Adapter for three conductor electrical power distribution track

Claim 2

An adapter for electrically and mechanically securing an electrical fixture to an elongated electrical power distribution track of the type having an open mouthed channel running for its length with first and second conductors extending longitudinally along the opposite interior sidewalls of the channel and a third conductor extending longitudinally of said channel at a position inwardly and upwardly displaced from said first and second conductors, said conductors being mutually insulated with the first and second conductors providing a first power distribution circuit and the first and third conductors providing a second power distribution circuit, said adapter comprising a body adapted at one end for securance to an electrical fixture and having a connecting head at its opposite end for securance to said channel, a fixture lead-in arrangement disposed in said body including first and second lead-in conductors, a first contact finger mounted in fixed position in said head for contacting engagement with said first channel conductor upon securance of said head to said channel and being electrically connected to said first lead-in conductor, a second contact finger carried by said head and being selectively positionable between first and second transversely and longitudinally spaced positions, said second contact finger in said first position thereof being contactingly engageable with saId second channel conductor, said second contact finger in said second position thereof being contactingly engageable with said third channel conductor, and means carried within said body for electrically connecting said second contact finger to said second lead-in conductor in either of said first and second positions, said second contact finger having an elongated shank extending right-angularly therefrom, said shank being longitudinally removably insertable into said head through first and second transversely spaced passages provided by said head and having longitudinally spaced exterior openings to thereby dispose said contact finger in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 3

An adapter according to claim 1, further defined by the electrical connecting means comprising an electrical contact carried by said head within said body and having a pair of resilient lugs projecting into intersection with said first and second passages for engagement with said shank of said second contact finger, said contact being electrically connected to said second lead-in conductor.

Claim 4

An adapter according to claim 1, further defined by said head being of insulating material and having a generally dome-shaped configuration, said head having a first inwardly stepped cylindrical portion terminating upwardly in a second inwardly stepped cylindrical portion, said second portion terminating upwardly in a third inwardly stepped cylindrical portion, and a pair of opposed ears projecting radially outward from said first cylindrical portion for securing engagement with opposed rails of said channel, said first contact finger projecting radially outward from the intersection of said first and second cylindrical portions, said first passage extending longitudinally through said head from the intersection of said second and third cylindrical portions at a point diametrically opposed to said second contact fingers, said second cylindrical portion having a notch at the exterior end of said first passage extending downwardly to the intersection of said first and second cylindrical portions for receiving said second contact finger upon full insertion of said shank into said first passage, said second passage extending longitudinally centrally through said head from the upper end of said third cylindrical portion, said upper end of said third cylindrical portion having a groove extending radially outward from said second passage in alignment with said notch for receiving said second contact finger upon full insertion of said shank into said second passage.

Claim 5

An adapter according to claim 3, further defined by the electrical connecting means comprising an electrical contact carried by said head within said body and having a pair of resilient lugs projecting into intersection with said first and second passages for retentive engagement with said shank, said contact being electrically connected to said second lead-in conductor.

Claim 6

An adapter according to claim 3, further defined by said head having a recess in its base in communication with the interior of said body, said first and second passage terminating in said recess, said head having a partitioning wall depending into said recess in interposition to the terminations of said first and second passages, said contact having a generally hairpin shaped configuration and extending about the lower end and along the opposite sides of said wall, said lugs oppositely projecting from the upper ends of said contact and extending across the terminations of said first and second passages.

Claim 7

An adapter for electrically and mechanically securing an electrical fixture to an elongated electrical power distribution track of the type having an open mouthed channel running for its length with first and second conductors extending longitudinally along the opposite interior sidewalls of the channel and a third conductor extending longitudinally of said channel at a position inwardly and upwardly displaced from said first and second conductors, said conducTors being mutually insulated with the first and second conductors providing a first power distribution circuit and the first and third conductors providing a second power distribution circuit, said adapter comprising a body adapted at one end for securance to an electrical fixture and having a connecting head at its opposite end for securance to said channel, a fixture lead-in arrangement disposed in said body including first and second lead-in conductors, a first contact finger mounted in fixed position in said head for contacting engagement with said first channel conductor upon securance of said head to said channel and being electrically connected to said first lead-in conductor, a second contact finger carried by said head and being selectively positionable between first and second transversely and longitudinally spaced positions, said second contact finger in said first position thereof being contactingly engageable with said second channel conductor, said second contact finger in said second position thereof being contactingly engageable with said third channel conductor, and means carried within said body for electrically connecting said second contact finger to said second lead-in conductor in either of said first and second positions, said head including a plurality of interrelated components one of which is a plug carried by said body and being provided with a central opening therethrough, another is a partition wall structure disposed within said central opening and defining passages with said plug for said contacts and defining an axially disposed opening therethrough, and still another being a stepped component having a nose extending into said axial opening and defining an axially disposed passage adapted to removably receive therein the aforesaid second contact finger.

Claim 8

An adapter for electrically and mechanically securing an electrical fixture to an elongated electrical power distribution track of the type having an open mouthed channel running for its length with first and second conductors extending longitudinally along the opposite interior sidewalls of the channel and a third conductor extending longitudinally of said channel at a position inwardly and upwardly displaced from said first and second conductors, said conducTors being mutually insulated with the first and second conductors providing a first power distribution circuit and the first and third conductors providing a second power distribution circuit, said adapter comprising a body adapted at one end for securance to an electrical fixture and having a connecting head at its opposite end for securance to said channel, a fixture lead-in arrangement disposed in said body including first and second lead-in conductors, a first contact finger mounted in fixed position in said head for contacting engagement with said first channel conductor upon securance of said head to said channel and being electrically connected to said first lead-in conductor, a second contact finger carried by said head and being selectively positionable between first and second transversely and longitudinally spaced positions, said second contact finger in said first position thereof being contactingly engageable with said second channel conductor, said second contact finger in said second position thereof being contactingly engageable with said third channel conductor, and means carried within said body for electrically connecting said second contact finger to said second lead-in conductor in either of said first and second positions, said head including a plurality of interrelated components one of which is a plug carried by said body and being provided with a central opening therethrough, another is a partition wall structure disposed within said central opening and defining passages with said plug for said contacts and defining an axially disposed opening therethrough, and still another being a stepped component having a nose extending into said axial opening and defining an axially disposed passage adapted to removably receive therein the aforesaid second contact finger.

Claim 9

An adapter according to claim 6 further defined by the electrical connecting means comprising an electrical contact carried by said wall structure within said body and having a pair of resilient lugs projecting into intersection with said first and second passages for selective engagement with the shank of said second contact finger, said contact being electrically connected to said second lead-in conductor.

Claim 10

An adapter for electrically and mechanically securing an electrical fixture to an elongated electrical power distribution track of the type having an open mouthed channel running for its length with first and second conductors extending longitudinally along the opposite interior sidewalls of the channel and a third conductor extending longitudinally of said channel at a position transversely and longitudinally displaced from said second conductor, said conductors being mutually insulated with the first and second conductors providing a first power distribution circuit and the first and third conductors providing a second power distribution circuit, said adapter comprising a body adapted for securance to an electrical fixture and having a connecting head for securance to said channel, a fixture lead-in arrangement including first and second lead-in conductors, a first contact mounted in fixed position in said head for contacting engagement with said first channel conductor upon securance of said head to said channel and being electrically connected with said first lead-in conductor, a second contact having an elongated shank and being carried by said head and selectively positionable with respect thereto between first and second transversely and longitudinally spaced positions, said contact in said first position thereof being contactingly engageable with said second channel conductor and in said second position thereof being contactingly engageable with said third channel conductor, and means carried within said body for electrically connecting said second contact to said second lead-in conductor in either of said first and second positions, said head having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending passages terminating at longitudinally spaced locations and respectively Defining said first and second positions, said shank being selectively insertable into said passages to establish the first and second positions of said second contact.

Claim 11

An adapter for electrically and mechanically securing an electrical fixture to an elongated electrical power distribution track of the type having an open mouthed channel running for its length with first and second conductors extending longitudinally along the opposite interior sidewalls of the channel and a third conductor extending longitudinally of said channel at a position transversely and longitudinally displaced from said second conductor, said conductors being mutually insulated with the first and second conductors providing a first power distribution circuit and the first and third conductors providing a second power distribution circuit, said adapter comprising a body adapted for securance to an electrical fixture and having a connecting head for securance to said channel, a fixture lead-in arrangement including first and second lead-in conductors, a first contact mounted in fixed position in said head for contacting engagement with said first channel conductor upon securance of said head to said channel and being electrically connected with said first lead-in conductor, a second contact having an elongated shank and being carried by said head and selectively positionable with respect thereto between first and second transversely and longitudinally spaced positions, said contact in said first position thereof being contactingly engageable with said second channel conductor and in said second position thereof being contactingly engageable with said third channel conductor, and means carried within said body for electrically connecting said second contact to said second lead-in conductor in either of said first and second positions, said head having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending passages terminating at longitudinally spaced locations and respectively Defining said first and second positions, said shank being selectively insertable into said passages to establish the first and second positions of said second contact.

Claim 12

An adapter according to claim 8 in which said electrical connecting means comprises an electrical contact carried by said head within said body and projecting into intersection with each of said passages for engagement with said second contact upon insertion of said shank thereof into either of said passages.