Pivot connector, power input assembly, electrical connector apparatus, and method of pivoting electrically connecting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9325134-B2
Application number	US-201213621475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2012
Priority date	Jun 15, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A pivot connector comprising a body element and a retention element that comprises a body element interface structure (comprising at least a first pivot alignment structure), the body element comprising a retention element interface region that comprises a pivot alignment structure-receiving region. A power input assembly comprising a pivot connector, an electrical connector region and an electrical conductor that extends through an internal space defined by the retention element and that is electrically connected to the electrical connector region. An electrical connector apparatus comprising a power input assembly, a second electrical connector region and a power input assembly engagement region. A method comprising pivoting a retention element relative to a body element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pivot connector, comprising:
a retention element;
a body element;
at least a first holding structure; and
at least a first retention structure,
the retention element comprising at least a first body element interface structure,
the first body element interface structure comprising at least a first pivot alignment structure,
the body element comprising at least a first retention element interface region and at least a second alignment region,
the first retention element interface region comprising at least a first pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
the first holding structure comprising at least a first lighting device engagement region and at least a first alignment region,
the body element held in place relative to the first holding structure,
the first retention structure extending through the first alignment region and through the second alignment region to hold the body element in place relative to the first holding structure.

2. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the retention element comprises a second body element interface structure,
the second body element interface structure comprises a second pivot alignment structure,
the body element comprises a second retention element interface region,
the second retention element interface region comprises a second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
at least a first part of the second pivot alignment structure is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first part of the second pivot alignment structure, and
the first part of the second pivot alignment structure is in the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region.

3. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the retention element comprises a second body element interface structure,
the second body element interface structure comprises a second pivot alignment structure,
the body element comprises a second retention element interface region,
the second retention element interface region comprises a second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
at least a first part of the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first part of the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region, and
the first part of the second pivot alignment structure is in the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region.

4. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the retention element further comprises a substantially spherical region,
the body element further comprises a substantially spherical region-receiving structure, and
the substantially spherical region of the retention element is in the substantially spherical region-receiving structure of the body element.

5. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the retention element comprises a second body element interface structure,
the second body element interface structure comprises a second pivot alignment structure,
the body element comprises a second retention element interface region,
the second retention element interface region comprises a second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
at least a first part of the second pivot alignment structure is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure,
the first part of the second pivot alignment structure is in the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
the retention element further comprises a substantially spherical region,
the body element further comprises a substantially spherical region-receiving structure,
the substantially spherical region of the retention element is in the substantially spherical region-receiving structure of the body element, and
the axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure passes through a center of a sphere defined by the substantially spherical region of the retention element.

6. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the retention element comprises a second body element interface structure,
the second body element interface structure comprises a second pivot alignment structure,
the body element comprises a second retention element interface region,
the second retention element interface region comprises a second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
at least a first part of the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
the first part of the second pivot alignment structure is in the second pivot alignment structure-receiving region,
the retention element further comprises a substantially spherical region,
the body element further comprises a substantially spherical region-receiving structure,
the substantially spherical region of the retention element is in the substantially spherical region-receiving structure of the body element, and
the axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure passes through a center of a sphere defined by the substantially spherical region of the retention element.

7. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the body element comprises at least a first body structure and a second body structure.

8. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the retention element can be rotated at least 90 degrees relative to an axis that extends through the first pivot alignment structure.

9. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first holding structure comprises at least a first keying structure.

10. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body element is held inside an internal space defined by the first holding structure.

11. A pivot connector as recited in claim 7 , wherein:
at least a first portion of the first pivot alignment structure is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure, and
the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure is in the first pivot alignment structure-receiving region.

12. A pivot connector as recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the retention element can be rotated at least 90 degrees about the axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure.

13. A pivot connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
at least a first portion of the first pivot alignment structure-receiving region is radially substantially symmetrical, over at least a first angular range, with respect to an axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure-receiving region, and
the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure is in the first pivot alignment structure-receiving region.

14. A pivot connector as recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the retention element can be rotated at least 90 degrees about the axis of the first portion of the first pivot alignment structure.

15. A power input assembly comprising:
a pivot connector as recited in claim 1 ;
a first electrical connector region; and
at least a first electrical conductor,
the first electrical conductor extending through an internal space defined by the retention element,
the first electrical conductor electrically connected to the first electrical connector region.

16

Assignees

• Cree Inc

Inventors

• Lopez Peter E
• Lay James Michael

Classifications

• F21V23/06

  the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} · CPC title

• H01R35/00 Primary

  Flexible or turnable line connectors {, i.e. the rotation angle being limited} (rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00) · CPC title

• F21V29/773

  the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis · CPC title

• F21S8/026

  intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling · CPC title

• F21Y2101/02

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic