US4090632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable instrument case
Assignee: LAFRANCE CORP PHILADELPHIA PA 19153 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1977-01-17
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Granted: 1978-05-23
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Expires: 1997-01-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a plastic case for housing electronic instruments and the like, having a top and bottom panel with two side panels connecting them. The edges of the top and bottom panels are mounted for telescoping movement in the side panels to enable adjustment of the case to the size of instrument housed.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred L. Katzmann
- 👤 Dale W. Gruye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:27
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/10; H05K5/13; H05K5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An electrical instrument case, adjustable in one of its dimensions, comprising a pair of panels each having a pair of flanges at opposite margins of the panel with each of the flanges of a panel projecting to the same side of the panel and toward the flanges of the other panel, and a pair of members each having an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced by the thickness of a flange of a panel to form an elongated channel to adjustably and telescopically receive a flange of each panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electrical instrument case, adjustable in one of its dimensions, comprising a pair of panels each having a pair of flanges at opposite margins of the panel with each of the flanges of a panel projecting to the same side of the panel and toward the flanges of the other panel, and a pair of members each having an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced by the thickness of a flange of a panel to form an elongated channel to adjustably and telescopically receive a flange of each panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of assembly means each comprising an elongate fastener, a hole through one panel, panel fastening means attached to the other panel and fastener guide means having a hole therein secured to a member, wherein the panel hole, panel fastening means and fastener guide means hole are generally axially aligned and the elongate fastener passes through the panel hole and fastener guide means hole and engages the panel fastening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 2 wherein the fastener guide means is a tube secured to the member by a bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 2 further comprising an endplate extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members, a pair of protrusions on each of the flanges, and a slot in the wall of the channel of each member, wherein the protrusions are spaced by the thickness of the endplate, the endplate is received in the space between the protrusions, and each slot receives a pair of protrusions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 4, wherein each protrusion forms a ridge extending along the panel near an unflanged margin of the panel from one flange to the other flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a pair of endplates each extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members near an unflanged margin of the panels, two ridge pairs on each of the flanges each of which ridge pairs extends along the panel near an unflanged margin to form a groove extending from one flange to the other flange, the ridges of each pair being spaced by the thickness of an endplate and receiving an endplate in the groove formed between them, and slots in a wall of the channel of each member, each slot being aligned with and receiving a pair of ridges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 6 wherein the fastener guide means is a tube secured to the member by a bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the members has an H-shaped cross-section with the inner wall and the outer wall each forming one side of the H.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a plurality of assembly means each comprising an elongate fastener, a hole through one panel, panel fastening means attached to the other panel and fastener guide means having a hole therein secured to a member, wherein the panel hole, panel fastening means and fastener guide means hole are generally axially aligned and the elongate fastener passes through the panel hole and fastener guide means hole and engages the panel fastening means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 9 wherein the fastener guide means is a tube secured to the member by a bracket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 9 further comprising an endplate extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members, a pair of protrusions on each of the flanges, and a slot in the wall of the channel of each member, wherein the protrusions are spaced by the thickness of the endplate, the endplate is received in the space between the protrusions, and each slot receives a pair of protrusions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 11, wherein each protrusion forms a ridge extending along the panel near an unflanged margin from one flange to the other flange.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a pair of endplates each extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members near an unflanged margin of the panels, two ridge pairs on each of the flanges each of which ridge pairs extends along near an un-flanged margin of the panel to form a groove extending from one flange to the other flange, the ridges of each pair being spaced by the thickness of an endplate and receiving an endplate in a groove between them, and slots in the walls of the channel of each member, each slot being aligned with and receiving a pair or ridges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 13 wherein the fastener guide means is a tube secured to the member by a bracket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 8 further comprising an endplate extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members, a pair of protrusions on each of the flanges, and a slot in the wall of the channel of each member, wherein the protrusions are spaced by the thickness of the endplate, the endplate is received in the space between the protrusions, and each slot receives a pair of protrusions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 15, wherein each protrusion on each forms a ridge extending along the panel near an unflanged margin from one flange to the other flange.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an endplate extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members, a pair of protrusions on each of the flanges, and a slot in the wall of the channel of each member, wherein the protrusions are spaced by the thickness of the endplate, the endplate is received in the space between the protrusions, and each slot receives a pair of protrusions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 17, wherein each of protrusion forms a ridge extending along the panel near an unflanged margin from one flange to the other flange.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pair of endplates each extending between the pair of panels and the pair of members near an unflanged margin of the panels, two ridge pairs on each of the flanges each of which ridge pairs extends along the panel near an unflanged margin forming a groove extending from one flange to the other flange, the ridges of each pair being spaced by the thickness of an endplate and receiving an endplate between them, and slots in the wall of the channel of each member, each slot being aligned with and receiving a pair of ridges.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 19 wherein the fastener guide means is a tube secured to the member by a bracket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a protrusion on the inner surface of each of the flanges and a slot in a wall of the channel of each member, the slot receiving a protrusion on a flange.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a ridge on the inner surface of each of the flanges and a slot in the wall of the channel of each member, each slot receiving a ridge on a flange.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical instrument case in accordance with claim 22 wherein a ridge on each flange extends along on the inner surface of each panel near an unflanged margin of the panel and joins a ridge on the other flange of the panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2386297A
Cited
US3639809A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-22 | 1981-11-21 | 1982-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-22 | 1985-11-21 | 1986-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-22 | 1989-11-21 | 1990-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |