US3168612A

US3168612A - Mounting adapters for switch cases

Info

Publication number: US3168612A
Application number: US229652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wesley T Sorenson
Original assignee: CARLING ELECTRIC Inc
Current assignee: Carlingswitch Inc
Priority date: 1962-10-10
Filing date: 1962-10-10
Publication date: 1965-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1965 w- TL SORENSON 3,168,612

MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWITCH CASES Filed Oct. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZLMMW ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 w. T. SORENSON 3,168,612

MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWITCH CASES Filed Oct. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 3,168,612 MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWII CH CASES Wesley T. Sorenson, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Carling Electric, Inc., West Hartford, Conn-, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 229,652 9 Claims. (Cl. 17457) This invention relates to mounting elements and more particularly to adapters for attaching electric switch cases to mounting plates.

According to the present invention, there is provided a means for attaching an electrical switch case and its associated button actuator by snap action to a mounting plate, said means comprising a unitary sheet metal element which has been blanked to provide support components and resilient snap components which form an assembly with the switch case.

, Means are provided on the adapter for accommodating the switch case in any one of several different locations on the adapter so that the case may be placed in a desired. position relative to the mounting plate. Thus, the adapter may be utilized for switch cases and their associated actuator buttons which have different sizes and shapes. I

. Certain portions of the adapter are blanked into spring elements which not only perform the function ofv supporting the switch case and adapter assembly in position upon the mounting plate, but also act to enhance the connection between the adapter and the switch case so that the latter is secured firmly in position.

Furthermore, the blanking of the unitary piece of sheet metal in the manner described hereinafter also brings about the formation of an integral flange which lies flush against the outer face of the mounting plate so that the switch button extending therethrough-is surrounded with an ornamental frame.

All of the characteristics of the adapter described hereinabove and hereafter are achieved by the blanking and forming of the various cooperating and functioning elements from a single piece of sheet metal or the like whereby the resulting simple and inexpensivedevice is capable of the multiple functions that are required to be performed. v

Still other objects and advantages of .the invention will be apparent from the specification. b The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principies and as totheir particular embodiments, by reference to the specificationand accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a face portion of a switch mounting plate with a portion of the adapter element of the present invention shown surrounding a typical electric switch. button;

. FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1, some parts being omitted; i FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view' of the device shown in FIG. 2; ,1 FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged exploded perspective rear view of the snap-inadapter together with a fragmentary,

portion of a switch case; p

. FIG. 6 shows the frontelevation ofa-snap-in adapter mounted in'a} switch plate and supporting a plurality of switch buttons, said adapter being another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. '7 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a top view of the device shown in FIG 7; FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of'a portion of FIG. 7; and

United States PatentOfitice 3,168,612 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged perspective exploded rear view of the snap-in adapter shown in FIGS. 6 through 9.

In its preformed condition, a snap-in adapter of the present invention is constituted of a rectangular piece of metal, such as steel, brass, aluminum or the like; which is blanked and formed, usually in a single operation, into a device having a flat rectangular frame portion, generally designated 11, comprising spaced apart side flanges 12 and spaced apart end flanges 13. The flanges lie flat against the outer surface 14 of a switch mounting plate 16. FIGS. 1 through 5.

Extending rearwardly through a rectangular aperture 17 in plate 16 are spaced apart bracket elements 18, each formed integrally with a respective flange 13.

Brackets 18 extend rearwardly of the rear face 19 of plate 16 for a considerable distance and at their respective outer end portions there is integrally formed by blanking or otherwise, a pair of forwardly extending spaced apart spring elements 21, whose free ends are arcuately formed into bows 22 which are extended outwardly from the respective planes of brackets 18. Each bracket 18 and its pair of spring elements 21 have an aggregate width which is very nearly the width between the inner edges of flanges 12 forming the space from which said brackets and springs have been blanked out. Both lateral edges of each bracket element 18 have an array of spaced apart-slots or notches 23, each of the notches along one edge of a bracket being aligned with a corresponding notch on the other edge.

The switch that is to be mounted on switch plate 16 by means of the adapter comprises a rectangular case 26 molded or otherwise formed of nylon, Bakelite or the like. Case 26 has a plurality of terminals 27 extending from the bottom thereof. Mounted on the top and enclosing the interior of case 26 is a sheet metal plate 36,

each end of which has a pair of integral spaced apart arms 32 extending over the opposite sides of said case. The ends of arms 32 are bent inwardly and engage shoulders 33 on case 26 to retain plate 31 in position. FIG. 2. v

Plate 31 has a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending integrally formed brackets 34 which support pin 36 on which switch button 37 is pivotally mounted for manual actuation of the electrical elements inside case 26.; At the juncture between the top and each side of case 26, plate 31 has a pair of short, outwardly extending spaced apart, integrally formed lugs 39 which are adapted to engage a corresponding pair of notches 23 in bracket 18.

In operation, the switch assembly, including case 26.

I plate 31 and button 37, is first mounted upon the adapter by the insertion of pairs of lugs 39 into repesctive pairs of notches 23 in opposite brackets 18. The size and the depth of a particular case 26 and its spatial relation with button 37 will determine which pairs of notches 23 will be selected for engagement by-lugs 39. Button 37 extends through the adapter aperture formed. when brackets 18 were blanked and bent rearwardly. Brackets 18 have a suflicient amount of spring tension to support case 26 therebetween.

Thereafter, the combined adapter and switch assembly are passed through aperture 17 of mounting plate 16 until

flanges

12 and 13 lie flat against the outer surface 14 of said plate and case 26 is suspended between brackets 18 behind rear surface 19 of plate 16. Due to the outward spring tension exerted by elements 21, spring bows 22 are urged against the top and bottom edges, re-

assembly are not only supported firmly within mounting plate 16 :but also inverse pressure is exerted back upon brackets 18, so that the secure engagement between lugs 39 and notches 23 is enhanced. Furthermore, by virtue of the outward curvature of bows 22, the adapter is secured to and removed from plate 16 by spring-like snap action.

FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the same reference numerals are designated for parts which are similar in structure and function, to those in FIGS. 1 through 5, although the comparable parts may differ somewhat in dimensions.

Widenedframe 11 now' contains an array of four switchbuttons 37, two of which are mounted upon switch case 26a and the other two on case 2612. Each. case 26a and'26b contains two sets of switch systems, each of which are operated by respective'button 37.

Here also the adapter is blanked from a unitary piece of sheet metal and formed into a pair of rearwardly extending, spaced apart brackets 41. Each bracket 41 is blanked at intervals to form a plurality of spaced apart spring elements 42; One end of each element 42 is integral with the rear portion of said bracket while the free end thereof extends forwardly and somewhat outwardly toward flange '13. The forward free ends of elements 42 terminate in arcuate bows 43 which engage the inner edges of aperture 17 in the same manner as bows-220i spring elements 21. See FIGS. 4 and 9.

Between selected pairs of spring elements 42, rear-' wardly extending portions 44 of bracket .41 are provided on their edges with a plurality of spaced apart pairs of slots or notches 45, each of said pairs being adapted to accommodate a corresponding pair of lugs 39 extending outwardly from the sides of cases 26a and 26b,

respectively.' Depending upon the depth of cases 26a and 26b and the, size of button 37 and the distance of the latter from the former, particular pairs of notches 45 will be selected for engagement by lugs 39 properly to locate said components relative to mounting plate 16 by means of the snap-in adapter.

Opposing brackets 18 (FIGS. 1-5), as well as opposing brackets 41 (FIGS. 6l0), are originally arranged relative to flange 13 at a particular angle whereby the insertion of the opposite two pairs of lugs 39 into

notches

23 and 45, respectively, causes the outward flexure of 4 to rest against the front face of said mounting plate, said brackets and spring elements extending rearwardly from said plate, the forward ends of said spring elements engaging a pair of' opposing horizontal edges of said aperture by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches formed in each bracket, said notches being formed at varying distances from the forward end of each respective bracket, said notches being selectively engageable by said switch case to be suspended between said brackets in a desired location relative to said mounting plate, said spring elements urging said respective brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween. Y

2. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having an aperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, said member being blanked to form a pair of rearwardly extending spaced apart brackets, at least one spring element blanked fromv each bracket and extending outwardly from the rear end i of said bracket and forwardly toward said plate, the forsaid-brackets and induces a spring or resilient tension therein for firmly supporting

cases

26, 26a and 26b,

respectively, therebetween.

Furthermore, by determining the shape and dimensions of

elements

21 and 42, the outwardly extending spring bows 22 and 43, respectively, engaging mounting plate 16 by snap action will exert inward pressure upon respective brackets 18 and 41 to reinforce the engagement betweenlugs 39 and

notches

23 or 45, respectively.

In some embodiments of the. present invention, the paired

notches

23 or 45 in each bracket 18 or 44, respectively, may be replaced by an interior row of single, spaced apart slots or notches, any one of which is selectively engageable by a single'lug on a corresponding side of a switch case for suspending the latter between said brackets in a desired position relative to the mounting plate. 7 In such an embodiment, it may be desirable to elongate such. substituted slots or notches to accommodate correspondingly widened switch case lugs in order to'enhance the stability of the assembly.

being blanked to form from the central portion thereof a pair of rearwardly extending resilient brackets. integral with said member, said brackets being further blanked to form on each side thereof a pair of resilient spring elements extending outwardly from the rear ends of said brackets and forwardly toward said plate, the remainder of, said. member forming an integral frame formed of a pair of; ver-ticalflanges, and horizontal flanges: adapted ward ends of said spring elements engaging a pair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches in each bracket'formed at varying distances from the inner end thereof, said notches being selectively engageable by a switch case to be suspended between said bracketsin a desired location relative tosaid mounting plate, said spring elements urging said respective brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween.

3. An adapter for attaching a switch case to' a mountingplate having an aperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, said member being blanked to form a pair 'of rearwardly extending spaced apart brackets, at least one spring element blanked from each bracket and extending outwardly from therear end of said bracket and forwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said spring elements engaging a pair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches formed along two side edges of each bracket, said notches being selectively engageable one on each side in pairs by corresponding pairs of switch case elements for suspending said switch case between said brackets in a desired location relative to said mounting plate, said spring elements urging said respective brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of saidswitchcase therebetween.

4. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having an aperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, said member being blanked to form a pair of rearwardly extending spaced apart brackets, a spring element blanked from each edge of each bracket and extending outwardly from the rear end of said bracket and forwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said spring elements engaging a a pair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches formed along two side edges of each bracket, said notches being selectively engageable one on each side in pairs by corresponding pairs of switch case elements for suspending said switch between said brackets in a desired location relative to 7 said mounting plate, said spring elements urgingfsaid respective'brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween.

5. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having an aperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, said'member being blanked to form a pair of spaced apart. brackets extending rearwardly from the resulting central aperture in said member, the remainder of said member surrounding its aperture having the form of a frame'constituted of a pair of end flanges and side flanges integral with each a) other, at least one spring element blanked from each bracket and extending outwardly from the rear end of said bracket and forwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said spring elements engaging a pair of opposed edges of said plate aperture by snap action on one side of said plate to cause said flanges to be urged flat against the other side of said plate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches formed in each bracket at different distances from the inner end thereof, said notches being selectable to cooperate with corresponding elements on a switch case to be suspended between said brackets in a desired location relative to said first mentioned side of said plate, said spring elements urging said respective brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween.

6. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in said mounting plate, a switch case, a plurality of engaging means on each of two sides of said switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, said adapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portion of said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apart, rearwardly extending brackets, a plurality of receiving means on each of said brackets, said engaging means cooperating with said receiving means to mount said case between said brackets, and resilient means on each of said brackets engaging said plate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate and urging said brackets toward each other to ensure the cooperation of said engaging means and said receiving means.

7. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in said mounting plate, a switch case, engaging means on each of two sides of said switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, said adapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portion of said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apart brackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, a plurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, said engaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means to mount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative to said plate, and resilient means on each of said brackets engaging said plate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate and urging said brackets toward each other to ensure the cooperation of said engaging means and said receiving means.

8. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in said mounting plate, a switch case, engaging teams on each of two sides of said switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, said adapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portion of said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apart brackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, a plurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, said engaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means to mount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative to said plate, and resilient means on each of said brackets engaging said plate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate, the shape and dimensions of said resilient means being determined to enhance the cooperation between said engaging means and said receiving means.

9. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in said mounting plate, a switch case, engaging means on each of two sides of said switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, said adapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portion of said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apart brackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, a plurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, said engaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means to mount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative to said plate, and resilient means on each or" said brackets engaging said plate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate and urging the respective brackets inwardly toward each other to enhance the cooperation between said engaging means and said receiving means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,713 5/39 Bentley 17453 2,309,189 1/43 Hancock et al. 24827 2,703,662 3/55 Meyer 248-27 X 2,889,125 6/59 Hart 248-27 2,917,199 12/59 Appleton 220-3.7 3,091,679 5/63 Norden 339128 LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, JOHN F. BURNS, E. JAMES SAX, Examiners.

Claims

2. AN ADAPTER FOR ATTACHING A SWITCH CASE TO A MOUNTING PLATE HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, COMPRISING A MEMBER MADE OF A UNITARY PIECE OF SHEET METAL, SAID MEMBER BEING BLANKED TO FORM A PAIR OF REARWARDLY EXTENDING SPACED APART BRACKETS, AT LEAST ONE SPRING ELEMENT BLANKED FROM EACH BRACKET AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE REAR END OF SAID BRACKET AND FORWARDLY TOWARD SAID PLATE, THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID SPRING ELEMENTS ENGAGING A PAIR OF OPPOSING EDGES OF SAID APERTURE BY SNAP ACTION TO MAINTAIN SAID ADAPTER IN POSITION ON SAID PLATE, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART NOTCHES IN EACH BRACKET FORMED AT VARYING DISTANCES FROM THE INNER END THEREOF, SAID NOTCHES BEING SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE BY A SWITCH CASE TO BE SUSPENDED BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS IN A DESIRED LOCATION RELATIVE TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE, SAID SPRING ELEMENTS URGING SAID RESPECTIVE BRACKETS TOWARDS EACH OTHER TO ENSURE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SWITCH CASE THEREBETWEEN.