Receptacle connector between controller and lighting fixture

• US 8,398,435 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ilyes, Laszlo, Aboumrad, Tony, Creighton, Jason, Aurongzeb, Deeder
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US13/224,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607.41, 439/607.5, 439/607.51, 439/607.52
• US Class Current: 439/607.41
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/74 Devices having four or more poles , e.g. holders for compact fluorescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/9456 for bayonet type coupling devices

Abstract

An electrical receptacle comprises a body comprising an opening and main terminal channels that are spaced apart from each other and from the opening. Electrically conductive main connectors are disposed in the body and spaced apart from each other. The main connectors are disposed in or in alignment with the main terminal channels. A connector is disposed in the body and includes an arcuate shape in or near the opening.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body comprising an opening and main terminal channels that are spaced apart from each other and from said opening;

electrically conductive main connectors disposed in said body and spaced apart from each other, said main connectors being disposed in or in alignment with said main terminal channels; and

at least one communication connector that is disposed in said body and includes an arcuate shape in or near said opening,

wherein main terminals on a device are received in said main terminal channels and said device is twisted to lock said main terminals into electrical contact with said main connectors, and a circular, central communication terminal of said device electrically contacts said communication connector throughout said twisting.

2. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body is formed of one piece.

3. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body is formed of electrically insulative material.

4. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion.

5. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive ring shaped portion.

6. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 comprising at least three of said main terminal channels and said main connectors.

7. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion and an electrically conductive ring shaped portion that are concentric to each other.

8. The electrical receptacle of claim 7 wherein said ring shaped portion is disposed around said tubular portion.

9. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body is elongated and includes a second end portion at which said main terminal channels and said opening are disposed and a first end portion spaced apart from said second end along a longitudinal axis of said body.

10. The electrical receptacle of claim 9 wherein said main connectors are disposed in main connector openings and said communication connector is disposed in a communication connector opening, at said first end portion of said body.

11. The electrical receptacle of claim 9 wherein said body comprises an elongated portion made of electrically insulating material extending from in or near said opening at said second end portion toward first end portion.

12. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body comprising an opening and main terminal channels that are spaced apart from each other and from said opening;

electrically conductive main connectors disposed in said body and spaced apart from each other, said main connectors being disposed in or in alignment with said main terminal channels; and

at least one communication connector that is disposed in said body and includes an arcuate shape in or near said opening,

wherein said main terminal channels are arcuate shaped and located circumferentially around and radially spaced from said opening which is centrally located in said body,

wherein said main terminal channels form arcs of a reference ring that is concentric with said opening.

13. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body comprising a centrally located communication terminal opening and arcuate shaped main terminal channels located circumferentially around and radially spaced from said communication terminal opening;

electrically conductive main connectors spaced apart from each other and disposed in or in alignment with said main terminal channels; and

at least one communication connector that is centrally located in said body and includes an arcuate shape in or near said communication terminal opening,

wherein main terminals on a controller device are received in said main terminal channels and said controller device is twisted to lock said main terminals into electrical contact with said main connectors, and a circular, central communication terminal of said controller device electrically contacts said communication connector throughout said twisting.

14. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said body is formed of one piece.

15. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said body is formed of electrically insulative material.

16. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion.

17. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive ring shaped portion.

18. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion and an electrically conductive ring shaped portion that are concentric to each other.

19. The electrical receptacle of claim 18 wherein said ring shaped portion is disposed around said tubular portion.

20. The electrical receptacle of claim 13 wherein said body is elongated and includes a second end portion at which said main terminal channels and said communication terminal opening are disposed and a first end portion spaced apart from said second end portion along a longitudinal axis of said body.

21. The electrical receptacle of claim 20 wherein said body comprises an elongated portion made of electrically insulating material extending from in or near said communication terminal opening at said second end portion toward first end portion.

22. The electrical receptacle of claim 20 wherein said main connectors are disposed in main connector openings and said communication connector is disposed in a communication connector opening, at said first end portion of said body.

23. An electrical receptacle comprising:

an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a body having a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion along a longitudinal axis, said first end portion leading into an interior of said body, wherein at said second end portion of said body are disposed an opening and main terminal channels spaced apart from each other and from said opening;

an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said longitudinal axis into the interior of said body;

electrically conductive main connectors spaced apart from each other and being disposed in or in alignment with said main terminal channels; and

a communication connector that includes an arcuate shape in or near said opening,

wherein main terminals on a controller device are received in said main terminal channels and said controller device is twisted to lock said main terminals into electrical contact with said main connectors, and a circular, central communication terminal of said controller device electrically contacts said communication connector throughout said twisting.

24. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 comprising an elongated portion made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said exterior component or said interior component extending from in or near said opening toward said first end portion.

25. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 wherein said communication connector includes at least two components each including said arcuate shape.

26. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive ring shaped portion.

27. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 wherein said arcuate shape of said communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion.

28. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 comprising a circular plate extending from said body at said second end portion.

29. The electrical receptacle of claim 23 wherein said arcuate shape of communication connector comprises an electrically conductive tubular portion and an electrically conductive ring shaped portion that are concentric to each other.

30. The electrical receptacle of claim 29 wherein said ring shaped portion is disposed around said tubular portion.

31. An electrical receptacle comprising:

an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a body having a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion along a longitudinal axis, said first end portion leading into an interior of said body, wherein at said second end portion of said body are disposed an opening and main terminal channels spaced apart from each other and from said opening;

an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said longitudinal axis into the interior of said body;

electrically conductive main connectors spaced apart from each other and being disposed in or in alignment with said main terminal channels; and

a communication connector that includes an arcuate shape in or near said opening,

wherein said main terminal channels are arcuate shaped and located circumferentially around and radially spaced from said opening which is located centrally at said second end portion of said body, wherein said main terminal channels form arcs of a reference ring that is concentric with said opening.