Modular block base and bracket assembly

Claim 2

A mounting bracket for terminal blocks, the bracket including: a rear mounting surface; a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface; three recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said recesses in each side wall being spaced apart unequally; three inwardly projecting tabs on each of said side walls; and a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall.

Claim 3

A mounting bracket as in claim 1 wherein: each of said tabs is aligned with a recess.

Claim 4

A mounting bracket as in claim 1 wherein: said spaced recesses in each side wall form three opposed pairs of recesses; two of said opposed pairs of recesses are spaced to receive four mounting wings of one retainer plate; and the other pair of opposed recesses is spaced to receive two mounting wings of another retainer plate.

Claim 5

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface; a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface; three recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said recesses in each side wall of said bracket being spaced apart unequally; three inwardly projecting tabs on each of said side walls; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall; and a retainer plate secured to said bracket, said retainer plate having four mounting wings engaging four of said spaced recesses.

Claim 6

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface; a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface; three recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said recesses in each side wall of said bracket being spaced apart unequally; three inwardly projecting tabs on each of said side walls; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall; and a retainer plate secured to said bracket, said retainer plate having four mounting wings engaging four of said spaced recesses.

Claim 7

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface; a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall; a retainer plate secured to said bracket, said retainer plate having four mounting wings engaging four of said recesses; a mounting base attached to said retainer plate, said mounting base having a bottom surface; a plurality of shaped openings in said bottom surface for receiving unitary connectors; a pair of spaced apart side walls; a pair of openings in each side wall, each of said openings being adapted to cooperate with said retainer plate to form a locking notch to secure said base to said mounting bracket; and a pair of bevelled surfaces at the bottom of each of said side walls, said bevelled surfaces serving as camming surfaces when mounting said base on said bracket.

Claim 8

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface; a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall; a retainer plate secured to said bracket, said retainer plate having four mounting wings engaging four of said recesses; a mounting base attached to said retainer plate, said mounting base having a bottom surface; a plurality of shaped openings in said bottom surface for receiving unitary connectors; a pair of spaced apart side walls; a pair of openings in each side wall, each of said openings being adapted to cooperate with said retainer plate to form a locking notch to secure said base to said mounting bracket; and a pair of bevelled surfaces at the bottom of each of said side walls, said bevelled surfaces serving as camming surfaces when mounting said base on said bracket.

Claim 9

A modular assembly as in claim 4 or 5 wherein: each of said tabs in each side wall of said bracket is aligned with a recess.

Claim 10

A modular assembly as in claim 6 wherein: said spaced recesses in each side wall of said bracket form three opposed pairs of recesses; two of said opposed pairs of recesses are spaced to receive four mounting wings of one said retainer plate; and the other pair of opposed recesses is spaced to receive two mounting wings of another retainer plate.

Claim 11

A mounting bracket for terminal blocks, the bracket including: a rear mounting surface by which the bracket may be affixed to a support structure, said rear mounting surface at least in part extending continuously between opposite ends of the bracket; a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls extending upwardly in the same direction from said mounting surface; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said spaced recesses in each of said side walls forming three opposed pairs of recesses; a tab projecting inwardly toward the opposed side wall from the base of each of said side wall spaced recesses; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches having a base portion generally parallel to said rear mounting surface and a bevelled surface which terminates at the inner surface of the side wall; two of said opposed pairs of recesses being spaced to receive four mounting wings of one terminal block; and the other pair of opposed recesses being spaced to receive two mounting wings of another terminal block.

Claim 12

A mounting bracket for terminal blocks, the bracket including: a rear mounting surface by which the bracket may be affixed to a support structure, said rear mounting surface at least in part extending continuously between opposite ends of the bracket; a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls extending upwardly in the same direction from said mounting surface; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said spaced recesses in each of said side walls forming three opposed pairs of recesses; a tab projecting inwardly toward the opposed side wall from the base of each of said side wall spaced recesses; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches having a base portion generally parallel to said rear mounting surface and a bevelled surface which terminates at the inner surface of the side wall; two of said opposed pairs of recesses being spaced to receive four mounting wings of one terminal block; and the other pair of opposed recesses being spaced to receive two mounting wings of another terminal block.

Claim 13

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface by which the bracket may be affixed to a support structure, said rear mounting surface at least in part extending continuously between opposite ends of the bracket; a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls extending upwardly in the same direction from said mounting surfaces; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said spaced recesses in each of said side walls forming three opposed pairs of recesses; a tab projecting inwardly toward the opposed side wall from the base of each of said side wall spaced recesses; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches having a base portion generally parallel to said rear mounting surface and a bevelled surface which terminates at the inner surface of the side wall; a terminal block secured to said bracket, said terminal block having four mounting wings engaging four of said spaced recesses; two of said opposed pairs of recesses being spaced to receive four mounting wings of one terminal block; and the other pair of opposed recesses being spaced to receive two mounting wings of another terminal block.

Claim 14

A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including: a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface by which the bracket may be affixed to a support structure, said rear mounting surface at least in part extending continuously between opposite ends of the bracket; a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls extending upwardly in the same direction from said mounting surfaces; three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls, said spaced recesses in each of said side walls forming three opposed pairs of recesses; a tab projecting inwardly toward the opposed side wall from the base of each of said side wall spaced recesses; a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches having a base portion generally parallel to said rear mounting surface and a bevelled surface which terminates at the inner surface of the side wall; a terminal block secured to said bracket, said terminal block having four mounting wings engaging four of said spaced recesses; two of said opposed pairs of recesses being spaced to receive four mounting wings of one terminal block; and the other pair of opposed recesses being spaced to receive two mounting wings of another terminal block.