Combined electric wiring and molding system

Oct., 3, 1939. r. l. davison 2,175,145

COMBINED ELECTRIC WIRING AND MOLDING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 23, 1933

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Patented Oct. 3, 1939

2,175,145

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,175,145 COMBINED ELECTRIC WIRING AND MOLDING SYSTEM

Robert L. Davison, New York, N. Y., assignor to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York

Application September 23,1933, Serial No. 690,653

Claims. (CL 173—334.1)

This invention relates to a system of combined electrical wiring and molding, serving dual purposes of a finish for a structure of a room, enclosure and the like, as, for example, between 5 the floor and the base board, at the tip of the base board, a picture molding, side wall and ceiling meeting molding·, etc., and to house, insulate and protect electrical wiring. ^;

A feature of the present form of my invention 10 is the provision of relatively long units of combined molding and electrical wiring, the terminals of the conductors of such long units not projecting at either end, and advantageously substantially flush at both ends of each long unit, in Π association with units of relatively short length, the terminals of the conductors of each short length projecting at both ends of each short unit, each short unit serving to interconnect long units, the terminals of the respective conductors @9 being spaced and dimensioned relative to one another to effect mechanical as well as electrical connection between the corresponding conductors of the thus assembled units.

A primary feature of the present invention is 25 the provision of outlet means afforded by the short and/or long units of my system, the channels of each outlet means being initially concealed.

Advantageously, such object is attained by SO providing such outlet means in a short unit, and coating or facing the exposed face of the unit with a frangible material to thus conceal the channels of the outlet means,whereby upon locating the terminals of a plug of an electrics¹ cord 35 or other wiring and applying pressure upon the areas of the thus initially concealed ends of the channels, such areas of the frangible material are removed, enabling the terminals of the plug to be brought into good electrical engagement with 40 the contact members of the outlet means, and accordingly with the respective conductors of the unit.

Such form of initially concealed outlet channel ' arrangement may be carried out in the construc45 tion of long units at standard or other spacial' relation with one another.

Preferably, the locations of the frangible or other removable areas of the initially concealed outlet channels may be identified by projectional, 50 indentations! or other indications.

A feature of the present invention is the desideratum of the assembled component units of my system having substantially like, and preferably identical, outward appearance, attained, for I* example, by providing substantially identical con figuration, color, etc., of the exposed faces, whereby the component units, inclusive of its outlet means provisions, present visually substantial integrity.

To afford a suitable outlet means, singly or 5 plurally, for electrical connection with the desired electrical consumption device, or devices, such as electric lamps, electric clocks, radios, electrical refrigerators, etc., the units of my system are mechanically assembled to locate such 10 outlet means-provided unit or units closely adjacent the location or locations of the respective consumption devices.

Desirably, the material of the body of each unit is of electrical insulating quality. The po- 15 sitionihg of the respective conductors in the units and insulatingly embodying of the same within the body material may be carried out by molding, extruding, or such other procedure as may be preferred. , 20

The frangible concealing outer material of the outlet means-provided short unit may be formed by dipping or other application, molding, etc. The relatively short dimensions of the short unit facilitates the procedure, attendant also with 25 low material and labor costs.

Advantageously, the outer face of each unit may serve as a finish material, which may be readily applied by dipping or other application, whereby the outer ends of the channels of the 30 outlet means are closed by a thickness of the finish material of such small dimensions as to render the same readily frangible for the insertion of the terminals of a plug or equivalent.

In such preferred embodiments of my inven- 35 tion the frangible material extends imperforately over the channels of the outlet means, and presents identical appearance to the eye of the observer as the remainder of the exposed faces of the unit and of the exposed faces of adjacent 40 units.

Advantageously, the conductors of the long units of my molding-electrical wiring system are of tubular or equivalent formation and the conductors of each short unit are of rod or equivalent 45 formation, as is set forth more particularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 682,757, filed July 29, 1933, entitled Electrical wiring and molding system.

If desired, the rod or equivalent form of con- 50 ductors may be embodied in the long units, in which instance the terminals of both conductors project at both ends of each long unit, and correspondingly the conductors of the short units may be of tubular or equivalent formation, the 55

2,175,145 terminals of which at both ends of each short unit do not project, and are preferably substantially flush, relative to the respective ends of each short unit, as is set forth and claimed 5 in my co-pending application Serial No. 643,325, filed Nov. 19, 1932, entitled Combined molding and electric conductor.

Further features and objects of the Invention will be more fully understood from the following jq detail description and the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, of diagrammatic character, showing one manner of application of my combined molding-wiring system to a j₆ reversely angled comer of a room;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of component units of my combined molding-wiring system, corresponding to units indicated in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a type of comer interconnecting short unit;

Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional elevation of the short unit illustrated at the left in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away in 25 section, showing a manner of application of a corner short unit assembled with alternately disposed long units; this view also shows another type of long unit;

Fig. 6 is a vertical central sectional view of a 80 short or long unit showing a manner of connection with a power line.

Fig. 1 illustrates a manner of assembly of component units of my combined molding and wiring system, applied to a baseboard, extending 35 about a reversely angled corner of a room. It will be understood that such application Is clearly illustrative, .and that my system is not limited to the indicated detail construction.

In general, the units of my system comprise 40 relatively long units and relatively short units. The relatively short units serve the general purpose of mechanically interconnecting the relatively long units. Electrical conductors are Insulatedly embodied in each of the units, respec45 tive conductor termini of the respective units being constructed and located to effect registry. Accordingly, the respective units serve to interconnect one another mechanically as well as to respectively electrically connect the component 50 parts of the respective conductors embodied in the interconnected units.

As above indicated, either of the forms of conductors and arrangement of mechanical-electrical assembly of the same, pursuant to my two 55 stated co-pending applications, may be employed. The form of conductors and arrangement set forth in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 682,757 is preferred, by reason of the mere operation of severing of the material of a 60 long unit to meet varied dimensional requirements in practice attains also a severing of the embedded tubular conductors, flush, or substantially flush, with the severed end of the unit. In such embodiment of my invention, each short 55 unit is provided with rods or equivalent serving as the conductors, to afford joint mechanical and electrical connections with the projecting ends of the tubular or equivalent conductors of the long unit or units.

The long units indicated in Fig. 1 are designated 10; the short units of rectilinear formation, that is to say, serving to interconnect long units in “straight runs”, are designated 11. The converging facial short unit indicated at 12 serves TB to interconnect the indicated alternately disposed long units 10, 10 at the convergent angle between the indicated walls 13, 14. The divergent short unit 15 serves to interconnect the indicated alternately disposed long units 10, 10, at the divergent angle between the indicated walls 13, 16. ₆

A characterististic of the present invention resides in the employment of short units, each of which is provided with suitable outlet means, including channels for the contact members of the outlet means, the channels at. their respective 10 intersections with the exposed face of the molding being initially closed by suitable frangible material or other removable means.

One embodiment of my invention is indicated in Fig. 2 wherein the short unit I i is provided 15 with rod or equivalent conductors 17, 18, the respective ends 17α, 18α of the conductors 17, 18, projecting at both ends of the unit li. Within the unit, as indicated in Fig. 4,1 provide suitable outlet means, comprising in essence the channels 20 19, 20 within which are positioned resilient or other suitable contact members 21, 22 respectively secured and electrically connected to the conductors 17, 18.

As above indicated, the material of the body 25 Ha of the unit 11 is preferably of insulating character, to thereby directly insulate the bared conductors 17, 18, and also to serve as appropriate body material for the molding per se. The exposed face I lb of the unit, and in particular 30 of the portions 11 c located at the respective otherwise exposed ends of the channels 19, 20, is of a material having suitable qualities to serve as an appropriate finish for the exposed face Hb, and of sufficient frangible character whereby 35 upon approximately positioning the terminals of a. plug at the areas of the material portions I Ic, He and applying pressure inwardly relative to the unit II, the portions He, He, are broken, and removed, thus enabling the plug terminals 40 to be received within the respective channels 19, 20, and to engage the contact members 21, 22 to make good electrical contact therewith.

As suitable material .He, I cite lacquers, varnishes, heavy shellacs, rubber inclusive of latex ⁴⁵canpositions, etc.

The long unit 10 shown in Fig. 2, illustrates the employment of tubular or equivalent conductors 23, 24 embodied in the material serving as the body 10α of the unit, the conductors 23, ⁵⁰24 being insulatedly embedded therein and positioned relative to one another and relative to the projecting termini 17α, 18α of the respective conductors of the therewith connected short unit „ 1I. “

The respective termini 23α, 24α, at both ends of the long unit 10 are flush, or substantially flush with the respective ends of the body of the unit.

The long units 10 may be manufactured of standard length, and/or of such range of lengths as may be desired. For attaining lengths less than any standard or other length of a long unit 10, mere sawing operation or other severing of 05 the material accomplishes the reduction of length and also rendering the conductor termini 23α, 24α flush, or substantially flush, with the severed end of the unit.

Desirably, the exposed faces of the long units 70 and of the short units are substantially in replica of one another, inclusive of configuration, surface texture, color, etc. In the attainment of such result, the exterior face of each long unit 10 may be coated with the same or like finish mate- 75

S, 175,145 rial serving as the initially closing material I Ic of the short units.

Fig. 3 illustrates a type of convergent facial short unit 12, its conductors IT, 18, being bent, 5 preferably arcuately as illustrated, in accordance with the angle of its' converging faces, in this instance, a right angle. It will be understood that for angular short units other than a right angle, the exposed faces may be angled 10 correspondingly, and that the bend of the embodied conductors IT, 18, may also correspond with such other angle.

Suitable connection with the house wiring system or other power line wires is had as will be 15 understood by those skilled in the art. Advantageously, as is illustrated in Fig. 6, such power connection is afforded by the provision of a rearwardly disposed recess, to thereby both conceal and protect the power line connections. Most 20 advantageously, power connection is had by providing all, or mayhap special types, of short units II with such rearwardly disposed recess, indicated in Fig. 6, at 25, the bared ends of the leads 26, 2T of the cable 28 being soldered or otherwise 25 secured to the indicated conductors IT, 18 of the combined molding-wiring unit II, pursuant to approved practice; the recess 25 is preferably closed by the use of a suitable plastic insulating material, in protection of the secured con30 nections.

The use of frangible or other removable form of Initial concealment of the outlet means may be carried out in the manufacture of long units, by single or plural outlet means for each long 35 unit, at predetermined or other longitudinal spacing relative to one another as may be preferred. Fig. 5 illustrates one form of such embodiment of my invention, the facial portions 29, 36 at the indicated dotted areas, being of the 40 nature of the facial material portions lie, IIc, as in a short unit 11, and serving to initially conceal the respective channels of a suitable outlet means, similarly as is indicated in Fig. 4 with reference to a short unit II.

My invention is similarly applicable to the various other forms of short and long units, as illustrated and/or described in my co-pending application Serial No. 682,757, in each instance the openings of the channels of the outlets pro50 vided in the units being initially concealed by frangible or other removable means.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.