Waterproof structure of electrical junction box

Details Waterproof structure of electrical junction box Waterproof structure of electrical junction box

1999-10-01

2003-10-07

Young, Lee (Department: 3727)

Receptacles

Sectional

Electrical housing

C220S003800, C220S003940, C220S004210, C220S378000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06629619

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof structure of an electrical junction box which is to be mounted on a vehicle and prevents entry of water through a clearance between a cover and a case of the electrical junction box.
2. Related Art
FIGS. 6 and 7
show a conventional waterproof structure of an electrical junction box (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Hei-8-288667).
In
FIG. 6
, reference numeral
30
designates a cover formed from synthetic resin;
31
designates a waterproof packing; and
32
designates a case formed from synthetic resin. A relay connection section
33
, principally, is housed within the case
32
. An electrical junction box
34
is a generic name for a relay box, an unillustrated fuse box, or an unillustrated junction box. Resilient lock members
35
, each paired with a lock frame section
36
, are provided on opposite sides of the electrical junction box
34
, thereby locking together the cover
30
and the case
32
.
A recess
37
(see
FIG. 7
) for receiving the waterproof packing
31
is formed along and over the entire outer peripheral lower edge of a skirt section of the cover
30
. The recess
37
is defined by an exterior hood wall
38
and an interior elongated wall
39
(see FIG.
7
). When the waterproof packing
31
is fitted into the recess
37
and the cover
30
is placed on the case
32
, an upper end
40
of the case
32
is brought into pressing contact with the waterproof packing
31
, thus materializing primary waterproof sealing.
A stepped section
41
(see
FIG. 7
) is formed along the skirt section of the hood wall
38
of the cover
30
. A flange section
42
to be brought into contact with the stepped section
41
is projectingly formed along the case
32
. When the cover
30
is placed on the case
32
, the stepped section
41
is brought into contact with the flange section
42
, thus materializing secondary waterproof sealing of the electrical junction box
34
(see FIG.
6
). The electrical junction box
34
, which houses electronic devices susceptible to water or dusts, requires a double-waterproof structure.
In the above-described conventional structure of the electrical junction box, the stepped section
41
of the cover
30
is in plane contact with the flange section
42
of the case
32
. Hence, the contact is effected by weak forces. For example, if the cover
30
is slightly warped, a horizontal clearance will arise between the stepped section
41
and the flange section
42
, thus resulting in a fear of water or dusts entering the waterproof packing
31
.
A vertical clearance
44
arises between the flange section
42
and the interior surface of a skirt wall
43
continuing from the stepped section
41
. There is apprehension that, for example, when the electrical junction box is exposed to high-pressure water at the time of engine cleaning, the water easily breaks through the secondary waterproof mechanism (materialized by the stepped section
41
and the flange section
42
) and reaches the waterproof packing
31
by way of the vertical clearance
44
. However, the vertical clearance
44
is important for smooth fitting of the cover
30
to the case
32
.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the foregoing problem, and the object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof structure of an electrical junction box which is improved in preventing entry of water and dust into the electrical junction box by way of a clearance between a stepped section of a cover and a flange section of a case, and which can prevent entry of high-pressure water into the electrical junction box by way of a clearance between a skirt wall of the cover and the flange section of the case.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
To achieve the object, the present invention provides a waterproof structure of an electrical junction box which renders the electrical junction box waterproof by bringing a stepped section of a cover into contact with a flange section of a case, wherein
a protuberance to be brought into pressing contact with the stepped section or the flange section is formed along the periphery of the stepped section or the flange section.
Preferably, the leading edge of the protuberance is brought into line contact with the flange section or the stepped section in order to provide effective sealing.
Further, preferably, in order to provide effective sealing, a skirt wall is formed so as to extend downwardly from the stepped section, and a second skirt wall is formed so as to extend from the flange section along the skirt wall.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3599826 (1971-08-01), Rocher
patent: 3696962 (1972-10-01), Fehres et al.
patent: 4034889 (1977-07-01), Hammes et al.
patent: 5390811 (1995-02-01), Ogino et al.
patent: 5532431 (1996-07-01), Saka et al.
patent: 5574254 (1996-11-01), Mori et al.
patent: 5887744 (1999-03-01), Mejias
patent: 6006942 (1999-12-01), Morris, Sr. et al.

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