Worthington Armstrong Venture

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Awi Licensing Company

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

Brian T Patterson

Jere W Myers

Jae A Eisenhower

Charles Edward Reynolds

Randy Marshall Manning

William J Garver

Jon A Fortuna

Ronald P Locati

Sandor A Frecska

Todd M Bergman

William E Beakes

Brett Wayne Sareyka

Joseph R Woelfling

David Robert Baechtle

James David Kevern

Dwight David Zitsch

Sean D Browne

Martijn Scholten

Jeff Swartzbaugh

Antonius Bernardus Gerardus Bolhaar

Antonius Petrus Cornelius Maria Hultermans

Rich Flickenger

Sandor Frecska

The invention includes an electrified framework system having a plurality of grid members which form a grid framework. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid members as shown throughout the drawings. The system includes connectors which provide low voltage power connections. For example, the connectors bring power from a power supply to the conductive material disposed on the grid framework and/or the connectors provide electrical connections between the conductive material on the grid framework and various devices.

Suspended ceiling grid adapter

A connector for electrical connection to an electrified grid element having first and second conductors disposed on a top portion of the grid element. In one embodiment, the connector comprises a single-piece insulator housing; a fastening means on the insulator housing for attaching the connector to a device; and first and second contacts within the insulator housing, the insulator housing configured to align the first and second contacts with the first and second conductors of the electrified grid element; wherein a base of the insulator housing comprises a recess that corresponds to the shape of the top portion of the grid element such that the housing can be mounted over the top portion of the grid member.

Connectors for electrically active grid

A grid framework including a conductive support grid member having uncontrolled conductivity and including an I-shaped bulb having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion which is narrower than the top portion and the bottom portion; a first conductor disposed on a first side of the I-shaped bulb, the conductivity of the first conductor being controllable; a second conductor disposed on a second side of the I-shaped bulb opposite the first side, the conductivity of the second conductor being controllable, and a non-conductive insulative layer applied to the I-shaped bulb of the conductive support grid member which fully covers the top portion of the I-shaped bulb, the non-conductive insulative layer interposing the I-shaped bulb of the conductive grid support member and the first conductor and interposing the I-shaped bulb of the conductive grid support member and the second conductor.

Grid framework accessories

The present invention is directed to accessories which are attached to the support grid members of a grid framework system. The accessories insulate electrified conductors attached to the support grid members from other conductive items located proximate thereto, a management device for cables and wires, and a retention device for fixedly attaching a component to the grid framework system.

An electrically powerable grid element having first and second conductive members of opposing polarity. The grid element includes first and second electrical access slots which expose the conductive members. The grid element includes a tap which has a conductor engaging means which forms an electrical connection with the first and second conductors via the first and second electrical access slots.

Electrically powerable grid element

An electrified framework system for bringing power and/or signal to electrically powered devices is provided. The system includes at least one longitudinally extending electrified bus bar. The bus bar has a housing which includes a pair of conductors positioned therein. Each conductor has a mating surface which provides a continuous conductive path for attachment of devices. The system also includes a means to bring electricity to the conductors without interfering with the mating surface of the conductors and thereby creating an unavailable point for electrical connection.

Internal bus bar and an electrical interconnection means therefor

An electrified ceiling framework system having a plurality of grid elements forming a grid network arranged in a substantially planar arrangement. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid elements. The conductive material is electrically connected to a low voltage power source and has a contact surface connectable to a low voltage device.

Electrified ceiling framework

A power and signal distribution system for the building interior and a method for operating a power and signal distribution system for the building interior are provided. The system includes a plurality of conductors adjacent to at least one surface of a plurality of support members forming a grid. The system further includes at least one shunt switch in communication with at least two conductors, the shunt switch being configurable to selectively conduct power or signals between the at least two conductors.

Power and signal distribution system for use in interior building spaces

A ceiling system including a grid framework having a plurality of grid elements arranged in a substantially horizontal plane. A conductive material is embedded in one of the plurality of grid elements. The grid element in which the conductive material is embedded includes at least one slot such that portions of the conductive material are exposed. A tap is attached to the grid element so that it is in alignment with the slot, and, in turn, with the conductive material. The tap includes a housing, a conductor engaging means and a tap conductor. The conductor engaging means forms a connection with the conductive material embedded in the grid element and the tap conductor.

Electrical conductivity in a suspended ceiling system

An electrical connector for use with an electrified ceiling framework having a conductive body with a first end and second end. The first end of the conductive body is arranged and disposed to provide selective electrical contact to a first conductive surface disposed adjacent to a ceiling framework. The first end also includes a conductive, mechanically biased member capable of maintaining physical contact with the first conductive surface. The second end includes a surface arranged and disposed to provide selective electrical contact to a device selected from the group consisting of a voltage source, a second conductive surface, an electrical device and combinations thereof. The conductive body provides electrical connectivity between the conductive surface and the device.

Electrified ceiling framework connectors

A layered optical circuit including a multi-substrate optical circuit. The multi-substrate optical circuit includes a plurality of optical fibers, a first substrate supporting a first portion the optical fibers to form a first optical subcircuit, and a second substrate supporting a second portion of the optical fibers to form a second optical subcircuit. A third portion of the optical fibers between the first and second portions extends between the first and second substrates. Free fibers in the third portion are elongated to permit repositioning of the first and second optical subcircuits in an overlapping arrangement without exceeding a minimum bend radius of each of the optical fibers. The overlapping arrangement of the first and second optical subcircuits forms a layered optical circuit. Accordingly, a layered optical circuit having a large number of fibers and/or a complex circuit pattern may be affixed on a relatively small footprint of a backplane, etc.

Layered optical circuit

A ferrule assembly comprising: (a) an array of optical fibers each having a mating end face; and (b) a ferrule with the fibers disposed therein, the ferrule having a front and rear orientation and a front surface, the front surface having at least a mating surface and a non-mating surface, the mating surface extending forward beyond the non-mating surface and presenting the mating end face of at least one of the fibers.

Growing community of inventors

Lewisberry, PA, United States of America

Brian T Patterson