AU2004201896B2

AU2004201896B2 - An Anchoring Arrangement for Electrical Cabling

Info

Publication number: AU2004201896B2
Application number: AU2004201896A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Sorensen
Original assignee: Altronic Distributors Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Altronic Distributors Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-18
Filing date: 2004-05-06
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-06
Also published as: AU2004201896A1

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: Altronic Distributors Pty Ltd Brian Sorensen WRAY ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "An Anchoring Arrangement for Electrical Cabling" Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): 2003903062 filed on 8 May 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- "An Anchoring Arrangement for Electrical Cabling" Technical Field The invention relates to an anchoring arrangement for electrical cabling when operably connected to a multi-conductor terminal assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an anchoring arrangement for use with a terminal assembly of a transformer such as one which may be adapted for use with a loudspeaker.

Background of the Invention Terminal assemblies for receiving and securing a multiplicity of electrical cables are well known in the electronics field. Such terminal assemblies are commonly used in electrical and electronic equipment where a plurality of small gauge cables or conductors are each required to be connected to a single device with the terminal assembly typically providing an individual terminal cavity for each cable.

In many applications, multiple cables associated with a terminal assembly may be exposed to undesirable movements or strains which may cause some or all of the cables to be pulled from the terminal assembly. Such undesirable movements or strains may occur during installation of the particular equipment to which the terminal assembly is connected or during use of the equipment. Operation of the equipment in environments where unwanted vibrations may be imparted to the cables and/or the terminal assembly may also give rise to loss of contact or disconnection of the cables from the terminal assembly. Such disconnection of the cables or the loss of contact arising from such movements or vibrations is most undesirable as it may lead to interruptions in the operation of the electronic equipment, defective performance thereof, or even damage thereto.

Multi-conductor terminal assemblies of the type described are commonly used with loudspeakers which incorporate a transformer to match the speaker impedance with the output impedance of an amplifier. The terminal assembly is -3typically arranged on the transformer which may also include a capacitor and a plurality of exposed connectors. In most applications, the capacitor is electrically connected to one of the exposed connectors according to the performance characteristics required for the loudspeaker. The terminal assembly typically enables at least one feed cable and at least one return cable to be connected to the transformer such that the loudspeaker may be operatively connected to the system amplifier in the known manner.

In such an arrangement, disconnection of one or more of the cables or conductors from the terminal assembly will result in the loudspeaker being unable to function and also presents the risk that a person may inadvertently contact the exposed cables and receive a shock. Vibrations of one or more of the cables or the terminal assembly itself may result in ineffective or disrupted operation of the loudspeaker. Furthermore, such disconnection or vibration of the cables with respect to the terminal assembly may cause electrical shorting or arcing at or adjacent the terminal assembly resulting in damage to the loudspeaker and/or amplifier.

The above discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of the application.

The present invention seeks to provide an anchoring arrangement for electrical cabling when operably connected to a terminal assembly which can reduce the aforementioned adverse effects of disconnection or vibration of electrical cables with respect to the terminal assembly and thereby provide a more effective and reliable contact between the cables and the terminal assembly.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention provides an anchoring arrangement for securing electrical cables when operably connected to a multi-conductor terminal assembly, the -4anchoring arrangement including an anchoring base and corresponding securement means adapted to secure the cables to the anchoring base, the anchoring base being fixedly arranged adjacent the terminal assembly such that the cables are anchored with respect to the terminal assembly when secured by the securement means to the anchoring base.

Preferably, the electrical cables are provided as stranded conductors.

Preferably, the anchoring base is provided as a locking plate with the terminal assembly being fixedly attached to an upper surface of the locking plate. The locking plate conveniently comprises at least a pair of apertures, said apertures passing through a first portion of the locking plate. The terminal assembly is conveniently attached to an adjacent second portion of the locking plate.

Preferably, the securement means is provided as a separate device which engages the locking plate. The securement means is conveniently arranged to engage a pair of apertures in the locking plate such that at least one conductor may be secured thereby to the locking plate. Conveniently, the securement means is arranged to engage a pair of apertures in the locking plate such that at least two conductors may be secured thereby to the locking plate at a location adjacent the pair of apertures. Preferably, the at least two conductors are secured to the locking plate at a location substantially central of the pair of apertures. Conveniently, the securement means releasably engages the locking plate such that the conductors may be disconnected from the terminal assembly if desired.

Preferably, an even number of apertures are provided in the locking plate with a respective securement means being provided for engagement with adjacent pairs of apertures. In this way, adjacent conductors may be secured to the locking plate by each respective securement means.

Preferably, the multi-conductor terminal assembly comprises a terminal block having at least two conductor cavities at a first face of the block arranged to permit respective conductors received thereby to be releasably secured to the terminal block. The apertures may conveniently be provided in the locking plate such that they are arranged adjacent the conductor cavities in the first face of the terminal block. Conveniently, the number of apertures in the locking plate is arranged to correspond with the number of conductor cavities provided in the terminal block. The conductor cavities are conveniently arranged in a spacedapart, side-by-side relationship.

Conveniently, the terminal block also comprises at least two terminal cavities at a second opposing face of the block arranged to receive respective terminal elements. The terminal cavities are also conveniently arranged in a spaced-apart, side-by-side relationship. The terminal block is conveniently arranged to permit the respective conductors engaging with the conductor cavities to be connected to a terminal element in, or to be located in, a respective terminal cavity.

Preferably, the locking plate comprises multiple pairs of apertures such that multiple conductors or pairs of conductors may be secured to the locking plate by respective securement means such that they are anchored with respect to the terminal assembly. The multiple conductors or pairs of conductors are conveniently received by multiple conductor cavities arranged at the first face of the terminal block.

Preferably, the locking plate is arranged between the terminal assembly and a corresponding transformer to which the terminal assembly is operably connected.

Conveniently, the transformer is adapted for use with a loudspeaker and serves to match the speaker impedance with the output impedance of an amplifier. The locking plate may be in part retained by attachment of the terminal assembly to an upper surface of the transformer. Additional or alternative means for fixedly attaching the locking plate to the transformer may also be employed.

Conveniently, the locking plate may be attached to the transformer by way of an adhesive means. Alternatively, in certain arrangements, the locking plate may be formed as part of the upper surface of the transformer.

-6- Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments of the invention are possible and, consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a known transformer arrangement to which one embodiment of the present invention may be adapted for use, the transformer arrangement being operably connected to a loudspeaker; Figure 2 is a close-up schematic perspective view of the transformer arrangement as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the transformer arrangement as shown in Figure 2 with a locking plate of an anchoring arrangement for securing electrical cables according the present invention being attached thereto; Figure 4 is an upper plan view of the transformer and locking plate arrangement of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is an upper plan view of the transformer and locking plate arrangement of Figure 3 with a plurality of conductors secured to the locking plate being shown.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to an anchoring arrangement for securing electrical cables when operably connected to a multi-conductor terminal assembly, particularly for use with a conventional loudspeaker. Figures 1 and 2 show a known transformer arrangement 10 for matching the speaker impedance with the output impedance of an amplifier for a public address system (not shown) in which a loudspeaker 12 is used.

-7- The transformer arrangement 10 is of known kind and comprises a transformer body 14 incorporating a plurality of exposed connectors 16 arranged in a curved array. The transformer arrangement 10 includes a terminal assembly 17 mounted on the transformer body 14, and a capacitor The terminal assembly 17 includes a terminal block 18 incorporating a plurality of terminals 22 arranged are in a spaced-apart, side-by-side relationship. Each terminal 22 comprises at a first face 24 of the terminal block 18 a conductor cavity 26 and at a second opposed face 28 of the terminal block 18 a terminal cavity (NB. first face 24 and conductor cavities 26 are best viewed with reference to Figure The conductor cavities 26 and corresponding terminal cavities 30 are arranged to receive the ends of electrical cabling, such as stranded conductors and/or electrical terminal elements. Hence, the terminals 22 facilitate respective conductors engaging with the conductor cavities 26 to be connected to a terminal element in, or to be located in, a respective terminal cavity 30. Each conductor cavity 26 and terminal cavity 30 is provided with a corresponding screw housing 32 supporting a respective screw for releasably securing the ends of the cabling or a terminal element in position within the terminals 22 of the terminal assembly 17.

In the embodiment shown, there are four terminals 22, with the two right hand terminals being bridged together and the two left hand terminals being bridged together. The leftmost pair of terminals 22 provides an active or feed pair 34 whilst the rightmost pair of terminals 22 provides a neutral, return, or common pair 36. Each pair 34, 36 is adapted to receive at least one cable lead for operatively connecting the loudspeaker to the system amplifier. One cable lead is a feed lead which is connected to the feed or active pair 34 and the other cable lead is a return lead which is connected to the neutral, return or common pair 36.

The transformer arrangement 10 includes a lead 38 which is connected to one of the terminals 22 in the common terminal block pair 36. The capacitor 20 has a first lead 40 which is connected to one of the terminals 22 in the active terminal block pair 34, and a second lead 42 which is adapted to be connected to a selected one of the exposed connectors 16. In the embodiment shown, each -8connector 16 is in the form of a male spade connector and the second lead 42 of the capacitor 20 has a terminal end fitted with a complementary female spade connector 44 for connection to a selected one of the male spade connectors 16.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, an anchoring base in the form of a locking plate 50 is provided intermediate the terminal block 18 and an upper surface 52 of the transformer body 14, the terminal block 18 serving to in part secure the plate 50 to the transformer body 14. An adhesive means may also or alternatively be applied between the locking plate 50 and the upper surface 52 to aid in fixedly attaching the locking plate 50 in position. The locking plate 50 may be made from any suitable material depending upon the particular application, but would typically be of metal or plastic.

The locking plate 50 comprises a first portion 54 and a second portion 56. The terminal block 18 is attached to an upper surface 58 of the locking plate 50 at the second portion 56. That is, the second portion 56 of the locking plate 50 is effectively sandwiched between the terminal block 18 and the upper face 52 of the transformer body 14. The terminal block 18 is retained in position by a locating post 60 which also passes through the second portion 56 of the plate A plurality of spaced apertures 62 are provided through the plate 50 in the first portion 54 thereof. The apertures 62 are arranged in the locking plate 50 so as to essentially be adjacent a respective conductor cavity 26 in the first face 24 of the terminal block 18. The number of apertures 62 corresponds to the number of conductor cavities 26 and hence the number of terminals 22 in the terminal block 18.

As best seen in Figure 5, two adjacent conductors 64 are secured to the locking plate 50 by way of a securement means 66 which engages a pair of apertures 62.

In the embodiment shown, the securement means 66 are provided as separate devices to the locking plate 50. The leftmost pair of conductors 64A serve as feed leads which are connected to the feed or active pair 34 of terminals 22. The rightmost pair of conductors 64B serve as return leads which are connected to the neutral, return or common pair 36 of terminals 22. Both pairs of conductors 64A, -9- 64B providing connection to the feed pair 34 and return pair 36 are secured to the locking plate 50 by way of respective securement means 66 which each engage with a respective pair of apertures 62. It is however to be appreciated that in certain applications individual conductors 64 may be secured to the locking plate 50 by way of the securement means 66 engaging a pair of apertures 62.

In the embodiment shown, each securement means 66 is essentially a thin, flexible belt or strap, typically made of plastic, having a first male end which is able to be fed through a second female end of the strap to enable tensioning thereof. Self-tensioning straps of this kind are well know in the prior art and may take various different forms and be made from a range of materials. Each pair of conductors 64A, 64B are secured to the plate 50 by a respective securement means 66 wherein the male end of each strap is looped around a respective pair of conductors 64A, 64B, threaded down and through one of the apertures 62 and back up and through an adjacent aperture 62. The first male end of the strap is then pulled back through the second female end thereof to enable the strap to be tightened and hence firmly secure the conductors 64A, 64B to the plate When secured to the plate 50, the conductors 64A, 64B are retained at a location substantially centrally of a pair of apertures 62. The securement means 66 may be easily removed if the conductors 64A, 64B require disconnection from the terminal assembly 17. In the embodiment shown, a new securement means 66 (ie. a new strap) would typically be used when the conductors 64A, 64B were once again required to be secured to the plate 50. It is however to be appreciated that alternative arrangements for engaging with the apertures 62 in the plate may of course be adapted for use to removably secure the conductors 64A, 64B to the plate 50, such alternatives including re-usable arrangements.

Together, the locking plate 50 and securement means 66 essentially provide an anchoring arrangement for securing one or more electrical conductors 64 when they are operably connected to the multi-conductor terminal assembly 17. With the locking plate 50 fixedly arranged adjacent the terminal assembly 17, the conductors 64A, 64B are anchored with respect to the terminal assembly 17 hence reducing the likelihood of the conductors 64A, 64B being disconnected from the terminal assembly 17 in the event of any movement or strain being placed on the conductors 64A, 64B. Anchoring of the conductors 64A, 64B with respect to the terminal assembly 17 also serves to reduce the effect of any vibration to which the conductors 64A, 64B may be exposed.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the present embodiment provides a simple yet effective arrangement for reducing some of the problems arising from undesirable movement or vibration of the conductors 64A, 64B and thereby provides an effective and reliable contact between inter-engaging terminal elements and conductors within the terminal assembly 17. By virtue of its simplicity, the anchoring arrangement additionally provides a relatively low cost solution for addressing the aforementioned problems. Furthermore, the simple nature and configuration of the anchoring arrangement does not preclude other desirable features or arrangements from being used with the transformer arrangement 10 and/or the loudspeaker 12. For example, the anchoring arrangement according the present invention does not preclude the use of a protective shroud about the connectors 16 such as that disclosed in the applicant's Australian patent application no. 2002301318, the contents of which are included herein by way of reference.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described. For example, in the embodiment described, the anchoring arrangement is designed for use with a transformer arrangement having a four-way terminal block 18. It should be appreciated however that an anchoring arrangement according to the invention can be adapted for use with other transformer arrangements such as one having a two-way terminal block.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Modifications and variations as would be deemed obvious to the person skilled in the art are included within the ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An anchoring arrangement for securing electrical cables when operably connected to a multi-conductor terminal assembly, the anchoring arrangement including an anchoring base and corresponding securement means adapted to secure the cables to the anchoring base, the anchoring base being fixedly arranged adjacent the terminal assembly such that the cables are anchored with respect to the terminal assembly when secured by the securement means to the anchoring base.

2. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the electrical cables are provided as stranded conductors.

3. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the anchoring base is provided as a locking plate with the terminal assembly being fixedly attached to an upper surface of the locking plate.

4. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the locking plate comprises at least a pair of apertures, said apertures passing through a first portion of the locking plate. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the terminal assembly is attached to an adjacent second portion of the locking plate.

6. An anchoring arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the securement means is provided as a separate device which engages the locking plate.

7. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the securement means is arranged to engage a pair of apertures in the locking plate such that at least one conductor may be secured thereby to the locking plate.

8. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the securement means is arranged to engage a pair of apertures in the locking plate such -12- that at least two conductors may be secured thereby to the locking plate at a location adjacent the pair of apertures.

9. An anchoring arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the at least two conductors are secured to the locking plate at a location substantially central of the pair of apertures. anchoring arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the securement means releasably engages the locking plate such that the conductors may be disconnected from the terminal assembly if desired. 11 .An anchoring arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein an even number of apertures are provided in the locking plate with a respective securement means being provided for engagement with adjacent pairs of apertures.

12.An anchoring arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the number of apertures in the locking plate is arranged to correspond with a number of conductor cavities provided in a terminal block of the terminal assembly.

13.An anchoring arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the locking plate comprises multiple pairs of apertures such that multiple conductors or pairs of conductors may be secured to the locking plate by respective securement means such that they are anchored with respect to the terminal assembly.

14.An anchoring arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 13 wherein the locking plate is arranged between the terminal assembly and a corresponding transformer to which the terminal assembly is operably connected.

15.An anchoring arrangement according to claim 14 wherein the transformer is adapted for use with a loudspeaker and serves to match the speaker impedance with the output impedance of an amplifier. -13-

16.An anchoring arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this Sixth day of May 2004 Altronic Distributors Pty Ltd Applicants Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicants