Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-09-25
2004-11-02
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S912000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06811425
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a controller module, more particularly to a controller module responsive to input signals for controlling an electrical appliance.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate a conventional controller module
1
responsive to input signals for controlling an electrical appliance (not shown). The conventional controller module
1
includes a circuit unit
13
disposed in a hollow case
11
, a cover member
12
, two terminal blocks
14
, and two positioning members
15
. The circuit unit
13
includes two connecting seats
131
(only one is shown) that are exposed from an open end of the case
11
. The cover member
12
is mounted detachably on the open end of the case
11
, and has opposite side walls
123
and a bottom wall
124
in each of opposite lateral sides thereof so as to cooperate with the corresponding connecting seat
131
to confine a block receiving space. Each terminal block
14
is mounted detachably in a respective block receiving space through an opening
121
confined by the side walls
123
and is connected electrically to a respective connecting seat
131
. Each terminal block
14
has a mounting side connected electrically to the corresponding connecting seat
131
, a top side formed with a set of probe insertion holes
141
for insertion of a set of test probes
2
(only one is shown in FIG.
2
), and an input side opposite to the mounting side and formed with a set of input insertion holes
142
for insertion of a set of external terminals (not shown). Each positioning member
15
is mounted pivotally on a corresponding lateral side of the cover member
12
, and is disposed at the opening
121
in the corresponding lateral side of the cover member
12
. Each positioning member
15
is formed with opposite pivot posts
151
that are pivotally retained in pivot holes
122
formed in the side walls
123
of the corresponding lateral side of the cover member
12
, respectively, and a plurality of positioning posts
152
received in a plurality of positioning holes
143
formed in the input side of the corresponding terminal block
14
. By virtue of the positioning member
15
, the terminal blocks
14
can be positioned on the connecting seats
131
.
In use, one of the terminal blocks
14
can be used to connect the circuit unit
13
to an electrical appliance, whereas the other of the terminal blocks
14
can be used to connect the circuit unit
13
to external devices, such as sensors and the like. Accordingly, the circuit unit
13
can control the electrical appliance based on input signals received from the external devices.
By changing the circuit unit
13
, the controller module
1
can be used to control different electrical appliances according to different operating requirements.
Moreover, by virtue of the probe insertion holes
141
in the terminal blocks
14
, testing of the circuit unit
31
can be conducted through the test probes
2
without the need to remove the circuit unit
13
from the case
11
.
It is noted that the positioning members
15
must be pivoted upwardly so as to expose the probe insertion holes
141
for insertion of the test probes
2
during testing, thereby resulting in inconvenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a controller module that can eliminate the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided a controller module responsive to input signals for controlling an electrical appliance. The controller module comprises:
a circuit unit including a control circuit adapted to be connected electrically to the electrical appliance, and a connecting seat coupled electrically to the control circuit and formed with a set of first conductive contacts;
a hollow case having an open end, the circuit unit being disposed in the case such that the connecting seat of the circuit unit is exposed from the open end of the case;
a cover member mounted detachably on the open end of the case, the cover member being formed with first and second openings, the cover member having opposite side walls, each of which has a pivot edge formed with a pivot groove, and a vertical edge, the pivot edges of the side walls confining the first opening, the vertical edges of the side walls confining the second opening, the cover member further having a bottom wall extending between the side walls and spaced apart from the pivot edges of the side walls, the connecting seat of the circuit unit being spaced apart from the vertical edges of the side walls by the bottom wall, the side walls, the bottom wall and the connecting seat cooperating to confine a block receiving space;
a terminal block mounted detachably in the block receiving space through the second opening in the cover member such that the terminal block is accessible through the second opening, the terminal block having a mounting side provided with a set of second conductive contacts that are connected electrically, respectively and removably to the first conductive contacts, an input side opposite to the mounting side and formed with a set of input insertion holes adapted for insertion of a set of external terminals so as to permit connection of the external terminals to the first conductive contacts through the second conductive contacts, respectively, and a top side formed with a set of probe insertion holes adapted for insertion of a set of test probes so as to permit connection of the test probes to the first conductive contacts through the second conductive contacts, respectively; and
a positioning member mounted pivotally on the cover member and disposed at the first opening in the cover member for positioning the terminal block on the connecting seat, the positioning member having a first plate body disposed above the top side of the terminal block and formed with a set of positioning holes that are registered with the probe insertion holes in the top side of the terminal block, respectively, and a second plate body connected to the first plate body, extending into the second opening in the cover member, and engaging the input side of the terminal block without covering the input insertion holes, the first plate body being formed with opposite pivot posts that are pivotally retained in the pivot grooves, respectively.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1023326 (1912-04-01), Murray
patent: 2872506 (1959-02-01), Flubacker
patent: 5836791 (1998-11-01), Waas et al.
patent: 6033268 (2000-03-01), Piper et al.
patent: 6222717 (2001-04-01), Waas et al.
patent: 6224418 (2001-05-01), Miura et al.
patent: 6338648 (2002-01-01), Miura et al.
patent: 6736683 (2004-05-01), Brand et al.
Excel Cell Electronic Co., Ltd.
Gushi Ross
Nguyen Phuongchi
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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