Multi-pole electrical wiring devices with wire termination assemblies

A multi-pole electrical wiring device comprising:

• a main housing having an interior that is at least partially hollow;
• and
• a plurality of wire attachment assemblies attachable to the main housing, each of the plurality of wire attachment assemblies includes:
• an assembly housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, where one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and one of the plurality of activating member openings provides access from an exterior of the assembly housing to one of the plurality of cavities;
• and
• a plurality of wire termination assemblies, where one of the plurality of wire termination assemblies is positioned at least partially the one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of wire termination assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal including a clamp brace connected to a clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings in the housing and between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
• and
• an activating member extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of activating member openings in the assembly housing, the activating member being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction causes the activating member to apply a mechanical load to the clamping member causing the clamping member to move from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the activating member in a second direction removes the mechanical load from the clamping member so that the clamping member moves from the open position to the closed position.

A multi-pole electrical wiring device comprising:

• a main housing having an interior that is at least partially hollow;
• a line side wire attachment assembly attachable to the main housing, the line side wire attachment assembly includes:
• an assembly housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, where one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and one of the plurality of activating member openings provides access from an exterior of the assembly housing to one of the plurality of cavities;
• and
• a plurality of wire termination assemblies, where one of the plurality of wire termination assemblies is positioned at least partially the one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of line side wire termination assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal including a clamp brace connected to a clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings in the housing and between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
• and
• an activating member extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of activating member openings in the assembly housing, the activating member being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction causes the activating member to apply a mechanical load to the clamping member causing the clamping member to move from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the activating member in a second direction removes the mechanical load from the clamping member so that the clamping member moves from the open position to the closed position;
• and
• a load side wire attachment assembly attachable to the main housing, the load side wire attachment assembly includes:
• an assembly housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, where one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and one of the plurality of activating member openings provides access from an exterior of the assembly housing to one of the plurality of cavities;
• and
• a plurality of wire termination assemblies, where one of the plurality of wire termination assemblies is positioned at least partially the one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of load side wire termination assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal including a clamp brace connected to a clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings in the housing and between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
• and
• an activating member extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of activating member openings in the assembly housing, the activating member being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction causes the activating member to apply a mechanical load to the clamping member causing the clamping member to move from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the activating member in a second direction removes the mechanical load from the clamping member so that the clamping member moves from the open position to the closed position.

A multi-pole electrical wiring device comprising:

• a main housing having an interior that is at least partially hollow;
• a line side wire attachment assembly attachable to the main housing, the line side wire attachment assembly includes:
• an assembly housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, where one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and one of the plurality of activating member openings provides access from an exterior of the assembly housing to one of the plurality of cavities;
• and
• a plurality of wire termination assemblies, where one of the plurality of wire termination assemblies is positioned at least partially the one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of line side wire termination assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal including a clamp brace connected to a clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
• and
• an activating member extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of activating member openings in the housing, the activating member being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction from a first position to a second position causes the activating member to move the clamping member from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the activating member in a second direction permits the clamping member to automatically move from the open position to the closed position, wherein the activating member remains in the first position or the second position until manually moved;
• and
• a load side wire attachment assembly attachable to the main housing, the load side wire attachment assembly includes:
• an assembly housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, where one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and one of the plurality of activating member openings provides access from an exterior of the assembly housing to one of the plurality of cavities;
• and
• a plurality of wire termination assemblies, where one of the plurality of wire termination assemblies is positioned at least partially the one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of load side wire termination assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal including a clamp brace connected to a clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted between the damping member and the clamp brace;
• and
• an activating member extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of activating member openings in the housing, the activating member being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction from a first position to a second position causes the activating member to move the clamping member from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the activating member in a second direction permits the clamping member to automatically move from the open position to the closed position, wherein the activating member remains in the first position or the second position until manually moved.