Electrical outlet, switch and junction boxs

• US 5,925,850 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mike K. Park
• Original Assignee: Mike K. Park
• Inventors: Park, Mike K.
• Primary Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/106,149
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/60, 174/61, 174/65 R, 174/84 C, 439/721, 439/722, 439/723, 439/724, 439/856, 439/535
• US Class Current: 174/60
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/226 comprising a plurality of conductive flat strips providing connection between wires or components H01R9/2425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2433 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

An electrical box has a base, sidewalls and a cover opposite the base. A mount on the outlet box allows mounting of the outlet box. Plural connector plates within the outlet box separated by plural insulator layers are aligned parallel to the base and the top, and are spaced inward from the walls. A first set of metal conductors extend from the connector plates toward the side walls. A second set of metal conductors extend from the connector plates toward the cover. Two sets of connectors having metal conductive cylinders with inner and outer ends, and having outer insulator cylinders extend axially beyond the metal conductors. Inner ends are attached to the conductors extending from the plates. The insulator cylinders have inner and outer ends. The inner ends of the insulator cylinders extend over the conductors. The outer ends of the insulator are enlarged to receive insulation on connecting wires. A first set of the connectors extends to the sidewalls of the electrical box. A second set of the connectors extends through holes in the connector plates and insulator layers above, toward the cover. Multiple holes are arranged in sets of three in the sidewalls of the outlet box and in the connector plates and insulator layers. Outer ends of the connectors extend to holes in the walls. Uninsulated ends of the short wires are attached to terminals of an outlet and/or switch. Opposite ends of the short wires are attached to conductors by fitting ends of the short wires and their insulation into outer ends of the cylindrical connectors.

Claims

1. An electrical box apparatus comprising a base, side walls connected to the base, and an open end opposite the base, conductors parallel to the base and insulators between the conductors, connectors extending from the conductors toward the open end, aligned openings in the insulators and conductors for passing the connectors through the openings, conductive receivers on the connectors for receiving wires, and insulating sheaths on the receivers for insulating the wires and the receivers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein insulating extend into the openings.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive receivers are conductive cylinders having inward projecting teeth, and wherein the insulating sheaths are insulating cylinders surrounding the conductive cylinders.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the insulating cylinders have large diameter outer ends for receiving insulation surrounding wires which are received in the conductive cylinders.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch, short wires having first ends connected to terminals of the switch, and free ends projecting from the switch, the free ends of the short wires being received in the conductive receivers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch and a receptacle, short wires having first ends connected to terminals of the switch and the receptacle, and free ends projecting from the switch and the receptacle, the free ends of the short wires being received in the conductive receivers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle, short wires having first ends connected to terminals of the receptacle, and free ends projecting from the receptacle, the free ends of the short wires being received in the conductive receivers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductors and insulators are stacked parallel to flat conductive plates and insulator sheets respectively.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plates comprise first, second and third plates and the insulation sheets comprise first, second and third insulator sheets above the respective plates, and wherein the second and third plates and the first, second and third sheets have the aligned openings.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein connectors are short wires crimped through the plates.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein are conductive cylinders having first ends welded, brazed or soldered to the plates.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover for connecting to the side walls at the open end, the cover having openings for receptacles and a switch, and screw receiving holes for mounting a receptacle body and a switch body within the cover, a receptacle body and a switch body mounted inside the cover, and short wires extending from the receptacle body and the switch body into the conductive receivers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover for connecting to the side walls at the open end, the cover having openings for receptacles, and screw receiving holes for mounting a receptacle body within the cover, a receptacle body mounted inside the cover, and short wires extending from the receptacle body into the conductive receivers.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover for connecting to the side walls at the open end, the cover having an opening for a switch, and a screw receiving hole for mounting a switch body within the cover, a switch body mounted inside the cover, and short wires extending from the switch body into the conductive receivers.