Safety plug with switch means

• US 5,643,012 A
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chao-Lin Mai, Pen-Li Chiu
• Original Assignee: Chao-Lin Mai, Pen-Li Chiu
• Inventors: Mai, Chao-Lin, Chiu, Pen-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Pirlot, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ta, Tho Dac
• Application Number:
  US08/625,416
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 439/621, 439/622, 439/188, 200/51.12, 200/51 R, 200/559
• US Class Current: 439/620.29
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/707 interlocked with contact members or counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable

Abstract

A safety plug which includes a first metal contact plate and a second metal contact plate respectively connected to the two conductors of an electric wire, and a first metal blade and a second metal blade for connection to an electric power outlet. A cartridge fuse is connected between the second metal contact plate and the second metal blade. A switch is controlled to force the first metal contact plate into contact with the first metal blade to close the circuit. A base is mounted within a housing to hold the above members therein which has a rear panel and two plug holes on the rear panel for the insertion of an external electric plug for connection the first metal blade and the second metal blade, and a slide controlled to close/open the plug holes of the rear panel.

Claims

1. A safety plug comprising a base having first longitudinal trough and a second longitudinal trough, a first metal contact plate and a first metal blade respectively mounted in said first longitudinal trough, a second metal contact plate and a second metal blade respectively mounted in said second longitudinal trough, a cartridge fuse connected between said second metal contact plate and said second metal blade, a housing covered on said base, and an electric wire having two conductors respectively connected to said first metal contact plate and said second metal contact plate, wherein said first metal blade has a rear contact strip retained inside said first longitudinal trough and spaced from said first metal contact plate;

said housing has a switch mounting hole for mounting a switch;

said base comprises a post and projecting strip disposed inside said first longitudinal trough to hold said first metal contact plate in a suspended position above the rear contact strip of said first metal blade;

a switch is mounted in the switch mounting hole of said housing, having a bottom projection pressed on said first metal contact plate and moved between a first position, in which said first metal contact plate is forced into contact with the rear contact strip of said first metal blade to close the circuit, and a second position, in which said first metal contact plate is released from the rear contact strip of said first metal blade to cut off the circuit.

2. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein said first metal contact plate has a front contact tip suspended above the rear contact strip of said first metal blade, a curved middle section supported on said post below said pojecting strip, and a rear connecting tail connected to said electric wire, said rear connecting tail having a pointed portion forced into contact with one conductor of said electric wire.

3. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein the rear contact strip of said first metal blade is mounted in said first longitudinal trough of said base in a horizontal position and retained between said post and a front stop edge inside said first longitudinal trough of said base;

said first metal contact plate is horizontally mounted in said first longitudinal trough of said base and suspending above the rear contact strip of said first metal blade;

said switch is mounted in said switch mounting hole above said first longitudinal trough of said base, having a downward press rod pressed on said first metal contact plate.

4. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein the rear contact strip of said first metal blade is mounted in said first longitudinal trough of said base in a vertical position;

said base has a side opening and a gap respectively disposed in communication with said first longitudinal trough;

said first metal contact plate is mounted in said first longitudinal trough in a vertical positon, having a front contact tip inserted through said gap and said side opening of said base and spaced from the rear contact strip of said first metal blade;

said switch is mounted in said switch mounting hole at one side of said side opening of said base, having a horizontal press rod pressed on said first metal contact plate.

5. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein said switch is a sliding switch mounted in the switch mounting hole of said housing by a dovetail joint.

6. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein said switch is a toggle switch mounted in the switch mounting hole of said housing and turned about a horizontal pivot inside said base.

7. The safety plug of claim 1 wherein said base has a rear panel at one end, and two plug holes disposed on said rear panel and respectively aligned with said first metal blade and said second metal blade for the insertion of an external electric plug into contact with said first metal blade and said second metal plate.

8. The safety plug of claim 7 further comprising a slide mounted in said housing and moved on said rear panel between a first position in which said plug holes are closed, and a second position in which said plug holes are opened.