Electric distributing system

• US RE36,030 E
• Filed: 04/25/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Original Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Inventors: Nadeau, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/637,529
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 439/110-122, 439/215, 439/189, 439/218
• US Class Current: 439/115
• 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: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

An electrical distribution system comprising one or more tracks having current-carrying conductors and ground conductor for mounting on wall surfaces. The tracks are slidingly received in connecting slots of electrical connector housings to connect the tracks to electrical outlets, or to interconnect sections of tracks together. More particularly, with the present invention it is not necessary to strip the ends of the tracks to expose connector ends to interconnect them with terminals in the connector housings. An end portion of the track is merely slid within a connecting slot of the housing. Electrical receptacles are also connected at any desired location along the track. The electrical distribution track can also be incorporated in an extruded baseboard together with a telephone line track to permit connection thereto of electrical receptacles as well as alarm systems, telephone jacks, fire detectors, surge protectors, etc.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution system comprising one or more electrical tracks, each track being formed of a substantially flat elongated rectangular strip of electrical insulating material, each strip having two current-carrying conductors retained in undercut channels formed in side ribs extending end to end along opposed side edges of said strip with said channels facing one another inwardly of a top face of said strip, a ground conductor retained in said top face intermediate and parallel to said conductors, guide means spaced closer to one of said side ribs to permit proper polarity connection to said current-carrying conductors, and an electrical connector housing slidingly receiving an end portion of said track in a connecting slot in an end wall thereof in polarity alignment with a pair of electrical side contacts engaging with a respective one of said current-carrying conductors through said undercut channels and an intermediate electrical contact engaging with said ground . .conductors.!. .Iadd.conductor retained in said top face .Iaddend.. .through said slot in said intermediate rib.!.;

each side contact of said pair of electrical side contacts having a flexible metal strip with an attaching portion held securely in said connector housing, a flexible arm portion and a contact blade portion, said flexible arm portions of said side contacts biasing said side contact blade portions outwardly from one another in . .the.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.plane of said connecting slot and towards opposed end edges of said connecting slot, said side contact blade portions being positioned in a plane aligned with said undercut channels when said end portion of said track is slid into said connecting slot so that said contact . .blades.!. .Iadd.blade portions .Iaddend.will protrude in a respective one of said undercut channels to electrically engage a respective one of said current-carrying conductors while maintaining contact pressure.

2. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means is an intermediate rib, said ground conductor being embedded in said rib, and a slot formed in said rib for access to said ground conductor.

3. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said side contact blade portion is a flat flange contact formed in a forward edge of said flexible arm portion, said side contact blade portion having an angled leading contact edge to slidingly engage with a respective one of said current-carrying conductors when said end portion of said track is introduced in said connecting slot.

4. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim . .1.!. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein said intermediate electrical contact engaging with said ground conductor comprises a flexible metal ground strip having an attaching portion held securely in said connector housing, a flexible arm portion and a ground contact blade portion extending transversely of said connecting slot, said ground contact blade portion being biased downwardly when said ground contact blade protrude in said slot of said intermediate rib to electrically engage said ground conductor and maintain contact pressure.

5. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim . .4.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said side contacts and said intermediate electrical contact are constructed from copper alloy material.

6. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical tracks are straight flat tracks securable at opposed ends between a pair of connector housings or at least one of said connector housings and a termination cover.

7. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical tracks are straight flat tracks securable over a wall surface by fasteners disposed through said tracks from said top face of said strip.

8. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein opposed ends of said tracks have straight transverse ends with said current-carrying conductors concealed by said side ribs.

9. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more electrical receptacles are adapted to be detachably secured to each of said one or more electrical tracks, each electrical receptacle having a socket defined by blade receiving slots and a ground slot for connecting one or more electrical plugs thereto, means establishing electrical contact with said current-carrying conductors, and locking means to arrest said receptacles at a desired location along said track.

10. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector housing is a union housing having two or more of said connecting slots, one in a respective end wall thereof;

said connector housing interconnecting two or more of said electrical tracks end to end.

11. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said union housing is an L-shaped housing having two of said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided in a respective end wall thereof disposed at right angle to one another.

12. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said union housing is a T-shaped housing having three of said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided in a respective one of three end walls thereof with two of said end walls in alignment and the other disposed at right angle.

13. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said union housing is a right angled housing having two of said connecting slots, one of said connecting slots being provided in a respective aligned end wall thereof, said right angled housing having two sections disposed at right angles to one another and having its current-carrying conductors and ground conductor extending parallel.

14. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said union housing is a feed housing, said feed housing having a connecting wire secured to each of said two current-carrying conductors and said ground connector, said wires extending through a back plate of said union housing, said union housing having means to secure same over a wall electrical outlet.

15. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said union housing is provided with one or more through bores to receive one or more fasteners to secure same to a flat wall.

16. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said electrical receptacle is provided with a pair of foot plates extending from a bottom wall thereof, said foot plates each having a toe extension which engage in a respective one of said undercut channels, said receptacle being slid in engagement with said track from a free end of said track and retained captive in said channels and in sliding engagement therewith.

17. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means establishing electrical contact with said current-carrying conductors is provided by spring contact members having displaceable arms which are actuated by projecting formations formed in a rear face of a hinged top cover of said receptacle so that when said cover is closed over an open top end of a housing of said receptacle, the displaceable arms are urged toward a respective one of said two current-carrying conductors to make contact therewith, said spring contact members being in contact with selected ones of contact members being in contact with selected ones of contact elements disposed in said blade receiving slots of said socket, and a ground contact element for engaging said ground conductor in said track to connect same to said ground slot of said receptacle.

18. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said receptacle is provided with a socket in a top face of said hinged cover and in an end wall of said receptacle housing.

19. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said hinged cover is positively retained in a closed position over said open top end of said housing by a retention catch to prevent said hinged cover from being opened.

20. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein a surge protection device is removably secured to said electrical receptacles to protect an electrical device connected to said electrical receptacles from voltage surges present on said current-carrying conductors.

21. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said surge protection device is removably connected to a socket in an end wall of one of said receptacles said surge protection device having visual indicating means to indicate its condition.

22. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim . .21.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said electrical connector housing is a feeder housing for connection to a socket of a wall electrical outlet receptacle, said feeder housing having a flat rear wall section with a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong protruding therefrom to connect to said electrical socket of said electrical outlet receptacle, a predetermined one of said contact blades connecting to a hot slot of said electrical socket and the other blade connecting to a neutral slot of said electrical socket while said grounding prong is received in a ground slot of said electrical socket, said feeder housing having said connecting slot at at least one free end thereof for positioning adjacent an edge of said electrical outlet receptacle.

23. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said flat rear wall section of said feeder housing has a recessed section to receive a portion of a face plate of said electrical outlet receptacle in close mating contact therewith, said feeder housing having a thicket connecting section adjacent an end section thereof, said connecting slot being formed in an end wall of said thicker connecting section.

24. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said pair of contact blades and grounding prong protruding from a rear wall of said feeder housing are connected to a connector block which is removably secured over a front face of said feeder housing, said connector block maintaining the proper polarity of current fed to said two current-carrying conductors.

25. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said feeder housing is provided in said front face with a pair of spaced apart contact blade receiving apertures disposed in side-by-side alignment, and a grounding prong receiving aperture disposed between said contact blade receiving apertures and spaced therefrom on a respective one of opposed sides thereof.

26. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said pair of electrical side contacts each have a pair of blade contact terminals positioned in said housing at predetermined locations relative to said contact blade receiving apertures so that one of said terminals is in contact with a respective one of an inner terminal end of said pair of contact blades when said grounding prong of said connector block is disposed in either of said grounding prong receiving apertures in said feeder housing.

27. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said contact blades each have a U-shape connecting end held securely in said connector block with said contact blades extending out of an inner face of said block, said U-shape connecting end having a short inner blade end portion extending parallel and spaced from said contact blade by an intermediate transverse blade section, said short inner blade end portion also extending out of said inner face of said block and constituting said inner terminal ends, one of said intermediate transverse blade sections of said pair of contact blades being of a different length.

28. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said contacting portions of said pair of blades are disposed in straight alignment with said blade receiving apertures with two contacting portions on each opposed side of said blade receiving apertures.

29. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said feeder housing is a vertical feeder housing for connection to a lower or upper socket of a double-socket electrical wall outlet receptacle and extending vertically over a top or bottom edge of a receptacle face plate.

30. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said feeder housing is a horizontal feeder housing for connection to a lower or upper socket of a double-socket electrical wall outlet receptacle and extending horizontally across vertical side edges of a receptacle face plate.

31. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim . .30.!. .Iadd.22 .Iaddend.wherein said feeder housing is of rectangular shape and provided with a connecting slot in opposed end walls of said housing.

32. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 31 wherein said flat rear wall section is a recessed section receiving said face plate therein whereby said connecting slots are disposed in alignment with tracks secured to adjacent wall portions.

33. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strip is an extruded strip with said two current-carrying conductors and said ground conductor being bare conductive wires embedded therein.

34. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided a power feed receptacle detachably securable to any one of said one or more electrical tracks, said power feed receptacle having a pair of contact blades and a ground prong extending from an accessible face thereof for connection to a female connector of an electrical extension cord, means establishing electrical contact with said current-carrying conductors, and locking means to arrest said power feed receptacle at a desired location along said one of said tracks.

35. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong extend from a top face of a hinged cover of a housing of said power feed receptacle.

36. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said means establishing electrical contact is provided by a pair of spring contact members each having a displaceable arm which has a side contact engaging finger which is urged to contact a respective one of said current-carrying conductors in said undercut channels, said cover having a displacement post extending from a rear face thereof and slidingly engaging said spring contact members to effectuate said displacement when said cover is hingedly closed over an open top end of said housing.

37. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 36 wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong have inner extension portions protruding inwardly from said cover rear face, said inner extension portions engaging a respective one of said spring contact members and said inner extension of said grounding prong engaging a ground engaging contact in said housing when said cover is closed.

38. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 35 wherein a spring-loaded catch is secured to said housing and positively engages said cover when closed over an open top end of said housing.

39. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim . .38.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said housing is provided with foot extensions protruding from a base of said housing to maintain said base spaced a predetermined distance above said top face of said strip.

40. An electrical distribution system as claimed in claim 39 wherein said foot extensions are positioned in said channels, at least two opposed ones of said foot extensions have toe extensions slidingly received in a respective one of said undercut channels.

41. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track, said track having two-current-carrying conductors each retained in an undercut channel and a ground conductor retained in a top face of said track intermediate and parallel to said current-carrying conductors, said receptacle having a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong extending from an accessible face thereof for connection to a female connector of an electrical extension cord, means establishing electrical contact with said current-carrying conductors, and locking means to arrest said power feed receptacle at a desired location along said track.

42. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim 41 wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong extend from a top face of a hinged cover of a housing of said power feed receptacle.

43. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim 42 wherein said means establishing electrical contact is provided by a pair of spring contact members each having a displaceable arm which has a side contact engaging finger which is urged to contact a respective one of said current-carrying conductors in said undercut channels, said cover having a displacement post formed and extending from a rear face thereof and slidingly engaging said spring contact members to effectuate said displacement when said cover is hingedly closed over an open top end of said housing.

44. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim 43 wherein said contact blades and said grounding prong have inner extension portions protruding inwardly from said cover rear face, said inner extension portions engaging a respective one of said spring contact members and said inner extension of said grounding prong engaging a ground engaging contact in said housing when said cover is closed.

45. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim 42 a spring-loaded catch is secured to said housing and positively engages said cover when closed over an open top end of said housing.

46. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim . .45.!. .Iadd.41 .Iaddend.wherein said housing is provided with foot extensions protruding from a base of said housing to maintain said base spaced a predetermined distance above said top face of said strip.

47. A power feed receptacle for detachable securement to an electrical track as claimed in claim 46 wherein said foot extensions are positioned in said channels, at least two opposed ones of said foot extensions have toe extensions slidingly received in a respective one of said undercut channels.

48. An electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle and capable of maintaining the phase of the current in a pair of conductors secured to said feed housing regardless if said socket is inverted, said feed housing having a pair of blade receiving through slots and a ground prong receiving through slot intermediate said blade receiving through slots and disposed on a respective side thereof, said feed housing further having a connector block, said connector block having a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable connection to said socket of said feed housing, said contact blades and grounding prong of said connector block extending through said feed housing and projecting from a rear wall of said housing to engage within the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle, said connector block having contact terminal means to engage with two conductor means in said feed housing to connect a hot slot of said electrical socket to one of said two conductor means and the neutral slot of said electrical socket to the other of said two conductor means, regardless if said socket of said electrical receptacle is inverted.

49. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 48 wherein said pair of conductors are secured in an electrical track which also comprises a ground conductor, said track having an end portion secured in a connecting slot of said housing, said two conductor means having a contact element extending in said slot and contacting a respective conductor in said pair of conductors.

50. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 49 wherein said feeder housing has a flat recessed rear wall section to receive a portion of a face plate of an electrical outlet receptacle in close mating contact and flush therewith, said feeder housing having a thicker connecting section adjacent an end section thereof, said connecting slot being formed in an end wall of said thicker connecting section.

51. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 48 wherein said contact blades each have a U-shape connecting end held securely in said connector block with said contact blades extending out of an inner face of said block, said U-shape connecting end having a short inner blade end portion extending parallel and spaced from said contact blade by an intermediate transverse blade section, said short inner blade end portion constituting said contact terminal means and extending out of said inner face of said block, one of said intermediate transverse blade sections of said pair of contact blades being of a different length.

52. An electrical feed housing as claimed in claim 51 wherein said contacting portions of said pair of blades are disposed in straight alignment with said blade receiving apertures with two contacting portions on each opposed side of said blade receiving apertures. .Iadd.

53. In combination:

an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle, the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral slot;

a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and

a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable connection to the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle,

said contact blades and grounding prong projecting from a rear wall of said housing to engage within the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle, and

said pair of contact blades and grounding prong being invertible relative to said electrical feed housing to connect the hot slot of the electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors and the neutral slot of the electrical socket to the other of said pair of conductors, even if the socket of the electrical receptacle is inverted. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. In combination;

an electrical feed housing capable of installation in alternative orientations to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle, the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral slot;

a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and

a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong proiecting from a rear wall of said housing to removably engage within the electrical socket wherein said pair of contact blades and said grounding prong are coupled to said housing in a manner providing for alternative orientations of said contact blades and grounding prong relative to said electrical feed housing to connect the hot slot of the electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors and the neutral slot of the electrical socket to the other of said pair of conductors, regardless of orientation of the socket of the electrical receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd.55. In combination;

an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle, the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral slot;

a pair of contact blades including a first contact blade and a second contact blade and a grounding prong for removable connection to the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle;

wherein said contact blades and grounding prong project from a rear wall of said housing to engage within the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle;

a first contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and connecting to the first contact blade and a second contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and connecting to the second contact blade when said contact blades and grounding prong project from the rear wall of said housing in a first orientation; and

a third contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and connecting to the first contact blade and a fourth contact blade portion coupled to said electrical feed housing and connecting to the second contact blade when said contact blades and grounding prong project from the rear wall of said housing in a second orientation different from said

55. Iaddend..Iadd.57. The invention of claims 53, 54, 55, or 56 further comprising:

a surface-mount electrical track coupled to said electrical feed housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.58. The invention of 57 wherein said surface mount-electrical track is received in a slot in an end of said electrical feed housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.59. The invention of claim 57 wherein said surface-mount electrical track is composed of a trimmable material. .Iaddend..Iadd.60. The invention of claim 57 wherein said surface-mount electrical track comprises a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel, and wherein each of said channels includes a conductor. .Iaddend..Iadd.61. The invention of claim 57 further comprising a pair of electrical side contracts coupled to said electrical feed housing and aligned relative to said surface-mount electrical track to protrude into said electrical track to engage electrical conductors retained therein when said surface-mount electrical track is coupled to said electrical feed housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.62. An electrical distribution system comprising

one or more electrical tracks, each track being formed of a substantially flat elongated rectangular strip of electrical insulating material, each strip having two current-carrying conductors retained in channels extending along said strip, a ground conductor retained in another channel parallel to said two current-carrying conductors, and a guide spaced relative to said conductors to provide for proper polarity connection to said current-carrying conductors, and

an electrical connector housing slidingly receiving an end portion of said track in a connecting slot in an end wall thereof in polarity alignment with a pair of electrical side contacts engaging with a respective one of said current-carrying conductors through said channels and an intermediate electrical contact engaging with said ground conductor each side contact of said pair of electrical side contacts having a flexible metal strip with an attaching portion held securely in said connector housing, a flexible arm portion and a contact blade portion, said flexible arm portions of said side contacts biasing said side contact blade portions outwardly from one another in a plane of said connecting slot and towards opposed end edges of said connecting slot, said side contact blade portions being positioned in a plane aligned with said channels when said end portion of said track is slid into said connecting slot so that said contact blade portions will protrude in a respective one of said channels to electrically engage a respective one of said current-carrying conductors while maintaining contact pressure. .Iaddend.

54. first orientation. .Iaddend..Iadd.56. In combination:

an electrical feed housing for connection to an electrical socket of an electrical receptacle capable of installation in one of two orientations, the electrical socket having a hot slot and a neutral slot;

a pair of conductors coupled to said feed housing; and

a pair of contact blades and a grounding prong for removable connection to the electrical socket of the electrical receptacle,

said contact blades and grounding prong projecting from a rear wall of said housing to engage within the electrical socket, and

said pair of contact blades and grounding prong coupled to said electrical feed housing in one of two orientations to connect the hot slot of the electrical socket to one of said pair of conductors and the neutral slot of the electrical socket to the other of said pair of conductors, regardless if the socket of the electrical receptacle is inverted.