Patent Publication Number: US-2021167531-A1

Title: Multiboard power connector

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed generally to a multiboard power connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The use of LEDs has been common in general lighting application for several years. During this time, problems have arisen due to the way the LEDs are configured in the luminaire. Currently in the market, LED arrays are assembled to PCBs (circuit boards) that have wire connections for solid wire or harness connections. A majority of constructions for luminaires use multiple boards that wire to a single driver, because this is the most effective way to produce LED boards for this application. These constructions all have one thing in common: All LED boards require both a positive and negative connection that connects to the LED driver wire to provide power. This means that for a multiple-board construction, there are at least four wires needed to provide power to all the boards. Extrapolating outward, a two-by-four luminaire with four boards requires eight wires to be wired between the driver and the boards. For luminaires with more than four boards, this issue is even more pronounced. 
     Boards are wired with eighteen gauge solid wires plugged into the connectors provided on the board. These wires are often routed under the boards to prevent the them from crossing an LED and creating a shadow. This is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. In addition, wires underneath the circuit boards can cause thermal issues, leading to overheating and reduced life expectancy of the LEDs and the luminaire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a simple, cheap-to-fabricate, electrical connector that can power multiple circuit boards without running one or more wires to each. 
     The present disclosure relates to a multiboard power connector. The multiboard power connector comprises a housing with a plurality of insertion points to receive multiple circuit boards. The circuit boards, received into the insertion points, come into electrical contact with two rails, the rails carrying opposing charges. The rails comprise a first rail and second rail. The first rail defines a longitudinal axis and a first plurality of terminals, while the second rail is divided into at least two portions that are disposed on opposite sides of the first rail, with a second plurality of terminals extending from the two portions. The first plurality of terminals and second plurality of terminals alternate on each side, such that a plurality of terminals, one from each rail, is disposed adjacent to each insertion point. A circuit board, being received at the insertion point, thus contacts one terminal from each rail and thus receives power. This multiboard power connector, as described here and throughout this disclosure, is cheap to make and allows quick attachment of multiple circuit boards to a driver without a multitude of wires. 
     Various embodiments and implementations herein are directed to a multiboard power connector, comprising: a first rail comprising a first body and defining a longitudinal axis, the first rail including a first plurality of terminals, a first set of the first plurality of terminals extending outward from a first side of the first body in a first direction and a second set of the first plurality of terminals extending outward from a second side of the first body in a second direction, the first direction and second direction being opposed, wherein the first rail is conductive; a second rail comprising a second body and including a second plurality of terminals, wherein a first set of the second plurality of terminals extend outwardly from a first portion of the second body in the first direction, the first portion being disposed adjacent to the first side of the first body, wherein a second set of the second plurality of terminals extend outwardly from a second portion of the second body in the second direction, the second portion being disposed adjacent to the second side of the first body, the second rail further comprising a crossover portion connecting the first portion and the second portion and crossing the longitudinal axis; wherein the first set of the first plurality of terminals and the first set of the second plurality of terminals alternate along a first axis, the first axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; wherein the second set of the first plurality of terminals and the second set of the second plurality of terminals alternate along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     According to an embodiment, the first portion comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments being separated by a first gap, wherein at least one terminal of the first set of the first plurality of terminals extends through the first gap. 
     According to an embodiment, the second portion comprises a third segment and a fourth segment being separated by a second gap, wherein at least one terminal of the second set of the first plurality of terminals extends through the second gap. 
     According to an embodiment, a first crossover portion connects the first segment and the third segment, the first crossover portion crossing the longitudinal axis, wherein a second crossover portion connects the second segment and the fourth segment, the second crossover portion crossing the longitudinal axis. 
     According to an embodiment, the first rail comprises a fifth segment and a sixth segment, wherein the fifth segment is disposed in a first channel defined by the first segment, the first crossover portion, and the third segment, wherein the sixth segment is disposed in a second channel defined by the second segment, the second crossover portion, and the fourth segment. 
     According to an embodiment, the multiboard connector further comprises a housing defining an interior space, the first rail and the second rail being disposed within the interior space, wherein the housing defines a plurality of insertion points, each insertion point of the plurality of insertion points being dimensioned to receive a corresponding circuit board having a set of contacts comprising a first contact and a second contact. 
     According to an embodiment, the plurality of insertion points comprises a first set of insertion points, each insertion point of the first set of insertion points being positioned such that the first contact of the corresponding circuit board, received into one of the insertion points of the first set of insertion points, engages with one terminal of the first set of the first plurality of terminals and the second contact of the corresponding circuit board engages with one terminal of the first set of the second plurality of terminals. 
     According to an embodiment, the plurality of insertion points comprises a second set of insertion points, each insertion point of the second set of insertion points being positioned such that the first contact of the corresponding circuit board, received into one of the insertion points of the second set of insertion points, engages with one terminal of the second set of the first plurality of terminals and the second contact of the corresponding circuit board engages with one terminal of the second set of the second plurality of terminals. 
     According to an embodiment, the housing defines a cover and a base, the cover being connected to the base by a post. The fifth segment and the sixth segment are connected together by a first intermediate portion, the intermediate portion deviating from the longitudinal axis, wherein the second segment and the third segment are connected together by a second intermediate portion, wherein the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion together are in an encircling relation with the post. 
     According to an embodiment, the housing is gabled about a vertex, the vertex being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     According to an embodiment, the first rail is gabled about a first vertex and the second rail is gabled about a second vertex, the first vertex and the second vertex each being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     According to another aspect, a first rail comprising a first body and defining a longitudinal axis, the first rail including a first plurality of terminals, a first set of the first plurality of terminals extending outward from a first side of the first body in a first direction and a second set of the first plurality of terminals extending outward from a second side of the first body in a second direction, the first direction and second direction being opposed, wherein the first rail is conductive; a second rail comprising a second body and including a second plurality of terminals, wherein a first set of the second plurality of terminals extend outwardly from a first portion of the second body in the first direction, the first portion being disposed adjacent to the first side of the first body, wherein a second set of the second plurality of terminals extend outwardly from a second portion of the second body in the second direction, the second portion being disposed adjacent to the second side of the first body, the second rail further comprising a crossover portion connecting the first portion and the second portion and crossing the longitudinal axis; and a housing defining an interior space, the first rail and the second rail being disposed within the interior space, wherein the housing defines a plurality of insertion points, each insertion point of the plurality of insertion points being dimensioned to receive a corresponding circuit board having a set of contacts comprising a first contact and a second contact, wherein the first set of the first plurality of terminals and the first set of the second plurality of terminals alternate along a first axis, the first axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second set of the first plurality of terminals and the second set of the second plurality of terminals alternate along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first portion comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments being separated by a first gap, wherein at least one terminal of the first set of the first plurality of terminals extends through the first gap, wherein the second portion comprises a third segment and a fourth segment being separated by a second gap, wherein at least one terminal of the second set of the first plurality of terminals extends through the second gap. 
     According to an embodiment, a first crossover portion connects the first segment and the third segment, the first crossover portion crossing the longitudinal axis, wherein a second crossover portion connects the second segment and the fourth segment, the second crossover portion crossing the longitudinal axis, wherein the first rail comprises a fifth segment and a sixth segment, wherein the fifth segment is disposed in a first channel defined by the first segment, the first crossover portion, and the third segment, wherein the sixth segment is disposed in a second channel defined by the second segment, the second crossover portion, and the fourth segment. 
     According to an embodiment, the plurality of insertion points comprises a first set of insertion points, each insertion point of the first set of insertion points being positioned such that the first contact of the corresponding circuit board, received into one of the insertion points of the first set of insertion points, engages with one terminal of the first set of the first plurality of terminals and the second contact of the corresponding circuit board engages with one terminal of the first set of the second plurality of terminals. 
     According to an embodiment, the plurality of insertion points comprises a second set of insertion points, each insertion point of the second set of insertion points being positioned such that the first contact of the corresponding circuit board, received into one of the insertion points of the second set of insertion points, engages with one terminal of the second set of the first plurality of terminals and the second contact of the corresponding circuit board engages with one terminal of the second set of the second plurality of terminals. 
     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a perspective view of a multiboard power connector, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a perspective view of a multiboard power connector, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a perspective view of a multiboard power connector in electrical engagement with a plurality of circuit boards, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a perspective, partial-cutaway view of a multiboard power connector in electrical engagement with a plurality of circuit boards, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of a multiboard power connector, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an end of a circuit board, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of conductive rails, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a perspective view of a first rail, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a top view of a first rail, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  depicts a perspective view of a second rail, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  depicts a bottom view of a second rail, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a side view of a multiboard power connector, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side view of a terminal, in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  there is shown alternate perspective views of a multiboard power connector  1 . The multiboard power connector  1  comprises a housing  10  that defines an interior space and a plurality of insertion points  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , each insertion point  12  is dimensioned to receive a corresponding circuit board  14  including two contacts  16 ,  18  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 2-3 ). Two rails, a first rail  20  and a second rail  22 , may be disposed within the housing  10 . (First rail  20  and second rail  22  may be seen, for example, in housing  10  in the exploded view of  FIG. 3 .). 
     The first rail  20  and second rail  22  are complementary but electrically insulated from each othereach rail  20 ,  22  being configured to carry a charge opposite from the other rail, the charge being received from a driver. For example, the first rail  20  may be configured to carry a positive charge and the second rail  22  may be configured to carry a negative charge (although it should be understood that these charges may be reversed). Each rail  20 ,  22  includes a plurality of terminals with, as shown in the cutaway view of  FIG. 2B , a pair of terminals—one terminal from each of the first rail  20  and the second rail  22 —being respectively positioned adjacent to a corresponding insertion point  12  in order to engage with the respective contacts of the circuit board  14  received at the insertion point  12 . Each insertion point  12  is thus adjacent to a respective pair of terminals, one from each rail  20 ,  22 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts an example circuit  14  as might be received in one of insertion points  12 . In general, the circuit boards  14  that are received into the insertion points are each configured to have similarly-positioned contacts  16 ,  18 . For example, the first contact  16  on each circuit board may be a positive contact (designed to receive a positive charge), whereas the second contact  18  on each circuit board may be a negative contact (designed to receive a negative charge). Although each circuit board  14  may include different kinds of electronics that may be powered via current received through contacts  16 ,  18 , in an embodiment, at least one string of LEDs, disposed on each circuit board  14 , will be powered. Contacts  16 ,  18  may be rectangular (as opposed to the standard circular contacts) in order to increase the surface area (and thus ensure contact with a corresponding terminal) and to match the footprint of the terminals depicted in the various figures. 
     Using circuit boards  14  with similarly-positioned contacts  16 ,  18  allows the circuit boards to be modularly substituted for a different circuit board  14 , either to replace a failed circuit board  14  or upgrade or change the type of circuit board. 
     In order for two rails to respectively power four different circuit boards  14  having similarly-positioned contacts  16 ,  18 , the first rail  20  and second rail  22  must be complementary (meaning that they fit together) but insulated from one another (to prevent a short). To that end, the first rail  20  and second rail  22  may be structured to fit together as shown in the exploded view afforded in  FIG. 3  and the bottom view of  FIG. 5 . At a high level, each rail  20 ,  22  includes four terminals—the first rail  20  includes terminals  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 , while the second rail  22  includes terminals  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 . Because the contacts  16 ,  18  of circuit boards  14  are similarly placed with respect to one another, and because each rail  20 ,  22  is configured to carry one charge, the corresponding terminal (one of terminals  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 ) from the first rail  20  must be consistently on one side of each insertion point in order to engage with the second contact  18 , while the terminal (one of terminals  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 ) from the second rail  22  must be consistently on the other side of the insertion point to engage with the first contact  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , and as will be described in detail below, the terminals on each side of the multiboard power connector  1  alternate between terminals from the first rail  20  and terminals from the second rail  22 , such that a pair of terminals from each rail  20 ,  22 , may be adjacent to each insertion point  12 . 
     Describing the rails  20 ,  22  individually, first rail  20  as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , comprises a first body  40  defining a longitudinal axis L. As described above, first rail  20  includes a first plurality of terminals  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 . The first plurality of terminals  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be divided into a first set  24 ,  28  and a second set  26 ,  30 . The first set  24 ,  28  extends outwardly (i.e., away from) a first side (in  FIG. 6B , the right-hand side) of the first body  40  in a first direction A. The second set  26 ,  30  extends outwardly from a second side (in  FIG. 6B , the left-hand side) of the first body  40  in a second direction B. As shown, the first direction A and second direction B are generally opposing. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the second rail  22  comprises a second body  42  that is divided into: first segment  44 , second segment  46 , third segment  48 , and fourth segment  50 , and first crossover portion  52  and second crossover portion  54 . The segments may be organized into a first portion  44 ,  46  and a second portion  48 ,  50 . When the first rail  20  and the second rail  22  are fit together, the segments organized into a first portion  44 ,  46  will be disposed adjacent to the first side of the first body  40 , and the segments organized into the second portion  48 ,  50  will be disposed adjacent to the second side of the first body  40 . As described above, the second rail  22  includes a second plurality of terminals  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  which may be divided into a first set  34 ,  38  that extend outwardly from the first portion  44 ,  46  in the first direction A, and a second set  32 ,  36  that extend outwardly from the second portion  48 ,  50  in the second direction B. 
     The various portions  44 ,  46  and  48 ,  50  of the second rail  22  are connected together by at least one crossover portion, shown in  FIG. 7A  as crossover portions  52  and  54 . Each crossover portion  52 ,  54  crosses the longitudinal axis L such that the first portion  44 ,  46  and the second portion  48 ,  50  may be disposed on different sides of the first rail  20 . 
     In order for one terminal from each of the first rail  20  and second rail  22  to be disposed adjacent to a corresponding insertion point  12 , the terminals from each rail  20 ,  22  must alternate along each side of the multiboard connector  1 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the first rail  20  and second rail  22  are fit together, the first set of terminals  24 ,  28  of the first rail  20  and the first set of terminals  34 ,  38  of the second rail alternate along a first axis C substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first rail  20  and first portion  44 ,  46  of the second rail  22 . Similarly, the second set  26 ,  30  of the first plurality of terminals and the second set  32 ,  36  of the second plurality of terminals alternate along a second axis D substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L, disposed adjacent to the second side of the first rail  20  and the second portion  48 ,  50  of the second rail  22 . 
     In this disclosure, “substantially parallel,” as the phrase relates to axes C and D, describes the relative positioning of the terminals on one side of the multiboard connector  1 , being disposed lengthwise along the multiboard connector  1  to engage with the contacts  16 , 18  of the circuit boards  14 . It should thus be understood that axes C and D need not be perfectly parallel with the longitudinal axis L. 
     In order for the terminals to alternate along the first axis C and second axis D, the first portion  44 ,  46  and the second portion  48 ,  50  must each define a gap, shown, for example, in  FIG. 7A , for at least one terminal of the first plurality of terminals  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  to extend through. For example, the first segment  44  and second segment  46  may define a first gap  56 , through which at least one terminal  28  of the first plurality of terminals may extend. Similarly, the third segment  48  and fourth segment  50  together define a second gap  58  and through which at least one terminal  26  of the first plurality of terminals may extend. 
     In the sum, the total terminals (in the embodiment shown) extending in the first direction thus comprise terminals  24 ,  28 ,  34 ,  38 , which, beginning on the one side (the left-hand side in  FIG. 5 ) are arranged, from the top (with respect to  FIG. 5 ), in the following alternating order along the first axis: terminal  24 , terminal  34 , terminal  28 , and terminal  38 . Terminal  24  extends past the side of the first segment  44  that does not define the first gap  56 ; terminal  34  extends from the first segment  44 ; terminal  28  extends through the first gap  56 ; and terminal  38  extends from the second segment  46 . 
     Similarly, the terminals extending in the second direction comprise terminals  26 ,  30 ,  32 , and  36 , which beginning on the right-hand side of  FIG. 5 , from the top, are arranged in the following alternating order along the second axis D: terminal  32 , terminal  26 , terminal  36 , and terminal  30 . Terminal  32  extends from the third segment  48 ; terminal  25  extends through the second gap  58 ; terminal  36  extends from the fourth segment  50 ; and terminal  30  extends past the side of the fourth segment  50  that does not define the second gap  58 . 
     Seen another way, the terminals of each of the first rail  20  and second rail  22  alternate between the first direction A and the second direction B along their respective bodies  40 ,  42 . Beginning, for example, on the left-hand side of the first rail  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6A , and moving towards the right, the terminal  24  extends in the first direction A, terminal  26  extends in the second direction B, terminal  28  extends in the first direction A, and terminal  30  extends in the second direction B. The second rail, by contrast, forms the mirror image of the first rail  20 , and thus, beginning on the left-hand side of  FIG. 7A : terminal  32  extends in the second direction B, terminal  34  extends in the first direction A, terminal  36  extends in the second direction B, and finally terminal  38  extends in the first direction A. This results, when first rail  20  and second rail  22  are fit together as shown in  FIG. 5 , in a terminal from each rail  20 ,  22  being disposed across from a terminal of the opposite rail, thus defining four pairs of terminals two pairs on each side (first pair  24 ,  34  and second pair  28 ,  38  on the first side extending in direction A, and third pair  32 ,  26  and fourth pair  36 ,  30  on the second side extending in direction B), each pair being positioned to engage the contacts of a circuit board  14 , and each pair respectively corresponding to one insertion point  12  of the housing  10 . 
     Each segment  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  of the second rail  22  thus includes at least one corresponding terminal (respectively, terminal  34 , terminal  38 , terminal  32 , and terminal  36 ). And thus the major portions of segments  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , of the second rail  22  are arranged in the same staggered order as the terminals of the second rail  22  as described above. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7A , the first segment  44  is connected to the third segment  48  by the first crossover portion  52 , while the second segment  46  may be connected to the fourth segment  50  by the second crossover portion  54 . Both the first  52  and second  54  crossover portions cross the longitudinal axis. In addition, as shown, the second crossover portion  54  connects the first segment  44  and the fourth segment  50 . It should be understood that, in an alternate embodiment, a third crossover portion may connect the first segment  44  and the fourth segment  50 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6A , like the second rail  22 , the first rail  20  may be comprised of segments  57  and  59 . The fifth segment  57  may include terminals  24  and  26 , while the sixth segment  59  may include terminals  28  and  30 . Each segment  57 ,  59  thus includes at least one terminal from the first set (the fifth segment  57  includes terminal  24  and the sixth segment  59  includes terminal  28 ) and at least one terminal from the second set (the fifth segment  57  includes terminal  26  and the sixth segment  59  includes terminal  30 ). Looking at  FIG. 7A , the second rail may roughly form two different channels. The first channel is formed by the combination of the first segment  44  the first crossover portion  52 , and the third segment  48 , while the second channel is formed by the second segment  46 , the second crossover portion  54 , and the fourth segment  50 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the fifth segment  57  of the first rail  20  may be disposed within the first channel  44 ,  48 ,  52  and the sixth segment  59  of the first rail  20  may disposed within the second channel  46 ,  50 ,  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the housing  10  may comprise a cover  60  and a base  62  being connected together by a post  64 . The post  64  may be formed by two opposing plastic clips  66 ,  68  that each grasp a rim of an aperture  70  defined in the center of cover  60 . To accommodate the post  64 , the fifth segment  57  and the sixth segment  59  may be connected by a first intermediate portion  72 , which deviates from the longitudinal axis L. Similarly, the combination of the portion of the first segment that deviates outward from the longitudinal axis L and second crossover portion  54  may define a second intermediate portion. The first intermediate portion  72  and the second intermediate portion are thus disposed in an encircling relation with the post  64 . 
     Base  62  may further feature a narrow tab  82  configured to engage with a slot  84  in cover  60  against base  62 . Base  62  may additionally include clips  86  configured to engage with corresponding depressions in cover  60 . 
     The segments of the first rail and second rail may be formed as flat pieces of a conductive material such as brass, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, a high copper alloy, or some other conductor. The crossover portions, may similarly be formed of flat pieces of a conductive material, arranged perpendicular to the segments to which they connect. (In an alternate embodiment, the first crossover portion  52  and the second crossover portion  54  may be implemented as wires that extend between the respective segments of the second rail  22 .) The first rail  20  and second rail  22  may thus each be formed as a rigid unit. In an embodiment, the first rail  20  and the second rail  22  are each integrally formed. For example, each of first rail  20  and second rail  22  may be separately stamped out of sheet metal and bent into the shape depicted in the various figures. Alternately, first rail  20  and second rail  22  may be constructed out of multiple connected pieces. Although the entirety of the first rail  20  and the second rail  22  are described as conductive, in an alternate embodiment, they may be formed of an insulative material, such as plastic, but include traces that conduct current along the respective bodies  40 ,  42 , to the various terminals of the first rail  20  and the second rail  22 . 
     The multiboard power connector  1  may be configured as a push-in wire connector, including apertures  74 ,  76 , each configured to receive a wire from a driver situated outside of the housing  10 . Furthermore, first rail  20  and second rail  22  may each include a slot  78 ,  80  to receive and grasp a respective wire. In alternate embodiments, other types of connectors, as are known in the art, may be used to connect the multiboard power connector  1  to the driver. The multiboard connector is thus configured to receive power from a driver, and to charge the first rail  20  and second rail  22  with opposing charges. 
     The first rail  20  and second rail  22  may be suspended within the interior space, allowing them to maintain insulation from one another by an air gap. In an alternate embodiment, a layer of insulation may be placed between the first rail  20  and the second rail  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the multiboard power connector may also be gabled (i.e., be v-shaped), to accommodate the curvature of the luminaire in which the multiboard power connector resides. The gabled shape may, for example, be implemented by introducing a 150° degree curvature (denoted by angle E in  FIG. 8 ) in the housing  10  and the first rail  20  and second rail  22 , respectively, although other curvatures may be employed as required by the lighting fixture. The curvature may be defined about an axis that runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the first rail  20  and/or of the housing  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , depicting a side-view of terminal  24 , each terminal may be a leaf spring terminal having a turned-over edge that exhibits pressure on the respective contact point  16 ,  18  of circuit board  14 , in order to maintain consistent electrical contact when the circuit board  14  is received at the insertion point  12 . 
     Furthermore, although the above-described examples relate to a multiboard power connector with four insertion points, it should be understood that the structure could be expanded to include any number of insertion points, as required. In addition, multiple multiboard connectors  10  may be daisy-changed together by running wires from one multiboard connector  1  to another. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
     The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. 
     It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. 
     In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively. 
     While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.