Electrical receptacle having a safety mechanism

• US 7,080,889 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Chun-Sheng, Ling, Renny Tse-Haw
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/161,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 200/50.09, 200/51.R, 200 5102- 5104, 200/51.07, 200/51.12, 200/50.28, 200/50.29, 200/50.3, 200/50.31, 439/259, 439/954, 439/181, 439/304, 439/346, 439/347
• US Class Current: 200/334
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical receptacle having a safety mechanism. The electrical receptacle includes a latch installed internally, where the latch is operated through a switch member positioned externally. The latch can be switched to a locking position or an unlocking position by the switch member. In the locking position, the plug is constrained to be unplugged or the plug is restricted to be inserted. In the unlocking position, the plug is free to be inserted or unplugged.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle having a safety mechanism which allows at least an insert with pins to insert into, the electrical receptacle comprising:

a substance comprising at least one set of holes for allowing the pins of the insert to insert into, and a plurality of conductivity slices mounted internally for an electrical connection;

at least a latch movably installed in the substance, the latch being able to be switched to an unlocking position to allow the pins to be taken off from the holes and a locking position to restrict the pins inserted into the holes from being taken off; and

a switch member installed in the substance for operating, the switch member being moved with the latch synchronously.

2. The electrical receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a locking apparatus installed in the substance for locking the switch member.

3. The electrical receptacle of claim 2, wherein the locking apparatus and the switch member are a monolithically-formed structure.

4. The electrical receptacle of claim 1, wherein the switch member is moved with the latch synchronously through a linked stick.

5. The electrical receptacle of claim 4, wherein the linked stick comprises a trench, and the switch member comprises a handle embedded in the trench so that the handle and the linked stick are moved synchronously.

6. The electrical receptacle of claim 4, further comprising a locking apparatus installed in the substance for immobilizing the linked stick.

7. The electrical receptacle of claim 4, wherein the linked stick and the latch are in touch with each other, and are moved in different paths.

8. The electrical receptacle of claim 7, wherein the linked stick is moved with the latch synchronously through an incline.

9. The electrical receptacle of claim 8, wherein the linked stick comprises an inclined trench, and the latch comprises a short column embedded in the inclined trench so that the latch and the linked stick are moved synchronously.

10. The electrical receptacle of claim 4, wherein the linked stick and the latch are a monolithically-formed structure, and moved synchronously.