Automatic electrical plug release

• US 4,045,106 A
• Filed: 02/17/1976
• Issued: 08/30/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John P. Borg
• Original Assignee: John P. Borg
• Inventors: Borg, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Francis S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US05/658,510
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 339/45, 339/46, 339/34
• US Class Current: 439/152
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force

Abstract

An automatic electric plug release consisting of a hollow receptacle in which the electrical plug is spring mounted. The spring is held under compression by a rotatable mounting member on which the electrical plug is mounted. The spring is mounted between the rotatable member and an inside flange on the bottom portion of the casing. A cover is removably mounted on the casing and is formed with at least two lugs which engage the rotatable member to hold it in a locked position to compress the spring. In the latter position the terminal prongs project out from the receptacle and may be inserted into an electrical wall socket. The cover has an angled sleeve through which the electrical cord is introduced and connected to the electrical socket in the usual manner. A pull on the electrical cord will rotate the mounting member sufficient to release the member from the locked position and allow the spring action to actuate the member upwards and withdraw the terminal prongs from the socket.

Claims

1. An automatic electric plug release comprising:

i. a hollow receptacle having a base portion with a substantially wide opening therethrough said base portion being seatable against the outer surface of an electrical wall socket and a top portion having at least two equally spaced lugs projecting inwardly from opposed portions on the inside wall thereof;

ii. a mounting member within the receptacle, said member having rotative, and up-and-down movement between a locked position and an unlocked position;

iii. an electrical plug mounted on the mounting member. and having its terminal prongs extendable through the opening in the base portion and an electrical cord connected of said prongs;

iv. a compression spring mounted in the receptacle between said mounting member and said base portion;

v. complemental ears on the mounting member engageable with said lugs when the mounting member is depressed and rotated in one direction whereby the mounting member and electrical plug are held in the locked position with the terminal prongs extending outwardly from the base; and

vi. an electrical cord sleeve mounted on the top of the electric plug and enclosing said cord, said electrical cord sleeve being inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the mounting member whereby on pulling on said cord the mounting member is rotated and released from the locked position and actuated to the unlocked position thereby withdrawing the prongs from the socket.

2. An automatic electric plug release according to claim 1 wherein the top portion has three equally spaced lugs.

3. An automatic plug release according to claim 1 in which each lug has a cam-like surface engageable against the respective ear.

4. An automatic electric plug release according to claim 1 in which the base portion and the top portion are of cylindrical shape and the mounting member is an inverted cylindrically shaped cup housing said plug and said spring.