# US 8,388,371 B2 · Safety electrical outlet and switch system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,388,371 B2 - Document ID: US8388371B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/360,556 - Filed: 2012-01-27 - Published: 2012-05-24 - Granted: 2013-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2000-01-05 - Assignees: ProtectConnect - Applicants: Michael P. Gorman - Inventors: Michael P. Gorman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8388371B2 ## CPC - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H01R 4/64: Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail - H01R 13/652: with earth pin, blade or socket - H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 43/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors (of trolley lines B60M1/28) - H02G 3/126: {with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud} - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H01R 13/70: with built-in switch - H01R 2103/00: Two poles - Y10T 29/49126: Assembling bases - Y10T 29/49128: Assembling formed circuit to base - Y10T 29/49169: Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor - Y10T 29/49174: Assembling terminal to elongated conductor - Y10T 29/49194: Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc. - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - Y10T 29/49222: forming array of contacts or terminals - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electrical box is mounted on a wall stud, and a wiring panel is installed within the electrical box so as to partition the interior of the electrical box into a user inaccessible wiring compartment and a user accessible module compartment. A protective cover is attached to the wiring panel so as to protect the wiring panel during a makeup phase of wall panel installation and painting. After the makeup phase, the protective cover is removed from the wiring panel and a module having a user operable electrical function is mounted to the wiring panel within the user accessible module compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical wiring system comprising: an assembled wiring panel comprising a nonconductive housing sized to fit within an electrical box, wherein the electrical box is designed to house a power cable, the electrical box is further configured to attach to a construction framing stud, wherein the assembled wiring panel comprises: a first side of the nonconductive housing comprising a first nonconductive surface and one or more openings that expose a plurality of electrical panel contacts associated therewith; a conductive panel key structure; a nonconductive panel key structure comprising at least a portion of the nonconductive housing; and a second side of the nonconductive housing, wherein the second side has a plurality of external power wire connection points extending therefrom that interface with the power cable such that the external power wire connection points interface with the power cable at a location external to the assembled wiring panel; whereas the first side and second side are fastened together to create said assembled wiring panel that internally contains at least a hot bus, neutral bus and ground bus; said assembled wiring panel comprising said plurality of external power wire connection points that are configured to connect the electrical panel contacts on the first side with the power cable using at least an internal hot bus, a neutral bus and a ground bus; wherein said assembled wiring panel with said external power wire connection points is assembled prior to insertion in said electrical box; and a removable module having an electrical function, the removable module comprising a plurality of module electrical contacts associated therewith that are configured to connect to the plurality of panel electrical contacts on the first side of the assembled wiring panel, wherein the removable module further comprises a nonconductive module key structure that is configured to engage the nonconductive panel key structure and a conductive module key structure configured to engage the conductive panel key structure, wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are configured to engage in only one proper orientation that comprises maintaining proper connection with the hot and neutral busses using at least one of: the nonconductive module key structure, or the conductive module key structure; wherein a portion of the nonconductive panel key structure partially shields the one or more electrical panel contacts of the conductive panel key structure from user contact; and wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are further configured to removably latch together without tools. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the latching together of the removable module and the assembled wiring panel comprises spring contacts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the latching together of the removable module and the assembled wiring panel with the nonconductive key structure comprises at least one latch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, further comprising the electrical box, the electrical box comprising at least one of the group comprising: a single wide configuration, a double wide configuration, a triple wide configuration, or quadruple wide configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the power cable is routed through a side of the electrical box. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the assembled wiring panel is further configured to provide positive tactile feedback when the nonconductive module key structure fully engages the nonconductive panel key structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the assembled wiring panel is assembled outside the electrical box. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical wiring system of claim 7, wherein the assembled wiring panel is placed in the electrical box prior to insertion of the removable module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive module key structure is configured to engage the nonconductive panel key structure without the use of tools. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the module electrical contacts are configured to couple with the panel electrical contacts without requiring a user to access exposed portions of wires. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive module key structure is configured to engage the nonconductive panel key structure without the use of tools. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the module electrical contacts are configured to couple with the panel electrical contacts without requiring a user to access exposed portions of wires. ### Claim 13 An electrical wiring system comprising: an assembled wiring panel comprising a nonconductive housing sized to fit within an electrical box, wherein the electrical box is designed to house a power cable, the electrical box is further configured to attach to a construction framing stud, wherein the assembled wiring panel comprises: a first side of the nonconductive housing comprising a first nonconductive surface and one or more openings that expose a plurality of electrical panel contacts associated therewith; a conductive panel key structure; a nonconductive panel key structure comprising at least a portion of the nonconductive housing; and a nonconductive second side that interfaces with the power cable, wherein the nonconductive second side has a plurality of external power wire connection points extending therefrom that interface with the power cable such that the external power wire connection points interface with the power cable at a location external to the assembled wiring panel; whereas the first side and second side are fastened together to create the assembled wiring panel that internally contains a plurality of isolated power busses; said assembled wiring panel comprising said plurality of isolated external power wire connection points that are configured to connect the electrical panel contacts on the first side with the power cable; wherein said assembled wiring panel with said external power wire connection points is assembled prior to insertion in said electrical box; and a removable module having an electrical switch function, the removable module comprising a plurality of module electrical contacts associated therewith that are configured to connect to the plurality of panel electrical contacts on the first side of the assembled wiring panel, wherein the removable module further comprises a nonconductive module key structure that is configured to engage the nonconductive panel key structure and a conductive module key structure configured to engage the conductive panel key structure, wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are configured to engage in only one proper orientation that comprises maintaining proper connection with the hot and neutral busses using at least one of: the nonconductive module key structure or the conductive module key structure, and wherein a portion of the nonconductive panel key structure partially shields the one or more electrical panel contacts of the conductive panel key structure from user contact; and wherein the removable module and the assembled wiring panel are further configured to removably latch together without the use of tools. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the latching together of the removable module and the assembled wiring panel comprises spring contacts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the latching together of the removable module and the assembled wiring panel comprises at least one latch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, further comprising the electrical box, the electrical box comprising at least one of the group comprising: a single wide configuration, a double wide configuration, a triple wide configuration, or quadruple wide configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the power cable is routed through a side of the electrical box. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the assembled wiring panel is further configured to provide positive tactile feedback when the nonconductive module key structure fully engages the nonconductive panel key structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the assembled wiring panel is assembled outside the electrical box. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electrical wiring system of claim 19, wherein the assembled wiring panel is placed in the electrical box prior to insertion of the removable module.