Switched electrical plug lock
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for controlling the use of an electrically powered device, the apparatus comprising:
- an electrical socket having openings configured to receive prongs of an electrical plug of an electrical cord of an electrically powered device;
a housing;
a lock configured to retain the electrical plug in the electrical socket, the lock comprising;
a retaining member configured to engage at least one of the prongs in at least one of the openings of the electrical socket; and
an actuator connected to the retaining member and configured to shift the retaining member from a locked position wherein the retaining member engages the at least one prong in the at least one opening of the electrical socket and inhibits removal of the at least one prong from the at least one opening to an unlocked position wherein the retaining member permits the at least one prong of the electrical plug to be removed from the at least one opening of the electrical socket;
a switch operable to electrically couple the electrical socket with a power source to which the apparatus is coupled;
wireless communication circuitry operatively coupled to the switch and configured to receive a wireless signal indicating an electronic device is within a proximity of the apparatus; and
a controller operatively coupled to the switch, the wireless communication circuitry, and the actuator, the controller configured to, responsive to the wireless signal, cause the switch to electrically couple the power source and the electrical socket and cause the actuator to shift the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position and permit the at least one prong to be removed from the at least one opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling use of an electrical device. The apparatus includes at least one power connector, a first electrical plug, an electrical socket, a lock configured to retain an electrical plug in the electrical socket, a switch electrically coupling the at least one power connector and the electrical socket, and wireless communication circuitry communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to receive a signal for causing the switch to electrically couple the at least one power connector and the electrical socket.
25 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling the use of an electrically powered device, the apparatus comprising:
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an electrical socket having openings configured to receive prongs of an electrical plug of an electrical cord of an electrically powered device; a housing; a lock configured to retain the electrical plug in the electrical socket, the lock comprising; a retaining member configured to engage at least one of the prongs in at least one of the openings of the electrical socket; and an actuator connected to the retaining member and configured to shift the retaining member from a locked position wherein the retaining member engages the at least one prong in the at least one opening of the electrical socket and inhibits removal of the at least one prong from the at least one opening to an unlocked position wherein the retaining member permits the at least one prong of the electrical plug to be removed from the at least one opening of the electrical socket; a switch operable to electrically couple the electrical socket with a power source to which the apparatus is coupled; wireless communication circuitry operatively coupled to the switch and configured to receive a wireless signal indicating an electronic device is within a proximity of the apparatus; and a controller operatively coupled to the switch, the wireless communication circuitry, and the actuator, the controller configured to, responsive to the wireless signal, cause the switch to electrically couple the power source and the electrical socket and cause the actuator to shift the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position and permit the at least one prong to be removed from the at least one opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic control system for an electrically powered device, the system comprising:
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a plug lock; an electronic device including a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a wireless signal to the plug lock upon the electronic device being in proximity to the plug lock; and the plug lock comprising; a housing; at least one power connector; an electrical socket having openings configured to receive prongs of an electrical plug of an electrical cord of an electrically powered device; a lock configured to retain the electrical plug in the electrical socket, the lock comprising; a retaining member configured to engage at least one of the prongs in at least one of the openings of the electrical socket; and an actuator connected to the retaining member and configured to shift the retaining member from a locked position wherein the retaining member engages the at least one prong in at least one opening of the electrical socket and inhibits removal of the at least one prong from the at least one opening to an unlocked position wherein the retaining member permits the at least one prong of the electrical plug to be removed from the at least one opening of the electrical socket; wireless communication circuitry configured to receive the wireless signal from the electronic device; a switch operatively coupled with the at least one power connector, the electrical socket, the actuator, and the wireless communication circuitry, the switch electrically coupling the at least one power connector and the electrical socket in response to the wireless communication circuitry receiving the wireless signal from the electronic device; and wherein the actuator is further configured, upon the switch electrically coupling the at least one power connector and the electrical socket, to shift the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position to permit the at least one prong to be removed from the at least one opening. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for controlling the use of an electrically powered device having an electrical cord using a plug lock, the plug lock having a housing and an electrical socket having openings configured to receive prongs of an electrical plug of the electrical cord, the plug lock having a retaining member and an actuator configured to shift the retaining member from a locked position wherein the retaining member engages at least one prong in at least one opening of the electrical socket and inhibits removal of the at least one prong from the at least one opening to an unlocked position wherein the retaining member permits the at least one prong of the electrical plug to be removed from the at least one opening of the electrical socket, the method comprising:
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retaining, by the retaining member in the locked position thereof, the at least one prong of the electrical plug of the electrical cord of the electrically powered device in the at least one opening of the electrical socket of the plug lock; receiving, from an electronic device, a wireless signal at wireless communication circuitry of the plug lock; determining whether the electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the plug lock; and upon the electronic device being determined to be within the predetermined proximity of the plug lock; operating a switch of the plug lock to electrically couple the electrical socket and a power source, and causing the actuator to shift the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position and permit the at least one prong of the electrical plug to be withdrawn from the at least one opening of the electrical socket. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification