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US 12,586,933 B2Granted
Electrical wiring devices with screwless connection terminals
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsThomas L. Scanzillo, Edward Bazayev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical wiring devices that incorporate clamp-type wire terminal connections are described. The electrical wiring devices include for example, single and duplex blade-type electrical receptacles, blade-type locking electrical receptacles, single or multi-pole electrical switches, combination switches and blade-type receptacles, blade-type plugs for electrical cords and blade-type connectors for electrical cords. The electrical wiring devices include a plurality of contact assemblies. Each contact assembly includes a wire terminal and a plunger.
Claims24
An electrical switch comprising:
- a housing having at least one interior cavity, a plurality of wire receiving apertures extending from an exterior of the housing into the at least one interior cavity, and a plurality of actuator openings extending from an exterior of the housing into the at least one interior cavity;
- a plurality of switch contacts positioned within the at least one interior cavity;
- and
- a plurality of contact assemblies positioned at least partially within the at least one interior cavity, wherein one of the plurality of contact assemblies is electrically connected to one of the plurality of switch contacts, each of the plurality of the contact assemblies includes:
- a wire terminal forming an electrically conductive path between the contact assembly and an electrical wire inserted into one of the plurality of wire receiving apertures, the wire terminal including a clamping member and a clamp brace secured to the clamping member, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where the electrical wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the electrical wire can be inserted through one of the plurality of wire receiving apertures and between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
- and
- an actuator extending at least partially through one of the plurality of actuator openings in the housing, the actuator being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the actuator in a first direction causes the actuator 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 actuator in a second direction removes the mechanical load from the clamping member so that to the clamping member moves from the open position to the closed position.
4 more elements
A multi-pole electrical switch comprising:
- a housing having at least one interior cavity, a plurality of wire receiving apertures extending from an exterior of the housing into the at least one interior cavity, and a plurality of actuator openings extending from an exterior of the housing into the at least one interior cavity;
- at least one switch contact positioned within the at least one interior cavity;
- and
- at least one contact assembly positioned at least partially within the at least one interior cavity, the at least one contact assembly includes:
- a wire terminal including a clamping member and a clamp brace, the clamp brace being secured to the clamping member and electrically connected to the at least one switch contact, 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 a wire can be inserted through one of the plurality of wire receiving apertures and between the clamping member and the clamp brace;
- and
- an actuator extending at least partially through one of the plurality of actuator openings, the actuator being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the clamping member from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the actuator in a second direction permits the actuator to move from the open position to the closed position.
4 more elements
An electrical switch comprising:
- a housing having at least one hollow portion;
- at least one switch member positioned within the at least one hollow portion of the housing;
- and
- at least one contact assembly positioned at least partially within the at least one hollow portion of the housing, the at least one contact assembly includes:
- a wire terminal electrically connected to the at least one switch member, the wire terminal being movable in response to a mechanical load from a closed position where a wire can be clamped within the wire terminal to an open position where a wire can be inserted into or removed from the wire terminal, and the wire terminal being automatically movable from the open position to the closed position when the mechanical load is removed;
- and
- an actuator at least partially accessible from an exterior of the housing and interactive with the wire terminal such that movement of the actuator in a first direction generates the mechanical load, and movement of the actuator in a second direction removes the mechanical load.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.