Universal electrical module

• US 20060025012A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan Fields
• Original Assignee: Dan Fields
• Inventors: Fields, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,273,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88

Abstract

In one embodiment, a universal electrical module is provided that facilitates the quick and safe installation of different types of electrical devices in an electrical box by enabling a technician to simply insert prongs extending from the electrical devices into matching slots on a first face of the universal electrical module. The universal electrical module is connected to the hot, ground and neutral wires of the building circuit by means of a bus on a second face of the module, and may be produced in different sizes to support one or more electrical devices. Additionally, meter reading slots may be provided on the first face to enable meter reading from the front face of the module. In another embodiment, an electrical device is provided that comprises a plurality of prongs extending from the device, wherein each of the prongs is structured to mate with a slot on an electrical module.

Claims

10. An electrical device comprising a plurality of prongs extending from said electrical device, wherein each of said prongs is structured to mate with one of a plurality of slots on an electrical module, and wherein each of said plurality of slots provides access to a source selected from the group consisting of power, load, neutral, and ground.

1. A universal electrical module comprising:

a housing having a first face and a second face, said first face comprising a plurality of slots, said second face comprising a bus and a plurality of ports; and

a retention system extending from said housing and shaped to retain said universal electrical module within an electrical box;

wherein said bus comprises a power-carrying portion, a neutral portion, and a ground portion,

wherein each of said bus portions and each of said ports is structured for connection to a conductor wire,

wherein at least one of said slots creates a contact with said power-carrying portion, at least one of said slots creates a contact with said neutral portion, at least one of said slots operates as a ground slot creating a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each create a contact with one of said ports, and

wherein each of said slots is structured for mating with a prong extending from an electrical device.

2. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein said retention system comprises one or more L-shaped retention plates having a first end connected to said housing and a second end connected to an open edge of said electrical box.

3. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein the prong connected to said ground slot is plate-shaped, and wherein said plate-shaped prong and said ground slot are connected to each other with a screw.

4. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, further comprising a meter reading row provided on said first face, wherein said meter reading row comprises a plurality of reading slots each connected to one of said bus portions, and wherein each of said reading slots is suitable for access by a measuring instrument.

5. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein said universal electrical module is a single-gang module structured for connecting to a single electrical device, wherein said first face comprises eight slots and said second face comprises one bus and five ports, and wherein one of said slots creates a contact with said power-carrying portion, one of said slots creates a contact with said neutral portion, one of said slots is a ground slot creating a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each create a contact with one of said ports.

6. The universal electrical module according to claim 5, wherein said slots creating a contact with said bus portions are aligned in a central position on said first face, and wherein said slots connected to said ports are arranged in two groups on the periphery of said first face, said two groups being positioned opposite to each other.

7. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein said universal electrical module is a two-gang module structured for connecting to two electrical devices, wherein said first face comprises sixteen slots and said second face comprises one bus and ten ports, wherein two of said slots create a contact with said power-carrying portion, two of said slots create a contact with said neutral portion, two of said slots operate as ground slots creating a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each create a contact with one of said ports, and wherein said slots are arranged in two identical groups positioned on adjoining portions of said first face.

8. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein said universal electrical module is a three-gang module structured for connecting to three electrical devices, wherein said first face comprises twenty-four slots and said second face comprises one bus and fifteen ports, wherein three of said slots create a contact with said power-carrying portion, three of said slots create a contact with said neutral portion, three of said slots create a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each create a contact with one of said ports, and wherein said slots are arranged in three identical groups positioned on adjoining portions of said first face.

9. The universal electrical module according to claim 1, wherein said universal electrical module is a four-gang module structured for connecting to four electrical devices, wherein said first face comprises thirty-two slots and said second face comprises one bus and twenty ports, wherein four of said slots create a contact with said power-carrying portion, four of said slots create a contact with said neutral portion, four of said slots create a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each create a contact with one of said ports, and wherein said slots are arranged in three identical groups positioned on adjoining portions of said first face.

11. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein one prong is a ground prong, wherein said ground prong is plate-shaped, and wherein said ground prong is structured to connect to a ground slot with a screw.

12. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein said electrical device is a single pole switch having a first prong to connect to a source of power, a second prong to connect to a source of source of load, and a third prong to connect to a source of ground.

13. The electrical device according to claim 12, further comprising a second ground prong.

14. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein said electrical device is a single receptacle having a first prong to connect to a source of power, a second prong to connect to a source of neutral, and a third prong to connect to a source of ground.

15. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein said electrical device is a duplex receptacle having a first prong to connect to a source of power, a second prong to connect to a source of neutral, and a third prong to connect to a source of ground.

16. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein said electrical device is a single pole/receptacle having a first prong structured to connect to a source of power, a second prong to connect to a source of neutral, a third prong to connect to a source of source of load, and a fourth prong to connect to a source of ground.

14-1. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein said electrical device is a half switch receptacle having a first prong to connect to a source of power, a second prong to connect to a source of neutral, a third prong to connect to a source of source of load, and a fourth prong to connect to a source of ground.

17. A method for making a universal electrical module, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a housing having a first face and a second face, said first face comprising a plurality of slots, each of said slots being structured for mating with a prong extending from an electrical device, said second face comprising a bus and a plurality of ports, said bus comprising a power-carrying portion, a neutral portion, and a ground portion, each of said bus portions and each of said ports being structured for connection to a conductor wire;

(b) providing a retention system extending from said housing and shaped to retain said universal electrical module within an electrical box; and

(c) causing at least one of said slots to create a contact with said power-carrying portion, at least one of said slots to create a contact with said neutral portion, at least one of said slots to create a contact with said ground portion, and the remaining slots each to create a contact with one of said ports.

18. The method for making the universal electrical module according to claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a meter reading row on said first face, said meter reading row comprising a plurality of reading slots each connected to one of said bus portions, each of said reading slots being suitable for access by a measuring instrument.

19. The method for making the universal electrical module according to claim 17, further comprising the step of arranging said slots on said first face as one or more identical gangs, each of said gangs being structured for connection to one electrical device, further comprising the step of providing one bus on said second face and of arranging said plurality of ports shaped as one or more identical gangs.

20. The method for making the universal electrical module according to claim 17, further comprising the step of providing an electrical device comprising a plurality of prongs extending from said electrical device, wherein each of said prongs is structured to mate with one of a plurality of slots on an electrical module, and wherein each of said plurality of slots provides access to a source selected from the group consisting of power, load, neutral, and ground.