US2332017A - Metal housing for electrical control devices - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1943.

H. A. SEDGWICK METAL HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 26, 1941 Oct. 19, 1943. w c 2,332,017

METAL HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES Filed Dec. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 19, 1943 METAL Ho'UsING FOR iiiiiie'iiueni.

CONTROL DEVICES r.

Harry A. Sedg'wick, Shorewqod Cutler-Hammer, 1110., Milwa ilie', Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application December 26, 1941 ;SerialNmj 124J01. Y

8 Claims. o1. ere- :1";

invention relates to improvements in metal housings for electrical control devices. I

A primary object of the invention is to pro= vide' a novel form of hinged connection between the base portion and the cover portion of a metal housing of the aforementioned character.

Another object is to provide a novel and sim ple hinge connection between the cover and base portions of a metal housing enabling removalof the: cover portion from the base portion upon a predetermined degree of opening of the'forme'r. Another and more specific object is toprovide a one-piece sheet metal hinge member which is rigidly and permanently attached to one of the housing portions and adapted for cooperation with the wallstof an opening formed inthe other housing portion. 1

Another object is to provide a hinge connec-' tion for the base and cover portions of a housing which is adapted for vertical mounting upon a wall or other suitable support. v

Another object is to provide novel meansfor insuring proper placement of the hinge member or members with. respect to the cover portion of a housing, whereby rigid attachment oi said members to said cover portion, as by spot welding, is facilitated.

Anotherobject is to provide a novel arrange ment of parts whereby the hinge connections between thebase and cover portions are substantially entirely concealed in the closed p'o'si tion'of the cover portion. 1

Another object is to'provide a novel form of 1atomn device for use with a hdiisirig'whose base and cover portions are so hinged, whereby the degree of telescoping or closing movement of the cover portion with respect" to the base portion i'spr'edetermined;

Another" object is to provide" a" novel" arrange merit" of casing portions" and hinges whereby at leastninetydegrees ofopenin'g movement of the cover portion is required to'provid'e' for separa"'' ti'onthereoi from the base portion; I Anotherobject is toprovi'de*noiie1- andsimple means whereby a cover portion having hinges the aforementioned character may be rendered non-removable =froni the base portion oi theiioiismez-ir desired. 7

Other objects-and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. I

The accompanying: drawings illustrate certain embodimen'ts of the invention which win-now be de's'ci ib'ed; it being understoowtnat the embodirii'efits illustl ated are-susceptible of modification in respect on certain structural: details thereof witnoiit'deeartine irorii the scopeor the appended claims. j

Figure i-i's a new on a reduced scare, partly side'el'evaition to show tiieiatcmirgmeans-andpartly" broken Way to provide an interior, View of the hinges affording a" separable connection between the base and-cover portions of. the house Fig 2 is a. fragmentary sectionalview; normal size; onthe, line 2:2 or Fig. 1 ,=showing'the' means for latching the cover in closed position and for limiting l the degree of telescoping or closing movementoi thev latter:

Fig. 3 is' ,8"viBW;-1part1fy in sectionpartly: inelevatiom showing certainelementsinthe relativepositions thereofillustrated in Fig.- 2;.

Fig: 4 a fragmentary perspectweview show in one of the membersafiording a'hinged; connection betweenthe" base and cover portions of the housing -the cover portion-being shown in' its closedpositiori w Fig 5 is-a fragmentary sectional view,- on the line 5-5 of Fig-.- le -with the cover portion of el i ei r lse pqs m w 6 ..ez a e ma .r s me YEW. m e s mi r-i he i .5P %fii. 1 th co r p rtionm. its fully opened positionin which position it may b pni e e r h e P ina, ie; 7 1s rrgegn fitariil se tionai View s la to Figs. 5' and 6, but lust ga- 51 modified-form of hinge, whmhis rigidlyat'ta ed to theo'ute'r sii'ri'ab' of the'c'o'iier fioi'tionwher; fiifef le iffiiliei ee'iee 'fi n Fig". .8 is a ffagnielntargz perspectiile' View s the aa jaeen --rece tne'ioever portibmt sure propes' ositivninesor the l iinge prior to ne'iii securement or hinge to the: Gavlioffififlfgiaj' by spot weldingt o Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the hinges, showing the extrusions or bosses formed thereon, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the recesses formed in the inner surface of the cover portion to accommodate the hinge bosses-the contour of the hinge being shown in dotted lines.

Referring first to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and 9 to 12, the numeral I5 designates the base portion of a housing for an electrical control devicesaid base portion being formed in any suitable manner from a onepiece sheet metal blank to provide bottom side and end walls and an open front. A cover member I6 is also formed in any suitable manner from a one-piece sheet metal blank to provide top, side and end walls and'an open back-the length of the side and end walls of the cover being such that the same is adapted to telescopically fit over or surround the side and end walls of base portion I5.

Although in the particular form of housing illustrated the cover portion I6 is shown as having a depth substantially equal to that of the base portion, it is to be understood that the hinges herein disclosed, by a slight reduction in the width of the portions thereof secured to one side wall or flange portion of the cover, may be used in conjunction with a metal housing wherein the top wall of the cover is adapted to seat against the front edge of the base portion.

The base portion I5 of the housing is provided in one side wall I5 thereof with two or more relatively narrow substantiallyrectangular openings I1 and I8 which are longitudinally alined with each other and spaced predetermined distances from the respective end walls I5 and I5 of base portion I5 and a predetermined distance from the front edge of said side wall.

The cover portion I6 has rigidly secured to the inner surface of side wall or flange I6- thereof, as by spot welding, the flat portions I9 I9 of a pair of like punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members I9, I9said members I9 being spaced from each other a center, distance corresponding to the center distance between said openings I1 and I8.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, although the height or vertical length of members I9 is only slightly less than the length of therespective openings I1 and I8, the arrangement is such that the body portions of members I9 are moved downwardly to effect offsetting thereof with respect to the horizontal walls of said openings I1 and I8 in the hinged or assembled relationship of the cover and base portions of the housingthe hinge members I 9 being provided with downwardly opening substantially rectangular notches I9 (see Fig. 4)' to provide for such offsetting. Said notches are adapted to provide downwardly facing horizontal edges I9 I9 which seat or bear against the lower end walls of the respective openings I1 and I8. i

The hinge members I9 as produced have their intermediate portions I9 (Fig. 4) bent or curved as shown, whereby the horizontal bearing edges I 9 thereof are in the form of a curve or are to facilitate movement thereof through the openings I1 and I8 in openingor closing the cover portion I6 with respect to housing portion I5. The vertical walls I9 of the aforementioned notches I9 are adapted to abut or engage the inner surface of side wall It upon opening of cover portion I6 to limit the degree of opening movement of the latter--as best illustrated in Fig. 6.

As best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, members I 9 have fiat inner end portions I9 defined in part by the vertical walls I 9 of the respective notches IS -said flat end portions being angled toward the inner surface of the end wall Iii to abut or engage the latter when cover portion I6 is in its closed positionthe primary purpose of such engagement being to insure against rattling or noise produced by relative movement of the casing parts when in closed position.

With particular reference to Fig. 6, it is apparent that when cover portion I6 is fully opened the same may be readily removed from base portion I5 by merely lifting said cover vertically upward until the hinge members I 9 are bodily alined with the respective openings I1 and I8 (that is, when the upper edges of members I9 abut the upper end walls of the respective openings), whereupon the hinge members I9 may be withdrawn from said openings by lateral bodily movement of the cover portion I6 away from base portion I5.

Hinging connection of cover portion I6 to base portion I5 is effected with the parts in the last mentioned positions thereof-it being understood that when hinge members I9 are inserted inwardly through openings I1 and I8 to provide clearance between the edges I9, Ii! of the notches with respect to the inner surface of said wall I5 of the base portion the cover portion may be lowered to provide for engagement of edge portions I9 29 of the notches with the respective lower end walls of said openings I7 and I8.

As will be apparent from Fig. 6, it is necessary that cover portion I6 be arranged at an angle displaced at least slightly more than ninety degrees from the closed position thereof to effect either hinging or unhinging thereof with respect tobase portion I5the lower end wall I6 of cover portion It being required to clear both the side wall Ifi and the lower end wall I5 of base portion I 5 in each instance. This arrangement is advantageous in that it insures against any possibility of unhinging of cover portion It from base portion I 5 except when the former is swung to substantially its extreme open position illustrated in Fig. 6; whereas the construction and arrangement of the hinges are such as to insure against binding or frictional engagement of the end walls of cover portion I6 with respect to base portion I5 during opening or closing movement of the former.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9 to 12, it will be noted that each hinge member I9 has formed at predetermined points on its fiat portion ISI a pair of depressions I9 and I9 as an incident to extrusion from the opposite surface of portion I9 of a pair of substantially cylindrical bosses or projections I9 and I9 (Figs. 10 and 11). The side wall II": of cover portion I6 is provided at predetermined points on its inner surface with two like sets of depressions or recesses-one set of which is shown at I6' and I6 in Figs. 10 and 12. Said recesses IIS and I6 may be formed in any suitable manner, such as by milling or drilling the same, or by means of suitable pressure dies. In practice the recess I6 of each set is preferably of substantially circular form in transverse cross section to freely receive, but with a rather. close fit, the extrusion or boss I9 whereas the recess IIi of each set is preferably .of elongated -.s ubstantially elliptis cal contour, .as shown. By this arrangement the manual zinsertionof bosses 19 and lll 'into the respective recesses 16 and 16 is .facilitatedq it being understood that upon reception of boss 49 by recess lt the boss I9 will be received by recess ill at some point intermediate the length of the latterwhereby member l9 will be restrained against lateral movement in any direction with respect to side wall l6 pending rigid attachment of the former to the latter, as by spot welding. I

Also in practice the height of bosses 419 and 13 is slightly greater than the depth of the respective recesses [=6 and. lfii-esuch additional .or I

excess height of said bosses being eliminated as an incident to spot welding of member 19 to side wail Mia at said points, whereby the flatportion w is brought into engagement with the inner surface of said side wall 16 as shown in Fig. 10. I

The aforementioned means for limiting the degree of closing or telescoping movement of cover portion 16 with respect to base'portionl'i of the housing preferably comprises an angle bar .or bracket :28, one portion 20 of which is rigidly secured flatwise to the outer surface of side wall I in a predetermined relationship to the contour thereof, as by spot welding, orin any other .suitablemanner. The portion of bracket 20 extends outwardly at substantially a right angle to portion we thereof, whereby said portion 26? is adapted to act as an abutment for the lower-edge 116 of side wall [6 of the cover to limit the degree of closing movement of the latter, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.-

A punched and stamped sheet metal latch member 2.1 is pivotally supported at a predetermined point upon the side wall Hi of the cover as by means .of aheaded :pi-n 22-the upset shank end .ofwhich is shown at 2-2 in Figs. 2 and 3; member 21 being offset inwardly, as shown at 21 in Figs. 1 and 2 to accommodate the head of pin 22 and to provide for parallel spacing of the main bodyiof member 21 a predetermined distance from the side wall i=6. Member 2| is provided an rextension'tl located in the plane .of the main'body thereof (Fig. 2) said extension having a forward curved cam edge 21 (Fig. l) which-cooperates with the edge 20 of bracket portion 20 to effect counterclockwise rotation of member 21 as an incident to closing of cover 1x6. Extension 2P is further provided with a rearwardly angled cam edge 2| (Fig. l) which cooperates with the aforementioned edge 2 of bracket portion-l!!! to resiliently and releasably hold cover 1 6 in closed position, under the bias of a spring 23, which tends to rotate member 21 in a clock-wise direction, as hereinafter described. I

I Spring 23 is preferably of substantially U-. shape, as shown in Figs. 1' and"3--the same having an offset end portion 23 which isinserted inwardly through an opening 16 (Fig. 3) in side wall M3 The body portion of spring 23 is bowed or bent to extend around the pin 22- the other end of said spring having an end ,portion fi -which is bent to outwardly opening substantially semi-circular form to provide for pressure engagement with the shank .of a pin 24, between the head 'Z'Mof the latter and member 2|; the reduced shank end of pin 24 penetrating a corresponding countersunk openingin said memher 2! and being upset against the walls of the countersink, and in a substantially flush relationship to the outer surcfacelof member ZLas best illustrated in dotted lines at 24 in Fig. 2.- The spring 23 thus acts to bias member 21 to rotate in a clockwise direct-ion,- -whereas in the I open position of cover portion [6 such rotation manual release of the latch against the bias of 7 spring 2 3- .one or more fingers being placed behind said flange to provide for pulling or rotate ing member 2| in :a counterclockwise direction. Member 21 is provided at its inner-edge with an integral outwardly extending lug 21 which is positioned in slightly'spaced parallel relation to the portion]!! of bracket 20 when cover I6 is closed (Figs. 1 and 2). Lug 2H and portion 20 I are provided with alined perforations, shown in dotted lines at 24 and 20 in said figures, to provide-for insertion of the hasp or staple of a padlock through said openings, whereby the cover may be locked in closed position.

InFig. 1 I have shown a pivoted handle 26 which provides for front opera-tion :of a motor startertor other switching or control device to be enclosed within the housing l5, l6. Inasmuch as this operating mechanism forms nopart of the present invention further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. I I The upper and lower corners of the fiat free end portions l9 of the hinge members are preferably rounded or curved as shown at l-il and 19 (Figs. 1 and 4) to facilitate or initially guide the insertion thereof through the aforementioned openings I! and [8.

As will be apparent from consideration of Fig. 1; although I have herein disclosed the prefer-em tial use of a movable cover portion 16 carrying I the hinge members 49 for cooperation with the openings I1 and it in the base portion I5-it-is obvious that by a slight modification the portion It might be utilized as the fixed or base portion of the housing, with the portion I5 serving as the cover portion telescoping thereintothe hinges l9 and openings I! and 58 remaining in the respective positions illustrated. In such a modification the handle 25 would be transferred to the portion l5 serving as a cover, whereas the latch member 2! and bracket 20 might be per mitted to remain in the relative positions thereof illustrated. 1 I I In the device of Figfl, which may be assumed to be a sectional view similar to Fig. 5, the base portion i5 of the housing may be identical in size and shape with the corresponding portion aforedescribed, and the same is preferably likewise provided with a pair of openings, one of which is shown at It. The cover portion 26 is substantially like the cover portion 16 aforedescribedexcept that the end Walls one of which is shown at 26) and the top wall 26 are made slightly shorter than the corresponding walls of portion IE, and preferably with a lesser degree of overlap of the cover pcrtion 2.5 with respect to base portion 45. This shortening is made possible by the fact that the side wall 2%- is adapted to fit quite closely against the side wall 15 (Fig. 1), due tothe fact. that it is unnecessary to accommo date theflat portions 2'! of the punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members (one of which is shown at 21) therebetween. As shown in Fig. 7 the hinge members 21 are structurally and functionally quite similar to the members l9 aforedescribed. However, since the fiat portions 2! of said hinge members 21 are attached. by spot welding to the exterior surface of side wall Mi of cover portion 26, said members are provided with intermediate curved portions 27 and flat free end portions 21 corresponding to the portions l9 and Hi of members Ill-whereas the fiat end portions 21 are connected with curved portions 21 by substantially straight portions, designated by the numeral 21 in Fig. 7, and arranged at a proper angle to the respective flat portions 21 The members 21 are notched or cut away beneath the intermediate portions 2! and 21*, as shown in dotted lines at 2'1 and 27 in Fig. '7, for the purpose aforedescn'bed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, all parts may be like those shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and 9 to l2with the exception that each hinge member I9 is additionally provided, preferably at the upper edge thereof as shown, with an upwardly opening-notch I9 whereby an integral lug or tongue I 9 is provided. After hinged assembly of the base and cover portions l5 and I6 of the housing the lugs it may be bent laterally, as by means of pair of pliers, to the position thereof shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8-said lugs 19" then acting to positively prevent unhinging of cover portion it from base portion I5 of the housing.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a onepiece punched and stamped sheet metal hinge member having a flat end portion, said portion having a plurality of bosses formed integrally with one surface to facilitate positioning thereof and rigid attachment thereof to one section of a metal housing, said hinge member having a second flat end portion arranged in a plane at an acute angle to the plane of said first mentioned end portion, the integral portion of said member between said flat portions being bent to arcuate form, said member having a notch formed in the lower edge thereof between said flat portions and underlying said arcuate portion, the upper end wall of said notch being adapted for sliding engagement with the bottom wall of an opening of suitable form in another section of the metal housing, one side wall of said notch being adapted to abut said last mentioned section under given conditions to limit the degree of sliding movement of said member in one direction, said second fiat end portion having a, notch formed therein and opening to one edge thereof to define a lug integral therewith, and said lug being bendable laterally after assembly of said housing sections in hinged relationship to each other to positively prevent unhinging thereof.

2. In combination, a metal housing comprising a base portion and a cover portion adapted for telescopic relationship to each other when in closed position, a straight side wall of one of said portions having a plurality of relatively narrow substantially rectangular openings formed therein in spaced relationship to the open end thereof, a corresponding number of one-piece punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members each rigidly and permanently secured at one end to the corresponding side wall of the other portion of said housing, each of said hinge members having a flat free end portion of a height only slightly less than the height of the respective opening, the intermediate portion of each hinge member being bent to arcuate form in horizontal cross section, each hinge member having a downwardly opening rectangular notch of a width substantially coextensive with said portion of arcuate form, the arrangement being such that the free end portions of said hinge members may be jointlyinserted through the respective openings and the hinge members then lowered to provide for sliding engagement of the end walls of said notches with the respective lower end walls of said openings, the side walls of said notches adjacent to the free end portions of said hinge members being adapted to act as stops to limit the degree of opening movement of said housing portions relatively to each other, and said housing portions being entirely separable from each other at said limit ofopening movement thereof by, sequential upward and lateral bodily movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings.

3. In combination, a metal housing comprisinga base portion and a cover portion adapted for telescopic relationship to each other when in closed position, a straight side wall of one of said portions having a plurality of relatively narrow substantially rectangular penings formed therein in spaced relationship to the open end thereof, a corresponding number of one-piece punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members each rigidly and permanently secured at one end to the corresponding side Wall of the other portion of said housing, each of said hingemembers' having a flat free end portion of a height only slightly less than the height of the respective opening, the intermediate portion of each hinge member being bent to arcuate form in horizontal cross section, each hinge member having a downwardly opening rectangular notch of a width substantially coextensive with said portion of arcuate form, the arrangement being such that the free end portions of said hinge members may be jointly insorted through the respective openings and the hinge members then lowered to provide for sliding engagement of the end walls of said notches with the respective lower end walls of said openings, the side walls of said notches adjacent to the free end portions of said hinge members being adapted to act as stops to limit the degree of opening movement of said housing portions relatively toeach other, said housing portions being entirely separable from each other at said limit of opening movement thereof by sequential upward and lateral bodily movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings, and the telescopic relationship of said housing portions being such as to require at least substantially ninety degrees of opening movement thereof as a prerequisite to unhinging thereof.

4. In combination, a metal housing comprising'a base portion and a cover portion adapted for telescopic relationship to each other when in closed position, a straight side wall of one of said portions having a plurality of relatively narrow substantially rectangular openings formed therein in spaced relationship to the .open end thereof, a corresponding number of one-piece punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members each rigidly and permanently secured at one end to the corresponding side wall of the other portion of said housing, each of said hinge members having a flat free end portion of a height only slightly less than the height of the-respective opening, the intermediate portion of each hinge member being bent to al enate form in horizontal cross section, each hinge member having a downwardly opening rectangular notch of a width substantially coextensive with said portion of arcuate form, the arrangement being such that the free end portions of said hinge members may be jointly inserted through the respective openings and the hinge members then lowered to provide for sliding engagement of the end walls of said notches with the respective lower end walls of said openings, the side walls of said notches adjacent to the free end portions of said hinge members being adapted to act as stops to limit the degree of opening movement of said housing portions relatively to eachother, said housing portions being entirely separable from each other at said limit of opening movement thereof by sequen- 'tial upward and lateral bodily movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings, said hinges acting to limit the degree of telescoping of said base and cover portions at one side of said housing, and a bracket carried by one of said portions and engageable by an edge of the other portion to limit the degree of telescoping of said portions at the other side of said housing.

5. In combination, a metal housing comprising a base portion and a cover portion adapted for telescopic relationship to each other when in closed position, a straight side wall of one of said portions having a plurality of relatively narrow substantially rectangular openings formed therein in spaced relationship to the open end thereof, a corresponding number of one-piece punched and stamped sheet metal hinge members each rigidly and permanently secured at one end to the corresponding side wall of the other portion of said housing, each of said hinge members having a flat free end portion of a height only slightly less than the height of the respective opening, the intermediate portion of each hinge member being bent to arcuate form in horizontal cross section, each hinge member having a downwardly opening rectangular notch of a width substantially coextensive with said portion of arcuate form, the arrangement being such that the free end portions of said hinge members may be jointly inserted through the respective openings and the hinge members then lowered to provide for sliding engagement of the end walls of said notches with the respective lower end walls of said openings, the side walls of said notches adjacent to the free end portions of said hinge members being adapted to act as stops to limit the degree of opening movement of said housing portions relatively to each other, said housing portions being entirely separable from each other at said limit of opening movement thereof by sequential upward and lateral bodily movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings, said hinges acting to limit the degree of telescoping of said base and cover portions at one side of said housing, a bracket carried by one of said portions and engageable by an edge of the other portion to limit the degree of telescoping of said portions at the other side of said housing, said bracket having an opening formed therein, a lug member carried by the other portion of said housing and adapted to be positioned in adjacent parallel relationship to said bracket when said housing portions are in closed position, and said lug member having an opening alined with said bracket opening to provide for insertion through said openings jointly of a'p'adlock-hasp or other fastening-member: 1

6. A metal housing for electrical control devices comprisingdn combination, a rectangular box-like sheet metal baseportion having an open front, a sheetmetal cover portion having 'a peripheral flangeadapted to surround said base portionadjac'ent to the open end of the latter,

said base portion having aw'pair of vertically alined relatively narrow rectangular openings formed in one'side'wall adjacent to the front edgeof the latter, a pair of punched and stamped one-piece sheet metal hinge members each having a flat portion rigidly attached tothe cover flange at said sideof the housing, each hinge member having an intermediate portion curved inwardly in convex relationship tothe inner surface of said flat portion,- each hinge member having a 'd-ownwardly opening substantially rectanabut the inner surface of the side wall of said 7 base portion when the cover portion is in fully closed position, said free end portion defining one side wall of said notch which is adapted to abut said last mentioned inner surface in the fully opened position of said cover portion, said cover flange cooperating with said hinge members to positively prevent bodily separation of I said cover portion from said base portion except when said cover portion is moved substantially ninety degrees from the fully closed position thereof. I

7. A metal housing for electrical control devices comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like sheet metal base portion having an open front, 'a sheet metal cover portion having a peripheral flange adapted to surround said base portion adjacent to the open end of the latter, said base portion having a pair of vertically alined relatively narrow rectangular openings formed in one side Wall adjacent to the front edge of the latter, a pair of punched and stamped one-piece sheet metal hinge members each having a flat portion, said fiat portions each having a pair of substantially cylindrical bosses extruded therefrom and projecting a predetermined distance from one surface thereof, the inner surface of said cover flange at said side of the housing having pairs of recesses formed therein to accommodate portions of the length of said bosses to facilitate positioning of said hinge members with respect to said cover portion, the excess length of said bosses being eliminated by fusion as an incident to spot welding at points alined with said bosses whereby said flat portion is brought into contact with said flange and rigidly attached thereto, each hinge member having an intermediate portion of arcuate contour in horizontal cross section, the lower end of each arcuate portion being cut away to provide a horizontal edge adapted to slidably bear against the lower end wall of the opening associated therewith and to provide a vertical edge which is adapted to abut the inner surface of said side wall to limit the degree of opening movement of said cover portion, and said cover portion in fully opened position being normally bodily removable from saiclbase portion bysequential upward and lateral movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings.

8. A metal housing for electrical control devices comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like sheet metal base portion having an open front, a sheet metal cover portion having a peripheral flange adapted to surround said base portion adjacent to the open end of the latter, said base portion havinga pair of vertically alined relatively narrow rectangular openings formed in one side wall adjacent to the front edge of the latter, a pair of punched and stamped one-piece sheet metal hinge members each having a fiat portion, said flat portions each having a pair of substantially cylindrical bosses extruded therefrom and projecting a predetermined distance from one surface thereof, the inner surface of said cover flange at said side of the housing having pairs of recesses formed therein to accommodate portions of the length of said bosses to facilitate positioning of said hinge members with respect to said cover portion, the excess length of said bosses being eliminated by fusion as an incident to spot welding at points alined with said bosses, whereby said fiat portion is brought into contact with said flange and rigidly attached thereto, each hinge member having an intermediate portion of arcuate contour in horizontal cross section, the lower end of each arcuate portion being cut away to provide a horizontal edge adapted to slidably bear against the lower end Wall of the opening associated therewith and to provide a vertical edge which is adapted to abut the inner surface of said side Wall to limit the degree of opening movement of said cover portion, said cover portion in fully opened position being normally bodily removable from said base portion by sequential upward and lateral movement of said hinge members relatively to said openings, and means comprising a lug formed integrally with the free end portion of each hinge member, said lugs be ing bendable at will after hinged assembly of said base and cover portions to positively pre vent unhinging of the latter from the former.

HARRY A, SEDGl/VICK.

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