Indicator light assembly having latching lens

Claim 2

An indicator light assembly adapted to be mounted to a panel or the like, comprising: a housing adapted to contain illuminating means therein, translucent lens means closing one side of said housing, and latch means integral with said lens means, said latch means latching said lens means and said housing together and also latching said lens means and said housing to said panel.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes at least one aperture therein spaced from but adjacent to said one side of said housing, said latch means comprises at least one resilient latching leg extending from said lens means into said housing, and latching surface means on said leg extending outward of said housing through said aperture and engaging said housing and said panel when said housing and lens means are mounted to said panel.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said latching leg includes a second surface inclined with respect to said latching surface means, said second surface engaging sAid housing when said lens means is being positioned thereon and said panel when said lens means and housing are being mounted thereon, whereby ssid latching surface means is biased out of contact with said housing and said panel respectively when said lens means is being positioned on said housing and said lens means and housing are being mounted on said panel.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing includes flange means extending from said one side of said housing, said latching surface means and said flange means receiving said panel therebetween and external to said housing when said housing and lens means are mounted to said panel.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said latching leg includes an enlarged portion thereon which extends into said aperture, said enlarged portion carrying said latching surface means thereon which faces in a direction toward said lens means.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 5 wherein said enlarged portion is hollow and includes a surface thereon which is movable relative to said leg when said latch means is inserted into said housing or said panel.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 5 wherein said enlarged portion includes a curved surface and said curved surface is spaced from and movable relative to said leg when said latch means is inserted into said housing or said panel.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises at least one resilient latching leg extending from adjacent an edge of said lens means and having an enlarged portion thereon, and latching surface means on said enlarged portion facing said lens means, said latching surface engaging said housing and said panel when said housing and lens means are mounted to said panel.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said enlarged portion is hollow and includes a surface thereon which is movable relative to said leg when said latch means is inserted into said housing or said panel.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said enlarged portion includes a curved surface and said curved surface is spaced from and movable relative to said leg when said latch means is inserted into said housing or said panel.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said latching means includes a latching surface, a first portion of said surface latching said lens means to said housing and a second portion of said surface latching said lens means and housing to said panel

Claim 13

An indicator light assembly adapted to be mounted in an aperture in a panel or the like, comprising: a housing having opposed end walls and adapted to contain illuminating means therein, apertures in each of said opposed end walls adjacent one side of said housing, flange means extending from said one side of said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to said opposed end walls and positioned on one side of the panel, said housing extending through said panel aperture, translucent lens means covering said one side of said housing, opposed resilient latch means extending through said panel aperture and into said housing from opposed ends of said lens means, said latch means being formed integral with said lens means, enlarged portions on each of said latch means, said enlarged portions extending through said housing apertures from the interior of said housing, a first latching surface on said enlarged portions facing said flange and cooperating with said flange to latch said lens means into said housing and to receive the panel adjacent the panel aperture between said surface and said flange to latch said lens means and housing into said panel aperture, and a cam surface on said enlarged portions engageable with said housing and the edges of said panel aperture to bias said opposed latch means away from the latter when said latch means are being inserted therein.

Claim 14

An indicator light assembly adapted to be mounted in an aperture in a panel or the like, comprising: a housing having opposed end walls and adapted to contain illuminating means therein, apertures in each of said opposed end walls adjacent one side of said housing, flange means extending from said one side of said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to said opposed end walls and positioned on one side of the panel, said housing extending through said panel aperture, translucent lens means covering said one side of said housing, opposed resilient latch means extending through said panel aperture and into said housing from opposed ends of said lens means, said latch means being formed integral with said lens means, enlarged portions on each of said latch means, said enlarged portions extending through said housing apertures from the interior of said housing, a first latching surface on said enlarged portions facing said flange and cooperating with said flange to latch said lens means into said housing and to receive the panel adjacent the panel aperture between said surface and said flange to latch said lens means and housing into said panel aperture, and a cam surface on said enlarged portions engageable with said housing and the edges of said panel aperture to bias said opposed latch means away from the latter when said latch means are being inserted therein.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 12 wherein each of said latch means includes a leg extending from said ends of said lens means, and said enlarged portions are each mounted on and resiliently movable rElative to said leg.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 13 wherein said leg is also resilient.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 12 wherein said latching surface comprises a first surface which latches said lens means to said housing and a second surface which latches said lens means and housing to said panel.