Receptacle connector between controller and lighting fixture

A twist-lock electrical receptacle comprising:

• an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a cup shaped body and having an end plate at one end of said body and an insertion end spaced apart from said end plate along an insertion axis leading into an interior of said body, wherein said end plate includes a central opening and arcuate main terminal channels located circumferentially around and radially spaced from said central opening;
• an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said insertion axis into the interior of said body, wherein said interior component includes at least one central connector opening at said insertion end and main connector openings disposed around said central connector opening;
• main electrical connectors having exterior end portions extending in said main connector openings at said insertion end and having interior end portions in the interior of said body disposed in alignment with said main terminal channels;
• an elongated member made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said interior component extending from said central opening of said end plate to said central connector opening of said interior component, wherein an annular opening is formed between said elongated member and a wall that forms said central opening in said end plate;
• a first central electrical connector having an interior substantially circular portion disposed inside said elongated member at said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• and
• a second central electrical connector having a substantially circular portion disposed around said substantially circular portion of said first central connector in said annular opening and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component.

An electrical receptacle comprising:

• an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a cup shaped body and having an end plate at one end of said body and an insertion end spaced apart from said end plate along an insertion axis leading into an interior of said body, wherein said end plate includes a central opening and main terminal channels located around said central opening;
• an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said insertion axis into the interior of said body, wherein said interior component includes at least one central connector opening at said insertion end and main connector openings disposed around said central connector opening,
• main electrical connectors having exterior end portions extending in said main connector openings at said insertion end and having interior end portions in the interior of said body disposed in alignment with said main terminal channels;
• an elongated member made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said exterior component or said interior component extending from said central opening of said end plate to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• and
• a central electrical connector having an interior substantially circular portion disposed inside said elongated member at said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component.

An electrical receptacle comprising:

• an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a cup shaped body and having an end plate at one end of said body and an insertion end spaced apart from said end plate along an insertion axis leading into an interior of said body, wherein said end plate includes a central opening and main terminal channels located circumferentially around said central opening;
• an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said insertion axis into the interior of said body, wherein said interior component includes at least one central connector opening at said insertion end and main connector openings disposed around said central connector opening,
• main electrical connectors having exterior end portions extending in said main connector openings at said insertion end and having interior end portions in the interior of said body disposed in alignment with said main terminal channels;
• an elongated member made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said exterior component or said interior component extending from said central opening of said end plate to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• and
• a central electrical connector having an interior substantially circular portion disposed around said elongated member in said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component.

A method of electrically connecting an electrical receptacle to a controller, comprising:

• providing an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a central cup shaped body having an end plate at one end and an insertion end spaced apart from said plate along an insertion axis leading to an interior of said body, wherein said plate includes a central opening and main terminal channels located around said central opening;
• providing an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said insertion axis into an interior of said cup shaped body, wherein said interior component includes at least one central connector opening at said insertion end and main connector openings disposed around said central connector opening;
• inserting main electrical connectors into alignment with said main connector openings, said main electrical connectors having external end portions and internal end portions;
• providing an elongated member made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said exterior component or said interior component extending from said central opening of said end plate;
• providing a first central electrical connector disposed inside said elongated member at said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• providing a second central electrical connector disposed in said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion that can extend to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• positioning said internal component in the interior of said body, said internal end portions of said main connectors being positioned in alignment with said main terminal channels, wherein said exterior end portion of said first central connector and said exterior end portion of said second central connector extend to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• inserting main terminals on a controller device in said main terminal channels into electrical contact with said interior end portions of said main connectors;
• and
• electrically connecting central terminals of said controller device with said first and second central connectors.

A method of electrically connecting a twist-lock electrical receptacle to a controller, comprising:

• providing an exterior component made of electrically insulating material comprising a central cup shaped body having an end plate at one end and an insertion end spaced apart from said plate along an insertion axis leading to an interior of said body, wherein said plate includes a central opening and arcuate main terminal channels located circumferentially around and radially spaced from said central opening;
• providing an interior component made of electrically insulating material that is received along said insertion axis into an interior of said cup shaped body, wherein said interior component includes at least one central connector opening at said insertion end and main connector openings disposed around said central connector opening;
• inserting into said main connector openings of said interior component main electrical connectors having external end portions disposed at said insertion end and internal end portions;
• providing an elongated member made of electrically insulating material formed integrally with said interior component extending from said central opening of said end plate to said central connector opening, wherein an annular opening is formed between said elongated member and a wall that forms said central opening in said end plate;
• providing a first central electrical connector having an interior substantially circular portion disposed inside said elongated member at said central opening of said end plate and having an exterior end portion extending to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• providing a second central electrical connector having a substantially circular portion disposed around said substantially circular portion of said first central connector in said annular opening and having an exterior end portion that can extend to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• positioning said internal component in the interior of said body so that said internal end portions of said main connectors are positioned in alignment with said main terminal channels, wherein said exterior end portion of said first central connector and said exterior end portion of said second central connector extend to said central connector opening of said interior component;
• inserting main terminals on a controller device in said main terminal channels and twisting said controller device to lock said main terminals into electrical contact with said interior end portions of said main connectors;
• and
• electrically contacting a central pin terminal of said controller device with said substantially circular portion of said first central connector and a central ring terminal of said controller device, that surrounds said central pin terminal, with said substantially circular portion of said second central connector in said annular opening, throughout and after said twisting.