Electrical wiring devices with screwless wire terminals

An electrical wiring device comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of cavities within an interior of the housing, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings, wherein one of the plurality of activating member openings is at least partially at an angle relative to one of the plurality of wire receiving openings;
• and
• a plurality of contact assemblies, wherein one of the plurality of contact assemblies is positioned at least partially in one of the plurality of cavities such that the one of the plurality of contact assemblies is accessible from a respective one of the plurality of wire receiving openings, and a respective one of the plurality of activating member openings;
• wherein each of the plurality of the contact assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal having a clamp brace and a force applying member secured to the clamp brace, the force applying member being movable between a first position where a wire can be secured between the clamp brace and the force applying member and a second position where a wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and between the clamp brace and the force applying member;
• and
• an activating member having a distal end positioned within the one of the plurality of activating member openings and interactive with the force applying member such that movement of the activating member in a first direction applies a force or mechanical energy to the force applying member to cause the force applying member to move from the first position to the second position, and releasing a proximal end of the activating member permits the force applying member to automatically move from the second position to the first position.

An electrical wiring device comprising:

• a housing having at least one cavity within an interior of the housing, at least one wire receiving opening and at least one activating member opening;
• at least one contact assembly positioned at least partially in the at least one cavity such that the at least one contact assembly is accessible from the at least one wire receiving opening and at least one activating member opening;
• wherein the contact assembly includes:
• a wire terminal having a clamp brace and a force applying member secured to the clamp brace, the force applying member being movable between a first position where a wire can be secured between the clamp brace and force applying member and a second position where a wire can be inserted through the at least one wire receiving opening and between the clamp brace and the force applying member;
• and
• an activating member having a distal end positioned in the at least one activating member opening and interactive with the force applying member such that rotating the activating member in a first direction causes the distal end of the activating member to apply a force or mechanical energy to the force applying member to cause the force applying member to move from the first position to the second position, and releasing a proximal end of the activating member permits the force applying member to automatically move from the second position to the first position.

An electrical wiring device comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of cavities within an interior of the housing, a plurality of wire receiving openings and a plurality of activating member openings;
• and
• a plurality of contact assemblies, wherein one of the plurality of contact assemblies is positioned at least partially in one of the plurality of cavities such that the one of the plurality of contact assemblies is accessible from a respective one of the plurality of wire receiving openings, and a respective one of the plurality of activating member openings;
• wherein each of the plurality of the contact assemblies includes:
• a wire terminal having a clamp brace and a force applying member secured to the clamp brace, the force applying member being movable between a first position where a wire can be secured between the clamp brace and force applying member and a second position where a wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and between the clamp brace and the force applying member;
• and
• an activating member having a distal end positioned in the one of the plurality of activating member openings and interactive with the force applying member such that rotating the activating member in a first direction causes the distal end of the activating member to apply a force or mechanical energy to the force applying member to cause the force applying member to move from the first position to the second position, and releasing a proximal end of the activating member permits the force applying member to automatically move from the second position to the first position.