Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-07-10
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S064000, C174S068300, C220S003300, C220S003800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259023
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical outlets and, more particularly, to an electrical outlet box for receiving and electrically engaging an uncut three conductor electrical cable for providing electrical power to sockets selectively engageable by conventional electrical plugs.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional wall mounted electrical outlets include a box, whether of metal or plastic, for receiving three conductor electrical cables. The terminal end of each conductor is mechanically fastened to corresponding electrical contacts of a conventional socket assembly. One or more apertures in the box are present to permit ingress of a cable and egress of another cable. In the event of the latter, the ends of each conductor of such cable must be attached to the corresponding electrical connections of the outlet socket assembly. Alternatively, corresponding conductors of each cable must be electrically and mechanically secured to one another with a device known as a wire nut. A pig-tail conductor is secured by each wire nut to each conductor to provide electrical power to the corresponding electrical contact of the socket assembly. When two sockets of each socket assembly are present, as is conventional, further pig-tails must be used to connect the sockets in parallel.
The amount of time and effort to cut and then insert the end of each cable into the electrical box is time consuming. Additional time and numerous separate operations must be carried out to effect the appropriate electrical connections.
Each cable must be routed through the studs of a wall from one location of an electrical box to another. This requires drilling holes in each intervening stud and threading the cable therethrough. Such work is time consuming and laborious.
Conventional electrical outlet boxes are secured to a wall stud by nails or the like. A cutout is provided in the wall board of the wall through which the electrical outlet box extends to position the socket assembly essentially flush with the exterior surface of the wall board. An apertured cover plate, penetrably receiving the terminal end of each socket of the socket assembly, is affixed to the electrical outlet box by screws. Often, due to sloppy workmanship or inattention, the electrical outlet box is not in proper alignment with the wall board. This results in a skewed attachment of the cover plate since no provision for aligning the cover plate with the wall board is provided. The result is aesthetically displeasing.
Generally, the major expense attendant wiring a house, or any building, is the cost of the labor involved as the parts, including the cables, are inexpensive relative to the total cost. By reducing the labor costs of skilled electricians through a reduction in time spent, significant savings may be effected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The female member of an electrical outlet box includes an apertured flange for attachment by nails or screws to a stud. After attachment, an the uncut conductor cable is laid through the electrical outlet box after the insulating sheath surrounding the three conductors has been cut and removed to expose the three insulated conductors. Each conductor is placed within a corresponding channel to physically spread the conductors apart from one another. A male member of the electrical outlet box is inserted into the female member, which insertion causes receivers to penetrate the insulation of each respective conductor and make an electrical contact therewith. Each receiver corresponds with a prong of a conventional grounded three prong plug to electrically connect the plug with the corresponding electrical conductors upon insertion of the plug into a socket. Thereby, all of the conventional steps of cutting and attaching the electrical conductors extending into an electrical outlet box are eliminated. Each receiver may include one or more spring loaded tangs for receiving and electrically connecting a further conductor of a further cable. A positionable cover plate is placed flush with the surface of the wall board surrounding the electrical outlet box and accommodates for any misalignment of the electrical outlet box relative to the surface of the wall board. Male and female attachments are provided in each electrical outlet box to permit side by side and/or back to back mounting of a plurality of electrical outlet boxes. Moreover, a single uncut cable is serially routed through each electrical outlet box. To enhance routing of cables through a wall, a slot may be cut in each stud to receive the cable and eliminate threading of the cable through a hole. A retainer engages the stud to maintain the cable in the slot.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an electrical outlet box which provides electrical power to a conventional outlet without requiring cutting of any conductors of an electrical cable supplying electrical power to the electrical outlet box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to install and electrically connect electrical outlet box.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a two part plastic electrical outlet box which upon assembly automatically provides electrical connection between a socket and an uncut electrical cable laid therein.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical outlet box of non-electrically conductive material except for receivers electrically connecting conductors of an uncut electrical cable passing therethrough to provide electrical power to a plug plugged into a socket.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive electrical outlet box installable by an electrician with minimal instruction.
A yet further object of the present invention is to reduce the costs of electrically wiring a wall of a building or other facility.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for inexpensively wiring a building or other facility.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.
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Search Report dated Oct. 4, 2000, issued in PCT application No. PCT/US00/17556, filed Jun. 26, 2000.
Myers & Associates Intellectual Property Law P.C.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
Reiker Electric, L.L.C.
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