Housing for receiving printed circuit boards whose components form at least parts of a communication system
A housing for receiving printed circuit boards whose components form at least parts of a communication system, comprising a housing cover and a connection area which is accessible from the outside. A main printed circuit board is arranged between the base housing part and a cover part. Plug-in devices for at least one extension printed circuit board are provided in an extension area of the main printed circuit board. A first hood is provided in order to cover the extension area. The hood has push-through openings arranged towards the connection area, corresponding to plug-in devices on at least one extension printed circuit board in an assembled state. The first hood can engage with the cover part by means of a lock connection whereby said lock connection can only be released using a tool.
1. A device for use in a communication system that comprises a housing, the housing comprising:
a connection area configured to be at least partially accessible from outside of the housing;
a housing cover comprised of a first hood and a cover portion, the first hood having at least one aperture and at least one attachment mechanism, the cover portion having at least one first guide and at least one clip connection mechanism sized and configured to releasably retain the at least one attachment mechanism of the first hood;
a base housing part; and
a printed circuit board arranged between the base housing part and the cover portion, the printed circuit board having an extension area, the extension area comprised of at least one first plug-in device sized and configured to connect to a first extension printed circuit board;
the at least one first plug-in device comprising a first plug-in device, the first plug-in device being mechanically connected to a first extension printed circuit board, the first extension circuit board at least partially supported on the at least one first guide attached to the cover portion;
the first extension circuit board having at least one second plug-in device that is positioned in the at least one aperture when the first hood is connected to the cover portion, the at least one second plug-in device of the first extension circuit board configured for connection of system terminations; and
the cover portion configured to releasably attach to the base housing part and configured to clamp at least a portion of the printed circuit board against the base housing part when the cover portion is attached to the base housing part; and
wherein the first hood is only releasable from the cover portion after the at least one attachment mechanism and at least one clip connection mechanism are interlocked by use of a mechanical tool to release the first hood from the cover portion.
2. The device according to claim 1 , the housing further comprising a second hood adapted to be releasably connected to the cover portion, wherein the second hood covers the connection area when the second hood is connected to the cover portion; and
the at least one attachment mechanism comprised of at least one attachment tab that is insertable into and connected to the at least one clip connection mechanism to form a clip connection, the clip connection being unlockable and releasable by the use of the mechanical tool to unlock the first hood from the cover portion and release the first hood from the cover portion.
3. The device housing according to claim 2 ,
wherein the base housing part includes at least one second guide and a support edge,
wherein the at least one second guide guides the printed circuit board and the cover portion during assembly by being fit within a portion of the cover portion; and
wherein the printed circuit board is arranged between the support edge and the cover portion.
4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one first plug-in device is comprised of a plurality of first plug-in devices and the at least one first extension circuit board is comprised of a plurality of first extension circuit boards, each of the first plug-in devices sized and configured to establish an electrical connection with a respective one of the first extension circuit boards.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first hood and the second hood are each curved in a convex shape in a central area running concentrically to a center longitudinal axis.
6. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one part selected from the group consisting of the cover portion, the first hood, and the second hood is manufactured by injection molding.
7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the mechanical tool is a screwdriver and wherein at least one of the cover portion, the first hood, and the second hood is manufactured from a polymer plastic.
8. The device according to claim 2 wherein a part selected from the group consisting of the cover portion, the first hood, and the second hood is manufactured from a polymer plastic.
9. The device according to claim 2 wherein the first hood and the second hood are each curved in a convex shape in a central area running concentrically to a center longitudinal axis.
10. The device according to claim 2 wherein the first hood and the second hood adjoin side wall sections of the cover portion in an assembled state.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the first hood, the second hood and the side wall sections form a continuous surface when interconnected to the cover portion.
12. The device of claim 2 wherein the second hood has at least one twist lock and at least one snap-in hook, each snap-in hook adjacent a respective twist lock and wherein the second hood is releasable from the cover portion without use of a mechanical tool.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the at least one twist lock and at least one snap-in hook are configured to releasably attach to the cover portion when at least a portion of the at least one snap-in hook is inserted into at least one opening formed in the cover portion.
14. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the base housing part includes at least one second guide and a support edge,
wherein the at least one second guide guides the printed circuit board and the cover portion during assembly by being fit within a portion of the cover portion; and
wherein the printed circuit board is arranged between the support edge and the cover portion.
15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first plug-in device is sized and configured to establish an electrical connection with the at least one first extension printed circuit board.
16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is arranged to face the connection area.
17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein each aperture of the at least one aperture is a generally rectangular push through opening.
18. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the base housing part has at least one keyhole-shaped cutout for wall mounting.