FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13)
"Clip Assembly for Electrical Components"
LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
L & T House, Ballard Estate, P. O. Box No. 278,
MUMBAI400 001
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to electrical components. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clip assembly for electrical components such as circuit breakers and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Electrical components such as MCB (Miniature circuit breaker), RCCB (Residual current circuit breaker), RCBO (Residual current circuit breaker with overload protection), an auxiliary modular device and the like are known to be coupled with a rail DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Normung). The rail was originally standardized by the Deutsches Institut fur Normung (DIN), the German national standards organization. The coupling is obtained by means of an elastic clip assembly. The clip has two or three stable position and the clip can be made in one or more material (i.e. plastic and metal).
[003] Generally, for practical reasons the clip having two stable position
are not of interest, since they do not allow the electrical component to be extracted in some particular cases, for e.g., in case of hard electrical connection. In such connections, it is mandatory to remove the electrical component by performing firstly, a sliding perpendicular movement of the same with respect to the rail DIN and then, removing the component by a front extraction movement. The clip, having two stable positions, does not allow for a first operation. The operation is not allowed since, in a second position, the clip, even though not engaged with the rail, is still in substantial contact with the rail. The contact prevents any vertical movement of the component.
[004] The existing clip assemblies are as shown in Fig. 1A to IE. All the
clip assemblies of Fig. 1A, 1C, ID and IE have an external closed frame. The closed frame provides improved mechanical resistance.
[005] All these existing clip assemblies have cams. The clip of Fig. 1A
has cams on two arms attached to the frame in one point (base of the arms).

[006] The clip of Fig. 1B has no frame but the clip provides cams on two arms attached to an additional central arm in one point.
[007] The clips of Fig. 1C, 1D and 1E have cams on the external frame.
The cams on the clip cooperate with profiles on the clip seat so as to allow the stable positioning. The clips without an external frame as in Fig. 1B do not show a satisfying mechanical resistance for certain application and is not suitable for assuming three stable positions.
[008] The clips having cams on the external frame as in Fig. 1C, ID, and
1E are hard to be moved from one position to another, since the external frame (for mechanical reason) is quite rigid, being relatively thick.
[009] The clip having cams on arms joined to the frame in one point, as
in Fig. 1A shows drawbacks relating to the different elastic behavior of the arms depending on distance from the base and the needs for having arms with certain (high) section.
[0010] It is therefore, required to provide a clip assembly that overcomes the drawbacks associated with the prior arts, some of which have been mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention provides a clip assembly for electrical components, the assembly comprising a clip having a closed frame with a pair of longitudinal members devised for mounting the clip on the electrical component; and a pair of flexible longitudinal arms provided inside the frame, each arm having a plurality of cams on the longitudinal arms; and a clip seat mounted on a housing of the electrical component, the clip seat having at least two teeth, each teeth locking with a corresponding cam on the longitudinal arms, the locking corresponding to predetermined positioning of the clip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
[0013] Fig. 1A - 1E show prior art clip assemblies;
[0014] Fig. 2 shows a circuit breaker with a clip assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] Fig. 3 shows a clip of the clip assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] Fig. 4a shows sectional view of a pair of longitudinal guides of the clip assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] Fig. 4b shows an external portion of the clip and a stopper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] Fig. 5 shows the clip assembly in different operating positions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] Fig. 5a shows the clip assembly in a first position engaged with a rail DIN in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Fig. 5b shows the clip assembly in an intermediate position disengaged with the rail DIN in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] Fig. 5c shows the clip assembly in a second position sliding on the rail DIN in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Various embodiments of the present invention provide a clip assembly for electrical components, the clip assembly comprising a clip having a closed frame, the frame having a pair of longitudinal members devised for mounting the clip on the electrical component; and a pair of flexible longitudinal arms provided inside the frame, each arm having a plurality of cams on the

longitudinal arms; and a clip seat mounted on a housing of the electrical component, the clip seat having at least two teeth, each teeth locking with a corresponding cam on the longitudinal arms, the locking corresponding to predetermined positioning of the clip.
[0023] Fig 2 shows, a clip assembly 200 mounted on an electrical component 200a in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The clip assembly 200 includes a clip 210 and a clip seat 230.
[0024] Fig. 3 shows, the clip 210. The clip 210 includes a closed frame 220 and a pair of longitudinal arms 224 (24a. 24 b). The frame 220 is hollow in its central portion. The frame 220 has a pair of longitudinal members 222 (222a and 222b). The longitudinal arms 224 of the clip 210 are inside the frame 220 the longitudinal arm 224a has a plurality of cams 226 (226a, 226b, 226c) and the longitudinal arm 224b has a plurality of cams 227 (227a, 227b, 227c).
[0025] Referring to Fig. 2, the clip seat 230 includes tooth 232 (232a, 232b) adapted on opposite sides. The teeth 232a locks with the cams 226a, 226b, 226c of the longitudinal arm 224a with the teeth 232b locks with the cams 227a, 227b, 227c of the longitudinal arm 224b. Each of the locking corresponds to a predetermined position of the clip 210 (The predetermined positions are detailed later).
[0026] In an embodiment, the longitudinal members 222 (222a, 222b) of frame 220 has a lateral L-shaped profile that enables mounting of clip 210 on clip seat 230.
[0027] In an embodiment as shown in Fig. 4a the clip seat 230 has longitudinal guides 440 (440a, 440b). The longitudinal guide 440a accommodates the L-shaped profile of the longitudinal member 222a and the longitudinal guide 440b accommodates the L-shaped profile of longitudinal member 222b.
[0028] In an embodiment, the frame 220 is external and closed. The frame 220 is hollow in its central portion for allowing the arms 224 extending in central hole of the frame 220.

[0029] In an embodiment, the frame 220 has a round seating 350 as shown in Fig. 3. The seating 350 is for a screw (not shown). The longitudinal arms 224 are curved near round the seating 350 enabling elastic movement of the clip 210.
[0030] In an embodiment, the clip assembly 200 is mounted on a rail DIN (for the sake of visibility, rail DIN is not shown. Also, rail DIN is well known in the art).
[0031] In an embodiment, the electrical component 200a (for example in this case is a circuit breaker) has a casing, two clips 210a and 210b as in Fig. 2. The clip assembly is placed in rear part of casing of the component 200a, so as to allow coupling to the rail DIN.
[0032] Different operating positions of the clip assembly 210 will now be described with respect to Fig. 5. The operating positions are a first position, a second position and an intermediate position between the first and second position.
[0033] In an embodiment, the clip 210 in a first position is engaged with the rail DIN when, the clip 210 is completely moved towards a centre of electrical component 200a as shown in Fig 5a. Further, in the first position clip 210 ensures a tittle elastic movement, just like a spring, so as to allow the engagement with the rail DIN simply by forcing the electrical component 200a against the rail itself when the clip 210 is already in the first position,
[0034] In an embodiment, the clip 210 is disengaged when clip 210 is in an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 5b. In this position, the clip 210 prevents any movement of electrical component 200a on the rail DIN. In the intermediate position the clip 210 does not engages with the rail but clip 210 lies proximate to the rail DIN and prevents any movement of the component on the same plane of the rail.
[0035] In an embodiment, the clip 210 is in a second position. The second position is a sliding position as shown in Fig. 5c, enables sliding movement of the electrical component 200a for easy removal of the electrical component 200a from the rail DIN.

[0036] In the second position, or sliding position the clip 210 is moved further in same direction (the one that goes from the first position to the intermediate position). The clip 210 is moved far away from the rail DIN and allows electrical component 200a to be moved in a sliding manner with respect to the rail DIN in the same plane. It is useful for removing electrical component 200a in case of a particular layout of electrical connections.
[0037] In an embodiment lateral part of the frame 220 are made by the "L" shaped longitudinal member 222 which engages with the longitudinal guides 440 as shown in Fig. 4a. the longitudinal members 222 engage for guiding the sliding movement of the clip 210 between the three positions described above as shown in Fig. 5.
[0038] In an embodiment, the clip 210 includes an external portion 360 as shown in Fig. 3. The engaged position of the longitudinal guides 440 is enabled by external portion 360 as shown in Fig. 4b. The external portion 360 of each clip 210 is devised as an inclined plane enabling the clip 210 to engage with the rail DIN.
[0039] In an embodiment, the clip 210 includes a stopper 370 on the frame 220 as shown in Fig. 3. The stopper 370 controls the sliding movement of the clip 210 as shown in Fig. 5. The stopper 370 prevents the clip 210 from getting loose.
[0040] In various embodiments, the clip 210 has a monolithic structure in one type of material.
[0041] In an advantageous aspect, frame 220 can be rugged, implying that thickness is quite high and little elastic, while longitudinal arms 224 provided with cams can show a relatively small section and therefore demonstrating an appropriate elastic behaviour along the length.
[0042] In an embodiment clip seat 230 having tooth 232 for each arm 224, arms 224 engaging with cams 226 allowing stable positioning of clip 210 in three positions above. Each arm 224 of clip 210 is joined to frame 220 at both ends and shows three cams 226.

[0043] Cams 226 are arranged in a manner, so as to allow the movement of clip 210 in the three stable positions shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 by cooperation with teeth 32 of clip seat 30.
[0044] Further, the ending portion of each arm 224a, 224b in the proximity of screw seating 360 is curved as shown in Fig. 3; so as to improve the little elastic movement (spring-like) of clip 210 when it is in the first position, allowing the engagement with the rail DIN simply by forcing electrical component 200a against the rail DIN when the clip 210 is already in the first position.
[0045] In an advantageous aspect the assembly of the present invention can be used with auxiliary modular devices such as auxiliary contact (ON/OFF indication, trip indication, with or without selector), shunt release, under-voltage release, over-voltage release.
[0046] The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since, modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims.

We Claim:
I. A clip assembly for mounting on an electrical component, the clip assembly comprising:
a frame with a longitudinal member;
a longitudinal arm configured inside the frame and parallel to the longitudinal member;
a plurality of cams configured on longitudinal arm projecting towards the longitudinal member, the plurality of cams for clamping with teeth of the component;
a rounded seat secured to the frame for clamping the clip to the component by bolt; and
a external portion extending from the longitudinal member, the external portions having a inclined plain for engaging with the rain DIN.