US6137689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective enclosure apparatus and method
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-28
•
Granted: 2000-10-24
•
Expires: 2018-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A protective enclosure apparatus includes a base and a cover. The base includes a plurality of pins each including cap portion. The cap portion includes a contact surface. A cover includes a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins and a latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings. The latch portion is angled to allow an end portion of the latch portion to engage with the contact surface and to allow the latch portion to be biased toward the plurality pins when the cover is pulled away from the base.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Schechtel
- 👤 David R. Zeiger
- 👤 Michael B. Grimm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:23
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A protective enclosure apparatus comprising: a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and a latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings, the latch portion angled to allow an end portion of the latch portion to engage with the contact surface and to allow the latch portion to be biased toward the pins when the cover is pulled away from the base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A protective enclosure apparatus comprising: a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and a latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings, the latch portion angled to allow an end portion of the latch portion to engage with the contact surface and to allow the latch portion to be biased toward the pins when the cover is pulled away from the base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch portion is angled at about 30 degrees from an end wall of the cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins comprises four pins each of which are positioned adjacent a corner portion of the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins extend perpendicular from the base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins include a rib portion which extends along the pins and which are retained between guides which extend from an inner wall of each of the plurality of cover openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins have a length which allows the pins to pass through substrate openings formed in a planer substrate and engage with the latch portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the planer substrate is a circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is a substantially planar member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is formed from a single piece of insulative material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the insulative material is plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover is formed from a single piece of insulative material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the insulative material is plastic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover is adapted to fit over at least one electronic component mounted on a circuit board and allow the plurality of pins to engage with the latch portion.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of operating a protective enclosure apparatus comprising: providing a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and an angled latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings; inserting the plurality of pins into the cover openings; deflecting the latch portion with the cap portion; and retaining the cap portion within the cover openings with the latch portion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of operating a protective enclosure apparatus comprising: providing a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and an angled latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings; inserting the plurality of pins into the cover openings; deflecting the latch portion with the cap portion; and retaining the cap portion within the cover openings with the latch portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising: preventing disengagement of the cover from the base by contacting an end portion of the latch against the contact surface and creating a moment to bias the latch portion toward the pin.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of enclosing an electronic component mounted on a circuit board to prevent electric shock comprising: providing circuit board having a first side and a second side, at least one electronic component mounted onto the first side of a circuit board, the circuit board having a plurality of circuit board openings, a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and an angled latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings; positioning the base on the second side of the circuit board; inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of circuit board openings so that the cap portion extends past the first side of the circuit board; positioning the cover portion on the first side of the circuit board; inserting the plurality of pins into the cover openings; deflecting the latch portion with the cap portion; retaining the cap portion within the cover openings with the latch portion; and preventing removal of the cover from the base by contacting an end portion of the latch portion against the contact surface and creating a moment to bias the latch portion toward the pins.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of enclosing an electronic component mounted on a circuit board to prevent electric shock comprising: providing circuit board having a first side and a second side, at least one electronic component mounted onto the first side of a circuit board, the circuit board having a plurality of circuit board openings, a base including a plurality of pins, the pins including cap portion, the cap portion including a contact surface, a cover including a plurality of cover openings formed therein for receiving the pins, and an angled latch portion communicating with each of the cover openings; positioning the base on the second side of the circuit board; inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of circuit board openings so that the cap portion extends past the first side of the circuit board; positioning the cover portion on the first side of the circuit board; inserting the plurality of pins into the cover openings; deflecting the latch portion with the cap portion; retaining the cap portion within the cover openings with the latch portion; and preventing removal of the cover from the base by contacting an end portion of the latch portion against the contact surface and creating a moment to bias the latch portion toward the pins.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising: providing a plurality of base openings formed in the base adjacent the plurality of pins, a disengagement apparatus including a disengagement base and a plurality of disengagement pins which extend from the disengagement base; inserting the disengagement pins into the base openings; and deflecting the latch portion away from the contact surface to allow the cover to be separated from the base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4092698A
Cited
US4173387A
Cited
US4435031A
Cited
US4451693A
Cited
US4736266A
Cited
US4807759A
Cited
US4716499A
Cited
US4692571A
Cited
US4821152A
Cited
US4836408A
Cited
US4970353A
Cited
US4911661A
Cited
US5014160A
Cited
US5160807A
Cited
US5353201A
Cited
US5254016A
Cited
US5491614A
Cited
US5482474A
Cited
US5740019A
Cited
US5944210A
Cited
US5618129A
Cited
US5535100A
Cited
US5740013A
Cited
US5838542A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-24 | 2004-04-24 | 2004-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-24 | 2008-04-24 | 2008-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-24 | 2012-04-24 | 2012-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |