Electrical connectors – With vehicle structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-20
2002-09-10
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With vehicle structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447301
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the installing structure of an electrically equipped part provided for an automotive interior member and the structure in which a wire harness is connected to the electrically equipped part.
As already known, electrically equipped parts such as a room lamp, a map lamp, and the like are installed in a room ceiling of an automobile. Further, electrically equipped parts such as a switch of a power window, a foot lamp, and the like are installed in a door trim.
A conventional example of the installing structure of the interior member and the electrically equipped part will be described. As shown in
FIG. 5
, a wire harness
10
is previously laid on the inside of a car body (not shown) that has been assembled by welding and painted; a leading end portion
11
of the wire harness
10
and a connector
12
are caused to pass through a room side (outside) of an interior member from a body side thereof (non-room side: inside) so as to pass through an opening
21
that is formed in the interior member (lining)
20
and used in order to attach the electrically equipped part thereto; and the interior member is fixed to a frame of the car body in this state. Further, after the connector
12
has been connected to the electrically equipped part
30
, a portion
11
of the wire harness
10
that protrudes on a surface side of the interior member is forced between the interior member
20
and the car body, the electrically equipped part
30
is fitted into the opening
21
of the interior member
20
, and finally, the electrically equipped part is fixed to the frame of the car body with a screw
22
and the like.
The above conventional interior member
20
and electrically equipped part
30
have been installed on the assumption that the work is performed in a main line of automobile assembly in an automaker. Therefore, a worker enters a narrow car room to perform the work, so that there was a problem that the work efficiency is very bad.
Recently, in order to reduce a period and cost that are necessary for automobile development, reduce cost of automobile parts, and simplify an assembly process; modularization of the automobile has been promoted. The modularization of the automobile means that though development, production, examination, delivery have been conventionally performed for each single part, they are performed in a unit (module) of the related plural parts, and that their steps are outsourced in a parts maker.
In the modularized assembling process of the automobile, the modular assembling work and the modular installing work into the car body are respectively performed in the separate lines. Therefore, the conventional installing structure of the interior member and the electrically equipped part cannot be followed as it is, that is, a new structure is required.
Further, the present invention relates to the installing structure of an electrically equipped part provided for an automotive interior member and the structure in which a wire harness is connected to the electrically equipped part.
As already known, electrically equipped parts such as a room lamp, a map lamp, and the like are installed in a room ceiling of an automobile. Further, electrically equipped parts such as a switch of a power window, a foot lamp, and the like are installed in a door trim.
A conventional example of the installing structure of the interior member and the electrically equipped part will be described. As shown in
FIG. 5
, a wire harness
10
is previously laid on the inside of a car body (not shown) that has been assembled by welding and painted; a leading end portion
11
of the wire harness
10
and a connector
12
are caused to pass through a room side (outside) of an interior member from a body side thereof (inside) so as to pass through an opening
21
that is formed in the interior member (lining)
20
and used in order to attach the electrically equipped part thereto; and the interior member is fixed to a frame of the car body in this state. Further, after the connector
11
has been connected to the electrically equipped part
30
, a portion
11
of the wire harness
10
that protrudes on a surface side of the interior member is forced between the interior member
20
and the car body, the electrically equipped part
30
is fitted into the opening
21
of the interior member
20
, and finally, the electrically equipped part is fixed to the frame of the car body with a screw
22
and the like.
The above conventional interior member
20
and electrically equipped part
30
have been installed on the assumption that the work is performed in a main line of automobile assembly in an automaker. Therefore, a worker enters a narrow car room to perform the work, so that there was a problem that the work efficiency is very bad.
Recently, in order to reduce a period and cost that are necessary for automobile development, reduce cost of automobile parts, and simplify an assembly process; modularization of the automobile has been promoted. The modularization of the automobile means that though development, production, examination, delivery have been conventionally performed for each single part, they are performed in a unit (module) of the related plural parts, and that their steps are outsourced in a parts maker.
In the modularized assembling process of the automobile, the modular assembling work and the modular installing work into the car body are respectively performed in the separate lines. Therefore, the conventional installing structure of the interior member and the electrically equipped part cannot be followed as it is, that is, a new structure is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made in order to solve the problem of the above conventional example, and its object is to provide an electrically equipped part, an automotive interior unit and its assembling method that are suitable for modularization of the automobile.
In order to achieve the above object, an electrically equipped part for automobile according to the invention comprises a base portion attached to an opening formed in an automotive interior member from a room side; an electric wire connecting portion, which is provided for the base portion so as to protrude from the opening to a non-room side of the interior member in a state where the base portion is fitted in the opening, and which can be connected to electric wires laid on the non-room side of the interior member; and a function portion, which is provided for the base portion, connected to the electric wire connecting portion through a conductor, and performs the predetermined function.
In the above structure, it is preferable that the electric wire connecting portion is connected to a halfway portion of the electric wire.
Further, it is preferable that the electric wire laid on the non-room side of the interior member is an insulated coating wire, and that the electric wire connecting portion is provided so as to substantially intersect in the arrangement direction of the electric wires, and includes a contact member that breaks the insulated coating of the electric wire and comes into contact with a conductive portion of the electric wire.
Further, it is preferable that the electric wire connecting portion has lock mechanism that presses the electric wire against the contact member side and keeps the contact state between the contact member and the conductor.
Further, it is preferable that a first contact member is attached to the electric wire laid on the non-room side of the interior member, and a second contact member connected to the first contact member is attached to the electric wire connecting section.
Further, it is preferable that the electric wire connecting portion has lock mechanism that presses the first contact member against the second contact member side and keeps the contact state between the first contact member and the second contact member.
Further, in the above each constitution, it is preferable that a fitting portion fitted in the interior member is provided for the b
Autonetworks Technologies Ltd.
Figueroa Felix O.
Paumen Gary F.
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