GB2578177A

GB2578177A - Power connector suitable for pendant light fixtures

Info

Publication number: GB2578177A
Application number: GB1902595.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gabriel Martinez Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-16
Filing date: 2019-02-26
Publication date: 2020-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-26
Also published as: GB2578177B; AR115125A1; GB201902595D0

Abstract

A pendant light fixture which comprises a lower cylindrical and frustoconical body 1 and an upper cylindrical body 4 which comprises an external “Edison” type threaded metallic cover 7 or a “bayonet” style metallic cover with bosses 40. The upper body 4 comprises two diametrically opposite cylindrical ducts 9, which align coaxially with two threaded cylindrical ducts 11 in the lower body, to hold screws 10 linking the body portions. A cylindrical duct 12 allows access to cables 33, 38. A cable clamp 13 formed by two plates 14 is linked to an elastic ring 15. Positive 16 and negative 17 terminals are mounted on terminal block 18, which comprises minor 36 and a major 37 rectangular holes, and locks 31, 32 at the end of internal arms 30. Positive terminal 16 is electrically linked to positive external wiring via a spring 20, and negative terminal 17 connects to the negative through a short spring 26 and fuse 24.

Description

DESCRIPTION

POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR CONNECTING PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES.

The subject matter of this patent application is a power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures, which provides important advantages resulting from, including, but not limited to, the possibility to connect said fixtures to an existing lamp holder without the need of handling electrical wiring of the building, and to provide a safe connection in a quick and simple manner which might be carried out by any person, without said person being an expert or a licensed electrician.

More precisely, this patent application refers to a power connector of the specified type, that has been conceived and developed as a result of the acquired experience in the installation of pendant light fixtures that must be electrically connected to an existing lamp holder. In this sense, the power connector invented allows pendant light fixtures to be electrically connected to an existing lamp holder, without the need to install cables at height, with the consequent effort saved from having to carry out said work, and avoiding, in addition, the risk of fire caused by a short-circuit or the electrocution of the person doing the installation.

Likewise, the invented connector might be used for the electrical connection of other 20 appliances, such as different electrical tools, usually used in residential and commercial sectors.

In the prior art, a large variety of pendant light fixtures used within a dwelling are known, which have two terminals or cables that must be electrically connected to the terminals of the electrical circuit of the building. This work requires the prior activation of the electrical switch of the installation sector where the light fixture shall be placed, for the purpose of interrupting the power supply and, therefore, handle the cables that are to be connected.

In many cases, there already are lamp holders connected to said electrical wiring in which both lamps or light bulbs are fitted which provide provisional lighting, until the installation of the final light fixture.

Therefore, the person in charge of the installation of said appliance must, with prior interruption of the power supply, proceed to remove the lamp holder disconnecting its cables, and then connect the terminals of the light fixture to the cables of the electrical wiring of the building.

Even though this is not a complex procedure, in addition to requiring a significant amount of time, it has the added disadvantage of being highly unsafe, since the person handling the cables might be electrocuted or might cause a short-circuit as a consequence of forgetting to interrupt the power supply. Even after interrupting the power supply, there is a risk of causing a short-circuit due to cables being incorrectly connected.

Considering the high risk of accidents such as those described above, in many countries, it is required that this work be carried out by licensed electricians with the 5 pertinent certification, and the installation by unauthorized persons is absolutely prohibited and punishable by law.

The issues outlined above can be resolved with the power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures that is the subject of this invention, which allows connecting said fixtures to an existing lamp holder in a quick and simple manner, without the need to handle the cables of the electrical wiring of the building.

Furthermore, the invented power connector allows making the electrical connection to the existing lamp holder in a very safe manner, thus avoiding the aforementioned accidents, since said connection is performed without the power supply, thanks to the special configuration and arrangement of its components. These include an upper and a lower coaxial body, linked to one another by means of screws, for which removal, the power connector must necessarily be disconnected from the existent lamp holder.

Moreover, the power connector subject of this invention has the advantage of having at least one fuse, intended for the protection of the external electrical circuit, as well as for the protection of the electrical circuit of the light fixture.

Additionally, the invented power connector has the advantage of being able to be handled by any person, thereby avoiding the intervention of the licensed electrician required by law in many countries.

To specify the advantages briefly mentioned, and to facilitate understanding this invention's construction and functional features of the power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures, bellow is a description of an example of a favorite implementation, which is schematically illustrated with no particular scale in the attached pages. Since the following is an example, it is expressly stated that, precisely for that reason, it does not purport to be!imitative or restrictive in the scope of the protection of this invention, but provides a merely explanatory and illustrative intention of the basic concept on which it is based.

Figure No. 1 represents a perspective view of this invention's power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures.

Figures No. 2 and No. 3 show longitudinal sections of the invented power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures.

Figure No. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the lower body of the power connector of this invention.

Figures No. 5 and No. 6 represent perspective views of the upper body of the power connector of this invention.

Figure No. 7 illustrates the bottom part of the upper body of the power connector of this invention.

Figure No. 8 shows a perspective view of the terminal block of the power connector of this invention.

Figure No. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the power connector of this invention.

Figures No. 10 and No. 11 represent longitudinal cuts of the variant of the invented power connector illustrated in figure No 9.

In all figures, to equal reference numbers correspond the same or equivalent parts or 10 component parts of the example chosen for the present explanation of the power connector of this invention suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures.

As can be seen in Figure No. 1, the invented power connector suitable for connecting pendant light fixtures has a lower body formed by a cylindrical portion 2 and a frustoconical portion 3, and an upper body 4, in a coaxial position to the foregoing, formed by a cylindrical portion 5, and a coupling cylindrical portion 6, with a metallic cover 7 with an external thread, configured in accordance with a standard "Edison" thread, for example E14, E27, etc. Said metallic cover 7 is screwed in the existent lamp holder -not illustrated in the figure-, and through that cover and the central metallic contact 8, the current is transmitted from the external electrical circuit to the light fixture installed, as described in the following figures.

The same figure shows one of the cylindrical ducts 9 that is an access point to a coaxial threaded cylindrical duct, to place and affix a screw -not visible in the figure-, which, together with a diametrically opposite similar screw, jointly link both the lower body 1 and the upper body 4.

Figure No. 2 shows a longitudinal cut of the invented power connector, in which the lower body 1 can be seen formed by the cylindrical portion 2 and the frustoconical portion 3, and the upper body 4, in a coaxial position to the foregoing, formed by the cylindrical portions 5 and the coupling cylindrical portion 6, with metallic cover 7 with an external thread, configured in accordance with a standard "Edison" thread.

The cylindrical ducts 9, placed diametrically opposite each other, are formed in the cylindrical portion 5 of the lower body 4, and constitute the access ducts for each screw 10, located in the respective cylindrical threaded ducts 11, formed at the lower body 1, and in a coaxial position respective to said cylindrical ducts 9. These screws 10 jointly link both the lower body 1 and the upper body 4, and to be removed with a screwdriver, the power connector must necessarily be decoupled from the existing lamp holder -not illustrated in the figure-, since the body of the latter prevents the screwdriver from accessing the cylindrical ducts 9. This prior decoupling operation guarantees that the power connector receives no power from the external electrical wiring, allowing the user to connect the cables of the light fixture without the risk of an electrical accident by passing those cables through the cylindrical duct 12 which is the access point to said cables, constituted in the frustoconical portion 3 of lower body 1.

Cable clamp 13 is formed by two diametrically opposite plates 14, and jointly linked to 5 the elastic ring 15, between which the cables of the light fixture are affixed. The set of the elastic ring 15 and the plates 14 is mounted on the frustoconical portion 3 of the lower body 1, in coaxial position to the cylindrical duct 12 that is an access point to the cables of the light fixture. Said cable clamp 13 allows the cables of the light fixture to be affixed, when the terminals are respectively connected to the positive terminals 16 and to the negative terminals 17, which are mounted on the terminal block 18 made with insulating material, to both sides of separator plate 19. Said terminal block 18 -whose configuration shall be appreciated in Figures No. 7 and No. 8-is mounted inside the cylindrical portion 5 of the upper body 4.

The positive terminal 16 makes contact with the lower end of the fuse 24, whilst its 15 upper end makes contact with the metallic foil 25 through the short spring 26. Said metallic foil 25 makes, in turn, contact with metallic cover 7 with external thread.

Both, the long spring 20 and the short spring 26, are made of metal and serve as electrical conductors, and, according to the figure, the positive terminal 16 and the long spring 20 are located in the longitudinal duct 27 parallel to the symmetry axis of said upper body 4, whilst the fuse 24 and the short spring 26 are located in the longitudinal duct 28, also parallel to the symmetry axis of said upper body 4. This longitudinal duct 27 is a square-section duct, whilst the longitudinal duct 28 is a circular-section duct, as illustrated in Figure No. 6.

The radial ribs 29 provide stiffness to the lower body 1, and this body as well as the 25 upper body 4 are manufactured separately with injected plastic material.

According to what has been described above, once the power connector of the existing lamp holder has been decoupled, and the lower body 1 and upper body 4 have been disconnected, the cables of the pendant light fixture shall be introduced into the cylindrical duct 12 which is the access point to said cables, constituted in the frustoconical portion 3 of the lower body 1, and they shall be connected to terminals 16 and 17, respectively. Next, both bodies 1 and 4 shall be jointly linked with screws 10, and the assembled power connector is coupled to the existing lamp holder, completing the installation.

By supplying energy, the electrical link to the positive phase of the external electrical 35 wiring allows the power of said positive phase to enter through the central metallic contact 8, the metallic foil 21, the long spring 20, the positive terminal 16, and the positive cable of the light fixture, returning through the negative cable of said fixture, the negative terminal 17, the fuse 24, the short spring 26, the metallic foil 25, the metallic cover 7 with external thread and the negative phase of the external electrical wiring. Figure No. 3 shows a longitudinal cut of the invented power connector according to the drawing of Figure No. 2, and it shows the lower body 1 with its cylindrical 2 and frustoconical 3 portions, and the upper body 4, in a coaxial position to the prior body, with its cylindrical portions 5 and the coupling cylindrical portions 6, with the metallic cover 7 with an external thread, configured in accordance with a standard "Edison" thread.

As abovementioned, the cable clamp 13 -whose configuration is clearly appreciated in 10 figure No. 4-allows the cables of the light fixture to be affixed when the terminals are connected to the positive terminal 16 and to the negative terminal 17, respectively, mounted on the terminal block 18 of insulation material.

The negative terminal 17 makes contact with the lower end of the fuse 24, and both the latter as well as the short spring 26 -not visible in the figure-are located in longitudinal duct 28, parallel to the symmetry axis of the upper body 4. The central metallic contact 8 has a threaded cylindrical body 22, located in the threaded cylindrical duct constituted in the frustoconical insulating piece 23, which is mounted on the top end of coupling cylindrical portion 6.

Inner arms 30 are jointly linked to the wall of the coupling cylindrical portion 6, and they 20 are constituted by elastic foils of the same injected plastic material as the lower body 1 and the upper body 4. These arms have locks 31 and 32 with different widths at their ends, which fix the terminal block 18 in its position.

Finally, the radial ribs 29 are shown, which, as mentioned in the previous figure, provide stiffness to the lower body 1 of the power connector.

Figure No. 4 shows a perspective view of the lower body 1 of the invented power connector, in which the cable clamp 13 has been moved upwards for better visualization. As previously shown, it is formed by two diametrically opposite plates 14, jointly linked to the elastic ring 15, and between those plates, the cables of the light fixture are fixed. In the figure, only the positive cable 33 of the light fixture has been illustrated.

As mentioned earlier, the set of elastic ring 15 and plates 14 forming part of the cable clamp 13 is mounted on the frustoconical portion 3 of the lower body 1, in a position coaxial with the cylindrical duct 12 which is the access point to the cables of the light fixture.

In the same figure, the cylindrical portions 2 and frustoconical 3, the cylindrical 35 threaded ducts 11 are shown, and so are radial ribs 29 of the lower body 1.

In Figure No. 5, a perspective view of the upper body 4 of the power connector invented is observed, with its cylindrical portions 5 and cylindrical coupling portion 6, with metallic cover 7 with external thread, configuration in accordance with a standard "Edison" thread.

The terminal block 18 made of insulating material and with a circular configuration, has radial grooves 34 and circular grooves 35 in which fit, respectively, the cylindrical ducts 9 5 for accessing screws 10, which jointly link said upper body 4 with lower body 1. Said terminal block 18 is mounted on cylindrical portion 5 of upper body 4.

In the same figure, it can be noted that the positive terminal 16 and the negative terminal 17 are mounted on both sides of the separator plate 19, with its centers in a diametrical plane, perpendicular to said separator plate 19, and locks 31 and 32, of different widths, which are in the minor rectangular hole 36 and in the major rectangular hole 37 on terminal block 18, and that allow them to fix their position.

In the positive terminal 16, the positive cable 33 of the light fixture is connected, whereas in the negative terminal 17 the negative cable 38 of said light fixture is connected.

Figure No. 6 shows a perspective view of the upper body 4 of the power connector invented, without terminal block 18, and in said figure the cylindrical ducts 9 can be seen, and the inner arms 30 constituted by their respective elastic foils, which have, on their corresponding ends, locks 31 and 32, of different widths.

In the same figure, longitudinal duct 27 of square-section and the longitudinal duct 28 20 of a circular-section are observed, both parallel to the symmetry axis of the upper body 4, as mentioned in figure 2.

Figure No. 7 illustrates a bottom view of upper body 4 of the power connector invented, and the circular configuration of the terminal block 18, the radial grooves 34 and the circular grooves 35 can be clearly noted, in which the cylindrical ducts 9 respectively fit.

The positive terminal 16 and negative terminal 17 mounted on both sides of the separator plate 19 can be seen, with its centers in a diametrical plane, perpendicular to said separator plate 19, as well as the locks 31 and 32, of different width, which are in the minor rectangular hole 36 and major rectangular hole 37 in terminal block 18.

Figure No. 8 shows a perspective view of the terminal block 18 of the power connector relating to this invention, where its circular configuration, the radial grooves 34, circular grooves 35, minor hole 36 and major hole 37 can be clearly noted, as well as the positive terminal 16 and the negative terminal 17 mounted on both sides of the separator plate 19 with its centers in a diametrical plane, perpendicular to said separator plate 19.

Figure No. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the power connector invented, in which the coupling cylindrical portion 6 has a metallic cover 39 with bosses 40, configured for bayonet or pressure connection. This metallic cover 39 is pressed into the existing lamp holder so that the power connector is locked in its operating position, once said bosses 40 are in the same position in the corresponding slots of the lamp holder.

In the operating position, the electrical link with the positive and negative phases of the external electrical circuit allows the electric current to be transmitted to the luminous 5 device, through the metallic contacts 7 and 8, mounted on the top end of the cylindrical coupling portion 6, with an outline identical to that described in the preceding figures. The lower body 1 is shown with cylindrical portion 2 and frustoconical portion 3, and the upper body 4, coaxial to the previous one, with cylindrical portion 5 and cylindrical coupling portion 6 described above. The cylindrical duct 9 allows access to a coaxial 10 threaded cylindrical duct, holding and fixing a screw -not visible in the figure-, which together with a similar diametrically opposite screw, jointly link both the lower body 1 and the upper body 4.

Figure No. 10 represents a longitudinal cut of the same variant of the power connector invented, while Figure No. 11 shows a longitudinal cut of the same variant according to plane X-X of Figure No. 10, in which can be seen that the metallic contacts 7 and 8 have their respective threaded cylindrical bodies located in both threaded cylindrical ducts, formed at the top end of the cylindrical coupling portion 6.

In Figures No. 10 and No. 11, the numbers mentioned above correspond to the same constituent parts of the variant of the power connector described in Figures No. 1 to No. 8, showing that with the metallic cover 39 configured for a bayonet connection, the metallic foils 21 and 25 of the variant of the power connector described in Figures No. 1 to No. 8 are not necessary.

The scope of protection of the present patent application of invention is defined, in addition to the variants of embodiment of the example illustrated above, by the claims 25 detailed below.

Claims

Having described and illustrated the nature and main object of the present invention, as well as the way in which it can be carried out in practice, sole right 5 and ownership is hereby claimed on: 1.-POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES, characterized by the fact that it comprises a lower body (1), formed by a cylindrical portion (2), and a frustoconical portion (3) and an upper body (4) in a position coaxial to said lower body (1) formed by a cylindrical portion (5) and a cylindrical coupling portion (6) with a metallic cover (7); the cylindrical portion (5) of the upper body (4) having at least two diametrically opposite cylindrical ducts (9); said lower body (1) is formed by at least two cylindrical threaded ducts (11) in a coaxial position respective to said cylindrical ducts (9) in the upper body (4) being in said cylindrical threaded ducts (11) in said lower body (1) the corresponding screws (10) that jointly link both the lower (1) and upper body (4); being the frustoconical portion (3) of the lower body (1) formed by a cylindrical duct (12) that is an access point to the cables (33, 38) of the light fixture; being mounted on the frustoconical portion (3) of the lower body (1) and in coaxial position to the cylindrical duct (12) which is the access point to the cables (33,38) of the light fixture with a cable clamp (13); said cable clamp (13) being formed by two plates (14) diametrically opposed and jointly linking an elastic ring (15); a positive terminal (16) and a negative terminal (17) being mounted on a terminal block (18) made of insulating material and circular configuration; being said positive (16) and negative (17) terminals mounted on both sides of a separator plate (19) with its centers placed on a diametrical plane and perpendicular to said separator plate (19); said terminal block (18) having a plurality of radial grooves (34) and at least two circular grooves (35) in which the cylindrical ducts (9) formed in the cylindrical portion (5) of the upper body (4) respectively fit; having said terminal block (18) at least a minor rectangular hole (36) and at least a major rectangular hole (37); jointly linking the wall of the cylindrical coupling portion (6) there are at least two inner arms (30) formed by corresponding elastic membranes which possess on their ends the corresponding locks (31,32) of different widths that are located in the minor rectangular hole (36) and the greater rectangular hole (37) comprising said terminal block (18); said terminal block (18) being mounted within the cylindrical portion (5) of the upper body (4); this positive terminal (16) is in contact with the bottom part of a long spring (20); being the top end of this long spring (20) electrically linked to the positive phase of the external electrical wiring through electrical means of current transmission; being the negative terminal (17) in contact with the bottom end of a fuse (24); the top end of said fuse (24) being in contact with the bottom end of a short spring (26); the top end of this short spring is (26) electrically linked to the negative phase of the external electrical wiring through electrical means of current transmission; said long (20) and short (26) springs being made of a metallic and current-conductor material; said positive terminal (16) and said long spring (20) being located in a longitudinal duct (27) of square section and parallel to the axis of symmetry of said upper body (4); said fuse (24) and said short spring (26) being located in a longitudinal duct (28) of circular section and parallel to the axis of symmetry of the upper body (4); having said lower body (1) a plurality of radial ribs (29).
2.-POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrical means of current transmission that electrically link the top end of said long spring (20) to the positive phase of the external electrical wiring are formed by a metallic foil (21) and a central metallic contact (8) which cylindrical threaded body (22) is in a cylindrical threaded duct formed by a frustoconical insulating piece (23) mounted on the top end of the cylindrical coupling portion (6), whereas the electrical means of current transmission that electrically link the top end of said short spring (26) to the negative phase of the external electrical wiring are constituted by a metallic foil (25) and a metallic cover (7) with an external thread configured in accordance with a standard "Edison" thread.
3.-POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrical means of current transmission that electrically link the top end of said long spring (20) to the positive phase of the external electrical circuit are formed by metallic contact (8) whose cylindrical threaded body is in a cylindrical threaded duct at the top part of the cylindrical coupling portion (6), whereas the electrical means of current transmission that electrically link the top end of said shod spring (26) to the negative phase of the external electrical wiring are constituted by a metallic contact (7) whose cylindrical threaded body is located in a cylindrical threaded duct at the top end of the cylindrical coupling portion (6).
4.-POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES, as per claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that the cylindrical coupling portion (6) possesses a metallic cover (39) with bosses (40) configured for a bayonet connection.
5.-POWER CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that said lower body (1) and said upper body (4) are manufactured separately with injected plastic material.