Combined metal cover and anti-crush hole support

Abstract

A housings for electronic devices is constructed from a plastic half and a metallic half and provided with a substantially crush-proof mounting foot. The mounting foot is made crush proof/crush resistant by a metallic insert into a plastic outer cylinder or collar. The metallic half and metallic insert are formed at the same time by stamping. The metallic insert is inserted as part of the housing assembly process and does not require a separate manual insertion.

1 . A housing having a first and second portions and a support, the support formed by joinder of the first and second portions to each other, the support being comprised of:
 a first cylindrical part; and   a second cylindrical part, the second cylindrical part extending inside the first cylindrical part and configured to limit deformation of the first cylindrical portion responsive to a compressive load impressed on the support.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the housing and the first cylindrical part are comprised of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity and wherein the second portion of the housing and the second cylindrical part are formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 2 , wherein the first material is comprised of a plastic and the second material is metallic. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first cylindrical part is cantilevered from a surface of the first housing portion and wherein the second support is cantilevered from a surface of the second housing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical part is seamless. 
     
     
         6 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical portion is formed by stamping. 
     
     
         7 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical part is tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical portion has a substantially perfect circular cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer cylinder has a first length and a first inside diameter and wherein the second cylinder has second length at least as long as the first length and an outside diameter less than the first inside diameter, whereby compressive load on the support is applied to and supported by the second cylinder prior to deformation of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the second cylinder is additionally comprised of an annular foundation, proximate one end of the second cylinder, extending around the outside of the second cylinder and supporting the first cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylinder is configured to align the first and second sections of the housing to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 1 , further comprised of a fastener extending through the support and applying a compressive load thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a top part of a housing and wherein the second portion is a bottom part of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         15 . A housing comprised of:
 top and bottom portions and a crush-resistant support, the crush-resistant support being formed by the insertion of a second cylindrical part, formed as part of the bottom portion, into the interior of a first cylindrical part that is formed as part of the top portion, the first and second cylindrical parts being cantilevered from side surfaces of the top and bottom portions respectively, the second cylindrical portion extending orthogonally from a tab that extends away from the side surface of the bottom portion, the second cylindrical part having an inside diameter selected to receive a fastener to attach the housing, the first and second cylindrical parts being configured to align the top and bottom housing portions to each other when the second cylindrical part is inserted into the first cylindrical part.   
     
     
         16 . The housing of  claim 15 , wherein the second cylindrical part is a material having a modulus of elasticity selected to prevent the first cylindrical part from being deformed upon the application of a compressive load to the support. 
     
     
         17 . The housing of  claim 15 , wherein the compressive load is applied by the fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The housing of  claim 16 , wherein the top portion is a plastic and wherein the bottom portion is metallic. 
     
     
         19 . The housing of  claim 15 , wherein the second cylindrical part is tapered and seamless. 
     
     
         20 . The housing of  claim 19 , wherein the bottom portion is formed by stamping.