Receptacle and plug therefor

• US 7,198,523 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Newman, Robert C. Jr., Spira, Joel S., Adams, Jason O., Moseley, Robin C., Stocker, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US10/698,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 439/650, 439/651, 439/652, 439/680, 439/681
• US Class Current: 439/680
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01015 Phosphorus [P]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01023 Vanadium [V]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/66 Structural association with built-in electrical component coupling devices having concentrically or coaxially-arranged contacts H01R24/38
• 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

An electrical receptacle defines a receptacle formation of a mating formation pair to prevent a standard plug from establishing electrical connection while permitting an otherwise standard plug defining a corresponding plug formation to be sufficiently inserted to establish an electrical connection. The mating formation pair may include a projection on the receptacle adapted for receipt by a corresponding recess on a compatible plug. Alternatively, the mating formation pair is defined by an opening of the receptacle and a conductor of the plug, each having a cross-sectional height that is reduced from that of a standard receptacle and plug. The mating formation pair is particularly desirable for installation including a receptacle controlled by a dimmer to prevent electrical connection by a standard plug connected to a non-dimmable electrical load.

Claims

1. A system for supplying current from a source of electrical power to a dimmable electrical lighting load, the system comprising:

a receptacle adapted for receipt of a compatible plug, the receptacle arranged to be supplied with electrical power regulated by a dimmer, said receptacle comprising;

an electrical contact located for contact with a blade of said compatible plug to establish an electrical connection between said blade and said electrical contact, said electrical contact dimensioned and oriented for compliance with an industry standard configuration; and

a mating formation pair including a receptacle formation and a corresponding plug formation, the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair dimensioned for contact with a general-use plug compliant with said industry standard configuration and lacking said corresponding plug formation to prevent a blade of said general-use plug from contacting said electrical contact thereby preventing said general-use plug from establishing said electrical connection with said receptacle, the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair allowing the compatible plug defining said corresponding plug formation and otherwise complying with said industry standard configuration to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle, wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said receptacle results in an overlapping contact between said electrical contact and said blade of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises a projection extending from said receptacle to a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact thereby preventing insertion of the general-use plug that lacks said corresponding plug formation by an amount sufficient to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle.

2. The current supply system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contact is a first electrical contact, said current supply system further comprising:

a second electrical contact; and

a non-conductive face member covering said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact, the face member defining first and second openings for receipt of corresponding first and second blades of said compatible plug;

wherein said projection extends outwardly from said face member between said first and second openings.

3. The current supply system according to claim 2, wherein said projection is elongated in a direction that is substantially parallel to a height defined by at least one of the first and second openings.

4. The current supply system according to claim 3, wherein said projection includes a middle portion and end portions located on opposite sides of the middle portion, and wherein the middle portion of the projection extends from said face member to a distance that is greater than that for the end portions to define a convex configuration.

5. The current supply system according to claim 2, wherein said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact are arranged to supply power to a circuit that includes a load connectable to said compatible plug.

6. The current supply system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle formation and corresponding plug formation of said mating formation pair are respectively defined by an opening of said receptacle and a blade of the compatible plug.

7. The current supply system according to claim 6, wherein the opening and blade respectively defining the receptacle formation and the blade formation of said mating formation pair each define a cross section having a dimension that is reduced with respect to a corresponding dimension provided by the industry standard configuration.

8. The current supply system according to claim 7, wherein the cross section of the blade defining the corresponding plug formation of said mating formation pair includes a width and a height, the height of the blade defining said plug formation reduced with respect to a height defined by a corresponding blade that is compliant with the industry standard configuration, the width of the blade defining said plug formation substantially equal to a width defined by the corresponding blade that is compliant with the industry standard configuration.

9. The current supply system according to claim 7, wherein the cross section of the opening defining the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair includes a width and a height, the height of the opening defining said receptacle formation is reduced with respect to a height defined by a corresponding opening of a standard receptacle, the width of the opening defining said receptacle formation is substantially equal to a width defined by the corresponding opening of the standard receptacle.

10. The current supply system according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle is polarized and wherein the opening defining said receptacle formation controls access to a hot electrical contact.

11. The current supply system according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle defining the receptacle formation of the mating formation pair is included in a common housing with at least one receptacle compliant with the industry standard configuration.

12. The current supply system according to claim 1, wherein:

the receptacle includes first and second openings each defining a cross section having a height and a width, the first and second openings adapted for receiving corresponding first and second blades of a compatible plug, each of the first and second openings defining a central axis with respect to the blade height, the central axes of the first and second openings aligned with each other,

and wherein the receptacle formation is defined by one of the first and second openings that is reduced in height with respect to the corresponding opening of a receptacle complying with the industry standard configuration, the height of the opening being reduced such that the central axis of the opening remains aligned with the central axis defined by the height of the other one of the first and second openings.

13. The current supply system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises the projection defining a top, and wherein a distance between the top of the projection and the electrical contact is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.

14. A receptacle unit for supplying both reduced and non-reduced voltage from a supply to an electrical load, the receptacle unit comprising:

a first receptacle complying with a general-use industry standard configuration for receptacles, the receptacle adapted to receive a general-use plug complying with said industry standard configuration and establish an electrical connection to supply non-reduced voltage;

a second receptacle arranged to be supplied with a reduced voltage and having at least one electrical contact, said second receptacle configured to receive a compatible plug having at least one electrical contact for electrical connection with the electrical contact of said second receptacle; and

a mating formation pair including a receptacle formation and a corresponding plug formation respectively carried by the second receptacle and the compatible plug, the receptacle formation dimensioned for contact with a general-use plug complying with an industry standard configuration to prevent an electrical contact of said general-use plug from contacting the electrical contact of said second receptacle thereby preventing said general-use plug from establishing an electrical connection with said second receptacle;

the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair permitting insertion of the compatible plug having said plug formation and otherwise complying with said industry standard configuration to establish said electrical connection with said second receptacle; and

wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said second receptacle results in an overlapping contact between the electrical contact of said compatible plug and the electrical contact of said second receptacle, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair is defined by a projection on said second receptacle.

15. The receptacle unit according to claim 14, wherein the first and second receptacles are adapted such that the compatible plug is capable of insertion into said first receptacle.

16. The receptacle unit according to claim 14, wherein:

said second receptacle further comprises a second electrical contact and a non-conductive face member covering said first and said second electrical contacts, the face member having first and second openings to permit access to said first and second electrical contacts;

and wherein the projection defining said receptacle formation is located between said first and second openings.

17. The receptacle unit according to claim 14, wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair is defined by an opening dimensioned to prevent insertion of a corresponding blade of the plug complying with said industry standard configuration.

18. The receptacle unit according to claim 14, wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises the projection defining a top, and wherein a distance between the top of the projection and the electrical contact is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.

19. A receptacle for supplying current from a supply to a load, the receptacle comprising:

an electrical contact arranged to deliver current from the supply to a corresponding electrical contact of a compatible plug inserted into the receptacle, a full insertion of the compatible plug resulting in an overlapping contact between the electrical contact of said receptacle and the electrical contact of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length; and

a projection formed on the receptacle adapted for receipt by a recess of said compatible plug, the projection having a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact such that a general-use plug complying with an industry standard configuration contacts said projection and is prevented from establishing an electrical connection with said receptacle while permitting said compatible plug to establish said electrical connection.

20. The receptacle according to claim 19, wherein said projection is electrically non-conductive.

21. The receptacle according to claim 19, wherein said electrical contact is a first electrical contact, said receptacle further comprising:

a second electrical contact; and

a non-conductive face member covering said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact and having first and second openings to permit access to said first and second electrical contacts; and

wherein the projection on said receptacle is located between said first and second openings.

22. The receptacle according to claim 21, further comprising a grounding conductor.

23. The receptacle according to claim 19, wherein the projection defines a top, and wherein a distance between the top of the projection and the electrical contact of the receptacle is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.

24. An electrical distribution system for supplying current from a supply to an electrical load, comprising:

at least one general-use receptacle including an electrical contact, the receptacle complying with an industry standard configuration and arranged to receive a corresponding general-use plug complying with said industry standard configuration such that said general-use plug can establish an electrical connection with said general-use receptacle;

at least one other receptacle including at least one electrical contact, the at least one other receptacle configured to receive a compatible plug having at least one blade; and

a mating formation pair including a receptacle formation and a corresponding plug formation respectively carried by said at least one other receptacle and said compatible plug, the receptacle formation dimensioned to contact the general-use plug to prevent a blade of said general-use plug from contacting the electrical contact of said at least one other receptacle thereby preventing said general-use plug from establishing an electrical connection with said at least one other receptacle, the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair permitting insertion of the compatible plug having said plug formation and otherwise complying with said industry standard configuration to establish an electrical connection with said at least one other receptacle,

said receptacles adapted such that said compatible plug is also compatible for insertion into said at least one general-use receptacle to establish said electrical connection with said general-use receptacle; and

wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said receptacle results in an overlapping contact between said electrical contact and said blade of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises a projection extending from said receptacle to a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact thereby preventing insertion of the general-use plug that lacks said corresponding plug formation by an amount sufficient to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle.

25. The system according to claim 24, further comprising at least one dimmer for supplying power to said at least one other receptacle.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the receptacle formation carried by the at least one other receptacle comprises the projection defining a top and wherein a distance between the top of the projection and the electrical contact of the at least one other receptacle is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.

27. A face member for use with a receptacle supplying current from a line voltage supply to an electrical load, the receptacle including at least one electrical contact and complying with an industry standard configuration, the face member comprising:

a body adapted for removable attachment to the receptacle, the body defining at least one opening for receipt of a blade of a compatible plug; and

a receptacle formation presented by the body, the receptacle formation forming a mating formation pair with a corresponding plug formation presented by the compatible plug, the receptacle formation dimensioned for contact with a non-compatible plug otherwise compliant with the industry standard configuration that lack the plug formation of the mating formation pair to prevent a blade of the non-compatible plug from contacting the electrical contact of the receptacle thereby preventing the non-compatible plug from establishing an electrical connection, said receptacle formation permitting engagement by the compatible plug sufficient to establish said electrical connection;

wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said receptacle results in an overlapping contact between said electrical contact and said blade of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises a projection extending from said receptacle to a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact thereby preventing insertion of the non-compatible plug that lacks said corresponding plug formation by an amount sufficient to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle.

28. The face member according to claim 27, wherein the receptacle formation presented by the body comprises the projection defining a top, and wherein a distance between the top of the projection from the electrical contact of the receptacle is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.

29. A lighting system for a lamp load capable of being operated from a selected one of a standard power supply or a dimmed power supply compnsing:

a receptacle having at least one opening and at least one electrical contact, the at least one electrical contact dimensioned and oriented for compliance with an industry standard configuration; and

a compatible plug including at least one blade adapted for receipt by the receptacle through one of the at least one opening of the receptacle for electrical connection with a corresponding one of the at least one electrical contact of the receptacle;

a mating formation pair including a receptacle formation defined by the receptacle and a corresponding plug formation defined by the compatible plug, the compatible plug being otherwise compliant with the industry standard configuration, the receptacle formation of the mating formation pair dimensioned for contact with a general-use plug not having the plug formation to prevent a blade of the general-use plug from contacting the at least one electrical contact of the receptacle thereby preventing the general-use plug from establishing an electrical connection with the receptacle, the plug formation allowing the compatible plug to establish said electrical connection with the receptacle,

the plug formation being visible when the receptacle and the compatible plug are fully engaged with each other; and

wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said receptacle results in an overlapping contact between said electrical contact and said blade of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises a projection extending from said receptacle to a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact thereby preventing insertion of the general-use plug that lacks said corresponding plug formation by an amount sufficient to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle.

30. The lighting system according to claim 29, wherein the plug includes a plug body defining the plug formation and wherein the plug formation extends to a periphery of the plug body.

31. The lighting system according to claim 29, wherein the receptacle formation comprises the projection defining a top and wherein a distance separating the top of the projection from the electrical contact of the receptacle is greater than approximately 0.618 inches.