# US 4,400,672 A · Relay mounting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,400,672 A - Document ID: US4400672A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/296,981 - Filed: 1981-08-27 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1981-08-27 - Assignees: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company - Inventors: Thomas J. Bottelson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400672A ## CPC - H02B 1/044: Mounting through openings - H01H 50/02: Bases; Casings; Covers (frames for mounting two or more relays or for mounting a relay and another electric component H02B1/01, H04Q1/08, H05K) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face, with visual or manipulative components thereon, onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening therethrough. This device comprises a unitary body with a bezel portion adapted to engage the front surface of the panel and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from the bezel portion and adapted to extend through the panel access opening wherein the cradle defines a relay receiving nest and means for fastening the body onto the panel with the central opening of the body exposing the relay receiving nest at the front surface of the panel whereby a relay supported in the nest will have its front face exposed for observation and/or manipulation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary plastic body having a bezel portion overlying and engaging said front surface of said panel around said access opening and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from said bezel portion and extending through said access opening in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface with said bezel and cradle leaving said access opening substantially unobstructed, said cradle defining a relay receiving nest, and fastening means on said bezel and extending through portions of said panel bordering the access opening therein and fixedly securing said body onto said panel with said central opening exposing, through said unobstructed access opening, said relay receiving nest at said front surface; said supporting cradle including a first abutment means adjacent said bezel, a second abutment means spaced away from said bezel, said first and second abutment means generally defining said relay receiving nest, and means for holding said relay in said nest between said first and second abutment means with said front face exposed through said panel by said unobstructed central opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means includes means for allowing said relay to be releasably held in said nest. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said second abutment means are two shoulders spaced across said nest in a direction generally parallel to said rear surface of said panel when said device is assembled into said panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said releasable holding means includes two spaced, flexible arms with outboard ends with one of said shoulders secured to the outboard end of each of said arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said first abutment means is spaced from said bezel a distance to space said nest behind said panel when said mounting device is mounted on said panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said first abutment means is spaced from said bezel a distance to space said nest behind said panel when said mounting device is mounted on said panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) a device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first abutment means is spaced from said bezel a distance to space said nest behind said panel when said mounting device is mounted on said panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second abutment means are two shoulders spaced across said nest in a direction generally parallel to said rear surface of said panel when said device is assembled into said panel. ### Claim 9 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary body having a bezel portion adapted to engage said front surface of said panel and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from said bezel portion and adapted to extend through said access opening in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface, said cradle defining a relay receiving nest, and means for fastening said body onto said panel with said central opening exposing said relay receiving nest at said front surface; said supporting cradle including a first abutment means adjacent said bezel, a second abutment means spaced away from said bezel, said first and second abutment means generally defining said relay receiving nest, and means for holding said relay in said nest between said first and second abutment means with said front face exposed through said panel by said central opening, said holding means including means for allowing said relay to be releasably held in said nest, and said device further including a transparent door and means for mounting said door onto said unitary body for movement in at least a first position covering said central opening and a second position not covering said central opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said door mounting means includes means for pivotally mounting said door onto said unitary body. ### Claim 11 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary body having a bezel portion adapted to engage said front surface of said panel and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from said bezel portion and adapted to extend through said access opening in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface, said cradle defining a relay receiving nest, means for fastening said body onto said panel with said central opening exposing said relay receiving nest at said front surface; said supporting cradle including a first abutment means adjacent said bezel, a second abutment means spaced away from said bezel, said first and second abutment means generally defining said relay receiving nest, and means for holding said relay in said nest between said first and second abutment means with said front face exposed through said panel by said central opening, said device further including a transparent door and means for mounting said door onto said unitary body for movement in at least a first position covering said central opening and a second position not covering said central opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said door mounting means includes means for pivotally mounting said door onto said unitary body. ### Claim 13 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary plastic body having a bezel portion overlying and engaging said front surface of said panel around said access opening and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from said bezel portion and extending through said access opening in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface with said bezel and cradle leaving said access opening substantially unobstructed, said cradle defining a relay receiving nest and including means for releasably receiving a relay, and fastening means on said bezel portion and extending through portions of said panel bordering the access opening therein and fixedly securing said body onto said panel with said central opening exposing, through said unobstructed access opening, said relay receiving nest at said front surface whereby said front face of said relay is exposed to said front surface. ### Claim 14 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary body having a bezel portion adapted to engage said front surface of said panel and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from said bezel portion and adapted to extend through said access opening in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface, said cradle defining a relay receiving nest and including means for releasably receiving a relay, and means for fastening said body onto said panel with said central opening exposing said relay receiving nest at said front surface whereby said front face of said relay is exposed to said front surface, said device further including a transparent door and means for mounting said door onto said unitary body for movement in at least a first position covering said central opening and a second position not covering said central opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A device as defined in claim 14 wherein said door mounting means includes means for pivotally mounting said door onto said unitary body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A relay mounting device as defined in claim 13, wherein the said cradle is formed integrally with the said body and the bezel portion thereof as a single unit. ### Claim 17 A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face with visual or manipulative components onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening through the panel for receiving said mounting device, said device comprising: a unitary plastic body comprising an open-ended rectangularly box-shaped cradle portion defining a relay receiving nest and a bezel flange portion extending laterally outward from and around said box-shaped portion at one of the open ends thereof, said body being mounted on said panel with the said bezel flange portion overlying and engaging said front surface of said panel around said access opening, and with only the said box-shaped cradle portion extending through said access opening and in relatively close fitting relation thereto so as to leave said access opening substantially unobstructed and expose said relay receiving nest at said front surface through said one open end of said box-shaped portion, and fastening means on said bezel flange portion extending through portions of said panel bordering the said access opening therein and fixedly securing said body onto said panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A relay mounting device as defined in claim 17, wherein said supporting cradle includes a first abutment means adjacent said bezel flange portion, a second abutment means spaced rearwardly from said first abutment means, said first and second abutment means generally defining said relay receiving nest, and means for holding a said relay in said nest between said first and second abutment means with the said front face of the relay exposed through said panel and said one open end of said cradle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A relay mounting device as defined in claim 18, wherein said holding means includes means for allowing a said relay to be releasably held in said nest.