Wiring device having a housing with multiple portions and low voltage ports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9368982-B2
Application number	US-201414278679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A wiring device for fastening in an electrical box is presented including a strap having first and second mounting holes to facilitate fastening of the wiring device to the electrical box, the first and second mounting holes lying on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis and a housing having a face, the face having an area which is divided into first and second regions by a lateral axis, the lateral axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The wiring device further includes a first low voltage port being accessible through a first low voltage port aperture, a second low voltage port being accessible through a second low voltage port aperture, a third low voltage port being accessible through a third low voltage port aperture, and a fourth low voltage port being accessible through a fourth low voltage port aperture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wiring device for fastening in an electrical box, the wiring device comprising:
a strap having first and second mounting holes to facilitate fastening of the wiring device to the electrical box, a center of the first and second mounting holes lying on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wiring device;
a housing having a substantially rectangular face, the face being user-accessible once the wiring device is fastened to the electrical box, the face having an area which is divided into first and second regions by a lateral axis, the lateral axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a first low voltage port being accessible through a first low voltage port aperture on the first region of the substantially rectangular face;
a second low voltage port being accessible through a second low voltage port aperture on the first region of the substantially rectangular face;
a third low voltage port being accessible through a third low voltage port aperture on the second region of the substantially rectangular face; and
a fourth low voltage port being accessible through a fourth low voltage port aperture on the second region of the substantially rectangular face;
wherein a longitudinal dimension of each of the first, second, third, and fourth low voltage port apertures is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiring device.

2. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the lateral axis substantially bisects the area of the face.

3. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the first and third low voltage port apertures are substantially aligned with each other.

4. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein the second and fourth low voltage port apertures are substantially aligned with each other.

5. The wiring device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth low voltage ports is a USB charging port.

6. A wiring device for installation into an electrical box in a surface of a building, the wiring device having internal components, the wiring device comprising:
a strap adapted and configured to fasten the wiring device to the electrical box;
a housing configured to substantially enclose the internal components of the wiring device, wherein the housing further comprises:
a first housing portion; and
a second housing portion;
wherein the first and second housing portions are adapted and configured to be assembled together, such that the first and second housing portions mate along a plane perpendicular to the surface of the building.

7. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a face structure which is user-accessible once the wiring device is installed into the electrical box, the face structure having first and second face portions;
wherein the first face portion overlies the first housing portion and the second face portion overlies the second housing portion; and
wherein the strap further comprises a strap tab which projects towards the face structure, the strap tab being sized and configured to absorb an impact to the face structure.

8. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first printed circuit board (PCB) ledge on the first housing portion; and
a second PCB ledge on the second housing portion;
wherein when the first and second housing portions are assembled together, the first and second PCB ledges cooperate to form a channel to accommodate a PCB therebetween.

9. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first printed circuit board (PCB); and
a second printed circuit board (PCB);
wherein the first and second PCB's are soldered directly together at a right angle therebetween.

10. The wiring device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a USB port coupled to the first PCB; and
voltage transforming circuitry coupled to the second PCB;
wherein the voltage transforming circuitry converts line voltage to low voltage.

11. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a fastener; and
a leg extending from the strap, the leg having a support aperture;
wherein when the first and second housing portions are assembled together, the fastener passes through the first housing portion, the support aperture of the leg of the strap, and the second housing portion to at least partially restrict displacement of the strap with respect to at least one of the first and second housing portions.

12. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a strap projection extending from the strap; and
a recess on at least one of the first and second housing portions;
wherein when the first and second housing portions are assembled together, the strap projection extends into the recess to at least partially restrict displacement of the strap with respect to at least one of the first and second housing portions.

13. The wiring device of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises:
a wire channel having first and second ends, the wire channel accessible from an exterior of the wiring device;
a wire aperture in the housing proximate to the first end of the wire channel; and
a strain relief projection proximate to the second end of the wire channel;
wherein the wire channel, wire aperture, and strain relief projection cooperate to support and route a wire between the exterior and an interior of the housing.

14. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a plurality of strap support projections extending from the first or second housing portions;
wherein when the first and second housing portions are assembled, the strap is positioned between two of the plurality of strap support projections.

15. The wiring device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a face structure configured to be selectively added to or removed from the housing, the face structure further comprising:
a retention feature adapted to pivotally engage a corresponding retention feature on the wiring device; and
a fastening feature adapted to engage a corresponding fastening feature on the wiring device to maintain the face structure in an installed position.

16. The wiring device of claim 15 , wherein:
the retention feature includes a first arm; and
the fastening feature includes a second arm;
wherein a stiffness of the first arm is substantially greater than a stiffness of the second arm.

17. A wiring device comprising:
a housing configured to substantially enclose internal components of the wiring device, wherein the housing further comprises:
a face having an area divided into first and second regions by a lateral axis, the lateral axis being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis; and
a first housing portion and a second housing portion, where the first and second housing portions are configured to be assembled together; and

a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second printed circuit board (PCB), where the first and second PCB's are disposed within the housing and are configured to be connected together in a perpendicular manner, and where at least one of the PCB's comprises circuitry for a low voltage port.

18. The wiring device of claim 17 , wherein the first PCB is a logic PCB and the second PCB is a power PCB.

19. The wiring device of claim 17 , wherein the first PCB has a first plating and the second PCB has a second plating, such that the first and second PCB's are electrically connected to each other.

20. The wiring device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second housing portions form a single housing when assembled together.

21. The wiring device of cl

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Jansen Ronald
• Kamor Michael
• Frid Eugene

Classifications

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H01R13/6675

  with built-in power supply · CPC title

• H01R13/6683

  with built-in sensor · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title