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: An electrical cord clamp is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or connector. The electrical cord clamp provides strain relief between the ends of the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The cord clamp has a pair of clamping members tiltably coupled to a pair of housing halves of the electrical device for tiltably engaging the electrical cord upon installation thereon to pull the electrical cord towards the terminals of the electrical device or connector. One or more spring elements are preferably provided for normally biasing the clamping members to their original position prior to assembly within the electrical device or connector. In one embodiment, the spring elements are integrally formed with the cover halves. In other embodiments, clamping members are provided with one or more spring elements or arms.

Abstract: A universal AC/DC electrical connector for selectively coupling either a mating direct electrical current (DC) electrical connector or a mating alternating electrical current (AC) electrical connector to selectively receive both direct electrical current (DC) and alternating electrical current (AC) therein. The AC/DC electrical connector has a pair of direct current contacts, a pair of alternating current contacts, and a ground contact. When DC electrical connector is coupled to the AC/DC electrical connector, the direct current contacts and the ground contact electrically engage corresponding electrical contacts of the DC electrical connector, while the alternating current contacts of the AC/DC electrical connector remains uncoupled, i.e., alternating current connects of the AC/DC electrical connector does not electrically engage the contacts of the DC electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a cord seal is disclosed for attachment to an end of an electrical cord to prevent dust, moisture and other foreign matter from entering the electrical connector. The electrical connector preferably a connector body with a plurality of electrical contacts mounted therein, and cover coupled to the connector body. The cover has an end wall with the cord seal mounted therein such that the outer surface of the cord seal is at least substantially flush with respect to the exterior surface of the end wall of the cover to increase the difficulty of removing the cord seal from the opening in the end wall of the cover. In other words, the geometry of the exterior surface of the end wall of the cover blends with the geometry of the outer surface of the cord seal. The electrical connector can be either a male or a female electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapted to be coupled to a complementary locking type electrical connector by initial relative axial movement therebetween. The electrical connector includes an insulated housing with a set of electrical contacts mounted therein, and a locking member movably coupled to the housing between an unlocked position and a locked position upon relative rotational movement between the complementary locking type electrical connector and the electrical connector. The housing has a first detent member and a sleeve for nesting with a portion of the complementary locking type electrical connector. The sleeve has a mating surface with a first polarizing member for cooperating with a complementary polarizing member of the complementary locking type electrical connector.

Abstract: A shroud seal having an annular ring portion and an annular lip portion. The annular ring portion is installed on the shroud of an electrical connector such that the annular lip portion is axially compressed on the shroud by a mating shrouded electrical connector. The annular ring portion has a frustoconical inner sealing surface which is sized to be twisted from its original molded frustoconical form to a cylindrical form when installed around the shroud of the electrical connector. This twisting of the shroud seal produces a concentrated hoop stress in the seal at its points of contact with the shroud. The annular ring portion and the lip portion are compliant to allow for large axial tolerance variations between the mating electrical connectors, and provides for low insertion force between the mating electrical connector. In one embodiment, the electrical connector is in the form of a plug having a tubular portion or seal guard for encircling the shroud seal to protect the seal.

Abstract: An electrical assembly for selectively supplying either 120 volts or 227 volts from a junction box to a high intensity discharge lamp fixture via a dual voltage ballast and a dual voltage electrical connector. The dual voltage electrical connector has dual operation capacity with input voltages of either 120 or 277 volts. The connector comprises a female connector having nine bores extending therethrough with female terminals fixedly coupled within four of the bores, and a male connector having nine bores extending therethrough with contact pins extending outwardly from four of these bores. When the connectors are coupled together in their first orientation, the male contact pin which conducts 120 volts of electricity engages the female terminal connected to a line wire. When the male and female connectors are manually rotated 180.degree. relative to one another into their second orientation, a different pin, which conducts 277 volts, engages the line wire terminal.

Abstract: An electrical box includes a U-shaped main body and a pair of sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls includes coupling flanges along their transverse edges and along one of their longitudinal edges for overlapping edges of the main body. In some embodiments, the main body has opposite side edges, each side edges having a pair of flanges extending from a midpoint on a rear panel and along the end panels. The flanges on the sidewall are formed to complement the flanges on the main body to overlap with each other in a coupling relation. The main body and sidewalls are formed from a folded blank. The main body is constructed so that a plurality of identical main bodies can be ganged with the flanges of a first main body telescoping with the flanges of a second main body.

Abstract: A trolley having a top member and a base member that are releasably coupled together without the use of a separate fastener. The top member has a top connecting portion with a top locking element, and the base member has a base connecting portion slidably engaging the top connecting portion. The base connecting portion has a base locking element hinged thereon and releasably engaging the top locking element for releasably locking the top and base members. To unlock the top and base members, and allow them to freely slide relative to one another, a screwdriver can be used to bias the base locking element away from the top locking element. The base member further has a portion for attaching a holding device. The top and base members define a through passageway that receives an elongated support therein and has rollers for allowing the trolley to move along the support.

Abstract: A switched electrical device adapted to be coupled to a complementary locking type electrical connector by initial relative axial movement therebetween and subsequent relative rotational movement therebetween. The switched electrical device includes a housing with an inlet opening for receiving the complementary electrical connector, a rotatable locking type electrical connector with a set of electrical contacts for engaging the electrical contacts of the complementary electrical connector, a switch mounted within the housing for selectively supplying electrical energy to the set of electrical contacts of the electrical connector, an operating handle for moving the switch between "on" and "off" positions, and an interlock mechanism for releasably locking the switch. The interlock mechanism selectively locks the switch in its "off" position so that it cannot move to its "on" position, until after the complementary electrical connector has been inserted into said opening and rotated to a locked position.

Abstract: A folded electrical box for mounting an electrical wiring device to a support member. Preferably, the electrical box is formed by folding a unitary blank of thin sheet material. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical box includes an integral mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a pair of bracket portions extending outwardly from one side wall of the electrical box for coupling the electrical box to a support member. Each of the bracket portions has side mounting section extending from the electrical box for engaging one side of the support member extending perpendicular to the dry wall plaster and a face mounting section extending substantially perpendicularly from the side mounting section for engaging the side of the support member with the dry wall plaster secured thereto. The side mounting section of the mounting bracket is reinforced by folding the sheet material to double its thickness, while the face mounting section has a single thickness to avoid bulging the dry wall plaster.

Abstract: A hanger assembly for mounting and supporting an electrical box or other fixture is formed from two identical complementary hanger support members. The support members are slidably coupled together for selectively adjusting the length of the assembly. Each of the support member is formed from a blank, and includes a body portion with a hook-shaped coupling member at one end for coupling the body portion of the complementary support member thereto and a mounting tab at the opposite end for coupling a structural support thereto. The support members also include a supporting flange along a lower longitudinal edge for coupling and supporting the electrical box or other fixture thereto.

Abstract: An electrical contact position indicator assembly is operatively coupled to an electrical device, such as a recloser, for indicating the relative position of the contacts of the electrical device, i.e., opened or closed, at any given time during operation of the electrical device. The position indicator assembly includes a movable indicator having first indicia to indicate that the contacts are opened, and second indicia to indicate that the contacts are closed. Each of the first and second indicia of the indicator lies in more than one plane. Preferably, each of the first and second indicia of the indicator lies on a three-dimensional, curvilinear or spherical surface. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator includes a mechanical linkage to the contact opening and closing assembly.

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 gangable electrical box includes a main body and a pair of removable sidewalls. The main body has opposite side edges, each side edges having a pair of flanges extending from a midpoint on a rear panel and along the end panels. The sidewalls include flanges along each transverse edge and a pair of flanges on the longitudinal edge. The flanges on the sidewall are formed to complement the flanges on the main body to overlap with each other in a coupling relation. The main body and sidewalls are formed from a folded blank. The flanges of the main body are arranged so that a plurality of identical main bodies can be ganged with the flanges of a first main body telescoping with the flanges of a second main body.

Abstract: An electrical cord clamp is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or connector. The electrical cord clamp provides strain relief between the ends of the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The cord clamp has a pair of clamping members tiltably coupled to a pair of housing halves of the electrical device for tiltably engaging the electrical cord upon installation thereon to pull the electrical cord towards the terminals of the electrical device or connector. One or more spring elements are preferably provided for normally biasing the clamping members to their original position prior to assembly within the electrical device or connector. In one embodiment, the spring elements are integrally formed with the cover halves. In other embodiments, clamping members are provided with one or more spring elements or arms.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement including a closure cap and an integral mounting gasket for sealing a mounted electrical connector housing. The closure cap and the gasket are formed as a one-piece, unitary member. The closure cap is designed to engage a shroud of the electrical connector housing for covering the electrical contacts of the electrical connector. The gasket is designed to seal the interface between the electrical connector housing and a wiring enclosure. The closure cap is coupled to the gasket by a strap so that the closure cap will be readily accessible to the user even when the closure cap is not being used.

Abstract: An electrical cord clamp is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or connector. The electrical cord clamp provides strain relief between the ends of the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The cord clamp has a pair of clamping members slidably coupled to a pair of housing halves of the electrical device for slidably engaging the electrical cord upon installation thereon to pull the electrical cord towards the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The clamping members can have one or more spring elements or arms integrally formed therewith for normally biasing the clamping members to their original position prior to assembly within the electrical device or connector.