Geometrical instruments
Patent
1982-11-05
1985-10-15
Weidenfeld, Gil
Geometrical instruments
339 23, H01R 900
Patent
active
045470308
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an electrical distribution system of the type in which a plurality of electrical conductors are housed in a conduit which permits the access of the pins of electrical plugs at a plurality of positions along the conduit.
Such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,877,103 and 2,313,452. The conduit of U.S. Pat. No. 1,877,103 comprises a central member positioned between two cover members. The conduit of U.S. Pat. No. 2,313,452 comprises a front cover member attached to a rear member. A disadvantage of such arrangements is that when the cover members are removed the electrical conductors become externally accessible, which can be dangerous.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical distribution system including a conduit comprising an elongate rear member and an elongate cover member attachable to the rear member, the conduit containing a plurality of electrical conductors and having therealong a plurality of socket positions for receiving an electrical plug member, each electrical conductor having along its length a series of contact elements each shaped to receive pins of the electrical plug member, characterised in that the conduit further contains an elongate insulating member having means for attaching it to the rear member and/or the cover member, the arrangement being such that, when the cover member is detached from the rear member, the insulating member prevents the electrical conductors from being exposed.
An advantage of this system is that the cover member may be safely removed from the rear member without any danger of electric shock.
In preferred arrangements according to the invention the elongate insulating member has first means for attaching it to the rear member and second means for attaching it to the cover member, said second attaching means being stronger than said first attaching means such that, when the cover member is detached from the rear member, the insulating member is readily detached from the rear member and remains securely attached to the cover member.
Such arrangements permit the easy assembly of the conduit by first mounting the insulating member on the rear member and then mounting the cover member on to the rear member (and simultaneously attaching it to the insulating member), while still ensuring that the insulating member and the cover member do no become detached when the latter is removed from the rear member. Preferably the elongate insulating member defines a duct with the cover member, the bare electrical conductors being mounted on the insulating member inside the duct, the arrangement being such that the pins of an electrical plug pass through the cover member at a said socket position to engage the contact elements of the electrical conductors within said duct.
In accordance with a further preferred feature of the invention the cover member is of generally channel-shaped cross-section comprising a web portion and two arm portions of rigid plastics material, the web portion being connected to the arm portions by pieces of flexible plastic material serving as hinge means. This permits the cover member to be readily removed from the rear member when desired by moving the arm portions outwardly, the pieces of flexible plastics material permitting such movement.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively show cross-sectional views of the cover member, the elongate insulating member and the rear member of an electrical distribution system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on a smaller scale of the members of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in their assembled condition;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a barrier member provided at the socket positions of the conduit;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are end and plan views respectively of the rear part of a socket member of the system;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front part of the socket member;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are
REFERENCES:
patent: 1877103 (1932-09-01), Whiting
patent: 2313452 (1943-03-01), O'Brien
patent: 3308416 (1967-03-01), Boyd
patent: 3569898 (1971-03-01), Laser
patent: 3613045 (1971-10-01), Routh
patent: 3760133 (1973-09-01), Howard
patent: 3786171 (1974-01-01), Shiva
patent: 4017137 (1977-04-01), Parks
Chaplin Eric
Tanner Peter R.
Kline Thomas M.
Tanner Chaplin Tracks Ltd.
Weidenfeld Gil
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