GB2142080A - Attachment construction for electric components - Google Patents
Attachment construction for electric components Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2142080A GB2142080A GB08415730A GB8415730A GB2142080A GB 2142080 A GB2142080 A GB 2142080A GB 08415730 A GB08415730 A GB 08415730A GB 8415730 A GB8415730 A GB 8415730A GB 2142080 A GB2142080 A GB 2142080A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- attachment
- locking members
- flexible locking
- electric component
- side walls
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 title abstract description 15
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229930182556 Polyacetal Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920006324 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
- F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
- F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
- F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
- F16B5/065—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
- F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
- F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
- F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
- F16B5/0657—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/02—Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
- H05K7/12—Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Mounting Components In General For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
A construction for attaching an electric component (1) in a hole (6) in an attachment panel (5), includes side walls (9 and 10) on opposite ends of a body (2) of the electric component (1) and locking projections (13 and 14) mounted on the side walls for being held against a surface of the attachment panel. A pair of diverging flexible locking members (11 and 12) extend between the side walls on opposite sides of the body (2) and are spaced from the locking projections (13 and 14), the flexible locking members (11 and 12) being curved outwardly away from each other into an arcuate configuration when viewed in plan, whereby the attachment panel (5) will be clamped between the locking projections (13 and 14) and the flexible locking members (11 and 12) when the electric component (1) is inserted in the attachment hole (6). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Construction for attachment for electric components
Background of the invention
The present invention relates to a construction for attaching the body of an electric component, such as a casing of a pushbutton switch or a guide member for a large key used on a keyboard, into an attachment hole in a panel.
Keyboards for word processors, microcomputers and the like typically have a plurality of pushbutton switches arranged in parallel rows. One conventional attachment construction for attaching such a pushbutton switch is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. The pushbutton switch 1 has a casing 2 from which a flange 3 serving as a locking projection projects. A flexible locking member 4 having a pair of diverging locking arms 4a is attached to a side surface of the casing 2. With the casing 2 fitted in an attachment hole 6 in a panel 5 shown in Figure 2, the panel 5 is gripped between the flange 3 and the locking arms 4a.
In such an attachment construction, when the casing 2 is inserted into the attachment hole 6, the locking arms 4a are pressed against an edge of the attachment hole 6 and flexed toward each other.
When the casing 2 is further depressed, tip ends of the locking arms 4a are locked by lower corners of the edge of the attachment hole 6 as the flange 3 is moved against an upper surface of the attachment panel 5. Thus, the attachment panel 5 is clamped between the flange 3 and the locking arms 4a. As a consequence, the casing 2 is securely fitted in place in the attachment hole 6. Designated at 7 is a key top of the pushbutton switch 1.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the flexible locking member 4 is made of a thin plate, and the locking arms 4a progressively narrow toward their proximal ends. Accordingly, the prior attachment construction has suffered a problem in that the locking arms 4a are liable to be broken attheirproximal ends.
Summary of the invention
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment construction for electric components which has flexible locking members designed against breakage.
According to the present invention, an attachment construction for attaching an electric component in a hole in an attachment panel includes side walls on opposite ends of the electric component, and locking projections mounted on the side walls for being held against a surface of the attachment panel. A pair of diverging flexible locking members extend between the side walls and are spaced from the locking projections, the flexible locking members being curved outwardly away from each other into an arcuate configuration when viewed in plan, whereby the attachment panel will be clamped between the locking projections and the flexible locking members when the electric component is inserted in the attachment hole. The flexible locking members are integrally formed with the side walls.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional attachment construction for a pushbutton switch;
Figure 2 is a view showing the pushbutton switch of Figure 1 fitted in an attachment hole in an attachment panel;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an attachment construction for an electric component according to the present invention;
Figures 4 through 6 are cross-sectional views showing the manner in which the electric component shown in Figure 3 is fitted into an attachment hole in an attachment panel.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an attachment construction according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a guide member for a large key shown in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a bottom view of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the guide member illustrated in Figure 7; and
Figure 11 is a lefthand side elevational view of of
Figure 10.
Description of the preferred embodiments
The present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 through 11. Identical or equivalent parts shown in Figures 3 through 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals in Figures 1 and 2, and will not be described in detail for
Figures 3 through 11.
As shown in Figure 3, a case 2 (body) of an electric component such as pushbutton switch 1 has a stem 8 projecting from an upper surface of the case 2. The case 2 is made of a material such as polyacetal which is highly wear-resistant against repetitively applied stresses.
The case 2 has on opposite side ends thereof side walls 9 and 10 projecting downwardly for insertion into an attachment hole 6 in an attachment panel 5.
Two flexible locking members 11 and 12 are disposed respectively on opposite ends of the case 2.
As shown in Figure 3, the flexible locking members 11 and 12 are bowed outwardly so that they are arcuate in shape when viewed in plan, and as can be seen from Figure 4, the flexible locking members 11 and 12 also are inclinded from the vertical so that they diverge outwardly from the lower to the upper portion of the case 2. The flexible locking members 11 and 12 have their opposite ends formed integrally with the side walls 9 and 10, and are positioned below locking projections 13 and 14 projecting from the upper end portion of the case 2. As illustrated, the locking projections 13 and 14 extend as plates over the side walls 9 and 10. When the case 2 is inserted in the attachment hole 6, the locking projections 13 and 14 are held against an upper surface of the attachment panel 5.The distance between the ends of each respective flexible locking members 11 and 12 and the distance between the lower edges of the central portions of the two flexible locking members 11 and 12 are sufficiently smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the attachment hole 6. The distance between portions above intermediate areas of the central portions of the two flexible locking members 11 and 12 is larger than the corresponding dimension of the attachment hole 6. Designated at P is a printed-circuit board.
Operation of the attachment construction thus arranged will now be described.
When the case 2 of the pushbutton switch 1 is initially inserted, as shown in Figure 5, into the attachment hole 6 from the position of Figure 4, the central portions of the flexible locking members 11 and 12 slide frictionally against edges of the attachment hole 6 and are caused to flex inwardly towards each other (toward the case 2). When the case 2 is further depressed to bring the locking projections 13 and 14 into abutment against the upper surface of the attachment panel 5, the upper edges of the flexible locking members 11 and 12 snap outwardly below the attachment panel 5, whereupon the flexible locking members 11 and 12 are curved outwardly under their own resiliency as shown in
Figure 6. The attachment panel 5 is now clamped between the flexible locking members 11 and 12 and the locking projections 13 and 14.
Since there is a gap between the opposite ends of each flexible locking members 11 and 12 and the edges of the attachment hole 6, a flat removing defice such as the tip of a screwdriver (not shown) may be inserted into the gap and moved toward the central portions of the flexible locking members 11 and 12 to flex the curved portions thereof toward each other, whereupon the pushbutton switch 1 can easily be removed from the attachment hole 6. In
Figures 4 and 6, the side walls 9 are shown partly broken away to illustrate how the flexible locking members 11 and 12 are flexed.
Figures 7 through 11 show an attachment construction according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly to the second embodiment, a body of an electric component comprises a guide member 15 for a large key of a keyboard. As shown, the guide member 15 comprises a flat plate 15a having a central guide cylinder 15b for guiding the stem of the large key. The attachment construction of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the preceding embodiment except that there is no portion corresponding to the case.
Therefore, identical or equivalent parts in the second embodiment are denoted by identical references characters used in the previous embodiment, and will not be described.
With the arrangement of the present invention, the flexible locking members are sufficiently resilient and have an increased mechanical strength at their attached ends. As a consequence, the flexible locking members are highly wear-resistant against respetitive stresses, and are reliably prevented from being easily broken.
Even where the distance between the attachment panel and the printed-circuit board is smaller than a predetermined distance, the body of the electric component can easily be placed in the attachment hole in the attachment panel since the flexible locking members are caused to flex inwardly. The body of the electric component can easily be moved out of the attachment hole by inserting a remover into the gap between the opposite ends of the flexible locking members and the edges of the attachment hole.
Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (6)
1. An attachment for attaching an electric component in a hole in an attachment panel, comprising side walls on opposite ends of a body of the electric component, locking projections projecting from said body for being held against a surface of the attachment panel, and a pair of diverging flexible locking members extending between said side walls on opposite sides of said body and spaced from said locking projections, said flexible locking members being curved outwardly away from said body into an arcuate configuration when viewed in plan, whereby the attachment panel will be clamped between said locking projections and said flexible locking members when the electric component is inserted in the attachment hole.
2. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein each of said flexible locking members has opposite ends integral with said side walls.
3. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a case of the electric component.
4. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a guide member composed of a flat plate and a guide cylinder mounted thereon.
5. An attachment according to claim 1, said flexible locking members being inclined from the vertical so that they diverge outwardly from the lower to the upper portions thereof.
6. An attachment substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures3to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9416283U JPS602882U (en) | 1983-06-21 | 1983-06-21 | Electrical component mounting structure |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8415730D0 GB8415730D0 (en) | 1984-07-25 |
| GB2142080A true GB2142080A (en) | 1985-01-09 |
| GB2142080B GB2142080B (en) | 1987-10-07 |
Family
ID=14102671
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08415730A Expired GB2142080B (en) | 1983-06-21 | 1984-06-20 | Attachment construction for electric components |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS602882U (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3422894A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2142080B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5238427A (en) * | 1992-09-01 | 1993-08-24 | Molex Incorporated | Panel mountable electrical connector |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1375777A (en) * | 1971-05-14 | 1974-11-27 | ||
| GB2076458A (en) * | 1980-04-18 | 1981-12-02 | Bahco Verktyg Ab | Improvements in display packs |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1890025U (en) * | 1961-10-25 | 1964-03-26 | Raymond Druckknopf Und Metallw | BASE CLAMP. |
| DE6600382U (en) * | 1966-11-26 | 1969-01-16 | Gebr Merten | ELECTRICAL DEVICE SUCH AS SWITCH OR SOCKET |
| DE7109657U (en) * | 1971-03-15 | 1972-08-17 | Bbc Ag | Attachment of an electrical device behind the wall opening of a housing or the like |
| US3706869A (en) * | 1972-03-24 | 1972-12-19 | Carling Electric Inc | Multiple wing switch case |
-
1983
- 1983-06-21 JP JP9416283U patent/JPS602882U/en active Pending
-
1984
- 1984-06-20 DE DE19843422894 patent/DE3422894A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1984-06-20 GB GB08415730A patent/GB2142080B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1375777A (en) * | 1971-05-14 | 1974-11-27 | ||
| GB2076458A (en) * | 1980-04-18 | 1981-12-02 | Bahco Verktyg Ab | Improvements in display packs |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5238427A (en) * | 1992-09-01 | 1993-08-24 | Molex Incorporated | Panel mountable electrical connector |
| USRE35344E (en) * | 1992-09-01 | 1996-10-01 | Molex Incorporated | Panel mountable electrical connector |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2142080B (en) | 1987-10-07 |
| GB8415730D0 (en) | 1984-07-25 |
| DE3422894A1 (en) | 1985-01-10 |
| JPS602882U (en) | 1985-01-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |