Modular housing means for electrical and electronic components

Claim 1

A housing for electrical and electronic components, comprising a generally prismatic frame-like housing member having two parallel major faces of which at least one is open, and a plurality of minor faces defined by walls extending between said major faces, at least one said wall containing at least one aperture providing access to the internal space of the housing member, the housing member being provided internally with at least one pair of parallel, generally cylindrical locating ribs each extending internally along a said wall and substantially perpendicular to said major faces for locating releasably in plug-in manner at least one terminal unit for connecting external leads to a said component or components when housed in said housing, said terminal unit comprising an electrically insulating body and at least one terminal housing therein, said insulating body and at least one terminal housing therein, said insulating body being shaped to cooperate slidably with said pair of ribs, for locating said terminal unit in said housing member, said terminal unit being releasably engageable with and disengageable from the locating ribs in plug-in manner by movement of said terminal unit through said at least one open major face, and in the engaged position thereof serving to locate said at least one terminal in alignment with a said aperture, for access of at least one external conductor to said at least one terminal.