Abstract: An electrical outlet box has electrical power cable entry ports in which one or more closure panels are each mounted adjacent the rim of the aperture along one edge portion only of the panel, the remaining portion of each panel being free and extending substantially across the aperture in a direction angularly inwardly from the plane of the aperture. The closure panels are each either hingedly mounted or sufficiently flexible and resilient so as to be self-opening, such that each free end portion is deflected away from the opening upon passage of the cable into the aperture by manual force, and thereafter resistingly bears against the installed cable. Each panel may be tapered so as to have increased thickness at the base, in which case the panels are self-clamping against removal of the cable from the aperture, and may include supplementary cable gripping projections on their outwardly facing surfaces.

Abstract: A separation tool has a multiple-sectioned cable-advance assembly which locates an electrical cable relative to cutting blades on an anvil assembly, portions of the advance assembly being displaced laterally to follow the positions of the cable wires during their separation. Cutters having multiple staggered edges of varying orientation relative to the cutting direction pierce the outer insulation of the cable and separate the cable wires as the cable is advanced onto the cutter blades. A uniform force is to be exerted throughout a cutting stroke by an operator of the tool. Spring loaded rods push the wires away from the cutters to free the wires at the conclusion of the separation operation.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle has shuttered slots for preventing the entry of foreign objects into the slots other than the prongs of an electrical plug. A housing within the cover of the receptacle is located behind the receptacle slots. A shutter is located within the housing and is formed of two identical sliding members guided by a stationary member. Each of the sliding members is formed of a blade and a cam which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of a pair of slots, and are mounted transversely to a connecting spine. The blade and the cam of each of the sliding members are offset in both transverse and longitudinal directions from each other about the spine in order to permit an interleaving of the blade of one sliding member with the cam of the other sliding member. The sliding members are positioned with their spines in opposed positions and in contact with opposite sides of the stationary member.

Abstract: The structure according to the invention includes a pair of flange members depending angularly towards each other from opposite sides of each electrical power cable entry port formed in a sidewall portion of an electrical outlet box, with each pair of cooperating flange members adapted to enable essentially complete closure of the cable entry port. According to one aspect, each cooperating pair of flange members comprises a pair of cable grasping detent flanges, each spaced from its corresponding wall portion by a base-like projection to accommodate an entry port closure panel. According to another aspect, the inward edges of each cooperating pair of flange members are coupled together to close the cable entry port which may be formed with a portion extending into the backwall, with a rigid flange depending from the sidewall portion and extending parallel to the front edges of the flange members.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box includes a set of cable entry ports arranged along a wall of the box. One of the ports is recessed inwardly of the box wall by a recessed wall portion, or shelf, formed adjacent a port structure associated with mounting wiring devices to the box. The recessed wall portion provides sufficient space to permit cable-clamping closure structures adjacent each port.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box having wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermost periphery of the box wall structure, the recessed areas housing pawl mounting devices and electrical power cable entry ports. The cable entry ports have self-opening and/or self-clamping closure panels extending angularly inwardly from the rim of the port which are also self-centering and self-adjusting for different cable sizes.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box having wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermost periphery of the box wall structure, the recessed areas housing pawl mounting devices and electrical power cable entry ports. Each pawl mounting device includes a single stop flange on the outer surface of the box wall structure. The pawl arm includes a hub into which a threaded mounting screw is fastened and extends tangentially of the hub. The pawl arm terminates on one side of the hub in a right-angled stop flange and terminates on the opposite side of the hub in a small tab member. A guide channel adjacent the box stop flange slidably receives the pawl hub to guide the pawl in back and forth linear travel while the rear tab moves freely within a slotted channel formed between the box stop flange and the guide channel. The pawl arm and rear tab are alternatively urged against the box stop flange upon rotating the pawl in opposite directions causing the pawl to travel linearly in both a forward and backward direction.

Abstract: An angle cap electrical wiring connector contains a cable clamp which is removably fixedly mounted to the angle cap housing independent of the clamp tightening screws. The clamp includes an arcuate section which completes the circular cavity wall of the angle cap body housing the electrical wiring chamber. An expandable diaphragm extending between the arcuate section and the clamp closes access to the wiring chamber from the environment at all times, regardless of size of the power cable clamped to the angle cap. The clamping member, arcuate section and diaphragm are formed integrally as a single piece.

Abstract: In an electronic module for a ground fault interrupter the portion that amplifies a sensed ground fault signal is in the form of a series of cascaded CMOS inverter stages. The electronic module also includes an additional CMOS inverter providing a balanced input to the amplifier to aid in preventing operation of the ground fault interrupter during the turn-on period of operation.

Abstract: A moisture-proof electrical outlet box includes a backwall with a generally continuous sidewall member upstanding therefrom to define a generally open face at the front edges thereof with a drip rail formed on the sidewall member and surrounding the box. The drip rail is preferably located in front of the front edges of the cable-access ports formed in the sidewall member. Advantageously, a frame-like flange member is formed at the front edges of the sidewall member and adapted to provide a moisture-proof seal with the coverplate. As preferably embodied, the drip rail and the flange member are formed integrally with the sidewall member.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for coupling the end of one electrically conductive cable to another includes a connector front formed with a pair of oppositely disposed legs extending rearwardly from its front face, a terminal housing releasably lockably engageable by projections on the legs to form a connector body with electrical contacts therebetween and a connector housing releasably lockably engageable by a latching sear on the end of each leg for coupling the connector body to the connector housing. In addition, a collar member is threaded onto the other end of the connector housing with a chuck member positioned therebetween for tighteningly grasping the cable. Advantageously, the chuck member includes extensions adapted to be positioned behind each sear for preventing inadvertent disassembly of the connector body from the connector housing.

Abstract: A screw mounting clip member is adapted to be slidably fixedly engaged in a slotted aperture adjacent an unthreaded screw-receiving borehole. A spring detent member provided on the clip extends into the borehole when the clip is fixedly mounted in place. A threaded screw is fastened in the borehole by initially being manually thrust endwise into the borehole without turning, thereby deflecting and forcefully engaging the spring detent with the screw threads. The screw may thereafter be tightened by turning the screw against the spring detent and may be unfastened only by reverse turning of the screw, in the conventional manner.

Abstract: An adjustably lockable bar hanger support for mounting a ceiling box or the like to a floor/ceiling joist includes a male and a female support member each being generally L-shaped and each having a generally elongate leg adapted for slidable telescoping engagement with the elongate leg of the other member and a relatively short leg adapted for attachment to the joist. As preferably embodied, the male member elongate leg is slidable within the female member elongate leg, and the female member is formed with a detent tab of its elongate leg, which is adapted to be deflected into a receiving aperture formed in the elongate leg of the male member for locking the male and female members in assembled relationship when the tab and aperture are aligned. Advantageously, at least two receiving apertures are formed in the male member elongate leg at locations which, when positioned adjacent the detent tab, correspond to predetermined inter-joist spacings.

Abstract: A screw mounting clip member is provided with a spring detent member cooperating with a stop member to slidably fixedly engage the clip in a slotted aperture adjacent an unthreaded screw-receiving borehole. Another spring detent member provided on the clip extends into the borehole when the clip is fixedly mounted in place. A threaded screw is fastened in the borehole by initially being manually thrust endwise into the borehole without turning, thereby deflecting and forcefully engaging the spring detent with the screw threads. The screw may thereafter be tightened by turning the screw against the spring detent and may be unfastened only by reverse turning of the screw, in the conventional manner.

Abstract: At least one stationary electrical contact is fixedly mounted in a housing and an equal number of corresponding movable contacts is affixed to a movable member pivotally mounted within the housing and positioned thereon to mate with the stationary contact, however, first biasing means are coupled between the movable member and the housing to retard mating of the contacts. An actuating member is slidably pivotally mounted within the housing and adapted to engage the movable member, with biasing means coupled between the actuating member and the housing to overcome the first biasing means and urge the movable and stationary contacts into mating relation when the actuating and movable members have been engaged. Release means, controlled by circuit fault sensing means, are positioned adjacent the actuating member for causing the actuating arm to be released from the movable member when predetermined circuit conditions are detected by the sensing means, to disjoin the stationary and movable contacts.

Abstract: A threaded fastener quick-fastening clip member is adapted to be slidably lockably engaged in a slotted channel adjacent a lug which is formed with an unthreaded borehole communicating the front face of the structure with the channel. A first leg portion of the clip member is inserted in slot means formed in the channel and is provided with generally rigid but resilient detent means for lockable engagement therein. A second leg portion, intersecting the first leg at an obtuse angle, extends into the channel and is formed with an aperture for registering with the borehole and engaging a threaded fastener. A canopy may cover a portion of the slotted channel adjacent the lug for providing stop means to prevent over-excursion of the second leg portion of the clip member.

Abstract: At least one sidewall of the electrical outlet box is formed with boss members defining slots for receiving and retaining the attaching portion of a generally L-shaped mounting bracket which also includes a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a suitable support structure. As preferably embodied, the outlet box is made of a moldable plastic material and includes wedge-like restraining means on the sidewall for ratcheting into an aperture formed in the attaching portion of the bracket when the bracket is fully seated in the slots in order to prevent removal of the bracket from the outlet box.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for installation on a cable including a connector housing, a connector body lockably receivable in the housing, an adjustable grasping assembly for securely engaging the cable, and a collar threadably engagable on the housing for adjusting the grip on the cable. Advantageously, at least two clip members are mounted to the body and are formed with fastening portions adapted to engage receiving members in the housing for assembly of the body and housing without requiring threaded fasteners. Also advantageously, the housing is provided with a detent member adapted to project against the threads of the collar which is provided with abutment means to be abutted by the detent when reverse threading of the collar is attempted, but permit threading of the collar onto the housing in ratchet-like manner.