Electrical outlet

• US 5,413,501 A
• Filed: 01/31/1994
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger D. Munn
• Original Assignee: Roger D. Munn
• Inventors: Munn, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/188,685
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/490, 439/516, 439/622, 439/535, 439/536, 439/538, 439/107, 337/187-189
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

An electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to electrical devices comprising a hollow receptacle box having a central opening; a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed within the box, each receptacle having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground terminal coupled thereto, each terminal adapted to receive a terminal wire of a power cable, each electrical receptacle adapted to receive an external male connector plug of an electrical device, pairs of electrical contacts coupled to the receptacle box and adapted to receive respective male connector plugs through their respective external receptacles, a fuse coupled between each pair of electrical contacts and their respective positive terminals for discontinuing the conduction of electrical power, means for providing an indication when the maximum power rating is exceeded in each receptacle, and means for allowing a user to configure the receptacles to be active at all times or to be controlled with an external switch; and a receptacle cover coupled over the central opening of the receptacle box adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof to seal the receptacles therein, the receptacle cover having a pair of holes disposed therein to allow access to the receptacles.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to electrical devices comprising, in combination:

a hollow outlet box having a central opening, a space therein, a peripheral edge therearound disposed near the central opening thereof, a wire hole disposed on one of the sides of the outlet box, a clamp connector disposed within the hole and adapted to couple a power cable to the outlet box and an upper mounting hole and a lower mounting hole disposed on the peripheral edge for mounting the outlet box to an external structure;

a hollow receptacle box having a central opening, a space therein, and a peripheral edge therearound disposed near the central opening thereof, the receptacle box further having a pair of electrical receptacle disposed therein, each receptacle having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground terminal coupled thereto, each terminal adapted to receive a terminal wire of a power cable, each said electrical receptacle adapted to receive an external male connector plug of an electrical device, pairs of electrical contacts coupled to the receptacle box and adapted and aligned to receive respective male connector plugs through their respective electrical receptacles, a fuse coupled between each pair of electrical contacts and the respective positive terminal for discontinuing the conduction of electrical power if the maximum amperage rating is exceeded, an indicator light coupled between each fuse and its respective electrical contacts for providing an indication when the maximum amperage rating is exceeded in each respective receptacle, and a breakaway tab coupled between the positive terminals of each receptacle whereby allowing a user to isolate the pair of receptacles from each other and make one active at all times and the other controlled with an external switch, and a receptacle cover coupled over the central opening of the receptacle box adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof to seal the receptacles therein, the receptacle cover having a pair of holes disposed thereon to allow access to the receptacles;

a cover plate adapted for securing the receptacles box adjacent to a wall, the cover plate having a pair of receptacle holes disposed thereon to allow access to the receptacles, indicator holes for allowing light from the indicator lights to pass therethrough for viewing, and a screw hole for securing the cover plate to the receptacle box; and

a plurality of screws for securing the receptacle box to the outlet box and the cover plate to the receptacle cover.

2. An electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to electrical devices comprising:

a hollow outlet receptacle box having a central opening;

a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed within the box, each receptacle having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground terminal coupled thereto, each terminal adapted to receive a terminal wire of a power cable, each said electrical receptacle adapted to receive an external male connector plug of an electrical device, pairs of electrical contacts coupled to the receptacle box and adapted to receive respective male connector plugs through their respective electrical receptacles, a fuse coupled between each pair of electrical contacts and the respective positive terminal for discontinuing the conduction of electrical power, means for providing an indication when the maximum power rating is exceeded in each receptacle, and means for allowing a user to configure the receptacles to be active at all times or to be controlled with an external switch; and

a receptacle cover coupled over the central opening of the receptacle box adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof to seal the receptacles therein, the receptacle cover having a pair of holes disposed thereon to allow access to the receptacles.