US3596233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical socket with snap-in retaining means
Assignee: Alcon Metal Products Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract For snap-in retention on a supporting panel an electrical socket body casting has a fixed stop shoulder to engage one side of the panel at a hole through which the body is inserted, and one or more locking shoulders oppose the stop shoulder in panel receiving spaced relation on a respective snap finger cast integrally in one piece with the body and spaced from the adjacent portion of the body to enable flexing of the finger toward the body upon deflection by an edge defining the hole during mounting of the socket and until the finger has cleared through the hole and flexes away from the body to move the locking shoulder into locking position, and having access to said finger through the stop shoulder.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert P De Vito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/73; H01R13/74; H01R13/741; H01R13/743
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
An integral electrical socket cast or molded in one piece from plastic material which is resiliently flexible transversely of an elongated section thereof, comprising: a body portion, a flange formed at one end of said body portion to provide a stop shoulder when said socket is mounted in a hole in a panel, a resiliently flexible finger, one end of which is fastened to said body portion and the other end of which is free, said free end having a locking shoulder spaced from said stop shoulder to cooperate with the latter for locking the socket to a panel when mounted through a hole therein, the locking surfaces of said shoulders being substantially parallel, said free end of said finger having an extension beyond said locking shoulder extending in the direction of said stop shoulder to a locus intermediate said two shoulders and being adapted to pass through the hole of a panel in which said socket is mounted, the outer surface of said finger sloping outwardly from the locus of attachment to said body portion, to said locking shoulder in order to provide a cam surface to facilitate insertion of the socket into a hole in a panel, the outer surface of said extension sloping gradually, upwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the shoulder to the end of said extension, an elongated channel formed on the outer surface of said body portion opposite said finger and extending from the locus of attachment of said finger to said body portion, to the flange end of the body portion, said channel providing a recess into which said finger can be squeezed inwardly toward said body portion, thereby allowing said locking shoulder to pass through said hole in the panel, and an opening in said flange in axial alignment with said finger to provide access to the free end of said finger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
An integral electrical socket cast or molded in one piece from plastic material which is resiliently flexible transversely of an elongated section thereof, comprising: a body portion, a flange formed at one end of said body portion to provide a stop shoulder when said socket is mounted in a hole in a panel, a resiliently flexible finger, one end of which is fastened to said body portion and the other end of which is free, said free end having a locking shoulder spaced from said stop shoulder to cooperate with the latter for locking the socket to a panel when mounted through a hole therein, the locking surfaces of said shoulders being substantially parallel, said free end of said finger having an extension beyond said locking shoulder extending in the direction of said stop shoulder to a locus intermediate said two shoulders and being adapted to pass through the hole of a panel in which said socket is mounted, the outer surface of said finger sloping outwardly from the locus of attachment to said body portion, to said locking shoulder in order to provide a cam surface to facilitate insertion of the socket into a hole in a panel, the outer surface of said extension sloping gradually, upwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the shoulder to the end of said extension, an elongated channel formed on the outer surface of said body portion opposite said finger and extending from the locus of attachment of said finger to said body portion, to the flange end of the body portion, said channel providing a recess into which said finger can be squeezed inwardly toward said body portion, thereby allowing said locking shoulder to pass through said hole in the panel, and an opening in said flange in axial alignment with said finger to provide access to the free end of said finger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A socket in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of said fingers, channels and openings circumferentially around said body portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |