Safety electrical receptacle

• US 5,256,076 A
• Filed: 04/10/1991
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Susan Elaine Hamlin
• Original Assignee: Susan Elaine Hamlin
• Inventors: Hamlin, Jay T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/684,048
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 200/51.09
• US Class Current: 439/188
• 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 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety electrical receptacle for household, commercial, or industrial use is described which will not transmit electrical energy through an electrical plug to output wiring until normally open switches positioned in the path of travel of the electrical plug are closed by the motion of the plug being inserted into the receptacle. An open receptacle exists in a safe condition because normally open switches are connected in series with the contacts and no voltage is available to shock or burn the adult or child who inadvertently inserts a conductive object into the receptacle. In one embodiment of the invention, posts incorporated into a specially designed plug act to close switches and allow the transmission of electrical energy to output wiring. In another embodiment, a conventional grounding tine on a plug acts to close switches which transmit electrical energy to output wiring.

Claims

1. A safety electrical system having means for connecting incoming wires from a power source to outgoing wires to a power user comprising:

(a) an outlet receptacle having terminals posts to accept incoming wires, said receptacle having a plurality of slots, each having electrical contact means to receive the blades of an electrical plug;

(b) said plug having a plate pierced by said blades and elongated posts on said plate and disposed adjacent each said blade;

(c) a face plate fitted over said receptacle, said face plate having apertures to accept said receptacle and said posts;

(d) a plurality of normally open switches carried by said face plate connected in series between each of said incoming wires and said terminal posts, the said switches each having an operating arm arranged to be engaged and moved to a closed position by said elongated posts, whereby the electrical connection between the incoming and outgoing wires is complete only when the said plug and said plate are in their fully received positions.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the said plate carried by the said plug is formed of an insulating material.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the said outlet receptacle is a duplex outlet receptacle.