US 12,244,112 B2
Wire terminals and method of uses
Michael Kamor, North Massapequa, NY (US); Kelly Tyler, Levittown, NY (US); Stanley Mayer, Rego Park, NY (US); William Grande, Valley Cottage, NY (US); and William Randall, Port Washington, NY (US)
Assigned to Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., Melville, NY (US)
Filed by LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC., Melville, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/377,947.
Application 18/377,947 is a continuation of application No. 17/700,883, filed on Mar. 22, 2022, granted, now 11,791,573.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/175,381, filed on Apr. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0039178 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. H01R 4/48 (2006.01); H01R 4/26 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 4/489 (2013.01) [H01R 4/26 (2013.01); H01R 4/483 (2023.08); H01R 4/4821 (2023.08); H01R 4/485 (2023.08)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wiring device, comprising:
a housing; and
a wire terminal arranged and configured to be mechanically and electrically secured to a line-voltage AC electrical wire, the wire terminal including:
a lever arranged and configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, the rotation being about a first axis;
an electrical wire receiving space defined at least partially by at least one of a cage portion or a spring portion;
wherein, in the second position, the lever moves at least one of the cage portion or the spring portion to enlarge the electrical wire receiving space to receive the electrical wire along a second axis, and, in the first position, the lever moves at least one of the cage portion or the spring portion to reduce the electrical wire receiving space, wherein the reduction of electrical wire receiving space causes at least one of the cage portion or the spring portion to engage the electrical wire to securely retain the electrical wire within the electrical wire receiving space;
wherein at least one of the cage portion or the spring portion are biased towards reducing the electrical wire receiving space; and
wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel.