Branched electrical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9893482-B2
Application number	US-201615390639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A branched electrical system is adapted for providing multiple users with access to high and/or low voltage electrical power in work areas or high density seating areas, such as stadium or theater seating, work rooms, lecture halls, and public transportation vehicles. The system includes a main line and a plurality of branch lines, each branch line having at least one high voltage or low voltage electrical receptacle that is accessible to a user located at the seating, such as for powering a portable electronic device. The branch lines may be coupled to the main line via a splice or other electrical-mechanical connection.

First claim

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

1. A branched electrical system comprising:
a main line having at least two main line electrical conductors, said main line having a first end portion electrically coupled to a power source and a second end portion opposite said first end;
a plurality of branch lines each having at least two branch line electrical conductors with proximal end portions that are electrically coupled to respective ones of said main line electrical conductors, and with distal end portions that are spaced away from said main line and said proximal end portions;
wherein each of said proximal end portions of said branch line electrical conductors is electrically coupled to said respective ones of said main line electrical conductors via a direct-contact electrical connection;
a single-piece body disposed around each of said direct-contact electrical connections and around respective portions of said main line electrical conductors and said proximal end portions of said branch line electrical conductors, said body having an outwardly-facing outer surface;
a generally C-shaped resilient clip configured to releasably engage said body, said clip having a central portion and a pair of opposite end portions being inwardly spring-biased, each of said opposite end portions having an inwardly-facing surface for engaging said body at respective opposite sides of said outwardly-facing outer surface, and wherein said central portion is configured to be secured to a support surface; and
one or more electrical receptacles disposed at each of said distal end portions of said branch lines, wherein each of said one or more electrical receptacles is configured to engage an electrical connector of a portable electrical or electronic device.

2. The electrical system of claim 1 , further comprising a releasable fastener at each of said one or more electrical receptacles for securing said one or more electrical receptacles to a surface in a work area, wherein said releasable fastener comprises a magnet.

3. The electrical system of claim 1 , further comprising a releasable fastener at each of said one or more electrical receptacles for securing said one or more electrical receptacles to a surface in a work area, wherein said releasable fastener comprises a portion of a hook-and-loop fastener.

4. The electrical system of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener at each of said one or more electrical receptacles for securing said one or more electrical receptacles to a surface in a work area, wherein said fastener comprises at least one chosen from (i) a threaded screw, (ii) a rivet, and (iii) a snap.

5. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a molded resinous material disposed around and between adjacent ones of said direct-contact electrical connections, said molded resinous material comprising said outer surface.

6. The electrical system of claim 5 , further comprising a strain relief disposed in said molded resinous material and defining at least two channels for receiving and isolating respective sets of said main line conductors and said branch line electrical conductors.

7. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein said one or more electrical receptacles comprise first and second electrical receptacles disposed at each of said branch lines, wherein said first electrical receptacle comprises a high voltage AC power receptacle and said second electrical receptacle comprises a low voltage DC power receptacle.

8. The electrical system of claim 7 , further comprising a DC electrical converter disposed inside a receptacle housing in which said low voltage DC power receptacle is mounted, wherein said DC electrical converter is configured to convert a high voltage AC power input at said electrical conductors of a respective one of said branch lines to a low voltage DC power output at said low voltage DC power receptacle.

9. The electrical system of claim 7 , wherein said low voltage DC power receptacle comprises at least one chosen from (i) a USB connector, (ii) a co-axial connector, and (iii) an automotive 12V connector.

10. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said branch lines exits said body at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to said main line electrical conductors exiting said body.

11. A branched electrical system comprising:
a main line having at least two main line electrical conductors, said main line having a first end portion electrically coupled to a power source and a second end portion opposite said first end;
a plurality of branch lines each having at least two branch line electrical conductors with proximal end portions that are electrically coupled to respective ones of said main line electrical conductors, and with distal end portions that are spaced away from said main line and said proximal end portions;
wherein each of said proximal end portions of said branch line electrical conductors is electrically coupled to said respective ones of said main line electrical conductors via a direct-contact electrical connection;
a single-piece body disposed around all of said direct-contact electrical connections and around respective portions of said main line electrical conductors and said proximal end portions of said branch line conductors, said body having an outwardly-facing outer surface configured for mounting to a furniture article;
a resilient clip having a central portion and a pair of arms extending in opposite directions from said central portion, each of said arms having an inwardly-facing surface configured to engage said body at respective opposite sides of said outwardly-facing outer surface, wherein said central portion is configured to be secured to a support surface;
at least one high voltage AC electrical receptacle and at least one low voltage DC electrical receptacle disposed in a receptacle housing at each of said distal end portions of said branch lines, wherein said electrical receptacles are each configured to engage respective electrical connector of a respective portable electrical or electronic device; and
a DC electrical converter mounted in said receptacle housing and in electrical communication with said branch line electrical conductors and said at least one low voltage DC electrical receptacle, wherein said DC electrical converter is configured to convert a high voltage AC power input from said branch line electrical conductors to a low voltage DC power output at said low voltage DC electrical receptacle.

12. The electrical system of claim 11 , further comprising a releasable fastener at said receptacle housing, said releasable fastener configured for securing said receptacle housing to a surface in a work area.

13. The electrical system of claim 12 , wherein said releasable fastener comprises a magnet or a portion of a hook-and-loop fastener.

14. The electrical system of claim 11 , wherein said low voltage DC power receptacle comprises at least one chosen from (i) a USB connector, (ii) a co-axial connector, and (iii) an automotive 12V connector.

15. The electrical system of claim 11 , wherein said body comprises a molded resinous material, said molded resinous material comprising said outer surface.

16. A branched electrical system comprising:
a main line having at least two main line electrical conductors, said main line having a first end portion electrically coupled to a power source and a second end portion opposite said first end;
a plurality of branch lines each having at least two branch line electrical conductors with proximal end

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Byrne Daniel P
• Warwick Timothy J
• Petersen Thomas A
• Pate Randell E

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Byrne Daniel P
• Warwick Timothy J
• Petersen Thomas A
• Pate Randell E

Classifications

• H01R25/16 Primary

  Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts · CPC title

• H01R25/006 Primary

  the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle · CPC title

• H02M7/003

  Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections · CPC title

• H01R31/065

  with built-in electric apparatus · CPC title

• H01R31/02

  Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) · CPC title