Wire harness for automobile

Claim 2

A circuit board construction for use as an automotive vehicle wire harness having a main electrical circuit section and branch electrical circuit sections; said circuit board construction comprising: a main circuit board structure including a single first insulative substrate having first and second sides, and a plurality of straight conductive strip members thereon on a selected one of said first and second sides of the first insulative substrate substantially parallel with each other, the main circuit board having a generally elongate and straight shape defining the main conductive electrical route of current to loads lined up within the automotive vehicle, a plurality of second, separately formed, straight, insulative substrates each having first and second sides, and at least one straight conductive strip member on a selected one of said first and second sides thereof, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates overlapping said single first insulative substrate transverse thereto, an electrical connection between said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate and a selected one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of the first straight insulative substrate so that said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate defines a branch conductor away from the main conductive route, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates and at least one straight conductive strip member thereon having a length and shape predetermined to extend perpendicularly from the selected one straight conductive strip member on the first insulative substrate to a selected load in the vehicle structure for electrical connection thereto as a branch conductive route from the main conductive route to the selected load.

Claim 3

A laminated circuit board automotive vehicle wire harness composed of a main electrical circuit section and at least one electrical branch circuit section within an automotive vehicle structure, comprising a plurality of separately formed insulative substrates having first and second sides, each insulative substrate generally having an elongate and straight shape conforming to the predetermined electrical connections and location of loads lined up in the vehicle, and a plurality of straight conductive strip members provided on a selected one of said first and second sides of each insulative substrate of said plurality of substrates, said plurality of conductive strip members being arranged substantially parallel with each other and forming a plurality of circuit patterns, said plurality of insulative substrates overlapping with insulative substrates and straight conductive strip members alternating where they overlap, a first of said insulative substrates and its straight conductive strip members being the main circuit section of the circuit board, extending substantially along loads lined up in the automobile structure, and a plurality of second insulative substrate being a branch circuit section of the board, overlapping said first insulative substrate, and projecting transverse to said first insulative substrate, at least one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of said first insulative substrate being connected to at least one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of each second insulative substrate, said connected conductive strip members of said each second insulative substrate being transverse to the conductive strip to which it is connected on the first insulative substrate, and forming the branch circuit section transversely projecting and electrically connecting a selected load in the automobile structure with the main circuit formed by the at least one straight conductive strip on the first insulative substrate.

Claim 4

A laminated circuit board automotive vehicle wire harness composed of a main electrical circuit section and at least one electrical branch circuit section within an automotive vehicle structure, comprising a plurality of separately formed insulative substrates having first and second sides, each insulative substrate generally having an elongate and straight shape conforming to the predetermined electrical connections and location of loads lined up in the vehicle, and a plurality of straight conductive strip members provided on a selected one of said first and second sides of each insulative substrate of said plurality of substrates, said plurality of conductive strip members being arranged substantially parallel with each other and forming a plurality of circuit patterns, said plurality of insulative substrates overlapping with insulative substrates and straight conductive strip members alternating where they overlap, a first of said insulative substrates and its straight conductive strip members being the main circuit section of the circuit board, extending substantially along loads lined up in the automobile structure, and a plurality of second insulative substrate being a branch circuit section of the board, overlapping said first insulative substrate, and projecting transverse to said first insulative substrate, at least one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of said first insulative substrate being connected to at least one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of each second insulative substrate, said connected conductive strip members of said each second insulative substrate being transverse to the conductive strip to which it is connected on the first insulative substrate, and forming the branch circuit section transversely projecting and electrically connecting a selected load in the automobile structure with the main circuit formed by the at least one straight conductive strip on the first insulative substrate.

Claim 7

A circuit board construction for use as an automotive vehicle wire harness having a main electrical circuit section and branch electrical circuit sections; said circuit board construction comprising: a main circuit board structure including a first insulative substrate having first and second sides, and a plurality of straight conductive strip members thereon on a selected one of said first and second sides of the first insulative substrate substantially parallel with each other, the main circuit board having a generally elongate and straight shape defining the main conductive electrical route of current to loads lined up within the automotive vehicle, and adapted to be integrally built into a structural portion of the automotive vehicle before assembly of the automotive vehicle, a plurality of second, separately formed, straight insulative substrates each having first and second sides, and at least one straight conductive strip member on a selected one of said first and second sides thereof, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates adapted to be integrally built into a structural portion of the automotive vehicle before assembly of the automotive vehicle, an electrical connection, upon assembly of the automotive vehicle, between said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate and a selected one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of the first straight insulative substrate so that said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate defines a branch conductor away from the main conductive route, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates and at least one straight conductive strip member thereon having a length and shape, consistent with a structural portion of the automotive vehicle into which it is built, and also predetermined to extend perpendicularly from the selected one straight conductive strip member on the first insulative substrate with its structural portion of the automotive vehicle, to a selected load in the vehicle for electrical connection thereto, upon assembly of the automotive vehicle, as a branch conductive route from the main conductive route to the selected load.

Claim 8

A circuit board construction for use as an automotive vehicle wire harness having a main electrical circuit section and branch electrical circuit sections; said circuit board construction comprising: a main circuit board structure including a first insulative substrate having first and second sides, and a plurality of straight conductive strip members thereon on a selected one of said first and second sides of the first insulative substrate substantially parallel with each other, the main circuit board having a generally elongate and straight shape defining the main conductive electrical route of current to loads lined up within the automotive vehicle, and adapted to be integrally built into a structural portion of the automotive vehicle before assembly of the automotive vehicle, a plurality of second, separately formed, straight insulative substrates each having first and second sides, and at least one straight conductive strip member on a selected one of said first and second sides thereof, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates adapted to be integrally built into a structural portion of the automotive vehicle before assembly of the automotive vehicle, an electrical connection, upon assembly of the automotive vehicle, between said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate and a selected one of said plurality of straight conductive strip members of the first straight insulative substrate so that said at least one straight conductive strip member of each second straight insulative substrate defines a branch conductor away from the main conductive route, said plurality of second straight insulative substrates and at least one straight conductive strip member thereon having a length and shape, consistent with a structural portion of the automotive vehicle into which it is built, and also predetermined to extend perpendicularly from the selected one straight conductive strip member on the first insulative substrate with its structural portion of the automotive vehicle, to a selected load in the vehicle for electrical connection thereto, upon assembly of the automotive vehicle, as a branch conductive route from the main conductive route to the selected load.

Claim 9

A circuit board construction according to claim 4, wherein the assembled main and branch electrical circuit sections are formed in conformity with the structural portion of the automobile to which they are secured, said sections having surface contours conforming to curves of that structural portion and resting flat thereon, whereby little additional space is taken by or must be provided for the circuit board construction.

Claim 10

A circuit board construction according to claim 5, wherein the structural portion is the dashboard structure, the main section extending lengthwise thereof, and the branch sections extending transversely thereof away from said main section and curving in conformity with the dash board structure to further connections proximate the dashboard.

Claim 11

A circuit board construction according to claim 4, wherein the circuit board is a multi-layer board formed as a unitary integral part of an assembly including a foam cushioning and structural portion underlying and supporting the foam cushion and the circuit board, the circuit board conforming to the surface contours of the underlying supporting structural portion, and being substantially covered by said foam.