Printed circuit board having fuse housings and electric junction box for vehicle

• US 7,553,169 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kasai, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US11/924,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20080105460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/949, 439/76.1
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/208 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/2085 Holders for mounting a fuse on a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2035 for miniature fuses with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/245 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0263 High current adaptations, e.g. printed high current conductors or using auxiliary non-printed means; Fine and coarse circuit patterns on one circuit board H05K1/0293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10181 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10272 Busbars, i.e. thick metal bars mounted on the printed circuit board [PCB] as high-current conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10303 Pin-in-hole mounted pins
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10424 Frame holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A printed circuit board having fuse housings that is mounted in an electric junction box for a vehicle, includes a fuse case that has fuse housings provided in a plurality of parallel tiers; output terminals that are formed of L-shaped terminals connected to and projecting from a printed conductor of the printed circuit board, and that project inside each of the fuse housing tiers; input terminals that are formed of L-shaped terminals branching from bus bars, and that project inside at least one of the fuse housing tiers; and a base that is mounted on a rear surface side of the fuse case and that holds the input and output terminals that are passed through the base.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board comprising:

a fuse case provided on the printed circuit board, said fuse case comprising a plurality of fuse housings;

a plurality of output terminals projecting from a printed conductor of the printed circuit board, each output terminal comprising an L-shaped terminal projecting into one of said fuse housings;

a plurality of input terminals branching from at least one bus bar, each input terminal comprising an L-shaped terminal projecting into one of said fuse housings; and

a base mounted on a rear surface of said fuse case, said base holding said input and output terminals passing through said base.

2. The printed circuit board according to claim 1, said plurality of fuse housings being provided in a plurality of parallel tiers;

said output terminals extending inside each of said parallel tiers; and

said input terminals extending inside at least one of said parallel tiers.

3. The printed circuit board according to claim 2,

said fuse housings comprising first to third tiers;

said output terminals projecting into the first to third tiers of the fuse housings, and said input terminal projecting into the first tier of the fuse housing are connected to the printed conductor of the printed circuit board; and

said input terminals projecting into the second and third tiers of the fuse housings branch from the bus bars fixed to the printed circuit board.

4. The printed circuit board according to claim 3,

said base comprises a first base portion and a second base portion, the first base portion having apertures through which said input and output terminals for the first tier and said output terminal for the second tier are passed, the second base portion having an aperture through which the output terminal for the third tier is passed;

said input terminal for the second tier branching from the bus bar being held between the first and second base portions;

said input terminal for the third tier being passed through a notch provided on an end of the second base portion; and

said first and second base portions are integrally combined.

5. In combination, an electric junction box for a vehicle;

a printed circuit board according to claim 1; and

said electric junction box comprising an upper case and a lower case housing the printed circuit board.

6. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 5;

said fuse case being provided on a side surface of the printed circuit board and being positioned between the upper and lower cases.

7. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising;

latch portions provided on the upper and lower cases; and

latching hooks projecting from the fuse case and inserted into and engaged with said latch portions provided on the upper and lower cases, so that the fuse case is fixed between the upper and lower cases.

8. A method of assembling a printed circuit board comprising:

providing a fuse case on the printed circuit board, said fuse case comprising a plurality of fuse housings;

providing a plurality of output terminals projecting from a printed conductor of the printed circuit board, each output terminal comprising an L-shaped terminal projecting into one of said fuse housings;

providing a plurality of input terminals branching from at least one bus bar, each input terminal comprising an L-shaped terminal projecting into one of said fuse housings; and

providing a base mounted on a rear surface of said fuse case, said base holding said input and output terminals passing through said base.

9. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing said plurality of fuse housings in a plurality of parallel tiers;

said output terminals extending inside each of said parallel tiers; and

said input terminals extending inside at least one of said parallel tiers.

10. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing said fuse housings in first to third tiers;

said output terminals projecting into the first to third tiers of the fuse housings, and said input terminal projecting into the first tier of the fuse housing are connected to the printed conductor of the printed circuit board; and

said input terminals projecting into the second and third tiers of the fuse housings branch from the bus bars fixed to the printed circuit board.

11. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing said base in a first base portion and a second base portion;

passing said input and output terminals for the first tier and said output terminal for the second tier through apertures in the first base portion;

holding said input terminal for the second tier branching from the bus bar between the first and second base portions;

passing said input terminal for the third tier through a notch provided on an end of the second base portion; and

integrally combining said first and second base portions.

12. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing an electric junction box comprising an upper case and a lower case, and housing the printed circuit board between the upper case and the lower case.

13. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing said fuse case on a side surface of the printed circuit board, and positioning the printed circuit board between the upper and lower cases.

14. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 13, further comprising;

providing latch portions on the upper and lower cases;

providing latching hooks projecting from the fuse case; and

inserting said latching hooks into said latch portions provided on the upper and lower cases, so that the fuse case is fixed between the upper and lower cases.

15. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 8, further comprising:

press fitting and fixing output terminals and an input terminal for the first tier to a first base portion;

bending the output terminals and the input terminal fixed to the first base portion; and

aligning and mounting an input terminal with a notch on an upper end of the first base portion.

16. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 15, further comprising:

press fitting and fixing an output terminal for the third tier to a second base portion;

aligning and mounting an input terminal for the third tier with a notch provided on an upper end portion of the second base portion; and

connecting the second base portion to the upper end of the first base portion.

17. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 16, further comprising:

passing an end portion of the first base portion through an aperture in the printed circuit board, and positioning the base portion thereon;

inserting lower end portions of the terminals through terminal holes in the printed circuit board; and

soldering the terminals on a lower surface side of the printed circuit board, so as to connect to a printed conductor of the printed circuit board.

18. The method of assembling a printed circuit board according to claim 17, further comprising:

attaching a fuse case to the terminals projecting from the base; and

collectively inserting the terminals into the fuse housings.