Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR UNDERCARPET CABLE
An electrical connector assembly is disclosed for connection
to undercarpet cable of the type in which flat and flexible
electrical conductors are contained in a flat and flexible sheath
5 of insulation material.
There is disclosed in U.S.A. Paten-t 4,240,688, a floor
fixture for flat and flexible undercarpet cable. A terminal block
carries electrical terminals that penetrate conductors of the
cable. The fixture requires a duplex receptacle, i.e., electrical
10 receptacle connector with two receptacles for receipt of electrical
plugs of the type provided on the electrical cord of a household
appliance or office machine. Insulated wires are then installed
to connect the terminals of the terminal block with the duplex
receptacle. A housing is assembled over the terminal block and
15 duplex receptacle.
According to one aspect of the invention, an electrical
connector for undercarpet flat and flexible cable -that inciudes
one or more flat electrical conductors contained in a flexible
sheath of insulating material comprises a planar metal plate
20 having a plurality of lands raised in relief, an insulative terminal
block constructed to overlie selected lands of the plate with an
undercarpet flat and flexible cable interposed between the block
and the selected lands overlaid by the block, mounting feet
projecting from the block and constructed for locked registration
25 with selected lands of the plate, the block having terminal
receiving cavities extending from one side of the blocl< to a
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second side, electrical terminals in the cavities of the block, the
terminais having electrical receptacle portions opening toward the
first side of the block and conductor terminating portions
emerged from the cavities and overlying against the second side
of the block, lances on the conductor terminating portions, the
lances facing outwardly away from the second side of the block,
a conductive fastener carried by the block and constructed to
mechanically secure in one of the lands overlaid by the block
and apply the block and the overlaid lands in clamped
relationship on the cable, the block urging the lances of the
conductor terminating portions to penetrate through a layer of
cable insulation and penetrate into respective flat conductors of
the cable, that is interposed between the block and the overlaid
lands of the plate, thereby to establish electrical connections
between the lances and the respective flat conductors, the
conductive fastener constructed further to mechanically secure in
one flat conductor of the cable, a cover having a holiow interior
receiving the block therein, and fasteners carried by the cover
and constructed to secure in selected lands of the plate.
According to another aspect of the invention, a connector
assembly for connecting electrical socket receptacles with
corresponding flat conductors of an undercarpet cable comprises
a base portion and an insulating terminal block structure; the
terminal block including a first side, a second side, and terminal
receiving cavities extending between said sides; electrical
~7, ~ terminals situated in respective cavities in the terminal block;
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each terminal being stamped and Formed with a receptacle portion
and a planar plate conductor terminating portion, the receptacle
portion opening toward the first side of the block, the
terminating portion emerging from the cavity and Iying against
5 the second side of the terminal block, the planar plate
terminating portion having raised relief lances thereon which face
outwardly from second side, said lances penetrating compietely
through a layer of insulation of the cable and into the flat
conductors when said cable is clamped between said second side
10 of said terminal block and the base portion such that the planar
plate terminating portions face respective flat conductors in said
cable .
A better understanding of the invention is obtained by way
of example from the following detailed description and
15 accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector
assembly for undercarpet cable;
FIGURE 2 is a section view of an undercarpet cable;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the electrical connector
20 assembl~ according to Figure 1 with parts exploded for
i I lustration pu rposes;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of three electrical terminals
of the connector assembly accorcling to Figure 1
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a terminal block
25 assembled with the terminals according to Figure 4;
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FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary pers,~ective view of a plate of the
connector assembly and a flat flexible cable in preparation for connec-
tion with the connector assembly;
FIGURES 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating
component parts during assembly thereof into the connector assembly
according to Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows an electrical connector assembly 1 for attachment
to an undercarpet flat, flexible cable 2 shown in Figure 2. The cable
2 includes three flexible elongated conductors 3, 4, 5, helci parallel
and spaced apart by a surrounding sheath 6 of plastics materia~i
insulation. A commercial office is supplied with electrical wiring by a
network of the cable 2 that is routed along the floor of the office.
The cable is laid over a flexible ribbon layer of plastic shield 7 that
is laid against the office floor to protect the cable 2 from damage by
floor irregularities. The cable 2 is covered by a ribbon iayer of
metal shield 8 which protects the cable from foot traffic and furn-
iture. Carpeting is installed. to cover the office floor. The network
of cable 2 is protected by the layers of shield 7, 8 and is hiciden
under the carpeting; thus, the cable 2 came to be known as under-
carpet cable.
Figure 3 shows details of the component parts of the connector
1. A flat metal plate 10 is stamped and formed with elongated lands
11, 12, 13 in raised relief. A pair of spaced apart tabs 14, 14
project from one side edge of the plate 10 and are bent to project
outwardly of the plane of the plate 10. A similar pair of tabs 15, 15
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are on an opposite side edge of the plate. ~lotted apertures 16, 16
are provided along end eclges of the plate 10 and receive fasteners
17, 17 in the form of machine screws that anchor the plate 13 to an
office floor . A cushion pad 1 ~ of insulative material, for example, is
constructed to overlie the lands 11, 12, 13.
Figures 3 and 5 show a terminal block 19 constructed to overlie
the lands 11, 12, 13. The terminal block 19 is molded of insulative
plastics and with locking means in the form of projecting feet 20A,
21 A that register in apertures 20B, 21 B in the raised lands 11, 13
respectively. The feet 20A, 21A lock the terminal block against
movement relative to the lands 11, 13. Apertures 22, 23 through the
block carry fasteners 22A, 23A in the form of machine screws that
secure in apertures 22B, 23B in the raised land 12. The block 19 is
provided with three terminal receiving cavities 24, 25, 2$ that extend
l S from a first side 27 of the block to a second side 28 from which
project the feet 20A, 21A.
Figure 4 shows electrical terminals 24A, 25A, 26A that are
stamped and formed from single pieces of metal strip and are con-
structed for assembly within the cavities 24, 25, 26 respectively.
The terminals 24A and 26A are identical to the extent that they have
resilient electrical receptacle portions 24B, 24B, 26Bj 26B defined by
and between pairs of opposed spring fingers 24C, 24C, 24C, 24C,
26C, 26C, 26C, 26C. Auxiliary fingers 2L~), 24D, 26D, 26D, form
sides of the electrical receptacles. The terminals 24A, 26A, further
include conductor terminating portions 24E, 26E in the form of planar
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plates with raised in relief, knife edged lances 2~F, 24F, 26F, 26F.
The terminal 25A, includes electrical receptacle portions 25B,
25B deFined by and between pairs of opposed resilient spring fingers
25C, 25C, 25C, 25C. Terminal 25A further includes a concluctor
terminating portion 25E in the form of a planar plate having raised in
relief knife edged lances 25F, 25F. The termina!s 24A, 25A, 26A are
assembled in respective cavities 24, 25, 26 of the terminal block 19.
The receptacle portions 2~B, 24B, 25B, 25B, 26B, 26B remain in the
cavities 24, 25, 2S and face toward, and open toward, the firs~ side
27 of the terminal block 19. Operation of these receptacle portions is
well known from the disclosure of U.S.A. Patent 3,860,739. As
shown in Figure 5, the conductor terminating portions 24E, 25E, 26E
emerge from the cavities 24, 25, 26 and are bent to overlie against
the second side 28 of the terminal block 19 so that the lances 24F,
24F, 25F, 25F, 26F, 26F face outwardly away from the second side 28
of the terminal block 19. Figures 3 and 7 show a conductive fastener
29A in the form of a conductive machine screw carried in a bore 2g of
the cover extending from the first side 27 to the second side 28.
The conductive fastener 29A is constructed to secure in an aperture
29B in the land 12. A conductive plate 29C has projecting knife
edged lances 29D, 29D, and is mounted in a recess 29E in the land
12. The lances 29D, 29D, project through an opening 29E in the pad
18.
Figures 3 and 7 show a faceplate 30 of molded plastics and
having flanges 31 molded with projecting feet 32 constructed for
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assembly in apertures 32A in the side 27 of the terminal block 19.
The flanges 31 are molded wi th a raised track 33 having two arrays
of profiled apertures 24G, 24G, 25G, 25G, 26G, 26G aligned with the
electrical receptacle portions 24B, 24B, 25B, 25B, 26B, 26B and
constructed for receipt of an electrical plug (not shown) of the type
provided on the electrical cord of a household app!iance or office
machine. A cover plate is divided into two cover sections 34A, 34B
constructed for slidably mounting on the track 33. Wire springs, one
shown at 35, mount in each of recesses 36, 36, 36, 36 ir- the first
l 0 side 27 of the terminal block 19 and pass through openings 36A, 36A,
36A, 36A in the faceplate 30 and engage respective cover sections
34A, 34B, and bias the cover sections into mutual abutment. The
cover sections 34A, 34B each have profiled apertures 24H, 25H, 26H
that become aligned with the profiled apertures 24G, 25G, 26G in the
l 5 faceplate 30 upon slidably positioning the cover sections 34A, 34B
along the track 33 in opposition to the springs and in respect to the
faceplate 30. The terminal block 19 is assembled with the terminals
24A, 25A, 26A, the faceplate 30, and the cover sections 34A, 34B.
Figures 3 and 8 show a cover 37 constructed to cover the plate
10, Fasteners 38A in the form of machine screws are carried in bores
38 of the cover 37 and are constructed to secure in apertured lands
38B that are raised in relief from the plate 10. The cover 37 has a
hollow interior 39 constructed to receive the terminal block 19. A top
wall 40 surrounding the hollow interior 39 is constructed for mounting
against the first side 27 of the terminal block 19 coplanar with the
flanges 31 of the faceplate 30.
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Further details of the assembly are shown in Figure 6. The
cable 2 and the shields 7, 8 are laid against a floor. The shield 8 is
severed transversely of its length to expose the cable 2. The plate
10 is assembled between the cable 2 and the shield 7 and is secured
by the fasteners 17 to the floor. The elongated lands 11, 12, 13 lie
under the conductors 3, 4, 5 while the insuiation pad 18 separates
and cushions the conductors from the lands 11, 12, 13.
Figure 7 shows the edges of the shield 8 folded out of the plane
of the remainder of the shield 8 to impinge the tabs 14, 15. The
edges of the shield 8 are trimmed to the height of the tabs 14,15.
Conductive U-shaped spring clips 14A, 15A clip together the shield 8
and the tabs 14, 15 thereby establishing electrical connections there-
between. The terminal block 19 overlies the lands 11, 12, 13 with
the cable conductors 3, 4, 5 interposed. The fasteners 23A, 29A,
22A secure in the lands 11, 12, 13 and mount the block 19 to the
plate 10. The conductive fastener 29A secures also into and through
the conductor 4, and the plate 29C establishing ground potential
electrical connections with the plates 10, 29C, the conductor 4 and
the fastener 29~. The conductors 3, 4, 5 are clamped between the
block and the lands 11, 12, 13. The conductors conform to the
raised edges of the lands and are gripped by the raised lands to
prevent their movement. The cushion 18 prevents the raised edges
of the lands from penetrating into the cable insulation 6. The block
19 urges the knife edged lances 24F, 24F, 25F, 25F, 26F, 26F, 29D,
29D to penetrate through a layer of the cable insulation 6 and pene-
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trate into respective conductors 3, 4, 5, thereby to cstablish elec-
trical connections with those conductors and those lances. There-
after, the cover 37 shown in Figure 8 is assembled over the terminal
block 19, l:he faceplate 30 and the cover sections 34A and 3l,e, so
that the wall 40 of the cover 37 is coplaner with the flanges 31, 31 of
the faccplate 30. The cover sections 34A, 34B are slidably supported
on the track 33 that is elevated from the flanyes 31, 31 and the wall
40 .
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