SAFETY RECEPTACLE

• US 3,775,726 A
• Filed: 09/13/1971
• Issued: 11/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Gress
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Gress
• Inventors: Gress, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/179,875
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 339/36,37,38,39,14,74,82,40,75,42,91 200/51R,51.07,51.09
• US Class Current: 439/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

A safety receptacle constructed for use in conventional electrical junction boxes to accommodate standard electrical plugs. The construction of the receptacle prevents completion of an electrical circuit until a standard plug with holes in the ends of its blades is pushed into the receptacle. The plug engages a spring loaded block means therein, and the plug and a sliding portion of the receptacle face are translated laterally. The lateral translation of the plug and related portions of the receptacle causes fixed pins within the receptacle housing to extend into the holes in the plug blades and to lock the plug in place. This lateral translation also slides electrically conductive wiper means, which are in contact with the plug blades, from a non-conductive position to a conductive position on an electrical input bar. Translation of the plug and related portions of the receptacle back to their original position is required to unlock the plug. Translation also disconnects the wiper means from the electrical input bar and deactivates the receptacle.

Claims

1. A safety receptacle comprising a movable socket assembly including a face plate having sockets therein adapted to receive the blades of a conventional electrical plug;

means for guiding said socket assembly from a plug receiving position to a plug locking position;

rod means positioned to extend through at least one hole in a blade when said sockets have blades inserted therethrough and said socket assembly has been moved to its locking position;

means for completing an electrical circuit through the blades only when said socket assembly is in its locked position; and

means blocking movement of the socket assembly until the blades of an electrical plug have been inserted therein.

2. A safety receptacle as in claim 1, further including means to prevent movement of the socket assembly into the locking position until at least one hole in a blade is aligned with a hole in the socket assembly, whereby said rod means will extend through the aligned holes.

3. A safety receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the means blocking movement comprises at least one shaft extending from the face plate adjacent to a socket;

a block slidably mounted on the shaft and in alignment with a socket;

means normally biasing the block to a position in alignment with the rod means, whereby said block engages said rod means to prevent movement of the movable socket assembly to the locking position, said block means being s idable to a position out of alignment with the rod means when the blades of an electrical plug are inserted into the sockets of the socket assembly.

4. A safety receptacle as in claim 3, further including further means to prevent movement of the socket assembly into the locking position until at least one hole in a blade is aligned with a hole in the socket assembly, whereby said rod means will extend through the aligned holes.

5. A safety recptacle as in claim 3, wherein the further means to prevent movement comprises a hole in the shaft.

6. A safety receptacle comprising a movable socket assembly including a face plate having sockets therein adapted to receive the blades of a conventional electrical plug;

means for guiding said socket assembly from a plug receiving position to a plug locking position;

rod means positioned to extend through at least one hole in a blade when said sockets have blades inserted therethrough and said socket assembly has been moved to its locking position; and

means for completing an electrical circuit through the blades only when said socket assembly is in its locked position, said means comprising electrically conductive wiper means carried by said socket assembly and in continuous engagement with a blade of an electrical plug inserted into the sockets, and electrically conductive means positioned to be contacted by the wiper means only when said socket assembly is in its locked position.

7. A safety receptacle comprising a movable socket assembly including a face plate having sockets therein adapted to receive the blades of a conventional electrical plug and a socket through which a ground post of the electrical plug is adapted to be inserted;

means for guiding said socket assembly from a plug receiving position to a plug locking position;

rod means positioned to extend through at least one hole in a blade when said sockets have blades inserted therethrough and said socket assembly has been moved to its locking position;

means for completing an electrical circuit through the blades only when said socket assembly is in its lockeD position; and

a conductive member positioned to be continuously engaged by the portion of the ground post extending through the face plate.