US3781567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low voltage power distribution system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-17
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1993-01-17
Abstract
Abstract Low voltage power is distributed throughout a room by one or more exposed suspended ceiling runners, each comprising a pair of panel support members which are electrical conductors, in conjunction with a power take-off post releasably clampable to the runner at a selected location in the room. Electrical energy from a 110-volt power line, for example, is connected to the conductive members of the runner through a step-down transformer so that only low voltage power, say 24 volts, is carried by the runner. The post has a self-contained preferably potted step-up transformer to change the voltage back to 110 volts at a convenience outlet in the post. In a two-wire system one line is connected to ground and the runner and post clamp are nonsymmetrically configured to insure proper interconnection of the ground and hot lines, respectively. The undersides of the runners are protectively covered by an insulator so that only the side edges are exposed to the connector clamp on the top of the post.
Inventors
- 👤 W Papsco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:20
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/04; H02G3/0493; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/14; H02G5/00; H02G5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An electrical energy distribution system for a room having a suspended ceiling with panels mounted in a grid of runners and cross tees, comprising at least one runner having longitudinally coextensive first and second electrically conductive panel support members secured to and spaced by an intermediate insulaTor bar, each of said members having a portion thereof exposed below the panels for the full length of the member, means for electrically energizing said members, and an energy take-off post extending between the floor of the room and said one runner, said post having clamp means at the upper end releasably engageable with said members for making electrical contact therewith, said post also having a convenience outlet near the lower end thereof and electrically connected to said clamp means for distributing the electrical energy to utilization apparatus at floor level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical energy distribution system for a room having a suspended ceiling with panels mounted in a grid of runners and cross tees, comprising at least one runner having longitudinally coextensive first and second electrically conductive panel support members secured to and spaced by an intermediate insulaTor bar, each of said members having a portion thereof exposed below the panels for the full length of the member, means for electrically energizing said members, and an energy take-off post extending between the floor of the room and said one runner, said post having clamp means at the upper end releasably engageable with said members for making electrical contact therewith, said post also having a convenience outlet near the lower end thereof and electrically connected to said clamp means for distributing the electrical energy to utilization apparatus at floor level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An energy distribution system according to claim 1 in which said energy is a-c power, said energizing means comprising a voltage step-down transformer having a high voltage input connected to a conventional a-c power source and a low voltage output connected to said members, respectively, said convenience outlet in said post comprising a voltage step-up transformer for reconverting the energy from low to high voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system according to claim 2 in which said members are non-symmetrical with respect to the intermediate insulator bar, one of said members being grounded, said clamp means comprising two contact arms non-symmetrically mounted on the post whereby to pass said energy to said convenience outlet only when said post is in one predetermined position relative to said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 3 in which the other of said members projects a greater distance below the ceiling panel plane than said one member and one of said arms is mounted higher on said post than the other arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said insulator bar covers the undersides of said members whereby the sides only of the members are exposed for contact by said clamp means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 5 in which each of said members has a generally L-shaped cross-section with a vertical and a horizontal leg, said insulator bar having a generally inverted T-shaped cross-section with a vertical leg between the vertical legs of said members and horizontal legs underlying the horizontal legs, respectively, of the members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said post has a base with a friction plate for frictionally engaging said floor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |