US3588018A

US3588018A - Mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: US3588018A
Application number: US859275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willis Edward Harlow
Original assignee: Fedders Corp
Current assignee: Fedders Corp
Priority date: 1969-09-19
Filing date: 1969-09-19
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28

Abstract

A MOUNTING BRACKET COMPRISING A PAIR OF ARMS BIASED APART EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE STRUCTURE TO BE MOUNTED. THE BRACKET FURTHER INCLUDES A FIRST TAB AFFIXED TO EACH OF THE ARMS EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE ASSOCIATED ARM AND A TIP PORTION AFFIXED TO EACH OF THE TABS SPACED APART FROM THE ARM AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE TAB TOWARD THE STRUCTURE. THE BRACKET IS ADAPTED TO BE USED WITH A WALL MEMBER PROVIDED WITH TWO PAIRS OF SPACED APART APERTURES. THE FIRST PAIR OF APERTURES IF SPACED APART A DISTANCE SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ARMS AND THE SECOND PAIR OF APERTURES IS SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TIPS.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Willis Edward Harlow Herrin, Ill. {21] Appl. No. 859,275 [22] Filed Sept. 19, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Fedders Corporation Edison, NJ.

[54] MOUNTING ASSEMBLY 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

{52] U.S. CI 242/223, 248/73 [51] A47! 5/00 [50] 248/223, 224,225, 73, 27; 339/126; 336/65 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,191,135 6/1965 Hazelquist 336/65 3,368,780 2/1968 Buttriss ABSTRACT: A mounting bracket comprising a pair of arms biased apart extending outwardly from the structure to be mounted. The bracket further includes a first tab affixed to each of the arms extending generally perpendicular to the associated arm and a tip portion affixed to each of the tabs spaced apart from the arm and extending generally perpendicular to the tab toward the structure. The bracket is adapted to be used with a wall member provided with two pairs of spaced apart apertures. The first pair of apertures is spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the distance between the arms and the second pair of apertures is spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the tips.

MOUNTING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Appliances, as for example, washing machines, include several component parts that are periodically subjected to high torque or stress during the appliances operation cycle. Such a component part is the washer inlet flume which, due to the periodic surging of water therethrough, tends to rotate or move laterally, and hence must be restrained from motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting structure and more specifically a mounting structure particularly adapted to the mounting of appliance component parts to the appliance.

These and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a mounting bracket comprising a pair of spaced and biased apart arms adapted to be shifted toward one another extending longitudinally outwardly from the structure to be mounted. A first tab is affixed to each of the arms extending generally perpendicular to the associated arm and a tip portion is affixed to each of the tabs spaced apart from the arm and extending generally perpendicular to the tab directed toward the structure. The surface to receive the bracket comprises a relatively thin wall having a first pair of cutouts spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the distance between the free ends of the arms and a second pair of cutouts spaced apart from each other a distance substantially equal to the distance between the tip portions. Each of the first pair of cutouts is substantially equal in length to the length of the tab while the second pair of cutouts are each considerably smaller. Thus, the bracket may be mounted by compressing the arms toward each other sufficiently to pass the tabs through the first pair of openings. Thereafter when the arms are released the tips may be snapped into position within the second set of cutouts thereby locking the bracket in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket and the associated wall member in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2is a top plan view of the proposed bracket; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the wall member to which the bracket is to be mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several figures. Reference is now made to FIG. I in particular wherein the mounting bracket of the present invention is shown coupled to a water inlet flume 12 designed to be used in a conventional home washing machine. The water inlet flume 12 does not comprise a portion of the present invention and is used merely to establish an environment for the bracket 10. As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, bracket 10 comprises a pair of arms 14 extending outwardly from a base plate 16 which in turn is fastened to the structure (in the present case, the water fiume 12) to be mounted. Arms 14 which comprise generally flat, elongated strips of plastic or metal, are secured to base 16 and diverge with respect to the longitudinal axis of structure I2 so that the free ends are spaced apart a distance greater than the ends secured to base 16. The bracket may be formed of any of various metals or plastics, the only requirement being that the material be sufficiently resilient to allow the free ends of arm 14 to be compressed toward one another under the application of a sufficient force and thereafter, upon the removal of the force, return to their original position.

A first tab portion 18 is aflixed to the free end of each arm 14. Each tab 18 extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arms away from the opposite arm and thus is generally parallel to base member 16. In the illustrated embodiment, tabs 18 are formed by suitably bending the free ends of arms 14. The forward tip 20 of each tab 18 is bent to extend generally perpendicular to the tab directed toward the structure. The end of tab 18 is inclined toward the free end of tip 20 defining inclined surface 22. A second tab 24 is also provided extending from each arm 14 spaced apart from and generally parallel to tab 18. Tab 24 extends toward but short of tip 20. Similarly, tip 20 extends toward but short of tab 24.

The bracket 10 is designed to be mounted on a relatively thin wall member 26 which may comprise a wall of the appliance or a separate support strip which in turn will be mounted to the appliance. As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, wall member 26 includes surfaces defining two pairs of apertures, an inner pair 28 and an outer pair 30. The length of each of the inner apertures 28 is substantially equal to or somewhat greater than the length of tab 18. Each of the outer apertures 30 is spaced apart from the associated inner apertures 28 a distance substantially equal to the distance between tip 20 and arm 14. It should be observed that the inner apertures 28 are spaced apart from each other a distance less than the distance between the free ends of arms 14. However, due to the resiliency of arms 14, the arms may be compressed toward one another to permit the insertion of tabs 18 through apertures 28.

In operation, the bracket 14 is readily mounted to wall member 26 by first compressing arms 14 toward one another to permit entry of tabs 18 into the large apertures 28 in wall member 26. The compressing force on arms 14 is then removed thereby permitting the arms to relax and resume their normal spaced apart relationship, forcing tips 20 to snap into the smaller apertures 30 in the wall member. To this end, the inclined faces 22 of tips 20 insure the engagement of the tips and the surfaces of the wall members defining apertures 30 thereby locking the bracket in position. The second tab 24 which is spaced apart from tab 18 a distance only slightly larger than the thickness of member 26 serves to prevent rotation of bracket 10 once the bracket is positioned within the wall member.

Thus, in accordance with the above, a mounting assembly is provided adapted to facilitate the mounting of a structure to a wall member provided with suitable cutouts.

I claim:

I. A mounting bracket comprising: a base member; a pair of spaced and biased apart opposed arms adapted to be shifted toward one another extending longitudinally outwardly from said base member; a first tab affixed to each of said arms extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said arms directed away from the opposite arm; a tip portion affixed to each of said first tabs spaced apart from the associated arm and extending generally perpendicular to said first tab toward said base member; a second tab affixed to each of said arms extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said arms directed away from the opposite arm in the same plane as said first tab and spaced inwardly of said first tab, said second tab extending toward but short of said first tab tip portion and said first tab tip portion extending toward but short of said second tab.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arms divert from one another extending outwardly from said base member and said arms are formed of a material sufficiently resilient to enable the arms to be brought toward one another to a position generally perpendicular to said base member under the influence of a sufficient force whereafter, upon the release of said force, said arms will relax to their original divergent positions.

3. A mounting assembly comprising in combination: a mounting bracket having a base member; a pair of spaced and biased apart opposed arms adapted to be shifted toward one another extending longitudinally outwardly toward a free end from said base member; a first tab affixed to each of said arms at said free end extending generally perpendicular to-the longitudinal axis of said arms directed away from the opposite arm; a tip portion affixed to each of said first tabs spaced apart from the associated arm and extending generally perpendicular to said first tab toward said base member; a second tab affixed to each of said arms extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said arms directed away from the opposite arm in the same plane as said first tab and spaced inwardly of said first tab, said second tab extending toward but short of said first tab tip portion and said first tab tip portion extending toward but short of said second tab and a wall member adapted to receive said bracket, said wall member including surfaces defining a first pair of apertures therein spaced apart a distance somewhat-less than the distance between the free ends of said arms and surfaces defining a second pair of apertures aligned with said first pair of apertures, each of said second apertures'being spaced apart from its associated first aperture a distance substantially equal to the distance between the free end and tip portion of the associated arm.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said arms divert from one another extending outwardly from said base member and said arms are formed of a material sufiiciently resilient to enable the arms to be brought toward one another to a position generally perpendicular to said base member under the influence of a sufficient force whereafter, upon the removal of said force, said arms will relax to their original divergent positions; said first pair 'of apertures are separated from one another a distance substantially equal to the spacing between said arms when said arms are in said perpendicular position; each of said first pair of apertures extends transversely along said wall for a distance substantially equal to the length of said bracket first tabs; and said second pair of apertures are spaced apart from one another a distance substantially equal to the distance between said tip portions when said arms relax.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first tab tip portions extend toward but short of their associated second tab by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wall.