Safety electric socket adapter

• US 5,919,060 A
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chiu-San Lee, Su-Chen Shen
• Original Assignee: Chiu-Shan Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Chiu-Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/110,476
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 439/170, 439/177, 439/518, 439/894, 439/911, 439/957, 439/956, 363/142
• US Class Current: 439/518
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4534 Laterally sliding shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/911 Safety, e.g. electrical disconnection required before opening housing

Abstract

A safety electric socket adapter includes a body having two longitudinal front sliding tracks and two longitudinal rear sliding tracks at two opposite sides, a first metal rack and two second metal racks respectively mounted in the body for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, a face panel and a back board respectively detachably fastened to front and rear sides of the body, the face panel and the back board each having two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the front sliding tracks and rear sliding tracks of the body, the face panel having a grounding plug hole and two power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs of different specifications and spring-supported gate means forced by respective spring means to automatically close the power plug holes, a first metal plate and two second metal plates respectively mounted in the body and connected to the first metal rack and the second metal rack, a spring retainer mounted in the body to secure the back board to the body, the back board comprising a grounding prong and two power contact metal blades for connection to an electric plug, a raised retaining portion for engagement with the spring retainer, and a press rod controlled to disengage the raised retaining portion from the spring retainer.

Claims

1. A safety electric socket adapter comprising:

a body, said body comprising an opened front side, an opened rear side, an elongated middle chamber, two side chambers at two opposite sides of said elongated middle chamber, two front sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened front side, two rear sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened rear side;

a first metal rack made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the elongated middle chamber of said body, said first metal rack having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the grounding prong of one of a set of electric plugs;

two second metal racks respectively made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the side chambers of said body, said second metal racks each having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs;

a face panel covered on the opened front side of said body, said face panel comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the front sliding tracks of said body, a plurality of grounding plug holes and power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, spring means provided at a back side wall thereof, sliding gate means moved in respectively sliding ways at the back side wall and forced by said spring means to close said power plug holes, said gate means being moved away from said power plug holes upon the insertion of the power contact metal blades of an electric plug;

a spring retainer mounted in said body to secure said back board in place, said spring retainer comprising a hooked portion at one end;

a first metal contact plate mounted in said body and connected to said first metal rack;

two second metal contact plates mounted in said body and respectively connected to said second metal racks; and

a back board covered on the opened rear side of said body and secured in place by said spring retainer, said back board comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a raised retaining portion which is forced into engagement with the hooked portion of said spring retainer when the side flanges of said back board are inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a press rod controlled to disengage said raised retaining portion from the hooked portion of said spring retainer, a grounding prong and two power contact metal blades for inserting into the grounding plug hole and power plug holes of an electric socket, the grounding prong and power contact metal blades of said back board being retained in contact with said first metal contact plate and said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, said power contact metal blades each having a front end protruded from a front side wall of said back board and a rear end protruded from a rear side wall of said back board for connection to said second metal racks, two spring-supported gate means forced by respective spring elements to cover the rear ends of said power contact metal blades, said spring-supported gate means of said back board being forced away from the rear ends of said power contact metal blades by said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, enabling the rear ends of said power contact metal blades to be forced into contact with said second metal contact plates.

2. A safety electric socket adapter comprising:

a body, said body comprising an opened front side, an opened rear side, an elongated middle chamber, two side chambers at two opposite sides of said elongated middle chamber, two front sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened front side, two rear sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened rear side;

a first metal rack made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the elongated middle chamber of said body, said first metal rack having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the grounding prong of one of a set of electric plugs;

two second metal racks respectively made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the side chambers of said body, said second metal racks each having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs;

a face panel covered on the opened front side of said body, said face panel comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the front sliding tracks of said body, a plurality of grounding plug holes and power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, spring means provided at a back side wall thereof, sliding gate means moved in respectively sliding ways at the back side wall and forced by said spring means to close said power plug holes, said gate means being moved away from said power plug holes upon the insertion of the power contact metal blades of an electric plug;

a spring retainer mounted in said body to secure said back board in place, said spring retainer comprising a hooked portion at one end;

a first metal contact plate mounted in said body and connected to said first metal rack;

two second metal contact plates mounted in said body and respectively connected to said second metal racks; and

a back board covered on the opened rear side of said body and secured in place by said spring retainer, said back board comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a raised retaining portion which is forced into engagement with the hooked portion of said spring retainer when the side flanges of said back board are inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a press rod controlled to disengage said raised retaining portion from the hooked portion of said spring retainer, a plurality of wire holders, and a plurality of binding screws respectively fastened to said wire holders to secure a green wire, a blade wire and a white wire to said wire holders and respectively retained in contact with said first metal rack and said second metal racks.

3. A safety electric socket adapter comprising:

a body, said body comprising an opened front side, an opened rear side, an elongated middle chamber, two side chambers at two opposite sides of said elongated middle chamber, two front sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened front side, two rear sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened rear side;

a first metal rack made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the elongated middle chamber of said body, said first metal rack having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the grounding prong of one of a set of electric plugs;

two second metal racks respectively made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the side chambers of said body, said second metal racks each having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs;

a face panel covered on the opened front side of said body, said face panel comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the front sliding tracks of said body, a plurality of grounding plug holes and power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, spring means provided at a back side wall thereof, sliding gate means moved in respectively sliding ways at the back side wall and forced by said spring means to close said power plug holes, said gate means being moved away from said power plug holes upon the insertion of the power contact metal blades of an electric plug;

a spring retainer mounted in said body to secure said back board in place, said spring retainer comprising a hooked portion at one end;

a first metal contact plate mounted in said body and connected to said first metal rack;

two second metal contact plates mounted in said body and respectively connected to said second metal racks; and

a back board covered on the opened rear side of said body and secured in place by said spring retainer, said back board comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a raised retaining portion which is forced into engagement with the hooked portion of said spring retainer when the side flanges of said back board are inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, and a press rod controlled to disengage said raised retaining portion from the hooked portion of said spring retainer, a grounding prong and two power contact metal blades for inserting into the grounding plug hole and power plug holes of an electric socket, the grounding prong and power contact metal blades of said back board being retained in contact with said first metal contact plate and said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, said power contact metal blades each having a front end protruded from a front side wall of said back board and a rear end protruded from a rear side wall of said back board for connection to said second metal racks, two electrically insulative shields respectively raised from the rear side walls around the rear ends of said power contact metal blades, said electrically insulative shields each defining a downwardly extended receiving hole into which said second metal contact plates are inserted, and two metal terminals respectively mounted in the receiving holes within said electrically insulative shields and retained in contact with the rear ends of said power contact metal blades, said metal terminals receiving said second metal contact plates respectively when said back board is coupled to said body.

4. A safety electric socket adapter comprising:

a body, said body comprising an opened front side, an opened rear side, an elongated middle chamber, two side chambers at two opposite sides of said elongated middle chamber, two front sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened front side, two rear sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened rear side;

a first metal rack made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the elongated middle chamber of said body, said first metal rack having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the grounding prong of one of a set of electric plugs;

two second metal racks respectively made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the side chambers of said body, said second metal racks each having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs;

a face panel covered on the opened front side of said body, said face panel comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the front sliding tracks of said body, a plurality of grounding plug holes and power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, spring means provided at a back side wall thereof, sliding gate means moved in respectively sliding ways at the back side wall and forced by said spring means to close said power plug holes, said gate means being moved away from said power plug holes upon the insertion of the power contact metal blades of an electric plug;

a spring retainer mounted in said body to secure said back board in place, said spring retainer comprising a hooked portion at one end;

a first metal contact plate mounted in said body and connected to said first metal rack;

two second metal contact plates mounted in said body and respectively connected to said second metal racks; and

a back board covered on the opened rear side of said body and secured in place by said spring retainer, said back board comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a raised retaining portion which is forced into engagement with the hooked portion of said spring retainer when the side flanges of said back board are inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, and a press rod controlled to disengage said raised retaining portion from the hooked portion of said spring retainer, a grounding prong and two power contact metal blades for inserting into the grounding plug hole and power plug holes of an electric socket, the grounding prong and power contact metal blades of said back board being retained in contact with said first metal contact plate and said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, said power contact metal blades each having a front end protruded from a front side wall of said back board and a rear end protruded from a rear side wall of said back board for connection to said second metal racks, two electrically insulative shields respectively raised from the rear side walls around the rear ends of said power contact metal blades, said electrically insulative shields each defining a downwardly extended receiving hole into which said second metal contact plates are inserted and forced into contact with the rear ends of said power contact metal blades when said back board is coupled to said body.

5. The safety electric socket adapter of claim 4 wherein said second metal contact plates each have a L-shaped shape, and a convex portion at one end which is retained in the downwardly extended receiving holes within said electrically insulative shields in contact with the rear ends of said power contact made blades when said back board is coupled to said body.

6. A safety electric socket adapter comprising:

a plastic body, said body comprising an opened front side, an opened rear side, an elongated middle chamber, two side chambers at two opposite sides of said elongated middle chamber, and two rear sliding tracks longitudinally bilaterally provided at said opened rear side;

a first metal rack made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the elongated middle chamber of said body, said first metal rack having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the grounding prong of one of a set of electric plugs;

two second metal racks respectively made by stamping a metal sheet into shape and mounted in the side chambers of said body, said second metal racks each having a plurality of clamping mouths for receiving the metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs;

a plastic face panel covered on the opened front side of said plastic body and heat-sealed thereto, said face panel comprising a plurality of grounding plug holes and power plug holes for receiving the grounding prong and metal blades of one of a set of electric plugs, spring means provided at a back side wall thereof, sliding gate means moved in respectively sliding ways at the back side wall and forced by said spring means to close said power plug holes, said gate means being moved away from said power plug holes upon the insertion of the power contact metal blades of an electric plug;

a spring retainer mounted in said body to secure said back board in place, said spring retainer comprising a hooked portion at one end;

a first metal contact plate mounted in said body and connected to said first metal rack;

two second metal contact plates mounted in said body and respectively connected to said second metal racks; and

a back board covered on the opened rear side of said body and secured in place by said spring retainer, said back board comprising two longitudinal side flanges respectively inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a raised retaining portion which is forced into engagement with the hooked portion of said spring retainer when the side flanges of said back board are inserted into the rear sliding tracks of said body, a press rod controlled to disengage said raised retaining portion from the hooked portion of said spring retainer, a grounding prong and two power contact metal blades for inserting into the grounding plug hole and power plug holes of an electric socket, the grounding prong and power contact metal blades of said back board being retained in contact with said first metal contact plate and said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, said power contact metal blades each having a front end protruded from a front side wall of said back board and a rear end protruded from a rear side wall of said back board for connection to said second metal racks, two spring-supported gate means forced by respective spring elements to cover the rear ends of said power contact metal blades, said spring-supported gate means of said back board being forced away from the rear ends of said power contact metal blades by said second metal contact plates when said back board is coupled to said body, enabling the rear ends of said power contact metal blades to be forced into contact with said second metal contact plates.