Joint connector block - Patent Review 7364449

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a joint connector block which executes joint-connection by crossing busbars extending in longitudinal and lateral directions.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 24 shows an example of a conventional joint connector block (referring to Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. H5-29230).

The joint connector block 51 includes: an upper casing 52 made of synthetic resin; lower casing 53 made of synthetic resin; and a plurality of busbars 54, each of which includes terminals and is arranged in a line in the lower casing 53. Each upward tab terminal 55 of the corresponding busbar 54 projects in a corresponding connector housing 56 of the upper casing 52, thereby enabling a connector (outside connector) of an external wiring harness to be coupled with a connector consisting of the tab terminals 55 and the connector housing 56.

A plurality of the tab terminals 55 are arranged forming a line in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding busbar 54. Each tab terminal 55 projects in the corresponding connector housing 56, thereby joint-connecting each outside connector to the connector consisting of the tab terminals 55 and the connector housing 56 through the corresponding busbar 54. Thereby, electric power circuits or ground circuits of the outside connector are electrically connected. The joint connector block 51 is mounted on a motor vehicle and so on.

However, since the busbars 54 are arranged in a line forming a plurality of lines in the conventional joint connecter block 51, the positions of tab terminals 55 for joint-connecting corresponding outside connectors and positions of female terminals for joint-connection in the corresponding outside connectors are limited, causing difficulty for meeting a demand of a complicated circuit structure and difficulty for meeting a demand of a different circuit form varying depending on types of vehicle, and causing a problem that the joint connector block 51 must be designed and manufactured per a type of vehicle every time.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-147718 proposes a busbar structure (not shown in a figure) of an electric junction box, in which connectors are joint-connected with each other by arranging busbars in two directions, i.e. in the longitudinal and lateral directions. However, in this structure, when an outside connector is to be joint-connected, similarly to Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. H5-29230, only a tab terminal of a busbar extending in one direction is used to joint-connect the connector to the outside connector, causing difficulty for meeting a demand of a complicated and highly dense circuit form and difficulty for meeting a demand of a different circuit form which varies depending on types of vehicle.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a joint connector block, which can easily meet a demand of a complicated and highly dense joint circuit form or a demand of a different joint circuit form which varies depending on types of vehicle.

In order to attain the above objective, a joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 1 is a joint connector block comprising:

a block body having a plurality of connector-fitting chambers arranged in a line on one side of the block body and a busbar-receiving part communicating with the connector-fitting chambers on an opposite side of the block body;

a plurality of longitudinal busbars, each of which includes at least one branch terminal projecting in the connector-fitting chamber and at least one pair of clip terminals situated on the side of the busbar-receiving part; and

a plurality of lateral busbars, each of which includes at least one branch terminal projecting in the connector-fitting chamber and a connecting part to be connected to the pair of the clip terminals on the side of the busbar-receiving part, the lateral busbar being connected to the longitudinal busbar crossing the longitudinal busbar at right angles.

With the construction described above, the longitudinal busbars are mounted in the block body and thereafter the lateral busbars are mounted therein, thereby the connecting part of the lateral busbar is inserted in and connected to the clip terminals of the longitudinal busbars. Thereby, the longitudinal and lateral busbars are connected to each other. Each longitudinal or lateral busbar is mounted to a required position in a required form. When each longitudinal or lateral busbar is mounted in the block body, each branch terminal of each busbar is simultaneously positioned projecting in the connector-fitting chamber. Each branch terminal of each busbar is arranged in a line in the connector-fitting chamber. Each branch terminal is arranged in a matrix shape. Connectors of the outside wiring harness are inserted in the connector-fitting chamber. The outside wiring harness (plurality of electric wires) is joint-connected by the branch terminals of the longitudinal and lateral busbars.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 2 is, in the joint connector block as described in claim 1, characterized in that the busbar-receiving part includes:

a plurality of slit grooves, each of which receives the longitudinal busbar; and

a plurality of lateral slits, each of which engages with the connecting part of the lateral busbar, the lateral slit crossing the slit groove at right angles.

With the construction described above, the longitudinal busbars are inserted in the slit groove and positioned, while the branch terminals of the lateral busbars are inserted. The branch terminals of the longitudinal and lateral busbars are arranged in a line. Each branch terminal is entered into the connector-fitting chamber through the slit groove. The slit groove is positioned crossing the connector-fitting chamber at right angles. Each slit groove is formed between the partition walls. The connecting part of the lateral busbar enters into a shallow lateral slit of the partition wall so as to be positioned without backlash and simultaneously the connecting part is clipped by and connected to the pair of the clip terminals of the longitudinal busbar. The lateral slits are arranged in a line with the same pitch as that of the connector-fitting chamber.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 3 is, in the joint connector block as described in claim 2, characterized in that a concave groove is formed in a partition wall of the connector-fitting chamber continuously from the lateral slit, the branch terminal of each said longitudinal or lateral busbar being inserted through the concave groove.

With the construction described above, Each branch terminal of the longitudinal or lateral busbar is positioned in the concave groove of the partition wall which is adjacent to the slit groove and projects in the connector-fitting chamber with an accurate pitch.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 4 is, in the joint connector block as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the branch terminal of the longitudinal busbar is offset in a direction crossing at right angles from a connection part from which the pair of the clip terminals protrudes, while the branch terminal of the lateral busbar is on the same plane as that of the connection part of the lateral busbar.

With the construction described above, the branch terminal of the longitudinal busbar is offset in a direction crossing at right angles and the branch terminal of the lateral busbar projects from the same plane as that of the connection part of the lateral busbar so as to be arranged crossing the longitudinal busbar at right angles, thereby each branch terminal of the longitudinal or lateral busbar is arranged in parallel (in a line) and is arranged in a slit groove or in a connector-fitting chamber being intermingled.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 5 is, in the joint connector block as described in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that a plurality of ribs are projectingly formed on a partition wall of the connector-fitting chamber, the rib insulating the branch terminals of each said longitudinal or lateral busbar from each other.

With the construction described above, the branch terminals of each said longitudinal or lateral busbar are insulated from each other by the rib in the connector-fitting chamber and protected from an interference and so on.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 6 is, in the joint connector block as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that each end of the pair of the clip terminals protrudes outward from the busbar-receiving part.

With the construction described above, the connecting part of the lateral busbar is easily inserted in and connected to the pair of the clip terminals of the longitudinal busbar, enabling visual observation for confirming a connection between both busbars. A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 7 is, in the joint connector block as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that a cover is fitted to the block body and each said longitudinal or lateral busbar abuts against the cover, thereby preventing each busbar from slipping out.

With the construction described above, the cover prevents each busbar from slipping out, thereby attaining no need to engage each busbar with the block body.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 8 is, in the joint connector block as described in claim 7, characterized in that the cover includes: a plurality of ribs against each of which an end of each said pair of the clip terminals abuts; and a plurality of grooves, each of which is formed between the ribs, the connection part of the lateral busbar entering in said groove.

With the construction described above, the end of the pair of the clip terminals of the longitudinal busbar abuts against an end face of the rib and is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the terminal being prevented from slipping off. The end part of the connecting part of the lateral busbar engages with the groove between the ribs so as to be positioned in a plate-thickness direction of the busbar, thereby the end of the connecting part abuts against the bottom of the groove so that the lateral busbar is positioned in the longitudinal direction and prevented from slipping off.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 9 is, in the joint connector block as described in claim 8, characterized in that said groove is provided with an inclined shaped guide surface on the inlet side of the groove.

With the construction described above, the connecting part of the lateral busbar slides along the guide surface and enters into the groove, thereby the connecting part is securely inserted into the groove and the cover is securely mounted.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 10 is, in the joint connector block as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that each said longitudinal or lateral busbar is formed by cutting a laterally linked terminal into a required shape.

With the construction described above, the laterally linked terminal is cut into a required shape (i.e. numbers or arrangement of each terminal, or length of the busbar) according to a specification of a circuit so as to easily make the longitudinal and lateral busbars required.

A joint connector block of the present invention defined in claim 11 is, in the joint connector block as described in claim 10, characterized in that an unnecessary pair of the clip terminal or branch terminal is cut off from the connecting part of the longitudinal or lateral busbar, and/or the connecting part is cut into a required length or cut at a required position.

With the construction described above, by cutting off an unnecessary pair of the clip terminal of the longitudinal busbar, a connection with the lateral busbar is partially cut. By cutting off an unnecessary branch terminal of the longitudinal or lateral busbar, it becomes possible to meet a demand of a circuit of the outside wiring harness, said circuit including a part not to be connected. Further, for example, an unnecessary branch terminal of the longitudinal busbar is cut off, then the branch terminal of the lateral busbar is arranged on the cut portion, thereby enabling to meet a demand of a complicated joint circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a joint connector block according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, which is almost a plan view, illustrating a state when each busbar is mounted on a block body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a primary part illustrating a connection state of each busbar.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a longitudinal busbar (intermediate processed good).

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of cutting processing of a longitudinal busbar.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating another preferred embodiment of cutting processing of a longitudinal busbar.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a further preferred embodiment of cutting processing of a longitudinal busbar.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a lateral busbar (intermediate processed good).

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of cutting processing of a lateral busbar.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another preferred embodiment of cutting processing of a lateral busbar.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a state when a lower cover is mounted on a block body in which each busbar is received.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a joint connector block according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a casing and busbars with a terminal, which constitute a joint connector block.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state when connectors are inserted into a casing.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a connector.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating another preferred embodiment of a joint connector block.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of an electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the joint connector block shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the joint connector shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the joint connector shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of an electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view of the joint connector block shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the joint connector shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional joint connector block.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a joint connector block according to the present invention.

The joint connector block 1 includes: a block body 2 (main cover or casing) made of electrically insulating resin; a plurality of longitudinal busbars 3 and a plurality of lateral busbars 4; and a lower cover 5 (cover) made of insulating resin for preventing each busbar 3, 4 from coming off, wherein each busbar 3, 4 is made of electrically conductive metal, includes at least one terminal, and is to be inserted in the block body 2 from the bottom. A plurality of outside connectors 6 are inserted in the joint connector block 1 from the top.

The block body 2 includes connector-fitting parts 2a situated at its upper half and busbar-receiving parts 2b situated at its lower half. The connector-fitting part 2a includes a plurality of thin (long and narrow) connector-fitting chambers 7 arranged in a line. Each connector-fitting chamber 7 is formed being partitioned by vertical partition walls 10 with the same pitch in the inside of outer walls 8, 9 situated in front and behind, and left and right. Each partition wall 10 and the outer wall situated behind are projectingly provided with a plurality of ribs 11 with the same pitch. A space 7 (as a substitute use of the reference numeral) for receiving a terminal is formed between the adjacent ribs 11. The projection length of each rib 11 is short. Each partition wall 13 of a housing 12 made of insulating resin of the outside connector 6 is positioned mating (facing) with the corresponding rib 11.

A female terminal (not shown in the figure) is engagingly received in between the adjacent partition walls 13 of the outside connector 6. The female terminal is crimp-connected to an electric wire 14. The housing 12 is formed in a thin shape with a wide board 12 (as a substitute use of the reference numeral) and a plurality of the partition walls 13 arranged in the same pitch. The housing 12 and the female terminals constitute the outside connector 6. The wires 14 and the outside connectors 6 constitute a wiring harness. Each outside connector 6 is inserted in up to a face position flush with the upper end face of the block body 2 (FIG. 1 illustrating an intermediate insertion state of the outside connector 6) and fixed in a lump to the block body 2 with a long engaging member (not shown in the figure) made of synthetic resin. A reference numeral 15 indicates an engaging projection which engages with the engaging member described above.

The block body 2 is integrally provided with a bracket 16 at its end in its longitudinal direction. The bracket 16 is clamped and fixed on a vehicle body and so on by inserting a bolt through a hole 17 of the bracket 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (view from the bottom), in the busbar-receiving part 2b situated at the lower half of the block body 2, there are provided a plurality of slit grooves 18 extending in the longitudinal direction of the block body 2 arranged in a line with the same pitch. A plurality of concave grooves 20, which is perpendicular to a plurality of vertical partition walls 19 that constitute the slit grooves 18 and are arranged in a line, are formed being arranged in a line with the same pitch in the longitudinal direction of the block body 2. Each concave groove 20 is arranged in a line in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the block body 2 at right angles. Each short vertical lateral slit 21 is formed with the same pitch at the lower end of the corresponding concave groove 20. A plurality of the slit grooves 18 and a plurality of the lateral slits 21 (the concave grooves 20) cross at right angles each other being positioned in a matrix shape. The lateral slit 21 communicates with the slit grooves 18 situated left and right thereof in the crossing direction.

Each longitudinal busbar 3 including at least one terminal is arranged in the slit groove 18, while each lateral busbar 4 including at least one terminal is arranged along the lateral slit 21, and both busbars 3 and 4 are positioned crossing at right angles (being connected) or being independent (separated) from each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, each longitudinal busbar 3 includes: a band plate-shaped connecting part 22 that is a main body of the busbar 3; at least one pair of clip terminals 23 (tuning fork-shaped terminal) projecting downward from the connecting part 22; and at least one pin-shaped terminal 24 (branch terminal) projecting upward with crossing the connecting part 22 at right angles. Each lateral busbar 4 includes: a plate-shaped connecting part 25 that is a main body of the busbar 4; and at least one pin-shaped terminal 26 (branch terminal) projecting upward from the connecting part 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal busbar 3 is formed by stamping and bending one sheet of electrically conductive metal and thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, by cutting into a required shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the stamping and bending steps, formed is a laterally linked terminal 30 (intermediate processed good of the longitudinal busbar) including: a first connecting part 22 extending perpendicular to the horizontal direction; pairs of clip terminals 23 standing up from the first connecting part 22 with the same pitch; vertical and thin linking part 27 extending in the extending direction of one clip piece 23a of a pair of the clip terminals 23 from the first connecting part 22; pin-shaped terminals 24 continuing to and crossing one end of a little wide part 28 (second connecting part) on the base side of the linking part 27; and a linked band 29 crossing the linking part 27 and continuing therefrom extending in the horizontal direction.

The pin-shaped terminal 24 is arranged on a position where the position of a slot 31 situated between the pair of the clip terminals 23 is shifted in its longitudinal direction. Each clip terminal 23 has an arc-shaped contact 32 on the inner side of its end. A pair of the contacts 32 is positioned having a small distance therebetween. The pair of the clip terminals 23 is known as itself. The second connecting part 28 includes a part 28a bent at right angles. The pin-shaped terminal 24 is offset in a direction crossing at right angles from the connecting part 22 by the bent part 28a. The linking part 27 and the linked band 29 are cut off in a later step. Holes 33 formed in the linked band 29 are for perforation upon the processing.

Cutting processing (cutting of a portion indicated with inclined lines) shown in FIGS. 5-7 are carried out optionally according to a circuit form.

In an example of processing shown in FIG. 5, the linking part 27 and the linked band 29 are integrally cut off from an end of the second connecting part 28. An unnecessary pin-shaped terminal 24, linking part 27 and second connecting part 28 are cut off. An unnecessary pair of the clip terminals 23 is cut off from the base. The first connecting part 22 is cut into a required length. Thereby, formed is a longitudinal busbar 31 including: two pairs of the clip terminals 23 having no pair therebetween on one side of the first connecting part 22; and two pin-shaped terminals 24 adjacent to each other on an opposite side of the first connecting part 22.

In an example of processing shown in FIG. 6, a middle pair of the clip terminals 23 is removed together with the first connecting part 22, thereby forming divided longitudinal busbars 32 and 33. One clip piece 23a of the middle pair of the clip terminals 23 is cut except the first connecting part 22, while another clip piece 23b is cut off together with the first connecting part 22.

In an example of processing shown in FIG. 7, a middle pair of the clip terminals 23 is removed together with the first and second connecting parts 22, 28 and a pin-shaped terminal 24, thereby forming divided identical longitudinal busbars 3.sub.2. In FIGS. 6 and 7, another middle pair of the clip terminals 23 is also removed.

The processing of the longitudinal busbar 3 is not limited to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7 and is carried out according to a circuit form.

FIGS. 8-10 show embodiments of the processing of the lateral busbar 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, formed is a laterally linked terminal 35 (intermediate processed good of the lateral busbar) including: a plate-shaped connecting part 25 stamped from one sheet of electrically conductive metal; a plurality of pin-shaped terminals 26 projecting from a plane of the connecting part 25 with the same pitch; and a linked band 34 for connecting ends of the pin-shaped terminals 26.

The connecting part 25 is provided with holes 36 for perforation upon the processing arranged with the same pitch. The hole 36 is not needed for the joint-connection, therefore if the processing of the pin-shaped terminal 26 is possible, the hole 36 may be removed. The linked band 34 is connected to an end of the pin-shaped terminal 26 through a small-diameter notch 37 and is easily removed by bending.

In an example of processing shown in FIG. 9, a middle pin-shaped terminal 26 is cut from the connecting part 25, thereby forming a lateral busbar 4.sub.1 having no terminal at the middle. A pin-shaped terminal 26 situated at the end may be cut off (see reference numeral 42 in FIG. 1). In each case, the corresponding terminal should be cut off from the base (root) thereof so as to leave the connecting part 25. The connecting part 25 acts as a contact (plate-shaped electric contact) to the longitudinal busbar 3. The pin-shaped terminal 26 of the lateral busbar 4 is formed longer than the pin-shaped terminal 24 of the longitudinal busbar 3. The thickness, width, thickness-direction and width-direction are the same between the two pin-shaped terminals 24 and 26.

In an example of processing shown in FIG. 10, the connection part 25 is cut at the middle so as to be divided into two short lateral busbars 4.sub.2 and 4.sub.3. The processing of the lateral busbar 4 is not limited to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9-10 and is carried out according to a circuit form.

These longitudinal and lateral busbars 3, 4 are connected to each other crossing at right angles in the block body 2 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The receiving process of the longitudinal busbars 3 and the insertion process of the lateral busbars 4 are carried out by reversing the block body. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal busbars 3 are received in the respective slit grooves 18 of the block body 2, and as shown in FIG. 3, the end of the pair of the clip terminals 23 is positioned projecting outward from the slit groove 18.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pin-shaped terminal 24 of the longitudinal busbar 3 is positioned projecting in the connector-fitting chamber 7 situated in the upper half of the block body 2. Since the pin-shaped terminal 24 crosses the connecting part 22 at right angles (a little projecting in the direction of crossing at right angles), the pin-shaped terminal 24 passes through the concave groove 20 of the partition wall 19 and projects in the connector-fitting chamber 7.

After the longitudinal busbars 3 are inserted, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, the lateral busbars 4 are inserted in the block body 2 simultaneously being connecting to the longitudinal busbars 3 crossing the longitudinal busbars 3 at right angles. That is, the pin-shaped terminal 26 (see FIG. 1) of the lateral busbar 4 passes through the concave groove 20, which crosses the slit groove 18 (see FIG. 2) of the block body 2 at right angles, projects in the connector-fitting chamber 7 situated in the upper half of the block body 2, and is positioned in parallel to the pin-shaped terminal 24 (see FIG. 1) of the longitudinal busbar 3. Each pin-shaped terminal 24, 26 is isolated from each other by the rib 11 in the connector-fitting chamber 7.

When the pin-shaped terminal 26 is inserted, simultaneously the base side of the connecting part 25 (see FIG. 3) of the lateral busbar 4 is connected to (clipped by) the pair of the clip terminals of the longitudinal busbar 3. The base side of the connecting part 25 of the lateral busbar 4 is entered into the lateral slit 21 and positioned tightly, thereby securing the joint-connection between both busbars 3, 4 without a positional shift. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting part 25 of the lateral busbar 4 is positioned projecting a little higher than the pair of the clip terminals 23 of the longitudinal busbar 3. The ends of the pin-shaped terminals 24, 26 (see FIG. 1) are positioned at the same height.

After both busbars 3, 4 are mounted in the block body 2, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower cover 5 is mounted on the block body 2, thereby preventing each busbar 3, 4 from slipping off.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the lower cover 5 includes a plurality of grooves 38 arranged in a line with the same pitch in the arrangement direction of the connector-fitting chambers. Each groove 38 is constituted with pairs of ribs 39 on both sides thereof. An end of the connecting part 25 of the lateral busbar 4 is inserted in the groove 38. The end of the connecting part 25 abuts against a bottom face 38a of the groove 38 and is supported there. The end of the pair of the clip terminals 23 of the longitudinal busbar 3 abuts against an end face 39a of the rib 39 and is supported there. A taper-shaped guide face 39b is formed on the entrance side of the groove 38. The connecting part 25 of the lateral busbar 4 is smoothly inserted along the guide face 39b. The connecting part 25, which is a connecting portion of the lateral busbar 4, is accurately positioned with the groove 38, thereby securing the contact with the pair of the clip terminals 23.

The pitch of each groove 38 is the same as the pitch of each connector-fitting chamber and the pitch of each lateral slit 21 (the pitch of each concave groove 20). The pitch of each rib 39 is the same as the pitch of each slit groove 18. The projecting length of the connecting part 25 from the end of the pair of the clip terminals 23 is the same as the depth of the groove 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the lower cover 5 includes walls 40-42 located in front and behind, and left and right, and at the bottom. The grooves 38 and ribs 39 are formed on the inner side of the wall 42 located at the bottom. Each wall 41 situated left or right of the lower cover 5 is provided with a flexible engaging concave 44 which engages with a engaging projection 42 of the block body 2.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the lower cover 5 is engaged with the block body 2, the bottom surface 42 (as a substitute use of the reference numeral) is approximately flush with a bottom surface 16a of the bracket 16 of the block body 2 (flush with the same plane or situated a little higher than the bottom surface 16a of the bracket 16). Thereby, the joint connector block 1 can be mounted on a mount of a vehicle body and so on compactly without interference. Further, the package density upon transportation can be reduced.

Of course the directional characteristic of the joint connector block 1 may be changed into various directions depending on its mounting direction to a vehicle body and so on. Of course the longitudinal busbar 3 and the lateral busbar 4 may be reversed depending on the mounting direction of the joint connector block 1.

In the following, a joint connector block and its assembling method will be explained, by which an engaging member for fixing a plurality of connectors can be mounted with a good workability, a secure connector-fixing force can be obtained, a good reliability of connector-fixing can be obtained, the mounting of the engaging member can be confirmed easily securely by visual observation, and an incomplete insertion of a connector can be securely prevented from occurring.

FIG. 12 shows a preferred embodiment of a joint connector block according to the present invention.

The joint connector block 101 includes: a casing 102 (block body) made of synthetic resin; a plurality of connectors 103 received in the upper half of the casing 102 being arranged in a line; a pair of spacer pins 104 made of synthetic resin as an engaging member for pushing and fixing an upper ends of the respective connectors 103 onto an upper ends of the casing 102 situated on both sides of the casing 102; a plurality of longitudinal and lateral busbars 105, 106 (see FIG. 13) having a terminal, which are received in the lower half of the casing 102; and a lower cover 107 made of synthetic resin, which engages with the bottom of the casing 102.

Each spacer pin 104 is arranged on the upper end of the casing 102 at both sides in the width direction (left and right) and fixed on the casing 102 by the respective engaging members. That is, the spacer pin 104 includes: a plate-shaped vertical wall 108 extending in the longitudinal direction of the spacer pin 104; a horizontal wall 109 on the upper side crossing the wall 108 at right angles; vertical engaging walls 110 continuing to and crossing each wall 108, 109 at the front and rear ends thereof; and convex part 112 including inwardly extending engaging part 111 at the center of the vertical wall 108. The wall 108 functions as a part extending along the wall 118 of the casing 102, while the wall 109 functions as a part abutting against the connector 103. The convex part 112 functions as a protection wall.

The engaging wall 110 includes an inwardly extending engaging projection 113 and has flexibility in the thickness direction with a vertical slit 114 formed between the vertical wall 108 and the engaging wall 110. The reference numeral 115 denotes a hole for the engaging projection 113.

The convex part 112 (protection wall) is formed in a shape with narrow walls 112a situated in front and behind and wide wall 112b situated at the front side thereof, and includes the engaging part 111 at inner lower end and an opening (the hole) at the upper end. The engaging part 111 has a horizontal engaging face extending upward. The narrow wall 112a continues to the vertical wall 108 by way of a slit 163 and is provided with flexibility in the thickness direction with the slit 163 at the convex part 112.

An inner surface of the wall 109 is formed flat and the inner surface abuts against an upper end of each connector 103, thereby preventing the connector 103 from slipping off. A vertical rib 116 stands up from the center in the width direction of an outer surface of the wall 109. The rib 116 is reinforced by a small lateral rib 117, thereby preventing the wall from bending and keeping the flatness of the inner surface of the wall.

As shown in FIG. 13, the casing 102 is provided with an engaging projection 119 for engaging with the engaging projection 111 of the spacer pin 104 (see FIG. 12) at the center on the outer surface of the walls 118 situated on both sides right and left. The casing is also provided with an engaging projection 121 for engaging with the engaging projection 113 of the engaging wall 110 (i.e. engaging arm) of the spacer pin 104 at both ends situated right and left of walls 120 situated on both sides in front and behind. Each engaging projection 119, 121 has an inclined face extending upward. The outside of the engaging projection 121 situated in front and behind is surrounded by a protection wall 122 that is integral with the casing 112. A gap 123 for receiving the vertical wall 108 of the spacer pin 104 (see FIG. 12) is provided between an outer wall 122a of the protection wall 122 and the wall 118. The engaging wall 110 of the spacer pin 104 enters into a rectangular inside space 124 of the protection wall 122.

As shown in FIG. 12, the engaging wall 110 of the spacer pin 104 is surrounded by the protection wall 122 so as to being protected from interference with the outside. An engaging state between the engaging projection 111 and the engaging projection 119 of the casing 102 (see FIG. 13) is protected by being surrounded by the convex part 112 and protected from in