Abstract:
An electrical fixture, such as a light switch, wall outlet or ceiling fan fixture, is adapted for being quickly connected to and disconnected from an electrical housing that includes dedicated terminals mounted within the housing and to which electrical wires from the dwelling&#39;s electrical wire system are secured by retaining clips whereupon a conductor projecting from the rear of the electrical fixture can be brought into contact with the terminal and the appropriate wire thereby bringing the electrical fixture into electrical interconnection with the electrical wire system of the dwelling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention pertains to the electrical interconnection of electrical wires to electrical fixtures, and more particularly pertains to an electrical housing to which the electrical wires are attached so that the wires can be interconnected to specially designed fixtures that are attachable to and detachable from the electrical housing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In the construction of new dwellings such as residential homes, offices, and commercial buildings, an electrical wiring system is extended throughout the various rooms of the particular dwelling. As part of the installation of the electrical system electrical outlet boxes are mounted at various locations on the ceilings and sidewalls of the rooms of the dwelling for the interconnection of electrical fixtures like receptacles, switches, outlets and ceiling fans to the electrical system. Electrical conduit is run from the main junction box to each separate outlet box for electrically interconnecting all of the electrical fixtures to the dwelling&#39;s wiring system.  
         [0003]     In much new construction a standard method is for the electrician to first run the electrical conduit to each outlet box so that the electrical wires can be run to the respective outlet boxes and in place. The electrician awaits the completion of the exterior wall—or ceiling—and then returns to hardwire and connect the fixtures to the wires extending in each outlet box. Thus, a two-step procedure is involved in installing electrical fixtures throughout the dwelling or structure. More significantly, should the homeowner or building operator or manager desire to upgrade, renovate or replace the particular electrical fixture, they will need to contract the services of a certified electrician as many people are uncomfortable working with electricity or simply do not want to incur the risk or danger, and therefore desire to utilize the services of a professional in the field. Thus it is desirable to have available a way to change-out and replace old fixtures without incurring the added cost and time of hiring an electrician.  
         [0004]     The prior art discloses a range of devices that attempt to accomplish this general goal.  
         [0005]     For example, the Barry patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,008) discloses an outlet box connector that connects electrical conduit to an electrical fixture by mounting the connector within the wall opening by exerting a twisting action on the connector.  
         [0006]     The Mattson patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,094) discloses a strain relief wire holder for securing the wire of an electrical fixture and includes a wedge-shaped element that is inserted through an aperture in the back wall of the fixture for compressing and wedging the wire in place.  
         [0007]     The Schantz patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,329) discloses an electrical device housing that includes an enclosure wherein at least two relays and a push-to-start switch are secured to a common frame.  
         [0008]     The Ochwat patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,035) discloses a one-piece electrical connector that includes a frusto-conical body portion and a connector portion with the body portion including a threaded outer surface for engaging the wall aperture and seating the connector therein for supporting conduit that extends through the body portion of the electrical connector.  
         [0009]     The Neff et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,779) discloses a connector fitting that includes a pair of semi-cylindrical collars that are threaded onto a corrugated conduit with the connector being supported in the wall aperture by recesses on the external surface of the semi-cylindrical collars.  
         [0010]     The Hatagishi et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,333) discloses a connector apparatus that includes a pair of connectors that are mounted to the through-hole of a fixing frame with the connectors being movable and slidable to achieve a proper alignment and attachment to each other.  
         [0011]     The Pouliot patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,249) discloses an electrical distribution panel providing for the quick change-out of electrical outlets and includes a housing frame divided into distinct spaces each of which is capable of receiving an interchangeable mounting module.  
         [0012]     The Cook patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,132) discloses an electrical receptacle for connecting appliances thereto and the receptacle includes a housing having three-prong plug. The receptacle is electrically connected and mounted to the appliance so that one end of an extension cord can be coupled to the three-prong plug with the other end of the extension cord being plugged into a wall outlet for powering the appliance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention comprehends an electrical housing for interconnecting electrical wires to an electrical fixture that is adapted for the easy and quick connection to and disconnection from the housing so that the installation, upgrade, removal and replacement of electrical fixtures, such as light switches, ceiling fans, outlets, and receptacles, can be accomplished by the electrician, or, preferably, the homeowner with a minimum expenditure of time, cost and labor.  
         [0014]     The housing includes an aperture through which the electrical conduit enclosing the electrical wires is passed. A plurality of dedicated terminals project from the rear wall of the housing and each terminal is color-coded for receiving the unsheathed copper end of each corresponding wire. One clip is then inserted within each terminal, and the copper ends of the wires are then seated and attached to the clips. A safety cap having a pair of slots is then placed onto the prongs of each clip for holding each wire in place on their respective terminal. A lighting fixture specially designed for the quick connection to and disconnection from the housing includes at least one blade-type conductor, and the electrical fixture is pressed onto the housing for securement thereto with the blade-type conductor being aligned with and passing through the free slot of the safety cap for making the electrical interconnection with the electrical wires and, thus, to the electrical wiring system of the dwelling.  
         [0015]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures that reduces the work of the electrician at a new construction site by obviating the need for the electrician to return to the site after the finishing crew has completed their work.  
         [0016]     It is another objective of the present invention to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures that allows the homeowner to replace old electrical fixtures with new electrical fixtures without the involvement of an electrician.  
         [0017]     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures that allows for the removal, replacement or upgrade of old fixtures without the need to hire an electrician or manipulate any electrical wires.  
         [0018]     It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures that allows the homeowner to install, upgrade and replace electrical fixtures without the involvement of an electrician.  
         [0019]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures that greatly reduces the time, complexity and effort involved in installing new electrical fixtures or upgrading and replacing old electrical fixtures.  
         [0020]     Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical housing for the quick connect and disconnect of electrical fixtures for accomplishing the simple, efficient and inexpensive interconnection of electrical fixtures, such as outlets, receptacles, switches and ceiling fans, to the electrical main box of the dwelling  
         [0021]     These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the following drawing figures and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the securement of the wires to the housing and the alignment and mounting of the electrical fixture to the electrical housing;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the electrical housing of  FIG. 1  illustrating the securement of the electrical wires to the terminals mounted within the housing and the placement of an electrical fixture on the housing;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the electrical housing of  FIG. 1  illustrating one terminal with a retaining clip and safety cap mounted thereon;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view of the electrical housing of  FIG. 1  illustrating the securement of one electrical wire to the clip and the clip in alignment with the terminal so that the safety cap can be placed on the clip; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the housing and fixture first shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the attachment of one electrical wire to the clip that is seated in the terminal and a lighting fixture secured to the housing with a blade-type conductor of the fixture being in electrical interconnection with the appropriate electrical wire. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  is an electrical housing or outlet box  10  for interconnecting the electrical wires  12  encased within electrical conduit  14  that is run throughout a dwelling or structure to a specially designed electrical fixture  16 , a representative example being shown in  FIG. 1 , and which can be, for example, a light or ceiling fan, a receptacle or a light switch. The electrical housing  16  of the present invention can be mounted at various locations throughout the dwelling for tying in the electrical wiring system of the dwelling that originates from the main electrical junction box; and the electrical housing  10  of the present invention is intended to replace the standard outlet box. The specially designed electrical fixture  16  is adapted to be easily and quickly pressed on and secured to the electrical housing  10 , and can be easily removed from the electrical housing  10 , so that the electrical fixture  16  incorporates a quick connect and disconnect capability. Thus, the electrical fixture  16  includes plug and play ability so that the upgrade, removal or replacement of the electrical fixture  16  can be easily and quickly accomplished by an electrician, and, more importantly, by the homeowner without the need of the electrician.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the electrical housing  10  includes a top wall  18  that has an aperture  20  for allowing the passage therethrough of the electrical conduit  14  carrying the various electrical wires  12 . The housing  10  also includes a pair of opposed sidewalls  22 , a rear wall  24  and a bottom wall  26  thereby forming or defining a box-like enclosure for the containing the electrical wires  12 . The box-like enclosure further defines an interior chamber  28  for enclosing elements that facilitate the electrical interconnection of the wires  12  to the electrical fixture  16  as hereinafter further described. The electrical housing  10  also includes a front opening  30  into which the electrical fixture  16  is pressed and plugged into place as shall be hereinafter further described.  
         [0029]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the electrical housing  10  also includes a plurality of spaced-apart terminals  32  that are mounted to the rear wall  24  and project into the interior chamber  28  of the housing  10 . The preferred embodiment of the invention includes three terminals  32  that are dedicated terminals and are color-coded for matching up with the corresponding wires  12 . Thus, one terminal  32  is colored black so that the electrical wire  12  designated LI can be attached to the black-colored terminal  32 ; one terminal  32  is colored white so that the electrical wire  12  designated the neutral wire can be attached to the white-colored terminal  32 ; and one terminal  32  is colored green so that the wire  12  designated the ground wire can be attached to that terminal  32 . Each terminal  32  also includes a socket or passageway  34 .  
         [0030]     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  are a plurality of retaining clips  36  with each clip  36  disposed within the socket  34  of one corresponding terminal  32  for securing and holding in place the respective electrical wire  12 . Each clip  36  includes a generally cylindrical body portion  38  adapted to be press fit within the socket  34  of the terminal  32  so that the clip  36  can be securely mounted to the terminal  32 . Each clip  36  also includes a pair of prongs  40  that extend from the body portion  38  in axial alignment therewith. The prongs  40  define a gap  42  within which the exposed copper end of the wire  12  is seated and attached. The inner surface of each prong  40  is sharp-edged to facilitate the removal of the insulation from the wire  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition, the clips  36 —and the prongs  40 —can be sized to receive and hold electrical wire  12  of various gauges, diameters and sizes.  
         [0031]     Shown in  FIGS. 1-5  is a plurality of safety caps  44  for placement on the prongs  40  of the clips  36  for preventing any accidental electrocution during the change out, upgrade or replacement of the electrical fixtures, such as the electrical fixture  16  of  FIG. 1 . Each safety cap  44  is cylindrical or disc-shaped and includes at least two receiving slots  46  extending through the body of the safety cap  44 . When the safety caps  44  are installed at least one receiving slot  46  of each cap  44  will be slid onto the prongs  40  for securing the safety cap  44  to the terminal  32 ; and the installation of the safety caps  44  on the prongs  40  of the clips  36  can also be by a press fit arrangement.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the specially designed electrical fixture  16  that is adapted for the quick and easy connection to and disconnection from the electrical housing  10  is for example purposes a dual outlet wall receptacle. The electrical fixture  16  includes at least one rearward extending blade-type conductor  48  that is inserted through the free receiving slot  46  of the safety cap  44  for making the electrical interconnection with the electrical wires  12 . The representative electrical fixture  16  has a box-shaped body sized to snugly fit within the front opening  30  of the housing  10  so that the homeowner can easily press and secure the electrical fixture  16  in place; and this also allows for the easy removal, upgrade and replacement of the fixture  16  when desired.  
         [0033]     In view of the above it is relatively easy for anyone—professional electrician or homeowner—to install the electrical fixture  16  and then, as desired, upgrade or replace the fixture  16 . The electrical conduit  14  is inserted through the aperture  20  of the top wall  18  and then the outside coating of the conduit  14  is stripped off to expose the variously colored copper wires  12  and the immediate insulation encasing the wires  12 . The wires  12  are then matched up with the corresponding terminal  32 , i.e., L 1  to black, neutral to white, and ground to green. Each clip  36  will be seated within each respective terminal  32  either before of after the proceeding action. The exposed copper ends of the wires  12  are then attached to the prongs  40  for securement to the clips  36 . This action also facilitates the removal of the immediate insulation of the electric wires  12 . The non-conductive safety caps  44  are then secured to the clips  36  by being slid onto the prongs  40  of the clips  36  thus assisting in holding the wires  12  in position on the clips  36 . Finally, the electrical fixture  16  is lined up with the front opening  30  of the housing  10  and is pressed thereon for securing the electrical fixture  16  to the housing  10 . The blade-type conductor  48  of the fixture  16  aligns with the open receiving slot  46  of the safety cap  44  that is secured to the appropriate terminal  32  thereby making the electrical interconnection with the electrical wires  12 . If the electrical fixture needs  16  replaced or upgraded, it is simply removed from its securement to the housing  10  and a new electrical fixture is pressed in place on the housing  10 .  
         [0034]     Thus, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and since numerous modifications, alterations, and variations are both possible and practicable to one skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation as shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted while still falling within the scope of the invention and the appended claims.