Vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly

• US 6,513,959 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Yamagushi, Atsuyoshi, Serizawa, Yasuyoshi, Nishitani, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/734,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/214, 362/459, 362/490, 362/488, 362/493, 362/546, 362/548, 362/549
• US Class Current: 362/490
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/326 the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits H05K3/365 takes precedence

Abstract

In a vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly of the invention, an FPC (12) is welded by heat to a casing (11) of a lamp unit (2), and an FFC (16) for external connection is electrically connected to the FPC (12) by press-clamping or welding. Switches (13) and lamp socket holes (14a) are provided at the FPC (12). An end portion of the FPC (12) is folded to be inserted into a fitting portion (11a) of a recess-shape in which an optional member (26) can be mounted, and a circuit pattern is exposed to a side surface of the fitting portion (11a) to form a connection portion. Therefore, the compact, lightweight design can be achieved, and parts, such as a connector, are unnecessary, thus reducing the number of the component parts.

Claims

1. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly comprising:

a lamp unit with a casing fixed to a vehicle ceiling and including a an interior lamp;

a flexible printed circuit fixed to said casing and provided with a switch for controlling a lighting of said interior lamp;

a flexible flat cable electrically connected to one end of said flexible printed circuit;

an over head console retained on said casing and provided with an operation switch which operates said switch.

2. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one boss formed on said casing is passed through at least one boss passage hole formed on said flexible printed circuit.

3. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 2, wherein an end of said at least one boss passed through said at least one boss passage hole is welded.

4. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 1, wherein another end of said flexible printed circuit is folded to be inserted into a fitting portion formed on said casing, a circuit pattern of said flexible printed circuit is exposed to a side surface of said fitting portion.

5. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible printed circuit and said flexible flat cable are electrically connected together by press-clamping or welding.

6. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said over head console is retained on said casing so as to position a top ceiling between said over head console and said casing.

7. A vehicle ceiling-mounting electric equipment assembly according to claim 1, wherein a lamp socket hole is formed at said flexible printed circuit so that said interior lamp is passed therethrough.