Modular electrical wiring system

• US 5,399,806 A
• Filed: 02/21/1992
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Olson
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Olson
• Inventors: Olson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, PETER DUNG BA
• Application Number:
  US07/839,792
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/53-58, 174/61-64, 202/3.9, 202/3.92, 248/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

A modular electrical wiring system (10) is shown including a hanger (12) and an electrical connection block (26) independently and adjustably held from the hanger (12) by four adjustment screws (106). The electrical connection block (26) is formed from three control boxes (28, 30, 32) and a receptacle box (34) which sandwiches bus bars (50) therebetween. Each bus bar (50) includes a connecting portion (56) located in one of three depressions (38-40) and which are accessible at different depths through slots (88, 90, 104) formed in the second, third, and receptacle boxes (30, 32, 34). The connecting straps (122) of electrical devices such as an outlet (110) or a switch (190) are sandwiched between a cover plate (182) and the receptacle box (34). The switch (190) includes bus bars (196, 198) having first ears (204, 220) sandwiched between the casings (192, 194) and second ears (206, 222) having the electrical contacts (212, 228), with the ears (204, 206, 220, 222) being bent from legs (202, 218) extending through slots (213, 230) in the casing (192). The outlet (110) includes a T-shaped ground conductor (118) having end portions (154) extending from the head (152) for slideable receipt on the outer faces of pedestals (158) located inside of a cavity (156) formed in the casing (112) and having a leg (150) also extending from the head (152) through a slot (162) formed in the casing (112).

Claims

1. Modular electrical wiring system for installation in a wall having an outer surface and including at least one framing member comprising, in combination:

a hanger including at least a first web and means for securing the hanger to the framing member with the first web being generally parallel to and spaced in a spacing direction from the outer surface of the wall;

a housing for receipt of an electrical device, with the housing having a front face; and

means for independently and simultaneously holding the housing at least at three locations at adjustable spacings in the spacing direction from the first web allowing the front face of the housing to be adjusted relative to the web to be planar with the outer surface of the wall.

2. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 wherein the wall has an inside surface;

wherein the framing member includes an outer face which is directly abutted by the inside surface of the wall; and

wherein the hanger further comprises, in combination;

at least a first plate having a front edge, with the first web extending generally perpendicular to the plate, with the securing means extending through the plate, with the front edge of the plate being alignable with the outer face of the framing member which is abutted by the inside surface of the wall.

3. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 2 wherein the hanger further comprises, in combination:

a second plate, with the first web extending generally perpendicularly between the first and second plates, with the securing means comprising at least a first nail, and nail holes formed in the first and second plates for slideably receiving the nails; and

means located between the first and second plates and secured to the first web for holding the nail to prevent relative movement between the nail and the first and second plates and the web during storage and transportation and for allowing removal of the nail when the nail is desired to be slid in the nail holes during installation.

4. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 3 wherein the hanger further comprises, in combination:

a second web extending generally perpendicularly between the first and second plates and spaced from the first web;

wherein the slidably receiving means comprises a material located intermediate the first and second webs and the first and second plates, with the material including a nail hole for aligning the nail with the nail holes formed in the first and second plates.

5. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 1 wherein the three locations are nonlinear.

6. Modular electrical wiring system for installation in a wall including at least one framing member comprising, in combination:

a hanger including at least a first web and means for securing the hanger to the framing member;

a housing for receipt of an electrical device; and

means for adjustably holding the housing from the first web;

wherein the housing comprises, in combination;

first, second and third electrical control boxes;

a receptacle box for receipt of the electrical device;

means for securing the boxes in a stacked condition with the second box abutting with the first box, the third box abutting with the second box and the receptacle box abutting with the third box;

a first bus bar in the first electrical control box;

a second bus bar in the second electrical control box;

a third bus bar in the third electrical control box;

a first slot through the receptacle, second and third boxes for electrical access to the first bus bar and electrically spaced from the second and third bus bars;

a second slot through the receptacle and third boxes for electrical access to the second bus bar and electrically spaced from the third bus bar; and

a third slot through the receptacle box for electrical access to the third bus bar.

7. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 6 wherein the first, second, and third electrical control boxes are generally of the same construction and generally comprise, in combination:

a plate having front and back faces and top, bottom, and side edges, with the front faces of the plates abutting with the back face of the next plate when the boxes are in a stacked condition;

first, second, and third depressions extending from the front face towards but spaced from the back face and the edges, with the depressions being spaced and parallel to each other;

at least a first cavity extending from the front face towards but spaced from the back face and the edges, with the first cavity intersecting with the first, second, and third depressions; and

wherein the bus bars each include a head portion of a size complementary to and for slideable receipt in the first cavity and a connecting portion of a size complementary to and for slideable receipt in one of the first, second, and third depressions, with the connecting portion of the first bus bar located in the first depression of the first box, the connecting portion of the second bus bar located in the second depression of the second box, and the connecting portion of the third bus bar located in the third depression of the third box, with the head portion being electrically connectable to a power distribution cable.

8. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 6 wherein the first, second, and third electrical control boxes are generally of the same construction and each include first, second, and third depressions spaced and parallel to each other, with the first bus bar located in the first depression of the first box, with the second bus bar located in the second depression of the second box, and with the third bus bar located in the third depression of the third box.

9. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 8 wherein the portions of the bus bars inside of the depressions have a V-shaped cross section;

and wherein the electrical device includes a plurality of contact blades of a single layer for slideable receipt in the V-shaped cross section portions, with the contact blades of the electrical device having a length for passage through the respective first, second, or third slot.

10. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 9 further including a switch comprising, in combination:

a lower casing, an upper casing, a first conductor, and a second conductor, wherein the first conductor is formed from a flat sheet and comprises, in combination;

a contact blade having an upper end, a lower end, and first and second sides, a first ear having an upper end, a lower end, and a side, with the side of the first ear integrally connected to the first side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto, with the upper end of the first ear being at the same extent as the upper end of the contact blade and the lower end of the first ear located intermediate the upper and lower ends of the contact blade, a second ear having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and extending generally perpendicular to the first portion, with the first portion having a side integrally connected to the second side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto and having a lower end at the same extent as the lower end of the first ear;

wherein the second conductor is formed from a flat sheet and comprises, in combination;

a contact blade having an upper end, a lower end, and first and second sides, a first ear having an upper end, a lower end, and a side, with the side of the first ear integrally connected to the first side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto, with the upper end of the first ear being at the same extent as the upper end of the contact blade and the lower end of the first ear located intermediate the upper and lower ends of the contact blade, a second ear having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and extending generally perpendicular to the first portion, with the first portion having a side integrally connected to the second side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto and having a lower end at the same extent as the lower end of the first ear, with the second portion having an upper end, with the length between the lower end of the first portion and the upper end of the second portion being a multiple of the length between the lower end of the first portion and the upper end of the contact blade;

with the lower casing including first and second slots for slideable receipt of the contact blades of the first and second conductors, with the lower ends of the first and second ears abutting with the lower casing and the upper ends of the first ear and of the contact blades abutting with the upper casing, with the free end of the second portion of the second conductor being movable between a first, electrically spaced condition from the second portion of the first conductor and a second, electrically engaged condition with the second portion of the first conductor; and

wherein the upper casing includes means for moving the second portion of the second conductor between the first and second conditions, with the lower ends of the contact blades of the first and second conductors passing through the slots of the boxes and electrically engaging the bus bar.

11. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 10 wherein the lower casing includes first and second blocks, with the second portion of the first conductor resting on the first block and the second portion of the second conductor resting on the second block in the second condition.

12. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 9 further including an outlet comprising, in combination:

a lower casing, an upper casing, a neutral conductor, a ground conductor, and a hot conductor;

wherein the ground conductor is formed from a flat sheet and is generally T-shaped and comprises, in combination;

a head having opposite ends, and a leg integrally secured to the head intermediate its ends and bent generally perpendicular to the head, with the head being bent perpendicularly adjacent the opposite ends thereof and spaced from the leg to include end portions extending in a direction parallel to and spaced from the leg; and

wherein the lower casing comprises, in combination;

a cavity having an elongated shape and first and second ends;

first and second pedestals upstanding inside of the cavity and spaced from and parallel to the ends of the cavity, with the pedestals each having an outer face and an upper end, a slot in the cavity for the slideable receipt of the leg, with the end portions of the head abutting with the outer faces of the first and second pedestals, with the head being sandwiched between the upper ends of the pedestals and the upper casing.

13. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 12 wherein the neutral and hot conductors are each formed from a flat sheet and each comprise, in combination:

a rectangular portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a side edge;

a leg integrally extending from the lower edge and including a first portion bent to extend generally perpendicularly to the rectangular portion and a second portion bent to extend generally perpendicularly to the first portion and parallel to the rectangular portion; and

means secured to the side edge for the receipt of a prong of an electrical plug in, with the lower casing including a slot for the slideable receipt of the second portion, with the upper end of the rectangular portion abutting with the upper casing and the lower end of the rectangular portion and the first portion abutting with the lower casing.

14. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 13 wherein the prong receipt means comprises, in combination:

first and second lugs extending in a generally parallel relation from the side edge, with each of the lugs including first and second legs intersecting at a perpendicular angle, with the length of the first leg of the second lug being generally equal to the length of the first and second legs of the first lug, with the second legs of the first and second lugs being parallel and spaced from each other and from the rectangular portion.

15. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 6 wherein the adjustably holding means independently and adjustably holds the housing from the web at least at three locations allowing the housing to be adjusted relative to the web.

16. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 15 wherein the three locations are nonlinear.

17. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 15 wherein the adjustably holding means comprises, in combination:

at least first, second, and third adjustment screws rotatably mounted in the housing and threadably received in the web; and

means for axially capturing the housing on the adjustment screws for movement relative to the web with the threading of the adjustment screws into and out of the web.

18. Modular electrical wiring system including a housing for an electrical device comprising, in combination:

first, second and third electrical control boxes;

a receptacle box for receipt of the electrical device;

means for securing the boxes in a stacked condition with the second box abutting with the first box, the third box abutting with the second box and the receptacle box abutting with the third box;

a first bus bar in the first electrical control box;

a second bus bar in the second electrical control box;

a third bus bar in the third electrical control box;

a first slot through the receptacle, second and third boxes for electrical access to the first bus bar and electrically spaced from the second and third bus bars;

a second slot through the receptacle and third boxes for electrical access to the second bus bar and electrically spaced from the third bus bar; and

a third slot through the receptacle box for electrical access to the third bus bar.

19. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 18 wherein the first, second, and third electrical control boxes are generally of the same construction and each include first, second, and third depressions spaced and parallel to each other, with the first bus bar located in the first depression of the first box, with the second bus bar located in the second depression of the second box, and with the third bus bar located in the third depression of the third box.

20. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 19 wherein the first, second, and third electrical control boxes each generally comprise, in combination:

a plate having front and back faces and top, bottom, and side edges, with the front faces of the plates abutting with the back face of the next plate when the boxes are in a stacked condition, with the first, second, and third depressions extending from the front face towards but spaced from the back face and the edges, with the depressions being spaced and parallel to each other;

at least a first cavity extending from the front face towards but spaced from the back face and the edges, with the first cavity intersecting with the first, second, and third depressions; and

wherein the bus bars each include a head portion of a size complementary to and for slideable receipt in the first cavity and a connecting portion of a size complementary to and for slideable receipt in one of the first, second, and third depressions, with the connecting portion of the first bus bar located in the first depression of the first box, the connecting portion of the second bus bar located in the second depression of the second box, and the connecting portion of the third bus bar located in the third depression of the third box, with the head portion being electrically connectable to a power distribution cable.

21. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 20 wherein the electrical device comprises an outlet comprising, in combination:

a lower casing, an upper casing, a neutral conductor, a ground conductor, and a hot conductor;

wherein the ground conductor is formed from a flat sheet and is generally T-shaped and comprises, in combination;

a head having opposite ends, and a leg integrally secured to the head intermediate its ends and bent generally perpendicular to the head, with the head being bent perpendicularly adjacent the opposite ends thereof and spaced from the leg to include end portions extending in a direction parallel to and spaced from the leg; and

wherein the lower casing comprises, in combination;

a cavity having an elongated shape and first and second ends;

first and second pedestals upstanding inside of the cavity and spaced from and parallel to the ends of the cavity, with the pedestals each having an outer face and an upper end, a slot in the cavity for the slideable receipt of the leg, with the end portions of the head abutting with the outer faces of the first and second pedestals, with the head being sandwiched between the upper ends of the pedestals and the upper casing.

22. Modular electrical wiring system including a switch comprising, in combination:

a lower casing, an upper casing, a first conductor, and a second conductor, wherein the first conductor is formed from a flat sheet and comprises, in combination;

a contact blade having an upper end, a lower end, and first and second sides, a first ear having an upper end, a lower end, and a side, with the side of the first ear integrally connected to the first side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto, with the upper end of the first ear being at a longitudinal position the same as the upper end of the contact blade and the lower end of the first ear located at an intermediate longitudinal position located between the upper and lower ends of the contact blade, a second ear having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and extending generally perpendicular to the first portion, with the first portion having a side integrally connected to the second side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto and having a lower end at the intermediate longitudinal position;

wherein the second conductor is formed from a flat sheet and comprises, in combination;

a contact blade having an upper end, a lower end, and first and second sides, a first ear having an upper end, a lower end, and a side, with the side of the first ear integrally connected to the first side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto, with the upper end of the first ear being at a longitudinal position the same as the upper end of the contact blade and the lower end of the first ear located intermediate the upper and lower ends of the contact blade, a second ear having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and extending generally perpendicular to the first portion, with the first portion having a side integrally connected to the second side of the contact blade and bent at a nonlinear angle thereto and having a lower end at a longitudinal position the same as the lower end of the first ear, with the second portion having an upper end, with the length between the lower end of the first portion and the upper end of the second portion being a multiple of the length between the lower end of the first portion and the upper end of the contact blade;

with the lower casing including first and second slots for slideable receipt of the contact blades of the first and second conductors, with the lower ends of the first and second ears abutting with the lower casing and the upper ends of the first ear and of the contact blades abutting with the upper casing, with the free end of the second portion of the second conductor being movable between a first, electrically spaced condition from the second portion of the first conductor and a second, electrically engaged condition with the second portion of the first conductor; and

wherein the upper casing includes means for moving the second portion of the second conductor between the first and second conditions, with the lower ends of the contact blades of the first and second conductors passing through the slots of the boxes and electrically engaging the bus bar.

23. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 22 wherein the lower casing includes first and second blocks, with the second portion of the first conductor resting on the first block and the second portion of the second conductor resting on the second block in the second condition.

24. Modular electrical wiring system for installation in a wall including at least one framing member comprising, in combination:

a hanger including at least a first web and means for securing the hanger to the framing member;

a housing for receipt of an electrical device;

at least a first adjustment screw rotatably mounted in the housing, with the web including an adjustment hole, with the adjustment screw being threaded into the adjustment hole of the web; and

means for axially capturing the housing on the adjustment screw for movement relative to the web with the threading of the adjustment screw into and out of the adjustment hole of the web.

25. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 24 wherein the wall has an outer surface and the housing has a front face;

and wherein the modular electrical wiring system further comprises, in combination;

a second adjustment screw rotatably mounted in the housing and threadably received in the web, with the first and second adjustment screws independently and adjustably holding the housing from the first web simultaneously at spaced locations allowing the front face of the housing to be adjusted relative to the web to be planar with the outer surface of the wall.

26. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 25 further comprising, in combination:

a third adjustment screw rotatably mounted in the housing and threadably received in the web, with the first, second and third adjustment screws independently and adjustably holding the housing from the first web simultaneously at least at three locations;

wherein the three locations are nonlinear.

27. Modular electrical wiring system including an electrical device for installation in a wall including at least one framing member, comprising, in combination:

a hanger including a first web and a second web, with the first web being spaced from the second web;

a nail for securing the hanger to the framing member; and

means located intermediate the first and second webs for removably holding the nail during storage and transportation of the hanger, with the removably holding means including a nail hole spaced from the first and second webs for receipt of the nail when securing the hanger to the framing member.

28. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 27 wherein the hanger further includes at least a first plate, with the webs extending generally perpendicular to the plate, with the first plate including a nail hole for slideably receiving the nail, with the nail hole in the removably holding means aligning the nail with the nail hole formed in the first plate.

29. The modular electrical wiring system of claim 28 wherein the hanger further includes a second plate, with the webs extending generally perpendicularly between the first and second plates, with the second plate including a nail hole for slideably receiving the nail, with the nail hole in the removably holding means also aligning the nail with the nail hole formed in the second plate.