Joints and connections – Manually releaseable latch type – Spring biased manipulator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2002-12-24
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Manually releaseable latch type
Spring biased manipulator
C403S363000, C403S321000, C403S326000, C403S327000, C439S110000, C439S116000, C439S121000, C439S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06497529
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical device comprising a support rail equipped with a locking end, a part that can be snapped onto the support rail and that includes, in a rear panel, at least one compression spring with an axis orthogonal to the length of the support rail, arranged in a housing which opens onto the locking end of the support rail and offers a stop for the spring.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Snapping electrical devices onto rails such as standardised sections is well known. The use of helical compression springs that can be applied directly onto the edge of the rail is also known, e.g. according to the document FR-2 551 807. The springs are generally assembled in their housing by inserting them via an opening on the rear of the device by forcing walls of the housing. The fact that the housing remains open at the rear of the device results in a risk of the spring being extracted from its housing, when non-axial strain is applied on the spring. Such non-axial strain is frequently encountered when devices are assembled or disassembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the invention is to prevent the risk of extraction of the compression springs used in electrical devices to lock them onto support rails such as standardised sections, in a low production cost solution.
According to the invention, the housing opens onto the outside, opposite the rail locking edge, via an opening used for the axial insertion of the spring for its assembly and the housing comprises a spring support bearing surface opposite the stop, this bearing surface being inactive during the insertion of the spring and rendered active after the insertion of the spring.
The bearing surface may be provided either on an elastic housing wall co-operating with a plain helical spring, e.g. by means of a ramped tongue and locking jaw or by means of a locking frame, or on a cavity of the device casing co-operating with a special helical spring, with, in this case, this spring being equipped with a transversal catch set to the locking position by a rotation.
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Comtois Patrick
Garcia Jose
Larcher Patrick
Moreux Alain
Browne Lynne H.
Ferguson Michael P
Schneider Electric Industries SA
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