Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-04-17
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217377
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric circuit connection container used for electric wiring etc. in automobiles and other vehicles and a method of assembly of the same, more particularly relates to an electric circuit connection container capable of effectively accommodating electric parts etc. projected from a printed circuit board and a method of assembly of same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric circuit connection container used for electric wiring etc. in a vehicle is known from Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 62-18160, Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokok{overscore (u)}) No. 1-25284, etc.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 62-18160 discloses an improvement of a joint box (electric circuit connection container) accommodating a printed circuit board containing electronic circuits for used for connection of the wire harnesses of automobiles. This electric circuit connection container uses busbars to centrally perform all of the branch connections required for a wire harness. Recently, however, electric circuit connection containers have not only been able to serve as mere means of connection, but also have been able to perform signal processing inside when printed circuit boards containing electronic circuits are accommodated and electrically connected inside those electric circuit connection containers. The electric circuit connection container disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 62-181610 is structured with a housing comprised of an upper case and a lower case. When assembling the electric circuit connection container, the busbars are accommodated in the lower case, a printed circuit board carrying electronic components is laid inside the lower case, the soldering portions (connection terminals) of the printed circuit board and the busbars positioned beneath them are connected by soldering, then the upper case is covered over the printed circuit board. The upper case is structured to have a sufficient height to be able to accommodate electronic components of certain heights carried on the printed circuit board. When assembly such an electric circuit connection container, however, while electronic components of certain heights can be freely positioned, careful attention must be paid not to damage the electronic components carried on the printed circuit board. Therefore, the work efficiency is low. In addition, such an electric circuit connection container is not designed to accommodate several layers of printed circuit boards and therefore is insufficient as an electric circuit connection container used at present in which complicated electrical connection is demanded.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 1-25284 discloses an electric circuit connection container comprised of an assembly of a circuit board having a group of branched conductive paths formed by busbar wiring and a printed circuit board to be connected to the circuit board. This electric circuit connection container is used by placing a case over the circuit board and putting a cover on the printed circuit board. However, in a structure where a case is placed over a circuit board and a cover is put on the printed circuit board as described above, two parts, that is, the case and the cover, become necessary, so part management is troublesome. Also, the price of the electric circuit connection container becomes high. Further, the assembly of the electric circuit connection container is not easy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit connection container having a low price and a simple structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit connection container able to accommodate several layers of printed circuit boards.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembly of an electric circuit connection container enabling easy assembly with a high reliability.
According to the present invention, there provided an electric circuit connection container provided with a first case; a second case which faces the first case to define a space with the first case in which space a printed circuit board is accommodated; and a holding and affixing member having a part projected from an inner surface of the first case and engaging with the printed circuit board so as to affix the engaged printed circuit board.
Preferably, the holding and affixing member is provided with a receiving rib for engaging with an upper surface of the printed circuit board and a lock piece for engaging with a lower surface of the printed circuit board.
Preferably, the receiving rib is integrally formed with the first case.
Preferably, the lock piece is integrally constituted with the first case.
Preferably, the holding and affixing member having the receiving rib and the lock piece is integrally formed with the first case.
Preferably, the first case is formed by an insulating plastic.
Preferably, a busbar and an insulation plate are arranged between the first case and the second case in addition to the printed circuit board.
Preferably, a connector for connection with an external portion is provided on an outer surface of the first case.
Preferably, the first case is an upper case, and the second case is a lower case.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling an electric circuit connection container having a first case, a second case which faces the first case to define a space with the first case in which space a printed circuit board is accommodated, and a holding and affixing member provided with a receiving rib to be engaged with an upper surface of the printed circuit board and a lock piece to be engaged with the lower surface of the printed circuit board by affixing the printed circuit board to the electric circuit connection container, comprising the steps of pushing open the lock piece and making the printed circuit board abut against the front end of the receiving rib; returning the lock piece to its original state to affix the printed circuit board by the lock piece; and pressing against the first case and the second case to finally affix the printed circuit board.
The electric circuit connection container of the present invention is characterized in that, as described above, a printed circuit board is accommodated in a space formed by the first case, for example an upper case, and the second case, for example a lower case, and, at the same time, the printed circuit board is held and affixed by the holding and affixing member projecting from the inner surface of the upper case. When the printed circuit board is accommodated in the space formed by the upper case and the lower case and, at the same time, the printed circuit board is held and affixed by the holding and affixing member projected from the inner surface of the upper case, the printed circuit board is protected by the upper case, therefore a cover protecting only the printed circuit board becomes unnecessary. Accordingly, an electric circuit connection container having a reduced number of parts, facilitating part management, and, at the same time, cheaper in price can be obtained.
Further, the electric circuit connection container of the present invention is structured to enable several layers of printed circuit boards to be accommodated.
Further, the electric circuit connection container of the present invention is characterized in that the holding and affixing member is provided with a receiving rib to be engaging with the upper surface of the printed circuit board and a lock piece to be engaged with the lower surface of the printed circuit board. According to this structure, the holding and affixing of the printed circuit board can be easily and in addition reliably carried out.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3585563 (1971-06-01), Hegle
patent: 4528616 (1985-07-01), Koppensteiner
patent: 4685753 (1987-08-01), Isshiki et al.
patent: 4752254 (1988-06-01), Inoue et al.
paten
Abrams Neil
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
The Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.
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