Patent Publication Number: US-7709753-B1

Title: Electrical wiring block system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The information disclosed relates to a configured block that may be utilized to provide electrical wiring connections for accessories, such as switches and receptacles. 
   2. Background Information 
   Building wiring may include conductors used to carry electricity and their accessories. For example, an installer may place toggle switches on a room wall, where they may be used to turn on and off lights in that room. Wall receptacles may provide two electric sockets as a duplex outlet into which computers, printers, and radios may be plugged to receive electricity. Typically, building wiring may be passed into a switch box mounted inside a building wall and connected to a toggle switch. The toggle switch itself then may be mounted to the switch box. A duplex wall receptacle similarly may be connected to the building wiring within an outlet box. 
   Initially installing or subsequently replacing either a light switch or a duplex wall receptacle typically requires the use of hand tools to manipulate small screws within the confines of an electrical box, such as a switch box or an outlet box. This is a difficult task, particularly for residential homeowners who occasionally replace a light switch or receptacle. In addition, it is a time consuming task for construction contractors. When multiple toggle switches or multiple wall receptacles are place next to each other in double and triple-gang electrical boxes, the task is even more difficult. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed is an electrical wiring block for an accessory. The accessory may be a switch or a receptacle. The electrical wiring block may include a base section and a wiring section positioned offset on the base section to form an overhang and an overhang seat. The base section may include a base plug and a base socket configured to fit within a base plug of an adjacent electrical wiring block. The wiring section may include wire holes, wire terminals, and wire ports positioned at an angle to the wire terminals. The wiring section may include a wiring section indent that may allow access to the wire ports on an adjacent, connected electrical wiring block. The overhang seat may cradle the overhang of an adjacent, connected electrical wiring block. The switch or receptacle may be installed in the electrical wiring block by pushing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric left, top view of an electrical wiring block  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric right, top view of electrical wiring block  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of electrical wiring block  100  having an electrical schematic imposed therein. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of multiple electrical wiring blocks  100 A- 100 D ganged together. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of switch  500 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of receptacle  600 . 
       FIG. 7  is a method  700  to make an electrical wiring block  100  assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The information below relates to a configured electrical wiring block that may be utilized to provide electrical wiring connections for accessories, such as switches and receptacles. Some elements may have a reference number designation and other elements may have a reference number-letter designation. In the various figures, like elements are given the same reference numbers and the letter portion of the designation is used to distinguish like elements of one electrical wiring block from another electrical wiring block. 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric left, top view of an electrical wiring block  100 .  FIG. 2  is an isometric right, top view of electrical wiring block  100 . Electrical wiring block  100  may include a base section  200  positioned against a wiring section  300 . Wiring section  300  may be configured to receive accessories, such as a switch  500  ( FIG. 5 ) and a receptacle  600  ( FIG. 6 ), without a need to turn small screws. Here, switch  500  and receptacle  600  may be plugged into wiring section  300 . Electrical wiring block  100  may be utilized to carry electricity from a power source into accessories, such as switch  500  ( FIG. 5 ) and receptacle  600  ( FIG. 6 ). Multiple electrical wiring blocks  100  may be plugged into each other in series and be fed from the same source of power. This may reduce the number of wire, jumper wires, and dangerous wire bends utilized within electrical boxes, such as double and triple-gang electrical boxes. 
   Base section  200  may be that part of electrical wiring block  100  configured to lead electrical wiring block  100  into an electrical box. Base section  200  may include exterior surfaces, such as a base top  202 , a base bottom  204  ( FIG. 2 ), a base left side  206 , a base right side  208  ( FIG. 2 ), a base front  210 , and a base rear  212 . Base rear  212  may be that portion of electrical wiring block  100  configured to contact a surface of an electrical box. 
   Base top  202 , base bottom  204 , base left side  206 , base right side  208 , base front  210 , and base rear  212  may come together to form an outer boundary of base section  200 . For example, base front  210  and base rear  212  may be connected by each of base top  202 , base bottom  204 , base left side  206 , and base right side  208 . Base top  202  and base bottom  204  additionally may be connected by base left side  206  and base right side  208 . 
   The exterior surfaces of base section  200  may be flat, curved, or otherwise contoured. In one example, at least one exterior surface of base section  200  may be at an acute or obtuse angle to another exterior surface of base section  200 . In another example, at least one exterior surface of base section  200  substantially may be at a right angle (ninety-degree angle) to another exterior surface of base section  200 . In a further example, base section  200  may have a rectangular shape. 
   Base section  200  may include a base plug  214  ( FIG. 1 ) and a base socket  216  ( FIG. 2 ) positioned on a side of base section  200  that may be opposite that of base plug  214 . Here, base plug  214  may be attached to and extend away from base left side  206  and base socket  216  may be attached to and extend into base right side  208 . Base plug  214  may be a first part of two mating halves of a connector that may be moveable when not fastened to the other mating half. Base socket  216  may be a second part of two mating halves of a connector that may be moveable when not fastened to the other mating half. Base socket  216  of a first electrical wiring block  100  may be configured to receive base plug  214  of a second electrical wiring block  100  such that multiple electrical wiring blocks  100  may be ganged together in series. 
   Plugs may have a line contact, a neutral contact, and a ground contact. Although terminology may vary, a line contact (which also may be known as live, phase, hot, active, and mains) may include a conductor connected with an electrical system that has electric potential to electrical ground or electrical neutral. Neutral may refer to a conductor with continuity to an electrical system&#39;s center tap of a power company transformer of a single-phase system, or a center of a wye connection of a polyphase system. A neutral contact, along with a line contact, may complete a circuit between a power source and equipment. Ground (which also may be known as earth) may be a conductor with continuity to earth. While line power may be though of as house electrical power supply, the use of the term line (as well as neutral and ground) are not meant to limit electrical wiring block  100  to residential or other particular use. 
   Base plug  214  may be thought of as a male electrical connector configured to be pressed into and fit within a female electrical socket. Base plug  214  may include one or more contacts, such as a plug line contact  218 , a plug ground contact  220 , and a plug neutral contact  222 . Each of plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222  may be slender, tapered round pegs that may include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. Plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222  substantially may be parallel to each other. A distance between plug line contact  218  and plug ground contact  220  substantially may be twice a distance between plug ground contact  220  and plug neutral contact  222 . Base plug  214  may have a base plug length  224  ( FIG. 3 ) as measured from base left side  206  to a tip of one of plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222 . 
   Base socket  216  ( FIG. 2 ) may be thought of as a female electrical connector configured to receive and fit about male electrical plug. Base socket  216  may include one or more passages, such as a socket line passage  226 , a socket ground passage  228 , and a socket neutral passage  230 . Each of socket line passage  226 , socket ground passage  228 , and socket neutral passage  230  may be openings from base right side  208  into base bottom  204  that substantially may be parallel to each other and may align with plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222 , respectively. Socket line passage  226 , socket ground passage  228 , and socket neutral passage  230  may include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. A distance between socket line passage  226  and socket ground passage  228  (see  FIG. 2 ) substantially may be twice a distance between socket ground passage  228  and socket neutral passage  230 . 
   Under some circumstances, there may not be a need to connect together multiple electrical wiring blocks  100 . In one example plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222  may be removable from base section  200 , such as by unscrewing each of plug line contact  218 , plug ground contact  220 , and plug neutral contact  222 . In another example, base section  200  may not include base plug  214  and/or base socket  216 . 
   Wiring section  300  may be that part of electrical wiring block  100  configured to follow base section  200  into an electrical box. Wiring section  300  may include exterior surfaces, such as a wiring section top  302 , a wiring section bottom  304  ( FIG. 2 ), a wiring section left side  306 , a wiring section right side  308  ( FIG. 2 ), a wiring section front  310 , and a wiring section rear  312 . Wiring section front  310  may be that portion of electrical wiring section block  100  configured to face away from a rear surface of an electrical box to receive switch  500  ( FIG. 5 ) or receptacle  600  ( FIG. 6 ). 
   Wiring section top  302 , wiring section bottom  304 , wiring section left side  306 , wiring section right side  308 , wiring section front  310 , and wiring section rear  312  may come together to form an outer boundary of wiring section  300 . For example, each of wiring section top  302 , wiring section bottom  304 , wiring section left side  306 , and wiring section right side  308  may connect wiring section front  310  and wiring section rear  312 . Wiring section top  302  and wiring section bottom  304  additionally may be connected by wiring section left side  306  and wiring section right side  308 . 
   The exterior surfaces of wiring section  300  may be flat, curved, or otherwise contoured. In one example, at least one exterior surface of wiring section  300  may be at an acute or obtuse angle to another exterior surface of wiring section  300 . In another example, at least one exterior surface of wiring section  300  substantially may be at a right angle (ninety-degree angle) to another exterior surface of wiring section  300 . In a further example, wiring section  300  may have a rectangular shape. 
   Wiring section  300  may include a wiring section indent  314 . Wiring section indent  314  may be a channel formed by dividing a depth distance of wiring section right side  308  into two smaller depth distances. Adjacent material may be removed from at and below wiring section front  310  and from at and below wiring section right side  308  to form wiring section indent  314  that may extend from wiring section top  302  to wiring section bottom  304 . Wiring section indent  314  may be remote from wiring section rear  312  and from base front  210 . Wiring section indent  314  may include a first/lower wiring section indent side  316  ( FIG. 2 ) and a first/upper wiring section indent side  318  ( FIG. 2 ) that may meet with first/lower wiring section indent side  316 . 
   In one example, first wiring section indent side  316  may be position at an acute or obtuse angle to second wiring section indent side  318 . In another example, first wiring section indent side  316  substantially may be parallel to wiring section front  310  and second wiring section indent side  318  substantially may be parallel to wiring section left side  306 . As discussed in more detail with  FIG. 4 , a second wiring section indent  314 B of a second electrical wiring block  100 B and a portion of a first wiring section left side  306 A of a first electrical wiring block  100 A may form a port well  402 AB ( FIG. 4 ) to provide access to wire ports  328 A (hidden in view) of first electrical wiring block  100 A when multiple electrical wiring blocks  100 A,  100 B,  100 C,  100 D, etc. are connected together. 
   Wiring section rear  312  may be attached to base front  210  at a demarcation line  320  ( FIG. 2 ). Demarcation line  320  may be an imaginary device or real parting line that may identify where wiring section  300  ends and base section  200  begins. Although base section  200  and wiring section  300  may be part of one molded piece, base section  200  and wiring section  300  alternatively may be separate pieces later joined together such as by bonding. 
   In one example, wiring section rear  312  may be positioned offset against base front  210  so that part of wiring section rear  312  may extend beyond base left side  206  to hang over base plug  214  and part of base front  210  may extend beyond wiring section right side  308 . When offset from each other, wiring section  300  may include an overhang  322  and base front  210  may meet wiring section right side  308  to form an overhang seat  324 . 
   Overhang  322  may include wiring section rear  312  and wiring section left side  306  that may meet wiring section rear  312 . Overhang seat  324  may include base front  210  and wiring section right side  308  that may meet base front  210 . An overhang seat  324  of a first electrical wiring block  100  may be configured to receive an overhang  322  of a second electrical wiring block  100 . 
   Wiring section rear  312  may have an overhang distance  323  ( FIG. 3 ) as measured from base left side  206  to wiring section left side  306 . In once example, base plug length  224  substantially may equal overhang distance  323 . 
   Wiring section  300  may include wire holes  325 , wire terminals  326 , wire ports  328 , and wiring section threaded screws  330 . Wire holes  325  may be attached to and extending into wiring section front  310 . Wire terminals  326  may be attached to and projecting from wiring section front  310 . Wire ports  328  may be attached to and extending into wiring section left side  306  to be positioned at an angle to wire holes  325 . Wiring section threaded screws  330  may be attached to and extending away from wiring section front  310 . 
   Wire holes  325  may be thought of as female electrical connectors configured to receive and fit about male electrical connectors. Wire holes  325  may include one or more passages, each of which may be openings into wiring section  300  that substantially may be parallel to each other. Wire holes  325  may include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. 
   Wire terminals  326  may be thought of as contacts at which electric current may enter or leave electrical wiring block  100 . Wire terminals  326  may be configured to receive wires and other connectors and may include splices solder lugs, tongue crimp terminals, ring terminals, turrets, test probes, pogo terminals, clips, screw terminals, tab terminals, quick-connect terminals, quick-disconnect terminals, and tip terminals. Wire terminals  326  may include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. 
   Wire ports  328  may be thought of as female electrical connectors configured to receive and fit about male electrical connectors. Wire ports  328  may include one or more passages, each of which may be openings into wiring section  300  that substantially may be parallel to each other. Wire ports  328  may include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. 
   Wiring section threaded screws  330  may be fasteners extending from wiring section  300  having a raised helical rib extending outward that may be configured to receive mounting nuts. Wiring section threaded screws  330  may include a first wiring section threaded screw  332  positioned near both wiring section top  302  and second wiring section indent side  318 . Wiring section threaded screws  330  may include a second wiring section threaded screw  334  positioned near both wiring section bottom  304  and second wiring section indent side  318 . In an alternate example, wiring section threaded screws  330  may be fasteners sunk in wiring section  300  to be flush with wiring section front  310  and having space around wiring section threaded screws  330  to receive a nut. In an alternate example, section threaded screws  330  may be wiring section threaded cavities. Wiring section threaded cavities may be openings within wiring section  300  having a raised helical rib extending inward that may be configured to receive mounting screws. 
   Wiring section  300  may include as a set, holes, terminals, and ports to accommodate the electrical needs of each line, load, ground, and neutral conductor on switch  500  ( FIG. 5 ) and receptacle  600  ( FIG. 6 ). Wiring section  300  may include a line junction  336  ( FIG. 1 ), a load junction  338 , a ground junction  340 , and a neutral junction  342 . 
   Line junction  336  may include a line hole  344 , line wire terminals  346 , and line wire ports  348 .  FIG. 3  is a top view of electrical wiring block  100  having an electrical schematic imposed therein. Line hole  344 , line wire terminals  346 , line wire ports  348 , plug line contact  218 , and plug line passage  226  may be configured to be in electrical communication with each other. For example, an electrical current introduced into one of plug line contact  218  and socket line passage  226  may be transmitted within electrical wiring block  100  and received by each other and in line hole  344 , line wire terminals  346 , line wire ports  348 , and plug line passage  226 . 
   Load junction  338  ( FIG. 1 ) may include a load slot hole  350 , a load wire terminal  352 , and a load wire port  354 . Load slot hole  350  may be an elongated orifice having parallel sides. With load slot hole  350  being a slot and the remaining wire holes  325  and wire ports  328  being round holes, a user may be prevented from improperly connecting switch  500  ( FIG. 5 ) and receptacle  600  ( FIG. 6 ), for example, to electrical wiring block  100 . Similar to the connection for line junction  336 , each element of load junction  338  may be configured to be in electrical communication with the remaining elements of load junction  338 . 
   Ground junction  340  may include a ground hole  356 , ground wire terminals  358 , and ground wire ports  360 . Similar to the connection for line junction  336  in  FIG. 3 , each element of ground junction  340  may be configured to be in electrical communication with the remaining elements of ground junction  340  and with plug ground contact  220  and plug ground passage  228  ( FIG. 2 ). Neutral junction  342  may include a neutral hole  362 , neutral wire terminals  364 , and neutral wire ports  366 . Similar to the connection for line junction  336  in  FIG. 3 , each element of neutral junction  342  may be configured to be in electrical communication with the remaining elements of neutral junction  342  and with plug neutral contact  222  and plug neutral passage  230  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   In one example, a distance between line hole  344  and load slot hole  350  substantially may be equal to a distance between load slot hole  350  and ground hole  356 . In another example, line hole  344 , load slot hole  350 , ground hole  356 , and neutral hole  362  substantially may be evenly spaced from each other. 
     FIG. 4  is a top view of multiple electrical wiring blocks  100 A- 100 D ganged together. Electrical wiring block  100  of  FIG. 1  may be typical of electrical wiring block  100 A, electrical wiring block  100 B, electrical wiring block  100 C, and electrical wiring block  100 D of  FIG. 4 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 4 , a first base plug  214 A of a first electrical wiring block  100 A may be inserted into a second base socket  216 B of a second electrical wiring block  100 B until a first overhang  322 A of first electrical wiring block  100 A is cradled within a second overhang seat  324 B of second electrical wiring block  100 B. A mating of first overhang  322 A with second overhang seat  324 B may aid in aligning first electrical wiring block  100 A with second electrical wiring block  100 B as well as provide structural support that may relieve a need for first base plug  214 A to provide a structural support between first electrical wiring block  100 A and second electrical wiring block  100 B. Also, a second wiring section indent  314 B of second electrical wiring block  100 B and a portion of wiring section left side  306  of first electrical wiring block  100 A may form port well  402 AB. Port well  402 AB may provide access to first wire ports  328 A (hidden in view) of first electrical wiring block  100 A when multiple electrical wiring blocks  100 A and  100 B are connected together as in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 5  is a side view of switch  500 . Switch  500  may be an electronic device to at least one of make, break, and change the connections in a circuit. In one example, switch  500  may be a light switch to operate electric lights, permanently connected equipment, and electrical outlets. Although switch  500  is shown as a toggle switch in  FIG. 5 , switch  500  may be a different type of switch, such as push button, rocker, mercury, electronic, three-way, and four-way. 
   Switch  500  may include a switch housing  502 , a lever  504 , a line pin  506 , a load prong pin  508 , and a ground pin  510 . Lever  504  may be attached to a first side of switch housing  502  and line pin  506 , load prong pin  508 , and ground pin  510  may be attached to an opposite of switch housing  502 . Switch housing  502  may be a protective cover configured to contain and support switch component within switch housing  502 . Lever  504  may be a rigid bar configured to pivot about a fulcrum. 
   Line pin  506  and ground pin  510  each may be attached to and extend away from switch housing  502 . Line pin  506  and ground pin  510  each may be slender, tapered round pegs that may include at least one of brass, tin and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. Load prong pin  508  may be flat and include at least one of brass, tin, and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. Load prong pin  508  may prevent wrong plug on electrical wiring block  100 . 
   Line pin  506 , load prong pin  508 , and ground pin  510  substantially may be parallel to each other and may be evenly spaced from each other. Line pin  506  may be configured to mate with line hole  344  ( FIG. 1 ), load prong pin  508  may be configured to mate with load hole slot  350 , and ground pin  510  may be configured to mate with ground hole  356 . 
     FIG. 6  is a side view of receptacle  600 . Receptacle  600  may be a female electrical connector having electric sockets  602  that may accept insertion of pins, blades, and prongs of a power plug  700  to deliver electricity to power plug  700 . 
   In addition to electric sockets  602 , receptacle  600  may include a receptacle housing  604 , line pin  506 , ground pin  510 , and a neutral pin  606 . Electric sockets  602  may be attached to a first side of receptacle housing  604  and line pin  506 , ground pin  510 , and a neutral pin  606  may be attached to an opposite of receptacle housing  604 . Receptacle housing  604  may be a protective cover configured to contain and support receptacle component within receptacle housing  604 . 
   Line pin  506 , ground pin  510 , and neutral pin  606  each may be attached to and extend away from receptacle housing  604 . Line pin  506 , ground pin  510 , and neutral pin  606  each may be slender, tapered round pegs that may include at least one of brass, tin and nickel to assist in electrical conduction. Line pin  506 , ground pin  510 , and neutral pin  606  substantially may be parallel to each other. A distance between line pin  506  and ground pin  510  substantially may be twice a distance between ground pin and neutral pin  606 . 
   Similar to line pin  506  for switch  500 , line pin  506  of receptacle  600  may be configured to mate with line hole  344  ( FIG. 1 ) and ground pin  510  may be configured to mate with ground hole  356 . Neutral pin  606  may be configured to mate with neutral hole  362 . 
     FIG. 7  is a method  700  to make an electrical wiring block  100  assembly. An electrical wiring block  100  assembly may include at least one of switch  500  and receptacle  600 . An electrical wiring block  100  assembly further may include two or more electrical wiring blocks  100 . 
   At step  702 , method  700  may present a first electrical wiring block  100 A. At step  704 , method  700  may present one of switch  500  and receptacle  600  as a first accessory. At step  706 , male electrical connector pins of the first accessory may be inserted into female electrical connector holes of electrical wiring block  100 A. For example, line pin  506  of switch  500  may be pushed into line hole  344  ( FIG. 1 ), load prong pin  508  may be pushed into load hole slot  350 , and ground pin  510  may be pushed into ground hole  356 . Alternatively, line pin  506  of receptacle  600  may be pushed into line hole  344  ( FIG. 1 ) and ground pin  510  may be pushed into ground hole  356 . Neutral pin  606  may be pushed into neutral hole  362 . 
   At step  708 , method  700  may present a second electrical wiring block  100 B. At step  710 , base plug  214  of first electrical wiring block  100 A and base socket  216  of second electrical wiring block  100 B may be pushed together until overhang  322 A of first electrical wiring block  100 A is cradled within overhang seat  324 B and wiring section indent  314  of second electrical wiring block  100 B and a portion of wiring section left side  306  of first electrical wiring block  100 A form port well  402 . At step  712 , method  700  may present one of switch  500  and receptacle  600  as a second accessory. At step  714 , male electrical connector pins of the second accessory may be inserted into female electrical connector holes of electrical wiring block  100 B. 
   The electrical wiring block may provide a way to install or replace either a light switch or standard duplex receptacle. Since such installation or replacement may not require the use of hand tools, either task may take much less time, or an individual may not need to handle small screws. 
   Both receptacles and light switches may incorporate a set of brass prongs (conductors) on a back of each device that may be pushed into place during installation of either type of device. In addition, a back half of each electrical box in which the receptacles or switches may be installed may include a mounting electrical wiring block (in essence a small plastic box with a set of mating cylindrical contacts). One side of the electrical wiring block may include three ports for connection of the hot, neutral, and ground wires of the electrical cable (110-volt circuitry) within walls. For ease of installation, the mounting clips or lugs for each electrical wiring block may be adjustable, allowing a cover plate for the box to fit snugly against the surrounding wall after installation of a switch or receptacle. 
   As an added benefit, the mounting electrical wiring block may be furnished in another model. In this case, the side of the electrical wiring block opposite the ports may include three pins that may be pushed in turn into the ports of another electrical wiring block in the same box. This model may be utilized with both double and triple-gang boxes when two or three devices are to be installed in the box. In a daisy chain of electrical wiring blocks, while the electrical wiring blocks are physically plugged into each other in a chain, any devices that receive power from the chain may be electrically connected in series. The improvements to both the switches and the receptacles may be integrated into the standard production processes for switches and receptacles at various manufacturers&#39; plants. 
   Two or more electrical wiring blocks may be ganged together to permit installation of groups of switches and receptacles. Ganged together electrical wiring blocks may be fed from the same source of power. Connections may be made through the base plug in pins and ports as electrical wiring blocks are pushed together. Wire nuts and jumper wires may be eliminated when multiple electrical wiring blocks are connected together. This may eliminate crowding in boxes and eliminate dangerous bends in wires. Wire connections may be made inside wall mounted electrical boxes for easy access and electrical wiring block replacement may be necessary. 
   The electrical wiring block may be a modular base electrical wiring device for switches and receptacles that may make electrical wiring faster, neater, and safer. Mounted in wall boxes to organize wiring in a clean appearance, light switches and receptacles may be plugged into a modular base. The depth may be adjusted to align cover plates. The bases may be ganged together for multiple devices. The electrical wiring block may include plastic and metal. The electrical wiring block may make home wiring installations faster, neater for a more professional appearance, and safer and may save time and money. The electrical wiring block may be replaced by a homeowner. There may be different configurations for different types of switches, such as three-way, four-way, and the like. When switches and receptacles break or otherwise need removal and/or replacing, this may be done without turning off power. The electrical wiring block, switches, and/or receptacles may be adjusted in and out, making switch plates fit correctly. Electrical wiring blocks easily may be ganged (snapped together) for multiple switches and receptacles. 
   The electrical wiring block may fulfill a need for a much easier way to install or replace either a duplex receptacle or a light switch. Appealing features of the electrical wiring block system may be its convenience, ease of installation, saving of time, and reasonable price. Contractors and do-it-yourselfers may find the electrical wiring block wiring quite helpful in wiring switches and receptacles in that they may no longer need to handle small screws during installation of either device. In each case, an individual simply may push the accessory (switch or receptacle) into the mounting electrical wiring block. 
   The information disclosed herein is provided merely to illustrate principles and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the terms of the claims. The male electrical connector terms pin, plug, prong, contact and the like and the female electrical connector terms hole, slot, passage, and the like used in this patent are meant to assist visually in distinguishing similar functioning elements. The written specification and figures are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Moreover, the principles disclosed may be applied to achieve the advantages described herein and to achieve other advantages or to satisfy other objectives, as well.