US5995380A — Electric junction box for an automotive vehicle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 62 words

An electrical junction box comprising: a first wire harness connector portion; a second wire harness connector portion; a first insulating polymeric portion; and a second polymeric portion defining multiple electrically conductive circuits, said circuits being at least partially separated by said first insulating polymeric portion, at least some of said circuits electrically connecting together said first and second wire harness connector portions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 62 words

An electrical junction box comprising: a first wire harness connector portion; a second wire harness connector portion; a first insulating polymeric portion; and a second polymeric portion defining multiple electrically conductive circuits, said circuits being at least partially separated by said first insulating polymeric portion, at least some of said circuits electrically connecting together said first and second wire harness connector portions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The junction box of claim 1 wherein said first wire harness connector portion is a section of said second polymeric portion integrally formed with at least some of said circuits.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The junction box of claim 2 wherein said first wire harness connector portion includes multiple elongated male blades extending beyond said first insulating polymeric portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The junction box of claim 1 further comprising a protective housing, said first and second polymeric portions being located in said housing and defining a circuit board, said electrically conductive circuits being located on opposite faces of said circuit board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The junction box of claim 4 further comprising transversely oriented conductors electrically connecting together at least some of said electrically conductive circuits located on said opposite faces of said circuit board.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The junction box of claim 1 wherein a section of said first insulating polymeric portion defines at least a segment of a protective cover for said junction box.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The junction box of claim 1 further comprising at least one sharply angled step located in said first and second polymeric portions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The junction box of claim 1 further comprising at least a first of said circuits crossing over a second of said circuits in a transversely offset manner with said first insulating polymeric portion disposed between said circuits at the cross over.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The junction box of claim 1 wherein said second polymeric portion is plated with a conductive metallic material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The junction box of claim 1 wherein said second polymeric portion is made from a conductive polymeric resin.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The junction box of claim 1 wherein an electronic component is mounted and electrically connected to at least one of said electrically conductive circuits.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The junction box of claim 1 further comprising a fuse connector portion of said second polymeric portion integrally formed as part of at least some of said circuits, a fuse mounted and electrically connected to said fuse connector portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 104 words

An automotive vehicle power distribution system comprising: a first wire harness; an electronic component; and a power distribution box including an internal member having raised segments which provide a layer for conducting electricity and said internal member having depressed segments between said raised segments which electrically insulate said raised segments from each other; said first wire harness being electrically connected to said power distribution box; said electronic component being electrically connected to said power distribution box; said raised segments conducting electricity between said first wire harness and said electronic component when energized, wherein said raised segments, said depressed segments and said insulator are polymeric.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 104 words

An automotive vehicle power distribution system comprising: a first wire harness; an electronic component; and a power distribution box including an internal member having raised segments which provide a layer for conducting electricity and said internal member having depressed segments between said raised segments which electrically insulate said raised segments from each other; said first wire harness being electrically connected to said power distribution box; said electronic component being electrically connected to said power distribution box; said raised segments conducting electricity between said first wire harness and said electronic component when energized, wherein said raised segments, said depressed segments and said insulator are polymeric.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The power distribution system of claim 13 wherein said internal member further includes an insulator located between said raised segments.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The power distribution system of claim 13 further comprising a metallic plating defining said layer for conducting electricity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The power distribution system of claim 13 wherein said electronic component is mounted on said internal member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The power distribution system of claim 13 further comprising electrically conductive male blades extending substantially perpendicularly from said raised segments, each of said male blades extending from said respective raised segments as a single piece.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 99 words

An automotive vehicle electrical junction box comprising: a housing; a first wire harness connector portion; a second wire harness connector portion; an insulating polymeric portion; and electrically conductive circuits being at least partially separated by said insulating polymeric portion, at least some of said circuits electrically connecting together said first and second wire harness connector portions; at least a section of said insulating polymeric portion defining a circuit board removably spaced inside of said housing and including said insulating polymeric portion and said conductive circuits; and an electrically conductive blade extending completely through a passageway of said circuit board.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 99 words

An automotive vehicle electrical junction box comprising: a housing; a first wire harness connector portion; a second wire harness connector portion; an insulating polymeric portion; and electrically conductive circuits being at least partially separated by said insulating polymeric portion, at least some of said circuits electrically connecting together said first and second wire harness connector portions; at least a section of said insulating polymeric portion defining a circuit board removably spaced inside of said housing and including said insulating polymeric portion and said conductive circuits; and an electrically conductive blade extending completely through a passageway of said circuit board.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

The junction box of claim 18 further comprising a second set of electrically conductive circuits located on a layer offset from and substantially parallel to said circuit board, said blade being attached to and projecting substantially perpendicular from one of said second set of circuits, said blade being electrically insulated from said circuits of said circuit board.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The junction box of claim 18 wherein said electrically conductive blade is made from a polymeric material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The junction box of claim 18, further comprising: multiple electrical components being electrically connected to said electrically conductive circuits.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 65 words

An automotive vehicle electrical junction box comprising: a housing; a wire harness connector portion; a set of electrical circuits located in said housing suitable for supplying electricity to said wire harness connector portion; and a female connector integrally formed as part of at least one of said electrical circuits, wherein at least an internal portion of said female connector is made from a polymeric material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

An automotive vehicle electrical junction box comprising: a housing; a wire harness connector portion; a set of electrical circuits located in said housing suitable for supplying electricity to said wire harness connector portion; and a female connector integrally formed as part of at least one of said electrical circuits, wherein at least an internal portion of said female connector is made from a polymeric material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The junction box of claim 22 wherein said at least one of said electrical circuits is secured to said housing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The junction box of claim 22 further comprising a male blade removably insertable in said female connector.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-29	2003-05-31	2003-11-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-29	2007-05-31	2007-11-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-29	2011-05-31	2011-11-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electric junction box for an automotive vehicle

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