Electric Plug-In Module

• US 3,879,101 A
• Filed: 12/04/1973
• Issued: 04/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George T. Mckissic
• Original Assignee: George T. Mckissic
• Inventors: McKissic, George T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desmond, E. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/421,587
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 339/122R
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/58 Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals for high tension switches H01H33/025; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/14; for circuit breakers H01H71/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch

Abstract

A receptacle adapted for permanent mounting in a permanently mounted conventional electrical box mounted in a wall or other suitable supporting surface with the receptacle mounted inwardly of the box compartment, and an interchangable module in the form of an electric switch adapted to fit snugly in the box compartment and having a plurality of plugs projecting out of the back thereof adapted to be oriented and engaged in the respective sockets of the receptacle when the module is inserted into the box compartment in a manner to effect the electrical energization of the module, the module being readily replacable for repair or maintenance by merely unplugging the module by pulling it out of the receptacle and box compartment and then inserting a new module to take its place such that no wires or electrical connections are exposed during the interchange or installation of the module thus protecting an individual from possible electrical shock.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring system intended for use with a conventional type of electrical wiring box adapted to be mounted in a vertical surface, such as a wall and the like, and having a compartment defined interiorly thereof and opening out of the front thereof, the system comprising, in combination:

an electrical receptacle device adapted to be mounted interiorly of said box compartment;

said receptacle having a flat vertical front surface, a flat vertical back surface, opposed top and bottom end surfaces, and opposed parallel side wall surfaces;

a pair of spaced apart vertically extending flanges each associated with a top and bottom edge of said receptacle and projecting vertically outwardly therefrom and extending transversely thereacross;

an opening disposed centrally of each of said receptacle flanges and extending therethrough;

a bracket of a U-shaped configuration adapted to mount said receptacle in said box compartment, said bracket having a bright portion defining a base member, a pair of parallel outwardly extending leg members, and a pair of spaced apart oppositely directed flange members formed integrally with the free ends of the leg members and projecting vertically therefrom;

said bracket base member being mounted along the vertical central axis of said receptacle back surface and affixed thereto;

said bracket leg members each projecting forwardly from said base member to a position disposed forwardly of said receptacle device front surface and spaced vertically apart a distance greater than the exterior edges of said flange members of said receptacle device;

said terminal flange members associated with each leg member having an opening disposed centrally thereof and extending therethrough, each of the openings adapted to be placed in axial alignment with associated mounting openings in said electrical box;

a pair of screws having threaded shanks, each screw associated with one of sAid leg member flange members adapted to pass through said opening associated therewith and be threadedly received in said associated mounting openings of said electrical box to secure said receptacle device to said electrical box inwardly of said box compartment;

four electrical sockets disposed in said front surface of said receptacle device and projecting thereinto, said sockets each being of an identical elongated rectangular configuration disposed in two vertical rows of two sockets each with the pair of sockets of each row being disposed in transverse alignment with the pair of sockets of the other row;

a pair of independent terminal connectors mounted on the top surface of said receptacle device, each terminal connector electrically connected to the topmost adjacent ones of said sockets to be in electrical communication therewith;

a second pair of terminal connectors mounted on said bottom surface of said receptacle device with each independently connected to one of the adjacentmost sockets to be in electrical communication therewith;

a first breakable jumper means electrically interconnecting said first pair of terminal connectors and disposed exteriorly of said receptacle device and adapted to be manually broken in a manner to effect the electrical separation of said terminal connectors and said associated sockets;

a second breakable jumper means electrically interconnecting said second pair of terminal connectors and disposed exteriorly of said bottom surface of said receptacle device and adapted to be manually broken in a manner to effect the electrical separation of said terminal connectors and said associated sockets;

an electrical switch device adapted to be mounted on said receptacle device;

said electrical switch device consisting of a front surface, a vertical flat back surface, opposed vertical side wall surfaces, and opposed top and bottom horizontal surfaces;

a toggle switch actuating means disposed inwardly of said switch device and having its handle portion projecting outwardly of said switch device face surface for manual actuation thereof exteriorly of said switch device;

a pair of parallel spaced apart oppositely projecting flange members, each flange member associated with the top and bottom surfaces of said switch device and projecting outwardly therefrom in opposite directions;

an aperture disposed centrally of each of said switch device flange members and extending therethrough;

said switch device flange members adapted to overlie in a parallel manner said receptacle device flange members when said switch device is mounted on said receptacle device with said apertures of said switch device flange members disposed in axial alignment with associated ones of said apertures of said receptacle device flange members;

a pair of screws each having a threaded shank, each of said screws associated with one set of aligned flange member apertures and adapted to be passed through the central opening of said switch device flange member opening and be threadedly received in said aligned opening of said receptacle device flange member to removably retain said switch device mounted on said receptacle device;

four independent electrical conducting plug members of an identical flat elongated rectangular configuration affixed to said back surface of said switch device and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relationship to each other, said plugs being of a size, configuration and spacing corresponding to the size, configuration and spacing of said sockets in said receptacle device;

said plugs adapted to be oriented relative to said receptacle sockets with said plugs being engaged in said sockets and making electrical contact therewith when said switch device is mounted on said receptacle device with said plug members engaged in said socket;

said plug members being electrically connected inwardly of said switch device to switching mechanisms for making and breaking electrical contacT between said plug members;

whereby a single switch device may be used both as a conventional single switch, a three-way switch, and a four-way switch merely by selective wiring of the terminal connectors of the receptacle device and the manual breaking away of said first and second jumper means depending upon the intended usage of the switch device in the electrical circuit to be controlled thereby.