End cap construction

Claim 2

An end cap structure comprising an end wall portion to be positioned over an open end of a thin wall housing, said end wall portion having turned edges with a peripheral configuration corresponding to that of the housing to receive said end cap, at least one protuberance formed on said turned edges on the inner side thereof to come in pressing contact with the material forming the housing, and back-up means formed on said end wall portion adjacent said protuberance and parallel to said turned edges and positioned to receive a wall portion of the housing between said protuberance and said back-up means, said back-up means being formed by a pair of yieldable post members, each post member being located on opposite sides said protuberance and spaced from said turned edges a distance to provide a space between the peripheries said protuberance and said pair of post members which is less than the thickness of a wall portion of the thin wall housing inserted therein.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein said pair of post members have guide surfaces formed at their upper ends to guide the wall portions of the housing between said protuberance and said back-up post members.

Claim 4

An structure for a blacklight housing containing spaced apart sockets to receive a black-light fluorescent lamp and a reflector positioned behind the lamp and electric circuit means in the housing, to control energization of the lamp, said structure comprising in combination, a housing portion formed of smooth sheet material of predetermined thickness having an open portion to be capped, an end cap having an end wall portion to be positioned over said open portion, said end cap having turned edges, said turned edges having a peripheral configuration to conform substantially to the outer configuration of said housing portion at the open portion thereof, said housing portion being positioned inwardly of said turned edges, at least one protuberance formed on said turned edges on the inner side thereof to come into pressing contact with the smooth sheet material forming said housing portion, a pair of yieldable post members formed on said end wall portion parallel to said turned edges, each post member being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of said protuberance and spaced from said turned edges a distance to provide a space between the peripheries said protuberance and said pair of post members which is less than said predetermined thickness of said sheet material.

Claim 5

An structure for a blacklight housing containing spaced apart sockets to receive a black-light fluorescent lamp and a reflector positioned behind the lamp and electric circuit means in the housing, to control energization of the lamp, said structure comprising in combination, a housing portion formed of smooth sheet material of predetermined thickness having an open portion to be capped, an end cap having an end wall portion to be positioned over said open portion, said end cap having turned edges, said turned edges having a peripheral configuration to conform substantially to the outer configuration of said housing portion at the open portion thereof, said housing portion being positioned inwardly of said turned edges, at least one protuberance formed on said turned edges on the inner side thereof to come into pressing contact with the smooth sheet material forming said housing portion, a pair of yieldable post members formed on said end wall portion parallel to said turned edges, each post member being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of said protuberance and spaced from said turned edges a distance to provide a space between the peripheries said protuberance and said pair of post members which is less than said predetermined thickness of said sheet material.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 wherein said back-up posts have guide surfaces formed at their upper end to insure that said sheet material will be directed between said protuberance and said back-up post.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3 wherein said smooth sheet material is formed of a plastic covering over sheet metal and said plastic covering is deformed under prolonged pressure of said protuberance.

Claim 8

An structure comprising in combination, a housing formed of smooth sheet material of predetermined thickness having an open portion to be capped, an end cap having an end wall portion to be positioned over said open portion, said end cap having turned edges, said turned edges having a peripheral configuration to conform substantially to the outer configuration of said housing at the open portion thereof, said housing being positioned inwardly of said turned edges, at least one protuberance formed on said turned edges on the inner side thereof to come into pressing contact with the smooth sheet material forming said housing, back-up means formed by a pair of yieldable post members on said end wall portion parallel to said turned edges, each post member being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of said protuberance and spaced from said turned edges a distance to provide a space between the peripheries of said protuberance and said pair of post members which is less than said predetermined thickness of said sheet material and a deformation formed in said smooth sheet material as a result of cold flow at the surface of said material caused by the pressure contact of said protuberance, whereby said deformation forms a dimple under said protuberance to hold said end cap to said housing.

Claim 9

An structure comprising in combination, a housing formed of smooth sheet material of predetermined thickness having an open portion to be capped, an end cap having an end wall portion to be positioned over said open portion, said end cap having turned edges, said turned edges having a peripheral configuration to conform substantially to the outer configuration of said housing at the open portion thereof, said housing being positioned inwardly of said turned edges, at least one protuberance formed on said turned edges on the inner side thereof to come into pressing contact with the smooth sheet material forming said housing, back-up means formed by a pair of yieldable post members on said end wall portion parallel to said turned edges, each post member being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of said protuberance and spaced from said turned edges a distance to provide a space between the peripheries of said protuberance and said pair of post members which is less than said predetermined thickness of said sheet material and a deformation formed in said smooth sheet material as a result of cold flow at the surface of said material caused by the pressure contact of said protuberance, whereby said deformation forms a dimple under said protuberance to hold said end cap to said housing.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 1 wherein said back-up posts have guide surfaces formed at their upper end to insure that said sheet material will be directed between said protuberance and said back-up post.

Claim 11

The end cap structure of claim 6 wherein said smooth sheet material is formed of a plastic covering over sheet metal and said plastic covering is deformed under prolonged pressure of said protuberance.