Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-01-09
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S034000, C174S135000, C439S910000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172300
ABSTRACT:
This Application claims the benefit of the priority of Japanese 10-52124, filed Mar. 4, 1998.
The present Invention is directed to a support structure for making secure electrical contact between connecting sections of wire harnesses, particularly those used in automotive vehicles such as cars and trucks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A prior art device of the general type referred to herein is shown in FIG.
4
. Connection box
11
is provided with projection
12
extending from bottom wall
11
a
thereof. Connecting sections
13
a
of main line
13
are inserted into the hollow portion of projection
12
. Support hook
14
holds connecting sections
13
a
within the hollow and prevents them from falling out. However, this configuration suffers from certain defects. During assembly, connecting sections
13
a
are inserted into the interior of projection
12
. However, since the connecting sections are hidden inside the projection, it cannot be determined if connecting sections
13
a
have been pushed too far in and are impacting against the inner wall of the projection. Alternatively, if connecting sections
13
a
have not been inserted far enough, this also cannot be determined readily by observation. The result of the latter will be unstable contacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention is intended to overcome the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art and provide a connection box wherein the connecting sections of the wire harness can be inserted readily and reliably into the hollow projection. The inventive structure for securing electrical contact between connecting sections of the wire harness has a wall with a hole therethrough. A projection with a hollow therein extends from the rim of the hole and communicates therewith. A cover closes the end of the projection remote from the rim.
There is also provided a wire harness having a plurality of connecting sections with an insulative cap placed thereover. The combination of the cap and connecting sections is inserted into the hollow which is provided with an opening through its cover. Preferably, the projection extends inwardly of the structure and is of circular cross section. Also, the opening is desirably circular. It is also preferred that the cap is resilient and is slightly larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the hollow. Thus, when the cap is inserted into the hollow, it bears against the inner wall thereof and is secured, along with the contact sections, therein. Advantageously, the cap is waterproof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3033913 (1962-05-01), Dietze
patent: 3564486 (1971-02-01), Price
patent: 3610810 (1971-10-01), Fribley
patent: 4864078 (1989-09-01), Bowman
patent: 5936200 (1999-08-01), Park
patent: 5939673 (1999-08-01), Rentmore
patent: 5986210 (1999-11-01), Kummle et al.
patent: 6027367 (2000-02-01), Woertz et al.
patent: 1258470 (1971-12-01), None
JP Patent Unexamined Publication No. 9-22743 Jan. 1997.
Bierman, Muserlian and Lucas
Kincaid Kristine
Patel Dhiru R
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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