Abstract: A mounting apparatus is disclosed for mounting an electrical power distribution device to a wall support member inside a wall panel to protect an electrical cable running into the apparatus. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket portion for mounting the power distribution device, the bracket portion being securable to the wall support member to project therefrom. A shield portion of the apparatus extends beyond the bracket portion in the running direction of the cable to protect the cable beyond the power distribution device outside the bounds of the bracket portion.

Abstract: A cable tap assembly includes a housing having a mating face (28) and an opposite terminating face (26). A plurality of terminals (32, 40) are mounted in the housing. Each terminal includes a mating portion engageable through the mating face of the housing with a complementary mating terminal, and a terminating portion generally at the terminating face of the housing. A wiring assembly, such as a printed circuit board (16), is mounted on the terminating face of the housing and includes a plurality of connectors (18-20) electrically couples thereto. The connectors are adapted to receive conductors of at least one multi-conductor electrical cable (88). A strain relief cover (22) and cap (24) assembly is mountable at the terminating face of the housing, over the wiring apparatus, and is adapted to hold and provide strain relief for the cable.

Abstract: An applicator tool is provided for applying an electrical connector having a plurality of insulation piercing terminals onto a multi-conductor flat cable. The tool includes a frame having a press ram drivable through a working stroke toward and away from an anvil for supporting the connector. A fixed connector-positioning peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for abuttingly engaging one side of the connector. A spring-loaded yieldable peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for yielding to a retracted condition to facilitate positioning the connector between the pegs.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is disclosed to include a housing mounting a pair of spaced switches. A rocker actuator is rockably mounted for movement relative to the housing about a rotational axis between the spaced switches, and with wing portions of the actuator on opposite sides of the rotational axis provided for alternatingly actuating the pair of switches. The rocker actuator is a one-piece component and includes a relatively stiff rocker arm rockable about the rotational axis, a connecting flange projecting outwardly from the periphery of the rocker arm, and an integral flexible intermediate wall joining the rocker arm and the connecting flange. The flexible intermediate wall supports the rocker arm in a neutral position. However, the rocker arm flexes the intermediate wall when the rocker arm is rotated about the axis in either opposite direction from the neutral position to alternate actuating positions.

Abstract: A convenience outlet assembly is adapted for interconnecting electrical components to wires in a flat cable extending behind a wall in a structure. A mounting bracket is secured to a structural support behind the wall and has a peripheral frame about a mounting opening. A cable tap subassembly is attachable to the cable. A mounting box, separate from the mounting bracket, has an open front face and a peripheral flange attachable to the peripheral frame of the mounting bracket. The peripheral flange is located on the exterior of the wall and the peripheral frame is located on the interior of the wall. The mounting box is insertable through an opening in the wall and the mounting opening in the bracket. The cable tap subassembly is mountable in a position at the rear of the box.

Abstract: A plug detection electrical receptacle includes a dielectric housing having at least one passage with an open mating end for receiving a male terminal of a complementary mating electrical plug and an opposite end communicating with a switch on a substrate. A female terminal is disposed in the passage for engagement by the male terminal. A detect switch is located in proximity to the passage for actuation by the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the passage in engagement with the female terminal. The detect switch includes an actuator at the opposite end of the passage, the actuator including a male terminal engaging portion and a switch engaging portion. A first flexible skirt extends from the actuator about the periphery thereof into sealing engagement with the substrate about the switch thereon. The flexible skirt supports the actuator with the switch engaging portion out of engagement with the switch on the substrate.

Abstract: An electrical wire strain relief and wire management system is integrally molded with a wall of an electrical receptacle housing to hold up to two electrical wires against the receptacle housing wall. A pair of side-by-side longitudinal channels extend along the wall of the receptacle housing for receiving the electrical wires. Each channel has an outer wall, with an intermediate wall shared by both channels. Each outer wall includes an inwardly directed ledge overhanging its respective channel. The shared intermediate wall includes common ledges overhanging both channels at a location spaced longitudinally of the channels from the inwardly directed ledges. The transverse distance between the ledges and the common ledges is less than the cross-dimensions of the wires so that the inwardly directed ledges and the common ledges define serpentine passages for insertion of the wires into the channels.

Abstract: A protective covering system is disclosed for use with an electrical receptacle having a front face with openings to receive prongs of an electrical plug. The system includes a protective cover having an adhesive backing for adhering to the front face of the receptacle and apertures for alignment with the openings. Locating projections protrude from the receptacle and locating holes are provided in the cover for registering with the locating projections on the receptacle to properly locate the cover thereon. Preferably, the adhesive backing is an adhesive strip substantially about the periphery of the back side of the cover, and the recessed area in the front face of the receptacle has a depth at least equal to the thickness of the cover.

Abstract: A receptacle type electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face and mounting a plurality of female electrical terminals adapted for mating with a plurality of male terminals of an appropriate mating electrical component. One of the terminals is a ground terminal adapted for connection to a ground circuit. An insulative cover is mounted over the mating face of the housing and has apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. A conductive electrostatic discharge shield includes a plate portion sandwiched between the cover and the mating face of the housing. The shield includes apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. The apertures of the plate portion are dimensioned so that the male terminals will not contact the shield. A connecting portion of the shield extends from the plate portion for electrically engaging the ground terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer.

Abstract: A portable hand tool is provided for applying at least a two-part electrical connector having insulation displacement conductive elements to an insulated electrical cable. The tool includes a manually grippable frame, with a loading die on the frame for receiving and holding the two-part electrical connector in spaced relationship. A compression die is movable relative to the loading die into pressure engagement with the electrical connector. A shaft is threaded through the frame and is connected to the compression die to effect movement of the compression die relative to the loading die in response to rotation of the shaft. A manually grippable torque applying handle projects outwardly of the shaft for rotating the shaft. A second manually grippable handle is retractably mounted on the frame for projecting outwardly therefrom and for retraction to an inoperative position alongside the frame.

Abstract: A communications distribution interface unit assembly is mountable to an appropriate frame behind an opening in a wall panel, for instance. A unitary cover is adapted for mounting to the frame and includes a front face, a rear face, and a perimeter wall alignable with the opening in the wall panel. The cover includes integral structural support ribs rigidifying the cover in a direction generally perpendicular to the wall panel. At least one communications module is mountable to the rear of the cover. The module includes at least one connector exposed at the rear of the assembly for easy access thereto. The entire communications module assembly can be preassembled and, thereafter, mounted to the frame behind the opening in the wall panel.

Abstract: A cable tap system is disclosed for selectively connecting a plurality of tap terminals to a plurality of conductors in either a continuous multi-conductor electrical cable or in two ends of two such cables butt up to one another. A closable cable clamp assembly clamps onto the continuous cable or cable ends. A terminal holder is positionable against one side of the cable clamp assembly and mounts a plurality of tap terminals for interconnection to the conductors of the cable. A backing member is positionable against an opposite side of the cable clamp assembly. A plurality of rotatable fasteners are operatively associated between the terminal holder and the backing member for sandwiching the cable clamp assembly therebetween and maintaining the tap terminals interconnected with the conductors of the cable. A tool is provided for simultaneously rotating the fasteners to close the terminal holder and the backing member in a uniform action.

Abstract: A plug detection electrical receptacle includes a dielectric housing having at least one passage with an open end for receiving a male terminal of a complementary mating electrical plug. A female terminal is disposed in the passage for engagement by the male terminal. A detect switch is located in proximity to the passage for actuation by the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the passage in engagement with the female terminal. The detect switch includes a detect contact engageable by a resilient actuator contact, with the resilient actuator contact having an insulating separator fixed thereto. The insulating separator is disposed in a path of insertion of the male terminal for engagement by the male terminal to bias the resilient actuator contact into engagement with the detect contact to close a circuit therethrough.

Abstract: A cable clamping device is provided for use with an electrical connector for electrically terminating conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The cable includes a shielding foil running the length of the cable. The cable clamping device includes first and second clamp means hingedly attached and defining mating faces profiled to provide a cable passage therebetween. Complementary interengaging latch means are provided on the first and second clamp means to hold the clamp means together sandwiching the cable in the passage. A foil shield bus terminal is mounted on one of the first and second clamp means and includes puncture means for penetrating the shielding foil. The other first and second clamp mans bias the shielding foil into penetrating engagement with the puncture means. A conductive means couples the foil shield bus terminal to the ground conductor of the cable.

Abstract: A telecommunications outlet includes an outlet housing and a telecommunications module assembly. The outlet housing includes an opening into which a complementary mating telecommunications plug can be inserted from the front of the housing. The telecommunications module assembly includes a telecommunications module mounted on a printed circuit board. Guide tracks project rearwardly from the outlet housing for slidably engaging opposite edges of the printed circuit board for guiding the module assembly into an operable position with the telecommunications module aligned with the opening for mating with the telecommunications plug. A latch arm projects rearwardly of the housing for holding the module assembly in its operable position. An electrical connector is mounted on the printed circuit board rearwardly of the telecommunications module for easy access thereto.

Abstract: A modular fuseblock furnishes dovetail joint grooves and ridges that are accessible from above on both sides of the fuseblock. This provides for interlocking or joining additional fuseblocks on either side of a panel mounted fuseblock without unfastening the mounted fuseblock. Pilot grooves and ridges extending upwardly respectively from the dovetail grooves and ridges aid in engaging the dovetail groove and ridge joint means. Locking tabs on the sides of the fuseblock body detent joined fuseblocks to maintain them fixed in vertical position and end walls that ride in vertical tracks in the two side walls of the fuseblock prevent intrusion to the fuse clips and electrical connections from the ends of the fuseblock. An adapter provides mounting the fuseblock on a channel member while using the dovetail joint grooves and ridges. The adapter mounts on the channel member through rotational movement, and the fuseblock mounts on the adapter through translational movement.