INTERCHANGEABLE ELECTRICAL DEVICE

• US 3,707,697 A
• Filed: 06/09/1971
• Issued: 12/26/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Izumi
• Original Assignee: John Izumi
• Inventors: Izumi, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/151,267
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 33/14R,19,22R,22B,147,156,122,21,23,24 174/51,59 317/118,119
• US Class Current: 439/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/056 Mounting on plugboards
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/928 Modular electrically interengaging parts, e.g. stove with replaceable heating elements formed on coupling parts

Abstract

An electrical connecting and mounting frame for use in standard 115 AC electrical wiring systems, the frame containing a series of conductors disposed within an insulating block, openings in the block through which wiring devices such as AC outlets, switches and pilot lights can be releasably mounted to the block and simultaneously electrically connected to the respective conductors in the block, the block further containing means for connecting the conductors therein to the hot, neutral and earth ground wires in a standard 115 volts AC supply.

Claims

1. In an AC electrical wiring system, a wiring device mounting frame for simultaneously electrically connecting and mounting any one of a plurality of electrical wiring devices thereto, said frame comprising:

a block of electrically non-conductive material having top and bottom surfaces and first and second pairs of respective opposite side surfaces;

a plurality of mounting positions on said block for mounting said wiring devices;

at least two elongated electrical conductors disposed in said block and extending continuously through each of said mounting positions;

first terminal means associated with one of said elongated conductors in said block for enabling connection of said elongated conductor to one of said AC electrical wires;

second terminal means associated with the other of said elongated conductors in said block for enabling connection of said other elongated conductor to another of said AC electrical wires;

a series of additional electrical conductors disposed in said block, at least one of said additional conductors disposed at each of said mounting positions;

said additional electrical conductors extending from one of said side surfaces towards the other of said first pair and transversely in said block with respect to the two elongated conductors;

respective third terminal means associated with each of said series of additional electrical conductors for enabling respective electrical wiring connections thereto;

said third terminal means comprising a respective terminal in said one side surface associated with each of said conductors; and

simultaneous mounting and electrical connection means, at each of said mounting positions for releasably mounting said wiring devices to said block, including means for electrically connecting said wiring devices to respective ones of said electrical conductors at said mounting positions when said wiring devices are releasably mounted to said block.

2. A wiring device mounting frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said simultaneous mounting and electrical connection means includes at least one slot extending through at least one of said top and bottom surfaces of said block, adjacent and in communication with each of said conductors at said mounting positions.

3. A wiring device mounting frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein said simultaneous mounting and electrical connection means further includes means associated with each slot for maintaining said wiring device in releasably secure electrical contact with the respective conductor when said wiring device is mounted on said block.

4. A wiring device mounting frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first terminal means includes a respective terminal in each of said second pair of opposite side surfaces of said block and further respective terminals in one of said opposite side surfaces of said first pair at each of said mounting positions on said block, whereby additional wiring connections may be made to one of said elongated conductors.

5. A wiring device mounting frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second terminal means includes a respective terminal in each of said first pair of opposiTe side surfaces of said block and at least two additional terminals in the other of said opposite side surfaces of said first pair, whereby additional wiring connections may be made to the other of said elongated conductors.