Housing with self-mounting feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9366281-B2
Application number	US-201314071978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2013
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A housing with a self-mounting feature is provided. The housing includes a base that is configured to define a hook that cooperates with a back side of a panel and a first edge of an opening of the panel to secure the housing to a front side of the panel. The housing further includes a retainer that is operable to an un-engaged position and an engaged position. The retainer is configured to define a blocker portion that cooperates with a second edge of the opening to keep the hook adjacent to the first edge when the retainer is in the engaged position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A housing configured to be secured to a front side of a panel, wherein the panel defines a back side opposite the front side, and an opening through the panel, wherein the opening defines a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, said housing comprising:
a base that defines a hook for cooperating with the back side and the first edge to secure the housing to the front side; and
a retainer attached to the base and operable to an un-engaged position and an engaged position, wherein the retainer defines both a blocker portion for cooperating with the second edge to keep the hook adjacent to the first edge when the retainer is in the engaged position and a wing extending laterally from opposite sides of the retainer that cooperates with an exposed surface of the base to keep the retainer from being dislodged from the base, wherein the base further defines a clip portion that engages a first slot in the retainer to lock the retainer in the un-engaged position and engages a second slot in the retainer to lock the retainer in the engaged position.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the clip portion defines an indentation configured to allow for access to disengage the clip portion from the second slot.

3. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a cover that attaches to the base, wherein the cover defines a stop for cooperating with a back surface of the blocker portion to keep an upper surface of the blocker portion engaged with the second edge.

4. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the base further defines a boss for contacting the front side and cooperating with the weight of the base to align a vertical surface of the hook with the back side.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Inc

Inventors

• Garay Leon E
• Alvidrez Aldo Ricardo
• Morales Jesus R

Classifications

• B60R2011/0059

  using clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• F16B5/0664

  at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• Y10T403/581

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60R2011/0038

  Engine compartment · CPC title

• B60R16/0238

  Electrical distribution centers · CPC title