Smart junction box for automobile
First Claim
1. A housing for use in an automobile electrical power distribution system for supporting electronic components, the housing comprising:
- a first housing portion having a main portion; and
a retainer extending from the main portion, the retainer being adapted to cooperate with a first printed circuit board element to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the main portion and hold a second printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first printed circuit board element, wherein said retainer is integral with said first housing and includes a post having an enlarged head axially spaced from the main portion, said head including flexible prongs having a width greater than the width of a hole in the first printed circuit board, and wherein said head is configured to resiliently snap through the hole in the first printed circuit board element and expand outwardly to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relationship to the main portion.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A housing has a housing portion with a main portion and a retainer extending from the main portion. The retainer may cooperate with a first printed circuit board element to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the main portion and hold a second printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first printed circuit board element. The housing may have first and second housing portions that cooperate to form an enclosure for supporting a printer circuit board. A support element extends from the first housing portion. The retainer cooperates with the first printed circuit board element to pull the first printed circuit board element toward the support element, which supports the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first housing portion. The retainer also holds a second printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first printed circuit board element. The housing may be used in a control module.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A housing for use in an automobile electrical power distribution system for supporting electronic components, the housing comprising:
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a first housing portion having a main portion; and
a retainer extending from the main portion, the retainer being adapted to cooperate with a first printed circuit board element to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the main portion and hold a second printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first printed circuit board element, wherein said retainer is integral with said first housing and includes a post having an enlarged head axially spaced from the main portion, said head including flexible prongs having a width greater than the width of a hole in the first printed circuit board, and wherein said head is configured to resiliently snap through the hole in the first printed circuit board element and expand outwardly to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relationship to the main portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A junction box housing for use in an automobile electrical power distribution system;
- the junction box comprising;
a first housing portion and a second housing portion adapted to cooperate with the first housing portion to form an enclosure for supporting a printer circuit board;
at least one retainer extending from the first housing portion; and
at least one support element extending from the first housing portion, the retainer being configured to cooperate with a first printed circuit board element and pull the first printed circuit board element toward the support element, which supports the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first housing portion, the retainer further being adapted to hold a second printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the first printed circuit board element, wherein said retainer is integral with said first housing and includes a post having an enlarged head axially spaced from the main portion, said head including flexible prongs having a width greater than the width of a hole in the first printed circuit board, and wherein said head is configured to resiliently snap through the hole in the first printed circuit board element and expand outwardly to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relationship to the main portion. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
- the junction box comprising;
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10. A control module for use in an automobile electrical power distribution system, the control module comprising:
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a housing comprised of a first housing portion and a second housing portion that is adapted to be coupled to the first housing portion;
at least one first printed circuit element within the housing;
at least one support element extending from the first housing portion; and
at least one retainer extending from the first housing portion and cooperating with the first printed circuit board element to pull the first printed circuit board element toward the support element, which holds the first printed circuit board element in spaced relation to the housing, wherein said retainer is integral with said first housing and includes a post having an enlarged head axially spaced from the main portion, said head including flexible prongs having a width greater than the width of a hole in the first printed circuit board, and wherein said head is configured to resiliently snap through the hole in the first printed circuit board element and expand outwardly to hold the first printed circuit board element in spaced relationship to the main portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification