Junction box and connector arrangement

• US 4,410,226 A
• Filed: 08/10/1981
• Issued: 10/18/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Auto OOO (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Adduci, Robert L., Abbuhl, Duane L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US06/291,560
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 339/22, 339/116 R, 339/116 C, 339/198 R, 339/198 C, 339/198 E, 339/198 J, 339/206 R, 339/206 L, 339/206 P, 339/207 R, 339/207 S, 339/209, 339/36 , 339/44 R, 174/138 F
• US Class Current: 439/142
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall

Abstract

A junction box and connector arrangement for jump starting an automotive vehicle comprises a junction box of one-piece thermoplastic construction, a stud and a cap fastener. The junction box has a box-like body provided with an integrally hinged flap and an integrally hinged cover. The stud is inserted into the box-like body through an aperture in the bottom wall and retained by closing the flap. The flap also insulates the stud so it can be used as a hot connector. Cable terminals are secured to the stud by the cap fastener which serves as a connector for a conventional jumper cable clamp when jump starting is required. The open top of the body is normally closed by the hinged cover to protect the hot connector.

Claims

1. A junction box and connector arrangement comprising,

a junction box of one-piece construction molded from a thermoplastic material,

said junction box comprising a box-like body having a bottom wall and a flap,

said bottom wall having an aperture extending therethrough which comprises a recess in the exterior portion of the bottom wall and a hole in the interior portion of the bottom wall,

a stud having a head disposed in said recess and a shank extending through the hole into the interior of the box-like body, and

said flap being integrally hinged to the body so that it pivots between an open position which permits insertion of the stud into the aperture and a closed position where the flap engages the head of the stud and retains the stud in assembly with the junction box.

2. A junction box and connector arrangement comprising,

a junction box of one-piece construction molded from a thermoplastic material,

said junction box comprising a box-like body having a bottom wall, and a flap,

said bottom wall having an aperture extending therethrough which comprises a recess in the exterior portion of the bottom wall and a hole in the interior portion of the bottom wall, a stud having a head disposed in said recess and a shank extending through the hole into the interior of the box-like body,

said flap being integrally hinged to the body so that it pivots between an open position which permits insertion of the stud into the aperture and a closed position where the flap covers the head of the stud to retain the stud and insulate the stud when the junction box is attached to a conductive panel, and

said junction box further comprising an integrally hinged cover which pivots to close an open end of the box-like body which is opposite the bottom wall.

3. A junction box and connector arrangement comprising,

a junction box of one-piece construction molded from a thermoplastic material,

said junction box comprising a box-like body having a side wall and a bottom wall and a flap integrally hinged to the side wall adjacent the bottom wall so that the flap pivots from an open position to a closed position covering an exterior portion of the bottom wall,

said bottom wall having a shallow slot extending from the side wall to an opposite side wall to receive the flap in a closed position and an aperture extending therethrough which comprises a recess in the exterior portion of the bottom wall which opens into the shallow slot and a hole in the interior portion of the bottom wall,

a connector comprising a stud having a head disposed in the recess and a shank extending through the hole into the interior of the box-like body,

said head and said recess being complementarily shaped so that said stud does not rotate with respect to the box-like body,

said flapp covering the head of the stud in the closed position to retain the stud and insulate the stud when the junction box is attached to a conductive panel, and

said junction box further comprising a cover integrally hinged to the opposite side wall so that the cover pivots to a position closing an open end of the box-like body which is opposite the bottom wall.