Abstract: A wiring device of the type which by itself is configured for surface mounting is made more universally mountable by an adapter plate to which the device may be joined and the adapter plate joined to any of a number of different outlet box configurations. In addition and alternatively, a wiring device so described may be further utilized with a portable box on which it is mounted, which portable box has sidewalls with cord openings communicating to the device. All such configurations are designed for compactness and shallowness from a front face which may provide a plurality of outlet openings. In addition, the wiring device of the present invention utilizes a snub hole wiring termination configuration that facilitates installation.

Abstract: Surge suppression is provided by varistors connected between, respectively, hot and neutral conductors and hot and ground conductors, each through a common fuse that avoids hazardous overvoltages on the varistors. A first indicator circuit portion provides an indication that the power is on and surge protection is present and includes a first indicator device such as a green light-emitting diode that is energized when the fuse is intact, and a second indicator circuit portion is provided for indicating power is on and surge protection is lacking that includes a second indicator device such as a red light-emitting diode that is energized by the line conductors when the fuse has been interrupted. The surge suppressor and dual indicator apparatus can be contained within a wiring device such as a receptacle. A single varistor unit containing two varistor disks with three leads, including a center tap, allows three effective surge suppressor circuit branches in a compact configuration.

Abstract: A wiring device of the type which by itself is configured for surface mounting is made more universally mountable by an adapter plate to which the device may be joined and the adapter plate joined to any of a number of different outlet box configurations. In addition and alternatively, a wiring device so described may be further utilized with a portable box on which it is mounted, which portable box has sidewalls with cord openings communicating to the device. All such configurations are designed for compactness and shallowness from a front face which may provide a plurality of outlet openings. In addition, the wiring device of the present invention utilizes a snub hole wiring termination configuration that facilitates installation.

Abstract: Surge suppression is provided by varistors connected between, respectively, hot and neutral conductors and hot and ground conductors, each through a common fuse that avoids hazardous overvoltages on the varistors. A first indicator circuit portion provides an indication that the power is on and surge protection is present and includes a first indicator device such as a green light-emitting diode that is energized when the fuse is intact, and a second indicator circuit portion is provided for indicating power is on and surge protection is lacking that includes a second indicator device such as a red light-emitting diode that is energized by the line conductors when the fuse has been interrupted. The surge suppressor and dual indicator apparatus can be contained within a wiring device such as a receptacle. A single varistor unit containing two varistor disks with three leads, including a center tap, allows three effective surge suppressor circuit branches in a compact configuration.

Abstract: A multiple outlet receptacle, such as with four outlets, is provided that has a housing that accommodates the internal contact elements which are respectively supported on conductive plates within the housing that include two plates fitting within the same plane and having the contact elements extending forwardly therefrom to plug receiving apertures in the front face of the housing. The internal contact elements and the front face apertures are configured so that angle plugs may be placed in each of the four outlets without interference with each other or their line cords and may extend in each of four orthogonal directions to fixtures with which they are connected. The housing can be of molded insulating material integrally formed with a mounting flange.

Abstract: An electrical switch for use in alternating current circuits is constructed to provide slow contact separation and positive switch action. A pivotally mounted operating handle accepts a pivot pin at one end of a link member. A pivot pin at the other end of the link member fits into a brush lifter. Angular motion of the operating handle produces rectilinear motion in the brush lifter which results in opening and closing the switch contacts. A unique arc shield which encircles one out of each pair of contacts, protects the switch mechanism from destructive effects of contact arcing.

Abstract: An electrical connector with weatherproofing and cord gripping qualities provided by a terminal housing having rearwardly projecting fingers that mate within recesses of a cap member, which recesses have tapered rear surfaces so that the fingers are forced inwardly radially to bear against a rubber bushing surrounding a contained conductor that has wire leads connected with contacts within the housing.

Abstract: An electric plug for use with an electrical cord and characterized by a base and cover of separately molded dielectric material, the base having a central cord-receiving opening and having electric conductor prongs extending from one end thereof and having a pair of integral posts extending from the other end thereof and on diametrically opposite sides of the cord opeing, a tubular cover enclosing the base and having an open end closed by said other end of the base and having a closed end with apertures through which the conductor prongs extend, and a pair of cord-clamping members adjustably mounted on the posts.

Abstract: A ground fault receptacle with improved reset test button for a ground fault receptacle for use in an outlet box characterized by a reset structure comprising a latch member releasably latching a contact carrying latching arm in the contact-closed position, the release structure also comprising a reset button including recess means, the latch member being seated in the recess means and being pivotally movable between latched and unlatched positions of the contact arm, and the reset structure comprising spring means engaging the latch member for holding the latch member in the latched position.

Abstract: An electric receptacle with ground fault protection characterized by an insulating rectangular housing adapted for mounting in a wall outlet box. The housing comprises opposite end and edge walls with front and rear sides open and with a transverse partition dividing a chamber formed by the ends and side walls into a pair of side-by-side compartments. Partition aperture means between the compartments and the first compartment communicating with the open front side and the second compartment communicating with the open rear side. Receptacle components are disposed in the first compartment and electronic components are disposed in the second compartment, and the components in each compartment are so disposed as to minimize the space requirements for the receptacle.

Abstract: An angle plug including a base member with contact elements and terminals, a cover member with a lateral access port for a cable to be admitted and joined to the terminals, and a cylindrical ring member slidably fit over a portion of the base and longitudinally abutting a second portion of the base and also the cover. Fastener apertures extending through the base are selectively oriented with any of numerous threaded apertures within a chamber of the cover to provide angular orientation in numerous positions without otherwise requiring mating engagement of the cover with respect to the base.

Abstract: A threaded cover is pivotally secured to a strap that is hinged to the base of the cover plate, the strap and base having cooperative means for holding the cover in an up position away from the access port to the receptacle merely by raising the strap to a position substantially perpendicular from the base, such as by the strap being L-shaped with a loop in the leg of the L encircling a pin secured to the base with the loop being shaped to slide over the pin when the cover is raised and to bear against the base in a locked open position.