GB2187901A

GB2187901A - Location clip for electrical accessories

Info

Publication number: GB2187901A
Application number: GB08610357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond John Hyndman; Anatoly Veniamin Raikhel
Original assignee: NILSEN OLIVER J
Current assignee: NILSEN OLIVER J
Priority date: 1986-03-13
Filing date: 1986-04-28
Publication date: 1987-09-16
Also published as: GB8610357D0; AU5640686A

Abstract

A locating clip (10) for a housing for an electrical accessory, such as a fuse includes a main body portion (11) and one or more locating members (12) which extend outwardly from one side thereof. The locating members (12) are so formed and adapted, that in use they engage with one or more locating holes or slots which are provided in, and pass through, a base of said electrical accessory housing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Location clip for electrical accessories This invention relates to a mounting clip and an arrangement for use with a housing for use with an electrical accessories, such as for example fuses or the like.

Up until this time, it has been known to provide housings for mounting electrical accessories such as fuses, which housings have in many cases required a mounting to a particular wail or structure, or for example a mounting rail. For example many electrical accessories are attached and mounted to "Din-Rail" rails, which allow for a plurality of accessories to be connected and mounted in juxtaposition one with the other.

Many accessories and housings therefore are connected to surfaces such as by screwing, clipping and the like, but often this requires complicated and involved structures, which are expensive to manufacture, sometimes difficult to use, and not always straightforward and efficient.

It is an object of this invention to go at least some way towards overcoming or minimising these problems, and at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a locating clip for a housing for an electrical accessory, including a main body portion and one or more locating members extending outwardly from one side thereof, said one or more locating members being so formed and adapted in use such as to engage with one or more locating holes or slots provided in and passing through a base of said housing.

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a combination of a housing for an electrical accessory and a locating clip, said housing being provided with one or more holes or slots in a base thereof and passing therethrough; said locating clip including a main body portion with one or more locating members extending outwardly from one side thereof; said one or more locating members being so formed and adapted in use to engage within said one or more holes or slots in the base of said housing, so as to connect said housing and locating clip one to the other.

This invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1: is a partially cut-away side view of a housing according to one form of the present invention; Figure 2: is a side view of a locating clip according to the present invention, engaged with a mounting rail for electrical accessories; Figure 3: is a view of a locating clip according to one form of the invention; and Figure 4: is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

The invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the mounting of an electrical accessory housing to a locating clip.

It should be appreciated that while reference is made in the specification and claims to mounting a housing to a mounting rail (such as a Din-Rail), by means of a locating clip, this is by way of example only. It is envisaged that the locating clip of the present invention can have means associated therewith which enable itto be connected or mounted directly to some other forms of attachment, or alternatively some other surface, wall or the like. In one form of the invention, the locating clip of the present invention is used to attach or connect a housing to a mounting rail such as a Din-Rail.

Thus, referring firstly to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a locating clip 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. This is preferably formed of an appropriate moulded material such as plastics, polycarbonate and the like. Other materials can however be used to advantage.

The locating clip 10 has a main and substantially planar body portion 11, which is provided inwardly of each end thereof, with outwardly extending locating arms 12 each arm being substantially parallel to the other, and extending outwardly for approximately the same distance. At or adjacent the distal end of each locating arm an enlarged head portion 14 is provided. The advantage of this will be described hereinafter.

Inwardly of each end of the main body portion 11, but adjacent each end thereof, an open portion 30 is provided. At least one end of the locating clip 11 is formed so that the end 32 is curved inwardly or substantially concave inwardly therefrom, the material of the locating clip, such as for example flexible or semi flexible plastics material, imparting a degree of resilience thereto. The advantage of this in attaching the clip to a Din-Rail or some other mounting rail, will be appreciated from the foregoing description.

If desired, both ends of the locating clip 10 can be so formed.

At or adjacent each end of the body portion of the locating clip 10, there is provided an inwardly extending locating lug 16, the locating lug 16 being formed and provided so that it extends inwardly from but spaced apart from and below, the main body portion 11 of the clip 10.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that in one form of the invention, a lower base portion of a housing 1 is formed with a recess 2, holes or slots 5 being provided in the recess 2. The holes or slots 5 are preferably longitudinally spaced apart one from the other.

The locating clip 10 is preferably so formed and profiled, and is of such a dimension, that the main body portion 11 can be located snugly within the recessed portion 2 in the base of the housing 1. The locating arms 12 will be caused to pass through the holes or slots 5 in and through the base of the housing 1 and the enlarged head portions 14 thereof will engage over sides of the holes or slots 5 to locate the locating clip 10 in position.

In one form of the invention, and as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, a raised portion or rib 7 is provided on at least one side of each hole or slot 5, on an inner surface of the housing 1, so that the enlarged head portions 14 will engage therewith to assist in securely locating the locating arms 12 within the holes or slots 5 and thus the locating clip 10 in position relative to the housing 1.

In a preferred form of the invention and with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the locating clip 10 when placed in position within the recess 2 in the base of the housing 1, is so located that the lower surfaces of the lugs 16a are substantially flush with a lower base surface 3a of the housing 1. This is by way of example only however.

Although the clip is described, by way of example only, as having two spaced apart locating arms 14. If desired other forms of locating means can be provided. For example there could be one or a plurality of locating members, such as elongate arms or lugs, which can pass through one or more holes or slots in the base of the housing. It is however important that one or more holes or slots pass through the base in the housing, so that one or more locating members ofthe locating clip can pass therethrough, and engage with the base so as to securely locate the locating clip in position.

Although the locating clip is described as being housed and located within a recess 2 in the base of the housing 1, whilst this is preferred, as it allows the locating clip 10 to be snugly housed in an efficient and straightforward manner, it is not essential to the performance of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment, no recess is provided in the base of the housing 1, the one or more holes or slots being provided in the lower or base surface of the housing. This has the consequence that the one or more locating means associated with the locating clip pass through the one or more holes or slots in the lower base of the housing, to engage the locating clip 10 and housing 1 one with the other. This causes the locating clip 10 to extend outwardly from below the base of the housing, but still allows the locating clip 10 to be then attached to a desired surface, orto be attached to a mounting rail 40, (such as for example a Din Rail) and the like in an efficient manner.

In one preferred form of the present invention, the locating clip 10 is provided with the inwardly extending lugs 16 on the lower side thereof, which allow for the locating clip to engage with side arms or wings 42 of a mounting rail 40, such as a Din-Rail, (as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings). Thus, the lugs 16 accommodate the sides or wings 42 of the mounting rail, and allow the locating clip 10 and mounting rail 40 to be securely engaged one with the other.

As referred to hereinbefore, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, at least one end 32 of the locating clip 10 can be formed so as to be curved inwardly or substantially concave in formation, such that the curved or concave end portion 32 will engage with a side edge of the respective side or wing 42 of the mounting rail 40, to thus assist in securely locating the clip 10 in position relative to a mounting rail such as a Din Rail 40.

It will be appreciated from Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, that an inner surface of the inwardly extending concave end of the locating clip may be provided with one or more transverse teeth or grooves which allow for an edge portion of a side or wing 42 of a mounting rail 40 to be engaged therewith, to assist in securely locating the members relative one to the other.

It should be appreciated that the invention has been described by way of example only, and that improvements or modifications may be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

Reference is hereby directed to our copending UK Application of even date No. 8610356 which discloses and claims related subject matter and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein.

Claims

1. A locating clip for a housing for an electrical accessory, including a main body portion and one or more locating members extending outwardly from one side thereof, said one or more locating members being so formed and adapted as to engage in use with one or more locating holes or slots provided in and passing through a base of said housing.

2. A locating clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating members inciude at least two longitudinally spaced apart, elongate locating arms, the locating arms extending outwardly from one side of the main body portion and being formed with means adjacent outer ends thereof, to permit their engagement with said one or more locating holes or slots in the base of said housing.

3. A locating clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locating arms are provided with an enlarged head portion at or adjacent the distal ends thereof.

4. A locating clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein ends of said main body portion extend into downwardly and inwardly extending lug portions, said lug portions being substantially parallel to but spaced apart from and below said main body portion; said lug portions being adapted in use to engage with a mounting rail.

5. A locating clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting rail is a Din-Rail.

6. A locating clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one end surface of the main body portion is of a substantially concave formation extending inwardly of said end.

7. A locating clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and wherein an open recess is provided adjacent each end of the body portion, but spaced apart inwardly therefrom.

8. A locating clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, formed of an at least semi-flexible material.

9. A locating clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, formed of a plastics material.

10. A combination of a housing for an electrical accessory and a locating clip therefor; said housing being provided with one or more holes or slots in a base thereof and passing therethrough; said locating clip including a main body portion with one or more locating members extending outwardly from one side thereof; said one or more locating members being so formed and adapted to engage in use within said one or more holes or slots in the base of said housing, so as to connect said housing and locating clip one to the other.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base of said housing is provided with at least two longitudinally spaced apart slots extending therethrough.

12.Acombination as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said holes of slots are provided in a substantially medially located recess in the base of said housing.

13. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the locating clip includes at least two longitudinally spaced apart elongate locating arms, each locating arm being provided with an enlarged head portion at or adjacent a distal end thereof; the arrangement being such that in use said head portions and said arms pass into and through said holes or slots in the base of said housing, so as to engage the housing and locating clip one with the other.

14. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein at least one raised portion or rib is provided adjacent each hole or slot, on an inner surface of said housing, such that in use, the enlarged head portion of each arm engages with and over said raised portion or rib.

15. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein inwardly extending lugs are provided on a lower surface of said locating clip, said lugs being spaced apart from and below the main body portion of said clip; said lugs being adapted in use to engage with sides of a mounting rail so as to engage said housing and clip with and to said mounting rail.

16. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 te 15, wherein one or more ends of the body portion of the locating clip are provided with open recesses adjacent the ends thereof.

17. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17 wherein at least one end of said main body portion of said locating clip is formed so as to extend substantially concave inwardly of the end such as to assist in locating said clip over and relative to sides of a mounting rail.

18. A locating clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.