Electrical power outlet

• US 8,133,064 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furutech Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Furutech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishimura, Yoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/870,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20110223788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 439/136, 439/107, 439/106, 439/839, 439/691, 439/650, 439/934, 174/66
• US Class Current: 439/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/44 Clamping areas on both sides of screw

Abstract

A power outlet includes a base and sliding covers. The base has conductive terminals for electrically connecting to terminals of a power line. The conductive terminals are partially exposed from the base and a pair of first guiding portions arranged in parallel to each other is disposed on each side of the base exposing the conductive terminals. Each of the sliding covers has second guiding portions capable of sliding with and engaging with the corresponding first guiding portions so as to allow the sliding covers to slide relative to the base, thereby shielding the exposed portions of the conductive terminals and preventing accidental touching of the exposed portions of the conductive terminals by a user and thus avoiding the risk of electric shock.

Claims

1. A power outlet, comprising:

a base having conductive terminals for electrically connecting to terminals of a power line, the conductive terminals being partially exposed from the base and a pair of first guiding portions arranged in parallel to each other being disposed on each side of the base exposing the conductive terminals, wherein each of the conductive terminals has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface is a protruding surface facing an inside of the base of the power outlet;

a plurality of fastening boards and screws, wherein each of the fastening boards has a concave portion for engaging with the protruding surface of a corresponding one of the conductive terminals, and the screw is passed through a corresponding one of the conductive terminals and screwed with a corresponding one of the fastening boards and contacted with the outer surface of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals so as to allow the corresponding one of the fastening boards to move relative to the corresponding one of the conductive terminals, thereby establishing or releasing the electrical connection between the conductive terminals and the of power line; and

sliding covers each having second guiding portions capable of sliding with and engaging with the corresponding first guiding portions so as to allow the sliding covers to slide relative to the base of the power outlet, thereby shielding the exposed portions of the conductive terminals.

2. The outlet of claim 1, wherein the guiding portions are guiding slots engaging with each other.

3. The outlet of claim 1, wherein each of the sliding covers has an operating portion disposed on a top side thereof so as for an external force to be applied thereon to cause the sliding cover to slide relative to the base of the power outlet.

4. The outlet of claim 3, wherein the operating portion has a concave shape.

5. The outlet of claim 1, wherein each of the sliding covers has a second stopping portion disposed on a top side thereof and the base of the power outlet has a first stopping portion disposed on a bottom side thereof, the first stopping portion and the second stopping portion jointly limiting a sliding displacement of the corresponding sliding cover relative to the base of the power outlet.

6. The outlet of claim 5, wherein the stopping portions are bumps.

7. The outlet of claim 1, wherein each of the conductive terminals has a plug connecting portion, which comprises a pair of longitudinal sheets and a lateral sheet disposed at one side of the pair of longitudinal sheets, ends of the pair of longitudinal sheets extending in an opposite direction, and an end of the lateral sheet extending in a direction opposite to the pair of longitudinal sheets.

8. The outlet of claim 7, wherein the plug connecting portion has a pair of fins disposed between the pair of longitudinal sheets and the lateral sheet.

9. The outlet of claim 8, wherein the plug connecting portion has a holding spring disposed for applying an elastic holding force to the longitudinal sheets and the lateral sheet.