US 5,104,332 A · Modular furniture power distribution system and electrical connector therefor

Abstract

A prewired electrical distribution member of the type utilized along movable partitions or similar modular furniture near the bottom edges thereof for distributing electrical energy and having like connectors at opposite ends thereof for connection to like member of an adjacent member is disclosed. Each member includes an elongated rigid central portion having a connector for receiving at least one electrical outlet centrally located therealong and flexible end portions permanently attached thereto. The flexible end portions enclose a plurality of conductors arranged in generally single file vertical alignment and have the connectors permanently fixed to their respective free ends. The connectors have both end and side terminal openings and are uniquely adapted to engage one another in any of an end to end, side to side, or end to side manner for effecting connections at corners. The connectors each have an electrically insulating housing partially open at one end and partially open along one side which is adapted to mate with the corresponding partially open portion of the housing of the other connector. A plurality of terminals are disposed within the housing with each terminal having a pair of contact blades with a gap therebetween and an adjacent single contact blade facing the partially open end as well as a pair of contact blades with a gap therebetween and an adjacent single contact blade facing the partially open side for engaging corresponding contact blades of a like terminal of the other connector when the connectors are interengaged.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A conductive electrical terminal formed from a single piece of resilient conductive material comprising:

a base portion;
a U-shaped crimp cup near one end of the base portion for receiving and permanently crimping to a conductor;
a first cantilevered blade extending from another end of the base portion;
a web portion upstanding from the base portion intermediate the U-shaped cup and the first cantilevered blade;
a second cantilevered blade extending from the web portion generally parallel to and overlying the first cantilevered blade;
each cantilevered blade being bent toward and then away from the other cantilevered blade to provide between the blades an opening for slidingly receiving and gripping a blade of another terminal;
and
a third cantilevered blade located generally intermediate to and spaced laterally from the first and second cantilevered blades and extending from the base portion in a direction generally parallel to the first and second cantilevered blades, the third blade having major surfaces which are parallel to a plane extending between the first and second blades.

5 more elements

In a wiring system for modular room dividers and the like, a one-piece connector comprising:

a conductive central portion;
conductive wire receiving means conductively connected to the central portion to engage an end of a wire conductor;
conductive first connection means extending from the central portion in a first direction and comprising first male and female portions extending parallel to each other in the first direction and spaced a predetermined distance apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, with the male portion on a predetermined side of the female portion;
and
conductive second connection means extending from the central portion in the second direction and comprising second male and female portions extending parallel to each other in the second direction and spaced said predetermined distance apart in said first direction, and with the second male portion on said predetermined side of the female portion, whereby the male and female portions of either one of the first and second connection means on one of said connectors can interfit and make good electrical contact with the female and male portions respectively of either one of the first and second connection means of a second one of said connectors.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular furniture power distribution system and electrical connector therefor

Life of this patent

Modular furniture power distribution system and electrical connector therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7