Housing including first and second housing halves, and an arrangement for locking thereof

• US 6,262,366 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Kozo, Ichikawa, Toshiyuki, Ohkawa, Masanori, Watanuki, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHARLIE C
• Application Number:
  US09/055,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/66, 220/3.8, 220/241
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members

Abstract

An arrangement for locking first and second housings, adapted to connect to each other, includes a pin provided on the first housing and a locking member, with a pair of arms which are provided on the second housing to engage and hold the pin when the first and second housings are connected.

Claims

1. An arrangement for locking first and second housings adapted to connect to each other, comprising:

a pin provided on the first housing, the pin having a length defining an axis and multiple parallel cross sections taken perpendicular to the axis of the pin are uniformly shaped for any cross section taken along the length of the pin; and

a locking member with a pair of arms which are provided on the second housing, which arms spring apart to engage the pin when the first and second housings are being connected and spring apart to release the pin when the first and second housings are being separated.

2. A housing comprising:

first and second housings adapted to connect to each other,

a pin provided on an inner surface of the first housing, the pin having a length defining an axis and multiple parallel cross sections taken perpendicular to the axis of the pin are uniformly shaped for any cross section taken along the length of the pin; and

a locking member with a pair of arms which are provided on an inner surface of the second housing, which arms spring apart to engage the pin when the first and second housings are connected and spring apart to release the pin when the first and second housings are being separated.

3. An arrangement for locking first and second housings adapted to connect to each other, comprising:

a pin provided on the first housing; and

a locking member with a pair of arms which are provided on the second housing which arms spring apart to engage the pin when the first and second housings are being connected and spring apart to release the pin when the first and second housings are being separated, wherein each arm has a ramp, said ramps oppositely disposed and acting to aid in springing apart the arms when the housings are separated.

4. A housing comprising:

first and second housings adapted to connect to each other,

a pin provided on an inner surface of the first housing; and

a locking member with a pair of arms which are provided on an inner surface of the second housing which arms spring apart to engage the pin when the first and second housings are connected and spring apart to release the pin when the first and second housings are being separated, wherein each arm has a ramp, said ramps oppositely disposed and acting to aid in springing apart the arms when the housings are separated.

5. An arrangement for locking first and second housings adapted to connect to each other by moving the second housing in a direction relative to the first housing, comprising:

a pin provided on the first housing, the pin defining an axis perpendicular to the direction of motion of the second housing with respect to the first housing for connection; and

a locking member with a pair of arms which are provided on the second housing, the arms extending in the direction of the motion of the second housing relative to the first housing for connection, whereby the arms engage and hold the pin when the first and second housings are connected.

6. An arrangement, according to claim 5, in which the arms define an engagement surface to match an outer surface of the pin.

7. A housing for enclosing electronic equipment, comprising:

a first housing having a sidewall defining an opening, the first housing sidewall having a first surface and an edge;

a second housing having a sidewall defining an opening, the second housing sidewall having a first surface and an edge, the first and second housings being adapted to connect to each other by abutting the sidewall edges of the first and second housings;

a pin provided on the first surface of the sidewall of the first housing, the pin defining an axis perpendicular to the first surface; and

a locking member with a pair of arms provided on the first surface of the sidewall of the second housing, the arms extending parallel to the first surface of the sidewall of the second housing, whereby the arms engage and hold the pin when the first and second housings are connected.