U.S. patent number RE36,030 [Application Number 08/637,529] was granted by the patent office on 1999-01-05 for electric distributing system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Intermatic Incorporated. Invention is credited to Jacques Nadeau.
United States Patent |
RE36,030 |
Nadeau |
January 5, 1999 |
Electric distributing system
Abstract
An electrical distribution system comprising one or more tracks
having current-carrying conductors and ground conductor for
mounting on wall surfaces. The tracks are slidingly received in
connecting slots of electrical connector housings to connect the
tracks to electrical outlets, or to interconnect sections of tracks
together. More particularly, with the present invention it is not
necessary to strip the ends of the tracks to expose connector ends
to interconnect them with terminals in the connector housings. An
end portion of the track is merely slid within a connecting slot of
the housing. Electrical receptacles are also connected at any
desired location along the track. The electrical distribution track
can also be incorporated in an extruded baseboard together with a
telephone line track to permit connection thereto of electrical
receptacles as well as alarm systems, telephone jacks, fire
detectors, surge protectors, etc.
Inventors: |
Nadeau; Jacques (Drummondville,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Intermatic Incorporated (Spring
Grove, IL)
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Family
ID: |
25675810 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/637,529 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
009925 |
Jan 27, 1993 |
05306165 |
Apr 26, 1994 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/115; 439/120;
439/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
25/14 (20130101); H02G 3/00 (20130101); H01R
25/142 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
25/14 (20060101); H02G 3/00 (20060101); H01R
25/00 (20060101); H01R 025/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/110-122,215,189,218 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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581032 |
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Aug 1959 |
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CA |
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615388 |
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Feb 1961 |
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CA |
|
627996 |
|
Sep 1961 |
|
CA |
|
633643 |
|
Dec 1961 |
|
CA |
|
635022 |
|
Jan 1962 |
|
CA |
|
644404 |
|
Jul 1962 |
|
CA |
|
649959 |
|
Oct 1962 |
|
CA |
|
655058 |
|
Jan 1963 |
|
CA |
|
668901 |
|
Aug 1963 |
|
CA |
|
676526 |
|
Dec 1963 |
|
CA |
|
WO 87/101524 |
|
Mar 1987 |
|
EP |
|
0 343 384 A2 |
|
Nov 1989 |
|
EP |
|
0 428 055 A2 |
|
May 1991 |
|
EP |
|
WO 93/05551 |
|
Mar 1993 |
|
EP |
|
839347 |
|
Jan 1957 |
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GB |
|
2 149 230 |
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Jun 1985 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Paumen; Gary F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An electrical distribution system comprising one or more
electrical tracks, each track being formed of a substantially flat
elongated rectangular strip of electrical insulating material, each
strip having two current-carrying conductors retained in undercut
channels formed in side ribs extending end to end along opposed
side edges of said strip with said channels facing one another
inwardly of a top face of said strip, a ground conductor retained
in said top face intermediate and parallel to said conductors,
guide means spaced closer to one of said side ribs to permit proper
polarity connection to said current-carrying conductors, and an
electrical connector housing slidingly receiving an end portion of
said track in a connecting slot in an end wall thereof in polarity
alignment with a pair of electrical side contacts engaging with a
respective one of said current-carrying conductors through said
undercut channels and an intermediate electrical contact engaging
with said ground .[.conductors.]. .Iadd.conductor retained in said
top face .Iaddend..[.through said slot in said intermediate rib.].;
each side contact of said pair of electrical side contacts having a
flexible metal strip with an attaching portion held securely in
said connector housing, a flexible arm portion and a contact blade
portion, said flexible arm portions of said side contacts biasing
said side contact blade portions outwardly from one another in
.[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.plane of said connecting slot and
towards opposed end edges of said connecting slot, said side
contact blade portions being positioned in a plane aligned with
said undercut channels when said end portion of said track is slid
into said connecting slot so that said contact .[.blades.].
.Iadd.blade portions .Iaddend.will protrude in a respective one of
said undercut channels to electrically engage a respective one of
said current-carrying conductors while maintaining contact
pressure.
2. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said guide means is an intermediate rib, said ground conductor
being embedded in said rib, and a slot formed in said rib for
access to said ground conductor.
3. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
each said side contact blade portion is a flat flange contact
formed in a forward edge of said flexible arm portion, said side
contact blade portion having an angled leading contact edge to
slidingly engage with a respective one of said current-carrying
conductors when said end portion of said track is introduced in
said connecting slot.
4. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim .[.1.].
.Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein said intermediate electrical contact
engaging with said ground conductor comprises a flexible metal
ground strip having an attaching portion held securely in said
connector housing, a flexible arm portion and a ground contact
blade portion extending transversely of said connecting slot, said
ground contact blade portion being biased downwardly when said
ground contact blade protrude in said slot of said intermediate rib
to electrically engage said ground conductor and maintain contact
pressure.
5. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim .[.4.].
.Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said side contacts and said intermediate
electrical contact are constructed from copper alloy material.
6. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said electrical tracks are straight flat tracks securable at
opposed ends between a pair of connector housings or at least one
of said connector housings and a termination cover.
7. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said electrical tracks are straight flat tracks securable over a
wall surface by fasteners disposed through said tracks from said
top face of said strip.
8. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
opposed ends of said tracks have straight transverse ends with said
current-carrying conductors concealed by said side ribs.
9. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
one or more electrical receptacles are adapted to be detachably
secured to each of said one or more electrical tracks, each
electrical receptacle having a socket defined by blade receiving
slots and a ground slot for connecting one or more electrical plugs
thereto, means establishing electrical contact with said
current-carrying conductors, and locking means to arrest said
receptacles at a desired location along said track.
10. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said electrical connector housing is a union housing having two or
more of said connecting slots, one in a respective end wall
thereof; said connector housing interconnecting two or more of said
electrical tracks end to end.
11. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10
wherein said union housing is an L-shaped housing having two of
said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided
in a respective end wall thereof disposed at right angle to one
another.
12. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10
wherein said union housing is a T-shaped housing having three of
said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided
in a respective one of three end walls thereof with two of said end
walls in alignment and the other disposed at right angle.
13. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10
wherein said union housing is a right angled housing having two of
said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided
in a respective aligned end wall thereof, said right angled housing
having two sections disposed at right angles to one another and
having its current-carrying conductors and ground conductor
extending parallel.
14. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10
wherein said union housing is a feed housing, said feed housing
having a connecting wire secured to each of said two
current-carrying conductors and said ground connector, said wires
extending through a back plate of said union housing, said union
housing having means to secure same over a wall electrical
outlet.
15. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10
wherein said union housing is provided with one or more through
bores to receive one or more fasteners to secure same to a flat
wall.
16. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein
said electrical receptacle is provided with a pair of foot plates
extending from a bottom wall thereof, said foot plates each having
a toe extension which engage in a respective one of said undercut
channels, said receptacle being slid in engagement with said track
from a free end of said track and retained captive in said channels
and in sliding engagement therewith.
17. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein
said means establishing electrical contact with said
current-carrying conductors is provided by spring contact members
having displaceable arms which are actuated by projecting
formations formed in a rear face of a hinged top cover of said
receptacle so that when said cover is closed over an open top end
of a housing of said receptacle, the displaceable arms are urged
toward a respective one of said two current-carrying conductors to
make contact therewith, said spring contact members being in
contact with selected ones of contact members being in contact with
selected ones of contact elements disposed in said blade receiving
slots of said socket, and a ground contact element for engaging
said ground conductor in said track to connect same to said ground
slot of said receptacle.
18. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 17
wherein said receptacle is provided with a socket in a top face of
said hinged cover and in an end wall of said receptacle
housing.
19. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 17
wherein said hinged cover is positively retained in a closed
position over said open top end of said housing by a retention
catch to prevent said hinged cover from being opened.
20. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein
a surge protection device is removably secured to said electrical
receptacles to protect an electrical device connected to said
electrical receptacles from voltage surges present on said
current-carrying conductors.
21. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 20,
wherein said surge protection device is removably connected to a
socket in an end wall of one of said receptacles said surge
protection device having visual indicating means to indicate its
condition.
22. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim .[.21.].
.Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said electrical connector housing is a
feeder housing for connection to a socket of a wall electrical
outlet receptacle, said feeder housing having a flat rear wall
section with a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong
protruding therefrom to connect to said electrical socket of said
electrical outlet receptacle, a predetermined one of said contact
blades connecting to a hot slot of said electrical socket and the
other blade connecting to a neutral slot of said electrical socket
while said grounding prong is received in a ground slot of said
electrical socket, said feeder housing having said connecting slot
at at least one free end thereof for positioning adjacent an edge
of said electrical outlet receptacle.
23. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 22
wherein said flat rear wall section of said feeder housing has a
recessed section to receive a portion of a face plate of said
electrical outlet receptacle in close mating contact therewith,
said feeder housing having a thicket connecting section adjacent an
end section thereof, said connecting slot being formed in an end
wall of said thicker connecting section.
24. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 22
wherein said pair of contact blades and grounding prong protruding
from a rear wall of said feeder housing are connected to a
connector block which is removably secured over a front face of
said feeder housing, said connector block maintaining the proper
polarity of current fed to said two current-carrying
conductors.
25. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 24
wherein said feeder housing is provided in said front face with a
pair of spaced apart contact blade receiving apertures disposed in
side-by-side alignment, and a grounding prong receiving aperture
disposed between said contact blade receiving apertures and spaced
therefrom on a respective one of opposed sides thereof.
26. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 25
wherein said pair of electrical side contacts each have a pair of
blade contact terminals positioned in said housing at predetermined
locations relative to said contact blade receiving apertures so
that one of said terminals is in contact with a respective one of
an inner terminal end of said pair of contact blades when said
grounding prong of said connector block is disposed in either of
said grounding prong receiving apertures in said feeder
housing.
27. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 26
wherein said contact blades each have a U-shape connecting end held
securely in said connector block with said contact blades extending
out of an inner face of said block, said U-shape connecting end
having a short inner blade end portion extending parallel and
spaced from said contact blade by an intermediate transverse blade
section, said short inner blade end portion also extending out of
said inner face of said block and constituting said inner terminal
ends, one of said intermediate transverse blade sections of said
pair of contact blades being of a different length.
28. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 27
wherein said contacting portions of said pair of blades are
disposed in straight alignment with said blade receiving apertures
with two contacting portions on each opposed side of said blade
receiving apertures.
29. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 23
wherein said feeder housing is a vertical feeder housing for
connection to a lower or upper socket of a double-socket electrical
wall outlet receptacle and extending vertically over a top or
bottom edge of a receptacle face plate.
30. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 23
wherein said feeder housing is a horizontal feeder housing for
connection to a lower or upper socket of a double-socket electrical
wall outlet receptacle and extending horizontally across vertical
side edges of a receptacle face plate.
31. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim .[.30.].
.Iadd.22 .Iaddend.wherein said feeder housing is of rectangular
shape and provided with a connecting slot in opposed end walls of
said housing.
32. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 31
wherein said flat rear wall section is a recessed section receiving
said face plate therein whereby said connecting slots are disposed
in alignment with tracks secured to adjacent wall portions.
33. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said strip is an extruded strip with said two current-carrying
conductors and said ground conductor being bare conductive wires
embedded therein.
34. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein
there is further provided a power feed receptacle detachably
securable to any one of said one or more electrical tracks, said
power feed receptacle having a pair of contact blades and a ground
prong extending from an accessible face thereof for connection to a
female connector of an electrical extension cord, means
establishing electrical contact with said current-carrying
conductors, and locking means to arrest said power feed receptacle
at a desired location along said one of said tracks.
35. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 34
wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong extend from a
top face of a hinged cover of a housing of said power feed
receptacle.
36. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 35
wherein said means establishing electrical contact is provided by a
pair of spring contact members each having a displaceable arm which
has a side contact engaging finger which is urged to contact a
respective one of said current-carrying conductors in said undercut
channels, said cover having a displacement post extending from a
rear face thereof and slidingly engaging said spring contact
members to effectuate said displacement when said cover is hingedly
closed over an open top end of said housing.
37. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 36
wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong have inner
extension portions protruding inwardly from said cover rear face,
said inner extension portions engaging a respective one of said
spring contact members and said inner extension of said grounding
prong engaging a ground engaging contact in said housing when said
cover is closed.
38. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 35
wherein a spring-loaded catch is secured to said housing and
positively engages said cover when closed over an open top end of
said housing.
39. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim .[.38.].
.Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said housing is provided with foot
extensions protruding from a base of said housing to maintain said
base spaced a predetermined distance above said top face of said
strip.
40. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 39
wherein said foot extensions are positioned in said channels, at
least two opposed ones of said foot extensions have toe extensions
slidingly received in a respective one of said undercut
channels.
41. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track, said track having two-current-carrying conductors
each retained in an undercut channel and a ground conductor
retained in a top face of said track intermediate and parallel to
said current-carrying conductors, said receptacle having a pair of
contact blades and a grounding prong extending from an accessible
face thereof for connection to a female connector of an electrical
extension cord, means establishing electrical contact with said
current-carrying conductors, and locking means to arrest said power
feed receptacle at a desired location along said track.
42. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim 41 wherein said contact blades
and said grounding prong extend from a top face of a hinged cover
of a housing of said power feed receptacle.
43. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim 42 wherein said means
establishing electrical contact is provided by a pair of spring
contact members each having a displaceable arm which has a side
contact engaging finger which is urged to contact a respective one
of said current-carrying conductors in said undercut channels, said
cover having a displacement post formed and extending from a rear
face thereof and slidingly engaging said spring contact members to
effectuate said displacement when said cover is hingedly closed
over an open top end of said housing.
44. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim 43 wherein said contact blades
and said grounding prong have inner extension portions protruding
inwardly from said cover rear face, said inner extension portions
engaging a respective one of said spring contact members and said
inner extension of said grounding prong engaging a ground engaging
contact in said housing when said cover is closed.
45. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim 42 a spring-loaded catch is
secured to said housing and positively engages said cover when
closed over an open top end of said housing.
46. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim .[.45.]. .Iadd.41
.Iaddend.wherein said housing is provided with foot extensions
protruding from a base of said housing to maintain said base spaced
a predetermined distance above said top face of said strip.
47. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an
electrical track as claimed in claim 46 wherein said foot
extensions are positioned in said channels, at least two opposed
ones of said foot extensions have toe extensions slidingly received
in a respective one of said undercut channels.
48. An electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical
socket of an electrical receptacle and capable of maintaining the
phase of the current in a pair of conductors secured to said feed
housing regardless if said socket is inverted, said feed housing
having a pair of blade receiving through slots and a ground prong
receiving through slot intermediate said blade receiving through
slots and disposed on a respective side thereof, said feed housing
further having a connector block, said connector block having a
pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable
connection to said socket of said feed housing, said contact blades
and grounding prong of said connector block extending through said
feed housing and projecting from a rear wall of said housing to
engage within the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle,
said connector block having contact terminal means to engage with
two conductor means in said feed housing to connect a hot slot of
said electrical socket to one of said two conductor means and the
neutral slot of said electrical socket to the other of said two
conductor means, regardless if said socket of said electrical
receptacle is inverted.
49. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 48 wherein said
pair of conductors are secured in an electrical track which also
comprises a ground conductor, said track having an end portion
secured in a connecting slot of said housing, said two conductor
means having a contact element extending in said slot and
contacting a respective conductor in said pair of conductors.
50. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 49 wherein said
feeder housing has a flat recessed rear wall section to receive a
portion of a face plate of an electrical outlet receptacle in close
mating contact and flush therewith, said feeder housing having a
thicker connecting section adjacent an end section thereof, said
connecting slot being formed in an end wall of said thicker
connecting section.
51. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 48 wherein said
contact blades each have a U-shape connecting end held securely in
said connector block with said contact blades extending out of an
inner face of said block, said U-shape connecting end having a
short inner blade end portion extending parallel and spaced from
said contact blade by an intermediate transverse blade section,
said short inner blade end portion constituting said contact
terminal means and extending out of said inner face of said block,
one of said intermediate transverse blade sections of said pair of
contact blades being of a different length.
52. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 51 wherein said
contacting portions of said pair of blades are disposed in straight
alignment with said blade receiving apertures with two contacting
portions on each opposed side of said blade receiving apertures.
.Iadd.
53. In combination:
an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket
of an electrical receptacle, the electrical socket having a hot
slot and a neutral slot;
a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and
a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable
connection to the electrical socket of the electrical
receptacle,
said contact blades and grounding prong projecting from a rear wall
of said housing to engage within the electrical socket of the
electrical receptacle, and
said pair of contact blades and grounding prong being invertible
relative to said electrical feed housing to connect the hot slot of
the electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors and the
neutral slot of the electrical socket to the other of said pair of
conductors, even if the socket of the electrical receptacle is
inverted. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. In combination:
an electrical feed housing capable of installation in alternative
orientations to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle,
the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral slot;
a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and
a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong proiecting from a
rear wall of said housing to removably engage within the electrical
socket wherein said pair of contact blades and said grounding prong
are coupled to said housing in a manner providing for alternative
orientations of said contact blades and grounding prong relative to
said electrical feed housing to connect the hot slot of the
electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors and the neutral
slot of the electrical socket to the other of said pair of
conductors, regardless of orientation of the socket of the
electrical receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd.55. In combination:
an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket
of an electrical receptacle, the electrical socket having a hot
slot and a neutral slot;
a pair of contact blades including a first contact blade and a
second contact blade and a grounding prong for removable connection
to the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle;
wherein said contact blades and grounding prong project from a rear
wall of said housing to engage within the electrical socket of the
electrical receptacle;
a first contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed
housing and connecting to the first contact blade and a second
contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and
connecting to the second contact blade when said contact blades and
grounding prong project from the rear wall of said housing in a
first orientation; and
a third contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed
housing and connecting to the first contact blade and a fourth
contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and
connecting to the second contact blade when said contact blades and
grounding prong project from the rear wall of said housing in a
second orientation different from said
first orientation. .Iaddend..Iadd.56. In combination:
an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket
of an electrical receptacle capable of installation in one of two
orientations, the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral
slot;
a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and
a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable
connection to the electrical socket of the electrical
receptacle,
said contact blades and grounding prong projecting from a rear wall
of said housing to engage within the electrical socket, and
said pair of contact blades and grounding prong coupled to said
electrical feed housing in one of two orientations to connect the
hot slot of the electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors
and the neutral slot of the electrical socket to the other of said
pair of conductors, regardless if the socket of the electrical
receptacle is inverted.
.Iaddend..Iadd.57. The invention of claims 53, 54, 55, or 56
further comprising:
a surface-mount electrical track coupled to said electrical feed
housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.58. The invention of 57 wherein said
surface mount-electrical track is received in a slot in an end of
said electrical feed housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.59. The invention of
claim 57 wherein said surface-mount electrical track is composed of
a trimmable material. .Iaddend..Iadd.60. The invention of claim 57
wherein said surface-mount electrical track comprises a first
channel, a second channel, and a third channel, and wherein each of
said channels includes a conductor. .Iaddend..Iadd.61. The
invention of claim 57 further comprising a pair of electrical side
contracts coupled to said electrical feed housing and aligned
relative to said surface-mount electrical track to protrude into
said electrical track to engage electrical conductors retained
therein when said surface-mount electrical track is coupled to said
electrical feed housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.62. An electrical
distribution system comprising
one or more electrical tracks, each track being formed of a
substantially flat elongated rectangular strip of electrical
insulating material, each strip having two current-carrying
conductors retained in channels extending along said strip, a
ground conductor retained in another channel parallel to said two
current-carrying conductors, and a guide spaced relative to said
conductors to provide for proper polarity connection to said
current-carrying conductors, and
an electrical connector housing slidingly receiving an end portion
of said track in a connecting slot in an end wall thereof in
polarity alignment with a pair of electrical side contacts engaging
with a respective one of said current-carrying conductors through
said channels and an intermediate electrical contact engaging with
said ground conductor each side contact of said pair of electrical
side contacts having a flexible metal strip with an attaching
portion held securely in said connector housing, a flexible arm
portion and a contact blade portion, said flexible arm portions of
said side contacts biasing said side contact blade portions
outwardly from one another in a plane of said connecting slot and
towards opposed end edges of said connecting slot, said side
contact blade portions being positioned in a plane aligned with
said channels when said end portion of said track is slid into said
connecting slot so that said contact blade portions will protrude
in a respective one of said channels to electrically engage a
respective one of said current-carrying conductors while
maintaining contact pressure. .Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical distribution system
comprised of distribution tracks having current-carrying conductors
and a ground conductor, and connector housings which slidingly
receive end portions of the tracks to provide electrical connection
thereto for supplying electrical power to the track or to
interconnect track sections together.
BACKGROUND ART
Electrical distribution systems utilizing tracks and connectors are
known, and an example of such a system is disclosed by the
following Canadian patents: 581032; 615388; 633643; 635022; 644404;
649959; 655058; 668901; and 676526. Some of the problems
encountered with known electrical distribution systems, such as
that exemplified by the above referenced Canadian patents, are that
it is difficult to connect the tracks to the connector elements as
it is usually necessary to strip the heavy plastic insulation from
an end portion of the tracks. This exposes the conductors and the
ground wire, and due to their ease of deformation, it then becomes
difficult to align all three of them into electrical connecting
receptacles contained in an end wall of the connectors. It requires
a certain skill to perform the stripping and interconnection, and
therefore such systems have not been accepted and particularly are
not suitable for use by the do-it-yourself person.
Another disadvantage of known prior art electrical distribution
systems is that often the tracks are made of flexible material
whereby the tracks can be bent for installation on walls which are
at angles to one another. However, by bending the track one can
never get a perfect angle joint, and this is not desirable.
Furthermore, bending the track can also result in the breaking of
the current-carrying conductors or the ground conductor embedded in
the track, and such may not be readily visible requiring the system
to be tested to find the fault. Still further, with some systems of
the prior art, it is necessary to provide a plurality of
accessories to connect to wall outlet receptacles depending if the
track is to extend to the right or left of the receptacle, or
upwardly or downwardly from the receptacle. If the socket of the
outlet receptacles are inverted, then different connectors must be
used to maintain the proper polarity on the track. This makes the
system costly and more difficult to install.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide an
improved electrical distribution system and which substantially
overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.
According to another feature of the present invention there is
provided an electrical distribution system wherein the tracks
slidingly connect into connector housings without having to strip
the ends of the tracks to expose the current-carrying conductors
and the ground connector, and wherein electrical contact is made
with the connector housing automatically by simply sliding an end
of the track into a connecting slot in an end wall of a
connector.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system wherein the connector housing is a
feeder housing for connection to a socket of a wall electrical
outlet receptacle and wherein the housing has a removable connector
block which maintains a constant polarity on the two
current-carrying conductors in the track, regardless if the socket
of the wall receptacle is inverted.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system wherein the connector housing is a
union housing to interconnect track sections together, and wherein
the union housing can be a straight housing, a right-angle housing
or have an L- or T-shape, or be angled to go around inner or outer
corners of walls.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system wherein one or more electrical
receptacles are removably connected to the track, and wherein the
receptacles are provided with two or more electrical sockets, one
in the front wall and the other in the side wall, and wherein the
receptacle is secured to the track by the closing action of a hinge
cover which, when closed, cannot be opened by pulling an electrical
plug out of the socket provided in the cover.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system wherein one or more electrical
receptacles are slidingly connected to the tracks and cannot be
removed therefrom unless they are slid out from an end of the track
but are displaceable therealong and immovably secured at any
desired location.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system wherein surge protection devices can
be connected to one of the sockets of the electrical receptacle
connected to the track to protect the entire track and equipment
connected to the receptacle against undesirable surges in
power.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a electrical
distribution system wherein the connector housing is a wall feeder
housing connected directly to the electrical cables in an outlet
box.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket of
an electrical receptacle and which is capable of maintaining the
phase of the current in a pair of conductors secured to the feed
housing regardless if the socket is inverted.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system which can be incorporated into a
baseboard together with a telephone distribution track for the
connection of various devices thereto, such as fire alarms,
intrusion alarms, surge protecting devices, timers, etc.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
electrical distribution system in combination with a telephone
distribution system incorporated in a baseboard formed of
insulating material and which is extruded together with
current-carrying conductors, ground conductors and telephone
wires.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present
invention provides an electrical distribution system comprising one
or more electrical tracks with each track being formed of a
substantially flat elongated rectangular strip of electrical
insulating material. Each strip has two current-carrying conductors
retained in an undercut channel formed in side ribs extending end
to end along opposed side edges of the strip with the channels
facing one another inwardly of the top face of the strip. A ground
conductor is embedded in the top face intermediate the conductors
and extends longitudinally of the strip and parallel to the
conductors. Guide means is formed in the top face of the strip and
is spaced closer to one of the side ribs to permit proper polarity
connection to the current-carrying conductors. An electrical
connector housing slidingly receives an end portion of a track in a
connecting slot in an end wall thereof and in polarity alignment
with a pair of electrical side contacts engaging with a respective
one of the current-carrying conductors through the undercut
channels. An intermediate electrical contact engages with the
ground conductor.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided a distribution track having an electrical
distribution channel and a telephone line distribution channel
disposed parallel thereto. The track is constructed of electrical
insulating material. The electrical distribution channel has two
current-carrying conductors retained in a respective undercut
channel disposed along opposed side edges of the electrical
distribution channel and extending end to end thereof. The undercut
channels face one another inwardly of a top face of the electrical
distribution channel. A ground conductor is embedded in an
intermediate region in the electrical distribution channel and
extends between and parallel to the conductors. A slot leads to the
ground conductor. The telephone line distribution channel has
spaced apart telephone wires extending in a flat bottom wall
thereof. Means is provided to secure a telephone line tapping
element to the telephone line distribution channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the electrical distribution
system of the present invention connected to walls and fed by
conventional electrical wall outlet receptacles;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vertical feeder housing
connected to a socket of a wall electrical outlet receptacle;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a horizontal feeder housing
for connection to a socket of a wall electrical outlet
receptacle;
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-section view through the electrical
distribution track of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmented rear view showing the construction of a
union type feeder housing;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the housing of FIG. 5 showing the
construction of the connecting slot and the position of the track
and one of its side and ground contacts when engaged in a
housing;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but wherein the feeder housing
is a wall feeder housing connected directly to wall outlet cables
in a wall outlet box;
FIG. 8 is a rear view, partly fragmented, of a T-shaped feeder
housing showing the shape of the side connectors and their
interconnections and with a few tracks connected thereto;
FIG. 9A is a plan view of a ground contact used in the T-shaped
housing of FIG. 8;
FIG. 9B is an end view of FIG. 9A;
FIGS. 9C and 9D are side and top views respectively of a side
contact used in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10A is a rear view of the back plate of a vertical feeder
housing;,
FIG. 10B is a side view of FIG. 10A;
FIG. 10C is a sectional end view of the back plate as shown in FIG.
10A showing the strip formations;
FIG. 10D is a rear view of the back plate of FIG. 10A showing the
block formations;
FIG. 10E is a rear view of the cover plate showing the strip
formations;
FIG. 10F is a section view through section lines 1--1 of FIG.
10E;
FIG. 10G is a front view of the cover plate;
FIG. 10H is a side view showing the vertical feeder housing
assembled;
FIG. 10I is a plan view of the configuration of one of the side
contacts which held between the cover plate and back plate of the
vertical feeder housing;
FIG. 10J is a plan view of the other side contact;
FIG. 10K is a plan view of the ground contact;
FIG. 10L is a side view of FIG. 10K;
FIG. 11A is a front view of the cover of a horizontal feeder
housing;
FIG. 11B is a rear view of FIG. 11A;
FIG. 11C is an inside view of the back plate of the horizontal
feeder housing;
FIG. 11D is a plan view showing the position of the assembled
position of two side contacts utilized in the horizontal feeder
housing or a union housing;
FIG. 11E is a side view of one of the side contacts shown in FIG.
11D;
FIG. 11F is a plan view of the ground contact utilized in a
horizontal feeder housing or union housing;
FIG. 11G is a side view of FIG. 11F;
FIG. 12A is a plan view of the connector block associated with the
vertical and horizontal feeder housing;
FIG. 12B is a rear view of FIG. 12A;
FIG. 12C is a section view through the connector block showing the
position of the contact blades relative to the contact terminals of
the side contacts;
FIG. 12D is a side view of FIG. 12A;
FIG. 12E is a fragmented view of the handle secured to the
connector block;
FIGS. 13A and 13B are side and end views respectively of one of the
contact blades secured to the connector block;
FIGS. 13C and 13D are side and top views respectively of the ground
contact blade connected to the connector block;
FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the electrical receptacle of the
present invention for connection to the track;
FIG. 14B is a side view of the receptacle housing showing the cover
in its partly open position;
FIG. 14C is a top view of the receptacle housing of FIG. 14B;
FIG. 14D is an end view of the receptacle housing;
FIG. 14E is a top view of the hinge cover of the electrical
receptacle;
FIG. 14F is a section view through the cover shown in FIG. 14E
along section line A--A;
FIG. 14G is a section view along section line B--B of FIG. 14E;
FIG. 14H is a simplified bottom view of the connector housing;
FIG. 14I is a side view of the current-carrying conductor
contacts;
FIG. 14J is a section view along section lines 2--2 of FIG.
14I;
FIG. 15A is a front view of a power feed receptacle connectable to
the female connector of an electrical extension cord;
FIG. 15B is a section view through section lines 3--3 of the power
feed receptacle showing the hingeable cover in phantom lines;
FIG. 15C is a cross-section view along cross-section lines A--A of
FIG. 15A; and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a distribution track which
may be used as a baseboard and having incorporated therein an
electrical distribution channel constructed in accordance with the
characteristics of the track of the distribution system shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4, and also incorporating therein a telephone line
distribution channel, and wherein a plurality of connecting devices
are secured to both the electrical distribution channel and
telephone line distribution channel.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to
4, there is shown generally at 10 the electrical distribution
system of the present invention. It is comprised essentially of one
or more electrical tracks 11 interconnected by connector housings
12 for interconnecting the tracks together, or interconnecting the
tracks to wall electrical outlet receptacles 13. Electrical
receptacles 14 are also removably connected to the tracks. The
receptacles are also provided with electrical sockets 15 so that
various electrical apparatus or devices can be connected to the
electrical distribution system.
Referring more specifically to FIG. 4, each of the tracks 11 are
formed of extruded plastics material which has good electrical
insulating or di-electric properties and are shaped as elongated,
substantially flat, straight, rigid, rectangular strips 16. Each
strip or track of insulated material has two current-carrying
conductors 17 and 18 embedded in an undercut channel 19 formed in
side formations or ribs 20 and extend end to end along opposed side
edges of the strip 16. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the channels 19
face one another inwardly and are tapered to shield the
current-carrying conductors 17 and 18, but providing limited access
thereto through the narrowing undercut channel. Each of the
undercut channels 19 leads to an open channel 21 and 21'. As can be
seen, channel 21 is narrower than channel 21'. The current-carrying
conductor 17 for this design is the hot conductor, whereas
conductor 18 is the neutral conductor in the electrical
distribution system. The rib 25 and the different width channels 21
permit only devices, such as the receptacle 14, provided with
specific attachments to be secured to the track.
The rib 22 is molded integrally with the elongated strip 16 and
separates the open channels 21 and 21'. A ground conductive strip
23 is embedded within the rib 22 and access to the ground
conductive strip 23 is provided through a slot 24 formed from the
top face 25 of the rib and extending to the conductive strip 23.
The purpose of the rib 22 is, of course, to delineate the open
channels 21 and 21' and also to conceal the ground conductive strip
23 as much as possible, although there is no danger in contacting
the ground conductive strip. Similarly, the undercut channels 19
protect the current-carrying conductors 17 and 18 and conceals
them. In fact, the track provides better protection to the live
conductor than does the slots that we find in the electrical
sockets of conventional outlet receptacles, such as receptacle 13
as shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, there are various types of connector
housings 12. Some of the housings, such as housing 26, constitute a
union housing for joining two tracks, namely tracks 11' and 11"
together along a straight line. Connector housings 27 and 27' and
T-shaped and L-shaped union housings to interconnect tracks
transverse to one another. The connector housings 28 and 28' are
angled connectors made of two connecting sections disposed at an
angle to one another, herein at right angles, so as to interconnect
tracks along walls extending at right angles to one another.
Connector housing 29 constitutes a vertical feeder housing to
connect to an electrical socket 13' of an electrical outlet
receptacle 13, but for disposing a track vertically with respect to
the outlet, either in the upward or downward direction from the
outlet. The connecting housing 30 constitutes a horizontal feeder
housing, and it extends horizontally across the electrical socket
13' of the electrical outlet 13, and connects a track to one side
or both sides of the electrical outlet receptacle 13. End caps 9
are connected at the free ends of the tracks to shield the end of
the current-carrying conductor 17 and the ground conductive strip
23.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 6, there is shown the construction of
the union connecting housing 26. As herein shown, this housing is
comprised of a back plate 35 of electrically non-conductive
material, and a cover 36 also molded from electrically insulating
material with both the cover and back plate being connected
together by fasteners or snap-fit connections. The back plate 35
has holes 37 for the passage of wires therethrough for connection
to the side contacts 38 and ground contact 39 of the housing, as
will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.
The union connecting housing 26 is provided with track connecting
slots 40 at opposed ends thereof. These slots are configured to
receive an end section of a track 11 therein. As can be seen from
FIG. 6, the connecting slot has two depending ribs 41 and 42 with
the rib 41 being wider than the rib 42, whereby the track can only
be fitted in the connecting slot 40 a certain way so that the hot
current-carrying conductor engages the contact 38 and the neutral
conductor engages contact 38', and the polarity between the track
and the housing is always maintained.
The side contacts 38 and 38' are formed from a flexible metal strip
capable of flexing and retaining its original shape. The side
contacts have an attaching portion 43 and a contact blade portion
44. The end portion 45 is angled so as to bias the contact blade
portion towards the inner side wall 45 of the connecting slot 40.
The contact blade portions 44 are flat flanges formed in a forward
end of the end portion 45 with the flange having an angled leading
contact edge 46 to smoothly slidingly engage with a respective one
of the current-carrying conductors 17 and 18 when the end portion
of a track 11 is introduced in the connecting slot 40. The blade
portions 44 are also positioned in a plane which is aligned with
the undercut channels so that the contact blades will protrude in a
respective one of the undercut channels 19 to electrically engage a
respective one of the current-carrying conductors when the track is
inserted in the slot 40. The side contacts 38 and 38' will maintain
contact pressure with the conductors due to the spring action in
the end portion 45 of the flexible metal strip. In the union
housing 26, these contact blade portions are provided at opposed
ends of the attaching portion 43, as shown in FIG. 11D.
As can also be seen from FIG. 5, the attaching portion of the side
contacts 38 are held captive within the cover 36 by guide and
retention formations 47, and this is well known in the art. The
intermediate ground contact 39 also has a contact blade 48 which is
disposed transverse to the connecting slot 40, as shown in FIG. 6,
and is aligned with the slot 24 in the rib 22. The ground contact
39 is also made of spring metal material and has a central hub
formation 49 which is secured about a post of the securement screw
50 extending through the central securing hole 51 to mount the
union connecting housing 26 against a wall surface. A cap covers
the top of the hole 51. The contact blade 48 is biased downwardly
and the connecting wall 52 of the ground connector will flex
upwardly when the end of the track is pushed into the connecting
slot 40 to provide a contact force between the blade 48 and the
ground conducting strip 23, as shown in FIG. 6. The side contacts
38 and the ground contact 39 are both formed from copper alloy
material.
Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a union housing, such as
housing 26 of FIG. 5, but modified to constitute a feed housing 53,
and wherein wires 54 are connected to the side contacts 38 and 38'
and out through the holes 37 in the back plate to connect directly
into a wall electrical outlet box (not shown). A ground wire 55
connects to the ground contact 52 and also connects to a grounding
lug (not shown) in the outlet box. From this feed housing, straight
sections of tracks 11 are connected and branch out to the various
other branching housings, such as housings 27, 27', 28 and 26, to
provide a rectilinear track distribution system. One of these
branching connecting housings, namely the T-housing 27, will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A to 9D.
As herein shown, the T-shaped housing 27 has three connecting slots
40, one in a respective one of three end walls 56 of the housing.
Two of these end walls 56' are disposed in alignment while the
other end wall is disposed at right angles thereto. The side
contacts 57 are constructed as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, and are
also stamped and shaped from a copper alloy sheet having been heat
treated to provide spring action. The contacts are formed from a
strip of this copper and shaped in two right-angled sections with
common connecting arms 58, and contact blades 59 at opposed ends
thereof for engaging a common one of the current-carrying
conductors in adjacent track ends positioned within the connecting
slots 56 and 56'. The end portion 60 of these contacts are bent
inwardly, as herein shown, to provide spring contact pressure.
These generally U-shaped contacts 57 are provided in the top end of
the housing 27 to interconnect the transverse track to both of the
horizontal tracks.
Insulated conductive wires 61 interconnect the contacts together
within the housing to maintain the proper polarity. The bottom
contacts 62 interconnect the neutral current-carrying conductor 18,
as illustrated in FIG. 8, and these contacts consist essentially of
a connecting arm 63 having a contact blade portion 64 at the free
end thereof. Both of the contacts 57, as well as the contacts 62,
are secured in the housing by guide and retention formations
65.
The construction of the ground contact is illustrated at 66 in FIG.
9A. It also is formed of copper alloy and, as herein shown,
comprises a hub 67 about which extends three connecting arms 68.
Transverse contact blades 69 are formed at the free ends of each of
the arms 68, with each of the contact blades extending into the
slot 24 in the free ends of each of the tracks 11 secured to the
connecting channels 56 and 56'. The hub 67 fits about a locating
post 70 central of the housing 27, and a through bore 71 extends
through the post to secure the T-housing 27 to a wall by means of a
fastener, such a fastener 72, shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIGS. 10A to 10L and 12A to 13D, there will be
described the construction of the vertical feeder housing 29. As
herein shown, the feeder housing is comprised of a back plate 75
which is of substantially rectangular shape and has a recessed end
section 76 to form the connector slot. The rear face 77 of the back
plate 75 is a flat face, and provided with a pair of apertures 78
to receive therein the blades and grounding prong of the connector
block 100, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D. These apertures 78 are
disposed in spaced apart side-by-side alignment. A grounding prong
receiving aperture 79 is also disposed between the contact blade
receiving apertures 78 and spaced therefrom on a respective one of
opposed sides of the apertures 78. A plurality of aligning
formations 80 are provided in the inner wall 81 of the back plate
75 to position and retain the side contacts 82 and 83, as shown in
FIGS. 10J and 10I, respectively, and the ground contact 84, as
shown in FIGS. 10K and 10L. Hooking prongs 85 are provided in the
opposed side walls 86 of the back plate to engage with prongs in
the cover plate 87, as shown in FIGS. 10D to 10H to secure the back
plate and cover in snap-fit engagement. The cover plate 87 is also
a rectangular plate of the same size as the back plate to mate
therewith, and is provided on the flat outer surface 88 thereof
with a pair of contact blade receiving apertures 89, also disposed
side by side and spaced apart to align with the apertures 78 in the
back plate 75. A grounding prong-receiving aperture 90 is also
provided intermediate the apertures 89 and on opposed sides
thereof, and also aligned with the grounding prong-receiving
apertures 79 in the back plate. An end portion of the cover plate
87 also has an extension 91 to connect with the recessed section 76
of the back plate so that when these plates are assembled together
a flat recessed portion 92, shown in FIG. 10H, is constituted to
receive an end portion of the face plate 93 of the electrical
outlet receptacle 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
Referring now to FIGS. 10I and 10J, there is shown the side
contacts 82 and 83 which are received within the guide channels 94
and 95 formed in the back surface 96 of the cover plate 87. The
ground contact 84 is retained in the central area 97 of the back
surface of the cover plate. When both cover plate and back plate
are assembled, the formations 80 which project from the inner wall
81 of the back plate abut over the flange walls 104, 106 and
surface 98 of contacts 82, 83 and 84 to retain them immovably in
position.
The side contacts 82 and 83 are also formed of copper alloy
material and define a contact blade portion 101 secured to an end
angulated portion 102. The attaching portion 43 is provided with a
pair of blade contacting portions 103 which form contact terminals
for engagement by the contact blades 110 and 110' of the connector
block 100, as shown in FIG. 12C. These blade contact portions are
also formed in a flange wall 104 respectively of spaced apart arms
105 extending parallel to one another. The flange wall 104 is
engaged by the formations to hold the contact securely within the
feeder housing. The other side contact 83 has a similar shape to
contact 82 with the exception that the side arms 106 thereof are
spaced further apart, whereby when both contacts are assembled
within the feeder housing, the blade contact portions 107 are
disposed outside the blade contact portions 103 and in alignment
thereof, and also in alignment with the blade-receiving aperture 78
and 89 formed in the back plate and cover plate respectively. The
location of these blade contact portions 103 and 107 relative to
the apertures 78 is illustrated in FIG. 10E.
Referring now more specifically to FIG. 12A to 13D, there will be
described the construction of the connector block 100. As herein
shown, the connector block 100 is of a substantially rectangular
configuration and connects over the front wall 99 of the cover
plate 87 in the top portion thereof over the apertures 89 and 90,
as shown in FIG. 10H. A pivoting handle member 110, as more clearly
shown in FIGS. 12D and 12E, is of U-shaped configuration. It is
provided with hinge projections 111 facing inwardly at opposed free
ends of the side arms 112 thereof and retained within a pair of
opposed hinge-receiving cavities 113 formed in the side walls 116
of the connector block. Molded within the connector block are a
pair of contact blades 110 and 110' and a grounding prong 114. The
contact blades, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, are blades formed
with a U-shaped connecting end to define a contact blade portion
110' and a short inner blade end portion 117' extending parallel
thereto. The intermediate section 115 is formed as an attaching
flange when molded within the connector block. The other blade 110
is similarly shaped, except that the intermediate attaching flange
115 is of shorter length whereby the blade portion 110 and the
blade end portion 117 are more closely spaced. These short blade
end portions 117 and 117' constitute inner terminal ends of the
contact blades 110 and 110' for a purpose as will now be described.
The end portions 117 and 117' may be considered as contact
terminals. The ground contact 114, as shown in FIGS. 13C and 13D,
has a flange end 114' for retention in the connector block 100 when
injection molded.
The purpose of the connector block is to maintain the proper
polarity of the current connected to the current-carrying conductor
17 and 16 of the tracks 11 from the sockets of the wall outlet
receptacles 13. However, it sometimes arises that the sockets 13'
of the electrical outlet receptacles 13, shown in FIG. 1, are
installed upside down. That is to say, the ground slot 13" of the
socket is disposed above the hot and neutral slots of the socket
rather than below. The connector block was conceived to invert the
polarity connection between the socket and the track when mounted
upside down to always maintain a constant polarity in the wires of
the distribution tracks.
The connector block 100 works in combination with the side contacts
in the feeder housing. The shape of the contact blades 110 in the
connector block has inner contact terminals constituted by their
blade end portions 117 and 117'. As shown in FIG. 12C, the blade
contact portions 103 and 107 are so disposed that when the
connector block is fitted through the feeder housing with the
ground contact disposed above or below the socket slots, one of the
blade end portions, herein 117, will contact one of the blade
contact portions, herein 103', and the other blade end portion 117'
will contact the terminal or blade contact portion 107'. If the
electrical socket was reversed, then the connector block would also
be reversed, and the blade end portion 117' would contact the other
contact 107 and the blade end portion 117 would contact the other
contact terminal or blade contact portion 103. Therefore, the side
blade contacts 101 and 101' of both side contacts 82 and 83 are
always connected to a common one of the hot side or neutral side of
the socket, regardless if the socket is installed right side up or
upside down.
The center contact 84 consists of a straight flat blade 98 with
indentations and which is engaged by the formations in the back
plate 75. The contact 84 has a contact blade 84' at a free end
thereof and provided with a pair of vertically spaced contact
terminal s 98' which align with a respective one of the grounding
prong-receiving slots 79 and 90 formed in the back plate and cover
plate, respectively, for engaging with the ground prong 114 of the
connector block when positioned in the grounding apertures.
Referring now to FIGS. 11A to 11G, there will briefly be described
the construction of the horizontal feeder housing 30, as shown in
FIG. 1. The horizontal feeder housing 30 is constructed in a
similar fashion as the vertical housing feeder housing just
described. The housing 30 is formed of a cover plate 120 and a back
plate 121. Both the cover plate and back plate are also provided
with blade-receiving apertures 122 disposed in similar alignment as
previously described. A ground prong-receiving aperture 123 is also
disposed on opposed sides of the apertures 122 for receiving the
ground prong of the connector block therein. Locating projections
124 are provided in the surface 125 of the back plate 121, and
further arresting projections 126 are provided in the rear face of
the cover plate 120 to retain within the locating channels 127 and
128, the side contacts 130 and ground contact 131, respectively,
and as is obvious to a person skilled in the art.
As shown in FIGS. 11D and 11E, the side contacts 130 are
substantially elongated shallow U-shaped contacts defining an
elongated connecting arm 132, short side arms 132', and an angled
end portion 133 having a contact blade end portion 134. A pair of
bridge arms 135 extends spaced apart and transversely to the
connecting portion 132 and has contact terminals 136 adjacent an
end thereof and positioned in alignment with one another. The
bridge arms 135' in the other side contact 130' are spaced further
apart and also have contact terminals 136' aligned with one
another, and when installed in the horizontal feeder housing, these
contact terminals are all in straight alignment with one another
and with the apertures 122, as illustrated in FIG. 11D.
Accordingly, regardless of the position of the connector block as
dictated by the mounting of the socket of the electrical outlet
receptacle, the contacts 130 and 130' maintain a constant
polarity.
The ground contact 131, shown in FIG. 11G, is constructed with
opposed flat side arms 137 which are engaged by the formations
within the housing, and these side arms are punched out to form
apertures 138 and contact terminals 139 to engage with the
grounding prong 114 of the connector block 100. The opposed ends of
the side arms 137 are interconnected by bridge arms 140 and a
central extension arm 141 extends therefrom and carries the ground
contacting blade 142 at a free end thereof. The side contacts 130
and the grounding contact 131 are also formed of copper alloy
material which is treated to provide spring properties and to
spring back to its original shape after bending moments are removed
therefrom.
Referring now to FIGS. 14A to 14J, there will be described the
construction of the electrical receptacle 14, as shown in FIG. 1.
As herein shown, the electrical receptacle 14 is formed with an
electrical socket 15 in the top surface of the hinge cover 150. A
further socket 15' may be formed in one or both end walls 151 of
the housing 152 of the receptacle 14. The end sockets 15' may be
provided with a ground prong slot or may not have such a slot
depending on the configuration of the housing 152. The hinge cover
is provided with projecting formations 153 in a rear face 54
thereof to actuate spring contact members 155, as shown in FIG.
14H, having gripping ends 155' extending out of the bottom wall 156
of the housing 152 to project within the undercut channels 19 of
the track 11 to engage with the current-carrying conductors 17 and
18, and as will be described later.
As shown in FIG. 14D, the housing 152 is provided with foot
extension 157 extending from the bottom wall 156 of the housing to
retain the housing bottom wall elevated over the flat track
channels 21 and 21'. A channel 158 provides for the passage of the
rib 22 in the track and is offset from the central vertical axis
159 of the housing so that the electrical receptacle 14 can only be
positioned a certain way within the track to main a constant
polarity between the track conductors and the socket slots 15'. The
receptacle 14 is retained within the track by closing the hinge
cover 150 to actuate the spring contact members 155 which project
within the undercut channels and engage the current-carrying
conductors 16 and 17 with a spring force. However, the foot plates
157 may also be provided with a toe extensions 159 which engage in
a respective one of the undercut channels 19 of the track 11 to
prevent the electrical receptacles 14 from being removed from the
track. In such an application, the electrical receptacle 14 would
be connected to the track by inserting it from a free end of the
track and sliding it therealong. Accordingly, the electrical
receptacle 14 becomes displaceable therealong, but retained captive
by the opposed undercut channels 19 in the track, and such
receptacle construction may be favorable for certain applications
where it is desirable that these receptacles 14 not be removed.
As shown in FIG. 14C, the housing 152 is a hollow housing provided
with various formations 160 and channels 161 to receive the blade
slot contacts and grounding contacts. The side contact 162, as
shown in FIGS. 14I and 14J, are also formed from copper alloy
material and have blade contacts 163 at opposed ends thereof for
alignment with the slots 15' in opposed end walls 151 of the
housing and an intermediate side contact 164 for alignment with one
of the slots 15" in the hinge cover 150. The spring contact member
155 are also integrally formed with the side contacts to connect to
one of the current-carrying conductors 16 and 17 of the track. One
of these contacts 162 is provided on both sides of the housing. A
ground contact (not shown) also connects to the ground slot 15'"
provided in the cover 150. As shown in FIG. 14J, the spring contact
member 155 has an inclined wall portion 155" which is slidingly
engaged by a displacement post 153' extending from the rear face
154 of the hinge cover 150 so as to displace the spring contact
member 155 inwardly in the direction of arrow 164 to extend within
the undercut channels of the track. A pair of retention tabs 165 is
provided in the outside wall 166 of the side contact to engage
within a pair of depressions (not shown) formed within the inner
side walls of the hollow housing to retain the side contacts in
frictional snap-fit within the guide channels 161 of the
housing.
As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, a spring-loaded catch 168 projects
from above the top edge 169 of the housing 152 and is received
within a retention cavity 170 formed within the hinge cover 150.
The retention cavity 170 has a step ledge 171 so that when the
cover is closed, the retention catch 168 projects within the
retention cavity 170. The catch 168 has a lip formation 172 under
an angle leading edge 173 to which moves over the step wall 171 to
retain the hinge cover secured over the housing 152 after the
leading edge clears the cavity front edge 170'. Accordingly, if an
electrical plug is connected to the cover, and a pulling force is
exerted to the cable of the plug, the cover will not open
accidentally. In order to open the cover, it is necessary to move
the retention lug 168 rearwardly in the direction of arrow 174 and
to thereafter hinge the cover open. The hinge end of the cover is
provided with a hinge pin 175 formed integrally therewith on
opposed sides thereof, and it is received captive in the top end
176 of end wall 151'.
It is pointed out that for providing power to electrical or
electronics equipment which require a common polarity feed and
protection against surges, a track system can be provided with a
feed housing 29 or 30 and displaceable electrical receptacles 14
which would be provided with a surge-protecting device 179, see
FIG. 14A, secured to an end socket 15' of the electrical receptacle
housing 152. If a surge in the current supply takes place, then the
surge-protecting device 179 would cause an open circuit to protect
the equipment which is connected to the receptacle 14. Accordingly,
the surge protecting device 179 would be connected in series
between the wall socket and the other sockets 15 and 15' in the
receptacle 14. This would require modification to the configuration
of the plug in points of the side contacts, as shown in FIGS. 14I
and 14J and the interconnection within the housing, but such
modifications are obvious to a person skilled in the art. The
advantage of having the surge-protecting device as a plug-in device
is that, once the protecting device has operated and its switching
device is opened, it is merely necessary to replace the surge
protector 179 with another one at minimum cost. The surge protector
is also provided with pilot lamps 178 in the top wall 177 thereof
to indicate an operating or non-operating condition of the
device.
Referring now to FIGS. 15A through 15C, there is shown the
construction of a power feed receptacle 300 for detachable
securement to the electrical track 11 as shown in FIG. 1. This
power feed receptacle is utilized for connecting power to the track
directly from a female connector of an electrical extension cord
(not shown), when there is no power on the track or when not
accessible to the track. Such power feed receptacle would find
utility, for example, if tracks were mounted on transportable
display screens or panels such as those we find at trade shows, and
which are transported from site to site. Power could be brought to
these panels merely by an extension cord.
The power feed receptacle 300 is similar in construction to the
receptacle 14 as shown in FIGS. 14, and consists of a housing 301
having a hinge cover 302 hingedly secured thereto. A pair of side
contact members 303 is provided and retained in the housing side
wall 304 and these side contacts are provided with one or more
spring contact members 305 which are displaceable to engage with a
respective one of the current-carrying conductors 17 or 18 in the
track when the cover 302 is closed. As shown in FIG. 15C, the cover
is also provided with a displacement post 306 extending from a rear
wall 307 thereof to engage with the spring contact members to cause
their outward displacement. When the spring contact members are
engaged with the current-carrying conductors, the housing 300 is
retained over the track. Foot extensions 308 also extend from the
rear of the housing 300 to maintain the housing elevated over the
track to clear the rib 25.
As herein shown, cover 302 is provided with a pair of contact
blades 309 and 309', and a grounding prong 310 which extends from a
top face 311 of the cover 302 for connection to a female connecting
plug of an electrical extension cord (not shown, but obvious to a
person skilled in the art.).
The foot extensions 308 may also be provided with toe extensions
312 on at least opposed side ones of these foot extensions for
slidable retention in the undercut channels 19 of the track so as
to slidingly displace the receptacle preventing the removal from
the track.
As shown in FIG. 15B, the contact blades 309 and the grounding
prong 310 are provided with inner extension portions 309" and 310'
which protrude inwardly from the cover rear face 307. The inner
extension portion 309" of the contact blades 309 and 309' engages a
respective one of the side contact members 303 when the cover 302
is closed over the housing 301. Similarly, the extension portion
310' of the grounding prong 310 engages a ground engaging contact
311 which has a blade portion 312 that enters the channel 24 to
access the conductor strip 23 of the track. The cover is retained
in a closed position by a spring-loaded catch 313 which is
identical in construction to the catch 168 described with respect
to FIG. 14. When the cover is closed the displacement post 36 abuts
the spring arm 314 of the ground contact member 311 to maintain
pressure thereon. The grounding prong extension portion 310' is in
engagement with this contact portion 314 and also with a side
spring contact 315 formed integrally with the ground engaging
contact 311.
Referring now to FIG. 16, there is shown a distribution track 180
which may be used as a baseboard with a molded shaped. The track
180 is extruded from plastic insulating material. The track has an
electrical distribution channel 181 and a telephone line
distribution channel 182 disposed parallel thereto. The electrical
distribution channel has two current-carrying conductors 183 and
184, also retained captive in a respective undercut channel 185 and
185' respectively, disposed along opposed side edges of the
electrical distribution channel 181 and extending end to end of the
track 180. The undercut channels 185 and 185' face one another
inwardly of a top face 186 of the electrical distribution channel.
A ground conductor 187 is embedded in an intermediate region in the
electrical distribution channel and extends between and parallel to
the conductors 183 and 184, and disposed within a rib 188.
Accordingly, the electrical distribution channel is formed in the
same manner as the electrical distribution track 11, as illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 4, with the exception that it may not be necessary
to provide a rib to embed the ground conductor. Other means may be
provided to prevent any electrical accessory or device to be
incorrectly connected to the channel, such as a rib disposed
elsewhere on the surface 186, or a channel provided in that
surface.
The telephone line distribution channel 182 is provided with spaced
apart telephone wires 189 embedded in the surface 190 of the
telephone channel 182. It is pointed out that the wires 183, 184
and 189, as well as the ground conductor 187, are all extruded
together with the track 180. Also, all of these conductors are bare
conductors.
Attachment means in the form of a support plate 191 is secured to a
wall surface to removably secure the track against the wall. The
track is provided with recesses 192 adjacent the top rear edge 193
and bottom edge 194 thereof to snap-fit the track over the support
plate 191. Other removable securement means may be provided, such
as providing holes (not shown) along the track to insert fasteners
directly through the holes and through a wall surface.
As shown in FIG. 16, the distribution track may have various
utilities. One such utility would be to install electrical
connectors 195, similar to the connector 14, as shown in FIG. 1.
That connector may also have a surge-protecting device 196 plugged
into an end wall socket thereof. A fire detector alarm device 197
may also be connected to the electrical distribution channel 181 to
tap to the power supply for its circuitry. The unit could
incorporate an alarm circuit as well as a receiver circuit to
receive alarm signals from smoke detector devices 198 that may be
provided in an area to be protected. Additionally, the device 197
may also have a transmitter circuit to transmit an audible fire
condition alarm signal, or else be connected directly to a
telephone jack, such as the telephone jack 199 which is connected
to the telephone line distribution channel 182 to transmit a fire
alarm code to a central station.
Another application of this distribution track could be for
mounting an intrusion alarm system, such as the alarm device 200.
This device would connect to both the electrical distribution
channel and the telephone line distribution channel and would
include a receiver transmitter circuit to receive alarm signals
from detectors (not shown) placed in an area to be detected, and
would transmit dial tone signals to the telephone jack 139 and a
telephone connected thereto to ring a central alarm network.
Alternatively, infra-red detectors may be built into the unit 200
and be provided with a pilot lamp 201 to indicate the condition of
the detector. Such devices could be mounted on the track and
adjacent door openings. Other pilot lamps 202 could provide other
indications of the alarm circuits. A switch 203 may be provided on
the housing, preferably on the top wall 204 thereof. The electrical
and telephone feed cables 205 and 206 respectively are connected to
the track through a distribution connector box 207, and it may be
provided with a side slot 208 similar to the connector slot of the
feed housings 26 and 30 and provided with contacts to engage all of
the conductors in both channels 181 and 182. It is pointed out that
other devices, not shown, can be connected to these tracks to
perform similar or different type tasks. For example, automatic
timer boxes could be secured to the tracks to shut off and to
switch on lamps connected thereto, and other control devices could
be connected to the track to switch on baseboard heating units,
etc.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described
herewith, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the
appended claims. As an example only, an electrical feed housing
having a connector block similar to the one herein described may be
provided and connected or molded at the end of a two- or three-wire
electrical cable, so as to maintain a constant polarity between the
wall socket and the hot blade of a plug at the end of the cable.
The system can also be adapted to the voltage source as utilized in
various countries and not limited to North American standards.
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