Modular electrical conductor system

A modular electrical device comprising a low profile modular base housing having a substantially planar base surface and being of generally polygonal plan configuration, said housing having a plurality of side surfaces about its periphery each of which defines a discrete connector site, a plurality of electrical conductor harnesses supported by said base housing and defining a plurality of discrete circuit paths through said base housing, each of said conductor harnesses having terminal conductor ends selectively positioned at said connector sites such that each connector site includes a plurality of spaced shielded conductor ends defining a male or female plug-in connector site, one of said conductor harnesses defining a primary power circuit and another of said conductor harnesses defining a secondary unit, a first unexposed switch supported within said base housing in operative connection with said primary and secondary circuits in a manner to enable selective transfer of electric power from said primary to said secondary circuits when said primary power circuit is connected to a power source, a second switch supported by said base housing in operative connection to said primary circuit and being operable externally of said housing to control electrical power to said primary power circuit when connected to the power source, and a low profile cover member adapted to be releasably mounted on said base housing and having a plurality of side walls adapted to overlie the side surfaces of said base housing, each of said side walls having a recess formed therein enabling access to the corresponding connector site.

A modular electrical outlet connector device adapted for connection in an electrical system which includes a terminal box containing at least two electrical conductors, said outlet connector device comprising:

• a mounting plate adapted for releasable attachment to the terminal box,
• a connector member supported by said mounting plate for rotation about an axis generally normal to said mounting plate in a manner to limit rotation of said connector member through less than 360.degree. about said axis,
• and a plurality of electrical conductors extending through said connector member and having first ends adapted for connection to an external electrical power supply,
• said connector member having a distal connector end defining a plurality of shielded pin connectors each of which is conductively connected to a selected one of said electrical conductors, said distal connector end being adapted for plug-in connection to an external electrical device.

A modular electrical conductor system for electric circuit wiring, comprising:

• at least one elongated substantially closed carrier member having opposite ends and a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally therethrough,
• a male end connector affixed to one end of said carrier member and defining a plurality of male conductor contacts selectively electrically connected to said electrical conductors within said carrier member,
• a female end connector affixed to the other end of said carrier member and defining a plurality of female conductor contacts selectively electrically connected to said electrical conductors within said carrier member, said male and female end connectors being adapted for mating cooperation with similar female and male connectors, respectively, and
• at least one modular electrical switch element including a modular housing having a plurality of electrical conductors therein, said modular housing defining at least one male connector site having a plurality of male conductor contacts adapted for electrical plug-in connection with a female end connector on said carrier member, and defining at least one female connector site having a plurality of female conductor contacts adapted for electrical plug-in connection with a male end connector on said carrier member, said switch element having a first primary exposed switch operative from externally of said housing to control electric power through a first circuit internally of said switch element and having a second auxiliary unexposed switch within said housing and selectively operable to vary the internal circuit controlled by said primary exposed switch.