Electrical wiring devices with screwless connection terminals

Abstract

Electrical wiring devices that incorporate clamp-type wire terminal connections are described. The electrical wiring devices include for example, single and duplex blade-type electrical receptacles, blade-type locking electrical receptacles, single or multi-pole electrical switches, combination switches and blade-type receptacles, blade-type plugs for electrical cords and blade-type connectors for electrical cords. The electrical wiring devices include a plurality of contact assemblies. Each contact assembly includes a wire terminal and a plunger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical wiring device comprising:
 a housing having an interior and at least one wire receiving opening that provides access from an exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing; and   at least one wire terminal assembly positioned in the interior of the housing such that the at least one wire terminal assembly is accessible from the at least one wire receiving opening, the at least one wire terminal assembly includes a clamp brace and a clamping member that is movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace and an open position where a wire can be inserted through the at least one wire receiving opening and between the clamping member and the clamp brace. the clamping member being in the closed position until moved to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein clamping member moves in a first direction to the closed position and in a second direction to the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 3 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the second direction is opposite the movement of the clamping member in the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially linear. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace with a force that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire so that the clamping member presses the wire against the clamp brace. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 1 , wherein an actuator is positioned in at least one actuator opening in the housing to move the clamping member from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         9 . An electrical wiring device comprising:
 a housing having an interior and a plurality of wire receiving openings, the plurality of wire receiving openings provide access from an exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing; and   a plurality of wire terminal assemblies positioned in the interior of the housing such that each of the plurality of wire terminal assemblies is accessible from one of the plurality of wire receiving openings, each of the plurality of wire terminal assemblies includes a clamp brace and a clamping member that is movable between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace and an open position where a wire can be inserted through the one of the plurality of wire receiving openings and between the clamping member and the clamp brace, the clamping member being in the closed position until moved to the open position.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein the clamping member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein clamping member moves in a first direction to the closed position and in a second direction to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 11 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the second direction is opposite the movement of the clamping member in the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially linear. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein the wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace with a force that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire so that the damping member presses the wire against the clamp brace. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 9 , wherein an actuator is positioned in at least one actuator opening in the housing to move the clamping member from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         17 . An electrical wiring device comprising:
 a housing having an interior and at least one wire receiving opening, wherein at least a portion of the interior is hollow; and   at least one wire terminal positioned in the hollow portion of the interior of the housing such that the at least one wire terminal is accessible from the at least one wire receiving opening, the at least one wire terminal automatically clamps a wire within the at least one wire terminal when in a closed position and allows the wire to be removed from the at least one wire terminal when in an open position.   
     
     
         18 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one wire terminal includes a clamp brace and a clamping member that is movable between the closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace and the open position where a wire can be inserted through the at least one wire receiving opening and between the clamping member and the clamp brace, the damping member being in the dosed position until moved to the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein the clamping member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein clamping member moves in a first direction to the closed position and in a second direction to the open position. 
     
     
         21 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 20 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the second direction is opposite the movement of the clamping member in the first direction. 
     
     
         22 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein the movement of the clamping member in the first direction and the second direction is substantially linear. 
     
     
         24 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein the wire can be clamped between the clamping member and the clamp brace with a force that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire so that the clamping member presses the wire against the clamp brace. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical wiring device according to  claim 18 , wherein an actuator is positioned in at least one actuator opening in the housing to move the clamping member from the closed position to the open position.