Patent ID: 6027380
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: H01R,H02B,H05K

Abstract:
Fastening means (10) for locking the housing (8) of an electronic module (5) to a bank (1) of at least two stacked terminal blocks (2) each containing a T-shaped groove (7) for slidably receiving a corresponding T-shaped tongue (9) mounted on an adjacent wall of the housing, comprising:(a) a body member (11) of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having top, bottom, side and end portions, said body member including:(1) at least one pair of integral generally parallel spaced legs (12) that extend downwardly from said body member bottom portion, said legs being resiliently biased apart and having free end portions provided with catch hooks (13) that extend outwardly in opposite directions from the remote sides of said legs, respectively;(2) one end portion of said body member containing a longitudinally extending guide chamber (15); and(b) a locking member (16) slidably mounted in said guide chamber for displacement in a direction generally normal to said catch legs between retracted unlocked and extended locked positions relative to said body member;(c) said body member being operable to a mounted position on a first terminal block with said catch legs extending within the associated T-shaped slot of the first terminal block and with said catch hooks engaged in corresponding recesses (14) contained in the opposed side wall surfaces of the slot, whereby when said locking member is in its retracted position and the module housing is displaced relative to the terminal block to introduce the housing tongue within the T-shaped slot of a second one of said terminal blocks, said locking member may be displaced relative to said body member toward a locking position opposite the groove containing the tongue, thereby to lock the tongue within the groove, and the housing with the terminal block bank.