GB2179500A

GB2179500A - Housing for electrical components

Info

Publication number: GB2179500A
Application number: GB08520867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Charles Joseph Greest
Original assignee: STROMBERG GREEST Ltd
Current assignee: STROMBERG GREEST Ltd
Priority date: 1985-08-20
Filing date: 1985-08-20
Publication date: 1987-03-04
Also published as: GB2179500B; GB8520867D0

Abstract

A housing for electrical components comprises a base portion 10 and a cover portion 11. The portions are hingedly connected together in a manner which permits the portions to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the hinge. At least one of said portions 10 and 11 is provided along an edge which is transverse to its adjacent hinged edge with a flange 26 which in the closed position of the housing overlies the adjacent edge of the other portion so that relative opening of the two portions can only be effected by first sliding said portions relative to each other until said flange 26 is clear of said adjacent edge of the other portion. The free edges of said base portion and cover portion are shaped to provide complementary releasable interlocking formations 29 and 30 which on interengagement provide a snap- action fastening for the housing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Housing for electrical components This invention relates to a housing for electrical components. One particular application for which the invention can be used comprises a housing or slot which contains a so-called masthead amplifier which in use will be mounted on the supporting mast of an aerial for the purpose of amplifying signals received by the aerial. In such an application it is to be understood that it will be necessary to make electrical connections extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior thereof and therefore it must be possible easily to gain access to components disposed inside the housing. On the other hand, the housing, when closed, must be secure and weatherproof.The present invention has as one of its objects the provision of an improved form of housing which will meet both of these requirements but which will nevertheless be economical to manufacture. It is however to be understood that a housing constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used in applications other than the one referred to above.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a housing for electrical components which comprises a base portion and a cover portion which are hingedly connected together, the hinge connection being such as to permit said two portions to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the hinge, the free edges of said base portion and cover portion being shaped to provide complementary releasable interlocking formations which on interengagement provide a snap-action fastening in the housing, at least one of said portions being provided, along an edge which is transverse to its adjacent hinged edge, with a flange which, in the closed position of the housing, will overlie the adjacent edge of the other portion, opening of the housing then being effected by sliding the two portions relative to each other until said flange is clear of said adjacent edge of the other portion, whereafter the two portions can be pivoted relative to each other on said hinge axis to open the housing.

Conveniently, said two portions are each formed as a moulding in a synthetic resin material.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing (when in its open position) constructed in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing seen in Fig. 1 but when it is in a closed position in which it is supported on a co-acting bracket.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown in Fig. 1 a housing for containing electrical components. As previously mentioned one particular application in which the housing can be used is to support a masthead amplifier which in use will be mounted on the supporting mast of an aerial installation. The housing shown in the drawing comprises a base portion 10 and a cover portion 11, both of said portions being formed as a moulding in a synthetic resin material. The base portion 10 has a back 12 which is integrally connected along two opposite sides by walls 13 and 14. The upper and lower ends of said base portion 10 are open but a partition 15 extends across the base portion intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and between said walls 13 and 14.Said back 12 is also shaped to provide an inwardly extending projection 16 which forms on its exterior a recess 17 having along its sides a pair of opposed grooves 18 and 19 which are adapted in use to receive the outwardly projecting lower end 20 of a bracket plate 21 on which the housing can be hung, said recess 17 having a closed upper end 22 which is engaged by the upper edge of said projection 20.

The cover portion 11 is moulded to form a front 23, a pair of integral side walls 24 and 25 and a flange 26 which extends across the upper end of said cover portion between said walls 24 and 25. Furthermore the outer or free edge of the wall 25 is moulded to a generally hook-shaped configuration in crosssection as is indicated by reference numeral 27 and said edge extends through a slot formed in the base portion 10 so as to engage with, as shown, a vertically extending portion 28 of the base portion. The edge 27 and said portion 28 thus together form a hinge about which said base portion and cover portion can pivot between a relatively open position as seen in Fig. 1 and a relatively closed position as seen in Fig. 2. Moreover the hinge is so arranged that the two aforesaid portions can slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the hinge axis.

Furthermore the wall 14 of the base portion 10 is formed with an undercut portion 29 which can be engaged with a corresponding shoulder 30 formed on the interior surface of the wall 24 of the cover portion 11 and said portions are sufficiently resilient as to permit said shoulder 30 and undercut portion 29 to be interengaged by means of a snap action when the two portions are in their relatively closed position as shown in Fig. 2.In such closed position the flange 26 of the cover portion 11 overlies the exterior surface of the back 12 of the base portion 10 and this makes for a weatherproof compartment within the housing, said housing being formed by the back 12 of the base portion 10, the front 23 of the cover portion 11, the partition 15, and the top (indicated by reference numeral 31) of the cover portion 11 which, is formed integrally with said front 23, walls 24 and 25, and flange 26.

When it is desired to open the housing in order to gain access to its interior the cover portion 11 is first lifted slightly relative to the base portion 10 by sliding it upwardly on its hinge until the flange 26 is clear of the upper edge of the back 12 of the base portion 10.

The cover portion 11 can then be opened by springing the aforesaid shoulder 30 over the undercut portion 29 and the housing will then assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will therefore be understood that no screws or other like fastening means are employed to fasten the housing which can be opened and closed in a relatively simple manner as explained above and moreover whilst in the closed position the housing will offer protection against the weather for components housed therein.

Claims

1. A housing for electrical components which comprises a base portion and a cover portion which are hingedly connected together, the hinge connection being such as to permit said two portions to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the hinge, the free edges of said base portion and cover portion being shaped to provide complementary releasable interlocking formations which on interengagement provide a snap-action fastening in the housing, at least one of said portions being provided, along an edge which is transverse to its adjacent hinged edge, with a flange which, in the closed position of the housing, will overlie the adjacent edge of the other portion, opening of the housing then being effected by sliding the two portions relative to each other until said flange is clear of said adjacent edge of the other portion, whereafter the two portions can be pivoted relative to each other on said hinge axis to open the housing.

2. A housing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said two portions are each formed as a moulding in a synthetic resin material.

3. A housing as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said base portion is formed on its exterior with a recess which is adapted in use to receive a corresponding projection forming part of a support on which the housing can be mounted.

4. A housing for electrical components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.