Electrical connector

• US 6,457,988 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Eisen
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Eisen
• Inventors: Andersen, Svend
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,889
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 439/136-140, 439/290-292, 439/284, 439/286-287, 439/342, 439/455, 439/460, 439/677, 439/217-218, 439/221-222, 439/687, 439/373, 439/651
• US Class Current: 439/373
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/567 Traverse cable outlet or wire connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/005 requiring successive relative motions to complete the coupling, e.g. bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/66 with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92

Abstract

An electrical connector for securely maintaining the connector members in mated relation to allow for a continuous electrical connection. The electrical connector includes a male connector member or plug having a series of prongs and a female connector member or wall outlet box having a series of sockets that extend vertically for accepting the prongs. Each of the connector members is connected to an electric cable and may have a pair of wedges having serrated opposed sides to retain the cable within the connector member.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

an outlet box mounted on a vertical wall, and a plug coacting with the outlet box to maintain an electrical connection,

said outlet box including a housing,

said housing having a recessed opening for receiving a portion of the plug and a plurality of sockets extending parallel to the wall and adjacent to a lower end of the recessed opening, said sockets being connected to an electric cable,

said plug including a housing having a cable extending from the housing in a first direction and a plurality of prongs having free ends extending from the housing in said first direction and in substantially parallel relation to the cable,

the plug being connected to the outlet by inserting the prongs into the recessed opening along a first path extending substantially perpendicular to the sockets, aligning the prongs with the sockets and engaging the prongs into the sockets by movement of the plug along a second path extending substantially parallel to the sockets and toward the cable of the plug,

whereby a force on the plug cable away from the outlet will not separate the prongs from the sockets.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the outlet box further includes means for automatically closing the recessed opening and access to the sockets when a plug is not mounted in the outlet box.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein said closing means includes a spring biased cover sized to the recessed opening.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the recessed opening and the plug are sized such that movement of the plug into the opening for engaging the prongs in the sockets automatically retracts the cover to expose the sockets and aligns the prongs with the sockets for engagement therein upon movement of the plug prongs into the sockets.