Wire termination mechanisms and methods of use

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least one aperture configured to selectively receive a distal end of a wire therein;
• and
• at least one wire termination mechanism rotatably supported by the housing for selectively securing the distal end of the wire to the wiring device, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes:
• a cam having a body portion defining an axis of rotation extending in a direction transverse to an insertion axis of the at least one aperture;
• and
• at least one eccentric cam portion supported on the body portion of the cam and in registration with the at least one aperture, wherein the cam portion is movable to and away from the at least one aperture upon a rotation of the body portion.

A method of terminating a wire to a wiring device that is configured to be secured to a support structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a distal end of the wire into an aperture of the wiring device;
• rotating a wire termination mechanism having a cam portion to a securing position;
• wherein the rotation of the wire termination mechanism causes a surface of the cam portion to selectively engage the distal end of the wire and establish electrical communication between the wire and the wiring device;
• and
• mounting the wiring device to a support structure.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path, the housing being configured to secure the wiring device to a support structure;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing and extending across the pair of apertures, wherein the wire termination mechanism is configured to simultaneously selectively secure the distal end of each wire upon a rotation thereof, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the wire termination mechanism allows the insertion or removal of the wires and at least a second position in which the wire termination mechanism secures the wires in electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism supported on the housing, the wire termination mechanism including a bridge member extending across the pair of apertures and a rotation member for displacing the bridge member toward the housing, wherein the wire termination mechanism is configured to simultaneously selectively secure the distal end of each wire upon a rotation of the rotation member, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the bridge member of the wire termination mechanism does not extend into each path and thus allows the insertion or removal of the wires, and at least a second position in which the bridge member of the wire termination mechanism extends into each wire path and secures the wires in electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing, the wire termination mechanism including a ring member extending between the pair of apertures and a rotation member disposed within the ring member for displacing portions of the ring member toward the wire paths, wherein the wire termination mechanism is configured to simultaneously selectively secure the distal end of each wire upon a rotation of the rotation member, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the rotation member flexes the ring member of the wire termination mechanism so as to not extend into each path and thus allows the insertion or removal of the wires, and at least a second position in which the rotation member flexes the ring member of the wire termination mechanism so as to extend into each wire path and secures the wires in electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism supported on the housing, the wire termination mechanism including an arm associated with each aperture and a rotation member for displacing the arm toward the respective aperture of the housing, wherein each arm includes a finger configured to engage the distal end of each wire upon displacement of the arm during a rotation of the rotation member, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the finger of each arm does not extend into each path and thus allows the insertion or removal of the wires, and at least a second position in which the finger of each arm of the wire termination mechanism extends into each wire path, engaging the distal end of the respective wire and securing the respective wire in electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism supported on the housing, the wire termination mechanism including a bridge member extending between the pair of apertures and a rotation member for displacing the bridge member toward the housing, wherein the bridge member includes fingers extending therefrom for engagement with ramping surfaces provided in the housing and in registration with respective apertures, wherein the wire termination mechanism is configured to simultaneously selectively secure the distal end of each wire upon a rotation of the rotation member, wherein the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the fingers of the bridge member of the wire termination mechanism do not extend into the respective wire paths and thus allows the insertion or removal of the wires, and at least a second position in which the fingers of the bridge member of the wire termination mechanism are cammed by the ramping surface to extend into each respective wire path and secure a respective wire into electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining at least a pair of apertures each configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, each aperture being in registration with a wire path;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with each wire path;
• and
• a wire termination mechanism pivotally supported on the housing, the wire termination mechanism including a lever extending across the pair of apertures, wherein the wire termination mechanism is configured to selectively secure the distal end of each wire upon a clamping of the lever against the housing, wherein the lever of the wire termination mechanism includes at least a first position in which the lever does not extend into each path and thus allows the insertion or removal of the wires, and at least a second position in which the lever of the wire termination mechanism extends into each wire path and clamps the wires into electrical communication with the electrical contact.

A wiring device, comprising:

• a housing defining an aperture configured to receive a distal end of a wire therein, the aperture being in registration with a wire path, the housing being configured to secure the wiring device to a support structure;
• an electrical contact at least partially disposed within the housing and in registration with the wire path;
• and
• wire termination means at least partially disposed within the housing for selectively securing the distal end of the wire, wherein the wire termination means includes at least a first position in which the wire termination means allows the insertion or removal of the wire and at least a second position in which the wire termination means secures the wire in electrical communication with the electrical contact.