Modular electrical outlet assembly

A modular electrical outlet assembly includes an enclosure that can be installed in a wall of a room. The enclosure has a plurality of wiring terminals that can each be electrically coupled to electrical wiring in the room. The enclosure has a plurality of integral output sockets. Each of the output sockets is in electrical communication with a respective one of the wiring terminals to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring. A module is insertable into the enclosure and the module has a plurality of integral input terminals. Each of the input terminals electrically engages a respective one of the output sockets in the enclosure when the module is inserted into the enclosure to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring in the wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to electrical outlet devices and more particularly pertains to a new electrical outlet device for facilitating a user with limited knowledge and tools to replace an electrical outlet.

The prior art relates to electrical outlet devices including a variety of modular electrical outlets that include sockets and prongs that engage respective sockets to facilitate a user with limited skill and tools to replace an electrical outlet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an enclosure that can be installed in a wall of a room. The enclosure has a plurality of wiring terminals that can each be electrically coupled to electrical wiring in the room. The enclosure has a plurality of output sockets each being integrated therein. Each of the output sockets is in electrical communication with a respective one of the wiring terminals to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring. A module is insertable into the enclosure and the module has a plurality of input terminals that is each integrated therein. Each of the input terminals electrically engages a respective one of the output sockets in the enclosure when the module is inserted into the enclosure to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring in the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through9, the modular electrical outlet assembly10generally comprises an enclosure12that can be installed in a wall of a room. The room may be a room in a house, an office or any other type of occupancy. The enclosure12has a plurality of wiring terminals14and each of the wiring terminals14can be electrically coupled to electrical wiring15in the room. Additionally, the enclosure12has a plurality of output sockets16each being integrated therein. Each of the output sockets16is in electrical communication with a respective one of the wiring terminals14to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring15. The enclosure12is comprised of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic or the like, that conforms to the requirements of the National Electrical Code for residential and commercial electrical wiring15.

The enclosure12has a rear wall18and an outer wall20extending forwardly therefrom, and the outer wall20has a distal edge22with respect to the rear wall18to define an opening23into the enclosure12. The rear wall18has a back surface24and a front surface26, and the outer wall20has a top side28, a bottom side30and an outer surface32. The outer surface32of the top side28of the outer wall20has respective ones of the wiring terminals14positioned thereon. Additionally, the back surface24of the rear wall18has respective ones of the wiring terminals14positioned thereon. The back surface24of the rear wall18has a ground terminal34positioned thereon and the ground terminal34can be electrically coupled to a ground wire35of the electrical wiring15. Each of the wiring terminals14may be threaded fasteners, such as Phillips screws or the like, that are common to existing electrical fixtures. Each of the wiring terminals14is comprised of an electrically conductive material, and the ground terminal34is in electrical communication with respective output sockets16, and the ground terminal34may comprise a threaded fastener.

The front surface26of the rear wall18has a plurality of first blocks36each being positioned thereon. Each of the first blocks36has a recess38extending into a front face39of a respective first block36to define a respective one of the output sockets16. Moreover, the recess38in each of the first blocks36has a contact40integrated therein. The contact40in the recess38in each of the first blocks36is in electrical communication with a respective one of the wiring terminals14on the top side28of the outer wall20or the ground terminal34. Additionally, each of the first blocks36is aligned with the top side28of the outer wall20. The rear wall18has a plurality of holes41extending therethrough and each of the holes41is aligned with the recess38in a respective one of the first blocks36. Each of the holes41can insertably receive the electrical wiring15to facilitate the electrical wiring15to be in electrical communication with the contact40in the recess38in each of the first blocks36.

The front surface26of the rear wall18has a second block42positioned thereon and the second block42has a plurality of notches44each extending into a respective top surface46, first lateral surface48or second lateral surface50of the second block42to define a respective one of the output sockets16. Each of the notches44has a contact52integrated therein and the contact52in each of the notches44is in electrical communication with a respective one of the wiring terminals14on the rear wall18. Moreover, the second block42is aligned with the bottom side30of the outer wall20. The contact52in each of the notches44is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

A module54is provided and the module54is insertable into the enclosure12to accommodate a female electrical outlet or any other type of electrical fixture that might be commonly employed in the occupancy. The module54has a plurality of input terminals56each being integrated therein. Additionally, each of the input terminals56electrically engages a respective one of the output sockets16in the enclosure12when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12. In this way each of the input terminals56can receive electrical current from the electrical wiring15in the wall. Each of the input terminals56is comprised of an electrically conductive material.

The module54has a back wall58and an outside wall60extending forwardly therefrom, and the outside wall60has an upper side62and a lower side64. The back wall58has a first depression66extending toward the distal edge22of the outside wall60and the first depression66is aligned with the upper side62of the outside wall60. The back wall58has a second depression68extending toward the distal edge22of the outside wall60and the second depression68is aligned with the lower side64of the outside wall60. The back wall58has a pair of tabs70each extending rearwardly away therefrom and each of the tabs70is positioned in the first depression66. Moreover, each of the tabs70is positioned between respective ones of the first blocks36in the enclosure12when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12for aligning the module54with the enclosure12.

Each of the input terminals56is integrated into and extends rearwardly away from the back wall58of the module54. The plurality of input terminals56includes a set of first input terminals61and a set of second input terminals63. Each of the first input terminals61is positioned in the first depression66. Moreover, each of the first input terminals61extends into a respective recess38in a respective one of the first blocks36when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12. Thus, each of the first input terminals61is in electrical communication with the contact40in the recess38in the respective first block36to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring15. Additionally, each of the first input terminals61has a forward face65that is exposed in an inside surface67of the back wall58of the module54. In this way the forward face65of each of the first input terminals61can electrically engage an electrical device71that is installed in the module54. The electrical device71may be a female electrical outlet, an electrical switch, a smart device or any other type of electrical device that would commonly be wired into the room.

Each of the second input terminals63is positioned in the second depression68. Each of the second input terminals63extends into a respective notch44in the second block42when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12. Thus, each of the second input terminals63is in electrical communication with the contact52in a respective notch44in the second block42to receive electrical current from the electrical wiring15. Each of the second input terminals63has a forward face69that is exposed in the inside surface67of the back wall58of the module54. In this way the forward face69of each of the second input terminals63can electrically engage the electrical device71that is installed in the module54.

In an alternative embodiment74as is shown inFIGS.5through9, the outer wall20of the enclosure12has a first lateral side76and a second lateral side78. Each of the first lateral side76and the second lateral side78curves outwardly between the top side28and the bottom side30. Thus, the enclosure12is structured to resemble a conventional ceiling box for a light fixture. Additionally, each of the output sockets16may distributed along the front surface26of the rear wall18of the enclosure12. Continuing in the alternative embodiment74, the enclosure12includes a pair of rails80and each of the rails80is positioned on a respective one of the first lateral side76and the second lateral side78of the enclosure12. Each of the rails80extends between the distal edge22of the outer wall20of the enclosure12and the rear wall18of the enclosure12.

Continuing in the alternative embodiment74, the outside wall60of the module54has a first sidelong side82and a second sidelong side84, and each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84curves outwardly between the upper side62and the lower side64. In this way the module54can accommodate a light fixture that is mounted to a ceiling. Each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84has a groove86integrated therein. Additionally, the groove86in each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84extends between the distal edge22of the outside wall60and the back wall58. The groove86in each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84slidably receives a respective one of the rails80when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12. Additionally, each of the input terminals56is distributed along back wall58of the module54.

Each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84has a pair of holes88each extending therethrough, and each of the holes88in each of the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84is aligned with each other along a respective one of the grooves86. Each of the rails80has a hole90extending therethrough, and each of the holes90in the rails80is aligned with a respective pair of holes88in the first sidelong side82and the second sidelong side84when the module54is inserted into the enclosure12. In this way pins can be inserted through the holes88associated with the module54and the holes in the rails80for retaining the module54in the enclosure12.

In use, the enclosure12is mounted in the wall in the same manner as conventional outlet boxes or light switch boxes and each of the wiring terminals14is electrically coupled to the electrical wiring15in the wall in accordance with the National Electrical Code by a trained electrician. The module54is insertable into the enclosure12such that each of the input terminals56electrically engages respective output sockets16in the enclosure12. In this way each of the input terminals56is in electrical communication with the electrical wiring15in the wall. Thus, the electrical device71, such as a female electrical outlet, a light switch, a smart device of any other type of electrical device, can be installed in the module54by a person with limited electrical knowledge and limited tools. Moreover, the electrical device71facilitates electrical communication between the first input terminals61and the second input terminals63depending on the wiring method employed to install the electrical device71. As is shown in the alternative embodiment74, the module54can be installed in a ceiling to accommodate an electrical fixture that would typically be used in a ceiling.