Snap-lock housing construction and parts thereof

A panel-mullion assembly comprising a mullion and first and second panels having latching members mounted on opposite sides of said mullion, said mullion comprising a central body portion having opposite sides, first and second snap-locking means extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central body portion for attaching said mullion to said first and second panels with a locking connection, said first and second snap-locking means comprising first and second pairs of elongated ribs extending outwardly from spaced portions of said central body portion, said ribs having inner ends proximate said central body portion and outer ends remote from said central body portion, elongated compressible sealing members mounted on said outer ends of said elongated ribs and extending lengthwise of said mullion, each pair of said ribs having first sides facing toward each other and second sides facing away from each other, ridge means on said second sides of said ribs for receiving said latching members of said first and second panels in latching engagement, and cam surface means on said second sides between said sealing members and said ridge means for guiding said latching members into latching engagement with said ridge means, each of said panels comprising a plurality of frame members defining the outer periphery of said panel, said frame members each comprising a channel including a web and a pair of substantially parallel legs extending outwardly from said web, first flange means spaced from said web and extending inwardly toward each other from said legs for providing sealing engagement with said elongated compressible sealing members, and said latching members comprising snap-locking means for locking engagement with said elongated ribs comprising second flange means attached to said legs on the opposite sides of said first flange means from said web, and projections facing inwardly at the outer ends of said second flange means for engaging said ridge means in locking relationship after traveling over said cam surface means.

A panel-mullion assembly comprising a mullion and first and second panels having latching members mounted on opposite sides of said mullion, said mullion comprising a central body portion having opposite sides, first and second snap-locking means extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central body portion for attaching said mullion to said first and second panels with a locking connection, said first and second snap-locking means comprising first and second of elongated rib means extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central body portion, said rib means having inner ends proximate said central body portion and outer ends remote from said central body portion, elongated compressible sealing members mounted on said outer ends of said elongated rib means and extending lengthwise of said mullion, each of said rib means having sides between said first and second ends, ridge means on said sides of said rib means for receiving said latching members of said first and second panels in latching engagement, and cam surface means on said sides between said sealing members and said ridge means for guiding said latching members into latching engagement with said ridge means, each of said panels comprising a plurality of frame members defining the outer periphery of said panel, said frame members including webs and legs extending outwardly from said webs, first flange means spaced from said webs and extending transversely to said legs for providing sealing engagement with said elongated compressible sealing members, and said latching members comprising snap-locking means for locking engagement with said elongated ribs comprising second flange means attached to said legs on the opposite sides of said first flange means from said webs, and projections facing toward said ridge means at the outer ends of said second flange means for engaging said ridge means in locking relationship after traveling over said cam surface means.