Electrical extension outlet

• US 4,705,342 A
• Filed: 11/12/1985
• Issued: 11/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cable Electric Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cable Electric Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwartz, Frederic W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US06/797,277
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 339/154, 339/156 R, 339/157 R, 339/157 C, 339/159 R, 339/164 R, 339/164 M, 339/147 R, 339/147 P, 339/196 M, 339/147 R, 339/198 R, 339/198 J , 339/198 S, 339/198 P
• US Class Current: 439/650
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/02 Soldered or welded connections H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence

Abstract

The invention features an electrical extension outlet that is easily assembled and which provides internal isolation to wiring and socket contacts. The components of the outlet are assembled by means of snap fasteners. A double housing and base member construction doubly shields wiring and contacts. Care is taken in the internal design to isolate all metal fasteners from wiring and contacts.

Claims

1. An easily assembled electrical extension outlet having a multiplicity of electrical sockets disposed in seriatim about an elongated base member, said extension outlet comprising:

a housing having a substantially rectangular shape and means defining front and rear apertures and blind fastener receptacles;

a rear plate for covering the rear aperture of said housing, said rear plate being affixable to said housing by means of fasteners which extend into said blind fastener receptacles;

a base member having means for snap fastening said base member into said front aperture of said housing, said base member having a flange extension that extends over said front aperture, said base member having a top surface containing a multiplicity of socket holes defining a number of individual sockets, said base member containing in isolation wiring and contact means for establishing isolated electrical connection to each individual socket;

a switch disposed in said top surface of said base member and electrically connected to each individual socket, said switch having means for snap fastening said switch into said base member;

a power cord entering into said housing; and

a circuit breaker disposed within said housing and electrically connected between said power cord and said switch, said rear plate having means defining rear plate apertures for receiving wall mounting fasteners, said rear plate having means for electrically isolating said rear plate apertures, whereby said wall mounting fasteners do not come into contact with internal wiring, said means for isolating said rear plate apertures comprising cylindrical wells integrally formed in said rear plate, each well surrounding a respective rear plate aperture, and wherein said base member has internal flanges for covering each cylindrical well.

2. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said switch comprises an illuminating rocker that indicates when said sockets are electrically powered.

3. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said power cord is affixed to a sidewall of said housing by means a strain relief grip.

4. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said rear plate comprises an impact-resistant skeletal molding.

5. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said rear plate has means defining rear plate apertures for receiving wall mounting fasteners, said rear plate having means for electrically isolating said rear plate apertures, whereby said wall mounting fasteners do not come into contact with internal wiring.

6. The electrical extension outlet of claim 5, wherein said means for isolating said rear plate apertures comprises cylindrical wells integrally formed in said rear plate, each well surrounding a respective rear plate aperture.

7. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker is encased in a separate casement within said housing to electrically isolate said circuit breaker within said extension outlet.

8. The electrical extension outlet of claim 7, wherein said circuit breaker is affixed to said housing along a sidewall thereof by means of a screw cap that tightens about a screw threaded post disposed on said circuit breaker casement, said screw threaded post extending through a hole in said sidewall for receiving said screw cap.

9. The electrical extension outlet of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an impact-resistant skeletal molding.

10. The electrical extension outlet of claim 9, wherein said housing is flexible to accommodate snap-action assembly of said base member.

11. An electrical extension outlet having a multiplicity of electrical sockets disposed in seriatim about an elongated base member, said sockets having contacts which are wired together in common ground and are doubly electrically isolated by means of being disposed within a base member which is itself encased in a housing;

said base member being easily assembled to said housing by means of irreversible snap fasteners integrally molded about said base member, said extension outlet further comprising a rear plate affixed to said housing, wherein said housing comprises blind fastener receptacles for receiving fasteners for affixing said rear plate to said housing, wherein said rear plate having holes for mounting said outlet to a wall by means of fasteners, wherein said rear plate comprising isolation wells, each surrounding a mounting hole, whereby a metal fastener is prevented from contact with internal wiring in said housing, and wherein said base member has flanges that fit over said isolation wells of said rear plate, whereby said isolation wells are sealed from said internal wiring of said housing.

12. The electrical extension outlet of claim 11, further comprising a rear plate affixed to said housing.

13. The electrical extension outlet of claim 12, wherein said housing comprises blind fastener receptacles for receiving fasteners for affixing said rear plate to said housing.

14. The electrical extension outlet of claim 12, wherein said rear plate has holes for mounting said outlet to a wall by means of fasteners.

15. The electrical extension outlet of claim 14, wherein said rear plate comprises isolation wells, each surrounding a mounting hole, whereby a metal fastener is prevented from contact with internal wiring in said housing.