Wiring structure of flat circuit for vehicle

• US 6,462,279 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Serizawa, Yasuyoshi, Iwasaki, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKENHORST, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US09/625,956
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 174/72.A, 174/68.3, 174/72.R, 174/99.R, 174/72.TR, 174/101, 361/826, 296/146.1, 439/34
• US Class Current: 174/72.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor

Abstract

A first flat circuitry is provided with a standard circuit for connecting a standard electric appliance to be mounted on a door trim and an electric appliance on a door panel via a wire harness connector. A second flat circuitry is separately provided with an optional circuit for connecting an optional electric appliance to be mounted on the door trim and the electric appliance on the door panel side via the connector. A casing of a main switch unit, one of the standard electric appliances is provided with a mounting section having a connector fitting part to be fitted with the connector, which exposed conductor parts of the plurality of the circuitries and terminals of the connector connected at the connector fitting part.

Claims

1. A wiring structure for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one first electric appliance provided on a molded panel in the vehicle;

at least one second electric appliance provided on the molded panel;

a connector provided with terminals to which wire harnesses are connected;

a mount section integrally formed with the molded panel and including a polygonal insertion hole into which the connector is inserted;

at least one first flat circuit including a first connecting portion connected to the at least one first electric appliance, and a second connecting portion attached on at least one inner wall of the polygonal insertion hole while exposing conductors of the circuit; and

at least one second flat circuit including a first connecting portion connected to the at least one second electric appliance, and a second connecting portion attached on at least one of the other inner walls of the polygonal insertion hole while exposing conductors of the circuit,

wherein the at least one first and second electric appliances are electrically connected via the connector when the connector is inserted into the insertion hole by contacting the respective terminals with the respective exposed conductors.

2. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first electric appliance is an electric appliance provided as standard equipment and the second electric appliance is an electric appliance provided optionally;

and

wherein the first flat circuit includes a standard circuit for the first electric appliance and the second flat circuit includes an optional circuit for the second electric appliance.

3. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mount section includes a mount face surrounding the insertion hole;

wherein the respective second connecting portions of the first and second flat circuits are provided with a slit for defining a foldable portion on which the conductor is exposed; and

wherein the respective second connecting portions of the first and second flat circuits are laminated on the mount face, and then the respective foldable portions are folded into the respective inner walls of the insertion hole to be attached thereon.

4. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality of bosses fit with a plurality of through holes formed on the respective second connecting portions of the first and second flat circuits.

5. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein a retaining member is formed on the respective bosses for retaining the respective second connecting portions of the first and second flat circuits onto the mount face.

6. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein side walls are formed on the mount face of the mount section so as to situate both sides of the respective second connecting portions of the first and second flat circuits.

7. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first retaining member is provided on the connector;

and

a second retaining member engaged with the first retaining member is provided on a part of the inner walls of the insertion hole to retain the connector inside the insertion hole.

8. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mount section is provided as a part of a main switch unit mounted on the door trim of the vehicle;

wherein the first electric appliance includes a courtesy lamp unit and a door control unit mounted on a door panel of the vehicle for opening/closing a window glass in accordance with a signal generated by operating a power window switch provided with the main switch unit.

9. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first flat circuit includes signal lines for carrying the signal to the door control unit, and a power supply line for electrically connecting the courtesy lamp unit with an associated terminal of the connector.

10. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the courtesy lamp unit includes a bulb, and a lamp body integrally formed with the door trim while including an insertion hole into which the bulb is inserted and a mount face on which the first connecting portion of the first flat circuit is attached;

and

wherein a plurality of bosses are protruded from the mount face, which are fit with a plurality of through holes formed on the first connecting portion.

11. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein a retaining member is formed on the respective bosses for retaining the first connecting portion of the first flat circuit onto the mount face.

12. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein side walls are formed on the mount face of the lamp body so as to situate both sides of the first connecting portion of the first flat circuit.

13. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first flat circuit includes a main circuit section extending from the second connecting portion to a third connecting portion connected with the main switch unit, and a lamp circuit section branchingly extending from the second connecting portion to the first connecting portion.

14. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein a plurality of bosses fit with a plurality of through holes formed on the lamp circuit section are protruded from the door trim on which the lamp circuit section is disposed.

15. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein side walls are formed on the door trim so as to situate both sides of the lamp circuit section.

16. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second electric appliance includes an optional switch unit provided with a power seat switch.

17. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein a plurality of bosses fit with a plurality of through holes are formed on the second flat circuit are protruded from a door panel on which the second flat circuit is disposed.

18. The wiring structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein side walls are formed on the door panel so as to situate both sides of the second flat circuit.