Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-06-19
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C439S353000, C439S660000, C200S051090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247948
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors and more particularly to connectors used against two panels and the resulting assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For purposes of illustration, the invention will be discussed with reference to a glass panel door, such as used in a refrigerator or freezer in a grocery store or the like. It is to be understood that the term “freezer door” as used herein also includes refrigerator doors. It is to be further understood that the use of the connector is not limited to doors. For example, the invention is also suitable for use in windows for pools, or other areas subjected to wide temperature and moisture conditions.
Glass refrigerator and freezer doors typically are made from two pieces of glass separated by air or other insulating gas. A common problem associated with such glass doors is that moisture condenses on the outside glass owing to warm humid air striking the cold glass. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the customers to see what is in the refrigerator or freezer without holding the door open, which results in increased use of electricity for maintaining the desired temperature in the freezer or refrigerator. The prior art method now being used to minimize the condensation is to dispose a conductive element or film on the inside of the front glass, solder leads of a power cable to ends of the element or film and continually heat the outer glass, whether or not the ambient conditions are warm and humid. Additionally, should the glass be broken in the area of the electrical connections, the circuit to the glass remains active, possibly causing a safety hazard.
It is desirable, therefore, to have a system for warming the outer glass that senses when there is moisture on the glass and activated the heating element or film only for a sufficient time to dry the glass. Additionally it is desirable to have a system that will automatically deactivate the heating element if one or the other of the glass layers breaks in the area of the electrical connections to the element or film.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an electrical connector and a panel system that eliminate problems associated with the prior art. An electrical interlock connector for interconnecting a power source to an electrical unit within an apparatus includes an insulating housing containing at least one terminal-receiving cavity with an electrical terminal disposed therein and a first circuit member connected to the power source and attached to the housing. The electrical connector is mountable within the apparatus against portions thereof. The housing has first and second outer surfaces associated with respective portions of the apparatus and with the at least one terminal-receiving cavity in communication with the first outer surface. The terminal has a body portion and a spring section, the spring section having an outer connecting portion and an inner connecting portion with the outer connecting portion being adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical unit. The outer connecting portion resiliently extends outwardly of the first outer surface to an open position wherein the terminal and the first circuit member are electrically disconnected. The outer connecting portion is movable toward the first outer surface and into the cavity to a closed position by a first portion of the apparatus upon mounting the connector in the apparatus against the first portion and a second portion. The connector has a section along the second outer surface that engages the second apparatus portion, the connector section being remote from and relatively movable with respect to the spring section. Whereby the inner connecting portion is at least in electrical connection with the first circuit member only when the connector is against the first portion and the second portion of the apparatus and the terminal is in its closed position thereby interconnecting the power source to the electrical unit. For purposes of discussing the invention, a panel assembly such as a freezer door is the “apparatus” and the electrical circuitry thereon is the “electrical unit”.
In one embodiment, the connector section that engages the second apparatus portion is a second terminal that is disengaged from the circuit member unless biased by the second apparatus portion. The second terminal is disposed in a second terminal-receiving cavity. The second terminal has a body portion and a spring section, the spring section having an outer connecting section and an inner connecting section, the outer connecting section resiliently extending outwardly from the second outer surface of the housing to an open position. The outer connecting portion is movable toward the second outer surface and into the second cavity to a closed position by the second portion of the apparatus such that the inner portion of the second terminal electrically engages the first circuit member and concomitantly therewith the first apparatus portion moves the inner connecting portion of the terminal in the first cavity into electrical engagement with the body of the second terminal.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connector section is the second outer surface of the housing. The housing in this embodiment of the electrical interlock connector is freely slidable within a frame in a direction perpendicular to the first outer surface from a first position to a second position, when the outer connecting portion of the terminal is moved to the closed position, the inner connecting portion is brought into engagement with the first circuit member, so that only when both the housing is in the first position and the terminal is in the closed position is the terminal in electrical engagement with said the circuit member.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the connector section is the second outer surface of the housing that engages the second apparatus portion. Upon mounting the connector against the first and second apparatus portions, the spring section and the second housing surface are moved toward one another until the outer connecting portion is engaged with the electrical unit and the inner connecting portion electrically engages the circuit member.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connector section includes another spring section at an opposite end of the terminal body and an insulating actuation member mounted within the housing proximate the terminal. The second spring section has an outer connecting portion that resiliently extends outwardly of the second outer surface of the housing and an inner connecting portion that is adapted to electrically engage the circuit member upon moving the terminal to its closed position. The insulating member includes an elongate portion that extends along the outer connecting portion of the another spring such that the elongate portion is between the second apparatus portion and the outer connecting portion. Upon mounting the connector against respective the apparatus portions, the elongate member and the outer connecting portion are simultaneously moved toward the second outer surface with the inner connecting section engaging the circuit member when the terminal reaches its closed position.
The invention is also directed to a panel Assembly including first and second panels, at least one of which includes an electrical circuit thereon having first and second conductive areas, each area being electrically connected to a power source by connectors made in accordance with the invention.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4691486 (1987-09-01), Niekrasz et al.
patent: 5170067 (1992-12-01), Baum et al.
patent: 5259777 (1993-11-01), Schuder et al.
patent: 5295843 (1994-03-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5928019 (1999-07-01), Chen et al.
patent: 0 817 217 A2 (1998-01-01), None
patent: WO 98/42163 (1998-09-01), None
Abstract from Case No. 17277, Ser. No. 09/245,750, Filed Feb. 8, 1999, Relate
Davis Wayne Samuel
Whiteman, Jr. Robert Neil
Hammond Briggitte R.
Luebke Renee
The Whitaker Corporation
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