Electrical safety device

• US 8,961,202 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Busson Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Busson Jr
• Inventors: Busson, Robert P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/804,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20140273561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/140, 439/141, 174/66, 174/67
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• 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 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An electrical safety device includes a body having a cavity, a plurality of prongs configured to be received into sockets of an electrical outlet, and a plurality of sockets each of which is configured to receive a prong of an electrical plug therein. The electrical safety device further includes a locking assembly configured to secure the prongs of the electrical plug in the sockets of the body. At least a portion of each of the prongs of the electrical safety device includes at least one insulator disposed thereon and a retractable sheath surrounds each of the prongs of the electrical safety device to militate against an undesired contact therewith.

Claims

1. An electrical device, comprising:

a body including a cavity and a plurality of sockets formed therein, each of the sockets formed in a first side of the body and configured to receive a prong of an electrical plug therein;

at least one prong at least partially disposed in the cavity of the body, the at least one prong of the electrical device extending from a second side of the body and configured to be received into a socket of an electrical outlet, wherein at least a portion of the at least one prong includes at least one insulator disposed thereon; and

a locking assembly at least partially disposed in the body and having at least one locking pin, wherein the at least one locking pin is configured to be releasably received in the prong of the electrical plug.

2. The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising at least one retractable sheath configured to surround the at least one prong of the electrical device.

3. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one insulator is received in a groove formed in at least one of a first edge and a second edge of the at least one prong.

4. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one prong has a plurality of insulators disposed thereon, and the insulators are interconnected by at least one cross-member formed through the at least one prong.

5. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one insulator is affixed to the at least one prong by at least one of an adhesive and a press fit.

6. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking pin is a plurality of spaced apart locking pins and the locking assembly includes an urging mechanism interposed between the spaced apart locking pins.

7. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking pin is coupled to an actuator by an arm member.

8. The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuating mechanism configured to selectively release the locking assembly.

9. The electrical device of claim 8, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a contact pin and an actuator configured to abut the contact pin.

10. An electrical device, comprising:

a body including a cavity and a plurality of sockets formed therein, each of the sockets formed in a first side of the body and configured to receive a prong of an electrical plug therein;

at least one prong at least partially disposed in the cavity of the body, the at least one prong of the electrical device extending from a second side of the body and configured to be received into a socket of an electrical outlet, wherein at least a portion of the at least one prong of the electrical device includes at least one insulator disposed thereon;

at least one retractable sheath configured to surround the at least one prong of the electrical device; and

a locking assembly at least partially disposed in the body, wherein the locking assembly is configured to secure the prongs of the electrical plug in the sockets of the body, the locking assembly including an actuating mechanism configured to selectively release the locking assembly.

11. The electrical device of claim 10, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a contact pin and an actuator configured to abut the contact pin.