Modular electrical outlet and connector assembly

• US 5,915,984 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Group Dekko Incorporated (Graham Holdings Company)
• Original Assignee: Dekko Acquisition Parent Incorporated (Graham Holdings Company)
• Inventors: Rupert, Brian K., McCoy, Phillip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Katrina
• Application Number:
  US08/703,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/650, 439/654, 439/170, 439/171, 439/216
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92

Abstract

The invention is directed to a modular electrical outlet including a housing; a pair of plug-in connectors carried by and disposed at opposing ends of the housing; and a conductor disposed within the housing. Each of the connectors includes a plurality of terminal receiving openings. The conductor includes a pair of blade receiving sockets, with a longitudinal axis extending between the blade receiving sockets. The conductor includes a pair of terminals at opposing ends thereof, with each terminal being offset from the longitudinal axis. The conductor may be selectively positioned in the housing at one of two reversible positions. To wit, the conductor may be selectively disposed within the housing in a first position such that each terminal is received within an associated terminal receiving opening of a respective connector, and a second position such that each terminal is received within an associated terminal receiving opening of the other respective connector.

Claims

1. A modular electrical outlet, comprising:

a housing including a pair of neutral blade receiving openings, each said neutral blade receiving opening being configured for receiving a corresponding neutral blade of a conventional electrical plug, said housing also including a pair of line blade receiving openings, each said line blade receiving opening being configured for receiving a corresponding line blade of a conventional electrical plug;

a pair of plug-in connectors, said connectors being carried by and disposed at opposing ends of said housing, each said connector including at least one row of terminal receiving openings, said terminal receiving openings of each said connector defining a corresponding latitudinal axis extending therethrough, said housing includes a faceplate, and each said connector includes a first row of terminal receiving openings and a second row of terminal receiving openings, said first row of terminal receiving openings disposed adjacent to said faceplate; and

a conductor disposed within said housing, said conductor including a pair of blade receiving sockets, each said blade receiving socket being configured for receiving a corresponding blade of a conventional three-prong electrical plug, said conductor having a longitudinal extension defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough which is substantially perpendicular to each said latitudinal axis, said conductor including a pair of terminals at opposing ends thereof, each said terminal being received within an associated said terminal receiving opening of a respective said connector, each said terminal being offset from said longitudinal axis of said conductor along a respective said latitudinal axis of a respective said connector by a substantially equal amount whereby said conductor may be selectively disposed within said housing in a first position such that said blade receiving sockets are associated with said neutral blade receiving openings of said housing, and a second position such that said blade receiving sockets are associated with said line blade receiving openings of said housing.

2. The modular electrical outlet of claim 1, wherein one of said terminals is received within said first row of one of said connectors and the other of said terminals is received within said second row of the other of said connectors.

3. The modular electrical outlet of claim 1, wherein said conductor comprises a line conductor.

4. A modular electrical outlet, comprising:

a housing;

a pair of plug-in connectors, said connectors being carried by and disposed at opposing ends of said housing, each said connector including two substantially parallel rows of terminal receiving openings, each said row of terminal receiving openings of each said connector defining a corresponding latitudinal axis extending therethrough; and

a conductor disposed within said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal extension defining a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to each said latitudinal axis, each said row of terminal receiving openings of a selected said connector being offset from said longitudinal axis in opposite directions along a third axis, said third axis being substantially perpendicular to each of said longitudinal axis and a respective two said latitudinal axes of a corresponding said connector, said conductor including a pair of terminals at opposing ends thereof, each said terminal being received within an associated said terminal receiving opening of a respective said connector, each said terminal being offset from said longitudinal axis of said conductor along each of a respective said latitudinal axis and a respective said third axis of a respective said connector.

5. The modular electrical outlet of claim 4, wherein each said terminal is offset from said longitudinal axis in opposite directions along a respective said third axis of a respective said connector.