Modular wiring system with locking elements
First Claim
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1. A wiring system comprising:
- a) a functional unit configured to engage a wall box, said functional unit comprising a housing having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom;
b) a wiring unit configured to be located in said wall box, the wiring unit comprising;
i) a housing having a front face configured to contact said functional unit, a back face opposite said front face, a perimeter region extending between said front face and said back face and a plurality of conductive elements located therein and a plurality of openings formed in the front face thereof so that the plurality of conductive elements extending from the functional unit housing can be inserted into said wiring unit housing and into contact with the plurality of conductive elements located in said wiring unit housing when said wiring unit is coupled to said functional unit;
ii) plurality of wires extending from said wiring unit housing, each of the wires being connectable to one of the conductive elements in said wiring unit housing and to a power distribution network; and
iii) at least one flange coupled to said wiring unit housing and extending out from said perimeter region to an exterior region of said wiring unit housing, said at least one flange being adapted to inhibit the disconnection of the wiring unit from said functional unit after the wiring unit is rotated into a connected position.
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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, there is an adapter which is configured to connect the wiring module and the functional module or unit together.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wiring system comprising:
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a) a functional unit configured to engage a wall box, said functional unit comprising a housing having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom; b) a wiring unit configured to be located in said wall box, the wiring unit comprising; i) a housing having a front face configured to contact said functional unit, a back face opposite said front face, a perimeter region extending between said front face and said back face and a plurality of conductive elements located therein and a plurality of openings formed in the front face thereof so that the plurality of conductive elements extending from the functional unit housing can be inserted into said wiring unit housing and into contact with the plurality of conductive elements located in said wiring unit housing when said wiring unit is coupled to said functional unit; ii) plurality of wires extending from said wiring unit housing, each of the wires being connectable to one of the conductive elements in said wiring unit housing and to a power distribution network; and iii) at least one flange coupled to said wiring unit housing and extending out from said perimeter region to an exterior region of said wiring unit housing, said at least one flange being adapted to inhibit the disconnection of the wiring unit from said functional unit after the wiring unit is rotated into a connected position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 18, 19)
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7. A wiring system comprising:
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a) a functional unit including a strap configured to allow said functional unit to engage a wall box, the functional unit including a housing and at least one prong extending therefrom; b) a wiring unit configured to be rotatively coupled to the functional unit, the wiring unit comprising; i) a housing having a front face, a back face, a perimeter region extending between said front and back faces, at least one opening and at least one conductive element, the at least one opening being configured to receive the at least one prong of said functional unit when the wiring unit is coupled to said functional unit; ii) at least one wire extending from said wiring unit housing, said at least one wire connecting the conductive element to a power distribution network for providing power from the power distribution network; and iii) at least one connection element comprising a flange disposed on said wiring unit housing, and being adapted to inhibit the disconnection of said wiring unit from said functional unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 13, 16)
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10. A method for connecting a functional electrical module to a power distribution network comprising the steps of:
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a) electrically coupling a wiring unit to the power distribution network; b) positioning a plurality of electrical contacts of a functional unit into contact with a wiring unit having a housing having a plurality of openings, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a flange, wherein said plurality of openings on said wiring unit housing is configured to receive said plurality of electrical contacts of said functional unit, the functional unit including a flange; c) rotating said wiring unit from a first position to a second position; d) coupling said wiring unit flange extending out from an exterior surface of a perimeter region of said wiring unit housing, to said functional unit flange, to secure said wiring unit to said functional unit and to inhibit the disconnection of the wiring unit from said functional unit wherein said perimeter region of said wiring unit extends along a substantial portion of said wiring unit housing; and e) installing said functional unit into a wall box. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14, 17, 20)
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Specification