US4578731A — Device for supplying an electric receiver whose p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A device for supplying electric current to an electric receiver comprising: (a) a network of electric conducting strips covered with insulating material, including: (1) a first assembly of strips adapted to be operatively connected to one pole of a source of electrical current; and (2) a second assembly of strips adapted to be operatively connected to another pole of said source of electrical current; (b) a movable current pick-up having at least three current sensors capable of coming into electrical contact with said strips; and (c) a circuit, having a plurality of inputs operatively connected respectively to said at least three sensors and an output operatively connected to the receiver, for supplying the receiver when at least one of said at least three sensors comes into contact with one conducting strip in said first and second assemblies and at least another of said at least three sensors comes into contact with a second conducting strip in the other of said first and second assemblies, said at least three sensors being of substantially equal length and being adapted to pass through said insulating material.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 183 words

A device for supplying electric current to an electric receiver comprising: (a) a network of electric conducting strips covered with insulating material, including: (1) a first assembly of strips adapted to be operatively connected to one pole of a source of electrical current; and (2) a second assembly of strips adapted to be operatively connected to another pole of said source of electrical current; (b) a movable current pick-up having at least three current sensors capable of coming into electrical contact with said strips; and (c) a circuit, having a plurality of inputs operatively connected respectively to said at least three sensors and an output operatively connected to the receiver, for supplying the receiver when at least one of said at least three sensors comes into contact with one conducting strip in said first and second assemblies and at least another of said at least three sensors comes into contact with a second conducting strip in the other of said first and second assemblies, said at least three sensors being of substantially equal length and being adapted to pass through said insulating material.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least three sensors are disposed at the apices of an equilateral triangle, wherein the length of each side of said equilateral triangle is substantially equal to the distance between the centers of two adjacent conducting strips.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said conducting strips has the same width and is spaced apart from one another by a given distance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein said strips of said first assembly are imbricated alternately with said strips of said second assembly.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 119 words

The device according to claim 1 further comprising: (a) a first common transverse conducting strip connected to a pole of said source of electrical current and to one end of each of the strips in said first assembly of strips; (b) a second common transverse conducting strip connected to another pole of said source of electrical current and to one end of each of the strips in said second assembly; and wherein a second end of each of the strips in the first assembly stops a short distance from said second common transverse conducting strip and a second end of each of the strips in the second assembly stop a short distance from said first common transverse conducting strip.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device according to claim 5 wherein an end strip in each of said first and second assemblies is connected to a pole of said source of current.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device according to claim 6 wherein said surface is divided into a plurality of independent zones to ensure better distribution of electricity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device according to claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises timing means for energizing supply of the receiver within a certain time after said two of said at least three sensors comes into contact with said two conducting strips.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 168 words

The device according to claim 1 further comprising anti-electrocuction safety means comprising: (a) a conductive protecting plate disposed beneath said at least one layer of insulating material and adapted to be traversed by said at least three sensors, each of said sensors having a lower conducting tip and an upper part, and each of said sensors being insulated over substantially its whole length, except for some lower tip and said upper part, in a zone adapted to connect the sensor to the rest of the circuit; (b) an insulating screen interposed between said conductive protecting plate and a plane in which said conducting strips lie, said insulating screen having a thickness slightly greater than the length of said lower conducting tip of each sensor; (c) a transformer for connecting said source of electrical current to said two assemblies of conducting strips; (d) means for detecting for disconnecting said transformer from said source of electrical current in response to detecting a short-circuit between said protecting plate and said strips.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 85 words

The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for detecting comprises: (1) a rectifier bridge connected to a capacitor and having D.C. output terminals; and (2) a thyristor connected in series with a relay coil, said thyristor and said relay coil being connected between said D.C. output terminals, said thyristor having a gate which is connected to said conductive protecting plate, and said relay coil comprising a normally closed contact for connecting said source of electrical current to said transformer until a short-circuit occurs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 127 words

The device according to claim 1, further comprising a structure for electrical supply of wall and ceiling lamps, mounted on a partition, said structure comprising a substrate constituted by parallel steel strips, said steel strips being insulated from one another by conducting strips covering said steel strips, said substrate being covered with an outer wall covering, each wall lamp comprising a base and a rear face, and a plurality of styluses mounted on said rear face adapted to come into contact with said conducting strips for ensuring electrical supply to said lamp carried by said base, said wall lamp being fixed by means of at least one magnet carried by said base and cooperating with said steel strips for maintaining said wall lamp mounted on said partition.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The device according to claim 11, wherein said substrate comprises three conducting strips, two of said conducting strips being connected, respectively, to ends of a secondary winding of a step-down transformer, one end of said secondary winding being connected, via a diode, to the third conducting strip.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 128 words

The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for distributing electrical signals, to diverse high fidelity appliances installed in a room, said high fidelity appliances having a right track and a left track, said room having walls, comprising a plurality of conducting strips extending all around said room in the immediate vicinity of the walls, said plurality of conducting strips being spaced apart from one another, at least two of said plurality of conducting strips being provided to ensure distribution of said electrical signals to the left track and two other of said plurality of conducting strips being provided to ensure distribution of said electrical signals to the right track, and connectors being provided with styluses adapted to come into contact with said plurality of conducting strips.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein said current pick-up comprises a switch adapted to open immediately in response to removal of said pick-up from the surface, for avoiding electrical break occurring between said at least three sensors and said conducting strips.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 117 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein said current pick-up comprises a relay coil connected in series between a first and second sensor of said three sensors and an inverter contact having a common end, said inverter contact adapted to be switched between a first rest position and a second working position, said first sensor being connected to a first input terminal of a load, said common end being connected to a second input terminal of said load, and wherein said inverter contact is connected to a third sensor of said at least three sensors when in said first rest position, and said inverter contact is connected to said second sensor when in said second working position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 135 words

The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said three sensors is retractably mounted beneath said current pick-up and is adapted to be returned into a vertical position by an elastic member, each sensor being connected to one surface of a bushing, said bushing having a staple attached to another surface thereof, said current pick-up having an opening through which said staple is adapted to project upwardly, said current pick-up including said elastic member extending across said opening and mounted on each side of said opening by means of hooks, said elastic member adapted to extend through said staple for retaining said sensor, said device further comprising an interposed conducting plate for ensuring electrical connection with said circuit, including a hole positioned substantially in the center of said plate and corresponding to said opening.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 288 words

A device for supplying electric current to at least one electric receiver positioned in variable locations on a surface comprising: (a) a networkof parallel electric conducting strips disposed on said surface, said strips each having the same width, and being spaced apart from one another by a given distance, said network covered by at least one layer of insulating material, including: (1) a first assembly of strips adapted to be connected to one pole of a source of electric current; and (2) a second assembly of strips adapted to be connected to another pole of said source of electric current, said strips of said second assembly being imbricated alternately with said first assembly of strips; (b) a movable current pick-up having at least three current sensors capable of coming into contact with said strips; and (c) a circuit for supplying the receiver when at least one of said at least three sensors comes into contact with one conducting strip in said first and second assemblies and at least another of said at least three sensors comes into contact with a second conducting strip in the other of said first and second assemblies, said circuit having a plurality of inputs connected to said at least three sensors and at least one output connected to said at least one receiver; wherein said at least three sensors comprise contact styluses of substantially equal length adapted to pass through said at least one layer of insulating material and wherein said at least three styluses are disposed at the apices of an equilateral triangle, wherein the length of each side of said equilateral triangle is substantially equal to said given distance plus an amount substantially equal to the width of said conducting strips.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 288 words

A device for supplying electric current to at least one electric receiver positioned in variable locations on a surface comprising: (a) a networkof parallel electric conducting strips disposed on said surface, said strips each having the same width, and being spaced apart from one another by a given distance, said network covered by at least one layer of insulating material, including: (1) a first assembly of strips adapted to be connected to one pole of a source of electric current; and (2) a second assembly of strips adapted to be connected to another pole of said source of electric current, said strips of said second assembly being imbricated alternately with said first assembly of strips; (b) a movable current pick-up having at least three current sensors capable of coming into contact with said strips; and (c) a circuit for supplying the receiver when at least one of said at least three sensors comes into contact with one conducting strip in said first and second assemblies and at least another of said at least three sensors comes into contact with a second conducting strip in the other of said first and second assemblies, said circuit having a plurality of inputs connected to said at least three sensors and at least one output connected to said at least one receiver; wherein said at least three sensors comprise contact styluses of substantially equal length adapted to pass through said at least one layer of insulating material and wherein said at least three styluses are disposed at the apices of an equilateral triangle, wherein the length of each side of said equilateral triangle is substantially equal to said given distance plus an amount substantially equal to the width of said conducting strips.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 158 words

The device according to claim 17, further comprising an anti-electrocution safety means comprising: (a) a conductive protecting plate positioned between said strips and said at least one layer of insulating material and adapted to be traversed by said at least three styluses, each of said styluses having a lower conductive tip, an insulated middle part, and an upper part, said upper part comprising a zone adapted to connect said stylus to the rest of the circuit; (b) an insulating screen positioned between said conductive protecting plate and a plane in which said conducting strips lie, said insulating screen having a thickness slightly greater than the length of the lower conductive tip of each sensor; (c) a transformer for connecting said source of electrical current to said two assemblies of conducting strips; (d) means for detecting for disconnecting said transformer from said source of electrical current in response to detecting a short-circuit between said protecting plate and said strips.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 85 words

The device according to claim 18, wherein said means for detecting comprises: (1) a rectifier bridge connected to a capacitor and having D.C. output terminals; and (2) a thyristor connected in series with a relay coil, said thyristor and said relay coil being connected between said D.C. output terminals, said thyristor having a gate which is connected to said conductive protecting plate, and said relay coil comprising a normally closed contact for connecting said source of electrical current to said transformer until a short-circuit occurs.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-03-24	1989-09-23	1990-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-03-24	1993-09-23	1994-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-03-24	1997-09-23	1998-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for supplying an electric receiver whose position on a surface is variable

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