Electric connection box

Details Electric connection box Electric connection box

1999-02-19

2001-03-06

Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C174S050000, C174S059000, C200S297000, C220S004020, C361S730000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196882

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connection box in which cassette-like electric parts can be attached in a module-like manner to side surfaces of a casing. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electric connection box in which cassettes of different sizes and shapes can be fixed to common positions.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-39291, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a recent automobile provided with various electric equipments, there is used an electric connection box by which a plurality of electric circuits are connected together in a concentrated manner so as to transmit signals between the electric equipments.
An electric connection box, shown in
FIG. 10
, comprises a box-like casing
100
whose interior is divided in longitudinal and transverse directions into a plurality of sections by partition walls
1
a
, and a plurality of relay cassette fitting portions
2
formed respectively on inner surfaces of the sections, divided by the partition walls
1
a
, and opposite outer side surfaces of the casing. Each of the cassette fitting portions
2
has a cassette bracket construction for fixedly holding a module-like relay cassette.
In many cases, the number and kind of electric equipments to be mounted varies depending on the kind of a car and even on the grade of the car of the same kind, and therefore because of this variable factor, the casing
100
, which is the essential part, is used in common for the various kinds of cars. The required number of cassettes are attached to the casing in accordance with the electric equipments to be used, and by doing so, the required electric equipments are mounted on the car in accordance with the kind and grade of the car. In the illustrated electric connection box, up to 6 cassettes can be attached to the outer side surfaces of the casing if necessary.
Each of the cassette fitting portions
2
, formed at the outer side surfaces of the casing
100
, includes a pair of vertically-extending partition bars
3
(to be disposed respectively on opposite sides of the cassette) formed on the outer side surface of the casing
100
, a pair of fitting guides
4
and
4
which are formed between the pair of partition bars
3
in parallel relation thereto, and have fitting grooves, respectively, for guiding the sliding movement of the cassette, and a lock pawl
5
which is formed between the pair of fitting guides
4
and
4
so as to retain the inserted cassette against withdrawal.
For attaching the cassette, the front end portion of the cassette is inserted into the cassette fitting portion from the lower side of the casing, and then is moved upward along the fitting guides, and when the cassette slides over the lock pawl
5
, the cassette is fixed by the lock pawl against withdrawal.
In the casing
100
of the above construction, however, only one kind of cassettes (for example, relay cassettes) can be attached thereto, and cassettes of different sizes and kinds can not be attached to the casing.
And besides, the kinds of cassettes, varied in number depending on the kind and grade of the car, include fuse cassettes in addition to the above relay cassettes, and the fuse cassette and the relay cassette are slightly different in size from each other, and therefore it is necessary to prepare another casing having fitting portions for respectively holding the fuse cassettes. Therefore, there have been encountered drawbacks that the degree of freedom of wiring connection between the casings, as well as the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cassettes, is low, and that the size of the electric connection box is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above problems in view, it is an object of this invention to provide an electric connection box in which cassettes of different kinds can be attached to side walls of one casing, and by doing so, the casing can have a design for common use, and also the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cassettes can be enhanced.
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric connection box which comprises: a casing (
1
) including at least one casing-side retaining portion (
5
); at least one cassette (
10
;
11
) attachable to the casing (
1
), the cassette (
10
;
11
) including an attaching-side portion having a cassette-side retaining portion (
16
;
19
); and at least two pairs of casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
) formed in a projected manner on a side surface of the casing (
1
), wherein, when the cassette (
10
;
11
) is attached to the casing (
1
), the attaching-side portion is guided by one of the two pairs of casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
), and the cassette-side retaining portion (
16
;
19
) is engaged with the casing-side retaining portion (
5
).
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the cassette-side retaining portion (
16
;
19
) is formed on a side surface of the cassette (
10
;
11
).
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the casing-side retaining portion (
5
) is formed midway between each pair of the casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
).
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the electric connection box further comprises a pair of cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) formed on the attaching-side portion of the cassette (
10
;
11
), the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) being guided by one of the two pairs of casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
) when the cassette (
10
;
11
) is attached to the casing (
1
).
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that, when the cassette (
10
) having a first pair (
15
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) is attached to the casing (
1
), the first pair (
15
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) is guided by a first pair (
4
) of the casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
).
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that, when the cassette (
11
) having a second pair (
18
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) is attached to the casing (
1
), the second pair (
18
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
) is guided by a second pair (
14
) of the casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
).
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a distance between the first pair (
4
) of the casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
) corresponds to a width of the first pair (
15
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
).
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a distance between the second pair (
14
) of the casing-side fitting guide portions (
4
,
14
) corresponds to a width of the second pair (
18
) of the cassette-side fitting guide portions (
15
;
18
).
Therefore, in the electric connection box of the above construction, any one of different kinds of cassettes, which are different in size from each other, can be attached to the casing, using the casing-side fitting guide portions of the corresponding cassette fitting portion on the outer or inner side surface of the casing, and when the attaching operation is completed, the cassette-side retaining portion is engaged with the casing-side retaining portion, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the attached cassette. Therefore, the casing can be used in common for a plurality of kinds of cassettes, and also the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cassettes can be enhanced. Furthermore, the cassette is attached to the casing while guiding the cassette-side fitting guide portions by the casing-side fitting guide portions, and therefore the attaching operation can be effected more positively and easily.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O

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