Locking electrical receptacle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said electrical connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a front surface defining an interface area between said male assembly and female assembly;
a clamping element disposed within said housing and moveable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration, wherein said clamping element holds said mating structure in a connected state in said clamping configuration;
a manual release mechanism, operatively engaged with said clamping element, wherein said release mechanism comprises a manual release member that can be manually operated by a user from an exterior of said housing to move said clamping element to said release configuration; and
a strain release member separate from said manual release member and responsive to a withdrawal force acting on said mating structure to urge withdraw of said prong from said receptacle that exceeds a predetermined value to move said mating structure to said release configuration, free from destruction of said housing, and wherein said strain release member resists movement of said mating structure to said release configuration when said withdrawal force is less than said predetermined value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Locking electrical receptacles and methods for selectively securing an electrical connection. One or more prongs of an electrical plug may be engaged by a clamping element disposable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration. A release mechanism accessible to a user when the electrical connection between a receptacle and plug is established may dispose the clamping mechanism in the release configuration. The clamping element may include a first and second portion that undergo relative movement to impart a shear force on the one or more prongs retained by the clamping mechanism. Furthermore, a strain relief mechanism may be provided to release the plug at a predetermined level of force by moving the clamping element deflectable portion (188) to a release configuration.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said electrical connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a front surface defining an interface area between said male assembly and female assembly; a clamping element disposed within said housing and moveable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration, wherein said clamping element holds said mating structure in a connected state in said clamping configuration; a manual release mechanism, operatively engaged with said clamping element, wherein said release mechanism comprises a manual release member that can be manually operated by a user from an exterior of said housing to move said clamping element to said release configuration; and a strain release member separate from said manual release member and responsive to a withdrawal force acting on said mating structure to urge withdraw of said prong from said receptacle that exceeds a predetermined value to move said mating structure to said release configuration, free from destruction of said housing, and wherein said strain release member resists movement of said mating structure to said release configuration when said withdrawal force is less than said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of use of a locking electrical receptacle device, comprising:
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providing a manual release member that can be manually operated by a user from an exterior of a housing of said electrical receptacle device to release mating structure of said locking receptacles, said mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of an female assembly; first applying a withdrawal force to said mating structure less than a predetermined force value; retaining, in response to said first applying, said mating structure in mating engagement; second applying a withdrawal force to said mating structure greater than said predetermined force value; releasing, in response to said second applying and free from manual operation of said manual release member, said mating structure from said mating engagement, said releasing being free from destruction of said housing wherein said releasing comprises; overcoming a biasing force applied to a first housing portion and a second housing portion of said housing by a resilient element; displacing said first housing portion; and engaging a clamping element in response to said displacing to dispose said clamping element in said release configuration. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification