Studio junction box

Claim 1

Safety mechanism for releasably interconnecting a plurality of multiple-conductor electrical power cables for temporarily supplying electrical power to portable apparatus on motion picture sets and the like, said cables including a plurality of insulated conductors the end portions of which are separated and carry individual, axially elongated connection lugs which are axially slotted to embrace blade-like bus-bars and which have clamping screws threaded in one lug arm, said mechanism comprising a plurality of flat, stackable housing units of electrically insulative material, each having a plurality of elongated interior coplanar recesses. opening axially to the exterior of said unit, each recess having a transverse section shaped to freely receive an inserted connection lug, and being deep enough to enclose an inserted lug and a portion of the insulated conductor connected thereto, bus-bar structure of electrically conductive material within each housing unit, said structure including a plurality of rigid blades which are integrally interconnected and which project axially into the respective recesses in position to enter the slot of an inserted lug, each blade terminating at least about 3 1/2 inches inwardly of the recess mouth, an aperture through the side wall of each recess and opening to the exterior of said unit in position to admit a tool for operating the screw of an inserted lug to clamp the same to the blade, the aperture having at least one transverse dimension less than about three-eighths inch, and means for assembling the housing units to form a rigid assembly containing a number of units equal to the number of conductors in each cable to be connected.