# US 9,437,978 B2 · Modular electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,978 B2 - Document ID: US9437978B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/731,845 - Filed: 2015-06-05 - Published: 2015-12-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-10 - Applicants: Wesley G. Green - Inventors: Wesley G. Green - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437978B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/652: with earth pin, blade or socket - H01R 13/6691: {with built-in signalling means (H01R13/717 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/7175: {Light emitting diodes (LEDs)} - H01R 13/743: {integral with the housing} - H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H01R 2103/00: Two poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A system for providing electrical energy and related components is provided. More specifically, a universal module that is adapted to fit within a junction box commonly found in building construction is provided. The wire cable associated with a dwelling, for example, is interconnected to the module, which provides a plurality of locations for receipt of corresponding electrical connectors of an outlet or switch. The modules quickly and safely receive an electrical component, which reduces time and associated costs related to electrical system installation, repair, or modification. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular electrical connector, comprising: a junction box having an aperture adapted to receive a wire cable comprised of a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire, the junction box having a cavity on a lateral surface thereof; a mounting plate adapted for interconnected to a building member, said mounting plate having an anchor that is selectively received by said cavity in said junction box to interconnect said junction box to said building member; a module having: a first connector for selective receipt of the hot wire, a second connector for selective receipt of the neutral wire, a third connector for selective receipt of the ground wire, a clip for selective interconnection with a portion of said junction box, a first receptacle; a second receptacle; a third receptacle; a first side receptacle; a second side receptacle; a third side receptacle; an indicator that illuminates when at least one of the hot wire, the neutral wire, and ground wire are properly interconnected to said module; and an electrical component having a first prong for interconnection to said first receptacle of said module, a second prong for interconnection to said second receptacle, and a third prong for interconnection to said third receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said first connector, said second connector, and said third connector are wire screws. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said first connector, said second connector, and said third connector are wire lugs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a LED light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said first prong, said second prong, and said third prong are positioned in a plane that is parallel to a plane that corresponds with a plane that is equidistant from a left lateral surface and a right lateral surface of said outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate is comprised of said anchor having apertures that receive mounting screws, and a protrusion that ends in a finger that is adapted to engage an outer surface of a wall, and at least one tab that is adapted to pierce the exterior wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said first side receptacle, said second side receptacle, and said third side receptacle is adapted to receive a connector, said connector also being adapted to interface with a second module that is not interconnected to the wire cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said module further comprises a fourth side receptacle; a fifth side receptacle; and a sixth side receptacle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said module includes a face portion that is associated with said first receptacle, said second receptacle, and said third receptacle, and further comprising a first indicia associated with said first receptacle, a second indicia associated with said second receptacle, and a third indicia associated with said third receptacle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein said module includes a first connector interface that is associated with said first receptacle, a second connector interface that is associated with said second receptacle, and a third connector interface associated with said third receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein said first connector, said first receptacle, and said first connector interface is associated with the hot wire, said second receptacle, and said second connector interface is associated with the neutral wire, said third receptacle, and said third connector interface is associated with the ground wire. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein said first connector interface includes a first conductive arm associated with said first side receptacle, said second connector interface includes a second conductive arm associated with said second side receptacle, and said third connector interface includes a third conductive arm associated with said third side receptacle. ### Claim 13 A modular electrical connector, comprising: a module adapted for interconnection to a junction box that accommodates a wire cable comprised of a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire, said module having: a first connector for selective receipt of the hot wire, a second connector for selective receipt of the neutral wire, a third connector for selective receipt of the ground wire, a first electrical member; a second electrical member; a third electrical member; a first side electrical member; a second side electrical member; a third side electrical member; a junction component having a fourth electrical connector for interconnection to said first electrical member of said module, a fifth electrical connector for interconnection to said second electrical member of said module, and a sixth electrical connector for interconnection to said third electrical member of said module; and wherein said first side receptacle, said second side receptacle, and said third side receptacle is adapted to receive a connector, said connector also being adapted to interface with a second module that is not interconnected to a wire cable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said junction component is an electrical outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said first electrical member, said second electrical member, and said third electrical member are receptacles for selective receipt of said fourth electrical member, said fifth electrical member, and said sixth electrical member, which are cylindrical prongs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, further comprising a junction box having an aperture adapted to receive the wire cable, wherein said junction box has a cavity on a lateral surface thereof; a mounting plate adapted for interconnected to a building member, said mounting plate having an anchor that is selectively received by said cavity to interconnect said junction box to said building member; and wherein said mounting plate is comprised of said anchor having apertures that receive mounting screws, and a protrusion that ends in a finger that is adapted to engage an outer surface of an exterior wall, and at least one tab that is adapted to pierce the exterior wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, further comprising an indicator that illuminates when at least one of the hot wire, the neutral wire, and ground wire are properly interconnected to said module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said module further comprises a first connector interface that is associated with said first electrical connector, a second electrical connector interface that is associated with said second electrical connector, and a third electrical connector portion associated with said third electrical connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said junction component is a switch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said first connector, said second connector, and said third connector are wire lugs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The connector of claim 13, wherein said module includes a face portion that is associated with said first electrical connector, said second electrical connector, and said third electrical connector, and further comprising a first indicia associated with said first electrical connector, a second indicia electrical connector with said second receptacle, and a third indicia associated with said third electrical connector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The connector of claim 18, wherein said first electrical connector, said first electrical connector, and said first connector interface is associated with the hot wire, said second electrical connector, and said second connector interface is associated with the neutral wire, said third electrical connector, and said third connector interface is associated with the ground wire. ### Claim 23 A method of providing electrical energy to an outlet, comprising: providing a module interconnected to a wire cable, said module comprising: a first connector for selective receipt of the hot wire, a second connector for selective receipt of the neutral wire, a third connector for selective receipt of the ground wire, a clip for selective interconnection with a portion of said junction box, a first receptacle; a second receptacle; a third receptacle; a first side receptacle; a second side receptacle; a third side receptacle; and an indicator that illuminates when at least one of the hot wire, the neutral wire, and ground wire are properly interconnected to said module; providing an outlet having a first a first prong for interconnection to said first receptacle of said module, a second prong for interconnection to said second receptacle, and a third prong for interconnection to said third receptacle; providing electrical current to said module by way of said wire cable; and providing electrical current to said outlet via said module. ### Claim 24 A module for transferring electrical energy from a wire cable to an outlet, the wire cable having a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire, comprising: a first connector for selective receipt of the hot wire, a second connector for selective receipt of the neutral wire, a third connector for selective receipt of the ground wire, a first electrical member; a second electrical member; a third electrical member; a first side electrical member; a second side electrical member; a third side electrical member; and wherein said module further comprising a first connector interface that is associated with said first electrical connector, a second electrical connector interface that is associated with said second electrical connector, and a third electrical connector portion associated with said third electrical connector; and wherein said first electrical connector interface includes a first electrical connector arm associated with said first side receptacle, said second electrical connector interface includes a second electrical connector arm associated with said second side receptacle, and said third electrical connector interface includes a third electrical connector arm associated with said third side receptacle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The module of claim 24, further comprising an indicator that illuminates when at least one of the hot wire, the neutral wire, and ground wire are properly interconnected to said module. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The module of claim 24, wherein said first connector, said second connector, and said third connector are wire lugs. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The module of claim 24, wherein said first side receptacle, said second side receptacle, and said third side receptacle is adapted to receive a connector, said connector also being adapted to interface with a second module that is not interconnected to a wire cable. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The module of claim 24, wherein said module includes a face portion that is associated with said first electrical connector, said second electrical connector, and said third electrical connector, and further comprising a first indicia associated with said first electrical connector, a second indicia electrical connector with said second receptacle, and a third indicia associated with said third electrical connector. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The module of claim 24, wherein said first electrical connector, said first electrical connector, and said first connector interface is associated with the hot wire, said second electrical connector, and said second connector interface is associated with the neutral wire, said third electrical connector, and said third connector interface is associated with the ground wire. ### Claim 30 A modular electrical connector, comprising: a module adapted for interconnection to a junction box that accommodates a wire cable comprised of a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire, said module having: a first connector for selective receipt of the hot wire, a second connector for selective receipt of the neutral wire, a third connector for selective receipt of the ground wire, a first electrical member; a second electrical member; a third electrical member; a first side electrical member; a second side electrical member; a third side electrical member; a junction component having a fourth electrical connector for interconnection to said first electrical member of said module, a fifth electrical connector for interconnection to said second electrical member of said module, and a sixth electrical connector for interconnection to said third electrical member of said module; wherein said first side receptacle, said second side receptacle, and said third side receptacle is adapted to receive a connector, said connector also being adapted to interface with a second module that is not interconnected to a wire cable; and wherein said first electrical connector includes a first electrical connector arm associated with said first side receptacle, said second electrical connector includes a second electrical connector arm associated with said second side receptacle, and said third electrical connector includes a third electrical connector arm associated with said third side receptacle.