Modular wiring system

• US 8,371,863 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ganta, Sunil, Endres, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen Johnson, Amy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US13/194,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 439/107, 439/135, 439/337, 439/345, 439/535, 439/656, 439/864
• US Class Current: 439/107
• 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: H02G 3/105 in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, there is an electrical device comprising a functional module comprising a housing having a front face and a back face, and at least three arcuate blades extending out from the housing. At least one of the at least three arcuate blades has a locking section. The functional module can be used in a wiring system comprising at least one wiring module. The wiring module can include a housing having a front face and a back face and at least one opening for receiving at least one of the at least three arcuate blades. The disclosure can also include a wiring module which can be used separately from the functional module wherein the wiring module includes a housing having at least one movable arm. Inside the wiring module is a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing, wherein these contacts are configured to couple to electrical wiring.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising:

a functional module comprising;

a housing having a front face, and a back face;

a strap coupled to said housing, said strap configured to engage a wall box;

at least four arcuate blades extending out from said back face of said housing wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades has a locking section, and wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades is electrically coupled to an electrical ground; and

wherein said at least four arcuate blades comprise a first set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a first reference circle, and a second set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a second reference circle.

2. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said arcuate blade that is coupled to an electrical ground is disposed offset from a central position of said back face of said housing.

3. The electrical device as in claim 2, wherein said wallbox is a single gang enclosure.

4. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades is electrically coupled to said strap.

5. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades is L-shaped.

6. The electrical device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one plate coupled to said back face of said housing, wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades is coupled to said at least one plate on said back face.

7. The electrical device as in claim 6, wherein said at least one plate and at least one of said at least four arcuate blades are formed in one piece.

8. The electrical device as in claim 6, wherein said at least one plate is a ground.

9. The electrical device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one non-conductive coupling element, configured to couple said housing to another object.

10. The electrical device as in claim 9, wherein said non-conductive coupling element comprises a flange extending out from said back face of said functional module.

11. The electrical device as in claim 1, further comprising a guide coupled to said housing, said guide configured to guide another object to connect to said housing in a rotational manner.

12. A wiring system comprising:

a functional module comprising;

a housing having a front face and a back face; and

at least four arcuate blades extending out from said back face of said housing, wherein at least one of said at least four arcuate blades has a locking section;

wherein said plurality of blades comprise a first set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a first reference circle, and a second set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a second reference circle;

a strap coupled to said housing, said strap configured to engage a wall box; and

at least one wiring module comprising;

a housing having a front face and a back face; and

at least one opening for receiving at least one of said at least three arcuate blades.

13. The wiring system as in claim 12, wherein said at least one wiring module further comprises at least one flexible arm which is configured to flex when said functional module is coupled to said wiring module.

14. The wiring system as in claim 12, wherein said at least one flexible arm is attached at a first end to said housing and is free at an opposite end.

15. The wiring system as in claim 12, wherein said wiring module housing further comprises at least one coupling element.

16. The wiring system as in claim 13, wherein said wiring module housing further comprises at least one coupling element, wherein said at least one coupling element is disposed on a side opposite said at least one flexible arm.

17. The wiring system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one coupling element is configured to stop said wiring module from rotation relative to said functional module in a first direction, or to stop said functional module from rotation relative to said wiring module in said first direction, and said at least one movable arm is configured to stop said wiring module from rotation relative to said functional module in an opposite direction to said first direction or to stop said functional module from rotation relative to said wiring module in said opposite direction.

18. A functional module comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) a plurality of arcuate blades extending out from said housing and comprising at least one first blade configured to receive power from a power distribution line and at least one second blade configured to pass power to a load line wherein the housing does not include a central ground pin;

wherein said plurality of arcuate blades comprise a first set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a first reference circle, and a second set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a second reference circle.

19. The functional module as in claim 18, further comprising at least one circuit interrupter, said at least one circuit interrupter being configured to disconnect power from said first blade to said second blade.

20. The functional module as in claim 19, wherein said circuit interrupter is a ground fault circuit interrupter.

21. The functional module as in claim 19, wherein said circuit interrupter is an arc fault circuit interrupter.

22. A functional module comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) a plurality of blades extending out from said housing and comprising at least one first blade configured to receive power from a power distribution line and at least one second blade configured to pass power to a load line, wherein said plurality of blades comprise a set of at least two concentrically inside blades and at least two concentrically outside blades.

23. The functional module as in claim 22, wherein said set of at least two concentrically inside blades comprise at least two arcuate blades arranged along a first reference circle, and said at least two concentrically outside blades comprise a second set of blades comprising at least two arcuate blades arranged along a second reference circle.