US3794278A

US3794278A - Instrument supporting device

Info

Publication number: US3794278A
Application number: US00216400A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Frey; D Gaa
Original assignee: Bourns Inc
Current assignee: Bourns Inc
Priority date: 1972-01-10
Filing date: 1972-01-10
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26
Also published as: NL7206782A; JPS4878460A; JPS5524079B2; GB1340995A; FR2167482A5

Abstract

An instrument supporting device adapted to be pressed directly into a hole or aperture in a panel of any of a plurality of thicknesses and secure therein or thereto any of a variety of instruments, the support device automatically compensating for wear caused by vibration or repetitive removal and reinsertion into the hole in the panel, and permitting easy removal of the support from the panel without twisting or turning. A plurality of stepped resilient fingers or limbs are resiliently stressed inwardly as the support enters the aperture, and spring outwardly to engage the aperture-edge of the panel at the rear thereof and retain a portion of the support tightly against the front face of the panel. Key means may engage in a seat in the panel edge to preclude rotation of the support in the aperture. Preferably the resilient limbs are provided in two or more sets, each set being of different configuration whereby to accommodate a wider variety of panel gages.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Frey, Jr. et al.

[.1 11 3,794,278 1451 Feb. 26, 1974 l l INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING DEYICE [75] lnventors:' Sydney W. Frey, Jr-, Upland;

Donald L. Gaa, Riverside, both of Calif. I

[73] Assignee: Bourns, Inc, Riverside, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 216,400

Primary E) caminerWilliam l-l. schultz Attorney, Agent, 0r Firr71 Willia m G. Becker ABSTRACT pressed directly into ahole or aperture in a panel of anyof a plurality of thicknesses andsecure therein or thereto any of a variety of instruments, the support device automatically compensating for wearc aused by vibration or repetitive removal and reinsertion into the hole in the panel, and permitting easy removal of the support from the panel without twisting or turning. A plurality of stepped resilient fingers or limbs are resiliently stressed inwardly as the support enters the aperture, and spring outwardly to engage the apertureedge of the panel at the rear thereof and retain a portion of the support tightly against the front face of the panel. Key means may engage in a seat in the panel edge to preclude rotation of the support in the aperture. Preferably the resilient limbs are provided in two or more sets, each set being of different configuration gages.

' 1 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures panel were automatically Compensated.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS In respect of certain details of the disclosure herein contained, this disclosure is related to that comprised in application for Letters Patent of Sydney W. Frey, Jr. entitled DIGITAL INDICATING KNOB-ENCLOSED MULTI-TURN POTENTIOMETER,'Ser. No. 216,520, filed concurrently herewith, to which reference may be made as may be required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION a. The Prior Art There are known in the prior art a number of socalled snap-in mounting devices, either formed integrally with an instrument housing or support, or formed as a separate device adapted to have an instrument or the like secured thereto, and all devised to be pressed into an aperture in a flat thin panel and be therein retained by hooks or claws or the like that engage the rear face of the panel. An example of such devices, adapted to support a variable resistor or the like, is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,500,282. The prior-art devices were each designed to be used with a panelof a single specific thickness and were unsatisfactory for use with panels of other thickness. Further, there was no provision for-compensation due to wearthat occurred in instances wherein the panel was subject to vibration. It is evident that it would be of value if a device of the noted character could be used with a panel of any of several standard thicknesses, and of further value if any wearing of the device at the region of contact with the b. The Present Invention As illustrated herein in a preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is used to support a multi-tum precision potentiometer, which is a typical panelmounted instrument. The invention is in the form of a cup-like device adapted to encircle and protect a portion of the supported device, and in the preferred form, support the instrument by attachment of the base or floor of the cup-like instrument supporting device to .the base of the supported'instrument, which in the illustration is a knob-enclosed potentiometer. Other modes of attachment may be employed as will become evident as the description proceeds. The generally cylindrical body portion of the device or cup terminates at its forward end in a peripheral rim or flange that is dimensioned and shaped to abut against the front face of a panel adjacent the aperture. The cup body is interrupted at spaced locations to provide longitudinal openings or recesses between the base and rim of the device, to provide'clearance for respective limbs comprised in sets of resilient limbs spaced around the body and each integral with the base and extending for wardly toward the rim and outwardly, and having at its,

. 2 The resilient limbs of the device are integral with the body of the device at the base and are so formed and constructed as to diverge outwardly away'from the longitudinal openings or interruptions in the body of the device when free, whereby when the device is forced, base first, through the receiving aperture in a panel, the

limbs are forced or cammed inwardly toward the axis of the aperture, and stressed, by cam action of the aperture wall on the inclined outer surfaces of the limbs, until one or more of shoulders of the steps at the ends of the limbs pass through the aperture and are free to spread outwardly to the. extent permitted by the next step of the series. The device is thus pressed or: forced inwardly into the panel aperture until the flange or rim contacts the front face of the panel. At the termination of that movement, one of the inclined faces of the-steps on the outer face of each of the limbs of at least one set of limbs engages the rear corner edge of the panel at the aperture. The engaged curved faces of the steps of the limbs exert forces on the panel that tend to pull or draw the device rearwardly, and hence serve to insure that the rim is firmly seated against the face of the panel. Further, since the risers and treads'of the steps are not right-angled, but are inclined relative to both the axis through the aperture and the rear face of the panel, thelimbs not only effect a secure locking of the device in the aperture but also automatically'accommodate the limbs to a panel of any of a plurality; of thicknesses or gages. Further, due to the. continuing stress set up in the limbs during the insertion of the device into the aperture, the limbs automatically spring outwardly and compensate for any wearing at thefrisers. or treads of the steps due to contact with the panel. Additionally, since the corners or lines of any particular juncture between the riser and tread portions of a selected step on each of the limbs coincide with a circle. only when the limbs are fully splayed out and free, the rear marginal corner of the panel at the aperture is not enga ed by'the entire arc of the riser or tread of the of limbs being individually designed and adapted for accommodation of any panel comprised in a respective family of panel thicknesses .or gages between a designed minimum and maximum limits. However, as will I be evident, a single 'set of two or three limbs is sufficient to provide for secure snap-in attachment of an instrument to a panel of any of a variety of gages. Further, while the inclined risers and treads of the resilient limbs are preferably formed along arcs of circles all of diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the panel, that is, formed along arcs coincident with circles when thelimbs are in outermost and fully splayed 'positions, the limbs may be formed in position in their respective body openings or interruptions and with the step surfaces on arcs of circles of larger diameter than that of any aperture in which the device is to be used, and the limbs subsequently deformed outwardly under influence of heat and force so as to occupy positions outside the circular outline of any such aperture, it is evident that most superior results are attained with the preferred form of the device herein disclosed in detail strument in an aperture in any of panels of differing thicknesses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily-removable snap-in instrument supporting device for mounting an instrument in an aperture in a panel, which device automatically compensates for wearing .incident to moving contact with the panel.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an instrument supporting device comprising a rim portion for abutting the front face of a panel adjacent an aperture in the panel and having a rearwardly-extending body with forwardly-extending free-ended resilient cantilever limbs, the forward ends of which are stepped to engage the panel at the rear edge of the aperture and draw the rim portion snugly against the face of the panel irrespective that the panel may be of any of several different thicknesses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter be set out or made evident in the appended claims and detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial view, to no specific scale, depicting the presently-preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of the invention depicted in FIG.- 1, with portions sectioned and with an instrument nested in and supported by the device, the scale being somewhat enlarged and one feature exaggerated in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a rear face view of the device depicted in FIG. 1, to'enlarged'scale; J

FlG.'.4 is a front face view of the device depicted in FIG. 1, to enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, greatly enla'rged, showing a detail of the stepped end of a resilient limb of the device depicted in FIG. 1, with other portions of the device; and

FIG. 6 is a fragementary enlarged sectional view illustrating details of the coaction of the device of the invention with a portion of an instrument supporting panel. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The device according to the invention, depicted in a preferred form in the drawings, and therein denoted generally by the number 10, is preferably formed of glass-fiber filled thermoplastic synthetic resinous material such as nylon or polytetrafluorethylene or similar material, by injection-molding techniques well known in the plastics molding industry. The device 10 is formed with a flange or rim 10f of outer dimension or diameter somewhat in excess of the dimension or diameter of the panel aperture or hole into which the device is to fit, for example, one and one-eighth inch diameter in the case of a l-inch diameter panel aperture. As is indicated in FIG. 2, the rear face of the flange or rim of the exemplary device is adapted to repose in intimate contact with the front face of a panel P. The device 10 comprises a body portion 10c that terminates at its rear in a base 10b. The body portion is formed with sets of longitudinally-extending interruptions herein shown as openings, such as l0e, preferably uniformly spaced apart around the body. Aligned with respective ones of the interruptions and partly extending thereinto, are resilient cantilever limbs such as 10w, 10x, 10y, and-102, which as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 merge at their rear ends with the body portion and base 10b. The resilient limbs shown are comprised in sets, limbs 10:: and 102 in one set and 10w. and 10y in another set. Excepting their specially-shaped forward ends, all of the limbs may be otherwise identical. Each of the limbs is of width less than the opening or interruption into which it may-be pressed or forced in the manner of a cantilever beam spring anchored at its rear end; each of the openings such as l0e being dimensioned to comfortably receive its respective cantilever limb without frictional contact. As will be made evident, all of the limbs may be identical and thus be comprised in only one set of limbs; or, as is preferred and shown, are paired into two sets in each of which sets the limbs are alike but different from those of the other set.

As is indicated in the drawings and previous summary, the body 100 of the device 10 is adapted to be pressed into an aperture such as that indicated at A in FIG. 2, the limbs resiliently entering into their respect'ive interruptions or openings lOe as their curved outer surfaces contact and are cammed inwardly by the surface or edge corner of the panel in the aperture. The aperture A is shown exaggerated in diameter, in he interest of clarity. It is made only slightly greater in outline dimension or diameter than the outer outline dimension or diameter of the body 10c of the device immediately rearwardly of rim or flange 10f.

The forward ends of the resilient cantilever limbs are each formed with a plurality of steps the risers and treads of which are inclinded relative to the direction of the longitudinal-axis of the device and are inclined also relative to'the rear surface of the panel with which the limbs are in part adapted to coact, as is indicated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. The principles of coaction of the steps of the limbs with the corner or marginaledge of the panel around the aperture are substantially-the same for all the limbs, hence the relationship of only one will be described in detail. As the device is pressed or forced home in aperture A of panel P (FIG. 6), in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure, the

panel surface in the aperture is engaged by the curved identical.

. movement of the limbs. The action continues until flange f contacts the panel. At that stage of the movement, one or another of the inclined surfaces such as R1, R2,-et c. is left in contact with the rear corner edge of the panel at the aperture, as shown, for example in FIG. 6 wherein the inclined riser R2 of a step is in contact with the corner edge of the panel P at aperture A. The limb 101, there shown in fragmentary form, is urged radially outwardly (downwardly in the figure), and hence acts to lock the device with the flange or rim seated against the front face of the panel. The locking effect is illustrated in FIG. 2. As is indicated in FIG. 6, while a different one of the inclined faces of the steps will become the active locking surface is different thicknesses of panel, such as of minimum thickness T2, or maximum thickness T3, or any'intermediate thickness, e.g., T1, are encountered, the action is the same.

As is evident, with different sets of the resilient limbs formed with respectively differently dimensioned step formations, a greater range of panel gages can be accommodated by the device. For example, referringto FIGS. 3 and 4, if one set of the limbs, such as 10. and

FIG. 5 and'another set such as .10w and 10y is formed quate to lock the device to a panel, and a larger range of gages or thicknesses of panels may be accommodated. Obviously, in some instances limbsof both sets may concurrently act to lock'or secure the device on the panel, and it is evident that, for example, the step formations on all of the limbs of the devicemay be While two sets of limbs, each set comprising a plurality of limbs, have. been illustrated, it is evident that a single set of three identical limbs will effectively act to secure the device to a panel, as would two sets each comprising three limbs, or other plural-limbsets. A single set of two limbs has been foundto be effective, since the flange 10f is effective to prevent wobbling of 40 the device in the aperture.

It will be noted that with the limbs free, as depicted in F IG. 1, and with the face corners of the risers and treads formed to coincide with respective circles of progressively changing diametral dimensions indicated,

the limbs and steps when forced inwardly will not presem to the rear corner edge of the panel at the aperture, step surfaces of the same radii as that'of the aperture, since the radial distance of the step from the axis has decreased. As a consequence, each'limb will contact the panel only at and immediately adjacent its side edges, such as at the locations indicated at E1 and E2 in F IG. 1, and not at any portion of the riser'or tread of the step between those locations. Thus, as possible wearing and abrasions occurs, as may be caused by frequent removal and replacement of the device in the aperture, the wear occurs at the locations such as E1 and E2 and the contacting surface area of the riser. or tread of the step merely becomes somewhat wider but does not adversely affect the locking action of the inclinedstep resilient limbs.

To aid in orienting the device and an attached instrument in a particular desired attitude relative to the' panel, the device is formed with an external key or ridge 10!: (FIG. 1), dimensioned to be snugly received in an appropriately located notch in the periphery of aperture A in the panel. Additionally, the base lQb is t of electrical terminals or leads, or other means'extending from the instrument to be supported. Also, the base is formed with specially located and/or specially shaped and spaced-apart key holes, such as 10k, adapted to receive complementary and complementarily spacedapart rearwardly-extending fastener pins protruding from the rear of the instrument case. The pins may be specially oriented as shown in FIG. 3 and may be thermoplastic and thus may be heat-swaged over the base 10b adjacent the respective key holes, to firmly secure the instrument I (FIG. 2) to the device 10, as shown and described more completely in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 216,520 now US. Pat. No. 3,757,732 of Sydney W. Frey, Jr. Thus an instrument, which may snugly fit inside the body of the device, may be firmly but .removably affixed to the panel by merely pressing the device home in the aperture. As is evident, the instrument I may be permanently affixed to device 10 as indicated, or by other means such as adhesive,

prior to insertion of the device into the aperture in the panel. Thus'affixing the instrument to a panel in adesired oriented attitude, secure against loosening by vibration, etc., is reduced to the simple act of pressing the assembled instrument and mounting device 10 into the aperture in a panel. Removal of the device from the panel is easily accomplished by pressing a cylindrical tube, of internal diameter or area and dimensions equal to that of the aperture A, forwardly'over-the resilient limbs so as to move the stepped ends inwardly out of contact with the panel, and pulling the instrument and device forwardly out of the tube and panel aperture.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of our inventionin detail, we claim:

1. An instrument supporting device for detachably supporting an instrument in an aperture in a panel, said device comprising:

a front rim portion to abut against the front face of a panel adjacent an aperture in the panel;

a body portion integral with said rim portion], of configuration complementary to the aperture and dimensioned to extend through and rearwardly beyond the-aperture, the, body portion terminating at a rear end and having a plurality of longitudinallyextending spaced-apart interruptions therein between the front rimportion and the rear end; and

a plurality of resilient cantilever limbs spaced around said body portion and each integral with said body portion at a respective location rearwardly from said rim portion and extending forwardly from that location and outwardly away from the body portion toward said rim portion and each having a free end least first and second sets thereof each of the setscircular aperture in a panel.

3. An instrument supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said limbs are uniformly spaced around the circumference of said body portion, and in which said interruptions are in the form of longitudinally-extending openings in said body portions.

4. An instrument supporting device for detachably supporting an instrument in an aperture in a panel, said device comprising:

a body portion integral with said rim portion, of configuration complementary to the aperture and dimensioned to extend through and rearwardly beyond the aperture, the body portion terminating at a rear end and having a plurality of longitudinallyextending spaced-apart interruptions therein between the front rim portion and the rear end; and

a plurality of resilient cantilever limbs spaced around saidbody portion and each integral with said body portion at a respective location rearwardly from said rim portion and extending forwardly from that location and outwardly away from the body portion toward said rim portion and each having a free end rearwardly of said rim portion;

said body portion having interruptions therein for accommodating radial inward movement of the free ends of respective ones of said resilient limbs incident to movement of the body portion into and through the aperture in a panel,

said resilient limbs each having a plurality of inclined steps on the free end thereof positioned and shaped to present a forwardly and inwardly inclined surface to the rear marginal edge at the aperture in a panel of any of a plurality of different thickness dimensions;

and said rear end' of said device being in the form of a base parallel to said rim portion, said base having apertures therein for reception of attachment means for an instrument, and said body portion being of spatial configuration adapted to receive and support an instrument attached to said base.

whereby said device may be quickly, easily and firmly attached and removed from apertured panels of various different thicknesses.

7 :UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CERTIFICATE 'OF CORRECTION Patent No. -43, 794, 278 Dated February 26, 1974 Inventor(5) Sydney W. Frey, Ir. and Donald L. Gaa

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, Line 57, "fragementary" should read -fragmentary-..

Column 4, Line 41, "he" should read the-. Column 4, Line 49, "inclinded" should read "inclined- Column 5, Line 14, "is" should read if- Column 8, Line 25, "base. should read base,

Signed and sealed this 12th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) 1 USCOMM DC 6o376 p69 w v.5, covznmazu'r PRINTING OFYFICE I969 0-366-334

Claims

1. An instrument supporting device for detachably supporting an instrument in an aperture in a panel, said device comprising: a front rim portion to abut against the front face of a panel adjacent an aperture in the panel; a body portion integral with said rim portion, of configuration complementary to the aperture and dimensioned to extend through and rearwardly beyond the aperture, the body portion terminating at a rear end and having a plurality of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart interruptions therein between the front rim portion and the rear end; and a plurality of resilient cantilever limbs spaced around said body portion and each integral with said body portion at a respective location rearwardly from said rim portion and extending forwardly from that location and outwardly away from the body portion toward said rim portion and each having a free end rearwardly of said rim portion; said body portion having interruptions therein for accommodating radial inward movement of the free ends of respective ones of said resilient limbs incident to movement of the body portion into and through the aperture in a panel, and said resilient limbs each having a plurality of inclined steps on the free end thereof positioned and shaped to present a forwardly and inwardly inclined surface to the rear marginal edge at the aperture in a panel of any of a plurality of different thickness dimensions, and said limbs comprising at least first and second sets thereof each of the sets comprising at least two limbs and the inclined steps of the limbs of any set thereof differing in dimensional spacing from said rim portion from the dimensional spacing of the inclined steps of the limbs of another set thereof, whereby said device may be quickly, easily and firmly attached and removed from apertured panels of various different thicknesses.

2. An instrument supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said device is of generally circular configuration and thereby adapted to be mounted in a circular aperture in a panel.

4. An instrument supporting device for detachably supporting an instrument in an aperture in a panel, said device comprising: a front rim portion to abut against the front face of a panel adjacent an aperture in the panel; a body portion integral with said rim portion, of configuration complementary to the aperture and dimensioned to extend through and rearwardly beyond the aperture, the body portion terminating at a rear end and having a plurality of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart interruptions therein between the front rim portion and the rear end; and a plurality of resilient cantilever limbs spaced around said body portion and each integral with said body portion at a respective location rearwardly from said rim portion and extending forwardly from that location and outwardly away from the body portion toward said rim portion and each having a free end rearwardly of said rim portion; said body portion having interruptions therein for accommodating radial inward movement of the free ends of respective ones of said resilient limbs incident to movement of the body portion into and through the aperture in a panel, said resilient limbs each having a plurality of inclined steps on the free end thereof positioned and shaped to present a forwardly and inwardly inclined surface to the rear marginal edge at the aperture in a panel of any of a plurality of different thickness dimensions; and said rear end of said device being in the form of a base parallel to said rim portion, said base having apertures therein for reception of attachment means for an instrument, and said body portion being of spatial configuration adapted to receive and support an instrument attached to said base. whereby said device may be quickly, easily and firmly attached and removed from apertured panels of various different thicknesses.