U.S. patent application number 12/369883 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-03 for base assembly capable of reducing the number of assembling steps.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC Infrontia Corporation. Invention is credited to Shinsuke MIURA.
Application Number | 20090218461 12/369883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41012436 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090218461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MIURA; Shinsuke |
September 3, 2009 |
BASE ASSEMBLY CAPABLE OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ASSEMBLING
STEPS
Abstract
In a base assembly including a base and a bracket mounted on the
base, the base comprises at least two L-shaped hook receivers and
at least one claw receiver. The bracket has at least two L-shaped
hooks each having a shape corresponding to that of the hook
receiver and at least one elastically deformable claw engageable
with the claw receiver, When mounting the bracket on the base,
positioning of the bracket is carried out by engagement of the
hooks with the hook receivers. In addition, locking of the said
bracket is carried out by engagement of the claw with the claw
receiver.
Inventors: |
MIURA; Shinsuke;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC Infrontia Corporation
Kawasaki-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
41012436 |
Appl. No.: |
12/369883 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/225.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1417
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/225.21 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-047069 |
Claims
1. A base assembly comprising a base and a bracket mounted on said
base, wherein said base comprises at least two L-shaped hook
receivers and at least one claw receiver, said bracket comprises at
least two L-shaped hooks each having a shape corresponding to that
of said hook receiver and at least one elastically deformable claw
engageable with said claw receiver, and when mounting said bracket
on said base, positioning of said bracket is carried out by
engagement of said hooks with said hook receivers and locking of
said bracket is carried out by engagement of said claw with said
claw receiver.
2. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said claw
receiver is formed between said hook receivers and said claw is
formed between said hooks.
3. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hook
receivers and said hooks are formed into symmetrical shapes so that
said bracket is brought into tight contact with said base when
mounting said bracket on said base.
4. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said claw has a
projection at its free end and said claw receiver is a hole.
5. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hook
receivers and said claw receiver are formed so as to be located on
a straight line and said hooks and said claw are formed so as to be
located on a straight line.
6. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base and
said bracket are each molded from a synthetic resin.
7. The base assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base
comprises a bottom plate, said bracket comprises a main plate
portion placed perpendicular to said bottom plate, said at least
two L-shaped hook receivers and said at least one claw receiver are
provided at said bottom plate, and said at least two L-shaped hooks
and said at least one elastically deformable claw are provided at
an end face, facing said bottom plate, of said main plate
portion.
8. The base assembly according to claim 7, wherein said positioning
is carried out in a direction parallel to said bottom plate and
said locking is carried out in a direction perpendicular to said
bottom plate.
Description
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese patent application No. 2008-047069, filed on
Feb. 28, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in
its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus having a base and a
shelf or a bracket mounted on the base (hereinafter this apparatus
will be referred to as a "base assembly"), which is for use with
main equipment for a communication apparatus, or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] As a first related art of this type of base assembly, there
is one having a base and a bracket, as a separate component, fixed
to the base using screws, as will be described in detail later with
reference to the drawings. In this case, the number of assembling
steps is large, the number of components is large, there is a
disadvantage in terms of design because the heads of the screws are
visible from the outside, and further the cost increases.
[0004] A second related art is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Utility Model Application Publication (JP-U) No. Sho 57-48687,
wherein attaching portions of an attaching component engage with
coupling portions (insertion seats) of a mounting plate on both
sides of the attaching component and thus positioning of the
attaching component in its attaching direction cannot be carried
out. Therefore, the structure becomes large in size, which is
inconvenient.
[0005] A third related art is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. Hei 02-271597, wherein a
mounting plate has claws and a locking piece with a locking claw
and a chassis has square holes, cutouts, and a locking hole. Thus,
the structure is complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an exemplary object of this invention to
provide a base assembly requiring a less number of assembling
steps, having a simple structure, and enabling a size
reduction.
[0007] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as
the description proceeds.
[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of this invention,
there is provided a base assembly comprising a base and a bracket
mounted on the base, wherein the base comprises at least two
L-shaped hook receivers and at least one claw receiver, the bracket
comprises at least two L-shaped hooks each having a shape
corresponding to that of the hook receiver and at least one
elastically deformable claw engageable with the claw receiver, and
when mounting the bracket on the base, positioning of the bracket
is carried out by engagement of the hooks with the hook receivers
and locking of the bracket is carried out by engagement of the claw
with the claw receiver.
[0009] An exemplary effect of this invention is that laborious
fixing means such as a screw is not required, the number of
assembling steps is small, and further the structure is simple.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a base assembly
according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention in a state
before assembling thereof;
[0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating the base assembly
in a state after assembling thereof;
[0012] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a base included in the base
assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0013] FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line 2b-2b in FIG.
2A;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of a bracket included in the base
assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0015] FIG. 4A is a plan view of a state where the bracket is
placed on the base, but is not fixed thereto;
[0016] FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line 4b-4b in FIG.
4A;
[0017] FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of a portion 4c in FIG. 4B;
[0018] FIG. 4D is an enlarged view of a portion 4d in FIG. 4B;
[0019] FIG. 4E is an enlarged view of a portion 4e in FIG. 4B;
[0020] FIG. 5A is a plan view of a state where the bracket is
placed on the base and fixed thereto;
[0021] FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line 5b-5b in FIG.
5A;
[0022] FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of a portion 5c in FIG. 5B;
[0023] FIG. 5D is an enlarged view of a portion 5d in FIG. 5B;
[0024] FIG. 5E is an enlarged view of a portion 5e in FIG. 5B;
[0025] FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating one example of a
base assembly according to a related art in a state before
assembling thereof; and
[0026] FIG. 6B is a perspective view illustrating the related-art
base assembly in a state after assembling thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, description will be made as
regards an outline of a base assembly according to an exemplary
embodiment of this invention.
[0028] The illustrated base assembly is for use with main equipment
for a communication apparatus and comprises a base 1 formed by
molding a synthetic resin into a rectangular parallelepiped frame
shape and a bracket 11 mounted on the base 1. The base 1 comprises
a pair of vertical side walls or side plates 3 and 4 facing each
other with a predetermined distance therebetween, a horizontal
bottom wall or bottom plate 2 coupled between lower ends of the
side plates 3 and 4, and a vertical rear wall or rear plate 5
coupled between rear ends of the side plates 3 and 4. A space
between front ends of the side plates 3 and 4 is open.
[0029] On the other hand, the bracket 11 is formed by molding a
synthetic resin and comprises a main plate portion 11-1 in the form
of a rectangular plate and an auxiliary plate portion 11-2 coupled
to the main plate portion 11-1 on its one side. That is, the
bracket 11 has a generally T-shape in cross section. The bracket 11
is mounted on the base 1 between the side walls 3 and 4 with its
main plate portion 11-1 perpendicular to the bottom plate 2.
[0030] When mounting the bracket 11 on the base 1, the bracket 11
is first lowered in the vertical direction of arrows 21 in FIG. 1A
until the lower end of the bracket 11 reaches an inner bottom
surface of the base 1, i.e. an upper surface of the bottom plate 2.
Subsequently, the bracket 11 is moved rearward in the horizontal
direction of arrows 21. Then, by means of an engaging structure
described later, the bracket 11 engages with the base 1 so as to be
fixed thereto.
[0031] Hereinbelow, referring also to FIGS. 2A to 5E, the engaging
structure will be described in detail.
[0032] A direction from the right side to the left side of the
bottom plate 2 is given as an X-direction, a direction from the
lower side to the upper side of the bottom plate 2 is given as a
Y-direction, a direction from the front side to the rear side of
the bottom plate 2 is given as a Z-direction, and a direction
opposite to the Z-direction is given as a -Z-direction. Note that
the base 1 is fixed to a housing of a communication apparatus (not
illustrated) in order to prevent movement thereof in any of the X-,
Y-, Z-, and -Z-directions.
[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bottom plate 2 of the
base 1 is formed with a first hook receiver 2a, a single claw
receiver 2c, and a second hook receiver 2b that are located on a
straight line, i.e. aligned with each other, in this order from the
front where the space between the side plates 3 and 4 is open. The
first hook receiver 2a and the second hook receiver 2b are formed
as illustrated in FIGS. 4E and 4C, respectively. Specifically, the
first and second hook receivers 2a and 2b are each formed into a
shape equivalent to a shape obtained by cutting a portion of the
bottom plate 2 to form a generally U-shaped slit and then bending
an inner portion surrounded by the slit toward the inside of the
base 1 so as to form it into an L-shape. As illustrated in FIG. 4D,
the claw receiver 2c is formed by opening a hole in the bottom
plate 2.
[0034] Incidentally, necessary structures known in this art are
provided at the other portions of the bottom plate 2 and on the
inner sides of the side plates 3 and 4 and the rear plate 5.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bracket 11 is formed with a
first hook 11a, a single elastically deformable claw 11c, and a
second hook 11b that are located on a straight line, i.e. aligned
with each other, in this order from the front at three portions of
the bottom of the main plate portion 11-1. The claw 11c has a free
end formed with a projection 11c1 which is engageable with the
hole, i.e. the claw receiver 2c, of the bottom plate 2.
[0036] The first hook 11a and the second hook 11b are formed as
illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4E and 4C. Specifically, the first
and second hooks 11a and 11b are each formed into a shape
equivalent to a shape obtained by projecting a portion of the main
plate portion 11-1 downward from the bottom and then bending it
rearward into an L-shape. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4D, the
claw 11c is formed elastically deformable and parallel to the
bottom plate 2.
[0037] Incidentally, necessary structures known in this art are
provided on both left and right sides of the bracket 11.
[0038] FIGS. 4E, 4C, and 4D respectively illustrate the positions
after the bracket 11 is lowered in the vertical direction of arrows
21 in FIG. 1A until the lower end of the bracket 11 reaches the
inner bottom surface of the base 1. At these positions, the first
hook receiver 2a and the first hook 11a face each other, the second
hook receiver 2b and the second hook 11b face each other, and the
claw 11c does not yet engage with the claw receiver 2c.
[0039] FIGS. 5E, 5C, and 5D respectively illustrate the positions
after the bracket 11 is moved rearward in the horizontal direction
of arrows 21 in FIG. 1A. At these positions, the first hook
receiver 2a and the first hook 11a abut against each other, the
second hook receiver 2b and the second hook 11b abut against each
other, and the projection 11c1 of the claw 11c engages with the
claw receiver 2c because of an elastic restoring force of the claw
11c. Thus, the bracket 11 is fixedly mounted on the base 1. In this
case, positioning of the bracket 11 is carried out by the
engagement between the first hook 11a and the first hook receiver
2a and the engagement between the second hook 11b and the second
hook receiver 2b and locking of the bracket 11 is carried out by
the engagement between the claw 11c and the claw receiver 2c. As a
result, the bracket 11 is fixedly assembled to the base 1.
[0040] Since the first hook receiver 2a and the first hook 11a have
symmetrical shapes and the second hook receiver 2b and the second
hook 11b have symmetrical shapes, the bracket 11 is tightly mounted
on the base 1.
[0041] The engaging structure described above exhibits the
following effects:
[0042] 1. Since a base assembly comprises a base having at least
two L-shaped hook receivers and at least one claw receiver and a
bracket having at least two L-shaped hooks each having a shape
corresponding to that of the hook receiver and at least one
elastically deformable claw engageable with the claw receiver,
laborious fixing means such as a screw is not required, the number
of assembling steps is small, and further the structure is
simple.
[0043] 2. Since the claw receiver is formed between the hook
receivers and the claw is formed between the hooks, the bracket is
stably fixed to the base by a locking mechanism half the number of
positioning mechanisms.
[0044] 3. The hook receivers and the hooks are formed into
symmetrical shapes and thus the bracket is brought into tight
contact with the base when mounting the bracket on the base.
Therefore, the base assembly is compact in structure.
[0045] 4. Since the claw has a projection at its free end and the
claw receiver is a hole, the structure is simple.
[0046] 5. Since the hook receivers and the claw receiver are formed
so as to be located on a straight line and the hooks and the claw
are formed so as to be located on a straight line, the manufacture
is easy.
[0047] 6. The base and the bracket are each easily manufactured
from a synthetic resin and the cost is low.
[0048] In the base assembly described above, the claw and the claw
receiver in a pair are arranged between the hooks and the hook
receivers in two pairs. However, this arrangement order may be
suitably changed in design. The number of pairs of hooks and hook
receivers and the number of pairs of claws and claw receivers can
be increased. The first hook receiver 2a, the single claw receiver
2c, and the second hook receiver 2b in the base 1 may be formed at
positions slightly offset from a straight line and, likewise, the
first hook 11a, the single claw 11c, and the second hook 11b in the
bracket 11 may be formed at positions slightly offset from a
straight line. Further, the base assembly is applicable not only to
the main equipment for the communication apparatus, but also to
other apparatuses, for example, the whole range of household
electrical apparatuses.
[0049] Now, referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the description will be
directed to the first related art mentioned in the column of
"Background Art".
[0050] FIG. 6A illustrates a state before fixing a bracket 31 to a
base 21 using three screws 41. The base 21 has a rectangular
parallelepiped frame structure. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, a bottom
plate 22 of the base 21 is formed with a three screw holes 22a. To
this bottom plate 22, the bracket 31 is fixed by the three screws
41. The bracket 31 is in the form of a rectangular plate and has
female threaded portions 31a for the screws 41 at three portions of
the bottom. Known necessary structures are formed on both left and
right sides of the bracket 31.
[0051] When fixing the bracket 31 to the base 21, the bracket 31 is
first moved downward in an arrow direction by operator's fingers in
FIG. 6A, thereby positioning the three female threaded portions 31a
of the bracket 31 in registry with the corresponding screw holes
22a of the bottom plate 22 as illustrated in FIG. 6B. Then, the
three screws 41 are screwed into the corresponding female threaded
portions 31a of the bracket 31 through the corresponding screw
holes 22a from the back side of the bottom plate 22. Thereupon, the
bracket 31 is fixed to the base 21.
[0052] However, with the structure illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
the number of assembling steps is large, the number of components
is large, there is a disadvantage in terms of design because the
heads of the screws are visible from the outside, and further the
cost increases.
* * * * *