Snap-lockable housing for fluorescent lamp ballasts

A ballast housing comprising:

• a cover and a base substantially securely connected to each other to define a housing configured to receive a circuit board populated with components operable to drive at least one fluorescent lamp;
• the cover having at least two fingers, each finger having a mating portion;
• the base having at least two finger ports;
• each finger port and finger being substantially complementarily configured and each mating portion of a finger extends into each finger port;
• each finger being substantially latitudinally flexible and comprising a longitudinally extending member that terminates with an end portion, the end portion including the mating portion;
• each finger port being substantially rectangular in shape;
• and
• the base including at least two guide-lock structures for which guide insertion of the mating portion of each finger into its corresponding finger port and substantially securely lock the finger in place the guide-lock structures each comprising a tab that is substantially latitudinally flexible and that is located adjacent to the finger port, the tab including a substantially longitudinally sloped surface for facilitating insertion of the mating portion of the finger into the finger port.

A ballast housing comprising:

• a cover and a base substantially securely connected to each other to define a housing configured to receive a circuit board populated with components operable to drive at least one fluorescent lamp;
• the cover having four fingers, each finger having a mating portion, the mating portion having a substantially wedged shape;
• the base having four finger ports, an input connector port, and an output connector port;
• each finger port and finger being substantially complementarily configured and each mating portion of a the finger extends into each finger port;
• each finger being substantially latitudinally flexible and comprising a longitudinally extending member that terminates with an end protion that includes the mating portion, the end portion including a first sloped portion and a second sloped portion facilitating insertion of the mating portion of the finger into the finger port;
• each finger port being substantially rectangular in shape;
• and
• the base including at least two guide-lock structures which guide insertion of the mating portion of each finger into its corresponding finger port and substantially securely lock the finger in place, each guide-lock structure comprising a tab that is substantially latitudinally flexible and that is located adjacent to the finger port, the tab including a substantially longitudinally sloped surface for facilitating insertion of the mating portion of the finger into the finger port.