US2579854A

US2579854A - Continuous electrical outlet

Info

Publication number: US2579854A
Application number: US37421A
Authority: US
Inventors: Winston S Perkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-07-07
Filing date: 1948-07-07
Publication date: 1951-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1968-12-25

Description

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and' usefu1 improvements in electrical wiring devices and has particular relation- 150 a convenience outlet devme.

An object of the invention. is to provide a con- Veniehce outlet structure o'f an elongated configuration and into w-hich a p1ug cap er other wiring device equipped with prongs may be plgged' at any place along the lengch of such device;

Another object is t Drovide a device having the chatacteristics indicated and also includi'ng a cover meansfor the device topreventacciidenf injury 130 anyone coming in contact W-ith the device and to give the device a complet6 appearance anal clo'se it against the entrance' of dust, dirtandthe 1ike.

A further object is to provide an elen'1ent of safety whereby the danger of c'asual er unex'-' pected contact with the conductors of the element Will be avcided.

Ye't a furth'er obj'ect is to=provieie in connec'tionwith an elongated er continuous outlet device a'h improxred mea'ns for the Mounting 01' the de-= vice Whereby the latter may be mo'uhted o'n the upper edge 0f a baseboard or in any other Con- Ve'nieht ldcation anal is"- proberly, yet remo vably s'upported in position'.

A still fuzther object is to provide in a con-- 1iih'uous outlet devic'e improved corner connector" an'd a1so= an i1'npro'ved conr'1e'ct0r for use in the cnnecting of leads with ehe wiring device a's fromany 0r the usua1 metal out1efi box.

Other objeccs and advantages of the invention will become appare'nt from a consideration of the following detailed des'cription taken in connectio'r'x With the accompa'nying drawings wherein= a s'atis'- factory embodiment of the; invehtion is shown. However,- it is tobe understood thatthe in'vention is not limi-ted to the details dis'closed bubin' cludes all such variations and modificattionsas fal1 within the spirit 01 the invention and'- the scope of the appe'nded claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometx-ic view showing a corner of a room with the present continuous out1et mounted on the baseboard 035 such ro'orrl;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a larg'er' scale show* ing my improved c'o'nn'ec'tor connecting the coritinuous outlet device into a hou'se wiring circuit;

Fig. 3' is a front elevational view of the 001'1- struction cf Fig. 2;

Fig-. 4 is a transvers'esec'tional view takten a1o'ng the 1ine 4-4 of Fig. 3 with a cover in sectioh thereover;

2 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken a1ong the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical o)? transverse section'al view takten a1ong the plane of the 1ine 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view on a larger' scaleth'a'n Fig. 1 and showing a covering for the pr'eseht continuous out1et;

Fig; 8 is a vertical se0tiorial view showing a plug cap mounted on' the present outlet, ehe view bein'g taken along the 1ine 88 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a front elevationeil view on a larg'ar' sc'ale than Fig. 1 and showing the mounting 0f a plug cap in the prese1'1t continuous outlet arid between adjaaeno endportiohs of a cover; 1

Fig. 10 is a top p1an view on the sca1e of Fig 2 showing the corner connet'ztor of the present 00htinuous outle't;

Fig. 11 is a view partl'y in front elevaoio3 aind partly in transve'rse sectio'n, the view being haken along the plane of the line HH of Fig; 10;

Fig. 12 is anisomettib view of a-conduct'or stri empl3*ed in a Corner connec't'o'r cf the p'1tese'nt concinuous outlet structure; and

Fig-. 13 is a sirr1ila'r view 0f a conductcr Strip en1ployed in the connector through the medium of whi'ch the pres'ent Continuous out1et is corI-* nected in the house Wiring system.

Referring in detail to the drawing"s' at H! 1s indicated, in broken lines, a corner portion of a rooxn includim; Walls II and I2 an'd a, bas'ebo'azd I3. F01 the present purpose, my improved comtinuous outlet construction is shown as mounted on the uppe'r edge of the baseboard (3, althot1gh it will be unde'istood that the constructio'nmay be used in any desired or convenient location;

My improved continuous outl'et iS shown in Fig. I in a generaL assembly and there such outletincludes an elongated body 14-, the details of 001'1- struction of which will be given, a spring metal mounting str'ucture o1 sfirip generally designat'ed l5 a cover structure which is provided in the desired lengths and Which is disclosed in three sec'- tions in Fig. 1, each such section being generally designated I6 aconnector l! for connection of the continous molding With the house wiring circuit, and a corner connector !8 for' the comtinuousbody I4. Also, in that figure, a ph'1g cap is generally designated I8. This plug cap I9 is shown as of a general configuration somewhat similar to" that of the cover structure I6 and as located between adjacent ends of a pair' of cover sections specifically designated 20 and 21.

The' co'ntinuous outlet 14 is best extruded With a pair of spaced elongated conductors22 and' 23 therein. The 011t1et I 4' qg'mpri'ses an elongate'd ioody 24 of insulating material and it has been i1- lustrated as being formed by extrusion proeesses. This body 24 is shown as approximately square in transverse section (see especially Figs. 6 and 7) and in its upper Wall, toward its rear edge, is provided With a notch 25 and in its lower side, toward its forvvard edge, with a notch er recess 25. lt will be understood that the conductors 22 and. 23 are co-extensive with any particular section cf the body 25 and they are located we11 whin the body and access is to be had to them through

entrance s1ots

21 and 28 opening through the front or outer edge of ehe body and in their inner ends terminating entering transversely

circu1ar passages

25 and 35 located at the upper and lower sides, respectively cf the

conductors

22 and 23.

It is noted that the

entrance s1ots

27 and 25 are locatecl somewhao above and be1ow the upper and lower surfaces cf the

conductors

22 and 23 so that there is aslight drop-off from the inner ends of said entrances so said conductors. The purpose of this is 130 prevent casua1 contact With the conductors shculd a child. push a hairpin er the like through ehe entrance slots. Intermediate the ends cf the entrance s1ots and in their respective upper and 1ower sides, such slots are shown as provided With

s1ight recesses

31 and 32, respective1y, the purpose of which Will appear.

The metal mounting strip I5 is emplcyed for the proper locating and mounting cf ehe cantinucus outlet molding or device I4. Such mouncing strip I5 is, cf course, elongated and transversely it is somewhat L-shaped in that it includes a back portion 33 and a bottom or lateral poron 34. In addition, the upper edge cf Ehe back 53 is bent forwardly providing a narrow forwarcdy projeccing extension 35 approximately parallel with the lower Wall 34 and then this extensicn is ben's inwardly ab right angles providing a 1ip 35. Additionally, the forward er free end portion f the bottom wa11 34 is bent to provide a transversely curved spring 1ip 31.

The strip E is mounted in any suitable manner but is shown as secured to the baseboard 53 by screws 38 passing through the betteln Wall 34 cf the strip and preferably having cheir heads countersunk in such Wall and. then threaded into the baseboard. Additionally, screws 35 pass through the vertical 01 rear Wall 33 of the strip and preferably have their heads countersunk in such Wall and. then such screws are shown as threaded into the wa1l structure H cf the room. In connecticn With the mounting cf the strip i5, i1', is to be understood that the

screws

38 and 39 may bcth be used as illustrated 01 if the mounting only permits of the use cf screws through one Wall of the strip, that Will generally be found sufficient.

Additionally it is preferred that the screw holes in the strip wa1ls .be spaced but short distances apart since then When only a short length of the strip is used, any particular connection even a short length, Will have suificient holes for the passage of the necessary securing screvvs. In this connection it Will be understocd that the strip may be provided in lengths and oben savred er ot'nerwise cut so the desired lengths on the job.

When ehe strip is in place, the body 14 is mounted by arranging it ab a slight angle and placing its lower rear corner on the Wall 35 cf the strip and with its upper rear corner as much as possible in the rear cf the 1ip 35 of the spring meizal st1ip. Then the body is simply rocked downwardly; 170 locate it in the inner orrear portion of the recess 26 prcvided in the bottom forward edge of the body M. T0 remove the body I4, it is simply rocked in 111e opposite direction unti1 it is released and then 113 is 1ifted out. I.t is noted that the rear corners cf the body are nonstrucced on arcs to permit cf the described rocking movement for the mounting and. removal of the body.

With the constructicn described, it will be understood that for any particular installation the proper length cf strip 15 is provided and such length may be cut from a strip of indefinite length. Similarly; the proper length cf the outlet body 14 is provided. I-Iowever, simply mounting cf the strip and the snapping cf a boc1y section into a section cf the strip does not provide the necessary wiring connections 1:0 the

conductors

23 and 22. 'Ihis connection is provided through the employment cf a connector device such as that generally designated H in the drawings.

Connector H comprises a bcdy o1 insulating material including a rear Wall 55, bottom Wall G! and

end Walls

52 and 43. There is 110 front Wall in the connector H and the same is not herein consideredas incluciing a top wa1l, although it does include a very slight forwardly projecting upper 1ecige shown as of a size or width substantially equal to the thickness cf the 1ip35 of the strip I5 and terminating about fiush With the botom cf a notch er 1ecess provided in the upper edges of the

end Walls

32 and 53 and a1- ranged to align with the notch 25 of a section 0f ehe body M- when the connector I! and such body sec'ci-on are mounted by be strips 15. 1

When using one cf the connectors H, it is preferred that the same be located over any or the usual meta1 wa1l outlet box and such box is suggested at 56 by dotted 01' broken lines in certain figures of the drawings. These boxes 56 are customarily provided With

mounting ears

51 and 48 extending from their respective ends and for my purpose, I pass anchoring screws 45 through adjacent end portions of the Walls 33 cf a pair oi strips I5 and thread such screws into the

ears

47 and 48. box 46 is mounted.

T0 permit cf adjustments of the outlet box or cf the metal strips I5 employed, the latter in their adjacent end portions are provided with elongated openings 55 through which the screws 49 pass. Hera it is also noted that while end portions of the strips I5 extend over 0r across the ends of the box 4G, the adjacenc ends of the strips are somewhat spaced leaving an Opening 5l which aligns with an -opening 52 in the rear Wall 45 cf the connector I7. Through these openings, leads 53 and 54 are carried.

These 1eads are connected, respectively, with lower and

upper conductors

55 and 56 mounted in the connector I'I and preferably anchored In this way, the outlet Q the rear Wall of the latter as by screws,

rivets Binding posts

58 and 59 secure free ends for the passage of screws, as Will apare mounted toward the upper and lower edges of the insulaeing body so as: t'o leave clear the opening 52 through ehe rear wall of such body andalso toamialy space the contluctors from one another toavaid any chance f short circuit. The strap-like 1ear portion 60 of ehe conduceor 56 lies just uncler the slight ledge 44 on ehe forward edge cf the upper portion of the wall 40 of ehe insulating body of the connector I'I so as to be separated by such poreion 50 from any possibility of contact with the 1ip 36 of ehe strip I5.

' Self-eappingscrews 61 pass through ehe openings 65 anti 66 of the ends of ehe

conductors

55 and 55 anti through the adjacent portions of ehe end Walls 42 anti 43 Qf the connector body. While these screws have a. purpose of establishing electrical connections between ehe conductors 55 anti 56 anti the

conductors

23 and 22 inehe bodies I4, such screws also serve eo assist in mounting the conductors 55 anti 56 in ehe insulating. bodies of ehe connectors I'I. The screws 61 are passed ehrough ehe ends 63 and 64 and.

ehe Walls

42 and 43 from ehe inner sitles of ehe insulating body of which said walls constitute parts. Thus, ehe heads of the screws are catetl wiehin said body. However, since the body is open ab ies front and top sides, access is had for ehe anchoring of ehe leads 53 anti 54 130 ehe binding posts 58 anti 59 anti m the heads of ehe screws 61 for the turning of ehe. latter.

The conductor strips 55 anti 56 are locaeed approximately in the same vertical relation as the conductors 23 anti 22 of ehe body I4 anti the end walls- 42 anti 43 of the insulatlng body of the connector I1 are approximately ehe size and shape 0f an anti of the body I4. Therefore, afeer a pair of the secl;ions o f. strip I5 has been used to mount a Wall box 46 and a conneceor I! has been mounted an ehe. adjacent end portions of said strips in spanning relation With eheir spaced ends, the necessary securing of the leads 53 anti 54 to the strips 55 anti 55 may be made.

Then a pair 0f sections of the desired lengeh cf theelongated body: I4 are snapped into place in ehe strips I5 at each end of ehe insulating body cf the connector I]. The adjacent ends 0f the body or section I4 are pushed against the outer sicles t f ehe endwalls: 42 and 43 of ehe c0nnetttor I'I. 'I-his W111 bl'ill' Ijhe openings 65 anti 65 of the

conductors

55 and 56 ineo alignment wieh the transversely circular passages 35 anal 23 ae the oueer sides of ehe conductor strips 23 and 22. These transversely circular passages have a diameter equal to the diameter of ehe body of a screw 61 to ehe root of ies thread.

Now, these screws 61 are threaded into the end portions o-f ehe

passages

30 and 29 of ehe body I4. As ehis is done, the threads of the screws bite ineo the

conductors

23 and 22 3Ild also into portions of ehe body I4 about the

openings

35 and 29. In this way, a good e1ectrical and mechanlcal connection isestablished ehrough the screws between ehe condueeors 55 anti 55 of the connector I1" and the c0nduceors 23 anti 22 of ehe body I4. Ae this time, assuming ehe leads 53 anti 54110 have been connected up, uslng the binding posts 58 anti 59 it will be seen ehat the

conductors

23 and 24 are conneceed in ehe house wiring circuit.

The cover sections Hi a1e provlded in pieces of considerable length antl it is plannecl that they wouldbe sawed or 0therwise cue eo desired lengbhs 011 the job. Each such cover seceion comprises a hollowbody or shell-like portion 68', com'prising a lower straightportion 58a anti an upper emved" 01 arcuate portion 68b. The arcuaee portion canstitutes approximaeely one-quarter of a circle 01 is of any other contour. On the inner sitle of the. lower straight portion 68a are vertically spaced ledge-like portions 01 legs 59 which extend for the length of the cover er from end-toencl ehereof anti preferably are formed integral therewith. The lege 89 areoutwartily curved o1 off-set providlng 1ip p0reions 'I! along their free edges. This construction is as clearly shown inentrances 2'I anti 23 and simply pushed in, The

lip-like poreions 75 at the free ends of seid legs snap ineo ehe netches 3I 21'1. 32 formed in the upper anti 10Wer Walls, respectlvely,v 0f the entrances 21 ancl 2-8 am]. thusserve 130 hold ehe cover in place.

While the cover is in place, its upper curved portion 58b preferably extends back over the body I4 to engage ehe Wall portion above such body somewhat in ehe nature of a molding antl exentls downwardly eo cover the recess 25 anti. preferably laps over ehe baseboartl.. Therefore, ehe cover section I5 completely conceals the elengaeed body I4 anti its mounting anti forming a cover over ehe same prevenes ehe upper edge of such body and mouneing f1om forming aehelilike structure eo collect duse antl the 1ike. The cover section gives a compleeed appearance 01' a finish eo the eneire installation.

In a corner, ehe ends cf the cover seceions extending the corner are preferably cut form a mite joint assuggested by ehe line 7II of Fig. 1 anal the p0reions of the cover overlapping ehe corner connector 18 will not be equipped with ehe legs er ledges 69 so that such legs o1 ledges will not interfere W-ith o1 p'r05ece into such sonnector I8.

Slnce the cover comprises ehe seceions I5, and ehe body serueture I4 anti its

conductors

22 and 23 proVide a continuous outlee, lt Will be umlerseootl that a plug cap-may be connectecl into the ouelet a1; any deslred place along the length of the latter. Preferably, any outlee employed is of somewhae the construction of the outlet I9 of ehe drawings anti, in addition 110 a body s2 mounting contaee prongs I3, will include an upper arcuate or rearwarclly curved portion 74 of 'ehe general curvature of the pare 58b of a cover. Wherever a plug cap is eo be plugged in, the cover will be severed, probably a part reznoved, to leave a space between ehe severed ends of the cover of wiclth to accommodaee ehe plug cap.

Then the prongs I3 of ehe plug cap are insertecl through ehe entrances 22 anti 28 and snap 0r spring ineo engagement With the

conductors

22 and 23. For ehis purpose, the upper prong 73 has a clependln inner anal pertlon 55 while The lovver' prong E3 has an upwardly bene er curved inner end p0reion 7%. These end por'elons will snap over the poreions of the insulatlng body I4 at o1 eoward the forward edges Of the conductors 22 anti 23 ancl into engagement with said conductors. The prongs 73 are shown as electrically conneceed with binding posts 'I-I eo which ehe Wires of a conductor 18 are 'a'nchored, such conductor 78 being any lead cord.

The corner connector I8 is more particularly disclosed in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. Such connector includes a body 19 of insulating material and. the latter comprises a pair of integral portions located a1: right angles to one another and including a bottom Wall or base portion 86, upstanding right angularly disposed back er rear Wall portions 8I and end walls 82 ancl 83. These end walls are located at the ends of the right angularly related portions of the body 79 and in planes normal 110 one another and are of the height of the rear wall portions 8I. From the foregoing, lt is to be understood that the body 19 is open ab its upper side with the exception of a slight forwardly projecting ledge 84 corresponding in purpose with the ledge 44 of the connector I! previously described and of a Wiclth equal to, or substantially equal to the thickness of the depending lip 36 of the extension 35 of the mounting strip Within the body 79 are mountecl a pair of upper and

lower conductors

85 and 86 of identical sonstruction and of which ehe conducoor 85 is shown alone in Fig. 12. Each conductor includes right angularly related portions 88 which are fastenecl against the inner sides of the respective rear 01 back wall portlons 8I of the body 79 and are secured in place as by screws or the 1ike 89, passing through holes 89a.

Additionally, each conductor includes ends 66 and 9l provided with openings 92 and .93. These ends 90 and SH lie against the inner surfaces of the end walls 82 and 63 of the body 19 and selitapping screws 94 are passed through such openings. It. will be understood that the ends 90 and 91 and the

openings

92 and 93 of the respective upper and

lower conductors

35 and 86 of a corner fitting bear the same relation 130 the transversely

circular passages

29 and 36 and the

conductors

22 and 23 of a body M as do the ends 63 anal 64 and the

holes

66 and 65 of the conductors 56 and. 55 of a connector H.

Thus, after a corner coupling or fitoing 18 is secured in place by being fitted to adjacent end portions of a pair of strips I5, the acljacent ends of a pair of the bodies I4 a1e brought up against the outer sides of the

end Walls

62 and 83 of such corner coupling. Then the selitapping screws 94 are passed through the

openings

92 and 93 and threaded into the

passages

29 and 36 of the respective bodies I4. screws have body diameters approximately equal to the diameters of the

passages

29 and 36 whereby as the screws are threaded home their threads cut or bite into the Wall portions of the passages 29 and into the

conducoors

22 and 23. In this way, the screws are anchored in place and assist in anchoring the conductors 85 anal 86 and also establish a good electrical connection between such conductors anal the

conductors

22 and 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my continuous outlet is easily and conveniently installed. Through the use f my corner connectors a neat structure at the corner is provided and there is no change in the appearance of the. device as between the corner or any of its other portions. Due 110 my corner construction, lt is not necessary that an outlet IT be fitted for each Wall space as the conduccor may be continued around the corner without difilculty. Thus, the only place I need employ t;he outlet fittlng I! is as between a palr of door openings These or other openings which\zvould definitely inter rupt the employment of a single outlet for an entire room. In constructions heretofore employed, the cor- 11er connectors.have not been satisfactory and.

have not been of simple construction and neat appearance. With my present corner connector as well as with my inlet connector. IT, the top and front of each connector is open so that a small wrench or the like may be employed for threading home the self-tapping screws 67 'of the connector I1 and 94 of the connector 18..

Having thus set forth the natura of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a continuous outlet structure, an elongated body of insulating material, a pair of spaced conductors within said body and ex-f ing a straight portion extending across the forward edge of the bodyand an arcuate portion extending across the upper edge of the body and comprising approximately one-quarter of a circle, a leg 011 the inner side of said straight portion of said body and located in one of said entrance slots for the mounting of said cover 011 said body, and said. leg having an offset inner edge located in said notch for the purpose of preventing casual separation of said body and cover.

2. In a continuous outlet structure, a metal mounting strip comprising a pair cf angularly related wall portions, a short lateral extension on one of said wall portions and in substantially parallel relation with the other Wall portion, a lip on the frse edge of said extension and extending in the direction of said other wall portion, said strip having openings through said Wall portions for the passage of securing screws, an elongated body of insulating material, a pair of spaced conductors within and extending longitudinally of said body, said body having entrance slots extending longitudinally thereof and opening through one edge and providing formom munication with the respective conductors through said edge, said body adapted be fitted into said strip anal having a pair of angularly related walls to engage against the inner surfaces of the angularly related Wall portions of said strip, said body having a notch in one edge adapted to receive said lip on said extension of said strip, a cover of insulating material, said cover comprising a straight portion extending across said edge of said body, an upper arcuate portion comprising approximately one-quarter 01 a circle and extending across the upper edge of said body, and a leg 011 the inner side of said straight portion of the cover and located in one of said entrance slots for inounting the cover on said body.

3. In a continuous outlet structure, a pair cf elongated bodies of insulating material, said bodies each having a spaced pair of transversely circular passages extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of spaced conductors within each said body and extending longitudinally thereof in substantially tangential relation to and with pottions exposed through walls cf said respective passages, a pair of entrance slot5 extending long i tudlnally bf each said body and obening threugh one side -thereof and in their inner portions communicating Willh the rkespective -conductors, a connector between seid. bodies and compriSing a body of insulating material including angularly related Walls and end Walls, said elongated -bodies at their acljacent ends abutting} said end wa1ls of said connector, a pair cf conductor strips in said eonnector and spaced from one another and in cluding end portions against the inner surfaces of the end Walls '0f said eon-nectors, and screws passing through said end portions and said end Walls and into the adjacent portions of seid transverseW circular passages and having their threads biting into the Walls. of said passages and the exposed portions of the respective conductors of the respective bodies whereby said connector thr-eugh its conducto-rs eleetrically connects the conductors of one of saie-l elongated boclies with the respective conductora of the other elongated body.

4. In a eentinueus outlet structure, a pair of elongated bedies of insulating material, said bodies eaeh having a spaced pair of transversely eireular passages extending longitudinally thereof, a pair 01 spaced conductors Within each said body and extending lengitudinally thereof in substantially tangential relation 130 and with portions exposecl through Walls of saicl respective passages, a pair of entrance s1ots extending longitudinally of each seid body and opening through one side thereof and in their inner portions communicatin with the respective conductors, a connector betWeen said bodies and comprising a body of insulating material ineluding an'gularly related Walls a-nd end Walls, said elongated bodies at their adjaeent ends abutting said end walls of seid connector, a pair of condi1ctor strips in seid conriector and spaced from one another and including end portions against the inner surfaces of the end Walls of said connector, screws passing through said ende and seid end walls anal into the adjacent portions of said transversely circular passages and having their threads bitin-g into Walls of said passages and the exposed portions of the respective cond-uetors of the respective bodies whereby eonneetor through its conduetcrs eleetrically connects the conductors of one of saicl elongated bodies with the respective conductors of the other elongated bo-cly, said connector having an opening through one Wall thereof for the entrance of leads, and. binding posts on the respective conductors of the cenneetor for the seeuring of leads thereto.

5. In a continuous outlet, a pair of metal r mounting strips each including bottom and rear substantially right anguiarly related Walls, a lateral extension on the upper edge of said real Wall and a lip 011 the free edge of said extension and extending towards said bottom wall, said strips arranged With their acljacent ends in slightly spaced relation, a connector including a body cf insulating material open at its top and forward sides and ineluding substantial1y right angularly related rear anal bettom Walls, end Walls, and a short ledge extending forwardly from its rear Wall below the upper edge of the latter, said body arranged in spanning relation With the spaced adjacent ends of said strips and havinga its bottom Wall against the bottom walls of said strips and its rear Wall against the rear Walls of seid strips anal With the upper edge of its rear Wall under said extensions of sai-rl strips, said lips of the extensions cf th rear Walls of the strips extencling: over the forward edgeof the rear wa1l of said insulating body and disposed an said ledge, a pair of conductors in said body and comprising portions against the inner surfaces of the rear Wall thereof and ends against the inner surfaces of the end Walls thereof, said conducters spaced apart within said body, an opening through the rear Wall of seid body, leads entering said eonnector through said opening and between tle adjacent ends of said strips, means conneeting said leads with the respective eonductors, contact means passing through the ends of said conductors and said end Walls of said body, elongated bedies of insulating material in seid strips neyond the end Walls of said body, spaeed conductors within anal extending longitudinall; of each of said bodies, and said contact means beyond the end Walls of saicl body entering said elongated bodies and engaging the respective conductors therein.

6. In a continuous oulet structure, a connector comprising body of insulating material comprising a pair 0 3 right angularly related portions, saicl body in said portions comprising rear and bottern walls and open through its top and front edges, end Walls closing the ende cf said body at the extremes of said portions, upper and lower conductors in said body against the rear Wall thereof, each of said conductors including angularly related body portions against the similarly related portions of seid rear wall ends on said body portions 0f the conductors and located against the inner surfaces of said end Walls of the body, a pair cf elongated. insulating bodies each' having an end disposed against the unter side of an end Wall of said connector said bodies each having a spaced pair of transverseiy circular passages therein and extending longitudinally thereof, a pair 0f spaced conductors within each of said boclies and extending longitudinally thereof in substantially tangential relation t0 ancl with portions exposed through the Walls of the respective passaees, a pair of entrance slots extending longitudinally of said body and opening througb one side thereof and in their inner portions communicating With the respective conductors, seiftapping screws passing through the ends of the conductors of said connector and the end Walls of the insulating bodies thereof, and said passages in said elongated bodies so located With respect to said screws that as said screws are threaded home their threads cut into the walls of said passages and the exposed portions of seid conductors whereby said connector serves establish electrical connection between the conductors in one elongated body and the respective conductors in the other of such elongated. body.

'7. In a continuous outlet structure, an elongated metal mounting strip comprising first and second angularly related wall portions, a lateral extension on the second of said Wall portions and in substantially parallel relation With the first Wall portion, a lip on the free edge of saicl extension and extending in the direction of said first Wall portion, said strip having openings through seid Wall portions for the passage of securing screws, an elongated body of insulating material, a pair of spaced conductors within and extending longitudinally of said body, said body having entrance slots extending longitudinally thereof and opening th1ough one edge and pro- Viding for communication with the respective conduetors through said edge, said body adapted to be fitted into saicl .strip and having first and sec0nd angularly related walls to engage respectivlv against the inner surfaces of the first and "second angularly related wall portions of said -strip, sald body having a third angularly related wallangularly related. to the second of its angularly related Walls, said. body having a notch opening through the outer surface of its third angularly related wall and extending longitu- '"dinally thereof in the same spaced relation to theseconcl angularly related wall of the bocly as' is*said lip to the second angularly related wall portion of said strip, and said extension on the second angularly related wall portion of a Width lessthan one-half the width of the first wall of saidstrip whereby said"body may be held at an angle and its third angularly related wall located uncler said extension with the notch in said. wall receiving said lip and then the body rockecl about said lip to carry the first and second angularly related Walls of the body against the corresponding Walls of said strip.

8. A means for mounting a continuous outlet comprising an elongated metal strip including a pair of substantially right angularly related wall portlons, a lateral extension on the longitudinal edge of one 01 said wall portions and extending therefrom substantially in parallel relation with the other wall portion, a lip on the free longitudinal edge of said lateral extension and extend- Ing therefrom in the direction of said other wall portion, said wall portions having openings therethrough for the passage of securing means, a bowed lip on the free edge portion of said other wall portion' and bowed in the direction 01 said extension, an insulating body of a size and shape to be received in said strip with outer surface portions engaging the angularly related walls of the latter, said. body having a longitudinally extending notch opening through one surface intermediate the longitudinal edges of said surface and receiving the first mentioned lip, said body having a recess in its surface opposite that having the notch and located laterally outwardly of said notch and receiving said bowed lip, and said extension of a width less than one-half that of the wall with which lt is substantially parallel whereby said insulating body may be held at an angle and its notch receiving the first mentioned lip and may then be rocked about said lip into 12 said strip to bring portions of the bodyagainst the angularly related walls of the strip and to engage the recess of the body 0f the bowed 1ip of the strip.

9. A means for mounting a continuous outlet comprising an elongated metal strip including first and second substantially right angularly related wall portions, a lateral extension on the edge of the second of said wall portions and extending therefrom in parallel relation with the first wall portion, a lip on the free edge of said lateral extension and extending therefrom in the direction of said first wall portion, said wall portions having openings therethrough for the passage of securing means, said extension of a width less than one-half that of the first wall portion whereby an insulating body having at least three ang ularly related sides may be held at an angle and a portion of one of its sides engaged under saicl lip and said body then rockecl about said lip into place in said strip with its other two angularly related sides against the inner surfaces 0f the angularly related first and second Wall portions 01 said strip, and a lip on and coextensive with the free longitudinal edge of said first wall portion and bowed in the direction of said extension for reception in a recess in a wall of the body.

WINSTON S. PERKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recorcl in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kilgore June 6, 1950