US 12,088,052 B2
Electrical wiring devices with screwless connection terminals
Thomas L. Scanzillo, Monroe, CT (US); and Edward Bazayev, Kew Gardens, NY (US)
Assigned to HUBBELL INCORPORATED, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/974,918.
Application 17/199,109 is a division of application No. 16/844,660, filed on Apr. 9, 2020, granted, now 10,965,042, issued on Mar. 30, 2021.
Application 16/844,660 is a division of application No. 16/664,540, filed on Oct. 25, 2019, granted, now 10,637,165, issued on Apr. 28, 2020.
Application 16/664,540 is a division of application No. 15/863,642, filed on Jan. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,461,444, issued on Oct. 29, 2019.
Application 17/974,918 is a continuation of application No. 17/890,910, filed on Aug. 18, 2022.
Application 17/890,910 is a continuation of application No. 17/199,109, filed on Mar. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,563,281.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/443,020, filed on Jan. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0048831 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 4/48 (2006.01); H01R 11/05 (2006.01); H01R 13/11 (2006.01); H01R 13/502 (2006.01); H01R 24/22 (2011.01); H01R 24/30 (2011.01)
CPC H01R 4/48365 (2023.08) [H01R 4/48455 (2023.08); H01R 11/05 (2013.01); H01R 13/113 (2013.01); H01R 13/502 (2013.01); H01R 4/48185 (2023.08); H01R 24/22 (2013.01); H01R 24/30 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical receptacle comprising:
a housing having an interior, a plurality of wire openings, a plurality of actuator openings and a plurality of blade openings, wherein at least a portion of the interior is hollow, wherein each of the plurality of wire openings provides access from an exterior of the housing to the hollow portion of the interior of the housing, wherein each of the plurality of actuator openings provides access from the exterior of the housing to the hollow portion of the interior of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of blade openings provides access from the exterior of the housing to the hollow portion of the interior of the housing; and
a plurality of contact assemblies positioned in the hollow portion of the interior of the housing such that one of the plurality of contact assemblies is accessible from one of the plurality of wire openings, one of the plurality of actuator openings and one of the plurality of blade openings;
wherein each of the plurality of the contact assemblies includes:
a contact member having at least two contact fingers extending therefrom, wherein the at least two contact fingers are aligned with the one of the plurality of blade openings in the housing;
a wire terminal including a clamp brace electrically connected to the contact member and a clamping member electrically connected to the clamp brace, the clamping member being movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace, and an open position where the wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire openings in the housing and between the clamping member and the clamp brace; and
an actuator extending at least partially through the one of the plurality of actuator openings in the housing, the actuator being interactive with the clamping member such that movement of the actuator in a first direction causes the actuator to apply a mechanical load to the clamping member causing the clamping member to move from the closed position to the open position, and movement of the actuator in a second direction removes the mechanical load from the clamping member so that the clamping member moves from the open position to the closed position.