DESC:Retainer Assembly for Fixing Component with Structural Members in Panelboard

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to structures for a panelboard and more particularly, to a retainer assembly for fixing a component with structural members in the panelboard.

Background of the invention

In panelboards, components like partitions or doors are fixed with structural member such as pillars, widthwise channels or depthwise channels. While fixing the components with the help of a screw, a screw retainer is required to ensure that the screw is retained on the components even after removing that component from the panelboard.

In a general process, a metallic bracket with threaded holes is used for fixing the component with the screw and in some cases, molded brackets having nut inserts are used to fix the screw. However, in case of the metallic bracket and the molded bracket, there is no provision to accommodate assembly tolerances of the fixed structural components as well as of the component which has to be fixed.

Accordingly, there is a need of a retainer assembly for fixing a component with structural members in a panelboard that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to accommodate assembly tolerances in a structural member.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a proper alignment of a screw while inserting in a molded component.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a retainer assembly for fixing a component with structural members in a panelboard. The structural member includes a plurality of openings configured thereon.

The retainer assembly comprises a molded component. The molded component includes a first member and a second member arranged perpendicular to each other. The first member includes a first cavity configured thereon for fixing the molded component on the structural member. The first cavity is a chamfer structure. The second member includes a second cavity configured thereon for accommodating a nut therein thereby allowing free movement of the nut in a horizontal direction to absorb mismatch on a hole of the component to be fixed on any opening of the plurality of openings of the structural member.

Brief description of the drawings

Figures 1-3 show a retainer assembly for fixing a component with structural members in a panelboard, in accordance with the present invention.

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.

The present invention provides a retainer assembly for fixing of a component with structural members in a panelboard. The retainer assembly requires only one fixing for mounting a molded component on the structural member thereby facilitating an anti-rotation of the molded component with single fixing only.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1-3, a retainer assembly (50) for fixing a component (100) with structural members (150) in a panelboard (not shown)) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The structural member (150) includes a plurality of openings (120) configured thereon.

The retainer assembly (50) comprises a molded component (not numbered). The molded component includes a first member (20) and a second member (40) arranged perpendicular to each other. In an embodiment, the molded component is a single component/bracket formed by coupling the first member (20) and the second member (40).

The first member (20) includes a first cavity (10) configured thereon for fixing the molded component on the structural member (150). The molded component is fixed on the structural member (150) such that a rear surface (not numbered) of the molded component touches a surface (not numbered) of the structural member (150) thereby preventing anti-rotation of the molded component. In an embodiment, the first cavity (10) is a chamfer structure that allows positive insertion of a screw (not shown) therein. The chamfer structure also facilitates accommodation of a retainer (not shown) of the screw.

The second member (40) includes a second cavity (30) configured thereon. The second cavity (30) accommodates a nut (not shown) therein and allows free movement of the nut in a horizontal direction to absorb mismatch on a hole (not shown) of the component (100) to be fixed on any opening of the plurality of openings (120) of the structural member (150). The molded component and the nut for example, square nut are fixed using only one fixing. The molded component when fixed with the structural member (150) prevents removal of the nut inserted therein. The nut is free to move in a widthwise direction so that while fixing the screw with the nut, the widthwise assembly tolerances are achieved. The punching tolerance in the hole on the component (100) in which the screw has to be inserted and the respective opening of the structural member (150) is absorbed because of the horizontal movement allowed for the nut inside the molded component.

In another embodiment, the molded component is designed to accommodate the nut therein for fixing the component (100) having no holes thereon on the surface of the structural member (150) in the panelboard. The retainer assembly (50) also allows use of the screw retainer when needed along with the screw for fixing of the component (100) on the structural member (150). The purpose of the screw retainer is to retain the screw on the component (100) even when the component (100) is disassembled from the structural member (150).

In accordance with the present invention, the retainer assembly (50) is constructed as follows:
1. Insert the nut inside the second cavity (30) provided in the molded component as shown in figure 2.
2. Fix the subassembly of the molded component and the nut on the structural member (150) as shown in figure 3 such that the surface of the molded bracket touches the surface of the structural member (150).

Advantages of the invention
1. The molded component provides a nut fixing provision. The nut accommodated inside the molded component is free to move in the horizontal direction as well as in a vertical direction.
2. The retainer assembly (50) achieves anti-rotation of the molded component with single fixing only.
3. The retainer assembly (50) is capable of absorbing mismatch on the hole of the component (100) to be screw fixed on any opening of the plurality of openings (120) of the structural member (150).
4. The retainer assembly (50) accommodates the assembly tolerances in the widthwise direction as well as in the vertical direction.

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, and 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 omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A retainer assembly (50) for fixing a component (100) with structural members (150) in a panelboard, the structural member (150) having a plurality of openings (120) configured thereon, characterized in that the retainer assembly (50) comprising:
a molded component having a first member (20) and a second member (40) arranged perpendicular to each other, the first member (20) having a first cavity (10) configured thereon for fixing the molded component on the structural member (150) and the second member (40) having a second cavity (30) configured thereon for accommodating a nut therein thereby allowing free movement of the nut in a horizontal direction to absorb mismatch on a hole of the component (100) to be fixed on any opening of the plurality of openings (120) of the structural member (150).

2. The retainer assembly (50) as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the first cavity (10) is a chamfer structure.