CA1192637A - Extension cord of undercarpet cable - Google Patents

Extension cord of undercarpet cable

Info

Publication number
CA1192637A
CA1192637A CA000418112A CA418112A CA1192637A CA 1192637 A CA1192637 A CA 1192637A CA 000418112 A CA000418112 A CA 000418112A CA 418112 A CA418112 A CA 418112A CA 1192637 A CA1192637 A CA 1192637A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
strip
shield
housing
extension cord
conductor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000418112A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William Batty
Albert D. Willette
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc filed Critical AMP Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1192637A publication Critical patent/CA1192637A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/56Means for preventing chafing or fracture of flexible leads at outlet from coupling part
    • H01R13/562Bending-relieving
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70Coupling devices
    • H01R12/77Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures

Landscapes

  • Insulated Conductors (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract An extension cord of flat cable, particularly for undercarpet use, comprising a strip of insulated conductors located in a stiffly flexible sleeve-form shield strip mounted at opposite ends in rigid outlet supporting housings with the conductors terminated to leads of the outlets. At one end of the cable, both the shield strip and the conductor strip are fixed to the housing preventing relative longitudinal movement, whilst, at the other end, only one of the strips is fixed to the housing, the other strip being free to move relatively longitudinally during a change in the extension cord from reeled to flat condition, thereby avoiding straining the terminations or buckling the cable. In one example, the shield strip is fixed to the housing and the individual conductors of the conductor strip are connected to leads of the associated outlet by flexible metal bands bowed perpendicularly to the plane of the strip.

Description

96~3 EXTENSION C07~D OF UNDERCARPET FLAT CAE~LE
... ..
The invention relates to an extension cord of flat cable, particular!y undercarpet ftat cable.
A known flat cable, particularly for undercarpet use, com-prises a strip of insulated conductors located under a stiffly flexible 5 shield strip. The conductors are terminated with outlets by mounting the cable ends in rigid insulating outlet supporting housings with the strips in fixed longitudinal relation.
I t is often desirable to store predetermined lengths of flat cable in reeled condition for use as extension cords. However, in the 10 known terminated cable the shield strip and the conductor strip are ' mounted in the outlet supporting housings in fixed longitudinal relation with the consequential clisadvantage that, if the cable were so ter-minated when in flat condition, subsequent reeling would cause relative longitudinal movement between the shield strip and the conductor strip 15 arising from their different wound radii, resulting in strain or de-struction of the termination. Alternatively, if the cable were so terminated when in reeled condition, the relative longitudina7 ~iovement between the shield strip and the conductor strip woulcl atso arise on . .
~.' .................. ..

~%~3~ 96~3 subsequently unreeling the cable to flat condition, as the strips woold be of different lengths, again resulting in strain or destruction of the termination or unacceptable buckling of the cable.
It is an object of the invention to provide an extension cord of flat cable tha~ can both be stored in reeled condition and will lie flat when in unreeled conc:lition without loss of electrical performance.
A further object of the invention is to provide an extension cord of flat cable in which the conductor strip and terminations remain protected both in reeled and unreeled condi tions of the cable .
According to the invention, there is provided an extension cord of flat cable comprising, a strip of insulated conductors located for relative lonyitudinal sliding movement in a stiffly flexible sleeve-form shield strip, the cable being mounted at opposite ends in t rigid, insulating, outlet supporting housings wi th the concluctors terminated with the outlets in the housin~s, one of the strips being fixed at one end in one of the outlet supporting housings and the other strip being mounted at that end for longitudinal movement ' relative to the one strip and the housing.
As a result of the accommodation of relative iongitudinal movement between the shield strip and the conductor strip, the extension cord according to the invention can both be stored in reeled condition and be unreeled to flat condition without bucklin~ of the cable or strain of the termination.
In an example of the invention, the shield strip is fixed in the one housing and the conductors are terminated at that end to the 3~ 9683 supportecl outlet by flexible metal bands bowed perpendicuiarly to the plane o-F the conductor strip to accommodate relative longitudinal movement of the concluctor strip and the one housing.
In an alternative example of the invention, the conductor strip 5 is fixed in thç one housing and -the shield strip is mounted in the one housing as a longitudinal sliding fit relative -to the conductor strip and the one housing.
In a preferred construction, the sleeve-form shield strip comprises metal and plastics strips bonded together along adjacent 10 longitudinal edges to extend above and below the conductor strip, respectively, a further rnetal shield strip being located in the sleeve between the plastics strip and the conductor strip. eoth strips are fixed at their other ends in the other housing with conductors terminated to leads of a plug outlet, the one housing receiving a 15 socket outlet facing away from the plane oF the cable.
Examples of extension cords of undercarpet flat cable according to the invention ~ill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of extension 20 cord according to the invention with part of the undercarpet flat cable cut away;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view oF one end of the first example of extension cord with part of one outlet supportin~
housing cut away 9 6 ~ 3 Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the other end of the extension cord with part of the other outlet supportincJ housing cu t away;
Figures ~ and 5 are fragmentary perspective views of one end of a seconcl cxample oF extension corcl witll a cover of an outlet supportin~J housing omitted for clarity, showillg the relative longitudinal positions of the shield and conductor s~rips in reeled and flat conditions of the cable, respectively.
As shown particularly in Figures 1 to 3, the first example of extension cord comprises a predetermined length of undcrcarpet flat cable 11 mounted at opposite encls in rigid insulating housings 12 ancl 13, respectively, supporting conventional socl<et and plug outlets 14 ancd 15, respectively.
The undercarpet flat cable 11 comprises a strip 16 of insulated flat conductors 17 located in a s-tiffly flexible sleeve---form shielcl strip 18 comprising metal and plastics strips 19 and 20, respectively, bonded together aloncJ adjacent longitudinal ed~;es to exter~d above and below ' the concluctor strip, respectively. ~ further metal shield strip 21 is located in the sleeve 18 between the conductor strip 1 fi and the plastics strip 20. It should be noted that, the strips 17, 21 and the sleeve 18 are free to move longitudinally relative to each other prior to termination of the cable.
The outlet supporting housin~s 12 and 13 are of generally similar construction including cov~rs 23 and 24, respectively, adhered or welcled to planar base portions 25 and 26, respectively, so that ~ %~P~ 9683 rebated lip portions 29 and 30 on the covers cooperate with rebated lip portions 31 ancl 32 on the respective bases to define cable receiving moutlls 33 and 34.
As shown more particularly in Figure 3, one end of the 5 undercarpet flat cable 11 is mounted in the housing 13 by rivets or other fasteners 36 such as projections with heat deforrned heads integral with the base portion 26 and which pass through both shield strips 19 and 21 and the insulation of the conductor strip 16 at locations between the conductors 17, fixing the cable strips relative to 10 each other and to the housing base 26~ The inclividual conductors 17 are crimped to respective live and neutral leads of the socket outlet 15 by conventional terminals 37 having insulation-piercing arms which are curled back under the conductor strip into electrical engagement with the conductors. A tab terminal 38 held by a rnetal rivet passing .
15 through top and bottorn shield strips 36 is connected by leads to the ground conductor of the cable 11 and socket outlet 15. A bush 3~
secures the leads of the plug outlet 15 extending through an aperture ' in the top of the cover 24.
As shown more particularly in Figure 2, the other end o-f the 20 undercarpet flat cable 11 is mounted in the duplex socket supporting housing 12 by rivets Ll1 or other fasteners which pass through insulation 16 o~ the exposed conductor strip between the individual ~onductors 17 thereby fixing the strip to the housing base 25, whilst the sleeve-form shield strip 18 is received as a longitudinal sliding fit 25 in the mouth 33. The individual conductors 17 are also terminated by , .

.

crimpiny to conventional terminals connected to leads extendincJ to terminals of the conventional duplex socket outlet 14.
~ Aovement of the cable frorr the flat condition shown to a wouncl or reeled condi-tion, indicated by broken lines, will cause the 5 sleeve-form shield s-trip 18 to slide longitudinally further into the housincJ to the position shown in broken lines. As the conductor strip 16 is fixed, no stress is imposed on the terminations whilst such sliding movement will permit the cable to lie flat when unwound or unreeled . L ongitudinal rnovement of the shield strip 21 will also be 10 accommodated.
In a seconcl example of the invention, shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, the cable 11 is terminated at one end as shown in Figure 3 and the sleeve-form shield strip 18 is fixed at the other end to the base 31 by rivets 46 or other fasteners. Flexible metal bands 15 L17 which bow perpendicuiar ly to the plane of the concluctor strip 16 are clamped at one of their ends to respective flat conductors 17 by conventional terminals 48 which embrace the strip ends and are crimped around the conductors in a similar fashion to terminal 37 the other ends of the bands being crimped to respective socket outlet 20 leads by conventional terminals 37 also crimped to an insulating termination strip 49.
Movement of the cable from the wound or reeled condition of Figure 4 to the flat condition of Figure 5 will cause the conductor strip 16 to slide longitudinally into tl-e housing from the position 25 shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5, such movement - ... .. .. ... . .. .

3~

being accommodated by increased bowing of the bands 47 without undue strain being imposed on the terminations. Unbowing of the bands 47 will also permit the cable to be lie flat when unwound or unreelecl .
It should be noted that any tendency for relative movement between the metal shield strip 19 and the plastics strip 20 when changing the cable between wound and unwound conditions will be accommodated by longitudinal flexure of the plastics strip without causing buckling of the cable.

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An extension cord of flat cable comprising a strip of insulated conductors located in a stiffly flexible sleeve-form shield strip, the cable being mounted at opposite ends in rigid insulating outlet supporting housings with the conductors termin-ated with the outlets of the housings, the shield strip being fixed at one end in one of the outlet supporting housings and the conduc-tors being terminated at that end to the supported outlet by flex-ible metal bands bowed perpendicularly to the plane of the con-ductor strip to accommodate longitudinal movement of the conductor strip relative to the shield strip and the one housing.
2. An extension cord according to claim 1 in which the sleeve-form shield strip comprises metal and plastic strips bonded together along adjacent longitudinal edges to overlie the entire width of and underlie the conductor strip, a further metal shield strip being located in the sleeve between the plastic strip and the conductor strip.
3. An extension cord according to claim 1 in which both the shield and conductor strips are fixed at their other ends in the other housing with conductors terminated to leads of a plug out-let, the one housing receiving a socket outlet facing away from the plane of the cable.
4. A reelable extension cord of flat cable comprising a strip of insulated conductors located in a stiffly flexible sleeve-form shield strip for relative longitudinal sliding movement, the cable being mounted at opposite ends in rigid insulating out-let supporting housings with the conductors terminated with the outlets in the housing, the conductor strip being fixed at one end in one of the outlet supporting housings and the shield strip being mounted at that end for longitudinal movement relative to the one housing so that the extension cord can be moved between reeled and flat conditions without straining the terminations.
5. An extension cord of flat cable according to claim 4 in which the shield strip includes a relatively stiff shielding layer overlying the conductor strip and a relatively flexible layer underlying the conductor strip.
6. An extension cord of claim 4, wherein the conductor strip is fixed in the outlet supporting housings at both ends, the shield strip being fixed in the housing at one of said ends.
7. An extension cord according to claim 4 in which the sleeve form shield strip comprises metal and plastic strips bonded together along adjacent longitudinal edges to overlie the entire width of and underlie the conductor strip, a further metal shield being located in the sleeve between the plastic strip and the conductor strip.
8. A reelable extension cord of undercarpet cable compris-ing a strip of insulated conductors located in a stiffly flexible sleeve-form shield strip for relative longitudinal sliding move-ment, the shield strip including a relatively stiff shielding layer overlying the entire conductor strip and a relatively flex-ible layer underlying the conductor strip, both strips being moun-ted at opposite ends in rigid insulating outlet supporting hous-ings with the conductors terminated in flat condition with the outlets in the housings, one housing having a mouth snugly recei-ving the shield strip as a longitudinal sliding fit, the conductor strip being fixed in the one housing against longitudinal movement relative to the housing during movement of the cord between reeled and flat conditions.
9. An extension cord according to claim 8 in which the sleeve-form shield strip comprises metal and plastic strips bonded together along adjacent longitudinal edges to overlie the entire width of and underlie the conductor strip, a further metal shield strip being located in the sleeve between the plastic strip and the conductor strip.
10. An extension cord of claim 8, wherein the conductor strip is fixed in the outlet supporting housings at both ends, the shield strip being fixed in the housing at one of said ends.
CA000418112A 1982-01-15 1982-12-20 Extension cord of undercarpet cable Expired CA1192637A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33955982A 1982-01-15 1982-01-15
US339,559 1982-01-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1192637A true CA1192637A (en) 1985-08-27

Family

ID=23329599

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000418112A Expired CA1192637A (en) 1982-01-15 1982-12-20 Extension cord of undercarpet cable

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0084258B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS58123605A (en)
CA (1) CA1192637A (en)
DE (1) DE3270325D1 (en)
MX (1) MX156813A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5821465A (en) * 1995-05-26 1998-10-13 Yazaki Corporation Joint section between flat cable and lead wires

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE623765C (en) *
DE1034732B (en) * 1954-10-28 1958-07-24 Kabelwerk Reinshagen G M B H Flexible electrical line connection
US3524921A (en) * 1968-06-07 1970-08-18 Leo Wolf Two-lead strip cable and sliding connector therefor
US4258974A (en) * 1979-05-25 1981-03-31 Thomas & Betts Corporation Installation kit for undercarpet wiring system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5821465A (en) * 1995-05-26 1998-10-13 Yazaki Corporation Joint section between flat cable and lead wires

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0084258A2 (en) 1983-07-27
EP0084258A3 (en) 1983-08-10
DE3270325D1 (en) 1986-05-07
MX156813A (en) 1988-10-05
JPS58123605A (en) 1983-07-22
EP0084258B1 (en) 1986-04-02

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