Snap apparatus for housings

• US 6,094,785 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Montgomery, Daniel Douglas, Moral, Leonardo Diego
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US08/884,872
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 29/453, 29/764, 29/235, 29/426.6, 24/108, 24/662, 24/297, 24/324, 361/752, 361/814, 455/128, 455/90
• US Class Current: 24/324
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 31/00 Hand tools for applying fasteners nailing or stapling tools B25C
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3424 Snap fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/366 Resilient socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49824 to elastically deform work part or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53283 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement

Abstract

The present invention relates to a snap arrangement comprising snap hooks (208) associated with a first housing (200) that snap over corresponding protrusions (111) in a second housing (100). The snap hooks preferably include an inclined portion (212) such that a finger (504) of a certain width of a removal tool (502) will force them apart to the deflection required for disassembly. Once the tool has been inserted beyond the elbow (213), the snap hook is not deflected any further regardless of the motion of the tool. This enables the tool to continue moving the front housing apart from the rear housing without further deflecting the snap hooks. This ensures that the snap hooks are never overstressed, that the front housing comes completely off of the rear housing every time, and that repeated disassembly will only minimally affect the strength of the snaps.

Claims

1. A snap apparatus for connecting a front housing and a rear housing, the snap apparatus comprising:

on the rear housing, a base having a first snap hook opposing a second snap hook,

wherein the first snap hook comprises,

a first inclined portion coupled to the base,

a first body portion coupled to the first inclined portion at a first elbow, and

a first flange coupled to the first body portion,

wherein the second snap hook comprises,

a second inclined portion coupled to the base,

a second body portion coupled to the second inclined portion at a second elbow, and

a second flange coupled to the second body portion,

wherein the first snap hook and the second snap hook form a gap between the first body portion and the second body portion, the gap expanding into a recess below the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion;

on the front housing, a protrusion extending from a first end surface to a second end surface,

wherein the protrusion has an outside dimension smaller than the recess,

wherein the protrusion is positioned inside the gap with the second end surface contacting the first and second flanges when the front housing and the rear housing are connected; and

wherein the recess extends through the base for receiving a removal tool when the front housing is disconnected from the rear housing, the removal tool having a finger extending from a wall to a tapered end and positioned between the protrusion and at least one of the snap hooks, the finger deflecting the flange portion of the at least one snap hook outward to disengage the flange portion of the at least one snap hook from the second end surface as the tapered end is advanced along the elbow of the at least one snap hook, and wherein, when the tapered end is inserted past the elbow, the at least one snap hook is not further deflected outward and the wall of the removal tool is engaged against the first end surface of the protrusion to drive the front housing away from the rear housing.

2. The snap apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first inclined portion comprises a first inner surface leading to the first elbow;

and

wherein the second inclined portion comprises a second inner surface leading to the second elbow.

3. The snap apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the first inclined portion is flexible to allow the first flange to deflect when pressure is applied to the first inner surface of the first inclined portion;

and

wherein the second inclined portion is flexible to allow the second flange to deflect when pressure is applied to the second inner surface of the second inclined portion.

4. A snap apparatus for connecting a front housing and a rear housing, the snap apparatus comprising:

on the rear housing,

a plurality of snaps having opposing snap hooks coupled to a base, each opposing snap hook having an inclined portion coupled to the base, a body portion coupled to the inclined portion at an elbow, and a flange coupled to the body portion,

wherein each snap forms a gap between the body portions of the opposing snap hooks, each gap expanding into a recess below the inclined portions;

on the front housing,

a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the plurality of snaps and extending from a wall of the front housing, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions having a surface for receiving the flange when the front housing is connected to the rear housing, wherein the protrusions have outside dimensions smaller than the recesses, and wherein the protrusions are positioned inside the gaps when the front housing is connected to the rear housing, and

wherein the recesses extend through the base for receiving a removal tool when the front housing is disconnected from the rear housing, the removal tool having a finger extending from a wall to a tapered end, and positioned between the protrusions and at least one of the opposing snap hooks, the finger deflecting the flange portion of the at least one opposing snap hook outward to disengage the flange portion from the second end surface as the tapered end is advanced along the elbow of the at least one opposing snap hook, and wherein, when the tapered end is inserted past the elbow, the at least one opposing snap hook is not further deflected outward and the wall of the removal tool is engaged against the first end surface of the corresponding protrusion to drive the front housing away from the rear housing.