Patent EP0665570A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0665570A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuse box connector assembly
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1995-01-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2015-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A fuse box for an automobile comprises assembly modules (A, B and C) mountable therein for connecting electrical devices of the vehicle to power supply lines via fuses. Certain fuses are connected to a single electrical devices via conducting wires (54) and other fuses (F) are connected to a plurality of electrical devices by electrical wires (66, 67 and 68). Power is supplied to the other terminal of the fuse via one of various power terminals (19, 20, 21) mounted to the assembly modules (A, B, C) and mated to power lines (26). The plurality of electrical cables (66, 67, 68) for connection to a common fuse, are connected to an IDC branch terminal mounted in a connector module housing, the connector module then pluggable into the assembly module (A) at the vehicle assembly line.
Inventors
- 👤 Friedrich Josef Alois Kourimsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/04; H01H85/20; H01H2085/2075; H01H2085/208; H01H2085/209; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/044; H01H85/203; H01H85/2035; H01H85/205; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/949
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A fuse box assembly module (B) for interconnecting electrical power supply lines (P1, P2, P3), via electrical fuses (F), to device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) leading to electrical devices, characterized in that the assembly module (B) comprises a housing (120) comprising a cavity (18) pluggably receiving separate branch connector modules (100, 100a, 100b) therein, each connector module (100, 100a, 100b) comprising a branch terminal (104) having a fuse tab connection section (106), a base section (107) and a device connection section (108) for connection to a plurality of device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) belonging to at least two different cable harnesses, the assembly module (B) further comprising common zone connector modules (130, 132, 133a, 133b) for connection to electrical conducting wires of the device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) for supplying electrical current to the devices, each common zone connector module for connection to wires of a common harness, whereby the common zone connector modules (130, 132, 133a, 133b) are pluggable in a transverse manner to the branch connector nodules (100, 100a, 100b) such that wires of different harnesses are connectable to a same fuse (F).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
The assembly module of claim 1 characterized in that branch connector modules (100, 100a, 100b) comprise insulative housings (102) in which the branch terminals (104) are securely received, the housings (102) having slots (122, 122a, 122b) extending in the direction of plugging of the common zone modules (130, 132, 133a, 133b) for transversely receiving the common zone modules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly module of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the common zone modules have webs (138) interconnecting terminal housings (136) that receive terminals connected to the device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The assembly module of claim 3 characterized in that the webs (138) are engageable in the slots (122, 122a, 122b), the complementary webs and slots positioned in distinct positions to act as keying means for preventing incorrect connection of the common zone modules to the branch module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly module of any of claims 1-4 characterized in that the branch terminal (104) is a unitary stamped and formed sheet metal part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly module of any of claims 1-5 characterized in that the branch terminal comprises a plurality of tabs (108) for connection to the common zone modules, the tabs extending from a base portion (107), and a receptacle contact (106) for mating with a fuse tab, the receptacle contact extending from the base portion (107) in a direction substantially opposed to the tabs (108).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly module of any preceding claim characterized in that the branch connector modules (100, 100a, 100b) comprise insulative housings (102) within which the branch terminals (104) are received, the housings having keying members (112) cooperable with complementary keying members of the assembly module housing (120).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The assembly module of any preceding claim characterized in that the module comprises power terminals (19, 20, 21) therein for interconnecting the power supply lines (P1, P2, P3) to tabs (33) of the fuses (F) and therethrough to the branch terminals (104), the power terminals (19, 20, 21) stamped and formed from sheet metal and comprising a base portion (38) from which one or more receptacle contacts (32) extend for connection to one or more fuse tabs (33), and from which one or more tabs (30) extend for connection to the power supply lines (P1, P2, P3).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The assembly module of claim 8 characterized in that at least one of the power terminals (19, 20, 21) comprises two tabs (30), one of the tabs for connection to an incoming power supply line (P1R, P2R, P3R) and the other for interconnecting a power line leading to a power terminal (19, 20, 21) of a second assembly module (A, C).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly module of claim 8 or 9 characterized in that the power terminals (19, 20, 21) have a plurality of receptacle contacts (32) for supplying a plurality of fuses (F) with a common power supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The assembly module of any of claims 8-10 characterized in that the module comprises only one power terminal (19, 20, 21) per type of power supply (P1, P2, P3) necessary for the electrical devices (Z1, Z2, Z3) connected to the module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The assembly module of any of claims 8-11 characterized in that the tabs (30) of the power terminals (21) comprise different thicknesses depending on the electrical current requirements therethrough, the tab thickness being increased by providing one or more additional folds (98) of sheet metal, whereby tabs (30) of a common power terminal may be provided with different thicknesses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
The assembly module of any preceding claim characterized in that the module comprises at least one IDC branch connector module (24) therein, the connector module (24) comprising a terminal (27) having a fuse tab connection section (60), a base section (62) and an IDC branch connection section (64) for insulation displacing connection to a plurality of conducting wires (66, 67, 68) connected to the electrical devices, the connector module (24) being pluggable and securely retainable into the assembly module housing thereby positioning the fuse tab connection section (60) proximate an upper face of the assembly module in position for connection to a tab (33) of the fuse (F).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automobile fuse box assembly module (A) for interconnecting electrical power supply lines (P1, P2, P3), via electrical fuses (F), to device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) leading to electrical devices in different zones of the automobile, the different zones being supplied with electrical current by conducting wires of different harnesses, characterized in that the assembly module (A) comprises a plural device housing (10) receiving at least one IDC branch connector module (24) therein, the connector module (24) comprising a terminal (27) having a fuse tab connection section (60), a base section (62) and a IDC branch connection section (64) for insulation displacing connection to a plurality of conducting wires (66, 67, 68) connected to the electrical devices, the connector module (24) being pluggable and securely retainable into the assembly module housing (10) thereby positioning the fuse tab connection section (60) proximate an upper face of the assembly module (A) in position for connection to a tab (33) of the fuse (F).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly module of claim 14 characterized in that the IDC branch connector module (24) comprises an insulative housing (26) in which the terminal (27) is securely received.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly module of claims 14 or 15 characterized in that the plural device terminal (27) is a unitary stamped and formed sheet metal part, where a plurality of IDC sections extend from the base section (62), each for connection to a respective conducting wire (66, 67, 68).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
The assembly module of any of claims 14-16 characterized in that the module comprises power terminals (19, 20, 21) therein for interconnecting the power supply lines (P1, P2, P3) to tabs (33) of the fuses (F) and therethrough to the branch terminals (104), the power terminals (19, 20, 21) stamped and formed from sheet metal and comprising a base portion (38) from which one or more receptacle contacts (32) extend for connection to one or more fuse tabs (33), and from which one or more tabs (30) extend for connection to the power supply lines (P1, P2, P3).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The assembly module of any of claims 14-17 characterized in that at least one of the power terminals (19, 20, 21) comprises two tabs (30), one of the tabs for connection to an incoming power supply line (P1R, P2R, P3R) and the other for interconnecting a power line leading to a power terminal (19, 20, 21) of a second assembly module (A, C).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly module of any of claims 14-18 characterized in that the power terminals (19, 20, 21) have a plurality of receptacle contacts (32) for supplying a plurality of fuses (F) with a common power supply.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
141 words
An automobile fuse box (2) for interconnecting power supply lines (P1, P2, P3), via electrical fuses (F) mountable on the fuse box, to lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) leading to electrical devices, characterized in that the fuse box comprises assembly modules (A, B ,C) having power terminals (19,20,21) therein for interconnecting wires (26) of the power supply lines (P1, P2, P3) to tabs (33) of the fuses (F), and device terminals (27, 22) for electrically interconnecting conducting wires (54) of the device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) to other tabs (33) of the fuses (F), whereby substantially all of the power terminals (19, 20, 21) are disposed around and roughly proximate a centre-line (90) of the fuse box (2) whereby the device terminals (27, 22) are disposed substantially further outwards of the centre-line, proximate outer sides (92, 94) of the fuse box (2).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
The fuse box of claim 20 characterized in that some of the device terminals are single device terminals (22) for connection to a single conducting wire (54), the single device terminals having IDC connection sections (50) positioned proximate cutouts (61) in sidewalls (55, 57, 59) of the fuse box assembly modules (A, B, C) for allowing access to stuff the wires (54) into the IDC connection sections (50) once the single device terminals are assembled to the assembly modules (A, B, C).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuse box (2) of claims 20 or 21 wherein the assembly modules (A, B, C) are according to any of claims 1-19.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of assembling a fuse box for interconnecting electrical power supply lines (P1, P2, P3), via electrical fuses (F), to device lines (Z1, Z2, Z3) leading to electrical devices, characterized by a) providing at least one fuse box assembly module (A, B, C) comprising a housing (10, 120), at least one connector module (100, 24) comprising a plural device branch terminal (27, 104), at least one single device terminal (22) and at least one power terminal (19, 20, 21); b) assembling the at least one power terminal (19, 20, 21) and the at least one single device terminal (22) to the assembly module (A, B, C,); c) connecting a conducting wire (54) to the at least one single device terminal (22); d) assembling the one or more assembly modules (A, B, C) to the fuse box (2); e) connecting at least one power supply line conducting wire (26) to the at least one power terminal (19, 20, 21).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.