Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-09-11
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287154
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to terminal arrangements provided in electrical devices. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to low profile control devices for electrical appliances such as hot plates in electric stoves. However, it will be appreciated that the use of such a device is not restricted to domestic appliances.
BACKGROUND ART
Control devices, commonly known as energy regulators or infinite switches are used primarily in domestic appliances where it is required to control heating of an element in an oven or a hot plate. The control devices allow electricity through to the elements in pulses and it will be appreciated that longer pulses will lead to higher element temperatures. The length of these pulses can be lengthened or shortened by turning a knob on the control device so as to increase or decrease the element temperature. The knob is attached to an actuator shaft which is generally mounted perpendicular to a mounting plate which also supports a terminal housing. A number of electrical terminals are assembled into the terminal housing by sliding mounting portions of the terminals into slots in the housing extending in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the mounting plate, i.e. parallel to the actuator shaft. (See
FIG. 1
) The terminals may be staked to retain them in position.
There are a number of disadvantages inherent in this type of construction. Firstly, the construction requires the use of a separate mounting plate and housing. Secondly, the sliding of the terminals perpendicularly to the mounting plate to assemble the control device necessitates an overall depth of the device which is greater than the length of the terminals since the mounting portions of the terminals extend into slots aligned with the lengthwise direction of the terminals. The staking of the terminals is also an additional assembly step increasing the number of assembly operations.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or to provide the public with a useful choice.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical device including: a body portion; one or more electrical elements mounted to the body portion, the body portion and the one or more electrical elements defining an assembly having a thickness dimension which is the minimum external (or principal) dimension of the assembly; and at least one electrical terminal mounted to the body portion, the electrical terminal having a mounting portion and a contact portion, the mounting portion extending transversely to the direction of the thickness dimension and being received in a recess extending from the side of the body portion, which side is substantially aligned with the thickness dimension, the mounting portion being adapted for sliding assembly into the recess.
Preferably, the mounting portion extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of the thickness dimension. For example, the mounting portion may extend in either of the two orthogonal directions perpendicular to the thickness dimension, parallel to the general plane of the body portion so as not to contribute to the overall thickness of the electrical device. The mounting portion may be a planar member oriented such that the thickness dimension extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting portion. Further, it is preferred that the contact portion of the electrical terminal has a substantially planar contact surface which is substantially aligned with the thickness dimension. In a most preferred form of the invention the contact portion of the electrical terminals does not extend substantially beyond the thickness dimension. Thus, in the preferred form of the invention the terminal may be an L-shaped member whereby the mounting portion and the contact portion define respective leg portions of the L-shaped member.
Suitably, the terminal is disposed at or adjacent a side of the body portion which is substantially aligned with the thickness dimension. A slot may be provided at the side of the body portion, the slot being complementary in shape to the mounting portion of the terminal and the mounting portion of the terminal being received in the slot.
Advantageously, a frictional fit is provided between the mounting portion of the terminal and the body portion. Alternatively, a snap fit is provided between the mounting portion of the terminal and the body portion.
Preferably, the body portion is substantially planar. In a preferred form of the invention, a plurality of terminals are provided and the electrical element(s) and the terminals are mounted to extend from the same face of the body portion. The device may further include a rotary control actuator mounted to extend from the other face of the body portion in a direction substantially aligned with the thickness dimension.
In a commercial embodiment of the invention, the body portion is of a one-piece plastic moulded construction.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for an electrical appliance, including at least one electrical terminal and a substantially planar body portion, the electrical terminal being adapted for sliding assembly with the body portion in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the body portion into a recess extending substantially parallel to the plane of the body portion.
By “substantially planar”, it is meant that the body portion extends largely within a single plane with an average thickness dimension transverse to the plane being substantially less than the extent of the body portion within the plane.
Suitably, there are a plurality of electrical terminals assembled in this manner in the body portion. Each of the electrical terminals may include a mounting portion extending substantially parallel to the plane of the body portion and a contact portion extending substantially perpendicular thereto. The recesses may be in the form of slots, apertures or recesses and desirably a frictional fit is obtained between each electrical terminal and its respective receiving means.
In a preferred form of the invention, a control actuator is also mounted to the body portion with the control actuator having a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body portion. In a most preferred form of the invention, the body portion is in the form of a one piece moulded mounting plate with the receiving slots integrally formed in the mounting plate.
The control device may take the form of an energy regulator (infinite switch) incorporating a bimetallic switch and intended to be used in a domestic appliance. The body portion may be located behind a face plate provided on the electrical appliance.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for an electrical appliance including at least one electrical terminal and a control actuator having a longitudinal axis wherein the electrical terminal is adapted for sliding assembly in the control device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the control actuator into a recess substantially perpendicular to the axis of the control actuator.
Preferably, a body portion is provided into which the electrical terminals may be slidably received during assembly. Suitably, the control actuator may take the form of an actuator shaft to which an actuator knob can be fitted, the longitudinal axis of the actuator shaft defining the longitudinal axis of the control actuator.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 2039957 (1936-05-01), Hall
patent: 2064157 (1936-12-01), Frnaklin
patent: 2988606 (1961-06-01), Allison
patent: 2994748 (1961-08-01), Long
patent: 3566322 (1971-02-01), Horbach
patent: 5008644 (1991-04-01), Cooper
Cochrane Ian David
Graves Mark Ronald
Palmer Andrew Joseph
Abrams Neil
Dinh Hu
Invensys, plc
Martin Terrence
Sampson & Associates
LandOfFree
Contact terminal arrangement for electrical built-in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Contact terminal arrangement for electrical built-in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Contact terminal arrangement for electrical built-in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2458187