Safety plug with ground lock and prong locks

• US 5,082,450 A
• Filed: 11/05/1990
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles C. Warren Sr, Shirley J. Warren
• Original Assignee: Charles C. Warren Sr, Shirley J. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Shirley J., Warren, Charles C. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/575,989
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 439/103, 439/131, 439/166-177, 439/324, 439/345-347, 439/265, 439/270, 439/102
• US Class Current: 439/102
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets

Abstract

An electrical plug for the end of an electrical power cord. The plug includes plug prongs and a ground prong, all of which are moveable between retracted and extended positions. The prongs can be locked in the retracted and extended positions, as desired. When the prongs are locked in the retracted position, small children are prevented from attempting to connect the power cord to an electrical outlet. The plug can also be locked in an electrical outlet.

Claims

1. An electrical plug for attachment to the end of an electrical power cord having electrical wires and a ground wire therein, said plug comprising:

(a) a body member having first and second ends;

(b) spaced-apart first and second plug prongs carried by said body member and being slidably movable between (i) a retracted position in which said plug prongs are within said body member, and (ii) an extended position in which said plug prongs project forwardly from said first end of said body member;

wherein said plug prongs are electrically connected to said electrical wires in said body member;

(c) a ground prong carried by said body member and projecting forwardly from said first end of said body member;

wherein said ground prong includes an interior cavity and an aperture which communicates with said cavity;

wherein said ground prong further includes a lock spring in said cavity which includes a raised portion which projects outwardly through said aperture and which is normally deflectable into said cavity;

(d) an arm attached to said plug prongs for slidable movement relative to said body member for movement of said plug prongs between said retracted and extended positions;

(e) lock means for locking said plug prongs selectively in said retracted position and in said extended position; and

(f) an elongated locking bar carried by said arm;

said locking bar being movable between (1) a first position in which it is slidably received in said cavity in said ground prong for preventing said raised portion of said lock spring from being deflected into said cavity, and (2) a second position in which said locking bar is retracted from said cavity.

2. An electrical plug in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said plug prongs includes an aperture extending transversely therethrough, wherein said lock means comprises a pin which is movable between inward and outward positions;

wherein when said plug prongs are in said retracted position and said pin is in said inward position, said pin extends into said aperture and prevents said plug prongs from moving to said extended position.

3. An electrical plug in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a lock arm having first and second ends;

wherein said lock arm is pivotably carried by said body member;

wherein said pin is secured to said first end of said lock arm; and

wherein said second end of said lock arm is accessible outside said body member for selective movement of said pin between said inward and outward positions.

4. An electrical plug in accordance with claim 3, further comprising bias means for biasing said lock arm in a manner such that said pin is in said inward position.

5. An electrical plug in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bias means comprises a spring.

6. An electrical plug in accordance with claim 2, wherein when said plug prongs are in said extended position and said pin is in said inward position, said pin is adapted to prevent said plug prongs from moving to said retracted position.