US3061810A - Electrical outlet strip assembly - Google Patents

Electrical outlet strip assembly Download PDF

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US3061810A
US3061810A US44172A US4417260A US3061810A US 3061810 A US3061810 A US 3061810A US 44172 A US44172 A US 44172A US 4417260 A US4417260 A US 4417260A US 3061810 A US3061810 A US 3061810A
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face plate
contact
contacts
channel
electrical
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Boyd Dean Mccormick
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R25/00Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
    • H01R25/14Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length

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  • the general object of the present invention is to pro vide an elon ated continuous outlet strip which is designed in a manner overcoming the above discussed disadvantages of prior similar units.
  • a device embodying the invention is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet at the same time is reliable in operation, easy to assemble and install, and the contacts are sufliciently protected against accidental engagement to render the device at least as safe in use as the conventional single or double outlet.
  • a unique type of contact having a cross section such as to always assure completely effective electrical engagement with the prongs of a mating connector plug, even after use of the outlet for an extended period of time.
  • the simplicity of assembly and mounting of the unit is attained in large part by a novel snap-in arrangement, in which the face plate of the device snaps into position within a channel element, and carries at its rear side a conductor holding part.
  • Connection of the elongated outlet strip to a power source, or to a next successive strip on an adjacent wall is attained by employment of a new type of coupling block or plug adapted for connection into the end of the outlet strip.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an electrical outlet strip constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view through the outlet strip of FIG. 1, and taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section similar to FIG. 2, but taken in the plane of two of the plug receiving openings, and shown with a mating electrical plug connected to the strip;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coupling block adapted to be connected into the outlet strip of FIG. 1, with the block being shown in partially disassembled condition, and partially broken away to reveal the internal construction of the unit;
  • FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the electrical outlet strip of FIG. 1, taken through the location of a coupling block such as that shown in FIG. 4 (taken on line 55 of FIG. 1), but omitting the electrical contacts of the outlet strip in order to clarify the end view configuration of the coupling block; and
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view representing the manner in which the end of one of the contacts of the outlet strip fits into one of the pairs of contacts of the coupling block.
  • the electrical outlet strip is indicated generally by the arrow 10, and is seen to be housed in a channel housing 11 covered at the front by a face plate 12.
  • the channel housing 11 is a rolled sheet metal channel, of aluminum or steel or the like
  • face plate 12 is constructed of an electrically insulative resinous plastic material which is easily extruded with a desired cross sectional shape.
  • a suitable essentially stiff vinyl resin may be employed for the purpose.
  • face plate 12 is horizontally grooved at 13 and 14, and provided with electrical plug openings 15, extending rearwardly from the backs of grooves 13 and 14, at intervals spaced longitudinally along the outlet strip 11
  • a conventional electrical plug 16 is shown inserted in one pair of the openings 15.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the electrical outlet strip 10 in cross section, and reveal the transverse cross section of the channel housing 11 and face plate 12.
  • FIG. 3 is a section through the location of plug openings 15, and shows the disposition of plug 16, and the internal location of its prongs 17 and 18.
  • the back Wall 19 of channel 11 contains screw holes 20 (only one shown), for permitting strip 10 to be attached to an adjacent wall surface by screws 21.
  • Face plate 12 can be resiliently snapped into position in channel 11, and is held in that position by interengagement of mating shoulders 22 and 23 on channel 11 with grooves 24 and 25 of the face plate.
  • the shoulders and grooves may be located either on the channel 11 and face plate 12, respectively, as illustrated, or vice versa.
  • the material of which channel 11 is formed is sufiiciently deformable and resilient to allow the two side walls 111 to spread slightly apart as face plate 12 is slipped into position within the channel.
  • Such spreading is efiected by virtue of the illustrated rounded camming configuration of beads or shoulders 22 and 23, and the camming angularity of the engaging surfaces 112 of face plate 12.
  • the resilience of side walls 111 of the channel causes the shoulders 22 and 23 to resiliently return inwardly toward the face plate, and into the mating grooves 24 and 25, in a relation thereafter retaining the face plate and its carried parts in their illustratedrposition within the channel.
  • Inner housing 28 is desirably of the illustrated essentially W-shaped cross section, having two parallel opposite side walls 128, a transverse rear wall 129 extending essentially parallel to face plate 12, and a central dividing Wall or partition 29.
  • Partition 29 divides the element 28 longitudinally along its center plane, into two elongated channels or recesses 31] and 31 which separately accommodate the contact strips 26 and 27 respectively.
  • the double channel inner housing 23 is formed of a suitable essentially rigid insulative material, such as the same vinyl resin or other resinous plastic material employed in making face plate 12.
  • the inner surface of face plate 12 is grooved longitudinally to receive and support inner housing 28, a central groove 32 receiving the edge of center dividing wall 29, and oblique side grooves 33 and 34 being provided to receive angular edge flanges 35 and 36 formed along the edges of the side Walls 128 of housing 28.
  • Contact strips 26 and 27 are rolled to an arcuate cross .section, along their major contact portions, to provide convex contact surfaces for engagement by the electrical plug prongs 17 and 18. This convex configuration results in an extremely effective sliding contact between elements 26 and 27 and the prongs 17 and 18, as will be apparent from a review of FIG. 3.
  • Strips 26 and 27 are designed to flex resiliently from the position indicated in FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, at the point of insertion of an electrical plug 16 into the outlet. This deflection or flexing of contact strips 26 and 27 takes place about longitudinal pivot shoulders 26a and 27a formed near the face plate edges of strips 26 and 27 respectively, and seated on the adjacent wall surfaces of central partition 29 of the insulative inner housing 28.
  • the face plate edges 26b and 27b of contacts 26 and 27 are folded back upon themselves to provide stiff edges of double thickness, and are anchored by insertion into longitudinal retaining grooves 39 and 40 on the inner surface of face plate 12.
  • strips 26 and 27 are rolled over to provide smoothly sliding contact on the bottom surface of the double channel insulative inner housing 28, when the insertion of an electric plug 16 causes deflection of the adjacent portions of the contact strips 26 and 27 toward central partition 29. It will be apparent that strips 26 and 27 must be formed of resilient and electrically conductive material, such as spring brass or the like, with the resilience of the contacts tending to return them outwardly to the normal FIG. 2 positions.
  • a coupling block 50 (see FIG. 1), which is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 4, and is shown positioned within channel 11 in FIG. 5.
  • the forward side of the channel at the location of coupling plug 50 may be closed by a short face plate 112, having the cross sectional configuration of face plate 12 but not containing any of the plug receiving apertures 15.
  • the coupling block includes a molded body, typically formed of an electrically insulative resinous plastic material, the body consisting of a rectangular portion 51 and a pair of locating and shielding prongs 52 and 53.
  • the prongs or projections 52 and 53 may be molded integrally with the rectangular portion 51 of the coupling block, and project longitudinally therefrom in a common direction represented by the axis 151 in FIG. 4.
  • the axis 151 and prongs 52 and 53 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the various parts 11, 12, 26, 27, and 28 of the outlet assembly. As seen in FIG.
  • a pair of electrical contact means 54 and 55 are embedded in the prongs 52 and 53 respectively. Exposed portions of the electrical contact means 54 and 55 are covered by electrically insulative shields or covers 56 and 57, which are partially hollowed out shells closely received in grooves 58 and 59 provided in the outer face plate engaging surface of the coupling block rectangular portion 50. Shields 56 and 57 are solvent welded into the grooves 58 and 59, that is, they are coated with a solvent which slightly softens them just prior to insertion during manufacture so that they are bonded or Welded tightly to and become an integral part of block 50.
  • Projections 56 and 57 may be somewhat shorter than, and smaller in transverse cross section than, the two main projections 52 and 53. Also, all four of these projections 52, 53, 56, and 57 may have tapered or rounded ends 152, to facilitate their insertion axially into the end of outlet unit 10. As will be explained at a later point, the shields or projections 56 and 57 are supported with sufficient clearance between them and their corresponding larger projections 52 and 53 respectively to permit the sliding entry of the ends of contact strips 26 and 27 between the shields for electrical engagement with contact means 54 and 55.
  • the shield 57 is illustrated as removed from its active position in the coupling block assembly, and the associated locating and shielding prong 53 is fragmentarily broken away to reveal its inner construction and the manner of embedding electrical contact means 55 therein.
  • This electrical contact means 55 includes a pair of resilient metal contact blades, consisting of an outer resiliently defiectable blade 60, and an inner blade 61 embedded in the plastic material of locating prong 63. The two blades or contacts are riveted together by rivet 62 at one end, and are normally held tightly together by the resilience of outer blade 6%.
  • contacts 61 ⁇ and 61 are deformed to flare slightly apart, as indicated at 63, for easy reception of the end of one of the contact strips 26 or 27.
  • contact 69 has a short bridge portion (see FIGS. 4 and 6), which is locally bowed or curved outwardly away from the associated second contact 61, to provide an open space at that point between the two contacts.
  • the relative proportioning of the various parts of the apparatus is such that, when coupling plug 50 is fully inserted into its position of connection to outlet strip 16, with portion 50 of the coupling block desirably in abutting engagement with the end of inner housing 23, the end edge 126 of contact strip 26 is received directly Within the spaces provided between the associated pair of contacts 60 and 61 at the location 169.
  • the same is of course true of the corresponding end edge of contact 27.
  • These end edges of the contact strips are cut oil in a plane extending transversely of axis 151 of FIG. 4, that is, the axis of insertion of the plug into the contact strip, and the longitudinal axis of the outlet strip itself. In cutting off contact strips 26 and 27, it is extremely difiicult to prevent the formation of burrs at edges 126, and the purpose of the spacing of elements 61') and 61 at s,061,s1o
  • 5 160 is to allow for reception of any such burrs between the two contact strips 60 and 61 without causing a spreading of elements 60 and 61 by virtue of the reception of the increased thickness burr areas therebetween.
  • each pair of contacts 66 and 61 is formed with a terminal strip 64 extending from one of its sides (see FIG. 5), and crimp rolled at an end 65 to electrically connect with the exposed end portion 66 of an associated wire 67 which extends through portion Stl of the coupling plug and pro ects from its opposite side.
  • a similar construction connects the second pair of contacts 60 and 61 with a second insulated wire 63.
  • the two electrical leads 67 and 68 are connected to a suitable source of power through a power plug opening 69 (see FIG.
  • the first step is to connect suitable lengths of the channel element 11 to the Wall surface by screws 21, with corner channels and end fittings being provided wherever necessary to properly fit the particular room in which the apparatus is being mounted.
  • the assembly of co-extensive parts 12, 26, 27, and 28, is preassembled to the condition illustrated in the figures, and is then snapped into position within channel 11 in the manner previously discussed.
  • coupling plug 56 is inserted axially into that strip, with shielding prongs 52, 53, 56, and 57, and contacts 60 and 61, moving into longitudinally overlapping or interfitting relation with respect to the outlet strip assembly. That is, projections 52 and 56 extend into the spaces 30 and 31 of FIG.
  • the contact strips 26 and 27 by reason of their unique configuration, provide exceptionally positive sliding contact with the prongs, at locations which are removed as far as possible from the apertures 15, to thereby increase the overall safety of die unit.
  • Contact strips 26 and 27 are rigidly held in place by the grooves 39 and 46, while pivoting at the pivot shoulders 26a and 27a.
  • the combination comprising an elongated electrical outlet receptacle, and a coupling block to be connected to one end of said receptacle, said receptacle including an I pling block including a body, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said body in essentially a common direction and adapted to be inserted axially into an end of said elongated outlet receptacle and into longitudinally overlapping relation with said contacts, and second electrical contacts carried by said body at locations to move into longitudinally overlapping electrically contacting relation with respect to said first contacts, said projections being formed of electrically insulative material and extending along different sides of said second contacts in close proximity thereto to shield said second contacts against electrical engagement with other conductive objects.
  • a coupling block to be connected into an end of said receptacle, said block including a body, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said body in essentially a common direction and adapted to be inserted axially into an end of said elongated outlet receptacle and into longitudinally overlapping relation with said contacts, and second electrical contacts carried by said body at locations to move into longitudinally overlapping electrically contacting relation with respect to said first contacts, said projections being formed of electrically insulative material and extending along different sides of said second contacts in close proximity thereto to shield said second contacts against electrical engagement with other conductive objects.
  • a coupling block as recited in claim 5 in which there are two of said second contacts associated with each of said first contacts adapted to extend along and engage opposite sides of the associated first contact.
  • a continuous electrical outlet receptacle including an elongated hollow housing formed of electrically insulative material and having a front wall containing apertures through which a mating plug is connectible at any of a series of different locations, said housing having a central partition dividing two elongated chambers in the housing back of said front wall, and a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said two chambers respectively of the housing, each of said contact strips having a retaining edge received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said front wall, near said central partition, each contact strip having a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed near said retaining edge and bearing against said central partition, and each contact strip having a contact portion of curved cross section presenting a convexly curved surface facing generally away from said central partition and electrically engageable by said mating plug at any of diflerent locations spaced therealong, said contact portion being deflectible about said pivot shoulder and toward said central partition by engagement with said plug.
  • a continuous electrical outlet as recited in claim 8 in which said housing has a back wall spaced rear-wardly of and generally parallel-to said front wall, each of said contact strips having a .rolled edge sliding on said back wall of the housing.
  • a continuous electrical outlet as recited in claim 8 including a coupling block having insulative projections adapted to be slidably inserted into said two chambers at opposite sides of said contact strips, and electrical contact means between said projections electrically engageable with said contact strips.
  • the combination comprising an elongated electrical outlet receptacle, and a coupling block to be connected to one end of said receptacle, said receptacle including an elongated housing and two elongated first contacts with in said housing, said housing having means for passing the prongs of a male connector into electrical engagement with said two contacts at any of a series of locations spaced along the length of said housing, said coupling block including two pairs of second contacts engageable with said two first mentioned contacts respectively, each of said first contacts having a portion slidably receivable between one pair of said second contacts and terminating at an end edge, and one of said second contacts of each pair having a portion locally spaced from the other contact of that pair and forming a space between the pair of contacts within which said edge of the associated one of said first contacts is received in the fully inserted position of said coupling block.
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividingwall thereof; .a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; and a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, said contact portion being deflectible toward said central dividing wall.
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an 'edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall there of; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; and a contact portion of said strip,
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing Wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; a contact portion of said strip, having a
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders; walls in the outer surface of said face plate defining a pair of longitudinal grooves recessed into said face plate and having a Width closely receiving an electric plug prong, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in the bottoms of said grooves; an insulating receptacle located at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating Wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; edge flanges on the outer edges of said receptacle channel received in mating grooves in the inner surface of said face plate, said flanges and grooves being disposed in intersecting planes to securely retain said receptacle on the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders; walls in the outer surface of said face plate defining a pair of longitudinal grooves recessed into said face plate and having a width closely receiving an electrical plug prong, and having electrical plug receptat'e openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in the bottoms of said grooves; an insulating receptacle located at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; edge flanges on the outer edges of said receptacle channel received in mating grooves in the inner surface of said face plate, said flanges and grooves being disposed in intersecting planes to securely retain said receptacle on the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient
  • a continuous electrical outlet strip which includes:
  • a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in longitudinal grooves in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of electrically conductive contact strips in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provided double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 D. MCCORMICK BOYD 3,061,810
ELECTRICAL OUTLET STRIP ASSEMBLY Filed July 20, 1960 girl may
"I'll INVENTOR. Dag/v M- Bovo ATTOQHEV United htates EPatent 3,061,810 ELECTRICAL OUTLET STRE ASSEMBLY Dean McCormick Boyd, 6399 Wilshire Blvd. W., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed July 20, 1960, Ser. No. 44,172 17 Claims. (Cl. 339-22) This invention relates to improved electrical outlet strips of a type adapted to extend continuously along a wall of a room, and into which a male connector plug may be attached at any of numerous diiferent locations to allow for complete flexibility in the positioning of lamps and other electrically energized units in the room. The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 827,528 filed July 16, 1959 on Electrical Outlet Strip With Shielded Blade Couplings, now abandoned.
It has long been realized in the electrical industry that an extended multiple position electrical outlet of the above discussed general type would have many advantages in use over the conventional single or double outlet receptacle. Many attempts have been made to design an extended continuous type outlet for this purpose, but none has proven sufficiently practical for use on a wide scale basis. For example, many of the units heretofore devised have been inherently too complex and expensive for commercial production and sale. Others have been incapable of assuring sufilciently eifective and reliable electrical contact between the elongated outlet and the connector plugs attached thereto. A large number of the extended outlets of this general type have been constructed in a manner such that they have been rather ditficult to assemble or to mount in position on a wall. Further, in most previously developed elongated type outlets, there has been no really effective way of rapidly connecting the electrical contacts in the outlet to a power source, and similarly there has been no completely practical way of connecting one length of the outlet, on a first wall of a room, to a next successive length extending along another wall of the room. Finally, many of the formerly proposed units have been so designed that their electrical contacts are not sufficiently protected against accidental engagement by a conductive object, or against contact with the fingers of a child, or a screw driver or other conductive element handled by a child.
The general object of the present invention is to pro vide an elon ated continuous outlet strip which is designed in a manner overcoming the above discussed disadvantages of prior similar units. A device embodying the invention is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet at the same time is reliable in operation, easy to assemble and install, and the contacts are sufliciently protected against accidental engagement to render the device at least as safe in use as the conventional single or double outlet.
Some of these advantages are attained by a unique type of contact, having a cross section such as to always assure completely effective electrical engagement with the prongs of a mating connector plug, even after use of the outlet for an extended period of time. The simplicity of assembly and mounting of the unit is attained in large part by a novel snap-in arrangement, in which the face plate of the device snaps into position within a channel element, and carries at its rear side a conductor holding part. Connection of the elongated outlet strip to a power source, or to a next successive strip on an adjacent wall, is attained by employment of a new type of coupling block or plug adapted for connection into the end of the outlet strip.
The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an electrical outlet strip constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view through the outlet strip of FIG. 1, and taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section similar to FIG. 2, but taken in the plane of two of the plug receiving openings, and shown with a mating electrical plug connected to the strip;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coupling block adapted to be connected into the outlet strip of FIG. 1, with the block being shown in partially disassembled condition, and partially broken away to reveal the internal construction of the unit;
FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the electrical outlet strip of FIG. 1, taken through the location of a coupling block such as that shown in FIG. 4 (taken on line 55 of FIG. 1), but omitting the electrical contacts of the outlet strip in order to clarify the end view configuration of the coupling block; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view representing the manner in which the end of one of the contacts of the outlet strip fits into one of the pairs of contacts of the coupling block.
In FIGVI the electrical outlet strip is indicated generally by the arrow 10, and is seen to be housed in a channel housing 11 covered at the front by a face plate 12. Preferably, the channel housing 11 is a rolled sheet metal channel, of aluminum or steel or the like, and face plate 12 is constructed of an electrically insulative resinous plastic material which is easily extruded with a desired cross sectional shape. For example, a suitable essentially stiff vinyl resin may be employed for the purpose.
The outer surface of face plate 12 is horizontally grooved at 13 and 14, and provided with electrical plug openings 15, extending rearwardly from the backs of grooves 13 and 14, at intervals spaced longitudinally along the outlet strip 11 A conventional electrical plug 16 is shown inserted in one pair of the openings 15.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the electrical outlet strip 10 in cross section, and reveal the transverse cross section of the channel housing 11 and face plate 12. FIG. 3 is a section through the location of plug openings 15, and shows the disposition of plug 16, and the internal location of its prongs 17 and 18. As seen in FIG. 2, the back Wall 19 of channel 11 contains screw holes 20 (only one shown), for permitting strip 10 to be attached to an adjacent wall surface by screws 21.
Face plate 12 can be resiliently snapped into position in channel 11, and is held in that position by interengagement of mating shoulders 22 and 23 on channel 11 with grooves 24 and 25 of the face plate.
In a generic sense, the shoulders and grooves may be located either on the channel 11 and face plate 12, respectively, as illustrated, or vice versa. However, it is preferred to roll the channel 11 with internal longitudinal shoulders formed just inwardly of each side of the channel opening, by inward displacement of the side wall metal channel 11, as illustrated at 22 and 23, while the grooves 24 and 25 are desirably recessed into the edges of face plate 12. This avoids any external ribbing which might interfere with easy recessing of the electrical outlet strip 10. The material of which channel 11 is formed is sufiiciently deformable and resilient to allow the two side walls 111 to spread slightly apart as face plate 12 is slipped into position within the channel. Such spreading is efiected by virtue of the illustrated rounded camming configuration of beads or shoulders 22 and 23, and the camming angularity of the engaging surfaces 112 of face plate 12. After the face plate has been in serted to the illustrated flush position within channel 11, the resilience of side walls 111 of the channel causes the shoulders 22 and 23 to resiliently return inwardly toward the face plate, and into the mating grooves 24 and 25, in a relation thereafter retaining the face plate and its carried parts in their illustratedrposition within the channel.
Inside the housing formed by channel 11 and face plate 12, there are positioned a pair of electrical contact strips 26 and 27 contained within an electrically insulative receptacle or inner housing 23. The contact strips 26 and 27, and inner housing, may all be coextensive longitudinally with face plate 12, and all of these parts 12, 26, 27, and 28 may be of uniform cross section along their entire length, except insofar as the cross section of the face plate is locally interrupted by plug receiving apertures 15. Inner housing 28 is desirably of the illustrated essentially W-shaped cross section, having two parallel opposite side walls 128, a transverse rear wall 129 extending essentially parallel to face plate 12, and a central dividing Wall or partition 29. Partition 29 divides the element 28 longitudinally along its center plane, into two elongated channels or recesses 31] and 31 which separately accommodate the contact strips 26 and 27 respectively. The double channel inner housing 23 is formed of a suitable essentially rigid insulative material, such as the same vinyl resin or other resinous plastic material employed in making face plate 12. The inner surface of face plate 12 is grooved longitudinally to receive and support inner housing 28, a central groove 32 receiving the edge of center dividing wall 29, and oblique side grooves 33 and 34 being provided to receive angular edge flanges 35 and 36 formed along the edges of the side Walls 128 of housing 28.
Contact strips 26 and 27 are rolled to an arcuate cross .section, along their major contact portions, to provide convex contact surfaces for engagement by the electrical plug prongs 17 and 18. This convex configuration results in an extremely effective sliding contact between elements 26 and 27 and the prongs 17 and 18, as will be apparent from a review of FIG. 3.
Strips 26 and 27 are designed to flex resiliently from the position indicated in FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, at the point of insertion of an electrical plug 16 into the outlet. This deflection or flexing of contact strips 26 and 27 takes place about longitudinal pivot shoulders 26a and 27a formed near the face plate edges of strips 26 and 27 respectively, and seated on the adjacent wall surfaces of central partition 29 of the insulative inner housing 28. The face plate edges 26b and 27b of contacts 26 and 27 are folded back upon themselves to provide stiff edges of double thickness, and are anchored by insertion into longitudinal retaining grooves 39 and 40 on the inner surface of face plate 12.
'Deflectable edges 26c and 270 of contact strips 26 and 27 are rolled over to provide smoothly sliding contact on the bottom surface of the double channel insulative inner housing 28, when the insertion of an electric plug 16 causes deflection of the adjacent portions of the contact strips 26 and 27 toward central partition 29. It will be apparent that strips 26 and 27 must be formed of resilient and electrically conductive material, such as spring brass or the like, with the resilience of the contacts tending to return them outwardly to the normal FIG. 2 positions.
In order to connect the contacts 26 and 27 within outlet strip to a power source, I provide at one end of the outlet strip a coupling block 50 (see FIG. 1), which is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 4, and is shown positioned within channel 11 in FIG. 5. The forward side of the channel at the location of coupling plug 50 may be closed by a short face plate 112, having the cross sectional configuration of face plate 12 but not containing any of the plug receiving apertures 15.
It will be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the coupling block includes a molded body, typically formed of an electrically insulative resinous plastic material, the body consisting of a rectangular portion 51 and a pair of locating and shielding prongs 52 and 53. The prongs or projections 52 and 53 may be molded integrally with the rectangular portion 51 of the coupling block, and project longitudinally therefrom in a common direction represented by the axis 151 in FIG. 4. When plug 50 is connected into the outlet strip, the axis 151 and prongs 52 and 53 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the various parts 11, 12, 26, 27, and 28 of the outlet assembly. As seen in FIG. 5, which is a view looking toward the locating prongs 52 and 53, and along axis 151, a pair of electrical contact means 54 and 55 are embedded in the prongs 52 and 53 respectively. Exposed portions of the electrical contact means 54 and 55 are covered by electrically insulative shields or covers 56 and 57, which are partially hollowed out shells closely received in grooves 58 and 59 provided in the outer face plate engaging surface of the coupling block rectangular portion 50. Shields 56 and 57 are solvent welded into the grooves 58 and 59, that is, they are coated with a solvent which slightly softens them just prior to insertion during manufacture so that they are bonded or Welded tightly to and become an integral part of block 50. Projections 56 and 57 may be somewhat shorter than, and smaller in transverse cross section than, the two main projections 52 and 53. Also, all four of these projections 52, 53, 56, and 57 may have tapered or rounded ends 152, to facilitate their insertion axially into the end of outlet unit 10. As will be explained at a later point, the shields or projections 56 and 57 are supported with sufficient clearance between them and their corresponding larger projections 52 and 53 respectively to permit the sliding entry of the ends of contact strips 26 and 27 between the shields for electrical engagement with contact means 54 and 55.
In FIG. 4, the shield 57 is illustrated as removed from its active position in the coupling block assembly, and the associated locating and shielding prong 53 is fragmentarily broken away to reveal its inner construction and the manner of embedding electrical contact means 55 therein. This electrical contact means 55 includes a pair of resilient metal contact blades, consisting of an outer resiliently defiectable blade 60, and an inner blade 61 embedded in the plastic material of locating prong 63. The two blades or contacts are riveted together by rivet 62 at one end, and are normally held tightly together by the resilience of outer blade 6%. At their ends which are spaced outwardly from main block 51 of the coupling plug, contacts 61} and 61 are deformed to flare slightly apart, as indicated at 63, for easy reception of the end of one of the contact strips 26 or 27. At a location between the flared ends 63 and rivet 62, and preferably near the rivet, contact 69 has a short bridge portion (see FIGS. 4 and 6), which is locally bowed or curved outwardly away from the associated second contact 61, to provide an open space at that point between the two contacts. The relative proportioning of the various parts of the apparatus is such that, when coupling plug 50 is fully inserted into its position of connection to outlet strip 16, with portion 50 of the coupling block desirably in abutting engagement with the end of inner housing 23, the end edge 126 of contact strip 26 is received directly Within the spaces provided between the associated pair of contacts 60 and 61 at the location 169. The same is of course true of the corresponding end edge of contact 27. These end edges of the contact strips are cut oil in a plane extending transversely of axis 151 of FIG. 4, that is, the axis of insertion of the plug into the contact strip, and the longitudinal axis of the outlet strip itself. In cutting off contact strips 26 and 27, it is extremely difiicult to prevent the formation of burrs at edges 126, and the purpose of the spacing of elements 61') and 61 at s,061,s1o
5 160 is to allow for reception of any such burrs between the two contact strips 60 and 61 without causing a spreading of elements 60 and 61 by virtue of the reception of the increased thickness burr areas therebetween.
The inner embedded blade 61 of each pair of contacts 66 and 61 is formed with a terminal strip 64 extending from one of its sides (see FIG. 5), and crimp rolled at an end 65 to electrically connect with the exposed end portion 66 of an associated wire 67 which extends through portion Stl of the coupling plug and pro ects from its opposite side. A similar construction connects the second pair of contacts 60 and 61 with a second insulated wire 63. The two electrical leads 67 and 68 are connected to a suitable source of power through a power plug opening 69 (see FIG. 1), or may be connected to a second coupling block similar in all respects to block 50 in order to provide coupling between successive sections of outlet strip 10, whether in a straight line, or at a corner within a corner fitting housing 70 as seen in FIG. 1. The ends of the electrical outlet strip may be covered by means of an end cover such as that shown at 71, or a power outlet housing 72.
In mounting the illustrated outlet strip assembly to a wall, the first step is to connect suitable lengths of the channel element 11 to the Wall surface by screws 21, with corner channels and end fittings being provided wherever necessary to properly fit the particular room in which the apparatus is being mounted. The assembly of co-extensive parts 12, 26, 27, and 28, is preassembled to the condition illustrated in the figures, and is then snapped into position within channel 11 in the manner previously discussed. At the power inlet end of one of the outlet strips, coupling plug 56 is inserted axially into that strip, with shielding prongs 52, 53, 56, and 57, and contacts 60 and 61, moving into longitudinally overlapping or interfitting relation with respect to the outlet strip assembly. That is, projections 52 and 56 extend into the spaces 30 and 31 of FIG. 2, while projections 56 and 57 are received within the spaces provided at the opposite sides of contacts 26 and 27. The edge portions of contact strips 26 and 27 slide into positions between the mating contacts 60 and 61 to provide an effective electrical engagement therewith. Leads 67 and '63 are connected to power, and double coupling plugs are provided between successive lengths of the outlet strip, to conduct power from one strip to the other. A user may then insert outlet plug 16 into the strip at the locations of any of the pairs of apertures 15, so that prongs 17 and 18 of the plugs engage contacts 26 and 27 to receive power therefrom.
The contact strips 26 and 27, by reason of their unique configuration, provide exceptionally positive sliding contact with the prongs, at locations which are removed as far as possible from the apertures 15, to thereby increase the overall safety of die unit. Contact strips 26 and 27 are rigidly held in place by the grooves 39 and 46, while pivoting at the pivot shoulders 26a and 27a.
Although the embodiment illustrated is one preferred form of the invention, and includes many refinements of the inventive concepts, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations and departures from it may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore my intention that the foregoing description and its associated illustration not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely as illustrative of one form falling within that scope .as defined by the following claims.
I claim:
1. The combination comprising an elongated electrical outlet receptacle, and a coupling block to be connected to one end of said receptacle, said receptacle including an I pling block including a body, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said body in essentially a common direction and adapted to be inserted axially into an end of said elongated outlet receptacle and into longitudinally overlapping relation with said contacts, and second electrical contacts carried by said body at locations to move into longitudinally overlapping electrically contacting relation with respect to said first contacts, said projections being formed of electrically insulative material and extending along different sides of said second contacts in close proximity thereto to shield said second contacts against electrical engagement with other conductive objects.
2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which there are two of said second contacts associated with each of said first contacts adapted to extend along and engage opposite sides of the associated first contact.
3. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which there are two of said projections associated with each of said first contacts adapted to extend along opposite sides of the associated first contact.
4. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which there are two pairs of said second contacts adapted to grip said two first contacts respectively, and there being two of said insulative projections associated with and received at opposite sides of each pair of said second contacts.
5. For use with an elongated electrical outlet receptacle containing a pair of elongated first contacts and into which a male connector may be connected to engage said contacts at any of different locations spaced along the receptacle; a coupling block to be connected into an end of said receptacle, said block including a body, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said body in essentially a common direction and adapted to be inserted axially into an end of said elongated outlet receptacle and into longitudinally overlapping relation with said contacts, and second electrical contacts carried by said body at locations to move into longitudinally overlapping electrically contacting relation with respect to said first contacts, said projections being formed of electrically insulative material and extending along different sides of said second contacts in close proximity thereto to shield said second contacts against electrical engagement with other conductive objects.
6. A coupling block as recited in claim 5 in which there are two of said second contacts associated with each of said first contacts adapted to extend along and engage opposite sides of the associated first contact.
7. The combination as recited in claim 5 in which there are two of said projections associated with each of said first contacts adapted to extend along opposite sides of the associated first contact.
8. A continuous electrical outlet receptacle including an elongated hollow housing formed of electrically insulative material and having a front wall containing apertures through which a mating plug is connectible at any of a series of different locations, said housing having a central partition dividing two elongated chambers in the housing back of said front wall, and a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said two chambers respectively of the housing, each of said contact strips having a retaining edge received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said front wall, near said central partition, each contact strip having a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed near said retaining edge and bearing against said central partition, and each contact strip having a contact portion of curved cross section presenting a convexly curved surface facing generally away from said central partition and electrically engageable by said mating plug at any of diflerent locations spaced therealong, said contact portion being deflectible about said pivot shoulder and toward said central partition by engagement with said plug.
9. A continuous electrical outlet as recited in claim 8 in which said housing has a back wall spaced rear-wardly of and generally parallel-to said front wall, each of said contact strips having a .rolled edge sliding on said back wall of the housing.
10. A continuous electrical outlet as recited in claim 8 including a coupling block having insulative proiections adapted to be slidably inserted into said two chambers at opposite sides of said contact strips, and electrical contact means between said projections electrically engageable with said contact strips.
11. The combination comprising an elongated electrical outlet receptacle, and a coupling block to be connected to one end of said receptacle, said receptacle including an elongated housing and two elongated first contacts with in said housing, said housing having means for passing the prongs of a male connector into electrical engagement with said two contacts at any of a series of locations spaced along the length of said housing, said coupling block including two pairs of second contacts engageable with said two first mentioned contacts respectively, each of said first contacts having a portion slidably receivable between one pair of said second contacts and terminating at an end edge, and one of said second contacts of each pair having a portion locally spaced from the other contact of that pair and forming a space between the pair of contacts within which said edge of the associated one of said first contacts is received in the fully inserted position of said coupling block.
12. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividingwall thereof; .a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; and a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, said contact portion being deflectible toward said central dividing wall.
13. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an 'edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall there of; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; and a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, and a rolled edge sliding on the bottom of said insulating receptacle channel, said contact portion being deflectable toward said central dividing wall.
14. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing Wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, and a rolled edge sliding on the bottom of said insulating receptacle channel, said contact portion being deflectible toward said central dividing wall; a coupling block of insulating material closely received between the bottom of said channel housing and the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of locating prongs projecting from one end of said coupling block and receivable in the double channels of said insulating receptacle on the concave side of said contact portions of said contact strips therein; electrical contact means mounted on the outer surface of each of said locating probes, and adapted to longitudinally slide into coupling relationship with said contact strips; insulating blade covers extending from said coupling block over said contact means, and spaced from said locating probes to permit the reception of said contact strips therebetween to make contact with said electrical contact means; and terminal wire means in said coupling block and communicating electrically with said electrical contact means.
15. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders; walls in the outer surface of said face plate defining a pair of longitudinal grooves recessed into said face plate and having a Width closely receiving an electric plug prong, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in the bottoms of said grooves; an insulating receptacle located at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating Wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; edge flanges on the outer edges of said receptacle channel received in mating grooves in the inner surface of said face plate, said flanges and grooves being disposed in intersecting planes to securely retain said receptacle on the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing Wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; and a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, and a rolled edge sliding on the bottom of said insulating receptacle channel, said contact portion being deflectable toward said central dividing Wall by the insertion of electrical plugs.
16. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes: a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders; walls in the outer surface of said face plate defining a pair of longitudinal grooves recessed into said face plate and having a width closely receiving an electrical plug prong, and having electrical plug receptat'e openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in the bottoms of said grooves; an insulating receptacle located at the inner surface of said face plate, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; edge flanges on the outer edges of said receptacle channel received in mating grooves in the inner surface of said face plate, said flanges and grooves being disposed in intersecting planes to securely retain said receptacle on the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of contact strips constructed of resilient electrically conductive material in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provide double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; a contact portion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, and a rolled edge sliding on the bottom of said insulatin receptacle channel, said contact portion being deflectable toward said central dividing wall by the insertion of electrical plugs; a coupling block of insulating material closely received between the bottom of said channel housing and the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of locating prongs projecting from one end of said coupling block and receivable in the double channels of said insulating receptacle on the concave side of said contact portion of said contact strips therein; a pair of electrically conductive coupling blades mounted on the outer surface of each of said locating probes, and adapted to longitudinally slide into coupling relationship with said contact strips; insulating blade covers extending from said coupling block over said coupling blades, and spaced from said locating probes to permit the reception of said contact strips between said pairs of coupling blades; and terminal wire means embedded in said coupling block and communicating electrically with said coupling blades.
17. A continuous electrical outlet strip which includes:
a channel housing having internal longitudinal shoulders on each side of the channel opening; a face plate fitting into the opening of said channel housing, being held therein by edge grooves mating with said shoulders, and having electrical plug receptacle openings at spaced longitudinal intervals in longitudinal grooves in its outer surface; an insulating receptacle supported on the inner surface of said face plate by means of edge flanges received in longitudinal grooves in said inner surface, said insulating receptacle being divided into a double channel by means of a central separating wall with an edge received in a mating central groove in the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of electrically conductive contact strips in said insulating receptacle, one on each side of the central dividing wall thereof; a retaining edge on each of said contact strips, folded to provided double thickness, and received in a longitudinal retaining groove in the inner surface of said face plate, near said central dividing wall of said insulating receptacle; a longitudinal pivot shoulder formed in said strip near said retaining edge and bearing against said central dividing wall; a contact por tion of said strip, having a curved cross-section convex on the contact surface thereof, and a rolled edge sliding on the bottom of said insulating receptacle channel, said contact portion being deflectable toward said central dividing wall by the insertion of electrical plugs; a coupling block of insulating material closely received between the bottom of said channel housing and the inner surface of said face plate; a pair of locating prongs projecting from one end of said coupling block and receivable in the double channels of said insulating receptacle; a pair of electrically conductive coupling blades mounted on the outer surface of each of said locating probes, and adapted to longitudinally slide into coupling relationship with said contact strips; terminal wire means communicating electrically with said coupling blades.
References Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,361,721 Van Deventer Oct. 31, 1944 2,478,006 Paden Aug. 2, 1949 2,743,423 Parks Apr. 24, 1956
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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3622938A (en) * 1968-12-10 1971-11-23 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Electric power distribution device
US3649951A (en) * 1970-06-01 1972-03-14 Us Industries Inc End insulator for a power distribution system
US3753209A (en) * 1970-01-07 1973-08-14 Staff & Schwarz Gmbh Current distributor rail
US3858155A (en) * 1972-04-04 1974-12-31 Telemecanique Electrique System providing power supply connections and interconnections for logic blocks
US4631648A (en) * 1984-07-09 1986-12-23 Nilssen Ole K Modular suspended ceiling and lighting system
US4735577A (en) * 1981-09-01 1988-04-05 Sl Industries, Inc. Extruded outlet strip
US4874322A (en) * 1987-09-28 1989-10-17 Amp Incorporated Surface applied wiring apparatus
US4952163A (en) * 1988-09-26 1990-08-28 Amp Incorporated Outlet for surface accessible wiring
US5003443A (en) * 1990-08-01 1991-03-26 Sabala Edwin K Illuminated display apparatus
US5152698A (en) * 1989-02-07 1992-10-06 Steelcase Inc. Floor track system for office furniture and the like
US5412552A (en) * 1993-03-25 1995-05-02 Fernandes; Mark Lighting lamp bar
US5676558A (en) * 1995-10-02 1997-10-14 Mayer; E. Howard Reduced cable requiring, fusible bus duct system and method for providing electrical energy to houses and buildings and the like
US6890219B1 (en) 2001-02-09 2005-05-10 Marc R. Mayer Polarized receptacle containing baseboard in reduced cable requiring system and method for providing electrical energy to houses and buildings and the like
USD963163S1 (en) * 2017-05-02 2022-09-06 Affera, Inc. Catheter tip with openings

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2361721A (en) * 1941-10-02 1944-10-31 Harry R Van Deventer Electric circuit molding
US2478006A (en) * 1946-12-10 1949-08-02 James J Paden Continuous electrical receptacle
US2743423A (en) * 1952-07-12 1956-04-24 Wiremold Co Electrical wiring and connection assembly

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2361721A (en) * 1941-10-02 1944-10-31 Harry R Van Deventer Electric circuit molding
US2478006A (en) * 1946-12-10 1949-08-02 James J Paden Continuous electrical receptacle
US2743423A (en) * 1952-07-12 1956-04-24 Wiremold Co Electrical wiring and connection assembly

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3622938A (en) * 1968-12-10 1971-11-23 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Electric power distribution device
US3753209A (en) * 1970-01-07 1973-08-14 Staff & Schwarz Gmbh Current distributor rail
US3649951A (en) * 1970-06-01 1972-03-14 Us Industries Inc End insulator for a power distribution system
US3858155A (en) * 1972-04-04 1974-12-31 Telemecanique Electrique System providing power supply connections and interconnections for logic blocks
US4735577A (en) * 1981-09-01 1988-04-05 Sl Industries, Inc. Extruded outlet strip
US4631648A (en) * 1984-07-09 1986-12-23 Nilssen Ole K Modular suspended ceiling and lighting system
US4874322A (en) * 1987-09-28 1989-10-17 Amp Incorporated Surface applied wiring apparatus
US4952163A (en) * 1988-09-26 1990-08-28 Amp Incorporated Outlet for surface accessible wiring
US5152698A (en) * 1989-02-07 1992-10-06 Steelcase Inc. Floor track system for office furniture and the like
US5003443A (en) * 1990-08-01 1991-03-26 Sabala Edwin K Illuminated display apparatus
US5412552A (en) * 1993-03-25 1995-05-02 Fernandes; Mark Lighting lamp bar
US5676558A (en) * 1995-10-02 1997-10-14 Mayer; E. Howard Reduced cable requiring, fusible bus duct system and method for providing electrical energy to houses and buildings and the like
US6890219B1 (en) 2001-02-09 2005-05-10 Marc R. Mayer Polarized receptacle containing baseboard in reduced cable requiring system and method for providing electrical energy to houses and buildings and the like
USD963163S1 (en) * 2017-05-02 2022-09-06 Affera, Inc. Catheter tip with openings

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