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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to electrical outlet receptacles and more
particularly to electrical outlet receptacles having rearrangeable input
terminals for selective engagement with any one of a plurality of
terminals of an electrical junction block representing different
electrical circuits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the modern office environment and other work locations, the need for
electrical power is ever increasing. Furthermore, several separate
electrical circuits may be required in one area to accommodate various
types of equipment such as computers, communication equipment and the like
on independent electrical circuits. The circuit requirements are generally
such that for some circuits a ground conductor may be shared whereas for
other circuits, e.g., certain computer equipment, an isolated ground
circuit may be required. In a similar fashion, some circuits having
separate positive conductors may share a common or neutral conductor
whereas for other circuits separate positive and common conductors are
required. Typical known multiple circuit arrangements provide a power
junction block or the like with a plurality of terminals representing a
plurality of circuits.
One prior art arrangement as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.
4,367,370, dated Jan. 4, 1983, discloses an outlet receptacle block having
a ground terminal, a common terminal, and three positive terminals for
engaging corresponding terminals of a junction block. The ground and
common terminals are connected to the ground and common receptacle output
terminals for engagement with the prongs of a standard three-prong
electrical cord. The receptacle block further includes a switch which
selectively connects one of the three positive prongs to the positive
receptacle outlet connector, internal to the outlet receptacle block.
In another prior art arrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,223,
dated May 19, 1987, an outlet block is provided with a movable terminal to
selectively engage one of three positive junction block terminals. The
outlet receptacle block of this prior art arrangement includes a
conducting shaft electrically connected to the positive outlet terminal of
the outlet receptacle block and to the movable terminal. The movable
terminal may be slid upwardly or downwardly to a desired position for
engagement with one of three positive connector terminals of the power
junction block.
In yet another prior art arrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,609,
dated Nov. 1, 1988, the outlet receptacle block is provided with a pair of
slidable terminals mounted on a carrier to assure synchronous movement of
the two contacts. The junction block is provided with a ground terminal,
three positive and three common terminals defining three separate circuits
with a common ground. The carrier on the outlet receptacle block may be
positioned so that one of its terminals engages one of the positive
terminals of the junction block and the other engages the corresponding
common terminal. A sliding electrical contact internal to the receptacle
block provides contact between the movable terminals and corresponding
terminals for engagement with the prongs of a standard electrical cord.
In each of the above-mentioned prior art arrangements, an electrical switch
contact between a movable part and a stationary part is employed to
connect the outlet terminals of the outlet receptacle block to its input
terminals engaging the power junction block. A disadvantage of these prior
art arrangements is that sliding contacts, particularly in a relatively
high current environment, introduce resistance and may fail to provide the
proper electrical continuity desired. Furthermore, sliding contacts add to
the expense of the outlet receptacle block.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome in
accordance with this invention by means of an electrical outlet receptacle
block having a housing and at least one flexible conductor bar having one
portion fixedly attached to the housing and electrically connected to one
of the outlet receptacle terminals of the receptacle block. An end of the
flexible bar is a movable terminal end which may be moved to at least two
separate positions for selective alignment with different terminals of a
junction block having at least two different circuits. In one particular
embodiment, an electrical junction block comprises eight terminals, four
positive terminals, two neutral terminals, and two ground terminals; the
outlet receptacle block is provided with three conductor bars for
connection to positive, neutral, and ground outlet terminals; and the
flexible bars may be selectively positioned to connect the ground outlet
terminal to either of the two ground junction block terminals, the neutral
outlet terminal to either of the two neutral junction block terminals, and
the positive outlet terminal to any one of the four positive junction
block terminals.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the outlet receptacle block
is provided with at least one manually operable control lever engaging the
movable end of at least one flexible bar, and the receptacle outlet block
is provided with a housing having an elongated slot on one surface for
accommodating the control lever. The control lever is disposed partially
below the surface and has a protuberance extended through the slot. The
protuberance is of a generally rectangular shape and fits snugly in the
opening to prevent any significant rotation of the protuberance in the
opening. The control lever, of which the protuberance is a part, is
provided with an opening which engages a longitudinal section of the
conductor bar. Movement of the control lever in the slot causes a bending
in a portion of the control bar between the control lever and a fixed
anchor point of the flexible conductor bar internal to the receptacle
outlet block housing. A terminal end portion of the conductor bar extends
beyond the control lever substantially perpendicular to an end wall of the
receptacle outlet block housing, for engagement with terminals of the
junction block.
In accordance with one particular aspect of the invention, the outlet
receptacle block comprises a retaining device for retaining each of the
control blocks in a predetermined position to prevent movement of the
control block due to the bending forces exerted on the control block from
the conductor bar. In one particular embodiment, a flexible metallic strap
is provided opposite the slotted opening and is provided with a plurality
of indentations corresponding to desired terminal positions for engaging
the control lever at a plurality of different positions.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, the conductor bars extend
longitudinally in a outlet receptacle housing and are provided with end
portions extending in openings in opposing end walls of the housing. In
accordance with another embodiment, the housing is provided with a front
wall and a back wall, and the conducting bars are provided with an
extension section extending through the back wall of the housing for
engagement with different ones of a plurality of terminals in a junction
block. In one configuration, the conductor bars corresponding to the
positive and neutral outlet receptacle terminals are engaged by a common
control lever to assure synchronized motion of the positive and neutral
conductor bars to allow for connection of a plurality of different
circuits, each having an assigned positive terminal and a corresponding
neutral terminal.
In accordance with one particular aspect of the invention, the outlet
receptacle housing is provided with a window opening for displaying
indices indicating a selected electrical circuit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
An illustrative embodiment of the invention is described in the following
detailed description, with reference to the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical power junction block and an
outlet receptacle incorporating the principles of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective cutaway view of the outlet receptacle
block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cutaway top view of the junction block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the outlet receptacle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a conductor bar control lever of the outlet
receptacle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a junction
block and outlet receptable block incorporating the principles of the
invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cutaway view of the receptacle block of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective fragmentary view of the back side of the receptacle
outlet block of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cutaway view of the outlet receptacle block of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction block 110 of a type
which may be used in a raceway of a movable wall panel and which provides
electrical outlets as well as electrical power connections to adjoining
wall panels. The junction block 110, in this example, is a double-sided
junction block having two oppositely facing female connectors 112 on each
side of the junction block, thereby providing accommodations for four
separate electrical connections. An electrical outlet receptacle block 130
is shown in FIG. 1 and is provided with a set of three male connector
terminals at each end. Since a number of independent electrical circuits
may be required in a wall panel, the female connector 112 is provided with
a plurality of female connector terminals representing several different
circuits. In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the connector
112 comprises eight female terminals 114 through 121 as shown in FIG. 1.
By way of example, the lower four terminals 118 through 121 may represent
positive wire terminals for four separate circuits. The next two terminals
116 and 117 may represent two separate neutral wire terminals, and the
upper two terminals 114 and 115 may represent two separate ground wire
terminals. This terminal configuration provides for four separate circuits
with some sharing of neutral and ground wire terminals. In order to be
able to selectively provide a circuit configuration which consists of any
combination of positive, neutral and ground connections at the outlet
receptable block 130, the outlet block is provided with independently
movable terminals at each end. FIG. 1 shows three such movable terminals
132 through 134 on the left side of the outlet block 130. A corresponding
set of switchable terminals (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the right
side of the outlet block 130. The movable terminals on the left-hand side
and the right-hand side of the electrical outlet block are positioned in
mirror image of each other about a vertical centerline of the outlet block
130 to allow the outlet block 130 to be inserted in any one of the four
connectors 112 of junction block 110. The movable terminals 132 through
134 are positioned by means of the slidable levers 140 through 142,
independently movable in slots 145 through 147, respectively, provided for
that purpose. Accordingly, any one of the four positive terminal
connections 118 through 121 of female connector 112, either one of the
neutral terminal connections 116, 117 of female connector 112, and either
one of the ground connections 114, 115 of female terminal 112 may be
independently selected by selective operation of the slidable levers 140
through 142.
The junction block 110 is provided with support flanges 128 to support an
electrical receptable block such as block 130. The lower support flanges
may be provided with a tab 129 for appropriate engagement with a slotted
area on the lower portion of the receptable block 130 (not shown in the
drawing) or other suitable retaining arrangement. One such arrangement is
shown in my co-pending application entitled "Electrical Interconnection
Assembly," Ser. No. 07/570,879, filed Aug. 22, 1990. The connectors 112 of
junction block 110 are provided with latch members 125. Flanges 126 of the
receptable block 130 are provided for engagement with the latch members
125.
FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the receptable outlet block 130,
showing a set of neutral receptable connectors 201, a set of ground
receptable connectors 202 and a set of positive receptable connectors 203.
Connectors 201 are attached to, and electrically interconnected by means
of , a horizontally extending interconnecting bar 206. Bar 2-6, in turn,
is attached to and electrically connected to an angle support 210 which is
attached to, and provides electrical interconnection to, a horizontally
extending flexible conductor bar 216. The flexible bar 216 is retained in
outlet block 130 by means of retainer posts 220 or other appropriate
attaching means, attached to back wall 230. In a similar fashion, ground
receptacle connectors 202 are interconnected by means of a horizontally
extending interconnecting bar 207 attached to a angle bracket 211, which,
in turn, is attached to a horizontally extending flexible bar 217. In the
same manner, receptacle connectors 203 are interconnected by means of
horizontal interconnecting bar 208 attached to angle bracket 212, which,
in turn, is attached to the horizontally extending flexible bar 218.
Flexible bars 217 and 218, are positionally maintained by retaining post
220 or other suitable attachment means. Flexible conductor bars 216, 217
and 218 extend between opposite ends of the outlet block 130 and male
connectors 132 through 134 are formed integral with bars 216 through 218,
respectively. As is apparent from the shape and configuration of the
outlet block 130, as depicted in FIG. 1, the receptacle connectors 201
through 203 are positioned at a greater distance from the back wall 230
than the movable terminals 132 through 134 which are formed integral with
conductor bars 216 through 218, respectively. The angle brackets 210, 211
and 212 are provided with riser sections 213, 214 and 215, respectively,
having a length as required to obtain the appropriate spacing between the
receptacle connectors 201, 202, 203 and their corresponding flexible
conductor bars 216, 217 and 218, respectively. The receptacle connectors
201, 202, 203 as well as the interconnecting bars 206, 207, 208 and the
angle brackets 210, 211, 212 and flexible bars 216, 217 and 218 are made
of copper or copper alloy or other conductive material. The housing,
including the back wall 230, of the outlet block 130 as well as the
junction block 110 may be made of a hard plastic or other suitable
insulating material.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the outlet block 130
showing movable male terminals 132 through 134 on the left side and
movable male terminals 232, 234 and 236 on the right side of outlet block
130. In FIG. 3, the risers 213, 214 and 215 are shown in cross section
while the remainder of the angle brackets 211, 210 and 212 and the
associated receptacle connectors 201, 202 and 203 are deleted from the
view of FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity. Further shown in FIG. 3 are
movable control levers 140, 141 and 142 for controlling the selective
positioning of left side terminal blades 132, 133 and 134, respectively.
Levers 140, 141 and 142 are movable in slots 145, 146 and 147,
respectively, to selectively position terminal blade 132 through 134 in
alternate positions as shown in phantom in FIG. 3.
Flexible conductor bar 216, which is electrically connected to neutral
receptacle connectors 201, as shown in FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. 3 in a
position 251. Terminal blade 132, which is formed integral with flexible
bar 216, is shown positioned in position 281. Positions 281 and 282, shown
in FIG. 3 in phantom, correspond positionally to the locations of
terminals 114 and 115 of the connector 112. A sliding movement of levers
140 in slot 145 allows the terminal blade 132 to be moved to position 282,
causing a corresponding movement of the left-hand portion of flexible bar
216 from position 251 to position 252. The right-hand portion of flexible
bar 216 is shown in position 254 in FIG. 3, and terminal blade 232, formed
integral with flexible bar 216 is shown in position 292. This position
corresponds to the position of terminal 115 of connector 112. Movement of
the slidable levers 240 in slot 245 causes flexible bar 216 to be moved
from position 254 to position 253 and causes terminal bade 232 to be moved
to position 291. The latter position corresponds to the position of
terminal 115 of connector 112. In an analogous fashion, the left-hand
portion of flexible bar 217, which is electrically connected to ground
terminal connectors 202, may be moved between positions 261 and 262 by
means of movement of the sliding lever 141 in slot 146. Such movement
causes the terminal blade 133 to be selectively positioned in positions
283 or 284 which correspond to the positions of terminals 116 and 117,
respectively, of terminal 112. Similarly, the right-hand portion of
flexible bar 217 may be moved between positions 263 and 264 by movement of
the slidable lever 241 in slot 246. Accordingly, terminal blade 234, which
is formed integral with flexible bar 217, may be moved between positions
293 and 294. The latter two positions correspond to the positions of
terminals 116 and 117, respectively, of connector 112. Flexible bar 218
may be positioned in any one of four positions on both the left side and
right side of the receptacle outlet block 130 to positions corresponding
to four positive wire terminals 118 through 121 of connector 112. The
left-hand portion of flexible bar 218 may be moved by a siding motion of
the lever 142 in slot 147 between positions 271 through 274.
Correspondingly, terminal blade 134, which is formed integral with
flexible bar 218, is movable between positions 285 through 288. The latter
correspond to the positions of terminals 118 through 121, respectively, of
connector 112. In an analogous fashion, the right-hand portion of flexible
bar 218 maybe moved between positions 275 through 278 by operation of the
slidable lever 242 in slot 247. Accordingly, terminal blade 236, formed
integral with flexible bar 218 will be moved between positions 295 through
298, which correspond to the position of terminals 118 through 121,
respectively, of terminal 112.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary left side view of outlet receptacle block
130. FIG. 4 shows a left end wall 400 and an opening 401 in the wall 400
to allow for lateral movement of the terminal blade 134 engaged by the
slidable lever 142. Positioned within the opening 401 is a flexible plate
420 provided with a plurality of indentations 421, one of such
indentations corresponding to each of the four positions for slidable
lever 142. A lateral force on lever 142 causes a protuberance 422 on lever
142 to locally depress a portion of the plate 420 and allows the plate 420
to return to the substantially horizontal position when the protuberance
422 engages one of the indentations 421. In this manner, the slidable
lever 142 and terminal blade 134 may be selectively positioned in any one
of the indentations 421 in alignment with terminals of connector 112.
Similarly, terminal blade 133 may be moved by means of movable lever 141
in opening 402 and along flexible plate 430. Flexible plate 430 is
provided with indentations 431 for engagement by a protuberance 432 on
lever 141. Terminal blade 132 is similarly movable in opening 403 by
sliding lever 140 along flexible plate 440 provided with indentations 441.
A protuberance 442 on lever 140 engages indentations 441. Flexible plates
420, 430 and 440 may, for example, be fabricated of steel or other alloy
having suitable resilient properties. The plates 420, 430 and 440 are
supported on raised end sections 412 and may be fastened thereto by means
of appropriate fasteners 413.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the slidable control
levers 142, e.g., lever disposed in slot 147, of outlet block 130. The
outlet block 130 has a frontal wall 231 which incorporates slots 145, 146
and 147. The control levers 140, 141, and 142 are all constructed in the
same manner depicted for control lever 142 in FIG. 5. Lever 142 is
provided with a body generally depicted at 450 having an upper portion 454
and a lower portion 455. The lower portion 455 is disposed behind the
frontal wall 231 while the upper portion 454 extends beyond the frontal
wall 231 for manual contact. The lower portion 455 is provided with a
upper surface 456, and control lever body 450 is dimensioned such that the
upper surface 456 engages the interior surface of wall 231. Wall 231 and
flexible plate 420 cooperate to retain lever 142 in alignment with one of
the indentations 421 absent a substantial lateral force on lever 142.
Lever 142 is provided with an opening 452 for accommodating a terminal
blade, e.g., 134, (not shown in FIG. 5). The body 450 has a longitudinal
dimension in the direction coextensive with the terminal blade, which is
substantial, e.g., on the order of one-half inch. As the flexible bar,
e.g., 218 of which terminal blade 134 is a part, is moved to a deflected
position, a turning force is exerted on control lever 142. This force is
counteracted by forces between portions of the wall 231 forming side walls
405 of slot 147 and the upper portion 454 of lever 142. In this manner,
the flexible bar 218 is bent as it is moved to a deflected state primarily
in the area between retainer post 220 and the switch 142. Advantageously,
this arrangement assures that the integrally formed terminal blade 134
extends substantially perpendicular to the left side wall 233 of outlet
block 130 and in proper alignment with terminals of connector 112 in each
of the four selectable positions. The structure of switch 142 has been
described with respect to FIG. 5. Switches 140, 141, 240, 241 and 242 are
constructed and operated in the same fashion as the switch 142.
FIGS. 6 through 9 represent an alternate embodiment of the invention. A
receptacle block 300 is provided with a front panel 301 having a plurality
of outlet receptacles 302 through 305, shown in FIG. 6, and a back panel
330 provided with a plurality of movable connector blades 310 through 315,
shown in FIG. 8. The male connector blades 310 through 315 may be
selectively inserted in female connectors of the connector junction block
331 of FIG. 6. The junction block 331 may, for example, be a junction
block used in a modular wall panel system and suspended by means of lugs
339 in a raceway in a wall panel. Block 331 comprises one group of four
female terminal positions 320 through 323. These four terminals are
connected to four separate conductors internal to the junction block 331
representing the positive conductor of four separate circuits. In a
similar fashion, the four female connectors 324 through 327 are connected
to four separate conductors representing the neutral conductor of the same
four separate circuits. The male connector blades 314 and 315 are adapted
for engagement with one of the female terminals 324 through 327 and one of
the terminals 320 through 323, respectively. The blades 314 and 315 are
ganged and arranged such that the blade 314 engages a neutral terminal of
one of the four separate circuits while blade 315 engages the positive
terminal of the same circuit. Ground wires are provided in the junction
block 331 and are connected to the two separate ground terminals 328 and
329. One of the ground wires may, for example, be a standard ground, and
the other may be an isolated ground reserved for special applications such
as certain computer installations. Male connector blade 313 (FIG. 8) may
be selectively inserted in either of the female ground terminal positions
328 and 329. In this embodiment, the terminals 313 through 315 are
connected to corresponding terminals of outlet receptacles 302 and 303.
Accordingly, by selective positioning of the terminal blades 313 through
315, the outlet receptacles 302 and 303 may be arranged for connection to
positive and neutral terminals of one of four separate circuits and one of
two separate ground wires.
The front panel 301 and back panel 330 of receptacle block 300 and the
front panel 332 of junction block 339 are arranged in an essentially
symmetrical configuration about a vertically extending centerline.
Junction block 331 is provided with four positive terminals 335 which are
individually connected to the same set of positive conductors as are
connected to the terminals 320 through 323. Similarly, the four terminals
of the group indicated at 334 are individually connected to the same four
neutral conductors as are connected to terminals 324 through 327, and the
two terminals shown at 333 are individually connected to the same ground
conductors as the terminals 328 and 329. The male connector blades 310
through 312 are connected to outlet receptacle terminals 304 and 305 and
may be selectively positioned to connect the terminals 304 and 305 to any
one of the aforementioned four separate circuits and either of the two
separate ground conductors.
The front panel 302 of the receptacle block 300 is provided with a
plurality of windows 306 through 309. The windows display numerical
indices identifying the selected circuits and ground connection. By way of
illustration, the numeral 4 displayed in window 306 shows that the outlet
receptacle 302 and 303 are connected to circuit 4 and the G in window 307
shows that the common ground conductor has been selected for these
receptacles. In a similar fashion the numeral 2 displayed in window 309
shows that circuit 2 has been selected for receptacle 304 and 305 and the
designation IG in window 308 indicates that the isolated ground connection
has been selected. FIG. 8 shows selector levers 316 and 317 for
selectively controlling the selection of one of four separate circuits for
the pairs of outlets 302, 303 and 304, 305, respectively. Selector levers
318 and 319 control the position of the male ground terminal blades 312
and 313, respectively.
FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the outlet block 300 with the panel 301
removed. FIG. 7 shows a pair of positive, electrically interconnected
receptacle terminals 341, 342 supported by interconnecting support bar
351. Bar 351 is attached to an interconnecting plate 352 extending from
the front to the back of receptacle block 300. A positive flexible
conductor bar 361, connected to plate 352, extends generally horizontally
and is formed integral with male terminal blade 315 (FIG. 8). In a similar
fashion, neutral receptacle terminals 343, 344 are supported by means of
an interconnecting support bar 353 attached to plate 354 which extends
from the front to the back of receptacle block 300. A neutral flexible
conductor bar 362 is connected to plate 354 and is formed integral with
male terminal blade 314 (FIG. 8). Ground terminals 345 and 346 are
supported by, and electrically interconnected by means of, support bar
355, attached to electrically conductive support plate 356. A ground
flexible conductor bar 363 is connected to plate 356 and is formed
integral with male terminal blade 313 (FIG. 8). Conductor bars 361 and 362
are ganged together by means of selector lever 317, the other side of
which is shown in FIG. 8. Movement of the selector lever 317 will cause
both the positive and neutral conductor bars 361 and 362 to be moved
simultaneously to engage a selected pair of terminals 320 through 323 and
334 through 327, respectively. The numerals 1 through 4 are shown on
selector lever 317 to allow the proper number to be exposed to window 306.
Lever 319 is used to move conductor bar 363 and the letter indications G
and IG are provided on the lever to allow the appropriate letter to show
in window 307. Two pairs of retainer posts 348 are provided to retain the
conductor bar 363 and its plate 356 in position within the receptacle
block 300. Similar sets of retainer posts are used with conductor bars 361
and 362 but are not individually numbered in the drawing. A mirror image
of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is contained in the right-hand half of
receptacle block 300 for receptacles 304 and 305, but is not shown
separately in the drawing.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary back elevation of the left-hand portion of
receptacle block 300 with the back cover panel 330 removed. FIG. 9 shows
the conductor bars 361, 362, and 363 terminating in male terminals 315,
314, and 313, respectively. Further, selector levers 319 and 317 are
shown. Brackets 370, 371, and 372 indicate the various selectable
positions of conductor bars 361, 362, and 363, respectively. Alternate
positions are shown in phantom. The positions indicated by the brackets
correspond to the various terminals of terminal sets 320, 321, and 322.
It will be understood that the above-described embodiments are only
illustrative of the invention and that numerous other configurations can
be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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