Electrical distribution terminal guard

• US 6,843,680 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexandra Block, ANDREW KALANI NIHEU & JAY DEEP CHITNIS, Andrew M. Jenkins, Anne M. Mahoney, Baker Ken, Baum Family Trust, Binkley Family Trust, Bonnie Austin, Brandon Dinoto, Brandon Moore Utma, BRIAN DRISCOLL AND/OR DRISCOLL INVESTMENTS INC., Bruce Johnson, BRUCE & LORENE BOWERS, BRUCE & SANDY BRANDENBURG, CARL A LARSON, TRUSTEE LARSON 1995 REVOCABLE TRUST DTD 11/17/1995, CARL KOBAYASHI & MISHELLE NISHIDA, Chea Chung, CHRISTOPHER MOORE INDIVIDUALLY & AS TRUSTEE MOORE FAMILY TRUST DTD 10/3/2006, Christy L. Hendrickson Trust, CLAUDE KORDUS TRUSTEE KORDUS FAMILY TRUST, CLIFF & MAKOTO MCQUEEN, Court Wilson, Craig Hillegas, Daniel Allen, Daniel C. Serpe, DANIEL & KIMBERLY DOTSON, Daniel White, Dan Way, DAVID & BONNIC AUSTIN INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEES AUSTIN FAMILY TRUST DTD 10/1/1999, David Caldwell, David L. Lyon, Dominique Pandolfi, DONALD D. LEARNED, TRUSTEE DONALD LEARNED TRUST C/O SCOTT LEARNED, DONALD & MARY SPENCER, Don Farris Inc Retirement Trust, Doug Cox, Elizabeth Willis, Eric Rawa, Estate Of Gary W. Dixon, GARY & BARBARA A. GENTZKOW AND/OR BARBARA GENTZKOW'S IRA, GARY & LINDSEY BLOCK, George Block, Glenn Frieder, Gloria Marie Gammill, GREG A. JIRAK & LORI HUBBART, GREG BLOCK, TRUSTEE, BLOCK FAMILY TRUST DTD 6/22/1990, Greg MacDonald, Gregory A. Block, Gregory Bernett, HARDEY, JULIE E. AKA JULIE HELLUM FBO BREE DIXON, Hardie David, Howard Brian Malloy, Ian Nausner, IVAN & LORI MENDELSON, James Clifford, James Gammill, JAMES GEVARGES & DOMINIQUE BEITKANOUN, JAMES & KIM WEINBERGER, JAMES & ROBYN CARBAUGH, JANELL SKOMER AKA JANELL SOHMER-BLOCK C/O GREGORY BLOCK, Jeffrey Lubin, Jeffrey Teza, Jeff Schott, Jerry E. Jageman, John Chu, John F. Zolezzi, JOHN & LAUARIE DEWITT AND/OR THIEIR IRAS, JOHN & LYNN BOWEN, TRUSTEES BOWN FAMILY TRUST DTD 11/21/1985, Jon Hillegas, JULIUS & MARRIETTA ZOLEZZI, KASHAN PIRACHA (KPN, LLC), Katherine Williams, KENNETH & JANET SHANER, Ken Rubin, Kevin Thomas Dinoto, Kristopher Dinoto, Laura Lewis, Laurence Balter, LINDA MOORE INDIVIDUALLY & AS TRUSTEE LINDA B. MOORE PERSONAL TRUST, Lisa Odenweller, Lori Shook, MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS LIMITED C/O SMC MULTI-MEDIA, Man-Ling Lai, Marc Cahal, Marc Odenweller, MARION J. BAUER ROSIDUARY TRUST C/O BLOCK, GAUNCE & ASSOCIATES, MARK & DIANA KENNEY, TRUSTEES KENNEY FAMILY TRUST DTD 11/29/1996, Mark McDonald, Marview Holdings, Inc., Maui Preparatory Academy, Megan Molloy, Melody Kitchens, MICHAEL & ANASTASIA FARRELL AND/OR STERLING TRUST CO. FBO MICHAEL FARRELL, Michael Bosworth, Michael Dewitt, MICHAEL MCLOUGHLIN, TRUSTEE MCLOUGHLIN FAMILY TRUST DTD 3/22/1994, Milton F. Damerow, NGUYEN, PETER (KPN, LLC), Nicholas Block, Nicole Cox, Norman M. Estin Trust, Parvis Nabavi, Paul Block, Persis Hataria, PHILIP BURKHARDT, TRUSTEE BURKHARDT 2005 FAMILY TRUST AND/OR THEIR IRAS, Phillip Moore, PHYLLIS ORNDORFF, TRUSTEE PHYLLIS ORNDORFF TRUST DTD 12-30-2010, RANDY & LONA KENT, R/Com Retail Services, LLC, Richard Babcock, RICHARD & DEBRA MYTKO, RICHARD & JACQUELINE SMITH, Robert C. Albrow, Robert M. Skomer, Robert W. Dudley Trust, Ronald S. Chapman, RYAN & SUSAN BOWERS, Ryota Komaru, Samantha Carroll, Scot Hall, Sean Mundy, Shaochong Yan, SMC Multi-Media Products Company Limited (SMC Multi-Media Limited), S Steven Podstreleny, Steve Benshoof, Steve Marlette, Steven Purves, Steven Sreb, STUART & KAREN SHAFER, Sydney Block, TERRENCE E. LEE, TRUSTEE TERRENCE E. LEE TRUST, Terrill Stewart, Terry Davis, THOMAS DINOTO, TRUSTEE DINOTO FAMILY TRUST DTD 1/11/1993, Thomas Goergen, Thomas H. Zolezzi, Timothy Karis Sirak LLC, TIM WALKER, TRUSTEE WALKER FAMILY TRUST DTD 7/21//2009, Valeo Partners LLC, Vincent Guzzetta Vascular Associates Co., WALTER & REBECCA HICKEL C/O CALWEST PROPERTIES, WARREN & ROBIN COHEN, Wendy Frieder, William Orndorff
• Original Assignee: Protectconnect Incorporated
• Inventors: Gorman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US10/443,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 439/535, 439/539, 439/538, 439/142, 439/136, 174/53, 174/57
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0006 for converting electric switches H01H13/564 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/10 Operating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/08 Arrangements to facilitate replacement of a switch, e.g. cartridge housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/055 co-operating with sockets having a rectangular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/115 U-shaped sockets having inwardly bent legs, e.g. spade type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/424 Securing in base or case composed of a plurality of insulating parts having at least one resilient insulating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/701 the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 : with additional earth or shield contacts
• 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 29/00 : Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 : Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 : with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/30 : utilising a screw or nut clamping member H01R4/50 takes precedence; utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut H01R4/38; for coaxial cables H01R9/0521
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/44 : Clamping areas on both sides of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/66 : Connections with the terrestrial mass, e.g. earth plate, earth pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 : Terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2433 : with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 : Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 : by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 : Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49176 : with molding of electrically insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49181 : by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 : of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 : by assembling plural parts

Abstract

An electrical distribution apparatus comprises a body and a mounting bracket attached to the body. The mounting bracket is adapted to install the body within an electrical box. A plurality of terminals are disposed within the body and adapted to terminate a power cable. A terminal guard is mounted on the body and movable about a hinge between an open position and a closed position, where at least a portion of the terminals are accessible in the open position and covered in the closed position.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution apparatus comprising:

a wiring module adapted to mount within an electrical box and to receive a removable functional module that provides a user-accessible electrical distribution function;

a mounting bracket attached to said wiring module and adapted to install said wiring module within an electrical box;

a plurality of terminals disposed within said wiring module and adapted to terminate a power cable; and

a terminal guard mounted on said wiring module and movable about a hinge between an open position and a closed position, at least a portion of said terminals being accessible in said open position and covered in said closed position.

2. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a latch configured to maintain said terminal guard in said closed position until manually moved to said open position.

3. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said terminal guard is mounted on a side portion of said wiring module and covers a plurality of terminal screws in said closed position.

4. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a second terminal guard mounted on an opposite side portion of said wiring module, said second terminal guard providing covered access to at least a second portion of said terminals.

5. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a swivel allowing said terminal guard to move from side to side so as to provide access to said terminals.

6. An electrical distribution apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sockets configured to accept a plurality of plugs of a functional module;

a plurality of terminal blocks electrically connected to said sockets;

a plurality of terminal screws configured to attach wires to said terminal blocks so as to transfer electrical power to said sockets; and

a plurality of terminal guards having closed positions blocking said terminal screws and open positions allowing access to said terminal screws.

7. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said terminal guards comprise hinges providing movement between said closed positions and said open positions.

8. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said terminal guards are secured in said closed positions with latches and corresponding catches.

9. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said terminal guards further comprise mounts for securing said terminal guards to a cover.

10. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said terminal guards are mounted on opposite side portions of said cover.

11. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said terminal guards are disposed over at least two of said terminal screws in said closed positions.

12. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said terminal guards further comprise swivels.

13. An electrical distribution apparatus comprising:

a wiring module having a functional side and a wiring side, said functional side adapted to accept a functional module;

a terminal block accessible from said wiring side adapted for power cable attachment, said terminal block having a terminal screw and terminal clamp; and

a terminal guard providing covered access to said terminal screw.

14. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said terminal guard bar a swivel mount allowing said terminal guard to swivel to either side of said wiring module so as to provide access to said terminal screw.

15. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said terminal guard has a hinge allowing said terminal guard to move between a closed position proximate said wiring module and an open position distal said wiring module so as to provide access to said terminal screw.

16. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said terminal guard has a latch configured to press into a corresponding catch slot so as to retain said terminal guard in said closed position.

17. The electrical distribution apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said terminal guard has a grip.