EP0315558B1 - Electrified sliding rail for a mobile electrical socket - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrified sliding rail for a mobile female electrical socket. The rail is formed by a T-shaped profile (1) whose base is fixed against the support and whose arms (4, 7) of the T are parallel to the plane of the support, the said conductive strips (5, 6) are each attached to the internal face of the arms (4, 7). The profile comprises holes to permit the passage of fixing means (8) into the support, a complementary profile, acting as a cover, is frontally fitted over the profile in the region of the head of the T via an opening made on one of the large sides of the cover-profile. It may receive a mobile socket (17) which may be attached to the said profile in the region of the head of the T (1) via the arms (4, 7) of the T, a fixing means provides the fixing of the said socket to the profile in the region of the head of the T and the contact between the conductive strips (5, 6) of the T-shaped profile and the contact blocks (21, 22) of the said mobile socket. Mobile electrical socket. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an electrified rod acting as a slide for a mobile electrical outlet. According to a preferred embodiment, the mobile socket is a female socket.

The present invention relates to an electrified rod of an unconventional model, made of rigid plastic serving as a slide for mobile sockets adapted to this rod.

Traditionally, the female sockets are fixed, and the user must have recourse to multiple sockets and extensions, which involves the use of flying wires crossing the habitable rooms. These threads are both unsightly and dangerous.

The state of the art can be defined in particular by patent FR-A-2,507,400, which is the equivalent of patent EP-A-0066559.

The electrical outlet consists of a rail of insulating material 1 which comprises two longitudinal internal housings containing two electrical conductors. A longitudinal opening 6, formed in one face of the rail, receives an associated electrical plug which consists of a housing 9 provided with projecting conductive branches which come into contact with the respective electrical conductors. The plug can slide in the longitudinal direction of the rail.

The state of the art can be defined in particular by patent CH-A-325,635.

This patent describes a low voltage electrical installation which comprises an elongated support having two longitudinal conductors isolated from one another, intended to supply, by means of at least one contact piece, at least one electrical device, said contact part being movable longitudinally on the support. Said elongated support is a cornice having two visible longitudinal electrical conductors. The contact piece is attached to the support and has two contacts pressing the two conductors of the support. These two contacts are electrically connected to a socket.

The rod according to the invention has the following advantages over the devices forming the state of the art and in particular over the patent FR-A-2 507 400.

The wand proposed below has the advantages over the latter following:
It is extremely simple in design: no spring, no moving part. The movement along the rod is done using a plastic screw which can be tightened or loosened using a coin. Its dimensions are minimal: for example, 30 millimeters. It is not necessary to dig the wall to install it. The cover that conceals the wand can be incorporated into the decoration. Any handyman can install it. It encompasses the entire perimeter of the room thanks to a system of corners and fittings.

On the contrary, the rod described in patent No. 2,507,400 describes bent levers, springs interposed between the housing and the bent levers, each lever comprises a conductive branch or branch made of insulating material, the free ends of the conductive blades projecting through the openings of the housing while the free ends of the insulating branches protrude through other openings.

These different mechanical parts are the source of failure and increase the manufacturing cost too much.

• par un profilé en T qui fait office de glissière dont le pied est fixé contre le support et dont les branches du T sont parallèles au plan du support, lesdites lames conductrices sont accolées chacune sur la face interne des branches, du profilé en T ;
• par des profilés complémentaires du T qui peuvent être emboités sur ladite glissière du profilé en T et qui font office de cache ou de prise ou de raccord.

The electrified strip according to the invention acts as a slide for a removable socket, said strip, made of insulated material, comprises at least two conductive strips which can come into contact with conductive elements coming from a removable socket which comes, after introduction, in the slide to be fixed there at the place chosen by the user, said rod also has holes to allow the passage of the fixing means for fixing said rod on its support; it is made up:

• by a T-shaped profile which acts as a slide, the foot of which is fixed against the support and the branches of the T of which are parallel to the plane of the support, said conductive strips are joined together on the internal face of the branches of the T-shaped section;
• by complementary profiles of the T which can be fitted onto said slide of the T profile and which act as a cover or socket or connector.

A complementary profile, acting as a cover, can be fitted onto the profile at the level of the head of the T by an opening made on one of the long sides of the rectangular profile serving as a cover.

At the head of the T and this, on its outer face, the rod has a concave shape to facilitate the establishment of the fixing means.

The rod can receive one or more female mobile sockets which can hang on said profile at the level of the head of the T by the branches of the T, a fixing means ensures the fixing of said taken on the profile at the head of the T and the contact between the conductive blades of the profile and the contact pads of said movable socket.

The elements of the rod are connected by connectors whose profile is in all points similar to the T-profile of the rod except its length, for example 50 millimeters; under each conductive metal blade of the connecting profile, a housing is provided which makes it possible to accommodate the ends of the metal blades which are in the profiles of the rods and which are simply stripped and inserted into said housings: a fixing means makes it possible to fix the conductive blades in their respective housing of the connection profile where they are brought into contact with the blades of the connection profile.

The socket has a rectangular profile with an opening on one of the long sides of the rectangular profile to allow the passage of the foot of the T-shaped profile; the plug is introduced on the T-shaped strip by one end thereof; it comprises an isolated fixing means which is a rigid plastic screw which fixes the socket on the rod and ensures electrical continuity between the contacts; on its external lateral face, the socket has two holes which correspond to the plugs of a male socket; these holes act as conductive sockets, their ends are connected to contact pads which are arranged at the internal face of the tabs which come opposite the conductive strips of the T-rod on which said socket is mounted; due to the plastic material, the legs are flexible enough so that the action of the clamping screw of the socket comes, by tightening on the rod, not only fixing the socket on its support, but also ensuring the electrical contact between the plugs of the socket and the conductive strips of the rod.

By a quarter-turn rotation action on the plug screw, it can be energized or not.

The sockets can thus be short-circuited in particular for security reasons, which avoids, for example, socket covers.

For the corners, right angle rod elements are provided, they have the same profile as the straight rod elements.

The rod is connected to the mains or to a power source by means of a connection profile where the supply wires are introduced into the housing of the connection and fixed by screws.

The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the rod with a movable socket placed on the support profile that is the rod.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the socket, placed on the rod.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the baguette profile.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the rod covered by its hidden profile.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the connecting profile.

Figure 6 is a plan view of several rod elements assembled together by fittings and where, part of the rod, is covered by a cover.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing elements of rod profiles and a movable socket.

The rod 1, according to the invention, is formed by a T-shaped profile, the foot 2 of which is fixed against the wall 3 and the branches 4, 7 of the T of which are found parallel to the plane of the support, wall, ceiling, etc. On the internal face of these two branches 4, 7 is joined, on each, a conductive strip 5 and 6. There is therefore an upper strip 5 on the upper branch 4 and a lower strip 6 on the lower branch 7.

At the head of the T and this, on its outer face, the rod 1 can have a concave shape, so as to facilitate the installation of fixing means 8 for the rod on its support. At different intervals in the center of the concave part is provided a hole which makes it possible to introduce a concrete nail 8 which makes it possible to fix the strip 1 to the wall 3.

The section of the conductive strips 5, 6 can be 2.5 mm2. A means serving as a plastic rim 9 serves as an insulator and prevents the conductive blades 5, 6 from being touched by manipulating the strip.

In order to better isolate the strip 1, another complementary profile is provided, it acts as a cover 10 and comes to face on the head of the T-profile by an opening 11 made on one of the long sides of the rectangular profile making cache office 10.

The strip 1, formed by the T-shaped section, is made up of elements, for example one meter long and which can optionally be cut on demand.

In order to connect two rod elements together, there are connectors 12. Said connectors 12 are in all points similar to the profile of the rod 1 except their length, for example, fifty millimeters long. Under the conductive metal blade 13 or 14 disposed under each branch of the connector 12, there is provided a housing 15 which accommodates the ends of the metal blades 5, 6 which are in the profiles of the rods 1 and which suffices to strip material 9 from the profile 2. To connect, it is necessary to cut the T-profile in 2, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, then cutting the plastic material 9 so as to leave bare the conductors 5 and 6. The ends of these blades 5, 6 are introduced into the housings 15 of the connector 12. An insulated fixing means 16 allows the conductive blades 5, 6 to be fixed in their respective housing 15 of the connection profile 12 where they are brought into contact with the blades 13, 14 of the connection profile 12. This means can be a plastic head screw 16 which, screwed, used to clamp the fitting blades against the ends to be connected with strip blades.

On the strip 1, it is possible to mount a mobile female socket 17. This socket 17 uses the strip 1 like a rail. It is introduced on the rod 1 at a connector 12. The socket 17 therefore has a profile similar to that of the cover 10, that is to say rectangular with an opening 18 on one of the long sides of the rectangular profile for allow the passage of the foot 2 of the T. The socket 17 is introduced on the rod by one end thereof. It comprises an isolated fixing means 23 which is a rigid plastic screw 23 which fixes the socket 17 on the rod 1 and ensures electrical continuity between the contacts. On its external lateral face, the socket 17 has two holes 19, 20 which correspond to the plugs of a male socket. These holes 19, 20 act as conductive sockets, they are therefore conductive, their end is connected to contact pads 21, 22 which are arranged at the internal face of the legs which come opposite the conductive blades 5, 6 of the rod 1 in T on which said socket 17 is mounted.

The action of the tightening screw 23 of the socket 17 comes, by tightening on the rod 1, to fix the socket 17 on its support, but also ensures the electrical contact between the studs 21, 22 of the socket 17 and the blades conductors 5, 6 of the rod 1.

By a quarter-turn rotation action on the screw 21 of the socket it can be energized or not.

The profile, fitting and mobile socket must not be made of excessively flexible plastic.

The cover must be made of flexible plastic: to be able to adapt to the profile. To remove the cover, it is necessary to press in the center of the strip (which is possible, since there is a hollowed out part on the profile) and at the same time release the upper and lower parts of the opening 2.

The proposed rod and mobile plug are designed so that they can be hidden in the decor. Hence the idea that the cache could present a decoration (reminding, for example, the friezes of the wallpaper or the color of the plinths).

LIST OF REFERENCES

1.

Baguette

2.

Foot of the T

3.

Wall

4.

Upper branch

5.

Upper blade of the T-shaped strip

6.

Lower blade of the T-shaped strip

7.

Lower branch

8.

Concrete nail

9.

Insulating flange

10.

Hidden

11.

Opening

12.

Fittings

13. 14.

Conductive metal blades of connection profile 12

15.

Housing

16.

Plastic head screws

17.

Mobile outlet

18.

Opening

19. 20.

Female plug holes

21. 22.

Contact pads

23.

Clamping screw - Fixing means

Claims (6)

1. Electrified sliding rail (1) for a mobile electrical socket (17), said sliding rail made of insulated material (1) comprising at least two conducting blades (5) and (6) which can come into contact with conducting elements (21) and (22) of a mobile electrical socket (17) which is slideably mounted on the sliding rail (1) to be fixed thereon at a point chosen by the user, said sliding rail (1) further comprising holes to allow the passage of fixing means for fixing said sliding rail (1) to its support (3), said sliding rail consisting of

   - a T-section (1) serving as a sliding rail whose base (2) is fixed to the support (3) and in which the arms (4, 7) of the T are parallel with the plane of the support (3), said conducting blades (5, 6) both being mounted on the inner surface of the arms (4, 7) of the T-section (1);

   - sections (10, 12, 17) complementary to the T, which are fitted on said T-sectioned sliding rail (1) and serve as a cover (10) or as an electrical socket (17) or as a link (12).
2. Electrified sliding rail (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that a complementary section (10), serving as a cover, is fitted on the section (1) at the level of the top of the T by using an opening (11) formed at one of the long sides of the rectangular section which serves as a cover (10).
3. Electrified sliding rail (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the outer surface of the sliding rail is concavely shaped at the level of the top of the T, in order to facilitate installment of the fixing means (8).
4. Electrified sliding rail (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that it receives one or more mobile electrical sockets (17) attached to said section at the level of the top of the T (1) by means of the arms (4, 7) of the T, a fixing means (23) ensures the attachment of said electrical socket (17) to the section (1) at the level of the top of the T and the contact between the conducting blades (5, 6) of the section (1) and the conducting elements (21, 22) of the mobile electrical socket (17).
5. Electrified sliding rail (1) according to claim 4,
   characterized in that the electrical socket (17) has a rectangular section with an opening (18) at one of the long sides of the rectangular section to allow the passage of the base (2) of the T-section (1); the electrical socket (17) is slipped on the T-sectioned sliding rail (1) at one end thereof; it comprises an insulated fixing means (23) which is a rigid plastic screw (23) which fixes the electrical socket (17) to the sliding rail (1) and ensures the electrical continuity between the contacts; on its outer lateral face, the electrical socket (17) has two holes (19, 20) corresponding to the pins of a plug; said holes (19, 20) serve as conducting bushes, their ends being connected with contact pieces (21, 22) which are disposed at the level of the inner face of the claws which come to face the conducting blades (5, 6) of the T-sectioned sliding rail (1) on which said electrical socket (17) is mounted; due to the plasticity of the material, the claws are sufficiently flexible so that the action of the fastening screw (23) of the electrical socket (17), when driven into the sliding rail (1), not only fixes the electrical socket (17) to the support thereof but ensures also the electrical contact between the contact pieces (21, 22) of the electrical socket (17) and the conducting blades (5, 6) of the sliding rail (1).
6. Process for connecting sliding rail elements according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the sliding rail elements (1) are connected by means of links (12) whose section corresponds to the T-section of the sliding rail (1) in every respect except for its length, for example fifty millimetres; for each conducting metal blade (13, 14) of the link section (12) a seat (15) is provided which allows to dispose the ends of the metal blades (5, 6) which are located in the sections (2) of the sliding rails (1) and which are simply bared and introduced into said seats (15): a fixing means (16) serves for fixing the conducting blades (5, 6) in their respective seat (15) in the link section (12), where they are brought into contact with the blades (13, 14) of the link section (12).

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