GB1566158A - Electrical connector track - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TRACK (71) We, STAFF K.G., a German Com- pany, of Grevenmarschstrasse, 74--78, )4920 Lemgo, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an electrical connector track and connector tracks are known which have an elongate section of electrically insulating material usually an extruded plastics section with longitudinally extending recesses into some of which electrical conductors are inserted. Other recesses may be adapted to retain form fittings on elements for connection to the track. Such connector tracks are used, for example, for adjustable electric light fittings.

Plastics connector tracks of this type are made of solid profiles provided with metal strengthening strips. On the one hand large masses of plastics material are undesirable not only because of the additional material, but also because of the incalculable contraction of the plastics material during hardening after extrusion. Furthermore, the metal stnps add considerably to the expense of the known plastics connector tracks.

Other plastics connector tracks are known which have embedded conductors, whereby the whole is fitted to metal rails. With these, the metal profile constitutes the supporting element, and the plastics track serves merely as insulation for the conductors.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector track in which the insulating material section serves not only to insulate the conductors, but also as the supporting element.

According to this invention, a connector track comprises an integral elongate section of plastics material having an inner wall defining a chamber which has an opening extending longitudinally of the track and longitudinally extending internal recesses in which electrical conductors are fitted, and an outer wall surrounding and connected to the inner wall so as to define therebetween longitudinally extending hollow spaces. Preferably the elongate section is extruded from plastics material.

One advantage of such a connector track is that because of the double walls, which may be connected at several positions, an especially torque and load resistant plastics section is achieved without heavy concentrations of material. The spaces formed between the inner walls and the outer walls of the plastics track can be used for laying additional electric wires furthermore, the distance between the outer wall and the inner wall considerably increases the insulation, especially at the joints. The new track is thus especially suitable for an embodiment which is safety-insulated.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows in perspective view a plastic connector track according to the invention.

One can see in the drawing a connector track 1 which is joined at the rear end to a connecting means 2 not shown in detail.

An extruded hollow plastics section has an inner wall 3 spaced from a surrounding outer wall 4. The inner wall 3 contains an inner chamber 7 which. has a longitudinal opening 8 and has a substantially U-shaped section with a flattened base 17 opposite the opening 8, and side parts profiled with projections defining recesses 10. The projections 9 and the recesses 10 on the inner wall 3 are directed inwardly of the chamber 7, making the inner wall 3 very uneven. One of the recesses 10 for example, serves as a form fitting retaining means for electric ]amps, which are to be connected to the track. Also, other recesses 10 contain conductors 11 and an earthing strip 12, which are separated from each other by sufficiently large air and surface distances around the projections 9.

The outer wall 4 is substantially C-shaped with a flattened back 5 which serves, for example, to locate against the ceiling so that the connector track rail can be connected to a ceiling or a wall. Curved sides 14 of the outer wall 4 extend from the flat back 5 to the longitudinal edges 6 which can themh selves be profiled, and via which the outer wall 4 is connected to the inner wall 3 near the opening 8. Between the curved sides 14 of the outer wall 4 and the side parts of the inner wall 3 are enclosed hollow spaces 13 within the track 1. By means of the double walls 3 and 4, which can be further connected and supported mutually by stays 15, an especially load and torque resistant construction is achieved. Electric wiring can be carried in the hollow spaces 13, for which otherwise special channels would be necessary. Finally, because of the double wall, the distance from the conductor to the outside is considerably increased, so that especially at the joints the necessary spacing of conducting parts to the outside for safety classification 2 (Protective Insulation) is easily achieved.

Suitably the whole profile of the track 1 is symmetrical. The two curved sides of the outer wall 4 lie as if mirrored on a plane of symmetry extending longitudinally of the track through the centre of the chamber 7 a ld opening 8, whereas the profiled sides of the inner wall 3 are not strictly symmetrical.

The symmetrical curves 14 of the outer wall 4 also provide an optical advantage because despite the irregular profile of the inner wall 3, the visible parts of the outer wall 4 have a smooth surface.

The inner wall 3 is connected in the vicinity of its flat base 17 to the back 5 of the outer wall via stays 15 which are also symmetrical about the longitudinal central plane of the track. The two stays 15 enclose between them a central hollow chamber 16 which is of special importance for the securing of the light rail 1. When the securing elements are passed through the inner wall 3 and the outer wall 4 in the vicinity of the central hollow chamber 16 for securing the track, a double support and better guiding of the securing elements is achieved.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A connector track comprising an integral elongate section of plastics material having an inner wall defining a chamber which has an opening extending longitudinally of the track and longitudinally extending internal recesses in which electrical conductors are fitted, and an outer wall surrounding and connected to the inner wall so as to define therebetween longitudinally extending hollow spaces.

2. A connector track according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall, the outer wall and thus the hollow spaces are symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal central plane passing through the opening and the chamber.

3. A connector track according to claim 2 wherein the outer wall is substantially C-shaped with curved sides and a flattened back, and is connected in the vicinity of its edges to the inner wall.

4. A connector track according to claim 3 wherein the inner wall has a flat base opposite to the said opening and which is spaced from the back of the outer wall and connected thereto by stays.

5. A connector track according to claim 4 wherein the base of the inner wall is connected to the back of the outer wall by means of two symmetrically arranged stays.

6. A connector track constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. outer wall 4 extend from the flat back 5 to the longitudinal edges 6 which can themh selves be profiled, and via which the outer wall 4 is connected to the inner wall 3 near the opening 8. Between the curved sides 14 of the outer wall 4 and the side parts of the inner wall 3 are enclosed hollow spaces 13 within the track 1. By means of the double walls 3 and 4, which can be further connected and supported mutually by stays 15, an especially load and torque resistant construction is achieved. Electric wiring can be carried in the hollow spaces 13, for which otherwise special channels would be necessary. Finally, because of the double wall, the distance from the conductor to the outside is considerably increased, so that especially at the joints the necessary spacing of conducting parts to the outside for safety classification 2 (Protective Insulation) is easily achieved. Suitably the whole profile of the track 1 is symmetrical. The two curved sides of the outer wall 4 lie as if mirrored on a plane of symmetry extending longitudinally of the track through the centre of the chamber 7 a ld opening 8, whereas the profiled sides of the inner wall 3 are not strictly symmetrical. The symmetrical curves 14 of the outer wall 4 also provide an optical advantage because despite the irregular profile of the inner wall 3, the visible parts of the outer wall 4 have a smooth surface. The inner wall 3 is connected in the vicinity of its flat base 17 to the back 5 of the outer wall via stays 15 which are also symmetrical about the longitudinal central plane of the track. The two stays 15 enclose between them a central hollow chamber 16 which is of special importance for the securing of the light rail 1. When the securing elements are passed through the inner wall 3 and the outer wall 4 in the vicinity of the central hollow chamber 16 for securing the track, a double support and better guiding of the securing elements is achieved. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A connector track comprising an integral elongate section of plastics material having an inner wall defining a chamber which has an opening extending longitudinally of the track and longitudinally extending internal recesses in which electrical conductors are fitted, and an outer wall surrounding and connected to the inner wall so as to define therebetween longitudinally extending hollow spaces.

2. A connector track according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall, the outer wall and thus the hollow spaces are symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal central plane passing through the opening and the chamber.

3. A connector track according to claim 2 wherein the outer wall is substantially C-shaped with curved sides and a flattened back, and is connected in the vicinity of its edges to the inner wall.

4. A connector track according to claim 3 wherein the inner wall has a flat base opposite to the said opening and which is spaced from the back of the outer wall and connected thereto by stays.

5. A connector track according to claim 4 wherein the base of the inner wall is connected to the back of the outer wall by means of two symmetrically arranged stays.

6. A connector track constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.