US3611252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attachment member for a power distribution track
Assignee: HALO LIGHTING DIVISION
•
Filing: 1969-11-19
•
Granted: 1971-10-05
•
Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An attachment member for use with a power distribution track of the type having a pair of spaced parallel conductors, the attachment member having a pair of diametrically opposed supporting flanges which engage and extend into one of the channels of the track and a pair of diametrically opposed contact fingers which extend and engage the spaced parallel conductors to establish electrical contact and wherein the attachment member has latching means engaging the track to maintain the attachment member in an electrical conducting condition and against removal from the power track unless the latch is manually retracted.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S Fremont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/14; H01R25/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
An attachment member for use with a power distribution track of the type having a pair of spaced upper channels to receive the electrical conductors and a pair of spaced lower channels with said lower channels having bottom flanges, said attachment member including a housing, a pair of diametrically opposed supporting flanges extending laterally and adapted to engage the pair of spaced lower channels for supporting said attachment member with respect to said track, a pair of diametrically opposed contact fingers extending laterally outward and spaced from said supporting flanges and adapted to engage the spaced conductors in said upper channels of said distribution track, and a spring biased latch member having a flat plate surfAce on its opposite faces supported in said housing and having a portion extending outwardly of the top of said housing with the top of said portion having a radius which provides a camming surface so that when said attachment member is positioned for attachment to said track said camming surface will engage one of said bottom flanges and cam said latch member downwardly to permit the attachment member to be rotated 90* to position the opposed supporting flanges in said pair of spaced lower channels, and after clearing said bottom flange said latch member will be urged upwardly by said spring to engage the track and prevent rotation of said attachment member with respect to said track, said latch member having a finger knob which extends outwardly of said housing to be manually engaged to depress said latch member to permit detachment of said attachment member from said track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
An attachment member for use with a power distribution track of the type having a pair of spaced upper channels to receive the electrical conductors and a pair of spaced lower channels with said lower channels having bottom flanges, said attachment member including a housing, a pair of diametrically opposed supporting flanges extending laterally and adapted to engage the pair of spaced lower channels for supporting said attachment member with respect to said track, a pair of diametrically opposed contact fingers extending laterally outward and spaced from said supporting flanges and adapted to engage the spaced conductors in said upper channels of said distribution track, and a spring biased latch member having a flat plate surfAce on its opposite faces supported in said housing and having a portion extending outwardly of the top of said housing with the top of said portion having a radius which provides a camming surface so that when said attachment member is positioned for attachment to said track said camming surface will engage one of said bottom flanges and cam said latch member downwardly to permit the attachment member to be rotated 90* to position the opposed supporting flanges in said pair of spaced lower channels, and after clearing said bottom flange said latch member will be urged upwardly by said spring to engage the track and prevent rotation of said attachment member with respect to said track, said latch member having a finger knob which extends outwardly of said housing to be manually engaged to depress said latch member to permit detachment of said attachment member from said track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which a vertically positioned coil spring normally maintains the latch member in elevated position to prevent turning of said attachment member while connected to said distribution track and in which the housing has a cavity for receiving the lower end of said coil spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the housing has a cover plate for closing the top of said housing and said cover plate has a slot having spaced vertical walls to slidably receive the latch plate, said latch plate having shoulders below said camming surface for engagement with said cover plate to limit the upward movement of said latch plate and wherein the latch plate is urged upwardly by means of a coil spring within said housing engaging said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the plate has a plurality of bosses engaging one of the spaced vertical walls of the cover plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the attachment member has a housing having a top opening closed by a cover plate, said cover plate having a slot adjacent one of the sides thereof and a centrally positioned body member, with the centrally positioned body member having a bore which receives the conducting strips having contact fingers at the upper ends thereof extending laterally thereof, a retaining member for retaining said contact strips in said bore in a fixed position, said retaining member having a body and an upwardly extending post extending into said bore and engaging the insides of said contact strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which one of the spaced lower channels of the track is wider than the opposite spaced lower channel and in which the supporting flanges of the attachment member are of different thicknesses to be accommodated in said spaced lower channels.
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) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |