Center connect single-sided junction block

• US 7,905,737 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phuongchi T
• Application Number:
  US12/661,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 439/215, 439/218, 439/211, 439/53
• US Class Current: 439/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64

Abstract

A junction block assembly (300) includes a junction block (302). The junction block (302) is single-sided in that it provides for interconnection of electrical receptacle blocks (310, 308) only on one side of the junction block (302). The junction block assembly (300) includes a first center connect cable assembly (304) and a second center connect cable assembly (306). The center connect cable assemblies (304, 306) are adapted to electrically interconnect to the junction block (302), in a manner so that electrical power received from one of the cable assemblies (304, 306) may be applied to the electrical receptacle blocks (310, 308) connected to the junction block (302), and also to apply power to the other of the center connect cable assemblies (304, 306).

Claims

1. A junction block assembly adapted for use within a raceway of a wall panel for distribution of power through said raceway and through electrical devices external of said raceway, said junction block assembly comprising:

a junction block having a single-sided configuration, in that said junction block provides for interconnection of receptacle blocks only on a first side of said junction block, and does not provide for interconnection of receptacle blocks on a second side of said junction block, said second side opposing said first side;

a first center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said junction block;

a second center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said junction block;

a first electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said junction block and electrically interconnected to said cable assemblies;

a second electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said junction block and electrically interconnected to said cable assemblies; and

said first center connect cable assembly and said second center connect cable assembly are physically and electrically connected to said junction block at positions which are located substantially centrally of the elongated length of said junction block, and also located adjacent said second side of said junction block.

2. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said cable assemblies are adapted to electrically interconnect to said junction block in a manner so that electrical power received from said first center connect cable assembly is applied to said electrical receptacle blocks and to said second center connect cable assembly.

3. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said junction block further comprises:

a housing;

a pair of recessed areas comprising a first recessed area and a second recessed area formed within the housing;

each of said recessed areas being adapted to mechanically and electrically receive said electrical receptacle blocks;

each of said recessed areas is formed by a lower wall, an upper wall, a back wall, an outer side wall and an inner side wall;

within said first recessed area, a first electrical connector set extends laterally from said inner side wall; and

within said second recessed area, a second electrical connector set extends laterally from said inner side wall of said second recessed area.

4. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that each of said electrical connector sets is formed by a series of female connectors.

5. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that each of said electrical connector sets comprises an eight wire system.

6. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that said junction block assembly further comprises a pair of center positioned connector sets comprising a first center position connector set and a second center position connector set.

7. A junction block assembly in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that each of said first center position connector set and second position connector set is electrically connected to one another and to said first electrical connector set extending laterally from said inner side wall of said first recessed area, and to said second electrical connector set extending laterally from said inner side wall of said second recessed area.

8. A junction block assembly adapted for use within a raceway of a wall panel for distribution of power through said raceway and through electrical devices external of said raceway, said junction block assembly comprising:

a pair of junction blocks comprising first and second junction blocks, each of said junction blocks having a single-sided configuration, in that each of said junction blocks provides for interconnection of electrical receptacle blocks only on one side of each of said junction blocks;

a first center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said first junction block;

a second center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said second junction block;

a first electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said first junction block and electrically interconnected to said first cable assembly;

a second electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said second junction block and electrically interconnected to said second cable assembly; and

said first center connect cable assembly and said second center connect cable assembly are physically and electrically connected to said first junction block and to said second junction block, respectively, at positions which are located substantially centrally of the elongated lengths of said junction blocks;

positioned at the back of said first junction block is a pair of first center positioned electrical connector sets;

positioned at the back of said second junction block is a pair of second center positioned electrical connector sets;

each connector set of said pair of first center positioned connector sets includes a side flange extending to a side of connectors of said center positioned connector sets, with said side flange being provided with upper and lower recessed areas adapted to assist in providing engagement with flanges of said first center connect cable assembly; and

said side flanges are also provided with outwardly extending inclined end surfaces, with said side flanges being deflected inwardly when said end surfaces are engaged by flanges associated with said cable assemblies, thereby providing a locking engagement of the corresponding one of said center positioned connector sets and said center connect cable assemblies.

9. A junction block assembly adapted for use within a raceway of a wall panel for distribution of power through said raceway and through electrical devices external of said raceway, said junction block assembly comprising:

a pair of junction blocks comprising first and second junction blocks, each of said junction blocks having a single-sided configuration, in that each of said junction blocks provides for interconnection of electrical receptacle blocks only on one side of each of said junction blocks;

a first center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said first junction block;

a second center connect cable assembly adapted to electrically interconnect to said second junction block;

a first electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said first junction block and electrically interconnected to said first cable assembly;

a second electrical receptacle block releasably interconnected to said second junction block and electrically interconnected to said second cable assembly;

said first center connect cable assembly and said second center connect cable assembly are physically and electrically connected to said first junction block and to said second junction block, respectively, at positions which are located substantially centrally of the elongated lengths of said junction blocks; and

each of said junction blocks further comprises means for releasably coupling said junction block assembly to an upper wall of said raceway.