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US 11,552,417 B2Granted
Irrigation controller with terminal connector blocks
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorsRyan L. Walker, Harvey J. Nickerson, James R. Harris, Young Suk Kim, Chao-Ming Kang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, an irrigation control device is provided that includes adjacent terminal connector rows having a ridge portion between the rows, where the ridge portion is configured to support and guide wires to electrical connection pads of one row, and to support these wires above wires retained in another row of electrical connection pads. In some embodiments, the ridge portion offsets the wires from the different rows in the horizontal plane.
Claims22
An irrigation control device comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a first row of one or more openings forming a first connector terminal row area;
- and
- a second row of one or more openings forming a second connector terminal row area, the second row located proximate to and adjacent the first row;
- a circuit board comprising:
- a first row of electrical connection pads;
- and
- a second row of electrical connection pads,
- wherein the electrical connection pads of the first row and the second row are located in a first horizontal plane at an upper exterior surface of the circuit board,
- wherein the circuit board is positioned relative to the housing such that the first row of electrical connection pads is aligned with and accessible via the first row of the one or more openings, and such that the second row of electrical connection pads is aligned with and accessible via the second row of the one or more openings;
- a plurality of terminal connectors, each terminal connector secured to a respective one of the electrical connection pads of the first row of electrical connection pads and the second row of electrical connection pads, wherein each terminal connector is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end against the respective electrical connection pad;
- and
- wherein the housing further comprises:
- a ridge portion located between the first and second rows of the one or more openings, the ridge portion comprising:
- a first ridge wall extending substantially vertically from a first base of the first row of the one or more openings to a peak of the ridge portion;
- and
- a second ridge wall extending substantially downwardly at an angle between about 20 and 70 degrees from the peak of the ridge portion to proximate a second base of the second row of one or more openings;
- wherein the peak of the ridge portion is elevated from the base of the first and second rows of the one or more openings such that the peak is at a second horizontal plane located above the first horizontal plane and separated by at least a height of the first ridge wall and the second ridge wall,
- wherein the second ridge wall is configured to support and guide wires to the second row of electrical connection pads to be retained thereagainst;
- and
- wherein the ridge portion is configured to support the wires retained in the second row of electrical connection pads above wires retained in the first row of electrical connection pads.
18 more elements
An irrigation control device comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a first connector terminal row comprising a first row of plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to the circuit board;
- a second connector terminal row adjacent to the first connector terminal row and comprising a second row of plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to the circuit board;
- a plurality of terminal connectors, each secured to a respective electrical connection pad of the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein the plurality of terminal connectors are secured to the electrical connection pads of the first and second connector terminal rows in a first horizontal plane, wherein each terminal connector is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end against the respective electrical connection pad;
- and
- a ridge located between the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein the ridge comprises a peak elevated from the first horizontal plane, wherein the ridge is configured to support the wires retained in and extending from the second terminal connector row above the wires retained in and extending from the first connector terminal row;
- wherein the ridge includes an angled ridge wall extending substantially downwardly at an angle from the peak to at least a portion of a distance to the electrical connection pads of the second connector terminal row, wherein the angled ridge wall is configured to support and guide the wires retained in and extending from the second connector terminal row.
4 more elements
An irrigation control device comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a first connector terminal row comprising a first row of plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to the circuit board;
- a second connector terminal row adjacent to the first connector terminal row and comprising a second row of plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to the circuit board;
- a plurality of terminal connectors, each secured to a respective electrical connection pad of the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein the plurality of terminal connectors are secured to the electrical connection pads of the first and second connector terminal rows in a first horizontal plane, wherein each terminal connector is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end against the respective electrical connection pad;
- a ridge located between the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein the ridge comprises a peak elevated from the first horizontal plane, wherein the ridge is configured to support the wires retained in and extending from the second connector terminal row above the wires retained in and extending from the first connector terminal row;
- and
- a support plate connected to an under surface of the circuit board, wherein the support plate is configured to support connection of the terminal connectors to the electrical connection pads of the second connector terminal row.
4 more elements
An irrigation control device comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a first connector terminal row located in a first horizontal plane;
- a second connector terminal row located in the first horizontal plane adjacent to the first connector terminal row;
- a plurality of terminal connectors, each secured to a respective one of electrical connection pads of the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein each terminal connector is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire against the respective electrical connection pad;
- and
- a ridge located between the first and second connector terminal rows and extending above the first horizontal plane, wherein the ridge is configured to support the wires retained in and extending from the second connector terminal connector row above the wires retained in and extending from the first connector terminal row;
- wherein the ridge includes an angled ridge wall extending substantially downwardly at an angle at least a portion of a distance to the electrical connection pads of the second connector terminal row, wherein the angled ridge wall is configured to support and guide the wires retained in and extending from the second connector terminal row.
4 more elements
The irrigation control device of claimer 16, further comprising wire channels formed in the angled ridge wall.
An irrigation control device comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a first connector terminal row located in a first horizontal plane;
- a second connector terminal row located in the first horizontal plane adjacent to the first connector terminal row;
- a plurality of terminal connectors, each secured to a respective one of electrical connection pads of the first and second connector terminal rows, wherein each terminal connector is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire against the respective electrical connection pad;
- a ridge located between the first and second connector terminal rows and extending above the first horizontal plane, wherein the ridge is configured to support the wires retained in and extending from the second connector terminal row above the wires retained in and extending from the first connector terminal row;
- and
- a support plate connected to an under surface of the circuit board, wherein the support plate is configured to support connection of the terminal connectors to the electrical connection pads of the second connector terminal row.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.