GB2478418A

GB2478418A - An electrical coupler

Info

Publication number: GB2478418A
Application number: GB1103589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin William Wilson
Original assignee: RON WILSON ELECTRICAL Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RON WILSON ELECTRICAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-01
Filing date: 2011-03-01
Publication date: 2011-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-01
Also published as: AU2011200872B2; GB201103589D0; AU2011200872A1; GB2478418B

Abstract

An electrical coupler 100 comprises a conductive member 102 arranged to engage an electrical conductor such as a cable. The conductive member has a tail portion 108 arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor. The conductive member may also have a U-shaped portion 102, which may be integral with the tail or may be welded to it, which may have apertures 112A, 112B where a conductor (eg a cable with a ring terminal (604, Fig 6) on it) can be connected or arms where a cable with a blade receptacle (804, Fig 8) can be connected. A bare cable (902, Fig 9) can also be connected under the screw. The tail portion may attach to the device using a screw-on knob (108, Fig 1C). The coupler allows many different devices with different terminal arrangements to be connected, for example when repairing a stove or oven.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL COUPLER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical coupler, and particularly, although not exclusively to an electrical coupler to couple an electrical conductor to an appliance or device.

Background

Electrical appliances may include a number of different operating devices or smaller appliances to facilitate their operation. These devices or appliances may require servicing or replacement during the operating life of the appliance. For example, kitchen appliances such as stoves or ovens may include a number of different devices, such as heat elements or fan elements.

However, different manufacturers of electrical appliances or devices may use different types of wiring connectors to connect devices to a power source within an appliance. This results in compatibility issues between parts and interchangeable devices within the electrical appliance. In turn, these problems may affect the ease with which repairs or servicing may be completed.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical coiipler comprising a conductive member arranged to engage an electrical conductor, wherein the conductive member has a tail portion arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the conductive member has at least one arm arranged to engage the electrical conductor.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the conductive member has at least one aperture arranged to engage the electrical conductor.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the electrical conductor includes an electric cable.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the electric cable further includes a connector arranged to connect the cable to the conductive member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the connector includes a receptacle arranged to receive the at least one arm of the conductive member to engage the electric conductor to the conductive member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the receptacle is a blade receptacle connector.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the connector includes a ring arranged to be fastened on to conductive member such that the electrical conductor is engaged to the conductive member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the ring is fastenable to the conductive member by use of a fastener arranged to engage the ring to the at least one aperture.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the electric cable is engaged to the conductive member by use of a fastener.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the fastener is arranged to engage the electric cable to the at least one aperture of the conductive member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the conductive member and the tail portion are formed by unitary construction.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the conductive member and the tail portion are formed individually arranged to engage each other to define the electrical coupler.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tail portion is arranged to engage a power delivery port of a device.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tail portion is welded to the device.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the device is a heat element.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a device to a power source comprising the steps of: connecting a coupler in accordance with thefirst aspect of the invention to the device; and connecting the power source to the coupler, wherein the power source includes a connector.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the connector includes a stripped cable end, a ring, a blade receptacle or any combination thereof.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical coupler arranged to engage a device to provide an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor comprising a conductive body arranged to engage at least one of a stripped cable, a ring connector and a blade receptacle connector.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 A to C are isometric views of an electrical coupler in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front, side, top and isometric view of the conductive member of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front, side, top and isometric view of the tail plate of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an isometric view of an electrical coupler in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a front, side, rear and top view of the electrical coupler of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a number of different connectors; Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating two electrical coupler of Figure 1 installed on a device; Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the electrical coupler of Figure 1 engaged to a slot-type connector; and Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the electrical coupler of Figure 1 engaged to an annular type of connector;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated an electrical coupler 100 comprising a conductive member 102 arranged to engage an electrical conductor, wherein the conductive member 102 has a tail portion 108 arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor.

In this embodiment, the electrical coupler 100 is arranged to couple an electrical conductor, such as an electrical cable, to a device. In one example, the electrical coupler 100 is arranged to be installed on a device or appliance whilst being engaged to an electrical conductor to provide an electrical connection between the electrical conductor and the device or appliance.

The coupler 100 may include a conductive member 102 engaged to a tail plate 108. In these embodiments, the conductive member 102 is engaged to the tail plate by a fastener either by placing the plate 108 above the conductive member 102 (as shown in A and C) or below the conductive member 102 (as shown in B) . In both embodiments, the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 have a plurality of apertures ll2A, 112B and 1120 of which at least one 112C is arranged to align together to allow a fastener, such as a screw, to penetrate both the conductive member 102 and the plate 108 to engage the components together to define the coupler 100.

Preferably, the coupler 100 is made using conductive materials, such as a metal or metallic alloy including, without limitation, stainless steel, iron, or copper. The coupler may be formed by engaging a conductive member 102 with a tail member 108 which would define the coupler having a conductive member and a tail portion which are separate components engaged together to form the coupler 100. An example embodiment of a coupler constructed by separate components of the conductive member 102 and the tail member 108 is illustrated in Figure 1.

The coupler 100 may be engaged to a device o appliance by connecting the tail portion 108 to a power or control point of a device or appliance. The power or control point includes, without limitation, a conductive point, port or node arranged for power, earthing or control signals to be supplied to the device or appliance.

In some examples, the tail portion 108 may be fastened or otherwise engaged to the power or control point by the use of a fastener. In other examples, the tail may be welded directly onto the power or control point to form a suitable electrical contact with the device. In the example illustrated in C, the tail plate 108 includes a screw-on knob which is arranged to be received by a power or control point to thereby engage the coupler 100 to the power or control point.

with reference to Figure 2, an embodiment of the conductive member 102 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the conductive member 102 has two arms 104, 106 protruding in a substantially perpendicular manner from the base.

The conductive member 102 includes a U-shaped bracket defined by a planar sheet of conductive materials deliberately bent to a U-shape such that the member 102 has two protruding arms 104, 106. In some examples, the conductive member may have three apertures 1l2A to 112C distributed on the base and each arm 104, 106 of the conductive member 102. These apertures may be sized to allow fasteners to engage to the apertures such that peripheral items such as a conductor, cables, points or contacts can be fastened to the conductive member 102 so as to allow electricity or electrical signals to be transmitted from the conductor through the coupler 100 to a device or appliance.

With reference to Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of the tail plate 108. In this embodiment, the tail plate 108 may be engaged to the conductive member 102 to define a tail portion 108 of the coupler 100. The tail plate 108 may be generally planar with a head portion 120 arranged to engage to the conductive member 102 and an end portion 122 arranged to engage to a device or appliance.

The tail plate may also include an aperture 112D which, in this embodiment is located in the head portion 120 of the plate 108. The aperture 112D may align with an aperture 1120 of the conductive member to allow a fastener to engage the plate 108 and the conductive member 102 together to define a coupler 100.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the coupler 400 may be made from a single planar sheet of metal or other conductive material which is cut to define a T-shaped planar plate with. In this embodiment, two flaps which extend horizontally from the member 102 to define the T-shaped plate may each be folded upwards from the member 102. Once folded, the flaps will define a pair of vertically protruding arms 104, 106.

The coupler 400 may comprise a substantially planar member 402 having two arms 404, 406 protruding in a substantially perpendicular manner from the member 402.

In some examples, the member 402 may taper slightly towards an end distal to the arms 404, 406 to define a tail portion 408.

The coupler 400 may be engaged to a device or appliance by connecting the tail portion 408 to a power or control point of a device or appliance. These power or control point includes, without limitations, a conductive point, port or node arranged for power, earthing or control signals to be supplied to the device or appliance.

In some examples, the tail portion 408 may be fastened or otherwise engaged to the power or control point by the use of a fastener. In other examples, the tail may be welded directly onto the power or control point to form a suitable electrical contact with the device.

In this embodiment, the coupler 400 may also include at least one aperture. As shown in Figure 4, the coupler 400 in this example has three apertures 412A-412C, with 412A and 4l2B being located on the arms 404, 406 and 412C located on the member 402. These apertures may be used to engage an electrical conductor such that in use, electricity or electrical signals may be transmitted from the conductor through the coupler 400 to a device or appliance.

With reference to Figure 6, there are illustrated some embodiments of electrical connectors which may be engaged to the coupler 100 or 400.

The first connector 602 is an electrical cable 602A with the insulation end removed to expose the electrical wire. This is commonly known as a "stripped wire".

The second connector 604 is an electrical cable 604A having a substantially annular ring made of conductive material being connected to the electrical wire within the cable.

The third connector 606 is a blade receptacle connector made of conductive materials arranged to be connected to the electrical wire within the cable 606A.

In use, the electrical cable 602A, 604A and 606A may be connected to a switch or power source to deliver power or act as the earth connection to the device or appliance.

For example, where the device concerned is a heat element for an electric stove, the electrical cables connected could be a power source, such as Neutral or Active (in Alternating Current), or be a ground (or earth) cable to deliver power away from the device. These cables 602A, 604A and 606A may be engaged to the coupler 100, 400 to form an electrical contact with the coupler 100, 400. As the coupler 100, 400 is electrically conductive, electrical power or electrical signals may be transmitted through the coupler 100, 400 to a device or appliance connected to the coupler 100, 400. This thereby allows the cables 602A, 604A and 606A to form an electrical connection with the device or appliance.

With reference to Figure 7, there is shown two couplers 100, 400 being fastened to a power input point 702 and an earth point 704 of a device. In this example, each coupler is engaged to the points 702, 704 by a bolt and nut arrangement which penetrates the aperture 112C and each of the points 702, 704 to securely engage the couplers 100, 400 to each of the points. In other examples, the tail portion of the coupler 100, 400 may be directly welded or otherwise engaged to the power points of the device to engage the coupler 100, 400 to the points 702, 704.

With reference to Figure 8, an electrical cable 802 with a blade receptacle connector 804 may then be plugged into an arm 106 of the coupler 100, 400 to engage the cable 802 with the coupler 100, 400 to form an electrical connection. In this example, the arms 104, 106 (or 404, 406) of the coupler 100, 400 may be sized to fit snugly into suitably sized blade receptacle connectors. In other examples, the arms 106 may be formed to taper from the member 102 (or 402) such that varying sizes of blade receptacles connectors may fit snugly to form a suitable electrical connection.

In yet a further example, the arms may have a tooth, slot or shoulder cut into the join between the arms 104, 106 (or 404, 406) and the member 102 (or 402) to act as a detent to securely engage the connectors engaged therein.

With reference to Figure 9, there is shown an embodiment of the coupler 100, 400 engaged to a power and earth point of a device 900 wherein an electrical cable 902 having an annular ring connector 904 is engaged to the coupler 100, 400. In this embodiment, the ring 904 is aligned with aperture 102C (or 402C) and fastened onto the coupler 100, 400 by means of a screw or bolt and nut arrangement 906. Once the ring is engaged to the coupler 100, 400, the electrical cable 902 is in electrical connection with the device through the coupler 100, 400.

A similar bond can be created between the coupler 100, 400 and an electrical cable with its end insulation removed. The wire which is exposed after the insulation is stripped off may be placed into electrical contact with the coupler 100, 400 by inserting the exposed wire into or adjacent to an aperture then proceeding to secure the exposed wire on the coupler 100, 400 by inserting and securing the wire with a fastener to engage the wire to the coupler 100, 400.

In embodiments where the coupler 100 is constructed by engaging the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 together. The stripped wire or annular ring may be engaged to the coupler 100 by engage the wire or ring in between the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108.

As the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 is* engaged together by the fastener, the external faces of the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 forms a suitable surface to press onto the ring or stripped wire in order to engage the wire. This embodiment is advantageous in that the engagement is very strong whilst being easily manipulated by adjusting the fasteners engaging the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 together.

Embodiments of the present invention may be advantageous in that a device within an appliance may be interchanged without the requirement of the user to be concerned as to the type of connector which may be found to supply electrical power or control signals to a device.

This is because at least one embodiment of the invention allows for multiple forms of connectors to connect to the coupler. As such, users may be able to efficiently install a new device without having to be concerned with the connectors which are found within an appliance.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein are used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the sense of "consisting only of".

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An electrical coupler comprising a conductive member arranged to engage an electrical conductor, wherein the conductive member has a tail portion arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor.
2. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the conductive member has at least one arm arranged to engage the electrical conductor.
3. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claims 1 or 2, wherein the conductive member has at least one aperture arranged to engage the electrical conductor.
4. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical conductor includes an electric cable.
5. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the electric cable further includes a connector arranged to connect the cable to the conductive member.
6. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the connector includes a receptacle arranged to receive the at least one arm of the conductive member to engage the electric conductor to the conductive member.
7. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the receptacle is a blade receptacle connector.
8. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the connector includes a ring arranged to be fastened on to conductive member such that the electrical conductor is engaged to the conductive member.
9. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 8, wherein the ring is fastenable to the conductive member by use of a fastener arranged to engage the ring to the at least one aperture.
10. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the electric cable is engaged to the conductive member by use of a fastener.
11. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 10, wherein the fastener is arranged to engage the electric cable to the at least one aperture of the conductive member.
12. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductive member and the tail portion are formed by unitary construction.
13. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the conductive member and the tail portion are each formed individually and arranged to engage each other to define the electrical coupler.
14. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tail portion is arranged to engage a power delivery port of a device.
15. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tail portion is welded to the device.
16. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is a heat element.
17. An electrical coupler in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the tail portion includes a knob arranged to engage a power delivery point of a device.
18. A method of connecting a device to a power source comprising the steps of: connecting a coupler of Claims 1 to 17 to the device; and connecting the power source to the coupler, wherein the power source includes a connector.
19. A method of delivering power to a device in accordance with Claim 17, wherein the connector includes a stripped cable end, a ring, a blade receptacle or any combination thereof.
20. An electrical coupler arranged to engage a device to provide an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor comprising a conductive body arranged to engage at least one of a stripped cable, a ring connector and a blade receptacle connector.
21. An electrical coupler substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying Figures.