Abstract:
A junction box for electrical wiring includes one or more wiring connectors non-removably pre-mounted to side panels thereof. A variety of different connector types for supporting a variety of different types of electrical cables and wiring conduits may be provided in a single junction box. Removable plugs are provided to block the connector passageways, but are easily removed from those connectors that are to be used for wiring in a particular installation. Since built-in connectors of various types are provided, end-user installation time is reduced.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains generally to electrical wiring components, and, more specifically, to junction boxes for electrical wiring and to connectors for securing electrical wires to such junction boxes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An electrical junction box is a container for electrical wiring connections, usually intended to conceal them from sight and, to some extent, to eliminate tampering. In the electrical trade, junction boxes are often installed in buildings at points where electrical wires are to be connected to each other or to electrical components such as sockets, switches, electrical outlets, or the like. A junction box typically takes the form of a small metal or plastic container or compartment having at least one open wall, that provides access to the interior of the junction box and which may be covered by a removable junction box cover, and having entries or apertures defined in one or more other walls of the box, to allow electrical wiring to be brought into the interior of the box. A junction box is installed at the point where an electrical connection is desired, usually within the wall or ceiling of a building, by nailing or screwing the junction box to a stud or other support within the wall or ceiling. Typically, fastener apertures are provided in one or more of the walls of the junction box, to receive the nails or screws and thus facilitate mounting the junction box in a desired position. 
     Electrical wiring is brought into an electrical junction box by extending the wiring through an entry point wiring aperture in a wall of the junction box into the junction box interior. For a metal junction box, these wiring apertures are formed typically by punching circular apertures of the desired size through the metal walls of the junction box. Multiple such apertures may thus be formed in multiple walls of the junction box in order to make many wiring entry points available at various positions around the junction box. In forming the wiring apertures, the walls of the metal junction box typically are punched so that a metal “knockout” remains in place covering the aperture, but remains attached to the wall of the junction box only by a small piece of metal. A selected knockout is removed to open a wiring aperture in the junction box by pushing, pulling, twisting, or otherwise moving the knockout, typically using a tool, such as pliers, to break the remaining connection between the knockout and the junction box wall. Thus, open wiring apertures are formed in the junction box only where needed for wiring to enter the junction box. The remaining potential wiring apertures remain covered by knockouts, so that the junction box does not have large holes in it that are not occupied by wiring. 
     Since it is desirable to secure electrical wiring to the junction box at its point of entry, connectors have been developed to join the wiring and the junction box together at the point of entry, to prevent the wiring from being pulled easily from the junction box. Since various forms of wiring may be used in an electrical wiring project (e.g., including flexible metal-clad or armored cable, flexible metal conduit, rigid plastic or metal conduit, etc.), various different types of connectors have been developed for securing such wiring to a junction box at the point of entry. Typically such connectors are formed to have a threaded end. The connector is mounted to the junction box by extending the threaded end of the connector through an open wiring aperture in the junction box wall into the interior of the junction box, with the main body of the connector positioned on the outside of the junction box. A threaded ring is threaded onto the threaded end of the connector positioned within the junction box and tightened such that the junction box wall is pinched between the connector body and the threaded ring, thereby to secure the connector to the junction box. Typically the threaded ring is provided with indentations or extensions formed on the outer periphery thereof, to facilitate pushing on the ring at the periphery using a screw driver or other tool in order to tighten the threaded ring more securely. 
     The foregoing arrangement for running electrical wiring into a junction box can be inconvenient and difficult to perform. The steps of removing a knockout, selecting a wiring connector, and mounting the wiring connector on the junction box can be time consuming and typically require the use of one or more tools, often requiring that an electrician or other installer pick items up, set them down, switch them from hand to hand, etc., which can rapidly grow tedious and annoying. Moreover, in many instances, often where the junction box is being mounted in existing construction, but also sometimes in new construction, this operation must be performed within tight confines (e.g., within a small hole in a wall), or even “blind” (i.e., by touch). Furthermore, these steps must be repeated for each wiring connection before the wiring can be run into the junction box. Additionally, such an operation typically requires the installer to have several different types of wiring connectors, for several different types of wiring, readily at hand. This may require the installer to dig though connectors of various types, that inevitably have become mixed together, in order to find one of the desired type to install on the junction box. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring that is intended to solve at least partially the aforementioned problems. To give the reader a basic understanding of some of the advantageous features of the invention, following is a brief summary of an exemplary preferred version of a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. As this is merely a summary, it should be understood that more details regarding preferred embodiments of the present invention may be found in the Detailed Description set forth below. The Claims set forth at the end of this document define the various version of the invention in which exclusive rights are secured. 
     An exemplary junction box with integrated connectors  100  for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The junction box  100  includes a back panel  102 , having a front surface  104  and a peripheral edge  106 , and a plurality of side panels  108   a - d . Each of the plurality of side panels  108   a - d  includes a rear peripheral edge  110   a - d , side peripheral edges  112   a - d  and  114   a - d  perpendicular to the rear peripheral edge  110   a - d , and a front peripheral edge  116   a - d  perpendicular to the side peripheral edges  112   a - d  and  114   a - d  and parallel to the rear peripheral edge  110   a - d . The plurality of side panels  108   a - d  are attached along the rear peripheral edges  110   a - d  thereof to the back panel  102  along the peripheral edge  106  of the back panel  102  and perpendicular thereto such that a side peripheral edge  112   a - d  of each of the plurality of side panels  108   a - d  is adjacent to a side peripheral edge  114   a - d  of another of the plurality of the side panels  108   a - d  to form, along with the back panel  102 , a junction box interior  117  having an open side  119  defined by the front peripheral edges  116   a - d  of the plurality of side panels  108   a - d.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one or more of the plurality of side panels  108   b  and  108   d  may be attached to the back panel  102  by integrally forming the side panels  108   b  and  108   d  with the back panel  102 . For example, the back panel  102  and side panels  108   b  and  108   d  may be formed from a single flat piece of metal, such as a steel sheet, that is punched or cut to the appropriate size and shape and then bent to form the back panel  102  and the side panels  108   b  and  108   d  in their final form (i.e., to form the rear peripheral edges  110   b  and  110   d  of the side panels  108   b  and  108   d  and part of the peripheral edge  106  of the back panel  102 ). 
     A junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention may be basically square or rectangular in shape, e.g., having a square or rectangular back panel  102  and four side panels  108   a - b . Alternatively, a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention may have any other desired shape. For example, an octagonal junction box having an octagonal back panel and eight side panels is one alternative possibility. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention, at least one wiring connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  is non-removably pre-mounted to at least one of the plurality of side panels  108   a - b . More preferably, at least one wiring connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  is non-removably pre-mounted to each of more than one of the plurality of side panels  108   a - b . Also more preferably, a plurality of wiring connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  are non-removably pre-mounted to at least one of the plurality of side panels  108   a - d.    
     In accordance with the present invention, the wiring connectors  118 ,  120 , and  122  non-removably pre-mounted to the side panels  108   a - d  of a junction box  100  in accordance with the present invention may include a variety of different types of wiring connectors adapted to connect a variety of different types of wiring to the junction box  100 . For example, such different types of wiring connectors may include double-bite flexible cable connectors  118 , crimp-type flexible cable connectors  120 , and wiring conduit connectors  122 . Each of these different types of wiring connectors will be described in more detail below. It should be understood that various other current or future wiring connector types, for various other current or future types of electrical wiring, may be provided in a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention, either in addition to or in place of those illustrated and described herein. 
     Referring, for more detail, to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each wiring connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  defines a passageway  124 ,  126 , or  128 , respectively, for wiring into the junction box interior  117 . Preferably each wiring connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  non-removably pre-mounted to the junction box side panels  108   a - b  includes a removable plug  130 ,  132 , or  134 , blocking the passageway  124 ,  126 , or  128 , respectively, as will be described in more detail below. Since all of the wiring connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  attached to a junction box  100  in accordance with the present invention may not be used for any particular installation, the removable plugs  130 ,  132 , or  134  are provided so that there are no large holes or open passageways into the junction box  100  that are not occupied by wiring. For those connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  that will support electrical wiring in a particular installation of the junction box  100 , the removable plug  130 ,  132 , or  134  is easily removed from those particular connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  before wiring is run through them into the junction box  100 . 
     Each wiring connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  also includes a connector structure  136 ,  138 , or  140 , respectively, preferably positioned outside of the interior  117  of the junction box  100 , for attaching wiring to the connector  118 ,  120 , or  122 , as also will be described in more detail below. The connector structure  136 ,  138 , or  140  used for any particular connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  will depend upon the type of wiring that is to be supported by the connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  and the particular manner in which such wiring is to be supported. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , at least one of the plurality of side panels  108   b  or  108   d  of a junction box  100  in accordance with the present invention may include one or more conventional wiring apertures  142  formed therethrough, to permit the mounting of conventional wiring connectors to the side panels  108   b  or  108   d  of the junction box  100 . The conventional wiring apertures  142  may include standard circular wiring apertures, e.g., ½ inch or ¾ inch in diameter, or may be of any other size or shape. Each of the wiring apertures  142  preferably is covered by a removable plug or knockout  144 . The wiring apertures  142  and plugs  144  may be formed in a conventional manner, e.g., by stamping. 
     With reference now particularly to  FIGS. 3-5 , and as will be described in more detail below, each of the wiring connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  non-removably mounted to the side panels  108   a - d  preferably includes a body portion  146 ,  148 , or  150 , respectively, including the connector structure  136 ,  138 , or  140 , and a narrower neck portion  152 ,  154 , or  156 , respectively, having a first end thereof attached to the body portion  146 ,  148 , or  150 , and an open opposite distal end thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  preferably are non-removably pre-mounted to the side panels  108   a - d  by extending the neck portion  152 ,  154 , or  156  of the connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  through a mounting aperture  158  formed in the side panel  108   a  or  108   c  (e.g., by punching entirely through the side panel  108   a  or  108   c ) and then bending the neck portion  152 ,  154 , or  156  at the distal end thereof radially outward against the side panel  108   a  or  108   c  (i.e., swaging around the mounting aperture  158 ) to form a flange, thereby to pinch the side panel  108   a  or  108   c  between the flange and the body portion  146 ,  148 , or  150  of the connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  at the mounting aperture  158  formed in the side panel  108   a  or  108   c . The flange formed from the neck portion  152 ,  154 , or  156  preferably is dented  164  into the side panel  108   a  or  108   c  at one or more locations thereon, thereby to prevent rotation of the connector  118 ,  120 , or  122  with respect to the side panel  108   a  or  108   d.    
     An alternative preferred method of non-removably mounting a wiring connector  118  to a side panel  108   e  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this case, the mounting apertures  170  formed in the side panel  108   e  are formed by drawing to provide a collar  172  that extends around the mounting aperture  170  and perpendicular to the side panel  108   e  on the side thereof that will be on the outside of the junction box  100 . In this case, the connector  118  to be mounted to the side panel  108   e  does not include a neck portion. Rather, the connector  118  may be non-removably mounted to the side panel  108   e  by first press fitting the body  146  of the connector  118  over the collar  172 . The connector  118  is then permanently joined to the collar  172  by partially punching at least one location, and preferably at a plurality of locations, where the body  146  of the connector  118  overlaps the collar  172 . This forms interlocking dimples  174  and  176  in the collar  172  and in the body  146  of the connector  118 , respectively. The interlocking dimples  174  and  176  permanently attach the connector  118  to the side panel  108   e  and prevent rotation of the connector  118  with respect to the side panel  108   e , similar to a twist-lock connection. 
     Preferably, the foregoing methods of non-removably mounting the connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  to the side panels  108   a ,  108   c , or  108   e , may be used to mount one or more connectors  118 ,  120 , or  122  to a side panel piece  108   a ,  108   c , or  108   e  having the mounting apertures  158  or  170  formed therein and that is formed separate from the rest of the junction box  100  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 ), to form a side panel assembly  166 ,  168 , or  178  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 ). The side panel assemblies  166 ,  168 , or  178  may then be attached to the back panel  102  of the junction box  100 , as well as to adjacent side panels  108   b  and  108   d , in a convention manner, e.g., by welding, to complete the junction box  100 . 
     The present invention thus provides a junction box  100  with integrated connectors  118 ,  120 ,  122  for electrical wiring that increases the ease, speed, and efficiency with which electrical wiring can be run through a junction box. Since the present invention provides a junction box  100  in which wiring connectors  118 ,  120 ,  122  of various types are pre-mounted, once an electrician or other installer has mounted the box  100 , e.g., in a wall or ceiling, he is ready to go for running wiring through the box  100 , without the need for selecting and mounting wiring connectors to the box. Thus, installation time is saved. This is particularly beneficial where the installation must be made in a difficult to access location. 
     Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustration of an exemplary junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view illustration of a back panel and two side panels of the exemplary junction box with integrated connectors of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3   a  is a front plan view illustration of a side panel of the exemplary junction box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3   b  is a side view illustration of the side panel of  FIG. 3   a , as taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a.    
         FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view illustration of a first exemplary side panel assembly of the exemplary junction box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4   b  is a top plan view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 4   a , as taken along line  4   b - 4   b  of  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4   c  is a side view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 4   a , as taken along line  4   c - 4   c  of  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4   d  is a front plan view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 4   a , as taken along line  4   d - 4   d  of  FIG. 4   b.    
         FIG. 4   e  is a cross-section illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 4   a , as taken along line  4   e - 4   e  of  FIG. 4   d.    
         FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view illustration of a second exemplary side panel assembly of the exemplary junction box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   b  is a top plan view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 5   a , as taken along line  5   b - 5   b  of  FIG. 5   a.    
         FIG. 5   c  is a side view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 5   a , as taken along line  5   c - 5   c  of  FIG. 5   a.    
         FIG. 5   d  is a front plan view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 5   a , as taken along line  5   d - 5   d  of  FIG. 5   b.    
         FIG. 6   a  is a back perspective view illustration of another exemplary side panel assembly for a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6   b  is a front perspective view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 6   a.    
         FIG. 6   c  is a cross section view illustration of the exemplary side panel assembly of  FIG. 6   a , as taken along line  6   c - 6   c  of  FIG. 6   b.    
         FIG. 7   a  is a side plan view of an exemplary double bite flexible cable connector for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   b  is a cross-section view of the exemplary double bite flexible cable connector of  FIG. 7   a.    
         FIG. 7   c  is an end view of the exemplary double bite flexible cable connector of  FIG. 7   a , as taken along line  7   c - 7   c  of  FIG. 7   a.    
         FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view illustration of an exemplary throat insert for use in a connector for a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8   b  is a front plan view of the exemplary throat insert of  FIG. 8   a.    
         FIG. 8   c  is a side view of the exemplary throat insert of  FIG. 8   a.    
         FIG. 8   d  is a cross-section view of the exemplary throat insert of  FIG. 8   a , as taken along line  8   d - 8   d  of  FIG. 8   b.    
         FIG. 9   a  is a first perspective view illustration of an exemplary crimp-type flexible cable connector for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9   b  is a second perspective view illustration of the exemplary crimp-type flexible cable connector of  FIG. 9   a.    
         FIG. 9   c  is a side plan view of the exemplary crimp-type flexible cable connector of  FIG. 9   a.    
         FIG. 9   d  is a cross-section view of the exemplary crimp-type flexible cable connector of  FIG. 9   a , as taken along line  9   d - 9   d  of  FIG. 9   c.    
         FIG. 10   a  is a perspective view illustration of an exemplary wiring conduit connector for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10   b  is a side view of the wiring conduit connector of  FIG. 10   a.    
         FIG. 10   c  is a cross-section view of the wiring conduit connector of  FIG. 10   a , as taken along line  10   c - 10   c  of  FIG. 10   a.    
         FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view illustration of an exemplary knockout plug for use with the exemplary wiring conduit connector of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 11   b  is a front plan view of the exemplary knockout plug of  FIG. 11   a.    
         FIG. 11   c  is a side view of the exemplary knockout plug of  FIG. 11   a.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing discussion relates to an exemplary preferred version of a junction box with integrated connectors for electrical wiring in accordance with the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited solely to this exemplary version. Numerous modifications are possible, and examples follow. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The junction box  100  itself may be formed of metal, such as galvanized or other steel, or of any other appropriate material, using known manufacturing techniques. The box  100  may be formed to include additional conventional or other useful junction box structures and features. Such additional structures may include box mounting holes  180 , formed in the back panel  102  and side panels  108   a - d  of the box  100 . The mounting holes  180  are sized to receive fasteners, such as nails or screws, for mounting the junction box  100  to a support structure, such as a wood stud. A cover mounting structure  182  preferably is provided for attaching a conventional junction box cover (not shown) to the junction box  100 , to cover the open side  119  of the junction box  100  in a conventional manner. A grounding structure  184  may be formed as a raised portion of the back panel  102  having a threaded opening formed therein. This structure may be used for grounding the junction box  100  and the wiring therein by attaching the wiring ground wires to the grounding structure  184 , e.g. using a screw or other appropriate fastener. 
     As discussed above, a variety of different types of connectors  118 ,  120 ,  122  may be non-removably pre-mounted to a junction box  100  with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. Such different types of connectors  118 ,  120 ,  122  are designed to support different types of wiring, or to support different types of wiring in different ways. A few exemplary connectors  118 ,  120 ,  122  of different types will now be described in more detail. As mentioned above, however, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary types of connectors illustrated and described herein. Rather, any currently known or future type of wiring connector may be used for a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention. 
     An exemplary double bite flexible cable connector  118  for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in, and will be described with reference to,  FIG. 7 . This type of connector  118  may be used to connect flexible metal-clad or armored cable or flexible metallic wiring conduit to the junction box  100 . The double bite connector  118  includes a body portion  146  and a neck portion  152 , which together define a central passageway  124  through which electrical wiring is passed into the interior  117  of the junction box  100 . The body portion  146  of the connector  118  supports the connector structure  136  for securing wiring to the connector  118 . The neck portion  152  of the connector  118  is used to mount the connector  118  to the junction box in a non-removable manner, as described above. The various components of the connector  118  may be made from steel or another appropriate material using known manufacturing techniques. 
     The connector structure  136  of the double bite connector  118  includes two slots  200  formed in the body  146  of the connector  118 . The two slots  200  are formed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the connector passageway  124 . A threaded fastener hole  201  is formed in the body  146  of the connector  118 , preferably centered between the two slots  120 . A U-shaped clip  202  is positioned in the slots  200 , with each leg  203  of the clip  202  extending through one of the slots  200  into the connector passageway  124 . (The clip  202  may be formed from a small strip of steel that is bent into the desired shape, or by any other appropriate method using any other appropriate material.) The ends  204  of each leg  203  of the clip  202  preferably may be curved, so as to conform to the shape of, e.g., a wiring cable that is to be supported in the connector passageway  124 . Also, the distance between the slots  200 , and thus the distance between the legs  203  of the clip  202 , may be selected so as to match with the spacing of spirals on the sheathing of cables to be secured in the connector  118 . A screw  206  is extended through the portion of the U-shaped clip  202  between the legs  203  thereof and into the threaded fastener hole  201  in the body  146  of the connector. (The screw  206  may be held in place on the clip  202  by a screw retaining ring or clip  208 .) With a cable or other wiring structure positioned within the passageway  124  of the connector  118 , the screw  206  may be turned to force the ends  204  of the legs  203  of the clip  202  into the passageway  124  and against the cable or other wiring structure, thereby to secure the cable or wiring structure to the connector  118 . 
     For this exemplary connector  118 , the removable plug  130 , that is used to block the passageway  124 , should a particular connector  118  of this type that is non-removably mounted to a junction box  100  in accordance with the present invention not be used in a particular installation, may be implemented as part of a throat insert  210  that is positioned in the passageway  124  of the connector  118  where the body  146  of the connector  118  joins the neck portion  152  thereof. An exemplary throat insert  210  of this type is illustrated in, and will be described in detail with reference to,  FIG. 8 . As illustrated, the throat insert  210  is in the general form of a ring. The outer circumference of the throat insert is stepped, from a larger circumference, corresponding to the inner circumference of the connector passageway  124  through the body portion  146  of the connector, to a smaller circumference, corresponding to the inner circumference of the connector passageway  124  through the neck portion  152  of the connector. Thus, the throat insert may be mounted in the connector passageway  124  where the body  146  of the connector  118  joins the neck portion  152  thereof by a simple compression fit. The interior circumference  212  of the throat insert  210  preferably also is stepped or tapered to form a wider aperture at the connector body  146  side thereof than at the connector neck  152  side thereof. Thus, the throat insert  210  acts as a liner for the connector passageway  124  that reduces the passageway diameter at the point of entry into the interior  117  of the junction box  100 . This reduction may be required to meet industry standards. In use, an electrical wiring cable with sheathing attached is secured in the body portion  146  of the connector  118 , as described above. The individual wire conductors which are to extend from the cable into the interior  117  of the junction box, and which may typically be covered with a non-conductive material, are typically stripped of the cable sheathing before the cable is secured to the conductor  118 . These un-sheathed conductors take up less space than the sheathed cable, and are thus more appropriately supported by, and fill up the space provided by, the opening at the narrow end of the throat insert  210 . This prevents a large opening into the junction box though the connector  118  even when wiring is run therethrough. 
     The throat insert  210  preferably may be formed of nylon or another similar plastic or other material by molding or another conventional or appropriate process. The removable plug  130  may be integrally formed along with and as part of the throat insert  210  as part of the manufacturing process. As illustrated, the removable plug  130  is positioned to block the central aperture of the throat insert  210 , and thus to block the passageway  124  through the connector  118  in which the throat insert  210  is mounted. However, the removable plug  130  is formed so that it is joined to the rest of the throat insert  210  by only a small amount of material  214 . Thus, the removable plug  130  may be removed easily by an electrician or other installer if the connector  118  in which the throat insert  210  is mounted is to be used to connect electrical wiring to a junction box  100  in accordance with the present invention. 
     An exemplary crimp-type flexible cable connector  120  for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in, and will be described with reference to,  FIG. 9 . This type of connector  120  may be used to connect flexible metal-clad or armored cable or flexible metallic wiring conduit to the junction box  100 . The crimp-type connector  118  includes a body portion  148  and a neck portion  154 , which together define a central passageway  126  through which electrical wiring is passed into the interior  117  of the junction box  100 . The body portion  148  of the connector  120  supports the connector structure  138  for securing wiring to the connector  120 . The neck portion  154  of the connector  120  is used to mount the connector  120  to the junction box  100  in a non-removable manner, as described above. The various components of the connector  120  may be made from steel or another appropriate material using known manufacturing techniques. 
     The connector structure  138  of the crimp-type connector  120  includes at least two axial slots  216  formed extending along the body  148  of the connector  120 . Preferably, the two axial slots  216  are formed parallel to each other along the axis of the connector passageway  126 . A bendable prong  218  is formed extending along and above each of the axial slots  216 . Each bendable prong  218  is attached at one end  220  thereof to the body  148  of the connector at one end of the axial slot  216 . The prong  218  is bent near this end  220  of the prong  218  such that an elongated body portion  222  of the prong  218  extends parallel with the axial slot  216  along the body  148  of the connector  120 , with the elongated body portion  222  of the prong  218  separated or elevated from the axial slot  116 . A transverse groove  224  may also be formed in the prong  218  near this end  220  thereof, to facilitate easy bending of the prong  218  for securing a cable or other wiring structure to the connector  120 , as will be described in more detail below. The prong  218  is bent near the second end  226  thereof such that the second end  226  of the prong  218  is directed inward toward the passageway  126  of the connector  120 . This end  226  of the prong  218  preferably may be curved, so as to conform to the shape of, e.g., a wiring cable that is to be supported in the connector passageway  126 . Also, the end  226  of the prong  218  may be formed at an angle, such that the orientation of the end  226  of the prong  218  corresponds to the spirals on the sheathing of a cable to be supported by the connector  120 . (A flexible metal-clad cable is usually sheathed within a corrugated cover, often formed of a helically wound ribbon of metal or plastic, which serves to protect the wires of the cable while maintaining much of the cable&#39;s flexibility.) With a cable or other wiring structure positioned within the passageway  126  of the connector  120 , the prongs  218  are bent inward toward the slots  216  (using a tool such as pliers or the like) such that the ends  226  of the prongs  218  are forced into the passageway  126  and against the cable or other wiring structure, thereby to secure the cable or wiring structure to the connector  120 . 
     For this exemplary connector  120 , the removable plug  132 , that is used to block the passageway  126 , may be implemented as part of the throat insert  210  described previously. The throat insert  210  may be positioned in the passageway  126  of the connector  120  where the body  148  of the connector  120  joins the neck portion  154  thereof. 
     An exemplary electrical wiring conduit connector  122  for use in a junction box with integrated connectors in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in, and will be described with reference to,  FIG. 10 . This type of connector  122  may be used to connect EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) conduit, or any other type of plastic or metallic conduit for electrical wiring, to the junction box  100 . (Electrical cable or wiring is often run through pipes or similar conduits between junction boxes. The pipes/conduits protect the wiring from moisture, vermin, or other conditions that might damage the wiring or otherwise interfere with transmission along the wires.) The conduit connector  122  includes a body portion  150  and a neck portion  156 , which together define a central passageway  128  through which electrical wiring is passed into the interior  117  of the junction box  100 . The body portion  150  of the connector  122  supports the connector structure  140  for securing wiring to the connector  122 . The neck portion  156  of the connector  122  is used to mount the connector  122  to the junction box  100  in a non-removable manner, as described above. The various components of the connector  122  may be made from steel or another appropriate material using known manufacturing techniques. 
     The connector structure  140  of the conduit connector  122  includes a threaded aperture  230  formed through the body  148  of the connector  122 . The threaded aperture  230  is formed perpendicular to the axis of the connector passageway  128 . A set screw  232  is provided in the threaded aperture  230 . With the end of a piece of wiring conduit  234  positioned within the passageway  128  of the connector  122  (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), the set screw  232  is tightened such that the end of the screw  232  is forced into the passageway  128  and against the outer wall of the conduit  234 , thereby to secure the conduit  234  to the connector  120 . 
     For this exemplary connector  122 , the removable plug  134 , that is used to block the passageway  128 , may be implemented as a knockout plug  134  made of steel or another appropriate material, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The knockout plug  134  may be formed from a thin disk of metal that is formed to have angled sides  236 . The knockout plug  134  may be positioned in the passageway  128  of the connector  122  where the body  150  of the connector  122  joins the neck portion  156  thereof. The plug  134  is sized to fit snugly within the passageway  128 , but is easily removable if the connector  122  of this type on a junction box  100  in accordance with present invention is to be used for wiring in a particular installation. The angled sides  236  of the knockout plug  134  facilitate insertion of the plug  134  into the passageway  128  and allow a tight fit to be achieved. 
     It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the invention is not intended to be limited to a junction box having non-removably attached thereto the preferred connectors described above (and/or to the foregoing exemplary modifications), but rather is intended to be limited only by the claims set out below. Thus, the invention encompasses all different connectors that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims.