Abstract:
Electrical wiring apparatus having a base with an outer opening. The base has cable entries at opposite ends thereof that have the stripped wire ends of cables mounted therein. A mounting post extends outwardly from the base which has spaced recesses therein adjacent to the mounting post. Links are slidably mounted on the mounting post in offset relation in the spaced recesses to engage and connect the wire ends of the cables at opposite ends of the base. A cover plate and/or associated electrical device can be removably mounted on the base over the outer opening thereof to engage the links and maintain them in engagement with the wire ends. The electrical device may have terminals engaging the links.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Provisional Application No. 61/969,860 filed on Mar. 25, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to electrical wiring apparatus and, more particularly, to electrical switches, receptacles or the like. It is constructed to make circuit and device installation safer, faster and simpler. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    Millions of electrical devices, such as switches, receptacles, light fixtures or the like are installed in homes and other environments each year. The circuit installation mechanics of these devices have not changed significantly since 1892 with the result that such devices in most cases are time consuming to wire and install, are subject to circuiting errors, require many parts and are not always safe and reliable in operation. The wiring apparatus of the present invention is not subject to these disadvantages and possesses many advantages over conventional wiring devices. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment of the invention, a receptacle having a rear base is fastened to a stud, with up to four end-stripped cables inserted in cable entries in the box. The cable entries may each have an automatic cable latch and a manual cable release, operable after installation is completed and a cover plate and associated device are lifted off. A ground wire from each inserted cable is positioned in a ground enclosure in the base where it contacts a subsurface grounding link. The ends of the positive wire and neutral wire of each cable are exposed toward the open front of the box at the back of link recesses in the base. A locating post projects toward the open front of the box from the base and is shaped non-symmetrically or otherwise to prevent improper positioning of connecting links. 
         [0007]    A positive link and a neutral link of conductive material have offset openings therethrough that match the shape of the locating post and are positioned or slidably mounted over the locating post into link recesses in the base and onto the positive and neutral wires of the cables. The non-symmetrical openings in the links prevent improper positioning on the locating post. The links are insulated from each other at their overlapped central portions. The links each have four bare conductor legs which may be removed or trimmed if necessary by an installer to make or prevent connections between the appropriate positive and neutral wires. The links and thus the circuits are visible after the installation is completed by lifting off the cover plate and/or associated electrical device. 
         [0008]    A cover plate and/or electrical device is secured to the front of the box to compress the links and wires to assure and secure electrical continuity. 
         [0009]    It will be readily appreciated, therefore, that the wiring apparatus of the present invention has many advantages over the prior art, some of which are as follows: 
         [0010]    1. The apparatus is constructed to easily connect and visually trace complex circuitry, as well as to connect devices to the circuitry; 
         [0011]    2. A base is provided to position and secure the cables and wires to connect properly with the installed links; 
         [0012]    3. The links are simple in construction and can be pre-fabricated for connections between the cables and other devices, and can be selected or trimmed by an installer as needed; 
         [0013]    4. Cover plates and associated electrical devices can have terminals positioned and shaped to properly connect with the links and the base when installed thereon; 
         [0014]    5. The apparatus is safe, simple and easy to install; and 
         [0015]    6. It replaces the conventional junction box, cable locks, twisted wires, exposed ground wires, pigtails, wire nuts, and does not require the bending of such assemblies back into the box. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of one embodiment of a box or receptacle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the subsurface and fixed grounding link inside the bottom of the base with raised areas to contact ground wires and other ground terminals; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of links that may be used to connect to screw terminals of devices without back terminals; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing the installation of the links and visible connections with the face plate lifted off; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view in section of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view of several bases in accordance with the present invention in side by side relation with elongated side openings that allow extended links to be installed therein; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of side by side bases with different types of circuit connections formed by the installed links. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a base  1  fastened to a stud S, with up to four end-stripped cables C inserted in cable entries  2  in the base  1 . The cable entries  2  each have a cable latch of any suitable construction such as an automatic cable latch and manual cable release. For example, an upright leg of a link catches the inserted ground wire and that leg can be pushed away from the wire, releasing the cable, by downward pressure on the grounding link, operable after installation is completed and a cover plate and/or associated electrical device P are lifted off the base  1 . The ground wire  4  from each inserted cable C (the middle of three wires in a cable) remains in a ground enclosure G, contacting a subsurface grounding link. The ends of positive wire  3  and neutral wire  5  of each cable C are exposed at the back of link recesses  6  in the base  1 . A locating post  7  projects outwardly from the base  1 , and is shaped non-symmetrically or otherwise to prevent improper positioning of the links  9  and  10 . 
         [0024]    A positive link  9  and a neutral link  10 , of conductive material, are positioned over the locating post  7  into link recesses  6  and onto the four sets of wires  3  and  5 . The order of insertion does not matter. The links  9  and  10  have offset openings  9   a  and  10   a  in their central sections through which the post  7  extends to prevent improper positioning on the post  7  and are insulated from each other at their overlapped central sections. The exposed conductor positive and neutral legs  11  do not overlap or touch each other. To differentiate between the links, and indicate their polarity per international safety standards, there may be black insulation on the positive link  9  and white insulation on the neutral link  10 . The links each have four bare, conductor legs  11 , able to be trimmed if necessary by an installer to make the desired connections between the appropriate positive and neutral wires. For example, in one embodiment—a single duplex receptacle not circuited to another device or circuit—there would be only one cable and each of the two links would have all but two legs  11  removed, or all four legs  11  on each link would remain with two not touching any wires and protected from accidental contact. The links  9 ,  10  and hence the circuits, are visible after the installation is completed with the cover plate and associated device P removed. 
         [0025]    A combined cover plate and associated electrical device P (in this example a duplex receptacle) may be secured to the base  1  in any suitable manner to compress the links  9 ,  10  and wires  3 ,  5  to assure electrical continuity and security from accidental contact. Terminals  12 ,  13  and  14  may be located on the back face of the device P, contacting the positive and neutral link legs  11  and a ground terminal on the base  1  behind it. The cover plate and associated electrical device P may be one or separate pieces. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a subsurface, and fixed, grounding link  8  on the bottom of the base  1 , with raised areas  8   a  and  8   b  to contact ground wires and the ground terminal of the electrical device P, respectively. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows modified links  90 ,  100  with contact arms  91 ,  101  to connect to the side screw terminals (not shown) of an electrical device P which does not have back terminals  12 ,  13  or  14  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows the visibility of the circuit in the base  1  of  FIG. 1  with the cover plate and associated device P removed, with no further disassembly necessary to inspect and understand the circuits without disassembling connections. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows the circuit connections in the base  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows laterally connected bases  1  with elongated side openings  15  for receiving extended links  19 ,  20 , and the trimmed-leg links for different circuits. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows bases in accordance with the present invention in which different connections are made by the links in each base. 
         [0032]    The following features of the present invention are apparent from the foregoing description: 
       Simpler Circuit Connections 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             Simpler wiring to devices, additional circuits, three-way circuits, half-switched receptacle circuits, through circuits, branch circuits, relay circuits, and other complex circuits, all of which are more common today than a single device connected to a single cable. 
           
         
       
     
       Increased Safety 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             Conductor connections are clearer, more easily traced, more secure, and easier to accomplish than current technology: cables, wires, wire nuts, pigtails, and unprotected grounds, all bent and forced back into a junction box in the remaining space around and behind the device 
             All cables and devices are automatically grounded; 
             Accidental connection or reversal of positive and neutral conductors is physically prevented; 
             Devices are easier to install without circuiting errors; 
             The need for junction-box-cubic-inch and wire-nut-gauge-capacity calculations is eliminated; and 
             Cable, conductor, and circuit routes are visually obvious without disassembly. 
           
         
       
     
       Easier Installation 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             Can be assembled elsewhere (out of construction site weather and at a more convenient working height than most receptacles and light fixtures); 
             Either cables or devices can be installed first (currently junction boxes are installed first and cannot be repositioned later); 
             Reduces the number of parts and pieces, connection operations, and installation time; 
             Eliminates a separate junction box by the device itself serving the same protective and enclosure functions (a variant of the current NEC standard of 6″ of free conductor between cable entry to the box and the device—the invention and the protective enclosure box can be one); 
             Eliminates finger and tool work inside a very small box; 
             Compatible with today&#39;s typical device designs: stab-in terminals on the back, dual screw terminals on the sides; 
             Compatible with today&#39;s typical device constructions: stab-in terminals on the back, dual screw terminals on the sides; 
             Easily ganged several in a row with internal circuit connections; and 
             Self-locking and easy-release cable entries 
           
         
       
     
         [0049]    Together these features achieve: 
         [0050]    1. Simpler wiring of devices to circuits, additional circuits, three-way circuits, half-switched receptacle circuits, through circuits, split circuits, relay circuits, and other common complex circuits; 
         [0051]    2. Decreased opportunity for short circuits due to connections that are more organized, consistently located, visible, secure, and easier to accomplish than current art; 
         [0052]    3. Certain grounding for all cables and devices; 
         [0053]    4. Reduced possibility for accidental connection to, or reversal of, positive and neutral conductors (A cable can be inserted with the wrong polarities, but so long as the base labels are followed incorrect connections are not physically possible.); 
         [0054]    5. Increased safety by elimination of junction-box-size, number-of-entering-connectors, and wire-nut-gauge capacity calculations (three NEC requirements); 
         [0055]    6. Increased safety since all electrical connections are totally enclosed in the completed assembly; 
         [0056]    7. Increased moisture and corrosion resistance since a simple gasket (not shown) can enclose all conductors; 
         [0057]    8. Observable cable, conductor, and circuit routes without circuit disassembly; 
         [0058]    9. All but the cables can be assembled in a shop (out of construction site weather conditions and at a more convenient working height than most receptacles and light fixtures); 
         [0059]    10. Either cables or devices can be installed first (currently junction boxes are typically installed first and cannot be more accurately positioned as finish elements are installed); 
         [0060]    11. Reduction of the number of parts and operations, and consequently installation time; 
         [0061]    12. Enclosure of cables, wires, and device connections so that the invention qualifies as an NEC junction-boxless “wiring device,” reducing the material, time, and cost of installation; 
         [0062]    13. Elimination of complex work inside a small box with fingers and tools; 
         [0063]    14. Compatibility with today&#39;s typical device designs: stab-in terminals on the back, dual screw terminals on the sides; 
         [0064]    15. Easy ganging of several inventions in a row with internal link connections; and 
         [0065]    16. Self locking and easy-release cable latches, operable from the room without disassembling the circuits. 
         [0066]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.