this case, when a connector 20, 20', 20" of this type is coupled to the device 1 , the two tabs 25 thereof will abut the respective limit stops 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d of the reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d used.

Fig. 12 shows a detail of a cross-section of an example of an embodiment of an assembly of at least one connector 20, 20', 20" to a device 1 according to the invention. The embodiment shown in Fig. 12 takes the configuration of the assembly described in Fig. 1 1 and details only the connection between the respective grounding contacts 23, 23a, 23b, 23c of the connectors 20, 20', 20" and the main grounding contact 3 of the device 1 , in other words the grounding of the components of the vehicle connected respectively to each of the connectors 20, 20', 20".

In Fig. 12, according to a variant of the second aspect of the invention, the grounding contact 23 of the connector 20 connected to the contact strip 9d of the main grounding contact 3 tightens the main contact 3. Tightening is effected by a terminal of the contact 23 of clip-shaped geometry, comprising two grounding contact lugs 231 , 232 which can be seen in Fig. 12 tightening the strip 9d of the main contact 3 from above, and two symmetrical contact lugs 233, 234, less easily seen but also present in Fig. 12 tightening the contact strip 9d from beneath. Tightening is reinforced by a locking head 31 , which also terminates with a clip-shaped geometry comprising tightening lugs 31 1 , 312, 313, 314 which each rest on a respective contact lug 231 , 232, 233, 234. The locking head 31 also comprises a locking strip 32 on which the locking limit stop 29 which can be seen in Fig. 6B abuts when the locking hinge 26 is closed, as in the illustration in Fig. 6A, so as to lock the contact 23 inside the housing 21 of the connector 20 in the first embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

The case of the connector 20' according to the second example of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is analogous in all points to that described for the connector 20, except that everything is duplicated given that the connector 20' is configured to receive two contacts 23a, 23b instead of the single contact 23 of the connector 20. The tightening of each of the contacts 23a, 23b of the connector 20', illustrated in the position where it is connected to the contact strip 9b of the main contact 3 in Fig. 12 is produced in a way identical to that described for the contact 23 of the connector 20 above. Each contact 23a, 23b therefore comprises respectively two contact lugs 231 a, 232a and 231 b, 232b which tighten a face of the strip 29b, and two contact lugs 233a, 234a and 233b, 234b, respectively, which are symmetrical to the previous ones and tighten the other surface of the contact strip 29b of the main contact 3. In this embodiment, this tightening is also reinforced by respective tightening heads 31 a, 31 b, each also comprising tightening lugs 31 1 a, 312a, 313a, 314a and 31 1 b, 312b, 313b, 314b, respectively. The locking of the contacts 23a, 23b to the housing 21 of the connector 20' is also effected by respective locking strips 32a, 32b on each of the locking heads 31 a, 31 b, on which the respective locking limit stops 29a, 29b of the flexible hinge 26 abut, as can be seen in Fig. 7B.

The case of the connector 20" according to the third embodiment of the second aspect of the invention is similar, except that the connector 20" is suitable to receive three grounding contacts 23a, 23b, 23c. For reasons of space, given that the connectors 20, 20', 20" are all of substantially comparable dimensions because they are all configured for interchangeable assembly to a device 1 , the contacts 23a, 23b, 23c of the connector 20" only comprise two contact lugs 231 a, 232a, 231 b, 232b, 231 c, 232c, respectively, the lugs 231 a, 231 b, 231 c each tightening a face of the contact strip 9c of the main contact 3, and the lugs 232a, 232b, 232c tightening the other surface of the contact strip 9c. Consequently, the tightening heads also only comprise two respective tightening lugs 31 1 a, 312a, 31 1 b, 312b, 31 1 c, 312c. The attachment of each of the contacts 23a, 23b, 23c to the housing 21 of the connector 20" is here too effected by means of locking strips 32a, 32b, 32c adapted to the limit stops 29a, 29b, 29c which can be seen in Fig. 8B.

It should be understood that Fig. 12 is purely illustrative of a possible type of connection between at least one connector 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the invention and a grounding device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention may therefore use other types of connection between the grounding contact(s) 23, 23a, 23b, 23c of a connector 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the invention and the main contact 3 of a device 1 according to the first aspect of the invention. For example, in other embodiments, a connector 20, 20', 20" may not use a locking head 31 , 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and/or the locking heads 31 , 31 a, 31 b, 31 c may each have more or fewer locking lugs 31 1 , 31 1 a, 31 1 b, 31 1 c, 312, 312a, 312b, 312c, 313, 313a, 313b, 313c, 314, 314a, 314b, 314c, and/or the contacts 23, 23a, 23b, 23c may not be of clip-shaped geometry and/or may have more or fewer contact lugs 231 , 231 a, 231 b, 231 c, 232, 232a, 232b, 232c, 233, 233a, 233b, 233c, 234, 234a, 234b, 234c than in the illustration of Fig. 12. Fig. 13 shows another possible assembly between a connector 20" according to the third example of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, like the one described in Figs. 8A and 8B, and a device 1 ' according to an example of a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, which is different from the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 .

However, the device 1 ' according to this second embodiment uses the basic features of the device 1 according to the first embodiment, namely that it comprises a main body 2' and a main grounding contact 3'. In a way similar to the main body 2 of the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 , the main body 2' of the device 1 ' according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 comprises an upper surface 6 and a lower surface 7 connected by two side walls 15a, 15b, thus delimiting a connector reception zone 4 comprising two connector attachment limit stops 41 , 42 arranged respectively on the two side walls 15a, 15b. The device 1 ' also comprises a contact reception zone 5 comprising an attachment opening 14 of a geometry adapted to that of the polygonal head 17 of the screw 18, so that once attached to the screw 18 by the nut 19, the device 1 ' can no longer move, in particular no longer rotate about the grounding point 16 of a vehicle.

The reception zone 5 of the device 1 ' shown in Fig. 13 is of a geometry suitable to receive, and once assembled thereto, to block, the main contact 3'. The main grounding contact 3' comprises, like the main contact 3 of the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, attachment lances 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d which, once the main contact 3' has been housed in the reception zone 5, abuts the limit stops 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of the reception zone 5, thus preventing dislodgement of the main contact 3'. The main contact 3' of the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 further comprises a single contact strip 9, compared with the four strips 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 of the first embodiment, which extends into the connector reception zone 4 of the device 1 '. As with the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the upper surface 6 of the device 1 ' of the second embodiment also comprises an opening 12 arranged in particular above the reception zone 5 and extending in a direction that in part overlaps the connector reception zone 4.

The device 1 ' illustrating a second embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention is therefore comparable to a portion of the device 1 of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 , which would, however, be limited to a single connector reception zone 4 instead of the four zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the first example. The device 1 ' shown in Fig. 13 therefore comprises all the features and advantages of the device 1 , except that it is limited to receiving a connector 20, 20', 20" in a single connector reception zone 4. The device 1 ' is also inter alia suitable to receive not only the connector 20" shown in Fig. 13, but more generally any type of connector 20, 20', 20" according to embodiments of the second aspect of the invention in the "right side up" and "upside down" directions described in Fig. 10.

Finally, Fig. 14 shows another assembly between a plurality of connectors 20, 20', 20" and a third example of a device 1 " according to a possible embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. The device 1 " comprises a main body 2" and a main grounding contact 3" that are different from the main bodies 2, 2' and main contacts 3, 3' described earlier for the devices 1 , 1 ' according to the first and second examples of embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, in that the device 1 " comprises six connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f instead of the single zone 4 of the device 1 ' and four zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of the device 1 described earlier. The overall geometry of the device 1 " shown in Fig. 14 may therefore be likened substantially to a "duplication in part" of the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 .

The device 1 " shown in Fig. 14 takes the basic features and advantages of the device 1 according to the first embodiment, adapted to a geometry with six connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f. As with the main body 2 of the device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 , the upper platform 6 and the lower platform 7 of the main body 2" of the device 1 " according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 14 are connected by a plurality of side walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f delimiting the six connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f. As with the devices 1 , 1 ', each of these zones comprises a pair of connector attachment limit stops 41 a, 42a, 41 b, 42b, 41 c, 42c, 41 d, 42d, 41 e, 42e, 41 f, 42f arranged on the side walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f delimiting the six connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f designed to lock a connector 20, 20', 20" in a respective reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f.

Unlike the devices 1 , 1 ', the device 1 " shown in Fig. 14 comprises two contact reception zones 5a, 5b as well as a single attachment opening 14 which, for its part, is not placed in one of the reception zones 5a, 5b, but in the centre of the lower platform 7. However, as with the devices 1 , 1 ', the geometry of the attachment opening 14 is adapted to that of the polygonal head 17 of the screw 18, so that once attached to the screw 18 by the nut 19, the device 1 " can no longer move, in particular to rotate about the grounding point 16 of a vehicle. The reception zones 5a, 5b of the device 1 " shown in Fig. 14 are of a geometry suitable to receive, and once assembled thereto, to block, the main contact 3". The main grounding contact 3" comprises, like the main contact 3 of the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, an attachment opening 13 designed to attach the contact 3" to the main body 2" and to the grounding point 16. The attachment opening 13 of the main contact 3" therefore overlaps the attachment opening 14 of the main body 2". In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, the main contact 3" is suitable for the case of six contact reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f of the device 1 " and it too can therefore be compared to a "duplication in part" of the main contact 3 of the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. Thus, the main contact 3" comprises six contact strips 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f which each extend into a respective connector reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f of the device 1 ". The main contact 3" also comprises attachment lances 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10h, 10i and 91 a, 92a, 91 b, 92b, 91 c, 92c, 91 d, 92d, 91 e, 92e, 91 f, 92f, 91 g, 92g, 91 h, 92h, 91 i, 92i which, once the main contact 3" has been housed in the reception zones 5a, 5b, abuts the limit stops 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h, 8i of the reception zones 5a, 5b, thus preventing dislodgement or movement of the main contact 3" when it is housed in the contact reception zones 5a, 5b.

As with the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the upper surface 6 of the device 1 " of the third embodiment also comprises an opening 12 arranged in particular above the reception zones 5a, 5b and extending in directions that in part overlap the connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, facilitating the mounting of the nut 19 on the screw 18 and access to the connectors 20, 20', 20" once they have been housed in respective connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f.

Fig. 14 shows an assembly of the device 1 " and three connectors 20, 20', 20" being inserted respectively in the reception zones 4f, 4a and 4e. The connectors 20' and 20" are shown as being inserted "right side up" whereas the connector 20 for its part is shown "upside down", with reference to the description of Fig. 10. However, Fig. 14 is not limitative of the use of a device 1 " according to the third example of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. Other assemblies using the device 1 " could therefore use from one to six connectors 20, 20', 20" in different variants of embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, in any combination, each being inserted "right side up" or "upside down" in a respective reception zone 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f. An assembly comprising between one and four connectors 20, 20', 20" and a device 1 according to the first example of an embodiment could advantageously be used on a grounding point 16 of a vehicle, for example of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, to which access for wires coming from at least one component that is to be grounded could be effected in any direction. It would therefore be advantageous in the case of a plurality of components placed in different locations on the vehicle.

An assembly comprising a connector 20, 20', 20" and a device 1 ' according to the second example of an embodiment would for its part be more advantageous on a grounding point 16 of the vehicle with more restricted access and/or close to a group of at least one component to be grounded, the wires of which could be brought together, sent in a common direction and connected to the connector 20, 20', 20" intended for the reception zone 4 of the device 1 '.

Finally, an assembly comprising between one and six connectors 20, 20', 20" and a device 1 " according to the third example of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention would be even more advantageous than the device 1 in the case of a fairly unencumbered grounding point 16 to receive a very large number of wires coming from a very large number of components to be grounded, in all directions at the periphery of the device 1 ".

To sum up, the different aspects of the present invention allow different items of equipment of a vehicle to be brought to the same potential without tools, once an inventive device 1 , 1 ', 1 " has been mounted on a grounding point 16 of a vehicle. A device 1 , 1 ', 1 " according to the first aspect of the invention can be characterised as "universal" in the sense that it can receive different cross-sections of wires by means of connectors 20, 20', 20" according to the second aspect of the invention which are all interchangeable and can therefore be housed in any of the reception zones 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f of an inventive device 1 , 1 ', 1 ", in particular, as preferred, in a "right side up" position or an "upside down" position.

Moreover, it is possible to standardise an inventive device 1 , 1 ', 1 " for a given need. A device 1 can therefore, for example, be of a substantially circular geometry with connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d arranged on the periphery of the device 1 , 1 ', 1 ", as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 . A variant of an inventive device 1 ' may be individual and receive only one connector 20, 20', 20" as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, or it could align a succession of devices similar to the circular device 1 to allow even more connections, as in the embodiment of an inventive device 1 " shown in Fig. 14. The circular form of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 1 1 , and the linear form of the embodiment shown in Fig. 14 are advantageous because a plurality of connector reception zones 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d or 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, respectively can be arranged so as to receive connectors 20, 20', 20" and therefore wires coming from components that must be grounded from all directions once the device 1 , 1 " has been attached to the grounding point 16. However, it should be understood that the forms described above are not limitative of the invention and other intermediate forms or forms that combine the embodiments described above can also illustrate still further embodiments of the invention.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the connectors 20, 20', 20" can advantageously be adapted for all types of wires in a connection range in a particular field, which may be standard wires used for connections in this particular context, at least in a range of cross-sections from 0.2 mm ² to 10 mm ² with standard terminals or wire heads used commonly by constructors, for example in the particular context of the motor industry, but also in the context of use for other types of vehicles, such as trains or aircraft.

The devices 1 , 1 ', 1 " described above, but also other variants of embodiments of the first aspect of the invention allow convenient mounting of the device 1 , 1 ', 1 ". When assembling the vehicle, the inventive device 1 , 1 ', 1 " is mounted on a grounding point 16 and then remains fixed relative to this grounding point 16 and does not need to be disassembled for work on a given item of equipment as it is sufficient to plug/unplug the corresponding contact 23, 23a, 23b, 23c, or alternatively the connector 20, 20', 20" comprising the corresponding contact(s) 23, 23a, 23b, 23c by means of the interchangeable connectors, with no need to use any special tool. In particular, it is possible to mount a device 1 , 1 ', 1 " on a vehicle by means of a screw 18 and a nut 19 using once and for all a suitable tightening torque, the screw 18 being welded to a grounding point 16 of the vehicle.

Another advantage of the invention is that a single grounding point 16 can receive far more components to be grounded than in the cases of grounding known in the prior art, and access to the wiring connected to these components is also easier compared with grounding known from the prior art in the case of motor vehicles. In general, the quality of vehicles can thus be enhanced by better performance of the electric system in the long term given that the risk of poor grounding is reduced by a more effective attachment system than those known in the prior art.