Sensor mounting structure with snapping feature

• US 7,415,891 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Santos, Roberto S., Mackey, Dennis C., Schladenhauffen, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirkland, III; Freddie
• Application Number:
  US11/240,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 738/55, 738/56
• US Class Current: 73/856
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/048 Snap mounting

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure. The sensing device mounting mechanism comprises a housing portion having a snapping mechanism. The snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism.

Claims

1. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having first and second snapping mechanisms,

wherein the first snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to the supporting structure, and the second snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to the sensing device, and

wherein the first snapping mechanism allows coupling of the housing portion to the supporting structure independently of the position of the sensing device relative to the housing portion.

2. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the housing portion further includes a stem portion and a flange portion extending from the stem portion and wherein the housing portion can be positioned onto the supporting structure by passing the stem portion through an orifice in the supporting structure until the flange portion substantially abuts the supporting structure.

3. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least one of the snapping mechanisms includes at least one ramped surface portion.

4. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first snapping mechanism is sized to correspond to at least one dimension of the supporting structure.

5. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensing device is positioned to abut the first snapping mechanism when the housing portion is mounted to the support structure so as to create a force that locks the first snapping mechanism into place.

6. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least one of the snapping mechanisms includes a surface contoured to facilitate insertion of the sensing device into an interior of the housing portion.

7. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein a flanged portion of the housing portion includes at least one stop to at least partially position and secure the sensing device into the interior.

8. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least one of the snapping mechanisms is at least one of substantially arrow shaped and substantially dumb-bell shaped.

9. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first snapping mechanism is a protrusion on the exterior surface of the housing portion that is substantially fixed in position.

10. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensing device is rotatably coupled to the housing portion or the housing portion is rotatably mounted to the supporting structure.

11. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensing device is coupled to the housing portion using at least one of a slidable coupling, a rotatable coupling, a snap-fit, an adhesive, a screw, and a bolt.

12. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the housing portion includes a flange portion and the sensing device is rotatably coupled to the flange portion.

13. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing portion includes an interior capable of receiving the sensing device, the interior having a longitudinal axis that is angularly offset from an additional axis that extends perpendicularly relative to a surface of the supporting structure.

14. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing further includes a stem portion and a flange portion extending from the stem portion, the stem portion having an end that is distal from the flange portion, and wherein the mounting mechanism further comprises at least one snapping mechanism that extends from at least one of the flange portion toward the distal end and from a location on the stem portion toward the flange portion away from the distal end.

15. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is positioned to abut the at least one snapping mechanism when the housing is mounted to the support structure so as to create a force that locks the at least one snapping mechanism into place.

16. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the sensing device includes a surface having a toothed profile, and the snapping mechanism includes a surface having a toothed profile that is complementary to the sensing device surface having the toothed profile.

17. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the surfaces with the toothed profiles are ratcheting surfaces.

18. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the surfaces with the toothed profiles abut one another when the sensing device is positioned within the housing portion, such that the snapping mechanism of the housing portion is locked into place relative to the support structure.

19. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the housing portion includes first and second walls, wherein the first wall includes the snapping mechanism with the toothed profile by which the housing portion can be coupled to the sensing device, and the second wall includes an additional snapping mechanism by which the housing portion can be coupled to the supporting structure.

20. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 19, wherein the housing portion includes third and fourth walls in addition to the first and second walls, wherein the first, second, third and fourth walls substantially form an exterior perimeter of the housing portion, and wherein the third wall includes a further snapping mechanism with a toothed profile by which the housing portion can be coupled to the sensing device, and the fourth wall includes a further additional snapping mechanism by which the housing portion can be coupled to the supporting structure.

21. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 16 wherein the snapping mechanism is sized to correspond to at least one dimension of the supporting structure.

22. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the housing portion includes an interior capable of receiving the sensing device, the interior having a longitudinal axis that is angularly offset from an additional axis that extends perpendicularly relative to a surface of the supporting structure.

23. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing portion includes a substantially cylindrical interior that is not adjustable in position relative to the housing portion and that is defined either by the housing portion or an additional structure coupled to the housing portion, the interior having a central axis that is angularly offset from a perpendicular axis to the supporting structure.

24. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 23 wherein the housing is configured to be connected to the supporting structure via at least one of the following:

a snapping mechanism, an adhesive, a screw, a bolt, Velcro®

, a dove tail, a slot, a recess, and a pair of appendages that clamp onto the supporting structure.

25. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the mounting mechanism includes at least one of a piece of foam, a piece of rubber, a compressible material and a spring to permit adjustment of a distance between the housing portion and the supporting structure based on a gauge thickness of the supporting structure.

26. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25 wherein the snapping mechanism engages an orifice in the housing portion to at least in part secure the housing portion to the supporting structure.

27. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25, wherein the snapping mechanism functions both to receive and engage the sensing device in a mounted position with respect to the supporting structure and to couple the housing portion to the supporting structure.

28. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25 wherein the sensing device is positioned to abut the snapping mechanism when the housing portion is mounted to the support structure so as to create a force that locks the snapping mechanism into place.

29. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25 wherein a flanged portion of the housing portion includes at least one stop to at least partially position and secure the sensing device into the interior.

30. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25, wherein at least one of the following is true:

the sensing device is rotatably coupled to the housing portion or the housing portion is rotatably mounted to the supporting structure; and

the sensing device is coupled to the housing portion using at least one of a slidable coupling, a rotatable coupling, a snap-fit, an adhesive, a screw, and a bolt.

31. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25 wherein the housing portion is configured to be connected to the supporting structure via at least one of the following:

a snapping mechanism, an adhesive, a screw, a bolt, Velcro®

, a dove tail, a slot, a recess, and a pair of appendages that clamp onto the supporting structure.

32. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 25 wherein the housing portion includes a flange portion and the sensing device is rotatably coupled to the flange portion.

33. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing portion comprises multiple housing sections and a swivel ball is located internally with respect to at least one of the multiple housing sections, the sensing device being mounted on the swivel ball.

34. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 33, wherein the swivel ball is located internally with respect to the first of the multiple housing sections, and a second of the multiple housing sections is a flanged portion that is capable of being coupled to the first housing section by way of the snapping mechanism.

35. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 33, further including a threaded component having threads that are complementary to additional threads located on the housing portion, wherein the threaded component is capable of rotating relative to the housing portion.

36. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 33, wherein the sensing device is coupled to the housing portion using at least one of a slidable coupling, a rotatable coupling, a snap-fit, an adhesive, a screw, and a bolt.

37. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 33, wherein the snapping mechanism includes at least one ramped surface portion having at least one ramped surface.

38. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be counted to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing portion includes an interior ridged surface portion for engaging a complementary ridged surface portion of at least one of an additional snapping mechanism and the sensing device.

39. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism, wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing portion further comprises a stem portion having at least one interior snapping structure and a flange portion having at least one interior snapping structure, and wherein the at least one stem portion interior snapping structure and the at least one flange portion interior snapping structure engage complementary notches formed in the sensing device so as to secure the sensing device within the interior of the housing portion.

40. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 39 further comprising a spring positioned in overlay relationship with respect to the sensing device, and wherein the spring, when compressed, pushes the stem portion away from the supporting structure, and acts as a tensioning device to hold, in cooperation with the interior snapping structures, the sensing device and housing portion in a mounted position.

41. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 39, wherein a flanged portion of the housing portion includes at least one stop to at least partially position and secure the sensing device into the interior of the housing portion.

42. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

further comprising a slip nut for engaging a catch mechanism coupled to the sensing device to secure the sensing device in a mounted position with respect to the supporting structure.

43. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 42, wherein the slip nut includes a protrusion and the catch mechanism includes a slot formed within an exterior surface of the sensing device, wherein the slip nut engages the catch mechanism when the protrusion enters the slot.

44. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 43, wherein the slip nut is engaged in relation to the catch mechanism by first moving the slip nut axially toward the supporting structure, then rotating the slip nut relative to the sensing device, and finally allowing the slip nut to move axially away from the supporting structure so that the protrusion is within the slot.

45. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 42, wherein a spring is positioned in between the slip nut and the supporting structure, the spring tending to push the slip nut away from the supporting structure.

46. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 45, wherein the housing portion includes a flanged portion that is configured to abut the supporting structure and from which extends the snapping mechanism, the snapping mechanism capable of being snapped onto the sensing device.

47. A sensor assembly comprising the sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 42 and the sensing device.

48. A sensing device mounting mechanism in combination with a sensing device, the combination comprising:

a sensing device; and

a sensing device mounting mechanism comprising;

a housing mountable to a support structure, the housing defining an interior for receiving and supporting a sensing device, and

means for providing snapping engagement of at least one of the housing to the supporting structure, and the housing to the sensing device,

wherein the housing further comprises a stem portion having a plurality of interior snapping mechanisms and a flange portion having a plurality of interior snapping mechanisms, and wherein the stem portion interior snapping mechanisms and the flange portion interior snapping mechanisms engage complementary notches formed in the sensing device so as to secure the sensing device within the interior of the housing.

49. A sensing device mounting mechanism allowing for a sensing device to be mounted in relation to a supporting structure, the sensing device mounting mechanism comprising:

a housing portion having a first snapping mechanism,

wherein the snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to at least one of the supporting structure, the sensing device, and an additional portion of the sensing device mounting mechanism,

wherein the housing portion includes an interior capable of receiving the sensing device, the interior having a longitudinal axis that is angularly offset from an additional axis that extends perpendicularly relative to a surface of the supporting structure,

wherein the interior is not adjustable in position relative to the housing portion and is defined either by the housing portion or an additional structure coupled to the housing portion.

50. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 49, wherein the housing portion includes a second snapping mechanism in addition to the first snapping mechanism, wherein the first snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to the supporting structure, and the second snapping mechanism allows the housing portion to be coupled to the sensing device.

51. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 49 wherein the snapping mechanism includes at least one ramped surface portion.

52. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 49 wherein the first snapping mechanism is sized to correspond to at least one dimension of the supporting structure.

53. The sensing device mounting mechanism of claim 49 wherein the sensing device is positioned to abut the first snapping mechanism when the housing portion is mounted to the support structure so as to create a force that locks the first snapping mechanism into place.