PROTECTIVE ELECTRIC COUPLING

• US 3,868,160 A
• Filed: 09/25/1972
• Issued: 02/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jorge Eduardo Kersman
• Original Assignee: Jorge Eduardo Kersman
• Inventors: Kersman, Jorge Eduardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jr., David
• Application Number:
  US05/292,163
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 200/51R,51.07,51.08,51.09 339/40-44,75R,75M,12R
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/453 Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch

Abstract

Two complementary couplers, i.e., a socket and a plug, are provided with mating connectors whose interengagement completes a circuit connection between a supply line and a load, the connectors of the socket being normally made ineffectual or inaccessible by a safety mechanism which is deactivated only upon the approach of one or more magnets carried by the plug. The safety mechanism may include one or more blocking plates normally obstructing the socket connectors or a detent preventing manual displacement of conductive extensions of these connectors into engagement with coating supply terminals; in another embodiment, this mechanism comprises a circuit breaker which is moved by the approaching magnet or magnets to close both the main circuit and an ancillary circuit to energize a solenoid which intensifies the contact pressure between the connector extensions and the supply terminals, on the one hand, and respective bridge pieces on the circuit breaker.

Claims

1. A protective electric coupling comprising:

a first coupler provided with at least one concealed first electrical connector adapted to be tied to a source of electrical energy;

a second coupler complementary to said first coupler provided with a second electrical connector adapted to be tied to a load, said second connector being matingly engageable with said first connector through an access opening in said first coupler upon operative interengagement of said couplers;

safety means in said first coupler for preventing the energization of an extraneous object other than said second connector introduced through said access opening into contact with said first connector; and

coacting first and second magnetic means on said first and second couplers for deactivating said safety means upon incipient interengagement of said couplers to facilitate energization of the load via said connectors, said safety means including mechanism effective prior to deactivation thereof for inhibiting full operative interengagement of said couplers.

2. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second magnetic means comprises a passive magnetic element on said first coupler and an active magnet on said second coupler.

3. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second magnetic means are a pair of magnets polarized to repel each other.

4. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises a blocking member normally obstructing said first connector and carrying said first magnetic means, said blocking member being deflectable into a nonobstructing position by magnetic interaction of said first and second magnetic means.

5. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein said second magnetic means is mounted on said second connector for introduction into said access opening.

6. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein said first coupler includes a front plate provided with said access opening, said blocking member being swingable behind said front plate in a plane parallel thereto.

7. A protective electric coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein said blocking member is provided with a depression normally in line with said access opening for preventing a displacement of said blocking member by a tool inserted therethrough.

8. An adapter for a socket provided with a jack connected to a source of electrical energy and engageable by a pin of a plug connected to a load, comprising a body, a male connector extending from said body for insertion into said jack, a female connector on said body adapted to receive said pin, circuitry in said body for extending an electrical connection from said jack through said connectors and said pin to the load upon operative interengagement of said plug with said body, safety means in said body for preventing the energization of an extraneous object other than said pin introduced into said female connector, magnetic means in said body displaceable by a magnet on said plug for deactivating said safety means upon incipient interengagement of said plug with said body, said safety means including mechanism effective prior to deactivation thereof for inhibiting full operative interengagement of said plug and said body, and retaining means on said body for preventing its detachment from a socket engaged thereby.

9. A wall socket having a body provided with an access opening and a concealed electrical connector contactable through said access opening by a mating pin of an associated plug and adapted to be tied to a source of electrical energy, said socket comprising:

a blocking member between said access opening and said connector for normally obstructing the latter to prevent energization of an extraneous object other than said pin inserted into said access opening; and

magnetic means on said blocking member positioned to interact with a magnet on said plug upon incipient penetration of said access opening by said pin to displace said blocking member into a nonobstructing position.