Abstract: A bundling tie having a head at one end, a tail at the other end, and a central strap body therebetween. The head includes a strap ingress face for receiving the strap and a strap egress face from which the inserted strap exits the head. The head further includes a central passageway in communication with the strap ingress face and the strap egress face for receipt of the tail. A metallic locking barb is embedded into a flexible foundation in the head. The flexible foundation is partially defined by a channel around the foundation. The channel provides increased barb rotation upon strap insertion into the head while also providing a stop surface that requires greater barb deflection upon attempt to withdraw the strap from the head.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle cover assembly provides weather-tight closure of a receptacle outlet. The cover assembly includes a faceplate mountable over an electrical receptacle. The faceplate includes an opening for exposing an outlet of the receptacle. A cover is hingedly attached to the faceplate for closing the opening. A spring is positioned between the cover and the faceplate and supports the cover in a normally closed position. The spring includes a leaf spring portion and a cantilevered spring portion each independently deflectable to permit repeated closure of the cover.

Abstract: A clamp jaw/lever bypass meter socket includes an insulative base and a plurality of line and load end jaw-type releasable contacts for receiving the blades of a meter. Each of the contacts includes a stationary contact and a movable contact pivotally coupled to the stationary contact. The meter socket also includes a spring biasing said movable contact to be in a clamped position with the stationary contact. The meter socket includes a meter bypass having bypass cams coupled to a manually rotatable shaft. The bypass cams are movable from an operating position whereby the jaw-type contacts one clamped and current flows through a meter and a bypass position in which the bypass cams are electrically shorting the line and load contacts for the same phase for changing or testing a meter without service interruption. Both the stationary and movable contacts are a one-piece construction. The movable contacts include supplemental contact arms so that current is divided between the stationary and movable contacts.

Abstract: A plug-in cable connector comprises an optional number of plate-shaped contact carrier modules that are provided with defining walls which partially close the duct-shaped chambers of the modules in a mirror-image fashion. In connection with the provision of a stop shoulder on a contact carrier module on one hand and the incorporation of half walls in the module carrier casing on the other hand, each of the modules may be individually inserted in an operative manner into the casing, forming a self-contained enclosed unit.

Abstract: A connector for terminating a metal clad electrical cable is suitable for use in hazardous locations. The connector includes an elongate generally cylindrical body having a cable receiving end, a conductor egressing end, and a central axial bore therethrough. An elongate generally cylindrical hub accommodates the body. The hub has a body receiving end, a conductor egressing end, and a central axial bore therethrough. A capable seal is provided by a sealing bushing and a gland nut which is rotatably coupled to the cable receiving end of the body, sealingly coupling the cable to the body. The body and the hub include cooperative engagement elements for preventing the relative rotation of the hub and the body upon rotatably coupling the gland nut to the body about the cable.

Abstract: A quartz halogen outdoor floodlight assembly, having an improved lamp, reflector, and housing therefor for increased adjustability and overall performance. The housing comprises a two component unit, having upper and lower separable housing members, interconnected through a quarter turn fastening system comprising at least one key extending from the lower housing member, a receiving keyway formed in the upper housing member, and a camming ramp formed internally in the upper housing member. A lens in secured to the face of the upper housing member by a sealing adhesive, which simultaneously retains a reflector within the upper housing. A lamp operatively secured within a socket disposed in the lower housing member is operatively positioned in the reflector upon assembly. The lamp preferably includes an internal reflector which aligns with the external reflector to increase longitudinal light output.

Abstract: A cable tie includes an elongate generally planar strap and a head. The head includes a passageway therethrough for inserting the strap and a flexibly hinged locking pawl adjacent the passageway. The cable tie resists longitudinal deformation of the locking notches when adjacent the locking teeth on the pawl. Side edge-barriers are located along the strap adjacent the head so that the strap may be cut at a location between the side edge-barriers.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box is formed from side plates and an U-shaped plate forming top, bottom and rear walls. The side plate has bosses, projecting outwardly from the box to ensure that the box is uniformly spaced from a vertical surface, for example the side of a stud. To facilitate mounting of the box to a stud, at least one boss has an aperture therein for receiving a screw or other fastener. Preferably, this aperture has an axis angled so that the axis passes through the front opening of a box. The bosses with apertures can include planar central portions for receiving a screw head and further can have an outer portion to the aperture for receiving part of a screw head to minimize protrusion of the screw head into the box. The screw head is then recessed away from the interior of the box to prevent shorting of electrical context, and as it is located in a boss contacting the stud or other surface, unwanted distortion of the side plate is avoided.

Abstract: An upstanding stacked electrical connector assembly comprises an upper connector having a plurality of contact elements, each having a first segment rearwardly therein and a second segment extending downwardly from the first segment, a lower connector having a plurality of contact elements, each having a first segment extending rearwardly therein and a second segment extending downwardly from the first segment, support structure for supporting the upper and lower connectors in vertically spaced relation and having transversely spaced elements extending rearwardly from and vertically below the second connector and contact retention structure disposed between the transversely spaced elements of the support structure for receiving at least the second segments of the contacts of the upper connector and retaining the received contact second segments against both transverse and vertically upward movement relative to the connector assembly.

Abstract: An improved electrical outlet box having thin wall construction and localized elements for structurally reinforcing the box. The thin wall outlet box includes a bottom wall and a perimeter wall perimetrically bounding the bottom wall and an open upper end defined by a lip. The perimeter wall comprises a plurality of sidewalls which join together to form corners. Each of the sidewalls has a reinforcement rib longitudinally extending substantially parallel to the lip and projecting inwardly toward the interior of the box. In addition, each of the corners has an outwardly projecting rib which extends downwardly from a point on the corner between the lip and the bottom wall onto the bottom wall.

Abstract: An improved electrical outlet box assembly includes an outlet box and a cover. The outlet box includes a bottom wall and a sidewall perimetrically bounding the bottom wall and an open upper end. The sidewall supports a pair of diametrically opposed ear lugs. Each ear lug has a pair of ears integrally formed therewith extending inwardly into the interior of the box. The ears secure a fastening element. The cover is removably frictionally engagable with the box and provides a closure for the open upper end of the box. The cover includes a generally planar surface with a pair of diametrically opposed dome-shaped protrusions extending from the top surface of the cover. The protrusions are positioned on the cover such that they align with the ears and accommodate the fastening elements therein. The cover further includes a pair of locking members extending from the bottom surface of the cover and which are frictionally engagable with the ears thereby holding the cover onto the outlet box.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for advancing an elongate strip of material including a pilot mechanism for locating the strip such that flexure regions of the strip are disposed at a predetermined position relative to the feed mechanism. The mechanism advances the strip a distance corresponding to the spacing between flexure regions. A control device is included for operating the pilot mechanism and the advancing device alternately such that before each advancement the strip is located with its flexure regions in the predetermined position relative to the feed mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating electrical conductors of a multiconductor cable comprises an electrically insulative housing defining an passage for receipt of an electrical connector plug and an open interior compartment, a plurality of electrical contacts supported in the housing, the contacts having first portions accessible through the housing passage and second IDC portions resident in the compartment, an electrically conductive sheet member fully circumscribing a part of the housing in which the contact first portions are resident and partly circumscribing the compartment and a stuffer member closing the compartment and dressing electrical conductors into engagement with the contact second IDC portions.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides for the termination of discrete insulated conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The connector includes an insulative connector housing supporting plural electrical contacts having insulation displacing contact portions. A conductor holding block is movably supported by the housing with respect to the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block includes contact slots for receipt of the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block further includes passages in communication with the contact slots for receipt of the conductors. The conductor holding block is movable between a conductor receiving position and a conductor termination position. The conductor holding block is continuously supported by the connector housing so as to define a conductor support position to temporarily support the conductors against the insulation displacing contact portions without effecting conductor termination.

Abstract: A method for forming a welded joint as between first and second electrical conductive members by the use of a radiant energy source, wherein the first member has a higher reflectivity with respect to the radiant energy than the second member, the method comprising the steps of preselecting respective areas of the first and second members for the welded joint, forming an aperture extending fully through a portion of the selected area of the first member, the portion being selected to be of an area less than the selected area of the second member, placing the first member in overlying relation to the second member with the first member portion disposed interiorly of the perimeter of the selected area of the second member and issuing the radiant energy directly onto the first member and concurrently through the first member apertured portion onto the second member. Assemblies for effecting welding operations are provided.

Abstract: Alignment apparatus for aligning contact pins exiting an electrical connector comprises an elongate body of electrically insulative material having a generally flat base defining a plurality of passages opening into respective upper and lower surfaces of the base portion, first projections integral with the body and extending upwardly of the base upper surface, the first projections being disposed interiorly of longitudinally opposed end margins of the body, and second projections integral with the body and extending upwardly of the base upper surface, the second projections being cantilever-supported by the base such that free ends of the second projections distal from the base upper surface may occupy positions variable longitudinally of the base. The first projections provide for registration of the alignment apparatus with a connector and are adjacent longitudinally opposed margins of the apparatus.

Abstract: A quartz halogen outdoor floodlight assembly, having an improved lamp, reflector, and housing therefor for increased adjustability and overall performance. The housing comprises a two component unit, having upper and lower separable housing members, interconnected through a quarter turn fastening system comprising at least one key extending from the lower housing member, a receiving keyway formed in the upper housing member, and a camming ramp formed internally in the upper housing member. A lens in secured to the face of the upper housing member by a sealing adhesive, which simultaneously retains a reflector within the upper housing. A lamp operatively secured within a socket disposed in the lower housing member is operatively positioned in the reflector upon assembly. The lamp preferably includes an internal reflector which aligns with the external reflector to increase longitudinal light output.

Abstract: A conduit connector provides for the retentive termination of an electrical conduit to a junction box. The conduit connector includes the connector housing including a conduit receiving end, an opposed conductor egressing end and a central conduit passage therebetween. The housing includes opposed conduit engagement surfaces which are relatively movable towards one another to engage the conduit supported within the passage. Inwardly directed lances are struck from one of the opposed conduit engagement surfaces for biting engagement with the conduit to frictionally retain the conduit within the connector, resisting axial pullout of the conduit therefrom.

Abstract: An outlet box for a conventional electrical receptacle or like includes a rear support bracket extending rearwardly from one side thereof. The bracket is generally L-shaped and can include a weakened portion, to enable it to be bent. The bracket abuts an inner face of a wall panel, to prevent rearward movement of the outlet box. At the front, a frame can be attached to or integral with the side wall of the outlet box, for the mounting of communication cables. For this purpose, the frame can include one or more tabs to which communication cables can be initially secured. The tabs are deflectable internally, to abut the inner face of a wall panel around the outlet box and the frame, to prevent forward movement of the outlet box.