Terminal assembly for selectively coupling loads in parallel and in series

• US 20070293082A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sound Sources Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sound Sources Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Sumitani, Yoichiro, Chun-Yi, Lin
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/507
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2035 for miniature fuses with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/25 Safety arrangements preventing or inhibiting contact with live parts, including operation of isolation on removal of cover
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/46 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/547 with sliding fuse carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7039 the coupling part with coding means activating the switch to establish different circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/06 Arranging circuit leads; Relieving strain on circuit leads

Abstract

A terminal assembly that selectively couples multiple electrical loads in parallel or in series includes a circuit board that may be defined by a first section and a second section. A housing is disposed on the circuit board, and defines an access aperture overlapping multiple sets of jumpers attached to the first and second sections of the circuit board A cover is positioned on the access aperture to selectively expose the set of jumpers of the first section of the circuit board and the set of jumpers of the second section of the circuit board.

Claims

1. A terminal assembly for coupling a plurality of electrical loads to a source comprising:

a circuit board defining a first section and a second section;

a first set of jumper contacts disposed on the first section of the circuit board and a second set of jumper contacts disposed on the second section of the circuit board;

a housing enclosing the circuit board;

a jumper access aperture defined by the housing and overlapping the first and second sections of the circuit board; and

at least one cover positioned on the jumper access aperture of the housing to selectively expose the first section of the circuit board and the second section of the circuit board.

2. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is slidably engaged to the housing on the jumper access aperture, the cover being in a first position to expose the first section of the circuit board including the first set of jumper contacts and a second position to expose the second section of the circuit board including the second set of jumper contacts.

3. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first set of jumper contacts is configured to receive at least two jumpers which in combination are adapted to couple the electrical loads in parallel.

4. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the second set of jumper contacts is configured to receive at least one jumper which is adapted to couple the electrical loads in series.

5. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first set of jumper contacts and the second set of jumper contacts include clamps configured to slidably retain jumpers.

6. The terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a quick release mechanism mated to the first set of jumper contacts and configured to releasably engage a jumper to the first set of jumper contacts

7. A terminal block for selectively coupling a pair of loudspeaker elements in parallel or in series relative to a source, the terminal block comprising:

a circuit board having a first circuit region, a second circuit region, a third circuit region, and a fourth circuit region;

a positive source terminal, a first load positive output terminal and a first parallel circuit jumper contact connected to the first circuit region;

a first load negative output terminal, a fourth parallel circuit jumper contact, and a second series circuit jumper contact connected to the second circuit region;

a second load negative output terminal, a third parallel circuit jumper contact, and a first series circuit jumper contact connected to the third circuit region; and

a negative source terminal and a second load positive output terminal connected to the fourth circuit region;

an enclosure for housing the circuit board;

an aperture defined by the enclosure to provide access to the first parallel circuit jumper contact, the second parallel circuit jumper contact, the third parallel circuit jumper contact, the fourth parallel circuit jumper contact, the first series circuit jumper contact, and the second series circuit jumper contact.

8. The terminal assembly of claim 7, further comprising a cover disposed on the aperture of the enclosure.

9. The terminal assembly of claim 8, wherein the cover extends partially along the aperture.

10. The terminal assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover is slidably engaged to a set of tracks included on the inner periphery of the aperture.

11. The terminal assembly of claim 7, further comprising a first jumper attached to the first series circuit jumper contact and the second series circuit contact, the first jumper being adapted to electrically couple the second circuit region and the third circuit region.

12. The terminal assembly of claim 7, further comprising a first jumper attached to the first parallel circuit jumper contact and the third parallel circuit jumper contact, the first jumper being adapted to electrically couple the first circuit region to the third circuit region.

13. The terminal assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second jumper attached to the second parallel circuit jumper contact and the fourth parallel circuit jumper contact, the second jumper being adapted to electrically couple the second circuit region to the fourth circuit region.