Electrical receptacle and junction box free of wire-nuts

• US 7,294,017 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald L. Scott
• Original Assignee: James L. Scott
• Inventors: Scott, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US11/274,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20060105626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 439/535
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

Molded electrical connection junction boxes and connection inserts for use in existing junction boxes eliminates wire-nuts. Wiring terminals, molded into the box, provide reversible electrical connections between conductor wires and other conductor wires or between conductor wires and wires from electrical devices. The box has least one opening through which at least one electrical conductor may be inserted. An open front face receives an electrical device, such as a plug receptacle or a switch plate. At least one wiring terminal block is integrally molded onto said connection box or onto an insert device. The wiring block comprises at least aperture for the insertion of the wires to be connected and one for receiving a wire securing means, such as a set screw. The box may be made of any moldable material, such as plastic or the like and the wiring terminal may be made of a conducting or non-conducting material.

Claims

1. A wire connector insert, for insertion into a junction box, comprising:

a wire connector insert for use in a junction box, said wire connector insert and said junction box configured for receiving and connecting an electrical device to a conductor, said electrical device being a switch electrical device or a plug electrical device, said wire connector insert comprising;

a. a frame for use within and unaffixed to the junction box;

b. at least one wire terminal for receiving wires to be connected, said wire terminal structurally integrated into said frame,

c. at least one means for reversibly firmly connecting said wires to be connected within said wire terminal.

2. The insert, as recited in claim 1, further comprising wherein said frame is sized and shaped to be received and held snugly within a junction box.

3. The insert, as recited in claim 1, further comprising wherein said at least one wire terminal is made of a non-conducting material.

4. The insert, as recited in claim 1, further comprising wherein said frame is made solely of a non-conducting material.

5. The insert, as recited in claim 4, further comprising wherein said non-conducting material is a plastic.

6. The insert, as recited in claim 4, further comprising wherein said non-conducting material is a ceramic.

7. The insert, as recited in claim 4, further comprising wherein said non-conducting material is a glass.

8. The insert, as recited in claim 1, further comprising wherein said at least one wire terminal is made of a conducting material.

9. The insert, as recited in claim 8, further comprising wherein said at least one wire terminal is insulated from its environment.

10. A wire connector insert, comprising:

a wire connector insert for use in a junction box, said wire connector insert and said junction box configured for receiving and connecting an electrical device to a conductor, said electrical device being a switch electrical device or a plug electrical device, said wire connector insert comprising;

a. a frame for use within and unaffixed to said junction box;

b. at least one wire terminal cavity for receiving wires to be connected, said cavity structurally integrated into said frame;

c. at least one means for fastening said wires to be connected, and

d. at least one hollow in communication with said cavity, said hollow for receiving said at least one means for reversibly fastening said wires to be connected within said cavity.

11. The insert, as recited in claim 10, further comprising wherein said insert provides for simultaneously connecting a plurality of sets of wires to be connected.

12. The insert, as recited in claim 10, further comprising wherein said frame is sized and shaped to be received and held snugly within a junction box.

13. The insert, as recited in claim 10, further comprising wherein said frame is made of a non-conducting material.

14. The insert, as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of said cavities further comprises two cavities for receiving wires to be connected and at least one of said hollows further comprises two hollows each hollow in communication with one cavity for wire connection.

15. The insert, as recited in claim 10, further comprising wherein said frame is made of a non-conducting material having at least one non-conducting connection block for connecting said wires to be connected, said non-conducting block molded together with and within said frame.

16. The insert, as recited in claim 10, further comprising at least one conducting connection block for connecting said wires to be connected, said conducting block positioned within said frame.

17. The insert, as recited in claim 16, further comprising wherein said at least one conducting block is electrically insulated from the environment outside of said frame.

18. The insert, as recited in claim 16, further comprising wherein said at least one cavity for receiving wires to be connected and said at least one hollow in communication with said cavity for receiving wires to be connected are positioned within said conducting block.

19. The insert, as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of said cavities further comprises two cavities for receiving wires to be connected and at least one of said hollows further comprises two hollows each hollow in communication with one cavity.

20. A molded, non-conducting electrical connection junction box comprising:

a molded non-conducting electrical connection junction box for receiving and connecting an electrical device to a conductor, said electrical device being a switch electrical device or a plug electrical device, said junction box comprising;

a. a non-conducting frame molded as part of the junction box;

b. at least one non-conducting wire terminal for receiving wires to be connected, said wire terminal structurally molded within said frame, comprising;

i. at least one non-conducting wire terminal cavity for receiving wires to be connected;

ii. at least one means for reversibly firmly connecting said wires to be connected within said wire terminal cavity, and,

iii. at least one non-conducting hollow structurally integrated into said frame in communication with said cavity, said hollow for receiving said at least one means for reversibly firmly connecting said wires to be connected within said cavity.