Adapter for dual circuit track lighting system

Details Adapter for dual circuit track lighting system Adapter for dual circuit track lighting system

1999-06-04

2001-03-20

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Uninterrupted support rail or uninterrupted contact

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

C439S217000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06203339

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to track lighting systems and relates more specifically to a track adapter for mounting a light fixture to a track and for making an electrical connection between the light fixture and the track.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Track lighting systems are well known. The systems typically comprise a track which is mounted to the ceiling or wall and which is connected to an electrical supply source. The track is a hollow, elongated extrusion having neutral and voltage busses mounted within the track and running the length thereof. One or more lighting fixtures are sidably mounted to the track such that they can be moved to desired locations along the length of the track. Each lighting fixture is coupled to the track—both mechanically and electrically—by means of a track adapter. The track adapter includes neutral and voltage electrical contacts which are disposed to conductively communicate with the voltage and neutral electrical busses in the track. In addition the track adapter includes a ground contact which either engages a ground bus running the length of the track or contacts the track extrusion to ground the circuit. Thus the track adapter electrically connects the associated light fixture to the source of electrical power.
A variation on standard track lighting is the dual circuit track lighting system. In this arrangement two separate voltage busses are mounted within the track and run the length thereof. The ground and neutral contacts of the track adapter are fixed in position, but the voltage contact is movable with respect to the track adapter between a first position in which the voltage contact electrically couples to the first voltage bus of the track, and a second position in which the voltage contact electrically couples to the second voltage bus. By selectively mounting the lighting fixtures to contact either the first or second circuit, it is possible for one track light to be operated independently of a second track light mounted to the same track.
Conventional track adapters for dual circuit track lighting systems rely on frictional engagement between the voltage electrical contact and a corresponding slot in the track adapter to maintain the voltage contact in its first or second position. This arrangement is problematic, however, in that too much frictional engagement will make the voltage contact difficult to move between its first and second positions, while too little frictional engagement will permit the voltage contact to move unintentionally from one position to the other, or even to an intermediate position in which the voltage contact fails to contact either voltage bus.
Consequently there is a need for a track adapter for dual circuit track lighting systems which includes a mechanism for affirmatively maintaining the voltage contact in its desired position while permitting easy movement of the voltage contact between its two positions. There is a further need for a track adapter for dual circuit track lighting systems which reduces the likelihood that the voltage contact will be placed in an intermediate position in which the voltage contact fails to contact either voltage bus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Stated generally, the present invention comprises a track adapter for dual circuit track lighting systems which includes a mechanism for affirmatively maintaining the voltage contact in either of two predetermined positions while permitting easy movement of the voltage contact between the two positions. The mechanism reduces the likelihood that the voltage contact will be placed in an intermediate position in which the voltage contact fails to contact either voltage bus. The mechanism also reduces the likelihood that the contact will accidentally be moved out of its desired position.
Stated somewhat more specifically, the present invention relates to a track adapter for electrically connecting a light fixture to either of two electrical circuits of a track. The track adapter includes a housing and a housing base having a slot formed therein. An electrical contact has an elongated leg which is received through the slot such that a first end of the contact terminates within the housing. The electrical contact is movable within the slot between a lower position in which a second end of the electrical contact contacts the voltage bus of a first electrical circuit within the track when the adapter is mounted to the track, and an upper position in which the second end of the electrical contact contacts the voltage bus of a second electrical circuit when the adapter is mounted to the track. The electrical contact has a lateral protrusion which creates an interference fit with the slot so as to inhibit the electrical contact from moving between the upper and lower positions. The protrusion is disposed above an upper end of the slot when the electrical contact is in its upper position, and the protrusion is disposed below a lower end of the slot when the electrical contact is in its lower position.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved track adapter for track lighting systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a track adapter for dual circuit track lighting systems which includes a mechanism for affirmatively maintaining the voltage contact in its desired position while permitting easy movement of the voltage contact between its two positions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a track adapter for dual circuit track lighting systems which reduces the likelihood that the voltage contact will be placed in an intermediate position in which the voltage contact fails to contact either voltage bus.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.


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patent: 5653412 (1997-08-01), Martorano et al.
patent: 5664876 (1997-09-01), Vafai et al.
patent: 5759051 (1998-06-01), Cancellieri et al.

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