초록 ▼

An electrical receptacle directly mounts on a conventional service panel to adapt the panel for electrical connection with a standard power cord. The receptacle has an insulative housing and includes one or more lower spring contacts, two or more upper spring contacts and a rear contact. One or more

An electrical receptacle directly mounts on a conventional service panel to adapt the panel for electrical connection with a standard power cord. The receptacle has an insulative housing and includes one or more lower spring contacts, two or more upper spring contacts and a rear contact. One or more lip members on the rear end of the housing are inserted beneath the panel\s hook-like retaining tabs, and each lower spring contact is thereafter pivoted into wiping engagement with one of the blades on the panel that serve as power terminals. The respective prongs of the power cord are inserted through openings on the upper face of the receptacle for wiping engagement with the upper spring contacts. At least one of the prongs is thus connected electrically to a corresponding blade on the panel via an interconnected upper spring contact and lower spring contact or, alternatively, via an interconnected upper spring contact and rear contact, which rear contact is tied to the load end of a selected circuit breaker module by an interconnecting cable. In one preferred construction, a connection path that reverses back upon itself and that includes an overload protection device interconnects each rear contact with an upper spring contact. At least one other prong is connected electrically to a ground bus on the panel via an interconnected upper spring contact and rear contact, which rear contact is tied to the bus by a cable.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for adapting a power distribution panel for electrical connection with a power cord, said power cord including at least first and second prongs, said power distribution panel having at least one power terminal through which said panel supplies electrical power and a mounting support on whic

A system for adapting a power distribution panel for electrical connection with a power cord, said power cord including at least first and second prongs, said power distribution panel having at least one power terminal through which said panel supplies electrical power and a mounting support on which at least one circuit breaker module of standard length can be selectively mounted by pivoting movement of a rearward end of said module about a hook-like retaining tab included on said support so as to rotate a conductive element included adjacent a forward end of said module into plug-in engagement with said power terminal, said system comprising: (a) an electrical receptacle including an outer housing and a plurality of conductive elements included within said housing for enabling said receptacle to establish electrical connection between said panel and said power cord, said housing having an upper face, a lower face, a front end, a rear end and a pair of sides, said elements including at least first and second upper contacts disposed in alignment with at least first and second openings formed in said upper face such that said first and second prongs are insertable into said first and second openings for engagement with said first and second upper contacts, respectively; (b) a mounting mechanism on said receptacle, said mounting mechanism including a lower contact disposed along said lower face of said receptacle adjacent said front end in suitable orientation for plug-in engagement with said power terminal; and (c) said mounting mechanism being configured so that said receptacle is mountable on said panel in substitution for said circuit breaker module of standard length and including attachment means adjacent said rear end for engaging said hook-like retaining tab and for keeping said rear end and said hook-like retaining tab inseparably attached to each other in direct response to plug-in engagement between said lower contact and said power terminal.