Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – Hermetic sealed envelope type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2001-01-09
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
Hermetic sealed envelope type
C361S809000, C361S810000, C248S213200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172299
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a box-shaped electric part-mounting construction, and more particularly to a box-shaped electric part-mounting construction for detachably supporting a box-shaped electric part on a block through an attachment.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-138585, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an automobile or the like, in order to mount box-shaped electric parts (e.g. connectors) in a collected manner at one portion, ribs
2
are formed on a connector block
1
fixedly mounted on a vehicle body or the like, as shown in
FIG. 5
, and the connectors
4
are retained by lock portions
3
formed on the ribs
2
, and a plurality of wire harnesses are connected through these connectors
4
.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 7-245489 discloses another box-shaped electric part-mounting construction. As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, this box-shaped electric part-mounting construction includes an attachment
3
, and a box-shaped electric part (corresponding to a connector)
4
is mounted on a bracket
2
through the attachment
3
. Engagement portions
3
a
and a retaining portion
3
b
for attaching the box-shaped electric part
4
to the attachment
3
are formed on one side of the attachment
3
, and engagement portions
3
c
and a retaining portion
3
d
(see
FIG. 7
) for attaching the attachment
3
to the bracket
2
are formed on the other side of the attachment
3
. Engagement portions
4
a
for engagement respectively with the engagement portions
3
a
of the attachment
3
, as well as a retaining portion
4
b
for engagement with the retaining portion
3
b
, are formed on a rear or reverse surface of the electric part
4
. Engagement portions
2
a
for engagement respectively with the engagement portions
3
c
of the attachment
3
, as well as a retaining portion
2
b
for engagement with the retaining portion
3
d
, are formed on an outer surface of the bracket
2
.
The engagement portions
3
c
of the attachment
3
are engaged respectively with the engagement portions
2
a
of the bracket
2
, and also the retaining portion
3
d
of the attachment
3
is engaged with the retaining portion
2
b
of the bracket
2
, thereby retaining the attachment
3
on the bracket
2
. The engagement portions
4
a
of the box-shaped electric part
4
are engaged respectively with the engagement portions
3
a
of the attachment
3
, and also the retaining portion
4
b
of the box-shaped electric part
4
is engaged with the retaining portion
3
b
of the attachment
3
, thereby retaining the box-shaped electric part
4
on the attachment
3
.
In the vehicle or the like, the connectors (box-shaped electric parts)
4
are mounted in a collected manner on a mounting member (such as a vehicle body) through the block
1
, as shown in FIG.
5
. At this time, the connectors
4
to be attached to the block
1
are suitably selected and used in accordance with the specification. Therefore, if each of the connectors
4
is adapted to be attached to the block
1
through the attachment
3
as shown in
FIG. 6
, and the structure of connection between each attachment
3
and the block
1
has an identical construction, then the selected connectors
4
of several kinds can be attached to the same block
1
, and therefore the common block
1
can be used. In this case, however, several kinds of attachments
3
, corresponding to the kinds of the connectors
4
, must be prepared, and a stock management for the attachments
3
is cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a box-shaped electric part-mounting construction in which two kinds of connectors can be attached to one attachment, thereby reducing the number of the attachments so as to reduce the cost and also to facilitate a stock management.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting construction which comprises a block attachable to a mounting portion, a rib formed on the block, a notch formed in the rib, an attachment having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the attachment reversibly fittable in the notch, a first engagement portion, to which a first box-shaped electric part is attachable, formed on the first surface of the attachment, and a second engagement portion, to which a second box-shaped electric part is attachable, formed on the second surface of the attachment, a shape of the second engagement portion being different from the first engagement portion. More specifically, the attachment is fittable in the notch reversibly with respect to the first and second surfaces. Further, it is preferable that the rib is formed on the block in an upstanding manner. Furthermore, it is preferable that the notch formed in the rib to open upwardly.
In the construction according to the first aspect of the present invention, the attachment is inserted into the notch from the upper side of the rib, and is attached to the block. At this time, the attachment is mounted in the notch, with the required engagement portion disposed at the box-shaped electric part-mounting surface of the block. Then, the box-shaped electric part is engaged with the engagement portion. When the different box-shaped electric part is to be engaged with the block, the box-shaped electric part-mounting surfaces of the attachment are reversed, and the attachment is mounted in the notch, and then the different box-shaped electric part is engaged with the other engagement portion. Therefore, the two kinds of box-shaped electric parts can be mounted through one attachment, and the number of the attachments can be reduced, and therefore the cost is reduced, and also a stock management is easy.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the notch may have a U-shaped contour. In this construction, if the attachment is mounted upside down in the notch, the attachment can not be completely inserted into the notch. Therefore, the erroneous mounting can be easily detected.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mounting construction may further comprises a groove, and a ridge engageable with the groove, wherein one of the groove and the ridge is formed at that surface of the rib defining the notch while another of the groove and the ridge is formed at an edge of the attachment, and wherein, when the attachment is fitted in the notch, the groove engages with the ridge. In this construction, when inserting the attachment into the notch in the rib, the attachment is guided by the groove or the ridge provided at the rib, and therefore the attachment can be easily mounted in the notch.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the mounting construction may further comprises a recess, and a projection engageable with the groove, wherein one of the recess and the projection is formed at that surface of the rib defining the notch while another of the recess and the projection is formed at an edge of the attachment, and wherein, when the attachment is fitted in the notch, the recess engages with the projection so that the attachment is retained relative to the rib. In this construction, the attachment is retained relative to the rib, and therefore will not be disengaged from the block.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3477679 (1969-11-01), Lovitz
patent: 3952142 (1976-04-01), Weiss
patent: 5610368 (1976-04-01), Smith
patent: 5777263 (1998-07-01), Maehler et al.
Kincaid Kristine
Ngo Hung V
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
LandOfFree
Box-shaped electric part-mounting construction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Box-shaped electric part-mounting construction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Box-shaped electric part-mounting construction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2547937