GB2093642A

GB2093642A - A skirting board incorporating an electrical power supply

Info

Publication number: GB2093642A
Application number: GB8204770A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-19
Filing date: 1982-02-18
Publication date: 1982-09-02
Also published as: DE3206045A1; IT8120838V0; FR2500224A1

Abstract

A skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply comprises an elongate body (1) of insulating material with grooves (2, 3) in a front face thereof, the grooves (2, 3) housing elongate electrical conductors (4, 5) connected to a power supply. By engaging projecting contacts of a plug in the grooves (2, 3) power can be supplied to an electrical appliance connected to the plug. The plug (Fig. 5) can be engaged with the skirting-board at any position along the lengths of the grooves (2, 3) therein. Connections for connecting adjacent lengths of skirting-board in a line or at corners are disclosed (Fig. 7, not shown) as are end- blocks for protecting open ends of skirting-board (Fig. 4, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply The invention relates to a skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply.

Elongate members have been previously proposed capable of housing electric conductors for conveying, for example, single-phase current with earthing, so that at any position along the elongate member a plug can be inserted so as to connect an electrical appliance to a power supply.

Previous proposals generally comprise two distinct structures, that is to say actual conductors and a support which constitutes a shock resistant framework.

The support has also the function of keeping the conductors in place, distanced and insulated from one another, to avoid short circuits.

Such prior proposais are however unsuitable for any other function except supplying electrical power and owing to their constructive features, are unsuitable for use in domestic locations.

According to the invention there is provided a skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply, the skirting-board comprising an elongate body of non-conductive material with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in a front face thereof with elongate electrical conductors housed in the grooves and connectable to a source of electrical power, the electrical conductors being respectively engageable by projecting contacts of a plug member brought into engagement with the skirting-board at any position along the lengths of the grooves therein.

Such a skirting-board can be provided in a room at the junction of a wall and the floor and can harmonize with any interior decor without detracting from the aesthetic characteristics thereof. Furthermore, it can be simpler and easier to apply than previously proposed models, and can be manufactured with low production costs.

Provision of a skirting-board according to the invention can, due to the manifold functions it can perform, obviate the need for the usual skirting-board and also overhead or walled up wires and embedded junction boxes.

Prior planning of the positions for power sockets is not longer necessary and changes due to later variations in an original plan need cause no problems.

Suitable plugs for use with the skirting board of the invention can obtain a stable mechanical connection as well as a stable electrical connection.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a length of skirting-board according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of conductors to be housed in the length of skirting-board of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a masking plate; Figure 4 shows views of end protecting members for the length of skirting-board of Fig. 1; Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional side view and a front view of a plug for use with the skirting-board of the invention; Figure 6 shows details of contact-making blades of the plug of Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a view of connecting elements for adjacent lengths of skirting-boards according to the invention; and Figure 8 is a view of terminating means for skirting-board.

Referring to the drawings, a length of skirting-board 1 is formed of insulating material such as for instance a fireproof plastics, and is provided, during its manufacture by extrusion, with three or more longitudinally extending grooves 2, 3 in a front face thereof. A middle one 2 of the grooves houses an earth conductor, while the upper and lower grooves 3 house live and neutral conductors.

In order to shield the conductors from accidental contact, the grooves 3 are each of generally L-shaped section with an open outer part and a closed inner part which receives the respective elongate conductor.

In Fig. 2 there can be seen an earth conductor 4 and live and neutral conductors 5, which are housed in the grooves 2 and 3 respectively. The conductors 4 and 5 are generally U-shaped with their convex face towards the open part of the respective groove. Preferably the conductors 4 and 5 are of semi-cylindrical section and their elasticity ensures good electrical contact with contacts of a plug.

The conductors are advantageously of a metal commonly used in electrical supply means, such as copper.

The actual section of the conductor is chosen according to the load to be carried.

The skirting-board, thus equipped, is capable of supplying single-phase current with earthing.

By providing the board with a fourth groove, i.e. an additional groove 3 housing a further conductor 5, it is possible to supply three-phase current with earthing.

By means of a plug such as the one illus- trated in Fig. 5, it is possible to derive electrical current from the skirting-board.

The plug has two hooks 6 at the outer ends of the contacts 7, the hooks 6 being biassed apart by springs 8 bearing on fixed positions 9 of the plug, so that the hooks 6 are pressed into the closed inner part of the respective Lshaped groove 3 to engage the respective conductor 5. A 45 chamfer is provided at the junction of the closed inner part and open outer part of the groove to facilitate movement of the hook 6 into the closed inner part.

The two hooks 6 provide both electrical and mechanical connections with the conductors 5 while earthing is effected by means of a blade 10 which engages the conductor 4 through the groove 2 under the action of a spring 11 which, by acting on projections 1 2 on the blade 10, biasses the blade 10 out of the plug.

A good connection between the plug and the conductors 4, 5 can thus be achieved, giving safe conduction without sparking or poor contacts.

To terminals 14 of known kind can be connected an electric flex which passes through an aperture 13 in the plug housing and leads to the appliance. To remove or disconnect the plug, it is sufficient to press on pushbuttons 1 5 which, opposing the action of the springs 8, act on the blades 7 and press them towards one another. This disengages the hooks 6 from the conductors 5 and allows the plug to be disengaged from the skirtingboard.

A three-phase current plug will be equipped, compared with the plug shown in Fig. 5, with a further blade similar to the blades 7 and provided with a hook 6, the further blade being staggered with respect to but operated together with one of the other two blades 7, by one of the pushbuttons 1 5.

In order to make the skirting-board of the invention adaptable to most interior characteristics, there are provided further accessories, such as plugs 16, Fig. 8, with male elements 1 7 having a section as indicated at 19, provided in turn with terminals of known kind to link them to conductors inserted in holes 20.

The function of the plugs 1 6 is that of connecting the conductors 4 and 5 to a power supply network.

The plugs 21 and 22, Fig. 7, also having the section indicated at 19, serve respectively for connecting the conductors 4 and 5 in grooves 2 and 3 of adjacent lengths of skirting-board either in alignment or at right angles to one another.

By means of the above devices and particularly the plugs 21 and 22, it is possible to construct various layouts of power supply skirting-boards.

As concerns safety measures, there are also provided masking plates 23, Fig. 3, of the same material as the skirting-board, with a projecting tooth 24 for snap engagement in the groove 2, so as to screen part of the grooves 2 and 3 which are not being used.

Furthermore, end elements 25 and 26, Fig.

4, with a section identical to that of the skirting-board, are provided to close the ends of the grooves 2 and 3.

Fig. 4 shows the section of lengths of the skirting-board in which the conductors 4 and 5 are not accessible to the plug. In such stretches, the conductors 4 and 5 extend in longitudinal bores 1 8.

Claims

1. A skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply, the skirting-board comprising an elongate body of non-conductive material with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in a front face thereof with elongate electrical conductors housed in the grooves and connectable to a source of electrical power, the electrical conductors being respectively engageable by projecting contacts of a plug member brought into engagement with the skirting-board at any position along the lengths of the grooves therein.

2. A skirting-board according to claim 1, in which some at least of the grooves are of generally L-shaped section with an open outer part and a closed inner part which receives the respective one of the elongate conductors.

3. A skirting-board according to claim 2, including a 45 chamfer at the junction of the inner and outer parts to facilitate passage of a projecting contact of a plug member into engagement with the elongate conductor in the inner part of the groove.

4. A skirting-board according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each elongate conductor comprises a metal blade of generally U-section and can be elastically deformed by engagement of a contact of a plug member therewith.

5. A skirting-board according to any one of the preceding claims, including a snap-in masking plate to close a part of the lengths of the grooves.

6. A skirting-board according to any one of the preceding claims, including, to connect the conductors of said elongate body to the conductors of a further similar elongate body, coupling members with male end parts to engage in female end parts of the elongate conductors.

7. A skirting-board according to any one of the preceding claims, including end closure elements with projecting parts which can be pressed into the ends of the elongate grooves.

8. A skirting-board incorporating an electrical power supply substantially as hereinbefore describe'd and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.