Terminal connector for a wall mounted device

• US 8,748,745 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Yao, Xiyin
• Primary Examiner(s): Norris, Jeremy C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILAKOVICH, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/600,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20140060876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 236/1.C
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

A wall mounted device includes a housing having a rear surface that is intended to face a wall to which the device is to be mounted. The housing also has an interior portion and an opening formed therein to allow wires from the wall to pass therethrough for communication with the interior housing. The opening has a center point. At least one terminal block may be disposed in the interior portion of the housing and includes a plurality of terminals that are configured to engage a wire to form an electrical connection. Each of the plurality of terminals can be located equidistant from a point within the opening such that the lengths of wire in the housing are reduced.

Claims

1. A wall mounted device, comprising:

a housing extending between a top wall and a bottom wall and having a rear wall that is intended to lie adjacent a wall to which the device is to be mounted;

a cover plate secured to said rear wall to define an interior chamber;

an opening formed in the housing that allows wires from said wall to pass into said interior chamber of said housing;

a terminal block having a body disposed in said interior chamber substantially between said opening and said bottom wall and having a generally arcuate shape and comprising a plurality of terminals having apertures in a front face thereof and converging sides abutting one another on respective radials from said opening to form electrical connections with the wires;

each of said plurality of terminals being located on a semi-circle and equidistant from at least one point of said opening such that the length of wire in said interior chamber is reduced.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening is circular in shape.

3. The device of claim 1, where said opening and said terminal block have corresponding shapes.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of terminals includes a spring loaded actuator disposed in an orifice thereof that can be depressed to expose said orifice of said terminal to allow for connection of said wire.

4. A wall mounted device, comprising:

a housing extending between a top wall and a bottom wall and having a rear wall that is intended to lie adjacent a wall to which the device is to be mounted;

a cover plate secured to said rear wall to define an interior chamber;

an opening formed in the housing that allows wires from said wall to pass into said interior chamber of said housing;

a printed circuit board disposed on said rear wall;

a terminal block electrically connected to and attached to said printed circuit board;

said terminal block disposed substantially between said opening and said bottom wall and comprising a plurality of terminals having apertures in a front face thereof and converging sides abutting one another on respective radials from said opening to form electrical connections with the wires;

each of said plurality of terminals being located on a semi-circle and equidistant from at least one point of said opening such that the length of wire in said interior chamber is reduced, each of said terminals defining an orifice for receiving one of the wires from said opening and for electrically connecting the wires to said printed circuit board;

each of said terminals including a spring loaded actuator disposed in said orifice thereof that can be depressed to expose said orifice of said terminal to allow for connection of said wire.

5. A wall mounted device comprising;

a housing extending between a top wall and a bottom wall to define a rear wall;

said rear wall of said housing defining a plurality of fastener apertures for supporting said housing against a wall,

said rear wall of said housing including a projection defining a groove,

a cover plate having an edge circumscribing said cover plate,

a rim extending along said edge of said cover plate for engaging said groove of said projection to secure said cover plate to said rear wall to define an interior chamber,

said rear wall of said housing defining an opening extending therethrough for passing a plurality of wires from the wall to said interior chamber,

said cover plate including a display for visually conveying information,

said cover plate including a temperature control and a heat selector switch,

said cover plate including a front connector projecting into said interior chamber and electrically connected to said display and said temperature control and said heat selector switch,

a printed circuit board disposed on said rear wall and defining a bore axially aligned with said opening in said rear wall,

said printed circuit board presenting a plurality of rectangular voids aligned with said fastener apertures to provide access to said fastener apertures,

a terminal block electrically connected to and attached to said printed circuit board,

said terminal block disposed substantially between said opening and said bottom wall in a semi-circle about said opening and comprising a plurality of terminals having apertures in a front face thereof and converging sides abutting one another on respective radials from said opening,

a connector electrically connected to and attached to said printed circuit board and extending into said interior chamber for engaging said front connector for electrically communicating signals from said printed circuit board to said display and signals from said temperature control and said heat selector switch to said printed circuit board,

said terminals each having a top surface extending parallel to said rear surface of said housing and an angled portion extending from said top surface toward said bore of said printed circuit board,

said angled portion of each of said terminals defining an orifice for receiving one of the wires from said opening and for electrically connecting the wires to said printed circuit board, and

said terminals each including a spring in said orifice for receiving and retaining a wire inserted therein.