Circuit breaker jumper assembly with a snap-fit cover assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6589071
  • Patent Number
    6,589,071
  • Date Filed
    Monday, February 4, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 8, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A mounting for a jumper assembly bus assembly where the jumper assembly includes a housing assembly and a bus assembly. The jumper assembly housing assembly has a housing assembly planar member and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicular to and downward from the planar member defining at least one raceway. The bus assembly includes a bus assembly planar member with two terminal ends extending therefrom. The mounting includes at least one bus assembly mounting boss disposed on a housing assembly side wall, the mounting boss disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the housing assembly planar member, and at least one elongated bus assembly clip extending from the housing assembly. The bus assembly mounting boss is structured to retain the bus assembly planar member adjacent to the housing assembly planar member and the at least one bus assembly clip is structured to retain a bus assembly terminal end against the housing assembly planar member.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a jumper assembly used in conjunction with two circuit breakers, more specifically to a jumper assembly having a snap-fit cover assembly.




2. Background Information




A jumper assembly is a device for dividing a current from a power line so that the current may be directed to two or more circuit breakers. The jumper assembly includes a non-conductive housing and two conductive buses. The current is divided by coupling the power line to a single input point, typically a collar assembly, on a bus having two or more output terminals. The output terminals are then coupled to two different circuits, each of which has its own circuit breaker. The circuit breakers on the different circuits typically have different ratings. At typical jumper assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,384.




The prior art jumper housing includes a non-conductive cover. The cover prevents accidental contact with the bus bars. The cover, however, must be removed to gain access to the bus bars collars. The cover in prior art jumpers is attached to the housing body by an L-shaped member, a fastener, or both. An example of a L-shaped member can be seen at reference number 95 on FIG. 9 of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,384 patent. Such an L-shaped member does not secure the cover to the housing assembly and may allow the cover to be accidentally removed. As such, the L-shaped member is often used in conjunction with a fastener. For example, see FIG. 4 of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,384 patent, which shows an unnumbered fastener opening on the back housing wall. Thus, to gain access to the inside of the housing, a tool must be used to remove the fastener before removing the cover. This procedure is unnecessarily time-consuming.




There is, therefore, a need for a jumper assembly cover latch that secures the cover assembly to the housing assembly without the use of fasteners.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This need, and others, is met by the invention which provides a jumper assembly cover latch for a cover assembly in a jumper assembly. The jumper assembly includes a housing assembly having a plurality of upper side walls. The cover assembly has a planar member. The latch includes at least one elongated latching member coupled to, and extending downwardly from, the cover assembly planar member, as well as, at least one latch channel formed on the housing assembly. The latching member is structured to engage the latch channel thereby coupling the cover assembly to the housing assembly.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of a six-terminal prior art jumper assembly.





FIG. 2

is an isometric view of the modular jumper assembly.





FIG. 3

is a top plan view of the modular jumper assembly.





FIG. 4

is a bottom plan view of the modular jumper assembly.





FIG. 5

is a front elevational view of the modular jumper assembly.





FIG. 6

is an exploded top view of the modular jumper assembly showing three modules.





FIG. 7A

is a top view of the first size module.

FIG. 7B

is a bottom view of the first size module.

FIG. 7C

is a front view of the first size module.

FIG. 7D

is a left side view of the first size module.

FIG. 7E

is a back side view of the first size module.

FIG. 7F

is a right side view of the first size module.

FIG. 7G

is an exploded isometric view of the first size module.





FIG. 8A

is a top view of the second size module.

FIG. 8B

is a bottom view of the second size module.

FIG. 8C

is a front view of the second size module.

FIG. 8D

is a left side view of the second size module.

FIG. 8E

is a back side view of the second size module.

FIG. 8F

is a right side view of the second size module.

FIG. 8G

is an exploded isometric view of the second size module.





FIG. 9A

is a top view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9B

is a bottom view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9C

is a front view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9D

is a left side view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9E

is a back side view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9F

is a right side view of the third sized module.

FIG. 9G

is an exploded isometric view of the third sized module.





FIG. 10

is a detail view of a bus assembly clip.





FIG. 11

is a detail view of a bus assembly mounting boss.





FIGS. 12A and 12B

are isometric views of the tongue-and-groove connector.





FIG. 13

is an isometric view of the first sized module cover assembly.





FIG. 14A

is an isometric view of the back side of the second sized module cover assembly.





FIG. 14B

is an isometric view of the front side of the second sized module cover assembly.





FIG. 15

is an isometric view of the third sized module cover assembly.





FIG. 16A

is a top view of the fourth sized module.

FIG. 16B

is a bottom view of the fourth sized module.

FIG. 14C

is an exploded isometric view of the fourth sized module.





FIG. 17A

is a top view of the full sized module.

FIG. 17B

is a bottom view of the full sized module.

FIG. 17C

is an exploded isometric view of the full sized module.





FIG. 18

is a top view of an alternate configuration of the jumper assembly.





FIG. 19

is a top view of linked jumper assemblies.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




As shown in

FIGS. 2-6

, a modular jumper assembly


100


includes one or more jumper modules, a first sized module


102


, (

FIGS. 7A-7G

) a second sized module


104


(FIGS.


8


A-


8


G), and a third sized module


106


(

FIGS. 9A-9G

) which are coupled together in a nested configuration. As will be detailed below, each module


102


,


104


,


106


includes a housing assembly


130


,


330


,


500


and a bus assembly


180


,


440


,


640


. The combined module housing assemblies


130


,


330


,


500


, when joined as described below, from the jumper assembly. Each bus assembly


180


,


440


,


640


includes two terminal ends


110


,


112


that extend beyond the housing assemblies


130


,


330


,


500


. All terminal ends


110


,


112


extend from one side of the modular jumper assembly


100


. As used herein, the side of the modular jumper assembly


100


or the modules


102


,


104


,


106


from which the terminal ends


110


,


112


extend is the “front side”. As used herein, the side of the modular jumper assembly


100


or the modules


102


,


104


,


106


opposite the front side is the “back side.” Accordingly, as viewed from the front side, the side of the modular jumper assembly


100


or the modules


102


,


104


,


106


to the left is the “left side” and the side to the right is the “right side.” Additionally, as used herein, the bus assemblies will be said to extend in a generally horizontal direction. Accordingly, a plane perpendicular to the horizontal directions shall be identified as the vertical direction.




As shown best in

FIG. 6

, the first size module


102


includes a generally linear or rectangular housing assembly


130


(described below). The second size module


104


has a generally U-shaped housing assembly


330


having a base portion


334


, a left extension


336


and a right extension


338


(described below). The second size module


104


is sized so that the first size module


102


can fit between, i.e., be nested between, the second module left and right extensions


336


,


338


. The third size module


106


also has a generally U-shaped housing assembly


500


, having a base portion


504


, a left extension


506


and a right extension


508


. The third sized module


106


is sized such that the second sized module


104


fits between, or is nested between, the third size module left and right extensions


506


,


508


. The modular jumper assembly


100


is generally symmetrical about a centerline


101


extending through the middle of the first sized module


102


and perpendicular to the front side.




The terminal ends


110


,


112


of the bus assemblies


180


,


440


,


640


are structured to engage two circuit breakers


1


,


2


(FIG.


3


). That is, the terminal ends


110


on one side of a centerline


101


engage a first circuit breaker


90


, while the terminal ends


112


on the other side of the centerline


101


engage a second circuit breaker


92


. If the jumper assembly


100


includes three modules


102


,


104


,


106


, the jumper assembly


100


can engage two separate three-phase circuit breakers


1


A,


2


A. Alternatively, the jumper assembly may only include two modules, typically the first sized module


102


and the second sized module


104


, and engage two separate two-line circuit breakers


1


B,


2


B.




As shown in

FIGS. 7A-7G

, the first size module


102


has a housing assembly


130


, and a bus assembly


180


(

FIGS. 7B

,


7


G). The first sized module housing assembly


130


is made from a non-conductive material. The first sized module housing assembly


130


includes a horizontal generally rectangular planar member


132


having a medial opening


134


. The first sized module planar member


132


has an upper side


136


and a lower side


138


. A plurality of side walls


140


extend upwards from the perimeter of the first sized module housing planar member upper side


136


and downward from the first sized module planar member lower side


138


. The side walls


140


have, generally, either a uniform height or depth. The height of the first sized module housing upper side walls is between about ½ to 2.0 inches and preferably about 1.0 inch. The depth of the first sized module housing lower side walls is between about ⅛ to {fraction (15/8)} inches and preferably about ⅝ inches. The first sized module housing upper side walls include a front side wall


142


, a left-back side wall


144


, and a right-back side wall


146


. The first sized module upper front side wall


142


extends left to right across the front side of the first sized module housing planar member


132


. The first sized module upper left-back side wall


144


extends left to right along the left most portion of the first sized module housing planar member


132


back side. The first sized module upper right-back side wall


146


extends right to left along the right most portion of the first sized module housing planar member


132


back side. Between the first sized module upper left-back side wall


144


and the first sized module upper right-back side wall


146


is a first sized module back side upper medial opening


148


. A tab


150


extends generally perpendicularly to the right side of the first sized module upper right back side wall


146


. The tab


150


on the first sized module upper right back side wall


146


extends toward the front side. Thus, the first sized module front side wall


142


and the left back side wall


144


and the first sized module front side wall


142


and the tab


150


define a first sized module left side opening


152


and a first sized module right side opening


154


, respectively.




As shown best on

FIG. 7B

, the first sized module housing lower side walls include a first sized module lower left side wall


160


, a first sized module lower back side wall


162


, a first sized module lower right side wall


164


, and a first sized module lower front medial side wall


166


. The first sized module lower left side wall


160


, the first sized module lower back side wall


162


, and the first sized module lower right side wall


164


extend along the entire perimeter of the of the first sized module housing planar member


132


left side, back side and right side, respectively. The first sized module lower front medial side wall


166


, however, only extends left to right along the central portion of the first sized module housing planar member


132


front side. Thus, there is a first sized module lower left front opening


168


between the first sized module lower front medial side wall


166


and the first sized module lower left side wall


160


and a first sized module lower right front opening


169


between the first sized module lower medial front side wall


166


and the lower right side wall


164


. The first sized module lower side walls


160


,


162


,


164


,


166


define a first sized module lower bus raceway


170


.




Two bus assembly clips


171


, as detailed in

FIG. 10

, are located along the lower front side of the first sized module planar member


132


, one clip


171


in each opening


168


,


169


. Each clip


171


extends from the first sized module housing planar member lower surface


138


and include an elongated flexible stem


172


, a perpendicular latching surface


173


, and an angled lower surface


174


. The first size module lower back side wall


162


includes a bus assembly mounting boss


175


. The mounting boss


175


, as detailed in

FIG. 11

, is a protuberance extending from the front fact of the first sized module lower back side wall


162


and having a flat surface


176


parallel to the first sized module housing planar member


132


. The flat surface


176


is spaced, about the height of the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


(described below), apart from the first sized module housing planar member


132


. There may also be a bus assembly alignment guide


177


extending from the planar member lower side


138


. The bus assembly alignment guide


177


is a protuberance having a angled lower surface.




Additionally, there are two first sized module front spacers


178


,


179


. One spacer


178


extends toward the front from the first sized module upper front side wall


142


and the first sized module lower front medial side wall


166


. The other spacer


179


extends toward the front from the upper front side wall


142


at the front right corner and is an extension of the first sized module lower right side wall


164


. The spacers


178


,


179


run vertically and protrude from the first sized module front side walls


142


,


166


less distance than the first sized module bus assembly terminals


184


,


186


(described below).




As shown best in

FIG. 7G

, the first sized module bus assembly


180


includes a generally rectangular and planar member


182


, two terminals


184


,


186


, and a collar assembly


190


. The first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


includes a medial opening


183


. The two terminals


184


,


186


are joined at one end to the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


and each has a planar distal end


185


,


187


. The terminals


184


,


186


may have a bent portion


188


that shifts the planar distal ends


185


,


187


out of the plane of the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


. The collar assembly


190


includes a collar assembly body


192


, a mounting device


194


and a fastening device


196


. The collar assembly body


192


is generally cube shaped having a top surface


198


, a bottom surface


200


and four sides


202


. The collar assembly body


192


has a side opening


204


on at least one of the four sides


202


. The collar body top surface


198


includes a threaded opening


201


. The collar assembly fastening device


196


has threads corresponding to the top surface threaded opening and is disposed therein. The collar assembly fastening device


196


is structured to move into and out of the collar assembly body


192


so as to engage a power line


810


(described below). The collar assembly bottom surface


200


also includes a threaded opening (not shown). The collar assembly mounting device


194


is structured to engage the collar assembly bottom surface


200


threaded opening.




To assemble the first sized module


102


, the back side of the first sized module bus planar member


182


is inserted between the mounting boss


175


and the first sized module housing planar member


132


. Thus, the terminals


184


,


186


pass through the first sized module lower left front opening


168


and first sized module lower right front opening


169


. As the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


contacts the angled lower surface of the bus assembly alignment guide


177


, the bus assembly alignment guide


177


acts to centrally position the first sized module bus assembly


180


within the lower bus raceway


170


. The first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


is then brought into face-to-face contact with the first sized module housing planar member lower side


138


. As the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


is brought into contact with the first sized module housing planar member lower side


138


, each terminal


184


,


186


contacts a bus assembly clip angled lower surface


174


causing the clip stem


172


to flex and allow the terminal


184


,


186


to pass. Once the first sized module bus assembly planar member


182


in generally parallel to the first sized module housing planar member


132


, the clip stem


172


will return to its original position. At this point, a clip latching surface


173


is adjacent to each terminal


184


,


186


. The first sized module bus planar member


182


is secured to the first sized module housing assembly


130


by positioning the collar assembly


190


over the upper side of the first sized module housing medial opening


134


while passing the collar assembly mounting device


194


through the first sized module bus planar member medial opening


183


and the first sized module housing medial opening


134


to engage the collar assembly bottom surface


200


threaded opening. Thus, the first sized module bus assembly


180


is coupled to the first sized module housing assembly


130


with the terminal ends


110


,


112


extending beyond the first sized module housing assembly


130


front side.




As shown in

FIGS. 8A-8G

, the second size module


104


has a housing assembly


330


, and a bus assembly


440


. The second sized module housing assembly


330


is made from a non-conductive material and is generally symmetrical about a second sized module centerline


331


. The second sized module housing assembly


330


includes a horizontal, generally U-shaped planar member


332


having a base portion


334


, a left extension


336


and a right extension


338


. Both the second sized module housing planar member left extension


336


and the second sized module housing planar member right extension


338


extend from the front side of the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


. A first opening


340


and a second opening


342


extend through the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


. The second sized module housing planar member first opening


340


is disposed adjacent to the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


left side. The second sized module housing planar member second opening


342


is disposed adjacent to the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


right side. The second sized module housing planar member has an upper side


350


and a lower side


352


. A plurality of side walls


360


extend upwards from the perimeter of, and across, the second sized module housing planar member upper side


350


and downward from the second sized module housing planar member lower side


352


. The side walls


360


have, generally, either a uniform height or depth. The height of the second sized module housing upper side walls is between about ½ to 2.0 inches and preferably about 1.0 inch. The depth of the second sized module housing lower side walls is between about ⅛ to {fraction (15/8)} inches and preferably about ⅝ inches.




As shown best in

FIG. 8A

, the second sized module housing upper side walls include a left front side wall


362


extending left to right and disposed at the front side of the second sized module housing planar member left extension


336


, a right front side wall


364


extending left to right and disposed at the front side of the second sized module housing planar member right extension


338


, a left extension medial side wall


366


extending left to right and disposed between the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


and the second sized module housing planar member left extension


336


, a right extension medial side wall


368


extending left to right and disposed between the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


and the second sized module housing planar member right extension


338


, a left back side wall


370


extending left to right disposed at the left back side of the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


, and a right back side wall


372


extending right to left disposed at the right back side of the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


. A base portion upper left medial side wall


374


and a base portion upper right medial side wall


376


extend front to back between the front side and the back side of the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


. The second sized module housing base portion left medial wall


374


is disposed to the left side of the second sized module centerline


331


. The base second sized module housing base portion upper right medial wall


376


is disposed to the right side of the second sized module centerline


231


. As with the first sized module housing side walls


140


, the second sized module upper side walls include tabs


380


which extend generally perpendicularly to the second sized module upper side walls


362


,


364


,


366


,


368


,


370


,


372


,


374


,


376


. Thus, there are tabs


380


extending towards the back from the left and right ends of both the left front side wall


362


and the right front side wall


364


. Both the left and right second sized module housing base portion upper medial side walls


374


,


376


have tabs


380


extending left to right along the perimeter of the second sized module housing base portion


334


. The tabs


380


extend to both the left and the right of left second sized module housing base portion upper left medial side wall


374


as well as to both the left and the right of right second sized module housing base portion upper right medial side wall


376


. The tab


380


on the front side of left second sized module housing base portion upper left medial side wall


374


extends leftward to become contiguous with left extension medial side wall


366


. The tab


380


on the front side of right base portion upper left medial side wall


374


extends rightward to become contiguous with right extension medial side wall


368


.




Thus, upper side walls define a plurality of openings. On the second sized module housing left extension


336


there is a left side opening


390


and a right side opening


392


. On the second sized module housing planar member right extension


338


there is a left side opening


394


and a right side opening


396


. On the second sized module housing planar member base portion


334


there is a left side opening


398


, a right side opening


400


, a back side left opening


402


, a back side right opening


404


, a back side medial opening


406


, and a front side medial opening


408


.




As shown best in

FIG. 8B

, the second sized module housing lower side walls generally extend along the perimeter of the U-shaped planar member


332


, except for the front side of both the left and right extensions


336


,


338


. Thus, there is a second sized module housing base portion lower back side wall


410


, a second sized module housing base portion lower front side wall


411


, a second sized module housing base portion lower left side wall


412


, a second sized module housing base portion lower right side wall


414


, a second sized module housing left extension lower left side wall


416


, a second sized module housing left extension lower right side wall


418


, a second sized module housing right extension lower left side wall


420


, and a second sized module housing right extension lower right side wall


422


. The second sized module lower side wall therefore define a U-shaped second sized module lower raceway


424


. As with the first sized module


102


, the front side of both the left and right extensions


336


,


338


each include one or more bus assembly clips


171


used to secure the second sized module bus assembly


440


. Additionally, there are two bus assembly mounting bosses


426


,


428


located on the front face of the second sized module housing base portion lower back side wall


410


. The second sized module bus assembly mounting bosses


426


,


428


are substantially similar to the first sized module bus assembly mounting bus


175


.




There are two second sized module front spacers


430


,


432


. One spacer


430


extends from the second sized module housing right side of the left extension upper front side wall


362


and is an extension of the second sized module housing left extension lower right side wall


418


. The other spacer


432


extends from the right side of the second sized module housing right extension upper front side wall


364


and is an extension of the second sized module housing right extension lower right side wall


418


. The second sized module front spacers


430


,


432


run vertically and protrude from the second sized module housing front side walls


362


,


364


less distance than the second sized module bus terminals


448


,


450


(described below).




The second sized module bus assembly


440


includes a generally U-shaped planar member


441


having a base portion


442


, a left extension


444


, and a right extension


446


. The second sized module bus planar member left and right extensions


444


,


446


end in two terminals


448


, and


450


. The two terminals


448


,


450


each have a planar distal end


456


,


458


. The terminals


448


,


450


may have a bent portion


460


that shifts the planar distal ends


456


,


458


out of the plane of the second sized module bus planar member


441


. The second sized module bus assembly


440


further includes one or more collar assemblies


190


. The second sized module bus planar member base portion


442


includes two openings


452


,


454


, one each disposed adjacent to either the right or left sides.




To assemble the second sized module


104


, the back side of the second sized module bus planar member


441


is inserted between the mounting bosses


426


,


428


and the second sized module housing planar member lower side


352


. The second sized module bus planar member


441


is then brought into face-to-face contact with the second sized module housing planar member lower side


352


. As the bus planar member


441


is brought into contact with the second sized module housing planar member lower side


352


, each terminal


448


,


450


contacts a bus assembly clip angled lower surface


174


causing the clip stem


172


to flex and allow the terminals


448


,


450


to pass. Once the second sized module bus planar member


441


is generally parallel to the second sized module planar member lower side


352


, the clip stem


172


will return to its original position. At this point, the clip latching surface


173


is located below, and parallel to, the second sized module bus terminals


448


,


450


. The second sized module bus planar member


441


is secured to the second sized module housing assembly


330


by positioning a collar assembly


190


over the upper side of one of the second sized module housing planar member openings


340


,


342


and passing, from the lower side, the collar assembly mounting device


194


through a corresponding second sized module bus planar member opening


454


,


456


and the second sized module planar member openings


340


,


342


to engage the collar assembly bottom surface


200


threaded opening. Thus, the second sized module bus assembly


440


is coupled to the second sized module housing assembly


330


with the terminals


448


,


450


extending beyond the second sized module left and right extension front side walls


362


,


364






As shown in

FIGS. 9A-9G

, the third sized module


106


also includes a housing assembly


500


and a bus assembly


640


. The third sized module housing assembly


500


is made from a non-conductive material. The third sized module housing assembly


500


includes a U-shaped, generally planar member


502


having a base portion


504


, a left extension


506


and a right extension


508


. The third sized module housing planar member


502


has an upper side


510


and a lower side


512


. There are two opening


514


,


516


extending through the third sized module housing planar member


502


. The third sized module housing planar member first opening


514


is disposed adjacent to the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


left side. The third sized module housing planar member second opening


516


is disposed adjacent to the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


right side. A plurality of side walls


520


extend upwards from the perimeter of the third sized module housing planar member upper side


510


and downward from the third sized module housing planar member lower side


512


. The side walls


520


have, generally, either a uniform height or depth. The height of the third sized module housing upper side walls is between about ½ to 2.0 inches and preferably about 1.0 inch. The depth of the third sized module housing lower side walls is between about ⅛ to {fraction (15/8)} inches and preferably about ⅝ inches.




As shown best in

FIG. 9A

, the third sized module housing upper walls include a third sized module left side extension upper front side wall


522


, a third sized module right side extension upper front side wall


524


, a third sized module left side extension upper front medial side wall


526


, a third sized module right side extension upper front medial side wall


528


, a third sized module left side extension upper back medial side wall


530


, a third sized module right side extension upper back medial side wall


532


, a third sized module base portion upper back left side wall


534


, and a third sized module base portion upper back right side wall


536


. The third sized module upper walls further include four base portion upper side walls


538


,


540


,


542


,


544


which extend front to back. A third sized module base portion upper left outer side wall


538


is disposed adjacent to the right side of the third sized module left extension


506


. A third sized module base portion upper left inner side wall


540


is disposed on a generally medial line between the third sized module base portion upper left outer side wall


538


and the third sized module centerline


501


. A third sized module base portion upper right outer side wall


544


is disposed adjacent to the right side of the third sized module housing planar member right extension


508


. A third sized module base portion upper right inner side wall


542


is disposed on a generally medial line between the third sized module base portion upper right outer side wall


544


and the third sized module centerline


501


. As with the first sized module housing side walls


140


and the second sized module side walls


360


, the third sized module upper side walls may include tabs


550


which extend generally perpendicularly to selected third sized module upper side walls. The tabs


550


extend front to back at the left and right ends of the third sized module left side extension upper front medial side wall


526


, the third sized module right side extension upper front medial side wall


528


, the third sized module left side extension upper back medial side wall


530


, and the third sized module right side extension upper back medial side wall


532


. Additionally, tabs


550


also extend left-to-right at the front and back ends of the four base portion upper side walls


538


,


540


,


542


,


544


. The tab


550


on the front side of the third sized module base portion upper left outer side wall


538


extends leftward to become contiguous with third sized module left side extension upper back medial side wall


530


. The tab


550


on the front side of the third sized module base portion upper right outer side wall


544


extends rightward to become contiguous with third sized module right side extension upper back medial side wall


532


.




Thus, the third sized module upper side walls define a plurality of openings. On the third sized module housing planar member left extension


506


there is an upper front left side opening


560


, an upper front right side opening


562


, an upper back left side opening


564


, and an upper back right side opening


566


. On the third sized module housing planar member right extension


508


there is an upper front left side opening


570


, an upper front right side opening


572


, an upper back left side opening


574


, and an upper back right side opening


576


. On the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


there is an upper left side opening


580


, an upper right side opening


582


, an upper back left side opening


584


, and an upper back side right opening


586


. Adjacent to the upper back left side opening


584


is a back side left medial opening


587


. On the front side of the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


, opposite the third sized module base portion upper back side left medial opening


587


is a front side left medial opening


588


. Adjacent to the third sized module base portion upper back side right opening


586


is a back side medial right opening


590


. On the front side of the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


, opposite the back side medial right opening


590


is a front side right medial opening


592


. Also on the third sized module housing assembly base portion


504


, at or about the centerline


501


, are a back side medial opening


594


and a front side medial opening


596


.




As shown best in

FIG. 9G

, the third sized module housing lower side walls generally extend along the perimeter of the U-shaped planar member


502


, except for the front side of both the left and right extensions


506


,


508


. Thus, there is a third sized module housing base portion lower back side wall


600


, a third sized module housing base portion lower front side wall


601


, a third sized module base portion lower left side wall


602


, a third sized module base portion lower right side wall


604


, a third sized module left extension lower left side wall


606


, a third sized module left extension lower right side wall


608


, a third sized module right extension lower left side wall


610


, and a third sized module right extension lower right side wall


612


. The third sized module lower side walls, therefore, defined a third sized module lower raceway


614


. As with the second sized module


104


, the front side of both the left and right extensions


506


,


508


each include one or more bus assembly clips


171


used to secure the third sized module bus assembly


640


. Additionally, there are two bus assembly mounting bosses


616


,


618


located on the front face of the third sized module housing base portion lower back side wall


600


. The third sized module bus assembly mounting bosses


616


,


618


are substantially similar to the first sized module bus assembly mounting bus


175


.




There are two third sized module front spacers


620


,


622


. One spacer


620


extends forward from the right side of the third sized module left extension upper front side wall


522


and is an extension of the third sized module left extension lower right side wall


608


. The other spacer


622


extends from the right side of the right extension upper front side wall


524


and is an extension of the third sized module right extension lower right side wall


612


. The third sized module spacers


620


,


622


run vertically and protrude from the third sized module front side walls


522


,


524


less distance than the third sized module bus terminals


648


,


650


(described below).




The third sized module bus assembly


640


includes a generally U-shaped planar member


641


having a base portion


642


, a left extension


644


, and a right extension


646


. The third sized module bus planar member left and right extensions


644


,


646


end in two terminals


648


, and


650


. The two terminals


648


,


650


each have a planar distal end


656


,


658


. The terminals


648


,


650


may have a bent portion


660


that shifts the planar distal ends


656


,


658


out of the plane of the third sized module bus planar member


641


. The third sized module bus assembly


640


further includes one or more collar assemblies


190


. The third sized module bus planar member base portion


642


includes two openings


652


,


654


, one each disposed adjacent to either the right or left sides.




To assemble the third sized module


106


, the back side of the third sized module bus planar member


641


is inserted between the third sized module bus assembly mounting bosses


616


,


618


and the third sized module housing planar member lower side


512


. The third sized module bus planar member


641


is then brought into face-to-face contact with the third sized module housing planar member lower side


512


. As the third sized module bus planar member


641


is brought into contact with the third sized module planar member lower side


512


, each terminal


648


,


650


contacts a bus assembly clip angled lower surface


174


causing the clip stem


172


to flex and allow the terminals


648


,


650


to pass. Once the third sized module bus planar member


641


is generally parallel to the third sized module housing planar member


502


, the clip stem


172


will return to its original position. At this point, the clip latching surface


173


is located below, and parallel to, each third sized module housing bus terminal


648


,


650


. The third sized module bus planar member


541


is secured to the third sized module housing assembly


500


by positioning a collar assembly


190


over one of the third sized module housing planar member openings


514


,


516


while passing, from the lower side, the collar assembly mounting device


194


through a corresponding third sized module bus planar member opening


652


,


654


and the third sized module planar member openings


516


,


518


to engage the collar assembly bottom surface


200


threaded opening. Thus, the third sized module bus assembly


640


is coupled to the third sized module housing assembly


500


with the terminals


648


,


650


extending beyond the third sized module left and right extension front side walls


522


,


524


.




The first sized module


102


, the second sized module


104


and the third sized module


106


are coupled together by a plurality of bisected tongue-and-groove connectors


700


. As shown on

FIG. 12

, the bisected tongue-and-groove connectors


700


include an upper tongue portion


702


, a lower tongue portion


704


, an upper groove portion


706


and a lower groove portion


708


. Each of the upper tongue portion


702


, lower tongue portion


704


, upper groove portion


706


and lower groove portion


708


extend in a horizontal direction beyond the side walls


140


,


360


,


520


of the first sized module


102


, second sized module


104


, and third sized module


106


. As shown in

FIGS. 7A

,


7


G,


8


A,


8


G,


9


A and


9


G, generally, the tongue-and-groove connectors


700


are disposed adjacent to the left and right openings


152


,


154


,


390


,


392


,


394


,


396


,


398


,


400


,


560


,


562


,


564


,


566


,


570


,


572


,


574


,


576


,


580


,


582


. More specifically, each upper tongue portion


702


and lower tongue portion


704


is disposed to the left side of one of the left openings


152


,


390


,


394


,


398


,


560


,


564


,


570


,


574


,


580


. Each upper tongue portion


702


is disposed on an upper left side wall. Each lower tongue portion


704


is disposed on a lower side wall below a left opening


152


,


390


,


394


,


398


,


560


,


564


,


570


,


574


,


580


. Additionally, each lower tongue portion


704


has an upper surface


705


. The lower tongue upper surface


705


is contiguous with, and in the same plane as, either the first sized module housing planar member upper side


136


, the second sized module housing planar member upper side


350


, or the third sized module housing planar member upper side


510


. Each upper groove portion


706


and lower groove portion


708


is disposed to the right of one of the right openings


154


,


392


,


396


,


400


,


562


,


566


,


572


,


576


,


582


. Each upper groove portion


706


is disposed on a right upper side wall. Each lower groove portion


708


is disposed on a right lower side wall below a right side opening


154


,


392


,


396


,


400


,


562


,


566


,


572


,


576


,


582


.




When the first sized module


102


, second sized module


104


, and third sized module


106


are assembled into the modular jumper assembly


100


, each upper tongue portion


702


, except those tongue portions on the left side and the groove portions on the right side of the third sized module


106


, will engage a corresponding upper groove portion


706


on an adjacent module


102


,


104


,


106


. Additionally, because the third sized module


106


includes tongue-and-groove connectors


700


on the outer left and right sides, two or more modular jumper assemblies


100


may be joined together as shown in

FIG. 19

, this multi-jumper assembly configuration


1248


is discussed further below. Additionally, when the modular jumper assembly


100


is assembled, each bus assembly


180


,


440


,


640


are generally co-planar, and the housing planar members


132


,


332


,


502


are generally co-planar.




The lower side raceways


170


,


424


,


614


are shown clearly on FIG.


4


. As discussed above, the lower side raceways


170


,


424


,


614


have the same general shape as the first, second, and third sized module housing planar members


132


,


332


,


502


. In addition to the lower raceways


170


,


424


,


614


, the modular jumper assembly


100


includes a plurality of upper raceways


800


, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. The plurality of upper raceways


800


are only formed when two or more modules


102


,


104


,


106


are joined together to form the modular jumper assembly


100


. The plurality of upper raceways


800


provide a path for one or more power lines


810


,


812


,


814


,


816


,


818


,


820


,


822


,


824


,


826


,


828


,


829


to access and be coupled to the collar assemblies


190


attached to the first sized module bus assembly


180


, the second sized module bus assembly


440


, and the third sized module bus assembly


640


. Each upper race way


800


is separated from an adjacent upper raceway


800


by one or more upper side walls.




For example, there are three upper first sized module upper raceways


830


,


832


,


834


to access the first sized module collar assembly


190


coupled to the first sized module bus assembly. Each first sized module upper raceway


830


,


832


,


834


extends across all three modules


102


,


104


,


106


. That is, there is a first sized module upper left raceway


830


, a first sized module upper right raceway


832


, and a first sized module upper medial raceway


834


. The first sized module upper left raceway


830


provides a path extending left to right, from the left side of the modular jumper assembly


100


to the center of the first sized module


102


. The first sized module upper left raceway


830


is formed by the third sized module left extension upper front left side opening


560


, the third sized module left extension upper front right side opening


562


, the second sized module left extension upper left side opening


390


, the second sized module left extension upper right side opening


392


, and the first sized module upper left side opening


152


. The first sized module upper right raceway


832


is formed by the third sized module right extension upper front right side opening


572


, the third sized module right extension upper front left side opening


570


, the second sized module right extension upper right side opening


396


, the second sized module right extension upper left side opening


394


, and the first sized module upper right side opening


154


. The first sized module upper medial raceway


834


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper back side medial opening


594


, the third sized module base portion upper front side medial opening


596


, the second sized module base portion upper back side medial opening


406


, the second sized module base portion upper front side medial opening


408


, and the first sized module upper back side medial opening


148


. Accordingly, there may be a first sized module left side power line


810


, shown in ghost, extending through the first sized module upper left raceway


830


and coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the first sized module bus planar member medial opening


183


, a first sized module right side power line


812


extending through the first sized module upper right raceway


832


and coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the first sized module bus planar member medial opening


183


, and/or a first sized module medial power line


814


extending through the first sized module upper medial raceway


834


and coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the first sized module bus planar member medial opening


183


.




When single power line, for example the left side power line


810


, is used, the power line


810


is passed through a collar assembly side opening


204


and secured with the collar fastening device


196


. If two or more power lines


810


,


812


,


814


coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the first sized module bus planar member medial opening


183


, a flat power line terminal end


809


may be used so as to provide sufficient space within the collar assembly


190


.




There are four second sized module upper raceways


840


,


842


,


844


,


846


. More specifically, there is a second sized module upper left raceway


840


, a second sized module upper back side left raceway


842


, a second sized module upper back side right raceway


844


, and a second sized module upper right raceway


846


. The second sized module left raceway


840


is formed by the third sized module left extension upper back left side opening


564


, third sized module left extension upper back right side opening


566


, and the second sized module base portion upper left side opening


398


. The second sized module upper back side left raceway


842


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper back side left medial opening


587


, the third sized module base portion upper front side left medial opening


588


and the second sized module base portion upper back side left opening


402


. The second sized module upper back side right raceway


844


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper back side right medial opening


590


, the third sized module base portion upper front side right medial opening


592


and the second sized module base upper portion back side right opening


404


. The second sized module right raceway


846


is formed by the third sized module right extension upper back right side opening


576


, third sized module right extension upper back left side opening


574


, and the second sized module base portion upper right side opening


400


. Accordingly, there may be a second sized module left power line


816


extending through the second sized module left raceway


840


, and/or a second sized module left back power line


818


extending through the second sized module left back raceway


842


, coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the second sized module planar member first opening


340


. Additionally, there may be a second sized module right power line


822


extending through the second sized module right raceway


846


, and/or a second sized module right back power line


820


extending through the second sized module upper back side right raceway


844


, coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the second sized module planar member second opening


342


.




There are four third sized module upper raceways


850


,


852


,


854


,


856


. More specifically, there is a third sized module upper left raceway


850


, a third sized module upper back left raceway


852


, a third sized module upper back right raceway


854


, and a third sized module upper right raceway


856


. The third sized module upper left raceway


850


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper left side opening


580


. The third sized module back left raceway


852


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper back left side opening


584


. The third sized module upper back right raceway


854


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper back right side opening


586


. The third sized module upper right raceway


856


is formed by the third sized module base portion upper right side opening


582


. Accordingly, there may be a third sized module left power line


824


extending through the third sized module left raceway


850


, and/or a third sized module left back power line


826


extending through the third sized module left back raceway


852


, coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the third sized module planar member first opening


514


. Additionally, there may be a third sized module right power line


829


extending through the third sized module right raceway


856


, and/or a third sized module right back power line


828


extending through the third sized module right back raceway


854


, coupled to the collar assembly


190


disposed above the third sized module planar member second opening


516


.




As shown in

FIGS. 13-15

, the modular jumper assembly


100


also includes a snap-fit cover assembly


230


,


280


,


290


. The cover assembly


230


,


280


,


290


is sized to fit the largest module


102


,


104


,


106


used to create the modular jumper assembly


100


. For example, the first sized module cover assembly


230


, shown in

FIG. 13

, is structured to fit a modular jumper assembly


100


formed from a single first sized module


102


. The first sized module cover assembly


230


includes a planar member


232


having an upper side


234


and a lower side


236


. One or more latching members


238


,


240


extend downwardly from the first sized module cover planar member


232


back side. Each latching members


238


,


240


include an elongated flexible stem


244


, a perpendicular latching surface


246


, and an angled lower surface


248


. The first sized module cover assembly


230


also includes a plurality of raceway covers


250


. Each raceway cover


250


includes a base portion


252


, which extends downwardly from the first sized module cover planar member


232


, and a break-away portion


254


coupled to the base portion


252


by a frangible seam


253


. The raceway covers


250


are positioned to be disposed in the upper, outer openings on a housing assembly. Thus, the first sized module cover assembly


230


includes three raceway covers


250


that are structured to fit with the first sized module left opening


152


, the first sized module back medial opening


148


and the first sized module right opening


154


. The break-away portion


254


of the raceway cover


250


may be removed by fracturing the coupling between the raceway cover base portion


252


and the break-away portion


254


. The break-away portion


254


is removed at the raceway where the power line(s), e.g. first sized module power line


810


, will be disposed. away portion


254


coupled to the base portion


252


by a frangible seam


253


. The raceway covers


250


are positioned to be disposed in the upper, outer openings on a housing assembly. Thus, the first sized module cover assembly


230


includes three raceway covers


250


that are structured to fit with the first sized module left opening


152


, the first sized module back medial opening


148


and the first sized module right opening


154


. The break-away portion


254


of the raceway cover


250


may be removed by fracturing the coupling between the raceway cover base portion


252


and the break-away portion


254


. The break-away portion


254


is removed at the raceway where the power line(s), e.g. first sized module power line


810


, will be disposed.




The first sized module cover assembly planar member


232


also includes a knockout access assembly


258


. The knockout access assembly


258


is a removable portion of the first sized module cover assembly planar member


232


. The knockout access assembly


258


includes a generally circular opening


260


in the first sized module cover assembly planar member


232


and a removable member


262


sized to fit within the opening


260


and attached to the first sized module cover assembly planar member


232


by frangible tabs


263


. The opening


260


in the cover assembly planar member is positioned so as to be located over the collar assembly fastening device


196


when the cover assembly


230


is coupled to the first sized module housing assembly.




The cover assembly latching members


238


,


240


are structured to cooperate with latch channels


264


,


266


disposed on back side of each module


102


, (

FIG. 7E

)


104


(FIG.


8


E),


106


(FIG.


9


E). Again with reference to the first sized module


102


, the latch channels


264


,


266


are disposed on the back side of the first sized module upper left back side wall


144


and the first sized module upper right back side wall


146


. The latch channels


264


,


266


include a latch protuberance


268


extending into the channel


264


,


266


. The latch protuberance


268


includes an angled upper surface


270


and a latch surface


271


. The protuberance latch surface


271


extends generally perpendicular to the latch channel


264


,


266


side wall, that is, in a generally horizontal direction.




To install the first sized module cover assembly


230


, an operator initially removes the raceway break-away portion


254


that would be disposed in the first sized module upper opening where the power line,


810


e.g. is disposed. The first sized module cover assembly


230


is then placed over the top of the first sized module


102


with the latching members


238


,


240


disposed in the top portion of the latch channels


264


,


266


. The operator then pushes the first sized module cover assembly


230


towards the first sized module housing planar member


132


. As the latching member angled lower surface


248


contacts the latch protuberance angled upper surface


270


, the latching member flexible stem


244


flexes to allow the latching member perpendicular latching surface


246


to pass the latch protuberance


268


. Once the latching member perpendicular latching surface


246


passes the protuberance latch surface


271


, the latching member flexible stem


244


snaps back to its original position. At this point, the latching member perpendicular latching surface


246


is adjacent to the protuberance latch surface


271


, thereby latching the first sized module cover assembly


230


to the first sized module housing assembly


130


. Should the operator need to access the first sized module collar assembly fastening device


196


, for example, to remove the power line


810


, the operator needs only to remove the first sized module cover assembly knockout access assembly


258


.




A second sized module cover assembly


280


is shown in

FIGS. 14A and 14B

. The second sized module cover assembly


280


includes a planar member


282


sized to fit over top of a combination of the first sized module


102


and the second sized module


104


. The second sized module cover assembly


280


also includes one or more latching members


238


,


240


extending downwards from the back side of the second sized module cover assembly planar member


282


. The second sized module cover assembly


280


also includes a plurality of raceway covers


250


. The raceway covers


250


on the second sized module cover assembly


280


are positioned to be disposed within the second sized module left extension upper left side opening


390


, the second sized module right extension upper right side opening


396


, the second sized module base portion upper left side opening


398


, second sized module upper right side opening


400


, second sized module upper back side left opening


402


, second sized module upper back side right opening


404


, and the second sized module upper back side medial opening


406


. As shown in

FIG. 8E

, the latch channels


264


,


266


on the second sized module housing assembly


330


are disposed on the back face of the tabs


380


on the back side of the second sized module housing base portion upper left medial side wall


374


and the second sized module housing base portion upper right medial side wall


376


. The second sized module cover assembly


280


also may have one or more front side clips


284


each having an elongated flexible stem


285


, a perpendicular latching surface


286


, and an angled lower surface


287


. The second sized module cover assembly front side clips


284


are structured to engage a block shaped front side latch protuberance


287


(

FIG. 8G

) disposed on the front side of the second sized module housing assembly


330


. The second sized module front side latch protuberance


287


may have an angled upper surface


288


. Additionally, as with the first sized module cover assembly


230


, the second sized module cover assembly


280


includes a knockout access assembly


258


disposed at a location corresponding to each location of a collar assembly


190


that is attached to either the first sized module bus assembly


180


or the second sized module bus assembly


440


.




The cover assembly


290


for the third sized module


106


may be a larger version of the second sized module cover assembly


280


having additional knockout access assemblies


258


and raceway covers


250


. That is, the third sized module cover assembly may have a rectangular planar member (not shown) having, in addition to the knockout access assemblies


258


at the locations on the second sized module cover assembly


280


, knockout access assemblies


258


disposed at a location corresponding to each location of a collar assembly


190


that is attached to the third sized module bus assembly


640


. Additionally, the third sized module cover assembly


290


would have raceway covers


250


located at locations corresponding to the third sized module housing assembly left extension upper front left side opening


560


and upper back left side opening


564


, the third sized module right extension upper front right side opening


572


and an upper back right side opening


576


, the third sized module housing planar member base portion


334


upper left side opening


580


, an upper right side opening


582


, an upper back left side opening


584


, and an upper back side right opening


586


, upper back side left medial opening


587


, upper back side medial right opening


590


, and upper back side medial opening


594


.




Alternatively, as shown in

FIG. 15

, the third sized module cover assembly


290


may be structured to cooperate with the second sized module cover assembly


280


. That is, the third sized module cover assembly


290


may have a U-shaped planar member


291


sized to correspond to the third sized module housing assembly


500


. The third sized module cover assembly planar member


291


includes knockout access assemblies


258


disposed at a location corresponding to each location of a collar assembly


190


that is attached to the third sized module bus assembly


640


. Additionally, the third sized module cover assembly


290


includes a plurality of raceway covers


250


extending downwards from the third sized module cover assembly planar member


291


. The third sized module cover assembly raceway covers


250


are located at locations corresponding to the third sized module left extension upper front left side opening


560


and upper back left side opening


564


, the third sized module right extension upper front right side opening


572


and an upper back right side opening


576


, the third sized module housing planar member base portion


334


, upper left side opening


580


, an upper right side opening


582


, an upper back left side opening


584


, and an upper back side right opening


586


, upper back side left medial opening


587


, upper back side medial right opening


590


, and upper back side medial opening


594


. The third sized module cover assembly


290


may have one or more front side clips


294


each having an elongated flexible stem


295


, a perpendicular latching surface


296


, and an angled lower surface


297


. The third sized module cover assembly front side clips


294


are structured to engage a block shaped front side latch protuberance


298


(

FIG. 9G

) disposed on the front side of the third sized module housing assembly


500


. The third sized module front side latch protuberance


298


may have an angled upper surface


299


.




The third sized module cover assembly


290


also includes one or more latching members


238


,


240


extending downwards from the back side of the third sized module cover assembly planar member


291


. Like the latching members


238


,


240


on the second sized module cover assembly


280


, the latching members


238


,


240


on the third sized module cover assembly


290


cooperate with latch channels


264


,


266


located on the third sized module housing assembly


500


. As shown in

FIG. 9E

, the latch channels


264


,


266


on the third sized module housing assembly


500


are disposed on the back face of the tabs


550


on the back side of the third sized module base portion upper left inner side wall


540


and the third sized module base portion upper right inner side wall


542


.




In the embodiment described above, the jumper assembly


100


is formed from three modules


102


,


104


,


106


. A first alternate modular jumper assembly


900


is shown in

FIGS. 14A-14C

. The first alternate jumper assembly


900


, hereinafter the fourth sized module, is, essentially, a single module that combines the features of the first sized module


102


and second sized module


104


. The fourth sized module includes a housing assembly


902


, a first sized module bus assembly


180


, and a second sized module bus assembly


440


. The fourth sized module is generally symmetric about a centerline


901


. The fourth sized module housing assembly


902


includes a planar member


904


having an upper side


906


and a lower side


908


. There are three openings


910


,


912


,


914


extending through the fourth sized module housing planar member


904


. The fourth sized module housing planar member first opening


910


is disposed along front side at about the centerline


901


. The fourth sized module housing planar member second opening


912


is disposed adjacent to the left side and the backside. The fourth sized module housing planar member third opening


914


is disposed adjacent to the right side and the back side. A plurality of side walls


916


extend upwards from the fourth sized module housing planar member upper side


906


and downward from the fourth sized module housing planar member lower side


908


. The side walls


916


have, generally, either a uniform height or depth. The height of the fourth sized module upper side walls is between about ½ to 2.0 inches and preferably about 1.0 inch. The depth of the fourth sized module lower side walls is between about ⅛ to {fraction (15/8)} inches and preferably about ⅝ inches.




As shown in

FIGS. 16A

,


16


C, the fourth sized module upper walls include a front side wall


920


, a left L-shaped side wall


922


, a right L-shaped side wall


924


. a left back side wall


926


and a right back side wall


928


. The fourth sized module upper front side wall


920


extends left to right along the front side of the fourth sized module housing planar member


904


. The fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall


922


includes a first portion


922


A, which extends left to right, and a second portion


922


B which extends front to back. The fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall first portion


922


A extends from a medial point on, and perpendicular to, the left side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


to a point generally between the fourth sized module housing planar member first opening


910


and the fourth sized module housing planar member second opening


912


. The fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall second portion


922


B extends from the point generally between the fourth sized module housing planar member first opening


910


and the fourth sized module housing planar member second opening


912


to the back side of the fourth sized module housing planar member


904


. The fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall


924


includes a first portion


924


A, which extends left to right, and a second portion


924


B which extends front to back. The fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall first portion


924


A extends from a medial point on, and perpendicular to, the right side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


to a point generally between the fourth sized module planar member first opening


910


and the fourth sized module planar member third opening


914


. The right L-shaped side wall second portion


924


B extends from the point generally between the fourth sized module planar member first opening


910


and the fourth sized module planar member third opening


914


to the back side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


. The left back side wall


926


is disposed along the back side of fourth sized module planar member


904


and extends from the left side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


. The fourth sized module right back side wall


928


is disposed along the back side of fourth sized module planar member


904


and extends from the right side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


. Perpendicular tabs


929


may be disposed at the ends of the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall


922


and fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall


924


.




Thus, the fourth sized module upper side walls define a plurality of openings and raceways. There is a left side front opening


930


between the front side wall


920


and the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall first portion


922


A, a left side back opening


932


between the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall first portion


922


A and the left back side wall


926


, a back side left opening


934


between the left back side wall


926


and the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall second portion


922


B, a medial back side opening


936


between the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall second portion


922


B and the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall second portion


924


B, a back side right opening


938


between the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall second portion


924


B and the right back side wall


928


, a right side back opening


940


between the right back side wall


928


and the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall first portion


924


A, and a right side front opening


942


between the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall first portion


924


A and the front side wall


920


. Additionally, the front side wall


920


and the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall first portion


922


A define a fourth sized module first raceway


944


, the fourth sized module left L-shaped side wall second portion


922


B and the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall second portion


924


B define a fourth sized module second raceway


946


, the fourth sized module right L-shaped side wall first portion


924


A and the front side wall


920


define a fourth sized module third raceway


948


. Each of the fourth sized module raceways


944


,


946


,


948


provide an access path to the fourth sized module planar member first opening


910


.




As shown in

FIG. 16B

, the fourth sized module lower side walls include lower left side wall


950


, a lower back side wall


952


, a lower right side wall


954


, a lower front medial side wall


956


, and a lower medial U-shaped side wall


958


. The lower left side wall


950


, lower back side wall


952


, and lower right side wall


954


are disposed along, and extend the length of, the fourth sized module planar member


904


left side, back side, and right side, respectively. The lower front medial side wall


956


is disposed at about the centerline


901


and extends a short distance to the left and right of the centerline


901


. The fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped side wall


958


includes a left extension


958


A, a base portion


958


B and a right extension


958


C. The fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped wall left extension


958


A begins at a point between the lower left side wall


950


and the lower front medial side wall


956


and extends perpendicular to the front side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


to a medial point on the fourth sized module planar member


904


. The fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped wall right extension


958


C begins at a point between the lower right side wall


954


and the lower front medial side wall


956


and extends perpendicular to the front side of the fourth sized module planar member


904


to a medial point on the fourth sized module planar member


904


. The fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped wall base portion


958


B extends left to right between the ends of the fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped side wall left extension


958


A and fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped side wall right extension


958


C. Thus, lower front medial side wall


956


and the fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped side wall


958


defines a first lower raceway


960


, and the fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped wall


958


with the fourth sized module lower left side wall


950


, fourth sized module lower back side wall


952


, and fourth sized module lower right side wall


954


define a second lower raceway


962


.




Bus assembly mounting bosses


964


,


966


, similar to those described above, are disposed on the front side of the fourth sized module lower back side wall


952


. Another bus assembly mounting boss


970


is disposed on the front side of the fourth sized module lower medial U-shaped side wall base portion


958


B. Additionally, bus assembly bus clips


171


are disposed at the front side of the fourth sized module first and second lower raceways


960


,


962


and bus assembly alignment guides


963


are disposed within the fourth sized module first and second lower raceways


960


,


962


. A first sized module bus assembly is disposed in the fourth sized module first lower raceway


960


and is coupled to a collar assembly


190


being disposed through the fourth sized module planar member first opening


910


. A second sized module bus assembly is disposed in the fourth sized module second lower raceway


962


and is coupled to a collar assembly


190


being disposed through the fourth sized module planar member second and/or third opening


912


,


914


.




A plurality of spacers


980


extend from the front side of the fourth sized module upper front side wall


920


and the lower front medial side wall


956


or as extensions of the lower side walls. The left and right sides of the fourth sized module housing assembly


902


have a tongue and groove connector


700


as described above. As such, the fourth sized module may be coupled to a third sized module


106


. When coupled to a third sized module


106


, the upper raceways are formed as described above.




A second alternate jumper assembly is shown in

FIGS. 17A-17C

. The second alternate jumper assembly, hereinafter the full sized module


1000


, is essentially, a single module that combines the features of the first sized module


102


, the second sized module


104


, and the third sized module


106


. The full sized module


1000


includes a housing assembly


1002


, a first sized module bus assembly


180


, a second sized module bus assembly


440


, and a third sized module bus assembly


640


. The full sized module


1000


is generally symmetric about a centerline


1001


. The full sized module housing assembly


1002


includes a planar member


1004


having an upper side


1006


and a lower side


1008


. There are five openings


1010


,


1012


,


1014


,


1016


,


1018


extending through the full sized module housing planar member


1004


. The full sized module planar member first opening


1010


is disposed along front side at about the centerline


1001


. The full sized module planar member fourth opening


1016


is disposed adjacent to the left side and the backside. The full sized module planar member fifth opening


1018


is disposed adjacent to the right side and the backside. The full sized module planar member second opening


1012


is disposed at about the medial point between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member fourth opening


1016


. The full sized module planar member third


1014


is disposed at about the medial point between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member fifth opening


1018


. A plurality of side walls


1020


extend upwards from the full sized module planar member upper side


1006


and downward from the full sized module planar member lower side


1008


. The side walls


1020


have, generally, either a uniform height or depth. The height of the full sized module upper side walls is between about ½ to 2.0 inches and preferably about 1.0 inch. The depth of the full sized module lower side walls is between about ⅛ to {fraction (15/8)} inches and preferably about ⅝ inches.




As shown in

FIGS. 17A and 15C

, the full sized module upper walls include a front side wall


1022


, a front left L-shaped side wall


1024


, a back left L-shaped side wall


1026


, a front right L-shaped side wall


1028


, a back right L-shaped side wall


1030


, a left back side wall


1032


and a right back side wall


1034


. The full sized module upper front side wall


1022


extends left to right along the front side of the full sized module planar member


1004


. The full sized module front left L-shaped side wall


1024


includes a first portion


1024


A, which extends left to right, and a second portion


1024


B which extends front to back. The full sized module front left L-shaped side wall first portion


1024


A extends from a point about one third of the distance between the front side and the back side of the full sized module housing planar member


1004


along, and perpendicular to, the left side of the full sized module planar member


1004


to a point generally between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member second opening


1012


. The full sized module front left L-shaped side wall second portion


1024


B extends from the point generally between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member second opening


1012


to the back side of the full sized module planar member


1004


. The full sized module back left L-shaped side wall


1026


includes a first portion


1026


A, which extends left to right, and a second portion


1026


B which extends front to back. The full sized module back left L-shaped side wall first portion


1026


A extends from a point about two-thirds of the distance between the front side and the back side of the full sized module housing planar member


1004


along, and perpendicular to, the left side of the full sized module planar member


1004


to a point generally between the full sized module planar member second opening


1012


and the full sized module planar member fourth opening


1016


. The full sized module back left L-shaped side wall second portion


1026


B extends from the point generally between the full sized module planar member second opening


1012


and the full sized module planar member fourth opening


1016


to the back side of the full sized module planar member


1004


.




The full sized module front right L-shaped side wall


1028


includes a first portion


1028


A, which extends left to right, and a second portion


1028


B which extends front to back. The full sized module front right L-shaped side wall first portion


1028


A extends from a point about one third of the distance between the front side and the back side of the full sized module housing planar member


1004


along, and perpendicular to, the right side of the full sized module planar member


1004


to a point generally between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member third opening


1014


. The front right L-shaped side wall second portion


1028


B extends from the point generally between the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


and the full sized module planar member third opening


1014


to the back side of the full sized module planar member


1004


. The full sized module back right L-shaped side wall


1030


includes a first portion


1030


A, which extends right to right, and a second portion


1030


B which extends front to back. The full sized module back right L-shaped side wall first portion


1030


A extends from a point about two-thirds of the distance between the front side and the back side of the full sized module housing planar member


1004


along, and perpendicular to, the right side of the full sized module planar member


1004


to a point generally between the full sized module planar member third opening


1014


and the full sized module planar member fifth opening


1018


. The back right L-shaped side wall second portion


1030


B extends from the point generally between the full sized module planar member third opening


1014


and the full sized module planar member fifth opening


1018


to the back side of the full sized module planar member


1004


.




The left back side wall


1032


is disposed along the back side of full sized module planar member


1004


and extends from the left side of the full sized module planar member


1004


. The right back side wall


1034


is disposed along the back side of full sized module planar member


1004


and extends from the right side of the full sized module planar member


1004


. Perpendicular tabs


1033


may be disposed at the ends of the full sized module front left L-shaped side wall


1024


, the full sized module back left L-shaped side wall


1026


, the full sized module front right L-shaped side wall


1028


, and the full sized module back right L-shaped side wall


1030


.




Thus, the full sized module upper side walls define a plurality of openings and raceways. There is a front left side opening


1040


between the full sized module front side wall


1022


and the full sized module front left L-shaped side wall first portion


1024


A, a left side medial opening


1042


between the full sized module front left L-shaped side wall first portion


1024


A and the back left L-shaped side wall first portion


1026


A, a back left side opening


1044


between the back left L-shaped side wall first portion


1026


A and the left back side wall


1032


, a back side left opening


1045


between the left back side wall


1032


and the back left L-shaped side wall second portion


1026


B, a back side left medial opening


1046


between the back left L-shaped side wall second portion


1026


B and the front left L-shaped side wall second portion


1024


B, a back side medial opening


1048


between the front left L-shaped side wall second portion


1024


B and the front right L-shaped side wall second portion


1028


B, a back side right medial opening


1050


between the front right L-shaped side wall second portion


1028


B and the back right L-shaped side wall second portion


1030


B, a back side right opening


1052


between the back right L-shaped side wall second portion


1030


B and the right back side wall


1034


, a right side back opening


1054


between the right back side wall


1034


and the back right L-shaped side wall first portion


1030


A, a right side medial opening


1056


between the back right L-shaped side wall first portion


1030


A and the front right L-shaped side wall first portion


1028


A, and a right side front opening


1058


between the front right L-shaped side wall first portion


1028


A and the full sized module front side wall


1022


.




Additionally, the full sized module front side wall


1022


and the full sized module front left L-shaped side wall first portion


1024


A define a full sized module first upper raceway


1060


. The front left L-shaped side wall second portion


1024


B and the front right L-shaped side wall second portion


1028


B define a full sized module second upper raceway


1062


. The full sized module front side wall


1022


and the front right L-shaped side wall first portion


1028


A define a full sized module third upper raceway


1064


. The full sized module front left L-shaped side wall first portion


1024


A and the full sized module back left L-shaped side wall first portion


1026


A define a full sized module fourth upper raceway


1066


. The full sized module front left L-shaped side wall second portion


1024


B and the full sized module back left L-shaped side wall second portion


1026


B define a full sized module fifth upper raceway


1068


. The full sized module front right L-shaped side wall first portion


1028


A and the full sized module back right L-shaped side wall first portion


1030


A define a full sized module sixth upper raceway


1070


. The full sized module front right L-shaped side wall second portion


1028


B and the full sized module back right L-shaped side wall second portion


1030


B define a full sized module seventh upper raceway


1072


. The full sized module first, second and third upper raceways


1060


,


1062


,


1064


provide an access path to the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


. The full sized module fourth and fifth upper raceways


1066


,


1068


provide an access path to the full sized module planar member second opening


1012


. The full sized module sixth and seventh upper raceways


1070


,


1072


provide an access path to the full sized module planar member third opening


1014


.




As shown in

FIG. 17B

, the full sized module lower side walls include lower left side wall


1100


, a lower back side wall


1102


, a lower right side wall


1104


, a lower front medial side wall


1106


, lower outer medial U-shaped side wall


1108


, and a lower inner medial U-shaped side wall


1110


. The lower left side wall


1100


, lower back side wall


1102


, and lower right side wall


1104


are disposed along, and extend the length of, the full sized module planar member


1004


left side, back side, and right side, respectively. The lower front medial side wall


1106


is disposed at about the centerline


1001


and extends a short distance to the left and right of the centerline


1001


. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped side wall


1108


includes a left extension


1108


A, a base portion


1108


B and a right extension


1108


C. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped side wall left extension


1108


A is spaced from the full sized module lower left side wall


1100


by about twice the width of the third sized module bus planar member left extension


644


. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall left extension


1108


A begins at the front side and extends toward the back to a point spaced about the width of the third sized module bus planar member base portion


642


from the full sized module lower back side wall


1102


. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall right extension


1108


C is spaced from the lower right side wall


1104


by about twice the width of the third sized module bus planar member right extension


646


. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall right extension


1108


C begins at the front side and extends toward the back to a point spaced about the width of the third sized module bus planar member base portion


642


from the full sized module lower back side wall


1102


. The full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall base portion


1108


B extends left to right between the back side ends of the full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall left extension


1108


A and full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall right extension


1108


C.




The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped side wall


1110


includes a left extension


1110


A, a base portion


1110


B and a right extension


1110


C. The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall left extension


1110


A is spaced from the lower outer medial left extension side wall


1108


A by about twice the width of the second sized module bus planar member left extension


444


. The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall left extension


1110


A begins at the front side and extends toward the back to a point spaced about the width of the second sized module bus planar member base portion


442


from full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped side wall base portion


1108


B. The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped side wall right extension


1110


C is spaced from the lower outer medial U-shaped side wall right extension


1108


C by about twice the width of the second sized module bus planar member left extension


446


. The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall right extension


1110


C begins at the front side and extends toward the back to a point spaced about the width of the second sized module bus planar member base portion


442


from full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped wall base portion


1108


B. The full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall base portion


1110


B extends left to right between the back side ends of the full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall left extension


1110


A and full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall right extension


1110


C.




Thus, lower front medial side wall


1106


and the full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped side wall


1110


define a first lower raceway


1180


, the full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped side wall


1110


with the full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped side wall


1108


define a second lower raceway


1182


, and the full sized module lower outer medial U-shaped side wall


1108


along with the full sized module lower left side wall


1100


, full sized module lower back side wall


1102


, and full sized module lower right side wall


1104


define a third lower raceway


1184


.




Bus assembly mounting bosses


1090


,


1092


, similar to those described above, are disposed on the front side of the full sized module lower back side wall


1102


. Two more bus assembly mounting bosses


1094


,


1096


are disposed on the front side of the lower outer medial U-shaped side wall base portion


1108


B, and one bus assembly mounting boss


1098


is disposed on the front side of the full sized module lower inner medial U-shaped wall base portion


1110


B. Additionally, bus assembly bus clips


171


are disposed at the front side of the full sized module first, second, and third lower raceways


1180


,


1182


,


1184


and bus assembly alignment guides


1200


are disposed within the full sized module first, second, and third lower raceways


1180


,


1182


,


1184


.




A first sized module bus assembly


180


is disposed in the full sized module first lower raceway


1180


and is coupled to a collar assembly


190


being disposed through the full sized module planar member first opening


1010


. A second sized module bus assembly


440


is disposed in the full sized module second lower raceway


1182


and is coupled to a collar assembly


190


being disposed through the full sized module planar member second and/or third opening


1012


,


1014


. A third sized module bus assembly


640


is disposed in the full sized module third lower raceway


1184


and is coupled to a collar assembly


190


being disposed through the full sized module planar member fourth and/or fifth opening


1016


,


1018


. A plurality of spacers


1202


extend from the front side of the full sized module upper front side wall


1022


and the lower front medial side wall


1106


or as extensions of the lower side walls. The left and right sides of the full sized module housing assembly


1002


have a tongue and groove connector


700


as described above. As such, the full sized module may be coupled to another full sized jumper module


1000


or to a modular jumper assembly


100


.




The modular design allows for jumper assemblies of various sizes to be constructed. For example, the third sized module


106


may be omitted when the modular jumper assembly


100


is to be used with a two power line system in conjunction with two adjacent circuit breakers. Alternatively, if the circuit breakers are spaced from each other, the jumper assembly


100


may be configured using a second sized module


104


and a third sized module


106


, as shown in FIG.


18


.




Additionally, the modular jumper assemblies


100


may be linked together in a multi-jumper assembly configuration


1248


. That is, as shown in

FIG. 19

, a first modular jumper assembly


100


A, disposed on the left, may be coupled, both mechanically and electrically, to a second modular jumper assembly


100


B, or to full sized jumper module


1000


, disposed to the right. The modular jumper assemblies


100


A,


100


B are linked mechanically by the tongue-and-groove connector


700


disposed on the right side of the first modular jumper assembly


100


A and the left side of the second modular jumper assembly


100


B. That is, as described above, the right side of the first modular jumper assembly


100


A has the bisected groove portion of the tongue-and-groove connector


700


while the left side of the second modular jumper assembly


100


B incorporates the bisected tongue portion of the tongue-and-groove connector


700


.




The first and second modular jumper assemblies


100


A,


100


B are further coupled together by conductive bus straps


1250


A,


1250


B,


1250


C. The bus straps


1250


A,


1250


B,


1250


C are coupled to the collar assemblies


190


of each bus assembly


180


,


440


,


640


. On the second sized module and third sized module bus assemblies


440


,


640


, the bus straps


1250


, preferably, are coupled to a collar assembly


190


that is not coupled to a power line, e.g., power line


1260


. That is, as shown, power lines


1260


,


1262


,


1264


are coupled to the first modular jumper assembly


100


A first sized module bus assembly


180


, the second sized module bus assembly


440


, and the third sized module bus assembly


640


, respectively. Both the second sized module bus assembly


440


and the third sized module bus assembly


640


include a left side collar assembly


190


and a right side collar assembly


190


. The power line


1264


extends through the third sized module upper left raceway


850


and is coupled to the left collar assembly


190


on the third sized module bus assembly


640


. A third sized module bus strap


1250


C is coupled to the right collar assembly


190


on the first modular jumper assembly


100


A third sized module bus assembly


640


and to the left collar on the second modular jumper assembly


100


A third sized module bus assembly


640


. The third sized module bus strap


1250


C extends through the first modular jumper assembly


100


A third sized module upper right raceway


856


and through the second modular jumper assembly


100


B third sized module upper left raceway


850


. Similarly, the power line


1262


extends through the second sized module upper left raceway


840


and is coupled to the left collar assembly


190


on the second sized module bus assembly


440


. A second sized module bus strap


1250


B is coupled to the right collar assembly


190


on the first modular jumper assembly


100


A second sized module bus assembly


440


and to the left collar assembly


190


on the second modular jumper assembly


100


A second sized module bus assembly


440


. The second sized module bus strap


1250


B extends through the first modular jumper assembly


100


A second sized module upper right raceway


846


and through the second modular jumper assembly


100


B second sized module upper left raceway


840


.




Because the first sized module bus assembly


180


has only one collar assembly


190


, the power line


1260


and a first sized module bus strap


1250


A require a generally flat terminal end


1249


so that the single first sized module bus assembly collar


190


may accommodate both. The power line


1260


extends through the first modular jumper assembly


100


A first sized module bus assembly upper left raceway


830


. The first sized module bus strap


1250


A extends through the first modular jumper assembly


100


A first sized module bus assembly upper right raceway


832


and through the second modular jumper assembly


100


B first sized module bus assembly upper left raceway


830


. Additional modular jumper assemblies


100


may be coupled to the first and second jumper assemblies


100


A,


100


B in a similar manner. Thus, one set of power lines may be couple to an infinite number of modular jumper assemblies


100


.




While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.



Claims
  • 1. A mounting for a jumper assembly bus assembly, said jumper assembly including a housing assembly, said jumper assembly housing assembly having a housing assembly planar member and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicular to and downward from said planar member defining at least one raceway, said bus assembly including a bus assembly planar member with two terminal ends extending therefrom, said mounting comprising:at least one bus assembly mounting boss disposed on a housing assembly side wall; said mounting boss disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, said housing assembly planar member; at least one elongated bus assembly clip extending from said housing assembly; and whereby said bus assembly mounting boss is structured to retain said bus assembly planar member adjacent to said housing assembly planar member and said at least one bus assembly clip is structured to retain a bus assembly terminal end against said housing assembly planar member.
  • 2. The mounting of claim 1, wherein said elongated bus assembly clip includes a flexible stem, an angled lower surface and a perpendicular latching surface.
  • 3. The mounting of claim 2, wherein said bus assembly mounting boss includes a flat surface parallel to said housing assembly planar member.
  • 4. The mounting of claim 3, further including at least one bus assembly alignment guide extending from said housing assembly planar member into said raceway and sized to position said bus assembly in a specific location within said raceway.
  • 5. The mounting of claim 4, wherein there are four bus assembly clips, one clip disposed on either side of both said terminal ends.
  • 6. The mounting of claim 5, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of the housing assembly back side wall.
  • 7. The mounting of claim 1, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of the housing assembly back side wall.
  • 8. The mounting of claim 7, wherein said bus assembly mounting boss includes a flat surface parallel to said housing assembly planar member.
  • 9. A jumper assembly comprising:a housing assembly having a planar member and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicular to and downward from said planar member defining at least one raceway; a bus assembly having a planar member and two terminal ends extending therefrom; at least one bus assembly mounting boss disposed on a housing assembly side wall; said mounting boss disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, said housing assembly planar member; at least one elongated bus assembly clip extending from said housing assembly; and whereby said bus assembly mounting boss is structured to retain said bus assembly planar member adjacent to said housing assembly planar member and said at least one bus assembly clip is structured to retain a bus assembly terminal end against said housing assembly planar member.
  • 10. The jumper assembly of claim 9, wherein said elongated bus assembly clip includes a flexible stem, an angled lower surface and a perpendicular latching surface.
  • 11. The jumper assembly of claim 10, wherein said bus assembly mounting boss includes a flat surface parallel to said housing assembly planar member.
  • 12. The jumper assembly of claim 11, further including at least one bus assembly alignment guide extending from said housing assembly planar member into said raceway and sized to position said bus assembly in a specific location within said raceway.
  • 13. The jumper assembly of claim 12, wherein there are four bus assembly clips, one clip disposed on either side of both said terminal ends.
  • 14. The jumper assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of the housing assembly back side wall.
  • 15. The jumper assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of the housing assembly back side wall.
  • 16. The jumper assembly of claim 15, wherein said bus assembly mounting boss includes a flat surface parallel to said housing assembly planar member.
  • 17. A modular jumper assembly comprising:a first sized module having a housing assembly and a bus assembly; a second sized module having a housing assembly and a bus assembly; a third sized module having a housing assembly and a bus assembly; said first sized module, said second sized module and said third sized module structured to be coupled together; each said first sized module housing assembly, second sized module housing assembly, and third sized module housing assembly having a planar member and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicular to and downward from said planar member defining at least one raceway; each said first sized module bus assembly, second sized module bus assembly, and third sized module bus assembly having a planar member and two terminal ends extending therefrom; at least one bus assembly mounting boss disposed on at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly side wall; and said mounting boss disposed adjacent to, but spaced from said first sized module, second sized module or third sized housing assembly planar member; at least one elongated bus assembly clip extending from at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly; and whereby said bus assembly mounting boss is structured to retain said bus assembly planar member adjacent to at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly planar member and said at least one bus assembly clip is structured to retain a bus assembly terminal end against at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly planar member.
  • 18. The modular jumper assembly of claim 17, wherein said elongated bus assembly clip includes a flexible stem, an angled lower surface and a perpendicular latching surface.
  • 19. The modular jumper assembly of claim 18, wherein said bus assembly boss includes a flat surface parallel to said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly planar member.
  • 20. The modular jumper assembly of claim 19, wherein at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly includes at least one bus assembly alignment guide extending from said housing assembly planar member into said raceway and sized to position said bus assembly in a specific location within said raceway.
  • 21. The modular jumper assembly of claim 20, wherein there are four bus assembly clips, one clip disposed on either side of both said terminal ends.
  • 22. The modular jumper assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly back side wall.
  • 23. The modular jumper assembly of claim 17, wherein said at least one bus assembly mounting boss is disposed on the front face of at least one of said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly back side wall.
  • 24. The modular jumper assembly of claim 23, wherein said bus assembly boss includes a flat surface parallel to said first sized module, second sized module or third sized module housing assembly planar member.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the co-pending applications CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY WITH SNAP-FIT BUS MOUNTING Ser. No. 10/066,896, CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY WITH COVER ASSEMBLY ACCESS KNOCKOUTS Ser. No. 10/067,022, CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY HAVING BUSSES IN A SINGLE PLANE Ser. No. 10/066,878, CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY WITH PHASE ISOLATION Ser. No. 10/067,193, CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY HAVING A MODULAR DESIGN STRUCTURED FOR SINGLE AND THREE PHASE OPERATION Ser. No. 10/066,919, and MULTI-UNIT CIRCUIT BREAKER JUMPER ASSEMBLY Ser. No. 10/067,066.

US Referenced Citations (16)
Number Name Date Kind
2610996 Rickabaugh Sep 1952 A
2733422 Obszarny Jan 1956 A
2787773 Potter Apr 1957 A
3076952 Powell Feb 1963 A
3848958 Kern Nov 1974 A
3909097 Roth et al. Sep 1975 A
3941443 Reimer Mar 1976 A
4021093 Glaesel May 1977 A
4722701 Bradt Feb 1988 A
4785378 Hinckley et al. Nov 1988 A
4872855 Norden Oct 1989 A
5064384 Weaver Nov 1991 A
5326285 Maros Jul 1994 A
5839922 Orlando et al. Nov 1998 A
6036542 Montague et al. Mar 2000 A
6036554 Koeda et al. Mar 2000 A
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
OEM, “Commercial and Industrial Circuit Breakers for OEM Applications,” pp. 1-16, Square D Groupe Schneider (1998) USA.