BATTERY DOOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A door latch assembly, such as for a battery compartment of an electronic device, is disclosed. The door latch assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness. The door latch assembly further comprises a door having first and second clasps for receiving the respective first and second pins. Each of the clasps includes an aperture and a slot leading to the aperture. The aperture has a breadth substantially equal to the depth of the elongated surface, and the slot has a gap substantially equal to the thickness of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door to the housing, each of the slots slides over the respective elongated surface to receive and capture the respective pin in the respective aperture.

Description: BATTERY DOOR ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a door assembly, such as for a battery compartment of an electronic device. Background of the Invention Ease of assembly of components is an important consideration in the design of electronic devices. It is also important that once assembled, the components remain assembled. Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a door latch assembly, such as for a battery compartment housing. In accordance with the invention, the assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness. The assembly further comprises a door having first and second clasps for receiving the respective first and second pins. Each of the clasps includes an aperture and a slot leading to the aperture. The aperture has a breadth substantially equal to the depth of the elongated surface, and the slot has a gap substantially equal to the thickness of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door to the housing, each of the slots slides over the respective elongated surface to receive and capture the respective pin in the respective aperture. It is contemplated that the pins are collinear, and substantially semicircular in cross section. It is further contemplated that the aperture is generally circular, and includes a projection to engage the pin. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a door latch assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the door latch assembly of Figure 1 , illustrated with the door disassembled; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the door latch assembly of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the door latch assembly of Figure 1 , with the door in the open position; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the door latch assembly of Figure 1, with the door in the closed position. Detailed Description While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. A door latch assembly 10 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Figures 1-5. The door latch assembly 10 comprises a housing 12 having a pair of opposed, spaced, collinear flattened pins 14, defining an elongated surface having a depth 'd' and a generally peφendicular narrowed surface having a thickness 't'. Each of the pins 14 is substantially semi- circular in cross section. (See Figures 4 and 5) The door latch assembly 10 further comprises a door 20 having a pair of clasps 22 for receiving respective pins 14. Each of the clasps 22 includes an aperture 30 and a slot 32 leading to the aperture 30. The aperture 30 has a breadth 'b' substantially equal to the depth 'd' of the elongated surface. The aperture 30 includes a projection 33 to engage respective ones of the pins 14. The slot 32 has a gap slightly thinner than the thickness 't' of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door 20 to the housing 12, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5, each of the slots 32 is slid over the respective elongated surface of the pins 14 to receive and capture respective pins 14 in the respective aperture 30. Because the slot 32 is slightly thinner than the narrowed surface of the pins 14, once in place, the door 20 will not readily fall off of the pins 14. The projection 33 limits rotation of the door relative to the housing 12, as illustrated in Figure 5. When the door 20 is in its closed position, as illustrated in Figure 4, the pins 14 are securely retained to the housing 12 by the respective clasps 22. While the specific embodiment has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS WE CLAIM: 1. A door latch assembly comprising: a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness; and a door having first and second clasps for receiving said respective first and second pins, each of said clasps including an aperture and a slot leading to said aperture, said aperture having a breadth substantially equal to said depth of said elongated surface and said slot having a gap substantially equal to said thickness of said narrowed surface, such that in assembling said door to said housing, each of said slots slides over said respective elongated surface to receive and capture said respective pin in said respective aperture. 2. The door latch assembly of claim 1 wherein said pins are collinear. 3. The door latch assembly of claim 1 wherein said pin is substantially semi-circular in cross section. 4. The door latch assembly of claim 3 wherein said aperture is generally circular. 5. The door latch assembly of claim 3 wherein said aperture includes a projection to engage said pin. 6. The door latch assembly of claim 1 wherein said slot is thinner than said narrowed surface. 7. A door latch assembly comprising: a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced collinear flattened pins, each of said pins being substantially semi-circular in cross-section, said flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness; and a door having first and second clasps for receiving said respective first and second pins, each of said clasps including a substantially circular aperture and a slot leading to said aperture, said aperture having a breadth substantially equal to said depth of said elongated surface and said slot having a gap substantially equal to said thickness of said narrowed surface, such that in assembling said door to said housing, each of said slots slides over said respective elongated surface to receive and capture said respective pin in said respective aperture. 8. The door latch assembly of claim 7 wherein said aperture includes a projection to engage said pin. 9. The door latch assembly of claim 7 wherein said slot is thinner than said narrowed surface. 10. A door latch assembly for enclosing a battery for an electronic device, the door latch assembly comprising: a housing for said battery, said housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally peφendicular narrowed surface having a thickness; and a door for closing said housing, said door having first and second clasps for receiving said respective first and second pins, each of said clasps including an aperture and a slot leading to said aperture, said aperture having a breadth substantially equal to said depth of said elongated surface and said slot having a gap substantially equal to said thickness of said narrowed surface, such that in assembling said door to said housing, each of said slots slides over said respective elongated surface to receive and capture said respective pin in said respective aperture. 11. The door latch assembly of claim 10 wherein said pins are collinear. 12. The door latch assembly of claim 10 wherein said pin is substantially semi-circular in cross section. 13. The door latch assembly of claim 12 wherein said aperture is generally circular. 14. The door latch assembly of claim 12 wherein said aperture includes a projection to engage said pin. 15. The door latch assembly of claim 10 wherein said slot is thinner than said narrowed surface. SUBSTΓΓUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Inventors: BYRD TIMOTHY J, ORLANDO ROBERT A, BYRD, TIMOTHY, J., ORLANDO, ROBERT, A.
Applicants: SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION, SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION, INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E05D7
IPC codes: E05D1, E05D7, H01M2, H05K5