Electrical supply connector for continuous outlet track

Claim 1

A supply connector for connecting to a source of electrical current the conductors of a current distribution track member having an elongate channel housing a plurality of conductors extending longitudinally of the channel, the connector comprising a generally rectangular housing, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing for connection of electric current supply leads, a plurality of resilient elongate electrical contacts mounted to extend generally in parallel and longitudinally of the housing, each contact having one end connected to one of the terminals and the other end arranged to protrude laterally through an opening in a side wall of the housing for engaging a respective conductor of the track member, and each contact being mounted in cantilever manner adjacent said one end to enable the other free end thereof to move between a retracted position within the housing and an operative position projecting through the housing opening, said free ends being yieldably urged toward said operative position by the resilience of said contacts, said one end of each said contact being mounted in closer proximity to said side wall than to the opposite housing side wall, a cam member slidable longitudinally in the housing and arranged to cooperate with the contacts for shifting said free ends of said contacts from said operative to said retracted position, and drive means coupled to the cam member for displacing the cam member longitudinally of the housing and the contacts, said drive means including an operating member movably mounted to the housing and operable either to retract the contacts, thereby to enable the connector to be inserted into the track channel through the mouth thereof, or to release the contacts into their operative positions for engaging the track conductors, the connector being supported by and accommodated substantially within the track member with the longitudinal axes of the track member and housing being substantially parallel when the contacts are engaged with the track conductors.