AU2011200872B2

AU2011200872B2 - An electrical coupler

Info

Publication number: AU2011200872B2
Application number: AU2011200872A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edwin William Wilson
Original assignee: RON WILSON ELECTRICAL Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RON WILSON ELECTRICAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-01
Filing date: 2011-03-01
Publication date: 2017-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-01
Also published as: AU2011200872A1; GB2478418B; GB2478418A; GB201103589D0

Abstract

An electrical coupler comprising a conductive member arranged to engage an electrical conductor, wherein the 5 conductive member has a tail portion arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor. a

Description

2011200872 14 Sep 2017 1

AN ELECTRICAL COUPLER

Technical Field 5 The present invention relates to an electrical coupler, and particularly, although not exclusively to an electrical coupler to couple an electrical conductor to an appliance or device. 10 Background

Electrical appliances may include a number of different operating devices or smaller appliances to facilitate their operation. These devices or appliances 15 may require servicing or replacement during the operating life of the appliance. For example, kitchen appliances such as stoves or ovens may include a number of different devices, such as heat elements or fan elements.

However, different manufacturers of electrical 20 appliances or devices may use different types of wiring connectors to connect devices to a power source within an appliance. This results in compatibility issues between parts and interchangeable devices within the electrical appliance. In turn, these problems may affect the ease 25 with which repairs or servicing may be completed.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present 30 invention, there is provided an electrical coupler comprising a conductive member having a base, an aperture in the base arranged to securely receive a fastener to facilitate application of a compressive force to connect 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 2 the conductive member to at least one electrical conductor, and two arms extending from the base, each arm being arranged to engage an electrical conductor, the base having no parts extending from it other than the two arms; 5 a tail member comprising a head portion and a tail portion, wherein the head portion comprises an aperture arranged to receive the fastener, and wherein the tail portion is adapted to engage a device, whereby to form an electrical connection between the at least one electrical 10 conductor and the device, and wherein the conductive member and tail member are separate components arranged to be secured by the fastener.

In an embodiment, the electrical conductor is an electric cable. 15 In an embodiment, the electrical conductor comprises a blade receptacle connector, and at least one of the arms is arranged to engage the blade receptacle connector.

In an embodiment, the electrical conductor comprises a connector including a connector member having an 20 aperture arranged to receive the fastener, wherein the conductive member and head portion of the tail member are arranged to be fastened to the connector member by way of the aperture and fastener.

In an embodiment, the tail portion is arranged to 25 engage a power delivery port of the device.

In an embodiment, the tail portion is welded to the device .

In an embodiment, the device is a heat element or a fan element. The device may be a heat or fan element of a 30 kitchen appliance such as stove or oven.

In an embodiment, the tail portion includes a knob, arranged to engage a power delivery point of the device. 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 30 3

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a device to a power source, comprising the steps of: connecting a coupler in accordance with the first 5 aspect of the invention to the device; and connecting the electrical conductor to the electrical coupler, the electrical conductor being connected to a power source . 10

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 A to C are isometric views of an electrical coupler in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front, side, top and isometric view of 20 the conductive member of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front, side, top and isometric view of the tail plate of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of an electrical coupler; 25 Figure 5 is a front, side, rear and top view of the electrical coupler of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a number of different connectors;

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating two electrical coupler of Figure 1 installed on a device;

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the electrical coupler of Figure 1 engaged to a slot-type connector; and 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 4

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the electrical coupler of Figure 1 engaged to an annular type of connector; 5 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated an electrical coupler 100 comprising a conductive member 102 arranged to engage an electrical conductor, wherein the 10 conductive member 102 has a tail portion 108 arranged to engage a device to form an electrical connection between the device and the electrical conductor.

In this embodiment, the electrical coupler 100 is arranged to couple an electrical conductor, such as an 15 electrical cable, to a device. In one example, the electrical coupler 100 is arranged to be installed on a device or appliance whilst being engaged to an electrical conductor to provide an electrical connection between the electrical conductor and the device or appliance. 20 The coupler 100 may include a conductive member 102 engaged to a tail plate 108. In these embodiments, the conductive member 102 is engaged to the tail plate by a fastener either by placing the plate 108 above the conductive member 102 (as shown in A and C) or below the 25 conductive member 102 (as shown in B). In both embodiments, the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 have a plurality of apertures 112A, 112B and 112C of which at least one 112C is arranged to align together to allow a fastener, such as a screw, to penetrate both the 30 conductive member 102 and the plate 108 to engage the components together to define the coupler 100.

Preferably, the coupler 100 is made using conductive materials, such as a metal or metallic alloy including, 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 - 5 - without limitation, stainless steel, iron, or copper. The coupler may be formed by engaging a conductive member 102 with a tail member 108 which would define the coupler having a conductive member and a tail portion which are 5 separate components engaged together to form the coupler 100. An example embodiment of a coupler constructed by separate components of the conductive member 102 and the tail member 108 is illustrated in Figure 1.

The coupler 100 may be engaged to a device or 10 appliance by connecting the tail portion 108 to a power or control point of a device or appliance. The power or control point includes, without limitation, a conductive point, port or node arranged for power, earthing or control signals to be supplied to the device or appliance. 15 In some examples, the tail portion 108 may be fastened or otherwise engaged to the power or control point by the use of a fastener. In other examples, the tail may be welded directly onto the power or control point to form a suitable electrical contact with the device. In the 20 example illustrated in C, the tail plate 108 includes a screw-on knob which is arranged to be received by a power or control point to thereby engage the coupler 100 to the power or control point.

With reference to Figure 2, an embodiment of the 25 conductive member 102 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the conductive member 102 has two arms 104, 106 protruding in a substantially perpendicular manner from the base.

The conductive member 102 includes a U-shaped bracket defined by a planar sheet of conductive materials 30 deliberately bent to a U-shape such that the member 102 has two protruding arms 104, 106. In some examples, the conductive member may have three apertures 112A to 112C distributed on the base and each arm 104, 106 of the 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 6 conductive member 102. These apertures may be sized to allow fasteners to engage to the apertures such that peripheral items such as a conductor, cables, points or contacts can be fastened to the conductive member 102 so 5 as to allow electricity or electrical signals to be transmitted from the conductor through the coupler 100 to a device or appliance.

With reference to Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of the tail plate 108. In this embodiment, the 10 tail plate 108 may be engaged to the conductive member 102 to define a tail portion 108 of the coupler 100. The tail plate 108 may be generally planar with a head portion 120 arranged to engage to the conductive member 102 and an end portion 122 arranged to engage to a device or appliance. 15 The tail plate may also include an aperture 112D which, in this embodiment is located in the head portion 120 of the plate 108. The aperture 112D may align with an aperture 112C of the conductive member to allow a fastener to engage the plate 108 and the conductive member 102 20 together to define a coupler 100.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, there is illustrated another coupler. The coupler 400 may be made from a single planar sheet of metal or other conductive material which is cut to define a T-shaped planar plate 25 with. Two flaps which extend horizontally from the member 102 to define the T-shaped plate may each be folded upwards from the member 102. Once folded, the flaps will define a pair of vertically protruding arms 104, 106.

The coupler 400 may comprise a substantially planar 30 member 402 having two arms 404, 406 protruding in a substantially perpendicular manner from the member 402.

In some examples, the member 402 may taper slightly 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 30 7 towards an end distal to the arms 404, 406 to define a tail portion 408.

The coupler 400 may be engaged to a device or appliance by connecting the tail portion 408 to a power or 5 control point of a device or appliance. These power or control point includes, without limitations, a conductive point, port or node arranged for power, earthing or control signals to be supplied to the device or appliance. In some examples, the tail portion 408 may be fastened or 10 otherwise engaged to the power or control point by the use of a fastener. In other examples, the tail may be welded directly onto the power or control point to form a suitable electrical contact with the device.

The coupler 400 may also include at least one 15 aperture. As shown in Figure 4, the coupler 400 in this example has three apertures 412A-412C, with 412A and 412B being located on the arms 404, 406 and 412C located on the member 402. These apertures may be used to engage an electrical conductor such that in use, electricity or 20 electrical signals may be transmitted from the conductor through the coupler 400 to a device or appliance.

With reference to Figure 6, there are illustrated some embodiments of electrical connectors which may be engaged to the coupler 100 or 400.

25 The first connector 602 is an electrical cable 602A with the insulation end removed to expose the electrical wire. This is commonly known as a "stripped wire".

The second connector 604 is an electrical cable 604A having a substantially annular ring made of conductive material being connected to the electrical wire within the cable . 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 8

The third connector 606 is a blade receptacle connector made of conductive materials arranged to be connected to the electrical wire within the cable 606A.

In use, the electrical cable 602A, 604A and 606A may 5 be connected to a switch or power source to deliver power or act as the earth connection to the device or appliance. For example, where the device concerned is a heat element for an electric stove, the electrical cables connected could be a power source, such as Neutral or Active (in 10 Alternating Current), or be a ground (or earth) cable to deliver power away from the device. These cables 602A, 604A and 606A may be engaged to the coupler 100, 400 to form an electrical contact with the coupler 100, 400. As the coupler 100, 400 is electrically conductive, 15 electrical power or electrical signals may be transmitted through the coupler 100, 400 to a device or appliance connected to the coupler 100, 400. This thereby allows the cables 602A, 604A and 606A to form an electrical connection with the device or appliance. 20 With reference to Figure 7, there is shown two couplers 100, 400 being fastened to a power input point 702 and an earth point 704 of a device. In this example, each coupler is engaged to the points 702, 704 by a bolt and nut arrangement which penetrates the aperture 112C and 25 each of the points 702, 704 to securely engage the couplers 100, 400 to each of the points. In other examples, the tail portion of the coupler 100, 400 may be directly welded or otherwise engaged to the power points of the device to engage the coupler 100, 400 to the points 30 702, 704.

With reference to Figure 8, an electrical cable 802 with a blade receptacle connector 804 may then be plugged into an arm 106 of the coupler 100, 400 to engage the 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 - 9 - cable 802 with the coupler 100, 400 to form an electrical connection. In this example, the arms 104, 106 (or 404, 406) of the coupler 100, 400 may be sized to fit snugly into suitably sized blade receptacle connectors. In other 5 examples, the arms 106 may be formed to taper from the member 102 (or 402) such that varying sizes of blade receptacles connectors may fit snugly to form a suitable electrical connection.

In yet a further example, the arms may have a tooth, 10 slot or shoulder cut into the join between the arms 104, 106 (or 404, 406) and the member 102 (or 402) to act as a detent to securely engage the connectors engaged therein.

With reference to Figure 9, there is shown an embodiment of the coupler 100, 400 engaged to a power and 15 earth point of a device 900 wherein an electrical cable 902 having an annular ring connector 904 is engaged to the coupler 100, 400. In this embodiment, the ring 904 is aligned with aperture 102C (or 402C) and fastened onto the coupler 100, 400 by means of a screw or bolt and nut 20 arrangement 906. Once the ring is engaged to the coupler 100, 400, the electrical cable 902 is in electrical connection with the device through the coupler 100, 400. A similar bond can be created between the coupler 100, 400 and an electrical cable with its end insulation 25 removed. The wire which is exposed after the insulation is stripped off may be placed into electrical contact with the coupler 100, 400 by inserting the exposed wire into or adjacent to an aperture then proceeding to secure the exposed wire on the coupler 100, 400 by inserting and 30 securing the wire with a fastener to engage the wire to the coupler 100, 400.

In embodiments where the coupler 100 is constructed by engaging the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 2011200872 14 Sep 2017 10 108 together. The stripped wire or annular ring may be engaged to the coupler 100 by engage the wire or ring in between the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108. As the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 is 5 engaged together by the fastener, the external faces of the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 forms a suitable surface to press onto the ring or stripped wire in order to engage the wire. This embodiment is advantageous in that the engagement is very strong whilst 10 being easily manipulated by adjusting the fasteners engaging the conductive member 102 and the tail plate 108 together.

Embodiments of the present invention may be advantageous in that a device within an appliance may be 15 interchanged without the requirement of the user to be concerned as to the type of connector which may be found to supply electrical power or control signals to a device. This is because at least one embodiment of the invention allows for multiple forms of connectors to connect to the 20 coupler. As such, users may be able to efficiently install a new device without having to be concerned with the connectors which are found within an appliance.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is 25 common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein are used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the sense of "consisting only of". 30

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An electrical coupler comprising: a conductive member having a base, an aperture in the base 5 arranged to securely receive a fastener to facilitate application of a compressive force to connect the conductive member to at least one electrical conductor, and two arms extending from the base, each arm being arranged to engage an electrical conductor, the base 10 having no parts extending from it other than the two arms; a tail member comprising a head portion and a tail portion, wherein the head portion comprises an aperture arranged to receive the fastener, and wherein the tail portion is adapted to engage a device, whereby to form an 15 electrical connection between the at least one electrical conductor and the device, and wherein the conductive member and tail member are separate components arranged to be secured by the fastener.
2. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is an electric cable.
3 . An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a 25 blade receptacle connector, and at least one arm is arranged to engage the blade receptacle connector.
4. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a 30 connector including a connector member having an aperture arranged to receive the fastener, wherein the conductive member and head portion of the tail member are arranged to be fastened to the connector member by way of the aperture and fastener.
5 . An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of 5 the preceding Claims, wherein the tail portion is arranged to engage a power delivery port of the device.
6. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the tail portion is arranged 10 to be welded to the device.
7 . An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the tail portion includes a knob arranged to engage a power delivery point of the 15 device.
8 . An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the device is a heat element. 20
9. An electrical coupler in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the device is a fan element.
10. An electrical coupler in accordance with Claim 8 or 25 Claim 9, wherein the coupler is arranged for application with heat elements or fan elements for stoves or ovens.
11. A method of connecting a device to a power source 30 comprising the steps of: Connecting the electrical coupler of any one of Claims 1 to 10 to the device; and connecting the electrical conductor to the electrical coupler, the electrical conductor being connected to a power source .
12. A method in accordance with Claim 11, wherein the 5 electrical conductor includes a stripped cable end, a conductive plate with an aperture, a blade receptacle or any combination thereof.