Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Wo 93/17513 Pcr/US93/00634
, 2l~7~7n
"Fastener Assembly for Telephone Housing and Substrate"
(~ross-Reference To Related ApplicfltionR
This ap~li~tion is a cQn*nllfltinn-in-part of application
serial nllmher 799,818, filed on November 29, 1991, entitled "Apparatus
For Accel,l g And Retf ining A S art Card" by Jeffery F. Kurgan.
R~flrk~round of the Invention
0 The present invention relates generally to ff stQnPrS~ and,
more particularly, to a fastener which fastens two or more tf n~lamly-
positioned s~lrff~ces theretogether, such as, without way of limitation,
opposing surfaces of a housing f~ss~mbly for an electronic device.
AdvflncPmantc in the field of radio electronics have
permitted the introduction and commerciz~li7f~tion of an ever-increasing
array of radio commllnicfltion a~at~s. Advflnce~nents in electronic
circuitry design have also permitte~ increased mini~t~lri7f tion of the
electronic cilc~itl~ co l~l;sing such radio communication apparatus.
As a result, an ever-increasing array of radio co.. ~... icfltion
20 apparatus col~ ised of ever-Rmflller electronic circuitry has permitted
such radio C~!.. ~.. icz tion apparatus to be ll*li7.etl more conveniently in
an increased number of applicf~tionR.
A radio transceiver, such as a radiotelephone utilized in a
cellular, co~ ..;cation system, is one çYf mrle of radio
25 com~nunication apparatus which has been mini~t.nized to be utilized
cohve~ipntly in an increased number of applications. Additional efforts
to mini~t~lrize further the electronic CilC- itly of simil~- such radio
transceive~s~ as well as other radio commllniç~tion apparatus, are
being made. Such further mini~t~ tion of the radio transceivels will
30 fi~ther increase the convenience of lltili7~tion of such apparatus, and
will permit such apparatus to be utilized in further increased numbers
of applic~ti- T~R.
WO 93/17513 2 1 0 7 7 7 0 PCI`/US93/00634
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Pursuant to such efforts to mini~t~lrize further the
electronic c i,cLlLi~- ~/ of such radio transceivels (as well as other radio
commllnir~tion apparatus), size minimi~tion of the electronic circuitry
is a critical design goal during design of such c;l-,uiLl~.
Con~o.. ;~nt with the increased mini~t~lrization of
electronic CilCui~ iS a co~ s~ ing reduction in the physical
~lim~ncionR of the housings in which such electronic circuitry is housed
as well as other mPrh~nir~l structure associated therewith.
Initially, size redllrtiorlR in the housing and associated
10 mechslnical structure was ~ccQmrlished by simple, scale reduction of
the tlimPncinn~ of already-e~sting structures. How~v~l, beyond certain
size re~illct;Q~, such ~imple scale re-lllrtion incre~ingly becom~c
impr~c*ç~l Beyond a cel Laill point, structural !imit~tionR of the
materials co~ l;sing such structure cannot be retlllre-l further without
5 co ,l.lising the structural integrity thereo
For instance, the housings of many such electronic devices
are co ~;sed of a thermoplastic material. The walls of such housings
must be greater than minim~l thirknesses to ensure the structural
integrity of such walls, and the housings formed the~,eLvm,. Other
20 housin,gs and ~Rsori~te-l meçh~nir~l structures cv~ l;sed of other
materials suffer from Rimil~r, size-re~lllction limitations.
Many coll,vell,tional, housing constructions are co i~l;sed of
a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. Typically, the
electronic circuitry co~ .,;sing the electronic device is disposed upon a
25 circuit board (or several circ~it boards) an,d the circuit board is mounted
or otherwise PffiYe~ to the rear housing portion of the conv~nhon~l,
housing constrllr*on Once aff~ed in position, the front housing
portion is then placed over the circuit board an,d a fastçninE~ mçch~niRm
f~ctenR the front and rear housing portions theretogether, thereby to
30 enclose in sul,~orli,ve cont~inmrnt the circuit board within the housing
construction.
WO 93/17513 PCI`/US93/00634
3 21 07 770
The fasPning mP~h~ni~m by which the front and rear
housing portions of the housing construction are fastened theretogether
may be cv ~l~sed of any of many various leEign~. Most simply,
threaded shaft mamhers may be lltili7e-l to affi2 the housing portions
theretogether. Also, and particularly when the housing construction is
formed of a thermopl~ c material, the fastening mech~niam may be
formed integral with the abutting edge surfaces of the sidewalls of the
respective ho-l~ing portions.
Hc.w~:vel-, due to the aforçman*Qne-l size reduction in the
0 housings of many elecllvllic devices, existing fast~ning mel~h~ni~mc for
fastening portions of such housings theretogether cannot be lltili7e~
when the tliman~innc of housings are reduced beyond a certain level.
Also, additional innov~tion~, both electronic and
meçh7~nir~1 in nature, are incre~cingly being incorporated into the
constrl~rtionc of such elecllollic devices. Such additional innovations
provide such elecLL~ ic devices with ~i*nn~l fealules to increase the
collve~içnc-a of use of the devices. Incol~ulation of such innovations into
such electronic devices m~kes even more challanging the ongoing
~esiEn goal of re~ ing the ~im~nCiQn~ of the housings and other
merh~nic~l structure of the electronic devices. Design of f~tsning
m~h~ni~m~ which fasten opposing portions of a housing construction
theretogether is accordingly also made more ch~llenging as increased
amounts of 8tructure is to be housed in incre~in~ly-mini~turized
housings.
With particular lefelel~ce to a radio transceiver co~ l;sing
a cellular radiotelephone, tli~rlose~ in the aforementioned, cop~ntling
patent application is structure, lefelled to as a card reader ~csemhly.
Such structure is housed wit_in the housing of the radiotelephone, and
is operative to receive a card, su~sL~ . .l ;~lly simil~r in (lim~n~ion~ to a
30 collvel;on~l, credit card. The card cont~in~ information which, once
lec~:ived by the card reader ~csemhly, may be ~ e-1 by the
radiotelephone for any of various purposes. For instance, the
.
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2107770
information cQnt~inecl on such card could include an i-lentifi~tion
number to be lltili7etl for billing purposes to bill a phone call made
t_rough the radiotelephone to a particular billing address. Because the
card having the i~1~ntification nllmh~r can be removed from one
5 radiotelephone, and placed in another, calls made from more than one
radiotçleFhnne may be billed to a single billing address.
Such a card reader assembly incol~olated to form a portion
of a radiot~lephnne must be mounted within the housing ~csçmhly of the
radiotelephone in a precise oriçnt~tis~n A180, the housing ~sçmhly
o must be adapted to permit the card reader ~sçmhly to receive the card to
obtain the desired inform~*r~n theleL(, . That is to say, the card reader
~6sPmhly must be ~cessible from the exterior of the housing assembly.
To position precisely the card reader ~csçmhly within the housing
~sçmhly, the card reader As6Pmhly must be fastened to the housing
~ çmhly to affix the card reader ~sçmhly in position thereby, and in
the desired ori~nt~tion so that the card reader may be Accessell from the
exterior of the ho~l~ing ~Rs~mhly.
The housing ~csçmhly~ co ~l,l;sed of a front portion and a
rear portion, as noted above, must be f~t~n~l theretogether by the
20 fastening merh~ni~m~ at loç~tiQnc along the abutting surfaces which
form the interface between the two housing portions to ensure structural
integrity of the housing ~csçmhly. Such fastening merh~ni~m~ which
fasten the front and rear housing portions theretogether must therefore
be positioned at sp~cetl interval6 along the interface between the two
25 housing portions.
With the cQntinll~l reduction in the physical llimen~ion~ Of
the housing and other mech~nic~l structure of the radiotelephone, care
must be egercised during design of the radiotelephone to ensure that
both the f~t~ning me-~h~ni~m~ which fasten the card reader s~s~mhly
30 (or any other substrate) positioned within the housing ~csemhly to such
housing ~csemhly~ and the fastening meçh~ni~m~ which fasten the
WO 93/17513 PCI'/US93/00634
5 210777~)
front and rear housing portions of the housing ARsemhly theretogether
may both be a~lo~L;ately positioned in a non-interfering relationship.
As the physical tlimPnRjQna of the housing Assçmbly are
reduced, radiotelephone rlesi~n in which such fastening merhAniRm
may be positioned in a non-intelrellllg arrangement becomes
increARingly lifficlllt~ As the thicknesRes of the housing surfaces and
sidewalls are reduced to minimAl t~itknesses, as mçn~ioned previously,
cCi~lv~ nn~l f~Ftçners cannot be used as ~hsnn~l~ previously formed in
the housing structure to ~ect:ive such fAFtçners of adequate depths can
0 no longer be made. Thele~e, the constraints of the type of fastening
mechslni~m whic_ may be l~ i7e~ to fasten the card reader assembly
(or, again, any other substrate) in position within a hollRin~ ~88emhly
are the same as the previously-m~ntir~ne~l con~lla~s placed on the
fastening me~hAniRmR which fasten front and rear housing portions of
the housing ARsçmhly theretogether.
What is nee~le~l~ thele~ule, is a fAstener of minimsl
~imçnRion~ which fAFtçns two surfaces theretogether.
What iB additionally nee~le~ is a fAFtqner which, not only
fActenR the two surfaces theretogether, but which addi~innAlly fastens a
substrate be~weell such two surfaces.
SllmmAry of the Invention
The present invçnt;nn~ accordingly, advantageously
provides a fastener of ~ Al tlimen~ions for fAFtening two tsn-l~mly-
positioned surfaces theretogether.
The present invention further advantageously provides a
fARtçn~r for fastening a substrate between two t-sn~lçmly-positioned
surfaces.
The present invention yet further advantageously provides a
fastener which fastens two t-snrl~mly-positioned surfaces, and a
substrate positioned therebetween, theretogether.
W O 93/17513 PC~riUS93/00634
210~77 Q - 6 -
The present invention provides further advantages and
features, the ~et~ilR of which will become more evident by re~tling the
detailed descnption of the l lafelled embo-liment hereinbelow.
In accordance with the present invention, therefore, a
5 f~ct~ner for faste-ning a first surface and a t~n~lamly-positioned second
surface theretogether is disclosed. The f~ct~ner co l,l;ses a first hook
member positionetl heneAt~ the first surface in a fixed rÇlAtion therewith
and a secQn~l hook mPmher poRitione-l above the seCQn~ surface in a
fi~ed rçlA*on therewith. A clip cApAble of clasping engagement with
0 both the first hook member and the secon-l hook mPmher is positioned
about both the first hook m~mher and the seCQnrl hook m-Pmher to fasten
thereby the first surface and the t~n~lP~nly-positioned seCon~l surface
theretogether.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will be better understood when read
in light of the ArcQ~ nying dic-w Igs in which:
FIG. 1 is a cut away, i~...Pl- ;c view of a hook m~mhP~r
foll lillg a portion of the fastener of the ~refell ad çmho~lim~nt of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cut away, isometric view similS~r to that of FIG.
1, but illu~lldLhlg Anot~Pr hook mPmher fol~"llg another portion of the
f~tç-lPr of the ~larelled çmho~impnt of the l,le~e.lt invçn~iQn;
FIG. 3 is a cut away, ~ mPt"iC view of a clip Affi~e~l to a
substrate which forms another portion of the f~st~nsr of the l,lafelled
embo~limPnt of the present invqn~ion;
FIG. 4 is a cut away, i~ometriC view of the clip of FIG. 3,
here positioned between front and rear housing portions of a housing
~csemhly wherein the hook m~mhers of FIGs. 1 and 2 are formed on
sidewalls of the front and rear housing portions, respectively;
WO93/17513 2 1 o 7 7 7 o PCT/US93/00634
FIG.4-Iis a cut away, isometric view, Rimil~r with that of
FIG.4, but of an alternate, l.lafe.lad emboAimant of the present
invention;
FIG.5is a cut away, iRomet~ic view, simil~r to that of FIG.
4, but illu~Ll~til g the clip after ~tt~rhmPnt to the hook mamher formed
on the sidewall of the front housing portion;
FIG.6 i8 a cut away, isometric view, simil~r to those of
FIGs.4-5, but illustrating the rel~*nnRhip between the hook members
and the clip after At~rhmant, to both the hook mamher formed on the
0 sidewall of the front housing portion and the hook mamher formed on
the sidewall of the rear housing portion of the housing ~csçmhly to
fasten tLele~, the front and rear housing portions thereat, and to fasten
the sul,sLl~te in positir~n within the housing ~Rsçmhly formed thereby;
FIG.7 is cross-sec~Qn~l ~ew of FIG.6;
1 5 FIG.8is an PSploAa~ view of a radiotelephone of the
- ~lefelled çmhoAimant of the present invention which includes the
fastener shown in the l,laceA;~ figures;
FIG.9 is an isometric view of a portion of the card reader
assembly, shown in the eYI~lotlsA view of FIG.8, which forms the
substrate to which the clip of FIG.3 is ~ eA in the 1,l afell ad
PmhoAimçnt of the present illv~ . L:on; and
FIG.lOis an isQm~Pt~c view of the radiotelephone shown in
exploded form in FIG.8.
Description of the r~afelled EmboAimPntc
Refellh~g first to the cut away, i~ometric view of FIG.l, a
hook member, lefellad to generally by lafelellce numeral 100, which
forms a portion of the fastener of the ~lefelled emboAimP!nt of the
30 present invention, is shown.
Hook member 100 is formed at a predetermined distance
bane~t~l surface 106, here a top, face surface of a top housing portion of a
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2107770 -8-
housing ARsçmhly. As illustrated, hook m~mher 100 is for_ed upon an
inner wall of a flange fol.l-illg sidewall 112 of the front housing
Acsemhly portion.
Hook mçmher 100, in the preferred embo~lim~nt, is
s collllJl;sed of a resiliPnt material and is formed of hook mPmher portions100-1, 100-2, and 100-3. Adjacent ones of the hook m~mher portions 100-1-
3 are sp~e~ apart by gaps 100-4 and 100-5 to be biru~ ated thereby. Hook
m~mher 100 is thereby of a comb-like appearance. Hook member 100
altern~tely may be formed of a single, Pk~neAte~l hook mPmh~r portion;
0 such bifu. cated construction is desirable, how~vel, when hook member
100, surface 106, and sidewall 112 are forme-l of a thermoplastic
material formed during a mol~ing process. Such ~ulcated
construction lJleVtllts scAling of thermoplastic material of ~iRsimilz~r
depths, and is advantageously ~ li7e-1 when smoot~ness in appearance
of the rear surface (not shown in the Figure) of sidewall 112 is of
importance.
Each hook m~mher portion 100-1-3 includes an u~waldly-
tçntli-~g, rAmpe-l, face surface, here ~lPEign~tetl by lefelèllce
llU~ e~c.ls 118-1, 118-2, and 118-3, le~e~l;vely. Face surfaces 118-1-3 are
coplanar in nature, and each face surface 118-1-3 PYtçntls to a back-
~ngletl, force-receiving surface, here fleRi~n~ted by ,efel~:llce nnmerals
124-1, 124-2, and 124-3. Force receiving surfaces 124-1-3 also form a
copl~nAr surface.
Turning next to the cut away, iSQmPt-riC view of FIG. 2, a
secQntl hook member, lerelled to generally by lefel~llce numeral 200,
which forms A~other portion of the f~tsner of the preferred embo-lim~nt
of the present invent;Qn, is shown.
Hook member 200 is formed at a predetermined distance
above surface 206, here a bottom, face surface of a rear housing portion
of a housing ARsçmhly. As illustrated, hook m~mher 200 is formed to
eYtçntl beyond an inner wall of a flange forming sidewall 212 of the rear
housing ARs~mhly portion. Hook member 200, surface 206 and sidewall
WO 93/17513 ~ 1 ~ 7 7 ~ ~ Pcr/uss3/00634
212 of the rear housing ~semhly portion are ~lafelably integrally
formed of a thermoplastic material during a mol~inE process. In
contrast to hook mamher 100 of FIG. 1, hook member 200 is not
bif~llcated in constr~ nn; ho-wt,vt:l, hook member 200 may alternately
5 be constructed to be in such biru.cated form. Analogous to portions 118-
1-3 of hook m~pmhpr 100 of FIG. 1, hook mPmher 200 co~l,. ;ses ramped-
face surface 218 which, here, how~ver, is downwardly-extan-linE. Face
surface 218 çYtnntl~ to back~ Ele~l~ force-laceivhlg surface 224.
FIG. 3 is a cut away, i~omPtric ~iew of a clip, here
0 ~lesiEn-ste~l generally by lafelallce numeral 300, which forms another
portion of the fs-ctaner of the ~.afell~d çmho~limPnt, of the present
illvr..-~ ;nn As illustrated, clip 300 is a multi-slotted plate mçmher, here
ha~ing a top-slotted portion 306 and bottom-slotted portion 312. Slotted
ol,e..;..E 318 PY~ntl~ between front and rear face surfaces (rear face
surface 324 is illustrated in the Figure) of top slotted portion 306. Slotted
opPninE 330 PYtsnrl~i between front and rear face surfaces (rear face
snrfsce 336 is illustrated in the Figure) of bottom filotte l portion 312.
Inner edge surface 326 of top slotted portion 306 (3çfines one
of the perimetal sides of slotte-l O~r~ 318. Analogously, inner edge
surface 338 of bottom slotted portion 312 ~l~fines one of the perimetal
sides of slotted opening 330.
Clip 300 is sffiYe~l to substrate 344 to çYtPntl in a direction
sllhst-sntislly ~el~tlldicular to a planar direction defined by a surface of
the substrate. In the preferred embo~1imant and as will be noted more
fully herPinhalow, substrate 344 co ~ ;ses a portion of a card reader
sc~çmhly and is col"~,l;sed of a mPtsllic matenal. Clip 300, in the
afellad embotliment is formed integral with substrate 344, and is also
cu ,~l;sed of a metsllic material. Clip 300 is permitted elastic
deform-stion to allow flexing mo~ement of portions of the clip. While in
the ~la~lled embo~limant top slotted portion 306 and bottom slotted
portion 312 çYten~l in parallel, but tli~5imil,sr planar directions, top and
WO 93/17513 Pcr/US93/00634
210777 10-
bottom slotted portions 306 and 312, respectively, _ay alternately be
formed to e~ten-i in coplanar directions.
FIG. 4 is a cut away, isometric view of clip 300 ~ffi~erl to
substrate 344 of FIG. 3 in which substrate 344 and the clip affi~ed thereto
5 are together pocitir~netl between top, face surface 106 of the front housing
~gçmhly portion shown in FIG. 1 and bottom, face surface 206 of the
rear housing tqssçmhly portion shown in FIG. 2. Hook memher 100 is
again shown to be formed to ç~nfl beyond an inner wall of the flange
fo~ g sidewall 112. And, hook m.qmher 200 i8 again shown to be
0 formed to P~pnrl beyond an inner wall of a flange fo,~g sidewall 212
of the rear housing ~fiçmhly portion.
When top and bottom face s~ ces 106 and 206,
respect;vely, are t~n~l~mly-posi*nne~l, as shown, to permit intelrl~l,illg
engagement therebelweell, hook mQmh~rs 100 and 200 are ~ nerl with
5 one another in a vertical arrang~m~nt~ T-ine~r tr~ncl~*Qn of substrate
344 poRitiQn~ clip 300 ~ffi~e-l thereto to be also in an ~ ne~ rçl~tior with
both hook memher 100 and hook m~mher 200.
It is noted that the ~imçn~i-n~ of slotted openin~ 318
subr;t~nti~lly col~es~o"~ to the perimetal tlim~n~jonc of hook mqmher
100, and that the tlimPn~inn~ of slotted o~,~.. ;.. ~ 330 sub~t~ntiz~lly
correspond to the perim~t~l ~im~ncinnc of hook m~mher 200.
It is to be understood, of course, that hook m~mhers 100 and
200 need not be ~ ne~l with one another. R~tl er, hook members 100
and 200 must be ~liEnefl vwith the slotted openin~R formed to ç~rt~nrl
through ~esl~e~l;ve ones oftop and bottom slotted portions 306 and 312 of
clip 300. FIG. 4-I illustrates an alternate em~)Q~lim~-nt of the present
illv~ ion in which hook m~mhers 100 and 200 are offset from one
another. Clip 300 is co ~ ised of top and bottom slotted por1ions which
are cG,l. s~Q~ inEly offset from one another to permit ~ nm~nt with
reSpective ones of the hook members. The other structure shown in
FIG. 4-I is identical with simil~rly-numbered structure described with
respect to FIG. 4, and will not again be described in detail.
wo 93/17513 Pcr/uss3/00634
-11- 2107770
In a first applic~tion of the present invention, the fastener
of the ~l afe,, ed embo~iment is operative to fasten the front and rear
housing assembly portions theretogether. In such an applic~irn,
substrate 344 iB GpeldLive to positi~n clip 300 in an ~ nefl arrangement
between hook mpmhers 100 and 200. In such an applir~t;on~ clip 300
could, of course, be alternately positioned in such an P~lignetl
rPl~*onchip by other a~pl~,l l;ate me~nR
In a further appli~*on of the present ~vç..l ;on, the
fastener of the ~,afel,ad çmhotlimPnt is opeldtive not only to fasten the
0 front and rear housing ~csçmhly portions of the housing assembly
theretogether, but, additionally, to fasten a substrate, here a plate
member of a card reader ~emhly, in position will~ the housing
?~mbly formed thereby. I~aft:rably, although not by neces~ity, clip 300
i8 first fs~t~ne~l to hook m~mher 100, and, then, clip 300 i6 fastened to
hook memhçr 200 to fasten thereby surfaces 106 and 206 of the front and
rear housing ~semhly portions, respectively, theretogether.
Accol lh gly, once clip 300 is ~lieT)Ptl between hook
memhers 100 and 200, clip 300 is tr~n~ te~l vertically in the direction
inrli~t~tl by arrow 348 such that a front, face surface of top slotted
portion 306 of clip 300 abuts ~in~t~ and engages with, r~mpe-l-face
surface portions 118-1-3 of hook member portions 100-1-3. Such abutting
engagement between the face surfaces 124-1-3 of hook memhPr 100 and
the front, face surface of top ~lotte~l portion 306 of clip 300 causes hçntlinE
forces to be exerted ~inct clip 300. Exertion of such benfling forces
c~ es elastic deformation of the top slotted portion 306, resulting in
flÇ~nE movement of the top slotted portion. It is also noted that, when
the housing is cG~ul..;sed of 8 thermoplastic material, the housing also
bends responsive to tr~ncl~t;on of clip 300 thereupu~l.
Con*nlle-l tr~ncl~ion of clip 300 results in ~ nmçnt of
slotted G~ 318 with r~mpetl-face surface portion 118-1-3. Once
aligned, the face surfaces 118-1-3 of hook member 100 no longer abut
~inst a face surface of top slotted portion 306; rather, hook member 100
WO 93/17513 o PCr/US93/00634
- 12-
is positioned to ç~t~nrl through slotted openinF 318. As bçn-ling forces
are no longer exerted against top slotted portion 306, top slotted portion
306 returns to an elastically lmrl~formed state, and clip 300 snaps into
position about hook mPmher 100 such that inner edge surface 326 seats
:~inFt back-slnFletl~ force-receiving surface portions 124-1-3 of the hook
member.
The cut away, isometric view of FIG. 5 illustrates
positioning of clip 300 after the just-described tr~nRl~tinn of the clip to
position to-slotted portion 306 of the clip about hook member 100 to seat
0 the inner edge surface 326 of top slotted portion 306 upon force-receiving
surface portions 124-1-3 of the hook mçmbe-. When positioned as such,
substrate 344 is affiYerl in a desired rel~tion relative to top, face surface
106 of the front housing ~csçmhly portion of the housing ~csemhly.
Once clip 300 has been suitably ~ffiYe-l to hook mPmher 100
to seat ~inRt force-receivillg surfaces 124-1-3 thereof, clip 300 together
with surface 106 may be lowered into posit;on to engage claspingly with
hook mPmher 200. (Alternately, surface 206 of the rear housing
s~c,cçmhly portion may be tr~nRl~tetl to engage cl~Rpingly with clip 300.)
~litling trsmRls~*Qn of bottom slotted portion 312 along the
dowllw~ly-eYtAn~inF, ramped-face surface 218 of hook member 200 (in
a m~nner ~n~logous to the ~cli~ling tr~n.cl~tion of a face surface of top
slotted portion 306 of clip 300 to cause fl~Ying movement of the top slotted
portion) causes ben~ing forces to be exerted upon bottom slotted portion
312 to cause elastic defol ...Ation, and flexing movement, of bottom slotted
25 portion 312.
Continued tr~ncl~1;on of bottom slotted portion 312 of clip
300 results in ~ nmçnt of slotted op~nin~ 330 with ramped-face surface
portion 218. Once ~ ne~l~ face surface portion 218 of hook member 200
no longer abuts ~gP~in~t a face ~urface of bottom-slotted portion 312;
30 rather, hook mçmher 200 is positioned to eYte-n~l through slotted opening
330. As ~hentlinF forces are no longer exerted ~g~inct bottom slotted
portion 312, bottom-slotted portion 312 returns to an elastically
wo 93/17513 Pcr/us93/00634
_13- 2107770
undeformed state, and clip 300 snaps into position about hook member
200 such that inner edge surface 338 seats ~E~inRt back-angled, force-
receiving surface 224.
The cut away, isometric view of FIG. 6 illustrates the
rçl~*on~hir beLweell clip 300 and hook members 100 and 200 once clip
300 is positioned about both hook mPmbers. Block 350, shown in hatch,
s~ linE hook mçmber 100, hook memher 200, and clip 300 represent
the fastener formed of the hook mpmhers 100 and 200 and clip 300.
As noted above, in a first applic~*Qn of fastener 360 of the
0 l,lef~.led embo-limant of the present invçntion, the fastener is utilized tofasten two ~n~amly-positioned surfaces, here surfaces 106 and 206 of
front and rear housing s~csemhly portion of a housing ~Rsçmbly,
theretogether. In a fur~her applic~*on of fastener 350, the f~ctçner is
additionally ol,elative to position a substrate, here substrate 344, which
forms a portion of a card reader ~s6ambly f~stPne~l in position between
top and bottom face surfaces 106 and 206.
Bec~llce no rhsmn,.l iS required to be formed in sidewalls
212 or 312 in order to fasten hook mpmbers 100 and 200 in rk~rinE
engagçmant, the depths of the flanges forming sidewalls 212 and 312
20 may be of ;;-~ manRions. Additionally, a single clip, when
~ffi~etl to a substrate as shown in the prece~ing figures is llt;li~e-l, the
single clip may be utilized to m~int~in the three surfaces (i.e., surfaces
106 and 206, and substrate 344) in a desired arrangement therebetween.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sec1ion~l view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG.
6. The ral~tionRhip between hook mamhers 100 and 200 and clip 300
which together form f~staner 350 is again illustrated. Again, hook
mPmher 100 is shown to be formed to e~nA within an inner wall of
sidewall 112 formed of a flange e~tçn~ing hPnP~t~ top surface 106 of a
front housing ~semhly portion. And, hook maml)er 200 is shown to be
formed to eYtçn~ within an inner wall of sidewall 212 formed of a flange
portion ç~tarlfling above bottom surface 206 of a rear housing ~.csPmhly
portion. Sidewalls 112 and 212 abut against each other in interfitting
WO 93/17513 ~, 1 0 ~ ~ ~ -14 - Pcr/uss3/00634
engagement therebetween. Clip 300 is formed of a multi-slotted plate
member Pyt~nr~ing banaAt~ substrate 344 at an edge portion thereof in a
plane subst~ntiAlly perpendicular to the planar surface defined by
substrate 344.
A slotted openine formed to çY~ntl through a top slotted
portion of clip 300 ~el~ils hook member 100 to eYtenA therethrough.
Analogously, a slotted orening formed to çYt~nrl through a bottom slotted
portion of clip 300 pal mite hook mPmhar 200 to çYtsntl therethrough.
Thereby, top and bottom face surfaces 106 and 206 are fAetqne-l
0 theretogether by way of clasping engagement of clip 300 to hook
mamherg 100 and 200. No çhAnnPle are ,aquiled to be formed along
sidewalls 112 or 212 thereby ~a.~ Atisn of the depth
flimPn~ions of such sidewalls.
I~ing next to FIG. 8, a radio transceiver, here a portable,
cellular radiotele~hnne"2felled to generally by lafe,~ce numeral 460,
is shown in exploded form. Radiotelephone 460 includes a supportive
housing ~csçmhly for su~ g various c4...l~4~.ant~ of the
radiot~lephnne thel~wilLi~. Top housing ~sçmhly portion 506 of the
housing Assçmhly includes flange portions çYt~n~ling about perimetal
portions thereof which form sidewalls including sidewall 512. Sidewall
512 col,a~j~onds with sidewall 112 of the prece~inE~ figures, and includes
a hook mPmher (not shown in the Figure) formed on an inner wall
thereof.
Rear housing A~çmhly portion 606 also forms a portion of
the housing A~sçmh1y and includes flange portions formed about
perimetal portions thereof which form sidewalls, including sidewall
612. Sidewall 612 corresponds with sidewall 212 of the prece-ling figures,
and includes a hook member (not shown in the Figure) formed to e~tend
beyond an inner wall thereof.
Positioned directly b.oneAt~ front housing A~s~mhly portion
506 is key pad 618, and directly therebçnçAt~ is key pad circuit board 620.
WO 93/17513 PCI/US93/00634
- 15- 210777~
Component portions of a card reader ~Rs~mhly for receiving card 624 are
positioned henP~th key pad circuit board 618.
The card reader ~csPmhly is shown to be comprised of slider
plate 630 and cover plate 636. Formed integral with, and qYtPn~ing in a
plane sllhst~nti~lly perpendicular to, the planar surface defined by cover
plate 636 is clip mPmher 700. Clip 700 col~es~onds to clip 300 shown in
the prece-lin~ figures and is operat*e to claspingly engage with hook
me_bers formed to çYtçn~ beyond the inner walls of sidewalls 512 and
612. Circuit board 706 is po~itionptl hqnP~t~ cover plate 636 of the card
reader ~csçmhly. ~nt~Pnn~ 712 is further shown to eYten~ beyond circuit
board 706.
When ~ ,e~ly ~ netl, the cQmrQnant portions of
radiotelephone 460 are positioned upon one another, and housed wit~in
front and rear housing ~Rsemhly portions 506 and 606 which are, in
turn, ~n~l-pmly-positioned and f~ctPnPtl theretogether by the fastener of
the present invention by way of clasping engagement with clip 700.
FIG. 9 is an i~ol~tiQn~l view of cover plate 636 which
co ~ ises a portion of the card reader ~Rsçmhly which is housed within
radiotelephone 460 of FIG. 8. Cover plate 636 is shown to include two
clips 700 ~ pose~l to eytsn~l beyond opposite edge portions of the cover
plate. Clips 718 are further illustrated in the E`igure to eY~n~l beyond
opposing edge surfaces of the cover plate 636. Clips 718 are co~;sed of
a single slotted portion, An~logous to top slotted portion 306 of the
l.~ece~ g figures, and is op~:~al.ive to a fiYed cover plate 636 to a single
hook member rlisposetl upon a single one of the housing ~Rsemhly
portions, here front housing ~Rsçmhly portion 506.
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of radiotelephone 460 of FIG. 8.
Radiotelephone 460 includes front and rear housing ARsem~ly portions
506 and 606, key pad 618, and ~ntP!nn~ 712. A housing assembly
~nRinn 730, p*otally coupled to the front housing ~Rsçmhly portion 506
commonly lefe~ed to as a "flip" portion of the radiotelephone is further
illustrated in the Figure, as is a~e~ e 736 formed at the interface
-
WO 93/17513 PCI`/US93/00634
2107770 - 16-
between sidewalls of the housing z~csemhly. Aperture 736 permits a card
to be inserted therewithin to be received by the card reader assembly
shown in the previous Figure.
While the present invention has been described in
5 connection with the ~lefelled emboAiment shown in the various figures,
it is to be understood that other simil~r embo~im~nts may be used and
mo~lifir~tionR and additions may be made to the described embodiments
for pelroll~ .g the same function of the present invention without
deviating therefrom. The~efo~e, the present invention should not be
0 limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and
scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended rl~im~.
