Mounting assembly

• US 5,259,787 A
• Filed: 08/07/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US07/926,718
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 439/248, 439/532, 439/544, 439/549, 439/557, 439/571
• US Class Current: 439/532
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2608 Fastening means for mounting on support rail or strip H01R9/2691 takes precedence; for switch or other electrical device H02B1/042

Abstract

An electrical junction block mounting assembly includes a cantilever beam formed on an outer wall of the junction block and is provided with a transversely extending channel for engagement with a support structure. The cantilever beam is attached to the junction block by means of a resilient hinge section and is provided with a first arm section extending between the hinge section and the channel and a second arm section extending beyond the channel. The first arm section has a sloping surface sloping away from the outer wall between the hinge section and the channel, and the second arm section has a sloping surface sloping toward the wall beyond the channel. The sloping surfaces will contact a mounting rail or similar support structure during installation of the junction block thereby deflecting the hinged cantilever beam until the rail is in alignment with the channel for engagement with the structural support member.

Claims

1. An electrical connection member for mounting on a structural support member, said connection member comprising:

a housing having at least one outer wall having spaced apart opposite side edges equidistant from a longitudinal centerline of said housing; and

a latch member on said outer wall comprising a cantilever beam extending over a portion of said outer wall and having a proximal end hingedly attached to said outer wall and a free distal end terminating between said centerline and one of said side edges, said cantilever beam comprising;

a hinge section at said proximal end attached to said outer wall adjacent another of said side edges;

a slotted section having continuous opposing side walls and defining a transversely extending channel in said cantilever beam in substantial alignment with said centerline for latching engagement with said support structure;

a first arm section extending between said hinge section and said slotted section and having a first surface adjacent said outer wall and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface sloping away from said hinge section and away from said outer wall; and

a second arm section extending away from said hinge section and said slotted section and having a first surface adjacent said outer wall and second surface opposite said first surface of said second arm section, said second surface of said second arm section sloping away from said slotted section and toward said outer surface.

2. The connection member in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an other outer wall opposite said at least one outer wall and a latch member on said other outer wall comprising an other cantilever beam having one end attached to said other outer wall and extending over a portion of said other outer wall, said other cantilever beam comprising:

a beam hinge section at said one end of said other cantilever beam and attached to said other outer wall;

a slotted beam section defining a transversely extending channel in said other cantilever beam for latching engagement with said support structure;

a first beam arm section extending between said beam hinge section and said slotted beam section and having a lower surface adjacent said other outer wall and an upper surface opposite said lower surface of said first beam section, said upper surface of said first beam section sloping away from said beam hinge section and away from said other outer wall; and

a second beam arm section extending away from said beam hinge section and said slotted beam section and having a lower surface adjacent said other outer wall and upper surface opposite said lower surface of said second beam arm section, said upper surface of said second beam arm section sloping away from said slotted beam section and said beam hinge section and toward said other outer wall.

3. The connection member in accordance with claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a bipartite housing and wherein one of said cantilever beams is formed integral with each said housing.

4. The connection member in accordance with claim 2 wherein said housing comprises two housing parts and wherein both of said cantilever beams are formed integral with one of said housing parts.

5. The connection member in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge sections are constructed of a material having resilient properties providing a restoring force to said cantilever beam when said cantilever beam is moved toward said outer surface.

6. An electrical junction block housing adapted for attachment to a support structure, said housing comprising:

an outer wall having spaced apart opposite side edges equidistant from a longitudinally extending centerline of said housing;

a pair of spaced-apart, substantially L-shaped attachment lugs extending outwardly from said outer wall for engagement with corresponding support brackets on said support structure; and

a latch member on said outer wall comprising a cantilever beam extending over a portion of said outer wall and having a proximal end hingedly attached to said outer wall and a free distal end terminating between said centerline and one of said side edges, said cantilever beam comprising;

a hinge section at said proximal end and attached to said outer wall adjacent another of said side edges;

a slotted section defining a transversely extending channel in said cantilever beam in substantial alignment with said centerline for engagement with a retaining member on said support structure;

a first arm section extending between said hinge section and said slotted section and having a first surface adjacent said outer surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface sloping away from said hinge section toward said slotted section and away from said outer wall; and

a second arm section extending away from said hinge section and said slotted section and having a first surface adjacent said outer wall and a second surface opposite said first surface of said second arm section, said second surface of said second arm section sloping away from said slotted section and toward said outer surface.

7. The junction block housing in accordance with claim 6 wherein said latch member is disposed between said attachment lugs.

8. An electrical junction block adapted for mounting between spaced-apart, opposing support rails and comprising:

a housing having first and second opposite outer walls and a rail engaging arrangement on each of said outer walls, said outer walls each comprising first and second opposite side edges equidistant from a longitudinal center line of said housing, said rail engaging arrangement on said first outer wall comprising a cantilever beam extending over a portion of said first outer wall and having a proximal end hingedly attached to said first outer wall and a free distal end terminating between said centerline and one of said side edges of said first outer wall, said cantilever beam comprising;

a slotted section defining a transversely extending channel in said cantilever beam in substantial alignment with said centerline for engagement with one of said support rails;

a hinge section at said proximal end and attached to said outer wall adjacent another of said side edges of said first outer wall;

a first arm section extending between said hinge section and said slotted section and having a first surface adjacent said first outer wall and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface sloping away from said hinge section and away from said outer wall; and

a second arm section extending away from said slotted section and said hinge section and having a first surface adjacent said first outer wall and a second surface opposite said first surface of said second arm section, said second surface of said second arm section sloping away from said slotted section and said hinge section and toward said first outer wall.

9. The junction block in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rail engaging arrangement on said second outer wall comprises another cantilever beam having one end attached to said second outer wall and extending over a portion of said second outer wall, said second cantilever beam comprising:

a slotted beam section defining a transversely extending channel in said other cantilever beam for engagement with another of said support rails;

a beam hinge section at said one end of said other cantilever beam and attached to said second outer wall;

a first beam arm section extending between said beam hinge section and said slotted beam section and having a lower surface adjacent said second outer wall and an upper surface opposite said lower surface of said first beam arm section, said upper surface of said first beam arm section sloping away from said beam hinge section and away from said second outer wall; and

a second beam arm section extending away from said beam hinge section and said slotted beam section and having a lower surface adjacent said second outer wall and an upper surface opposite said lower surface of said second beam arm section, said upper surface of said second beam arm section sloping away from said slotted beam section and said beam hinge section and toward said second outer wall.

10. The electrical junction block in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rail engaging arrangement on said second surface comprises a cantilever beam having a transversely extending channel for engaging another of said support rails.

11. The electrical junction block in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rail engaging arrangement on said second surface comprises a pair of substantially parallel cantilever beams each provided with a slotted section for engagement with another of said support rails.

12. The electrical junction block in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rail engaging arrangement on said first outer wall further comprises at least one spacing shoulder extending outwardly from said first outer wall in substantial alignment with said transversely extending channel.

13. The electrical junction block in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rail engaging arrangement on said second outer wall comprises an engagement tab having a pair of spaced-apart arms for extending over a portion of one of said opposing support rails to retain said junction block in proper position relative to said one of said support rails.