US3569899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device in distribution systems for electric current
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1969-02-07
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A hollow supply rail having a current carrier therein for the distribution of electrical current. The rail has a side slit opening through which a contact device may be inserted for tapping into the carrier. The carrier is made accessible from a direction opposite to the slit opening so as to be available only to the hook-shaped contact device.
Inventors
- 👤 Max Laser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/14; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A device in systems for the distribution of electric current comprising an elongated supply rail having means for carrying electric current and a contact device for engagement with said supply rail, said supply rail comprising a hollow profile having at least one slit shaped opening in one of the sidewalls of the profile, a carrier of insulating material mounted within said profile and located between said opening and an adjacent sidewall of the profile, a current bar carried by said carrier, a first elastic insulating protecting strip mounted at its base within said profile in the vicinity of said slit and extending along said adjacent sidewall, said protecting strip having an end portion bearing against said carrier so as to form a closed space between said carrier and said first protecting strip, said current bar being located within said closed space, said protecting strip having a terminating leg extending from said end portion inwardly of said profile so as to form a V-shaped groove between said terminating leg and said carrier, said first protecting strip being movable away from said carrier by said contact device so as to render said current bar available for contact therewith, said closed space being approachable only from a direction opposite the direction of entrance through said opening into said hollow profile, a second elastic insulating protecting strip mounted within said hollow profile and extending away from said carrier so as to provide a protective covering over said slit opening, said contact device comprising hook shaped contact means for insertion into said slit shaped opening and having its contact ends located between the end portion of said first insulating protecting strips and said carrier so that said contact end of said contact means will penetrate the closed space for electrical contact engagement with said current bar when said contact means is moved in a direction opposite to the direction required for insertion of the contact device into the supply rail.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
325 words
A device in systems for the distribution of electric current comprising an elongated supply rail having means for carrying electric current and a contact device for engagement with said supply rail, said supply rail comprising a hollow profile having at least one slit shaped opening in one of the sidewalls of the profile, a carrier of insulating material mounted within said profile and located between said opening and an adjacent sidewall of the profile, a current bar carried by said carrier, a first elastic insulating protecting strip mounted at its base within said profile in the vicinity of said slit and extending along said adjacent sidewall, said protecting strip having an end portion bearing against said carrier so as to form a closed space between said carrier and said first protecting strip, said current bar being located within said closed space, said protecting strip having a terminating leg extending from said end portion inwardly of said profile so as to form a V-shaped groove between said terminating leg and said carrier, said first protecting strip being movable away from said carrier by said contact device so as to render said current bar available for contact therewith, said closed space being approachable only from a direction opposite the direction of entrance through said opening into said hollow profile, a second elastic insulating protecting strip mounted within said hollow profile and extending away from said carrier so as to provide a protective covering over said slit opening, said contact device comprising hook shaped contact means for insertion into said slit shaped opening and having its contact ends located between the end portion of said first insulating protecting strips and said carrier so that said contact end of said contact means will penetrate the closed space for electrical contact engagement with said current bar when said contact means is moved in a direction opposite to the direction required for insertion of the contact device into the supply rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said V-shaped groove operates as means to guide said contact end of said hook shaped contact means into said closed space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said second elastic insulating protecting strip is connected with said first protecting strip and wherein said second protecting strip will be moved away from said slit opening during insertion of said contact means through said slit opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein said profile of said supply rail is provided with two current bars located at opposite walls of said profile and a center bar dividing said profile into two separate hollow compartments, said current bars being located in said separate hollow compartments of said profile, and each compartment being provided with one of said openings, each opening being located on the same wall of said profile and between said center bar and opposite walls, each compartment further comprising said carrier means for carrying said current bars, and first and second elastic insulating protecting strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said contact device comprises a housing of insulating material, a movable carrier mounted within said housing, said hook shaped contact means projecting into said profile being mounted on said movable carrier and means for causing movement of said movable carrier, whereby when said means for moving said carrier is activated said contact means will be displaced in a direction toward said opening so that said contact end will become located between said end portion of said first protecting strip and said current bar carrier so that said contact end is in electrical contact with said current bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The device according to claim 5 wherein said contact device further comprises guide surfaces for engaging said contact means so that as said contact means are displaced the contact end of said contact means will be caused to swing in a direction toward said V-shaped groove for guidance into said closed space for contact with said current bar and whereby said contact means are caused to swing to their initial position when being moved out of contact with said current bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein said contact means is prestressed for causing said contact means to swing toward said V-shaped groove when said contact means is moved in a direction toward said opening for effecting contact with said current bar and for causing said contact means to swing away from said V-shaped groove when said contact means is moved away from said opening to effect disconnection from said current bar and withdrawal from said closed space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein said means for causing movement of said movable carrier comprises a shaft eccentrically mounted within said housing and connected to said movable carrier and a rotatable wheel extending beyond said housing so that said shaft will be caused to rotate and effect movement of said movable carrier when said wheel is turned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device according to claim 4 wherein said supply rail further comprises a grounded current bar and wherein said contact device further comprises fixed contact means for engagement with said grounded current bar, said fixed contact means being located on said housing for electrical contact with said grounded contact bar upon engagement of said contact device with said supply rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein said grounded current bar is mounted on said center bar and wherein said fixed contact means engages said grounded current bar and said center bar, said fixed contacts being resiliently urged inwardly toward said center bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |