Housing assembly fastener for fastening housing assembly portions and a substrate

Claim 2

A fastener for fastening a front housing portion and a rear housing portion of a housing assembly theretogether, thereby to support a substrate in supportive engagement within the housing assembly, said fastener comprising: means forming a first hook member affixed to an inner sidewall of the front housing portion; means forming a second hook member affixed to an inner sidewall of the rear housing portion; and means forming a flexible clip affixed to the substrate at a side portion thereof, said clip formed of a first clip portion positioned to extend beneath the substrate and permitting clasping engagement with the first hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the front housing portion, and of a second clip portion positioned to extend beneath the first clip portion and permitting of clasping engagement with the second hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether.

Claim 3

The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first hook member further comprises an upwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface.

Claim 4

The fastener of claim 2 wherein the second hook member further comprises a downwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface.

Claim 5

The fastener of claim 3 wherein the means forming the clip comprises a multi-slotted plate member having a top slotted portion comprising the first clip portion, and a bottom slotted portion comprising the second clip portion, the top and bottom slotted portions, respectively, each defining slotted openings of dimensions for receiving the first hook member and the second hook member, respectively, therein.

Claim 6

The fastener of claim 4 wherein the top slotted portion comprising a material having flexing movement responsive to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the top slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the first hook member to position the top slotted portion about the first hook member whereat the first hook member extends through the slotted opening thereof, and an inner edge surface of the top slotted portion seats against the back-angled, force-receiving surface of the first hook member.

Claim 7

The fastener of claim 5 wherein the bottom slotted portion is comprised of a material having flexing movement responsive to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the bottom slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the second hook member to position the bottom slotted portion about the second hook member whereat the second hook member extends through the slotted opening thereof, and an inner edge surface of the bottom slotted portion seats against the back-angled, force-receiving surface of the second hook member.

Claim 8

A fastener for fastening a substrate within a housing assembly comprised of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion positioned in tandem therewith, said fastener comprising: means forming a first hook member positioned beneath a surface of the front housing portion, said first hook member further comprising an upwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; means forming a second hook member positioned above a surface of the rear housing portion, Said second hook member further comprising a downwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and means forming a flexible clip affixed to the substrate at a side portion thereof, said clip formed of a first clip portion positioned to extend beneath the substrate and permitting clasping engagement with the first hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the front housing portion, and of a second clip portion positioned to extend beneath the first clip portion and permitting of clasping engagement with the second hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether.

Claim 9

A fastener for fastening a substrate within a housing assembly comprised of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion positioned in tandem therewith, said fastener comprising: means forming a first hook member positioned beneath a surface of the front housing portion, said first hook member further comprising an upwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; means forming a second hook member positioned above a surface of the rear housing portion, Said second hook member further comprising a downwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and means forming a flexible clip affixed to the substrate at a side portion thereof, said clip formed of a first clip portion positioned to extend beneath the substrate and permitting clasping engagement with the first hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the front housing portion, and of a second clip portion positioned to extend beneath the first clip portion and permitting of clasping engagement with the second hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether.

Claim 10

The fastener of claim 7 wherein the means affixed to the substrate is comprised of a multi-slotted plate member affixed to the substrate to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planar surface of the substrate.

Claim 11

The fastener of claim 8 wherein the multi-slotted plate member comprises a top slotted portion and a bottom slotted portion, said top and bottom slotted portions define the first and second clip portions respectively, the top and bottom slotted portions, respectively, each defining slotted openings extending between front and rear face surfaces of the top and bottom slotted portions, respectively.

Claim 12

The fastener of claim 9 wherein the slotted opening extending between the front and rear face surfaces of the top slotted portion is of dimensions substantially corresponding to dimensions of the first hook member positioned beneath the surface of the front housing portion.

Claim 13

The fastener of claim 10 Wherein the top slotted portion is comprised of a material having flexing movement responsive to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the top slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the first hook member to position the top slotted portion about the first hook member whereat the first hook member extends through the slotted opening thereof, and an inner edge surface of the top slotted portion seats against the back-angled, force-receiving surface of the first hook member.

Claim 14

The fastener of claim 9 wherein the slotted opening extending between the front and rear face surfaces of the bottom slotted portion is of dimensions substantially corresponding to dimensions of the second hook member positioned above the surface of the rear housing portion.

Claim 15

The fastener of claim 12 wherein the bottom slotted portion is comprised of a material having flexing movement responsive to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the bottom slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the second hook member to position the bottom slotted portion about the second hook member whereat the second hook member extends through the slotted opening thereof, and an inner edge surface of the bottom slotted portion seats against the back-angled, force-receiving surface of the second hook member.

Claim 16

The fastener of claim 7 wherein said first hook member is formed integral with the front housing portion.

Claim 17

The fastener of claim 7 wherein the second hook member is formed integral with the rear housing portion.

Claim 18

The fastener of claim 7 wherein said means forming the clip is formed integral with the substrate.

Claim 19

A fastener for a housing assembly comprised of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion, thereby to support a substrate in supportive engagement within the housing assembly, the front housing portion having a front housing flange and the rear housing portion having a rear housing flange, the front housing portion and the rear housing portion interfittingly engage when the front housing portion and the rear housing portion are positioned in tandem, said fastener comprising: a first hook member formed on an inner flange wall of the front housing flange, said first hook member having a ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; a second hook member formed on an inner flange wall of the rear housing flange, said second hook member having a ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and a clip formed of a multi-slotted plate member affixed to an edge portion of the substrate to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planar surface of the substrate, said multi-slotted plate member having a top slotted portion and a bottom slotted portion positioned therebeneath, the top slotted portion being flexible so as to move in response to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the top slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the first hook member to position the top slotted portion about the first hook member whereat an inner edge surface of the top slotted portion seats against the back-angled force-receiving surface of the first hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the front housing portion, and the bottom slotted portion being flexible so as to move in response to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the bottom slotted portion about the ramped-face surface of the second hook member whereat an inner edge surface of the bottom slotted portion seats against the back-angled force-receiving surface of the second hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front housing portion and the rear housing portion theretogether.

Claim 20

A fastener for a housing assembly comprised of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion, thereby to support a substrate in supportive engagement within the housing assembly, the front housing portion having a front housing flange and the rear housing portion having a rear housing flange, the front housing portion and the rear housing portion interfittingly engage when the front housing portion and the rear housing portion are positioned in tandem, said fastener comprising: a first hook member formed on an inner flange wall of the front housing flange, said first hook member having a ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; a second hook member formed on an inner flange wall of the rear housing flange, said second hook member having a ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and a clip formed of a multi-slotted plate member affixed to an edge portion of the substrate to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planar surface of the substrate, said multi-slotted plate member having a top slotted portion and a bottom slotted portion positioned therebeneath, the top slotted portion being flexible so as to move in response to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the top slotted portion upon the ramped-face surface of the first hook member to position the top slotted portion about the first hook member whereat an inner edge surface of the top slotted portion seats against the back-angled force-receiving surface of the first hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the front housing portion, and the bottom slotted portion being flexible so as to move in response to bending forces exerted thereupon during sliding translation of the bottom slotted portion about the ramped-face surface of the second hook member whereat an inner edge surface of the bottom slotted portion seats against the back-angled force-receiving surface of the second hook member, thereby to fasten the substrate to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front housing portion and the rear housing portion theretogether.

Claim 21

In a transceiver having transceiver circuitry and a card-receiving assembly, the transceiver circuitry and the card reader assembly housed within a housing assembly formed of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion positioned in tandem therewith, a combination with the card-receiving assembly and the housing assembly of a fastener for fastening the card-receiving assembly, the front housing portion, and the rear housing portion theretogether, said fastener comprising: means forming a first hook member positioned beneath a surface of the front housing portion, said first hook member further comprising an upwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; means forming a second hook member positioned above a surface of the rear housing portion, said second hook member further comprising a downwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and a flexible clip affixed to the card-receiving assembly at a side portion thereof, said clip formed of a first clip portion positioned to extend below the card-receiving assembly and permitting clasping engagement with the first hook member, thereby to fasten the card-receiving assembly to the front housing portion, and of a second clip portion positioned to extend beneath the first clip portion and permitting of clasping engagement with the second hook member, thereby to fasten the card-receiving assembly to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether.

Claim 22

In a transceiver having transceiver circuitry and a card-receiving assembly, the transceiver circuitry and the card reader assembly housed within a housing assembly formed of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion positioned in tandem therewith, a combination with the card-receiving assembly and the housing assembly of a fastener for fastening the card-receiving assembly, the front housing portion, and the rear housing portion theretogether, said fastener comprising: means forming a first hook member positioned beneath a surface of the front housing portion, said first hook member further comprising an upwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; means forming a second hook member positioned above a surface of the rear housing portion, said second hook member further comprising a downwardly-extending, ramped-face surface leading to a back-angled, force-receiving surface; and a flexible clip affixed to the card-receiving assembly at a side portion thereof, said clip formed of a first clip portion positioned to extend below the card-receiving assembly and permitting clasping engagement with the first hook member, thereby to fasten the card-receiving assembly to the front housing portion, and of a second clip portion positioned to extend beneath the first clip portion and permitting of clasping engagement with the second hook member, thereby to fasten the card-receiving assembly to the rear housing portion and also thereby to fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether.