Modular electrical switch/outlet assembly
First Claim
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1. A modular electrical switch/outlet assembly comprising:
- (a) a wiring box having connections for incoming power wires and having a plurality of spaced contact pairs coupled to said connections;
(b) mounting means for said wiring box to mount same to a building member;
(c) at least one switch module having contacts dimensioned and positioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs;
(d) at least one receptacle module having contacts positioned and dimensioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs, whereby said assembly can provide a plurality of different switch and receptacle combination;
(e) a face plate having a plurality of openings and each of said openings having mounting means to alternatively engage a selected one of a plurality of said modules in any desired combination; and
(f) said mounting means for said modules being brackets extending rearwardly from said face plate and which cooperate with complimentary means on said modules such that the latter make a snap-on connection with said module mounting brackets.
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Abstract
A multi-mode electrical switch-outlet assembly as characterized by separate switch and outlet receptacle modules which are selectively plugged into a wiring box in the selected one of numerous possible combinations, there being a special face plate designed to snap-lock onto these modules, sandwiching them between the face plate and the wiring box, the latter of which is adjustably retained in a special mounting bracket which ordinarily would be connected to a building stud behind the wallboard.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A modular electrical switch/outlet assembly comprising:
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(a) a wiring box having connections for incoming power wires and having a plurality of spaced contact pairs coupled to said connections; (b) mounting means for said wiring box to mount same to a building member; (c) at least one switch module having contacts dimensioned and positioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs; (d) at least one receptacle module having contacts positioned and dimensioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs, whereby said assembly can provide a plurality of different switch and receptacle combination; (e) a face plate having a plurality of openings and each of said openings having mounting means to alternatively engage a selected one of a plurality of said modules in any desired combination; and (f) said mounting means for said modules being brackets extending rearwardly from said face plate and which cooperate with complimentary means on said modules such that the latter make a snap-on connection with said module mounting brackets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A modular electrical switch/outlet assembly comprising:
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(a) a wiring box having connections for incoming power wires and having a plurality of spaced contact pairs coupled to said connections; (b) mounting means for said wiring box to mount same to a building member; (c) at least one switch module having contacts dimensioned and positioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs; (d) at least one receptacle module having contacts positioned and dimensioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs, whereby said assembly can provide a plurality of different switch and receptacle combinations; and (e) said switch module having a laterally eccentrically disposed operative contact tab and is toggle cam operated, and including a toggle cam to operate same, said toggle cam having an eccentric portion operable to operate said tab whereby reversal of said switch module around the longitudinal axis thereof to reverse the direction of eccentricity of said tab reverses the effect of operating said toggle cam. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A modular electrical switch/outlet assembly comprising:
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(a) a wiring box having connections for incoming power wires and having a plurality of spaced contact pairs coupled to said connections; (b) mounting means for said wiring box to mount same to a building member; (c) at least one switch module having contacts dimensioned and positioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs; (d) at least one receptacle module having contacts positioned and dimensioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs, whereby said assembly can provide a plurality of different switch and receptacle combination; and (e) a rear cable cover being resilient and open along one edge to permit the insertion of cables therethrough, whereby cables can be covered subsequently to their attachment to said wiring box. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A modular electrical switch/outlet assembly comprising:
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(a) a wiring box having connections for incoming power wires and having a plurality of spaced contact pairs coupled to said connections; (b) mounting means for said wiring box to mount same to a building member; (c) at least one switch module having contacts dimensioned and positioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs; (d) at least one receptacle module having contacts positioned and dimensioned to mate alternatively with any of said contact pairs, whereby said assembly can provide a plurality of different switch and receptacle combinations; and (e) said wiring box including a pair of electrically isolated junction elements connecting the respective contacts of the contact pairs to the separate contacts of other contact pairs, said junction elements having frangible portions between contact pairs such that when said portions are broken the contact of adjacent contact pairs are electrically isolated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification