Safety socket assembly

• US 3,942,856 A
• Filed: 12/23/1974
• Issued: 03/09/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deceased, Daniel J. Mindheim, Joyce E. Mindheim
• Original Assignee: Deceased, Daniel J. Mindheim, Joyce E. Mindheim
• Inventors: Mindheim, deceased, Daniel J., Mindheim, executrix, by Joyce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goldberg, Howard N.
• Application Number:
  US05/535,486
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 174/67, 339/36, 339/39, 339/40, 339/42, 339/78, 339/79, 339/74 R
• US Class Current: 200/51.09
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/707 interlocked with contact members or counterpart

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.

Claims

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.

2. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the control arm and cam are formed as a unitary structure comprising an elongated cylindrical plunger having a half round section positioned for engaging the contacts when the control arm is in its extended position.

3. The socket assembly of claim 2 wherein the plunger also has a quarter round section positioned for alignment with the contacts when the control arm is retracted, said quarter round section being oriented so that it does not engage the contacts to close the same when the control arm is in either rotative positions.

4. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing movement of the control arm comprises a stop biased toward a rest position in alignment with the control arm and serving as a limiting abutment for the control arm when in the rest position, said stop including a portion adapted to be engaged by the prong of a plug inserted in the socket whereby the stop is moved out of alignment with the control arm when the plug is inserted.

5. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the elements named therein are mounted in a housing adapted to be mounted on the front of a conventional wall outlet, said assembly further including a pair of conductive pins connected to the contacts and extending from the housing for contacting the conductors in the outlet.

6. The assembly of claim 5 further including a mounting screw extending from the housing for securing the assembly to the outlet.

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.

8. The socket assembly of claim 7 wherein the means for preventing movement of the plunger comprises a movable stop biased toward a rest position in axial alignment with the plunger and serving as a limiting abutment for the plunger when in the rest position, said stop being adapted for being engaged by the prong of a plug inserted in the socket whereby the stop is moved out of alignment with the plunger when the plug is inserted.

9. The socket assembly of claim 7 further including a mounting screw extending through the housing for engaging a threaded opening in the outlet to secure the assembly to the outlet.