Safety power receptacle

• US 4,995,017 A
• Filed: 08/04/1989
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TEC Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TEC Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Sellati, Christopher G., Sellati, Valentine
• Primary Examiner(s): Boskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US07/372,718
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 361/92, 361/93, 307/38, 307/125, 307/86, 307/66, 307/23, 307/140, 307/93, 307/92, 307/131
• US Class Current: 307/86
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/66 Structural association with built-in electrical component coupling devices having concentrically or coaxially-arranged contacts H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts

Abstract

Safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines, including a hot line, and arranged to receive the prongs of a matching multipronged power plug has a receive terminal connected to each power line. The receive terminal is arranged to receive a corresponding prong of the power plug which upon insertion into the terminal operates a switch associated with each terminal. All switches are connected in series, and upon complete insertion of all the prongs, the series connected switches complete a power connection from the hot line to its respective prong, which in turn provides power to the external circuit connected to the power plug.

Claims

1. A safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines for connection with a matching power plug, having an equal plurality of prongs, comprising:

a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;

a front plate having a receive hole aligned with each receive terminal for receiving a respective prong;

switch means in engagement with at least two of said prongs for generating a connect signal in response to each of said two prongs being fully inserted into respective ones of said receive terminals, and electrical connecting means being responsive to said connect signal for connecting at least one of said power lines with its respective receive terminal.

2. Power outlet according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of power lines include at least one high potential line and at least one low potential line.

3. A safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines for connection with a matching power plug, having an equal plurality of prongs, comprising:

a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;

a front plate having a receive hole aligned with each receive terminal for receiving a respective prong;

switch means in engagement with at least two of said prongs for generating a connect signal in response to each of said two prongs being fully inserted into respective ones of said receive terminals, and electrical connecting means being responsive to said connect signal for connecting at least one of said power lines with its respective receive terminal, wherein said power lines include at least one high potential line and at least one low potential line, wherein said switch means include at least two normally open switches, each aligned with a respective receive terminal of said high potential line and of said low potential line;

each of said switches being closed in response to a prong being fully inserted in said receive terminal, wherein said switches form a series connection having two ends, one of said ends being connected to one of said power lines, the other end of said series connection forming said connect signal.

4. Power outlet according to claim 3 wherein said connecting means include a triac having two power terminals and a gate terminal, inserted with its power terminals between said high potential line and said receive terminal, and the gate terminal connected with said connect signal.

5. Power outlet according to claim 3 including a light indicator for indicating visibly the presence of high potential on at least one of said receive terminals connected with a high potential line when said matching power plug is fully inserted in the outlet;

said light indicator having two terminals, one of which is connected with one of said low potential lines, and the other one of which is connected with said receive terminal connected with said high potential line, for indicating operability of said power outlet upon insertion of said power plug.

6. Power outlet according to claim 5 including a limiting resistor in series with said light indicator.

7. Power outlet according to claim 6 wherein said light indicator is a light-emitting diode.

8. Power outlet according to claim 6 wherein said limiting resistor is connected to said high potential line.

9. Power outlet according to claim 3 wherein said housing includes a mounting plate for mounting said outlet on a surface.

10. Power outlet according to claim 3 wherein said housing is a power cord-attached housing.

11. A safety power outlet according to claim 3 including a plurality of backward facing prongs, equal to the plurality of prongs in said power plug, for insertion into an existing power receptacle, each of said backward facing prongs being electrically connected with a respective one of said receive terminals.

12. A safety outlet according to claim 11 including a housing for enclosing said safety power outlet, and a screw hole through said housing for receiving a mounting screw for securing the safety receptacle to the existing outlet.

13. A safety outlet according to claim 11 being a duplex outlet.

14. A safety outlet according to claim 12 being a duplex outlet.

15. A safety outlet according to claim 11 including a light indicator for indicating visibly the presence of high potential on at least one of said receive terminals connected with a high potential line.

16. A safety power outlet for connection with a matching power plug having a plurality of prongs, comprising a plurality of power lines including a hot line, a receive terminal associated with each of said power lines, one switch only forming a series connection between said hot line and its receive terminal;

a switch cam for each of at least two of said terminals in operative engagement with a respective one of said prong s when said prongs are fully inserted into a respective receive terminal, and mechanical linking means between each cam and said one switch for closing said switch only when each prong is fully inserted in its respective receive terminal.

17. Safety power outlet according to claim 16 wherein said switch has two movable contacts, each contact being linked to a respective cam for closing said switch when each cam is engaged by a respective prong.

18. Safety power outlet according to claim 16 wherein said switch has a fixed and a movable contact, said movable contact having a cross member, and two cams disposed at opposite ends of said cross member, for closng said switch when each cam is engaged by a respective prong.

19. Safety power outlet according to claim 16, wherein at least one contact has a contact point for making electrical connection with at least one other contact, and wherein said at least one contact has an insulating coating covering all surfaces of said contact except at the location of said contact point.

20. A safety power outlet for connection with a matching power cord having a plurality of prongs, comprising a plurality of power lines including a hot line, a receive terminal associated with each of said power lines;

at least one switch forming a series connection between said hot line and its receive terminal;

a switch cam for each of at least two of said terminals in operative engagement with a respective one of said prongs when said prongs are fully inserted into a respective terminal, and mechanical linking means between each cam and said at least one switch for closing said at least one switch only when each prong is fully inserted in its respective receive terminals; and

including a switch for each terminal wherein each cam is linked with a respective switch, and a series connection formed by said switches between said hot line and its receive terminal.