Switch box mounting structure

• US 5,934,935 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Kameyama, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/841,664
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 439/535-537, 439/540.1
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/04 Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/048 Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

A switch box mounting structure is provided that can eliminate erroneous assembling to connectors and reduce assembling time to a connector box. The switch box mounting structure includes: a panel that has a mounting hole; a connector box that is fixed to a back surface of the panel not only with a plurality of connectors attached thereto but also by setting an opening thereof to coincide with the mounting hole; and a switch box that allows a plurality of switches to be attached thereto. Not only the plurality of switches are attached to the connector box collectively through the switch box with the switch box being retained in the mounting hole from the front surface of the panel, but also the switches are engaged with the connectors.

Claims

1. A switch box mounting structure comprising:

a panel having a mounting hole;

a connector box being fixed to a back surface of said panel and having an opening which coincides with the mounting hole, said connector box having a plurality of connectors attached thereto; and

a switch box for receiving a plurality of switches to be attached thereto wherein said switch box receives said plurality of switches prior to being attached to said panel so that said plurality of switches are substantially simultaneously engaged with said plurality of connectors when said switch box is fixed to said panel.

2. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of switches is releasable from a front surface of said switch box and wherein said mounting structure further comprises:

an elastic retaining catch formed on an inner wall portion of a switch accommodating chamber of said switch box into which the releasable switch is inserted from the front surface; and

a retaining hole for retaining said elastic retaining catch formed on an inner wall of said connector box.

3. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of switches is releasable from a front surface of said switch box and wherein said mounting structure further comprises:

a long groove extending in a switch inserting direction formed in an inner wall portion of a switch accommodating chamber of said switch box into which the releasable switch is inserted from the front surface;

a slide groove formed on said switch box at a terminating end of said long groove and extending in a direction orthogonal to the switch inserting direction;

a projection portion on the releasable switch for advancing into said long groove;

a slide member that is slidable along said slide groove and projecting from an outer wall of said switch box; and

a groove portion formed in an inner wall of said connector box for receiving said slide member and for regulating the removal of said slide member having moved along said slide groove.

4. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 1 wherein said connector box is formed integrally with said panel.

5. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 2 wherein said connector box is formed integrally with said panel.

6. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 3 wherein said connector box is formed integrally with said panel.

7. A switch box mounting structure according to claim 3 further comprising a recessed groove portion notched on an inner wall of said connector box in the upward direction of said groove portion which extends along the length of said connector box.

8. A switch mounting structure according to claim 3 further comprising a guide rail formed in said slide groove for slidably engaging with said slide member.