Wiring device with ground clamping plate
AssigneePass & Seymour, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Osterbrock, Michael R. Bryndzia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to electrical wiring devices such as electrical receptacles, switches, and the like, and more particularly to wiring devices with a clamp for the ground connections to such devices. The present invention includes a pressure plate which engages the ground plate of a receptacle with legs of a pressure plate disposed within correspondingly shaped recesses adjacent the ground plate of the receptacle, so that the pressure plate is substantially constrained from rotation relative to the ground plate so that a wire can be received between the ground plate and the pressure plate when the screw is backed out a sufficient distance.
Claims23
A wiring device comprising:
- a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- an opening in the ground plate;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough;
- a screw extending through the opening in the pressure plate and the opening in the ground plate such that the pressure plate is between a head of the screw and the ground plate;
- and
- a recess on one of the ground plate and the pressure plate and a corresponding leg on the other of the ground plate and the pressure plate for substantially preventing rotation of the pressure plate relative to the ground plate.
A wiring device receptacle comprising:
- a device body;
- a neutral terminal, a ground terminal and a load terminal mounted on the device body for forming electrical connections to the device;
- a metallic ground strap attached to the device body, wherein a portion of the metallic ground strap is adapted to receive and make electrical connection with a ground prong of an electrical plug when engaged with the receptacle, and the metallic ground strap includes a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made, the ground plate including an opening therethrough;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough;
- and
- a screw extending through the opening in the pressure plate and the opening in the ground plate such that the pressure plate is between a head of the screw and the ground plate,
- wherein the device comprises a recess on one of the ground plate and the pressure plate and a corresponding leg on the other of the ground plate and the pressure plate for substantially preventing rotation of the pressure plate relative to the ground plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.