Electrical distribution system and connector therefor
First Claim
1. A lighting system comprising:
- a channel member having guide means and a generally C-shaped cross-section with an opening;
a flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors therein, said cable being retained within said channel member;
a first connector member having means thereon for slidably engaging said guide means and other means for attachment to an electrical fixture;
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical distribution system for lighting and the like including a generally C-shaped channel forming a track having guide shoulders on the exterior of the bight portion thereof, and inwardly extending lip portions adjacent the opening thereof for receiving and captively retaining a multiple conductor insulated cable within the channel. A first channel-shaped connector member is provided with inwardly extending guide portions configured for slidably engaging the shoulders of said channel member, the depth of the first connector member being sufficient for receiving therein a second connector member. The second connector member has a body portion with shoulders thereon spaced a distance less than the distance between adjacent edges of the lips of the open end of the channel member. Conductive barbs extend in generally perpendicular relation to the surface of the body portion intermediate the shoulders thereof, the barbs being at positions corresponding to the position of the conductors to be engaged. A pair of tapered leg portions extend from the body portion at positions for abutting the side walls of the channel member. A sliding coaction between the first and second connector members with the second connector member positioned with the shoulders thereof between the lips of the opening urges the barbs into piercing engagement with the insulation therebeneath for establishing electrical contact between the barbs and the conductors.
115 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A lighting system comprising:
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a channel member having guide means and a generally C-shaped cross-section with an opening; a flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors therein, said cable being retained within said channel member; a first connector member having means thereon for slidably engaging said guide means and other means for attachment to an electrical fixture; - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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2. a second connector member having barb means for piercing the insulation of at least some of said conductors of said cable through the opening of said channel member, and electrical connection means for connection to the electrical fixture, said first and second connector members being configured for coacting engagement for urging said barb means through the insulation of said at least some of said conductors and for retaining said connector members in fixed relation relative to said channel member,
and interengaging cam means on said first and second connector members for driving said second connector member toward said channel member and said cable in response to sliding motion of said first connector member along the length of said channel member.
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14. An electrical distribution system comprising:
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an elongate channel member having guide means and a generally C-shaped cross-section with an opening extending the length thereof; a flexible cable having three insulated conductors therein, said cable being dimensioned for being retained within said channel member; a first connector member having means thereon for slidably engaging said guide means and means for attachment to an electrical fixture; a second connector member configured for being positioned on said channel member at said opening and having barb means for piercing the insulation of two of said conductors of said cable in a first orientation and one of said two conductors and another of said conductors in an opposite orientation; means on said second connector member for providing electrical connection between said barb means and an electrical fixture, said first and second connector members being configured for coacting engagement for urging said barb means through the insulation of said conductors and for retaining said connector members in fixed relation relative to said channel member, and interchanging cam means on said first and second connector members for driving said second connector member toward said channel member and said cable in response to sliding motion of said first connector member along the length of said channel member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 37, 39, 40, 41)
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27. In an electrical distribution system, the combination comprising:
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a flexible cable having at least two insulated conductors therein; a channel member configured for receiving said cable therein, said channel member having guide means thereon; one connector member having at least two barb means configured and positioned for passing through an opening of said channel member for piercingly engaging said at least two conductors; another connector member having means for coacting with said guide means and being configured for slidable movement relative to said one connector member and along said guide means in the longitudinal direction for urging said barb means through the insulation of said at least two conductors and for retaining said one connector member in engagement with said channel member; electrical fixture means coupled to said another connector member; and means for electrically interconnecting said barb means and said electrical fixture means.
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38. An electrical distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of track sections; a flexible cable position within said track sections; a first connector having barb means for penetrating said cable; a second connector slidably mounted on one of said track sections adjacent said first connector for motion along the track section between a first position displaced from the first connector and at which first position the first connector may be detached from said cable, and a second position in contact with said first connector; interengaging means on said first and second connectors responsive to slidable motion of the second connector along the track section relative to the first connector for urging the barb means toward engagement with the cable; and means on said second connector for holding said first connector in position adjacent said track section with said barb means contacting said cable, whereby said first connector may be detached from said track section by slidably moving said second connector along the track section to said first position and whereby said first connector may be electrically and mechanically connected to said cable and track section by sliding said second connector from said first position to said second position.
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Specification