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 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 longitudinal raceway is provided for housing electrical components such as in a space-dividing wall structure or the like. The raceway includes a pair of elongated raceway sections which, when in longitudinal juxtaposition, define a generally closed hollow structure for concealing and protecting the electrical components. A hinge is connected between adjacent longitudinal sides of the raceway sections whereby the sections are movable about the hinge between open and closed positions. Complementary interengaging latches are provided on the opposite longitudinal sides of the raceway sections to hold the sections in the closed position.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end. The forward mating end has at least one terminal receiving cavity. A terminal is received in the cavity for connection to a complementary terminal of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing. The terminal is terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing. The rear end of the housing is provided substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminal easily to be inserted into the cavity and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminal. Complementary interengaging retaining portions are provided on the terminal and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminal in the cavity when the clam-shell members are in their closed condition.

Abstract: An electrical terminal structure is provided by a pair of hermaphroditic terminals. In one form of the invention, each terminal is bifurcated to define a pair of elongated semi-cylindrical arms of different diameters defining pairs of elongated spaced edges to provide a four-point contact array. In another form of the invention, a pair of hermaphroditic terminals each are trifurcated to define a central semi-cylindrical arm and two outside arms, combining to provide a six-point contact array.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided of the wire-trap type. The connector includes a housing defining an interior cavity with a passage through the cavity for receiving an in-line conductor. A pair of openings are provided in the housing for receiving the stripped ends of a pair of electrical wires. A generally U-shaped terminal is disposed in the cavity of the housing and includes a pair of leg portions joined by a bight portion. The leg portions have wire-trapping distal ends in registry with the openings for deflectingly engaging and trapping the stripped ends of the electrical wires inserted into the openings. The bight portion has a terminating section in registry with the passage for termination to the in-line conductor.

Abstract: This specification discloses an electrically conductive raceway as used in an prefabricated interior wall panel system with a means for electrically connecting a ground wire directly to a portion of the raceway without the need for separate clips or terminals and the method and apparatus for making same.