Modular faceplate assembly having concealed latching means
First Claim
1. In a faceplate assembly including a faceplate member having a frontal opening, at least one modular insert member received and supported within the frontal opening, and latching means for releasably retaining the at least one modular insert member in assembly with the faceplate member within the frontal opening, the latching means including a concealed latch carried by the at least one insert member and a keeper carried by the faceplate member, the latch being movable between latching and releasing positions relative to the keeper, the modular insert having a forwardly open latch operating aperture for operating access to the latch, the improvement comprising a latch operator carried by said latch, said latch operator cooperating with said modular insert within said latch operating aperture to form a closure for said latch operating aperture, said latch operator being disposed within and entirely closing said latch operating aperture when said latch is in its latching position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular faceplate assembly having a faceplate and at least one modular panel received and supported within a frontal opening in the faceplate and releasably secured to the faceplate by concealed latches hingedly connected to the modular panel rearward of the faceplate for flexure between latching and releasing positions relative to keepers carried by the faceplate and resiliently biased to said latching positions. When the latches are in latching positions latch operators carried by the latches form closures for latch operating apertures opening through the frontal surface of the faceplate assembly. Cam surfaces on the latch operators facilitate operation of the latches to release the panel from the faceplate in response to insertion of an operating tool into the latch operating apertures.
64 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. In a faceplate assembly including a faceplate member having a frontal opening, at least one modular insert member received and supported within the frontal opening, and latching means for releasably retaining the at least one modular insert member in assembly with the faceplate member within the frontal opening, the latching means including a concealed latch carried by the at least one insert member and a keeper carried by the faceplate member, the latch being movable between latching and releasing positions relative to the keeper, the modular insert having a forwardly open latch operating aperture for operating access to the latch, the improvement comprising a latch operator carried by said latch, said latch operator cooperating with said modular insert within said latch operating aperture to form a closure for said latch operating aperture, said latch operator being disposed within and entirely closing said latch operating aperture when said latch is in its latching position.
- 11. In a faceplate assembly including a faceplate having a frontal opening, a modular insert received and supported within the frontal opening, and latching means including a keeper on the faceplate an a latch supported on the modular insert for hinged flexure between latching and releasing positions relative to the keeper for releasably retaining the modular insert in assembly with the faceplate within the frontal opening, the latch being resiliently biased toward and to its latching position, the faceplate assembly having a forwardly open latch operating aperture partially defined by a notch in the modular insert for operating access to the latch member, the improvement comprising a latch operator carried by said latch, said latch operator forming a closure for said latch operating aperture, said latch operator maintaining said latch operating aperture in a substantially entirely closed condition when said latch is in its latching position.
Specification