Self-locating electrical connector for large planar surfaces

Claim 1

An electrical connector for electrically connecting large planar articles such as lighting panels to a source of electric power, wherein said articles provide a substantially planar surface for mounting a first electrical connector element, said surface being substantially larger than the element, and said panel is to be fastened and electrically connected to a substantially planar support means furnishing means for mounting a second electrical connector element to mate with the first electrical connector element, with fastener means positioned independently of said electrical connector elements to fasten the panel to the support means, said electrical connector being characterized by: a plurality of conductive male elements capable of being attached to the lighting panel, each of said male elements having a generally transverse projecting portion extending outwardly from the rear surface of the lighting panel; a plurality of conductive female elements, each of said female elements including a resilient guiding portion; insulated housing means for orienting each of said resilient guiding portions therein to allow transverse movement of said resilient guiding portions in said housing for reception of said transverse projecting portions of said male elements; said insulated housing having a channel extending around the periphery thereof; flange means capable of loosely engaging said channel and allowing longitudinal movement of said housing relative to said flange; and means for fixedly mounting said flange to said support means; whereby misaligned male and female elements in large planar surfaces may be easily interconnected to form an electrical connection therebetween.

Claim 5

A method for electrically connecting removable articles such as lighting panels to a source of electric power, wherein said articles provide a substantially planar surface for mounting a first electrical connector element, which surface is substantially larger than said element, and said panel is to be fastened and electrically connected to a substantially planar support means providing means for mounting a second electrical connector element to mate with the first electrical element, with fastener means positioned independently of said connector elements to fasten said panel to said support, said method being characterized by the steps of: forming a resilient T-shaped male element from a single strip of conductive material; orienting a plurality of the male elements at spaced intervals within a plastic layer; mounting the oriented male elements rigidly to the lighting panel; forming a resilient female element from a single strip of conductive material; positioning a plurality of said resilient female elements in spaced slots within an insulated housing for transverse movement; forming a channel extending around the periphery of said insulated housing; loosely engaging a flange in said channel to allow longitudinal movement of said housing relative to said flange and fixedly engaging said flange to said support means; whereby the male and female elements in large planar surfaces may be easily electrically connected even if they are initially misaligned.

Claim 6

A method for electrically connecting removable articles such as lighting panels to a source of electric power, wherein said articles provide a substantially planar surface for mounting a first electrical connector element, which surface is substantially larger than said element, and said panel is to be fastened and electrically connected to a substantially planar support means providing means for mounting a second electrical connector element to mate with the first electrical element, with fastener means positioned independently of said connector elements to fasten said panel to said support, said method being characterized by the steps of: forming a resilient T-shaped male element from a single strip of conductive material; orienting a plurality of the male elements at spaced intervals within a plastic layer; mounting the oriented male elements rigidly to the lighting panel; forming a resilient female element from a single strip of conductive material; positioning a plurality of said resilient female elements in spaced slots within an insulated housing for transverse movement; forming a channel extending around the periphery of said insulated housing; loosely engaging a flange in said channel to allow longitudinal movement of said housing relative to said flange and fixedly engaging said flange to said support means; whereby the male and female elements in large planar surfaces may be easily electrically connected even if they are initially misaligned.