SNAP TRACK

• US 3,756,637 A
• Filed: 12/03/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theodore Wildi
• Original Assignee: Theodore Wildi
• Inventors: Wildi, Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Schultz, William H.
• Application Number:
  US05/204,620
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 248/73,223 339/198GA 287/189.36M,189.36R
• US Class Current: 439/819
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/30 Dovetail-like connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/052 Mounting on rails

Abstract

A snap trac comprising a track adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and having at least one side flange bent upwardly at a predetermined acute angle from the plane of the supporting surface, and a leaf spring also secured to the supporting surface and projecting upwardly from the plane of the supporting surface at an angle slightly less than the angle of the flange of the track. A base adapted to support an object is provided with a dovetail slot and has one wall of such slot arranged to engage the flange of the track and the other wall thereof arranged to engage the leaf spring so as to be firmly snapped on the track and against the supporting surface by the force of the leaf spring acting on such other wall of the dovetail slot in the base.

Claims

1. Snap track means comprising:

a. a supporting plate;

b. a track having a main portion secured to said supporting plate and an integral rigid flange along one of its lateral edges, said flange being inclined upwardly and outwardly from said main portion and making a predetermined angle with respect to the said supporting plate;

c. a leaf spring having one edge fixed with respect to said supporting plate and track and having a portion extending parallel with said track flange on the side of said main portion away from said track flange;

said spring portion bending upwardly and outwardly with respect to said track main portion and making an angle, with said supporting plate, less than said track flange predetermined angle;

d. a rigid base to be secured on said supporting plate, said base having a dovetail slot along one flat surface thereof, said dovetail slot defining a pair of reentrant flanges inclined toward one another and making an angle with said one surface of said base substantially equal to said track flange predetermined angle, and wherein said reentrant flanges are separated from one another a distance smaller than the distance between said track flange and said spring portion, whereby in use one of said reentrant flanges is applied against said leaf spring portion while the other reentrant flange stands over said track flange, said base is pushed laterally against the bias of said leaf spring until said other reentrant flange passes completely over said track flange, said base is made to sit squarely on said supporting plate through said flat surface and said other reentrant flange and track flange are snapped in mutual abutting engagement by the bias of said leaf spring acting on said one of said reentrant flanges.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track has a length substantially greater than that of said slot whereby to allow the mounting thereon of more than one base.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track flange predetermined angle is approximately 45*.

4. Means as claimed in claIm 3, wherein said track has a second rigid flange on the side of said main portion away from said first track flange and between the latter and said spring portion, whereby to serve as a stop for said spring portion and reentrant flange acting thereon in case of excessive transverse movement of said base against said leaf spring portion, the angle of said second rigid flange being 45* in a direction away from said first rigid flange.

5. A snap track as defined in claim 4, wherein slots are provided along the flanges of said track and wherein corresponding ridges are provided inside the dovetail slot in said base for preventing sliding of the base when snapped on the track.

6. A snap track as defined in claim 1, wherein said base, said track and said plate are made of electrically conductive material and in good electrical contact to establish a common electrical ground for said object.

7. Snap track means comprising:

a. a generally flat elongated supporting plate;

b. an elongated track having a main flat portion secured to said flat supporting plate and an integral rigid straight flange along one of its lateral edges, said flange being inclined upwardly and outwardly from said main portion and making an angle of approximately 45* with respect to the said flat supporting plate;

c. a leaf spring having an edge fixed with respect to said supporting plate and track and having an elongated spring portion extending from said fixed edge parallel with said track flange on the side of said main portion away from said track flange;

said spring portion curving upwardly and outwardly with respect to said track main portion and generally making an angle, with said supporting plate, less than 45*;

d. a rigid base having a flat undersurface, said base to be removably secured on said supporting plate and having a dovetail slot along said flat undersurface, said dovetail slot defining a pair of reentrant flanges having straight inner faces inclined toward one another and making an angle with said flat surface of said base of approximately 45*, and wherein said reentrant flanges are separated from one another a distance smaller than the distance between said track flange and said spring portion;

e. said track having a second rigid flange on the side of said main portion away from said first track and between the latter and said spring portion, said second rigid flange being inclined upwardly and outwardly from said main portion and making an angle of approximately 45* in a direction away from said first rigid flange, whereby in use one of said reentrant flanges is applied against said leaf spring portion while the other reentrant flange stands over said track flange, said base is pushed laterally against the bias of said leaf spring until said other reentrant flange passes completely over said track flange, said base is made to sit squarely on said flat supporting plate through said flat surface and said other reentrant flange and track flange are snapped in mutual abutting engagement by the bias of said leaf spring acting on said one of said reentrant flanges.