Safety and security outlet

• US 4,167,658 A
• Filed: 03/20/1978
• Issued: 09/11/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Sherman
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Sherman
• Inventors: Sherman, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US05/890,584
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 200/42 R, 200/44, 200/321, 200/51 R, 200/51 RK, 200/50 B, 200/334, 339/75 R, 339/75 A, 70/57
• US Class Current: 200/43.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/06 Key inserted and then turned to effect operation of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/707 interlocked with contact members or counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart

Abstract

An electrical receptacle lock having a housing carrying a pair of prongs to be mounted in a conventional wall outlet. Openings are provided in the housing to receive the plug prongs of an appliance to be controlled by the lock. One contact in the housing connects one plug prong to a housing prong, and a second contact connects the other prongs. A key operated cam in the housing makes and breaks one of the contacts, and latching means carried by that contact mechanically locks onto the plug prong. The latching means is controlled by a stem mounted in the housing but cannot be operated to unlock the plug prong to enable the plug to be withdrawn unless the key operated cam is positioned to make the contact.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle lock comprising

a housing having a chamber therein,

a pair of conducting prongs mounted on and extending from a wall of the housing and adapted to be inserted in an electrical outlet,

a pair of openings in another wall of the housing for receiving the prongs of a plug,

a first electrical contact in the housing electrically connected to one of the prongs mounted on the housing and positioned to be engaged by one of the prongs of the plug mounted in one of said openings,

a second electrical contact in the housing capable of engaging connecting and disconnecting to the other of the prongs mounted on the housing for electrical connection and disconnection of said contact and prong and positioned to be engaged by the other of the prongs of the plug in an opening,

switching means mounted in the housing for moving the second electrical contact for making and breaking the electrical connection of the second electrical contact with one of its prongs, and

latching means associated with one of the contacts for preventing the plug from being withdrawn from the openings in the housing when the switching means is in the breaking condition.

2. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 1 further characterized by

said latching means comprising a pin mounted in the housing and adapted to project through an opening in a plug prong to retain the prong in the wall opening of the housing, and

means enabling an operator to remove the pin from the opening,

said means including a port in a wall of the housing through which an implement extends.

3. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 2 further characterized by

said pin being mounted on one of said contacts, and

said contact being flexible and biased to a position

wherein the pin engages the plug prong and deflectable so that the pin may be moved generally axially out of said opening.

4. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 3 further characterized by

said switching means including a cam rotatable in the housing and engaging the second contact,

said cam being manually operable from outside the housing, and

which when turned in one direction disengages the contact from the prong, and when turned in another direction causes the contact to engage said prong.

5. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 4 further characterized by

said cam preventing the pin from being withdrawn from the plug prong opening when the cam disengages the contact from the prong.

6. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 1 further characterized by

said switching means including a cam rotatable in the housing and engaging the second contact,

said cam being manually operable from outside the housing,

and which when turned in one direction disengages the contact from the prong, and when turned in another direction causes the contact to engage said prong.

7. An electrical receptacle lock comprising

a housing,

a pair of conducting prongs mounted on and extending from a wall of the housing and adapted to be inserted in a conventional electrical outlet,

a pair of openings in another wall of the housing for receiving the prongs of a conventional plug,

a first electrical contact in the housing electrically connected to one of the prongs mounted on the housing and positioned to be engaged by one of the prongs of the plug mounted in said openings,

a second electrical contact in the housing engaging the other of the prongs mounted on the housing and positioned to be engaged by the other of the prongs of the plug,

key operated switching means mounted in the housing for making and breaking the engagement of the second electrical contact with one of its prongs,

said second electrical contact making and breaking engagement with its prong mounted on the housing,

said second contact being biased to engage that prong and movable by said switching means out of engagement therewith,

latching means also carried by said second contact for locking the plug prong engaged by said second contact in the housing opening, and

means operable only when the second contact is in the biased position engaging the prong mounted on the housing causing the latching means to unlock the plug prong.

8. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 7 further characterized by

said second contact being generally U-shaped,

said latching means including a pin mounted on one arm of the U and extending away from the other arm of the U to lock onto the plug prong,

said other arm of the U being biased away from the one arm and when disengaging its housing prong being deflected toward the one arm,

said other arm when deflected preventing the one arm from being deflected so as to cause the pin to release the plug prong.

9. An electrical receptacle lock as defined in claim 8 further characterized by

said switching means including a cam in the housing for deflecting the other arm toward the one arm.