US3820679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cellular structure for electrical modules or the like
Assignee: HE Schweitzer AG
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Filing: 1973-04-16
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A cellular skeleton frame for separable modules has intersecting and interfitted longitudinal and transverse walls each of which consists of two rows of panels having registering cutouts for reception of portions of walls. The walls are assembled without screws or bolts in a manner known from egg-crates or boxes for storage of bottles, and their panels may be provided with detent means for yieldably or releasably holding the walls against separation from each other. The modules have elastic legs or grooves which can engage with the panels surrounding the respective cells and the frame can be reinforced by annular springs which can support apertured plates for lamp sockets or analogous parts. The panels of each wall can be provided with elastic parts to engage and hold threaded carriers for electrical or electronic components.
Inventors
- 👤 H Schweitzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B15/00; H02B15/02; H02B15/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An eggcrate type cellular structure, particularly for use as a skeleton frame for detachable modules, comprising a plurality of intersecting and interfitting longitudinal and transverse walls defining square or rectangular compartments and having longitudinally extending edge faces provided with spaced-apart recesses, said longitudinal walls having portions extending into the respective ones of said recesses of said transverse walls and vice versa, each of said walls being composed of two rows of elongated panels with the panels of one row being located adjacent to the panels of the other row, the panels of each of said rows being aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof whereby the panels of a respective row may be made to longitudinally overlap respective ones of the panels of the respective other row, and at least the majority of said panels having at least two spaced-apart cutouts each of which forms a part of a respective one of said recesses in the respective wall, the thickness of said portions of said longitudinal walls being substantially equal to the width of said recesses in said transverse walls and vice versa.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An eggcrate type cellular structure, particularly for use as a skeleton frame for detachable modules, comprising a plurality of intersecting and interfitting longitudinal and transverse walls defining square or rectangular compartments and having longitudinally extending edge faces provided with spaced-apart recesses, said longitudinal walls having portions extending into the respective ones of said recesses of said transverse walls and vice versa, each of said walls being composed of two rows of elongated panels with the panels of one row being located adjacent to the panels of the other row, the panels of each of said rows being aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof whereby the panels of a respective row may be made to longitudinally overlap respective ones of the panels of the respective other row, and at least the majority of said panels having at least two spaced-apart cutouts each of which forms a part of a respective one of said recesses in the respective wall, the thickness of said portions of said longitudinal walls being substantially equal to the width of said recesses in said transverse walls and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the panels of one row in each of said walls are staggered relative to the panels of the other row and wherein the thickness of each panel of one of said rows equals the thickness of each panel of the other row so that the thickness of each of said walls is the sum of thicknesses of two panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said majority of panels have identical predetermined lengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein each of said majority of panels is provided with 2n cutouts wherein n is a whole number including one, the cutouts of each pair of neighboring cutouts being separated from each other by identical distances.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the panels of said majority of panels have identical lengths, each of said lengths being three times a standard length and said cutouts of said majority of panels being mirror symmetrical to each other with reference to a plane which is normal to and halves the respective panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 5, wherein the cutouts of each of said majority of panels two outermost cutouts provided in the shorter edge faces of the respective panel and at least two additional cutouts each having a width which is twice the width of said outermost cutouts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said walls include two outermost transverse walls and two outermost longitudinal walls and the panels which form part of said outermost walls include claw-shaped portions with the claw-shaped portions of panels of said outermost longitudinal walls outwardly adjacent to the respective outermost transverse walls and vice versa.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 7, wherein each of said claw-shaped portions is immediately adjacent to a recess in the respective wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the panels Of one row in each of said walls are staggered lengthwise with respect to the panels of the other row, each of said panels having two short edge faces and being provided with a circular bore midway between said short edge faces and a semicircular notch in each of said short edge faces, the notches of adjoining panels in each of said rows together forming circular bores and the bores in one row of panels being in register with the bores in the other row of panels, and further comprising rivets extending through at least some of said registering bores.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 9, wherein said rivets consist of elastomeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein each of said panels has two longitudinally extending edge faces of said cutouts are provided in one of said last mentioned edge faces, each panel further having indentations provided in each of said longitudinally extending edge faces, the width of said indentations exceeding the width of said cutouts and the indentations in said one edge face of each panel being in communication with said cutouts, the indentations in the other edge face of each panel being aligned with indentations in said one edge face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein the depth of said indentations is less than the depth of said cutouts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure of claim 11, further comprising clamps provided at the intersections of said longitudinal and transverse walls and having heads received in indentations which communicate with said cutouts and prongs having portions extending into the indentations in said other edge faces of the respective panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein each of said panels comprises abutments provided in the separate cutouts and elastic projections aligned with said cutouts, the projections of panels in said longitudinal walls engaging the abutments of panels in said transverse walls and vice versa.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein each of said panels is further provided with longitudinally extending slots aligned with the respective cutouts, and further comprising at least one annular reinforcing element located in one of said compartments and having projections extending into the slots of neighboring panels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 15, wherein said reinforcing element consists of elastomeric material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 15, wherein each of said panels is further provided with notches communicating with the respective cutouts and said reinforcing element further comprises portions extending into the notches of said neighboring panels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein each of said panels comprises two longitudinally extending integral elastic marginal portions provided with longitudinally extending ribs in the region of said edge faces, and further comprising at least one module overlying one of said compartments and having a circumferential groove receiving portions of ribs on the adjacent marginal portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 18, wherein each of said ribs has two facets making an angle of substantially 90 degrees and at least one shoulder normal to the plane of the respective marginal portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 18, wherein the ribs on the marginal portions of adjoining panels in each of said walls are spaced apart from each other and further comprising at least one carrier having a portion held between the ribs of two adjoining panels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein each of said panels has at least one longitudinally extending groove adjacent to the respective compartment and further comprising at least one annular member received in one of said compartments and having projections extending into the grooves of adjacent panels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 21, wherein said annular member is a spring.
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) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |