Electrical power or data distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11081815-B2
Application number	US-201816191517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 16, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

An electrical power or electronic data distribution system includes a power supply or electronic data module that receives electrical power or electronic data signals from a source, a flat-conductor strip for routing electrical power or electronic data along a generally planar surface such as a floor, wall, room divider, or ceiling, and a power or data output block. The power supply has a pair of power outfeed conductors, and the flat-conductor strip has a pair of generally planar electrical conductors in spaced arrangement, which are electrically coupled to respective power outfeed conductors. The output block has a pair of power-receiving contacts along a lower surface thereof, and an electrical receptacle at the output block, the receptacle being positioned above the lower surface. The power-receiving contacts electrically engage respective planar electrical conductors and convey electrical power to respective contacts of the electrical receptacle, for powering electrical or electronic devices.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An electrical power or electronic data distribution system comprising:
a supply module adapted to receive electrical power or electronic data from a source, said supply module comprising at least two outfeed conductors;
a conductor strip comprising at least two planar electrical conductors lying in a coplanar and side-by-side laterally spaced arrangement, and upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material disposed above and below said planar electrical conductors, respectively, said upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material joined together with said planar electrical conductors there-between, wherein said planar electrical conductors are electrically coupled to respective ones of said outfeed conductors, and said conductor strip is configured for placement beneath an aesthetic surface;
a receptacle block comprising a pair of contacts in side-by-side spaced arrangement along a lower region of said receptacle block and an electrical receptacle positioned above said lower region;
a support plate configured to be coupled to said lower region of said receptacle block, wherein said conductor strip is received and secured between said support plate and said lower region of said receptacle block; and
a contact support piece in which said pair of contacts are mounted, wherein said contact support piece is releasably mechanically and electrically coupled to said lower region of said receptacle block, and said contact support piece is directly and releasably mechanically coupled to said support plate;
wherein said contacts are configured to electrically engage respective ones of said generally planar electrical conductors in a region where said upper layer of insulative sheet material is removed or pierced, and to convey electrical power or electronic data signals to respective receptacle contacts of said electrical receptacle.

2. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said contacts comprise piercing contacts configured to pierce said insulative sheet material and respective ones of said planar electrical conductors upon coupling of said support plate to said lower region of said receptacle block.

3. An electrical power or electronic data distribution system comprising:
a supply module adapted to receive electrical power or electronic data from a source, said supply module comprising at least two outfeed conductors;
a conductor strip comprising at least two planar electrical conductors lying in a coplanar and side-by-side laterally spaced arrangement, and upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material disposed above and below said planar electrical conductors, respectively, said upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material joined together with said planar electrical conductors there-between, wherein said planar electrical conductors are electrically coupled to respective ones of said outfeed conductors, and said conductor strip is configured for placement beneath an aesthetic surface;
a receptacle block comprising a pair of contacts in side-by-side spaced arrangement along a lower region of said receptacle block and an electrical receptacle positioned above said lower region; and
a support plate configured to be coupled to said lower region of said receptacle block, wherein said conductor strip is received and secured between said support plate and said lower region of said receptacle block;
wherein said contacts comprise spring contacts or piercing contacts and are configured to electrically engage respective ones of said generally planar electrical conductors in a region where said upper layer of insulative sheet material is removed or pierced, and to convey electrical power or electronic data signals to respective receptacle contacts of said electrical receptacle.

4. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 3 , wherein said support plate and said receptacle block are arranged along a midsection of said conductor strip with portions of said conductor strip extending in opposite directions away from said receptacle block.

5. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a connector disposed along said conductor strip, wherein a portion of said insulative sheet material is removed at said connector to expose portions said planar electrical conductors for engagement by said contacts.

6. An electrical power or electronic data distribution system comprising:
a supply module adapted to receive electrical power or electronic data from a source, said supply module comprising at least two outfeed conductors;
a conductor strip comprising at least two planar electrical conductors lying in a coplanar and side-by-side laterally spaced arrangement, and upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material disposed above and below said planar electrical conductors, respectively, said upper and lower layers of insulative sheet material joined together with said planar electrical conductors there-between, wherein said planar electrical conductors are electrically coupled to respective ones of said outfeed conductors, and said conductor strip is configured for placement beneath an aesthetic surface;
a receptacle block comprising a pair of contacts in side-by-side spaced arrangement along a lower region of said receptacle block and an electrical receptacle positioned above said lower region; and
a connector disposed along said conductor strip, wherein a portion of said insulative sheet material is removed at said connector to expose portions said planar electrical conductors for engagement by said contacts;
wherein said contacts are configured to electrically engage respective ones of said generally planar electrical conductors in a region where said upper layer of insulative sheet material is removed or pierced, and to convey electrical power or electronic data signals to respective receptacle contacts of said electrical receptacle;
wherein said connector is insertable into said lower region of said receptacle block, and wherein said pair of contacts comprise frictional contacts configured to engage said exposed portions of said planar electrical conductors.

7. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 6 , wherein said connector is L-shaped including a base leg and an outwardly-extending leg, wherein at least said outwardly-extending leg is configured to extend through an opening formed in the aesthetic surface, and wherein said exposed portions of said planar electrical conductors are positioned in said outwardly-extending leg.

8. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 7 , further comprising a support base coupled to said base leg, wherein said support base is configured for placement beneath the aesthetic surface and for securement to a surface underlying the aesthetic surface.

9. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 7 , wherein at least said base leg of said L-shaped connector is configured to clamp to said conductor strip.

10. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said supply module comprises an AC-to-DC electrical power converter.

11. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 10 , further comprising a wall-mounting bracket configured to support said supply module.

12. The electrical power or electronic data distribution system of claim 11 , wherein said wall-mounting bracket defines an opening for providing access to a wall-mounted power outlet.

13. The electrical powe

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Warwick Timothy J
• Lautenbach Aaron G
• Golub Jonathan M
• Angulo Juan Carlos

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Warwick Timothy J
• Lautenbach Aaron G
• Golub Jonathan M
• Angulo Juan Carlos

Classifications

• G06F13/38 Primary

  Information transfer, e.g. on bus (G06F13/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R12/771

  Details · CPC title

• H02G3/22

  Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings · CPC title

• H02G3/08

  Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes · CPC title

• H01R9/2491 Primary

  Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets · CPC title