Locking electrical receptacle with elongate clamping surfaces
First Claim
1. A locking electrical receptacle for use in conjunction with an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure comprising:
- receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending plug structure;
elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure, said gripping elements being disposed at least on opposite sides of said receptacle; and
actuation structure, operatively associated with said elongate gripping elements, for forcing said elongate gripping elements into secure frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of said elongate extending plug structure responsive to a withdrawal force exerted on electrical plug and urging said elongate extending plug structure to withdraw from said receptacle;
wherein said actuation structure comprises at least one cross-member for interconnecting said gripping elements such that relative lateral movement of one of said gripping elements with respect to the other causes said gripping elements to be drawn towards one another so as to more firmly grip said elongate extending plug structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus (“utility”) for securing an electrical connection formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly are provided. The utility includes a clamping mechanism whereby the very forces that would otherwise tend to pull the connection apart serve to actuate the clamping mechanism, thereby securing the mated pair. The apparatus may be integrated into a standard receptacle, or retrofitted to work with existing devices. In one embodiment, the clamping mechanism acts solely on the ground prong of a standard plug assembly, so that it is unnecessary to consider electrical potentials applied to the clamped prong in relation to the design of the clamping mechanism. Further, the withdrawing movement of the prongs of a plug may cause elongate clamping surfaces of the clamping mechanism to frictionally engage opposing surfaces of the clamped prong.
53 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A locking electrical receptacle for use in conjunction with an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure comprising:
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receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending plug structure; elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure, said gripping elements being disposed at least on opposite sides of said receptacle; and actuation structure, operatively associated with said elongate gripping elements, for forcing said elongate gripping elements into secure frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of said elongate extending plug structure responsive to a withdrawal force exerted on electrical plug and urging said elongate extending plug structure to withdraw from said receptacle; wherein said actuation structure comprises at least one cross-member for interconnecting said gripping elements such that relative lateral movement of one of said gripping elements with respect to the other causes said gripping elements to be drawn towards one another so as to more firmly grip said elongate extending plug structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A locking electrical receptacle for use in conjunction with an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure comprising:
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receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending plug structure; elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure, said gripping elements being disposed at least on opposite sides of said receptacle; actuation structure, operatively associated with said elongate gripping elements, for forcing said elongate gripping elements into secure frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of said elongate extending plug structure responsive to a withdrawal force exerted on electrical plug and urging said elongate extending plug structure to withdraw from said receptacle; wherein said actuation structure comprises at least one cross-member for interconnecting said gripping elements such that relative lateral movement of one of said gripping elements with respect to the other causes said gripping elements to be drawn towards one another so as to more firmly grip said elongate extending plug structure; and a release mechanism for reducing said frictional engagement of said gripping elements and said elongate extending plug structure when desired; wherein said release mechanism comprises release structure for allowing a user to initiate relative longitudinal movement as between said gripping elements.
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8. A method for use in securing an electrical connection involving an electrical plug including at least one elongate extending plug structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical receptacle unit including receptacle structure defining a receptacle for receiving said elongate extending plug structure, elongate gripping elements movably mounted on said receptacle structure and having a receiving condition, wherein said gripping elements are ready to receive said elongate extending plug structure, and a gripping condition, wherein at least one of said gripping elements is disposed in frictional engagement with said elongate extending plug structure; and inserting said elongate extending plug structure of said electrical plug into said receptacle of said electrical receptacle unit such that said gripping elements are in said gripping condition; and moving said gripping elements from said gripping condition to a release condition prior to withdrawing said elongate extending plug structure from said receptacle, wherein said step of moving comprises causing relative longitudinal movement as between said gripping elements. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification