IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,850,462
Granted Patent B2
US 7,850,462 · App. 12/402,757 · Granted Dec 14, 2010

Spring tab of an electric junction box

Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,850,462
App. No.
12/402,757
Granted
Dec 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An obliquely bent spring tab is projected from a circumference of a bolt hole in a power connector of a bus bar. When the bus bar is housed in and fixed to a case, the spring tab is in stable surface contact with a bolt. Thereby, conductivity inspection can be performed by connecting a conductivity inspection apparatus to the bolt.

Claims (47)

1. An electric junction box, comprising:

a case;

a bus bar housed in the case, the bus bar having a power connector, and a bolt hole provided in the power connector; and

a bolt connected to the case and inserted through the bolt hole so as to couple the bus bar to the case, wherein

a spring tab is projected and bent from a circumference of the bolt hole such that the spring tab comes into surface-to-surface contact with the bolt when the bus bar is housed in the case, and wherein

the spring tab extends to a circumference of a shaft of the bolt.

2. The electric junction box according to claim 1 , wherein

the bus bar being provided integral with a fuse;

the power connector comprising a battery side connector and an alternator side connector;

the bolt hole comprising first and second bolt holes, the first bolt hole being provided within the battery side connector and the second bolt hole being provided within the alternator side connector; and

the spring tab comprising first and second spring tabs, the first spring tab projecting from the circumference of the first bolt hole and second spring tab projecting from the circumference of the second bolt hole.

3. The electric junction box according to claim 2 , wherein

a head of at least one of the first and second bolts is fixed to the case;

at least one of the first and second spring tabs are in surface-to-surface contact with the head of the at least one of the first and second bolts that is fixed to the case; and

a power terminal of the electric junction box is fastened to the at least one of the first and second bolts with a nut, and the power terminal configured to be connected to a power line.

4. The electric junction box according to claim 2 , wherein

a head of each of the first and second bolts is fixed to the case;

the first and second spring tabs are in surface contact with the respective heads of the first and second bolts; and

a power terminal of the electric junction box is fastened to at least one of the first and second bolts with a nut, and the power terminal configured to be connected to a power line.

5. The electric junction box according to claim 1 , wherein the spring tab comprises a plurality of spring tabs that project from the circumference of the bolt hole.

6. The electric junction box according to claim 1 , wherein the spring tab is bent obliquely toward a head of the bolt.

7. The electric junction box according to claim 6 , wherein the spring tab is flattened and in surface-to-surface contact with the head of the bolt when the bus bar is fixed to the case.

8. An electric junction box assembly, comprising:

a case;

a bus bar housed in the case, the bus bar having a power connector, and a bolt hole provided in the power connector; and

a bolt connected to the case and inserted through the bolt hole so as to couple the bus bar to the case, wherein

a spring tab is projected and bent from a circumference of the bolt hole such that the spring tab comes into surface-to-surface contact with and is electrically connected to the bolt when the bus bar is housed in the case and before the power connector is fastened to the bolt with a nut.

9. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

the bus bar is provided integral with a fuse;

the power connector comprising a battery side connector and an alternator side connector;

the bolt hole comprising first and second bolt holes, the first bolt hole being provided within the battery side connector and the second bolt hole being provided within the alternator side connector; and

the spring tab comprising first and second spring tabs, the first spring tab projecting from the circumference of the first bolt hole and second spring tab projecting from the circumference of the second bolt hole.

10. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

a head of at least one of the first and second bolts is fixed to the case;

at least one of the first and second spring tabs are in surface-to-surface contact with the head of the at least one of the first and second bolts that is fixed to the case; and

a power terminal of the electric junction box is fastened to the at least one of the first and second bolts with the nut, and the power terminal configured to be connected to a power line.

11. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

a head of each of the first and second bolts is fixed to the case;

the first and second spring tabs are in surface contact with the respective heads of the first and second bolts; and

a power terminal of the electric junction box is fastened to at least one of the first and second bolts with the nut, and the power terminal configured to be connected to a power line.

12. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the spring tab comprises a plurality of spring tabs that project from the circumference of the bolt hole.

13. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the spring tab is bent obliquely toward a head of the bolt.

14. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the spring tab is flattened and in surface-to-surface contact with the head of the bolt when the bus bar is fixed to the case.

15. The electric junction box assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:

an immediate housing that houses the bus bar;

the case having a fusible link unit housing recess; and

locking hooks provided on the immediate housing, wherein inner walls of the fusible link unit housing recess are provided with engaging holes that engage the locking hooks such that the bus bar is also housed in the case and the spring tabs are maintained in the surface-to-surface contact.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2009
From: NAKAGAWA, TOORU
To: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022385/0878 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-226337 · Sep 3, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100051311A1 · Mar 4, 2010