Method and apparatus for A.C. outlet having grounds-out receptacles
First Claim
1. A method for making a duplex electrical outlet, the method comprising:
- configuring the outlet to have a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle both having a receptacle face oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-pronged plug having a hot conductive buss prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong, respectively;
fixedly orienting the first power socket such that its ground socket is further from the second power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket;
fixedly orienting the second power socket such that its ground socket is further from the first power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket;
electrically connecting the hot socket of the first power receptacle to the hot socket of the second power receptacle with a first metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a first side of the outlet;
electrically connecting the neutral socket of the first power receptacle to the neutral socket of the second power receptacle with a second metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a second side of the outlet opposite to the first side of the outlet; and
electrically connecting the ground socket of the first power receptacle to the ground socket of the second power receptacle with a third metal buss configured to connect to external wiring along the second side of the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method, apparatus and means to address the problem of attempting to utilize two large power plugs with transformers, converters and/or 90 degree plugs simultaneously with one duplex power receptacle. This invention discloses a duplex power receptacle in a ground-up and ground-down configuration, such that two conventional large three prong power plugs with transformers, converters and/or 90 degree plugs can be used simultaneously. This configuration can be utilized while still maintaining many of characteristics of the conventional duplex power receptacles such as the left and right orientation of the neutral and hot conducting busses. By maintaining the characteristics of the conventional duplex power receptacle one knowledgeable in the art can install this invention without having to be retrained in a method of installation and a conventional wall outlet box and cover plate will accommodate this invention. Additionally, by maintaining these characteristics users of this invention will not have to learn any new method of having to use the device.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for making a duplex electrical outlet, the method comprising:
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configuring the outlet to have a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle both having a receptacle face oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-pronged plug having a hot conductive buss prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong, respectively; fixedly orienting the first power socket such that its ground socket is further from the second power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket; fixedly orienting the second power socket such that its ground socket is further from the first power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket; electrically connecting the hot socket of the first power receptacle to the hot socket of the second power receptacle with a first metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a first side of the outlet; electrically connecting the neutral socket of the first power receptacle to the neutral socket of the second power receptacle with a second metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a second side of the outlet opposite to the first side of the outlet; and electrically connecting the ground socket of the first power receptacle to the ground socket of the second power receptacle with a third metal buss configured to connect to external wiring along the second side of the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A duplex power outlet comprising:
a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle fixed in orientation, each having a hot socket, a neutral socket and a ground socket, wherein the ground socket of the first receptacle is spaced further from the ground socket of the second power receptacle than the hot socket of the first receptacle is spaced from the hot socket of the second receptacle and than the neutral socket of the first receptable is spaced from the neutral socket of the second receptacle, and wherein the outlet is configured to mount in a wall electrical box and have a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire of an in-wall wiring circuit connected to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A duplex power outlet comprising:
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a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle fixed in orientation, each having a hot socket, a neutral socket and a ground socket, wherein the ground socket of the first receptacle is spaced further from the ground socket of the second power receptacle than the hot socket of the first receptacle is spaced from the hot socket of the second receptacle and than the neutral socket of the first receptacle is spaced from the neutral socket of the second receptacle, and wherein the outlet is configured to mount in a wall electrical box and to have a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire of an in-wall wiring circuit connected to the outlet, wherein the two power receptacles are configured as separate raised faces oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-prong power plug having a hot prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong, and wherein the upper power receptacle is configured such that; the hot socket of the upper power receptacle and the hot socket of the lower power receptacle are connected via a first conducting buss to an in-wall circuit; the neutral socket of the upper power receptacle and neutral socket of the lower power receptacle are connected via a second conducting buss to a circuit; and the ground socket of the upper and lower power receptacles connected to a ground circuit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An apparatus comprising:
outlet means for simultaneously connecting a first power plug in a ground-up configuration and a second power plug in a ground-down configuration, including; means, in a fixed spatial relationship, for receiving the first and second power plugs; means for attaching one or more circuits to the outlet means; means for receiving electrical power through the circuits; means for supplying this electrical power to the first and second power plugs; and means for attaching a ground to the outlet means. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus comprising:
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a duplex electrical outlet having a first power receptacle and a second power receptacle both having a receptacle face oriented to a front of the outlet, each power receptacle having a hot socket, a neutral socket, and a ground socket configured to receive a three-pronged plug having a hot conductive buss prong, a neutral prong, and a ground prong, respectively, wherein the first power socket is fixedly oriented such that its ground socket is further from the second power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket, wherein the second power socket is fixedly oriented such that its ground socket is further from the first power receptacle than its hot socket and neutral socket, wherein the hot socket of the first power receptacle is electrically connected to the hot socket of the second power receptacle with a first metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a first side of the outlet, wherein the neutral socket of the first power receptacle is electrically connected to the neutral socket of the second power receptacle with a second metal buss configured to connect to external wiring only along a second side of the outlet opposite to the first side of the outlet, and wherein the ground socket of the first power receptacle is electrically connected to the ground socket of the second power receptacle with a third metal buss configured to connect to external wiring along the second side of the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification