US3575546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Header and shell encasement for electronic components and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Electronic components are mounted to the back side of a plastic header having electrical connectors passing therethrough. The resulting header is snapped into place in the mouth of a closely fitting plastic shell to complete the enclosure of the electronic components. The header and shell are manufactured from strong, resilient plastic. The header-shell combination includes detent means positioned along one pair of opposite edges which continuously exert a camming action which compresses a peripheral inner face of the header against an opposing shoulder on the shell to provide a compression seal. Once snapped, however, it is extremely difficult to remove the header from the shell. In a preferred method utilizing the novel header and shell, the shell is initially partially filled with a hardenable liquid. When the header and components are snapped in place, the components are embedded in the hardenable liquid. The resulting assembly is immediately ready for shipment, storage, or use, without curing delay, or further special handling.
Inventors
- 👤 James P Liautaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:40
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/0091; H05K5/0095; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
As an article of manufacture, a two-component preformed plastic electronic component container comprising: a mating shell and header and detent maintaining said header in said shell, the header having electrical connectors passing therethrough and sealed therein, said header having an inner face and an outer face, the shell having a rectangular mouth with an opening receiving the header therein, said shell having seating means around the entirety of said mouth providing a surface against which a peripheral portion of the inner face of said header rests; detent means maintaining said header in said shell, said header having a pair of relatively long oppositely facing edges, and a pair of relatively short oppositely facing edges, said opening having a pair of relatively long opposing sidewalls, and a pair of relatively short opposing sidewalls; each of the edges on the header being closely opposite to corresponding respective sidewalls of said opening, the respective relatively short sidewalls and edges being free of detent means therebetween, the respective relatively long sidewalls and long edges having said detent means therebetween, said detent means comprising mating rib and recess means extending substantially the entire length of said long edges and sidewalls, said rib means being positioned along said long edges of said header, said recess means being positioned along the long sidewalls of said opening; said rib and recess means including respective tapering inner and outer tapered edges having an apex, the height of the apex of the rib means above the level of the inner face of the header being such that the apex of the header is compressed by the outer tapered edge of the recess means, whereby said peripheral portion of the header inner face is compressed against the seating means; said header and said mouth being dimensioned to provide spacing between said sidewalls and said edges sufficient for movement of the header within the mouth during insertion of the header into the opening, and sufficient to provide compression of said rib means in said recess means when said inner face of said header rests on said seating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
As an article of manufacture, a two-component preformed plastic electronic component container comprising: a mating shell and header and detent maintaining said header in said shell, the header having electrical connectors passing therethrough and sealed therein, said header having an inner face and an outer face, the shell having a rectangular mouth with an opening receiving the header therein, said shell having seating means around the entirety of said mouth providing a surface against which a peripheral portion of the inner face of said header rests; detent means maintaining said header in said shell, said header having a pair of relatively long oppositely facing edges, and a pair of relatively short oppositely facing edges, said opening having a pair of relatively long opposing sidewalls, and a pair of relatively short opposing sidewalls; each of the edges on the header being closely opposite to corresponding respective sidewalls of said opening, the respective relatively short sidewalls and edges being free of detent means therebetween, the respective relatively long sidewalls and long edges having said detent means therebetween, said detent means comprising mating rib and recess means extending substantially the entire length of said long edges and sidewalls, said rib means being positioned along said long edges of said header, said recess means being positioned along the long sidewalls of said opening; said rib and recess means including respective tapering inner and outer tapered edges having an apex, the height of the apex of the rib means above the level of the inner face of the header being such that the apex of the header is compressed by the outer tapered edge of the recess means, whereby said peripheral portion of the header inner face is compressed against the seating means; said header and said mouth being dimensioned to provide spacing between said sidewalls and said edges sufficient for movement of the header within the mouth during insertion of the header into the opening, and sufficient to provide compression of said rib means in said recess means when said inner face of said header rests on said seating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
As an article of manufacture, a two-piece preformed electronic component container comprising: a mating shell and header, the header having electrical connectors passing therethrough and sealed therein, the header having an inner face and an outer face, said shell and said header having cooperating elements of detent means retaining said header in said shell; said shell having a rectangular mouth having an opening receiving the header therein, said shell having seating means around the entire periphery of said mouth providing a surface against which a peripheral portion of the inner face of said header rests, said header having a pair of relatively long oppositely facing edges, and a pair of relatively short oppositely facing edges, said opening having a corresponding pair of relatively long opposing sidewalls, and a pair of relatively short opposing sidewalls, each of the edges on the header being closely opposite corresponding respective sidewalls of said opening, the respective relatively short sidewalls and edges being free of detent means therebetween, the respective relatively long sidewalls and long edges having detent means therebetween, said detent means being operative by the relative movement of the header and shell while being mated without substantially changing the configuration of the header and shell, said detent means including means for biasing said peripheral portion of the inner face against said seating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
As an article of manufacture, a two-piece preformed electronic component container comprising: a mating shell and header, the header having electrical connectors passing therethrough and sealed therein, the header having an inner face and an outer face, said shell and said header having cooperating elements of detent means retaining said header in said shell; said shell having a rectangular mouth having an opening receiving the header therein, said shell having seating means around the entire periphery of said mouth providing a surface against which a peripheral portion of the inner face of said header rests, said header having a pair of relatively long oppositely facing edges, and a pair of relatively short oppositely facing edges, said opening having a corresponding pair of relatively long opposing sidewalls, and a pair of relatively short opposing sidewalls, each of the edges on the header being closely opposite corresponding respective sidewalls of said opening, the respective relatively short sidewalls and edges being free of detent means therebetween, the respective relatively long sidewalls and long edges having detent means therebetween, said detent means being operative by the relative movement of the header and shell while being mated without substantially changing the configuration of the header and shell, said detent means including means for biasing said peripheral portion of the inner face against said seating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3056898A
Cited
US3429980A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |