Modular wiring system with locking elements
First Claim
1. A wiring system comprising:
- a wiring module comprising;
a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module;
wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; and
a functional module wherein the functional module comprises an in wall mounted device comprising at least one of;
a switch, a receptacle, a combination device, a fault circuit interrupter, an occupancy sensor, a remote controlled home automation module;
wherein the wiring module is configured to rotatably connect to a back surface of said functional module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wiring system includes a wiring module and a functional module. The wiring module in at least one embodiment includes elongated holes or openings which are configured to engage or lock with prongs on a functional module to create a lockable connection. The wiring module and the functional module form both a physical and an electrical connection. In another embodiment, the wiring module has at least three elongated openings or holes, and wherein one of the openings or holes is for receiving a ground prong, while the other openings or holes are for receiving prongs which conduct electricity or communicate information. In another embodiment there is a wiring module that has four elongated openings or holes with all four of these connections associated with the four elongated openings or holes configured to conduct electricity.
247 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A wiring system comprising:
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a wiring module comprising; a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; and a functional module wherein the functional module comprises an in wall mounted device comprising at least one of;
a switch, a receptacle, a combination device, a fault circuit interrupter, an occupancy sensor, a remote controlled home automation module;wherein the wiring module is configured to rotatably connect to a back surface of said functional module. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, 17)
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2. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated wherein said at least one face of said body further comprises at least one fourth opening, with at least three of said at least four openings having a first section for receiving a prong therein, and at least a second section for engaging a prong once the wiring module has been rotated. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; at least three wires; wherein said body further comprises at least one additional face extending transverse to said front face, wherein said at least three wires extend out from said at least one additional face. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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5. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; at least three wires; and at least one additional face, extending transverse to said front face, wherein the wiring module further comprises at least one flange extending out from said at least one additional face, wherein said at least one flange is configured to lock the wiring module to the functional module.
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10. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; and a plurality of contacts, wherein said plurality of contacts comprise at least one phase line contact for connecting to power from a phase line, at least one neutral line contact for connecting to power from a neutral line, at least one phase load contact for connecting power to a phase line of a load, at least one neutral load contact configured for connecting power to a neutral line of a load.
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13. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; and wherein said wiring module is configured to connect to a three-way switch, and wherein said wiring module comprises at least four lines, comprising at least one phase line, at least one load line, at least one ground line, and at least one communication line for selectively controlling said three-way switch.
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14. A wiring module comprising:
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a body comprising at least one face having at least three elongated openings therein, wherein the wiring module is configured to be rotatably coupled to a functional module; wherein at least one of said at least three openings has a first section for removably receiving a prong therein, and a second section for engaging a prong therein once the wiring module has been rotated; and
further comprising a plurality of power input lines configured to couple to building wiring and to receive power from said building wiring, and a plurality of power output lines configured to output power to a load, wherein the wiring module body is configured to provide a single termination end to a functional module for both said plurality of power input lines and said plurality of power output lines. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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18. A wiring module comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of contacts having at least one user operable clamping contact for selectively clamping onto a line which is connected inside of said housing; wherein the wiring module is configured to rotatably connect to a back surface of a functional module and wherein the functional module comprises an in wall mounted device comprising at least one of a;
switch, a receptacle, a combination device, a fault circuit interrupter, an occupancy sensor, a remote controlled home automation module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wiring system comprising:
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a wiring module comprising at least one housing having a plurality of openings comprising at least four openings with at least three of said at least four openings being elongated openings; a functional module comprising at least four prongs, including at least one ground prong, wherein said prongs of said functional module are configured to insert into said openings of said wiring module and to lock with said wiring module once said wiring module is rotated with respect to the said functional module. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A wiring system for coupling to a power distribution line, the system comprising:
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a) a plurality of wiring modules; b) a plurality of wires, wherein each wiring module includes a plurality of wires; c) a plurality of coupling elements configured to electrically couple said plurality of wiring modules together such that a single power distribution line provides power to at least two wiring modules. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for coupling multiple wiring modules together comprising:
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electrically connecting at least two phase lines together of at least two different wiring modules; electrically connecting at least two ground lines together of said at least two different wiring modules; electrically connecting a phase line from a power distribution line to said at least two phase lines of said wiring modules; electrically connecting a ground line from a power distribution line to said at least two ground lines of said wiring modules; and
electrically connecting a neutral line to at least one neutral line of said wiring modules. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification