GB2233837A - Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system - Google Patents

Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2233837A
GB2233837A GB8915011A GB8915011A GB2233837A GB 2233837 A GB2233837 A GB 2233837A GB 8915011 A GB8915011 A GB 8915011A GB 8915011 A GB8915011 A GB 8915011A GB 2233837 A GB2233837 A GB 2233837A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
electrical
rails
supply system
output unit
power
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8915011A
Other versions
GB8915011D0 (en
Inventor
David Lee Sandbach
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB8915011A priority Critical patent/GB2233837A/en
Publication of GB8915011D0 publication Critical patent/GB8915011D0/en
Publication of GB2233837A publication Critical patent/GB2233837A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • F21V21/08—Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
    • F21V21/096—Magnetic devices
    • 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
    • F21V21/08—Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
    • 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
    • F21V21/34—Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element
    • F21V21/35—Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/6205—Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
    • H01R25/14—Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length
    • H01R25/147—Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical connection system uses a magnet or magnets (permanent or electro-magnetic or both) instead of friction alone to hold the electrical contacts in place so that power can be drawn. The example given (and shown in fig. 1 & fig. 2) shows how the invention is applied to a low voltage track lighting system. The lamp 10 is in electrical contact with metal plates 12 which are affixed to two permanent magnets 14. The lamp and the magnets are all housed in an insulating unit 15. When this unit is correctly placed on the track system and power is supplied to the power supply rails 16 & 17, the lamp 10 lights and the power output unit 15 including the lamp 10 is held in place magnetically until removed. The rails (16, 17) are electrically separated by an insulating ridge (13) and the rails and their support are flexible or foldable. <IMAGE>

Description

Magnetic Electrical Connector This invention relates to electrical contacts which are held in place magnetically.
Removable electrical connectors such as ordinary plugs and sockets are usually held in place by friction. On track systems for lights or otner appliances some form of mechanical clamp is used to hold the connections in place. As these connections are usually housed in the same unit as tne lamp or appliance to be powered, the mechanical clamp usually serves to hold tnese in place aswell.
According to the present invention tnere is provided an electrical connection system wherein a magnetic means of attachment is used to hold or to assist in holding electrical connections togetner.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the invention applied to a low voltage track lighting system (where low voltage means safe to toush live conductors or any voltage at or below the legal limit for uninsulated conductors.! Figure 1 shows in perspective, a track system comprising power supply rails and a power output unit, snown cut away to reveal magnetically held contacts. The power output unit is snown with a lamp attacned.
Figure 2 shows in perspective, an enlarged view of the power output unit with one magnetic contact removed.
Referring to the drawing, a low voltage power supply ( wnere low voltage is as defined on page 1; in this case twelve volts A.C. is used) of sufficient current output capability to power all the lamps and appliances to be used on tne track, is connected to two metal power supply rails 16 & BR< 17. These rails have reasonably low electrical resistance while at the same time being attractive to magnets (in this case they are made from stainless steel). A small ridge 13 of an insulating material ( which also forms the track backing) separates the two rails ( 16 & 17 ). The ridge also protrudes sufficiently to stop the possibility of a short-circuit which could be caused by- an incorrectly placed power output unit 15. There is a groove 20 in the ;tnderslde of the power output unit 15 to accommodate this ridge.
The power output unit 15 (shown in Fig. 1 cut away), is made from an insulating material. In this case it also nolds a low voltage powered lamp 10. The power to the lamp 10 comes through two connectors 11, each of whion is bolted 19 througn one o the permanent magnets 14 and is in electrical contact witn the metal conducting plates 12 on eitner side of each magnet. These metal conducting plates serve to protect the magnets and to conduct power from the power supply rails 16 & 17 through to the lamp. The magnets 14 serve to hold the whole power output unit 15 including the lamp 10 to the power supply rails 16 & 17 regardless of their situation on wall or ceiling, although the unit (15) can be removed easily.

Claims (11)

1 An electrical supply system comprising first and second electrical power supply rails, an electrical output unit, whicn is removably attachable to tne rails and naving contacts each in electrical contact with a respective one of the rails at tne point of attachment of the unit to the rails and magnetic attachment means for holding the unit on the rails and for maintaining electrical contact thereby.
2 An electrical supply system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein more than one output unit is in contact with the power supply rails.
3 An electrical supply system as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 wherein the magnetic attachment means is noused within the output unit or units.
4 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wnerein tne magnetic means comprises permanent magnets.
5 An electrical supply system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the permanent magnets are locate adjacent to the contacts of the output unit or units.
6 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power output unit contacts comprise electrically conductive magnets.
CLAIMS Continued
7 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the output unit or units includes an electrical appliance or appliances (including lamps) which are powered from the contacts in tne output unit or units.
8 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power supply rails are separated by an insulating ridge which protrudes between them so that any one power output contact cannott be in electrical contact with more than one power supply rail at one time.
9 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power supply rails are flexible or foldable, along with the backing that supports them.
10 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an electro-magnetic means of attachment is provided which is easily releasable only when power to the electro-magnet is switched off.
11 An electrical supply system as claimed in any preceding claim which is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 and Figure 2.
GB8915011A 1989-06-30 1989-06-30 Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system Withdrawn GB2233837A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8915011A GB2233837A (en) 1989-06-30 1989-06-30 Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8915011A GB2233837A (en) 1989-06-30 1989-06-30 Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8915011D0 GB8915011D0 (en) 1989-08-23
GB2233837A true GB2233837A (en) 1991-01-16

Family

ID=10659310

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8915011A Withdrawn GB2233837A (en) 1989-06-30 1989-06-30 Magnetic electrical connector for a rail system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2233837A (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH680479A5 (en) * 1991-07-29 1992-08-31 Brueggli Werkstaetten Fuer Beh Flexible current rail for LV load - has elongate flexible substrate supporting two parallel current conductors
US5342204A (en) * 1988-09-19 1994-08-30 Herma Ag Low voltage busbar lighting apparatus
FR2704362A1 (en) * 1993-04-20 1994-10-28 Applic Tech Deco Eclairage Electrical connector with magnetic means for fixing to a two-conductor rail
EP1481847A3 (en) * 2003-05-30 2006-04-26 FER Fahrzeugelektrik GmbH Universal lamp
EP1840454A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-03 DMM S.p.A. Removable lamp structure
US20100327744A1 (en) * 2008-02-14 2010-12-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Lighting system, electrode device and light source
US8427845B2 (en) 2009-05-21 2013-04-23 General Electric Company Electrical connectors for optoelectronic device packaging
US8450926B2 (en) 2009-05-21 2013-05-28 General Electric Company OLED lighting devices including electrodes with magnetic material
US9300081B2 (en) 2010-02-02 2016-03-29 Charles Albert Rudisill Interposer connectors with magnetic components
US10680383B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2020-06-09 Apex Technologies, Inc. Linear electrode systems for module attachment with non-uniform axial spacing
GB2616407A (en) * 2022-02-21 2023-09-13 L & Co Trading Ltd Cabinet lighting system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB787001A (en) * 1956-03-14 1957-11-27 Adolph Paschal Buquor Improvements in or relating to lighting fixtures for tubular electric lamps and to tubular lamps for use in such fixtures
GB793553A (en) * 1955-06-23 1958-04-16 Alexander Angus Forbes An improved adapter for electric plug and socket couplings
GB1032184A (en) * 1963-07-03 1966-06-08 Philips Electronic Associated Improvements in or relating to combinations of electric consuming devices and support s therefor
US3750083A (en) * 1968-11-14 1973-07-31 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Magnetic electric connector
US4211456A (en) * 1979-01-31 1980-07-08 Schick Laboratories, Inc. Magnetic electrical connectors
US4752756A (en) * 1986-03-21 1988-06-21 Bernhard Bartel Electrical system with at least one electric load unit being disconnectably arranged on a surface

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB793553A (en) * 1955-06-23 1958-04-16 Alexander Angus Forbes An improved adapter for electric plug and socket couplings
GB787001A (en) * 1956-03-14 1957-11-27 Adolph Paschal Buquor Improvements in or relating to lighting fixtures for tubular electric lamps and to tubular lamps for use in such fixtures
GB1032184A (en) * 1963-07-03 1966-06-08 Philips Electronic Associated Improvements in or relating to combinations of electric consuming devices and support s therefor
US3750083A (en) * 1968-11-14 1973-07-31 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Magnetic electric connector
US4211456A (en) * 1979-01-31 1980-07-08 Schick Laboratories, Inc. Magnetic electrical connectors
US4752756A (en) * 1986-03-21 1988-06-21 Bernhard Bartel Electrical system with at least one electric load unit being disconnectably arranged on a surface

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5342204A (en) * 1988-09-19 1994-08-30 Herma Ag Low voltage busbar lighting apparatus
US5397238A (en) * 1988-09-19 1995-03-14 Herma Ag Low voltage busbar lighting apparatus
CH680479A5 (en) * 1991-07-29 1992-08-31 Brueggli Werkstaetten Fuer Beh Flexible current rail for LV load - has elongate flexible substrate supporting two parallel current conductors
FR2704362A1 (en) * 1993-04-20 1994-10-28 Applic Tech Deco Eclairage Electrical connector with magnetic means for fixing to a two-conductor rail
EP1481847A3 (en) * 2003-05-30 2006-04-26 FER Fahrzeugelektrik GmbH Universal lamp
EP1840454A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-03 DMM S.p.A. Removable lamp structure
US20100327744A1 (en) * 2008-02-14 2010-12-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Lighting system, electrode device and light source
US8922121B2 (en) * 2008-02-14 2014-12-30 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Lighting system, electrode device and light source
US8427845B2 (en) 2009-05-21 2013-04-23 General Electric Company Electrical connectors for optoelectronic device packaging
US8450926B2 (en) 2009-05-21 2013-05-28 General Electric Company OLED lighting devices including electrodes with magnetic material
US9300081B2 (en) 2010-02-02 2016-03-29 Charles Albert Rudisill Interposer connectors with magnetic components
US10680383B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2020-06-09 Apex Technologies, Inc. Linear electrode systems for module attachment with non-uniform axial spacing
GB2616407A (en) * 2022-02-21 2023-09-13 L & Co Trading Ltd Cabinet lighting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8915011D0 (en) 1989-08-23

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)