Electrical connectors for lighting and the like

• US 10,236,627 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christmas Northeast Inc.
• Original Assignee: Christmas Northeast Inc.
• Inventors: Krize, Anthony, Ryder, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D
• Application Number:
  US16/108,642
• Time in Patent Office: 209 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/235 Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/105 using magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0035 the fastening means being capable of simultaneously attaching of an other part, e.g. a housing portion or an optical component
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0065 at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. spring-mounted contact plate in a bayonet base
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/58 Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals for high tension switches H01H33/025; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/14; for circuit breakers H01H71/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/62 Connection of wires protruding from the vessel to connectors carried by the separate part
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/44 directly applied to, or forming part of, the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/46 supported by a separate part, e.g. base, cap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 : with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 : the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/05 : Two-pole devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/18 : having only abutting contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 : Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 : Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 : for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 : in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 : structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 : Ceiling roses or other lighting sets

Abstract

An electric light including a lamp base and lamp housing with electrical connectors that are closed by magnetic attraction when polarity is correct. The lamp base is held physically in place in the lamp housing by the magnetic attraction of two pair of magnets without the need of a threaded connection. The magnet pairs hold the lamp base to the lamp housing in a fixed orientation allowing electricity to flow through the terminals in the lamp housing regardless of whether the source of electrical current is direct or alternating, and, if direct current is the source, such as electrical current from solar cells or batteries, preserves polarity, and can deliver direct current when the light source uses direct current, such as LEDs.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

(a) a lamp having

(i) a light source;

(ii) a lamp base with a first hole and a second hole formed therein, said lamp base carrying said light source;

(iii) a first terminal electrically connected to said light source and positioned at said first hole in said lamp base;

(iv) a second terminal electrically connected to said light source and positioned at a second hole in said lamp base;

(v) a first magnet having a north end and a south end, said first magnet being held at said first hole in said lamp base by said first terminal with said north end of said first magnet facing toward said first hole, and wherein said first terminal is operable to prevent movement of said first through said first hole in said lamp base;

(vi) a second magnet having a north end and a south end, said second magnet being held at said second hole in said lamp base by said second terminal with said south end of said second magnet facing toward said second hole, and wherein said second terminal is operable to prevent movement of said second magnet through said second hole in said lamp base;

(vii) at least one first limiter operable to limit movement of said first magnet away from said first hole;

(viii) at least one second limiter operable to limit movement of said second magnet away from said second hole; and

(b) a lamp housing operable to engage said lamp base, said lamp housing having a third hole and a fourth hole formed therein, said lamp housing having

(i) a third terminal at said third hole;

(ii) a fourth terminal at said fourth hole;

(iii) a third magnet having a north end and a south end, said third magnet being held by said lamp housing with said south end facing said third hole; and

(iv) a fourth magnet having a north end and a south end, said fourth magnet being held by said lamp housing with said north end facing said fourth hole, wherein, when said lamp base engages said lamp housing, said first magnet attracts said third magnet and repels said fourth magnet, and said second magnet attracts said fourth magnet and repels said third magnet to hold said first terminal against said third terminal and to hold said second terminal against said fourth terminal, and to pass an electrical current between said first terminal and said third terminal and between said second terminal and said fourth terminal, to light said light source.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein

said at least one first limiter holds said first magnet near said first hole;

and

said at least one second limiter holds said second magnet near said second hole.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein

said at least one first limiter further comprises a first pair of posts adjacent to said first hole, said first magnet being held therebetween, said first pair of posts operable to limit movement of said first magnet away from said first hole;

and

said at least one second limiter further comprises a second pair of posts adjacent to said second hole, said second magnet being held therebetween, said second pair of posts operable to limit movement of said second magnet away from said second hole.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first terminal, said second terminal, said third terminal, and said fourth terminal are made of beryllium copper alloy.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first magnet, said second magnet, said third magnet, and said fourth magnet are made of nickel-plated neodymium.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a junction box;

(b) a bridge attached to said junction box and to said lamp housing; and

(c) electrically conductive wiring running between said junction box to said third terminal and to said fourth terminal through said bridge.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a junction box;

(b) a bridge attached to said junction box and to said lamp housing;

(c) a rectifier carried by said junction box operable to convert alternating current to direct current; and

(d) electrically conductive wiring carrying direct current and running from said rectifier in said junction box through said bridge to said third terminal and to said fourth terminal in said lamp housing.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

9. A device, comprising:

(a) a first conduit with a first end;

(b) a second conduit with a second end;

(c) a first electrical connector in said first end of said first conduit, wherein said first electrical connector has a first hole and a second hole,

(d) a first terminal at said first hole and a second terminal at said second hole of said first electrical connector of said first conduit;

(e) a first magnet being held at said first hole and a second magnet being held at said second hole of said first electrical connector in said first conduit, wherein said first magnet has a north pole and a south pole with said north pole facing said first hole, and wherein said second magnet has a north pole and a south pole with said south pole facing said second hole;

(f) a second electrical connector in said second end of said second conduit, wherein said second electrical connector has a third hole and a fourth hole,

(g) a third terminal at said third hole and a fourth terminal at said fourth hole of said second electrical connector of said second conduit; and

(h) a third magnet being held at said third hole and a fourth magnet being held at said fourth hole of said second electrical connector in said second end of said second conduit, wherein said third magnet has a north pole and a south pole with said north pole facing said third hole of said second electrical connector, and wherein said fourth magnet has a north pole and a south pole with said south pole of said fourth magnet facing said fourth hole of said fourth terminal of said second electrical connector in said second end of said second conduit, wherein said first terminal of said first electrical connector and said fourth terminal of said second electrical connector are in electrical connection and said second terminal of said first electrical connector and said third terminal of said second electrical connector are in electrical connection, said north pole of said first magnet and said south pole of said fourth magnet holding said first terminal and said fourth terminal together, and said south pole of said second magnet and said north pole of said third magnet holding said second terminal and said third terminal together.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said first conduit is a lamp base.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said second conduit is a lamp housing.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said first conduit is connected to an electrical source and said second conduit is connected to an electrical load.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said first terminal further comprises a first limiter, said first limiter resisting movement of said first terminal away from said first hole and second terminal away from said second hole.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said third terminal further comprises a third limiter, said third limiter resisting movement of said third terminal away from said third hole and said fourth terminal away from said fourth hole.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein said first terminal, said second terminal, said third terminal, and said fourth terminal are made of beryllium copper alloy.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein said first magnet, said second magnet, said third magnet, and said fourth magnet are made of nickel-plated neodymium.

17. The device of claim 9, further comprising a light source.

18. The device of claim 9, further comprising a light emitting diode.