Universal electrical wiring component

Abstract

A modular electrical wiring component comprises includes a wiring module having a wiring portion for coupling to a source of electrical power and a user-accessible portion configured to accept and provide electrical power to a functional module that provides a selected electrical distribution function, wherein the wiring module is configured to accept the functional module without access to the wiring portion. The modular electrical wiring component also comprises includes an adjustable plaster ring configured to couple to the wiring module and to an electrical junction box, wherein the adjustable plaster ring provides a variable distance between the electrical junction box and the wiring module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular electrical wiring component comprising:
 a wiring module having a first portion configured to couple to a source of electrical power and a second portion configured to couple and provide the electrical power to a separate functional module that provides a selected electrical distribution function, wherein the wiring module is configured to couple to the functional module without accessing the wiring first portion; 
 an adjustable plaster ring configured to couple to the wiring module and to a front of an electrical box comprising the front, a back and sides, wherein the adjustable plaster ring is configured to provide a variable distance between the electrical junction box and the wiring module; and 
 a protective cover to shield the second portion of the wiring module when no functional module is coupled to the wiring module. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable plaster ring comprises a base ring and an insert ring that is slidably retained within the base ring. 
     
     
       3. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 2 , wherein the insert ring is slidably retained within the base ring by adjusting screws. 
     
     
       4. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 3 , wherein turning the adjusting screws varies the distance between the electrical box and the wiring module. 
     
     
       5. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 2 , wherein the base ring is configured to couple to the electrical box and the insert ring is configured to couple to the wiring module. 
     
     
       6. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 1 , wherein the wiring module is configured to accept a plug-in functional module. 
     
     
       7. The modular electrical wiring component of  claim 1 , further comprising the an electrical box assembly that comprises the electrical box, the wiring module, and the adjustable plaster ring wherein the electrical box assembly provides the wiring module an adjustable distance from the electrical box assembly. 
     
     
       8. An electrical wiring method comprising:
 providing a wiring module having a first portion configured to couple to a source of electrical power and a second portion configured to couple and provide electrical power to a functional module that provides a selected electrical distribution function, wherein the wiring module is configured to couple to the functional module without accessing the first portion; 
 providing an adjustable plaster ring configured to couple to the wiring module and to a front of an electrical box comprising the front, a back and sides, wherein the adjustable plaster ring is configured to provide a variable distance between the electrical junction box and the wiring module; 
 coupling the wiring module to the adjustable plaster ring; and 
 coupling a protective cover with respect to the wiring module so as to shield the second portion of the wiring module when no functional module is coupled to the wiring module. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrical wiring method of  claim 8 , further comprising mechanically coupling the adjustable plaster ring to the electrical box. 
     
     
       10. The electrical wiring method of  claim 9 , further comprising adjusting the distance between the electrical box and the wiring module using the adjustable plaster ring. 
     
     
       11. The electrical wiring method of  claim 8 , further comprising electrically and mechanically coupling the functional module to the wiring module. 
     
     
       12. The electrical wiring method of  claim 11 , wherein electrically and mechanically coupling the functional module to the wiring module comprises plugging the functional module into the second portion of the wiring module. 
     
     
       13. A modular electrical wiring component comprising:
 a wiring module coupled to an electrical box comprising a front, a back and sides, the wiring module coupled to the electrical box via a ground wire that extends from a first portion configured to couple to a source of electrical power via a plurality of electrical wires and a second portion configured to couple and provide the electrical power to a separate functional module that provides a selected electrical distribution function, wherein the wiring module is configured to couple to the functional module without accessing the wiring first portion coupled to the source of electrical power;   a plaster ring configured to couple to the front of the electrical box; and   a protective cover configured to shield the second portion of the wiring module when no functional module is coupled to the wiring module.   
     
     
       14. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 13, wherein the plaster ring is an adjustable plaster ring comprising a base ring and an insert ring that is slidably retained within the base ring. 
     
     
       15. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 14, wherein the insert ring is slidably retained within the base ring by adjusting screws. 
     
     
       16. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 15, wherein turning the adjusting screws varies the distance between the electrical box and the wiring module. 
     
     
       17. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 15, wherein the base ring is configured to couple to the electrical box and the insert ring is configured to couple to the wiring module. 
     
     
       18. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 13, wherein the wiring module is configured to accept a plug-in functional module. 
     
     
       19. The modular electrical wiring component of claim 13 further comprising a bracket attached to the electrical box, the bracket configured to mount the electrical box containing the wiring module. 
     
     
       20. An electrical wiring method comprising:
 providing a wiring module coupled to an electrical box comprising a front, a back and sides, the wiring module coupled to the electrical box via a ground wire that extends from a first portion configured to couple to a source of electrical power via a plurality of electrical wires and a second portion configured to couple and provide electrical power to a functional module that provides a selected electrical distribution function, wherein the wiring module is configured to couple to the functional module without accessing the source of electrical power;   providing a plaster ring configured to couple to the front of the electrical box;   coupling the plaster ring to the front of the electrical box; and   coupling a protective cover to shield the second portion of the wiring module when no functional module is coupled to the wiring module.   
     
     
       21. The electrical wiring method of claim 20, wherein the plaster ring is an adjustable plaster ring. 
     
     
       22. The electrical wiring method of claim 21, further comprising adjusting the distance between the electrical box and the wiring module using the adjustable plaster ring. 
     
     
       23. The electrical wiring method of claim 20, further comprising electrically and mechanically coupling the functional module to the wiring module. 
     
     
       24. The electrical wiring method of claim 23, wherein electrically and mechanically coupling the functional module to the wiring module comprises plugging the functional module into the second portion of the wiring module. 
     
     
       25. The electrical wiring method of claim 20 further comprising attaching a bracket to the electrical box, the bracket configured to mount the electrical box containing wiring module.