Adapter for a power distribution system

Claim 2

In a power distribution system, the combination of a longitudinally extending track component comprising a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending sidewalls and a longitudinally extending transverse web fixedly connected with said sidewalls in intermediate disposition therebetween and defining therewith a longitudinally extending open-mouthed chamber equipped therealong with a conductor assembly having a plurality of pairs of conductors insulated one from another; and an adapter for mechanically securing an electric fixture to said track component and for electrically connecting such fixture selectively to one or another of said pairs of conductors; said adapter comprising an elongated casing having at least a portion thereof insertable into said chamber, support structure carried by said casing for selective movement with respect thereto between a rEtracted position in which said casing can be inserted into and withdrawn from said track and an extended position to mechanically secure said adapter thereto, a plurality of pairs of contacts mounted within said casing and each being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one of said conductors following insertion of said casing portion into said chamber, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto from a neutral position in which each of said contacts is in its retracted position into one or another of a plurality of operative positions so as to displace one pair or another pair of said contacts selectively into their outer extended positions for respective engagement with said conductors, and polarization means including cooperative elements respectively provided by said track component and adapter to enforce a predetermined relative orientation thereon and thereby positively relate the operative positions of said selector structure to the respective pairs of conductors provided by said track component.

Claim 3

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which said conductor assembly fits relatively loosely within said track chamber and is displaceable toward and away from said track web, and in which said adapter casing is engageable with said conductor assembly upon insertion into said chamber to establish the position of said conductor assembly therein and thereby effect alignment of said conductors with said contacts.

Claim 4

The power distribution system of claim 2 in which each of said track sidewalls is equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said track web, and in which said conductor assembly has depending legs respectively adjacent said track sidewalls and adapted to rest upon said flanges to limit displacement of said conductor assembly in a direction away from said track web, said adapter being engageable with said conductor assembly to displace it toward said track web.

Claim 5

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which each of said track sidewalls is equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said track web and providing support surfaces offset with respect to each other relative to said track web, and in which said support structure has offset ears respectively engageable with said support surfaces and comprising therewith cooperative elements of the aforesaid polarization means.

Claim 6

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which said conductor assembly is provided with a conductor equipped socket extending longitudinally along said track chamber in asymmetrical relation therewith, and in which said adapter casing is provided with an asymmetrical portion located to abut said socket in one orientation of said adapter relative to said track component and to clear said socket in another orientation and comprising with said socket cooperative elements of the aforesaid polarization means.

Claim 7

The power distribution system of claim 5 in which each of said track sidewalls is equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said track web and providing support surfaces offset with respect to each other relative to said track web, and in which said support structure has offset ears respectively engageable with said support surfaces and comprising therewith other cooperative elements of the aforesaid polarization means.

Claim 8

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which said support structure is located adjacent one end of said casing and said selector structure is located adjacent the opposite end thereof, each of said contacts having a resilient leg extending to a position intermediate the ends of said casing and being equipped thereat with a laterally turned connector, and releasable clamp means provided by said casing adjacent each of said connectors and cooperative with at least certain thereof to confine a lead wIre thereagainst to establish an electric connection therebetween.

Claim 9

The power distribution system of claim 7 in which said casing is equipped with a removable cover provided with one jaw of the aforesaid clamp means to define the releasability thereof.

Claim 10

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which each of said track sidewalls is equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said track web, and in which said support structure in the extended position thereof is engageable with said flanges to mechanically secure said adapter to said track.

Claim 11

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which said selector structure comprises a cam rotatably supported by said casing for angular displacements into the aforesaid neutral and operative positions, means carried by said cam and accessible from the exterior of said casing to displace said cam, and indicia means associated with said casing and cam for indicating the operative positions of said cam.

Claim 12

The power distribution system of claim 10 in which said casing is provided with angularly spaced abutments respectively defining the operative positions of said cam, and in which said cam is equipped with a stop selectively engageable with said abutments to positively locate said cam in the operative positions thereof.

Claim 13

The power distribution system of claim 1 in which said conductor assembly fits relatively loosely within said track chamber and is displaceable toward and away from said track web, in which said adapter casing is engageable with said conductor assembly upon insertion into said chamber to establish the position of said conductor assembly therein and thereby effect alignment of said conductors with said contacts, in which each of said track sidewalls is equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said track web, and in which said support structure in the extended position thereof is engageable with said flanges to mechanically secure said adapter to said track.

Claim 14

The power distribution system of claim 12 in which said flanges provide support surfaces offset with respect to each other relative to said track web, in which said support structure has offset ears respectively engageable with said support surfaces and comprising therewith cooperative elements of the aforesaid polarization means, in which said conductor assembly is provided with a conductor-equipped socket extending longitudinally along said track chamber in asymmetrical relation therewith, and in which said adapter casing is provided with an asymmetrical portion located to abut said socket in one orientation of said adapter relative to said track component and to clear said socket in another orientation and comprising with said socket cooperative other elements of the aforesaid polarization means.

Claim 15

The power distribution system of claim 13 in which said selector structure comprises a cam rotatably supported by said casing for angular displacements into the aforesaid neutral and operative positions, means carried by said cam and accessible from the exterior of said casing to displace said cam, indicia means associated with said casing and cam for indicating the operative positions of said cam, in which casing is provided with angularly spaced abutments respectively defining the operative positions of said cam, and in which said cam is equipped with a stop selectively engageable with said abutments to positively locate said cam in the operative positions thereof.

Claim 16

A longitudinally extending track component for a power distribution system, comprising a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending sidewalls and a longitudinally extending transverse track web fixedly connected with said sidewalls in intermediate disposition therebetween and defining therewith a longitudinally extending open-mouthed chamber, each of said sidewalls being equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said web and proViding support surfaces offset with respect to each other relative to said web, a longitudinally extending conductor assembly having a plurality of pairs of conductors insulated one from another and being located within said chamber in loosely fitting relation with said track component and being displaceable with respect thereto toward and away from said web, said conductor assembly having a longitudinally extending transverse conductor web corresponding in configuration to the aforesaid track web and extending therealong and having also depending legs respectively adjacent said track sidewalls and adapted to rest upon said flanges to limit displacement of said conductor assembly in a direction away from said track, said conductor web being engageable by an adapter inserted into said chamber to displace said conductor assembly toward said track web to effect a desired condition of alignment between said conductor assembly and such adapter, said conductor assembly being provided with a pair of symmetrically disposed sockets respectively receiving certain of said conductors therein and extending longitudinally along said chamber on opposite sides thereof, and said conductor assembly also being provided with a further socket having another of said conductors mounted therein and extending longitudinally along said chamber and projecting inwardly thereinto to make the same asymmetrical, whereby said asymmetrical socket is adapted to cooperate with a complementary adapter insertable into said chamber to enforce a predetermined orientation on the adapter relative to said track component to prevent improper electrical connection of the adapter to said conductors and said offset support surfaces are adapted to cooperate with correspondingly offset support ears provided by such an adapter to prevent improper mechanical connection thereof to said track.

Claim 17

A longitudinally extending track component for a power distribution system, comprising a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending sidewalls and a longitudinally extending transverse track web fixedly connected with said sidewalls in intermediate disposition therebetween and defining therewith a longitudinally extending open-mouthed chamber, each of said sidewalls being equipped with a flange extending inwardly into said chamber in spaced relation with said web and proViding support surfaces offset with respect to each other relative to said web, a longitudinally extending conductor assembly having a plurality of pairs of conductors insulated one from another and being located within said chamber in loosely fitting relation with said track component and being displaceable with respect thereto toward and away from said web, said conductor assembly having a longitudinally extending transverse conductor web corresponding in configuration to the aforesaid track web and extending therealong and having also depending legs respectively adjacent said track sidewalls and adapted to rest upon said flanges to limit displacement of said conductor assembly in a direction away from said track, said conductor web being engageable by an adapter inserted into said chamber to displace said conductor assembly toward said track web to effect a desired condition of alignment between said conductor assembly and such adapter, said conductor assembly being provided with a pair of symmetrically disposed sockets respectively receiving certain of said conductors therein and extending longitudinally along said chamber on opposite sides thereof, and said conductor assembly also being provided with a further socket having another of said conductors mounted therein and extending longitudinally along said chamber and projecting inwardly thereinto to make the same asymmetrical, whereby said asymmetrical socket is adapted to cooperate with a complementary adapter insertable into said chamber to enforce a predetermined orientation on the adapter relative to said track component to prevent improper electrical connection of the adapter to said conductors and said offset support surfaces are adapted to cooperate with correspondingly offset support ears provided by such an adapter to prevent improper mechanical connection thereof to said track.

Claim 18

An adapter for mechanically securing an electric fixture to a track component and for electrically connecting such fixture selectively to one or another of a pair of circuits defined by a plurality of conductors carried by such track component along a substantially continuous convenience outlet extending longitudinally therealong, comprising an elongated casing having at least a portion thereof insertable into such outlet, support structure carried by said casing for selective movement with respect thereto between a retracted position in which said casing can be inserted into and withdrawn from such outlet and an extended position interlockingly engageable with such track to mechanically secure said adapter thereto, a plurality of pairs of contacts mounted within said casing and each being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one of such conductors following insertion of said casing portion into such outlet, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto from a neutral position in which each of said contacts is in its retracted position into one or another of a plurality of operative positions so as to displace one pair or another pair of said contacts selectively into their outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors, and polarization means including elements provided by said adapter to enforce a predetermined relative orientation thereon relative to such track component and thereby positively relate the operative positions of said selector structure to the respective pairs of conductors provided by such track component.

Claim 19

An adapter for mechanically securing an electric fixture to a track component and for electrically connecting such fixture selectively to one or another of a pair of circuits defined by a plurality of conductors carried by such track component along a substantially continuous convenience outlet extending longitudinally therealong, comprising an elongated casing having at least a portion thereof insertable into such outlet, support structure carried by said casing for selective movement with respect thereto between a retracted position in which said casing can be inserted into and withdrawn from such outlet and an extended position interlockingly engageable with such track to mechanically secure said adapter thereto, a plurality of pairs of contacts mounted within said casing and each being movable with respect thereto between an inner retracted position and an outer extended position for engagement with one of such conductors following insertion of said casing portion into such outlet, selector structure adjustably carried by said casing for movement with respect thereto from a neutral position in which each of said contacts is in its retracted position into one or another of a plurality of operative positions so as to displace one pair or another pair of said contacts selectively into their outer extended positions for respective engagement with such conductors, and polarization means including elements provided by said adapter to enforce a predetermined relative orientation thereon relative to such track component and thereby positively relate the operative positions of said selector structure to the respective pairs of conductors provided by such track component.

Claim 20

The adapter of claim 16 in which said selector structure comprises a cam rotatably supported by said casing for angular displacements into the aforesaid neutral and operative positions, means carried by said cam and accessible from the exterior or said casing to displace said cam, and indicia means associated with said casing and cam for indicating the operative positions of said cam.

Claim 21

The adapter of claim 17 in which each of said contacts is provided with a reSilient leg extending longitudinally along said casing within the interior thereof, said legs having portions thereof disposed at different elevations adjacent said cam, and said cam having a plurality of cam lobes one of which has an elevation making it cooperative with only one of said legs, a second of which has an elevation making it cooperative with only a second of said legs, and a third of which has an elevation making it selectively cooperative with said second of said legs and a third of said legs, whereby said second leg and the contact associated therewith are common to each of the operative positions of said cam.

Claim 22

The power distribution system of claim 18 in which said casing is provided with angularly spaced abutments respectively defining the operative positions of said cam, and in which said cam is equipped with a stop selectively engageable with said abutments to positively locate said cam in the operative positions thereof.

Claim 23

The power distribution system of claim 19 in which said support structure is located adjacent one end of said casing and said selector structure is located adjacent the opposite end thereof, each of said resilient legs extending to a position intermediate the ends of said casing and being equipped thereat with a laterally turned connector, and releasable clamp means provided by said casing adjacent each of said connectors and cooperative with at least certain thereof to confine a lead wire thereagainst to establish an electric connection therebetween.

Claim 24

The power distribution system of claim 20 in which said casing is equipped with a removable cover provided with one jaw of the aforesaid clamp means to define the releasability thereof.