GB1601000A - Flexible electrical connector strip - Google Patents

Description

(54) FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR STRIP (71) I, DAVID GODFREY THOMAS, a British subject, of 3 Alma Place, Padstow, Cornwall, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a flexible electrical connector strip.

There are many low power electrical cable applications particularly in domestic use, where it is desirable to avoid unsightly runs of cable or wire. One example is in stereophonic sound reproducing installations, in which twin core cable, sometimes of considerable length, connects outputs of a stereophonic amplifier to speaker units in different locations in a room. Another example is the low voltage wire used to connect an electric door bell to a pushswitch. In such cases it is often difficult to avoid untidy runs of cable or wire, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible electrical connector strip which is capable of providing an unobtrusive low power connection for uses such as those mentioned.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible electrical connector strip comprising a plastics backing tape of electrically insulating material having on one face at least one flexible conductive element and a self-adhesive coating for fixing the strip to an insulating support with the said one face adjacent the support, in which the tape has feather edges tapering in thickness towards each of its longitudinal edges.

The or each flexible conductive element may comprise an extruded wire, or a flat strip or ribbon adhered to or printed upon the said one face of the tape.

The or each conductive element may be made of various conductive materials, such as, for example, carbon fibre, copper, brass, tin or solder.

The or each conductive element may be sandwiched between two layers of selfadhesive tape one of which is provided on an external face with an adhesive coating.

It is a simple matter to place the connector strip in position and stick the tape to an insulating support such as, for example, a skirting board or architrave, with the conductive element or elements effectively insulated and concealed from view. Where, as in preferred embodiments of the invention, the conductive element or elements comprise flat strip or ribbon the connector strip, when stuck in position, is both firmly secured and unobtrusive, particularly if subsequently painted with the same surface finish as the surface upon which it is fixed.

Connector strips according to the invention may be manufactured in lengths or cut from a fall of indefinite length. Electrical connections may be made between adjoining connector strips by means of a specially adapted flat bridging element having conductive portions on its upper surface. Such bridging elements may form an elbow junction, T-junction, or other junction. In using such a bridging element the ends of adjoining connector strips are arranged so that they abut each other, each said end overlying the bridging element so that the or each conductive element is in contact with a respective conductive portion on the upper surface of the bridging element, which therefore affords an electrical bridging connection between the conductive elements of the adjoining connector strips.The bridging element would in practice preferably have an adhesive backing, or may be connected to the conductive elements of the adjoining connector strips by screw connections.

An insulated wire or cable may be attached to the opposite face of the tape, the or each conductive core of the wire or cable passing through the tape and making con tact with the or each conductive element.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, purely diagrammatically, in the accompanying drawing, which shows by way of example a portion of an electrical connector strip according to the invention, partly cut away in section.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a length of electrical connector strip suitable for use as a loudspeaker cable, comprising two flat parallel ribbons 1, 2 of copper foil adhered to one face 4 of a flexible insulating plastics backing tape 3, the said face 4 of the tape 3 having a self-adhesive coating enabling the tape to be applied and fixed to a flat insulating supporting surface such as, for example, a wall or a wooden or painted skirting board or architrave 5.

As shown exaggerated in the drawing the tape 3 may have feather edges, tapering in thickness towards each longitudinal edge, the external non-adhesive face of the tape being bevelled along each edge to form a smooth surface when the tape is fixed to a flat support.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A flexible electrical connector strip comprising a plastics backing tape of electrically insulating material having on one face at least one flexible conductive element and a self-adhesive coating for fixing the strip to an insulating support with the said one face adjacent the support, in which the tape has feather edges tapering in thickness towards each of its longitudinal edges.

2. A connector strip according to Claim 1, in which the or each flexible conductive element comprises an extruded wire or a flat strip or ribbon adhered to or printed upon the said one face of the tape.

3. A connector strip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which an insulated wire or cable is attached to the opposite face of the tape, the or each conductive core of the wire or cable passing through the tape and making contact with the or each conductive element.

4. A connector strip according to Claim 1, in which the or each conductive element is sandwiched between two layers of selfadhesive tape one of which is provided on an external face with an adhesive coating.

5. A flexible electrical connector strip substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tact with the or each conductive element. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, purely diagrammatically, in the accompanying drawing, which shows by way of example a portion of an electrical connector strip according to the invention, partly cut away in section. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a length of electrical connector strip suitable for use as a loudspeaker cable, comprising two flat parallel ribbons 1, 2 of copper foil adhered to one face 4 of a flexible insulating plastics backing tape 3, the said face 4 of the tape 3 having a self-adhesive coating enabling the tape to be applied and fixed to a flat insulating supporting surface such as, for example, a wall or a wooden or painted skirting board or architrave 5. As shown exaggerated in the drawing the tape 3 may have feather edges, tapering in thickness towards each longitudinal edge, the external non-adhesive face of the tape being bevelled along each edge to form a smooth surface when the tape is fixed to a flat support. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A flexible electrical connector strip comprising a plastics backing tape of electrically insulating material having on one face at least one flexible conductive element and a self-adhesive coating for fixing the strip to an insulating support with the said one face adjacent the support, in which the tape has feather edges tapering in thickness towards each of its longitudinal edges.

2. A connector strip according to Claim 1, in which the or each flexible conductive element comprises an extruded wire or a flat strip or ribbon adhered to or printed upon the said one face of the tape.

3. A connector strip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which an insulated wire or cable is attached to the opposite face of the tape, the or each conductive core of the wire or cable passing through the tape and making contact with the or each conductive element.

4. A connector strip according to Claim 1, in which the or each conductive element is sandwiched between two layers of selfadhesive tape one of which is provided on an external face with an adhesive coating.

5. A flexible electrical connector strip substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.