Abstract: An electrical enclosure having a base, a cover, and hinge pivotally connecting the base and cover. The cover has a pair of ears, each provided with a key hole for receiving hinge pins mounted on the base. The pivot pins are provided with keys that align with notch portions of the key holes when the cover is disposed at an obtuse angle, preferably about 180.degree. with respect to the base. After assembly, the base is connected to a support which limits the range of pivotal movement of the cover to an angle less than 180.degree. so that the keys and notch portions can no longer be aligned. The base and cover have top, bottom and two side walls of substantially the same depth and the cover bottom wall has two cord receiving recesses extending inwardly about one-half the depth of the bottom wall to minimize the radius of bending of the cords inside the enclosure and minimize the size of the recesses.

Abstract: An end fitting with optimized weight for supporting an end of a device, such as an insulator, placed under tension. The end fitting has a mounting sleeve for coupling the end fitting to a core member, a mounting hole for receiving a cylindrical mounting pin therethrough and a cutout or removed portion positioned between the mounting hole and the mounting sleeve for optimizing the weight of the end fitting. The mounting hole can optionally be provided with a pair of contacting points spaced laterally relative to the vector line of force to redirect the tensile load applied to the end fitting by a mounting pin located in the mounting hole. The end fitting is especially useful in insulators subjected to tensile loads.

Abstract: An electrical assembly having a surge arrester coupled in parallel to an insulator of high mechanical strength for increasing the mechanical strength of the surge arrester. The arrester having a plurality of non-linear resistive blocks positioned between a pair of end fittings and enclosed in a polymeric weathershed housing. The insulator having a reinforced fiberglass rod with a pair of end fittings and covered by a polymeric weathershed housing. The end fittings of the surge arrester and the insulator being rigidly coupled together by a pair of mounting plates for maintaining the surge arrester parallel to the insulator, and thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the arrester.

Abstract: A closure plug having a pair of insulating members coupled together by a fastener for plugging an opening in an electrical box or an enclosure. The closure plug also includes a gasket for providing a weather tight seal around the opening in the electrical box. The fastener is frictionally retained in one of the insulating members for rotation therewith. The insulating member with the fastener coupled thereto preferably has a plurality of ribs for rotation the fastener into a hole formed in the other insulating member.

Abstract: A nonmetallic electrical box which has mounting surfaces or contacting points, a pair of bosses and a pair of securing arms. The bosses extend from the center of the top and bottom walls of the box for mounting a wiring device within the box, and the securing arms extend from the top and bottom walls for securing the box within the opening of a wall or ceiling. The contacting points are spaced apart along the top and bottom walls, are coplanar and extend outwardly from the top and bottom walls a distance at least equal to the distance the bosses and arms extend outwardly from the top and bottom walls, thereby preventing any side to side rocking motion when the box is mounted within a rectangular opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for coupling non-metallic electrical conduit to an electrical box via a snap-fit. The electrical connector assembly includes a snap nut adaptor with an annular groove at one end forming a first mating member, and a conduit connector with resilient latch tabs forming a second mating member. Upon inserting the snap nut adaptor through a hole or knockout opening in an electrical box, the conduit connector is securely coupled thereto by inserting it over the snap nut adaptor until the latch tabs engage the annular groove via a snap-fit.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly 10 includes an electrical connector or plug 16 with electrical contacts and an electrical connector inlet assembly or receptacle 20 with mating electrical contacts. The plug has a cover 50 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover 460 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are either automatically or manually uncovered only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: A plastic ceiling box assembly adapted to support a ceiling fan thereon and adapted to be mounted on a structural member, such as a ceiling joist. The ceiling box comprises a body member having a lower wall and a pair of side walls defining a recess for snugly receiving the ceiling joist therein. Box mounting holes for receiving box mounting fasteners are located at opposite sides and ends of the lower wall for attaching the ceiling box to the joist. Openings for receiving fan supporting fasteners are formed in the body member adjacent the box mounting holes. Brackets at opposite ends of the body member aid in attaching the body member to the joist. This overall arrangement provides sufficient support and strength to resist dynamic loads of a ceiling fan weighing up to 35 pounds even though the ceiling box is formed of plastic. The plastic ceiling box assembly could be provided with a substantially U-shaped metal bracket for supporting ceiling fans weighing over 35 pounds.

Abstract: An electrical box assembly including an electrical box and a mounting bracket rigidly coupled to the box for mounting the box onto a support member, such as a stud or a joist. The mounting bracket includes a base portion and a pair of leg portions resiliently coupled to the base portion to form a substantially U-shaped, three-sided bracket. The mounting bracket has inwardly extending arms for resiliently gripping the support member. The arms of the mounting bracket grip onto either side of a metal or wood support member to secure the electrical box to the support member and prevent relative movement between the electrical box and the support member. In one embodiment, the arms include teeth to improve the grip between the mounting bracket and a wood support member. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket is coupled to the box by clamping tabs.

Abstract: An electrical connector inlet assembly with a break-away mechanism coupled to an electric vehicle for receiving electrical energy. The break-away mechanism disconnects the contacts of the inlet assembly or receptacle from the contacts of the plug to prevent damage of the electrical connector assembly, upon application of a highly excessive force pulling the plug away from the receptacle prior to disengagement of the contacts. The electrical connector inlet assembly receives an electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts for mating with the electrical contacts of the electrical inlet assembly or receptacle. The plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment.

Abstract: An electrical assembly, such as an insulator or a surge arrester, having an elastomeric weathershed housing, a pair of end fittings, and a pair of sealing systems for coupling and sealing the interfaces between the end fittings and the ends of the weathershed housing. Each of the end fittings has a bore for receiving an end portion of the weathershed housing, and an annular flange extending inwardly from the bore for engaging and compressing the end portion of the weathershed housing inwardly to form a primary annular seal without crimping the end fitting against the weathershed housing. At least one locking ring is positioned between the end portion of the weathershed housing and the inner surface of the bore for forming a secondary annular seal. Additional sealing can also be provided by axially compressing the weathershed housing between the end fittings.

Abstract: An electrical cable and connector assembly for electrically coupling equipment to a power source, and having an electrical cable with a plurality of power conductors and a pilot conductor releasably coupled to an electrical contact in an electrical connector, so that the pilot conductor releases from the electrical contact of the connector when a mechanical stress or force is applied to the cable. The pilot conductor releases from the contact of the connector prior to damage occurring to the remaining conductors from the stress or force applied to the cable. The power conductors are spirally wrapped about the centrally located pilot conductor so that the power conductors can stretch while the pilot conductor is pulled from its electrical contact upon application of the force or stress on the cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly includes a male electrical connector or plug with a first set of electrical contacts arranged along a common arc and a female electrical connector or receptacle with a second set of electrical contacts arranged along a common arc. Both the receptacle and the plug has a apertured shutter for selectively covering and uncovering its respective electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the shutters of the plug and receptacle are rotated to uncover the contacts only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly includes a male electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts and a female electrical connector or receptacle with matting electrical contacts. Both the receptacle and the plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are automatically uncovered and the receptacle contacts are moved transversely to the plug insertion direction and into contact with the plug female contacts only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical assembly, such as an insulator or a surge arrester, utilizing a pair of end collars for coupling an elastomeric weathershed housing to a pair of metallic end fittings, and for reducing electrical stress at the interface of the ends of the weathershed housing and the end fittings, and for sealing the ends of the weathershed housing to the end fittings. In particular, a radially directed force is applied to the weathershed housing by insertion of the core member into the axial bore of the weathershed housing causing radial outward expansion of the weathershed housing into intimate contact with the end collars. Also, each of the ends of the weathershed housing is held in contact against the inner end of the respective end fitting to seal the interface therebetween. Accordingly, a watertight seal is created at the interface between each of the end fittings and the ends of the weathershed housings.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a cover lockably coupled to a retainer body to prevent inadvertent uncoupling of the cover from the retainer body. The cover and retainer body are locked together by a locking arrangement which includes a locking screw or member, a passageway formed in either the cover or the retainer body for threadedly receiving the locking screw therein, and a recess formed either the cover or the retainer body for receiving the tip of the locking screw therein. In a preferred embodiment, the recess is an arcuate slot with an inclined locking surface which slopes towards the locking screw in the direction of rotation for uncoupling the cover from the retainer body. In another embodiment, the recess is a tubular or cylindrical bore with a pair of locking surfaces.