Junction assembly and wiring device therefor

• US 9,391,436 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Luebke, Charles John, Frailing, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhirubhai R
• Application Number:
  US14/446,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160036210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A wiring device is for a junction assembly. The junction assembly includes a housing. The wiring device includes a body at least partially extending into the housing, and at least one mounting member coupled to the body and including a number of protrusions extending away from the body. The mounting member moves between an extended position and a retracted position. When the mounting member is in the extended position, the mounting member maintains the body in a predetermined position with respect to the housing. Responsive to the mounting member moving from the extended position toward the retracted position, the protrusions move toward the body, thereby releasing the body from the housing.

Claims

1. A wiring device for a junction assembly, said junction assembly comprising a housing having at least one wall, said at least one wall having a number of slots or recesses, said wiring device comprising:

a body; and

at least one mounting member coupled to said body, said at least one mounting member comprising a base, a side portion extending from said base, and a protrusion extending from said side portion away from said body,

wherein said at least one mounting member moves between an extended position corresponding to said protrusion extending into a corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses in order to removably couple said body to said housing without a separate fastener, and a retracted position corresponding to said protrusion not extending into said corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses, thereby releasing said body from said housing.

2. The wiring device of claim 1 wherein said body comprises a distal surface;

wherein said base is disposed proximate said distal surface; and

wherein said side portion of said at least one mounting member extends from said base away from said distal surface.

3. The wiring device of claim 2 wherein said distal surface is disposed in a plane;

wherein said base is generally parallel to said plane;

wherein said at least one mounting member comprise another side portion extending from said base;

wherein said side portion of said at least one mounting member comprises a first wall extending from proximate said base and being disposed generally normal to the plane; and

wherein said another side portion comprises a second wall extending from proximate said base and being disposed generally normal to the plane.

4. T wiring device of claim 3 wherein said side portion of said at least one mounting member further comprises a first platform extending from said first wall and being disposed generally parallel to said base;

wherein said another side portion further comprises a second platform extending from said second wall and being disposed generally parallel to said base;

wherein said protrusion extends from said first platform; and

wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a second protrusion extending from said second platform.

5. The wiring device of claim 2 wherein said side portion of said at least one mounting member comprises a first wall;

wherein said at least one mounting member further comprises a another side portion extending from said base, wherein said another side portion comprises a second wall spaced from and generally coplanar with said first wall;

wherein said protrusion extends from and is disposed generally normal to said first wall; and

wherein said second at least one mounting member further comprises a second protrusion extending from and being disposed generally normal to said second wall.

6. The wiring device of claim 2 wherein said body comprises a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a first mounting member and a second mounting member;

wherein said first mounting member is disposed proximate the first end portion;

wherein said second mounting member is disposed proximate the second end portion;

wherein said wiring device further comprises a first support portion and a second support portion opposite said first support portion;

wherein said first support portion is disposed on the first end portion; and

wherein said second support portion is disposed on the second end portion.

7. The wiring device of claim 6 wherein said distal surface is disposed in a plane;

wherein said first support portion is disposed between said base of said first mounting member and the plane; and

wherein said second support portion is disposed between said base of said second mounting member and the plane.

8. The wiring device of claim 7 wherein said wiring device further comprises a first fastener and a second fastener;

wherein said first fastener fastens said first mounting member to said first support portion and is movable with respect to said first support portion; and

wherein said second fastener fastens said second mounting member to said second support portion and is movable with respect to said second support portion.

9. The wiring device of claim 6 wherein said distal surface is disposed in a plane;

wherein said base of said first mounting member is disposed between said first support portion and the plane; and

wherein said base of said second mounting member is disposed between said second support portion and the plane.

10. The wiring device of claim 9 wherein said first mounting member is coupled to said first support portion by a first snap-fit mechanism;

and wherein said second mounting member is coupled to said second support portion by a second snap-fit mechanism.

11. The wiring device of claim 6 wherein said first support portion and said first mounting member are a single piece of material;

and wherein said second support portion and said second mounting member are a single piece of material.

12. The wiring device of claim 6 wherein, responsive to said first mounting member moving from the extended position toward the retracted position, said protrusion of said first mounting member moves away from said first support portion;

and wherein, responsive to said second mounting member moving from the extended position toward the retracted position, said protrusion of said second mounting member moves away from said second support portion.

13. A junction assembly comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second -will disposed opposite said first wall, each of said first wall and said second wail having a number of slots or recesses; and

a wiring device comprising;

a body, and

a first mounting member and a second mounting member each coupled to said body, each of said first mounting member and said second mounting member comprising a base, a side portion extending from said base, and a protrusion extending from said side portion away from said body,

wherein said first mounting member moves between an extended position corresponding to said protrusion of said first mounting member extending into a corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses of said first wall in order to removably couple said body to said housing without a separate fastener, and a retracted position corresponding to said protrusion of said first mounting member not extending into said corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses of said first wall, thereby releasing said body from said housing, and

wherein said second mounting member moves between an extended position corresponding to said protrusion of said second mounting member extending into a corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses of said second wall in order to removably couple said body to said housing without a separate fastener, and a retracted position corresponding to said protrusion of said second mounting member not extending into said corresponding one of said number of slots or recesses of said second wall, thereby releasing, said body from said housing.

14. The junction assembly of claim 13 wherein said body comprises a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

wherein said first mounting member is disposed proximate the first end portion;

wherein said second mounting member is disposed proximate the second end portion;

wherein said first mounting member further comprises another side portion extending from said base of said first mounting member, and another protrusion extending from said another side portion of said first mounting member away from said body;

wherein said second mounting member further comprises another side portion extending from said base of said second mounting member, and another protrusion extending from said another side portion of said second mounting member away from said body;

wherein the number of slots of said first wall is a first slot for the protrusion of said first mounting member and a second slot for the another protrusion of said first mounting member;

wherein the number of slots of said second wall is a third slot for the protrusion of said second mounting member and a fourth slot for the another protrusion of said second mounting member.

15. The junction assembly of claim 13 wherein said housing comprises a first tooth disposed on said first wall and a second tooth disposed on said second wall;

wherein, when said first mounting member is in the extended position, said protrusion of said first mounting member substantially overlays said first tooth, and wherein, when said second mounting member is in the extended position, said protrusion of said second mounting member substantially overlays said second tooth.

16. The junction assembly of claim 15 wherein said body comprises a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

wherein said first mounting member is disposed proximate the first end portion;

wherein said second mounting member is disposed proximate the second end portion;

wherein said first mounting member further comprises another side portion extending from said base of said first mounting member, and another protrusion extending from said another side portion of said first mounting member away from said body;

wherein said second mounting member further comprises another side portion extending from said base of said second mounting member, and another side protrusion extending from said another side portion of said second mounting member away from said body;

wherein said first wall is disposed proximate the first end portion;

wherein said second wall is disposed proximate the second end portion;

wherein said housing further comprises a third tooth disposed on said first wall and a fourth tooth disposed on said second wall, wherein, when said first mounting member is in the extended position, said another protrusion of said first mounting member substantially overlays said third tooth; and

wherein, when said second mounting member is in the extended position, said another protrusion of said second mounting member substantially overlays said fourth tooth.

17. The junction assembly of claim 15 wherein, when said first mounting member is in the retracted position, said protrusion of said first mounting member does not substantially overlay said first tooth;

and wherein, when said second mounting member is in the retracted position, said protrusion of said second mounting member does not substantially overlay said second tooth.