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US 4,647,898 AGranted
Electronic device with improved element retention
AssigneeBourns, Inc.
InventorRonald E. Smith
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBourns, Inc.
InventorRonald E. Smith
Estimating the term…
A retention mechanism for retaining an electrical element securely within a housing is specifically adapted for use with a loop-shaped (e.g., substantially annular) electrical element, having two ends separated by a small gap. The mechanism comprises a gap-registrable member in the housing cavity containing the electrical element, whereby the gap-registrable member registers with, and fits into the gap of the electrical element when the latter is seated on a seating surface in the cavity. The gap-registrable member is dimensioned to spread the gap, thereby radially expanding the electrical element to bring it into a locking frictional engagement against the walls of the cavity. The gap-registrable element advantageously serves also as a stop for a rotational contact, or wiper, included with the electronic device. The side wall of the cavity is advantageously provided with a radially-inwardly extending lip that is engageable with the electrical element to restrain it from lifting off of the seating surface.
An electronic device of the type including a housing having an interior seating surface surrounded by an interior wall surface, an electrical element in the configuration of a nearly-closed loop seated on said seating surface and having first and second ends separated by a gap, and a rotatable contact conductively engageable with said electrical element, wherein the improvement comprises:
An electronic device comprising:
An electronic device, of the type including a housing having an interior chamber defined by a substantially annular seating surface surrounded by a substantially annular wall surface, a substantially annular electrical element seated on said seating surface and having first and second ends separated by a gap, and a rotatable contact conductively engageable with said electrical element along a rotational path between said first and second ends, wherein the improvement comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.