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Safety electrical outlet and switch system

  • US 8,388,371 B2
  • Filed: 01/27/2012
  • Issued: 03/05/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electrical wiring system comprising:

  • an assembled wiring panel comprising a nonconductive housing sized to fit within an electrical box, wherein the electrical box is designed to house a power cable, the electrical box is further configured to attach to a construction framing stud, wherein the assembled wiring panel comprises;

    a first side of the nonconductive housing comprising a first nonconductive surface and one or more openings that expose a plurality of electrical panel contacts associated therewith;

    a conductive panel key structure;

    a nonconductive panel key structure comprising at least a portion of the nonconductive housing; and

    a second side of the nonconductive housing, wherein the second side has a plurality of external power wire connection points extending therefrom that interface with the power cable such that the external power wire connection points interface with the power cable at a location external to the assembled wiring panel;

    whereas the first side and second side are fastened together to create said assembled wiring panel that internally contains at least a hot bus, neutral bus and ground bus;

    said assembled wiring panel comprising said plurality of external power wire connection points that are configured to connect the electrical panel contacts on the first side with the power cable using at least an internal hot bus, a neutral bus and a ground bus;

    wherein said assembled wiring panel with said external power wire connection points is assembled prior to insertion in said electrical box; and

    a removable module having an electrical function, the removable module comprising a plurality of module electrical contacts associated therewith that are configured to connect to the plurality of panel electrical contacts on the first side of the assembled wiring panel, wherein the removable module further comprises a nonconductive module key structure that is configured to engage the nonconductive panel key structure and a conductive module key structure configured to engage the conductive panel key structure, wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are configured to engage in only one proper orientation that comprises maintaining proper connection with the hot and neutral busses using at least one of;

    the nonconductive module key structure, or the conductive module key structure;

    wherein a portion of the nonconductive panel key structure partially shields the one or more electrical panel contacts of the conductive panel key structure from user contact; and

    wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are further configured to removably latch together without tools.

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