INSTALLATION COUPLER
First Claim
1. An installation coupler for connecting a first cable to a second cable while providing a free set of plug pin socket contacts, said first cable having a double female installation socket attached thereto and said second cable having a male installation plug attached thereto, said male installation plug comprising a set of male plug pins which include means for enabling the cores of said second cable to be attached thereto and said double female installation socket comprising first and second sets of plug pin socket contacts said sets of contacts being connected to one another, there being means for attaching the cores of said first cable to the two sets of contacts, said pins of the male installation plug and corresponding contacts in each of said sets of contacts in the double female installation plug having a configuration that allows the pins to be in register with the contacts of one of the sets of contacts, only when the male installation plug as a predetermined orientation relative to the set of contacts, wherein the male installation plug includes a protruding stop that at least partly obstructs the first set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the second set of contacts and that is clear of the second set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the first set of contacts.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An installation coupler is disclosed for connecting a first cable (306) to a second cable (330) in and installation for supplying power to at least two workstations (322) via a free set of plug pin socket contacts (314) and via the second cable (330). The first cable (306) has a double female installation socket (300) with two sets of contacts (314) and the second cable (330) has a male installation plug (304) that can be plugged into at least one of the sets of contacts (314), with a predetermined orientation of the plug (304) relative to the set of contacts (314). The installation plug (304) includes a protruding stop (307) that partly obstructs the lower one of the sets of contacts (314) when the plug is incorrectly connected to the upper set, and that is clear of the contacts (314) when the plug (304) is correctly connected to the lower set. The protruding stop (307) thus prevents the simultaneous connection of the plugs (304) of more than one second cable (330), to the double female socket (300).
33 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An installation coupler for connecting a first cable to a second cable while providing a free set of plug pin socket contacts, said first cable having a double female installation socket attached thereto and said second cable having a male installation plug attached thereto, said male installation plug comprising a set of male plug pins which include means for enabling the cores of said second cable to be attached thereto and said double female installation socket comprising first and second sets of plug pin socket contacts said sets of contacts being connected to one another, there being means for attaching the cores of said first cable to the two sets of contacts, said pins of the male installation plug and corresponding contacts in each of said sets of contacts in the double female installation plug having a configuration that allows the pins to be in register with the contacts of one of the sets of contacts, only when the male installation plug as a predetermined orientation relative to the set of contacts, wherein the male installation plug includes a protruding stop that at least partly obstructs the first set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the second set of contacts and that is clear of the second set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the first set of contacts.
- 5. An installation for supplying power to at least two electrical devices, said installation including a main plug for connecting the installation to a source of electrical power, a double female installation socket, and a first cable connecting said main plug to said double female installation socket, the double female installation socket comprising first and second sets of plug pin socket contacts, said set of contacts being connected to one another and there being means for attaching the cores of said first cable to said two sets of contacts, said installation further including a second cable having a male installation plug attached thereto, said male installation plug comprising a set of male plug pins which include means for enabling the cores of said second cable to be attached thereto, said pins of the male installation plug and corresponding contacts in each of said sets of contacts in the double female installation plug having a configuration that allows the pins to be in register with the contacts of one of the sets of contacts, only when the male installation plug as a predetermined orientation relative to the set of contacts, wherein the male installation plug includes a protruding stop that at least partly obstructs the first set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the second set of contacts and that is clear of the second set of contacts when the male installation plug is connected to the first set of contacts, the second set of contacts being connectable to a first electrical device and the second cable being connectable to at least one further electrical device.
Specification