Abstract: A whole house surge protector is provided in a single unit in association with a 4-wire wiring system with surge suppression between each of two hot conductors and respective neutral and ground conductors and also between the two hot conductors. The unit is in an insulating housing securable merely by a threaded nipple directly with a load center for protection on a multiplicity of circuit branches.

Abstract: A male electrical connector with positive locking prongs and shielded blade protection. The connector comprises a plug body, a plurality of curved blades extending therefrom, and a plate carrying locking prongs and axially slidably coupled to the blades and plug body. In one embodiment, the plate is slidably received in a recess in the plug body, while in another embodiment, the plate is coupled to a tube which is slidably received on the exterior surface of the plug body. The connector can include an auxiliary lock-in assembly, a lock-out assembly, or both, as well as a seal to resist ingress of dirt or moisture.

Abstract: An electrical switch for hazardous environments includes a non-metallic terminal base supporting a plurality of stationary contacts. A non-metallic operator body has a radial wall and tubular outer wall extending from the radial wall. The outer wall has a free end coupled to the terminal base and defines a contact chamber inside of the operator body. The radial wall has a central passageway and a tubular inner wall extending from the radial wall toward the terminal base substantially concentrically to the outer wall and the passageway. A non-metallic operator member has an annular portion slidably received in the passageway between first and second positions, and has a radial portion extending from the axial portion with a tubular flange extending from it substantially concentrically to the axial portion. The operator member tubular flange is slidably received between and overlaps the inner and outer walls of the operator body in both of the first and second positions of the operator body.

Abstract: A lighting fixture assembly having a plaster plate, and a tubular lamp housing for installing a recessed light into a ceiling. The plaster plate has a blank portion removed to form a lamp housing receiving aperture. The tubular lamp housing has a tubular sidewall, an open bottom end aligned with the lamp housing aperture in the plaster plate and a closed top end, which is formed by the blank portion removed from the plaster plate to form the lamp housing receiving aperture. Preferably, the tubular lamp housing is substantially cylindrical with the sidewall tapering slightly inwardly and upwardly from its open bottom end to its closed top end.

Abstract: A connector for coupling an electrical conduit to a support, such as junction box, having variable thickness. The connector includes a one-piece tubular body member with resilient legs having locking tongues, external threads, and a receiving formation for receiving the conduit; and a one-piece take-up nut with an abutment surface and internal threads for engaging the external threads of the body member. The resilient legs are snapped into the support, and the take-up nut is screwed onto the body, clamping the support between the locking tongues of the legs and the abutment surface of the take-up nut. The electrical conduit is frictionally retained in an annular recess in the body member or is threadedly retained within the hollow portion of the body member or within the take-up nut. The conduit is a sheath, cable, or other suitable signal line.

Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling a modular plug connector to a plurality of conductors has a housing with a plug receiving portion and a contact support portion. A plurality of spring contacts, housed within the plug receiving portion, are respectively electrically connected to a plurality of press-fit contacts, housed within the contact support portion. Each of the press-fit contacts are substantially flat with a press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension aligned colinearly along a longitudinal axis. The press-fit tail is quadrangular, formed with two pairs of indentations, and has substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides. The press-fit tail is manufactured by punching substantially v-shaped indentations on opposed sides.

Abstract: An electrical coupling assembly for conducting electricity between two areas of different pressures including a hollow housing extending between the areas of different pressures, an upper electrical cable connector slidably coupled within the upper end of the housing, an upper penetrator assembly located in the housing for sealing the upper end of the housing, three electrical conductors located in the housing for conducting electricity between the upper and lower ends of the housing, a lower penetrator assembly located in the housing for sealing the lower end of the housing, and a lower electrical cable connector slidably coupled within the lower end of the housing. The longitudinal axes of the upper connector, upper penetrator assembly, and upper connecting ends of the conductors are offset from the longitudinal axes of the lower connector, lower penetrator assembly, and the lower connecting ends of the conductors.

Abstract: A male electrical connector with positive locking prongs and shielded blade protection. The connector comprises a plug body, a plurality of curved blades extending therefrom, a cover rotatably coupled to the plug body, and a shield carrying locking prongs and axially slidably coupled to the blades and plug body. The cover carries a set of cams and the shield carries a set of cam followers, rotation of the cover relative to the shield camming the shield and its locking prongs axially towards the plug body and out of locking engagement with slots in a female receptacle. In a first embodiment, the cover encloses a cable clamping assembly, while in a second embodiment the clamping assembly is outside the cover.

Abstract: An electric cable with spirally wrapped wires and wire-retaining strips thereon. The cable includes an insulated electrical conductor, an extruded semiconductive insulation shield overlying the insulated electrical conductor, a plurality of strips extruded and fused onto the insulation shield, and a plurality of wires wrapped around the insulation shield and the strips with sufficient tension to partially embed them into the strips to retain them therein and resist slippage. This arrangement also permits the selection of a first material having predetermined properties for the insulation shield and a second material for the strips having different properties from the first material composing the insulation shield. In one embodiment, the material selected for the strips has a higher softening or melting point than the softening or melting point of the material selected for the insulation shield.

Abstract: An electrical cable connector for conducting electricity across the interface of two areas containing two different fluids having substantially the same pressure and that are subjected to rapid increases in pressure. The electrical cable connector includes a hollow housing positioned between the two areas of fluid, an electrical cable extending into the housing, and a sealing assembly for sealing the space between the electrical cable and the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluids from passing between the two areas. The sealing assembly includes an annular sealing element or elements, optional O-rings, a bushing, a compression spring for axially compressing and thereby radially biasing the sealing element or elements, a conductor connector end, and a locking ring. The sealing elements are pressure energized and are generally U-shaped in longitudinal cross section, having first and second concentric leg portions.

Abstract: A die casting apparatus for casting an article with an internally screw-threaded bore. The die casting apparatus includes a support, a die assembly coupled to the support, a core pin with external threads which are movable into and out of the die assembly, a lead screw for moving the core pin, a fixed bushing threadedly receiving the lead screw therein, a drive assembly, and a control assembly. The drive assembly has a hydraulic motor with an ouptut shaft that is axially arranged relative to the core pin for smoothly driving the core pin and lead screw. The external threads of the core pin and the external thread of the lead screw are identical for driving the core pin and the lead screw at the same rate to avoid damaging the newly formed internal threads of the cast article.

Abstract: An electrical wall or ceiling box adapted to rapidly and securely couple an electrical wiring device thereto. The electrical box includes a pair of wedge-shaped inserts positioned within a pair of openings in the end walls of the electrical box. The inserts have a threaded, curved face portion for gripping a mounting screw and an oppositely facing sloping face portion for interacting with the sloping wall portions of the openings in the electrical box. The inserts also have a shoulder extending outwardly on three sides for engaging a three-sided ledge within the openings for retaining the inserts therein. This structure results in a significantly higher retention force than in prior devices, tending to resist disengagement of the inserts with the box upon insertion of a mounting screw therein.

Abstract: A marine hull inlet assembly for providing a watertight inlet in the hull of a boat to provide a connection point for shore-based power lines, communication lines, and the like. The inlet assembly includes a receptacle member and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes top and bottom covers pivotally connected together with the top cover having a gasket which is pressed against the receptacle for providing the watertight seal. The top and bottom covers are releasably coupled by a latch assembly. The latch assembly is spring-biased so that the top and bottom covers are biased toward each other when in the latched position. The latch assembly may either have a push-type latching element or a quarter turn-type latching element.

Abstract: A surge suppression module for providing existing wiring devices with a surge suppressing element for protection against transient surges of voltage in a power circuit. The surge module includes a universal support member that accommodates variously voltage-rated surge suppressing elements and various covers that accommodate different female wiring devicese to be mounted therein. The surge module also includes an alarm for detecting an electrical malfunction in the surge suppressing element and an indicator light for indicating proper electrical functioning of the surge suppressing element.

Abstract: A duct assembly for enclosing conduits, cables, wires, lines and the like, comprising a base having a generally U-shaped cross section along its longitudinal axis, and a cover having a generally U-shaped cross section along its longitudinal axis. The base includes a generally planar central portion with first and second legs extending substantially perpendicular thereto. The cover includes an intermediate portion having third and fourth legs extending substantially perpendicular thereto. The cover is pivotally and releasably coupled to the base at one end and releasably coupled to the base at the other end. The pivotal and releasable coupling is made up and released via a snap fit resulting from forces exerted substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the cover and the base. The pivotal coupling allows angular movement of the cover relative to the base through about 45.degree. to about 60.degree..

Abstract: An electrical contact clip for a wiring device includes an inside and outside contact members. Each of the contact members includes a terminal portion adapted to be electrically coupled to wiring, a resilient contact portion for electrically engaging a mating contact element, and an intermediate portion extending between the terminal portion and the contact portion. The coupling members are interlocked adjacent the intermediate portions. The contact portions are preformed such that, when the contact members are interlocked, the contact portions engage and press against each other and bend about an axis transvese to the longitudinal axes of the contact members.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a lamp housing, a removable cover, a light transparent lens, a lamp and a gasket. The lamp housing has a hollow interior and an open top. The removable cover is releasably coupled to the housing and extends over and laterally beyond the open top, and has an aperture extending through it. The cover also has depending ribs. The gasket is mounted between and seals joints between the lens, the cover and the housing. The gasket is confined between the ribs to ensure its proper alignment.

Abstract: A light fixture includes separate ballast and optical housings. The optical housing includes an open top, a hollow base depending from the open top and a wiring chamber extending laterally from the hollow base adjacent to the open top. A cover is releasably coupled to the housing, extends over the open top, and has an aperture extending through it receiving a lens. The lamp is mounted in the base of the optical housing for directing light through the lens. The ballast housing is releasably coupled to the optical housing at the wiring chamber. A ballast cover is coupled to the ballast housing. An electrical ballast assembly is mounted in the ballast housing. Wiring extends between the housings for electrically connecting the lamp and the electrical ballast assembly.

Abstract: An electrical cable connector for connecting an electrical cable to an electric motor, especially in an oil well. The electrical cable connector includes a hollow cylindrical housing receiving a portion of the electrical cable therein and a sealing assembly for sealing the space between the cable and the housing to prevent the corrosive material in the oil well from eroding the electrical connection. The sealing assembly includes a disk rigidly coupled to the housing and a movable disk axially biased towards the other disk. A sealing plug is positioned between the two disks and comprises a substantially uncured flowable, incompressible seal material sandwiched between a pair of cured rubber sealing disks. The movable disk asserts pressure on the sealing plug so that the flowable material will flow into any otherwise empty spaces between the sealing disks and the cable and between the sealing disks and the housing.

Abstract: A duct assembly for enclosing conduits therein comprising a base and a pair of opposing side walls extending substantially perpendicular thereto, and a cover having an intermediate portion with a pair of generally parallel end portions extending substantially perpendicular thereto. The side walls of the base each have a tapered rib extending outwardly therefrom for engaging a U-shaped groove in the end portions of the cover to snap-fit the cover to the base. The ribs and grooves cooperate to provide first and second coupled positions. When the duct assembly is in its first position, a recess is formed for inserting a coupling member therein to join a substantially identical duct assembly thereto in a side by side relation. When the duct assembly is in its second position, the ribs and grooves are secured together to provide a smooth outer surface between the cover and the base. The bottom of each base can be snap fitted to the top of an identical base.