ELECTRICAL WIRING DEVICE
A wiring device common in household circuits includes a flexible brush that is a separate piece from a screw plate that receives electrical power. A terminal screw can thread into the screw plate. The brush may be positioned between the screw plate and the head of the terminal screw and can have a clearance hole through which the threads if the terminal screw can pass. Good electrical and thermal conductivity is assured between the screw plate and the brush by tightening the screw. A ground strap can be employed to hold a cover to a base of the electrical device. The strap can include openings which engage snap tabs on the cover to lock all components into a complete assembly. The strap also can have hooks which engage the cover to prevent the cover from being pulled out of the strap. The wiring device can be an electrical switch, a receptacle, or any similar type of device.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/088,755 filed on Mar. 25, 2005, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Application No. 60/559,925 filed on Apr. 5, 2004.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wiring devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wiring devices such as receptacles and switches used in household wiring may require reliable operation at low cost. To succeed in the marketplace, successful devices are more economical to produce, are reliable in operation and, when assembled, form a unitary assembly that strongly resists disassembly than competing products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA wiring device such as a switch includes a flexible brush that is a movable contact and is a separate piece from a screw plate. A terminal screw can thread into the screw plate. The brush may be positioned between the screw plate and the head of the terminal screw. In an implementation, the brush can have a clearance hole through which the threads of the terminal screw can pass. Good electrical and thermal conductivity is assured between the screw plate and the brush by tightening a terminal screw into the screw plate.
A ground strap can be employed to hold a cover to a base of the electrical device. The strap can include openings which engage snap tabs on the cover to lock all components into a complete assembly. The strap also can have hooks which engage the cover to prevent the cover from being pulled out of the strap. The wiring device can be an electrical switch, a receptacle, or any similar type of device.
Some implementations of the disclosure have the advantage that there is no need for the brush of an electrical switch device to be permanently attached to the screw plate that can be coupled to the AC power line.
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest terms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.
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While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A wiring device comprising:
- a switch for connecting and disconnecting a current to a load;
- a receptacle adapted to receive at least one type of appliance plug;
- a housing for mounting said switch and said receptacle therein; and
- a cover for substantially concealing said switch and said receptacle wherein when said switch and said receptacle are assembled in combination with said housing and said cover, said switch and said receptacle form a combined device contained within a single housing
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a single gang housing.
3. The wiring device of claim 1 wherein said switch is a rocker switch.
4. The wiring device of claim 3 wherein said rocker switch is a vertical axis rocker.
5. The wiring device of claim 3 wherein said rocker switch is a horizontal axis rocker.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2007
Inventors: Stephen Kurek (Rego Park, NY), Anthony Tufano (North Massapequa, NY), Emma Levin (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 11/537,254
International Classification: H01R 13/648 (20060101);