Molded article having integral displaceable member or members and method of use

A molded plastic article comprising a body member having receiving means comprising a bore formed within the body member, the bore having a longitudinal axis and having a mountable member received therein, the mountable member having at least a part thereof dimensioned and configured to be received within the bore and further having first engagement means formed thereon;

• at least one displaceable member having second engagement means formed thereon, the displaceable member having initially been integrally molded with the body member so as to have been connected thereto by frangible web means which retained the displaceable member in a first position in which the displaceable member was aligned with but displaced from a locking position in which the second engagement means of the displaceable member engages the first engagement means of the mountable member, the frangible web means having been ruptured in the course of displacing the displaceable member in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bore from its first position to its locking position by application of force to the displaceable member to rupture the frangible web means and move the displaceable member in said direction to its locking position, in which the first and second engagement means are in locking engagement with each other.

A molded plastic article comprising a body member having receiving means which are dimensioned and configured to receive and retain therein a mountable member comprising a detonator having thereon first engagement means comprising a crimp formed in the detonator;

• at least one displaceable member having second engagement means formed thereon, the displaceable member being integrally molded with the body member and connected thereto by frangible web means which retain the displaceable member in a first position in which the displaceable member is aligned with but displaced from a locking position in which the second engagement means of the displaceable member engages the crimp of the detonator, the displaceable member being displaced from its first position to its locking position by application of force to the displaceable member to rupture the frangible web means and move the displaceable member to force the crimp and the second engagement means into locking locking engagement with each other.

A molded plastic connector block for retaining at least one signal transmission line in signal transfer relationship with a detonator having an output end, the connector block comprising:

• a body member having a signal transmission end and a channel formed in the body member for receiving and retaining therein such detonator with the output end thereof disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member;
• a line retaining means disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member for retaining therein such at least one signal transmission line in signal communication relationship with the output end of such detonator retained within the receiving channel:
• a displaceable locking member integrally molded with the body member and connected thereto by frangible web means which retain the displaceable locking member in a first position in which the locking member is aligned with but displaced from a locking position in which the locking member secures the detonator within the channel, the locking member being displaceable from its first position to its locking position by application of force to the locking member to rupture the frangible web means and move the displaceable locking member to force the locking member into its locking position.

The connector block of claim 9 wherein the line retaining means comprises a gripping member spaced from the signal transmission end of the body member to form a line-receiving slot between the gripping member and the signal transmission end of the body member, the line-receiving slot having an opening thereto and being otherwise dimensioned and configured to receive and retain therein such at least one signal transmission line in signal communication relationship with a detonator disposed in the channel as aforesaid, the gripping member having a supported end extending from the body member and a distal end which terminates in a return-bend leg which overlaps at least a portion of the length of the body member from the signal transmission end thereof and is disposed on the side of the body member opposite the side from which the supported end extends.

A method of mounting a mountable member having first engagement means thereon in a molded plastic body member, which body member has receiving means comprising a channel formed within the body member and having a longitudinal axis, the channel being dimensioned and configured to receive and retain therein the mountable member;

• the body member comprising at least one displaceable member having second engagement means formed thereon, the displaceable member being integrally molded with the body member and connnected thereto by frangible web means which retain the displaceable member in a first position in which the displaceable member is aligned with, but displaced from, a locking position in which the second engagement means of the displaceable member engages the first engagement means of the mountable member the method comprising:
• rupturing the frangible web means and moving the displaceable member along a travel path which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the channel and into contact with the mountable member so as to force the first and second engagement means into locking engagement with each other.

A method of mounting a detonator having first engagement means thereon in a molded plastic connector block having at least one displaceable locking member having second engagement means formed therein, the connector block comprising a body member having a channel which is dimensioned and configured to receive and retain therein the detonator,

• the displaceable locking member being integrally molded with the body member and connected thereto by frangible web means which retain the displaceable locking member in a first position in which the displaceable locking member is aligned with, but displaced from, a locking position in which the second engagement means of the displaceable locking member engages the first engagement means of the detonator, the method comprising:
• rupturing the frangible web means and moving the displaceable locking member along a travel path into contact with the detonator to force the first and second engagement means into locking engagement with each other to thereby retain the detonator within the connector block.

A connector block for retaining at least one signal transmission line in signal transfer relationship with a detonator having an output end, the connector block comprising:

• a body member having a signal transmission end and a channel formed in the body member for receiving such detonator;
• means carried on the body member to retain such detonator within the channel with the output end of the detonator disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member;
• a resilient, cantilevered member comprising a shank having a fixed end extending from one side of the body member at a support location on the body member which is remote from the signal transmission end thereof, and an opposite end carrying a gripping member spaced from the signal transmission end of the body member to form a line-receiving slot between the gripping member and the signal transmission end of the body member, the gripping member being fixed relative to the body member whereby an opening to the line-receiving slot is provided, which opening is not closeable by the gripping member, the line-receiving slot being dimensioned and configured to receive and retain therein such at least one signal transmission line in signal communication relationship with such detonator disposed in the channel as aforesaid.

A connector block for retaining at least one signal transmission line in signal transfer relationship with a detonator, the connector block comprising:

• a body member having a signal transmission end and a channel formed in the body member for receiving and retaining therein such detonator having an output end, with the output end disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member;
• a gripping member disposed adjacent to and spaced from the signal transmission end of the body member to form a line-receiving slot between the gripping member and the signal transmission end of the body member, the gripping member being fixed relative to the body member whereby an opening to the line-receiving slot is provided, which opening is not closeable by the gripping member and is otherwise dimensioned and configured to provide access for the line-receiving slot to receive and retain therein such at least one signal transmission line in signal communication relationship with such detonator disposed in the channel as aforesaid, the gripping member having a supported end extending from the body member and a distal end which terminates in a return-bend leg which overlaps at least a portion of the length of the body member from the signal transmission end thereof and is disposed on the side of the body member opposite the side from which the supported end extends.

A molded plastic connector block in combination with a detonator having anoutput end, the connector block being adapted for retaining at least one signal transmission line in signal transfer relationship with the detonator, the connector block comprising a body member having a signal transmission end and a channel formed in the body member, the detonator being retained within the channel, with the output end of the detonator disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member;

• a line retaining means disposed at the signal transmission end of the body member for retaining therein such at least one signal transmission line in signal communication relationship with the output end of the detonator;
• a displaceable locking member having initially been integrally molded with the body member and connected thereto by frangible web means which retained the displaceable locking member in a first position in which the locking member was aligned with but displaced from a locking position in which the locking member secures the detonator within the channel, the frangible web means having been ruptured to displace the locking member from its first position to its locking position by application of force to the locking member to rupture the frangible web means and move the displaceable locking member to force the locking member into its locking position.