US7258574B2 — Snap-fit electromagnetic shield

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

An electromagnetic shield comprising: an insulative inner housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; and an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within an opening in a frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, wherein said third cavity of said outer housing is configured to receive at least a portion of said conductive shield therein, said second cavity of said conductive shield configured to receive said inner housing therein.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

An electromagnetic shield comprising: an insulative inner housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; and an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within an opening in a frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, wherein said third cavity of said outer housing is configured to receive at least a portion of said conductive shield therein, said second cavity of said conductive shield configured to receive said inner housing therein.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The shield of claim 1 , wherein said conductive shell is a single one piece electrically conductive material fully contained between said inner and outer housings.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The shield of claim 1 , wherein said outer housing includes a handle portion extending therefrom, said handle portion facilitating removal and installation of the shield to snap-fit within said opening in said frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The shield of claim 3 , wherein said handle portion is configured with a latch feature to snap-fit with an alignment pin extending from said opening in said frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 53 words

The shield of claim 4 , wherein said latch feature includes a member defined by a hook at one end extending into said third cavity and an opposite end configured to be manually biased toward said handle to release said latch feature, said member extending from said handle portion via a resilient leg.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The shield of claim 5 , wherein said hook releasably engages a notch on said alignment pin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The shield of claim 1 , wherein said at least one outward bias includes a plurality of conductive fingers configured in said pair of side walls and end walls, said plurality of conducive fingers surrounding an entire perimeter defining said second cavity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The shield of claim 7 , wherein said fingers provide a continuous ground path between said frame and an internal cage surrounding said circuitry.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The shield of claim 1 , wherein said outer housing includes a snap-fit feature extending into said third cavity and into said first cavity to releasably retain said outer and inner housings together having said conductive shell therebetween.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The shield of claim 1 , wherein said first cavity covers an unused connector port and eliminates a complementary mating terminal connector portion in the shield.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 206 words

An electrical machine comprising: a frame having an opening; and a shield snap-fit within the frame opening so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, the shield having; an insulative inner housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; and an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within an opening in a frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, said third cavity of said outer housing is configured to receive at least a portion of said conductive shield therein, said second cavity of said conductive shield configured to receive said inner housing therein, wherein said first cavity covers an unused connector port and eliminates a complementary mating terminal connector portion in the shield.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 206 words

An electrical machine comprising: a frame having an opening; and a shield snap-fit within the frame opening so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, the shield having; an insulative inner housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; and an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within an opening in a frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, said third cavity of said outer housing is configured to receive at least a portion of said conductive shield therein, said second cavity of said conductive shield configured to receive said inner housing therein, wherein said first cavity covers an unused connector port and eliminates a complementary mating terminal connector portion in the shield.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

The electrical machine of claim 11 , further comprising: a computer circuit board having input/output pins in line with the frame opening; and a processor cage surrounding the computer circuit board and comprising an opening for exposing the pins, wherein said conductive shell of the shield provides a ground path across the frame opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrical machine of claim 11 , wherein said conductive shell is a single one piece electrically conductive material fully contained between said inner and outer housings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The electrical machine of claim 11 , wherein said outer housing includes a handle portion extending therefrom, said handle portion facilitating removal and installation of the shield to snap-fit within said opening in said frame.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The electrical machine of claim 14 , wherein said handle portion is configured with a latch feature to snap-fit with an alignment pin extending from said opening in said frame.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The electrical machine of claim 15 , wherein said latch feature includes a member defined by a hook at one end extending into said third cavity and an opposite end configured to be manually biased toward said handle to release said latch feature, said member extending from said handle portion via a resilient leg.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The electrical machine of claim 16 , wherein said hook releasably engages a notch on said alignment pin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The electrical machine of claim 11 , wherein said at least one outward bias includes a plurality of conductive fingers configured in said pair of side walls and end walls, said plurality of conducive fingers surrounding an entire perimeter defining said second cavity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The electrical machine of claim 11 , wherein said outer housing includes a snap-fit feature extending into said third cavity and into said first cavity to releasably retain said outer and inner housings together having said conductive shell therebetween.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 224 words

A method for providing electromagnetic shielding for an exposed unused connector port in electrical equipment, the frame having an opening approximately aligned with an exposed unused connector terminal, the method comprising: configuring an inner insulative housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; configuring a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; configuring an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within the opening of the frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, inserting said inner housing into said second cavity defined by said conductive shell; and inserting at least a portion of said conductive shell having said inner housing into said third cavity defining said outer housing; wherein the assembled shield is snap-fit in place by the action of latch features extending into the first cavity mating with corresponding latch features extending from the exposed unused connector port.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 224 words

A method for providing electromagnetic shielding for an exposed unused connector port in electrical equipment, the frame having an opening approximately aligned with an exposed unused connector terminal, the method comprising: configuring an inner insulative housing having a first base wall and a first pair of side walls and end walls extending from the first base wall defining a first cavity; configuring a conductive shell having a second base wall and a second pair of side walls and end walls extending from the second base wall defining a second cavity, said second pair of side walls and said end walls having at least one outward bias positioned thereon; configuring an insulative outer housing having a third base wall and a third pair of side walls and end walls extending from the third base wall defining a third cavity, said outer housing being configured to snap-fit within the opening of the frame so as to shield circuitry internal thereto, inserting said inner housing into said second cavity defined by said conductive shell; and inserting at least a portion of said conductive shell having said inner housing into said third cavity defining said outer housing; wherein the assembled shield is snap-fit in place by the action of latch features extending into the first cavity mating with corresponding latch features extending from the exposed unused connector port.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 20 , further comprising: configuring a handle portion to extend from said outer housing said handle portion facilitating removal and installation of the assembled shield to snap-fit within the opening in the frame.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-08-20	2011-02-19	2011-08-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-08-20	2015-02-19	2015-08-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-08-20	2019-02-19	2019-08-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Snap-fit electromagnetic shield

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