Abstract:
A flexible connector system that includes a multi-terminal conductor, a housing that at least partially houses the multi-terminal conductor, a base member and complementary connection elements for connecting the housing and the base member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to power connectors, and in particular a power connector mounting system. Currently common mounting techniques amount to no more than ad hoc techniques and include rope, zip ties, or just allowing connections to lie on the ground. These approaches subject connectors to unwanted and unnecessary environmental and physical stress. For example, rope obviously degrades over time, particularly in damp environments. In addition, simply letting connections lie on the ground potentially subjects a connection to unwanted water and may be a safety hazard. Thus, a safe and convenient electrical connector mounting system is needed to avoid the unsafe and haphazard approach commonly used in power distribution systems. 
         [0002]    For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates a known wiring installation that comprises a hodgepodge of elements.  FIG. 1  shows three connectors  5 ,  10 , and  15  connecting three sets of wire assortments. The connectors  5 ,  10 , and  15  are held to a common hardware store type shelving track  20  by plastic tie wraps  25 . Common angle brackets  30  support the weight of connectors  5  and  10 . As mentioned above, in other installations, rope is used to hold the connectors up off the floor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector mounting system that is easy to use. 
         [0004]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector mounting system that does not require special tools to install or to use. 
         [0005]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector mounting system that provides a safe mounting for electrical connectors. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector mounting system that can be used in a variety of physical environments. The above and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by a connector system comprising: a multi-terminal conductor; a housing arranged to at least partially house the multi-terminal conductor; a base member; and complementary connection elements configured to provide connection of the housing and the base member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a conventional mounting system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-terminal conductor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, schematic view an embodiment of a connector system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of a portion of the  FIG. 4  embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an alternate view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an alternate view of the  FIG. 3  embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention with a horizontal arrangement of the housing and multi-terminal conductor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of further embodiment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a base member. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a connector element in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a base member in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative to the  FIG. 14  embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a connector system in accordance with the present invention includes a multi-terminal conductor  35 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-terminal conductor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The conductor can comprise any conductive or semi-conductive material. In one example embodiment, the conductor comprises a copper tin plated metal. The size and thickness of the conductor depends upon the given application. For illustrative purposes only, in a power connection, the conductor can have an example thickness in the range of about 0.25 inch to about 0.5 inch. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the multi-terminal connector  35  is partially housed by a housing  40 . The housing  40  preferably comprises an insulating material. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the housing  40  comprises EPDM rubber or santoprene. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, schematic view an embodiment of a connector system in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , reference numeral  45  identifies an example embodiment of complementary connection elements. This illustrative embodiment includes a male complementary connection element  50  and a female complementary connection element  55 . The illustrative embodiment in  FIG. 4  shows two connections: male complementary connection element  50  can be mechanically mounted to the housing  40 ; and female complementary connection element  55  is formed as part of a base member  60 . Obviously, any other connections can be utilized, such as pressure fit, snap type fittings, compression connections and others suited to a particular design of an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a connector element  50  in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 12 , reference number  52  identifies an alternate embodiment of a male complementary member. The alternate embodiment includes a clip portion  53 . The clip portion a bottom portion of female complementary connection element  55  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of a portion of the  FIG. 4  embodiment. In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the male complementary member  50  engages opening  65  of the female complementary connection element  55  that is connected with the based member  60 . Other suitable arrangements are also possible such as having the male complementary member  50  connected to the base member  60  and the female complementary member  50  on the housing  40 . The female complementary member  50  could be located at any suitable location on the housing  40 , such as on the back of the housing  40  as illustrated in the example of  FIG. 6  or on the top of the housing  40  as shown in the example of  FIG. 7  at  75 . As another example, the housing and base member could have suitable complementary connection elements such as a press fit arrangement or a snap fit type connector arrangement, as well as simply being bolted or molded together. 
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a base member  60 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , the base member  60  has another illustrative shape portion,  62 . The shaped portion  62  can engage a rail member (not shown) with a complimentary shape for engaging and holding the base member shaped portion  62 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a base member in accordance with the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the alternative embodiment comprises a base member  64  that includes multiple female complementary connection elements  55 . In the exemplary illustration of  FIG. 13 , three female complementary connection elements  55  are shown. Any number of female complementary connection elements  55  can be employed in a base member  64 . In addition, as discussed with respect to  FIG. 5 , the female complementary connection elements  55  shown in  FIG. 13  can be interchanged with male complementary connection element  50  and the female complementary connection elements located on housing  40 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 11 , an alternative embodiment of a base member  63 . The back portion  61  of the base member  63  is illustrated as relatively flat. The back portion  61  can have any suitable shape, for example, the shaped portion  62  shown in  FIG. 10 . The base member  63  shown in  FIG. 11  includes a “U” bolt member  64 . The “U” bolt member  64  can engage a male complimentary member  50 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention with a horizontal arrangement of the housing and multi-terminal conductor. In  FIG. 8 , the housing  40  is horizontal. In this and other embodiments, the female complementary connection element can be on a side of the housing  40 , e.g., on either side of the housing having the terminals thereon. The example embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  illustrates the base member  60  connected to one or more mounting members  80 . The same flexibility in the structure of the complementary connection elements discussed above applies to an embodiment such as shown in  FIG. 8 . Moreover, the above embodiments can also have a base member  60  connected to a mounting member or members  80 . The mounting member  80  is not needed to practice embodiments of the invention; and the base member  60  can be mounted directly to a surface without the use of a mounting member  80 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of further embodiment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 9  illustrates another example embodiment of a base member  85 . In the example of  FIG. 9 , the base member  85  has an upper portion  90  and a lower portion  95 . The lower portion  95  corresponds to the mil complementary connection element  50  discussed above with respect to the other embodiments. It can engage any of the locations of the female complementary connection element discussed above. 
         [0033]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The  FIG. 14  embodiment secures the male complementary connection element  50  within the female complementary connection element  55  via a pin  105  inserted through an opening  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pin  105  engages a detent  110 . Alternatively, the pin could pass through the male complementary connection element  50 . In a variation, the opening  110  could be on another portion of the female complementary connection member  55 , such as on a front portion. In the  FIG. 14  embodiment the back portion  61  of the base member  60  is illustrated as flat.  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative to the  FIG. 14  embodiment. In the  FIG. 15  embodiment, the back portion  61  is an engagement shape such as discussed with respect to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0034]    Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.