US4861943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enclosure for thermal protector and method of assembly
Assignee: TRIBORO ELECTRIC COMPANY LP
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Filing: 1987-11-12
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2007-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An electrically insulated enclosure for a thermal protector to be used in a lighting fixture includes a body having openings at both ends with a trench therein for guiding the thermal protector through the body. A resilient tab extending from the interior top surface of the body and stops disposed within and near the front of the body lockingly secure the protector to the body. An arm and a pair of legs extending from the bottom of the body serve as fasteners to clip the body to a flat plate stamped within the lighting fixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin J. Yarmark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:28
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/12; H01; H01H; H01H37/00; H01H37/02; H01H37/32; H01H37/52; H01H37/54; H01H37/5427; H01H37/5436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating housing having an exterior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, an open front end, an open rear end operable for receiving said thermal protector and a hollow interior formed by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said interior side walls being step shaped, said bottom and top walls having continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extending parallel to each other; and clip means extending from and integral with the exterior surface of the housing for connection of the housing to an object; wherein the locking means include a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior wall of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating housing having an exterior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, an open front end, an open rear end operable for receiving said thermal protector and a hollow interior formed by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said interior side walls being step shaped, said bottom and top walls having continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extending parallel to each other; and clip means extending from and integral with the exterior surface of the housing for connection of the housing to an object; wherein the locking means include a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior wall of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the locking means further comprise one or more stops within the interior of the housing and near the open front end thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the one or more stops rise from the bottom interior wall to the top interior wall of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating housing having an exterior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, an open front end, an open rear end operable for receiving said thermal protector and a hollow interior formed by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said interior walls being step shaped, said bottom and top walls having continuous, uninterrupted planar surface and extending parallel to each other; and clip means extending from and integral with the exterior surface of the housing for connection of the housing to an object; wherein the clip means include a plurality of resilient legs and a resilient arm extending outwardly from the front end of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating housing having an exterior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, an open front end, an open rear end operable for receiving said thermal protector and a hollow interior formed by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said interior walls being step shaped, said bottom and top walls having continuous, uninterrupted planar surface and extending parallel to each other; and clip means extending from and integral with the exterior surface of the housing for connection of the housing to an object; wherein the clip means include a plurality of resilient legs and a resilient arm extending outwardly from the front end of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, a pair of rear corners, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface to the top interior surface of the housing; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having a resilient arm extending outwardly from the bottom of the open front end of the housing and a pair of resilient legs protruding from the rear corners of the housing with each leg having a beveled distal end and a ledge located on the outside portion of the leg.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, a pair of rear corners, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface to the top interior surface of the housing; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having a resilient arm extending outwardly from the bottom of the open front end of the housing and a pair of resilient legs protruding from the rear corners of the housing with each leg having a beveled distal end and a ledge located on the outside portion of the leg.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of enclosing a thermal protector comprising: sliding the thermal protector into an open ended and along tracks within an electrically insulating housing having a hollow interior formed by a pair of step shaped side walls, an interior top wall and an interior bottom wall wherein said interior top and bottom walls have continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extend parallel to each other and wherein said interior side and bottom walls serve as the tracks; bending a resilient tab extending from the interior top surface through contact with and in the same direction as the sliding thermal protector; and locking the thermal protector within the housing by sliding at least a portion of the thermal protector beyond the tab.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of enclosing a thermal protector comprising: sliding the thermal protector into an open ended and along tracks within an electrically insulating housing having a hollow interior formed by a pair of step shaped side walls, an interior top wall and an interior bottom wall wherein said interior top and bottom walls have continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extend parallel to each other and wherein said interior side and bottom walls serve as the tracks; bending a resilient tab extending from the interior top surface through contact with and in the same direction as the sliding thermal protector; and locking the thermal protector within the housing by sliding at least a portion of the thermal protector beyond the tab.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6, further including providing at least one stop within the hollow interior to prevent further movement of the protector toward the front of the housing.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of connecting a thermal protector to a lighting fixture comprising: sliding the thermal protector into an open ended and along tracks within an electrically insulating housing having a hollow interior formed by a pair of step shaped side walls, an interior top wall and an interior bottom wall wherein said interior top and bottom walls have continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extend parallel to each other and wherein said interior side and bottom walls serve as the tracks; bending a resilient tab extending from the interior top surface through contact with and in the same direction as the sliding thermal protector; locking the thermal protector within the housing by sliding at least a portion of the thermal protector beyond the tab; and attaching the housing to a flat plate located within the lighting fixture.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of connecting a thermal protector to a lighting fixture comprising: sliding the thermal protector into an open ended and along tracks within an electrically insulating housing having a hollow interior formed by a pair of step shaped side walls, an interior top wall and an interior bottom wall wherein said interior top and bottom walls have continuous, uninterrupted planar surfaces and extend parallel to each other and wherein said interior side and bottom walls serve as the tracks; bending a resilient tab extending from the interior top surface through contact with and in the same direction as the sliding thermal protector; locking the thermal protector within the housing by sliding at least a portion of the thermal protector beyond the tab; and attaching the housing to a flat plate located within the lighting fixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface to the top interior surface of the housing; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having at least two resilient members protruding from the housing, each of said at least two resilient members having a beveled distal end and a ledge located on the outside portion of said member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing, and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface to the top interior surface of the housing; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having at least two resilient members protruding from the housing, each of said at least two resilient members having a beveled distal end and a ledge located on the outside portion of said member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having three resilient members protruding from the housing and operable for engagement with an object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
An enclosure for a thermal protector comprising: an electrically insulating hollow housing having an open front end, an open rear end, a top interior surface, a bottom interior surface, locking means for securing the thermal protector to a predetermined position within the housing and side walls with stepped interior surfaces for guiding in combination with the bottom interior surface the thermal protector to its predetermined position within the housing; said locking means including both a resilient tab protruding downwardly from the top interior surface of the housing and at least one stop rising from the bottom interior surface; and clip means for connection of the housing to a flat plate and having three resilient members protruding from the housing and operable for engagement with an object.
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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) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |