Patent ID: 7165992

Claim:
A connector assembly for interconnecting an overhead electric junction box and electric fixture, the overhead electric junction box receiving a terminal end of a network of structural electric power wires, the electric fixture comprising a network of fixture power wires, the connector assembly comprising: (a) a socket housing having a lower end, the socket housing's lower end having a first and at least a second aperture, each aperture among the first and at least second apertures having a hook engaging end, and a hook disengaging end, the socket housing internally supporting a first and at least a second land, the first and at least second lands respectively overlying the first and at least second apertures' hook engaging ends; (b) a plug housing having an upper end; (c) a first and at least a second hook, each hook among the first and at least second hooks extending externally from the plug housing's upper end, each hook among the first and at least second hooks comprising an electrically conductive material, the first and at least second hooks being, upon respective extensions into the first and at least second apertures, respectively movable between the first and at least second apertures' hook engaging and hook disengaging ends; (d) upper terminal means connected operatively to the socket housing, the upper terminal means having upper and lower ends, the upper terminal mean's upper end being adapted for electrical connection with the structural power wire network's terminal end, the upper terminal mean's lower end being adapted for, upon respective extensions of the first and at least second hooks into the first and at least second apertures, electrically contacting the first and at least second hooks; (e) lower terminal means connected operatively to the plug housing, the lower terminal means being adapted for electrically connecting the first and at least second hooks to the electric fixture's network of fixture power wires; and (f) releasable locking means connected operatively to the socket and plug housings, the releasable locking means being adapted for releasably suspending the plug housing from the socket housing; the lower terminal means comprising at least a first normally open circuit breaking switch, and further comprising circuit closing means connected operatively to the plug housing, the circuit closing means being adapted for, upon locking of the releasable locking means, closing the at least first normally open circuit breaking switch.