Thermostat housing with removable terminal block

• US 5,729,442 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Frantz, Robert Houston
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US08/656,109
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728, 361/736, 361/748, 361/752, 361/823, 439/552, 439/557, 439/709-718
• US Class Current: 361/823
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/75 connecting to cables except for flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/36 Conductive members located under tip of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets

Abstract

A thermostat housing which provides a protective enclosure for electronic components of a thermostat assembly comprises a base, a terminal block removably attached to the base, and a cover. The terminal block provides an interface between the electronic components of the thermostat assembly and wires of a building climate control system. The terminal block can be replaced as an individual unit in the event it becomes damaged or defective.

Claims

1. A thermostat housing which provides a protective enclosure for electronic components of a thermostat assembly, the thermostat housing comprising:

a base;

a terminal block removably attached to the base, the terminal block having terminals each including a cage which defines a wire reception zone for a respective wire of a building climate control system, a clamp which is movably mounted for clamping the respective wire in the wire reception zone, and an arm which is electrically connected to the respective wire when the respective wire is clamped in the wire reception zone, the terminal block having apertures each in registration with a respective said arm;

a circuit board having the electronic components mounted thereon, and header posts which are electrically joined to the electronic components, each of the header posts being received in a respective said aperture and engaged with a respective said arm, wherein the terminal block provides an interface between the electronic components and the wires of the building climate control system; and

a cover attachable to the base and cooperable with the base to define the enclosure.

2. The thermostat housing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal block is removably attached to the base by at least one resilient latch.

3. The thermostat housing according to claim 2, wherein the base includes an overhanging ledge, and the terminal block has a lip which is insertable beneath the overhanging ledge.

4. The thermostat housing according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminals further includes a clamp screw which is operably mounted for moving the clamp toward and away from the wire reception zone.