Locking electrical receptacle with elongate clamping surfaces
First Claim
1. A locking electrical receptacle for use in conjunction with an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure comprising:
- receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending elongate extending plug structure;
elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure, said gripping elements being disposed at least on opposite sides of said receptacle; and
actuation structure, operatively associated with said elongate gripping elements, for forcing said elongate gripping elements into secure frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of said elongate extending plug structure responsive to a withdrawal force exerted on electrical plug and urging said elongate extending plug structure to withdraw from said receptacle; and
release structure, operationally associated with said elongate gripping elements, for moving said elongate gripping elements to a release configuration so as to release said prongs from said secure frictional engagement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus (“utility”) for securing an electrical connection formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly are provided. The utility includes a clamping mechanism whereby the very forces that would otherwise tend to pull the connection apart serve to actuate the clamping mechanism, thereby securing the mated pair. The apparatus may be integrated into a standard receptacle, or retrofitted to work with existing devices. In one embodiment, the clamping mechanism acts solely on the ground prong of a standard plug assembly, so that it is unnecessary to consider electrical potentials applied to the clamped prong in relation to the design of the clamping mechanism. Further, the withdrawing movement of the prongs of a plug may cause elongate clamping surfaces of the clamping mechanism to frictionally engage opposing surfaces of the clamped prong.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A locking electrical receptacle for use in conjunction with an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure comprising:
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receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending elongate extending plug structure; elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure, said gripping elements being disposed at least on opposite sides of said receptacle; and actuation structure, operatively associated with said elongate gripping elements, for forcing said elongate gripping elements into secure frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of said elongate extending plug structure responsive to a withdrawal force exerted on electrical plug and urging said elongate extending plug structure to withdraw from said receptacle; and release structure, operationally associated with said elongate gripping elements, for moving said elongate gripping elements to a release configuration so as to release said prongs from said secure frictional engagement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. A method for use in securing an electrical connection involving an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical receptacle unit including receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending plug structure, elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure and having a receiving condition, wherein said gripping elements are ready to receive said elongate extending plug structure, and a gripping condition, wherein at least one of said gripping elements is disposed in secure frictional engagement with said elongate extending plug structure and a release element for moving said gripping elements from said gripping condition to a release condition; inserting said elongate extending plug structure of said electrical plug into said receptacle of said electrical receptacle unit such that said gripping elements are in said gripping condition; operating said gripping element to move said gripping elements from said gripping condition to said release condition; and removing said elongate extending plug structure of said electrical plug from said receptacle of said electrical receptacle unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification