Jumper assembly for an electrical distribution system

• US 7,201,593 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Group Dekko Incorporated (Graham Holdings Company)
• Original Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Daniel, Kondas, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta; Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US11/252,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/211, 439490-499
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64

Abstract

An electrical jumper assembly for an electrical distribution system, where the electrical jumper assembly includes at least one conductor carrier generally having a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of conductors in the at least one conductor carrier. A first electrical connector is connected to the plurality of conductors. The first electrical connector includes a first part directly connected to at least one conductor carrier, and a second part which has a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of the plurality of conductors. The second part is laterally offset from the first part, and the second part is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution system, comprising:

an electrical distribution harness including an electrical distribution connector;

an electrical jumper assembly connected to said electrical distribution connector, said electrical jumper assembly comprising;

at least one conductor carrier generally having a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of conductors in said at least one conductor carrier; and

a first electrical connector connected to said plurality of conductors, said first electrical connector including a housing, a first part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a second part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said second part being laterally offset from said first part, said second part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, said housing having only two ends, said two ends being a first end and a second end, said first part including said first end, said second part including said second end, said housing including a generally S-shaped configuration running from said first end to said second end.

2. An electrical distribution system of claim 1, further including a second electrical connector connected to said plurality of conductors, said second electrical connector including a third part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a fourth part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said fourth part being laterally offset from said third part, said fourth part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction.

3. The electrical distribution system of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor carrier includes a first conductor carrier with a first outside texture and a second conductor carrier with a second outside texture, said first outside texture being tactile discernably different than said second outside texture.

4. The electrical distribution system of claim 3, wherein said first conductor carrier has an oval cross-section and said second conductor carrier has a convoluted cross-section.

5. The electrical distribution system of claim 4, further including a plurality of alternating current conductors in said first conductor carrier and a plurality of direct current conductors in said second conductor carrier.

6. The electrical distribution system of claim 5, wherein said first electrical connector includes a first plurality of terminals connected to said plurality of alternating current conductors, and a second plurality of terminals connected to said plurality of direct current conductors, said first electrical connector includes a connector barrier separating said first plurality of terminals and said second plurality of terminals.

7. An electrical jumper assembly, comprising:

at least one conductor carrier generally having a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of conductors in said at least one conductor carrier; and

a first electrical connector connected to said plurality of conductors, said first electrical connector including a housing, a first part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a second part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said second part being laterally offset from said first part, said second part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, said housing having only two ends, said two ends being a first end and a second end, said first part including said first end, said second part including said second end, said housing including a generally S-shaped configuration running from said first end to said second end.

8. An electrical jumper assembly of claim 7, further including a second electrical connector connected to said plurality of conductors, said second electrical connector including a third part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a fourth part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said fourth part being laterally offset from said third part, said fourth part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction.

9. The electrical jumper assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one conductor carrier includes a first conductor carrier with a first outside texture and a second conductor carrier with a second outside texture, said first outside texture being tactile discernably different than said second outside texture.

10. The electrical jumper assembly of claim 9, wherein said first conductor carrier has an oval cross-section and said second conductor carrier has a convoluted cross-section.

11. The electrical jumper assembly of claim 10, further including a plurality of alternating current conductors in said first conductor carrier and a plurality of direct current conductors in said second conductor carrier.

12. The electrical jumper assembly of claim 11, wherein said first electrical connector includes a first plurality of terminals connected to said plurality of alternating current conductors, and a second plurality of terminals connected to said plurality of direct current conductors, said first electrical connector includes a connector barrier separating said first plurality of terminals and said second plurality of terminals.

13. A method of interconnecting a first electrical distribution harness and a second electrical distribution harness in an electrical distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one conductor carrier generally having a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of conductors in said at least one conductor carrier; and

connecting a first electrical connector to said plurality of conductors, said first electrical connector including a housing, a first part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a second part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said second part being laterally offset from said first part, said second part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, said housing having only two ends, said two ends being a first end and a second end, said first part including said first end, said second part including said second end, said housing including a generally S-shaped configuration running from said first end to said second end.

14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of connecting a second electrical connector to said plurality of conductors, said second electrical connector including a third part directly connected to said at least one conductor carrier, and a fourth part including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of conductors, said fourth part being laterally offset from said third part, said fourth part being approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction.