Connectors for electrically active grid

• US 7,997,910 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Worthington Armstrong Venture
• Original Assignee: AWI Licensing Company (Armstrong World Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patterson, Brian T., Fortuna, Jon A., Manning, Randy M, Locati, Ronald P., Myers, Jere W., Reynolds, Charles E., Garver, William J., Eisenhower, Jae A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US12/386,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20100015854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 439121-123, 439/533
• US Class Current: 439/121
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention includes an electrified framework system having a plurality of grid members which form a grid framework. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid members as shown throughout the drawings. The system includes connectors which provide low voltage power connections. For example, the connectors bring power from a power supply to the conductive material disposed on the grid framework and/or the connectors provide electrical connections between the conductive material on the grid framework and various devices.

Claims

1. A connector for installation in a longitudinally extending lower box of an electrified grid element, the lower box having a pair of low voltage conductors disposed therein, wherein the connector includes a housing and a pair of contact elements movably mounted thereon, the contact elements having end portions for engaging the low voltage conductors, the improvement comprising:

a rotator having a pair of wings extending therefrom, the winged rotator being coupled to the housing and being rotatable between first and second positions, the winged rotator being rotatable without having to rotate any other portion of the housing;

a cam member mounted on the winged rotator, the cam member interposing the pair of contact elements, wherein the cam member provides the means for coupling the winged rotator to the contact elements; and

wherein upon rotation of the winged rotator the cam member is rotated and the cam member urges the contact elements against the conductors in the box thereby providing and electrical and mechanical connection between the connector and the lower box of an electrified grid element.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a threaded stud, the threaded stud extending outwardly from a bottom surface of the connector housing and providing a means to mount a device thereto.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the lower box includes a base wall extending substantially horizontally, a pair of side walls extending substantially vertically from the edged of the base wall and a pair of return flanges extending substantially horizontally, the return flanges forming a longitudinally extending slot therebetween.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the pair of conductors are positioned parallel the sidewalls of the lower box.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the contact elements are in parallel alignment with the pair of conductors.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the cam member means for coupling the rotator to the contact elements is a top cam portion which positively locks in the lower box of the grid element.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein at least the top cam portion of the cam member is positioned in the box at a height above the pair of horizontally extending return flanges of the grid box.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the cam member is positioned on a vertical centerline of the connector.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the connector includes first and second outboard cams.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the centerline cam and two outboard cams are synchronized in their movement.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first and second outboard cams are positioned on opposing sides of the cam member positioned on the centerline of the connector.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the first and second outboard cams assist in the mechanical retention of the connector in the lower box of the grid element and eliminate sensitivity of positioning of the connector in the grid framework.

13. The connector of claim 11, wherein the first and second outboard cams are held in place by a cam carrier which is attached to the cam member positioned on the centerline of the connector.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the cam carrier aligns the first outboard cam, the second outboard cam and the cam member positioned on the centerline in a linear row.

15. An electrified framework system comprising:

a grid element having a top portion extending in a substantially vertical plane, the grid element includes first and second conductors of opposing polarity, the conductors being disposed on the top portion of the grid element and being positioned on opposing sides of the vertical plane in which the top portion extends substantially; and

a connector, the connector being mounted over the top portion of the grid element, the connector having a means for providing a low voltage power connection,

wherein the connector includes first and second conductive wire crimp contacts and a nonconductive housing.

16. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the means for providing the low voltage power connection is between the conductors and a power supply, the connector bringing power from the power supply to the conductors, whereby the conductors are electrified.

17. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the connector includes a polarization means.

18. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the nonconductive housing insulates the first wire crimp contact from the second wire crimp contact whereby the first and second wire crimp contacts are prevented from shorting out one another.

19. The electrified framework system of claim 15, further comprising a clamp, the clamp being positioned over the housing, the clamp providing strength to the housing and assuring an electrical connection is maintained between the wire crimp contacts and the conductors.

20. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the first and second conductors are electrified and the low voltage power connection is between the conductors and a low voltage device, the connector transporting power away from the first and second conductors to the low voltage device, whereby the low voltage device is powered.

21. The electrified framework system of claim 20, wherein the low voltage device is selected from the group consisting of a lighting fixture and an electrifiable tile.

22. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the first wire crimp contact includes first and second contacting portions.

23. The electrified framework system of claim 22, wherein the first contacting portion includes a contact spring which is compliant and in contact with at least one of the first and second conductors disposed on the grid element.

24. The electrified framework system of claim 23, wherein the second contacting portion includes a receptacle which is connected to wiring of a low voltage power supply.

25. The electrified framework system of claim 23, wherein the second contacting portion includes a receptacle which is connected to wiring of a low voltage device.

26. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the housing conforms substantially to the top portion of the grid element.

27. The electrified framework system of claim 26, wherein a bottom portion of the housing includes a sloping surface whereby dislodgement of the connector is prevented when devices are removed from the openings formed by the grid framework.

28. The electrified framework system of claim 15, wherein the connector comprises a nonconductive housing having opposing legs which straddle the top portion of the grid element, the housing having a means for attaching the conductor to the grid element in such a way that shorting out of the power supply is avoided.

29. The electrified framework system of claim 28, wherein a protrusion extends from each opposing leg, each protrusion being seated in a first keying slot, the keying slot extending through the web portion of the grid element.

30. The electrified framework system of claim 29, wherein the first keying slot is an angled slot.

31. An electrified framework system comprising:

a grid element having a top portion extending in a substantially vertical plane, the grid element includes first and second conductors of opposing polarity, the conductors being disposed on the top portion of the grid element and being positioned on opposing sides of the vertical plane in which the top portion extends substantially; and

a connector, the connector being mounted over the top portion of the grid element, the connector having a means for providing a low voltage power connection,

wherein the connector includes a first member and a second member, the first member being mounted on the top portion of the grid element and the second member being mounted to a device,

wherein the first member includes a nonconductive housing, the nonconductive housing having opposing legs which straddle the top portion of the grid element.

32. The electrified framework system of claim 31, further comprising a conductive clamp positioned over the housing, the clamp having opposing legs which overlap the legs of the housing.

33. The electrified framework system of claim 32, wherein the clamp conforms substantially to the shape of the housing.

34. The electrified framework system of claim 32, wherein each of the opposing legs of the clamp includes a spring contact portion.

35. The electrified framework system of claim 34, wherein the conductive clamp mates with the housing such that a conductive spring contact extends inwardly and through a respective slot in each of the opposing legs of the housing, wherein the conductive springs are in contact with the conductors disposed on the grid element.

36. The electrified framework system of claim 35, wherein the second member includes a nonconductive housing and first and second compliant device contact springs.

37. The electrified framework system of claim 36, wherein the housing of the second member insulates the first and second compliant device contact springs from one another.

38. The electrified framework system of claim 37, wherein the first and second compliant contact springs of the second member are in alignment and mate with an outer surface of one of the opposing legs of the clamp of the first member, the outer surface of the clamp leg providing a mating contact area for the contact springs of the second member, whereby an electrical connection is made between a device to which the second member is mounted and the first and second conductors disposed on the grid element.

39. The electrified framework system of claim 38, wherein the mating contact area can accommodate a wide tolerance range of device positioning in an electrified framework to which the connector is attached.

40. The electrified framework system of claim 38, wherein the first and second compliant contact springs each have a poke-home type of receptacle connected thereto to receive device wiring.