Electrical outlet assembly
First Claim
1. An outlet assembly, for providing at least one outlet selectively tapping different groups of conductors present in the assembly and representing different electrical supplies, comprising at least one outlet unit providing a receptacle for receiving a removable plug, and a body having at least one recess , each recess being configured to receive each outlet unit in any one of a plurality of different orientations to which each outlet unit can be rotated about a central axis, the body incorporating a plurality of conductive buses, passing beneath each recess and connected to the conductors of the supplies to be tapped, and defining a pattern of holes located in the bottom of each recess relative to the plurality of buses to enable the latter to be tapped by conductive pins inserted in the holes, each outlet unit having a number of conductive pins on its rear surface at least equal to the number of conductors in a supply to be tapped and connected to outlet sockets in the outlet unit, the pins and holes being arranged so that for different orientations in which each recess can receive each outlet unit, the pins of the latter will tap different groups of conductors representing different supplies, each outlet unit and the body further comprising cooperating means to indicate which supply has been tapped, and cooperating securing means to prevent withdrawal of each outlet unit from the body during removal of a removable plug from that outlet unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wiring system is provided for offices and similar environments, in which simplex outlet units may be plugged into outlet assemblies connected to several different supplies so as to provide combinations of outlets suited to the requirements of different work stations. The simplex outlet units are all identical, connections to different supplies being achieved by selecting the angular orientation of the units as they are plugged into the assembly. There are indicators to show which supply is being tapped by any outlet, and interlocks to prevent an outlet being removed for so long as equipment is plugged into it.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An outlet assembly, for providing at least one outlet selectively tapping different groups of conductors present in the assembly and representing different electrical supplies, comprising at least one outlet unit providing a receptacle for receiving a removable plug, and a body having at least one recess , each recess being configured to receive each outlet unit in any one of a plurality of different orientations to which each outlet unit can be rotated about a central axis, the body incorporating a plurality of conductive buses, passing beneath each recess and connected to the conductors of the supplies to be tapped, and defining a pattern of holes located in the bottom of each recess relative to the plurality of buses to enable the latter to be tapped by conductive pins inserted in the holes, each outlet unit having a number of conductive pins on its rear surface at least equal to the number of conductors in a supply to be tapped and connected to outlet sockets in the outlet unit, the pins and holes being arranged so that for different orientations in which each recess can receive each outlet unit, the pins of the latter will tap different groups of conductors representing different supplies, each outlet unit and the body further comprising cooperating means to indicate which supply has been tapped, and cooperating securing means to prevent withdrawal of each outlet unit from the body during removal of a removable plug from that outlet unit.
Specification