Other

Philrich Innovators Research Manufacturing and Development, Inc.

Phillip W Stumpff

Richard D Taylor

A three-way switch wiring system and adapter therefor. The system includes n adapter having a pair of prongs which are engageable with first and second power contact strips in a wiring apparatus or junction box. The adapter includes an insulating housing with first and second common contact strips, a normally open contact strip and a normally closed contact strip therein. The contact strips and housing have wire receiving openings therein for receiving the wires of a pair of three-wire cables from first and second three-way switches. The wires on the cable from the first switch are connected to the first common contact strip and the normally open and normally closed contact strips, and the cable from the second switch is connected to the second common contact strip and the normally and normally closed contact strips. Sockets are disposed in the housing around the sets of wire receiving openings for wedging engagement with an outer insulating sheath of the cables. The housing has a protruded portion thereon adjacent the prongs, and the protruded portion extends into a socket in the wiring apparatus or junction box when the prongs are engaged with the first and second power contact strips. A representative three-way wiring circuit is also disclosed.

Three-way switch system and adapter therefor

An electrical switch apparatus adapted for plug-in wiring. The switch apptus has an insulating housing made of a cover and a body. The body defines a plurality of terminal receiving cavities therein. A terminal portion of a plurality of electrical contact strips is disposed in each of the terminal receiving cavities. The terminal portions are adapted for receiving and grippingly engaging an electrical wire inserted through an opening in the housing. A cantilevered strip extends from each of the terminal portions, and each of the cantilevered strips has a switching contact thereon. The contacts on each of the cantilevered strips are mutually aligned. When the switch handle is in a first position, the contacts on a pair of the electrical contact strips are in electrical communication. When the switch is in a second position, the electrical contacts on another pair of electrical contact strips are in electrical communication. The switch handle has a pin thereon for engaging one of the contact strips. The switch handle also has a lug thereon which is biasingly engaged by a spring such that movement of the switch between the first and second positions is facilitated as the switch handle is moved through a center position. The cover of the housing further includes walls or partitions thereon separating, aligning and supporting the cantilevered strips.

Electrical switch apparatus having a wire engaging electrical conducting

An electrical receptacle apparatus adapted for plug-in wiring. The receptacle apparatus has an insulating housing made of a cover and a body. The body defines a plurality of terminal receiving cavities therein. A terminal portion of a plurality of electrical contact strips is disposed in each of the terminal receiving cavities. The terminal portions are adapted for receiving and grippingly engaging an electrical wire inserted through an opening in the housing. A cantilevered strip extends from each of the terminal portions in a longitudinal direction through the body, and each cantilevered strip has at least one set of first and second plug receiving and gripping fingers. The housing has a plurality of plug receiving openings therein in registry with the sets of plug receiving fingers. The electrical contact strips include a power contact strip, a common contact strip, and a ground or neutral contact strip disposed between the power and common contact strips. The plug receiving fingers on each strip are adapted to receive and grippingly engage the appropriate prongs on an electrical plug. The cover of the housing includes a flange extending therefrom which is adapted for mounting to a wall member. The cover of the housing further includes walls thereon separating, guiding and supporting the cantilevered strips of the electrical contact strips.

Electrical receptacle apparatus

A plug-in type electrical wiring apparatus having electrical contact strips held in place by electrically conducting terminals. The apparatus includes upper and lower housing portions forming a housing enclosing the electrical contact strips. Each electrical contact strip has a pair of legs interconnected at one end by a longitudinal web. The web has wire receiving openings therebetween, such that a wire inserted through any opening is engagingly received between the legs. In an alternate embodiment, a shoulder extends from one of the legs and provides additional electrical contact for the wire. Cable receiving sockets are located in the housing in registry with the web openings. A plurality of electrically conductive terminals are positioned on an opposite side of the lower housing portion from the electrical contact strips. Each terminal has a member extending into the housing and engagingly received between the legs of a contact strip. Transverse slots in the arcuate leg portion allow compensation for differences in sizes between the member and wires. One contact strips has a key extending therefrom which is received in a key receiving aperture in another strip such that relative movement between the contact strips is prevented.

Electrical wiring apparatus

A plug-in electrical wiring apparatus includes an insulating housing having a cable receiving external socket disposed therein. The socket is defined by a bottom wall and a tapered side wall extending outward from the bottom wall. The side wall is convergingly tapered toward the bottom wall so that a cable inserted in the socket will wedgingly engage the tapered side wall. The bottom wall has a wire receiving housing opening disposed therethrough for receiving a first wire of the cable. An electrical contact strip is disposed in the housing for also receiving the wire of the cable. The contact strip includes a middle web portion having a wire receiving web opening in registry with the housing opening. The web portion further includes a resilient retaining tab for engaging the wire when the wire is inserted through the housing opening and the web opening and for resisting withdrawal of the wire from the web opening. The electrical contact strip further includes first and second leg portions extending from the web portion away from the housing opening, which leg portions are arranged to engagingly receive the wire of the cable therebetween.

Growing community of inventors

Madill, OK, United States of America

Phillip W Stumpff