Abstract: The present invention uses a plastic mounting device having an open front plate extending around an opening in a building wall integral with a closed electrical box extending at right angles therefrom rearward of the front plate and extending into the building wall. The mounting device has two turning screws adapted to turn flags which are inserted into the opening in a “closed” position and grab the far or inside surface of the building wall when the screws are rotated causing the flags to obtain their “open” position. An alternative embodiment incorporates a second set of flags positioned behind the first set for installation in a wall too thick to permit engagement of the first set of flags.

Abstract: A power receptacle system is provided for allowing the connection with an increased number of enlarged plugs. The system includes a housing with at least a pair of outlets mounted thereon having a pair of spaced and parallel rectangular slits and a semi-circular aperture. The outlets each have the semi-circular aperture thereof situated adjacent to a side opposite a side which the semi-circular aperture of an adjacent outlet is situated adjacent to. As such, the system allows a plug with an associated enlarged transformer to be plugged within each of the outlets.

Abstract: A four-sided ground contact assembly for use in an electrical receptacle includes a first contact element and a second contact element. Each of the first and second contact elements is mounted to a mounting bridge of the electrical receptacle. The first contact element has a pair of opposing contact leg portions and a base portion. The second contact element has a pair of opposing contact leg portions and a base portion The leg portions of the first and second contact elements are circumferentially spaced from one another and provide four points of contact on four sides of a ground pin of an electrical plug. The base portion of the first contact element is integral with the mounting bridge and the base portion of the second contact element is disposed above and fastened to the base portion of the first contact element and thus to the mounting bridge.

Abstract: A wiring device such as a receptacle is adapted to be mounted to a wall box and includes a spring wire to ensure a satisfactory ground connection between the device, the wall box, and the screws which mount the device to the wall box. The wiring device includes a spring wire extending across the screw receiving aperture in the mounting strap of the device. The spring wire is retained in openings in a pair of attachment members adjacent the screw receiving aperture.

Abstract: An electrical power outlet or switching device suitable for installation as fixtures in household and commercial buildings is provided with improved mechanisms for making contact with the building wiring. Contact members having slots between contact edges are provided to enable an end of an insulated wire or cable to be inserted therein. Upon insertion the contact edges cut through portions of the insulation to make electrical connection to the conductor therein and to mechanically secure the wire/cable end also. In one arrangement, a slidable block is provided adjacent the slot and having an aperture therethrough which can be aligned with a widened portion of the slot. A wire/cable end can be inserted in the aperture and widened slot portion and the block slid along the slot to force the wire/cable end into the slot and engagement with the contact edges. The connection system enables fast and efficient connection of wiring to the power outlet or switching device.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle assembly includes a housing and a plurality of dual snap-fit securement arrangements defined on the housing. The housing include a front cover and a back cover being adapted to interfit with the front cover in a mating relationship so as to define an interior cavity for enclosing electrical components. Each dual snap-fit securement arrangement includes a lug attached on one of the front and back covers of the housing, and a pair of latching tabs attached on the other of the front and back covers and disposed in a latching position relative to one another in which the latching tabs are adapted to make interlocking engagement with the lug upon interfitting of the front and back covers into the mating relationship with one another.

Abstract: A universal electric socket includes an insulative bottom shell having a pair of spaced ribs defining three separated chambers and three downwardly extending protruding portions below the chambers. An insulative cover shell covers the bottom shell so that the chambers are electrically insulated from one another. The cover may include ribs that interfit with the ribs of the bottom shell's ribs to isolate contacts disposed in the chambers. A grounding contact plate and two blade contact plates are respectively mounted in the chambers of the bottom shell. The grounding contact plate and the blade contact plates each have a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the grounding prong or blades of any of a variety of electric plugs. The blade contact plates each have a receiving portion and a wire clamp fastened to the receiving portion for holding the hot or neutral wire.

Abstract: A set of grounded and isolated duplex electrical receptacle assemblies includes interchangeable dual female bodies, interchangeable socket bases, interchangeable right, left and middle contact members, and interchangeable support bridges for assembling either a grounded or an isolated receptacle assembly. In the isolated assembly, an insulator plate is fitted between the support bridge and the middle contact member to electrically isolate one from another to thereby prevent electrical engagement therewith.

Abstract: A multi-contact electrical terminal includes a body member and attachment member made of a substantially resilient flexible electrically conductive material. The body member includes a pair of opposite contact walls defining a central passageway through the body member and providing respective pairs of spaced upper and lower opposed portions along opposite sides of the central passageway, and a pair of opposite support straps provided between and connected with one of the pairs of upper and lower opposed portions of the opposite contact walls. A male prong of an electrical plug is receivable through the central passageway of the body member.

Abstract: An receptacle for low voltage DC applications includes a receptacle surface in which are located only one pair of female connections. One of the female connections is a terminal normally connected to the neutral line of an AC power grid, and the other of the female connections is a terminal connected to a ground line of an AC power grid. The two connections are arrayed to correspond with the neutral and positive terminals of a conventional three prong AC receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical transformer having a housing. The housing having a back plate with an upper set of prongs and a lower set of prongs. The upper set having a first prong, a second prong and a ground prong. The lower set having a third prong, a fourth prong and a ground prong. The housing further having a front plate provided with a first set of inlets having a first inlet, a second inlet and a ground inlet. The first inlet is connected with the second prong of the upper set of prongs. The second inlet is connected with the fourth prong of the lower set of prongs. The ground inlet is connected with the ground prong of the upper set of prongs.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device, disclosed in the form of a duplex receptacle having the usual cover, body, terminals and mounting strap of the type extending longitudinally of the body rear surface and along the end surfaces. Two pairs of ribs are formed integrally with the body and extend in parallel relation longitudinally of the body rear surface with the strap lying between the two pairs of ribs. The purpose and effect of the ribs is to form a physical barrier of dielectric material and to lengthen the surface distance between the strap and portions of the hot and neutral wires terminated on the sides of the receptacle from which the insulation has been removed, thereby inhibiting electrical contact or arcing between the bare wires and the strap.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a modular electrical receptacle including a housing and a faceplate. The faceplate is integral with or attached to the housing, and has at least two parallel blade openings and at least two T-slot blade openings. The parallel blade openings are disposed along a common longitudinal axis, and each T-slot blade opening is associated with a respective parallel blade opening. At least one plug-in electrical connector is attached to the housing and/or the faceplate. A conductor member defines at least two T-slot blade sockets, with each T-slot blade socket associated with a respective one of the T-slot blade openings. The conductor member interconnects at least one connector with each T-slot blade socket. The conductor member can be of monolithic or two-piece construction.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle assembly, such as for employment in a surge suppression unit, includes a generally rectangular two-piece housing having a front cover and a back cover separate from and mateable with the front cover, a generally U-shaped mounting bridge fitted over opposite top and bottom portions of the mated front and back covers, and a plurality of pairs of securement elements respectively defined on opposite top and bottom portions of the front and back covers and on opposite portions of the mounting bridge being disposed adjacent to the opposite top and bottom portions of the front and back covers. Selected ones of the pairs of securement elements on the front and back covers are interference fittable and latchable with selected ones of the pairs of securement elements on the mounting bridge for releasably securing the mated front and back covers to the mounting bridge.

Abstract: A duplex receptacle consisting of molded plastic base and cover portions, a pair of terminals having female contacts for receiving plug blades, and a mounting strap. The terminals are formed with a minimum of bending operations from blanks cut in succession from a metal strip in a manner minimizing the distance of die progression per blank, and reducing scrap. The contacts have a configuration which enhances electrical communication with the inserted plug blades. Portions of the cover cooperate with the contacts to increase blade retention force. A portion of the mounting strap is exposed through an opening in the cover to provide further advantages. The spring arms on the terminals include structure which inhibits dislodgement of conductors connected to the receptacle by push-wire terminations.

Abstract: A socket terminal has a shell, two electrodes, a ground and at least one socket member. The shell has a base and a cover which is mounted on the base. The base has a first side which defines two grooves for receiving the electrodes and a second side which defines a channel for receiving the ground. The base further defines at least one aperture. The socket member has a casing which has a disk-shaped shaft formed thereon whereby the disk-shaped shaft is received in the opening defined in the cover so that the casing is pivotable between a first position and a second position. Two conductive strips each has a first end received in the casing and a second end disposed below the casing. A grounded strip has a first end received in the casing and a second end disposed secured to the casing by means of a screw with a relatively large head. The head of the screw is inserted through the aperture defined in the base and is further engaged with the ground.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer.

Abstract: A receptacle type electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face and mounting a plurality of female electrical terminals adapted for mating with a plurality of male terminals of an appropriate mating electrical component. One of the terminals is a ground terminal adapted for connection to a ground circuit. An insulative cover is mounted over the mating face of the housing and has apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. A conductive electrostatic discharge shield includes a plate portion sandwiched between the cover and the mating face of the housing. The shield includes apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. The apertures of the plate portion are dimensioned so that the male terminals will not contact the shield. A connecting portion of the shield extends from the plate portion for electrically engaging the ground terminal.

Abstract: An electrical outlet and plug receivable therein are disclosed. The outlet includes at least one receptacle on its face and at least one receptacle on a side surface thereof. Each receptacle comprises negative, positive and ground openings that are positioned in a straight line. Due to a difference in size between the negative and positive openings, only one orientation of the plug within the receptacle is possible. The outlet may optionally include connectors for the direct connection of electrical cords without the need for plugs and a circuit breaker to prevent overload. The outlet and in-line receptacle configuration allow for additional connections to be made to a single outlet and provide space-saving advantages.

Abstract: An electrical outlet receptacle includes a thermoplastic cover and a thermoset base between which are captively mounted line and neutral contact/terminal assemblies and a grounding strap assembly in enhanced electrically isolated relation. The grounding strap assembly is equipped with quadruple wipe grounding contacts positioned to make wiping contact with a ground pin of an inserted plug before the plug blades can contact jaws of the contact/terminal assemblies. Formations molded in the cover underside provide guidance for and promote alignment of the insertions of the plug blades and pin. Tapered pockets molded in the cover underside are positioned to controllably engage the ends of BWPI terminated line and neutral wires.

Abstract: A wall plug for use with a split circuit duplex wall outlet, including an indicator light to identify the split circuit and including switch means for selectively operating the wall plug on one or both of these two household circuits available at a standard outlet.

Abstract: The invention is a socket for a grounding prong used in a three prong electrical plug and a receptacle for the three prong plug. The socket being sufficiently spacious to prevent the socket from significantly stretching when a larger, U-shaped grounding prong is inserted into the socket, and having a ridge to allow a snug fit when a smaller tubular shape grounding prong is inserted into the socket.

Abstract: A dual mode grounding arrangement includes a one-piece, multi-function, grounding strip assembled within an electrical receptacle, and includes a screw terminal which is highly resistant to removal of a grounding screw from the strip. A grounding wire is connected to the screw terminal by either a wrap-around or a push-in wiring technique.

Abstract: An electrical outlet receptacle device adapted to be mounted adjacent a wall member having a hole therein which permits the device to be secured to an electrical outlet box mounted behind the wall member. The receptacle includes a cover formed integrally with a pair of mounting strap elements projecting from opposite ends thereof. Each mounting strap terminates in free end edges which are beveled along their front facing surfaces and elongated to the maximum possible length to fit under a wallplate intended for use with the device, and is generally squared along its side edges for maximizing the available surface area for abutting the wall member and substantially reducing the chance of having a "floating" installation.

Abstract: A one-piece, multi-function, grounding strip is assembled within an electrical receptacle, and includes a screw terminal which is highly resistant to removal of a grounding screw from the strip. The grounding terminal portion of the strip is much reduced in thickness as compared to conventional grounding terminals, and includes a pair of spaced-apart tineman-type single screw threads formed on grounding plates. A support element is sandwiched between the plates to form a combination which is highly resistant to forces tending to strip the grounding screw from the plates.

Abstract: A connecting plug for use in conjunction with standard electrical boxes and circuit components such as switches and receptacles. The connecting plug includes a insulator block attached by a grounding screw to the back panel of an electrical box. Rigid contact pins extend outwardly from the insulator block a predetermined distance so that they will be releasably received in the openings in the body sections of the circuit components. Standard wiring extends through a knock-out opening in the box and is connected to the grounding screw and the contact pins. Components are removed from one replaced into the box without disturbing the wiring connections.

Abstract: A combined electrical/lightwave connection arrangement provides electrical connections via conventional contact blades and ground post and a lightwave connection via a lightwave transmission line carried within the ground post.