US 5,637,000 A · Electrical wiring device with ground strap shorting protection

Abstract

An electrical wiring device, disclosed in the form of a duplex receptacle having the usual cover, body, terminals and mounting strap of the type extending longitudinally of the body rear surface and along the end surfaces. Two pairs of ribs are formed integrally with the body and extend in parallel relation longitudinally of the body rear surface with the strap lying between the two pairs of ribs. The purpose and effect of the ribs is to form a physical barrier of dielectric material and to lengthen the surface distance between the strap and portions of the hot and neutral wires terminated on the sides of the receptacle from which the insulation has been removed, thereby inhibiting electrical contact or arcing between the bare wires and the strap.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An electrical wiring device for connection to end portions of hot and neutral wires from which insulation has been removed, said device comprising:

a) a body portion of dielectric material;
b) at least one electrically conducting terminal to which at least one of said wire end portions is connected adjacent a first, external surface area on said body;
c) an electrically conducting mounting strap connected to ground potential and extending along and superposed with a second, exterior surface area of said body spaced from said first area;
and
d) a pair of elongated ribs formed integrally with said body and extending outwardly therefrom to respective, spaced edges, and longitudinally thereof throughout an elongated area between said first and second surface areas.

2 more elements

In a duplex receptacle having a cover with apertures for receiving the blades of two electrical plugs, a dielectric body portion cooperatively with said cover defining an enclosed housing having front, rear, opposite side and opposite end walls, a pair of electrically conducting terminals having female contacts positioned within said housing to receive said blades and exposed portions adjacent predetermined portions of said opposite side walls for attachment thereto of end portions of hot and neutral wires of an electrical circuit wherein said receptacle is connected, and an electrically conducting strap connected to ground potential and extending longitudinally of said housing between said opposite end walls and laterally over a central portion of a first, exterior, planar surface portion of said rear wall, said strap having a second, exterior, planar surface portion substantially parallel to said first surface portion, the improvement comprising:

a) a first pair of ribs formed integrally with said body and extending outwardly from said rear wall exterior surface and longitudinally of said housing substantially parallel to one another with opposing surfaces laterally spaced from one another by a first distance, said first pair of ribs being positioned between said predetermined portions of one of said side walls and said strap to form a dielectric physical barrier and to lengthen the surface distance therebetween;
and
b) a second pair of ribs formed integrally with said body and extending outwardly from said rear wall exterior surface and longitudinally of said housing substantially parallel to one another with opposing surfaces laterally spaced from one another by a second distance, said second pair of ribs being positioned between said predetermined portions of the other of said side walls and said strap to form a dielectric physical barrier and to lengthen the surface distance therebetween.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical wiring device with ground strap shorting protection

Life of this patent

Electrical wiring device with ground strap shorting protection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14