Wiring block having detachable leg assemblies

Abstract

A wiring block, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a base having at least one wiring strip snap lock mounted thereto and having a leg assembly snap lock mounted at each end of the base. The leg assemblies provide a space behind the wiring block (when mounted) for cables/wires that are to be terminated at the wiring block. The detachable leg assemblies are an important feature of the present invention as they provide for improved cable/wire management during installations, moves and changes, as compared to that of the prior art. The base has openings between selected wiring strips for allowing cables/wires to pass through also improving cable/wire management. Further, the wiring strip includes spaced notches to facilitate wiring thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wiring block comprising: at least one wiring strip, said wiring strip including,   (1) a generally rectangular member having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, and   (2) a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending normally upward from one of said first surfaces, said teeth defining a plurality of wire retaining slots, said teeth having a channel in opposing sides thereof, said adjacent channels defining a plurality of openings;   a base having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, said base having opposing ends, said at least one wiring strip removably disposed on one of said first surfaces; and   leg means removably attached to said base at each of said ends.   
     
     
       2. The wiring block of claim 1 wherein each of said leg means is removably attached to said corresponding end of said base by snap lock mounting means. 
     
     
       3. The wiring block of claim 2 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: at least one end of each of said leg means having a resilient arm disposed thereat, said resilient arm having a retaining edge defined thereon;   each of said ends of said base having at least one slot defined therein; and   a retaining ledge defined within each of said slots of said base, wherein said edges of said leg means engage said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       4. The wiring block of claim 3 further comprising: tab means disposed on said at least one arm, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       5. The wiring block of claim 3 wherein said base further comprises: at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base, said upright member having said slot therein; and   tab means disposed on said at least one upright member, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       6. The wiring block of claim 1 wherein said removably attaching each of said leg means to said corresponding ends of said base comprises: said base having at least one first attachment hole through said first surfaces near each of said ends;   a mounting member disposed at one end of each said leg means with at least one second attachment hole therethrough, said first and second attachment holes being in alignment; and   screw means passing through said first and second attachment holes for removably attaching each of said leg means to said base.   
     
     
       7. The wiring block of claim 1 wherein said at least one wiring strip is disposed on said one of said first surfaces of said base by snap lock mounting means. 
     
     
       8. The wiring block of claim 7 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: said at least one wiring strip further including, (1) a rail along the length of the other one of said first surfaces of said rectangular member,   (2) a plurality of spaced post depending from a surface of said rail, and   (3) a pair of resilient arms extending outwardly and upwardly from one end of said post at opposing sides thereof; and     said base further including, (1) at least one corresponding longitudinal channel in said one of said first surfaces of said base, wherein said rail of said wiring strip is received,   (2) a plurality of spaced holes through said first surfaces of said base within said channel, and   (3) an opposing pair of retaining edges defined within each of said spaced holes, one end of each of said arms engaging said corresponding retaining edge within said spaced holes.     
     
     
       9. The wiring block of claim 7 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: a resilient clip disposed on said base at each end thereof in alignment with said wiring strip, said resilient clip having a retaining edge for engaging said one of said first surfaces at each end of said wiring strip.   
     
     
       10. The wiring block of claim 1 wherein said at least one wiring strip comprises at least two spaced apart wiring strips; and wherein said base further comprises:   at least one access opening through said first surfaces of said base between said adjacent wiring strips to provide an access for wires for attachment to said wiring block.   
     
     
       11. The wiring block of claim 1 further comprising: said base including, (1) at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base,   (2) latch means depending from at least one side of each of said upright members; and   (3) stop means associated with said latch means and depending from said at least one side of each of said upright members adjacent to said latch means; and     at least one designation strip having side members with means for cooperating with said latch means for retaining said designation strip on said base, said designation strip having ends which abut said stop means for further retaining said designation strip on said base.   
     
     
       12. The wiring block of claim l.wherein said base further comprises: a plurality of lateral mounting holes through at least one of said second surfaces to provide lateral attachment of said wiring block.   
     
     
       13. A wiring block comprising: at least two spaced apart wiring strips, each of said wiring strips including, (1) a generally rectangular member having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, and   (2) a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending normally upward from one of said first surfaces, said teeth defining a plurality of wire retaining slots, said teeth having a channel in opposing sides of said teeth, said adjacent channels defining a plurality of openings;     a base having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, said base having opposing ends, said at least two spaced apart wiring strips disposed on one of said first surfaces, said base having at least one access opening through said first surfaces of said base between adjacent said wiring strips, said at least one access opening comprising an opening of a size sufficient to provide access to a sufficient number of wires for wiring substantially all positions on said wiring strip; and   leg means attached to said base at each of said ends.   
     
     
       14. The wiring block of claim 13 wherein each of said wiring strips is disposed on said one of said first surfaces of said base by snap lock mounting means. 
     
     
       15. The wiring block of claim 13 further comprising: said base including, (1) at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base,   (2) latch means depending from at least one side of each of said upright members: and   (3) stop means associated with said latch means and depending from said at least one side of each of said upright members adjacent to said latch means; and     at least one designation strip having side members with means for cooperating with said latch means for retaining said designation strip on said base, said designation strip having ends which abut said stop means for further retaining said designation strip on said base.   
     
     
       16. The wiring block of claim 13 wherein said base further comprises: a plurality of lateral mounting holes through at least one of said second surfaces to provide lateral attachment of said wiring block.   
     
     
       17. A wiring block comprising: at least one wiring strip, said wiring strip including, (1) a generally rectangular member having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces.     (2) a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending normally upward from one of said first surfaces, said teeth defiuing a plurality of wire retaining slots, said teeth having a channel in opposing sides of said teeth, said adjacent channels defining a plurality of openings,   (3) a rail along the length of the other one of said first surfaces of said rectangular member,   (4) a plurality of spaced post depending from a surface of said rail, and   (5) a pair of resilient arms extending outwardly and upwardly from one end of said post at opposing sides thereof;   a base having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, said base having opposing ends, said at least one wiring strip disposed on one of said first surfaces, said base further including, (1) at least one slot at each of said ends of said base,   (2) a retaining ledge defined within each of said slots of said base,   (3) at least one longitudinal channel in said one of said first surfaces of said base, wherein said rail of said wiring strip is received,   (4) a plurality of spaced holes through said first surfaces of said base within said channel, and   (5) an opposing pair of retaining edges defined within each of said spaced holes, one end of each of said arms engaging a corresponding retaining edge within said spaced holes; and     leg means removably attached to said base at each of said ends, at least one end of each of said leg means having a resilient arm disposed thereat, said resilient arm having a retaining edge defined thereon, wherein said edges of said leg means engage said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       18. The wiring block of claim 17 further comprising: tab means disposed on said at least one arm, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       19. The wiring block of claim 17 wherein said base further comprises: at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base, said upright member having said slot therein; and   tab means disposed on said at least one upright member, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base.   
     
     
       20. The wiring block of claim 17 wherein said at least one wiring strip comprises at least two spaced apart wiring strips; and wherein said base further comprises;   at least one access opening through said first surfaces of said base between said adjacent wiring strips to provide an access for wires for attachment to said wiring block.   
     
     
       21. The wiring block in claim 17 further comprising: a said base including, (1) at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base,   (2) latch means depending from at least one side of each of said upright members; and   (3) stop means associated with said latch means and depending from said at least one side of each of said upright member adjacent to said latch means; and     at least one designation strip having side members with means for cooperating with said latch means for retaining said designation strip on said base, said designation strip having ends which abut said stop means for further retaining said designation strip on said base.   
     
     
       22. The wiring block of claim 17, wherein said base further comprises: a plurality of lateral mounting holes through at least one of said second surfaces to provide lateral attachment of said moving block. .Iadd.   
     
     
       23.  A wiring block comprising: at least one wiring strip, said wiring strip including, (1) a generally rectangular member having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, and   (2) a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending normally upward from one of said first surfaces, said teeth defining a plurality of wire retaining slots, said teeth having a channel in opposing sides thereof, said adjacent channels defining a plurality of openings;     a base having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, said base having opposing ends, said at least one wiring strip disposed on one of said first surfaces; and   leg means removably attached to said base at each of said ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The wiring block of claim 23 wherein each of said leg means is removably attached to said corresponding end of said base by snap lock mounting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The wiring block of claim 24 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises:   at least one end of each of said leg means having a resilient arm disposed thereat, said resilient arm having a retaining edge defined thereon;   each of said ends of said base having at least one slot defined therein; and   a retaining ledge defined within each of said slots of said base, wherein said edges of said leg means engage said ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The wiring block of claim 25 further comprising:   tab means disposed on said at least one arm, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said   
     
     
        ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  The wiring block of claim 25 wherein said base further comprises: at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base, said upright member having said slot therein; and   tab means disposed on said at least one upright member, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The wiring block of claim 23 wherein said removably attaching each of said leg means to said corresponding ends of said base comprises:   said base having at least one first attachment hole through said first surfaces near each of said ends;   a mounting member disposed at one end of each said leg means with at least one second attachment hole therethrough, said first and second attachment holes being in alignment; and   screw means passing through said first and second attachment holes for removably attaching each of said leg means to said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The wiring block of claim 23 wherein said at least one wiring strip is disposed on said one of said first surfaces of said base by snap   
     
     
        lock mounting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  The wiring block of claim 29 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: said at least one wiring strip further including, (1) a rail along with length of the other one of said first surfaces of said rectangular member,   (2) a plurality of spaced post depending from a surface of said rail, and   (3) a pair of resilient arms extending outwardly and upwardly from one end of said post at opposing sides thereof; and     said base further including, (1) at least one corresponding longitudinal channel in said base, wherein said rail of said wiring strip is received,   (2) a plurality of spaced holes through said first surfaces of said base within said channel, and   (3) an opposing pair of retaining edges defined within each of said spaced holes, one end of each of said arms engaging said corresponding retaining edge within said spaced holes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The wiring block of claim 29 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises:     a resilient clip disposed on said base at each end thereof in alignment with said wiring strip, said resilient clip having a retaining edge for engaging said one of said first surfaces at each end of said wiring strip. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The wiring block of claim 23 wherein said at least one wiring strip comprises at least two spaced apart wiring strips; and   wherein said base further comprises:   at least one access opening through said first surfaces of said base between said adjacent wiring strips to provide an access for wires for   
     
     
        attachment to said wiring block. .Iadd.33.  The wiring block of claim 23 further comprising: said base including, (1) at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base,   (2) latch means depending from at least one side of each of said upright members, and   (3) stop means associated with said latch means and depending from said at least one side of each of said upright members adjacent to said latch means; and     at least one designation strip having side members with means for cooperating with said latch means for retaining said designation strip on said base, said designation strip having ends which abut said stop means for further retaining said designation strip on said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The wiring block of claim 23 wherein said base further comprises:   a plurality of lateral mounting holes through at least one of said second surfaces to provide lateral attachment of said wiring block. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.35.  A wiring block comprising: at least one wiring strip, said wiring strip including, (1) a generally rectangular member having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, and   (2) a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending normally upward from one of said first surfaces, said teeth defining a plurality of wire retaining slots, said teeth having a channel in opposing sides thereof, said adjacent channels defining a plurality of openings;     a base having first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, said base having opposing ends, said at least one wiring strip disposed on one of said first surfaces; and   leg means attached to said base at each of said ends of said base by snap   
     
     
        lock mounting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  The wiring block of claim 37 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: at least one end of each of said leg means having a resilient arm disposed thereat, said resilent arm having a retaining edge defined thereon:   each of said ends of said base having at least one slot defined therein; and   a retaining ledge defined within each of said slots of said base, wherein said edges of said leg means engage said ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The wiring block of claim 36 further comprising:   tab means disposed on said at least one arm, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The wiring block of claim 36 wherein said base further comprises:   at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base, said upright member having said slot therein: and   tab means disposed on said at least one upright member, whereby actuation of said tab means separates the engagement of said edges of said leg means and said ledges of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The wiring block of claim 37 wherein said at least one wiring strip is disposed on said one of said first surfaces of said base by snap lock mounting means. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.40.  The wiring block of claim 39 wherein said snap lock mounting means comprises: said at least one wiring strip further including, (1) a rail along the length of the other one of said first surfaces of said rectangular member,   (2) a plurality of spaced post depending from a surface of said rail, and   (3) a pair of resilient arms extending outwardly and upwardly from one end of said post at opposing sides thereof; and     said base further including, (1) at least one corresponding longitudinal channel in said one of said first surfaces of said base, wherein said rail of said wiring strip is received,   (2) a plurality of spaced holes through said first surfaces of said base within said channel, and   (3) an opposing pair of retaining edges defined within each of said spaced holes, one end of each of said arms engaging said corresponding retaining edge within said spaced holes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The wiring block of claim 39 wherein snap lock mounting means comprises:     a resilient clip disposed on said base at each end thereof in alignment with said wiring strip, said resilient clip having a retaining edge for engaging said one of said first surfaces at each end of said wiring strip. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The wiring block of claim 35 wherein said at least one wiring strip comprises at least two spaced apart wiring strips; and   wherein said base further comprises:   at least one access opening through said first surfaces of said base between said adjacent wiring strips to provide an access for wires for   
     
     
        attachment to said wiring block. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43.  The wiring block of claim 35 further comprising: said base including, (1) at least one upright member disposed at each of said ends of said base,   (2) latch means depending from at least one side of each of said upright members, and   (3) stop means associated with said latch means and depending from said at least one side of each of said upright members adjacent to said latch means; and at least one designation strip having side members with means for cooperating with said latch means for retaining said designation strip on said base, said designation strip having ends which abut said stop means for further retaining said designation strip on said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The wiring block of claim 35 wherein said base further comprises:     a plurality of lateral mounting holes through at least one of said second surfaces to provide lateral attachment of said wiring block. .Iaddend.