Junction box

Claim 2

A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally Lshaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U-shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.

Claim 3

A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally L-shaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U-shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.

Claim 4

A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally L-shaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U-shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.

Claim 5

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; and means at said first and second ends of said cover member to couple said cover member to said base member.

Claim 6

A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising a layer of adhesive material on the exterior surface of said planar plate portion for adhesively adhering said junction box to a mounting surface.

Claim 7

A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture in said planar plate portion proportioned to receive a fastener therethrough for affixing said junction box to a mounting surface.

Claim 8

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface and at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box.

Claim 9

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface; at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box; a first end wall coupled to said planar plate portion and said first and second side walls; a further aperture in said end wall to permit the passage of terminal members through said end wall into said junction box; and strain relief means engagable with said terminal members mounted on said end wall adjacent said further aperture.

Claim 10

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising strain relief means coupled to said second planar surface of said intermediate member adjacent the free ends of said first arm of said conductor connector for receiving and strain relieving electrical conductors placed between said pair of legs of said second arm.

Claim 11

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: at least one conductor retaining channel extending inwardly from said second end of said intermediate member towards said second arm to retain the free ends of electrical conductors positioned in said insulating piercing channel of said second arm.

Claim 12

A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; hinge means coupled between said second end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said second end of said intermediate member and further selectively operable locking means coupled between said first end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said first end of said intermediate member to lock together said cover member and said base member.