The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2000
Donald F. Lamar, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Spencer L. Mackay, Agoura Hills, CA (US);
Richard F. M Conroy, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Donald J. Brody, South Bend, IN (US);
Hubbell Incorporated, Orange, CT (US);
Abstract
A mounting system for use in an electrical housing or junction box provides a tactile indication to the installer that the housing is properly installed. The mounting system includes a keyhole shaped opening in a wall of the housing. The keyhole-shaped opening has a smaller section dimensioned to receive a shaft of a fastener and larger section to receive the head of the fastener. A neck portion between the smaller and larger sections has a width less than a width of the fastener shaft to provide interference as the fastener slides between the larger and smaller sections. In one embodiment, the neck portion is formed by two flexible arms extending into the opening. The housing is positioned over the head of the mounting member and repositioned so that the shank of the fastener slides between the two arm members. In so doing, the arm members flex outwardly, and then snap back into place after the shank is fully and properly seated in the smaller section of the keyhole shaped opening. The snap gives the installer a tactile indication that the housing is positioned and mounted properly.