CA1051531A - Electrical contacts for electrical receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:

An electrical receptable comprises an integrally molded body member and flanged face plate formed preferably as a duplex receptacle for the receipt of conventional two and three wire electrical plugs. The interior of the body member comprises a series of selectively positioned contact supports for engagement with novel contact means suitably aligned therewithin. A mating cover member designed to latch with the body member is provided with inwardly directed projections selectively aligned in a series of rows to provide discrete cradles for each of the conductors of a multiconductor electrical cable to be attached to the receptacle. The contacts are further provided with flattened looped portions arranged to resiliently engage the contacts of an electrical plug inserted within the receptacle.

Description

:~.13 :~5~

This applic~tion is a divi~ion of copending Canadian application Serial No. 240,461 ~iled November 25, 1975.
~ACKGRO~ND OP ~HE INVENTION-, Field of the Invention:
.. . . . _ .
~ he invention is dir~c*ed to the field of wirinydevices and principally to an electrical receptacle adapted to receive conventional two and three prong electrical plugs.
Description of the Prior Art: -The more common form of electrical receptacle well kno~n in the art comprises generally a pair of plug receiving outlets more commonly described as a duplex receptacle comprising a plastic body member containing electrical contacts and ~-adapted,to mate,with either a two or three prong electrical plugs of either the 120 volt or 220 volt variety comprisins, respectively, parallel or o~fset blade elements. The recepacles are generally providad with screw terminals on either side thereof adapted to receive the bared ends,of the individual conductors of a mult.iconductor non-sheathed electrical cable. Such prior art receptacles are further generally provided with mountlng ears to which are loosely fastened as~embly screws for mounting the receptacle to a metallic box previously installed withi~ an opening in a wall or like ~u~port member. A separate ~ace plate is thereafter required to ~e fastened to the front of the receptacle for astheti~
and ~a~ety purposes. Although there have been some improve-ments ~ade in recent years-with respect to the manner o~

2 -, , .

.. : ~: : : ::

.. : :. . ., : ::
.: ~ : . . ' ' :~ :: ' ":' ' :
', ; ~ : ', , ~ :: ' ; , ,: ~ . :,:

15~L

1 att~ehlng til~ cable conductors ko the recept~lcle, the tLme, expense, and lnconvenience ~3~0ci~ted with as3embling thq metalllc box, electrical rccept~cle, and faco plate to one another to provide a ~omplete unit has undergone little ap~reciable change and represents ~ burdensome, time-con-sumirlg, and relatively expensive operation wherein the user is required to sever the cable, strip back the inst~llation from a portion thereof and individually connect the conductors to an associated terminal within the electrical receptacle after feeding the cable through an aperture in the receptacle supporting junction box. The user is faced with an additional - pro~lem of having to maintain a stock of face plates which are generally supplied separately from the receptacle and which may be readily lost or misplaced among the proliferation of materials generally found at a construction site which often represents the usually environment for the installation of such receptacles. A further disadvantage of the separate assembly heretofore described is the requirement that the xeceptacle supporting junction box be properly oriented both verti~ally and horizontally within the wall or supporting memher to avoid having the face plate secured thereto at an oblique angle since only minor adjustment is possible between the axis of the junction bo~ and the ~xls of thc E~cc ~latc after installation. The assembler is presented with a ~urther difficulty in having to provida within the junction box a given length of stripped cable to permit manipulation of the receptacle for subsequent rewiring or replacement and which must be looped and stored within the junction box ~ter the assembly is completed which, in the eYent two or more c~blee are brought into the junction box, re~ults in a , ' .: , ~ . : . .. . . . : .
:. , . , , ~ - . . : : ~ .
~ :, , . '. . ' . .: .
,`~ ' ~. .' : . . , : . . , :
., , :: .

multipl~clty of conn~ctor le~ld~ ther~wlthi-l all loop~d abo~J~ -~n random ~shlon ~ncl interEe~ing with the rea~embly of the electrlc~l receptacle to the Ju~ction box during a ~ubsequent wirlng operatlon The lllvent:Lon accordl~g to the paren~ appllc~t:~n o~ler-comes the li~ltations and difficultles noted above wlth respect to prior ar~ devices by providing a preferably integrally molded plastic electrical receptacle of unitary construction having self-contained mounted means and a releasably latchable cover member to provide an assembly which is simpler, less expensive, more reliable, and more convenient than such prior art devices. The receptacle is molded preferably from a relatively rigid electrically insulat~
ing plastic material and comprises a body member defined by a series of interconnPcted upstanding walls to provide a par~ially enclosed cable receiving cavity. Molded or formed integrally with one end of the cavity is a base portion having a generally planar flanged portion ex~ending outwardly from the peripher~ of the body member, the front surface of the base portion being suitably apertured to provide a series of selectived spaced openings adapted to receive ~he blades of an electrical plug. Loca~ed adjacent the rear surface of the flanged portion of the base member at opposite corners of the o~ter periphery o~ th.e body member are a pair of mounting pawls each supported on ~ rotatable memb.er extending through the hub portion of each pawl and accessible from the front of the base portion to deploy a respective pawl and permit the receptàcle to be mounted wlthin a suitably apertured opening in a wall or other support member. The cable receiv~ng cavity is prouided ~ 4 -dap/~

: . ' . ' ' : .
,:, . ~ :' , . ... ..
.: . . . .
::: ~ . . : , ' . ,, , 1 with a series of up~tanding el~c~trical corlt~ct ~upE~ort~
arrangcd In a pred~termincd p~ttern to provlde ~upport ~or electrical contact~ having tab receiving portion~ adapted to mate with the blade~ of an electrical plug in~erted through the openings in the base portion. The electrical contacts are readily manufactured preferably frorn a single ~trip of highly conductive metallic material and are ~electively formed to provide an insulation se~ering and conductor engaging slotted portion having independently deflectable finger portions which are arranged to sever the installation and engage the conductive portion of a respective insulated - conductor forcibly urged into the slotted portion of the contact. To complete the assembly there is provided a cover member also constructed preferably of a rigid electrically insulating plastic material in a generally fla~ rectangular shape and comprising a series of projections extending out-wardly from the inner surface thereof and aligned in generally ?
longitudinally extendinq parallel rows, each projection having a generally V-shaped bifurcated free end adapted to provide a rradle for the respective conductors of an electrical cable. The cover member is releasably latchable to the body member of the receptacle by the employment of latching means ;`
- which may comprise a pair of deflectab~è arms extending from opposing sides of the cover memberr each arm havin~ an opening adapted to coincide with a selectively located protrusion on the outer surface of the body member when the cover mel~er is seated ~irmly again~t the open end thereof.
To e~tablish a particular orientation of the cover member on the body memher, where de~ired, the width of the lat~hing members may be differently proportioned and the ~idewall~ o~ ~
:` :

. ~
'~ ." ' ' : ' ' ' the body member p~ovid~d with ~orrespondlng pair~ of upstanding parallel ribs, provldlng ~electively ~pace~l channels each coincldlng with a respective latch member. A plurality of such electrlcal receptacles may be installed ln a ~uxtaposed arrange-ment by the use of a stepped frame arranged to provide a seat for the flanged portion of each of the receptacles. The framed assembly may be mounted wlthln a suitable opening in a wall or other support structure by the deployment Oc the mounting pawls of each receptacle in a manner essentially similar to that used to mount a single receptacle to such support.
Thus the invention according to the parent application broadly defines an electrical receptacle comprising, in combination, a body member ormed from electrically insulating plastic material and includlng wall portions joined to one another to define a cable receiving cavity, the wall portions being seated upon a base portion molded integrally therewith, the base portion having a flanged portion extending outwardly beyond the external perimeter of ~he wall portions for mounting the body member to a supporting surface, the base portion having contact supports selectively located within the cable receiving cavity for supporting at least a pair of spaced electrical con~acts therewithin, the base member being suitably apertured to provide plug recei~ing 910ts arranged to accept the contacts of an electrical plug, the base member further ha~ing at least a pair of electrical contacts disposed within ~he contact supports and aligned with respect~ve ones of the ba~e member slots to receive the contacts o~ an electrical plug ~nser~ed within the base member apertures; and a cover member formed rom electrcially insulating plastlc material and arranged to selectively seat against the wall portions to provide a closure -: dap /~3 :~ ~- . . , , . ~ : , ,. , - :-, .
. ,~ , ' . ' ' ' ` ~ ' , ~ ~
' ~6)~5~L
for th~ ~xpo~e~ opcning of thc body mcmbe~ cable receiving cavity, the cDver member inclu~ling cablc ~upport mean~ di~po~ed ad~ac~n~
one ~urface thereof, the cable support mcans beirlg ~lectlvely positioned on ~he cover m~mber for ali~nment wlth the body member contact supports upon the ~electlve seatlng of the cover ~ember against ~he body member wall portions for urging the respective conductors of an electrical cable against respective ones of the electrical contacts located within the body member c~ble receiving cavity, the cover member Eurther comprising latch means ~or selec-lQ tive engagement with the body member to permit ~he cover member to be releasably locked to the body ~ember.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ele~trical contacts previously described may also be considered to be novel in the manner in which they are arranged to lndependently engage two or more electrical conductors of either the same or differing diameters.
Thus the invention of the present application provides contact means for engaging the ground conductor of an electrical multiwire cable located within an electrical receptacle, comprising:
a single strip o-f highly conductive thin metallic material having a U-shaped conductor recei~ing portion having a bight portion and leg portions9 an arm portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of one of the leg portions in a direction generally perpend-icular to the plane of the one leg portion, the arm portion t~rmina~ing in a first finger portion folded out of the plane of the arm portion and communicating therewith along a line generally ~;
parallel to the transverse axis of the first arm portion, the firist finger portion having a convexedly formed outer surface arranged to contact the ground pin of an electrical plug inssrted within a dap/~
,; .

; ~i .. . . . . . . . .. . . .

, :' ~ . ~, ., ', ' , . ' . ' .: .,. . . , . : .
. .
: .: . . . . .

sl~
gl~en opening 11l the electrica:L receptacle, a second flnger portlon extending outwardly from the lower edge of the other o the leg portions in a dircction ~enerally parallel to the plane of the other leg portion and offset therefrotn the second Einger portion having a convexedly formed outer surface arrangéd to contact the ground pin of an electrical plug inserted wi~hin a further given opening in the electrical receptacle.

.' , :'' ~r ~ 7a -d ap /,~
.

... : ~,, : . ,~. , :
.. . , . , ~
~ - ~: . , .

1 ~RIEF DESCRI~TION OF T~IE DR~WINCS:
..... _ . .. ... .
In ~ 2~:
FIG. 1 is a side elevatLonal ~/iew of an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 2 i~ a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 i~ a rear elev~tlonal view of the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the body member of the Aeviee of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in ;
seetion, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a further embodiment of a contact means for an electrical receptacle eonstructed in aceordance with the eoncepts of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment or an eleetrical receptaele construeted in aeeord-anee with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspeetive view, partly in section, of the eover member of the deviee af FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a perspeetive view, similar to FIG. 8, shoving *he terminating ends of the eonductors of a multieon-duetor eleetrieal eable eradled in the eover member.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 8, showing an intermediate portion o~ the conduetors of a ~ultieonductor eable eradled in the cover member.
FTG. 11 is a perspective view~ partly cut away and ~-partly in ~ection, of the device of FIG. 1 showing the manner of connecting an electrical multiconductor cable thereto, ' ~ 9 - ~

.

, . .. :. , .: -. - . . - . . . : -,, . 1: . . ;, ; .. . : - - . . . .... .. . . .. . . .

. . , . : . :: . . . . : . .
-:: ~ ' : : . : - : .:: . . . . , , , , : , . . .
:: . . ,. :, , . .. ., . : .. ,, .. :. , :: . :- . . . .. : : . , . ' .. , .: ,.:.' :~ : ' : - , , : . : ` , : . , , ., .. .: ,. . - :, .. : .
-: . . . :. . ..
. : .. . .

1 FIC. 12 is a top plan view o~ the device of FIG.
1.
FI~. 13 i~ a fragmentary perspective view, ~howing the cable entry way portion of the devic~ of FIG. 1.
FIG. 14 is a top plan view of contact means for an electrical receptacle con~tructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FlG. 15 is a top plan view of a further embodiment . of contact means for an electrical receptacle con~tructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

- - FIG. 16 is a perspective view, partly cut away and partly in section, of the device of FIG. 14.
- FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary top plan view of yet ano~her embodiment of the conductor receiving portion of a conta~t means for an electrical receptacle constructed in ~5 accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the ground con-ductor contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective vlew, partly ~0 ~n ~ectlon, of a further embodiment of a ground conductor _ 9 _ ,, . : , ~ ':
' :

., , , , , :
:',,, ' : : . ' . . : :

~:, ~ . , .. . :.
:~: ' . -: :. , : :, , : , S~5~

1 receiving contact mean~ for an el~ctricll rcceptacle con-structcd in accordance with the concept.~ o~ the inven~ion.
FIG. 22 i~ a fragmentary front elevational view, ln section, showing the ground conductor support means of the device of FIG. 1.
F~G. 23 is a fragmentary perspective vlew, partly in section, of a further embodiment of a ground conductor contact means for an electrical receptacle constrllcted in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further embodiment of contact means for an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the lnvention.
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the mounting means thereof are deployed to mount the device to a supporting structure.
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing engagement of the mounting means of the device of FIG. 1 to an adjacent wall structure.
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, showing the mounting means ~nd associated structure of the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a further embodi ~
ment of mounting means 40r an electrical receptacle constructed ~ -in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the-device of i FI~. 28 fully deployed.

:~, ' , .. .

.~
:` :

, :.:, - . :. : :: . :- , , :-:::: ,: ~ , : : ::. , ~ : ,. : .. . . . .

~ l)5~3~

1 FIC. 30 is a perspecti~e view of another el~odiment of mounting meanE~ ~or an electrical receptacle constructed in accordance with the concepts of the lnvention.
F~G. 31 is a perspectlve view o the devic~ of FIG. 30 fully deployed.
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a ganged receptacle assembly constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 32 installed wittlin a supporting wall.
Similar elements are given similar reference characters in each of the respective drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
$urning now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27, 32, and 33 there is shown an electrical receptacle 40 e~nstructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The receptacle 40 comprises a body member 42 which may be conveniently molded from preferably rigid plastic material and which includes a base portion 44 having a flanged portion 46 surrounding the body member 42 and extend-ing beyond~the periphery thereof. The body member 42 comprises a box-like struc~ure formed from a plurality of upstanding wall portions including a pair of sidewalls 48, 48' and a pair - of end walls 50, 50' (FIG. 4). The interior of the sidewalls 48 and 48' and the end walls 50, and 50' combine to define ~able receivi~g cavity 52 which will be described in greater detail hereafter. As shown in greater detail in FIGo 4, the interior of the body member 42 comprises a series of aligned contact support~ 54,-54', 56, 56' and 58, 58' which . .

. .' , ~
'' , ' , .
. . ~ ' . .
~ , . . .

: : ,.,. . : . ~ : :
: ~ . :
.~
:,: : :.::
.: -: i:

1 comp~i~e selectively ~h~pe~ upstanding portion~ affi~ed to the b~e portion ~ of the body mcrnber 42 ~nd preferably molded integrally thercwith. The contact support~ 54, 5~' and 58 form ~ nest for a fir~t contact mean-~ 60 while the contact support~ 56, 56' and 50' form a nest for a second contact means 62. Each of the supports 54, 54', 56, and 56' border a respective aperture 64, 64', 66, 66' extending generally transversely through the base member 44 and propor-tioned to receive the blades of an electrical pluy which are guided through the aforesaid apertures or openings in the base portion ~4 for contact ~ith selective portions of the ~irst and second contact means 60 and 62, respectively.
~s further illustrated in ~IG. 2, the base member ~4 is provided with additional openings 68, 6B' adapted to receive the ground pin or blade of a conventional electrical plug.
.
The openings 6B, 68' coincide with respective contact engaging -finger portions 70 and 72 of a ground conductor contact means 74 shown in greater detail in FIG. 20 and which will be described in greater detail hereaEter. The contact means 74 is s~pported within the cable receiving cavity 52 of the body member 42 by a series of further support means 75, 75' and 76, 76' the inner su~faces of which define a channel ,.~
arranged to tightly abut the sides oE the contac~ means 74 to retain the contact means 74 in the desired position within the body member 42. To provide a complete enclosure, .. . . ~ .
there is provided a cover member 78 having latch portions ao and 80' (FIG. 81 adapted to mate with corresponding latch engaging protrusions 82 and 82' (FIG. 4) selectively located on the irst and ~econd sidewall~ 48 and 48', respectively, ~ 30 o~ body member 42. Each of the latch portion~ 30 a~d 80' .:

.~ . ' :
, ~ "
: .
.~. .
. , , .. ,. .. .. . ~,. , ,. ,. ... : . - .: . ., : :

,::: , , :, : ,~: ~ . ::
:: :: : : :.. ::. , .: - : : . ~:
,-: ': -- - : ,: :,, . . ,: ' , : , ,. ~, ;: : :, , ~ ,, ', .:
- .: - : .. :. . : , . -. . : : :: -:
. : : :::; :: : : ' : .: : : : : :: : : : ,: ,: :: . , , ~ , ::
:: ~: : :: : -, - .

1 extend from the ~ides of the cover member 7B generally normal to the ~nner surfac¢ thereof and are spaced apart from one another a dlstance generally equivalent to thc , spacing between the outer surface~ of the sidewalls 48 and 48' of the body member 42. The latch portions 80 and 80' each comprise a pair of generally parallel spaced 1eg portions 84, a4 ' and 86, a6 ' respectively, each of which is joined to the cover member 78 a,t one end, the juncture b~tween the cover member 7a and each of the latch portions B0 and B0' being further defined by a respective recessed portion 88, 88' arranged to increase the deflectability of each of the - latch portions 80 and B0' at its juncture with the cover member 78. Each of the latch portions 80 and 80' further comprises an interconnecting po~tion 90, 90', respectively, joining a pair of respective leg portions 84, 86 and 84', 86' at their outer ends to complete the latch portion structure. The inner edges of the leg portions B4 and 86 and the interconnecting portions 90 of latch portion 80 define a first aperture 92, while the inner edges of the leg ~o portions 84' and 86' and the interconnecting portion 90' of latch portion 80' define a second aperture 92' each suitably dimensioned to lockingly mate with the respective latch engaging protrusions 82 and 82' on the body ~mber 42. The ' .' : interconnecting portions 90 and 90' are further provided 2S with a be~eled interior surface 94, 94' generally adjacent ~ '' the leading edge of each of the latch portions 80 and 80', ~ ':
only one (94') of such surfaces being visible in FIG. 8-The beveled surfaces 94, 941 Yerve to deflect each of the latch . portions 80 a~d Q0' outwardly upon engagement with a respective l~tch engaging protrusion ~2, 82' as the cover member 78 i9 ' '~::~ : ' , : :' .
':

';'i~ '. - " , . ` '' ~5~L.5;3~L ~
urged ov~r the body m~mb~r 42, 80 that upon full closure o the cov~r memb~r 78 the inncr edge 96, 96' of each latch portion B0, 80', re3pectively, abuts the adjacent adge of a latch engaging protrus.ion 82, 82', to securely lock the cover member 78 to the body member 4~. The cover member 78, may, of course, be readily moved from the body member 42 by manually deflecting ~ach of the latch portions 80 and 80' c)utwardly sufficiently to disengage the edges 96 and 96' from the latch engaging protrusions 82 and ~2'. Alternatively, although not illustrated, the cover member 78 may be provided with latch engaging protrusions such as 82, 82', and the - body member 42 provided with latch portions such as 80, 80' to provide a similar but reversed latch arrangement. Depending outwardly from the first sidewall 48 of body member 42, are .
a first pair of .ribs 9B, 98' (FIG. 4) arranged to provide a guide channel for the latch portion 80. In a similar manner the second sidewall 48' is provided with a pair of depending ribs 100, 100' to provide a guide channel for the latch portion 80'. Where it is desired to selectively orient the cover member 78 on the body member 42 the width of the latch . .
portion 80 may be arranged to have a dimension different ~
than the width of the latch portion 80' and the inner space ~ .
between ribs 98, 98' and ribs 100, 100' correspondingly .
arranged to closely approximate the width of the corresponding latch portion 80, 80', thus insuring that the cover member 78 may be latched to the body member 42 in the desired orientat_on. Alternatively, although not illustrated, each Of the latch portions 30, 80' may be provided with iongitudinally ~:
;: extending ~ibs and the s~dewall3 4B, 48' of ~he body member 42, provided with mating ~uita41y located recesses to prov~de ~:

14 ~ :

:' , ' . ' ', .' '~.

. ' '' .' ' ' ~ ~ ' ~ ' ' ' ' . ' .' : :
... . . . . .

l~sls3~ ' l a similar yuidi~g ~nd ch~nnelling efeect. Each o~ th~ end wall~ 50 and 50' of the body ~lember 42 is provided ~lith a respective notched portion 102 and 102' arranged to p~ovide clearance for the incominy electrical cable. The cover ~ember 78 is provided with an upstanding portion 104 which, ~ ;
although shown adjacent only one end of the the cover member 78 in FIG. 8 may be provided at both ends in a simildr manner and arranged to fit closely within a respective one of the notched portion 102, and 102' in the body member 42 thus providing a selective closure for the unused cable entryway essentially as shown in FIG. 12 where, for example, an electrical cable terminates at the electrical receptacle 40. The upstanding portion 104 is frangibly connected to the remainder of the cover member 7a by a relatively thin web of reduced cross section indicated by the numeral 106 in ~IG. 11 to permit the upstanding portion 104 to be readily : broken away from the remainder of the cover member 78 to provide an entryway for a cable at either end of the receptacle 40.
This a~rangement has the additional advantage of permitting a cable such as 108 tFIG. 10) to be terminated to the electrical :-receptacle 40 midspan of its length where the ends of the cable 108 are to extend beyond both ends of the body member 42. In the case of a single ended termination, as shown in FIG. 9, the upstanding portion 104 has been left intact at one end of the cover member 78 but has been broken away from .
the other end so as to permit an electrical cable such as llO to be brought into and terminated at the receptacle 40 from only one end. Where it is desired to pro~ide an e~tryway :~
for ~ore than one cable at a given end of the body me~ber - 30 42, there may be advantageously provided an arrangement such ' ' , ' , , - 15 - :

' . ~ , ' ' ! , ' , ,: ' , , , : ' ~)S~S'3~
1 as th~t lllu~tratcd in FIG. 13, in which either or both o~
th~ notched po~tion~ 102 and 102' may be modified as at 112 to include a franqible portion 114 disposed within the notched portion 112 which, incidently, has a total depth s greater than that required to provide an entryway or a single electrical cable, but is appropriately redu~ed by ths height of the ~rangible portion 114. Consequ~ntly, in the event more than one electrical cable is to be inserted ,within the electrical receptacle 40 from a given end, the frangible portion 114 may then be broken away from the remainder of the notched ~ortion 112 to provide an enlarged -~' ope~ing, adapted to receive the additional cables therethrough. -Commensurate with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the upstanding portio~ 104 of cover member 78 will have a depth '-generaLly equivalent to the unobstructed opening of the notched portion 112 so that a complete closure may be effected at such end prior to the removal of the frangible portion 114. The body member 48 may, accordingly, be provided with a notched pGrtion such as 112 ~ithin either or both of the end walls thereof as necessary or desirable. As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the upstanding portion 104 of cover member 78 may be provided with a bevelled edge 116 arranged to be slidably engaged within a complimentarily formed slot ' 118 in either the notched portion 112 (FIG. 13) or 102 and 102' tFIG. 4) to provide an increased area of closure there- ' between. The cover member 78 is further provided with cable guides 120 and 120' (FIGo 8~ each o~ which includes a respec-tive pair of upstanding leg por~ion~ 122, 122' and 124, 124', eaoh pair at least partially defining a channel like ' ~30 opening to restrict lateral movement of an electrical cable ~' .. . . . .

, - 16 -~, .
~ "". ~ .
, ~5~3~L

1 3uch as 108 or 110 withln the cover member 78 during and after a~Rembly. Each pair of leg portions 122, 122' and 124, 124' are joined at their respective ba~es by an intercon-necting portion 126, 126', respectively, adapted to maintain the cable at a given height above the inner surface of the cover member 78. ~lso depencling outwardly generally normal to the interior surface of the cover member 78 are a serie~
of projections aligned in rows which are axially oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover member 78. One such row includes projections 128, 130, and 132. Another such row includes projections 134, 136, and - 138. Between the aforementioned two rows is a third row including projections 140, 142, 146 and 148, projections 146 and 148 differing, however, from projections 140 and 142 in providing a-guide rather than a ~upport, for the centrally -disposed conductor. The cable guides 126 and 126' are disposed along a common axis in general alignment ~ith an axis joining the projections 140, 142, 146, and 148. All of tbe aforementioned projections except projections 146 and 148 are provided with a bifurcated free end which, as illus-trated in-FIG. 8, may comprise a V-shaped notch such as indicated by the numeral 150 at the free end of projection 128. The apex o the notches in a particular row of projec-tions 7ie along a common axis generally parallel to the lon~itudinal axis of the cover member 78 to provide a cradle for a particular individual conductor of a multiconductor ' electrical cable in the manner ill~strated in FIGS. 9 and -- 10. In the arrangement illustrated therein, the two outer rows ~ompri~lng, re~pectively, projections 128, 130 and 132, and proiectionR 134, 136 and 138, are adapted to support the ~ - 17 - `

':

~ ~ 5 ~3 ~ ~

1 usual cu~re~t-carryincJ conductor~ of a multiconductor electric~l cable while the center row comprisi~g project~ons 140,142 146, ~nd 14a are adapted to support the usual ~round conductor of such cable. The V-notched projections are all of equal height and positionally arranged to insure that each of the conductors supported thereby will be aligned with a respective conductor receiving portion of an associated contact means 60, 62, and 74 located within the body member 42 of the receptacle 40 as the cover mernber 78 i5 brought into engagement with the body member 42. As the cover member 78 is urged into full latched engagement with the body member 42 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11, the conductors which are cradled within the bifurcated free ends of the projections in the cover member 78 are, accordingly, urged against the respective conductor receiving portions of the contact means 60, 62, and 74 for electrical and mechanical engagement therewith. After assembly, the cover member projections serve as a strain relief by locking the conductors in place adjacent the respective contact means.
The electrical receptacle 40 may be mounted to a suitably apertured supporting surface by the employment of mounting means such as pawl means 152 and 154 (PIG. 3, 25 and 26) each of which comprises a hub portion 156, 158, respecti~ely, and a finger portion 160, 162, respectively, each finger portion 160, 162 extending radially outwardly from i~s associated hub portion. Both pawl means 152 and 154 are similarly constructed and further comprise a gus et portion such as 164 ~FIG. 1) e~tending hetween the hub ~ portion and finger portion at each pawl means~ Each of the ; 30 hub portions 156 and 158 have a longi~udinal bore extending - 18 ~
.. ... .

~ ' ::: ~ - ~: : ; : :
. : : , ., . . , , . , , ~ ~ , ',, ' :': ,, ' , . , 5~ ~
1 thercthro~gh for thre,~d~d engagement with the shank portion of a respective sc~w means 166 and 168, the shank portion~
of which extend generally transversely through the ~langed portion 46 of the base portion 44 of the body m~mber 42.
~ach of t~e screw means 166 and 168 includes a head portion 170,. 112, respectively, (FIG. 2) which is acc~ssible from the front surface of the flarlg~d portion 46 so that upon rotation of the screw means 166 and 168, the respective pawl means 152 and 154 are caused to be deployed and axially displaced in a manner shown more clearly in FIG. 25 and 26.
The body member 42 is provided with a pair of pawl stops 174 and 176 (FIG. 3) each arranged to limit the rotational travel of a respective pawl means 152, 154 as shown in FIG.
27. The pawl stops 174 and 176 extend generally parallel to the axis of a respective screw means 166 and ].68 generally normal to the plane of the base portion 44 of the body member 42 and are arranged to intercept the arc o~ a respective -finger portion 160, 162 of a pawl means 152, 154. Accordingly, the pawl means 152 and 154 may be deployed frorn a first position closely adjacent and within the periphery of the sidewalls 48 and 48' of the body member 42 (FIG. 3) to a ::
; second position substantially as shown hy the dotted outlines 178 and 178l in FIG.. 2S and by the solid outline ir ~IGo 27 by rotating each of the screw means 166 and 168 with the aid of a tool such as screw driver 180 ~IG. 25) in the . - :; direction shown by ~he arrows 182. As the finger portions 160 and 162 of the pawl means 152 and 154 contact a respective pawl stop 174, 176, further rotation of the pawl means is thus:restrained and each of the pawl means 152 and 154 is ~:~
: 30 cau~ed ~o ride along the threaded portion of a re~pective - 19 ~

~ .

',:: -: ., ,: ' ' : :, . : ' :~ :' :.,:: ,, : . . .: .:
:','~ .' ' .' :, ' : " , : : : : ' :

10515~31 1 ~crew means 166,16~ toward~ the flanged portion 46 of the base portion ~4 in a dircction ind:Lcated generally by the ~rrows 184 and la6 in FIG. 25. As each of the screw mean3 166 and 168 is further rotated, the associatcd pawl mcan~
finger portions 160 and 162 axe caused to bear against the adjacent surface of a supporting wall 188, in a manner shown more clearly in FIG. 26. The ~all 188 is thus sandwiched between a respective finyer portion 160, 162 of the pawl :~ means 15~, 154, and the flanged portion 46 of the receptacle 40 to lock the receptacle 40 in the desired position within the supporting wall 18~. The shank portion of each of the screw means 166 and 168 extends through the flanged portion ; 46 of the base portion 44 and into a respective supporting boss 190, 192 (FIG. 4). Extending rearwardly from each of the bosses 190, 192, is a channel 194 (FIG. 26) disposed adjacent the shank portion of each of the screw means 166 and 168 and having an interior surface arranged to provide a .. . .
nest for an associated hub mean~ 156, 158, of the pawl means ~:
. 152, 154. Each of the channels 194 is further provided with :
a lip portion 196 illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 26 and 27. The channels 194 and the lip portions 196 are essentially ~' of the ~me length and encompass a portion of the total : -. axial distance transversed by the pawl mean~ so that each of :~ . the finger portions 160 and 162 of the pàwl means 152 and 154 may be rotated freely into their deployed position wlthout interference from either the channel 194 or lip portion 196 at the initiation of the mounting operation. ,~
0Owever, as the screw means 166 and 168 are rotated, each of the pawl means 152 and 154 is caused to advance forwardly axially along a re~pective threaded portion of the ~crew ~; , . . ,:
- 20 ~
'' ' . ' , : , :
: . : : ~ , S:~5~
1 means 1~6 ~nd 1.~8 untLl each of the pawl rneans 152 and 154 has enteretl the area cncomp~ssed by the lip portio~ of an associatcd channel 194. In this position, the pawl means i0 partially restrained from rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the front of the receptacle 40, beyond a position stlown generally by the dotted outline 15~
in FIG. 27 so that in the event oP vibration or movement of the recept~cle 40 the mou~ting pawls 152 ~nd 154 are e~fec-tively restrained ir~ their arcuate travel and are always at io least partially deployed for engagement with the adjacent surface of the supporting wall 188. To remove the receptacle 40 from the supporting structure, each of the screw ~eans 166 and 168 must be backed off sufficiently to cause an associated pawl means lS2, 154 to be moved axially rearwardly sufficiently to cause an associated finger portion 160, 162 to traverse the entire length of an associated restraining lip 196 so that each of the pawl means may then be freely rotated back into its undeployed position essentially as shown in FIG~ 3. A modified form of the lip portion 196 is illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29 and includes an upstanding finger 198 which functions both as a restraining means and guide means for each of the pawl means 152 and 154. A - -. fur~her embodiment of a rotational restraining means is shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 wherein each of the pawl means is ~ 25 provided with a hook-like extension 200 extending outwardly rom its finger portion and arranged to overlie an upstanding :~
rib portion 202 located on the body ms.~ber 42 an2 extending generally parallel to the axis of an associated screw means ~` 166 and 168. Thus, in the undeployed state, the pawl means 30. and it9 as~ociated hook-like exten3ion 200 are positioned essen-: . . . .
- .

.:: ~ . ... . . . . .

:- : . . - .: : -: :
: , , . ... . , . .:
:.:. ~ : : : : - . : . . :, :
: . : . . .: : : - , , . ., ,, . , : : .. : . ,.

, .:: : - : : . :: . :. . - :: ,: .. : : :. : - : , : . :: .
,-:-:., : - : :- : : .

)5~5~L
1 tially a~ ~h~wn ln FIG. 30. After d~ployment, a~ ~hown in FIG. 31, the hook-like exten3ion 200 1~ cau~ed to bc engaged about the rib portion 202 which both guides and supports the pawl means as it is advanced toward~ the fl~nged portion 46 of the base portion 44.
Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 16 the contact means 60 l~catsd within the body member 42 of the electrical receptacle 40 is shown in ~urther detail. Since the contact means 62 is essentially identical to the contact means 60 but is formed as a mirror image thereof, all reference to the contact means 60 will be deemed to include a similar but complimentary structure with regard to the contact means 62.
The contact means 60 may be conveniently manufactured prefer-ably from a single strip of highly conductive metal.lic material such as, brass, copper, or other well known conduc-tive materials and includes a generally U-shaped conductor engaging central.portion 2Q4 having a bight portion 206 and extending leg portions 208 and 208'. The free end of each ~f the leg portions 208 and 208' is joined to a respective arm portion 210, 210' disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of a respective leg portion 208, 208', said arm portions lying in a common plane. Each of the arm portions 210 and 210' terminates in a respective looped portion 212, : 212' of generally flattened configuration so as to provide a respective tab receiving slot 214, 214' oriented in generally parallel relationship with the plane of an associated arm portion 210, 210', each of the 'cab receiving slots 214, 214' being arranged to slidably receive the blade of a common .. . .
electrical plug. The gap between ~he opposing wall surfaces forming the tab receiving slot 214, 214' i9 selectively .
, - 22 - ~
~ , ' ' "' ' "
. .
,.~.,;. : ~
-.
:- : - . : -.
:. - ; , ::

5~ ~

1 dimensioned to provide a relatively tiyht fit about such bl~de to insure sccure and r~liable elcctrical and mechanical eontact therebetween. Each looped portion, 212, 212', is provided with outwardly flared extending portions 216, 218, respectively, for partially guiding an associated blade of an electrical plug into a respective tab receiving slot 214, 214'. Each of the leg portions 208, and 208' of the contact means fiO is provided with a first slot 220, 220' (FIG. 16) extending a given lenqth generally parallel to the a~is of the bight portion 205 of the central portion 204, each of the first slots 220 and 220' terminating at a second slot - 222, 222', respectively, axially oriented generally normal to the axis of its respective first slot 220, 220' to define a generally inverted T-shape. The first and second slots of ea~h leg portion 208, 208', thus define a pair of opposingly disposed finger portions 224, 224', and 226, 226', respectivelyj --each of tha finger portions being independently deflectable -. .
and having a free edge arranged to sever the insulation -about and engage the conducting portion of an insulated conducto~ forcibly thereinto. As further illustrated in FIG. 14, the finger portions 224, 224' are offset from one another in opposite directions from the plane of their ~ associated le~ portion 208, and the finger portions 226, ; 226' are offset from one another in opposite directions from the plane of their associated leg portion 20~', so that each of the finger portions of a pair such as 224 and 224' will be deflected away from one another in opposite directions when subjected to the force of, for example, an electrical conductor urged between the finger .
portion~ and having a diameter slightly greater than the ~
.
~ - 23 - ~
'" . ' . ' ,:
: ' ' :

- :::: - .. . .. - - . . . . .
:,: : : ,, , , ,., ,,., , .
: :.. : : - :: ,: : - . ... ,. , .:. . : .: .. . . ~ .

'.' ',, ' ' " '` : ' . ' .. ''' ' ' ' .'`,, ' : :~

53~L

1 ~Jidth of th~ r~spectlve slot 220. Thc finger portio~s 224, 224', will of collrse, tend to rcturn to their orlginal un-deflect~d position, ther~by maintaining tight electrical and mechanical engagement with the engaged portion of the electri-cal conductor. An identical situation occurs with respect to the finger portions 226, 226' which are formed in essenti-ally the same manner as the finger portions 224, 224'.
Accordingly, a conductor spanning the U-sh~ped portion 204 of the contact means 60 generally parallel to the plane of the arm portions 210, 210' is securely held between the two pair of finger portions and i5 thereby electrically joined .-- to the remainder of the contact means 60. Although the arrangement shown in FIG. 16 has been found to be entirely adequate in the case of a single conductor, a third slot 228 (FIGo 17) disposed intermediate the length of, and intersect-ing the first slot 220, 220', may be introduced into a .~.
respective leg portion 208, 208', to provide two pair of ; independently deflectable finger portions 230, 230', and 232, 232' located along the length of an associated slot 220,.220'. Accordingly, conductors of different diameters, . which, by way of example, are illustrated by the dotted outlines 234, 236 in FIG. 17, may be forcibly urged into a respective slot 220, 2Z0' in overlyin~ relationship and ind~pendently erlgaged between an associated pair of finger portions, such as 230, 230' and 232, 232', to minimize the :~
effect of defl~ction of one pair of finger portions upon the othe~ pair. In this manner either the larger or smaller .
:~ diameter conductor may be introduced first into the slots ~- .
220, 220' without effectin~ the electrical and mechanical int~grity of the connection formed between both conductors ., , ~.

2q - .
., ' :

':

. ~ -. . , : -:~ , - . : : :
.: ., . .: . . :

53~
1 and the cont~lct mean~. In a 3imilar m~nner, an adr~itional slot may be providid along the length of the ~irst ~lot 22U, 220' in a manner illustrated, for example, in FIG. 18 where there i9 shown a conductor receiving leg portion 238 having a longitudinally disposed first slot 240 terminating at a second slot 242 and further intersected by additional slots 244 and 246 to provide three pai~ of individually de~lectable ~ fingers 248, 248', 250, 250', and 252, 252'. Each of the slots 242, 244, and 246 may further terminate at an additional : 10 slot such as indicated at 254, 254', 256, 256' and 258, 258', respectively, providing increased flexibility for each of - the independently deflectable finger portions 248, 248' 250, ~:
250' and 252, 252'. As further illustrated in FIG. 19 the ~;;
finger portions located on one side of the slot 240 may be alternatingly offset from the plane of their associated leg ::~
portion 238, that is, the finger portion 252, as viewed in ~ PIG. 19, is offset to the left of the plane of the leg - portion 238 while the finger portion 250 is offset to the right of the plane of the leg portion 238 and, accordingly, the .finger portion 248 may be offset in the same direction as the finger portion 252. The alternating offset arrangement described hereinabove may, of course, be modified so that each of the finger portions, such as 248, 250, and 252 ~ located on one.side of the slot 240 may be offset in the 25 same direction from the plane of their associated leg.portion238 while the finger portions 248', 250, and 252' l.ocated on :~ the other side of tha slot 240 may be offset in the opposite . direction from the plane of their associated leg portion 238. It has been found, h~wever, that an alternating ofset :. 30 arrangement provides a slightly better distribu~ion of . :~
' - 25 ~
:.~ , , .

. :

1 forces along ono si.de of thc slot 240 wh~r~ a plurality of conductor~s are dispos~d in ov~rlying rcl.atlonship within the slot 240. The bight portion 206 of the U-shaped portion 204 of the contact means 60 is fu~ther provided with a lanced 5 projection 260 (FIG. 16) extending outwardly from the rear surface of the bight portion 206 for engagement with the adjacent wall su~face of the contact ~upport within the body member 42 to lock the contact means 60 in a given position within the body member 42.
Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 15, either or both of the contact means 60 and 62 may be modified to provide a con-tact means 262 essentially similar to either of said contact means 60 or 62 but further provided with an additional looped portion such as 264 disposed generally normal to a respective . .looped portion 212, 212' described heretofore. To facilitate ` the employment of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the base .~ portion of the receptacle is modified essentially as shown in FIG. 7 to pro~ide a T-shaped slot 266 arranged to coincide with one end of the contact means 262, and a rectangular slot 268 essentially duplicative o~ slots 64, 64' illustrated in FIG. 2, and similarly arranged to coincide with a respective looped end of the contact means 60. The additional looped portion 264 is also provided with a flattened configuration to de~ine a tab receiving slot 270 planarly oriented generally . ~.
perpendicular to the plane of the tab receiving slot 214' of ; contact means 60 to provide a socket arrangement adapted to :;
receive both 120 V.A.C. and 220 V~A.C. electrical plu~s, where necessary or desirable. For duplex operation, both :~ ends o~ the contact meanR 262 may be provided w.ith an addi-tiona} looped portion 264 (FIG. 15), each di~po3ed adjacent - 26 ~

: : .:: : ::

:: .: : ,: ::, , :,:.,, " . : "- :
,

3~L
1 the terminating end of a respectiv~ arm portion 272, 272'.
The ~dditional looped po~tions 264 aro nlso provided with outw~rdly flared extending portions 274 similar to the flared portions 216 and 218 illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 and function in a similar manner in providing a guide for the r~spective plug blades inserted therewithin. The contact means 60 and 62 and the contact means 262 are designed primarily to provide an interconnection between the conven-tional current-carrying conductors of an incoming electrical cable and the blades of an electrical plug inserted within the receptacle. The ground contact means 74 shown in plan view in FIG. 4 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 20 and is also preferably manufactured from a single strip of highly conductive metallic material suitably formed to provide a generally U-shaped conductor receiving portion 276 having a bight portion 278 and extending leg poliions 280 and 280'. The leg portions 280 and 280' are slotted as at 2B2, 282', respecti~ely, to provide a conductor receiving channel for the ground conductor of a multiconductor electri-cal cable such as described heretofore. Extending from the free end cf the leg portion 280 in generally normal planar relationshlp therewith is a channel-like arm portion 284 from which depends the first finger portion 70, while the second finger portion 72 e~tends from one edge of the remain-ing leg portion 280' and i9 formed essentially as a mirror ima~e o~ the first finger portion 70. The finger portions 70 and 72 of contact means 74 are arranged to coincide with the apertures 68 and 68', respectively, in the base portion 44 of ~he body mem~er 42 so as to bear against the respective ground pin of an electrical plug in~erted within the correspond-:~

:: -:: . :. . : , , . .. ~-1 ing apertur~s 68, 68' in thc base portion 44. ~he longitudinally extending upturned edges 76, 76' of the arm portlon 284 of the contact m~an~ 74 are arranged to engage the adjacent : wall portions of the contact support means 75, 75' ~FIG. 4) within the body memb~r 42 o~ the receptacle 40 to maintain the contact mean~ 74 in a given position between the contact means 60 and 62. The edges 76 and 76' may be serrated as : shown at 286, 286' in FIG. 21 to increase the interenyagement ^ between such edges and the adjacent wall of the contact supports in the body member 42. The arm portion 284 of the ground contact means 74 is further supported on struts 288, - 288' ~FIG. 22) extending upwardly from the base portion 44 of the body member 42, intermediate the contact support -. means 75, 75' (FIG. 4).
- 15- T~rning now to FIGS. 23 and 24, the conductor receivin~-slots in each of the contact means 60 and 62 and the ground con~uctor contact means 74 may be eliminated, and an arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24 substituted therefore. In FIG. 23, there is shown a portion of a ground conductor contact means 290 having outwardly e~tending flanged portions 292 and 294 each suitably ape~tured to receive an associated threaded member such as a screw 296, 298 which may be tightened about the bared looped end of a conductor (not shown) to electrically and mechanically connect the conductor to the contact means 290. The contact ~, means 60 and 62 may be similarly modified as shown for ~ example in FIG. 24. As illustrated therein, each of the arm :~ , portions may be provided with an associated overhanging ~langed p~rtion 300, 302, suitably apertured to receive a threaded member such as a screw 304, 306 which may similarly ,: - , .
~: - 2a - :;
~ ;
`~

!

:; :'' .' . . , . :
:. ,' .' . . . . . :~' :

-5~
1 be tightcned a~out th~ b~r~d lo~yecl end of an electrlcal conductor for electricc~l and mechar~ic~1 engagement th~rewith.
Turning now to FIGS. 32 and 33, two or more electric~l receptacles 4n may be m~unted in side by side r~lationship in a supporting wall such as 308 by the e~ploy-~,ent of a suitably dim~nsioned frame 310 the inner periphery of which is recessed as at 312 to provide a supporting step for the peripheral edge o~ the flanged portions of each of ~he receptacles 40. To initiate the installation, one or more electrical cables such as 314 are first fed through a suitably proportioned aperture 316 in the supporting wall 308 and through the fra~e 310 for attachment to each of the receptacles 40. The receptacles 40 3re then placed against , the recess 312 of the frame 310 in juxtaposed relationship and the partial assembly including the receptacles 40 and the frame 310 positi~ned against the aperture 316 in the supporting wall 308. The mounting pawls 152 and 154 ~ay now be deployed by rotating the screws 166 and 168, as described ; hereinabove, so that the finger portions thereof are caused to rGtate outwardly and advance forwardly against the rear surfacP of the supporting wall 308, thereby providing a completed installation essentially ~s shown in FIG. 33. It will of course be readily appreciated that, due to the ~ature of the assembly, extreme care in ~orming the aperture 316 is not required since the f~ame 310 and the electrical ~eceptacles 40 comprise es~entially a self-contained unit , which may be relatively freely manipulated both vertically I and horizontally within the dimensions of the aperture 316 prior to deploying and advancing the mounting pawls 152 and 154. It will also be appreciated that although two such `'' " ~-15~.1 "
1 electri.cal recoptacles 40 are shown in the assembly 11-lustrated in FIG. 33, almost any number may be cooperatively joined in a similar manner without departiny from the spirit of the invention and within the concepts herein disclosed.

;

'.

., ~ '':
~ "`-"' ' ' " ~

' .

:: ', ~ . ' : . : - .

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Contact means for engaging the ground conductor of an electrical multiwire cable located within an electrical receptacle, comprising: a single strip of highly conductive thin metallic material having a U-shaped conductor receiving portion having a bight portion and leg portions, an arm portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of one of said leg portions in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of said one leg portion, said arm portion terminating in a first finger portion folded out of the plane of said arm portion and communicating therewith along a line generally parallel to the transverse axis of said first arm portion, said first finger portion having a convexedly formed outer surface arranged to contact the ground pin of an electrical plug inserted within a given opening in said electrical receptacle, a second finger portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of the other of said leg portions in a direc-tion generally parallel to the plane of said other leg portion and offset therefrom said second finger portion having a convexedly formed outer surface arranged to contact the ground pin of an electrical plug inserted within a further given opening in said electrical receptacle.

2. Contact means as defined in claim 1 wherein said arm portion comprises longitudinally extending opposing edges defining the width of said arm portion, said edges being generally symmetrically displaced out of the plane of said arm portion for engagement with the adjacent surfaces of contact supporting walls disposed within said electrical receptacle to retain said contact means in a given position within said receptacle.

3. Contact means as defined in claim 2 wherein said edges are serrated for increased engagement with the adjacent surfaces of contact supporting walls disposed within said electrical receptacle.