Method and apparatus for A.C outlet having grounds-out receptacles

• US 20050211460A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mechanical Answers, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mechanical Answers, LLC
• Inventors: Lemaire, Charles A., Maxwell, Scott D., Maxwell, Marian D., Draggie, Raymond Q.
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus and means to address the problem of attempting to utilize two large power plugs with transformers, converters and/or 90 degree plugs simultaneously with one duplex power receptacle. This invention discloses a duplex power receptacle in a ground-up and ground-down configuration, such that two conventional large three prong power plugs with transformers, converters and/or 90 degree plugs can be used simultaneously. This configuration can be utilized while still maintaining many of characteristics of the conventional duplex power receptacles such as the left and right orientation of the neutral and hot conducting busses. By maintaining the characteristics of the conventional duplex power receptacle one knowledgeable in the art can install this invention without having to be retrained in a method of installation and a conventional wall outlet box and cover plate will accommodate this invention. Additionally, by maintaining these characteristics users of this invention will not have to learn any new method of having to use the device.

Claims

1. A method for making a duplex electrical outlet, the method comprising:

configuring the outlet to have a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle both having a receptacle face oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-pronged plug having a hot conductive buss prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong, respectively;

orienting the first power socket such that its ground socket is further from the second power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket;

orienting the second power socket such that its ground socket is further from the first power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket;

electrically connecting the hot socket of the first power receptacle to the hot socket of the second power receptacle with a first metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a first side of the outlet;

electrically connecting the neutral socket of the first power receptacle to the neutral socket of the second power receptacle with a second metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a second side of the outlet opposite to the first side of the outlet; and

electrically connecting the ground socket of the first power receptacle to the ground socket of the second power receptacle with a third metal buss configured to connect to external wiring along the second side of the outlet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the first metal buss to be readily separable into a first portion and a second portion that are electrically disconnected from one another;

configuring the second metal buss to be readily separable into a first portion and a second portion that are electrically disconnected from one another;

connecting a first wire-attaching line screw to the first portion of the first metal buss;

connecting a second wire-attaching line screw to the first portion of the second metal buss;

connecting a third wire-attaching line screw to the third metal buss;

connecting a fourth wire-attaching line screw to the second portion of the first metal buss;

connecting a fifth wire-attaching line screw to the second portion of the second metal buss;

mounting a threaded screw receiver substantially centered on a recessed surface plate between first power receptacle and the second power receptacle; and

spacing the first power receptacle from the second power receptacle such that they accommodate a standard outlet face plate having two power receptacle openings and one screw opening.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forming a plurality of pockets in the outlet, including at least one hot pocket, at least one neutral pocket, and at least one ground pocket each having electrically insulating walls that isolate the at least one hot pocket from the at least one neutral pocket and from the at least one ground pocket.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least two different front-receptacle faces including a first front-receptacle face having a single substantially planar rectangular raised face having both power receptacles therein, and a second front-receptacle face having two separated raised face portions each shaped as truncated circles;

configuring conductor portions including the first, second and third busses and back portions of the outlet such that substantially identical back portions and conductor portions are adopted to be connected to the second front-receptacle face and to second front-receptacle face;

assembling a first back portion and conductor portion to the first front-receptacle face; and

assembling a second back portion and conductor portion, which are substantially identical to the first back portion and conductor portion, to the second front-receptacle face.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the first metal buss to be readily separable into a first portion and a second portion that are electrically disconnected from one another;

configuring the second metal buss to be readily separable into a first portion and a second portion that are electrically disconnected from one another;

forming a first wire socket adapted for receiving a first hot wire and connecting it to the first portion of the first metal buss;

forming a second wire socket adapted for receiving a first neutral wire and connecting it to the first portion of the second metal buss;

forming a third wire socket adapted for receiving a second neutral wire and connecting it to the second portion of the first metal buss; and

forming a fourth wire socket adapted for receiving a second neutral wire and connecting it to the second portion of the second metal buss.

6. A duplex power outlet comprising:

a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle, each having a hot socket, a neutral socket and a ground socket, wherein the ground socket of the first receptacle is spaced further from the ground socket of the second power receptacle than the hot socket of the first receptacle is spaced from the hot socket of the second receptacle and than the neutral socket of the first receptacle is spaced from the neutral socket of the second receptacle, and wherein the outlet is configured to mount in a wall electrical box and to have a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire of an in-wall wiring circuit connected to the outlet.

7. The outlet of claim 6, wherein the two power receptacles are configured as separate raised faces oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-prong power plug having a hot prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong.

8. The outlet of claim 7, wherein the upper power receptacle is configured such that:

the hot socket of the upper power receptacle and the hot socket of the lower power receptacle are connected via a first conducting buss to an-in-wall circuit;

the neutral socket of the upper power receptacle and neutral socket of the lower power receptacle are connected via a second conducting buss to a circuit; and

the ground socket of the upper and lower power receptacles connected to a ground circuit.

9. The outlet of claim 7 wherein the circuit is attached via one or more threaded terminal screws.

10. The outlet of claim 6 further comprising:

a threaded screw receiver substantially centered on a recessed surface plate between first power receptacle and the second power receptacle; and

a standard duplex power outlet face.

11. The outlet of claim 10, wherein the receptacle face has a planar rectangular raised front receptacle face, and a second receptacle face configuration having two separated raised front-receptacle face portions each shaped as a truncated circle.

12. The outlet of claim 11, wherein the upper power receptacle is at an angle relative to the lower power receptacle.

13. The outlet of claim 6, further comprising a first hot conductive buss, and a second neutral conductive buss, with the first hot conductive buss oriented above the second neutral conductive buss.

14. The outlet of claim 13, further comprising two sets of three gripping fingers.

15. The outlet of claim 13, where both upper and lower power receptacles are configured at an angle offset from vertical.

16. An apparatus comprising:

outlet means for simultaneously connecting a first power plug in a ground-up configuration and a second power plug in a ground-down configuration, including;

means for receiving the first and second power plugs;

means for attaching one or more circuits to the outlet means;

means for receiving electrical power through the circuits;

means for supplying this electrical power to the first and second power plugs; and

means for attaching a ground to the outlet means.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for supplying this electrical power to the first and second power plugs include an over-under cross-over configuration for hot and neutral busses.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for supplying this electrical power to the first and second power plugs include a hot buss that passes between ground and neutral sockets of the outlet.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising

a residence having a circuit-breaker box and in-wall wiring connecting between the circuit-breaker box and the outlet means.