Patent ID: 6926543
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An electrical wiring device with at least two types of wire terminations located in a body having first and second side surfaces, the electrical wiring device comprising: a first pair of exposed contact pads mounted to the first side surface for connection to a first conductor and a second pair of exposed contact pads mounted to the second side surface for connection to a second conductor, said first and second pairs of contact pads being electrically isolated from each other and each contact pad having a front surface; parallel serrations on the front surface of each of said first and second pairs of contact pads aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrical wiring device and having a threaded aperture therethrough; a plurality of terminal screws, one for each contact pad, each threadably engaging said threaded aperture in said contact pad, each terminal screw having a head and a threaded body extending therefrom; a plurality of clamping plates, one for each terminal screw, each having a front surface and a rear surface, each clamping plate having parallel serrations on the front and rear surfaces aligned with each other and with the serrations on the front surface of the contact pads wherein the serrations per inch on the front and rear surfaces of the clamping plate are greater than the serrations per inch on the contact pads and wherein each clamping plate is placed on one of said plurality of terminal screws to permit the rear serrated surface of a respective clamping plate to be moved towards the front serrated surface of a respective associated contact pad to permit a bent bared end of a conductor to be placed about the threaded body of terminal screw and held between the head of terminal screw and the front serrated surface of its associated clamping plate to provide a first type of wire termination; or permit a straight end of a bared conductor to be placed between the rear serrated surface of an associated clamping plate and an associated serrated contact pad at a right angle to the parallel serrations to provide a second type of wire termination.