Patent Publication Number: US-2016241009-A1

Title: Ganged electrical fittings with integral cover plate and method of use thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     To the full extent permitted by law, the present United States Non-provisional patent application, is a continuation of United States Non-provisional application entitled “Ganged Electrical Fittings with Integral Cover Plate and Method of Use Thereof,” having assigned Ser. No. 14/686,251, filed on Apr. 14, 2015 (and issuing on Apr. 26, 2016 under U.S. Pat. No. 9,325,162), which is a Continuation-in-Part of, Continuation United States Non-provisional application entitled “Electrical Fittings with Integral Cover Plate and Method of Use Thereof,” having assigned Ser. No. 14/603,641, filed on Jan. 23, 2015, and issued on Nov. 3, 2016 under U.S. Pat. No. 9,178,344, which claims benefit of Continuation United States Non-provisional application entitled “Electrical Fittings with Integral Cover Plate and Method of Use Thereof,” having assigned Ser. No. 14/546,515, filed on Nov. 18, 2014, and issued on Oct. 27, 2015 under U.S. Pat. No. 9,172,228, which claims benefit of United States Non-provisional application entitled “Electrical Fittings with Integral Cover Plate and Method of Use Thereof,” having assigned Ser. No. 13/460,060, filed on Apr. 30, 2012, and issued on Dec. 30, 2014 under U.S. Pat. No. 8,921,694, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     None 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical fittings or fixtures, and more specifically to electrical fittings or fixtures having an integral cover plate. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     During construction of buildings, both commercial and residential, it is common to provide an electrical wall box for receiving an electrical fitting, such as, an outlet or a switch. The electrical wall box is typically secured to the side of a vertical stud. Once the wall box is installed, wallboard is typically installed over the studs and an opening is cut in the wallboard in order to pass the electrical fitting through the wallboard. Often, the opening is cut prior to installation of the wall box and the wall box is secured to align with the opening. Electrical wiring from a power source enters the wall box via an opening therein, wherein the electrical wiring is accessible from the front of the wall box. 
     To complete the installation of the electrical fitting, wires from the fitting are secured to corresponding wires in the wall box, such as, via wire nuts, and the fitting is secured, typically via screws that engage tubular openings (threaded or unthreaded—for self-tapping screws) in the wall box. Subsequently, a decorative cover plate is installed over the fitting, by securing the cover plate, such as, via screws that engage threaded openings in the fitting. 
     Whenever a building is undergoing renovation, the existing wall fittings and their cover plates are often in need of replacement or may simply need to be replaced to provide a different appearance. Further, it is often necessary to replace a single, defective fitting. 
     In order to replace such existing fittings, once the old cover plates and fittings are removed, typically a new fitting is installed by securing the wires of the new fitting to their corresponding wires in the wall box (step one), securing the fitting to the wall box (step two), and, subsequently, securing a new cover plate over the replaced fitting (step three). All of these steps are labor intensive, resulting in higher costs than would otherwise be incurred through a simpler apparatus and method of installation. Moreover, stock keeping units must be maintained for both the fittings and the cover plates, thereby increasing record-keeping costs for inventory. 
     When installing an electrical fitting to a wall box, the fitting has openings for fasteners to engage the wall box receiving apertures. Once the fitting is installed, the cover plate is secured via fasteners through different openings, thus requiring both different locations for the openings that receive the fasteners, but more importantly, a larger number of openings that should be required. 
     Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for an electrical fitting and cover plate combination that reduces the typical three step installation to a wired wall box from three steps to two. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing an electrical fitting, such as, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, an electrical outlet or an electrical switch, wherein the electrical fitting comprises an integral cover plate, and wherein the composite electrical fitting/cover plate is secured via screws through the cover plate into the wall box, thereby reducing inventory for parts suppliers and labor costs for installation. 
     According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a composite electrical fitting comprising an electrical component having an integrally-formed cover plate, the electrical component and cover plate comprising a single unit. The composite electrical fitting is dimensioned to be received by a wall box, the wall box having apertures dimensioned to cooperatively engage fasteners. The cover plate has one or more openings therein that are dimensioned to receive fasteners. Preferably, the composite electrical fitting is removably secured to the wall box via the fasteners. 
     The electrical component has integral wires, each having a first end and a second end, with the first end in electrical communication with the electrical component, and each wire of the electrical component has a quick-connect member disposed at the second end thereof. The quick-connect member comprises a gripping member dimensioned to secure an electrical conductor therewithin. The electrical conductor typically comprises a sheath therearound, and the quick-connect member has a cutting member dimensioned to pierce the sheath. 
     The electrical component may comprise an electrical outlet having one or more receptacles for receiving electrical plugs, and/or may comprise an electrical switch. Preferably, the electrical component comprises two receptacles. Alternatively, the electrical component comprises four receptacles. 
     In the course of either an initial installation or for remodeling, an electrical fitting/cover plate combination is obtained and each of its wires is secured to a corresponding wire coming out of the electrical wall box via the quick-connect member which pierces the insulating sheath of the wire coming from the wall box. Subsequently, the electrical fitting/cover plate combination is secured to the electrical wall box by passing one or more fasteners through the openings in the cover plate and engaging the fasteners cooperatively with receiving apertures in the wall box. 
     More specifically, the present invention is a composite electrical fitting having an electrical component and a cover plate that are integrally formed together. The electrical component comprises for exemplary purposes only, an outlet or a switch which is installed in a wall section. 
     Typically, the wall section has an opening cut therein to allow access to electrical wall boxes from outside of the wall. The wall box is typically secured to a selected stud within the wall via a nail or a screw. The wall box has apertures for receiving screws to retain an electrical component therein and has an opening in the rear, sides or top of wall box to permit power supply wiring comprising a group of insulated conductors to pass into the wall box. The insulated conductors comprise conductors with insulating sheaths surrounding the conductors to insulate them. 
     The cover plate of the composite electrical fitting comprises throughholes dimensioned to receive fasteners inserted therethrough. The electrical component comprises, preferably, a duplex outlet having wires extending therefrom, such as, for exemplary purposes only, a hot wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The hot wire, the neutral wire and the ground wire each have a first end and a second end. The duplex outlet further comprises an upper receptacle and a lower receptacle, both dimensioned to receive electrical plugs for lamps, appliances or similar. The upper receptacle and lower receptacle are connected in parallel so that a single set of wires exits the duplex outlet. 
     At that end of the wires from the electrical component, there are quick-connectors that have gripping members to secure a wire therein and/or cutting members to pierce the insulation sheath of the insulated conductors disposed therein to provide electrical communication between the conductor and the electrical component. In an alternative embodiment, the composite electrical fitting may not have quick-connectors, but, instead, is connected to power supply wires coming from the wall box via wirenuts. 
     To install the composite electrical fitting, the hot wire from the mains coming from the wall is inserted into a quick-connect member on the hot wire of the electrical component, the wall neutral wire is inserted into a quick-connect member on the neutral wire of the electrical component, and the wall ground wire is inserted into a quick-connect member on the ground wire of the electrical component. Subsequently, the composite electrical fitting is secured to the wall box via one or more fasteners, with the cover plate covering the wall box opening. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the electrical component may comprise a switch, and, in another alternate embodiment, the electrical component may comprise a quad outlet with its receptacles wired in parallel. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the ganged electrical fitting, the ganged electrical fitting includes a cover plate having at least two sets of apertures, the at least two sets of apertures includes at least one throughhole and at least one component aperture, two or more electrical components affixed to the cover plate, each of the two or more electrical components fitted therein the at least one component aperture in the cover plate, integral wires, the integral wires having a neutral wire, a ground wire and at least one hot wire, the neutral wire having a first neutral end and a second neutral end, wherein the second neutral end is in electrical communication with each of the two or more electrical components and the ground wire having a first ground end and a second ground end, wherein the second ground end is in electrical communication with each of the two or more electrical components, and wherein the at least one hot wire having a first hot wire end and a second hot wire end, wherein the second hot wire end is in electrical communication with at least one of the two or more electrical components, an electrical component cover affixed to the cover plate, the electrical component cover fitted around the two or more electrical components. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment the ganged electrical fitting, the ganged electrical fitting includes a cover plate having at least two sets of apertures, the at least two sets of apertures includes at least one throughhole and at least one component aperture, two or more electrical components affixed to the cover plate, each of the two or more electrical components selected from a group consisting of a switch, a receptacle, an outlet, a fan switch, a dimmer and combinations thereof, each of the two or more electrical components fitted therein the at least one component aperture in the cover plate, integral wires, the integral wires having a neutral wire, a ground wire and at least one hot wire, the neutral wire having a first neutral end and a second neutral end, wherein the second neutral end is in electrical communication with each of the two or more electrical components and the ground wire having a first ground end and a second ground end, wherein the second ground end is in electrical communication with each of the two or more electrical components, and wherein the at least one hot wire having a first hot wire end and a second hot wire end, wherein the second hot wire end is in electrical communication with at least one of the two or more electrical components, an electrical component cover affixed to the cover plate, the electrical component cover fitted around the two or more electrical components. 
     Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to reduce labor costs for initial installation and for retrofitting of electrical fittings. 
     Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to reduce the number of stock keeping units for inventory purposes. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be quickly installed. 
     Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be utilized with a variety of electrical components. 
     Yet still another feature and advantage of the present invention is that it requires only simple tools for installation. 
     Still yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is that it is secured via fewer fasteners that is required by typical electrical fixtures with separate cover plates. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Selected Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wall section having an electrical wall box installed therein; 
         FIG. 2A  is a front exploded perspective view of an electrical fitting according to a preferred embodiment, shown connected and secured to an existing electrical wall box; 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of an electrical fitting according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2C  is a detail perspective view of a wire from an electrical fitting according to the preferred embodiment, shown with a quick-connect used to join to another wire; 
         FIG. 3  is a front exploded perspective view of an electrical fitting according to a preferred embodiment, shown connected and secured to an existing electrical wall box; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an electrical fitting according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an electrical fitting according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a back perspective view of a ganged electrical switch fitting according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a back perspective view of an electrical receptacle fitting according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a back perspective view of a ganged electrical switch fitting having an insulated cover according to an alternate embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a back exploded perspective view of a ganged electrical switch fitting having an insulated cover according to an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND SELECTED ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In describing the preferred and selected alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention in a preferred embodiment comprises composite electrical fitting (best shown in  FIG. 2A ), wherein composite electrical fitting  10  comprises electrical component  50  and cover plate  60 , wherein electrical component  50  and cover plate  60  are integrally formed. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , depicted therein is wall W, having studs S therewithin. An opening A is preferably cut in wall W, wherein opening A is dimensioned to allow access to interior of wall box B from outside of wall W. Wall box W is secured to a selected stud S via fasteners as are known in the art. Wall box B comprises receiving apertures T for receiving fasteners, such as, for exemplary purposes only, fasteners  20  discussed hereinbelow and wall box B further comprises opening O, typically in the rear of wall box B, or alternatively in a side or top of wall box B. Power supply wiring G comprises a group of insulated conductors I, wherein power supply wiring G passes through opening O in wall box B and is accessible from within wall box B (best shown in  FIGS. 2C and 3 ). Insulated conductors I comprise conductors C and sheaths H, wherein sheaths H surround conductors C thereby insulating same. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , cover plate  30  of composite electrical fitting  10  comprises throughholes  30 , wherein throughholes  30  are dimensioned to receive fasteners  20  therethrough. Electrical component  50  comprises duplex outlet  140  and wires  40 , wherein wires  40  comprise hot wire  40 A, neutral wire  40 B and ground wire  40 C. Hot wire  40 A comprises first end  70 A and second end  80 A, neutral wire  40 B comprises first end  70 B and second end  80 B, and ground wire  40 C comprises first end  70 C and second end  80 C. Duplex outlet  140  comprises upper receptacle  50 A and lower receptacle  50 B, wherein upper receptacle  50 A and lower receptacle  50 B are dimensioned to receive an electrical plug connected to, for exemplary purposes only, a lamp or an appliance, and wherein upper receptacle  50 A and lower receptacle  50 B are connected in parallel, and wherein first ends  70 A,  70 B and  70 C are in electrical communication with upper receptacle  50 A and lower receptacle  50 B. 
     Turning now more particularly to  FIG. 2C , composite electrical fitting  10  further comprises quick-connectors  90 , wherein quick-connectors  90  are disposed at second ends  80 A,  80 B and  80 C, and wherein quick-connectors  90  comprise gripping members  100  and/or cutting members  110 , wherein gripping members  100  are dimensioned to grip a selected size of wire and wherein cutting members  110  are dimensioned to cut through sheath H surrounding conductor C of insulated conductor I, thereby providing electrical communication between conductor C and a selected one of second ends  80 A,  80 B and  80 C. 
     In another preferred embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 3 , composite electrical fitting  10  does not have quick-connectors  90  installed and, instead, connection between second ends  80 A,  80 B,  80 C and respective wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C of wiring G is made via use of wirenuts  45 , as is known in the art. 
     To install, wall hot wire  41 A comprising insulated conductor I is inserted into quick-connect member disposed at second end  80 A of hot wire  40 A, wall neutral wire  41 B comprising insulated conductor I is inserted into quick-connect member disposed at second end  80 B of neutral wire  40 B, and wall ground wire  41 C comprising insulated conductor I is inserted into quick-connect member  90  disposed at second end  80 C of ground wire  40 C. Subsequently, composite electrical fitting  10  is secured to an existing wall box B (best shown in  FIG. 3 ), wherein electrical component  50  is dimensioned to be received within wall box B, and wherein cover plate  60  is dimensioned to cover wall box B. Fasteners  20  are inserted through throughholes  30  and engage receiving apertures T. 
     Referring now more specifically to  FIG. 4 , illustrated therein is an alternate embodiment of composite electrical fitting  10 , wherein the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 4  is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of the preferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  except as hereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , electrical component  50  comprises switch  120 , wherein switch  120  is substituted for duplex outlet  140 , and wherein switch  120  comprises all of the components of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  other than duplex outlet  140 . 
     Referring now more specifically to  FIG. 5 , illustrated therein is an alternate embodiment of composite electrical fitting  10 , wherein the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 5  is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of the preferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  except as hereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , electrical component  50  comprises quad outlet  120 , wherein quad outlet  130  comprises upper receptacles  50 A,  50 C and lower receptacles  50 B,  50 D, and wherein receptacles  50 A,  50 B,  50 C and  50 D are wired in parallel. Other than duplex outlet  140 , the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 5  comprises all of the components of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , cover plate  60  of ganged composite electrical fitting  10 . 1  preferably includes throughholes  30 , wherein throughholes  30  are dimensioned to receive fasteners  20  therethrough. One or more electrical components, such as  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  are configured as ganged duplex switch  140 . 1  and wires  40 , wherein wires  40  includes one or more hot wire  40 A, one or more neutral wire  40 B and one or more ground wire  40 C. Preferably hot wire  40 A. 1 ,  40 A. 2 ,  40 A. 3 , respectively, for electrical switch component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , includes first end  70 A. 1 ,  70 A. 2 ,  70 A. 3  (first hot ends) and second end  80 A. 1 ,  80 A. 2 ,  80 A. 3 , (second hot ends) electrically connected to electrical component  50  via hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A of electrical switch component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively. Moreover, neutral wire  40 B preferably includes first end  70 B (first neutral end) and serial second end  80 B. 1 ,  80 B. 2 ,  80 B. 3  (second neutral ends), electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively, and ground wire  40 C preferably includes first end  70 C (first ground end) and serial second end  80 C. 1 ,  80 C. 2 ,  80 C. 3  (second ground ends), electrically connected to each electrical component via ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively. Duplex outlet  140 . 1  includes electrical switch components  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  connected in parallel, wherein neutral wire  40 B and ground wire  40 C are in parallel electrical communication with electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 . 
     Furthermore, cover plate  60  of composite electrical fitting  10 . 1  preferably includes an electrical component cover, such as back cover  620  configured to cover, fitted around, encase, and insulate electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , including hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A, neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B and/or ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 . Preferably back cover  620  includes one or more holes, such as aperture  610  to enable wires  40  to transition in and out of back cover  620 . More specifically, hot wire  40 A. 1 ,  40 A. 2 ,  40 A. 3  for electrical switch component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively, enters back cover  620  via apertures  610 A. 1 ,  610 A. 2 ,  610 A. 3 , and neutral wire  40 B for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively and ground wire  40 C for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively enter back cover  620  via apertures  610 B and  610 C, respectively. Furthermore, back cover  620  further includes one or more vents  612  configured to enable heat generated by electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  to dissipate heat therefrom back cover  620  and/or composite electrical fitting  10 . 1 . 
     Preferably, electrical fitting  10  further comprises quick-connectors  90 , wherein quick-connectors  90  are disposed at first end  70 A. 1 ,  70 A. 2 ,  70 A. 3 ,  70 B, and  70 C, hot, neutral, ground, respectively, and wherein quick-connectors  90  comprise gripping members  100  and/or cutting members  110 , wherein gripping members  100  are dimensioned to grip a selected size of wire and wherein cutting members  110  are dimensioned to cut through sheath H surrounding conductor C of insulated conductor I, thereby providing electrical communication between conductor C and a selected one of first end  70 A. 1 ,  70 A. 2 ,  70 A. 3 ,  70 B, and  70 C via wall hot wire  41 A, such as  41 A. 1 ,  41 A. 2 ,  41 A. 3 , wall neutral wire  41 B and wall ground wire  41 C. 
     It is contemplated herein that wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B and wall ground wire  41 C may supply a variety of currents and voltages to electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 .  50 . 4  in wall box B, including standard power supplies meeting U.L., U.S. and foreign standard or requirements, such as 110V/120V, 220V/240V and the like. 
     Preferably, back cover  620  includes four side panels  621  and rear panel  622  configured in the shape of a rectangular box or the like shape configured to covered or insulated ganged duplex switches  140 . 1 . Preferably apertures  610 , such as apertures  610 A,  610 B and  610 C may be positioned therein any of four side panels  621  or rear panel  622  to enable close proximity of quick-connectors  90 , such as apertures  90 A. 1 ,  90 A. 2 ,  90 A. 3 ,  90 B and  90 C thereto insulated conductors I of power supply wiring G, such as wall hot wire  41 A, such as  41 A. 1 ,  41 A. 2 ,  41 A. 3 , wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C, respectively of wall box B of  FIG. 3 . Preferably back cover  620  may be affixed or removeably affixed thereto cover plate  60 , such as by fastener, latch, adhesive, sonic weld or the like to form a covered and/or insulated ganged duplex switches  140 . 1  to increase the safety and to simplify wiring a set of electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  in wall box B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , cover plate  60  of ganged composite electrical fitting  10 . 2  preferably includes throughholes  30 , wherein throughholes  30  are dimensioned to receive fasteners  20  therethrough. One or more electrical receptacle components, such as  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  are configured as ganged duplex receptacle  140 . 2  and wires  40 , wherein wires  40  includes one or more hot wire  40 A, one or more neutral wire  40 B and one or more ground wire  40 C. Preferably hot wire  40 A for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , includes first end  70 A (first hot end) and serial second end  80 A. 1 ,  80 A. 2 ,  80 A. 3  (second hot ends) electrically connected to each electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  via hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively. Moreover, neutral wire  40 B preferably includes first end  70 B (first neutral end) and serial second end  80 B. 1 ,  80 B. 2 ,  80 B. 3  (second neutral ends), electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively, and ground wire  40 C preferably includes first end  70 C (first ground end) and serial second end  80 C. 1 ,  80 C. 2 ,  80 C. 3  (second ground ends), electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively. Duplex outlet  140 . 2  includes electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  connected in parallel, wherein hot wire  40 A, neutral wire  40 B, and ground wire  40 C are in parallel electrical communication with electrical switch components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 . 
     Furthermore, cover plate  60  of composite electrical fitting  10 . 2  preferably includes electrical component cover, such as back cover  620  configured to cover and insulate electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , including hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A, neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B and/or ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 . Preferably back cover  620  includes one or more holes, such as aperture  610  to enable wires  40  to transition in and out of back cover  620 . More specifically, hot wire  40 A for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively, enters back cover  620  via apertures  610 A, and neutral wire  40 B for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively and ground wire  40 C for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 , respectively enter back cover  620  via apertures  610 B and  610 C, respectively. 
     Furthermore, back cover  620  further includes one or more vents  612  configured to enable heat generated by electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  to dissipate heat therefrom back cover  620  and/or composite electrical fitting  10 . 2 . 
     Preferably, electrical fitting  10 . 2  further comprises quick-connectors  90 , wherein quick-connectors  90  are disposed at first end  70 A,  70 B, and  70 C and wherein quick-connectors  90  comprise gripping members  100  and/or cutting members  110 , wherein gripping members  100  are dimensioned to grip a selected size of wire and wherein cutting members  110  are dimensioned to cut through sheath H surrounding conductor C of insulated conductor I, thereby providing electrical communication between conductor C and a selected one of first end  70 A,  70 B, and  70 C via wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C. 
     Preferably, back cover  620  includes four side panels  621  and rear panel  622  configured in the shape of a rectangular box or the like shape configured to covered or insulated ganged duplex switches  140 . 2 . Preferably apertures  610 , such as apertures  610 A,  610 B and  610 C may be positioned therein any of four side panels  621  or rear panel  622  to enable close proximity of quick-connectors  90 , such as apertures  90 A,  90 B and  90 C thereto insulated conductors I of power supply wiring G, such as wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C, respectively of wall box B of  FIG. 3 . Preferably back cover  620  may be affixed or removeably affixed thereto cover plate  60 , such as by fastener, latch, adhesive, sonic weld, heat weld, or the like to form a covered and/or insulated ganged duplex switches  140 . 2  to increase the safety and to simplify wiring a set of electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3  in wall box B. 
     It is contemplated herein that ganged duplex switch  140 . 1  and/or ganged duplex switches  140 . 2  may contain any mix or combination of electrical component  50 , such as electrical switch component  50  and/or electrical receptacle components  50  whether switch, receptacle (pin or blade style), fan switch, dimmer, or the like and any combination thereof electrical component  50 . Moreover, electrical component  50  may include electrical components meeting U.L., U.S. and foreign standard or requirements, such as 110V/120V, 220V/240V, grounded, not grounded, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , ganged composite electrical fitting  10 . 3  preferably includes cover plate  60 , electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4 , and electrical component cover, such as back cover  620  configured to cover and insulate one or more electrical receptacle components, such as  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4 . Moreover, electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  are configured as ganged duplex receptacle  140 . 3  having for example, hot terminal  50 . 1 A, neutral terminal  50 . 1 B, and ground terminal  50 . 1 C electrically connected thereto one or more electrical terminals, such as terminal ends  70 A,  70 B, and  70 C or quick-connectors  90 . 
     For example in  FIG. 9 , neutral bus, such as neutral wire  40 B preferably includes first end  70131  and second end  70 B 2  (first neutral ends) and serial pins, taps or connectors, such as pin connectors  80 B. 1 ,  80 B. 2 ,  80 B. 3 ,  80 B. 4  (second neutral ends) and such pin connectors may be electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B,  50 . 4 B of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  respectively. Preferably ground bus, such as ground wire  40 C preferably includes first end  70 C 1  and second end  70 C 2  (first ground ends) and serial pins, taps or connectors, such as loop connectors  80 C. 1 ,  80 C. 2 ,  80 C. 3 ,  80 C. 4  (second ground ends) and such loop connectors may be electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C,  50 . 4 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  respectively. 
     Moreover for electrical switches, dimmers, or controllers as electrical receptacle component  50  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), duplex outlet  140 . 3  includes hot wire  40 A. 1 /A. 2 /A. 3 /A. 4  for electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  respectively, and each may include first end  70 A and second end  80 A wherein each individual second end  80 A (second hot wire end) is preferably electrically connected to one of electrical receptacle component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  via hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A,  50 . 4 A of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  respectively. 
     Moreover for electrical plug or receptacle as electrical receptacle component  50  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), duplex outlet  140 . 3  includes hot bus, such as hot wire  40 A preferably includes first end  70131  and second end  70 B 2  and serial pins, taps or connectors, such as pin connectors  80 B. 1 ,  80 B. 2 ,  80 B. 3 ,  80 B. 4  (second hot wire end) and such pin connectors may be electrically connected to each electrical component  50  via hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A,  50 . 4 A of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  respectively. 
     It is contemplated herein that connectors  80  (whether  80 A,  80 B or  80 C or the like) may include a variety of connectors, such as pins, taps, tabs, spade, push-on, bullet, fork, ring, loop, bare wire (second end  80 A) or the like to electrically connect one or more wire(s)  40 , such as hot wire  40 A, wire  40 B, or ground wire  40 C to hot terminal  50 A, neutral terminal  50 B, or ground terminal  50 C of electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4 . 
     It is further contemplated herein that one or more buses such as hot wire  40 A, wire  40 B, or ground wire  40 C may be configured to be used interchangeably between hot terminal  50 A, neutral terminal  50 B, and ground terminal  50 C. Moreover, bus or wire  40  such as hot wire  40 A, wire  40 B, or ground wire  40 C may include one or more connectors  80  electrically connected thereto bus or wire  40  and spaced along bus or wire  40  to electrically connect to one or more electrical receptacle component  50 . Additionally, bus or wire  40  may further include one or more quick-connectors  90  electrically connected to bus or wire  40  and electrically connected to one or more connectors  80 , wherein quick-connectors  90  may be disposed anywhere along bus or wire  40 . 
     Furthermore, cover plate  60  of composite electrical fitting  10 . 3  preferably includes electrical component cover, such as back cover  620  configured to cover and insulate one or more, part, portion or section of one or more, or all of electrical component  50 , such as electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  including hot terminal  50 . 1 A,  50 . 2 A,  50 . 3 A,  50 . 4 A neutral terminal  50 . 1 B,  50 . 2 B,  50 . 3 B,  50 . 4 B and/or ground terminal  50 . 1 C,  50 . 2 C,  50 . 3 C,  50 . 4 C of electrical component  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4 . Preferably back cover  620  includes one or more holes, such as aperture  610  to enable wires  40 , such as first end  70 A of hotwire  40 A, first end  70 B of neutral wire  40 B, and/or first end  70 C of ground wire to transition in and out of back cover  620 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Furthermore, back cover  620  further includes one or more vents  612  configured to enable heat generated by electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  to dissipate therefrom back cover  620  and/or composite electrical fitting  10 . 3 . 
     Preferably, electrical fitting  10 . 3  further includes quick-connectors  90  (hot quick-connectors  90 A, neutral quick-connectors  90 B, and ground quick-connectors  90 C), wherein quick-connectors  90  are disposed at first end  70 A 1 ,  70 B 1 , and  70 C 1  and wherein quick-connectors  90  includes gripping members  100  and/or cutting members  110 , wherein gripping members  100  are dimensioned to grip a selected size of wire and wherein cutting members  110  are dimensioned to cut through sheath H surrounding conductor C of insulated conductor I, thereby providing electrical communication between conductor C and a selected one of first end  70 A,  70 B, and  70 C via wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C. 
     Preferably, back cover  620  includes three to four side panels  621  and rear panel  622  preferably configured in the shape of a rectangular box or the like shape configured to covered or insulate ganged duplex switches  140 . 3 . 
     Preferably apertures  610 , such as apertures  610 A-C may be positioned therein any of three to four side panels  621  or rear panel  622  to enable close proximity of quick-connectors  90 , such as apertures  90 A,  90 B and  90 C thereto insulated conductors I of power supply wiring G, such as wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C, respectively of wall box B of  FIG. 3 . Preferably back cover  620  may be affixed or removeably affixed thereto cover plate  60 , such as by fastener, latch, screwed, adhesive, sonic weld, heat weld, or the like fastened there through connection hole  630  to form a covered and/or insulated ganged duplex switches  140 . 3  to increase the safety and to simplify wiring a set of electrical receptacle components  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2 ,  50 . 3 ,  50 . 4  thereto wall hot wire  41 A, wall neutral wire  41 B, and wall ground wire  41 C of wall box B. 
     It is contemplated herein that ganged duplex switch  140 . 3  may contain any mix or combination of electrical component  50 , such as electrical switch component  50  and/or electrical receptacle components  50  whether switch, receptacle, plug, outlet, fan switch, dimmer, or the like and any combination thereof electrical component  50 . 
     The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.