Patent ID: 7211916

Claim:
A motor mounting arrangement comprising an electric motor ( 20 ) having a support flange ( 36 ) associated therewith, said support flange having a circumference; and a snap-lock element ( 82 ) for securing said support flange within an opening ( 94 ) formed in a mount ( 22 ) annularly surrounding said motor, wherein a circumferential surface of the flange ( 36 ) is configured for mounting in said opening ( 94 ); a central plane (P) through said opening ( 94 ) separates a motor-side space (MS) from a flange-side space (FS); said mount ( 22 ) is formed with a substantially frustoconical shoulder ( 96 ) in said motor-side space (MS); and the snap-lock element ( 82 ) extends circumferentially along at least a portion of said circumference, is resiliently deflectable in a radially inward direction, and is adapted to lock against said frustoconical motor-side shoulder ( 96 ) when said motor ( 20 ) is mounted in said opening ( 94 ).