Arrangement for connecting a device's front panel

• US 7,575,204 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Paucker, Juergen, Kirner, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDuffie; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/739,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 361679-683, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 248/27.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0047 using hidden fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like

Abstract

According to the invention, several outward-projecting tongues are formed on the built-in housing part of a parallelepipedal built-in unit and a frame whose inner width is greater than the mounting dimension of the built-in housing, is configured on the front panel that is to be fixed on the built-in housing part. Grooves which are allocated to the tongues and corresponding sliding surfaces are formed on the interior of the frame, the grooves and surfaces cooperating with certain elasticity in the frame to form a one-way snap-on connection.

Claims

1. An arrangement for connecting a front outer panel of a device, comprising:

a housing for accommodating said device therein, said housing including wails defining an internal cavity and front opening, said front opening defining a perimeter; and

a number of elevated tabs affixed to and extending away from said perimeter at substantially right angles;

wherein said front outer panel comprises a frame, said frame being wider than said perimeter and comprising a number of grooves for accommodating said tabs, said grooves being sized to mate with said tabs, wherein said perimeter includes a top and a bottom wall extending at substantially right angles away from said perimeter, wherein said tabs are affixed to said top wall and said bottom wall and wherein said housing is configured to retain the device at a location within, and the device and the front outer panel mate at a mating plane offset inwardly from a plane of the outer perimeter of the front outer panel.

15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said number of grooves equals said number of elevated tabs.

16. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a number of sliding surfaces located proximate to said grooves so as to facilitate accommodating of said tabs within said grooves.

18. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises metal and said tabs comprise plastic.

19. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said tabs further comprise locking flanks arranged at substantially right angles to an installation direction, said flanks facilitating locking of said frame to said housing via said tabs.

2. An arrangement for connecting a front panel of a device, comprising:

a housing for accommodating said device therein, said housing including walls defining an internal cavity and front opening, said front opening defining a perimeter; and

a number of elevated tabs affixed to and extending away from said perimeter at substantially right angles;

wherein said panel comprises a frame, said frame being wider than said perimeter and comprising a number of grooves for accommodating said tabs, said grooves being sized to mate with said tabs, wherein said perimeter includes a top and a bottom wall extending at substantially right angles way from said perimeter, wherein said frame includes a number of sliding surfaces located proximate to said grooves so as to facilitate accommodating of said tabs within said grooves, and wherein said sliding surfaces are upstream from said grooves in an installation direction.

11. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said number of grooves equals said number of elevated tabs.

12. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said tabs are affixed to said top wall and said bottom wall.

13. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said housing comprises metal and said tabs comprise plastic.

14. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said tabs further comprise locking flanks arranged at substantially right angles to an installation direction, said flanks facilitating locking of said frame to said housing via said tabs.

3. An arrangement for connecting a front panel of a device, comprising:

a housing for accommodating said device therein, said housing including walls defining an internal cavity and front opening, said front opening defining a perimeter; and

a number of elevated tabs affixed to and extending away from said perimeter at substantially right angles;

wherein said panel comprises a frame, said frame being wider than said perimeter and comprising a number of grooves for accommodating said tabs, said grooves being sized to mate with said tabs, wherein said panel further comprises a number of front openings for accommodating an elongated clamp therein, said openings providing access to locking members for locking said device within said housing, wherein said locking members comprise a U shaped component, said housing comprises a number of component grooves equal to a number of U shaped components, and said U shaped components are accommodated within said component grooves when said device is locked within said housing.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said number of grooves equals said number of elevated tabs.

5. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said perimeter includes a top and a bottom wall extending at substantially right angles away from said perimeter.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein said tabs are affixed to said top wall and said bottom wall.

7. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein said frame includes a number of sliding surfaces located proximate to said grooves so as to facilitate accommodating of said tabs within said grooves.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein said sliding surfaces are upstream from said grooves in an installation direction.

9. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said housing comprises metal and said tabs comprise plastic.

10. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said tabs further comprise locking flanks arranged at substantially right angles to an installation direction, said flanks facilitating locking of said frame to said housing via said tabs.

17. An arrangement for connecting a front panel of a device, comprising:

a housing for accommodating said device therein, said housing including walls defining an internal cavity and front opening, said, front opening defining a perimeter; and

a number of elevated tabs affixed to and extending away from said perimeter at substantially right angles;

wherein said panel comprises a frame, said frame being wider than said perimeter and comprising a number of grooves for accommodating said tabs, said grooves being sized to mate with said tabs, wherein said perimeter includes a top and a bottom wail extending at substantially right angles away from said perimeter, wherein said tabs are affixed to said top wall and said bottom wall, wherein said sliding surfaces are upstream from said grooves in an installation direction.