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EP0106535A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical track

Assignee: Novar ED&S Ltd
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Filing: 1983-09-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-13
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical distribution track has an elongate duct containing exposed conductors which may be mounted on or in a wall. The duct has an opening which may receive an electrical accessory to make contact with the conductors at any point and is provided with cover means which cover the whole of the opening and surrounding parts of the duct. The cover means may be snap fitted to supporting brackets or to the duct itself. When assembled the whole of the duct is protected from damage or penetration of unwanted materials by the cover means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norman Edward Bruce Reynolds
  • 👤 Leslie King

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/16; H01R25/164

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 234 words
An electrical distribution track comprising a longitudinal hollow duct adapted to be mounted on a support surface or in a channel embedded in a support surface, the duct containing exposed electrical conductors extending therealong, the duct comprising a base and a pair of longitudinally extending side walls having a continuous longitudinal opening therebetween to allow insertion into the duct of an electrical accessory at any point along the duct, the side walls comprising outwardly facing edges capable of engaging flanges on opposite sides of an accessory positioned in the duct or of a mounting device capable of holding an accessory in the duct, means for clamping an accessory or mounting device to the duct with said flanges abutting said edges, and cover means adapted to be attached to the duct such that the parts of the opening not occupied by the accessory, the edges of the walls of the duct and the flanges of an accessory or mounting means therefor abutting said edges are covered by the cover means, the cover means extending to the support surface outside the duct or the duct having outer walls extending from the support surface to the cover means so that the parts of the duct which are exposed when the duct is mounted on a support surface or in a channel thereon are enclosed by the cover means or by the cover means and the outer walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 234 words
An electrical distribution track comprising a longitudinal hollow duct adapted to be mounted on a support surface or in a channel embedded in a support surface, the duct containing exposed electrical conductors extending therealong, the duct comprising a base and a pair of longitudinally extending side walls having a continuous longitudinal opening therebetween to allow insertion into the duct of an electrical accessory at any point along the duct, the side walls comprising outwardly facing edges capable of engaging flanges on opposite sides of an accessory positioned in the duct or of a mounting device capable of holding an accessory in the duct, means for clamping an accessory or mounting device to the duct with said flanges abutting said edges, and cover means adapted to be attached to the duct such that the parts of the opening not occupied by the accessory, the edges of the walls of the duct and the flanges of an accessory or mounting means therefor abutting said edges are covered by the cover means, the cover means extending to the support surface outside the duct or the duct having outer walls extending from the support surface to the cover means so that the parts of the duct which are exposed when the duct is mounted on a support surface or in a channel thereon are enclosed by the cover means or by the cover means and the outer walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
A track according to claim 1, in which the edges of the walls of the duct are provided with continuous longitudinal grooves to receive screws for clamping said flanges to the edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A track according to claims 1 or 2, provided with transverse brackets engaging the edges of the walls of the duct, the brackets being adapted to support the cover means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A track according to claim 3, in which the brackets are screwed to the edges of the walls of the duct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
A track according to claim 3 or 4, in which the cover means and the brackets are provided with respective grooves and upstanding beads such that the beads may be snap fitted into the grooves to hold the cover means in place on the brackets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A track according to claim 3, 4 or 5 in which the brackets are dimensioned to engage a transverse edge of an accessory or mounting device therefor to clamp the accessory or mounting device to the duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 66 words
A track according to any one of claims 3 to 6 including a longitudinal channel member to be mounted in a groove in a support surface for the track to contain the duct channel member comprising side walls having edges provided with grooves for receiving screws, the brackets being screwed to the edges of the channel side walls to retain the duct in the channel member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 88 words
A track according to claim 7, in which the edges of the channel member are provided with inner walls, said grooves being defined by the inner walls and the side walls of the channel member, the inner walls and the side walls of the channel member are connected by a body of material which a screw may penetrate, and the inner walls extend from said body to define further grooves on the side of said body remote from the edges of the side walls of the channel member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A track according to any preceding claim, in which the cover means comprises an integral body extending over the opening and the side wall edges of the duct and engaging the support surface on or in which the track is mounted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 55 words
A track according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the duct is provided with a pair of upstanding outer walls and the cover means comprises an integral body extending over the opening and the side wall edges of the duct and engaging the edges of the outer walls of the duct.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 66 words
A track according to claim 1, in which the cover means comprises a centre cover extending over the opening and the edges of the side walls of the duct and the centre cover and the edges of the side walls are provided with respective grooves and beads such that the beads may snap fit into the grooves to secure the centre cover to the side walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
A track according to claim 11, in which the beads are bifurcated and capable of expanding inside the grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 42 words
A track according to claim 11 or 12, inwhich the centre cover is provided with grooves in its surface opposite the-beads to receive screws to penetrate the centre cover and extend through the beads within the grooves of the side wall edges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
A track according to any one of claims 11 to 13, in which the cover means comprises side covers covering the track on respective sides of the centre cover having surfaces substantially flush with the surface of the centre cover.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
A track according to claim 14, in which the side covers comprise flanges engaging inside a corresponding groove formed in the centre cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
A track according to claim 14 or 15, in which the side covers and theduct have respective grooves and beads and the beads snap fit into the respective grooves to secure the side covers to the duct.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
A track according to claim 16, in which the duct has outer walls extending from the support surface and the side covers and the edges of the outer walls have engaging grooves and beads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 73 words
A track according to claim 16, comprising a longitudinal channel member to be mounted in a groove in a support surface for the track to contain the duct,the channel member comprising side walls having edges provided with grooves for receiving screws, the walls of the duct having outwardly extending flanges screwed to the edges of the channel member walls and the flanges being connected to the side covers by engaging grooves and beads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
A track according to any preceding claim, in which the exposed conductors are mounted in parallel channels on the base of the duct.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 30 words
A track according to claim 19, in which the conductors are metal strips held in their channels by cleats gripping the strips and engaging the interior surfaces of the channels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 25 words
A track according to claim 20, in which the channels containing the conductors are provided with interior abutments to retain the cleats in the channels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 31 words
A track according to claim 19, 20 or 21 in which the conductors are three in number and the transverse distances between the middle conductor and the outer conductors are unequal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 39 words
A track according to any preceding claim, in which the interior of the duct is provided with at least one chamber extending longitudinally along the duct and isolated from the remainder of the duct interior by a removable strip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 79 words
A track according to any preceding claim, in which adjacent lengths of said cover means attached to the duct are joined together at their ends by connectors covering the opening and the edges of the walls of the duct and extending to the wall of the support surface, at least the parts of the connectors covering the opening and the edges of the walls of the duct having an outer surface substantially flush with that of the cover means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 44 words
An assembly comprising a track according to any one of the preceding claims and an electrical accessory,in which the accessory is mounted in the opening of the duct and has a pair of outstanding flanges abutting the edges of the walls of the duct.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 50 words
An assembly comprising a track according to any one of claims 1 to 24 and an electrical accessory, in which the accessory is secured to a mounting plate and is mounted in the opening of the duct with the mounting plate abutting the edges of the walls of the duct.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 32 words
An assembly according to claim 25 or 26, in which the flange of the accessory or the mounting plate is clamped to the edges of the walls of the duct by screws.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 24 words
An assembly according to claim 25 or 26, in which the accessory or the mounting plate is clamped in position by the cover means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 36 words
An assembly according to any one of claims 25 to 28, in which the accessory is provided with sprung forked terminals to make electrical contact with the conductors when the accessory is mounted in the track.

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