US3801951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track light system
Assignee: Thomas Industries Inc
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Filing: 1972-10-24
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-10-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention discloses the combination of an elongated trackway and a mounting device for removably connecting an electrical unit to the trackway. The trackway comprises an elongated channel member having a back wall and two side walls with a pair of corresponding in-turned flanges formed at the outer ends of the two side walls to present a lengthwise slot. An elongated insulative member is mounted within the channel member and includes a pair of spaced apart receptacles in alignment with the lengthwise slot. A pair of conductors extend through each receptacle lengthwise of the channel member. The mounting device is assembled in a hollow housing having an open end. A plug unit is inserted in the open end, and includes an insulative head member mounted within the open end and a pair of contact blades extending through the insulative head member outwardly of the open end in a spaced apart relation corresponding to the distance between the pair of receptacles. The mounting device further includes latching means extending forwardly of the housing''s open end for engaging the in-turned flanges of the channel member upon the contact blades being inserted into the pair of receptacles to hold the mounting device in place, and includes releasing means which selectively disengages the latching means to permit the removal of the mounting device from the trackway.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kemmerer
- 👤 V Dicola
- 👤 G Raddatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/14; F; F21; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/34; F21V21/35; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/521; H01R13/5219
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
In an electric distribution system, a metallic channel member (16) having a base (22) and lateral flanges (24), a longitudinally extending body of resilient insulation (42) carried in the body of said channel (16) and having a pair of longitudinally extending flanges (62-64) one on each side of the body of insulation, said longitudinally extending flanges extending towards the open side of the first named channel, there being grooves extending longitudinally of said channel member formed in the flanges thereof adjacent their outer ends, said grooves facing towards each other, bare conductors (44-44) carried in said grooves, and a take-off plug having prongs thrust between said longitudinally extending conductors and said body of insulation, transversely of the longitudinally extending conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an electric distribution system, a metallic channel member (16) having a base (22) and lateral flanges (24), a longitudinally extending body of resilient insulation (42) carried in the body of said channel (16) and having a pair of longitudinally extending flanges (62-64) one on each side of the body of insulation, said longitudinally extending flanges extending towards the open side of the first named channel, there being grooves extending longitudinally of said channel member formed in the flanges thereof adjacent their outer ends, said grooves facing towards each other, bare conductors (44-44) carried in said grooves, and a take-off plug having prongs thrust between said longitudinally extending conductors and said body of insulation, transversely of the longitudinally extending conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said flanges of the channel (16) have inwardly extending shoulders (26) facing towards each other, and holding means (123-124) on said take-off plug to hold the plug against removal and laterally depressable release means (120-130) for releasing said plug holding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a system of the class described, a longitudinally extending metallic channel (22) having a horizontal base and downwardly extending side walls, said side walls carrying parallel inwardly extending flanges facing each other, an insulating body carried on the base of the channel and comprising a longitudinally extending spacer member of insulation, said spacer member having substantially parallel longitudinally extending vertical side walls and resilient conductor carrying walls, said latter walls being supported on and spaced from said side walls of insulation and having open longitudinal conductor retaining grooves, longitudinally extending bare conductors in said grooves and a plug connector member having parallel prongs thrust between said vertical side walls and said conductor carrying walls and releasable latch means on said plug member which engage with said flanges on the metallic channel member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a system of the class described, a longitudinally extending metallic channel (22) having a horizontal base and downwardly extending side walls, said side walls carrying parallel inwardly extending flanges facing each other, an insulating body carried on the base of the channel and comprising a longitudinally extending spacer member of insulation, said spacer member having substantially parallel longitudinally extending vertical side walls and resilient conductor carrying walls, said latter walls being supported on and spaced from said side walls of insulation and having open longitudinal conductor retaining grooves, longitudinally extending bare conductors in said grooves and a plug connector member having parallel prongs thrust between said vertical side walls and said conductor carrying walls and releasable latch means on said plug member which engage with said flanges on the metallic channel member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said downwardly opening metallic channel (22) has horizontally extending facing flanges (26) and said plug member which carries the contact blades (102) carrying spring pressed detents (122) for moving radially outward to overhang the flanges (26).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a power distributing system of the class described a trackway comprising an elongated metallic housing of channel shape cross-section embodying a downwarDly open channel portion having a back wall and depending side walls terminating in horizontally inwardly extending flanges, an upwardly facing conductor carrying channel of insulation having a bottom wall and vertically extending side walls, anchoring means for anchoring the said side walls to the metallic channel adjacent the back wall thereof, dependent conductor supporting flanges of insulation joined at their upper edges to the side walls of said channel of insulation adjacent the upper edges of the latter, said depending conductor supporting flanges containing laterally open tubular conductor receiving seats, electric conductor wires seated in said seats and being disposed adjacent the side walls of said channel of insulation, and a cooperating plug having conducting blades for attachment to a take-off circuit, said blades being thrust endwise between said support flanges (44) and the adjacent side walls of insulation of said channel of insulation (42), and contacting said conducting wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a power distributing system of the class described a trackway comprising an elongated metallic housing of channel shape cross-section embodying a downwarDly open channel portion having a back wall and depending side walls terminating in horizontally inwardly extending flanges, an upwardly facing conductor carrying channel of insulation having a bottom wall and vertically extending side walls, anchoring means for anchoring the said side walls to the metallic channel adjacent the back wall thereof, dependent conductor supporting flanges of insulation joined at their upper edges to the side walls of said channel of insulation adjacent the upper edges of the latter, said depending conductor supporting flanges containing laterally open tubular conductor receiving seats, electric conductor wires seated in said seats and being disposed adjacent the side walls of said channel of insulation, and a cooperating plug having conducting blades for attachment to a take-off circuit, said blades being thrust endwise between said support flanges (44) and the adjacent side walls of insulation of said channel of insulation (42), and contacting said conducting wires.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |