Orientable twistlock receptacle

• US 4,477,143 A
• Filed: 12/03/1982
• Issued: 10/16/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Taylor, Carl D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Austin, Paula
• Application Number:
  US06/446,806
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 339/88 R, 339/123, 339/125 R, 339/126 R, 339/126 RS, 339/129, 339/132 R, 339/132 B, 339/133 R, 339/184 R, 339/184 M
• US Class Current: 439/559
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component

Abstract

An electrical receptacle of the twist lock type adapted to receive a photoelectric controller can be assembled into a luminaire without requiring the luminaire housing to be turned over and can be oriented in the field without use of tools. The receptacle is retained in an aperture through the housing by a snap ring having tabs on the inside edge which engage ledges in the body portion of the receptacle. The snap ring has leaf springs which hold the receptacle resiliently down against the housing. By lifting up the receptacle, keying pins and recesses in the receptacle and housing are disengaged and the receptacle may be turned to a different orientation.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle of the twistlock type adapted to receive a photoelectric controller, comprising:

a body portion of insulating material having overreaching shoulders which together with the body portion define a disc-like top portion, said body portion being insertable into an accommodating aperture in a luminaire housing,

through passages in said body portion terminating in arcuate slots in said top portion, said passages containing terminals accessible through said slots to male terminals of the photoelectric controller,

retaining means for resiliently holding the underside of said top portion against said housing, and keying protuberances and cooperating cavities in said underside and said housing normally locking the receptacle in one orientation but allowing it to be turned to a different orientation when disengaged by lifting said top portion away from the housing.

2. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the keying protuberances are in the housing and the cooperating cavities are in the underside of the top portion formed by the overreaching shoulders.

3. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a snap ring attachable to the receptacle by pressing it down around the body portion after said body portion has been inserted through said aperture.

4. A receptacle as in claim 3 wherein said snap ring has tabs on the inside edge, and said body portion has ledges engageable by said tabs to lock the snap ring to the body.

5. A receptacle as in claim 3 wherein said snap ring has leaf springs turned up to press against the underside of said housing.

6. A receptacle as in claim 4 wherein said snap ring has tabs on the inside edge and leaf springs turned up to press against the underside of said housing, and said body portion has ledges engageable by said tabs to lock the ring to the body at a spacing from the underside of said housing allowing compression of said leaf springs when lifting said top portion.