Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~.~5~53~
This applicatlon is a division ~ copending Canadian
application Serial No. 240,461 filed Novemb~r 25, 1975.
~ACKGRO~ND OF THE INVENTION:
, , _ ,, , , ,__ .
`~ Field of the Invention:
, i . -- , ___ __
~ he invention is directed to the field of wiring
devices and principally to an electrical receptacle adapted
to receive conventional two and three prong electrical
plugs.
Description of the Prior_Art:
.
The more common form of elec~rical receptacle well
known in the art comprises generally a pair of plug receiving
outlets more co~monly described as a duplex receptacle comprising
a plastic body member containlng electrical contacts and
adapted.to mate with either a two or three prong electrical
plugs of either the 120 volt or 220 volt variety comprising,
respectively, parallel or offset blade elements. ~he recepacles
are generally provided with screw terminals on either side
thereof adapted to receive the bared ends.of the individual
condu~tors of a multiconductor non-sheathed electrical
: . .
cable. Such prior art receptacle~ are further generally
provided with mcunting ears to which are loosely fastened
a~sembly screws for mounting the receptacle to a metallic
box previously installed within an opening in a wall or like
- ~uppor~ member. A separate face plate is thereafter required
to be fastened to the front of th~ receptacle for a~thetic
and safety purposes. Although t~ere have been ~ome improve~
n.ents mad~ in recent yeax~ with respect to the manner of
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1 attaching the cable conductor~ to the receptacle, the timc,
expense, an~ incon~Jenien~e assoc:Lated with as3embling the
. metallic box, electrical receptacle, and face plate to one
another to provide a complete unit has undergone little
; 5 appreciable change and represents a burden~ome, time-con- -
suming, and relatively expensive operation wherein the user
. . .
is required to sever the cable, strip b~ck the installation
from a portion thereof and individually connect the conductors
to an associated terminal within the electrical receptacle
; .
; 10 after feeding the cable through an aperture in the receptacle
supporting junction box. The user is faced with an additional - .
~ - prQblem of having to maintain a stock of face plates which
:~ are generally supplied separately f~om the receptacle and ~:
which may be readily lost or misplaced among the proliferation
lS of materials generally found at a construction site which
often represents the usually environment for the installation
of such receptacles. A further disadvantage of the separate
assembly heretofore described .is the requirement that the
receptacle supporting junction box be properly oriented both
vertically and horizontally within the wall or supporting
me~ber to avoid having the face plate secured thereto at an
oblique angle since only minor adjustment is possible betwee~
the axis o~ the junct.ion box and the ~xi~ of the Eace l~lat~
after installation. The assembler is presented with a
further difficulty in having to provide within the junction ~ -
box a given length of ~tripped cable to permi~ manipulation
of the receptacle for subsequent rewirins or replacement and
which must be looped and stored within the junction box
af~er the assembly is completed which, in the e~ent two or .
~ore c-bleg are brought into the junction box, results in a
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multlpliclty of conne~tor lecld~ ~herewi~hin all looped abolJt In
random f~hion and lnterferlng wlth the rea~sembly of the electrical
receptacle to the ~unc~lon box durlng a ~ubsequent wlring operation.
The inventlon according to the parent application over-
; comes the limitations and difficulties noted above with respect
to prior art devices by providing a preEerably inte~rally molded
plastic electrical receptacle of unitary construction having self-
contained mounted means and a releasably latchable cover member to
provide an assembly which is simpler, less expensive, more reliable,
and more convenient than such prior art devices. The receptacle
is molded preferably from a relatively rigid electrically insulat~
ing plastic material and comprises a body member defined by a
series of interconnected upstanding w~lls to provide a partially
; enclosed cable receiving cavity. Molded or formed integrally with
one end of the cavi~y is a base portion having a generally planar
fla~ged portion extending outwardly from the periphery of the body
- member~ the front surface of the base portion being suitably
apertured to provide a series of selectived spaced openin~s adapted
to receive the blades of an electrical plug~ Located adjacent the
rear surface of the fla~ged portion of the base member at opposite
corners of the outer periphery of the body member are a pair of
mounti~g pawls ea~h supported on a rotata~le member extending
through the hub portion of each pawl and accessible from the front
of the base portion to deploy a respective pawl and permit the
receptàcle to be mounted withln a suitably apertured opening in
a w811 or other support member. The cable receiving cavity ls
pro~ided
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1 with a ~rles of up~t~ndiny elcctrical con~act support~
arranycd in a predeter~lned pattern to provide ~upport or
electrical contacts having tab receiving portions adapted to
mate with the blades of an electrical plug in.serted through
the openings in the base portion. The electrical contacts
are readily manufactured preferably from a single strip of
highly conducti~e metallic material and are selectively
formed to provide an insulation severing and conductor
- engaging slotted portion having independently deflectable
finger portions which are arranged to sever the installation ~ -
and engage the conductive portion of a respective insulated
- conductor forcibly urged into the slotted portion of the
contact. To complete the assembly there is provided a cover
member also constructed preferably of a rigid electrically
insulating plastic material in a generally flat rectangular
; shape and comprising a series of projections extending out-
;' wardly f rom the inner surface thereof and aligned in generally
longitudinally extending parallel rows, each projection
havi~g a generally V-shaped bifurcated free end adapted to
provide a cr~dle for the respective conductors of an electrical
. . . .
cable. The cover member is releasably latchable to the body
:~ member of the receptacle by the employment of latching means
which may comprise a pair of d~flectable arms extendinq from
opposing sides of tile cover member, each arm having an
opening adapted to coincide with a selectively located
. , :
protrusion on the outer surface of the body member when the
: .
; cover member is seated firmly against the open end thereof.
To establish a particular orientation of the cover member on
the body member, where desired, the width of the latching
members may be differently proportioned and the sidewalls of
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the body m~bcr provide(l wlth correspon(ling palr~ o~ up~t~ndin~
parallel rib~, providing ~electively spaced channel~ each
colnclding with a respectlve latch member. ~ plurality of such
electrlcal reccp~acles may be installed in a ~uxtap~sed arrange-
ment by the use of a stepped fram~ arranged to provide a seat
for the flanged portion of each of the receptacles. The framed
a~sembly may be mounted within a suitable opening in a wall or
other support structure by the deployment oE the mounting pawls
of each receptacle in a manner essen~ially similar to that used
to mount a single receptacle to such support.
Thus the invention according to the parent application
broadly deines an electrical receptacle comprislng, in combination,
a body member formed from electrically insulating plastîc material
and including wall portions ~oined to one another to define a
cable receiving cavity, the wall portions being seated upon a base
portio~ molded integrally therewith, the base portion having a
- flanged portion extending outwardly beyond the external perimeter
of the wall portions for mounelng the body member to a supporting
surface, the base portion having contact supports selectively
locaeed within the cable receiving cavity for supporting at least
a pair of spaced electrical contacts therewithin, the base member
being suitably apertured to prDvide plug recei~ing slo~s arranged
to accept the contacts of an electrical plug, the base member
further having at least a pair of electrical contacts disposed
~lthin the contact supports and aligne~ with respective ones of
the base member slots to receive the contacts of an electrical
plug inserted within the base member apertures; and a cover member
foxmed from elecercially insulating plastic maeerial and arranged
~o selectively qeat agalnst the wall portions to provide a closure ~`
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. .
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.
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fox the expo~ed opcrllng ~ ~he body member cable receivlng cavlty,
the c~ver member including ca~le ~upport rnearl~ di~po~cd adJace~
one surPace thereof, the cable support mean~ bclng selectlvely
positloned Oll the cover ~ember for alignment wi~h the body member
contact supports upon the selec~ive seating of the cover member
agalnst the body member wall portions for urging the respective
conductors o an electrical cable against respective ones of the
electrical contacts located within the body member cable recelving
cavity, the cover member further comprising latch means for selec-
tive engagement with the body member to permlt the cover member tobe releasably locked to the ~ody member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The electrlcal contacts pre~iously described may also
` be considered to be novel in the manner in which they eliminate the
: need for separately severing the insulation from an insulated
conductor to electrically jo.in the conductor to the contact.
Thus the invention of the present application provides
~ contact means for an elec~rical receptacle, comprising: a single
: strip of highly conduc~ive thisl metallic material having a generally
U-shaped conductor receiving central portion having a bigh~ portion
snd leg portions, and arm portions each contiguous with an extending
in an opposite direction fro~ the free end o~ a respecti~e leg
por~ion, the arm portions lying along a common plane which intersects
~he respective planes of the leg por~lons along a line generally
: parallel to the longit~dinal axi~ of the bight portion, the arm
portions each terminating in a looped portion of ~lattened con-
figuration and lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of
~- the arm portlons to provide a tab receiving slot arranged to
resiliently engage a terminatislg end of an electrical plug, the
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leg portions eZlCh having a fir~t slot extencling from one edge of
the leg portion a predetermined diutance in direction generally
parallel ~o the axls of the bigllt portion, the first slot
communicating with a second slot extendlng selectlvely out~ardly
from either side of the base of the ~irst slot in a direction
generally perpendicular to the axis o~ the flrst slot to provide
an independently deflectable finger portion on each side of the
first slot, the finger portions being offset from the plane of its
associated leg portion in opposite directions, the first slots
lying along a common axis orlented generally parallel to the plane
of the arm portions, the opposing edges of the ~irst slot being
arran~ed to sever the insulation and contact the conductive portion
of an insula~ed electrical conducttr fortibly urged thereinto.
.
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1 ~RIEF D CRIE'TION F TltE D~WINC'~:
FIG. 1 i~ a ~ide elevational view of an electrical
receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of
S the invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the body member of
the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG~ 4.
PIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a further
embodiment of a contact means for an electrical receptacle
constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FI~. 7 is a front elevational view o~ a further
~ embodiment of an electrical receptacle constructed in accord-
9 ance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section,
of the cover member of the device of FIG. 1.
'
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 8,
showing the terminating ends of the conductors of a multicon~
ductor electrical cable cradled in the cover member.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 8,
showing an intermediate portion o~ the conductors o~ a
~ulticonductor cable cradled in the cover member.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partly cut away and
partly in section, of the device o~ FIG. 1 showin~ the
manner of connecting an electrical multiconductor cahle
~thereto.
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~ l FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the device of FIG.
`: 1.
FI~. 13 is a fragmentary perspectlve vle~, 3howing
the cable entry way portion of the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 14 is a top plan view of contact means for an
electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the
concepts of the invention.
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a further embodiment
of contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in
accordance with the concepts of the invention.
,,
FIG. 16 is a perspective view~ partly cut away and
~;~; partly ln section, of the device of FIG. 14.
PIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a further
~; 15 embodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a contact
means for an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance
~ith the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of yet another
emhodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a contact
means or an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance
with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. l9 is a fragmentary top plan view of ye~
another embodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a
contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in
~5 accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the ground con-
ductor contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed
iD accordance with the conceptq of the invention.
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective v$ew, partly
in section, of a further embodiment of a ground conductor
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l rec~ivlng contact mcans for an electrical rcceptacle con-
structed in accordance with thc concept~ of the inventlon.
~ FIG. 22 is a fragmentary front elevatlonal view,
: in section, showing the ground conductor support means of the
S device of FIG. l.
PIG. 23 i9 a frag~nentary perspective view, partly
in section, of a further embodiment of a ground conductor
contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in
-~ accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 24 is a fragmentary perspectiv~ view of a
further e~bodiment of contact means for an electrical
receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of
the invention.
PIG. 25 is a side elevational ~iew, similar to
FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the mounting means
thereof are deployed to mount the device to a supporting
st~ucture.
/ FIG. 26 is a fragmentary side elevational view,
- partly in section, showing engagement of the mounting means
; ~0 of the device of FIG. 1 to an adjacent wall structure.
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary rear elevational view,
s.howing the mounting means and associated structure oE the
. : device of FIG. 1.
~` FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a further emhodi-
ment of mounting means for an electrical receptacle constructed
in accordance with the concept~ of the i~vention.
FIG. 29 is a perspecti~e view of the device o~
FIG. 28. fully deployed.
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FIG; 30 i3 a perspecti~e view o~ another embodiment
of mountl~g means for an electrical recept~cle constructed
in accordance with the concept~ of the invention.
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the device of
PIG. 30 ~ully deployed.
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a ganged receptacle
assembly constructed in accordance with the concepts of the
invention.
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the arrangement
shown in FIG. 32 installed within a supporting wall.
` Similar elements are given similar reference
characters in each of the respective drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: - -
.~ .
Turnlng now to FIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, l0, ll,
12, 13, 25, 26, 27, 32, and 33 there is shown an electrical
receptacle 40 eonstructed in accordance with the concepts of
the invention. The receptacle 40 comprises a body member 42
which may be conveniently molded from preferably rigid
plastic material and which includes a base portion 44 having
. ~ 20 a flanged portion 46 surrounding the body mem~er 42 and extend-
ing beyond the periphery thereof. The body member 42 comprises
, a box-like structure formed from a plurality of upstanding
wall portiQns including a pair of sidewalls 48, 48' and a pair
~ of end walls 50, 50' tFIG. 4). The interior of the sidewalls
- 25 48 and 48' and the end walls 50, and 50' combine to define
~able receiving cavity 52 which will be described in
greater detail hereafter. As shown in g~eater detail in FIG.
4, the interior of the body member 4~ comprises a series of
aligned contact support~ 54, 54', 56~ 56' and 58, 5~' which
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1 comprise ~lectively shapc:d up~tandLng portlon~ ~ff~x~d to
the base portion 44 o~ th~ hody member 42 and pr~:ferably
molded integ~ally therewith. The contact support~ 54, 54'
and 58 form a nest for a first contact means 60 while the
contact supports 56, 56' and 58' form a nest for a second
contact means 62. Each oE the supports 54, 54', 56, and 56'
border a respective ~perture 64, 64', 66, 66' extending
. qenerally transversely thxough the base member 44 and propor-
'~ tioned to receive the blades of an electrical plug whlch are
guided through the' aforesaid apertures or openings in
~:~ the base portion 44 for contact with selective portions of
- the first and second contact mean~ 60 and 62, respectively.
~s further illustrated in F.IG. 2, the base member 44 is
provided with additional openings 68, 68' adapted to receive
~': 15 the grouncl pin or blade of a conventional electrical plug.
, The.openings 68, 68' coincide with respective contact engaging
`' finger portions 70 and 72 of a ground ocnductor contact
: , ,
j means 74 shown in greater detail in ~IG. 20 and which will
.. . .
be described in greater detail herea:Eter. The contact means
74 is supported within the cable receiving cavity 52 of the
~ody member 42 by,a series of further support means 75, 75'
` ' and 76, 76' the inner surfaces of which define a channel
,. ., ,arranged to tightly abut the sides oP the~contact means 74
to retain the contact means 74 in the desired position
: 25 within the body member 42. To provide a complete enclosure, , :,
there is provided a cover member 78 having latch portions 80
and 80' ~PIG. 8) adapted to mate with corresponding latch
engaging protrusions 82 and 82' ~FIG. 4~ selectively located
. on the first and second sidewalls 4B and 48', respectively,
: 30 'of ~ndy me~ber 42. Each of the latch portions 80 and 80'
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1 extend from th~ sLdq3 oE ~h~ covcr m~mber 78 yencr~lly
:~ normal to the inner surface thereof and ~re ~p~ced apart
from onc ~noth~r a dist~nce gcnerally equival~nt to the
~: spacing between the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 48 and
48' of the body member 42. The latch portions 8~ and 80'
each comprise a pair of generally parallel spaced leg portions
. 84, 84' and 88, 86' respectively, each of which is joined to
the cover member 78 at one end, the juncture bctween the
cover member 78 and each of the latch portions 80 and 80'
being further defined by a respective recessed portion 88,
~ 88' arranged to increase the deflectability of each of the
:- - latch portions 80 and 80' at its junct~re with the cover
member 78. Each of the latch portions 80 and 80' further
i comprises an interconnecting portion 90, 90', respectively,
joining a pair of respective leg portions 84, 86 and 84',
86' at their outer ends to complete the latch portion
structure. The inner edges of th~ leg portions 84 and 86
and the interconnecting portions 90 of latch portion 80
define a first aperture 92, while the inner edges of the leg
portions 84' and 86' and the interconnecting portion 90' of
latch portion 80' define a second aperture 92' each suitably
dimensioned to locktngly mate with the respective latch
: engagin.g protrusions 82 and 82' on the body member 42. The
interconnecting portions 90 and 90' are further provided
with a beveled interior surface 94, 94' generally adjacent ~ :
the leading edge of each of the latch portions 80 and 80',
only one tg4'~ of such surfaces being visible in FIG. 8~
The beveled surfaces 94, 94' serve to deflect each of the latch
portions 80 and 80' outwardly upon engagement with a respective
latch engaging protrusion 82, 82' aq the cover m~mber 78 is
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1 urged over the body mcmbcr 42, so that upon full closure o
the co~er membsr 7a the inner edge 96, 96' o~ each latch
portion 80, 80', xespeetively, abuts the adjacent edge oP a
latch engaging protrusion B2, 82', to ~ecurely lock the
cover member 78 to the body member 42. The cover member 78,
may, of course, be readily moved from the body member 42 by
manually deflecting each of the latch portions 80 and 89'
outwardly sufficiently to disengage the edges 96 and 96'
~rom the latch engaging protrusions 82 and 82'. Alternatively,
although not illustrated, the cover member 78 may be provided
with latch engaging protrusions such as 82, 82', and the
~ body member 42 provided with latch portions such as 80, 80'
; to provide a similar but reversed latch arrangement. Depending
" outwardly from the first sidewall 48 of body member 42, are
a first pair of ribs 98, 98' (FIG. 4) arranged to provide a
guide channel for the latch portion B0. In a similar manner
the secol~d sidewall 48' is provided with a pair of depending
ribs 100, 100' to provide a guide channel for the latch
portion 80'. Where it is desired to selectively orient the
cover member 78 on the body member 42 the width of the latch
; portion 80 may be arranged to have a dimension different
~ than the width Oe the latch portion 80' and the inner space
- between ribs 98, 98' and ribs 100, 100' correspondingly
arranged to closely approximate the width of the corresponding
- .
~5 latch portion 80, 80', thus insuring that the cover member
78 may be latched to the body member 42 in the deslred
`~ orientation. Alternatively, although not illustrated, each
o the latch portions 80, 80' may be provided with longitudinally
sxtending ribs and the sidewalls 48~ 48' of the body member
39 42, provided with mating suitably located reces~es to provide
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1 a slmll~r guiding ~nd channclllng effect. Each of the end
wall~ 50 and 50' of the body member 42 i~ proYlded wlth a
respectivc notched portion 102 and 102' arranged to provide
clearancc for the incoming electrical cable. The cove~
member 78 is provided with an upstanding portion 104 which,
. although shown adjacent only one end of the the cover member
78 in PIG. 8 may be provided at both end~ in a similar
mapner and arranged to fit closely within a respective one
~: of the notched portion 102, and 102' in the body memher 42
: 10 thus providing a selecti~e closure for the unused cable
.
-; entry~ay essentially as shown in FIG. 12 where, for example,
an electrical cable terminates at the electrical receptacle
.; 40. The upstanding portion 104 is frangibly connected to
the remainder of the cover member 78 by a relatively thin
web of reduced cross section indicated by the numeral 106 in
FIG. 11 to permit the upstanding portion 104 to be readily
broken away from the remainder of the cover member 78 to provide
an entr~way for a cable at either end of the receptacle 40.
: This arrangement has the additional advantage of permitting
a cable such as 108 tFlG. 10) to be terminated to the electrical
.
~ receptacle 40 midspan of its length where the ends of the ::
.~ . :
cable 108 are to extend beyond both ends of the body member
~ 42. In th~ case of a single ended termination, as shown in
- FIG. 9, the upstanding portion 104 has been left intact at
: ~ 25 one end of the cover member 78 but has been broken away from
the other ~nd so as to permit an electrical cable such as
110 to be brought into and terminated at the receptacle 40
: ~om only one end. Where it is desired to provide an entryway
~or more ~han one cable at a given end of the body member
42, ther~ may be advantageously provided an arrangemen~ such
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1 as th~t illu~trated Ln FIG. 13, in which either or both oP
th~ notched portions 102 and 102' may b~ modifi~d a3 at 112
to include a frangibl~ portlon 11~ dlsposed wlthin the
notch~d portion 112 which, incidently, has a total d~pth
greater than that required to provide an entry~ay for a
~, single electrical cable, but i5 appropriately reduced by the
"~ height of the frangible portion 114. Consequently, in the
'- e~ent mor~ than one electrical cable is to be inserted
within the electrical receptacle 40 from a given end, the
', 10 frangible portion 114 may then be broken away from the
remainder of the notched ~ortion 112 to provide an enlarged
; - ope~ing adapted to receive the additional cables therethrough.
CommenRurate with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the
' upstanding portion 104 of cover member 78 will have a depth
generaLly equivalent to the unobstructed opening of the
no*ched portion 112 so that a complete closure may be
effected at such end prior to the removal of the frangible
` portion 114. The body member 48 may, accordingly, he provided
with a notched portion such as 112 within either or both of
the end walls thereof as necessary or desirable. As,further
- illust~at~d in FIG. 8, the upstanding portion 104 of cover
,~ member 78 may be provided with a bevelled edge 116 arranged
to be slidably engaged within a complimentarily ormed slot
, ' 118 in either the notched portion 112 (FIG. 13) or 102 and
'` 25 102' (FIG. 4) to provide an increased area of closure there-
between. The cover member 78 is further provided with cable
guides 120 and 120' (FIG. 8) each of ~hich includes a respec-
tive pa~r of upstanding leg portion~ 122, 122' and 124,
;~ 124', each pair at least partially defining a channel like
~ 30 opening to xestrict lateral movemen~ of an electrical cable
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1 such ~ 108 or 110 within the cover member 78 during ~ndafter assembly. Each pair of lcg portlon~ 122, 122' and
124, 124' are joined at their respective base~ by an intercon-
necting portion 126, 126', respectively, adapted to maintain
the cable at a given height above the inner surface of the
cover memb~r 78. ~lso depending outwardly generally normal
to the interior surface of the cover member 78 are a series
of projections aligned in rows which are axially oriented
; generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover
membe~ 78. One such row includes projections 128, 130, and
132. Another such row includes projections 134, 136, and
- 138. ~etween the aforementioned two rows is a third row
including projections 140, 142, 146 and 148, projections 146
and 148 di~fering, however, from projections 140 and 142 in
15 prsviding a guide rather than a support, for the centrally
disposed conductor. The cable guides 126 and 126' are
disposed along a common axis in general alignment with an
- axi.s joining the p~ojections 140, 142, 146, and 148. All of
the aforementioned projections except projections 146 and ~:~
. 20 148 are provided with a bifurcated free end which, as illus- ~.
`~ trated in FIG. 8, may comprise a V-shaped notch such as
. indicated by the numeral 150 at the free end of projection
: 128. The apex of the notch~s in a particular row of projec-
tions lie along a common axis generally parallel to the :~
longitudinal axis o~ the cover member 7~ to provide a cradle ~;
~: . for a particular individual conductor of a multiconductor
electrical cable in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 9 and
10. In the arrangement illustrated therein, the two ou~er
ro~s comprising, respectively, projections 128, 130 and 132,
: 30 and proiections 134, 136 and 133, are adapted to ~upport the
17 - :
.. ..... . , . , :
~3 ~
1 usual currfJnt-cclrrying conductors of a multiconductor ~lectrical
:: cable while the c~nter row cornpri3ing p~ojections 140,142
: 146, .and 148 are ad~pted to support the usual ground conductor~: of such cable. The V-notched projections are all of equal
~: 5 height and positionally arranged to insure that each of the
conductors supportcd thereby ~il1 be aligned with a respective
conductor receiving portion of an associate~ conta~t means
60, 62, and 74 located within the body memb~r 42 of the
receptacle 40 as the cover member 78 is brought into engagement
lO with the body member 42. As the cover member 78 is urged
into full Latched engagement with the body member 42 in the
manner illustrated in FIG. ll, the conductors which are
cradled within the bifurcated free ends of the projections
:` in the cover member 78 a~e, accordingly, urged against the
: 15 respective conductor receiving portions of the contact means
60, 62, and 74 for electrical and mechanical engagement
;l therewith. After assembly, the cover member projections
serve as a strain relief by locking the conductors in place
~- adjacent the respective contact means.
.The electrical receptacle 40 may be mounted to a
. ~ , .
suitably apertured supporting surface by the employment of
mounting means such as pawl means 152 and 154 (FIG. 3, 25
- and 26) each o~ which comprises a hub portion 156, 158,
respectively, and a finger portion 160, 162, respectively,
each finger portion 160, l62 extending radially outwardly
from l~s associated hub portion. Both pawl means 152 and
lS4 axe similarly construc~ed and further comprise a gusset
portion such as 164 (FIG. l) extending between the hub
portion and fingex p~rtion at each pawl means. Each of the
hUb portions lS6 and l58 have a longitudinal bore extending
'
- 18 -
,~
.. " .
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.. ,:,., ~ :: , : :. :
: , , , ::
. . , . ,
: ~ , - -
. . :
, : .. ~ ~ . . :
:: . . ~ . , :: ~ .
. , ~ :: : ~ .
3'~
1 thereth~ough for thread~d engagemcnt with the ~h~nk portion
of a resp~ctive screw me~ns 166 and 168, the sh~nk portion~
of which extend generally transversely through the flanged
portion 46 of the base portion 44 of fhe body member 42.
Each of the ~crew means lfi6 and 168 includes a head portion
170, 172, respectively, (FIG. 2) which is accessible from
the front surface of the flanyed portion 46 so that ~pon
rotation of the screw means 166 and 168, th~ respective pawl
means 152 and 154 are caused to be deployed and axially
~ 10 displaced in a manner shown more clearly in FIG. 25 and 26.
: The body member 42 is provided with a pair of pawl stops 174
and 176 (FIG. 3) each arranged to limit the rotational
travel of a respective pawl means 152, 154 as shown in FIG. - .
27. The pawl stops 174 and 176 extend generally parallel to
!,:15 the axis of a respective screw means 166 and 168 generally
normal to the plane of the base portion 44 of the body ~
member 42 and are arranged to intercept the arc of a r~spective ::
-~inger portion 160, 162 of a pawl means 152, 154. ~ccordingly,
.~ the pawl means 152 and 154 may be deployed from a first
~: 20 position closely adjacent and within the periphery of the
`` sidewalls-48 and 48' of the body member 42 (FIG. 3) to a
, ~ second position substantially as shown by the dotted
outlines 178 and 178' in FIG.. 25 and by the solid outline in
FIG. 27 by rotating each of the screw means 166 and 168 with
~` 25 the aid of a tool such as screw driver 180 (FIG. 25) in the
. direction shown by the arrows 182. As the finger portions
`: 160 and 162 of the pawl meaDs 152 and 154 contact a respective
: pawl stop 174, 176, further rotation of the pawl means is
thus restrained and each of the pawl means 152 and 154 is
caused to ride along the threaded portlon oP a respective
19 . . . :'
~: :
;,' : "'
~35~ 5'~'~
1 ~crew means 166,16~ tow~d~ the flan~ed portion 46 o~ the
ba.qe portion 44 in a dircction inclicated generally by the
arrow~ 184 and 186 in E~IG. 25. A~ each of the 3crew means
166 and 168 is further rotated, the a~sociated pawl ~ean~
finger portions 160 and 162 are caused to bear against the
adja~ent surface of ~ supporting wall 188, in a manner shown
more clearly in FIG. 26. The ~all 188 is thus sandwiched
between a respective finger portion 160, 162 of the pawl
~ mean~ 15~, 154, and the flanged portion 46 of the receptacle
:~ 10 40 to lock the receptacle 40 in the desired position within
the supporting wall 188. The shank portion of each of the
- screw means 166 and 168 extends through the flanged portion
46 of the base portion 44 and into a respective supporting
boss 190, 192 (FIG, 4). Extending rearwardly from each of
the bosses 190, 192, is a channel 194 (~IG. 26) disposed
adjacent the shank portion of each of the screw means 166
and 168 and having an interior surface arranged to provide a
ne~t for an associated hub means 156, 158, of the pawl means
152, 154. Each of the channels 194 is further provided with
;, 20 a lip portion lY6 illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 26 and
27. The channels 194 and the lip portions 196 are essentially
a.f the same length and encompass a portion of the total
axial distance transv~rsed by the pawl means so that each of
. the ~inger portions 160 and 162 of the pàwl means 152 and ::.
154 may be rotated freely into their deployed position :
: . ~ithout inte~ference from either the channel 194 or lip
portiQn 196 at the initiation of the mounting operation.
However, as the sorew means 166 and 168 are rotated, each of
the pawl ~eans 152 and 154 i.~ caused to advan~e forwardly
axially along a respective threaded portion of the ~crew
. ' ' ' ,' .~ .
'.
::- ,: . : : . .
: , ,.
: ~ . ,:, : : . , :
~:,; . - , . . ' .:
:::: : : . : : . . :
.'.:,: . . ' ,', . : - ~, ' , ., , ' ~: .: : :
~35~
1 means lh6 and lfi8 until each of the pa~ll rnean.~ 152 and 154
has enter~d the area ancompasscd by th~ llp portlon of an
associated channel 194. In thi~ posltlon, the pawl m~ans i~
partially restrained from rotatin~ in a counterclo~kwise
direction, zs vlewed from the front of the receptacle 40,
beyond a position shown generally by the dotted outline 152
in FIG. 27 so that in the event of vibration or movement of
~ the receptacle 40 the mounting pawl~ 152 and 154 are effec-
: tively restrained in their arcuate travel and are always at
least partially deployed for engagement with the adjacent
surface o~ the supporting wall 188. To remove the receptacle
40 from.the supporting structure, each of the screw means
166 and 168 must be backed off sufficiently to cause an
associated pawl means 152, 154 to be moved axially rearwardly
sufficiently to cause an associated finger portion 160, 162
. to traverse the entire length of an associated restraining
.j lip 196 so that each of the pawl means may then be freely
rotated back into its undeployed position essentially as
shown in FIG. 3. A modified form of the lip portion 196 is
ill~strated in FIGS. 28 and 29 and includes an upstanding :~,
. finger 198 which functions both as a restraining means and
guide means for each of the pawl means l52 and 154. A :. -
. fur~her embodiment of a rotational restraininq means is
: shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 wherein each of the pawl means is -
provided with a hook-like extension 200 extending outwardly
f~om its finger portion and arra~ged to overlie an upstanding ~ .
rib portion 202 located on the body member 42 and extending
generally parallel to the axis of an associated screw means :
166 and 168. Thu~, in the undeployed state, the pawl means .
: . 30 and it3 as~ociated hook-like extension 200 are positioned esYen-
,
., .
- 21 -
' ~
.
,
.' ' . .: ' . ; ' ' " ' ' ' , ' . ' ' . , . . ' ' ' ': ;: : ., ', . " '' .' ' .,., ' " " ,', ~ ' ' , ' " ' ',. . : ' ' : : ' '' :, ': ',' ': " ' ,~: ,''' '' ' ','''' '~' ' ' ' ' ' . ': ' ,
'': .... , : ', .', .' ' , ' ' , :'
': ~ :- ' ' ., ' ~ . . , , . , ' , ' ' ' :-, ' ' ' ' : '
5~
1 tially as ~hown ln F'IG, 30. ~fter deployment, as shown in
FIG. 31, the hook-like extension 200 ~g caused to be engaged
about the rib portion 202 which both guides and supports the
pawl means as it is advanced towards the flanged portion 46
of the base portion 44.
Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 16 the contact means
60 located within the body member 42 of the electrical
receptacle 40 is shown in further detail. Since the contact
means 62 is essentially identical to the contact means 60
but is formed as a mirror image thereof, all reference to
; ~ the contact means 60 will be deemed to include a similar but
,~:
complimentary structure with regard to the contact means 62.
The contact means 60 may be conveniently manufactured prefer-
ably from a single strip of highly conductive metallic
material such as, brass, copper, or other well known conduc-
~ tive materials and includes a generally U-shaped conductor;~ engaging central portion 204 having a bight portion 206 and
extending leg portions 208 and 208'. The frse end of each
of the leg portions 208 and 208' is joined to a respective
arm portion 210, 210' disposed substantially at right angles
to the plane of a respective leg portion 208, 208', said arm
portions lying in a common plane. Each of the arm portions
210 and 210' t~rminates in a respective looped portion 212,
212' of generally flattened configuration so as to provide a
respeotive tab re~eiving slot 214, 214' oriented in generally
parallel relationship with the plane of an associated arm
portion 210, 210', each of the tab receiving slots 21~, 214'
being arranged to slidably receive the blade of a common
electrical plug. The gap be~ween the opposing wall surfaces
forminq ~he tab receiving slot 214, 214' is selectively
~, .' , . ..
' - ' ' . .
- 22 -
' ' ' ~ ~ '
, ~ ~ . - , : : : :-, ::
: , ., -- , : , ~ .:: ,, , :. ,: :: :
: . .: : . :. .. :
.~ : .: . ,.. : : . ::
: - . .. :: :: . : , :
.. : : :- ~:
. : . :- . ~ .. ::: .: - . .::
:: . : . . : .
3;~
1 dimen~ion~d to provide a relatively tight fit about such
blade to Lnsllre secur~ and reliabl~ electrical ~nd mechanical
contact ther~between. Each looped portion, 212, 212', is
provided wlth outwardly flared extending portions 216, 218,
; 5 respectively, for partially guiding an associated blade of
an electrical plug into a respective tab rec~iving slot 214,
214'. Each of the leg portions 20~, and 208' of the contact
means 60 is provided with a first slot 220, 220' (FIG. 16)
extending a given length generally parallel to the axis of
the bight portion 206 of the central portion 204, each of
the first slots 220 and 220' terminating at a second slot
;~ 222, 222', respectively, axially oriented generally normal
to the axis-of its respective first slot 220, 220' to define
a generally inverted T-shape. The first and second slots oE
each leg portion 208, 208', thus define a pair of opposingly
disposed finger portions 224, 224', and 226, 226', respectively,
each of the finger portions being independently deflectable
and baving a free edge arranged to sever the insulation
about and engage the conducting portion of an insulated
conductor forcibly thereinto. As further illustrated in ~ .
FIG. 14, the finger portions 224, 224' are offset from o~e
another in opposite directions from the plane of their
associated leg portion 208, and the finger portions 226,
226' are offset from one another in opposite directions
from the plane of their associated leg portion 208', so
that each of the finger portions of a pair such as 224
and 224' will be deflected away from one another in
opposite directions when subjected to the force of, for
example, an el~ctrical conductor urged between the finger
portions and having a diameter slightly greater than ~he
.' ~ ' ' .
- 23 -
, ;,
.
:~ .. , : ... .. . . . . .
:,. ~: :: :.. . . - , ~ .. , ~ , , , :
: : . : ' ':' : ' '. ' ' - : . :,: ' .; : ::
::. : , . . ., . : :
:: . :: - .:, ' .
: ~.: ,- , , :: . : ~ .
1 width o~ tho respectlv~ slot 220. Tho fing~r portlon3 224,
;~ 224', will of course, t~nd to return to their orlyinal un-
deflected position, ther~by maintaining tight el~ctrical and
mechanical engagement with the enyaged portion of the electri-
cal conductor. An identical situation occurs with respect
to the finger portions 226, 226' which are formed in essenti-
ally the same manner as the finger portions 224, 224'.
Accordingly, a conductor spanning the V-shaped portion 204
- of the contact means 60 generally parallel to the plane of
the arm portions 210, 210' is securely held between the two
. pair of finger portions and is thereby electrically joined
; to the remainder of the contact means 60. ~lthough the
~ arrangement shown in FIG. 16 has been found to be entirely
; adequate in the case of a single conductor, a third slot 228
~ 15 (FIG. 17) disposed intermediate the length of, and intersect-
~ .
' ing the ~irst slot 220, 220', may be introduced into a
`. respective leg portion 208, 208', to provide two pair of
. .
lndependently deflectable finger portions 230, 230', and
232, 232' located along the length of an associated slot
220, ~20'. Accordingly, conductors of different diameters, .
which~ by way of example, are illustrated by the dotted
outlines 234, 236 in FIG. 17, may be forcibly urged into a
respective slot 220, 220' in overlying relationship and
independently engaged between an associated pair of finger
portions, such as 230, 230' and 232, 232', to minimize the
effect of deflection of one pair of finger portions upon the :~
othe~ pairO In this manner either the larger or smaller
diameter conductor may be introduced irst into the slots
220, 220' without effecting the electrical and mechanical
inte~rity of the connection formed ~etween both conductors
... ' '
: 24 - :.. . .
~i .
:: .~ .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .
: : :: : :: . :
: : . : :: . ::: ... -,
::. : .:
S~5~'~
1 and thc contact me~ns. In a ~imilar manner, an additional
s1Ot may be providcd along the lengt:h of the first slot 220,
220' in a manner illustrated, for example, in FIG. 18 where
there is shown a conductor receiving le~ portion 238 having
a longitudinally disposed first slot 240 terminating at a
: second slot 242 and further intersected by additional slots
244 and 246 to provide three pair of individually deflectable
fingers 248, 248', 250, 250', and 252, 252'. Each of the
slots 242, 244, and 246 may further terminate at an additional
slot such as indicated at 254, 254', 256, 256' and 258, 258',
respectively, providing increased flexibility for each of
the i~dependently deflectable finger portions 248, 248' 250,
250' and 252, 252'. As further illustrated in ~IG. 19 the .
: , . ,
finger portions located on one side oE the slot 240 may be
alternatingly offset from the plane of their associated leg
~ poxtion 238, that is, the finger portion 252, as viewed in
; FIG. 19, is offset to the left of the plane of the leg
portion 238 while the finger portion 250 is offset to the
right of the plane of the leg portion 238 and, accordingly,
the.finger portion 248 may be offset in the same direction
. as the finger portion 252. The alternating offset arrangement
; described hereinabove may, of course, be modified so that
~ each of the finger portions, such as 248, 250, and 252
: located on one.side of the slot 240 may be offset in the
: 25 same direction from the plane o their associated leg portion
238 while the finger portions 248', 250, and 252' located on
the other side of the slot 240 may be offset in the opposlte
direction from the plane of their associated leg portion
238. It ha~ been found, however, that an alternating offset
~ 30 arrangement provides a slightly better distribution of
.' . ' ' ~:
,; ,
, - 25 -
'. ~
. ~, ",",, " .. .. . . . . . . .
:, ., : . '' '
~OSiLt:~
l forc~s al~ng ono 3ide of th~ ~lot 240 wh~re a plurallty o~
conductors are di3pos~d in overlyilly relatLonship wlthin the
~lot 240~ I'he bight portion 206 of thc U~shap~d E~ortlon 204
o~ the cont~ct means 60 is further provided w$th a lanced
projection 260 (FIG. 16) extending outwardly from the rear
surface of the bight portion 206 for engagement with the
:~ adjacent wall surface of the contact support within the bodyma~ber 42 to lock the contact means 60 in a given position
. within the body member 42.
Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 15, either or both of
the contact means 60 and 62 may be modified to provide a con-
tact means 262 essentially similar to either of said contact
means 60 or 62 but further provided with an additional looped
portion such as 264 disposed generally normal to a respective
. .looped portion 212, 212' described hereto~ore. To facilitate
. . the employment of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the base
portion of the receptacle is modified essentially as shown
n FIG. 7 to provide a T-shaped slot 266 arranged to coincide
, with one end of the contact means 262, and a rectangular slot
:, 20 268 essentially duplicative of slots 64, 64' illustrated in :
FIG. 2, and similarly arranged to coincide with a respective
looped end of the contact means 60. The additional looped
. .
. portion 264 is also provided with a flat~ened configuration :~ :
;~ to define a tab receiving slot 270 planarly oriented generally
~.
perpendicular to the plane of the tab receiving slot 214' o~
: contact means 60 to provide a socket arrangement adapted to
re eive both 120 V.A.C. and 220 V.A.C. electrical plugs,
I . where necessary or desirable. For duplex operation, both
ends o~ the contact means 262 may be provided with an addi-
,
tional looped portion 264 ~FIG. 15~, eaoh di~posed adjacent
~ 26 -
~ ! .
, . ~ . . . .
' ~ '` ' :~ ', ,',' .' , ' '.' ' . ' '
', ` ' '''`, ' ` , : ~ ,. ': .
'' ' , ' '' " , ' , ' '` ', ~ ' "
1 the tcrminating ond o~ a respective arm portion 272, 272'.
The additional looped portion3 264 are ~lso provlded ~lith
; outwardly flared extending portlons 274 similar to the
flared portions 216 and 218 illustrated ln FIGS. 16 and 17
s and function in a similar manner in providing a guide for
- the respective pl~g blades inserted therewithin. The contact
means 60 and 62 and the contact means 262 are designed
primarily to provide an interconn~ction between the conven- , '
~,' tional cur,rent-carrying conductors of an incoming electrical
~, 10 cable and the blades of an electrical plug inserted within
`, , the receptacle. The ground contact means 74 shown in plan
- view in FIG. 4 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 20
' and is also preferably manufactured from a single strip of
! hi~hly conductive metallic material suitably formed to
, 15 provide a generally U-shaped conductor receiving portion 276
having a b'ight portion 278 and extending leg portions 280
and 280'. The leg portions 280 and 280' are slotted as at
` 28Z, 2~2', r'espectiYely, to pro~ide a conductor receiving ~,
', channel for the gro~nd conductor of a multiconductor electri-
cal'cable such as described heretofore. Extending from the
free end of the leg portion 280 in generally nGrmal planar
relationship therewith is a channel-like arm portion 284
from which depends the first finger portion 70, while the
~econd finger portion 72 extends from one edge of the remain-
ing leg portion 280' and is formed essentially as a mirror
' image of the first finger portion 70. The finger portions
70 and 72'of contact means 74 are arranged to coincide with
the apertures 68 and 68', respectively, in the base portion
44 o~ the body member 42 3O as to bear against the respecti~e
30 ' ~round pin of an electrical plug inserted within the corre~pond-
.
,. ~ `
1'
- :,: ,, , : ~
- . :- ...
.
~V5~5~
l ing aperturcs 68, fi8' ln the base portion 44. The longitudlnally
~ exte~ding upturned edges 76, 76' of the arm portion 2~4 o~
:; the contact means 74 are arrangcd to engage the adjaccnt
wall portions of the contact support means 75, 75' (FIG. 4)
within the body member 42 of the receptacle 40 to maintain
the contact mean~ 74 ln a given position between the contact
: means 60 and 62. .The edges 76 and 76' may be serrated as
~ shown at 286, 286' in FIG. 21 to increase the interengagement
; between such edges and the adjacent wall o~ the contact
supports in the body member 42. The arm portion 284 of the
ground contact means 74 is further supported on struts 288,
288' ~FIG. 22) extending upwardly from the base portion 44
of the body member 42, intermediate the contact support
means 75, 75' (FIG. 4).
.~ lS Turning now to FIGS. 23 and 24, the conductor --.
` receiving slots in each of the contact means 60 and 62 and
: the g~ound conductor contact means 74 may be eliminated, and ~ :
. an arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 23 and
- 24 substituted therefore. In FIG. 23, there is shown a ~. :
portion of a ground conductor contact means 290 having
l ~ . outwardly extending flanged portions 292 and 294 each suitably
:.1~ apertured to receive an associated threaded member such as ascrew 296~ 2~8 which may be tightened about the bared looped
~ ~ end of a conductor ~not shown) to electrically and mechanically
: 25 connect the conductor to the contact means 290. The contact.
mean~ 60 and 62 may be similarly modified as shown or .
example in FIG. 24. As illustrated therein, each of the arm
portions may be provided with an as~ociated overhanging
.: . , .
flanged portion 300, 302, suitably apertured to receive a
: threaded me~ber s~ch a~ a screw 304, 306 which may similarly ~-
:~ . .
:~ - 2~ -
., .j .
: . .:, ~ - .. ~ : i , ,, :
~L~5~53~
: 1 be tightened about the bared looped end of an electrical
conductor for electri~al and mechanic~l engagement therewith.
Tuxning now to FIGS. 32 and 33, two or more
electric~l recept~cles 40 may be mounted in side by ~ide
relationship in a supporting wall s~ch as 308 by the employ-
ment of a suitably dimension~d frame 310 the inner periphery
of.which is recessed as at 312 to provide a supporting step
for the peripheral edge of the flanged portions of each of
the receptacles 40. To initiate the installation, one or
more electrical cables such as 314 are first fed through a
~ suitably proportioned aperture 316 in the supporting wall
: , 308 and through the frame 310 fo~ attachment to each of the
: receptacles 40. The receptacles 40 are then placed against
~ the recess 312 of the frame 310 in juxtaposed relationship
:~ 15 and the partial assembly including the receptacles 40 and
~ the frame 310 positioned against the aperture 316 in the
:' supportin~ wall 308. The mounting pawls 152 and 154 may now
be deployed by rotating the screws 166 and 168, as described
~, .
hereinabove, so that the finger portions thereof are caused ~'
to rotate outwardly and advance forwardly against the rear
, surface of the supporting wall 308, thereby providing a
. completed installation essentially as shown in FIG. 33. It
` ~ wlll cf course be readily appreciated that, due to the
nature of the assembly, extreme care in forming the aperture
.
.:~ 25 316 is not required since the frame 310 and the electrical
. i receptacles 40 comprise essentially a self-contained unit .
:: ,
~`. i which may be relatively freely manipulated both ~ertically
and horizontally within the dimensions of the aperture 316
~: . prior to deploying and advancing the mounting pawls 152 and
154. It will al~o be appreciated that although two such
29 -
;','. ' , ~ ~ `
,.-.- ~:;; ,
:
,'
. . ... . . - . ~. :-. : . : -
~L~)51.. j 3~
1 electrical receptacles 40 are shown in the assembly il-
lustrated in FIG. 33, almost any number may be cooperatively
joined in a similar manner without departing from the spirit
of the invention and within the concepts herein disclosed.
.
:;:
::
- 30 ~ : -
:. .
, . , ,, .,:..... , . , , : ~ ~ .
.. ~ . . 1 , -
- :. - : . . ~- : . . : .
.. ..
