Locking plug

• US 4,784,611 A
• Filed: 08/18/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fernand H. Poulin
• Original Assignee: Fernand H. Poulin
• Inventors: Oakes, Denis, Poulin, Fernand H.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, J. Patrick
• Application Number:
  US07/086,605
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 439/266, 439/268-270, 439/346, 439/369, 439/372, 439/373
• US Class Current: 439/346
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

An electrical receptacle consisting of a casing having a lock part to releasably lock a mating electrical plug of the blade contact type, is disclosed. The lock part is a separate piece made of electric insulating material and manually-operable release buttons externally of the casing. The lock part ensures an effective locking of the plug and eliminates any possibility of electric shock to a user while inserting or removing the plug contacts.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle for use with a conventional electrical plug having blade-type contacts with an opening at their outer portions, comprising:

a casing including a first segment and a second segment detachably secured together, said segments defining an interior cavity;

fastening means in said cavity to connect the wires of an electrical cord;

said first segment having an end face;

at least wo spaced apertures provided in said end face and communicating with a pair of channels in said cavity;

a pair of semi-rigid electrically-conductive strips disposed longitudinally in said cavity, each located adjacent one of said channels and longitudinally spaced from said end face;

each strip being electrically connected to one of said fastening means and adapted to frictionally contact the associated blade contact of said plug;

a lock element disposed between the two said channels made of resilient, non-conductive material;

said lock element having a lock means adapted to releasably lock into said opening of each said blade contact;

further having an externally-operable release means to release the lock means, whereby said plug can be lockingly engaged and disengaged from the receptacle without any possibility of electric shock.

2. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said end face is provided with a third aperture for a ground contact of said plug;

said third aperture communicating with a third channel in said cavity;

a third semi-rigid electrically-conductive strip disposed adjacent said third channel in the cavity; and

connection means, to electrically connect said third strip to a ground wire from said electrical cord.

3. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 1 , wherein said lock element comprises:

a pair of wall members joined along two mutually-opposite edges by a transverse flat portion;

both said wall members being of generally rectangular shape;

both said wall members being located immediately inwardly of the proximate said semi-rigid strip;

said lock means consisting of a protuberance formed at one end of the corners of each one of said wall members remote from said flat portion;

each said protuberance extending into a respective one of said channels and adapted to releasably engage the openings in the blade contacts of said plug;

said release means consisting of a pair of arm members integral with said wall members and extending in opposite directions outwardly of said casing and each terminated by an externally-operable knob, whereby pushing inwardly on both knobs releases said lock means.

4. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 3, further including an anchoring stud projecting from the outer surface of said flat portion.

5. A duplex electrical receptacle for use with conventional electrical plugs, each having blade-type contact provided with an opening at their outer portions, comprising:

a rectangular casing formed of a front segment and a rear segment and defining an inner cavity;

the front face of said front segment being provided with two pairs of apertures, each adapted to receive the blade contacts of one electrical plug;

forwardly extending resiliently-bendable conductive friction members, disposed rearwardly of each one of said apertures in said cavity and defining a channel for each said blade contact;

connection means to electrically connect each friction member to a respective conductor connected to a power source;

a lock element made of resilient non-conductive material, and disposed between pairs of contiguous channels;

said lock element having a lock means adapted to releasably lock into the openings of said blade contacts; and

an externally-operable release means to release the lock means, whereby said plugs can be lockingly engaged and disengaged from said receptacle without any possibility of electric shock.

6. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 5, wherein said front face is further provided with a ground aperture for a ground blade contact for each receptacle of said duplex receptacle;

each said ground aperture communicating with a channel in said inner cavity.

7. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 5, wherein said lock element comprises two lengthwise spaced pairs of walls, each pair being joined along two mutually-opposite edges by a transverse flat portion;

each said flat portion being secured to the base of said cavity;

all of said walls being of generally rectangular shape, said lock means consisting of a protuberance located at the lengthwise remote front corner thereof;

each protuberance projecting transversely into its respective channel and adapted to releasably engage each said opening, said release means consisting of a pair of inverted L-shape flange members, each secured at their lower corners to the lengthwise proximate outer surface corner of each one of said walls, said flange members each having an outwardly-extending forward portion;

each forward portion being formed with a forwardly-projecting arm;

said front segment being provided with a pair of opposite lateral openings;

both arms of said flange members extending in said lateral openings and provided at their forward ends with transversely-oriented tabs;

said tabs being externally operable, whereby pushing said tabs inwardly release the lock means for both said pairs of walls.

8. A duplex electrical receptacle as defined in claim 5, wherein means to indicate electrical continuity between the receptacle and a source of power, are provided