Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO93/03517 21 14 617 PCr/AU92/00414
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FT~TRr~ CONDUCTIVE TRACK
The present invention relates to a flexible conductive track
for electrical or communication or other signals connection
and, more particularly, for such tracks fo-r installation
around a room or office and accessible for connection at
almost any position along its length for take off of
electrical, communication, or other signals.
Prior art flexible electric conduit tracks are known.
However, they all suffer from disadvantages which have
prevented them from being commercially viable.
Such a prior art is US Patent 2,062,752 - Xindberg
which has wires forming the power lines ~mheA~ed in two
slits in a rubber housing. This results in only a small
area of contact - nominally a "point contact" - between the
tines of a power take off device and the conductors Qf the
track with resultant problems with connection failure.
Further the configuration of the housing does not readily
allow for b~n~; ng of the track in a lateral direction with
respect to the slots. It being necessary to cut one or more
notches to facilitate the bending of the track around a
corner.
US Patent 2,105,833 - Feuer, et al shows a track which
comprises a flexible moulding having two slits with a wire
embedded in each slit. Again only a "point contact with a
tine of a power take off device would occur. Further the
moulding does not appear to be able to bend laterally to the
~lits.
US Patent 2, 175,245 - Brockman whilst showing a
flexible track, requires that the contacts are in the form
of separate jaws, and also only shows a shape of housing
which does not permit bending of the track laterally, but
only allows bending with the ingress to the contacts being
int~rn~l or external to the bend direction.
In US Patent 2,240,180 - Frank this describes a
flexible track. But does not show a track which can bend
laterally. Further the contacts have individual ~aws to
assist bending with the ingress to the contacts being
internA1 or external to the bend direction.
In International Patent Application No. PCT/SE86/00579
~'O9~/03517 211~617 PCT/AU9~14
- 2 -
there is described a f 1 eYi hle conductor strip having an
elongated wire conductor surrounded by a thin insulation
layer with an elongated slot eY~e~ing through the
insulation layer to provide access to the conductor. This
- co~nctor strip only provides a small area of contact
~; e~n the conductor and a take off device. Further,
h~c~ e of the small diameter of the conductor strip, the
strip will ~wist during ben~ing resultîng in the slot
twisting out of position.
Systems utili7ing the a~ove tracks as described in the
abo~emen*io~ reference-~ ~o not allow a secure connection
to the eon~ctors in the track; but rely on a straight ~push
in" of the tines of the power take off into the slits
co~A~nin~ the contacts, generally relying upon the
res~ ce of the material of the house to retain engagement.
A rigid supply rail system having bus bars located in
- ver*~A~ly ext~n~ing elongated channels are known, and
desc~ihe~ in Internatio~Al Patent Application
PCT/AU86100252. This reference pro~ides a single small
~iAreter elongate conductor located adjacent to the roof of
the chAnn~l~. Access of the chAnnels is by way of an
elongated op~n~ng located on the side wall adjacent the base
of the rail. Thus the connection of the take off device is
~Pr~n~nt on the small area of contact between the tine of
the take off device and the elongated conductor. Further,
when a change of direction is required for the supply rail,
a cnrnPr adaptor is required to be conected between the
adjac~nt supply rails. Therefore because of the conections
b~.een straight rail sections and corner adaptors, an
increase in imr~ence of the supply rail system occurs.
Therefore if a high fi~elity signal is required, this system
could cause interference or noise, distorting the signal.
The use of a rigid supply rail is also shown in US
Patents 4,243,284 - Humphreys, 4,462,6~0 - Humphreys and
4,479,687 _ ~l~rhreys et al. These references show a
limited access to the ron~llrtors by way of discrete doorways
with resultant complex ArrAngements for ope~;~g and closing.
2114617
This invention in one aspect resides broadly in an
electrical bus distributor assembly including:-
an elongate flexible insulated housing having a
plurality of longitudinally extending slots extending
inwardly from one face of the housing and at least one
longitudinally extending slot extending inwardly from a
substantially opposite face of the housing, and
an elongate flexible conductor assembly located in
at least one of the plurality of the longitudinally
extending slots in the one face;
the arrangement being such-that the width of the
slots decrease when the bus distributor assembly is bent
in a plane substantially perpendicular to the slots.
The insulated housing may include a first
longitudinally extending slot located substantially
centrally in the opposite face and second and third
longitll~; n~l ly extending slots located off-centre in the
one face. In another embodiment the insulated housing
may include a fourth longitudinally extending slot
located substantially centrally in the one face.
Each conductor assembly may include a flexible
elongate conductor and a flexible elongate blade member
in electrical contact with the conductor and adapted to
closely receive a tine of a plug assembly and establish
electrical contact therewith. Each conductor assembly
may alternatively include a flexible elongated conductor
or a flexible elongated blade member.
It is preferred that the elongate blade member is
-4- 2114617
substantially U-shaped in cross-section and has a pair of
opposed and inwardly biased substantially arcuate arms,
the closed portion of the blade member housing the
conductor. Suitably the elongate blade member has a
plurality of spaced cut-outs located along the closed
portion. In a preferred embodiment the slots in the one
face may include support means for supporting the
conductor assembly. Preferably the support means are
ribs or shoulders.
The insulated housing may be of uniform cross-
section and preferably the insulated housing is an
extrusion.
In another- aspect this invention resides broadly in
an electrical distribution system including:-
a support housing having at least one longitudinally
extending chamber for receiving and supporting an
electrical bus distributor assembly;
an electrical bus distributor assembly as definedabove located in the chamber and spaced from a wall of
the chamber to define a substantially continuous
longitudinally extending access channel therewith, and
at least one plug assembly having a plurality of
tines for establishing electrical contact with the
conductor assembly, the arrangement being such that the
tines are receivable within the access channel to prevent
the electrical contact being established and are
rotatable within the access channel to establish the
electrical contact.
In a preferred embodiment the plug assembly is
adapted to abut the support housing and includes a
2114617
projecting member receivable within the access ~h~nnel when the plug assembly
abuts the support housing, the tines extending radially from the projecting
member.
The longitudinally ~cten~ling chamber preferably includes an
5 engagement member adapted to be lockingly engaged in the first slot for
supporting the insulated housing. The chamber may include rib or shoulder
means for supporting the insulated housing.
In a preferred embodiment the plug assembly includes recess means
between the tines for closely receiving an edge of a wall member formed between
o adjacent slots in the one face.
The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an end view of a flexible conductive track
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows an end view of a further embodiment of a flexible
conductive track according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of one embodiment of a support
housing to support the conductive track of Figure 1 or 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates a base adapted to be fitted to the housing of Figure
3;
FIG. 5 illustrates a connection member of a take off device
according to one embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5A illustrates a further form of a connection member
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a take off device according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the supply system according to
the present invention (with the corner adaptor removed) and cutaway on the
flexible track;
21 14617
-6-
FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the system illustrated in Figure 7 to
show the resultant configuration of one embodiment of the flexible track of the
present invention,
~.. .c;
Q 1 ~1 A r~ 1 ~7 P~/AU92/00414
93/03517
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during hending of the track;
FIG. 9 shows the section view taken in the direction of
arrows 9-9 in Figure 8;
FIG. 10 shows a section view taken in the direction of
arrows 10-10 in Figure 8;
FIG. 11 il~ustrates another embodiment of the flexible
track of the present invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the tr~ckin~
system according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 illustrates a housing according to a further
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates a distribution system of one
embodiment of the present invention utilizing the housing
shown in Figure 13
FIG. 15 illustrates a further embodiment of a housing
usable in the present invention;
FIG. 16 illustrates a further embodiment of a housing
usable in the present invention;
FIG. 17 illustrates an adaptor plug usable with the
distribution systems of the present invention; and
FIG. 18 shows a cutaway view of the adaptor plug
illustrated in Figure 16, showing the engagemen~t of the
connecting prong forming an electrical contact with an
adaptor plug.
As shown in Figure 1 a flexible conductive track (1),
according to one embodiment of the present invention,
comprises a flexible insulative plastics housing (2) of
constant cross-section. This housing is substantially
rectangular in shape with three recesses (3) open to one
side of the housing.
A conductor (4) in the form of a copper wire is held in
the bottom o~ each recess. Affixed to the wire ~4) along
the whole length of the wire is a conductive blade (-5) which
is conductively bonded to the wire (~) to form a double
spring blade contact (5). In the flexible conductive track,
as shown in Figure 1, the wire (4) is held in the recesses
by shoulders (6) located adjacent the bottom of each recess
(3).
The blade means can be a single blade with biasing
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211 q 617 PCr/AU92/0~14
WO93/03517
- 8
means formed integrally with the walls of the recess to urge
the tines of a take off unit into intimate contact with the
blade (5)~ Further, the wire (4) and conductive blade (5)
can be moulded into the housing wall by means of cross-head
extrusion, when the housing is extruded.
As shown in Figure 2 a further embo~ir-nt of the
fleYihle conductiYe track of the present invention comprises
three recesses (~) with an elongated conductors (17)
co~cted by pressure welding to arm (18) or (19), or both,
of a bifurcated contact spring (20), which extends
longit~ n~lly along the length of the recesses (3). The
contact spring (20) is held in the recess (3) by the free
ends (21) of contac~ spring (20) resiliently bearing on
sho~ s (22) of the recesses (3) or held in the recess by
cros~heA~ extrusion. The contact spring (20) may provide
both the spring action and conductivity in the single form.
- Both flexible tracks (1), as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
~ave a recess (16) located on the face opposite to the first
face. This extends along the length of the track and
~nh~nces the f ~ eYi hility of the track.
A suitable housing t8), as shown in Figure 3, can be
~ffiYe~ to the wall of an area, where the system of the
present invention is to be used. A single continuous length
of a flexible conductive track (1), as illustrated in
~igures 1 or 2, for example, is fitted into the ch~nnel (7)
of the housing (8). The channel (7) is configured to hold
the con~-~ctive track (1) such that open ends of the recesses
~3) face downwardly.
The base (9) as shown in Figure 4 closes the bottom of
the housing (8), leaving an elongated side access opening
(10) which extends along the entire length of the housing
(8), as shown in Figure 7. Con~ction to the wires
therefore can be made at any position along the length of
the conducti~e track (1).
When the flexible track (1) is laterally bent around a
co~ne~ as shown in Figures 7r 8, 9 and 10, the recesses (16
and 3) collapse to allow lateral bending.
A take off unit in the form of a power point is shown
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211~ 617 PCTlAU92/00414
WO93/03517
._ .,. _ g
in Figure 6. The power point (11) has a pro~ection (12)
exten~ing from the back with one or more tines ~13)
exten~ing radially therefrom. A view of the pro~ection is
shown in Figure 5. To connect the power point ~11) to the
c conductive strip (1), the tines (13) are aligned with the
open~ng (10) and the proJection (12) inserted into the
opening (10) and the power point (11) rotated such that the
tines (13) engage the respective blades (5) in the recesses
(3). Because of the double blade spring construction, the
blades (5) are urged into intimate engagement with each side
of the tines (13) such that both flat areas (14), provide a
relatively large contact area.
To further inhibit arcing between adjacent tines (13),
when connected to the conductors/blades (5) in the flexible
conductive track (1), the walls ~23) of the housing (8) haYe
their free ends (25~ configured to mate with recesses (24)
on the projection (12), isolating each tine (13) from the
others.
Alternatively as shown in Figure 5A, part of the length
of one or more of the tines (13) can be sheathed in
plastics, with or without the recesses (24), such that upon
insertion of the tine into the recess (3), the plastics
sheath (26) extends into the recess (3) to inhibit any
arcing or discharging between the tines (13).
The powerpoint (11), as shown in Figure 6, comprises a
combined locking means and an on/off switch (15) to secure
the powerpoint to the housing (8), wherein when said power
point (11) is rotated, after the insertion of the tines (13)
into the opening (10), power is only available to the
external output (72) upon ~-nu~l operation of the locking
means (15).
In another embodiment the projection 12 may be moulded
directly to a ~o~c lead.
If required a cover strip could be used to seal the
ope~i~q (lD)-
As shown in Figure 3, the housing can comprise two
channels one for telecommunication and one for power.
However any number of channels could be used, for example
one respecti~ely for power, stereo systems, computer lines,
WO93/03~I7 2 1 1 4 6 1 7 PCT/AU92/~14
-- 10 --
gas, optical fibres, etc.
The fley~le co~t~tive strip can be of any suitable
co~f;~ration and have any number of recesses.
To assist in the lateral hen~ing of the flexible track
an e~hoAiment as shown in Figure 11 can be used.
In the flexible insulative housing (27) are located
three recesses (~8) similar to those described previously
which each contain a conductive blade (29) as shown in
Eigu~e 11. A con~llctor (30) may be connected to the arcuate
end of the co~ctor blades (29). The conductor (30) could
be s~ rd copper wiring while the blade (29) could be
f~T~ of phosphorous bronze. Alternatively, the conductive
blade (29) could be constructed so as to be used on its own,
without the necessity of the additional conductor in the
form of a copper wire (30).
At preselected positions along the length of the
c~ tive blade (29l, cutouts (31) are located along its
length. These cutouts (31) do not extend into the contact
area (32) of the arms (33) of the conductive blade. These
cutout-s (31) enh~nr~ the flexibility of the conducti~e
blades (29) and hence the flexible conductive tracks (27)
into which they are inserted.
Addition~l as shown in Figure 12, the housing (34) used
to co~t~in the flexible in~ ti~e-track (35) can have
ex~er~l fittings (36) for the affiYiny of suitable colour
strips (not sho~n).
One embodiment of a floor mounted system according to
the present invention is shown in Figure 13 comprises an
open face housing (37), with two opposed side walls t38) and
(39~, and a channel portion (401, which has a base su~ L
(41). This embo~;~ent is used to be inserted into a recess
~42) in a floor (43) as shown in Figure 14.
Located on the sides and base of the ch~nnel portion
(40) are cutouts (44) to allow any moisture to drain out of
the housing, and along and out of the floor recess (42).
A mounting means (45) is pro~ided to hold an elongated
cassette (46) therein. The mounting means (45) comprises two
WO93/03S17 2 1 1 4 6 17 PCT/AU92/0~14
parallel pro~ections, one (47) with a hook (48) located
along the free end thereof.
The cassette (46) comprises an elongated recess (49),
and a cutout (50) located at one end. The projection (51)
9 iS fitted into the recess (49) of the cassette (46) and the
hook (48), because of the resilience of the material of the
housing (37) snaps into the cutout (50), locking the
cassette (46) in position. In the embodiment shown, the
cassette (4~) has its open mouth (52) facing downwardly. A
cover strip (53) can be inserted into the opening (54) below
the cassette (46), where it rests on the elongated support
(~5) and locks into the cassette (46) by means of the
pro~ection (56) to close the mouth (52) of the cassette (46).
Fitted into the cassette (46) can be any form of
conductive track, (howe~er preferably a flexible conductive
- track (1) shown in Figures 1 to 11 is used), as shown in
Figure 14, with the shoulders (57) of the cassette locking
over the outer walls (58) of the flexible conductive track
(l), with the barbed projection (59) engaging in the
locating recess (16) of the flexible track (27).
A take off means (60) as described previously can be
used to connect to the conductors (20), whereby power or the
like is supplied external of the recess (42) as shown in
~igure 14. To close the recess a cover (61) rests on the
top supports (62) and (63) of the housing (37), aligning
flush with the flooring as shown in Figure 14. The cover
(61) has cutouts ~64) located at appropriate positions along
the cover (61) to allow for egress of suitable cable. These
cutouts could be preformed or cutout when needed, and a cord
cover strip (65) fits into the channel (66).
Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in
~igure lS utilising multiple cassette mountings (45).
In Figure 16 the housing 34 as illustrated in Figure 12
can be used in a floor mounted arrangement similar to
~igures 14 and 15.
Preferably the housing and cassettes are made from
suitable plastics.
-12- 2114617
The cassette in use also face sideways with a suitable hinged or
flapped cover slip covering its mouth to prevent ingress of cont~min~nts.
As is shown in Figures 17 and 18, the electrical connector (67) of
the power point adaptor (68) comprises two arms (69) which are made of resilientmetal. The prong (70) of an appliance (not shown) slides into engagement
between the arms (69) and the screw (71) is tightened to urge the arms (69) intointimate contact with the prong (70). Sufficient pressure can be generated by the
screw (71) to provide the equivalent of a fixed contact between the prong (70)
and the arms (69).
In a further embodiment not shown, the prong could have a recess
0 or bore into which the screw will engage to rigidly connect the prong to the
electrical connectors.
This form of connection is not only limite~l to distribution systems,
as before described, but can also be used with respect to standard power points
and double connections.
In use the adaptability of the flexible housing of the present
invention to bend through an angle, typically through a right angle or other
angles including a 180 degree return, avoids the requirement of prior art systems
to cut and fit adaptors at the corners of a room. The continuity of the
conductor assembly results in improved electrical characteristics and also
... . . . . . . .. . . .
20 slmphhes mstallatlon thereby lowerlng materlal ana la~our mstallatlon costs.
The distribution system of the present invention provides a useful
alternative to known systems. It is adaptable for use in floors and ceiling.s as well
as skirting boards, and can be used as a light-track for lighting systems or fortr~nsmi~ion of audio signals in sound systems. It will be appreciated that each of
25 the above systems can be incorporated in a multi-chamber housing as illustrated
in FIG. 12.
It will of course be realized that whilst the above has been given by
way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications
.~
21 14617
-13-
and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are
deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as hereinaftercl~ime~
