Apparatus for mounting a device on a mounting surface

• US 6,563,697 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Management Corporation, Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Hirschbold, Markus F., Harding, Stewart J., Simbeck, Werner Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US09/791,420
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 211/94.01, 211/26, 211/162, 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 200/293-296, 200/321, 200/324, 324/156, 324/157, 324/110, 361/600, 361/634, 361/636, 361/652-653, 361/654, 361/659, 361/664-669, 361/673, 361/679, 361/801, 361/807-810, 361/822-825, 439/94, 439/322, 439/532, 439/716-717, 403/325, 403/327
• US Class Current: 361/668
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/052 Mounting on rails
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/0523 locked into position by a sliding member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for mounting or dismounting a device on a mounting surface, for example, the mounting surface of a rail, a molded clip or the like. The apparatus includes a body. To accommodate attachment of the apparatus to the rail, at least a portion of the body can be movably positioned adjacent to the mounting surface. The apparatus also includes a locating feature connected with the body. The locating feature includes a first position that maintains a position of the body during a manufacturing operation and a second position that allows the body to move between an open position and a closed position, for example, after the manufacturing operation has been completed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting or dismounting a device on a mounting surface, the apparatus comprising:

a body, the body being integrally molded with a base, where at least a portion of the body is movably positioned adjacent to the mounting surface; and

a locating feature integrally molded with the body, wherein the locating feature is configured to operate in a first position to maintain a stationary manufacturing position of the body during a manufacturing operation and a second position that allows the body to move between an open position and a closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least a portion of the body movably accommodates the mounting and dismounting of the device to the mounting surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one flexible arm connected with the body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one flexible arm accommodates movement of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one flexible arm is generally U-shaped.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the base includes an opening for accommodating the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one flexible arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the base connects with the first end of the flexible arm and the body connects with the second end of the flexible arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body further includes a slot positioned to accommodate a tool to move the body.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a projection portion of the body, wherein the projection portion of the body connects the locating feature with the body.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a rail, wherein the rail comprises the mounting surface.

11. Apparatus for mounting or dismounting a device on a mounting surface, the apparatus comprising:

a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is movably positioned adjacent to the mounting surface, the body being integrally molded with a base;

a locating feature integrally molded with the body;

a locating projection integrally molded with the body, that projects adjacent to the body;

wherein the locating feature is positioned in a stationary first position during a manufacturing operation and is positioned in a second position during the mounting and dismounting of the device to the mounting surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the locating feature is positioned adjacent the locating projection the body is movable between an open position and a closed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least a portion of the body movably accommodates the mounting and dismounting of the device to the rail.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further including at least one flexible arm connected with the body.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one flexible arm accommodates movement of the body.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one flexible arm is generally U-shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the base includes an opening for accommodating the body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one flexible arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the base connects with the first end of the flexible arm and the body connects with the second end of the flexible arm.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the base, the flexible arm and the body are integrally manufactured.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the base, the flexible arm and the body comprise integrally manufactured plastic materials.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the body further includes a slot positioned to accommodate a tool to move the body.

22. A device mountable on and dismountable from a mounting surface, the device comprising:

an enclosure including at least one cavity, the cavity being adapted to accommodate at least one terminal;

a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is movably positioned adjacent to the mounting surface;

a base, the base comprising an opening for accommodating the body;

the body and the base being integrally molded with the enclosure; and

at least one flexible arm integrally molded to connect the base to the body, wherein the flexible arm is operative to accommodate movement of the body in an open and closed position.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the body further includes a projection, the projection further including a locating feature, the locating feature operative to allow a first position to maintain a manufacturing position of the body during a manufacturing operation and at least one of the closed position and the open position.

24. In an electrical meter for sensing electrical parameters from an electric circuit, the meter comprising:

a base including at least one terminal, the terminal coupled to the electric circuit;

circuitry included with the base, the circuitry being operable to sense at least one electrical power parameter;

a body integrally molded to the base, where at least a portion of the body is movably positioned adjacent to a mounting surface; and

a locating feature integrally molded with the body, wherein the locating feature is configured to operate in a first position to maintain a manufacturing position of the body during a manufacturing operation and a second position that allows the body to move between an open position and a closed position.

25. The meter of claim 24 wherein the at least a portion of the body movably accommodates the mounting and dismounting of the meter to the mounting surface.

26. The meter of claim 24 further including at least one flexible arm connected with the body.

27. The meter of claim 26 wherein the at least one flexible arm accommodates movement of the body.

28. The meter of claim 27 wherein the at least one flexible arm is generally U-shaped.

29. The meter of claim 28 wherein the base includes an opening for accommodating the body.

30. The meter of claim 29, wherein the at least one flexible arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the base connects with the first end of the flexible arm and the body connects with the second end of the flexible arm.

31. The meter of claim 24 wherein the body further includes a slot positioned to accommodate a tool to move the body.

32. The meter of claim 24 further including a projection portion of the body, wherein the projection portion of the body connects the locating feature with the body.

33. The meter of claim 24 further including a rail, wherein the rail comprises the mounting surface.

34. A device mountable on a mounting surface, the device comprising:

an enclosure including a base, the enclosure being adapted to at least partially enclose electrical circuitry;

a body, the body being integrally molded with the base of the enclosure, where at least a portion of the body is movable; and

a locating feature integrally molded with the body, wherein the locating feature is configured to operate in a first position to maintain a manufacturing position of the body during a manufacturing operation and a second position that allows the body to move between an open position and a closed position.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the movable portion of the body movably accommodates the mounting and dismounting of the device to the mounting surface.

36. The device of claim 34 farther including at least one flexible arm connected with the body.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein the at least one flexible arm accommodates movement of the body.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the at least one flexible arm is generally U-shaped.

39. The device of claim 38 wherein the base includes an opening for accommodating the body.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the at least one flexible arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the base connects with the first end of the flexible arm and the body connects with the second end of the flexible arm.

41. The device of claim 34 wherein the body further includes a slot positioned to accommodate a tool to move the body.

42. The device of claim 34 further including a projection portion of the body, wherein the projection portion of the body connects the locating feature with the body.

43. The device of claim 34 further including a rail, wherein the rail comprises the mounting surface.

44. A device mountable on and dismountable from a mounting surface, the device comprising:

an enclosure being adapted to accommodate at least one terminal;

a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is movably positioned adjacent to the mounting surface, the body being integrally molded with the enclosure;

a locating feature integrally molded with the body;

a locating projection integrally molded with the body, that projects adjacent to the body;

wherein the locating feature is positioned in a first position during a manufacturing operation and is positioned in a second position during the mounting and dismounting of the device to the mounting surface.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein, when the locating feature is positioned adjacent the locating projection, the body is movable between an open position and a closed position.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the at least a portion of the body movably accommodates the mounting and dismounting of the device to the rail.

47. The device of claim 44 further including at least one flexible arm connected with the body.

48. The device of claim 47 wherein the at least one flexible arm accommodates movement of the body.

49. The device of claim 48 wherein the at least one flexible arm is generally U-shaped.

50. The device of claim 47 wherein the base includes an opening for accommodating the body.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein the at least one flexible arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the base connects with the first end of the flexible arm and the body connects with the second end of the flexible arm.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the base, the flexible arm and the body are integrally manufactured.

53. The device of claim 52 wherein the base, the flexible arm and the body comprise integrally manufactured plastic materials.

54. The device of claim 44 wherein the body further includes a slot positioned to accommodate a tool to move the body.