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US 9,929,524 B1Granted
System and articles of interchangeably connectable pre-wired segments
OwnerMatthew Rodgersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Prewired, interchangeably connectible elements with mating electro-mechanical connectors for constructing a multitude of electrical apparatuses by forming load-bearing, electrical connections between the constituent elements thereof and a method of using such elements therefor.
Claims20
An element for use in constructing an electrical system having at least one article, said article having at least two electrical contacts and a body, said element comprising:
- (i) a housing member having:
- a. a first surface;
- b. a second surface distal from said first surface;
- c. a first line extending through said housing member from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- d. a third surface:
- i. extending from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- ii. spaced from and not intersected by said first line;
- (ii) at least two electrical conductors internal of said third surface, each of said electrical conductors passing through said housing member along second and third lines extending generally along the path of said first line and electrically isolated from said third surface;
- and
- (iii) at least one coupling assembly affixed to at least one of said first and second surfaces having:
- a. means for structurally connecting said housing member of said element and said body of said article;
- b. means for detachably locking said housing member of said element to said body of said article;
- c. means for electrically connecting said electrical contacts of said article and said internal electrical conductors of said element;
- d. means for providing a load bearing connection between said housing member of said element and said body of said article in at least one direction of said element relative to said article;
- and
- e. means for arresting motion of said housing member of said element relative to said body of said article when said element is connected to said article.
15 more elements
An apparatus comprising at least a first element and a second element:
- (i) said first element further comprising:
- a. a housing member having:
- i. a first surface;
- ii. a second surface distal from said first surface;
- iii. a first line extending through said housing member from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- iv. a third surface:
- (a) extending from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- (b) spaced from and not intersected by said first line;
- b. at least two electrical conductors internal of said third surface, each of said electrical conductors passing through said housing member along second and third lines extending generally along the path of said first line and electrically isolated from said third surface;
- and
- c. at least one coupling assembly affixed to at least one of said first and second surfaces;
- (ii) said second element further comprising:
- a. a second housing member having:
- i. a first surface;
- ii. a second surface distal from said first surface;
- iii. a first line extending through said housing member from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- iv. a third surface:
- (a) extending from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- (b) spaced from and not intersected by said first line;
- b. at least two electrical conductors internal of said third surface, each of said electrical conductors passing through said housing member along second and third lines extending generally along the path of said first line and electrically isolated from said third surface;
- and
- c. at least one coupling assembly affixed to at least one of said first and second surfaces;
- and
- (iii) means for:
- a. structurally connecting said housing member of said first element and said housing member of said second element;
- b. means for detachably locking said housing member of said first element to said housing member of said second element;
- c. means for electrically connecting said electrical conductors of said first element and said electrical conductors of said second element;
- d. means for providing a load bearing connection between said housing member of said first element and said housing member of said second element in at least one direction of said first element relative to said second element;
- and
- e. means for arresting motion of said housing member of said first element relative to said housing member of said second element when said first element is connected to said second element.
31 more elements
A method of constructing an electrical system comprising:
- (i) selecting at first element comprising:
- a. a first housing member having:
- i. a first surface;
- ii. a second surface distal from said first surface;
- iii. a first line extending through said housing member from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- iv. a third surface:
- (a) extending from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- (b) spaced from and not intersected by said first line;
- b. at least two electrical conductors internal of said third surface, each of said electrical conductors passing through said housing member along second and third lines extending generally along the path of said first line and electrically isolated from said third surface;
- and
- c. at least one coupling assembly affixed to at least one of said first and second surfaces having:
- i. a telescoping coupling inner surface;
- ii. an exterior surface with at least one coupling thread;
- and
- iii. at least two pins electrically connected to said electrical conductors of said first element;
- (ii) selecting a second element comprising:
- a. a second housing member having:
- i. a first surface;
- ii. a second surface distal from said first surface;
- iii. a first line extending through said housing member from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- iv. a third surface:
- (a) extending from said first surface to said second surface;
- and
- (b) spaced from and not intersected by said first line;
- b. at least two electrical conductors internal of said third surface, each of said electrical conductors passing through said housing member along second and third lines extending generally along the path of said first line and electrically isolated from said third surface;
- and
- c. at least one coupling assembly affixed to at least one of said first and second surfaces having:
- i. a telescoping coupling outer surface;
- ii. a collar, said collar having an inner collar surface with at least one inner collar thread;
- and
- iii. at least two mating receptacles, said mating receptacles electrically connected to said electrical conductors of said second element;
- (iii) orienting said first and second elements such that the pins of said first element are in telescoping alignment with said mating receptacles of said second element;
- (iv) engaging said telescoping coupling inner surface of said first element with said telescoping coupling outer surface of said second element;
- and
- (v) engaging said coupling thread of said first element with said inner collar thread of said second element.
35 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.