LED indicator retaining device

Details LED indicator retaining device LED indicator retaining device

1999-11-10

2002-03-26

Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)

Supports

Instrument in panel

C248S027300, C024S545000, C024S563000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06360999

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for retaining an electronic device on a casing, and in particular to a device for directly mounting a light emitting diode (LED) indicator to a computer enclosure which effectively prevents the LED indicator from being damaged by sharp edges of the enclosure.
2. The Prior Art
The rapid development of electronics requires an increasing number of electronic devices to be retained in a single casing or enclosure. Among the electronic devices, indicators are the ones that are frequently fixed to the casing directly. The most commonly used indicators are LED-based indicators. An example of a conventional way for mounting an LED indicator to an enclosure is shown in
FIG. 1
of the attached drawings. A retainer
11
defines a central bore
12
into which an LED
17
is tightly fit. The retainer
11
is in turn fit in a hole
15
defined in an enclosure
13
. The retainer
11
forms barbs
14
that engage with an edge of the hole
15
for securely fixing the retainer
11
in the hole
15
. The use of retainer
11
increases additional steps in the assembly process and also increases costs.
FIGS. 2 and 3
show another example of mounting an LED indicator
27
to an enclosure
25
. A retainer comprises a conic portion
21
and a base
23
with a circumferential groove
22
defined therebetween. The conic portion
21
facilitates insertion of the retainer into a hole
26
defined in the enclosure
25
with an edge of the hole
26
received in the groove
22
thereby securely fixing the retainer to the enclosure
25
. The LED
27
has conductors
29
inserted into and retained in holes
24
defined in the conic portion
21
for electrical connection with wires
20
extending into the retainer. The use of the retainer increases costs and complicates the assembly process.
It is thus desired to provide an LED indicator retaining device that overcomes the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an LED indicator retaining device for directly mounting an LED indicator to an enclosure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an LED indicator retaining device that effectively prevents sharp edges of an enclosure from damaging the LED indicator.
To achieve the above objects, an LED indicator retaining device in accordance with the present invention for retaining an LED indicator on a computer enclosure comprises a hole defined in a panel of the enclosure for receiving the LED indicator therein. The hole has a circumferential edge along which a perpendicular flange is formed for surface contacting and thus securely retaining the LED indicator. Two radially-extending slits are defined in the panel in communication with the hole thereby forming a resilient tab therebetween. A nominal diameter of the hole is substantially corresponding to or slightly smaller than a diameter of the LED indicator whereby when the LED indicator is inserted into the hole, the resilient tab is deflected and thus applies a biasing force to the LED indicator for securely retaining the LED indicator. A round corner is formed between the flange and the edge of the hole for avoiding damaging the LED indicator and for guiding the LED indicator into the hole.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1882306 (1932-10-01), Tinnerman
patent: 2260048 (1941-10-01), Newell
patent: 2347863 (1944-05-01), Woodward
patent: 3084962 (1963-04-01), Feuerbacher
patent: 3170213 (1965-02-01), Thomas, Jr.
patent: 4447106 (1984-05-01), Houtz et al.
patent: 4699278 (1987-10-01), Klein
patent: 4813885 (1989-03-01), Colleran et al.
patent: 5243153 (1993-09-01), Holwerda
patent: 5794394 (1998-08-01), Bill et al.

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