Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes articulated driver means coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, it urges the articulated driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes semi-rigid spiral wound driver means having a conical end coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, the paddle urges the semi-rigid driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: There is disclosed structure which overcomes the difficulties encountered with respect to mounting wiring devices such as a receptacle and/or a switch to a box and then attaching a wall plate. Some of the difficulties encountered are positioning the wiring devices to be in alignment with each other, locating the wiring devices to be parallel to each other, adjusting the spacing between the different devices to be equal and uniform and fixing all of the devices to be flat against the wall. These deficiencies are overcome by an alignment plate having a single centrally located opening sized to receive one of more wiring devices and a set of alignment pins for each wiring device. Each set of alignment pins on the alignment plate is located on a vertical axis which defines the center for a wiring device and each wiring device has openings for frictionally receiving and holding captive a set of alignment pins.

Abstract: A lamp adapter for receiving a lamp having a conductive threaded portion and an extension with a conductive contact electrically insulated from the conductive threaded portion. The lamp adapter has a body with a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a socket with a threaded sleeve adapted to receive the threaded portion of the lamp, a first lead electrically connected to the threaded sleeve, a cavity located with respect to the threaded sleeve so as to receive the extension of the lamp when the lamp is threaded into the threaded sleeve, a metal contact arm located within the cavity so as to make electrical contact with the conductive contact of the lamp when the lamp is threaded into the threaded sleeve, and a second lead electrically connected to the metal contact arm. The bottom portion has a threaded portion suitable for threading into a mating lamp socket, the threaded portion being electrically insulated from the top portion.

Abstract: A wiring device common in household circuits includes a flexible brush that is a separate piece from a screw plate that receives electrical power. A terminal screw can thread into the screw plate. The brush may be positioned between the screw plate and the head of the terminal screw and can have a clearance hole through which the threads if the terminal screw can pass. Good electrical and thermal conductivity is assured between the screw plate and the brush by tightening the screw. A ground strap can be employed to hold a cover to a base of the electrical device. The strap can include openings which engage snap tabs on the cover to lock all components into a complete assembly. The strap also can have hooks which engage the cover to prevent the cover from being pulled out of the strap. The wiring device can be an electrical switch, a receptacle, or any similar type of device.

Abstract: A system and method for the alignment of an insulation piercing contact within a two piece switch housing with an insulated electrical wires disposed within the housing. The housing is comprised of two halves whereby when the two halves are brought together during assembly, the insulation piercing contact pierces the insulation of the electrical wires and forms an electrical connection between the contact and the wires. Proper alignment between the insulation piercing contact and the insulated electrical wires is ensured by providing extended prongs on one half of the switch housing. On the other half of the switch housing, channels are provided and arranged to slidably engage and mate with the prongs prior to contact of the electrical wires with the piercing contact. The prongs and channels fix the relative alignment of the contact with the wire before piercing occurs and ensures consistent location of the electrical connection formed during assembly of the switch housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes articulated driver means coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle when it is depressed and to urge the rocker paddle back to its out position. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, it urges the articulated driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clockwise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and to determine its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by the articulated drive means to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes flexible driver means coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, it urges the flexible driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: A lamp adapter can adapter a mogul base lamp holder to accept a medium base lamp. The lamp adapter can accommodate only open fixture rated lamps. An open end of the lamp adapter into which a lamp is inserted has an elongated flange which allows only an open fixture rated lamp having a medium base to be completely threaded into the adapter and make electrical contact with a threaded metal sleeve and central button contact of the lamp holder. The geometry of the elongated flange prevents the threading of a closed fixture rated lamp into the adapter by taking advantage of the physical differences between the open and closed fixture rated lamps.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly receives exposed ends of an electrical wire, and includes a foldable body with complementary first and second body portions and components for securely mounting a third body portion in the assembly using a single fastening screw, and for mounting the exposed ends to electrical contacts of an electrical connector device attached to the third body portion and securely mounted in the folded and assembled body portions. The components on the body portions include posts, ribs, and bridges for relieving strain on the electrical wire in the assembly, and other ribs and interlocking components prevent the electrical connector assembly from allowing the wires, the electrical connector device, and/or the third body portion from being removed from the folded and assembled electrical connector assembly.

Abstract: A four function electrical rocker switch has two single pole, single throw on/off sections having their movable contact arms coupled to a single electrical line and their screw terminal fixed contacts connected to individual circuits. The two switch sections are independently operated. A third rocker switch is a single pole, double throw switch with a center-off position. The third switch can be operated to either of two positions to operate either one of two independent circuits or can be left in the center-off position not engaging either circuit. A five function electrical rocker switch can be made up of one section having a single pole, single throw on/off switch and two sections with single pole, double throw switches which each have a center-off position.

Abstract: The instant invention overcomes the difficulties encountered with respect to mounting electrical wiring devices to a common box and then positioning the devices relative to each other prior to attaching a wall plate. Some of the difficulties encountered are positioning the wiring devices to be in alignment with each other, locating the wiring devices to be parallel to each other, adjusting the spacing between the different devices to be equal and uniform and fixing all of the devices to be flat against the wall. In the prior art, the wiring devices are first loosely attached to a box and then moved back and forth, and up and down to fit within cut outs in a wall plate which is then attached to the wiring devices with screws. A time consuming and tedious job. This invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing wiring devices that have locating openings for engaging alignment pins located on a plate that is subsequently attached to a box.

Abstract: There is disclosed structure which overcomes the difficulties encountered with respect to mounting wiring devices such as a receptacle and/or a switch to a box and then attaching a wall plate. Some of the difficulties encountered are positioning the wiring devices to be in alignment with each other, locating the wiring devices to be parallel to each other, adjusting the spacing between the different devices to be equal and uniform and fixing all of the devices to be flat against the wall. These deficiencies are overcome by an alignment plate having a single centrally located opening sized to receive one of more wiring devices and a set of alignment pins for each wiring device. Each set of alignment pins on the alignment plate is located on a vertical axis which defines the center for a wiring device and each wiring device has openings for frictionally receiving and holding captive a set of alignment pins.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wall plate for a wiring device. The wall plate has a single opening for receiving one or a gang of two or more wiring devices within the single opening. The wall plate has along its vertical axis, a surface of positive first differential and zero second differential, comprised of a combination of splines drawn between points of varying distance from a datum plane. The surface has zero second differential when the rate of height increase of individual splines is constant. The wall plate, when composed of non-conducting material, has a conductive coating on its front surface, on its back surface or on both its front and back surfaces. When the wiring device is a switch, the surface of the switch face follows that of the wall plate. When the wiring device is a receptacle, the surface along the receptacle face is flat in one plane to allow for the proper seating of an inserted plug.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly receives exposed ends of an electrical wire, and includes a foldable body with complementary first and second body portions and components for securely mounting a third body portion in the assembly using a single fastening screw, and for mounting the exposed ends to electrical contacts of an electrical connector device attached to the third body portion and securely mounted in the folded and assembled body portions. The components on the body portions include posts, ribs, and bridges for relieving strain on the electrical wire in the assembly, and other ribs and interlocking components prevent the electrical connector assembly from allowing the wires, the electrical connector device, and/or the third body portion from being removed from the folded and assembled electrical connector assembly.

Abstract: A four function electrical rocker switch has two single pole, single throw on/off sections having their movable contact arms coupled to a single electrical line and their screw terminal fixed contacts connected to individual circuits. The two switch sections are independently operated. A third rocker switch is a single pole, double throw switch with a center-off position. The third switch can be operated to either of two positions to operate either one of two independent circuits or can be left in the center-off position not engaging either circuit. A five function electrical rocker switch can be made up of one section having a single pole, single throw on/off switch and two sections with single pole, double throw switches which each have a center-off position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes articulated driver means coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle when it is depressed and to urge the rocker paddle back to its out position. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, it urges the articulated driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clockwise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and to determine its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by the articulated drive means to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: There is disclosed structure which overcomes the deficiencies with respect to prior art devices by providing a wiring device such as a switch having a paddle that pivots about its upper end and is biased to assume the same at rest position when either in its on position or off position. Repeated pressing and releasing the lower portion of the face of the switch paddle alternately closes and opens a set of contacts within the switch to alternately connect and disconnect a load from a source of electricity each time the paddle is pressed. Thus, regardless of whether adjacent switches are on-off switches or 3-way switches, they will always be in alignment. An on-off indicator such as a small light is provided to indicate to a user when the contacts of the switch are opened or closed. The paddle of the switch has a length-width ratio dimension that is proportioned to provide a finger contact surface of increased area to allow a user to more easily and quickly identify and operate a particular switch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wall plate with a single opening for receiving one or a gang of wiring devices within the single opening. The wall plate has along its vertical axis, a surface of positive first differential and zero second differential, comprised of a combination of splines drawn between points of varying distance from a datum plane. The surface has zero second differential when the rate of height increase of individual splines is constant. The wall plate, when composed of non-conducting material, has a conductive coating on its front surface, on its back surface or on both its front and back surfaces. When the wiring device is a switch, the surface of the switch face follows that of the wall plate. When the wiring device is a receptacle, the surface along the receptacle face is flat in one plane to allow for the proper seating of an inserted plug.