Electronic component support structure

An electronic component support structure is provided for preventing vibrational movement and rattling of an electronic component installed within a component receptacle. The component receptacle includes a sidewall having first and second flexible fingers formed therein at predetermined positions. The first flexible fingers are inwardly and outwardly flexible and include inwardly extending hook portions for engaging an upper surface of an electronic component. The second flexible fingers are inwardly and outwardly flexible and include inwardly extending lip portions for engaging lateral surfaces of an electronic component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a rattle suppressing support structure for an electrical component, and particularly to a support structure capable of preventing vibrational movement and rattling of an electronic component installed within a receptacle on an automotive junction board.

2. Description of the Related Art

As illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B, a conventional automotive junction board1is provided with a receptacle2in the form of an upwardly extending container structure into which an electrical component3, such as a condenser or similar device, can be installed. Receptacle2includes hooks5that extend inwardly from the upper edge of the receptacle sidewall at specific locations, and two ribs4formed at specific locations on the inner surfaces of oppositely facing sidewalls. Hooks5are pushed outward as a component3is pressed down into receptacle2. Once component3is fully installed within receptacle2, hooks5press downward against the upper surface of component3to secure component3in receptacle2, while ribs4apply pressure to two opposing lateral sides of component3to prevent rattling and noise generation.

However, ribs4must necessarily be formed to extend inwardly from the sidewalls far enough that they securely press against component3, regardless of the size of the opening between the opposing sidewalls of receptacle2. Accordingly, ribs4must protrude a relatively large distance “L” as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, thus increasing the amount of pressure required to press component3into receptacle2, and making the junction board assembly process more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure capable of holding and maintaining an electronic component in a non-rattling condition, and to improve the junction board assembly process.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic component support structure including a component receptacle having a sidewall extending from a bottom surface of a synthetic resin junction board to form an inner space configured to contain an electrical component inserted therein. The support structure also includes a plurality of first flexible fingers which are each formed by two slits provided at predetermined positions in the sidewall of the component receptacle. A free end of each of the first flexible fingers is inwardly and outwardly flexible, and includes an inwardly extending hook portion for pressing against an upper surface of an electronic component inserted into the component receptacle. The support structure also includes a plurality of second flexible fingers which are each formed by a U-shaped cutout portion provided at a predetermined position in the sidewall of the component receptacle. A free end of each of the second flexible fingers is inwardly and outwardly flexible, and includes an inwardly extending lip portion for pressing against a lateral surface of an electronic component inserted into the component receptacle.

The ability of the first flexible fingers, each including a hook portion for holding the electrical component within the receptacle, to flex in inward and outward directions has the effect of reducing the pressure required to press the electronic component into the receptacle. Moreover, the ability of the second flexible fingers, each including a lip portion for preventing the loose movement of the electronic component in the receptacle, to flex in inward and outward directions, also reduces the pressure required to press the electronic component into the receptacle.

Under conditions in which the dimensions of the receptacle fluctuate as a result of environmental factors, which may include changes in temperature, the dimensional fluctuation can be accounted for by the elasticity of the second flexible fingers without adversely affecting the ability of the fingers to prevent the electronic component from rattling and generating noise within the receptacle. Moreover, the electronic component is securely maintained within the receptacle by the hook portions of the first flexible fingers pressing down on the upper surface of the electronic component.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the sidewall of the component receptacle includes four sidewall portions forming a rectangular structure, each of the sidewall portions including at least one of the second flexible fingers formed therein. Further, two opposed sidewall portions include at least one of the first flexible fingers formed therein.

The provision of a second flexible finger in each sidewall portion of the rectangular receptacle, each second flexible finger including a rattle preventing lip portion, creates a structure able to suppress vibration and rattling movement of the electronic component along the horizontal axis.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the free ends of the first flexible fingers are upper free ends from which the hook portions inwardly extend. Further, the free ends of the second flexible fingers are lower free ends from which the lip portions inwardly extend.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the inwardly extending hook portions of the first flexible fingers maintain the electronic component in the component receptacle. Further, the inwardly extending lip portions of the second flexible fingers inhibit lateral movement of the electronic component in the component receptacle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the bottom surface of the synthetic resin junction board includes at least one rib portion for engaging a lower surface of an electronic component in the component receptacle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic component support structure including a component receptacle having a sidewall extending from a bottom surface to form an inner space configured to contain an electrical component inserted therein. The support structure also includes at least one first flexible finger provided at a predetermined position in the sidewall of the component receptacle. A free end of the at least one first flexible finger is inwardly and outwardly flexible, and includes an inwardly extending hook portion for engaging an upper surface of an electronic component inserted into the component receptacle. The support structure also includes at least one second flexible finger provided at a predetermined position in the sidewall of the component receptacle. A free end of the at least one second flexible finger is inwardly and outwardly flexible, and includes an inwardly extending lip portion for engaging a lateral surface of an electronic component inserted into the component receptacle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the sidewall of the component receptacle includes four sidewall portions forming a rectangular structure, each of the sidewall portions including at least one of the at least one second flexible fingers formed therein. Further, two opposed sidewall portions of the sidewall each include at least one of the at least one first flexible fingers formed therein.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the free end of the at least one first flexible finger is an upper free end from which the hook portion inwardly extends. Further, the free end of the at least one second flexible finger is a lower free end from which the lip portion inwardly extends.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the inwardly extending hook portion of the at least one first flexible finger maintains the electronic component in the component receptacle. Further, the inwardly extending lip portion of the at least one second flexible finger inhibits lateral movement of the electronic component in the component receptacle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the bottom surface from which the sidewall extends includes at least one rib portion for engaging a lower surface of an electronic component in the component receptacle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the at least one first flexible fingers are provided at predetermined positions along the sidewall. Further, a plurality of the at least one second flexible fingers are provided at predetermined positions along the sidewall.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the at least one first flexible finger is formed by two slits extending from a top edge of the sidewall. Further, the at least one second flexible finger is formed by a U-shaped cutout portion extending from a bottom edge of the sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following will describe an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1illustrates a junction board10to which electronic components3and16are installed and interconnected by a lead wire w. The junction board10may be made of any suitable material, such as a synthetic resin. For example, a heavier electronic component in a main power circuit, such as a large capacity component16, may be attached to junction board10in any suitable manner, such as by screws N. A lighter weight component3, which may be any suitable type of component, such as a condenser, is installed into and supported by a receptacle11.

FIGS. 2,3, and4illustrate receptacle11, which may have any suitable configuration, such as the form of a rectangular frame-like structure. Receptacle11includes first flexible fingers14and second flexible fingers15, which may be formed in a sidewall13of receptacle11. Each finger14may be formed by two slits S2extending from the top of sidewall13. Fingers14may be provided on each of two opposing sidewall portions of sidewall13. Each finger15may be formed by a U-shaped cutout portion or space S1. Fingers15may be provided in the center of each of the four sidewall portions of sidewall13.

The upper end of each finger14is able to flex freely in both inward and outward directions, and includes a hook portion14athat protrudes toward the inner region of the receptacle11. Hook portion14amay be formed unitarily and in one piece with finger14. The lower end of each finger15is able to flex freely in both inward and outward directions, and includes a lip portion15athat protrudes toward the inner region of the receptacle11. Lip portion15amay be formed unitarily and in one piece with finger15. Rib portions12aare provided on a receptacle floor12, and may be configured as four linear protrusions.

The downward insertion of a component3into a receptacle11initially causes hook portions14aof fingers14to be pressed outwardly, thus causing fingers14to flex in the outward direction. Further insertion of component3presses lip portions15aof fingers15outwardly, thus causing fingers15to also flex in the outward direction. At the point where the lower surface of component3comes into contact with rib portions12athat protrude from receptacle floor12, hook portions14aflexibly return to their former positions, in which they overlap and press downward against the upper surface of component3which is now installed into receptacle11as shown in FIG.5.

The bi-directional flexing of fingers14, each of which includes an integral hook portion14afor anchoring component3, reduces the amount of pressure required to insert component3into receptacle11. Moreover, the bi-directional flexing of fingers15, each of which includes an integral lip portion15afor preventing lateral vibration and rattling of component3within receptacle11, also reduces the amount of pressure required to insert component3into receptacle11.

Furthermore, should the dimensions of receptacle11fluctuate as a result of environmental factors, such as a change in temperature, the dimensional fluctuation can be accounted for by the elasticity of fingers15without adversely affecting the ability of fingers15to prevent component3from rattling and generating noise within receptacle11. Moreover, fingers15, which include lip portions15afor preventing the vibration of component3within receptacle11, may be provided on all four sides of receptacle11to prevent rattling movement of component3in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, component3is securely maintained within receptacle11by the pressure applied to the upper surface of component3by hook portions14aof fingers14.

The present invention reduces the pressure required to insert an electrical component into a junction board receptacle by providing a structure that includes a set of first flexible fingers to securely anchor the component within the receptacle, and a set of second flexible fingers to prevent movement of the component within the receptacle. Moreover, dimensional fluctuations caused by environmental factors, such as a change in temperature, can be accounted for by the elasticity of the flexible fingers without adversely affecting the ability of the fingers to prevent the component from vibrating and generating noise within the receptacle.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-246206 filed on Aug. 27, 2002, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.