Power distribution box with an engagement feature for overcoming a cantilevered force of a bend in a wire bundle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11942771-B2
Application number	US-202117147787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2021
Priority date	Jan 13, 2021
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A power distribution box assembly includes a lower cover and a connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a connector housing and a dress cover. A wire bundle is routed from the connector housing through an opening of the lower cover. A retention feature is provided to prevent a cantilevered force generated by a bend in the wire bundle from dislodging the connector assembly out of position with respect to the lower cover.

First claim

I claim:

1. A power distribution box assembly for accommodating a wire bundle, the power distribution box comprising:
a connector assembly, the connector assembly having a connector housing and a dress cover, the dress cover coupled to a bottom surface of the connector housing, the dress cover having a support wall opposite of a wire route opening;
a lower cover having an opening for receiving the wire bundle and a connector assembly pocket, wherein the connector assembly pocket is configured to hold the connector assembly, the connector assembly pocket further including an engagement feature, the engagement feature spaced apart from and opposite the opening, the engagement feature configured to engage the support wall of the dress cover so as to retain the connector assembly within the connector assembly pocket so as to overcome a load generated from a bend in the wire bundle.

2. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of the support wall is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the dress cover so as to define a slit, the engagement feature configured to engage the slit.

3. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the engagement feature is a finger.

4. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the dress cover includes an attachment member configured to engage the connector housing.

5. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the connector housing includes a plurality of terminal slots and wherein the wire bundle has a plurality of terminals configured to be seated within a respective one of the plurality of terminal slots, wherein the wire bundle is routed from the bottom surface of the connector housing through the opening of the dress cover so as to define the bend.

6. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the lower cover includes an outer wall bounding a floor, the connector assembly pocket disposed on the floor and bound by the outer wall.

7. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the connector assembly pocket includes a pair of inner side walls, a front wall and a back wall, the finger is mounted to a top edge of the back wall.

8. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the finger includes a planar member and a rib, the rib disposed on a top edge of the planar member.

9. The power distribution box assembly as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the rib includes a catch portion and a ramp portion, the catch portion having a planar surface that is orthogonal to the planar member.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Wiring Systems

Inventors

• Like Nathan

Classifications

• H02G3/16 Primary

  structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box · CPC title

• H01R9/24

  Terminal blocks · CPC title

• H02G3/081 Primary

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H02G3/08

  Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes · CPC title