Electrical Rail Systems with Axially Interleaved Contact Arrays

摘要

An improved electrical rail system for removable and repositionable lighting or other electrical fixtures is disclosed in which electrical interface contacts are interleaved along the rail axis to provide a wide range of fixture pivoting angles around the axis and linear translation along the axis of the rail assembly. Track systems disclosed include linear electrode rails with substantially circumferential contacts configured to provide pivoting of luminaires around the rail in excess of 180 degrees to provide lighting fixture directional flexibility. Helical rail systems are also disclosed with a plurality of interleaved electrical contacts on the surface that coil around the axis of the rail providing continuous pivoting of fixtures. Embodiments include rails with axial symmetry that may be bent in directions perpendicular to the rail axis. Embodiments provide fixture functional switching through movement in a first direction followed by further movement of the fixture without functional switching.

主权项

1. An electrode rail system for removable fixtures comprising
a rail having a length determining an axial direction; the rail comprising a first electrode, the first electrode comprising at least one first electrical contact; and a second electrode, the second electrode comprising at least two second electrical contacts; wherein the first and second electrical contacts form an axially interleaved contact array.