EP0370825B1 - Connecteur pour armature lumineuse - Google Patents

Connecteur pour armature lumineuse Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0370825B1
EP0370825B1 EP89312210A EP89312210A EP0370825B1 EP 0370825 B1 EP0370825 B1 EP 0370825B1 EP 89312210 A EP89312210 A EP 89312210A EP 89312210 A EP89312210 A EP 89312210A EP 0370825 B1 EP0370825 B1 EP 0370825B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrical
male
female
component
fixture
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 - Lifetime
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EP89312210A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0370825A2 (fr
EP0370825A3 (en
Inventor
Trudy M. Hudson
Henry R. Hudson
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority claimed from CA000584099A external-priority patent/CA1296077C/fr
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Publication of EP0370825A3 publication Critical patent/EP0370825A3/en
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Publication of EP0370825B1 publication Critical patent/EP0370825B1/fr
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/02—Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases
    • F21V21/03—Ceiling bases, e.g. ceiling roses
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/06—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being coupling devices, e.g. connectors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to coupling devices for electrical fixtures, such as connecting a lamp to ceiling or wall outlet.
  • a simple form of plug-in arrangement is disclosed in United States patents 1,486,896; 1,511,594 and 2,671,821.
  • the wall or ceiling outlet box has provided in a sealed face thereof a standard type of plug outlet.
  • the lamp to be secured to the outlet box has a base plate which is coupled in one form or another to the outlet box. Before such coupling is completed, the lamp fixture plug is simply plugged into the outlet plug of the electrical box.
  • This type of arrangement reduces hazard in the average householder making connections and for the skilled workman provides an expedient form of connection. It is appreciated, of course, that the outlet box has to have been prewired by a competent individual.
  • U.S. patents 1,486,896 and 1,511,594 are designed specifically for wall mounting wherein the downward weight of the fixture is required to maintain the connection.
  • U.S. patent 2,671,821 discloses a hanger system limited to hanging type fixtures.
  • Canadian patent 1,040,606 discloses an electrical coupling system which simultaneously provides for electrical contact of the fixture to the outlet box wiring, while securing the light fixture in place.
  • the electrical outlet box is provided with a face plate which presents the electrical contacts in combination with lug portions.
  • the light fixture includes mating lug portions which on rotation clip into and secure the light fixture in place on the face plate.
  • the lug portions on the light fixture also include electrical contacts which lead to the lamp of the fixture. Hence when the lug portions are engaged to support the light fixture, the electrical contacts engage to complete the circuit.
  • the drawback with this system is that, due to the inter-relationship of the lugs and the electrical contacts, there is a limitation on the amount of support that can be provided in the lug systems while continuing to provide suitable engagement of the electrical contacts.
  • the electrical contacts are left exposed thereby presenting potential hazard in mounting the light fixture in place or allowing the user to reach up into the outlet of the face portion and contact one or more of the live electrical leads.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 of the prior art Canadian patent illustrate that a central threaded tubular rod is mounted to the coupling as a central tubular rod connector.
  • the threaded tubular rod is relatively short and is designed to hold the cover plate in position and to provide a thread to attach a ring (or hook) upon which a light fixture or chain is hung.
  • the disclosure describes use of the ring (or hook) in terms which are specific to the application of hanging a light fixture or chain therefrom.
  • US-A-3 985 417 shows a two-part coupling device for an electrical fixture in which cooperating electrical contacts in the two parts all lie on the same radius, but are rotationally asymmetrically disposed to prevent an incorrect electrical coupling between the two parts.
  • the arrangement associated with the contacts also provides mechanical coupling of the two parts; thus it is the only arrangement preventing incorrect mechanical coupling of the two parts, and it also determines the strength of the mechanical coupling.
  • the mechanical and electrical coupling functions are separated, whereby features associated with each function may be improved without impairment of the other function.
  • FR-A-2 425 745 is an example of a two-part coupling arrangement where electrical contacts lie on different respective radii.
  • the present two-part device requires a rotational movement to join the two parts, the electrical contacts between the two parts extend laterally and are coupled by the rotary motion required to join the parts, and the live contacts in the part coupled to the electricity supply are recessed.
  • the mechanical joining of the two parts and the electrical coupling therebetween is achieved, and there is also a significant improvement occasioned by (a) the shielding of the live contacts, and (b) the fact that the live contacts extend laterally, making it considerably more difficult for accidental contact to occur.
  • the present invention provides an electrical coupling device for detachably securing a fixture to an electrical junction box or directly to a building structure, said coupling device comprising male and female interconnecting components, said fixture being connected to said male component which is then secured to said female component by rotating one component relative to the other, said female component having a plurality of catches, said male component having a plurality of studs for insertion and engagement with said catches by way of rotational movement of said studs into said catches, said catches and studs being spaced apart in circular arrays at a first radius, at least two spaced-apart female resilient clips of electrically conductive metal on said female component, at least two spaced-apart contacts of electrically conductive metal on said male component, said male contacts being in register with said clips when said studs are in register with said catches, said clips being located in an unsymmetrical array about said circular pattern to ensure polarity matching of said corresponding contacts with said clips, rotation of said male component to engage said studs with said catches simultaneously engaging said contacts
  • the present invention enables the provision of an electrical coupling device which does not significantly protrude into the electrical outlet box or ceiling as in prior art devices and which may require a simple rotation to attach and detach a light fixture that has an appropriate connector.
  • Such a device may be applicable to a wide range of light fixture types and electrical box sizes, and can be directly mounted to a building surface, without an electrical junction box, and without protrusion into the wall or ceiling.
  • the electrical fixture coupling device 10 comprises male and female components 14 and 12.
  • the female component 12 is secured within or to a standard type of octagonal shaped electrical outlet box 16.
  • Wiring 18 is fed through a cable shield 20 which may be of flex link metal and through the inlet coupling 22 of the outlet box 16.
  • the three electrical leads 24, 26 and 28 of the standard 110 volt wiring system are coupled to the corresponding terminals 30, 32 and 34.
  • each terminal 30, 32 and 34 is surrounded by a raised ridge portion 36, 38 and 40.
  • the raised ridge serves to contain the looped end portion of the respective electrical wire lead and captured in place during connection of the leads to the terminals.
  • the male component 14 has an electrical wire 42 which is connected to a light fixture or the like extending through a decorative dished-shaped exterior plate 44 and through an aperture 46 of the male component 14 and into the chamber generally designated 48.
  • Three electrical wires of the incoming light fixture wire 42 which are shown designated 50, 52 and 54. However, in practice, only two such wires 52 and 53 are used, the ground wire 50 commonly being replaced by an electrical contact between the metal body of the fixture and the cross bar (not shown) of the outlet box.
  • the wires 50, 52 and 54 are respectively secured to the electrical terminals 56, 58 and 60.
  • the terminals 56, 58 and 60 are surrounded by a raised ridge portion 62, 64 and 66. This assists in assembly and connection of the electrical wires to the terminals to capture them in place.
  • Each of the terminals 56, 58 and 60 include outwardly extending contacts 68, 70 and 72. These male contacts engage corresponding female contacts of the female component 12, as will be discussed with respect to Figures 2, 3 and 4.
  • the male component 14 includes elongate recesses 74 and 76 which receive nut and bolt combinations for connecting decorative plates, such as plate 44, and for securing the light fixture to the male component 14.
  • elongate recesses 74 and 76 which receive nut and bolt combinations for connecting decorative plates, such as plate 44, and for securing the light fixture to the male component 14.
  • self tapping screws 8 or bolts may be extended through the elongate recesses 74 and 76 and threaded into apertures 78 and 80 of lugs 82 and 84 to secure the attachment plate 14 in position, as described in greater detail below with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 8.
  • Each recess 74 and 76 is surrounded by a suitable ridge 86 and 88 to enclose the respective bolt head.
  • a locking device is incorporated into the female component 12 in the form of small domed protrusions or dimples 79 and 81 which are designed to slide over the surfaces of winged recesses 74 and 76 of male component 14 when the male component 14 is being rotated clockwise relative to female component 12 for connecting the male and female components.
  • the dimples 79 and 81 abut the winged recesses 74 and 76 when the male component is rotated into connection with the female component, thereby effectively preventing inadvertent counter-clockwise rotation of the male component 14 relative to the female component 12 without the application of a reasonable amount of torque.
  • the female component 12 is secured to the electrical outlet box 16 by use of bolts 90 and 92.
  • the bolts extend through apertures 94 and 96 and are threaded into the threaded apertures 98 and 100 of the outlet box lugs 102 and 104.
  • the bolts may extend through slotted apertures 95 and 97 for smaller sized electrical boxes.
  • the slotted holes 95 and 97 may be used also as screw holes for mounting to a wall or ceiling, or to a wiring terminal block mounted on the building surface.
  • the secured position of the female component 12 in the electrical outlet box 16 is shown in Figure 4.
  • a ridge 15 which defines an octagonal shape which corresponds to the inner dimensions of a standard octagonal electrical outlet box 16.
  • the raised ridge 15 correctly locates the base plate bolt holes 94 and 96 with the bolt holes 98 and 100 on the lugs 102 and 104 of the electrical box 16. This ensures a secure fitment of the female component 12 to position the component in the electrical outlet box 16.
  • the circular disk, or flange 99, outside the octagon shaped ridge 15 extends beyond the dimensions of the electrical box and thereby ensures that the component 12 fits flush to a wall or ceiling even though the outlet box may be recessed or misaligned.
  • the female component 12 includes a further ridge 17 for providing clearance for the electrical wiring extending between the female component 12 and the ceiling.
  • the raised ridge may provide clearance, (e.g. a few centimeters) for a terminal block for the electrical wiring which comes through the building surface.
  • the overall dimensions of male component 14 and female component 12 can be reduced in such an installation. In practice this means that the circular disk, or flange 99, and the octagonal shaped ridge 15, which extend outwards from the raised ridge 17, of the base plate 12 are no longer necessary and can be eliminated.
  • the underside 106 of the female component 12 ( Figure 2), which constitutes the face plate of the electrical outlet box, includes two sets of semi-circular ring portions generally designated 108, 110, 112 and 114.
  • Ring set 108 and 110 include a plurality of catches, the entrance to which are defined by the respective recesses 116, 118, 120 and 122.
  • the inner set of rings 112 and 114 include the female resilient clips of electrically conductive metal. The entrance to those clips is defined by recesses 124, 126 and 128. The clips are recessed so as to conceal live electrical parts.
  • the male component 14 includes on an outer ring set 130 and 132 the outwardly projecting stud portions 134, 136, 138 and 140.
  • outwardly extending male contacts 68, 70 and 72 are provided on the inner ring portion, as defined by circular edge 142.
  • the male component is provided with an integrally molded arrow 144 which, when aligned with the indented arrow 146 of the female component, automatically aligns the studs 134, 136, 138 and 140 with the recesses 116, 118, 120 and 122.
  • the electrical contacts 68, 70 and 72 are aligned with the recesses 124, 126 and 128.
  • the male component 14 is rotated in the direction of arrow (clockwise) 148 to engage the studs with the catches.
  • the studs are defined by the lugs 136 and 138 which are of inverted L-shape to define undercut portions 150 and 152.
  • the catches of the female component 12 are defined by the depending ledges 154 and 156 to define supporting surface 158 and 160.
  • the terminals 30 and 32 include resilient clips 162 and 164.
  • clips are J-shaped as protected by face portions 166 and 168 of the respective ring portion 112 and 114.
  • the ledges 166 and 168 in covering the clips 162 and 164 prevent the user from engaging the clips with their fingers or various tools, such as screwdrivers, and hence substantially reduce the risk of electric shock during installation.
  • the J-shaped clips 162 and push connectors 163 are secured to the female component at the raised block portion 170 by way of the terminal screw or rivet 172. Hence a cantilever mounting of the J-shaped clip 162 is provided with a flexible distal portion 174. Multistrand wire may be inserted between clip 162 and push connector 163 which yields under bending pressure. The connector 163 then clamps down on the wire and secures the wire in place with a contact area extending fully around the arcuate portion of connector 163.
  • the push connector arrangement of Figure 4A may also be advantageously used for the terminals 58 and 32.
  • the distal portion 174 is pushed upwardly by the male contact 72 to ensure secure electrical contact between the male and female components.
  • a similar action occurs with respect to the other electrical clips of the female component which occurs at the same time as the stud components of the male couplings 68 and 70 engage the associated catches of the female components (e.g. 162 and 164).
  • the assembled unit as shown in Figure 4, has the studs 134, 136, 138 and 140 engaged with the respective supporting ledges as exemplified in Figure 4 as 154 and 156.
  • the male contacts 70 and 72 engage the respective clips 162 and 164, thereby effecting a hanging cord lamp fixture connection as shown in Figures 10A and B.
  • the electrical cord 42 is secured by means of a cord restrainer 1004.
  • the restrainer effectively transfers the weight of the fixture to the flange 180 surrounding the aperture 46 of male component 14, and thereby to the female component 12 through the male component 14 via the support lugs 134, 136, 138 and 140 engaging the corresponding catches of the female component. No stress is applied to the electrical contacts 70 and 72.
  • the design of the lugs and catches of the male and female components is independent of the electrical contacts to thereby support any desired weight of the light fixture without interfering with the electrical contacts.
  • the electrical contacts resiliently urge the clips upwardly to ensure continued electrical contact of the light fixture to the power source in incoming line 18.
  • the male component 14 has extending outwardly of the stud portions a plate extremity 182, 184 for supporting the two-bolt fixture of Figures 5 and 6 via apertures 74 and 76.
  • the female component 12 is flush against the face of the finishing material for the wall or ceiling to complete the assembly and provide a flush mount of the light fixture, and the cover plate 44 extends so as to cover the entire connector and fit flush with the wall or ceiling.
  • the male and female components of the coupling device are attached by means of the separate inter-engaging studs and catch portions.
  • the system has been designed for close tolerances to achieve a secure and strong connection between the components. Once locked the components have a very low profile for preventing the female component 12 from intruding into the outlet box, and to ensure that the device remains inconspicuous when the male component 14 is not attached.
  • the components of the device may be injection molded of suitable plastic resin.
  • the plastic resin may include flame retardant, heat resistant, creep resistant additives.
  • a suitable plastic may be that of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composition.
  • FIG. 5 a combined half-section and exploded view is provided of a bolt mounted fixture according to a first alternative embodiment mounted in the form of a retrofit.
  • An ordinary two-bolt light fixture is mounted on the male component 14 by means of a pair of bolts 500 and 502 inserted through apertures 76 and 74, and secured by means of lock nuts 504 and 506, spacer nuts 508 and 510, and decorative nuts 512 and 514.
  • the height of the cover plate 44 is determined by adjustment of spacer nuts 508 and 510.
  • the bolts 500 and 502 are maintained in a correct width position within slots 74 and 76 by means of lock nuts 504 and 506.
  • the cover plate 44 is secured to the bolts 500 and 502 by means of nuts 512 and 514, respectively.
  • a modified light fixture is illustrated with reference to Figure 6.
  • Manufacture installed mounting lugs 600 and 602 are provided with holes 604 and 606 through which a pair of self-taping screws 608 and 610 may be inserted, via holes 76 and 74 of the male component 14.
  • the mounting lugs are installed at an appropriate height for correct positioning of the male component attachment plate 14 relative to the female component base plate 12.
  • Correct spacing between the male component 14 and the associated bolt mounted light fixture can also be realized by employing either central tubular spacer rings or tubular rod spacer rings as shown in Figures 7 and 8, respectively.
  • a central tube spacer ring 700 is mounted via a friction fit over the raised circular portion 702 of the male component 14.
  • the spacer ring 700 can be constructed to various heights for achieving selective spacing of the cover plate 44 relative to the male component 14.
  • Figure 8 shows a pair of tubular rod spacers 800 which can be manufactured to predetermined heights to achieve selective spacing of the cover plate 44 relative to the male component 14.
  • a pair of bolts 500 and 502 are inserted through the apertures 74, 76 of the component 14 and through the tubular rod spacers 800.
  • a pair of decorative nuts 512 and 514 are fastened to the bolts 500 and 502 which protrude to respective apertures in the cover plate 44.
  • FIG 10A illustrates a hanging cord fixture embodiment of the present invention in which a flexible electrical cord 42 extends from a lamp shade 1002 through an aperture 46 in the male component 14 which is held in place with a cord restrainer 1004 shown in detail with reference to Figure 10B.
  • the cord restrainer 1004 slides along the electrical cord 42 for adjusting the height of the lamp and the length of wiring which extends to the electrical contacts on the male component 14.
  • the cord restrainer 1004 fits into and is compressed by the aperture 46 which restrains movement of the cord.
  • a cover plate 44 is shown in Figure 10A attached via a friction fit over the raised circular portion 702 of the male component 14.
  • Figure 11 shows a hanging chain fixture according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein chain links 1100 are supported by a hook 1102 having a central threaded aperture for receiving a threaded tubular rod 1104.
  • a pair of lock nuts 1106 connect the tubular rod 1104 to the male component 14.
  • the hook 1102 is threaded onto the tubular rod 1104 for supporting the fixture connected at a remote end of chain 1100 and to hold the cover plate 44 to the building surface.
  • attachment plate or male component 14 may be directly injection molded with a lamp fixture base to produce an integral unit (not shown). In such a case, only the central portion of the male component 14 is utilized. The elongated recesses 74 and 76 would not be used. Also, the electrical cord 46 is substituted with a direct electrical connection from the contacts 68, 70, 72 to the light bulb socket or sockets.
  • FIG 12 an alternative embodiment of the male component 14 is shown with a ground strap 1200 for providing a ground connection between a metal light fixture and the ground terminal 60 ( Figure 1) of the male component 14.
  • the ground strap 1200 is secured by a screw 1202 to a metal threaded insert (not shown) extending from the terminal 60 to the ground strap 1200.
  • the threaded metal insert is screwed on both sides of the male component (e.g. via terminal 60 on one side and via screw 1202 on the other side).
  • a distal end of the ground strap 1200 is secured to male component 14 via a screw or rivet 1204.
  • the ground strap 1200 provides a ground contact for central tubular mounted or like fixtures by securing the strap between the lock nut 902 and 904 in Figure 9 or 1106 in Figure 11.
  • the lock nut 904 would be placed on the central tubular rod 900, then the rod would be inserted through the aperture in the strap 1200 and into the aperture 46 of the male component 14.
  • the nut 1106 would be threaded onto tubular rod 1104 in a similar manner.
  • the lock nut 902 (or 1106) effectively secures the strap 1200 against the male component 14 for providing the necessary electrical connection between the central tubular rod 900 (or 1104) and terminal 60 via the screw 1202 through the ground strap to the terminal.
  • the ground strap 1200 also provides a ground connection for the two point mounted fixture illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
  • the screw 500 (or 608) is inserted through the aperture 76 of the male component 14 and then through the slotted aperture of the ground strap.
  • the strap 1200 is secured between the lock nut 504 (or lug 600) and the male component thus providing an electrical connection between the screws securing the cover plate 600, and hence between the metallic fixture cover and the ground terminal 60.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)
  • Massaging Devices (AREA)
  • Connection Or Junction Boxes (AREA)

Claims (20)

  1. Dispositif de couplage électrique pour fixer de façon détachable un équipement sur une boîte de jonction électrique (16) ou directement sur une structure de bâtiment, ledit dispositif comprenant des composants d'interconnection mâle (14) et femelle (12), ledit équipement étant connecté audit composant mâle qui est ensuite fixé audit composant femelle en faisant tourner un composant par rapport à l'autre, ledit composant femelle présentant une pluralité de crochets (154, 156), ledit composant mâle comportant une pluralité de tenons (134-140) devant venir s'insérer et s'engager avec lesdits crochets par suite d'un mouvement de rotation desdits tenons dans lesdits crochets, lesdits crochets et tenons étant espacés les uns des autres selon des arrangements circulaires d'un premier rayon, au moins deux clips élastiques femelles espacés l'un de l'autre (par exemple 162, 164) en métal électriquement conducteur sur ledit composant femelle, au moins deux contacts espacés l'un de l'autre (68, 70, 72) en métal électriquement conducteur sur ledit composant mâle, lesdits contacts mâles étant en correspondance avec lesdits clips lorsque lesdits tenons sont en correspondance avec lesdits crochets, lesdits clips étant disposés selon un arrangement dissymétrique autour dudit arrangement circulaire afin d'assurer un accord de polarité desdits contacts correspondant avec lesdits clips, la rotation dudit composant mâle pour faire venir en prise lesdits tenons et lesdits crochets, faisant venir en prise simultanément lesdits contacts et lesdits clips afin d'appuyer légèrement sur lesdits clips pour assurer un contact électrique,
       caractérisé en ce que :
    a) lesdits clips (par exemple 162, 164) sont disposés dans un arrangement circulaire selon un second rayon sur ledit composant femelle (12) ;
    b) lesdits contacts (68, 70, 72) sont disposés dans un arrangement circulaire selon ledit second rayon sur ledit composant mâle (14) et ils s'étendent latéralement par rapport audit composant mâle (14), et
    c) lesdits contacts électriques sous tension (par exemple 162, 164) dans le composant femelle sont encastrés dans la plaque de base de manière à éliminer essentiellement la possibilité de contact accidentel.
  2. Dispositif de couplage d'équipement électrique selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le composant femelle (12) est conçu de façon à être connecté à une boîte de jonction électrique ou directement sur la structure d'un bâtiment et en maintenant un contact sensiblement au même niveau que la surface du bâtiment et qui comprend :
    i) une plaque de base (12) présentant un côté de boîte de jonction interne et un côté de surface de paroi externe ;
    ii) des moyens de fixation (90-96) coopérant avec ladite plaque de base et adaptés pour assurer une connection sur des boîtes de jonction de différentes dimensions et standards ;
    iii ) une pluralité de moyens de support femelles espacés circonférentiellement (108,110) qui s'étendent vers l'extérieur à partir du côté de surface de paroi de la plaque de base et qui présentent des pattes femelles s'étendant circonférentiellement (154, 156), espacées de la surface de la plaque de base définissant ainsi lesdits crochets (154, 156) ;
    iv) des moyens de contact femelles espacés circonférentiellement (108, 110) qui s'étendent vers l'extérieur à partir du côté de surface de paroi de la plaque de base et qui comprennent des évidements (124, 126, 128) et lesdits clips élastiques femelles, chaque évidement étant associé à un clip respectif ;
    et ledit composant mâle peut être coupé de façon détachable audit élément femelle de façon à assurer une connection électrique et pouvant supporter une charge, avec l'équipement électrique et qui comprend :
    v) une plaque de fixation (14) ayant une surface interne qui est conçue de façon à venir en prise, de manière détachable, avec l'assemblage femelle de la plaque de base et qui comporte des moyens permettant une liaison électrique à partir de conducteurs électriques, s'étendant depuis l'équipement électrique, vers des connecteurs électriques (56, 58, 60) sur la plaque de fixation, et une surface externe opposée de la plaque de fixation conçue de manière à assurer une connection variable avec l'équipement électrique ;
    vi) une pluralité de moyens de support mâles circonférentiellement espacés (130, 132) s'étendant vers le haut depuis la surface interne de la plaque de fixation, chaque moyen de support mâle ayant un tenon mâle s'étendant circonférentiellement (136, 138, 134, 140) et comportant des moyens d'engagement (150, 152) complémentaires des moyens d'engagement respectifs (158, 160) de la patte femelle, chaque tenon étant adapté à être accepté dans un crochet respectif ;
    vii) des moyens de contact mâles circonférentiellement espacés sur la surface interne de la plaque de fixation, qui assurent lesdits contacts mâles (68, 70, 72) ;
    de manière que les contacts du composant mâle puissent être déplacés dans les évidements du composant femelle, avec les tenons mâles adjacents aux crochets femelles, après quoi le composant mâle peut être entraîné en rotation par rapport au composant femelle afin d'amener les moyens d'engagement de chaque moyen de support femelle en prise avec les moyens d'engagement complémentaires des moyens de support mâles, ce qui procure un support pouvant porter une charge et subir une rotation restreinte entre les composants mâles et femelles afin d'empêcher essentiellement un désengagement accidentel des composants et, en même temps, les contacts mâles viennent en prise par frottement avec les contacts femelles en permettant ainsi la conduction de l'électricité vers l'équipement électrique.
  3. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2 dans lequel chacun desdits clips est un clip métallique ayant généralement la forme d'un J (162), qui est compressible, lesdits contacts appuyant sur lesdits clips afin de maintenir un contact électrique.
  4. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel il existe trois clips femelles espacés les uns des autres et trois contacts mâles espacés les uns des autres.
  5. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel le côté de la boîte de jonction du composant femelle possède une nervure octogonale (15) s'étendant depuis sa surface pour venir s'engager à frottement sur une boîte de jonction octogonale commune, ladite rainure octogonale est contenue dans une arête externe circulaire dudit composant femelle, ladite arête externe permettant un montage au niveau de la plaque de base à l'endroit où la boîte de jonction est encastrée dans la surface du bâtiment.
  6. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel lesdits six moyens de support mâles et femelles sont circonférentiellement espacés de manière que chaque combinaison mâle et femelle transfère une charge sensiblement égale.
  7. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel, pour aider à assurer un alignement correct des composants mâles et femelles et par conséquent, une polarité des connecteurs électriques, on moule une flèche (146) dans le côté de l'équipement électrique de la plaque de base afin d'assurer l'alignement avec une saillie (144) du composant mâle, avant l'engagement par rotation.
  8. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ledit composant mâle comporte deux longues fentes (74, 76) qui en permettent le montage sur une variété d'équipements légers en utilisant une paire de vis dans un système de suspension à deux points, lesdites fentes étant en retrait à partir de la surface de montage afin de recevoir les vis, ledit composant mâle comportant également un trou central (46) destiné à recevoir des équipements montés par un point avec un profil hexagonal moulé dans la plaque de fixation afin d'aider et d'assurer la fixation de l'équipement à la plaque de fixation, à l'aide d'un écrou hexagonal.
  9. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ladite plaque de fixation est suffisamment profonde pour délimiter un espace afin de fixer des équipements légers montés centralement, et également pour laisser de la place au câblage.
  10. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ladite plaque de base et la plaque de fixation comportent une bordure surélevée à l'endroit où les bornes doivent être connectées en vue d'assurer un positionnement approprié des contacts électriques et également pour maintenir les câbles électriques.
  11. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ladite plaque de fixation comporte en outre une paire d'ouvertures (74, 76) en vue de recevoir une paire de goujons filetés (500, 502), sur lesquelles une plaque de couverture dudit équipement électrique est fixée par un ou plusieurs écrous (504, 506, 508, 510).
  12. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10 dans lequel ladite plaque de fixation comprend en outre, une paire d'ouvertures (74, 76) destinées à recevoir une paire de vis de taraudage (608, 610) grâce auxquelles une plaque de couverture dudit équipement électrique est connectée à ladite plaque de fixation.
  13. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes comprenant en outre une bague d'espacement (700) fixée par ajustage par frottement à ladite plaque de fixation afin de réaliser un espacement prédéterminé entre ladite plaque de fixation et la plaque de couverture dudit équipement électrique.
  14. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12 comportant en outre une paire d'entretoises en tige tubulaire (800), une paire de boulons correspondant (500, 502) s'étendant au travers d'ouvertures dans ladite plaque de fixation et d'autres ouvertures dans une plaque de couverture dudit équipement électrique et, une paire d'écrous décoratifs (512, 514) pour fixer par vissage ladite plaque de couverture sur ladite plaque de fixation, lesdites entretoises en tige tubulaire étant prévues pour réaliser un espacement prédéterminé entre ladite plaque de fixation et la plaque de couverture.
  15. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ledit équipement électrique comprend une tige tubulaire filetée (900) devant s'insérer au travers d'une ouverture dans ladite plaque de fixation et une paire d'écrous de verrouillage (902, 904) étant prévus pour fixer par vissage ladite tige tubulaire sur un flasque s'étendant autour de ladite ouverture dans ladite plaque de fixation.
  16. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14 dans lequel ladite plaque de fixation est pourvue d'une ouverture (46) au travers de laquelle s'étend un cordon électrique provenant dudit équipement électrique, ledit cordon électrique étant muni d'un encastreur de cordon (1004), pour saisir et par conséquent retenir ledit cordon électrique dans ladite ouverture de la plaque de fixation.
  17. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10 dans lequel ledit équipement électrique est en outre muni d'une chaîne (1100) et d'une portion de crochet fileté (1102) pour supporter ladite chaîne, une tige tubulaire filetée (1104) pour s'insérer dans une ouverture de ladite plaque de fixation, et une paire d'écrous de verrouillage (1106) afin de fixer ladite tige tubulaire filetée sur une plaque de fixation, et ladite portion de crochet étant fixée, de façon vissable, à ladite tige tubulaire filetée afin de fixer ledit équipement électrique sur ledit équipement de fixation.
  18. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes comprenant en outre un étrier de masse (1200) formant une liaison électrique entre ledit équipement et un contact de masse (60) dudit composant mâle, pour mettre électriquement à la masse ledit équipement.
  19. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon la revendication 18 dans lequel l'étrier de masse est connecté sur le dessous dudit composant mâle à l'aide d'une vis (1202) fixée dans un insert métallique fileté s'étendant depuis le dessous vers ledit contact de masse.
  20. Dispositif de couplage électrique selon la revendication 18 ou la revendication 19 dans lequel ledit étrier de masse est muni d'une ouverture en forme de fente à une extrémité éloignée de celui-ci, ladite ouverture étant alignée avec une ouverture correspondante dudit composant mâle afin de recevoir un assemblage écrouboulon, pour fixer une plaque de fixation dudit équipement sur ledit composant mâle et, par conséquent, mettre également électriquement à la masse ladite plaque de fixation.
EP89312210A 1988-11-25 1989-11-24 Connecteur pour armature lumineuse Expired - Lifetime EP0370825B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000584099A CA1296077C (fr) 1988-11-25 1988-11-25 Connecteur pour appareil d'eclairage
CA584099 1988-11-25
US440505 1989-11-22
US07/440,505 US4952157A (en) 1988-11-25 1989-11-22 Light fixture connector

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0370825A2 EP0370825A2 (fr) 1990-05-30
EP0370825A3 EP0370825A3 (en) 1990-08-29
EP0370825B1 true EP0370825B1 (fr) 1995-08-16

Family

ID=25672248

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89312210A Expired - Lifetime EP0370825B1 (fr) 1988-11-25 1989-11-24 Connecteur pour armature lumineuse

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EP (1) EP0370825B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE126577T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU621690B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE68923849T2 (fr)

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US7628504B2 (en) 2005-07-11 2009-12-08 Glickman Mark F Light fixture retrofitting apparatus and method

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FR2743609B1 (fr) * 1996-01-12 1998-04-03 Boulay Accessoires De Derivati Piton de suspension monocorps
US5803590A (en) 1996-03-08 1998-09-08 Thomas & Betts Corporation Roadway luminaire
US20020018344A1 (en) 1996-03-08 2002-02-14 Thomas & Betts International Overhead luminaire
AU736250B2 (en) * 1996-03-08 2001-07-26 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Roadway luminaire
DE19946621C2 (de) * 1999-09-29 2002-01-17 Georg Hofmann System zum Befestigen und zum Anschluß eines elektrischen Verbrauchers an einer Decke eines Gebäudes, beispielsweise für eine hängende Deckenleuchte
AT508807B1 (de) * 2009-10-09 2011-11-15 Walter Mangel Einrichtung zum anbringen einer elektrischen komponente sowie deren verwendung
DE202012100984U1 (de) * 2012-03-19 2013-06-25 Hüseyin Arslan Baldachin für Leuchtkörper
DE102012006164B4 (de) 2012-03-28 2015-11-26 Thomas Schulte Vorrichtung zur Deckenmontage eines Elektrogeräts
DE202012003111U1 (de) 2012-03-28 2012-05-07 Thomas Schulte Vorrichtung zur Deckenmontage eines Elektrogeräts
CN104896429B (zh) * 2014-03-04 2019-08-20 欧司朗有限公司 安装结构、包括该安装结构的照明装置及其安装方法
CN110265239B (zh) * 2019-07-05 2023-11-28 长沙远大住宅工业（江苏）有限公司 一种底盒
US11754272B2 (en) * 2020-04-08 2023-09-12 Feit Electric Company, Inc. Quick mount apparatus and method of using same
CN117570407B (zh) * 2024-01-15 2024-03-19 上海环东光电科技股份有限公司 一种自动感应楼宇led灯

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CH555998A (de) * 1972-05-31 1974-11-15 Robert Schoettli Einrichtung zum anbringen eines beleuchtungskoerpers an einer decke und zum anschliessen an ein elektrisches leitungsnetz.
AU484930B2 (en) * 1974-08-16 1975-09-25 Hardie Trading Ltd. Improvements in or relating to light fittings
US3985417A (en) * 1975-04-24 1976-10-12 Russell William Richardson Coupling device for electrical fixture
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US4645286A (en) * 1983-02-10 1987-02-24 Elliot Isban Quick connect power tap system
GB2148612B (en) * 1983-08-30 1987-04-01 Lewden Metal Products Ltd Improvements in and relating to ceiling fixtures for providing electrical connection to light fittings or the like
DE3335759A1 (de) * 1983-10-01 1985-04-18 Sachße, Lothar, 8500 Nürnberg Einrichtung zum befestigen und kontaktieren von haengeleuchten
GB2179209B (en) * 1984-11-27 1989-02-15 Kudos Lighting Ltd Ceiling roses

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7628504B2 (en) 2005-07-11 2009-12-08 Glickman Mark F Light fixture retrofitting apparatus and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0370825A2 (fr) 1990-05-30
AU4557689A (en) 1990-06-14
DE68923849D1 (de) 1995-09-21
EP0370825A3 (en) 1990-08-29
ATE126577T1 (de) 1995-09-15
DE68923849T2 (de) 1996-05-02
AU621690B2 (en) 1992-03-19

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