초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a snap arrangement comprising snap hooks (208) associated with a first housing (200) that snap over corresponding protrusions (111) in a second housing (100). The snap hooks preferably include an inclined portion (212) such that a finger (504) of a certain width of a

The present invention relates to a snap arrangement comprising snap hooks (208) associated with a first housing (200) that snap over corresponding protrusions (111) in a second housing (100). The snap hooks preferably include an inclined portion (212) such that a finger (504) of a certain width of a removal tool (502) will force them apart to the deflection required for disassembly. Once the tool has been inserted beyond the elbow (213), the snap hook is not deflected any further regardless of the motion of the tool. This enables the tool to continue moving the front housing apart from the rear housing without further deflecting the snap hooks. This ensures that the snap hooks are never overstressed, that the front housing comes completely off of the rear housing every time, and that repeated disassembly will only minimally affect the strength of the snaps.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A snap apparatus for connecting a front housing and a rear housing, the snap apparatus comprising:on the rear housing, a base having a first snap hook opposing a second snap hook,wherein the first snap hook comprises,a first inclined portion coupled to the base,a first body portion

[ We claim:] [1.] A snap apparatus for connecting a front housing and a rear housing, the snap apparatus comprising:on the rear housing, a base having a first snap hook opposing a second snap hook,wherein the first snap hook comprises,a first inclined portion coupled to the base,a first body portion coupled to the first inclined portion at a first elbow, anda first flange coupled to the first body portion,wherein the second snap hook comprises,a second inclined portion coupled to the base,a second body portion coupled to the second inclined portion at a second elbow, anda second flange coupled to the second body portion,wherein the first snap hook and the second snap hook form a gap between the first body portion and the second body portion, the gap expanding into a recess below the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion;on the front housing, a protrusion extending from a first end surface to a second end surface,wherein the protrusion has an outside dimension smaller than the recess,wherein the protrusion is positioned inside the gap with the second end surface contacting the first and second flanges when the front housing and the rear housing are connected; andwherein the recess extends through the base for receiving a removal tool when the front housing is disconnected from the rear housing, the removal tool having a finger extending from a wall to a tapered end and positioned between the protrusion and at least one of the snap hooks, the finger deflecting the flange portion of the at least one snap hook outward to disengage the flange portion of the at least one snap hook from the second end surface as the tapered end is advanced along the elbow of the at least one snap hook, and wherein, when the tapered end is inserted past the elbow, the at least one snap hook is not further deflected outward and the wall of the removal tool is engaged against the first end surface of the protrusion to drive the front housing away from the rear housing.