# US 2016/0365656 A1 · Connector for lighting devices, corresponding accessory and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0365656 A1 - Document ID: US20160365656A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/161,289 - Filed: 2016-05-23 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-10 - Assignees: OSRAM GmbH - Applicants: OSRAM GmbH - Inventors: Simon Bobbo; Lorenzo Baldo; Alberto Zanotto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160365656A1 ## CPC - H01R 12/721: {cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits} - F21S 4/20: with light sources held by or within elongate supports - F21V 21/002: making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing (F21V21/35 takes precedence) - F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} - H01R 11/22: End pieces terminating in a spring clip - H01R 13/20: Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together - F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements - H01R 12/81: connecting to another cable except for flat or ribbon cable - H01R 13/516: Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing {, hoods} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract In various embodiments, a connector for a lighting device is provided. The lighting device has a planar support with at least one electrical contact formation at an edge of the planar support. The connector includes a fork-shaped shell with a notch coupleable with said planar support edge with said planar support edge inserted in said notch, and an electrical contact structure on at least one side of said notch configured to provide electrical contact with an electrical contact formation on said edge inserted in said notch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for a lighting device having a planar support with at least one electrical contact formation at an edge of the planar support, the connector comprising: a fork-shaped shell with a notch coupleable with said planar support edge with said planar support edge inserted in said notch; and an electrical contact structure on at least one side of said notch configured to provide electrical contact with an electrical contact formation on said edge inserted in said notch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact structure is on both sides of said notch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising: a resilient electrical contact structure configured to clamp said planar support edge inserted in said notch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said notch is located off-center said shell, whereby said fork-shaped shell is asymmetric and coupleable in opposed positions with said planar support edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said shell includes at least one insertion opening for an electrical contact wire towards said electrical contact structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector of claim 5, wherein said shell includes a plurality of insertion openings for an electrical contact wire towards said electrical contact structure, said openings of said plurality of openings being provided at different locations of said shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said electrical contact structure includes surface sculpturing facing said notch, said sculpturing preferably including sawtooth profiled protrusions with the steeper side of the sawtooth profile facing inwardly of the connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, wherein said sculpturing comprises sawtooth profiled protrusions with the steeper side of the sawtooth profile facing inwardly of the connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising: a puncturing member insertable into said shell across said notch to puncture said planar support edge inserted in said notch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said shell comprises opposed planar faces, whereby a pair of said connectors are suited for being located side-by-side with said pair of connectors coupled with respective adjacent planar support edge portions. ### Claim 11 An accessory for use with one or more electrical connectors, each electrical connector comprising: a fork-shaped shell with a notch coupleable with said planar support edge with said planar support edge inserted in said notch; and an electrical contact structure on at least one side of said notch configured to provide electrical contact with an electrical contact formation on said edge inserted in said notch; said accessory comprising: an arch-shaped body applicable astride the connectors in said pair of connectors located side-by-side to retain them together; and a pair of pins insertable into the shells of the connectors in said pair of connectors located side-by-side to retain them together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The accessory of claim 11, wherein said shell of each connector includes at least one insertion opening for an electrical contact wire towards said electrical contact structure; and wherein said pins are dimensioned for insertion in said at least one opening in the shell. ### Claim 13 A method of providing electrical connection of one or more lighting devices having a planar support with at least one electrical contact formation at an edge of the planar support, the method comprising: providing at least one connector, the at least one connector comprising: a fork-shaped shell with a notch coupleable with said planar support edge with said planar support edge inserted in said notch; and an electrical contact structure on at least one side of said notch configured to provide electrical contact with an electrical contact formation on said edge inserted in said notch; coupling said at least one connector with said planar support with said edge inserted in said notch.