US3909908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making cases for panel-mounted electrical instruments
Assignee: Analog Devices Inc
•
Filing: 1974-01-03
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A protective case arranged to contain an electrical instrument and to mount it upon an instrument panel in an opening provided therein is characterized by a tubular extruded body cut to preselected length to match the instrument contained, and a panel mount secured to the tubular body at one open end and having a mounting flange opposing resilient stepped catches to engage therebetween instrument panels of arbitrary thickness with the flange in each case abutting the front face of the instrument panel. The flange has snap catches located in its outer periphery to removably engage a front cover so that its peripheral wall is in flush contact with the instrument panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Brefka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:34
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/015; H02B1/04; H02B1/044; H02B1/048; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/49798; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49876; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49963; Y10T29/49964; Y10T29/49966; Y10T29/4997
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes to be mounted upon instrument panels in uniform openings provided therein, comprising: extruding a tubular member with a uniform cross sectional shape providing all of the side walls of the body for the case and, during extrusion, forming fastener receiving means extending throughout the length of the tubular member; cutting the extruded tubular member into individual bodies each with side walls of a preselected length to accommodate the particular instrument to be housed therein; forming a plurality of uniformly shaped panel mounting end members arranged to fit the uniform panel openings; fastening panel-mounting end members on the front ends of the cut tubular bodies by means of fasteners inserted in the receiving means formed in the tubular body; forming a plurality of uniformly shaped front covers; and fastening the front covers over the panel mounting end members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes to be mounted upon instrument panels in uniform openings provided therein, comprising: extruding a tubular member with a uniform cross sectional shape providing all of the side walls of the body for the case and, during extrusion, forming fastener receiving means extending throughout the length of the tubular member; cutting the extruded tubular member into individual bodies each with side walls of a preselected length to accommodate the particular instrument to be housed therein; forming a plurality of uniformly shaped panel mounting end members arranged to fit the uniform panel openings; fastening panel-mounting end members on the front ends of the cut tubular bodies by means of fasteners inserted in the receiving means formed in the tubular body; forming a plurality of uniformly shaped front covers; and fastening the front covers over the panel mounting end members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: providing locating ridges on the end members in positions arranged to rest against the walls of the cut tubular bodies; and locating the end members in relation to the cut tubular bodies for fastening by resting the locating ridges against the walls of the cut tubular bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: mounting the varied sizes of electrical instruments in the cut tubular bodies of preselected length; and enclosing the mounted electrical instruments by fastening rear covers to the cut tubular bodies by means of fasteners inserted in the receiving means formed in the tubular body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 3 further comprising: providing locating ridges on the rear covers in positions arranged to rest against the side walls of the cut tubular bodies; and locating the rear covers in position for fastening by resting the locating ridges against the side walls of the cut tubular bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: prior to fastening the panel mounting end members on the cut tubular bodies, forming the panel mounting end members with means for engaging the instrument panels in openings provided therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panel mounting end members and front covers have interengaging detent means, and wherein the step of fastening the front covers to the panel mounting end members comprises engaging said detent means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the uniformly shaped panel mounting end members are formed by molding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of cutting the tubular member comprises cutting the tubular member flush and at right angles to its length, and wherein the panel mounting end members are formed with planar portions for contacting the flush cut ends of the tubular members.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes to be mounted on instrument panels in uniform openings provided therein, comprising: extruding a tubular member with walls forming a rectangular cross section and, during extrusion, forming fastener receiving channels extending throughout the length of the tubular member in the interior corners thereof; cutting the extruded tubular member into individual bodies with preseleCted lengths to accommodate the particular instrument to be housed therein; providing uniformly shaped preformed panel-mounting end members having means for engaging instrument panels in openings provided therein; fastening the panel mounting end members on the front ends of the cut tubular bodies by means of screw fasteners inserted in the fastener receiving channels formed in the tubular member; mounting the electrical instruments within the cut tubular bodies; and fastening rear covers on the other end of the cut tubular bodies by means of screw fasteners inserted in the fastener receiving channels formed in the tubular member.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for making protective cases for electrical instruments of varying sizes to be mounted on instrument panels in uniform openings provided therein, comprising: extruding a tubular member with walls forming a rectangular cross section and, during extrusion, forming fastener receiving channels extending throughout the length of the tubular member in the interior corners thereof; cutting the extruded tubular member into individual bodies with preseleCted lengths to accommodate the particular instrument to be housed therein; providing uniformly shaped preformed panel-mounting end members having means for engaging instrument panels in openings provided therein; fastening the panel mounting end members on the front ends of the cut tubular bodies by means of screw fasteners inserted in the fastener receiving channels formed in the tubular member; mounting the electrical instruments within the cut tubular bodies; and fastening rear covers on the other end of the cut tubular bodies by means of screw fasteners inserted in the fastener receiving channels formed in the tubular member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |