Abstract:
An electrical switch and outlet design which includes a modular electrical component system having a universal connector which can receive replacement switches, sockets and other electrical components. The connection between these switches, sockets or other components and the universal connector is controlled by a lifting system in which the entirety of the replacement module is inserted into a receptacle or removed therefrom without the user touching any electrical wiring. Essentially, components are changed by plugging a component into and unplugging one from a universal grounded connector.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention (the “Invention”) relates to the increased ease and safety that a modular design for electrical switches and outlets brings to the procedure of installing and replacing such devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Most homes and many commercial spaces, especially hospitals, require the replacement of light switches, outlets and other electrical controls from time to time due to wear and tear, a need for additional or different functionality, or just a style or color change. All conventional light switches and outlets are attached directly to a building&#39;s electrical wiring. When a conventional switch or outlet needs to be replaced, first the fuse or breaker must be located and turned off, only then can the wall plate be removed, the device unscrewed from its electrical box and the wiring to the switch disconnected. Once this has been accomplished, a device can be installed following the same procedure in reverse: attaching the wiring, screwing the device into the electrical box and installing the wall plate, and finally restoring the fuse or breaker. The power leading to the old device must be turned off at the fuse box before disconnecting it, otherwise the person replacing it runs the risk of electrical shock and possibly electrocution. Also, many of today&#39;s advanced dimmers, timers and motion sensors are susceptible to damage when the power is removed and later restored to the device. 
         [0003]    The Invention relates to a modular electrical component system that reduces the overall danger, total time required, likelihood of error and aggregate cost of changing a light switch, while also decreasing the complexity of initially wiring a building&#39;s electrical system. The Invention makes changing a switch, dimmer, motion sensor, timer, etc (each, a “Component”) as simple and safe as plugging in a power cord, allowing the average homeowner to safely do it themselves. The Invention eliminates the need for professional involvement (subsequent to the original installation) insofar as it allows the consumer to change. Components by plugging a Component into (and unplugging it from) a universal grounded connector that generally resembles a standard electrical outlet. The universal connector eliminates the need to unscrew anything or manipulate any wires. Instead, consumers can make the improvement through a safe and easy insertion or removal action without fear of damage to the wiring, shock or electrocution. The Invention is attractive not only to the homeowner, but also to the contractor and builder. The universal connector has been designed in a way that reduces installation time and complexity, while providing real utility and convenience to the homeowners, saving them money over time as they continue to make upgrades and design changes themselves instead of employing an electrician. The Invention is also fully compatible with “smart”-home applications, such as Insteon, X10 and others. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The Invention presents clear advantages over the prior art by offering an easy-to-use, safe and expedient way to replace Components. 
         [0005]    In some ways, the Invention is revolutionary in that an entirely different methodology is employed to carry a building&#39;s electrical power to switches and sockets, which can be readily changed by a homeowner, who merely plugs-in or removes replacement Components by operating the lifting mechanism. There is no reasonable way that the homeowner can be endangered, and this safe and simple invention can pave the way for a great expansion of different Components to be used by homeowners as desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the Invention, including a modular component (switch) and a universal connector. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is the same side perspective view as  FIG. 1 , with the modular component more engaged with the universal connector. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is the same side perspective view as  FIG. 1 , with the modular component fully engaged with, and latched to, the universal connector. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the universal connector. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the universal connector. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wall plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of modular component  10  being vertically aligned with universal grounded connector  20 . Modular component includes vertical slots  14  that help to align the modular component with the universal grounded connector, which ensures that the module&#39;s electrical contacts align with the connector&#39;s contacts, and that the module does not bind as it is moved into full engagement. There are five male plugs  16  extending downward from the modular component that can connect with the five female receptacles  32  that are part of the universal connector, and are located in the top surface of the termination housing  30 . The universal connector also includes a lifting system comprised of latching lever  40  with cam shaped surface  44  and retaining surface  45 , and pivot  42 . Peg  12  extends perpendicular to one side  13  of the modular component and can engage with a latching lever  40 , both to draw the component into the universal grounded connector, and to lift and eject it. A pair of levels could also be used to accomplish the same lifting and latching. Universal grounded connector  20  includes “U”-shaped chassis  21 , and termination housing  30 . The chassis  21  has guiding tabs  22  oriented vertically near termination housing  30 . The termination housing includes five fasteners  34  on its side that are used to capture and make an electrical connection with the building&#39;s circuits or wiring wires that are inserted from below. These wires may include ground, neutral, hot, and special wiring like that required for 3-way and 4-way switching. This simple five-in-a-row configuration of the termination for all potential modules provides, for the first time, a consistent wiring arrangement for switches, outlets and all other electrical devices. This consistency will have a positive effect on reducing mistakes in wiring and will speed up the process of wiring hundreds of switches and outlets in a home, and thousands in a commercial building. Tab  35  is substantially rectangular and extends vertically from a top surface  37  of the termination housing. Tab  35  provides a downward facing, horizontal surface  36  for the latching lever  40  to engage with ( FIG. 3 ). The latching lever rotates about pivot  42  which is fixedly attached to a surface  39  projecting upwardly from the top surface  37  of the termination housing. A cam shaped surface  44 , integrally formed as part of lever  40 , acts on peg  12  to lift and eject modular component  10 . Retaining surface  45  of lever  40  acts on the peg to pull the modular component into the universal grounded connector, and prevents it from disengaging. The latching lever  40  includes a push tab  46 , a thin flange integrally formed as part of lever  40 , extending beyond the end of the lever, that is positioned and sized to make it easy to push down to latch, or to lift with a finger or a small screwdriver since the orientation and location of the push tab is forward of the connector  20  ( FIG. 3 ) when the modular component  10  is seated into the connector  20 . There are four flexible tabs  50  positioned at opposite corners of the chassis that snap into receiving openings in a decorative wall plate ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is the same side perspective view as in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the modular component being more engaged with the universal grounded connector. The asymmetries of the modular component and of the connector make it impossible for the component to be installed incorrectly. These asymmetries include the 5 male plugs, and the 2 vertical slots with the corresponding guiding tabs that are both on the same side of the centerline of the assembly. Either one of these asymmetries would be sufficient to prevent incorrect installation. The male plugs  16  have begun to engage with the female receptacles  32 . The male plug that will carry ground may be slightly longer than the other male plugs to ensure that the ground circuit is complete before other connections are made. Peg  12  of the modular component is in contact with the cam shaped surface  44  of the latching lever. 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is again the same side perspective view as in  FIG. 1 , this time disclosing the modular component fully engaged with the universal grounded connector. Peg  12  is now captured by the retaining surface  45  of the latching lever, ensuring that the modular component cannot come loose, potentially interrupting electrical contact with the universal grounded connector. 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view disclosing the features of the lifting system&#39;s latching lever that were not visible in the previous figures. When the latching lever is latched closed, as in  FIG. 3 , the ramp shaped catch  48  will be engaged with and prevented from upward motion, by horizontal surface  36 . To disengage the latching lever, it can be bent outward away from the modular component, in a direction perpendicular to its plane of motion. The latch pivot rib  38  extends vertically upward from the top surface of the termination housing and is a stop-surface for stop tab  43 , which extends off the inside surface of the lever towards the modular component, and ensures that the lever cannot be rotated too far, which could make it difficult to insert the module. Stop block  41  is located next to the ramp shaped catch and extends off the inside surface of the lever. This stop block can contact tab  35 , but cannot go further, which keeps the latch from being pushed beyond the fully engaged and latched position. 
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the universal grounded connector disclosing the termination housing&#39;s rear surface and its five electrical terminals  38  that a building&#39;s electrical wiring is connected to. These electrical terminals connect the building&#39;s wiring to the female receptacles of the housing. The female receptacles are integrally formed in the electrical terminals. The orientation and placement of these terminals makes them easy to attach wires to, and difficult for a consumer to accidentally touch an unprotected wire.  FIG. 5  also illustrates how the open-center design of this universal grounded connector makes it possible for the modular component to have almost any depth. This flexibility allows a single design for the universal grounded connector to be small and thin to fit in the smallest junction box when holding a simple switch, and also capable of accepting more sophisticated modular components such as a dimmer, motion sensor or timer that have relatively large circuit boards inside and subsequently will be larger modular components requiring greater depth. 
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view showing the modular component fully engaged with the grounded universal connector and a wall plate  60  engaged with the universal connector and covering the modular component. 
         [0018]    The Invention is presented as connected to a building&#39;s wiring. The term building, whenever used herein, generically relates to any structure, including, but not limited to, a building, a boat, a dock or any other structure which contains wiring to be distributed at sockets throughout a space or spaces. 
         [0019]    It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the Invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the Invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the Invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.