ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEMENT, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
An electrically conductive element, including an insulator and a first conductor, is provided, which can be affixed to a second conductor consisting of conductive structural element, wherein the insulator is positioned between the first and second conductors to electrically isolate them. A power supply may be connected between the first and second conductors to provide power thereto, and an electrical device may be connected across the first and second conductors.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/093,789, filed Sep. 3, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to the field of electrically conductive elements, and more particularly to a conductive coating applied on an insulator and over a conductive structural element to facilitate a circuit.
Electrical wiring in houses, buildings, airplanes, trains, boats, motor vehicles, and the like are conventionally installed in dedicated locations and terminated in standardized receptacles which are difficult to either relocate or supplement without substantial modification to the respective structure. For example, relocating a chandelier from one location in a house will likely require an electrician to relocate the electrical wiring connections above the ceiling to the desired new location for the chandelier. Similarly, lighting or speaker location in a vehicle or airplane may not be adequately positioned due to reconfiguration of seating. Modification to the airplane's or vehicle's wiring to accommodate a new lighting or speaker placement would likely be expensive and difficult.
Moreover, electrical conductive materials are usually present in houses, buildings, airplanes, trains, boats, motor vehicles, and the like, but are used to provide structure, and not to conduct electrical power or signals. For example, a conventional suspended ceiling grid contains a network of interconnected metallic inverted “T”-shaped beams which are used to suspend acoustical ceiling tiles, but not to conduct electrical power or signals. Similarly, the interior compartment of an airplane, motor vehicle, or building may contain a steel framework to provide structure (or trim), but not to conduct electricity. It is desired to take advantage of these inherently conductive structural elements and use them to conduct electricity or other electrical signals, and thereby provide a multitude of easily accessible connection points for electrical devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first embodiment of the present invention, an electrically conductive element (the first conductor) is affixed to a conductive structural element (the second conductor), such as the trim of a motor vehicle or a beam of a suspended ceiling grid, with an insulator positioned between the first and second conductors. The first conductor may be comprised of an electrically conductive coating, such as a conductive ink. The insulator may be printed on the second conductor, and the first conductor may be printed on the insulator. The first conductor may be formed as a film, which in turn is applied to the insulator. Alternatively, the insulator and first conductor may be formed together as film, which in turn is applied to the second conductor, for example, as a retrofit to an existing second conductor.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of making an electrically conductive element is provided, which includes the steps of providing a first conductor, applying an insulator to a portion of the first conductor, and mechanically fastening (such as by crimping) the first conductor to a second conductor, such that the insulator is positioned between the first and second conductor.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, a method of making an electrically conductive element, by retrofitting an existing conductive structural element (second conductor), is provided. The method includes applying an insulator to the second conductor and applying a first conductor on the insulator. The insulator may be printed on the second conductor, and the first conductor may be printed on the insulator.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, an electrically conductive system is provided. The system includes a plurality of first and second conductors, where the second conductors are electrically connected to each other in the network and the first conductors are electrically connected to each other in the network. An insulator is positioned between each of the first and second conductors. The electrical system may also include a power supply, in which a positive side is connected to the first conductors and a negative side is connected to the second conductors, or vice versa, to provide power to electrical devices connected across the first and second conductors.
Other features of example embodiments of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In order to overcome the problems discussed above, an electrically conductive element is provided. This element can be applied to a preexisting conductive structural element, such as that used in a suspended ceiling grid or a vehicle framework, to form an electrical network that can be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to low-voltage power distribution. The electrical network has a multitude of connection points, so electrical devices may be placed in almost any desired location of a home, building, vehicle, plane, train, boat, etc.
The insulator 102 is typically dielectric and may be formed from conventional insulative materials such as ceramics, porcelain, plastics, glass, rubber, Teflon, paper, fiber, or the like. While specific types of insulative materials are mentioned it is to be understood that this list is not exhaustive of suitable materials which would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
The insulator 102 is preferably applied to the first conductor 104 by spraying, laminating or printing thereon. The thickness of the insulator 102 is sufficient to provide electrical isolation of a predetermined amount between the first and second conductor, typically 0.5 microns or higher, and preferably 5 microns.
The first conductor 104 is connected to at least a portion of the first side 108 of the insulator 102. The first conductor 104 may be connected to the insulator 102 by conventional mechanical techniques, such as by fastening with screws, nails, snap closure, crimping, or the like. Alternatively, the first conductor 104 may be connected to the insulator 102 by an adhesive or other chemical bonding material. The conductor 104 may be a conventional metal conductor or any suitable material capable of conducting an electrical signal. The first conductor 104 may also be comprised of a substrate that is coated with a conductive coating, such as a conductive paint 112. The conductive element 100 comprised of the insulator 102 and the first conductor 104 may be configured to be flexible, so it can be applied to curved surfaces or in or around corners, etc. In this case, the first conductor 104 and the insulator 102 material must be flexible.
The second side 110 of the insulator is affixed to the second conductor 106, that is, the conductive structural element. When the positive and negative sides of a power supply are respectively connected to the first 100 and second conductors 106, and a load (for example, a lighting fixture) is connected across the first conductor 104 and second conductor 106, electric current will be transferred through the first and second conductors to the load (See, e.g.,
The conductive element 200 shown in
Instead of coating the concave side of the metallic first conductor coil 203 with an insulating material, an insulator member 202 may be positioned in the concave channel formed by the first conductor coil 203. This insulator member 202 may be non-coated and either affixed to the concave surface (as discussed above with respect to the conductive element of
Alternatively, the element 200 may be constructed from an extruded, rolled, or cast insulator 202 formed having a concave surface facing the flange 208 of the second conductor 204. The outer convex surface of this curved insulator 202 may be coated with a conductive coating, such as a conductive paint or conductive ink. Alternatively, the first conductor 203 may be a metallic element, such as a metallic foil, mechanically connected to the curved insulator 202, such as for example by crimping, snapping, or other conventional fastening means.
The conductive element 200 in
In addition, the conductive element 300 shown in
Although the conductive element has been described in connection with a ceiling grid, it is within the scope of the invention that these and any other embodiments of the conductive element described herein are applicable to second conductors that take other forms, such as metallic structural or trim members in airplanes, cars, boats, buildings, etc. Some examples of metallic members for use in buildings are drywall ceiling grid, metallic drywall corner bead, metallic drywall studs, and metallic ceiling components such as utility trays, ceiling panels and other members that are known in the art. Moreover, a conductive element can be applied to a polymeric or other support material that are not necessarily made with metal, such as polymeric ceiling grid, chair rails, base boards, crown molding and other trim pieces.
The first and second conductors 203, 303, 303 and 204, 304, and 404, respectively, shown in
In another aspect of the invention, an electrically conductive system is provided. In one embodiment a plurality of conductive elements is provided, each comprised of an insulator having at least a first and a second portion. Each conductive element has a first conductor connected to a first side of the insulator and a second conductor connected to the second side of the insulator, as described above.
In the embodiment shown in
Optionally, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) 904 may be connected upstream or downstream of the power supply 901. A GFCI 904 constantly monitors electricity flowing in a circuit to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning, the GFCI 904 quickly switches off power to that circuit. A GFCI may be useful if power was to be applied to a conductive element in an area of an occupancy near a source of water, such as a kitchen or bathroom, or any other such location of an occupancy where such devices are required by building code. Further, a touch switch or any other known electrical switch may be connected in the circuit, in series or in parallel, to provide on/off capability.
References have been made above with respect to devices which may attach to various embodiments of the conductive element and the conductive system. Such devices may connect by mechanical means, such as by snap fit connection, twisting, clamping, soldering, and fastening. In addition devices may attach by adhesive force. An example of such a device is a lighting fixture 1101 shown in
As shown in
Claims
1. An electrically conductive element comprising:
- an insulator having first and second sides; and
- a first conductor connected to the first side of the insulator.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second conductor connected to the second side of the insulator.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second portion of the insulator is printed on the second conductor.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first conductor is printed on the first side of the insulator.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is comprised of an electrically conductive coating.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive coating is comprised of conductive ink.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is printed on the first layer of the insulator.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive element is formed as a film.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesive layer applied to the second layer of the insulator.
10. A method of making an electrically conductive element comprising the steps of:
- providing a second conductor;
- applying an insulator to the second conductor; and
- applying a first conductor to the insulator.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the applying the insulator step includes printing the insulator on the second conductor.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the applying the first conductor step includes printing the first conductor on the insulator.
13. A method of making an electrically conductive element comprising the steps of:
- providing a first conductor;
- applying an insulator to one side of the first conductor; and
- connecting the first conductor to a second conductor, wherein the insulator is positioned between the first and second conductor to electrically isolate them.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein connecting the first conductor includes crimping the first conductor and insulator onto the second conductor.
15. A method of making an electrically conductive element comprising the steps of:
- providing a second conductor;
- applying an electrically conductive film to the second conductor, the film comprising: an insulator having first and second sides; and a first conductor connected to the first side of the insulator, wherein the second side of the insulator is connects to the second conductor.
16. An electrically conductive system comprising:
- a plurality of conductive elements, each comprised of an insulator having first and second sides and a first conductor connected to the first side of the insulator;
- and plurality of second conductors respectively connected to the second sides of the insulators.
17. The electrical conductive system of claim 16, further comprised of a power supply, with one side of the power supply connected to one of the first conductors, and another side of the power supply connected to one of the second conductors.
18. The electrical conductive system of claim 17, further comprised of a capacitive switch connected in series between the power supply and the first and second conductors.
19. The electrical conductive system of claim 16, wherein the first conductors of the conductive elements interlock with each other and the second conductors of the conductive elements interlock with each other.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 20, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2016
Inventors: Daniel Boss (Lake Villa, IL), Scott Qualls (Chicago, IL), David Mcdonald (Glenview, IL), Terrance Z. Kaiserman (Loxahatchee, FL), Keith J. Margolin (West Palm Beach, FL), Michael Wassief (Boynton Beach, FL), Liang Chai (Stuart, FL)
Application Number: 14/947,250