Safety socket assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a safety socket assembly:
- a socket for receiving the prongs of the connecting plug of an electrical appliance, a set of contacts for connecting the socket to a source of electrical energy when closed, a control arm movablee relative to the contacts and socket between extended and retracted positions and between first and second rotative positions, a cam carried by the control arm for holding the contacts in a closed position when the control arm is extended and in its first rotative position, the contacts being open when the control arm is retracted or in its second rotative position, a pin carried by the control arm positioned to extend through an opening in one of the prongs of a plug inserted in the socket to prevent removal of the plug when the control arm is in its extended position, and means for preventing movement of the control arm to the extended position when no plug is in the socket.
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Abstract
Safety socket assembly for use with a conventional wall outlet for preventing injury to persons such as children who insert foreign objects into the socket. Energization of the socket is controlled by a set of contacts, and the socket can only be energized when a plug is inserted therein. Once the plug is inserted and the socket energized, the plug is locked in place and cannot be removed until the socket is deenergized.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a safety socket assembly:
- a socket for receiving the prongs of the connecting plug of an electrical appliance, a set of contacts for connecting the socket to a source of electrical energy when closed, a control arm movablee relative to the contacts and socket between extended and retracted positions and between first and second rotative positions, a cam carried by the control arm for holding the contacts in a closed position when the control arm is extended and in its first rotative position, the contacts being open when the control arm is retracted or in its second rotative position, a pin carried by the control arm positioned to extend through an opening in one of the prongs of a plug inserted in the socket to prevent removal of the plug when the control arm is in its extended position, and means for preventing movement of the control arm to the extended position when no plug is in the socket.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a safety socket assembly:
- a housing adapted to be mounted on the front of a conventional wall outlet, a pair of conductive pins extending from the housing for making electrical contact with the conductors in the outlet, a socket carried by the housing for receiving the prongs of the plug of an electrical appliance, a generally cylindrical plunger rotatively mounted in the housing and movable between first and second axial positions, a locking pin extending axially from one end of the plunger and positioned to extend through an opening in one of the prongs of a plug inserted in the socket to prevent removal of the plug when the plunger is in its first position, said pin being withdrawn from the socket to permit insertion and removal of the plug when the plunger is in its second position, a set of contacts connected to one of the conductive pins and to the socket for making a circuit between the pin and socket when closed, means connecting the second conductive pin to the socket, a cam carried by the plunger positioned for closing the contacts to energize the socket when the plunger is in its first axial position and in a predetermined rotative position, and means for preventing movement of the plunger to its first position when no plug is in the socket.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
Specification