Multi-system plug-in power receptacle for modular power distribution system

In an electrical receptacle for a power distribution system comprising an elongate power distribution assembly having a plurality of electrical conductors extending longitudinally therein, said conductors comprising at least one hot conductor, and one neutral conductor to define at least one circuit and comprising at least one ground conductor associated with said circuit, said power distribution assembly further including access ports which provide access to said conductors, said receptacle having a housing with a back wall and a front wall, and electrical terminals that are configured to engage rearwardly from said back housing wall with said conductors of said power distribution assembly through said access ports for electrical connection of said receptacle with at least one said electrical circuit of said power distribution assembly, said receptacle further including groups of plug openings which are accessible through said front housing wall and are adapted to receive a multi-prong electrical plug therein, comprising the improvement wherein said receptacle includes contact strip assemblies which are adapted to respectively connect to a hot conductor and a neutral conductor of said power distribution assembly, each said contact strip assembly including an elongate contact strip mounted adjacent to an inside face of said front housing wall and being accessible through said plug openings thereof, and further including an associated one of said electrical terminals supported on said back housing wall and adapted to engage said ports of said power distribution assembly for removable engagement with a respective one of said conductors, each said contact strip including a plurality of spaced apart contact seats each adapted to tight-fittingly receive a prong of an electrical plug wherein said prong seats each align with a respective one of said prong openings and said prong seats are joined together by an intermediate web of conductive material, said receptacle further including a molded support arrangement comprised upstanding support walls which span the distance between said front and back housing walls and defined shaped spaces adjacent to said inside face of said front housing wall in which each said contact strip is supported.

An electrical receptacle for connection to a modular power distribution assembly having a plurality of circuits therein, said receptacle comprising;

• a housing defining a hollow interior which includes spaced apart first and second walls that define said hollow interior therebetween, said first wall facing rearwardly and having terminal openings therein, and said second wall having groups of outlet openings therein which are adapted to receive hot, neutral and ground prongs of an electrical plug;
• a plurality of contact strip assemblies respectively positioned along said openings associated with said hot prongs, said neutral prongs and said ground prongs, said hot and neutral contact strip assemblies each comprising a contact strip which is elongate and defines tubular contact seats which are adapted to receive hot and neutral prongs of a conventional electrical plug, said contact strips including intermediate webs of said contact strip material which joins said contact seats together in spaced apart relation so that said contact seats are adapted to align with said openings in said second housing wall, at least said hot and neutral contact strip assemblies further including an electrical terminal configured to engage an electrical conductor disposed exteriorly of said receptacle and a flexible intermediate conductor which is connected at its opposite ends to said terminal ends of said contact strip;
• and
• an interior support arrangement disposed within said hollow receptacle interior, said support arrangement projecting from an inside face of said housing to define shaped pockets disposed directly adjacent to said outlet openings which said shaped pockets are adapted to receive and support said contact strips directly adjacent to said inside face of said second housing wall so that said contact seats are aligned respectively with said openings of said second housing wall, said terminals of said contact strip assemblies being supported within said terminal openings of said first housing wall with said flexible intermediate conductor permitting displacement of said terminals relative to said contact strips.