Method and apparatus for selectively locking a standard plug to a standard receptacle

• US 20040074745A1
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Castaldo, Cosmo
• Granted Patent: US 6,956,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/50.28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/701 the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member

Abstract

An enclosure which supports a standard receptacle for receiving a standard plug and a handle which can be positioned to a first position or a second position is provided. The handle, when in the first position, blocks the removal or insertion of the plug into the receptacle. In the fist position, the receptacle can be selectively connected by a user to a source of power. When the handle is in the second position, the plug can be removed or inserted into the receptacle and the receptacle is prevented from being connected to the source of power. The apparatus includes a receptacle, a switch for turning power to the receptacle on or off, a member coupled to the housing and having a first position which prevents the plug from being inserted into or removed from the receptacle and a second position which allows the plug to be inserted into or removed from the receptacle, and a connector coupled to the member and to the switch to enable the switch to connect the receptacle to a source of power when the member is in the first position. The apparatus also includes a housing for containing the receptacle and mounting lugs for mounting the apparatus.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a switch, disposed on said device, for turning power to a receptacle on or off;

a member coupled to the device and having a first position which prevents a plug from being inserted into said receptacle and a second position which allows the plug to be inserted into the receptacle; and

connecting means coupled to said member and to said switch to enable said switch to connect the receptacle to a source of power when said member is in said first position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said connecting means disables said switch from connecting said receptacle to a source of power when said member is in said second position.

3. The device of claim 1 and further comprising a locking means for locking the plug to the receptacle when said member is in said first position.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said locking means disables said receptacle from accepting said plug when said member is in said first position.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said connecting means turns said switch to the off position when said member is moved from the first position to said second position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plug and the receptacle are standard receptacles.

7. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a mounting lug disposed on said housing.

8. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a gasket mounted on said receptacle.

9. The device of claim 5, further comprising a gasket hold down clamp mounted on said receptacle.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a first linkage and a second linkage, said first linkage and said second linkage are connected to each other.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said first linkage is connected to said member.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said second linkage is operable to operate said switch.

13. The device of claim 10, and further comprising a cam attached to said switch.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said second linkage is operable to move said cam thereby moving said switch.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring clip attached to said member; and

an indexer operably attached to said spring clip to cause said member to remain in said first or said second positions.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

knubs attached to said spring clip; and

indentations disposed on said indexer, such that said knubs on said spring clip fit into said indentations.

17. A housing comprising:

a receptacle;

a member coupled to the housing and having a first position which prevents a plug from being inserted into or removed from the receptacle and a second position which allows a plug to be inserted into or removed from the receptacle, and

connecting means coupled to the member to enable the receptacle to be connected to a source of power when the member is in the first position.

18. An actuating mechanism for operating a switch and other electrical device comprising:

an enclosure including an electrical plug receiving receptacle;

a switch which is selectively positionable in “

on”

or “

off”

positions, said switch being electrically connected with said receptacle; and

,

a handle which is movably mounted on the exterior of said enclosure;

an actuating linkage means for operatively connecting said switch and said handle such that when said handle is in a first position a plug may be connected to said receptacle and said switch may not be placed in the on position, and a second position which keeps a plug from being inserted or removed when said switch is placed in the on position.

19. The mechanism as set forth in claim 18, further including a locking means operatively connected with said actuating linkage and with said receptacle for locking said toggle switch lever in the “

off”

position in the absence of a plug fully received in said receptacle and for locking said plug fully received in said receptacle in the absence of said switch being in the “

off”

position.

20. A method of coupling a plug to a receptacle comprising the steps of:

providing a member having a first position for blocking the plug from being inserted into or being removed from the receptacle and a second position for permitting the plug to be inserted into or removed from the receptacle;

placing the member into the second position;

connecting the plug to the receptacle;

moving the member into a second position where the plug may not be removed from the receptacle and enabling the receptacle to be coupled to a source of power.

21. A method of coupling a plug to a receptacle comprising the steps of:

moving, to a first position, a member coupled to a switch, the member having a first position which allows the plug to be inserted into or removed from said receptacle;

connecting the plug to the receptacle;

moving, to a second position, the member coupled to a switch, the member having a second position which prevents the plug from being inserted into or removed from the receptacle; and

moving a switch from an off position to an on position, the switch only operable to be moved to an on position when the member is in the second position.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of moving, to a second position, locks the plug into the receptacle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the switch is turned to the off position if the member is moved from the second position to the first position.