Electronics housings and associated connectors for cable/wiring distribution system

Abstract

An optional surface fastening system for an electronics housing facilitates its attachment to pre-manufactured fixed panel systems, enclosures and the like. The electronics housing has primary holes or slot features that interface standard screw hardware in order to fasten to varied surfaces or accepts specially designed connector pieces to mechanically attach to the aforementioned fixed enclosures. Connector pieces, designed to interface with any panel system, may be replaced interchangeably and are temporarily fixed by a snap detail located on the primary slots. Method of attaching the electronics housing to a fixed panel system requires integrated pin features on the connector pieces, employed to locate to corresponding holes on the fixed panel, in conjunction with operatives rotation of a specialized pin feature to temporarily lock the electronics housing to the panel system. Conversely while attached, operative rotation of the specialized pin feature disengages the electronics housing from the fixed panel system.

1 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing, which comprises: 
 a front wall;    a rear wall opposite the front wall;    a top wall;    a bottom wall opposite the top wall;    a first side wall; and    a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the front wall, rear wall, top wall, bottom wall, first side wall and second side wall of the housing forming an enclosure for electronic circuitry contained therein, the electronics housing being mountable on a supporting member, each of the first and second side walls having lateral wall sections which extend beyond the rear wall of the housing to define a flat planar surface for lying flush against the supporting member when the electronics housing is mounted thereon, the rear wall of the housing and extending lateral wall sections of the first and second side walls defining therebetween and with the supporting member, when the electronics housing is mounted thereon, a channel for routing electrical wires therein and for securing the electrical wires in place.    
   
   
       2 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing, which comprises: 
 a housing structure which defines an enclosure for containing therein electronic circuitry, the housing structure being mountable on a supporting structure, the housing structure having at least two opposite walls, each of the at least two opposite walls having formed therein at least one open slot; and    a plurality of connectors, each connector of the plurality of connectors being receivable in a corresponding one of the open slots, the connectors being attachable to the supporting structure to selectively secure the electronics housing thereto.    
   
   
       3 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing as defined by  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the connectors of the plurality of connectors is a locking connector, the locking connector being selectively configurable in a first configuration, wherein the locking connector allows the electronics housing to be selectively mounted to and unmounted from the supporting structure, and a second configuration, wherein the locking connector secures the electronics housing to the supporting structure.  
   
   
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       14 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing, which comprises: 
 a front wall;    a rear wall opposite the front wall;    a top wall;    a bottom wall opposite the top wall;    a first side wall; and    a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the front wall, rear wall, top wall, bottom wall, first side wall and second side wall of the housing forming an enclosure for electronic circuitry contained therein, the electronics housing being mountable on a supporting member, wherein the front wall of the electronics housing includes a first front surface portion and a second front surface portion residing at an angle to the first front surface portion; and wherein the electronics housing further includes at least one coaxial connector mounted on the angled second front surface portion.    
   
   
       15 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the second front surface portion is angled with respect to the first front surface portion at about a 45 degree angle.  
   
   
       16 . A signal management (SM) electronics housing as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the electronics housing further includes at least one arm extending outwardly from the front wall thereof to define with the front wall at least one channel through which electrical wires may be routed.  
   
   
       17 . A signal management (SM) system, which comprises: 
 an enclosure for receiving a plurality of electronics housings, the enclosure having at least one planar panel, the planar panel having a plurality of spaced-apart openings formed through the thickness thereof; and    at least one electronics housing for mounting in the enclosure on the planar panel thereof, the at least one electronics housing including a housing structure defining an interior space for containing therein electronic circuitry, the housing structure being mountable on the planar panel of the enclosure, the housing structure having at least two opposite walls, each of the at least two opposite walls having formed therein at least one open slot; and a plurality of connectors, each connector of the plurality of connectors being interchangeably receivable in a corresponding one of the open slots, each of the connectors having a main connector body and a pin mounted on and extending therefrom, the pins being received in corresponding openings of the plurality of spaced-apart openings formed in the planar panel of the enclosure to selectively secure the at least one electronics housing to the planar panel.