Controller housing with connector retention assembly and method

• US 7,652,888 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Bohlinger, William C., Peterson, Kurt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US11/358,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/704, 361/710, 361/93.1, 361/636, 361/642, 361/732, 439/66, 439/67, 439/352, 439/357, 439/358, 439/676, 700/22, 294/28, 298/57
• US Class Current: 361/732
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

A method and a housing assembly including a case defining an opening, and a coupler positioned within the opening and configured for coupling to a connector, wherein the case defines a securing portion positioned proximate to the opening and is configured for securing a portion of the connector when coupled with the coupler.

Claims

1. A housing assembly comprising:

a case defining an opening and a securing portion positioned proximate to the opening; and

a coupler positioned within the opening and configured for coupling to a connector, wherein the case and securing portion are configured for securing a portion of the connector when coupled with the coupler wherein the case defines a biasing cavity and wherein the securing portion is defined by the biasing cavity and the opening, the securing portion biasing a locking lever of the connector into a locked position;

wherein the securing portion is an integral portion of the case that extends between the biasing cavity and the opening;

wherein the securing portion includes a flexible portion of the case configured to flex away from the coupler upon coupling of the connector with the coupler and to provide a biasing force against the connector portion when the connector is coupled with the coupler.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the case comprises a thermoplastic material.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the thermoplastic material of the case is a polycarbonate.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the case is configured for enclosing a power switch and a controller for selectively providing power to a power load and wherein the coupler is configured for at least one of receiving power from a power source and providing power to the power load.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the case is configured for enclosing a safety limiter and wherein the coupler is configured for receiving at least one temperature signal from at least one temperature sensor associated with the power load.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the opening is a first opening and the coupler is a first coupler, and wherein the case defines a second opening, further comprising a second coupler positioned within the second opening and configured for coupling to a second connector, wherein the case defines a second securing portion positioned proximate to the second opening and configured for securing a portion of the second connector when coupled with the second coupler.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the case defines a second biasing cavity and wherein the second securing portion is defined by the second biasing cavity and the second opening.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first coupler is configured for receiving power from a power source via the first connector and wherein the second coupler is configured for providing power to a power load via the second connector.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are color coded to indicate one as an input coupler and one as an output coupler.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first coupler is colored black and is configured as an input from a power source and the second coupler is colored white and is configured as an output to a heater and a sensor.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler is compatible with a Molex Minifit-Jr.®

connector.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing portion includes a flexible cam-like edge providing a securing force to a the locking lever of the coupled connector.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a female oriented coupler adapted for receiving a male oriented connector.

2. A housing assembly comprising:

a case defining an opening and a securing portion positioned proximate to the opening; and

a coupler positioned within the opening and configured for coupling to a connector, wherein the case and securing portion are configured for securing a portion of the connector when coupled with the coupler wherein the case defines a biasing cavity and wherein the securing portion is defined by the biasing cavity and the opening, the securing portion biasing a locking lever of the connector into a locked position;

wherein the securing portion is an integral portion of the case that extends between the biasing cavity and the opening;

wherein the case includes a first case housing and a second case housing, the first case housing and the second case housing are coupled together to substantially form the case, and the opening is defined by a portion of the first case housing and a portion of the second case housing.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the coupler is positioned with the opening defined by the first case housing and wherein the securing portion is defined by a surface edge of the second case housing.

4. A housing assembly comprising:

a case defining an opening and a securing portion positioned proximate to the opening; and

a coupler positioned within the opening and configured for coupling to a connector, wherein the case and securing portion are configured for securing a portion of the connector when coupled with the coupler wherein the case defines a biasing cavity and wherein the securing portion is defined by the biasing cavity and the opening, the securing portion biasing a locking lever of the connector into a locked position;

wherein the securing portion is an integral portion of the case that extends between the biasing cavity and the opening;

wherein the securing portion includes a flange disposed about a portion of the opening, the flange configured for compressively biasing the locking lever of the connector in the locked position.

17. A power control system having a power switch for selectively providing at least a portion of power received from a power source to a power load in response to a controller, the system comprising:

a coupler for coupling to an external connector; and

a housing enclosing the controller and the power switch, the housing defining a coupler opening for external access to the coupler and having a biasing portion located proximate to the coupler opening providing a biasing force to an engaging portion of a connector when the connector is coupled with the coupler, the biasing portion configured to secure the connector in the coupled position with the coupler wherein the power control system includes a safety limiter controlling the providing of power to the power load as a function of a threshold limit and wherein the housing encloses the limiter along with the controller and the power switch;

wherein the housing includes a flexible cam-like edge providing the biasing force to a connecting lever arm of the coupled connector urging the lever arm into a locked position;

wherein the flexible cam-like edge is defined by a biasing cavity and the coupler opening and is configured to be in a flexed position and to engage the engaging portion of the connector when the connector is coupled with the coupler.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the biasing portion includes a flexible portion configured to flex away from the coupler during the coupling of the connector with the coupler and to provide the biasing force against the engaging portion of the connector following coupling of the connector with the coupler.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the housing defines a biasing cavity, wherein the biasing portion is defined by a portion of the housing positioned between the coupler opening and the biasing cavity.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the coupler is a first coupler configured for receiving power from a power source, further comprising a second coupler configured for providing power to the power load, wherein the housing is configured with a second coupler opening for external access to the second coupler and having a second biasing portion located proximate to the second coupler opening for providing a second biasing force to an engaging portion of a second connector when the second connector is coupled with the second coupler, the second biasing portion configured to secure the second connector in the coupled position with the second coupler.

21. A method of operating a power controller having a housing enclosing a power switch for receiving power from a power source and selectively providing at least a portion of the received power to a power load, the method comprising:

inserting a connector into an opening defined by the housing enclosing the power switch and the controller;

flexing a securing portion of the housing defined by a biasing cavity and the opening during the inserting of the connector into the opening;

coupling the connector to a coupler positioned within the opening; and

securing the securing portion of the housing against a locking portion of the connector following coupling of the connector to the coupler thereby retaining the locking portion in a locked position;

wherein the securing portion is an integral portion of the case that extends between the biasing cavity and the opening.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein securing portion includes biasing the securing portion against the locking portion of the connector.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the coupler is configured for at least one of receiving power from a power source coupled to the connector and providing power to a power load coupled to the connector.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the housing encloses a safety limit and wherein the coupler is configured for receiving a temperature signal from a temperature signal associated with the power load.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising compressing the locking portion of the connector;

flexing the securing portion of the housing upon the compressing;

withdrawing the connector from the opening; and

decoupling the connector from the coupler.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the connector is a first connector, the coupler is a first coupler, further comprising:

inserting a second connector into a second opening defined by the housing;

flexing a second securing portion of the housing proximate to the second opening during the inserting of the second connector into the second opening;

coupling the second connector to a second coupler positioned within the second opening; and

securing the second securing portion of the housing against a locking portion of the second connector following coupling of the second connector to the second coupler.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising compressing the locking portion of the second connector;

flexing the second securing portion of the housing upon the compressing;

withdrawing the second connector from the second opening; and

decoupling the second connector from the second coupler.