US3903458A - Modular illuminated indicator panel mounted housing with internal component circuit board - Google Patents

Modular illuminated indicator panel mounted housing with internal component circuit board Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3903458A
US3903458A US453335A US45333574A US3903458A US 3903458 A US3903458 A US 3903458A US 453335 A US453335 A US 453335A US 45333574 A US45333574 A US 45333574A US 3903458 A US3903458 A US 3903458A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
casing
panel
socket
unit
aforementioned
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US453335A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Daniel Arnoux
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Manufacture Francaise dAppareils Electriques de Mesures SAS MANUMESURE
Original Assignee
Manufacture Francaise dAppareils Electriques de Mesures SAS MANUMESURE
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Manufacture Francaise dAppareils Electriques de Mesures SAS MANUMESURE filed Critical Manufacture Francaise dAppareils Electriques de Mesures SAS MANUMESURE
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3903458A publication Critical patent/US3903458A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2111/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Definitions

  • the invention also relates to the assemblies formed by casings or this type which are connected together by means provided for this purpose.
  • modules of this type or measuring instrument casings in general in such a manner as to insert them into a panel which has been cut-out to the dimensions of the casing body.
  • the front face of the casing forms a projecting edge or flange which is applied against the front face of the panel whilst the fixing means are so designed as to be applied and braced against the rear face of the panel.
  • the module must therefore be inserted into the cut-out portion of the panel from the front side of this latter whilst the fixing means must then be adjusted on the rear side of the panel.
  • An operation of this kind usually requires the presence of two persons.
  • the means for fixing the module on the panel usually comprise screws for adjusting the force of application and are relatively cumbersome. Said means therefore call for a predetermined spacing between the instruments and this consequently entails the need to increase the surface area of the panels.
  • the aim of the present invention is to describe an indicating module which makes it possible to circumvent the disadvantages mentioned above as well as an assembly of said modules.
  • a substantially parallelepipedal body which is open both at the front and rear ends, said body being provided on the external faces of at least a number of its four walls with sliding assembly means which are complementary to each other on two opposite faces and being provided at the front end with a peripheral flange which is intended to be applied against the front face of the panel;
  • connection unit fixed in position by snap-action engagement in the aforementioned rear end
  • the module being distinguished by the fact that at least a number of the four walls of the casing are separated from each other in the vicinity of the aforementioned front end, and that the aforementioned flange has a wedge-shaped cross-section so as to permit the insertion of the casing into the aforementioned cutout portion of the panel from the rear side of said panel.
  • the fixing members comprise assembly means in cooperating relation with the aforementioned sliding assembly means of the casing and a tapered catch adapted to engage with a toothed rack which is rigidly fixed to the casing, said fixing members being applied against the rear face of the panel by means of two flexible fingers, the permissible distance of angular displacement of said fingers being longer than the distance between two successive teeth of the aforementioned rack.
  • the module can accordingly be fixed in position without any tools and without calling for any substantial space between two contiguous units.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a module in accordance with the invention and mounted on a panel;
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing the connection unit
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the module
  • FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view in perspective showing the lamp-holder assembly
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the front end of the module, the translucent end-cap having been removed;
  • FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing member, taken along line VIIIVIII of FIG. 9;
  • FIG. 9 is a plan view of the fixing member, taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a profile view of the fixing member, taken along line XX of FIG. 9.
  • the signal module comprises a casing l of plastic material of polycarbonate type having a certain degree of elasticity and good temperature resistance.
  • the casing 1 is provided on the top face thereof with two rectilineal ribs 2, the edges 3 of which form a dovetail-section tenon and the edges 4 of which form a dovetail-section recess.
  • two ribs 5 and 6 form a dovetail-section recess which is complementary to the dovetail tenon formed by the edges 3.
  • two ribs 7 which are identical with the ribs 2 are formed on one of the lateral faces and two ribs 8, 9 which are identical with the ribs 5, 6 are formed on the other lateral face.
  • a third rib 12 extends between the ribs 5 and 6 so as to form in conjunction with the rib 5 a dovetail-section recess which is identical with the recess formed by the edges 4 of the ribs 2 of the top face.
  • a similar rib 13 is present between the ribs 8 and 9. Provision is thus made on each face of the casing 1 for a dovetail recess which is intended to cooperate with a dovetail tenon 14 of a fixing member 15 which will be described hereinafter.
  • the front portions 16, 17, 18, 19 of the faces of the casing l have an external contour which has substantially the same dimensions as the cut-out portion of the panel. These faces are provided on the front side with a flange 21 having a wedge-shaped cross-section having a forwardly-inclined face 22 and a rear face 23 which is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the casing 1 and intended to bear on the front face of the panel.
  • slits 24 serve to separate the front portions 16 to 19 from each other, with the result that said front portions are capable of bending towards the center of the front face of the casing 1.
  • the slits 24 are located in the vicinity of the junction corner formed by two walls but each slit is formed only in one wall, with the result that the light emitted by one casing does not diffuse into the others when these latter are joined together in juxtaposed relation.
  • a translucent cap 25 comprising a rigid frame 26 which is intended to be inserted in the front face of the casing 1 prevents any subsequent bending movement of the front portions 16 to 19.
  • the fixing members 15 (shown in FIGS. 8 to are made of plastic material which is more flexible than that of the casing l and comprise a body 27 molded in one piece with a frame 28 to which said body is attached at the front end 29.
  • the body 27 is provided with the dovetail-section tenon 14 which is intended to be fitted in the complementary profile of the external faces of the casing 1.
  • the frame 28 is provided with two flexible fingers 31, the extremities 32 of which are intended to be applied against the rear of the panel (shown in FIG. 1).
  • the fixing member is maintained applied and braced against said panel by means of two tapered catches 33 bearing on two toothed racks 34 which are rigidly fixed to the casing 1 and located in the line of extension of the aforementioned ribs, the teeth of said rack being directed towards the front.
  • the dovetail tenon 14 is inserted by sliding in the forward direction within the complementary portion of the casing 1 until the extremities 32 of the flexible fingers 31 are applied with fairly considerable force against the rear face of the panel.
  • the potential range of elastic displacement of the fingers 31 is greater than the pitch of the toothed rack 34.
  • the rear portion of the frame 28 is lifted until the tapered catches 33 are released from the racks 34 by virtue of the flexibility of said member in the vicinity of the end portion 29 of the body 27.
  • a connection unit 35 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3) comprises a body 36 provided with wedge-shaped projections 37 which are capable of engaging and locking within holes 38 formed in the casing 1.
  • the body 36 is also provided with lugs 39 which are capable of bearing on supports (not shown in the figures).
  • the rear face 41 of the body 36 has two end rows 42, 43 of slots 44 disposed so as to have a predetermined pitch, for example of 5 mm, and a central row 45 of identical slots but displaced by one-half pitch with re spect to the slots of the-rows 42 and 43.
  • Terminal connectors 46 (shown in FIG. 2) each having two terminal lugs 47 are engaged in the body 36 from the front end in alternate relation with terminal connectors 48 having only one terminal lug 49 in order that the lugs 47 should engage in the slots of the rows 42 and 43 and in order that the lugs 49 should engage in the slots of the row 45.
  • Terminal connectors 46 and 48 are provided at the rear ends thereof with two pairs of retaining arms or clips 51 in which printed-circuit cards 58 and 59 can be engaged, the contacts of said cards being spaced at a distance of 2.5 mm in the example under consideration.
  • terminal connectors 46 and 48 are maintained within the body 36 by means of a closure plate 52 having two tapered ends 53 which are intended to engage and lock within two complementary recesses formed in the body 36.
  • the terminal connectors 48 are intended to receive signals which are applied only to the module to which said connectors belong; the terminal connectors 49 can receive signals which are applied to a number of modules.
  • a lamp-holder assembly 54 (shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7) comprises a socket unit 55 which is capable of sliding freely within the casing 1.
  • the socket unit 55 has two slits 56, 57 in which the two printed-circuit cards 58, 59 can be engaged. These cards are locked within the socket 55 by means of the pivoted ends 61 of a forwardly-directed stirrup-piece 62, the ends 61 being engaged in holes 63 of the cards 58, 59. It is apparent that, by drawingback the stirruppiece 62, it is possible to extract the complete assembly consisting of socket unit 55 and cards 58, 59 which are freed from the clips 51.
  • a lamp-holder unit 64 slides freely within the socket unit 55 and carries two lamps 65, 66 which are slidably mounted thereon.
  • the lamp-holder unit 64 has a central partition element 67 which provides a separation between the lamps 65, 66 and delimits two separate and distinct luminous zones on the translucent cap 25.
  • the partition element 67 is provided at the front end with a groove 68 in which is engaged the stir rup-piece 62 which thus locks the lamp-holder unit 64 in the unit 55.
  • the lamp contacts are intended to bear on support brackets 69 which are rigidly fixed to the printed-circuit cards 58, 59.
  • the terminal lugs can be spaced at a sufficient distance to carry out electrical connections with ease.
  • a substantially parallelepipedal casing which is open both at the front and rear ends.
  • said casing being provided on the external faces of at least a number of its four walls with sliding assembly means which are complementary to each other on two opposite faces and being provided at the front end thereof with a peripheral flange which is applied against the front face of the panel;
  • connection unit fixed in position by snap-action engagement in the aforementioned rear end
  • the fixing members are identical with each other.
  • said members comprise assembly means in contact with the aforementioned sliding assembly means of the casing.
  • said members each comprise at least one tapered catch engaging with a rack having teeth on each said opposite face. and wherein said members are applied against the rear face of the panel by means of two flexible fingers. the permissible distance of angular displacement of said fingers being longer than the distance between two successive teeth ofthe aforementioned rack. said member which carries at least one tapered catch being accessible from the rear face in order to permit of unlocking.
  • An indicating module according to claim I wherein the separation of the walls is obtained by means of four slits. each slit being wholly located on only one wall.
  • An indicating module comprising at least one printed-circuit card, wherein the lamp-holder assembly comprises a socket and a lampholder unit slidably mounted within said socket, means for extracting the unit from the socket, means for maintaining the same unit in said socket, means for attaching said socket to the printed-circuit card, and means for inserting and extracting the printed-circuit card.
  • An indicating module according to claim 4, wherein the means for extracting the lamp-holder unit from the socket comprise a partition element rigidly fixed to the unit. said element being directed towards the front and intended to provide a separation between the two lamps.
  • An indicating module according to claim 5, wherein the means for maintaining the lamp-holder unit within the socket, the means for attaching the socket to the printed-circuit card and the means for inserting and extracting the printed-circuit card comprise a stirrup-piece having two extremities pivoted in recesses formed in the socket. one of said extremities being engaged in a hole of the printed-circuit card and a movable front portion being applied against the partition element aforesaid.
  • connection unit comprises a body of flexible and hard plastic material in which terminal connectors are locked in position by means of a unit which is inserted into said body by snap-action engagement.
  • terminal connectors aforesaid comprise a first class of simple connectors and a second class of double connectors, the connectors of each class being spaced with a predetermined pitch and the connectors of one class being displaced by one half-pitch with respect to those of the other class, the length of one halfpitch being substantially equal to the length of the pitch of the connections of the printed-circuit card.
US453335A 1973-03-28 1974-03-21 Modular illuminated indicator panel mounted housing with internal component circuit board Expired - Lifetime US3903458A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7311072A FR2223936B1 (de) 1973-03-28 1973-03-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3903458A true US3903458A (en) 1975-09-02

Family

ID=9116976

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US453335A Expired - Lifetime US3903458A (en) 1973-03-28 1974-03-21 Modular illuminated indicator panel mounted housing with internal component circuit board

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3903458A (de)
DE (1) DE2414825B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2223936B1 (de)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4053130A (en) * 1975-07-05 1977-10-11 Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbh Attachment arrangement for electronic apparatus to a support wall
US4124313A (en) * 1974-08-22 1978-11-07 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Keyboard assembly
US4168874A (en) * 1978-02-21 1979-09-25 Amp Incorporated Connector having improved panel mounting means
US4202640A (en) * 1974-08-22 1980-05-13 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Keyboard assembly
US4235502A (en) * 1979-04-23 1980-11-25 Amp Incorporated Mounting means for mounting a connector in a panel
US4334732A (en) * 1979-04-12 1982-06-15 Nixdorf Computer Ag Electrical connector unit
US4521065A (en) * 1983-09-27 1985-06-04 General Motors Corporation Socket connector for parallel circuit boards
US4526427A (en) * 1982-04-20 1985-07-02 Rudi Boll Apparatus for fastening instruments in a front panel or switchboard
US4619495A (en) * 1982-09-07 1986-10-28 Sochor Jerzy R High-density press-fit cardedge connectors
US4697223A (en) * 1980-03-24 1987-09-29 Heinz Grunst Electrical apparatus, particularly apparatus for installation
US4836804A (en) * 1988-05-24 1989-06-06 London Harness & Cable Corp. Electrical connector
US4988986A (en) * 1988-12-22 1991-01-29 Inventio Ag Display module and multiple unit display constructed of such display modules
US5560572A (en) * 1994-09-26 1996-10-01 General Motors Corporation Instrument panel dovetail slide mounting assembly
US20060032989A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-16 Badiali John A Mounting apparatus for marine radio

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2977581A (en) * 1958-09-16 1961-03-28 Marco Ind Company Transistorized light flasher and testing circuit
US3041499A (en) * 1960-11-07 1962-06-26 Transistor Electronics Corp Low voltage neon indicator light
US3285548A (en) * 1964-12-31 1966-11-15 Victor G Matto Housing for component
US3286255A (en) * 1963-04-11 1966-11-15 Leecraft Mfg Co Inc Pilot or telltale light assembly
US3338452A (en) * 1964-11-23 1967-08-29 Michael J Oakley Case for storage battery cell
US3434098A (en) * 1966-04-21 1969-03-18 Amp Inc Separable electrical connector housing assemblies
US3446467A (en) * 1967-03-13 1969-05-27 Switchcraft Panel mounting for electrical components and the like
US3518612A (en) * 1966-08-06 1970-06-30 Ibm Connector assembly
US3629809A (en) * 1969-08-08 1971-12-21 Burndy Corp Electrical connector particularly for printed circuits

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2977581A (en) * 1958-09-16 1961-03-28 Marco Ind Company Transistorized light flasher and testing circuit
US3041499A (en) * 1960-11-07 1962-06-26 Transistor Electronics Corp Low voltage neon indicator light
US3286255A (en) * 1963-04-11 1966-11-15 Leecraft Mfg Co Inc Pilot or telltale light assembly
US3338452A (en) * 1964-11-23 1967-08-29 Michael J Oakley Case for storage battery cell
US3285548A (en) * 1964-12-31 1966-11-15 Victor G Matto Housing for component
US3434098A (en) * 1966-04-21 1969-03-18 Amp Inc Separable electrical connector housing assemblies
US3518612A (en) * 1966-08-06 1970-06-30 Ibm Connector assembly
US3446467A (en) * 1967-03-13 1969-05-27 Switchcraft Panel mounting for electrical components and the like
US3629809A (en) * 1969-08-08 1971-12-21 Burndy Corp Electrical connector particularly for printed circuits

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4124313A (en) * 1974-08-22 1978-11-07 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Keyboard assembly
US4202640A (en) * 1974-08-22 1980-05-13 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Keyboard assembly
US4053130A (en) * 1975-07-05 1977-10-11 Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbh Attachment arrangement for electronic apparatus to a support wall
US4168874A (en) * 1978-02-21 1979-09-25 Amp Incorporated Connector having improved panel mounting means
US4334732A (en) * 1979-04-12 1982-06-15 Nixdorf Computer Ag Electrical connector unit
US4235502A (en) * 1979-04-23 1980-11-25 Amp Incorporated Mounting means for mounting a connector in a panel
US4697223A (en) * 1980-03-24 1987-09-29 Heinz Grunst Electrical apparatus, particularly apparatus for installation
US4526427A (en) * 1982-04-20 1985-07-02 Rudi Boll Apparatus for fastening instruments in a front panel or switchboard
US4619495A (en) * 1982-09-07 1986-10-28 Sochor Jerzy R High-density press-fit cardedge connectors
US4521065A (en) * 1983-09-27 1985-06-04 General Motors Corporation Socket connector for parallel circuit boards
US4836804A (en) * 1988-05-24 1989-06-06 London Harness & Cable Corp. Electrical connector
US4988986A (en) * 1988-12-22 1991-01-29 Inventio Ag Display module and multiple unit display constructed of such display modules
US5560572A (en) * 1994-09-26 1996-10-01 General Motors Corporation Instrument panel dovetail slide mounting assembly
US20060032989A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-16 Badiali John A Mounting apparatus for marine radio

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2414825A1 (de) 1974-10-10
FR2223936A1 (de) 1974-10-25
DE2414825B2 (de) 1976-09-09
FR2223936B1 (de) 1978-04-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3903458A (en) Modular illuminated indicator panel mounted housing with internal component circuit board
US3868158A (en) Module rack for connection boxes of printed-circuit cards
US4368939A (en) Modular connector housing
US4626056A (en) Card edge connector
US3723823A (en) Printed circuit board guide
US4109300A (en) Circuit card connector and support device
RU2001121483A (ru) Телекоммуникационный гнездовой соединитель
US4985806A (en) Power supply structure
US5277627A (en) Electrical connector for IC card
US4377315A (en) Circuit board keying arrangement
SU710536A3 (ru) Соединитель дл печатной платы
US3448345A (en) Interconnection system
KR950002124A (ko) 커넥터 조립체
SU735200A3 (ru) Монтажна стойка
US4288140A (en) Printed wiring board interconnection apparatus
US3922051A (en) Connector for alphanumeric display panels
US4521065A (en) Socket connector for parallel circuit boards
US5205753A (en) Circuit board structure
US4530561A (en) Edge connector
US3729657A (en) Coded circuit mounting device with cover
US2958014A (en) Interlocking systems
US4873614A (en) Arrangement of a module within a casing frame
US5228869A (en) Panel yoke and snap locking mounting scheme for securing wire connectors
US4832619A (en) Pin mounted support system for printed circuit cards and connectors
US5552965A (en) Control apparatus having a compact and accessible arrangement of printed circuit boards