Electrical conductor assembly

• US 6,723,924 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamakawa, Shuji, Yuasa, Eriko
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nino, Adolfo
• Application Number:
  US10/623,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/50.52, 174/50.54, 174/50.56, 174/52.1, 174/70.B, 174/68.2, 174/71.B, 174/72.B, 174/149.B, 174/129.B, 174/99.B, 361/637, 439/76.2, 439/949
• US Class Current: 174/68.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/62 Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors H01R4/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/226 comprising a plurality of conductive flat strips providing connection between wires or components H01R9/2425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle

Abstract

An electrical conductor assembly adapted to be contained in an electrical connection box to be mounted on an automobile has a bus bar produced by punching an aluminum-based metal plate into a desired circuit configuration. The bus bar has a press contact tab formed by bending an end of the bus bar. A reinforcement tab cover encloses an exterior of the press contact tab. The press contact tab is provided with a press contact slot that extends from a distal end of the tab to a proximal end of the tab. The tab cover is made of an elastic iron-based metal plate. The tab cover has insertion grooves in opposed sidewalls that communicate with the press contact slot in the press contact tab.

Claims

1. An electrical conductor assembly adapted to be contained in an electrical connection box to be mounted on an automobile, comprising:

a bus bar produced by punching an aluminum-based metal plate into a desired circuit configuration, said bus bar including a press contact tab formed by bending an end of said bus bar; and

a reinforcing tab cover enclosing an exterior of said press contact tab;

said press contact tab having a press contact slot extending from a distal end of said tab to a proximal end of said tab, said tab cover made of an elastic iron-based metal plate, and said tab cover including insertion grooves in opposed sidewalls that communicate with said press contact slot in said press contact tab.

2. An electrical conductor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tab cover is made of a stainless steel plate and said bus bar is contained in said electrical connection box after said tab cover is fixed on said press contact tab, or said press contact tab engages said tab cover that is fixed on said electric connection box beforehand when said bus bar is contained in said electric connection box.

3. An electrical conductor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tab cover is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped tube that fits closely around the exterior of said press contact tab.

4. An electrical conductor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said contact tab includes wide surfaces having said press contact slot and narrow end surfaces arranged perpendicular to said wide surfaces, said tab cover having accurately and inwardly expanded spring sections on opposed sidewalls adjacent to said narrow end surfaces of said tab, said expanded spring sections elastically clamp said narrow end surfaces of said tab to bias said tab so as to force wings on opposite sides of said press contact slot toward each other.

5. An electrical conductor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tab cover is provided with a locking piece that passes through and engages with a locking aperture formed in said electrical connection box.

6. An electrical conductor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said press contact tab includes a locking pawl, said tab cover having a locking piece that engages said locking pawl, said tab cover is locked on said press contact tab.