Tolerance accommodating mounting pad for junction box cover

Abstract

A tolerance-accommodating, flexible mounting pad formed integrally in the base point mounting portion of a bussed electrical center cover. The base point of the bussed electrical center is adapted to be secured directly to a vehicle mounting surface, the location of which may vary due to dimensional variations within an expected tolerance range. The cover is typically secured by one or two fixed mounting points at an upper portion thereof to mounting points in the vehicle, and the tolerance-accommodating mounting pad is then used to secure the base point of the cover directly to the final vehicle mounting surface. If a gap exists between the base point and the vehicle mounting surface due to variations within the expected tolerance of the vehicle mounting surface, a fastener inserted through the mounting pad and engaging the mounting surface is operable to flex the normally recessed mounting pad outwardly into direct, tensioned contact with the vehicle mounting surface. In a preferred form, the pad is formed integrally from an inwardly-bowed band of the cover wall material, defined by two slots in the wall material. In a most preferred form the band has a multi-planar configuration with flex arms and mounting pad portions defined by bend lines.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.