Abstract: A universal cable clamp for coupling a wide variety of electrical cables to an electrical box is capable of accepting metal or non-metallic sheathed cables. The cable clamp includes upper and lower clamping plates and a front wall having at least one opening for receiving the cable. The upper and lower clamping plates are coupled together by bendable coupling arms. A fastener extends through the upper and lower clamping plates and into the electrical box to deform the bendable coupling arms while the cable is clamped between the upper and lower clamping plates. The opening in the front wall in embodiments is oval-shaped and is dimensioned to allow a non-metallic sheathed cable to pass through, while preventing the metal sheath of a metal sheathed cable from passing through. The clamp provides a grounding connection of the metal cables and conduits. The cable clamp accommodates thick or thin steel and aluminum flex metal conduits, armored cable, metal clad cable and non-metallic cable.

Abstract: A reinforced electrical insulator has a load sustaining mechanical core with a pair of attachment members located at its longitudinal ends. One of the attachment members extends longitudinally into the mechanical core to provide reinforcement to the mechanical core. The mechanical core member is constructed of a rigid, dielectric material with a first end section, a second end section, and a center section. A plurality of weathersheds extending outwardly from the center section of core member in a substantially radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The first and second end sections having maximum widths which are larger than the maximum width of the center section. The attachment members have inner portions embedded within the end sections of the core and outer portions extending outwardly from the end sections of the core.

Abstract: An illuminated sign having a housing with a back wall and a peripheral wall extending around the back wall to form an illuminating recess. The housing further having a top and a bottom and a bracket located within the recess, adjacent the top. An illuminating device is also positioned within the recess. A cover is hingedly coupled to the bottom of the housing by a hinge for pivotal movement relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. The cover has an inner side facing the housing and an oppositely facing outer side. A transparent, protective shield is coupled directly to the outer side of the cover. A first tamper-resistant fastener is located adjacent the top of the housing and couples together the bracket and the cover for selectively securing the cover in the closed position.

Abstract: An adjustable hanger assembly is disclosed for mounting and supporting an electrical box between a pair of structural supports, such as studs or joists. The adjustable hanger assembly is designed to properly position electrical boxes of different depths between the structural supports such that the open end of the electrical box is flush with the exterior surface of the wallboard or plasterboard, e.g., dry wall or sheet rock. The adjustable hanger assembly has a pair of telescoping support members slidably coupled together and a hanger strap fixedly coupled to an electrical box. The support members are preferably tubular with a rectangular transverse cross-section. One side of the support members acts as a positioning edge for maintaining the open end of an electrical box of a first depth flush with the exterior surface of the wall board.

Abstract: An electrical insulator in the form of a pintype insulator has a load sustaining mechanical core and a dielectric sheath overlying the mechanical core to protect the mechanical core from the weather. The mechanical core is constructed of a load sustaining dielectric material which is different from the dielectric material of the sheath. The mechanical core has a profiled outer surface with a top groove, two side grooves, an annular rib and an axially extending threaded bore. The dielectric sheath is applied over the mechanical core as thin as practical to minimize the amount of sheath material being used. However, the dielectrical sheath is molded on the mechanical core to form a pair of weathersheds which can either extend radially outwardly therefrom or substantially downwardly therefrom in the form of vertical sheds.

Abstract: A device box having a cover member and a base member releasably coupled together by a snap-fit latching arrangement. Preferably, both the cover member and the base member are integrally molded as one-piece, unitary members with only non-hidden surfaces so that they can be manufactured by straight draw-type injection molding techniques, rather than by molds using sliders. The latching arrangement of the preferred embodiments includes one or more latch members resiliently coupled to the base member for releasably engaging one or more apertures in the cover member.

Abstract: A lighting fixture for lighting a large area such as a sporting field. The lighting fixture has a bowl-shaped reflector with an internal glare and spill control assembly for aiming and controlling the light emitted therefrom. The glare and spill control assembly is located within the bowl-shaped reflector and behind the lens cover of the lighting fixture so that the glare and spill control assembly is substantially isolated from the effects of weather. The glare and spill control assembly preferably has a plurality of arc-shaped louvers located substantially in the upper half of the reflector for controlling glare and spill of the light from the lamp. The lower half of the reflector preferably has either a reflector insert for redirecting light more parallel to the central aiming axis, or a light absorbing baffle for reducing glare.

Abstract: A connector has an attaching portion with a first axis extending in a first direction, a first free end adapted to receive a mating connection element, and a second end spaced from the first free end along the first axis. The connector further has first and second arm portions coupled to the second end of the attaching portion and extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the arm portions has a second longitudinal axis extending transverse to the first axis of the attaching portion. Each of the first and second arm portions further has a plurality of ports for receiving conducting devices or conductors, each of the ports being open towards a direction that is transverse to the second longitudinal axis. Preferably, the first and second arm portions and the attaching portion are integrally formed as a unitary, one-piece member.

Abstract: An improved mounting bracket can be used to selectively support both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 411/16 inch square electrical boxes such that vertical movement of either type of electrical box is limited. The mounting bracket is preferably a one-piece, unitary member stamped from sheet metal. The mounting bracket has a top support rail, a bottom support rail and a pair of mounting ends coupling the support rails together to define a large, elongated central cut-out portion. An electrical box and its associated cover may be mounted between two wall studs by first attaching the mounting bracket of the present invention to the wall studs. The open front end of the box is then placed flush against the rear surface of the bracket such that a top portion of the box contacts the bottom rail of the bracket.

Abstract: A light fixture is disclosed for lighting a large area such as sporting fields. The lighting fixture has a bowl-shaped reflector with a central aiming axis and a side-mounted lamp mounting socket for a transversely supporting a single-ended lamp with the reflector. The light fixture also has a mounting arm for coupling the reflector to a support member and for supporting the lamp substantially perpendicular to the central aiming axis of the reflector. More specifically, the mounting arm has a first end coupled to the exterior of the reflector and a second end located substantially adjacent the central aiming axis of the reflector. The mounting arm also has a wiring channel extending between its first and second ends and a socket recess located at its first end for mounting the lamp mounting socket therein.

Abstract: An emergency lighting fixture with backup battery power for illuminating aimable lamps or a plurality of lamps mounted in a single housing in response to loss of power. In the preferred embodiment, the lighting fixture has three independently adjustable lamps mounted within a single housing. The lamps are adjustable about vertical and horizontal axes for maximum aiming capabilities. The housing is preferably an explosion proof housing with a glass globe for mounting in hazardous locations or areas. The glass globe allows the lamps to be aimed through 360.degree. so that light transmitted by the lamps can be aimed to a specific area adjacent the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture also preferably has its backup batteries mounted within the housing along with a charger for maintaining the batteries at full charge.

Abstract: A lighting fixture with a lamp end support is disclosed for supporting the free end of a transversely mounted, single-ended lamp. The lighting fixture preferably has a bowl-shaped reflector with a side mounted lamp mounting socket, which supports the base end of the single-ended lamp substantially perpendicular to the central aiming axis of the lighting fixture. The free end of the lamp is supported by the lamp end support, which is fixedly coupled to the interior surface of reflector. The lamp end support has a wire clip member for engaging and supporting the free end of the single-ended lamp and an angled bracket for securing the wire clip member to the interior surface of the reflector.

Abstract: A workstation is provided with a curved tool rail suspended above a work surface. The curved tool rail has a tool trolley slidably coupled thereto for movably supporting a tool or part above the work surface. In a preferred embodiment, the work surface is part of a work bench. Preferably, the curved tool rail is suspended above the work surface by an adjustable frame which provides four-way adjustability of the curved tool rail. The curved tool rail keeps the tool or part suspended therefrom in reach of the worker.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or cord connector. The electrical connector preferably has a pair of housing halves, a contact retainer body with integral front face and a funnel cap. The funnel cap retains the blade assembly or terminals within the contact retainer body and funnels the wiring of the electrical cord into the contact retainer body for connection with the terminals of the electrical connector. The funnel cap is first releasably coupled to the contact retainer body by a tight-fit such as a press-fit or a snap-fit during wiring of the electrical connector, and then positively retained to the contact retainer body by features of the housing of the electrical connector after complete assembly of the electrical connector.

Abstract: A composite Fresnel lens useful in an infrared passive detection system includes an array of Fresnel lens segments having a given vertical centerline and a curvature of a given radius. The Fresnel lens segments fall in first and second groups. Each Fresnel lens segment in the first group has a long detection range and a width less than one-third of the diameter of an original whole Fresnel lens from which the segment was taken. Also, each lens segment of the first group has a geometrical center located horizontally from the vertical centerline of the array along the curvature of the array through a circumferential distance less than one-fourth of the radius of curvature of the array. Each Fresnel lens segment in the second group has a short detection range less than the long detection range by a predetermined amount and a width less than one-third of the diameter of an original whole Fresnel lens from which the segment was taken.

Abstract: A universal ceiling box adapted to selectively support fans and fixtures. The ceiling box preferably has a substantially flat, top portion with a side portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the top portion. The side portion and the top portion form a main cavity with an open bottom end. A mounting element extends from the side portion into the main cavity for selectively coupling and supporting fans and fixtures thereto. The mounting element has a pair of opposed fan mounting holes with a first diameter, and a pair of opposed fixture mounting holes with a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. Each of the first and second mounting holes has an axis extending perpendicular to the top portion, respectively.

Abstract: A recessed lighting fixture or downlight is disclosed for mounting in a wide range of sloped ceilings. The recessed lighting fixture has a lamp adjustably coupled to a housing via an adjustable socket assembly having three degrees of movement for aiming the lamp in a particular direction, preferably perpendicular to the floor. The adjustable socket assembly has an upstanding bracket and a socket strap for aiming the lamp. In particular, the upstanding bracket has one end pivotally coupled to the trim collar of the housing for rotational movement of the lamp about a first pivot axis, and its other end pivotally coupled to the socket strap for rotational movement of the lamp about a second pivot axis. Also, the bracket and socket strap are coupled for linear movement of the lamp relative to the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting fixture is provided with a reflector having baffles such that the lighting fixture has substantially the same appearance regardless of the slope of the ceiling.