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US RE38,293 E1Granted
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.
Claims27
A wiring device comprising:
- (a) a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- (b) a threaded opening in the ground plate;
- (c) a screw engaged with the threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- (d) a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging the screw between the enlarged head and the ground plate;
- and
- (e) 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 when the screw is engaged with the pressure plate.
3 more elements
A wiring device comprising:
- (a) a ground plate to which ground connection is to be made;
- (b) a threaded opening in the ground plate;
- (c) a screw engaged with the threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- (d) a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging the screw between the enlarged head and the ground plate, and having a cut away region;
- and,
- (e) a ground wire electrically entrapped between the pressure plate and the ground plate.
3 more elements
A pressure plate for electrically entrapping a ground wire against a ground plate, the pressure plate comprising:
- a generally rectangular front plate;
- a screw opening in a central location of the front plate;
- a bull nose positioned near a first corner of the front plate, the bull nose tapered towards the screw opening;
- and
- wherein a second corner of the front plate, adjacent the first corner, is cut-away from the front plate to define a cut-away region for substantially preventing two wires from being simultaneously engaged by the pressure plate, one on each side of the screw opening.
2 more elements
A wiring device comprising:
- (a) a ground plate to which ground connection is to be made;
- (b) a threaded opening in the ground plate;
- (c) a screw engaged with the threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- (d) a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging the screw between the enlarged head and the ground plate, and having a cut away region for discouraging an installer from placing two wires, one on each side of the screw, between the pressure plate and the ground plate;
- and,
- (e) a ground wire electrically entrapped between the pressure plate and the ground plate.
3 more elements
A wiring device, comprising:
- a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- a threaded opening in said ground plate;
- a screw engaged with said threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging said screw between said enlarged head and said ground plate of the wiring device;
- and
- cooperating means on said ground plate and said pressure plate for substantially preventing rotation of said pressure plate relative to said ground plate when said screw is engaged with said pressure plate;
- wherein said cooperating means includes a recess on said ground plate and a corresponding leg on said pressure plate.
4 more elements
A wiring device, comprising:
- a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- a threaded opening in said ground plate;
- a screw engaged with said threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging said screw between said enlarged head and said ground plate of the wiring device;
- and
- cooperating means on said ground plate and said pressure plate for substantially preventing rotation of said pressure plate relative to said ground plate when said screw is engaged with said pressure plate;
- wherein said cooperating means includes a leg of said pressure plate which extends at approximately a 90 degree angle from said pressure plate, said leg extending past a portion of said ground plate which entraps said ground connection when said screw is tightened.
4 more elements
A wiring device, comprising:
- a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- a threaded opening in said ground plate;
- a screw engaged with said threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging said screw between said enlarged head and said ground plate of the wiring device;
- cooperating means on said ground plate and said pressure plate for substantially preventing rotation of said pressure plate relative to said ground plate when said screw is engaged with said pressure plate;
- wherein said cooperating means includes a hole on said ground plate and a corresponding leg on said pressure plate which extends through said hole when said screw is tightened to bring said pressure plate and said ground plate into electrical contact with said ground connection.
3 more elements
A wiring device, comprising:
- a ground plate to which a ground connection is to be made;
- a threaded opening in said ground plate;
- a screw engaged with said threaded opening and having an enlarged head;
- a pressure plate having an opening therethrough and engaging said screw between said enlarged head and said ground plate of the wiring device;
- means for discouraging an installer from placing two wires, one on each side of said screw, between said pressure plate and said ground plate;
- and
- a ground wire electrically entrapped between said pressure plate and said ground plate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.