Importance

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Abstract

An electrical switch device adapted to be secured to an electrical outlet box mounted behind a wall member, having elongated, non-metallic mounting straps formed integrally with the device cover, and an improved grounding system adapted to automatically ground a metallic wall plate intended for use with the device without using the usual metal mounting strap. The mounting straps are proportioned to the maximum possible dimensions to fit under the wall plate to abut the wall member so as to substantially reduce the chance of a floating installation. Grounding means affixed to the cover adjacent one of the mounting screw apertures is adapted to engage a mounting screw inserted through the aperture so as to provide good electrical communication therebetween. The grounding means is formed with a contact aperture alignable with a wall plate mounting hole formed in the device and proportioned such that the portions of the grounding means defining the aperture engage a wall plate mounting screw inserted through the mounting hole so as to provide a continuous electrically conductive ground path from the outlet box to the wall plate. The grounding means is further adapted to permit direct termination of a ground conductor in an electrical power cable to the switch as an alternate means for grounding the wall plate when grounding is not carried out through the device mounting screw.

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First Claim