Panel indicator lamp assembly

Claim 2

A panel retainer for a panel indicator lamp assembly of the type including a housing for transmitting light through a lens at one end of said housing and adapted to be passed in one direction through an opening in a panel having any one of a plurality of nominal thicknesses with a stop on said housing for engaging one face of said panel in response to said passage, the improvement comprising a plurality of prongs spaced about the periphery of said housing each having one end in a fixed position relative said stop arranged to flex about said fixed position for radial inward movement to pass Through said opening in response to the one portion of each prong extending radially outwardly of the axis of said opening at an angle of substantially 45* and spaced less than 0.055 inch from said stop to exert a radial outward force against the edge of said opening adjacent the opposite panel face for securing said housing to said panel in response to said panel having a nominal thickness less than 0.055 inch and said stop engaging said one face, and a second portion of each prong extending radially outwardly of said one portion and spaced less than 0.3 inch from said stop to intersect the edge of said opening opposite said one face in response to said panel having a nominal thickness greater than 0.055 inch and extending radially outwardly of said opening adjacent the opposite face of said panel in response to said panel having a nominal thickness less than 0.055 inch.

Claim 3

The retainer claimed in claim 1 in which said prongs are integrally formed on said lens.

Claim 4

A panel indicator lamp assembly of the type including a tubular housing defining a passageway for receiving a lamp carried by a socket at one end of said housing and having means for extending electrical connections to said lamp for lighting said lamp with said housing adapted to be received in the opening of a panel having any one of a plurality of nominal thicknesses, the improvement comprising a plastic lens for the opposite end of said housing to cover said passageway, means for securing said plastic lens to said opposite housing end and for limiting the receipt of said housing in said passageway to space said lens in a predetermined position relative one face of said panel, and a plurality of prongs integrally formed on said lens for flexing radially inwardly and outwardly of the axis of said opening and extending axially of said opening toward said one end with said prongs having a first portion spaced a predetermined distance from said predetermined position and extending radially outwardly of said passageway axis for engaging the opposite face of a panel having a nominal thickness of 0.03 to 0.05 inch and a second portion extending axially from said first portion and radially outwardly of said first portion for engaging the side of an opening in a panel having a nominal thickness between 0.05 inch and 0.3 inch.

Claim 5

A panel indicator lamp assembly of the type including a tubular housing defining a passageway for receiving a lamp carried by a socket at one end of said housing and having means for extending electrical connections to said lamp for lighting said lamp with said housing adapted to be received in the opening of a panel having any one of a plurality of nominal thicknesses, the improvement comprising a plastic lens for the opposite end of said housing to cover said passageway, means for securing said plastic lens to said opposite housing end and for limiting the receipt of said housing in said passageway to space said lens in a predetermined position relative one face of said panel, and a plurality of prongs integrally formed on said lens for flexing radially inwardly and outwardly of the axis of said opening and extending axially of said opening toward said one end with said prongs having a first portion spaced a predetermined distance from said predetermined position and extending radially outwardly of said passageway axis for engaging the opposite face of a panel having a nominal thickness of 0.03 to 0.05 inch and a second portion extending axially from said first portion and radially outwardly of said first portion for engaging the side of an opening in a panel having a nominal thickness between 0.05 inch and 0.3 inch.

Claim 6

The assembly claimed in claim 3 in which each prong has a terminating portion extending axially from said second portion and radially inwardly of said second portion for substantial abutment with said housing and for movement axially of said housing in response to flexure of said prongs on movement through said opening.

Claim 7

A panel indicator lamp assembly for insertion into a panel opening, the improvement comprising a tubular lamp housing defining a passageway, a lamp received in said passageway, a socket received at the rear end of said housing for supporting said lamp and having means for extending electrical connections to said lamp for lighting said lamp, a radial flange at the front end of said housing, a plastic lens for covering the front end of said housing and passageway with said plastic lens having a radially extending wall abutting said flange, a bezel encircling the periphery of said lens and having one annular wall in abutment with said lens radial wall and having an end face adapted to engage a front face of said panel after insertion of said housing into said panel opening, a second wall on said bezel abutting said housing radial wall at a distance from said first bezel wall corresponding to the thickness of said lens and housing radial walls to hold said lens and housing walls in abutment, a plurality of circumferentially spaced prongs integrally formed on said lens and extending axially toward said rear end for radial flexure about their juncture with said lens with a first portion on each prong formed radially outwardly of said passageway axis at an angle of substantially 45* and at a Distance from said bezel end face ranging between 0.035 inch to 0.05 inch for engaging the rear face of a correspondingly sized panel engaged by said bezel end face, a second axial portion on each prong extending radially outwardly from said first portion at a smaller angle to said passageway axis and at a distance from said bezel end face ranging between 0.05 inch and 0.3 inch for engaging the side and rear edge of a panel opening in a respectively sized panel engaged by said bezel end face, and a third axial portion extending radially inwardly of said axis from said second portion into substantial abutment with said housing.

Claim 8

A panel indicator lamp assembly for insertion into a panel opening, the improvement comprising a tubular lamp housing defining a passageway, a lamp received in said passageway, a socket received at the rear end of said housing for supporting said lamp and having means for extending electrical connections to said lamp for lighting said lamp, a radial flange at the front end of said housing, a plastic lens for covering the front end of said housing and passageway with said plastic lens having a radially extending wall abutting said flange, a bezel encircling the periphery of said lens and having one annular wall in abutment with said lens radial wall and having an end face adapted to engage a front face of said panel after insertion of said housing into said panel opening, a second wall on said bezel abutting said housing radial wall at a distance from said first bezel wall corresponding to the thickness of said lens and housing radial walls to hold said lens and housing walls in abutment, a plurality of circumferentially spaced prongs integrally formed on said lens and extending axially toward said rear end for radial flexure about their juncture with said lens with a first portion on each prong formed radially outwardly of said passageway axis at an angle of substantially 45* and at a Distance from said bezel end face ranging between 0.035 inch to 0.05 inch for engaging the rear face of a correspondingly sized panel engaged by said bezel end face, a second axial portion on each prong extending radially outwardly from said first portion at a smaller angle to said passageway axis and at a distance from said bezel end face ranging between 0.05 inch and 0.3 inch for engaging the side and rear edge of a panel opening in a respectively sized panel engaged by said bezel end face, and a third axial portion extending radially inwardly of said axis from said second portion into substantial abutment with said housing.