Electrical connectors – Uninterrupted support rail or uninterrupted contact
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-10-30
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Uninterrupted support rail or uninterrupted contact
C439S121000, C439S439000, C439S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309229
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to electricity supply apparatus and in particular to a track assembly to be used in conjunction with a plug to provide an electricity supply at the plug.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Described in International Application PCT/AU95/00675 is a flexible ducting system. The duct system described in the following specification is a modification of this earlier ducting system.
The present inventions are also an improvement in the invention which is the subject of Australian Patent 655069. The track electric supply system described in this earlier patent has several shortcomings. In particular the conductor has difficulty maintaining contact with the plug and access to the conductors is not inhibited and therefore accidental contact may occur with the positive and neutral conductors.
New Zealand Patent 207995 discloses an electrical distribution system. The system includes a rigid track which receives insulating material within which there is located conductors to be engaged by a plug. The conductors are of a “U” transverse cross section with longitudinally spaced extremities which are to engage pins of the plug. The extremities are spaced as are the similar extremities of the conductors discussed the above mentioned PCT application.
International Patent Publication WO 93/19506 (International Application PCT/NO93/00044) describes a rail electrical system. The rail has a plurality of slots, with each slot receiving an elongated conductor. The engaged conductors is a plug which is rotatable between an engaged and a non-engaged position. The conductors are merely elongated metal strips which are not connected.
The conductor of Australian Patent Application 70863/74 is of a similar construction in that the conductors are merely metal strips not connected.
The conductor of German Specification 3030449 A1 describes a rail type electrical supply system, with the conductor being a metal wire of circular transverse cross section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,094 discloses a device for digital data transmission. The device employs a strip like metal contact.
UK Patent 1597415 discloses a rail type electrical supply system in which the conductors are longitudinally extending strips, with the strips not being connected.
Australian Patent Application 91501/82 describes a rail type electric supply system in which the conductors are of a “U” configuration in transverse cross section throughout the length.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,240,180 again shows a rail electric supply system in which the conductors are of a “U” configuration with the arms of the conductor being spaced.
UK Patent 1508788 also shows a rail electric supply system with the contact being space metal strips which are not joined.
The above mentioned electric supply system suffers from the disadvantage that they do not provide for good contact between the conductor and any plugs or contacts employed.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein an elongated flexible electric conductor of unitary construction, said conductor comprising:
a pair of generally parallel coextensive electrically conductive strips; and
a resilient support urging the strips into contact, said support being resiliently deformable upon transverse relative displacement of the strips when an item to electrically contact the strips is placed therebetween, said support including a plurality of generally “U” shaped ribs providing arms, said ribs extending generally transverse of the strips so that each rib has a respective one of its arms attached to an associated one of the strips.
There is further disclosed herein an electric supply assembly an electrical supply assembly, said assembly comprising:
an elongated base providing a plurality of generally parallel coextensive slots separated by generally rigid dividing walls, the slots extending from an access passage;
a flexible insulator extending along each slot;
an elongated conductor located in each insulator; and wherein
said access passages enables insertion of a conductive pin In a respective one of the slots for engagement with the conductor located therein.
There is still further disclosed herein an electrical adaptor an electrical adaptor for use with an electric supply assembly having an elongated base within which there is located a plurality of elongated conductors to be engaged by the adaptor, said adaptor comprising:
a mounting to engage the assembly so as to be affixed thereto;
an engaging portion with a stem having radially extending pins to enter the assembly to engage the conductors, the engaging portion being pivotable relative to said base about a longitudinal axis of the stem between a first position at which the conductors are engaged by the pins, and a second position allowing removal of the engaging portion from within the assembly, said engaging portion also having sockets to engage pins of an electric plug;
a base fixed to said engaging portion so as to move therewith, said base generally enclosing said sockets and having apertures aligned with said sockets to provide or access of the electric plug pins to said sockets; and
shutter means to close said apertures when said engaging portion is in said second position but allow access to said sockets when said engaging portion is in said first position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2240180 (1941-04-01), Frank
patent: 4040713 (1977-08-01), Konnemann
patent: 4405193 (1983-09-01), Weidler
patent: 4553808 (1985-11-01), Weidler et al.
patent: 5399094 (1995-03-01), Korth
patent: 5839909 (1998-11-01), Calderara et al.
patent: 3644995 (1966-04-01), None
patent: 4689872 (1974-03-01), None
patent: 70863 (1974-07-01), None
patent: 9150182 (1983-06-01), None
patent: 4055085 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 2421592 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 3030449 (1982-03-01), None
patent: 1508788 (1978-04-01), None
patent: 1591415 (1981-09-01), None
patent: 207995 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 9319506 (1993-09-01), None
patent: WO 96/12327 (1996-04-01), None
Ladas & Parry
Patel Tulsidas
Prasad Chandrika
Universal Power Track Pty. Ltd.
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