Pre-wired circuit component for flexible wiring system

• US 6,422,884 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sentinel Lighting Wiring Systems, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Sentinel Lighting Wiring Systems, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Golyshko, Kenneth E., Babasick, Michael W., Johnson, Lawrence L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/783,646
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 439/222, 439/470, 439/956, 439/221, 439/218, 439/357, 439/358, 439/353
• US Class Current: 439/222
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5812 the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

A pre-wired electrical component for a flexible wiring system has a housing, a flexible power supply cable connected in strain relieving relation to the housing within an inlet opening in the housing, at least one power supply outlet member mounted in an associated power outlet opening in the housing and a rotational circuit selector which includes a first connecting member mounted in fixed position on and exposed externally of the housing. Electrical buses disposed within the housing and separated from each other by a dielectric bus separator electrically connecting the power supply cable to the power supply outlet member and to the first connecting element. A cord drop assembly comprises a part of the pre-wired component and includes a cord drop for connection to a lightening fixture and a second connecting member for releasable plugging connection with the first connecting element in a selected one of a plurality of angular positions of connection to provide power to the cord drop, each position providing a different output voltage for operating a lighting fixture. A strain relief device carried by the second connecting element forms a closure for an open end of the connector, provides strain relief for the cord drop relative to the first connecting element and cooperate with latches on the housing to releasably secure the cord drop assembly in a selected position of electrical connection to the first connecting element. Another pre-wired component may be pluggingly connected to the power supply outlet to extend the flexible wiring system to accommodate another lighting fixture.

Claims

1. A pre-wired circuit component for a flexible wiring system comprising;

a housing defining a power inlet opening and a power outlet opening, an elongated flexible power supply cable for connection to a power supply source and extending into said housing through said power inlet opening, and a rotational power outlet selector assembly including a generally cylindrical first connecting element mounted in fixed position within said outlet opening, connecting means for electrically connecting said first connecting element to said power supply cable within said housing to receive power from said power supply cable, said rotational power outlet selector assembly further including a cord drop assembly having a flexible cord drop and a generally cylindrical second connecting element connected to said cord drop for releasable coaxial electrical plugging connection to said first connecting element to supply power received from said power supply cable to said cord drop, said second connecting element being electrically connectable to said first connecting element in a selected one of a plurality of possible connected positions angularly spaced apart about the axis of said first connecting element, said power supply cable delivering power to said cord drop at a substantially different voltage at each of said connected positions, said cord drop assembly further including first strain relieving means for relieving strain in said cord drop relative to said second connecting element.

2. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first strain relieving means includes retaining means for releasably securing said second connecting element in mating connected engagement with said first connecting element in each of said connected positions.

3. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second connecting element has an inner end connectable to said first connecting element and an outer end defining an outwardly open recess and said first strain relieving means includes closing means for forming a substantial closure for said recess when said second connecting element is connected in engagement with said first connecting element.

4. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining means includes a retaining ring substantially coaxially encircling said cylindrical second connecting element and defining a keeper and said housing includes a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly projecting latches engageable with said keeper.

5. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 3 wherein said closing means comprises an end wall, said cord drop extends through an aperture in said end wall and into said recess, and said first strain relieving means includes cord gripping means for securing said cord drop to said end wall.

6. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cord gripping means comprises a plurality of resilient fingers projecting outwardly from said end wall and a cord retainer snap ring receiving said cord drop therethrough and disposed in snap-on connection with said fingers and continuously urging said fingers into gripping engagement with said cord.

7. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second connecting element has a generally cylindrical body and a plurality of second keepers projecting generally radially outwardly therefrom and said first strain relieving means includes a retaining ring disposed in substantial coaxial surrounding engagement with said body and retained on said body by said second keepers.

8. A pre-wired electrical component as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first strain relieving means is disposed in snap-on assembly with said second connecting element.

9. A pre-wired electrical component as set forth in claim 8 wherein said retaining ring is further characterized as a split ring.

10. A pre-wired electrical component as set forth in claim 7 wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of resilient latches projecting outwardly from said housing at generally diametrically opposite sides of said outlet opening and said latches are releasably engagable with said retaining ring.

11. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first strain relieving means includes attaching means for a connecting said closing means to said retaining ring.

12. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 11 wherein said closing means includes an end wall and said attaching means comprises a plurality of elongating members integrally connecting to said end wall and said to retaining ring and extending therebetween.

13. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power inlet opening comprises a generally cylindrical opening and said circuit component includes second strain relieving means for engaging said power supply cable within said power inlet opening to relieve stress in said power supply cable within and relative to said housing.

14. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second strain relieving means includes a plurality of ribs integrally formed on said housing and projecting into said power inlet opening.

15. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 14 wherein said power supply cable has a outer jacket characterized by helical ridge and valley convolutions and each of said ribs is disposed within a valley convolution and between associated rib convolutions.

16. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 15 wherein said power supply cable comprises a BX (metal clad) cable.

17. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 14 wherein said power supply cable has a resilient cylindrical outer jacket and said second strain relieving means comprises a cylindrical split tubular sleeve received and retained in fixed complementary engagement with said housing within said power inlet opening and having a slotted sidewall defining a bore receiving said power supply cable therethrough and said ribs extend into said bore through said slotted sidewall and deformingly engage and grip said resilient outer jacket within said bore.

18. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprise bus bars.

19. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 18 wherein said component includes a dielectric bus separator disposed within said housing and separating said bus bars from each other.

20. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 1 including position indicating means for determining the selected connected position of said second connecting element relative to said first connecting element.

21. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 20 wherein said indicating means is further characterized as tactile means for determining said selected connected position.

22. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 21 wherein said tactile means comprises raised indicia of position on one of said elements including said housing element and said second connecting element and a raised pointer on the other of said elements including said housing element and said second connecting element.

23. A pre-wired circuit component for a flexible wiring system comprising;

a housing defining a chamber, a plurality of power conductors contained within said chamber, an elongated flexible power supply cable for connection to a power supply source and extending into said housing through a power inlet opening defined by said housing, said power supply cable having at least three supply conductors, each of said supply conductors being connected to a respectively associated one of said power conductors within said housing, a power output selector assembly including a generally cylindrical first connecting element mounted in fixed position in a power outlet opening defined by said housing and having a first group of electrical contacts electrically connected to said power conductors within said housing, said power output selector further including a generally cylindrical second connecting element for releasable connection with said first connecting element and having a second group of electrical contacts for mating with contacts of said first group when said second connecting element is connected to said first connecting element, and an elongated flexible cord drop having a plurality of outlet conductors, each of said outlet conductors being electrically connected to a respectively associated one of the contacts of said second group, said second connecting element being electrically connectable to said first connecting element in coaxial alignment with said first connecting element and in a selected one of a plurality of possible connected positions angularly spaced apart about the axis of said first connecting element to establish electrical connection between said supply cable and said cord drop, a pair of outlet conductors of said cord drop being electrically connected to a different pair of supply connectors of said supply cable in each one of said connected positions, whereby electrical power may be delivered by said supply cable to said cord drop at a substantially different voltage at each of said connected positions.

24. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 23 including first strain relieving means for releasably securing said second connecting element to said first connecting element in each of said connected positions.

25. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 24 including second strain relieving means for engaging said power supply cable within said power inlet opening to relieve strain in said power supply cable relative to said housing.

26. A pre-wired circuit component for a flexible wiring system comprising:

a housing defining a power inlet opening and a power outlet opening, an elongated flexible power supply cable for connection to a power supply source and extending into said housing through said power inlet opening, and a rotational power outlet selector assembly including a generally cylindrical first connecting element mounted in fixed position within said power outlet opening and connected to said power supply cable within said housing for receiving power from said power supply cable, said rotational power outlet selector assembly further including a cord drop assembly having a flexible cord drop and a generally cylindrical second connecting element connected to said cord drop for releasable coaxial electrical plugging connection to said first connecting element to supply power received from said power supply cable to said cord drop, said second connecting element being electrically connectable to said first connecting element in a selected one of a plurality of possible connected positions angularly spaced apart about the axis of said first connecting element, said power supply cable delivering power to said cord drop at a substantially different voltage at each of said connected positions, said cord drop assembly further including second strain relieving means for relieving strain in said power supply within and relative to said housing.

27. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 26 wherein said second strain relieving means includes a plurality of ribs integrally formed on said housing and projecting into and engaging said power supply cable within said power inlet opening.

28. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 27 wherein said power supply cable has an outer jacket characterized by helical ridge and valley convolutions and each of said ribs is disposed within a valley convolution and between associated rib convolutions.

29. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 28 wherein said power supply cable comprises a BX (metal clad) cable.

30. A pre-wired circuit component as set forth in claim 27 wherein said power supply cable has a resilient cylindrical outer jacket and said second strain relieving means comprises a cylindrical split tubular sleeve received and retained within said power inlet opening and having a slotted sidewall defining a bore receiving said power supply cable therethrough and said ribs extend into said bore through said slotted sidewall and deformingly engage and grip said resilient outer jacket within said bore.