Abstract:
An electrical junction box is provided including a mounting cover, a connector, and a slide-arm. The connector is disposed within the mounting cover and includes a boss. The slide-arm is slidably supported by the mounting cover and includes a slanted driving surface. The slide-arm is operable to displace the connector by slidably engaging the boss with the slanted driving surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an automotive electrical junction box and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for assembling an electrical connector and bussed electrical center of an automotive electrical junction box. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Typical automotive electrical junction boxes include a mounting cover, at least one electrical connector, and a bussed electrical center. The mounting cover is typically mounted to a vehicle body. The electrical center is disposed within the mounting cover and includes a plurality of sockets on its upper face. The bussed electrical center acts as a lid for the mounting cover. The bussed electrical center includes a plurality of terminals or pins extending from a lower surface thereof. The plurality of pins are adapted to engage the plurality of sockets in the electrical connector. 
   During assembly of a typical electrical junction box, the electrical connector is first placed within the mounting cover. The bussed electrical center is then attached to a rim portion of the mounting cover. A threaded fastener is positioned through an aperture in the bussed electrical center to engage a threaded bore in the electrical connector. Turning the threaded fastener into the electrical connector lifts it into engagement with the pins on the bussed electrical center. While this assembly has provided adequate results, it tends to be time consuming. Additionally, turning the fastener can require a substantial amount of human force and/or participation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An electrical junction box is provided including a mounting cover, a connector, and a slide-arm. The connector is disposed within the mounting cover and includes a boss. The slide-arm is slidably supported by the mounting cover and includes a slanted driving surface. The slide-arm is operable to displace the connector by slidably engaging the boss with the slanted driving surface. 
   Another aspect of the present invention provides an electrical junction box including a mounting cover, an electrical center, a connector, and a slide-arm. The electrical center is supported on the mounting cover. The connector is disposed between the mounting cover and the electrical center. The slide-arm is slidably supported by the mounting cover for sliding engagement with the connector. The slide-arm is operable to displace the connector away from the slide-arm and into engagement with at least a portion of the electrical center. 
   Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method of assembling an electrical junction box. First, a mounting cover is provided. A slide-arm is then positioned in a first position on the mounting cover. A connector is positioned within the mounting cover and in sliding engagement with a portion of the slide-arm. Lastly, the connector is driven away from the slide-arm by linearly translating the slide-arm relative to the mounting cover toward a second position. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an electrical junction box in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cut-away perspective view of the electrical junction box of  FIG. 1  in a pre-staged position; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the electrical junction box taken through line III—III of  FIG. 2  and including a bussed electrical center; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the electrical junction box taken through line IV—IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the electrical junction box taken through line V—V of  FIG. 2  in an operational position and including a bussed electrical center; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the electrical junction box taken through line VI—VI of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     FIGS. 1–6  depict an electrical junction box  10  including a mounting cover  12 , a connector  14 , a bussed electrical center (BEC)  16 , and a slide-arm  18 . The mounting cover  12  is adapted to contain the connector  14  and support the BEC  16  thereon. The slide-arm  18  is operable to displace the connector  14  into engagement with the BEC  16 . 
   The mounting cover  12  includes a bottom wall  20 , a pair of longitudinal sidewalls  22 , a first end sidewall  24   a , and a second end sidewall  24   b . The bottom wall  20  includes a pair of guide rails  26 . The first end sidewall  24   a  includes a slide-arm aperture  28  and a pair of lock ledges  30 . The second end sidewall  24   b  includes a wire aperture  32  and a pair of lock ledges  30 . In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting cover  12  is constructed of a polymer such as nylon. 
   The connector  14  includes a dress cover  34  integrally formed with a connector body  36 . The dress cover  34  is a generally hollow box including a pair of end walls  38 , a pair of sidewalls  40 , and a top surface  42 . The sidewalls  40  each include a pair of cylindrical bosses  44 . The connector body  36  is a generally box-shaped member disposed on the top surface  42  of the dress cover  34 . The connector body  36  includes a top surface  46  having a plurality of sockets  48 . Each of the plurality of sockets  48  include a metal contact (not shown) for completing an electrical circuit, which will be described in more detail below. It is important to note that the dress cover  34  includes an open bottom and an aperture  41  in its top surface  42 . The open bottom of the dress cover  34  enables a plurality of wires (not shown) to be stored therein. Additionally, the plurality of wires extend through the aperture  41  in the top surface  42  of the dress cover  34  and attach to the metal contacts disposed within the plurality of sockets  48  of the connector body  36 . The wires are attached to the contacts via solder or other electrical connecting means. 
   The BEC  16  is a generally planar member including a top surface  50 , a bottom surface  52 , and a plurality of lock tabs  54 . The top surface  50  includes a plurality of sockets (not shown) receiving a plurality of fuses, relays, and other electrical components, herein identified by reference number  56 . The bottom  52  of the BEC  16  includes a terminal housing  58  and a plurality of terminals  60 . In the embodiment illustrated, the plurality of terminals  60  include a plurality of metal pins. It should be appreciated that the plurality of terminals  60  and plurality of sockets receiving the electrical components  56  are electrically connected via wires or other electrical conductive means molded within the BEC  16 . The plurality of lock tabs  54  on the BEC  16  are formed integral with the planar member of the BEC  16  and include square apertures  64 . The square apertures  64  receive the lock ledges  30  on the end sidewalls  24   a ,  24   b  securing the BEC  16  to the mounting cover  12 . 
   The slide-arm  18  is a generally elongated member having a U-shaped cross-section including a bottom wall  66 , a pair of sidewalls  68 , and a rear wall  62 . Each of the pair of sidewalls  68  include a pair of cam slots  70 . Each cam slot  70  includes an upright portion  72 , a first landing portion  74 , a slanted portion  76 , and a second landing portion  78 . The rear wall  62  extends generally perpendicularly between the pair of sidewalls  68  and bottom wall  66 . The slide-arm  18  is received through the slide-arm aperture  28  of the first end sidewall  24   a  of the mounting cover  12 . The bottom wall  66  of the slide-arm  18 , therefore, slidably engages the bottom wall  20  of the mounting cover  12 . 
     FIG. 2  depicts the electrical junction box  10  in a pre-staged assembled position. The slide-arm  18  is received through the slide-arm aperture  28  of the mounting cover  12  to a first position between the guide rails  26 . The connector  14  is disposed within the mounting cover  12  in engagement with the slide-arm  18 . The cylindrical bosses  44  extending from the dress cover  34  engage the first landing portions  74  of the cam slots  70  in the pair of sidewalls  68  of the slide arm  18 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the electrical junction box  10  in the pre-staged position including the BEC  16  attached to the mounting cover  12 . The bottom surface  52  of the BEC  16  engages a rim of the mounting cover  12 . The apertures  64  of the plurality of lock tabs  54  on the BEC  16  receive the lock ledges  30  formed on the first and second end sidewalls  24   a ,  24   b  of the mounting cover  12 . The plurality of terminals  60  extending from the bottom surface  52  of the BEC  16  are substantially axially aligned with the plurality of sockets  48  in the connector body  36  of the connector  14 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  depict the electrical junction box  10  in an operational position. The slide-arm  18  has been actuated and is disposed within the mounting cover  12  at a second position between the guide rails  26 . The cylindrical bosses  44  extending from the dress cover  34  of the connector  14  engage the second landing portions  78  of the cam slots  70  in the sidewalls  68  of the slide-arm  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the plurality of terminals  60  are received within the plurality of sockets  48  in the connector body  36  of the connector  14 . 
   During assembly, the mounting cover  12  is mounted to a portion of a vehicle. This may be accomplished with an adhesive, a fastener, or other appropriate means. The slide-arm  18  is then inserted through the slide-arm aperture  28  of the first end sidewall  24   a  to the first position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . The connector  14  is then positioned within the mounting cover  12 . This includes aligning the cylindrical bosses  44  with the upright portions  72  of the cam slots  70  in the slide-arm  18 . To complete the pre-staged position, the connector  14  is allowed to drop into the upright slots  72  to engage the first landing areas  74 , as is also illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . 
   The BEC  16  is then positioned on top of the mounting cover  12 . The plurality of lock tabs  54  are depressed such that the lock ledges  30  are received through the apertures  64 . Finally, an axial load is applied to the rear wall  62  of the slide-arm  18 . This displaces the slide-arm  18  into the second position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Consequently, the slanted portions  76  of the cam slots  70  slidably engage the cylindrical bosses  44  on the connector  14  and drive the connector  14  toward the BEC  16 . The terminals  60  disposed on the BEC  16  enter the sockets  48  on the connector  14 . Once the slide arm  18  reaches the second position, the cylindrical bosses  44  engage the second landing areas  78  of the cam slots  70 . Additionally, the connector body  36  fully receives the plurality of terminals  60  to complete the assembly. 
   It should be appreciated that the electrical junction box  10  of the present invention provides for a simple, low energy assembly process. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that while the electrical junction box  10  of the present invention has been disclosed as including a single connector  14  and slide-arm  18 , an electrical junction box  10  including a plurality of connectors  14  and a plurality of slide-arms  18  is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the electrical junction box  10  may include a plurality of slide-arms  18 , each independently actuable to displace one of a plurality of connectors  14  into engagement with the BEC  16 . Lastly, while it has been disclosed that each of the sidewalls  68  of the slide-arm  18  includes a pair of cam slots  70 , an alternative embodiment may include more or less cam slots  70  in the pair of sidewalls  68 . 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.