Patent ID: 7874851
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An earth connection unit, comprising: a plurality of electrical elements, each having an element body and a pair of lead terminals extending from the element body; wire terminals, each including a wire connection portion to be electrically connected with a respective one of a plurality of wires and an external connection terminal portion for electrically connecting the wire connection portion to an exterior; relay terminals, each made of a metal sheet and including a terminal connection portion to be electrically connected with the external connection terminal of the corresponding wire terminal and a lead connection portion to be soldered to one of the pair of lead terminals of the corresponding electrical element; an earth plate, made of a metal plate and including a mounting plate portion, an earth connection portion extending from one edge of the mounting plate portion so as to be fastened to an earth connection-purpose structural member, and a plurality of element connection portions extending from other edges of the mounting plate portion so as to be electrically connected respectively to the other lead terminals of the plurality of electrical elements; a synthetic resin-made unit case, including a bottom wall, a plate portion placing portion on which the mounting plate portion of the earth plate is placed, connection portion placing portions on which the respective element connection portions is placed, the plate placing portion and connection portion placing portions being formed on an outer surface of the bottom wall, the unit case including parts receiving portions provided at the inner side of the bottom wall so as to receive the electrical elements, the relay terminals and the wire terminals, and a plurality of openings being formed through the bottom wall such that each relay terminal and the one lead terminal of the corresponding electrical element which are received in the corresponding parts receiving portion in contacted relation to each other can be soldered together through the corresponding opening; and a plurality of opening covers so configured that when the opening covers are inserted from the side surface side of the unit case along the bottom wall to be disposed respectively over the openings, lock projections formed respectively on the opening covers are engaged respectively with engagement portions formed on the bottom wall, so that the opening covers are fixed to the bottom wall to close the respective openings; wherein when an elastic engagement piece portion formed on and extending from a side edge of the mounting plate portion of the earth plate is engaged with an engagement projection formed on an outer side surface of the unit case, the earth plate is locked to the unit case; and wherein an engagement piece cover is provided for covering an outer surface of the elastic engagement piece portion of the earth plate, and the plurality of opening covers are formed integrally with the engagement piece cover.