Abstract: A wiring device terminal may include a contact having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a fastener. One or more conductors may be engaged in the terminal directly between the fastener and the contact without requiring a pressure plate. When the fastener is tightened, the one or more conductors may be securingly held between the contact and the fastener.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may include an electrical device, an actuator for the electrical device, and an interchangeable frame configured to be removeably attached to the electrical device and to hold the actuator. The frame may be adapted to pivotally engage the electrical device. In another embodiment, an electrical device may have an interface adapted to enable a frame to be attached to and removed from the electrical device, an opening in the electrical device, a subactuator arranged to actuate a switch in the electrical device through the opening, and to engage an actuator on the frame when the frame is attached to the electrical device, and a first rim disposed about the opening. The subactuator may include a second rim arranged to overlap the first rim.

Abstract: A wiring device terminal may include a contact having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a fastener. One or more conductors may be engaged in the terminal directly between the fastener and the contact without requiring a pressure plate. When the fastener is tightened, the one or more conductors may be securingly held between the contact and the fastener.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an electrical device and a removable cover, where the electrical device and the removable cover are adapted to enable the removable cover to pivot into an installed position on the electrical device. In another embodiment, a system includes an electrical device having a pushbutton, and a cover adapted to be removably attached to the electrical device, where the cover includes an opening for accessing the pushbutton, and where the pushbutton includes a sub button and a cosmetic cap adapted to be removably attached to the sub button.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an adapter may include first and second mounting portions adapted to be attached to first and second mounting portions of an electrical device, and first and second spacers arranged to space the first and second mounting portion of the electrical device away from a building surface when the electrical device is mounted to an electrical box. In another embodiment, an adapter may include a ring to surround a body of a standard electrical device, and first and second slots to receive first and second mounting portion of the standard electrical device.

Abstract: An installation of a wiring device configured to receive a cover plate which snaps on to a wiring device such as a switch or receptacle. With this invention, openings for threaded fasteners in the face of the cover plate are eliminated. In an embodiment, the cover plate has an opening sized to accommodate a wiring device and supports, on opposing side walls of the opening, at least one protrusion. The protrusions on the cover plate are located to detachably engage corresponding protrusions on the wiring device as the cover plate is pressed onto the wiring device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an electrical device and a removable cover, where the electrical device and the removable cover are adapted to enable the removable cover to pivot into an installed position on the electrical device. In another embodiment, a system includes an electrical device having a pushbutton, and a cover adapted to be removably attached to the electrical device, where the cover includes an opening for accessing the pushbutton, and where the pushbutton includes a sub button and a cosmetic cap adapted to be removably attached to the sub button.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an adapter may include first and second mounting portions adapted to be attached to first and second mounting portions of an electrical device, and first and second spacers arranged to space the first and second mounting portion of the electrical device away from a building surface when the electrical device is mounted to an electrical box. In another embodiment, an adapter may include a ring to surround a body of a standard electrical device, and first and second slots to receive first and second mounting portion of the standard electrical device.

Abstract: An electrical device may include first and second mounting portions arranged at opposite ends of the electrical device and adapted to mount the electrical device to an electrical box, and an alignment feature adapted to align the electrical device with an adjacent electrical device by contacting the adjacent electrical device as the electrical device slides toward the adjacent electrical device. An adapter may include first and second mounting portions adapted to be attached to first and second mounting portion of an electrical device, and an alignment feature adapted to align the electrical device with an adjacent electrical device by contacting the adjacent electrical device when the one or both of the electrical device and the adjacent electrical device are slid laterally while mounted to an electrical box.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may include an electrical device, an actuator for the electrical device, and an interchangeable frame configured to be removeably attached to the electrical device and to hold the actuator. The frame may be adapted to pivotally engage the electrical device. In another embodiment, an electrical device may have an interface adapted to enable a frame to be attached to and removed from the electrical device, an opening in the electrical device, a subactuator arranged to actuate a switch in the electrical device through the opening, and to engage an actuator on the frame when the frame is attached to the electrical device, and a first rim disposed about the opening. The subactuator may include a second rim arranged to overlap the first rim.

Abstract: An installation of a wiring device configured to receive a cover plate which snaps on to a wiring device such as a switch or receptacle. With this invention, openings for threaded fasteners in the face of the cover plate are eliminated. In an embodiment, the cover plate has an opening sized to accommodate a wiring device and supports, on opposing side walls of the opening, at least one protrusion. The protrusions on the cover plate are located to detachably engage corresponding protrusions on the wiring device as the cover plate is pressed onto the wiring device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation of a wiring device configured to receive a cover plate which snaps on to a wiring device such as a switch or receptacle. With this invention, openings for threaded fasteners in the face of the cover plate are eliminated. In an embodiment, the cover plate has an opening sized to accommodate a wiring device and supports, on opposing side walls of the opening, at least one protrusion. The protrusions on the cover plate are located to detachably engage corresponding protrusions on the wiring device as the cover plate is pressed onto the wiring device.

Abstract: A terminal of a wiring device includes a conductive plate, an arm, and a wire guide. The conductive plate has an opening formed therethrough. The conductive plate receives a fastener for securing a substantially straight wire to the conductive plate. The arm extends from the conductive plate and defines a mating element on the wiring device. The arm is an anchor of said conductive plate. The mating element of the arm is adapted to cooperate with a complementary mating element. The wire guide is in spaced relation to the fastener to position the substantially straight wire adjacent to the fastener.

Abstract: A terminal of a wiring device includes a conductive plate, an arm, and a wire guide. The conductive plate has an opening formed therethrough. The conductive plate receives a fastener for securing a substantially straight wire to the conductive plate. The arm extends from the conductive plate and defines a mating element on the wiring device. The arm is an anchor of said conductive plate. The mating element of the arm is adapted to cooperate with a complementary mating element. The wire guide is in spaced relation to the fastener to position the substantially straight wire adjacent to the fastener.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation of a wiring device configured to receive a cover plate which snaps on to a wiring device such as a switch or receptacle. With this invention, openings for threaded fasteners in the face of the cover plate are eliminated. In an embodiment, the cover plate has an opening sized to accommodate a wiring device and supports, on opposing side walls of the opening, at least one protrusion. The protrusions on the cover plate are located to detachably engage corresponding protrusions on the wiring device as the cover plate is pressed onto the wiring device.

Abstract: An improved clamp that can be inserted into a wiring device independent of a wiring termination assembly thereby reducing the complexity and cost of the manufacture of the wiring device. The clamp has a pair of legs spaced apart forming an opening to allow the wiring termination assembly to be inserted therebetween. The wiring device includes support members to support the clamp legs so to permit the clamp to pivot about the support member independently of the wiring termination assembly.

Abstract: Multi-colored detergent bars can be manufactured by extruding detergent material through a multi-apertured plate in a detergent plodder and injecting a visually distinctive liquid at the plate. The liquid is distributed throughout the detergent material in the form of striations as the material is compressed in the extrusion cone.A specific form of external striping and the use of increased amounts of injected liquid can be achieved by having some of the apertures positioned peripherally on the plate. These apertures form `walls` of extruded material which constrain the liquid into stripes.The manufactured bar has a distinctive appearance because the external striations are wider than the internal striations.