Safety electrical connection apparatus

• US 5,297,973 A
• Filed: 09/15/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Protectconnect Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Gorman
• Inventors: Gorman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US07/945,816
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 439/44, 439/45, 439/48, 439/140, 439/265, 439/269, 439/269.1, 439/270, 439/337, 439/535, 439/536
• US Class Current: 439/265
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection

Abstract

A safety electrical outlet is disclosed which uses a covered outlet box in which the electrical contacts are on the back of the cover, and cannot easily be reached by a person (especially a child) poking into the socket. The contacts in turn form a portion of a circuit with electrically conductive leads and risers from the ordinary business power conduits. The corresponding plug has retractable contact prongs or blades which extend out from the sides of the plug, so that when the plug is inserted into the socket, the sideways-extending blades touch the contacts on the underside of the cover plate and the electrical connection is completed. When it is desired to disengage the plug, the blades are retracted and the plug removed from the socket. Built-in spring-loaded panels cover the plug openings in the cover plate when the plugs are not inserted. There may be a single socket/opening in the cover or there may be two or more ganged openings/sockets. The box, cover and plug may all be colored or decorated as desired.

Claims

1. A safety electrical connection apparatus comprising:

a connection box having sides and a bottom and being open at the top;

a cover having front and back surfaces and adapted to having said back surface removably engage said sides and substantially close said top, said cover having at least one opening therethrough adapted to receive a plug, said cover further comprising electrical conductor means on said back surface thereof, said electrical conductor means extending to a periphery of said opening;

electrical connection means within said box contacting electrical wiring external to said box;

conduit means within said box to provide an electrical path from said electrical connection means to said electrical conductor means on said back surface of said cover;

a plug having movable electrical contacts which retractably extend outwardly therefrom and are adapted, when said plug is inserted through said opening, to engage said electrical conductor means on said back surface of said cover at said periphery of said opening and complete and electrical circuit therewith; and

closure means adapted to be seated in and close said opening when said plug is not inserted through said opening and to be urged away from said opening when said plug is inserted therethrough.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising biasing means to urge said closure means into seated position in said opening.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising motion means in said plug to cause said movable electrical contacts to move between a position extended outwardly from said plug and a position recessed within said plug.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said motion means comprises a toggle cooperating with a cam, each said movable contact has incorporated therein a cam follower engaging said cam, and movement of said toggle transmitted through said cam and cam follower causes said contacts to move alternately outwardly and inwardly of said plug.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said openings in said cover, said electrical conductor means form an electrical path to the periphery of each said opening, and insertion of plugs into each respective opening forms parallel electrical circuits.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said electrical connection means within said box to said electrical wiring external to said box are at the bottom of said box, and said box further comprises riser means within said box, each said riser containing an electrical conductor to form said electrical path from said electrical connection means to said electrical conductor on said back surface of said cover.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means to secure said apparatus into position in a building wall.