GB2356012A - Clip for attaching accessory, e.g. a cover panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A clip or latch 118, mountable on a handle mounting on a housing 100 for engaging an accessory, comprises a base portion 148 with a hole 152 for receiving a mounting bolt, an upstanding portion 150, preferably at right angle to the base portion with an aperture 154 through which a handle may pass and a formation facing back towards the base portion 148 which may engage a complementary formation on the accessory. Preferably the clip is used on portable electrical equipment for attaching a cover panel. Additionally the clip may have a manually operable lever 120, incorporate a spring action to provide a snap-fit and be made of plastic.

Description

2356012 PORTABLE EQUIPMENT HOUSING WITH ACCESSORY MOUNTING, METHOD OF

ADDING AN ACCESSORY MOUNTING I TO PORTABLE EQUIPMENT HOUSING The invention relates to portable equipment housings with carrying handles mounted thereon. The invention further relates to an accessory mounting latch for use in such equipment. Then invention has been made in particular for application to professional electronic test equipment, where the housing and equipment are integrated, but may also be applied where 10 the housing is separable from the equipment in use. The invention may also be applied to a variety of other types of equipment, including machines and loose articles required for professional, domestic and hobby uses. Portable electronic test equipment is known in which a strap handle for 15 carrying the equipment is mounted to the chassis forming part of the housing. The conventional strap handle may be in the form of a fle:dble strip of metal and/or plastic, slidably retained against the housing at each end so as to bow out in use, and to he flat against the housing or within a recess when not in use. A similar function is achieved by known handles 20 where a more rigid handle is connected by links of metal ot the like, pivotably retained within the handle and the mounting, and slidable within one or both parts, again to allow the handle to he flat when not in use. There is often a desire to mount accessories to equipment housings. The 25 term "accessory" as used herein is used broadly to refer to any part separate from the main body of the housing and the equipment, which may or may not need to be removable in general use. A particular form of accessory of concern to the present inventors is an impact cover to protect delicate parts of the equipment located around the handle. Various soft covers may be 30 available, and/or impact resistant covers to protect the equipment from knocks, and also from ingress of dirt, water and so on. In many applications, the cover will be removed and replaced every time the equipment is used, for example to access displays, controls or connectors. In other cases, the cover may be removed only infrequently.

2 The present inventors have sought to incorporate a mounting for an impact cover into an existing design of equipment housing, in a low-cost manner, and in a manner which will permit rapid removal and re-mounting of the accessory during use.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a portable equipment housing including a main housing body with a carrying handle mounted thereon by fixing to at least one handle mount provided on the main body, the housing further comprising an accessory part and means for retaining the accessory part against the housing main body, the retaining means comprising at least one additional part including a base portion which is retained between the handle and the handle mount by the mounting of the handle to the main body, and an upstanding portion which includes a formation for engaging a complementary formation on the accessory part, whereby the accessory part is removable and replaceable in use.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a mounting part having the features of the additional part for use in the first aspect of the invention as set forth above.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of mounting an accessory part to an existing portable equipment housing, the method comprising:

detaching a carrying handle from at least one mounting point on a main body of the housing; adding an additional part between the handle and the mounting point and then re-fixing the handle to said mounting point, said additional part including a base portion which is retained between the handle and the handle mount and an upstanding portion which includes a formation for engaging a complementary formation on the accessory part; and adding said accessory part such that it is retained by engagement of said formations and is removable and replaceable in use.

The handle may be mounted to the main body at two ends, said additional part being provided at one end only, or alternatively at both ends. The 3 upstanding portion of the additional part may be provided with an aperture through which the handle passes.

The upstanding portion of the additional part may incorporate a spring action so that said formations may engage one another by a snap fit action, or such spring action may be provided in the accessory part. The additional part may be provided with a manually operable lever portion for disengaging the formations to release the accessory, or such means may be provided in the accessory part.

The formation on the upstanding portion of the additional part may take the form of a projecting lip or tongue, or may alternatively be formed by a recess or aperture in the additional part.

In one embodiment, the lever portion is further arranged such that movement of the handle under the weight of the equipment urges the formations further into engagement, by contact with a reverse side of said lever portion.

In one embodiment, the additional part comprises in a single piece:

0. said base portion in the form of a generally flat plate including an aperture to receive part of the handle mounting;.

said upstanding portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and including an aperture for passage of part of the handle itself; said formation providing an engaging surface facing back towards said plate; and said lever portion projecting from said upstanding portion at an angle closer to that of the base portion.

The additional part may comprise a plastics moulding. Alternatively, it may be pressed from sprung metal.

The accessory part may be a protective cover. The accessory part may alternatively be a separate functional part of the equipment, a container for 4 such separate functional parts or consumables, or it may combine a plurality of these functions.

The main body of the housing may be integral with the equipment itself, or it may be a separate carrying case for the equipment. The equipment may comprise portable electronic test apparatus, such as for telecommunications engineers.

From the above introduction, and from the description of a detailed embodiment which follows, the reader will appreciate that the invention provides a simple, low-cost accessory mounting mechanism, and particularly one which can be added to existing products and product designs with little or no modification of other parts.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 illustrates an equipment housing according to the invention, showing the protective cover retainer, with cover removed; Fig 2 shows the same enclosure with the protective cover in place; Fig 3A shows in broken down form the strap handle assembly,with cover retainer; Fig 3B is an enlarged view of the cover retainer; Figs 4A and 4B show the protective cover from above and below respectively; Fig 5A is a cutaway detail showing the interaction of the cover and cover retainer; and Fig 5B is a cross sectional detail of the cover retainer and handle assembly, with the cover removed.

Referring to Fig 1, there is shown a piece of portable electronic test equipment, within the rugged housing 100. The equipment and housing are in this example constructed on a metal chassis in conventional manner, with generally metal sides and moulded plastic in and detail portions completing the assembly 104. At one end of the housing, a front panel 102 is provided, including a display, and various controls. On the side panel, which will be upper most when the instrument is being carried, there are provided various input and output connectors 106, accessible through an aperture in a moulded housing part 108 the connectors 106 are carried on and project from a side face 110 of the chassis, which also carries mountings for a strap handle 112 of conventional, flexible type to retractable metal loops 114 and 116 are also provided, for attachment of a shoulder strap. Instruments having this general configuration are already on the market. To protect against the ingress of dirt and water, during storage and carrying from one place of work to another, a soft cover is provided, together with a rigid cover to protect the front panel 102. On the other hand, there is also a desire for a harder cover to protect the connectors 106 and other components from knocks, and water and dirt ingress, during transportation using the carry handle 112.

To this end, the novel housing is provided with a cover latch 118, with operating lever 120, to be described in more detail below.

Fig 2 shows the equipment with protective cover 122 attached. The flexible handle 112 and the strap loops 114, 116 are accessible via apertures in the cover, while the connectors 106 and other delicate components are shielded by the cover. The cover latch 118 engages over the face of the cover at one end of the handle 112, and can be disengaged by depressing level 120, when required.

Fig 3A shows in exploded detail the assembly of the strap handle 112 and cover latch and lever 118, 120. Fig 3B shows the cover latch 118 and lever in enlarged detail. All parts shown in Fig 3A are entirely conventional, while the cover latch and lever part is newly designed to exploit the mounting of the handle, as a means also of securing the protective cover.

The strap handle assembly comprises handle 112 itself, comprising a flexible metal band encased in a rubber handle for comfort. At each end of the band, the metal strip protrudes from the rubber covering to form mounting tongues 124 and 126. Each tongue 124/126 has an elongate aperture 128/130 formed therein, for mounting the handle to the enclosure.

End covers 132/134 moulded of plastic receive the tongues 124/126 6 slidably, handle retainers 136 and 138 are passed through the slots 128/130 in the mounting tongues of the handles, and bolts 140/142 through the retainers 136/138 and the apertures 128/130, to fasten the strap handle to appropriate mounting points on the chassis (see 144 in Fig 5 described below). End Caps 132/134 are formed so as to slide and snap fit on to a narrower portion of the retainer 136/138, while holes 133/135 allow for screwdriver access to the bolts 140/142 assembly. The heads of the bolts 140/142 are larger than the holes 145/147, so that the entire assembly of figures 3A can be held together by the end-caps prior to being fixed to the main body of the equipment. The elongation of the apertures 128/130 allows the mounting lugs 124/126 to slide between an operative position and a retractable position, as the handle flexes in use.

Referring to the cover latch part, generally indicated 146 and shown in more detail in Fig 3B, this comprises a single plastics moulding of effectively said shapes profile, including a flat base portion 148, and upstanding portion, and lever portion 120, mentioned already. The material and shape of this part are selected to allow many thousand flexing operations in the lifetime of the instrument and cover, materials such as glass fined nylon being suitable, for example.

Base portion 148 of cover latch part 146 comprises a flat and slightly tapering plate, with an aperture 152 for passage of the handle retainer 138 and mounting bolt 142. Moreover, aperture 152 is sized to permit some sliding of the base plate in use.

Upstanding portion 150 of the cover latch part includes an aperture 154 sized to permit the strap handle 112 to pass through it and into the end cap 134, so as to permit the sliding of the mounting tongue 126 between the operative and retracted positions mentioned above. At the top of the upstanding portion 150, a bevelled lip provides the cover latch 118 itself. In this example, the latch 118 projects back towards the end cap 134, while the lever portion 120 projects parallel to the base portion 148, but in the direction of the main body of the strap handle 112.

7 Figs 4A and 4B show the form of the protective cover 122, which is moulded for example in a ABS/Polycarbonate blend. Main cover portions 156, 158 are formed either side of the central aperture 160, which is designed to allow access to the strap handle 112. Aperture 162 at one end of the cover allows access to a strap loop 114, while cutaway 164 allows access to the strap loop 116. Walls 166 and 168 depend from the main cover portions 156, 158 and support the cover against the chassis panel 110 (Fig 1). Hook portions 170 are formed to engage under edges in the housing at 108 (Fig 1) to secure the first end of the protective cover against the enclosure body.

An edge 172 of the handle aperture 160 is formed at the second end of the cover 122, to engage under a cover latch 188, to complete the securing of the cover.

Figs 5A and 5B show in more detail the interaction between cover latch 118 and cover latch part 146 more generally, and edge 172 of the cover. A mounting bracket 144 for the strap handle 122 and strap loop 116 is shown, attached to chassis face plate 110 in conventional manner. A plastics housing part 174 is shown cutaway, and the impact cover 122 is also shown cutaway, for clarity other parts have the same reference signs as used in the earlier figs.

As can be seen clearly in Fig 5, edge 172 of the handle aperture 160 in impact cover 122 is engaged under cover latch 118, holding the cover 122 securely in place. Edge 172 and latch 118 are provided with bevels, which allow the cover to be latched via a simple push fit, after engaging the hook formations 170 at the other end of the cover into place, necessary movement between these parts is provided by natural resilience of the cover part 146 material, so that the upper end of the upstanding portion 150 bends away from the end cap 134 as the bevels engage and the move latch 118 and edge 172 pass one another. Lever portion 120 can be depressed in order to bend the upstand 150 and latch 118 out of engagement with the cover edge 172, to release the cover ready for use of the connectors 106. It will be appreciated that the cover can be removed and refitted within seconds. It will also be appreciated that the cover latch part 146 can be fitted beneath the strap mounting of existing equipment in a matter of minutes, and 8 similarly can be incorporated in existing equipment designs without modification of the chassis parts, or the handle and its mounting brackets. A kit comprising the latch part and the cover or like accessory can be provided to customers for easy fitting to their existing equipment. Lever 120 maybe designed to be engaged by handle strap 112 as the latter bows up during lifting of the apparatus of the handle, an additional locking force between latch 118 and edge 172 of the cover.

In other applications, rapid removal of the cover or other accessory may not be a requirement, so that the lever portion 120 might be omitted. Needless to say, the configurations of the latch portion 118 and base portion 148 maybe envisage, for example where the latch 118 extends towards the body of the strap handle, and/or where the upstand is located at the very end of the handle assembly, without the handle passing through it.

Various other applications of the cover latch as generally described herein will be apparent to the skilled reader, including applications outside the field of electronic test equipment. Aside from protective covers, the same form of latch may be used to attach other accessories to an equipment housing or a general purpose carrying case such accessories including for example housings for small accessories and consumable parts, to be used in conjunction with the large apparatus.

The skilled reader will appreciate that these and the other modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, and it win be understood that the specific embodiments described are in no way limiting on the scope of protection.

9

Claims (1)

1. A portable equipment housing including a main housing body with a carrying handle mounted thereon by fudng to at least one handle mount provided on the main body, the housing further comprising an accessory part and means for retaining the accessory part against the housing main body, the retaining means comprising at least one additional part including a base portion which is retained between the handle and the handle mount when the handle was mounted to the main body, and an upstanding portion which includes a formation for engaging a complementary formation on the accessory part, whereby the accessory part.is removable and replaceable in use.

2. A housing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the handle is mounted to the main body at two ends, said additional part being provided at one end only.

3. A housing as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the upstanding portion of the additional part is provided with an aperture through which the handle passes.

4. A housing as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the upstanding portion of the additional part incorporates a spring action so that said formations may engage one another by a snap fit action.

15. A housing as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the accessory part incorporates a spring action so that said formations may engage one another by a snap fit action.

3 A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of 6.

said additional part and said accessory part is provided with a manually operable lever portion for disengaging the formations to release the accessory.

7. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said lever portion is further arranged such that movement of the handle under the weight of the equipment urges the formations further into engagement, by contact with a reverse side of said lever portion.

8. A housing as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the additional part compris;es in a single piece:

- said base por-tion in the form of a generally flat plate including an aperture to receive part of the handle mounting; - said upstanding portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and including an aperture for passage of part of the handle itself-, - said formation providing an engaging surface facing back towards said plate; and - said lever portion projecting from said upstanding portion at an angle closer to that of the base portion.

9. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the formation on the upstanding portion of the additional part takes the form of a projecting hp or tongue.

10. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the additional part comprises a plastics moulding.

11. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the accessory part is a protective cover.

12. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the main body of the housing is integral with the equipment itself.

13. A housing as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the equipment comprises portable electronic test apparatus. 14. A mounting part for use as the additional part for use in the production of a housing as claimed in any of claims I to 13, comprising:

I I - a base portion in the form of a generally flat plate including an aperture to receive part of a handle mounting; - a upstanding portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and including an aperture for passage of part of a handle; - a formation providing an engaging surface facing back towards said plate, for engaging a complementary formation on an accessory part to be attached to the housing.

15. A mounting part as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a lever portion projecting from said upstanding portion at an angle closer to that of the base portion, for flexing the part so as to disengage the formation from the complementary formation on said accessory part, when in use.

16. A method of mounting an accessory part to an existing portable equipment housing, the method comprising:

- detaching a carrying handle from at least one mounting point on a main body of the housing; - adding an additional part between the handle and the mounting point and then re-fixing the handle to said mounting point, said additional part including a base portion which is retained between the handle and the handle mount and an upstanding portion which includes a formation for engaging a complementary formation on the accessory part; and adding said accessory part such that it is retained by engagement of said formations and is removable and replaceable in use.

17. A method as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the handle is mounted to the main body at two ends, said additional part being provided at one end only.

18. A method as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 wherein the upstanding portion of the additional part is provided with an aperture through which the handle is passed prior to re-fixing the handle to said mounting point.

12 19. A method as claimed in Claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein the upstanding portion of the additional part incorporates a spring action so that said formations may engage one another by a snap fit action.

20. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19 wherein the accessory part incorporates a spring action so that said formations may engage one another by a snap fit action.

21. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 20 wherein at least one of said additional part and said accessory part is provided with a manually operable lever portion for disengaging the formations to release the accessory.

22. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 21 wherein said lever portion is further arranged such that movement of the handle in use under the weight of the equipment urges the formations further into engagement, by contact with a reverse side of said lever portion.

23. A method as claimed in Claim 21 or 22 wherein the additional part comprises in a single piece:

said base portion in the form of a generaliy flat plate including an aperture to receive part of the handle mounting; said upstanding portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and including an aperture for passage of part of the handle itself-, - said formation providing an engaging surface facing back towards said plate; and - said lever portion projecting from said upstanding portion at an angle closer to that of the base portion.

24. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 23 wherein the formation on the upstanding portion of the additional part takes the form of a projecting lip, or tongue. 25. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 24 wherein the additional 35 part comprises a plastics moulding.

26. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 25 wherein the accessory part is a protective cover.

27. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 26 wherein the main 5 body of the housing is integral with the equipment itself.

28. A method as claimed in Claim 27 wherein the equipment comprises portable electronic test apparatus.