Outlet panel for single pin connectors

• US 20040201934A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raymond Wolpert, Richard Wolpert
• Original Assignee: Raymond Wolpert, Richard Wolpert
• Inventors: Wolpert, Richard, Wolpert, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/93.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch

Abstract

A device for providing electrical power that includes one or more single pin outlets and one or more switches, each of the switches coupled to a respective one of the one or more single pin outlets. The at least one switch is actuatable by insertion of a pin in the single pin outlet. The device also includes a current device coupled to the one or more switches and configured to prevent the flow of electrical current to the single pin outlets unless all of the switches are actuated. Thus, the device is configured to prevent the flow of electrical power to all of the single pin outlets unless all of the single pin outlets have a pin properly inserted therein.

Claims

1. A device for providing electrical power comprising:

at least one single pin outlet;

at least one switch coupled to the at least one single pin outlet, the at least one switch actuatable by insertion of a pin in the single pin outlet a current device coupled to the at least one switch and configured to prevent the flow of electrical current to the at least one single pin outlet unless the at least one switch is actuated.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one single pin outlet includes at least two single pin outlets;

wherein the at least one switch includes at least two switches, each one of the at least two switches coupled to a respective one of the at least two single pin outlets, and each one of the at least two switches actuatable by insertion of a pin in the single pin outlet;

wherein the device is coupled to the at least two switches and configured to prevent the flow of electrical current to the at least two single pin outlets unless all of the at least two switches are actuated.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch is a relay switch.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least two switches are connected to each other in parallel.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least two switches are normally closed.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the device further comprises:

a shunt trip connected to the current device and configured upon activation to de-energize the current device;

a second switch, the second switch connected to the at least two switches and to the shunt trip.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second switch is normally open, and is configured such-that when any of the at least two switches are closed, the second switch is caused to close and activate the shunt trip to de-energize the current device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the current device is a current limiting device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the current limiting device is one of a circuit breaker, a motor controller, a fused switch and a non-fused switch.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a third switch for ensuring the device maintains ground integrity.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the third switch is a normally-open relay switch.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the third switch controls a secondary circuit that trips the current device unless a connection to earth ground is established.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least two switches are connected to each other in series.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least two switches are normally open.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises:

a shunt trip connected to the current device and configured upon activation to de-energize the current device;

a second switch, the second switch connected to the at least two switches and to the shunt trip.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the second switch is normally closed, and is configured such that when any of the at least two switches are closed, the second switch is caused to open and activate the shunt trip to de-energize the current device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the current device is an overcurrent device.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a third switch for ensuring the device maintains ground integrity.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the third switch is a normally-open relay switch.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the third switch controls a secondary circuit that trips the current device unless a connection to earth ground is established.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an electrical outlet panel.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes one, two or three electrical phase legs.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a rectifier to combine the electric phase legs to create a current for controlling the operation of the current device.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the device employs a single electrical phase leg for controlling the operation of the current device.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the device employs AC switching such that a single recognized electrical phase leg controls the operation of the current device.