Mounting assembly with dual entry cantilever latch

• US 6,343,947 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Application Number:
  US09/481,470
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/216, 439/211, 439/357, 439/535-539, 439/557, 439/540.1, 220/3--
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

An electrical junction block is provided with a latching device adapted to engage a retaining tab in a support structure. The latching device includes a first cantilever beam extending from one edge of an upper surface of the junction block and having a free end extending beyond the centerline of the junction block and a tab channel in alignment with a centerline of the junction block. A second retention beam extends from a location adjacent an opposite edge of the upper surface of the junction block and overlaps a portion of the free end of the first cantilever beam. When a junction block provided with a latch of the present invention is inserted in a frame with a retaining tab, the junction block may be inserted from either of two opposite directions. When the junction block is inserted such that the retaining tab first engages the latch adjacent the one edge, the first cantilever beam is depressed against the tab until the tab channel is reached. When the junction block is inserted such that the retaining tab first engages the latch adjacent the opposite edge, the second retention beam will act to limit upward movement of the first cantilever beam, which would prevent proper insertion. A continued movement of the junction block toward the tab will cause the tab to depress the free end of the first cantilever beam until the tab is aligned with the tab channel.

Claims

1. An electrical connection member for mounting on a structural support member, the electrical connection member comprising a housing having an outer wall having spaced apart first and second opposite side edges disposed equidistant from a longitudinally extending centerline of the housing and a latch member disposed on the outer wall for engagement with the structural support member, the latch member comprising:

a first cantilever beam comprising a first surface adjacent the outer wall and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first cantilever beam having a proximal end hingedly attached to the outer wall at a first cantilever beam hinge location disposed between the centerline and the first side edge and a free distal end terminating between the centerline and the second side edge and a transversely extending channel defined in the second surface and disposed in substantial alignment with the centerline for latching engagement with the structural support member; and

a second retention beam comprising a first surface adjacent the outer wall and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second retention beam, the second retention beam having a proximal end attached to the outer wall at a second retention beam attachment location disposed between the centerline and the second edge and a free distal end terminating between the centerline and the second edge, a portion of the first surface of the free distal end of the second retention beam overlapping a portion of the second surface of the first cantilever beam adjacent the free distal end of the first cantilever beam.

2. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second surface of the first cantilever beam comprises a first part extending between the proximal end of the first cantilever beam and the channel and sloping upwardly away from the proximal end of the first cantilever beam and away from the outer wall, and a second part extending between the channel and the distal end of the first arm section and sloping toward the outer wall and toward the distal end, and wherein the portion of the first surface of the free distal end of the second retention beam laterally overlaps a portion of the second part.

3. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the second part of the second surface comprises at least one portion sloping away toward the outer wall and toward the distal end at an angle greater than another portion of the second surface.

4. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the channel comprises first and second oppositely directed channel side walls extending substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and the second surface of the first part of the first cantilever beam terminates in at least a portion of the first channel side wall and at least one portion of the second surface of the second part of the first cantilever beam extends from a portion of the second channel sidewall toward the distal end of the first cantilever beam.

5. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 4 wherein the channel has a lower surface coincident with a portion of the second surface of the first cantilever beam adjacent the centerline, and the second surface of the first cantilever beam further comprises a surface portion extending between the lower surface and the distal end of the first cantilever beam.

6. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the channel comprises a first sidewall section facing toward the distal end of the first cantilever beam and first and second spaced apart sidewall sections facing toward the proximal end of the first cantilever beam and each having an upper edge, and wherein the second part of the first cantilever beam comprises first and second spaced apart sloping surfaces extending from the first and second spaced apart sidewall sections toward the distal end of the first cantilever beam, and wherein the second part of the first cantilever beam further comprises a further portion of the second surface of the first cantilever beam extending between the first and second spaced apart sloping surfaces and from the channel toward the distal end of the first cantilever beam, and wherein the first surface of the second retention beam overlaps the further portion of the second surface of the first cantilever beam.

7. The electrical connection member in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the first sidewall section is disposed in alignment with the further portion of the second surface of the first cantilever beam.