Device for fitting a control panel to the lower front edge of a control device

• US 6,050,738 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Company KG (Friedhelm Loh, PhD)
• Inventors: Neuhof, Markus, Reuter, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/930,804
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 403/205, 403/295, 403/296, 403/382, 403/403, 403/DIG. 12, 403/401, 403/231, 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 348/836, 361/680, 361/681, 361/686, 361/724, 361/732, 361/733, 361/752, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 403/205
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/26 Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/183 support rails therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/555 Angle section

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fitting a control panel to the lower front edge of a control device. To provide the connection there are specially shaped corner pieces provided with screw sleeves which are inserted into screw apertures in the frame and secured therein by screws.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control device and to the control panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the frame surrounding the control device includes corner connectors;

the frame surrounding the control panel includes corner connectors;

the first arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control device; and

the second arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms of the angled pieces form an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the arms of the angled pieces each have a screw receptacle;

the fastening screws pass extending through the screw receptacles; and

the fastening screws are screwed into a screw channel located in the frames.

5. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control device and to the control panel;

wherein;

the frame surrounding the control device includes corner connectors;

the frame surrounding the control panel includes corner connectors;

the first arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control device; and

the second arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control panel;

and wherein;

the frame surrounding the control device has a facing dimension;

the first arm of the first angled piece extends along the facing dimension of the frame; and

the screw receptacles are inserted into the corner connectors on the frame.

6. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control device and to the control panel;

wherein;

the angled piece has a transition section having a first and second end;

the transition section is bent;

an expanded screw head receptacle extends from each end of the transition section;

the first arm of the angled piece is connected to the first end of the transition section;

the second arm of the angled piece is connected to the second end of the transition section; and

the collets extend from the transition section through the expanded screw head receptacles.

7. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control

device and to the control panel;

wherein;

the frame surrounding the control device includes corner connectors;

the frame surrounding the control panel includes corner connectors;

the first arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control device; and

the second arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control panel;

and wherein;

the frame surrounding the control device lies in a first plane;

the frame surrounding the control panel lies in a second plane;

the screw receptacles for the collets of the first arm of the angled pieces are inserted into the corner connectors parallel to the first plane; and

the screw receptacles for the collets of the second arm of the angled pieces are inserted into the corner connectors parallel to the second plane.

8. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control device and to the control panel;

wherein;

the arms of the angled pieces have a hollow structure; and

the collets are fitted within the arms.

9. An apparatus for attaching a control panel to a control device comprised of:

a control device having a first side and a second side;

a control panel having an upper side and a lower side;

a first frame surrounding the first side of the control device and having a screw receptacle;

a second frame surrounding the upper side of the control panel and having a screw receptacle;

a first angled piece and a second angled piece, each angled piece having a first arm and a second arm and each arm having a front side and a back side;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the first arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control device;

at least one collet projecting from the front side of the second arm inserted into the screw receptacle on the frame surrounding the control panel; and

a plurality of fastening screws securing the first and second angled pieces to the control device and to the control panel;

wherein;

the frame surrounding the control device includes corner connectors;

the frame surrounding the control panel includes corner connectors;

the first arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control device; and

the second arms of the first and second angled pieces are connected to the corner connectors on the frame surrounding the control panel;

and wherein;

receptacles in the corner connectors having a receptacle section for the collets of the angled pieces, to which a threaded uptake is connected for the fastening screws.