DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an electrical component assembly, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a modular component assembly.

BACKGROUND

The information in this section merely provides background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s) for the present disclosure.

Generally, electrical component assemblies such as a fuse or relay holder are provided in cavities as an integrated part of a frame where individual relays or fuses are mounted directly on the frame and hold with support of electrical terminals. The frame is usually encased in a cover housing to cover a topside and a bottom side, providing insulation and protection against water, dust, or other types of contamination.

There are various limitations with currently known fuse and relay holders. For instance, the currently known fuse and relay holders are designed and manufactured for specific fuse and relay types that renders such holders incompatible with different fuse types and configurations. Further, the fuses and relays may not be individually coupled and interchanged as per the requirement as the integration of the assembly is specific to the requirement. Also, as the fuses and relays are directly integrated with the electrical connections, the assembly as a whole lacks structural strength and is prone to deformation when exposed to external pressure or force. Furthermore, conventional electrical assemblies require external mounting brackets for coupling the electrical assembly on to a required location.

Therefore, in view of the above, it is desirable to have an electrical component assembly that overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned problems associated with existing art.

The drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques explained in the background section are just for exemplary purposes and the disclosure would never limit its scope only such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured above.

SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed herein is a modular component assembly. The modular component assembly includes a frame. The frame further includes a set of outer walls defining a mounting volume and a grid formed within the set of outer walls. The grid is adapted to divide the mounting volume into a plurality of cavities. Each cavity of plurality of cavities includes a locking provision to secure a component therein. Further, the frame includes a top cover adapted to cover a top side of the frame. The top cover is configured to be attached to the frame through a latching mechanism to enable the top cover to be revolved over the frame by the latching mechanism.
In another embodiment, a frame is disclosed. The frame includes a set of outer walls defining a mounting volume and a grid formed within the set of outer walls. The grid is adapted to divide the mounting volume into a plurality of cavities. Each cavity of plurality of cavities includes a locking provision to secure a component therein.

The as disclosed modular component assembly provides for flexibility in attaching a plurality of components. The present disclosure allows for modularity in attaching and detaching components individually and in combination as per requirement. Further, the provision of latching mechanism allows to cover the modular component assembly by the top cover and protect the attached components from dust and exposure.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a modular component assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the frame in the modular component assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3A illustrates an isometric view of a frame mounted with a plurality of components, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3B illustrates an exploded view of the frame and the plurality of components, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3C illustrates a top view of the frame with the plurality of components, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a top cover of the modular component assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 5 illustrates an exploded view of the top cover and the frame in the modular component assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more…” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a modular component assembly 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The modular component assembly 100 as disclosed in the present disclosure allows for accommodating a plurality of components 106a, 106b in different combinations while maintaining a consistent overall size and shape of the modular component assembly 100. Further, the modular component assembly 100 provides modularity in the engagement and disengagement of the plurality of components 106a, 106b with a frame 104. In an embodiment, the modular component assembly 100 may be employed in different kind of vehicles that require attachment of varying numbers of components such as fuses and relays. The modular component assembly 100 of the present disclosure provides flexibility in mounting the plurality of components 106a, 106b interchangeably between in the frame 104. The construction of the modular component assembly 100 is described in detail in subsequent paragraphs.

As shown in Figure 1, the modular component assembly 100 may include a top cover 102, the frame 104, the plurality of components 106a, 106b, and a bottom cover 108. The top cover 102 and the bottom cover 108 may be configured to cover an upper side and a bottom side of the frame 104 respectively. In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper side of the frame 104 may include components such as without any limitation: fuses, relays, fuse pullers and the bottom side of the frame 104 may include components such as without any limitation: terminals, wires and wire seals. Further, the top cover102 and the bottom cover 108 may be configured to couple with the frame 104 by a latching mechanism. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the top cover 102 and bottom cover 108 are coupled with the frame 104 without any limitation by a snap fit locking mechanism. Further, the modular component assembly 100 provides for a latching mechanism to latch a top cover 102 and a bottom cover 108 with the frame 104. The top cover 102 and the bottom cover 108 may be easily assembled and disassembled with the frame 104 by attaching and detaching with the latching mechanism.

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the frame 104 in the modular component assembly 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3A illustrates an isometric view of the frame 104 mounted with the plurality of components 106a, 106b, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3B illustrates an exploded view of the frame 104 and the plurality of components 106a, 106b, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3C illustrates a top view of the frame 104 with the plurality of components 106a, 106b, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity Figures 2, 3A, 3B, and 3C are described together.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the plurality of components 106a, 106b may include: a fuse module, a relay module, a mini fuse module, a mini relay module, a micro relay module, and a power relay module. The plurality of components 106a, 106b may be modular in nature and hence can be individually or in combination assembled or disassembled with the frame 104. The frame 104 may include a set of outer walls 201a, 201b defining a mounting volume. In an embodiment, the set of outer walls 201a, 201b may form the frame 104 in one of a square shape or a rectangle shape. Further, a grid may be formed within the set of outer walls 201a, 201b and adapted to divide the mounting volume into a plurality of cavities 202.

The grid may be formed by a plurality of interconnected walls 203a, 203b that runs along a longitudinal direction and a latitudinal direction inside the mounting volume of the frame 104. Further, each cavity 202 in the grid may be formed by a pair of opposing walls defining a space for accommodating at least one component. The plurality of cavities 202 in the frame 104 may be adapted to receive individually or in combination the plurality of components 106. The plurality of components 106a, 106b may be adapted to be interchangeably inserted in the plurality of cavities 202 in the frame 104. In an embodiment, the plurality of cavities 202 may be provided in a predetermined dimensions to match the dimension of the plurality of components 106a, 106b. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of cavities 202 may be formed in a square profile.

Further, the plurality of cavities 202 may include a locking provision to secure the at least one component 106 therein. The locking provision facilitates in independently attaching the at least one component 106a, 106b with the frame 104. The locking provision may include a plurality of guiding ribs 204 formed along an inner surface of the opposing walls in each of the cavities 202 in the frame 104. Further, a plurality of locking slots may be formed in an outer surface of each of the component 106a 106b. Each of the individual component 106a 106b may be assembled with the frame 104 by inserting the component 106 into one of the cavities 202 through a bottom side of the frame 104. During insertion, the plurality of locking slots in the at least one component 106a, 106b may be adapted to positively engage with the plurality of guiding ribs 204 in the cavity 302 and attach the at least one component 106a, 106b with the frame 104.

Each of the guiding ribs 204 may be formed with a stopping rib in an upper portion. The travel of the at least one component 106a, 106b in the cavity 202 may be stopped by the stopping rib from further movement. Furthermore, for removing the at least one component 106a, 106b from the cavity 202, the at least one component 106a, 106b may be pressed and pushed in a downward direction away from the frame 104. In an embodiment, the plurality of component 106a, 106b engages with the plurality of cavities 302 in the frame 104 by a snap fit mechanism.

Further, the frame 104 may be provided with a latching mechanism and a plurality of mounting brackets 204a, 204b. The structure and working of the latching mechanism are described in detail in subsequent paragraphs. The plurality of mounting brackets 204a, 204b may be integrated in the frame 104 and are part of the frame 104. The plurality of mounting brackets 204a, 204b may be provided on either side of the frame 104 for the purpose of mounting the modular component assembly 100 onto a predetermined location. Furthermore, a separate fuse puller cavity 208 may be provided in the frame 104 for housing a fuse puller 110. The fuse puller cavity 208 may form an integrated part of the frame 104 and adapted to receive the fuse puller 110 therein. The frame 104 functions as a structural member of the modular component assembly 100 providing rigidity to the modular component assembly 100.

Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of the top cover 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of the top cover 102 and the frame 104 in the modular component assembly 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, an inner surface of the top cover 102 may be provided with a plurality of spare fuse cavities 402. The spare fuse cavities 402 may be provided to accommodate additional fuses that may be required to be used in the modular component assembly 100. Further, the top cover 102 is configured to cover the upper side of the frame 104. The latching mechanism may include a latch cavity 504 provided in an outer surface of the frame 104 and a locking pin 502 provided in an outer surface of the top cover 102. The locking pin 502 in the top cover 102 may be adapted to couple with the latch cavity 504 of frame 104 by a snap fit mechanism. Furthermore, a hinge mechanism may be formed in the top cover 102 for the purpose of opening and closing the top cover 102. While locking the top cover 102, the latch cavity 504 may be aligned and assembled on the locking pin 502. The alignment of the latch cavity 504 on the locking pin 505 may provide for the hinge mechanism in the top cover 102. Moreover, the top cover 102 revolves upon previous engagement of the locking pin 502 with the latch cavity 504. The top cover 102 may lock at an opposite end with engagement of the locking pin 502 with the latch cavity 504.

The advantages of the modular component assembly 100 are now explained. The modular component assembly 100 provides flexibility in attaching a plurality of components 106a, 106b in different combinations. The plurality of components 106a, 106b may be individually or in required combination may be coupled as per the requirement. Additionally, the plurality of components 106a, 106b may also be interchangeably coupled in the frame 104 as per the requirement. Further, the frame 104 may improve structural rigidity of the modular component assembly 100. Also, the latching mechanism in the frame 104 may provide for easy assembly and disassembly of the top cover 102 and the bottom cover 108 in the modular component assembly 100. The external provision of the latching mechanism in the present disclosure frees up space inside the top cover 102 and the bottom cover 108 for accommodating spare fuse modules and wires respectively.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
,CLAIMS:
1. A modular component assembly (100) comprising:
a frame (104) comprising:
a set of outer walls (201a, 201b) defining a mounting volume; and
a grid formed within the set of outer walls (201a, 201b), and adapted to divide the mounting volume into a plurality of cavities (202), wherein each cavity of plurality of cavities (202) includes a locking provision to secure at least one component (106a, 106b) therein; and
a top cover (102) adapted to cover a top side of the frame (104), wherein the top cover (102) is configured to be attached to the frame (104) through a latching mechanism to enable the top cover (102) to be revolved over the frame (104) by the latching mechanism.

2. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cavities (202) in the frame (104) is adapted to receive individually or in combination the plurality of components (106a, 106b).

3. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grid is formed by a plurality of interconnected walls (203a, 203b) and each cavity (202) in the grid is formed by a pair of opposing walls defining a space for accommodating the at least one component (106a, 106b).

4. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking provision comprises:
a plurality of guiding ribs (304) formed along an inner surface of the opposing walls in each of the cavities (202) in the frame (104); and
a plurality of locking slots formed in an outer surface of each of the component (106a, 106b).

5. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one component (106a, 106b) is assembled with the frame (104) by inserting the at least one component (106a, 106b) into one of the cavities (202) through a bottom side of the frame (104),
wherein during insertion, the plurality of locking slots in the at least one component (106a, 106b) is adapted to positively engage with the plurality of guiding ribs (304) in the cavity (202) and attach the at least one component (106a, 106b) with the frame (104).

6. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of components (106a, 106b) engages with the plurality of cavities (202) in the frame (104) by a snap fit mechanism.

7. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, the frame (104) comprising:
a fuse puller cavity (308) adapted to receive a fuse puller;
a plurality of mounting brackets (204) adapted to attach the modular component assembly (100) onto a predetermined location.

8. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, the top cover (102) comprises:
an inner surface disposed with a plurality of spare fuse cavities (402), wherein the spare fuse cavities (402) is adapted to accommodate a plurality of fuse modules.

9. The modular component assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism comprises:
a latch cavity (504) formed in an outer surface of the frame (104);
a locking pin (502) formed in an outer surface of the top cover (102), wherein the locking pin (502) is adapted to engage with the latch cavity (202) to form a hinge mechanism such that the hinge mechanism facilitates in revolving the top cover (102) over the frame (104).

10. The frame comprising:
a set of outer walls (201a, 201b) defining a mounting volume; and
a grid formed within the set of outer walls (201a, 201b), and adapted to divide the mounting volume into a plurality of cavities (202), wherein each cavity of plurality of cavities (202) includes a locking provision to secure a component (106a, 106b) therein.