Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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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.
1U
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.
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Furthermore, bending the track can also result in the
breaking of the current-carrying conductors or the
ground conductor embedded in the track, arid 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 upvaardly 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-
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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 an electrical distribution system wherein the
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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
2s 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
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polarity connection to the current-carrying conductors.
An electrical connector housing slidingly receives an
end portion of a track in a connecting sa.ot 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
1U 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
2U 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:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the
electrical distribution system of the present invention
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connected to walls and fed by conventional electrical
wall outlet receptacles;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a vertical
feeder housing connected to a socket of a wall
electrical outlet receptacle;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a
horizontal feeder housing for connection to a socket of
a wall electrical outlet receptacle;
FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-section view
1U through the electrical distribution track of the
present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmented rear view showing the
construction of a union type feeder housing;
FIGURE 6 is an end view of the housing of Figure 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;
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but
wherein the feeder housing is a wall feeder housing
connected directly to wall outlet cables in a wall
outlet box;
FIGURE 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;
FIGURE 9A is a plan view of a ground contact used
in the T-shaped housing of Figure 8;
FIGURE 9B is an end view of Figure 9A;
FIGURES 9C and 9D are side and top views
respectively of a side contact used in Figure 8;
FIGURE 10A is a rear view of the back plate of a
vertical feeder housing;
FIGURE lOB is a side view of Figure 10A;
FIGURE lOC is a sectional end view of the back
plate as shown in Figure 10A showing the strip
formations;
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FIGURE lOD is a rear view o.f the back plate of
Figure 10A showing the block formations;
FIGURE 10E is a rear view of the cover plate
showing the strip formations;
FIGURE lOF is a section view through Figure 10E;
FIGURE lOG is a front view of the cover plate;
FIGURE lOH is a side view showing the vertical
feeder housing assembled:
FIGURE 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;
FIGURE 10,T is a plan view of the other side
contact;
FIGURE lOK is a plan view of the ground contact;
FIGURE lOL is a side view of Figure 10K;
FIGURE 11A is a front view of the cover of a
horizontal feeder housing;
FIGURE 11B is a rear view of Figure 11A;
FIGURE 11C is an inside view of the back plate of
the horizontal feeder housing;
FIGURE 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;
FIGURE 11E is a side view of one of the side
contacts shown in Figure 11D;
FIGURE 11F is a plan view of the ground contact
utilized in a horizontal feeder housing or union
housing;
FIGURE 11G is a side view of Figure 11F;
FIGURE 12A is a plan view of the connector block
associated with the vertical and horizontal feeder
housing;
FIGURE 12B is a rear view of Figure 12A;
FIGURE 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;
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FIGURE 12D is a side view of Figure 12A;
FIGURE 12E is a fragmented view of the handle
secured to the connector block;
FIGURES 13A and 13B are side and end views
respectively of one of the contact blades secured to
the connector block;
FIGURES 13C and 13D are side and top views
respectively of the ground contact blade connected to
the connector block;
FIGURE 14A is a perspective view of the electrical
receptacle of the present invention for connection to
the track;
FIGURE 14B is a side view of the receptacle
housing showing -the cover in its partly open position;
FIGURE 14C is a top view of the receptacle housing
of Figure 14B;
FIGURE 14D is an end view of the receptacle
housing;
FIGURE 14E is a top view of the hinge cover of the
electrical receptacle;
FIGURE 14F is a Section view through the cover
shown in Figure 14E along section line A-A;
FIGURE 14G is a section view along section line B-
B of Figure 14E;
FIGURE 14H is a simplified bottom view of the
connector housing;
FIGURE 14I is a side view of the current-carrying
conductor contacts;
FIGURE 14J is a section view along section lines
A-A of Figure 14I;
FIGURE 15A is a front view of a power feed
receptacle connectable to the female connector of an
electrical extension cord;
FIGURE 15B is a section view through the power
feed receptacle showing the hingeable cover in phantom
lines;
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FIGURE 15C is a cross-section view along cross-
section lines A-A of Figure 15A; and
FIGURE 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 Figures 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 Figures 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
togethex, 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 Figure 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
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16. As can be seen from Figure 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
1U 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
Figure 1.
As shown in Figures 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
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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 Figures 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 Figure 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 Figure 6, the
connecting slot has two depending ribs 41 and 42 with
the rib 41 being wider than the rib 42, whereby the
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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.
1U 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 Figure 11D.
As can also be seen from Figure 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 Figure 6, and is aligned with the slot 24 in the rib
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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 con'tac't 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
1U provide a contact force between the blade 48 and the
ground conducting strip 23, as shown in Figure 6. The
side contacts 38 and the ground contact 39 are both
formed from copper alloy material.
Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a union
housing, such as housing 26 of Figure 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 Figures 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 Figures 9C and 9D, and
are also stamped and shaped from a copper alloy sheet
having been heat treated to provide spring action. The
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contacts are formed from a strip of this copper and
shaped in two right-angled sections with comman
connecting arms 58, and contact blades 59 at opposed
ends thereof for engaging a common one of the current-
s 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 Figure 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 Figure 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 Figure 1.
Referring now to Figures 10A to lOL and 12A to
13D, there will be described the construction of the
vertical feeder housing 29: As herein shown, the ,
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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 Figures 12A to 12D. These apertures
78 are disposed in spaced apart side-by-side alignment.
A grounding prong receiving aperture 79 is also
1U 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 Figures lOJ and 102,
respectively, arid the ground contact 84, as shown in
Figures lOK and 10L. Hooking prongs 85 are provided in
the opposed side walls 86 of the back plate to engage
vrith prongs in the cover plate 87, as shown in Figures
lOD to lOH to secure the bac)c 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
Figure 10H, is constituted to receive an end portion of
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the face plate 93 of the electrical outlet receptacle
13, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.
Referring now to Figures 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 8l~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 Figure
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 Figure 10E.
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Referring now more specifically to Figure 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 arid 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 Figures 12D
and 12E, is of U-shaped configuration. It is provided
1U 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 Figures 13A and 13B, are
glades 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 1I5 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 wil l .
now be described. The end portions 117 and 117' may be
considered as contact terminals. The ground contact
114, as shown in Figures 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.
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- 18 -
However, it sometimes arises that the sockets 13' of
the electrical outlet receptacles 13, shown in Figure
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 Figure 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
3U 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 terminals 98'
which align with a respective one of the grounding
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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 Figures 11A to 11G, there will
briefly be described the construction of the horizontal
feeder housing 30, as shown in Figure 1. The
horizontal feeder housing 30 is constructed in a
similar fashion as the vertical housing feeder housing
1U 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 baclc 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 Figures 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
~~~~~P_)~
- 20 -
with one another and with the apertures 122, as
illustrated in Figure 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 Figure 11G, is
constructed with opposed flat side arms 137 which are
engaged by the formations within the housing, and these
1U 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 Figures 14A to 14J, there will be
described the construction of the electrical receptacle
14, as shown in Figure 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
154 thereof to actuate spring contact members 155, as
shown in Figure 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
2~~~~a~
- 21 -
11 to engage with the current-carrying conductors 17
and 18, and as will be described later.
As shown in Figure 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 1;1 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 Figure 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
Figures 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
- 22 -
walls 151 of the housing and an in'termedia'te 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 Figure
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 Figures 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
r°~
~0~~~~~
- 23 -
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 Figure 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 Figure
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 cast. 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 Figures 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 Figure 1. This power feed receptacle is
2~~~<'~~~
- 24 -
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 receptac1e~300 is similar in
construction to the receptacle 14 as shown in Figures
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 Figure 15C, the
t0 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 tnot 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
- 25 -
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 Figure 15B, the contact blades 309 arid
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 arid
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
Figure 14. When the cover is closed the displacement
2U 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 Figure 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
2f~~~~~
- 26 -
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
1U Figures 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 Figure 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 Figure 1. That connector may
- 27 -
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
1U 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
- 28 -
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.
