Construction of connecting electric connection box for instrument panel harness

A connector portion is formed on an upper surface of an electric connection box to be mounted on a cowl panel mounted on a body, and a connector, connected to an instrument panel harness mounted on an instrument panel, is fittingly connected directly to the connector portion. Connectors of other wire harnesses are fittingly connected to connector portions formed on surfaces of the electric connection box other than the upper surface thereof. The connector is mounted on the instrument panel through resilient support members. The electric connection box is mounted on the cowl panel so as to move upward and downward relative to the cowl panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a construction of connecting an electric 
connection box for an instrument panel harness, and more particularly to 
the type of construction in which a connector can be fittingly connected 
to an upper surface of the electric connection box, and enhancing the 
efficiency of the connector fitting operation. 
2. Description of Related Art 
As shown in FIG. 10A and 10B, in a conventional construction, an instrument 
panel 3 is fixedly secured to an upper portion of a cowl panel 2 in a 
compartment of an automobile 1, and a connector 5 of an instrument panel 
harness 4, mounted on the instrument panel 3, is fitted in and connected 
to a connector portion of an electric connection box 6 fixed to a lower 
portion of the cowl panel 2. 
However, the above electric connection box 6 is fixedly secured to a deep 
portion of the cowl panel 2, and therefore it has been difficult to 
fittingly connect the connector 5 of the instrument panel harness 4 to the 
connector portion of the electric connection box 6 after the large size 
instrument panel 3 is fixed to the cowl panel. 
The present invention has been made to overcome the above problem, and an 
object of the invention is to provide a construction of connecting an 
electric connection box for an instrument panel harness in which a 
connector can be fittingly connected to an upper surface of the electric 
connection box, and to improve the efficiency of the connector fitting 
operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve the above object, there is provided a construction of connecting 
an electric connection box for an instrument panel harness wherein a 
connector portion is formed on an upper surface of the electric connection 
box to be mounted on a cowl panel mounted on a body; a connector, 
connected to the instrument panel harness mounted on an instrument panel, 
is fittingly connected to the connector portion; connectors of other wire 
harnesses are fittingly connected to connector portions formed on surfaces 
of the electric connection box other than the upper surface thereof. 
The connector of the instrument panel harness mounted on the instrument 
panel is fittingly connected to the connector portion formed on the upper 
surface of the electric connection box mounted on the cowl panel, and the 
connectors of other wire harnesses are fittingly connected to connector 
portions formed on surfaces of the electric connection box other than the 
upper surface thereof. Therefore the connector portion, which must be 
provided on a surface other than the upper surface of the electric 
connection box in the conventional construction, can be formed on the 
upper surface, and thereafter the electric connection box can be formed 
into a smaller size. 
Preferably, the connector of the instrument panel harness is mounted on the 
instrument panel through resilient support members. 
With this construction, vibrations of the instrument panel will not be 
transmitted to the connector fitting portion because of the provision of 
the resilient support members, and therefore the reliability of the 
connector fitting portion is enhanced. 
Preferably, the electric connection box is mounted on the cowl panel so as 
to move upward and downward relative to the cowl panel. 
With this construction, by moving the electric connection box upward and 
downward relative to the cowl panel, the connector portion of the electric 
connection box can be automatically fitted in the connector on the 
instrument panel. 
In one preferred form of the invention, an operating lever is pivotally 
movably mounted on the cowl panel, and the electric connection box is 
slidably supported on upper surfaces of cam portions formed on the 
operating lever, and by pivotally moving the operating lever, the electric 
connection box is moved upward and downward. 
With this construction, by pivotally moving the operating lever mounted on 
the cowl panel, the electric connection box is moved upward through the 
cam portions, so that the connector portion of the electric connection box 
is automatically fitted in the connector on the instrument panel, thereby 
enhancing the efficiency of the fitting operation. 
In another preferred form of the invention, the electric connection box is 
fixed to the cowl panel, and an operating lever is pivotally movably 
mounted on the electric connection box, and fitting portions are formed in 
the operating lever, and pins for fitting respectively in the fitting 
portions are formed on the connector of the instrument panel harness, and 
by operating the operating lever, the connector is moved upward and 
downward so as to fittingly connect the connector to the connector portion 
of the electric connection box. 
With this construction, by pivotally moving the operating lever mounted on 
the electric connection box, the connector on the instrument panel is 
moved downward through the fitting portions and the pins, and is 
automatically fitted on the connector portion of the electric connection 
box, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the fitting operation. 
As is clear from the foregoing description, the connector of the instrument 
panel harness mounted on the instrument panel is fittingly connected 
directly to the connector portion formed on the upper surface of the 
electric connection box mounted on the cowl panel. Therefore the connector 
portion, which must be provided on a surface other than the upper surface 
of the electric connection box in the conventional construction, can be 
formed on the upper surface, and therefore the electric connection box can 
be formed into a smaller size. 
Preferably, the connector is mounted on the instrument panel through 
resilient support members, and with this construction vibrations of the 
instrument panel will not be transmitted to the connector fitting portion, 
and therefore the reliability of the connector fitting portion is 
enhanced. 
By moving the electric connection box upward and downward relative to the 
cowl panel, the connector portion of the electric connection box can be 
automatically fitted in the connector on the instrument panel. 
By pivotally moving an operating lever mounted on the cowl panel, the 
electric connection box is moved upward, so that the connector portion of 
the electric connection box is automatically fitted in the connector on 
the instrument panel. Alternatively, by pivotally moving an operating 
lever mounted on the electric connection box, the connector on the 
instrument panel is moved downward, and is automatically fitted on the 
connector portion of the electric connection box. With such construction, 
the efficiency of the fitting operation is enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in 
detail with reference to the drawings. 
FIG. 1 is a basic view showing a connection construction of the present 
invention. A connector portion 6a is formed on an upper surface of an 
electric connection box 6 to be attached to a cowl panel 2 of an 
automobile 1, and a connector 5, connected to an instrument panel harness 
4 mounted on an instrument panel 3, is fittingly connected directly to the 
connector portion 6a formed on the upper surface of the electric 
connection box 6. For effecting this fitting connection, in one 
embodiment, the electric connection box 6 is moved upward as indicated by 
arrow U, and in another embodiment the connector 5 is moved downward as 
indicated by arrow D. 
FIGS. 1 to 7 show the first embodiment in which the electric connection box 
6 is moved upward to effect the fitting connection. 
FIG. 3(A) is a view showing the lower side of the instrument panel 3, and 
as shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C), an elongate groove 3b is formed in the 
lower surface of the instrument panel 3, and extends in a direction of the 
width of the vehicle, and the connector 5 of the instrument panel harness 
4 is loosely fitted in the elongate groove 3b. The connector 5 is 
resiliently mounted in the elongate groove 3b through resilient support 
members 8 each comprising a rubber member, a spring or the like. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the connector portion 6a for fitting connection to the 
connector 5 on the instrument panel 3 is formed on the upper surface 6b of 
the electric connection box 6. 
Although not specifically shown, connector portions for fitting connection 
respectively to connectors of other wire harnesses are formed respectively 
on opposite side surfaces 6c and a rear surface 6e of the electric 
connection box 6. Examples of these other connector portions are shown as 
6j in FIGS. 2 and 8A. 
A frame 9 of a synthetic resin is fixedly secured to the cowl panel 2, and 
has a pair of bracket portions 9a and 9a integrally formed respectively at 
opposite side portions of a lower end portion thereof, the bracket 
portions 9a and 9a projecting toward the rear of a vehicle body. An 
operating lever 10 has a pair of fan-shaped cam portions 10a and 10a 
formed respectively at opposite side portions thereof, and rotation pins 
10b and 10b, formed respectively on the cam portions 10a and 10a, are 
fitted respectively in pin holes 9b formed respectively through the 
bracket portions 9a and 9a. Thus, the operating lever 10 is supported on 
the frame 9 for being turned (pivotally moved) forwardly and rearwardly 
relative to the frame 9. 
The electric connection box 6 is fitted in a space between the frame 9 and 
the operating lever 10 in such a manner that cam pins 6d and 6d, formed 
respectively on the opposite side surfaces 6c and 6c of the electric 
connection box 6, rest respectively on upper edges (upper surfaces) of the 
fan-shaped cam portions 10a and 10a, thus supporting the electric 
connection box 6 by the operating lever 10. 
The operating lever 10, when in its rearwardly-turned position, supports 
the electric connection box 6 in a lowered position thereof, as shown in 
FIG. 7(A). When the operating lever 10 is turned forwardly, the fan-shaped 
cam portions 10a of the operating lever 10 move the electric connection 
box 6 upward (in the direction of arrow U) through the cam pins 6d, as 
shown in FIG. 7(B). Immediately before the operating lever 10 reaches its 
forwardly-turned position, the connector portion 6a of the upwardly-moving 
electric connection box 6 begins to fit in the connector 5 on the 
instrument panel 3, as shown in FIG. 7(C), and then in the 
forwardly-turned position of the operating lever 10, the connector portion 
6a of the electric connection box 6 completely fits in the connector 5, as 
shown in FIG. 7(D). 
A recess 10c is formed in the upper end of each fan-shaped cam portion 10a, 
and when the operating lever 10 reaches its forwardly-turned position, 
each cam pin 6d on the electric connection box 6 slightly moves downward 
to be received in the associated recess 10c, so that the electric 
connection box 6 moves downward slightly apart from the instrument panel 
3. With this arrangement, vibrations of the instrument panel 3 will not be 
transmitted to the electric connection box 6. 
A pair of lock pawls 9c and 9c are integrally formed respectively at the 
opposite side portions of the frame 9, and these lock pawls 9c and 9c 
engage the operating lever 10 to retain the same in its upwardly-turned 
position. 
In order to accurately move the electric connection box 6 upward and 
downward along the frame 9, a guide pin 11 is formed on a rear surface 9d 
of the frame 9, and a round hole 6g, as well as a slot 6h of a stepped 
construction extending downwardly from the round hole 6g, is formed in a 
front surface 6f of the electric connection box 6, as shown in FIG. 5. A 
head 11a of the guide pin 11 is fitted in the round hole 6g, and the head 
11a and a shank 11b of the guide pin 11 are guided by the slot 6h. 
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a rail 12 of a T-shaped cross-section is 
formed on the rear surface 9d of the frame 9, and extends in the 
upward-downward direction, and a rail groove 6i for receiving the rail 12 
is formed in the front surface 6f of the electric connection box 6. 
As shown in FIG. 4(A), there may be used an arrangement in which instead of 
the cam pins 6d, a pair of pinions 13 are rotatably mounted respectively 
on the opposite side surfaces 6c of the electric connection box 6, and 
instead of the cam surfaces formed respectively on the upper edges of the 
fan-shaped cam portions 10a of the operating lever 10, arcuate gear 
portions 10d for respectively meshing the pinions 13 are formed. In this 
case, the operating lever 10 is pivotally moved to rotate the pinions 13 
through the arcuate gear portions 10d, thereby moving the electric 
connection box 6 upward. 
As shown in FIG. 4(B), there may be used another arrangement in which 
instead of the cam surfaces formed respectively on the upper edges of the 
fan-shaped cam portions 10a of the operating lever 10, cam grooves 10e for 
respectively receiving the cam pins 6d on the electric connection box 6 
are formed respectively in the inner surfaces of the fan-shaped cam 
portions 10a. In this case, the operating lever 10 is pivotally moved 
forwardly to move the electric connection box 6 upward through the cam 
grooves 10e formed respectively in the fan-shaped cam portions 10a. 
In the construction of the first embodiment, the electric connection box 6 
is fitted in the space between the frame 9 and the operating lever 10 held 
in its rearwardly-turned position (FIG. 7(A)), and when the operating 
lever 10 is pivotally moved forwardly (FIG. 7(B)), the fan-shaped cam 
portions 10a of the operating lever 10 move the electric connection box 6 
upward through the cam pins 6d, so that the connector portion 6a on the 
upper surface 6b of the electric connection box 6 is fitted in the 
connector 5 on the instrument panel 3, and in the forwardly-turned 
position of the operating lever 10 (FIG. 7(D)), the connector portion 6a 
of the electric connection box 6 completely fits in the connector 5. 
Thus, by pivotally moving the operating lever 10, the connector portion 6a 
of the electric connection box 6 can be fitted in the connector 5 on the 
instrument panel 3, and therefore the connector portion 6a can be formed 
on the upper surface 6b of the electric connection box 6, and the 
connector portion 6a (which has been formed on a surface other than the 
upper surface of the electric connection box in the conventional 
construction) for connection to the connector 5 of the instrument panel 
harness 4 can be formed on the upper surface 6b, and therefore the 
electric connection box 6 can be formed into a smaller size. 
Even if a gap T between the lower surface 3a of the instrument panel 3 and 
the upper surface 6b of the electric connection box 6 is small, the 
connector portion 6a of the electric connection box 6 can be fitted into 
the connector 5 on the instrument panel 3 merely by pivotally moving the 
operating lever 10, and therefore the efficiency of fitting the connector 
5 is enhanced. 
FIGS. 8(A)-(C) and 9(A)-(C) show the second embodiment in which the 
connector 5 on the instrument panel 3 is moved downward for fitting 
connection. 
As shown in FIG. 8(A), the electric connection box 6 is fixedly secured 
directly to the cowl panel 2 by screws 15. 
Pins 10b and 10b, formed respectively on inner surfaces of fan-shaped cam 
portions 10a formed respectively at opposite side portions of an operating 
lever 10, are fitted respectively in pin holes (not shown) formed 
respectively in opposite side surfaces 6c of the electric connection box 
6, and therefore the operating lever 10 is supported on the electric 
connection box 6 for being turned (pivotally moved) upward and downward 
relative to the electric connection box 6. 
A pair of cam pins 5b and 5b are formed respectively on opposite (right and 
left) side surfaces 5a and 5a of the connector 5 on the instrument panel 
3, and cam grooves 10e for respectively receiving the cam pins 5b and 5b 
are formed respectively in the inner surfaces of the fan-shaped cam 
portions 10a of the operating lever 10. The operating lever 10 is 
pivotally moved downward to move the connector 5 downward through the cam 
pins 5b and the cam grooves 10e in the fan-shaped cam portions 10a. 
A lock pawl 9c is formed integrally on a rear surface 6e of the electric 
connection box 6, and this lock pawl 9c retains or locks the operating 
lever 10 when this lever 10 is in its downwardly-turned position. 
In the construction of the second embodiment, the electric connection box 6 
is beforehand fixed to the cowl panel 2, and the cam pins 5b of the 
connector 5 on the instrument panel 3 are fitted respectively in inlet 
portions of the cam grooves 10e formed respectively in the fan-shaped cam 
portions 10a of the operating lever 10, as shown in FIG. 9(A). 
Then, when the operating lever 10 is pivotally moved downward as shown in 
FIG. 9(B), the connector 5 is moved downward through the cam pins 5 and 
the cam grooves 10e (formed respectively in the fan-shaped cam portions 
10a of the operating lever 10) against a resilient force of resilient 
support members 8 (which resiliently support the connector 5), and the 
connector 5 on the instrument panel 3 is fitted on the connector portion 
6a formed on the upper surface 6b of the electric connection box 6, and in 
the downwardly-turned position of the operating lever 10, the connector 5 
completely fits on the connector portion 6a of the electric connection box 
6, as shown in FIG. 9(C). 
Thus, by pivotally moving the operating lever 10, the connector 5 on the 
instrument panel 3 can be fitted on the connector portion 6a of the 
electric connection box 6, thereby achieving similar effects as attained 
in the first embodiment.