# US 2018/0323532 A1 · Modular power tee distribution assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323532 A1 - Document ID: US20180323532A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/905,261 - Filed: 2018-02-26 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: Woodhead Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Woodhead Industries, LLC - Inventors: Joseph F. Murphy; Wai Yin Leung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323532A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/514: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them - H01R 9/2408: {Modular blocks (H01R9/26 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/512: assembled by screw or screws - H01R 13/518: for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames - H01R 25/003: {the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables} - H01R 13/60: Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged - H01R 24/70: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H02G 3/00: Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles (installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A modular power tee distribution assembly includes a tee formed of first and second housing pieces which can be mated together. NEMA devices and accessories can be directly attached to the tee. First and second adaptors are provided can be mounted to the tee. The adaptors allow differently sized NEMA devices and accessories to be attached to the tee. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular power tee distribution assembly comprising: a tee including a first housing piece and a second housing piece, the first housing piece comprising a wall defining a pocket, the wall having a plurality of wall openings therethrough which are in communication with the pocket, each wall opening having a tongue receiving recess associated therewith, the second housing piece comprising a wall defining a pocket, the wall of the second housing piece having a plurality of wall openings therethrough which are in communication with the pocket of the second housing piece, each wall opening of the second housing piece having a tongue receiving recess associated therewith, wherein the first and second housing pieces are configured to be mated together, wherein when mated together, the pockets form a cavity, the wall openings form entrance openings into the cavity, and the tongue receiving recesses in the first housing piece align with respective tongue receiving recesses in the second housing piece and form tongue receiving passageways; first, second, third and fourth adaptor pieces configured to be mounted to the housing pieces, each adaptor piece having a body and a tongue extending therefrom, a recess extending from a front end of the adaptor piece to a rear end of the adaptor piece, and further including a tongue receiving groove in the body, the tongue receiving groove being in communication with the recess of the adaptor piece, wherein the tongue of each adaptor piece is configured to be received in the tongue receiving recesses of the housing pieces; wherein the recess and tongue receiving groove of each of the first and second adaptor pieces has a first size and the recess and tongue receiving groove of each of the third and fourth adaptor pieces has a second size, the first size and the second size being different. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the tongue receiving passageways of the first and second adaptor pieces are smaller than the tongue receiving passageways of the third and fourth adaptor pieces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the tongue receiving passageways of the first and second adaptor pieces have a width and the wall openings of the first and second adaptor pieces have a height, the width and height defining the first size, and wherein the tongue receiving passageways of the third and fourth adaptor pieces have a width and the wall openings of the third and fourth adaptor pieces have a height, the width and height of the third and fourth adaptor pieces defining the second size, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second adaptors are identically formed, and the third and fourth adaptors are identically formed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing pieces are identically formed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing pieces are mated together by fasteners. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein in the wall openings in each housing piece have a wall surface which is curved. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 7, wherein each wall surface has a plurality of teeth thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, in combination with a NEMA device having a tongue which can be received in one of the tongue receiving recesses of the housing pieces and the tongue receiving grooves of the adaptor pieces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, in combination with a NEMA device having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving grooves of of the first and second adaptor pieces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The combination of claim 10, further comprising a second NEMA device, the second NEMA device having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving grooves of the third and fourth adaptor pieces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11, further comprising a third NEMA device, the third NEMA device having a tongue which can be received in one of the tongue receiving recesses of the housing pieces and the tongue receiving grooves of the adaptor pieces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, in combination with an accessory having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving recesses of the housing pieces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, in combination with an accessory having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving grooves of the first and second adaptor pieces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The combination of claim 14, further comprising a second accessory, the second accessory having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving grooves of the third and fourth adaptor pieces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The combination of claim 15, further comprising a third accessory, the third accessory having a tongue which can be received in the tongue receiving recesses of the housing pieces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The combination of claim 14, wherein the accessory is one of a hanger, a light, a terminating cap, an externally threaded member, an internally threaded member, and a shroud. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The combination of claim 14, wherein the accessory provides first and second tongues, the first tongue configured to be attached to the tee. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The combination of claim 14, wherein the accessory provides a first tongue and a tongue receiving groove, the first tongue configured to be attached to the tee, the tongue receiving groove of the accessory configured to receive a third member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bus bar mounted in at least one of the housing pieces. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 1, further in combination with a second modular power tee distribution assembly. ### Claim 22 A tee configured to be used in a modular power tee distribution assembly comprising: opposite base walls; a side wall extending between the base walls; the side wall having a plurality of spaced apart openings provided therethrough; and a tongue receiving passageway proximate to each opening, wherein each tongue receiving passageway is configured to receive a component, the component being capable of being received in each tongue receiving passageway. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The tee of claim 22, wherein each tongue receiving passageway comprises first and second grooves which face each other, and a space between the grooves. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The tee of claim 23, wherein each groove has a flat surface, the flat surfaces facing each other. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The tee of claim 22, wherein each opening has planar surfaces which face each other. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The tee of claim 25, wherein each opening has curved surfaces extending between the planar surfaces. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The tee of claim 25, wherein each planar surface has a plurality of teeth thereon. ### Claim 28 A modular power tee distribution assembly comprising: a tee having opposite base walls, a side wall extending between the base walls, the side wall having a plurality of spaced apart openings provided therethrough, and a tongue receiving passageway proximate to each opening; a first adaptor configured to be mounted to the tee, the first adaptor having a body, a tongue extending from the body, an opening at a front end of the body, a passageway extending from the opening of the first adaptor to a rear end of the first adaptor, and a tongue receiving groove in the body, the tongue receiving groove of the body being in communication with the passageway of the first adaptor, wherein the tongue of the first adaptor is configured to be received in the tongue receiving passageway of the tee; and a second adaptor configured to be mounted to the tee, the second adaptor having a body, a tongue extending from the body of the second adaptor, an opening at a front end of the body of the second adaptor, a passageway extending from the opening of the second adaptor to a rear end of the second adaptor, and a tongue receiving groove in the body of the second adaptor, the tongue receiving groove of the second adaptor being in communication with the passageway of the second adaptor, wherein the tongue of the second adaptor is configured to be received in the tongue receiving passageway of the tee; wherein the opening, passageway and tongue receiving groove of the first adaptor has a first size, and the opening, passageway and tongue receiving groove of the second adaptor piece has a second size, the first size and the second size being different. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 28, wherein the opening, passageway and tongue receiving groove of the first adaptor are smaller than the opening, passageway and tongue receiving groove of the second adaptor piece. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The modular power tee distribution assembly of claim 28, wherein the passageway and tongue receiving groove of the first adaptor defines a width and the opening of the first adaptor defines a height, the width and height defining the first size, and wherein the passageway and tongue receiving groove of the second adaptor defines a width and the opening of the second adaptor defines a height, the width and height of the second adaptor defining the first size, and wherein the second size is smaller than the first size.