Junction box for quick release mounting of electrical circuit components

• US 5,415,564 A
• Filed: 01/14/1994
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Winter, Hal Mitchell, Robert J.M. Curmpton
• Original Assignee: Craig Winter, Hal Mitchell, Robert J.M. Curmpton
• Inventors: Curmpton, Robert J. M., Mitchell, Hal, Winter, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US08/182,532
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 439/535, 439/536, 439/540, 179/57, 179/58
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• 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

Improvements in wiring assemblies using an electrical junction box assembly having preset electrical terminals. Such present terminals are hard-wired to certain electrical connection devices near the outer periphery of the box. Electrical components, such as a switch, a receptacle and the like can be quickly and easily mounted in place in the box in electrical contact with respective preset terminals. The selective electrical component can be provided with a number of pins at predetermined locations for electrical contact with certain of the preset terminals. One or more power-receiving members, such as a light fixture, can be coupled to respective outer peripheral electrical connection devices for receiving the three or four individual wires of an electrical line from each power-receiving member. The terminals in the box and the electrical connection devices represent an assembly with a quick release fastening capability which adapts the box for connection between a circuit component, such as a switch or an electrical power-receiving member. The electrical components are predetermined as to how they are to be used in a circuit. In this way, the time required to wire a house or building will be reduced and labor costs would be correspondingly lowered. Two or more boxes of the present invention can be ganged to make them suitable for use where, for instance, switches are to be placed side by side to each other, as well as to mount female receptacles adjacent to each other.

Claims

1. An electrical connection assembly comprising:

a receptacle box having a plurality of functional line attachments at spaced locations thereon;

a plurality of spaced electrical terminals;

a board for mounting the terminals in the box in spaced, predetermined positions therein;

said plurality of functional line attachments each adapted to receive the wire of a respective electrical line, the outer end of the electrical line adapted to be coupled to a power-receiving member; and

means coupled with the terminals of the board for hard-wiring the terminals to at least certain of the attachments, whereby the terminals, once connected to the electrical contact elements of a functional circuit component will automatically couple the component to the power-receiving member when pins of the component are quick releasably coupled with the terminals of the box, said hard-wiring means including at least a first lead extending from one of the attachments to a first terminal and a second lead extending from the first terminal to a second terminal, each attachment including a number of tubular elements for receiving the leads of a respective electrical line, one of the leads of the line being electrically hot, and including a bridging lead bridging the hot electrical line with the corresponding element of an adjacent electrical line.

2. An electrical connection assembly comprising:

a receptacle box having a plurality of functional line attachments at spaced locations thereon;

a plurality of spaced electrical terminals;

a board for mounting the terminals in the box in spaced, predetermined positions therein;

said plurality of functional line attachments each adapted to receive the wire of a respective electrical line, the outer end of the electrical line adapted to be coupled to a power-receiving member; and

means coupled with the terminals of the board for hard-wiring the terminals to at least certain of the attachments, whereby the terminals, once connected to the electrical contact elements of a functional circuit component will automatically couple the component to the power-receiving member when pins of the component are quick releasably coupled with the terminals of the box, said box mounting means including a pair of spaced arms for a respective component, each arm having a boss on the outer end thereof, each boss being engageable with the box.

3. An electrical connection assembly comprising:

a receptacle box having a plurality of functional line attachments at spaced locations thereon;

a plurality of spaced electrical terminals;

a board for mounting the terminals in the box in spaced, predetermined positions therein;

said plurality of functional line attachments each adapted to receive the wire of a respective electrical line, the outer end of the electrical line adapted to be coupled to a power-receiving member; and

means coupled with the terminals of the board for hard-wiring the terminals to at least certain of the attachments, whereby the terminals, once connected to the electrical contact elements of a functional circuit component will automatically couple the component to the power-receiving member when pins of the component are quick releasably coupled with the terminals of the box, each functional line attachment including a number of tubular elements for receiving respective wires of the electrical line, one of the elements having a resilient bubble-like projection for applying a bias force to the wire when the wire is inserted in the one element.

4. An electrical connection assembly comprising:

a receptacle box having a plurality of functional line attachments at spaced locations thereon;

a plurality of spaced electrical terminals;

a board for mounting the terminals in the box in spaced, predetermined positions therein;

said plurality of functional line attachments each adapted to receive the wire of a respective electrical line, the outer end of the electrical line adapted to be coupled to a power-receiving member;

means coupled with the terminals of the board for hard-wiring the terminals to at least certain of the attachments, whereby the terminals, once connected to the electrical contact elements of a functional circuit component will automatically couple the component to the power-receiving member when pins of the component are quick releasably coupled with the terminals of the box;

a second box having a mounting board therewithin, said second box being substantially identical to the first box, the boxes being mounted in side by side relationship; and

a retention strap coupled to the boxes as the boxes are ganged in side by side relationship, a clamp assembly for clamping the boxes together when the boxes are interconnected by the strap, and means on one end of the strap for mounting the same on a framing member to elevate the boxes above the floor.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said strap has a central slot therethrough, said clamp assembly including a nut and bolt with the nut being on the end of the bolt and the bolt extending through the slot of the strap, and the nut and bolt clamping the two members together.

6. An electrical connection assembly comprising:

a receptacle box having a plurality of functional line attachments at spaced locations thereon;

a plurality of spaced electrical terminals;

a board for mounting the terminals in the box in spaced, predetermined positions therein;

said plurality of functional line attachments each adapted to receive the wire of a respective electrical line, the outer end of the electrical line adapted to be coupled to a power-receiving member;

means coupled with the terminals of the board for hard-wiring the terminals to at least certain of the attachments, whereby the terminals, once connected to the electrical contact elements of a functional circuit component will automatically couple the component to the power-receiving member when pins of the component are quick releasably coupled with the terminals of the box;

said board having a circular outer periphery, said box contains said board therein and includes a light fixture with a plurality of mounting posts.