Power track

• US 8,968,011 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hoffmeister Leuchten GmbH (Société d’Application des Méthodes Modernes d’Éclairage SA)
• Original Assignee: Hoffmeister Leuchten GmbH (Société d’Application des Méthodes Modernes d’Éclairage SA)
• Inventors: Hoffmeister, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US13/859,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 439/110, 439/116, 439/117, 439/118
• US Class Current: 439/110
• 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

Abstract

A metal power track has a U-section body having a pair of parallel side walls joined by a floor wall and delimiting a longitudinally extending retaining channel. Respective longitudinally extending and dielectric support rails are carried on the side walls, and a ground strip is provided on the floor wall. Two respective longitudinally extending, uninsulated bare main conductors are carried on each of the the dielectric support rails and are adapted to conduct power. Respective longitudinally extending uninsulated secondary conductors are carried on each of the dielectric support rails between the respective main conductors but out of electrical contact therewith. The conductors are all exposed transversely in the retaining channel. Each of the secondary conductors is adapted to carry electrical control signals or act as light-duty power feed lines.

Claims

1. A metal power track comprising:

a U-section body having a pair of parallel side walls joined by a floor wall and delimiting a longitudinally extending retaining channel;

respective longitudinally extending and dielectric support rails carried on the side walls and each formed with

two transversely spaced and longitudinally extending outer bars projecting inward toward the retaining channel and

a longitudinally extending center bar between the outer bar, defining with the respective outer bars two outer grooves, and formed with a bifurcated inner end forming an inner groove;

a ground strip provided on the floor wall;

respective longitudinally extending, uninsulated bare main conductors adapted to conduct power and each held in a respective one of the outer grooves;

respective longitudinally extending uninsulated secondary conductors held in the inner grooves between the respective main conductors but out of electrical contact therewith, the conductors all being exposed transversely in the retaining channel, inner edges of the bars and of the bifurcated inner end extending inward of the respective conductors, each of the secondary conductors being adapted to carry electrical control signals or act as light-duty power feed lines.

2. The power track defined in claim 1, wherein the body is further formed with:

support formations formed on outer edges of the side walls and adapted for engagement with an adapter transversely fittable into the retaining channel, one of the formations being provided with a bare ground conductor exposed in the retaining channel.

3. The power track defined in claim 1 wherein the center bars are each of reduced thickness between the respective outer groove and the respective secondary conductor.

4. The power track defined in claim 1, wherein the secondary conductors lie in planes spaced inwardly between planes in which the respective main conductors lie, the planes being parallel to the side walls and one another.

5. The power track defined in claim 4, wherein the inner edges of the bars lie in planes inward of the planes of the respective conductors.

6. The power track defined in claim 5, wherein the conductors are recessed in the respective dielectric support rails, whereby they are protected from manual contact.

7. The power track defined in claim 1, wherein each dielectric support bar is spaced inwardly from and forms a longitudinally extending empty cavity with the respective side wall.