Communications interface system for landscape control systems

• US 10,015,894 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Veloskey, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Application Number:
  US15/435,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 361747, 361728-730, 361752, 361796
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/066 with hinged covers covers for distribution boxes H02G3/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units

Abstract

A communications interface system includes a housing and one or more removable components. The removable components can include one or more removable communications module configured to facilitate communication between the interface system and one or more other communications or control systems. A facepack can be removably coupled with the housing. The facepack can include one or more displays and/or user input structures.

Claims

1. A facepack for a landscaping control unit comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end, an interior, and a plurality of sides between the first end and the second end;

an electronic display on a front panel; and

at least one hinge pin having a first end and a second end and positioned at least partially within the interior of the facepack, the at least one hinge pin capable of transitioning between an extended position and a retracted position, the at least one hinge pin having a mating tip on the first end, the mating tip having a polygonal cross-section and extending out from the interior of the facepack when the at least one hinge pin is in the extended position, the mating tip configured to deflect into the interior of the facepack upon application of a force upon the mating tip toward the interior of the facepack.

2. The facepack of claim 1, further comprising a biasing structure which biases the at least one hinge pin to the extended position.

3. The facepack of claim 2, wherein the biasing structure is a spring.

4. The facepack of claim 2, wherein the at least one hinge pin further comprises a slot through a length of the hinge pin between the mating tip and the second end of the at least one hinge pin, wherein the slot forms a track along which the at least one hinge pin travels when transitioning between the extended position and the retracted position.

5. The facepack of claim 4, wherein the at least one hinge pin further includes a spring mounting post between the slot and second end of the at least one hinge pin, wherein the facepack further comprises a retaining screw inserted into the slot, and wherein the biasing structure is a spring with one end attached to the spring mounting post and another end attached to the retaining screw.

6. The facepack of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge pin includes a lever between the mating tip and the second end of the at least one hinge pin, the lever extending outward from the interior of the facepack, wherein application of force upon the lever in a direction away from the mating tip transitions the at least one hinge pin to the retracted position.

7. The facepack of claim 1, wherein the mating tip has a square cross-section.

8. The facepack of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector on the back panel capable of electrically connecting with an electrical connector of a communications interface box.

9. A communications interface system for a landscape control system, the communications interface comprising:

a housing defining a housing volume;

a facepack capable of removably and hingedly connecting to the housing, the facepack having a first end and a second end and comprising;

a plurality of sides between the first end and the second end;

a facepack body between the first end and the second end;

a facepack interior between the first end and the second end;

an electronic display on a front side of the plurality of sides; and

at least one hinge pin having a first end and a second end and positioned at least partially within the facepack interior, the at least one hinge pin having a mating tip on the first end, the mating tip being tapered toward the first end of the at least one hinge pin and having a polygonal cross-section, the mating tip extending out from the facepack interior from a side surface of the plurality of surfaces of the facepack; and

at least one flange capable of releasably mating with the at least one hinge pin of the facepack, the at least one flange comprising a recess having a polygonal cross-section, the recess configured to releasably receive the mating tip of the at least one hinge pin.

10. The communications interface system of claim 9, wherein the facepack can rotate between an first stable position and a second stable position when the facepack is connected to the housing, wherein the facepack is rotationally stable in both the first stable position and in the second stable position.

11. The communications interface system of claim 10, further comprising a housing electrical connection in the housing volume, wherein the facepack comprises an electrical connection on a back side of the plurality of sides, the electrical connection of the facepack configured to electrically connect to the housing electrical connection.

12. The communications interface system of claim 11, wherein the electrical connection on the back side of the facepack is electrically connected to the housing electrical connection when the facepack is in the first stable position, and wherein the electrical connection on the back side of the facepack is electrically disconnected from the electrical connection in the housing volume when the facepack is in the second stable position.

13. The communications interface system of claim 10, wherein the recess of the at least one flange comprises a plurality of tapered surfaces.

14. The communications interface system of claim 13, wherein the mating tip of the at least one hinge pin comprises a plurality of tapered surfaces meeting at a plurality of edges, the plurality of tapered surfaces of the mating tip configured to fit flush with the tapered surfaces of the recess when the facepack is in the first stable position and when the facepack is in the second stable position.

15. The communications interface system of claim 14, wherein rotation of the facepack away from the first stable position or away from the second stable position brings the plurality of edges into contact with the plurality of tapered surfaces of the recess of the at least one flange, wherein contact between the plurality of edges and the plurality of tapered surfaces of the recess of the at least one flange deflects the mating tip away from the recess.

16. The communications interface system of claim 10, wherein rotation of the facepack past the second stable position with respect to the first stable position brings the second end of the facepack into contact with the housing, and wherein further rotation of the facepack pushes the mating tip away from the recess of the at least one flange in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the facepack.

17. The communications interface system of claim 9, wherein the at least one flange comprises a tapered entry surface that deflects the mating tip toward the facepack interior as the facepack is transitioned into connection with the housing.

18. The communications interface system of claim 17, wherein the at least one flange includes two protrusions extending from the tapered entry surface and spaced apart from each other, the two protrusions inhibiting misalignment between the mating tip and the recess as the facepack is transitioned into connection with the housing.

19. A communications interface system for a landscape control system, the communications interface system comprising:

a housing defining a housing volume;

a backplate connected to the housing and positioned at least partially within the housing volume, the backplate including retention structures configured to releasably mate with one or more removable components;

a facepack capable of removably and hingedly connecting to the housing, the facepack having a first end and a second end and comprising;

a facepack body having a plurality of sides between the first end and the second end;

a facepack interior between the first end and the second end; and

at least one hinge pin having a first end and a second end and positioned at least partially within the facepack interior, the at least one hinge pin having a mating tip on the first end, the mating tip being tapered toward the first end of the at least one hinge pin and having a polygonal cross-section, the mating tip extending out from the facepack interior from a side surface of the plurality of surfaces of the facepack; and

at least one recess configured to receive the mating tip of the at least one hinge pin and having a polygonal cross-section;

wherein the facepack has a first stable position and a second stable position when the facepack is connected to the housing, and wherein the facepack obstructs access to at least one of the retention structures of the backplate from outside of the housing volume when the facepack is in the first stable position.

20. The communications interface system of claim 19, wherein the facepack can rotate between the first stable position and the second stable position when the facepack is connected to the housing, wherein the facepack is rotationally stable in both the first stable position and in the second stable position.

21. The communications interface system of claim 19, wherein the housing includes a substantially planar base, and wherein the second end of the facepack is positioned away from the base with respect to the first end of the facepack when the facepack is in the second stable position.

22. The communications interface system of claim 19, further comprising a housing electrical connection on one or more of the housing and the backplate, wherein the facepack includes an electrical connection on a back side of the plurality of sides of the facepack body and configured to releasably electrically connect with a housing electrical connection.

23. The communications interface system of claim 22, wherein electrical connection on the back side of the facepack body is connected to the housing electrical connection when the facepack is in the first stable position and wherein the electrical connection on the back side of the facepack body is not connected to the housing electrical connection when the facepack is in the second stable position.