Plug and Play Utility Control Modules
First Claim
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1. A method of inserting a control device into a pre-existing housing;
- said method comprising;
selecting a control device having a desired characteristic, the control device having pre-wired electrical contacts accessible from an outside surface thereof,selecting a pre-existing housing at the location where a selected control device is to reside, said pre-existing housings being secured to a premises at various locations distributed around said premises, said locations convenient to a user of said selected control device to control power with respect to certain portions of said premises; and
plugging said selected control device into said selected housing by mating said pre-wired contacts of said device with contacts pre-wired within said selected housing.
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Abstract
A utility control device, such as a light socket, a switch or a plug socket, is designed with universal terminals so that when plugged into a pre-wired utility box (box socket), the terminals will make the proper electrical connections with the premises wiring. Systems and methods are disclosed for arranging the premises power grid such that any device type can be “plugged” into the shells that are pre-wired inside the utility box.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of inserting a control device into a pre-existing housing;
- said method comprising;
selecting a control device having a desired characteristic, the control device having pre-wired electrical contacts accessible from an outside surface thereof, selecting a pre-existing housing at the location where a selected control device is to reside, said pre-existing housings being secured to a premises at various locations distributed around said premises, said locations convenient to a user of said selected control device to control power with respect to certain portions of said premises; and plugging said selected control device into said selected housing by mating said pre-wired contacts of said device with contacts pre-wired within said selected housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- said method comprising;
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7. A method of installing electrical wiring for controlling electrical devices with respect to a premises, said method comprising:
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attaching junction boxes to support structures within said premises at various locations, said junction boxes added to said premises during construction of said premises at a time when said support structures are exposed at least in the area where said junction boxes are attached; terminating electrical premises wiring at contacts within each said junction box; adding covering to said exposed support structures so as to eliminate said exposed structures while leaving open an entry into said attached junction boxes through said covering; and inserting a modular control device through said opening in said covering, said modular control device having terminals for mating with the contacts within said junction box, said mating being a force fit between said terminals and said contacts. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of installing electrical wiring for controlling electrical devices with respect to a premises, said method comprising:
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inserting shells within junction boxes which have been attached to support structures within said premises at various locations, said junction boxes added to said premises during construction of said premises at a time when said support structures are exposed at least in the area where said junction boxes are attached; terminating electrical premises wiring at contacts within each said junction box;
said contacts positioned on an outer rear surface of said shell;adding covering to the exposed support structures so as to eliminate the exposed support structures while leaving an opening into said inserted shell through said covering; and inserting a modular control device into said shell through said opening in said covering, said modular control device having terminals for mating with a portion of said contacts within said shell, said mating being a force fit between said terminals and said contacts. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification