Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Interfitting with channel or double rail
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-02-13
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Interfitting with channel or double rail
C439S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186825
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of power distribution systems and, particularly, to a connector mounting arrangement in such systems for electrification of areas such as modular wall panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various environments wherein a plurality of different power lines, including power circuits and ground circuits, lead from different power sources, which may include different transformers, fuses and the like, to a given area for distribution thereat. Most often, a plurality of electrical connectors are used for interconnection, respectively, with the different power lines. For instance, the connectors may be provided in the form of plug-receiving receptacles and each receptacle is interconnected to an individual power line.
An example of such an environment is in the art of modular wall panel systems which divide a given area into separate or distinct work areas. All kinds of electronic equipment, such as computers, printers, heaters and the like may be employed in each work area and must be “plugged-in” to the power distribution lines. The utilization of an electrical connector for each separate power distribution line results in very cumbersome outlet configurations involving a multiplicity of receptacles or outlets and an undesirable duplicity of many of the connector components. The need for a plurality of power lines can range from the obvious necessity of preventing overloading of a given line, to the need for providing an isolated or “clean” line having an isolated ground whereby sensitive equipment such as computers or delicate sensing devices are not exposed to current spikes or impulses caused by other electrical equipment, such as a heater, being interconnected to the same power line. An example of a problem which could occur when sharing such equipment is the accidental erasure of computer data, for instance.
One of the problems in designing such power distribution systems for modular wall panels is that the various connectors, receptacles and the like are mounted in fairly restricted wire raceways of the panels with panels having different thicknesses or widths. It would be desirable to have some form of guide means to mount various components such as electrical receptacles into the raceways in panels. It would also be desirable that the guide means be useful with panels having different thicknesses or widths and to provide polarization assuring either proper orientation or assuring that only a specific component be inserted in a specific raceway location. It also is desirable to provide some form of latching means to hold the components in proper positions in the raceways. Heretofore, the very complexity of such systems have made it difficult to design simple mounting arrangements. The present invention is directed to satisfying this need and solving the various identified problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved mounting arrangement in a power distribution system for electrification of modular wall panels or the like.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the mounting arrangement includes a mounting bracket adapted for location in a wire raceway of a modular wall panel. An electrical receptacle is mountable on the mounting bracket. Generally, complementary interengaging guide means are provided between the bracket and the receptacle for guiding the receptacle into a proper mounted position on the bracket. Complementary interengaging latch means are provided between the bracket and the receptacle for locking the receptacle on the bracket at the mounted position.
As disclosed herein, the complementary interengaging guide means include a guide rib on the receptacle insertable into a guide groove in the bracket. The guide groove has a bottom wall against which a distal end of the guide rib abuts to define the mounted position of the receptacle.
The complementary interengaging latch means include a flexible latch arm on the receptacle engageable with a latch recess in the bracket.
The mounting bracket is disclosed to be generally U-shaped to define a pair of side flanges between which the receptacle is mounted. In the preferred embodiment, one of the guide means and one of the latch means are provided between the receptacle and each side flange of the generally U-shaped bracket. A pair of the mounting brackets may be assembled back-to-back in the wire raceway for receiving a pair of the receptacles on opposite sides of the wall panel.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Bogiel Steven B.
Data Mark M.
Harvey James R.
Luebke Renee
Molex Incorporated
Weiss Stephen Z.
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