Power distribution box assembly for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142147-B2
Application number	US-201916456438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A power distribution box assembly for a vehicle is provided. The power distribution box assembly includes a housing having a peripheral wall and an inner wall. The inner wall is dimensioned to hold electrical components. A cover is configured to cover the peripheral wall of the housing, and the cover has an interior surface. A first latching mechanism and a second latching mechanism are disposed opposite of the first latching mechanism. The first and second latching mechanisms are selectively operable between an engaged positon and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the cover is closed onto the housing. A rib is disposed on a top surface of the inner wall of the housing. The rib abuts the interior surface of the cover when the first and second latching mechanisms are in the engaged position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power distribution box assembly comprising:
a housing having a side wall bounding a cavity;
a cover having a peripheral wall bounding a top wall, the top wall configured to cover the cavity, the top wall having an inner surface;
a first latching mechanism having a tolerance configured to allow the peripheral wall to clear the side wall when the cover is rotated onto the housing, and a second latching mechanism disposed opposite of the first latching mechanism and selectively operable between an engaged positon and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the cover is closed onto the housing; and
a rib disposed on a top surface of the side wall of the housing, wherein an elongated portion of the side wall having the rib extends along a direction extending from the first latching mechanism to the second latching mechanism and wherein the rib abuts the inner surface of the cover when the first and second latching mechanisms are in the engaged position so as to eliminate the tolerance in the first latching mechanism.

2. The power distribution box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch disposed on one of the housing and the cover and a first catch disposed on the other of the housing and the cover, and the second latching mechanism includes a second latch disposed on one of the housing and the cover and a second catch disposed on the other of the housing and the cover.

3. The power distribution box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first latching mechanism is disposed opposite of the second latching mechanism.

4. The power distribution box assembly of claim 2 , wherein when the first latching mechanism is in the engaged position, the first latch is pivotally engaged with the first catch.

5. The power distribution box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first latch includes a gap defined by a pair of legs spaced apart from each other and an engaging portion extending from one of the legs to the other of the legs, the gap dimensioned to receive the first catch, and wherein the first catch is spaced from the engaging portion, defining the tolerance therebetween.

6. The power distribution box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rib is elevated above a remaining top surface of the housing so as to be the only structure to contact the inner surface of the cover when the first latching mechanism and the second latching mechanism are in the engaged position.

7. The power distribution box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs disposed on the top surface of the side wall of the housing.

8. The power distribution box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing is dimensioned to hold electric components, the electrical components includes a terminal housing with eyelet terminals.

9. A power distribution box assembly comprising:
a housing, having an inner wall;
a cover having an interior surface facing the housing, the cover and the housing being selectively engageable with each other and operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein in the engaged position the cover is closed onto the housing;
a first latch disposed on one of the housing and the cover and a first catch disposed on the other of the housing and the cover, and a second latch disposed on one of the housing and the cover and a second catch disposed on the other of the housing and the cover; and
a rib abutting the interior surface of the cover when the cover and the housing are in the engaged position, wherein the rib is disposed on a top surface of the inner wall of the housing, and wherein the inner wall extends along a direction extending from the first latch to the second latch.

10. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first latch and the first catch are disposed opposite of the second latch and the second catch.

11. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first latch includes a gap defined by a pair of legs spaced apart from each other and an engaging portion extending from one of the legs to the other of the legs, the gap dimensioned to receive the first catch, and wherein the first catch is spaced from the engaging portion, defining a tolerance therebetween.

12. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , wherein when the cover and the housing are in the engaged position, the first latch is pivotally engaged with the first catch.

13. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rib is elevated above a remaining top surface of the housing so as to be the only structure to contact the inner surface of the cover when the first latching mechanism and the second latching mechanism are in the engaged position.

14. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of ribs disposed on a top surface of an inner wall of the housing.

15. The power distribution box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the housing is dimensioned to hold electric components, the electrical components includes a terminal housing with eyelet terminals.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Wiring Systems

Inventors

• Carnick Brian D
• Alexander Christopher

Classifications

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• B60R16/0238 Primary

  Electrical distribution centers · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H02G3/086

  Assembled boxes · CPC title

• H02B1/46

  Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title