Closure fasteners – Bolts – Sliding
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-07
2004-08-03
Estremsky, Gary (Department: 3677)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Sliding
C292S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769724
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for locking interconnected housing parts of a multi-part housing for electric and electronic components and to a multi-part housing.
Housings for electric and electronic components, in particular housings for telecommunications systems, serve for protecting the electric and electronic components against damage and contamination and also against unauthorized intervention, which may destroy or functionally impair the electric or electronic components or even the entire system.
German Utility Model No. DE 92 03 115 U1 discloses a housing for a telecommunications system in the form of a private branch exchange and includes a bottom housing part for accommodating the electronic components and terminals as well as a covering shroud which is secured against unauthorized opening. In order to avoid the situation where the covering shroud can only be opened by a special tool, the covering shroud, on one longitudinal side, has latching elements which interact with complementary latching elements of the bottom part and lock the covering shroud, once placed in position, on one longitudinal side.
On the opposite longitudinal side, the bottom part has a resilient blocking hook which is oriented in the direction of the inside of the associated covering-shroud side wall and, once the covering shroud has been pushed on, penetrates into an inner recess of the side wall and locks the covering shroud. The blocking hook also has a lug provided with an opening, while the bottom part, in the region of the lug, has an opening which allows a tool to be introduced into the opening of the lug, with the result that the blocking hook can be levered out of the recess and releases the covering shroud.
The known device for connecting and locking a covering shroud to a bottom housing part is a configuration that requires a high outlay and requires comparatively laborious handling for unlocking the covering shroud, using a tool which is necessary for this purpose. In addition, the known locking device is only suitable for respectively intended housing sizes and shapes, since precise coordination is necessary between the blocking hook and the opening in the bottom housing part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for locking housing parts that are connected to one another which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which is easy to produce and install, and which is suitable for universal use for different housing sizes and shapes, and the locking of which can be blocked easily and reliably and without the use of special tools.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, in combination with a multi-part housing configured to accommodate electric components and electronic components, the multi-part housing having a first housing part and at least a second housing part, the first housing part having an opening formed therein and being connectable to the second housing part, a device for locking the first housing part and the second housing part to one another, including:
a locking element inserted into the opening of the first housing part, the locking element being configured to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position;
the locking element, if in the locking position, connecting the first housing part to the second housing part in a form-locking and/or a force-locking manner;
the locking element, if in the unlocking position, releasing a connection between the first housing part and the second housing part; and
a blocking element connected to the locking element, the blocking element blocking the locking element from being adjusted at least in the locking position.
In other words, a device for locking interconnected housing parts of a multi-part housing for electric and electronic components, having a locking element which is inserted into an opening of a first housing part and, in a locking position, connects the first housing part to at least a second housing part in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner and, in an unlocking position, releases the connection between the first and second housing parts, wherein the locking element is connected to a blocking element, which blocks the adjustability of the locking element at least in the locking position.
The solution according to the invention is easy to produce and install since it is not necessary to keep to specific tolerances and the locking and blocking functions are separated from one another. On account of its straightforward mechanism, the locking and blocking device according to the invention can be used universally for different housing sizes and shapes, and the locking can be blocked easily and reliably without special tools being required, since separating the locking and blocking functions makes it possible for the locking device to be blocked only in certain positions, in which the housing parts either are fully locked or, for separation of the housing parts, are fully unlocked. Likewise on account of the functions being separated, it is possible for the blocking device to be configured such that it can be operated without special tools, although the blocking function cannot be eliminated by unintended handling.
The locking element is preferably inserted into a slot-like opening of the first housing part in a form-locking manner, such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, while the blocking element brings parts of the locking element into force-locking abutment against sections of the lateral borders of the opening of the first housing part, the borders running essentially parallel to one another in the displacement direction of the locking element.
A device for blocking the possible displacement of the locking element at least in a force-locking manner allows the locking element to be blocked in each position on its displacement path within the opening of the first housing part and ensures a straightforward configuration of the blocking element for performing the blocking function.
The locking element preferably has an actuating surface, which butts against the outer wall of the first housing part, and a sliding and arresting body, which engages through the opening of the first housing part and is configured, in particular, as a hollow body with sliding elements which butt against the lateral borders of the opening in the first housing part and are part of wall sections of the sliding and arresting body which run parallel to the lateral borders of the opening of the first housing part.
This configuration of the locking element allows a straightforward configuration and connection of the locking element to the relevant housing part and provides for straightforward and space-saving accommodation of the blocking element.
For this purpose, the wall sections of the sliding and arresting body can be moved perpendicularly to the displacement direction, while, in the locking position, the blocking element, inserted into the locking element, brings the sliding elements of the movable wall sections into force-locking abutment against the lateral opening borders.
In order to enhance the blocking action and to ensure that the blocking function can only be activated in defined positions of the locking element, in particular in the locking and unlocking positions, the movable wall sections of the sliding and arresting body are provided with latching protrusions such that, when the sliding and arresting body is plugged into the opening of the first housing part, the movable wall sections slide along the lateral opening borders and, once the latching protrusions have been overcome, the locking element is connected to the first housing part in a form-locking manner and the sliding elements butt against the lateral opening borders, with the result that the sliding elements, configured as sliding webs, in predetermined positions of the locking element, latch in notches of
DeTeWe-Deutsche Telephonwerke Aktiengesellschaft & Co.
Estremsky Gary
Mayback Gregory L.
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