Abstract: A metal oxide varistor comprises a ceramic substrate having a first and second surface that form a spiral, and first and second conductive coatings disposed thereon that are in electrical contact with respective electrodes. A cavity is defined between the conductive coatings to preclude shorting the device, and a non-conductive material is disposed in the cavity to prevent arcing.

Abstract: A tee assembly for use between horizontal raceway sections and a vertical raceway has a divider that separates the cables running between separate wireways in these raceways. The divider has unique ramps to guide fiber optic cables around generous radii, and is also reversible to lend a degree of flexibility to the divider.

Abstract: A compartmentalized electrical outlet box defines side-by-side forwardly open compartments for receiving power leads, data lines and telecommunication cables from inside a wall structure. These leads will be connected to corresponding conductors in a raceway that has at least two separated wireways defined in a base channel. Access openings are provided in staggered relationship at the rear wall of the raceway channel so as to be aligned with the compartments in the outlet box.

Abstract: A metal oxide varistor comprises a hollow ceramic body having an opening, a first electrode within the body and having a portion extending through the opening, and a second electrode disposed on the exterior surface of the body. Voltage applied to the electrodes above the device clamping voltage causes the ceramic body to conduct. The geometry of the body, which is optimally a sphere, greatly increases surface area between the electrodes and the ceramic body, and consequently increases the device's current carrying capacity.

Abstract: A portion of a membrane having electrically conductive ink traces printed on a surface thereof is clamped between two members ultrasonically welded together in assembly by welds which pass through apertures in the membrane at opposite sides of the traces thereon. The assembled members maintain the traces in resilient bearing engagement with exposed electrically conductive portions of electrical conductors contained within slots defined by one of the members. Energy directors integrally formed on the two members are welded together through the apertures while compressive force is applied to the members to clamp the membrane therebetween whereby the traces are electrically terminated by direct resilient bearing engagement with the exposed electrically conductive portions of the conductors.

Abstract: Surface mount raceway makes use of a prior art bracket, of the type that normally supports an electrical device plate in the raceway base, to interact with notches provided in flanges of the raceway cover, as well as with marginal edges of the raceway base. The cover cannot be easily removed once the bracket has been so assembled with the cover and the base.

Abstract: A high density electrical termination assembly made by forming a terminal assembly including separate thermoplastic sections having confronting surfaces. An in-line array of conductor receiving slots open through the confronting surface of one of the sections and a plurality of elongate spaced apart energy directors project from and extending along the confronting surface of the other of the sections. Stacking within the grooves portions of the conductors to be connected are stacked within slots in the terminal section. The thermoplastic sections positioned in juxtaposed stacked relationship to each other along the confronting surfaces with the energy directors extending across the slots in axially transverse relationship to the conductors stacked within the slots.

Abstract: Metallic circuit traces disposed on a substrate of a panel and terminated in a high-density in-line array. Each termination comprises a terminal portion of a circuit trace disposed on and extending along a beam defined by the panel, a portion of a resilient compressible electrical conductor disposed in overlying relation to at least an associated part of the terminal portion, and a cradle assembly including a cradle member and a cap ultrasonically welded together in assembly generally within a common plane of joinder spaced from the substrate. The cradle assembly surround portions of the beam, the terminal portion, and the conductor and maintains the conductor under compression and in electrical contacting engagement with the terminal portion to form an electrical termination.

Abstract: A faceplate has self-contained fastening devices for securing it in a wall opening, and also has rearwardly projecting flanges and legs that are received in the wall. The flanges locate the faceplate relative to the opening and the legs serve to cooperate with the swinging fastener mounted arms to limit their rotation as the fastener is rotated to bring the arms into contact with the backside of the sheetrock wall structure.

Abstract: A patch cord assembly for plugging connection with an in-line array of insulation displacement connectors (IDC's) on a 110 cross-connect panel includes a plugging connector defining a plurality of plug receptacles separated from each other by contact supporting walls. Each supporting wall supports an associated elongated contact which defines a portion of the wall and has elongated contact surfaces exposed at opposite sides of the wall. The contacts extend in to the hollow housing and are terminated therein by individually insulated electrical conductors. An ultrasonic welding process strips insulation from end portions of the electrical conductors and simultaneously terminates the stripped end portions at the contacts and within the housing while the housing sections are being joined together in assembly by the ultrasonic welding process.

Abstract: A non-linear raceway section for containing fiber optic and Category 5 signal conductors and formed by intersecting raceway runs coupled together in a region of intersection defines a non-linear raceway channel having an exposed angular corner therein. A radiused insert releasably retained within the raceway channel defines a portion of the channel and isolates the angular corner from the channel.

Abstract: Two piece metal raceway (base and cover sections) accommodate not only fiber optic cable at 90 degree corner assemblies, that includes divider means defining a second wireway channel along side a first channel or wireway accommodating the fiber optic cable. The curved walls of the corner assembly base have a radius of two inches or more, and these walls include slots which receive tabs that may be spot welded and/or riveted to provide a permanent connection between the divider element and the raceway base corner fitting.

Abstract: A raceway for both power and data communication wiring has a base with at least two forwardly open wireway channels that can be covered with covered segments that snap onto the base between outlet boxes of several different styles. These outlet boxes each have a back plate that snaps onto the raceway base so the base can be provided continuously along the wall without having to be cut to fit between outlet box locations. This outlet box back plate is made to receive the outlet box cover in a snap-on mode as well. The device or devices to be put in the outlet box are also capable of being snapped into place.

Abstract: Two-piece metal raceway accommodates fiber optic cable at 90.degree. corner assemblies that include curved side or back walls. The bend radius of these curved walls is two (2) inches or more, and these walls are also formed with stops to locate the raceway base, and to protect the cable from abrasion due to the raceway base flanges. Each corner assembly also includes a cover that anchors the raceway base to the corner assembly.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box is provided for assembly with a base to define an enclosed space for receiving an electrical outlet device such as a duplex plug. The plug includes threaded fasteners that are received in uniquely configured hardened steel clips. These clips are preassembled with the box for this purpose. Each clip includes an upper portion of U-shape for receiving the flat stock provided at the top portion of the box. Each clip has depending panels that cooperate to define a V-shape such that the apex of the V defines a slotted opening for receiving the threaded fastener as a result of a push-in motion. The edges of the slotted opening act on the threaded portion of the fastener to prevent its withdrawal except by unthreading.

Abstract: An electrical ceiling fan is supported from a two piece surface mounted outlet box. The outlet box back plate has two threaded fasteners that hold threaded posts, and that extended downwardly through holes in the outlet box cover. The fan has an adaptor plate that is also supported on these fasteners. The surface mounted outlet box has knock outs to facilitate assembly with surface mounted raceway.

Abstract: A cross-connect bus for plugging engagement with a cross-connect panel having a plurality of rows of projecting insulation displacement connectors.

Abstract: A modular faceplate assembly having a faceplate and at least one modular panel received and supported within a frontal opening in the faceplate and releasably secured to the faceplate by concealed latches hingedly connected to the modular panel rearward of the faceplate for flexure between latching and releasing positions relative to keepers carried by the faceplate and resiliently biased to said latching positions. When the latches are in latching positions latch operators carried by the latches form closures for latch operating apertures opening through the frontal surface of the faceplate assembly. Cam surfaces on the latch operators facilitate operation of the latches to release the panel from the faceplate in response to insertion of an operating tool into the latch operating apertures.

Abstract: A high density electrical termination assembly made by forming a terminal assembly including separate thermoplastic sections having confronting surfaces. An in-line array of conductor receiving slots open through the confronting surface of one of the sections and a plurality of elongate spaced apart energy directors project from and extending along the confronting surface of the other of the sections. Stacking within the grooves portions of the conductors to be connected are stacked within slots in the terminal section. The thermoplastic sections positioned in juxtaposed stacked relationship to each other along the confronting surfaces with the energy directors extending across the slots in axially transverse relationship to the conductors stacked within the slots.

Abstract: An office coral has a wall that supports a desktop on which various items of office equipment are to be connected with power and data communication cables within the coral structure. A desktop raceway is secured to the wall or desk top and defines both a wireway for the connecting cables and a storage facility for the cabling normally provided on the equipment. The raceway is made up of two generally L-shaped extrusions, one a back plate, the second a cover. The cover has a front panel that defines a slot in cooperation with the back plate's lower edge. A wireway is provided inside the cover adjacent its top panel, and cabling storing or wrapping clips are provided on both the back plates and inside the cover.