Multiple access electric power distribution assembly

Claim 2

A power distribution track assembly comprising an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions connected by a transversely extending bridging web portion, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions defining a continuous access slot, a plurality of electrical conductors supported within said channel and extending longitudinally thereof, said conductors being insulated from each other and a plurality of spaced apart access cutouts formed in said bridging member and providing a means of direct access to said electrical conductors for a tapping plug.

Claim 3

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which an elongated insulating strip is positiOned within said channel between said side wall portions and extends the length thereof, said strip being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having a base with a pair of spaced side walls each carrying at least one of said electrical conductors extending longitudinally thereof, said electrical conductors being accessible from the interior of said channel, the base of said U-shaped insulating strip being positioned in juxtaposition to said bridging web portion, said base having a plurality of longitudinally spaced access cutouts aligned with the access cutouts in said bridging portion.

Claim 4

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which a pair of elongated substantially vertically disposed insulating strips are provided positioned in said channel adjacent each of the wall portions thereof and retained in juxtaposition thereto, each of said strips carrying at least one of said conductors extending longitudinally thereof, said electrical conductors being accessible from the interior of said channel.

Claim 5

A power distribution track assembly comprising an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions connected by a transversely extending bridging web portion, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions defining a continuous access slot, a plurality of spaced apart access cutouts formed in said bridging member, said cutouts being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said channel, a plurality of electrical conductors supported within said channel and extending longitudinally thereof, said conductors being insulated from each other, a first tapping plug assembly positioned in said slot and extending upwardly into the interior of said channel into connected relation to said conductors, and a second tapping plug assembly positioned in at least one of said access cutouts into the interior of said channel from above, said second plug assembly including tapping finger portions positioned to be electrically connected to said conductors responsive to rotation of said second plug assembly about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel.

Claim 6

A power distribution track assembly comprising an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions connected by a transversely extending bridging web portion, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions defining a continuous access slot, a plurality of spaced apart access cutouts formed in said bridging member, said cutouts being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said channel, a plurality of electrical conductors supported within said channel and extending longitudinally thereof, said conductors being insulated from each other, a first tapping plug assembly positioned in said slot and extending upwardly into the interior of said channel into connected relation to said conductors, and a second tapping plug assembly positioned in at least one of said access cutouts into the interior of said channel from above, said second plug assembly including tapping finger portions positioned to be electrically connected to said conductors responsive to rotation of said second plug assembly about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel.

Claim 7

An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tapping finger portions extend diametrically in opposite directions from said plug assembly and terminate in free portions adapted to contact said conductors, the spacing of said free portions of said fingers being greater than the transverse dimension of said access cutouts but smaller than the longitudinal dimension of said cutouts.

Claim 8

An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said channel includes a longitudinally extending locking groove and said second plug member includes a locking finger vertically offset from said tapping fingers, said locking finger being dimensioned to be received snugly in said locking groove in said rotated position of said second plug assembly.

Claim 9

An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said channel includes at one side a laterally offset ceiling tile support flange adapted to provide vertical support for ceiling tiles adjacent said side, the assembly including a tile support clip including a vertically directed web arranged to lie adjacent the opposite side of said channel, said web including spaced support tabs overlying the uppermost edge of said channel adjacent said opposite side to support said clip, said web including at the lower edge an outwardly directed tile support shoulder adapted to engage and vertically support tiles disposed adjacent said opposite side of said channel.

Claim 10

An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the spaces defined between said support tabs register with said access cutouts in said bridging member.

Claim 11

A power distribution track assembly comprising an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions and having a transversely extending bridging web portion connecting said wall portions, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions providing a continuous access slot, a plurality of regularly spacEd apart access cutouts formed in said bridging member, a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally of said channel and electrically insulated from each other, said conductors being disposed between said slot and said bridging member, first plug means positioned in said slot and extending upwardly into electrical connection with said conductors, second plug means positioned in at least one of said access cutouts and extending downwardly from a position above said channel into electrically connected relation with said conductors.

Claim 12

A power distribution track assembly comprising an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions and having a transversely extending bridging web portion connecting said wall portions, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions providing a continuous access slot, a plurality of regularly spacEd apart access cutouts formed in said bridging member, a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally of said channel and electrically insulated from each other, said conductors being disposed between said slot and said bridging member, first plug means positioned in said slot and extending upwardly into electrical connection with said conductors, second plug means positioned in at least one of said access cutouts and extending downwardly from a position above said channel into electrically connected relation with said conductors.

Claim 13

A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said channel is generally H-shaped in vertical section, said bridging member defining the connector branch of said H.

Claim 14

A ceiling assembly comprising, in combination, a power distribution track including an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions and having a transversely extending bridging web portion connecting said side wall portions, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions defining a slot providing access to the portions interiorly of said channel between said edges and said bridging web, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart access cutouts formed in said bridging web, a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally of said channel in the area between said edges and said web, a longitudinally extending tile support flange projecting laterally outwardly from one side wall of said channel, a first series of tiles having edge portions abutting against said one side of said channel, the tiles of said first series being supported by said flange, a second series of tiles having edge portions abutting against the opposite side wall of said channel, a plurality of support clip means for supporting said second series of tiles adjacent said opposite side, said clip means including horizontal leg portions engaging said tiles of said second series, vertically directed web portions and support tabs at the edges of said web portions remote from said leg portions, said tabs being disposed in overlapping relation of a portion of said channel members, said tabs being displaced from registry with said cutouts, at least one lighting member releasably secured to the undersurface of said track and including connector plug means extending upwardly through said access slot and electrically connecting said member to said conductors, at least one ceiling mounted lighting fixture having lead wires terminating in second plug means extending downwardly through one of said access cutouts electrically connecting said fixture to said conductors within said channel, said lead wires being disposed above and hidden by the tiles of said ceiling.

Claim 15

A ceiling assembly comprising, in combination, a power distribution track including an elongated, rigid channel having generally vertically directed side wall portions and having a transversely extending bridging web portion connecting said side wall portions, the lower terminal edges of said wall portions defining a slot providing access to the portions interiorly of said channel between said edges and said bridging web, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart access cutouts formed in said bridging web, a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally of said channel in the area between said edges and said web, a longitudinally extending tile support flange projecting laterally outwardly from one side wall of said channel, a first series of tiles having edge portions abutting against said one side of said channel, the tiles of said first series being supported by said flange, a second series of tiles having edge portions abutting against the opposite side wall of said channel, a plurality of support clip means for supporting said second series of tiles adjacent said opposite side, said clip means including horizontal leg portions engaging said tiles of said second series, vertically directed web portions and support tabs at the edges of said web portions remote from said leg portions, said tabs being disposed in overlapping relation of a portion of said channel members, said tabs being displaced from registry with said cutouts, at least one lighting member releasably secured to the undersurface of said track and including connector plug means extending upwardly through said access slot and electrically connecting said member to said conductors, at least one ceiling mounted lighting fixture having lead wires terminating in second plug means extending downwardly through one of said access cutouts electrically connecting said fixture to said conductors within said channel, said lead wires being disposed above and hidden by the tiles of said ceiling.