Electrical terminal block and receptacles

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6733331
  • Patent Number
    6,733,331
  • Date Filed
    Monday, January 6, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 11, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
This invention is directed to an electrical distribution terminal block and modularly couplable electrical receptacles wherein the terminal block is formed by a plurality of stackable wafers. Each wafer has upper channels formed therein that radiate from a common upper interior intersection point to an outer surface thereof, and lower channels formed therein that radiate from a common lower interior intersection point to an outer surface thereof. When the wafers are vertically stacked, the upper channels of one wafer complementally form ducts with the lower channels of another wafer, each duct having an outlet or port in communication with the exterior of the terminal block. An electrical terminal, formed in a configuration adapted to be received in the upper or lower channels, is disposed in each formed duct and includes connectors for coupling to incoming and outgoing wires of a polarity including neutral, and for coupling that polarity or neutral to a terminal of the receptacle. Each electrical receptacle includes projections that house outlet terminals, the projections received in the appropriate ports of the ducts.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to electrical receptacles and, more particularly, to an electrical terminal block and couplable electrical receptacles.




2. Description of the Related Art




Electrical receptacles or outlets are well known as a means for providing an interface between a supply or source of electricity and an appliance, took equipment, or the like. Such receptacles come in a variety of plug configurations, most of which are standardized according to the type of use. For instance, most people are familiar with the standard household receptacle which has a two slots and a round or D-shaped ground opening.




Because of the proliferation of electrical equipment, electrical outlets or receptacles must be provided almost everywhere. This is especially true in the workplace, where computers, printers, facsimile machines, telephones, and the like must be connected to an electrical outlet. Also, the workplace has evolved to where there is more than just the conventional type of furniture. Now there are modular units, cubicles and the like which may be located away from walls and other structures where electrical receptacles/outlets are traditionally located. In this type of office furniture, electrical receptacles are typically located along the bottom or side rails of the support structures.




However, since there needs to be plenty of electrical receptacles to handle the myriad of office equipment needing electricity, wiring is a problem. Further, there is a need for greater flexibility in locating and configuring the needed electrical receptacles. As well, accessibility of the outlets is a concern.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is a terminal block for the distribution of electricity to electrical receptacles or outlets.




In one form the present invention is a stackable terminal block for the distribution of electricity to electrical receptacles. The terminal block is formed by a plurality of stackable wafers. The wafers retain terminals therebetween that distribute the electricity. Each terminal accommodates one wire of the electrical cable, which also couples to one portion of the electrical receptacle/outlet. Several receptacles may be modularly coupled to the terminal block.




Essentially each wafer has upper channels formed therein that radiate from a common upper interior intersection point to an outer surface thereof, and lower channels formed therein that radiate from a common lower interior intersection point to an outer surface thereof. When the wafers are vertically stacked, the upper channels of one wafer complementally form ducts with the lower channels of another wafer, each duct having an outlet or port in communication with the exterior of the terminal block. An electrical terminal, formed in a configuration adapted to be received in the upper or lower channels, is disposed in each formed duct and includes connectors for incoming and outgoing wires of a certain polarity, and for coupling to a terminal of an electrical receptacle. Each electrical receptacle includes projections that house outlet terminals, the projections received in the appropriate ports of the ducts.




According to an aspect of the present invention, the modular electrical receptacles can be plugged into the terminal block in any number, and can have terminals configured in any manner to accommodate the wiring of the terminal block.




It is an advantage of the present invention that the configuration of the terminal block may be varied.




It is another advantage of the present invention that several terminal blocks may be electrically coupled, generally in a vertical relationship, for a plurality of electrical receptacles along a column or post.




It is yet another advantage of the present invention that the terminal block may be adapted for one or a plurality of electrical receptacles.




It is further an advantage of the present invention that building blocks or wafers of the terminal block may be varied for any number of wires and/or outlets.




It is still further an advantage of the present invention that the terminal block can accommodate or be interchangeable for any configuration of line polarity including neutral for any terminal.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of a piece of furniture having vertical support posts with two of the posts having vertically disposed terminal blocks/electrical receptacles therein in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, each terminal block electrically coupled to a source of electricity;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged side view of one of the vertically disposed terminal blocks from one of the posts of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a top plan view of a wafer of a terminal block in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a side view of the wafer of

FIG. 3

taken along line


4





4


thereof;





FIG. 5

is a top plan view of an electrical terminal in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a side view of the terminal of

FIG. 5

taken along line


6





6


thereof;





FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view of a three receptacle terminal block;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the three receptacle terminal block of

FIG. 7

in an assembled state; and





FIG. 9

is a rear perspective view of an electrical receptacle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.











Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to

FIG. 1

, there is shown furniture


10


supported by vertical column or post


12


on one side of table or platform


16


and vertical column or post


14


on another side of table


16


. It should be understood that furniture


10


is representative of any type of furniture, but especially free-standing modular or cubicle office furniture that is supported or incorporates vertical posts, columns, or legs. Extending between posts


12


and


14


is horizontal beam


18


which carries electrical cable


24


therein that is generally coupled to an electrical junction box or the like (not shown) for supplying electricity. Electrical cable


24


may be a typical electrical supply cable that carries three conductors; a ground wire/conductor, a positive wire/conductor, and a negative wire/conductor, or the like, of which is known in the art. Table


16


is shown supporting telephone


20


and computer


22


which require connection to an electrical receptacle or outlet.




In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the interior of post


12


contains terminal blocks


26


,


28


, and


30


in vertical relationship to one another. Terminal block


30


is in electrical communication with electrical cable


24


via electrical cable


38


, which typically includes three wires, and junction box or connector


26


which is disposed in horizontal beam


18


. Electrical cable


24


is wired to junction box


26


in a manner known in the art, while electrical cable


38


is wired as well at one end to junction box


26


. Junction box


26


can also function as a terminal box for a ceiling outlet. The other end of electrical cable


38


is received by terminal block


30


as detailed below. Electrical cable


34


, again which typically includes three wires (“+”, “−”, and neutral), is electrically coupled at one end to terminal block


30


and electrically coupled at its other end to terminal block


28


. Electrical cable


32


, again which typically includes three wires, is electrically coupled at one end to terminal block


28


and electrically coupled at its other end to terminal block


26


. In this manner, electricity is supplied from electrical supply cable


24


to each terminal block


26


,


28


, and


30


. It should be understood that the number of terminal blocks disposed within a post or column is variable. Thus, only one terminal block may be disposed within the post or as many terminal blocks as can fit within the post may be used. Of course, the number of terminal blocks will be limited by the capacity of the electrical supply.




Post


14


has a first set of electrical outlets


40


that correspond and electrically couple to terminal block


26


, a second set of electrical outlets


42


that correspond and electrically couple to terminal block


28


, and a third set of electrical outlets


44


that correspond and electrically couple to terminal block


30


. In general, one electrical outlet per terminal block is disposed on one face of the post. It should be understood that post


12


depicts what is disposed within the interior thereof and thus would include exterior electrical receptacles as shown on post


14


. At the same time, post


14


depicts the exterior electrical receptacles mountable to the interior terminal blocks that are not seen, but as depicted with regard to post


12


.




Additionally depicted in

FIG. 1

is beltline jumper


31


comprised of electrical cable


33


terminating at one end in connector


35


and terminating at the other end in connector


37


. Connectors


35


and


37


are configured to be received by one side of a terminal block or receptacle thereof. Beltline jumper


31


may be used to electrically couple one terminal block with another terminal block, each terminal block generally disposed in different posts, and is generally used at table level. Thus, if overhead power is not supplied to each post, beltline jumper


31


may be used to supply power from a terminal block having power to another terminal block not having power. Also depicted in

FIG. 1

is floor power entry assembled


39


comprising electrical cable


41


terminating in connector


43


. Again, connector


43


is configured to be coupled to or received by one side of a terminal block. Floor power entry assembly


39


may be used at floor level to provide power from a power source (not shown) to a terminal block, again if overhead power is not utilized. Also, assembly


39


may be used as a jumper to connect other terminal blocks of other posts at floor level. Assembly


39


may be used in conjunction with beltline jumper


31


.




With reference now to

FIG. 2

, there is shown vertically disposed terminal block stack generally designated


46


as depicted within post


12


of FIG.


1


. Each terminal block


26


,


28


, and


30


is formed in part by a plurality of vertically stacked or axially adjacent wafers


48


. The number of axially adjacent wafers


48


depends on the desired electrical receptacle/outlet interface configuration. An exemplary coupling of the electricity supply from cable


38


is depicted. The individual conductors of electrical cable


38


are electrically coupled at one end to junction box


36


and extend to terminal block


30


. The other ends of the individual conductors of cable


38


are received in separate wire ports


50


on one side of terminal block


30


. The wire ports


50


are formed between axially adjacent wafers


48


and define a plane. Each plane is between axially adjacent wafers


48


, and is dedicated to the particular electrical polarity of the incoming wire/conductor, including ground, associated with the particular port. This includes line, neutral and ground. Further, because of this configuration, any port may be interchanged to accept whatever line or neutral wire as may be needed, as long as the electrical receptacle supports the particular configuration. With a conventional three-wire conductor, one wire would be received in one wire port, another wire would be received in another wire port, while the last wire would be received in yet another wire port. The three incoming wires are electrically coupled to an electrical receptacle as further explained below. Preferably, the wires are coupled to wire ports that are axially adjacent. The incoming wires feed an upper portion of terminal block


30


which correspond to the upper outlet of an attached or coupled electrical receptacle.




Additionally, there are separate wire ports (not seen), one each, for any exiting wire/conductor on another side of terminal block


30


. The exiting wires/conductors couple to other wire ports of the same terminal block for supplying electricity to the lower outlet of a coupled electrical receptacle and/or of the upper or lower portion of a different terminal block. In

FIG. 2

, electrical cable


34


as depicted in

FIG. 1

, comprises electrical cable


80


and electrical cable


82


. Cables


80


and


82


typically have three conductors and are used to distribute the electricity received by terminal block


30


via electrical cable


38


.




While not seen in

FIG. 2

, the electricity that is received into the upper portion of terminal block


30


by cable


38


, which feeds the upper outlet of an attached electrical receptacle, is distributed into the lower portion of terminal block


30


, which feeds the lower outlet of an attached electrical receptacle. The three conductors of cable


80


exit from wire ports on one side of terminal block


30


and are electrically coupled to either the upper or lower portion wire ports on terminal block


28


. In like manner, the three conductors of cable


82


exit from wire ports on another side of terminal block


30


and are electrically coupled to the other of either the upper or lower portion wire ports on terminal block


28


. Cable


32


as depicted in

FIG. 1

, is shown three cables


84


,


86


, and


88


. Cable


84


consists of three wires or conductors that distribute the electricity from the upper portion of terminal block


28


to the upper portion of terminal block


26


via appropriate wire ports


50


. Cable


86


also consists of three wires or conductors and distribute the electricity from the lower portion terminal block


28


to the lower portion of terminal block


26


. Cable


88


consists of a single wire or conductor and is used to connect ground. It should be understood that the connection scheme described above and depicted in

FIG. 2

is only exemplary. The manner and place of connection (relative to one wire port or another) is arbitrary.




With reference now to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a wafer


48


is depicted. Wafer


48


is made from an electrically insulating material such as plastic, and may be molded or made in a conventional manner. As each wafer of a terminal block is identical, only one such wafer


48


is depicted in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. Wafer


48


defines an upper surface


54


and a lower surface


56


, and has six (6) sides


58


,


60


,


62


,


64


,


66


, and


68


. Sides


60


,


64


, and


68


include radially extending knobs. Posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


,


72




e


, and


72




f


axially extend from upper surface


54


and are disposed on each corner between sides


58


,


60


,


62


,


64


,


66


, and


68


. Posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


, and


72




e


, and


72




f


have respective flanges


74




a


,


74




b


,


74




c


,


74




d


,


74




e


, and


74




f


on a lower portion thereof such that the diameter of flanges


74




a


,


74




b


,


74




c


,


74




d


,


74




e


, and


74




f


are slightly greater than the diameter of their respective posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


,


72




e


, and


72




f.






With regard to the topography of upper surface


54


, extending radially from inner or intersection point


76


is channel


94


formed by walls


90


and


92


and terminating in terminal port portion


52




a


. Disposed adjacent wall


90


is inner guide wall


96


, while disposed adjacent wall


92


is inner guide wall


98


. Extending radially from point


76


is channel


104


formed by walls


100


and


102


and terminating in terminal port portion


52




b


. Disposed adjacent wall


100


is inner guide wall


106


, while disposed adjacent wall


102


is inner guide wall


108


. Extending radially from point


76


is channel


114


formed by walls


110


and


112


terminating in terminal port portion


52




c


. Disposed adjacent wall


110


is inner guide wall


118


, while disposed adjacent wall


112


is inner guide wall


116


. Channels


94


,


104


, and


114


each form one-half of an enclosed duct when one wafer


48


is axially disposed on another wafer


48


, via complementary channel/wall structures on the lower surface of the axially disposed wafer. Terminal port portions


52




a


,


52




b


, and


52




c


form one-half of a terminal port


52


that is sized to receive terminal fittings of an electrical receptacle structure as described below.




Additionally radially extending from point


76


is channel


124


formed by wall


120


and


122


, and terminating in wire port portion


50




a


. Radially extending from point


76


is channel


130


formed by walls


126


and


128


, and terminating in wire port portion


50




b


. Radially extending from point


76


is channel


136


formed by walls


132


and


134


, and terminating in wire port portion


50




c


. Channels


1124


,


130


, and


136


each form one-half of an enclosed duct when one wafer


48


is axially disposed on another wafer


48


, via complementary channel/wall structures on the lower surface of the axially disposed wafer. Wire port portions


50




a


,


50




b


, and


50




c


form one-half of a wire port


50


that is sized to receive wires of an electrical cable as described above.




As indicated above with respect to the various channels of upper surface


54


of one wafer


48


forming ducts with channels of the lower surface


52


of another axially disposed wafer


48


, lower surface


56


of wafer


48


is identical in topography to upper surface


54


as described above, with the exception of posts


72




a-f


. Instead of posts, lower surface


56


has axial bores


78




a


,


78




b


,


78




c


,


78




d


,


78




e


, and


78




f


, of which only axial bores


78




c


,


78




d


,


78




e


, and


78




f


are depicted, that are respectively coaxial with respective posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


,


72




e


, and


72




f


. The internal diameter of bores


78




a


,


78




b


,


78




c


,


78




d


,


78




e


, and


78




f


is sized to receive posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


,


72




e


, and


72




f


and provide an interference fit therewith due to the diameter of respective flanges


74




a


,


74




b


,


74




c


,


74




d


,


74




e


, and


74




f


. Thus, as wafers


48


are stacked one upon another, posts


72




a


,


72




b


,


72




c


,


72




d


,


72




e


, and


72




f


of one wafer are received in an interference fit in bores


78




a


,


78




b


,


78




c


,


78




d


,


78




e


, and


78




f


of another wafer.




With reference to

FIGS. 5 and 6

there is shown terminal


140


one of which is situated between each axially adjacent wafer of each terminal block within the ducts formed by the channel halves of the upper and lower surfaces of the axially adjacent wafers. Terminal


140


is formed of an electrically conductive material and has three (3) prongs


142


,


144


, and


146


, and two (2) clips


148


and


150


that each radially extend from common point or middle


141


. Clip


148


rests within one of the wire ducts formed by one of the channels


124


,


130


, and


136


and its complementary channel of the lower surface of an axially adjacent wafer, and is adapted to receive and hold one wire of an electrical cable as is known in the art. Clip


150


rests in another one of the wire ducts formed by another one of the channels


124


,


130


, and


136


and its complementary channel of the lower surface of an axially adjacent wafer, and is adapted to receive and hold one wire of an electrical cable as is known in the art. Thus, one clip of clips


148


and


150


maintains an incoming wire, while the other clip of clips


148


and


150


maintains an outgoing wire. Prongs


142


,


144


, and


146


rest within one of the terminal ducts formed by one of the channels


94


,


104


, and


114


and its complementary channel of the lower surface of an axially adjacent wafer, and are adapted to be coupled to terminals of an electrical receptacle.




Terminal


140


is configured such that is can be rotatably oriented relative to the particular wire ducts desired to be the incoming and the outgoing wire ducts out of three possible wire ducts. As an example, clip


148


may rest in channel


124


which orients terminal


140


such that clip


150


rests in channel


136


. Clip


148


could also rest in channel


130


which orients clip


150


into channel


124


. The last situation is where clip


148


would reside in channel


136


which would orient clip


150


into channel


130


. It should be apparent that no matter how terminal


140


is oriented, one of prongs


142


,


144


, and


146


always rests in a terminal duct. Further, as indicated above, any terminal


140


can accept and distribute any polarity or neutral wire to the receptacle as long as the receptacle is configured appropriately.




With reference now to

FIG. 7

, there is shown a partially exploded view of a terminal block


154


depicting how wafers


48


stack or are axially adjacent one another with a terminal


140


disposed between each axially adjacent wafer. Again, the post and bore configuration of the wafers provides an interference fit to retain the wafers in stacked relationship to one another. The terminals


140


are arbitrarily oriented such that any incoming or outgoing wire utilized either the wire ports


50


on faces or columns


156


and


158


which are recessed relative to the side of the wafer. The recess feature allows room for the electrical cable to vertically enter and exit the terminal block without interference.




Couplable to terminal block


154


are three (3) electrical receptacle assemblies


160


,


162


, and


164


each having a respective curved face plate


166


,


168


, and


170


that each retain an outlet assembly


174


,


176


, and


178


. Each outlet assembly


172


,


174


, and


176


has two outlets, of which only outlets


178


and


180


of outlet assembly


172


can be seen, and are coupled to the terminal block by a screw or the like (not shown) extending through screw hole


182


and into a screw receptacle, of which only screw receptacle


184


can be seen. Screw receptacle


184


is disposed between two of the wafers within the terminal ducts rather than a terminal.




Each electrical outlet assembly


172


,


174


, and


176


has a terminal bank, with terminal banks


185


and


202


of outlet assemblies


176


and


174


respectively shown. Terminal bank


184


consists of eight (8) receptacle terminals


186


,


188


,


190


,


192


,


194


,


196


,


198


, and


200


that provide electrical communication to an outlet hole of the receptacle. When a prong of a terminal block terminal (


140


) is coupled to the receptacle terminals, electricity can flow to the outlet holes. Each receptacle terminal


186


,


188


,


190


,


192


,


194


,


196


,


198


, and


200


is received in a terminal port (


54


) of the terminal stack (


156


) wherein a prong of a terminal (


140


) is disposed. Terminal bank


202


and the terminal bank of outlet assembly


172


is identical to terminal bank


185


. As there are three (3) columns of terminal ports


54


to terminal block


156


, so are there three (3) receptacle assemblies


160


,


162


, and


164


.





FIG. 8

depicts an enlarged, assembled terminal block/electrical receptacles structure


204


made in accordance with the above principles especially as depicted in FIG.


7


.




With reference now to

FIG. 9

, there is shown a rear view of electrical receptacle assembly


206


which is identical to electrical receptacle assemblies


160


,


162


, and


164


depicted in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. Electrical receptacle assembly


206


includes face place


207


and electrical outlets on the side opposite that shown. Extending from face plate


207


is oval-shaped wall


208


. Interior of wall


208


are a plurality of posts


209


that together support a cover (not shown) associated with a corresponding terminal bank thereof. In

FIG. 7

, this aspect is best seen with reference to receptacle assembly


162


. Receptacle assembly


162


includes face plate


168


having oval-shaped wall


181


with interior posts (not seen) that support cover


183


of outlet assembly


174


and terminal bank


202


. Referring back to

FIG. 9

, disposed interior of wall


208


is a first conductor strip or bar


210


that is supported therein by a plurality of insulating stands. Conductor


210


has a plurality of supports


211


each of which is adapted to support terminal member


212


. Terminal member


212


includes curved attachment end


213


adapted to be received on one of the supports


211


, and clip end


214


adapted to become/couple with the corresponding terminal bank. Terminal member


212


may be placed on any one of the plurality of supports along conductor


210


. Several terminal members may be used and supported on conductor


210


and carry one polarity of electricity or ground. Also disposed interior of wall


208


is second conductor strip or bar


216


that is supported therein by a plurality of insulating stands. Conductor


216


includes first clip


218


at one end and second clip


219


that carries a second polarity or of electricity or ground. Conductor


220


has a plurality of supports


221


each of which is adapted to support terminal member


222


. Terminal member


222


includes curved attachment end


223


adapted to be received on one of the supports


221


, and clip end


224


adapted to become/couple with the corresponding terminal bank. Terminal member


222


may be placed on any one of the plurality of supports along conductor


220


. Several terminal members may be used and supported on conductor


220


and carry one polarity of electricity or ground.




The use of conductor strips or bars and movable terminals allows variation in the configuration of the outlet from the terminal block as well as the number of polarity wires. For example, such a receptacle allows for the use of 3-3-2 (three line, three neutral, and two ground) type wiring or other wiring, without having to have dedicated conductors for the differently configured receptacles.




Additionally, while not shown in the Figures, a cap may be placed on either or both of the top and bottom wafers, the cap having a complementary topography on one surface thereof to form the necessary ducts. The other surface thereof would not have such topography.




Further, it should be appreciated that the wafers may be made with more or less sides to accommodate more or less electrical receptacles and/or more or less incoming/outgoing wires. The terminal between the wafers would be easily modifiable to have more or less prongs and/or clips. Also, receptacles having more or less than two outlets is attainable.




It should also be recognized that while the present invention has been described and shown as applicable to vertical members associated with furniture, the present invention may be used for other applications where electrical outlets are needed in whatever orientation and thus is not limited to vertical posts, particular types or pieces of furniture, or even furniture.




While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A terminal block for distributing electricity from electrically conductive wires from an electric supply cable, the terminal block comprising:a plurality of axially adjacent wafers, each said wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and having one or both of a plurality of top channels radiating from an interior to an outside surface and a plurality of bottom channels radiating from an interior to said outside surface, said bottom surface of one said wafer forming a plurality of ducts with said top surface of an axially adjacent wafer; and a plurality of electrical distribution terminals, at least one of said electrical distribution terminals disposed between two adjacent said wafers, each said electrical distribution terminal having input terminals couplable to a corresponding electric wire of the electrically conductive wires and outlet terminals.
  • 2. The terminal block of claim 1, further comprising a screw terminal disposed between one set of said axially adjacent wafers for receipt of a screw of an electrical receptacle.
  • 3. The terminal block of claim 1, wherein a given number of said inlet terminals are adapted to couple to distribution wires.
  • 4. The terminal block of claim 1, wherein said plurality of wafers are made of an electrically insulating material.
  • 5. The terminal block of claim 4, wherein said electrically insulating material is plastic.
  • 6. The terminal block of claim 1, wherein each said wafer includes a plurality of posts axially extending from one of said top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of axially extending bores in one of the other of said top and bottom surfaces, each one of said plurality of bores adapted to receive one of each of said plurality of posts.
  • 7. The terminal block of claim 6, wherein each one of said plurality of bores is coaxial with one of each of said plurality of posts.
  • 8. The terminal block of claim 6, wherein said posts have a post diameter, and said bores have a bore diameter sized to provide an distribution assembly fit with said posts.
  • 9. The terminal block of claim 8, wherein each of said posts includes at least two outwardly extending projections providing said interference fit with said corresponding bores.
  • 10. An electrical receptacle assembly, comprising:a housing including a curved face plate having a concave side and a convex side, said housing having at least one wall member extending said concave side, said curved face plate configured for receiving at least one electrical outlet therein, said curved face plate and said at least one wall member defining a housing perimeter; a plurality of electrical conductor bars disposed directly within and carried by said housing on said concave side of said face plate, each said conductor bar defining a plurality of electrically conductive supports at spaced locations along said conductor bar; and at least one moveable electrical terminal member per electrical conductor bar, each said moveable terminal member including an attachment end which is selectively attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of electrically conductive supports, and a clip end selectively attachable to a corresponding terminal of a plurality of terminals of a power supply, said clip end being selectively attached dependent upon the one of said plurality of electrically conductive supports to which said attachment end is connected.
  • 11. The electrical receptacle of claim 10, wherein said plurality of conductor bars comprises three conductor bars, at least two of said conductor bars defining at least four of said electrically conductive supports.
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/918,061 filed Jul. 30, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,094, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/307,115 filed May 7, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,613.

US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
RE31033 Wilson, Jr. et al. Sep 1982 E
4462656 Beyer Jul 1984 A
4740167 Millhimes et al. Apr 1988 A
5203711 Bogiel Apr 1993 A
5542860 Bandura Aug 1996 A
6267613 McCoy et al. Jul 2001 B1
6471532 Kondas et al. Oct 2002 B2
6537094 McCoy et al. Mar 2003 B2
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/918061 Jul 2001 US
Child 10/336981 US