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US5203712A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit wiring device

Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1992-01-17
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Granted: 1993-04-20
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Expires: 2012-01-17
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Abstract

Abstract A power distribution system (2) for a raceway (6) of a wall panel comprises an outlet (8), a cable assembly (10), a junction box (12), a side-mount wiring device (14), and an end-mount wiring device (16) for connection to the junction box (12) as a self contained wiring branch adding an additional outlet receptacle (8).

Inventors

  • 👤 Jerry B. Kilpatrick
  • 👤 Mitchell E. Miller
  • 👤 Victor E. Slack

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 07:59
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/28; H02G3/286; H02G3/288; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 216 words
A power distribution system for a raceway, comprising: a junction box adapted to be connected to an input wiring cable, comprising, an insulative housing providing at least one outlet receptacle port adapted to receive a first outlet receptacle, multiple output wiring ports, first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port and second electrical terminals in each of said output wiring ports electrically connected, respectively, to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of an input wiring cable electrically connected, respectively, with the first electrical terminals, whereby the input wring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals of the outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of at least one output wiring cable electrically connected, respectively, to the second electrical terminals in a selected one of the output wiring ports, whereby the output wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; a wiring device comprising, an insulative housing providing at least a second outlet receptacle and electrical contacts in the housing connected to said second outlet receptacle; and said electrical contacts being mateably engaged with said second electrical terminals in a second one of the output wiring ports whereby the second outlet receptacle is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 216 words
A power distribution system for a raceway, comprising: a junction box adapted to be connected to an input wiring cable, comprising, an insulative housing providing at least one outlet receptacle port adapted to receive a first outlet receptacle, multiple output wiring ports, first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port and second electrical terminals in each of said output wiring ports electrically connected, respectively, to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of an input wiring cable electrically connected, respectively, with the first electrical terminals, whereby the input wring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals of the outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of at least one output wiring cable electrically connected, respectively, to the second electrical terminals in a selected one of the output wiring ports, whereby the output wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; a wiring device comprising, an insulative housing providing at least a second outlet receptacle and electrical contacts in the housing connected to said second outlet receptacle; and said electrical contacts being mateably engaged with said second electrical terminals in a second one of the output wiring ports whereby the second outlet receptacle is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: each of the output wiring ports being adapted to connect to, either an output wiring cable, or said wiring device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 54 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: multiple conductors of a second output wiring cable electrically connected to said second contacts in a third one of said outlet wiring ports, whereby the first and second output wiring cables are electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in the outlet receptacle port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: the wiring device and the junction box having a tab and slot cooperatively engaged with each other when said electrical contacts are aligned for connection to the second electrical terminals of said second output wiring port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: the outlet receptacle port facing in a direction extending outwardly from a side of the junction box, and the second outlet receptacle facing in the same direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: the housing of said wiring device latchably engaging the housing of the junction box, and projecting tabs on the housing of the wiring device adapted for insertion along tab receiving slots of a raceway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 6, comprising: the tabs are adapted to press against the raceway to hold the wiring device in place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: a deformable hood on the housing of said wiring device covering portions of the contacts, and latches on the deformable hood latchably engaging the housing of the junction box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 8, comprising: tabs on upper and lower surfaces of the wiring device adapted for insertion along tab receiving slots of a raceway, and the hood being on an end of the wiring device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 9, comprising: the tabs are adapted to press against the raceway to hold the wiring device in place.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
A power distribution system as recited in claim 1, comprising: an outlet receptacle having electrical contacts adapted for connection with the first electrical terminals in the outlet receptacle port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 244 words
A kit of parts for assembly in a power distribution system for a raceway, comprising: a junction box adapted to connect to an input wiring cable, comprising, an insulative housing providing at least one outlet receptacle port adapted to receive a first outlet receptacle, multiple output wiring ports each adapted to connect electrically to multiple conductors of respective output wring cables, first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port and second electrical terminals in each of said output wiring ports adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of an input wiring cable adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the second electrical terminals, whereby the input wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in the outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of at least one output wiring cable adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the second electrical terminals in a selected one of the output wiring ports, whereby the output wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; a wiring device comprising, an insulative housing providing at least a second outlet receptacle and electrical contacts in the housing adapted to connect to said second outlet receptacle; and said electrical contacts adapted to mateably engage with said second electrical terminals in a second one of the output wiring ports whereby the second outlet receptacle is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 244 words
A kit of parts for assembly in a power distribution system for a raceway, comprising: a junction box adapted to connect to an input wiring cable, comprising, an insulative housing providing at least one outlet receptacle port adapted to receive a first outlet receptacle, multiple output wiring ports each adapted to connect electrically to multiple conductors of respective output wring cables, first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port and second electrical terminals in each of said output wiring ports adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of an input wiring cable adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the second electrical terminals, whereby the input wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in the outlet receptacle port; multiple conductors of at least one output wiring cable adapted to connect electrically, respectively, to the second electrical terminals in a selected one of the output wiring ports, whereby the output wiring cable is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port; a wiring device comprising, an insulative housing providing at least a second outlet receptacle and electrical contacts in the housing adapted to connect to said second outlet receptacle; and said electrical contacts adapted to mateably engage with said second electrical terminals in a second one of the output wiring ports whereby the second outlet receptacle is electrically connected to the first electrical terminals in said outlet receptacle port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
A kit of parts as recited in claim 12, comprising: an outlet receptacle having electrical contacts adapted to connect with the first electrical terminals in the outlet receptacle port.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4060294A Cited
US4278834A Cited
US4740167A Cited
US4781609A Cited
US5092787A Cited
US5015203A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-04-19 1996-10-19 1997-04-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-04-19 2000-10-19 2001-04-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-04-19 2004-10-19 2005-04-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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