# US 2013/0153288 A1 · Junction box assembly having an over-travel spring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153288 A1 - Document ID: US20130153288A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,410 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Yazaki North America, Inc. - Inventors: James Thomas Jetton; Eric Scott Smolen; Jason Robert Degen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153288A1 ## CPC - B60R 16/0238: {Electrical distribution centers} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A junction box assembly includes a housing member and an electrical component. The housing member has a housing surface and a component receptacle having a pair of opposing sidewalls coupled to the housing surface. Each sidewall has a locking opening disposed therein and each locking opening defines a locking surface. A post is arranged within the component receptacle and extends from the housing surface for a predetermined distance to a post surface. The electrical component is received in the component receptacle and has a component surface adjacent the post surface and a barb received in each locking opening. The post applies a force to the electrical component for retaining the barb against the locking surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A junction box assembly comprising: a housing member including: a housing surface; a component receptacle having a pair of opposing sidewalls coupled to the housing surface, each sidewall having a locking opening disposed therein and each locking opening defining a locking surface; and a post arranged within the component receptacle and extending from the housing surface for a predetermined distance to a post surface; and an electrical component received in the component receptacle, the electrical component having a component surface adjacent the post surface and a barb received in each locking opening, wherein the post applies a force to the electrical component for retaining the barb against the locking surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing member is formed from a polymeric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is one of a relay, a contactor, and a fuse. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The junction box assembly of claim 1, wherein the post is integrally formed with the housing surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The junction box assembly of claim 4, wherein contact between the electrical component and the post surface resiliently deflects at least one of the housing surface and the post. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The junction box assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing surface biases the post against the electrical component when the at least one of the housing surface and the post is resiliently deflected due to contact between the electrical component and the post surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The junction box assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing surface is configured to deflect approximately 0.5 mm in at least one location due to contact between the electrical component and the post surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The junction box assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing member further includes a plurality of terminals extending from the housing surface to a terminal surface, wherein the terminal surface is adjacent to the component surface when the electrical component contacts the post surface. ### Claim 9 A junction box assembly comprising: a housing surface having a post extending therefrom; a pair of sidewalls extending from the housing surface, the housing surface and the sidewalls cooperating to form a component receptacle about the post, wherein a locking opening is formed through each of the sidewalls and wherein each sidewall comprises a locking tab that abuts a corresponding one of the locking openings so as to define an edge of the corresponding one of the locking openings on a side of the corresponding one of the locking openings that is opposite the housing surface; and an electrical component received within the component receptacle, wherein the electrical component includes a pair of barbs removably received within the locking openings, wherein the post abuts the electrical component and the barbs abut the locking tabs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The junction box assembly of claim 9, wherein the post is integrally formed with the housing surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The junction box assembly of claim 9, wherein the electrical component is one of a relay, a contactor, and a fuse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The junction box assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing surface deflects in response to a force applied to the electrical component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The junction box assembly of claim 12, wherein the housing surface biases the post against the electrical component when the force is removed from the electrical component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The junction box assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing surface deflects approximately 0.5 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The junction box assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of terminals extending from the housing surface to a terminal surface, wherein the terminal surface is adjacent to the component surface when the force is applied to the electrical component. ### Claim 16 A method for securing an electrical component to a junction box assembly, the method comprising: inserting an electrical component into a component receptacle on a housing member of the junction box assembly; depressing the electrical component with a force to a depth that allows a barb of the electrical component to seat within a locking opening of the component receptacle; removing the depressing force from the electrical component; and moving the electrical component in a direction opposite the depressing force with a post secured to the wall of the housing member, so as to bring the barb in contact with a locking tab in the locking opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: integrally forming the post and the wall of the housing member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: deflecting a wall of the housing member while depressing the electrical component in the component receptacle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: biasing the post against the electrical component when the force is removed from the electrical component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the electrical component is one of a relay, a contactor, and a fuse.