Longitudinal Electrical Conductor Entries for Wiring Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical wiring devices with perpendicular conductor entries create a large footprint, making them difficult to install and retain in shallow wiring boxes or raceways, as conductors extend obtrusively perpendicular to the device's longitudinal axis.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates longitudinal electrical conductor entries that allow conductors to connect to wiring terminals along the device's axis, reducing the footprint by enabling parallel connections between the terminals and the device's top or bottom surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conductors are connected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electrical wiring device, then the wiring terminals can be easily accessed, but the device footprint becomes large and obtrusive, making it difficult to install in shallow wiring boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional orientation of conductor entries from perpendicular (horizontal) to longitudinal (vertical) relative to the device face. This dimensional reorientation allows conductors to enter through the top or bottom of the device rather than through the rear face, significantly reducing the horizontal footprint while maintaining terminal accessibility through the longitudinal entry paths.
2Device complexity
If conductors are connected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, then the connection structure is simple, but the conductors create obtrusive extensions that require excessive wiring box depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional connection approach by reversing the orientation of conductor entries from perpendicular to longitudinal. Instead of conductors extending outward perpendicular to the device, they now enter through the top or bottom surfaces and connect internally, eliminating the need for deep wiring boxes while maintaining simple connection structures through standard terminal configurations.
3Ease of operation
If apertures are provided in the rear surface for conductor reception, then the wiring terminals are easily accessible, but the conductors extend obtrusively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rear-surface apertures with longitudinal entries through the top or bottom surfaces of the device. This dimensional change redirects conductor extensions from a perpendicular orientation (extending backward from the rear face) to a longitudinal orientation (extending vertically through the device height), eliminating the obtrusive horizontal projection while preserving terminal accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical wiring device has a longitudinal axis extending between a top surface and a bottom surface. The electrical wiring device includes at least one line phase wiring terminal, at least one neutral wiring terminal, at least one line phase electrical conductor entry extending along the longitudinal axis of the electrical wiring device and extending between the line phase wiring terminal and the top surface or the bottom surface of the electrical wiring device and at least one neutral electrical conductor entry extending along the longitudinal axis of the electrical wiring device and extending between the neutral wiring terminal and the top surface or the bottom surface of the electrical wiring device.