Patent US3605064A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3605064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Splice box for a power distribution system
Assignee: Prescolite Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-03
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1988-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A splice box or coupler for a power distribution system of the type providing a substantially continuous convenience outlet enabling electrical plugs to be connected thereto at substantially any selected location therealong. The system includes one or more track components that provide such convenience outlet, and each such track component is equipped with a conductor assembly having a plurality of spaced-apart conductors. The splice box or coupler is connectable with such track component at an end thereof, and may be used either to join successive track components or to attach an end block or junction box thereto at which the conductors of the distribution system are connected with power supply lines. The splice box, for the purpose of establishing connection thereof with a track component, has a housing portion insertable into the end of a track component, and it is equipped with a plurality of contacts movable into engagement with the respective conductors of such track component when assembled therewith, and which contacts are selectively manipulatable to establish either a two-conductor single electric circuit or a three-conductor double electric circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry L Routh
- 👤 James Contratto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/14; H01R25/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, and an additional contact mounted within said casiNg and being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one such conductor following insertion of said casing section into the chamber of such track component, said selector structure being movable in one direction to effect displacement of said additional contact into the outer extended position thereof concurrently with corresponding displacements of the aforesaid pair of contacts into their outer extended positions and being movable in an opposite direction to displace the aforesaid pair of contacts outwardly into their extended positions without so displacing said additional contact into its outer extended position, said casing being provided with an end portion larger in at least one transverse dimension than said casing section and being abuttable with an end of such track component to limit the extent of insertion of said casing section into the chamber thereof, said guide structure extending along said casing section in spacedapart overlying relation therewith for slidable insertion into such track component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, and an additional contact mounted within said casiNg and being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one such conductor following insertion of said casing section into the chamber of such track component, said selector structure being movable in one direction to effect displacement of said additional contact into the outer extended position thereof concurrently with corresponding displacements of the aforesaid pair of contacts into their outer extended positions and being movable in an opposite direction to displace the aforesaid pair of contacts outwardly into their extended positions without so displacing said additional contact into its outer extended position, said casing being provided with an end portion larger in at least one transverse dimension than said casing section and being abuttable with an end of such track component to limit the extent of insertion of said casing section into the chamber thereof, said guide structure extending along said casing section in spacedapart overlying relation therewith for slidable insertion into such track component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The splice box of claim 1 in which each of said contacts is an elongated component having an end portion thereof extending longitudinally in substantially unsupported relation, and in which said selector structure is engageable with the end portion of each contact to displace the same laterally into its outer extended position and thereby effect engagement thereof with a conductor of such track component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The splice box of claim 2 in which said selector structure has an offset portion engageable with said additional contact to displace the same laterally into its outer extended position when said selector structure is moved in one direction and ineffective to displace it into such outer extended position when said selector structure is moved in the opposite direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
191 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, and guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, said guide structure extending along said casing section in spaced-apart overlying relation therewith for slidable insertion into such track component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, and guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, said guide structure extending along said casing section in spaced-apart overlying relation therewith for slidable insertion into such track component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
The splice box of claim 4 and further comprising an additional contact mounted within said casing and being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one such conductor following insertion of said casing section into the chamber of such track component, and in which said selector structure is movable in one direction to effect displacement of said additional contact into the outer extended position thereof concurrently with corresponding displacements of the aforesaid pair of contacts into their outer extended positions and is movable in an opposite direction to displace the aforesaid pair of contacts outwardly into their extended positions without so displacing said additional contact into its outer extended position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, said casing having an end portion from which said section thereof extends and a connector strap for securing two such splice boxes in longitudinal disposition with said end portions thereof in substantial abutment and said casing sections projecting therefrom in opposite longitudinal directions, said casing being equipped with means for securing said connector strap thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a pair of contacts mounted within said casing and movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto and being engageable with said contacts to displace the same selectively from their retracted positions into their extended positions, guide structure carried by said casing and cooperative with such track component to positively determine the position of said casing with respect thereto upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enable interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure, said casing having an end portion from which said section thereof extends and a connector strap for securing two such splice boxes in longitudinal disposition with said end portions thereof in substantial abutment and said casing sections projecting therefrom in opposite longitudinal directions, said casing being equipped with means for securing said connector strap thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The splice box of claim 6 in which said casing is equipped with a removable cover, and in which said securing means are provided thereby.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The splice box of claim 7 in which said casing and removable cover are provided with insulating barriers separating said contacts thereat to insulate the same from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
243 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, at least three contacts mounted within said casing and being movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, three-position selector structure pivotally carried by said casing for selective displacements with respect thereto in opposite angular directions from an intermediate neutral position into one or another of two active positions, said selector structure upon displacement thereof in one angular direction into one active position being engageable with a plurality of said contacts to move the same into their outer extended positions thereof and also upon displacement thereof in the opposite angular direction into another active position being engageable with a plurality of said contacts to move the same into their outer extended positions, and give structure provided by said splice box for positively determining the position of said casing with respect that such track component upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enabling interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure in one or the other of such opposite angular directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
243 words
A splice box or the like for use in a power distribution system having a track component provided with a longitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a plurality of conductors insulating one from the others, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, at least three contacts mounted within said casing and being movable with respect thereto between inner retracted positions and outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors following insertion of said casing section into such chamber, three-position selector structure pivotally carried by said casing for selective displacements with respect thereto in opposite angular directions from an intermediate neutral position into one or another of two active positions, said selector structure upon displacement thereof in one angular direction into one active position being engageable with a plurality of said contacts to move the same into their outer extended positions thereof and also upon displacement thereof in the opposite angular direction into another active position being engageable with a plurality of said contacts to move the same into their outer extended positions, and give structure provided by said splice box for positively determining the position of said casing with respect that such track component upon insertion of said casing section thereinto and thereby enabling interconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of such track component by appropriate movement of said selector structure in one or the other of such opposite angular directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The splice box of claim 9 in which each of said contacts is an elongated spring component having an end portion thereof extending longitudinally in substantially unsupported relation and biased toward the inner retracted position thereof, and in which said selector structure is abuttably engageable with the end portion of each contact to displace the same laterally into its outer extended position and thereby effect engagement thereof with a conductor of such track component.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
The splice box of claim 9 in Which said selector structure has cam surfaces engageable with a certain two of said contacts to move the same into their outer extended positions upon displacement of said selector structure in either of said opposite angular directions into one or the other of said active positions and is equipped with a cam portion engageable with the third of said contacts only when displaced in one of said opposite angular directions into the active position associated therewith to move said third contact into its outer extended position concurrently with movement of the aforesaid two contacts.
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) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |