Apparatus and method for automatic disconnector
First Claim
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1. An automatic disconnector for a plug for supplying supply current to an appliance, said disconnector comprising:
- ejector means for ejecting said plug from an outlet;
sensing means for sensing supply current flow being drawn by said appliance through said plug and for sensing a substantial cessation of said supply current flow caused by said appliance being switched off; and
means coupling said ejector means to said sensing means for causing ejection of said plug upon said substantial cessation of said supply current flow.
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Abstract
An automatic disconnector for a plug includes an ejector for ejecting the plug from an outlet socket; a sensor for sensing current flow through the plug and for sensing a substantial cessation of the current flow. Upon occurrence of a substantial cessation of current flow, the ejector operates to eject the plug from the outlet. The disconnector is optionally integrally formed with the plug or with the outlet socket. An optional keyed plug is utilizable for selectively enabling the disconnector.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An automatic disconnector for a plug for supplying supply current to an appliance, said disconnector comprising:
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ejector means for ejecting said plug from an outlet; sensing means for sensing supply current flow being drawn by said appliance through said plug and for sensing a substantial cessation of said supply current flow caused by said appliance being switched off; and means coupling said ejector means to said sensing means for causing ejection of said plug upon said substantial cessation of said supply current flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic disconnector, including a receptacle for receiving a plug for supplying supply current to a load, comprising:
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means for causing ejection of said plug upon substantial cessation of supply current flow through said plug; and means for sensing whether a specially adapted plug has been inserted into said receptacle and being coupled to said means for causing ejection for inhibiting said ejection unless a specially adapted plug has been inserted into said outlet.
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11. An automatic disconnector, comprising:
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a plug portion having first and second prongs or blades for engaging electrical outlet receptacle contacts; means for connecting said prongs to an electrical load for supplying supply current thereto; a selectively operable ejector having a retracted operating position and an extended operating position for causing said prongs to become separated from said contacts; biasing means for urging said ejector to move into said extended operating position; a first selectively operable latch for holding said ejector substantially in said retracted operating position; a second selectively operable latch for holding said ejector substantially in said retracted operating position; and an electrically operated mechanism electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second prongs and being mechanically coupled for operating said latches in response to predetermined changes in said supply current flow through said prongs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An automatic disconnector for a plug, comprising:
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an electrical receptacle having first and second contacts for mating engagement with a plug portion having first and second prongs or blades for supplying supply current to a load; means for connecting said contacts to an electrical supply; a selectively operable ejector having a retracted operating position and an extended operating position for causing said prongs to become separated from said contacts; biasing means for urging said ejector to move into said extended operating position; a first selectively operable latch for holding said ejector substantially in said retracted operating position; a second selectively operable latch for holding said ejector substantially in said retracted operating position; and an electrically operated mechanism electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second prongs and being mechanically coupled for operating said latches in response to predetermined changes in said supply current flow through said prongs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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- 31. An automatic disconnector for ejecting a plug from an outlet connected to a source of an electric supply voltage, including a sensor for sensing a substantial cessation of a supply current flow through said plug and an ejector coupled to said sensor and being responsive thereto for ejecting said plug upon occurrence of said substantial cessation of said supply current flow while said supply voltage is present.
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36. A method for automatically ejecting a plug from an outlet connected to an electric supply voltage, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a substantial cessation of supply current flow being drawn by a load through said plug; and
,responsive to an occurrence of said substantial cessation of supply current flow while said supply voltage is present, operating an ejection mechanism for ejecting said plug from said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification