FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
"A click fit mounting clip assembly for mounting DIN enclosure on DIN rail"
2. APPLICANT:
(a) NAME: Larsen & Toubro Limited
(b) NATIONALITY: An Indian Company registered under the
provisions of the Companies Act-1956.
(c) ADDRESS: Larsen & Toubro Limited
L&T House. Ballard Estate,
P.O Box No. 278, Mumbai-400 001
INDIA
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

A click fit mounting clip assembly for mounting DIN enclosure on DIN rail
Field of invention
The present invention relates to rail mounted electric apparatuses and more particularly to a mounting means adapted for rail mounted electric apparatuses.
Background of the invention
Home and office electric devices, such as for example circuit breakers, electronic energy meters, surge protective devices, temperature transmitters, switches, general electric control devices, connectors, thermostats, timers, fuse boxes, terminal blocks, alarm, buzzers, emergency lamps, LCD displays and the like are generally rail mounted and preferably wall installed using the rails. Normally, these devices include spring loaded components, made of both plastic and sheet-metal, adapted for mounting these devices on the rails. However, these spring actuated mounting means of the prior art have complexity in assembling and operation, especially in case of DIN rails with DIN standards of 35mm Top Hat Section Also, the springs of these devices have a tendency to lose elasticity over the period of time that creates problems in mounting circuit breakers and industrial control equipments inside the equipment racks. In addition, the mounting means generally protrude out of the enclosure profile thereby adding complexity in packing of the enclosures of these devices.
Accordingly, there exists a need of a spring-free durable locking means for locking of DIN enclosures on to the DIN rails. Also, there exists a need of a locking means for DIN enclosures that facilitates sturdy assembly of the DIN enclosures on the DIN rails in addition to facilitating easy packing of the DIN enclosures.

Object of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting means that securely constrains an electrical enclosure on a DIN rail.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting means that is cost effective and which locks a DIN enclosure on to the DIN rail without spring loading.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting means that aligns with the enclosure profile to facilitate easy packing of the enclosure on the DIN rail.
Summary of the invention
The present invention provides a mounting clip assembly comprises at least one mounting clip. The mounting clip is having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion includes a protuberance section that is having an opposed pair of protrusions defined thereon. The mounting clip includes an opposed pair of mating ribs cantilevering and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. The mounting clip includes a click fit section having an engagement tip thereon. The mounting clip assembly comprises at least one receptacle portion and at least an opposed pair of channel sections defined on an electrical enclosure. The channel section facilitates positioning of the electrical enclosure on a DIN rail. The receptacle portion includes a pair of protruded sections engaging with the click fit section of the mounting clip in a first position and a second position. The first position facilitates permanent positioning of the mounting clip on the electrical enclosure thereby defining a primary locking arrangement. The

second position facilitates temporary positioning of at least some portion of the mounting clip on the DIN rail thereby defining a secondary locking arrangement.
Brief description of the drawings
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting clip constructed in accordance with the present invention adapted to be positioned on a rear side of an electrical enclosure;
FIG. 2A is a front view of the mounting clip of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2B is a top view of the mounting clip of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the mounting clip of FIG. 2 A;
FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional right hand side view of the mounting clip taken along line A-A of FIG.2A;
FIG. 2E is a left hand side view of the mounting clip of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electrical enclosure of FIG. 1 positioned on a DIN rail without the mounting clip;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical enclosure positioned with the mounting clip of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electrical enclosure of FIG. 1 positioned on the DIN rail along with the mounting clip in an unlocking position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrical enclosure of FIG. 1 positioned on the DIN rail along with the mounting clip in a locking position.
Detailed description of the invention
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a mounting clip assembly adapted for securely constraining an electrical enclosure on a DIN rail that eliminates a need of using spring loading for alignment of the electrical enclosure in addition to facilitating positioning of the enclosure on the DIN rail.
Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting clip assembly having an electrical enclosure 10 positioned with at least an opposed pair of mounting clips 12 is shown. The mounting clips 12 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably position on a rare surface 14 of the electrical enclosure 10. The rare surface 14 of the electrical enclosure 10 includes a channel section 15 and an opposed pair of receptacle portions 16. The channel section 15 is configured to accommodate a DIN rail (not shown) such that the mounting clips 12 substantially align with the receptacle portion 16 of the electrical enclosure 10. The mounting clips 12 are adapted to securely constrain the electrical enclosure 10 on the DIN rail in this one embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2A. 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E, the mounting clip 12 is bilaterally disposed along a central vertical axis- X. The mounting clip 12 includes a channel

section 17 and a rectangular opening 18. The mounting clip 12 is having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The mounting clip 12 includes a protuberance section 20 defined on the proximal end portion in this one embodiment. The protuberance section 20 includes an opposed pair of protrusions 22 protruding axially upwardly from the protuberance section 20. The mounting clip 12 includes an opposed pair of mating ribs 24 that cantilevers from a clip body 26. The ribs 24 preferably vertically extend between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion in this one preferred embodiment. The mounting clip 12 includes a click-fit section 25 having an engagement tip 25A.
Referring to FIG. 3, the rear surface 14 of the enclosure 10 mounted with a DIN rail 28 is shown. The DIN rail 28 is a 35 mm Top Hat Section DIN rail in this one particular embodiment. The channel section 15 (as shown in FIG. 1) facilitates positioning of the DIN rail 28 thereby facilitating positioning of the electrical enclosure 10 on the DIN rail 28. Each of the receptacle portions 16 respectively includes a pair of protruded sections/ guides 30 that engage with the mounting clips 12 to position the mounting clips 12 on the electrical enclosure 10.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ribs 24 are configured to vertically slide along the receptacle portions 16 in a direction indicated by an arrow F such that the ribs 24 guide through an opposed pair of guides 32 defined within each of the receptacle portions 16. The ribs 24 are adapted to facilitate a click-fit engagement between the click-fit section 25 and the protruded sections 30. The protruded sections 30 facilitate a primary locking arrangement such that the mounting clips 12 are permanently assembled on the electrical enclosure 10. It is understood here that the primary locking arrangement is a permanent click fit type locking arrangement in this one particular embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting clip 12 remains in a first position during the primary locking wherein positioning of the electrical enclosure 10 on the DIN rail 28 is facilitated. In the first position, a top surface of the mounting clip 12 substantially aligns with a top surface of the receptacle portions 16.
As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting clip 12 is vertically movable in a direction indicated by an arrow F1 from the first position to a second position such that the protrusions 22 and at least a portion of the protuberance section 20 slide over the DIN rail 28. In the second position, the mounting clip 12 facilitates a secondary locking arrangement to securely constrain the electrical enclosure 10 on the DIN rail 28. It is understood here that the secondary locking arrangement is such that the mounting clip 12 is repeatedly movable between the first and second positions for repetitive engagement and disengagement of the mounting clip 12 with the DIN rail 28. Accordingly, the secondary locking arrangement is a retractable click fit type locking arrangement in this one embodiment. It is understood here that the design and orientation of the mounting clips 12 may vary per the intended use in other alternative embodiments of the present invention.
Advantages of the present invention
1. The mounting clips 12 eliminate the need of spring loaded type plastic and sheet-metal components that are normally used in mounting electrical enclosures with DIN standards on the 35mm Top Hat Section DIN rails.
2. The mounting clips 12 are cost effective as they are made from single plastic component that is devised to facilitate the locking the enclosure 10 on to the DIN rail 28 without the need of spring loading.

3. The mounting clip 12 is advantageously operable in locking and unlocking positions by applying appropriate force without being easily removed from the enclosure 10 after assembly.
4. The mounting clips 12 are designed to be positioned along the rear surface of the enclosure 10 without protruding out of the enclosure 10 thereby facilitating easy packing of the enclosure 10 in use.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

We claim:
1. A mounting clip assembly comprising:
at least one mounting clip, the mounting clip having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion including a protuberance section having an opposed pair of protrusions defined thereon, the mounting clip having an opposed pair of mating ribs cantilevering and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, the mounting clip including a click fit section having an engagement tip defined thereon; and
at least one receptacle portion and at least an opposed pair of channel sections defined on an electrical enclosure, the channel section facilitating positioning of the electrical enclosure on a DIN rail, the receptacle portion having a pair of protruded sections engaging with the click fit section of the mounting clip in a first position and a second position,
wherein the first position facilitating permanent positioning of the mounting clip on the electrical enclosure thereby defining a primary locking arrangement, the second position facilitating temporary positioning of at least some portion of the mounting clip on the DIN rail thereby defining a secondary locking arrangement.
2. The mounting clip assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting clip is movable between the first position and the second position to be repetitively engaged and disengaged with the DIN rail.
3. The mounting clip assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary locking arrangement is a permanent click fit type locking arrangement.

4. The mounting clip assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary locking arrangement is a retractable click fit type locking arrangement.