Abstract: An insulator in the form of suspension insulator or pin type insulator has an elongated load sustaining body with a plurality of weathersheds extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the body on the outer surface of the body. The body and weathersheds are unitarily formed as one piece of rigid dielectric plastic polymer which are molded together. Clevis and eye coupling means are provided on the ends of the body to facilitate connection to support structures and high voltage lines.

Abstract: A finger guard for use with an electronic device is provided for restricting physical access to a component of the electronic device having an uninsulated surface adapted to carry a voltage. The apparatus includes a housing which defines a first opening and which is adapted to mount to the electronic device so that the first opening permits passage of passive infrared energy and ambient light to the component. The apparatus further includes a projection arrangement, extending from the housing, which limits physical access to the surface of the component through the first opening, and defining a second opening through which the infrared energy can enter and pass through the first opening to the component. An electronic circuit can also be provided which limits current being provided to an uninsulated component, such as an infrared or ambient light detector of the electronic device, from a circuit of the electronic device.

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 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: An electrical connector and cord clamp includes a main body having an axial passage therein for receiving an electrical cord and a fixed clamping jaw extending from an upper face of the main body. A movable jaw is interconnected with the fixed clamping jaw by a plurality of screws for applying clamping forces between the fixed and movable jaws. Carried by the fixed or movable jaw, a projecting member is movable from a recessed position in which the clamp grips a standard size cord to an extended position projecting radially into the axial passage between the fixed and movable clamping jaws in which the clamp grips a small size electrical cord. The projecting member is coupled to and movable relative to the jaws via a threaded connection, a bayonet connection, or a cam and cam follower connection.

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 includes a main body having an axial passage therethrough for receiving an electrical cable and a fixed clamping jaw extending from an upper face of the main body. A movable jaw is interconnected with the clamping jaw by a plurality of screws for applying clamping forces between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw. A pivoting clamping jaw is provided which is movable from a first position extending into the axial passage in which the connector can clamp a standard size cable to a second position in which the connector can clamp an electrical cable having a smaller diameter than standard. The pivoting clamping jaw comprises a shaft and a pair of jaws extending tangentially therefrom and perpendicular to one another, one of the jaws being longer than the other.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device having opposing cable clamping mechanisms. The clamping mechanisms grip opposite sides of an electrical cable inserted within a housing. Each clamping mechanism includes at least one annular member which extends into the passageway of a housing and which has a saddle-shaped cable gripping end surface. A plug-shaped member, which also has a saddle-shaped end and is coaxial with the annular member, extends outwardly from within the annular member into the passageway. The annular member and plug of each clamping mechanism apply sufficient compression forces to the cable to resist slippage.

Abstract: A connector for coupling non-metallic electrical conduit or tubing within an electrical box opening that is molded of plastic and is flexible and resilient and can be used with either plastic or steel electric boxes. The connector includes a ring, four legs resiliently and pivotally coupled to the ring with adjacent pairs of legs defining a slot therebetween, and four latch tabs located within the slots and flexibly and resiliently coupled to the ring for retaining the conduit within the connector and angled inwardly and extending away from the ring. Each leg has an arcuate groove therein for locking the connector within an aperture of an electrical box, and the legs form a stop wall for limiting insertion of the conduit within the connector. Each leg has a transverse arm which spans one of the slots. As the connector is being inserted into the aperture of the electrical box, each arm slidably engages the next adjacent leg.

Abstract: A connector for connecting electrical conduit to nonmetallic electrical enclosures includes a connector body, a locking ring, and a conduit nut rotatably mounted on the connector body. The connector body has a first threaded end threadedly connected to the enclosure and a second end rotatably coupled to the conduit nut. The second end has an outwardly extending radial flange which mates with an inwardly extending radial flange on the conduit nut to rotatably couple the conduit nut to the body, without limiting rotational movement of the conduit nut on the body. The conduit nut has internal threads to mate with the male threads of an electrical conduit. The assembly allows an electrical conduit to be connected securely to the enclosure by tightening the conduit nut onto the conduit without transferring torsional stress to the non-metallic enclosure. The locking ring is threadedly coupled to the connector body and can be rotated to lock the conduit nut in place.

Abstract: A male electrical connector having an insulating plug body and a cylindrical sleeve surrounding conductive prongs extending from the plug body. The sleeve has at least one aperture in a side wall thereof to removably receive a locking member. The removable locking member is preferably a padlock having a substantially U-shaped shackle extending through the aperture in the sleeve to prevent insertion of the male connector into the mating female connector.

Abstract: A clamp mechanism secures a lighting fixture to a mounting apparatus. A tenon is inserted into the open end of a mounting pole. A radially expandable element, mounted on the tenon, is adjusted to expand radially outwardly to engage the inner surface of the mounting pole. Radial outward expansion of the expandable element is imparted by a threaded bolt which threadedly engages a base of the expandable element. As the base is drawn towards the end face of the tenon, angled legs of the expandable element are cammed outwardly until distal ends of the legs frictionally engage the inner surface of the mounting pole.

Abstract: A plastic ceiling box 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 even though the ceiling box is formed of plastic.

Abstract: A duplex receptacle has a housing base with insulating wall elements to which a insulating circuit board supporting a surge suppressor circuit is fit. The surge suppressor can be preassembled and located as a compact unit in the housing with connective connections to each of the power conductors and ground. The device also has an insulated ground feature with each ground contact extending into housing base projections which have openings accommodating an isolated ground strap to which the internal ground contacts are joined. The features of the invention are well suited for shallow receptacles as may be fit within outlet boxes of a depth of no more than about 11/2 inches. In addition, a back insulating cover is provided that fits over the isolated ground strap and base projections. The back cover shields the ground strap.

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: A connector for coupling an electrical conduit in an aperture in a support having a wall of variable thickness. The connector includes a body member having resilient legs with locking tongues on one end and a conduit retaining formation on the other end, and a frusto-conical spring coupled to the body member. The spring is integrally coupled to the body member between the locking tongues and retaining formation. The connector is sealingly engaged with the support by engagement of the spring on one side of the support and engagement of the locking tongues on the other side.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting assembly, for rotatably coupling a support member with electrical wiring to a lighting fixture housing, has at least one casing with a fastening sleeve for receiving a fastener. The casing also has at least one conduit for receiving the support member and the electrical wiring. A spacer is located between the casing and housing and has a bore for the fastener and an aperture for the wiring. The casing is rotatable with respect to the housing and can be releasably retained in selected rotational positions by the fastener.

Abstract: A duplex receptacle has a housing base with insulating wall elements to which an insulating circuit board supporting a surge supressor circuit is fit. The surge suppressor can be preassembled and located as a compact unit in the housing with connective connections to each of the power conductors and ground. The device also has an insulated ground feature with each ground contact extending into housing base projections which have openings accommodating an insolated ground strap to which the internal ground contacts are joined. The features of the invention are well suited for shallow receptacles as may be fit within outlet boxes of a depth of no more than about 11/2 inches.

Abstract: An electrical device comprising a plurality of electrical assemblies formed as interchangeable modules, aligned in an end-to-end serial array and enclosed in a polymeric weathershed housing, the electrical assemblies being electrically and mechanically coupled together. Each electrical assembly in turn comprises a plurality of electrical components aligned in a row and in electrical connection with one another via their axially-directed ends and under an axially-directed compressive force via a nonconductive filament winding. The electrical components can be varistors, resistors, capacitors, and insulators or any combination thereof. In the case of varistors used to form a surge arrester, for example, voltage ratings can be enlarged merely by serially coupling a plurality of separately wrapped electrical components in the form of MOV blocks.

Abstract: A wiring device of the type which by itself is configured for surface mounting is made more universally mountable by an adapter plate to which the device may be joined and the adapter plate joined to any of a number of different outlet box configurations. In addition and alternatively, a wiring device so described may be further utilized with a portable box on which it is mounted, which portable box has sidewalls with cord openings communicating to the device. All such configurations are designed for compactness and shallowness from a front face which may provide a plurality of outlet openings. In addition, the wiring device of the present invention utilizes a snub hole wiring termination configuration that facilitates installation.