Abstract: An electrical wiring device having a mechanism for clamping conduits of various diameters. The wiring device includes an electrical connector having a passageway for receiving conduit therein, and a clamping mechanism securely coupled thereto for clamping conduits having a variety of diameters. The clamping mechanism has at least one outwardly extending member and rotates 90.degree. between first and second positions. When the clamping mechanism is in its first position, it clamps conduit having a large diameter. When the clamping mechanism is in its second position, the outwardly extending member thereon clamps conduit having a smaller diameter. The clamping mechanism is snap-fitted to the connector which allows relative rotary and slight axial movement therebetween. Teeth on the connector and clamping mechanism prevent relative rotary movement when engaged, and can be disengaged by axially moving the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly 10 includes an electrical connector or plug 16 with electrical contacts, such as tubular brush contacts 34 and an electrical connector inlet assembly or receptacle 20 with mating electrical contacts such as contact pins 409. The plug has a cover 50 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover 460 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. The receptacle also has a retractable hood or weathershield 510 movably coupled thereto between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, hood 510 partially covers plug 16.

Abstract: A switched outlet having a dead front includes a housing, an electrical receptacle mounted in the housing for receiving an electrical plug, a switch mounted in the housing, a handle coupled to the housing and movable between on and off positions, and a switch actuating mechanism. The switch actuating mechanism is coupled to the switch for activating and deactivating the switch. A clutch engages or disengages the handle and the switch activating mechanism. The clutch engages the handle and the switch actuating mechanism when an electrical plug is fully inserted in the electrical receptacle. The clutch disengages the handle from the switch actuating mechanism when no electrical plug is fully received in the electrical receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly 10 includes an electrical connector or plug 16 with electrical contacts and an electrical connector inlet assembly or receptacle 20 with mating electrical contacts. The plug has a cover 50 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover 460 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are either automatically or manually uncovered only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector inlet assembly with a break-away mechanism coupled to an electric vehicle for receiving electrical energy. The break-away mechanism disconnects the contacts of the inlet assembly or receptacle from the contacts of the plug to prevent damage of the electrical connector assembly, upon application of a highly excessive force pulling the plug away from the receptacle prior to disengagement of the contacts. The electrical connector inlet assembly receives an electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts for mating with the electrical contacts of the electrical inlet assembly or receptacle. The plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment.

Abstract: An electrical connector and cord clamp includes a main body having an axial passage therein for receiving an electrical cord and a fixed clamping jaw extending from an upper face of the main body. A movable jaw is interconnected with the fixed clamping jaw by a plurality of screws for applying clamping forces between the fixed and movable jaws. Carried by the fixed or movable jaw, a projecting member is movable from a recessed position in which the clamp grips a standard size cord to an extended position projecting radially into the axial passage between the fixed and movable clamping jaws in which the clamp grips a small size electrical cord. The projecting member is coupled to and movable relative to the jaws via a threaded connection, a bayonet connection, or a cam and cam follower connection.

Abstract: An electrical cable and connector assembly for electrically coupling equipment to a power source, and having an electrical cable with a plurality of power conductors and a pilot conductor releasably coupled to an electrical contact in an electrical connector, so that the pilot conductor releases from the electrical contact of the connector when a mechanical stress or force is applied to the cable. The pilot conductor releases from the contact of the connector prior to damage occurring to the remaining conductors from the stress or force applied to the cable. The power conductors are spirally wrapped about the centrally located pilot conductor so that the power conductors can stretch while the pilot conductor is pulled from its electrical contact upon application of the force or stress on the cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly includes a male electrical connector or plug with a first set of electrical contacts arranged along a common arc and a female electrical connector or receptacle with a second set of electrical contacts arranged along a common arc. Both the receptacle and the plug has a apertured shutter for selectively covering and uncovering its respective electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the shutters of the plug and receptacle are rotated to uncover the contacts only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly includes a male electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts and a female electrical connector or receptacle with matting electrical contacts. Both the receptacle and the plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are automatically uncovered and the receptacle contacts are moved transversely to the plug insertion direction and into contact with the plug female contacts only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a cover lockably coupled to a retainer body to prevent inadvertent uncoupling of the cover from the retainer body. The cover and retainer body are locked together by a locking arrangement which includes a locking screw or member, a passageway formed in either the cover or the retainer body for threadedly receiving the locking screw therein, and a recess formed either the cover or the retainer body for receiving the tip of the locking screw therein. In a preferred embodiment, the recess is an arcuate slot with an inclined locking surface which slopes towards the locking screw in the direction of rotation for uncoupling the cover from the retainer body. In another embodiment, the recess is a tubular or cylindrical bore with a pair of locking surfaces.

Abstract: A locking device for an electrical toggle switch has a fixed, one piece locking body. An opening extends through the body for receiving a mounting screw for a switch face plate to mount the body on the face plate. The mounting screw receiving opening is provided with an access in the body adjacent the opening to locate the mounting screw in the opening while the mounting screw is still engaged with the switch face plate. An additional opening extends through the body and is spaced from the mounting screw receiving opening. The additional opening is defined by an abutment for engaging the toggle arm of the switch and for preventing movement of the toggle arm from one position to another position, particularly from an off position to an on position.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station for recharging an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle charging station has a base unit with a control box electrically coupled to an electrical power line, and a retractable support arm assembly with an electrical conductor and an electrical connector coupled thereto for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The support arm assembly includes various support arms and/or linkages which provide limited degrees of vertical movement and horizontal movement.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device having opposing cable clamping mechanisms. The clamping mechanisms grip opposite sides of an electrical cable inserted within a housing. Each clamping mechanism includes at least one annular member which extends into the passageway of a housing and which has a saddle-shaped cable gripping end surface. A plug-shaped member, which also has a saddle-shaped end and is coaxial with the annular member, extends outwardly from within the annular member into the passageway. The annular member and plug of each clamping mechanism apply sufficient compression forces to the cable to resist slippage.

Abstract: A housing contains a device such as an electrical switch and a handle is mounted on a cover of the housing. The handle is rotatable between first and second positions. The handle is coupled to the device within the housing so that when the handle rotates, the device is changed from one state to another. An annular wall partially surrounds the handle, the wall having end faces which limit the rotational movement of the handle. The wall and the handle have holes which can be aligned in one position of the handle and held in that position by inserting the shackle of a lock. With this structure, a switch can be locked in an off or on position to inhibit unauthorized changing of the switch position.