Modular electrical wiring system

• US 4,918,258 A
• Filed: 11/22/1988
• Issued: 04/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David L. Ayer
• Original Assignee: David L. Ayer
• Inventors: Ayer, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/275,100
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53, 220/3.2, 439/535, 200/297
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

A system utilizing modular hardware for residential and commercial buildings. The system includes pre-wired molded plastic hardware and a circuit breaker panel which can be attached to electrical circuits having wire modules, and can be expanded using a circuit breaker panel extension module. It further includes smaller electrical boxes having mounting dovetails including electrical contacts for electrically and supportedly connecting a first electrical box to a second and third. A cavity is centrally disposed in each electrical box for receiving a pre-wired modular function unit and a standard function module, or a single pre-wired standard function module unit. The standard function module can be a standard switch, dual receptacle, lighting fixture, circuit breaker, or junction box and the like.

Claims

1. A modular electrical wiring system comprising:

first and second electrical boxes;

means for mounting the first box on a wall and supplying electrical energy to the first box;

the first and second boxes each including means for receiving and applying electrical energy to respective first and second function units;

connecting means disposed on exterior surfaces of the first and second boxes for supportedly connecting the first box to the second box; and

,

the connecting means further including means for applying electrical energy from the first box to the second box wherein only energy from the first box is applied to the second function unit.

2. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 further comprising a first function unit disposed in the receiving means of said first box and a second function unit disposed in the receiving means of said second box, and said function units each include means for conductively receiving a standard function module.

3. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 2 wherein the means for receiving and applying electrical energy to the function unit comprises a centrally disposed opening defining a cavity which includes female electrical contacts which conductively mate with male electrical contacts mounted on the function unit.

4. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 3 wherein the function units include wire pins electrically coupled to the male electrical contacts.

5. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 4, further comprising a first standard function module disposed in said first function unit and a second standard function module disposed in said second function unit, wherein the wire pins of each function unit are electrically coupled to its respective standard function module.

6. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 5 wherein each function unit and its respective standard function module is an integral electrical module.

7. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 6 wherein said first electrical box includes locking means for securing the integral electrical module in the receiving means.

8. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 5 wherein at least one standard function module is a standard single pole double throw switch.

9. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 5 wherein at least one standard function module is a dual outlet.

10. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 5 wherein at least one standard function module is a circuit breaker.

11. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 wherein the second electrical box includes further connecting means for supportedly and electrically connecting the second electrical box to a third electrical box, the further connecting means including means for applying electrical energy from the second box to the third box.

12. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 wherein the connecting means includes a male dovetail and a female dovetail, each dovetail including electrical contacts for electrically coupling the first electrical box to the second electrical box.

13. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 further comprising the first box having on its exterior surface a second connecting means, and a mounting bracket having on its exterior surface a mating connecting means, wherein the first box may be supportedly connected to the mounting bracket by connection of its said second connecting means to the connecting means of the bracket.

14. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 wherein each electrical box includes locking means for securing a pre-wired modular function unit in the receiving means.

15. A modular electrical wiring system comprising:

first, second and third electrical boxes;

first connecting means disposed on an exterior wall of the first electrical box for supportedly and electrically connecting the first electrical box to the second electrical box; and

second connecting means disposed on an exterior wall of the first electrical box for supportedly and electrically connecting the first electrical box to the third electrical box.

16. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 15 wherein the first connecting means is a male dovetail including electrical contacts for electrically connecting the first electrical box to the second electrical box and the second connecting means is a female dovetail including electrical contacts for electrically connecting the second electrical box to the third electrical box.

17. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 15 wherein the first electrical box includes power input means for receiving power from a power cable and power distribution means for distributing the input power to the first and second connecting means.