GB2169158A

GB2169158A - An electrical connector for light fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2169158A
Application number: GB08531102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick John Mustard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-19
Filing date: 1985-12-18
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: GB8432004D0; GB2169158B; GB8531102D0

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a first component (5) adapted to be secured to a ceiling or other support and having a first set of electrical terminals in the form of concentric rings (8A, B, C) adapted to be wired to a mains electrical supply. A second component (15) is releasably engageable with the first component and incorporates a second set of electrical terminals (18A, B, C) complementary to the first set and adapted to form an electrical connection with the first set when the components are interengaged. interengagement is preferably effected by relative rotation to engage complementary threaded portions (14, 17) formed on the two components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric light fittings This invention relates to electrical fittings.

Conventional fittings for the mounting and connection of ceiling mounted electric lights are difficult to wire since wiring requires to be effected adjacent the ceiling. Moreover the weight of the entire light assembly is often largely supported on the wires and the light assembly cannot be removed for cleaning purposes without disconnecting the wiring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which may be used with ceiling mounted lights and enables the above disadvantages to be obviated or mitigated.

The invention provides an electrical connector comprising a first component adapted to be secured to a ceiling or other support and having a first set of electrical terminals adapted to be wired to a mains electrical supply, and a second component releasably engageable with said first component and incorporating a second set of electrical terminals complementary to said first set and adapted to form an electrical connection therewith when said components are interengaged.

Preferably the terminals on said first component are connected to respective concentric rings of electrically conducting material, said first and second components being engageable with one another by relative rotation and said second set of terminals being positioned and adapted to effect sliding engagement with respective ones of said rings during rotation.

Preferably said second set of terminals comprise spring-loaded pins resiliently biased in a direction urging same towards said rings when the components are engaged with one another.

Said rings are preferably recessed into the body of said first component, said pins being adapted to extend into the recesses for electrical contact with the associated rings.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. lisa bottom plan view of one component of an electrical connector according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a complementary component of the connector; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2; Referring to the drawings, the connector includes an upper component 5 (Fig. 1 ) of circular shape comprising a body member 6 provided with apertures 7 through which screws or similar fastening means may be passed to secure the body member to a ceiling or other overhead support.

Three concentric rings 8A, 8B and 8C of electrically conducting material are embedded in the body member 6 so as to be recessed below the surface thereof and formed with integral terminal portions 10A, 10B and 10C adapted to be connected to respective wires 11A, 11 B and 11 C projecting through apertures 12 in the back or upper face of the body 6 and secured by clamping screws 13. Ascrew thread indicated at 14 is formed on the outer periphery of the body portion 6.

The connector also includes a complementary cap or cover portion 15 (Fig. 2) comprising a body member 16 of circularform provided with an internally threaded rim indicated at 17 threadedly engageable with the body member of the component 5. Electrical terminals 18A, 18B and 18C are mounted on the body member 16 at radial positions corresponding to the radii of the rings 8A, 8B and 8C respectively of the member 5. Each of the terminals includes a clamping screw 20 (Fig. 3) and a pin 21 slidably located in a sleeve 22 and resiliently urged in an outward or upward direction by means of a spring 23.

A central aperture 25 extends through the body member and forms a point of entry for a wire 30 connected to a light fitting. A cable clamp 27 is provided adjacent the aperture 25 and if desired a raised projection (not shown) may be provided between the aperture 25 and the clamp 27.

In use the connector, the component 5 is secured to a ceiling or the like by screws inserted through the holes 7 with the rings 8A, 8B and 8C directed downwardly. Electrical wires 11A, 11B and 11 C from a mains supply above the ceiling are brought through the apertures 12 and the terminals 10A, OB and 1 OC. The electric light fitting is then connected to the component 15 by passing the wire on the fitting through the hole 25 and under the clamp 27.

The live, neutral and earth cores 30A, 308 and 30C of the wire are connected to the respective terminals 18A, 188 and 18C by means of the clamping screws 20 and this completes the wiring of the light fitting.

The fitting is mounted on the ceiling buy screwing the component 15 on the component 5 by means of the complementary screw threads 17 and 14. When the components are brought together and the screw threads engaged the pins 21 extend into the recesses in the body portion 6 and make electrical contact with thesurfaces of the rings 8A, 8B and 8C.

During rotation the pins 21 slide over the surfaces of the rings and electrical contact is thereby attained regardless of the final angular position of the components 5 and 15 relative to one another.

By virtue of the arrangement described, wiring of the light fitting is carried out with the fitting removed from the ceiling and disconnected from the electrical supply and can thus be effected easily and safely. The fitting is then easily located in position by engagement of the two components of the connector without requiring any wiring to be carried out adjacent the ceiling and without requiring the use of any special tools. Moreover it is unnecessary to switch off the electrical supply and installation can be safely effected even if the ceiling fitting is live.

In the event it is desired to remove the light fitting from the ceiling, for example for cleaning purposes or if the fitting is to be taken away on removal from the premises, the component 15 is simply unscrewed from the component 5 thereby disconnecting the fitting entirely from the ceiling.

Resitting at the same or another location is readily effected simply by reversing the operation. Moreover the exposed ceiling fitting 5 is electrically safe due to recessing of the rings into the body of the fitting out of reach of the user's fingers.

Various modification may be made without departing from the invention. For example the components of the connector may be arranged to clip or otherwise fit together in some manner other than screwing. The number and layout of the electrical terminals on both parts of the connector may also be altered to suit different requirements, and although primarily designed for use in connection with ceiling mounted electric lights, connecting devices according to the invention could be used in other situations, for example for wall lights.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising a first component adapted to be secured to a ceiling or other support and having a first set of electrical terminals adapted to be wired to a mains electrical supply, and a second component releasably engageable with said first component and incorporating a second set of electrical terminals complementary to said first set and adapted to form an electrical connection therewith when said components are interengaged.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the terminals on said first component are connected to respective concentric rings of electrically conducting material, said first and second components being engageable with one another by relative rotation and said second set of terminals being positioned and adapted to effect sliding engagement with respective ones of said rings during rotation.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said set of terminals comprise springloaded pins resiliently biased in a direction urging same towards said rings when the components are engaged with one another.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said rings are recessed into the body of said first component, said pins being adapted to extend into the recesses for electrical contact with the associated rings.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 2,3 or 4 wherein said first and second components are provided with complementary screw threads to enable engagement and relative rotation thereof.

6. An electrical connector according to any of claims 2 to 5 provided with three concentric rings for live, neutral and earth connections.

7. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.