Abstract:
A universal thermal wiring connector is configured for monitoring ambient and conducted temperatures on all wire and wire terminal connections external to a wiring device, including supply leads and non-metallic outlet box to insure they are operating within an acceptable temperature range. The device is configured to terminate/disconnect the supply source, before the wiring device terminations, when an abnormal overheating temperature is detected. The device: prevents outlet box fires due to excessive overheating; can be incorporated external on standard receptacle or wiring devices; and provides a safer reasonable alternative with minimal added cost per unit. The device includes a wiring assembly consisting of UL listed wire, connectors, and a calibrated thermal fuse that is connected to the exterior screw terminal of a standard receptacle in the field by a licensed electrician or homeowner, or connected to the screw terminal of the receptacle when it is manufactured at the factory.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/573,885 filed on Sep. 12, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to improvements in the detection of abnormal temperature conditions in electrical receptacles or wiring devices, and more particularly to a device which is capable of preventing outlet box fires due to excessive overheating by monitoring conducted and ambient temperatures external to the device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As is commonly known in the electrical wiring device industry over the last 40 years, a percentage of the receptacle outlet installations are done poorly, resulting in initial loose wiring, or arcing connections. These defects are not visible to a professional installer or consumer-homeowner, a condition that can result in a fire event if not corrected. An investigation performed by Underwriter Laboratories determined that poor workmanship does exist, and is now demonstrated in UL 1567, which addresses the concerns of torque, temperature, vibration, and installation. 
         [0004]    When there is loose wiring or mechanically disturbed wiring terminal connections, which result in insulation faults, these conditions can initiate a failure mechanism process that causes abnormal overheating to increase temperature levels that can result in the ignition of the wiring materials in the receptacle outlet box, and/or the vicinity of the wall outlet box. Given the occurrence of poor workmanship, improper wiring at installation, and the normal use conditions including mechanical disturbances and vibrations, the outlet wiring may be subject to increased temperature conditions. In an electrical installation of a standard wiring device with a device of the present invention, such as a field wired or integral factory wired “Universal Thermal Module Wiring Connector,” the electrical power that feeds the wiring device will be interrupted, i.e., turned off, when the temperature in the outlet box becomes greater that the pre-determined set value of the thermal sensing device. 
         [0005]    When detecting abnormal temperatures on the fixed wiring, or if the ambient temperature of the outlet or junction box exceeds the pre-determined temperature value, the outlet device or wiring which the Universal Thermal Module are connected directly will be turned off. The termination of the current will reduce the heat and prevent ignition of the wiring material, thermoplastic wire device box, the thermoplastic wire device cover plate, and/or the ignition of the wiring device in which it is connected. The present invention will also prevent metallic wiring device boxes from reaching an elevated temperature, which could allow insulation material surrounding the wire device boxes to ignite. 
         [0006]    The present invention will prevent insulation or wiring material, which has been subjected to excessive temperatures, such as in attic spaces, which exceed the temperature limits of the insulating material from being turned on. Deformation of insulation wiring materials can result in arcing between metallic outlet boxes or between lines of different polarity. 
         [0007]    Thermal protection exists in conventional wiring devices, however, due to the location of the thermal sensor these wiring devices do not protect the outlet box wiring. They protect only the wiring device, and not the thermoplastic outlet box, or cover plate, insulating material, nor the most important outlet wiring. 
         [0008]    The Universal Thermal Module is very cost effective, and can be attached to any wiring device, external to the device itself. It is suitable for, but not limited to any standard receptacle,  15 A or  20 A, as well as switches, dimmers, GFCI, wiring devices. It is equally suitable for all appliance applications, such as personal computers, or main frames, as well as the protection of components and wiring devices inside the enclosure of an appliance, or electronic device. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the invention is to provide a connection to a standard receptacle or wiring device, which prevents a fire that may result from an undetected and on-going overheated wiring connection in an outlet box or a junction box. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a Universal Thermal connection harness, which will connect to a standard receptacle or wiring device. The device of the present invention interrupts the source of electrical power before the wiring device, as opposed to at the terminals of the wiring device, when excessive overheating occurs in the receptacle wall outlet box or junction box. The device of the present invention may be connected to a standard receptacle or wiring device to stop progressive damaging effects of unwanted overheating at a loose binding head screw terminal, a wiring connection, a pressure plate screw terminal wiring connection, or a mechanically abused back-wire push-in (BWPI) terminal connection. 
         [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a connection to a standard receptacle or wiring device, to stop progressive damaging effects of unwanted overheating at a loose binding head screw terminal wiring connection, a pressure plate screw terminal wiring connection, or a mechanically abused back-wire push-in (BWPI) terminal connection. 
         [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide a connector for connection to a standard receptacle or wiring device that interrupts and/or stops, the flow of electric current to the wiring device by activating a calibrated thermal sensor that may be integrated with the Universal Thermal Module Wiring Connector, at specified safe pre-ignition temperature. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a connector for connection to a standard receptacle or wiring device that provides a reasonable alternate design that is safer and cost effective to manufacture, that reduces the risk of any future occurrence of a glowing connection that may arise as a result of an undetected progressive overheating condition at a wiring device connection. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a means for monitoring the ambient temperature of the interior of a non-metallic outlet or junction box, and/or cover plate to ensure the temperature ratings of the non-metallic material of the box and cover are not exceeded. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide a means for monitoring the ambient temperature of the supply wiring in the interior of a non-metallic outlet or junction box, to ensure the temperature ratings of the wiring material are not exceeded. 
         [0016]    Another object of the invention is to provide a means for monitoring high resistant connections that yield an abnormal temperature rise in the outlet or junction box. 
         [0017]    Another object of the invention is to provide a means for monitoring damaged insulation wiring that yields an abnormal temperature rise, due possibly to arc tracking or bridging in the outlet or junction box. 
         [0018]    Another object of the invention is to provide a means for monitoring damaged or abused standard receptacles or wiring devices that yield abnormal temperature rise in the outlet or junction box. 
         [0019]    Another object of the invention is to facilitate installation of the device of the present invention so that by positioning the thermal sensor on an angle, it forces the installer to adequately and properly bend wires in outlet box, assuring a proper fold. 
         [0020]    Another object of the invention is to provide a tamper resistant Binding Head Screw in an electrical connector that is used to assure that the Universal Thermal Module Wiring Device is permanently attached to the wiring device without altering the original wiring device assembly, and provides an exact pre-determined tightening value. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following is a broad outline of some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
         [0022]    In this respect, before explaining at least one of the embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction or to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and the terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0023]    The present invention is directed to monitoring ambient and conducted temperatures on all wire and wire terminal connections of a wiring device including, but not limited to, supply leads and non-metallic outlet boxes. The present invention ensures that these components are operating within an acceptable temperature range, and is able to terminate or disconnect the supply source, before the wiring device overheats when an abnormal overheating temperature is detected. The present invention:
       a) will prevent excessive overheating and fire that may occur in the outlet box;   b) can be incorporated on the external surface of a standard receptacle or any wiring device; and/or   c) provides a safer reasonable alternate device with only minor added cost per unit.       
 
         [0027]    The present invention is unlike existing types of thermally protected wiring devices, which are incorporated internally to the device, and which cut off when the temperature of the device exceeds a given temperature. The Universal Thermal Module of the present invention is external to the device allowing it to be a permanent part of the wiring device through a tamper proof binding head screw, which makes it non-removable. By being external to the wiring device assembly, the thermal sensor monitors more than just the temperature of the wiring device. It can monitor the heat that is conductively transmitted from the wiring device, as well as radiated ambient heat within the junction/outlet box, protecting not only the wiring device, but also the fixed building wiring, as well as the thermoplastic junction box itself. Also, by monitoring the ambient temperature of the outlet box, it also ensures that a metallic box does not rise to a temperature that would adversely affect the surrounding wall insulation. 
         [0028]    A primary feature of the present invention is a wiring assembly or harness that includes a supply wire, such as a UL listed wire, a thermal sensor, such as a calibrated thermal sensor, and one or more connectors. The assembly may be connected to the exterior screw terminal of a standard receptacle in the field by a licensed electrician or homeowner using a tamper proof binding head screw, or it may be connected to the screw terminal of the receptacle when it is manufactured at the factory. 
         [0029]    The thermal sensor may be a suitable thermal sensing device that detects a pre-determined absolute temperature, and when activated, disconnects the supply lead to which it is attached. The sensor type may include, but not be limited to, a thermal fuse, PTC, Bimetal, or an electronic device. 
         [0030]    A length of wire may connected to a wire connector on the device at one end, with the calibrated thermal sensor at the other end, and an insulated wire connects to the other end of the thermal sensor and is provided with a wire connector at its other end to facilitate field wiring. The connector facilitates connecting the feeder wire from the power source to the wiring device. The wire may be 14 AWG or 12 AWG, but is not limited to those sizes. The wire may be solid or stranded, and may preferably be rated above 70 degrees Celsius. The wire may be aluminum or copper. 
         [0031]    The connector may be any field wiring type connector which is suitable for the application, according to gauge, temperature, and rating. 
         [0032]    The binding head screw (BHS) is constructed using a tamper-proof head. Using a binding head screw with a tamper proof head assures that the Universal Thermal Module is permanently affixed to the wiring device it is incorporated into, and with its torque value being set by the factory. 
         [0033]    The enclosure may be heat-shrinkable tubing, or may be formed of a thermoplastic material. Epoxy may be provided to seal terminations from air to prevent oxidation. 
         [0034]    The Universal Thermal Module Connector can be fitted to any wiring device, such as a receptacle, a switch, a GFCI, a dimmer, etc. The Universal Thermal Module is preferably external to the device and secured by the taper resistant binding head screw. 
         [0035]    The Universal Thermal Module wiring connector may be assembled integral with a standard duplex receptacle, and be installed in accordance with standard procedures of the National Electric Code. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the universal thermal wiring connector of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged detail view of the thermal sensor of the universal thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is the enlarged detail view of  FIG. 3 , but illustrating a copper/aluminum wiring arrangement, with an aluminum lead supplying current to the thermal sensor, and with a copper lead supplying the current to the receptacle. 
           [0039]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of the present invention, just prior to mating with a back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0040]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 4A , but with mounting legs to augment the securing of the device to the receptacle. 
           [0041]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 4 , after mating with the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 4B , after mating with the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle and also with use of the mounting legs. 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 5B  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 5B  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 5B  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 11A  is an enlarged detail view of one of the legs and lip of the housing of the connector of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the parts of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0051]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the parts of the back-wire push-in type receptacle of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0052]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of the present invention, just prior to mating with a back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0053]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 14 , after mating with the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0054]      FIG. 16  is a front view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 15  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0055]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 15  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0056]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the mated thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 15  and the corresponding back-wire push-in type receptacle. 
           [0057]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0058]      FIG. 20  is a side view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0059]      FIG. 21  is a side view of the thermal wiring connector  FIG. 20 , but with the cover plate removed. 
           [0060]      FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0061]      FIG. 23  is an exploded view of the parts of the thermal wiring connector of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0062]    A primary feature of the present invention is a wiring assembly that includes a wire, such as a UL listed wire, one or more connectors, and a thermal sensor, such as a calibrated thermal sensor. The assembly may be connected to the exterior screw terminal of a standard receptacle in the field by a licensed electrician or homeowner, or connected to the screw terminal of the receptacle when it is manufactured at the factory. 
         [0063]    The thermal sensor may be a suitable thermal sensing device that detects a pre-determined absolute temperature, and when activated, disconnects the supply lead to which it is attached. The sensor type may include, but not be limited to, a thermal fuse, PTC, Bimetal, or an electronic device. 
         [0064]    A length of wire may be connected to a wire connector on the device at one end, with the calibrated thermal sensor at the other end, and an insulated wire connects to the other end of the thermal sensor and is provided with a wire connector at its other end to facilitate field wiring. The connector facilitates connecting the feeder wire from the power source to the wiring device. 
         [0065]    The wire may be 14 AWG or 12 AWG, but is not limited to those sizes. The wire may be solid or stranded, and may preferably be rated above 70 degrees Celsius. The wire may be aluminum or copper. 
         [0066]    The connector may be any field wiring type connector which is suitable for the application, according to gauge, temperature, and rating. 
         [0067]    The binding head screw (BHS) is constructed using a tamper-proof head. Using a binding head screw with a tamper proof head assures that the Universal Thermal Connector is permanently affixed to the wiring device it is incorporated into, and with its torque value being set by the factory. 
         [0068]    The enclosure may be heat-shrinkable tubing, or may be formed of a thermoplastic material. Epoxy may be provided to seal terminations from air to prevent oxidation. 
         [0069]    The Universal Thermal Connector can be fitted to any wiring device, such as a receptacle, a switch, a GFCI, a dimmer, etc. The Universal Thermal Connector is preferably external to the device and secured by the taper resistant binding head screw. 
         [0070]    The universal thermal wiring connector may be assembled integral with a standard duplex receptacle, and be installed in accordance with standard procedures of the National Electric Code. 
         [0071]    A first embodiment of the connector of the present invention is shown by the universal thermal wiring connector  10  of  FIG. 1 . The connector  10  may include supply lead wire  16  in series with a thermal sensor  15  that may be encased within enclosure  17 , as described hereinabove. The thermal sensor may be in series on the downstream side with a second wire  13  that may terminate in a ring style wire end blade connector  14 . The ring blade connector  14  may be secured to the terminal of the receptacle  90  using a binding head screw  12  that is constructed with a tamper-proof head. Although the tamper proof head of the binding head screw  12  in  FIG. 1  is illustrated with the head having the double-hole arrangement for torquing that is commonly referred to as “snake eyes,” other tamper proof heads may also be used, such as those manufactured by the Tamperproof Screw Company of New York (see e.g., www.tamperproof.com/download-catalog.html). Thermal protection may preferably be provided on both the hot and neutral terminals using wiring connector  10 . 
         [0072]    Two different versions of a second embodiment of the connector of the present invention are shown by the universal thermal wiring connector  20 ′ of  FIG. 4A  and the connector  20  of  FIG. 4B . The connector  20 ′ is particularly adapted to being installed upon a receptacle having a pair of back-wire push-in receptacle terminal connections using only those terminal connections for mounting of the device, which may therefore be accomplished for any in-service BWPI receptacle. The connector  20  is particularly adapted to being mounted upon a corresponding receptacle  96  having a pair of back-wire push-in (BWPI) terminal connections, using both the terminal connections and a set of mounting legs that may be received by the receptacle, which serves to improve the reliability of the mounting, since the BWPI terminal connections of such receptacles do not consistently tend to retain the wire securely therein. 
         [0073]      FIG. 4A  shows a view with the connector  20  of the present invention being aligned with the corresponding receptacle  96 , just prior to mounting of the device to the back-wire push-in receptacle, while  FIG. 5B  shows the device after being mounted to the receptacle. The device  20  is shown assembled in the views of  FIGS. 9-11 , and the component parts of connector  20  are shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 12 . The connector  20  may have a housing  30  that may have a plurality of wall sections that form a cavity. The plurality of wall sections may be integrally formed as a plastic injection molded part and may therefore be a single unitary wall that is multi-faceted. The cavity formed by the exterior wall sections may be partitioned using an interior wall  30 W to form a first compartment  31  and a second compartment  32  that may respectively have a bottom opening  31 B and  32 B, as well as a top opening  31 T and  32 T. 
         [0074]    The back surface  34  of the housing  30  may be generally flat, and may have four flattened legs  34 ,  35 ,  36 , and  37  that protrude orthogonally away from the surface, with the legs being located at the edge of the surface  34 . The respective pairs of legs,  34 / 36  and  35 / 37  may be positioned at a distance away from each other that matches the width W (see  FIG. 13 ) of the base of the receptacle  96 , possibly being slightly larger so that the legs may straddle the base, as seen in  FIG. 5 . Each of the legs  34 / 36 / 35 / 37  may have a respective lip  34 L/ 36 L/ 35 L/ 37 L that may extend away from the legs to be usable for securing the device  20  to the receptacle, as seen in  FIGS. 6-7 . The lip  37 L for leg  37  is shown in detail within  FIG. 11A , and is representative for each of the legs. The lip  37 L may be formed to have three or more discrete surfaces. A slanted surface  37 S may be at an angle to the leg, being in the range of approximately 30 degrees to 60 degrees with the axial direction of the leg. The slanted surface  37 S may transition into surface  37 P being parallel to the axial direction of the leg. The transition may be a sharp corner, or it may be a radiused surface. The parallel surface  37 P may end at a sharp corner with a surface  37 N that may be normal to the axial direction of the leg. (Note—the housing  30 ′, which may be used in place of housing  30  for the assembly of connector  20 ′, is also illustrated in the exploded view of  FIG. 12 , and may be formed the same as housing  30 , except that it does not have the legs  34 / 36 / 35 / 37 , as noted above). 
         [0075]    A first push connector  41  may be received into the first compartment to be fixedly secured to the housing  30  proximate to the top opening  31 T. The first push connector  41  may contain 3 ports that are each usable for securing of and electrically coupling of a three respective wire leads therein. A second push connector  42  may similarly be received into the second compartment to be fixedly secured to the housing  30  proximate to the top opening  32 T. The second push connector  42  may also contain 3 ports. 
         [0076]    A first thermal sensor  51  may be received in the first compartment  31 , with a first wire lead  51 A of the sensor being inserted into a first port of the first push connector  41 . The second wire lead  5113  of the thermal sensor  51  may make a 90 degree turn forming a portion  51 C that may exit out the housing  30  through an opening  33 A in the back surface  33  of the housing. A current supply wire  61 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  61 A be inserted into a second port of the first push connector  41 . A downstream current wire  71 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  71 A be inserted into a third port of the first push connector  41 . 
         [0077]    Similarly, a second thermal sensor  52  may be received in the second compartment  32 , with a first wire lead  52 A of the sensor being inserted into a first port of the second push connector  42 . The second wire lead  52 B of the thermal sensor  52  may also make a 90 degree turn forming a portion  52 C that may exit out the housing  30  through an opening  33 B in the back surface  33  of the housing. A current supply wire  62 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  62 A be inserted into a second port of the second push connector  42 . A downstream current wire  72 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  72 A be inserted into a third port of the second push connector  42 . 
         [0078]    In addition, the first thermal sensor  51 , the current supply wire  61 , and the downstream current wire  71  may each be pre-assembled into a mini-housing  81 , which may have an interior shape, as seen in  FIG. 12 , which may be specifically formed to provide support for each of those members and to maintain separation therebetween. Pre-assembling of the first thermal sensor  51 , the current supply wire  61 , and the downstream current wire  71  into the mini-housing  81  also permits easier insertion of the respective leads of those members into the first push connector  41 . The second thermal sensor  52 , the current supply wire  62 , and the downstream current wire  72  may similarly be pre-assembled into a mini-housing  82 . 
         [0079]    The assembled thermal wiring connector  20 ′, as seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , may be secured to any back-wire push-in receptacle  91 . Mounting of the thermal wiring connector  20 ′ to the standard back-wire push-in receptacle  91  may begin with alignment of the portion  51 C of the second wire lead  51 B of the thermal sensor  51 , and alignment of the portion  52 C of the second wire lead  52 B of the thermal sensor  52 , with the back wire openings of the receptacle  91 , as seen in  FIG. 4A . The thermal wiring connector  20 ′ may then be advanced toward the receptacle  91 , with the wire lead portions  51 C and  52 C being received into the back wire openings of the receptacle, which thereby secure the connector  20 ′ with respect to the receptacle  91 . 
         [0080]    The assembled thermal wiring connector  20  may be secured to the corresponding receptacle  96  ( FIGS. 4B and 5B ), which may be comprised of the component parts illustrated in FIG.  13 —a yoke  86 A, a based  96 B, a face  96 C, a first contact  96 D, and a second contact  96 E. The base  96 B of the receptacle may have a first pair of recesses  96 Bi and  96 Bii on a first side of the base, and a second pair of recesses  96 Biii and  96 Biv on a second side of the base for mounting of the connector thereon. (Note that the pair of recesses  96 Bi and  96 Bii on the first side of the base could be joined into a single recess, and also the pair of recesses  96 Biii and  96 Biv on the second side of the base may also be joined to form a single recess). 
         [0081]    The piggyback mounting of the thermal wiring connector  20  with the back-wire push-in receptacle  96  may also begin with alignment of the portion  51 C of the second wire lead  51 B of the thermal sensor  51  and alignment of the portion  52 C of the second wire lead  52 B of the thermal sensor  52 , with the back wire openings of the receptacle  96 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The thermal wiring connector  20  may then be advanced toward the receptacle  96 , with the wire lead portions  51 C and  52 C being received into the back wire openings of the receptacle, and with the lips  34 L/ 36 L/ 35 L/ 37 L of the respective legs  34 / 36 / 35 / 37  contacting the sides of the base  96 B of the receptacle. The first point on the legs to contact the base would be the slanted surfaces  34 S/ 36 S/ 35 S/ 37 S. Continued sliding movement of the thermal wiring connector  20  towards the receptacle  96  may then result in the engagement of the bottom corner of the base with the slanted surfaces of the legs, causing the legs to elastically deform outward. As the bottom corner of the base  96 B C  of receptacle  96  approaches the back surface  33  of the housing  30 , the corner between the parallel surfaces  34 P/ 36 P/ 35 P/ 37 P and the normal surfaces  34 N/ 36 N/ 35 N/ 37 N of the lip of the respective legs may traverse past the beginning of the recesses  96 B i / 96 B ii / 96 B iii / 96 B iv , permitting the legs to be restored elastically to their un-deformed position, where they straddle a portion of the base  96 B of the receptacle  96 , as seen in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0082]    The thermal wiring connector  22 , illustrated in  FIGS. 14 through 23  may be similarly formed and attached to the receptacle, but may be constructed using an arrangement that eliminates the push connectors  41 / 42  of thermal wiring connector  20 . As seen in  FIG. 23 , a housing  300  may be formed with feet and lips for attachment of the connector, similar to those on connector  20 , but housing  300  may have a back opening for installation of the components therein, which may be sealed using a cover  80  that may snap into the housing tabs on the cover and openings in the housing, including tab  83  snapping into opening  303 . The first thermal sensor  510  may be received within a mounting slot within the housing  300 , with a first wire lead  510 A looping around an interior wall  301  (see  FIG. 21 ) to thereafter form a straight lead portion  510 D. The second lead wire  510 B of the first thermal sensor may make a 90 degree turn forming a portion  510 C that may exit out the housing cover  80  through an opening  81  therein. The second thermal sensor  520  may also be received within a mounting slot within the housing  300 , with a first wire lead  520 A looping around an interior wall  302  to thereafter form a straight lead portion  520 D. The second lead wire  520 B of the second thermal sensor may make a 90 degree turn forming a portion  520 C that may exit out the housing cover  80  through an opening  82  therein. A current supply wire  610 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  610 A be electrically coupled, using a coupler, with the straight lead portion MOD of first thermal sensor  510 . A second current supply wire  620 , which may be insulated, may have a bare end  620 A be electrically coupled, using a coupler, with the straight lead portion  520 D of second thermal sensor  520 . 
         [0083]    The assembled thermal wiring connector  22 , as seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , may be secured to any back-wire push-in receptacle  91 . Mounting of the thermal wiring connector  22  to the standard back-wire push-in receptacle  91  may accomplished the same as described for the connector  20 ′. 
         [0084]    The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention.