Protective Lockable Female Electrical Outlet

• US 20130309883A1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas P. Wolfe, Shawn M. Wolfe
• Original Assignee: Nicholas P. Wolfe, Shawn M. Wolfe
• Inventors: Wolfe, Shawn M., Wolfe, Nicholas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

An improved electrical outlet providing a lockable electrical connection between a male plug and the outlet to securely retain the plug. The method to secure and retain the plug imparts minimal stress to the outlet and to the male plug so as to not substantially decrease the durability of either. The outlet decreases the shocking potential to a user or unwitting child by remaining un-energized when idle, and prohibits movement from its idle position until the outlet has received the plug terminal prongs. The shape of the movable receptacle assembly and its corresponding cavity blocks a child from contacting the outlets power source with a metallic object, while making the power source available to the receptacle assembly when initiated by the user. The outlets locking action steps secure and energize the plug simultaneously during the locking action steps in a user friendly manner. The modularized design of the receptacle module can provide an easily adaptable means to fit and form various arrangements such as a wall outlet or an extension cord outlet.

Claims

1. A protective lockable female electrical outlet suitable for use with a standard male electrical plug having a pair of conductive blade type terminal prongs and said prongs defining a hole proximate the end of a broad side of said prong, said plug also having a ground prong, said electrical outlet comprising;

(A) a receptacle module, formed from a receptacle body being fastened to a receptacle housing;

(B) a line power locking electrical contact assembly and a neutral locking electrical contact assembly, both locking contact assemblies carried by said receptacle body, each locking contact assembly comprising;

(a) at least two prong contact terminals, for making electrical communication with the plug terminal prongs, said contact terminals comprising;

(I) an outer prong contact terminal, having a channel defined at a proximate location to correspond with the plug prong hole;

(II) an inner prong contact terminal, having a hole defined at a proximate location to correspond with said plug prong hole;

(b) a guide pin, in electrical communication with said prong contact terminals;

(C) a ground contact assembly, carried by said receptacle body, said ground contact assembly comprising;

(a) a conductive ground prong contact, for making electrical ground communication with the plug ground prong;

(b) a means to form a movable continuous electrical ground communication between said ground prong contact and an electrical ground source;

(D) a lock pin, being slidably carried through the outer prong contact terminal channel for engaging said plug prong hole, and for engaging the inner prong contact terminal hole when said receptacle body has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing by the user;

(E) a biasing means, for urging said lock pin to a predetermined outward position in which said lock pin does not engage said plug prong hole;

(F) a receptacle cap, carried by said receptacle body for receiving said plug terminal prongs and said ground prong;

(G) a biasing means, carried by said receptacle housing, for urging said lock pins to engage said plugs prong hole and engage said inner prong contact terminal hole when said receptacle body has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing, by said user;

(H) a means to guide and limit the travel of said guide pins, carried by said receptacle housing, and to thus guide and limit the travel of said receptacle body to predetermined positions relative to said receptacle housing;

(I) a biasing means, carried by said receptacle housing, for biasing said receptacle body to hold predetermined outward positions relative to said receptacle housing until said user performs a series of locking or unlocking action steps;

(J) a means to connect said locking contact assemblies to a corresponding electrical power source, carried by said receptacle housing, when said receptacle body has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing, by said user;

(K) an outlet housing, to carry at least one said receptacle module;

(L) a cover or a cap, carried by said outlet housing, to enclose said receptacle module within said outlet housing.

2. The female electrical outlet of claim 1, wherein at least one of said prong contact terminals comprises a means for engaging said receptacle housing to thus prohibit said receptacle body from rotating relative to said receptacle housing until said prong contact terminal has received said plug terminal prong.

3. A protective lockable female electrical outlet suitable for use with a standard male electrical plug having a pair of conductive blade type terminal prongs and said prongs defining a hole proximate the end of a broad side of said prong, said plug also having a ground prong, said electrical outlet comprising;

(A) a receptacle module, for receiving the plugs prongs, said receptacle module formed from a receptacle assembly being fastened to a receptacle housing, said receptacle assembly comprising;

(a) an insulating receptacle body, having a cylindrical forward section joined to a cylindrical rear section, the receptacle body forward section having an outer periphery, the receptacle body rear section having an outer periphery being of smaller circumference than the receptacle body forward section outer periphery;

(b) an insulating cylindrical receptacle cap, carried by said receptacle body, said cap having a front surface, said front surface having a pair of slots defined for accepting the plug terminal prongs, said front surface also having a hole defined for accepting the plug ground prong;

(c) a line power locking electrical contact assembly and a neutral locking electrical contact assembly, each of the locking contact assemblies carried by said receptacle body, each said locking contact assemblies comprising;

(I) at least two conductive prong contact terminals, for making electrical communication with the corresponding said plug terminal prong, said prong contact terminals comprising;

(i) an outer prong contact terminal, having a channel defined at a proximate location to correspond with the plug prong hole;

(ii) an inner prong contact terminal, having a hole defined at a proximate location to correspond with said plug prong hole;

(I) a conductive tubular guide pin, in electrical communication with said prong contact terminals, said guide pin protrudes outward from the receptacle body rear section outer periphery;

(d) a conductive ground contact assembly, carried by said receptacle body, said ground contact assembly comprising;

(I) a conductive ground prong contact, for making electrical ground communication with said plug ground prong;

(II) a conductive retaining screw sleeve, being in electrical communication with said ground prong contact, said sleeve being centrally located within said receptacle body;

(e) a lock pin, being slidably carried through the outer prong contact terminal channel, for engaging said plug prong hole and for engaging the inner prong contact terminal hole when said receptacle assembly has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing by the user;

(f) a lock pin spring, positioned between the lock pin head and said receptacle body to urge said lock pin to a predetermined outward position in which said lock pin does not engage said plug prong hole;

(B) an insulating receptacle housing, for receiving said receptacle assembly, said receptacle assembly being slidable and rotatable within said receptacle housing, said receptacle housing comprising;

(a) a substantially cylindrical cavity, for receiving said receptacle assembly, said cavity comprising;

(I) an upper chamber, having an inner periphery, the upper chamber inner periphery being of approximate commensurate size of said receptacle body forward section outer periphery, said upper chamber having a floor surface defined at its base;

(II) at least one engagement ramp, defined into said upper chamber inner periphery, said engagement ramp decrease in depth in a clockwise direction for urging said lock pin to engage said plug prong hole and urges said lock pin to engage said inner prong contact terminal hole when said receptacle assembly is turned relative to said receptacle housing, by said user;

(III) a rear chamber, centrally defined into the upper chamber floor, said rear chamber having an inner periphery, the rear chamber inner periphery being of approximate commensurate size of said receptacle body rear section outer periphery, said rear chamber having a floor surface defined at its base, the rear chamber floor having a centrally located screw hole defined;

(IV) a first channelway, defined within said rear chamber inner periphery, said first channelway having a pair of separate vertical detent slots having a base, both of the first channelway vertical detent slot bases being joined together by an interposed horizontal slot, said first channelway cooperates with the line power guide pin to limit said receptacle assemblies travel within said receptacle housing;

(V) a second channelway, defined within said rear chamber inner periphery, said second channelway having a pair of separate vertical detent slots having a base, both of the second channelway vertical detent slot bases being joined together by an interposed horizontal slot, said second channelway cooperates with the neutral guide pin to limit said receptacle assemblies travel within said receptacle housing;

(b) a conductive line power guide pin contact, disposed in said first channelway for engaging the line power guide pin when said receptacle assembly has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing by said user, said line power guide pin contact being in electrical communication with an electrical line power source;

(c) a conductive neutral guide pin contact, disposed in said second channelway for engaging the neutral guide pin when said receptacle assembly has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said receptacle housing by said user, said neutral guide pin contact being in electrical communication with an electrical neutral power source;

(C) a conductive retaining screw, having a shaft and having a head, the retaining screw shaft slidably passes through said retaining screw sleeve, said retaining screw being in continuous electrical ground communication with said sleeve, said retaining screw shaft being fixably mounted through the rear chamber floor surface screw hole, the retaining screw head limits the outward travel of said sleeve and thus limits the outward travel of said receptacle assembly;

(D) a spring, disposed between said rear chamber floor surface and said receptacle body rear section, whereby said receptacle assembly is biased upward relative to said receptacle housing when said receptacle assembly is rotated to predetermined positions by said user, said spring also holds said receptacle assembly in the predetermined upward position,

(E) an insulating outlet housing, comprising;

(a) at least one cavity for receiving said receptacle module;

(b) a conductive line power outlet terminal, being in electrical communication with said line power guide pin contact, said line power outlet terminal having a means to form electrical communication with said electrical line power source;

(c) a conductive neutral outlet terminal, being in electrical communication with said neutral guide pin contact, said neutral outlet terminal having a means to form electrical communication with said electrical neutral power source;

(d) a conductive outlet ground terminal or a conductive mounting bracket, in electrical ground communication with said retaining screw, said outlet ground terminal or said mounting bracket having a means to receive the power supply ground source;

(e) an insulating cover or an insulating cap, to enclose said receptacle module within said cavity, said cover or said cap having at least a hole through which said receptacle assembly protrudes.

4. A protective lockable female electrical outlet suitable for use with a standard male electrical plug having a pair of conductive blade type terminal prongs and said prongs defining a hole proximate the end of a broad side of said prong, said plug also having a ground prong, said electrical outlet comprising;

(A) a receptacle assembly, comprising;

(a) an insulating receptacle body, having a cylindrical forward section joined to a cylindrical rear section, the body forward section having an outer periphery, the body rear section having an outer periphery being of a smaller circumference than the receptacle body forward section outer periphery;

(b) a conductive line power locking electrical contact assembly and a conductive neutral locking electrical contact assembly, both of the locking contact assemblies carried by said receptacle body, both said locking contact assemblies comprising;

(I) at least two conductive prong contact terminals, for making electrical communication with the plug terminal prongs, said contact terminals comprising;

(i) an outer prong contact terminal, having a channel defined at a proximate location to correspond with the plug prong hole;

(ii) an inner prong contact terminal, having a hole defined at a proximate location to correspond with said plug prong hole;

(II) a tubular guide pin, in electrical communication with said prong contact terminals, said guide pin protrudes outward from the receptacle body rear section outer periphery;

(c) a conductive ground contact assembly, carried by said receptacle body, said ground contact assembly comprising;

(I) a conductive ground prong contact, for making ground electrical communication with the plug ground prong;

(II) a conductive retaining screw sleeve, being in electrical communication with said ground prong contact, said sleeve being centrally located within said receptacle body;

(d) a lock pin, being slidably carried through the outer prong contact terminal channel for engaging said plug prong hole and for engaging the inner prong contact terminal hole;

(e) a biasing means, carried by said lock pins to urge said lock pin to a predetermined outward position in which said lock pin does not engage said plug prong hole and does not engage said inner prong contact terminal hole;

(f) a receptacle cap, carried by said receptacle body, for receiving said plug terminal prongs and for receiving said plug ground prong;

(B) an insulating outlet housing, for receiving at least one said receptacle assembly, said receptacle assembly being slidable and rotatable within said outlet housing, said outlet housing comprising;

(a) at least one substantially cylindrical cavity, for receiving said receptacle assembly, said cavity comprising;

(I) an upper chamber, having an inner periphery, the upper chamber inner periphery being of approximate commensurate size of said receptacle body forward section outer periphery, said upper chamber having a floor surface defined at its base;

(II) a biasing means, carried by said outlet housing for urging said lock pins to engage said plug prong hole and for urging said lock pin to engage said inner prong contact terminal hole when said receptacle assembly has been turned relative to said outlet housing by the user;

(III) a rear chamber, centrally defined in the upper chamber floor, said rear chamber having an inner periphery, the rear chamber inner periphery being of approximate commensurate size of said receptacle body rear section outer periphery, said rear chamber having a floor surface defined at its base, the rear chamber floor surface having a central screw hole defined;

(IV) a first channelway, defined into said rear chamber inner periphery, said first channelway having a pair of separate vertical detent slots having a base, both of the first channelway vertical detent slot bases being joined together by an interposed horizontal slot, said first channelway cooperates with the line power guide pin to limit said receptacle assemblies travel within said outlet housing;

V) a second channelway, defined into said rear chambers inner periphery, said second channelway having a pair of separate vertical detent slots having a base, both of the second channelway vertical detent slot bases being joined together by an interposed horizontal slot, said second channelway cooperates with the neutral guide pin to limit said receptacle assemblies travel within said outlet housing;

(b) a conductive line power guide pin contact, disposed in said first channelway for engaging said line power guide pin when said receptacle assembly has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said outlet housing by said user, said line power guide pin contact having a means to receive an electrical line power source;

(c) a conductive neutral guide pin contact, disposed in said second channelway for engaging said neutral guide pin when said receptacle assembly has been moved to a predetermined position relative to said outlet housing by said user, said neutral guide pin contact having a means to receive an electrical neutral power source;

(d) a conductive retaining screw, for retaining said receptacle assembly within the outlet housing cavity, said retaining screw having a shaft and having a head, the retaining screw shaft slidably passes through said retaining screw sleeve, said retaining screw being in continuous electrical ground communication with said sleeve, said retaining screw shaft being fixably mounted through the rear chamber floor surface screw hole, the retaining screw head limits the outward travel of said sleeve and thus limits the outward travel of said receptacle assembly;

(e) a spring, disposed between said rear chamber floor surface and said receptacle body rear section, whereby said receptacle assembly is biased upward relative to said outlet housing when said receptacle assembly is rotated to predetermined positions by said user, said spring also holds said receptacle assembly in predetermined upward positions;

(f) a cover or a cap, to enclose said receptacle assembly within said cavity, said cover or said cap having at least a hole through which said receptacle assembly protrudes outward;

(g) a conductive outlet ground terminal or a conductive mounting bracket, in electrical ground communication with said retaining screw, said outlet ground terminal or said mounting bracket having a means to receive the power supply ground source.