Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
IMPROVED SAFETY QUICK LOCK FOR MOUNTING ELECTRICAL FIXTURES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved safety quick lock
lock/unlock mechanism for lighting fixtures and ceiling fans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Significant improvements have been made in devices and processes to
facilitate and speed up the installation of electrical lighting fixtures and
ceiling
fans. Conventionally, installing such fixtures and fans has required both
physically connecting the fixture or fan to a junction box in the ceiling or
wall for
mechanical support, and electrically connecting the fixture or fan in the
junction
box to which power is supplied.
Prior art safety quick lock devices are taught for example in U.S. Patent
No. 6,799,982 of Kerr, Jr., issued October 5, 2004, U.S. Patent No. 6,780,049
of D'Angelo et al., issued August 24, 2004 and U.S. Patent No. 6,997,740 of
Kerr, issued February 14, 2006.
Another safety quick lock device, which simplifies this installation
procedure and is presently commercially available, comprises both a female
connector (having a socket) that is mechanically mounted and electrically
connected to the power source within a junction box at the ceiling or on the
wall, and a male connector having a post which is mateably received within the
socket and is lockable therein. The male connector is mechanically mounted
and electrically connected to the lighting fixture or ceiling fan and, when
mateably locked with the female connector, completes an electric circuit for
delivering power to the fixture or fan. The locking engagement is accomplished
by means of a plurality of outwardly extending locking means on the sides of
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the post, which are depressable with respect to the post when a lock/unlock
button, associated with the post and these locking means, is actuated by being
depressed. This enables the post to be inserted in position in the socket and
these locking means to be inserted into position in corresponding grooves or
pockets in the wall of the socket. When that button is released (not
depressed),
the locking means themselves then are non-depressable, ensuring that the post
remains in locked engagement within the socket.
A problem with such a safety quick lock device however is that the
lock/unlock button is often not positioned in a readily accessible location
for
installation of the lighting fixture or ceiling fan. Also, in situations where
the
button is readily accessible, because it is in an exposed location, it can be
accidentally activated, causing the fixture or fan unintentionally to fall.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved safety
quick lock lock/unlock mechanism which avoids these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a novel lock/unlock mechanism
is provided for a safety quick lock device for an electrical fixture. The
safety
quick lock device is of the type that comprises a first electrical connector
to be
secured to the electrical fixture and a second electrical connector to be
secured
to a junction box and which is releasably lockably engageable to the first
electrical connector. The first electrical connector has a post with sides and
outwardly extending locking means on those sides. The post is insertable into
and fixed in position in a socket, which has walls, in the second electrical
connector. The locking means are depressable with respect to the post when a
lock/unlock button, on a base of the second connector and associated with the
post and these locking means, is activated by being depressed against a bias.
This enables the post to be inserted into engaged position in the socket,
these
locking means then being insertable into and fixed in position in grooves in
confronting portions of the walls of the socket. When that button is released
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and not depressed, the locking means themselves are then non-depressable,
ensuring that the post remains in locked engagement within the socket with the
connectors then locked in electrically conductive relationship with respect to
each other.
The lock/unlock mechanism comprises an arm secured in the vicinity of
the button for rotation, about an axis of rotation, between an active and an
inactive position. A cam surface is secured to the arm, offset from the axis
of
rotation. Rotation of the arm, about the axis of rotation, from inactive to
active
position causes the cam surface to move the button against the bias from non-
depressed to depressed position, to permit engagement or disengagement of
the first and second electrical connectors. Rotation of the arm from active to
inactive position causes the cam surface to allow the button to return, under
the
bias, to undepressed position, whereby the electrical connectors, if engaged,
are
locked in that position.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a leaf spring
normally biases the arm to hold it in inactive position and return it to that
position when rotational force is removed from the arm. One end of the spring
is secured to the base of the second electrical connector. The other end is
hooked over the arm, on the side proximal to the button, whereby movement of
the arm from inactive to active position causes the arm's cam surface and a
portion of the spring to move, against the bias of the spring, to a position
bearing on the button, to move the button to depressed position to render the
locking means depressable.
As well, a free end of the arm preferably has a socket for receiving an
Allen wrench to assist in rotation of the arm between active and inactive and
inactive and active positions.
The lock/unlock mechanism according to the present invention, because
only rotation of the arm can effectively activate the button, and because that
arm can readily be designed to be located in a readily accessible location,
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permits ease of activation of the button even when the button is in a hard-to-
access location. As well, unpurposeful disengagement of the lighting fixture
or
ceiling fan because of accidental activation (depression) of the lock/unlock
button is avoided since the button can only be activated by rotation of the
arm,
a movement which must effectively be an intentional one.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon
reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings
in
which:
FIGURE 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a safety quick lock device to
which a lock/unlock mechanism according to the present invention has been
associated;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lock/unlock mechanism of Figure 1;
FIGURES 3a and 3b are schematic side elevation views of the lock/unlock
mechanism of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the mechanism in inactive (Figure
3a) and active (Figure 3b) positions.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated
embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the
invention
to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all
alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope
of
the invention as defined by the present patent specification as a whole.
The present invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting
description of certain detailed embodiments.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been
given identical reference numerals where appropriate.
Turning to Figure 1, an safety quick lock device 2 for an electrical fixture
such as a ceiling fan or lighting fixture (not illustrated) is provided, to
which is
secured a lock/unlock mechanism 4 in accordance with the present invention.
safety quick lock device 2 comprises a female electrical connector 6 to be
mechanically mounted and electrically connected to a power source within a
junction box (not illustrated) at the ceiling or wall, and a male electrical
connector 8, to be mechanically mounted and electrically connected to the
lighting fixture or ceiling fan. Connector 6 is provided with a socket 10 and
connector 8 with a post 12 to be releasably secured and locked in socket 10.
This is accomplished by a lock/unlock button 14 which is associated with
connector 8 and post 12 so as to cause outwardly extending spring mounted
locking bosses 16, on the sides 17 of post 12, to be depressable within post
12
when lock/unlock button 14 is depressed against a bias means (not
illustrated).
When lock/unlock button 14 is in un-depressed position, locking bosses 16 are
locked in their outwardly extended position illustrated in Figure 1. In
operation,
when lock/unlock button 14 is depressed, making locking bosses 16
depressable, post 12 is then insertable into engaging position within socket
10.
When lock/unlock button 14 is then released, it returns under bias to
undepressed position, leaving locking bosses 16 seated in co-operating grooves
(not illustrated) in the walls of socket 10. Connectors 6 and 8 are thus
locked
together in engaged position, in electrical contact so that when in operative
use,
circuitry provided in the two connectors provides electrical conductivity from
the
junction box to the fixture.
To prevent unintended disengagement of connectors 6 and 8, by
accidental depression (activation) of lock/unlock button 14, lock/unlock
mechanism 4 is provided. It comprises a U-shaped frame 18 which is secured
on frame 19 of connector 8 in such a way that it is spaced from yet covers
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lock/unlock button 14. A linear arm 20 is mounted in arms 22 of frame 18 for
rotational movement in that frame about an axis A. A cam surface 24 is
eccentrically mounted between the ends of arm 20, as illustrated, offset from
axis A, so that rotation of arm 20 with respect to frame 18 can bring cam
surface 24 into operative contact with lock/unlock button 14 to depress it, or
move it away from that button, to cause it to move to undepressed position. A
leaf spring 26 is provided, one end 28 of which is attached to the base of
connector 8, about lock/unlock button 14, the other end 30 being hooked over
cam surface 24 so as to bias arm 20 to the lowered inactive cam position of
Figure 3a. Rotation of arm 20, to lift cam surface 24 causes cam surface 24
lift,
against the bias of leaf spring 26, so that a portion of the leaf spring 26
sitting
on cam surface 24, and cam surface 24, bear against lock/unlock button 14,
depressing it and thus permitting the depression of locking bosses 16 and the
insertion of post 12 into, or its removal from, socket 10.
End 32 of arm 20 extends outwardly, as illustrated, and has a knurled
surface 34 to assist in rotation of arm 20. As well, as can be seen in Figure
3b,
end 32 of arm 20 is provided with a socket 36 conformed to mateably receive
the head of an Allen wrench 38 to assist in rotation of arm 20 between active
and inactive positions.
It will be understood that this lock/unlock mechanism 4 makes it virtually
impossible for lock/unlock button 14 to be accidentally moved to its active,
depressed position and cause unintended release of connectors 6 and 8 when
secured together. As well, the free end 32 of arm 20 can be constructed so
that
it is easily accessible for rotation of arm 20 and its activation and
deactivation of
lock/unlock button 14, by either one's fingers or an Allen wrench 38, making
the
hanging and electrical connection of a fan or electrical fixture both safe and
convenient.
Although the present invention has been described by way of a detailed
description in which various embodiments and aspects of the invention have
been described, it will be seen by one skilled in the art that the full scope
of this
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invention is not limited to the examples presented herein. The invention has a
scope which is commensurate with the claims of this patent specification
including any elements or aspects which would be seen to be equivalent to
those set out in the accompanying claims.
