Switch boxes and outlet boxes with no wire nuts

• US 10,447,021 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry J. Dicken
• Original Assignee: Larry J. Dicken
• Inventors: Dicken, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D
• Application Number:
  US16/198,701
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2408 Modular blocks H01R9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

A switch box or outlet box with no wire nuts having three bus bars, one for each of the hot, neutral, and ground wires of a three conductor wire. Separate conductors are connected between the bus bars and an electrical component, such as an outlet or switch thereby eliminating the need for wire nuts.

Claims

1. A switch box or outlet box with no wire nuts consisting of:

an enclosure, a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a third bus bar;

the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the third bus bar each being elongate and having a rectangular cross section, and each having one or more horizontally oriented female sockets adapted to be capable of releasably securing a conductor;

the first bus bar being mounted to a back wall of the enclosure;

the second bus bar being mounted to the back wall of the enclosure;

the third bus bar being mounted to a bottom wall of the enclosure;

the enclosure having a first aperture disposed in a top wall thereof;

the first aperture being adapted such that a vertically oriented wire can be inserted therein;

the back wall of the enclosure being connected to the top wall of the enclosure;

the back wall of the enclosure being connected to the bottom wall of the enclosure;

the enclosure having an open front disposed opposite to the back wall of the enclosure;

the first aperture being aligned with the first bus bar;

the enclosure having a second aperture disposed in the top wall thereof;

the second aperture being aligned with the second bus bar.

2. A method of connecting an electrical switch or outlet comprising the steps of:

obtaining the switch box or outlet box of claim 1;

inserting a portion of a first conductor into the first or second aperture;

placing a bend in one or more of the portion of the first conductor or a first end of a second conductor;

releasably connecting the portion of the first conductor into one of said one or more female sockets;

releasably connecting the first end of a second conductor to one of said one or more female sockets;

releasably connecting a second end of said second conductor to a connector of an outlet or switch.

3. A method of energizing an electrical switch or outlet comprising the steps of:

obtaining the switch box or outlet box of claim 1;

inserting a three conductor wire into the first or second aperture of the enclosure;

placing a bend in a hot conductor of the three conductor wire such that a portion of the hot conductor is horizontally oriented;

releasably connecting said horizontally oriented portion of the hot conductor into one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said first bus bar;

releasably connecting a first end of a second hot conductor to one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said first bus bar;

releasably connecting a second end of said second hot conductor to a hot connector of an outlet or switch;

placing a bend in a neutral conductor of the three conductor wire such that a portion of the neutral conductor is horizontally oriented;

releasably connecting said horizontally oriented portion of the neutral conductor into one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said second bus bar;

releasably connecting a first end of a second neutral conductor to one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said second bus bar;

releasably connecting a second end of said second neutral conductor to a neutral connector of said outlet or switch;

placing a bend in a ground conductor of the three conductor wire such that a portion of the ground conductor is horizontally oriented;

releasably connecting said horizontally oriented portion of the ground conductor into one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said third bus bar;

releasably connecting a first end of a second ground conductor to one of said one or more horizontally oriented female sockets of said third bus bar;

releasably connecting a second end of said second ground conductor to a ground connector of said outlet or switch;

whereby the electrical switch or outlet is energized without wire nuts.