Abstract: An electrical receptacle having openings to receive a plug having either parallel or tandem (perpendicular) blades, and a safety shutter assembly having elements positioned behind the openings to prevent insertion into the electrical contacts of the receptacle of items other than the intended plugs. The shutter assembly includes three individual shutter elements, each positioned upon a spacer element in the back of the receptacle cover for sliding movement thereon. Two of the shutter elements each include a camming portion and a blocking portion, and are positioned for movement by insertion of the blades of a parallel blade plug to permit the blades to be received in the receptacle contacts. The third shutter element is positioned for movement, together with the other two shutter elements, by insertion of a tandem blade plug to permit the blades thereof to be received in the proper contacts.

Abstract: An electrical switch device adapted to be secured to an electrical outlet box mounted behind a wall member, having elongated, non-metallic mounting straps formed integrally with the device cover, and an improved grounding system adapted to automatically ground a metallic wall plate intended for use with the device without using the usual metal mounting strap. The mounting straps are proportioned to the maximum possible dimensions to fit under the wall plate to abut the wall member so as to substantially reduce the chance of a floating installation. Grounding means affixed to the cover adjacent one of the mounting screw apertures is adapted to engage a mounting screw inserted through the aperture so as to provide good electrical communication therebetween.

Abstract: An electrical outlet receptacle device adapted to be mounted adjacent a wall member having a hole therein which permits the device to be secured to an electrical outlet box mounted behind the wall member. The receptacle includes a cover formed integrally with a pair of mounting strap elements projecting from opposite ends thereof. Each mounting strap terminates in free end edges which are beveled along their front facing surfaces and elongated to the maximum possible length to fit under a wallplate intended for use with the device, and is generally squared along its side edges for maximizing the available surface area for abutting the wall member and substantially reducing the chance of having a "floating" installation.

Abstract: A tool for preparing multi-conductor electrical cable in a configuration for termination to and installation in a self-contained wiring device which locates the electrical cable in an anvil and a cutter assembly pierces the outer sheath of the cable and subsequently spreads the conductors of the cable as the cutter is advanced into the cable. The tool also provides flanges adapted for urging the sliced and spread apart conductors in the body of a self-contained wiring device to terminate the conductors to the device and permit closure of the device by a back cover.

Abstract: In a high grade electrical receptacle, the terminals are fabricated from a low strength alloy such as cartridge brass. The terminals include a pair of grasping members which extend from a common member and which are inclined toward one another to grasp the blade of an electrical plug. The grasping members are tapered by having decreasing cross sectional dimensions as they extend from the common member. In one embodiment of the invention the inclined grasping members are generally rectangular with a generally triangular cut out. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the grasping members are of a generally triangular shape.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector device for coupling to the end of an electrical power cable. The cable is received in a connector housing, passing through a connector body and an apertured collar which is threadably engaged on the connector housing. A particulate shield is located within the connector housing to protect the housing and inner portions of the connector body from the intrusion of particulate matter, such as dust. The shield comprises a series of panel-like leaf segments which circumscribe the cable. The shield cooperates with the collar such that when threaded onto the connector housing, the opening formed by the leaf segments closes around the cable to form a protective covering for the connector housing and connector body.

Abstract: In a weatherproof cover for an electrical receptacle, a plurality of lids are rotatably mounted in a generally rectangular base plate having three surrounding walls. A butterfly shaped biasing member is disposed between the lids and the base plate and applies a force to the lids to hold them in close proximity to the base plate in order to form a weatherproof seal. The lids cover receptacle access apertures which extend through the base plate and a stiffening plate disposed behind the base plate.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box has electrical power cable entry ports in which one or more closure panels are each mounted adjacent the rim of the aperture along one edge portion only of the panel, the remaining portion of each panel being free and extending substantially across the aperture in a direction angularly inwardly from the plane of the aperture. The closure panels are each either hingedly mounted or sufficiently flexible and resilient so as to be self-opening, such that each free end portion is deflected away from the opening upon passage of the cable into the aperture by manual force, and thereafter resistingly bears against the installed cable. Each panel may be tapered so as to have increased thickness at the base, in which case the panels are self-clamping against removal of the cable from the aperture, and may include supplementary cable gripping projections on their outwardly facing surfaces.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box has electrical power cable entry ports in which one or more closure panels are each mounted adjacent the rim of the aperture along one edge portion only of the panel, the remaining portion of each panel being free and extending substantially across the aperture in a direction angularly inwardly from the plane of the aperture. The closure panels are each either hingedly mounted or sufficiently flexible and resilient so as to be self-opening, such that each free end portion is deflected away from the opening upon passage of the cable into the aperture by manual force, and thereafter resistingly bears against the installed cable. Each panel may be tapered so as to have increased thickness at the base, in which case the panels are self-clamping against removal of the cable from the aperture, and may include supplementary cable gripping projections on their outwardly facing surfaces.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box has electrical power cable entry ports in which one or more closure panels are each mounted adjacent the rim of the aperture along one edge portion only of the panel, the remaining portion of each panel being free and extending substantially across the aperture in a direction angularly inwardly from the plane of the aperture. The closure panels are each either hingedly mounted or sufficiently flexible and resilient so as to be self-opening, such that each free end portion is deflected away from the opening upon passage of the cable into the aperture by manual force, and thereafter resistingly bears against the installed cable. Each panel may be tapered so as to have increased thickness at the base, in which case the panels are self-clamping against removal of the cable from the aperture, and may include supplementary cable gripping projections on their outwardly facing surfaces.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle has shuttered slots for preventing the entry of foreign objects into the slots other than the prongs of an electrical plug. A housing within the cover of the receptacle is located behind the receptacle slots. A shutter is located within the housing and is formed of two identical sliding members guided by a stationary member. Each of the sliding members is formed of a blade and a cam which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of a pair of slots, and are mounted transversely to a connecting spine. The blade and the cam of each of the sliding members are offset in both transverse and longitudinal directions from each other about the spine in order to permit an interleaving of the blade of one sliding member with the cam of the other sliding member. The sliding members are positioned with their spines in opposed positions and in contact with opposite sides of the stationary member.

Abstract: The structure according to the invention includes a pair of flange members depending angularly towards each other from opposite sides of each electrical power cable entry port formed in a sidewall portion of an electrical outlet box, with each pair of cooperating flange members adapted to enable essentially complete closure of the cable entry port. According to one aspect, each cooperating pair of flange members comprises a pair of cable grasping detent flanges, each spaced from its corresponding wall portion by a base-like projection to accommodate an entry port closure panel. According to another aspect, the inward edges of each cooperating pair of flange members are coupled together to close the cable entry port which may be formed with a portion extending into the backwall, with a rigid flange depending from the sidewall portion and extending parallel to the front edges of the flange members.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box includes a set of cable entry ports arranged along a wall of the box. One of the ports is recessed inwardly of the box wall by a recessed wall portion, or shelf, formed adjacent a port structure associated with mounting wiring devices to the box. The recessed wall portion provides sufficient space to permit cable-clamping closure structures adjacent each port.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box having wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermost periphery of the box wall structure, the recessed areas housing pawl mounting devices and electrical power cable entry ports. The cable entry ports have self-opening and/or self-clamping closure panels extending angularly inwardly from the rim of the port which are also self-centering and self-adjusting for different cable sizes.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box having wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermost periphery of the box wall structure, the recessed areas housing pawl mounting devices and electrical power cable entry ports. Each pawl mounting device includes a single stop flange on the outer surface of the box wall structure. The pawl arm includes a hub into which a threaded mounting screw is fastened and extends tangentially of the hub. The pawl arm terminates on one side of the hub in a right-angled stop flange and terminates on the opposite side of the hub in a small tab member. A guide channel adjacent the box stop flange slidably receives the pawl hub to guide the pawl in back and forth linear travel while the rear tab moves freely within a slotted channel formed between the box stop flange and the guide channel. The pawl arm and rear tab are alternatively urged against the box stop flange upon rotating the pawl in opposite directions causing the pawl to travel linearly in both a forward and backward direction.

Abstract: An adjustably lockable bar hanger support for mounting a ceiling box or the like to a floor/ceiling joist includes a male and a female support member each being generally L-shaped and each having a generally elongate leg adapted for slidable telescoping engagement with the elongate leg of the other member and a relatively short leg adapted for attachment to the joist. As preferably embodied, the male member elongate leg is slidable within the female member elongate leg, and the female member is formed with a detent tab of its elongate leg, which is adapted to be deflected into a receiving aperture formed in the elongate leg of the male member for locking the male and female members in assembled relationship when the tab and aperture are aligned. Advantageously, at least two receiving apertures are formed in the male member elongate leg at locations which, when positioned adjacent the detent tab, correspond to predetermined inter-joist spacings.