Electrical outlet box with secure quick connect and release features

• US 6,786,766 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Chopra, Kewal K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi, Ross
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US10/719,847
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50-57, 439/535, 439/441, 439/438, 439/650, 439/652
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48275 with an opening in the housing for insertion of a release tool

Abstract

An electrical outlet or junction box is provided herein for interiorly accommodating at least one electrical device and at least one cable furnished to said box by a manual source. A secure, quick connect and release capability for electrically connecting said cable and electrical device is supplied by one or more terminal blocks that are mounted to an interior wall of said box. These blocks carry at least one receiving means and at least one releasing means along an exterior surface. The box itself, comprises a rear wall which is perimetrically bounded by an outer wall that extends outwardly from said rear wall to define an integral structure with an open front opposite of the rear wall. The electrical device is then energized by supplying said cable with electricity from an external power source.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet box comprising in combination:

(a). a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two identical side walls that extend outwardly from the rear wall, with said rear wall being normal to all other walls, and said identical side walls being parallel to each other with said top and bottom walls also being parallel, to thereby define an open enclosure;

(b). an electrical device, having one or more outlets, positioned within said enclosure and said device carrying thereon at least two prepared solid conductors for making electrical connections according to common polarity;

(c). at least one sheathed electrical cable entering the enclosure via a preformed aperture within at least one of said walls, said cable also having a plurality of prepared solid conductors for making electrical connections according to polarity;

(d). a multiplicity of terminal blocks for establishing reliable electrical connection between said electrical device conductors and said cable conductors, said blocks being positioned within and mounted to at least one wall of said enclosure by mounting means;

(e). each terminal block having a substantially rectangular shape that carries thereon first and second receiving apertures having a common polarity, the first aperture adapted for acceptance of a manually inserted conductor of said cable and the second aperture adapted for receiving a manually inserted conductor of the electrical device;

(f). each terminal block also having a body cavity formed therein, for containing an aligned gripping means associated with first and second receiving apertures for grasping and electrically connecting the inserted cable and electrical device conductors;

(g). each terminal block also bearing upon its exterior surface at least one releasing means associated with said first and second receiving apertures for selective release and disconnection of conductors of step (f);

(h). said releasing means adapted for manual insertion of a depression tool into said terminal block to release said gripping means to thereby allow manual removal of cable and electrical device conductors;

(i). an apertured faceplate for closing said open enclosure and protecting contents of said enclosure including said conductors, terminal blocks, and electrical device; and

(j). said apertures within said faceplate being dimensioned and shaped to accommodate electrical connection between said electrical device housed within the enclosure and an external electrical appliance by means of an electrical plug piercing outlets of said electrical device.

2. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein the mounting means are selected from the group consisting of ears, tabs, rails, bosses, studs, rivets, screws, and molded design elements.

3. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein electrical devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of receptacles, sockets, switches, and electrical fixtures.

4. The electrical outlet box of claim 3 wherein electrical fixtures are selected from the group consisting essentially of phone jacks, computer jacks, cable television terminals, local area network jacks, and their combinations.

5. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein the depression tool is selected from the group consisting essentially of an awl, screw driver, and a pointed tool.

6. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein said substantially rectangular shape comprises rectangular, cylindrical, and tubular forms.

7. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises a metal spring set including a smaller, L-shaped base spring and a larger, L-shaped flex spring.

8. The L-shaped flex spring of claim 7 that has been processed to be more resilient by a method selected from the group consisting essentially of scoring, slotting, notching, or perforating.

9. The electrical outlet box of claim 1 wherein said receiving means is an aperture formed within said terminal blocks by a conventional process selected from drilling and molding.