Securing electrical devices

• US 8,440,912 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velcro IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Kraus, David P. Jr., Hinton, Kristel, Gallant, Christopher M., Clarner, Mark A., Devershetty, Vamshideep
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US13/251,506
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 174/117.F, 174/117.FF
• US Class Current: 174/117.FF
• 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

Abstract

An electrical cable includes first and second conductive strips and an electrically insulative base extending between and joining the first and second conductive strips and electrically isolating the first conductive strip from the second conductive strip. The first and second conductive strips each include an electrically conductive thermoplastic resin in contact with a longitudinally continuous electrical conductor, the electrically conductive thermoplastic resin having a lower electrical conductivity than the electrical conductor. The electrically conductive thermoplastic resin forms an exposed surface of the cable and a field of fastener elements extending from the exposed surface. Lighting systems and electrical fastening devices include similar features.

Claims

1. An electrical cable comprising:

a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip, each conductive strip including;

a longitudinally continuous electrical conductor;

an electrically conductive thermoplastic resin in contact with the electrical conductor and having a lower electrical conductivity than the electrical conductor, the electrically conductive thermoplastic resin forming both an exposed surface of the cable and a field of fastener element stems extending from the exposed surface; and

an electrically insulative base extending between and joining the first conductive strip and the second conductive strip and electrically isolating the first conductive strip from the second conductive strip.

2. The cable of claim 1 wherein each longitudinally extending electrical conductor is at least partially embedded within the electrically conducting thermoplastic resin.

3. The cable of claim 1 wherein each longitudinally extending electrical conductor is at least partially embedded within the electrically insulative base.

4. The cable of claim 1 wherein the electrically insulative base includes a lane of an electrically insulative resin disposed directly between the first conductive strip and the second conductive strip.

5. The cable of claim 1 further comprising an electrically insulative layer disposed along a portion of an outer surface of at least some of the fastener elements of each field.

6. The cable of claim 5, wherein each fastener comprises user exposed surfaces and substantially unexposed surfaces, the electrically insulative layer disposed along the exposed surfaces of the fastener, and substantially unexposed surfaces of the fasteners substantially uncoated to permit electrical communication through one or more of the substantially unexposed surfaces.

7. The cable of claim 1 wherein at least one of the longitudinally continuous electrical conductors comprises conductive yarn extending along the cable.

8. The cable of claim 7 further comprising a wire at least partially embedded in the conductive yarn.

9. The electrical cable of claim 1, wherein the first conductive strip is electrically isolated from the second conductive strip.