Electrical connection box

Details Electrical connection box Electrical connection box

2001-04-27

2002-09-03

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S557000, C439S086000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06443779

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connection box suitable to be mounted on a vehicle, such as an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
shows one known form of an electrical connection box of a vehicle. Electrical parts
32
, such as relays, are mounted on an upper surface of a substrate in a junction block
31
. A lower casing or cover
33
for the junction block
31
is fitted on the junction block
31
from below. The lower cover
33
accommodates connectors
34
connected to the end of a wire harness not shown in FIG.
6
. The wire harness passes out of the lower cover
33
through an aperture (not shown) in the lower cover. Columnar projections
35
for temporarily locking the connectors
34
to the lower cover
33
project up from the base of the lower cover
33
. Approximately cross-shaped temporary locking holes
36
into which the projections
35
can be inserted are formed in the base of lower covers
37
that are fitted on a lower side of the connectors
34
.
When assembling the electrical connection box of
FIG. 6
, initially the lower covers
37
are fitted on the connectors
34
. Then the projections
35
are inserted into the temporary locking holes
36
of the covers
37
to temporarily lock the connectors
34
to the base of the lower cover
33
. Then, with the lower cover
33
fitted on the junction block
31
, bolts.
38
inserted through the junction block
31
into complementary screwthreads of the connectors
34
are tightened. As a result, the connectors
34
are brought up to the junction block
31
and fixed in position on the junction block
31
, so that, terminals of the components
32
engage terminals in the connectors
34
.
However, in this construction, the gap between the connectors
34
and the lower covers
37
is large. Therefore, vibration causes both the connectors
34
and the lower cover
37
to be loosened and to shake. Consequently, noise is apt to be generated.
Further, because the lower cover
37
is, required in assembling the electrical connection box, a large number of component parts are required. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the electrical connection box is high.
GB-A-2338355 shows an electrical connection box similar to that of
FIG. 6
, in which a flotation, bracket, which is lockable into position on the lower cover, is provided inside the lower cover. The bracket receives the connectors from below, for initial positioning of the connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection box that has a construction which does not generate noise easily and can be made at low cost.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connection box that includes:
(i) a substrate that carries electrical components and has a plurality of electrical terminals,
(ii) a molded synthetic resin casing adapted to be fitted on the substrate at the lower side thereof,
(iii) at least one connector that is receivable in the casing and mountable at a predetermined position on the substrate and has a plurality of electrical terminals engageable with said electrical terminals, of the substrate when the connector is brought to its predetermined position,
(iv) at least one fastener inserted in the substrate and engageable with the at least one connector and operable to draw the at least one connector to the predetermined position, and
(v) at least one holder for the connector that is molded in one piece with the casing and is open at its upper side to receive the connector.
In the electrical connection box, the connector(s) and the holder(s) have respective holding elements which are mutually engageable to hold the connector(s) in the holder(s), prior to the operation of the fastener to draw the connector to its predetermined position, whereby the fastener(s) through the connector(s) holds the casing at its fitted position on the substrate.
Preferably, the holder is constituted by at least two upstanding walls in the casing and the holding elements include mutually abutting projections on mutually opposed surfaces of the connector and the upstanding walls.
Preferably, the holding element of each upstanding wall has a cantilever arm projecting downwardly and integrally connected at its upper end with the side wall. This projection is preferably at the lower free end of the cantilever arm.
In the present invention, the connector is first engaged by the holder by insertion from above. The holder is integral with the casing, so that loosening of the connector from the casing is prevented. No additional part, such as the lower cover
37
of
FIG. 6
, is required in temporarily fixing the connector to the casing. Thus, the electrical connection box requires a smaller number of component parts than the known electrical connection box, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. The operation of the fastener, e.g. a bolt, draws both the connector and the casing into position, and holds them in the final position, so that loosening of the parts is minimized. Thus, noise is not generated in use.
In the present invention, each holder is preferably integral with the casing. In particular, the holding element of each holder is integral, so that the provision of the holder(s) does not increase the number of component parts. Thus the electrical connection box can be produced at a low cost.
It is easy to assemble the electrical connection box.
In this specification and claims, the directional terms “upper”, “lower” etc. are used for convenience and clarity of description, and are not intended to limit the invention. The electrical connection box of the invention may be assembled and used in any appropriate orientation.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4956748 (1990-09-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5000693 (1991-03-01), Hatagishi et al.
patent: 5800208 (1998-09-01), Ishizuka et al.
patent: 6027360 (2000-02-01), Jenkins
patent: 6126458 (2000-10-01), Gregory, II et al.
patent: 6132246 (2000-10-01), Kodama
patent: 0334342 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 0920083 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 0 920 087 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 2 338 355 (1999-12-01), None

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