Object of the I nvention

The present invention is comprised in the field of electricity transmission devices and to the field of domestic or industrial furniture.

Background of the I nvention

The problem of how to get an electric cable, which is not elastic, to reach different positions without there being an excessive surplus amount of cable that cannot be easily concealed, and there not being any cable shortage either to reach the furthest or extreme coupling positions arises when establishing the electrical connection of an element that can be fixed to another element in several different positions.

This problem arises, for example, when electrifying a shelf of a shelving unit. I n that case, each shelf can be fixed to the rail or rod of the shelving unit in different positions. If the shelf is to have some type of electrical installation, such as lighting means for example, the cable transmitting electricity through the shelving unit must be connected to the power supply, usually by means of a channel or housing in the rod or rail which allows the cable of the shelving unit to reach the power supply. The problem arises when a shelf is to be cha nged from its position since the ca ble is either not long enough to reach the highest or lowest position of the shelving unit, or a large amount of surplus cable is visible in the case of placing the shelf in a position that requires less cable, with the aesthetic and even safety problems that this entails.

Description of the I nvention

The present invention proposes a solution to the preceding problems by means of a female electrical connection device according to claim 1, a male electrical connection device according to claim 5 and an electrical coupling system according to claim 11. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

I n a first inventive aspect, the invention presents a female electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves, comprising a bearing part,

at least two conducting wires,

at least two housings for each housing to house each of the at least two conducting wires, thus providing the electrical insulation between said conducting wires, and

at least one connecting stop arranged substantially facing the housings of the conducting wires, intended to favor the approach to said conducting wires of a male electrical connection device envisaged for being inserted in the female electrical connection device,

wherein the bearing part provides electrical insulation between the conducting wires and comprises at least one receiving area suitable for receiving a male electrical connection device, and

the conducting wires are arranged in the bearing part such that they are substantially straight and substantially parallel to one another at least in the at least one receiving area suitable for receiving the male electrical connection device.

Throughout the entire document, "housing" must be understood in its broadest sense, such that a part comprising a housing for housing a conducting wire must be understood in the sense that the part is somehow suitable for at least partly containing said conducting wire by means of notches or slots, by means of integrating the conducting wire inside said part, or any similar solution.

In a particular embodiment, the female device additionally comprises guiding means, such as guiding recesses or stops, to facilitate guiding when inserting a male electrical connection device.

In a particular embodiment, the female device is manufactured from a polymeric material, preferably PVC.

In a particular embodiment, the half of the female device which houses the conducting wires is longer than the half which comprises the connection stop.

In a second inventive aspect, the invention presents a male electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves, comprising

at least two conducting wires, at least two housings, and

at least one stop or recess adapted to serve as an insertion guide,

wherein each housing houses each of the at least two conducting wires the male electrical connection device being suitable for being inserted in the at least one receiving area of a female electrical connection device according to any of the preceding claims to establish electrical contact between the conducting wires of the male electrical connection device and the conducting wires of the female electrical connection device.

In a particular embodiment, the male electrical connection device is divided into at least two portions, such that each of the portions comprises a conducting wire and a housing for housing said conducting wire.

In a particular embodiment, the male electrical connection device comprises at least a connecting tab suitable for engaging the male electrical connection device to a post or to the shelving system in a stable way.

In a particular embodiment, the male device comprises at least two faces, a connecting face and a transmitting face, each of the at least two housings comprising at least a first housing portion in the connecting face and a second housing portion in the transmitting face, the first housing portion and the second housing portion of each of these housing portions being connected through a connecting window connecting the connecting face and the transmitting face of said male electrical connection device.

In a particular embodiment, the connecting tab for engaging the male electrical connection device to a post or to the shelving system is connected to the rest of the male electrical connection device by the end of the male electrical connection device which is further from the connecting window, and being cantilevered.

In a particular embodiment, the male device comprises a connection terminal at one of its ends for connecting with the at least two conducting wires.

In a third inventive aspect, the invention presents an electrical coupling system for shelving systems with movable shelves, characterized in that it comprises:

a female electrical connection device according to the first inventive aspect, and a male electrical connection device according to the second inventive aspect. I n a particular embodiment, the system comprises:

a post or rack suitable for housing the female electrical connection device, and an element comprising the male electrical connection device.

I n a particular embodiment, the element comprising the male electrical connection device is a shelf additionally comprising at least one securing flange suitable for fixing the shelf to the post or rack.

All the features described in this specification (including the claims, description and drawings) can be combined in any way with the exception of combinations of such mutually excluding features.

Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example in reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a general view of a female electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of a female electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention.

Figure 3a-3b show two views of a male electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention, each of the views being seen from a face of said device.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a coupling between a male electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention and a female electrical connection device for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an electrical coupling system according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows another particular example of a female device according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a male electrical connection device according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of another embodiment of an electrical coupling system according to the invention in an operation position.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an electrical coupling system according to the invention in an operation position.

Figure 10 shows a more global perspective of the electrical coupling system (3) according to Figure 9.

Detailed Description of the I nvention

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a female electrical connection device (1) for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention.

I n this figure it can be observed how this female device (1) in this particular example is a straight and elongated part comprising two housings (14) spanning the part from one end to the other in its inner portion, each of them housing each of the two conducting wires (12) providing power supply to the device.

I n a particular embodiment, instead of two housings (14), there could be more than two housings (12) for housing three-phase supply wires, the ground connection, etc.

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of this female device (1) in which the slots forming the housings (14) and how the section offers a continuous open receiving area (13) that allows inserting objects into the female device (1), such as a male connector for example, such that they reach the conducting wires (12) and can establish electrical connection with them, ca n be seen. This cross-section also shows how there are guiding recesses and stops (15) in this part which allow more easily guiding the insertion of said objects. I n a particular embodiment, in addition to these guiding recesses and stops (15) intended for guiding the insertion of objects into the part, there is a connecting stop (16) the purpose of which is to facilitate the connection between an object having conducting wires that can be inserted into the female device (1) and the conducting wires (12) housed in the housings (14) of the female device (1).

I n a particular example, instead of a continuous open receiving area (13) the female device (l)comprises specific receiving areas, such that objects can only be inserted into the female device (l)in said specific areas. Given that the most common arrangement of the female device is a vertical arrangement, the presence of said specific areas will establish that objects may be inserted at determined heights of said female device (1).

Figure 6 shows another particular example of a female device (1) according to the invention. I n this figure, the female device (1) has one half which is shorter tha n the other. One half houses the conducting wires (12) and the other ha lf just comprises the connection stop (16).

Figures 3a and 3b show two views of an embodiment of a male electrical connection device (2) for shelving systems with movable shelves according to the invention. I n this particular example, this device is a part having two faces (24, 25), one of them is the connecting face (24), since it is intended for facing the conducting wires (12) of a female device (1) when it is inserted therein, and the other face is the transmitting face (25).

This male electrical connection device (2) comprises two housings, each of them for housing a conducting wire (21). Since in this particular embodiment these conducting wires (21) are intended to establish an electrical connection with the conducting wires (12) of the female electrical connection device (1), the number of conducting wires (21) of this male electrical connection device (2) is the same as the number of conducting wires (12) of the female electrical connection device (1).

I n other particular embodiments, the conducting wires are connected differently, so it is possible for there to be differences between the wires of the male device and of the female device.

I n other particular embodiments, the male electrical connection device (2) can be presented in several portions, such that each of the portions can contain a housing for a conducting wire.

These housings have two housing portions, one for each face of the part. The first housing portions (26), which are in the connecting face (24), are parallel to one another and are at the same distance from one another as the housings (14) of the female electrical connection device (1), such that the conducting wires (12) comprised in the female electrical connection device (1) are facing the conducting wires (21) comprised in the male electrical connection device (2), a n electrical connection being able to be established between both pairs of conducting wires. I n addition to these first housing portions (26), the device comprises second housing portions (27), each of them being connected with each of the first housing portions (26) by means of windows (28) connecting the connecting face (24) and the transmitting face (25) of the male electrical connection device (2).

I n the example of the figure, a series of recesses (23) are also observed in the male electrical connection device (2) which facilitate the coupling thereof with the guiding stops and recesses (15) of the female electrical connection device (1).

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a male electrical connection device (2) according to the invention. This male electrical connection device (2) further comprises two connecting tabs (29) suitable for engaging the male electrical connection device (2) to a post or to a shelf in a stable way.

More specifically, in this embodiment (Figure 7), the two connecting tabs (29) are located at both sides of the male electrical connection device (2), being connected to the rest of the male electrical connection device (2) by the end of the male electrical connection device (2) which is further from the windows (28), and being cantilevered, so that it may adapt when entering the holes of a post. Each connecting tab (29) comprises two grooves (35) suitable for engaging the male electrical connection device (2) in the holes of a post.

I n this figure there is a receiver (34) intended to receive the electric connection of the element to be electrically supplied.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an electrical coupling system (3) according to the invention, where the following ca n be observed: a male electrical connection device (2) according to the invention, a female electrical connection device (1) according to the invention, a post (31) surrounding the female electrical connection device (1) and a shelf (32) comprising the male electrical connection device (2).

I n this figure it can be seen how the conducting wires (21) of the male electrical connection device (2) are in electrical connection with the conducting wires (12) of the female electrical connection device (1). This electrical connection is favored by the connecting stop (16) comprised in the female electrical connection device (1).

The post (31) provides physical support to the female electrical connection device (1), and provides fixing spots for the shelf (32) comprising the male electrical connection device (2), such that the flange (33) comprised in the shelf (32) is mechanically coupled with the post (31) in a manner that is known in the state of the art.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of another embodiment of an electrical coupling system (3) according to the invention in an operation position. I n this embodiment, the female electrical connection device (1) is one as in Figure 6, and is fixed to an internal side of the post (31) by means of some conventional fixing means. I n different embodiments, these fixing means are glue, bolts, or any other fixing means known in the state of the art.

Advantageously, this electrical coupling system (3) allows the post (31) to house several other accessories at the same time, as the electrica l coupling system (3) takes only the essential room.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an electrical coupling system (3) according to the invention. Said figure shows the elements that are visible once coupled together. The female electrical connection device (not shown) is located inside the post (31), and the shelf (32) is coupled to said post (31) by means of a flange (33). The electric current is therefore not accessible from the outside unless an object is inserted through the receiving area (13). This is how the shelf (32) has access to the electrical connection as a result of the male electrical connection device (2) associated with it which is inserted into the female electrical connection device (1), so it is concealed in this figure. As described in the preceding figure, the male electrical connection device (2) is electrically coupled to the female electrical connection device (1). Since the female electrical connection device (1) is connected to power supply means, the shelf (32) comprising the male electrical connection device (2) is connected to the power supply, regardless of the height of the post (32) to which it is connected. Therefore, to establish the electrical-mechanical coupling of the shelf (32) at a different height of the post (31), it would be sufficient to remove the flange (33) of the shelf (32) from the post (31) and fit it in at a different height, since by inserting the male electrical connection device (2) in the receiving area (13) of the female electrical connection device (1), the electrical connection between the conducting wires (12, 21) of both devices takes place such that the shelf (32) will be electrically powered at the height at which it is fitted in.

Figures 9 and 10 show a perspective view of an electrical coupling system (3) according to the invention in an operation position as shown in Figure 8. Figure 9 shows a detailed of a male electrical connection device (2) according to the invention connected in a post (31) that includes a female electrical connection device (not shown) inside. Figure 10 shows a more global perspective of the electrical coupling system (3) according to Figure 9, together with a shelf support (30), which may be placed in the same post (31) without interference with the electrical coupling system (3).