Clamping and connecting structure for track lights

• US 5,584,576 A
• Filed: 11/27/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wei Hong Shen
• Original Assignee: Wei Hong Shen
• Inventors: Wei Hong, Shen
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US08/562,889
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/226, 362/285, 362/382, 362/396, 362/404, 362/391, 439/110, 439/111, 439/112, 439/116, 439/117, 439/118, 439/119, 439/121
• US Class Current: 362/396
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts

Abstract

A clamping and connecting structure for a track light includes a track unit and a clamping unit. The track unit consists of a track with two grooves each of which receives a packing strip accommodating a lead wire. The clamping unit consists of a clamping sleeve with locking holes at both ends, a pair of clamping pieces each having an upper bent guide strip and a lower through hole, a pair of bent connecting pieces each having an upper through hole and a lower through hole, and a connecting sleeve with insert holes in one side. Screws are used to lock the upper through holes of the connecting pieces and the lower through holes of the clamping pieces to the clamping sleeve such that the guide strips are in contact with the lead wires held by the packing strips of the track. Screws are further used to lock the lower through holes of the connecting pieces to the connecting sleeve, the insert holes of which may receive insert means of a lamp. The connecting sleeve may be instead connected to an extension bar unit which may be connected to a lamp or may be further connected to another extension bar unit.

Claims

1. A clamping and connecting structure for a track light, comprising:

a track unit consisting of a track having two grooves in both sides thereof, each of said grooves having raised strips at both a first and a second outer edge thereof, a couple of packing strips, each of said packing strips being fitted into each of said grooves and having a couple of retaining strips respectively formed at a first and a second side thereof to mate with said first and second outer edges, a retaining recess being defined within said packing strip for holding a lead wire;

a clamping unit consisting of a couple of clamping pieces each having a bent guide strip at an upper end thereof and a through hole in a lower portion thereof, a clamping sleeve having a plurality of seats with a plurality of lock holes respectively in opposite ends thereof, a couple of bent connecting pieces each having an upper through hole and a lower through hole, and a connecting sleeve having a plurality of locking holes, respectively, in opposite ends thereof and a plurality of insert holes in one side thereof, screws being passed through the upper through holes of said bent connecting pieces and the lower through holes of said clamping pieces into the lock holes of said clamping sleeve respectively to lock upper portions of said bent connecting pieces and said clamping pieces to said clamping sleeve, and screws being passed through the lower through holes of said bent connecting pieces and lock holes of said connecting sleeve respectively to lock lower portions of said bent connecting pieces to said connecting sleeve; and

an extension bar unit, wherein

each of said guide strips of said clamping pieces is arranged to be in contact with said lead wire in each retaining recess of said packing strip, and said extension bar unit connected to said connecting sleeve for mounting of a lamp.

2. A clamping and connecting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lamp having insert means insertably mounted in said insert holes of said connecting sleeve of said clamping unit.

3. A clamping and connecting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension bar unit has one end thereof locked to said connecting sleeve by means of screws while another end thereof is connected to a second connecting sleeve with insert holes for mounting of a lamp via a clamping sleeve connected to a couple of bent connecting pieces and screws.

4. A clamping and connecting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension unit has one end thereof locked to said connecting sleeve by means of screws while another end thereof is connected to a second extension unit by means of a sleeve and screws, and said second extension unit is in turn connected to a second connecting sleeve with insert holes for mounting of a lamp via a clamping sleeve connected to a couple of bent connecting pieces and screws.