Automobile instrument panel harness-connecting construction

Abstract

A pair of electric connection boxes are mounted respectively on a large-size instrument panel and a body panel in an automobile and have respective collective-connecting connector portions. One or both of the electric connection boxes is movably supported through resilient support members (for example 27) such as rubber pieces or springs within an outer frame which is fixedly mounted on the associated panel so as to be self-aligning when the boxes are joined. A bolt (for example 58) is used to fix the connector portions (for example 33, 45) together and also to secure the instrument panel (for example 10) to the body panel (for example 14). In another embodiment, (FIGS. 5-7) an insulating plate (for example 123) having bus bars (for example 122) is resiliently supported within a casing formed by housing parts (for example 120, 121) which are fixed to an instrument panel (for example 110). Tabs (for example 122a) extend from the bus bars for mating with contacts in an opposed connection box (for example 115) mounted to a body panel (for example 114). A connection box (for example 125), a fuse and relay box (for example 126) and a wiring harness connector (for example 127) extend from the insulating plate (for example 123).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.